Statistics, Statistics, Statistics

{Taken from my Life Story}

 One out of every 2,000 live births are affected by craniosynostosis. Yes, one out of every 2,000 live births. This neurological birth defect mostly affects male babies. I was one of them. A baby girl born with craniosynostosis. One out of every 2,500 live births are affected by congenital diaphragmatic hernias. Yes, one out of every 2,500 live births. Approximately 1,600 babies are born each year with C.D.H.. Yes, 1,600 babies. Only 10% of cases occur on the right side. Yes, 10%. And. Only approximately 50% of babies who are inflicted with C.D.H. live. Yes, 50%. I was one of them. A right-sided (At least that's where my abdomen scar is located!!) C.D.H. survivor. One to three in 1,000 people worldwide are affected by Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. Yes, one to three in 1,000 people worldwide. You know what? As a self-described "journalist at heart", I love, love, love statistics!! Yes, I am literally fascinated by them!! How befitting that I would fall among such insane statistics.

Tuesday, August 6th, 2013. What an eventful date that turned out to be for me!! My sutures were removed.... By Mom!! She has taken out stitches before!! It actually stung a bit as she gingerly pulled them through!! Me, the "Cranio" person with a freakishly hard skull felt it!! Weird. But, then again. It was actually a positive that those sutures being pulled out stung. How so? Because the thread just had to match my hair color!! {Mom accidentally pulled out a strand!! Whoops.} The strangest part about Mom removing my sutures? I never bled!! See, twain concepts are always liable to occur with me. I scar. And I bleed. Anyway. Something else eventful occurred on Tuesday, August 6th. I received my test results!! It isn't at all what anybody had in mind. Not surprising!! It is a rare form of acne which only effects the scalp. I do not know its statistics, although I'd love, love, love to learn them. Because, apparently, the dermatologists don't see this form of acne very often!! Hence my beginning today's Blog post with craniosynostosis, C.D.H, and W.P.W.'s statistics!! I have a rare form of acne. Rare. Story of my life!! Now, this "one step forward, two steps back" flawed personality type who suffers from premature short-term memory loss has been prescribed some pill to swallow twice daily. I work against that character defect. Being a "one step forward, two steps back" flawed personality type. However. I keep waiting for the one time when my stupid mind forgets to take a pill!! {Which almost occurred last night!!} Yes, I am just waiting to mess up. Oh, and I cannot eat any dairy near the timeline when I swallow my medication. I have German flowing proudly within my blood!! Do you have any idea how much dairy I ingest? Cheese. Yogurt. Cheese. Butter. Cheese. Eggs. Cheese. Milk on cereal. Cheese. Ice cream. Cheese. Chocolate milk. Cheese. Milk chocolate. Did I mention cheese?! I have become one of those annoying {No offense!!} people with "food issues"!! Really?! Wasn't I a pain in the ass enough, already?! {Proud of it, babe!!} Well. Apparently not!! But. It could always be worse, I suppose. I am not suddenly lactose intolerant. I can still consume dairy. Just not until about an hour or so after swallowing a pill. And right now, every chance I get, something dairy is voluntarily being shoveled into my mouth.... It is my latest addiction!! Take that, acne!!

 

On an unrelated note. Remember Mikey, my little Kindred Spirit "Cranio" Buddy? Well, I have been granted a unique opportunity to correspond via e-mail exchange with his Mom!! Pretty neat, huh? After much consideration, {Because I never make rash decisions.} I sent her a letter yesterday!! Wow. In an effort to keep Rose on Beautifully Unique, please my Blogville Friends who like photos, and show this new "e-mail-pal" what I look like. A picture!!

 

    

Smile!!

I never post on Saturday. However. An adorable little Dachshund Blogging Friend named Nola "told" me that our Golden Retriever pal, Sugar, is celebrating a birthday!! Wow!! Birthdays are meant to be celebrated, especially when you're a canine whose life expectancy is never nearly long enough!! Correct? Happy, happy, happy birthday, Sugar. Here's to many, many, many more. Now. We are supposed to post a picture of our smiles. However. I will "Go for broke and exempt all clichés if possible". I'll also post the lyrics to "Smile"!!

 

    

Smile, though your heart is aching
Smile even though its breaking
When there are clouds in the sky,
You`ll get by
If you smile,
Through your fear and sorrow
Smile, and maybe tomorrow
You`ll see the sun come shining through
For you

Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear
May be ever so near
That`s the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what`s the use of crying
You`ll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile.

 

{I need another song about smiling. But I like this one!!}

 

Happy birthday, Friend!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eternally Grateful

Blogging Friends.... Thank-you for your comments on the other days' post. I truly appreciated them!! Because I love you all so very much, I'm oftentimes found creating Blog posts which might catch your interests, sans losing my own unique style. For instance. Stories about Rose. Because many of you are from Blogville. Or posts about Ramsey and Zoe {Not that I did that for anyone but their families!!} because I have Readers whose lives were touched by congenital diaphragmic hernia. {MY birth defect.} But, I haven't any "Robert Downey Jr." Blogging Friends!! {Not that I am complaining!! They are all on Tumblr, and far stranger than I will ever be!! Trust me on that one!!} Thus, usually whenever I write about Robert Downey Jr., it is for myself alone, so I'm eternally grateful that you comment!! Keep them coming!! The other day's sweet, touching, heartwarming story about Robert Downey Jr., and little Jaxson was, lest anybody wonder, written from my perspective alone. I only "stole" its facts. Oh, and I wrote the story with a head cold!! Which I am currently still fighting!! Sigh.... Alright. I am off to read MY book!! I wish to do twain chapters today!! We shall see....

 

 

Being Creative

  Blogging Friends....I'm afraid that I am a bit behind in commenting on everybody's Web sites!! I just cannot "do it all", as that phrase goes!! Things fall off of the balance beam of life. All. The. Time!! Sigh....

"When you're creative, you never turn off. It gets intense sometimes...." --Robert Downey Jr.

Awhile back I wondered what I would do after being finished with my Life Story. I worried about feeling lost because I love, love, love having writing projects. Will I feel like I'm coming down from a "high", or something? {You know what I mean!!} Writing projects just make my small existence feel so very meaningful!! Well, I needn't have fretted!! Because, God has since filled my mind with plenty of ideas for future writing projects!! Plenty of ideas. However. The curse of being a creative individual is that, thus according to Robert Downey Jr., you never "turn off". And he is correct!! See, I have firsthand experience with this!! Being creative {For any sort of art. Not just painting or drawing. "Art", I think, is a relative word. For instance. My Blogging Friend Lynne's crocheted animals are definitely a work of art!! No doubt about it!!} explains why I am seldom ever bored!! My "brain juices" just flow away like some rushing river, and Attention Deficit Disorder conquers me!! That, obviously, is a positive!! But still. The curse of being a creative individual is that you never "turn off". And, then I am watching "Man of Steel" in some local theatre {Great film by the way!!}, while my mind is pondering some next potential big writing project!! Really?! Before being completely finished with my Life Story?! I am trying to watch a movie!! And several weeks ago it was some children's story about a pink bunny named "Bubbles"!! Whoops!! The bunny's out of the rabbit hole for that one!! Good grief!! Can't I just live in the moment?! Apparently not!!
 

 

Here is a last picture of Shadow. Three years ago today, at 9:30 PM, she collapsed and could not pull herself back up. I then sat by Shadow's side nearly the entire night, stroking my girl's "blond" fur. I only achieved two hours' sleep. Literally. I counted. This picture was snapped on the morning of Tuesday, June 15th, 2010, before we euthanized Shadow.

 

 

 

Reading MY Book

Blogging Friends.... I hate to do this. But, may I break a promise? I want to write/post stories about Rose. Truly I do. I am even experiencing a withdrawal from writing!! However, currently, I am back at work on my Life Story!! Not surprising. This time, I am simply reading it. I'm adding certain things, and correcting a few errors along the way. Surprisingly, doing so has actually been fun!! It feels emotionally touching--in a positive sense--that I'm reading MY book, as though I would be Caryl Moll's "Maxdog", or Kelle Hampton's "Bloom". Here's the thing. I will read my Life story, and then show it to family. Its future still remains uncertain at the moment. To publish? Or not to publish? That is the question!! First I must show it to my Mom!! That is a start, right? {Yes, I do things in my own sweet time. Why must you ask? See, I live with "developmental delays". A "special needs" Blogger whose Website I sporadically read wrote that people like me have "rebel timing"!! Rebel timing. I like that!!}    

 

 

Last Saturday, we were watching my one-year old niece. {There is a story about her and Rose coming soon!!} I was sitting on this computer during naptime. She awoke, then toddled over to me. I picked up my niece's still-groggy little spirit, and sat her on my lap. We cuddled. It occurred to me that I have pictures of Rose stored on this computer. So I showed her some. She was more interested in touching the mouse!! Meanwhile, I discovered some forgotten pictures of sweet Rose. Here's one. Rose is being given her medication in cheese after a doctor spayed her. At age three. 

Now. I am off to read MY book!! {That sounds so weird in an exciting sort of way!!}      

Caught Off Guard

Blogging Friends.... I have promised you stories about Rose. And I cannot wait to write them!! They shall come!! I do mean that!! However. Today has been quite productive for me. Quite productive. I pondered the future of My Life Story, and was reminded that I wanted at least one month post-editing to let it sit dormant before sharing this Writing Project with family. {One month. It has been nearly that long!!} I commented on my "people" Blogs. I bathed Rose. I swiftly overcame a minor nothing-to-worry-about mood swing. {Victory!!} I watched this short three-part Robert Downey Jr. YouTube video, because I needed his sense of humor to crack me up. {He delivered, as always!!} I played Wii with my youngest brother {Uncle Michael to Rose!!} I spent some quality time with my Beautifully Unique little girl. {Much-needed quality time!!} And, as something just had to fall off of life's balance beam, I never wrote a story about Rose!! Oh well. There is always next week!! But here's a picture of sweet Rose, instead!! {I totally caught her off guard!!} 

  

 

"Happy"

Blogging Friends.... Last week, Robert Downey Jr. was being interviewed. On some special program, not Oprah or Ellen DeGeneres. The one-hour Web show began like this. Interviewer: Hi Robert. How you doing? Robert Downey Jr.: Happy. First off, Robert Downey Jr. spoke that one word with pure sincerity. He was not joking!! Because Robert Downey Jr., is, indeed, happy!! And, you know what? For a man who was the absolute opposite of "happy" throughout much of his adult life, nothing pleases me more than to hear him say that word!! Nothing pleases me more. Interviewer: Hi Robert. How you doing? Robert Downey Jr.: Happy. I love, love, love that answer!! It is so different from the normal "good", "okay", or "great". But, then again. Who can expect "normal" from an eccentric like Robert Downey Jr.? Enough said!! From here on forth, I wish to follow suit with Robert. If anybody were to ask me the question of "How are you doing?" {Unless I am suffering through another roller coaster ride mood swing!!} I'm going to answer with one word. "Happy.". Because I am!! I'm happy and grateful!! See, I have an agenda for myself this week. Never mind that it is nearly half over already!! I am going to share with my family Little Miss Secretive Writing Project!! Why haven't I already, you may ask? Twain reasons. One. An obstacle which is a deeply personal secret. I have kept it for over one decade. {Eleven years and two days. But who's counting?} It is going in Little Miss Secretive Writing Project, because I haven't a choice. And, two. Pride. Yes, it seems that God is attempting to work in me humility, even though I did not realize that I needed it!! Well, this week, I must swallow that stubborn pride, "get over myself", and move forward!! Because I am moving forward with life. I'm accepting and embracing my "terrible privilege{s}". Oh, and, how am I doing? One word. "Happy".    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Go Dodgers?

My Dad returned home from California today!! He visited his mother, brother, sister-in-law, plus several other relatives. Dad also saw an LA Dodger's game yesterday!! His beloved baseball team. Unfortunately, however, the Dodger's pulled a Boston Red Sox from when I travelled clear down to Houston in 2008. They lost!! As I slowly transition back into the swing of life after being preoccupied with Little Miss Secretive Writing Project, and conjure up some stories about Rose, here is a picture. Shadow says: Go, Dodger's!! Or perhaps not. Look at that very enthusiastic face!!  

Decisions. Decisions. Decisions.

Blogging Friends.... My future is looking uncertain at the moment. Nothing drastic. Just uncertain. All in correlation to Little Miss Secretive Writing Project. I finished editing "her" on Friday, then enjoyed a nice weekend of doing absolutely nothing. Bliss!! I hung with Rose, attended church, strolled through our city's largest bookstore, plus enjoyed some Ben & Jerry's chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream. {Okay. Maybe that is not exactly doing "absolutely nothing"!!} But no editing. No writing. No work none whatsoever!! Now I have some cosmic decisions which need to be made. Decisions, decisions, decisions. And, nobody who I am in close proximity to even knows about Little Miss Secretive Writing Project yet!! Or my cosmic decisions. See, Dad is leaving for California on Thursday, so I think that I'll wait until his return to reveal Little Miss Secretive Writing Project. Yes, procrastination is my shortcoming!! It is an attention deficit disorder thing based on research. That's my excuse, anyway!! Also, just when I think Little Miss Secretive Writing Project is finished, I quickly realize that it's not!! Yes, I am still writing for it!! But that is okay. I love, love, love to write!! And I am feeling happy, emotional, plus grateful right now!! I miss all of your Web sites, dear Blogging Friends. I must delve back into life again and visit!!

This Robert Downey Jr. quote resurfaced within my head the other night before bed. It was spoken in 2010. I needed this quote. Robert Downey Jr., a voice of humility. Based on the man he used to be, who would have thought.

“Minuscule is good! Trust me, it’s much better than thinking everything you do is important and meaningful. That is not good.” ~Robert Downey Jr.

 

The Land of Editing

As I promised, here is a picture of sweet Rose!!

Her first snow with us!!

Three weeks. That is approximately how much time which was required to travel through the Land of Editing regarding Little Miss Secretive Writing Project. Three freakin' weeks!! And, my editing journey is not yet finished!! Sigh.... It turns out, Little Miss Secretive Writing Project is even more strong-willed than "her" owner!! How so? Because, although I predicted having Little Miss Secretive Writing Project complete yesterday, think again. But I have a strong feeling that the three-week mark looks promising!! {That would be today for those who are not following along with this!!} Wow, a lot has occurred in just three weeks. A lot. Life most certainly did not stand still for Little Miss Secretive Writing Project's editing process!! I followed Robert Downey Jr. through his international "Iron Man 3" tour. Which was a lot of fun, by the way!! I caught and recovered from some nasty head cold. Which made me miserable!! {Yes, I strolled through the Land of Editing with a head cold!! Why? Because I am insane!!} And, lastly, Boston was attacked. America was attacked. Couldn't life have just stood still for Little Miss Secretive Writing Project?

Alright. Back to the Land of Editing.

 

Pet Peeve

Blogging Friends.... Well, Little Miss Secretive Writing Project continues to be in editing by me. I despise this task, and find it quite tedious at times. But so far, I'm pleased with my capabilities in re-reading and making this into something more!!

I have a pet peeve regarding Robert Downey Jr. fanatics and magazine journalists alike. So allow me to get it out of my system. Ready? Many fanatics and magazine journalists equate Robert Downey Jr. to his "alter ego" character Tony Stark. Really?! Anybody with even a small sense of observation can plainly see that they are nothing alike!! For instance. Tony? He is cool. Robert? He is a bit old-fashioned in the way he speaks--for the most part--reminding me of somebody's wise, experienced grandfather. Which I love, love, love!! Tony? He is arrogant, cocky, and "self-obsessed". Robert? He works very, very, very hard on humility. Tony? He is independent, and thinks he can handle everything on his own. Robert? The absolute opposite!! I mean, come on, people. There is a stark difference between Robert and Tony!! {No pun intended!!} I can look at photographs, or watch somebody's YouTube videos, and immediately tell when Robert Downey Jr. is "in character" as Tony Stark!! Because Mr. "Genius. Billionaire. Playboy. Philanthropist.". is a fictional comic book character!! Brought to life by Robert Downey Jr.!! Not the opposite!! Robert Downey Jr. is simply an incredibly gifted actor!! If anything. He reminds me more of Sherlock Holmes than Tony Stark. Now. Does Robert Downey Jr. infuse a little bit of himself with Tony Stark? Certainly!! Doesn't every actor? During Robert Downey Jr.'s globe-trotting promotional tour for "Iron Man 3"--which I have enjoyed following!!--he said this. I thought I'd share it.

"You know I play Tony Stark as this very brash, sarcastic, and confident guy, and I can be like that a little bit, but I find myself looking at these posters and sometimes kind of like wondering how this happened. My relationship with it has been one of a kind, with increasing humility and a lot of gratitude.” ~Robert Downey Jr.

 

There we go. The difference with Tony Stark is that he would be expecting all of these posters of himself. Am I correct? I think so!! Take that, fanatics and magazine journalists!! Take that.   

"I'm in prison!!"

Blogging Friends.... Well, I am knee-deep in editing Little Miss Secretive Writing Project these days. Whoo!! Fellow author Caryl Moll {Maxmom} was absolutely correct when she told me that the most challenging part about writing is editing!! I am now finding this to be true on an even deeper psychological level than ever before....

This was Rose shortly after we had adopted her. She was having serial "accidents" every time we left home and "abandoned" the girl. Both feces and urine. On our great room carpet. Thus, we were forced to purchase this kennel at a local PetsMart. I followed its paper's rules religiously, no rebel within me emerging. Then, came our first test. Sunday morning church service. We would only be gone a few brief hours. No problem. She will be fine. Right? This is what we returned home to....

Rose had been lying in cotton fluff--what was once her brown dog pillow--resembling that of some canine sitting on Heaven's cloud!! Being part Beagle, and quite the little explorer, Rose hated this, uh, prison!! We never kenneled her again....

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Day!!

This is Rose stealing our tomatoes. The Little Thief will bite one off, then roll on the juicy fruit until finally eating it!! What a silly girl!!

Blogging Friends.... Thank-you from the depths of my heart for your sweet comments on the other day's post. "Everybody, everybody wants to love, everybody, everybody wants to be loved" as those pop song lyrics go, and I have felt just that!! Loved!! It has touched my deepest emotions. Many thanks to Finn, Molly, Fizz, Sampson, Dante, Daisy, plus Baird, and Ali for your comments!! Well, happy day!! I finished my Writing Project!! It still remains a secret, however, because, as of right now, even those who I am in close proximity to know nothing about it!! Yes, apparently, I'm that mysterious!! Or good at keeping secrets. Whatever. Although, Little Miss Secretive Writing Project does need a bit of tweaking. Anyway, should God allow {I must stop making plans!! He is in control. Not me!!} I will return to your Blogs. Soon. Like, say.... Tomorrow? We shall see!! I will not make any promises!! No. I will just sit here and be mysterious!! Thank-you for your ongoing support. I appreciate it more than words can express.    

Peace Out

My dearest Blogging Friends, both dog and human....

In case you haven't noticed, I've been absent of late with commenting. To which I sincerely apologize. Although I miss everyone, I've an excuse for being a stranger around your Blogs. My Secretive Writing Project!! As I mentioned before, it is nearly finished, and--wow--May's almost here!! So. Meanwhile--unless I change my mind--I shall continuously be absent from all of your Blogs until my Secretive Writing Project is in completion. So little time. So much to do!! I will not abandon Beautifully Unique, however!! Check in on me from time to time. And leave comments, so I know that you were here!! Do not forget me or Rose....

 

Peace out.

 

 

  

"Hoppy" Easter From Rose!!

Meet "Valentine", Rose's plush bunny rabbit toy. Do you like "her"? Good!! Enjoy Valentine in this picture!! Because, despite Valentine being, perhaps, the cutest dog toy yet that I had purchased Rose, she mostly abandoned her!! So, eventually, I performed a little "operation" on Valentine. Yes, I cut her open. Like surgeons did to me all those years ago!! I pulled out cotton fluff. Next, I retrieved Valentine's clear plastic squeaker. I then stuffed everything into an old white sock and created a hideous-looking toy. Which, Rose loved!! Go figure!!

Happy Easter, Blogging Friends!!   

Hot Dog!!

This was Shadow on a high-temperature Summer day. It had been so hot, that my Dad claimed to have witnessed our feline, Katrina panting like some tiger at the zoo!! If Shadow looks a bit overweight, that is probably because she was. Middle-aged, and obese. Lest anybody wonder, those twain factors did not end Shadow's life.  

I have been--knock on wood--so very happy lately!! Because, apparently, having tasks such as my "Secretive Writing Project" somehow gives this little existence of mine purpose. Plus meaning. And staying awake night after night past 12AM working on this Project--however unhealthy may it seem--swiftly became thrilling!! I have even jokingly called it my "nightlife", as though I'm out partying hard to get drunk!! Yeah. Like that is ever going to happen!! Relax. I'm not that insane!! I am, however on a "high" of the sorts right now. Like when some Olympic gold medalist returns to America, and, after his whirlwind success he then appears listless. My "Secretive Writing Project" is nearly finished. I think!! See, I wrongly thought it was finished in December!! Oops. Now a question has resurfaced within my mind since then. Ready? What am I going to do with myself {Except for catch up on some much missed sleep!!} after this project is finally complete? Answer? I haven't a clue.  

 

Weird Dog

This is Rose lying on my bed and "her" home-made Boston Red Sox pillow. When I was interested in baseball, which "retired" so to speak alongside pitcher Curt Schilling. Moving on.... Rose seldom ever "smiles" with her mouth, unlike Shadow used to. No. Rose "smiles" with her "happy" tail!! Now, for a weird fact. Because I am an oddball who observes strange things!! Rose will oft "smile" like this--self-satisfied--after licking her butt!! That is what she was doing. "Smiling" after licking her butt. I have a weird dog!! I like to lovingly call Rose "butt breath" during these moments!! Weird. Huh. It takes one to know one, I guess!!   

 

 

Shadow & Katrina

Meet Katrina. She joined our family on October 18th 2005. Katrina and Shadow actually got along together, occasionally playing "games". Now if only Katrina could be as nice to Rose. She is a cosmic pain in the butt with my little girl!! Seriously!! Standing in doorways so that Rose cannot walk through during feedings, biting Rose's ever-moving "happy" tail.... Shadow looked quite content sharing her "flashy beast" moment with Katrina, didn't she?

On an unrelated note, the other day, I was looking at a particular fan-made Web site which features Robert Downey Jr. pictures. This person happens to like pictures of RDJ young. So there were several consecutive photographs of that ex-bad boy. This threw me off the edge emotionally!! Which actually shocked me a bit. So, while I was supposed to be working on my Secretive Writing Project, emotions instead wrote this. Bare with me. Because I thought I'd share it. I, of course made a few changes from the other day's version, because writers are never satisfied with their work!!    

When I see pictures of Robert Downey Jr. as a young, "ne'er do right 20-something" drug addict, how does this make me feel? Do I think he looked hot? Sexy? Cute? Like everybody else seemingly does? No!! Whenever I see young pictures of Robert Downey Jr., my heart breaks for his old self. Breaks. And I feel the impulsive urge to "photoshoot" in a few details. Such as his facial laugh lines which I find oddly attractive. Plus some silver hairs. I feel the impulsive urge to make his eyes--which I love, love, love!!--less dark, sad, and desolate. I want Robert Downey Jr. sobered up. I somehow want to save him, even though I know he is fine now. And, lastly, I feel the impulsive urge to "photoshoot" in 20 years.   

Afterthought. For those of you who like young pictures of Robert Downey Jr., I respect that. These are simply my thoughts and feelings.

 

 

 

Professional Photographs

These pictures--snapped on December 30th, 2011--were professionally taken by our friend, Doreen. What a gift it was for her to bless me with these!!

 

A Last Picture

This was Shadow. Snapped on Tuesday, June 15th, 2010, our last day together. My "Sweet Sunshine". Shadow had been experiencing falls and seizures periodically since February. On June 14th, around 9:30 PM, Shadow collapsed.... Not far from where I am sitting right now. She was unable to pull herself back up, heedless of many, many, many failed attempts. Which I helplessly watched. This picture was snapped of a very, very confused Shadow, "smiling" despite having urinated all over herself due to "holding it" all night long. Shadow only ever had twain accidents in nearly ten 1/2 years. I cannot say the same about Rose!! But I love that crazy hound!! I stayed by Shadow's side nearly all night long on June 14th, achieving merely two hours' sleep. Which. I admit was an insane act of love, being literally sleep-deprived the day you say good-bye to your baby. I was so numb as resulted when we euthanized Shadow. But I would do it again in a heartbeat. For that last night together was our "farewell party". Which God graciously bestowed upon us. And we made every second count. I will never forget that.