7 Quick Takes – June 26th (Volume 7)

This week, we enjoyed our first zucchini from the garden. It was so good! We enjoyed it sauteed along with some fresh basil that was also from the garden.

We are hoping that we will be able to enjoy a lot more fresh zucchini as the season continues.

Speaking of gardening — I actually had to weed our garden for an hour this morning. Most of that was spent in a single garden bed. It was just insane.

Apparently I was looking pretty red and sweaty, because the kids kept saying, “Are you okay, Mom?” Finally, Noah (almost 10 years old) asked, “Mom — can’t I go inside and get you some water?” Poor little worried guy.

Of course, the worst part of it all is that there are going to be tons of weeds again by the weekend. Darn weeds!

Last week, I mentioned that I thought our new neighbors might not like kids. Tonight, Molly tried to wave to the lady. I was sure that the lady looked right at Molly and turned and just walked away.

Now, I know — this is not a huge deal. But, who turns their back on a waving four year old without waving back? I’m hoping that she just didn’t notice, but Molly declared the whole thing to be “mean.”

I had my first eye appointment in four or five years on Thursday of this week. Not surprisingly, my prescription had changed. I hate having to pick out new glasses.

Even worse, I had my eyes dilated for the first time ever. I told Eric that I looked like a Cupie Doll, with my giant pupils. Seriously — my eyes looked like this doll’s eyes.

That’s just not right.

Also not right? I kept trying to text message while I was waiting for my eyes to dilate. I don’t even know what I was writing. Hopefully it made sense.

Now, just so you don’t think that getting my eyes dilated was all the fun of my doctor’s visit, I have to share what happened before I was called in to my appointment.

Luckily, my parents were with me and the kids, because right before they called me back, Jack (almost 8 years old) had been complaining about a stomach ache and then promptly just started getting sick. Right all over his clothes and the clinic’s floor. (Oh, and in their trash can and in their bathroom.)

I won’t go in to details because it was ugly. But, I will say that neither Jack nor I have any desire to eat French Toast any time in the foreseeable future.

Staying on the medical front, one of the biggest things that has been happening here over the two weeks (without my really knowing it) was that I was having several reactions to the Doxycycline that the dermatologist prescribed for rosacea.

It was just crazy, but I didn’t connect any of it. I was horribly tired, but kept thinking it was from helping with VBS or from doing things around the house. I chalked up depression to being tired and being sad that our priest (and friend) is being transferred. I thought my joint pain was just because I was doing too much. Of course, I had already read that gastric distress and headaches were side effects, so I was just dealing with those.

Then, finally when I was so tired after a full night’s sleep that I wanted to go right back to sleep, I googled for side effects. And, while I am well aware that I can probably find someone online who grows a third eye and claims it was from taking Amoxicillian. But, when I found forum and around fifty people were all posting the side effects I was having, I figured that cinched it.

The doctor said to stop the meds. Well, only after I called and declared that I wasn’t going to take them anymore. And, after some time to wear off, I’m feeling a lot better! Yeah!

I seriously want to start making us more healthy meals. We’re working toward it, but I would love some healthy recipes that are also more “normal” food. We’re not fancy food people, but it seems that a lot of healthy recipe sources feel the need to make fancy food.