2nd Happiness Class

Last night was our second happiness class.  Lots of interesting points, which were mostly review.  I did learn something absolutely new, though.  Disabled folks are generally just as happy or happier than they were before they became disabled!  This excludes, of course, the several months of adjustment after becoming disabled.  I'd never have guessed, as I thought I'd probably prefer not to even live that way.  Despite my surprise, I immediately knew why--it's because they've learned that they can face adversity and still be okay.  Their perspectives have shifted.  Interesting, huh?

My new homework is to do 3 acts of kindness each day--extra, beyond my normal activities.  Wow.  I'm stumped, but hopefully it'll come easily if I keep it in mind.
 
I realized that the gratitude list was incredibly easy for me, as I'm a grateful person.  The kindness thing, though...well!

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PRK for Michael

He did it! Michael went to LasikPlus and had his procedure done today! He actually went with the tried-and-true (i.e., outdated) PRK method:). It really sounds pretty good--instead of creating a corneal flap, they abrade the eye's surface. It's a little more sore during the healing process, but there will never be an issue with the 'flap' coming loose. This is the preferred method for boxers, police officers, scuba divers, etc. I didn't realize when I heard about it that it's actually less expensive than Lasik--not more so. I passed over it, thinking that I didn't really need that, primarily due to an attempt to avoid extra cost. As the predecessor to Lasik, it is very well established and safe, theoretically.
I observed the entire procedure, as anyone can. The surgery room has entirely glass walls, with a viewing area to sit down. They don't serve popcorn, but they do offer tea and coffee from a quite state-of-the-art brewing machine! Anyway, it was very interesting to watch, and the laser aimer was quite reminiscent of a video game--a bit scary, too, as you see it subtly move around by the surgeon's hand! Dr. Campen, my surgeon, also performed Michael's procedure. The optometrist informed us that he generally has 4 espresso shots each morning before surgery--which may explain the bouncing leg a bit! She also said that he's the most meticulous surgeon that she's ever worked with, which was comforting to hear!
Michael is sleeping downstairs at the moment. I'm glad he has a quiet afternoon to rest. It is a bit exhausting!

Cucumber Water, Espresso machine, eye/teeth/foot updates!

New tip: Slice a 1/4 of a cucumber very thinly into a whole gallon pitcher with filtered water. I haven't wanted to drink water much for the past couple of years, but I've been downing this refreshing water with enthusiasm! It's like Dasani plus! I'm totally tickled over it, and it supports a healthy habit!

I have also finally figured out how to work my espresso machine correctly, and I'm totally wild about my own fantastic home mochas...who needs Starbucks now? Alright, I suppose this doesn't have the health benefits of the cucumber water, but at least it has pocketbook benefits:).

I'm in a cooking and home improvement phase, I suppose. I've been baking breads, and I made a fennel-potato soup yesterday. We've been stripping a wall border and putting primer on Alex's walls. He's 9 1/2 now, but he has the decorations for a little boy's room. We bought new room decorations over a year ago and I'm finally getting to it...

Michael's still on crutches and is dealing with a lot of soreness. I'm not dealing with too much tooth discomfort, unless I try to eat tough foods--hence the soups and breads and mochas! Michael has his Lasik appointment on Saturday--actually a PRK procedure, or something like that. My eyes are fairly normal now, and I'm enjoying reading again.

The summer is going quietly, and I'm glad the kids have down time. Fiona is getting the hang of her bicycle, we're hitting the pool, and life is pretty calm.

Braces

I now have braces on my upper teeth!  They're uncomfortable, but, frankly, they don't feel as bad as the spacers did (for now, at least).  Michael looked quizzical and asked "aren't they supposed to be in a straight line?" after he finished laughing at how 'cute' I looked in my new braces (i.e. like a 12 year old!).  I answered, "eventually!", as, of course, the uneven line is why I have the braces!  Honestly, though, I had the same initial reaction.
 
I dreamt last night about putting on one of those thick, huge black leather droopy belts from the 80's (making a V in the front, you know).  It was striking me as so 80's and out of style in the dream.  Anyhow, I laughed when I woke up and realized that the belt was a metaphor for the braces--which I should have gotten in the 80's and which would have been more in style then (when I thought braces were so pretty)!  Also, I put the belt over a long white sweater--white for teeth!  The braces/belt wrap the teeth/sweater!  Okay, not rocket science, but it's still kinda fun.

Michael's foot is doing a good bit better today.  No major bruising, swelling is way down, and he's been putting limited pressure on the foot, which is a good sign to me, though I keep reminding him not to.  He is going to be hobbling around on crutches for quite a while.

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Learning Happiness

I've just begun a 5 week course at my church entitled 'Pursuing Happiness'.  I was actually quite pleased with the first class.  It's being taught by author and psychologist Robert Pawlicki, whose specialty is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.  I'm not sure I learned anything new, but it was a nice reminder that it is our interpretation of events which determines how we feel.  Anyway, sometimes it just helps to be reminded of what we already know.
 
There are several scientifically validated factors that help in increasing 'Happiness', and my homework for this week is to record 5 things that I'm grateful for each night.  We'll get a new focus next week.  Dr. Pawlicki reminded us that achieving happiness, much like losing weight, is dependent on our self-discipline, and that we will need to continue the things that help us to be happier on a consistent basis.  This class is also meant to give us some experience with various known factors, so that we can determine for ourselves which factors help us the most in our quest for happiness.
 
A sidenote:  Michael hurt his ankle tonight in taekwondo.  It looks really swollen.  I'll update this in the next day or two with how he's doing with it.  

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Michael's Lasik Appointment

Hah!  Michael has succumbed to the temptation and will be getting his initial Lasik assessment on Wednesday:)  I think it was really the fact that he won't have to do yard work or go to the beach for two weeks post-Lasik... 

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Vision check

On Thursday, I went to my 3-week post-Lasik check-up.  My eyes have healed fairly well, and my vision is 20/15!  Well, the right eye is 20/15 and is doing great.  The left eye is barely 20/20 (that line is still blurry), despite the fact the left eye was my good eye before!  The left was the intralase eye.  The one hope there is that it supposedly takes longer for the intralase to heal, so hopefully that vision will continue to improve.  My next check-up is at the 3 month point, and all is well for now.

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PTA conference, Lasik & Dieting Tip!

I'm off to a PTA conference this weekend. I'm actually a bit nervous, as I won't know anyone very well and actually feel a bit like a kid who is going off to camp! I typically have my crew with me, or at least my car, but I'm carpooling and sharing a room with another PTA officer who seems totally nice, but who I don't know really well.
Also, today is my final check-up post-Lasik surgery. Everything seems to be going well, though my eyes do take a while to get clear in the morning. I think it's dry eyes, which they tell me lasts for a few months. Otherwise, they seem pretty great--though I haven't done much book reading since Lasik and I'm not sure if that might not be because my eyes don't like looking up close quite as much. It's so nice to be able to see the kids when I'm in the water at the beach or pool, especially, and poor Michael has to endure my teasing now when he's looking for his glasses and I don't need mine!
Now that I'm finishing up with Lasik, it's time for braces! Actually, it was time for braces about 20 years ago, but I'm finally getting them! Anyhow, I have the separators already between my teeth, in preparation for the upper braces on Tuesday, and my mouth is so sore that it's hard to eat. I hadn't realized that braces would be such a good way to enforce calorie restriction compliance! :)

Memories of Uncle Felton Burbage

My Uncle Felton was buried Sunday, a week ago. We'll miss his congenial presence at our family get-togethers. He had a knack for making everyone at ease and comfortable. Uncle Felton won a special place in my heart long ago, as he defended my vegetarian 'phase' and even insisted on accommodating me with a cheese pizza once--which meant so much to a young, insecure teenager.
My cousin Ruth's husband, Jacky, had an uplifting recollection at the viewing. Jacky works at a pharmaceutical plant and at the time was training a new employee with fairly obvious birth defects, who enjoyed going to the go-kart races. One day this employee came in to work and told Jacky about a man named 'Felton Burbage' who always defended him from anyone who picked on him at the tracks--Felton would just 'light them up'. Anyhow, that remembrance touched me completely, as it was just such nice example of the compassionate heart Uncle Felton had. I'm sure that he didn't hold on to his kind deeds--he just routinely did stuff like that. We're blessed to have had him in our family. Loving thoughts and prayers to Aunt Bertha, Debby, Mike and their families.