February - CNY, Valentine's Day, Wisdom Teeth And Winter Break

This is going to be a pretty full post - getting in a bunch of things from February.

 

Once again, I decorated the interior of my house for Spring Festival/Chinese New Year. I just love my CNY decorations...

 

Mei loves the CNY decorations and the fireplace of course...

 

Briana had her wisdom teeth removed on CNY Eve, so we had to hold off on any sort of celebrating until she felt better. I used Bri's senior picture in her qipao dress to wish everyone a Happy CNY on social media since she wasn't really up to dressing up for the new year...

It took Briana about a week to ten days to finally feel like she could eat "normally" again after her surgery. And then winter break came along, with a number of our friends going out of town for the break.

We finally had a belated CNY dinner with our friends (Amy, Mary, Imerie and Valerie) once Bri was feeling better and everyone was back in town...

Look at the CNY M&M's that Amy found at (I believe) Target for the girls! So cool!

They were light yellow, dark yellow and red...

Isn't that something?

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Valentine's Day overlapped with CNY this year, so my Valentine's decorations were put in my dining room...

On Valentine's morning, I had presents for my two Valentine's...

 

Doug's presents to me...

 

  I really wanted the sauce pan and spoon as I had placed them on my amazon wish list, but he got them in red for the holiday (heh)...

Since Bri was still under the weather on Valentine's Day (she did go to school that day), Doug and I went out to dinner and Bri ordered some food in. D and I went to eat Korean bbq and sushi for our date night...

The restaurant passed out roses - it was so sweet!

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As I mentioned, Briana got her wisdom teeth pulled in February. We were originally scheduled to have it done during winter break, but Bri was having some issues with them and we just needed to get them out - so we moved things up. 

 

She was super nervous (so was I), but she did amazing! She was the last one of the day (1pm arrival), and the oral surgeon said she was the easiest of the day. We agreed to no wisdom teeth anesthesia videos before the procedure (I was totally fine with that) - but honestly, she was just tired and quiet after the procedure and didn't give us really any "material" anyway! LOL! And she didn't really swell up much either. Because of the meds she was given during the procedure, she didn't really feel pain/discomfort until a few days later. For as nervous as we were for the whole thing, her recovery was quite easy (thank goodness)!!

As you can see above, the waiting room that day was empty (because Bri was the last patient of the day). She chose her M&M blanket to keep her warm during the procedure. My sister and family sent her flowers. And Mei was her constant companion as she rested for several days before returning to school.

I am just so glad it is done. Knowing this needed to be done had been weighing on me for a long time and I'm glad it is behind us now!

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Since Bri's surgery was done earlier than expected, we now had winter break open to get some things done.

Briana found her prom dress that week (to be revealed at a later time)...

She also got her passport renewed, got her hair cut, had her friend Kit come over to hang out one day and she also spent an evening with her friend Mary...

She also made some amazing mac n cheese and chocolate chip scones that week...

 

 

It was a nice staycation and we got some things accomplished.

 

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In February, I had a nice breakfast/coffee date with my friend Kathy. She had forgotten to bring me my Christmas present the last time we saw each other, so she brought it to our breakfast in Feb. Isn't it so cute?

 

I have a little collection of sun-catchers on my kitchen windows...

 

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I received Briana's cap and gown photos in February (as you saw in my last post) and they also offered for us to purchase a picture of the seniors standing on the football field...

I said no to purchasing the photo for $35 because I got the gist with the proof. Bri told me she is in the "2" but it is almost impossible to see anyone!

She thinks she is somewhere here...

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 As for how I've been feeling lately - not great. I am in physical therapy for my knees and torn heel (I was diagnosed with mild-moderate arthritis in my knees). I have been on arthritis meds for a several months now to help with all that, but I think the meds are now messing up my stomach (I am seeing a GI doctor in just under two weeks). And I am struggling with strained back and shoulder muscles too. I feel like I am falling apart and it is very difficult right now - not going hide it. I got through February ok enough, but as soon as Bri's winter break ended, these other things hit me kind of hard. I feel like I keep tripping through my life and every time I stand up, I get knocked down again with something else. My anxiety is through the roof. I gotta catch a break soon - I just have to. Bri is graduating in less than 3 months and I need to be back in the game.

So again, please keep me in your thoughts and prayers. I desperately want to feel better.

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So that was our February. I have limped into March and continue to limp through it. Bri and Doug are doing well thank goodness - so that is a blessing.

I'll be back soon to blog about things. Thanks for reading!

Cap And Gown Photos

 

Before I post all about February, I want to share with you Briana's cap and gown photos that I finally received from her July school senior photo session. You might remember me talking about it many months ago -

https://waitingforbriana.blogspot.com/2023/08/senior-photo-session.html

I can't believe I now have graduation photos from preschool, kindergarten, 5th grade and now 12th grade.

Her photos turned out so good...

 

Just under 3 months left. That's all she has before she graduates on May 23rd. I am still in a state of shock about it all.

 

Time really is a thief.

Leap Day

I just wanted to post today because it is Leap Day! I plan on blogging about CNY, Valentine's Day, Bri's wisdom teeth removal and our winter break staycation very soon.

I'm still battling health issues but I am trying to hang in there.

Hope you all have a happy last day of February. I can't believe March is almost here!

All About January

Finally, I am recapping what we were up to in January.

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Briana started back to school after Christmas/New Year break and it's her very last semester of high school. I am still in a bit of shock and denial...

 

She has only three classes this semester and she has early release from school. She is really enjoying that.

  She is back in culinary class and brought home a pulled pork sandwich and some coleslaw for Doug and me to try. The class has also made burgers, fries, pizza, beef pasties and fajitas...

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For fun one January afternoon (at home), Briana made some cream puffs (from scratch) for us...

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The weather in January was a bit crazy.

It rained a bunch for a few days. And when it rains a bunch, the little quiet creek next to our house becomes a much bigger, louder creek...

And then it got crazy cold for a few days...

Mei Mei loves fireplace days...

She is just a sweet furry baby (we celebrated her 9th "gotcha day" on January 24th)...

 

I of course made a crockpot of chili on one of those cold days...

 

I will say, I am pretty sad it didn't snow again in my neck of the woods in the winter. We are halfway through February now, and I am quite sure that the metro Atlanta snow window has now passed. Climate change is very real. We have never gone this long (several years in a row) with no significant snow or at least some sticking in my part of town. I believe 2020 was the last time I saw any significant snow stick at my house at all. I honestly don't know if we will see true snow where I live again. I just don't know.

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I always miss my bedroom Christmas tree when I have to put it away when the holiday season is over. I decided to place a new little light up tree in that space in my bedroom where I place my Christmas tree. I just enjoy looking at twinkly lights. Why can't I have twinkly lights all year? Well, I can! I really do love it...

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 Bri spent some time with her sweet friend Mary in January. They have been besties for 15 years...

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And a very important event happens every January - Doug celebrates a birthday!

I made him birthday cupcakes and he got a lot of nice birthday gifts...

The day after Doug's birthday, the C family (one of our favorite families), took Doug out to dinner to celebrate...

 

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Doug and Briana put together their Lego Christmas gifts...

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I know I spoke about my health ailments in my last post, and unfortunately the day after I posted, I had yet another bad inflammation flare up in my knees for about a week or so. I thought upping my thyroid medication was helping, but no, I flared up bad again anyway. I did finally see an orthopedist who recommended continuing my inflammation medication and doing physical therapy. I found out that I do have mild to moderate osteoarthritis in my knees. And sadly, my heel still hurts quite a bit (the one I tore). My physical therapist is helping me strengthen the heel (he thinks I have developed scar tissue) and is also helping me strengthen the muscles in my knees. My hip has gotten a bit out of alignment due to wearing the boot and limping so much and he is helping with that too. I am kind of a hot mess. Hoping the PT will help me.

And of course, my anxiety is up because of all of this. I feel like I turned 50 and my body fell apart (more than usual). 

 Things have been kind of tough.

 Good news though, my ear did finally open up - so that was at least a win.

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 Let me end this post on a positive note. Briana is officially going to SCAD in the fall. We paid her admission fee and she is committed. This was my FB post...

I am on the struggle bus with this all - not going to lie. I am SO proud of Bri. And I am SO excited for her. At the same time, I know that I am going to miss her so much come September. Big life changes ahead.

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So that was our January. 

Please keep me in your thoughts when it comes to my health issues. I really am working on trying to overcome them. It's a process for sure.

We've already had a lot going on in February and we are only halfway through it - CNY, Valentine's Day and Briana's wisdom teeth removal. And next week is winter break. We will be staycationing, but we have a few things planned.

Thanks for reading! Be back soon.

A Rough Start To The New Year

For me anyway - things have been rough health wise.

Doug and Bri have been doing pretty well overall.

Me on the other hand...not so much.

 As you know, I really hurt my heel in September and I'm still trying to recover from that. My podiatrist said this type of injury can take a very long time to heal.

In mid-November, I had a horrible joint pain and swelling episode in my knees for about a week. It luckily went away for about a month, but then it came back with a vengeance about a week before Christmas. I had a hard time sitting in a chair and standing back up. I had a difficult time going up and down stairs. I asked my general practitioner to order some blood work so I could check for autoimmune issues (I wanted to see if I had arthritis). 

Come to find out, my underactive thyroid had become even more underactive since my last blood test and I needed to up my dosage of thyroid medication. Once I upped my dosage, my knees slowly started to feel better and I'm doing better in that department now. But I suffered for a couple of weeks.

 Despite my knees not working very well and my heel hurting, I still managed to get through Christmas, New Year's and a trip to Chattanooga. I wasn't going to let my health issues stop me.

Then, on the second day of January, my right ear blocked up again - just like it did during the pandemic. I know it is related to my neck/vagus nerve. I have to admit that I had not been doing my PT exercises like I should have and now I am paying for it. As I write this, my ear has been blocked up for couple of weeks (though I do feel it is starting to improve). It is very frustrating. I am doing the PT exercises again and I hope my ear clears up soon.

In the middle of all that, I somehow had my first routine colonoscopy done. It had been scheduled for October originally, but when I hurt my heel, I had to postpone it until early January. I couldn't reschedule again, so I pushed through. I'm really proud of myself.

The prep was rough. Not gonna lie. But luckily, everything looked good and I am so glad I did it now. It is very important to get a colonscopy, so if you are 45 or over, get one if you haven't! It can save your life!

So, I continue getting smacked in the face with chronic health "stuff." No wonder I am anxious all the time. Ugh.

I will be so happy once my heel feels better and the pressure in my ear lets up. I am just ready to feel good again. I don't need to feel perfect - I just want to feel better.

So if you have a moment, please say a quick prayer for me or send some healing vibes my way. I can really use them.

Briana Photo Books

 

Since I brought Briana home, I have been making yearly photo books of Bri (from Shutterfly) to record all of her special memories. I make a book right before Christmas to give to my mom and then I also get one for myself.

I choose a special song lyric to type in each book along with the pictures...

I have designed 13 books so far, and I think I will do it just one more year to go to get Briana through high school graduation and off to college.

I will give these books to her one day. She will have my blog and the numerous Shutterfly books I have put together so she can look back at her life and see everything she enjoyed and accomplished.