BRCA 1 & BRCA 2, NOT ME, PHEW!!!!

On Friday, I learned that I do NOT carry either the BRCA 1 or the BRCA 2 gene mutations, which indicate a higher risk for Ovarian and Breast cancers. This news is PHENOMENAL!!

My sister is doing well. She has her final chemo on May 20 (my 34th bday). We will celebrate indeed! She will hopefully have the 3 rounds of radiation after that. Her CA 125 counts have been incredibly low, so that's amazing news as well. I can't wait until this is all behind us. I'm starting to believe that it really is going to be okay.

My Beautiful Uterus

That's right, I said it. My uterus is beautiful. Oh, and my ovaries are perfect. This is all according to the results of the not-so-pleasant-catheter-in-the-va-jay-jay-sonar-histogram I had this afternoon. Yayyyy! More good results. They did send out a sample of the uterine lining for a biopsy, but Dr. expects it to be just fine. One more sigh of relief. If only we had known to do these tests for my sister. :(

Some new Gabisms for ya:

Gabi: My allergies are really acting up today.

Mom: Oh yah, what allergies?

Gabi: Well you know I'm allergic to stop lights, cd players, and driver side door handles.

Here's another.......

Gabi was in her bedroom "teaching her kids" (which consists of about 25 stuffed animals). Howie and I opened her door to talk to her about dinner or something.

Gabi: "Oh my gosh my class is right here, this is SO EMBARRASSING."

I'm a LOSER!

Actually, THE BIGGEST LOSER to be precise.

We had a contest at work. The person to lose the most weight, percentage wise was declared the winner.

I lost 6% and WON!

I almost feel like I was cheating, because I am also on WW. I won $129.00!! Just enough to cover my weekly WW costs!

It feels so good to have some control over my weight. Ever since college, I have struggled with this up down up down roller coaster. It's maddening. I'm in a good place right now. Hope I stay here for a LONG LONG time!

Torture at the Airport

If you know me, you know of my love for coffee. You know also that it doesn't get any better than Dunkin Donuts coffee in my world. The sad part is that I live about 35 minutes away from any DD (although my wallet appreciates the distance).

Anyway, I digress. Yesterday I saved some of my coveted WW Points for the sheer purpose of picking myself up a DD coffee on the way to the airport to pick up my Mom. I even allotted myself extra travel time for the sole purpose of this beloved cup of java.

Imagine my horror when I approach the drive through only to realize that it's (GASP) closed! I quickly recover by assuring myself that I will be able to grab a cup at the kiosk at our fine local airport.

I nearly RUN up the escalator towards the soft glow of the orange and pink sign, enthralled by the promise of all it has to offer. Enter "brick" wall. Actually, enter cheap ass plexiglass barrier, guarded dearly by a proud employee who in a former lifetime I would have rudely referred to as a "rent-a-cop". (Of course being the mature person I am today, I would never use that dismissing term).

As I make my way towards Barney Fife, I conjure up my best sugary, sweet smile, knowing this is going to be a tough situation to overcome. He DOESN'T even flinch. He tells me that I am not in fact entitled to walk the five feet to the other side of this clear wall and then has the AUDACITY to suggest I go grab myself one of those vending machine cups of coffee! As IF!!!!!

I saunter my way down the hall to the "ENTRY" point of security, (as this is apparently the "Passenger Meeting Point") to find a group of 5 "Security Guards" sitting on their bums eating McDonald's that was without a doubt obtained from the other side of the wall. (You must remember this is SMALL town USA and the airport is about the size of my living room). I attempt to wittingly bribe my way to the other side. Nothing. No movement. I pull a sympathetic looking one to the side (non-chalantly of course) and offer up FIVE bucks for the safe pick-up and delivery of coffee into my hands. He says "I'm sorry Maim, I can't help you." MAIM?! WTF- when did I become a MAIM? I throw a hasty "Yah, I can see how busy you all are" at them and stomp away.

It is at about this point that I realize I am not going to be getting what I want. And I find myself near tears. I HATE being told NO. I HATE not getting my way. I know it's a dumb and stupid reason to pout, but I couldn't help it. Remember the good ole' days when you could walk right down to the gate and meet your loved one as they disembarked? Those days are long gone. It's all just another reminder of how those demonic, selfish, brutal, horrific, disgusting men have changed the way that we all live. I HATE that this is our new reality.


My viewpoint.......if you look closely you can see the seam of the plexi glass wall.

Four Eyes

Today, I picked up my new glasses. I only need them when I drive so I went with something a little funky knowing I don't need them to match outfits. ;) While we were there Gabi tried on some glasses too. HOLY COW did she look cute! Does anybody remember the time I nearly cried when she passed her eye exam? Darn it. No glasses in her future.

SAHM I Am (if only for a moment)

How is it that time flies by so very quickly when we are enjoying ourselves, and yet seems to crawl when we are in periods of distress, such as, gee idk- WAITING FOR A BABY?!

The nineteen months waiting to bring home Elliana were pretty much THE LONGEST 19 MONTHS of my LIFE! Anyway, fast forward to now. Ellie is 3 months old. Gabi is finishing her year of UPK. And me, well I'm still off of work, but.... Unfortunately, there is a BUT in that statement.

The BUT is that I am going back to work on Tuesday. It's only for 8 days, to register my kids for summer school and tie up loose ends, and then I am off again for the summer. But technically, my parental leave, no my MATERNITY leave is over. Once I go back, I'm officially back. Don't get me wrong, I am eternally grateful to have the majority of the summer off, only working random days here and there. But, it's never going to be the same again.

Staying home this past three months has quite possibly been the BEST 3 months of my life. I LOVE waking up to the girls. Being able to take Gabi to and from school. Picking her up and running errands, or going for a playdate, or just coming home and being "Motherly". They have been my everything these past few months. I have been able to focus souly on being Mom and Wife. Now I have to be Mom, Wife, and Counselor. I love my job, I love the students, which makes it all a bit easier. But, what I wouldn't give to be able to spend a year or two in the roll of SAHM.

We have tossed around so many ideas. But the reality is, with the cost of two recent adoptions, the start of private college tuition in the fall, and my own student loans, short of selling our house and cars, it's just not possible.

But I'm not going to mope or be negative (much). I'm going to count my many blessings (remind me if I slip) and appreciate (to the best of my ability) the life we've made.

Like Daughter, Like Mother

I got my haircut today. A lot. 8+ inches. I LOVE it. It's a Gabido. :)

Wordless Wednesday

It's My Birthday and I'll Cry if I Want To....

I'm sad. So, so, so sad. Our school community has suffered yet another terrible tragedy. A house fire yesterday claimed the lives of one of our families. The entire family. Gone. Just gone. My heart aches. It is too much to comprehend. I have paused my maternity leave these past two days to be with my students. I can't stand to watch them suffer. I wish I could explain to them why life can be so cruel. Explain to them how 3 young adults, each beautiful inside and out, can be taken from us in the blink of an eye. But I can't. I don't have the answers. No one does. So for now, I will continue to do that which I can. I will sit with them in silence. I will cry with them in sorrow. I will scream with them in anger. I will open my arms and my heart and remind each and every person how precious they are. Please, please pray for our community.

I've been hit (twice)

My dear friends Julie and Sue have caught me in a game of "Tag".

Here are the rules: Once you are tagged, link back to the person who tagged you.Post the rules on your blog.Post 7 random or weird facts about yourself on your blog.Tag 7 people and link to them.Comment on their blog to let them know they have been tagged. I'm not going to "tag" anybody back because I am waaaaayy toooo nice for that. (ok, actually my only friends have already been hit) lol.

So here goes:

1. I dislike condiments. That includes Ketchup, Mustard, Pickles, Relish, Salad Dressing, Vinegar, Mayo........

2. If I look at a digital clock and it says 9:11, I say a prayer for the victims that died on September 11, 2001 and thier families.

3. And speaking of clocks, I only set my alarm to wake up on a number ending in "2" (ex: 6:22). Idk Why. (I also make a wish at 11:11)

4. I generally avoid touching public door handles. However, if i must, when I am at work I touch the door first, then the handle.

5. Once I have made up my mind about something, it is VERY hard for me to talk myself out of it.

6. I refuse to eat canned or frozen meats. I eat around the chicken in chicken noodle soup. I only buy meatless lean cuisines. You get the picture here.

7. I have 35 actual first cousins. Just on my Mom's side.

The Love Boat

OMG!!!!! So they are filming a movie in town, and I happened to be there tonight picking up dance shoes for Gabi. Well I had the distinct honor of meeting Captain Merrill Stubing aka Gavin MacLeod. What an amazing man! How kind he was to speak with. He was even very sweet to Gabi.

I must admit, I was rather "star stuck"!!!

It's Official: I'm a DQ

OY!!! So this afternoon, after a nice bike ride over to my friends house, while swimming in the pool- I got stung by a bee. HOLY COW those SUCKERS HURT!!!!! Anyway, I was stung in my neck. I tried to remain calm and straight away took 25mg of Benadryl and put ice on it. I was really trying not to make a big deal of it- as Gabi was right there.

Well, anyone who knows Howie probably knows that he is SEVERELY allergic to bee stings. In fact, in September after being stung in the neck he spent 5 hours in the trauma unit at Strong. They couldn't "get him out of it", as the Dr. so eloquently put it.

Anyone who knows me probably knows that I am a FREAK when it comes to even the slightest possibility that there may be something physically wrong with me. I have more somatic symptoms than real ones! So, after about 10 mins I realize that it is difficult to swallow. Not impossible, not painful, just difficult- actually just "different". So, I wait a few mins and imagine myself face down on the deck breathing my last breath. It was at this point that I decided to call my Dr. I was still not totally convinced that I wasn't conjuring up this feeling of "swollen tongue" myself. I was advised to take 75 mg MORE of Benadryl and to get myself to the ER.

I arrived safely at the ER, courtesy of Jody. I then spent the next 2.5 hours waiting to bee seen by a Dr. who tells me in not so many words that Howie is allergic to bees. Teri is not.

:O Told you, I am a DRAMA QUEEN!!!!!!!!!!!

Perserverance Pays Off!

Ahh, the small things in life! I finally figured this whole digital scrapbooking thing out (well not the whole thing, but enough to get by. {HUGE SMILE HERE}

These pics are from yesterday. We had lunch at my Mom's house with my Grandma and Grandpa, and my Aunt Holly and Uncle Roy. Sadly, the latter leave for their return journey home to Australia on Wed morning.

Gabi and her cousin Haylie love to play together. They fight like sisters- best friends/worst enemies kind of thing. I love that they have each other to grow up with. :) Haylie is almost 18 months older to the day than Gabi. So, needless to say Gabi looks up to her "big cousin."

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

I am trying so hard to create and publish a digital scrapbooking page. I am so FRUSTRATED!!! I don't know how to do this! I will NOT be broken!!! So here's my pitiful first attempt. Hopefully, it can only improve from here, no?

I Must Confess....I Love to Google Myself

Have you ever googled someone? How about yourself? It's true- I LOVE to check myself out once in awhile. So many of my sites that come up are related to adoption-- I love that! and my job- if it weren 't for those two things I'd be un-google-able!! So I thought I'd put in my two favorite links which are both quotes from Adoptive Families magazine.

http://www.adoptivefamilies.com/articles.php?aid=1268

http://www.adoptivefamilies.com/articles.php?aid=1149

My Celebrity "Look-Alikes" ????

To be 3 Again....

Long story short: last night I spent 5 hours in the ER b/c of a kidney stone. So, I was given this painkiller that contained a "narcotic". WHEW! I don't remember much, but I DO remember feeling completely on the same level as Gabi. I was laughing and joking with her- thinking the whole while- "Wow, I really get her." Words sounded funny to me, and I shared that with Gabi. She agreed. We laughed so hard. She made me laugh. She had my full attention. I need to remember this. I want to listen to her more. I need to spend more time being 3 again, until she turns 4.....

I was never good with peer pressure

Ok- I've decided to tell you something-something I've never told anyone before. I am a wannabee! I didn't want a blog until all of you had to go and get em- then I thought "Well hey, if everybody else has one, then I must too, if in fact I want to maintain my coolness status." So here I am in my inaugural posting! Woo Hoo GO ME!!! Anyway- I don't have time to read all of my emails, or even go to the bathroom regularly, for that matter- so please don't expect too much from me!!