Wednesday 4-10

It was rainy again today so I was a bit more achy than usual.  I have a bit more of a headache than usual too but that is to be expected because of the rain.

Wednesdays are my busiest days for teaching.  Acer says it is too much and I need to cut down because he feels it makes me more tired.  He doesn't like me to be too tired.  It is so sweet that he is concerned about how I feel when I teach a lot.  Tonight Heather and Bill had an event to go to so I took care of the kids.  Calli helped.  I put their dinner on plates (I didn't realize Calli had already put bowls on the table and glasses - next time I will look better) and got their milk.  Calli heated up their plates while I went to teach a couple more lessons.  Michelle (the mom) is so understanding and it didn't bother her in the least that I needed to do this.  I checked on them once between Jillian and Brooke's lessons and they were fine.  When I finished with Jillian's lesson, the kids were done with dinner.  Calli had put her plate away as she usually does and I took care of Acer's.  Acer quickly got ready for bed and then I went up to read a couple of stories.  I love reading him stories.  He really likes to be read to.  Calli was also there too as she likes to hear stories too.  I told Acer that he could have either 3 stories and no music or 2 stories and music but he had to decide.  He couldn't decide after the second story.  So I told him that I would give him to 10 to decide.  At first he said music and then he changed his mind.  I caved.  He got both.  I mean, he did do what he needed to do and didn't give any arguments or anything like that so I read one more story and Calli put his music on.  He went to sleep pretty fast.

Maisy is such a cutie.  She doesn't bark a whole lot during my Wednesday lessons.  She seems to really like a few of them so that is a good thing.  I think Maisy has adjusted pretty well with students coming and going.  She still has a bit of a problem when men come over but that is getting better too.  Overall, she seems to have adjusted to her new digs rather well.  I do think everyone has adjusted pretty well too.  I like how Heather and I have divided some of the jobs in the house such as she does the laundry and I do the dishes.  She and Bill also do most of the cooking, which is good too.

I left a message with my neurologist today.  She told me to double my medicine at night to see if that seems to help the headaches more.  The new medicine is working a bit but I think this new dosage will be better.

Well, onto reading and then bed.

I Blinked 4-6

I think I missed an entire week here.  I must have blinked or something.  It can't be Saturday already, can it?  To top it off, Saturday night?  Where did the day go?

I celebrated my birthday (which is Monday) with some of my lovely students and their families.  At first I was worried no one was coming and then they all arrived at the same time!  The Muglia, Weiss, Mulcrone, and Kippert families were there as well as Samantha.  I was very excited about it.  I didn't expect any presents though.  That was a beautiful surprise.  The Muglia's gave me a beautiful Hello Kitty bag with a hello kitty water bottle, a hello kitty book, and a beautiful picture made by Hannah.  I got some nice smelling soaps from the Weiss family and flowers from the Kippert family.  All in all, it was a beautiful day.  Acer also made me a beautiful card where he Brailled out Happy Early Birthday and then he decorated it with lots of stickers.  He is such a creative child.  Both he and Calli are.  I would say that today was a big success.  I spent some time with my students and their families and then came home to a nice dinner with Heather, Bill, Acer, and Calli.  We had hamburgers and they were very yummy.  It is nice when the 5 of us can sit down and eat dinner together.  Tomorrow will be a relaxing day.  I have to go to the store for a few items but that is about all I need to do.  I want to work on numbering some music tomorrow too.  Maybe I will even be able to change some cases for the CDs like I have been working on.  Acer likes to help with that job.  He does do a good job.  I also need to get some stuff copied for a couple of students this week.  I need to copy the Star Spangled Banner for Nick.  He really wants to play that song.  I have it in his level so copying it won't be a problem.  I almost can get to the file box.  I plan to empty it and then put a file for every student in it so I will be better organized with the music.  It is a process, but I am getting there.  Little by little, our house is starting to be organized.  I figure by the end of Spring we will be mostly put together or around that time anyway.  Outside of the music, my biggest job is to go through everything in the file cabinet in Acer's room.  I need to see what is in there and if the safe deposit key is in there too.  I know there is some social security info and some social insurance info but other than that, I am not sure.  This just reminded me that I needed to download the application for a replacement social security card.  I will take care of that this week also.  I didn't get a chance to go to the Secretary of State Thursday or Friday so I will need to go on Monday as that is my birthday and I do not want to have to pay extra for being late like I generally end up doing every year.  It is rather annoying because I forget.  It isn't like they don't send it early enough, they do.  I am the one that messes up.

There is a new fibro blog directory.  I have been invited to join.  Bill is going to help me with what I need to do about being added to the site.  It should be good because I will also be able to read a lot of new blogs about people with fibro.  That is always a good thing.  We need each other because we totally understand what each other means for some of what we go through.

I took a bit of a tumble on Thursday night.  I am not sure how I did it, but I did.  Basically, I landed (hard, of course) on my knees and my hands, especially the left hand.  Calli was in the room with me so she tried to help me up.  I rolled over because my knees were shooting pain up and down my leg from landing on them, just for a few minutes because I also managed to knock the wind out of me.  Then I got one of the dining room chairs and Calli held it steady so I could pull myself up.  She was such a big help.  I am really surprised though, because I thought for sure this incident would send me into and flare, and it DIDN'T!  I know!  Shocking, isn't it?  I am very grateful that it didn't though.  My knees are very sore, of course,  My left wrist is a bit sorer than usual but other than being a bit more sore all over, I am okay.  It also reminded me why I have to work so hard and making sure I eat healthy and lose the excess weight.  This could have been so much worse because I am so big now.  I will find out on Wednesday when I see Dr. Aloot if I have lost anymore weight.  I have been working very hard on portion control.  It is hard, but I am doing pretty well with it.  The other day we had a really yummy dinner and I didn't have more even though I really wanted to.  I didn't deprive myself, I really didn't need more as I was not hungry anymore, I just wanted more.  Calli and I do the same thing now.  We eat our food and then drink our milk.  We wait 5 or so minutes after drinking the milk to see if we are still hungry.  If we are, then we will get 2nds, if not, we won't.  This strategy has really been helpful for me.  I also find that I don't eat as much overall.  If I do eat more than I need, I feel rather sick to my stomach.  I also find that if I eat too much sweet stuff (like candy or ice cream), I also feel sick so this is a good plan and it is one I can stick too as it isn't depriving myself of anything, nothing at all.

My headache has been okay most of today.  I believe the new medicine may be helping because there are times at night where I don't have a really bad headache.  I still have issues with the early morning, which means I miss a lot of church.  I am hoping to be at choir on Thursday.  It has been a while since I have been there and I do miss it but it all boils down to how I feel.  Lately, I haven't been feeling well enough to go.  The thought of singing for 1 1/2 hours with a bad or a medium bad headache is not something I would like to experience.  I know that by the end of the rehearsal, I will feel so much worse and then driving home would be a nightmare.

Well, I believe it is time for a bit of reading before heading for bed.

Easter Sunday 3-31

I spent the afternoon with Kathy and her family at her parents' house.  Her mom is a really good cook.  I did control myself and not go crazy.  I made sure I ate more veggies than anything else.  I also had some spare ribs.  Kathy's mom makes them and they taste amazingly awesome.  Trust me on this.

Not much extra pain today like yesterday, just the usual amount of pain.  I just ached so much yesterday.  It is so nice to live with people who understand about this.  Neither Heather nor Bill ever say anything about what time I get up or how much I try to sleep or when I nap for a long time, like yesterday.  I slept for about 3 1/2 hours in the afternoon.  I did have a bad headache this morning, but by the time I actually got out of bed it was back to the normal headache so that was good.  It just is annoying that it is bad in the morning because that means I miss church a lot and I mean a lot.  I have pretty much given up on being about to be there on a regular basis.  I usually missed at least 1 time during the month before but now, I miss all of it.

Easter is such a beautiful season in that it causes me to reflect on things a lot.  It makes me think of what sacrifices my mom made when we were young to the biggest sacrifice of all, Jesus on the Cross.  It boggles my mind that God loves us so much that He allowed Jesus to be whipped, tortured, and then hung on a cross to die for our sins.  I mean, you hear people say that they would die for people in movies and in books, but He really did.  Jesus DID die for us.  Although I am not Catholic, I do like the idea of giving up something during lent.  I have before.  I didn't this year because I didn't realize it was lent until it was about 1/3 over.  Yes, I didn't know that Easter was early this year.  Perhaps I should pay more attention to these details.

Maisy and I had a good snuggle when I came home.  She is sitting behind me right now waiting for Heather to get home.  She was happy to see me but she will be even happier to see her momma, Heather.  Maisy is such a joy to hang out with.  She has this really cute habit of taking her paw and putting it on you if you stop paying attention to her.  It really is adorable.  She is one happy girl.  I would say overall the kids and the dogs have adjusted rather well to the move.  Acer and Calli are both full of life and really bring sunshine and joy to my life.  Life here in the house is never boring with the kids and the dogs around.  Calli's dog, Q, of course, goes everywhere with Calli so he is with Calli at her grandparents house.  I wish I had more time with Kathy today but I will take anytime I can with her.  She is very busy and lives a couple of hours away from here.

Well, I am going to watch a bit of TV before reading and heading for bed.  I have a busy morning tomorrow.  (okay - stop laughing, I did say morning!)  I have Physical Therapy at 10:30 am before I go to the Muglia's for the piano lessons with Sarah and Patrick.  Bob will have his lesson at 3.  Isaac and Rachel are absent.  I am not sure when Rahul or Sam will be having their lessons.  Often their mom wants it a bit earlier than they are scheduled for.  Natalie is having a make up lesson tomorrow because she was sick on Friday.  That is if she is better.  If not, then I won't see her until Friday at her regularly scheduled lesson.  Sammy and Gabby are coming over to put music away this week.  I am very excited about this job.  It has been so long since I have had all my music put away and not all over the house.  I will then know what I have again.  It will be easier to find music again too.  Right now, if it isn't in the cabinet, then i have no idea where it is.  Most students have copies of music unless it is their own music.  The Muglia girls do have some of my original music but they do take good care of the music so I don't mind loaning the music to them.  I am excited to be getting the music room in order.  Every week the students see a new part put together.  I have to get the legal size hanging folders from downstairs because a few of them have ripped and I can't use them anymore.  I will post pictures this week.  It is really an exciting event in the house for me.  I think all the small changes are good ones.  I like the pictures we have put up and the rearranging of the furniture too.

Saturday 3-30

Tomorrow I get to see Kathy!!!!!!  I can't wait!!!!!!!!  It will be a lot of fun.  I have all the Easter Treats for everyone.  I gave Acer and Calli their coupon books.  I must add a couple more coupons though because he asked about ice cream so I will add that today.  He also wants to help sticker them.  He and Calli both like to help with things.  Calli is cleaning out the van today.  She is emptying it out of all of Acer's toys too.  He is in the middle of putting them away.  By the way, for all the worry that some people had about how quiet or loud the kids would be while I have lessons, they are quiet and do not come in the room when I am teaching.  So really, there was no need for worry.  I wasn't worried at all because I knew they would be playing or doing something in other parts of the house.

Nina didn't have her lesson today.  I didn't know she wasn't coming so I called her dad.  They didn't think we had lessons because tomorrow is a holiday.  They were at church this morning.  My next student, Sally, should be here any minute now.  She has a lovely voice.  We are working on a song out of the 24 Italian arias and art songs and also a song by Handel.

I took a 3 1/2 hour nap this afternoon.  I was so tired and my headache was just not good.  I am done teaching with the day.  I am still very tired.  Acer is in bed already and Calli is heading there.  Bill is rather tired too.

The kids went down the street to a subdivision Easter Egg Hunt.  They met several of our neighbors.  Our across the street neighbor introduced himself to Bill and Heather.  The kids had hot chocolate and received some candy.  Both Acer and Calli said they had a good time.  I was glad about that.

While they were gone, Maisy and I had to get me some caffeine.  I needed some diet coke so she and I went to get some.  I expected to be back before the kids but i wasn't.  I wasn't sure if Bill or Heather had their keys with them so I left the front door unlocked since they were just down the street.  I am really glad that they had a good time and met a few of the kids in the neighborhood.  Most of the kids are pretty friendly.  Faith and her sister, Courtney were among the ones who knew who they were from the recitals since Faith is my student.  Both she and Courtney are very nice girls.

It has been a tiring day and I do seem to ache more but inside of me, it hasn't been too bad.  You know what I mean?  The outside can be so tiring and exhausted but the inside can run marathons at times.  That was today.

Tomorrow will be the 3rd Easter I have had without Momma.  I wonder if I will always count how many holidays or birthdays it will be since I lost Momma?  I am sure that she is watching me and with me.  I think about her a lot, like everyday.  I probably will forever but that is okay.  She is my mom and I do miss her.  Sometimes I miss her terribly and I still cry but other times I don't.  I can think of some of the silly things we did together.  I also think about how she was very upset when I started getting sick and no one knew what was wrong with me.  The first time I had a headache for 6 months straight, she was worried.  We went to doctor after doctor until we couldn't go to anymore.  Finally, she said we will work on this ourselves and we did.  Eventually, the bad 6 month headache went away and it only popped up now and again until I had the vasculitis.  Then it never went away.  Slowly, it seems it is getting better.  The bad headache seems to be bad in the morning and late at night but not during the day, most of the time.  I also have noticed that my anxiety is not as bad as it was.  I think that having Heather and family here has helped.  Either that or I have really, really good meds.

Well, I am going to read for a bit and then I will head for bed too.

Momma's Birthday 3-28

Mom is 79 today.  I think she is probably having a big celebration up in Heaven.  It hasn't been a horrible day for me, just a slightly bad day.  I miss her so much.  I always will.  I speak to her at times too.  Sometimes, I can even still feel her here with me.  I am thankful that I got to spend so much time with her.  I shudder to think how sometimes it drove me crazy that she wanted to be with me all the time.  Now I am grateful.  I just wish I appreciated her more when I was younger.  I remember when I was about 25 or 26 I asked Mom if I could speak with her.  We had a very, very, very long conversation.  I also apologized for my behavior as a teenager and when I was in college.  She apologized for some of the mistakes she made with me.  Momma also explained some of the reasons she did what she did.  How she was afraid every single time I walked out the door that I would start using drugs.  Both of my brothers used drugs as teens, so that is why she was so afraid for me.  When I was in high school she would wait until the last minute to tell me I had a job to do before I went out.  I would get so angry.  I later learned she did it on purpose to see if I would change my mind and stay home.  It didn't work.  It made me want to go out even more.  I never did try drugs.  I also do not drink.  The most I have ever had was about an inch of a wine cooler.  I can't get past the smell of the alcohol to try something else.  I have been that way since I was a child.  I don't expect I will ever change.  I am still afraid, at times, of people when they drink too much.  I am getting much better with that.  It doesn't bother me at all when Kathy and her family have wine at dinner because they don't drink too much.  I can't wait to see Kathy.  It seems so weird (in a good way) to be able to say that I have known her for about 42 years now.

I was afraid of today because I was so sad last year and the year before.  I am starting to finally feel okay about missing mom.  Sometimes it hurts worse than others and sometimes I am okay.  I have started to feel like me again.  I have begun to take better care of myself instead of just going through the motions.  I am happier with people in the house on a full time basis.  I think it is really going well.  The kids seem to be adjusting well.  Calli and Acer are joys and bring much sunshine to my life.  Heather and Bill are also very good friends too.  I am just thankful that we are all getting along and that everything is going pretty well.

I went and got the Easter gifts today.  I got a stuffed bunny and a coloring book for each of Kathy's girls and for her boys, I got them each a itunes card.  I am making coupons for Acer and Calli for Easter.  I got stickers for the coupons.  I also saw a Curious George book for about $10.  It had 8 stories in it.  I have already read 2 to Acer.  Calli was listening too.  Heather and family went to go and listen to some music tonight at a coffee shop.  I am sure they are all having a good time.  Both kids took a rest this afternoon so they could stay out late tonight.  My headache was too bad to go to choir tonight.  I had hoped to be able to go, but I couldn't.  We will see what happens on Sunday.

Last night Bill put the breakfast nook together.  It is in the family room.  I will be able to use it for sewing.  I am hoping that Star and I will start sewing together.  I still have trouble sewing by myself.  I am glad I know how to so.  I have made some really nice clothes.  I want to start sewing again.  I am going to teach Calli how to sew this summer.  She is just so busy with school and studying as well as her activities that she doesn't have time.  Summer will be here soon enough.  Calli and Acer will be very busy in the summer too with all the camps they go to.  There are so many things that the Lions Club do for the visually impaired.  I donate when the have the fundraising people in the intersections.

I am a bit more achy tonight than usual.  My knees have been rather achy a lot lately.  I am hoping that with the warmer weather coming I will not have such achy knees.  I do have a medium bad headache tonight so I didn't go to choir.  I have missed so much church and choir practice.  Tomorrow I have Physical Therapy and then a few lessons.  Acer will have his and I also have a new little one starting tomorrow.  I have all his books so that is good.  The one I had to order just came in yesterday so I went and picked it up this afternoon.  I also have Ellie's new Hymn Book.  I need to email her mom and let her know how much they were.  I will do the same for Ryan.

Time to read some more and then off to bed.

the adventure continues 3/26

The music room is shaping up nicely.  The three filing cabinets are in the room now.  I just have to work on adding the song lists to the 38 books that do not have that information.  I also need to work on finishing up the CD project.  Sammy and Gabby will be coming to put away all the music that is all over the house, or so it seems.  I have several piles in the family fun room and several piles in the dining room not to mention the piles that are in the music room.  I look forward to this being done.  Then we can work on the Little Man's room and the family room.  The dining room will clear out as the other rooms do.  All in all, things are progressing well.

I had to have another protime test today.  I will have to have another next week as my blood is not being cooperative.  I must miss my dose tomorrow and then lower another dosage for one more day so that on 2 days I will have one dose and the other 5 will be a different dose.  I hope this really helps because, well, I really want my blood to be where it should be.

I did hear from the doctor at the study.  I tried to call her back but she wasn't in today.  I will try again tomorrow.  I am not sure outside of she wants to talk about my medicines what she will tell me but that is okay.

I have been rather stiff these last few weeks for some reason.  It is probably the changing of the weather, but I am very stiff at night these days.  My headaches seem to be improving a bit.  There are still bad in the morning but not so bad at night this week.  I am hoping that is a sign that this new medicine will work for me.  Two chances I suppose as my mom used to say.  Either it will or it won't.  I am voting for the will.

The hematoma on my calf is still there.  It has been there for about 3 months now.  It is still really red and swollen.  It doesn't hurt unless I have been driving for a while or sitting in a different chair than what I usually sit in for a while.  It really hurt the other day when I was driving home.  I hope it goes away soon.  It feels rather strange to feel a hard lump on my leg.  Fortunately, it hasn't gotten any bigger or redder or more sore because that could be a sign of it turning into a blood clot.  Something I really, really, really, really don't want to have again.

I am counting down the days until I get to see Kathy!  4 more days until Easter Sunday and then I shall be with her and her family at her parents house.  Her parents are really nice and her mother cooks so good.  Believe me when I say, no one can leave the table hungry at Kathy's parents' house.  If they do, it is their own fault.  I almost have everything I need for Easter.  The students are getting their pencils and I have things in mind for Kathy's kids.  I just need to get something for the two young people who live here.  I will be asking Heather for suggestions.  It still seems weird to call someone else my name in my house but hey, at least I will never forget her name!  I plan to get my medicine and the Easter stuff on Thursday.  I have 2 refills at the Pharmacy right now.

I will have a few more students than I thought next week during Spring Break.  I like that kind of a surprise.  I have a few who are going to be out of town, but several will be home and coming for their lesson.  I am so lucky that I am able to teach the few lessons I can.  It keeps my mind off the pain but also it keeps the fog from getting worse.  There are days when it is really bad and I have to cancel lessons on those days.  Sometimes the pain is that bad and I can't think or do anything other than rest.

Well, it is getting a bit late and I think it is time for a little bit of reading before bed.

The 2nd Day in Holy Week 3-25

Yesterday was Palm Sunday, the start of Holy week.  I just put out our Easter decorations on the piano.    They look so pretty.  It has been a rather productive day around here.  We put some things in for donation, some things for recycle, and some things for the garbage.  3 filing cabinets full of music came up.  I now can have the girls come and put the music that is all over the house away.  I have about 38 or so books that I need to catalogue the songs into the catalogue.  I also need to check the piano catalogue too.  I am sure there are many books that are not completely catalogued either.  I was not taking good care of it when Mom became sicker with the Alzheimer's and could not keep up with it herself.  Now I am back on track with being able to get to the filing cabinets so I can be caught up soon.  I no longer have an excuse.  I can get the job done.  I see Sammy tomorrow so I can plan a day for her next week.

I saw Jewel in concert last night.  It was really good.  I really enjoyed it.  My Aunt Michelle won the tickets so I went with her.  I had help with getting the scooter out of the car but I had to do most of it when I was putting it back into the car.  The security guard was not a happy camper when I asked him to help.  After the concert, Michelle came back and picked up the things she ordered.

I have had a medium bad headache all day today.  I did receive a message from the Doctor in charge of the study.  I will call tomorrow and see what she has to say.  It was something about medicine.  There are a few medicines that I actually cannot live without, the blood thinner for one and the reglan, which digests my food, is the other.  I don't think the synthroid for my thyroid would be an issue, but one never knows.  I will find out tomorrow.

Well, I am falling asleep here so it is time for me to head to bed.  I am very tired.  It has been a rather long day and I have a blood test at 11:20 tomorrow morning.

Saturday 3/23

It has been a some what busy day around here.  First up were a couple of lessons, Nina and Sally (a new student).  Nina is a pianist.  She chose her spring concert piece today.  Sally is a vocalist and we worked on a piece she wants to perform at her church.  It is from the Messiah by Handel.  She worked pretty hard on it this afternoon.  When I finished the two lessons, I had to take a nap.  I was so exhausted.  I think I slept for about an hour.  I picked up Ellie's and Ryan's books for them.  I did buy a neckstrap for a saxophone, but it was the wrong size.  I need one for the Baritone Sax.  I am going to call my friend, Dan and order one.  I will drive out there and pick it up.  It isn't too far away, about 45 or so minutes so that isn't bad.

I worked on updating my vocal music catalogue this afternoon/evening too.  I have discovered about 38 books that do not have the songs that are in the books listed.  This is not a good thing as when I am looking for a particular song, I will not be able to find it.  Once the filing cabinets are moved, then I will have the two young ladies, Sammy and Gabby, come and put all the music away.  Then I will put the songs in from the books.  I also am still working on the changing of the cases for the CDs that I use for teaching.  I have one drawer completely finished.  I have 2 more drawers to do and the box with the original CDs, then I will be done.

The makeover for the music room is coming along nicely.  I have a few more pictures up and some have been moved to other places.  The puppies and horse pictures that used to be in the upper hallway are going to be donated.  I have taken pictures of them to remember them by.  That is all I needed to do.  I have the cool Music picture on the wall where the baby pictures use to be and the Friendship picture I got from Julie is also in the living room (which is now the music room).

For some strange reason, my chin bone hurts.  I don't know why, it just does.  I also have a bigger headache than usual but since we had the little accident with the scented water, I am not surprised.  Calli accidentally dropped the bottle that had the scented water in it on the carpet in front of her room.  We opened the dining room window, her bedroom window, and the furnace room window too.  She was rather upset but it was an accident.  Calli also made sure she washed her hands really good after cleaning up the mess and she changed her jeans because a small amount got on her.  She and I worked on her math with the abacus today.  Calli is doing rather well at it and so is Acer.  I helped him the other day.  Acer tried to teach me how to use it but it so went over my head.  Maybe another time he can show me.  I think my thinking skills were gone that day.

I feel that we are all adjusting to the new living situation rather well.  I am happier and Heather has even noticed it.  She is right, I am happier.  I don't feel as stressed out as I did.  I was starting to feel a crash and burn coming on and I think with the move in, it went away.  I don't know if I will crash and burn, but should I, Heather and Bill are in the same house so if I need to go to the hospital, they are there and also, it won't be such a devastating effect on my bills if I miss for a few days.  So over all, I am feeling less stressed.  I still ache constantly, but the stress level is down.  I think Heather's stress level is down too, same with Bill.  I also think it is really cool that on the days I teach later, someone leaves me a plate with food on it.  I like that.  I am on kitchen patrol while Heather is on laundry patrol. This is actually so much better because I seriously hate to do my laundry.  I don't know why, I just do.  I would rather wash every dish by hand than do a load of laundry.  So my job is to keep up with the dishes.  Calli helped me tonight.  I washed the pots and lids and Calli dried then I put them away.  She also expertly wiped out all of the chili macaroni and cheese bowls.  That is a big help.  With the septic tank, we have to be careful what goes down the sink drains.  She is very good about wiping her plate and bowls.  Calli also swiffered the kitchen tonight as well as vacuumed both sets of stairs and the hallway.  It is one of her weekend duties because her guide dog sheds more than the other little dog Heather has.  I took a few pictures of Maisy tonight.  She is such a beautiful dog.  Q is really beautiful too.  He is a black lab.  He coat is so shiny and soft.  Calli works pretty well with him.  She has several days a week where she has specific things to do with her dog but she is doing good.  Since Q is with Calli all the time, he doesn't hang around like Maisy does.  I will try to get a picture of Calli and Q to post.

Well, I am going to read a bit before bed.

Spring?

Happy First Day of Spring!!!!  As usual, here in Michigan, it is cold and there were snow flurries this afternoon with sunshine later in the afternoon!

I had the interview but I am rather tired so I am going to write more tomorrow about it!

St. Patrick's Day

I did not wear anything green today.  I usually don't.  My reasoning is, of course, I am Irish so I don't have to wear green or orange (because I am a protestant).  Both sides of my family goes back to Ireland.  The Paxtons were seafaring people and the McAgys were tailors.  Saying that the Paxtons were seafaring people makes me wonder how many of them were pirates, although, in fantasy or myths, pirates are not such bad people but in reality, they are horrible and still are.  They killed innocent people, stole, lied, cheated, and committed many sins so I am not sure why people (including me) create them in our mind to be something they are not.  Anyways, it has been a quiet St. Patrick's Day.

I attended a Michigan Music Association meeting today.  It was good.  It was mainly a wrap up meeting for the competition that was in February.  My students and I had a good weekend.  There were a few things that came up that we need to discuss more but overall, I think everyone thought things went well.  I am on the board of directors, which I am glad about.  I don't mind not being on the executive board as long as I am still on the board of directors.  I like helping out before the actual competition rather than do a whole lot at the competition.  One of the main jobs I have at the competition is checking that the trophies match the student as well as the category and place.  We did really well this year because no one received the wrong trophy so that was good.

Today is also Calli's birthday.  She is now 13.  This of course means, we have an official teenager in the house.  She is a sweet young lady who was very excited to turn 13.  Right now she is out with her grandparents, parents, brother, and a friend for dinner while Maisy and I hold down the fort here at home.  Maisy and I had some nice snuggle time together on the chair in the music room.  Right now the lovely Maisy is lying down next to me here in the dining room.  She is so lovable.

In the next few weeks I am going to be collecting all of my mom's jewelry to give to people.  I am not sure what everyone wants, if any.  I am going to keep her pearls as well as the necklace that is now mine.  I need to get into the safe deposit box.  I need to find out how much it costs to have the lock drilled out since I cannot find the key and I don't think there is any hope in finding it.  Anyways, I want it done by around Easter.

Well, off to change CD cases to paper cases.

thoughts 3-14

It has been a bad headache day, not bad enough for the alsuma, but bad enough to miss choir.  I have been thinking about the study that is coming up all day long.  I am almost afraid to try this.  I do hope I am a part of the study, but on the other hand, I have been disappointed so often that to try something new again, is frightening.  I am hoping that I am not in the placebo group.  It is a 12 week study.  Robin is also being interviewed on Tuesday for this.  Mine is Wednesday before Physical Therapy.  I will go from the interview straight to Physical Therapy.  It is exciting and frightening all at the same time.  I cannot remember a time where I didn't have a headache or body aches or extreme fatigue and everything else that comes with fibro.  It is almost unreal to think that maybe I won't be in so much pain someday.  I dream about that day.  What will I do?  What will I be able to do?  How long will the effect of the treatment last?  Would I be able to teach full time again?  Or maybe, get a different job and keep the amount of students that I have now?  I don't know.  I have only thought about trying different medications to see if it works.  Now this is non-invasive and non-medication so how cool is that?  Could this be a cure?  Is there a cure?  Does this just lessen the symptoms or can it totally erase all of the symptoms?  Fibro is so much more than just the pain.  I have more trouble with headaches and fatigue than I do with the body aches, although I do have them, they are just not as strong as my headaches and the fatigue.  I know that pain is the biggest symptom that we all share and the others are different because each of us are different.  I can't even imagine a life without pain anymore and I have a good imagination.  After my interview I will be speaking with Robin to see what she thinks too.  We both are very hopeful.  I think many of us at the conference are hopeful with the results of the preliminary studies.

My 2 little boys didn't come for lessons today.  As I suspected, their mom forgot about the changing of the days.  She graciously switched days so I could attend the conference Monday night.  Their mom will call if they can attend lessons tomorrow.  It all depends on what time their dad will be done with work.  If they can't, I will see them on Monday.  They are very cute, super cute.  Tomorrow is a light day for lessons as usual.  That is how Fridays are.  Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the busiest days right now, but that can change in a second.  I have to be careful of how many lessons I have a day because if I have too many in a row, I can get so exhausted so fast that I need to go and lie down right then and there.  Generally, I pace myself pretty well.  Just think, if this treatment actually works, I may not have to worry about the strict pacing that I do now.  Hmm, that is a good thought.  Acer has his lesson tomorrow after school.  Natalie will have her lesson tomorrow too.  I have ordered the CDs to the Broadway Book that both Natalie and Allison are singing from.  I know I have the song that in another book so I should have it on another CD while I am waiting for the other CDs to be coming in.  Saturday will be a light day too.  I have a wrap up meeting for the competition on Sunday.  I hope it is a good one.  I am planning to be there.  It will be at Diane's this time.

Maisy is too cute!  She couldn't decide on whether or not she was going to eat or go outside.  She is such a beautiful little dog.  Maisy chose to eat.

Isaac has misplaced his CDs for his voice lessons so I need to make some copies for the young man.  He had a sore side today.  He and another student ran into each other hard when they were at school.  He couldn't lift his arm up very well so we ended up singing the entire lesson, which was not a bad thing.  Isaac sings really well.  I am not sure what he will sing for the spring concert.  I do know he will be playing "Who Am I" from Les Miserables.  I think there will much representation of Les Miz at the concert since the movie came out at Christmas and the DVD will be coming out on March 22.  I, of course, plan to get it.  In just one week it will be out!!!!  I can't wait to see it again!  I will definitely have to see this with the girls and Star again!  I also have to see the "How to Train Your Dragon" movie that Natalie has wanted me to see forever.  I want to see it too.  We are planning to have another movie day soon.  I will check the girls schedule for the next few weeks to see when they are available.

I am watching Project Runway.  For some reason, I just love this show.  Right now, the designers are ripping on each other.  They were to make 3 outfits each for the Thunder Down Under strip team.  Both teams were so bad.  Clothes didn't fit or didn't come off easy.  Basically, they were not as good as they usually are.  None of one of the teams knew how to make tailored clothes.  I do not either.  Mom was the one who could tailor clothes.  Her suits were amazing.  The fits were just perfect, always.  Mom did teach me how to sew.  I am much better at dresses and skirts.  Most of the stuff I have made is not super fancy with lots of details.  I tend to like the more classical, elegant, simple styles best.  That is me.  I am hoping that when I lose some weight, I will make myself some nice skirts and dresses again.  I also love wearing leggings.  I am so glad they are back into style since I do love them so much.  I am also planning to teach Calli a bit of sewing too.  I have some ideas of how to adapt things for her.  I also like the idea of Star's where we make a sewing group.  I think when she is finished with a few of these plays we will be able to do that.  I would love to take a sewing class at one of the local stores.  The one I would like is the fashion design class.  There are a few things I don't know how to make.  Wow, a Project Runway first, there is no winner.  That has never happened before.  Amanda is out.  Last week was a surprise because it was double out.  Some of the clothing they make on the show does make to the pattern catalogues at the fabric stores.  I have seen some of them.  This particular challenge was not good for any of them.  Next week should be rather interesting too.

Well, it is time to read for now before bed.  I wish my head wouldn't hurt so much.  I have Physical Therapy tomorrow morning at 10:30.  I am going to put my bagels in a bag so I remember to grab them and eat them on the way.  Otherwise, I won't be eating breakfast at all.  i can nap in the afternoon if I need to.