Life.

I haven't felt like updating recently.

I'm approaching my one-year anniversary with Raven.

Raven is the Pug at the very top of this picture, hanging out with her buddies. That's a very big and content Pile o' Pugs, right there.

We've had some nights where the temperatures get in the low 40s. My house doesn't keep heat well, and replacing all of my windows is not an option right now. 

My solution is an electric blanket that sits on my bed at night. 

Pickles, the black Pug, knows that this blanket is the key to a good night's sleep. I've actually caught her at night getting the blanket off of my bed (with her teeth) and pulling it down on the floor so she can sleep on it.

She's smarter than she looks, that Pickle.

I got boogers.

I watched my twin nieces last night for a few hours.

After bath time, they each picked out a fingernail polish color they liked.

We sat in the bathroom and did our nails. One twin picked pink, the other one wanted blue and gold.

I sat with them and did their nails. The conversation went something like this: "Do you girls know how lucky you are to have each other? I always wanted a sister. All I ever got was your daddy."

Little girl giggles ensued.

Other quotes from the night:

"Monca, I got boogers."

"Gimme the soap, woman!"

I opened my mouth, and my mother came out

When I told my Mom exactly how much brown sugar was in my glazed carrots: "Holy shit. Those are going to be some sweet ass carrots."

I also made some pasta sauce.

Here's a picture of my Pugs, just because.

Wherein my medical problem has the word 'irritable' in it

I had a really important doctor's appointment on Monday morning.

I waited a few weeks for it. I was anxious as to what was going to happen.

After going through my medical history, my doctor asked me about my gallbladder and appendix. Yes, I still have both.

After poking around, he sat me back up on the table.

The issue, he said, is that there's not an organ where my pain is on my left side. What is there are my intestines, and they're irritated.

The thing is, the doctor said, there's no one test that can determine if you have irritable bowel syndrome. You just have to rule everything else out, and if medicine works, then that's what you have.

He gave me two options on Monday. I could either keep doing different tests, or I could just start taking medicine on a trial basis to see if it works.

I'm very, very done with having tests done. I don't want anymore blood drawls or appointments where I get sonogram lube all over me.

The prescription cost me $8. I think I can handle that.

From what I understand, it's basically a muscle relaxer that kills the alien living in my body that messes my stomach up.

I didn't want to be put on another medicine, but if it works, it works.

And let me tell you guys something. It works!

I've had virtually no pain at all this week. Other than the obvious symptoms that I won't mention here, the thing I don't like most about this is the pain.

I don't know how many times in the past few months I've left social situations after I've eaten food because my body was so mad at me.

I actually stopped eating in public for a while because I was so afraid of the consequences. I would go home, crawl in my bed with a heating pad, and promise myself I would never eat food again.

Dramatic? Yes, but it really is painful.

But this week? This week has been fabulous.

I had no idea how good normal felt until now.

Of all the random things I Googled about my problem, including random organ removal and which organs you can live without, I did not even once consider IBS.

Figures.

(I know this isn't the sexiest of topics. But it's my blog, and I can discuss my bowels if I want to.)

Issues

"The shrimp is good, but it's pretty hard to fuck up shrimp."

Me: Climbing into a truck with no running boards, struggling, and finally sitting in the driver's seat.
Someone who shall remain anonymous: "Can you even reach the pedals?"

I'm short. I have issues with these things sometimes.

Of bread and pasta

I got put on a new medicine today. Per a new doctor's orders, I'm supposed to take the medicine each time before I eat.

I'm also to keep a food diary.

The gluten question was put back on the table as well. I haven't been eating it because I have a mild case of PTSD from when I ate it in the past.

But I was told this morning to go back to my regular diet.

Following my doctor's advice, tonight I ate at Olive Garden and had breadsticks and pasta.

Hey...I'm following my doctor's orders!

BRIGHTEST SPOT EVER

If an alien lifeform decided to invade planet Earth, they would probably do it at night.

They'd need a bright spot to land.

I'm pretty darn sure that the view outside of my hotel room qualifies as THE BRiGHTEST SPOT EVER. 

It's an airport parking garage, FYI. And I haven't slept well and I'm crabby.