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Right about now I’m up to believing just about anything a medical professional would tell me if it started with “I’m diagnosing you with….”. That’s probably not the smartest way to be, after all not every doctor knows everything. It is just how my health seems to be going right now. Hence my willingness to get a second opinion as requested by my most awesome rheumatologist when I told her recently “my ENT says I’m losing the hearing in my right ear now, and the hearing in my left ear has gotten worse than the 40-60% loss diagnosis I was given a few months ago.” Back in April of this year I was diagnosed with AIED, Auto Immune Ear Disease. My ENT”s are highly respected doctors in our community. I started seeing a specialist within my ENT’s office because of the rarity of my condition, and the multi-symptoms I’d been experiencing. At this last visit my ENT added Ménière’s disease back to my diagnosis, after 1st ruling it out in April. AIED is a rare disease, and it is not unusual to have AIED and Meniere’s. Both ear disease’s have similiar symptoms. My rheumatologist wants me to get a second opinion to make sure nothing is missed. She believes the outcome will more than likely be the same though. I agree with her, it certainly won’t hurt to get another opinion. Not that I’m hoping for miracles anymore. A little bit cooler weather would be nice. Here’s a look at the temperature today, in the shade!

Another great 4th celebration with our extended family the Bennets, Steve, Jill, Patrick and Alex. Jill is modeling a wrap I made for her upcoming birthday and vacation to Hawaii with her family. She looks beautiful as always! Matt brought Ms Yuki this time and she did wonderfully, which made her grandma so very happy. She even cuddled with Karen of Terry and Karen while doing the dishes. This made Karen very happy.

TNG, or The next generation, Matt the oldest center, missing his brother Jason…..Patrick next in age, and the up and coming Dr. Bennet to you mam! Yes Sir Dr. Bennet. To the right the 4th person and most recent to graduate from UCI. Jill started the trend, Matt followed, then Patrick and now Alex. loving this!

Terry San Cartier of Terry and Karen McCorkel, with his ever present “gotta have chips” and wine, true Terry. Jill an up and coming photographer with her camera and fun attitude, and Karen of T & K. She always has a smile on her face at parties as she loves them as much as I do!

A closer photo of Jerry in the Bennets hammock. We just put ours up and he spends ample time in it on the weekends too. Listened to some great tunes on Jill’s ipod in it’s dock. This gf rocks let me tell you! love it sister! And Steve, Jills other half, always a dry comedian with a look to follow. Hang on to your plates and drinks peoples he’s worse than the best resturant host, always clearing the table…I’m NOT done Steve! luv it…

Matt hanging in the kitchen with his girl, Ms Yuki, Jerry in the hammock, had to add a 2nd photo of my sweetie cause I luv him!

Taken by our one and only awesome graduated from UCI, our own offical photographer, Matt. I hired him to take our photo as I knew I had to have the best, and I wasn’t dissapointed. Had to have a photo of the 3 couples before T & K move away….

Matt also took photos for Patrick Bennet for his badge while in medical school. I remember when Patrick was just a young’en and Matt helped care for him. He always loved it when Patrick came over to play.

Jill had a fun craft project for the girls, glow in the dark flower wreaths. All 3 of us had fun making them and wearing them. Thanks so much Jill.

The fireworks were awesome as always, and much thanks goes out to our long time and wonderful friends the Hernandez family for providing a “special” parking place on a street where there weren’t any.

A great band played prior to the fireworks, good music always makes you feel young at heart. A good 4th for everyone!!

I haven’t been to our local man made lake here in Mission Viejo for quite some time, so when my dear sister/friend Jill suggested we go chill for a few hours I knew I had to say yes.

My most awesome husband Jerry and I used to take our kids to the lake several times a week during the summer. On the weekends Lake Mission Viejo would be wall to wall kids and their parents, all looking for a few hours of fun. We would stake out our little piece of sand, sit back in our collapsable chairs and set the boys free!

Jason loved the water, his boogie board, and most of all making sand castles. He would spend hours playing at the lake, leaving me with wonderful memories of watching him so deep in his creative world.

Matt loved both the water and his sand creations, I think most of all though he loved being in the water with his boogie board. I’ll always remember his joyfullness while playing there.

Jill, her husband Steve, and their 2 boys Patrick & Alex used to join us at the Lake. They’ve all grown up to be such handsome guys and this photo is one that brings all those youthfull times back as if were yesterday.

Now the crying kids at the beach aren’t ours. The sand throwing, the screams, the laughter, even the kids rolling down the grassy hill are all distant memories for Jill and I. Instead we try to tune that out, and when that doesn’t work, we just move further down the beach, where there are no small footprints in the sand and our thoughts can linger for just a while longer on relaxation. ahhhh…….

Just in case you aren’t sure which items found under our couch in the TV room are from my side, let me clarfy. Everything on the right including the scrapbook cutout is mine. I think Jerry’s side looks more delicous though!

For Mother’s Day this year Matt and Ms Yuki came over for a few hours to visit before heading out to dinner. I always enjoy spending time with them!

We met the Bennet family for dinner at one of our favorite places to eat, Mongolian BBQ on El Toro Road. Yum! All in all a very special day!

38 years ago I started having my children; the oldest, Jimmy would be 38 today if he were still alive. Jason is 31 now, which is just as hard to believe. Matthew will be 28 next month and can no longer be called the baby of the family even though he is the youngest. I love and cherish my boys, and feel very blessed to be their mom. Happy Mother’s Day to me!

Bottom Left-Jimmy, Top Left-Matthew, Right-Jason

Jerry, Matthew and I felt very fortunate to enjoy our Easter with 2 dear families this year. Our first destination was down in San Diego at my aunt and uncle’s house. Both my cousin Greg and my Aunt Lou and Uncle Jim’s house sit high up on a hill top with views one could only dream of seeing on a daily basis. We loved spending time with them as well as my cousins, their wives, along with their children and one of their boyfriends thrown in for good measure.
L to R -Greg (Patty’s cousin and Lou and Jim’s oldest son) Amy’s boyfriend, Uncle Jim (I sure love this guy!), our youngest son Matthew, my sweet hubby Jerry, and last yet not least by any means my cousin John (Lou and Jim’s youngest son).

L to R -Lauren (Greg and Doreen’s youngest daughter), Doreen (Greg’s kind and funny wife!), Sylvia (John’s super sweet wife), Aunt Lou (smart and big of heart), me (looking chunky and older than I’d like), and Amy (John and Sylvia’s daughter).

Following an awesome feast and visit with my family in San Diego, Jerry, Matt, and I headed back to Mission Viejo, where Matt collected Ms Yuki who been waiting patiently for our return, and headed back to his place. Once Matt and Ms Yuki were on their way home Jerry and I headed over to our long time friends Steve and Jill. A delicious dinner was enjoyed at their house, followed by a small celebration for their youngest son Alex’s 22nd birthday!

It’s hard to believe Alex is 22 years old. Jill, Steve, Jerry and I have been celebrating our children’s birthday’s together since Alex and Patrick were wee little folk! Up next for a birthday celebration? Matt in June, who will turn 28! Yikes!

For those of you who may be interested, posted here is a x-ray with dye contrast photo of the epidural needle in my lumbar spinal dura that my anesthesiologist placed there. I had this injection the first week of April and was honestly petrified to have the procedure done. With everything I have had done in my life in the category of health care even this fear seemed irrational to me, but there it was. Still I wasn’t going to pass up the odds [Read more →]

“So that happened” is one of my favorite lines from one of my favorite movies, “State And Main”. If you’re ever in the mood for a hilarious movie with a good cast, check it out or, google it. As my youngest son Matt likes to say when you ask him a question, “here, let me google that for you”, and if you’re on the internet he then sends you to that wonderful page of the google empire. OK? Got your homework? Now on to the post.

It all happened about 5-6 weeks ago. If I were to be sincerely honest with you I would say it all happened 56+ years ago, but I’m not going to bother you with all that history. 5 to 6 weeks and a rough outline of the story will do just fine. So, 5 to 6 weeks ago my doctor and I decided to change my medications we were using to treat my Fibromyalgia. Maybe some of you read my earlier post about this, titled “Massage Techniques” [Read more →]

It’s been almost 2 years since my dear friend Pauline has come out from Illinois to California, and a year to the month since Valerie was out here with her father. Both times were related to Valerie and boyfriend Roni’s desire to move to this area, and after a long year full of anticipation Valerie and Roni dreams have come true. Roni is transfering out with his job from Bloomington, IL to Irvine, CA. Valerie will probably transfer within her job as well. So, once again, Pauline and Valerie drove across the states in 2 days and arrived ready to accomplish their goal, to find an apartment for Val and Roni. It was also a great excuse for Pauline and Patty to see each other once again.

As always, Pauline and Valerie looked so pretty, and I was so excited to see each of them. So to honor the time we were going to spend with each other I had my awesome hubby, Jerry, take photos of us. We started out wanting to critique each photo after Jerry took them.

As time went by we got a bit goofy, lightened up a little, and having some usual fun times together. Most of it was caught on Jerry’s camera.

And as usual Pauline and I were giggling and having a bit of fun. Doesn’t Pauline look cute when she thinks she’s gotten away with a little something?

We went a bit further and clowned around, being our usual silly selves. Only with a such a wonderful friend can you truly not care (well, mostly not care) how silly you look.

Pauline ended up bringing her laptop which resulted in us having a lot of fun sitting side by side sharing photos, playing FarmVille, and delighting in the fact that we were indeed right next to each other and not chatting on line long distance.

In between Valerie and Pauline’s search for an apartment we enjoyed eating out at Souplantation as well as feasting on Valeries’ home cooked meals. Can that girl cook! umm, umm, umm!

Catching Pauline in a quiet contemplative mood was a treat for me. I’m not sure why you don’t like this photo Pauline, I sure do. So pretty!

Taking a day off from their tasks, Pauline and Valerie enjoyed a long wonderful day at Disneyland. The weather cooperated and they came home with stories and photos. Ahhhhh!

Pauline and Val took me out to lunch at Oami’s, a favorite Sushi place near by. What a treat, such yummy food and a lot of it too. Thank you girls!

Another fun get together and one that could become a tradition, was inviting one of Pauline’s neighbors from way back when she lived here in Mission Viejo, Jill, on the far right, as well as a friend of mine, Karen on the far left, and now friend of Pauline’s. 3 bottles of wine later and we can all say that we had a great time visiting. Ready to do this again whenever you’re back out here Pauline!

Anxious to spend some time with friends she’s made out here in CA, Valerie left our little wine gab fest early. I had to snap a few photos of mom and daughter.

Isn’t she just adorable? Valerie always knows how to put an outfit together, and always looks so stylish!

The 9 days went by too fast, both Pauline and I agreed on that. Knowing it would not be the last time we saw each other again, and anxious to head home to her sweetheart, Pauline and I were able to keep our goodbyes dry eyed. Valerie will be back in about 3 weeks time, bringing with her her boyfriend Roni and a truck load of furniture. If I know her well enough I’m sure she’ll have a big smile on her face too. Love you girls!