Ice Cream Weather!

I cannot believe I have become this complacent in blogging. I truly enjoy it and it relaxes me but didn't understand how months have passed since I wrote anything except for a grocery list for my daughter! I thought I would have so much more time now that I am once again a stay-at-home Mom. You know the saying about the best laid plans, but I do have a daughter who is a Senior with the countdown to graduation closing in quickly so many things have truly been accomplished!

So my husband bought me a Cuisinart coffee maker at Christmas and we LOVE it. I was going to get a Bunn because I loved to envision a 3 minute brew time when my coffee jitters set in, but couldn't get past the fact all the Bunn's carafes were what I would use as a gargle of coffee before the real coffee drinking began! This Cuisinart's coffee pot holds a maximum of 14 cups which equates to two cups for me, two for Robert and a swig of coffee for our daughter, Lindsay. I love the fact that you can either use the cone-shaped filters or a fine mesh filter that came with the coffee pot! I'm saving Robert money as we drink coffee by not having to buy filters. Okay, I know coffee is an expensive habit, but I quit smoking over a year ago, so one step at a time.



One thing I have not taken a break from is reading blogs. I know I can count on Holly at Easy Living the Hard Way for continuous education and the desire to see if she can bottle her remarkable drive. http://easylivingthehardway.blogspot.com/ If you are not already a follower, you should be. Her blogs are entertaining and I always learn something in each blog of hers I read.

I feel as though I have worked out both mentally and physically after reading her blog. Haven't seen the weight loss or inches lost from reading the blog though! I stopped by her blog a short time ago and saw pictures and recipes for homemade ice cream. So, because of Holly's excitement about a new Cuisinart ice cream maker, I am really doubt I will be seeing the opposite of weight loss. I have made a vow that when the goats start milking next month, I will use more healthy variations. Needless to say, after a heartbreaking discovery that the cream separator I had been wanting had increased in price by fifty dollars, I decided to drown my sorrows by ordering the Cuisinart ice cream machine. It is truly lovely.

The first recipe I used was one from allrecipes.com for a cake batter ice cream and it was delish. Lindsay said it was like having ice cream and cake in one bite. I love the difference in texture between homemade and store-bought, of course, flavor isn't bad either. In Holly's post about ice cream, she talked about the high ice cream sales in winter which made me wonder why the cold makes people desire ice cream headaches. Maybe it was the power of suggestion, maybe it was something I missed in Psychology class, but when it snowed the other day, the ice cream was in the Cuisinart.
The second recipe was of course, my favorite, mint chocolate chip. I used mint extract and when I tweak this recipe, next time I will use peppermint. When it was in the soft-serve state I added the chocolate chips and spooned it into those silicon cake pans to hard freeze so I could clean the ice cream bowl in preparation of the next flavor. Robert and Lindsay both have a number of suggestions so that is under control, but I really want one that uses Kahlua. I rarely drink any alcohol but that is a liquour that is fabulous and is a comp0nent in Mudslides. I never worried about drinking a mudslides because I would be so full and bloated way before I could feel any effects of the alcohol. Still, thinking it might be enjoyable to drown my separator sorrows, I found myself tempted to pour some in with the mint chocolate chip ice cream, but refrained.

*The author of this blog did not receive any compensation for the product endorsements in this blog. HINT, HINT!

I'm Too Young For a Mid-life Crisis!

I have not blogged in so long because I like to have positive blog posts and have felt as far from positive in so long. I believe my attitude follows my thoughts, so here goes concentrating on my many blessings. I turned 40 on the 4th of this month. Birthdays are something that has never bothered me, well, until the 4th. I found myself crying that morning because not only did I see myself at forty years of age, I never saw myself still living in Wright, Wyoming twenty-two years after I declared to all my classmates, "I AM LEAVING THIS HORRIBLE TOWN AS SOON AS I GRADUATE!" I guess the things you fight are what come your way. My daughter will be graduating from the same high school that I graduated from in May of this year. She is graduating, so put that in the blessings column.



There has been a huge shake-up at my job. One nurse quit, the clinic fired a nurse practioner and a CNA and this was all while I was home. I received numerous phone calls and was not sure if I would have a job when I returned the next Monday, so spent the weekend thinking about the pros and cons of having that job. I decided I would leave it in the Lord's hands. Thankfully, I do have my job, so chalk up another one in the blessings column.



I think I have blogged about my distrust/dislike about neurologists, and once again, things you fight........When I had a MRI done of my spinal column and brain at the end of last year, I was referred to a neurosurgeon due to spinal cord impingement, but with a MS lesion at the same spot, the surgeon left the option of surgery up to me. I asked what the risks were and decided to wait until the pain was unbearable or the disc ruptured. Dr. Kopitnik wanted me to go see another neurologist and although I protested, he convinced me to see Dr. Santiago again. The appointment was scheduled for the 22nd of this month. I was in quite a bit of pain but knew I could hold out until then to see the neurologist. Yesterday, I received a phone call from Dr. Santiago's receptionist stating someone had canceled and would I like to take that appointment. I asked when it was and it happened to be for yesterday. I took the appointment and took my MRI results to that appointment. The marks in the blessings column only began yesterday with the appointment change. I am somewhat a skeptic but truly am trying to change that character flaw about myself. With that being said, my optimistic attitude surprised even me when we started to town. I had decided I would give this neurologist another chance. The appointment lasted nearly an hour and forty-five minutes. He listened to everything I said, even the bitter-ridden comments about neurologists. When I finally stopped my run-down of the last ten years of medical experiences he just asked if he had gotten this right, I had fired at least six neurologists in the last ten years since my first symptoms set in and I answered that he was correct. His next statement perplexed me and relieved my mind. He just matter of factly asked what he needed to do for me so he was not fired by me. I contemplated this question for a moment and answered that I just wanted him to listen to me. He felt that was quite a minimal requirement on his part, we shall see. Blessing column for the time being.

This blog has taken me nearly one month to post. I have to refocus on positive attitude before finishing sometimes but last week found me feeling that I was being led towards a place in my life that is better for me and my family. I have felt so much pressure and stress as the nursing supervisor that I feel as though I am heading for another exacerbation, not that I fully recovered from the relapse back in November. Last week I sat down with the clinic supervisor and told her my frustrations with the direction our Urgent Care is going and all the stress from the job. By the time I finished, the only thing left to say was I will be resigning my position. Instantly peace settled in my heart, blessing column, and I am looking forward to being home and at the barn. I need some Caprine Therapy! :)

Multiple Sclerosis Sucks!

It has been quite awhile since my last post, but once again, Multiple Sclerosis came up when my life was going great and kicked my butt. My nursing job was offered back to me in June after I left a year ago because of this disease. I love nursing so much but it is a very physical job. My co-workers quickly picked up on my left leg drag when I get tired and accommodate me in so many ways. Fortunately, this Urgent Care is very compassionate, understanding, and willing to work with me when MS rears its ugly head.
A little background might be helpful to understand how this all began. In 1999, I began EMT classes and had visions of becoming a Paramedic. I love emergency medicine and will admit, adrenaline rushes are addicting! During the course of my classes, it was required that I get a TB skin test and begin the set of three Hepatitis B vaccines. After the first Hep B shot, I got pretty sick and thought I had a bout of flu. The second shot brought me to my knees, literally. I didn't walk for nearly a month. I talked to my doctor, the CDC, and researched Hepatitis B vaccine and side effects. CDC's response was that there was no proof that Hep B caused any health issues. The Doctor told me I was depressed and put me on an antidepressant. My life continued on, as did my career as an EMT. A year later, the leg weakness began again. I went back to the doctor and he sent me on to the first of several neurologists. Did I mention I despise Neurologists? This neurologist heard my symptoms and that these began after my Hep B vaccine. He told me that I should try another antidepressant because the one I was on was obviously not working anymore. Once again, I followed the doctor's orders and began the new antidepressant. To make a long story short, this pattern continued through four neurologists over a five year period and the primary doctor sent me to a rheumatologist in this span of time, too. The bills from the neurologists obviously were not sufficient! By this time, I truly was depressed and so tired of hearing there was nothing wrong with me, yet no testing was done to determine this.
During the summer of 2004, I spent the entire night on the ambulance for two separate calls for motor vehicle accidents. When we pulled into town after the second accident, I thought the exhaustion and nausea could be accredited to the physical work involved with both calls and the growling of my stomach. I went home and went straight to bed. This was the beginning of six full weeks of vertigo, loss of balance, and weeks spent on the bathroom floor. If I lifted my head, the room began to spin, and the vomitting began. I told my husband I wasn't going to the doctor or a neurologist again. This was all in my head and this too shall pass. When the vomitting finally stopped and the room only spun when I turned my head, I decided I needed to find another doctor. I went to a general medicine doctor in Gillette. I still had no balance and it was very obvious. The doctor immediately noted the nystagmus, the lack of balance, and other neurological deficits. She said that I was experiencing a severe vertigo episode, but that she felt there was something neurological going on with me. I began to cry and told her I was not going to another neurologist. She said she would order a MRI of my brain and we would come up with a plan of action after that. After the MRI results were sent to Dr. Thomas, she called and said she needed a spinal tap. She would set up an appointment after the results of the spinal tap came back. Did I mention I despise needles, especially in my spine? I went anyway and had the spinal tap. A day later, my doctor called and said she would like to see me and I should bring my husband. I knew she found something and my imagination went wild. That was a long 24 hour period. The next day I was told that the lumbar puncture showed I had oligoclonal bands in my spinal fluid and lesions in my brain. I had multiple sclerosis. My mother came to the appointment along with my husband, and my Mom began to cry while I sat there and listened to the doctor as she told me I needed to find a neurologist. That last statement was the thing that nearly made me burst into tears. When we left the doctor's office, my Mom asked me why I wasn't more upset, why I was acting like I didn't hear the doctor. I took a deep breath and told my Mom that I finally had a name for what was wrong with me. And yes, it was all in my head and in my spine, but I now had a name for what was wrong with me, something to fight against, and something to treat with medicines! Needless to say, that was easier said than done.

Here comes the sun and I say, "IT'S ALRIGHT!"

Hey, Natasha, do you think Mom knows we're out?

Our weather was unseasonably frigid last week. My goats were not happy to see the wet snow, chilly winds, and cramped accomodations in the barns. This week, a complete temperature turn around. Although we are veterans in drastic weather changes in Wyoming, no one had warned my goat "newbies" about Wyoming weather. Out of my eight goats, six have not had the pleasure of experiencing a Wyoming winter up to this point in their short little lives. Regardless, I spent last week with snotty goat noses and they were just like little kids when I tried to wipe their noses. They tried to throw their heads back and forth, back up, lower their heads and avoid the paper towel at all costs! Mom finally prevailed but they sure spent last week giving me a wide path. Needless to say, no one was more thankful for sunshine than stir-crazy goats. I had decided on the first day of snow when the baby of the herd, Sweet Pea was forced out into the cold by Lyrical that Robert was going to have to separate the big goat pen into two pens. The two big girls Natasha and Lyrical had to be penned up in the milking barn until the separation could be done this week. I don't believe they thought Dad was quick enough. Thankfully, Robert got the pen separated so the kids have the barn without Natasha and Lyrical bossing them around. The big girls seem happy not to be bother with silly kid games. Now Javar and Prince are so thankful to be out of their barn and spent the day sunbathing! I spent my time cleaning the hay and goat pebbles out of the barn. Amazing how quickly it piles up when the goats don't go outside for a few days. Regardless, everyone seemed so happy to be free. Forecast shows rain for Tuesday but I will keep my fingers crossed. I was not ready for winter to begin so soon and, obviously, neither were the kids. I hope they get ready quickly because it is inevitable that the snow will fly and stick for a few months. I did notice this week that the kids were getting fluffy so maybe Mother Nature just needed to nudge them a little last week. I truly hope they don't experience snotty noses every time it is cold and wet but all the noses are clear of mucous right now. I guess it was quickly remedied without intervention from me. Robert questioned me on whether I thought we had everyone taken care of for a little while. He is always building pens, repairing barns, building barns, reinforcing fences and separating areas for me. I told him I thought we were fine.....well, until kidding season! :)

Flu, flu, go away.....

I know I should be thankful for a busy work day for our little Urgent Care, but have seen so many children running dangerously high fevers and looking like walking zombies. These kids are SICK! So many positive flu tests that I see pink lines in my sleep. Our Urgent Care is one of the only clinics that still has regular influenza vaccines in Gillette but we are racing through our supply at a record pace. In 8 days, we have depleted 125 flu tests, we saw 73 patients in one 12 hour day, many leaving because it was standing room only and a three hour wait. I thank God for job security but didn't expect it to come in the form of a near pandemic. Just when we have clinical staff scheduled to handle the increased patient load, our clinic is scheduled to receive the "swine flu" nasal spray. This is an attenuated vaccination which means it is a live virus but it has been weakened. Great precautions are needed for people who get this form of vaccine. Pregnancy, children under 2, adults over 50, people with a weakened immune system are all contraindications for this vaccine. Because I regularly get IV steroids to knock out my immune system, I am being very cautious. We have a HEPA filter and a room specifically set up for the administration of our vaccinations and I will stay clear of this room. The CDC states that the transmission of the H1N1 virus by people who received the vaccine was rare. I would have prefered the term "impossible" to be used but I am thankful that I was warned. So, my blogging will be slow until.......probably February, my hope for all is to stay healthy, wash hands frequently, and don't spend too much time around crowds.

"Bucking the system"

Last week was marked by a tough day. Robert and I had decided to try to get the fencing done for the buck pen and none to soon, either! Javar started the romance talking to his pen mates while I was cracking the whip telling hubby, "We've got to get him out of there or we're going to be bringing babies home come February because we'll have snow up to our elbows!" Of course, a little bit of my anxiety and impatience came from the excitement about bringing the new addition home. It seemed it was a day for friends to stop by and visit too, but after four hours at the corrals, Robert asked if I was ready to go get Nacho. He didn't need to ask twice. We jumped on the four wheeler and began the trek over to get Nacho. I brought him one of our collars and a leash wondering what fun I would have luring this poor goat away from his security and family. I put the collar on the boy and to my amazement, he acted as though this was an everyday occurence! We began the trot back to our pen and he happily galloped next to me only stopping occasionally to chop on a green weed.
We decided Javar and Nacho had to be put in the new pen with the new digs at the same time so no one had established dominance. Being a woman of advancing age, college-educated, experienced with animals, I must shamefully admit I had a complete blonde moment, brain-fart, moment of insanity, whatever one will call it. Breeding season is NOT the time to introduce two bucks of nearly equal size, especially when the two older does were obviously very much in season. Within two minutes of introductions, they decided to attempt to knock each other into submission. Nacho has a rounded scur on the top of his head that found a spot on Javar's head and opened up a gusher! Javar dropped to his knees, shook his head and immediately began rearing back up at Nacho! He may not be too smart but he is determined. Nothing could deter these two. I cannot see an animal suffering at all, especially in the name of building my show herd and began to feel deep guilt building. It was my fault that Javar was knocked senseless and now bleeding! Robert said, "Oh, I am not building one more barn! The paint on this one is not even dry." I weighed my options, talked to Robert, watched Javar shake the blood off his face and decided this was not meant to be. I called Anne and walked Nacho home. Javar has healed up and he enjoys our wether Prince's companionship! If we do this again, it won't be the weekthe does are ovulating, I work an extra 12 hour shift, and take on the nursing supervisor position at work. I think my emotions were already on overload but everyone seems to be happier over this decision.

Buck Barn (part II)

Okay, the building of the buck barn is taking a wee bit longer than we had expected, but isn't that the way it is with all projects? It was a slow process. Our attempts to pair energy levels with work schedules and the Wyoming weather is interesting to say the least. One thing I can say about Robert is that once he starts working, it nearly takes an act of Congress to get him to stop, that or the promise of a meal. By the time he decides to take a break, I am truly afraid to sit down thinking I may not be able to regain the strength to get back on my feet. This is really my project, my goats, and my request so you would think I might be a little more ambitious but ambition beat foot out of this situation long ago! When we began this project, we took a notebook into to Gillette and started with a list of bare necessities to gain an idea of what this was going to entail. Particle board, trim board, paint, posts, sack crete, ect. began adding up. We priced everything as Robert went over the blue prints in his head, came home and added it all for a grand total. It was less than we had expected but Robert reassured me that there are always hidden costs!

Little did I know that someone would help themselves to our tools we left in the main barn. Robert's tool box for barn use is a five gallon bucket that collects all sorts of odds and ends. When we went to the barn for our second day we discovered the entire bucket gone. Now someone ended up with an assortment of nails, screws, fencing staples, tie wire, and pliers but they also ended up with Robert's saws-all. I truly despise someone who thinks they are entitled to something they are unwilling to work for and this is no exception. It shut down our productivity for the day and the loss took the wind out of our sails! I know this isn't what Robert meant by hidden costs, right? On the brighter side of things, all eight goats were fine but none of them were talking, Robert got a new, albeit lesser value reciprocating saw, and finally, the barn work continues. This week Robert goes back to work and I have added two extra days to my work-week and we are still not quite done. We did have a nice break celebrating our 21st Anniversary in the midst of all this chaos this week so there is always something to be thankful for in our lives. The barn will wait and hopefully, the bucks are patient with us. Natasha, seen in the background of this picture, assures us that she will keep a closer eye on this tool bucket for Dad! We'll be attempting to finish up this job this coming weekend. Fingers crossed and good thoughts for us please!