Centerville Elementary Water Fair

As a local plumbing professional, Scott was invited to participate in Centerville Elementary's Water Fair as a community service. Both my sisters work there and I believe one of them recommended him.

 It was Kate's birthday so I was in her classroom making green pancakes for the St. Pattrick's Day party during his first of three sessions. I managed to sneak over during the end of his second session and stay to listen for the whole third session. Listening to Scott give his presentation was such a pleasure for me.

 After he talked to the kids about water heaters, water softeners, what plumbers do, and showed them cool pictures on the projector of plumbing gone wrong, he gave the kids candy and a business card.

 He also brought a box full of cool plumbing tools and parts and asked the kids if they knew what each thing was and what it did. The kids seemed surprisingly interested, asked thoughtful questions, and interjected intelligent comments about their plumbing at home.

 All except this row of girls that talked the whole time during the third session. When they asked for extra treats at the end, Scott laughed his laugh and teased them because they hadn't paid attention. He offered extra candy for kids who could tell him something they learned from his presentation.

You can imagine kids were jumping at the chance to tell him what they learned. It got a little out of control there towards the end. All you need is a little sugar to be a hero to a fifth grader! 

Disney on Ice - Kate Turned 7

 We started celebrating Kate's birthday a week early! We invited three of her same-age cousins to attend Disney on Ice with us. Unfortunately, Presley didn't make it back from her family vacation in time to come with us. We asked Kate who she would like to invite with the extra ticket. Her eldest cousin, Samantha, was her first choice.

 Before the event, we ate pizza, cake, and ice cream with the cousins. Kate chose chocolate cupcakes with chocolate frosting.

 Sam was surprisingly excited about going and she was such a good sport to pose in all the pictures and enjoy the costumes and everything with us. She kept saying that she was a 7-year-old again.

 Hailey, Kate, and Ashlee

 Hailey, Sam, Kate, and Ashlee

 Now for a silly pose!

 Sam: "You guys, put your fingers up his nose!"
Who could resist a nose that big anyway?

Sam: "Good. Now pretend like you are licking your finger!"

 

 Cute girls!

 Birthday girl!

 Waiting for the show to start!

Did I mention Scott came! Our Prince Charming! He chauffeured all of us girlies and bought us all drinks at intermission! LOVE HIM! He was excessively bored during the Cinderella vignette but Rapuzel's part blew us all away. They were flying around like acrobats. So cool.

After the Friday kick off party to Disney on Ice, we made it a birthday week for Kate doing fun things to honor her birthday almost every day.

By Sunday, my family had dinner together and we celebrated Kate's birthday with them. We had her favorite cake (Citrus Glazed Lemon Bundt Cake). She received lots of money to spend at Disneyland this spring!

We really ramped things up by the following Thursday when Sam, Scott, and I surprised Kate with Dairy Queen at her school. She was so cute. She almost looked like she was going to cry. She was more than shocked to see us. She gobbled up her DQ kid's chicken strips, fries, and red Dilly bar with a row of girls staring at her in envy.

On Kate's actual birthday, her class had a St Pattrick's Day party. I volunteered to help make and serve green pancakes in the classroom. We had a blast.

We appreciated all the family and friends who stopped by or called. All the attention made the day even more special for her. 

That evening, we took Kate to Red Robin for dinner and she begged us not to tell the waiter that it was her birthday. We obeyed. I thought it was cute that she was embarrassed about being sung to in the restaurant. After dinner we took Kate to Boondocks and she rode on the go karts and played arcade games with us.

Then this Sunday, just barely, we met with the Bangerter family for dessert and celebrated the March birthdays so Kate had even more bestowed upon her.

I guess I don't need to say how much we love Kate - or how much fun we have with her - or how awesome it is to have her in our lives...

 This is Kate the Friday morning of her birthday, before school. We had a couple presents for her. An outfit. Some headbands. Nothing huge after Disney on Ice - we were calling that her present!

Happy Birthday, Kate! I can't believe you are 7!

Resolution to the Prank

After being pranked, I was so angry! I called my dad, (because that is who I call when I want to be listened to or when I want advice).  I blew off a lot of steam to him and expressed how frustrated I was by all the pranks. I told him that I was so angry I didn't want to talk to my mom for 3 days.

But by the next day, I felt surprisingly better. Doing some deep-cleaning in the bathroom helped considerably. Then I saw Sam's Pinterest account open on my computer and pinned a few things on her "Stuff for Later" board about diarrhea, constipation, and STD's. I also changed her profile description to say something cute about her and her new husband and how she thinks he's a hunk. I felt it was harmless enough because the pins could easily be deleted. Plus, she is constantly taking her mom's phone and submitting bogus Facebook posts about her mom having elephantiasis, loving turtles, or something equally strange and her mom's friends leave comments on them and that's how my sister finds out that her daughter even did it. So, turnabout-is-fair-play (isn't that how the saying goes?).

So when I felt markedly better in such a short time, I realized I should call my mom and let her know that I am SO over the prank-and that all is well-and we can be friends-and Ha, ha, that was a funny joke. I get it now.

Well, that conversation didn't go very well. Turned out that I had really hurt my mom by being so upset over her prank. She felt awful about it. She told me that she had gone so far as to replace my scriptures with brand new ones with my name engraved in them and everything.

I felt bad that I was such a stiff and couldn't laugh at all their pranks. I felt truly handicapped. Like I suck the fun out of everything. That I couldn't just see the fun in it.

I realized that my mom and I needed a restart.

I took some flowers to her office with a funny card and some Jolly Ranchers for her to share with her coworkers.

I know it's not all smoothed over yet and that it might take time for all to be well again. But my relationships with my family matter to me and I want to get along. I guess the next thing I need to do is call Sam and see if we are cool after the whole Pinterest hi-jacking thing. I might need to take her to lunch again.

I Am SO OCD

...or as my nephew calls it, CDO (because a true person with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder would want the acronym in alphabetical order).

My mom and niece were at my house unattended while I was visiting teaching and they pranked me!

Part one of the prank I noticed upon getting home. I went to use my restroom and found that they had hidden all the toilet paper and left only four sheets of magazine that they had torn up and draped over the empty toilet paper roll.

Luckily, they had forgotten to remove the kleenex box so I made it through that one easily.

Then I noticed my scriptures that I left in the bathroom earlier that morning. They were open. I found that they had found a scripture on adultery and highlighted it in red pencil as well as the inappropriate word for donkey (ten commandments kind of stuff). They had written with bold letters in red at the top of the page, "Come and be Saved!"

That pricked me a little more than the silly TP prank. My scriptures are holy to me and what they did to them seemed vulgar and irreverent.

Later on in the evening, Kate excitedly thanked me for reorganizing the bathroom drawers. {She is CDO in the making.} I went in the bathroom after she had gone to bed because I couldn't think what she could be referring to...

PANIC ATTACK!

They had put all the contents of my three drawers in different drawers. My neat and tidy set up was a mess. And being the way I am, I couldn't just put the bins back where they were. No. I had to clean them out, and wipe off the film that builds over the course of a week, and reorder everything.

So instead of having a nice, brisk walk on the treadmill to clear my mind before bed since I had missed my Zumba class trying to help Kate with her birthday poster, I am now posting a blog as well as cleaning my bathroom from top to bottom. ARGH!

I am really surprised at how mad this made me. Couldn't they have done something nice while they were here? Clean something? Write me a nice note? I can't tell you how many times my mom deep-cleaned my sister's house. Where's the love!

And I just bought Sam lunch today!

Ooh! I am so mad!

......AND NOW I SEE THAT THEY SHORT-SHEATED MY BED TOO!!!!

Another Kind of Masterpiece

A while ago, I mentioned my dismay that I didn't have any art work that I was creating at the moment and that I felt I needed some inspiration. Today, I reminded myself that while I am not creating art in the traditional sense, I am a mother, and mothering is the highest art. I have been working on the greatest of all masterpieces, Kate. I can in no way take full credit for her but I try at least not to ruin her. Most of the time Kate is the one improving me.

Kate has been begging for painting time and we've been working on homework so much that we haven't had time to do any painting. One day last week I just said PHOOEY to homework and pulled out the paints. Kate looked on the computer and found some St. Patrick's day clipart that she sketched onto paper and then drew onto a canvas. She followed her drawing with an outline of permanent marker to make it have a coloring-book-page feel. Then she painted. I helped her mix colors and talked to her about caring for her brush and holding it right. She worked on her picture for THREE days after school.

 You can barely see the clipart on the computer in the background. She kept referring to it throughout the process.

 She had so much fun doing it. Here is her finished product.

She shared it with my family for the talent show this weekend.

The Seven Year Itch

I never thought this day would come! We moved into our house when I was pregnant with Kate over seven years ago. We've raved about the location, the views, the proximity to family, the quiet street, the friendly neighborhood, etc. We always think of our home as superior to all other homes.

And yet, I suddenly have an intense desire to move.

Is it temporary? Will it pass like a cold or a flu? Do I need another round of antibiotics?

I must be bored. I do not doubt that what I am experiencing is the seven year itch but with our house instead of our marriage. That's all it is. Strange.

But what if it's something more? What if moving is the right thing for us? What if I'm having these feelings to push us to the next adventure in our lives?

Scott started it. If anything it's all his fault that I am even playing with the idea of moving. He is talking about it and running ideas past me and I am falling for it. We are going through all the different scenarios. We talk about what we would give up and what we would gain. What if? What if? What if? Oh, goodness, me. 

So I have a dilema. I am not sure if these are the kinds of thoughts a person can share with others. Is this something you keep to yourself until you plop that 'For Sale' sign on the front lawn? What if I blab my mouth all over about wanting to move and then we don't move? Will people treat us differently, like we are temporary, because they will think we are moving and then our experience here with be diminished? It's a wonder. What do you think? Share dreams and thoughts with others or keep them secret?

A Special Visit

Tonight, Scott, Kate, my mom and I visited with my cousin who has terminal cancer. We went up to his house not knowing if we would even be able to see him. My mom told me that he is in so much pain that he is just staying in bed and not seeing anyone. We decided to visit anyway knowing if nothing else, we would at least be able to visit with my uncle and aunt and see how they are holding up.

I can't tell you what a treat it was that he was having a good enough day that he could come out of his room and visit with us. As he began to struggle towards the end of the visit and his lips started to turn blue from being off his oxygen for that short while, I felt honored that he would suffer himself to be so uncomfortable, long enough for us to enjoy his company. He was so pleasant. So meek. He carried on with us in happy talk until it was time for him to go back to his room and rest.

But before he descended down the stairs to his room, he snatched up one of the big, soft, snickerdoodle cookies I brought to share and savored a piece of it in front of me and my joy was full. I wasn't sure what my cousin could eat because I had heard that the nausea associated with his illness comes and goes and I just don't know enough to know what he eats these days. Seeing him enjoy that cookie just pleased me. It's a small thing. But since I can't take away all the pain and hard that he and his family are going through, just knowing that for that one moment he enjoyed that cookie I made gave me to feel that I had helped in some way.

The Hair Battle

The whole first part of Kate's first year as a full-time school-girl presented me with a daily battle. The battle usually had something to do with her hair. She had definite ideas of how she wanted it styled but complained to me because of how inept I was at executing the hairstyle or, more commonly, she complained at how painful the process was. She would whip her head around and growl at me, "You are HURTING ME!" She would take it as a personal offense and assume that I must surely hate her if I would hurt her so badly. The whole experience was excruciating for both of us.

At Christmas, Kate had the genius idea to ask Santa for headbands. Something in her just switched over. Once she received the headbands, she contented herself with her own abilities at brushing her hair, however sloppily that turned out, and putting in a headband. Essentially, she cut me out of the equation.

Ever since Christmas, her and I have had pleasant mornings. I don't hurt her while brushing her hair. I don't fail at impossible hairstyle requests. She is ready and presentable for school.

Yesterday, I was complementing her at what a responsible girl she is. I was telling her how awesome she is, how grateful I am that she gets herself ready for school, and that she is happy, and willing to go, and that she doesn't battle me over anything, and so on. She said, "That's because I want to make you happy." I beam at her with pride thinking what a wonderful child I have and then she pops my bubble by adding, "You are SO GRUMPY when you are upset."

Art Stink

I need to work on some art. I have had a lull. I haven't been creating. I am worried about it. I think being sick for so long put me out of the practice. Now I just can't bring myself to do anything artsy.

I don't even know what I want to create. I need inspiration.

It's the weather, I bet. Having snow for such a long time and looking out and seeing shades of white and gray is NOT inspiring.

I haven't been reading the books I want to read either.

It's time to get busy!

Now Kate is on Antibiotics!

Illness has been going through the family. Scott had influenza. I have my weird glands and just finished my antibiotic and am feeling better so far. Now, Kate is the one taking her turn. 

On a side note - before I get to the real point of this post (Kate being sick), I must document (because I don't think I can put it to words enough) that I am amazed with Kate. She is the coolest kid. She is so much fun right now. She loves school (Thank you Mrs. Juarez and Mrs. Ridges!). She is going through this "research" kick and loves to search for animals on the internet and in library books. She has been compiling a "report" about each animal in a Word document. She is so cute about it. As she is doing it she thanks me for helping her and tells me how much fun it is. We've learned some cool things together. We've had some good laughs looking at pictures of giraffes trying to spread their front legs so they can bend down for a drink of water. You should have seen that girl try and mimic the giraffe. In the process of mimicking the giraffe, she got herself stuck in a bar-stool and took 3 minutes trying to get herself untangled from it! Kate is great in every way and this week, her and I have had some wonderful, quality time together.

So, on with my real topic of the day... Kate is sick. She woke up early Friday morning - around 4:30 - and told me that her tummy, neck, and head hurt. She was cute about it. I think it was her first headache and she couldn't understand what she was feeling. And the way her tummy hurt, she couldn't decide if she was going to throw up or if she was hungry. This was all unusual for Kate, who is usually a healthy girl and a terrific sleeper. She's had a few bad dreams here and there and she's wet the bed a dozen times but those days are long gone. I can't remember the last time she's had a sleep disturbance.

So I spent some time with her, trying to help alleviate her symptoms. I rubbed her tummy, neck, and head with diluted peppermint oil. I put a cool rag on her head. I gave her some ice chips and offered her a slice of bread. After an uncomfortable hour for her, she went back to bed with a bowl in case she felt like throwing up. I couldn't sleep knowing that she was feeling crummy. A few hours later, when she normally woke up and prepared for school, I asked her if she felt better. She claimed that she did. She said her legs hurt. I wondered if she was going through growing pains and that maybe her tummy hurt earlier because she was hungry and needed more food. Yet, at breakfast she barely touched her cinnamon toast. But she said she felt great. So, off to school she went. I even had a friend come over to play with her after school. After her friend left, I noticed Kate hadn't eaten her Doritos from her lunch, very odd. Before dinner, she complained that her neck and stomach hurt again. But after she ate (again not as much as usual) she claimed she felt better.

I started to worry about my diagnosis. If she really had "growing pains" she would be ravenous.

Earlier that day, I had spoken to my sister and mentioned that I thought Kate was going through growing pains and my sister had thrown out that maybe it was strep throat. Strep sounded absurd to me. But after hearing Kate say that her stomach and neck were hurting again I began to really put it together. I told Scott that I thought we should consider taking Kate to the Kids Care Clinic right after dinner.

Then I thought about the money and I wondered if I was overreacting. But Kate is always so tough. If she is mentioning something, it's big. She doesn't act like this. I started putting everything together and we headed out. But even on our way there we second guess ourselves again. We stop and look up the symptoms of strep on our phone. We were literally going in circles. Finally we both decide, enough! And we drive to the Kid's Care. We decided that it's worth $35 just to know for sure and put it behind us.

Even the doctor was iffy about the diagnosis when she was examining Kate and talking with us about her symptoms. Nothing really screamed Strep to her either but it was fishy, nonetheless.

Much to the doctor's surprise the strep culture came back positive. Scott and I were so relieved to get it right. Knuckles all around (note to self, always listen to my big sister).

So it's 8:00 p.m. ish and we head to Wallgreens to fill our after hours prescription.

We explained to Kate that she needed to stay away from people for 24 hours so the medicine could clear out the bacteria, otherwise she would be contagious and get other people really sick. Kate started crying and realized that she would miss her friend's birthday party she was invited to go to Saturday afternoon. She was crazy-sweet about it too! She was worried because she knew that some of the other girls invited couldn't attend and she couldn't bear to think that her friend wouldn't have anyone at her birthday party. But she was sad for herself too. She'd already missed the last birthday party that she was invited to in December because we went out of town. She just didn't want to miss this and I could tell that she understood that she was supporting her friend by attending. And then she said, "She's like my BFF! I have to go!"

So, Kate is on her 10-day stretch of antibiotics the same day I finish mine! Yogurt anyone?

Tribute to Mr. Beast

How do I say 'thank you' to a truck?
How do I give him the gratitude he deserves?

We have had our 1997 Ford Powerstroke, F250, 4-door, turbo-ed truck (aka Mr. Beast) going on nine years, I believe. We bought him from Scott's Dad. And all these years, Mr. Beast has served us incredibly well. This winter in particular, because of it's extreme nature, Mr. Beast has proved his worth beyond our capacity to communicate.

Especially with the new tires Big O put on this fall, that truck has never been more amazing in extreme conditions as now.

I have a feeling that our truck has gone through a bit of winter depression in past years. He has felt a lack of excitement. He has felt his worth deteriorate and lost enjoyment in his usual activities. But this year, with all the snow and ice and tough road conditions, I know that our truck has felt a new sense of joy and worth. It's like he knows he is needed and he realizes his value to us more than ever. All the challenging, winter road conditions have renewed his sense of purpose and well-being. He has never felt better. I can feel it when I start him up in the morning to take Kate to school. I can feel it when he gets a good washing or a fueling. This is his finest year. This is the year he was made for. I know he has hoped for a winter like this, all his life.

I think our truck struts around town. I think he looks at all the other vehicles and beams with pride at them. I'm sure he smiles politely at the cars and trucks covered in snow from being left in the elements. But inside, he probably says to himself, "I have a garage all to myself! I only share it with the snow-blower and a few tools." When the new trucks and cars roll, bumper-to-bumper or strut-to-strut from him and mock his age, size, sound, smell, or style, he just revs on and thinks to himself, "Ha! Just you watch. You think I'm old... You think I'm outdated... Old ways are better, kiddos. My body is 100% real - no fiberglass fabrications on me. My people bought me the very best kicks out there and I can MOVE! I can haul a massive load. I can carry 6 in seat belts. I can do any dirty job and still shine up nicely for a date on the town. You can listen to my turbo whistle as I speed on past. I'm faster than you think. I'm big enough to push anybody around. And I can get through anything."

Yes, he smells. He is loud. He provides a warning of our arrival at least a minute before us. I am certain he pollutes the air proving it with a long, black cloud of smoke when we accelerate. His ride is recklessly bumpy and nearly amusement-park-like. He requires agility just to hop in. He has nearly unsightly, maroon interior. But he protects us. He gets us anywhere we want to go. And he is ours. 


I'm still not sure how to show adequate appreciation to Mr. Beast, but I don't plan on upgrading or replacing him anytime in the future. That guy has a place in our family as long as he can hang on.

Update on the Glands

Follow-up post to: Swollen Glands and a CT Scan

I saw the ENT today as a follow-up to my CT scan two Fridays ago. He hasn't seen the scan but read the review from the radiologist, which said that I do have swollen glands and lymph nodes on the right side and they are more pronounced than the left. Amazing. {Yes that is sarcasm. This is information I already had just by looking at myself or feeling my neck.} The radiologist also suggested that no reason for the reaction could be seen from the scan. This is only partially good news for me. I am grateful that nothing horrible was found but I feel frustrated that I still don't have answers.

The ENT gave me a script for antibiotics and asked me to go to my GP to run some blood tests to screen me for any autoimmune disorders. He felt that if I do not have an infection, an autoimmune disorder could be a possible reason for all the swelling. He also asked me to request a copy of my scan and to bring it with me, as well as the test results for the bloodwork, on my second follow-up appointment scheduled for next month.

I am angry that the doctor recommended a CT scan with all the expense and worry that follows. And now I'm mad that he made me pay another $50 for something that he could have easily done with a phone call. I don't appreciate him at this point. He was little help with Scott's questions. He offered no hope and made it sound like this is just how I am, lumpy and swollen.

Is This Only Funny to ME?

Kate is in the tub and she isn't doing what I tell her, nothing new. I am asking her to wash her hair. I go in the kitchen and do a few things and come back and her hair is still dry. I laugh and tell her to wash it. She says a few things and I feel a little annoyed so I tell her I am ignoring her. But then she says something and I respond. She says that I am not doing a good job of ignoring her. I remember and I laugh and say that she is right. I start getting ready for church in the bathroom and she says a few things and I ignore her and she says, "NOW you are ignoring me," as if to praise me. I laugh. She says, "Laughter is a response." I laugh some more. Clearly ignoring is not my strong point.

Now Kate is in the tub hollering out, "Are you typing what I said?"

Laughing Now and Later

I'm laughing inside as I think about what Scott did last night!

He came home from work around dinner time and got the keys for our truck and told me he was going to fill it up with fuel and run it through the automated wash at the gas station. I was just getting dinner going and trying to help Kate with homework and I really didn't want him to go. I knew we had some fuel and I knew he could wait until Saturday or even later. So, I whined and begged him not to go out but to stay with us and have dinner. He said the car wash closes early and he doesn't always get home in time to get it done. I begged again. He said he would be right back. Meanwhile I got dinner ready and read off Kate's spelling words. I was frustrated that he wasn't there and really missed him after a long day without him.

Dinner was minutes from being ready and I received a call from Scott. He told me he should have listened to me and not gone to get gas or wash the truck.

I thought, "Oh, no! Did he get in a wreck?"

He said, "I just did the most boneheaded thing ever!"

I braced myself...This was sounding expensive.

"I just put unleaded gas in BOTH tanks of our diesel truck," Scott said, humiliated.

After a gasp from me, Scott told me that he already spoke to our repair guy and he told Scott to have the truck towed to his shop.

NOTE: If you start a diesel engine with unleaded instead of diesel it can completely blow the engine and require costly repairs. Luckily Scott caught his mistake before starting up the truck. But the gas would still need to be purged carefully. He already arranged for his brother to come pick him up and tow him to the auto shop. He was delayed at least an extra half hour.

I was miffed just because I almost never beg him to stay. I try to be supportive of him. He even acknowledged how nice it is that I rarely beg him to stay when he needs to leave.

I was also upset because just the day before, he was complaining about how much money I am costing the family with my $700+ CT scan that the doctor recommended and several $50 co-pays to a specialist. He made me feel really rotten about that. I know that he was just feeling the weight of expenses and being the sole-provider but it still hurt that he was even complaining about the costs of my health.

I was also frustrated because I had plans. I was really hoping to take the truck that night to do a Zumba class with a friend. And I wanted to drive Kate to school in the morning because it's so cold. Plus, I had plans to use the truck after dropping Kate off at school. I was thinking this was really an inconvenience that could have been avoided.

But I was grateful that he is so responsible and helpful. He always gasses up the truck and washes it and even though he rarely drives it, because he most always drives his work van, I still never have to worry how much gas I have or if the truck needs service or anything.

I also felt grateful that I don't have to work and that we live so close to things that I could walk if I had to.

It is really funny, actually. I know Scott will never live this down. In fact, while I was on the phone with Scott, his little brother, Todd, pulled up to tow him to the shop and I could hear him laughing at Scott. That was priceless.

So, I was miffed. But before Scott came home, Kate and I decided to forgive him and be nice to him when he finally returned. 

I love that Scott was so humble about his mistake. I love that he immediately told me that he should've listened to me. I love that he called himself a bonehead. I love that he laughed at it and apologized for being so tight about money the day before. I love that he allowed the leveling that fate or God gave him to take effect and change him just a little. Because he was such a good sport about all this, I felt much better. This will be a fun memory for both of us and I know he will put this in his list of most embarrassing moments.

Julie's Thousand Island

I made Thousand Island dressing yesterday! Scott has one particular Thousand that he loves called Marie's. I can only buy it at Target. After messing around with my bottled Poppy seed dressing adding equal parts vinegar and lemon juice to give it more of a zing and stretch it out a bunch, I got thinking about Scott's Thousand. I mean it's basically ketchup, mayo, and sweet pickle relish. So I mixed those ingredients together. But would Scott like it?

I put his Marie's dressing in a dish and my concoction in another dish for a side-by-side comparison. I had a bowl of lettuce for taste testing. I was excited. I do this kind of stuff to Scott all the time and usually wind up disappointed because he has such discriminating taste. He takes one look or lick of whatever experiment I put before him and shakes his head. BUT this time, HE LOVED IT! He had it on his salad and it passed the test! Amazing!

Swollen Glands and a CT Scan

A couple of my glands have been swollen for most of 2012. Then in November, I noticed several of the nodes in my neck swelling and staying that way. After fretting over it for several months, I finally decided to call and schedule an appointment with an ENT. With a month to wait before the appointment, I started second-guessing myself. "Do I really need to see a specialist?" I thought about the $50 copay and felt even more stupid for calling in a specialist. I worried he would just laugh at me and tell me it was no big deal, take my money, and send me out the door.

Despite my fears of being ridiculed, to the ENT I went today. To my surprise, he seemed concerned. When he started examining my neck and feeling all the swollen glands and nodes he said, "Yes, they are rather large." And then he had his assistant schedule a CT scan for this Friday.

He said once he looks at the scan, he will know whether he will then go forward with a biopsy.
Weird stuff, right?