Angeltazcuddy's Musings

2011-09-23T21:06:00.000-04:00

And more old MYSPACE Blog postsDec 12, 2006bah humbug!!Current mood:anxiouspeople suck!! i am not gone for over 4 hours when i get home and it had been broken into and robbed!! Long story short, why are people such brats??? Im' just sick to my stomach.... ugh...Dec 14, 2006a little more info....Current mood:hopefulyeah, so they took alot of our stuff... they did find my laptop, but of course, someone HAD to drop it in the water, so it no longer works.. So i have to take it and see if it can be fixed. *sigh* Nothing else has been recovered.. and of course, everyone wants lists.... How am I supposed to know what 300 dvds they stole??? ugh... and the PS2 games?? sheesh... ugh... those people suck!So anyway... just waiting to hear from the police, the insurance company and the rental company. ugh...Well, the GOOD news is that my friend Bri had her baby!!! yay!! congrats bri, and welcome sara!!! woo hoo!!!!AND, we got orders!! woo hoo!! going up north! I've never lived in new england. New York, here we come!! yay!! i'm very excited, if you cant' tell!!AND, its less than a month till my honey comes home!! yay!!! I cant' wait!! its been the longest year EVER!! And that is all i have, i believe.. Really wish i could reorder my blog!!

2011-09-23T21:04:00.000-04:00

And more OLD MYSPACE blog postsNov 17, 200611 months today!!!Current mood:thoughtfulLizzie is 11 months old!!! 1 month till she is a year old!!Its amazing how time can fly in one part of your life and be so slow in another. Happy 11 months to Lizzie!!!Nov 25 2006Two MORE!!!!Current mood:bouncyNew Teeth!! We've got NEW TEETH!! yay. two more bottom teeth, up to 8 FINALLY!Dec 5, 2006feeling crappyCurrent mood:lonelyIts been a little bit since i've blogged last. Had a holiday reciepe party last friday morning. had a bunch of people RSVP, but only 3 showed and only 2 stayed a bit. I had been up late and up early cleaning. Lizzie started to get a runny nose and congestion last week. then she started with a barking sounding cough. Then I started to get sick as well. I have a stuffy/runny nose and cough. At the docs, i get diagnosed with sinusitus and lizzie gets diagnosed with.... NOTHING. she doesn't cough, her nose doesn't run or anything!! i'm like it was that this morning.... 20 minutes later, gee imagine that, its back!! ughSO, now i get to be sick while lizzies fine.. ugh... i am sooo stressed out!!I feel like I just need a break and lizzies just full of energy!!i gave her spagetti o's she must be like me(hates them), cause she threw them everywhere but in her mouth... stinking messes!!my back hurts, and i just feel like crap and just wanna go to bed.. but once i'm in bed, then the blues begin. I miss my honey. I miss him being here, I miss his smile, the twinkle in his eye, all of him. I miss his arms around me and his lips on mine. i have 30 days left, and it just seems like forever!! Lizzie has less than 2 weeks before she'll be one, less than that till her first birthday party.. i've invited quite a few people.. i know that stacy and her family will come, will anyone else? UGH i hate stressing over things i have no control over!!this friday night, i'm hosting game night for the married women group i'm involved in.. i wonder how it will go Looks like there are only 4 yes' and 2 maybe's.... oh well, it seems like anytime I do anything at my house that hardly any people show. And I hate hate hate hate hate the thought of being alone for christmas. I miss my hubby and I hate to spend another holiday with out him. It just doesnt' seem right. Nothing is as good as it could have been without him. And yeah, he's not much on doing anything but, we have each other. I just feel extra alone this year. Everyone seems soo busy and wrapped up in their stuff that i feel like an intruder calling. I spend most nights home alone. Its almost like I only hear from people returning my calls or the ones i made. I really am tired of crying. and being alone. Its like last time, only worse, you look like crap and people are just like, oh its cause the kid wore you out. And people dont' want to KNOW how you're REALLY doing, it makes them uncomfortable. So, you suck it up the best you can, you cope however you can, you try to keep everything as normal as possible as comfortable as possible, cause change makes you nervous.And you try to talk to the one you love, and it always comes out wrong, they end up taking it the wrong way and then you're left frustrated and upset, then come more tears. Sometimes it feels like you should give up. But you can't as, that's not what you should do, not how you are, so you just buck up and try not to say the wrong thing.well, i need to go check o lizzie, she's not making much noise and she's there with unwrapped presents... And make sure i dont' try to rip my toe off jumping over the gate.

2011-09-23T21:01:00.002-04:00

Yet more OLD blogs from MYSPACENov 7, 2006stomache bugCurrent mood:crappywell, supposedly lizzies ear infection is over. I finally got seen last night and i have a stomache bug. that consists of naseua, puking and the runs. woopie... i feel like crap, slept almost 12 hours last night and still feel like crap. I had called for someone to look after lizzie, but then she puked this morning and had one bout of runs in her diaper, so i called and cancelled.. now i dont' know what to do. Lizzie ate a good breakfast and has seemed fine... I need to go back to bed, but dnt' want to sleep with her up and running around. I was so out last night i didnt' hear my cell phone ring.. i had a missed call from my friend jeannie. dont' get sick with this, it sucks!!Nov 8, 2006Our poor babyCurrent mood:drainedwell, i am doing better *it seems* but lizzie woke up puking and pooping again. Poor baby. her little booty has to be on fire. I am exhausted, didnt' get much sleep last night. She did, but didnt wake up pleasantly. her sheets and mattress cover are in the washer again. ok, think i might give her a bath.Nov 14, 2006updateCurrent mood:contemplativewell, kiddo is done puking *i pray* but she still has the runs. I'm not getting much sleep and am getting really frustrated, today she had 3 blow outs.... ugh.. that's just alot for such a little girl. I miss my hubby so much. He's my dream guy, and what i want. I love him more now than i did when we got married. I hate that he's so far away, but i respect his job and know that its a necessity. I get down alot lately, I need the motivation to continue doing the things i need to do. Supposed to be hosting a partylite party on saturday, i need to get everythign set up for that. figure out what snacks to make. I want to decorate for christmas before the party, so that way its done and i dont have to worry about it later.Thanksgiving is next week, i cant' belive how time is flying, but, it seems like the closer it gets to hubby coming home that the longer the days seem. I invited people over for thanksgivign adn i haven't heard anything, (except from you bri, i dont' expect you to haul your preggo butt back up here two weekends in a row!!) I bought a ham, i hope someone comes. (really wish the most important person was able to be here, I love you Kevin!!)Other than being sick, Lizzie is doing well, getting bigger and bigger!! Such a crack up! she loves to make me laugh. always doing something to make sure i laugh. I see her daddy in her and when she's making me laugh, i feel like he is. oh well, let me get off here, maybe, just maybe, i'll get to bed at a decent time tonight. Joy and Peace to you all!!!

2011-09-23T20:59:00.001-04:00

Again, OLD blogs from MYSPACEOct 30, 2006My trip thus far...Current mood:cheerfulwell, we're halfway though our vacation. we had horrible times getting out of town, but we made it FINALLY, 5 hours late! oh well. I got to see my cousin and aunt, whom i haven't seen in YEARS, so that was awesome. Went to Disney last wednesday, it was a blast!! well, actually, we went to Disneyland and California Adventure. I can't post pics yet, but I will as soon as i can ! Thursday we went to the pumkin patch, it was cute, we missed the hayride though, so that kind of sucked(my fault, takes me forever to get ready for some reason lately), but other than that, Lizzie had a blast and Lance did as well, so that is what it was for! Had a restful morning on friday, then we went to the mall and out to dinner. great day! i got my eyebrows done, in a thing called threading. they used thread to get your eyebrows off, weird, huh? took like NO time. Saturday we went to universal and saw a little less than half. Lance gets overstimulated easy and needed his nap early. Sunday we went to an air show, i was concerned about Lizzie and how she would do, she did well, so that was good. It was nice, but it made me miss my sweet hubby so much (love you honey!!)So, that was the first week, not bad, going going going. But that's what vacations are all about!!Have a great week and happy Halloween!!!!!November 3, 2006aaack, the week is almost over!!!Current mood:drainedwell, my time is almost over here in So. Cal. I have had a blast!! Thank you so much to Ally and Tariq sorry that time couldn't have been longer and Lois-Lynn, you are awesome! Okay, so i've uploaded *almost* all of my pics to 3 photo albums, here is the link: http://photos.yahoo.com/angeltazcuddy Take your time, there are like 800 some odd pics. Tomorrow is our flight, just two, not three, so that's "better" i guess. Lizzie is such a squirmy worm lately, not sure how we'll do! She's almost done with her meds for an ear infection, but i'm not sure its gone... there aren't any posts nearby, closest one is almost 2 hours away.... Just wanted to say hi and let ya know i'll be home soon.Have a great weekend!!Nov 6, 2006sickCurrent mood:sickjust wanted to say i'm sick. woke up this morning, made a phone call for lizzies dr appt and of course they had no one to see her, but said she needs to be seen, i can go to er or wait for the night clinic to open, i chose the latter ate cereal and went to bed. i woke up feeling really hot and very naseus. i finally puked a few hours later adn it was breakfast... still feel icky, puked again.. now i get to drive like this! uck.

2011-09-23T20:56:00.003-04:00

Continuing my OLD MYSPACE blog retrieval. I wish we could reorder the blog posts so these older ones would be listed first... oh well.Oct 10, 2006BlessingsCurrent mood:gratefulWith all the things that go wrong and can go wrong in your life, remember all the blessings you have. no matter how big or small, there are tons, from the moment you wake up, to the time you go to sleep, they are there. Breath, life, love, joy, peace, family, friends, things you have, they are all blessings. Take a deep breath and say a prayer of thanks. Look at a loved one, an email from a loved one, and smile, you are loved and looked out for. God is there, dont' ever deny it. Bless someone today. Oct 20, 2006Stressing!Current mood:anxiousEver have one of those days, when its like, oh man, am i gonna get to sit down any time soon?? I got up early, cause i forgot to take the trash out last night and i can't have a full trash can. So, got up early, took the trash out for the trash people and now am getting ready to make a home movie for hubby. He called last night (thank you sweetie!) and made my day. Apparently locked Taz in the computer room, Little knucklehead. no damage, he survived till i got up, it was only 5 hours or so that he was locked in there.Still got Lizzies costume to cut out and sew.. arrrgghh, stupid computer has been taking up so much time! I *think* its working. Seems to be. So, we'll see!I have my friends graduation today, yay!! She's come a long way, graduating from the police academy. I get to pick up Meg tonight, so i'm happy to get to see her again. I still have to get the house clean and finished. blah. So, let me go, have a great weekend everyone!!!Oct 20, 2006Just saying hiCurrent mood:calmI am in CA right now, just chilling out. Just wanted to say hi and say i'm not sure how often i can get on line. I hope everyone has a great week!!!!

You Know They Are "Practicing Weather" When....

2011-01-26T16:34:00.003-05:00

The forecast says "Through 9pm: Rain developing. The rain will change to a mixture of snow, sleet and/or freezing rain by mid-afternoon. Cloudy with temperatures steady in the mid 30s. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Snowfall of less than half an inch through 8:30pm." and its already over that now. then "Heavy snow this evening will diminish to a few snow showers late. Thunder possible. Low 28F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph. 4 to 6 inches of snow expected." is tonight's forecast. lol. Gotta love weathermen, i suppose, right? :D oh well, the great thing about NOT being in the artic north, is that this is SEVERE WEATHER, and i can handle this :D long as we don't' lose heat, haha.

Looks like DC will get it worse than us.

Whoah... thunder snow... interesting...

Hmm, a little more light left in the day... snowballs anyone? :D

A Letter Copied from the Thyroid Website

2011-01-21T22:14:00.001-05:00

Dear Friend/Family Member:

Someone you care about has thyroid disease. You may not know much about thyroid problems, but I imagine, like many of us, you've heard things here and there. If anything, you probably associate the thyroid with weight problems, or think it's an excuse people use for being overweight. Or, you may already know someone else who's taking thyroid medication -- usually Synthroid -- and they seem to be doing fine, so you assume thyroid disease will be similar for your friend/family member.

There's so much more to thyroid disease, and while I can't cover it all in this letter, I'm going to try, briefly, to give you a sense of what your loved one is facing. So can I ask that you set aside for a few moments the information you do have about thyroid disease, to open your mind and heart?

The thyroid is our master gland of metabolism and energy. Every single body function that requires oxygen and energy -- basically, everything that goes on in our bodies! -- requires thyroid hormone in proper amounts. That means we need the proper balance of thyroid hormone in order to feel and live well. We need thyroid hormone to think clearly and remember things, to maintain a good mood, to grow hair and nails, to have basic energy to get through the day, to see well, to digest our food, to burn calories, to be fertile, to get pregnant and have a healthy baby, to have a good sex drive, and much, much more. In some ways, you can think about thyroid hormone as the gasoline that makes the car go. No gas, and there's no way to move forward.

Typically, a thyroid problem comes in one of several forms. Your loved one may be hyperthyroid...that means that the thyroid gland is overactive, and producing too much thyroid hormone. When the thyroid becomes overactive, you can think of it a bit like the gas pedal on the car is stuck, and the engine is flooding. If your loved one is going through hyperthyroidism, he or she may be feeling extremely anxious and nervous, with a rapidly beating heart, higher blood pressure, and even palpitations. Some people describe the sensation as like their heart is beating so hard and loud everyone around them can even see it and hear it! They may be hungry and thirsty all the time, suffering from diarrhea even, and losing weight. Others may even be wondering, wrongly, if your loved one's rapid weight loss is due to an eating disorder or some sort of illness like cancer or AIDS. His or her eyes may be sore, sensitive, gritty and irritated, and vision can even become blurry. Sleep may be difficult or impossible, and lack of sleep combined with the body zooming along at 100 miles an hour can cause extreme exhaustion and muscle weakness. Frankly, people who are in the throes of hyperthyroidism have told me that they feel and look like someone who is strung out on drugs, or who has had 20 cups of coffee after not sleeping for a week. With heart pounding, and all body systems going full tilt, your jittery, stressed-out hyperthyroid loved one may even feel like he or she is losing it, ready to fall apart at any moment.

If your loved one is hypothyroid, they are facing different challenges. Hypothyroidism means the thyroid is underactive, and not producing enough of the energy and oxygen-delivering thyroid hormone. This is like trying to get somewhere with barely enough gas and feet that can't reach the gas pedal. If your loved one is hypothyroid, he or she may be feeling sluggish and tired, and exhausted all the time. Think about the worst flu you've ever had, and how tired, and achy and exhausted you felt. Now imagine waking up every day feeling like that, but having to get up, go to work/school and take care of yourself and others feeling that way. Depression -- or feeling blue -- is common, as are memory problems and being fuzzy-brained -- we patients call it "brain fog." Your loved one may look in a mirror and not recognize herself (and I say herself here, because the vast majority of thyroid patients in general are women -- thyroid problems do happen in men, but are seven to ten times more common in women.) Because when she looks in the mirror, she sees the outer half of her eyebrows are thin or missing, her hair is thin, dry, coarse and falling out, her face and eyelids are puffy, her face is bloated and puffy, and she may have gained weight, despite eating less and working out more than everyone else around her. With hypothyroidism, anything and everything can be slow, even digestion, which can cause constipation. For women, periods can be worse, and come more often than before. Menopause can be worse, and come earlier than for other women. And after pregnancy, hypothyroidism can worsen postpartum fatigue and depression, and make breastfeeding difficult or impossible. And then there's that issue of weight gain. Your loved one may be following the most rigorous and healthy diet and exercise program, and yet be unable to lose weight. He or she might even be gaining weight on that program.
If your loved one has thyroid cancer, they have an entirely different challenge. The majority of thyroid cancers are considered highly treatable and survivable, so doctors and others often cavalierly refer to thyroid cancer as "the good cancer." But the reality is, no cancer is "good," and someone who has thyroid cancer has cancer, "the big C." Cancer as a concept is frightening, and raises fears and concerns. Someone with thyroid cancer typically does not have many symptoms to start, but will usually require surgery to remove the thyroid -- and this can be daunting, the of a several-inch incision in the neck. After surgery, many thyroid cancer patients will need to have followup radioactive iodine treatment to ensure that all the cancerous tissue was removed, and it can be many weeks after surgery before a thyroid cancer patient -- who by that point is typically hypothyroid -- can start thyroid medication to again get lifesaving thyroid hormone they need. And the thyroid cancer patient in your life will require lifetime of treatment for hypothyroidism, along with periodic follow-ups and scans to monitor for a recurrence of the cancer.

These are just a few of the conditions that can affect thyroid patients. There are autoimmune diseases -- Graves' disease and Hashimoto's -- that can be at the root of hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. Sometimes people develop a goiter -- an enlarged thyroid -- or benign nodules that cause symptoms. Sometimes a temporary infection causes thyroiditis. And again, these problems can be difficult to pinpoint, misdiagnosed as everything under the sign, and even when diagnosed, poorly treated.

So what many thyroid patients have in common is living in a world that overlooks, downplays, poorly treats -- and sometimes even makes fun of -- their condition.

Magazine articles, books by doctors, patients brochures in doctors offices -- and doctors themselves -- insist simplistically that thyroid disease is "easy to diagnose, easy to treat" even though patients know that this is far from the truth. As for "easy to diagnose," your loved one may have even struggled to get diagnosed -- to get taken seriously -- in the first place. Doctors regularly misdiagnose hyperthyroid patients as having an eating or anxiety disorder, and hypothyroid patients as having stress, depression, PMS, or menopause.

Worse yet are the truly unsympathetic physicians that we all too frequently encounter in thyroid care. Like the marathon runner with hypothyroidism who was in training, on a strict diet, and still gaining weight and was told by her doctor that she had "fork in mouth disease." Or the endocrinologists who tell patients, "Well, you should be GLAD, you know, because you have the GOOD cancer!" Or the doctor who diagnosed a woman with hyperthyroidism by clapping his hands together loudly behind her head, chortled: "Oh, I can always tell you hypers, because you practically jump off the examining table when I do that!"

There are advertisements and comedians who use "thyroid problem" as the not-so-secret code to describe someone who is fat. And there's a whole realm of scam artists out there trying to sell us cockamamie Thyro-this and Thyro-that "cures" for thyroid disease that in many cases can make things a whole lot worse -- or at best, not help at all.

Even Oprah admitted she had a thyroid problem, then claimed it went away, then said she had it but it wasn't an excuse for her weight gain, then decided not to get treatment, and continues to struggle with her health issues.

And perhaps saddest of all, there are friends and relatives who say "I don't buy this thyroid disease thing, it's just an excuse for not losing weight" or "Thyroid? Hah! She's just lazy!" Or, "Why can't he just get OVER it and get back to normal?" Husbands criticize their wives for gaining weight. Teenagers whisper behind a friend's back about anorexia.

Once we're diagnosed, treatment is not an easy fix for many thyroid patients. Doctors try to rush hyperthyroid patients into permanently disabling the thyroid with a radioactive treatment that will make them hypothyroid for life. Many doctors believe there is only one medication to treat hypothyroidism -- a medication that does not resolve symptoms for all patients. When patients learn about other available options, doctors may stonewall, refuse additional treatments, or push antidepressants, cholesterol medications, weight loss pills and more, instead of addressing the thyroid issues. The conventional medical establishment believes that treatment for thyroid problems is one-size-fits-all. This cavalier attitude means that many thyroid patients struggle for years to live and feel well, despite being diagnosed and "treated."

I'm here to ask you -- in a world where thyroid patients are disregarded, overlooked, misdiagnosed, abused, exploited, mocked, and ignored -- to be the person who truly "gets it" for the thyroid patient in your life. Be the person who understands that while thyroid disease may not be visible, it is causing your friend or loved one to suffer. Be the person who understands that even though celebrities aren't talking about thyroid disease, and sports figures aren't wearing bracelets to promote thyroid awareness, that this is a genuine, difficult, and life-changing diagnosis.

Be the person who opens mind and heart to the thyroid patients in your life. Be the person who listens, and learns about the struggles and challenges. Be the person who empowers the thyroid patient in your life, by helping him or her do as much as possible to improve health. Be the person to help find doctors and practitioners who do not view your friend or relative as a cookie-cutter patient on a thyroid assembly line. Be the person who helps the thyroid patient in your life to maintain balance-- to help find time for rest, for exercise, for stress reduction, for self-care, for proper nutrition, for fun!

Live well,

Mary Shomon
Thyroid Patient Advocate

11 years

2011-01-05T00:27:00.003-05:00

Today is my 11 year anniversary with my husband. Its unreal to me that its been that long, yet it feels like it has been forever (in a good way, obviously)

What can i say about him? He's the man that takes care of our family, he protects others when he deploys, he's served his country for just about 20 years now, he loves all his children and would do anything for them. (and me too) and i would do anything for him. He has comforting arms and though he isn't a big talker, he is there for me when i need him.

He has the kindest heart, the most wonderful eyes, and when he lets it out, the nicest smile. I adore him to the moon and back several times.

I love you Kevin and I am thankful for you! <3

@---->-

Thinking of Having Kids??

2011-01-04T23:44:00.001-05:00

Thinking of having kids? Try this 11 step program first!
Thank you, Jennette!!

Lesson 1

1. Go to the grocery store.

2. Arrange to have your salary paid directly to their head office.

3. Go home.

4. Pick up the paper.

5. Read it for the last time.

Lesson 2

Before you finally go ahead and have children, find a couple who already are parents and berate them about their...

1. Methods of discipline.

2. Lack of patience.

3. Appallingly low tolerance levels.

4. Allowing their children to run wild.

5. Suggest ways in which they might improve their child's breastfeeding, sleep habits, toilet training, table manners, and overall behavior.

Enjoy it because it will be the last time in your life you will have all the answers.

Lesson 3

A really good way to discover how the nights might feel...

1. Get home from work and immediately begin walking around the living room from 5PM to 10PM carrying a wet bag weighing approximately 8-12 pounds, with a radio turned to static (or some other obnoxious sound) playing loudly. (Eat cold food with one hand for dinner)

2. At 10PM, put the bag gently down, set the alarm for midnight, and go to sleep.

3. Get up at 12 and walk around the living room again, with the bag, until 1AM.

4. Set the alarm for 3AM.

5. As you can't get back to sleep, get up at 2AM and make a drink and watch an infomercial.

6. Go to bed at 2:45AM.

7. Get up at 3AM when the alarm goes off.

8. Sing songs quietly in the dark until 4AM.

9. Get up. Make breakfast. Get ready for work and go to work (work hard and be productive)

Repeat steps 1-9 each night. Keep this up for 3-5 years. Look cheerful and together.

Lesson 4

Can you stand the mess children make? T o find out...

1. Smear peanut butter onto the sofa and jam onto the curtains.

2. Hide a piece of raw chicken behind the stereo and leave it there all summer.

3. Stick your fingers in the flower bed.

4. Then rub them on the clean walls.

5. Take your favorite book, photo album, etc. Wreck it.

6. Spill milk on your new pillows. Cover the stains with crayons. How does that look?

Lesson 5

Dressing small children is not as easy as it seems.

1. Buy an octopus and a small bag made out of loose mesh.

2. Attempt to put the octopus into the bag so that none of the arms hang out.

Time allowed for this - all morning.

Lesson 6

Forget the BMW and buy a mini-van. And don't think that you can leave it out in the driveway spotless and shining. Family cars don't look like that.

1. Buy a chocolate ice cream cone and put it in the glove compartment.

Leave it there.

2. Get a dime. Stick it in the CD player.

3. Take a family size package of chocolate cookies. Mash them into the back seat. Sprinkle cheerios all over the floor, then smash them with your foot.

4. Run a garden rake along both sides of the car.

Lesson 7

Go to the local grocery store. Take with you the closest thing you can find to a pre-school child. (A full-grown goat is an excellent choice). If you intend to have more than one child, then definitely take more than one goat. Buy your week's groceries without letting the goats out of your sight. Pay for everything the goat eats or destroys. Until you can easily accomplish this, do not even contemplate having children.

Lesson 8

1. Hollow out a melon.

2. Make a small hole in the side.

3. Suspend it from the ceiling and swing it from side to side.

4. Now get a bowl of soggy Cheerios and attempt to spoon them into the swaying melon by pretending to be an airplane.

5. Continue until half the Cheerios are gone.

6. Tip half into your lap. The other half, just throw up in the air.

You are now ready to feed a nine- month-old baby.

Lesson 9

Learn the names of every character from Sesame Street , Barney, Disney, the Teletubbies, and Pokemon. Watch nothing else on TV but PBS, the Disney channel or Noggin for at least five years. (I know, you're thinking What's 'Noggin'?) Exactly the point.

Lesson 10

Make a recording of Fran Drescher saying 'mommy' repeatedly. (Important: no more than a four second delay between each 'mommy'; occasional crescendo to the level of a supersonic jet is required). Play this tape in your car everywhere you go for the next four years. You are now ready to take a long trip with a toddler.

Lesson 11

Start talking to an adult of your choice. Have someone else continually tug on your skirt hem, shirt- sleeve, or elbow while playing the 'mommy' tape made from Lesson 10 above. You are now ready to have a conversation with an adult while there is a child in the room.

This is all very tongue in cheek; anyone who is parent will say 'it's all worth it!' Share it with your friends, both those who do and don't have kids. I guarantee they'll get a chuckle out of it. Remember, a sense of humor is one of the most important things you'll need when you become a parent!

A Welcome to the New Year and a Homicide...

2011-01-02T00:02:00.003-05:00

Happy New Year! Yes its just past the date of 1-1-11 :) I pray that you have a wonderful year and that you are blessed from God. (and that you bless him back!)

Remember, every day is a gift!

Oh, you were waiting for more???

Ahh the previous mentioned item...

Also, the homicide.. yes, I committed homicide this morning.. I was getting ready to take my shower when a pest entered my shower and wouldn't leave. i tried telling it to leave, and it wouldn't, sprayed water on it and it still wouldn't leave, so I sprayed more and more till it slumped down and i kept spraying till it fell on the floor of my shower. Then i sprayed it some more till it went down the drain, then i sprayed some more to make sure it didn't' come back. Yes, i killed a fly this morning, kind of felt bad, was more worried it wasn't dead and would come back UP the drain and land on me while i was washing, lol.

Amazing Home Remedies

2011-01-02T00:01:00.000-05:00

AMAZING HOME REMEDIES

1. AVOID CUTTING YOURSELF WHEN SLICING VEGETABLES BY GETTING SOMEONE ELSE TO HOLD THE VEGETABLES WHILE YOU CHOP

2. AVOID ARGUMENTS WITH THE FEMALES ABOUT LIFTING THE TOILET SEAT BY USING THE SINK.

3. FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE SUFFERERS ~ SIMPLY CUT YOURSELF AND BLEED FOR A FEW MINUTES, THUS REDUCING THE PRESSURE ON YOUR VEINS. REMEMBER TO USE A TIMER.

4. A MOUSE TRAP PLACED ON TOP OF YOUR ALARM CLOCK WILL PREVENT YOU FROM ROLLING OVER AND GOING BACK TO SLEEP AFTER YOU HIT THE SNOOZE BUTTON.

5. IF YOU HAVE A BAD COUGH, TAKE A LARGE DOSE OF LAXATIVES. THEN YOU'LL BE AFRAID TO COUGH.

6. YOU ONLY NEED TWO TOOLS IN LIFE - WD-40 AND DUCT TAPE. IF IT DOESN'T MOVE AND SHOULD, USE THE WD-40. IF IT SHOULDN'T MOVE AND DOES, USE THE DUCT TAPE.

7. IF YOU CAN'T FIX IT WITH A HAMMER, YOU'VE GOT AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM.

DAILY THOUGHT:
SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE SLINKYS - NOT REALLY GOOD FOR ANYTHING BUT THEY BRING A SMILE TO YOUR FACE WHEN PUSHED DOWN THE STAIRS.

A Touching Story I Was Emailed....

2010-08-21T21:30:00.001-04:00

RED MARBLES
I was at the corner grocery store buying some early potatoes. I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily appraising a basket of freshly picked green peas..

I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes. Pondering the peas, I couldn't help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller (the store owner) and the ragged boy next to me.

'Hello Barry, how are you today?'

'H'lo , Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus' admirin' them peas. They sure look good.'

'They are good, Barry. How's your Ma?'

'Fine. Gittin' stronger alla' time.'

'Good. Anything I can help you with?'

'No, Sir. Jus' admirin' them peas.'

'Would you like to take some home ?' asked Mr.. Miller.

'No, Sir. Got nuthin' to pay for 'em with.'

'Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?'

'All I got's my prize marble here.'

'Is that right? Let me see it' said Miller..

'Here 'tis. She's a dandy.'

'I can see that. Hmmmmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home ?' the store owner asked.

'Not zackley but almost..'

'Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble'.. Mr. Miller told the boy.

'Sure will. Thanks Mr. Miller.'

Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me.. With a smile she said, 'There are two other boys like him in our community, all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever. When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn't like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, when they come on their next trip to the store..'

I left the store smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A short time later I moved to Colorado , but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys, and their bartering for marbles.

Several years went by, each more rapid than the previous one. Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while I was there learned that Mr... Miller had died.

They were having his visitation that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them. Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could.

Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in a Marine officer's uniform, one in his Navy Dress Blues and the other in the uniform of an Army Special Forces captain.....all very professional looking. They approached Mrs. Miller, standing composed and smiling by her husband's casket. Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket..

Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one; each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes.

Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and reminded her of the story from those many years ago and what she had told me about her husband's bartering for marbles. With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket.

'Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about. They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim 'traded' them. Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about colour or size.....they came to pay their debt.'

'We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this world,' she confided, 'but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho.'

With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband.. Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles.

The Moral: We will not be remembered by our words, but by our kind deeds.... Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath.....

Today I wish you a day of ordinary miracles ~ A fresh pot of coffee you didn't make yourself...An unexpected phone call from an old friend...Green traffic lights on your way to work....The fastest line at the grocery store...A good sing-along song on the radio...Your keys found right where you left them.

Send this to the people you'll never forget.. I just Did....

If you don't send it to anyone, it means you are in way too much of a hurry to even notice the ordinary miracles when they occur.

IT'S NOT WHAT YOU GATHER, BUT WHAT YOU SCATTER THAT TELLS WHAT KIND OF LIFE YOU HAVE LIVED

Yet more old posts

2010-08-13T11:28:00.001-04:00

april 7 07

Well, the move is coming up fast. It never ceases to amaze me how fast things move. How fast time flies, how fast kids grow up. I can't believe that Lizzie is already less than 10 days till she's 16 months old. And i really can't believe that I am 12 weeks preggo.. its just like, whoa, slow down, I'm still tired from 2 months ago! lol.

I've loved NC, always felt like it was home... But it is time to move on. ever since the break in, I've not felt like i was at home anymore. It helps with Kev here, but its just like the "contentment" of being here is gone. Never in a million years did I think that we would be moving north. Its like, ummm, wait, we don't' wanna go there, the south is better. WARM is better. west is better. anything is better. but i guess it could be worse... oh well. Time to stop whining.

The morning sickness is getting better, but every time i say it, it seems to get worse. blah.

I will miss my dear friends and hope that we can stay in touch. I suck at it quite a bit. But i do think of ya.

Starting on the 18th, my ability to check email and get on here will be greatly diminished. till we get a place. blah.

oh well, guess i had better go, things to do, and I'm hungry again.

June 07 from old blog

2010-08-13T11:21:00.000-04:00

More From Myspace blog

internet is up and running, finally.

belly still growing, I am 20 weeks and 2 days today. baby is an avid exerciser, lol. my only exercise is chasing Lizzie all over creation and going up and down the staircase at our house..

For the most part, i feel great, get tired really easy, but that's to be expected.

Drum is OK... haven't been here long enough to make a big judgment call on it... it'll do, not like we will live here forever (I hope!) lol.

Lizzie is full swing into the terrible twos(started when she turned one) hopefully that means that she'll be done sooner... i hope! She loves to assert her independence... little stinker! lol. She's soo smart and loving and sweet when she wants to be. I converted her crib into a toddler bed... I'll give it the weekend and see how it goes then make my decision about putting the crib back together Sunday night.

ummm, Dr appt the 7th, just routine (OB) got my consult for cardiology, so i'll make that appt on Monday.

the movers broke our washer,so we have to go to the stinky laundromat. blah. I did 11 loads today.

i feel like it will be forever till the house is straight. our book cases and media towers got broke and our computer desk was broken before we moved the second time, so blah.

I can't wait to put the baby's room together. and i cant' wait till i know if i can do it all boyish. I'm excited.

well, ummm, i think that's all for now.

Have a great weekend!!

My Sons Birth Story... as my mind remembered it, a month after he was born (in 07)

2010-08-13T11:08:00.003-04:00

I'm deleting my myspace stuff and came across this story and thought that i should keep it, so i put it here in my blog :)

don't' think me a wimp...

..> ..>
Last Sunday (sept 23), I'd been contracting off and on for weeks, well, when i woke up, i started having more.. i thought nothing of it, as even when they start out at 4 minutes apart, within a few hours they move to 5 then 7 then 9 then 15, etc.. well, i got ready and we went to church.. after a half an hour, i was like, hmm, maybe i had better start timing them again.. so i did, had some that were 5 some that were 4 and some that were 2 minutes apart, none lasting less than a minute or so. so, after an hour of being at church, i whispered that we should go get checked "just in case" but they'll just send me home doing nothing as usual.

I was SO close to saying, lets get some food first, as we'll probably be there at least an hour, but, i didn't' (who knows why) and we got there, they got my info, i saw the ONE doc that was really nice to me (he was the on call doc) and then they said they were cleaning a room and had me go wait in the waiting room... so, at least a half an hour later, they finally came and got me.

i got in the room, did the normal stuff and got hooked up finally. they showed some contractions, but they were already spacing themselves. doc came in and said if anythings changing, we'll get transport arranged to go to Syracuse. well, i FINALLY had done some progressing. i was previously 2 and 50 and was finally 3 and 75. so, he says we'll arrange transport, and before they take you, I'll check you again, if you aren't a 5 yet, we'll send you down, if you are, then we'll keep you. Then they sent someone from the ICU department up with a machine, hand held telemetry... the one thing that made me have to deliver in Syracuse, cause they "couldn't do it there" grrr

Then the contractions started getting harder... and closer. i ended up asking for something for the pain (yes, I'm a wuss!!) they checked me again and i was 4 and 75, they got my iv put in and started antibiotics (for my heart) and then gave me 10mg of Nubian. IMMEDIATELY, i got sillier than the mad hatter. I felt SO much better. but the doc made the mistake of saying that i could have a Popsicle and then was gone for almost 20 minutes... well, after 5, all you heard from me was where is it? where is my Popsicle...lol... he came back in to say that the transport service was finally there, and all i could say is you forgot my Popsicle. He says, oops, i did, didn't' i?

So i got my Popsicle and they moved me to the ambulance bed. they made me stay on my side (blah) for the horribly bumpy ride down, needless to say, so much for the Popsicle i had. (eww)

I got to Syracuse, they checked me in, got me hooked up and my contractions had slowed down some. Liz was waiting for me when i got there, but since i sent hubby back home for some things, he and Lizzie hadn't' made it there yet (of course), so she stayed with me for a while. (thank you again so much!!) they checked me and i was a "tight 5" and 50%.. WHY?? lol....

(things are already getting fuzzy from this point on) i remember i started getting stronger contractions after this and asked for some Nubian again. they don't' give that down there and said they'd see what they could give me. forever and a day later, they came back said they had to do research on what they could give me that wouldn't' react badly to the Nubian. so, i got a shot of demmoral and phenegrin (half in the bootay and half in my IV). NOT fun... I puked again from that.

by the "end" of the night, i was STILL a 5 and 50% (according to them) Still contracting, still hurting, i continued through the night. and in the morning... Someone came in and said they would start pitossin at 10 (they hadn't' decided what they would do the night before, whether keep me or send me home) so, i asked if i could be unhooked to shower and take a few laps around the floor. got my wish granted, did that.

at 10, they came, changed out my IV. i asked when they would start the pit, and they said it was already started. i was like, oh okay. they started it at 6ml... and every 15-30 minutes they came in and upped it. I ate jello ( they didn't' tell me i could have jello the day before) after jello, just to " have something on my stomach" as they wouldn't' let me have anything other than "clear fluids"

well, by the time it was pushed up to 90ml, i was dying. Crying, screaming, the whole spill... they came in and checked me and guess what?? 5 and 50%!! it had been a LONG day and i was miserable and NO change, i was pissed off and in pain and tired and hungry and mad! the one nurse was going to have mercy on me and turned off the pit, and was going to get me stadol (yes the THIRD narcotic....) so, she went to get the stadol and turned off the pit, after i got the stadol, then someone else came in and said no, put it back on, we're going to break her water in a bit. at this point, i am MAD... i tell them, give me the epidural first, i really don't' want you to break my water, i can't have a c-section, I'm a heart patient (DUH!!) and am NOT supposed to have this! plus, i was under the impression (from the peri) that i wasn't' supposed to have to have too much pain, as that was not good for me.... little did i know they didn't' give a hoot!

so, the nurse turned the pit back on, but put it back to 60ml. but the contractions and pain didn't' stop, the stadol did NOTHING for me but made me super loopy when there was no contraction and just as much pain when there was. so, i went from loooooooooooooopy to screaming... i dunno how long i was like that, they came in and broke my water... that was weird.. my water didn't' break like that with Lizzie, i had a slow leak... it almost hurt, felt like they stuck that thing waaaaaaaaaay to my ribcage.... i told them i had to pee. They said in a minute, and when i sat up for them to do my epidural, water gushed and i peed too (at least i think i did... i was very confused at this time and was like, i peed, but its a lot, there's a puddle on the floor (which got bigger and bigger with each contraction)

SO, i finally got my epidural.... the numbing shot HURTS, lol. but they got it in without too much trouble, and as i got the first part of it, it all went to one leg, then some got to the other leg, but my right was defiantly more numb than my left, so i had to lay on my left side. this was probably about 730.... maybe a little later. they checked me again, i was 6 and 80% (bout stinking time!! lol)

they all left my room and hubby and i turned on the tv, it was first night for new shows, so hubby saw how i met your mother, i asked them to turn my bed so i could see it, they did but lectured me and said they'd have to move it back when it was time to deliver (DUH!) lol. the new show "big bang theory" started next, i felt the weirdest contraction it was finally number than the other ones where i was still holding the bed rail and crying (yes with the epi) but something was happening. i banged on the nurse buzzer and said somethings' going on, there is way more pain and pressure and someone needs to get in here. eventually (probably 5-10 minutes later) someone came in and said its the baby moving down, when you are having more steady pain we'll check you.. that ticked me off again - are you serious???

so, next contraction, it was there and wasn't' going away. I banged on teh nurse call button again and said someone needs to come in here NOW. so, after another waiting period, someone came and i said LOTS of pressure and pain! so they turned me over to my back check and said a baby's coming. they moved my bed back, we turned off the tv and i began the biggest marathon of pushing ever.

Several times i said i couldn't' do it, i screamed and because i was doing that, it wasn't pushing. when he was starting to crown, they had me reach down and feel (that was weird!) and i pushed and pushed and pushed, his head finally came out, but then his shoulders were next. i pushed and pushed and pushed and pushed and pushed and pushed and they finally came out, then i had to push again to get that belly out! lol. two pushes later, he was born. They laid him on my chest. he was pale, so i started rubbing him like they showed on tv. they let me do that for a minute or so, then took him to the warmer. they roughly rubbed him and started to get him to pink up and finally give a weak cry. they kept it up and he finally got mad and made a strong cry.

I got him back a few minutes later after they checked for tears and got the placenta out. No tears, no cuts! And he nursed... and nursed, and nursed, lol. for an hour!

So, my little 7lb 19 inch guy wanted out then took his time, but he's here and loved very much.

sorry it took me a while to write this, and sorry that it took so long to write it! (i actually left out more!) thanks for reading.

Rambling About Age...

2010-08-08T23:55:00.001-04:00

In two weeks I will be 35… I know it’s not old. It just seems so “twilight zone-ish.” I feel like I’ve not actually had all my 35 years sometimes.. it's like suddenly I’ve aged without knowing. My babies are going to be 3 and 5 soon. That doesn’t seem to be real either.. feel like I have a million thoughts in my head going a trillion miles an hour and it’s like hard to keep up with everything.

Sad thing is, I didn’t’ have this much “trouble” accepting turning 30… that was a cake walk. This milestone is just like a HEY did know you are aging quickly? Sometimes I feel like HS was just a few years ago and sometimes I feel like it was another life ago. There are so many things that I had planned on doing in my life. And its like, umm your life is moving, you had better catch up!

Yep, just rambling for now… lol. It’s just unreal for me; still not sure why. I’ve always believed age was just a number. But now that I’ve hit a number that is apparently something that bothers me, lol.

Anyways, just a ramble.. :D

Just a joke

2010-02-28T21:38:00.003-05:00

Got this in an email from a great friend. Made me laugh alot. :) Enjoy, especially my southern belles :)

The first man married a woman from OHIO . He told her that she was to do the dishes and house cleaning. It took a couple of days, but on the third day, he came home to see a clean house and dishes washed and put away.

The second man married a woman from MICHIGAN . He gave his wife orders that she was to do all the cleaning, dishes and the cooking. The first day he didn't see any results, but the next day he saw it was better. By the third day, he saw his house was clean, the dishes were done and there was a huge dinner on the table.

The third man married a girl from THE SOUTH. He ordered her to keep the house cleaned, dishes washed, lawn mowed, laundry washed, and hot meals on the table for every meal. He said the first day he didn't see anything, the second day he didn't see anything but by the third day, some of the swelling had gone down and he could see a little out of his left eye, and his arm was healed enough that he could fix himself a sandwich and load the dishwasher. He still has some difficulty when he urinates.

Going Back To School

2010-01-19T19:41:00.002-05:00

I am going back to college! for now its just online classes, not that those are easier. For now, that's what i have to do. I am very nervous about it. 3 classes and i can contact the teachers but its pretty much self motivated.... EEEK!

17 years since graduation, 16 since i was last in school...

Oh well, must dive in sometime! here i go!!

***Splash****

In Memorandum

2010-01-19T17:05:00.008-05:00

Sitting down to write this tribute to Anna, i know it will be lacking. i know there are things about her that i will never know, things that i have never seen, such as her face when she laughs, the eyes lighting up when she speaks of her kids, the sound of her laughter. I just know that i have to say good bye to a good friend, one I've never met in person, only online, yet she's closer than some of the people that i do know in real life.

She was a wonderful mother, devoted, loving wife and a great friend. She was a part of our RCC gals. She was a part of the Jan 06 BBC ladies. She was our goofy. She will be missed.

Such a simple procedure went so wrong, and now she's gone, leaving a gaping hole in peoples hearts and lives. She was someone that people enjoyed talking to, someone who exuded joy.

She had 3 handsome boys and one beautiful girl. All very young, she was very young. This is a tragedy that can't be undone, one that will leave marks on all involved. I know she passed her strength on to her children and that they will not forget her but they will know she's watching them from heaven and she will always love them and be proud of them.

I pray that in time that the ache in their hearts will ease and they will be comforted that she is watching over them from heaven.

I know its hard to understand why things happen, but I know God has a plan and its hard to understand his plans when we can't see what he can see. What we see is that its unfair that she had to go through everything she's been through in the last year +, only to leave too soon.

I am not adequate to write this for her, i just want to say that she is loved and will be missed very much.

RIP dear Anna, you are loved and will be missed!!

Pumpkin Brownies MMMMMMm

2009-10-27T16:51:00.002-04:00

Pumpkin White Chip Brownies

By Anne Coleman

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What do you do with pureed pumpkin besides the standard pumpkin pie? I make all manner of dishes, from sweet to savory. These brownies (almost blondies) are moist and delicious, and perfect for cool fall days.

Ingredients

2 cups pumpkin puree
1 cup oil
4 eggs
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup white sugar
2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup white chocolate chips
1 cup peanut butter chips
1 cup walnuts, chopped

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a large bowl combine pumpkin, oil, sugars and eggs. Mix well. Add remaining dry ingredients and stir until well combined. Add chips and stir until well distributed.
Pour into a greased 9-by-13 inch baking pan. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

(i just poured roughly 1/3 a bag of each chips and a few handfuls of crushed nuts)

Public Womens Restrooms

2009-10-04T19:18:00.000-04:00

When you visit a public bathroom, you usually find a line of women, so you smile politely and take your place. Once it's your turn, you check for feet under the stall doors. Every stall is occupied.

Finally, a door opens and you dash in, nearly knocking down the woman leaving the stall.

You get in to find the door won't latch. It doesn't matter, the wait has been so long you are about to wet your pants! The dispenser for the modern 'seat covers' (invented by someone's Mom, no doubt) is handy, but empty. You would hang your purse on the door hook, if there was one, but there isn't - so you carefully, but quickly drape it around your neck, (Mom would turn over in her grave if you put it on the FLOOR! ), ya nk down your pants, and assume ' The Stance.'

In this position your aging, toneless thigh muscles begin to shake. You'd love to sit down, but you certainly hadn't taken time to wipe the seat or lay toilet paper on it, so you hold 'The Stance.'

To take your mind off your trembling thighs, you reach for what you discover to be the empty toilet paper dispenser. In your mind, you can hear your mother's voice saying, 'Honey, if you had tried to clean the seat, you would have KNOWN there was no toilet paper!'

Your thighs shake more.

You remember the tiny tissue that you blew your nose on yesterday - the one that's still in your purse. (Oh yeah, the purse around your neck, that now, you have to hold up trying not to strangle yourself at the same time). That would have to do. You crumple it in the puffiest way possible. It's still smaller than your thumbnail.

Someone pushes your door open because the latch doesn't work. The door hits your purse, which is hanging around your neck in front of your chest, and you and your purse topple backward against the tank of the toilet. 'Occupied!' you scream, as you reach for the door, dropping your precious, tiny,20 crumpled tissue in a puddle on the floor, lose your footing altogether, and slide down directly onto the TOILET SEAT. It is wet of course. You bolt up, knowing all too well that it's too late. Your bare bottom has made contact with every imaginable germ and life form on the uncovered seat because YOU never laid down toilet paper - not that there was any, even if you had taken time to try.. You know that your mother would be utterly appalled if she knew, because, you're certain her bare bottom never touched a public toilet seat because, frankly, dear, 'You just don't KNOW what kind of diseases you could get..'

By this time, the automatic sensor on the back of the toilet is so confused that it flushes, propelling a stream of water like a fire hose against the inside of the bowl that sprays a fine mist of water that covers your butt and runs down your legs and into your shoes. The flush somehow sucks everything down with such force that you grab onto the empty toilet paper dispenser for fear of being dragged in too.

At this point, you give up. You're soaked by the spewing water and the wet toilet seat. You're exhausted. You try to wipe with a gum wrapper you found in your pocket and then slink out inconspicuously to the sinks.

You can't figure out how to operate the faucets with the automatic sensors, so you wipe your hands with spit and a dry paper towel and walk past the line of women still waiting.

You are no longer able to smile politely to them. A kind soul at the very end of the line points out a piece of toilet paper trailing from your shoe. (Where was that when you NEEDED it??) You yank the paper from your shoe, plunk it in the woman's hand and tell her warmly, 'Here, you just might need this.'

As you exit, you spot your hubby, who has long since entered, used, and left the men's restroom. Annoyed, he asks, 'What took you so long and why is your purse hanging around your neck?'

This is dedicated to women everywhere who deal with public restrooms (rest??? you've GOT to be kidding!!). It finally explains to the men what really does take us so long. It also answers their other commonly asked questions about why women go to the restroom in pairs. It's so the other gal can hold the door, hang onto your purse and hand you Kleenex under the door!

This HAD to be written by a woman! No one else could describe it so accurately!

A Friend Is Like A Good Bra...
Hard to Find, Supportive, Comfortable, Always Lifts You Up, Never Lets You Down or Leaves You Hanging

Little Miracles

2009-04-17T19:54:00.002-04:00

So, continuing my fiasco with the fish, lol.

Less than two weeks ago the Betta's tanks started to get grimy after a few days. so i changed their dishes and tried everything i could to "clean them up." Well, that wasn't working that well. So i had one Betta in a regular Betta container, and the other one in a smaller one. Thought nothing of it, just went on about my life, making sure they didn't' die.

One night, i was up on the couch on the computer, thinking i should go to bed... and i heard this CRASH... it was insane... i knew it was one of the dishes, cause taz ran out and fast and i heard the water... i was like OH NO!

So i ran in and yep, it was the smaller Betta dish (who KNEW it could hold so much water!) cracked, water everywhere. But where was the Betta?? I didn't' find it, chased the cat down, no signs of the fish... hmmm.. So i was bummed, dang it! the cat ate him! So i went back to the couch and kind of moped a little bit.

I got ready to go to bed, an hour, probably closer to an hour and a half later... went in the kitchen, there was my beautiful blue Betta on the ground. :( So i grabbed a paper towel to throw it away and when i picked it up, it started moving!! I was like OMG its still alive! So i quickly cleaned out a dish for him to be in, tossed the water conditioner/cleaner stuff in it and hoped that it would be OK and put him in it ASAP.

I was Stunned. there was NO place that there was any water, especially not enough water for him to live in... but there he was swimming around ALIVE... I was like, well, if he makes it over night, then he's golden. and here it is a week later (feels like much longer) and he's still alive!

Its amazing to me how God gives little miracles now and then. :)

Fishes, Fishes and More Fishes!

2009-03-24T21:56:00.002-04:00

Ended up getting more fishes from walmart, 2 goldfish, 2 Rosy Reds and 2 algae eaters, talked to another customer who said that she kept them in with her Betta no problem. so i got one per tank. That afternoon, one died. took him back got a new one plus 2 to spare. So now we're up to 10 fishes. well, next morning 2 more algae eaters ended up dead.

Well, the 2nd original first Betta decided to finally give up the ghost on Monday morning. :( i called the pet store and they said they wouldn't' have another shipment in till Thursday, so they took down my info so i didn't have to hold on to the body for 4 days. (ick) (especially when i had two algae eaters dead as well!)

Bummed me out, but he'd been acting on his deathbed for a while, surprised he lasted as long as he did truthfully. Lizzie was sad. Wanted to "do somefin" to bring him back to life. i told her it wouldn't work. her face got really sad. but she bounced back in 3 minutes. she didn't' react to the other ones.

I had one more die today, it was fine earlier, but this evening, just kaput. ugh. quite annoying. so i won't replace them at all. Hoping this Betta stays happy and healthy and the next one does too.

Little Fishes

2009-03-22T17:38:00.003-04:00

Well, i had one Betta die on Tuesday :( So i took him back (yes they wanted the dead body) back to the store and "traded him" for a living one.

After all was said and done in the mall, we went to the zoo, didn't' have time to run home and drop off Mr Betta, so we brought him through the zoo with us. Yes... the fish went to the zoo. He was a trooper and held up, we were there about an hour and a half, lots of bumps and bouncing, i was really worried.... i mean.... i just had a fish die on me, i had been told they were good fish, lasted a while, but 4 days isn't a while to me. lol.

Well, i got him home and put in a new tank, and he's doing pretty well, I'm doing my first water change today... hopefully i am not doing everything wrong!

I did go today and buy some more fish, bought 2 algae feeders and 2 gold fish and 2 other small goldfish thingies... rosie's i think? NO, i didnt' put them in with the Betta's. :)

Well... tragedy struck me once again and already one of the algae feeders is dead! just laying on the bottom of the tank, he was the smaller one of the two and was in with the new Betta.... :( so now i get to take another dead carcass in and trade it for another fish. i hope i don't' spend the next month doing this!

The cats have been stalking the fish. i hope they can't figure out how to get on top of the entertainment center... or uh oh. maybe i need to figure out some kind of top with holes for the top of the goldfish.....

Its Above 45!

2009-03-16T16:15:00.003-04:00

Yesterday was the first day it was that warm in a while. felt like a heatwave. So, after church we decided to go to the zoo. Aric of course, fell asleep in the car on the way. Stayed asleep while i put him in the stroller and buckled him in, asleep through the parking lot, through Lizzie talking loud while i waited to give them our info to get in (we have a membership). Dude stayed asleep through half the zoo, which admittedly isn't alot being that its a small park zoo.

The zoo had gotten ravaged by the snowstorms this year, about a 3rd of the exhibits were torn up. it was sad. But the wolves were in good spirits and even wagged their tales as you got close, posed for pics and followed you as you walked. lol.

The bears were hiding, dunno if they were hibernating or not, just heard them talking to each other in a diff enclosure. The Caribou were even out and CLOSE to the fence which never happens. The wolverines were out as well, which was a nice change, being that they didn't have any out for some of last summer. Aric woke up just before we saw the caribous and just after the wolverines. so he only saw the caribou and the last spot which of course, i cant' remember what its called, but its got frogs and bats and flying squirrels in it.

It was a little chilly when the wind blew, but it was so nice that it didn't feel that nippy and just a beautiful day. was going to go back today but it was a lazy day, so we just walked to the mailbox instead.

New Additions to the Family!

2009-03-16T16:00:00.002-04:00

So, we were at the mall the other day and Lizzie requested to see the puppies, as usual. So we went to sears first, as it was a way to hopefully ensure she would behave, plus the stores are next to each other, so she knew that it was our first stop on the way out.

Outside the pet store, they had a beautiful Maine coon kitten. i wanted it, as i want a full blooded one (taz is half and massive) but it was a grand, which technically isnt' bad considering most places want 1200+ for them. We got inside and they had all sorts of cutsie little pups, including a St. Bernard, which i WANT when we buy a house. he was even on sale. (insert awwwww here )

Lizzie requested to see the fishes, so we went and saw the mice (on the way, {ick}) and the Betta's. well, i always feel sorry for them in those tiny little cups they keep them in the pet store. after walking around and seeing all of the fishes, we went back to the Betta's and i decided we'd get one. after asking Lizzie to pick one (and i got the other one, just seemed more lively), then i got to thinking... hmmm maybe i should get two... Then i looked at the next obvious step, how much were tanks. they had a semi small one, that was built for two (had a divider) but it was still bigger than what they were in. so i said, hey that works. i bought 2 things of food, got the directions and left the store.

After getting them set up, i got to thinking.. man they seem sad. i wonder if its cause they want to fight and there is that shield between them. THEN i thought, well, I'll just get another aquarium so they don't' have to share.

The next day (yesterday) after going to church and taking the kids to the zoo, we went to walmart to see what they had. well, they had the same tank that the pet store did with a BLACKOUT divider in it for half the price. i grabbed it and was gonna get some plants but was like man these things are wickedly small... Looked around at the other tanks and they had one that had a air pump and light with it for less than what i paid for the regular tank. so i grabbed some gravel and more plants and distilled water, which i later read about and found out was a bad choice. blah.

Got home, got kids in bed and decided to set up the tank. rinsed everything off and filled it up, fought to get the light where it belonged (that was a feat) and pulled the saddest looking Betta out and placed it in the water. (oh and i bought a bridge too) He seems happy now, but now my other one seems sad. i should have just bought two tanks to begin with or two tanks yesterday, now i feel the need to make them even. lol.

I haven't taken any pics of them yet, but they are BEAUTIFUL! I'm excited. I figure if we can keep them healthy and happy maybe in a few months we'll add some goldfish, you know the 3 for a dollar ones. lol. if they can be in the same tank as a Betta.

Facebook

2009-03-07T11:06:00.003-05:00

Interesting site, i recently joined and have found friends i haven't seen or heard from in 16 years. its quite an amazing thing.

After graduation people seem to scatter to the wind and its nearly impossible to hunt anyone down. (not that I'm "hunting" people, just like to see how everyone is doing and see how much they've changed over the years)

its nice that you have to be "friends" with the person to see their info, but a pain too cause when you're trying to find someone from years and years ago, its nearly impossible to know what they will look like now!

But i think its gonna end up being fun. I feel silly for having avoided it all this time, lol.

Ahh, Happy Belated Birthday Dear Brother in Law.

2009-03-07T10:58:00.002-05:00

Sorry this is late!

BUT i did send you a message on face book, so that should count for something, lol.

I hope it was great and that you and Anna had a good time celebrating your birthdays.

Love y'all.

Ahh The Year 3

2009-03-07T10:53:00.002-05:00

My little Lizzie is such a smart kid, i feel bad for pulling her out of school, but hope to be able to enroll her again soon. Her new thing is when she gets in trouble, she'll say i really sorry, and put her mouth into a frown and sniffle. Its adorable, even when you're upset with her cause she climbed on the same thing again and again and its your 30Th time telling her no.

She tries to help out allot with her little brother, she loves him allot. But she thinks she's more grown than she is and tries to bully him around. (i suppose typical big sister) The problem is when he doesn't want her pushing him around, the bigger problem i suppose, would be that they weigh the same thing now.

Yep, my 17month old and my 3 year old weigh the same thing. 30lbs. INSANE!

I have GOT to start taking pics of them again!

Knock Me Over With A Feather!

2009-03-07T10:39:00.005-05:00

They will never cease to surprise you!

Okay, so my son is 17 months old. He's NOT talking much at all, and I've been worried about it. Well, last night hubby had to work late, so i decided, I'll just order a pizza so its ready when he got home before he had to go back.

The pizza got here and i took it into the kitchen, ever followed by the "i wanna eat" little guy.. Well, he saw the pizza hut boxes and CLEAR AS DAY, says "I like that"! I looked at my husband and was like, did he just say what i thought he said?? he said yeah. so i was knocked flat.

This is the same age that Lizzie handed me my shoes (i had asked her to bring them to me) and said "here ya go" I was flabbergasted then too, i was like what did you say, she looked at me and said here ya go again.

I'm So proud of my munchkins! Aric only has said 3 or 4 words plainly before this. so that blew me away, Lizzie had a whole lot more words at this point, but apparently he knows them, just doesn't say them. HA HA.

Just A Funny Joke!

2009-03-02T18:22:00.002-05:00

A man boarded an airplane in New Orleans with a box of frozen crabs and asked a blond, female crew member to take care of the box for him. She took the box and promised to put it in the crew's refrigerator. He pointedly advised her that he was holding her personally responsible for the crabs staying frozen; He mentioned that he was a lawyer, and proceeded to rant at her about what would happen if she let them thaw out.

Needless to say, she was annoyed by his behavior. Shortly before landing in New York, she used the intercom to announce to the entire cabin, "Would the gentleman who gave me the crabs in New Orleans, please raise your hand?"

Not one hand went up ... so she took them home and ate them.

Two lessons here:
1. Men never learn.
2. Blonds aren't as dumb as most men think.

Well, Happy Birthday Anna!!

2009-03-02T16:01:00.002-05:00

And a Happy Birthday to my dear little sis! You're finally getting closer to 30, lol. but still a long way to go. :) And NO, 30 is not old age, just a number. Remember that in a few years.
Hopefully your hubby is treating you to a nice dinner tonight, I love you hon!

Wish i was closer so we could do something together!!

Bedtime Stories

2009-01-15T20:16:00.002-05:00

No, not the ones you read to kids :).

http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/bedtimestories/

Stars Adam Sandler as Skeeter Bronson

Skeeter grew up in the hotel business and was promised that he would run one when he got older. so he held on to that every day of his life. But unfortunately, it hasn't happened yet.

His sister needs his help to watch her kids and as he tells them stories before bed, they start to come true.

This is a WONDERFUL family movie. nothing that is offensive in it, just good wholesome family fun. I HIGHLY recommend seeing this in the theaters, as all of the wonderful effects and the story itself are larger than life. Well worth the money at the theater!

Yes Man

2009-01-15T20:10:00.002-05:00

http://yesisthenewno.warnerbros.com/

Stars Jim Carrey and Zooey Deschanel.

Carl Allen (Jim Carrey) is a guy who says NO to everyone, regardless of the question. After his friend gets so fed up with him, he goes to a self help seminar, and learns to say YES. Yes to EVERYTHING.

This movie is so very funny and will keep you laughing. Definately worth seeing in the theater.

Marley & Me

2009-01-15T20:03:00.002-05:00

http://www.marleyandmemovie.com/

Stars Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson, and of course, Marley.

Very cute movie starts with John and Jenny getting married and having snow on their wedding night. So thy make the decision to move from Michigan to Florida, and begin their life.

After getting their clearance puppy, they begin going through the trouble of training him.

A movie filled with laughs love and a few tears, well worth seeing.

The Tale Of Despereaux

2009-01-15T19:41:00.001-05:00

a very cute cartoon about an unlikely hero, based on a book written by Kate DiCamillo

Stars Matthew Broderick and Dustin Hoffman and Emma Watson.

Tale of a little mouse born with over sized ears and exceptionally brave. Definitely worth seeing.

The queen ends up dying of a heart attack over a rat in her soup and the king bans all soup and rats from the kingdom. he is miserable, the princess is miserable, and the town has not had rain in years.

Kids of all ages (and adults too) will love this cute little tale of heroism.

Go see it if its still out and if not, then rent it or buy it when it comes out!

Another Apology

2008-12-18T22:53:00.003-05:00

So sorry its been SO long since i last posted! Hubby finally got home the day before Halloween and after a LONG wait that day we got him that evening after 6pm. The kids were SOOO excited when they saw him. it was really great.

a BIG FUNNY!!!

2008-12-18T22:48:00.002-05:00

Just try reading this without laughing till you cry!!!

Suggestion : Go Pee Before Reading this!!!!!

Pocket Taser Stun Gun, a great gift for the wife. A guy who purchased his lovely wife a pocket Taser for their anniversary submitted this:

Last weekend I saw something at Larry's Pistol & Pawn Shop that sparked my interest. The occasion was our 15th anniversary and I was looking for a little something extra for my wife Julie. What I came across was a 100,000-volt, pocket/purse-sized taser. The effects of the taser were supposed to be short lived, with no long-term adverse affect on your assailant, allowing her adequate time to retreat to safety....??WAY TOO COOL!

Long story short, I bought the device and brought it home. I loaded two AAA batteries in the darn thing and pushed the button.Nothing!I was disappointed. I learned, however, that if I pushed the button AND pressed it against a metal surface at the same time; I'd get the blue arc of electricity darting back and forth between the prongs. AWESOME!!!

Unfortunately, I have yet to explain to Julie what that burn spot is on the face of her microwave. Okay, so I was home alone with this new toy, thinking to myself that it couldn't be all that bad with only two triple-A batteries, right? There I sat in my recliner, my cat Gracie looking on intently (trusting little soul) while I was reading the directions and thinking that I really needed to try this thing out on a flesh & blood moving target.

I must admit I thought about zapping Gracie (for a fraction of a second) and thought better of it. She is such a sweet cat. But, if I was going to give this thing to my wife to protect herself against a mugger, I did want some assurance that it would work as advertised. Am I wrong? So, there I sat in a pair of shorts and a tank top with my reading glasses perched delicately on the bridge of my nose, directions in one hand, and taser in another. The directions said that a one-second burst would shock and disorient your assailant; a two-second burst was supposed to cause muscle spasms and a major loss of bodily control; a three-second burst would purportedly make your assailant flop on the ground like a fish out of water. Any burst longer than three seconds would be wasting the batteries.

All the while I'm looking at this little device measuring about 5' long, less than 3/4 inch in circumference; pretty cute really and (loaded with two itsy, bitsy triple-A batteries) thinking to myself, 'no possible way!'

What happened next is almost beyond description, but I'll do my best...? I'm sitting there alone, Gracie looking on with her head cocked to one side as to say, 'don't do it dipshit,' reasoning that a one second burst from such a tiny little ole thing couldn't hurt all that bad. I decided to give myself a one second burst just for heck of it. I touched the prongs to my naked thigh, pushed the button, and . . HOLY MOTHER OF GOD . . WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION . . . WHAT THE HELL!!!

I'm pretty sure Jessie Ventura ran in through the side door, picked me up in the recliner, then body slammed us both on the carpet, over and over and over again. I vaguely recall waking up on my side in the fetal position, with tears in my eyes, body soaking wet, both nipples on fire, testicles nowhere to be found, with my left arm tucked under my body in the oddest position, and tingling in my legs?

The cat was making meowing sounds I had never heard before, clinging to a picture frame hanging above the fireplace, obviously in an attempt to avoid getting slammed by my body flopping all over the living room.

Note: If you ever feel compelled to 'mug' yourself with a taser, one note of caution: there is no such thing as a one second burst when you zap yourself! You will not let go of that thing until it is dislodged from your hand by a violent thrashing about on the floor. A three second burst would be considered conservative?IT HURT LIKE HELL!!!

A minute or so later (I can't be sure, as time was a relative thing at that point), I collected my wits (what little I had left), sat up and surveyed the landscape. My bent reading glasses were on the mantel of the fireplace. the recliner was upside down and about 8 feet or so from where it originally was.

My triceps, right thigh and both nipples were still twitching. My face felt like it had been shot up with Novocain, and my bottom lip weighed 88 lbs. I had no control over the drooling. Apparently I pooped on myself, but was too numb to know for sure and my sense of smell was gone. I saw a faint smoke cloud above my head which I believe came from my hair. I'm still looking for my nuts and I'm offering a significant reward for their safe return!!

P.S. My wife loved the gift, and now regularly threatens me with it! If you think education is difficult, try being stupid.

The Waiting Game

2008-10-25T13:07:00.002-04:00

The Waiting Game SUCKS!! seriously, just send my hubby home now! this limbo stuff is crazy!! He's due home any time, but apparently not today :-( I can keep holding my breath for tomorrow.....

I love ya honey!!

Kids are more than ready to have daddy back too. I know I'm more than ready to be a 2 parent household again.

MWAH my love!

Cute Pics!

2008-10-25T13:03:00.001-04:00

Sams Club does awesome with these pics!! kiddos were a little crabby, but they still came out cute!

SingSnap!

2008-10-25T12:44:00.003-04:00

Now i have found this new addiction.. like i needed more, right?? but its called SingSnap, and its (to me) like online Karaoke! and OMG its a blast!! i can't sing, but i do try! And i have a blast, so who cares! they dont' have alot of the songs I've tried to sing, but they've got a decent amount. I've done a few... lol. DO NOT feel obligated to go look, to listen or even to be nice about it. LOL. don't' be mean though. i don't' need it, i know i cant' sing. LOL

http://www.singsnap.com/snap/r/ba108afb3

http://www.singsnap.com/snap/r/bbe6d4f5

http://www.singsnap.com/snap/r/bfc7ba29

http://www.singsnap.com/snap/r/bce57cd9

http://www.singsnap.com/snap/r/c4f33501

http://www.singsnap.com/snap/r/b7f62b51

http://www.singsnap.com/snap/r/c311ff419

my friends little man did this one - http://www.singsnap.com/snap/r/c3c2d829 he's awesome!! (and 8!)

WMYSTHE!! Wow, My Readership Seems To Have Exploded!

2008-10-25T12:40:00.004-04:00

676 views, eh? nice! I'm sure its due to my acro buds! Hi Guys!!! I just love playing with Y'all! You keep me up too late, but eh, its a blast!! (most of the time!) I just feel bad, i tell people to come look and then i stop posting!! ha ha! oh well, I've been stressing out and being lazy!

But, i will do better (its my mantra, i try!) i keep saying, i need to blog about this or that, then i sit down at the computer and get sucked in. LOL.

Busy Busy

2008-09-29T12:07:00.003-04:00

Okay, so one of the reasons that i don't blog as often as i should is that I'm a procrastinator (aka lazy, sorry for those that do procrastinate, but that's just me)

On the other hand are the kids. Lets put it this way, since i started typing this, I've been up 2 times to stop them from whatever they are trying to destroy. :-)

Last week alone, After the party, my in laws were here (thank you Memere & Pepere!), then an hour after they left my parents came (thank you mom and dad) and they were here till Wednesday. In this time, we ran around alot and played Wii alot, lol. Of course, Aric decided that this was the time to begin to get sick.

He hadn't been in daycare since the Friday before and started getting a cold on Monday night and it got worse Tuesday and i got him seen on his birthday (yeah... BOOO, lol) He was pronounced with an upper respiratory infection (aka cold here, he gets at least one a month here fun fun - NOT) and a viral rash from that. I took him to care on Thursday and they called me back and sent him home saying that he had a rash that looked like he was getting hand foot and mouth. I explained to them that he had a rash that had been there for 4 months and he was going to dermatology for it next week (i.e. this week) well, they said well, ok, bring a note saying the doc looked yesterday and it will be ok. So i called and waited till they said yes, we have a note for you just come pick it up. so i got ready to go pick it up and the daycare called back and said he had to go home now. GRRRRRRRRRR..

Wednesdays and Fridays are normally time i take for me. that week it had gotten re-arranged cause Aric's birthday fell on a wed and i didn't think it was fair to take him on his birthday. By this time it was 330, aric had only been in care a few hours and i had only gotten one work out in. no real time for just chilling out like i like. Guess I'm glad i didn't' go to a movie!! (i WILL this week though!!)

So i picked him up and he was a grump, i figured at this point to take both kids cause i was already aggravated and didn't need to worry about being late to pick up Lizzie. Probably not the best course of action, as they were both ramped up and just pushed and pushed and pushed, plus the fact that i was arguing with the clinic about who Aric's doc was and why he needed to be seen, etc... i was pretty much ready to run away from home, trying to not reduce into a small ball in the corner and cry. blah.

The next morning i got him an apt, got Lizzie taken to daycare and went for the wait at the docs. Well, he was pronounced with hand foot and mouth disease. but only on his toes and an eczema type rash on his thighs... and he couldn't go back to daycare till Monday. So i took him to the nail salon with me and got my nails done a pedicure and my eyebrows done (they did it too small past my arches, grr) he was cranky and crabby, which made me the same. Then we picked up Lizzie and she wanted to tell mommy how it was and it was a long night. lol. Those are nights i need a buddy to hang out with, but everyone was busy, so i just called an old friend and talked to some on line buds.

So, while yes, a quiet week for some of you, this was just alot in a few days.

well, i gotta go, rushing out the door, kids are crabby, but i think they'll be fine once we get to the play date. i still gotta shower!! lol. later!

Ok, My Tattoo. :D

2008-09-28T19:41:00.004-04:00

Since i said I'd post, I'm posting, LOL. Yes, i got a tattoo, 2 weeks ago, and i love it. I waited 12 years, well, waited is not right... i put off for 12 years cause I'm a wuss. But after thinking about it and talking to my hubby about it, i decided that i could do it. So, i did it. I got it on my lower back, just above my rump. its a heart with squiggles, it hurt SO BAD, lol. But I'm glad i did it.

Okay, with out further ado, here it is.

Just a Quick Post

2008-09-24T10:26:00.002-04:00

Well, my little man is 1. And sick. Of course, poor thing, if its not one thing with him, its another. His party went good, not many people came, but it filled our living room, his memere and pepere were there as well as some really good friends. The next day one set of grandparents left and the other arrived.

My parents came and they brought the mother load. Toys from one end of the house to the other. it was INSANE. :D. It was a great visit, didn't even get any grief when my tattoo was discovered. (yes i got one, I'll do another post later)

We played the Wii and just had fun. They go to bed WAY earlier than i do, so i just watched TV and played acro upstairs.

We were supposed to go to Niagara Falls today, but with Aric sick and under the weather, we have a Dr appt instead. Parents are gone now, and i have to leave soon to take the kids to the doc. I'm sure they hate to see me coming. LOL.

Anyways, i hope you are all having wonderful days and I'll be sure to write more soon.

Has It Been A Year??

2008-09-15T11:39:00.005-04:00

Wow, its so hard to believe its already been almost a year! Aric will be 1 next Wednesday. He went from a preemie (only 3 weeks) at 7lbs to the 26lb little man i have crawling all over. Its amazing the difference in him and Lizzie. I am just in awe that I've been giving such great blessings in my kids (and my hubby) and know how blessed I've been.

I am giving him a simple party on Saturday, just here at the house, invited a few people from church, and his daycare and such. of course, i kept forgetting to bring the invites. (so stinking blonde some days!!) so i will have to send out email invites.... grrr. After the party, I'll add some pics.

I am just amazed and in awe.... yeah, i know, i keep repeating myself. (its my MUSINGS) He refused baby food till he was 8 months. then only haphazardly ate it, refused a sippy till he was 11 months, then embraced it completely. He's on sippys only, no formula, straight milk and loves table food. Can eat a whole Mac N Cheese kids meal from burger king. (yes, amazing!) and has a love of life and people. Smart and stubborn (aren't we all?) and wants what he wants when he wants it. LOL.

Well, i need to get to cleaning!!

late night update

2008-08-30T23:31:00.004-04:00

being that its late and I'm tired, just a quick update on us.

We got back from Vacation around the 1st and have been trying to recover from our vacation. Kids did well, i stressed more than i needed to. California was pretty, saw my dad, his wife and some good friends. Had a blast for the most part. :D

Just passed my birthday, cant' believe I'm 33... when did i get this age? I'm not old, just surprised. lol. My great friend Melissa took me to see the Day of Fire/Chris Daughtry concert. It was awesome, i absolutely had a blast. Got my pic taken with the singer, Jeff, from Day of Fire. I heard them in concert 4 years ago when we lived in NC. They are still awesome and rocking. :D

Just gearing up now for my little guys' 1st birthday. I cant' believe he's almost 1, just seems like yesterday i was pregnant and couldn't' wait for him to come. :D He's soo smart and so big.. Trying to grow up faster, he's pulling up on everything (especially me) and cruising now. he's let go and stood for a fraction of a second a few times now, but he's just not sure how it works yet. He'll get it soon. :D He's had fluid behind his ears since July and just not been a happy camper on and off over that. Still trying to convince his doc of that. She put him on antibiotics this time, we'll see... this is only his 2nd time on them and he's been sick most of his little life. blah! Oh, and I'm also working on weaning from formula to milk and from bottles to sippys.

Lizzie is doing well, potty training and her aren't' going as easy as it seemed to at first. she's content in panties, but will not do #2 in the potty, she'll do #1 all day, as long as she's not distracted, but that cursed #2 has really done me in. Today i gave up and put her in panties all day, as i just couldn't' handle following her around and asking if she's gotta poop! lol. she's still been told to go in the potty. She wants her panties, but i told her she's gotta learn to go in the potty, then she can have her panties back. we'll see....

I did something to my shoulder while in CA, and its been hurting since we got there (well, within a day or two) so i FINALLY went to the docs for it before my birthday, and finally started physical therapy this week. Apparently, i have a cramp in my shoulder (and now arm too) that's not getting relieved, so its always cramped. Sometimes i have relief and feel fine, then it cramps back up and I'm nearly doubled over in pain. blah! hope it works itself out soon!

OK, its bed time now, nite!

movies movies and more movies

2008-08-30T21:08:00.002-04:00

The Hulk - Edward Norton replaced Eric Bana as the hulk. I was very skeptical at first at the switch, as Eric Bana is WAY sexier than Edward Norton. lol. But, he did awesome in the role. This movie seemed to have more of a "comic bookish" feel. Almost feels like a whole new cast. It was well scripted and well done. I took my son with me, i think he was 9 months at the time. :D But anyways, go see it, lots of action, adventure and violence.

I Know Who Killed Me - Lindsay Lohan, Julia Ormond, Neal McDonough.
Aubrey shows up in the hospital with lots of bruises cuts and blood. She'd been missing, and her parents were so happy to have her home, that even when she said she wasn't Aubrey but Dakota, they just figured that she was just confused. Action, Suspense, Gore, but very good.

PS I Love You - Hilary Swank, Gerard Butler, Lisa Kudrow, and Gina Gershon
Soon before her wedding, a young lady's fiance dies and leaves her alone. Suddenly she started receiving letters, notes and packages from her husband, post mortem. All of this she lives for and only this as she gets on with her life, not moving on. A very wonderful movie that i watched soon after my hero deployed, made me bawl for the whole movie. I'd watch it again in a heartbeat.

Baby Mama - Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Greg Kinnear, Dax Shephard
Unmarried unattached woman decides its time for a baby, going through the normal channels and trying to get pregnant with artificial insemination, decides that hiring a surrogate will solve her problems. She definitely gets more than she bargained for with Angie, an extreme free spirit who agrees to be her "baby mama". Very Funny movie and oh so worth seeing over and over.

The Mummy - Tomb of the Dragon Emperor: Brendon Frasier, Jet Li, Maria Bello, John Hannah
New place, new mummy. Rick O Connell's son is now a treasure hunter as well and is in China. He finds the find of his life, as his uncle and parents come to see it. Of course, the mummy is released and its up to the family to fight it. Definitely done different this time, but still very good and well worth watching.

Hancock - Will Smith, Charlize Theron, Jason Bateman, Eddie Marsan
A not your average Superhero, wants to just be left alone. Some twists and turns, definitely worth watching. Great movie. :D

Mamma Mia - Meryl Streep, Julie Walters, Stellen Skarsgard, Colin Firth, Pierce Brosnan
Based on the Broadway musical of an engaged daughter preparing for her wedding and wanting the father she never knew to walk her down the aisle. She finds her mothers diary and finds that she has 3 possible fathers, so she invites all 3, certain she'll know when she sees him.
It was a good movie, i would say great, but in this day and age, there always has to be a "shock" value to any movie, regardless of musical or not. This annoyed me, so it didn't' get a great rating from me. Aside from that 20 minutes it was great. :D

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull - Harrison Ford, Shai LeBeouf, Cate Blanchett
Typical Indiana Jones movie, its wonderful. Lots of Action, Adventure, and surprises. Definitely worth seeing on the big screen (if its still out where you are) but still worth seeing on any screen. Indiana is working at the college where he's from, his close personal friend and dean says that due to his recent activities that he's been under suspicion and the government is putting pressure on him to fire him. On his way out of town, he meets up with Mutt, who makes him a deal - help him with a personal mission, and he could very well find one of the biggest archaeological finds, the Crystal Skull of Akator.

Yes, I've watched a bit of movies the last few months... just now getting them taken care of though. :D last one for now

Tropic Thunder - Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr.
A bunch of actors are taken into a real life war zone, unbeknownst to them.
Supposed to be a comedy, but its just horrible... no other way to put it.. Raunchy, disgusting, insulting (to everyone at one time or another), sacrilegious, idiotic... i went into this movie expecting the best... i got the worst, starting with the trailers that they show in this movie about the "actors" in this movie... and it went downhill from there... I really wish i would have walked out the first time i thought about it (no less than 5 times did i think about it) but i was sure that there would be SOME redeeming quality... NOPE... IMO HORRIBLE..

The Dark Knight

2008-08-08T07:47:00.003-04:00

Okay, The Dark Knight. Saw this opening day (yeah, I'm way late posting) Stars Christian Bale and Maggie Gyllenhaal Aaron Eckhart and Heath Ledger. follow up to batman begins, it continues the story line where the first movie stopped.

The movie was good, worth watching, but its lost the "comic book feel" IMO. the characters look less "animated" and more realistic, therefore, might be scarier for younger kids.

Heath Ledger did a good job at being the joker, just didn't' seem as "manic" as the joker played by Jack Nicholson. (My blog, my opinion) This new joker just seemed to have a "heavy" feeling about him. Even the Scarecrow seemed to be a lighter character.

All in all, it was a good movie, good writing and seemed to tell a story that we didn't' get in any of Tim Burton's Batman movies, so it wasn't like it was something you've seen before (to a point)

I know many people won't agree with me but its OK. I enjoyed it very much and encourage anyone to go see it too!

Just a Thank You

2008-07-14T22:30:00.002-04:00

My hero my love,
Just wanted to post a quick thank you to you, my hero. Our short time together was bittersweet. I cant' wait till you are home for good and not just a quick "rest". I love you and I pray for your safety and the safety of everyone there. I pray that your travel was uneventful and that you get to your destination safely. I love you and already miss you more than i can express. Your visit meant the world to me and the kids and whenever you can be home, whether one hour or one year or forever, we want it. Sending love and kisses from me and the kids to you every second.
Love you always Your adoring wife,
me.

Suprises

2008-07-14T21:57:00.005-04:00

Once again, and absence! sorry about that, i couldn't' post what i wanted to earlier, cause i didn't' know if any family read this blog and i didn't' want to ruin the surprise for my ILs. Hubby came home for R & R and we drove up to surprise them (they were expecting the kids and me) Well, the surprise was wonderful, made them all cry. :-D I was worried that they would figure it out, but no one did so that was great.

Got to spend time with his other daughter too, she's just awesome. The kids love spending time with her. He had fun surprising her as well. Went to some really neat places on our "mini" vacation. One of the best things that we got to do (done by America Supports you, Seats for Soldiers and the Red Sox) was get to see the Red Sox play. It was awesome, the seats provided just were sooo great! I don't' think i could have asked for better tickets.

Seriously!! how great are those! Ticket holders gave up their seats for soldiers and their families to go to the game free. There was even a person that came and took our orders and everything, it was really cool. This was my second game, the first time was in 05, i was pregnant with my daughter and we stood in SRO seating (standing room only).

Pennants

Nice View of the Green Monster

Don't' they do the coolest designs in the grass?

Don't laugh at me or call me a geek but this is something i thought was cool:

They came out with little boards and "flattened" out the sand and made it all pretty again, LOL. Yeah, I'm a silly person, but i didn't notice it last time i went and they don't' show that on TV normally (not that i watch alot of sports on TV) and i thought it was nifty. :D
Close up.

The bull pen percussion section. (love that jolly roger!!)

they beat on the overhang and who knows what else and drum out songs, its really cool. :-)

Needless to say, we had a blast.
Here are hubs and I posing after it was clear that the red sox had kicked butt!

From red sox

if you click on the TEENY TINY red sox link, you can see the rest of the pics from the game.

Truly awesome what they did for us. For my hubby, my hero, my heart.

Thank you, America Supports You and The Boston Red Sox, and the Seats for Soldiers campaign. We appreciate your generosity!

wow 3 weeks, huh??

2008-06-29T21:17:00.003-04:00

Sorry, i didn't realize it'd been over 3 weeks since i posted last. Well, it makes sense. the dreaded sickness hit us JUST as it was getting nice!! stupid bronchitis with Lizzie then on to the upper respiratory infections from Aric and I and then my sinus infection and Lizzie's upper respiratory infection, followed up by another sinus infection from me. YES all in the last 3 weeks.. sick huh? lol.

We are all doing mostly better. apparently, my sinus junk is allergy related, or at least whatever it is, claritin D helps it. lol.

Kids are doing good. Aric learned how to crawl and sit himself up last week and then today he pulled himself up to standing! So smart and soo determined! lol.

Lizzie is just too smart for words! and she's got soo many words! WHEN she listens to you, she shows how big her intelligence is.

Me, i'm ok, down 10 lbs. so i'm very happy about that!

Get Smart!

2008-06-29T21:00:00.002-04:00

Get Smart - SO totally worth seeing!! Stars Steve Carell and Anne Hathaway.

It was really good, surprisingly since it seems they have to change something that works well.. I don't' know that its too far off from the original sitcom.

I need to get those on DVD... lol and I'd love to see if they'd do a remake of the nude bomb!! although ALOT more would be shown..... not sure how i feel about that. lol

new movie

2008-06-07T16:18:00.002-04:00

Just saw Sex in the City. It wasnt' my first choice, wasnt' really in my top 100 of movies to see. But i went with a friend. And i was suprised. It was very good, there was typical sex in the city stuff, lots of gratutious sex scenes, but overall a really good movie. Definately a chick flick. Its one of those that can be seen on the big screen or a tv, its up to you, nothing magical by seeing it on the big screen.

Standing up on your own with help.

2008-06-07T16:05:00.003-04:00

Sometimes, we focus on so many little things that we forget the big picture, and everything else. Life becomes so busy and stressful that we focus on that and not on what makes us happy. I am blessed to have a wonderfully sexy and smart and sweet husband that loves me and that i love so very much. Then i got doubly blessed with my two sweet kids. Life sucks sometimes, circumstances suck, but we cant' take our eyes off our blessings or the one who gives them.

I have been focusing on everything but my blessings and the blessing giver. And that screwed me up, my thoughts, my focus, everything was skewed. Sometimes we just need a reminder of our many many blessings. Blessings that would kill me to have taken away cause i was ignoring them or not giving them the attention that they deserve. by not focusing and counting my blessings, i ultimately hurt myself.

I just want to say that I am so very thankful for my blessings, my family, my life. Life is something we take waay too much for granted. Sometimes we look and only see "death and destruction" when we just want to wallow in the mud. Its when we finally look up and realize that the focus is wrong.

Yeah, I'm talking in circles. its my random musings. ;)

I am so thankful for that man that lays down his life and goes off to put it out there, if needed for someone else. For the man that isn't' afraid to stand up and serve. My husband, my soldier, my love. I am so very proud of him, and just am in awe of him. 3 times to leave everything that is "comfortable", home, and his family, not by his choice, but makes it his choice to be a soldier.

I try, sometimes its not my best, sometimes i just suck at being a mom and wife to my kids and hubby. but i cant' just let life toss me about, way too nauseating. :-D I used to stand on my feet (with help) but i took myself out of the helping arms of God to just "do it myself" and wallow in feeling sorry for myself. How selfish of me. So very selfish. I am very ashamed of that. My family comes first, period. Not me. Time to get off my tush and be who i am supposed to be.

Sometimes, little things can make you evaluate your life and change, sometimes you have to go through hell and back before you decide to change. I prefer not to go through that.

Honey, i love you so very much, thank you for your service, thank you for being the man you are. I cant' wait to see you again. I miss you.

A Movie- lol

2008-06-06T18:02:00.002-04:00

Kung Fu Panda - Take the kids you wont' be disappointed. I went in with less than desire to see this, but since i didnt' take Lizzie to see Horton Hears a Who (which i enjoyed very much) I decided since she wanted to see "panda mommy panda" that we would. We went to the 1145 showing and that was perfect. she got popcorn and her milk and she moved about halfway through the movie to the seat beside me from the double stroller, and sat enthralled. Yes, i heard the Tiger mommy, Monkey mommy, Snake mommy, Look mommy a panda, etc. but she wasnt' loud and i was soo very impressed with her. Aric fussed a little at the beginning, got his bottle, spit alot of it up and then took a nap.

More Movies.

2008-06-05T00:32:00.003-04:00

National Treasure Book of Secrets. I really enjoyed this movie, its on dvd now. Continues where the old one left off.

The Time Machine. Guy Pearce is the main character. It was good as well, and very enjoyable.

Yeah, sorry, no big reviews, my brain is saying go to sleep.

Teeth! and other updates

2008-06-05T00:16:00.003-04:00

We finally have teeth! 2 in a day! He won't let me see if there are more, but i have seen 2, i know that several were trying to break through at the same time, so its just a waiting game.

My little guy finally has some teeth! 8 months.. later than i figured he'd get them. But it started, and i hope and pray that the others aren't as much trouble as these first two were.

Aside from the not wanting to eat much at all, both kids seem to be doing good. Bronchitis has left us finally. Hoping that it stays away. 2 year olds and nebulizers don't mix well.

Lizzie is flourishing in her toddler program and always wants to "play with kids" no matter what time of day it is anytime that she gets bored or we pass a playground.

Sun still isn't' out in full force yet, weather is starting to get a little warmer, but with the rain and clouds and COLD its not feeling like almost summer at all. its 1 step warmer 2 steps colder. Eventually, I'm sure.

Still working on my scrap booking swaps, completed another one tonight and hope to finish up at least 2 before Friday.

Still doing my weight loss challenge. Finally found some motivation to exercise, wish i would have been doing it all along. Still snacking too much here and there. Have changed a hair in size, not noticeable, but no real change on the scale. Hoping that the size and weight starts to drop.

Miss my sweet sweet man so very much. I can't wait to see him again. The kids miss him too, and always react positively when its "daddy time" on TV. Aric just stares transfixed as his daddy reads him stories, and gives big smiles.

We are getting a few babbles and such for now, i have heard Dada mo ma and more garbley gook, but its just trying out sounds, not really saying words. YET.

Looking forward to spending time with my girls this summer. I hope it goes wonderfully awesome and smooth.

Also looking forward to seeing family. Its always nice to see family.

up way too late.

Change

2008-05-24T21:55:00.003-04:00

Change is hard. Change can be good or bad. Change sucks. Change is hard. That's my thoughts on change. In saying that, i have to change. I have to change how i am or i wont' fare well in the future.

I'm overweight. Quite a bit overweight. Have been for some years now. 20lbs ago, it didn't bother me, but you add on those and it weighs heavily on me. (no puns intended) The more i weigh, the less i want to do anything about it. I see the scale go up, and i get discouraged, more depressed.. I see it go down and i get hope.

I eat too much.. I eat when I'm bored, i eat when I'm not. I eat when I'm sad, i eat when I'm happy. I eat when I'm relaxing i eat when I'm busy. Point is, i eat. Doesn't matter what it is, most of the time, its not even cause it tastes good. Its there. Food can be a buddy. Food doesn't judge you, food doesn't tell you you're fat. Its just there, waiting to give you nourishment and comfort. Sometimes not either. 2 weeks ago, i started eating less. No exercise yet, so to speak. Nothing that is consistent, nothing that has stuck.

See, I'm afraid. Afraid of failing. Afraid of change. Mostly just afraid i will fail. And i have and do constantly. I think i sabotage myself. Tell myself that it doesn't' matter, but it does. Between the Hashimotos and my heart, it does matter a whole lot. And still I'm afraid and i let that stop me. Its why i stopped writing blogs lately, its why i don't' exercise. I say I'm just lazy, but its more than that. When i write, its part of me. Something inside of me that i release. I love to write and i miss it so terribly much. So why don't i? Fear. Apparently, i have a lot of fear.

I hate to be alone. And no I'm not "alone" in the physical sense. My kids are here, but its not the same. You can't really talk to a toddler or an infant and get back what you need from your spouse. And you can't really expect your friends to give you that kind of support and love that your husband can. And even though i know I'm loved and i know I'm missed, its still hard. I'm afraid of telling my husband that I'm even doing a weight loss challenge, much less two of them, i don't' want to fail in his eyes. I don't' want to seem weak. (yes, i know my thoughts are all over the place, i flip when i can't go on about a subject for a bit) I don't' want to disappoint the man who left me in charge of everything. He had no choice in the matter, when the army says go, you go. And i know he'll be home "soon" everyone has a different definition of that word.

Back to change. Life throws you curve balls. And i believe that life is allowed to, so we can learn. I should have learned by now, that doing nothing but eating myself silly isn't' working. And in order to change, you have to want to. Have the desire to. So, i am going to make the change. I wont' always do what i hope to, i will fail a few times, but i cant' let it stand in the way of continuing what i need to do. I need to be healthy, and in order to be healthy, i need to loose the weight and get in shape, for my kids, my husband and myself.

And More Movies!

2008-05-23T22:46:00.003-04:00

No, i dont' go to the movies all the time. I am just taking the time now, since i haven't in a while. My awesomely wonderful hubby got me the greatest mothers day present (besides him being home). He got me some gift cards to the movies! So, that's why i've gone more in the last few weeks than i have in a long time.

Just saw Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. It was done in True Indy fashion. Full of Action Adventure and yes, just a little bit of romance tossed in, just a little bit. :) Well worth the time and money to see on the big screen.

Also saw The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian. Very very good, was well worth the money and the time to watch it on the big screen. More Fighting, new faces.

Hold your Babies (big and small) tight!

2008-05-23T22:38:00.002-04:00

I am just sad. I just found out that Steven Curtis Chapman's family just had a horrific accident. Their baby girl was killed in an accident at home. One of her siblings accidentally ran her over in the driveway.

This just breaks my heart for them, and makes me want to go wake up that little toddler of mine (even though she just barely got to sleep) and just hold her tight. No matter how crazy she makes me sometimes, I am so very thankful for her and her brother. They are awesome little kids, different as the day is from the night. They make me smile, they make me laugh, they have also made me cry. But, that is what kids do, and that's what makes them individual little people.

They grow up too fast, way too fast. My little guy is going to be 8 months tomorrow, my little girl is almost 2.5, and my step daughter will be 12 tomorrow. Time is just going WAY too fast.

If you can, please say a prayer for the Chapman Family, they can use all the comfort they can get. Don't' forget to pray for the little people in your life. All kids are someones baby and need to be held sometimes.

More Movies.

2008-05-18T00:21:00.002-04:00

I really DO have other things to blog about, just get too busy to do it.

Iron Man - totally awesome movie!! I honestly cant' tell you what made it so cool, it just is. :P Not a cop out, just the truth. Has everything in it you could want. Make sure to stay past all the credits and see the ending. I didn't - :( I hope to find it somewhere i can see it on line, or i just may have to watch it again. Stars Robert Downy Jr and Gwyneth Paltrow.

Disturbia - If you like to be spooked and love suspense, then you will LOVE this movie! It was great!! Shia LeBeouf and David Morse. Even the website is creepy, LOL.

Go to the Movies!! Its a great stress reliever, even if you have kids with you. :D

movies!

2008-05-13T00:52:00.002-04:00

PS I Love You. - Really great movie, heart wrenching at times, heart warming at others. Really worth watching with a bag of tissues. link here

Baby Mama - Cute funny movie with suprising parts. Worth seeing. link here

Hashimoto's Thyroiditis

2008-05-13T00:45:00.003-04:00

So, i had a test ran a few weeks ago to determine my probability for developing this auto-immune disease. It came back positive.. very positive.

I was really disappointed about it, as i was hoping this would skip me. Why? who knows. I'm no more important than anyone else, no more special. Just really didn't' want to get this. Most of the females on my moms' side of the family have it, including her.

So, what does this mean for me in the future? not much really, just have to keep a closer eye on my thyroid levels and watch for changes in everything, as your thyroid controls a lot of things that go on in your body. When things start to change, make sure that i get on meds as soon as possible.

I need to get my weight down, so i don't' have to worry about the weight and my heart. Not that it wasn't a concern before, but more so now. I know i need to, i just have a hard time wanting to do something about it. Feel like I've hit a new low.

But i have two kids who need their mom and that's gotta be a good motivator. I also plan on getting my hormone levels (all hormones) tested, maybe that's what's really going on with my moods and such.

Bottom line, not a death sentence, but something to be concerned over.

Joys and Struggles with kids.

2008-04-29T20:56:00.002-04:00

The joys of kids. They can make you laugh they can make you cry and they can make you wanna pull your hair out. lol. They can break your heart, and they can make your heart fill like it will burst with love and joy. And sometimes all in a day.

I love my little munchkins more than anything. Some days its like, OK, days over, i don't' care that its only 10am, its over, go to bed NOW. Some days its like oh wow, its 9, guess you need to go to bed. but let me give you one more cuddle. most days its in between. That's what happens when you have a toddler who wants to be independent and do what she wants, eat what she wants and wear what she wants. then you have the infant, who wants to DESPERATELY to be mobile and to do things. There comes days when they get so frustrated with everything that they frustrate me in everything and we just all have a good cry.

BUT, they have such sweet hearts and sweet spirits and as long as i don't' loose sight of the fact that they are MY babies, and they want to please me, then it can be a good day. as long as i remember that they are JUST babies and regardless of how fast they are going, they aren't as old as they think they are, then every thing's fine. Some days, all they want is a good love and a big cuddle... the days when you want to the least are the days they need it the most.

Today was a day like that. Lizzie went to bed too late last night, got up too early today and then got wore really out at school, then got a short nap cause i had to wake her up to go to the post office, then drug them though the PX cause she needed diapers, then made her eat when she didn't' want it, even though she just asked for it. (no, i didn't force her to eat, can't make her if she doesn't' want to) But its 9 and i don't' *think* i hear anything going on upstairs.

So, just rambling at this point, think I'll go scrap!

Oh i finished my Use Your Stash challenge. YAY me! Got a million swaps to finish now.

Scrapping Swapping and Loosing!

2008-04-20T00:55:00.002-04:00

I have recently become very much intertwined in my scrapbooking board on BBC. I just love the ladies there and enjoy the motivation i get by being a part of them. I have scrapped more in the last month or two than i have in a long while.

I have also found out that there is more to scrapping than just slapping the pic on the page and writing some info about it. It is so much more than that! You can do all sorts of embellishing on the pages and just create any subject into something that is yours.

Swaps are something else i have gotten into.. i think I've allowed myself to get in over my head.. not a good thing to do. lol. But i will keep my head above water and navigate the waters to victory. right now i "think" I'm in about 9 swaps. 2 are done. One of the swaps is a repeat of one of the ones i have already done and there are titles to be done and tags to be done and recipe cards to be done. I'm actually looking forward to it, it gives me a creative outlet, something i don't use alot.

Loosing is something i hope to be doing soon. I also am participating in a looser challenge with these ladies. Its only 10 weeks, but i hope that it helps me with my motivation and kicks my rear into gear, as i am not as tall as i once was (boo!!) so that means that i need to loose more. Sitting on my tush and doing nothing ISN'T" working!! with the beautiful days we have got going on here, there is no reason i can't be out walking or using my DVDs to work out or take advantage of the free childcare while i work out in the mornings at the gym down the road. There is only one obstacle - ME. I have to get past me, i have to get past the depression, i have to get off my tush which needs to get smaller too. I hate being overweight and hate being at this weight so consistently for the last few months. So, here i go!!

Keep motivated and keep smiling!!

Something to Cry Over....

2008-04-15T19:42:00.002-04:00

You know when you go to a new doctor, and they get your height, weight and blood pressure and pulse and all that jazz?

Those are normally nothing to get up in arms about, if you're overweight, chances are you knew that already.

If you have high blood pressure, chances are you already knew, if your pulse is fast, you probably know that as well.

The one thing that you don't' feel prepared for is for them to tell you that you've shrunk...

Normally they just ask, so i tell them what i have been for years... 5ft 4in. well, they actually measured me today.. 62inches.. I said, what? no that can't be right, I'm 64in.. she said, we'll do it again. so we did, and it was true, i SHRUNK by 2 inches!! How do you do that?? I'm only in my 30s, I'm not old... I'm overweight, yes, but how do you shrink 2 inches?? I got more than weepy, i cried. i tried to not let them see (thankfully, they left the room while they waited for the doc to come see me). I am just in shock... I didn't think any clothes got longer, heck, i thought alot of my pants got shorter!! Guess my big ole booty is to blame for that.

Its bad enough to be shorter than alot of kids... my kids will be 5 and tower over me. SHEESH.

Movies

2008-04-12T11:50:00.002-04:00

I recently saw Sydney White - it was pretty cute and worth the rental. Modern Version of Snow White starring Amanda Bynes (forgive the bad misspelling) as Sydney White. She's going to college and is intent on joining the fraternity that her mom was in (her mom passed when she was young)

Dan in real life, was OK, stars Steve Correl (from the office) Not alot of hilarity, IMO. Single father of 3 girls trying to deal with that and maybe getting a life of his own.

Stardust - Stars Robert Deniro and Michelle Pheiffer - cute movie about a poor boy who likes the rich girl who is also being courted by a rich man. He tells her he will do anything in the world for her, including getting the star that has fallen to earth. Action, Adventure, Romance, all wrapped up into one.

Awake - Movie starring Hayden Christensen (from star wars episodes 1 2 and 3) and Jessica Alba - deals with what happens when the anesthesia doesn't' work correct when a man is getting a heart transplant and finds out about his new wife, best friend doc and such, very suspenseful and good!

Leatherheads - Stars George Clooney and Renee Zelweiger - movie about the start of pro football. Good movie, just not a comedy.

I Think That I'm Going to Loose it Tuesday!!

2008-04-12T11:45:00.003-04:00

Little Ms. Elizabeth starts toddler program on Tuesday... She's getting to be so big.. I KNOW this will be good for her, i just am trying to not chicken out. She needs this as do i, and the kids have already gotten used to getting up early, so its not like i have to work hard to get her ready to leave before 9am.

Its only 3 hours a day 2 days a week, but its a big step, it will be very structured and not an "optional" thing.. I have to pay whether she goes or not, so to not waste money, she has to go. I hope she's not sick still by then.

I hope this better structure will be some good consistency for her. (and me, lol)

They seem to do alot there (and look like they even introduce them to scissors!!!) And looks like it will be a good time. I am scared and excited for her. She's such a doll, and i hope this will help her blossom even more.

Just Ramblings

2008-04-12T11:37:00.003-04:00

Okay, so I've not been very good lately as far as posting... grr. i had something that i wanted to blog about the other night, but now, no clue what it was!

Kids and I have been sick lately. Aric started then he passed it to me. Monday i had pink eye, now i have something else going on and for some reason the clinics' not being proactive with it.... grrr.

My new little nephew needs prayers for he's in the hospital with dehydration and such. Please remember him, as he's so young and a first child for my brother and SIL.

The weather here was finally turning nice... then it turned again. the highs are only 45 or so today and supposed to get snow showers tonight. boooooo. Can't wait to live in the south again!!

My little guy is so funny, such a character and has a great personality. He can roll over now, still takes some effort, as he is about 22 lbs now. he can sit up, with help. loves to laugh and be the center of attention.

My little girl is just a doll. she loves attention too, and likes to be independent..

Can someone please tell the sun that it needs to come over here and keep the north warm???

New Babies

2008-04-05T16:56:00.002-04:00

I just love new babies!! My sister had one a few months after i had my son and now my Sis in law has her new son. I'm happy for them, its awesome!!

Nothing like the smell and feel of a newborn. very intoxicating. NOPE, doesn't make me want more. I'm content and very blessed.

I hope that my readers are doing OK. Haven't been up to writing lately, I'll try to fix that and write more.

Have a wonderful 1st April Weekend!! Hoping for no snow for you and plenty of warm dry weather.

Just Some Jokes

2008-03-18T14:14:00.003-04:00

Everyone needs to laugh now and then. :-D

1. How Do You Catch a Unique Rabbit?
Unique Up On It.

2. How Do You Catch a Tame Rabbit?
Tame Way, Unique Up On It.

3. How Do Crazy People Go Through The Forest ?
They Take The Psycho Path

4. How Do You Get Holy Water?
You Boil The Hell Out Of It.

5. What Do Fish Say When They Hit a Concrete Wall?
Dam!

6. What Do Eskimos Get From Sitting On The Ice too Long?
Polaroids

7. What Do You Call a Boomerang That Doesn't work?
A Stick

8. What Do You Call Cheese That Isn't Yours?
Nacho Cheese.

9. What Do You Call Santa's Helpers?
Subordinate Clauses.

10. What Do You Call Four Bullfighters In Quicksand?
Quattro Sinko..

11. What Do You Get From a Pampered Cow?
Spoiled Milk.

12. What Do You Get When You Cross a Snowman with A Vampire?
Frostbite

13. What Lies At The Bottom Of The Ocean And Twitches?
A Nervous Wreck.

14. What's The Difference Between Roast Beef And Pea Soup?
Anyone Can Roast Beef.

15. Why Do Gorillas Have Big Nostrils?
Because They Have Big Fingers.

16. What Kind Of Coffee Was Served On The Titanic?
Sanka.

17. What Is The Difference Between a Harley And a Hoover ?
The Location Of The Dirt Bag.

18. Why Did Pilgrims' Pants Always Fall Down?
Because They Wore Their Belt Buckle On Their Hat.

19. What's The Difference Between a Bad Golfer And a Bad Skydiver?
A Bad Golfer Goes, Whack, Dang!
A Bad Skydiver Goes Dang! Whack.

20. How Are a Texas Tornado And a Tennessee Divorce The Same?
Somebody's Gonna Lose A Trailer

Yes, some are just groaners, but some are pretty cute!! Thanks Julia for posting them!

Are You Sane??

2008-03-17T23:25:00.004-04:00

I've had a song in my head lately, its from Dr. Demento

Remember when you ran away
And I got on my knees and begged
You not to leave
Because I'd go berserk?

Well!

You left me anyhow and then
The days got worse and worse
And now you see I've gone
Completely out of my mind.

And

They're coming to take me away, Ha-ha
They're coming to take me away, Ho-ho
Hee-hee-haa-haa

To the funny farm
Where life is beautiful all the time
And I'll be happy to see those
Nice young men in their clean white coats and
They're coming to take me away, ha-ha!

You thought it was a joke
and so you laughed, you laughed,
when I had said that losing you
would make me flip my lid.

Right?

You know you laughed
I heard you laugh
You laughed, you laughed
and laughed and then you left but
Now you know I'm utterly mad

And

They're coming to take me away, ha-ha,
They're coming to take me away, ho-ho,
hee hee, haa haa

To the happy home
With trees and flowers and chirping birds
And basket-weavers who sit and smile
And twiddle their thumbs and toes
And they're coming to take me away, ha-hahaha...

I cooked your food, I cleaned your house,
And this is how you pay me back for
All my kind, unselfish, loving deeds,

Hah?

Well you just wait, they'll find you yet
And when they do they'll put you in the ASPCA you mangey mutt!

And

They're coming to take me away, Ha-ha
They're coming to take me away, Ho-ho
Hee-hee-haa-haa

To the funny farm
Where life is beautiful all the time
And I'll be happy to see those
Nice young men in their clean white coats and
They're coming to take me away, ha-ha!

To the happy home
With trees and flowers and chirping birds
And basket-weavers who sit and smile
And twiddle their thumbs and toes
And they're coming to take me away, ha-hahaha...

To the funny farm
Where life is beautiful all the time
And I'll be happy to see.....

If you've never heard it, you gotta find it on line and listen to it! It will be stuck in your head for years... i haven't heard it anywhere but my head since 1997......

found this link on youtube... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8v_EjCKpVU&feature=related

Giving Thanks for Hubby

2008-03-13T15:08:00.003-04:00

Ok, so I've barely mentioned my hubby. That doesn't do him justice! at all! I keep saying, ok, i need to blog this so it shows exactly how awesome he is. and i forget... Not hard to do being that I feel like I've got a million balls in the air. I normally have a ton of things going on at once, and still forget, but when he's here, he helps me out, gives me my sanity and just is comforting. But when he's gone, its a whole new ball game. Things i don't' have to normally think about, i have to remember. For instance, i don't do the trash, kitty litter, feed the kitties, and put the kids to bed and stuff like that. Now i have to do it all and remember to do it.

This year, i had a harder time starting out, i think that I let myself just get too wrapped up in everything and just forgot that i can do it, and kept telling myself that i couldn't. I don't' WANT to, but i CAN. A supportive, loving hubby insures that the transition will be fine.. when you listen and just relax. But of course, i didn't.. and found myself almost spiraling out of control. Something that I ended up doing was made myself think the worst, and not realize that it was ok, that i can do it. So, with the stress and everything that was going on, you know, 2 kids now, one infant, one toddler, well in to the terrible twos, 2 cats, a 2 story house to take care of, finish organizing everything, just seemed to pile on top of me.

And i let it sit there for a while.. getting heavier and heavier to where i thought i couldn't' breath.. Then i finally asked for help.. of course, it came in the form of a pill. Then a different one, then a new dosage... all in a VERY short time frame. (all prescription for depression, nothing else) They never had a chance to get into my system and start to work. But, i think that just asking for the help, made me realize that it is ok, whether mommy needs to take a few extra minutes in the shower for alone time, or needs to cuddle one of the kids extra long, it is OK. I will be ok.

And he never doubted that i could do it. Even when i started to allow myself to freak out cause i lean on him so much, that he still KNEW i could do it. and, 2 weeks later, i know i can too.

He is awesome, and i have so much love and respect for him, that i could never express it well enough to make my point. We've been together over 8 years now, and regardless of how much junk we deal with or go through, we're here, together, and i thank God for that.

I think that God allows him to go (this is his THIRD time) so that i will remember to give God thanks and bless Him (God) for giving me my sweet Kevin. Cause, sometimes, i forget to be thankful.. and that is just so NOT good. Sometimes, i KNOW i smother Kevin with too much "neediness" cause i forget that God is there to lean on too. He (God) gave me life and my family, and I've been doubly blessed far and above than i deserve. Sometimes, i need that "kick in the pants" to remember that.

The Longest Day Ever

2008-03-08T20:32:00.002-05:00

I really do wish i knew why when you are feeling your worst that the kids act up or need you the most... I woke up at 230 am with the fun little "present" my kids had, meaning the stomach flu or bug or something. Anyway, i started yakking and didn't' really stop for hours and hours.. It bit! I would be like, ok, its gotta be 10 now, and it was still 630. Time just dragged big time.

When i put Lizzie down for her nap, i was shocked to see it was *only* 130 and not the 430 it felt like. I don't' think I've ever had time drag on like i did today.

oh well, I've had a sleeve of saltines and some ginger ale today. I just had two pieces of bread with some butter on them, so hopefully they will stay down and not want out. *sigh* This new drug makes me really sleepy.. I am wondering if i am used to it or i puked it out this morning... as i was dragging today, but I'm sure it had to do more with lack of nutrition, being up really early and all the puking, and not my pill... who knows...

Don't' forget to spring forward at 2am! Hopefully, i WON"T be awake to do it!

Getting help when you need it

2008-03-06T19:23:00.003-05:00

I am not a person that likes to ask for help when it comes to me. I will ask for help for someone else, but not me. I hate to show vulnerability. But, when you need help, you need help and if you don't' reach out that is not a good thing.

So, I realized about a week before hubby deployed that i needed help. And i ignored it, and ignored it, till the day before he left. Then i reached out and asked. and of course, i couldn't 'get help right away. Not till a few days later and past a weekend. Well, the first course of antidepressants i got was not for me. 2 days later and i was like no way, cant' do it, the side effects are bad.. So, i got put on something else. I'm on my 1st day still, about to take dose number 2 in an hour or so. It makes me SLEEPY. I hope that is just temporary, cause the kids don't sleep past 7 or 8 if they can help it.

And of course, they BOTH got sick. I think Lizzie's over it. Hopefully Aric will be over it soon. blah. Sickies suck!

Aric rolled over ONCE, just ONCE, but he did it, now if he can just remember what he did to do it, he he.

Sorry i haven't written lately, i will do better to keep this up.

Vacation.

2008-02-22T23:49:00.003-05:00

On vacation and the weather is still cold and now, as of today snowy, blah. In MA and just taking it easy for a week and a half vacation. Less than a week till my hero, my love, has to leave and do the hero thing. I am proud of him, even though it really isn't my idea of a way to spend a year. (alone. :-( )

The kids are showing that they're in a different place and acting up some, their sleep was messed up for the first week as well, which means it will probably be icky for a week or so when we get home. I hope that Lizzie adjusts well. She just loves her daddy and if she had the choice, its daddy, always has been.

Aric is doing better, he's not had a treatment in a few days, and seems to be his happy self. His appetite is completely back. He's still a little cranky as everything is different here for him, he is used to being able to expend a ton of energy in his jumparoo, but there is nothing here for him to do that in, except if he uses my tummy or thighs for him to jump on.. unfortunately for me, they are, in Aric's opinion, wonderful for jumping on, lol. Guess I'm just too squishy, lol.

We were supposed to go to a crop tonight, but it snowed all day. My SIL was supposed to call me after 3 and let me know if it was for sure cancelled, but i heard nothing, so i had to assume it was. I like to scrap, i especially like to scrap with other people, its great for motivation. Oh well.

Lizzie's' become a little stripper AGAIN, what her fascination with taking off her sleeper and diaper i Just don't know... oh well. Maybe its just another short phase.

We leave on Monday to come home. Its always nice to go home, no matter where you are or how long you've been gone. I hope the cats are fine, i haven't been able to get in touch with my friend, yet..

More later my readers!

V-Day and sickies and leaving

2008-02-13T20:41:00.003-05:00

Valentines day is tomorrow. I always get so excited at any holiday where it is possible that i might get a gift from my hubby. I love to get presents and always get excited when a package comes in the mail (even though its usually something i bought). Christmas is a time when my expectation goes through the roof as well. :-D Yep, like a big kid. Christmas, our anniversary and then valentines day, 3 months in a row.

I love to buy gifts as well, sometimes i do better than others, but i try. Kids are fun to shop for, they're pretty easy, as is my hubby, he likes a few things and every now and then something different.

My hubby does very good when it comes to getting me a present. I used to get them just because, but now its cut down alot cause i tend to just get what i want when i want. lol, and i complain that I dont' get any "extras" any more.. gee i wonder why, lol. Oh well. It just shows that you're being thought of. Its nice!

My sweet hubby is leaving again. I know its a necessary evil, but it sucks all the same. I hope that I have hte strength that hubby beleives i do to take care of the kids. I think that everyone is getting better, thank God, i was loosing it. I hate the sickies, they've visited one too many times! I plan on being more active and participating in outside activities more, so i think that will help alot.

I love you sweetie!!

Ok, gotta cut this short, gotta give the little guy his treatment and put him to bed. Be so glad when he's not sick anymore!

(spell checker is STILL not working!!)

My Sick Little Guy

2008-02-08T10:28:00.000-05:00

RSV has hit the house. fun fun. I kept taking him to the docs and was getting teed off at getting told that he "just had a cold" again. Tonight he sounded bad. Like he was drowning bad. the cough sounded extra wet, he spit up his last bottle, etc.. then came the wheezing. this was about 8, and i wasn't sure what to do. So i called the Accute care clinic, who tells me we have no more available appts for the night (its 830, they close at 9) They say (cause i'm like about to cry on the phone with them) that i can call 911 and the ambulance will come and the Emts will evaluate him. I'm like, uh, i dont' want to have that big co-pay just for them to tell me its in my head.. she said these are ft. drum ambulance/emts, so there is no copay and it will be ok, no one will think bad of you for calling. So, i wait a few more times, embarrassed to call 911, certain they were going to tell me that it was nothing.

But i just had to, so i did, they showed up within 5-10 minutes. First the fire department showed up, then the police, then the ambulance. maybe 8-10 people?? THey make sure that he's not dying then all leave but the EMTs. The lady says that she can hear him wheezing, but he seems so happy, that i can probably wait till morning to take him in, or i can have them take us, or we can drive him to teh ER. So i start crying again and finally say, lets go. Of course, all this time he's smiling and just having a grand ole time with the lady giving all her attention to him. (which i think is part of the reason that she was like he's probably ok, my kids never act sick unless they are SICK SICK)

He gets a nebulizer treatment in the ambulance and falls asleep. We get to the ER and they take him back while i fill out forms. i finally get back there and they are just about to finish up his O2 stats (they were 95 yesterday and at the house) and they were 97 in the hospital. They get a rectal temp and its 99. Then the nurse says you gotta get those boogies sucked out... (here's where i roll my eyes) I told her i try, i use the saline and dont' use the saline, either way it pisses him off and next to nothing comes out most of the time. She tells me she needs to suck out his boogies and you're going to think he's drowning; he'll cough, he'll gag; he'll do everythign that will make you think its bad, but he'll be fine. So, i sit by as she nearly drowns him (I start crying again) with hte saline and starts sucking... she gets not even one decent amount of booger. shes like its up there, just must be up in his sinus'. I'm like yep, and i dont' feel like sucking my baby's brain out. So they take it and say they'll test it for rsv and the flu.

I wait FOREVER for them to come back... in the meantime. the doc comes in and i have to say all over again what's wrong and he has to listen to him again. Then i say he was just in teh docs yesterday and they keep saying its a cold. The ladies earlier were testing for the flu and rsv and i haven't heard anything. He says i'll do the test for rsv, but without a fever its not the flu. I said NO, the ladies just a while ago tested and haven't told me anything, he says oh, i thought you meant yesterday. (can we give him a pop and say should have had a v8??) Why don't they talk to each other?? So he also orders a chest x-ray, cause he can hear the rattling. (yay, a doc believes me!!)

In the meantime, hubby and lizzie are still in the waiting room (they came by truck) and i finally flag someone down and get them to let them come in. A few minutes later, he gets another nebulizer treatment. After a while, they let me and Aric go back for his X-ray... If you have never experienced one of these things... consider yourself blessed!! my poor little chubby (19lbs 1 oz) guy!! They have him sit up on a teeny tiny bicycle seat (i swear that's what it looked like!!) then put his arms above his head and hold them there, while putting plastic peices on each side of him to hold him still, then put a strap around it to "keep him still" My poor little man was sooooooo peeved! He screamed bloody murder, and they were just in shock, he was moving stuff around that he shouldnt 'have been able to. They're like wow he's strong. I'm liek um yeah... what did you expect?? So they take the two or three chest x-rays and he's allowed out of the contraption.

we go back to the room where i get him calmed down and he falls asleep, absolutely worn out. Doc finally comes in and says he has RSV. I am like thank you, i knew it was more than just a cold. And am i thankful my little guys not a very little guy!! So, arrangements were made to pick up the prescription for the nebulizer this morning and the equipment was supposed to be here about 930, they called me at 7 and said they'd be here at 8. Aric sleept in his infant seat last night in his crib. Its was a LONG day.

He got his first treatment this morning. Ate some more and then, promptly spewed his bottle he had before the treatment... i dunno if he had too much or if its cause of hte treatment. He's sleeping now and has 1-2 hours before a new treatment is available.

BOO HISS to docs that are too busy to run a simple test!

Dry Brain Today

2008-02-05T16:52:00.000-05:00

You ever have those days when you sit down to write and nothing comes to mind?? That day is here. Okay, so I did the bad thing, the big no no when it comes to writing. NOTHING. I've left this open for several hours! Half forgotten and half not sure what to say.

One time, for a blind date I went on a camping trip with this guy and his family. He was younger, like 4 or 5 years younger than me. I was at a particularly low point in my life and pretty vulnerable. But, I thought he was cute, I liked him, but was too shy to ask him out, so my boss did. So, it wasn't like a "blind date" in the traditional sense, but I had no clue who he was besides the works coke deliveryman.

I went to his house to meet him there and follow, and I brought my big dog Sampson with me. (Hey, I might have been semi desperate for human contact, but I wasn't stupid!!) I met the family and they were sweet, they just adored their son. We were going out early to scope the site and to set up and they'd be there a few hours behind. So, I don’t know if we took his truck or mine, but me him and Sampson packed in one of the vehicles and we talked for the hour or so that it took us to get there. This guy was sweet and smart and had a plan for his life. A good one. The problem was, he was including my dog(s) and me in that plan... and we had really just met. Kind of spooked me. ALOT. I mean, who makes plans for life so soon??

To be fair, if I had been at ANY point in my life besides where I was, I would have probably taken him up on the offer no problem, no looking back. Wasn't sure how I would have dealt with the truckers life, but I would have figured it out. Did I consider?? Heck yeah! He was smart and cute and sweet, but I wasn’t' ready for marriage again and wanted to really know all secrets before jumping into that boat. Again.

The weekend was great; I had picked out a great sleeping bag that went to -15, so no need for any other body heat than my own. And he picked a hill to pitch the tent on, put me on top of the hill, in case "I tossed or turned and fell down the hill, then I’d be close to him" lol. So funny, so sweet, nope he didn’t' try anything all weekend. Yep, we kissed, but that was all. He did help me face my fear of heights though.. I stood on top of this HIGH boulder and jumped into his arms. Waaaay down into the water below. Sampson, the ever protector, stood up there and barked, at me. Took me forever to jump. I'd start, then stop turning around and getting away from the edge, I don’t know how many times I did that. Telling him I’d kill him if he didn’t' catch me. (I can't swim either, so that wasn’t' helping matters at all)

Sometimes, its good to have fond memories to look back on. Even if they make you confirm you made the right choice all along.

(Growl!! what is up with the spell check anymore???)

Long days

2008-02-01T06:45:00.000-05:00

Ahhh, the joys of kids! Yesterday was interesting. After a really bad weather day, it was good to get out of the house. Of course, both kids were a little under the weather, but I needed to go to a few places. Aric was supposed to have his 4 months appt, but it was rescheduled for the next day. So, off we went. First we went to the thrift store, I was hoping for a Dora toddler bed, but, they didn't have it, they were JUST getting in a toddler bed, all white, though. So, I was like whoopee, and it was mine. Then, we left there and stopped by the house, long enough to drop off the bed, and then back out again. Lizzie had fallen asleep, so I was like, that’s' ok, she needs it. She was grumpy and tired. As I was getting into the city, I got a call on my cell, seems I am a dope and forgot that I had signed up for snacks for PWOC! D'oh!! Luckily. there were only a couple of ladies there. I felt soo bad!! I didn’t' go because the kids were hacking up lungs and even though Lizzie's on an antibiotic, I didn’t' want anyone upset that she was there. Anyway, I was invited to a "play date" at McDonalds, and since I was starving, I said ok, I said the kids are sick and Lizzie's on an antibiotic. She said that's fine, so we get there, and I wake her up, grab Aric and we go in. I order lunch, Lizzie’s having a blast in the playground; I call her to come out and eat, and it takes a while, being that this is her second time in there she can't figure out how-to get out for a second. When she does, I have her squish in and give her her nuggets and ranch dressing. (Her soup, as she calls it) Everything's going fine, she drinks her chocolate milk and almost 2 chicken nuggets with lots of ranch... then it happens, one cough too much, too deep and BAM, vomit and spew all over the seat and her clothes! Ugh, what was I thinking giving her ranch... should have just stuck with the apples... blah, so we start picking it up and wiping her off and I am offered my friends’ sons' clothes... I at first declined, as he wears a 4t and Lizzie doesn't, but finally I was like, well, since she's acting normal and wanting to play, yeah, let me borrow them and get her out of the pukies. So I change her and am surprised that the biggest thing is that they're just too long, the waist isn’t' nearly as big as I thought it would be. and the shirt isn’t' that big either. She plays a little longer and then I feel its time to get out of there for our errands. I change both the kids and we leave, it’s been 2+ hours. We go to Big Lots, I’m hoping for a Dora basket organizer thing, but they only have plain, I take it. I grab a few other things as well, then it’s off to Michaels for Dora Stickers, then the Dollar Tree and then to staples (all walking with the double stroller) At this point, Lizzie has peed THROUGH her diaper and all over the front seat of the stroller. *sigh* no extra pants... I realize I am NOT going to make it to Sam’s Club for formula today, so I head towards the Wal-Mart close to home to get some mucinex for coughs. Lizzie falls asleep again. When we get to Wal-Mart, I pull the double stroller out again and put her sleeping in the back and put Aric in the front. Get through the whole store, grabbing a few things, get Aric a new car seat, as he's outgrowing his newborn one, get the stuff paid for, get ready to leave the store, after a quick stop at subway for dinner, and Lizzie wakes up. I load the kids and stuff in the car and get home. It’s been a long day.
(Sorry spell checker doesn’t' seem to be working)

Wednesday.

2008-01-30T14:43:00.000-05:00

Of course, its another lovely windy Wednesday today. was 41 this morning, now its in the 20s.. my hands are freezing and i haven't stepped outside! There should be a law that says when it is cold at all outside that houses should be warm!! not set to 72 and still freezing enough to be under two blankets, bare minimum.

Hubby has "grounded" me today, meaning that its too icky out there for me to go anywhere so i have to stay home. Oh well, so much for mail getting out today... i had hoped to get at least one package in the mail so Lizzie's buddy would have it for his birthday, but guess that isn't' happening. Sorry buddy!! I'll have it out soon, i promise!

I am very upset with myself. I had a free photobook from shutterfly from last year, and i forgot to redeem it, i finally got the motivation this week and realized it expired on the 5th.. gee, late much?? blah oh well.

Ugh, sorry, no witty remarks or anything, the wind is rattling the windows and I'm just too cold to think. The kids are sick, I'd swear Lizzie's in there coughing up a lung.. poor kiddo. One more month left with hubby.. that stinks. I love the man and these 'vacations" the military sends him on aren't easy to handle. First time, it was just me, last time, it was me and Lizzie and now its Lizzie, Aric and I... suck it up and deal, huh? Don't wanna...

Power

2008-01-21T11:37:00.000-05:00

Ever think about the ramifications of giving a toddler some power?? For instance, when you move them from the crib to a toddler bed, do you realize the power you're putting in their hands?? You are giving them a choice to obey, a choice to disobey, in fact, you are putting power into their little grubby fingers. Some accept the power with grace and realize that its something wonderful that you've given them, a choice to go to bed when they want, while others, rub their hands together with a maniacal evil laugh, saying ha ha ha ha, i will NEVER go to bed!!

Lizzie has been swinging on that pendulum that goes from the one extreme to the other, mainly the evil laughing one lately. Nap time especially. She does get that nap, because regardless of how many times she stands at the gate to her door and yells, getout getout, she's not getting out till she gets a nap. Whether its 1 hour or 4. And, while I'm not of the mind to "break her" i am of the mind that mommy and daddy know what's best, and while she's throwing herself around crying, whether she knows its or not, she's tired. And, I'd like for her to choose to obey.

Nights seem to be getting a little better, she was asleep faster last night than the night before, nap time, not so much. Unfortunately, its not like i can take her outside to run it all off, its been really cold, rarely over 30 and more than half the time, snowy, so, i dunno, might put her in her snowsuit today to get some air. or not.

Speaking of the laugh, I just made breakfast and got her to get into her booster seat to give her some potatoes, eggs and sausage and went to eat mine. She then produced the maniacal laughter i was peaking of... Kids! lol. I wouldn't give up one mind numbing annoying second!

Snow

2008-01-19T19:06:00.000-05:00

Ugh, its snowing again. Always with the snow! I cant' wait till june! I cant' believe i still have about 4 or 5 months left of the cold!! blech! So not this southerners choice for weather. I'd much prefer the warmth of the south. Or at least some place where its not cold for over half a year. I ventured out today to walmart to pick up the prints from when I got the kids pictures taken earlier this month when Lizzie and Aric's sister Meghan came to visit. I bought the CD, so i have rights to the pics and can print up as many more as i want.

Most of them came out pretty good. Now i get to mail them out to family and long lost friends. lol. I guess I need to pull out my cricut again and play with the new cartridge to make some kind of cards. Hope you are all staying warm!

My Big Girl!

2008-01-19T19:01:00.000-05:00

Wow, looks like i've had more hits lately! Yay! Guess I had better step up my writing! lol.

After a less than impressive naptime yesterday, i decided that Lizzie gets to have the side of her crib off. Yep, Transitioning to the "toddler bed/Daybed". Now, it might seem bittersweet, but honestly, she's 2, very strongwilled and independant, it was the natural progression of things. It was a little bit before she went to sleep last night, quite a few, get back in the beds and such, but over all, she did awesomely. Same thing with nap time, once she got in the bed for sleep, she slept through the night and woke up later than her normal time! Now if we can only get potty training....

We've begun the "no's" They started yesterday or the day before, can't remember honestly, and it doesn't matter. I just would love for them to be DONE! Stubborn and Strong Willed along with the defiance is just a recipe for a mother in the looney bin, add on a teething infant and have that straight jacket ready with barely enough time to monogram my name on it!

Seriously though, It came out of NOWHERE, just suddenly refusing to do anything and everything. Doesnt' want this or that, but wants something, often coming back a little later asking for the thing that she refused, and if you happen to say ok, its only 50% if she'll eat it!

Im' still amazed. She's soo intelligent. And just a sweetheart. She loves her dad to no end and thinks he hung the moon. We're alike in that aspect. lol, he's a great guy and just hilarious when you dont' expect it. She loves me too, and her brother and sister, but that bond between her and her dad is awesome. Especially when you add in the fact that he was gone from the time she was 6 weeks till she was just after 1. Even before she was born, she was daddys girl. lol, Its amazing. Its too early to tell with Aric. He loves his dad immensely, you can tell already, and me too, daddy's there when he's having fun, but when he's tired or crabby he wants me.

*****
Ugh, its snowing again. Always with the snow! I cant' wait till june! I cant' believe i still have about 4 or 5 months left of the cold!! blech! I got some pics taken of the kids earlier this month when Lizzie and Aric's sister Meghan came to visit. I bought the CD, so i have rights to the pics and can print up as many more as i want.

Shopping with Kids

2008-01-15T23:42:00.000-05:00

Shopping with kids...What an adventure!! some days are fine, only a rag doll (meaning, limp flopping on the ground) melt down or two, some days are heck just getting OUT the door. when these meltdowns happen in the store or anywhere, actually, i stand my ground, don't care about how embarrassed she's making me(cause really, why do i care what the person staring at me looking at me like I'm a bad mom thinks??), i refuse to be bullied.

some days when i KNOW the reason to the whining(missing nap - my fault) i will pick a toy, or let her choose one, like today. It can go one of two ways. she will play with it for a minute, tell me she "donwanit" and hand it back, then proceed to breakdown every 5 minutes. Those days, i hurry to get shopping done and get her to bed as fast as humanly possible; or she'll just talk and gibber jabber away.

Today was a missing nap day, but i needed to get groceries (what was missed last night). So, being a mom that wants her kid happy, i decided to go the toy route (which can be a hit or miss game) today it started out as a doodlebops keyboard, then the doodlebops guitar, then a backyardagins game that was too old for her, she looked at Elmo (the tmx one) and kept saying "gethimout" meaning let him out of the box. i told her only if he was bought. She didn't' want, "bye bye Elmo" then i found a Diego doll. Diego is her best friend ever (i guess in her mind) and will change her whole attitude if she's watching it or its about to come on and she gets threatened to tell Diego bye bye.

so, i see how much Diego is, not impressed with the "clearance price" so i let her hold it and we go down the "Diego/Dora" aisle. She then saw click (the camera) and Diego went bye bye fora talking camera. I tried to get her a Dora chair (she currently has spiderman) and told her that she could have it, but has to give up click. she handed me click, tried to put the chair in the cart (her brother is sideways on the cart, so no room) i turned it upside down, its now touching her head. she sees click on the shelf and is like CLICK!! and reaching. I told her its either the chair or click, and she wants click, so back goes the chair. she then cooperates the rest of the trip, puts click in the cart, looks around, then pulls it back out, puts it in, pulls it out.

she gets crabby and wants some milk. (we had been to the mall and now walmart) I didn't get her any in between stores, so i know she's thirsty, so i grab one of those in the plastic bottles and hand it to her (keeping mind on the fact that she got a different kind open last night and took off the foil!!) I finish getting what groceries i was going to get then check out, she gets her milk back, puts on her coat and we go out to the truck, i grab her sippy and fill her milk and put her in the seat. happy kiddo, happy mommy, sleeping baby.

BUT, i have to stress this, we go out shopping or somewhere all the time, so she's content most of the time , unless nap time is missed, which unfortunately, is about half the time.. at Christmas time, i put coats down and shop till she's sleeping..

My babies

2008-01-14T13:27:00.001-05:00

It happened to me... the oddest thing. Yesterday, at church, i was suddenly overcome with emotions about my little guy. Other than the amount of pain, it was like i would have wanted his birth to be. When he came out, they placed him on my belly, he was this warm wet little guy so skinny. I got to rub him a bit, but due to the multiple times i was given drugs, he was sleepy and not waking fast enough. So they took him to the warming table. I kept saying, cry baby, breath, come on!! Just as they were about to give him some oxygen, he gave a sad cry, then as they rubbed him more, he got mad and gave a massive wail. The most wonderful sound a momma needs to hear.

I had asked to nurse him after he was born, so they wrapped him up and gave him back. He nursed for AN HOUR!! I should have known that he was going to be my eater. lol. Just thinking about that made me take him from my hubby and hold him tight. How precious he is!!

I didn't' get that experience with Lizzie. It was a great birth (labors suck, but the deliveries were awesome) as well, better pain control, for sure! But, they showed me to her, then took off to the NICU with her. Nope, nothing wrong with her at all, but they wanted to monitor my heart for 24 hours after i had her, which was apparently open knowledge to the staff, but not to me. So, I got to spend maybe a half hour with her total that day (later that day, when i was wheeled out of ICU to the NICU to see my baby, after i kept crying to the nurse - there was no regular nursery) And severely emotional. So, the next day when i FINALLY got her, i didn't' want to let her go ever again.

She was my "perfect" baby. But, in all honesty, i don't' think that Aric cries more or less than her, it just seems overwhelming at times because i have two trying to keep my attention.

I am thankful for both. They are my miracles. Miracles from a miracle. Yep, i was one of those babies that wasn't supposed to make it. God had other plans, and has so blessed me. Some days i just need to be reminded of that.

Have a great day!

Aric

2008-01-12T13:18:00.000-05:00

On the note of getting older, i put Aric in the jumparoo (used to be his sisters) last night, and now, i can't get him to nap or relax, he wants to be in an upright position, so, no more papasin swing, no more laying in his chair, must be sitting up or eating. Has decided you MUST entertain him in his waking hours, and hold him in his sleeping ones.

He loves to laugh and interact with you, as well, wants to sit up, he's been working on his core ab muscles lately. If he keeps it up, he'll have a flat stomach before i do!!

He allowed me to sleep till 7am this morning, then was so fussy i just took him downstairs to give him his bottle and to watch the rest of the heart break kid. wasn't impressed. at all. didn't' realize it was a Farrelly brothers movie. oh well.

He then fell asleep on me just as i got hungry. I didn't' think to get my breakfast before i started to feed him, nor did I expect for him to just pass out hard on me either. Kids! How have i not lost weight by now?? lol. Anytime I put anyone anywhere and start to do something, someone is yelling for me. Like, i just laid Aric down and bam, the minute my butt hits the chair, he starts to cry or make the I'm going to cry sound, same thing at night, almost in bed, or worse, in bed and almost relaxed, and bam, crying. At night, i have to worry about him waking his sister, during the day, i just prefer him not to cry. if he cries and Lizzie's awake, its "he's crying baby's crying, he's crying" jumping up and down and acting like his cries energize her... *sigh* Its like a bad cartoon or sitcom...

I started sewing a quilt for Lizzie today. It has 4 inch squares and Dora in some of them and i haven't decided how big it will be, or how much of it i have. I think i might do alternating squares, its a 9 patch, but i don't think I'll have enough of them to make a decent sized blanket. Oh well, I'll figure it out, always do.

Getting Older

2008-01-11T01:55:00.000-05:00

Some days, it feels like it lasts forever, some days go as fast as air escaping out of a balloon. Time seems to speed up as you age, and to go even faster if you have a child, really fast if there is more than one. Its hard to believe that my eldest is 2 and my youngest is 3.5 months. I'll be 33 this year and hubs will be 37. Unreal! What seems more insane is the fact that in June, I will have been out of high school for 15 years!

High school was a interesting time for me. I LOVED school in all forms, couldn't' stand to be sick, cause then I'd be sent home. I wasn't popular, but not unpopular either, just average. Teachers loved me, i got along with most of everyone that i went to school with. Didn't date much in the normal sense of the word.. Didn't have a great bod, barely any boobs, but always had a nice bubble butt. lol. I guess one could call me a miss goody two shoes. But i didn't' care, about what anyone thought of me. I was who i was and that's it. That was me, sometimes i wish it still was. But for me, as i got older, i cared more and more about what people think.

So much so, it changed me, my personality, even my core self. Every now and then, I'd realize it, and try to change back, but life has, for the most part, changed me and shaped me to be who I am today, like me or not, love me or leave me. My ex made me a weakling, till i finally stood up and started to take my life back, then he was done with me. I was definitely better off, then i made a bad decision, with my next relationship, but at least i got a great friend out of it. Now days, I am close to that person some days and far others, which is not a bad thing, if we don't' grow and change, then we're not learning.

This year besides taking more time for my family, quality time, and loosing weight, i resolve to write more. I am hoping that using this as a creative outlet, then it will loosen up my creative block i've had going on for years.

Up Late Again

2008-01-11T01:35:00.001-05:00

For several years now, i think it started in 04 when Hubs deployed the first time, i stay up too late for me to function well as early as my kids need me to, no matter how tired i am, I can't go to sleep early. So, I'm sitting in bed, hunched over my laptop, feet together, knees bent with my left leg asleep. Wondering how i can eat so much and not feel satisfied. I swear i ate everything in the house at least once today, except cereal, and then also ate lunch out. PMS?? no clue!

So, I sit here and wonder if my lack of sleep, coincides with the lack of weight loss, the excessive hunger, or am i just a lazy blimp who likes to eat? Eh, who knows.

So, I get to look forward to another deployment. not fun. They suck, but i understand them. Poor hubs, is just worried that our daughter, who had the last year with daddy, will feel like she's been abandoned. I told him that as long as he calls and makes her another video before he leaves and spends as much time as possible with her now, that she wont' feel like that. Aric will get his own video too, and he'll go his first year watching that as Lizzie did her first year, and they will both love him and feel he's there for them.

Kids are amazing!! They process things so much different than we do. My daughter loves the "yardagins" and "Diego" and "dorda" and "bootds".

But when he was deployed the first time, i'd play his video of him talking to her and reading to her, so when he came home after she was 1, she knew him when he came home and acted as though he had been there the whole time. For me, it was one of the longest years of my life. Kids are awesome.

its only the wind.

2008-01-09T19:47:00.000-05:00

woke up to a major windstorm, we had one beautiful day around 60 degrees!! All the snow had melted and it was beautiful. today it was windy, not just the wind blowing, but the wind howling and blowing everything all over the place. Today was, of course, trash day as well. Did you know that wind + trash cans at every house = one horrid mess? Well, after hubby went to work, i looked out side and one of the gusts (50+) had just hit and the trashcan was on the ground, so i went outside to pick it up, 99% of the trashcans on our street were not only down, but open and all over the place. So, i had a brilliant thought, I'll pull it to the house and find something to secure it to the tree, so mine doesn't throw dirty diapers all over the neighborhood.

As i put my plan into motion, I'm dragging it to the garage door, another wind gust comes up, hits the can just right and blows the lid up, let me paint you a picture. I'm out there in a pair of pj's with a jacket and slippers on it. its one of those 30+gallon trash cans with the lid attached that reclines back on one wheel to move it around. the wind picks up the lid at speeds way to fast for someone, and the lid comes back and smacks me in the face! not just in my face, but my nose and glasses, slams the glasses into my bridge on my nose and slams my nose to my face. I was in shock for a minute, just thinking what the heck had just happened?? I want to cry, but want to make sure that it doesn't happen again, so i move it against the house, grabbing my face saying aaaaahhhhhhh!!!

I keep waiting for the blood, i just knew it was broken and i was going to look like Marsha Brady from the brady bunch movie and really draw attention to my face. people were going to snicker at me and point, ugh. I quickly found a bungee cord, which of course, was 4 inches too small for me to reach around the tree in the front yard, thought i had it one time, but alas, the bungee cord came around that tree at the speed of light and hit me in the arm!! Once again, what the heck!! ugh, so i run back in the house grab the cat leash and tie it and the bungee to the tree and the can. Success!! Now to tend to what has to be my deformed nose.

I look in the mirror, hmm, just a little swollen, touch it, YEOUCH! no blood though. ok.. hmm, wow, what a migraine just now!! ugh and why am i nauseated?? So, i go to my go to people for info my Spunky Moms! They advised me to at least to call, then posted the info for a concussion. Okay, so i have a few of those symptoms, so i called the line, had to leave a message for an advice nurse, and waited for them to call me back, getting shakier and more nauseous every second.

When they called back, they basically said, lets get the info, answer these questions and based on your answers, you either go to the ER or to the acute care clinic. Great! now to call hubby. By the time i got through to him, they had given me an appt for a half hour later to be seen. Long story short, just a contusion, not a cuncussion, here's a shot of phenergrin for the nausea, go sleep it off. whoopee. lol.

3 hours later, i am still lightheaded, my neck and back are sore, my nose hurts at the bridge and i feel icky, but happy i could sleep!.

Happy New Year!

2008-01-01T07:22:00.000-05:00

So, a new year is upon us already. Hopefully this early morning isn't a preview of things to come!

Once again, i fell asleep last night not turning anything off. TV was on and so was the computer when i was awoken to a wail. Little Aric, like any 3 month old says hey, there is nothing in my mouth, that's just not right! So I jump out of bed, praying i don't' stub my toe on anything as i race to his room, hoping he doesn't wake his sisters or his dad. I put the passi in his mouth, give his cute little cheek a rub, turn on his aquarium with music, and walk out of the room, I get back to my bed, and WAHHHHHH, again... I make it back to his bed give him the passi, placing his burp cloth just so, holding it in its place, and wait. all is peaceful and quiet, so i sneak back to my room, only to hear him rooting for it on the monitor.. *sigh* I have this for about a 15 minute stretch.. Then, i go to the bathroom, only to hear him peeved as all get out, except I'm stuck in the bathroom.. I hurry as fast as i can, and help him with the lovely passi that I didn't want either of my kids to need, and head back to bed.

So, he is finally back to sleep and, of course, NOW its Lizzie's turn.. I sneak in her room, tell her I'll get her some milk, NOOOOOO, then begins a crying medley that is sure to wake the whole house! I tell her I'm getting her some milk, and she's going back to sleep, which gives me another NOOOOO with a wail. I mostly close her door behind me, go grab some pants to make it to the freezer section of the house to get my little early riser a milk. I am hoping to save a precious hour of rest or two. So, i get back upstairs and she's lying on her Dora pillow waiting quietly and patiently for her milk. I give it to her, cover her up with her Dora blanket, hand her her big pillow like Dora and walk out of her room, closing the door going back to bed with a sigh of relief.

Which of course is short lived. I gave a toddler a cup of COLD milk, what did i expect??

Tests

2007-12-27T01:02:00.000-05:00

Today, well, when i finally go to sleep and wake up, is the date for the Sweat test. Very daunting for a 3 month old to have to have a test for a bigger persons problem. yes, i know, if he has it, he has it, but its still alot on his, now very chubby, shoulders.

I found myself crying today. Just nothing at all I can do about it. period. So, i do what i can, i push forward and pray for the best. I put him in God's more than capable hands and trust. Trust that my only son is fine. Trust that i can hold up under the pressure. Believe that God will hold me up. I know he will. Heck, i WAS that kid who had test after test after test on, only to have the docs tell my mom that my prognosis wasn't good, I wouldn't' survive. So, I suppose, why should i think I'm above that? Sometimes, we're allowed to go through the crap so we can have the blessings.

We all have our tests of some sort. All of them impact, some just a little bit more. Sometimes we forget that we're not here just to look out and worry about ourselves, so we get a kick in the butt in the form of a test. Some days, i wonder, if I'm haveing a test right now, how would i score?

My Cats

2007-12-17T08:57:00.000-05:00

Cats are the oddest creatures. you don't' see them all day long, then suddenly bam, you're sleeping and they're in your face, on your legs, in your lap, or any other million of ways they can be a bother to you when you're trying to sleep.

Mine used to sleep on my head when they were babies, but one is 16lbs and the other is 12lbs. that's a lot of weight on your head.

Taz, the male, loved to "give biscuits" in my hair when he was a baby, and i swear he tried sucking on my hair. I'd wake up in the morning and i would have the biggest rats nest in my hair, and it just a little damp. Angel, my female, liked to snuggle at my back close as she could get, and when i would wake up in the morning, i was so terrified that she was squished or smothered, but she just slept really deep.

they turned 7 this year. they've mellowed out some, but they have their moments when you think they are still kittens. When Angel was little she'd suddenly have this burst of energy and fly all over the house, run up the curtains and touch the vaulted ceiling and be fine. Taz would suddenly spaz and turn around quick and see where he was just sitting at, then do it again, and again and again, like he had sat on something that poked him. lol. Such characters!

SNOW and other things

2007-12-17T08:18:00.000-05:00

Okay, so yes, I live UP north.. Yes, WAY up north. But i am not from here, and i am NOT, i repeat, not a fan of snow. its cold, its wet, and gets everywhere. the chill gets to your bone. blah. Add kids to that and bam, its a recipe for freezing something off.

My little lady's birthday is today. since i already wrote on it, i wont' say much about it, but that people suck.. Our neighbors were supposed to come over to celebrate with us and not only didn't they show, but they didn't' call either, so after I made the time to fit their schedule (Friday night!) and ordered 30 dollars worth of pizza, they didn't call, walk over or anything to let us know they changed their mind from yesterday and were now, in fact, not coming. Talk about glad your kid is too young to understand!! I was highly upset and sad that her 2nd birthday was just ruined. But, since she had no clue, i wasn't going to change anything i was going to do (except the game playing, since Kevin is just not into games at all). She had a blast, and with just a few breakdowns, like when she had to stop playing with her new toys to eat her cake, or blow out her candles, it was a success.

I love to sew, i finally have been sewing lately. And i sold some bibs!! I'm so excited!! I am making someone else some aprons, so i guess i sold them too! yay! I make blankets, all kinds, from the "cheating(easy) ones" of fleece to the quilts, I can make outfits, bibs, aprons, gift bags, etc. I love to sew and make things for people that appreciate it. And if someone wants to buy it, then woot woot to that too!

As i sit here first thing in the morning, sponge bob on the TV, yes, sponge bob, i realize how blessed i am with everything. 2 gorgeous kids, a wonderful hubby, 2 sweet kitties, a place to live, heat, food in the fridge. Thank God for blessings!

My little Lizzie turning 2

2007-12-14T14:09:00.000-05:00

Tonight is my daughters 2nd birthday party. I can't believe it.. time is flying. Her actual birthday isn't' until Monday, but its close enough. wow.. Seems so unreal... almost like i closed my eyes to blink or to breathe and BAM! she grew another year. She's so smart and just a little firecracker... a live wire.. She'll wear you out in a New York Minute and you never saw it coming.. I just love her to death, regardless of her running me ragged at every twist and turn or whether she tests me and tries me with every blink of her beautiful eyes.
I feel so blessed to have her and her brother. They are definitely answered prayers, and even though i have to remind myself of that at times, i really am thankful and love them so much.
Now, if the weather would just warm up, I'd be truly happy, he he.

Angeltazcuddy's Musings

You Know They Are "Practicing Weather" When....

A Letter Copied from the Thyroid Website

11 years

Thinking of Having Kids??

A Welcome to the New Year and a Homicide...

Amazing Home Remedies

A Touching Story I Was Emailed....

More old postings

Yet more old posts

more old posts

More old Posts.

June 07 from old blog

More Backward Postings from my old blog.

My Sons Birth Story... as my mind remembered it, a month after he was born (in 07)

Rambling About Age...

Just a joke

Going Back To School

In Memorandum

Pumpkin Brownies MMMMMMm

Pumpkin White Chip Brownies

Public Womens Restrooms

Little Miracles

Fishes, Fishes and More Fishes!

Little Fishes

Its Above 45!

New Additions to the Family!

Facebook

Ahh, Happy Belated Birthday Dear Brother in Law.

Ahh The Year 3

Knock Me Over With A Feather!

Just A Funny Joke!

Well, Happy Birthday Anna!!

Bedtime Stories

Yes Man

Marley & Me

The Tale Of Despereaux

Another Apology

a BIG FUNNY!!!

The Waiting Game

Cute Pics!

SingSnap!

WMYSTHE!! Wow, My Readership Seems To Have Exploded!

Busy Busy

Ok, My Tattoo. :D

Just a Quick Post

Has It Been A Year??

late night update

movies movies and more movies

The Dark Knight

Just a Thank You

Suprises

wow 3 weeks, huh??

Get Smart!

new movie

Standing up on your own with help.

A Movie- lol

More Movies.

Teeth! and other updates

Change

And More Movies!

Hold your Babies (big and small) tight!

More Movies.

movies!

Hashimoto's Thyroiditis

Joys and Struggles with kids.

Scrapping Swapping and Loosing!

Something to Cry Over....

Movies

I Think That I'm Going to Loose it Tuesday!!

Just Ramblings

New Babies

Just Some Jokes

Are You Sane??

Giving Thanks for Hubby

The Longest Day Ever

Getting help when you need it

Vacation.

V-Day and sickies and leaving

My Sick Little Guy