If money were no object

I would...

1. Get a pedicure every week.
2. Get a manicure every other week.
3. Hire a personal chef to make dinner 5 nights a week.
4. Take a family vacation somewhere amazing once a year.
5. Tip 50% of the total bill when we eat out.
6. Work out with a personal trainer twice a week.
7. Make anonymous donations of cash to people who inspire me.
8. Be more generous to the organizations we already support.
9. Have fresh flower arrangements delivered to my house weekly.
10. Buy my parents two new cars.
11. Become a professional volunteer.
12. Still make my kids get jobs when they are in high school.

If money were no object, what would you do?

Fun is in the eye of the beholder

Robbie's class is walking in the St. Patrick's Day parade today. It's a school tradition -- every year the entire 2nd grade wears matching green t-shirts and heads downtown to be part of the parade.

I had planned to walk with them. This is one of those field trips where lots of parents are encouraged to join in. A short 1 mile-ish walk. A chance to scan the spectators and see people I know. Sunshine and smiley, laughing 2nd graders. Sounds like a recipe for fun in my book.

Apparently, Robbie has been reading a different book.

In his mind, walking in the parade means people staring at him (and "staring is NOT nice, Mom"). The parade means scary clowns and loud noises.

I tried to reason with him that people were looking at him when he was in the talent show (that's a topic for another post) and he didn't mind. He didn't get the connection. I tried to tell him that he'd be with his class and his friends and there would be lots of laughs and such fun. No dice. There wasn't much I could argue about the noise -- they are scheduled to be lined up just behind a high school marching band.

So, after lots of worry on his part and failed persuasion on mine, we told him he doesn't have to walk in the parade. I sent him to school in his green t-shirt in case maybe he gets caught up in the excitement of his classmates, but I'm pretty sure he won't.

Now I'm second-guessing myself a little. Maybe we should have made him do it. Forced him to toughen up and face his fears. But, I know my kid. He would be nervous and teary all morning. I'm not afraid to fight the battles, but this one just didn't seem worth it.

So, when his class boards the bus for their great green adventure, I'll be there to pick up Robbie and take him to the Lego exhibit at the Children's Museum. Something that definitely reads "fun" in his book.

Dear future Colts players:

It's been a rough week here in Indianapolis. Our quarterback and our team parted ways. It happened with the kind of class and dignity our city showed during the Super Bowl played here last month. Most of us knew it would happen, but that didn't make it any easier to watch.

Then today, several more of our boys -- ok, men -- got their marching orders. I'm not talking 2nd and 3rd string no-names. I'm talking men whose names we proudly wore on jerseys week after week. Men who made big plays. Men who made the Indianapolis Colts so easy to love, even when they posted a 2-14 record.

We love these men -- Gary Brackett, Joseph Addai, Melvin Bullitt, Dallas Clark -- not just for what they did on the field, but more for what they brought to our community. They are caring, giving individuals who make us proud to be Colts fans. 

But we are fans of the TEAM, not just of the individual players, so to those of you getting ready to join the ranks of the Indianapolis Colts, we say "Welcome." Before you sign on the dotted line, there are some things you should know about this city and our team:

1. We don't do big egos here. If you've got the goods, be proud. But don't be arrogant. The "I" in this city is for Indianapolis, not for some football player who behaves as though he's a gift to our team.
2. We don't do illegal here. We're not accustomed to opening our newspapers and turning on our television to news about members of our football team being in legal trouble for drugs, domestic abuse, illegal gambling, drinking and driving or whatever. Oh, we're not perfect and there have been a few incidents in the past (Mr. McAfee), but our players are generally good citizens and we like it that way.
3. Indianapolis is your home and its people will be your new family. So spend time with us. Join us at restaurants and in the mall and on the little league fields with your kids. We're not starstruck. We'll probably strike up a conversation, but we know how to be polite enough to let you have your space, too.
4. Be polite back to us. Jeff Saturday has held a door open for me...twice. Good manners endear you to the fans and make your mamas proud.
5. Let us know what you're passionate about -- and I hope at least one of you will be passionate about the elderly -- and let us know how we can support your efforts there. Those guys who are leaving have left behind some pretty big holes to fill in that regard. We want to see you do good -- inside and outside of Lucas Oil Stadium.
6. Know we've got your back. We know this is a rebuilding year. Probably several of them. But we'll stand behind you, as long as you give it your all and stay focused on the game, not the limelight.

So there you go. Not too hard, right? Welcome to Indianapolis. We're glad you're here.

Signed,
The 4th Frog
A Colts Fan

CPAP, seriously

In my last post, I shared some comical truths about using a CPAP machine to treat sleep apnea. I also shared a ridiculously unflattering photo of myself (though, I do admit the jammies were cute), which should prove clearly that sleep apnea can cause a person to lose some brain cells.

But, I do want to circle back and talk briefly about why treatment for sleep apnea is so important. Make no mistake -- I hate using a CPAP machine. There are some times when I put off going to bed just because I don't want to put that $#*@&# mask on. However, I'm caught in a hate-love quandry: I hate the machine but I love breathing. So, for that, I go to bed looking like Mrs. Snufalufagus.

Besides keeping me breathing -- here are the other things CPAP therapy can do for a person:

1. Reduce the strain of oxygen deprivation on your heart. Those momentary pauses without oxygen cause your blood pressure to go up, which is hard on your heart.
2. Make you more feel more rested...because you are. That's what happens when you're not waking up 79 times (+/-) an hour.
3. Make you more alert in your waking hours. Even on the nights I don't get as many hours of sleep as I should, I feel so much more alert, more mentally with it than I did when I would "sleep" more hours without the CPAP machine.
4. Possibly (hopefully) help fight the battle of the bulge. Maybe it's just me, but when I'm tired, I eat more during the day, especially sugary stuff that might give me a surge of energy. And losing weight, if you are overweight, almost always improves sleep apnea. So said the doc.
5. Reduce acid reflux. The pulmonologist explained to me that when you inhale hard several times, gasping for air (which is what happens those 79 times an hour), it loosens the grip of the sphincter muscle at the bottom of the esophagus. That allows stomach acids to make their way back up which is no fun and over the long-term can lead to a pre-cancerous condition called Barrett's esophagus. 
6. Improve your marriage because your spouse won't be so crabby at you for snoring all night long. And you won't be so crabby at everyone around you because you won't be so flipping tired. Seriously, the doctor said they see symptoms of depression improve in people who start CPAP therapy for sleep apnea.

I wear contact lenses that you can sleep in. One thing I've noticed since starting to use the CPAP machine is that my eyes seem much more "gummy" in the morning. I have to wonder if that's because I'm spending more time in deeper REM-stage sleep. I may have to start taking my contact lenses out when I go to bed, but at least I'll be awake enough in the morning to put them back in.

So, my public service announcement of the night is this: If you think you might have sleep apnea -- if you never feel rested, if you snore so much that you bother others or even wake yourself up (guilty), if you wake up with a sore throat or a swollen uvula (that hanging thing at the back of your throat) -- talk to your doctor about having a sleep study done. If nothing else, consider it a chance to get a night to yourself. You can read about my sleep study, complete with crazy wired up pictures, here.

The truth about using a CPAP machine

You might remember that shortly before the New Year, I had a sleep study done. The results came back and declared that I have severe sleep apnea. Well, let me clarify, "severe" sleep apnea is defined as more than 30 awakenings, or "arousals" as they are called, in one hour. On the night of my test, I averaged 79 arousals..in one hour. That's "how-am-I-not-dead-yet-severe sleep apnea."

So, I've been using a CPAP machine. CPAP stands for continuous positive airway pressure -- or in other words, "let's force air down your throat all night long so you keep breathing." This is not my first experience with CPAP. I used a machine several years ago and then got out of the habit. But it is my first time blogging about it. And there are a few things I'd like to share.

This is me, wearing my favorite polka dot jammies, with my CPAP mask on (I think all these years of oxygen deprivation have caused me to lose any sense of dignity.):



And here are some truths about using a CPAP machine:

1. The use of a CPAP machine may stop nocturnal arousals of the oxygen-depriving kind, but it very likely will stop any other kind of arousals that take place in the bedroom. Seriously, I don't think this is going to be a look you'll see at Frederick's of Hollywood anytime soon. 
2. While the crazy-looking mask might be a turn-off to your spouse, it also helps keep the kids from climbing in your bed at night because the look of you with the mask on in a dark room is way worse than any bad dreams they might have had.
3. If those same children decide they want to dress up as an elephant, fighter pilot or vacuum cleaner for Halloween, you're all set. 
4. The first time you try to get up to pee and are so sleepy that you forget you've got the mask attached to your face and also attached to the unit on your nightstand is not something you'll be interested in repeating.
5. If your spouse complained about your snoring before you got the CPAP machine and then complains about the minor noise the machine itself makes, I'm pretty sure the judge will go easy on you at the sentencing hearing. 
6. If you wore a headgear to bed when you were younger and hated it, you might feel the same way about the CPAP mask.
7. The days of jumping up, throwing on some clothes and heading out the door without a shower are pretty much gone because the straps for the mask create some wicked bedhead. Unless of course you long ago lost your sense of dignity (see above) and you don't really care about leaving home with your hair all jacked up.
8. You will still feel like crap in the morning if you don't go to bed until 2am, even if those 4 hours of sleep you're getting is oxygen rich. This thing is a machine, not a miracle worker. 

You want to know WHAT?!

Yesterday at work, I found myself on the webpage of the Indiana Housing and Community Development Agency. (Just the name gets your blood flowing, huh?). I decided it would be a good idea to receive the agency's e-newsletters. So I started filling out the electronic form to register.

I immediately found the form to be a little strange. See exhibit 1.

Well, that's not what it says on my paychecks for Employer, but since you auto-filled it, State of Indiana, I suppose that's right.

The next thing was even more odd. See exhibit 2.



Can only people of a certain height receive the newsletter of the Indiana Housing and Community Development Agency? I'm only 5'2" -- hope I make the cut.

Finally it was time to enter my name. But not my whole name. Just my last name. And then I suppose, if I wasn't a member of the media, it would be ok to give them my first name, too. See exhibit 3.



By this time, I figured the electronic form had to be built by someone who was bored to tears with their job and was just throwing up whatever junk came to mind to make the day go faster. No, I'm not a member of the media. No, I don't work for a for-profit company. Yes, I am shorter than the average Joe. Then I got to the last question -- the one that really sparked this blog post:



You want to know WHAT?! As you can see in the photo above, I didn't think that was any of their business. The only people who get to know that are my doctor and the carney at the Indiana State Fair who works at the "guess your age or weight" booth.

I submitted my form with my version of "none of your beeswax." And guess what? Today I got an e-newsletter from them. Guess my weight wasn't to important to them after all.

Well hello, Mrs. 4444s

It's been a crazy long time since I've done a Friday Fragments post for Mrs. 4444s weekly party. But I'm feeling fragmentish, so I thought it was high time I play along.

We're three days into Lent and I'm feeling the challenge. I gave up Diet Coke, which has been surprisingly easy. But I also gave up Facebook and my words games on Thursdays. I felt like I was being called to give up Facebook entirely for Lent, but I was going kicking and screaming. So I talked it over with a friend and came up with the concept of "Holy Thursdays." It's a day when I step back from all the "noise" and try to be more mindful of God at work in my life. Yesterday was hard -- but with some benefit. I was actually ready for work 20 minutes early because I didn't sit on the couch and nose around Facebook first.

Thanks for all the positive comments about my "Fat Tuesday" post. I wish I could just jump in and make a bunch of big changes at once. But that seems overwhelming. So I'm taking small steps. We'll see how it goes.

Do any of you have a kid that complains about being bullied? How do you decide if it's really bullying or just a sensitive kid? I want to be responsive, but I also don't want to be coddling. Would love some wisdom here.

Winter has arrived -- at least temporarily. It's cold here (in the 30s) and very blustery. And I was just getting used to not wearing my coat again.

No coats necessary for the awesome trip being given away by Eversave. I don't get anything for telling you about it, but why wouldn't I want to share the chance to win a 6-day vacation in Todos Santos, Mexico? (Well, because I want to win it for myself!) But, I'm sharing anyway. Isn't that nice of me? So nice that I'm sure if you win, you'll want to take me as your guest. Enter by clicking the image to the right. (In case that doesn't work, you can click here too.)

If you are the praying type, I would love some prayers toward two special intentions, that I am able to hear -- and trust -- God's voice in two situations.

Thanks, friends. Hope you have a great weekend. Please stop by Mrs. 4444s place for some more Friday Fragments.