So here's the short of it, 
Shelley, Lou, and Max are here for a really quick visit. 

And here's the long.

This evening we got together with them for dinner at --- where else --- Provino's!

  

Dinner for me - my favorite and always dependable - Eggplant Parmesan, Salad, Garlic Bread. 

But of course the very best part of all was getting to see Shelley, Lou, and Max.  We were at a big long table, so I didn't get to visit with Lou very much - and I didn't get a good picture of him either (but he's looking good!)  

Here's a good shot of sweet and pregnant Shelley, and that adorable Max.  

He's got a birthday coming up in just a few weeks. (The big 3).  But when G'MaMa (that's my Mom, his great grandma) asked him how old he's going to be, he told her "a thousand".  When pressed, then he said "no, seven".  

He seems to enjoy "tricking" people with his answers.  He was sitting right catty cornered from me, so I got a chance to enjoy his personality.  

So here's the short of it,
What a lovely home day!

And here's the long.

I did wander out with Alan right after lunch for a quick visit with Mommy Anne and run into Earth Fare for milk.  We took back a 1/2 gallon that had spoiled way before the expiration date.  The young man who took it in acted as though he wasn't sure it had really spoiled.  He opened the jug and smelled it!  I asked - "should I have left the spoiled milk in the jug?"  Fortunately another manager showed up and took care of us.

Except for that brief out, I worked on some home stuff.  I finally dug into the pile of stuff left over from my illness.  Wow -  lots of really strong diarrhea medicine to get rid of! I'm so glad to get rid of it too!
And also some big time nausea medicine is on the way out of this house - the kind that just knocks you right out of this world for awhile!  I really worry about putting this in the trash or flushing it down the toilet as is sometimes recommended! Maybe pretty soon there'll be one of those community drop offs like we had last fall.

It was really kind of nice to get into all that medicine and take a look at it and then put it behind me.

So here's the short of it, 
There is something SO special about a three day weekend!

And here's the long.

Well, it is Sunday night and normally I'd be getting myself geared up for another week at work. But this is a holiday weekend for for the school system. And this time of year, when the days are short and cold, and morale seems to slip, when the schools are full of sniffles, coughs, and sometimes even worse, it's good to have a three day weekend.

I'm somewhat recovered from last weeks episode. It seems that it may be just coincidental about the Flexeril and the visceral detachment? It may be.  But it really seems connected to me.  As soon as I stopped taking it, my eyes began to feel better, and they've actually gotten better each day now.  Yesterday I had a massage.  I hadn't seen Kelly since I started taking the Flexeril, and she was amazed at how much different my tissues were. So my next question - is there something else that could bring some level of relief - I can already feel the tension returning. But I'm so glad to get rid of the other stuff the Flexeril brought on.

So tomorrow I have another day.  Right now I'm planning to stay right here around the house. I'm going to piddle around and do things I wouldn't normally have time to do.  I'm going to take Sophie out in the middle of the day when it's warm!  I might even cook something in the middle of the day!

I'll also take a moment to think of our presidents and celebrate them all - even the ones I don't think moved our country forward. I'm particularly thankful for the country we live in where we have presidents and the opportunity to participate in the political process - to change things we know need to be changed and to continue to work hard when we know we need to change things and it seems the time is just not right yet.

So here's the short of it, 
Tonight Alan and I heard Congressman John Lewis speak.

And here's the long.

I've met Congressman Lewis a couple of times and each time I see him I think about how he and other civil rights activists must have just stepped into their fears to move toward their dream.

When I heard the phrase "Keep your eyes on the prize."  a couple of times tonight, it made me understand that having our eyes on the prize is exactly what allows us to step into that fear. I think that must be especially true when we confront something where we know we are called upon to take a stand from a moral view of the world.

I'm grateful that I got to hear him speak again.  My circle of influence is sure a lot smaller than that of John Lewis, but I'll say this - the next time I'm confronted with not speaking up or not doing something out of fear, I'll take stock of the situation and try my best to "Keep my eyes on the prize".

So here's the short of it, 
I am feeling better today...

And here's the long.

I am certainly feeling better!  Last night I took Benedryl before bedtime; then this morning I started on a steroid pack as well as Claritin. I also started using artificial tears very frequently.  My rash is still very apparent, but it isn't so itchy.  My eyes are feeling much less stressed even though that big floater is still there.

I've got a three day weekend and I'm thinking that by the time I have to go back to work I'll feel lots better.  I just hope that this diagnosis of allergy reaction to the medicine is really the right one.  One of my colleagues has been out of work for six weeks because of a variety of medical issues, and is just now getting clearance to get back to work. With good luck I will get over this episode in short order and it will just be one of those stories to tell.

So here's the short of it,
I'm hoping I have the answer to my rash and eye problems!

And here's the long.

So I started taking Flexeril in early February.  It's a muscle relaxer and has helped my back pain enormously! By the end of the week, I noticed a rash just under my breasts - Good timing as I had a regular follow up appointment with my oncologist. He diagnosed it as a yeast infection.  I got a prescription for a cream.  And by the next day, I began to notice a huge floater in my left eye!  By Monday I knew I needed to see my primary care physician.  She gave me more yeast bashing medicine and told me to get in to my ophthalmologist as soon as possible. I had already gotten an appointment for that afternoon!

His diagnosis was that I have a vitreous detachment.  Fortunately I don't have a retinal detachment or a tear. But I'm to watch carefully for signs that may be happening.

Anyway, last night when Liga noticed the rash just continuing to spread I started to try to think of what could be going on.  The only thing I could think of was beginning to take the Flexeril.  I looked it up and there on the less frequent side effects, and serious ones at that, were rashes, hives, and problems with vision.

So today, I got myself back to my primary care physician.  I'm off the Flexeril, and I'm on a steroid pack beginning tomorrow. I'm on Benedryl at night and Claritin during the daytime for a few days to try and get this rash under control.  I'm diagnosed right now as a possible allergic reaction to Flexeril.
I'll be back at my ophthalmologists Monday next or before to get a recheck on that.

I'm so hoping a medicine allergy is really the answer.
I'm also really sorry that Flexeril is not the answer to my achey back!
.

So here's the short of it, 
The Not So Newly Wed Game

And here's the long.

Tonight we went to church with Mom.  They were having Wednesday night dinner and what's become an annual tradition - the Not So Newly Wed Game.  There were four couple who answered questions like on the Newly Wed Game.  It was fun and funny, but Alan and I are sure glad we didn't have to play.  We knew hardly any of the answers.  Yes, I do know what political party he is. And on some days I might be able to tell you what book he's reading.  I do know the last movie we saw together.  BUT...
I don't know what actress he would want to be married to; there's not any of his clothes that I really don't like him to wear; and he doesn't know what color my toothbrush is.  So we sure wouldn't be much entertainment as contestants.

I'm battling some kind of rash.  Two doctors have looked at it and diagnosed it as a yeast infection. I have a cream, a powder, and a prescription for an oral anti-fungal which I finished tonight. But Liga stopped by for a bit tonight, and she asked me "Mom, what's wrong with your neck.  Lo and Behold the rash has spread to my neck!  I looked up Flexeril - the medicine that my new back doctor prescribed (muscle relaxer) - which has helped my comfort level so much and allergic reactions including hives was listed as one of the possible side effects.  I'll call my doctor tomorrow, but in the meantime, I'm guessing I won't be taking that little pill anymore.