Well, I don't suppose this is really a shock to anyone who knows me (outside of work, where discussion on religion and politics is das verboten, particularly if you're not a conservative Christian Republican :)) but I've been researching and studying the pagan path for the last few months, and in sympathy with the pagan viewpoint for years longer.
What does this mean? Well, in addition to all my other hats---wife, mother, daughter, friend---I can soon add "witch" to the mix. And I'm comfortable with that. I don't cast spells (yet.) I don't know what I'm doing, still being new to things, and I suspect it'll be several more months before I feel comfortable casting. But I find great comfort in acknowledging the presence of a goddess as well as a god, in honoring the earth and nature as our mother. (Why else call her "Mother Nature," eh?)
So here's what I believe. We each have a duty to deal kindly and fairly with each other, to the extent that it's possible. (Some people are just hell-bent on being impossible, after all.) We each have a right to our own beliefs, or lack thereof. And we all receive back what we send, so be careful what you do or ask for, because karma is a bitch who loves to strike when you're not expecting it. And she'll always find a way to get you---if not now, then later. And if there is a hell, we create in in this life, by our own actions.
So that's me. Wife, mother, daughter, friend and witch in training. :)
Blessed be. ) O (
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Why "How are you?" is a loaded question :)
On Wednesday, I had lithotripsy done on my left kidney to remove the 3cm boulder that has lodged itself there. Basically, it's a use of targeted sonar to break the stones up so the fragments pass easily. And if it was happening to anyone else but me, I'd probably find the whole thing fascinating.
But....
Well, as it turns out, I'm really not the best patient. I mean, I tried. Honest. I like nurses and doctors, generally. But I freaked out the OR staff when I went horizontal unexpectedly (they were going to give me an epidural so I wouldn't have my usual post-op vomit reaction to anesthetic.) One minute, the very nice anesthesiologist was feeling around in my spine and I was hugging my pillow and the next, I was lying on the gurney with five or six faces staring down at me looking concerned.
I don't know what set that off, to be honest---I've had two epidurals in my life (once while I was pregnant with Roisin and once during my labor with her) and I didn't have any where near the same reaction. So I feel obscurely guilty for being a difficult patient.
And oh, yeah, I had my usual post-op reaction to the anesthetic. But I can't blame the docs. They tried.
What's made my week even more fun is this: I've gotten an infection of some sort---fever, chills, you name it, I've probably had it in the last four days. So I'm going in to my doctor tomorrow to make sure this doesn't become something more serious.
I've probably lost five pounds since Wednesday. As a diet method, I don't recommend it. :)
The rest of my family is hanging in...mostly. Roisin is teething and has not been her usual (mostly) angelic self the last couple of days (though she was fine last night.) Rob's been looking distinctly frazzled---not that I particularly blame him there. It's tough running a house and looking after a toddler by yourself and I certainly wasn't able to be any help.
So, here's hoping that things clear up. Being sick sucks.
But....
Well, as it turns out, I'm really not the best patient. I mean, I tried. Honest. I like nurses and doctors, generally. But I freaked out the OR staff when I went horizontal unexpectedly (they were going to give me an epidural so I wouldn't have my usual post-op vomit reaction to anesthetic.) One minute, the very nice anesthesiologist was feeling around in my spine and I was hugging my pillow and the next, I was lying on the gurney with five or six faces staring down at me looking concerned.
I don't know what set that off, to be honest---I've had two epidurals in my life (once while I was pregnant with Roisin and once during my labor with her) and I didn't have any where near the same reaction. So I feel obscurely guilty for being a difficult patient.
And oh, yeah, I had my usual post-op reaction to the anesthetic. But I can't blame the docs. They tried.
What's made my week even more fun is this: I've gotten an infection of some sort---fever, chills, you name it, I've probably had it in the last four days. So I'm going in to my doctor tomorrow to make sure this doesn't become something more serious.
I've probably lost five pounds since Wednesday. As a diet method, I don't recommend it. :)
The rest of my family is hanging in...mostly. Roisin is teething and has not been her usual (mostly) angelic self the last couple of days (though she was fine last night.) Rob's been looking distinctly frazzled---not that I particularly blame him there. It's tough running a house and looking after a toddler by yourself and I certainly wasn't able to be any help.
So, here's hoping that things clear up. Being sick sucks.
Friday, February 29, 2008
On preemies :)
Anyone whose been reading this blog probably knows that Roisin was a preemie---born ten weeks early due to incompetent cervix, premature rupture of membranes and frankly, luck. See, she was lucky to make it that far, because she tried to come out at 22weeks...and it was only due to the quick eye of an ultrasound tech that I realized I had started dilating. I've since lost count of the number of doctors, specialists and nurses who kept me pregnant (and my daughter alive) but I'll never forget them.
What brings this up is an article (which I'm not going to link to, because it's foul, IMVHO) about how preemies, particularly those called "micropreemies" should be left to die because they'll allegedly never contribute to society. Which is an interesting turn of logic, that being disabled makes you somehow defective in society's eyes. Because all full-term babies grow into wonderful people, right? GMAFB.
Roisin was one of the lucky ones. She came out of the NICU with no disabilities, just tinier than usual. Who knows what kind of person she'll grow into...but I can bet it'll have nothing at all to do with how or when she was born.
What brings this up is an article (which I'm not going to link to, because it's foul, IMVHO) about how preemies, particularly those called "micropreemies" should be left to die because they'll allegedly never contribute to society. Which is an interesting turn of logic, that being disabled makes you somehow defective in society's eyes. Because all full-term babies grow into wonderful people, right? GMAFB.
Roisin was one of the lucky ones. She came out of the NICU with no disabilities, just tinier than usual. Who knows what kind of person she'll grow into...but I can bet it'll have nothing at all to do with how or when she was born.
Monday, February 25, 2008
This is why I'm not an engineer....
Well, the car crisis of 2008 (hopefully, the very, very last one for years) has been solved. Yesterday, Dad and I went out and I bought a CR-V for us. (This is me doing the happy dance :O))) And the car runs great---clearly, an awful lot of thought went into making this car fun, safe, and family friendly. And it's not (gods be praised) a minivan. So, life is good.
But... (Yes, you knew there had to be one)
...I seem to have flunked Carseat Installation 101. See, Roisin has now officially outgrown her "infant" car seat (she's all of 14 months old, but she's got her dad's height.) So I went and got her a blindingly expensive (but ultra-safe) car seat that's supposed to be easy to install.
Riiiiggght. Iif you can do calculus in Sanskrit, only then would this be considered "easy." Because after an hour of fussing with the thing, I still don't think it's in there right. The good news: I know what I did wrong (I think I do, anyway.) The bad news? I still have to fix it.
At least I have the car tomorrow. :)
(And if you're wondering why Rob didn't install it---he did the last car seat. I figured I could do this one. ;-))
So, may all your tether lines be untangled and your LATCH attachments be easy to find and access. :)
But... (Yes, you knew there had to be one)
...I seem to have flunked Carseat Installation 101. See, Roisin has now officially outgrown her "infant" car seat (she's all of 14 months old, but she's got her dad's height.) So I went and got her a blindingly expensive (but ultra-safe) car seat that's supposed to be easy to install.
Riiiiggght. Iif you can do calculus in Sanskrit, only then would this be considered "easy." Because after an hour of fussing with the thing, I still don't think it's in there right. The good news: I know what I did wrong (I think I do, anyway.) The bad news? I still have to fix it.
At least I have the car tomorrow. :)
(And if you're wondering why Rob didn't install it---he did the last car seat. I figured I could do this one. ;-))
So, may all your tether lines be untangled and your LATCH attachments be easy to find and access. :)
Monday, February 18, 2008
Cancer, Cars and ER Stays
Yes, that's been the month of February, so far.
My dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer in October of last year. After multiple trips through the circus hoops of getting treatment approved through his insurance company, he finally started treatment early this month. One treatment per day for 42 days. Good news is that his cancer is localized and that he'll most likely (please, gods, let it be so) recover fully and live a long, cancer-free life.
Cancer is such an ugly word---I keep thinking that it should only affect bad people, not people like my dad who has a granddaughter and a daughter and a wife and family who love him. But by those standards, it shouldn't affect anyone---who doesn't have people who love and depend on them? I just hope when it's over for my dad, it's really over.
And the drama continues....last Friday, the transmission on our family car died. Or the torque converter did. Or the stars didn't align just right. Whatever. Good news is that it didn't happen when Rob and Roisin were on the freeway. Bad news is that it happened at all. Rob's making arrangements to dispose of the minivan, so now we're on the car hunt. Dad agreed to help with the negotiations (he's a car salesman from way back when) and we're going to trade in my truck. The "fun" part has been getting quotes---I either get calls from salesmen when I asked specifically for emails or I get emailed quotes that are hovering around MSRP. Yep, that's going to happen. Not. I think we finally found a place that's willing to deal fairly with us, but it's just a matter of haggling now....
Oh, and Rob spent two days in the hospital this week for chest pains. It happens every so often and well, with his history we just don't take chances with that. So Roisin and I hung out for a couple of days. Things like this make me realize how lucky I am that I'm not a single parent---and how much I respect those who are. If you're reading this and you're a single parent, bless you.
So that's been my February. May March be much, much calmer. :-)
My dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer in October of last year. After multiple trips through the circus hoops of getting treatment approved through his insurance company, he finally started treatment early this month. One treatment per day for 42 days. Good news is that his cancer is localized and that he'll most likely (please, gods, let it be so) recover fully and live a long, cancer-free life.
Cancer is such an ugly word---I keep thinking that it should only affect bad people, not people like my dad who has a granddaughter and a daughter and a wife and family who love him. But by those standards, it shouldn't affect anyone---who doesn't have people who love and depend on them? I just hope when it's over for my dad, it's really over.
And the drama continues....last Friday, the transmission on our family car died. Or the torque converter did. Or the stars didn't align just right. Whatever. Good news is that it didn't happen when Rob and Roisin were on the freeway. Bad news is that it happened at all. Rob's making arrangements to dispose of the minivan, so now we're on the car hunt. Dad agreed to help with the negotiations (he's a car salesman from way back when) and we're going to trade in my truck. The "fun" part has been getting quotes---I either get calls from salesmen when I asked specifically for emails or I get emailed quotes that are hovering around MSRP. Yep, that's going to happen. Not. I think we finally found a place that's willing to deal fairly with us, but it's just a matter of haggling now....
Oh, and Rob spent two days in the hospital this week for chest pains. It happens every so often and well, with his history we just don't take chances with that. So Roisin and I hung out for a couple of days. Things like this make me realize how lucky I am that I'm not a single parent---and how much I respect those who are. If you're reading this and you're a single parent, bless you.
So that's been my February. May March be much, much calmer. :-)
Friday, January 4, 2008
Hello and Goodbye...
Well, as of four days ago, we officially said goodbye to 2007. On the upside, the best that can be said about 2007 is that it wasn't 2006 (which will forever live in my memory as The Year Where I Stopped Asking, "What Next?" Yeah, a miscarriage, Rob's open heart surgery, my pregnancy with Roisin and her premature birth....this is why I don't ask what else is coming. I'm afraid I'd get even more grey hairs if I found out. :))
So, here's what was good about 2007:
Roisin came home from the NICU on January 5, 2007. (Rob and I said goodbye to sleeping through the night about two hours later ;-)
Rob turned 40.
I turned 33.
Roisin turned one.
The cat got even older than Noah. ;-)
And we're all still alive and (relatively) sane. Which in any year, is something of a miracle
So, welcome, 2008. May we all stay healthy, happy and whole.
So, here's what was good about 2007:
Roisin came home from the NICU on January 5, 2007. (Rob and I said goodbye to sleeping through the night about two hours later ;-)
Rob turned 40.
I turned 33.
Roisin turned one.
The cat got even older than Noah. ;-)
And we're all still alive and (relatively) sane. Which in any year, is something of a miracle
So, welcome, 2008. May we all stay healthy, happy and whole.
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About Me
- Krista
- Wife, mom of a preemie, follower of the old ways, lover of anything Irish or Celtic, history buff, trivia nut, Star Trek and Ren Faire geek and costuming fiend. Offer me coffee or chocolate and world peace is assured. Or at least I'll try really hard. :) I also believe in deleting spam. So, to the person or persons who keep leaving me comments in Chinese (along with links to what I can clearly tell are Chinese porn sites) stop it. It's bad karma, to say nothing of being really, really rude.