Five on Friday - Gingham, Stress Test, Super Hero Picnic, and Birthday with My Girls

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Hey y’all!  Happy Good Friday!  The kids are off today and Monday for Easter weekend so we’re going to soak up all of the goodness that a four day weekend brings.

But first, some favorites!!  I have a whole bunch of ‘em today so settle in!

O N E – Peppermint Oil, You the Real MVP

Back in March, I thought I was having a heart attack and I ended up being admitted to the hospital.  Well, after tons of testing and coming away with a clean bill of health, I visited a cardiologist to discuss my episode with him.  He immediately informed me that he was almost positive that I had an esophageal spasm.  He said they feel exactly like heart attacks and there’s not really any way to tell the difference between the two. 

Once I discovered that’s what I had, I started researching them online, and every single article I’ve come across online says that Peppermint Essential Oil can be used to lessen the effects or stop them all together.  Well, I just so happened to have Peppermint Essential Oil since I recently bought my starter kit with Young Living, so I knew I would keep that on hand in case it were to happen again. 

Well, the Monday after my first spasm, I started to feel another one coming on, so I immediately rubbed two drops on my neck, chest, and behind my ears, and wouldn’t you know within 20 minutes it started to go away.  I’ve had several more instances since then where I felt them coming on, and I’ve slathered Peppermint Oil on every single time, and every single time they have subsided within minutes. 

In addition to helping with that, I’ve also been using it for aid with my allergy and asthma issues, for headaches and tension, and to keep my weird stomach in check and it is simply amazing.  It’s, hands down, my favorite EO and I literally never leave the house without it anymore.  To get your hands on some, click here for more info.

T W O – And Speaking of Heart Attacks…

My cardiologist was pretty certain that I’d had an esophageal spasm, but he wanted me to do a stress test for my heart just to be thorough and safe.  I finally had the stress test this past Monday and things went well.  They told me I’d be on the treadmill until my heart rate got up to 155 and, let me tell you, they had to crank that thing UP to get my heart rate that high.  They kept increasing the speed and increasing the speed until I was trucking!  They kept asking me if I was okay and if I could go a little longer and I felt totally fine other than being a little short of breath due to my asthma. 

Overall, the whole process took about three hours… they had to start an IV and inject some dye into my body so they could see my heart.  I had to wait about 30 minutes for the dye to spread, and then I had to have a mini MRI so they could get pictures of my heart.  Once my pictures were taken, I did the treadmill portion, they gave me a snack, and then they had to do another mini MRI to take pictures of my heart again. 

I went for my follow-up on Wednesday and the doc said that the results were in and I have a perfect, healthy, efficient heart!!!!  Praise the Lord!  It was exactly the news I had wanted, so I’m a happy girl.  Now we know for sure that my episode back in March was an esophageal spasm, and I’m just praying that my Peppermint oil keeps any possible future ones in check.

T H R E E – Gingham

Did you see my post on Wednesday?  I’ve been gingham obsessed my whole life, so I am thrilled to see that it’s going to be on trend this summer!  On Wednesday I put together a post with some gingham items for everyone in your family and there is so much goodness there.  Please send one of everything to my house!  Hehe.

F O U R – Snakes

You know what’s not my favorite this week?  The four foot long snake that was in our back yard last week.  Because it came back again this week.  Twice.  Yep, you may have seen on my IG Stories last week that we had a four foot long visitor right in our back yard next to the porch.  B discovered that it was non-venomous and that it was a “good snake” AKA it eats all of the unwanted rodents and such, so he left it alone.  I repeat.  HE LEFT IT ALONE.  Whhhhyyyyyyyyyyyy though?! 

Well, sure enough that little bugger came back this past Tuesday evening AND Wednesday evening and I pretty much want to burn down the house.  It slithered into one of the weep holes in our brick both times so B couldn’t get to him which means that HE’S STILL OUT THERE, Y’ALL!!!!  I CAAAAN’T.  I told B the next time we see him, he’s going to be a dead snake.  I can’t take knowing he’s out there lurking.  Especially since we have small kids and a teeny tiny dog that he could probably eat for dinner (even though B swears he couldn’t).

F I V E – Freckles

I snapped this picture of my Boo a couple of weeks ago and it’s one of my favorites because – those freckles.  I think his freckles are one of my favorite things about him.  I love this boy so much!

S I X – Baby Birds

Brian discovered a bird’s nest with eggs in it last week in the wreath on our front door.  Last week, they hatched and we had the sweetest, tiniest baby birds for a couple of days.  However, about two days after they hatched, they disappeared.  I doubt they were old enough to fly just yet, so I’m worried something got them.  They also happened to disappear the same day we saw the snake.  WAAAAHHHH.  I know it’s the circle of life and all, but it’s still sad.

The kids did get to see them before they disappeared and they were both in awe.  We were careful not to touch them or disturb them because we didn’t want the mother to abandon them.  I’m praying they just learned to fly at a very very young age.

S E V E N – Father’s Day Superhero Picnic

Since the kids are out for summer during Father’s Day, our school celebrates the dads in April.  They had a superhero picnic last week and it was the sweetest thing!  B and Olivia wore their Superman shirts – Olivia borrowed one from her brother :o) – and they did all kinds of fun relays followed by a picnic lunch of hotdogs grilled by some of the dads. 

The weather was incredible and it was just an all-around fun event.  We have so many more events planned at the school over the next few weeks so I’m going to be living at that school!

E I G H T – Our Little Artist

Jacob has taken an interest in drawing these last few months and his skills absolutely amaze me!  He drew these characters by hand just looking at their pictures in one of his books.  I’m thinking he may have gotten his Pop’s artistic talent.  :o)

N I N E – Haircut for Maui

Since things have finally warmed up for good around here, we took Maui for her spring hair cut.  She’s all nice and soft and her hair is short and she smells so good and I just love her so much.  Our sweet first baby.

T E N – Ladies Night

My friend, Jeannine, and I had a joint birthday celebration together (her birthday is on the 25th) with all of our girlfriends on Wednesday night.  We opted for Bonefish because we were all craving martinis, particularly their Hawaiian Orchid Martinis.  We had a couple of rounds of those followed by gifts and dinner and it was a wonderful evening catching up. 

There were six of us there, but three had left by the time we remembered to snap a picture, so only three of us made it in the photo.  Whoops!

E L E V E N – Recipes

My friend, Emily, posted this recipe for Roasted Pesto Sweet Potatoes the other day and I’ll be making it ASAP!  It looks amazing!  I’ve been searching for sweet potato recipes lately since they’re just so good for you, and I’ve been looking for recipes other than the standard cinnamony ones.  This recipe is so unique and I love that it’s more of a savory one.  Man, do I love me some pesto!

Also, my friend, Missy, posted this recipe for Zucchini Beef One Pan Low Carb Casserole that sounds amazing as well!  Just look at all that cheese!  And it only dirties one pan!  Yes, PLEASE.

As if this post isn’t already long enough, I have some funnies before I go!  

This one never gets old, y’all!  Prepare to see it everywhere next week!

Happy Friday, y’all!

*Linking up with A Liz Adventures and Carolina Charm for Five on Friday, A Little Bit of Everything for Friday Favorites, Meet @ the Barre for Friday Favorites, and By BMG for High Five for Friday.