Hoping for Infection...

oh boy...my life has had some twists and turns, and I just never know what might be next...

Friday I awoke with swelling in my lower leg accompanied by red splotches...no big deal, right??  Remember, I'm a CPA and the only thing I know about medicine is that sometimes I can deduct medical expenses on a tax return...

The pain stinks, so I mention it to a few people...how does everyone else just KNOW this could be a blood clot???  Did I miss the memo?  What the hell is a blood clot anyway????

By the time I get dressed for the appointment, the pain/swelling and redness has spread up my calf, so in preparation for someone looking at my leg, I shave only the bottom half, good enough, right?

I get to the doctor to find out that blood clots and cellulitis (an infection) look similar...and to check for the clot I need an ultrasound...I also do some blood work to pursue the infection possibility...

so here's where it gets ridiculous...I'm sitting alone in the room waiting for the ultrasound tech...I'm freaking out because I have NO IDEA what you do if you have a blood clot...Shane is in Brazil, Ashley is in Savannah, and my mom has all four of our kids since I'm at the doctor...Naturally I start to cry, partly because I'm scared shitless and partly because I sitting there hoping for an infection...my life is such a circus that I am praying for an INFECTION!

After the ultrasound that started in the GROIN of both legs...remember, I only shaved knee down so I am mortified...I finally start breathing again when I find out its only an infection...

So I'm home, with antibiotics and four cuckoo girls upstairs playing "Fashion Show".  Best part of the day was getting some beautiful shots of my girls...

Thank God for these girls...and infections!!

Disgusted...

I'm not a reality TV junkie...I occasionally check out people.com when I'm thoroughly bored...Of course I glance at the trashy magazine covers while in line at the grocery store...Truthfully I know very little about celebrity gossip/drama...

But today, I was riveted thoroughly bored while listening to continuing ed on the web...so I opened a new window to people.com...  Every headline was about Kim Kardashian's divorce filing...for some reason this has completely revolted me...

Last week I was in a doctor's waiting room (this should come as no surprise) and the TV was tuned to an interview with Kim and Kris... and of course she was complaining about all the work she had to do to prepare for the wedding...her three Vera Wang gowns...the Wolgang Puck menu...blah blah blah...

I just THOUGHT I was disgusted then...fast forward to today when after 72 days she files for divorce...

Are the producers of her show embarrassed?  Because they must realize that while there are true problems in the world that could be helped by an influx of funds, but instead they financed this debacle?  I don't know the price tag on the wedding, or who actually picked up the tab, but I can imagine KK didn't spend much of her own money.  Is Vera Wang embarrassed that she got caught up in the hype too?  along with every other person's whose name is now tainted by association with the KK "wedding"...if you dare call it that??

I prefer not to do any actual research because I'm scared to find out that KK's following might even be stronger now...and that thought is so depressing that I can't face it...

I find comfort in the fact that my world does NOT revolve around attention grabbing, fame hungry people...but it sickens me that I'm probably in the minority...I am going to go to sleep with my (mostly) sweet little girls tonight, thankful that they don't know the likes of KK and her circus...

a few new layouts

I've done a little scrapbooking lately.  It's so much more fun with friends, and I was lucky enough to get together with some last month.

 my precious niece and nephew, Mia and Nick...

my Mother-in-Law is a huge Saints fan....Can you tell?

another Christmas layout...(using my Scrap-n-Easel to put everything together)

 one of my favorites...four orange smiles!!

 and my niece Hannah's Pre-K Graduation

Thanks for looking!  Hope your weekend is filled with laughs!

Thank you Aibileen

I finally saw The Help today and it was amazing...But what struck me most were the simple yet powerful words Aibileen said to Mae...

I can't imagine there is a child in the world who couldn't benefit from hearing these words...and that made me  evaluate how well I show my girls that they are important, and I think I do an ok job, but how easy is it to TELL them "You are kind, you smart and you are important" and in a world so obsessed with beauty, I want to validate them in ways that don't deal with physical beauty.  I think I might add "You are strong" the list...

So I repeated Aibileen's words to Avery tonight (using correct grammar of course), and I made her repeat them to me...then I had to explain what important meant...and then we watched a thrilling Hello Kitty movie... and 20 minutes later Avery took my face in her hands and said, "Mommy, I'm kind, I'm smart, I'm important, and I love you more"...and I melted...

So thank you Aibileen for giving me something important to share with my girls... If they grow up believing that they are kind, smart, important and strong, then Shane and I have succeeded...

According to Avery...

"Noodle" shirts are her favorite (also know as spaghetti straps)...

Earlier when we were riding bikes she told me she was using her abdominal muscles, but she prefers to call them her "McDonald muscles" because its funnier...

And lastly, when Shane asked her if she wanted to play soccer, she responded with: "not in a million years"

maybe she is my daughter after all...

Yes, Virginia, chemo curls are real...

and here's the proof...

Heather before chemo...

and Heather after chemo...

and I really thought people were exaggerating about this whole curly hair thing...clearly I was mistaken...

My first post-chemo PET scan came back clear today.  I certainly don't think about cancer returning on a daily basis, but somehow when you're awaiting PET scan results, it kind of consumes you!  Three months down, 4 years and 9 months to go...and then I'll be a Survivor in my mind...and we'll REALLY party!!

just routine...

Not much happening at the Bellanger house...just loving the cooler weather...

homework, friends, soccer and tumbling...that's our new routine, and I'm thankful for not missing one minute!

Morgan turned 8 in August and a few Dutchtown High School Cheerleaders were on hand to help her celebrate...

I am rearranging my scrapbook room again, and that means the creative juices are starting to flow again.  Got some cropping in yesterday, and I want to keep the streak alive...

We have Morgan's first soccer game this afternoon - loving that the weather is so nice...

Routine around here, and I LOVE routine for a change!!

Hope your routine is filled with a few laughs!