Maintenance

Yeah, well, your 40’s.

I am a good two years in.

I have accepted the fact that certain clothing styles are just not going to happen for me anymore, but mom jeans will never grace my closet….

But this?

I am relating more to the old people parent figures in all my favorite tv shows recently, and rolling in the aisles at the 80’s pop culture references that surface – wine coolers on Modern Family!! I mean, seriously our favorite “alcohol” of choice in 1985!!

Not that I ever indulged in alcoholic beverages before the age of 21, and I am simply going on the experience of, um, a friend. yeah.  Sir Fartsalot though had expensive tastes even then, as he preferred the most expensive Bartles and James. Let’s just be clear, he was “of age” and did get the stuff totally legally – honest!

Thank goodness maturity has brought us to a nice cabernet now!

I usually prided myself in the fact that I am not real vain. I like to look nice but usually once I am finished in front of the mirror in the morning, I  don’t “primp” later. I now find myself slowing down in the Olay Regenerist aisle and thinking that maybe that $25 tube may be on to something.

I am not to proud to say I knew without a shadow of a doubt I would be coloring my hair. Was very proud of the fact that I had hit 40, with just a few stray greys…..

How is it that hitting 40 seems to have kicked those suckers into high gear?? Well, 2cnd gear anyway, as I am sure I am exaggerating just a bit.

But let’s see what I didn’t expect….

The chin hair? I mean, seriously!? The moustache and uni-brow are not enough? I have to start sprouting wiring dark black, old lady chin hair?  You know those poor Polish grandmothers old ladies you see, sporting a goatee and lip-stache? yeah, I will be one of those when I no longer care enough or am too blind to see them any longer! Just in time, to match my son’s chin and upper lip hair! Guess C and I can have a bonding moment over a razor!

Insomnia.

Pu-leeze! I have not slept more than 5 hours a night, if that in months!  Benadryl and the couch are my best friends at the moment.

And what happened to my muscle tone?? Honestly!

The pain in my right big toe, that I could swear is gout, but is “probably just arthritis” – oh yeah, that is so much better! “Sensible shoes” will never ever enter my wardrobe, thus enter the never ending search for cute comfortable shoes!

Starting my on-line classes have made my failing vision all the more apparent. The sudden need to squint at the computer screen and  slow down a bit to “browse” the “readers” display at CVS are a telltale sign that it won’t be long until I am sporting a pair of readers, let’s hope they won’t be a on a chain! I do have to maintain some dignity! A quick web search revealed to me that “nerd glasses” are the new hip thing, so maybe I will get me a pair of those!

Now that I have just painted such a gorgeous picture of myself, perhaps we should broach the subject of how dangerous it can be to sneeze while standing, and God forbid, with a full bladder!!

Really? You don’t want to go there?

Well, honestly – I don’t either!

Wonder Why……

I am not sure if it is only my kids or not.

But it seems as though, their ability to converse is directly connected to riding in the car.

So much so, I almost want to start to make up reasons to go out somewhere!

Last night I got home a bit earlier than usual, and I came home to the typical scene, of Sir Fartsalot and each of the kids nose first in some sort of screen. As the kids have gotten older, this is more common a scene that used to be.

So, after a bit I suggested that I needed to go to Micheal’s to look for a poster frame for work, and then we could go for treats. well, that got a response!

After that last shot, he insisted on this one. Damn, I love this kid.

So, we all piled into the car and off we went. Well, you would think someone opened a dam of words in the back seat. Suddenly, they were discussing things, telling me about their day and other interesting things going on this week, and on and on. I love to just sit in the front seat and listen to them. They rarely bicker and if they do it is a light hearted banter about who is right, usually about something neither really truly knows about. I can’t help but sit in the front seat and smile.

Yes, she is letting her hair grow out again, and dyed her bangs blonde. It’s only hair and she likes it.  

They both insisted on getting a craft at Micheal’s, which they know I can never deny them. I guess some things will never change. It was nice to sit at the table when we got home, listening to K coach C on how to work his scratch picture, and encourage him. She is so much better with being more engaged in activities and being more interested. She got a moccasin kit, and I just had to smile to listen to her ask him for help, and him to offer. She stuck to it a lot longer than I expected, which is also an awesome improvement. She has a way to go yet, but it is so nice to see some progress in the right direction, finally!  They didn’t even turn the tv on when we got home!! See why I want to make up reasons to go out!

I have said it before, and I will say it again, I am blessed. These two have such a wonderful relationship, and really do like each other. I know each has the other’s back no matter what. I am also very lucky that they still don’t mind hanging out with us.

I am also so lucky, that I have two teenagers in the house, and this scene can still play itself out. Chatter from the back seat, crafts being done at the table, and mom smiling.

Yes, life is difficult at times, and usually just when I think I can’t cope one minute longer, I get s glimpse at the good, the happy, and the

Scary statistics…..

Since I have started my online classes, the one thing I have been enjoying is reading some current literature. It is becoming a running joke at work, that I keep coming in, and saying throughout the day, when a particular patient is relevant, "I read this article the other day/last night/yesterday......." we laugh because I am starting to sound eerily similar to Alyson Hannigan's character in American Pie, "this one time, in band camp....." But I digress......

Anyway, where was I? Oh yeah,

So I read the article last night……teehee…..

That had some pretty interesting statistics to present…..because it reconfirmed to me, one of things I am realizing since staring my DPT classes, is how behind I have fallen in keeping up with research, although I do attend continuing education courses and think I pride myself in good quality care…..

In a Feb 2005 article in the Annals of Internal Medicine, they  reviewed a total of 62 samples and reported on the relationship between medical knowledge/quality of healthcare and number of years in practice/physician age.

Now what is one criteria most of us use in choosing a doctor??  Typically age/experience.

Well – it seems this may not be a good barometer….

In 32 of the 62 samples, they concluded performance decreased on ALL outcomes assessed as years in practice increased. In another 13, no positive association between number of years in practice and better performance.  The remaining 16 showed a mixture of increased, decreased or no association between experience and quality. Only ONE sample showed a correlation between all outcomes and years of experience. 

People,

That is scary!!

Of course, this is not all inclusive, and there are physicians out there that keep up on current literature, and use research evidence to back up their treatments. As well as the realization that apathy can increase with experience, leading physicians to possibly make assumptions, instead of listening to us, the patient.  In the radiology course I am taking, many studies we have read, indicate that primary care or family physicians had the highest over utilization of diagnostic tests, and the hypothesis is, that they have a weaker “specific” knowledge of certain things,and thus order lots of testing in hopes of “finding” something they may not know how to look for otherwise.

it just means, we as consumers need to be very selective and not afraid to speak up, advocate for ourselves and change doctors if we are not satisfied with our treatments. I tend to seek out specialist, if there is something more specific wrong, than the run of the mill head colds, ear infections etc. I feel, and this is my own personal observation, at least a specialist has had further training in more specific areas, than the broad training that primary care doctors receive. We really need to ask questions, do some research ourselves and KNOW your body. Many many doctors do things, just because it is how they have always done it.

Just felt the need to “pass it on” – and sorry, I can’t promise this to be the last,

“I read this article the other day……..” post!

Saturday Seven

Let’s see if I can come up with seven things….guess I could chose six, since that goes with Saturday too, but Saturday seven just sounds better than Saturday Six…..

One.

It is still a monochromatic icy world here…..ick.

Two.

I am trying to embrace it by taking pretty pictures….

Diamonds keep falling from the trees…

Three.

Things with K are looking up. She is going back to school Monday, and is really excited to have some friends over tonight. That – is a good thing.

Four.

I am trying hard not to be a cranky mom who has had a long week and does not really honestly feel like bothering with her teenager having friends over tonight.

Five.

Going to NYC tomorrow to see Addams family with some girlfriends. Looking forward to that! Think it will look like this again???

Yeah, I doubt it too, but a girl can dream eh?? Come to think of it, I never did blog about that day…….

Six.

I seriously need to get a handle on my healthy eating again. I have gone off the wagon wayyyyy too far, and am not feeling well at all. Guess if I put it out here again, and make myself accountable I will HAVE to do it. I lost all that weight, looked great, felt great and kept it off for over a year! Why can I not get a grip now, I can not tell you.

Seven.

Would someone please tell me when this man moved into my house? he will be 14 in one month. There is hair on his upper lip. He has out grown his bed. He can help me start and run the snow blower. he is wearing the same size pants as his dad, just two inches smaller in the waist.  he hates to brush his teeth and take a shower. eats constantly, but still gives hugs. Where did my baby go!?

Ms. Stefanie!!!

Dear Long Lost Friend,

I miss you! Please don't just post and run! :) Email me!

Love,
Me

PS you are lucky I can not lay my hands on a picture to post! ;)