Random Babling

Well, I have almost made my first day back at work. I thought earlier that I wouldn’t. As soon as I get home- I am going to bed. My staff has been very supportive- and have pretty much left me alone. I have accomplished several “desk tasks” so I have not been totally unproductive. I will tell you- this WP stuff has been rough. I have 0 energy at the moment. I am, as my Mother used to say- “Weak as water!” I hope tomorrow will bring me a better day.
On a happier note- I know I have been out a week, but today I have had several people comment on my weight loss. Okay- 28 pounds is not that much on me, but I can tell a difference and apparently so can about 5 or 6 of my co-workers. When people comment, it does help to motivate you to stay the course.
I am moving on. I guess I will try to give the BOE another hour or so of work.

Mental Illness- What a Nightmare!

Well, I think I am better. Not well- but better. I am still just so tired. It seems like every little thing wears me out. I am going to try to work tomorrow as I plan to be off for the FHU Lectureship the following week. I hate being sick. I am so tired of TV, and our Internet is so slow that it is only frustrating.
The weekend has been rough. We knew MaMa was on a “high”, but boy is she. David, Billy, and Mary are with her in the ER at Brookwood, trying to get her admitted. From what Mary called and told me, I can imagine the ER will be glad to see her go to a room. She is loud, and wild, among other things. How sad mental illness can be. This is a good, Godly woman, who would for the world not want to be like she is at this moment. She is quiet and unassuming- just the opposite of the mental illness that overtakes her at times. She has never wanted to draw attention to herself, and now she is doing just that. One of the blessings of her disease is that when she does improve, she does not remember the things that she had done. The nursing home called last night and then again this morning- they were at a loss as to what to do. They are limited in being able to restrain someone, but that is what she really needed. David has been in a nightmare trying to get her a bed somewhere where they do the treatments that she needs. Apparently there is no short supply of people needing beds on psychiatric units. Then, Mary said if they got her a bed it would probably be where someone would have to stay with her. We might be able to arrange that for a day or two, but sadly we all have to work. I have just been too sick to sit with anyone. Hopefully we can get her back with her doctor at UAB and get something done (the unit at UAB is closed because of a virus, the unit at Princeton is full, and now the unit at Brookwood is full.) My poor husband has a lot on him at the moment. He is dealing with the legalities of having both parents in the nursing home, trying to get the paperwork needed to sell the family home, and dealing with Medicaid on a daily basis. I know a little of what he is going through, but not to the extent. We should have handled some of this years ago, but no one thinks that things like this will happen. Pray for us and especially pray for MaMa.

The Walking Pneumonia or the Boogie Woogie Flu

Well, as you can tell by the time on this post, my walking pneumonia has me walking. I am still pretty sick. I got up and googled the disease, and while most sites say many patients will not be bed-ridden, I have been pretty much off my feet since Tuesday. I have no energy (common symptom), and the cough worsens at night (the cough syrup helped but was making me a zombie). The one symptom that I do not have is loss of appetite. Why do I never seem to have that problem?
I did not make it to WW last night, but I did my own weigh-in based on what I weighed when I came home last Thursday night, and I have lost 7 pounds this week. That puts my total at about 25. Let’s not get excited yet- although I am back in pants that I could not wear. David is doing well on his plan and I can already tell a great difference in his appearance. Kim said that Sally, Robin, and Brianna were at WW last night to join. It is helpful to have the troops all working on the “project”.
I am going to have to miss the survivor weekend, and I hate that. I have missed very few things during the years, but I know that I am in no shape to head to camp. I just pray that I get to go back to work on Monday as I have used 4 sick days this week, and I don’t want to use any more.
Keep me in your prayers. I know this is not something that serious, but I am really hoping to see the sun come out soon! I am not used to having anything that lasts more than a day or two, so I am an impatient patient. I just hope to get some energy back, as I am tired of dragging. Google said it might be a week from the start of antibiotics- I hope not, although I am on day 4.
I hope all my church family enjoys the weekend. Survive for me- I will return next year the Good Lord willing!!!

Tag

I was tagged by Kim :
The Rules: Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog.
Share 5 random and/or weird facts about yourself on your blog.
-OR-
Share the 5 top places on your “want to see or want to see again” list.
-OR-
Share 5 things you never pictured being in your future when your were 25 years old.

I guess I will do random and/or weird, or maybe a combo:

1-
Random #1- I have never had a manicure or a pedicure (that might count as 2)
2-
Random # 2- I have never had a permanent
3-
Top 5 want to see- Greece- the Equator channel on HD has had the most wonderful documentary on areas of Greece that are not touristy- they are unreal!
4-
Top 5 never pictured- That I would have the family that I have today.
5-
Top 5 never pictured- That as a preacher’s family, we would be at the same congregation for (in July) 30 years! What a testimony to loving people and a husband who is extraordinary!

As a side note- I finally gave in and went to the doctor yesterday. As I have stated on the blog several times, I have had a bad cough since the week of Thanksgiving. I just have not been able to shake it. I would have better days, and then some days that were really bad. As most of you might remember, MaMa had walking pneumonia right before she went into the hospital at Thanksgiving- well, guess what I have- yep- Walking Pneumonia. It hit me Monday night in the Galleria big time. I had been okay most of the day, and I started coughing and honestly felt as if though I was going to hit the floor. I hope that I have not infected others, but as the doc said someone gave it to us. They do a blood test for WP and he said I had a good old case. I got a shot and medicine. I also got some cough syrup that would put an elephant to sleep, I believe. I am already better, and if I continue to improve, I plan to go back to work on Friday.
Also, I don’t know if I will get to go to WW tomorrow night, but I am going to try. I have lost about 23 pounds since I started my latest venture. I will be honest, if you have the fortitude to follow WW, you will not go hungry. You also get flex or as I say “cheat” points that come in handy for eating out, etc. So you can really have a splurge or two a week and if you follow the plan, you will still loose weight. Really, it is just sensible eating, but I am so not sensible about food! I have also discovered some neat little Swiss Rolls made by Mrs. Freshley (I believe that is the name- they are were the Little Debbie cakes are at Walmart but they are just $1.00 a box!) that have 200 calories for the 2 rolls and after you eat them you have your sweet tooth and chocolate tooth in check. Try them- they are really good. Let me know what you think if you do try them.

Prayers Needed

As an update to the post below- I got up and listened to the program this morning. Bubba and Speedy conducted the program. Bubba explained what happened-
Sherri was home with the boys (she had not gone to Tennessee with Rick). She put the boys in front of the TV to watch a movie, checked the doors, and went to take a shower. When she got out she realized that Bronner was missing and found an open door. She immediately went to the pool and apparently found him and got him out. She called the next door neighbor who is a doctor. The neighbor began to try CPR and worked on him until the emergency personnel arrived. They tried everything, but he apparently was already dead when Sherri got him out of the pool. They did not say if the pool was covered. This will be a hard thing for this family to deal with. The funeral is tomorrow and Rick is scheduled to speak. While I would never consider going, they have encouraged the listeners to attend.

I am feeling kind of sad today. When I got to church Josh asked me if I had heard that Rick Burgess’s youngest son had died. I was speechless. For those that do not know, Rick is part of the morning radio duo, Rick and Bubba. I have been a devoted listener for many years, even before they were so popular. Their local radio program is now syndicated nationwide, and they are heard in many states. Rick has 5 children, a daughter and 4 sons. The youngest, Cornbread, as Rick referred to him, was Bronner, age 2. Apparently Bronner drowned in the family swimming pool last night a little after 7. To my understanding, Rick and Sherri were in Gatlinburg (Rick was speaking at a religious conference for young people, I believe) and I was told that one of the grandmothers had the younger children at their own home. I feel so for this family, for Rick and Sherri, and for that grandmother. I can’t imagine the guilt that you would feel, even though this was a tragic accident. Young children can vanish in the flash of an eye, or the amount of time an adult could take a trip to the bathroom. While I don’t know these people, I very much feel that I do. What a tragedy. My heart aches for their loss. Remember them in your prayers- they will need them. Josh said he heard Rick talk to a caller this week that had lost a child and Rick stated that he knew that must be the hardest thing in the world to go through and he prayed he would never know that pain. There are no guarantees in this life. None of us come with a warranty, not even the young. Tragedies such as this should make us all want to give our children and grandchildren an extra hug.
Also, please remember Betty Garrison and David's mother, Betty, in your prayers. Betty Garrison has had a bad week and is still at Princeton. Betty Courington was not doing well today when we were there to visit. Her emotional state seems very unstable.

Snow and Weight Watchers

Well, while I did not wake up to a winter wonderland, it was fun to watch it snow for a short while this morning. Bandit, our beautiful, sweet, lovable, furry, border collie, was covered in snow, and perhaps the cutest thing I saw. I know Addi and Levi had fun and I have not received a Hannah report. Josh is in the woods hunting, so I hope this is his lucky day, as I need to re-stock the freezer!
I started Weight Watchers on Thursday. I think I will enjoy this group as they seem pretty low key. Funny thing, I went to WW over 20 years ago over in Fairfield, and the lady running the “weigh-in” was the same little old lady. I thought she was old then, but I guess that lets you know something about the way we look at age, because she was probably about the age I am now.
It seems kind of sad to pay a company to “motivate” you to eat right. You know, I have a great life. I have a wonderful God, a wonderful church, and a wonderful church family. I have a wonderful husband, the best kids, kid-in-laws (and their parents), and grandkids in the world. I love my sister, my brother, and their families. I love all of David’s family, and consider them my own. I have a great job, a wonderful principal that I work under (who loves to feed me, but is luckily on WW herself), co-workers that are like family, and I work with the greatest kids in the world. I have a second job that is amazing and has afforded me the opportunity to meet so many people and establish friendships through my position. And yet, despite all of this, the one thing I can’t seem to control is my weight. I had a happy childhood (for all the psyco-analysts out there), and suffered no abuse. I was accepted in school and seldom suffered much teasing. I do not eat a pound of bacon at a time- I do not raid the refrigerator at night (I seldom eat ANYTHING after the evening meal)- if I ate a half gallon of ice cream I would be sick, and yet this weight thing has been my lifelong battle. Now granted, I am not an exercise buff, and when I do eat I know I eat the wrong things and too much of it, but I am surrounded by skinny people who do the same thing. I have no health problems, my BP usually runs about 100/55 (yes, you read that right) and my cholesterol is 100 (yes, you read that right as well). So, why can’t I conquer this weight problem? I have lost a little over 20 pounds in the past month, and I feel really good. Why can’t the “good” feeling continue to rise over the “I want to eat” feeling?
Well, enough self-pity. I am off to walk on the treadmill. We dusted it off a few days ago and David has been walking (he is also back on the “program”). So, please pray for us as we once again try to take off the pounds and keep them off.

This and That

Well, we are a week into 2008 and it has been busy at the Courington’s house. We keep thinking we will have a let-up, but that has not been the case. I have tickets to the Pompeii exhibit (Thanks, Lisa!) and I can’t even find a date for us to go. I had thought we would go on MLK day, but they are not open on Monday.
David went hunting with Josh yesterday (according to David, the big one got away despite 2 fired shots), and I had to go get the food for today’s Bible Bowl. I also enjoyed the time out by checking out after Christmas bargains. Target has really had some great deals. We went to the Target on 280 Friday night and between Marty and Susan and us, we filled the back of the van. They had almost all of their Christmas toys on for 75% off the mark-down price. If I had been smart, I would have shopped for next year, but I only picked up a few odds and ends. They also had a dozen wash cloths marked down to 74 cents! I stocked up for me and the girls. I truly love bargains.
I haven’t blogged about my latest weight loss efforts, but I might as well. I decided prior to the holidays that I was not going to gain weight this Christmas, and I succeeded. I have actually lost about 18 pounds in the past few weeks. I had lost and was doing so well prior to the time that PaPa went to the nursing home and MaMa came to live with us. It seems like our world kind of took an upside down turn during those months, and it was very hard to concentrate on dieting. I gained back all but about 10 of the 50 I had lost. I planned to start WW last Thursday, but due to the weather I did not go (found out they met anyway). I am going to start this week. I need some accountability. I might get Paul to put me a weight loss ticker on my blog- you know, one of those that shows how many pounds you have lost- not how much you weigh!!!!!!!!!!! We have been enjoying watching some of the new weight loss programs like Biggest Looser, and the National Weight Loss Challenge. Thanks to our new DVR we can record and watch when we can. Also, thank to the new 47 inch High Def TV I can see how truly yuk fat looks on hd! Cellulite shows up very well when it is life-size!!!
I hope you all have a great week!

Happy New Year!

Well, I have been blessed to see the beginning of another new year. I pray that 2008 will be a great year. Every year is filled with ups and downs, we just pray that the “ups” outweigh the “downs”! We brought in the New Year at Kim and Paul’s house with the young adult class from church. They had plenty of food and fun and fellowship and we enjoyed being with them.
2007 was a busy year. We saw the arrival of Baby Lila (the best baby in the world) in October, so that was one of the definite highlights. Hannah celebrated her first birthday in August, and hit the floor running! Addi and Levi are growing and going. They are all smart and beautiful, and as David jokingly says, “Not an idiot in the bunch.” Being a grandparent has to be one of the greatest things in the world.
We pray that this year will see Mary get the “call” for her liver transplant. She is #6 on the list, and we learned from Lisa that #7 received his transplant during the holidays and is doing well. This is not a list that one wants to be on, but liver transplants have come a long way. People generally do very well. Mary’s particular disease has only had an effect on the liver, so her general health is good, which means she will have an advantage over someone that has other health problems. I anticipate that she will be the Queen of Liver Transplants!
We are looking forward to a busy winter and spring, and last night when we got in bed David began to run down a list of all the things on our docket, making me tired to think about it in one lump! We will handle it as it comes.
We are praying for each of you in this year of 2008. We cherish our family and friends and we feel of all men most blessed. Life is good.