Christmas Party, Part 1

Last night was the first Christmas party at my house. The next one is next Saturday. That's our friend Karisia to the right holding up some of the presents from her gift bag (if you're not coming to the party until next Saturday, don't look too closely at the picture!!!). That's our friend Greg's head at the bottom of the picture, in case you were wondering. Anyway, we had a great time. We set up a play area in the basement for the kids, then no one showed up who was supposed to come with kids. It got some use tonight, though, and Jacob and Phillip are very excited about the TV that we put down there. My friend Scott went into the ditch on the way home. Really, it wasn't a ditch as much as it was a ravine. We got a tow truck today to pull him out. I wish I would've taken pictures.

Oops!

So, Taylora bought me a temporary engagement ring, which I've already managed to lose. So I'm in trouble. I think it fell off when I was outside in the cold. After the first of the year I will have my "real" ring, but Taylora wanted to make sure I was branded so all the hot chicks wouldn't come after me. Or something like that.
My dad came over to take pictures yesterday. That's us on the left (in case you didn't know). We're standing in front of one of the trees in my front yard that I decorated for Christmas.
I saw my endocrinologist again today. I have hypothyroidism and a vitamin D deficiency So, now I have to take thyroid mediation. Woo-hoo... They did more blood work today to see if I have anitbodies that are attacking my thyroid.
I -finally- finished decorating outside. Now I need to get the inside of the house finished before the party on Saturday. We are trying to finalize the food list and get the house cleaned up, too.
This past Saturday we went to the Christmas party at church. It was a lot of fun, although the gift exchange did not result in any great gifts for either Taylora or for me. People kept stealing all the good gifts that I managed to steal from other people.

Decorating!

I've been busy decorating the outside of my house. I bought tons of new lights this year, and somehow I still don't have enough! I have also run out of extension cords, so I need to buy more of those as well. So far, I am quite pleased with how things have turned out. My plans are bigger than my budget, however, so I won't get to do some of things I want to do. Next year...
Taylora and I are working on the plans for the annual Christmas party. Taylora keeps coming up with food ideas that are way too extravagant/too much work/or just way too much. My new catchphrase--"keep it simple!" We're trying to get the inside of the house decorated. I have two trees up so far, and I'm trying to figure out where to put a third tree. I also want to get up some of my Christmas village, but I have no idea where to put it. If I had a nice, finished basement, I'd put it down there.
There's a snowstorm outside, which is greatly increasing my Christmas mood! I can't wait to see the lights tonight glowing under the snow-laden trees. If there's a lull in the storm, maybe I'll head out with my new camera and try out the night photo features.

Naughty Children

I think children are highly overrated. This week Phillip was terrible for three days in a row (he's always awful when he comes back from his dad's house), so he's had early bedtime all week. On the plus side, except for the day he was swearing, he had a pretty good week in school. Wednesday we discovered that Jacob has been looking up porn (again) on the internet. Today we found out he downloaded over $200 worth of stuff on the cell phone at his house, some of which was game and some of which was softcore porn. Apparently last night was the full moon, so maybe this behavior will end! All of you with babies, or soon to have babies, just think what you have to look forward to. :-)

I have high hopes that I can begin some serious Christmas decorating this week. I bought some decorations at Target yesterday--they have some really neat stuff this year. I think if we get all the snow they are predicting that I will be in a serious Christmas mood.

If you haven't gotten it yet, I highly recommend Jennifer Hudson's CD.

Engaged

Taylora and I are officially engaged! When I get my butt in gear I will post a picture.

Taylora had her back surgery and is in the process of recovering. She ended up having two surgeries, because she had fluid building up--they thought she might have spinal meningitis, but thankfully she didn't. She starts pool therapy in a couple weeks.

Melinda and Virlena came over last night. It was fun to hang out with friends.

We are planning our annual Christmas party, which has me itching to decorate for Christmas. It's been snowing on and off today, which is making me want to decorate even more! Instead, I've been painting some trim for my stairway. My hands and arms are hurting now, though, so I'll have to finish tomorrow.

This is not my final Christmas list

So, I said I'd post my top ten Christmas CD's. Turns out, it was hard to pick. I have 10 that I've picked, but I'm certain the list will change as I come across other Christmas CD's hidden amongst the hundreds on the shelves.

1. Sandi Patty--O Holy Night: This one I didn't have any problems picking. Sandi has put out three Christmas CD's and has recorded two special ones for Hallmark, but this is the best. "Carol of the Bells" and "O Holy Night" give me goosebumps, so you know those are some great arrangements.

2. Ella Fitzgerald--Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas: This one is fun. She put out a second Christmas CD, but it doesn't even come close to this.

3. The Manhattan Transfer--The Christmas Album

4. Mariah Carey--Merry Christmas: You knew this would show up somewhere, right?

5. Linda Eder--Christmas Stays the Same: Thanks to Cally for introducing me to this one.

6. Tony Bennett--Snowfall: The Christmas Album

7. Michael W. Smith--Christmastime: The coolest version of The Christmas Waltz that I've ever heard.

8. Diana Krall--Christmas Songs: I tend to like a light jazz sound to my Christmas music.

9. Various Artists--The New Young Messiah: An updated Handel's Messiah

10. Relient K--Let It Snow Baby...Let It Reindeer: Pop-punk Christmas, with a nice depressing song called "I Hate Christmas Parties" (because I also like depressing music--it makes me happy).

Anyone have any thoughts?

I've been feeling crappy lately, but today was better. I'm off to bed now, but before I go...

Happy Birthday to all my friends with October birthdays. My apologies if you didn't/don't get a personal greeting on your actual birthday, but I usually don't have any idea what day it is.

Yes, Melinda, there is

First things first: yes, Melinda, there are special herbs for weight loss, although the witch doctor told Taylora that just following the Candida diet would make her lose a ton of weight. I'm suspicious of the herbs though, and the Candida diet looks like torture to me.

So, I'm almost a week into my new herbs and I'm starting to feel a little better, I think. I did a lot this weekend (not a lot compared to normal people, but a lot compared to what I've been doing). Some people from work came over last night to see me. We sat around the fire and talked for a few hours. Then today my church had it's annual harvest dinner. I think about 150 people showed up, which is pretty good since only 40 people attend my church. I had good intentions of either mowing my lawn or staining a bench today but neither happened. I did go to Menards, because I needed another shelf to put in the attic to hold me Christmas village. I fear I may need to get a third shelf, though.

Speaking of Christmas, it is now October, which means I am officially allowed (per my mother's long-standing rules) to listen to Christmas music. Faith Hill put out a new Christmas CD last week, and I'd like to get that. Has anyone heard of any other new Christmas CD's coming out that I would want? Maybe in a future post I will list my top ten Christmas albums. Can you guess who will occupy the top slot?

More special herbs!

Taylora and I saw the naturopath today. My new list of special herbs includes: calcium magnesium, Msm (not sure that that is yet but it is for pain), magnesium, fibralgia (for the fibromyalgia), hawthorn, vaccination detox (for the metals in my body), Vsc tcm & paudarco (for the virus that's invaded every nook and cranny of my body), and silver shield (which means I'll be drinking silver--that's weird). My new list of foods I cannot eat: potatoes, soy, corn, and dairy. Apparently I have to drink either goat's milk or rice milk. I'm not sure I can stomach goat's milk! After I finish the vaccination detox, I have to have a detox foot spa. Once I get all my herbs, I'll officially begin the second phase of my treatment. So far, so good!

Taylora also received a list of special herbs. She has to do a special diet to combat the Candida bacteria. No sugar, no fruit, and another full page of things she can't eat. Taylora, I love you, but I'll be avoiding you for awhile! Taylora also has some weird potion consisting of vervain, love lies bleeding, red chestnut, and Star of Bethlehem.

I watched Run, Fat Boy, Run last night. If you haven't seen it, you should check it out. It just came out on DVD this week. Warning: there is one really disgusting scene, but you'll know what's going to happen so you can avert your eyes. I also watched The Forbidden Kingdom this week. While it isn't the best take on a Chinese martial arts film, it was still pretty good.

House update

My friend Scott came over Saturday to take the armoire from the upstairs bedroom--I have tons more room up there now! He decided he'd help me get the rest of the wallpaper off my bedroom wall, so that's what we did. I'm glad it's off, so I can start painting, but it about killed me. I spent Sunday and Monday recovering. Today is better, but I had to mow the lawn, which finished me off for the day.

Scott's wife, Karisia, and their kids came over later on Saturday. We (along with Taylora) grilled out, then spent the evening playing games. I picked up a card game called Rage, which is similar to euchre, but there are special cards you can play. The cards do things like change the trump, get rid of the trump, and give/take 5 points from whoever wins the trick. It's a very fun game, so if anyone wants to come over and play, give me a call!

Special herbs and Christmas music

So, the special herbs seem to be working somewhat. My stamina has increased slightly (I can go several hours now before I crash, compared to 1 or 2 before). I see the naturopathic specialist next Friday for my follow-up appointment. The past two weeks have been rough, though, because Taylora and the kids have been staying with me while she recovers from her hysterectomy. The kids are at their dad's this weekend, so it'll be quiet. I've been really sick this week--I've been running on adrenaline, I think, and it finally gave out.

I received my first new Christmas music of the year! They were only $5 each, so I thought it would be okay. I also bought two sets of LED Christmas lights to add to my decorating this year! I bought those at Sam's Club. I was at Lowe's today buying lawn fertilizer/winterizer and they have Christmas stuff out too!!!

Oh, yesterday I finally received my "official" diagnosis--Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome and Fibromyalgia. Yippee--I love diseases that have no treatment! My doctor said to keep seeing the naturopath and to start walking everyday, even if I don't feel like moving. I meant to start today, but didn't remember until it was almost dark. I walked around Lowe's, does that count?

This Is It!!

Well, friends, I've decided to finally follow the crowd and start blogging. Here's a quick update on the last month or so:
I saw a certified herbalist and certified naturopath student on July 25th. My parents have been seeing her for months and my friend Colleen has been, too. They've all been helped by her, so I thought I'd give it a try. The regular doctors haven't done anything to make me feel better, so what could it hurt? After performing her witchdoctory, she concluded that I have a virus (which I did not tell her, but my blood tests have been confirming this for a year almost); that my calcium, iron, and thyroid are all low; that my lower heart is not circulating properly; and that I have high levels of silver amalgams and titanium (she's not sure how that happened, as I have not been around any nuclear reactors). She is not going to do a detox on the silver and titanium until the circulation is better.
After putting it off for a couple week, I finally ordered the special herbs that she recommended. I take 12 pills at breakfast and dinner and 8 at lunch. So far I haven't felt much, but my mom said it took 2 weeks before she noticed any improvement. She has fibromyalgia and the pain is mostly gone. At some point, when I can afford it, I also have to have a cranial sacral and tail tuck massage. I'm supposed to find out my blood type, too, because the naturopath is big into eating for your blood type. I keep forgetting to ask the doctor when I'm there. I should've paid more attention in 9th grade health class when we did our blood type tests!
I've been off work now since mid-July and I'm kind of bored. There are a lot of things I want to do, but I have no energy to do what I want. When I have a good day, I go out and practically kill myself. I am, however, forcing myself to eat better. I really like bran muffins, so I've been making those quite often. I don't know that anyone needs to eat 3 or 4 a day, but at least my system is being cleansed on a regular basis. :)
Anyway, I'll keep you updated on all this as time goes on. My goal is to be back at work by October 1st.