SPRING FAVES

 

Wow, these last couple of weeks have flown by.

I'm crazy busy but I think starting next week, life can slow down a little bit.  With the slowing down of a Friday, I'm reflecting back on the week and sharing FIVE of my FAVE blessings that God brought me.  I do this with other bloggers and we link up at Susanne's site. What's something you're thankful for today?

Image courtesy of Whistling Kettle website

• GIRLS DAY OUT!  Last Saturday, my 3 younger sisters (Joy, Hope, Jill) and I met for lunch at this place.  Two of my sisters had never been there. I was able to use the gift card my small group ladies had gifted me with at Christmas time, too! We also invited my 2 daughters, Courtney and Claire (and both were available to come!) and my youngest sister's youngest daughter (Mady) as the oldest daughter was still at college. We had so much fun  chatting, eating delicious food and browsing in the little shops in the village's downtown. After we all parted ways, my oldest and I discovered a really large antique store so we spent about a half hour browsing in there before heading home. It was located on a little side street that somehow we had missed when the whole group was together. I'm thankful for time spent with my sisters and the younger generation.

cards from Dave and Claire

Vegan "fish" tacos and sweet potato fries with raspberry sauce

Moreau Lake
Moreau Lake State Park

• MOTHER'S DAY!  Sunday was a gorgeous, perfect Spring day.  Some of my sinus pain was lifted for quite a few hours and that made me happy.  Dave and I went to church, then he and Claire shared with me the cards they had bought/made. Claire's message inside made me tear up.  It was so touching.  Then Claire and I went to one of our fave little bistrosfor a late lunch/early dinner followed by a quick trip to walk the beach at our fave little Capital Region State Park/lake where we used to camp years ago and where we go often from May-November. This was the first visit for 2022.  Courtney called me and we chatted a bit (she couldn't do lunch as she had many things to do around her apartment and we had been together the day before). I spent the evening with Dave watching a Netflix movie (a romantic comedy). I'm thankful for a nice relaxing Mother's Day. 

• ANSWERS:  Many of you know I have been suffering with severe sinus headaches since March.  First treatment of antibiotics worked but the pain returned 2 weeks later and hasn't let up even with a 2nd course of antibiotics and an oral steroid.  So off to On Call ENT I went Monday afternoon to get some answers. WONDERFUL doc on call did a thorough exam and really listened to everything I've done to relieve this issue. (all of my annual blood work has been within normal limits and my physical was done Tuesday with no issues at all...praise be to God). She explained that the first antibiotic I was given worked because it's the antibiotic that helps reduce inflammation.  She also explained that when most people think they have a sinus infection it is actually most likely an allergy or migrane. The ENT looked and didn't see signs of infection or polyps which is good.  She pretty much determined this is a new-to-me seasonal allergy (based on last year's sinus history as well as some issues I was having in 2019 with ear pain) and has me doing some things to try to relieve the stuffy feeling and inflammation.  Tuesday was a day with no pain at all and Wed and Thursday it was on again/off again.  After 1 week of trying a certain antihistamine, she said if it's not giving me much relief to try a different one. She did say the decongestants I was trying was probably making things worse. (who knew??!!) Long story short:  the last couple of years when I've thought I've had an infection, was most likely due to spring allergy. Apparently one can develop these later in life! (there's also a family history of them and every one of my sisters suffers from seasonal allergies although one sister just has them in the fall.) I'm thankful she spent 35 minutes with me, and really showed she cared and wants to relieve my pain. I have a follow up visit in June and prayerfully I will be back to normal! I'm thankful for specialists and for a good annual physical report from my primary doc. 

• TULIPS! My tulips are lasting longer than they ever have before and one day after work this week, I noticed that the insides of them are very different from other years.  These photos don't do them justice....they're much more vibrant in person. I love how the insides look and I'm thankful for spring blooms. 

• GIRL SCOUT COOKIES:  I ordered a couple of boxes of Girl Scout cookies for my youngest daughter (the Thin Mint ones are vegan) and decided to get Dave and I a box of the new lemon drop ones.  A little girl from our church sells them and we wanted to give her our order. My oldest daughter bought a couple boxes from my co-workers daughter.  They came in last week and let's just say the lemon drops are my new obsession.  They're super sweet though so just 1 at a time is perfect.  We're trying to make the box last a bit.  I'm thankful for the Girl Scouts and what they stand for as well as for the chance to bless the little girl with our orders.

That wraps up my week.

I'm looking forward to a weekend of hiking in the Adirondacks, church, and family time on Sunday.

HAPPY WEEKEND, EVERYONE!