April Showers? They ain't kiddin'!

So April is turning out to be the crazies month this year so far. I have so much going on right now, (hence my lack of blogging) that my head is spinning. Let's see if I can explain all this with as little trouble as possible. First I'll start with Kevin. -Sigh- So Kevin has been having pain in his shoulder for over a year now. He kept going to the docs on base (who by the way are complete baboons when it comes to anything!) and they tell him that he has bicep tendonitis. They give him mild pain pills, and anti inflammatory meds. The pain comes and goes over the last year and he keeps going back to the doctor- over and over and over. Same shit, bicep tendonitis.
This last time Kevin was had a weekend off and he was in a lot of pain, more so than usual. I told him..PLEASE go to the Medicenter or the ER, DO NOT go to the base again! Those doctors are idiots and obviously don't give a rats ass about what is going on.
So off to the Medicenter he went. 4 hours later, he was home w/pain medication and a premature diagnosis of 'shoulder impingement syndrome'- (a bone spur of the shoulder).
AH HA! (I thought) now we can get this fixed and I can yell at some docs on base for being dipshits for over a year. Logically if someone has chronic pain for over a year you'd DO A DAMN XRAY! They failed to do so, and because of that Kevin suffered for so long w/this pain. I hate military docs. They can all go jump off a cliff for all I care for their "medical opinions".

Finally we have a diagnosis. He was scheduled to see an orthopedic specialist to confirm the bone spur, and sure enough it was then "official". He was scheduled for surgery after that and then he waited 2 long weeks. The week before surgery he was not allowed to take any pain meds that would thin his blood...so this last week has been hell for him. Today I dropped him off at the Outpatient Surgery Center at 6am. I wanted to stay, but it's just not practical to have 2 toddlers running around a hospital waiting room for hours on end. So 6 hours later I get a call from the doctor that did the surgery. As it turns out, due to the military docs utter LACK of concern, the damage to Kevin's shoulder is pretty extensive. He has muscle tears in his bicep and torn tendons in his shoulder as a result of the spur and their lack of treating it properly. A 2 hour operation lasted 5 hours. He will be in a sling for over a month, and probably have some muscle atrophy and stiffness. He will most likely have to see a physical therapist to help him regain movement in the arm once out of the sling since it will be immobile for so long.
I SO beyond pissed off. This all could have been avoided if those complete ASSHOLES up at the base actually cared for their troops. I have to say, if you or someone you love is thinking about joining the military....and you have issues w/pain or whatnot and the military clinic doesn't seem to be getting to the bottom of it, GO TO THE ER or a TriCare approved Medicenter after hours! Have a REAL doctor look at you.


The other thing we are dealing with is Kyle. He's had a stomach ache every time he eats for a while now. At first I thought maybe he was just eating too fast. Then I thought maybe it was just heartburn, but I realized that he was almost every time we ate dinner. I asked him if it did this at school (during lunch) and he said yes. He can eat a little, then his stomach hurts so bad he has to go lay down. We took him to the ER, they ran blood tests and all the rigmarole and turns out...my 15 year old CHILD probably has ulcers!! Ulcers!? Crazy.

So he has an appointment tomorrow with a jackass doc on base to get a referral for a gastrointestinal specialist. They do not have a specialist in town that will see anyone under the age of 18. The peds gastro doctor lives in Austin and he makes a trip here once a month.  We can't make an appointment with the specialist until the stupid base doctor signs off on a referral. So we see a doc tomorrow, then wait a week to get the damn referral in the mail, THEN we can make the appointment for the doc in Austin to come down and see Kyle. Thing is....his office said he doesn't have any openings till June or July. He will have an MRI done, and if it's ulcers...they more than likely will do surgery. -sigh- so much surgery! So as of right now they have him on some medications to help with the pain and inflammation. So far, so good, but he has his good days and his bad days.

Also, we are trying to get our house ready to be put on the market to sell. Nothing major needs to be done, just the normal tedious crap- painting, decluttering, depersonalizing, staging and decorating. And all this while I have a husband laid up with surgery and a son that has bad pain. This month is so daunting! I hate showing a house. Strange people walking in my home looking at my stuff..it's creepy. BUT we need a larger home, we are just packed in here like sardines! 

And then my dear BFF will be having her first IVF procedure on the 21st of April. I'm hoping that things go well and they work out for her. I know she'd make a great mom...and I wish her all the best!

And lastly, my grandmother hurt her leg the other day. She's been to the ER and she will have a CAT scan to make sure there are not blood clots or breaks. For the time being she is resting. Just so much going on. Too much. I cant take much more, I really can't. I can juggle lots of shit...but right now...I really need a vacation!

Jaesus

No really...what's your real name?

Sorry I've not blogged in a while, and I do promise to do those Q&A videos. I have all the questions you've sent me on my formspring. I've been sick. Real sick...and honestly it's not pretty. lol I doubt you'd want to see me sniffling through questions. Answering them in my feverish daze. I'm feeling a bit better today...but not up to a video.

However my dear hubby and I came across a website that listed funny last names. He read them to me and had me almost peeing myself.
Here is a list of my favs:
(note: these are REAL names straight from the phone book)
Bolivar Shagnasty
Michael Hofacker
Rev. William R Dickgraber
Freddie and Jo Skunkcap
Harry Beavers

Harry W. Wacker

Haywood Jablowme

Miracle Fingers

and Phat Ho

:) love weird things on the internet. So I do promise I'll be back shortly once I kick this cold's ass.

Jaesus.

CATastrophes and DOGgone-its!

Wow! So today started off easy enough. Some light housework, lunch, a workout, hanging with Kevin and figuring out some financial things that surprised us (we will be able to buy a larger home a year before we thought)...just normal stuff. So when Kevin left for work this afternoon I decided to make a batch of my homemade cupcakes and homemade icing. They turned out yummy. After the clean up it was time to walk my dogs. Just up the street as we began our walk I saw a little Boston Terrier sitting in the driveway of a neighbors house. I figured maybe he was just sitting outside waiting on someone to let him in the house so I walked on. I take two dogs at a time (as most of you know) when I walk, I was probably about 150 yards from the halfway point, when I heard the unmistakable sound of hissing, clawing, growling...ya know..CAT FIGHT! Two cats had a knock down drag out about 15 feet from me and my two biggest dogs. Now (SEGUE ALERT), I'd like to first point out the importance of a quality dog food. One with out fillers, corn, ya know...crap. I personally feed Solid Gold Hund-n-Flocken (it's German- stop snickering), My dogs are 12, 10, 9, and 7...average lifespan for my 12 yr old dog's breed (Catahoula) is 13 yrs. and the vet says he looks like an average 5 year old. -end of segue- So since you know that my dogs are in great health for their ages..you can imagine that little 'ol me had a hard time holding on to two fully grown dogs (at 75lbs and 65lbs respectively) were *so* much fun to hand on to. So there I am -death grip on leashes when one of the cats from the fight (the loser I'm guessing) pops out of the bushes next to us. I freak out, the dogs freak out, the cat freaks out...and then...IT HAPPENED!

The cat runs out in front of me and the dogs, crosses our path and the dogs jerk forward while I'm holding them back for dear life. This cat did this insanely graceful hip-hop-skip-slide across the gravel then onto the curb and dashed across the street (to my horror) into on coming traffic. The cat runs across one lane, then to the second and gets just center enough that when this truck passes the cat is right between the tires and the truck drives forward missing the cat, the cat spins, flips and then rolls (seriously- he ROLLED on his back like freaking Ethan Hunt from mission impossible) and out from under the truck and safely to the other side of the road before the second car crushes him.

It was at that point that I realized I was holding my breath. Kitty-Catastrophe averted, I continued on my way and eventually turned down the street that led me to the turn back home. This street I dread. Every freaking day some little punk-ass kid (I think I've mentioned him before) bothers me when I walk my dogs. I makes ugly gestures at me. He mouths off, and makes obnoxious noises to get the dogs riled up. I finally...after MONTHS had enough. I turned around and yelled at the little jerk to get his mother. She came out and so did a neighbor next door. The neighbor seemed to agree with me about how he behaves. He got an ass whoppin, and I felt amazingly better! I always had horrid anxiety about passing that house. I tried to ignore him for as long as I could, but he got what he deserved. Okay so I went on and I was on the last block before mine when I saw the same little dog from before, the cute little Boston Terrier. He was definitely lost. So I took the big dogs home, went back and got the Boston Terrier, put him in my garage and took his pic then made flyers. I walked the little dogs then and posted the flyers then went home. Tomorrow we'll take the Boston Terrier (that we've 'named' Fogerty) to the vet to check for any Microchips. I hope that

whoever this little guy belongs to calls me soon. He's a sweet little guy. He seems to like little kids (his tail wags when he sees them) but he's a bit skittish around them. I can't have him in the house though because of my own dogs. I don't have an extra room or a crate to put him in. This is another reason why we are trying to move as soon as possible to a bigger home. I'd love to rescue dogs with my sister. She's rescuing when she can, but we could get so much more done if I had more room. We'd love a larger home with two separate fenced areas. One for the kids and our own dogs, and one fenced in area outside and room in the house for fosters or rescues. Well anyways...so my day started normal and ended BUSY! I'm still doing stuff and it's after 10pm already. Now off to get the kiddos tucked in and Fogerty settled for the night in the garage. ugh! Kevin would have to work on a day this crazy. :P

OH! and by-the-way: while I'm thinking about it; I am going to try and end each blog post with a funny pic of my dogs or my kids.

Jaesus. 



Here we have Miss Peggy Sue playing dress up with Laney Jo

                                                                         

LAUGHABLE article on "dos and dont's" for military spouses.

I know that sure, there are some things that as a military spouse we must watch closely. Some behaviors and such...but some of these do's and don'ts I will be listing made me LMFAO!


Do’s and don’ts while in uniform

by Whitney Bailey

The military service etiquette we abide by today is steeped in several hundred years of U.S. history. Many rules change over time as the military updates codes of conduct to reflect new attitudes and etiquette. However, some traditions still exist that may seem a bit antiquated (or even unfair) to you, the spouse.

When reviewing the list below, keep in mind that maintenance of these rules allows service members to project professionalism. These rules apply to your service member anytime he is in uniform, but many also apply to you when you are you attending a military function or in public with your uniformed hubby.


Okay thanks for that lovely intro Whitney....but honestly some of these rules are hardly ever enforced, and some are down right STUPID. but let's do explore the rigid rules shall we?? ((of course I'll be giving you a play-by-play of the more stupid ones that no one really pays attention to)).


Do:


Walk on your husband’s left side so he can salute others.
-Actually this isn't a half bad bit of advice. It sure beats getting SMACKED in the freaking head on accident by a flying elbow because hubs is saluting! LOL


Refer to your spouse by his first name or nickname, or as “my husband.” Do not refer to your husband as “Capt. Smith” or “the Captain.”
-Okay so here is why this is a stupid piece of advice. If I go to my husband's squadron and ask: "Hi, is Kevin around?" Do you honestly think in an institution that uses rank and last names to identify it's members, that me calling my husband by his first name...or his nickname (Shaggy) will actually clue these people in on WHO THE FUCK I'm looking for? Yeah I don't think so. It saves me tons of time to just ask: "Hey can you tell me where TSgt [our last name] is?"


Stand at a public function or ceremony when the senior officer enters and is announced. This applies to everyone in attendance.
-Sure my husband maybe, but my ass shall remain in a chair. I didn't sign my name to anything requiring me to bow to your rank. :) and I mean that nicely. (besides I've never met a spouse in 10 yrs of this life that does that).

Offer your husband an umbrella in the rain, but only if it’s black. He’s not allowed to carry any other color.
-Actually this is true, but honestly....the only umbrella we have is purple and I can tell you right now....they don't give two SHITS what color it is so long as you show up DRY. A wet uniform is worse than the color of your damn umbrella.

Push the baby carriage or stroller so your spouse doesn’t have to. It’s considered “unmilitary” to do so while in uniform.
-This one is just utterly STUPID. Why is pushing a stroller unmilitary? oh...military members aren't suppose to have families or be normal? Oh does this only apply to men? I have a feeling when it was created that's the thinking behind it. For the record, when a FEMALE military service member takes her child to the doctor or to school or daycare she may have need of a stroller...I've seen men and women in uniform pushing strollers for years. So to this rule say- blow me, and btw- it's NONmilitary not 'unmilitary'.

Help your spouse carry any packages or bundles to make it easier for him to salute. (Are you wondering if a man made up these rules so that wives would have to do all the heavy lifting?)
-I don't wonder if a man made up all these rules, I know damn well they did. AND any idiot that decides to carry heavy crap around in an area that requires lots of salutes ought to be smart enough to bring a bag w/handles, or a cart!


Don’t:


Show public displays of affection, except at homecomings and goodbyes. This includes kissing and holding hands.
- lol, yeah PDAs are forbidden. But honestly, we hold hands, and he's given me a peck on the cheek. *breakin' tha law, breakin' tha law!*

Offer your spouse a piece of gum. It is not “military” for him to chew it. The same goes for smoking while in uniform.
-This one is just downright HILARIOUS! Next time we're on base I'll take a pic of EVERY Airman, Sgt, Capt. and Col. I see smoking IN UNIFORM! Dude it would take up 4 pages to do so. They most certainly do, and CAN smoke. They have designated areas for that. And...after a smoke one might WANT to offer their spouse a stick of minty gum!


Allow him to put his hands in his pockets unless he is placing or retrieving an item.
-This one is true too. It's a stupid rule that borders on *fucking stupid*. I swear some of the shit they make up is just to get a laugh. By the way- I love how they phrase some of these as Don't: Allow him. Allow him? What am I? His mother? He's a big boy.

Refer to your husband’s orders as “our orders” unless you are a service member yourself.
-Oh BLOW ME! If my husband and I are a couple- joined as "one flesh"...and OBVIOUSLY where he goes so too do I, then whatever orders HE gets are MINE TOO, so suck it! If my name and the names of our children are on the oders because we are accompanying him then they are OUR ORDERS! Any orders WE GET- are OUR ORDERS. *eye roll*

Offer him food or drink while he’s walking. He should not be eating, drinking or using a cell phone while walking in uniform.
- Yeah that's true, but mostly because half the Airmen I meet are too fucking stupid to do two things at once.


Refer to others in the service as “sir” or “ma’am,” even if your spouse does. Refer to them by their rank and last name (“Capt. Smith”).

-Oh I see...so I cannot use respectful label? Yeah....I'm southern. If someone who is my 'elder' is speaking to me and they ask me a question I answer w/Yes, Sir or Yes, Ma'am. (or No, Sir/No Ma'am). Give me a break. OH and btw- so I have to call everyone ELSE by their last name and rank, but not my own husband....even when everyone else uses the name and rank my husband has *therefore* making it easier for them to understand WHO I'm talking about.

 Allow your child to wear your spouse’s uniform for Halloween. Uniforms bearing insignia, badges and tabs should be worn only by authorized personnel.
-Well DUH!!! You'd have to be a complete MORON to do that. BUT you can allow them to wear them if you take off any insignia or badges. Hell Kyle has some old BDU pants of Kevin's that he wears when he goes hunting.


These were the rules from this one article. Some dumb, some practical but a bit "caveman-ish". LOL But now you get the idea of some of the crap I have to be aware of. And for the record...it's not as rigid as this makes it appear.

Jaesus.