Mama Drama Mondays

It's my day at The Mama Dramalogues! Come join me over there. :o)

Becoming fully aware of ASD.

It's a Mystery

Photography by Elle Moss

Over a month ago, I wrote about the possibility of having Sjogrens due to some abnormal bloodwork and a couple of other symptoms, since then, I've been to a Rhuematologist, Neurologist and an Otolaryngologist (ear, nose throat - I know, who knew?). I've stumped all three.

I think the only thing worse than having these symptoms is not having any answers. The Rhuematologist can't figure out why my SSB antibody bloodwork came back positive but not my SSA. Normally, people with Sjogrens test positive for SSA and sometimes, not always for SSB, but it's very rare for an individual to only test positive for SSB. The same bloodtest is also used to determine Lupus, but I know I don't have that. So, she's stumped and sent me to a Neurologist.

My Neurologist asked about symptoms and did a once over to see if there were any red flags. Nope and he said it was really unusual for someone my age to be complaining about dry mouth, normally it's older people. He was stumped and sent me in for an MRI. Can I just say that I've never felt so claustrophobic as when I was getting the MRI. I lied through my teeth when they asked if I was, just to get it over and done with. I almost had a panic attack when I felt my upper body slide far enough into the machine that it it was practically touching my elbows. "Just close your eyes, breathe, breathe, breathe...." The results were normal.

So I was sent to see the Otolaryngologist last Friday and had a lip biopsy done. When it was described to me, it sounded far less invasive that it really was. I was told they would cut a small section from inside my lower lip and that I wouldn't even need stitches. When I got there, I was numbed up and had 4 or 5 glands cut out and definitely had stitches. This meant a liquid diet for the next few days, which I hadn't planned on. Crappy. Imagine the looks I got when I checked out at the grocery with my arms full of Slim Fast drinks and Ben & Jerry's ice cream. "What can I say, I want my ice cream without the guilt." Or I'm on a liquid/soft diet. :oP

Now I'm just sore and only have Ben & Jerry to comfort me. Love those guys. Plus they just came out with my new favorite flavor, Milk and Cookies. Yum! I should have results by the end of the week (they're looking for lymphocytes in the glands). We shall see. Oh and I did I mention that hubby has been gone for the last week and won't be home until Friday? Uh yeah, this past week has been super swell.

Mama Drama Mondays!

She sure looks cute doesn't she? It's all an act and I had no idea how to punish this little stinker... until now. :o)

Mama Drama Monday: Ah-ha!

My Boobs, My Choice... Kind of...

With a catchy title like that, this is sure to be a fun read. Actually, I'm literally shaking because I'm so fuming mad at a Facebook post on my sisters page.

Apparently, CNN posted an article regarding a study about breastfeeding. A couple of authors argued that approximately 911 infant deaths could be avoided each year, if women would breastfeed exclusively, and that $13 billion dollars are spent in excessive costs. The article alone didn't annoy me, it was the interpretation by someone else (sisters friend), who decided to accuse bottle feeding mommas of driving up her insurance premiums and killing innocent children.

First of all, not all bottle feeding moms do it by choice. Personally, I tried to breastfeed both of my children, but unfortunately, I'm simply unable to produce enough milk. I had plenty of resources, lactation consultants, breast pumps, pills and even beer (the yeast in micro brews helps some women), but alas, it wasn't meant to be. My boobs are purely decorative and it took me a while to come to grips with that. In fact, I cried the first time I bought formula. But it is what it is and making me feel guilty, because you have no idea what I've been through, is wrong on so many levels. Throwing "breast is best" statistics in my face, doesn't make my boobs suddenly work. Though you're welcome to tell them directly, but I doubt they'll listen to you either.

Secondly, there isn't a study on Earth that can conclusively determine that any of those children died because they weren't breastfed. It's utterly appalling that anyone would throw statistics like that in the face of grieving parents. "Your child died because you didn't breastfeed. Yup, if you'd just whipped out your boob, like a good mom, your child would still be alive." What kind of monster are you? For every reason those children died (SIDS, etc) there is a breastfed child who has died of the same.

Thirdly, me bottle feeding did not drive up your insurance premiums. I'm willing to bet, I paid far more for formula than you ever did in any potential increases (if you believe that bs). Those "extra costs" they're talking about weren't yours, they're referring to the parents and their costs. And in the grand scheme of things, the number of deaths by "lack of breastfeeding" doesn't even compare to the number of cancer deaths, so why not go after all the smokers who are supposedly driving up your insurance costs?

When it comes to breastfeeding, it's generally a choice (in some cases, like mine, it's not, but for arguments sake, we'll say it's a choice). For those who choose to breastfeed, good for you and for those that don't, good for you. It's highly hypocritical of anyone to say that the other is the wrong, because if you want people to respect your choice, you need to do the same.

Oh, and PS, how do you know that baby bottle isn't filled with breastmilk? Just sayin'.

A Moment of Silence

I love my blog followers, I really do. So when I lose one, I automatically have to assume the worst; they died. What other reason could there be for not wanting to read my skillful repartee? And thus, I feel we need to take a moment of silence to mourn the loss of a follower.

Rest in peace, dear friend, rest in peace.

I'm actually a little weird about numbers. Right now I have 99 followers. I did have 100 and when I had 100, it was perfect. 99 just doesn't have the same ring, or the same number of followers (teehee). But it's an odd number. Can someone else follow me just so I don't have an odd number? It's giving me a complex. :oP

Seriously though, a big thank you to those who follow this blog, you rock! And I appreciate it. Makes me feel much less alone in the blog-o-sphere. And I shall reward you loyalists with a giveaway....coming soon! Who doesn't love free stuff?! Some new blog backgrounds coming soon too. Stay tuned!

YouTube Tuesday

I LOVED watching The Chipmunks as a kid and I loved the movie Chipmunk Adventure even more. I always had to play Brittney, especially during the Girls of Rock 'n Roll song. Ah, those were the days of cartoons, none of that Digi-whatever-crap.
Imagine my surprise and joy when I borrowed the movie from the library and both of my girls loved it. In fact, my oldest always has to play Brittney, especially during the Girls of Rock 'n Roll song. She does the singing, dancing, everything. It's a hoot to watch. She makes me so proud. :o)
Enjoy this trip down memory lane.

Mama Drama Mondays

I'm participating in Mama Drama Monday over at The Mama Dramalogues. Come on over and share your own blog link.

Happy Easter!

Friday Flashback: Fooled You

I thought I'd participate in this week's Friday Flashback because yesterday has me reminiscing about the worst April Fool joke I ever pulled. I don't like April Fool's Day, and I don't normally participate, but a few years ago, I was talked into pulling the worst prank.

Jim and I were visiting his family and I was out running errands with his mom Pat and sister-in-law Jennifer. We got to talking about April Fool's pranks (it was April 1st) and Jennifer said she should tell her husband she was pregnant (they already had 4, so he would have freaked). Then Pat joked that she should tell Bill she was pregnant, which I personally thought would have been a hoot. Totally unbelievable, but funny nonetheless. Then they both looked at me and said, "Holly should do it!"

At the time, Peri was only 18 months old, so the thought of having another one was scary. However, I agreed and since Jim's twin sister was pregnant at the time, we had her pee on the stick (just in case I needed proof to pull off the prank).

I am NOT a good liar, in fact, I hate lying. My conscience won't let me do it and it literally makes me sick. I actually cried when I told Jim, which only played into the lie, and I felt even worse when he was so supportive. We had all planned on eating out at a restaurant where his cousin worked, and we were going to send out his dessert with a big April Fool's sign in it.

Once we got there, I just couldn't do it anymore. My stomach was in knots and I couldn't even eat. I had to tell him before I exploded. I leaned over and whispered, "April Fools." He just looked at me and didn't know what I was talking about. Then it dawned on him and his family just laughed. He laughed too (I think it was a relief laugh), but seriously, no one was more relieved than me. :oP Pretty sure that prank was worse on me than him.

Then 3 months later we got pregnant with our second and she was born April 7th of the following year. April Fools!!!! Serves me right. :oP

*****

Have a flashback of your own? Go on over to Tia's blog at www.christopherandtia.blogspot.com and join in the fun.

Got Milk? 'Cause We've Got Cookies!

Don't deny yourself the fabulous "cookies" in this month's TMD Cookie Jar. Seriously, you'll regret it. For $15, you'll receive ten of the samples listed with a retail value of $60! What's better than that? Okay, you're right, but Johnny Depp was busy, maybe next month.

There are only 10 jars being offered for the entire month of April and once they're gone, they're gone until next month when new cookies will be up for grabs. So don't miss out on this fantabulous deal. Yes, I said fantabulous, what of it? :oP

TMD Cookie Jar

And for those who LOVE giveaways, The Mama Dramalogues has one of those too. :o)

The Mama Dramalogues Giveaway