Toilet-Seat Trauma

Did anyone hear about or read the story about the woman in Kansas who sat on her toilet for two straight years, and her body grew around the toilet and she actually grew physically attached to it????? They had to cut off the top of the toilet to take her to the hospital because it was attached to her body! You can read the story here. Only in Kansas, right?!?!?

New Do

Everyone keeps asking me if I got my hair cut so I thought I'd better respond. The answer is yes. I basically just got the layers cut shorter on top. I almost hate to admit it, but I have always wanted Hilarie Burton's hair (she plays Peyton Sawyer on my favorite show, "One Tree Hill". I know, it's sad!) so I finally showed my stylist her picture. I think she did a pretty good job of making my hair look like hers, don't you?

Hilarie Burton

Me

(granted, it's not a great picture of me, but it's all I have!)

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Even though the "official" St. Patrick's holiday was moved to Saturday, March 15, because it conflicted with Holy Week, (news story here) it still feels like St. Patrick's day today and I wanted to wish you all a good one! It is my FAVORITE holiday because I get to celebrate my Irish heritage, and drink green beer, and wear my favorite color, "Kelly" green! (haha). Hope everyone has a great one!

Our St. Patrick's Day festivities on Saturday consisted of bowling for charity for the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization, attending our friend's "dinosaur hunter"-themed birthday party (so funny! It was Oogles 'N Googles of Springfield's first adult party! Find out more here) and then riding around in a limo all night for the birthday/St. Pat's festivities. All in all, it was a good St. Patrick's day. (I'm sure I will manage to squeeze in a green beer today though!)

Chris and I had to hold hands for one frame during the "funky" bowling

Some of my bowling team members: Brianna, Chris and Jennifer

The dinosaur hunters are ready to go! (Chris was making fun of our hats)

Chris managed to turn his dinosaur-hunter bag into a beer holder

Riding around in the limo

Jamaica-n Me Crazy!

Does anyone else have a love-hate relationship with the Jamaica tourism commercial that is on tv EVERY morning?? Every morning after I pry myself out of my nice warm bed and I'm standing on the cold tile floor in my bathroom getting ready and watching the news on tv in my bedroom, this darn commercial comes on and then a wave of sadness takes over me and without fail I go sit on my bed and watch the commercial wide-eyed, desperately dreaming about lying on the beach in Jamaica. Then the commercial is over and I'm slapped backed to reality. Man I hate that commercial!! (but I love it!) http://www.visitjamaica.com/home/Default.aspx

Best Pizza Ever

I have lived in Springfield for two years, and Chris has lived here for eight, but last night we had Arris Pizza for the first time and OMG is it fabulous!! We had THE HERCULES which is loaded with meaty goodness, and also the spinach dip, which is perfectly crunchy with the unique addition of water chestnuts. There's one in Jeff City, Columbia, Osage Beach and Owasso, OK, so get thee to an Arris Pizza as soon as possible!

Check it out: http://www.arrispizzaonline.com/

Update

Thank you so much to everyone for your insight into my beta blocker fiasco. My best friend who is a doctor scolded me for reading the website I posted yesterday! She says you cannot read too much into those if they are not sponsored by a reputable medical source, and I admit I knew that, it is just so hard not to when you are trying to become as informed as possible. Anyway, many of you--including my doctor friend--informed me that the side effects would subside after a few months. However, I spoke with my doctor this morning, and he said to stop taking them for now, because they are by no means necessary, they were just a suggestion, and he is referring me to a cardiologist. So, i will let you know what happens with that! Thanks again for all your advice, I know I always sound like a total mess with my ailments! =)

Beta Blocker...A little scary....

My doctor called me with the results of my heart monitor and said that he didn't see anything serious, I was just having "non-threatening arrhythmias." He suggested that I try taking a beta blocker for thirty days. He prescribed the generic for Toprol for me, and I have been taking it for almost a week now. At first I was very excited about having a possible solution to my annoying irregular heartbeat. But I have to admit that now I am almost more scared about taking the beta blocker than I am about having an irregular heartbeat! I've just felt kind of "out of it" ever since I started taking it, and I know that tiredness and fatigue are a common side effect, but I just can't seem to get out of this "haze" I'm experiencing. I've been experimenting with taking it at different times of the day, but still haven't found the magic time. Last night I took it right before bed, and all of this morning I felt like I was drugged. So, tonight I took it earlier, around dinner, to see if I will feel more awake tomorrow morning. I've been reading all about the possible side effects, and it's a little scary. One weird one is crazy vivid dreams, which I have in fact been having. Vivid in the sense that they feel very real and I remember them so clearly when I wake up. Fortunately I haven't been experiencing the insomnia I keep reading about--I was pretty much an insomniac already, and I think the sluggish effects of the drug are actually helping me sleep. I think it might be upsetting my stomach though, and I think I also might be feeling little pangs of anxiety that I've read about as a possible side effect. I have never been an anxious person before so this worries me. I came across this terrifying website tonight full of horror stories and awful symptoms that people have had with Toprol, and now I am wondering if I should just stop it now before things get any worse! If anyone has any input or advice, please let me know!!!

MS Walk

On April 5, 2008, I am participating in the National MS Walk in Springfield. My friends and I are going to walk 9 miles (hopefully we'll make it that far!) in support of helping our friends and family members who suffer from multiple sclerosis. There currently is no cure for MS, and it is such a debilitating disease that affects many of those who are close to our hearts. I am glad to do anything I can to help. If you would like to help by making a donation to sponsor me in the walk, please visit my personal donation website here. You can very easily and securely make a donation online, in any amount that you wish. (And it is tax deductible, so save your receipt!) Thanks so much for any support you can give.

Just FYI, here are some facts about MS from the National MS Society website :

• MS is thought to be an autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system (CNS). In MS, myelin, a fatty tissue which helps nerve fibers conduct electrical impulses, is lost in multiple areas, leaving scar tissue called sclerosis. These damaged areas are also known as plaques or lesions. Sometimes the nerve fiber itself is damaged or broken.
• Myelin not only protects nerve fibers, but makes their job possible. When myelin or the nerve fiber is destroyed or damaged, the ability of the nerves to conduct electrical impulses to and from the brain is disrupted, and this produces the various symptoms of MS.
• Symptoms of MS are unpredictable and vary from person to person and from time to time in the same person. The possible common symptoms include: Bladder Dysfunction, Bowel Dysfunction, Changes in Cognitive Function (including problems with memory, attention, and problem solving), Dizzines and Vertigo, Depression and other Emotional Changes, Fatigue, Difficulty Walking, Numbness, Pain, Sexual Dysfunction, Spasticity, and Vision Problems
• The exact cause of MS is unknown, but most researchers believe the damage to myelin results from an abnormal response by the body's immune system. In autoimmune diseases, the body attacks its own tissue; in the case of MS, myelin is attacked. While the triggers of the attack are unknown, researchers agree that several factors are involved, including: Genetics, Gender, Environmental Triggers (such as viruses, trauma and heavy metals)
• Most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50.
• Twice as many women as men have MS.
• Approximately 400,000 Americans acknowledge having MS, and every week about 200 people are diagnosed. Worldwide, MS may affect 2.5 million individuals.

February 8, 1948 - February 8, 2008

While we're on the subject of anniversaries, my grandparents had their 60th wedding anniversary in February. Sixty years is amazing! Nana and Grandpa, I send all my love to you as well. You also set a model example of a loving marriage that lasts a lifetime (literally!). I love you!!

March 3, 1979 - March 3, 2008

Yesterday was my parents' 29th wedding anniversary. I just want to send all my love to them and tell them what perfect parents they are. Thanks, Mom and Dad, for setting the example of what marriage should be. I can only hope to be so happily married myself someday. Here's to another 29 years!! I love you!

(I meant to post this yesterday, but I've been slow to get started with this week so please forgive me!)

Snow Day

Is anyone else completely fed up with this weather? My sinuses just can't take these extreme changes in temperature anymore! I woke up this morning and I felt like my head was going to explode, because we went from 75 degrees to 25 degrees in less than 24 hours. And don't even get me started on how annoying "snow days" are in southwest Missouri. I'm guessing the rest of Missouri is the same way, too. It's like these people have never seen snow before. We get two inches of snow and everything completely shuts down. I look out this morning and I think, oh, that's not much snow, it doesn't look too bad. Boy was I wrong. The city hasn't even TOUCHED the roads. It took me thirty minutes to drive to work when it normally takes me ten. You think Missouri drivers are bad on a normal day, wait til there's four inches of snow on the ground! I can't take it anymore....I need a vacation.