Not Going As Planned, But I'm Taking It One Day At A Time

Since I haven't posted in over a week you can probably guess by now that my week did not go as planned last week. I actually made it through last Monday a little better than I thought I would... I didn't bum a smoke off from anyone, which is a huge surprise. I didn't stop and by any smokes or anything. I felt good about it all as I went to bed last Monday and prepared for the week ahead. Then Tuesday morning happened and life went to hell very quickly...

Last Tuesday morning I got up, got ready for work and in my final preparations of doing my hair I dropped a sheet of bobby pins, bent down to pick them up and then proceeded to brush my teeth. That is when I realized that I couldn't stand up straight. I had messed up my back, big time. Regardless I went to work. With the help of my aunt I got myself in the car with ice packs behind my back. Let me tell ya, going to work was not one of my brighter ideas.

Once I was at work I knew I was in trouble. I couldn't stand up, I couldn't walk. I couldn't move my legs without physically picking them up and moving them. I was in a bad way... Finally I left at 2pm and headed to the doctor who then sent me to the hospital for x-rays of my spine. By the time I got home after being twisted like a pretzel for my x-rays I wasn't sure if I could get out of the car and into the house. Going up my steps put me in more pain and by the time I was in the house I was sick to my stomach and in tears.

I spent the next several days in the bed, taking pain pills and muscle relaxers. I think by Saturday I was able to sit up for a few hours at a time and of course I had the family cookout planned for Sunday. Plus I needed to be ready to return to work today!

Sunday went off without a hitch. Or should I say not too big of a hitch...just a tornado warning at the end, which cleared everyone out of here in a jiffy! LOL Even though Monday was the actual holiday all I managed to accomplish was feeling sick as a dog and sore as could be. I still tried to take a moment to reflect and give thanks to those men and women who gave their lives for my freedom and I hope everyone had a wonderful Memorial Day!!

I returned to work today and requested...er...demanded that my doctor order PT for me, because I remain in pain. Hopefully the pain disappears very soon. One good thing about being in bed for almost a week...you remain smoke free, so tonight is night #8 of being smoke free. As for the rest...I'm just taking it one day at a time.

Major Steps...Say A Little Prayer For Me, Would Ya?

I know I've tried this before, but today I went smoke-less. I don't know how this will turn out, but so far I'm doing okay. I didn't really want to quit, but I feel like I should. So last night I took my last 10 smokes, broke them up, tossed them in the garbage and said, "enough!" So please keep me in your prayers and thoughts...primarily that I don't shank anyone during this time of transition!

In other areas of my life, I weighed in this morning and discovered that nothing has changed since the last time...

Starting weight: 363lbs (7/9/09)

Current weight: 330.4lbs

Results from the last 11 weeks: 0lbs

Total weight lost: -32.6lbs

So this is the next area of my life that I need to get on top of as well. With quitting smoking I'm not aiming to lose anything this week...I'm more just hoping to get through the week. I'll deal with the fall out afterwards as long as I'm successful with the quitting smoking thing!!

We All Deal With Stress Differently

It has definitely been one hell of a long week and it is almost over.

I did find out today that I'm not the only one feeling the stress at work, because after this morning's seminar and having lunch alone (Dani had to cancel due to work...boo-hiss!) I went to the office and within being there a half an hour I received an email from one of the other paralegals expressing that she was so stressed that she went downstairs to buy chocolate and almost busted out in tears in the elevator. Within minutes after getting that email the other paralegal barged into my office and started hitting her head up against a file, literally. Gosh and I thought I was stressed. I guess I can count my blessings because I'm not on the verge of tears or beating myself with a file, yet. Of course I could shank a few people so maybe I express my stress in a much different manner and would rather someone else feel my frustration rather than myself...

Just A Few Things To Toss Out There

Things are crazy at work right now for several reasons. But thanks to some of that craziness I had a very yummy lunch today and hopefully I will have an even better lunch tomorrow with Dani! Of course the location of where I was this afternoon and the same place I will be tomorrow, which yields me these yummy & fun lunches is a pain to get to and from. The expressway I would usually take is closed. So instead of my usual 45 minute commute on the expressway is much closer to an hour and a half on a side street...

The drive wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't raining, again. I've had it with this weather. It has rained so much that even on the days it doesn't rain there are puddles of water every where you go. The munchkin's soccer games and practice keeps getting canceled because the fields are too wet and too dangerous to be on. Why is it mother nature can't get it right? Spread the rain out to areas that need it instead of keeping it in the same place?!? Is it really that hard? Seriously?

Now with a killer headache, a crabby munchkin, and a bit of an upset stomach I'm calling it a night...

Another First In Being A Real Grown-Up.

Tonight was a first for me, attending a fundraiser honoring two Judges. It was nice, but relatively boring since the only people I knew there were the folks I attended with and one other person from school. I knew a few of the Judges that were in the crowd, but since I don't have much experience in that field I don't know them well enough to chit-chat. Even though it had the makings of being a boring evening I was still glad I went and I hope that in the future I get to attend more of these things. Of course it would have been nice to be able to say, "I'm an attorney at [x, y, z]." Maybe next time I will!

Thanks to Prof. Arrogance for giving us the tickets and to my LSBFF for being there so we could suffer together. But next time let's eat...I was starving by the time I got home and my left over sour cream noodle bake just didn't cut it!

Being Back Feels Good

I finally feel like I'm getting back on track.

Graduation is over. Bar is over. Swearing in is over.

Now it is time to get things back on track.

I've gotten caught up on my blog reading and emails and reading all of the things I had marked as favorites on twitter too! I have all of my filing caught up too.

Now I have two things that I need to get caught up on...writing out talking points for my guy's next hearing in less than a month and writing my guy a real letter, which I haven't done in months!! These are the little things I have to still do.

But being back feels good...

Happy Mother's Day!!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day today!! I know I sure did! It was beautiful out. We went to mass and then out to lunch. Then I came home, got lots of stuff done while my munchkin did his homework. Then he gave me the gift he made me...a coupon booklet full of hugs! Best present ever!!!

Now we wish you and yours a Happy Mother's Day!!

It Was An Honor, Thank You For Including Me

Today I had the pleasure of being a spectator and photographer for my LSBFF's swearing in ceremony. I was so proud of all that she has accomplished and could totally relate to every emotion she was going through. It was a beautiful ceremony & I was totally honored to be there and to be a part of it.

Congratulations LSBFF!!! I'm so proud of you. Love you girl!

Not Much Has Changed

Just because I've been sworn in not much has changed in my life. For instance, I had 3 things I wanted to accomplish this weekend and as it comes to a close I must report that I did not get any of it done.

It was quite a whirl-wind of a weekend. After Friday night ended and Saturday came about my weekend became all about the munchkin. First we went to karate and then originally we had soccer practice scheduled; however, the coach had to cancel due to a family illness. Instead we ran errands the majority of the afternoon. This included the grocery store, the pharmacy, the dry cleaners, the bank, the gas station, and even the doctor's office for my allergy shot. Then today it was a trip to the roller rink so the munchkin could burn off some energy!

Now it is time for bed as the munchkin's spring break ends and he returns to school tomorrow and I return to work as a sworn in attorney still working as a paralegal!

I'm hopeful that this week is a very productive week...

Time To Get Cooking!

Apparently I've been bit by a shopping bug, but not the usual chick shopping bug. I've been bit by the grocery shopping bug.

I don't know what has sparked this, but I've been to the grocery shopping store twice today and I'm not even preparing any meals. I just can't seem to stay away and I keep buying more and more. I swear, if anyone looked in our cupboards and freezers you would think we were a family of seven, not two. We even have two full gallons and one partial gallon of milk.

Since we are so stocked I guess it is time to get cooking!

It Is Official

Today has been an exciting day!! First I woke up really early this morning to catch some of The Royal Wedding. Did you watch? I thought it was beautiful and romantic and definitely at the level of a storybook fairy tail. I just adore both Duke & Duchess William & Kate! Even though I was up before the crack of dawn I was still a little late to work. Opps. I place the blame on the Royal Family. Ha!

For the first time this week I actually got a little work done today, but 20 minutes before I was scheduled to leave the big boss man came by and told me to leave so I could get ready for my swearing in. He didn't have to tell me twice. I closed up shop, called my boss and told her that her boss' boss told me I could go, and hit the road.

I got home and discovered my son was in a horrible mood and considered canceling my ceremony, but luckily he shaped up by the time we entered the courtroom. And within minutes with only one slip up I was officially sworn into the State Bar!! I was so nervous and very happy that it was finally done! So now it is official...I'm a real attorney! And through it all I was reminded of how great a life I really do have! I'm surrounded by the most loving and wonderful friends and families and am so grateful for each and everyone of them even if they do drive me crazy from time to time.

After the ceremony I definitely had a few drinks and by the time I got back in the car and looked in the mirror I realized that my eye makeup was practically half-way down my face. This is usually a sign that I've had a few drinks. Apparently the alcohol makes my mascara and eyeliner runny!! Now I'm home, exhausted and doing laundry. How quickly everything goes back to normal.

The Next Step Already?!?

Apparently the next step in my life is getting sworn in so I can get my P# to practice. I would have thought I would have gotten one day off from questions, but I didn't. All conversations went as such, "Congratulations! When are you being sworn in?" Um, hello?!? I've known for a milli-second that I passed. Let me have a moment!

Of course the weather situation isn't helping either. Constant rain for the week isn't the weather I want when I'm going off to be sworn in. I know...priorities!

Happy Easter!!

It is rainy & 46 degrees outside this Easter morning.

The eggs left for EB (a/k/a the Easter Bunny) to hide were white due to lack of participation by the munchkin who announced after dinner last night, "I'm tired. Mom, can you color the eggs?" I asked him if he thought it would be okay if EB just hid white eggs. He found that acceptable. I was happy too, because I was equally exhausted.

I had to get up early this morning to make sure EB hadn't skipped our house and get my carrots over to make honey glazed carrots! I figured I probably needed to start laundry too and get the house ready for Easter dinner. So at 7am I had my carrots over, I confirmed EB remembered our house, started laundry and started getting the house ready for our guests.

I hope everyone has a beautiful Easter today!!

PASSED!!!!

Just a quick update... I got my bar results tonight and I passed!! Thank God.

Getting my results was an ordeal that I survived thanks to my LSBFF, my aunt, my munchkin, & my man! I love you guys! It is definitely post worthy, but not tonight!!!

Wishful Thinking...

Forty-eight hours of silence. No calls, no emails, no people. Me, silence, a beach, and a never empty drink...that's it! Apparently this is too much to ask for!!

Recovering From Surgery One Day At A Time

Each day I feel stronger and stronger. I'm definitely not back 100%, but I'm hoping by tomorrow I'll be up to leave the house, finally! Well since I have to pick the munchkin up from school tomorrow afternoon I guess I won't have much of a choice.

Of course I originally hoped that this weekend I would get tons accomplished while I was home recovering from my surgery and so far all I have accomplished is getting lots of sleep and ordering my graduation regalia. Everything else has stayed on the sidelines as I regain my strength. Yet again I over estimated my abilities, but taking vicodin has helped me cope.

Surviving Surgery

A few years back my now former OB/GYN discovered a peri-ovarian cyst on my right side. It gave me no problems whatsoever. We monitored over the next couple of years and then almost a year ago he pushed me to have it removed, because the cyst was continuing to grow. With getting ready to enter my final semester in law school and then planning to go straight into studying for the bar I couldn't "fit" the surgery into my schedule, which pissed my former OB/GYN off, so I fired him and I scheduled an appointment with a new OB/GYN two days after finishing the bar.

My new OB/GYN did another ultrasound and discovered that the cyst was still growing and suggested that we go ahead and remove it. My surgery was scheduled for April 8th at 11:30am. So yesterday I went in for my surgery with the plan to drain and remove my cyst. By yesterday afternoon I came out of surgery to learn that things were worse than we expected. The cyst and my ovary were wrapping around one another and they both had to be removed.

Over 24 hours later I'm definitely bruised, battered, sore, and exhausted, but I'm home and recovering with one ovary still intact. My biological clock is happy that I should still be able to have more babies in the future...

Peace & Quiet

It is few and far between these days that my munchkin goes to sleep before me, especially during the week but tonight was the night! So even though I'm up much later than I hoped for I have to enjoy it for all it is worth. So I'm sitting here...tired, but enjoying my peace & quiet. I hope you are too.

Where Is The Time Going Now?!?

Wow! I don't know if I've ever went so long without blogging. My bad. My apologies too! Hopefully it won't be so long between posts in the future...

The last two weeks have been crazy busy and last week and this week I've been sick. Again. I'm trying to do extra things with the munchkin while all of us get a new schedule established. It is definitely difficult thus far and we haven't really hit our stride yet, but each day gets better. Now if I could just work trips to the gym, healthy eating, and some extra hours into the day life would be grand!!

I have to confess that I really thought I would have all of this time on my hands once school and studying was done, but that hasn't been the case. Between work, home, cubscouts, munchkin's school activities/homework, karate, my man, and family I'm finding that I have less time now then when I was going to school. What's up with that?! How does everyone else seem to get it all done?

All Or Nothing vs. Being Normal Again

Yes, I am still floundering over here as you can probably tell. Part of the reason I may still be floundering may be the fact that I hate taking shortcuts. I feel like I'm short changing myself or something. I guess I'm sort of an all or nothing person. I know sometimes that sets me up for failure.

But in an effort to change I made a sudden decision tonight. I know there is no way I can get on top of:

1) all of my personal emails sitting in my in-box, currently 147;

2) all of the tweets I've marked as favorites to go back and read the attachments, it was 250 and now I'm down to 65; and

3) all of my mail and paperwork I'm currently carrying around with me.

So...I'm going to whittle down my emails & my favorites in an effort to get back on top of things. Maybe this will be one of the first steps on getting things back together and getting back to my normal self, because I certainly do not feel normal yet.