Is this thing on?

Yeah, life has been overwhelming the last little while, but I'm really trying to push back, so here I go.

I started running again.  Shaine and I committed to each other (okay, so it's the third time, but third time's the charm, right?) that we would run (ahem...jog) at least three days a week for eight weeks and then do a 5k.  We're two weeks in and so far, so good.  Week 1 I actually got up early and ran before work, and I felt so fabulous.  Week 2 I was more lazy and ran in the evenings.  Either way, I did it.  Now I just need to keep it up.

Work is insane.  I'm a union rep. and normally it's a very minimal amount of work.  Not so lately.  We're having issues between our administration and the staff, and the poor, beleaguered teachers keep coming to me.  It's heartbreaking, wearing, frustrating, depressing, and is REALLY making me want to work somewhere else.  Not because I don't love my coworkers - I actually really enjoy them - but because the level of miscommunication/misunderstanding between the teachers and the principal is such  that it's really a toxic work environment and I WANT OUT.  I have an interview at the district next Monday and then (if they approve of me) will be able to interview at various sites for Instructional Coach positions.  (I would coach teachers and help them improve their practice.)  I'm also wondering if I shouldn't look for work in SoCal, mostly because my brother is on the job hunt as well, and if he and his family get a job elsewhere and vacate my parent's house, we could live nearly rent free (and thus be able to save up money for a change.)  It's a thought.

Robb is surviving grad school and he's got about 1 year left.  (Halleluia!)

Farren is growing like crazy - and growing TEETH like crazy.  I'm starting to wonder if he's not part shark.  He's learning how to run (joy!) and decided last week that he's tired of being earthbound.  (It's not fun to be working on dinner in the kitchen and turn around only to see your toddler standing up on top of the dinner table.)  In two months he gets to go to nursery (YEAH!!!!!)

So there you have it - a very brief update on our family!

For my Typophile friends

Tiffany (and Robb), you should be proud that your input has led to.....THIS!  (Enjoy!)

(Inspired by Sacrilege in Helvetica Bold.)

Join the Club

Well, on October 5 I finally joined the club.  Not the fun, cool sort of club - oh no.  The "extreme- amount-of-pain-when-will-this-end" sort of club.  You know, the kidney stone club.

Thursday night I was getting ready to go to bed when my back started to hurt.  A lot.  After thirty minutes I decided to take some Ibuprofen.  Or maybe more than "some." Maybe 1200 mg.  Maybe.

Thirty minutes later things were worse and Robb (who has had kidney stones before), told me to get ready to go to the ER.  We called our Home Teacher and asked if he'd mind sleeping on our couch (so we wouldn't have to worry about the baby - and our fabulous HT said he didn't mind at all), and off we went.

We spent all night in the ER, I learned that dilaudid makes me vomit, and I found out that not only did I have a kidney stone, I actually had two - one on each side.  Furthermore, both kidneys have more stones inside.  The urologist wants to find out why my body is actively creating stones as well as save me some future pain and suffering, not to mention maintain full kidney function, so I'm going in for an outpatient surgery this Thursday.  Here's hoping the recovery is swift!

A New Perspective

Discussing a cookbook Robb just found out about and wants to buy:

Robb:  The Kindle edition is cheaper, but I've heard that it's a beautiful book.
Me:  You've heard?  From who?
Robb:  There are 28 reviews!
Me:  So you read that it's a beautiful book.
Robb:  Same thing.  Reading is just hearing with your eyes.

Focusing on the Positive

Yesterday I received several blessings (tender mercies?  Good stuff, no matter what you call it.)

1.  I injured my thumb/wrist six months ago and it's still not better, so I had a follow up doctor's appointment at 2.  I realized they would most likely do x-rays and I didn't really want to cart Ren around with me for who knows how long, but no one was able to watch him during my appointment time.  RIGHT after I talked with a friend about babysitting, my doctor's office called to reschedule.  So blessing number 1 is a new appointment at 11:30.

2.  My friend Lauren offered to watch the baby while I went to the doctor.

3.  When I got there I found a parking space immediately.  (Unless you've been to Kaiser Santa Clara, you probably don't realize that this is HUGE.)

4.  The doctor saw me, ordered x-rays, and was able to find an open time slot for me to see a surgeon all in the two hours following my appointment with him.

5.  Lauren was totally fine with me being gone longer than originally anticipated.

6.  X-rays confirmed nothing is broken (that's a relief!)

7.  I watched Ren and Lincoln (Lauren's son) while she went to an acupuncture appointment, and they were both near perfect the whole time.  (Phew!)

All in all, it was a pretty fabulous day, and I'm grateful for all the blessings I received.

Hmmmm.....

1.  This is somewhat difficult for me to write, as I'm going to be as open and honest as I can.
2.  I'm not looking for a pat on the back, or overused platitudes.
3.  (See number 1 again), I'm currently most definitely NOT at the peak of mental/emotional wellness, so this may all be in my head and from my screwed up perspective, so I might just need to get over it, however...as far as being friends with people, is there something wrong with Robb and I?

To preface, over a year ago we realized we needed to make more friends, and we also noticed there were many young couples in our ward.  Consequently, we started hosting a bi-monthly group FHE and invited every single young couple in the ward.  We enjoyed having everyone over and only stopped when we were a few weeks away from having the baby.  The group continued to hold FHEs at other people's homes off and on over the last six months.  We haven't made it to another house for FHE (it's right at Ren's bedtime), but we have hosted twice in the last month or two.  However, over the last few months there have been LARGE group activities and camp outs, etc., and we're not invited.  I mean, no one even asks.  (And yes, we considered the fact that maybe it's due to us having a baby in tow, but then realized another couple that's going has a child right around the same age as Ren.) We just find out about it after the fact and we're starting to wonder if we did something wrong or if it's all in our heads or what.

What I know:

• I am depressed.  Whether it's postpartum or not I don't care, all I know is I've been headed downhill on the mental health train for the last few months.  It's finally bad enough that I made the effort to contact my doctor and we set up therapy and psychiatry (medication) appointments in the next two weeks.  (No small feat when apathy is taking over your life and you don't really care about doing anything.)  
• Given that I'm depressed and feeling apathetic about most things, I'm having a difficult time even maintaining established friendships.  Luckily these are the types of friends who understand when I don't talk to them very often and always welcome me back.
• The women in my ward with whom I was good friends have all moved away.  :-(
• I'm not a very outgoing person (i.e. I don't make friends easily.)  I've been told I'm intimidating and so I think people either think I don't need friends or I don't want them.  Add this to the preceding points and maybe I'm just giving off a really strong negative vibe???
• Robb is different.  His ADHD means sometimes his social interactions are a little outside the norm (but still, not what I would consider incredibly odd.)
• (This one sets us apart from 99% of the couples in our ward): we are not accountants, lawyers, MBAs, bankers or participants in corporate America.  (But we don't have a problem with you if you are!)
• We do not fit the "norm"- I'm a working mom and my husband is a stay at home dad/full-time graduate ART student.
• We like being outdoors, climbing, music, art, and food/cooking and aren't really interested in TV shows or organized (team) sports.

I think the issue is one of two things:

• One, because we don't fit the norm, people aren't interested in doing things with us.
• Two, because I (we?) are giving off a negative/depressed vibe, people aren't interested in being friends with us OR they think we don't want to do anything.

So, in the (unlikely) event someone from the ward is reading this, feel free to share tips and tricks on what we can do to get people to do stuff with us.  Aside from inviting others over for group FHEs, game nights, and dinners, as we've been doing that already.  If you're not from our ward, please feel free to comment as well.  (Open up ladies, I know all you former LBCers saw me in action first hand, so I'm sure you saw my lack of friendship skills in the way back.)

In conclusion, I'm sorry if this rubs you the wrong way.  I'm just frustrated and hurt and feeling like my 18 year old self, sitting in my college apartment kitchen and being surprised as my roommates trooped out and blithely announced "Oh, we're going to (insert fun event here).  See you tomorrow."  What the...?

It would just be nice to feel like somebody truly, sincerely cared, and maybe I'll feel better in a few weeks once I'm back on meds and I'll come back and delete this post, but in the meantime...

Do you have any thoughts?  Thanks.

Motocycles with sound stereo speakers are lame

Who buys a motorcycle for it's sound system???

Posers, that's who.