I Brought You In...

WHAT THE!!!!

2010-02-25T09:20:00.000-08:00

Can anyone tell my why? Why is it that doctor offices seem so incompetent! We had an ultrasound done for Little M last week and we were supposed to have an appointment with the urologist today. Yes, I said "supposed to"! Yesterday was Little M's sixth birthday and I was out getting his cake for a little family celebration (his party is on Saturday). Next thing I know, my cell rings, at 5:00 pm. Who is it, you ask? The friggin' urologist's office. Now, mind you, they had already called in the morning to confirm the appointment and told me to bring the films with me. I spent all afternoon yesterday while the chitlins were at school, reviewing the films, gathering information to ask my questions, and such. But, I digress. Being in Walmart, the reception can be a little iffy, so as I tried to answer the phone, it cut off and the call went to voicemail. I immediately checked my voicemail and was "informed" that our referral had expired and I needed to call them back to reschedule the appointment.

I immediately called the urologist's office back and lo and behold, the answering service picked up. (Yeah, that's what you get for calling to cancel with a parent at the close of business day! Friggin' answering service!) Needless to say, I told the service that someone from the office just called me and the service needed to patch me through to the office. I must admit that the transfer went fairly smoothly because within seconds, I was speaking with the same person that had left the message.

The conversation went something like this:

Office: Hi, we were calling to cancel the appointment because M's referral expired.

Me: What?! What are the dates on the referral?

Office: Uhm, August 21 through 27 of last year.

Me: Oh, ok, now, tell me...why is it that we saw the doctor in November if the referral was expired? Further, why, when the office called to confirm at 9:30 this morning wasn't I told about this so that I could do something about it? Oh, yeah, and why didn't someone tell me at our last appointment that the referral was expired so that I could take care of it? Or how about explaining why this wasn't brought to my attention when I made the appointment two months ago? I have done this long enough to know that when a referral expires, it is the doctor office's responsibility to contact the case manager to get the referral renewed, so who didn't do their job?

Office: Uhm, I don't know. The person who called to confirm didn't know the referral was expired. It takes five to ten business days to get the referral from your insurance company, so we need to reschedule.

Me: You know! I AM FED UP WITH INCOMPETENT OFFICE STAFF! You have no idea how this week has been for me in regard to doctors and all you can say is "Sorry, you need to reschedule"??? What about the health of my child? You people are driving me nuts!!!!!!

Office: Would you like me to have the office manager call you tomorrow morning?

Me: She's not there? Then, absolutely! I would like for her to call me the minute she walks in the door. As soon as she puts her belongings down and sits at her desk to begin her day, it should begin with a call to me! I mean, really, she needs to contact me immediately, because this is completely unacceptable!

Office: Well, I come in at 8:00 am and I will make sure that she calls you the minute she walks in.

Me: Fine. I'll be expecting a call from her at 8:00 am.

Office: Ok, what is your cell phone number?

Me: (Thought, duh, you just called me two minutes ago.... on my cell phone.... friggin' idiot!) It's blah, blah, blah.

Office: I'll make sure she calls you.

Me: Sure. (Insert attitude and skepticism.)

First thing this morning, I got on the phone with the case manager and told her what was going on. She empathized with me and told me she was going to call the office and get it resolved. I also asked the case manager to double check the referral with the nephrologist since that appointment is coming up and is twice as important as the urologist, given what I saw in the films.

Now, the question I'm sure you are asking is "Did the office manager call this morning?" My answer is a resounding NO! I didn't even call my case manager until 8:30 am and here it is, almost 10 am and STILL no call from the urologist's office manager. Surprise, surprise!

Frustrated does not even begin to express the emotions that I am feeling at the moment! I mean really, how are we supposed to trust these doctors if they don't employ competent staff????

My final words for now are "Watch out!" These offices have NO IDEA what kind of bulldog mother I am. When it comes to getting proper care for my children, I make my voice heard, loud and clear, without reservation, in order to get the best for my children. If they don't remember me because of how many patients they have, they will soon fear the thought of me if things are not handled properly. My words can be sharp daggers and I WILL advocate for my children. In all the years of battling with doctors, the one thing I've learned is that creating waves in an office and standing up for my child will gain the respect of the doctors that live up to the hippocratic oath. The staff may rue the day they I walked in their office, but my child WILL be taken care of.

Stefanie

Live...life IS special

2009-10-04T20:36:00.000-07:00

If you've read any of my blog, you know that I love inspirational stuff. I got this email from my mother which I opened today and wanted to share it with all of you. I'm learning everyday how not to wait for the perfect time and to live in the moment. Not knowing if my youngest will live to see adulthood is my reality and we don't "wait" to live...

A friend of mine opened his wife's underwear drawer and picked up a silk paper wrapped package:

'This, - he said - isn't any ordinary package.'

He unwrapped the box and stared at both the silk paper and the box.

'She got this the first time we went to New York, 8 or 9 years ago. She has never put it on , was saving it for a special occasion.

Well, I guess this is it.

He got near the bed and placed the gift box next to the other clothing he was taking to the funeral house, his wife had just died.

He turned to me and said:

'Never save something for a special occasion.

Every day in your life is a special occasion'.

I still think those words changed my life.

Now I read more and clean less.

I sit on the porch without worrying about anything.

I spend more time with my family, and less at work.

I understood that life should be a source of experience to be lived up to, not survived through.

I no longer keep anything.

I use crystal glasses every day...

I'll wear new clothes to go to the supermarket, if I feel like it.

I don't save my special perfume for special occasions, I use it whenever I want to.

The words 'Someday...' and ' One Day...' are fading away from my dictionary.

If it's worth seeing, listening or doing, I want to see, listen or do it now...

I don't know what my friend's wife would have done if she knew she wouldn't be there the next morning, this nobody can tell.

I think she might have called her relatives and closest friends.
She might call old friends to make peace over past quarrels.

I'd like to think she would go out for Chinese, her favorite food.

It's these small things that I would regret not doing, if I knew my time had come.

Each day, each hour, each minute, is special.

Live for today, for tomorrow is promised to no-one.

Stefanie

So much to say....yet not much to tell...

2009-10-04T20:15:00.000-07:00

Ok, so, we went to the nephrologist and had a kidney scan done. It was not a pretty sight. Luckily, this time Little M was sedated. Last time was a nightmare. I don't mean any 'ole nightmare...I mean heartbreaking, soul crushing, yelling, screaming and crying kind of nightmare.

After he was sedated, which the medicine they used the nurse's call "milk." It is a white medicine that is supposed to make you drowsy and fall asleep, but can be easily woken up. Not only that, but it is supposed to help you forget about what happens, in other words, him being cath'ed again. Well, it took the child 5 doses of the stuff to knock him out. The nurse's and tech's were amazed at how much it took.

Finally, he was out and I watched the nurse like a hawk as she cath'ed him to make sure it was being done in a sterile fashion. Last time, we ended up in the hospital for 5 days with a life-threatening kidney infection from a non-sterile cath. Even with all the sedative in him, he still squirmed and winced when they put a cath in him.

After all was said and done and he was out and cath'ed, my eyes were glued to the screen, watching as the lasix went into his kidney as I sat right next to him, holding his foot. I watched as the lasix went into his kidney and then down through the tube that connects the kidney to the bladder (ureter). At one point, the nurses/techs said "Oh, it's going into his bladder now." I said, "Nope, not yet." Sure enough, sadly I was right... His ureter filled and finally the contrast went into his bladder. His ureter was so big and with this only kidney he had, let me just say, it wasn't very good.

I waited a week for the doctors to call me to find out what the next step would be. I got a call back from the urologist pretty quickly (same day!) and he said that Little M's ureter wasn't so good. The doctor wants to be on the conservative side because another surgery having to do with the ureter could make things worse instead of better. Little M's ureter is like a balloon full of water with a little tiny leak. The balloon tries to empty through this little leak but stays full because the hole doesn't get any bigger. The urologist is afraid that if he makes the little hole any bigger than it could lead to urine refluxing (going back up) in to the kidney.

The urologist suggested a test that will show Little M's true kidney function, but the nephrologist has to order it. So far, even though I absolutely love Little M's nephrologist, still no call back from him. I will be following up with him this week though.

The plan was to have the catheter out before Little M woke up, but that didn't happen. He woke up just a little bit too early and the nurse took it out while he was awake. Not a pretty sight. Like I said before, the medicine was supposed to make Little M forget what had happened....well, not my little one!

Later, after he was coming out and we had gotten home, I asked him what he remembered and he told me just about everything that had happened. I was in shock. Luckily, I keep meds on hand for painful urination and he took the meds pretty well. Probably because he is getting older and can understand a little more.

So....that's what has happened so far. The plan? Once I get a hold of the nephrologist, we will get the test ordered. After we get the results of the test, we will then test Little M about 3 months later and see if the numbers change. If the numbers change, then we will decide what to do after that. Options are limited and it looks as if he is headed for dialysis within the next 10 years (if we're lucky, otherwise, sooner).

For now, it's the hurry up and wait game.... this game SUCKS!

Stefanie

Watch the time

2009-09-25T22:46:00.000-07:00

I've been having some issues from my teenager about him checking in on time. His excuse??? He doesn't have a watch. Oh, yes, he has a cell phone, however for some strange reason, the clock on his cell is somehow forgotten about.

Then I was introduced to a site called Blue Dial. It has so many watches that are "in style" at extreme discounts! Click here to view a bunch of their casio G-shock watches.

Personally, I think my son could use this one:

It has a leather strap and also has an ALARM!!! Yes, just what he needs so that he can check in on time. Hmmmmm.... Christmas is coming....maybe if he's good, he'll get one.

Are all teenagers so picky and sassy? If I ever spoke to my parents the way he speaks to me sometimes, I would have gotten grounded our back-handed! I must admit, it is partly my fault...I take partial blame, but he is 17 now and he needs to learn responsibility. That includes checking in on time! Without lip! It's always: "Mom, why do I have to check in every hour and a half??? My friends don't have to check in at all..." I tell him that I am an involved parent and until he turns 18 and moves out on his own, he is to follow the house rules; which includes checking in on time.

I think he wants out of the house because it hurts him to deal with his youngest brother's syndrome, even though Little M looks "normal," the Big T knows that Little M is sick. I also think it has a lot to do with the fact that he is a teenager. It is what I call the "Me, Me, I Syndrome." He always tells me: "I am the son (sun), so you should revolve around me." How arrogant is that?? As if I didn't have enough to deal with already.

I digress, the short of it, Big T needs a watch to tell time so he knows when he needs to check in! I'll be shopping around for Christmas...if, and that's a BIG if, he behaves.

Stefanie

Just for this...

2009-09-14T01:40:00.000-07:00

I just do not have the words for how I am feeling about the new developments with my Little Meryck. Then I received this email from my beautiful niece and it has touched me in a way I can't begin to explain. I hope it touches you the same way it touched me. Thanks Bean! I ♥ you!

*Just for this morning, I am going to step over the laundry, and pick you up and take you to the park to play.

*Just for this morning, I will leave the dishes in the sink, and let you teach me how to put that puzzle of yours together.

*Just for this afternoon, I will unplug the telephone and keep the computer off, and sit with you in the backyard and blow bubbles.

*Just for this afternoon, I will not yell once, not even a tiny grumble when you scream and whine for the ice cream truck and I will buy you one if he comes by.

*Just for this afternoon, I won't worry about what you are going to be when you grow up, or second guess every decision I have made where you are concerned.

*Just for this afternoon, I will let you help me bake cookies, and I won't stand over you trying to fix them.

*Just for this afternoon, I will take us to McDonald's and buy us both a Happy Meal so you can have both toys.

*Just for this evening, I will hold you in my arms and tell you a story about how you were born and how much I love you.

*Just for this evening, I will let you splash in the tub and not get angry.

*Just for this evening, I will let you stay up late while we sit on the porch and count all the stars.

*Just for this evening, I will snuggle beside you for hours, and miss my favorite TV shows.

*Just for this evening when I run my finger through your hair as you pray, I will simply be grateful that God has given me the greatest gift ever given.

*I will think about the mothers And fathers who are searching for their missing children, the mothers and fathers who are visiting their children's graves instead of their bedrooms, and mothers and fathers who are in hospital rooms watching their children suffer senselessly, and screaming inside that they can't handle it anymore.

*And when I kiss you good night I will hold you a little tighter, a little longer. It is then, that I will thank God for you, and ask Him for nothing, except one more day!

Stefanie

When will I wake up from this....

2009-08-31T22:06:00.000-07:00

Saturday before last, I went to the ER and I was told I had a "complex migraine," severe dehydration (still not used to Vegas heat, but carry water with me all the time now), and a severe flair up of my fibro. I was feeling a little funny on Friday afternoon, but I still pushed myself to go to work. As I was tripping over myself at work, even my co-workers noticed that I wasn't well. But still, I pushed forward. Saturday came and I couldn't even get up off the couch, my depth perception in my vision was off. I felt like I had one hand over an eye when I was trying to look at something, yet I had both my eyes open. Not only that, but my equilibrium was off. I had my son release my shift online (because we had online scheduling at Outback) saying that I was going to the emergency room. The hospital drugged me up and sent me home. The next day, I went to check too see what time I had to work, because yes, the glutton for punishment I am, I was going to go to work when I noticed that my schedule had been removed.

I sent an email to the bosses and told them what happened and that I had guessed that I was fired. The owner said that I could come back if I wanted. The other manager (who creates the schedules) wished me luck in whatever I decided to do. I wrote another email to the owner and told him some things that were going on with my schedule and didn't get an email back, so there went my job...Now I'm looking for a new job and have a wonderful prospect at Chili's, I just hope I get it.

As far as my little man, he neph said that it doesn't look that good and this Wednesday we are getting a kidney function test done to see exactly where the damage is. The thing I like about this neph is that this time they are going to sedate Little M! Yeah for that, but then I have to watch him for a couple of days afterwards since they need to cath him for that test. The time before last, when they cath'd him, I had to rush him to the hospital because he stopped peeing completely. That's when they put a cath to stay then he had surgery in his bladder and the docs put a tube coming out of his bladder it was collected in a urinary bag (suprapubic tube). That was a nightmare of a year!

It's so hard to keep thinking positively sometimes, but I force myself to. I do it, not for myself, but for my children.

We also had a fiasco the first day of Kindergarten with Little M because his pre-k teacher didn't let the K teacher know what is required for Meryck and I had to give her a crash course in it. However, what good did come out of it, was that I called the principal directly and told him what was going on. Next thing you know we had a 504 meeting planned within 2 days. What's even better is that we addressed both of my children and got both of them on a 504! See a silver lining in everything!

Things can get rough, but I will persevere! I will push forward, not matter how much pain I am in. I need to. My children (and now new puppies) are the driving force behind my persistence and determination....

Did I mention my desktop crashed??? Yeah, well, what can you do about that except get a new one. When that will be, who knows.

Stefanie

Not such good news....

2009-08-04T16:30:00.000-07:00

So, today we went for an ultrasound for Meryck's kidney and bladder. Let me give you a little insight as to what I saw...
Here is an ultrasound picture of his kidney in April of this year:

Here I have tried my best to recreate the new damage on his kidney from the ultrasound taken yesterday. (The ultrasound images from yesterday are on films instead of cd's like the one that was taken in April, so I doctored it as best I could to show the difference.)

We await the doctors visit next week for him to see what our next steps are going to be.....

Stefanie

Here we go again...

2009-08-02T23:57:00.000-07:00

Here I go again...feeling down. What's up with that?? I'm usually so upbeat and always a happy-go-lucky kind of gal. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that the school took the IEP off of Little K. That was a hard blow. He's so smart and although his autism is on the less severe side, it has taken a LOT (and I mean a lot) of work to get him where he is...will taking his IEP away slow down the progress?? They give him a donut to sit on and a band for his chair so he is comfortable (he has this thing about sitting on a hard floor, he just won't do it). They say they won't take it away, but without an IEP, how is the new teacher going to know he needs them, or how are they going to justify letting him have them. The good news about him is that they are going to suggest that he go in to a super advanced class for 3rd grade, but that's not until after next school year. He's so intelligent, it's almost sick. He is 3 points away from being considered a savant child (and I think he was just tired of testing when it was administered to him). His school counselor said she had never, in her 15 years of being a school counselor, worked with a child or known a child with an IQ as high as Little K's.

Maybe it also has to do with my little Meryck...an ultrasound is coming up on Tuesday and I am super nervous about it. The doctor's said that if his hydronephrosis stays the same or gets worse, then we may be looking at another surgery. He has these dark, yet red circles under his eyes, which also makes me very nervous because I know he doesn't have allergies. We are testing him for cancer. It's not uncommon in Prune Belly children, it's actually more prevalent. He's not drinking enough, even though I push fluids, he's not peeing enough, even though I constantly remind him too.

Then there's the teenager. I just don't know what to do with him...I love him so much, maybe a little too much... My DH says I'm too soft on him, but I know I'm not. I think he feels lost. We moved at the end of his Jr. year in high school, he doesn't have any real friends out here, he sits in his room all the time on the computer and I have to constantly remind him to do his chores. He's not eating well, I just feel in my bones something is up with him. This is the child I grew up with, the child that has taught me so much, my rock, my one constant. I want so badly for him to talk to me, and sometimes he does, but sometimes he shuts me out and it hurts. I know it is typical for teens to shut their parents out, I get that they think that parents' rules are lame, I remember being a teen myself, but I've always striven to be a better parent than my own parents. I want more for my children.

I know there are so many other parents out there that have special needs children that have much harder lives than mine. My heart goes out to all of them. I'm told all the time how strong I am, but really, am I? Many people tell me what a great mother I am, but why is it that I always feel like I could be better? Some people tell me they admire me, but why? Because I do what I have to do for my children and family? Wouldn't any other mother do the same? What is there to admire about that?

In trying to get out of this funk, I've decided to list a few things my kids have taught me and some things I am grateful for, so let's see what I can come up with...

1. My kids have taught me patience, and a lot of it. I used to pray for patience, but I don't do that anymore. Why you ask? Because every time I've prayed for patience, I get a lesson from God in patience. Now I ask for assistance in getting through a situation instead.

2. I have become a stronger woman. I stand up for my children and am their voice when they cannot be. I educate myself so that I know almost as much as the doctors so they cannot walk all over me or use my children. It is because of my children I am strong and it is for my children I am strong.

3. Perseverance. When I feel the options have run out, I am always looking to find more options even if I have to think "outside the box." I plow through the things that must be done, regardless of sleep, food intake, migraine, headache, loneliness...nothing matters but reaching the goal, whatever it may be for that day.

4. Humility. There are times when I need help, emotional, physical, mental...When I had my hysterectomy in 2005, I could not work for 3 months, my job laid me off and I had 3 kids to support by myself. Not to mention it was near Christmas. I went to churches for food for my children, had a now ex-friend move in with me so the children could be cared for (long story not worth getting into as to why she is an ex-friend). I made sure my children were cared for by just about any means I could.

5. Faith. Through this all so far, my faith is unwaivering. I do not ask "Why me?" I know why me...and this is why for any of us that have special needs children - You never will know true joy unless you know sorrow and you never know sorrow unless you know true joy. I know with all my heart that He will provide, no matter how hard times have been or will get. Hard times will not end for me, but I know He will be with me every step of the way.

6. Love. I love my children. My children love me. Just as my husband's job has to come first because he is military, so my children come first for me. They have to. Without their love, I would be lost. I am a mother, a true mother in all sense of the word. Being a mother is what I do best, what I am meant to be. Caring for my children is my life, sometimes to my own health's detriment.

7. I am grateful that God has loaned me my children. I pray every day that they will outlive me and they will grow up to be wonderful, caring men.

8. I am grateful my children picked me to be their mom. They must have known I would take good care of them, or God would've had them pick someone else.

9. I am grateful for a simple smile on my children's face.

10. I am grateful that Meryck hasn't had to have any surgeries in a little over a year.

11. I have learned to cherish every moment with my children. Not just because Meryck is sick, but also because I look at my teenager and wonder where the time went.

12. I have learned that it's the little things that make them happy. I took them to the store the other day to pick out a paint for their rooms and Little K picked the color for the little ones' rooms. It is a beautiful blue. I won't forget the smile on his face when I thanked him today for picking such a beautiful color.

13. Teaching an autistic child to tie his shoe is not an easy task.

14. I learned how to wash Little K's hair so it doesn't hurt his head (he is sensory sensitive and a basic wash bothers him).

15. I'm thankful I try to give my children as normal a life as possible. I do not use their special needs as a crutch, nor do I allow them to use it as a crutch either.

16. I've learned that being a mother involves a lot of teaching. Teaching how to take a shower without help, how to pick up a mess without making more of a mess, how to wash their faces properly, how to brush their teeth, how to look be optimistic.

17. I've learned how to speak a whole different English. I taught myself to speak positively, in other words, I don't ask them to stop unwanted behavior, I tell them to behave properly.

18. I've learned to practice what I preach. I use manners so my children will do the same naturally. I do not curse in front of the children because I don't want them to curse more as adults.

19. I've learned not to make promises unless I can deliver.

20. I've learned to point out more things my children do right instead of only seeing what they do wrong.

21. I've learned to look at the bright side of everything. There is always a silver lining, sometimes you just have to look harder than others.

I could continue, but I feel a little better and I really want to go spend some time with my teenager. I have a gut feeling he needs me, so I'm off. Thank you for anyone reading this rant of mine. My upset cannot shadow my children's needs...Things will get better....one day...

Stefanie

Quote of the day:

2009-08-01T09:45:00.000-07:00

"Whatever you give a woman, she will make greater. If you give her sperm, she'll give you a baby. If you give her a house, she'll give you a home. If you give her groceries, she'll give you a meal. If you give her a smile, she'll give you her heart. She multiplies and enlarges what is given to her. So, if you give her any crap, be ready to receive a ton of shit."

(I'm not sure who the author of this quote is...but it surely holds true in my household!)

Stefanie

Celebrate getting older...

2009-07-16T12:59:00.000-07:00

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written."

By Regina Brett...

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good..

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5.. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you..

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28.. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.....

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's,we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come.

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44.. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift..

Thanks Dad, it's always nice to be reminded! ♥ you!! xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Stefanie

Momfinitions! Language of a Mom...

2009-06-25T09:31:00.000-07:00

ParentsConnect.com has asked some of us blogging Mommies through a contest at Twitter Moms to share some of our Momifinitions by writing a post on our blogs with our funniest five Momfinitions including a description of their meanings. I thought this was a great idea since there are so many I have used over the years (with the oldest being 16), I knew I had some pretty great ones to share.

As a parent of 3 boys, my momfinition list could be pretty long. I have had 16 years of creating words and phrases that my children have learned and completely understand that are not in the dictionary. Please allow me to share few with you...

There are countless times when my children walk into the bathroom while I was using it. Why don't I lock the door you ask? Well, because I feel that if an emergency happens, perhaps I would be able to run out the door with my pants around my ankles...probably not such a good idea, but you never know what could happen, especially with my kids...hence how one of my best momifinitions came about -

Mushbeard [mush-beered] - a combination word of mustache and beard which describes what a woman's private parts look like. How it came about? One of my children walked in on me while I was pulling my pants up and said "Mommy, you have a mushbeard down there!" That is what we call my private parts now, although we do use proper terminology for boys because of my youngest's sons condition.

My middle child likes - no HAS to touch everything (it's his autism), and it can get pretty frustrating when he is near me picking up the stapler, eye-balling my ever-growing paper pile, opening the drawers on the office supply organizers we have, he just wants to touch everything; and so I began another momifinition -

Nachos [na-chose] - This term means that what you are touching is not yours and it's implication is to put it down immediately. As soon as one of my children begin to grab at something that does not belong to them, I simply tell them "Nachos" and they hand it over.

Here's another one I frequently use -

Nonya [non-yah] - I use this when my children ask me questions with answers that are none of their business...such as -

Child: "What are you and Daddy talking about?"

Me: "Nonya."

Child: "What are you eating? (As I'm eating some chocolate which I don't often let them have, yet is my weakness.)

Me: "Nonya."

Have you ever been so flustered by your kids (for those that have more than one) that for some odd reason, you can't remember their name? This is, in my opinion, a momifinition that has been around for centuries, yet still used by many, many mothers -

Watsurname [wats-yor-name] - When a child is doing (or not doing) something that was told, it is an attention grabber in conjunction with a mixture of all your children's names. In my house, it is frequently used as "KyTimMer....watsurname....blonde headed child?" I add in the color of hair so that the child I am speaking to knows it is their attention I want.

The last one I will share with you is the one that is used in our home on a daily, sometimes hourly, basis -

Elephantitis-of-the-feet [ele-fant-ti-tus of the feet] - This is a condition my teenager has when he is coming down the stairs. Momifinition - heavy-footed steps that echo through the house when tromping anywhere.

Child - [tromp, tromp, tromp, tromp}

Me- "As usual, you have a case of elephantitis of the feet, please walk softer next time."

I'm even going to throw in an extra one that I have used for 16 years -

Buttwipes [but-wipes] - These are diaper wipes used for many different things. It originated with the use of wiping butts, but later evolved into an all-inclusive wipe including hands, faces, feet, ice cream on shirts, the list could go on.

Child - "Mom, I'm done going poopies!!"

Me - "Where are the buttwipes?"

Child - "My hands are all sticky!"

Me - "Well, go get the buttwipes."

They are great for travel with kids of all ages, especially long trips!

I hope you all enjoyed my Momifinitions! Now comment away on what you think of them, are they known to you and what some of your are!

Stefanie

Co-owner of Mom's Most Wanted

Meryck and his cute self

2009-06-19T12:38:00.000-07:00

Stefanie

How strong do I have to be.

2009-06-18T21:54:00.000-07:00

So, I don't know what's up with me today. I'm feeling pretty blue. I shouldn't be, my kids are fairly healthy, my husband is great, work is good...what more could I ask for.

However, I keep thinking about my little Meryck. His kidney isn't doing so well. You'd never know by looking at him that he is and has been sick. It's a strange feeling when you look at your child and miss him. I don't know how else to explain it. I feel like I want to spend every waking moment with him. I don't mean it in a way to neglect my other children, but I feel like Meryck needs me. The teenager doesn't really need me (well, not as much) - I am here for him. Kyle needs me too, but differently. Kyle being autistic isn't the most lovey type of child. I will admit that he loves on me - and only me - he misses me when I'm gone - he doesn't like when I go to work, but overall, he is pretty independent when I'm home. Meryck, on the other hand is not. He is always by my side. It doesn't matter what I'm doing - cleaning, on the computer, watching TV, whatever - he wants, no it's like he needs to be by my side.

I look into his little eyes and see such an old soul. I wish everyday that I could fix him and his medical issues. I look at him and know all the things he has gone through and also know that there will be so much more that he will have to go through. My heart breaks and aches for him. I fully realize that my children are on loan to me - I don't "own" them...but Meryck...he's so...loving. My eyes well up with tears just thinking about him. Unless you have a child with Prune Belly Syndrome and Chronic Kidney Disease or a chronic, life-threatening illness, you won't know what I'm talking about.

My heart is filled with fear because of the knowledge I have that I may not see my baby grow up. I could very well lose him. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy every day I have with him. I give him as normal a life as I can. I play with him. I love on him. I cherish him. I cherish all my children. It just so happens that Meryck is the baby, my last baby, my cuddle-bug, my cling-on...

I don't use the word "hate" much because it is such a strong word, but I hate that he has only one kidney and it is going bad. I hate that he has to get blood drawn every 2 months. I hate that he has had several surgeries. I hate that he has to have tons of testing done on him. I hate that I might lose him!

I don't like being blue. Usually, I will hold it inside until it goes away or just ignore it and keep living, but I just can't shake it today. My baby, my sweet love...

If anyone reads this, please pray for Meryck. Please pray that he live a long and happy life.

I've lived through some pretty horrific things, but how strong do I have to be...

Stefanie

Win a blog revamp!

2009-06-07T15:07:00.000-07:00

I found this awesome site designer over at Gisele Jaquenod & Birdie and she has such fresh ideas for blog makeovers and web design creations!

Check out some of her work here:

She is awesome enough to offer a blog revamp! You can enter for your chance to win here.

As you know, I am co-owner of Mom's Most Wanted and my partner and I have been throwing around the idea of revamping our blog, make it a little brighter and cheerier, so when we saw this giveaway, we decided we had to enter it! We think that Gisele would do an awesome job revamping Mom's Most Wanted.

Thanks Gisele for offering this GREAT prize! Here's hoping with my fingers crossed!

Stefanie

I want this too!

2009-06-05T14:55:00.000-07:00

Bring Nature to your backyard… win a Nature Station Playhouse ($249.99) at Momma's Review and Ordinary Life!

I would love to win this! I adore Step 2! Their products are so well built and are extremely functional for kids! Head on over to Momma's Review and Ordinary Life for your chance to win! Good luck!

Stefanie

Now, this is love!

2009-06-04T23:57:00.000-07:00

I've always loved this story and thought I'd share it with you...

A Newborn's Conversation with God

A baby asked God, "They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow,
but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?"

God said, "Your angel will be waiting for you and will take care of you."

The child further inquired, "But tell me, here in heaven I don't have
to do anything but sing and smile to be happy."

God said, "Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you.
And you will feel your angel's love and be very happy."

Again the small child asked, "And how am I going to be able to understand
when people talk to me if I don't know the language?"

God said, "Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words
you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will
teach you how to speak."

"And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?"

God said, "Your angel will place your hands together and will teach
you how to pray."

"Who will protect me?"

God said, "Your angel will defend you even if it means risking its life."

"But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore."

God said, "Your angel will always talk to you about Me and will teach
you the way to come back to Me, even though I will always be next to you."

At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from Earth
could be heard and the child hurriedly asked, "God, if I am to leave
now, please tell me my angel's name."

God said, You will simply call her, "Mom."

Stefanie

Wordless Wednesday

2009-06-03T07:36:00.001-07:00

Proud of my husband...
Stefanie

Jokes that can be told in church...

2009-05-31T23:58:00.000-07:00

Attending a wedding for the first time, a little girl
whispered to her mother, 'Why is the bride dressed in
white?'' The mother replied, 'Because white is the color
of happiness, and today is the happiest day of her
life.' The child thought about this for a moment then said,

'So why is the groom wearing black?'

~~~~~~~~~~~~

A little girl, dressed in her Sunday best, was running
as fast as she could, trying not to be late for Bible
class.
As she ran she prayed, 'Dear Lord, please don't let me
be late! Dear Lord, please don't let me be late!'
While she was running and praying, she tripped on a curb
and fell, getting her clothes dirty and tearing her
dress. She got up, brushed herself off, and started
running again! As she ran she once again began to pray,
'Dear Lord, please don't let me be late...but please
don't shove me either!'

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Three boys are in the school yard bragging about their
fathers. The first boy says, 'My Dad scribbles a few
words on a piece of paper, he calls it a poem, they give
him $50..'
The second boy says, 'That's nothing. My Dad scribbles a
few words on piece of paper, he calls it a song, they
give him $100.'
The third boy says, 'I got you both beat. My Dad
scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he calls it a
sermon, and it takes eight people to collect all the
money!'

~~~~~~~~~~~~

An elderly woman died last month. Having never married ,
she requested no male pallbearers. In her handwritten
instructions for her memorial service, she wrote, 'They
wouldn't take me out while I was alive, I don't want
them to take me out when I'm dead.'

~~~~~~~~~~~~

A police recruit was asked during the exam, 'What would
you do if you had to arrest your own mother?' He
answered, 'Call for backup.'

~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Sunday School teacher asked her class why Joseph and
Mary took Jesus with them to Jerusalem .. A small child
replied, 'They couldn't get a baby-sitter.'

~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten
Commandments with her five and six year olds. After
explaining the commandment to 'Honor thy father and thy
mother,' she asked, 'Is there a commandment that teaches
us how to treat our brothers and sisters?' Without
missing a beat, one little boy answered, 'Thou shall not
kill.'

~~~~~~~~~~~~

At Sunday School they were teaching how God created
everything, including human beings. Little Johnny seemed
especially intent when they told him how Eve was created
out of one of Adam's ribs.
Later in the week his mother noticed him lying down as
though he were ill, and she said, 'Johnny, what is the
matter?' Little Johnny responded, 'I have pain in my
side. I think I'm going to have a wife..'

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Two boys were walking home from Sunday school after
hearing a strong preaching on the devil. One said to the
other, 'What do you think about all this Satan stuff?'
The other boy replied, 'Well, you know how Santa Claus
turned out. It's probably just your Dad.'

~~~~~~~~~~~~

You don't stop laughing because you grow old. You grow
old because you stop laughing! I thought you would
enjoy this....times are tough right now.....for all of
us...so we need something to make the day a happy place.
"They" haven't found a way to tax you for laughing yet.

Stefanie

What Religion is Your Bra?

2009-05-28T01:00:00.000-07:00

A man walked into the ladies department of a Macy's

and shyly walked up to

the woman behind the counter and said,

'I'd like to buy a bra for my wife. '

' What type of bra?'

asked the clerk.

'Type?' inquires the man, 'There's more than one type?'
' Look around,'

said the saleslady,

as she showed a sea of bras in every shape, size, colour

and material imaginable.

'Actually, even with all of this variety, there are really only four types of bras to choose from .'

Relieved, the man asked

about the types.

The saleslady replied:

'There are the Catholic,

the Salvation Army,

the Presbyterian,

and the Baptist types.

Which one would you prefer?'

Now totally befuddled,

the man asked about

the differences between them.

The Saleslady responded,

'It is all really quite simple. ...

The Catholic type supports the masses;

The Salvation Army type lifts the fallen;

The Presbyterian type keeps them staunch and upright;

The Baptist type makes mountains out of molehills.'

Have you ever wondered why A, B, C, D, DD, E, F, G, and H are the letters used

to define bra sizes?

If you have wondered why,

but couldn't figure out

what the letters stood for,

it is about time

you became informed!

(A} Almost Boobs...
{B} Barely there...
{C} Can't Complain!....
{D} Dang!....
{DD} Double dang!...
{E} Enormous!...
{F} Fake...
{G} Get a Reduction...
{H} Help me, I've fallen

and I can't get up!...

They forgot the German bra.

Holtzemfromfloppen

Ok, ladies, time to get a breast exam or your mamograms! Take care of them!

Stefanie

Matthew 10:32

2009-05-27T01:00:00.000-07:00

No one
falls in love by choice, it is by CHANCE.

No one
stays in love by chance, it is by WORK.

And no
one falls out of love by chance, it is by CHOICE

Matthew 10:32...

'Whoever acknowledges Me before men, I will acknowledge him before My

Father in heaven. But whoever disowns Me before men, I will disown him

before My Father in heaven.'

Stefanie

Here's some all natural advice!

2009-05-26T01:00:00.000-07:00

Here are some natural remedies that seem much better than spending an arm and a leg on medicine for. Thanks Mom! Go Green!

Eliminate ear mites ... All it takes is a few drops of Wes son Corn Oil in your cat's or dog's ear, massage it in, then clean with a cotton ball. Repeat daily for 3 days. The oil soothes the cat's skin, smothers the mites and accelerates healing.

Kill fleas instantly ... Dawn Dishwashing Liquid does the trick. Add a few drops to your dog's bath and shampoo the animal thoroughly. Rinse well to avoid skin irritations. Good-bye fleas.

Rainy day cure for dog odor ... Next time your dog comes in from the rain, simply wipe down the animal with Bounce or any dryer sheet, instantly making your dog smell springtime fresh.

Did you know that drinking two glasses of Gatorade can relieve headache pain almost immediately - without the unpleasant side effects caused by traditional pain relievers?

Did you know that Colgate Toothpaste makes an excellent salve for burns?

Before you head to the drugstore for a high-priced inhaler filled with mysterious chemicals, try chewing on a couple of curiously strong Altoids peppermints. They'll clear up your stuffed nose.

Achy muscles from a bout of the flu? Mix 1 tablespoon horseradish in 1 cup of olive oil. Let the mixture sit for 30 minutes, then apply it as amassage oil for instant relief for aching muscles.

Sore throat? Just mix 1/4 cup of vinegar with 1/4 cup of honey and take 1 tablespoon six times a day. The vinegar kills the bacteria.

Cure urinary tract infections with Alka-Seltzer. Just dissolve two tablets in a glass of water and drink it at the onset of the symptoms. Alka-Seltzer begins eliminating urinary tract infections almost instantly - even though the product was never been advertised for this use.

Honey remedy for skin blemishes ... Cover the blemish with a dab of honey and place a Band-Aid over it. Honey kills the bacteria, keeps the skin sterile and speeds healing. Works overnight.

Listerine therapy for toenail fungus ... Get rid of unsightly toenail fungus by soaking your toes in Listerine Mouthwash. The powerful antiseptic leaves your toenails looking healthy again.

Easy eyeglass protection ... To prevent the screws in eyeglasses from loosening, apply a small drop of Maybelline Crystal Clear Nail Polish to the threads of the screws before tightening them.

Cleaning liquid that doubles as bug killer ... If menacing bees, wasps, hornets, or yellow jackets get in your home and you can't find the insecticide, try a spray of Formula 409. Insects drop to the ground instantly.

Smart splinter remover ... Just pour a drop of Elmer's Glue-All over the splinter, let dry and peel the dried glue off the skin. The splinter sticks to the dried glue.

Hunt's Tomato Paste boil cure ... Cover the boil with Hunt's Tomato Paste as a compress. The acids from the tomatoes soothe the pain and bring the boil to a head.

Balm for broken blisters ... To disinfect a broken blister, dab on a few drops of Listerine, a powerful antiseptic.

Vinegar to heal bruises ... Soak a cotton ball in white vinegar and apply it to the bruise for 1 hour. The vinegar reduces the blueness and speeds up the healing process.

Quaker Oats for fast pain relief ... It's not for breakfast anymore! Mix 2 cups of Quaker Oats and 1 cup of water in a bowl and warm in the microwave for 1 minute, cool slightly and apply the mixture to your hands for soothing relief from arthritis pain.

Stefanie

Remember!

2009-05-25T01:00:00.000-07:00

Stefanie

Wordful Wednesday

2009-05-20T12:52:00.000-07:00

Grandma's Hands - author unknown

"Grandma, some ninety plus years, sat feebly on the patio bench. She didn't move, just sat with her head down staring at her hands.

When I sat down beside her she didn't acknowledge my presence and the longer I sat I wondered if she was OK.

Finally, not really wanting to disturb her but wanting to check on her at the same time, I asked her if she was OK. She raised her head and looked at me and smiled. "Yes, I'm fine, thank you for asking," she said in a voice clear and strong.

"I didn't mean to disturb you, grandma, but you were just sitting here staring at your hands and I wanted to make sure you were OK," I explained to her.

"Have you ever looked at your hands," she asked. "I mean really looked at your hands?"

I slowly opened my hands and stared down at them. I turned them over, palms up and then palms down. No, I guess I had never really looked at my hands I thought, as I tried to figure out the point she was making.

Grandma smiled and related this story:

"Stop and think for a moment about the hands you have, how they have served you well throughout your years. These hands, though wrinkled shriveled and weak have been the tools I have used all my life to reach out and grab and embrace life.

They braced and caught my fall when as a toddler I crashed upon the floor. They put food in my mouth and clothes on my back. As a child, my mother taught me to fold them in prayer. They tied my shoes and pulled on my boots. They held my husband and wiped my tears when he went off to war.

They have been dirty, scraped and raw, swollen and bent. They were uneasy and clumsy when I tried to hold my newborn son. Decorated with my wedding band they showed the world that I was married and loved someone special.

They wrote my letters to him and trembled and shook when I buried my parents and my spouse. They have held my children and grandchildren, consoled neighbors, and shook in fists of anger when I didn't understand.

They have covered my face, combed my hair, and washed and cleansed the rest of my body. They have been sticky and wet, bent and broken, dried and raw. And to this day, when not much of anything else of me works real well, these hands hold me up, lay me down, and again continue to fold in prayer.

These hands are the mark of where I've been and the ruggedness of life. But more importantly, it will be these hands that God will reach out and take when He leads me home. And with my hands He will lift me to His side and there I will use these hands to touch the face of Christ."

I will never look at my hands the same again. But I remember God reached out and took my grandma's hands and led her home.

When my hands are hurt or sore, or when I stroke the face of my children or husband I think of grandma. I know she has been stroked and caressed and held by the hands of God. I, too, want to touch the face of God and feel His hands upon my face.

I sure do miss your hands Abuela!

Stefanie

Hazlenut tree

2009-05-19T09:08:00.000-07:00

My mother sent me this email and I thought it was pretty cool, so I decided to share it with you all! Enjoy the fun!

WHAT TREE DID YOU FALL FROM?

Find your birthday and then find your tree. This is cool and pretty accurate.

Find your tree below and see what you are like ...

Dec 23 to Jan 01	Apple Tree
Jan 01 to Jan 11	Fir Tree
Jan 12 to Jan 24	Elm Tree
Jan 25 to Feb 03	Cypress Tree
Feb 04 to Feb 08	Poplar Tree
Feb 09 to Feb 18	Cedar Tree
Feb 19 to Feb 28	Pine Tree
Mar 01 to Mar 10	Weeping Willow Tree
Mar 11 to Mar 20	Lime Tree
Mar 21 (only)	Oak Tree
Mar 22 to Mar 31	Hazelnut Tree
Apr 01 to Apr 10	Rowan Tree
Apr 11 to Apr 20	Maple Tree
Apr 21 to Apr 30	Walnut Tree
May 01 to May 14	Poplar Tree
May 15 to May 24	Chestnut Tree
May 25 to Jun 03	Ash Tree
Jun 04 to Jun 13	Hornbeam Tree
Jun 14 to Jun 23	Fig Tree
Jun 24 (only)	Birch Tree
Jun 25 to Jul 04	Apple Tree
Jul 05 to Jul 14	Fir Tree
Jul 15 to Jul 25	Elm Tree
Jul 26 to Aug 04	Cypress Tree
Aug 05 to Aug 13	Poplar Tree
Aug 14 to Aug 23	Cedar Tree
Aug 24 to Sep 01	Pine Tree
Sep 02 to Sep 12	Weeping Willow Tree
Sep 13 to Sep 22	Lime Tree
Sep 23 (only)	Olive Tree
Sep 24 to Oct 03	Hazelnut Tree
Oct 04 to Oct 13	Rowan Tree
Oct 14 to Oct 23	Maple Tree
Oct 24 to Nov 11	Walnut Tree
Nov 12 to Nov 21	Chestnut Tree
Nov 22 to Dec 01	Ash Tree
Dec 02 to Dec 11	Hornbeam Tree
Dec 12 to Dec 21	Fig Tree
Dec 22 (only)	Beech Tree

TREES (in alphabetical order)

Apple Tree (Love) -- quiet and shy at times, lots of charm, appeal, And attraction, pleasant attitude, flirtatious smile, adventurous, sensitive, loyal in love, wants to love and be loved, faithful and tender partner, very generous, many talents, loves children, needs affectionate partner.

Ash Tree (Ambition) -- extremely attractive, vivacious, impulsive, demanding, does not care for criticism, ambitious, intelligent, talented, likes to play with fate, can be very egotistic, reliable, restless lover, sometimes money rules over the heart, demands attention, needs love and much emotional support.

Beech Tree (Creative) -- has good taste, concerned about its looks, materialistic, good organization of life and career, economical, good leader, takes no unnecessary risks, reasonable, splendid lifetime companion, keen on keeping fit (diets, sports, etc.).

Birch Tree (Inspiration) -- vivacious, attractive, elegant, friendly, unpretentious, modest, does not like anything in excess, abhors the vulgar, loves life in nature and in calm, not very passionate, full of imagination, little ambition, creates a calm and content atmosphere.

Cedar Tree (Confidence ) -- of rare strength, knows how to adapt, Likes unexpected presents, of good health, not in the least shy, tends to look down on others, self-confident, a great speaker, determined, often impatient, likes to impress others, has many talents, industrious, healthy optimism, waits for the one true love, able to make quick decisions.

Chestnut Tree (Honesty) -- of unusual stature, impressive, well-developed sense of justice, fun to be around, a planner, born diplomat, can be irritated easily, sensitive of others feelings, hard worker, sometimes acts superior, feels not understood at times, fiercely family oriented, very loyal in love, physically fit.

Cypress Tree (Faithfulness) -- strong, muscular, adaptable, takes What life has to give but doesn't necessarily like it, strives to be content, optimistic, wants to be financially in dependent, wants love and affection, hates loneliness, passionate lover which cannot be satisfied, faithful, quick-tempered at times, can be unruly and careless, loves to gain knowledge, needs to be needed.

Elm Tree (Noble-mindedness ) -- pleasant shape, tasteful clothes, modest demands, tends not to forgive mistakes, cheerful, likes to lead but not to obey, honest and faithful partner, likes making decisions for others, noble-minded, generous, good sense of humor, practical.

Fig Tree (Sensibility ) -- very strong minded, a bit self-willed, honest, loyal, independent, hates contradiction or arguments, hard worker when wants to be, loves life and friends, enjoys children and animals, sexually oriented, great sense of humor, has artistic talent and great intelligence.

Fir tree (Mysterious ) -- extraordinary taste, handles stress well, loves anything beautiful, stubborn, tends to care for those close to them, hard to trust others, yet a social butterfly, likes idleness and laziness after long demanding hours at work, rather modest, talented, unselfish, many friends, very reliable.

Hazelnut Tree (Extraordinary ) -- charming, sense of humor, very demanding but can also be very understanding, knows how to make a lasting impression, active fighter for social causes and politics, popular, quite moody, sexually oriented, honest, a perfectionist, has a precise sense of judgment and expects complete fairness.

Hornbeam Tree (Good Taste) -- of cool beauty, cares for its looks and condition, good taste, is not egotistic, makes life as comfortable as possible, leads a reasonable and disciplined life, looks for kindness and acknowledgment in an emotional partner, dreams of the unusual, is seldom happy with its feelings, mistrusts most people, is never sure of its decisions, very conscientious.

Lime Tree (Doubt) - intelligent, hard working, accepts what life dishes out, but not before trying to change bad circumstances into good ones, hates fighting and stress, enjoys getaway vacations, may appear tough, but is actually soft and relenting, always willing to make sacrifices for family and friends, has many talents but not always enough time to use them, great leadership qualities, is jealous at times but extremely loyal.

Maple Tree (Independence of Mind ) -- no ordinary person, full of imagination and originality, shy and reserved, ambitious, proud, self-confident, hungers for new experiences, sometimes nervous, has many complexities, good memory, learns easily, complicated love life, wants to impress.

Oak Tree (Brave) -- robust nature, courageous, strong, unrelenting, independent, sensible, does not like change, keeps its feet on the ground, person of action.

Olive Tree (Wisdom) -- loves sun, warmth and kind feelings, reasonable, balanced, avoids aggression and violence, tolerant, cheerful, calm, well-developed sense of justice, sensitive, empathetic, free of jealousy, loves to read and the company of sophisticated people.

Pine Tree (Peacemaker) -- loves agreeable company, craves peace and harmony, loves to help others, active imagination, likes to write poetry, not fashion conscious, great compassion, friendly to all, falls strongly in love but will leave if betrayed or lied to, emotionally soft, low self-esteem, needs affection and reassurance.

Poplar Tree (Uncertainty) -- looks very decorative, talented, not very self-confident, extremely courageous if necessary, needs goodwill and pleasant surroundings, very choosy, often lonely, great animosity, great artistic nature, good organizer, tends to lean toward philosophy, reliable in any situation, takes partnership seriously.

Rowan Tree (Sensitivity) -- full of charm, cheerful, gifted without egoism, likes to draw attention, loves life, motion, un r est, and even complications, is both dependent and independent, good taste, artistic, passionate, emotional, good company, does not forgive.

Walnut Tree (Passion) -- unrelenting, strange and full of contrasts, sometimes egotistic, likes to get things done, noble, broad horizon, unexpected reactions, spontaneous, unlimited ambition, uncanny flexibility, unique and uncommon partner, often admired, ingenious strategist, occasionally jealous, very passionate, rarely likes to compromise, most optimistic view..

Weeping Willow (Melancholy) - likes to be stress free, loves family life, full of hopes and dreams, attractive, very empathetic, loves anything beautiful, musically inclined, loves to travel to exotic places, restless, capricious, honest, can be influenced but is not easy to live with when pressured, sometimes demanding, good intuition, suffers in love until they find that one loyal, steadfast partner; loves to make others laugh.

Stefanie

YEAH another chance to win!

2009-05-16T12:46:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I have been searching the blog-o-sphere for these contests so I can try to win one! I so need one! Three boys, a dog and a husband - whooo what messes I have to clean up. Since we've moved, we now have carpet in the whole house! We are not used to it yet and spills and accidents are now more prominent! So, I am trying my best to win one of these because times are pretty hard.

Here is what I - uh, I mean possibly you - no really what I would like to win:

Yes! It's a Bissell Little Green Clean Machine!

The contest is over at J. Leigh Designz

Ok, y'all, go on over and enter for your chance to win it! On second thought, just visit J. Leigh Designz and check out her blog!

Good luck everyone!

Stefanie

Look at us!

2009-05-09T19:30:00.000-07:00

On Mom's Most Wanted, we hosted a giveaway for a company called muvee. For that post, I created a "muvee"in a matter of minutes to give our readers a glance into what the program was capable of.

Well.......muvee decided that they wanted to use the video I made on their website! I am so honored. Here it is:

It is now over 800 views in about a week! You can see it on the site HERE!

Thanks muvee for such an honor!!!!

Stefanie

Check out this awesomeness!

2009-05-05T14:09:00.000-07:00

Yeah, well I figured since my fab site - Mom's Most Wanted - hosts such fab giveaways, I'd like to get in on some action! So, here is another fab giveaway I want to win!

Two of a kind, working on a full house: Reliable Steamboy T1 Steam Floor Mop Giveaway

So far this day has been absolutely fab! My oldest made A/B Honor Roll, I got picked for an elite insider club, any more happiness and I think I'll faint! In the meantime, let's hope this juju is still working because how I would love to have this!!!

Click on the link above for you chance to win!

Stefanie

Blog Design Giveaway on Once Upon a...Mommy's Quiet Time

2009-04-29T01:45:00.000-07:00

I've decided that this would be something nice to have for my personal blog. Not that I couldn't do it myself, I just don't have the time. Mom's Most Wanted keeps me very busy on the net with posts, maintenance etc. and my family keeps me busy at home. So if I won, I would be eternally grateful!

Mommy's Quiet Time is having a fabulous giveaway! Subjective Beauty is giving away a blog design!

After looking over Subjective Beauty's site, I saw that they do awesome blog designs! I would be honored to have them design my personal blog! I know you would too!

I like the Fire and Ice one she did, but it's a little dark for me. I really like The Harry Line one - simple, yet elegant!

So head on over for your chance to win, but deep down, I hope it is me that wins! Good luck and thanks Once Upon a Mommy's Quiet Time for hosting such a nice giveaway and thanks Subjective Beauty for sponsoring it!

Stefanie

Interview with the little people!

2009-04-28T12:05:00.001-07:00

Here is a video of "interviews" with the little people! Gotta love it!

I wish you enough...

2009-04-24T11:40:00.000-07:00

I got this email today, and even though I've read it before, I wanted to share it...

Recently I overheard a Father and daughter in their last moments together at the airport. They had announced the departure.

Standing near the security gate, they hugged and the Father said, 'I love you, and I wish you enough.'

The daughter replied, 'Dad, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Dad.'

They kissed and the daughter left. The Father walked over to the window where I was seated. Standing there I could see he wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on his privacy, but he welcomed me in by asking, 'Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?'

'Yes, I have,' I replied. 'Forgive me for asking, but why is this a for ever good-bye?'.

'I am old, and she lives so far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is - the next trip back will be for my funeral,' he said.

'When you were saying good-bye, I heard you say, 'I wish you enough.' May I ask what that means?'

He began to smile. 'That's a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone..' He paused a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail, and he smiled even more. 'When we said, 'I wish you enough,' we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them.' Then turning toward me, he shared the following as if he were reciting it from memory.

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray the day may appear.

I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more.

I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting.

I wish you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger.

I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.

I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good- bye.

He then began to cry and walked away.

They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them; but then an entire life to forget them.

To my wonderful family and friends (including bloggy ones)..... I wish you enough!

I can't help it!

2009-04-24T10:43:00.000-07:00

Here is another giveaway I feel you may be interested in -

Little Miss Knowitall is giving away THIS:

It is the new Kodak ESP7, an All-in-One Printer, Scanner, Copier and even has Wifi capabilities! This printer can save you so much money! Just check out here how much money you would save!

Thanks Little Miss Knowitall for hosting such a great giveaway. If you want to win one of these babies, visit Little Miss Knowitall for your chance. But hurry, the contest ends today! Awww, sorry for those that don't get this in time.....bwahahahahahahaha

I MUST HAVE THIS!!!!

2009-04-23T15:10:00.000-07:00

I know I haven't been here in a while, but Mom's Most Wanted calls! The site is going GREAT, but is definitely a LOT of work!

Anyway - I wanted to share this because I must have it!

Monica over at Mommy Brain Reports is giving away a wonderful Going Green Bundle of stuff!!! It includes

A Bissell Little Green Multi-Purpose Compact Earth-Friendly Deep Cleaner

A Brita Water Pitcher

Some White Cloud Green Earth Paper Towels and Toilet Paper.

Some Tide Coldwater Liquid Detergent

AND

Some GreenWorks All Purpose Cleaner

I couldn't be more excited! We are trying hard to go green in our home as much as we can and this would make is a lot easier to get products that work!

So, everyone RUN over to Mommy Brain Reports for your chance to win...on second thought...don't because it's all mine!!!

Thank you Monica for hosting such a wonderful giveaway!

Senior Moment

2009-03-02T06:36:00.000-08:00

Picture Pages Sunday

2009-03-01T01:00:00.000-08:00

My Uncle Geno. He is greatly missed. He used to play guitar and we used to sing together. He would sneak me cartons of cigarettes when I was still a minor. He made up a lot of songs and he was always at my Dad's house.

Take a listen: here

An award!!!

2009-02-12T01:00:00.000-08:00

Well, I have this other venture going on with a great friend of mine that is taking up a lot - and I mean a lot - of my time. It is a new blog we created called Mom's Most Wanted.

At this time, it is mainly a giveaway blog hosting 2 giveaways per week. We also feature a random blog on Fridays. The blogger is completely unaware until we let them know.

We've been working so hard on this new venture and it is taking off wonderfully! Claire and I work so well together and I love doing it! We do everything, blog creation, maintenance, research, posting, designing - everything ourselves.

In any event, through Mom's Most Wanted, both Claire and I were awarded the Sisterhood/Triple Award!

This award is given to blogs which show great Attitude and/or Gratitude awarded to us by Brittany over at The Greer 5 within this post.

Since our Mom's Most Wanted blog is strictly business, I decided to put it here on my personal blog. But be aware that the award was given because of the work we do on Mom's Most Wanted.

There are the rules that go along with accepting this award:

1. Put the logo on your blog or post.
2. Nominate 10 blogs which show great Attitude and/or Gratitude(If you don't have 10, its ok.)
3. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.
4. Let them know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
5. Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received your award.

Logo - Check.
Link to the other post - check.
10 blogs - hmmmm let's see how many I can do (in no specific order):

1. TimsMomMom for choosing to make a difference in someone's life.
2. Bonnie at Autism Family Adventures because I know what it is to have an autistic child.
3. Babasfarmlife because she is so cool.
4. Hot Chocolate Caramel Mocha because she always has a "random shot of chocolate."
5. Cena at My.M.Spot because she is who she is!
6. Tara over at kidz because she is such an inspiration!

That's about all I can come up with right now, so it will have to do.

Off to comment on their blogs to let them know how fabulous they are!

Geography

2009-02-11T12:26:00.001-08:00

I got this email from my mother and thought it was so funny, I just HAD to share! Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

THE GEOGRAPHY OF A WOMAN

Between 18 and 22, a woman is like Africa, half discovered, half wild, fertile and naturally beautiful!

Between 23 and 30, a woman is like Europe, well developed and open to trade, especially for someone with cash.

Between 31 and 35, a woman is like Spain, very hot, relaxed and convinced of her own beauty.

Between 36 and 40, a woman is like Greece, gently aging but still a warm and desirable place to visit.

Between 41 and 50, a woman is like Great Britain, with a glorious and all conquering past.

Between 51 and 60, a woman is like Israel, has been through war and doesn't make the same mistakes twice, takes care of business.

Between 61 and 70, a woman is like Canada, self-preserving, but open to meeting new people.

After 70, she becomes Tibet, wildly beautiful, with a mysterious past and the wisdom of the ages...only those with an adventurous spirit and a thirst for spiritual knowledge visit there.

THE GEOGRAPHY OF A MAN

Between 1 and 70, a man is like Iran,

Ruled by Nuts.

AWESOME Giveaway from MommyDaddy.com!!!

2009-02-07T13:37:00.000-08:00

I just had to enter this giveaway!! I got an Ipod touch for my eldest son, a classic Ipod for my husband and am left with nothing for me (which is not unusual!) So, please check this out:

Mommy Daddy Blog is giving away something you’d love to touch; a shiny spankin’ new 2nd Gen 8GB iPod Touch MP3 player and a $10 iTunes gift card! Click here to enter this sweet giveaway!

On second thought - NO ONE ENTER!!! I WANT TO WIN!!!

I'm an Aries

2009-01-31T00:18:00.001-08:00

ARIES - The Aggressive
Outgoing. Lovable. Spontaneous. Not one to mess with. Funny. Excellent kisser EXTREMELY adorable. Loves relationships, and family is very important to an aries. Aries are known for being generous and giving. Addictive. Loud. Always has the need to be 'Right'. Aries will argue to prove their point for hours and hours. Aries are some of the most wonderful people in the world.

2009-01-31T00:14:00.000-08:00

I got this email from my father and absolutely love it! Thanks Dad! xoxo

TO: God.com
Dear Lord,

Every single evening
As I'm lying here in bed,
This tiny little Prayer
Keeps running through my head:

God bless all my family
Wherever they may be,
Keep them warm
and safe from harm
For they're so close to me.

And God, there is one more thing
I wish that you could do;
Hope you don't mind me asking,
Please bless my computer too.

Now I know that it's unusual
To Bless a motherboard,
But listen just a second
While I explain it to you, Lord.

You see, that little metal box
Holds more than odds and ends;
Inside those small compartments
Rest so many of my friends.

I know so much about them
By the kindness that they give,
And this little scrap of metal
Takes me in to where they live.

By faith is how I know them
Much the same as you.
We share in what life brings us
And from that our friendships grew.

Please take an extra minute
From your duties up above,
To bless those in my address book
That's filled with so much love.

Wherever else this prayer may reach
To each and every friend,
Bless each e-mail inbox
And each person who hits 'send'.

When you update your Heavenly list
On your own Great CD-ROM,
Bless everyone who says this prayer
Sent up to GOD.com

Amen

2009-01-24T22:07:00.000-08:00

Me when I was pregnant with my youngest son in 2004...

Picture Pages Sunday

2009-01-17T21:11:00.000-08:00

Me at 8.

WW

2009-01-14T12:08:00.000-08:00

Bloggers Unite!

2009-01-14T10:41:00.000-08:00

Taken from Musings of a Military Wife

Are you sick and tired of everyone under the sun claiming they need a bail out? Do you wonder what the banks did with all of the funds they were given at the end of last year?

Just think, if the fed’s had given each person in America their “cut” of those funds instead of the banks, where would we be now? How many mom and pop shops would STILL be open, how many homes would still have there families inside?

Do you have a blog? Do you have an opinion? Want to be apart of something? Then join us on 1/20/2009 and have your official #bhbo post ready to publish to your blog on 1/20 with your own Baill Out request for the government.

What is #bhbo? Why it is Blog Hop Bail Out, which was heard first on the Classy Closet via blog talk just this morning (1/14) hosted by ClassyJen and SugarJones.

#bhbo wants you and your blog. Get to drafting your official request for a bail out from the government. Make it good, make it fun, but make it #bhbo.

More information coming soon……for now I must #bhbo on Twitter

For myself

2009-01-09T00:51:00.000-08:00

I love sign language and plan to learn it some day...until then, enjoy this video that I'm learning...

Thank you to CharlieRoseSign over at Youtube!

Happy Bouncy Fresh New Year

2009-01-01T11:31:00.000-08:00

First - HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

And now for your regularly scheduled program:

Last night I had to work. I was scheduled to close the restaurant. Thoughts - "By golly, I won't be home for the ball drop." "By golly, I won't be able to give my kids the pots and pans with wooden spoons to bang at midnight." "By golly, I won't be able to kiss my DH and children at midnight." "By golly, instead I'll be picking up other people's messes, what a way to start a new year." And a whole bunch of other "by golly's." Let me just tell you how fun it is to begin a new year by cleaning and basically getting my ass reamed because the other servers I "checked out" didn't do their job properly. Even after I asked them several times. But wait, let's rewind some...

After about 3 hours of sleep from working the night before, I wanted to go car looking. I dragged my DH out of the house at 10 am and went driving and lot browsing. Before I had left, I started a load of my work clothes - all of my work clothes (what you need to know about my work clothes is that my pants, aprons and socks are black). At 11:30is I called my teen and told him to put my clothes in the dryer. I gave him explicit direction on watching the dryer because my shirts had to come straight out (I don't iron unless absolutely necessary). Around 12:00 pm I called my teen to check on the dryness of my shirts. Our conversation:

Tim: Hello?

Me: Hey, did you hand my shirts up?

Tim: Your clothes have fuzzies all over them.

Me: WHAT! Check the lint catcher and I'll call you back in a few.

A few minutes later...

Tim: Hello?

Me: Was the lint trap full?

Tim: Yes, I emptied it.

Me: Ok, put the shirts back in the dryer for a few and the lint should come right off. I'll call you back in a little bit.

Tim: K.

I called him back around 1:00 pm:

Tim: Hello?

Me: Did you take my shirts out?

Tim: Did you know that the washer is full of dryer sheets? There are hundreds in there.

Me: WHAT!!! (Panic ensues)

Tim: Well,

Me: Ok, I'll see it when we get home. We are on our way.

I got home at around 2 pm and went straight to the dryer. There were my work clothes full, and I mean FULL, of fuzzies. My pants, apron and socks looked grey from all the fuzzies. I was now in full panic mode because I had to be at work at 4. Not good, not good. I was able to salvage a red shirt (didn't look that bad). At 2:50 I decided that I would have to run to Walmart to get some new pants. There was no other solution, I didn't have time to re-wash my clothes. So, I quickly got ready and bolted out the door with shirt on hanger, work shoes on, jeans and a tank top.

I got to Walmart - and really, I don't know what I was thinking to go there on New Year's Eve. I literally ran in the store, grabbed some Dickies and found a line that was relatively small. THEN, right as it is time for the woman in front of my to check out, she looks at me and says "Oh, darn, I forgot one thing. I'll be right back." In my head I was fuming as I outwardly smiled at her. I think my smile must have been crooked because she left and she came right back with nothing in her hands. It was my turn and the woman behind me with a buggy kept invading my space! I was so not in the mood. I brushed it off, payed and left. Ok, so, I got my pants and ran to my car. When I got in my car, I proceeded to change from my jeans to the new pants. As I'm sitting there in my underwear reaching for the new pants, the family in the car parked to the right of me start getting in their car. I looked down to make sure nothing was really visible, waited a few seconds for them to get in their car and began putting my pants on. All I have to say about that is thank God for tints! The pants fit.

I drove to work, parked, got out of my car, tucked my shirt in and started putting all my pins on. I made it inside just in time. Now, back to the dryer incident, remember that? Well, I won't soon forget. As I was putting my pins on, I noticed they slide quite easily through the material. No bother, can't think about that, just get them on and get inside were my thoughts. I clock in, and get my first table immediately. As I'm gathering all the drinks and stuff, one of my co-workers commented on my smell. Gran-friggin-tastic! As I was making drinks and getting bread, I told her the story. She about fell out laughing! Not only did she notice, but one of my tables noticed as well, so I had to tell them the story as well.

Morals of the story: Don't ask a 6 year old to put Bounce with "renew, refresh beads" on top of the washer. If you do then make sure that the washer lid is in the down position. When your 6 year old comes and tells you "ha ha, they fell in the washer," go immediately and take it out. Lastly, when you have children - always look into the washer before you actually fill it with clothes.

Did I say Happy Friggin' New Year??

Wordless Wednesday

2008-12-31T07:10:00.000-08:00

My three wonderful children. Yep, my Timbo put his "frohawk" up!! How cool is that!?

Tweet Tweet

2008-12-30T23:30:00.000-08:00

I have begun tweeting on twitter. I must be careful as this could become very addicting... Thanks to my sister-in-law (insert sarcasm). There have been some neat people that I have met and there are contests that go on. I have entered a contest to win a $100 Target gift card. I haven't been to Target in years! Mainly because with 3 children, Walmart is pretty much the only place I go. Convenience is the reason. So - you can go to Ooh La La Mama Blog and check it out. How I wouldn't love to go and get some ear muffs to put over my ears when the little people start whining!

Picture Pages Sunday

2008-12-28T08:00:00.000-08:00

This is me when I was little and when plaid was "in." I loved being barefoot outside and rarely wore skirts. Such the tomboy!

Christmas Day Pictures

2008-12-26T16:02:00.000-08:00

Meryck opening presents.

Kyle opening presents.

Tim opening presents.

Think they are happy?

Me having been up until 6 am being Santa's helper, then getting back up with the kids at around 7:30am. Not a pretty picture!

Hope everyone's having happy holidays!

Worth Reading

2008-12-22T22:45:00.000-08:00

I got an email from my wonderful father today that I'd like to share with my readers. He happened to send it to me when I really needed to read it. Although I have read this email before, but for some reason it really struck something in my heart tonight, hence my reason for sharing. It is as follows:

A MAYONNAISE JAR AND 2 CUPS OF COFFEE

When things in your life seem almost too much to
handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough,
remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had
some items in front of him.

When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very
large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill
it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the
jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and
poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly.
The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the
golf balls. He then asked the students again if the
jar was full they agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured
it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up
everything else. He asked once more if the jar was
full. The students responded with a unanimous 'yes.'

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from
under the table and poured the entire contents into
the jar, effectively filling the empty space between
the sand. The students laughed.

'Now,' said the professor, as the laughter subsided,
'I want you to recognize that this jar represents
your life. The golf balls are the important things-
your God, family, your children, your health, your
friends, and your favorite passions--things that if
everything else was lost and only they remained your
life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your
job, your house, and your car.

The sand is everything else -- the small stuff.

If you put the sand into the jar first,' he continued,
'there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls.
The same goes for life. If you spend all your time
and energy on the small stuff, you will never have
room for the things that are important to you.

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your
happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get
medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner.
Play another 18. There will always be time to clean
the house and fix the disposal.'

Take care of the golf balls first -- the things that
really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just
sand.'

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what
the coffee represented.

The professor smiled. 'I'm glad you asked. It just
goes to show you that no matter how full your life may
seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of
coffee with a friend.'

The emphasized paragraphs, I highlighted because they are those that mean the most to me. I am sure a lot of you have already read this email going around. I ask that you please contemplate and really think about what the meaning is behind this story. Even if you don't remember it tomorrow, today it could make all the difference in the world - especially to those you love and care for.

Thanks Dad for reminding me to basically stop and smell the wonderful roses I have. They are beautiful and worth every moment, good, bad, ugly and glorious. I love you. xxxxxxxxxxxxoooooooooooooo

Picture Pages

2008-12-21T02:06:00.000-08:00

This is my grandfather which we grandchildren called Pupa. This picture was taken while I was first pregnant with my second child, but didn't know yet.

He was a most wonderful man to me. He always had words of wisdom such as "You have a dollar in your pocket, you have many friends. You have no dollars in your pocket, you have no friends." He would always greet you with a "Hello there" which sounded like hello der. He was from Puerto Rico. I looked up to him. Growing up, he would make me breakfast EVERY day, such as scrambled eggs, toast, coffee and orange juice or cereal (even mixed types) with coffee and toast...I had coffee and toast almost every morning (beginning at the age of about 7). He truly believed that milk and orange juice was not a good mix for anyone's stomach and would make you extremely ill.

He was a believer in walking. He taught me how to play tennis and was my coach for many years. There was ALWAYS enough room for me at his home when I had hard times. He would always pay you for any favor you did for him. He spoke mainly Spanish, but when he moved to the US, made it a point to learn English. He learned English from watching TV and reading newspapers. He also spoke French and a little Italian. He was in France during WWII where he picked up French and would use it frequently. His favorite English sayings were "Go fly a kite" and "Go jump in a lake" which he said often and would crack himself up every time.

Unfortunately, he met his untimely (in my opinion) death by collapsing on the corner of the block while on his daily walk to the local store. He had a very high fever but couldn't be stopped. Once taken to the hospital, they found colon cancer (don't ask me how...I have no idea). Things quickly took a turn for the worse with him. We did not put him in a "home", we took care of him AT home until his demise. He would frequently speak phrases that no one else understood (I still remember what you really meant Pupa). At the time, I lived 1 1/2 hour away. I got the awful call that it was "time" and I needed to get down to where he was. Me, my big, fat, 8 month pregnant belly and my oldest child immediately packed up and went to his house. We arrived late at night. My loving Pupa waited until I got a night's sleep before he passed away. In the morning, my mother and aunts said it was that time and we all went into my grandparent's room where he lay in his hospital bed. We gathered around him and held hands. I held their hands, but with my right hand, I held his. I then layed my head on his chest and told him I was there and he could go. His heart stopped beating a few seconds later.

I am grateful to have had not only the time I did when I cared for him so many years prior, but that he waited for me before he passed. I'm thankful that I had my head on his chest and he was not alone at his last moments. I'm fortunate to have had someone so special in my life to be a mentor and inspiration.

Sometimes I miss him so much it hurts. Yesterday, December 20th would have been his 96th birthday. He will be forever remembered, not only by me, but vicariously through my children as well.

Thank you Pupa for all that you've taught me, how you raised me and the qualities in me that are of you.

My Thoughts

2008-12-19T21:52:00.000-08:00

Ok, I haven't been around much because I've been working my ass off trying to make money for Christmas. Having to get gifts for 3 children (one being a teenager, mind you)...plus a husband, is not an easy task on our income. I will, however, give you a little insight as to what's going on in my brain where my blog is concerned.

First, I need to do a review of something. What the something is, I really am not sure at this time. I still have yet to find the time to open the box to find out what it is. Hopefully, it will be sometime within the next couple of days.

Second, I'm going to ask a couple people I admire for interviews. I hope they say yes. Not that my blog is so popular (yet) that I get ALL this traffic, but I always say, some is better than none! Hopefully that will come within the next couple of weeks.

Third, I've updated my Autism link for those that are interested in, or have a child somewhere on the Autism spectrum. If you are knowledgeable about the subject, please feel free to contact me (via my "Contact Me" button) to discuss anything that I may be missing or for more information. Few may know, but I have a highly functioning Autistic son who is 6 going on 7. The challenges are many, but none that really can't be overcome with some sort of guidance and love.

Lastly (for now until further notice at least), I feel I may start discussing/posting more every day things about my life as a mother (and more often). Reading back on my posts, I don't feel I fully capture what my original intent was with this blog. I will be keeping my Picture Pages Sunday and my WW, as well as adding a post for Talk to Me Tuesday post mostly because I feel inspirational is ALWAYS good.

So, all in all, I will do my best to be around more often and thank you to all out there that actually read my blog!

Best Early Christmas Gift Ever!!!

2008-12-15T18:31:00.000-08:00

My teen and I were in the car and he turned to me and said "Hey Mom, I have a song for you" and proceeded to play this:

Needless to say, it brought me to sobbing tears...I will never forget this gift from him!

Picture Pages Sunday... (albeit late)

2008-12-14T11:59:00.000-08:00

These are my paternal grandparents. They were absolutely wonderful people! I loved them so dearly when they were in this earthly world! They were from West-by-God-Virginia. I have fond memories of just sitting and listening to my Grandma talk. She had such a southern drawl it was hard for me not to be mesmorized. I would sit there and say to her "Grandma, just talk. Talk about anything." She would always give me this "You are off your rocker (add southern drawl)" look, but I so loved it. My grandpa was a chewer of tobacci (no, not tobacco, but tobacci). I remember him dipping and spitting and a spitoon. I also remember sitting with him watching Hee Haw, boy he loved him some Dolly Parton! They were wonderful grandparents, but a word of caution with them...beware when it was time to pick the switch stick...don't ever pick the little ones!

I miss you Grandma and Grandpa. What I wouldn't give to hear your voices. I love you Grandma and Grandpa! You are in my thoughts...RIP

2008-12-13T10:32:00.001-08:00

This picture was taken with my cell phone. Not very clear, but we were happy to be out on the town!

Winter Social

2008-12-12T12:07:00.000-08:00

My wonderful husband and I are going to the Winter Social which is his work's Christmas party. I am so excited! I only get to dress up, and I mean really dress up, once a year...and that is for the Winter Social. My dress is absolutely fabulous! I got it at Ross, no less! It only cost $27.99!! That was a bargain for what the dress looks like on me. The funny thing is that while at Ross, I had picked out a few dresses to try on. As I was walking away from the rack toward the dressing room, I noticed a dress at the end of the junior dress aisle. It was a royal blue dress with these silver (and when I say silver, I mean chrome looking, sparkly, shiney kind of silver, polka dots. It tied around the neck with a low back. The front top looked like a bathing suit type of cut, just enough to hold the breasts. The bodice was form-fitting and at the hips there were four layers of fabric...the top layer was a chiffon type with the polka dots that was cut to a point right below the knee on the left side. The second layer was a heavier royal blue fabric without the polka dots, the third layer was the same as the first only came to a point on the right side just below the knee, and the fourth later was just the same as the second.

The dress looked horrid there on the hanger and I remember thinking to myself - "Oh, what the hell, let's just try it one for shits and giggles." So, in my hand it went and again, I was off to the dressing room.

While in the dressing room, I tried on all the other dresses I had picked out. I'm not trying to be conceded, but MAN, did they look good on me! Other women that were walking out to the three sided mirror were looking at me in awe and literally saying stuff like "Oh, if I had her body, I could wear something like that." Then they would turn to me and say things like "Oh my God, that dress looks great on you!" I could tell by the sharp dagger looks in their eyes that they meant it. Then I decided to try my shits and giggles dress on...it felt pretty good, it was very comfortable, (the others were skin tight and I would have done the knee together walk to get anywhere). This one didn't have any zippers (that was a plus - slip on, slip off). It tied around the neck and hugged what is left of my breasts and I could lean over without anyone getting a peek at my nubles. (I just don't have enough to pop out.) When I went to the big mirror outside of the dressing room, no one was there to advise me, I was left there to fend for myself. This was a great relief because my stomach was starting to hurt from all the daggers! So, as any woman would do when left alone in a dressing room, I twirled around...again and again and again and again. "This was it!" I thought. I couldn't believe myself! Here I had picked out this dress just for fun and it turned out to be the "one."

As excited as I am, I will be going now to get dressed. I will update with photos and you can tell me what you think of my "shit and giggles dress," which is what I call it now.

Wordless Wednesday

2008-12-10T12:29:00.000-08:00

Me little.

Straight No Chaser

2008-12-09T08:02:00.000-08:00

I love this song!!!

The Stressful Day

2008-12-06T23:54:00.001-08:00

Today was a bit of a stressful day. It began with too little sleep. Within 20 minutes of awakening and after Tim took a shower, we left the house to run some errands. The first stop was the cell phone store 30 minutes away. Tim's phone had been repaired and it was ready to be picked up. What was supposed to take a little over an hour, ended up being an ordeal of nearly 3 hours. The head technician in the store broke the car charger that we had and blamed us. When a new charger was bought, it too did not work and the technician blamed it on the car. The charger ws returned and money refunded because there wasn't another charger compatible at the store. It had to be ordered.

We needed sustinance, so off to Waffle House, a favorite spot to eat. Having eaten, stress levels decreased some. Tim had a project to do with his friend for school which is due Monday. He was supposed to go to his friend's house, but because of the delay at the store, there wasn't time to stay at his friend's house to do the project. A different plan was implemented and now Tim's friend was going to spend the night, but needed a ride.

On our way to his friend's house, a police officer pulled us over for speeding. A ticket was given for driving 63 in a 55 (which was a blessing because it should have been 73) and a warning was given about dear husband's tint on the front windshield. The registration was nowhere to be found and the police officer allowed a phone call to dear husband. When he found out about being pulled over, he became upset about the ticket and the warning. Especially since he had bought the car with the tints already on it. Stress levels began to rise again and another snag occurred in what was supposed to be a couple quick errands.

As we neared Tim's friend's house, we noticed traffic was slowing and bright orange cones seperated one lane from the other on a one-way street. As we inched up, we saw that traffic had been redirected because of a parade. Stress levels rose more because time for work was quickly approaching and we still had not picked up Tim's friend. We arrived at Tim's friend's house and began our trek back home. Traffic was worse on the way back and tick, tick, tick went the clock. Once past the traffic, a glance at the gas guage showed very, very, very little gas was in the car, but there wasn't time to stop. We got home with just enough time to get into uniform and put on make-up.

it was decided that the other car was going to be used to get to work. Once at work, there was hardly any guests, so the first hour was spent running food, stocking, helping, standing. One server who got there an hour after the closers got a table before the closers. Needless to say, the closers were a little bothered. It began to feel like it was going to be a long night and the restaurant didn't close until 11:30 pm.

Finally it started to get busy, but not as busy as a typical Saturday. At about7:30 pm, other servers were getting cut off the floor, which is not typical. After all servers, except closers, wer cut, the influx of guests became steady. Fortunately tips were pretty good tonight. As the night wore on, the slow down of guests allowed the closers to do a lot of the necessary nightly cleaning. Finally, the restaurant closed and within 20 minutes, it was time to go home.

On the way home, a realization came...the car had expired tags on it. Heavy duty praying insued that a police officer would not be around to give another ticket in a different vehicle. God said yes to the prayer and grateful thanks was given.

Exhaustion has taken over as it has been extremely difficult to write this without the occassional resting of the eyes...

A day that started out on the stressful side, a couple of planned things did not get done, but overall ended on a happy note and now dreamland is calling...

(Can anyone figure out what is lacking in this post???)

12 Mental Exercizes

2008-12-04T05:39:00.000-08:00

I was doing my normal surfing and came across this article written by Gretchen Rubin. She cited an author by the name of Dorothea Brande which includes 12 mental exercizes. I looked over the exercizes and thought - hey I can do these! I like keeping my mind sharp and love changing things up. So, I've decided to try them for a while and see what happens. Here is a quote from the story along with the exercizes:

"Here are Dorothea Brande's twelve mental exercises. Note: she wrote these in 1936, so you need to adapt of few of them.

1. Spend an hour each day without saying anything except in answer to direct questions, in the midst of the usual group, without creating the impression that you're sulking or ill. Be as ordinary as possible. But do not volunteer remarks or try to draw out information.

2. Think for 30 minutes a day about one subject exclusively. Start with five minutes.

3. Write a letter without using the words I, me, mine, my.

4. Talk for 15 minutes a day without using I, me, my, mine.

5. Write a letter in a "successful" or placid tone. No misstatements, no lying. Look for aspects or activities that can be honestly reported that way.

6. Pause on the threshold of any crowded room and size it up.

7. Keep a new acquaintance talking about himself or herself without allowing him to become conscious of it. Turn back any courteous reciprocal questions in a way that your auditor doesn't feel rebuffed.

8. Talk exclusively about yourself and your interests without complaining, boasting, or boring your companions.

9. Cut "I mean" or "As a matter of fact" or any other verbal mannerism out of your conversation.

10. Plan two hours of a day and stick to the plan.

11. Set yourself twelve tasks at random: e.g., go twenty miles from home using ordinary conveyance; go 12 hours without food; go eat a meal in the unlikelist place you can find; say nothing all day except in answer to questions; stay up all night and work.

12. From time to time, give yourself a day when you answer "yes" to any reasonable request.

If you'd like to read a more lengthy explanation of the twelve disciplines, or about Brande's explanation for these exercises, go here and search for Chapter 11 - Twelve Disciplines."

I encourage everyone to try this, either at home or not.

We won!!!!

2008-12-02T17:23:00.000-08:00

Thank you Imagination Movers!!!

We won the Imagination Movers bloggy contest, so here's a vlog to thank them! Oh, and the yellow note Kyle is holding up says "We love you guys" which was intended for the Imagination Movers. Awwwwwww

Our Thanksgiving adventure (this is a long one)

2008-11-28T21:58:00.000-08:00

I started the day off with a cup of coffee because I was extremely tired from having worked the night before. Yeah for Hubby making it!! We got the kids dressed and planned to go to my in-laws for Thanksgiving. I was a little sad because this was the first year in 16 years I wasn't making a turkey. My recipe was my grandmothers and she is no longer with us, so I was especially sad. After a cup of coffee or two, or maybe three, we all packed into our Nissan Pathfinder.

We started up the road and were listening to Christmas music (which actually is one of my pet peeves because I don't believe in listening to it until after Thanksgiving). We listened because the little people wanted to listen to it and yes, anything for a nice screamless hour and a half drive to the in-laws. We were about 20 minutes into the trip (my husband driving, of course) and the engine in the car just turned off out of nowhere - while we were on the expressway - in a construction zone. We were able to make it to the shoulder, that was as wide as half a car and had a guard rail. We started to shuffle all the kids out of the car once we realized that it wasn't going to start up again. Now, my husband had told our oldest to hold the little ones' hands and walk them down the other side of the rail so that they would be safe in case some idiot were to come along and broadside our truck.

This is where it gets scary...(keep in mind that our middle child is autistic). As I am fumbling through the car to get out our drinks, my husband is looking under the hood, and traffic is whizzing by...I hear my husband scream "KYLE STOP!!!" I look up to see Kyle bolting for the interstate and my oldest son run and scoop him up within an inch of Kyle's little life. Kyle was afraid to go toward the wooded area at the bottom of the hill, so opted to run into traffic. Now, as cars were passing, no one was slowing down even though we were hogging nearly half the lane because of the small shoulder and no one stopped. I about had a heart attack! How could I really lay into this child that didn't truly understand what he was doing? I explained to him what could have happened and that he scared me half to death. His response "Mommy, you don't look half dead." All I could do was hug the breath out of him - well, almost.

Once we were past that fiasco, I called our insurance to come tow the car back to the house because surely we had emergency roadside assistance since I am so anal about car insurance having worked for lawyers doing personal injury cases for so many years. Alas, the insurance company advised, that no, we did not have that coverage on this vehicle. Soooo, we ended up paying an arm and a leg to have the car towed back home. While waiting for the tow truck, I think I had a nervous breakdown, or maybe a panic attack, I'm not quite sure. All I know is that I kept crying and felt like I was going to pass out. Of course, I would walk away from the children after making them a seabear circle (those that watch Spongebob will know exactly what I'm talking about) and telling my husband to stay with them so I could break down. We finally made it home safe and sound.

Then, we unloaded the car with the carseats of course, and all ~~piled~~ squished into my husbands Mustang to try to make the trip again. Our oldest is quickly becoming a man size teenager that there was no way he was going to fit between two car seats in the back, so guess who got to sit there....yes, me! My tiny butt got to sit like a sardine in between two bulky car seats for an hour and a half to our destination and an hour and a half back. My butt did fit between them, but these car seats have these head rests so my shoulders wouldn't fit between them. I had to turn my upper torso sideways just to fit. No, it wasn't very comfortable needless to say.
Off we were again, this time, I was much less comfortable.

Kyle was very concerned that Thanksgiving was going to start without us. I told him that I didn't think they would start without us to try to put his little mind at ease. So, again with the Christmas carols singing on the radio, we drove. We arrived at my in-laws and guess what!?!?! The started eating WITHOUT us! Kyle was disappointed. I made the little ones their plates, got them all set up with drinks and all and I noticed our big boy didn't have a plate in front of him. I asked him where his food was and his response was a shrug of the shoulders. At this point, I'm starving because I hadn't eaten yet. I only had coffee running through my veins, but, me being the mother I am, offered to make him a plate and I wasn't surprised that he accepted. I made his plate. Then I began to make my plate and by this time, my husband was half way through with his. I thought, ok, one last check on the kids to make sure they didn't need anything before I filled myself with much needed sustinance. But no, it was not to be yet, the little people wanted seconds of certain things. So, as my food got even colder than it already was, I now had to serve my little people seconds.

Finally I got to sit down and eat my dinner when one of my nephews came up to me (he has very bad speech delays, is very difficult to understand and according to his mother, refuses to use sign language) and wanted to eat off my plate. That I didn't have a real problem with, especially since he is this little thing that really needs to put some meat on his bones. He sat on my lap and helped me finish my plate.

Now, I have to explain a little about this sister-in-law. She is my husband's sister. She has 3 children. One beautiful little girl, one active older boy, and a son that she acquired through her husbands baby momma. She is not allowed to come to our home. I play nicely with her for the children's sake, but I do not like her at all. I do not agree with her parenting (i.e. doesn't bathe her children nearly as much as they need bathed, doesn't brush or have her children brush their teeth, gets these diagnosis' on her children to collect social security on them so she doesn't have to work, is the epitomy of trailer trash - no offense to those living in trailers, my mother lives in one with my step-father and my father lives in one with my step-mother - I speak of the stereotypical trailer trash that don't care about anything/anyone but themselves and are extremely dirty people who live off the government because of laziness).

Anyway, back to my story...after dinner, I was doing dishes and my wonderful (insert sarcasm) sister-in-law was just standing around, my nephew came up to me and wanted some more bites to eat. I told him it was all gone and used sign language with him as I spoke. My mother-in-law was so impressed with that, that she signed "very good, thank you" to me. Throughout the afternoon that we were there, I would speak and sign to him. All he wanted was to be around me.

By the time they left, as I was saying goodbye to them in their car, he started signing to me that he was hungry. I told (and signed to) him no, to wait until he got home. Now, as my sister-in-law had told me that he refused to sign, here he was signing with me after only about an hour visit. So, that frustrated me. I felt that she was too lazy to learn sign language and just didn't feel like doing it. By this time, I was angry because I felt these children (she has three and we think she has another on the way, but has not told us yet), deserved better than this. She did tell me that she has it set up if anything were to happen to her, that my husband would get the kids. As awful as it sounds, I secretly hoped that we would get the kids to be able to give them the care they needed and deserved. God forgive me for my thoughts. They left and we spend a few more hours spending time with family (I do adore my in-laws).

It was now time to squeeze back into the car. I knew that the little people would fall asleep on the way home and had prepared myself for that. Here I sat, one shoulder behind the right car seat, one shoulder in front of the left car seat, my left arm was being used as a head rest for our middle child and my right hand was holding up our youngests head up. I tried to lay my head down on the right car seat head rest, but it ended up being more like my head was at a ninety degree angle with my shoulders.

We made it home, put the kids in bed and after reflection of the day, I became thankful. These are the things I am thankful for:

Kyle did not get hit or killed by rushing traffic.
The car broke down while with my husband instead of on one of my many 3 1/2 hour trips to our youngest's doctor appointments.
We are pretty darn good parents.
My in-laws are proud of both my husband and me (this must be a rarity).
Our oldest reacted quickly and calmly under what was an extreme emergency situation.
Our oldest saved his brother's life.
Our children and what we can give them.
How well we take care of our children.
How much our children love and trust us.
Having the children that we do have.
How, now I get to drive my husband's mustang until my car gets fixed (which probably won't be until tax return time).
A job that gives me money in my pocket every night I work.
My husband is a good man and loves us very much.

I went to bed shortly after we got home because of the emotions that ran through me that day.

Boy, it sure didn't feel like a turkey day to me for the first time in I can't remember how long.

Picture Pages Sunday

2008-11-23T08:51:00.000-08:00

This is my Dad (holding the bass...mmmmmm beer batter bass), my grandpa (standing to the right of my Dad), my younger brother to the far right and you guessed it...me at the far left. Ok, this was about 1982 when we lived in a podoke town and I obviously didn't give a shit about style. I'm guessing I just wanted to be warm ?. Don't ask what kind of face I'm making, I have no idea. I have so many fond memories of looking for nightcrawlers in the back yard, fishing, ice fishing, playing horseshoes, having the big spindles we used as tables for scaling the fish we caught and barbeques, swinging on the hammock and so much more. My grandpa and Dad made the best, by God, beer batter bass ever! Ahh the good old days...
Grandpa RIP, Dad - I love you.

Wordless Wednesday

2008-11-19T11:03:00.000-08:00

How dare you!!!

2008-11-18T01:26:00.000-08:00

Well, damnit, she did it again...I'VE BEEN TAGGED!!! I can't believe you, why? why? WHY????? Here are the directions...

Post pictures of the room that you blog from. Do not clean it up, take a photo of how it is RIGHT NOW and tell us what is in that room. Note from poster - this really sucks!!!

My home is usually much cleaner - I just haven't been home much to do the cleaning, what with ~~blogging~~ work and all. Anyway - hope you get a laugh CLAIRE!!!!

As an aside, I will be posting pictures of what my area usually looks like - that is, once I get the crap monster under control...

Oh, and I guess I am supposed to tag some people, so here's to ya!

Stefanie
Who me?
Angelina

Picture Pages Sunday

2008-11-16T11:10:00.001-08:00

My mother when she was in her early 20's. People say there is an uncanny resemblence between us...I don't see it.

Female Icon Quiz...This is what they say, although I don't fully agree with all of it!!!

2008-11-15T07:37:00.000-08:00

Your result for Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz...

You Are a Doris!

You are a Doris -- "I must help others."

Dorises are warm, concerned, nurturing, and sensitive to other people's needs.

How to Get Along with Me

* Tell me that you appreciate me. Be specific.

* Share fun times with me.

* Take an interest in my problems, though I will probably try to focus on yours.

* Let me know that I am important and special to you.

* Be gentle if you decide to criticize me.

In Intimate Relationships

* Reassure me that I am interesting to you.

* Reassure me often that you love me.

* Tell me I'm attractive and that you're glad to be seen with me.

What I Like About Being a Doris

* being able to relate easily to people and to make friends

* knowing what people need and being able to make their lives better

* being generous, caring, and warm

* being sensitive to and perceptive about others' feelings

* being enthusiastic and fun-loving, and having a good sense of humor

What's Hard About Being a Doris

* not being able to say no

* having low self-esteem

* feeling drained from overdoing for others

* not doing things I really like to do for myself for fear of being selfish

* criticizing myself for not feeling as loving as I think I should

* being upset that others don't tune in to me as much as I tume in to them

* working so hard to be tactful and considerate that I suppress my real feelings

Dorises as Children Often

* are very sensitive to disapproval and criticism

* try hard to please their parents by being helpful and understanding

* are outwardly compliant

* are popular or try to be popular with other children

* act coy, precocious, or dramatic in order to get attention

* are clowns and jokers (the more extroverted Dorises), or quiet and shy (the more introverted Dorises)

Dorises as Parents

* are good listeners, love their children unconditionally, and are warm and encouraging (or suffer guilt if they aren't)

* are often playful with their children

* wonder: "Am I doing it right?" "Am I giving enough?" "Have I caused irreparable damage?"

* can become fiercely protective

Take Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz at HelloQuizzy

Imagination Movers video

2008-11-13T17:42:00.000-08:00

Here is the vlog with my little people dancing to My Favorite Snack by Imagination Movers... Please leave a comment and tell me what you think!

P.S. Reminder for those that know me and those that don't - the blonde boy is high functioning autistic, hence the flailing arms, and the brown haired boy is medically needy and I about fell out my chair when he "broke it down." Also, the big boy is my teenager, which I was totally surprised that he participated even in the small way that he did - what a miracle.

Check out Single Mom Meltdown to enter the Imagination Movers Dancing Contest and make sure you check out The Posh Parent on Tuesday November 13th for an Interview with The Movers and a Live Mover Giveaway!!!

AAARRRGGGHHH I've been tagged...

2008-11-13T08:49:00.000-08:00

Ok, I've been tagged by Claire at Single Mom Meltdown. Up until now, I had no idea what that meant. Then it was explained it to me. Damn, now I know and have to follow directions!!!!

Here are the 7 random/weird facts about me:

1. When I cut nails (kids, mine), I do it outside so the clippings don't linger around the house.
2. I pluck my own eyebrows, which I have to do outside as well (the lighting is God perfect).
3. I like to have control of the things I can control (obviously not my children or my husband...well...sometimes, he he) and I tell it like it is.
4. My pantry is stocked label out for cans, all are with their brothers and sisters (green beans with green beans, corn with corn, so forth and so on) and non-parishables all have the side out showing what extactly it is so there is no guessing.
5. I am able to easily read people (as in tell what kind of person they are) from the first time I meet them, and I'm usually right.
6. When I grow up I want to be like my Abuela.
7. I will be an attorney one day, or a radiologist or both!

Ok, that was also mind-straining...I have other tags that I ~~may~~ have to get to ~~sometime~~, so, here are those I am going to tag...

1. Angelina
2. Stefanie
3. Country Diva
4. KatieZ
5. Kelly
6. Jay@halftime lessons
7. Angie

I chose these because I'm new to this. So, have fun and tag, you're it!
(I honestly don't know how many of these tags I will be doing, we'll see...)

Self love...

2008-11-13T04:33:00.000-08:00

A new friend of mine, Kadi over at The Innsane suggested that we, as Moms, need to express some reasons why we love ourselves in order to promote some much needed positive self esteem. I agree! So all you bloggy people out there (doesn't necessarily have to be Moms), give a list of reasons why you rock!

Here are some of the reasons why I rock:

~I can go to bed at 4 am and still get up at 6 am to get the kids off on the bus.
~I have my teenager doing his own laundry.
~I am surviving the teenager hormone years.
~I try (operative word there) to do good because good comes from good.
~I have strong faith and trust in God.
~I like to learn something new everyday (like apples are served with pork because they help digestion...did you know that? If not, now you do!)
~I have birthed three beautiful boys - all naturally! And still at pre-birth weight (minus the breasts) without trying.
~I am a jill-of-all-trades, know a little bit about everything and a lot of nothing.
~I can change the oil in my car, a toilet out of the bathroom, tile a floor and a wall, crochet, sew and many other random and crafty things.
~I have very thick skin (no, not literally), I do not offend easily.
~I have an analytical mind and believe there is always three sides to every story, yours, mine and the truth.
~I am very good under pressure.
~I am a wysiwyg (what you see is what you get) kind of person.
~I am not ever two-faced, if I have an issue I will go directly to the ~~ass~~ horse.
~I am a multi-tasker at ALL times.

Well, it was hard enough to sit here and try to praise myself and my brain is now on self-love overload.

Why don't you give it a try! It will make you feel better even if, like me, smoke was coming out of ears brainstorming on things that you actually love about yourself.

If you are participating, please leave a comment here saying so, then visit Kadi's page, blog your list, follow her directions and you could win a fabulous prize!!

Well, what are you waiting for???? Get going!

World Bloggy Peace!!!

2008-11-12T19:38:00.000-08:00

As my new friend Toni puts it, and I repost in full agreement:

Now come on all you blogging queens let's join together and let everyone know we won't stand for drama, we won't stand for blocking people from our sites, we won't stand for being immature, we won't stand for bashing other blogs...because we stand for BLOG PEACE!

We come here to have fun, to win stuff, to learn about others and thank God that someone else's child is not ours when we see him/her doing something naughty! It's a place to be yourself and share who you are with tons of people and brighten other peoples day.

Who's with me, who out there in bloggy land is tired of the blog bullies?
Who out there is tired of the mean girls in the blog world?
~And I will be the first to admit I was a mean girl to one blogger in the past and I am so very sorry for what I did~

Who wants to stand up and say
"We want blogging to be fun again",
"We want blogging to be about friendships?",
"We want to not have to look over our shoulder and wonder if we are going to be blogged about".

Let's stand together today and say to everyone out there in blog land "We Promote Blog Peace" and we want everyone to just get along.

Wordless Wednesday

2008-11-12T10:46:00.000-08:00

Living in a house of boys....

Picture pages Sunday...

2008-11-09T06:35:00.001-08:00

This is from a little over 4 years ago. A little picture collage that my wonderful father made for me. The baby is my llittle Meryck before he was diagnosed with Prune Belly Syndrome.

Wordless Wednesday

2008-11-05T10:19:00.000-08:00

My baby when he had a catheter... :(

Picture Pages Sunday...

2008-11-02T10:38:00.001-08:00

Ok, so I've decided that I will try to make Sundays, my days to show old pictures of me and the kids. Hope you enjoy...

This is me and my little brother in about 1976. I think I was trying to squeeze his head off...and no that is not my real hair, it is a big "fro" wig!

Day after Halloween pictures

2008-11-01T08:52:00.000-07:00

Here are our Halloween costumes:

The little people:

Me, I forgot my lipstick...

Sorry, no pictures of my teen... he dressed up as the dark sith and did a really good job with the makeup on his face, but since he was pissed that, as he put it, I "ruined his Halloween" by making him stay with us, (he has lost our trust and cannot do anything on his own until it is gained back), he wouldn't let me take a picture. His loss!! My husband was a Dolphin fan which is what he is every year. He's not into dressing up.

Hope everyone had a safe and happy Halloween!

Crazy kind of giveaway...any takers?

2008-10-30T06:00:00.000-07:00

I was sitting here speaking with a good friend of mine and a wonderful thought came to mind...how about I have a crazy giveaway. I'd like to give away my teenage boy. He is full of "bright ideas", is great at keeping his bed, the couch and his phone from flying away, he is very "outgoing" and has tons of "opinions". He comes with a blue-black frohawk, a couple of power ranger t-shirts, form fitting jeans and a "wonderful" attitude to boot. He is good at walking (away), riding his bike (away), and the latest and greatest running (away). He is very strong-willed and has an incredible way of standing his ground. He is very well liked, has "a way" of talking to people and an incredible selective memory. He is very clean (as in shower clean only). He doesn't require much... just (a lot of) food, space to sleep, bathroom, maid, cheauffer, human alarm, on call chef, video games, constant positive reinforcement and life must revolve around him. This child is not for the strong-willed person, he will wear you down. So, if you are weak, weak-minded, willing to give this teenager anything and everything he wants and have a lot of money (not for me, but for him to spend), then this is the teen for you...Any takers?

Wordless Wednesday

2008-10-29T11:08:00.000-07:00

Me at 12...Weird then and weirder now...

ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!!

2008-10-24T09:31:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Tim sent me a text about noonish asking if I would buy him the new Fable 2 that just came out. I told him "Hey, here's a novel idea...how about earning money by doing your chores so that you can afford to buy it yourself!" He wasn't too keen on the idea of working for it. I reminded him that now he's 16 and I will only provide him with his basic needs, you know, food, school clothes, shoes, haircuts, etc. Anything else, he would have to earn the money and buy it himself. Little did I know I was in for a fight when he got home from school.

Apparently, he wanted me to run out to the store and buy it the minute I got the text from him. Seriously?!?!?! What am I, his do-girl, honey-do, no, I don't think so. When he got home, he sat there and argued with me saying "Mom, you know I never ask you for anything..." (oh yeah, like earlier this week you didn't ask me to get him a new hair color), "...and when I do ask you nicely, you don't do it for me...." (as if I NEVER do anything nice for him, like, uh, I don't know...perhaps coloring his hair for him so he doesn't look like a madman with ya ya eyebrows) "...I wanted you to pick it up before I got home..." and get this rationale... "so I wouldn't be up all night playing it if you got it after you got home from work..." (as if he wouldn't have done that anyway! Pishaaa!)

After about 20 minutes of back and forth, Kyle interjected with "Will you two stop arguing! I'm trying to play my game here!" Oh, yes, I love to be told what to do by my 6 year old. I turned and told him that he was not to talk to me that way, he stopped (he's so good at that...stopping when I ask nicely!) Finally, I told Tim that I would do things for him when it was convenient to ME and not when HE wants me to and he was just going to have to live with it. If he didn't like it, I wouldn't get him the game at all, even if he had earned the money to buy it.

OOOPPPPSSS!!! What was that?!?!? Sounded to me like the changing of a tune... hmmmm could it be??? We crunched his chore allowance numbers and figured that he had saved just enough money for the game. Ok.

So, as I left work last night, I was on my way home and I swear that child has radar! I had just got on the causeway toward home and bling! a text message..."are you going to get it?" from Tim. Oh shit!!! I really forgot. Well, I guess I do need to buy some groceries so my children don't starve over the next couple of days while I'm at work. Now I have to turn around and go to Walmart. (Yes, I rationalize too.) Off to Walmart I went. I didn't get a buggy because I thought I would just get a couple of dinners for the kids and Tim's game (of course). All the meanwhile, I'm texting him telling him to go to bed. (I'm so mean! I didn't tell him I was at Walmart. He thought I was just leaving work...he he he) Next thing you know, I have a 10 pound bag of sugar in my arms (because sugar is my favorite food and that is one thing I won't run out of), a pair of pants for work, 6 boxes of frozen dinners for my little ones (need some variety so they can choose the one they want...seems to work better at getting them to eat) AND Tim's game. $110.00 later and I'm broke again and back to saving for Halloween (yes I know it's right around the corner, but damnit, if he's going to ask me to pay him for his chores so he can get this game, then he can wait to get a costume!).

Off to work again tonight... maybe I'll make $40....that would cover um, let me see..... GAS!!!

LIfe goes on

2008-10-22T21:43:00.000-07:00

Ok, here's the long awaited picture of Tim's new hair...

This is, of course, before we dyed his hair black...again... I'll take more pics and show you what it looks like in his "frohawk."

Why do teens like to argue with parents ALL the time. Tim was complaining how the things we tell him to do don't make sense (like unloading the dishwasher, sitting in the bathroom with Meryck while he's taking a shower, take the trash out, you know, all those confusing things...) My husband broke down and told him that nothing we tell him is going to make sense for him at this age. Apparently, THAT made sense because Tim has been less argumentative! (At least for now...)

Here is Meryck in last years costume.

This year he's going to be a knight.

We went to his nephrologist yesterday and things look pretty good right now. We have to get an ultrasound of his kidneys and some more bloodwork next week. That's when we'll have a better idea of what is going on. With him, no news is great news!

Luscious Raspberry

2008-10-18T11:19:00.000-07:00

I went to work on Thursday night and I came home to Tim with raspberry color in his hair...well that's not all. He also decided that he would try to dye his eyebrows! I couldn't believe my eyes, here was my child with what looked like clown paint on his face, color all over his neck, ears, forehead and EYEBROWS!! I couldn't even get mad! So, once he finally rinsed his head and tried to scrub his eyebrows, he realized it stained his skin. I believe that he thought since the dye was a "temporary" color, that perhaps it would be easy to wash off his skin. Boy was he wrong!! I ended up doing some research on the internet to see what we had here at home that would take off the stains. We tried fingernail polish remover and peroxide, both of which really irritated his skin and really didn't work well. Then I came across a site that said to use a damp cloth and ashes. (Perfect opportunity for me to take a break from this crisis and go smoke.) I was shocked that this actually worked better than both the others combined, with much less scrubbing. It still wasn't perfect, but MUCH better than it was! Here is the result...

His roots were so much lighter and had a pink shade to them. When we bleached his hair, they were much lighter than the rest of his hair. I don't have a picture of the back, but he had also missed several spots.

Here's another picture that gives a better view of his eyebrows, but the flash really washed out his face...

Needless to say, he didn't want to go to school the next day. Well, since he wanted to do it himself and didn't have the patience to wait for me, guess what...the next day, off to school he went. When he came home, he told me he was PODO'd (I have since found out that it means Property Of the Dean's Office). He didn't get into trouble, but was told that he had to change his hair color to a "natural" color, which we will be doing this weekend.

Kyle had his first pack meeting, where he earned his first badge...his tiger badge. If anyone is familiar with boyscouts, you know that when you get your first badge, two people hold the child upside down and the parent pins the badge on the child. Well, Kyle didn't know he was going to be upside down and he also didn't know that they were going to put paint on his face as a mark of induction. When they first turned him upside down, I could see in his face that he was getting uncomfortable. Then when they put the paint on his cheeks, I knew he was going to have a problem with it. We went to sit down at the table and Kyle kept wiping at his cheeks. I took him to the bathroom so he could wash it off. Even though it was finger paint, he scratched at his cheeks trying to get it off. Here's a picture of him before he had the induction. I will post pictures of him after the induction when I get the camara developed (oh, yeah, we like to use those disposable camaras...).

Welp, I've got to get ready for work...another day another dollar. I've gotta pay for some "natural" hair dye now, so...off I go.

Until next time...

Wordful Wednesday

2008-10-15T05:11:00.000-07:00

So, Tim wants to dye his hair Luscious Rasperries. I can't really blame him, he is his mother's son. Since we had dyed his hair black already, we had to bleach his hair which we did last night. We left the bleach on for an hour (he has course hair) and I warned him that his roots would be a lot lighter since they no longer had dye on them. Well, this is what we came up with......

Before...

After....

This picture was taken this morning before he left for school. As you can see, he's not a morning person and was like Aww Mom!!! when I told him I wanted a picture. We decided to wait to see how the bleaching turned out before we dye it the raspberry. That may be coming tonight. Woo Hoo!!

Yesterday I cut Kyle's hair. He wanted his hair to look like his father's, short military cut with a small fade on top. Kyle has very thin, naturally bleach blonde hair and already has a receding hairline. I got the clippers out to buzz the back of his head, made him look down, began to buzz ...and out of nowhere he said to me "What are you trying to do, make me bald woman!" I couldn't believe it. It was all I could do to not fall on the floor laughing and the only words I could utter out of my mouth were "Excuse me?" What does Kyle do in all his literal-ness? He repeated exactly what he said. I couldn't help but laugh! Later, Tim was being a typical older brother and started teasing Kyle, telling him that he would shave Kyle's eyebrows off while he was asleep. Kyle, in a very calm and controlled voice, told Tim "Well, you won't be able to find my eyebrows because they are the same color as me." What a great response! My little Kyle - what a character!

We were decorating for Halloween yesterday and I got some window stickers for the kids to put up. They had a blast. Some were glow in the dark, so they put them on the bathroom mirror, would go in the bathroom, close the door and scream like they were scared. The best part about putting up the decorations was when Tim and I put up this spider that is sound and motion sensitive and drops down on a string when activated. When Meryck came home from school, he walked inside and when the door slammed, the spider went off. Meryck about jumped out of his skin! He was so afraid. As the awful mother that I am, what did I do?? I laughed so hard at him. Tim took the spider down and I tried to get Meryck to touch it and he completely freaked out. He was screaming at the top of his lungs and clawed to get away from it. Meryck wouldn't even walk down the hallway that the spider was in, he would walk around the kitchen so he wouldn't have to walk under the spider. Then Kyle came home and the same thing happened with him. They both thought the spider would come down and get them. After quite some time (and a lot of reassurance from me that it was fake), they would stand under the spider and scream "BOOO!" to activate the spider. It was really funny at first, but after about an hour of hearing two little voices screaming at this spider, I realized that I must've been out of my mind to buy this thing. Happy Halloween!!!

A Night in the Life...

2008-10-12T11:42:00.000-07:00

I went downstairs to cook dinner

and this is what I found:

Oh, yes, those are oven mitts on Meryck's feet! It was so funny, I almost busted a stitch. Oh, and as soon as my little people get home, they ALWAYS strip down to underwear. So, don't be surprised if most of my pictures are them in their undies. It must be a boy thing. I have tried to keep them dressed to no avail.

Then, my husband tells our teen to mow the lawn. It needed mowing and if he didn't have it done yesterday my husband was going to pay the kid across the street to do it. (Remember, Tim has a big case of the L-A-Z-Y's -- and he gets PAID for chores!!) So what does this ingenious child do...he knows that he gets paid $20 for mowing, found a couple of his friends and told them that he would pay them $15 to mow the lawn!!! I couldn't believe it. Tim called it being an entrepreneur...I called it lazy, so as the mean, awful, witch of a Mom I am, I only paid Tim $15 (which he gave to his friends) to mow. The best part about it...his friends didn't do a thorough job and Tim had to go over some spots and weed eat - for FREE!!!! WOOOOT!

So, I've been recovering from hernia surgery and my little people decided to lay with me. My belly was growling, you know the growl from when you drink only water...well, my wonderful son, Kyle, thought he'd enlighten me about growling stomachs. This is what he said - "You know when you feel something wiggly in your belly Mom? It means that it will come out your butt as a toot." I thought to myself, how in the world does a 6 year old pay attention to such detail and asked him where he learned that bit of information. He told me he had figured it out himself. Talk about being tuned in to your own body!

Then there was a commercial on TV about A/C filters and dust mites. Kyle felt he had to explain to me about dust mites. He said "Dust mites eat dead skin and are on hairy backs." Hairy backs??? What that has to do with dust mites, I may never know.

I told Kyle several times that it was time for him to sleep, since his brother was already passed out and it was way past his bedtime. He was having a hard time, which is usual for him. I asked him why he was having such a hard time falling asleep and his response was that he was like a sloth, so slow to go to sleep. Within 15 more minutes, a head rub and snuggle and he was out.