Shipman7

Messed up Soup

2012-02-10T14:51:00.000-08:00

So, last night I was making chicken noodle soup. I had simmered chicken in the crockpot all day, and I don't normally fix it in the crock pot, but I was feeling adventurous... So i poured in my frozen stew vegetables, and without thinking that would immediately cool down the piping hot broth, I then laid my noodles on top, hoping they would be soft in just a few minutes... Oh but that was not the case. Before my very eyes they began to stick together and I knew I had messed up the soup. I stood there complaining, berating myself for ruining the chicken soup, but quickly moved it to the stove to bring to a boil and salvage what I could. Hayden sat on the couch, running fever, sick with strep throat and as i stood there mumbling to myself about how could I mess up the soup, he replied "you messed up the soup? Man... I really needed that tonight" i said "don't worry, we're still having soup". Sarah had been playing with her baby dolls, not appearing to be paying attention to all that was going on, but at this precise time, she piped up to say "WHAT??? You're feeding us MESSED UP SOUP???" oh heaven forbid I feed them "messed up soup". My wonderful husband told me after dinner "I'm still trying to figure out what you messed up" <3 him!!

A new journey

2012-01-18T14:26:00.001-08:00

I'm excited to say that we finally found a new doctor for Dewayne's diabetes management. The place is called Diabetes America. After struggling the last 6 years to even stabilize his sugar, I am hoping this place is the haven we've been looking for. So far, I've been very impressed with their level of attention to his care.
Part of this journey in caring for his diabetes always includes diet and exercise, which we never get enough of, but I really believe this time we are both ready to kick this thing, and there's really no excuse, because we've been given tools this time that we've not had before. so wish us luck, I'm sure if it's anything like the last 6 years it's going to be a bumpy ride - let's just hope that it's not more of the same y0-yo type effects.

2011

2012-01-11T11:47:00.001-08:00

Okay, so yeah, it's been 2 years, almost to the day since I've blogged at all - but I figured I would get back to it...
I can recap 2011 in one word - Magical.
The highlights of my year include watching God work in miraculous ways, not only in my own life, but in the lives of those around me. I have seen so many answered prayers this year that it just never ceases to amaze me. My faith was increased over this last year, definitely. Blessings still abound. I can't even think of anything negative to say about 2011, that's how good it was.

And then we took a very magical trip - to the most wonderful place on earth - Disney World.
It was nothing short of amazing. I still love hearing the kids get their books out and say "remember when..." like it was ages ago - when really, it was just over a month ago.

So, what's in store for 2012? probably not the end of the world, but even if it is, I'm prepared for that too... I want to focus on getting into a more healthy lifestyle. With my husband having diabetes, I feel like it's becoming a necessity to get him off as many medications as we can by improving his health. And I'm not getting any younger, or any healthier either. I also want to lead my kids by example. So here we go, taking the leap this year into a more organic lifestyle, a more active lifestyle, and hopefully a more a adventurous lifestyle as well - not that D and my kids don't already keep me on my toes!!
So I'm back to blogging - keeping a record of our journey, trying to motivate myself, and the blogging makes me accountable, at least on some small level! I figured if I was going to keep a diary, it's better to do it here than on facebook anyway!!!

HOT DATE!

2010-01-15T11:38:00.000-08:00

Yes, actually I DO have a hot date tonight!! With my wonderful and loving husband! The first date since August, I do believe lol!! We're going to a movie - my first in about 4 yrs from the best I can recall lol - and dinner at Hoffbrau.
I am looking forward to getting some alone time with Dewayne and getting to go on a real date without our little munchkins tagging along, however, they normally dominate our conversation anyway lol!! and that's okay by me :)
Not much else to say today... I'm really putting forth an effort to stay on top of my blog this year, so we'll see how long that lasts!

IT'S BEEN A WHILE...

2010-01-12T11:36:00.000-08:00

I can't believe I haven't posted since Oct!!!

Christmas was great (and Thanksgiving too lol) - I think all of the kids were pleased with their gifts, and by now have already pushed them aside to collect dust from here to eternity... This was the first year that my plant has closed down over the holidays - extending from Christmas Eve to the Monday after New Year's - which was Jan 4th - I LOVED all the time off - albeit some was unpaid, it was SO worth it and I HOPE that they decide to do it again next year. It was so relaxing to just take it easy, not be rushing from here to there like what normally happens on vacation!! I just stayed home with the kids and had an absolute wonderful time with them. They really didn't fight much - Dewayne told me it would be my trial run to staying home with them full time. The one draw back for me was just not having anything to do - Sure, I did housework (not as much as I had planned) but mostly, the days were uneventful - almost boring to a degree - I'm sure it would be much different following an education plan and helping the kids with school work, etc. I don't know... still debating. At the moment, I'm very pleased with their school, so there's no rush to get them out.

Looking forward to the big 3-0 next week I guess... I thought it would kill me but instead I guess I'm thankful that I've lived long enough to see it!! (shouldn't count my eggs before they're hatched though, I still have a week to go!)

A TRYING WEEKEND

2009-10-12T18:27:00.001-07:00

It's been one heck of a weekend...

I had my 4 wisdom teeth + 2 others pulled on Friday - surgery went well - and I was doing okay on Friday - had a very bad headache - but other than that and the swelling, I was doing good. Then Sat. morning, I was feeling really good, my jaw was sore - headache was mild - so I went to visitation - and then on to Target - and home to sleep the day away. Dewayne took Sarah to his mothers, and Hayden and Shelby went to the track w/ him - so I really got to sleep :)
Sat. evening I went ahead and went to class even though i was feeling bad - the classes are so hard to make up - but by the time I got home, I had a pretty bad migraine - that lasted all night Sat - couldn't get any relief - even though I had some pretty potent pain pills from the surgery. That continued on into Sunday - no relief - horrible headache, and my bottom teeth felt like they were open cavities - I can't think of any other way to explain it - if the air hit them, they felt open, if I got a drink, they felt open - it was a horrible feeling that would not go away w/ meds, even after taking an imitrex for the migraine.
I finally broke down and called the surgeon back - and he told me to start alternating the pain meds w/ advil every 2 hrs and it took about 6 hrs, but finally was able to get some relief and rest.
In the meantime, Sarah woke up about 4 on Sunday morning throwing up, running a fever - with a croupy cough - so I got her back on her croup meds which my doc keeps a current prescription for us - he's so good :) and then Sunday afternoon, Shelby started throwing up. So D stayed home w/ me on Sunday night - and then Hayden woke up today w/ fever - but he never did throw up - I think I've finally got all the kids under control anyway - no fevers - no more puking - so hopefully it was a quik little bug and it's gone now. I just rubbed them all down w/ vapor rub, and i've got the vaporizer in the girls room.
It's back to work tomorrow - hopefully I'll be ever better by then. Still dealing w/ a mild headache and jaw pain - I was surprised the inside of my mouth is black and blue - I was expecting bruising on the outside, but it's all on the inside of my mouth. And unfortunately, I'm on a soft diet for 2 wks... should be a jump start to lose weight lol...

I'm sick of you!!

2009-09-28T17:31:00.000-07:00

Sarah is about to mess up my wonderful babysitting arrangements... lol

My mother quit her job to stay home with Sarah - so we didn't have to put her in a daycare. I pay my mother for doing this - but she still took a HUGE paycut...

This afternoon, Sarah was sitting in the living room w/ mom and dad, watching tv while mom read a magazine or a book, and out of the clear blue sky, completely unprovoked, Sarah looks at my mom and clearly says "I'm sick of you, and I'm sick of Papaw too"

My dad's repsonse?? he looked at her and says "now tell us how you really feel" lol...

I dont' know what she was thinking, but she make sure to tell everyone exactly how she felt right then lol...

The "Amazing Potty"

2009-09-21T12:12:00.000-07:00

We went to the Plano balloon festival over the weekend, and since we're potty training, I was met with the task of taking Sarah to the restroom for the first time in a port-a-potty... I was SO dreading it... We both got in there and i made her hold her hands out in front of her, while telling her AT LEAST 20 times "DON'T TOUCH ANYTHING!!!" while I proceeded to put toilet paper down on the seat for her. I kept watching her out of the corner of my eye and she was looking around in amazement when she looks up at the ceiling and says 'WOW - What an amazing potty!"
I guess it's all in the eye of the beholder lol....

POTTY TRAINING

2009-09-15T14:04:00.000-07:00

I love doing the potty training thing again - I think potty training is the worst part of a mother's job (other than cleaning up throw up in the middle of the night) but teaching a little one to use the restroom by themselves is so rewarding... and funny...
I guess that's what I forgot about the other 2 - but it's been a looooong time....

Mom has been taking Sarah to the potty about every 30 min whether she needs to go or not. The other day by 10:00 - Sarah was just tired of it - so she told Nanny - I'm tired of this game...
She's doing better though. This week has really been a turning point for her - she told me, I'm not a baby anymore Mommy, I'm a big girl, and I go to the toilet all by myself, cause I'm big...
This morning I was playing with her toes while she sat doing her business and I was doing the little piggies with her.... after I did both feet, she decided to do it too - "This little piggy went to Wal-mart..." I have no idea what she said after that I was laughing too hard. She's just a doll...

PARTY'S OVER :(

2009-07-16T06:46:00.000-07:00

Well, my little baby is 3 now.... I take it so hard cause I KNOW she's the last one... so sad... no more babies. We had a great time though. My butterfly and ladybug cupcakes didn't turn out as well as I had hoped, but everything else was great. She had a great time playing with her little friends, and I got lots of pics. I think the adults had fun too! I know my brother did, he played on the slip and slid like he was their age, nevermind he didn't bring an extra set of clothes like the invitation said to :)

So the next big day is our anniversary coming up at the end of August - actually, school starts the day before that - so that will be big. Big Lots has school supplies on sale for $.50 ea - so yeah, I'm going tonight with my lists :) I think I'm going to Hillsboro this year for their school clothes, and backpacks. This is actually a very good time to go get school clothes because the summer clearance is on, all the retailers are trying to get rid of old stock before getting in their school shipments... I might go early. I don't shop tax free weekend anyway - what's it gonna save, $10??? no thanks, just not having to fight the crowd is worth $10 to me. If I spent more than say $500 it might be worth it, but that's not gonna happen. SO, back to our anniversary. This year will be 4 years... wow - what a way to go. Doesn't seem like it's been that long, and then it seems like it's been forever all at the same time - I think that's good lol. I don't think we'll do our usual celebratory stay at the Gaylord this year... Last year that set us back about $600 - but we had it to spend, so no big deal. This year we don't - I don't know what we're gonna do, but we'll do something.

One of our friends from Austin is coming up this weekend and we're keeping their boy this week. He's 16 I think, Matt and Zach's age, and we're getting them for the next 2 wks as far as I know. It should be fun - we'll have to find something to do to keep all those teens busy though!

PARTY PLANNING

2009-06-29T12:46:00.000-07:00

Sarah turns 3 in just 2 wks, I CANNOT believe how fast time flies... I am so busy planning her little get together. She has invited 2 boys and 1 girl, so there will be 2 boys and 2 girls... I bought an inflatable water sprinkler this weekend which was so cute! no stumped toes :) and I think I'm going to get a little inflatable wading pool, and we'll drag the swingset out front for them to play on. I have a little caterpillar tent with tunnels that they can crawl thru, and the theme is gardening/bugs - since her favorite past time is picking flowers and digging in the yard. I found 2 really cute pinatas - a ladybug and a butterfly... I haven't decided which one I want yet... and we have a whole bunch of other yard games for them to play as they want... Her birthday cake is going to be a dirt cake, complete with gummy worms, and the little giveaway is going to be a bug catching jar with a butterfly net and a garden trowel with a pack of flower seeds. I'm so excited!! I think this is the first time I've started so far in advance too, which is not as stressful... at least - not yet :)

HUBBY'S NEW TRUCK

2009-06-18T14:30:00.000-07:00

Dewayne got some really bad news when he got to work today... but the story starts 5 yrs ago, when my father in law's business was booming, and as a kind gesture towards D, he got him a company vehicle - and then 3 yrs ago, things started to head south for the family business, and we had to assume payments on the truck - which was no problem, we love the truck, and we needed it for our HUGE family... we only owe $4000 on it - less than a year's worth of payments, and it would be ours free and clear. We were really looking forward to having the much needed extra income after paying the truck off, but it was not to be.

The family business is in bad shape, and the truck is part of the business, and to make a long story short, D had to trade it in today on something in our name or lose the truck and all the investment we have put into it for the last 3 yrs. So, we got a really good deal on another Ford, F150 - Super crew cab - quite an upgrade from our extended cab. I'm glad for him in that he deserves a new truck, but he didn't want to let this one go - he was so proud of his truck, and it was so nice - but you gotta do what you gotta do sometimes...

FACEBOOK

2009-06-16T11:50:00.001-07:00

Okay, I'm facebooking now - that's a first for me - I've been meaning to get around to it - but when Candy sent me the invite, I had to... Just another website to keep up with, I guess.
I did have some really exciting news happen last week. I am a crime buff - watch all the shows, follow all the cases - and I'm a member of crime searchers online. I applied to be a writer for them, and I got accepted - I'm so excited. You can read my blogs at www.crimesearchersonline.com and go to the blogs - let me know what you think...

JUST BLOGGING

2009-06-09T11:19:00.001-07:00

Not much is going on, but I decided to post something today anyway. I'm in a blogging mood I guess... lol. Dewayne is doing good, recovery is going very well.. We had a minor set back on Sunday - a man at church that didn't know he had surgery gave him a hey, how's it going punch to the belly, and that hurt him pretty bad. It popped a stitch from the inside, but it was looking better last night. he has a follow up appt on Thurs. The boys are coming over tonight and will stay all week... there goes my clean house - but oh well... it'll be fun to have them over for a while. i told matt I'd pay him $80 if he cleaned out our 2 sheds, so we'll see how serious he is about that... lol. I've got to get some laundry done today - it's really piling up on me, so no gardening tonight... I've got some gorgeous flowers blooming in the garden though, I need to take some pics... The kids are out for summer, and VERY rambunctious... I feel sorry for my mother.

GETTING WELL

2009-06-05T12:01:00.000-07:00

D came thru surgery with flying colors - he is doing great - getting around better than I thought he would be. His discomfort is gone from the gallstone - the doc came out after surgery and told me that his gallbladder was abnormally small, and we knew beforehand that the stone was very large so the small gallbladder probably contributed to the pain he was having. I came down with strep again. that's the 4th time this year already, and it gets worse each time. I went to the dr yesterday and he told me it looks like i might have an absess in my right tonsil and that i need to keep a watch on that one. I was supposed to have my tonsils taken out this month, but not now since d had to have surgery, but that's okay... The kids are out for the summer and tonight is my final - i need to get in there and cram, cause I haven't had time to study :(
we just got back from getting the girls haircuts. I got shelby's cut short - she looks like ramona haha... her hair is so much cuter when it's short. and it's easier foru her to take care of. She's such a big girl and wants to do it herself, but her hair is so thick, and ycky... we got that all fixed today though.. well, I've got to go study - there are alot of dates and people and verses on this test... later...

ONE MORE DAY...

2009-06-02T14:11:00.000-07:00

Dewayne finally has his surgery tomorrow if all goes well. He got his sugar under control - it was down to 127 today which is the best it's ever been. His eyes are bothering him a bit, but that's all related to his diabetes. If he keeps his sugar at that level, his eyes will adjust over time. We had to go pick up some antiseptic cloths and he has 4 cloths tonight to rub down with, one for his legs, one for his arms, one for his torso, and then one for the surgical area after he showers. Then in the morning, no shower - no food, water, he can barely brush his teeth and he has 2 cloths to use, one for his torso, and one for the surgical area. I thought that was kinda weird, but I think it's being used in conjunction with the precautions that the hospital takes to prevent staff infection and stuff like that.

And there's only 2 more days of school left - I forgot to say this week that Hayden was commended on the 2nd part of his TAKS test as well as the first. The first part was language arts, the secong part was math. I was so proud of him, he did really well despite all the pressure he was under. So after Thurs. summer begins... o boy!! I've already used up 1/2 of my vacation to be off with Dewayne while he recovers, and he has used up his whole vacation and then some... so there goes any vacation that we wanted to have - that trip to Carlsbad is gone. Maybe we can fit it in a weekend trip instead... it would still be nice to go. I just don't see it happening after the $1500 copay though.

Okay - signing off for now....

THE WEEKEND

2009-06-01T13:46:00.000-07:00

We had a pretty quiet weekend (for once!) We got the boys on Friday and went to a fish fry at our neighbors church in Burleson - that was pretty much an all night deal, but we had a good time, and then we went to visit my in laws for a little while, and picked up the movie Mall Cop - we went home and watched that - it was cute. Sat. morning I got up and made biscuits and gravy with sausage, and then went to visit our bus kids. We dropped Zach off so he could go to a friend's birthday party, and then went home to fix lunch. I went to a wedding at 3 where I FINALLY got to see the sweetest baby in the whole world (except for my 3 - but he rivals even them!!!) I finally got to see baby William - I was soo excited. He is the prettiest little boy I've ever seen. I know boys are supposed to be handsome and not pretty, but his eyes are just mesmerizing - his momma and daddy are gonna have their hands full. He has such good color - he's just as cute as can be. Even my dad was telling mom that Candy's baby was just as cute as a button... so at 5, I rushed home to drop the kids off - they all came with me to the wedding cause they couldn't bear to not see Candy and William. Then I had to book it back to the church in time for class at 6:00 - our last class of the semester - whoo hoo... Now I have my last final of the semester on Friday night. Sunday was set aside for church - and we had the BEST service on Sunday night that I think we've ever had - it was 5th Sunday singing, and it was just awesome!! Then we went out to eat with our next door neighbors who came to church with us last night. Then I was off to work this morning... not much else is going on. D is having surgery on Wed, so we're just getting ready for that. I'll be glad when he's able to get around and not be in pain all the time. I don't like to see him this way.

GALLSTONES

2009-05-28T11:57:00.000-07:00

Okay, so we had the consultation with the surgeon this morning and D will have to have his gall bladder removed - surgery is next Wed at 11:00 a.m. I'm glad the kids are in school still :) Their last day is next Thursday. He has one very large gall stone 1.18" in diameter - I told him heck, we could play golf with that thing!! Not sure if there are any smaller ones or not, but they are very concerned about that large one he has. The dr. said the sooner we can get it out the better. He's not in as much pain as he was on Monday, but he is very very uncomfortable. He just can't get comfortable, and the meds are causing some other discomfort problems as well, nothing serious - just bloating, cramping, constipation, regular pain pill side effects... So be praying for him that he'll be okay til Wed and that God would keep him safe thru the surgery and be with the dr. One bit of good news - we had some money saved up, but that was pretty much depleted this week, we've already spent $300 just since Monday with a trip to the ER, and 2 dr's visits + all the meds - and I was getting really nervous about what we would have to pay upfront, but God answered prayers, cause they aren't charging us anything upfront - they seem to think insurance will cover 100% - they said if there was anything to be charged, we would be billed for it at the end... what a blessing and an answer to prayer...

EXCITING WEEKEND

2009-05-26T09:22:00.001-07:00

Remember that I posted on Friday - nothing exciting this weekend?? well, my husband decided to change all that... Yesterday morning he got up and went to work like normal, and me and the kids got up around 7 and went outside to work in the yard. He got home around 9:30 I guess, he grabbed a coke and a chair and came outside to watch me work in the garden. About 10:30 he went inside to get Sarah a snack, he wasn't in there even 5 min. and came to the door and asked me to come inside - something in his voice told me I just needed to get in there, so when I got inside, he was doubled over in pain, his eyes were watering he was in so much pain, he was grabbing the right side of his chest - his face was turning red, and he was sweating bullets. Then his right arm started to go numb, and he was really lightheaded, he couldn't stand by himself. I've had about 7 yrs of first aid and CPR training, and I keep up my cards, so I have to every so often to renew my CPR and first aid cards - and I was standing there thinking, this was the wrong side to be a heart attack, but he had every other indication of a heart attack, I had no idea what was wrong, but I knew he needed help NOW... so I yelled at the kids to get Sarah and get to the truck, and headed to the ER - they took him right to a room without filling out any paperwork or waiting, and by the time I got back there, they had already done the EKG and were already giving him morphine. They ruled out his heart, and then after the urinalysis, they ruled out kidney stones, which they suspected early on. So they sent him for a CAT scan. About an hr after coming back to the room from the CAT, a nurse came in with meds - more morphine and a med for abdominal cramping, so I'm thinking that they found something, or they wouldn't be giving more meds, I asked him about it and he just said the dr would be in shortly. They came back and took him to have an ultrasound on his gallbladder, and he knew then that they had found something - dr came back shortly after that and said they found a large gallstone that would have to be removed - but he wanted to check his white blood cell count to see if it would need to come out that day. He hadn't ran a fever the entire time we were there and the white cell count came back normal, so we knew there wasn't an infection - and therefore it wasn't necessary to do the emergency surgery. We have an appointment today with his regular dr to schedule an appt with a surgeon, and get a referral. Will keep you updated.

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

2009-05-22T13:42:00.000-07:00

I have been so unproductive today - I almost feel guilty, but business is sooo slow. I don't really have anything exciting planned for the weekend. Dewayne is taking Hayden and Dillon racing tonight, Shelby is spending the night with a little friend from school, and it's just me and Sarah. I'm going by the plant shed when I get off to see if I can't find something interesting to plant tonight :)
it's supposed to rain pretty much all weekend, so I guess I'll be doing housework. Sounds like a very interesting weekend, huh?? I do have a test Saturday night over the Epistles, so pray that I do good...

That's all folks...

TRUCK RACES

2009-05-21T08:36:00.000-07:00

I didn't update since the berry incident last week, but Dewayne got free tickets on Friday to go the truck races on Saturday. So I skipped class and we took the kids to the races. These are off-road trucks - not monster trucks, but they look like Traxxas trucks - it was so cool. We had gotten several inches of rain the day before and the mud was several inches thick, with standing water on top of it - so I made sure all the kids had on jeans and tennis shoes. It was only in the 50's - which is pretty cool here, and it was drizzling and overcast, so we all had on our hoodies and we went mudding... our shoes and pants were just covered in mud from walking out there. Anyone on the first 5 rows got muddy, but we sat up higher, the kids really enjoyed it. We stayed for 4 races, til about 11, the kids were tired - we got out there around 4, and walked around the pits, watched the Traxxes truck traces (RC trucks) visited with some of Dewayne's friends, and got the kids some things from the concession, so we made a pretty good day of it. It was a little loud for Sarah, but she still had a good time, she didn't ever cry, so that was good. We're trying to train them for Nascar :) but they aren't quite ready yet.... lol

POISONOUS BERRIES

2009-05-15T14:47:00.000-07:00

I don't think I've ever posted twice in one day, but this deserves posting... lol. Shortly after writing my last post I got a call from the school nurse that Hayden along with about 10 other friends, had ingested china berries - so the school nurse did exactly what she was supposed to do and immediately called poison control. Some symptoms include diarrea and vomiting and a loss of fine motor skills, meaning that he would be dizzy, not be able to talk coherently and would have trouble walking. She told me that he would need to be observed for 24 hrs. So, I rush up there to get him. By the time I got to the school, the school had learned from one of the students that they had eaten several berries, and poison control said if they ingested any berries at all that they must go immediately to the ER. I asked Hayden, did you eat any berries? he said yes - I asked how many, and he told me 3 - so off to the ER I go - Hayden told me that his belly hurt and he was spitting - like how you get alot of extra saliva right before you start throwing up, and he's belching alot, so I'm thinking he's getting very sick. I was asking him questions all the way to the ER, and trying to call into work, and call his dad, my parents, and the little boy's mother who he was supposed to ride the bus home with - what a fiasco... right before we get into the parking lot of the ER, I was asking Hayden when he ate the berries, and he says yesterday.... I said WHAT??? he says yeah, I didn't get to go outside today, I was in study hall.... I couldn't believe it... SO I decide against the $150 co-pay and opt to go back to work. Now I'm asking him how this mix up happened... so the convo goes like this:
I ask "what did the nurse ask you when you came to the office?"
"if I ate any berries and I was honest and told her yes"
"did you tell her you ate them yesterday?"
"no, she didn't ask me when I ate them..."
Oh geez!!! I tried to call the nurse back to let her know that he didn't eat any berries today, that it was yesterday, but I couldnt' get thru. She called me shortly thereafter and says, Where are you at right now?? so I let her know that Hayden didn't eat any berries today.. and she says, yeah, I just found that out myself - that he was in study hall. and she has more news that they weren't even china berries, they were mustang grapes which aren't poisonous at all...
Whew!!! What a day. I swear that boy will be the death of me.... As for Hayden's "sickness" on the way to the ER - he thought he was dying, and it was most likely making him feel sick - just goes to show how many times our "sicknesses" are pyschological...

CHOIR CONCERT

2009-05-15T08:59:00.001-07:00

Hayden had his last choir concert last night, and he did SOOO good. I was so proud of him. He had a "solo speaking part" is what he called it, and then sang w/ a group of 5 boys. It was a really cute program - all the songs were from movies, and the theme was movies/entertainment. It was cute. Not much else is going on. No big plans for the weekend really. Hayden has a birthday party to go to, so he's riding the bus home with a friend and heading out to the ranger game tonight. Dewayne has to go over to wild bill's to have some guy fix his race car, and the boys are coming over this weekend. Me and the girls will most likely have the evening to ourselves, and I have some weeding to do in the shade garden. I had the prettiest day lily bloom today - it's orange - the red ones were pretty, but the orange one is just gorgeous... I can't wait til next year when all my bulbs are settled and start multiplying. I am so excited. Once the gardens are established, they should be a 4 season garden, with the exception of the shade garden - I'll have to find something to put there for the fall/winter. My veggie garden isn't doing very well where it's planted, so I might have to move it again next year. I'm having a hard time finding a place where it does good, as I don't have any trees in the backyard, so there's no shady areas for the plants to have some escape from the harsh summers we have here... I love working with the girls in the garden, we have found baby lady bug nests - they are sooo cute!! and caterpillars, hummingbirds, which Sarah calls "hiney-birds" lol. Sarah was so funny today - she was giving Papaw a kiss good-bye and he asked her if she could take care of Nanny for him today, and she goes "Um, no, I don't tink so - she's too big" She's so funny... she calls her stroller a "roller-stroller"

A NICE WALK

2009-05-12T13:09:00.000-07:00

Last night was very uneventful, which is my favorite kind of evening. Dewayne was waiting for me to get home so he could take the lawn mower to the shop. I worked in the garden for about 30 minutes, pulling weeds. My 5 gardens are taking more time than I would like for them too, but it's very rewarding - to me at least!! and my hubby suggested this afternoon that we put shrubs along the ditch and driveway, which I would love to do!! that means more gardens, cause they would sure look pretty with little flowers out in front of them... but that's going to be a fall project. It's too late to plant shrubs now, they'll die from the heat of the summer since they haven't had time to get a good root system established... so I'll wait til summer, and I think I want some crepe myrtles too. I did tell him that I don't want shrubs if they don't flower... there are plenty of flowering shrubs and they look so much better than just regular green blah shrubs. When D got home, I had a load of dishes in the washer, had washed another load by hand and had a load of clothes in the dryer. He vaccuumed for me before I got home since Sarah is so scared of the vaccuum and it was so funny, as soon as we walked in the house, she says "where's the vaccuum keener?" I shouldn't have sucked her clothes up in it that one time or she wouldn't be afraid of it... I was just playing with her, but it scarred for her life I guess. She'll have to hire a maid to clean her house no doubt. We ate a sandwich (no cooking - whoo hoo!!) and then went for a nice long walk. It was so relaxing... it was nice and cool - just after 8:00 and it was so quiet outside. We haven't done that in a long time and I just enjoyed spending the time with my husband. The kids were there too, but they were doing their own thing, so that just left us walking and talking and watching them. Then it was back home to a nice bubble bath and to bed.

MOTHER'S DAY

2009-05-11T09:19:00.000-07:00

My mother's day was especially nice this year. I got a handful of beautiful weeds from Sarah, a poem that Shelby wrote for me herself, and a book of coupons from Hayden for me to use. The only one that confused me was the coupon for him to clean out dad's truck... lol. They also got me a bird bath, which I've been wanting forever, some more edging to finish up my garden, and a nice set of shears. I also got breakfast in bed, which was a real surprised when I wasn't really dressed for the kids - ahem. So I got on to my hubby pretty good for that one. But breakfast was wonderful - Hayden did such a good job, we had sausage, egg and cheese breakfast burritos, and he made it all himself, and Shelby brought me a glass of hot dr. pepper with no ice - but it was the best dr. pepper I've ever had... My grandmother was in town, so I cooked for lunch - it was a joint effort. I brought the rice, beans and enchiladas, mom made the salad and mexican casserole, and Eddie did dessert - which is really his forte... it was yummy. Sopapilla cheesecake or something like that - YUMMY!!
then last night at church we had the men's mothers day cakebake - in which Hayden got an honorable mention for his Noah's ark cake. I'll have to post pics later... he's turning into a regular little chef ;)
Overall - just a wonderful mothers day - I had the best mother that anyone could have had. I love her so much, and I was honored to spend the day with her. Which reminds me, I've gotta go eat lunch with her again right now!! bye for now.

2009-05-05T11:22:00.001-07:00

I finally got some more pics up!! make sure you go back to look at them all...

RECAPPING THE WEEKEND

2009-05-04T13:16:00.000-07:00

For the purpose of my blog, and not posting anything I might regret later (lol) I had a decent weekend overall. We went to watch Hayden race for the first time on Friday, and he did so good. I was so proud. Of course, I had to feel sorry for Mike, it seemed like Hayden just had it out for him. Mike wouldn't pass him except on the straight away, and I guess Hayden just had a magnet on him cause he would hit him every single time. But Mike was so good-natured about it, and I appreciate all those guys supporting Hayden and teaching him how to race. After I left, it was all down hill from there, but I won't go into details. Saturday was a bit quiet at home - we worked out in the yard, set a brick walkway - which was the first time I had done anything like that, and it was so easy, I was really surprised... So I felt as if I had accomplished something. I went to class Sat. night, and then I missed church Sunday morning cause Sarah has the croup again. Good thing we still have some of the medicine from last time, so that will save a dr. bill. Dewayne stayed with her Sunday night so I could go. There was a missionary couple at church that I went to college with, so that was encouraging. And I guess today is just a typical Monday... just waiting to go home :)

STAY AT HOME MOM

2009-04-28T11:17:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I had to leave work early so I could be at home when the kids get off the bus. Dewayne is normally there, but he wasn't able to - no big deal. I like being home when they get home. I got home and had supper started - got a load of dishes in the washer, and a load of laundry - Shelby was folding her clothes on the couch - Hayden was cleaning his room, and Sarah was playing in the floor. It was really nice and cool after the rain yesterday, so I opened the house up, and there was a slight breeze coming thru - it was so quiet and peaceful just being there with the kids and talking about their day. I made homemade steak fingers with fries and snap peas - it just smelled so good with supper on the stove - It just makes me want to be a stay at home mom all the time!! So when my husband got home, I gave him a kiss and told him it could be like that every day if I could stay home!! I would love to homeschool the kids and be able to stay home everyday with them. Maybe one day soon. We'll see. I'm working on it. I would have to find a supplemental income, but I have some good ideas.

BOWLING

2009-04-27T12:40:00.001-07:00

Hayden had a great time Friday - I learned a HUGE lesson... when you haven't been bowling in about 10 years, initially, you think that 1 hr isn't long enough... BIG mistake... even with 8 people on a lane, after an hour, the only 2 people who had the stamina to keep bowling was Matt and Zach, and by the end of the night, those 2 were bowling for all of us old decrepit washed-up has been bowlers - lol... even Sarah didn't want to bowl anymore... We put my 3 youngest and Hayden's friend on a bumper lane by themselves - and then us old fogies + the 2 teens on a lane together, we had a blast, but my parents still can't move. I haven't checked to see how Dewayne's dad is doing yet, and Dewayne bowled twice - and was done.... I had fun the first hour. As long as Hayden was having a good time - that was alright with me. He got everything he wanted -$$, legos, his first RC car - I'm glad to get him involved in something... He doesn't play sports, just cause it really interferes with all the work we do at church. Too bad they don't have leagues that refuse to play or practice during church time, and I don't want to sign him up for something that we can't commit too, it's not fair to other players and families - but the RC races are on Friday's - so we can be involved in that. Shelby spent the night Friday with Eddie and Barbie, and then Hayden was in a fishing tournament at the little pond in Kennedale on Sat. I know that this is UNBELIEVABLE - but he caught a 4 lb bass - 13" long out of that little pond, and they thought that he won 1st place with it, but then was disqualified because he caught it 5 min. before the tournament actually began... He was so excited though. Then Hayden spent the night with Eddie and Barbie on Sat night. It was nice to have the boys 2 weekends in a row too - Matt drove all weekend - he was finally allowed to attend driver's ed, so he has his permit now. He's all excited, and the last bit of good news I have is that Sarah is pacifier free since Thursday - what a hurdle this has been... Neither of the kids were attached to the pacifier like she has been, but she's doing good, she hasn't cried for it, or thrown a fit or anything. She hasn't even really asked for it, she just tells me, "my pabi lost, I lost it. I big girl now" - and that's it... now we're down to potty-training... Overall, we just had a wonderful weekend with the family - and I'm thankful it's raining - that means I don't have to feel obligated to work in the yard - whoo hoo!! I can do housework instead - blah...

I HAD A BAD DAY...

2009-04-24T12:51:00.001-07:00

Good gracious, yesterday was absolutely horrible... it was just one thing after the other...
First I found out that our cell phone bill was $400 again this month - which just really ticks me off. I know my hubby needs it for his work, but he isn't reimbursed for it, and all of his drivers are signed up with all different providers, and of course, he's on the phone with them during work hours, so no free minutes... I just get so angry over that stupid phone bill. Then I realized that I'm $200 short to pay all the bills this month - probably cause of the stinking phone bill... then I get a call from a bill collector from a debt like 3 yrs ago - I'm trying to make payment arrangements with the lady, and tell her that I can't make any payments in May (since I just found out I'm short this month anyway) she gets really tacky with me and just transfers me to someone else.... so when I got the other person, I asked why I was transferred when I was trying to make payment arrangements, and the guy has the audacity to tell me that he tells them to "transfer everyone to him that causes trouble" - I came UNGLUED all over the guy - I said I was NOT causing trouble, I'm trying to work out some payments with them... O I was so mad....
Last night was Shelby's school program (she was one of the main characters, I was so proud of her) and I was running late - I got my paycheck, but the bank conveniently closes at 4:00 - what the heck?? so I had to go deposit it to the ATM - at which point I learned that they decided to place a hold on half my check - why do they place a hold on some, but not all?? that's just enough to make you mad... so I get home, and had a letter in the mail from the IRS which said that we owed $3800 in taxes!!! WHAT?!?! we use the same CPA that does the books for Dewayne's dad, and the mistake was with his earnings.. They have us down as making $100,000 together - yeah right, I wish!!! I could use an extra $30,000 - but I don't want to pay taxes on it if we didn't make it... so get inside, I'm already late, but I knew that my memory card was full in the camera, so I needed to download pics real quick - tore the desk up cause I couldn't find my cord, come to find out today, my brother has it... so I had to delete pics off of it that I might have kept otherwise, but I had to pick some that had to go just to have pics of her program... AAAGGGHHH!!! By this point, I'm flaming, and since I was running late, there were NO seats left. we had to stand. For the first song I couldn't even see her, but then she was in the middle of the stage the rest of the night. The play was sooo cute that I had really settled down by the time I got home, and then my bad day picked right back up where we left off... I had laid out backstrap to fix with rice and gravy - well, I didn't check to see if I had any gravy, I just thought I did - then I found out I didnt... so we'll have meat and rice - no gravy... I got the water boiling, got some carrots out to steam... went back to the stove, poured the rice in the water, and stirred a little, when I noticed little black things coming to the top of the water - they were BUGS!!! little black bugs, just a little bigger than ants... I've never seen them before, they kinda look like beetles... I was furious... I poured out the rice, started some more water boiling... and went to get another bag of rice... I checked this bag first, and they were in that bag too!!! now I'm really mad.... so I'm checking all my food in the pantry - I never did see any bugs anywhere else - but I guess I'll have to call the exterminator... that was sick... so I got down a bag of uncle ben's rice that you steam in the microwave, but I was so flustered, that I forgot to tear the bag so it could vent, and about half way thru the cook time it just exploded all over the microwave... so 3 bags of rice later, and no gravy, I just chunked it, during all this time, I burned the meat - so I just gave up and went to take a bath... I guess I'm fortunate that my hubby turned off the stove and fed the kids - cause I left it all like it was.... I kept telling myself, I'll just take a bath, go to bed and when I wake up, it will all be better - and sure enough it was...
I've been hoping for a hummingbird to come to the house for 3 yrs now - I have planted everything I know to plant that attracts them - and have NEVER seen one, but there was one in the garden this morning, the kids ran inside to get me, so me and Sarah went out to see it - she's so cute, she can't say 'HUMMINGBIRD' - it comes out "HINEY-BIRD" lol. I don't know why we have bad days, but we get thru them and move on and everything looks better in the morning (except the IRS bill - lol)

GETTING OLD LOL

2009-04-22T12:11:00.000-07:00

My baby will be 9 in just 2 days - I feel old... If I didn't have Sarah I sure enough would feel old... she brought life back to me after waiting so long between her and Shelby to have another baby, it's like a breath of fresh air. I wish I would/could have enjoyed Hayden and Shelby like that when they were her age... it stinks being a single mom though, and needless to say, I didn't enjoy that time of my life. I'm glad that's all over with, and I look back at it with regret now - regrets over not spending more precious time with my little ones and realizing that they wouldn't be that young for long. Now they think they're all grown up and the only time they want kisses is at bed time! But at least they still want kisses at bed time :) I'll take whatever I can get. Hayden has grown up so fast, and I'm so proud of him. He's had it pretty rough in his short life so far, and against all odds, he's a good kid. Don't get me wrong, he still has his moments, but overall, he's just a little boy that I am very proud of. I know 29 seems young, but as I look back over the last 9 years of my life as a mother, I wish I could go back and edit/undo - lol. Hayden has turned out into a fine young man, in spite of me!!

RECAPPING THE WEEKEND

2009-04-16T08:45:00.000-07:00

Easter was great - we had great services Sunday morning and Sunday evening at church - it was just a blessing to be there. One of my friends from Amarillo that I grew up with since I was probably in the nursery has been visiting, and it was really nice to see her again. I hope to have some pics to post this week.
Well, we decided on the Botanical Gardens in Ft. Worth - the kids didn't remember going, so that's where we headed off to on Monday morning. The kids were just ecstatic, they had such a good time. We packed a picnic lunch, which they all thought was the greatest thing ever. I think the best part was the Japanese Garden. I've never been to the botanical gardens in April, and now I'm a believer that April is the best time to go, most everything was in bloom, and it was just gorgeous. Me and Dewayne were both so relaxed, and just enjoyed watching the kids play, it was just a wonderful day.

Easter weekend.

2009-04-08T11:05:00.000-07:00

I am so glad it's Easter. I'm off on Friday to be with the kids, and I have SOOO much yardwork to do. I have to finish putting up the edging around the flower garden, and hopefully the last of the frost was here yesterday, so I'm going to take the chance of planting the rest of my garden. (Wish me luck) And I have a shade garden of bulbs and ferns to get planted, and I have to re-till it since I did that right before I fell and hurt my foot - so it's going to need to be redone.
The girls already have their dresses, but Hayden is getting a new suit, he just doesn't know it yet. I do have to get the girls some new shoes and maybe sweaters since it's supposed to rain all day Sunday :(
Then I'm off again Monday and maybe Dewayne will join us - I want to go to the botanical gardens and get pics of the kids and then I don't know what else we'll do. We talked about going to the zoo - but I want to do something different that we haven't done before... but we've been to Glenrose - the kids went with mom and dad on spring break - but I want to do something like that... I just can't think of anything.
I always enjoy Easter - ever since Hayden was born. I went to the hospital on Sat. evening because something just didn't feel right - and they hooked me up to all the monitors and said that I was loosing the water around the sack, that it was leaking, rather than bursting. So they sent me home and told me to come back at 5:00 Sunday afternoon to be induced. So we went to church that morning, and I really started to have labor pains, and went home and rested, got ready to go to the hospital, and was induced, fully expecting to have my first baby on Easter Sunday... (little did I know, being my first time and all) Hayden was in no hurry, he arrived around 1:00 pm on Monday afternoon. Easter Monday. I'll have to remind him of that this Easter Monday while we're out together. I can't believe he'll be 9 this month. Makes me feel so old. He's turned into quite the young man, and I'm so proud to be his momma.

My busted foot

2009-04-06T13:21:00.001-07:00

It's been a loooong time since I've posted anything Candy so kindly pointed out... I forgot all about my blog. So, I fell down the stairs last week at mom and dads while I was dropping Sarah off before work. At least I didn't fall while carrying her down... My toe nail was ripped off, and I broke my big toe, pulled the ligaments and tendons in my foot and have 2 HUGE bruises - one on my left arm, and the other on my left hip... and all of this just 3 days before Nascar :(
Oh well, I had a boot cast on and made it thru, now I think I have a 3rd degree sunburn cause I just didn't think about the sunscreen lol. I was sidetracked. Biffle came in 3rd on Sunday, and we really need a win to move up in the points standings - so go BIFFLE!!! Had a great time with my hubby though - this is the first time since Sarah was born that we have gone by ourselves, and it was nice. We like to go with Jeff and Debbie too, but we had a good time just the 2 of us. Jeff and Debbie are on schedule for Nov. though :)
not much else is going on, having some issues with Hayden - so keep him in your prayers, I would rather not discuss it for the world to see, you never know who's watching... nothing major though.
Work is going good I guess, the economic crisis - if you call it that - has started to make it's way through our industry - drilling - so things are somewhat slow. My brother will be laid off in August and that plant will be shut down, so I know that God was taking care of me when he moved me 2 yrs ago - I might not have been able to find a position if I was laid off now.
The garden is growing well, I already have sweet oregon pea pods coming up, those are my favorites... will be planting tomatoes, squash, cantelope, zuccini, okra, and watermelons this weekend - not sure what else, I think that's it.. and my strawberries are doing well - this is their 2nd year, so I should get a good crop. I think we're under a freeze warning tonite :( of course...
my azalea's have bloomed, and I'm waiting on the irises - but they are 'pregnant" so it shouldn't be long. will be planting about 10 hostas this weekend about 200 bulbs, so I've got a lot of work to do with my busted foot... glad the kids are out of school, I'll certainly be putting them to work...
I'll try to remember my blog that way I don't have to write so long...

TAKING PICS

2009-02-16T13:03:00.000-08:00

my mother is so funny - she just cracks me up... She is technologically disabled - for lack of a better word. She is computer illiterate - cannot operate a cell phone, and we learned today that she is also unable to operate the basic digital camera. My parents took my kids to the dinosaur park at Glenrose, and took the camera with them - which surprised me. My dad is taking pics of the kids and mom throughout the day, and my mom tells him - why don't you let me take a picture of you, all the pictures are of me and the kids - so dad hands her the camera and goes to pose by T-rex - my wonderful mother snaps the picture and goes to look at it - when she suprisingly exclaims "why did it take a picture of my face???" I'm afraid I'll have to submit that one to Readers' Digest....

LOCKING NANNY OUT

2009-02-06T13:19:00.000-08:00

My little 2 yr old decided to lock Nanny out of the house today. Mom had a funeral to attend, and she stepped outside, with her keys to put a cake in the car before getting Sarah out to the car. In the 5 seconds it took her to get to the car and back to the door, Sarah had locked the glass screen door. Mom didn't have her purse, phone, etc. She tried to get Sarah to unlock the door, to no avail, and Sarah then got upset saying "I just can't do it", then she started crying. No one lives around mom right, they are all empty houses - families that have fallen victim to the failing economy, no doubt. So my mom heads off walking to try to find someone home farther down the road - no one home. Sarah, by this time, was hysterical. She doesn't even like to be left in the room alone, much less in the house... So Nanny comes back after her unsuccessful trip down the street. At this point, she really has no choice but to leave to go get my dad who works just down the street - so she gets in the car to go get him to come help. Nanny is so distraught by the time that she gets there that he can't understand what she's saying, but he finally gets it out of her and they take off back to the house to rescue little Sarah. He yanked on the door with everything he had, and it popped right open. I'm not sure who was crying harder, Nanny or Sarah. It's somewhat funny now, but it sure wasn't then. I'm just glad that everyone's okay. Nanny and Sarah had a "lock lesson" after I left for lunch to keep that from happening again... now they won't be able to keep her in :)
oh the joys of raising a 2 yr old. whoever said it takes a village was dead on.
My kids never cease to amaze me how horribly wrong something can go in just 5 seconds.

GOODBYE PAPAW

2009-01-22T11:40:00.000-08:00

This has been an exceptionally tough week. Sunday my grandfather fell, and apparently had a heart attack, he passed away that morning. On Monday, I sat thru the funeral planning meeting, which was a first for me. Tuesday was my 29th birthday, the day that we buried my Papaw. Bear with me while I reminesce about my grandfather. He was born in 1922 - and grew up during the Great Depression - he was a wonderful provider for his family, Memaw and 6 children. He worked for Texaco for about 40 years from what I understand - as a pipe fitter. My Memaw didn't have to work, but I think from time to time she worked as a nurse and cook in the Christian school that my parents attended. After they retired, she worked part time mostly to just keep herself busy, and he did too, mowing for the graveyards around town, and others too I'm sure. I moved with them when they moved from Amarillo to Cooper in 1990 - and stayed that whole summer with them, and every summer after that for about 5 years, until my family moved down there too. During my teenage years, I guess I was probably like most teens, and didn't make much time for my grandparents, but I do remember they were always there for me, attending ball games, and choir concerts, the National Honor Society induction and anything else that was going on. After my grandmother on my mother's side of the family passed away when I was 22 - I realized that I had plenty of regrets in not being closer to her, and I corrected that with the only 2 grandparents that I had left, my Memaw and Papaw Sutton. I always told them I loved them when I left, and I visited - not as much as I should have, but I called on a regular basis. My Papaw instilled in me, not only a love for God, and a sense of faithfulness to the work of God, remaining faithful in church attendance, giving, and prayer, but he also showed me the simple things in life. I can remember one summer Papaw came and got me and Eddie and wanted to show us this "new" toy. It was a big metal washer, and he showed us how to roll it and keep it up by pushing it with a metal rod that was more like rebar - I can still remember him chasing that thing down the street, and we would have races - to see who could push theirs the farthest, or fastest... It was the best toy ever - we had fun. Summers there were never boring. He was always making us something. Homemade swings from the big oak tree out front, wooden airplanes... He was always singing too - she'll be coming round the mountain, roly-poly, daddy's little fatty... he always had a song to sing. Most the time they were hymns, but sometimes they were funny. He loved life, he loved church, he loved God, he loved his family. He loved it outside, he would just "piddle" - that's what he called it. he was never still - that's where we all get "sutton's disease" - our whole family has it - not being able to stay still - wanting to be busy, doing something... He always made time for us as kids, just showing us the simple things - gardening, cracking pecans, painting the house, catching crawdads, tadpoles and fish, fixing everything you own with whatever you had to fix it with - he was ingenious that way - no telling how much money he saved during his lifetime doing that though. But he always made time for prayer before bed, and every night he would turn off the TV and read his Bible. it would be quiet in the house for that time while he read the Bible, and then he would reach for the paper or maybe his checkbook. I will miss him so much. I know he's in heaven, and I know I'll see him again, but until I do see him, I will miss him answering the phone when I call. I will miss kissing his forehead before I leave. I will miss my Papaw.
http://community.shutterfly.com/gallery/post/start.sfly?postId=/gallery/1/post/GMGDJgyYuWLhk0ZAMGNd2c

ROAD TRIP

2009-01-15T08:23:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited!! A customer invited me to come teach a hammer maintenance class to driller's in Montana - I am so so so so excited. I've wanted to do this for a long time, and I'm just thrilled to have been given the opportunity to go. I just can't wait, and now, my hubby is going to go with me, (if we can find a sitter) so I'm even more excited. I was nervous about driving up there, especially if there might be snow or ice... so I'm going to see about visiting Yellowstone since we'll be so close - I've been, but Dewayne hasn't - it will only be about an hour drive from where we'll be. I'm just so excited!! whoo hoo! this is such an awesome opportunity for me - I just thank God for it.

2008

2009-01-12T12:24:00.000-08:00

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before? Nothing comes to mind. Nothing major happened this year (for once)
2. Did you keep your New Years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I don't think I made one last year, but I did this year - to be more friendly and to work on my countenance.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? no
4. Did anyone close to you die? No
5. What countries did you visit? None
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008? less debt
7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? nothing jumps out at me.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? My personal biggest feeling of accomplishment was being able to start a second full time bus route because ours was too big to fit on one van - but that was only done with God's blessing and providence.
9. What was your biggest failure? hmm, could have been a better mom and wife. (there's always room for improvement there, right?)
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? No - thank God!!
11. What was the best thing you bought? my car
12.Whose behavior merited celebration? it's a toss up - Hayden - cause he really seemed to settle down this year. Dewayne - just cause he's Dewayne - he's always there for me, and I love him more and more every year.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? no one that I know personally. I think politians disappointed me the most.
14. Where did most of your money go? Bills - especially gas there for a while..
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Candy having a baby.
16. What song will always remind you of 2008? I'm on the winning side.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:i. happier or sadder? No doubt, happier ii. thinner or fatter? still thinner than I was when I started 2008, but fatter than I was at times during 2008 iii. richer or poorer? Richer because I am not in need of anything.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Exercise and time with the kids.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Working and laying around watching tv.
20. How did you be spend Christmas? I spent Christmas at my moms and the in laws.
21. How did you be ring in the New Year? Went to watchnight service for 2 hrs, and then home and in bed - didn't see the new year in this year - was watching the backs of my eyelids.
22. Did you fall in love in 2008? I was already in love, but I keep falling....
23. Who was your hero? probably Sarah Palin
24. What was your favorite TV program? City Confidential
25. What was something you needed to do and didn’t get around to? losing all the weight that I intended to lose.
26. What was the best book you read? The Bible and Wilmington's guide to the Bible.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery? Jack's big Music show - haha. Sarah taught me that you can make music with anything anywhere - which she learned from Jack.
28. What did you want and get? A new car
29. What did you want and not get? a bigger house.
30. What was your favorite film of this year? KungFu Panda
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 28 this year and didn't do anything special that I remember, that was 12 months ago....
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? More kids trusting Christ as their Savior.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008? Fashion?? No, seriously, I tried to "grow up" in my wardrobe, and dress like the age I am rather than the age I was 10 yrs ago.
34. What kept you sane? My Husband and church.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Sarah Palin
36. What political issue stirred you the most? the election in general.
37. Who did you miss? Candy Candy Candy
38. Who was the best new person you met? I have to say that I knew this person as an acquaintance before, but it would have to be Armanda, I got to really know her this year.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008: Life goes by too fast, and kids grow up too fast. Enjoy life where you are right now, not what might come next year or next month or even next week. Live life in the present instead of the past or the future.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year: I'm on the winning side - meaning that I'm on God's side - I know who wins, I read the last chapter of the Book.

A man that hath friends must show himself friendly...

2009-01-08T12:48:00.000-08:00

I really don't have anything to blog about today, but I'm bored so I decided to write anyway...

I keep thinking about this book I want to write about being married to a diabetic, so I started typing a few days ago - I love to read, but I'm not sure that writing is my thing. I was always good at creative writing in school, but when i read what I wrote, it just said blah blah blah.... so scratch that idea. I might as well just blog about the trials that I have being married to a diabetic, that serves the same purpose...

I think I have decided on my New Year's Resolution... Here lately, I've had several different people come up to me and ask me if I'm mad, and I've really been thinking about that. Sometimes they are people that I work with, sometimes it's church members, but if people around me think I'm mad, it's because my countenance is showing it. I've really been thinking about that - what my face shows about me. Sometimes it says things that I would never say outloud I guess. I know the Bible has alot to say about our countenance, so I want to start a Bible study about that. Another thing that has been bothering me lately is this - what kind of friend am i? I wonder about that?? Am I the kind of friend that is fair weather? Do I stick with my friends thru thick and thin? Can they depend on me to be there when they need me? Do my friends trust me? Am I trustworthy? One thing I know for sure, A man that hath friends must show himself friendly. It seems to me that ever since Candy (my best friend in the whole wide world) moved away, I haven't been friendly. I know I can't replace her in my life, and I wouldn't ever want to replace her - besides she's only a phone call and a 4 hr drive away :)
but sometimes you just want someone (a girl friend) to hang out with... I haven't found that person. I know it's my own fault, I'm such a homebody - but I'm supposed to be - I have a family there! And my soul mate, my husband. At any rate, I still know in my heart, that I want to work on being a better friend. I want to be more outgoing this year, I've been so introverted the last few years - I've always said that turtles were my favorite animal for a reason - I can relate to their shell. I think we build shell's around us to protect ourselves to some extent, but my New Year's Resolution is to come out of my shell and to make myself friendly.

A New Year's Resolution

2009-01-03T11:16:00.000-08:00

I need a new year's resolution, but I don't want the same ones that always fail - be a better housekeeper, lose weight, blah blah blah... I can't think of anything. Maybe I'm just happy with the way things are and don't really want to change anything. I don't know. I think the resolutions are kind of depressing. Maybe there's just so many things that I need to change that it's hard to just pick one, I don't know.. I don't want to think about it... It used to be important to me, but not so much anymore - I guess cause you see how well all the others stick - haha.

I went to church for a while on New Year's night - but didn't last long cause Shelby fell asleep about 9, and Hayden was tired, so therefore, was crabby also... Dewayne didn't get to come with us cause I took Sarah to the doc that day, and she did have croup. I think she's doing much better now, but I'm sick now, probably cause of cleaning for 2 wks straight. I guess it kicked up all the dust and I've got a horrible sinus infection or something.

We took Zach to Chuy's for his 15th birthday. The service was horrible as usual, but the food is good. I'm just glad that's D's favorite restaurant and not mine. My wonderful hubby is taking care of me while I'm sick, he's making homemade enchiladas - I really wanted soup, but I'll take whatever I can get...

It's back to school for Hayden and Shelby on Monday. Mom and Dad are going to Wyoming, and Sarah is staying with Melony.

I've been working with her on her potty training while I've been home with her. She just has no interest whatsoever in going to the potty... I don't understand. Shelby was so easy, she hated to be wet or dirty, and she was so easy, and trained by the time she was about 18 mon. old from what I remember. Hayden was the one that took so long, but I figured it was just cause he's a boy and didn't care if he was dirty or not, he was too busy, and didn't have time to potty train. I can't find anything that motivates Sarah. We sing, we read, we've tried pull ups, and even regular panties cause that worked for Shelby - once she put the real ones on, she never wanted to go back... I even reluctantly tried to do the candy thing, where if they go then they get one piece of candy from a jar you keep on the back of the toilet - that worked one time, and now nothing. We even have one of the expensive toilets that makes realistic noises and stuff. She sits there, and we read or sing, and nothing. She even tells me she needs to go potty, so off we go, to sit on the toilet for 30 min while she sings "Tinkle tinkle wee wee star" - that's how she sings the song, but only cause she can't say twinkle or little. but it's cute at any rate.

Goodbye Christmas

2008-12-27T07:28:00.000-08:00

Oh, Christmas is finally over.... I am so glad... I love Christmas now - didn't before I met my hubby, but I think I wrote about that last time... so it's all over. All of the kids got everything that they asked for - with the exception of Shelby, who didn't ask for anything until the day before Christmas, and then she says that she wants a DS or a Wii -nothing like asking for the most expensive gifts the day before Christmas!! So the next big thing on the agenda is Zach's b-day which is the 30th, and then Candy's bday on the 31st - we have a watch night service at church that night. Those are always fun.
Sarah has been sick since Thurs, running fever and then this morning when I was washing her hair she told me that her ears hurt - so she probably has the dreaded ear infection. She was the first child that I had that got ear infections, but she gets them entirely too much - and funny thing is, Shelby started getting them too, her first one came at age 6, and it seemed like she had them one right after the other the whole year. I was telling D just the other day that it's been a long time since any of us had been sick, which when you're talking about 7 people - that's pretty impressive... Sarah might be getting the croup too, cause she has the runny nose and dry barky cough - she just doesn't feel good. So thank goodness for AT&T and DVR's - it's a day full of Jack's Big Music Show and Lazy Town for Sarah while I clean out the kids rooms to make room for the new Christmas gifts and clothes... this is my least favorite part of Christmas, but we have a family at church that can really use Hayden's outgrown clothes - I don't really have anyone to pass down Shelby's things too, so I think we are just going to donate those. I hate to haggle with the people at the resale shops - they make me so mad, and besides, I would rather give them to someone who really needs them. Well, signing off to go clean out the pig pens that we call Hayden and Shelby's rooms :)

2008-12-22T11:18:00.001-08:00

Last night was the kids Christmas program at church. They all did so good, I was so proud. Hayden was a wise man - haha... Shelby was a shepherd, and both of them had speaking parts- which they both did wonderfully with. Sarah was an animal of some sort. Maybe a cow or lamb - with spots... she was a cutie. She tried to do a somersault down the stairs of the stage - she's such a daredevil. I guess she gets that from Hayden...
So now I can finally rest - all of the practices and parties are over, and I can just enjoy Christmas this week with nothing going on...
We are having Christmas with Matt and Zach tonight. We're letting the little ones open a gift a piece - and then Christmas with my family tomorrow. We're having church on Wed. night, and then Christmas with the little ones on Christmas day, and at D's family too. I'm off on Friday, and I guess I'll just be cleaning... I don't want to get out, and it will be nice to just stay at home with the kids.

2008-12-18T08:34:00.000-08:00

Only one week til Christmas now - it's so funny how you change when your life significantly changes. I used to just hate Christmas, until I met Dewayne - he loves Christmas - and it's contagious. Every year I get more and more into it, and I really enjoy it. I was such a scrooge before!!! I made little goodie bags for everyone that I work with, for ALL of the kids teachers, at school and at church - so I baked for like a whole week - ended up with about 30 big bags of goodies that each contained 3-5 little bags of homemade goodies. It felt nice to show those that have such an impact on my kids how much I appreciate all they do. I have a few more left to make for family - I thought that would be nice for them too. I made candy for the first time ever - and it was so easy - I loved it - so I think next time I'm going to experiment with flavors and see what happens. This time it was just sugar candy, but it was good... the fudge on the other hand - oh boy - the first batch didn't set at all - the second batch - well, it was crunchy - like gritty type of crunchy - because the sugar didn't melt I guess - I don't know - I'm done with fudge - it's not really my forte... so I made reg. chex mix and then the puppy chow chex mix which is just reg. chex mix coated with cho. and then powdered sugar - yummy!! and I made cookies and bread, and Firehouse crackers - which everyone loved. So everyone in the office is happy, all the teachers are happy, and I am too!!
it was so funny today, Sarah - who is 2 - she loves to sing, and this morning we were listening to Christmas carols on the radio - and the First Noel was playing - she was singing along with it - Noel Noel Noel Noel - but it came out - no way, no way, no way, no way - It was too cute!!

2008-12-17T14:17:00.000-08:00

Okay - so this is SO new to me - I always read others blogs, but never write - oh sometimes I respond to the ones on MSN or whatever - does that count??
So, anyway - Christmas is almost here, and we're busy shopping for everyone - We have the big boys Christmas done - now we're working on the youngest 3...
Still working on getting rid of the beloved "pabi" - it's more of a security blanket (scream)
She is so emotionally attached to the thing it tears my heart out to tell her no and then if we take it away it breaks her heart, and the crying never ends.... With her full set of teeth she tears them up like crazy, and she only takes the expensive ones of course - they are $2 a pc - and she tears them up at the rate of about 2 per week... Crazy...
And potty training is definitely another language, just like Pampers says... Dewayne told me we were going to have to set a deadline for her be trained and stick with it - he also said that in one week (while I was in Vegas) that he would have her off the pabi too - but guess what??