Dentist

I had a dental appointment this morning and am super happy to report no cavities and no evidence of any gum disease. Yay! My appointments are now back to every six months since there doesn't seem to be any issues of concern. I am relieved. 

Many Things

Lots of things going on lately. Let's go from the beginning of the month, I guess?

So, the new homeschool year has started. I'm teaching/guiding 11th, 8th, 2nd, and PreK this year. The first week was a little stressful, but I told myself it's the new year, new routine, new things to learn. It's not going to be easy and I'm going to have to be patient. I filled up the month of January in my planner with lessons, activities, menus, etc. to make sure I had something definite to do each day. It's less stressful, but also more stressful. But, we're doing it. Tomorrow starts week 3.

I brought Jac and Leah to the doctor Friday to get their annual checkups and see about getting a referral to a GI doctor for Jac and a urologist for Leah. Jac's all caught up on his vaccines for now, so that's checked off. Onto the other things:

Jac has been having an upset stomach multiple times a day for a few weeks now. At first, I figured he was eating too much candy. All the candy-filled holidays are back to back and Zac keeps finding discount holiday treats. But, after cutting out candy, the sickness continued. I had him take meat from his diet, just in case, but it's still on-going. So, I brought him and Leah to the doctor for wellness checks and he's up to date on his vaccines now, but also got him a referral to a GI. From what we know, he's possibly having an intolerance to something. He's always had issues with popcorn ever since he was little, and usually has an upset stomach after eating corn chips or corn on the cob. Basically regular corn, not so much corn biproducts like corn syrup or corn starch. So in the next few weeks, I should hear back for an appointment to talk to a pediatric GI specialist to see if he's going to need an endoscopy or colonoscopy. He's keeping a food journal for right now to see what he's eating, when, and when/if symptoms occur. But, his blood work was fine. No anemia or other issues.

Leah is probably constipated. She has trouble emptying her bladder or feeling like she's finished, which could indicate constipation since she has no symptoms of a UTI. She also hasn't started her cycle and could have a hormone imbalance. I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was younger, as well as dealing with precocious puberty, so I kinda have her set up for issues. Awesome. So, she's getting referred to a GYN urologist to do an ultrasound on her kidneys and ovaries and check for cysts. Neither are excited for any type of possible blood work.

As for Cole's issues, he had an infection around his foreskin a month ago and it left scar tissue. So, it looks like he has phimosis and needs to be circumcised. We've been treating the scar tissue with a steroid cream, but it's not working. The good news is he can be put to sleep and won't feel anything and it'll heal better while he's little than if he were to have to get it done as a teen or older. I just hate he has to have it done. It's also genetic to have phimosis, so basically all our kids were doomed to get some sort of ailment from us.

Dentist Appointment

Jac's gums are in bad shape with gingivitis, which he inherited from Zac and me. I hate it for him. He's only 16. He's been flossing and using mouthwash, but the dentist said it could be HOW he's brushing. So, we spent about $60 on a spin brush, special toothpaste, and mouthwash. He goes back in July and I'm really hoping there's an improvement. His gums have already started receding and there's a yeast issue on his gums. So I'm gonna crack down on getting him to be responsible with his oral hygiene.

Leah has five cavities, which I figured would be a result as she doesn't brush her teeth often. She's getting three fillings next week and two sometime after that. Otherwise, her teeth are in great condition.

Elias had a great visit. No cavities, but we're not doing the best job brushing his front top and bottom teeth, so we have to work on that. He's good at reminding us he needs his teeth brushed. The bad news it he needs braces in the next year or two. He has large spaces between his front six top teeth and it will cause issues losing baby teeth and growing adult teeth. I don't know how I feel about him having braces while he's little because his teeth will shift as he grows. He still has 8 molars waiting to come in. I'll know more at the next appointment.

Cole has healthy teeth. No cavities, no worries.

A Year In Review

A Year in Review: 2022

1. What did you do in 2022 that you'd never done before?
Had a colonoscopy, endoscopy, and biopsy. Also climbed a mountain.

2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions and will you make more for next year?
I kept last year's. Maintain healthy weight. The only one I really made for this year is to read every Stephen King novel before the year is out.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.

5. What countries did you visit?
None, yet. This year I may have a different answer.

6. What would you like to have in 2023 that you lacked in 2022?
A new house.

7. What events from 2022 will remain etched upon your memory?
Visiting Colorado. It really was amazing.

8. What was your biggest achievement this year?
Taking care of my health.

9. What was your biggest failure?
I don't think I had any.

10. Did you suffer an illness or injury?
We all caught Covid in January.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
I got my nipples pierced again... does that count?

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
I'm going to take credit for this one because with my anxiety the way it is, I am taking better care of myself and making steps in the right direction.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
An ex-friend who showed blatant hypocrisy after our friendship ended over religion.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Colorado. Worth it.

15. What did you get really excited about?
We finally put the floors down.

16. What song will always remind you of 2022?
Kate Bush: Running Up That Hill.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
-Happier or sadder? Happier.
-Thinner or fatter? About the same.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Reading.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Visits to the ER with these kids.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
At home! No traveling this time.

21. Did you fall in love in 2022?
Does falling in love with the mountains count? Because if so, yes.

22. What was your favorite TV program?
Loki, Squid Game. Probably others, but those are the only two that come to mind.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Hate's a strong word.

24. What was the best book you read?
Like I said, barely read much more than the One Punch Man manga or Blue Excorsist.

25. What was your favorite musical discovery?
Nothing new this year, really.

26. What did you want and get?
An Ipad.

27. What did you want and not get?
Tattoos.

28. What was your favorite film this year?
It was pretty good.

29. What did you do on your birthday and how old were you?
Zac took me out to get macarons and sushi.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Less drama with people. Less time with the kids and myself having ailments to tend to.

31. How woul dyou describe your personal fashion concept in 2022?
I'm back in leggings.

32. What kept you sane?
Drawing.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I avoided most articles around celebrities.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
Roe v. Wade, the hatefulness towards the LGBTQ+ community, book bans, etc.

35. Who do you miss?
Emily. A lot this year. I don't know why. I feel like there's so much I wish she were here to see. So much I want to talk to her about.

36. Who was the best new person you met?
Leah J's friends at her mom's murder mystery party.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2022.
"No hate like Christian love".

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
And if I only could,
I'd make a deal with God
And I'd get him to swap our places.
I'd be running up that road,
Be running up that hill
With no problems.