Working too hard and hardly working.

Okay, so I teased you guys a bit at the end of my last blog. So here is the news whether you find it good or not, depending on your fondness of Ben's occupation.

Three months after he applied, Fedex called Ben for an interview. We talked it over and determined that the pay would be similar to what he is currently making, however, the commute would be a third the distance. So, he went in for the interview and they pretty much said he had it as long as he could pass the background check. I hate waiting...

He got a call this morning. As it turns out, Ben isn't a criminal and Fedex invited him to work tomorrow morning. And by morning, I mean MORNING.... 3am, morning. This is after working his full day at Sundance. Ah, to be young again, when sleep was optional and kids were something that OTHER people had... and we laughed about both...


Anyway.

For the next week and a half, Ben has two jobs since he wasn't about to leave Sundance high and dry during the last part of the busy season. He'll be working four or five nights a week there until about 10pm, come home, try to sleep, get up at 2am (or so) and head over to FE for four hours (or so).

The benefits as I see them:

1. Ben will no longer have to work on Sunday. YAY!!
2. Ben will be home for dinner every night, which means I won't have to flake out on helping with dinner and I also won't have to pack Ben a lunch. Woot!
3. Ben will be home to help get the kids in bed.
4. Date Night now becomes optional again.
5. Less wear and tear on Ben's car. (Yes, he has his own car. I'll let him tell you about that.. a car is a personal thing, you know.)
6. He'll be sorting packages, so his arms are going to get BUFF... oh, yeah.
And the list could go on...

The downsides include no more Sundance discounts, Ben has to get up at 3am, he'll have to figure out when he can catch a nap during the day, and this MIGHT cause some tricky scheduling with school in the fall... oh, and did I mention that he has to get up at 3AM?!?

On to the hardly working...

Yeah, my thyroid hardly works.

I finally went to see an endocrinologist today (well, her nurse, anyway). I've been trying to piece together the scattered information I've been getting about my issues and I finally decided that I needed to see a specialist.

After filling the nurse in on over ten years of medical history, (yes, she was impressed) I was pleased to find that not only does she not mind that I've been taking the ever so controversial drug Armour Thyroid, she was more than happy to give me the information for a compound pharmacy in Provo where I could get a compound variation of Armour any time the big chains run out of the still-spotty supplies of the brand name. I am thrilled, to say the least!

She also sent me for more blood work (um, yay...) which included antibodies testing. I don't think I've ever had anyone check this before, the goal being to find out what is actually causing my hypothyroidism. No one has ever given me a clear explanation.

I also have an ultrasound scheduled for next Wednesday. They mostly want to make sure that there aren't any freeloading nodules wearing out their welcome. Hopefully, they won't find anything other than my lazy thyroid hanging out in there.

After about 6 weeks, I'll go for more bloodwork and then another appointment with the nurse. So, more to come. Wish me luck. I'm not freaked out about it... yet.

2 Tag-arrific

2 Tag-arrific

2 secrets: (1) I'm writing a story with YOU in it... (2) I hate what a waste of time sleeping is.

2 regrets: (1) Not being 100% myself 100% of the time for fear that people wouldn't like me. (2) Never taking a photography class.

2 things you spend money on and probably shouldn't: (1) Eating out (2) Junk Food
2 things you don't like about your body: (1) I wish I was 2 inches taller. (2) My malfunctioning thyroid.
2 bad habits: (1) Trichotilomania (Compulsive hair puller.) (2) Clipping my nails and not caring where they go flying.
2 fears: (1) Not being included. (2) Dying painfully.
2 spiritual gifts: (1) Knowing the truth (or falsehood) when I hear it. (2) Charity

2 pet peeves: (1) People who exclude others for no valid reason. (2) Stubborn ignorance.
2 least favorite chores: (1) Bathroom.(2) Dishes.
2 favorite pastimes: (1) Writing (2) Playing games on the computer or other gaming console.
2 events that changed your life: (1) Marrying Ben. (2) My Kids.

** I TAG DARA, JENN A. AND BEN!! **
Tagged by Jennifer

Updates... boring and .... boring.

Well, okay... I think I've been a bit boring lately and I'm sorry in advance if I still fall short of entertaining.

I had another prenatal appointment this week, this one with the specialists that I saw last pregnancy. It was that office that labeled me high risk with Audrey.

I got to talk to the genetic counselor lady who, among other things, informed me that I'm not likely to have Hemochromatosis unless Mom is a carrier and/or full-blown herself. I'm still taking that with a grain of salt as there seems to be an awful lot that doctors don't understand about the human body and genetics. Still, it was good to know that the odds are in my favor as far as that goes.

We got another ultrasound (I'll scan the pictures when I dig out my scanner which is currently buried under store ads and disposable dishes) and we got to see our little critter stretching and kicking around in there. That was pretty fun. We still haven't heard a heartbeat, but we have SEEN it going like gangbusters.

The really good thing that came out of all this is that my doctor at this office decided that upping my thyroid medication would be a good idea. FINALLY! I've been feeling unreasonably tired and, over this last weekend, was starting to feel depressed. Depression-like symptoms can point at a thyroid unbalance. So, I've been on the increased dose for two days and I'm already starting to feel good enough to sit up for extended periods of time and my thinking has cleared up a little.

My specialist doctor does seem to need a little breaking in, however. Ben and I were being mildly funny during our visit and my doctor might have cracked a smile once... I'm hopeful that we'll have him loosened up by the time I deliver.

I seem to be at the height of my morning sickness though.. without getting too graphic, I'm pretty sure the stomach acid has been making my throat bleed slightly the last couple of days. I'm definitely going to bring that up to my doctor on my next visit as I don't remember that happening with Audrey.

So, I know it's not funny (yet) but at least I'm able to bring some updates to the table. My only friend lately has been the couch in front of the TV. I am enthused to inform you all, though, that I've managed to help Mario collect 5 of the 7 Crystal Stars and am well on my way to saving Princess Peach and the whole world! Go me!

Dang Leeches!

Okay, so I have hypothyroidism. As such, I have to go and get my blood drawn at least once a year, sometimes more. Needles freak me out and I dont care what people say about getting used to it. I can deal with it, but I'll never get used to it. Can you imagine.. Ok, here's my vein, poke it all you want, heck take a whole pint while your at it! Bleah!

So, anyway. I got my yearly labwork done on Thursday. I was lucky that I didnt have time to over-think it in the waiting room. They were totally dead and there was no wait. I can never look when they poke the needle in, but I usually do once it's there. Good thing I dont faint at the sight of blood like some people do. There was a little droplet right where she poked in. She was done really fast though and she was very professional and experienced. So, I was thinking, yay! I dont have to do that again for a while.


Well, today, I checked in with my OB's office and asked them what I should do since I am "late" and have gotten 2 negative test results. They sent me for bloodwork... whaddayaknow.... :P
So, ran down to the lab and waited..... and waited... for my turn for the bloodsuckers to get me... what a strange thing.. we all line up like cattle and willingly hold out our arms.
So, when my personal leech walked in, she seemed a little hesitant, but I didn't think anything of it... First, she tied that little rubber thing around my arm and felt around on my vein.. and felt around on my vein.. and felt around on my vein.. and then practically bruised my vein while she felt around some more... then she untied it and felt around some more. Then, she left the little alcohol square on my arm while she wandered around looking for her gloves and cotton squares... Then she put the rubber tie thing on again and got her needle and tried to stab all the way through my arm and out the other side... I couldnt even watch it! No wonder I forgot my name and date of birth when she re-verified it!

So, I should get the results back tomorrow (hopefully there's a little miniature body in there that will be super cute when I take it home). I don't know what they will do if I'm not "PG".... well.. good excuse to keep trying at any rate.

In the mean time, Ben is off school for a few weeks and we're going to put him to work! Yay! An extra set of hands makes all the difference.

I also planted all my seeds today. So, Beans, Tomatoes, Herbs, flowers.. hooray! Hopefully I dont kill them this year, like I do every other year. And, hopefully the neighborhood cats dont decide that the catnip I planted is especially for them... :P