Life/Health Update

Hey there! Some new changes have been happening around here -in a GOOD way for once.

After 3.5 years in braces-thank you covid-they are OFF and I LOVE MY SMILE!! It was so worth the wait. I have been trying all the lipsticks and all the glosses and all the whitening strips. I lick my teeth all day to feel the SMOOTHNESS. I vainly look in anything reflective to see my teeth. I felt a little bad, but then I thought, you know what? I fucking deserve this. This has been a long time coming and I deserve to feel beautiful.

I have a sweet story to share that I feel gives you a glimpse into the marriage Dave and I have and the kind of man I married. You see, I picked a good one. A really good one. He remembers the little details and he remembers the big ones. He remembers things like; what I like on my sub sandwich, something I saw once when I was with him that he later returned to buy and gift me that I had completely forgotten about, my favorite books, obscure facts I have mentioned in passing, how I like to sleep, my favorite foods…speaking of foods. This man has fed

me everything he has remembered I couldn’t/didnt like to eat with braces on. Things like broccoli, peanuts, salad, Snickers, things are still occurring daily! Things I didn’t even remember and when he brought it to me each time I squealed in delight! One, because YUM and YAY I forgot and couldn’t wait to eat it, but TWO, because every time, I was more in awe that he remembered. In fact, I accused him of having a secret list somewhere and every time I had said it in the past, he jotted it down. But no, he is that observant and caring. When he loves you, he loves you. The same goes for his kids. He pours every ounce of himself into them. I hope he knows how appreciated and loved and needed he is. No one could do a better job.

Second, I got a new job! I am a preschool teacher in my OWN classroom with my own kiddos and I am SO EXCITED! I start on April 19 and I will still be subbing on the side. I am both excited and nervous about working full-time again, but Jade can come with me in the summer/fall. I think it will be a good fit and I am looking forward to starting.

Health update! My Mom went with me today to get some scheduled tests done. First, was the CT scan with contrast. I had to get an IV which I hate, but the techs were funny and had me laughing the whole time. Funny story, the contrast they inject you with has 3 weird side effects. One, you get a warm feeling starting in the roof of your mouth. Then, you get a metallic taste in your mouth and the best for last, you feel like you are peeing. Don't worry though, Luke assured me many times I wasn't actually peeing. Great… Then I was told not to swallow anymore while in the machine which made me want so badly to say, “That’s what she said,” and then I laughed because I am a 12-year-old boy and I was worried I was really going to pee. So we got that done with and then I was off to ultrasound. That tech was more business, less pleasure, and so it was all work and no play. “Deep breath and hold. Now breathe. Deep breath and hold. Now breathe.” like a broken record. All while stabbing her tools into me. What a job. I actually would rather get the CT scan with my buddy Luke. Anyway, that's done and I will get the results Monday or Tuesday. I couldn’t eat or drink 8 hours before the appointment which was at 3 pm so I was pretty grouchy by the time I got there. That was so mean making it that late in the day!

Not much else to report. Jade’s Birthday is over and it officially kicked off the “Season of Birthdays” aka “Broke Season”. April has 5 birthdays of my own 2 children and my sister and her oldest boy and my sister-in-law. May is Mother's Day and my own Moms birthday. Add in Easter and Spring Break, plus the beginning of spring sports and you have a recipe for FUN. Heh. My mother-in-law, Diane, loved the Berenstein Bear series and had all of them. Many were gifted to us after she passed and one, in particular, stands in my memory, especially around this time of year. The book is called, “The Berenstain Bears and Too Much Birthday.” She would read it to the kids and always say that’s what the end of April felt like for us. For her, it was October and November.

So I will enjoy this short lull before TOO MUCH BIRTHDAY!

Love and Light,