Thursday Thirteen

Guess what? I found a Thursday meme. A year ago I didn't even know what a meme was. That is why I chose my first Thursday 13 about blogging.

1. I wrote my first blog on August 4, 2006.

2. I started blogging to put my feelings down, still reeling from the death of my 35 month old niece.

3. It was on myspace. The reason I became a member was the ability to view the page set up celebrating my niece's life.

4. It was extremely cathartic.

5. It didn't help as much after my cousin was murdered in January 2008.

6. My Uncle died suddenly a month after that, and if you're keeping count that is all 3 gone in 19 months, and my emotions were on overload.

7. I deleted my myspace, saving my blogs to my computer, 73 pages in Word, in March 2008.

8. I found Blogger and started blogging here a week later, starting out slow.

9. It was so new, I didn't know how to run it and I wasn't sure that I wanted to blog about my heartache, or what I wanted to blog about, besides my kids.

10. In November that changed when my oldest was diagnosed with Type I.

11. I've decided it's no holds barred from here on out and I'm even going to repost some of my old blogs from myspace.

12. I have met some wonderful fellow bloggers, been a part of some great challenges and carnivals, and have loved my time here more than I can say.

13. I am in need of an Extreme Blog Makeover! My makeover will be funded by ebay. ;) I've got 2 different titles in mind, each with their own theme ideas. Now I have to browse designers and get more bang for my buck.

Check out more Thursday 13 at Happy to be at Home.

Killing Me Slowly

UPDATED AFTER ER VISIT

Just over an hour ago we had a fire truck outside the front of our house and three firemen in our house. We called 911 when Peyton decided to eat something, not sure what, but when I went to retrieve it, she sucked it down further and turned blue. Mike flipped her over and started the Heimlich. I grabbed the phone. Peyton's color came back, but she was wheezing and her voice was raspy. The fire truck arrived in warp speed, about 2 - 2 1/2 minutes. By then we believe she completely swallowed it and thought the pounding on her back was a game. We were instructed to give her a bottle before they cancelled the ambulance. She took the bottle, one of the firemen called it in and our orders were to take her to the hospital. The highlight of the firemen visit was while one of them held her I was signing a piece of paper stating the ambulance wasn't taking her and in case she died they weren't responsible she "tooted" as the firemen called it. His eyes got big as quarters and she smiled at him. I couldn't help but laugh. The ER doc ordered X-Rays of her throat, lungs, and stomach. Her throat and lungs were clear. Praise God. Doc said she could have coughed it up and we didn't see it, believe me we would have seen it, or she swallowed it, but it's not obstructing her airway or in her lungs. When her poop comes, it out to be interesting to see what it was. The child will NOT eat food from the table, she REFUSES big people food (did you see the picture of her shaking her head NO to her birthday cake?), and ONLY takes baby food, but she'll put any darn thing off of the floor in her mouth! What the heck?

In her 14 shorts months of life she has been to the ER 5 times. YES, you read that correctly, F-I-V-E! She is her Mama's daughter after all. Last January she rolled out of our bed and hit her head. In June she dislocated her arm, not once, but twice in 24 hours. She did it again about 6 weeks ago. And tonight. Eventually they are going to know her by name, or CPS will be knocking on my door!

Whoever said girls were easier ... LIED!!! She is going to kill me!

Wordless Wednesday: Handy Peyton

She can fix it right!

Check out more Wordless Wednesday over at 5 Minutes for Mom.

What's on Your Nightstand ~ January

My nightstand is chalked full of books this month. I am currently reading, and loving, the Christ the Lord books by Anne Rice. A friend, who I got addicted to the Twilight Saga, loaned me Season of the Witch, and that big black book, believe it or not, is my Bible. What's on Your nightstand?

Vampire Reading Challenge

Honestly, do I need another reading challenge in 2009? Doesn't my 100+ reading challenge cover everything? Of course, but then J. Kaye wrote a blog on a Vampire Reading Challenge hosted by It's All About Books. Mwahahaha. Vampires? Plus reading? Yep, sign me up!

My tentative list includes:

The ENTIRE Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice
1. Interview with the Vampire
2. The Vampire Lestat
3. The Queen of the Damned
4. The Tale of the Body Thief
5. Memnoch the Devil
6. The Vampire Armand
7. Merrick
8. Blood and Gold
9. Blackwood Farm
10. Blood Canticles
11. Pandora
12. Vitorio the Vampire

Claudia Gray's books
13. Evernight
14. Stargazer

15. Dracula by Bram Stoker

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY...January 26th

Outside my window...the sun is shining, the clouds are gone, and the trees are still, a complete 180 from yesterday.

I am thinking...my cup runeth over!

I am thankful for...God's grace.

From the kitchen...breakfast for dinner.

I am wearing...purple sweats and grey Eeyore shirt.

I am creating...change of party date postcards.

I am going...to get some items ready to list on ebay.

I am reading...Season of the Witch by Natasha Mostert.

I am hoping...the weather will be warmer this coming weekend.

I am hearing...the heater humming and the fan of the laptop.

Around the house...the Dylan and Peyton are still asleep and the kitchen is a mess!

One of my favorite things...Cameron scaring Uncle Luke yesterday as he came out of the bathroom.

A few plans for the rest of the week: cleaning, still working in the office, filing my important papers, and wait to hear back about Grandma's hip replacement.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...Hubby & Uncle Luke finishing the kid's working on the new swing set.

Menu Plan Monday

Sunday ~ Hamburgers

Monday ~ Breakfast

Tuesday ~ Fish Sticks, Macaroni and Cheese, Veggie

Wednesday ~ Potato Soup with Shrimp

Thursday ~ Parmigiano and Herb Chicken Breast Tenders

Friday ~ Grilled Cheese & Chicken Noodle Soup

Saturday ~ Out

Breakfasts: Waffles, Bagels, English Muffins, Eggs, Sausage, Cereal w/ Fruit

Lunches: Pastrami w/ Swiss on Onion Rolls, PB&J, Leftovers, Salad

Wordless Wednesday: Diaper Shedding

Peyton learned something new.

Check out more Wordless Wednesday over at 5 Minutes for Mom.

Basic Life Skills Class

I can't believe it has only been 2 months. My gosh it seems so much longer. Two months ago today Hubby and I received a crash course in Type I Diabetes. We sat and learned how to draw up insulin, how to give the shot, what to do if he goes below 70 and what to do if he goes above 250, as well as if he lost consciousness or began having a seizure. After that fun was had, we sat with a dietitian and learned how to count carbs, read labels, and what free foods were. We knew all things Type I Diabetes in under 6 hours, right? WRONG!

Cameron and I attended the Basic Life Skills class today (we didn't make it last month because of the snow?)...FINALLY, was all I could think. I don't know what I expect from these courses, but something other than what I am learning. First off, our quarterly appointments are going to take 2-3 hours. Seriously? And if we have to miss or reschedule for any reason, it will be another 3-4 months before they can get us back in. WTH? They will run a very cool (assuming it's blood) test, AC1, that will give us an average of what his blood sugars have been, and tell us if he's too high, too low, or just right. We are responsible for bringing both (school and home) of his blood sugar meters for them to download, but we also have to bring his log book? It seems to be the same if you ask me.

I know Cameron is in the best hands and it's part of the reason we have decided not leave California quite yet. I was told about 2 weeks ago that Cameron would start the FlexPen at his first doctor appointment the beginning of February. I was so excited, you have no idea. The FlexPen is exactly as it sounds, it looks like a pen, holding 100 units of insulin, where you attach disposable needles, and dial up the units of insulin you need at each meal, or at bedtime. Cameron will be able to give himself his own shot, not having to worry about drawing up insulin, bubbles, etc. This is fantastic for school, as Hubby or I have to make the trek to school EVERY day of the week to give him his shot for lunch. The FlexPen is a VERY cool thing. I am ecstatic, right? WRONG! The gals running the Basic Life Skills class tells me we need to attend the class for the pen first. OH, but wait, before that, we have to attend the Carbohydrate Counting Class first. BOTH, not available until March.

I am ALL for the carb counting class, but it seems to me that the FlexPen class would be sooner to get us off of the syringes. We did learn that we weren't feeding Cameron properly. Well, that's wrong, we are feeding him properly, it's the darn snacks! I was letting him have a granola bar Monday, Wednesday, & Friday for snack to cover recess and PE, but apparently he still needs insulin for the 19 grams of carbs. *sigh* I am so frustrated with what he can and can't have in regards to snacks and what exactly he needs insulin for or the foods he should be eating to cover physical activities. What about bedtime? I'm FRUSTRATED!

I have been frustrated since day 1! I'm thankful our insurance is covering all of this. I'm thankful for the doctor's and the help I receive over the phone. I just ... it's just so much to take in. I just want to go back a few months and live in that moment...oblivious of what was about to come, allowing him to drink Jamba Juice at Disneyland or eating a Mickey Mouse pretzel. I pray for a cure!

Tackle It Tuesday

Since Cameron's diagnosis we have an abudance of diabetic supplies in the house. We definitely needed to tackle it, not just because it was scattered across the kitchen counters, but we needed a much more efficient method of keeping track of what we have and what needs to be ordered. This is what we've come up with to store and organize all supplies.

We keep cotton balls and gloves on top of the unit and a sharps container to the side.

The top drawer is the emergency supplies (glucagon, glucose tablets, cake gel).

The second drawer contains testing supplies (meter, log book, strips, lancets, alcohol wipes).

The bottom drawer contains the needles.

Check back next week where I'll be tackling a diabetic resource binder.

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY...January 19th

Outside my window...the sun is shining, the trees are still, and you would think it was spring rather than winter.

I am thinking...I haven't blogged in a week, it was a busy week!

I am thankful for...my best friend, who has always been there for me, who is my sounding board, who knows me from the inside out, who is my rock, and God, who blessed me abundantly with the sister I never had.

From the kitchen...Eat a Pita Pizza.

I am wearing...grey sweats and a blue shirt with a butterfly made out of red, silver, and blue sparkles.

I am creating...a to do list to get things done before Dylan's birthday party.

I am going...to work in the office again today.

I am reading...nothing, sad, but true. I haven't been able to get my hands on anything in the last week.

I am hoping...Mike picks up the after school job, to break the monotony of Special Education.

I am hearing...the dryer running.

Around the house...the kids are running amok!

One of my favorite things...Peyton saying, "Low" when she picks up her play telephone.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Cameron's homework, Basic Life Skills class tomorrow, cleaning, still cleaning the office, filing my important papers, and decide on a menu for the party.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...even Spidey endorses our 44th President!

Menu Plan Monday

Sunday ~ Baked Penne w/ Roasted Vegetables, Salad, & French Bread

Monday ~ Eat a Pita Pizza & Salad

Tuesday ~ Corn Dogs & Macaroni and Cheese

Wednesday ~ Cheese Ravioli w/ Roasted Garlic Sauce, Salad, & Garlic Bread (we missed this one last week)

Thursday ~ Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Stuffing & Corn (missed this one too last week)

Friday ~ Mama's going to Margarita Madness, Boys are eating TV dinners

Saturday ~ Out

Breakfasts: Bagels, Cereal w/ Fruit, Eggs, Sausage, Waffles

Lunches: PB&J, Turkey w/ Provolone, Leftovers, Salad

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY...January 12th

Outside my window...it's a still night, the moon is lighting the way and the stars are glistening against the black sky.

I am thinking...about the Public Defenders blatant disregard for the families and friends as he waved around the crime scene photos of my cousin and his girlfriend.

I am thankful for...the friend who didn't attend the party, who found out a day later and tried to convince his friend to turn himself in, and who worked with the police to bring these murdering scumbags to justice. There is still good in the world.

From the kitchen...Linguine w/ Shrimp Scampi.

I am wearing...jeans and a brown blouse.

I am creating...nothing.

I am going...to try to sleep tonight without the images in my head.

I am reading...the Bible.

I am hoping...Cameron's second day back to school tomorrow is just as good as his first.

I am hearing...music.

Around the house...Cameron is doing homework, Dylan is reading a book, and Peyton is dancing.

One of my favorite things...the outpouring of love that showed up in the courtroom today. OH! And the no holds barred judge who wasn't putting up with the theatrics in his courtroom today!

A few plans for the rest of the week: Cameron's homework, cleaning, library, park, filing my important papers, order Dylan's birthday supplies, and decide on a menu for the party.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...Cameron going back to school after 58 days home from his diagnosis with Type I Diabetes. OH! And in uniform because during Christmas break his number was finally called at a Charter school that goes through 8th grade! Woo-Hoo!

Menu Plan Monday

Sunday ~ Crunchy Chicken Tenders, Brown Rice, Veggies, & Rolls

Monday ~ Linguine w/ Shrimp Scampi, Salad, & French Bread

Tuesday ~ Chicken, Baked Potatoes w/ Sour Cream & Chives, Aspargus, & Hawaiian Rolls

Wednesday ~ Rigatoni w/ Parma Rosa sauce, Salad, & Garlic Buns

Thursday ~ Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Corn, & Crescent Rolls

Friday ~ Cheese Ravioli w/ Roasted Garlic Sauce, Salad, & Garlic Bread

Saturday ~ Out

Breakfasts: Eggs, Sausage, Cereal w/ Fruit, English Muffins, Bagels

Lunches: PB&J, Turkey w/ Provolone, Pastrami w/ Swiss on Onion Rolls, Leftovers, Salad

Wordless Wednesday: Swing

Peyton loved the swing at the park!

Check out more Wordless Wednesday over at 5 Minutes for Mom.

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY...January 5th

Outside my window...the stars are brightly shining in the black sky...the moon will be full by the weekend.

I am thinking...this time last year I got a call telling me my cousin had been murdered.

I am thankful for...God's promise.

From the kitchen...spaghetti.

I am wearing...flannel pink jammies w/ snowflakes on them.

I am creating...a new housework schedule.

I am going...to watch Get Smart w/ Hubby as soon as I'm done on the computer.

I am reading...the Bible.

I am hoping...2009 is our year!

I am hearing...Dylan screaming at Cameron.

Around the house...Dylan and Cameron are cleaning Dylan's room, Hubby is feeding Peyton dinner and I'm lounging on the couch blogging.

One of my favorite things...Peyton's vocabulary is growing. She demands "Eat!"

A few plans for the rest of the week: Cameron's homework, cleaning, library, park, dinner w/ Grandma, and begin my Monthly Organizing Round-Up courtesy of Laura at I'm an Organizing Junkie.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...my cousin Cody, who was murdered on January 5, 2008.

Indescribable

I originally posted this blog on January 7, 2008 on my myspace blog. I thought I would finally share a little something of the tragedy my family has endured over the last few years.

My cousin, Sara's brother and Mandelyn's uncle (which was also her first word, "Uncle"), and his girlfriend were murdered on January 5th. If you've seen today's paper, that is exactly who I am talking about. My heart is so heavy! Not only was he a great guy, but a FANTASTIC musician! That kid picked up a recorder when he was about 6 and amazed us all. He started out using the music given to him in class, but shortly after could play other songs just by sound. He eventually ventured into guitar and could reproduce a song by sound. He was amazingly talented! Seriously, like beyond words. We had just spent Christmas and New Year's Eve together. His sister hosted Christmas dinner this year and I'm so eternally grateful for that. He got the biggest kick out of Dylan and all his mischief. I have him on video showing off his beautiful tattoo in memory of Mandelyn. For the second time in as little as 19 months, I have had to sit my son down and tell him he lost another cousin. He just starred at me, like what? His response was, "Why is there such evil in the world?" A question I am not capable of answering. He reminded me of the Fast and Furious car that my uncle, aunt, Sara, Cody & Mandelyn got him for his 5th birthday. A lightbulb went over my head. I knew I had pictures of him and Cody with this car. I uploaded them today. When Cameron saw this he smiled, then put his head down. He said he liked Cody better at that age. A statement only a little guy would make. Cody would have been 19 next month. I know I have pictures of Cody at the park from when he was 3...finding those are going to be more problematic, but once I have them, uploaded they'll be. Our (Sara, Cody, and my) aunt's statement of finding out about Cody was, "I didn't know life could be so cruel." It's a fair assessment, if you ask me. I could at least wrap my mind around the passing of Mandelyn. It was an accident. This, this I'm having trouble with, from the depth of my soul. I have faith. Anyone who knows me knows that, but it's been rocked BIG time. This family, my aunt, uncle, Sara and her sister, and the rest of us too, is still coping with the death of that beautiful little girl that wrapped everyone around her little finger from the moment she met you. Now, like salt to a wound, we are forced to come to terms with the unexplainable...their only son and brother, murdered, taken from them deliberately. Our aunt said that "...some could say Mandelyn needed somebody with her, but, why him? Why somebody so young, why not one of the older one's in our family?" As I lay in bed the first night, trying to sleep, I imagined Mandelyn standing there, waiting for Cody in Heaven, and the biggest smile on his face as she greeted him, "Uncle."

Menu Plan Monday

I was absent last week. The hustle and bustle of the Holiday's caught up with me and I didn't even plan a menu last week. Terrible, I know.

Sunday ~ Tacos

Monday ~ Spaghetti, Salad, & Garlic Buns

Tuesday ~ Chicken, Mashed Potatoes w/ Gravy, Veggie, & Crescent Rolls

Wednesday ~ Easy Cheesy Enchiladas & Rice

Thursday ~ TV Dinners

Friday ~ Mama's Stampin'/Dad & Kids are eating Grilled Cheese & Soup

Saturday ~ Out

Breakfasts: Eggs, Sausage, Cereal w/ Fruit, English Muffins, Bagels

Lunches: PB&J, Turkey w/ Provolone, Pastrami w/ Swiss on Onion Rolls, Leftovers, Salad

Operation Actually Read Bible

In my Hopes for 2009 blog I mentioned reading the Bible from beginning to end. It just so happened I found somebody who is going to help me with that. Becky over at Operation Actually Read Bible is hosting this event and I could not be more excited. I read The New Testament when I was in college getting my Bachelor's degree. Of course I had help, I read my scripture and then read What The Bible Is All About by Henrietta C. Mears. This book rocks! I pulled it out, dusted it off, and I'm reading the scripture daily thanks to Becky and this wonderful Bible Reading Plan.

Genesis 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50

Exodus 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40

Leviticus 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27

Numbers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36

Deuteronomy 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34

Joshua 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Judges 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21

Ruth 1 2 3 4

1 Samuel 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

2 Samuel 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

1 Kings 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

2 Kings 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

1 Chronicles 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29

2 Chronicles 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36

Ezra 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Nehemiah 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

Esther 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Job 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42

Psalms 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150

Proverbs 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Ecclesiastes 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Song Of Solomon 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Isaiah 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66

Jeremiah 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52

Lamentations 1 2 3 4 5

Ezekiel 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48

Daniel 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Hosea 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

Joel 1 2 3

Amos 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Obadiah 1

Jonah 1 2 3 4

Micah 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Nahum 1 2 3

Habakkuk 1 2 3

Zephaniah 1 2 3

Haggai 1 2

Zechariah 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

Malachi 1 2 3 4

Matthew 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

Mark 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

Luke 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

John 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21

Acts 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

Romans 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

1 Corinthians 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

2 Corinthians 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

Galatians 1 2 3 4 5 6

Ephesians 1 2 3 4 5 6

Philippians 1 2 3 4

Colossians 1 2 3 4

1 Thessalonians 1 2 3 4 5

2 Thessalonians 1 2 3

1 Timothy 1 2 3 4 5 6

2 Timothy 1 2 3 4

Titus 1 2 3

Philemon 1

Hebrews 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

James 1 2 3 4 5

1 Peter 1 2 3 4 5

2 Peter 1 2 3

1 John 1 2 3 4 5

2 John 13 John 1

Jude 1

Revelation 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

14 months old

Peyton is amazing! Her favorite thing about Christmas was the bows. She would stop unwrapping her gifts after she got the bows off. Peyton has continually kept me on my toes for the past 6 months. She's a dancer...she shakes it and LOVES to do so. Her attention can't be diverted when "Hairspray" is on the TV. With all the music she doesn't know what to do with herself. She's talking. YES, talking. She began singing "E-I-E-I-O" in August. She says, "What?" but I think it is basically directed at her brothers. She says "Good Girl" and "Ow" and "Hi" and "Bye". I'm astounded at her vocabulary, but then Hubby reminds me, she's the girl! LOL She talks on the play phones ALL the time. Oh boy are we in trouble. Peyton does the hand gestures for "Itsy Bitsy Spider", blows kisses and is the huggiest little thing. We call her our little monkey. She walks around the living room and makes monkey noises. She also climbs up on you like a spider monkey, usually leaving bruises on me from pinching. Our biggest concern is she tries to run to keep up with her brothers and one day she is going to take a major header. Oh, and she still is out little Pumpkin Peyton, with that smile, squinting eyes, and flashing her bottom 2 teeth. She's been working on her sixth tooth for the last month and we call her Sunny from "A Series of Unfortunate Events" as she bites on our table and TV stand. LOL We spent some time at the park today and I took some gorgeous pictures of her. My big girl is growing at a rapid pace...somebody stop her...PLEASE!

My 100 Things

As it turns out, my New Year post is also my 100th post here on Blogger. In true blogging tradition, here are my 100 Things:

1. I grew up in a non-church going home.

2. I received the Lord when I was 20.

3. I was baptized on March 3, 1996.

4. I didn’t realize how much faith I had until June 2, 2006, the day the Lord called my 35 month old niece home.

5. I was born on Groundhog’s day.

6. I hated the movie with Bill Murray.

7. I still live in the same town I was born.

8. I was named by my Godmother, my mom’s best friend. She died 15 days after my 11th birthday.

9. I lived in the same house for the first 23 years of my life.

10. I was raised by my maternal grandmother.

11. I always felt like a piece of a jigsaw puzzle that didn’t fit.

12. I met my Auntie Pam the first semester of junior college and that changed. She never forced my dad on me.

13. I initiated contact when I got pregnant with my first son. My dad was the first person (besides Hubby and I) to hold Cameron.

14. I’m an only child, yet I have 1 sister from my mom and 2 brothers from my dad.

15. I had my tonsils out when I was a year old.

16. I have a scar on the back of my head from when I cracked my head open at 18 months old.

17. I have known my best friend since I was 4…you do the math. She is the sister I never had. (You read that correct despite #15). It was her family that taught me about affection. They also taught me about makeup and hair.

18. I had an imaginary friend, Peter Brady. I yelled at a woman in the bank for sitting on him.

19. I had strawberry blond hair until I was 5. I’m jealous of my brother’s red hair.

20. I did Greased Lightning with John Travolta every time my family took me to see Grease in the theatres.

21. I experienced my first kiss in Pre-School. The boy and I went to school together until we graduated.

22. I have worn glasses since I was 9.

23. I didn’t get my ears pierced until I was 11. I got my second holes 6 weeks later.

24. I’m a tomboy.

25. I hate my hair, color, and curl.

26. I’ve had a crush on Tommy Lee of Motely Crue since I was 11. Yes, I’ve seen the video.

27. I believe mashed potatoes and cheese are their own food groups.

28. I get clarity and my best ideas in the bathroom.

29. I met my Hubby in college, although we lived around the corner from each other in high school. We were friends first, then coworkers, then best friends, and started dating on December 10, 1997. We were engaged 6 months later.

30. God has abundantly blessed me with 3 beautiful children.

31. 2 of my 3 children were born in the same hospital as I was.

32. All 3 were c-sections.

33. My oldest child was diagnosed with Type I Diabetes on November 19, 2008.

34. My daughter is the answer to my prayers. I was robbed of a mother/daughter relationship until now.

35. I wanted to be a Forensic Specialist before the show CSI was even thought of.

36. My nickname is Flipper…when I laugh, really laugh, it turns into a dolphin sound.

37. I also answer to Tiffers.

38. I hate it when people I just met shorten my name to Tiff. Do they know me well enough to call me Tiff?

39. I love music. I own close to 500 CD’s from all genres and have over 5000 songs in iTunes.

40. I wish I didn't care what others think of me.

41. I love to laugh.

42. My first job was McDonald’s.

43. I hate it when people can’t spell.

44. I love Disneyland.

45. My favorite ride has been Pirates of the Caribbean since I was 6.

46. My favorite Disney movie is The Lion King.

47. I still sleep with a Teddy Bear.

48. I am completely addicted to ebay.

49. I hate throwing up. I hate the dry heaves worse, so I grab my
toothbrush and make myself throw up.

50. I don’t smoke. I’ve never even tried. It’s the most disgusting habit anybody could ever have.

51. I despise doing laundry.

52. I’ve never seen The Exorcist.

53. I have been fascinated and borderline in love with vampires since I was in junior high.

54. I’m deathly afraid of snakes. But I conquered my fears of sharks.

55. I’m allergic to mushrooms. And walnuts, but I endure the itching and eat them anyway.

56. I’m a party thrower.

57. I’m the only one in my family that has had 3 graduations, high school, A.S., and B.S.

58. My camera is an extension of my right hand.

59. I want to write a book about my life. The title would be “I Can’t Make This Stuff Up.”

60. The hardest thing I’ve ever done is tell my eldest, then 6, his 35 month old cousin, and best friend, was dead.

61. I dislocated my left elbow 5 years ago and it has never been the same.

62. I’ve become quite the cook in the last 2 years.

63. I use the words “therefore” and “however” far too often to be
considered a normal person.

64. I bite my nails.

65. I pick the fuzzies off of my socks.

66. I love to swim.

67. I can type 70 words per minute.

68. I hate surprises.

69. I have a temper.

70. I love to sing, but can’t.

71. My glass is always half empty. I hope to change that this year.

72. I cry easily.

73. I prefer to be barefoot.

74. I love the rain.

75. I am a very picky eater.

76. I have never traveled out of the country.

77. I’m stubborn.

78. I have been out of the working force for 9 years.

79. I hate salt.

80. I’m not ticklish…much to my eldest’s dismay.

81. I was bulimic my sophomore year in high school.

82. I love mozzarella sticks.

83. My eldest drew a picture, after our cousin was murdered in January 2008, which I plan to use as my second tattoo.

84. I believe in Thank You cards.

85. I would love to swim with the dolphins.

86. I would love to live in one of the New England states.

87. My favorite color is purple. It’s also the color of my birthstone.

88. My favorite flower is the sunflower.

89. My favorite movie is Scream.

90. My favorite movie line is from Multiplicity, “I’ll hit you so hard it’ll kill
him.”

91. My favorite song is Push from Matchbox20.

92. My favorite book is Twilight by Stephenie Meyer.

93. My favorite animal is a dolphin.

94. My favorite ice cream is Mint ‘n Chip.

95. My favorite (non-alcoholic) drink is Cherry Coke.

96. My favorite alcoholic drink is a Pomegranate Margarita.

97. My favorite food is Italian.

98. My favorite dinner is Tacos and usually my birthday dinner.

99. My favorite season is Fall.

100. I have 100+ pounds to shed.