Superman does have Type II diabetes. BUT I am so thankful that it is Type II and not Type I.
And, while I'm on a thankful kick, here are some other things I am overly thankful for:
* Superman's attitude with his diabetes. He's ready for war AND still has a sense of humor. Last night I asked him to unload the dishwasher, and he said, "I can't. I pricked my finger." And then gave a fake cough. Smart aleck, haha!
* Our family and friends -- including YOU!! I am so blessed to have people in my life who are caring and who have been praying for Superman and for me. Seeing all the responses yesterday of people who said they would pray was very uplifting.
* The cost. I gotta say, I was worried about how much his meds and test strips and everything would cost, especially since Superman's quitting his job (long story) in June. Everybody kept saying how expensive those testing strips were, which made me even more nervous -- and turns out my insurance covers them!! AND cost for his pills and everything for one month is a total of $7. Woo hoo!!
* Superdog did not decide to use our bed as a patch of grass last night!
* Aaaannnnnddd -- BIG NEWS ABOUT OUR BOOK. I am so excited about this...
So a couple of weeks ago we had dinner with a group of friends from a church we went to before we got married. As we were catching up, we mentioned that we had written a book and were trying to get it published, and one of our friends said, "I'd really like to read it." Awww...but then -- "I'd like to write a song about it."
Hold up. Let me tell you who this is: NAOMI CARROLL (www.naomicarroll.com). You may not have heard about her yet, but, trust me, you will. Her record is going nationwide sometime in May.
That's right. A super amazing national-recording artist who is going on tour this year with some big names in the Christian music industry is writing a song. About. Our. Book.
WHAT??!!!
We were listening to Naomi's music the other night, and I just looked at Superman, my mouth wide open. "She's writing a song -- for us," I breathed, still in shock. "She's writing a song about our book."
I can hardly contain my excitement.
So, yeah...it's a good day. =D
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
Gross!/Sort of an update
Superman had labwork done this morning at 7 a.m. It took less than five minutes. I had no idea it was that fast!
We didn't get any sleep last night. Mainly cause of Superdog. Rotten little rat.
We had to get up at 5:30 this morning, so we went to bed early. Superman woke me up at about midnight to tell me the Red Sox won, and I drifted on back to sleep, dreaming, I kid you not, about "Bewitched." In the middle of my dream, I moved my feet around in real life, and I felt something on the bed. Uncomfortable at having something besides sheets touch my feet, I pushed it aside. And felt another little round ball.
And then conciousness broke through.
"SUPERMAN!" I shouted, a little upset with myself for waking him up at 2:30 a.m. but even more upset with the dog. "Turn the light on! I think the dog just pooed in the bed!"
And, sure enough, there were "presents" scattered throughout the bed. I was appalled. Disgusted.
To make matters worse, Superdog just looked at us like we were crazy when we turned the lights on.
"GET UP, LITTLE DOG!" I yelled, jerking her awake. "If I have to be awake right now, so do you!"
She suddenly realized the error in her ways and dove headfirst under the bed.
Rotten little rat.
It didn't take long to clean up the mess, but I didn't speak to Superdog until we left for blood work this morning. Which I guess wasn't a long time...but she knew I was mad.
She has NEVER pooped in the bed before. Well, she did once, after she was fixed, but we counted that as her not being able to easily jump off the bed (and our inability to keep her from getting on the bed). For her to do this is...shocking, to say the least.
And if I wake up again with poo at my feet...Superdog can say goodbye to sleeping with Mommy and Daddy.
UPDATE ON SUPERMAN: We've got an appointment today at 1:45 (CST). Yea!
We didn't get any sleep last night. Mainly cause of Superdog. Rotten little rat.
We had to get up at 5:30 this morning, so we went to bed early. Superman woke me up at about midnight to tell me the Red Sox won, and I drifted on back to sleep, dreaming, I kid you not, about "Bewitched." In the middle of my dream, I moved my feet around in real life, and I felt something on the bed. Uncomfortable at having something besides sheets touch my feet, I pushed it aside. And felt another little round ball.
And then conciousness broke through.
"SUPERMAN!" I shouted, a little upset with myself for waking him up at 2:30 a.m. but even more upset with the dog. "Turn the light on! I think the dog just pooed in the bed!"
And, sure enough, there were "presents" scattered throughout the bed. I was appalled. Disgusted.
To make matters worse, Superdog just looked at us like we were crazy when we turned the lights on.
"GET UP, LITTLE DOG!" I yelled, jerking her awake. "If I have to be awake right now, so do you!"
She suddenly realized the error in her ways and dove headfirst under the bed.
Rotten little rat.
It didn't take long to clean up the mess, but I didn't speak to Superdog until we left for blood work this morning. Which I guess wasn't a long time...but she knew I was mad.
She has NEVER pooped in the bed before. Well, she did once, after she was fixed, but we counted that as her not being able to easily jump off the bed (and our inability to keep her from getting on the bed). For her to do this is...shocking, to say the least.
And if I wake up again with poo at my feet...Superdog can say goodbye to sleeping with Mommy and Daddy.
UPDATE ON SUPERMAN: We've got an appointment today at 1:45 (CST). Yea!
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Superman's Kryptonite
Brief update and prayer request.
It's been a fairly sorry weekend. Family issues. Medical issues. So not cool.
For the past couple of weeks, I've noticed a few irregularities in Superman -- he's been really thirsty and often gets up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom. Friday night he got up three or four times and was extremely thirsty and had to go to the bathroom each time. We knew something wasn't right.
My mom, who has Type II diabetes, tested him first at 11 a.m. Saturday. His blood sugar was 247.
The normal is 80-120.
We tested it again at his grandmother's house around 3:30 p.m. Results? 309. Our friend Rebecca's father is a doctor, and thank God, he was able to help us. He insisted that we come over to his house and let him check it. At 6:30 p.m., it was 327.
Needless to say, the good doc set us up with some appointments tomorrow morning.
Please keep Superman in your prayers; he's been so stable and calm through this (I, on the other hand, have been totally neurotic -- lovely), and I'm just hoping that Saturday's results were either a fluke or this is something he can fix over time with diet and exercise.
I do have really fun news about our book, but I kinda want to save it for its own post, so I'll keep it for a post later this week. =)
It's been a fairly sorry weekend. Family issues. Medical issues. So not cool.
For the past couple of weeks, I've noticed a few irregularities in Superman -- he's been really thirsty and often gets up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom. Friday night he got up three or four times and was extremely thirsty and had to go to the bathroom each time. We knew something wasn't right.
My mom, who has Type II diabetes, tested him first at 11 a.m. Saturday. His blood sugar was 247.
The normal is 80-120.
We tested it again at his grandmother's house around 3:30 p.m. Results? 309. Our friend Rebecca's father is a doctor, and thank God, he was able to help us. He insisted that we come over to his house and let him check it. At 6:30 p.m., it was 327.
Needless to say, the good doc set us up with some appointments tomorrow morning.
Please keep Superman in your prayers; he's been so stable and calm through this (I, on the other hand, have been totally neurotic -- lovely), and I'm just hoping that Saturday's results were either a fluke or this is something he can fix over time with diet and exercise.
I do have really fun news about our book, but I kinda want to save it for its own post, so I'll keep it for a post later this week. =)
Friday, April 24, 2009
Whimsical musical memory
Rachel's new post talks about worship songs, and she's got some great YouTube videos of the ones she was listening to last night. I've listened to one of them, "My Life is Like Oooh, Ahh" by GRITS, um, probably three times now. And I'm about to listen to it again.
Not because it's one of my favorites (because it is) or that I haven't heard it in a long time (though I haven't) but because of the memories it brings back. Memories of dancing around in the house my four roommates and I shared during my senior year of college...the music blaring from the stereo as we went on one of our (few) cleaning sprees...the way Keri and Jennifer would make corn flake treats as it played...
Some songs just bring back great memories, don't they?
Like Josh Groban's "When You Say You Love Me" -- not only was it in our wedding, but I remember dancing with my husband by candlelight to that song. It's special to me.
Like Dashboard Confessional's "Bend and Not Break" -- Great tune, crazy lyrics. Unromantic lyrics. But it was the only CD Superman had in his car, so he used it to propose to me.
Like Tyrone Wells' "What are We Fighting for?" -- I can't hear that without thinking of Rindy, who introduced the artist to me.
Like Jonathon Coulton's "Someone is Crazy" -- Makes me smile every time.
What songs take you back to another time or are particularly memorable to you? Which ones that, whenever you hear them, make you smile?
(And for more Caffeinated Randomness, visit Andrea!)
Thursday, April 23, 2009
What was that I just ate? (PLUS: Legislative sessions)
Misti, Marli, Rindy, and I went for sushi the other night at a new place that opened in town. It's the best, by the way, but my opinion may be flawed as some family members work there. =)
Anyway, I ordered the city maki, which is shrimp tempura and crab meat, topped with some spicy salsa. Because I don't eat the raw stuff. I can't. I even tried a Philly roll with smoked salmon, and I couldn't even eat it.
The city maki is my FAVORITE. I ordered it the first time we went and swore it had some magical elements because it was so delicious (note: not as good as hubby's). I scarfed it down. Marli, who was visiting, also ordered the city maki because I told her it was the best on the menu (and I know that from only sampling three types, haha). As our order came, I started eating, enjoying the spicy flavors from the sushi, but having to wipe some of the salsa off the rolls because they were too big to fit in my mouth.
"The pieces are just too big with the salsa on top," I explained to Marli.
Misti's eyes widened as she looked at me. "Salsa?" she repeated. "What salsa?"
I pointed to the bright red salsa on top of the rolls. "This salsa!"
She died out laughing. "That's not salsa!" she exclaimed. "That's raw tuna!"
I could have gone my entire life without knowing this and been just fine.
I was shocked. "Are you SERIOUS?" I demanded, leaning forward, unable to mentally process that I had eaten -- and thoroughly enjoyed -- raw meat, and more than once.
"You're a real sushi eater now," Misti replied, grinning.
And it is delicious. I can't deny that. But it was a little hard to eat those last few pieces, good though they were.
Okay, now down to business, and this is mainly for my Louisiana readers. Have you heard about the tax cuts to higher education? It's scary -- especially for me, who is facing furloughs!!
All kidding aside (okay, the furloughs are serious, but I'll take that over laying people off), here's what we're looking at, people:
Higher education usually gets cut first because only 19 perecent of Louisianians have a bachelor's degree or higher. This is a sad statistic but one that will not change if we start cutting programs.
My university is facing about a 15 percent cut -- on top of a 4 percent cut that was issued midyear. That's about $11 million total.
Now that's a chunk of change.
The two biggest universities in north Louisiana (my own included) return $8 for every $1 the government gives them. Now, I'm not good at math, but that's a HUGE amount when they're talking about cutting our budget by $11 million. My university alone spends $462 million in Louisiana alone. What's going to happen when our budget is cut 15 percent?
These are hard times, but things must change. Even the lawmakers agree with this. Louisiana is the state with the highest amount of people leaving -- and the fewest moving in. We have to stop this, and higher education is one of the ways to retain individuals.
My desire is this: Please call your state senator and representative (you can find them by clicking here) and tell them that higher education is vital to our economy, and if we want to retain people in our state, we must preserve our universities and colleges. Cutting their funding is only going to hurt us. They know this, but I feel if more people call, more action will be taken.
There is a chance that our budget cuts could be reduced in this Legislative session, and that's what I'm desperately hoping for. While our university president, who's absolutely brilliant, managed to retain the core for our academic programs and faculty retention, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that the brightest students may choose to attend a college in Texas (who is not facing budget cuts) over our own research university, which is strapped for cash.
Why would you want to do this, Louisianians? I have several reasons:
1. Our future. Most of you reading this are parents. Don't you want to preserve the institutions your child(ren) could attend (and probably will -- out of state tuition is a killer!)?
2. Better economy. Recent economic studies have shown that my university and another one in north Louisiana give back about $8 to the community for every $1 that the government gives to them. This creates jobs, increases sales revenues, and brings people to Louisiana.
3. Cultural aspect. Okay, maybe you live in a big city, where there are more cultural options, but for me, my university is basically it. We have international festivals, plays, world-famous musicians and speakers...the list goes on and on. And I could not get that without the university.
4. Athletics. Come on, even for a non-sports fan like myself, where else can you watch a football game for under $20 (and free if you have an old student ID, haha!)? If our athletics programs are cut, recruiting goes down, and our teams go down. It's a domino effect -- one that needs to be stopped!
And there are more. So if you are from Louisiana, I implore you to call your reps. It takes like two minutes, and for every call they receive, they estimate 200 other people feel the same way.
Thank you so much!
Anyway, I ordered the city maki, which is shrimp tempura and crab meat, topped with some spicy salsa. Because I don't eat the raw stuff. I can't. I even tried a Philly roll with smoked salmon, and I couldn't even eat it.
The city maki is my FAVORITE. I ordered it the first time we went and swore it had some magical elements because it was so delicious (note: not as good as hubby's). I scarfed it down. Marli, who was visiting, also ordered the city maki because I told her it was the best on the menu (and I know that from only sampling three types, haha). As our order came, I started eating, enjoying the spicy flavors from the sushi, but having to wipe some of the salsa off the rolls because they were too big to fit in my mouth.
"The pieces are just too big with the salsa on top," I explained to Marli.
Misti's eyes widened as she looked at me. "Salsa?" she repeated. "What salsa?"
I pointed to the bright red salsa on top of the rolls. "This salsa!"
She died out laughing. "That's not salsa!" she exclaimed. "That's raw tuna!"
I could have gone my entire life without knowing this and been just fine.
I was shocked. "Are you SERIOUS?" I demanded, leaning forward, unable to mentally process that I had eaten -- and thoroughly enjoyed -- raw meat, and more than once.
"You're a real sushi eater now," Misti replied, grinning.
And it is delicious. I can't deny that. But it was a little hard to eat those last few pieces, good though they were.
Okay, now down to business, and this is mainly for my Louisiana readers. Have you heard about the tax cuts to higher education? It's scary -- especially for me, who is facing furloughs!!
All kidding aside (okay, the furloughs are serious, but I'll take that over laying people off), here's what we're looking at, people:
Higher education usually gets cut first because only 19 perecent of Louisianians have a bachelor's degree or higher. This is a sad statistic but one that will not change if we start cutting programs.
My university is facing about a 15 percent cut -- on top of a 4 percent cut that was issued midyear. That's about $11 million total.
Now that's a chunk of change.
The two biggest universities in north Louisiana (my own included) return $8 for every $1 the government gives them. Now, I'm not good at math, but that's a HUGE amount when they're talking about cutting our budget by $11 million. My university alone spends $462 million in Louisiana alone. What's going to happen when our budget is cut 15 percent?
These are hard times, but things must change. Even the lawmakers agree with this. Louisiana is the state with the highest amount of people leaving -- and the fewest moving in. We have to stop this, and higher education is one of the ways to retain individuals.
My desire is this: Please call your state senator and representative (you can find them by clicking here) and tell them that higher education is vital to our economy, and if we want to retain people in our state, we must preserve our universities and colleges. Cutting their funding is only going to hurt us. They know this, but I feel if more people call, more action will be taken.
There is a chance that our budget cuts could be reduced in this Legislative session, and that's what I'm desperately hoping for. While our university president, who's absolutely brilliant, managed to retain the core for our academic programs and faculty retention, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that the brightest students may choose to attend a college in Texas (who is not facing budget cuts) over our own research university, which is strapped for cash.
Why would you want to do this, Louisianians? I have several reasons:
1. Our future. Most of you reading this are parents. Don't you want to preserve the institutions your child(ren) could attend (and probably will -- out of state tuition is a killer!)?
2. Better economy. Recent economic studies have shown that my university and another one in north Louisiana give back about $8 to the community for every $1 that the government gives to them. This creates jobs, increases sales revenues, and brings people to Louisiana.
3. Cultural aspect. Okay, maybe you live in a big city, where there are more cultural options, but for me, my university is basically it. We have international festivals, plays, world-famous musicians and speakers...the list goes on and on. And I could not get that without the university.
4. Athletics. Come on, even for a non-sports fan like myself, where else can you watch a football game for under $20 (and free if you have an old student ID, haha!)? If our athletics programs are cut, recruiting goes down, and our teams go down. It's a domino effect -- one that needs to be stopped!
And there are more. So if you are from Louisiana, I implore you to call your reps. It takes like two minutes, and for every call they receive, they estimate 200 other people feel the same way.
Thank you so much!
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Flip flops and pageant flops
Linda is hosting the Flip Flop Frenzy, and today is the day to show off our beautiful new flip flops! My flip flop match was Tiffany, and THESE are the beautiful shoes I received in the mail!
Aren't they adorable???
Also, I just want to mention something that is RIDICULOUS. Has anyone heard about the craziness around the Miss USA contest -- specifically with Miss California (click on "Miss California" to take you to a news story on the subject)?
Okay, a quote from the story: "'This is why we have judges at Miss USA, so we find the girl to rep us ALL,' Moakler Twittered after the pageant."
Wait, WHAT? I am SORRY (okay, so I'm NOT), but if the new Miss USA supports g*y marriage, then she is not supporting ME.
I have a whole rant about marriage and what it means to me and in general, but, you know, that's not the point here. THIS is my issue I take with all the backlash Carrie Prejean (Miss Calif.) has received: For her not to receive the crown because of her viewpoints is prejudiced. It's prejudiced against the people against g*y marriage, and it's prejudiced against individual viewpoints. How DARE people say one person cannot be conservative? Have we as a country truly gotten to the point where we are about to berate people for their opinions?
She lost the crown because of her Biblical comments. It's just utterly ridiculous. You can disagree with my opinions, and you and I can have a logical, intelligent debate on the subject, but I will NOT be silent just because I feel differently!
Superman and I were talking about the Miss USA pageant this morning, and we agreed that while Miss Prejean is not Miss USA, some things are more important than winning the crown.
Lost Books
First, I would like to apologize.
I really planned to read another book BESIDES one written by Ted Dekker, for variety's sake. I promise, that was my intention. In fact, Superman is just finishing up The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel, and I thought that would be an excellent read (I read it years ago but should do so again as a refresher). However…I found a package in my mailbox yesterday.
It was a book I had ordered, so I could have on hand for the near future. Three, by Ted Dekker.
And I had just finished Chaos, the last of the Lost Books series.
Sigh. I started Three this morning.
Lo siento mucho.
You can look forward to a Three review, probably next week, but for now, let me quickly cover the Lost Books series, which includes Chosen, Infidel, Renegade and Chaos. The books are actually a young adult series, but as they answer some of the questions I still had from the Paradise novels, I figured they’d be good to read – and they were.
These books do not have as much vivid description and subtleness as Dekker’s others in the Books of History grouping (which includes the Circle trilogy, the Paradise novels, and the Lost Books series), probably because they are for young adults, but they still had excellent storylines. The only major problem I had with them was the obviousness – most of the time, I knew what was coming.
Chosen begins the tale, starting at the time between Black and Red in the Middle Forest, where Thomas Hunter’s “dream world” is. Johnis, Silvie, Darsal, and Billos, teens around sixteen and seventeen years old, are chosen to be leaders in their war against the enemy, the Horde. While on their first mission, which is really a test, the four are instructed to take on a new mission, one kept secret from Thomas but one that must be accomplished to save not only their world but the other world (our Earth) as well.
Throughout the four books, we learn about each of the characters, their weaknesses and strengths and their love – not only for each other but for even their enemies, which is sometimes seen by others as a vulnerability. The four are impulsive, quick-tempered, and determined, but their sacrifices and love are what the books most focus on.
Johnis is the idealist of the group, the one who is the most impulsive but also the most curious, which, really, is what keeps him on the straight and narrow. He eventually (I really don’t think this spoils anything, because it’s easy to see) falls in love with Silvie, who, in Chosen, defends him when Darsal and Billos, who are older and stronger, pick on him or criticize his ideas.
I love that these four have such strong, varying personalities. Darsal, while beautiful and cunning, is bitter from childhood pains, and Billos is her hero, though his decisions from the beginning are anything but wise.
Chaos really brings everything together in a nice, neat (dare I say it?) Circle. Everything was a little too put together in the last two pages, but I can understand that they were written for young adults, and that’s probably the best ending for that age group. Plus, one scene that I really had looked forward to was omitted, though Dekker made it clear that that particular scene would take place in the near future.
If I had to pick a favorite, it would be Chaos, though I was not sure when I first started reading it if I would like this final book. It was written with much consideration, I feel, and the characters have evolved nicely and in a way that is totally in their personalities.
As for my least favorite, I suppose that would be Chosen, the first book, mainly because it’s just setting the stage for events to come – and I was ready for action!
Keeping with his eeire style that I love, Dekker writes these books with just enough creepiness to make you want to watch a short comedy before bedtime, but, even so, I think they’re appropriate for young adults, and, if anyone is reading the Circle trilogy and Paradise novels, I think these would be an excellent choice AFTER those six books.
Now…on to Three!
I really planned to read another book BESIDES one written by Ted Dekker, for variety's sake. I promise, that was my intention. In fact, Superman is just finishing up The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel, and I thought that would be an excellent read (I read it years ago but should do so again as a refresher). However…I found a package in my mailbox yesterday.
It was a book I had ordered, so I could have on hand for the near future. Three, by Ted Dekker.
And I had just finished Chaos, the last of the Lost Books series.
Sigh. I started Three this morning.
Lo siento mucho.
You can look forward to a Three review, probably next week, but for now, let me quickly cover the Lost Books series, which includes Chosen, Infidel, Renegade and Chaos. The books are actually a young adult series, but as they answer some of the questions I still had from the Paradise novels, I figured they’d be good to read – and they were.
These books do not have as much vivid description and subtleness as Dekker’s others in the Books of History grouping (which includes the Circle trilogy, the Paradise novels, and the Lost Books series), probably because they are for young adults, but they still had excellent storylines. The only major problem I had with them was the obviousness – most of the time, I knew what was coming.
Chosen begins the tale, starting at the time between Black and Red in the Middle Forest, where Thomas Hunter’s “dream world” is. Johnis, Silvie, Darsal, and Billos, teens around sixteen and seventeen years old, are chosen to be leaders in their war against the enemy, the Horde. While on their first mission, which is really a test, the four are instructed to take on a new mission, one kept secret from Thomas but one that must be accomplished to save not only their world but the other world (our Earth) as well.
Throughout the four books, we learn about each of the characters, their weaknesses and strengths and their love – not only for each other but for even their enemies, which is sometimes seen by others as a vulnerability. The four are impulsive, quick-tempered, and determined, but their sacrifices and love are what the books most focus on.
Johnis is the idealist of the group, the one who is the most impulsive but also the most curious, which, really, is what keeps him on the straight and narrow. He eventually (I really don’t think this spoils anything, because it’s easy to see) falls in love with Silvie, who, in Chosen, defends him when Darsal and Billos, who are older and stronger, pick on him or criticize his ideas.
I love that these four have such strong, varying personalities. Darsal, while beautiful and cunning, is bitter from childhood pains, and Billos is her hero, though his decisions from the beginning are anything but wise.
Chaos really brings everything together in a nice, neat (dare I say it?) Circle. Everything was a little too put together in the last two pages, but I can understand that they were written for young adults, and that’s probably the best ending for that age group. Plus, one scene that I really had looked forward to was omitted, though Dekker made it clear that that particular scene would take place in the near future.
If I had to pick a favorite, it would be Chaos, though I was not sure when I first started reading it if I would like this final book. It was written with much consideration, I feel, and the characters have evolved nicely and in a way that is totally in their personalities.
As for my least favorite, I suppose that would be Chosen, the first book, mainly because it’s just setting the stage for events to come – and I was ready for action!
Keeping with his eeire style that I love, Dekker writes these books with just enough creepiness to make you want to watch a short comedy before bedtime, but, even so, I think they’re appropriate for young adults, and, if anyone is reading the Circle trilogy and Paradise novels, I think these would be an excellent choice AFTER those six books.
Now…on to Three!
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