So, I said I'd save the rash story for another time... you will be THRILLED to know that day has come.

Two weeks ago I went to the ER because the clinic turned me away. I was diagnosed with Strep Throat, Laryngitis, an ear infection and a UTI. I was given an antibiotic shot in the butt and a steroid shot in the arm, along with a bag of IV fluids which seemed to help more than anything after all the throwing up I did the night before. Then I went home with a bottle of Percocet (sp?) and Cipro (sp?). One week after that, right about the time I finished the Cipro, I broke out in what looked like acne from head to toe... it has stayed with me a week, spreading and going through various stages. Right now it looks like the chicken pox and is drying out, I suppose... who can really tell anything except that it's gross. I have been told frightening stories of Scabies and Psoriasis, but am still hoping it was an allergic reaction, as originally told... however, I just took my last Prednizone, and still look like this:

Right, so not the most flattering self-portraits I've ever taken. I hear you... but I'm looking for any empathy I can get... or suggestions as to WHY this is still with me!!

Last night, when I got home from Bible study, Shaun had cleaned our entire bathtub and polished all faucets. He had a glowing candle going, a towel, bath robe, book, and Aveeno Oatmeal soothing bath mixture sitting out for me. I fell in love all over again right then.

I am not the only one falling apart, however. Evan has a black eye:

Madalyn woke up with a sick stomach and has thrown up on two different occasions already today.

Our yard looks like this:

Because we got a letter from our Homeowner's Association insisting that we re-sod. We have been planning on it since we moved in, but who ever wants to set the money aside to actually do it? Well, the decision has been made for us. I have to admit, it will be very nice to no longer say things like, "I'm going out to mow the weeds," or "Kids! Stay off the Tundra!"

The reason the chicken didn't cross the road.

Also, we have been having a baby roach problem in our shower. We got rid of Massey and hired Heron for the inside and out. Our bug men are both as dedicated to giving us a green lawn and ridding us of roaches as I am. One even wrote me a thank you note for hiring them that read, and I quote: "We look forward to the imminent demise of your dreadful roaches."

It's slowly getting better. The bathroom is actually arriving, I think... but I will not rest until I go for a straight week without seeing a roach anywhere in our house, or even garage for that matter. And the Heron boys say those are reasonable expectations. They haven't once told me to better seal my garage or that they "don't do drains." They rock my rashy world.

Shaun's bath surprise was awfully sweet, it really, truly was... but in all honesty, I'm thinking about leaving him for the Heron men. If they'll have me, that is. (And they probably won't: see above.)

I probably don't even have to explain HOW or WHY I got drunk for the first time IN my life the other night when Shaun and I had a date at Chili's, just after the hostess and waitress smiled at him like, 'isn't he an amazing man to still love this poor burn victim?' (For those of you who think that sounds vain, it only took one drink on a very hungry stomach and I had trouble not falling off my chair, no exaggeration.) A special thank you to the hubby for taking a picture of me and texting it to my brother. Niiice.

In other news, Shaun joined a band...