Bullseye

Doug and I have respite kids this week.   Three of them.  Ages: 4, 3, 2.  It's the same three that I talked about here.  And since they're only here for 11 days, it's okay.

This afternoon our new friends discovered the tree/play house in the back yard.  I helped them shimmy up and watched as they admired the view from above.  So this evening as I was working in the kitchen and watching them from the window I was not at all surprised to see that the eldest had managed to make his way back up the ladder.

"Ahhh," I thought, "he's really enjoying himself."

And then I realized that his pants were around his ankles and he was peeing through the slats on the bannister.

And apparently aiming at his younger brother as though he were some sort of bullseye.

Future Olympian in Archery?  I think so!

xo

Call Me Maybe, Olympic Edition

The results are in.

I am happy to announce that I received word late Friday afternoon that the re-test of my liver enzymes came back at a normal level, so all is good and peaceful there.  You can imagine how thoroughly un-peaceful the preceding 23 hours were as I became BFFs with webmd.com and self diagnosed myself as having one of two things:

• Celiacs Disease - which I am pleased to know is not the case as I will continue eating cookies and other treats delectably laced with gluten, but am secretly disappointed to find isn't the cause of the elevated enzyme levels because celiacs disease is known to be a factor in infertility and recurrent miscarriages.  And yes, after 5 rounds of IVF and 2 miscarriages (3 if you ask Acupuncture Abby), one does actually reach the depth of fertility woe induced psychosis at which they plead with God to have a disease.  Why?  Because it's an answer.  And in the world of fertility woes, the ratio of questions to definitive answers looks something like 935,234,712,634,213,053,001 to 3.  

I am not exaggerating.

• Gallbladder Dysfunction - which I am pleased to know is not the case because really, who wants to have surgery, but am secretly disappointed to learn is not the cause of the elevated enzyme levels because really, who likes to wash dishes by hand every day.

My dishpan hands would benefit from a furlough.

So there it is, the elevated liver enzymes were a fluke.  Can you guess how I celebrated?

With a beer.

xo

Disclaimer: This song/video is PG-13.

Freak Out!

Yesterday was a great day!  I spent a few hours lounging around in a park and then went to acupuncture and then had a lovely lunch with Doug's parents, sister, and niece.  How could that not be blissful?!  

But there were bits of yesterday that have left me feeling like this:

Here's what:

1. My acupuncturist is now officially on sabbatical to prepare for and welcome her new baby.  I am 15 weeks away from my next appointment with her.  I typically do not go more than 2 weeks without seeing her.  I've known this was coming and although I am very sad about not seeing her for such a long time - because she really has become a dear friend - I know that I can get through this and that there are other very nice acupuncturists that I can see should I feel like I just cannot make it the full 105 days until she returns to her office.  But they will not be any Acupuncture Abby.

2. Following my last chiropractor appointment I decided that maybe, maybe, I would start a BBT chart.  I told my lovely chiropractor at my last visit that I've tried to chart in the past but I'm just not sure I'm responsible enough for it.  I forget sometimes.  And anyone who knows anything about a BBT chart knows that forgetting is a MAJOR faux pas.  Even still, I decided maybe this charting business was something I had grown-up enough to handle.  I am in my thirties now.  So, with throughly researched and newly purchased basal thermometer in hand and highly rated and freshly downloaded charting app on my iphone, I set off on a BBT charting adventure.  Even though I was a few days into my cycle when all of this came about I thought, "I'm not going to worry about this.  I'm not going to wait until my next cycle to start.  I'll just jump in and try not to think about it."  And so...  

• I've temped regularly - except for those few days I was out of town and forgot my thermometer at home
• I've charted diligently - unless I forget to record and have to look at the thermometer again while hoping I didn't accidentally reset the last temperature taken, and 
• I've intensely overanalyzed the happenings of my BBT compared to what I think my BBT should be doing and it's quite possible that I am more stressed out about the happenings of my body now than ever before.  

Well, maybe not ever.  But I'm pretty stressed out about this.  And I feel like it's a ridiculous thing to stress out about.

2-a. I'm sure some of you are now thinking, "She should just relax!"  Some of you may even have the distaste to suggest such a thing to me directly.  FYI: We are past the point of "relaxing" and those comments do anything but help.  So, how about you smack yourself since I can't reach you.  :-)

KIDDING.

Not really.

3. The combination of #1 and #2.  AAAAAAGH!

4. As Doug and I were headed out of town yesterday I got a call from my family practitioner's office letting me know that my liver enzymes were a bit elevated and they wanted to re-test.  Since we were in town we opted to stop by her office on our way home and have the test done.  The results will be back in a few days.  The nurse mentioned a handful of things that could lead to elevated liver enzymes, a few of which seem possible.  We will see.  Just after the "little stick," the nurse also mentioned that...

5. My doctor is no longer working at that clinic.  Well, that's a fun bomb to have dropped on you while a needle is raping your vein and stealing your blood. I LOVE that doctor!  And now I'm going to have to work with someone new as we figure this liver business out.  GREAAAAT.

6. Combine #s 1 and 5.  WHAT!?!?  IS!?!?!  GOING!?!?!?  ON!?!?!?! IN!?!?!?!? MY!?!?!?!?!  LIFE!?!?!?!?!?  These are MAJOR players on what I like to refer to as my "Board of Advisors."  I've known and trusted these people for nearly as long as my husband!  And now they're not available for one reason or another and I am SCARED about it.

And it absolutely does feel like a bird has pooped on my head...while I'm at the mall...picking up a gift...for a wedding I'm running late to.

Now that that has been fully purged, I think I'll go meditate and try to expend some of this fearful freak out energy.  Namaste.

xo

A Rosy Disposition

I recently received an email that Yoga Journal was offering a 28 day Meditation Revolution that could be subscribed to and enjoyed for free.

Today is Day 10 of Marsha's Meditation Revolution.

I'm proud that I've made it to Day 10 of the Meditation Revolution. Sometimes I can settle into wellness commitments that seem like a great idea but do not stick for one reason or another. I've nurtured the integrity of my commitment to this journey despite a few instances of the internet connection not cooperating or my schedule being jumbled or being away from home. Like today, I sat for my daily ritual in Des Moines' Rose Garden. And in the Rose Garden I remain as I compose this blog.

I've heard that prayer is when you ask, meditation is when you listen.

My listening skills can always benefit from some honing. It's challenging to sit quietly for 10-15 minutes and let the traffic of thoughts pass without acknowledgement. Sometimes there is a serious rush hour occurring in my mind!

I value my time in quiet and stillness.

I am improving - not as if this sort of thing is to be assessed. But nonetheless, I can feel the calmness as the benefits of this practice accompany me throughout the remainder of my day.

And for today, there is no more fragrant place to settle into a rosy disposition.

xo

Happy Monday, Y'all!

xo

This is only a test

Do you believe in things like God or the Universe testing us?

I think I was just tested.

If I hadn't just written a blog about staying true to self I may not have had the courage to say "no" to the thing I have the hardest time saying "no" to and we'd have three (And GAWD, there's that magical number again!) magical little beings joining the Mezger Clan within a few hours. Which would be an overt disregard to my pact with Doug that 1=yes, 2=yes, 3+=NO. And that would've been BAD in an epic sort of way.

Or maybe it was divine intervention that I spent 2 hours in my coveted yoga room typing from my heart about how important it is to KNOW when the NEED to say "NO!" outweighs the WANT to say "YES!"

Either way, this life stuff is HARD!

xo

3 is a Magic Number!

1.  I met TWO new friends this week, bringing my grand total of Denison friends (defined as people that I have a personal connection with outside of Doug's work - all others are considered acquaintances through Doug's work) to a total of - drumroll - THREE!

2.  I cooked beets for the first time yesterday.  There were THREE of them!  Today will be the THIRD day this week that I've eaten beets!  I love beets!

3.  Today is not only Friday (July) the 13th, but it is the THIRD (and final...preceded by January 13th and April 13th) Friday the 13th of 2012.  This is MAGICAL because there are typically only TWO Fridays the 13th in each year, and in 2011 - insert super sad face - only ONE.  But the fun doesn't stop at that!  No sir!  Another year just like 2012 will not occur again until 2040.  Why, you ask?  Because 2012 was also a LEAP YEAR!  Click here for more.

XO

"Yes!" I mean, "NO!"

Sometimes the want to say YES must be overpowered by the need to say NO.

I am working on this.  In fact, I got in some good practice with it this week!  And as such, I have decided that the following responses are appropriate and deserve being practiced for ease of fluency when appropriate:

• "No thanks!!!"
• "I don't think that's for me right now."
• "I want to say 'yes' but I need to say 'no.'"

I've been utilizing my inner strength to use these sayings more frequently of late.  And sometimes it's met with criticism.  

It can be mislabeled as harsh, blunt, snotty, and exclusive...and worse! 

OF COURSE there are things that MUST be done.  That's all part of a healthy reality of life known as energy exchange.  Is what you are (physically or spiritually or emotionally or financially) contributing being appropriately (intrinsically or extrinsically) compensated?  

So what's the big deal with saying, "No?"

In yoga, acting from your truth is known as satya.  Many impede their innate desire to live satya because of fear of hurting someone else's feelings.  But I challenge that in that case, individuals are doing more harm to themselves AND grotesquely underestimating those around them.  Speaking from truth does not have to be cutting or snarky or hostile or rude.  Speaking from truth can be graceful, tactful, sensitive, and freeing.  Moreover, the truth is the truth and in avoiding satya we truthfully hurt ourselves and risk hurting others.

And truthfully, I love you guys!!!

xo

"Truth is the beginning of every good thing, both on heaven and on earth; and he who would be blessed and happy should be from the first a partaker of truth, for then he can be trusted." -Plato

Call Me Maybe, Part 2

Thanks to my trip to Des Moines today - and my time with Big Ken and Colleen in the Morning - I was introduced to yet another catchy version of "Call Me Maybe."  Of course I had to SHARE it!

Enjoy!

xo

5 Best Things About My Day

Today's trip to Des Moines brought bliss.  I got so excited about spending time with:

• MY FRIENDS!
• Big Ken and Colleen in the Morning!
• NPR!
• Fantastic food and conversations!
• MY FRIENDS!

Absence really does make the heart grow fonder.

This one's for you, Babes!

xo