Caitlin’s 17th

Well now she made it to her 17th birthday. There were times we didn’t think it would happen. She had a cook out at the fire department and invited friends and family. We had the traditional cake and ice cream of course:

Make a wish

Family

Friends

Showing Off

After hot dogs and chips, we had cake and ice cream. Followed by presents. Caitlin does not like opening presents in front of everyone, but she did it anyway. )  Her cousins and a couple of friends had a ball with balloons. Just regular blow them up yourself balloons. they were bouncing everywhere. Daniel liked the four wheeler but was done after 1 ride. Bet he would love one his size better. Some of us grown ups stayed out late chit chatting and swatting bugs until midnight.

All in all it was a very good day.

Turtle Soup

It is beautiful outside. The sun is up and shining softly. The trees have their bright green leaves out. Birds are singing sweetly. Spring is in full blast with the promise of summer around the corner. I am on my way to work, going around that corner now….. There is a puddle in the road, not a big deal. Until I see the turtle…. He would be in the middle of the puddle, head fully extended basking in the sunshine that is coming through the trees lighting up just his puddle… Beautiful box turtle now in the path of my SUV…

I swerved. The car rocked and the puddle went swooosh! Did I miss him????

Keep going, and looky here there is another turtle, this one in the middle of the road…. I know I will get him to the other side before he becomes turtle soup…

He hissed at ME!!!!! fine he can stay there. He was ugly anyway….

Half way to work now.  Keeping an eye out for anymore puddle loving box turtles or mean old snapping turtles. Don’t wanna run over either one but I am not helping out any more snappers. hmm I see another one he looked like this

He was safe. ) He didn’t hiss at me and he didn’t make me swerve.

No Turtle Soup today! Hooray for turtle kind every where. There is something about a pretty day with birds, bees and turtles everywhere that just makes you feel good inside. Take a deep breath and enjoy that spring air. (unless you have allergies of course)

When Friday feels like Monday

I should have known when I woke up that friday morning.  Anytime you wake up feeling worse than when you finally fall asleep, its not a good starting place

Slept wrong and boy was my body letting me know I am getting older. I think every joint popped at one point in trying to go from laying to sitting to standing.  Sounded like I stepped on bubble wrap. Chest hurt from my ribs squishing together all night in one position… ugh then  No dry towels (clean in dryer, forgot to turn it on before going to bed) of course I remember this after getting in the shower. Ever dry off with a wash rag?

Running late for work, (when am I ever not late?) forgot to grab breakfast on way out so I decide to swing by burger king. hey its payday I can spend a little right?   Drive through took forever, was really going to be late if I went the gas saving way so I jumped on the 4 lane.  Gas was low but I had 40 miles to go on my mileage. no worries.

I turn off of 301 onto Ward Blvd. its 8:10 I am late, my car shuts off.  Dead. in traffic….. sigh no power breaks, no power steering, didn’t realize I was that weak lol. got the car off the road thank goodness. Out of gas. my low fuel light never came on.  Thankfully Mike’s work is only a mile away or so.

Finally get to work. Did I mention I was off the day before taking Caitlin to the doctor? that’s a story by itself,Anyway work had piled up just a little, not for me but for a wonderful lady I work with, she does all the cutting, numbering and  hole punching and stuff (I work at a commercial printing and graphic design place) So I was doing what I could, mostly checking copy. I had to keep interrupting her to ask questions, it was like I was brand new there again…. then I messed up and a job didn’t glue right. I remember  boss saying something about having to reverse pages as he was getting hte paper but it was a few days later that I got to check that one and I totally forgot it. He forgot too so he says its not my fault, doesn’t make me feel any better.

Lunch was fun. I asked Mike to eat lunch with me, or rather me with him. and then my boss buys me lunch…. wow I was feeling really blah by then I so wanted to go home. all teary and out of sorts, chest still hurting…. (its a posture thing so don’t get all doctor on me) ugh. took a nap, lunch hour turned into lunch hour and a half…. oops

That afternoon was worse. just one thing after another.  I got off a little after 3. went by  bank oh joy what fun that was. then decided to run in dollar store and buy umbrella just in case, see that friday was our relay for life and they were calling for rain the night and next day. I was to now spend that night and half the next day outside, sleep on the ground all that…. lets say I was not looking forward to it all, I was in a pity party. while  in the store, the bottom fell out. pouring man was it pouring…. my spirits fell more.

in car now going home to get kids and go to relay.  heading out of town with a full gas tank, dark clouds all around gloomy depressing. turn on radio…. they were talking about choosing joy amidst adversity choosing each day for Christ and not self, actively seeking peace of mind,,,, choosing Joy…. choosing…… could I choose to be in a better mood? to have a better day? to let go of my bad day and find joy? peace of mind? calm seas?

went 4 lane home because the sky looked lighter that way. the further I went the lighter it got inside and out as I decided to choose joy. as I made an effort to let go of the hurt, the doom and gloom and the uglies I was holding onto.   took awhile but I was feeling a littler better when I got home… got everyone packed and ready and out the door. got to the relay….. the bottom fell out again…..

This time I chose to see the positive, to choose joy, to smile.  =Clouds moved, took rain with them, saw a beautiful rainbow….. the weather was perfect the rest of the night and the next day. I even stayed up till 3 in the morning before crashing in the tent.  slept 2 1/2 hours and woke up feeling better than I had friday morning.

We all have a choice, to live each day as if it were that horrible Monday morning (or the Friday that feels like Monday) …. the everything goes wrong morning, the weekend is sooooo far away morning. How about choosing the joyful morning.  The one full of possibilities and surprises. You cant appreciate the rainbow until you go through the rain.

Nail-biting & Needles

You would not normally think that nail-biting and needles might possibly go together.  Well apparently they do for little boys.  Jacob has a habit of not just biting but chewing on the edges of his nail bed. he has no fingernails left to nibble.

Well Saturday night at bath time I noticed it looked red and a little puffy around the side of his thumb nail. Sunday morning it was raised and had some white in the middle. By Sunday night you could tell it was infected. This morning (Monday) it looked bad. but nothing compared to lunch time when I picked him up from school for his doctors apt:

Yes it hurts, its infected bad

The doctor we got had a brain fluff our something. He came in the door saying he had his needle ready was Jacob ready? Uhm hello he is a little boy who is already scared this doctor is going to hurt him. He knows all about needles mostly from the dentist who shoves a big one into his mouth every time he goes. and unfortunately he has to go ALOT. Genetics.  Dumb Doctor. He says oh I am just kidding be a big boy and don’t cry. WHOA my mommy stuff just jumps right up and says STOP.  I got mad in 2.3 nano seconds and right lately I cant control my temper. Doctor saw this and didn’t say another thing about big boys not crying. If your scared you cry, if your hurt you cry, if your mad enough to cry then you cry.

Anyway  he then says out loud and to my already scared and crying son that he needs to pop it and drain it, with a needle. But oh it won’t hurt at all….. no need to cry it won’t hurt….  So I try to get Jacob calmed down, telling him it won’t hurt I even get him to let me touch the blistered part so he can see it won’t hurt. He is ok He is not happy but ok, Doctor comes in and tells Jacob to go ahead and close his eyes, I put my hand over his eyes (Jacobs idea) cause I am holding him, and doctor proceeds to pop the infected area with a huge needle ( I was looking ) and of course it squirts all over me and completely misses the doctor, where is the justice in that?!?!?!

There is fluid in it, but you can see the puss at the "bottom" yuck

So Jacob is ok with this, it didn’t hurt at all to pop it, but then that lovely doctor who insisted that it would not hurt, who had me telling Jacob it would not hurt that doctor with out a warning or anything starts to SQUEEZE out the rest of the poison. HELLO!!!!!   IT HURTS!!!! ARGH he lied. he knew he was going to have to squeeze it did he just apply pressure? no he mashed it from one end sliding to the other to force out the poison. Why would he tell my son it wouldn’t hurt if he was going to hurt him? Ugh made me lie to him to. Ok so he didn’t MAKE me but still….

Jacob is ok now. He really doesn’;t like doctors much though. I also told him he would get amoxicillin and the doctor gave him Augmentin instead. That stuff is gross, makes Jacob gag. So He got a new toy (some cheap gun) and ice cream and chocolate milk. I hate lieing to him and I hate hurting him. But his finger should get better. He has to take the antibiotics, use neosporin and if it swells up again we go back. I will just make sure a different doctor is there when we go back.

Back in Action

Wow I have Internet again. Unbelievable how fast you can get used to not having something then tada you get it back and fall in old patterns. Like getting my nose stuck in here.

Wow they match... all on their own

Catch up is catch up… I work while the children are in school. I get off at 3… sometimes later. I finish whatever I am working on at 3 then I leave. So far it works for everyone. Now if we get busy busy I am sure the off at 3 is over. I like it though I don’t feel so guilty for not being home because I am home.

So anyway leave me a comment, ask me a question, send me an email. I can and will answer now. But its after midnight…. I took a pain pill and did it knock me out? nope. but I better try to go to sleep anyway… got to work tomorrow.

Night everyone!

What a Farm we live on.

Ever get the feeling that things have gotten out of hand? Wondering how you go from one little parakeet to a virtual zoo of critters? We went 11 years with no pets other than the odd fish or two. Then there were the outside OUTSIDE ALL THE TIME kitty cats that woudl show up occasionally.

 

Now 3 weeks ago we had 2 inside dogs, 1 outside dog, 1 cat, 2 parakeets, 1 cockatiel, 1 goldfish, 1 hamster, 300 guppies and 2 chickens. Well since then we have lost 1 chicken (I didn’t eat him) and gained a puppy.

The children found a small puppy (vet says she was 4 weeks old) in the filed across from our house. On my birthday no less   Caitlin wants to keep her, says she will pay for everythign and take care of her 100% on her own. Ask her how much she likes vet bills or getting up at 2 am for a potty call.

 

We have a very friendly although on the dumb side black lab mix she is a year old. She may be wanting a new home, also the birds have to go. no time to give the m the attention they deserve and every one keeps telling them to shut up. KC (dog #1) and Allie (my cat) are here to stay. everyone else is negotionable, want a pet? give me a call I will deliver them with food, toys, supplies and a great big smile! )

Its New Years Eve Already?!?!

Where the heck did the year go?  It has blasted by so fast I can’t remember what I did yesterday let alone a week, month or year ago. 

Still no computer at home. I am averaging once a month at the library and I don’t always remember to stop by my blog. Don’t give up on me lol. In another month or two we will have Internet back at the house. I just have to take care of more important things first.

So take care my friends, in this new year trust more in God and lean on Him who will not turn or change. Pray for our soon to be president. I don’t agree with most of his view points but he will be my president and only God can touch and change his heart. Take care and my love and prayers go out to everyone.

Lost in my too busy life

How time has flown by. I can’t find my balance in this too busy and hectic schedule I am trying to follow. More like getting swept away in the rushing rapids of an angry river. How do I get myself into these situations. 

We have no internet at home right now. Havn’t for three months and not likely to have it again for another two. Internet or Christmas presents? internet or heat in my house? It is not such a hard choice. 

My EMT-Basic class is going well. Only two and half more weeks. I am carrying an 88.3 average. Not too bad but then again I have always been good at book work its the hands on stuff that worries me. Puting it all together. But I feel like the Lord has sent me in this direction. To give back, to help out to be where I am needed, to help others. If this is His will I have no doubt He will see me through it. 

Work is another story. Work itself is going alright. I can do the job just fine. I am doing different things I am more of a jack of all trades at work. I work at a Graphic Design and Commercial Printing place. I do it all. Not all of it but some of everthing. I am not perfect lol I am far from it and yesterday I almost crashed the central computer. That woudl have been bad.

 

We as a family our having a hard time finding a balance. I can not tell the last time I actually cooked a home cooked meal. Not sure chicken and rice cooked at 1 in teh morning counts. Was good though. My freezer is stocked with microwave meals, my cabinets have instant meals, chef boy r dee and soups. We have sandwich and cereal stuff. The kids are eating, I am not starving them but still its not like it was where they got at least four good square meals a week with three lazy meals. you know? On class nights I don’t get to see them at all except for the hour before school. Its hard. When I am home it is wierd I am restless and cant sit still I am used to going, they are used to being on their own, I have become obsolete. In trying to help my family, trying to get us back on our feet, trying not to go nuts alone everyday while they are in school. I have become …. an absentee parent.

Someone has ben skipping school, homework is not getting done, house is a wreck, My Jacob is changing into a different child and my older two. they think they are grown and don’t need me anymore. Are they wrong? Doesn’t feel like it sitting here in my seat.

We have our god days and our bad. Today is good. Its saturday I had EMT class. Everyone came with me. We practice loading and unloading the Ambulance, I got to drive. Jacob and Christopher played hide and seek, Caitlin played a car wreck victim. Mike helped out as well. I find myself living for the weekends… Everything is getting pushed out of center and I am trying to find a balance. For you parents who work, I understand the struggle, the guilt and also the necessity of your having to work, maybe we would all choose to be home if we could. I would choose to work only when they were in school and be home when they were if I had such a choice but for now. well Friends pray for me and my family. I have a strong faith and a good support system in my family. I know we will see it through to  a balance in our life its just hte getting there is taking longer than I would like.

First Day Of School

Today is that dreaded day of days. Children look forward to seeing their friends but not to getting up so early, parents look forward to peace & quiet but not the blaring of that alarm clock. You save on your groceries but spend more on your gas. Today is the first day of school.

All three children have uniforms this year, something new to them. All three on their own with out my help or input, wore the same colors lol. Khaki shorts or pants with a red shirt. I have a picture on my camera I will share it later, they all look good and proper.

Christopher got his schedule as he got to school, they had had a mix up at open house. He is happy he got the classes and teachers he was hoping for. Honors Science and Advanced History. The Science teacher is very hands on, he doesn’t like paperwork. Which is good cuz neither does Christopher. He told the students they would take a computer apart and put it back together. I am not so sure about advanced history but…..

Caitlin who told me again and again she was not tucking in her shirt, they could send her home… well before she went int eh front door they made her tuck her shirt in lol….. poor baby. So do I get to say I told you so yet? She spent 45 minutes on her hair this morning, now she got it cut short and she straightened it so why it took 45 minutes I don’t know…

Jacob had a melt down at his school. well that is a little over stated. He didn’t want me to leave and he didn’t want to stay. I had to walk away from him while the teacher held his hand and tears streamed down his cheeks. Now if that doesn’t just break your heart you have never had to do it. But I won’t be doing that again. After school we have to go to the doctors office, I noticed a fine rash on his tummy last night after his bath… he has no fever at all but it sure looks like a strep rash…

Tomorrow I start a full time job and I won’t be able to take or pick him up anymore. I won’t be home when he gets off the bus, and 2 nights out of the week I won’t be there when he goes to bed. Pray for us, I am unsure of being able to handle this. So much change… but so far it is an ok first day of school , no surprises.

Missing over Here

Well we have no Internet service at home. I finally remembered my password to sign back in here at the library so I could post. What a time we have had but I can see Gods hand every step of the way.

I start a new job this coming Tuesday. It will be my first full time job and it changes our daily routines in a big way. I will get up earlier, get myself ready for work then wake up the kids and get them on their way to school. as soon as Jacob gets on the  bus and I see Caitlin’s and Christopher’s I go out the door to ride with Mike to work. I work an 8-5 hour day at a Printing place in Wilson. On Tuesdays and Thursdays I will leave there and go straight to EMT class in Snow hill, Mike going home to do supper, homework, bath and beds. Other nights we get home just in time to take Caitlin to practice and Friday night games. she will have competitions on Saturdays and work on Sunday afternoons, she doesn’t want to completely give up her job. If we cant make this schedule work I will drop my class. I don’t wanna I am doing good right now, I made a 90 on my first major test and I only missed one question on the CPR test. don’t worry it was a misread not ignorance I can still save your life.

School starts Monday, all three children have uniforms this year. that has its good and bad. I will let you figure out the good and bad, I am on library time and my time is up so until next time….  I am hoping with this job to have my Internet back up in about 3 weeks.