nothing to report

I've been told I need to get back to blogging. But I really don't have anything to say. Well, besides my mom dying.

I'm beginning to feel like Phoebe from FRIENDS, who constantly brings up the death of her mother. Like when they are chosing maid-of-honor for Monica's wedding, Phoebe's excuse is that her mom committed suicide when she was 15 so she should get to be the maid-of honor. I actually have used the excuse. Someone asked if I wanted to help clean up the kitchen at work. I told them, "No thank you, my mom just died." It tends to work. Except on my sister. We were looking for something at a baby boutique and couldn't find it so I mentioned that we should probably ask. She asked me if I wanted to do it. My response, "No thanks, my mom just died yesterday." She told me she was going to punch me in the face and then told me her mom just died too. I told her I was sooooo sorry to hear that. I did make her smile though.

So, life is moving on. It's wierd though. It really didn't hit until I got back to Bixby. It's funny how I look around my house and see my mom.

The thing I'm dreading? Going through her closet. Dad really wants Laura and I to go through it so we can give it to people who really need the clothes. It's just that her clothes are so personal. That and they smell like her. I'm keeping the jewelry and the purses. Too bad I don't wear a size 7 1/2 shoe.

So this is going to be my only poor me blog. I don't want to turn this into grief therapy. But I don't want people to think I'm moving on without her. She's with me everyday. I really do miss her. But I'm so glad I'm going to see her again. I just tell myself she's making curtains for my heavenly home. That and keeping track of my thank you notes.

Mom's Slideshow

thanks

I can't begin to tell you all how much you all have meant to me these last few months. We are still feeling all the prayers.

To those of you who traveled near and far to come to the funeral, I can't tell you how much it meant to me. Grandma told me she wished she'd gone to more weddings and funerals before she died. And I really think that's true. It meant so much for EVERYONE to be there. Thank you.

As Dad and I were putting laundry away today, he said, "I can't believe how much things have changed." I nodded in agreement. Now we've got a new normal.

We had a really good day today. Bruce, Kevin and Amanda came by for bagels before heading back to KC. And Laura and J left to get back to STL before it started snowing again. (Let me just say, Laura, J and I together are not good for snow forcasts. We've been in 3 blizzards since NYC in December.)

Dad and I went to church, and I didn't even cry. (Probably because the Lunesta I took last night hadn't worn off yet.)

And then we went looking for a new tv. Sorry Mom, but we're putting a flat-screen tv on the mantle in the family room. She will probably kick us when we get to heaven, but oh well. I'm thinking Ed's house will be the new football watching house.

I took a nap this afternoon. And I think Dad had a really hard time. He said he tried to take a nap and then turned on the tv and realized Sunday nights were the nights he and Mom would watch the travel shows together. I know there's going to be a lot of that in the next few weeks and months. But I have to keep reminding him & myself how much pain she was in and how much better she is now.

And we'll be ok--it will just take some time.

Mom

I'm so sorry about the lack of updates. Things around the Schmidt house have been pretty crazy the last month.

If you haven't heard, Mom was diagnosed with colorectal cancer on the 23rd. We've created a website so we don't have to make 30,000 email updates and phone calls. So if you'd like to keep up to date, check out:

www.caringbridge.org/visit/susanmschmidt

We all appreciate the thoughts and prayers.

never been kissed . . .

by a patient until today. He was 94 years old.

I was going in for a side hug. And he came at me. So I tried to pivot. Didn't work.

But at least I got my mouth closed, because he didn't.

Oh, I was so uncomfortable.

But I think I made his day.

Funny thing was, Dr Maloy was seeing him and asked me to go in and freeze off a couple AKs. So really, she set me up. And I'm not doing it again, ever.

And tomorrow I'm keeping my lips to myself. And I think the Burt's Bees Lip Balm is working.

And he patted my butt as he was leaving. Told me to have a good day.

Oh, at least I can find the humor. . .

quotes

So I realized I hadn't posted in awhile.

Today's quote:

"My bronical tubes are hurting."

Many patients here in Oklahoma call their BRONCHIAL tubes that. If it were me, I'd just say my lungs. Such as, 'my lungs are hurting.' That way I wouldn't sound retarded because I was mis-pronouncing a medical term. Just a thought.

funniest quote of my career

This would be MUCH funnier if I felt it appropriate to use the exact words that were said on Thursday, however, it's not. So, please use your imagination.

New patient arrives in office. He's cute, 22 years old, and works out. (Meaning probably uses 'roids) So his muscles are bulging. The girls are following him around the office, drooling.

His main reason for visiting the office: "Groin Strain."

So I start asking him questions. How long had it been there? When did he first notice it? What makes it worse? Had he tried taking anything for it? Where is the pain?

Of course, he points to his inguinal canal. (Or groin)

I ask him if he's felt any bulging or anything different there.

He states: "Yeah, I have two balls"

My response: "Um, no I don't mean those balls"

He gets all flustered and says, "Oh my gosh, I didn't mean that. Yeah, there are two little balls right here."

Well, what he was feeling were not balls but his intestines. Yep, it was a hernia.

Then we had the Friends episode discussion:
"Are you sure it a hernia?"
"Yes."
"What else could it be?"
"A hernia."
"Or?"
"A hernia."