Getting Healthy

So last time I stopped in to make a post, it was because I was trying to make a "healthy lifestyle change." I'm still on track, even moreso than I expected. As it turns out, Phone Guy has had to make some big changes as well.

When I saw the doctor, I made him an appointment. So about 2 weeks after I went in, he went and had a checkup. His blood sugar was very high, as was his cholesterol. The doctor didn't give him the chance to work on his before putting him on 4 different medicines. He is working hard to control the diabetes and by doing so, hopefully controlling his cholesterol.

What is more worrisome to me is that his billirubin and iron levels were too high. This is indicative of a genetic disorder called hemochromatosis. If he has this, the only way to treat it is by bloodletting. Yeah, not fun. He goes back to the doctor next week, so hopefully we will know more then.

I'm anxious for him to find out something definite and start getting treatments so he will be feeling better. He's been sluggish and tired for about 10 months now. Getting the diabetes under control has helped but I hope that he'll be back to his old self soon.

I go back to the doctor in about two weeks myself. I hope I'll have good news about my cholesterol. Keep your fingers crossed.

Lifestyle Changes

I visited my doctor last week and had some bloodwork done. My cholesterol is way too high and in addition to that, I have gained back almost all of the weight that I lost 2 years ago.

My doctor sat me down and explained to me that I needed to make some serious changes for my health. I have a history of heart disease and diabetes in my family so I really need to take care of myself.

My biggest obstacle in all of this is my family. The Pleaser is an extremely picky eater and Phone Guy eats the most unhealthy diet you have ever seen. He thinks three of the four food groups are Bacon, Salt, Cheese. In the 10 years since Phone Guy and I got married I have gained sooooo much weight. He doesn't seem to mind...but it's unhealthy and I feel so bad about myself because of it.

My report from the doctor must have scared Phone Guy though because he has really been trying to help me eat better. We shopped for groceries together yesterday and chose some alternative foods like ground turkey instead of ground beef. He said he's willing to do this and support me the best he can.

I also got some great support from my best friend. She is also trying to lose some weight, though hers is post-baby weight. She and I have made a standing date to walk together twice a week and she has offered up her ear and shoulder for anytime I need some support.

I have 3 months before I go back to the doctor and I want to stun him with how well I have done. I need to do this for me and for my family. I can't stand the thought of not being around for my boys as they grow up and have their own families.

Here's to a new me!

We Survived the First Week of School! Yay!

I just cannot tell you how glad I am to be back on a schedule. The kids are in school. I'm back to working my 3 days of week. All is right in the world.

Danger Boy started fourth grade. He had a good week. He likes his teacher so far and he only missed one on his first spelling test (which is outstanding for him!). I am cautiously optimistic that we will have another good year.

The Pleaser started 7th grade. That means a new school for him. His first week was OK but he already has one teacher that he loves, one he cannot stand and a couple that he thinks he can just barely tolerate. He's also got an older kid in band with him who has been bullying him a little. I don't think the band director will put up with it for long though. The Pleaser isn't ready for me to say anything. He's afraid it will just make him more of a target. But I won't let it continue long. The band director is kind of a hard-ass so I think if I bring it to his attention, he will take care of it...and fast.

Also new for us this year...The Pleaser is riding the bus to school. I was really worried about it because I have heard horror stories, but the first week was uneventful so I remain cautiously optimistic about that as well. I'm still picking him up and he prefers it that way but the bus fits our morning schedule so I hope it continues to be an uneventful ride.

Now in 9 months or so, I'll be saying, "Isn't school out yet?" But for now, I'm going to revel in the scheduled life I am leading.

2008 Fall TV Premiere Dates

Here is the 2008-2009 TV Season Fall Premiere Schedule. I've bolded what I'll be watching:

Monday, Sept. 1
8 p.m. — “Prison Break,” Fox (2 hours)
8 p.m. — “Gossip Girl,” The CW
9 p.m. — “One Tree Hill,” The CW

Tuesday, Sept. 2
8 p.m. — “90210,” The CW (2 hours)

Wednesday, Sept. 3
8 p.m. — “Bones,“ Fox (2 hours)
8 p.m. — “America’s Next Top Model,” The CW (2 hours)

Thursday, Sept. 4
8 p.m. — “Moment of Truth,“ Fox (2 hours)

Friday, Sept. 5
8 p.m. — “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? Fox (2 hours)

Saturday, Sept. 6
8 p.m. — “Cops,” Fox
9 p.m. — “America’s Most Wanted,“ Fox

Monday, Sept. 8
8 p.m. — “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles,” Fox

Tuesday, Sept. 9
8 p.m. — “Fringe,” Fox (2 hours) *
9 p.m. — “Privileged,” The CW *

Wedesday, Sept. 10
9 p.m. — ‘Til Death,” Fox
9:30 p.m. — “Do Not Disturb,” Fox *

Thursday, Sept. 11
9 p.m. — “Kitchen Nightmares,” Fox

Friday, Sept. 2
8 p.m. — “America’s Toughest Jobs,” NBC (2 hours) *

Friday, Sept. 12
9 p.m. — “Don’t Forget the Lyrics,” Fox

Tuesday, Sept. 16
8 p.m. — “House,“ Fox

Thursday, Sept. 18
8 p.m. — “Survivor,” CBS
8 p.m. — “Smallville,” The CW
9 p.m. — “Supernatural,” The CW

Friday, Sept. 19
10 p.m. — “20/20,″ ABC

Monday, Sept. 22
8 p.m. “Dancing with the Stars,” ABC (2 hours)
8 p.m. — “The Big Bang Theory,“ CBS
8:30 p.m. — “How I Met Your Mother,” CBS
9 p.m. — “Heroes,“ NBC (2 hours)
9 p.m. — “Two and a Half Men,“ CBS
9:30 p.m. — “Worst Week,“ CBS *
10 p.m. — “Boston Legal,” ABC
10 p.m. — “CSI: Miami,“ CBS

Tuesday, Sept. 23
8 p.m. — “Opportunity Knocks,” ABC *
8 p.m. — “NCIS,” CBS
9 p.m. — “The Mentalist,” CBS *
10 p.m. — “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” NBC
10 p.m. — “Without a Trace,” CBS

Wednesday, Sept. 24
8 p.m. — “Knight Rider,” NBC *
8 p.m. — “The New Adventures of the Old Christine,” CBS
8:30 p.m. — “Project Gary,” CBS *
9 p.m. — “Criminal Minds,“ CBS
10 p.m. — “Lipstick Jungle,” NBC
10: p.m. — “CSI: NY,” CBS

Thursday, Sept. 25
8 p.m. — “My Name Is Earl,” NBC (1 hour)
8 p.m. — “Ugly Betty,” ABC
9 p.m. — “The Office,” NBC (1 hour)
9 p.m. — “Grey’s Anatomy,” ABC (2 hours)
10 p.m. — “ER,” NBC

Saturday, Sept. 27
8 p.m. — “Crimetime Saturday,” CBS
10 p.m. — “48 Hours Mystery,“ CBS

Sunday, Sept. 28
7:p.m. — “60 Minutes,“ CBS
7 p.m. — “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” ABC (2 hours)
8 p.m. — “The Amazing Race,” CBS
8 p.m. — “The Simpsons,” Fox
8:30 p.m. — “King of the Hill,” Fox
9 p.m. — “Desperate Housewives,” ABC
9 p.m. — “Cold Case,” CBS
9 p.m. — “Family Guy,” Fox
9:30 p.m. — “American Dad,” Fox
10 p.m. — “Brothers & Sisters,” ABC
10 p.m. — “The Unit,” CBS

Monday, Sept. 29
8 p.m. — “Chuck,” NBC
10 p.m. — “My Own Worst Enemy,” NBC *

Wednesday, Oct. 1
8 p.m. — “Pushing Daisies,” ABC
9 p.m. — “Private Practice,” ABC
10 p.m. — “Dirty Sexy Money,” ABC

Friday, Oct. 3
8 p.m. — “Ghost Whisperer,” CBS
8 p.m. — “Everybody Hates Chris,“ The CW
8 p.m. — “Wife Swap,“ ABC
9 p.m. — “Supernanny,“ ABC
8:30 p.m. — “The Game,“ The CW
9 p.m. — “The Ex List,“ CBS *
9 p.m. — “America’s Next Top Model” repeats, The CW
10 p.m. — “Numb3rs,“ CBS
10 p.m. — “Life,” NBC

Sunday, Oct. 5
7 p.m. — “America’s Funniest Home Videos,” ABC

Monday, Oct. 6
9:30 p.m. — “Samantha Who?,” ABC

Thursday, Oct. 9
9 p.m. — “CSI,” CBS
9:30 p.m. — “Kath & Kim,” NBC *
10 p.m. — “Eleventh Hour,“ CBS *
10 p.m. — “Life on Mars,“ ABC *

Tuesday, Oct. 14
10 p.m. — “Eli Stone,” ABC

Friday, Oct. 17
9 p.m. — “Crusoe,“ NBC (2 hours) *

Wednesday, Oct. 29
9 p.m. — “Stylista,” The CW *

Thursday, Oct. 30
8:30 p.m. — “30 Rock,” NBC

Premiering Early 2009: 24, Lost and Reaper

Irrational Fears

Danger Boy is your typical boy. He likes to get dirty, has to be constantly reminded about personal hygiene, doesn't really care for showers and he plays with bugs. Ladybugs, rolie polie's, beetles, butterflies - he has always seemed to like them all. Until today.

This hot, dry time of year always drives a few cockroaches into the house. I'm sure they are seeking water. I hate them as much as the next gal, but they don't scare me. Annoy me, YES! But they don't scare me.

So today, as Danger Boy was getting his gear ready for Karate, he starts screaming and runs down the hall because he saw a roach in his room. I was annoyed by his behavior and told him to get back in his room and get his gear so we could go. He absolutely refused, which made me even madder. So good mom that I am, I forced him down the hall and into his room and he proceeded to have the biggest near panic attack, crying episode I have ever seen. I thought I was going to have to call the psychiatric hospital to come get him. It was absolutely insane. And it was just ticking me off. I guess I should have felt compassion for him, and if it had been a spider or a hornet or a snake, I probably would have. Hell, I might have joined him. But as it was, a harmless (though disgusting) cockroach, it annoyed me to no end.

Phone Guy found the creature and disposed of it. I finally got him to calm down and get his gear and we headed to class. We no sooner than got started down the road when his headband brushed against his neck and he freaked out in the car....and I mean FREAKED OUT! I went on to Karate and he was fine there but as soon as we got home, I asked him to take a shower and he was walking on tiptoes through the house because he was afraid one would get on his feet. He didn't want to go in the bathroom because he was afraid there was one in there. He was completely looney toons about it. Even at bedtime he was still talking about them and looking nervously around the room at the walls and ceiling.

I guess I'm wrong to be annoyed and I should comfort him and coddle him but it just makes no sense to me. Do your kids have irrational fears like that? Did they come on suddenly? Am I a loser mom for being annoyed? (Wait, don't answer that last one...)