Meds

I have been on the meds for my Essential Tremor for a solid month now.

Both the pharmacist and the neurologist recommended that I give it 4-6 weeks to "kick in".

I have been assessing my tremor to determine if there has been any change.

Honestly, I don't think there has been.  Which can happen in some cases, and apparently an increased dosage will not help either.

Not that I want to up my dosage anyways.  I have been feeling very blech and VERY tired lately.  I have been extremely unmotivated, which is not ideal since we move in a month and I'm supposed to be working on a large essay for another class.  I just can't seem to get the energy to do much of anything these days.  In fact a simple trip up the stairs has tired me out some days.

Last night I actually looked up the side effects of this particular drug to see if what I'm feeling is "normal".

Here's what it says:  Dizziness, lethargy, weakness, drowsiness, headache, insomnia, fatigue, anorexia, anxiety, mental depression, poor concentration, reversible amnesia and catatonia, vivid dreams with or without insomnia, hallucinations, paresthesia, incoordination.

Right.

So the lethargy, weakness, drowsiness, fatigue, depression and insomnia are not just in my mind.  It's really from this drug.

And really are those symptoms all supposed to be different from each other?  I'm surprised that they listed that many similar side effects.

No wonder I've felt so tired!!

So I have made the decision to discontinue these meds.  I have wean myself off of them slowly since it also affects my blood pressure and heart rate.  But I'm ready to get back to "normal" again, if such a thing is possible.

It just means that I need to get used to having this stupid tremor forever.

I KNOW that the effects of the meds just isn't worth it either.  However, I need to learn how to not be embarrassed by the shaking when people comment on it.  Which is challenging since "stress and social interactions tend to worsen the tremor".

Lovely.

At least I won't be so exhausted all of the time.

Changes

From This:

To This:

SMART Magical Classroom

Have you ever seen your child's classroom come to life?

The technology available to our kids today is so amazing!

Click here to watch the Magical Classroom video.  I sure wish this had been available to us when we were kids.  School would have been so much fun!

The SMART Board interactive whiteboard offers sensational technology for the learning environment and through dedicated teachers who share SMART's passion for learning, this technology becomes a powerful and meaningful tool for both teachers and students.  

Our elementary school is fortunate to have several SMART Boards so I have seen a few cool demonstrations during a recent "Open House" that the teachers hosted.

The principle handed out some electronic devices to several parents in the audience and "tested" them on some questions related to the school.  The SMART Board was able to show who hadn't buzzed in with their answers yet, but it also formed the answers into a graph.  It provided a great visual for everyone, and it looked very easy for the principle to use.


In Brie's Kindergarten room we also saw what the kids do every morning with the SMART Boards.  They check out the weather, and play interactive games with the touch of a finger on the screen.  It made sounds and was very colorful and exciting to watch!  


Would you like to win a SMART Board for your school?


Join the SMART Love of Learning Facebook page to enter and share who your favorite teacher is, or was!


Or for details on how to start fundraising you can also check out the Parent's Toolkit (click on the tool jar for more information).


***This blog post is part of a Mom Central Canada campaign***

Happily Ever Laughter

Happily Ever Laughter
by:  Ken Davis

Happily Ever Laughter captures real-life stories from couples—stories chosen for their humor, variety of settings, and diversity of years married. As readers laugh along with each couple described, they will begin to understand that being able to see the humor in life helps greatly in keeping one’s marriage happy and healthy through the years. Includes stories from Chonda Pierce, Bob Stromberg, Daren Streblow, Kendra Smiley, Jeff Allen, John Branyan, Rhonda Rhea, David Dean, Dave Veerman, and Neil Wilson.


My Review:   I thought this was a fun and light-hearted book.  I have heard Ken Davis speak before so I was expecting more of a fall-off-of-my-seat-because-I-was-laughing-so-hard kind of book, but this was still enjoyable.  I found that the short stories compiled in this book served as a good reminder to take the time to laugh with my husband.  It is easily read in small amounts, and would also make a good gift for a married couple - young or old.  


***I received a copy of this book from the Tyndale Media Centre in exchange for my review***

Critters

Living in a small town for the last 5 years, we have seen quite a variety of wildlife in our very own backyard.

Mostly it has been the usual birds and hummingbirds (which I'm currently waiting for), butterflies and bees, etc.

We have also seen many frogs, which the kids and cats always enjoy.

There has also been a garter snake.

MANY mice, and even a gopher that one of the cats scared into our shed.

A salamander that John found one evening.

A few days ago it was a new one.

Our sweet cat Jessie had brought her latest catch home.

What was it?

A bunny.

Yes.  A real jack rabbit bunny.

It was very cute, but unfortunately it was also very dead.

Later on the cats were "feasting" on it.  Ella looked over at the remains and said, "Look!  There is chicken inside!"

Heh heh heh!

She cracks me up.

Except for tonight.  This was the exception.

We had the hyperventilating freak-out child.

All because of a teeny tiny tick.

I'll be the first to admit that those hideous creatures creep me out.  I am a city girl and honestly had not seen one before a few years ago.  I am sure these things are pure evil.

I normally don't see them often, maybe once a year.  But this year already I have seen lots.  It must be an abnormally high season for them already.

Ella's freak-out "session" tonight was something else.

John had just returned to work for his evening shift after a brief supper break.  Only a couple of minutes later I was running bath water for the girls.

Which is when we discovered the spawn of satan.  Also known as the tick.

I didn't want to alarm the poor girl so I just tried to brush it off quickly.  Eww!  Unfortunately it was already attached.

Not my department, so I called John.

I also called him yesterday to rescue me from the 4 LARGE bumblebees that were in my house.  (we get them every year in the spring and can't figure out how to stop them from sneaking into the house)  I'm scared of stinging insects and really am no good to anyone if I am trapped with them inside my house!

Great guy that he is, he came home and helped out with the nasty tick.

Blech.

But it took a good 15 minutes of freaking out from Ella first.

We were mad and frustrated with each other and her.

She was either sobbing and/or clinging to me, or she was clutching her throat like she couldn't breathe from all of the energy she was pouring into her protests.

Brie was also crying because she was scared for Ella.

However we made it through to the other side.

Barely.

But we made it.

Whew.

Stressful

We are back at home after a crazy week away.

John and I had reviewed MLS for weeks and months leading up to our house-hunting trip so we figured that we had a pretty good idea of which house we would buy.

Until we drove past it and saw all of the exterior flaws that were not evident through pictures.

Let me just tell you that MLS can make a scary house look awesome.

However, pictures do not show the smell of cat pee throughout a house.

Or the PILES of dog poop in the backyard.

Or the fact that a house is really a mobile home placed onto a foundation.

Or the smell of cigarette smoke.

Or the serious work that would need to be done on a house.

Yikes.

We were so worried that we wouldn't find anything.

In fact it actually became a process of elimination.  Which house do we Dislike The Least?

Sad, but true.

However I think we will be pleased with the home we chose.  It has a new kitchen, new flooring, new windows.  The one big downside is that it only has 2 bedrooms on the main floor.  There are 2 more rooms in the basement, however I'm just not confident that either of our girls are ready for that adjustment, especially with the stress of moving and switching schools already.

So we left the decision up to them and they have chosen to share a room.  Which of course means that they need a bunkbed.

We also have many other purchases that are necessary:
New fridge (as our existing one is old and probably won't come out of the kitchen now anyways)
Dishwasher (portable, since the redone kitchen does not have room for a built-in one)
Water softener (in small town Sask this is a necessity!)
Book shelves (goodbye built-in wall units...sniff..sniff)
Area rugs (no carpet on the main floor and I am always cold)
Loveseat or Couch for main floor living room
Computer Desk, ours was free many years ago and it is ugly

Oh yeah, and we also said that THIS time we would buy a house with a garage.  We have said it before, but never ending up purchasing one that came with.  So of course, this house does not have one either.

We are looking into the possibility of putting up our own, but the lot is small and it also is beside an alleyway.  It may not work, but we will check it out anyways.

So those costs are adding up VERY quickly!

It was a stressful trip.  The only saving grace was meeting John's new co-workers who all seem really nice.  Plus, we stayed an hour away at a wonderful hotel where we could soak in the warm water every evening to unwind.

The drive everyday was beautiful!  I am looking forward to living in another section of the province that I am not familiar with.  We saw a lot of wildlife which is something that I never tire of.

So in about 6 weeks time, we will be moving.

The reality of it hasn't quite hit me yet.

5 Years

Tomorrow marks the 5-year anniversary of our move into our current home as well as  the beginning of a new journey for our family.  Since our time here is coming to a close, I thought it would be fun to look back on the last 5 years and highlight the big changes that this brought for us.  Some are lighthearted, and some are more serious, but I hope you enjoy looking back with me...

(I have tried numerous times to change the format of this post but it just isn't cooperating!  So I guess all of these points will be #1.  Sorry!)

1. New Career - Obviously this was a big career change for John since he came from a machine shop.  Switching to policing required 6 months of hard-core training away from home and we were so anxious to be together as a family again.  Then there was the adjustments of shift-work, being on-call, learning all there is to learn (and continue learning!) about small town policing.  For me it was learning how to survive as a police wife, as it can be very stressful when he gets called out to deal with those crazy people out there.

1. Small Town Life - Both of us grew up as “city kids” so we really had no idea what to expect when we moved to a town that neither one of us was familiar with.  It took me a long time to adjust to life as a SAHM here when there is nowhere to escape to on those hair-pulling days of insanity.  It took a while to get to know people and feel like this was “home”.  In the beginning we took a LOT of trips back to the city just to feel normal, but eventually the city just became too loud and obnoxious.  Small town life is peaceful and quiet.  No one is rushed or rude when you stand in line at the grocery store.  People know us by name everywhere we go.  Sure, that has it’s downside too, but I have come to really embrace it over time.

1. Having Our 2nd Child - Very shortly after we moved here I found out that we were expecting Ella.  We were certainly surprised that it happened so quickly, especially since getting pregnant the first time around was a lot more difficult.  This certainly contributed to not getting to know people very quickly as I suffered from the “morning” sickness (yeah more like all day!) for MANY months.  However once Ella was born we were able to get out more and start making some friends.  She has brought so much joy and laughter into our family with her wacky personality and we love her dearly!

1. Got a Mini-Van - Yep.  We are one of “those” people.  And we have no shame in it.  Really they hold lots of stuff and are great.  

1. Started Scrapbooking - When Ella was born someone gave me a beautiful scrapbook as a gift.  I really had no desire to begin this hobby, but I found out the price of the album ($50) and thought I should at least give it an honest effort to try it out.  What a surprise when I found out that I actually enjoyed it!

1. Friends - I wish I could say it was all good, but the reality of life is that some friends are just there for a season. This has always been a sore spot for me (which really could be a blog post all on it’s own but I’m just not ready to be THAT open), but I am trying to work through it the best that I can.  I have lost friendships, made new ones, and regained others.  The great thing though is that my dear friend Kristi knew we were moving here and prayed for us before we even got here.  She is someone that I can laugh with, cry with, and pray with.  Our husbands are friends, and our kids are too!  You really can’t ask for anything better, which is why we get together so often.  When I think about leaving and moving away, they are the ones I think of first.  God has truly blessed us with their incredible friendship and I KNOW that we will be friends for life!  She has told me that she will be singing “Friends” by Michael W Smith at our church farewell.  Normally I find this to be a super cheesy song, but I was at his concert last night (assisting at a Compassion table) and was bawling in the darkness of the balcony as the reality our our move hit me.  

1. Learned How to Quilt - it was actually my friend Kristi who asked me if I wanted to help her make a baby quilt for a mutual friend.  I thought it would be fun to try and it made a great keepsake too.  We ended up making several baby blankets together, and I have successfully made 2 others on my own.  I also made Brie’s quilt and have the good intention (I already have the fabric) to work on one for Ella as well.  

1. I Began Blogging - Little Missus Sunshine is actually my third blog.  Initially I began blogging as a way to connect with friends and family from a distance, but it has since evolved into doing product reviews as well, which I really enjoy.  

1. Started Teaching Music Pups - I was looking for something to “do”, aside from being a SAHM.  My mother-in-law had actually recommended this to me several times before I gave it any consideration.  But eventually I took some training and started up my own early childhood music program.  I taught several sessions with parents and their little ones and we had lots of fun together.  This past fall I led music at Ella’s preschool, which had new challenges in a class of 22 without any parents to assist, but we had lots of laughs too. 

1. We sponsored our first child with Compassion - I was at a Breakforth conference in Edmonton 3 years ago with my sister when we moved felt moved to sponsor a child with Compassion.  This was one of the greatest decisions for my family as we correspond with Ashly, and more recently Mary, on a regular basis.  I believe that God  is using this organization to do amazing things around the world, and I am blessed to be a part of it.  The Michael W. Smith concert saw approximately 60 new children find sponsors and I was so honored to be a witness to it.

1. We bought a piano! - LOVE IT.  Playing piano will be a lifetime hobby for me.  I’m not sure what our lessons will look like after we move, or who they will be with, but we will find a way to make it work.  This was a lifelong dream for me, and I’m so thrilled to have the opportunity to play.

1. Attending a Small Struggling Church - We moved from a church of 1200 in the city to a church of 25.  What a shocker.  One of our first weeks there, a “new” song was introduced circa 1970.  John and I exchanged glances that said, “What have we done and why are we stuck here?!?”  Music is just one of the areas that have been a struggle.  But yet we have learned to celebrate the small victories in our church.  They have really become our church family and we will be sad to leave them, especially since a wonderful woman there is actively involved with teaching Sunday School and keeping the kids excited about coming to church.

1. Got a Referral to a Neurologist - Just over a year ago I mentioned that I was experiencing what my family doctor thought to be an Essential Tremor in my hands.  I only recently made it in to see the neurologist who also believes it to be the same thing.  I am trying some meds to see if it helps to reduce the shaking of my hands, but so far I haven’t noticed any changes, although it was suggested to try it for at least a month so I will keep at it for now.  

1. I Decided to Take University Classes - No one was more shocked than me when I decided to return to school.  I had thought of taking one or two classes (to open up some reception-related opportunities) but never considered pursuing a bachelor’s degree.  Yet the more I thought about it, the more I realized that I needed to think long-term and not just a couple of years ahead.  Suddenly I knew that I wanted to become a social worker, because I love helping people and any volunteer work I have done in the past has always centered around this idea.  The doors just opened for me to take distance classes through the U of R.  I was so worried about how I would do on the schoolwork, and although it doesn’t come easily I have been impressed with knowing that I can do it.  (Some classes have been more challenging than others, but to add a little brag.....91% is my highest final mark!!!!!!)  At the end of June I will have completed almost one fifth of the entire degree program.  So still a long ways to go, but one class at a time, right?    

1. Sold Our House - This has been a big stress for us.  We missed out on big housing boom in Saskatoon 5 years ago and we were worried about making anything on this house.  For that reason we were reluctant to make any big changes to the house, other than a few small renos.  John knew of another RCMP member who is moving here to replace him and emailed him a few pictures.  They were very interested and begged us to hang onto the house until they could come see it.  We spoke with our realtor who suggested we could list the house last Friday (one week ago) and sign a document stating that we wouldn’t take offers until Wednesday, giving this member the opportunity to look at our house.  We ended up with THREE offers on Wednesday.  All THREE parties then gave a second higher offer when they were advised of the competition.  WOW.  Thank you God!  The sale is now completed and we are free to go look at houses in our new destination which due to some staff-shortages was either going to be this coming week (if we could sell our house quickly) or not until the end of June.  The end of June being when we want to take possession of a new house, not start searching.  It has been super stressful but God just continues to remind us that he is helping us out.  Why am I so slow to figure this out?

Never Let You Go

Never Let You Go

By Erin Healy

Losing everything has made Lexi hold those she loves tightly. Hell is determined to loosen her grip.

Lexi lives in the shadow of choices her husband made. Especially Grant’s choice to leave seven years ago, without a word. Her relationship with their daughter, Molly, is now the most important thing in her life. Lexi will do anything—work grueling hours, attend church on her only day off, sacrifice financially—just to see Molly smile.

When Grant shows up declaring his intent to re-enter their daughter’s life, Lexi is skeptical of his motives. She soon determines not to let him near Molly. Then a drug dealer named Warden arrives on Lexi’s doorstep, demanding payment of Grant’s old debts.

But that's just the earthly perspective. Staggering supernatural events are spilling into her world in real and shocking ways. Hell's fury is great, but Heaven's power is greater still. In a novel that defies easy categorization, this has all the early buzz of the breakthrough read of 2010.

My Review:  I'm not sure if it's because of all the other stuff going on in my life right now, but I had a hard time getting through this book.  I really wanted to try reading Erin Healy because I am aware that she has co-authored with Ted Dekker before and that alone piqued my interest.  I honestly think that I was expecting a more captivating story that what I found.  That being said, this book had lots of action and suspense.  I enjoyed getting to know the characters and following along as they struggled to understand what was taking place in their lives.  I just think it could have been smoothed out a little more, and some of the confusing supernatural plot lines could have been explained better.  It was a decent book however.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com <http://BookSneeze.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 

So Blessed

This weekend we were finally able to put our house on the market, despite some craziness in the weeks and days leading up to it.

So far we have 3 VERY interested parties.

Only 2 of whom have viewed the house.

The third interested party is actually the member who is replacing John.  We had emailed them some pictures a while back and they are coming out tomorrow night to view the house.

Because of this member not able to come out any sooner, we chose to not accept any offers until Wednesday.

At this point we may be looking at 3 consecutive offers.

WOW!

We are so very blessed.  I am amazed and overwhelmed at the very idea of it.

(and a little ashamed for how stressed out I get)

For now I will just be thankful.  And remember that God is steering this ship.