Who do you think...

is going to win American Idol? Or do you care??? :)

Even though my daughter disagrees with me, I really love to hear Adam Lambert sing. I think he has an awesome voice, and I am a huge fan of rock! My daughter wants Kris Allen to win. I think all 3 of the finalists are awesome singers.. no doubt.

Just curious who you think is going to win, and who you want to win. I am usually NOT one to follow the crowd at all. I don't pick someone just because the majority thinks he/she is good, but I really do think Adam is insanely talented.

No drama

...has meant no posting for me! While there hasn't been anything bad going on, there hasn't been anything exciting either, but I'll take it over surgeries and hospitalizations anyday!!!

Casey did get her braces yesterday. Her mouth is very sore! Hopefully she'll start feeling better in a couple of days.

I am catching up on my photography classes, and since I've been feeling so good these past couple of weeks, I'm actually out and about and enjoying life. I hope all of you are!

Think before you comment

“For some kinds of thought, especially moral decision-making about other people’s social and psychological situations, we need to allow for adequate time and reflection,” said first author Mary Helen Immordino-Yang of the USC Rossier School of Education.

In other words, when you read something on the internet, whether it be via email, blog post, Twitter update, Facebook update, etc., think about what the other person is saying before you comment, because it may take some time to understand what the other person is saying.

I was so angry at something that happened online last night AND the subsequent email that I received regarding said incident, that I was considering taking a month's break from the computer. Because there were people who jumped to conclusions, formed their own opinions based on other's very quick conclusions (instead of using their brains to formulate their OWN opinion), and didn't take time to try to understand what someone might be trying to convey, there were some very (dare I say) idiotic comments made about said subject. Then to top it off, an email was sent to me about my comment on said subject accusing me of something that made absolutely no sense at all!!!! There was absolutely NO basis for it!

What made me most angry was the fact that people were getting so offended at something that wasn't directed at them in the first place. It seems that people respond before even TRYING to understand someone else's position on something. AND some people respond in an ugly manner if the other person's opinion differs from theirs. When did everyone have to have the same opinion? I didn't get that memo!!!!!

Here is a great article that I encourage you to read if you make any online comments at all.

Sorry for the rant, but I really think that people need to be more open-minded, and realize that there are going to be people out there who have different political/religious belief, life situations, etc, and that's OK! They are also going to have different opinions and shouldn't be scolded because of it. The internet has allowed us to have friends from every kind of culture and background, so doesn't it make sense that opinions are going to vary greatly?

Teen Talk

Being open and honest with your child, especially your teenager is so important, especially in this day and time. Girls feel so much pressure (boys may have some of this pressure, but not all of it) to be thin, attract a mate, lose their virginity, make perfect grades and do volunteer work to get into college, and dress in the very latest fashion to fit in. WIth so much pressure, you wonder how they ever make it to adulthood!

One of the best gifts I think we can give our children is to be open and honest with them no matter what. My closest friends know just how serious I am about this. I would say that Casey knows more about her body than most 40 year old women do. That may be the nurse coming out in me, but I think it's important. Whenever Casey has asked me a question, I have answered her honestly. My philosophy has always been that if she's old enough to ask, she's old enough to know the truth.

It's very important to teach our children about morals and values, but it's also important to teach them about the reality of life. Yes, I'm talking about sex. Teaching them ONLY abstinence and not how to protect themselves, should (or should I say when) the situation arise(s), is doing them a great disservice in my book. It's also possibly putting their lives in danger. When I was younger, it was not talked about as much as it is now. It was all hush, hush for most of us growing up. I don't think it should be like that. I think parents should be able to openly talk about this, and other subjects such as drugs, eating disorders, teen suicide, and peer pressure with their children. They are going to learn it from someone. Isn't it best to come from the parents?

Casey told me recently that all of her friends are saying they learned about all of these things from their friends, siblings, sibling's friends, etc. Casey said she was the only one who told her group of friends that she had learned these things from her mom. How sad is that?

Furious

So I get my disability check yesterday and it's $500 less than it usually is. I called them this morning, and they took out 5 months of premium payments for Medicare part B (the doctor's visits part, not the hospital part which is free). NOW.. I have never even seen them pay anything on my hospital part in the 8 years that I've had it, because my insurance has always been so good. I have had part B since November (because of my kidney transplant), and they haven't paid a cent on any of my medical bills since then either. Now granted, most of the bills have been paid by my insurance, but everything that my insurance doesn't pay is still subject to review by Medicare before they pay anything. Sooooo... when I was talking to the guy this morning, I said "Let me get this straight. I am paying you almost $100 a month in premiums, but yet you haven't paid anything on any of my claims yet?" He said "Yes that's right, but since you've met your deductible, we might pay now, depending on what's submitted and if anything is allowable." What the heck???????????????

My premiums for the year would be almost $1200. There is NO WAY they would pay that much in claims for me, since I have a primary insurance.

I remember them calling saying I had Medicare part B now, but no one ever told me I had to pay a premium. Since A has always been free, I had no idea. My stupidity I guess, but I just remember them almost congratulating me now that I qualify for part B!!

I disenrolled! I was furious. I don't get that $500 back, and they are going to take out April's premium too, since it won't go into affect until May. I am NOT saying nice things about our Federal government right now!!!

Sorry for the rant, but I'm really, really mad at the moment!

Pi Day

It's officially 3/14 or Pi day! As most of you know Pi is an infinite decimal and is pretty amazing. Casey is completely fascinated by Pi and after listening to this (you must go there and check it out, but I'll warn you, the tune will stay in your head all day... wait for the ad, then it will start), she can recite the decimal to 23 places. She's working on it and hopes to be up to 50 soon. There are middle school and high school students learning in the 100's or even 1000's. Talk about math enthusiasts.

Every year on Pi day, there are contests held to see just how many numbers people can recite. There is a man who can recite Pi to 100,000 decimal places. You can read about that here. Can you even imagine?

See Pi to 1,000,000 decimal places.

So to celebrate this fascinating, amazing number, I'm dedicating an entire post to Pi and encouraging all of you to eat some pie on Pi day!

Does cheesecake count? (According to wikipedia it does!!) :)

Confession Time

1. I secretly love the "emo" look, and having only caught snippets of Idol this year, I have to root for this guy.

2. I didn't take my morning pills until 3 pm today. Oooops.

3. I have had only rice cakes for dinner the past two nights. Nausea is not fun.

4. I haven't been on the treadmill in about 2 weeks.

5. I'm still biting my fingernails.

6. I wish the ice cream truck guy would die (ok, not really, but I do wish he would move far, far away like... Pluto).

7. I just went to the dentist last week for the first time in almost 5 years (only because of Jason's prodding). I'm crazy obsessive about my teeth being clean and white, but I HATE going to the dentist. Thankfully, he said my teeth were in great shape. *Whew*

8. I've been trimming the hair on my face with cuticle scissors. It's FINALLY going away since coming down on the devil drug (prednisone, for all of you who don't know what that is).

9. My car seriously needs washing. You can actually write "wash me" on it.

10. I have thrown the past 3 issues of Casey's "Teen Vogue" away before she could see them. I don't like how they portray teenagers at all.

Ok, that's my 10 confessions of the day. Anyone else want to confess anything???

Q & A

Following along in other blogger's footsteps, I thought I'd do a Q & A. So ask me anything! You can comment or email me.

I do allow anonymous posting now for those of you not wanting to set up a google account. I hope I don't regret it. Hee Hee!

What healthy means to me

My blog title is "Color Me Healthy". When you read that and see that I have Cystic Fibrosis, have had two organ transplants, and the various problems that go with those two, I'm sure you automatically think "Color Me Healthy" is referring to my physical health. That's only part of it.

To me, health refers to the physical, the spiritual, and the mental. It not only means taking my medicine and complying with my doctor's orders, but it means feeling good about myself when I look in the mirror, feeling good about choices I make, and being happy and feeling at peace in life.

I have never wanted to look sick. I can only remember a few times that I didn't at least fix my hair before going into the hospital. I remember my lung transplant pulmonologist coming into the room a week or so after my lung transplant and saying... "Well, I'm glad you FINALLY look sick." LOL. I always thought if I kept the outside looking "healthy", then that would help the inside. It has in a way, because it helps my attitude and outlook on life, and we all know that attitude goes a long way.

There is another blog that I visit where a chat is taking place soon to tell others why you named your blog what you did. We are always working toward bettering ourselves, whether it be through knowledge, health, appearance, or spiritual growth. "Color Me Healthy" is me striving for all of these. Attitude and a love for life get you pretty far no matter what your challenges are!

As you have noticed, my blog posts are about health, fashion, beauty, faith, prayer, family, friendship, and just about anything else that life is about. I hope I never focus 100% on one of these things, because that would mean I am neglecting other things that matter.

Angelina Jolie and me

She's famous. I'm not.

She's in love with Brad Pitt. I'm not.

She rents gazillion dollar castles. I don't.

She was born with big, luscious lips. I wasn't.

She has long thick hair. I don't.

She is a world traveler. I'm not.

She can act (ok that one might be debatable). I can't.

She gets mobbed by photographers. I don't.


She has brains, beauty, and wealth. She has inspired me to do another poll (I just love 'em). Have fun with this one readers. It will be fun to see which combination people pick. Think about it before you answer, and be honest.

To do's and To don'ts

To do:

Catch up on my photography class. I'm really behind.

Catch up on emails and blogs.

Do something really special with Jason and Casey tomorrow for ♥ day!

Irrigate even though it's painful.

Get in a better mood. Maybe it's lack of sleep, but I've been horribly moody today.

Wash my hair. Yes, I have to put this in a to do list. Gross, huh?

Do some online shopping. I have to give in and go up a size in clothes.


To don't:

Pick at my stitches with my tongue.

Blow my nose anymore, because it comes out the incisions in my mouth.

Drink anymore coffee today. I'm going to pay for it if I do.

Waste too much time on Twitter. It really is addicting.

Eat anymore chocolate for awhile.

Bite my fingernails. I have GOT to stop this nasty habit.

IBO school???

My daughter has applied to an IBO school for next year in the Middle Years Programme. I'm just curious if any of you have any experience with these schools. I know that they will offer her more of a challenge, and better prepare her for college than the traditional public school. I'd like to hear your opinions. By the way, she'll be getting her SAT scores at the end of this week. I'm curious to know what she makes on them as a 7th grader.

My positive post

Positive things in my life (inspired by Lori's positive thinking post)...

1.) Sinus surgery will help with the infection of my sinuses and I'll be feeling much better soon!

2.) My mom loves me and would never criticize me like this mom.

3.) My daughter is smart, motivated, and has goals beyond tomorrow's middle school drama.

4.) My prednisone dose will be reduced to my maintenance dose of 5 mg in 2 1/2 weeks.

5.) I have tons of friends and family praying for me. :)

6.) My hubby loves me no matter what my faults are (and I have many).

7.) I can be a stay at home mom.

8.) I live in America.

9.) Even though tons of my CF friends have passed on, I had the great opportunity to know them first.

10.) God loves me!

And Lori, even though my post doesn't contain a cruise to Bermuda (yet), I have hopes that one day soon it will. :)

One Lovely Blog Award

I received this "lovely" blog award from 2 wonderful new blog friends named Carrie at Capturing Glimpses, and Jessie at Breezy's Bravery. Thanks so much Carrie and Jessie!!




This award is being passed to new bloggy friends, and ones who step out of their comfort zone to make new friends via blogging. So I pass this award to my newest bloggy friends:

Christy over at The Jobe Family

Aubrey over at The Fam Five

Jen over at My Journey

Tracy over at Just Being Who I Am

Thanks girls for stepping out of your comfort zone and making me a new bloggy friend!!!

A very fun photo tag!

Ok this tag is easy and a lot of fun! I was tagged by Carrie over at Capturing Glimpses. Carrie is a mother of 4 beautiful children and has been married for 18 years now. Her youngest son has Cystic Fibrosis, and her blog is awesome! You should check it out.

Here are the tag rules:

1.) Go to your 4th folder where you store your photos.
2.) Select your 4th picture (no exceptions)! Seriously.. no exceptions.
3.) Post the picture with an explanation and link it back to your tagger.
4.) Tag 4 people to do the same!!

Ok, so here is the 4th picture in the 4th folder under my iPhotos:



This is Casey and Jason, not long after Jason and I started dating. I think it was taken around October, 2005. We were at The Discovery Place in Charlotte, NC to visit the museum and watch an IMAX show about whales. We had an awesome day!!!

Now, I'm going to tag the following people. I chose people totally at random by closing my eyes, going to the blog list at the right, and putting my finger on a name. I chose two who had already been tagged by another blog, so I didn't put you guys down here (Genevieve and Somer). I wanted to choose you all though... I hate just choosing 4, but am sticking by the rules.

1.) Piper- a beautiful fellow Cyster (CF sister) who is amazing. She works as a lawyer in NYC, is 6 ft tall (which is just incredible given that she has CF), and despite already having been evaluated for a lung transplant, continues to work, and live life to the fullest.

2.) Amy- another beautiful Cyster!! She writes about her daily struggles with CF (those pesky things that I don't have to deal with anymore since lung transplant), her work, her social life, and just about dealing with day to day life while juggling everything that comes with this disease. She makes me laugh and is a breath of fresh air for her blog readers.

3.) Sara- yet another beautiful Cyster who is 6 months post-lung transplant, training for a marathon (yes, you read that right), has an amazing outlook on life, and will inspire you after seconds of reading her blog. What a great friend she has become!!

4.) Alicia- a beautiful, Christian, Navy wife and mom. She has 2 beautiful children, the youngest having CF. Now, I have to tell you, CF moms ALWAYS amaze me. I have always thought myself so fortunate to have CF instead of having a child with CF. Alicia will inspire you, make you laugh, and her positive, cheery attitude makes you want to keep going back for more.

Have fun girls!!

On another note: Happy Birthday to my dear friend Nicole in Virginia. I do hope I got the day right this year. She and I became friends when we were cheerleaders in high school and she turned 17 on her next birthday, so I always got the day mixed up and called her on January 17th every year instead of the 15th.. I had the number 17 in my head. Have a great day girl!!! I love you!

And another note: I'm headed to Duke now for my pulmonary transplant appointment to see Dr. P. I'll update tonight!

Just when you thought I was normal

I want a pet tarantula. My husband and daughter do not. I am trying to convince them that tarantulas are nothing to be feared, they are easy maintenance and they will come to love him/her. They aren't listening.

I had a neighbor growing up who had a pet tarantula. I was fascinated by it. He let me hold him and it was such a thrill. They can't be handled much, but don't mind being held every now and then. They aren't harmful to humans, and are really very docile animals as long as you do your research and get the right kind of tarantula.

Here is a guide to owning and taking care of a pet tarantula. I think I'll just buy it and keep it on the coffee table for Jason and Casey to look through on their own time. Don't get me wrong, I do hate finding spiders on my bathroom floor, or any other place they shouldn't be, but for some reason, I have never been scared of tarantulas. I have let them crawl all the way up my arm before, and it really is awesome. You should try it!

An exciting year?

Here is a little New Year's survey I stole from Katelyn and Katey's blogs. Thanks girls!

1.) What did you do in 2008 that you had never done before? started blogging.

2.) Did you keep your previous New Year's resolutions, and will you make new ones for next year? I don't really remember what they were, but they probably involved "getting in shape" and no, I didn't keep it. I actually got more "out of shape".
3.) Did anyone you know give birth? yes, at least 4 people that I can think of.
4.) Did anyone close to you die? yes, CF friends.
5.) What countries did you visit? none.
6.) What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008? a brand, spankin' new 10,000 sq. ft. house... hehe... I'm kidding. I'd settle for 8,000 sq. ft. :)
7.) What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? November 10, 2008... the day I got a new kidney from my wonderful Mom!!
8.) What was your biggest achievement of the year? living another year... it's always my biggest achievement.
9.) Did you suffer from illness or injury? yes.
10.) What was the best thing you bought? my Canon SLR.
11.) Did your behavior change over the year? only after going on high doses of prednisone. It wasn't for the best either.
12.) Where did most of your money go? bills.
13.) What did you get really excited about? mostly the little things in life, but also getting my transplant.

Compared to this time last year, are you:

1.) Richer or poorer? richer because we paid off some bills.
2.) Did you fall in love? more deeply in love, yes.
3.) What was your favorite TV program? House.
4.) What was the best book you read? Redeeming Love (I think I read Twilight at the end of 2007, or I would put that).
5.) What was your favorite film of the year? The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
6.) Thinner or fatter? Thinner, but well on my way to becoming fatter.
7.) What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? went to The Melting Pot with Jason and Casey. I turned 28 (oops.. I mean 38).
8.) What one thing made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Chocolate (I only started liking chocolate in the last month and a half.. it's awesome.. really, you should try it).
9.) How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008? T-shirt, hoodie, jeans, converse shoes.... ughh, I have to get some sophistication in 2009... add that to my resolutions. You know, the ones that I will have forgotten about by the end of 2009.
10.) What kept you sane? Casey and Jason.. always Casey and Jason.
11.) What political issue stirred you the most? Our 2 party system that should be more like a 4 or 5 party system.
12.) What was the best new person you met? Hard to say. I met so many awesome people from the CF community online. 
13.) What is a valuable lesson you learned in 2008? Maybe you shouldn't ALWAYS say what you think...

25 Things I am Grateful For...

1. My wonderful husband who loves me, takes care of me, babies me when I need it, gives me awesome massages, is my spiritual leader, loves my daughter like she was his own, provides for me, and nurses me back to health.

2. My daughter Casey. I am so proud of all she has become. She is compassionate beyond measure. She has such a giving spirit, works hard at school, loves God, and has such a passion for life.

3. My dog Balin. He is always here to keep me company.

4. My Mom and Dad. There are no words to describe all they have given me, and continue to give me. They are awesome.

5. My sister. She is the most loyal, trusting person I know. She is always there for me, and I know I can count on her no matter what.

6. My husband's job. So many people are without jobs this year.

7. My doctors. Wow.. God sent me to them.. no doubt.

8. My medications. Without them, I wouldn't be here.

9. The soldiers in Iraq and here at home just waiting for that call saying they are being deployed. You make me so proud.

10. My home. Even though we really want to sell our house and upgrade this year, I am so thankful that no matter what "house" we have, it will always be a "home" as long as Jason, Casey and I are in it.

11. My new kidney.

12. My 7 year old "new" lungs.

13. Cystic Fibrosis, because without it, I would never have met so many wonderful people that are now a very important part of my life.

14. Friends.

15. The fact that my hair loss is slowing down.

16. My car.

17. America. Yes, I'm proud to be an American and happy that I live in a free country.

18. Presents under the tree.

19. SmartWater.

20. My Mac. Well, it's my daughter's, but she lets me use it.

21. Chocolate. I'm so happy for chocolate. The first time in my life really.

22. My grandparents. I am so thankful they are alive and healthy. I get to see them on Saturday.

23. Every birthday.

24. My blog.

25. Jesus. Merry Christmas everyone.

Maniacal Monday

It started with the alarm clock failing to go off...

That's right! It was set for 7 am, so I could get my daughter up and get her off to school. My eyes open at 9:57 am. I see the light outside and think.. did I oversleep? I look at the clock.. "Oh cr**!" I jump out of bed, run to get my daughter up, who had turned HER alarm clock off. My husband gets her to school by 10:40... just in time to count the day as tardy and not absent. The school system is so strict here, and she can only miss 5 days within a school year without having to go to summer school.

My husband decides to go do some grocery shopping on the way home from taking Casey to school...

First, you have to understand that my husband is obsessive in nature. Everything must be done right, or not at all. He takes my list... a good list that describes everything I need.. or at least everything I thought I needed. He calls me to verify... 8 times already.. and he's not even home yet. He still has one more stop to make. I'm sure I'll get another phone call. My cell phone has been ringing, because people can't reach me on the land line, because Jason keeps calling me to make sure he is getting the right thing, and to ask if I need this or that to go along with it. I made the mistake of asking him to pick up some Christmas stationery. He calls me.. goes into detail about every pack of stationery at Target. I pick one, he asks me again.. "Do you think that's ok?" "What about....???" I say.. "NOOOOO.. get the first one." "Are you sure?" "YES!!!" Some lady in the aisle interupts him.. "Hey, they have more stationery on the end cap." Jason says to me "Hey, let me go look at those. Oh.. these are nicer and cheaper." He then describes ALL of those to me. We finally settle on one.

I wanted some ground beef from the butcher, not the prepackaged stuff. Jason calls.. "There isn't anyone behind the meat counter, so I'm talking to the lady in the bakery." (Why is he talking to the lady in the bakery about meat?) Jason says "They have 98% lean pre-packaged, but it's dyed pink. Meat isn't supposed to be dyed pink." I say "Just get it if the butcher isn't in." Jason says "Oh, he's back. Let me go."

He calls several more times. So does my mom and my doctor's office and the billing department at Duke. 

My dog pees on the floor.. (thankfully the hardwoods in the foyer) when he sees a big dog out the front door. Remind me to shut the door tomorrow morning.

My coffee spills on my lap.

Monday is only beginning.

Lessons in life

Things I've learned in the past few days....

If you wash your cell phone (or in my case, your daughter's cell phone) in the washing machine, get it out as soon as you remember, take the battery out, and put in a bowl of rice for 2 days. It will work again!! 

As long as you get the low-rise jeans, you can keep wearing your small size when you get a prednisone belly, because it sits BELOW the belly and not on it. :) Kinda like guys with their beer guts. (so that's how they do it)

People in other cars DO NOT hear you when you yell at them from inside your car. Somehow it still might make you feel better though.

Christmas "bargains" aren't really "bargains" at all! Go figure.

You cannot possibly finish all of your Christmas shopping when everything you see would look good in YOUR house!! :)

Impulse buys are not a good thing.

Stamps are expensive.. when did they go up to $0.42??

Chocolate DOES make your blood sugar go up, no matter how much you deny it.

A sodium-free diet is impossible!

A sugar-free diet is impossible!

And last, but not least... good friends and family are priceless, but of course I already knew this.