Back to the Butcher
That’s what I now call my dermatologist: The Butcher.
I don’t think she can let me leave her office without taking a piece of me with her. I understand, we had a skin cancer scare in the summer of 2008 which left me with a 2 1/2 inch scar on my left arm…then another scare on my right arm about a year ago…and this time, three stitches and another scar on my left thigh. I laughed it off as she told me she needed to remove another spot and it would leave a scar:
“Oh, it’s no biggie. I certainly don’t display that part of my leg anymore!”
But seriously, my husband is going to start calling me Frankenstein if she doesn’t lighten up. I’ve learned my lesson! Here I am, 28 years young and have had three cancer scares in the last three years. I’m out of the sun! I sit under the umbrella every time we go to the pool, I wear major sunscreen, a hat, blah, blah, blah. I’m being smart now. Let’s just hope the five or six years that I baked myself in hopes of the golden tan I never received didn’t do any permanent, terminal damage.
Just last month my OB/GYN informed me that I have “Fibrocystic Breasts” (is that TMI?). He went on to tell me that it’s nothing to be concerned about, except for the fact that the cysts make it difficult to differentiate a cyst from a lump that needs immediate attention. The next thing he said hit me the hardest:
You drink a lot of caffeine don’t you? Excessive caffeine can make cysts worse.
Um, well, didn’t I just tell you I have an average of five to six kids in my house on any given day? YES I drink a lot of caffeine! How else would I function??
Yet somehow his warnings were enough. From that day forward and for the last month and a half now, any coffee I drink is decaf. My coffee pot is resting on a shelf in the garage. But you want to know the biggest shocker?? I feel GREAT! You see, coffee dehydrates your body. For people who drink a lot of caffeine, you need to drink even MORE water and I was not doing that. If I was thirsty, I’d pour myself some more coffee. One of the first things I noticed when I quit drinking coffee was that I was going to the bathroom more often. And instead of reaching for my coffee cup, I now drink water when I’m thirsty (imagine that!). I have more energy now and I’m less irritable! Apparently the caffeine would not only keep me awake, but it also made me quite jittery and short-tempered. I didn’t even realize it until I stopped drinking it.
My poor kids!
Needless to say, I don’t plan on going back to the coffee habit ever again. I still enjoy a cup of coffee like a smoker likes his cigarette, but I only indulge about once a week and when I do, it’s decaf. A girls gotta have her vices, right?
I’m so excited it’s Friday again. Six more days until our foster children’s next hearing. I’m certainly not holding my breath for this one. I’m praying, for their sake, that they’re able to go home next Thursday so they can be reunited with their family and be with them during the holidays, but Josh and I are mentally and emotionally prepared for them to stay if that ends up being the case.
We’ve had a few ‘jammie days’ this week and I’ve come to realize that I’m just lazy on the days that I don’t get dressed and make my bed. Even if I have big goals for the day, I just can’t seem to get motivated if I don’t properly prepare myself…by getting dressed, running a brush through my hair, and picking up my bedroom.
So, I’m dressed, bed is made, kids are fed. It’s time to start school.
Happy FRIDAY ya’ll!! Have a great weekend!!
~audrey