January 15, 2009

It’s a Miracle

This right here? A miracle.  I’m in awe. I can’t imagine the courage and skill it took for the pilot to land that plane in the Hudson River.

All I can say is, “Thanks be to God.”

Wow.

I’m just….speechless….  And I’m thankful that everyone made it off the plane alive (according to the news, but this is not an official confirmation.  I’m praying that everyone is alive and being well taken care of).

I keep thinking about the fact that I flew into and and out of La Guardia airport.  I went on a Circle Line cruise. I can’t even fathom anything like this happening.  To be on a plane one moment and then landing in freezing cold water the next!  I can’t imagine being on a sightseeing tour and suddenly helping to rescue passengers from a plane crash!

It truly is a miracle.  God works in ways we may never understand or comprehend.

Finally Updating the Blob

I know.  It’s been four whole days since my last post.  I know. My sweet BFF e-mailed me to say, “Hey, DJ!  You gonna update that blob thing soon?”  And I laughed.  Oh how I laughed.  Blob.  That about sums it up.

I wish I had something exciting to report, but I don’t.  It’s been very cold in my part of the earth.  Negative 8 degrees, and worse if you take windchill into account.  It’s so cold that school was canceled last night for today. On my way home from errands last night, I stopped at the grocery store for milk and cereal.  I wanted to get everything I needed so that I didn’t have to go out into the frozen tundra today.  I knew everyone else had the same idea, because there were six cars running in the parking lot and very few spaces to park my car.

As luck would have it, both Doug and I are home today and we’ve sealed our cars in the garage, put blankets over the doors (because we want to keep as much heat as possible in the house) and are bundled up in our long underwear.  No sense in running up the heating bill if we don’t have to.  Dawson, on the other hand, refuses to wear clothes.  He’s running around the house in his pull-up because he says he’s “too hot” and I’m getting cold just watching him.  Nutty little boy.

I’ve got some posts planned for the rest of this week that will be scheduled.  Doug and I are going to Milwaukee this weekend for a little winter getaway.  I got tickets to see Frank Caliendo at The Riverside Theater in downtown Milwaukee.  We are so excited because my tickets are in the first row.  Doug told me the other day, “I hope he doesn’t make fun of the geeks in the front!”  I couldn’t stop laughing.  I’ll try to sneak the video camera in for some Frank footage.

So, that’s what’s up for now.  More exciting posts to follow.

Oh!  I almost forgot!  I’m over at the Imperfect Parent today, talking about motherhood and work and this illusion that women can “have it all”.  Head over there to check it out!

January 11, 2009

The Big ‘O’

I’m kind of afraid to discuss a certain topic, one that nags me every single day, because I’m always worried that if I say too much, if I think about it too much, I’ll jinx it all.

But you see, I’ve gotten some good news!  Small scale good news, but good news just the same, and I feel like I deserve to celebrate this amazing discovery, even if it is silly or completely insane.

I’ve been charting my menstrual cycles for some time now — a little less than a year — and this month is the first in which my chart clearly reflects ovulation.  Yes, that Big ‘O’ — what were you thinking?

I know, it’s goofy to be elated about what most women consider to be a simple thing, but really, ovulating has never been something my body has done effortlessly.

I suffer from PCOS and the disease really messes with me; physically, emotionally, mentally and reproductively.  I take medication for this condition and I will have to take it for the rest of my life (save for a miracle), so when I saw the data on my chart, I cried.  Happy tears.  Tears of joy.

All of the charts before this month had inconclusive data, meaning that it’s possible I ovulated each month but stress or other factors may have affected my physical health and hormone production so there’s no solid proof — and if my ovaries did release eggs, they may not have been viable or were unable to be fertilized.

My doctor believes that for the past year, my body has been trying to adjust and regulate itself and perhaps I’ve finally crossed the threshold.  Maybe this is the month.  Maybe.  I’m not getting my hopes up.  Seriously.  I’m betting I’m not pregnant and I’m okay with that.  The fact that my body is finally working is amazing, and I’m content with this. I feel like I’m one step closer to my wish coming true.

Send all your good luck my way.  You know, just in case.

January 9, 2009

Winter Daydreams

It’s winter in Wisconsin.  Winter here equals snow, sleet, ice and salt.  Yes, salt.  For the roads, silly.  And it’s cold outside.  Dreadfully cold.  Below zero temperatures.  Are you shivering yet?  Grab a blanket. Bundle up.  Hat, mittens, boots, heavy coat.  Baby, it’s cold outside.

A smart person would avoid all this freezing weather and take a vacation.  Bahamas?  Acapulco?  Take your pick.  Me?  I’m dreaming of a long stay on a deserted island.   (You know, because I haven’t got the money to fly south for the winter.)

(Photo by Aaron Escobar)

Oh, what a wonderful thought.  No whining children.  No demands for juice and cookies.  No chores.  No one making a mess that I’ll have to clean up.  No crazy people.  Well, other than me, I mean.  No television.  No internet.  Wait!  No internet?  Okay.  No internet.

(photo by StGrundy)

Just me on a sandy beach surrounded by warm water.  I can picture myself sitting under a coconut tree, reading all the books that are piled up next to my night stand — with no interruptions.

Or, I could bring a journal and just write.  Write like I used to, on actual paper, with a pencil.

Ooh.  I could sleep all day and no one would disturb me to ask ridiculous questions.

And I could swim in the ocean for as long as I wanted, without worrying about children drowning because there are no children on my island.

And I could wear my swimming suit without a shirt over it, because no one else is on my sandy beach.  Hell, I could even swim in the buff.  I haven’t done that since high school.

Sounds perfect doesn’t it?  I can almost feel the warm breeze on my face.

Oh, wait.  That’s just the furnace kicking on.

Yeah…  It’s cold in Wisconsin.