An Endoscopy, Orientation, and Going Back to Work

I have been frittering away my summer. Yes, frittering. I realized I hadn't written my blog since August 1! Many things have happened since then. None of them were life-altering events, but I've enjoyed my last weeks of my "surgical vacation".

1. My yearly endoscopy revealed an ulcer.

Normally people are not excited to find "something" when they are going through testing. I, however, feel validated when something is found. Since March, I've known something has not been quite right. My medication wasn't quite right, or wasn't working, and I was feeling a lot more pain and all-over discomfort. I had been back and forth to my doctor, only to have my medication changed, dosage increased, or a test scheduled. My endoscopy revealed an ulcer, so I know that I was not imagining things. I had to have more blood work done this morning to test for some other things, but am overall satisfied with the result. I just need to work on getting rid of this ulcer now!

2. Today was Orientation for me at Edinboro University.

Part of me was really excited, while still feeling anxious, and a little bit scared. It was a long day. A lot of it was not necessary for me, but it was mandatory, so I had to go. I met one new friend, named "Danielle", so that was kind of exciting. I probably won't get to see her again since she's not in my major and I'm not living on campus, but it was nice to hang out with her for a little while. I also made Curtis go with me. That's just how insecure I am. I did not want to go alone, so I made Curtis go with me. I needed my best friend there with me.

3. I get to go back to work tomorrow.

This is happening so quickly! I don't have my six week appointment until next week, but I have been allowed to go back to work tomorrow. I am actually looking forward to it, although I will miss my kids. Since my mom was at the house to help while I was at the hospital and at school, she just took the kids home with her. I am sure they will have fun, but will like having them back at the house. If Max and Alex were just a little bit older, I would be able to leave them at home, but I think they are still just a little bit young for it. So, after my month-or-so off of work, I get to return to it tomorrow. Maybe after tomorrow, I'll wish I hadn't gone back early!!!!

Sea Wolves, Reading, and Outings

It has been entirely too long since I last wrote my three best things. It was my intention when I started this blog to do this on a daily basis, but my life is getting busier.

Since it has been over a week, here are my highlights:

1. Today we went to an Erie Sea Wolves Game.

The Erie Sea Wolves is a minor league baseball team. We love going to the games. The tickets are generally cheap or free, they usually have freebies of some sort and they have lots of fun activities during the game for the kids, and there's not a bad seat in the park. Today was the WQLN Kids Club day at the park, so our kids got to high-five the players as they called the starting lineup. And, when we came into the park, they asked Max and Alex if they wanted to play a game during the game. So, Max and Alex got to go out on the field and play a game, running the bases, while putting on an over-sized uniform. Not only was it fun for us to watch, but the kids had a great time participating. We didn't get to stay till the end of the game. A couple of the kids just had too much of a hard time with the down time of baseball. Alex and I really wanted to see who won, and we were getting really into it, but the other kids wanted to go home.

After we left the game, we took the kids to Barnes and Noble for a Summer Reading contest. The kids read eight books to participate, and were given a book for completing the reading. I love these programs because my kids are avid readers. It rewards them for doing something that is quickly becoming a lost art in this age.

2. As a family, we read "The Call of the Wild."

As I stated in the above paragraph, my children are becoming avid readers. Zoey is not a reader yet. I decided that by reading a story to the kids, they would all have the opportunity to enjoy a good book. We read to Zoey, but not usually chapter books. The boys had to read chapter books for their summer reading projects. So, by reading a classic, they got to hear something different. And, they loved it. Max even said he wanted to save the book to read to his children when he is older, and living with Grandma Mae.

3. I got to go get my hair done, and had a class this Saturday.

I am just excited to get out from time to time. I got to get my hair done on Thursday. My kids came with me, so it wasn't a completely alone outing, but it was great, just the same. On Saturday I had my First Aid/CPR class. I will be able to use this course for one of my college courses. So I get three credits for a one-day course, and am done with my first college class before my first semester even begins! Yay!