Woof!

This is Jasmine. Her head is almost as big as a dinner plate.

Over the Hills and thru the Woods to Dorinda's House We Go...

I hate driving in stuff like this. The food is totally worth it, though. :D

Happy Birthday to Me

One of my former employers used to always buy me flowers on my birthday. I loved them, especially carnations. And even though I've always wanted flowers on my birthday, since I left his employ, I haven't gotten any since! It makes me laugh. Serves me right for leaving a good boss.

So today, Happy Birthday to Me. I'm gonna buy my own flowers. :D

And then curl up with a blanket, a glass of White Zin, and a good murder mystery. Life is good!

Email to my Friends

Hello all!

Just a quick note to let all of you know I have a 'surgical procedure' scheduled for my shoulder on November 29th. The doctor is going to perform a "manipulation" under anesthesia to force my shoulder to move again. (Click here for a bit more info.) Sounds like fun! I am SO glad I will be unconscious. The hope is that I regain my range of motion, can work on regaining my strength, and ultimately avoid rotator cuff surgery and the shaving down of my shoulder bones. (Just thinking about it makes me nauseous.)

I will be out of work on November 29th and 30th at the very least. A friend of mine is taking me to the surgery center and bringing me home, and I may be keeping Ian out of school on the 30th to keep an eye on me if necessary. I've never had a problem with anesthesia before, but in case of emergency, Ian's phone is programmed with all his grandparents' telephone numbers as well as my neighbor's phone number so they can give him guidance if necessary.

I am positive we will be just fine. My doctor has performed hundreds of these procedures with great success, and I am absolutely sure it will work for me, too.

I thank all of you for you kind thoughts and well wishes. :) Have a great day!

Love and laughter,
Serena / Kelly

Dream on, dream on, dream on, ....

Mom, I need $12 million.

I'm laughing too hard to reply.

It's Strep

Poor baby. He's got strep again. I wish it was one of those one-time things kids get, but the pediatrician says that children who get it once are more susceptible to getting it again.

Ian is sick today...

Poor kid...sore throat, tender neck, severe headache to the point that lights and sounds are bothering him and he doesn't want to eat... which saves on the grocery bill, but I hate seeing him like this. I hope it's not strep again. {heavy sigh}

Anyway, for those of you who check up on me (which I truly appreciate, because it is so nice to know people care about us), I will not be at work today. Further bulletins as events warrant!

Another Shoulder Update

I can't believe how fast time goes by sometimes.

I have a surgical procedure scheduled for my shoulder on November 29th. I'm supposed to have a responsible adult stay with me for 24 hours following the surgery. HA! Ian will have to do.

They are going to knock me out, inject my shoulder with three times (or so) the normal amount of cortisone, and forcefully manipulate my shoulder so it moves.

Oh joy, oh rapture, oh melody divine.

Zach and Ian

...crowded in front of the computer, completely ignoring the Bills game. :D

Homemade Pizza

It doesn't look like much, but it really was very good. I used basil pesto instead of tomato sauce, and layered on Mozzarella, Asiago, Parmesan, Cheddar and Feta cheeses. I'll never get the hang of getting a crust to be actually round, but hey, as long as it tastes good, who cares? :D

The Lucky One

He's Been Thinking Again

We were traveling down Main Street in Williamsville, where pink ribbons are displayed on each light pole in the center of down.

There sure are a lot of breast cancer ribbons and stuff around nowadays.

Yes. It's National Breast Cancer Awareness month.

So THAT's why my birthstone is pink! That's Awesome!

A Really Bad Joke from Ali!

What has a sword,

Rides on horseback,

And feels really bad about what he has done?

Zorry!

Ugh.

Got a guy hitting on me that doesn't want to take no for an answer. He is making me so uncomfortable. It's not hard to understand.

1. I am not interested. The answer is NO.

2. I don't date clients, either Tim's or anyone else who needs lawyers. Especially those that need criminal lawyers. And since you need a criminal lawyer, am I interested? NO. Refer to #1.

3. I am a single MOM who Works FULL-TIME and is attending a University FULL-TIME. Do I have time to date? NO. Refer to #1.

4. If I DID have time to date, would I date YOU? NO. Refer to #1.

5. I

AM

NOT

INTERESTED.

How hard can that possibly be to understand?

{heavy sigh} Are there any men left with BRAINS?

Ian's Brownies

Fundraiser!

Ian is selling Entertainment 2011 books for his school fundraiser. They are $30 each for the Buffalo Area edition. Out-of-Town editions are also available (like for Seattle $30, Albuquerque/Santa Fe $40, Cincinnati $30, San Diego $45, and Dallas $30, to name a few) and can be sent to you directly if you are interested.

Checks should be made payable to Herbert Hoover HSA. Sale dates are October 11-25. All money and orders are due back to the school on October 25.

The home school association helps pay for the kids' field trips, picnics, and other extracurricular activities Ian loves to participate in. If you would like a book, please email me at srtabor@gmail.com for my home address to send the check to.

We are grateful for your support!

Updates

I posted updates here and there back to September 10th. I had to download my photos for the posts, and I had difficulty finding the time.

Enjoy!

Shoulder Update 5

As it turns out, there is a "small slap tear" in my right rotator cuff. Lovely. I'm still in PT, but that is coming to an end as Independent Health only pays for a limited number of visits (20). In addition to exercises, I am also being treated with IontoPatchs with anti-inflammatory medication.

I can finally lift my arm almost all the way if I am going straight up from the front, but I still cannot lift my arm to the side, nor can I lift it behind my back.

PT is supposed to keep my shoulder from freezing. The goal is for me to regain full range of motion and, if I still have pain, then I would be a good surgical candidate.

The problem I have, of course, is that after any potential surgery, I will need PT. And my PT visits will be expired until my next plan year, which doesn't begin until August 1, 2011.

I just love the health care we get in this country.

Little Falls Historical Society

I let Ian run around with my camera to take some pictures at the Historical Society in Little Falls, New York. What was the first picture he took?

What is it with boys and the curiosity about blowing things up? Anyway, here are a few more pictures he took. This was a display of old pictures, some of which were of the O'Brien family:


A sword:


A uniform:

And guns:

A yearly membership to the historical society is $10. A true bargain!

Catholic Church in Little Falls, New York

My cousin, Mike O'Brien, was able to find a lot of information about his ancestors here. Depending on the priest at the time, some very good records were kept concerning baptisms, marriages, and deaths.