Thoughts from a Kittn

Well, there was another status hearing today.  Once again, his attorneys are requesting they be allowed to withdraw. These are the new guys that just took over about a month or so ago.  This time there are financial concerns - they doubt his ability to pay their bill.  The next status hearing will be on May 24 to see if the Judge will let them withdraw, meaning another delay while he finds another new attorney.

There are definitely times I feel like this will never be over.  But at least he’s sitting in jail where he can’t hurt anyone else.

Here’s the article in the local paper: http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2007/05/03/news/doc463a2f27ab7ce304640254.txt

Well, I hope everyone had a nice Easter holiday weekend.  We spent Saturday shopping for and going to the 2nd birthday party for James.  He is the son of some of my best friends! It’s so good to see people. I tend to not contact or visit people nearly enough. It’s something I really need to work on.

Then we went to see Bad Medicine - a band that Todd is guitar teching for.  They put on a great show as always. I ended up going backstage and sitting in the “green room”.  I was tired of the weird drunk guys hitting on me and I was starting to have acid reflux problems. But over all it was a good day.

I woke up Easter Morning with a nasty headache and a lovely wave a nauseau.  I’d had the hiccups on and off from the time we got home from the Bad Medicine show, which means I didn’t sleep much either. But I decided to lay on the couch and rest. Finally I got up to get ready to go to Todd’s Aunt Margaret’s house. She was hosting Easter Dinner and we decided it would be nice to go visit.  We had dinner with Aunt Margaret, Uncle Tink, DaddiBuck, Vicki, Nicci and John.  After dinner, DaddiBuck and Vicki left so DaddiBuck could head back to Sterling.  The kids - me, Todd, Nicci and John stayed and played Balderdash with Aunt Margaret.  I won the first game and Aunt Margaret won the second.  I think I may have found a new game to put on my favorites list!  Then I got to see Aunt Margarets looms - very cool, and her kalidescope collection - also very cool.  When then left and stopped to drop some videos off at Greg’s - he’s a really good friend of Todd’s.  I’ve decided we need to spend more time with Greg - there are some great stories of their younger days to be learned!

As for the sweets - I checked my email and had new pictures of my niece Addison - so I’m sharing them with you! http://tinyurl.com/272wnz

Ever have one of those feeling that life is ready to swallow you up? That feeling of being completely overwhelmed? So many things are going on simultaneously in different areas of my life, my head is spinning. I almost feel like I can’t keep up.

About 3 weeks ago, I went for my follow-up pap.  They said that if something came back and I needed more tests, they would call in about a week.  If everything was good for now, I’d get a post card about 2 weeks after the test.  Well, it’s been 3 weeks and I’ve heard nothing - I think it’s time to call.

About 2 weeks ago, we adopted a kitten.  She’s now about 5 months old. Her name is Daisy - Todd suggested it.  She’s a sweetheart.  I need to get her into the vet to get her distemper booster -  but otherwise she’s fine. I had been waiting for the vet’s office to contact me about an appointment. They didn’t call till Friday March 23 - I just happend to be a little busy.

Thursday last week - March 22, at about 6:30 AM I got a call from my Mom. I always hate these calls.  My Grandma had collapsed at about 2 AM.  She wasn’t doing well, was on a ventilator.  Well, then I got another call at about 9:30 - they were removing the ventilator.  The only way to keep Granny alive was leave her on the ventilator or do a trach and feeding tube - she would basically never leave the hospital and never be off machines. The family decided to let her go peacefully. She wasn’t expected to make it through the day.  Granny died at about 2 PM Friday March 23 -exactly 10 years and 11 months after Papa, her husband.  They are now back together again. Her funeral was Wednesday March 28.  We found out on Monday that my dad’s cousin lost his wife the same day to lung cancer. Her funeral was Wednesday too. I love 3 grandparents in about 2 and a half years.  Granny was the last left for Todd and myself.  It still feels strange.

Then the State’s Attorney’s office called Tuesday. I forgot there was a status hearing on Monday.  No real change in the case.  His new attorney’s said they need more time to review all the materials - so much for their comment about being ready in May. The next status hearing is set for May 3.  They say they may not be ready for trial until August.  This is the latest news story about the case: http://www.week.com/Story.aspx?preview=&type=ln&NStoryID=57450.

We helped my mother-in-law move on Saturday.  Everytime we help someone move, I remember why I vow to hire movers for all future moves!

And an update on my niece Addison - she’s doing great! The surgery was a total success. She’s growing like a weed and is starting to cut her first tooth!  The little darling will be 4 months old on Friday. 

 This beautiful little angel is my niece Addison at 3 weeks.  She is offically one month old - and as of last week up to 7 pounds and 3 ounces - should be more by now at least a few ounces! I can’t wait to see her, although that’s still a couple months away.

Me - I also can’t wait to provide a little cousin for her, but that’s gonna have to wait a little while too!

Hopefully everyone had a very happy set of holiday!  I hope the New Year is full of good health, good cheer, success and lots of good friends for all of you!

Addison has officially made her appearance. She was born the late evening of Dec. 7, weighs in at 6 pounds 5 ounces, and measures 19 inches long.  She has black curly hair and brown eyes.  Congratulations Jeff and Kim!

Well, she’s on her way.  8:30 this morning they broke the water.  Unfortunately we’re still waiting.  But she’ll be here soon!!!!!

Ok, I know I haven’t been faithfully updating my blog.  Not real good at staying on top of this stuff.  But I have some updates and other random thoughts.

Update 1: The trial

Well, the trial has been postponed.  Since the defense attorney is defending a woman charged with drowning her 3 kids with the help of her boyfried on Oct. 23, apparently he won’t be available on Nov. 6.  So there is a status hearing on December 15 to discuss a new date. This gives both sides time to figure out their schedules.  It also give the court time to appoint a new judge - apparently Judge Dozier is going forward with is retirement at the end of the month. That leads to the second part of the trial update - the prosecution has put forward a motion to combine the sexual assault case and the stalking and breaking and entering case.  The new judge will have to get caught up on the details and make that decision.

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2006/10/18/news/doc4536422fdbed9110089138.txt - Bloomington, IL news - article on the trial

I’m sure at some point and time I’ll be posting some emotional, unintelligible stuff about the trial and it’s effects. I’ll be writing a victim impact statemtent as so point.  Just warning you now!

Update 2: My niece

Ok, well technically she hasn’t made her appearance yet - but sometime between now and Dec. 19th - I can’t wait.  I’m already getting her Christmas gifts!  So far my sis-in-law is doing great and so is Peanut!  Too bad they are down in Texas. But that does give me a reason to go down there.

Update 3: My health

 Since receiving the HPV positive results and abnormal pap, I’ve been doing a lot of research.  And it’s kind of scary.

Did you know: 80% of women will receive a positive genital HPV result. 

Did you know: that there is not test for men without a tissue sample from the penis. But it is believed that an equal number of men are positive for HPV

Did you know: You can have HPV and have no symptoms at all. Or you may have it for years without knowing before actually testing positive. In fact, testing is very seldom done and is not done for all forms of genital HPV. If you are under 30 years of age, they do not test for HPV unless there is an abnormal pap.  If you are 30 or over, they may test for HPV, but if you have had 2-3 clear pap tests they may tell you to forgoe the pap - the pap is the only way they have of identifying HPV.

Did you know:  There are somewhere between 30 and 40 strains of genital HPV.  Approximately half are considered Low-Risk - which mean you may get genital warts, but those are not generally found in cancers of the genitals.  About half are considered High Risk - which means you don’t get the warts but you do have a much higher risk of cervical cancer, vulvular cancer, vaginal cancer, anal cancer - men are at higher risk for penial cancer and anal cancer.

Did you know: genital HPV is considered a sexually transmitted disease - but not through fluids - it is passed skin to skin - condoms do not fully protect because the amount of skin covered is only partial.

Did you know: In reality, very little is known about the specifics of HPV. Approximately 20 million people have an active infection - which is the time it can be identified - if the virus is dormant it may not trigger a positive test result.  There is no treatment for HPV.  They don’t know if a person can ever get rid of the virus.  It is believed that you can be infected with multiple strains.  They don’t know for sure that it causes cancer - the virus is found in approximately 99% of the cancers cases.

Did you know: Cervical cancer kills about 5000 women a year.  The “vaccine” that is currently being promoted actually vaccinates a total of 4 of the strains of HPV - 2 strains of High Risk and 2 strains of low risk.  Those 2 strains of High Risk are found in approximately 70% of cervical cancer cases.  Only girls under 26 can receive the vaccine - the younger the better - because if the girl has had sex she has most likely already been exposed to the virus.  Women over 26 can’t get it because they did not test it in anyone over that age.  The testing has been going on for 5 years - they don’t know it the vaccine will need a booster. This does not mean don’t have your daughter vaccinated - it may very well keep her from  getting those strains of HPV - definitely not a bad thing!

The amount of money put into research for HPV is minimal. Very little is really known about this virus - which is the most prevalant STD.  Thousands of women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer. Millions will be diagnosed with High Risk HPV.  Many doctors will admit they don’t know much if anything about it.  And yet very little research is being done and a minimal amount of funding is being provided.  Most people don’t even know about HPV.  They have really only been studying this virus for about 10 years.  But it can have a huge impact on a person’s life - women delay getting pregnant, have to have multiple tests and follow-ups - more doctors appointements and lab work. A lot of money is spent on monitoring it in women. 

If you want more informantion you can visit www.cdc.org and look under diseases/sexually transmitted.  Or visit www.hpv.com.  You will most likely find conflicting information everywhere you look.  The CDC site was most interesting - especially since they have posted replies/questions from doctors and those in the medical field about  HPV informational pamplets. Much of the information you see will be about low-risk HPV so don’t be surprised.

Ok - I’m done for now.  Thanks for being here - the support through everything is most appreciated. 

Well, I guess my doctor’s office has decided me having massive panic attacks during my procedure and possible biopsy isn’t a good thing either.  They had decided that I need some valium before going in. Not a bad idea that!  And actually the nurse practitioner/midwife that I normally see isn’t overly happy with the way things have been handled. So she is talking to the doctor doing my stuff tomorrow and filling her in on all the good stuff.  And called the office yesterday - one of her days away from the office - to get the doctor to call in the script for valium and is coming in to the office tomorrow - a day she normally reserves for midwife duties - to be there for my procedure. 

I’m still a little freaked by all this.  It’s a very strange feeling to be forcing yourself to do something that has similar components of a horrific action taken against your person. As much as I know I need to go in and have this done, it’s just so weird to force myself to do something that has parts similar to what was done to me in violence.

On the good side - my brother and sis-in-law get to see the peanut again today - well a sonogram of her, but hey it’s still cool!  I think it’s really cool that they share the sonogram pictures with us. Even though we are states away, the whole family gets to be a part of it!