The Heartwrenching Part of the Last Year

It's been a year since I took Mr. Boy to the doctor for what I thought was Fifth's Disease.  A little over a year since the doctor said, "My spidey senses are tingling, this isn't Fifth's Disease."  She was right and a few days later we were asked to come in to meet with the doctor for the test results.  That was the low point of 2014. 

Inconclusive Auto Immune Disease, resulting in Arthritis, Photo sensitivity, and a fiery red hot cheeks.  He also overheats easily like he has a bad radiator and absorbs zero Vitamin D from his diet or the sun.  We've ruled out the Lupus, Lyme, and a 100 other things.  They say if Mr. Boy is the first to have this illness he will get to name it and it's starting to look like he needs to start thinking up names.

 It's been a year of tests and lots of hospital visits.  The good folks at UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital have taken good care of us.   In many ways I feel like we are no closer to figuring this out than we were a year ago.   Some days I wonder if voodoo might be just as effective.  For now, he takes a cocktail of medicine to keep him stable.  At the end of each hospital visit, Mr. Boy is usually asleep in the backseat before I pull out of the parking structure.  I put on my big sunglasses and let the tears fall that I have been holding in all day. 

 

During these appointments I have to put on a brave face, because I know that he is watching me  and looking for reassurance.  This is not Mr. Boys favorite and he is frustrated too.  He had to retire from sports, he just can't move like he used to.  It's been an adjustment, but he adapts for the most part like a champ.  He still has his bad days and questions "Why Me?"  but can you blame him? 

Another round of testing is on the horizon, Mr. Boy has mixed feelings about this.  Hates the needles, but likes the idea of finding a treatment. I'm in awe with the grace of how he has handled himself.    For now, we are open to any and all suggestions, no matter how far fetched. And as always good thoughts and vibes are appreciated. 

Five Things for Friday

1.  I'm obsessed, obsessed I tell you, with the podcast Serial.   It's a podcast that chronicles a murder and each episode makes me come to a different conclusion.   I find every excuse to pop in my ear buds and listen to another episode. I even listen to it while I am walking around the store.  I'm wondering what other podcasts I'm missing, so fill me in on what you are listening to.

2.  We have been fighting over the leftovers of this Lettuce Wrap recipe for the last few weeks.  I have been know to eat these for breakfast on occasion, and they are low carb, fairly low cal, and delish.  I use lean ground turkey breast instead of ground chicken because it's something I usually have on hand. 

3. I just finished the book "The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat" and loved the characters like they were old friends. I laughed out loud on multiple occasions and shed a tear as well.  I didn't want this book to end and kept putting off reading the last few chapters, I just didn't want to see the story end. 

4.  I've got Summer Fever real bad.   A recent trip to the beach and a couple days off school for Spring Break have given me a taste of our summer personas.  I can't stop dreaming of our Ultimate Super Mega Summer IV.    I love that my kids are already thinking about it too and are keeping their eye out for our annual "Summer Read by the Pool Book."  They have also come up with lofty goals for the summer such as "Find the best donuts in Los Angeles."  I'm so completely done with school projects and studying for tests.  I dream of homeschooling, but we all know I'd be the worst at it.  I would totally count watching "Deadliest Catch" as a unit on marine biology and watching The Amazing Race as a geography lesson.  My kids would graduate with a diploma that would only prepare them to compete on a reality game show and would be useless in the job market. So for now, we will stick with traditional education and count down our days until our next "Ultimate Super Mega Summer."

5. For the past few months while I do the dishes and clean up the kitchen I've been putting on the Webisodes of "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee."  It has made a tedious chore 100% more enjoyable and it's the perfect thing to watch when you are only 80% paying attention.

Let me know something that you have been loving lately in the comments below. 

The Year of You, The Year of Me, The Year of Imagine Dragons

Last month I unveiled my 2015 project "The Year of You, the Year of Me".  A year of focusing on making myself a priority.  When on an airplane, they advise you to put your oxygen mask, and that's what I'm doing here.

The goal is to live my best life in 2015.  I want to seek out adventures, become healthier, and have internal peace.  As soon as I hit publish on my first post, an email popped into my inbox inviting me on my first adventure.   It was almost comical at how instantaneous this was.   Of course, I hemmed and hawed over how I would have to juggle some logistics with the kids.  Mr. Man stepped in and said, "You won't regret this, just do it, after all,  It's the Year of You."

So, I celebrated my official kick off of "The Year of You, The Year of Me" by dropping the kids off at school and meeting up with my pal Cim.  We attended a secret show for one of my favorite bands, Imagine Dragons.   It was amazing, just Cim, myself, and 298 other superfans watching a full concert that was being filmed for an online event. 

For the remainder of the month, I did very "adult things."   I interviewed doctors, set up doctor appointments, and worked with a therapist to forgive my mom for leaving me behind.   I have my first physical in 12 years booked for April and I feel so grown up.   Next thing you know I'll be talking about Metamucil and how my bad knee acts up when a storm is rolling in.

This month, my goal is eating my five fruits and vegetables a day.  Anyone game to join me?