March 19th!!!

I have heard back from Johns Hopkins and e-mailed them many (ugly!) pictures of my face at different degrees of rest, smiling, eyes open/shut, etc. After spending a couple of days on the phone with Aetna and Johns Hopkins asking all kinds of questions...I have an appointment for a consultation on March 19th. Of course, if I get word back that there is no hope after looking at the pictures, I will cancel the appointment. Insurance says that Dr. Byrne is NOT in our network (HELLO...I'm in Texas -- he's in Maryland -- I figured this out even though I had brain surgery!!), but with a few "extra" papers (hours?), hopefully they will consider it in network and pay for it. Dave & I have decided that we are going to forge ahead and at least get a consult. If the insurance company does approve it and the Dr. does say I'm a candidate for the T3, they will pay for the surgery AND reimburse us for the consultation. March 19th was a fluke (really a God thing) because she (Erin @ Dr. Byrne's) said his 1st available was May. I said that I was disappointed because after a LOT of thought, I had hoped to be able to have the surgery before school was out so that the kiddos would have something to do during the day & that I would be able to take care of them come summer. She looked again and found March 19th -- SHE even double-checked it because she couldn't believe it!! I told her to put me down and that I could always call & cancel after I talked to Dave, but I didn't want to let it get away. I then was transferred to another department to get registered -- it is a done deal! Now we just have to figure out airline tickets and hotel -- Dave already talked to his boss too & got it OKed. She said that it is usually about a month between the 1st consultation and surgery. Please join us in praying that I could get it done in APRIL so I would have some good recovery time before the hectic schedules of May (recitals, Pre-School Graduation, games, end of the year parties, etc) and summer when I'll need to be able to wear sunscreen since we are outside ALL he time!

Oh yeah, the neat thing about March 19th is that it is our ANNIVERSARY (Dave said it's a good sign!) and we will get to spend it in a real city and eat REALLY good seafood at a NICE RESTAURANT (with no kids)!!!!

Only 1 basketball game this weekend and I AM TAKING THE CAMERA so hopefully I'll have some pictures to post! Trust me, you do NOT want to see them ones I sent to Dr. Byrne!!!!!!! :o)

We WON!!!!!

We won the basketball game last night 22-8!! Woo-hoo!! We looked like a COMPLETELY different team. The girls passed the ball and ran their plays like they had done it all their lives. I think that the main difference in last night and Sunday is that we played OUR game instead of succumbing to the opposing teams "street ball" ways. The refs were MUCH better -- they still missed a lot, but they called a much tighter game -- especially with the tie balls. I really doubt that they were the refs originally slated to call that game. A few minutes into the game, a man in a nice shirt & pants (not necessarily bb attire) walked in & sat at the end of our bench. (I don't think he sat on our side for a reason -- I think that is just the door he entered and didn't want to walk in front of both teams and the table.) Anyway, I asked another mom who is very involved in the sport organization and she said he was the "Big Kahuna" of the organization. He watched the whole game. She talked to him after the game, but I haven't talked to her yet to find out what he said! Addi got a LOT more play time this game than any of the other games in this league so far. She did really well -- I was very proud of her. She's starting to put it all together and come around!! I even set the camera out so I could take some pictures and put them up here, but of course, I forgot! Maybe Saturday...

Basketball...or Football

Oh my goodness! Addi had a basketball game this afternoon (3rd one this weekend) and WOW! I am not a proponent of slugging someone, but I thought that is what it was going to come to!! I looked up once and this girl was slapping my precious girl!! I am not exaggerating! It was crazy...well, the whole game was crazy! A spectator on each side was ejected from the game -- new thing for me in my 4th grader's game. They just didn't call it as tight as they should have for one side playing "street ball." They did call tie balls (the main culprit), but let it go a second or two before they called it! But back to the slapfest, I will say that although I do not want my DAUGHTER fighting, I don't want her to get beat up on the court either. She wasn't slapping her girl (in the face!) but she didn't back down and quiver in fear! Another girl's mom in front of me kept yelling encouraging words to Addi that she did "great" & "keep up being tough" -- that was maybe a bit much for me (I was actually quiet on that one - I probably was still just stunned), but I was proud of her for hanging tough -- AND not getting thrown out of the game! It probably is a good thing that she is not playing as much in this new league as she did in the old one or she would have fouled out today. She FINALLY got more agressive...by that I just mean going after the ball. When she puts everything together, she will be really good! Today, we lost by 1 point at the buzzer, but had been down most of the game. We played a LOT better in the 2nd half than the 1st.

I'm wondering if we should go to Academy and suit the girls up in pads...they play this team again on Tuesday night in a make-up game!! I'll have to let you know how it goes...

For the Record...

For the record, I KNOW that you don't have to write "link" every time you put one, but since you can't see them any differently in this print, I'm going to put it so if anyone is interested, they will know it is there!! :o) Just trying to be helpful!!!

Acoustic Neuroma Stuff

Two good things happened today that both have to do with my getting back into the whole Acoustic Neuroma world. First, I was able to spend some time on the phone with a lady who was recently diagnosed with an AN. She posted on the ANA Forum (link) yesterday that she felt very overwhelmed and confused after her Dr. visit. Even though I could not answer her questions directly, as they related to her very small tumor and surgeon questions, I felt I could be there for her as she said she felt very "alone and just wish she had someone to talk to" -- it broke my heart! I was able to send her a PM & let her know that I even though I couldn't answer all her questions, I could certainly listen and be a shoulder for her and gave her my number. She called this afternoon and we had a great conversation -- she is a lovely lady from South Carolina. This is what I want to do for others with AN!! When I checked the mail tonight, I had received my packet from the Acoustic Neuroma Association (link). It was filled with all of their literature and books that they send out to people that contact them that have just been diagnosed -- they are very informative -- MUCH more information than we were given!! Since all this comes about 12 years late, I will keep them on hand for resources (hopefully I won't need it except to field calls!). :o) Which brings up the other exciting thing - it included the information for the WTT (Willing To Talk) list. I'll fill that form out & get it back in and hopefully get approved so that my contact information will be added to their list that goes out with the packet. Who would have thought that I could help others so much with all of this!?!? Now, if I could just figure out a way to make a little cash at something like this that I enjoy so much!! The ironic thing is that I have to join the association so I have to pay THEM so that I can help them help others !!! It is definitely worth it...I can't tell you how it makes me feel (& I think it is a good example to my kids -- I'm going to make sure that I do this when they are gone or occupied so that they don't suffer from lack of time or attention)! On another note...will I jinx myself if I say I might get out of house arrest tomorrow???

Grandma & Kendie

Since I've been quarantined to the house for over a week now, I want to take this opportunity to share this picture! I had it in the slideshow to the right, but it was causing the whole thing to mess up so I had to remove it. However, I LOVE this picture! My SIL, who is a photographer (link) in the LA area, took this picture last Christmas. We had all gone to see the Rockettes Christmas show and were waiting (forever) for the cars. This is "Grandma" (Dave's mom) and Kendie. Grandma is VERY special to us and a wonderful grandmother. Even though she has 14 grandchildren (we're numbers 10, 11, and 12!), she definitely has more than enough love to go around. She spoils the girlies something awful (& all the grandkids as far as I can tell) - but I guess that is what grandparenting is all about, huh? Even though we live across Texas from her (& Grandad-another picture and post later!), she always sends care packages at EVERY holiday and comes to visit or takes us on trips so we can all be together. They even got up early Christmas morning (this year), fed all the rest of the family, and then caught a plane to surprise the girlies on Christmas morning! Yet another wonderful example of how to parent and grandparent -- do everything you can to keep your family close! The girlies can't wait for your next visit, Grandma!

Good News, Bad News

The good news is that after a week, Kendie is finally better (but still has a cough), the bad news is that now Addi is running a fever and I have no voice and am not feeling too great! I am still choosing to be optimistic, however, so I am hoping to NOT have the full blown flu!! I will take Addi tomorrow to the Dr. on call and hopefully get her started on Tamaflu so she might not miss quite so much school. Emee is still showing no signs -- she rarely gets sick. I think it is because she hates going to the Dr. so much that she just kind of wills her immunities to be strong!! :o)
Addi's basketball game today was cancelled because of the weather. It is cold and wet here, but not near as bad as predicted. We still might get a little snow tonight. I think everyone here is a little paranoid after the 2 different big pile-ups on the interstate this year. Three of our team members drive in from a little town so I'm glad they wouldn't be on the road.
Again, this isn't very exciting, but since I have basically been in the house for a week -- not much has happened!!

PS

I put a link on the previous post on Temporalis Tendon Transfer but you can't see it -- click on it and you can see before and after pictures of people that have had the surgery!! :o)

Who knows...

So here is the scoop of what is going on here...basically, Kendie has the FLU (Type B) and so my life has come to a SCREECHING halt - which is not a bad thing!! We all have had our flu shots this year, but apparently they were aimed more at the "A" type and so a LOT of people are coming down with the other. You can tell ahe just doesn't feel well, but she has times of being OK. Pray that we don't all come down with it!! :o)

On another note, since I have reconnected with the whole Acoustic Neuroma thing and have been on their website a lot, I have contacted them to be on their Willing To Talk (WTT) list. When people contact them wanting information on AN, they send out an information packett that includes a list of people that are willing to be contacted to answer their questions or just listen and be there for them. This is something that I would LOVE and really look forward to doing. I made the intial call today, but sounds like I just have to fill out some paperwork and then I can do it (if they accept me!). Also, I have been "talking" to a lady in Florida that had a Temporalis Tendon Transfer (TTT) done to help with her face/smile. She seems to think that I would be a candidate for this if my tendon is still in tact - which it should be. If that is the case, it doesn't matter how long you have had your paralysis. WOW...what a lot to consider!! I have contacted John Hopkins (I could sing "Good Morning Baltimore!) and hope to hear from them soon. I'm torn even thinking about it because I think it is kind of selfish spending time & energy (not to mention $$) on myself when my family needs it. BUT, as my SILs remind me, maybe I do need to do something for me for a change! We'll see...it is still just in the "prayer & research" stage! Let me know what your thoughts are (& I would certainly appreciate prayers)!!!

Crazy...

Well, I WAS pretty proud that I did the slide show all by myself, but I did NOT put the previous post to "Check it out" so I guess I don't know as much about it as I thought!! I was just trying to see if I could get it to be continous (not ever end). I like to listen to the music so I leave it on and open another tab to do what I need to do - then at some point it comes to an end & shows something else instead of pictures. Also, I think that there should be a way to get it to top to bottom instead of side to side (it would fit better) so I was checking out if I could do that & I went back to the blog and it had made its own entry!! Crazy...
On another note, yesterday afternoon, Addi & I went to WalMart to do some "major" shopping. By major, I mean, not just running in & picking up an item or two. Now, I realize that most people do not "run in" to WalMart, but I do. It is RIGHT by our house and I know the store like the back of my hand so I do "run in" a lot. I have always said that I could make one of those WalMart commercials -- I know I go there quite frequently (one time Kendie said, "Mom, when you go to WalMart tomorrow...). However, I was taken by surprise when we were walking out yesterday and the greeter yelled, "See you tomorrow!" TOMORROW -- I really don't go EVERY day!! He must have just said the wrong thing! PLUS, he is not the one I see the most!! Do I really go to WalMart that much??
I won't be going to WalMart today (even though I need to) because Dave is out of town and Kendie is running a fever. Mom stayed with her during Addi's basketball game this afternoon. The game was not that great and Addi certainly did not play her usual aggressive way. I am wondering if she is getting sick too (the coach said she was even wondering if she was getting sick). Now I am super glad that Dave is coming home tonight! Off to check on girlies!!

Check out my Slide Show!

Snaps for Me!

OK...so this is a purely selfish entry -- all about ME and how I am doing with my weight loss!! I went to weigh in today and I was a LOSER again!! Last week, I gained (it was less than a pound, but I still didn't like it!) and so I tried to do better this week. I lost 3.2 pounds! YEA!! My total now is 26.2 and I am less than 4 pounds away from my goal. I would have made my goal TODAY if I wouldn't have changed it last week to a lower number -- what was I thinking? I have still been doing the Elliptical and the ArcTrainer, but I have finally added weights (arms only right now as my knee has been bothering me) and I am trying to do stomach work. The main thing is that I have gone down MANY sizes and that I have had a LOT of positive comments. I just feel better and can do so much more. I would say that I usually have more energy, but the last week & a half I have not! If this continues into next week, I will be calling the Dr. to have my bloodwork done to see if my thyroid levels have changed. I have them checked regularly, but since I have dropped almost 30 pounds, I wonder if that is the culprit and we just need to adjust my medicine a little. I bet it is the medicine - it couldn't be that I do too much...Gotta run go pick up kids, take Addi to dance, make dinner, and get Emee to a birthday party -- all before 6!!

Changes...

So, I took a little time and made some changes. I figured out how to get our family picture from Shutterfly to the computer (have Dave do it, of course!!) and then I could put it on this page. I also put up a picture of Dave & me. We were in the Las Vegas airport waiting for our next plane to take us on to San Diego for Thanksgiving and I took it -- I am getting good at holding the camera out and snapping!! I still need to work on getting the pictures and text looking good when I add a picture to the posts, but at least I have some! I wanted to do a slideshow, but that will have to come after more time can be spent investigating how to do it! :o)
It is beautiful here today (& I am inside?) -- a change from the blowing blizzard I awoke to Thursday morning (so I went back to bed -- no gym!). Anyway, we are not doing much. Addi had a basketball game last night (they lost, but she played well...when she played. She had 3 fouls at 1/2 so they kept her out a while, but very clean and aggressive in the 2nd half!) She was suppose to have one today & tomorrow, but we had to forfeit today b/c we had 2 girls in a volleyball tourney & 2 sick. :o( Tomorrow, Emee has figure skating during the game -- I guess we'll do the "split"! Addi & Mom went to a college game since hers was cancelled so we'll see what Addi has to say about that.
Not a very exciting post, but at least it is something!!!