Word Study.. and a vent.

So there have been other things happening lately. And I thought a little word study was due. Follow the links to be clear of the definitions I refer to.
the first word is:
Friends  The term I refer to is term 4: a favored companion .
There are many who would deem themselves a "friend" but are really not.Most people are acquaintance's (2b) In the many places I have lived I have come across quite a few who do not know nor understand the term of friend and see themselves as such when they are in all honesty an acquaintance. Sure they are there when they need something, they call when they need something, but over all they are not real friends. They speak ill of someone behind their back, and at times are bold enough to speak ill of that person or their family to said persons face.Yes, when you speak ill of someone;they do eventually find out. I am done with these so called friends. I refuse to feel contrition for this. I have recently been called a fake friend. Let me be clear for those who do not know me. I am not one to enter into a relationship for the sole benifit of feeling good about myself by putting someone else down with words or actions. I don't pretend to buddy up to anyone for any reason. I will be polite and kind to everyone, but I will not befriend someone with any other purpose but to be a friend. To accuse me of such a thing means that the accuser didn't know me to begin with.

The next word is:
 apology The term I refer to here is the 1st and I believe to be the original. It is : a defense I would add to the definition: a defense of ones actions, words or beliefs.
When I have done something wrong and I come to that realization I do apologize. I state the reason for my actions explain why I did them and when I feel contrition I ask for forgiveness. When I have done all of the above and am ignored.. well, that is on them and not me. When my beliefs are challenged I give an apology. I have decided that I will no longer say I am sorry for something that I believe or stand for. I will be contrite and do my best to teach my children the difference between an apology and contrition.

The third word is:
sexual harassment I am a happily married mother of three. I know I don't look it, but I am over the age of 30 and do deserve respect. To be told by a shift manager that when he asks for a flash report it doesn't mean he wants to see my boobs, is uncalled for. It is also uncalled for when an employee misses work due to a child being ill that the General Manager of that business looks at said employee and says that he (GM) would appreciate it if said employee didn't have any more children, then requests that said employee's spouse come in so that he and the GM can sit down and talk about said employee not getting pregnant again. This is sexism and harassment (b2). The fact that a GM of any company gets away with this kind of behavior is abhorrent. Even more so that the Managers are doing it and there are no repercussions means that the GM condones the behavior. The best way to do away with this behavior I think in my limited experiance is to fire the entire management crew at said place of employment and start fresh. When I did mention to another employee that I put in my notice and was leaving I was told I would not be the first one to leave because of this GM. I am sadly dismayed that this individual has been allowed to stay in management for as long as he has. I am however leaving said place of employ and am not ashamed nor afraid to give an honest account of what I experianced there. I do plan on speaking with the District Manager before my departure.

Well, Dear Readers.. my vent and word study are done. I hope you learned some new words. My Mom once told me that I was verbose. I took it as a compliment and still do as I enjoy words and their meanings. Until next time dear readers.. Be Blessed!

Miniman's Hospitial Visit



Miniman sitting on his hospital bed Friday April 22nd


This past week has been eventful. Earlier in the month I had decided to make the girls Easter dresses this year. Alas, the dresses are still not complete. But my family is whole and home.. I could not ask for more! Here is a run down of what has happened.

On Wednesday Miniman, Bubbles and I were at my friend N's house for the 2nd day of working on the dresses. It was about lunch time and N prepared macaroni and cheese with sliced apples for the meal. She and I had gone into another room to chat and firgure out what to do next with the dresses. N went in to check on the kids a little while later and noticed that Miniman's food was on the floor. She asked him what was wrong, he told her.. but she couldn't understand. So she called me in. I got down to Miniman's level and asked him what was wrong. He told me " My hand doesn't work". I asked him to show me, but he was unwilling; he also told me that his head hurt.
At this point the Momma in me was scared, while the rational side of me knew exactly what was happening. I still wanted confirmation. I called my Mom. She answered, and when I told her what was going on she confirmed it.. about this time Miniman came into the room, and ran into a chair as his balance and walking were now being affected. I called the pediatrician and asked if I should take my son to the ER, they said yes. Then there were two more calls to make. One to the school where Goosie attends to let them know that N would be picking her up and the second to Hubby. N also agreed to take care of Bubbles and Goosie until Hubby and I could get things figured out. I left N's house with tears in my eyes, willing this not to happen to my son. I knew the struggle.. I had been battling it myself. It was a struggle with my own body.. all because of a gene mutation.
Miniman and I arrived at Children's hospital and were quickly taken back. It took a little bit for an initial visit with a Dr. but once they realized the potential of things it could be, we were fast tracked. Hubby met us in the ER. About that time they were ready to draw blood and put in an I.V. lead. Miniman was scared. I held him firmly in my arms and told him that it is okay to be scared, he can be scared and still be brave. Cause being brave is when your scared and you do it anyway. I also told him that Mommy and Daddy would never ask him to do anything that was going to hurt him or make him feel worse.. we may ask him to do something that will be a little painful and uncomfortable, but we love him very much and will do our best to help him anyway we can. With this information Miniman started the first round of tests.
The blood/urine tests all came back normal, but that wasn't unusual. Then it was off for a CT scan. Hubby went in with him and I waited impatiently outside. Then it was back to the ER room, and a hurry up and wait for the Dr.. I was called out a little while later to talk to a Pediatric Neurologist on the phone. He asked me questions about Miniman's episode, and if there was a family history of migraines. I answered all of his questions, which raised more questions for him then gave answers. He told me that there was no test for migraines, instead we have to rule everything else out. So Miniman was admitted. Hubby went to get the girls and take them home. Miniman and I went up to his new room on the seventh floor, and I ordered him something to eat as soon as I could knowing that he was a very hungry little guy. His night nurse informed me that he should eat well because he had an EEG in the next morning and they wanted him awake at 5am. It was a stress test and they wanted to be sure he was stressed. Miniman had his favorite breakfast for dinner, then he and I setteled in for the night. Thankfully it didn't take him long to fall asleep, so I stayed up and made a few more phone calls. I wanted to see if any of my cousin's had experienced anything like what Miniman was at this young of an age. The Dr was concerned because most migraines don't start until around the age of 6, so Miniman was a few years early.
The next morning came early, Miniman was worried about the test, so I broke it down in a way I hoped he would understand. I told him that we would go to another room in the hospital and they would put noodles all over his head. Then after all the noodles were on he would need to take a nap so they could get a picture of his brain. He went along with things pretty well after that, the tech even mentioned that he was the best behaved 4 yr old that she had ever had to run a test on. I was proud of him. He went to sleep with a little coxing, I had to climb up on the bed and snuggle him a bit, but eventually he fell asleep and the test started. Afterwards, I had to bribe him awake with the promise of pancakes, bacon, yogurt and chocolate milk. When we got back up to the room it was too late for breakfast and still a little early for lunch. Brunch was ordered and waited patiently for ( as patiently as a hungry 4 yr old can). The test results came back a little while later and everything was normal, except a hiccup in his heartbeat. So he was going to also be seen by a Cardiologist. Then around dinner time it was discovered that a Cardiologist was not needed after all. This came as a relief. The nurse also told me that we would be staying another night and that Miniman would be having an MRI in the morning only one big test that day. I also spoke to a Genealogist and they promised to talk to me again the next day. I called Hubby and let him know what was going on.. he informed me that I didn't have a choice in the matter that he would be staying the night that night with Miniman in the hospital and we would trade off in the morning before the MRI.
During that night Miniman had an I.V. line put into his lead around 1am. Hubby didn't sleep much after that as he was making sure Miniman didn't pull the I.V. out. Other than that the night was uneventful. As it was Friday and school was out N once again agreed to take the girls, so I dropped them off and headed out once again to Children's. Not 5 minutes after arriving Miniman was whisked away for the MRI. He was being put under deep sedation. I was worried, but then I got a peace. Miniman didn't like what was going on, the medicine they gave him to sedate him burned a little going in. So once again I sang him the song I had sung countless times before to get him calmed down and to sleep. " Baby Mine" ~ yes from the Dumbo movie; but all the same, it is one of his favorites and I have discovered the more difficult the situation, the more he wants to hear it and the harder it is for me to sing. He did wonderfully under sedation, and came out groggy and wobbly. Miniman and I met Hubby back at the room, shortly there after the Genealogist came back in and had a few of his colleagues with him. Not to examine Miniman, but to talk to me. The tests came back a little later and something was once again wonky. So another CT scan with die this time was ordered, along with a promise that Miniman would be discharged that evening.
All the results came back normal, and with the exception of one last visit from the Neurologist we were set to go. The Neurologist came in around the late afternoon, early evening and told me that he and his colleges were certain it was the type of migraine that runs in my Mom's side of the family. Miniman is scheduled to return on Monday for genetic testing. With that he was released. Miniman and I made it home around 8pm Friday.
Since this was only Miniman's first major episode and second migraine (the first was back in January; he was only sensitive to light and sound at that time, so I had hoped that it wouldn't get any worse). Miniman at this time is not on medication and because the episodes happened so far apart, there wouldn't be a need for any as of yet. The one precaution I do plan on taking with Miniman is to get him a medical alert bracelet. No the migraines are not life threatening per say, but they can be quiet scary and special attention needs to be paid if he does have an episode and I am not around.

I must admit that this has been a challenge to me. On the way to the hospital the first time all I could think was not my son.. not him. I wouldn't want this for any of my children. If there were a way I could take it from them, I would. But I can't. After expressing these feelings to N she challenged me. " Are you going to stand in the way of God's will for your son? There is something that God is preparing Miniman for and you have to let him have his way. It is not easy to stand on the side lines and watch your child suffer, but know that God has a reason for it." ~I love you N!! 
Well, that is it, not much else has been happening. the girls took it in their stride while Miniman was in the hospital, but things are getting back to normal.If you are interested in the migraines I get follow this link. Miniman is spending time in the corner again for antagonizing his sisters.. but then, it is a welcome noise. Three beautiful wonderful children.. who am I Lord that you would bless me so richly.
Until next time dear readers.. be blessed!