Blood Clot - Yuck

Last week I got a blood clot in my right calf. I had one right after Lizzy was born so I knew the signs and I went in early. They did the ultrasound to confirm. Frankie was with me, but he loved seeing the pictures of my leg on the computer and was asking that they turn it so he could see. : )

So I am on coumadin and lovanox shots, ouch! Every morning and every evening another shot in the leg, I alternate. I just can't do it in the tummy, even though I did when I was pregnant with Frankie. I did one in the tummy this time and have a green, blue, purple yellow bruise the size of a walnut; have a hard time looking at it!

So I am slowly recovering, just amazed how everything hurts!! And I am so tired and out of it! Just making dinner is an effort and I need to sit down in between each step of preparing it! I sleep and sleep and wake up exausted and aching! But at least I caught it early and I am at home, not in the hospital! Oh and I can't remember anything!

Eventually things will get easier. And making dinner will even be easy again. I guess for now it is make easy meals and rest as much as I can.

But I am going to make a happy list: (My mom said she started this yesterday)

- A good brownie meeting with Lizzy's troop
- Going to see the sheep at the church down the street in the pretty snow
- A warm house and hearing my heat come on
- Lizzy getting to be Elizabeth and an angel in the church Christmas Pageant
- Frankie loving his ice skating lessons

Any Regular Readers??

I am finally updating again! I know it has been a while, but are there any regular readers out there?? I put a link to my blog on Facebook and have it on my email, but wasn't sure about posting each post to Facebook?

So just curious, who stops by to read?!

Certificate of Blindness

Today, after I met with the lady from the MA Comm for the Blind, I received mail for Frankie. It was a certificate of blindness for him. : ( It struck me as sad. I have known since he was a baby that he would not see real well and probably wind up legally blind, but a paper that says you are blind is still a little shocking. So it's still sinking in a bit. I am waiting for something happier to happen!

Frankie's Glasses

As soon as we got back from Disney, we picked up Frankie's new glasses!! He was so excited, as was Lizzy! : ) They only have a slight prescription, I don't think they do too much to help his vision. We are going back to the doctor on Wednesday to get the prisms put on, we'll see how good he wears them then.
He is doing well keeping them on now!

Disney World!!

We got back from Disney World last week! It was so much fun, we are planning our return trip in a few years. : ) Our favorite parts:
Winnie the Pooh breakfast at the Crystal Palace in Magic Kingdom
Buzz Lightyear laser tag ride in Magic Kingdom
Light parade and fireworks
Meeting Mickey Mouse
Getting pictures and autographs from characters
Little Mermaid show and Playhouse Disney show in Hollywood Studios
Toy Story ride in Hollywood Studios
Eating in Mexico in Epcot and the boat ride
Spaceship Earth ride in Epcot
Our hotel suite at Nickelodeon Suites, 2 bedrooms and yummy buffet breakfast
Warm weather (it was 7 degrees in Boston!)

Election Day

Hope everyone got out and voted today! More to follow later.

Feeling Poorly

Does anyone have tips on strategies to still spend time with your kids and get things done, when you are not feeling well? I have been so exhausted, achy and having a headache, some days I don't think I will be able to do make it till bed! I know it will pass, but sometimes things seem longer when you are in them.

Kid Friendly Recipes

I wanted to share a few recipes that are healthy, quick, easy, incorporate veggies and my kids like to eat!

Cheesy Loaf -
1 pound of ground turkey or chicken
2-3 carrots grated
1 tomato grated
1/2 zucchini grated
Combine all ingredients in a bowl with bread crumbs, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder and basil. Press into a baking dish and bake on 375 for 1 hour. For the last few minutes, melt pieces of cheese on top.

Spinach Quiche -
1 egg
1 small container part skim ricotta cheese
1 cup evaporated milk
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
2 packages frozen spinach (cooked and drained)
2 pie crusts
Combine and mix; milk, egg and cheese. Add in spinach, onion powder and pepper. Pour into 2 pie crusts. Bake at 375 for about 45 minutes.

Squash Soup -
2 packages frozen squash
1 package cauliflower (or broccoli)
1 can chicken broth
1 can water
1 cup milk
Combine in pot on stove with pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, cinnamon and cloves. Cook to a boil. Lower heat and simmer for 1/2 hour. Can substitute with other veggies too.

Fall is Approaching!

The mornings are getting crisper! The air is getting cooler and the days are getting shorter. I enjoy the fall weather, except for the days getting shorter. We are going apple picking this weekend, a favorite fall activity and one of my favorite days of the year!
I feel ready for the change, after the summer, which I love, it is nice to have cool weather and less sun. I am still diligent with sunblock, but the sun does not seem as strong. And as much as I like longer days, I am ready for earlier nights and getting everyone ready, it can be restful. So I am glad I live where the seasons change!

September 8, 2006

Two years ago, today, Frankie was diagnosed with albinism. It was one of the most shocking days I have been through. It is amazing how much had happened in these 2 years and how different Frankie is today! He is doing so well, it amazes me. He had his EI class today, he was happy to go and fine when I left. He was so excited when I came back to show me his picture of a bus. : )
Last year I felt a little sad when the fall came, because that was when he was diagnosed and I felt as if I was going back to that day. But this year I feel so much better!

Happy Rainy Day!

I was sitting her while Frankie had a snack and Lizzy is at her friend's house, and the gentle rain sounds so nice! It is relaxing and calming. Sometimes I think of it as a pain when it ruins outdoor plans, but of course I know all it's benefits. But it also is peaceful. I even like thunder storms. I like to stand by the front door and watch the driving rain and hear the thunder. My kids are getting more used to them. : )
So happy rain day!

Tired

Do you ever get so tired, you feel like you can sleep all day and night and still not have caught up? This week has been that way for me, today in particular! My whole body feels exhausted and sore and I feel like I could fall asleep all day long. I know it is my fibromyalgia flaring up, but wow, it makes it that much harder to be a mom. I do well most of the day, and then bathtime hits, and pow, I am ready for the day to be over. It seems monumental to give the kids a bath and read stories before bed! But I am plugging along and since it is 9:00, I think I should go to bed. : )
Things that were great today:
2 storytimes
getting new books
Frankie going to hug Lizzy goodnight
Thinking about Lizzy jumping in the deep end of the pool and swimming all the way across!

New Eyes for the Needy

Our town has Monday night concerts in the summer, and there is usually some fundraising involved. This year people can bring their old glasses to donate to New Eyes for the Needy. These can be donated to people in other countries, or parts can be sold for money for new glasses. Monetary donations are also accepted. So next week I am definitely bringing my 2 old pairs of glasses!

Deer with Albinism

I got an email today with pictures of twin deer with albinism. So beautiful, like people with albinism! : ) I did a search and found them again on this Texas hunting and fishing site.

Happy Easter!

We had a fun day, starting early with an egg hunt, church, and brunch with the family! Frankie and Lizzy both enjoyed it. He was too young to hunt last year, so this was his first one. He did have a little trouble seeing some of the eggs. The ones on his tool bench he did not seem to see, he kept going to it and then passing by without seeing the egg. They must have blended in. He did pretty well hunting later outside.

Happy St. Paddy's Day!

Frankie said "Paa-ddy's" this morning. : ) The kids wore green and we are going to make green cookies this afternoon. Have a fun day!

Bowl-A-Thon 2008

Today we participated in our second NOAH bowl-a-thon! We went to one last year and decided to organize our own this year, it was a lot of fun. I want to start by thanking everyone who was able to come bowl with us. It was great to have so many family and friends with us and supporting us. Thank you to everyone who donated to NOAH also. It means a lot to us.
Frankie was sick, double ear infections, so he was not able to come to the bowl-a-thon, so he stayed home with Daddy. He did do a little bowling downstairs with his kiddie bowling set. I got a picture of him tonight with the pins, ball, and 2 golf clubs! : ) I plan to send NOAH a group photo from the bowl-a-thon and Frankie at his own bowl/golf-a-thon!!
We had about 40 people bowling today, lots of kids too. We all then had pizza and cupcakes made by Lizzy.
It was also great to meet a few new people. A man with albinism and his fiance, and another lady who's daughter has albinism. I find it so great and comforting to meet other people who are connected to albinism. They were so nice!
Again, thank you to everyone who participated and donated!! We couldn't have done it without you!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day seems like a good day to reflect on loved ones, those family and friends who help us through hard times. So thank you to all my wonderful family and friends, I love you!
Today was an exciting day for Lizzy and Frankie; cookies, candy, cards, presents, books (one of which will be discussed in my next blog). Poor Frankie was sick, but still enjoyed his sprinkled sugar cookie!
On another note, my grandfather passed away today, he is the first grandparent I have lost. He was 88 years old. I know how lucky I have been to have all of my grandparents around for so long, but it is still hard. I feel sad for my dad, who lost his dad.

Peacock with Albinism

I just loved this picture of a peacock with albinism. It is so beautiful.