So.  As always from a longer absence I need to post an update.

Nothing much to report on the kids…  They’re in school, we’re keeping an eye on them and all their issues.  And they are so very much boys.

My parents are still the same.  Mom’s not going to get much better than she is, but I think everyone knows that.  I did speak with them and “forced” them to give me an answer on some things I think are important.  Things like – are you amenable to a nursing home (no,) burial or cremation (not sure – probably cremate,) and life saving measures (use your best judgment.)  I already know about their monetary arrangements for after death.  If they BOTH become really ill, or one of them passes on, I’ll talk to them about putting me on their accounts to make taking care of them easier.  Certainly a morbid conversation, but one that needs to happen when you’re in the sandwich generation.  I’m a planner and a worrier, so this actually put me at ease.  Even though they want me to be the one to make some calls – I’m ok with that, because I know that THEY’RE okay with that.  But in general they’re doing ok.  They have another cruise in April – Lord help me.

Poe’s doing great…  Still working etc.  Nothing of particular note – although he did win some money in a football pool – which he is incredibly excited about.

And me.  hmmm.

Work is going ok.  Had a bit of bad disconcerting news.  I was lined up to take over for my boss when she moves back across the country.  Well, that’s not going to happen now. My boss is staying.  Which is actually good for her, because of some valid things going on in her personal life, but which kind of put the kabash on some of my monetary plans to get me home sooner.  I’m still kind of getting over that.  Plans change.  It was never a concrete deal, but now I have to figure out a different plan of attack.

I now author two other blogs.  One, which you already knew about, Special Needs Kids.  The other one happened during my technical hiatus, Stars Behind Bars.  So, one has social worthiness and the other so does not.  I’m also working on a review blog, which isn’t ready yet, but I’ll let you know when it is, as I plan on doing giveaways and such.

The last bit of news…  Some back story…  over a year ago, I went to the doctor, because my stomach was acting up on a regular basis, which also morphed into chest and arm pain.  I had an abnormal EKG, so I did a stress echo.  My heart was apparently fine.  So, I was diagnosed with acid reflux disease.  I was put on a drug – basically a double dose of prevacid.  Fast forward to about a week ago…  I decided to move to my prescription plan’s mail order plan for those drugs, but needed a new paper prescription in order to get that started.  I called the doctor’s office and he basically said – no.  I mean, yes, he would give me to prescription, but the bottom line is, that should have 1) healed me up, and 2) I shouldn’t have breakthrough pain on it.  So, he sent me to a gastroenterologist.  I have no idea if that’s spelled correctly.  I went.

Let me just put in a little bit of a bitchfest…  I haven’t been able to lose weight.  Eat normal, diet, doesn’t matter, I haven’t lost anything.  When dieting, I’m not cheating.  When not dieting, I’m not overeating, ’cause my stomach simply can’t handle it.  Doesn’t matter.  I tell this to the doctor.  “Losing weight is simply a matter of making a decision.  When a patient say they ‘can’t’ I don’t believe them.  They just haven’t made a decision.”  I wished to smack him.

Anyway…  There’s some pressure on palpation and I shouldn’t have pain on the meds I’m on.  So, on Monday, I will be getting an endoscopy.  Basically, I’ll be asleep, and they’ll pump my stomach full of air, and take a camera down there.  They’re going to look around and see if they see ulcers, lesions, tumors, or bacteria, and they’ll also take a biopsy.  So.  We’ll see how that goes.

That’s the grand update.