Saturday, January 30, 2010

Our Big Snow...NOT

All week long we heard about the snow that was coming. The news stations said to get prepared for it, that we would have some for sure. As always, I said I'd believe it when I saw it. I have this theory that there's a big bubble of hot, polluted air around Charlotte that prevents any snow from reaching us. That's just my opinion. But it seems like everybody else gets snow but us.

So here's what the big snow looked like at our house.
Fun in the cold

Not really enough to measure. That was really sad too as Kevin had asked me last night before he went to bed if he could go out and play in the snow today. I told him yes, certainly he could, but not to get his hopes up because there might not be enough to play in. Turned out there really wasn't enough. You couldn't even make a snowball. It was too crunchy and hard from the freezing rain and sleet that had also fallen. He was a bit disappointed.

He couldn't even make a snowball

He became really cold, really quick! Even though he had on 2 layers, a face mask and ski goggles, waterproof boots, gloves, hat, and hood, it was only 23 degrees out there and he's just not used to that. It's just no fun.

Yay! Snow!

Oh well. There's always March. Some of our biggest snows have come in March. I remember well the blizzard of 1993. Charlotte got a TON of snow!! It was awesome! We can always hope!

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And now to jewelry news....

My garnet and circle earrings hit the front page of Etsy today in a beautiful treasury!
Thank you so much to CaitlinSainio of Etsy for including me! I really appreciate it!

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I hope you all have a great weekend!

Until next time....stay warm!
 

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Blog Feature

Today I was thrilled to learn the wonderfully talented and successful Lara Lewis of Etsy had chosen to feature me on her blog. She makes gorgeous jewelry herself, therefore I was quite honored to be one of her favorites!



Thank you so much Lara! I really appreciate it!

Monday, January 11, 2010

Eight Years Ago...

...something happened that would
forever change my life...


Happy Mother's Day!!

...for the better.

My son was born.

Cutie-patootie


Even though he came early and was
the smallest thing I'd ever seen,
he was beautiful.
He was perfect.


kevin

I had never changed a diaper before in my life.
I'd only ever held a baby once.
I had only ever had dogs and had
no clue what to do with a baby. 

How much is that doggie in the window?

But he grew. And he learned to walk. 

9mos

He learned to climb trees.
Here's looking at you kid!

He learned to blow bubbles.

blowing bubbles

He got teeth and lost teeth.
toothless grin

He conquered a bicycle. 
riding his new bike

He conquered roller blades.
getting pretty good

I was so scared I would screw everything up.

Kevin's Pikachu

But I think he's turning out just fine.

my little reader

Thank you to all my family and friends
for your help and support.
You have helped him
in becoming a little man.


Happy Birthday Sweetpea!
You're the best thing that ever happened to me.
asleep with his friends
I love you!

I just dread when it's time for a real car.
Driver's education


~~~~~~

Friday, January 8, 2010

Happy Furry Friday!

Barney

I hope you all have a great weekend!
Stay warm!

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Starting the Year Off Right

Starting the new year off right

As many of you know, when Kevin hit kindergarten he began getting sick with an almost constant runny/stuffy nose in addition to lots of sinus and ear infections. It was so bad that he missed practically half of his kindergarten year being sick. I took him to Charlotte Eye Ear Nose & Throat to have him checked and allergy tested. When the allergy tests came back negative, I was left totally frustrated and confused.

They performed a CT scan of his sinuses and it was determined he had a chronic sinus infection. Apparently they had been infected for months! Poor thing. The doctor wanted to do surgery to scrape his sinuses. NO. FRIKKIN. WAY. So we were left treating the symptoms for his 'nonallergic rhinitis' via a regimen of Singulair, Zyrtec and either FloNase or Veramyst nasal spray. He's been on that cocktail since kindergarten. Not only is it expensive, but I was convinced it was useless as it didn't seem to change much about his symptoms. He still got sinus and ear infections. He was still runny and stuffy all the time. And he still always sounded sick. That has continued through first grade up to the present with his symptoms letting up only slightly. I just knew he was allergic to something. I just knew he was.

Well, I finally got smart and decided it was time to take him for a second opinion, this time to a different group of doctors who specialize more in allergies as opposed to eye, ear, nose and throat specialists. Sooooo glad I did and now I could just kick myself that I waited so long!

allergy tested
Latest allergy tests showing positive reactions!

This past Monday we went to Carolina Asthma and Allergy (CAA) for re-testing. I never stopped suspecting he had allergies contrary to testing negative with the first group, Charlotte Eye Ear Nose and Throat (CEENT). CEENT's testing was not nearly as thorough as CAA's was on Monday. CAA tested for 56 things and Kevin showed a positive result for at least 12! At CEENT he was only tested for 16 things and they all were negative, hence the diagnosis of nonallergic rhinitis. It's such a relief to know there is a light at the end of this stuffy, runny tunnel!

I can't believe I waited so long to get a second opinion. Poor Kevin has been taking his cocktail of meds for two years or so and to not much good. As a result of his appointment on Monday, he no longer has to take Singulair and we can cut his Zyrtec use to 'as needed'. A nasal spray is still being prescribed; however it is now generic FloNase instead of the expensive Veramyst. What a money savings! We're so happy!

When I watched the test results popping up red on Kevin's back I felt so vindicated and was thrilled! I told Kevin "I told you so! I knew you had allergies!" It's hard to imagine being ecstatic your child has allergies, but I'm sure you can understand why. Now we know the underlying cause for his issues of the past two years. Kevin and I did a high five and I felt like a 100 pound weight had been lifted from my shoulders. Grasses and weeds are his main irritants which are most prevalent in spring and fall. It was so obvious to me watching him get sick during those times of year and so frustrating having someone tell me he wasn't allergic.

I definitely feel the year is starting off on the right foot. His allergy shots begin in two weeks and maybe eventually the boy will no longer sound sick nor will he be stuffed up all the time. I can't wait for that day and neither can he.

So if you have any doubts whatsoever about a diagnosis you are not comfortable with, don't just live with it. Don't hesitate as I did. Go get yourself a second opinion--ASAP! It could save you lots of money in the long run as well as give you peace of mind that you have covered all your bases regarding treatment options and diagnostic abilities. I have no doubt that had I not waited, Kevin and I both would have been breathing much easier long before now.

Until next time! Happy Wednesday to you all!