YAY!

Last night I went to church in a

pair of jeans that were a SINGLE DIGIT!!

AND

AND

AND

I didn't have to lay on the bed to zip them;-)

WOOHOO!!!

I know you were all dying to know that lol

Unfortunately I celebrated by eating so I have to be good today!!

sad day

I need to find a good home for my full breed Min Pin...I know I have several readers from OKC so hopefully someone will know of someone that wants her. Her name is Kitty. She is very much loved and spoiled but my son needs to breathe and this is supposed to help:::sigh::::I also have a beautiful cat but I think the nurse wants her for her sons birthday...I will let you know if that changes. But for now here is my baby.......

UPDATE----we all said goodbye to Kitty today. She went to a home with another Min Pin and LOVED the person that picked her up...if you know my dog that is an answer to prayer!! Kitty is very protective and has to get to know you but not with this person. She jumped up and played with them from the second she saw them. It was a heartbreaking thing but my son is handling it very well. He understands why...In fact, I think he is handling it better than I am...I will probably be a basketcase when I have to say goodbye to my cat:****( I love my furbabies but I love my son more.

Spring

I know I shared last year how MUCH I love spring in Oklahoma but look at these trees!! How could you not LOVE it here??!!! Aren't they pretty? :-) Anyway, today is the first day of spring and it has been an AMAZING day! God is just so good and I am constantly amazed at how MUCH our lives have changed for the better. I was reading my pastors blog earlier and I read this post and he had this verse on it “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:18-19, NIV

How perfect is that?? I think that sums it up for us:-)

Spring Break Ramblings

Before I start rambling I want to THANK YOU all for praying for my friends...you can continue to get updates on their blogs
Merci
Jesica
Things continue to change and we are all having to hold onto the fact that God never changes and will continue to hold us through this...even when it hurts and even when we are angry

Ok here ya go with some bored ramblings lol

I have HORRIBLE timing and I am sick...not just a little sick but pneumonia, sinus infection and pleurisy....I hate asthma and what it does to you.

Steroids make me hungry and I will go to the store to buy things like guacamole when I see a commercial..I am an advertisers dream.

Birthday parties do not cease to happen because Mama is sick....especially when you are single! Amazing what guilt can do:-/

the sermon on Sunday was AMAZING and you must listen to it!!
Here is the link Lakeside Assembly of God - Oklahoma City Church.....oops I just checked and they haven't updated to this weeks sermon but when they do it was AWESOME! Oh and the best part FIVE people accepted Christ on Sunday:-)

I love Spring Break even when I am sick lol Sleeping in is the best!

I LOVE my kids so much and who they are growing up to be....oh here is a rabbit trail but on Feb 13th I stood in youth service and watched my oldest praising Jesus with everything in him...I looked at my friend next to me and said "that right there made EVERYTHING we have gone through worth it"...I know that I know that I know this is a direct result of being in God's will. God brought us here and He hasn't left us:-) He is so faithful.

I was so excited to break out the capris till I realized they don't fit me anymore...this would be great if I liked shopping but I don't...at least they will be a size or two smaller than last year;-) still only 20lbs lost but I WILL lose the last 10 if it kills me!

I am going to Florida this summer and I am actually excited to see some old friends and family. I know I will be happy to come back but visiting will be nice.

The ex and I have had some really pleasant conversations and that has been really NICE.

I have the most amazing amazing friends and I am so thankful to God for putting them in my life.

I am getting my haircut this week and *I didn't schedule the appt lol Thanks Kayla!! I am so spoiled.

I am also going to lunch with someone I really admire and love. She is a also a gift from God.

I am happy....I am truly happy. I love my life. Yes, there are bad things happening to people I love and that hurts beyond measure but I have Someone that I can run too.....and I have peace:-) The peace is new but I am sure it has always been there for the taking.

God IS good ALL THE TIME!

more pics

Sorry about the quality...I can't seem to get my digital camera to work so these are from my cell phone:-)

This one shows his personality lol My little goofball!!

This is the birthday boy blowing out the candle
These are all my babies and I don't care how tall they get they will ALWAYS be MY babies;-) I can't show the other kids because they aren't mine and well, that would be rude lol Trust me it is LOUD in here and there is cake everywhere;-) If you want some just stop by because we have plenty!!

My big boy!!

11 years ago I was at the Drs for a routine appt. I wasn't feeling anything but a lot of pressure which they assured me was normal for a 2nd pregnancy. My dh dropped me off and was going to run an errand and then pick me up. I wasn't in there long when the Dr said "ok you need to go straight to the hospital because you are 5cm"...I remember getting excited because I was half way done and hadn't felt a thing lol I paged my dh and off we went. I wasn't in labor so it was a LONG night of waiting. I walked up and down the stairs trying to jump start something lol I wanted to go home but we lived so far away that I couldn't. On the 18th I demanded to go home so they induced my labor...you don't argue with a really pregnant woman;-) One hour and 45 min later I saw the cutest little boy with a head full of RED hair! He is my joy. He is the one I call my blessing because we had been trying for a long time and had already lost a few including his twin:( He still is my blessing and makes me laugh DAILY. Sure he is louder than the other two but that is his personality and I wouldn't change a thing about him;-) I will try to remember that in 30 min when I have a house full of LOUD children eating cake and screaming about wrestling. I will try to take a pic because I think I bought the world's largest cake! What was I thinking???!! Happy Birthday Baby Boy!!

***update...here is the cake but I had to stand in a chair to get the whole thing lol If you look closely you will see wrestling guys mixed with the dinosaurs because somehow that makes sense to him :-D

Friday's update

This is from an email from Merci.....


Friday's update ...

The doctor told us to expect some setbacks and minor complications and we've seen some of those and are seeing more. I got a phone call just before 4 this morning and had to rush up to the hospital. Dad had been transferred from ICU into an Intermediate Care Unit (IMCU) - similar to ICU but there are 3 patients to one nurse instead of 2 patients to 1 nurse. It's a step down from ICU but still a step above the regular patient floor.

Apparently, he became very disoriented and confused in the night and pulled out his feeding tube three times. They finally had to restrain him, even more so than they did the night he came out of surgery. He detests restraints and will always fight against them. That's what was going on when they called mom and she called me. He told the nurse he needed her and they let him call her which scared mom to death because he wasn't making much sense. So we rushed to the hospital shortly after 4 am and got to his room about 420. He's in a chest restraint and wrist restraints with mittens so he can't use his fingers to unhook things or pull out tubes but can still freely move his fingers. He was resting some but still quite confused, but he did know who we were.

We talked at length with both the ICU nurse who'd had him in the night and the new nurse in the IMCU who both assured us that this come and go disorientation is normal and will improve with time, although we may expect it to continue to come and go, possibly for months. One nurse explained that the brain is a very "unforgiving organ" and if you hurt it, it will "hurt you back" as it tries to sort itself out and put all the memories and thoughts back into their right places and perspective. She also explained that it's pretty common for them to be fine through the day, like Daddy was yesterday, and get confused at night because their body rhythms still tell them it's day or night, but there is so much stimulation in ICU that their senses confuse them because it's "all day" there. She said that oftentimes, THAT is when they know it's time to move them out of ICU into the IMCU so they can actually get more rest, have less stimulation without sacrificing care or supervision and start to recognize day and night and help them start making more sense of their surroundings.

This unit has the same rules as ICU, no visitors from 630 to 800, am and pm, so we both came home for a quick shower and a cup of real coffee (hospital coffee is lethal) and I'm going back this morning and she'll take the afternoon watch, if everything is still ok by 8 am.

Current most/urgent prayer requests:

* That this confusion will lessen and they'll be able to remove the restraints he hates so much

* That they will be able to replace the feeding tube without difficulty

* That the swallow study they will do today will show some improvement so we can start moving toward getting off off the feeding tube and onto liquids without the risk of aspiration.

Yesterday, I asked for prayer for three things - and I want to share how God answered. It's amazing!

I asked for prayer for:

* Dad's pain to become tolerable.
By noon yesterday, he didn't even have a headache!

* That he would be able to get some sleep because he hadn't had more than 3 hours since surgery.
By 3 pm yesterday, he had slept in the recliner for HOURS.

* That he wouldn't get pneumonia.
By last night, he was coughing up yuck and clearing the phlegm out of his lungs.

God is so very very faithful. The scripture that I've most been holding onto during this time is Isaiah 41:10 which says, "Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." And God has done exactly what He promised he would.

Thank you for your prayers. Last night as I went to sleep, counting my blessings and remembering all the answered prayers throughout this week, I was overwhelmed with the knowledge that God IS love. God isn't miracles, God isn't the things He does, God IS love and because of his indescribable love for me, He has strengthened me and upheld me with His righteous right hand through this most difficult journey. I think the greatest miracle of all is that God loves us that much. It leaves me awestruck.

Update #3

This is the latest...thank you again for your prayers! I KNOW they are working!!
**********************
First, thanks again for all your prayers and encouragement! And thanks to all of you wonderful AWANA volunteers for holding down the fort for us last night so we could be where we needed to be. We are grateful!

The latest news is that Dad is still in ICU but may move to an intermediate care unit today after they remove the drain from his head. He won't move to a regular floor for a little while yet and not until they remove his lumbar drain. God answered prayer yesterday about his swallowing difficulties. We were told that he had been aspirating food into his lungs since before the surgery. Further tests revealed that was NOT the case. He also did not aspirate his pills in the hospital - they did make it to the stomach so he only aspirated a little water and ice chips. MUCH better than aspirating solids!! The water will eventually reabsorb into his lungs and they just have to keep him up and coughing and moving as much as possible to prevent aspiration pneumonia. The doctor told us that his swallowing issues may take a few weeks to resolve and to be patient. Until then, he'll be on a liquid diet through his feeding tube. He'll also have a physical therapy evaluation and session every day to evaluate his movement and begin relearning whatever is necessary re: walking and using his right hand. He is still in a lot of pain and not able to sleep much.

Current/most urgent prayer needs:

That the pain would become more tolerable
That he would be able to sleep (going on 24 hours now with about 3 hours total)
That he wouldn't develop pneumonia

Thank you again for your love, encouragement, support and most of all, your prayers.
Our God is faithful.

Surgery update #2

This was an email from Merci and I don't think she will mind me posting this here because we have seen the power of prayer...here are some things to pray about and again THANK YOU for praying!!
*******************
This is a really fast update - dad made it fine through the night though it was a ROUGH night and he pulled out his arterial line and his central line and that was a problem. It's fixed now and they've done an MRI on him today, don't know the results of that yet. Minor complications include: numbness in his right hand and it keeps going to sleep and he's having some speech issues - slurring some, and using the wrong word when he wants to say something.

Mom and I came home for a shower and a little sleep and I'm heading back to the hospital now.

I just got a call - we've had our first MAJOR complication. They have done a swallow study to see why he's having trouble swallowing and the results are not good. Whatever pills and water he has swallowed overnight have NOT gone into his stomach but into his lungs which is of course, very dangerous. They have just inserted a feeding tube into his nose so he can get nutrition and water and possibly some medicine but so far, even the feeding tube isn't getting liquids into his stomach. This is obviously a major setback and very scary, but God has been faithful this far. Please just continue to pray that this too will be resolved safely and my Dad will continue his recovery, however slowly. We are just grateful to have him still with us today and we know that we saw God work a miracle yesterday.

The surgery update from yesterday was that they removed 80-90 percent of the brain tumor and will get the rest with gamma knife radiation later. The miracle is that the tumor appears to be BENIGN. It is called a Schwanoma tumor and is a very rare - as in less than 5% of all brain tumors - typically benign tumor. We'll have final pathology results in approx. 5-7 days. Thank you all for praying! Please don't stop. Prayer truly does change things and I saw that again up close and personally yesterday. I am grateful for all the prayer, love, encouragement and support. You cannot imagine how it has encouraged my family. All our love to all of you!

Update on surgery

Sorry it took so long to update but it was a LONG surgery and an even LONGER day. I have to tell you that Merci's Dad is so loved and has touched so many peoples lives that the waiting room was packed!!! I think we took up almost all the chairs lol The waiting was hard and seeing people you love hurt is unbearable. Merci was amazing and held it together and took all the phone calls from the Dr and stayed strong for her Mom...only God could have done that so I KNOW where she gets her strength from. Anyway, we got the BEST news because the tumor is BENIGN!!! It is a rare tumor called a schwannoma. I am just amazed and soooooooooo thankful...God is so good and we are so blessed. Thank you all for praying. I am going to sleep sooooooooo good tonight!! Oh thank you Jesus for another miracle!! And thank you guys for praying for those that I love so much. Oh I am so happy and I just can't stop praising Jesus!! Yeah I am Assembly of God lol BUT just look what the Lord has done...He healed his body....ok I need to go thank my Father and go to bed! I am giddy and exahusted all at the same time lol Thanks again!!!

Know what is great for a headache???

This

Yes they ALL have guitars and they are playing screamo rock stuff but don't worry they are praising Jesus....I think they are just making sure He hears:-/

Updates

Here are some updates on my friends...

Jesica had the surgery and is home now. God is good and her rather large tumor was encapsulated so they were able to remove it withOUT affecting her other organs...that was totally God! She is home and someone is flying in to help with the kids so her dh can work....again totally God! She will start chemo in a couple of weeks so please continue to pray for this 31yo Mom of 3 for complete healing.

Merci's Dad is going in for an appt with a super specialist today. Things don't look good right now but God is still God and I am praying hard for a miracle. You can read the update here.....Spit Out The Cat: Well, Wow Please please please keep this family in your prayers...they mean SO MUCH to me. I can't imagine the pain they are going through either.

You can also add my oldest to the list because he is sick...again. It's his lungs. We did breathing treatments yesterday and he is on antibiotics. I know this is hard on him too.

Oh and selfishly *I* need prayers. I need to be strong for everyone and I am so not... God is my rock and the only reason I haven't laid down and given up. I HATE seeing people hurt and I take all of this to heart because that is my gift...it doesn't always feel like a gift:-/ I just love them all so much and I HATE THIS. When I got the news about Merci's Dad I literally felt sick. I needed to have an ugly cry but I didn't want to scare my kids so I went to the prayer room at church and sat with my Father and bawled for over an hour alone. I stayed till I felt peace but it doesn't last long before I have to go running back to His arms...how do people do this without God?? I am so glad I don't have to.

Thank you all for your prayers and the emails letting me know you are praying. I appreciate it more than you know.

Natalie grant held

I am so glad to know I have Someone to hold me because life can hurt:**(

I can't even begin to think of a title to put here....In fact, I don't really have any words right now so I will share with you some prayer requests and you can join me in asking God for some miracles.....

My favorite person in the whole world is hurting because of this . I can't do anything to fix it and it is breaking my heart.
I also love her Dad...he has been a "Dad" to me since I moved here. He went to court with us twice when I got divorced and was just so protective of me. I couldn't thank him enough for that....He hugged me when I cried and whispered "you did good kid" in my ear. He has just been a Dad to me and I love him so much. Actually I love the whole family and this hurts. Please pray for them and that I can be there for all of them?

Another close friend, Jesica, was admitted to the hospital on Monday because her cancer came back. She has ovarian cancer which is the same cancer my MIL had if you have been following my blog. She is ONLY 31 and the Mom of 3 babies. It breaks my heart because she is so special to me. She is the one that I go out with almost every weekend for a girls night. Our families hang out together....this isn't supposed to happen. Cancer sucks! She is having major surgery tomorrow so please pray for Jesi and her family?

Ok while I was typing this I just got a phone call and someone else that I am very close to lost her MIL. So please pray for C too? She is trying to be strong for the world and boy do I understand that! Pray that I can be a good friend to her during this?

I am going to crawl into bed and pray.....please join me? well, not in bed but in prayer;-)

Politics in my house:-)

So my children have been asking a million political questions lately....mostly at bedtime to avoid going to sleep but anyway lol I told my oldest that he was getting older and needed to start forming his own opinions and I let him use my computer. I explained the important things to look for such as prolife and marriage issues and then I let him look. I just prayed that he didn't come back with some crazy person;-) After extensive research he tells me that he is "SO VOTING FOR MIKE HUCKABEE" and in my head I am just so proud that I raised him to be a conservative republician. I asked him his reasons and waited....he said that he was reading Mike Huckabee's myspace and found out he has a band and plays the guitar JUST LIKE HIM lol Don't believe me? here ya go.... www.myspace.com/capitoloffense He has others and his wife even has one! Ok that fact made ME laugh:-)
I still totally cracked up at his logic but was pleased with his choice so I will leave it alone lol

jesus culture - how he loves us

Happy Valentine's Day:-)I am SO loved and so are YOU!

Court Update

Yesterday was an emotional day. It was sad and happy if that makes any sense to anyone other than me:-) The process was exhausting but I had wonderful a support system so I was not alone. Thank God for wonderful friends. There was a lot of compromise but in the end I think we did good. I have FULL custody of my children and that is ALL that really mattered...they are mine and even though he gets them for a few weeks each summer they still live with me. I won't post all the details but I did get no overnight girlfriend added so at least my kids won't have to see that...THAT was important to me;-) I stressed so much over this and lost so much sleep and I am just so glad it is over. Yesterday was also my 18month anniversary of moving to Oklahoma. Can you believe I have been here a year and a half?? Some days it still feels like a dream. In the last 18 months we have seen the hand of God in our lives in ways I never thought possible. They have been the most peaceful yet insane 18 months of my life. I have grown closer to my heavenly Father. I have grown as a person. I have been through counseling that is sooooo HARD. We have seen miracles in our lives. We have become a family of 4...that was the hardest for me because in the beginning I knew someone was missing but now it feels normal. This is our life and our new normal and that is ok. We are ok. When the judge told me I was divorced I cried. It hit me way harder than I thought it would. It's funny because my friends knew that would happen and I didn't. I wanted this and I was the one that left so I didn't expect it to hurt so much. Another friend had picked up my kids from school so I had to pull myself together and go get them. What I didn't know was her dh called out for pizza and had plans to watch wrestling with my kids so she could take me out to celebrate or for a shoulder. I think it was more of a celebration:-) I am divorced. I thought I would feel dirty saying it but instead *I know what I left. I know how far we have come and how much better our lives are. I am not going to let divorce make me feel ashamed because I am a survivor. I have learned that I truly can do ALL things through Christ. I was an abused wife. WAS. Now I am a single Mom that loves her kids and will do anything to protect them. I have learned to step out in faith and trust God fully. I am not perfect and never will be but I do love my Jesus. He loves me and that is enough. I am complete in Christ. For those worried....I will be ok...I really will:-) And I am divorced! It's over and I never have to go through that again and that is a wonderful feeling.

Friday

I am going to court on Friday:-/ I wish I could say I wasn't nervous or sick to my stomach about it but I so am. This will be the end of a marriage and a dream. I HATE divorce. I hate what this does to the children. I hate how it makes you feel. I hate that unless you have been through this you will never understand the pain. Its no wonder God hates it because it sucks! Anyway, I guess I will just be a pile of nerves until it is over and hopefully then I will feel some sense of relief. Honestly I don't know how I am going to feel so I can't even prepare which also sucks. I would like to think that I will feel a sense of closure so I can move on with MY life. He already has but that is another post lol If you would like to pray the court time is at 1:30pm cst and all I want is God's will and to be able to accept whatever that is:-) I have MY wish list of what I would like to happen but since God knows the whole picture I am trying to trust that whatever happens is for the best. I just want this over with......oh and a good nights sleep....and maybe a maid....

Psalm 147:1-11 (New International Version)

1 Praise the LORD. [a]
How good it is to sing praises to our God,
how pleasant and fitting to praise him!

2 The LORD builds up Jerusalem;
he gathers the exiles of Israel.

3 He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.

4 He determines the number of the stars
and calls them each by name.

5 Great is our Lord and mighty in power;
his understanding has no limit.

6 The LORD sustains the humble
but casts the wicked to the ground.

7 Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving;
make music to our God on the harp.

8 He covers the sky with clouds;
he supplies the earth with rain
and makes grass grow on the hills.

9 He provides food for the cattle
and for the young ravens when they call.

10 His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse,
nor his delight in the legs of a man;

11 the LORD delights in those who fear him,
who put their hope in his unfailing love.

What is going on??

Just checking on you, hope everything is going well!
*************
Since this was left in my comments (thank you Sarah for checking) I figure I should probably update lol I didn't mean to be so quiet. I had all intentions of this being the best year yet and it still might be but it hasn't started out so great. First and this is NOT an excuse but I have hit a wall in counseling. I can't go further until I am willing to face some things about my childhood and they are pretty painful. It is helping A LOT to understand why I accepted some things and where I came from. Very eye opening but sometimes it hurts and I don't mean to but I end up lashing out at those I love most. So there was that and then just 5 days into the year a coworker and friend lost her 16yo son to a tragic car accident. Some things I will never be able to understand and a child dying is one. He had attended the school I work at last year and some of this year and I love his Mom so it was hard to deal with...I am thankful that most of the people I work with love Jesus and we had a whole prayer thing the day of the funeral. It hit one of my close friends at work hard because her Uncle died at the same time...I am not good at seeing people hurt:**( If that wasn't enough one of the girls that worked at my school went to sleep last Sunday and never woke up. Knowing she is in heaven is wonderful but sitting on the floor with a close friend of hers and watching her cry when we all found out was HARD. In between grieving I have also had to deal with mono...not with me but my kids. I know for sure one has it because they tested her but I have another one showing the same symptoms. The Dr just said to assume he has it and he doesn't need to be seen. Taking care of sick kids is SOOOOOOOOOOO tiring. It is times like these that being a single Mom seems overwhelming. The good news in all of this is as hard as it has been I have fought so hard not to close off the world and start pit dwelling. It wasn't easy but I forced myself to go to church and do things for others so that I didn't stay home feeling sorry for myself kwim And it really helped! This week I was also able to go out for a girls night and that totally made everything seem doable. Hopefully that will get me through the next two weeks because I am getting ready to go to court for the divorce:-/ I am sure that will be hard but hopefully will give me the closure that *I need to move forward.
Still I KNOW I serve an amazing God and I am so thankful that at the times that life seems hard and overwhelming I still have Him and He is all I need. So that is what is going on here...nothing major just hoping for a less stressful week...oh wait in other good news I am down 18lbs:-) Yay me!! Just 9 more to go!! Ok I am off to go love on a newborn when I bring his Mama dinner and groceries:-) Hope everyone else is doing great!!

Visit update

I just sat down to answer ALL of my email (sorry I am so behind and you know who you are!) and realized that several of you actually were interested in the visit with the stbx and how it went. I went against the advice of those who know me best and they still love me even if this was stressful for them too:-) I do believe it was their prayers that got me through. I thought I had prayed enough and knew what I was doing but as I was waiting for his plane that was delayed FOREVER I called someone because I thought I would throw up. All of a sudden I was terrified. I was so worried about how *I* would feel with him back in the house. It wouldn't be the first time that I was blind sided by my emotions. We shared a lifetime together and I thought I was still head over hills in love. I thought I would want to melt in his arms and give him another chance that he didn't deserve. I thought I would have to push all that down because deep down I knew I didn't want to go back to the that life. I knew I didn't come this far to go back and I was scared....scared of myself! I was pleasantly surprised because when I saw him I had NO feelings. I still care because he is the father of my children but I didn't want to melt in his arms...I didn't want to dream that things could change...I didn't want any of it. I am happy right now. I know I am a single Mom and my job is hard and neverending but I really AM happy. I love my life. I love my "family" here and I don't miss the walking on eggshells. I don't miss the cheating and the lies. I don't miss having to pretend that we were ok for the kids. I don't miss being scared when he came home. I actually believe I deserve better now. This is HUGE. I can start out this year with the gift of knowing it really IS over for me. That will help when we go to court next month. I don't have to look back and hope for that hallmark ending. I have a life with my kids that has a future. I honestly love my job and my church and my friends are amazing. God has given me the things I have always wanted and they aren't materials...they are family and unconditional love and that feeling of belonging somewhere.That doesn't mean I don't get lonely or stressed or my life is perfect. I have my days that I still spend in the pit. I take medication for depression and I am in counseling. Still I am happier because I am in God's will...there is no place I would rather be and I have to tell you that feels amazing....This year is looking pretty good so far:-)

Happy Birthday!!!!

Last year I told you about someone who changed my life and I don't think there is too much I can add BUT once again it is her birthday:-) This birthday is special because it ends in a zero but I will let her share which one it is lol *I* can tell you she doesn't look her age at all because she has that complexion that people pay good money for with the smoothest skin...throw in the great hair and you want to hate her but you just can't because she is too sweet lol I am just so blessed to know her and I can't imagine where I would be if she wasn't in my life. She is that friend that can pull me out of the pit when I shut out the world...the friend that can fuss at me but do it with so much love that you can't get upset....the friend that can make me laugh no matter what is going on in my life....the friend that can make me smile just by entering a room. I have once again been blessed this year with her love and support and just her presence. She is my family and even though we aren't related biologically I believe God put her in my life to show me what family is supposed to be. She is the sister I have always wanted and always prayed for.... She is one of the first people I pray for when I wake up and one of the last I pray for when I go to bed. She is the one that I set aside a time for on Wednesday to pray for as she goes to change lives in her church because I believe in what she is doing. She gives SOOOOOOOOO much of herself and sacrifices so much of her time just to share Gods love. If it means getting up at 4:30am to sit at a hospital with a friend having surgery or sharing Jesus with a snot nosed little kid or just having someone in her home to share the holidays she makes EVERYONE feel special and loved. I honestly don't think I could have made it through some of the things I have had to go through without her... Going through a divorce and moving half way across the country were hard but were made bearable with friends like her to carry me to my Father's feet and pray with and for me. She already knows how I feel about her and I try to tell her at every opportunity how special she truly is but I wanted to share with you too...she is the most amazing Mother and I have learned some valuable lessons from her and my children can tell you what a difference it has made in their lives. I could go on and on and on and I usually do in email to her because I want her to know.... I guess I could sum up all of it by telling you the best gift she has given me was her unconditional love because in this world THAT is hard to come by... Merci I hope you never change and that your birthday is a great one and you can see how MUCH you are loved and cared for...I am just so proud of you! Today is the day to celebrate your birth and I plan on doing that and I will start by thanking God for sharing you with us because you are an angel on earth....you not only changed THIS family's life but you make the world a better place to live in...you are amazing and I love you Bazooka! With ALL of my heart...forever:-)

I didn't disappear

my stbx is in town to visit the kids and is staying with us. It is so weird because he hasn't lived with us in 17 months and things have changed...I have changed:-) I thought this would be a good thing so he could see us as a family without him but what has happened so far is I have seen I don't ever want to go back. I love my life now with God as the head of our household. I don't need him like he told me for so many years. We really are fine without him:-) I really AM happy!

Happy Anniversary

Just a little walk down memory lane

This is 18yrs ago TODAY
I was 20 and he was 19

We thought we would be together forever.....at least I hoped we would because I said till death do us part and I meant it...we also said forsaking all others but that is another story

17 years ago when my braces came off and I cut the BIG hair...we still look like babies:-)

This is us now.....


Only he is in Florida and I am in Oklahoma and the divorce will be final in February....big dreams died for me and today is just a reminder of that:**(

It's WEATHER!

It's weather!!
Oh my gosh stop everything and take over the TV to show all the white stuff. I am cranky today so I will try to be nice but how many ways can you show the weather? Since I have been in Oklahoma I have seen them put down shovels, hats, upside down unbrellas to collect snow..they have scraped the ground, the cars, the railings and anything they can get their cameras near... I have seen people roll chairs and cameras outside to show you how quickly the snow/sleet can accumulate. I have seen weathermens eyes roll back in their heads while they described the snowflake that was frozen in the piece of ice that just fell on their jacket...can you get a close up Bob because THIS IS AMAZING stuff??!!...Today I saw a shirt on a hanger that they froze along with a VHS tape to the top of a car. What for?? And didn't we already have ICE STORM 2007? Should this be 2007 part B or 2007 part B subtopic A number 1? I really think my friend and I had the best idea last year when we discussed this...if you haven't read it you MUST because she is funny!!
Even my oldest got up and looked at the tv and said "we get it! there is white stuff on the ground! do we have to listen to this all day? I mean if I wanted to be a meterologist I might care BUT I DON'T".....oh it is going to be a LONG few days because THIS IS ONLY ROUND ONE OF TWO STORM SYSTEMS!!! TWO PEOPLE!!! Ok I think I need to find some chocolate:-P

I saw this at Robin's and since I have nothing to say I thought I would do a quiz:-) Hope everyone is enjoying December. I can't believe how FAST this year has gone!

Barbie - 2 teaspoons of sensitivity - a heaping teaspoon of charisma - a gallon of humor Combine all stirring until smooth.

'What is your personality recipe?' at QuizGalaxy.com

Oh how I love Thanksgiving.....

.....let me count the pounds
oh my word I just had the BEST ThanksgivingS! First I want to tell you how absolutely BLESSED I am to have such great friends and I know that. My SIL was going to come into town for Thanksgiving Day but plans changed at the last minute so my friend, Jesica, canceled her plans to cook us dinner...how sweet is that?? So not expected but really appreciated! I wasn't stressing because we knew we were going to celebrate on Saturday with our "family" during the game....BUT instead of just one day we got to celebrate TWICE:-) Jesica has a gift of hospitality and is the friend I can call and say "add 4 more for dinner tonight" and she can do it without batting an eye...trust me that is a HUGE gift and I have called when it was getting late and I was on her side of town and didn't feel like cooking. I do love you Jesi and not just for your cooking lol She IS Martha Stewart in the kitchen and made a HUGE spread...We got there before noon and stayed till after dark and spent most of that time eating. I am talking fruit trays, pickle and olive trays, veggies and dip, sausage and cheese trays AND thanksgiving dinner. It was THE BEST TURKEY I have ever had and that is saying a lot since I don't like turkey:-) We even ate the leftover turkey on Friday because it was SO GOOD. Then on Saturday we went over my favorite persons house for her family Thanksgiving. It is so sweet of her to include us in with her family. Talk about feeling loved! My kids even told my Mom on the phone that we were having "our real family Thanksgiving" on Saturday. She is my heart and I consider her my sister even if we aren't really related..Our kids think we fight like sisters anyway but only because we are both stubborn lol I SOOO love you Merci:**) She is also an AMAZING AMAZING cook! Oh my word I ate enough dressing for a whole family! I was down 13 lbs but I probably regained it on her dressing alone. Oh my word when she took it out of the oven I was GIDDY!! Food makes me that happy lol Oh but let me tell you when she pulled it out you could see the butter on the top! That stuff is AMAZING!! Her dh also smoked the turkey and who doesn't like smoked turkey so I was in food heaven. We ate those leftovers on Sunday so we have had turkey for FOUR days straight and enjoyed every single bite. I also had a WHOLE plate of dressing yesterday by myself. You can keep the pies because her dressing is a dessert all by itself. Most of all though it was SO nice to spend Thanksgiving with people who love you unconditionally. I know I am blessed and I pray I can be a blessing too. I love you ladies!!

Wow I am so lovely lol

If you have seen my car you will understand this:-) I have children that like to draw so the floor of my car is covered in books and papers. My trunk is also full of things I haven't put away yet like a carpet cleaner and box that should have been unloaded by now SO this morning when I NEED my ice scraper I can't find it....So I did what any Floridian would do and I find a spatula;-) I am seriously working hard to make a small hole to see out of so I can drive to the bus stop. See I am not just lovely I am safe too:-P When I get there I am working on clearing the window some more when a neighbor asks to borrow my "snow scraper"...imagine her surprise when she sees I have a spatula instead lol Lets forget that I am still in pajamas because I am cleaning my window with kitchen utensils! I hand it to her and start looking for my ice scraper so I can help her and I finally find it under a bunch of junk...thank God because the other wasn't working well lol We clean off her window and another neighbor asks to use it because apparently I am not the only one who wasn't prepared...my defense is I am from Florida but what is theirs? :-D

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!! I can't even begin to tell you all the things I am thankful for this year!! Not only would it take forever but I really don't have time to be sitting at the computer lol This will be my second Thanksgiving in Oklahoma...Our second Thankgiving away from my biological family and once again we won't be alone. Tomorrow we are going to spend it with new friends and Saturday we will be celebrating with my favorite person in the whole world. I couldn't be more blessed. I may be single and raising my kids alone but I have the best friends in the whole world! God has truly blessed us:-)

Thank you Father for another year of Your mercy and grace. Thank you for just being there for us in so many ways. I AM so thankful and You bless me beyond measure...Help me to be a blessing to others..I love You!!

My Kids

This is a first for us and I had to share because it made me laugh:-) My boys have had a hard time readjusting to our busy life and schoolwork....ok they have been lazy in turning in their homework:-P My youngest is a girl so this doesn't apply to her....she just LOVES school! Anyway, I had this deal with my boys....My oldest is an A student so I had told him he could keep his hair long unless he came home with a C and that C would mean crewcut :-D I honestly didn't expect him to do that but I thought it would be enough to keep him on his toes...the other son would lose tv and that includes FridayNightSmackdown if he brought home a C....So I had conferences with the two youngest ones teachers and I find out that my middle child has been goofing off and his grades weren't the honor roll grades that I expect from him so he has consequences and that included losing TV. My oldest son hadn't even gotten his report card and he went ahead and grounded himself!! I am not kidding! This child was convinced he was bringing home a bad grade and asked for a haircut and took away his cellphone and tv from himself! For the past two weeks he has been a model student and yesterday he calls me and says "Mom I don't have to be grounded anymore because I got my report card and it was FINE! I didn't get a bad grade" I am laughing because *I* didn't ground him! I do think this was a wake up call for the boys though because grades have never been an issue for them and both have been putting in extra time to do homework...My younger son even turned in his book report early. I am enjoying the fact that the tv hasn't been on in over a week and they don't miss it. My oldest ungrounded himself yesterday and still hasn't watched it lol Silly kids! In other news I have been trying to figure out a way to give my kids a little spending money without it being allowance because I don't believe in paying my children to be citizens of the household...BUT I also want them to learn how to budget and they have to have money to do that...see my dilemma?? SOOOOO I came up with something that seems to be working for us...I have offered the children $.50 a Bible verse and they can earn up to $5.00 a week. They jumped all over that and the best part is I am not picking the verses so it has been interesting to see what they come up with! Please don't email me and tell me I shouldn't bribe my children to learn scripture because I don't care lol I was a buskid that ONLY went because someone offered to swallow a goldfish and it worked:-) It is also cute to see the different ways they learn. My oldest decided to pick an entire passage and put it to music. My middle child seems to have my memory so he just reads it and remembers. My youngest wrote hers down on paper and quizzed herself till she knew it. Of and they can't just tell me ONE time they have to still know it whenever I ask and they get paid on Fridays after they tell me the verse and location one more time. I guess the very best part is not only are they learning scripture but I am too because I have to know if they are right or not:-D

Hair Before and After

Just to satisfy your curiosity here are the before and after pictures:-) I am still in shock. What you can't see in the before pic is how long the back was and now it is SHORT
Hey btw look at my chin! Oh my gosh my face was fat and that was just a few weeks ago! Funny what losing 9lbs can do:-)

Just Some Random Thoughts...

....on this beautiful Saturday

My hair is SHORT...way SHORT! Like above my shoulders short!!...I still can't believe I had it all cut off. Never sit down and say "do whatever you want" unless you mean it!
I don't like making decisions and big decisions make me nauseous
I made a huge one but don't want to share it since I can't say it out loud yet lol I promise I will in a couple of weeks...2 weeks and 4 days to be exact;-)
My oldest also got a haircut and I LOVE that I can see his face again;-)
It is report card time again which means teacher conferences and I hate rushing home to do them
Being a single Mom that works full time is busy enough without having to schedule meetings with teachers
I am terrified of Dentist so I was thankful my checkup was cavity free but he still found reasons for me to come back...oh joy@@
I am in the process of teeth whitening and it taste so nasty lol
I wish I had worn my retainer like the orthodontist said
I have only had ONE diet coke in a week and I swear it really was easier to quit smoking...I think there is crack in diet coke or something.....now I look longingly at all drive thrus and convenience stores knowing that inside they have cold diet coke;-) I am sure it will pass although I quit smoking 14 yrs ago and sometimes that sounds good too.
I drank a gallon of water yesterday
It was flavored so I could deal with it but I still miss my diet coke with lime
I have lost 9lbs in the last few weeks
I have 15 more to be happy and to be able to go to Weight Watchers again for free lol
It is all part of the Extreme Makeover Barbie Edition aka mid life crisis maybe lol
Holidays are coming and I am still not happy about them
BUT I have AMAZING friends that make life easier
And I serve an AWESOME Lord that make life worth living
So even without my diet coke or food that taste good I can be happy...short hair and all;-)

Reason #492

that I love Oklahoma:-)

My son had to perform last night as part of the fall festival for his choir class...I don't know what they called it but they sang and some kids danced lol His middle school and the high school that I work at both performed so it was really cool! I don't know why this always shocks me but I hope I never forget this is one of the reasons I LOVE living here....on the list of songs that they sang AT A PUBLIC SCHOOL were
Joshua (you know the battle of Jericho one)
Prayer
and
God is our Refuge

Gotta love living in the Bible belt:-) That so would not have been allowed back home!

On another note if you are a single Mom and don't know how to tie a tie here you go
How to Tie a Tie - wikiHow
I had such a time trying to figure it out and finally I threw it around my neck and did something that looked half way decent. Then when I arrived at school I realized I didn't need to stress because several kids were standing in line with the principal while he tied them around his neck and gave them to the boys lol Thankfully it wasn't just MY son:-)

My name is Barbie

and I am addicted to Diet Coke

I have only had ONE is the last 3 days!! ONE!

I think quitting smoking was way easier

:::::sigh::::::

I can do this because I can do ALL things through Christ:-)

It is just doing it with a good attitude I need to work on lol

Nice Surprise

I just wanted to brag on my kiddos tonight. I needed a girls night out withOUT kids so I met my favorite person in the whole world for dinner. A couple of hours into dinner my cell rang and it was my oldest asking if he could cook lol I told him to go back to bed. My kids eat a LOT but usually not AFTER they have gone to bed...silly kids. I found out later they just wanted to see when I was coming home so they could show me their surprise:-) I walked into my apartment to find my new pink fluffy robe sitting on my chair and the WHOLE place was cleaned.... WITHOUT ME ASKING!! They even made my bed which I didn't bother doing this morning...if you know me that only happens like once or twice a week lol They even set the dishes on the table and preset the coffee pot (I don't even know how to do that!!) so that I could have hot blueberry muffins and coffee in the morning. I won't mention to them that I am off caffeine and bread because HOW SWEET IS THAT??!! I am sure I can manage one for them....What a perfect ending to such a great day:-) Ok off to finish my white chocolate mocha with soy and go to bed....

Update...sorry so late!!

I just realized I never updated on the CT scan!! I am sooooooo sorry!!! In my defense my life hasn't stopped in the last few weeks and I have been BUSY! I also had pneumonia but I didn't let that stop me from meeting Ame and Martie lol They just got to see me looking horrible and coughing up a lung. This time I did something I have never done..I actually took ALL of my antibiotics:-D Yay me lol Ok so here is the update on the CT scan. It was "good news and bad news"...the "good news" it the Pectus Excavatum is crowding him but not smushing (that's my technical term) anything YET..he will eventually need surgery but not today:-) I am supposed to have a consultation with a surgeon who will keep an eye on him to determine the best time to do it. The "bad news" is they don't know what is causing him to not breathe. They have ruled out cystic fibrosis and that his birth defect isn't causing it so what is left? *I* don't know and they aren't telling me:-/ Google has scared me so I quit looking at that. Our regular Dr is getting a referral to a pulmonologist for a lung biopsy so that is the next step. I am waiting for the insurance stuff and I will let you know when I know something. Until then he is still taking way too many meds and still having problems. I am sure the weather change isn't helping right now either. Other than all the crap in the air I DO love fall:-) We all have fall break this Thursday and Friday so maybe I will take the kids hiking...don't know if I am brave enough but maybe:-) I am loving that I only have a 3 day work week! You have to love working in the school system for that reason alone;-)
I guess there really is nothing else going on here this week except some dentist appointments, allergy shots, youth group and normal life stuff like shopping, cooking, cleaning, spending time with friends etc...I really can't complain because although my life is busy it is also full. I have amazing friends and I get to spend time with them and that makes all the crazy stuff seem ok. I have an AMAZING church that I love. I have children that I adore...
hey my weather alarm is going off!!! brb...Ok back it was just a thunderstorm warning lol Ok I am breathing again...wow that scared me!!..hey look you get to see how my brain works lol Speaking of how my brain works. I think I got to see Frontier City last Thursday. I was so lost again. This time I was REALLY REALLY lost!! I was so prepared and had printed up directions to and from a golf course that I needed to pick something up at. Then my plans changed and I was going to stop at the golf course and then go see my favorite person for dinner with her family. Once I got to the golf course I realized I only knew how to get home and not to her house:-/ Whoops!! So I asked the guy for directions which was funny because I didn't know where I was going unless I went back home and drove there. I don't know street names I just know where to turn lol Anyway, he gives me directions and they are WRONG!! I am driving and driving and all of a sudden I realize I am really lost and there is I-35 and some huge amusement park with a spider on some big ride so I call my friends house. No answer and I am panicking because I don't know where to turn. I am sure my message amused them but I was lost! I called another friend who told me to turn around...thanks Clem! :-P Then my other friends Dad heard my message and called me back and told me how to get back to her house...she walked in while we were talking and he told her where I was and she snorted! Thanks Merci:-P I love ya'll too:-) I guess the good part is I got to see a whole nother part of the city..I wouldn't know how to get back there but I can say I have been. I can tell you one thing it is NEVER boring around here lol

Meeting Update!!

Oh my gosh I had so much fun meeting Ame and martie!! They are such beautiful women inside and out! We had a great time! We ate at Carrabbas so you know I had the best meal and then I laughed till my sides hurt because I also had the best company:-) The waiter was nice enough to keep me posted on the score of the game so I knew Oklahoma was winning and that was nice too:-D And Martie is so cute you just want to keep her as your own. I want a Mom like her!! Ame is as sweet in person as she is online. I feel blessed to have amazing friends all over the place. Ok it is after 1am and I need to sleep! Night all!! Look Martie I AM RESTING:-P

Saturday!

I know you are probably thinking that I am going to tell you about the awesome game that is coming on this afternoon:-P The game known as The Red River Rivalry. They take football very seriously around here...oh that reminds me have you read this article. Here is part of it
The rancor in the Red River Rivalry apparently doesn't die between football or basketball seasons.
An Oklahoma City man has been charged with aggravated assault and battery, accused of causing extensive damage to another man's scrotum just because he wore a University of Texas shirt into a local bar.
I think the worst sentence was this one
Thomas hit the other man several times before several bar patrons intervened, but Thomas said Beckett didn't let go until Thomas heard his scrotum tear and blood ran down his leg.
OUCH! Anyway, I am excited about the game but something else is happening today that is pretty exciting too!! I get to meet Ame and martie!! Woohoo!!! If you are wondering who they are then you aren't reading The Covering~ for Single Parents:-) If you look on my sidebar you will see the button that a friend put on for me since I couldn't figure it out lol They are amazing women that have understood what other single Moms are going through and what we truly need. Martie isn't single anymore but she was and she can offer amazing perspective on what it is like to come out on the other side. All of us on the Covering have different stories and are single for different reasons. Here are a few examples:-)
Martie-Let me begin…..
Ame- Clay In the Hands
and here is mine for those who haven't read here long enough to know the whole thing
Barbie- My Journey to the Promised Land

Now for those who don't have company coming go make some football food and enjoy the game!!!

Sweat Test Update!

I promised an update but I don't have time to really have time to explain this so I am going to try and make this short. The test came back negative!! I was so prepared for a positive result that I didn't even know how to react. I just stood there in total shock. I have an amazing friend that went with us and was in the room when the Dr told us. She was excited enough for both of us:-) I was just so convinced the Drs were right that I never even thought about it being ok. I am thankful that I have friends that stood in the gap for me and prayed and had faith when I couldn't. I am thankful for a church that laid hands on him and prayed over my son and for my church that had a prayer meeting yesterday to pray for him. I am thankful that I had people from all over the place praying for him. I am thankful for the dear friend that went with me yesterday...you know I love you beyond measure! I am just thankful. My first thought when I went to type this out was to say God is good but then I realized He is good no matter what:-)Even if the results would have came back positive I would still stand here and tell you God is good! This was never a faith crisis... it was a Mommy heart that hurt for her son and a single Mom that was worried about how she would do this alone. But today I don't have to worry about that. My son does NOT have CF!!! I will update later with the results of the CT Scan! Thanks to all of ya'll who were praying! I appreciate it more than you know!

Overwhelmed

I am so beyond overwhelmed with the what ifs and our future that I am going to step back and take a break from blogging...I will update about my son for those who are praying. Before I go I want ya'll to know that I DO know that God is still God. I also know that being a single Mom is hard and lonely at times. I think Dr James Dobson answered it best here so I won't even try to explain....What encouragement can you offer to those of us who are single parents?
I think what people don't understand is that we are still human and God created us with the need for others. Adam had everything but God still created Eve so that Adam wasn't lonely...wouldn't it make sense that HE created us with this need? I think sometimes people forget that and think that we should be totally ok alone and just "trust God"...Don't get me wrong I DO trust God with everything in me but there are times I go to bed and cry myself to sleep because I have a LOT going on.....there are times I need to hear another adults voice after spending my days and nights with just kids...there are times I need others to just listen or pray with me...that doesn't mean *I* am lacking in faith. I am hurting right now and I am just so sick of hearing about how I should be coping...In Romans 12:15 the Bible says

15Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

It doesn't say tell them how they should mourn or give them advice on how to lean on God. It simply says mourn with them. I guess what I am trying to get across is just imagine you have had a horrible day or you got horrible news and you share with your dh and he turns around and says "oh just trust God...you know He has a plan and works all things out for good" when all you really needed was a hug...how would you feel? Or imagine you are a teenager and you go to your parents and they say "just lean on God"....well, that is how I feel. I feel like because I am single I am expected to not have feelings anymore. I don't know if that makes sense to anyone other than me but I think a simple "I am sorry" would have been best. I guess in a perfect world....

Dr Appt update

There was some insurance issues yesterday so they scheduled a sweat test to be done next Tuesday. I don't think I mentioned but my son has a birth defect called Pectus Excavatum and apparently it can put pressure on the heart and lungs. It hasn't always been an issue but with the rapid growth during adolescence it can start causing problems. The Dr ordered a chest xray yesterday and called with the results today. I wish I could say it was great news but she let me know she is scheduling a CT scan to happen in the very near future. Honestly I am not dealing with this very well...I know what the Word says so PLEASE do not email me about having more faith or leaning on God because right now I am not there and trust me it won't be received well. I am sure it is hard having a sick child as a married person but being single it just feels overwhelming. I KNOW I have God but I also feel alone. I also know this is all on me....I have already had to miss work twice in the last two weeks and I have to take off next Tuesday ....this might just be the beginning. If he has to have surgery like they think then I will have to figure out how to do that AND put a roof over my kids head and food on the table. Anyway, I am sure we will be fine...we always are.

Today is the day

I wish I could say I am totally at peace and not scared but that would be a lie. My oldest is being tested for Cystic fibrosis at 2:30 central time today and I know that one word can change our lives. I don't know how long it will take for the test results but I am going to beg ask to get them asap. This waiting is killing me. Thanks for the prayers....I need them:*(

Loratadine 10mg... $27.59
ProAir (200 puffs) 8.5gm ...$122.89
Advair 250/50 ...$210.99
Pataday.2% 2.5ml ...$287.89
Nasonex 50mcg 17g ...$284.89
Albuterol 0.083%... $57.99
Prednisone 20mg ...$11.99
Epipen .3mg ...$123.99
weekly allergy shots...?? don't know yet

seeing your child breathe....priceless


**thankfully the kids are insured so I didn't pay the full price

Monday

It has been a long day and I really am without words so maybe this will explain some..see the needles in this one? that is the ones they used to test my sons allergies. The scratch test didn't show anything so they did the needles under the skin...

all I will say is it looked painful:-(

This is Mr Stud showing off the writing on his arms

This is right after the injections..ouch:(

It truly didn't take long for him to start reacting...
this is the left arm

This arm has the dust, trees and grasses..obviously this is the right

They did some other tests and Monday they will test him for Cystic fibrosis
That is really all I can say right now...thanks for the prayers.

Here I am...

My hand is still broken but I am getting used to it:-) It is hard to be right handed and not able to use your right hand!! Some of you have asked how I have been and what I have been up to and rather than trying to answer separate emails I will tell you here.....On Sept 5th I broke a bone in my right hand. It is not an interesting story so just use your imagination;-) I could have been skateboarding or playing football or something else fun or I could have just been in the wrong place..you decide:-P Because I am a single Mom that needs her right hand to work I am unable to wear the proper cast so it has been interesting. I am also so not a good patient so trying not to rip everything off and use it has been hard!! And my life hasn't slowed down either!!...I have been busy but busy having fun lol Let's see if I can break it down in days

Sept 5th-broke hand
Sept 6th-oldest wasn't feeling well (asthma) so my help was gone. I decided I was hard headed so I went grocery shopping and cooked two dinners since the next day I wouldn't have time.
Sept 7th--ate the second dinner and went to church for a dance...I was doing childcare so I couldn't get out of it.
Sept 8th-Waited for the cable guy to install my highspeed (OMWORD I LOVE THIS!!) and cable while I watched OU win YAY! lol That night Auntie Jesica made the birthday dinner for my "big" 8yo
Sept 9th-church
Sept 10th-wow I think we were actually home this night doing nothing
Sept 11th-we had our new neighbor and her 4 kids over for dinner...awesome family!
Sept 12th-we had church and I met a friend at Starbucks for coffee
Sept 13th-went with my favorite person in the whole world to see her son play baseball (he did an AMAZING job!!" and then we all went out to dinner....I LOVE seeing them!! Makes my heart happy!
Sept 14th-Went with Jesica out to dinner withOUT children...her wonderful dh watched all 6 of our kids :-) Then we went shopping and of course, STARBUCKS:-D We always have fun when we go off!
Sept 15th-went to a cookout at friends and watched Facing the Giants which makes me cry every single time
Sept 16th-hey that is today!! I worked in the infant room at church with 5 babies under 6 months:-) SO MUCH FUN!

I think that should catch everyone up...Oh my oldest is seeing a specialist in the morning because of the incident in Florida if you want to send up prayers....hopefully they can figure out what caused his esophagus to close so he couldn't swallow:-/ Thanks for asking. Hopefully my hand will heal quickly so I can type without pain...until then I am stubborn so I will be ok:-P

Happy Birthday - you're 8!

Hello everyone, my name is Jesica. I'm Barbie's friend. She only has one hand, so she asked me to blog for her.

Today was the girl-child's birthday. She's now a big 8 year old!

Because I'm awesome, I offered to do her birthday dinner at my house, to spare Barbie from one-handed cooking. (And her poor children who would have to eat it!)

Here's what the Princess requested.

Yes, that is right. The 8 year old asked for blackeyed peas and cornbread. She is NOT a normal child. But I do what I'm told, so that's what we had. See ...

After much noise and merriment, there was also cake.

A good time was had by all. The birthday girl got great gifts, emails, phone calls, and even one text message.

Now, if you'll excuse me, there's a 13 year old who needs his butt beat.

Goodnight

typing with just left hand
will be back when i can use my right hand again
if i don't answer email don't take it personally

How rude!

Are people really to busy to be nice?? Today I was trying to forget that it was a holiday because they are still hard for me. One day I will get over it:-/ I had some errands to run and I needed to pick up an answering machine because once I have highspeed my home phone will actually ring...did you hear I am getting cable and highspeed? ;-) FOR FOOTBALL!! While running around the kids wanted to stop and get dinner at this little hole in the wall restaurant they like. When we got there the place was closed because of the stupid holiday BUT there was a cell phone in the parking lot so I picked it up. I called the home number and left a message that I had their cell and to call it and we could figure out how to get it back to them. I couldn't leave it at the restaurant because they were closed. We ended up trying out a different one that some friends suggested and that was even better because OH MY WORD THEY HAVE FRIED CHICKEN LIVERS!!! <----that was my middle child lol As we are driving home the owner of the cellphone called and just said "meet me at waffle house" and I explained that I have NO idea where that is and she needed to give me some directions. After telling her that I was near the Starbucks (I was so getting Starbucks) on Rockwell and NW Expressway she said she would meet me at Target. So I wait and wait and wait some more while sitting on the red benches with my 3 kids and 2 Target employees....If you know me I can't sit anywhere without becoming friends with whoever is sitting next to me and finding out their life story...I am so annoying like that! Anyway, the owner of the cell phone drives up and calls her cell ...when she sees I have it she hangs up and opens her car window and just takes it...she said NOTHING. My kids who were so tired of waiting said "now can we go home" and I told them that we could since she had her cell and the Target girl who is my new bff said "did you even know her?" so I explained I didn't but we had found the cell in a parking lot and I wanted her to have it back because *I* would be lost without my cellphone...can you imagine??!! Oh I can't even think about it lol All of a sudden the Target girl was upset FOR me and started fussing that the girl should have at least said thank you or something. The other Target girl said "well I KNOW God will bless you for that" and I told her that He has already blessed me greatly and even if I spent the rest of my life trying I could never thank Him enough for the things He has done.... But I don't know why rudeness still surprises me:-(

Something I never thought I would do

First I will tell you I believe in debt free living so I don't have credit cards and I don't like creating extra expenses. I have regular tv with rabbit ears with foil and dial up if that tells you anything! You could call me cheap but I am also very generous so I don't fit in just one category lol I am cheap with myself but will give you the shirt off my back if that helps explain me a little better:-) I know I am hard to explain and I have one person in my life:::::::::waving to Merci::::::::::that I think has given up so she just says "that is so Barbie"....I never know if that is good or not;-) Anyway, rewind to Saturday and I am so excited that football has started and I get to see OU play!! Then I realize they are on cable and I have antennas on my tv with foil lol...BOOOOO!!!!!....so I make plans with a friend that has Dish to go over her house and watch the game. Her husband was taking my boys to see a wrestling match so it worked out...oh and I needed to color my hair and she is a hairdresser so YAY for me lol So her and I hit Crest to buy football food and go back to her house and get ready...I am watching the time because I AM SO EXCITED! Then I find out it isn't on DISH! Stupid Dish people!! So I had to listen to it on the radio...I can't tell you how sad I was...oh wait yes I can because this is the conversation I had on Sunday.

Cox--hello can I help you?
me--yes I couldn't watch the OU game last night and that is unacceptable!
cox--laughing...we can help you with that
me--PLEASE DO IT NOW so this doesn't happen again EVER
cox--no problem ma'am...I see you already have phone with us so all I have to do it add cable and would you like highspeed?
me--I just want to see OU but how much?
cox--quotes some ridiculously low price
me--are you kidding? can you be here TODAY?
cox-no lol but we can be there during the week before the next OU game
me--that would be great but I work:-( do you have anything on the weekend?
cox--how about Saturday between 12-3?
me--hmm the game comes on at 11 but it is on ABC...hmm that is my dd birthday...hmm SURE lol
more info and we hang up

CAN YOU BELIEVE I just got cable for FOOTBALL?? ME?? the person who didn't even know what the line of scrimmage was...in my defense it kept moving and I am NOT kidding about that lol... I also had no clue what a down was or how many there were and I know I was a cheerleader in highschool but that didn't mean I knew what I was cheering for! We had a captain and we just cheered. Still last year I thought I would watch and see what the big deal was because the town closes down for football... here I am a year later getting cable and I am doing it for FOOTBALL!! Oh my word I AM an Okie:-P I may not be an Okie by birth but I sure am by choice:-D And I wouldn't change it because I LOVE it here:-D