So here are the last two weeks in a nutshell(a very big nut I may add!) First off, Happy Ground Hog's Day! Happy 6 more weeks of winter. I think I can handle this winter. We have just had a bit of dusting of snow and mild temps all Winter. The worst is the ice actually. Last Saturday I took the kids to visit the snow!  We headed to PA, about 1.5hr drive west of Baltimore to ski at Whitetail on Scout Weekend. Scott had his friend SAmmy sleep over after a 1/2 of school last Friday, and our neighbor's son joined us for his first time skiing. I figured this was the best time to go for him since he would receive a lesson. The hill was packed and everyone had a great time, but it started to snow big, wet flakes when we arrived. I was a bit worried about the drive home by myself. But it all turned out well. I knew it was time to go home when SCott wiped out, head over heels and complained that his chest hurt. I was simply wiped out. We skied from 10 am to 6pm with a lunch break, and actually had passes up until 10pm. I was just too pooped for more snow.

On Sunday I had to get Allison to work and Scott and I spent the day reviewing for a weeks worth of tests and getting his homework done. Then it was off to our friend's house for the Super Bowl game. I did not find it so Super, but it was fun to visit with friends, eat chili and catch a few commercials inbetween. I was cheering for the Patriots(time spent in Boston) and even had my last Super Bowl champion sweathsirt on in support, but it was not meant to be. ONly Scott and I enjoyed the night out since Tom was still in San Francisco and Allison had a paper to write and tests to study for-she stayed home. At least she did not have to play Field Hockey that night. And she is managing to have a bit of fun as she joined a group of friends from school that play a Dungeons and Dragons type game. She really enjoys just spending time hanging out with the group(and not having to study).

I have been wearing that poor girl out. Our GS Leader council asked her to give a presentation of the trip to Houston. She has been busy working on a power point presentation, on top of classwork. She put together some great photos and I had her write up a presentation. She did not get much time to practice, and unfortunately our video clips did not work at the GS facility(no internet connection there). But it was a great chance for her to practice making presentations. And I think she may have to present again in May at our annual Board meeting. She did a great job, even under a tight schedule. I had to run her to our GS meeting that WEds night just after I ran her out to a management class for work.  She attended the WEds night management class instead of Saturday morning since we had planned on skiing that day.  At least she gets paid for the classes! 

And Congratulations to Allison for being chosen as one of the Girl Scout Distinguished Woman's shadow girls! She will spend a day with a women company CEO, following her around the work place. Allison has been chosen to follow a woman who owns a Chemical Company here in Baltimore. In April, Allison will have to present her day and her mentor.(See, practicing presentations comes in handy since you never know when you will have to speak!). 

This weekend Allison had class again on Saturday morning(it is a 6week program) and then off to work on Saturday and Sunday afternoon. Friday night I dropped her and another scout off to work on projects for the Orioles game on June 24th, but I did not stay. I decided SCott had missed too many gymnastics classes. I wasn't terribly excited about the girls progress at their meeting though and I would have liked to have joined them(seems as if the in charge adults are holding them back).

NOt only his gymanstics class, but SCott also managed to get in a swim class on SAturday morning(since Tom returned home on Friday, there is extra help for the transportation issues). Scott also spent Saturday afternoon working on a school project at a friend's house. Sunday was dedicated to working on math with Tom(geometry) and his Dog Care Merit badge for boy scouts. I even got Tom and I a job at boy scouts(patrol supervisors) since the boys seem to have a bit of difficulty concentrating when they are working together at their meetings. At home, Scott had a huge report to type up that he has been working on for the Dog CAre badge since last summer. WE figured we might as well take advantage of having a dog. Scott even joined Cookie and I on her trip to the vet office last Friday. Cookie was due for a few shots, and seems she has an infection in her back paw. She cut it on the ice while we were playing in the yard and it developed an infection, so she is on medicine.

And speaking of medicine, I have had my fill lately. Last week I had a follow up doctor's appointment for my yearly bloodwork. I was also having a lot of pain in my foot, so I thought I would double check the possibility that I had developed gout. Turns out it is just good old arthritis. My doctor had given me prednisone since my neck was still bothering me from the whiplash. The prednisone really helps out aches and pains, but you can't take it very long. It was a godsend for a day of skiing though. I also seemed to have developed a bladder/yeast infection, so I was given two antibiotics. I had taken all my prednisone and my first antibiotic, and this week I was working on my second antibiotic, cipro. Seemed a bit extreme since that is the same medication they give for anthrax. But I started it Weds night and had another dose Thursday after a light lunch. I should not have had the caffeine in my coffee that morning, the two don't get along. My heart was racing and my blood pressure rising by 2pm. I was also itchy and had numbness in my mouth, feet and hands. Seems I was having all the worst side affects you can get. So my worried coworkers called for an ambulance and off I went to the Emergency room at the local hospital where I used to work. I was even cared for by a girl that used to work in our rehab dept. They kept me until 9pm that night and I went home with a horrible headache. I had to go back to the doctors office the next day for a check up. No more cipro for me! I still have to get a cardiac stress test to make sure I am in good shape. I am not so sure it is worth me going back to the doctor's office! Seems like I come out worse than I go in! And hearing about Whitney HOuston's death at the same age did not make me feel any better. Not to mention we just lost a mom in her 40's at the school this past week of a heart attack. Too close for comfort.

Since Tom was out of town, I had to rely on our wonderful neighbors to help out with the kids while I was lying  in the ER-getting the kids to and from school, dinner. Allison kept everyone connected with facebook and I spent the evening texting on my cell phone. It's good to have a back up plan.

On top of all that, I finally had a follow up dentist appointment and I got my new crown put in place. Unfortunately, the crown broke two days after they put it in. So I will be going back there too!

I did also have my yearly review and it looks like I am at least keeping my job for another year(along with a raise and my yearly bonus). That is always nice.

On top of all that, I was busy making lots of pasta salad for the teachers during CAtholic School week, as well as for the Super Bowl Party(and the work staff enjoyed some too). I have also been busy registering SCott for summer camps!(yes summer camps).


So I am happy to say I am feeling much better. A big Happy Birthday to Eric Seitz who celebrated his 22nd birthday on Super Bowl weekend! Happy Birthday Eric. And sorry to hear of the loss of Stacey and Matt's two ferrets. Too sad.

I am sending along a few photos of the Lego Club (headed up by Tom)and their robot, along with ski pictures(SCott after a wipe out) and Allison and Alex hit the slopes.

Baltimore Blog-Kathleen