Category Archives: Changes

To flu vaccinate or no….

An interesting debate to be sure and I’m curious to see why YOU have to say about this. Of course, this won’t be all serious, I do have some funny-ish stuff to report as well 😉

So, a few months back I heard Mac and Katherine on Catholic in a Small Town podcast discussing Katherine’s preference NOT to get the flu vaccine….#203, you can check it out on iTunes…and it got me thinking about the flu vaccine and WHY do I bother each year? Is it worth it? What am I subjecting myself to? It opened up an internal can o’ worms for certain.

Anyhoooo…I work in the medical field, my employer provides the vaccine to me at no cost each year and so, I get the vaccine. I’ve not had the flu in 10 years and quite frankly, would prefer to not have it again. However….due to the controversial issues on the flu vaccine for our kids…I’ve not had them get a flu shot. Ever. That I remember, anyway. Questionable ingredients, 62%ish effectiveness rate, roll of the dice on which strain we’ll actually come in contact with, ACK…it’s too much, so we’ve opted out. However…..things ’bout to change in these parts!

Our 15 yo son came down with Flu B last weekend. I already blogged on all THAT fun here if you missed it the first time around and the kid ended up missing a WHOLE FLIPPIN’ WEEK OF SCHOOL!!! yes, High School. Good times. The kicker is that I actually started getting sick at the end of the week last week, sucked it up for a couple of days (chalking it up to allergies and pollen), however, by Saturday afternoon–after an ENTIRE day of solo and ensemble stuff with our 13 yo and tag-along 9 yo daughter, I came home and went to bed and got up yesterday. Monday. Ugh. Fever’s gone and I was back to work today, but still…..ain’t. quite. right. And I WAS vaccinated!!! WTH??!?!? So when I brought the 15yo BACK to the doc yesterday for additional antibiotics for “possible” pneumonia still not resolved as a result of his flu….I decided next year EVERYONE gets the vaccine. Mine didn’t last as long as his, certainly wasn’t as brutal and you know “Ain’t NOBODY got time for that” to be staying home with sick kids, for kids to be missing a week of schoolwork (the stuff the teachers didn’t email…) and we ALL know Mama don’t have time to be sick..even though Daddy is a pretty fantastic taker-carer.

So, what’s your take? Flu vaccine or no?

On the upside…..I got a TON of reading in. Finished Screwtape letters, almost finished A year of biblical womanhood, completely caught up on my Daily Catechism readings—(I MAY have been 3 weeks behind). Mailed a long overdue encouragement card and ordered The Power of Positive Thinking to go with said card. Slept so much my back ached. Lost a few pounds. Woke up from a nap to find Hubby and 75% of the kids playing Monopoly….WITHOUT blood shed. True. No joke. Prayed. (It was a good few days to be on my heart…you are so covered it’s ridiculous). Continue to play with PicMonkey and learn a little more.

Phew. It’s been a long couple days.

It’s almost here…..

Closet Re-do #1

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We live in an older house…70’s ranch-y style. It’s truly perfect for us, not too big (because I don’t have a maid ya’ll, just 4 kids and sometimes we have to go behind them) and when we bought it, it was move-in ready–my favorite kind of house to buy. Semi-sorta updated, at least no orange/green/yellow in the kitchen and an assortment of neutral colors, which are perfect for US. Anywhoooo, the down side is that apparently in the last 20 some years we (collectively as Americans) have garnered a lot of “stuff” and “need” more closet space than was available back in the 70’s. Our current list of to-do’s is for us (and I really mean my Hubby) to finally deal with the bedroom closets. We started with the boys closet, mainly because they are boys and if it got goofed up they really aren’t going to care so much (the girls will be next and we will save the most important–ours–for last).

For the boys, their dresser (in the closet to save space) houses the majority of the clothing, but they have a fair amount that gets hung. The clothes that get hung knock all their miscellanea on top of their dresser over and behind and creates a chronic MESS. The top of the closet was just a shelf and tons of dead space. We wanted to give them some more storage and maximize that dead space. We opted on cubbies and worked around the brace in the middle of the shelf. We are pleased with the outcome and hopefully these fellas can manage keeping their stuff in one spot and not lose chargers, memory sticks and all that other stuff. Without further blah blah, here’s the pics and once we finish the girl’s I’ll post that, too. I know, you can hardly wait. Try and contain yourself. 😉

Empty closet BEFORE

New cubes

Maximizing the dead space on the shelf

well, we had to put the closet stuff somewhere…

side by side view of the B&A

AFTER….hear the angels sing??? I do!!!

A useful shelf space now!

A decade of sobriety.

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10 year coin and copy of AA founder’s actual prescription to his patients.

10 years ago this month our life was forever changed. My dear Hubby’s drinking problem finally came to a head and he hit his “rock bottom”. This post isn’t about that moment. However, just to give you a SUPER brief overview: there was an event fueled by an alcoholic binge, the event led to prison…for 7 years. I moved in with my parents for 5 years to have help with the kids (1,2,5& 7). Later I bought a house (awesome God story in that one!!). Hubby came home roughly 18 months ago. I have stories galore of God and His plan and the countless mercies and graces He rained upon us through our family and our friends but those are for another time (or when I feel led to copy them over from my prior blog); this is about my Hubby. About staying sober. About losing everything and gaining even more.

Immediately following the event, Hubby went to Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). In the midst of losing his job, draining our retirement account and preparing to sell our house to prepare for what lie ahead, he continued to attend meetings; everyday, sometimes twice a day, faithfully trying to figure out how to repair his life, our marriage and live without alcohol. He also went to an inpatient rehab center for 28 days. Though it was difficult (to say the least) with him gone, we both knew there was no other option if he was going to make sobriety a priority first for himself, secondly for our marriage and family. He was in it for the long haul.

The time apart was good since it gave me time to process everything that had happened, was happening and would likely happen. It gave me time to choose if I would throw in the towel or stay and fight for our marriage. Neither would be easy, but the fight would be A. FIGHT. In the end, God gave me the amazing gift in the ability to forgive my husband. The peace that followed lit a firestorm in my faith, gave me amazing strength and removed the weight of grief weighing my heart down. It was at that time I received a clear and concise promise through my quiet time:

“For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for good and not for evil, for a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11

It’s become our family’s Scripture. Our mantra. Our lifeline. His plan is not always ours, but He can most certainly use ANYthing for good. And He most certainly did.

From rehab Hubby and I both learned that Alcoholism is a hereditary disease. In talking with the kids, we explained it as an allergy; ‘some people can drink alcohol with no problems, other people can’t’. It may not BE an allergy, but it’s a realistic analogy. We also learned it takes hard work, not to mention that family and friend support is crucial. This was a HUGE help for me in not being resentful at the time he spent at AA meetings and with his sponsor. These times away were for the long run and this was a marathon for our entire family.

For my Hubby (and I know this doesn’t hold true for everyone), drinking alcohol is a non-issue. He has no desire or urge whatsoever. He lost his job, career, financial status, friends, and years in prison to alcohol…no amount of Miller Lite is going to wash that taste out of his mouth. Ever. As for me, I can take it or leave it. On that note, we keep our house “dry”, it is a small sacrifice for me in supporting him. On occasion, I do meet up with my girlfriends or my mom or my sister and have a glass of wine. Just not with my husband. And it is rare. Maybe once or twice a year. Seriously. Guess what? It’s no big deal. However, everyone is different and I know that for us, we chose to seek God in showing us the way to work it together. It works for us.

The thing is when you are an alcoholic and choose sobriety, your life changes. Even if you don’t go to prison, but have come to your “rock bottom” or close, it is a lifestyle change; sadly not everyone will be on board. Our family recognizes this and respects our dry house and go on about their business in their own homes. Some family members just don’t get it. at all. period. They can’t understand why it’s even an issue. Often they are the ones steady hitting the bars and/or regularly “tying on one”. You just have to be ready to change and willing to put in the sweat equity.

For us, ten years later, our marriage is stronger because we can communicate–even if we disagree on something–and respect each other’s opinions and work toward a compromise. We are setting an example for our children in pushing through difficult times and staying true to your self, even if that choice is contradictory to everything the world tells you. Our health is good (knock wood, we are getting older you know!) and Hubby even ventured back into triathlons at the end of the season last summer. We have jobs (although in this economy and uncertain job market that can change at any time for any one) and are thankful for them. Our finances are improving and recovering from our total drain. Our faith grows. Everyday. So many ways. We take each day, one day at a time. Today is all we have.

Honey, I’m proud of you. Of all your hard work. For every effort you make at improving yourself for us and for yourself. You are an awesome Husband, Father, and Friend and I look forward to every day and am excited to see what God has in store for us for the next decade…and so on and so on!

So far, so good, so much better than it was. 10 years later.

2012 Photo Review, linky loo

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Dwija over at House Unseen is hosting a year-end photo wrap up, aaaaaand being a sucker for link ups (as well as a penchant for family photos…..) I figured I’d join in. My friend Lea does this every year as a slideshow and music, it’s always beautiful and FAR beyond my patience level to put together, but maybe ONE day…after all, this IS the year I learn to KNOW my camera and work Elements!!

It was tough to pick just ONE photo for each month so I did a couple of montages for a few months. THIS should keep me PLENTY busy throughout the remainder of the week with my blog hopping! Head on over and check ’em out and/or join the linkup; it’s going on all month-long. Happy New Year and may 2013 bring YOU plenty of photo ops and joy throughout the year!