IF IT WAS YOUR BIRTHDAY YESTERDAY RAISE YOUR HAND!

Sunday June 8th was a beautiful day to have a picnic Birthday party in a beautiful state park called Stoney Creek Metro Park.

It is covered in big beautiful trees.













More trees.

Here was one reason to celebrate!!!
38 years ago I was brought into this world by my wonderul mother.



It was a windy day...so excuse the rough hair-do.






Here is another reason to celebrate...
My father turned 61 years old!!!

Yep..I was my father's biggest/smallest gift!

Not many people get a baby for their birthday.

This man is not easy to shop for! But he is very proud to be a grandfather. And usually I buy gifts for him to announce it.






He loved his cards.










My wonderful mother who put the picnic together....she loves us!

Oh and another reason to celebrate...see the dog...her name is Bunny.....
Yep it was her Birthday too!!!!! 1 years old.

They got her at the pound and her birthday is in June also...so they just celebrate it with all the rest of us. :)

You know you taken too many pictures when you get this look...lol












Or this one..LOL










Swimming, eating, fishing, and talking was a great way to spend your birthday!
We did all this from 9 in the morning till about 6:30pm ish and then.....Out of nowhere a storm like no other came out and dumped a huge amount of water on all of our heads! I guess the party was over! So we just moved the party back to my mothers for that famous "Birthday Song" and some birthday cake!
Hope you had a wonderful weekend!

I'M A GRANDMOTHER!!!

Because of child development class I have a granddaughter named Jennifer. This kind of grand parenting is right up my alley for now!

It's some kind of flour baby they call it.

Darin is really not interested in this class and is only doing it because the school is making him..lol

His shirt says Oakwood class of 2012!!!

Amber is a proud auntie! She's offered to babysit and everything!

Look out world...Amber in a dress!!!!!

Today was honor's night at school, she received a certificate for her participation in wrestling.

She is so beautiful!

Roo's, Donkey's, and Buffalo's OH MY!

My daughter went on her field trip to the zoo and for some reason she thought it would be ok to steal my digital camera. She got in a mess of trouble...she is so lucky she did not lose it or break it.
She goes to the zoo and no pics of lions, tigers and bears.


Hey Mal, you can appreciate this pic.

Little bit of Aussie in Michigan :)

This one looks like He/she is posing.

How was everyone's Memorial? We had planned to have a picnic with my folks, but the weather forecast for the day was rain...yeh right...turns out not a bit of rain on that day. So we stayed home and woke up to not a bit of power in the house at 8 in the morning. Still don't know why.

So our across the street neighbor came over to see if we had power, she had none also. Found out my mother about a mile away also did not have power. Next thing you know we are making pancakes on propane stoves and planning a nice BBQ for the afternoon.

Everyone got alot of sun. My poor head, face and neck and pieces of my arms got fried. It was a beautiful day.

School is almost over. I can't believe it! My son will be going to high school next year. Time goes by so fast. Also, my 38th birthday is coming up very shortly, where in the world does the time go?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HONEY!

Ok...I just did this right now! I was going to make a sign to put on the back of his van that would have said "Honk it's my 42nd birthday"...but i fell asleep early last night and did not get a chance to sneak out and do it...
Right now he is at work and when he gets home he will be welcomed to this.....Yeh, I know a little stupid and juvenile...but I think he will think it's cute..
Ok...just so you know the big dip under my picture window is where the porch is going to be just as soon as i can get it done. This is the view in front.

It's going to look nice as soon as i get that porch

*grin* It's going to be a slab porch...but i want to put up like a small wall around the porch and decorate it with flowers ...kinda like a deck...errrr i can't describe what i have in my mind..

When it's done ...ya'll will see it.

What's this....well it's the newest edition to the front garden...long story short, we are known as the turtle family...Frank has been nick-named "Franklin the turtle" from the cartoon...Hence the name "turtle family".....And I came upon this little guy while shopping and i could not resist...you can't see it here...but it's head and body moves by the wind on little springs...I got it at a real bargain! come on....I can hear you all saying Awwwwww!!! lol

Well back to the reason for the post...

I LOVE YOU FRANK!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

DIDN'T HAVE MUCH TO TALK ABOUT...SO I DECIDED TO WRITE THIS.

Hope you all had a wonderful Mother's Day! I obviously had to work, which was not as bad as I thought it was going to be. When I got home I was surprised by my daughter with a homemade Mother's Day cake that my mother helped her make. Apparently it looked so good that 2 pieces was already missing from my husband and my son. It was really good! Of course my kids made me cards that says I love you all over them. I Loved it! Amber and I went to church afterwards, the sermon was the whole congregation giving a testamony about how thankful they are with their moms or how god has blessed you.

I got up to be the second person to speak. I told them how blessed I was to have a mother that is so wonderful. I spoke about blessing me after my heart attack 5 years ago. How he blessed Frank after his stroke. How we were able to keep our house after 3 months of no checks coming in on Frank's side. How i was blessed with some of the people in the church...."Ann" was a neighbor for 16 years....she babysat my children from birth till 3 years old. She adores my children. Amber was her first girl child to babysit. Also how I was blessed for having Judy and Harold in my life. They gave me my first real money in a job, Harold helped me with getting my first car. He also helped with repairing alot of my vehicles.

I'm lucky to have a wonderful husband! When a lady that is married to my "ex boyfriend" got up to ask for prayers about her husband and all of his cheating...apparently he's been cheating since the day they got married and she is going to court because one day she caught him and her together and while she drove away I guess her side mirror hit the tramp in the hip. She had to spend the night in jail because of him! I am sooooooooo grateful not to be in that relationship anymore!

I have alot to be thankful for. I stress out alot around here...but truth be told I have faith that God will work things out for me and my family he always has.
______________________________________________
Ok...i don't know where all that came from...I started off not having much to say.

For my mother I went over on Saturday to give her a card and I also got her a combination birthday and Mother's Day gift. It was a beautiful statue that I came across, it's a little boy sitting down holding a fishing pole with a little fish dangling off it. I saw it and thought it would look awesome around her pond. I was hoping that she would have took a picture of it and put it on her blog...but she hasn't yet. *sigh*

I had a great Mother's Day all in all.
_____________________________
Work is going good...I have never worked in a place that tells you how much they appreciate what you do for them. When your a good worker you DO hear about it.

Did I tell you that one of my bosses gave me a "caught in the act" note? For those that don't know what that is....It's a note stating what you did and how much they apreciated it. This is a big deal! It goes in your work file and everything! Some of these people have been there for years....and never have gotten one...I have been there under a year and have one...woohooo.
___________________________
Frank's birthday is tomorrow the 15th! He is taking Friday off for it.
Happy 42nd Birthday ...

Well I rambled on long enough...Like i said i sat down in front of the computer not really having anything to talk about and I ended up writing about garbage...lol
Take care all

TO ALL MY READER'S THAT ARE MOTHERS

AND TO MY MOTHER ......I LOVE YOU WITH ALL MY HEART!!!!!

HOPE YOU LOVED YOUR PRESENT :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM,

HAPPY 59TH BIRTHDAY MOM!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOVE YA!!

COMPLAINTS

It started yesterday...I was thinking of all the little things that happen in my house that drive me absolutely batty! I never really say anything about them ....but enough is enough..

1. why am i the only one that can put the cap back on the toothpaste?

2. why am the only one that can fold the laundry? I get volunteers to wash and dry, but heaven forbid anyone folding!

2. when washing dishes and finished, why can't anyone take the rag and wipe the counter?

3. Am i the only one that can physically install a new roll of toilet paper?

4. why am i the only one that can see a piece of paper on the floor...people walk around it for weeks...(seriously..i have tested this and its a fact) no will pick it up...i end up doing it after i have taken all i can take of seeing it.

5. After years of telling the kids to pick up the dirty clothes and put it in the hamper...I am still repeating myself like a broken record every morning. (do they ever learn?)

6. why is the worst task in the world to ask your kids is to put their clean clothes in the dressers?

7. why am i the official cleaner of the bathroom?

8. If you see something that needs dusting....can you take 2 seconds of your life and wipe it with a rag? Or even take a feather duster to it?

9. Apparently I only know how to run a vacuum. (unless i beg someone else do it while i prepare dinner or something)

10. Apparently I am the only one that knows what a mop and bucket is.

11. I have become the official " the guinea cage needs to be clean" informer!

12. Why do i have to make sure that everything that needs to be done is getting done?

13. why do i have to throw out a bottle of shampoo if it's empty?

14. why do i have to pick out the slivers of bar soap to throw away and put a fresh bar every time?

15. If i ask you where do you want to eat..it means i don't care..you pick...because if i really want something in particular, i would not even ask you where you wanted to go...we would just go.

16. If they open a closet why can't they shut it?

Alright i think i could go on and on...but i think you get my point...
All I am asking is if you see something that needs to be done...just do it...don't wait till i have a kiniption fit.

test

I Turned out to be a 4...which pretty much described me to a T.
I got this in an email and thought i would share it with you all.




Birth Test

Let me know your number.

Have fun!

Our Birth Date describes who we are, what we are good at, and what our inborn abilities are. It also points to what we have to learn and the challenges we are facing. To figure out your Birth Number, add all the numbers in your Birth Date together, like in the following example, until there is only one digit.

A Birth Number does not prevent you from being anything you want to be, it will just color your choice differently and give you a little insight.

3 + 20 + 1950 = 1973
1 + 9 + 7 + 3 = 20
2 + 0 = 2

Keep going until you end up with a single digit number. 2 is the Birth Number to read for the Birth Date in the example.

#1 THE ORIGINATOR
#2 THE PEACEMAKER
#3 THE LIFE OF THE PARTY
#4 THE CONSERVATIVE
#5 THE NONCONFORMIST
#6 TH E ROMANTIC
#7 THE INTELLECTUAL
#8 THE BIG SHOT
#9 THE PERFORMER

# 1 - THE ORIGINATOR - 1's are originals. Coming up with new ideas and executing them is natural. Having things their own way is another trait that gets them labeled as being stubborn and arrogant. 1's are extremely honest and would do well to learn some diplomacy skills. They like to take the initiative and are often leaders or bosses, as they like to be the best. Being self-employed is definitely helpful for them. Lessons to learn: Others' ideas might be just as good or
better; and to stay open minded. Famous 1's - Tom Hanks, Robert Redford, Hulk Hogan, Carol Burnett, Wynona Judd,

#2 - THE PEACEMAKER - 2's are the born diplomats. They are aware of others needs and moods and often think of others before themselves. Naturally analytical and very intuitive, they don't like to be alone. Friendship and companionship are very important and can lead them to be successful in life; but, on the other hand, they'd rather be alone than in an uncomfortable relationship. Being naturally shy, they should learn to boost their self-esteem and express themselves freely and seize the moment and not put things off.
Famous 2's - President Bill Clinton, Madonna, Whoopie Goldberg, Thomas Edison and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

# 3 - THE LIFE OF THE PARTY - 3's are idealists. They are very creative, social, charming, romantic, and easygoing. They start many things but don't always see them through. They like others to be happy and go to great lengths to achieve it. They are very popular and idealistic. They should learn to see the world from a more realistic point of view.
Famous 3's - Alan Alda, Ann Landers, Bill Cosby, Melanie
Griffith, Salvador Dali, and Jodi Foster

# 4 - THE CONSERVATIVE - 4 's are sensible and traditional. They like order and routine. They only act when they fully understand what they're expected to do. They like getting their hands dirty and working hard. They are attracted to the outdoors and feel an affinity with nature. They are prepared to wait and can be stubborn and persistent. They should learn to be more flexible and to be nice to themselves.
Famous 4's - Neil Diamond, Margaret Thatcher, Arnold
Schwarzenegger, Tina Turner, Paul Hogan, and Oprah Winfrey

# 5 - THE NONCONFORMIST - 5's are the explorers. Their natural curiosity, risk taking, and enthusiasm often land them in hot water. They need diversity, and don't like to be stuck in a rut. The whole world is their school and they see a learning possibility in every situation. The questions never stop. They are well advised to look before they take action and make sure they have all the facts before jumping to conclusions.
Famous 5's - Abraham Lincoln, Charlotte Bronte, Jessica Walter, Vincent Van Gogh, Bette Midler, Helen Keller and Mark Hail.

# 6 - THE ROMANTIC - 6's are idealistic and need to feel useful to be happy. A strong family connection is important to them. Their actions influence their decisions. They have a strong urge to take care of others and to help. They are very loyal
and make great teachers. They like art or music. They make loyal friends who take the friendship seriously. 6's should learn to differentiate between what they can change and what they cannot.
Famous 6's - Albert Einstein, Jane Seymour, John Denver, Meryl Streep, Christopher Columbus, and Goldie Hawn

#7 - THE INTELLECTUAL - 7's are the searchers. Always probing for hidden information, they find it difficult to accept things at face value. Emotions don't sway their decisions. Questioning everything in life, they don't like to be questioned themselves. They're never off to a fast start, and their motto is 'slow and steady wins the game. They come across as philosophers and being very knowledgeable, and sometimes as loners. They are technically inclined and make great researchers uncovering information. They like secrets. They live in their own world and should learn what is
acceptable and what is not in the world at large.
Famous 7's - William Shakespeare, Lucille Ball, Michael Jackson, Joan Baez, Princess Diana, and Vince Ricciardi

# 8 - THE BIG SHOT - 8's are the problem solvers. They are
professional, blunt, and to the point, have good judgment and are decisive. They have grand plans and like to live the good
life. They take charge of people. They view people objectively.
They should learn to base their decisions on their own needs rather than on what others want.
Famous 8's - Edgar Cayce, Barbra Streisand, George Harrison, Jane Fonda, Pablo Picasso, Aretha Franklin, and Nostradamus.

#9 - THE PERFORMER - 9's are natural entertainers. They are very caring and generous, giving away their last dollar to help. With their charm, they have no problem making friends and nobody is a stranger to them. They have so many different personalities that people around them have a hard time
understanding them. They are like chameleons, ever changing and blending in. They have tremendous luck, but also can suffer from extremes in fortune and mood. To be
successful, they need to build a loving foundation. Famous 9s - Albert Schweitzer, Shirley MacLaine, Harrison Ford, Jimmy Carter, and Elvis Presley

Ahhhh Spring

I told you things were growing around here...My Day Lillie's are starting to sprout :)







A picture of my little garden in the front of the house. I love my Lighthouse, at night the light on top actually goes around and around like a real lighthouse. A friend gave this to me for my birthday last year.






Sunny days make you wish that you did not have to go to work. When i am working i am looking out every window just to see the sun-a-shinin.







This is all you want to do after receiving your yearly shots. Saturday my poor dogs stood in line for 3 1/2 hours to be one of the first of thousands of animals in line to get their yearly shots and be registered to the city for their licenses. Luckily we were 3rd in line.
Mini my Great Pyrenees here is in her favorite corner of my bedroom next to my bed.

Torro here is comfortable right here on my couch.

I was not stealthy enough to catch Hershey in his little nap. But they are all a little sore to touch from the shots.

Next thing on my list is to have my little Chihuahua's neutered. I am hoping that will fix some of the fighting between them.

I hope everyone had a lovely weekend...this was my weekend...shots and the bringing out of the garden items..oh and work! I did manage to go to church last night, I was glad i did. It was a nice sermon about temptations and what we can do to resist it.

Take care all...i have to get ready to pick up my kids and then go to work.

Everyone's working!

Well things have gotten back to routine. I work, he works, the kids are put to work. All is right in the world.

I finally feel pretty good. I just got my hearing back today..woohooo....
When I talked to one of my nurse friends at the hospital, she said that i was not the only person that she heard that had my same symptoms...I guess germee's are getting creative. lol

I took advantage of all the nice weather that we had and stayed outside, I did what ever I could to be outdoors. I've raked about 6 bags of my neighbors weeping willow twigs out of my back yard...I had been dying to do that since the snow melted and you could see them. Things are starting to grow out of the ground...all is new again.

After all that raking we took the dogs on a nice long walk. The Chihuahuas loved it! Poor Mini my Great Pyrenees turned 12 on March 16th and she is losing her stamina. She used to be able to walk with me, now she walks behind me. The vet says that in dog years she is more than 120 years old. Poor girl, she has problems with her back legs.

Work is treating me great, still giving me all the hours I can handle. No problems to complain about with the crew. I am seeing more and more of my blockbuster customers there. I love seeing them and they look at me like they know me but not sure. I have to be the first to say where they know me from.

The kids are bringing home lots of field trips...Darin is going to Cedar Point and the Henry Ford Museum. Amber told me of a couple that she is going on. It is towards the end of the year and it is time to get out of the school!

Well peeps I have a 5:30 a.m. wake up call for work...
Stay healthy, safe and warm :)

meme

I normally don't do too many memes...but this looked simple enough. Thanks to mommas corner for the meme.

The rule! Remember:
You Can Only Type One Word

1. Where is your mobile phone? ~counter


2. Your significant other? ~ working


3. Your hair? ~ short


4. Your mother? ~ awesome


5. Your father? ~ helpful


6. Your favorite thing? ~ computer


7. Your dream last night? ~ nonmemoriable


8. Your favorite drink? ~ coke


9. Your dream/goal? ~ comfortable


10. The room you’re in? ~ kitchen


11. Your ex? ~ jerk!


12. Your fear? ~ loss


13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? ~ comfortable


14. Where were you last night? ~ bed


15. What you’re not? ~ skinny


16. Muffins? ~ blueberry


17. One of your wish list items? ~ cruise


18. Where you grew up? ~ Michigan


19. The last thing you did? ~ laundry


20. What are you wearing? ~ clothes


21. Your TV?~ ncis


22. Your pets? ~many


23. Your computer? ~ communicator


24. Your life? ~ predictable


25. Your mood? ~ happy


26. Missing someone? ~ YES


27. Your car? ~ pickup


28. Something you’re not wearing? ~socks


29. Favorite Store? ~walmart


30. Your summer? ~ coming


31. Like someone? ~ mostly


32. Your favorite color? ~ teal


33. When is the last time you laughed? ~ today


34. Last time you cried? ~ Thursday


35. Who will/would re-post this? ~ whoever
Have fun!~~~

"THE LOST PICS"

The pictures that i thought i had lost from Amber's victory and banquet were found by my smart daughter...they weren't lost just simply in another area on the computer...Thank God...i thought i had lost these memories forever.

This is a pic of Amber and the other only girl wrestler on the team Sabrina.












Amber and one of the coaches that helps.









Coach "Mack" MacDonald and another team mate that seemed to have a problem with getting out of the way of a photo op!




















Amber gots him where she wants him








Almost there

































The ultimate PIN! Yay Amber!















About to shake hands...good fight!










gotta go shake the other coaches hands










I wanted to get a pic of the Ref raising her hand but he did it so quick i was not able to get it. Damn!
Anyhoo....Amber found my pics and she burned them onto a CD...geesh..I don't even know how to do that yet...i better get on the ball and let her teach me..lol.

In other news I have been sooooooo sick since Easter...I had drank DayQuil like it was water up until Thursday and that's when i said enough is enough...all the signs of infection were there so i went to see my doctor. He was happy to see me since i have not seen him since October...oops...seems that since Frank was visiting regularly that i would not have been missed..wrong! Yeh, how about I was there and the first thing was asking about Frank and after all that...i was like "Me"..."I'm sick" "fix me now" lol....So he gives me the drugs that i need and tells me that i have to come in on Saturday the 5th for my annual Pap Smear..."Great!!"
And all the fixins of blood draws!

So I start taking the drugs on Thursday and on Friday my left ear was going deaf and the pain was so unbearable! It scared me...what does any normal person do? I called my mommy..lol
She suggested warm compresses which helped for a minute, then i put some antibiotic drops in my ears that Amber had left over from her last ear infection and then took the wicked great cough medicine the doctor gave me that knocks me out and fell asleep. When i woke up on Saturday all was good...it was still sore to touch around the ear...but no unbearable pain.

This was some nasty sickness...coughed up more phlegm and gone thru so much toilet paper than anyone could ever go thru. Hopefully no one else will get this...i've tried to stay away from the kids and Frank but you never know were germs lurk.
____________________________________________

I've got a new friend :) actually an old friend....I've known her since high school...but with the goings on of life and families and such we drifted and recently have been reunited. We recently got together to rehash old memories...and i am looking forward to making new memories.
___________________________________________

Well all....I have some kids that are going back to school in the morning and I have my day off after a 12 day run of working. I have to get some much needed cleaning out of the way. No rest for the sick!
Oh...Watch out for the April fool's jokes on the 1st.

Amber is undefeated!!!!!

Amber had her first and last match today...you gotta go to my mom's blog and watch it!!! She did it in the first minute and 30 seconds. You can hear me screaming and her father screamin in the video. We are so excited!!! They had the banquet right after the tournament, it was very nice.

Oh...i did take lots, and lots of pics and stupid beginner of the digital camera accidently did not import them into my picture project thingy and ended up losing all my precious pics. :(
sad does not explain the frustration that i feel.
But i got mom's video to remind me.
Please go and watch it :)
Thanks mom for posting it :)

oh, in other exciting news Frank went back to work today :) :) :) yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THINGS IN GENERAL

It's been rough! On Sunday will finish thirteen days of working straight, monday will be my day off then i work Tuesday have Wednesday off then I start another twelve day's of working. I hope Frank starts working on the 19th so I can say no every now and then.

Frank has seen every specialist that our doctor has sent him to and so far every doctor has told Frank that they don't see any reason as long as Frank thinks he can do it not to be working. So if God willing, Frank may be back to work on the 19th of the month.

Amber still has not been able to compete against anyone. She was asked if she wanted to wrestle one of her team mates in front of everyone and she told her coach no. She told me that she wants to wrestle someone not from her team. There are only 2 more tournaments left. I think she will be wrestling either Monday or Wednesday. Wednesday after their meet is their banquet. It's been really fun watching Amber's practices and meets, all the kids have done really well. I never thought i would get into as much as i have. You should see me...I'm all shouting things from the bleachers rooting the kids on.

I have been having some problems with one lady at work. Nothing i can't handle, but i don't know why she keeps trying to get me into trouble. It's not working because 1) they think i am a great employee :) and 2) I have witness's for the stuff that she is pulling. My manager says she is going to call a meeting to see if she can get things straight around here.

I got my haircut today...and I can say that this is the first haircut in awhile that i am not liking! She cut it tooooooo short! My usual lady was not there (called in sick) so I let another do it and well I learned my lesson...I just wanted it cut so bad because it was starting to bother me. Next time i will say another day won't hurt..lol

Anyhoo...that's the poop around here.
Hopefully by Monday or Wednesday i will posting pics of Amber winning or getting her ass kicked...lol.

First Pic

This is the first pic from my new digital camera that i got for Christmas.

There was too much light in the gym that it kept coming up blurry pic...I kept it anyways because i wanted to learn how to put pictures on my computer and I also wanted you all to see my daughter in her uniform even if she don't get to wrestle.

shhhh......Rumor has it that she might be wrestling on Friday against Lincoln middle school because they have alot of 6th graders on their team.

So far with the 2 schools they have gone up against Oakwood is undefeated! I pray if Amber gets to wrestle she does good.

She looks so cute in uniform :)

Here's some pics my mom sent me that she took

This is her coach acting like a goofball...lol...

He is the sweetest guy but firm guy you would ever want for a coach.

He says that he has trained many girls and one is even going into the olympics.

20 YEARS

Has it been that long? Couldn't be! I have been a High School Graduate for 20 years! For some reason last night i decided to check out Classmates.com and found out my graduating year is trying to put together a great class reunion. I am seriously thinking of going! It's going to be a bit expensive but there are a few people i would love to see again.

I just hate the thought of going and just sitting at a table and not recognize a single person or have anything to say to anyone. I wish i knew if anyone that i used to hang with will be going. I'm really wishing for a couple of my old buds would go!

School for me was not horrible, i just was not grouped with anyone. You know the "jocks" "nerds" "preppies" " stoners", i was just me, and i was always the one that you could talk to, get advice. I had friends with all of the groups.

Has anyone gone to their high school reunions? Did you find it exciting? Or did you just end up sitting at a table not knowing anyone or bored out of your minds?

WHAT'S UP!

I have been so busy with working that i don't know what day it is sometimes.

Frank is doing great! He needs to be working! He visited the neurologists today and he pretty much told Frank that he did not see any reason for him not to go back to work if he thinks he can do the work. He want's him to go for a few more tests and is going to suggest to our family doctor to put him on a different medication specially made for stroke victims.

So if everything goes the way we want Frank may be at work on the 11th! (insert lots of prayers here). Thank God for income tax money and the little bit we had stashed aside. Hopefully he will get back to work and all will be right in the world. Also i am hoping that he won't have any further problems.

Oh my god I was so sick this past week! I had the worst cold ever! And had to suck it up and work! Would you believe that my job made me sign a document that i would not come to work sick...lol.. I swallowed dayquil ritually to make sure that they did not know that i was sick as a dog. I love the stuff! Worked like a charm! The only time i ever call in to work is if i am vomiting or i hurt my back so much that i can't walk.

Guess who has it now...lol...Frank!
He tried so hard to stay away from me. But the icky germs got him anyways...

Amber had her first tournament on Wednesday and it turns out she did not get to wrestle. According to school rules or whatever....she can only fight a 6th grader and has to be in her weight class. So we may go to all the tournaments and she may never hit the matt....
It was a real bummer to find that out. But i have to admit it was fun to watch the kids wrestle. The little ones really put up a great fight.
If you want to see some cute pics of my daughter at the practice game getting pinned you need to take a look at my mom's blog.

Well...I have to get up early for work. Later all

UPDATE ON FRANK

Ever since Frank got out of the hospital it has been one doctors appointment after another. He's seen our family physician which has sent him to a MRI/MRA which turned out to be a nightmare for me that day. A tech read his brain x-rays and told my husband that he had a bleed on the brain. Of course he panics (naturally) and calls me at work and all i could here is blah, blah, blah I have a bleed on the brain! Picture me sweating, crying and worried about finishing my job so that i could be with my husband that was on the way to emergency. Frank gets into the emergency room which all the nurses go into thier emergency mode and stick Frank with a brand new I.V. , just after recovering from the 2 that he had while there for his stroke. In comes a nurse just after they poked him and says "your going home"...we look like omg why? Well the nurse informs us that the radiologist called and said that the "tech" read the xrays wrong and it was not a new bleed, it was his stroke that he just had.

I could tell you that i did not need that all!!!!!

Anyhoo...he has been to physical therapy every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Thank god that doctor has ok'd him to drive small distances, and only to his appointments that he has to go to. They really work on you at therapy, his has lots of exercises to do and they even hook him up to some electrical shock in his arm to get the muscles to move...some exciting news is that he is getting some movement in his hand slowly but surely. He is really trying! He can't stand being home all day.

He went to an ultrasound on his arm to see if there is a clog in there causing the problem..waiting to hear how that went.. and towards the end of the month he will be going to a neuroligist. All kinds of fun and excitement just adding up to tons of medical bills and nothing put worries.

If anyone ever said that my life is easy i would laugh in their face.

Well in other news...
I got what you call a paper interview from my job for the full time position that i was interested in. They said that they were not going to do any permanent hiring but apparently that has changed and i am desperately hoping that i get it! They give me the hours all the time...but i could really use the benefit package...especially if hubby can't go back to work very soon.

I did start the paper work rolling for disability but you know how that goes.

In even more news...

My daughter has chosen to join a sport...any guesses??????

If you guessed wrestling, you are right!!!!

She went for her physical yesterday and the doctor and the nurses thinks she is borderline crazy..lol..
If i didn't already know some girls that are wrestling I would think she is one frie short of a happymeal myself. lol I will keep you all posted on how she does...Her first meet is on the 27th!
She starts practice on Monday the the 11th.


I think i will share a bumper sticker that i read that just plain made me stop and think.

it said
"Life is a gift, that's why they call it the present"

HE'S HOME!

Frank got to come home Tuesday. The verdict is that he had his third stroke. He is showing improvement. He went from no strength in his hand to being able to squeeze a very little bit. It's going to take time but i think that he will be able to get back to work. He is really trying hard. He is constantly trying to work with his ball and trying to pick things up with his hand.
He's been a non-smoker a week come tomorrow. I can tell you that I will never buy another cigarette for him. I told him that he's had 3 strokes now the next could kill him or paralyze him for good. I also told him that if he thinks he's leaving me with 2 kids by myself he's crazy! lol

Everyone at work has been really great! All the nurses ask me how he is doing, all my co-workers ask me everyday how he is doing and offering their prayers. I've never worked for a place that genuinely shows concern. I've never worked for a place that is so grateful that you came in early or that you came in to help on your day off. Not only one manager says thank you but all of them thank you.

We had a meeting yesterday, the meeting was to express any concerns or any suggestions that we may have about our jobs. So I took a brief second to express my Thanks for all the well wishes and i let the managers know how much I appreciated their kindness.
Well, i can tell you that i am emotionally and physically exhausted!!
Now i am off to bed to get up very early to work again.

Please Pray

My husband is in the hospital with a possible stroke....It's only affecting his left arm and most of all his left wrist and fingers. He can move is arm up and down, but it feels like 100 pounds he says. Last night he was not able to control his wrist...but today he was able to move it at will. But his fingers are still not able to move from an almost fist like position. They said that the catscan shows that he had 2 previous strokes in the past but they can't say that this is one because sometimes new strokes don't show up right away.
I have about a million things running thru my brain...my first worry is my husband and getting him better. Then my next worry is him not being able work and so on and so forth.

I haven't had much sleep but i have heard prayer chains work miracles, please join me in prayer for a healing.

Happy New Year

Hoping for a wonderful New Year!

I got this in an email and thought it would be great for a hello to the New Year!

I hope that everyone had a wonderful and stress free Christmas. I know that i have been reading wonderful things on those blogs that i read daily!

As always my family had a wonderful holiday. Everyone has got what they asked for. My son is in love with his new flat screen t.v., my daughter is enjoying her portable dvd player. She is enjoying her spending money. She went with me to get our hair done. New haircuts and highlights, we feel all refreshed.

Today i purchased my very own digital camera! Now i have a brand new toy! Hopefully soon i will be taking my own pictures and posting them to my blog. Mom has promised to help if i need it. It's a Nikon L11 and seems to be pretty easy to use, which is exactly what i was looking for.

I'm not completely computer illiterate but i am no scholar at it either. This is a pic of my new camera.

This is a family portrait that my mother took with her camera on Christmas Day. I think it turned out nice. Although i can see the tired in my face.

New Years Day is my last day with Blockbuster's. I have mixed feelings about leaving. I have worked for them 6 years and it was a wonderful job compared to the 16 years working at McDonald's. But i feel the need to move on to hopefully better things without killing myself with working too much.

I forgot to mention how i tricked the kids this year. Everything that they had specifically asked for i hid in my room, so everything underneath the tree was things that they could care less about. When they were done opening them i asked "did you get everything that you asked for?" they obviously said "NO!" I laughed and said "Ya'll must have been some bad kids!" lol

I had a great laugh at their expense hehe...then i got up said i had to use the bathroom and came out with the other gifts... The look on their faces was priceless!!!

Well i gotta run.

Everyone have a Wonderful New Year!!! See you next year :)

Merry Christmas

Hoping everyone has a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

I normally don't go shopping on Christmas Eve, I try to avoid it if at all possible, but i found myself running out really quick for one more gift that i had forgotten. Luckily i knew what i wanted, grabbed it and ran like the dickens to get out!

I luckily had Christmas Eve off and I don't have to work until 4pm. on Christmas Day. Enough time to be with the kids and family before going to work for a couple of hours.

________________________

Yesterday i made a huge decision! I talked with my husband and he agreed that I should put in my 2 weeks notice to Blockbuster! I am working way to much. I find myself on my feet sometimes 16 hours in a day. I'm always complaining of how much my body is aching. I will miss that money, but I have to go with faith that working at the hospital will be better for me and less stressful. My boss at Blockbuster told me that i could always come back if i wanted, even as a csr. I don't think that i could do that. Especially if they pulled a manager from another store and started barking orders to me. I'm too old for that.

I love the thought that i will be home more for my kids. I won't be coming home in the middle of the night anymore, the latest i will ever work is maybe 9:30 pm and that's on a really bad night.

Well I'm off to bed soon because I know the kids will be up really early!
MERRY X-MAS!

SCHOOL PICS ARE IN

Is it me or does Darin look really happy to have his picture taken? Geesh, with all the money you spend on school pics is it too much to ask for a smile? Amber, what can i say, I hate how she did her hair! Makes her face look pudgy! And then i look at her chest region and think my god that's a 12 year old? Once i look past all that i see two beautiful children and they are mine :)

Thanksgiving was excellent! It was really nice in the fact that i only had to work 3 hours the whole day. We spent our Thanksgiving with my mom, dad, sister, Aunt, Uncle and cousins. The food turned out really good other than the stuffing. I usually gobble alot of that, but for some reason mom strayed from her normal stuffing and it just did not hit the spot as usual. She agreed that it was just not the same.

Frank spent two weekends up north trying to hunt for deer. Of course he did not get anything, he said he saw lots of deer and actually shot at one but missed. He also told me that him and his buddies got yelled at for being on private property. According to them they were on a very fine line of private and public property. Oh well, i just call it some time for male bonding.

Last weekend after i got off work, my daughter and I went into the garage and pulled down everything that i needed for Christmas decorating. I started with the outside because i knew it will get colder soon and i still had some daylight left. Then i worked on the inside, once i get into decorating i work until i am done. I have to say that my daughter was a great big help!!!!!! She always has been a great helper! She put bulbs on the tree, she helped with putting decorations in the windows. I had to move our entertainment center to another wall, so she helped me with that.

When i tell people what i do in one single day people are amazed. Employees at the hospital thing i am a work-a-holic. I tell them if i could figure out a way to get paid for staying home i would! Or for that matter to get things done without actually doing them, i would be the first to sign up.

Well i'm off to finish laundry and get ready for work.

Pre-holiday wishes

If i don't get to tell you this before the holiday, HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!

Everything around here is pretty uneventful. I went to the Darin and Amber's parent teacher conferences. I CAN tell you that they did survive. Darin did push his grades up...but not so well that he was on the honor roll. I am a little disappointed, only knowing that he could have done it if he just applied himself. He was lazy starting into the year is all i can say. But now that i have talked to all his teachers and told them what an excellent student he was last year, all the teachers are expecting much more from him... Is/was that bad of me? I just think i kicked him into gear a bit. Because lately when he does his homework, he seems a bit more into it.

Amber did very well, her grades are exactly what i thought she was going to get. Except in Band...(yeh the class that i thought would be a waste of time)but i gave her the benefit of the doubt and let her give it a try. She got an F. I from the beginning did not think it was a class that she would be devoted to. So before anymore damage was caused i pulled her from the class. She agreed with me on taking her out of band and seeing what other class she could try. She is now in computers...(this class i know she will excel in).

But on a lighter note...both kids are liked by the teachers...they went on and on about how well behaved they are in class. It always amazes me when they tell me that.

Can you believe Thanksgiving is so close...and Christmas is just around the corner! Has anyone else started Christmas shopping? I have gotten a few things set aside for the kids, just a couple of items for them to open ...then i might stick some money in a package to let them get whatever they choose to go and get.

I'm trying to talk my husband in just purchasing a small tree to put on top of a table so that our big tree will not take so much space!
Also the fact that i work so much that i don't have alot of time to decorate the house to the hilt. The kids are older now and they know that there is no such thing as you-know-who, so i don't see the point for all of it.

anyhoo...

Frank is off doing that male bonding thing...Hunting...dumb! But if he wants to go sit out in the cold and freeze for hours...let him.

Also everyone needs to visit my mothers site and ask why she hasn't posted my kids school pictures yet! lol my sister's kids have been posted for weeks!

well time to go to bed...work as usual in the morning.
Insert sleep here!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN(in the spirit of Halloween)

face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" style='color:black; font-size: 14pt;'>You Are A VampireYou have a real thirst for bliss, and you consider yourself a true hedonist.And you're not afraid to walk alone in life, if it means getting what you truly crave.You truly enjoy entrancing people. Not to mention the ensuing pleasures of the flesh. Your tastes have been called decadent and bizarre. You usually give in to your temptations, no matter how primal
Your greatest power: Your flawless ability to seduce and charm
Your greatest weakness: Human flesh
You play well with: Werewolves

http://www.blogthings.com/whatkindofmonsterareyouquiz/">What Kind of Monster Are You?

Routine

That's what life is starting to feel like. If you asked "what did you do yesterday, the day before, the day before that?" I would answer "worked, worked, worked." My body is starting to take a toll with all the walking.

Today i don't have to work till 4 pm so what do i do?! I work on my house, cleaning my daughters room, which she keeps tidy, but once in a while i like to get in there and really clean it.
My son keeps his room nice and everything is in it's place. Isn't it amazing how kids are different?

forgot to mention

I forgot to mention that when i saw my doctor about being sick, i found out that i had lost 4 pounds in two weeks. From being so busy working and all the walking i have been doing. Also my blood pressure was the best that i ever had! 105 over 85, i usually run about 130 over 90.
I was very excited that all the exercise I was getting was actually working...yahoo!

I just got back from the haunted hayride with the kids and it was so much fun! It was a great night for it, not too cold and no rain in sight. It was about an hours drive to Armada and the hayride took you deep into some woods. People were popping out at you constantly ...right at the beginning they were headless horsemen riding on horses with long swords. I did not anticipate horses jumping out in front of me. Characters jumping onto the wagon scaring the crap out of everyone. It was a nice family day for us all.

Now its back to the grindstone with work.

HEY ALL

Hope everyone is healthy and well rested, cuz i'm NOT!
Folks i have been sick since Saturday. Started off just feeling blah, then the stuffed up feeling in the head and by Monday it was in my chest. I had to work both jobs feeling like crap with a capital CRAP! On Monday i did get to see my doctor with wonderful news that i had an upper respitory infection and he asked me how many days off work i wanted. Of course i told none because number (1) I just started working for one of them and (2)Cuz i need the money! Just give me the drugs and off to work i go!

Last week alone i worked 75 1/2 hours but this week will not be that bad. In fact after 3 weeks solid of working everyday, this Saturday i actually have a day completely off! I am going to try and do something fun with hubby and the kids. I really want to go on a haunted hayride. I told hubby i don't want to walk thru anything! I walk all the time! Some days i am on my feet fifteen to 16 hours.

I can't believe that Christmas is just around the corner, can you? I have no idea what to get the kids.....They say they want money, so that they can buy what they want. But you know as well as i do that i like watching the suprise in their eyes. I will probably buy a few small gifts and give them some money.
Well folks this is about all i can get done today..i'm off to bed...

just a quick note

Well since i wrote last Darin had strep, followed by Amber. Frank was suffering from sinuses and now i am officially not feeling good. It's all in my sinuses also, i'm sitting here trying to figure out if i am ready to go to the doctors. I'm thinking right now i probably can get away with over the counter drugs. We'll see.

Amber did talk to the vice principal and he talked to the boy that was threatening her. She says the boy is being nicer to her now. I'm glad that's taken care of.

Amber joined band this year and goes today to see what instrument she is going to pick to play. We are going to rent the instrument until we know that she is fully into doing it.

I'm going to be working a whole lot of hours at the hospital in the next 2 weeks which is good.
take care

A THURSDAY AT MY HOUSE

My job's are going great. But the more i work at the hospital, the more i hate working for Blockbuster. The stress to get the sales there are just killing me. What do they expect when most of the people working there are only getting an average of 10 to at most 20 hours a week. My job there seems 3 times as hard as ever. Today i did about a million things and time dragged like no other. I stocked the pop and candy to the hilt today because it seems that no managers that are working the night shift think that this is part of their job or to deligate this job to any crew members because it must be a sin. I am not kidding when i say i emptied about 70 boxes of candy out of our storage room. I felt like i worked on this what seemed like eternity, but ended up only being 3 hours. Then i cleaned up the backroom emptying more boxes, since i was back there i decided that the bathroom could use a good cleaning. Well since i cleaned the bathroom i guess i better mop the floors, so now i am sweeping and mopping and pulling out all kinds of garbage.

Time just never moved, the more i did the more i found myself finding other things to do. It was like yesterday at home, I was doing laundry when i started to see things that needed to get done in the laundry room. Like dusting the tops of the hot water tank and the furnace. Washing the washing machine and dryer, and the front of the furnace. I'm really starting to get anal with keeping things neat and clean. I have the worst habit of hopping out of bed and starting right away with cleaning things. Before i leave the house things have to be a certain way or it bugs me to no end. Do you think i might be a little OCD? Even when i say i am not going to clean this or that, in my mind it's tearing me up, because i know it's not done, so i get up and do it. Geez i need help..lol

Anyhooo...yesterday Darin woke up for school, got dressed, ate his breakfast, and sometimes he will lay back down till we have to leave for school. Well when i woke him back up he said "mom i don't feel very well, my stomach hurts" of course i am thinking "yeh right, already starting with wanting to stay home" of course i said "no fever, no throwing up, your going to school" they know my rules! NOOOOOO sooner than i said that he said mommmmmmm and runs to the bathroom and projectile vomiting everywhere. It came out of him like a volcanoe! Then after the vomiting he sits for a minute and says " mommmmmm, my throat is hurting really bad" so i start to look for a fricken flashlight that works, because i am thinking if it's an infection it will be red in his throat and if that's the case i have to bring him today because on Friday i am practically working 12 hours and i can't go then or he will suffer the weekend with an inflamed throat....so when i saw pink in the throat i call the doctors....rush him over there to find out he has strep! NICE!

Come home to pick up my daughter from school only to find out that some boy at school is threatening to beat her up. She is taking apropriate actions with talking to the vice principal about it in the morning. Does anyone disagree with me when i tell my daughter if someone throws the first punch at her, she needs to defend herself even if it means she might get suspended? I will only get mad if i find out she was the bully and started it. Anyways, this now becomes a huge fight between my daughter and I and i'm ready to shove a sock in her mouth..lol
I think it has alot to do with how tired i am, how tired she is because Amber has not regulated her bed time with school yet. And we both are really close to starting...she gets emotional a week before she starts and I get "pissy" (everyone and everything bugs the crap out of me. )

Well anyway, I hope that the vice principal can do something with the punk little boy that thinks threatening girls with violence is the right thing to do.
Well now that i am officially exhausted and you know i am because i am rambling on and on.
gnight

FITTING RIGHT IN

I don't know how to explain how relaxed my new job is. Relaxed is the only word that can explain my feeling. I don't have a boss constantly nagging, the only expectation is to keep coming down from the floors and grab some more food trays.

At the hospital I am working at they have what they call "room service". You call your breakfast, lunch and dinner down everyday. Within an hour of your phone call you should have your meals. You can call all day for anything to eat or drink and we devliver it to you. There are 4 traypassers constantly deliver food to different rooms and different floors. It's actually kinda fun. You can talk to employees and patients and visitors all over the hospital.

There are 2 people that their job is to go from floor to floor picking up the dirty trays. You get alot more walking done with this job because you have to go into every room and all the "soiled rooms" on every floor.

Then their are a ton of people that work in the kitchen area and dishroom and what they call "the line"(this is the people that make up your tray). It's very organized and most of the patients are impressed with how fast they recieve their food or how tasty everything was.

I should have weighed myself after the first day after i realized how much walking I would be doing, then weigh myself in a couple of weeks and see if i lose weight. Since I have started this job I have noticed that i am not eating as much as i have in the past. Alot of it has to do with i really don't have alot of time to, and I also think that i am not as depressed as i was also. Alot of my overeating was contributed to depression and boredom. As long as i am busy I don't think about food.

I go and see the doctor today, after seeing doctors all day long, I decided that i need to visit my very own. I hope he has good news with all my other test i took last time i was there.
Take care all..

FIRST DAY

First day on the job and i have to say that i LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my new job!

It's still a little confusing to find some of the rooms, but i really enjoyed my first day. Everyone i worked with were very patient and helped me in every way possible. The girl that i was hooked up with all day was the greatest trainer ever! She had a really hard name (Artamesia) this is probably not how to spell it but at least maybe you can sound it out like it supposed to be. I politely asked her if they called her by a nickname, and thank god she said i can call her Me-me.

I'm really excited about this job and hope that i can work with both my jobs.

Next week i have a couple of 6 in the morning starts...This does not excite me! I am not a morning person. But as much as they are paying me...i will do anything :p.

Friday i have the day off at both of my jobs and i have been thinking if all goes well maybe i will take the hubby and kids to the State fair.
take care everyone

I GOT IT!

I have officially passed my physical for my new job. I start working at the hospital on Monday. I'm very excited about doing something different, also the fact that it's in a great hospital. It's in a great neighborhood and it's very close to my house.

I am also very nervous about starting over in a new job. I'm still not sure what they will be having me to do. From what gathered from the interview, it could be anything dealing with deliver the trays of food to the patients or retrieving trays to working in the cafeteria or cooking.

I will know more about my job on Monday after my orientation.

I AM THE MOTHER OF A TEENAGER!!! ACK!

BIRTHDAY BOY DARIN!

He is so excited to finally be a teenager! We had a very small birthday party. Most of the people that we would invite are on vacations.

We did some shopping, took him out bowling and enjoyed some delicious birthday cake.

The boy is towering over all of us! Mind you he stood on his toes just too make that a little more noticeable.

I don't know why i did not smile for this pic, maybe tired from the whole day of doing this, that and the other thing.

Don't we look like an odd family...lol

In other news......On Thursday I got an offer on the hospital job! Yep, i do have the job depending if i pass my physical on Tuesday. I'm praying, and the church that i have started recently are praying that all goes well with my physical and nothing stops me from getting to keep this job. The money they offered me is more that i had anticipated and I am praying that all will go well and see a future in working in a well established hospital. (if you got a minute, can you say a prayer that all will be well )

Since Amber had decided to start going to church, I had to go and get her some dresses. Amber has really never shown an interest in wearing dresses, so i never got her any, ok...maybe one or two in hopes that she would dress up every now and then, but they just occupied space in her closet. So i took her to the Salvation Army and found her 3 perfect dresses. I absolutely love one of them...it looks fantastic on her, i got them for a real bargain....i paid $2.50 for one and $1.00 for another and one cost me $5.00. On my budget it's the best i could do. And only her and i know how much i saved :).

Well people...I'm getting tired....

I will let you know if i passed my physical :)