What Does a Hypochondriac Look Like?

Her name is Stephanie. We don't know how it happened, but she's our hypochondriac (defined as a person who is abnormally anxious about their health). It's not like I made staying home from school fun when she was sick. She didn't see her mom and dad running to the doctor with every little thing. With all my children, if they were still running a fever after 3 days, I CALLED the doctor. I never made a big deal out of any illness or injury. Maybe she needed more attention---and still does in adulthood. Why else would she call me in the middle of the night saying she had a brain tumor because she had a headache and a little dizzyness? Or the time she called me and said she had Sars to which I replied, "so exactly when were you in China?" I think you get the picture. Well here's the latest:

I was at a scrapbook retreat over the weekend. When I talked to Butch on Thursday night, he said I might want to talk to Steph because she was convinced that she had lung and uterine cancer. I called her to find out what was going on. She said that she noticed that she had been breathing "funny" and couldn't seem to breathe right lately. She had gone to her doctor for her annual physical and called it to her attention. The doctor said maybe she heard a little something and wanted her to get a chest x-ray. Then when she was pressing on Steph's abdomen, she asked if it hurt. Steph wasn't sure if it really hurt, or was hurting because the doctor was pressing on it. So, she said "yes." The doctor had her go for an ultrasound. The tests results were due back on Friday. She said that she had told her dad not to tell me so that I wouldn't be worried and ruin my weekend. I laughed at that as I'm the last person to worry. I have a simple philosophy---I don't worry unless the doctor tells me there's something to worry about. I calmed her down by telling her that anytime you start thinking about how you are breathing, you can't breathe naturally anymore.

Turns out, both tests were normal. Her doctor told her that she might need to "see" someone about her anxiety. She asked me if I thought she should. I told her that from now on, she should just call me with her fears. After the ridicule from me, if she still feels afraid, then maybe she might need to "see" someone.

I must admit, a couple times I've scoffed at her for going to the doctor for what seemed like bug bites to me, only to find that she had ringworm and another time had staph---both of which could be serious. Just goes to show that maybe mother doesn't always know best---but most of the time she does!

Stephanie's hypochondria provides a lot of fun and laughter for the family. Luckily she's a good sport.

And Finally...

The chandelier Steph won in a poker game months ago that Butch, Jordan and I cleaned and put up.

Where Does the Time Go?

Oh yeah, that's right---Executor responsibilities. This is just one set of papers that have come in. I put the marker there so you could see the depth of the stack. And notice the dinky return envelope?

Then in my spare time---I manage to get a little needlework in. Actually, I did these in the early summer, but just got them back. They are so darn cute. The inside linings are all different Halloween prints.

Home Sweet Home

So here is Mindy's new apartment. I have to admit, when I saw it for the first time last Thursday, I was overwhelmed with all the work.

Butch and I went over on Sunday to drop off some things. When we left, I told Butch that I was glad that Mindy was all excited about joining my stitching group and was enjoying getting back in to it. But I could not sit and stitch amidst this chaos. I would have to work. Mindy is much more laid back than me.



I spent most of Monday organizing, cleaning stuff and decorating. You can see the after pictures below.

Her apartment is really cute and nice, but sorely lacks storage. I took a couple shots of the pantry---one can deep and the "hall" closet that can only hold 5 coats.

Perfect for a 25+ yr. old!!

She got insulted when I suggested that the boxes of clothes in her bedroom were the same boxes that "lived" in the dining area of her old apartment for 2 and a half years! I've vowed to keep quiet about her "straightening (or lack there of) skills."
The dresser is new, but other than that (and the jewelry armoir from Target we're using as a night stand), the bedroom furniture is "used" that I had spray painted black.

Then on to my house---it's Halloween around here. I really had to force myself to do a little decorating---just didn't feel like it with recent events.

















Then, after being at Mindy's all day, I came home to find that Butch had put the house on the market without even telling me!! Since when is he starting to get involved in the decorating. Oh yeah, that's right---the outside is "his."

A Year of Memories---August

The first layout is Steph's from last month. Her title is "generation to generation." I have a strict rule---miss 2 months and you're "out." I do want this club to be a priority. For some, it's the only scrapbooking they do---we all have rooms and tons of stuff---we need to use it!!








Due to everything that has been going on, our September meeting was postponed until October. I ended up being too sick to go, but here are the layouts. The theme this month was "success"---documenting any successful moments in our lives. I used the vintage peach label for my color scheme. I love to incorporate old stuff with new.

For my title, I went with "I'm A Star" and pretty much documented everything from my childhood. Here's the journaling:

Success can be measured in a number of ways. For a stay-at-home mom and longtime homemaker, the answer is simple. A well-run, organized and clean HOUSE! I’ve always taken my responsibilities very seriously. With Butch’s high-powered, stress-filled job over the years, it has always been a priority for me to make our home a shelter for him from the outside world. I always wanted him to look forward to coming home to the girls and I. If our happy years together are any indication, then I think I have achieved a level of success for which I’m proud.

I started “working” at a young age. I sold greeting cards for the Cheerful Card Company door-to-door starting in the 5^th grade. Organizing also started at an early age---although you would never have known it by my room. I organized and planned carnivals with my friends in the neighborhood. I set up a summer babysitting camp that lasted until my mom said I had to call it off. She got tired of me traipsing a bunch of little kids in the house to use the bathroom. I did a lot of babysitting. I sold Stanley Home Products door-to-door for about a year---that wasn’t so much fun---I mean, what did a kid know about cleaning products? I was president of my Camp Fire group a few times over 11 years and sold the heck out of Russell Stovers chocolates---they remain my favorites to this day.

Then came the real jobs. I got every job I ever applied for. I made solicitation phone calls for a State Farm Agent then worked at Bid Daddy’s Malt Shop where I became the night-time manager along with a pay increase to $1.00 an hour. My best friend and I landed a job soliciting for Charles Chips during the summer of 1968. They gave 2 sixteen year old girls a 1963 Chevy as a company car! I hit the big time with my job at Target when I was promoted to head cashier for $1.75 an hour. To keep that job, I had to be able to check out 60 customers in the express lane in an hour.

In high school, I was on the student council and chaired the Sophomore Dance. I was Secretary of the Junior class. I lobbied for and won---knee socks to wear with our plaid skirts.

Upon high school graduation, I worked at the Cardinal Ritter Institute---a home health care company. I worked there full time and went to business school part time to become a court reporter. After a year, I could take dictation at the speed of 125 words a minute. I sold newspaper subscriptions for the St. Louis Globe Democrat (only lasted 3 weeks until the boss “hit” on me and Butch made me quit). I became the restaurant manager for W.T. Grants Bradford House Restaurant after waitressing there for 2 years.

After the paying “gigs”, I stayed home, had kids and started volunteering almost on a full time basis. I liked volunteering because it could be on my terms and hours. An added bonus was the girls loved seeing me at school nearly everyday. At St. Therese in Kansas City, besides being the president of the PTA, I was in charge of the health room and became the head-lice expert and single-handedly examined every kid in the school.

I have been president of nearly every organization I’ve worked for. Of course, this is no great honor---this had more to do with who they could get to do the work. I’ve chaired more fund raising events than I can remember (see list). In 1994, I was one of 2 women in Nashville honored with the Volunteer of the Year Award from the National Association of Fund Raising Executives. It was a pretty big deal with a luncheon in the Maxwell House Hotel ballroom. Butch even changed an out-of-town trip to be there. This award came as a big surprise to me as I didn’t even know that the Dominican sisters had nominated me.

I’m good at what I do. I started my organizing business in 1990. When I got tired of cleaning out closets, I limited my business to craft rooms. I’m still enjoying that. It’s nice to know that if I ever need to work for the money, I have a marketable skill.

I like to think I’m a good teacher---even though I’ve had no formal training. I’ve taught people about organizing, scrapbooking, stitching, knitting, crocheting, gardening and driving. I’m on to the next generation with that.

I’ve won a lot of contests through the years starting with the Limbo in the 3^rd grade---how low can YOU go?---lucky I was short. I won a hula hoop contest and a twist contest in the 7^th grade. Our softball team---for whom I played 3^rd base---won 7 consecutive city/county championships. I was voted “honor camper” two years in a row by my camp counselors.

I earned my Master Gardener certification from the University of Tennessee Extension Service in 1995. Since then, I have designed and planted gardens for family and friends.

I’ve won several scrapbook contests at retreats (3) and on-line (1). I even won a family contest for “best hair” in a prom photo. And even though it’s not exactly a contest, they voted me as having the “best nose” in the family. That from a family that doesn’t give compliments much is a pretty significant achievement.

The best thing I’ve ever “won” would have to be my husband. 39 years and we’re still going strong.

When it comes to success, this quote sums it up for me: “Real success is about fully enjoying every moment.” Shapiro I did and I still do!

Lots of Layouts

The initials were for my friend, Susan's birthday. I just love the vintage French lingerie hangers. These are all layouts I did at the scrapbook retreat in August with Jeanne and Janet. The title and end pages were part of a class I taught there.

The Girl is Back!!

It's been a whirlwind of a few weeks. Amidst the sadness of mom's death, we got the good news that Mindy accepted a job in Nashville---same place where Steph works---a little nepotism at work.

Anyway, with all I had going on in St. Louis, the job fell to Butch to handle every aspect of her move. His first job was to find an apartment. At first, when he told me where he was looking, I had my doubts---he tried to be "thrifty"---which equates to parts of town that nobody wants to live because it's too far away from any sort of young action. Once he realized that wasn't going to fly, he found a really nice place full of young people and lots of college students. Plus, the price was right for Mindy---about $300 less than what she was paying in New Orleans. Add to that the lack of state income taxes, she'll net about another $400 a month---plus the higher salary---she's making out okay. She wants me to help her with a budget---we'll see how that goes....

We went to New Orleans for some fun which I pretty much missed most of due to being sick with my hives. Butch stayed on to handle the packing, loading and hauling. She lived on the 4th floor with no elevator---and where she parked was a long way to her apartment. Honestly, I'm glad I didn't have to be involved with all of that.

They drove back to Nashville on Thursday night. I left on Friday morning for St. Louis to meet with my family to handle mom's place. That was pretty emotional and took longer than I thought, but at least it's done. I came home on Sunday and was immediately sick for the next 3 days. I had been to the doctor last week and had some upper respiratory thing and a double ear infection. I think all the emotional and physical stuff just caught up with me. I cancelled everything I had going for the week. I needed the rest and felt pretty good by Wednesday.

While I was in St. Louis working at mom's, Butch, Mindy, Steph, Jordan, Morgan, Cameron and Carson handled Mindy's "move in." This time she's on the third floor with no elevator. Butch said the boys were a god-send as he was completely, physically exhausted.

Wednesday night was to be a family celebration of Mindy back in town. I made soup and grilled cheese---nothing fancy---just plain comfort food. We started talking about a regular family dinner night and decided with everyone's schedule, we'd have to take it week by week. Mindy has stopped by every day after work and once for lunch---she just works 5 minutes away. By the second day, she said the she must look like she knows what she's doing because someone asked her where the lobby was---and she knew the answer.

Today, Thursday, Butch and I met the girls at Aquinas College chapel for a Mass honoring mom. It was very nice and many of the sisters were there. Afterwards, Butch took me over to see Mindy's apartment for the first time. OMG!! It's really small and really lacks storage---for example---there is only one small drawer in the kitchen! The laundry basket will have to live on top of the dryer. I figured out what she needs in the way of furniture---just a couch, some type of storage coffee/table, bakers rack for the kitchen, large chest of drawers and nightstand. Once we can get all her crap off the floor and "in" to something, I'll be able to get it fixed up. Right now, storage is the key. I'll be sure to take pictures. It's pretty cute and very light and bright. She has a real fireplace and nice sized balcony. So far, she's happy with it. We have plans to shop on Sunday. She has plans to go to Oktoberfest with Steph on Saturday. I told her that she better be prepared because parties in Nashville are nothing what she's used to in New Orleans.

I'm looking forward to having her around more. One more baby back "home"---one more to go!