Wordless Wednesday: Junior Year

It has come to my attention that I hardly ever blog about myself, let alone put pictures of myself up. I decided it would be fun to put my favorite High School picture up for Wordless Wednesday, only it isn't so wordless, huh? Ha Ha. I am 16 years old in this picture and in my junior year. I LOVE my hair. That wasn't suppose to be a joke. ;) The only thing I laugh at when I see this picture is my bug eyed glasses. DAMN! Those are some big glasses! Thank goodness they have come down in size in the last 18 years.

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

What's on Your Nightstand ~ February

I can finally say I have read a Nicholas Sparks book. I read The Notebook last week and am currently reading it's sequel, The Wedding. Did you know The Notebook had a sequel? Season of the Witch is still on my nightstand. I feel bad, but haven't even cracked the book open (sorry Anne, if you're reading this). Finally, our library had Wicked in, Hubby and I were so excited. We're both in the middle of other books, so it's first one done, first one gets a crack at it. I'm making it my goal to be me. ;) What's on your nightstand?

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY...February 23rd

Outside my window...the clouds have taken over the sky and the ground is saturated from overnight rain.

I am thinking...our mornings have gotten way too early!

I am thankful for...time spent at the movies with my BFF and family seeing Madea Goes To Jail.

From the kitchen...Crunchy Parmesan Chicken Tenders.

I am wearing...navy blue sweats and a navy blue shirt with red, silver and blue sparkles in the shape of a butterfly.

I am creating...a To Do List of various tasks I would like to see accomplished this week.

I am going...to switch the car with Hubby in 2 hours.

I am reading...The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks.

I am hoping...we pull off the Big Baby Yard Sale in a couple weeks.

I am hearing...Little Einsteins.

Around the house...Dylan is playing in his room, Peyton is on her Boppy taking her bottle and watching Little Einsteins, and I'm on the computer.

One of my favorite things...cooking. I have become quite the little cook in the last few years and I never realized how much fun and how good it could be.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Carb Counting Class tomorrow (it was cancelled a couple of weeks ago, yet nobody bothered to call us, and we drove all the way down there while Hubby took a half day and Cameron missed a Science test...GRRR!), still purging (ebay vs. yard sale), cleaning (which I should be doing now but have absolutely no energy to get up off this couch), finish my recipe book, and hopefully my Diabetic resource book as well.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...I shared my Valentine's from Hubby last week, so I thought I would share his Valentine's this week.

Menu Plan Monday

Sunday ~ Classic Chicken Parmesan w/ Oven Roasted Tomato Sauce, Salad, & Garlic Bread

Monday ~ Crunchy Parmesan Chicken Tenders, Rice w/ Veggies

Tuesday ~ TV Dinners (after driving home from the Carb class I'm not going to want to cook too)

Wednesday ~ Baked Penne w/ Roasted Veggies, Salad, & Garlic Bread

Thursday ~ Blueberry Pancakes, Hash Browns, Eggs, Sausage, Bacon, & Whole Wheat English Muffins

Friday ~ Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Stuffing, Corn, & Crescent Rolls

Saturday ~ Out

Tackle It Tuesday: Christ the Lord

I finally tackled something that needed tackling in the worst way! I hunkered down on the couch, curled up with my favorite blanket, and finished reading Anne Rice's Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt. Of course the children were fed breakfast and lunch, and diapers were changed. ;)

I am a huge Anne Rice fan. I find it easy to fall into her story telling and enjoy the knowledge that she backs it up with as many facts as she can. Albeit a fictional account of Jesus bar Joseph, age 7-8, I forgot I was reading fiction almost instantly. We begin the journey in Egypt, where Jesus and his family were exiled into hiding per Herod's instructions to kill all children under 2 in Bethlehem, having lived there for the previous 7 years as Carpenters. Jesus has no clue as to the origins of his birth or the cross he will bear in the years to come. His family begins the journey back to Nazareth and thus his heritage begins to unfold.

Anne Rice depicts a truly Jewish Jesus and family. We are made painfully aware of how human Jesus is. She builds the foundation of character stories as well as emotions. This book reads as though I was reading a Gospel. I can not explain why it took me so long to read this glorious tale of a young boy, destined to be my Savior.

My books are due back at the library today, so I'll have to wait a few weeks before I can check out the sequel in this series, but I can't wait.

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY...February 16th

Outside my window...as I begin typing, Dylan says, "It's ranining out there. It's beautiful, right Mama?"

I am thinking...I wish I was still in bed!

I am thankful for...my Hubby allowing me to sleep in every day in a 3 day weekend. Woo-Hoo!

From the kitchen...eat a pita pizza and salad.

I am wearing...blue sweats and grey shirt with red, white and blue butterflies (the same thing I was wearing last Monday).

I am creating...nothing.

I am going...nowhere.

I am reading...Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt by Anne Rice. Will I ever finish this book?

I am hoping...Hubby finds extra merchandising work.

I am hearing...Peyton tap dance in her new shoes in the entry way.

Around the house...Daddy & Dylan are wrestling, Peyton is tap dancing, Cameron is in his room doing God knows what, and the rain is smacking up against the slider.

One of my favorite things...the rain. I absolutely love the rain. I especially love to drive in it.

A few plans for the rest of the week: purge, purge, and purge!

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...all my glorious Valentine flowers from Hubby. Purple (my favorite color) Roses, Roses in the most beautiful pink vase, and a pink Sunflower (my favorites)...have you ever seen a pink Sunflower?

Menu Plan Monday

Sunday ~ Potato Soup with Shrimp and Roasted Garlic Bread

Monday ~ Eat a Pita Pizza and Salad

Tuesday ~ Grilled Cheese & Chicken Noodle Soup

Wednesday ~ Classic Chicken Parmesan with Oven Roasted Tomato Sauce and Smoked Mozzarella, Salad, and Garlic Bread

Thursday ~ Crunchy Parmesan Chicken Tenders, Rice & Veggies

Friday ~ Shell Pasta, Salad, & Garlic Bread

Saturday ~ Out

Am I Missing Something Here???

Disclaimer: This is a rant...and it may not be for all eyes.

From the second I got the phone call all I could say was, "I don't understand." Here it is, 405 days later, and I am still saying, "I don't understand." How is it that the DA is seeking the death penalty for McGlaughlin, the POS (piece of shit) who murdered my cousin, and is now claiming insantiy, but only seeking life in prison for Smith, who, according to new evidence, shot Bodhi! Does that make sense to you? My Associates degree, belive it or not, is in Criminal Justice, with certificates in Forensics. I realize the system doesn't always work, but WTF?

McGlaughlin was definitely the ring leader, his guns, his idea, etc. Smith went along with it. Ahhh, and let's not forget Thomson, serving as lookout, and who clearly knew everything that went down when A) he heard the gunshots, and B) the two came back to the van wearing evidence. They did stop off on the side of the road and burn their clothes and McGlaughling bought them new shoes. All three of these POS's should be tried equally for the murders of my cousin and his girlfriend. ALL THREE!

I don't give a rats ass that Smith was the one who gave it all up. He didn't do it of his own free will! He was being interviewed and cracked. I don't give a shit that he took the investigator's to the bunker and gave them his reenactment of what went down, because evidence shows the rifle in his hand shot Bodhi as McGlaughlin shot my cousin. BOTH died together, and McGlaughlin wasn't the only shooter as Smith claimed. Am I missing something? Did my brain fall out? Did the DA's?

This is a three-ring circus and the price of admission is the thrill kill of my cousin and his girlfriend.

Dylan's Dream

Dylan has reached the age where he's afraid of monsters. He wakes up with stories to tell, I assume from dreams he's had the night before. This morning Dylan woke up with quite a tale to tell. He told me it was snowing in his room. Loody and he made a snow monster. Then...the snow monster came to life! They were so scared. Loody ran and hid under the couch. He just ran and ran. I couldn't help but picture Scooby and Shaggy running from the snow monster in a Scooby Doo episode. Dylan has never watched Scooby, so I know his imagination is in tact. When I asked where Peyton was, he said she wasn't here. Neither were Mama and Daddy. Gotta love a 4 year old's imagination!

Wordless Wednesday: Birthday Boy

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

Menu Plan Monday

Sunday ~ We're serving Pizza, Salad, & Breadsticks for Dylan's birthday party

Monday ~ Red Robin just opened up in our neighborhood...we're going out!

Tuesday ~ Mickey Mouse Shape Chicken Sandwiches & Raw Veggies w/ Ranch

Wednesday ~ Garlic & Herb Chicken Breast, Mashed Potatoes & Gravy, Cornbread Stuffing, Corn, & Crescent Rolls

Thursday ~ Out ... our Carb Counting Class ends at 4:30 and the drive back home, won't have time to cook dinner too.

Friday ~ Spaghetti, Salad, & Garlic Bread

Saturday ~ Valentine's Dinner Out & TV dinners for the kids

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY...February 9th

Outside my window...snow is falling. SNOW...IS...FALLING! Glorious, beautiful, ginormous slow flakes are FALLING!

I am thinking...I need to up the heater, it's cold!

I am thankful for...my family and friends, who made Dylan's birthday spectacular.

From the kitchen...potato soup with shrimp, some warm comfort food for this cold day.

I am wearing...blue sweats and grey shirt with red, white and blue butterflies.

I am creating...a recipe notebook.

I am going...to the grocery store in about an hour.

I am reading...Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt by Anne Rice.

I am hoping...to finish purging, cleaning, and organizing the black zone we call an office this week.

I am hearing...The Tigger Movie.

Around the house...Peyton is standing at the slider watching the snow fall, the boys are in Dylan's room playing with his new train table, and I'm creating my menu plan for the week. Well, technically I'm filling out my Daybook, but I am also working on my menu plan too.

One of my favorite things...watching my friends crack up watching the DVD of Dylan's first birthday, where I took down the bounce house.

A few plans for the rest of the week: carb counting class on Thursday, listing on ebay, office, Cameron field trip on Friday, small bursts of cleaning, and OFFICE! I would also LOVE to finish Christ the Lord Out of Egypt this week.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...Dylan and his train table.

Our First Appointment

We could not have been more pleased with our first first endocrinologist appointment. We were there 1/2 an hour early, as instructed, to find parking and to fill out any necessary paperwork. Paperwork??? This was interesting to me, seeing as they had every ounce of information on him from his hospitalization. Anyhow, we check in, and the amount of people in the waiting room is staggering. We had been on the road, so to the bathroom we go. Cameron first, when his name is called. WHAT? We ask her to give us a minute and sat down, only to have her open the door and bring us back.

Cameron lost somewhere between 14-16 pounds when he got sick. He weighed in at 78 pounds in August. Today he is back up to 75.5. Woo-Hoo! I was so happy when I heard this. We were taken to our room, complete with couch. Did I mention these appointments, every 3-4 months, will take 1-3 hours??? The nurse takes his temp, the child has NEVER ran a fever in his ENTIRE life, and he was hospitalized with RSV when he was 6 months old, and checks his blood pressure. She has him prick his finger for a glucose test and tells him to squeeze an extra large drop out. She takes the extra for his A1C blood test. At this point he did the happy dance, realizing he doesn't have to give blood through a vein. LOL In his defense, his veins are still pretty tender from the IV's and everything they pumped into them. The nurse took his 2 meters, home and school, to download their numbers, plus our log book and was off.

No sooner did she leave the room did one of the specialists come in. I recognized her, by her voice, instantly! I have spoken to her every week since Cameron came home. Not even 5 minutes in did the nurse come back in with his A1C number. AMAZING! His number was 7.7, which is FANTASTIC, considering he was 13.5 not even 3 months ago. The ideal number is between 6 and 7, but Cameron is plugging along. We asked our questions and were told Cameron is doing GREAT, like we didn't know this! ;) She checks over his injection sites and fingertips.

Then the cherry on top of the ice cream sundae came...FLEXPEN! Oh yea! Oh yea! It's our birthday! Get our groove on. She brought out of the demo and asked Cameron to show us what he knew. Cameron has a buddy at school who uses the FlexPen, so I knew he had some knowledge. What I didn't know, and neither did the doctor, was that he KNEW exactly what he was doing. As we picked up our mouths from the floor, she said, "Okay Cameron, now let's see if your mom can do it." At this point I began to cry. My amazingly brilliant son, my roll with the punches boy...words can not describe how proud I am of him. I practiced with the pen on the dummy and we were given samples to take home and use TODAY! Double Woo-Hoo!

Finally, the doctor came in. I was still emotional and she asked if I was okay, handing me a tissue. I just explained how proud I am of him. She took checked his injection sites and fingertips. She gave his body a once over, told us what an excellent job we are doing, and she'll see us in 3-4 months! DONE and DONE!

The worst part of the day was in the parking lot when my purse fell into some crap! Purse down! Need to locate and buy a new one SOON! Other than that, Cameron has put weight back on, his A1C number was WAY better than I anticipated, and has graduated to the FlexPen, which has made our life a dream! All in all, I would say we have a MARVELOUS day.

My high may plummet very low on Monday when I begin fighting for authorization for Thursday's Carb Counting class. We'll see.

Red Tape Crap

I started calling the doctor's office, every day, on January 24th. In my last ditch effort, I called again today, I love that my phone times my calls, and was on the phone for 35 minutes. Do you know how long I talked to a human voice? Approximately 5-6 minutes of that phone call. I hate cutting through the red tape crap. If I was poor, without health insurance, my son would have no problem being seen, having authorizations for every appointment, and the bureaucracy would be nil. Instead, we are middle income, have private insurance, and before every appointment we have to get authorization. What happens if the doctor doesn't handle it in a timely fashion? Let's say I call in for the authorization 2 1/2 weeks, when technically the big wig hospital my son is being seen at said a couple weeks notice is ample, and the day before his appointment the authorization still has NOT been faxed! Oh, wait, he has 2 more appointments this month, one next week and one the last week of February. What of those?

"Are they appointments that need authorization?"

Yes.

"Who told you that?"

The hospital staff themselves!

"Do you have paperwork stating that?"

No.

At this point she goes back to the appointment at hand. GREAT!

His appointment is at 10:30 tomorrow morning, which means we have to get up at the butt-crack of dawn to get ourselves ready, pack EVERYthing for Cameron, and get on the road, during commute traffic. Guess what? It's 4:30 and I still don't have authorization for the appointment. IF I need to reschedule? FORGET ABOUT IT, I'll have to pull the money out of my butt, because the next available appointment won't be for ANOTHER 3-4 months!!!

UPDATED: Apparently I had to work them late, but it's amazing how quickly they got the authorization. I received a call at 6:30 pm saying we're approved for our visit in the morning. Now, why exactly couldn't that get done 2 weeks ago? Why have I been forced to waste my time every day for the last 2 weeks? Hmmm...

Wordless Wednesday: A New Friend

We were so excited to finally meet Caleb. Peyton is a day older than Caleb. His Daddy, Jason, and I went to High School together and it amazes me that his wife, Sherida, and I had babies together. Of course, Peyton was my last, Caleb is only the beginning! Peyton kept taking toys from Caleb and eventually, when he saw her coming, he just handed them over.

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

Four

Words cannot express the feelings I have with you in my life.

God knew what he was doing, and even though I was pushing his timeline, He knew when you were needed most.

You fit in perfectly, from hour one. You slept with me that first night. A nurse came in, one that was passing our room, and said she couldn't believe her eyes and ears as I cuddled you whispering, "I love me some baby Dylan."

I couldn't believe you slept through the night at 10 days old! A sack rat, like your Mama!

When we brought you home we had to lock Mandelyn outside because she couldn't contain her excitement at, "BABY!" It was Mande that gave you the nickname Baby Handsome. Although you are no longer our baby, we still call you Handsome.

Cameron couldn't have been a prouder big brother. Everywhere we went he talked about his baby brother and what new little thing you could do. He was just as excited as we were when you laughed for the first time, and he would imitate what made it happen just to hear you do it again.

I have never met someone who is a complete copy, not only outside, but in, of somebody else. You were appropriately named and like your dad in every way.

You also have the most incredible vocabulary and the funniest sayings. What exactly is a humongous fungus? How does Loody come out of Brother? I don't know, but I LOVE IT!

I thought when Peyton was born you would get so jealous, but watching the two of you play is a gift I receive every day. Although you are too young to fully remember Mandelyn, you must channel her because you nicknamed your sister Pretty Girl, Pretty for short.

In 6 short months I'll be driving you to Preschool and my days will feel a little empty without you. Oh, but when you return home, the stories you will share and reenact will make up for it.

Happy Birthday my big 4 year old!

I love me some Dylan!

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY...February 2nd ... My 34th Birthday!

Outside my window...I saw my shadow. UGH! Six more weeks of winter. ;)

I am thinking...DAMN I'm old!

I am thankful for...my family.

From the kitchen...my traditional birthday dinner, tacos (wishing for the days that Grandma cooked my birthday dinner). For dessert, Coconut Cream Pie!

I am wearing...my flannel jammies.

I am creating...Valentine's gifts and cards.

I am going...well, I was suppose to go to Disneyland for a few hours tonight, but I wasn't feeling well yesterday, so we cancelled. Instead, I'm going to cook my own birthday dinner, sucks, right?

I am reading...Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt by Anne Rice.

I am hoping...to finish Out of Egypt and start Out of Cana today.

I am hearing...the heater humming.

Around the house...I'm getting Cameron ready for school while the other two sleep.

One of my favorite things...spending time with Jason, Sherida, & Caleb on Saturday.

A few plans for the rest of the week: my birthday dinner, Dylan's first dentist appointment on Wednesday, Cameron's first Endocrinologist appointment on Friday, Dylan's birthday party Sunday, still working in the office, and reading. Maybe I'll finally get Peyton's 1st birthday and Dylan's 4th birthday pictures done too.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...Me about 3 months old, circa 1975.

Happy Birthday to Me!

What's the likelihood that Edward Cullen will come gift wrapped for my birthday? ROFLOL

Menu Plan Monday

Sunday ~ Shells Pasta, Salad, & Garlic Bread

Monday ~ My Birthday Dinner ... Tacos

Tuesday ~ TV dinner for kids & Pizza for Mama

Wednesday ~ Chicken, Mashed Potatoes w/ Gravy, Veggie, & Rolls

Thursday ~ Out

Friday ~ Mama's Stampin' Club, Boys fend for themselves

Saturday ~ Potato Soup w/ Shrimp (we missed this one last week).

Breakfasts: Cereal w/ Fresh Fruit, Bagels w/ Cream Cheese, Waffles w/ Sugar Free Syrup, Eggs & Sausage

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