Tell Me Thursday - Milestone

The picture yesterday was a milestone because it was my first time out driving, running errands, in a while. I survived 3 errands and came home exhausted, but I did it!! Recovery is finally in my sights.



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Wordless Wednesday - Milestone

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Tell Me Thursday - Back Again

Today I'm headed back to the hospital for removal of both kidney stents, laser lithotripsy on my left kidney, and a new stent in my left kidney.  Hopefully when I head back home, the huge stone that has been blocking that kidney for who knows how long will be gone!  The laser treatment has to be done under general anesthesia, but thankfully it's considered outpatient so I should be home tonight.

Expectation is a few days of recovery, then I am hoping against hope that the stent in my kidney will be removed next week, so that I have a few days to recover from that and I will be ready for the trip to Texas that Nate & I have been planning for months.  Well, no matter what I'm going on that trip, but I don't want to be in the pain that I've been in the last month from those stupid stents while we're there.

I am so ready to put this behind me and get back to some sort of normal life again!  It's been a LONG month.

Review: Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus

Okay.  I know I wrote a post earlier today that said I probably wouldn't get to a review just yet.  But, I have the pictures and I'm up waiting for a painkiller to kick in so I can get some sleep, so I decided it would be nice to cross this off my to-do list!  I almost sent my family without me because I was feeling awful, but at the last minute I decided that I didn't want to miss the circus.  I'm glad I went!

The show was exciting and colorful and fun!  One thing that is really neat about this circus is the pre-show.  An hour before the circus is scheduled to begin, the audience can head down to the floor and interact with the performers.  There are clowns performing, dancers, animals and more -- and you can get an up-close experience!  Sometimes you can even be pulled into the act and learn a trick or a move from the performers.  In the past, the boys have gone down, but this year they stayed in their seats while Lydia and Bo headed down to the floor.

The show did not disappoint.  Both boys said their favorite part was the guy that was set on fire, then shot across the arena from a huge crossbow.  Really -- that happened!  It was pretty amazing!

My husband loved the elephants and tigers.  My favorite was the ribbon dancers (that danced in the air, since the ribbons were suspended from the ceiling -- magical!)  Lydia liked the clowns again, but was disappointed not to see her green-haired favorite.  She also liked the horses.

The show is non-stop action.  Even though the stage has to be re-set for each act, the clowns entertain the audience while the new props are set up so you don't even realize what's going on in the background. It's a nice mix of amazing human acts interspersed with some animal acts.  The skill and athleticism of the performers is fantastic! 

The show itself lasts 2.5 hours, but if you go for the pre-show (which is included with your ticket) that's 3.5 hours of solid entertainment.  Definitely a great value!  (And don't forget -- if you want to go to the show in Phoenix this week, use the promo code ELEPHANT on Ticketmaster.com to purchase 4 tickets for $44)

If you haven't been to a Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey show, I highly recommend going.  And even if you went last summer, be assured it's a completely new show!  This is our 3rd year going to the circus, and it's been a ton of fun each year.

More pictures after the cut . . .

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The Circus is in Phoenix!

Tonight we are going to Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey's FULLY CHARGED show.  I have debated about sending my family without me, but have decided that I don't want to miss it and I'll just deal with the pain so that I can see the show!

Tomorrow morning, I'm going into the hospital, so while I usually do a review post after we see a show, I realize that I may not have the chance later tonight.  Because I know it's bound to be a fabulous show, I wanted to share the discount code one last time with my local readers in case they are looking for something to do this weekend!

You can purchase 4 tickets for only $44 by using the special code ELEPHANT at Ticketmaster.com.   This special is good at ALL shows, but excludes Circus Celebrity, Front Row and VIP seats.  The circus is in town tonight through June 28, 2011!

And congrats to my circus ticket giveaway winner -- Sheila & her family!  I hope they have a good time tonight!

Hopefully I'll feel up to adding pictures tonight, but if not tonight I will post some when I'm feeling better!  Lydia is still hoping for her green-haired clown!!


*Disclosure: I received tickets for my family & for my giveaway from Feld Entertainment.  No additional compensation was provided, and all opinions are my own.*

Wordless Wednesday - Back Again

Video Ridemakerz Review

A couple days ago I posted a review of Ridemakerz!  The kids wanted to do a video review as well, so here it is!  Don't forget their Father's Day Promotion -- Buy one custom car & get another for free!  This promotion is good this weekend, July 18 & 19, 2011 at all their stores.




*Disclosure: I was invited to visit the shop and my children customized their cars, thanks to the generosity of Ridemakerz, in order to facilitate this review.  Many thanks to Ridemakerz for giving us the opportunity to visit and play!*

Tell Me Thursday - Menu

Having a 10 year old boy at home is extremely helpful when you're too sick to go much farther than from your bed to the bathroom.  He may have needed some prompting, but I'm proud of him for stepping up to the plate and taking responsibility for making sure that lunches were served.

Colin created this menu board after being asked repeatedly what was for lunch one day a couple weeks ago.  He listed out a variety of sandwich choices, sides and drink choices.  Nate & Lydia helped him put together my lunch and they served it like true restauranteurs (must be all that reality TV we watch . . . )  And, then Colin made sure that he and his siblings had a healthy lunch to enjoy themselves.

They're all growing into fine young people, and I'm proud of my eldest for making sure we were all fed!

Wordless Wednesday - Menu

Under the Weather

I'm the kind of person that doesn't let much hold me back.  I believe in pushing through and doing what needs to be done -- and I have a pretty high tolerance for pain.  Last summer, I continued teaching even after I was diagnosed with pneumonia because I had committed to those classes. If I ever call in sick, you can believe that I am extremely sick.

So, in early May when I wasn't feeling all that great, I didn't think much of it.  We have been pretty busy -- and the kids' school year was wrapping down, and I was looking forward to days of fewer commitments.  I thought I'd rest once the we got to the end of May.

On May 16, I decided that I needed to visit my doctor.  I felt rotten, and had what I thought might be a UTI.  I headed into the doctor and told him of my symptoms and also complained of pain in my lower back.  He said "Well, people don't usually get kidney stones on both sides, so I think it's probably just a UTI." and put me on antibiotics.

Since I was on antibiotics, I assumed I'd be fine in a few days, and taught the classes on my schedule that week.  I didn't feel much better, and as the week wore on I actually felt worse.  Friday evening I remember giving Bo a hug and saying that I thought I better return to the doctor because it just didn't seem right that I still felt terrible.  I went to bed early and then woke up around 4:30 in excruciating pain.

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