Works for me Wednesday

I've been absent the last couple of Works for me Wednesday's. I was highly disappointed that I was unable to participate in the backwards edition and ask advice. O'well. I am a shutterbug. My camera is an extension of my right arm. I fill up my 4 GB memory card the whole month, downloading to the computer (filed in year and month folders) at various times, where I painstakingly sift through EVERY picture, weeding out the blurry, eyes closed, etc pictures and correcting red eye where needed. On the first of every month I upload pictures from the previous month to Wal-Mart Photo Center online (which is my FREE housing for all my digital pictures). I order a photo CD for a whole $2.xx and the best part is it comes with an index print. I clear my memory card (waiting to do so until I upload just in case the computer malfunctions), file my picture CD (labeled with month and year) in my organizer and call it done. This works for me, but I am open to any and all suggestions on digital picture organizing.

Wordless Wednesday: Playing with Daddy

Can you think of a better use for a tote?

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

Tackle It Tuesday

This is my first time at Tackle It Tuesday. Not because I haven't had anything to tackle, but because I am SO busy tackling the project at hand, I have never had enough time to sit down and blog about it. As it happens, today I am tackling something you can't see, but it's a job nonetheless...the computer. Now you see how easy it was for me to FINALLY sit down and write about what I'm tackling? Our computer is pushing 4 years old. We are avid users, using ours to the brink of destruction every 3-4 years. This old timer has about had it. Last week we ordered our first laptop from Dell. Our reasoning for a laptop was so that hubby or I wouldn't have to close ourself off in the office, which is a HUGE deal since Peyton is mobile, sitting in the office for any length of time has come to a screeching halt! I digress. Back to the tackle. I have been backing up my precious photos, deleting those I have on CD (check back for Works for Me Wednesday tomorrow for that tip), sending my favorite links to my email, clearing my email, deleting those free downloads, saving my fonts to CD, so on and so forth. Once the laptop arrives, I hope to format this old thing and keep it on for the kiddies to utilize.

What's on Your Nightstand ~ September

I have been reading 5 Minutes for Mom for some time now. I enjoy their weekly carnival Wordless Wednesday and have received some VERY awesome tips from Lisa, a.k.a. workout mommy in her weekly column 5 Minutes for Fitness. As I was blog hopping to check out what everybody else was reading for Fall Into Reading 2008, I saw many who had posted What's on Your Nightstand? I paused for a moment and thought, "WOW! I can't believe what I have on mine right now." I clicked on the link, it took me to 5 Minutes for Mom's sister site, 5 Minutes for Books. I must admit, I hadn't yet ventured into the four other sister sites, but I sure am glad I came upon this one!

My Fall Into Reading 2008 List

Many of you remember my first post was signing up for Katrina's Spring Reading Thing 2008. I was beyond thrilled to have been able to sit down and read 5 books during that time period. Summer has ended, the beginning of THE MOST BEAUTIFUL season has begun, and Katrina, over at Callapidder Days, is now hosting Fall Into Reading 2008. I have waffled over this list for more than a month now. I think I FINALLY have it nailed down! I hate to admit this, but I didn't pick up a single book this summer, so I have included a couple of books I didn't get read in the Spring. I've also included a few Christian authors, I've jumped on the Twilight series bandwagon, and...well, you'll see. I cannot wait to run around and see what everyone else is reading this Fall, you never know, I just might shake things up. Yea, right. LOL

Losing It - And Gaining My Life Back One Pound At A Time by Valerie Bertinelli

sTori Telling by Tori Spelling

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

Sacred Parenting by Gary L. Thomas

Have a New Kid by Friday by Kevin Leman

Sheet Music by Kevin Leman

Twlight (TWICE) by Stephanie Meyer

New Moon by Stephanie Meyer

Eclipse by Stephanie Meyer

Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Menu Plan Monday ~ Family Favorites Edition

I'm so excited about this weeks Menu Plan Monday. Laura has asked us to post our family's favorite recipes. This was hard to choose just a few for the week, so as not to overpower the family with all the good stuff at once!

Sunday ~ We're at a birthday party.

Monday ~ Barilla PLUS Penne with Spring Vegetables, Roasted Red Pepper & Garlic Chicken, & Salad

Tuesday ~ **FAMILY FAVORITE** Shrimp Po'Boys & Coleslaw

Wednesday ~ **FAMILY FAVORITE** Classic Chicken Parmesan with Oven-Roasted Tomato Sauce and Smoked Mozzarella & Salad

Thursday ~ Grilled Cheese & Soup

Friday ~ Crunchy Parmesan Chicken Tenders, Baked Parmesan Potato Cubes, & Fruit Salad

Saturday ~ Out

Breakfast: Cereal, Yogurt, Waffles, Fruit

Lunch: PG&J, Turkey & Provolone, Fruit Salad, Veggies w/ Ranch, Leftovers

Wordless Wednesday: A New Place

A new place to play.

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

Menu Plan Monday

Sunday ~ Tacos (requested by Sara before she moves to Washington on Wednesday)

Monday ~ Spaghetti (made from the leftover Taco fixings)

Tuesday ~ Soup & Sammies

Wednesday ~ Crispy Shrimp Burgers & Red Potato Salad (we missed this one last week)

Thursday ~ Dino Nuggets, Mac 'n Cheese, Corn for Kids; Roasted Veggies & Chicken for Mama

Friday ~ Barbecue Steak, Baked Potato w/ Sour Cream & Chives, Broccoli, Cauliflower, & Carrots

Saturday ~ Out

Breakfast: Waffles, Fruit, Yogurt, Bagels, Cereal

Lunch: Salad, Grilled Cheese, Fruits & Veggies w/ Ranch, PB&J, Roast Beef & Swiss Cheese

Tootie-Booty

Unbeknownst to Lissa, she has a new looky-loo friend. I was going around this morning looking at all the Hot for the Holidays weigh-ins and her blog really stuck out to me. I will be visiting often, reading up and keeping track of her progress in the challenge. She had posted some unusual questions, you know the kind you don't ordinarily answer, and I couldn't help but laugh out loud and decided to post them here. I want to hear your answers, especially to #1. ;)

Here are the questions:

1. Do you pass gas in front of your spouse/partner? Hell Yes! Much to his dismay. My joke is that someone has to teach our boys to be boys. Hubby is just too darn polite. The kids call it, "Tootie-Booty".

2. Do you make your bed everyday? Not usually. Interestingly enough, hubby makes it right before we go to bed. Hello?

3. Do you floss everyday? Sadly, no. Terrible, terrible, terrible. It really is a habit I wish I could get into.

4. Do you sleep with a stuffed animal? Guilty! I have always slept with a bear of some kind. Hubby took offense to this after we were married. I look at my bear as the equivalent of a body pillow.

5. Do you eat when you are not hungry? No, I can't say that I do. I know you're asking yourself, "Then why the weight problem?" I'm the healthiest eater in the house. I'm also the LAZIEST person in the house. Or, was, that is.

6. Is your car always messy? No. Not if I'm the ONLY one driving it. Hubby can take the car for a day and it's disgusting.

7. How often do you clean your bathtub and shower? Once a month. This only started in May.

8. What is the first thing you do after you wake up in the morning? Put my glasses on, otherwise, I'm still in the dark.

9. When was the last time you cleaned behind/under your refrigerator? Mid-June. It's part of our Seasonal Cleaning list. This means it's coming around again in a couple of weeks. I have a disease I think. I've gone clean crazy the last few months.

Where were you?

Wasn't this the question everybody asked, "Where were you when the towers were hit?" You would run into a friend you hadn't seen in awhile and ask or they'd ask you. I remember it so vividly, yet I felt like I was in a dream. My son was 2. I had just given him a bath. He had a radio in his room, which we turned on every morning to dance to. When we came in the room the news was on, but I wasn't paying attention, we were giggling, laughing, I was blowing on his tummy. I remember saying to him, "Well I guess we hit the no music part of the hour" and turned it off to go downstairs. Downstairs I turned the TV on, which I almost immediately turn to Rugrats or Sesame Street, but for whatever reason I left it and began to watch the horror unfold. You see, I turned on my TV and a minute later the second plane hit. I slumped on my couch. Hubby was at work, did he know? This was WAY before we even contemplated having cell phones. I sat, staring blankly at my TV, in complete horror. When hubby walked through the door, he shouted, "Turn the TV to a news channel" knowing our routine and the TV would be on some kid program. I just looked up at him. We sat on that couch for what seemed like an eternity. We watched paper blowing around, people jumping from the towers, and the towers falling. Although I have always lived on the west coast, I didn't have friends there, 9/11 didn't touch my life directly, today I remember every detail of that morning. I ask you to take a few moments out of your day to remember 9/11 in prayer. There are still children without a parent, a parent without a child, a wife without a husband, a friend without a friend. God Bless!

Wordless Wednesday: Cameron turns 9!

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

My FAVORITE Time of the Year

By far, Fall is my favorite season. I live in the desert, so the beauty of nature's changes during Autumn are somewhat out of my reach. I love the weather change. I love the brisk night air. I LOVE orange, pumpkins, and Halloween is our favorite holiday...well, maybe our second favorite, depends on who you're asking. My first post upon starting my new blog was Spring Reading Thing 2008. Katrina over at Callapidder Days hosted and I read more books in a 12 week period than I had in over year. Woo-Hoo! My juices were flowing, my cup was half full, and I was raring to go. Summer, however, the reading stopped. I don't think I have read one book, well, nothing other than Eric Carle and Dr. Seuss that is. I have a pretty ambitious list this time around. I've been tweaking it since Katrina gave us the heads up on Fall Into Reading 2008 last month. I do know that I want to read the Twilight series from Stephanie Meyer. I also plan to read a few I was unable to get to in the Spring. Other than that, my final book list will be revealed on September 22. Do you have any book recommendations I should add to my list? I hope to get through EVERY last one of them this time.

Menu Plan Monday

Sunday ~ Leftover Love

Monday ~ Breakfast

Tuesday ~ Easy Cheesy Enchiladas & Spanish Rice PLUS ice cream cake for Cameron's birthday

Wednesday ~ Crispy Shrimp Burgers & Red Potato Salad

Thursday ~ Corn Dogs & Fries for kids; Chicken & Roasted Veggies for mama

Friday ~ Crunchy Parmesan Chicken Tenders, Baked Parmesan Potato Cubes & Fruit Salad

Saturday ~ Barilla PLUS Penne with Spring Vegetables & Chicken

Breakfast: Cereal, Bagels, Fruit, Yogurt

Lunch: PB&J, Veggies w/ Ranch, Grilled Chicken Salad, Turkey w/ Provolone, Fruit Salad, Leftover Love

Wordless Wednesday: Cousins

Cousins

This picture was taken November 2005. Why such an old picture? Because today my niece, the beautiful little girl in the picture, Mandelyn, has been gone 27 months. She was only with us here on earth for 35 months and as we approach that number, my heart aches more and more. Cameron loved his cousin more than anything, until his brother came along, and then there was room to love another person just as much. I have said Mande was Cameron's practice sibling. They were just under 4 years apart, but the minute she came into this world he was enamored. This picture is my FAVORITE picture of them. It hangs on Cameron's wall along with MANY other pictures of them together. When I look at this picture, tears hiding in my eyes, I remember their time together fondly.

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

Look who's 10 months!

How the time has flown! I can't believe how big she's getting. She has her own little personality, with attitude and all. If a toy is not cooperating, or she's having trouble getting to her feet, she lets out a screech that probably drive our neighbor's dogs crazy. She is trying to walk. Yes, I said WALK. She has only been pulling herself to her feet for 9 days and she is already walking the edge of the couch and this morning she took a nose dive after she let go and thought she was gonna take off. It just doesn't seem possible that her 1st birthday is only 2 months away. TWO MONTHS! Oh, and for those of you who are wondering the theme...CUPCAKES!!!

Happy Labor Day Mom's

Although I realize it is a holiday, I went searching my favorite blogs anyhow. To my surprise Shannon over at Rocks In My Dryer had posted a meme she found in honor of Labor Day, no not the holiday, the Mama kind. I thought it would be fun to join in, even though the birth of my 3 beautiful children were all C-sections.

How long were your labors?

Cameron = 38 hours...yes, I said 38!!!

Dylan = repeat C-section

Peyton = repeat C-section

How did you know you were in labor?

Cameron = I was induced and it didn't take long to realize I was in labor. My labor, all 38 1/2 hours was chemical labor, meaning when they shut off the pitocin and IV, my contractions STOPPED! Can you say bitter? Uh, yea...little bit, even though it's been almost 9 years.

Dylan = I didn't labor, but experienced a few Braxton Hicks with him.

Peyton = I thought I would go into labor with her. I started contracting in October and it was continual. I never expected to make it to my scheduled surgery.

Interesting fact: all 3 of my children were born on a Thursday.

Where did you deliver?

Cameron = delivered at a "not so nice" hospital, where the "not so nice" nursery staff was verbally mad at me for keeping baby in nursery. Grandma yelled at one of them and asked them, "What exactly is your job description?" I had spinal migraines that they were shooting Demerol in my thighs for. I couldn't care for my newborn son, but hubby was there 95% of the ENTIRE time. That other 5% they were mad because we actually utilized the nursery.

Dylan = delivered at the same hospital I was delivered at, even though they don't have a nursery and I had to keep baby with me the entire time, which is extremely hard when recovering from a C-section. I didn't have the spinal migraines this time, so all was well.

Peyton = because I wasn't going back to the "not so nice" hospital, we went back to the hospital without the nursery, and she was born at the same hospital as Dylan and I. However, I was checking myself out come hell or high water. My second night nurse was ATROCIOUS and I filed a complaint on her. Not pain killers, for her WHOLE shift. Unfortunately the morning nurse got the brunt of it, but I later apologized.

Drugs?

Cameron = OH YEA! Thanks to the wonderful drugs of horror, my contractions were right on top of each other. They then gave me a wonderful gem called Stadol. Mama liked. The problem with Stadol is it only last MINUTES people and they can only give it to you a couple of times. How many hours was I in labor? About 10 hours after surgery I developed spinal migraines, which if anyone has had these knows they are atrocious. They started shooting me up with Demerol (and wrapping my head in ice). I never took a pain pill for the C-section though.

Dylan = I was given Darvocet after my C-section and took it this time. I was doing a lot more and needed to take that "edge" off.

Peyton = I had THE most drugs with Peyton. I was given Demerol, Darvocet, Vicodin, and a new little pack (the name escapes me) that had the tiniest of tubes running right in my incision to keep it numb. There was another drug too, given to me in the "buttocks" with a nice size needle, but that name escapes me too.

C-section?

Apparently God intended me to be a Mama, just not the old fashion way. After having 3 c-sections, you would NEVER be able to convince me to have a child vaginally. C-sections are the only way to go!

Cameron = He wasn't coming out for nothing. Apparently I was a great oven. After failure to progress and being dilated to a 2 for 38 hours, we opted for a C-section. Interesting fact, he's still the one who takes the longest to get ready and our most stubborn. I was released 2 days after.

Dylan & Peyton = so as to NEVER experience the labor I had with Cameron we chose to have scheduled repeat C-sections. I was released 2 days after. After Peyton, when the nursed called the doctor on day 2 to say I was checking myself out if he didn't do it, he told the nurse, "Tiffany wanted to go home before she even had the surgery." I HATE hospitals. My hubby took better care of me than they ever could!

Who delivered?

Cameron = "not so nice" doctor to go with the "not so nice" hospital. I look back at my first pregnancy as my happiest, however I wish I had the doctor and hospital I did with the next 2.


Dylan = an awesome doctor, couldn't have been in better hands. I was nervous searching for a new OB, as I wasn't using the last one again. I knew my baby and my life would be in their hands on an operating room table. I found my doctor, went for my first visit, got on the dreaded scale, and above the scale is a picture of my doctor and team in the OR, photoshopped in is Jesus, with one arm around my doctor and the other guiding this hand as he's making the incision. Yep, this is EXACTLY where I was meant to be!


Peyton = we liked this awesome doctor so much, we had him deliver our darling daughter too.


(And a bonus question) Weight of babies at birth?

Cameron = 7 lbs 4 oz
Dylan = 7 lbs 10 oz
Peyton = 8 lbs 12 oz

Menu Plan Monday

I have been absent from Menu Plan Monday for...well it would seem the whole summer. I've been having computer issues and praying for a laptop soon. Anyhow, here's what I'm fixing this week.

Sunday ~ Tacos

Monday ~ Chicken, Red Potatoes, Veggies, & Hawaiian Rolls

Tuesday ~ Tortellini w/ a special roasted romanita tomato sauce & Garlic Rolls

Wednesday ~ Fish Sticks, Mac 'n Cheese, & Broccoli and Cheese

Thursday ~ Grilled Cheese & Chicken Noodle Soup

Friday ~ You find it, you fix it ... Mama will be at Stampin' Up Club

Saturday ~ Out

Breakfast: Waffles, Cereal, Bagels, & English Muffins

Lunch: PB&J, Turkey & Provolone, Pita Pizza, Fruit Salad, Salad w/ Grilled Chicken