Pixie Dust Productions, Inc.

Shame on me!

2009-08-08T22:46:00.002-05:00

I haven't posted in a year and a half!

Here's an update.

I retired from the Air Force and moved back home. I live across the street from my mom and my brother. I have a new job as a customer service rep for a paper company in Tuscaloosa, AL. I stay busy chasing after two very active 2.5 year olds who do not seem to understand what sleep is. I make my jewelry and sell vintage items to support their pull-up and clothing habit. I finally sit down every evening after they have gone to bed, exhausted and yet content.

I wouldn't change a thing!

It has been a while!

2008-02-03T07:22:00.000-06:00

It has been a while since I posted...shame on me!

I've started an online business. Check me out at VintageTreasures! And my new blog here!

Want to know the latest on Mick and Mack?

Well Mick took his first steps on 30 Jan! Mack still prefers to be carried around so he either crawls or is carried. Mack, however, loves to climb! On 31 Jan he climbed onto the futon all by himself! Then he couldn't get down and that presented a dilemma for him. LOL

Their first birthday is coming up on Valentine's Day. It's so hard to believe that they are almost one. Even more hard to believe is the fact that we survived the first year! There were many many times when I didn't know how we were going to get through the day but we managed. They have grown so beautifully and they are so very different yet so very alike at the same time. It's amazing and an absolute joy to watch them grow every day!

They each have 8 teeth, 4 on top and 4 on bottom. They are teething some more so they've been a wee bit cranky lately.

But I don't mind. They are my heart after all.

Enough is enough

2007-11-10T06:49:00.000-06:00

Is there anything available for sale in the USA that was NOT made in China?

I don't even know what to buy my boys for Christmas because it may be recalled.

Enough is enough.

Quit outsourcing and bring the businesses back to the US.

Let's Say Thanks

2007-10-24T16:10:00.001-05:00

Take a minute and head to this website Let's Say Thanks and send a card to a soldier in Iraq.

Think of the smile you'll put on their face.

Thanks Xerox!

Playards!

2007-10-20T07:38:00.000-05:00

Ok, Mick and Mack are everywhere. And when I say everywhere, I mean EVERYWHERE! And they are FAST!

You can't go to the bathroom without them getting into everything. Let's not even discuss taking a shower....

So I went on e-bay looking for playards. And this is what I found. Isn't it adorable? It's big enough for the boys to play, crawl, and roll. And we can go to the bathroom in peace. LOL

Getting my life back

2007-10-20T07:30:00.000-05:00

Tuesday and Wednesday this week were a wake-up call for me. Wednesday especially.

I mopped the floors 3x on Wednesday. Why, you ask? Because I was bored. I had nothing, and I mean NOTHING, to do at work. I have no responsibility, no reason for going there. Nobody wants to stress me out so they took away all my responsibility. What they don't get is that stresses me out even more. I need to have a goal, a job, a reason for being there.

Wednesday night I got mad for the first time since before the boys arrived. And it felt good. I spewed, spouted, ranted, and raved for an hour with Gigi just watching.

On Thursday I went to my unit and told them I need a job. That I want my life back. That I want ME back. That I need to feel useful. And I can't do that without their help and a reason for putting on my uniform every day.

They're discussing it now. Who knows how it will turn out, but at least I took the starter step.

They grow so fast!

2007-10-09T22:13:00.001-05:00

It's amazing the little personalities and quirks that a baby has. And when watching two of them who should be so much alike as a twin...it's downright amazing how different they are. One smiles all the time, one makes you work for his smile.

Mack loves to crawl all over his brother while Mick just lays there with a look on his face like 'are you done yet man?'

Mick would laugh all day long if he didn't have to eat and nap. His whole face just lights up. Mack laughs with his whole body.

One crawls one way, another crawls in a different style. I'd imagine that they'll do the same when they start walking.

One day loud noises scare Mick yet by the next day the noise doesn't faze him at all. Mack doesn't seem to ever be fazed by noises except for the whiny sound of a drill. He doesn't like that sound at all.

I look at them and I wonder where my little bitty babies went. I remember them both fitting on my chest and now I can only fit one. The three of us would curl up on the couch and snuggle and now we can't.

I look into their faces and I see a glimpse of the little boys and young men they will become. And I am amazed. Because I see true beauty. And miracles. These little boys that shouldn't be but are. My miracles. My loves. My life. My heart.

I can only hope that I live up to their expectations. Because they have Mommy wrapped around their little pinkies x2.

Nell, you once said that you didn't know your heart could survive outside your body until you had Mikey. I didn't understand that then. I do now. And my heart can happily stay outside my body as long as it means these two precious little beings will always be here.

I love my Mick and Mack so very damn much it hurts sometimes.

Guess that makes me their mommy.

My Daddy said God would provide...

2007-09-27T16:50:00.000-05:00

As most of you know Mick was diagnosed with Plagiocephaly which basically means his skull has not formed normally and the back side of his head is literally flat. If not treated he could have problems with migraines, asymetry of his facial features, jaw problems etc. The most common treatment for Plagiocephaly is a molding helmet which helps the head grow into the areas that are not rounded out. Tricare, the military HMO, paid for Mick to be sent to a child neurologist for the diagnosis but will not pay to treat him.

After reading a message a friend sent me about the Navy Aid Society helping out a young family with the same problem, this morning I went to the Air Force Aid Society (AFAS) office on base. I had to provide doctor documentation, prescription for the helmet, quote on the price, my LES, and then they went over my financial status completely. Once we did this, I was asked to step outside and they called AFAS Headquarters right then. Half an hour later I was approved for a grant. A grant means that the money is signed directly over to the orthotic company to pay for the helmet and I do not have to repay anyone. The grant was for $2100.00--- $2100 that I did not have and was going to have to make payment plans for. I walked out of the AFAS office with a check for $2100.00, picked up Mick for his measurement appt, and handed the orthotic company the check and that was it.

Today God smiled down and blessed my little family. I saw a miracle happen today.

And I feel like a 100 lbs of weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

I'm not a particularly religious person, I have my beliefs but in my life I've only seen a few miracles such as the birth of my nieces. This year I have been given 3 miracles- Mick, Mack, and now this.

My Daddy was right. God does provide...

And they're mobile!

2007-09-26T09:42:00.000-05:00

The boys are mobile! Mack is thisfar from crawling...he gets up on all fours and starts off and then falls to his tummy and army crawls. Mick is pure army crawling.

And they are EVERYWHERE! I can't keep up!

My back hurts, my thighs hurt, my knees hurt, my shoulders hurt, everything hurts cuz I'm chasing them everywhere!

Maybe I'll lose some baby weight this way. LOL

I've been told I need to blog something

2007-09-02T13:27:00.000-05:00

so here we go.

It's been a rough couple of months. But out of anything bad comes something good. I had a lot of alone time with my boys and we got to really know each other. And they know I'm their Mama. Gigi is now back and the boys are helping her and she's finding her way slowly but surely. She has a long road ahead of her but me and my brothers are here for her.

I've been making lots of jewelry as therapy. Check out my stuff HERE

I really wish it'd start selling cuz I need to feed my beading habit...I can't buy more beads until these sell! If any of my friends see anything they like make me an offer and if it's reasonable...then it's yours! Do your part to help an addict! LOL

The boys are wonderful! Gigi bought them their first pair of shoes this weekend. They are thisclose to crawling but they just haven't quite gotten there. They're rolling everywhere though...we have to chase after whichever one is heading closest to the furniture to stop them. Maybe my new weight loss plan (chasing babies) will start working soon. LOL

Anyways, life is moving on and we are adjusting to a new "normal" It's one day at a time, one hour at a time. And we're making it. Little by little.

I've missed you guys too but I just wasn't ready to 'talk' yet. Now I think I'm back and will start blogging more regularly.

Thanks for all your support and help during the last few months. It has really been a comfort to me and mine.

*hugs* and I love you all!

Pixie

My Daddy's gone

2007-07-14T13:13:00.000-05:00

My daddy passed away on Monday 9 July. He went quick and was at peace. He was met at the Pearly Gates by my Papa who died 24 years ago the same day.

My daddy was my hero. He was my rock, he was my sounding board, he was my Daddy. He adopted me as a baby and never once did I ever feel like I wasn't his. I was his "daddy's girl".

I keep looking up to ask him a question and then I realize he's not there to answer.

I keep looking for him in the kitchen while he cooks bacon but he's not there.

I keep wanting to tell him that I love him but he's not there to tell.

I want to hug him and feel his arms around me but he's not here.

The last thing I ever said to him was I love you. That means the world to me.

He was, no IS, so proud of his grandsons. I remember the look on his face when he first saw them and he glowed. Literally just glowed. And I remember being so happy to have given him that.

Daddy, I love you. I think about you all the time. And I wish...

I miss my daddy.

Mick's neurology appt

2007-06-27T19:52:00.000-05:00

At Mick and Mack's 4 month appt, their pedi referred Mick to a neurologist because of Plagiocephaly. Plagiocephaly is a flattening of the head/skull that often occurs in multipes and preemies, both of which apply here.

Today was his appointment.

We waited 3 hours until we were seen. Good thing I had a bottle and juice on hand!

We finally got in and the doctor questioned me on what we had done so far to get him off his left side. Then he gave me a rundown of their last conference on plagiocephaly and the three different opinions that were given by the top neuro's in the country. Then he said that Mick's isn't the mildest he has seen this week but he's also not the worse. He then said that MOST children round out by age 2 but there's always that 1 or 2 that don't and further measures (corrective surgery) have to be taken. He gave me a prescription for the helmet and scheduled an appt to come back in two months. He said if we were going to do the helmet, now was the best time rather than waiting. I would rather Mick be in a helmet now when he won't remember it than possibly be that 1 or 2 that doesn't round out naturally and then face surgery.

Not my baby!

Then he told me that Tricare won't pay for the helmet and that it's $2500.00

That is unacceptable.

Tomorrow I'm going to take the prescription to the company that makes the helmet. Then I'm going to wait to see if Tricare refuses. Then I'm going to raise total and pure hell. I haven't served 19 years in the Air Force and been promised medical care for me and my dependants for Tricare to refuse care.

Nope, nope, nope. My red's gonna come out.

Mommyhood

2007-06-18T04:59:00.001-05:00

It's been a while since I posted anything about mommyhood and my boys.

I've always wanted kids since I can remember. I would be jealous of my friends who were pregnant because I wanted it to be me. But as time went by I hit my mid-thirties with no prospects of marriage and kids I decided it was time to do something about it myself. And thus began my journey into IVF and Mommyhood.

IVF was a success! Now I was the one who was pregnant, albeit with two. I was the one who felt all those little movements inside and was just amazed at how much the human body could stretch.

Then Valentine's Day arrived and so did Mick and Mack. And with that, everything changed.

Life is different now. I no longer have time to just watch a movie, read a book, take a long bubble bath. With two, everything is double. Two diapers to change, two bottles to make, two baths to give, the list goes on.

It's been a hard transition for me. I was so used to being able to do what I wanted when I wanted all the time. If I wanted to go to WalMart, I just went. If I wanted to read a book, I curled up on the couch and read. If I wanted to take a nice long nap on a Sunday afternoon, I did. With twins you can't do that. And at first I resented the intrusions. I mean, here were these two little creatures that did nothing but cry and cry and cry all the time. They never slept for more than 2 hours, they constantly wanted a bottle, and goodness gracious the diapers. I can honestly say that I do not remember the first two months. It's just a blur of feedings, changings, and burping. It felt like nothing but work with no rewards. Everyone kept telling me "oh don't worry, it'll get better" but I didn't believe it because I couldn't see it. I had to give up things. My beloved SUV turned into a mini-van. My dogs are now in new homes because I couldn't handle their adjustment or non-adjustment in the case of Luka. Now instead of buying myself that new outfit, I buy formula and diapers. It seemed like I had to give up everything I loved for them. So yeah, I resented.

Then one month turned into two and we got a first smile. Two months turned into three and we got a first laugh.

Now they're 4 months old (I can't believe it!) and life is beginning to change again. They're sleeping longer hours, 4-5 hours at night between feedings. They're eating more at feedings so they go a little longer between bottles. They're eating cereal and baby food now.

The best part is they are smiling, laughing, cooing, talking, and giggling. If you tickle Mick's neck he just laughs and laughs and laughs. Mack's a little more stubborn, he makes you work for the laugh but it's worth it. When they wake in the morning and smile at me when I go to them in their crib, my heart just melts. Mick will sit in his high chair and smile like crazy. And when he smiles his whole face lights up. Mack wakes up talking and moving his arms and legs, it's like he's telling me...come get me I'm ready! He's such a happy bright-eyed child in the morning. And when he smiles, I see myself in him. He's the spitting image of me as a baby.

They still have their days of crankiness. One day Mick will be happy go lucky and Mack is pure cranky or vice versa. And then every once in awhile both of them are just in a great mood all day and the day is filled with nothing but joy.

At 7pm they get their last bottle before bed. Mick (who always takes his time eating) will usually go to bed with little fuss after his. Mack (who is my gulper) fights sleep and going to bed. He either wants to play or fuss but not sleep. So I'll sit in the rocker with him while he kicks his legs and fusses because he doesn't want to lay down and I'll hum "Lullaby and Good Night" to him over and over. And usually it takes about half an hour for it to work. But there's nothing better than sitting there rocking my son, smelling his hair, comforting him, and loving him. I never knew the human heart could hold so much emotion. I never knew your heart could live outside your body until now.

I had to learn to do this though. My "mommy instinct" didn't kick in right away. I had to learn a lot from my mama. She's been through one tough journey with me to get where we are and it hasn't been easy on her, I know. She constantly stays on me about eating, keeping myself well, staying on top of feedings and changings. I do all the boys laundry with mine, I wash their bottles two to three times a day, change their clothes when they spit up, all the little things that go along with babies that I didn't know about. I didn't know how to "babytalk" to them. For me, I just watched them with a sense of awe, fear, excitement, and nervousness. I was scared of them, of doing something wrong and hurting them, of not being good enough for them. But I've tried to pick up a lot of the work around the house too. Washing the dinner dishes, keeping the diaper pails empty (although I forget sometimes), keeping the living room straight, packing up little things to prepare for the move next year, running the vacuum so she doesn't have to, buying a grill because she loves to cook on a grill. I know I can do more and should do more and I'm working on that.

I was diagnosed with Post Partum Depression. It's very real. If anyone had ever told me that I'd be depressed and on medication I'd've laughed em out the door. But it's real. It's so very very real. I cried for a solid month after they were born. I didn't want to eat, couldn't sleep, and I walked around like a zombie. Adding to the depression was the fact that my c-section incision didn't heal and I'm still walking around with a hole in my belly today...well everything just kinda went to hell in a handbasket and I was reeling from it. Still am 4 months later.

So I had to learn my mama's instinct from GiGi. She gets down on the floor with them and gets them both just a giggling. She always has time to talk to them, love on them, play with them, and enjoy them. Course when one has a poopy diaper it's "Oh Mommy, got a present for you!" She is a blessing with my boys. And she is a blessing to me. I hope she realizes how much she means to me and how much I want to share my sons with her. I don't want her living in Alabama, only seeing my dad on weekends and by herself all the time. I want her to love life and in watching her with my sons, I see that she loves life again. I would be lost without her. Her strength, her love, her stubbornness (which I got honestly), her cooking (LOL), her selflessness in giving of herself. Without her, I don't know if I could have done this by myself. I thank God every day for giving her to me as my Mama.

I go back to work next week. And I had a complete and total meltdown this week about it. I was crying, couldn't breathe, couldn't think, and couldn't function. I am literally petrified about going back to work. I don't know why. I don't know if it's because I have to leave the boys during the day, I don't know if it's because of lack of sleep and not knowing how I'm going to cope. I don't know if it's just stupidity. I just know it is. So I talked to Mama about it and she let me get it all out. She just listened and when I was ready to hear her advice she gave it. She somehow always knows instinctively when the right time to give advice has arrived. She talked me down from my panic attack and helped me.

Last night she sent me a letter filled with honesty, love, and hope. What she doesn't know is that I've worked on this draft for quite a while but wasn't ready to post it.

So what I want to say to her is this:

I love you.
I am lost without you.
You say you are blessed to be allowed in their lives full-time...I say "no, me and the boys are blessed to have you in our lives full-time!"
You have taught me how to reach my mama instinct and it's slowly but surely getting stronger.
You've taught me how to make my boys laugh.
You've taught me how to show them love.
And you helped pull me back from the brink when all I saw was darkness.

Yeah, we annoy each other. It's expected when two women live together. And yes, we are going to "bicker" over little things. But we'll get over those little things because there is so much love in this home that you can feel it when you walk in the door. And that's something special.

So with this said, if you try to go back to Alabama full-time, I'm coming to get you, hog-tie you, pack you up and bring you back home. It's our home. My boys need you, they love you, they adore, you. I need you, I love you, I adore you. This is your home too. It's OUR home. And we need each other.

Now wipe your eyes (like I had to) and smile because this journey is only just beginning. We've still got the terrible two's waiting on us! And with two little hooligans we better lock up the cabinets, toilets, drains, everything and get ready to hear "uh oh!" a LOT.

Life's only going to get better from here on out. Each day is a new beginning and we'll walk through it together.

I love you lady. I promise I'm going to be a good mommy, friend, and daughter. I promise, on our love.

Making my jewelry

2007-06-06T18:43:00.000-05:00

has been awesome!

I've actually sold several pieces and built a new blog in hopes of selling more. When you're a single mom of twins, every little bit helps!

My new blog is Pixiesjewelry Take a gander at it, there are really some pretty pieces there (real humble, aren't I?) LOL

I also bought the domain Pixiesjewelry.com

It's not a perfect setup but at least it's a start. And I really enjoy making jewelry so it all works out in the end.

So if y'all don't mind, help a single mom out and send out the site to your friends. I'd really appreciate it!

Hobbies

2007-05-21T19:26:00.001-05:00

My life has been so centered on babies for the last year that I've forgotten what a hobby was. So yesterday me and Gigi took the boys to Michael's and I bought a jewelry making starter kit. Well actually two of them and a few other items.

And discovered I really really like making jewelry! I enjoyed finding the right colors, mixing and matching, and the intricacy of it.

Here's the two sets I've made so far.
The first is a simple aquamarine necklace with bracelet and earrings.

This one was a little more intricate. It's a three-tiered necklace with bracelet. I made earrings but forgot to take a picture of them.

It's Mother's Day

2007-05-13T07:45:00.000-05:00

I've discovered -

There are never enough hours in the day.
Every day is laundry day.
If there isn't laundry to do, a diaper needs changing.
If a diaper doesn't need changing, clothes need changing.
If clothes don't need changing, then it's feeding time.
If it isn't feeding time, it's time to clean the kitchen.
If the kitchen is clean, the living room needs dusting.
If the living room is dusted, the boys room needs straightening.
If the boys room is straightened, there's laundry to do.

I've discovered-

There's always time to pick up my sons and cuddle for a moment.
There's always time to stop and console them whey they cry.
There's always time to rock them when they're tired.
There's always time to stop and take a picture of them smiling.
There's always time to stop and breathe in that precious baby smell.
There's always time for them.

I've discovered I love being their Mama.

Hungry boys!

2007-05-09T08:58:00.000-05:00

So the boys had their two month appt and their pedi agreed that they could start eating baby food. So they get cereal with fruit in the mornings and a veggie and fruit for dinner. And since they are big enough to sit in their high chairs we have an babyfest two times a day!

It's so funny to watch them as they eat. You gotta be FAST to feed two at a time...and if I'm not fast enough, boy o boy do they let me know! Sometimes Gigi has to step in and help cuz they're just two hungry hungry bears!

I also ordered some bottle holders from greatbabyproducts.com I gotta tell you they are AWESOME! The are a MUST for moms of multiples! Take a look!

So back to feeding. It starts with putting them both in their highchairs. Then the bibs go around their necks. And when you hold a bib in front of them they start kicking their legs and get excited cuz they know food is coming!

Mack is a gulper when he takes the bottle. He's also a gulper when he's getting his food off the spoon. It's so funny to watch cuz his mouth never stops! Mick is Mr. Slow & Steady but he gets that bite in his mouth and he's chomping away! Well as well as you can chomp with no teeth, that is. LOL

Now normally if I'm fast enough for them I can usually wipe their chin with the spoon for that little bit they spit out or drool and keep them fairly clean, however there are times when both of us are feeding them and we just can't keep up! And it's hilarious to see!

Wanna see for yourself? Here ya go!

So this is life in the pixie household twice a day! It makes for some great laughs and the boys are adorable!

But as you can see, they keep us quite busy so until next post...

My new address is...

2007-04-23T17:54:00.000-05:00

#2 Spitup Central

I pay my rent in laundry soap.

My utilities are paid in dryer sheets.

My landlords are twin brothers.

Oh yeah, don't ask me what the deposit was.

Two months old already?

2007-04-14T08:22:00.000-05:00

Where has the time gone?

Sometimes it seems like it was just yesterday I was huge and bulky and would fall over with every step.

Yet at the same time it seems like they've been here forever!

My boys are two months old!

They still seem so small even though I know they're growing.

I just can't imagine them any smaller than they are even though I have pictures to prove it.

WOW!

They're two months old today!

This is your brain on...

2007-04-10T10:51:00.000-05:00

Before February 14 the only lullaby I knew was Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and Itsy Bitsy Spider (does this one count as a lullaby?)

Now I have so many running through my brain, primarily "Lullabye and Good Night" that my head is constantly buzzing.

Both Gigi and I walk around humming this song...when we catch the other we just give a "look" and sigh...then start humming again.

Now so far there's only been one thing that can wipe the lullabyes from my head.

It's a commercial.

It's a doggy commercial.

It's a doggy flea commercial.

And it goes something like this...

Ain't no bugs on me,
There may be bugs on some of you mugs,
But there ain't no bugs on me!

Yeah, my brain is mush.

Welcome to the club...

2007-04-07T18:38:00.000-05:00

The other day me and Gigi were walking in the mall with the boys in their double stroller. A woman walked up to us and commented how beautiful Mick and Mack were. Then she told us that she has 22 year old twins. Then she made the most amazing, wonderful, thought-provoking comment.

She said-

"Welcome to the club where God chooses the members."

I wonder why He chose me.

Quiet on the homefront...

2007-04-06T05:29:00.000-05:00

It's Friday morning. Mick woke me at 0530 to feed and after he was done I decided to just stay up as I have a dr's appt at 0930.

So I'm sitting here drinking a cup of coffee and smoking a cigarette.

The boys are in their bed asleep.

My mom and dad are asleep in their bed.

And all is quiet.

Quiet.

That's not something I get to enjoy very often anymore.

So I'm enjoying the heck out of it right now.

Quiet.

Welcome back my friend.

Get ready to hate me!

2007-04-03T21:25:00.000-05:00

A friend of mine introduced me to a new online game. It's not a typical type of game, in fact, you have to be able to think outside the box and use your imagination.

And fair warning...it's ADDICTIVE!

It's called Weffriddles!

Click here to find out what it's all about. And after you get hooked come back and cuss me out! LOL

Forget the mysteries of woman...

2007-04-02T07:26:00.000-05:00

Here's the eternal question...

Where the hell is the instruction manual for babies?

I've come to the conclusion...

2007-04-02T07:08:00.000-05:00

that babies just like to scream.

There's no rhyme or reason to it.

They scream when they are hungry.

They scream when they are fed.

They scream when they are dry.

They scream when they are wet.

They scream when they have to poop.

They scream when they don't have to poop.

They scream when they are burped.

They scream when they have to burp.

They scream when they are bathed.

They scream when they are dirty.

They scream when you change their clothes.

They scream when you don't change their clothes.

They scream when they are wide awake.

They scream when they are sleepy.

They scream whenever the hell they feel like it.

They scream.

Period.

It's enough to drive a woman to smoke.

Oh yeah, I started that back already.

I love my boys.

I really do.

But Dear God they know how to scream!

Anyone got a beer for me?

Help!

2007-03-31T18:55:00.000-05:00

How do you get two babies to sleep for more than 3-4 hours at a time! Mick and Mack wake up every 3-4 hours to feed and Gigi and I are EXHAUSTED!

We've tried adding cereal to their formula.

We've tried rocking them.

We've tried everything we can think of to no avail.

The boys consistently wake up with their mouths open and yelling at the top of their lungs for food. I knew growing boys had hollow legs but who knew newborn babies did too!

Anyone got any advice? *said in a really pitiful voice*

Aiming the peepee!

2007-03-20T19:51:00.000-05:00

Little boys. How do they know how to aim? They're just babies. They shouldn't even know what to aim or who to aim at!

But mine do.

They hit the bullseye every single time.

I'm talking about diaper changes.

I take off Mick's diaper, reach for the Desitin, and WHAM! He aims and scores!

I get him all cleaned up, am putting Desitin on him, and placing the diaper under his little but when BAM! He's off and squirting again! At this point I now have to change him into his second outfit and then go change my clothes too.

Mack is just as bad. It's like he holds it until he hears the velcro on the diaper come off and WHACK! He squirts you in the eye. He also likes to aim for the mouth. Luckily I've learned to keep my mouth closed when changing diapers. And let's not even start with the pooping. I was changing his diaper one morning around 3am. I knew he was pooping so I waited until he was done. Then pulled off the diaper, only to hear SPLAT! He scooterpooted so hard he projectiled pooped all over me. That was fun to clean up, NOT!

Maybe I should get these guys playing darts and baseball as soon as possible. Is it legal to bet on your kids? LOL

So for all you folks out there who have one little boy and know what I'm talking about, imagine double the dose, and once you've stopped laughing and gasping for air, please say a little prayer! We can use every little bit we get around here!

A month old already

2007-03-14T13:19:00.000-05:00

Can you believe they are a month old today? Sometimes it seems like they just arrived yesterday and other days it seems like they have been here forever!

Mick is now over 9 lbs and Mack is racing to catch up at over 8 lbs now. We've had fun trying to figure out what formula works best for them as I have two very gassy baby boys.

They are starting to focus more with their eyes and their facial expressions are getting more and more animated. Mick "mews" when he eats while Mack is a gulper and loudly lets you know! They're up to 6 oz a feeding now...now if they'd just go six hours between feedings...

They are cuties though! I made some purty babies for sure!

Mick and Mack have arrived!

2007-02-18T18:12:00.000-06:00

I'm a Mama!

Guess the boys decided Valentine's Day was going to be THEIR day!

I woke up Valentine's Day morning feeling pretty good. Around 10am I went to the bathroom and there was my plug! We called the doc and they said to come in. When we got there, I was having some good contractions, had dilated to 2 cm, my water was leaking, and my blood pressure was up. Doc said to head straight to the hospital that we'd have babies within the hour!

We got to the hospital and it seemed to go slowly at first getting into the hospital room, IV's attached, etc. Then my doc showed up and everything got into high gear. Mick was born weighing 7 lbs 8.4 ozs at 1:39pm and Mack showed up 1 minute later justa squalling his head off and weighed 6 lbs 8 oz! Talk about big boys! Especially for being only at 36 weeks. We were all shocked. I was carrying around over 14 lbs of baby!

The c-section part went great. I didn't feel a thing and I got to see my boys before they took them to the nursery. Gigi, the lucky girl, got to carry them to the nursery!

We spent two days in the hospital and it's been a blur since. I'm not sure if I'm coming or going.

The boys are adorable. Mick has red hair and Mack has dark hair with tints of red. Beautiful dark blue eyes and temperments as different as night and day. Life is certainly interesting right now!

Baby game

2007-02-10T08:45:00.000-06:00

Go here and guess when they'll arrive. Gotta remember two things though-

1. Even though their due date is 10 March they'll be here NLT 1 Mar through a c-section
2. You have to make a guess for both babies!

We hit 36 weeks today. Whodathunk it? I know I didn't, we've gone much further than anyone expected!

It's time.

2007-02-09T06:52:00.000-06:00

We have everything ready:

Crib- check
Playpen- check
Their bag packed- check
My bag packed- check
bottles- check
formula- check
diapers- check
bouncy chairs- check
car seats- check
stroller- check
swings- check (on their way)
baby books- check (on their way)
kitchen cabinets done- check
French doors installed- check
House ready- check

Time for babies to come. I'm 36 weeks this weekend. Come on boys!!!

Water needs to break, contractions need to get more regular, something needs to happen!

The most awesome Baby Shower ever!

2007-02-05T06:50:00.000-06:00

It was amazing. I never knew how much my Mick and Mack were loved. And they're so spoiled already and they haven't even arrived (23 days and a wake-up!). Here are some pics.

The pile of gifts!

My double stroller!

The cake!

My boys are lucky lucky boys!!

C-section anyone?

2007-02-02T20:01:00.000-06:00

We've got a c-section date!

Woooohooooo!

Mick and Mack will be here NLT 1 Mar 07! Course they'll probably come before then but there is an end in sight and my psyche really needed the uplift.

We've got a c-section date!

Today's dr appt went well. Boys were having a blast kicking the heartbeat monitors...

I'm having contractions but nothing steady or regular.

Baby A has dropped, Baby B is still under my chin. Between the two of them I can't breathe and I have to pee every 5 minutes.

Having babies is a great thing, lemme tell you!

Carrying one baby has to be a piece of cake after this.

Did I tell you we have a c-section date?

Yay! We've got a c-section date!

My baby shower is tomorrow. I can't wait! People are coming over! Lots and lots of people. I get to be around people! (If you've ever spent time on bedrest like oh say 3 months, you'd understand why this is exciting!) I'll post pics of the shower later on.

I started sewing stars and moons for the boys crib. I finally finished them. Here's a pic-

So all that's left is to bring Mick and Mack home.

And I can't wait to meet them!

So that was my day. How was yours?

Now I'm getting creative

2007-01-27T17:43:00.000-06:00

Since I didn't go with traditional crib bedding, the crib looks a little bare. So today we got some celestial type material and I'm gonna sew little moons and stars, then stuff em and tie to the bars of the crib for decoration.

It should be fun to try.

Off to go start.

Wish me luck!

I'm a bad girl!

2007-01-24T19:02:00.000-06:00

I was told today to get off my duff and blog. So here I am.

So I'm going to talk about American Idol.

I'm enjoying the judges comments. I don't know if it's cuz I'm miserable and misery loves company but I like it.

This dude on right now from New York really needs to get a clue. And liposuction those lips!

Anyways, the person who has impressed me the most was Memphis Sundance. He had a GREAT voice!

Ok, enough about AI.

We'll be 34 weeks in 2 days. I'm ready for 36 weeks. I'm ready to have babies. I'm ready to be a mom. And I'm ready to get my body back again.

Enough about pregnancy.

What's next...oh yeah, Luka is doing better. I give him his meds every morning and he has cut out 80-90% of his whining. I'm so happy. And I think Mama's relaxing a little more over it too.

Speaking of Mama...she's my miracle, my blessing. I broke down on her shoulder tonight and she just let me cry it out. I'd be so lost without her right now. I hope she knows that.

My baby shower is a week from this Saturday. Packages have been arriving every day and Mama just smiles that smile at me as she brings the boxes in. She knows I wanna know what's in them. LOL She'll take lots of pics of everything and we'll post them so everyone can see.

And then hopefully the week or so after the shower, we'll have us some babies!

And lastly I just wanna say hello to two special groups of ladies. Y'all have helped me keep my sanity through so many things...I love you ladies...all my friends!

So now I think I've covered enough for right now. I'll blog more after my doctor's appt on Friday.

Until then - pass a hug along to someone else. It'll help start their day off pretty good.

We made it to 32 weeks!

2007-01-13T11:17:00.000-06:00

And what a blessing it is. I no longer have to worry about seeing the "jerky" doctor in Macon and can just concentrate on growing the boys a little longer. It's like a 200lb weight was taken off my shoulders.

Mama greeted me with a 'high 5" this morning!

Now we are just putting the finishing touches on the boys room and taking it easy so they grow as strong and healthy as possible.

It's such a good day I can't stop crying.

A happier medium?

2007-01-06T18:27:00.000-06:00

My dog Luka or as Gigi calls him "idiot dog" has a slight whining problem. Meaning he whines all the time. It finally got to the point that it was coming down to a decision of him or babies...and we all know which would win.

So I made an appt with a vet and Gigi took him. Bless her heart, I know she absolutely hated to do it, but she did it for me.

It seems Luka is a high-anxiety dog. It comes from a lack of continuity due to my being sent to Korea for a year. He was just uprooted one time too many and it has made him highly nervous.

So now he's on doggie prozac. And so far except for a few exceptions, he doesn't whine. He's only been on the meds for 3 days but so far so good.

Cross your fingers he stays calm.

And it's 2007!

2007-01-05T09:19:00.000-06:00

Seems like it took forever to get here yet now that it's here 2006 went by too fast.

Some good things about 2007:

One year closer to retirement (2008!)

I'll be 37 this year.

Means we made it through another year and am still alive and kicking.

And the best thing about 2007...

I'm gonna be a mama this year!

Oh yeah, it's almost time. Doc says next month they'll be here.

Part of me is still a lot nervous but the rest of me is yelling "come on, let's go!"

What's the best thing about 2007 for you?

Happy holidays!

2006-12-24T16:24:00.000-06:00

Just wanted to wish everyone a wonderful holiday season. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, or something else, I hope you have a wonderful time with your loved ones.

If you get a chance, please take a moment and say a prayer for all the loved ones who couldn't be home for the holidays this year.

And if you have little ones, you can track Santa 's progress around the world here!

Whew!

2006-12-20T15:20:00.000-06:00

We've made it to 28 1/2 weeks. Whoever said that pregnancy was beautiful and wonderful and a breeze LIED. They should have their mouth washed out with soap!

I had a good dr's appt today though. Even though I failed the 1 hr gestational diabetes test last week, I passed the 3 hr this week. And both babies are now head down which explains two things:

1. Why my belly never seems to be still now (talk about a baby dance going on) and
2. Why I'm peeing every 20 minutes

Oh yeah, they're flattening my bladder. And you can't just go pee. You have to sit there after the first pee and wait for the second flow to start. Cuz there's always a second flow.

But we're doing good. Something tells me I'll look back on these bedrest days with conflicting emotions; remembering them fondly as I recall the quiet and rest yet also remembering the boredom and waiting. I'm ready for my boys to arrive but am I ready for the noise? LOL

Caling all lurkers/bloggers

2006-12-08T09:15:00.000-06:00

Curiosity has struck!

I often wonder who reads blogs. I know I lurk at a lot of blogs without leaving comments but I go to them regularly.

Recently I've seen some new names here and have enjoyed going to new blogs. But I'm guessing I should leave comments or some sign that I visited even if it's just a smile or LOL.

I'm curious as to who all visits here.

So I'm asking if you drop by, leave a smile or hello or something along with your blog addy. I don't know if this is considered rude to ask but what the hell...I'm asking anyway.

Especially as I'm stuck on bedrest and it gives me more places to visit and read online! LOL

World traveling

2006-12-04T14:19:00.000-06:00

Gigi sent this to me. It's a pretty nifty tool to see where all you've been. My problem is I've forgotten half the places I've ever been. LOL

An awakening

2006-12-02T18:30:00.000-06:00

I've always known I wanted to be a mama someday. But I never knew just how much until last week.

I was ecstatic at finding out I was pregnant. What most people don't know is that I wasn't too happy finding out I was having twins. It quickly became more of an overwhelming deal than a blessing. I didn't want to talk pregnancy, didn't want to look at baby stuff, was depressed, and just not happy. However as time went by I grew more and more excited about my boys.

On Monday my world turned upside down. When I looked down and saw that blood I just knew the worst had happened. I was so panicked I couldn't feel any movement and all I could see was bright red blood.

I cried the whole way to the doctor's office. It wasn't until I heard their separate heartbeats that I could catch my breath.

At that moment I came to realize just how much they have grown to mean to me. My Connor and my Brodie. My world would not be the same if I didn't have them with me, inside me, growing, wiggling, and loving them.

I guess you could say I had an epiphany. I realize how blessed I am every day. I know this won't be the only scare they'll give me over the next umpteen years, I just know that life wouldn't be right without them here now.

We spent a week in the hospital where I got to see them on an ultrasound (kicking each other) and hear their heartbeats several times a day. They would only tolerate the monitor for so long before they started kicking at it.

Our goal now is 32 weeks. Anything past that is that much more special.

I'm on full bedrest. No getting up other than potty and shower and doctor's appts.

So in a way, the last week was a blessing and a trial. We've made it through this trial, got a few more to go, and hopefully they'll stay put for a few more months.

Slip-on shoes

2006-11-19T12:33:00.000-06:00

I'm looking for some good, comfortable, not too expensive slip-on shoes.

What are they called? Not clogs, shoot, I don't know.

Anyways, my feet are so swollen that none of my slip-ons are comfy. I normally wear a 6 or 6 1/2 but right now I'm having to go bigger...

Anyone have any recommendations. I looked at Target, Kmart, and Wal-Mart with no luck.

*sigh*

Two growing acrobats maybe?

2006-11-15T19:06:00.001-06:00

I have two full-blown growing acrobats inside me.

One flips, the other flops.

One tosses, the other turns.

One's upside down, the other is right side up.

I'm ready for bed, they're ready to swing.

I'm trying to sleep, they're breakdancing.

I'm sound asleep, they wake me playing the drums.

I'm in a meeting, they make me laugh by kicking at my belly button (so very ticklish there).

This is pretty nifty. There is life inside me.

Life can only get more interesting.

Veteran's Day

2006-11-11T07:10:00.000-06:00

As I was reading Blackfive this morning it reminded me of a day back in 2004. I was stationed at Travis AFB and many of the wounded GI's serving in Iraq on their way home to recover would stop overnight at Travis's David Grant Medical Center. Each night a plane with wounded service members landed a different squadron around the base would visit the hospital.

On this particular night, it was my squadron's turn. The call came at noon for volunteers and at 5pm we met at the hospital.

I wasn't sure what to expect. Who knew how bad the GI's were injured or what they had been through.

I walked into the first room and there lay a young man barely 20 years old, pins in his leg and a bandage on his head. He smiled and said "howdy!" There went the ice and we spent a good half hour in his room just talking. He didn't talk about the war, he didn't talk about his buddies who were injured. He talked about building a school for the Iraqi children and how much fun they had passing out toys and candy. He talked about his Mom and how glad he was he was getting to see her soon. And then he fell asleep from the pain meds with a smile on his face.

In the next room was a Navy female. She was on her way home to Washington and ready to see her husband and children. That's what she talked about. She asked for some orange juice. We got her some and she smiled, said "thank you" with the sweetest smile and went back to watching TV.

In another room was a soldier with a hole in his chest. At first he looked asleep but when he saw us he motioned us in. He didn't talk about his family, he didn't talk about going home, he talked about the fact that he was scheduled to return to Iraq in 3 months once he was healed. He talked about how scared he had been but with his buddies with him, the scared went away and the buddies became brothers. And that's how he referred to his patrol members- as brothers. Then the doctor came in to give him more pain meds and we had to leave.

The last stop we made was in the break room where two young men were sitting watching TV and playing a checkers game. Their eyes were old, shuttered, with memories walking across the iris with each word they spoke. They talked about their buddy who had died sitting next to them. They talked about huddling together at night to stay warm, about what it meant to be soldier. They talked about their separation date and how they were returning to Iraq one more time before their DOS. And they wondered aloud if they'd make it out alive the next time.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I went in. But I know what I came out with afterwards.

Each one of them touched my heart in a different way. I was amazed at their courage, energized at their love for one another, encouraged by their strength of will, and blessed by their attitudes.

You see, they didn't look at the war as a curse of their existence, they looked at it as a chance to do something right for everyone.

And that's how I choose to remember them. Not as wounded Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Airmen but as heroes who did the right thing simply because it was right.

Veteran's Day is about remembering their courage, their strength, their love for each other and all of us. It's about true sacrifice to keep freedom alive. It's about standing up for what is right, willing to pay the ultimate price to make sure right stays alive. It's about love, truth, honor, and belief. Let us not ever forget.

God Bless America and God Bless our Veterans each and every day.

My cousin deployed to Iraq

2006-11-10T09:24:00.000-06:00

Just found out this morning. I knew he was scheduled to leave sometime the end of this year but I guess I just wasn't ready to hear he was there.

He's been there for 3 days and another 362 days to go.

Say a prayer for him please.

2008 elections

2006-11-08T18:16:00.000-06:00

So now that the midterm elections are over, talk has turned to the 2008 Presidential elections and who's who among possible frontrunners.

John McCain is a strong possibility for the GOP.

Hillary Clinton is a strong possibility for the Dems.

Toss in Rice, Obama, Gore, and Romney; well it might just get interesting.

Bring in Colin Powell or Rudy Giuliani and you have a race.

Leave John Kerry out in the cold.

My vote would go to Colin or Rudy. I don't know about anyone else except for one sure thing-

I will NEVER EVER vote for Hillary.

Change...

2006-11-08T15:58:00.000-06:00

Well with election day over and the democrats taking over the House and Senate...life is going to get very very interesting for us military folk.

Stupid law!

2006-11-07T16:26:00.000-06:00

Me and my mom went to the grocery store today pick up a few groceries and a 12-pack of her beer. Only to be told in the checkout line that we couldn't buy beer today because it was Tuesday, election day. Some stupid Georgia law says that you can't buy beer within so many feet of a polling booth.

How many ways of stupid is that?

Has anyone else heard of this in their state?

Introducing Mick and Mack

2006-11-01T17:26:00.000-06:00

Ultrasounds are amazing things. Whoda thunk you could see what your baby looked like before they were born.

Here's my 20 week ultrasound of the twins. Aren't they just adorable?

Baby A is the top pic. Baby B is the bottom pic. What you see to the left of Baby B's head is Baby A's feet! LOL By the next afternoon Baby B had flipped...guess they didn't like getting kicked in the head all that much!

I haven't fully decided on their names yet but can't keep calling them Baby A and Baby B. So after trying out frick and frack, pete and repete, humpty and dumpty, I've finally settled on Mick and Mack as their nicknames until they're born! Then who knows...

I can't get over how sweet their profiles are. Maybe it's an early sign of their dispositions?

I've spawned!

2006-10-30T11:47:00.000-06:00

Haha, and not the two kickboxers I'm carrying around every day.

I'd like to introduce my blog-daughter GiGi, who in real life is actually my mom (try to explain that family connection to the neighbors!).

She's a computer smart, savvy woman with an independent streak a mile wide who loves the internet.

Here's to many happy days blogging and having fun Mama!

Rainy Sunday morning

2006-10-22T08:33:00.000-05:00

Woke up to the rain pouring down outside my open window and onto the skylight in my bathroom. Why DOES someone put a skylight in a bathroom?

10:00 am and it's still as dark as if the sun were just rising. But that's ok, the windows are open, the AC is off, cool clean air is filtering through.

The dogs are in the sunroom, sleeping in their beds. I'm on the couch watching "The American President" and Mama's in the kitchen on her computer, drinking coffee, and watching her morning news.

All is right in my world.

Hormones are the devil!

2006-10-20T15:42:00.000-05:00

I've never been hormonal.

I've had my bad days.

But I've never "flashed" hot so fast.

Or cried so much.

Over stupid silly things.

Life is never dull. But I could really do without the tears.

Unconsciousably rude

2006-10-17T19:33:00.000-05:00

What do those words mean to you?

I think I popped!

2006-10-07T20:52:00.000-05:00

Twins make you get big.

Fast. A lot faster than a singleton pregnancy.

I look like I should be 6 months pregnant.

Instead I'm 4 1/2 months pregnant.

Take a look!

My poor boobs.

2006-09-23T17:19:00.000-05:00

Yep, I said boobs.

Mine are HUGE. I'm getting stretch marks on my boobs.

Stretch marks do fade away eventually right?

I hope so.

I paid too much for my boobs to have stretch marks.

$3,795.00 to be exact. For the most perfect perky bouncy 34C breasts.

Course if I'd known then that having twins would double their size for free...I might have done this earlier.

Then again, I wasn't ready in 2002.

Am I ready now?

Some days I think yes, other days I wanna run for the hills.

Doesn't every woman go through this?

I sure hope so.

Is it really almost October?

2006-09-22T13:13:00.000-05:00

I get to find out in October what sex the twins are. They're both still here, jumping and twisting and dancing away. We've seen them moving on two different ultrasounds and I heard their heartbeats for the first time this week.

Started my job. Not too sure I like it. Things are so slow and there's not a whole lot of work. I get bored easily. Maybe time will tell and things will speed up or at least I'll find something to do.

Officially moved into my house. Mama wouldn't let me unpack anything. In fact between her and the movers, I got yelled at if I even so much as looked at a box. But I did get to unpack (not lift) my boxes of books and I have my nice little library set up. It was a pain to lift only 2-4 books at a time but I got it done! In the meantime, Mama finished up the kitchen, her bedroom, and bathroom. Guess I was a little slow! LOL

Now my bedroom is finished (minus the stuff I still have coming from Korea) and I'm sleeping in MY bed. There's nothing better than your own bed at night to get comfortable in.

Speaking of comfortable, I managed to pull a muscle in my abdomen this week. I finally went to the doc on Wednesday. I wasn't sleeping at all so he put me on muscle relaxants and two days off. I'm feeling better now.

Well I think I've about caught you up on everything for the moment.

Except I forgot to tell you about the bean splicer. It was my first housewarming gift. Still not sure what to do with it...I think I'll let the aunties tell you about it.

Through the first trimester

2006-08-28T16:08:00.000-05:00

I went to my first doctor's appt and because of the spotting and bleeding they did another ultrasound.

Yep, there's two of em in there! Dear lord, somebody help me, there's two of them.

We got a great shot of Baby A (bottom picture), got a cute little profile going on there but Baby B wouldn't turn toward us...he/she kept their back to us..stubborn little critter!

Doc also did a pelvic...that bloody well hurt! I know it's been over a year and a half since anyone's been in there but good lord, a pelvic exam has never hurt like that before!

I go back Wednesday for the full workup and they'll do another ultrasound with measurements to calculate exactly the due date and how big the babies are.

So we're through the first trimester and all is well.

We stopped at Publix afterwards to get some deli food. And on the way to the deli were the cutest little stuffed animals. Now we're doing the twins room in pixies and dragons with a blue and purple color scheme. And guess what kind of stuffed animals we saw?

Stuffed dragons in a multitude of colors including blue and purple.

Of course I bought two of them.

Babies first toys.

Leaving for Georgia today

2006-08-20T07:28:00.000-05:00

and moving into a hotel for the next 10 or so days. Hopefully everything with the house will go well and I'll be in it on 31 Aug.

Mama's going with me...had a slight spotting problem yesterday and with the hotel room on the 2nd floor, carrying luggage, and dogs...it's easier if I have help.

The hotel supposedly has free hi-speed/wireless so hopefully I'll be able to check in with everyone.

Take care and please cross your fingers for us!

I felt pretty today

2006-08-15T16:22:00.000-05:00

for the first time in a long time.

I've felt so icky and I haven't worn anything but capri's and t-shirts. Not exactly the greatest idea when you're already feeling yucky and fat.

But today I put on a cute little spandex top with a long gypsy skirt and as it twirled around me, I felt pretty! And it showed off my little bump that's starting to pooch out. I thought I looked just darlin'.

So me and Mama decided, instead of me spending a fortune on maternity clothing, we would make some cute maternity clothes. So we picked out some patterns, lots of different fabrics, and we're (actually she is) gonna make some purty clothes. 3 pairs of pants in purple, black, and navy blue; several jumpers, I think 6 different shirts, and a couple of gypsy skirts.

Yeah, I felt pretty today.

I gotta start dressing like this more often.

Catching up

2006-08-13T17:47:00.000-05:00

I've been home almost two weeks. I'm taking another week off before I report to my new base.

Once I got home and my family was here, I finally broke down. Too many changes at one time and for a Type A personality that can be a little overwhelming. Ok, actually a lot overwhelming.

Flying halfway around the world.
New job.
New location.
New boss.
New co-workers.
Trying to find a place to live.
Dealing with emotional/physical changes.

It was just too much and I went a little emotional on my mom. Bless her soul, she's amazing. How she does it I'll never know but I'll always be thankful to her for it. I'm lucky to have her as a best friend.

The morning sickness is an all day sickness. And it was kicking my butt. Luckily it hasn't hit in the last 3-4 days. I can honestly say that with the nausea, tiredness, overall ickiness, and mood swings, I'm not enjoying being pregnant right now.

I know it'll get better. And I'm really looking forward to that day.

Until then...

I eat all the time. Small healthy meals several times a day. That seems to help somewhat with the nausea.

And I'm craving french fries with lots of salt.

Oh yeah, give me my french fries.

And tart stuff- lemon cookies, lime koolaid, key lime pie, the list goes on and on.

I get up about 2-3 times a night to pee. That's getting annoying. And that's only gonna get worse. Oh well.

Tomorrow I'm going to invest in sports bras. My boobs don't hurt, they just ache. All the time. I'm hoping a sports bra will help somewhat.

What we women do to populate the world.

Men will never know or understand.

Going home

2006-07-25T04:01:00.000-05:00

I'm going home next week.

It's been a rough week. Some spotting, some bleeding, a visit to the ER. Bedrest gets old after day 2 but the reason for it makes it worth it.

Doc says my spotting/bleeding is normal for a lot of women, to take it easy, and see an OB as soon as I get home.

Speaking of home, I leave here 1 Aug. One week from today I'll be home. I can NOT wait.

With all the scares this week, if something is going to go wrong, I want to be at home with support, not here by myself.

1 week.

Let's go!

Double Trouble

2006-07-13T04:14:00.000-05:00

I need to clarify something.

You see, in my last post I stated I was 36 and pregnant with my first child.

I lied.

In fact, I'm 36 and pregnant with my first two children.

Twins.

Two.

Deuce.

That means two of everything.

WOW.

I'm a bit overwhelmed right now.

Actually a lot overwhelmed right now.

That's just the first part.

The second part is they are sending me home in the next few weeks so I can get proper prenatal care.

Mama, I'm coming home.

Soon.

Bring lots of kleenex with you!

36? How the heck did that happen?

2006-07-10T05:16:00.000-05:00

I turned 36 today. And I'm 5 weeks pregnant today.

Life is good.

I wonder sometimes when I look in the mirror where those wrinkles came from. At times I still feel like the 18 year old who just graduated high school and had her entire life ahead of her.

I had plans. I was going to England to marry a duke. Then I was going to Florida to live the high life. Hurricane Andrew knocked that idea out the ballpark. On to Charleston, SC where I met the love of my life (so I thought at the time). That so did not work out. Went to Korea for the first time and met my ex-fiancee. He, I definitely loved but at the time it just wasn't right. Now I'm 26 years old, lived all over the world but still wasn't where I thought I should be. Back to Florida where I decided the Air Force wasn't for me anymore and prepared to separate. The Air Force kicked me back with a promotion and I became a recruiter in Alabama, close to home. Life was good. Except I was 29, still not married and no kids. Did well at recruiting, approved to career progress and again the Air Force kicked me; back into the maintenance world and I moved to California. Huge HugE HUGE mistake. But once there I decided to finally go for what I wanted which was a child. Got started, halfway through and damned if the Air Force doesn't kick me again and I had orders to Korea again. Put everything on hold and moved halfway across the world again.

Now I'm 36 and pregnant with my first child.

So maybe life didn't work out the way I planned when I was 18 or 26 or even 34. But it seems to be on track now. My folks are thrilled, my mama's literally jumping for joy. My brother's looking forward to being an uncle. My grandparents are excited. I don't know where Paul is. Maybe one day he'll tell me.

But I'm happy. And I'm content.

Now I just have to decide baby names.

Yep, life is good.

And here I thought...

2006-07-03T17:18:00.000-05:00

I was gonna breeze right through! No sore boobs, no morning sickness, just an aversion to greasy food smells (no fast food for a while), cramping, and a tendency to tear up.

Nope, not that easy.

Morning sickness came acalling this morning. And when she knocks you better open the door. Cuz it ain't pretty otherwise.

Guess I'll start keeping crackers on my nightstand now.

Any other helpful hints out there? I know the aunties have some.

Happy Birthday Grandma

2006-06-30T01:54:00.000-05:00

June 29th is my Grandma's birthday. I believe she's 81. If I'm wrong, don't shoot me. :-)

She doesn't look it though. I hope I look like her when I'm 81.

She's a tough ole broad. My mama takes after her. Hopefully so will I.

Happy Birthday Grandma! I love you!

*smooch*

The two week wait sucks!

2006-06-29T07:15:00.000-05:00

I'm 5dp5dt. And waiting, waiting, waiting...

Analyzing every twinge, every creak, every cramp...

Is it or isn't it...

I don't know.

I need a hobby to keep my hands and mind busy.

Maybe I should have learned to knit.

Or sew...then I could make baby clothes and maternity tops.

Baby 2006

2006-06-22T15:24:00.001-05:00

In less than 48 hours I'm gonna be pregnant.

Yep, the transfer is at 10am Saturday morning. And as far as I'm concerned I'm pregnant until the test says otherwise.

It's been an interesting journey but definitely worth it.

6 weeks and 15 lbs later of birth control pill...ok 20 lbs actually.

4 weeks of subcutaneous abdominal lupron shots to prevent ovulation.

2 weeks of 2x estrogen patches every 2 days...hormones anyone?

It's amazing I've kept my cool.

1 week of 22 1/2 gauge needle 2 1/2" long in the gluteus maximus every day filled with 1cc of progesterone in oil.

These shots continue throughout the first trimester to help prevent miscarriage and keep the uterine lining up and something else but I don't remember right now.

This is gonna be a lucky baby. He/she already has 10 aunties out there who are having a blast doling out advice to mama-to-be...lots of advice about veggies and names...

Speaking of names. I like-

Boy- Aidan Connor
Girl- Dakota Rayne or Dakota Leigh

Now the aunties are proposing lots of different names filled with Barbara's, Sue's, Pixie's, etc.

Here I'll let them tell you themselves...

Oh Aunties?

Yikers!

2006-06-10T04:07:00.000-05:00

At barely 5 in the evening it's suddenly as dark as if the sun fell out of the sky.

Thunderclouds appear on the horizon like mountains.

Lightning flashes and crackles, you can literally feel the sizzle.

A storm is a coming.

An hour later, you get soaked walking 5 feet outside.

Hail the size of golf balls is expected any minute.

And my window in my room sprung a leak so I have a parade of water crisscrossing my room.

And I can't stop sneezing.

Just stuff

2006-06-09T16:49:00.000-05:00

Time is a funny thing.

How come some days it seems like it takes FOREVER for it to end? Yet other days seem to fly by in two hours?

Some days you can take your time, work on your projects, and have plenty of room to maneuver.

Other days it seems like you can't get anything finished, no matter how fast or hard you work on it. Kinda like when your boyfriend's drunk and can't finish, no matter how hard he tries?

Monday went by fast this week. Tuesday and Wednesday dragged on and on and on and on and on. I didn't think they were ever gonna end.

Thursday went by smoothly and yesterday was a relaxing day at work. We had a shop BBQ. The guys marinated the chicken (extremely well I might add). They cooked chicken, brats, and burgers. Everybody gathered round the table and BS'd for a while. It was enjoyable to see them have a good time.

This time next week I'll be packing for midtour. I leave on the 19th for California for some unfinished business. Please please please keep your fingers crossed that everything works out.

I'm excited but I'm not the flipping out, jumping up and down kind of excited. But every once in a while it suddenly hits me what I'm doing and I get this little flutter in my belly. A good flutter, one that sends warm fuzzies up my spine and into my head.

That's how I know it's right. I just hope God agrees that it's the right time also.

Something else has changed over the last 8 months. I'm a lot more calm. I'm so understressed (as compared to Travis) it's like I don't even know what stressed out means. A new Flight Chief arrived about 3 weeks ago. It's amazing the difference a boss can make. As a shop supervisor I actually can make decisions now without begging for approval. He's seems a great guy although I have a feeling that somewhere underneath I wouldn't want to piss him off. That's ok though, I'd rather work for someone like that.

Oh, another thing about next weekend. Seems that we are having a GI party....

A GI party is a massive cleaning venture. It means that all of us will be out at 8am to clean the dorm. From top to bottom, 4 floors. My dorm is one of the nicest on base. It stays clean. I don't expect we'll be out here for hours.

But still...

I'm 35 years old. I've lived on my own for the last 16 years. I pay my bills, I'm fairly competent. I don't need someone coming in and telling me I need to make my bed or wash the window. Unfortunately there's some who don't know how to be adult. And that's why we're doing this. Not because 99% do what they're supposed to, but because 1% can't/won't be an adult.

Seems like that's always how it is in the military. 99% pay for the 1%.

Anyways, I've rambled enough for today. See ya!

Hormones...

2006-06-02T01:24:00.000-05:00

are an interesting thing.

You get hot, you get sweaty...no glistening or glowing, just pure de sweat!

You develop interesting bumps or swelling in the abdominal region. "Water weight" we call it when we're younger and don't want to admit we're getting a belly.

Emotions flash and flare. Reading a sad article or book can make you tear up. And those sappy commercials? Oh yeah, tears start flowing.

Even happy things make you cry. Someone says something nice to you and you're done for. You grab a kleenex and pretend it's your allergies.

Yeah, hormones are an interesting thing.

Definitely worth it though.

Oh yeah.

Armed Forces Day

2006-05-20T20:02:00.000-05:00

Sue pointed out that it was Armed Forces Day.

I have a hard time keeping up with birthdays...everything else is just another day to keep track of.

But I think I'm changing my view of Armed Forces Day.

It takes someone special to join the Armed Forces. And it's not meant for everyone. I learned as a recruiter that while we do need people to join the military, we also need the ones who stay back and keep the world going so when the military folk come home, they have home waiting for them.

So it takes someone just as special to stay back and keep home safe and sound. I could never have done it. I had too much wanderlust. That and from the time I was 7 I remember being told I was going into the Air Force. But what grounds me is knowing that my family is there waiting and that when I do come home, it's to open arms.

And lo and behold 28 years later I'm two years away from retiring. and coming home to the world my family kept safe for me.

Armed Forces Day...

When I read Sue's email I cried. Good tears. And it made me think. What does Armed Forces Day mean to me? Do I want parades? Not really. Do I want the key to the city? Again, not really. A documentary made about me? Uh uh, no way. Money? Nobody ever joined the military to get rich.

I want what I got this morning. An email telling me that someone cares. A thought, a wish, a prayer, that's what I want.

And that's what I got.

So to all my sisters and brothers out there, know there are thoughts, wishes, and prayers heading your way. That no matter where you are, what you are doing, people care.

And we know we have a home waiting for us.

Thank you Sue.

Exercise

2006-05-16T03:03:00.000-05:00

I work out 3x a week.

I speedwalk (not allowed to run per dr's orders) on the treadmill.

I sweat on the elliptical machine.

I can walk 1 1/2 miles in under 18 minutes.

Good workouts right?

I bought a bike last week.

The muscles you use to walk and glide on the elliptical are not the same muscles you use to pedal.

Did you know that?

Cuz I didn't.

My legs hurt.

My butt hurts worse.

Those bike seats are tiny.

Why don't they make a normal-woman-butt size seats?

I've got meat on my bones.

I like the meat on my bones.

I earned the meat on my bones.

Why don't the bike manufacturers recognize that a normal sized woman today isn't a toothpick and build an appropriate bike seat.

Sure would make my butt feet better.

*heads to the freezer for more ice*

Huh?

2006-05-15T15:19:00.000-05:00

Bush wants to put 5000 troops on the US-Mexico border?

Where's he gonna get them?

Idol Shocker

2006-05-11T15:12:00.000-05:00

O M G ! ! !

Huh?

Chris got the boot. I have to admit that absolutely shocked me. I picked him and Taylor as the final two 8 singers ago.

I figured Katherine would be gone last night.

Ryan was cruel last night. "Chris, you've been a front runner to win" Chris is smiling...

"Chris you're going home tonight." Chris looks shellshocked.

Katherine's mouth is hanging open, Chris is looking at Ryan like "wtf did you say?"

WOW.

Man oh Man!

Whattashocker.

I see Chris with a gig very soon. There are a couple of bands out there who are looking for a lead singer. He'll get the job.

Now I'm rooting for Taylor full-on.

Herpes anyone?

2006-05-09T02:59:00.000-05:00

So we're discussing television advertising today. And somehow all those commercials promoting medications came up, in particular, the commercial promoting a Herpes medication (I forget which one).

We all agreed that you couldn't pay us enough money to go on TV and state "I haven't had an outbreak in years!"

Which led to "Do you think those actors really have it?"

And out of my mouth came these words-

"They better have it!"

Oh yeah, I really said it. And turned 15 various shades of red immediately.

Instant quiet. Instant silence. Instant stillness.
******************************************

Then the snickering started which turned into snickersnorting.

Then the lone quizzical look...

My reasoning: If they didn't have it and are professing how the medication helped them, wouldn't that be false advertising?

Which led to "how do you prove false advertising in a case like this?"

At which, I ducked out of the conversation.

Yes, it was an interesting day!

Well, it seems...

2006-05-04T03:08:00.000-05:00

that I'm the bitch from hell who needs to be hurt.

Nice huh?

Finally...

2006-04-29T04:12:00.000-05:00

Spring has sprung!

For the first time this year the temperature has held steady in the high 60's. The wind is calmer and it actually feels good to be outside.

It's been the strangest weather here this year. It's almost like winter didn't want to let go. Maybe it's a battle of the seasons. Spring wants her time too. So I wonder if Summer's gonna put a stranglehold on Spring and Fall to get her equal share.

Anyways...

I'm just glad it's finally warming up.

April showers...

2006-04-19T03:51:00.000-05:00

Better bring May flowers!

We've had maybe 3 days without any rain. We have standing water everywhere. It's cold, it's windy, it's wet, and it's icky.

I woke up to severe thunder and lightning this morning at 3:30 am. It normally wouldn't have woken me except I live on the 4th floor. Thunder's a heck of a lot louder on the 4th floor.

Remind me never to live in an apartment building. Oh yeah, I'm afraid of heights...no chance of that happening.

Anyway, I'm hoping May gets pretty and warmer.

One a good note, spring has sprung here in some ways. The dogwoods (I think they're dogwoods) are blooming and I have one directly under my window. It's absolutely gorgeous.

Bike or no bike?

2006-04-08T06:13:00.000-05:00

This is a walking base. You can't own a car so you either walk everywhere, catch a bus (M-F only), pay for a cab (gets expensive), or ride a bike.

So my question is:

Should I buy a bike?

6 month anniversary

2006-04-05T03:14:00.000-05:00

I get up at 4am every morning. Sometimes it's because I fell asleep early the night before, other times it's because I have things on my mind and I just can't sleep. This morning I got up at 4am because I missed "House" last night and it was repeated at 4am.

Works for me.

So each morning I check my email to see what the latest is from the critter group. This morning Mirm (that sweet wonderful lady that she is) sent an email in response to my head-banging one last night. Her e-mail said:

"Only _____ more months/days left"

And it wasn't until then that I realized I've been here 6 months today. And that means only 6 months left. In fact, tomorrow I officially am over the halfway mark.

Mirm, thank you for starting my day off wonderfully! *smooch*

I'm disappointed

2006-04-03T02:45:00.000-05:00

So I was re-reading my previous post about PT and realized I didn't know who invented the bra. So I started googling...and guess what I found?!?

A woman created the bra!

Granted, she created it to get rid of the corset...but why'd she have to go and create a different torture device?

Herminie Cadolle invented the bra in 1889 Paris.

I'm so disappointed. I felt sure that some man had created it.

*going to sulk now*

Lord have mercy...

2006-04-03T02:23:00.000-05:00

PT sucks!

Who invented PT? Why did he invent PT? Yes, I said he. I don't know of any women that would invent such a torturous concept! Kinda like bras...those instruments of torture. I wonder if the MALE military officials had to wear a bra everyday, would they still require bras to be worn in uniform? But that's a whole nother subject...

So what does PT stand for? Well the official version is Physical Training. But PT can also represent Physical Therapy (another torturous idea). Or...

Personal Trainer
Primary Target
Pop Tarts
Potty Trained
Pregnant Teenager
Perpetual Terror
Physical Tormentor
Pompous Torturer
Primitive Trauma

I could keep going on and on but my favorite is Pure Torture.

Cuz that's what it is.

Lost?

2006-03-29T14:19:00.000-06:00

"Lost" intrigues me.

I want to know if the island is an experiment. I want to know where Walt is and why he's so special. And baby Aaron? Is he innocent or evil?

Will Sawyer and Kate hook up or will it be Jack and Kate? Ana-Lucia seems to show some interest in Jack...or is it a scheme?

What's really going on?

What are your thoughts...

Back in Korea

2006-03-25T17:08:00.000-06:00

Ok, first things first.

School kicked my ass.

If only it could have reduced the size of it as well...

I made it through. I was worried though, very worried.

But I graduated and got the certificate to prove it.

Mama came down for one weekend and we had a great time. We went to a restaurant called Sam's in Pensacola and had the most wonderful seafood. We met a friend of her's, Susie, who is bright, intellectual, and warm. She also gives great career advice!

After school was out, I was able to spend 5 days at home with my family. And I have to say it was wonderful. My nieces have grown so much in the last 6 months. They are beautiful, spirited girls...and I miss them terribly.

Luka aka "idiot dog" as she has nicknamed him, has become extremely well-behaved. Considering what Mama has had to deal with while training him, she should be given the "Patience" award. He actually listens now and it's a good thing I don't get jealous cuz he follows her around like a shadow.

Sasha is her same beautiful self. She has one solid white whisker which scared me to death. I can't stand the thought of losing her and I know I only have a few more years with her. Even Daddy likes Sasha and Daddy doesn't like dogs. Ok, that's an understatement. Daddy really does NOT like dogs in any way shape or form. But he likes Sasha. That's a miracle to behold.

Mama has a horrible sinus infection. Please send her your best when you talk with her next. It's so bad she actually went to the doctor voluntarily. That says something.

Now I'm back in Korea. After the flight from B'ham to Dallas, a 4 hour layover, a 14 hour white knuckle flight to Seoul, a 3 hour wait, a 4 hour bus ride, I arrived back to my room with no clue what time it was as all my clocks were blinking. Evidently there were several power outages.

I felt fine when I boarded the flight to Seoul. I woke up 3 hours into the flight only to feel incredibly bad. My head stopped up, my throat hurt, and my body ached. Now my tongue is this horrible shade of green and white, my body hurts to move, and I'm draining chunks of something. It truly is disgusting. I slept some Saturday morning after arriving back but at 4pm yesterday I passed out hard, awoke around 10pm, ate, and crashed back out until 5am. This truly sucks.

Had a horrible nightmare on the plane also. Most of you know I truly dislike flying. It's on my list of 10 worst things to do...actually it tops the list next to bungee jumping. So I'm dreaming that I'm on this huge plane and the pilot loses his mind and starts doing stunts. So the passengers are screaming, the pilot's doing rolls, and we crash. Yep, crashed. Not a great way to wake up while on an airplane.

Maybe that contributed to my getting sick...

So anyway, I'm back. I head back to work tomorrow to get ready for the inspection next month.

I'll write more later!

I'm going home!

2006-03-03T04:32:00.000-06:00

After 5 months in Korea, I'm going home! Well I'll be spending two weeks in Florida for school, but I get a week to spend with my family before I come back!

I get to see my Mama & Daddy.

I get to see my Boo & Gina.

I get to see my girls.

I get to see my babies.

I get to drive my truck.

I get to spend time with my family!

Packing's done, now it's a waiting game. 4 hour bus ride, 6 hours at the airport, 14 hour flight, 3 hours in Dallas, and home at 3:15pm Saturday 4 March!

Time to get started.

See ya when I get back!

The Olympics

2006-02-21T02:49:00.000-06:00

They only come around once every four years. Yeah, yeah, I know technically they're on every two years but I have to wait 4 more years to see pairs skating again so...just nod your head now.

It's every country's TOP athletes. That's HUGE. Could you imagine being your country's #1 athlete, or even #2 or 3? I know I would never have been disciplined enough to even go half the distance these folks have.

So why is the press slamming them down?

MSNBC says the Olympics need a big star.

Why?

Why does the press feel the need to hype them up prior to the competition but when they come in 4th or 5th, the press slams them down.

I feel for Sasha Cohen. So what she hasn't spoken with the press. Just means the girl is concentrating on her skating. She doesn't have to give you a sound bite to make you happy. The only person she has to satisfy with her skating is herself. But that's not enough for the press. They're speculating all over the place about why she isn't talking with the press.

And for God's sake, leave Bode Miller alone. The man has proven his abilities over and over and over again, yet he ends up 5th and the press starts talking about how much he's partying. Do you mean to tell me he's the only athlete over there partying? Cuz last time I checked it takes more than one person to party. Bode is an awesome skier. And he's 5th in the world right now. Heck, there ain't a number large enough for where I would end up in a skiing competition.

I don't see any press members out there skiing for all their worth. Or trying a triple toe loop and landing it. Are they wearing speedskates and skating the 500 in under 30 seconds?

Nope. Don't see any of that.

Why can't they just appreciate the fact that these are the TOP athletes each country has. And enjoy the competition.

Why does it have to be a medal count?

Man oh man, just to represent your country means you have won.

So to the members of the press- LAY OFF!

Relax and enjoy the games. Enjoy the artistry and spirited rivalries of athletes who have seesawed their wins between them. Enjoy the Olympic spirit. Enjoy the coming together of countries that otherwise would spit on each other.

Put a positive spin on the stories. So what if the US only won the bronze. Good grief, that means we're 3rd in the world! There's nothing shameful about that. Instead, treat it as a cause to celebrate.

Relax and enjoy the fun.

I know I am.

Question for you

2006-02-09T05:17:00.000-06:00

I'm tired. Don't know why. Just am.

I didn't have a bad day. I didn't have a physical day. It was busy work mostly.

That's my job pretty much, busy work and paperwork.

Maybe that's why I'm tired...too much paperwork.

So my question is...

Do you get tired for no apparent reason and if so, how do you combat it?

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition

2006-02-08T05:34:00.000-06:00

Tonight I'm watching Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (The Tom Family in Fairfield, CA) and I'm woman enough to admit that I'm sitting here crying.

This home was built approximately 1 mile from my house in California.

I remember the first morning driving to work and some guy in a blue shirt is waving at me to slow down....I mean waaaayyyyy down. So I did. And grumbled because I was running late to work. When I came home that evening from work the construction crews were still there. Of course I was curious as to what was going on, but in California you really don't pay much attention around you. It's too busy all the time to do that.

I found out the following day that Extreme Makeover was building a house. They couldn't get all their equipment into the small neighborhood the house faced so they tore down a section of an 8-10' high brick fence behind the house that ran along East Tabor Ave. All work was done from East Tabor, the road I went to and from work every day.

I love reality television so from that point I paid careful attention, very careful attention.

And I gotta say that they build these houses in 7 days. It was amazing seeing the lumber for the walls and roof on the road one afternoon at lunch, only to come home that afternoon and see the roof going on...words can't even describe how hard these folks work. What they fit into the small lots that California homes are on...was just amazing. A 3 story house with an elevator, a pool in the backyard, it was quite simply in a word- Amazing. John Laing Homes paid off her mortgage and a trust of $300,000 was started in the girls' names .

Now seeing the episode just made it all hit home. I know this neighborhood, I drove by this house twice a day, I shopped at the Sears Ty went to. Tears poured down my cheeks as Mark Willis sang "Don't laugh at me" to Faith. I'll never hear that song again without thinking about how one simple act or look can hurt someone's soul.

This isn't a put-on or a show-off, it's a real family with real faces. Just real people who just want to help and make a difference.

It makes you believe there is still goodness in the world.

Welcome home Tom Family.

State of the Union speech

2006-01-31T20:30:00.000-06:00

It starts off with a tribute to Coretta Scott King, a truly remarkable woman married to a truly remarkable man. She will be truly mourned and remembered.

Yet as I sit here listening, my heart begins to sink.

The forum is filled with hypocrisy from the outspoken Democrats who publicly decry Bush's actions yet they stand there clapping along.

The family of a Marine lost in battle sits behind Laura Bush. I wonder if they realize that while their son is publicly honored for his sacrifice, they are just the next ones in a tradition started by Reagan.

Sickness, AIDS, and other diseases are mentioned with promises of more help in fighting them.

Terrorism, the one topic everyone KNEW would be mentioned, is brought forth as a blasphemy against the US.

4.6 million new jobs have been created over the last few years. I wonder if the car makers who laid off so many people in December have pointed their ex-employees in that direction.

The economy...well, that topic's been beat to death. It'll never be good enough, strong enough, weak enough, to truly make a change. Promises, promises, promises.

Tax relief? Well I haven't seen it in my paycheck. Course I get paid out of tax dollars and then get taxed, but please don't let me get started on that subject.

He says that by cutting 140 programs that are performing poorly; we'll cut out 14 billion in taxpayer's cost. How many people are in the US? According to the US Census Bureau the population as of April 2000 was 281,421,906. Divide 14 billion by 281,421,906 and it equals 49.74 Turn it around and divide 281,421,906 by 14 billion and it equals .02

You do the math. I never said I was any good at it.

Oh, he made a joke about two of his dad's favorite baby-boomers...himself and President Clinton...Hilary did NOT like that. If her nose got any more scrunched you'd've thunk somebody farted on her.

The American Competitiveness Initiative....huh? I wonder if any of those 4.6 million new jobs created were in teaching positions...

Fewer abortions...drug use is down...an evolution of conscience...direction of culture...unethical conduct by public officials...gay marriage...natural disasters...human cloning...animal hybrids...85 billion dollars donated to the Gulf Coast...Justices Roberts and Alito...will continue to nominate men and women...huh women? The ethical standards of Washington....nope, not gonna touch that one.

The move away from oil to alternative fuel sources.

These are just a few of the topics that made their way into the speech. But the biggest topic personally to me... Iran. "We will lead freedom's advance."

Don't get me wrong. I love my country, I love serving my country, I support my president as he is my Commander-In-Chief.

Troop support is strong. Very few Americans hold the troops accountable today. It's not like Vietnam which is every Soldier/Sailor/Marine/Airman's nightmare.

But I don't wanna go to war on a new front.

American Idol

2006-01-18T04:07:00.000-06:00

So the phenomenom that is American Idol started tonight. Yes, it's being shown on TV even here in Korea.

And I have to admit, I find some of these folks absolutely hilarious. I wonder what drives some of them to show up and look like a total idiot on national television.

Are they hoping they are the next William Hung?

Or are they truly delusional that they can actually warble a decent sound?

I can't sing. I know I can't sing. So even if I was of an age to even qualify to try out, I wouldn't. I don't want to look like an idiot.

So I wonder what goes through their mind...

Don't you?

Life's a bitch...

2006-01-06T02:33:00.000-06:00

and then she eats the last of your ice cream and grins at you while she does it.

Yeah, I'm complaining.

We got 73 inches of snow last month. No this is not a snow post. I'm just giving facts.

In the straight 21 days straight that it snowed and the 4-6" of ice that is everywhere, I've been extremely careful not to fall.

I made damn sure I didn't rush, walked with my body forward and took my time.

And I never fell.

Until yesterday.

We have no heat in our building. So we use a portable gas heater that has to be gassed up twice a day and delivered to our building. As we have a sheet of ice 5" thick, the truck can't drive over it. They let us know when they drop it off and we go get it, push it about 15 yards, and hook it up.

Yesterday morning we did our usual routine. About 10 feet into it, I slipped.

Landed on my butt and back, the nerve that runs from your butt to your neck started shooting fireworks, and my neck snapped.

Now I already have a bad neck and back from a car accident in 2001. Stupid bitch hit us doing 35 and we're at a dead stop with our turn signal on waiting to turn into our driveway. Shredded every ligament, tendon, and muscle in my neck and upper back. Mama's too.

I've got limited motion to the point that if I want to look to my left, my entire upper body turns to look. Three doctors have said it will not get better.

So after falling, I laid there. Cuz I couldn't get up. Two people had to pull me straight up in a way that my neck and back had no strain.

We finished pushing the heater to the building. Then smoked a cigarette.

Then took two bufferin cuz the headache struck and my neck started screaming. So I kept taking bufferin, got home and soaked in a hot bath, used a moist heat heating pad and hoped it would be better.

This morning was worse. Didn't sleep cuz every time I turned over, I woke up. I can't turn to the left or right, can only look straight ahead. Can't look up or down either.

So I made a dr's appointment.

I sprained my neck.

Got vicodin and flexerall. No PT, no lifting, no nothing for 30 days.

Yeah, she's enjoying my ice cream.

Fucking bitch.

New Year Resolutions

2006-01-03T01:56:00.000-06:00

What's yours?

Cuz everybody makes them.

Most resolutions are pretty normal stuff.

Some people want to lose weight. Others want to quit smoking.

Occasionally you get the really weird resolutions. One male acquaintenance several years back made a resolution to sleep with as many girls as he could; his bottom number was 32. I don't know if he kept it...and don't really wanna know.

So who made up the idea of New Year Resolutions? Why did they? And why on New Years day? Why not have birthday resolutions? That makes just as much sense.

I've made a few. In 1991 I made a resolution to lose weight. I finally lost the weight in 1994. In 1993 I decided to quit smoking. I kept that one for a year and a half. Pretty boring stuff.

Those were pretty much the only ones I kept. And even then for a short amount of time. I made a resolution once to quit cussing. That one lasted for a day. Actually for the time I was asleep.

So all in all I've failed at keeping resolutions.

So in 1996 after so many failed resolutions, I tried one more.

I resoluted never to make another New Year Resolution.

I've kept it for 10 years.

Merry Christmas

2005-12-25T08:14:00.000-06:00

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all. May the next year bring all your hopes to life.

Blizzard?

2005-12-23T15:50:00.000-06:00

I figured since I'd talked so much about the snow I could at least post some pics. We've had over 50 inches so far. So even if we get no more snow, I get my very first White Christmas.

It's up to the middle of my thighs. I'm 5'6" so...

Visibility got so bad...take a look.

2005-12-21T02:37:00.000-06:00

I've been tagged by Teresa of Technicalities to present my 5 Weird Habits to the blog world...

So here goes...

1. Shower vs sheets- I can not and will not climb into bed without taking a shower first. I never understood the point of climbing into clean sheets with a dirty body.

2. I read, watch TV, and play on the computer at the same time. And keep up with all three. It drove my roommate crazy.

3. My morning schedule. If this order isn't followed exactly, my day is off.
a. potty
b. coffee
c. wash face
d. brush teeth
e. coffee

4. When eating, I can not eat more than one item at a time. No intermixing potatoes with meat or meat with veggies (as if I eat veggies anyway).

5. I hate to vacuum. I'd rather sweep, mop, dust, or clean a toilet over vacuuming.

Unfortunately all the people I know with blogs have already been tagged for this meme. So I'll end this one with me.

Christmas Card list to date

2005-12-19T02:17:00.000-06:00

Harvey from Bad Example (Thanks Teresa!) had the great idea of listing who all the Christmas cards are from.

So I'm going to list First name, Last initial and the city or something similar. I've tried to save all the envelopes as cards came in so this is what I have...I know I'm missing some.

I'll edit the list if anymore come in. I'm already amazed by how many have arrived. This list will also include the various organizations that have sent packages also.

So in no particular order-

Lynn W., Tumbler Ridge, BC
Mary C., Van Buren, AR
Brenda M., Detroit, MI
Teresa H., Boylston, MA
Grady H., Hendersonville, TN
William G., Tampa, FL
Robert K., Independence, MO
C. Ruth S., Warsaw, MO
Larry and Linda N., Warsaw, MO
Ellen F., Delphos, OH
Barbara B., Channahon, IL
Sandra B., Orlando, FL
Liz S., Cleveland, OH
Debi B., Hueytown, AL
Amelia S., Chicago, IL
Joey B., Round Rock, TX
Wanda S., Hueytown, AL
Grandma and Grandaddy, Warsaw, MO
Sue M, MA
Miriam C., NC
Nell M., CT
Jacqui G., NH
Margo R., Sedona, AZ
Pixie Mama, Hueytown, AL
Lewis family, Syracuse, MO
Dennis and Brenda T., Bunceton, MO
Larry and June W., MO
JoDee and Paul E., Military Support Group
Susie R. aka Heidi
Bobi and Jim N., Hilton Head, SC
Aletha C., Hueytown, AL
Boo and Gina H., McCalla, AL
Desigirl, Chrissy, & Beth H., McCalla, AL
Margaret F., Climax Springs, MO
Steve and Carol Ann G., Navarre, FL

VFW Post 3600, Climax Springs, MO
American Legion, Columbus, OH
Ali, Nova Scotia
Graden Elementary; Mrs. H's 3rd grade class

From New Hampshire to Arizona to British Columbia to Florida...the human heart is an amazing thing.

Thank you for taking me into yours.

Guardian angels are awesome.

2005-12-15T00:52:00.000-06:00

So I'm outside enjoying a smoke.

The sun is shining and light flurries are falling.

The snow is pure white and gorgeous.

All is well.

Right?

Wrong.

As I turn around the snow/ice on the roof that had started to melt yesterday and refroze last night, had again started melting in the sunlight and went...

Crash BOOM

I looked down and had snow and ice to my knees.

Oh...about 25 feet of two foot wide pure ice 6-8 inches thick lay on the sidewalk.

(How do you like my math description? Jacqui- told you I didn't do well in math!)

If I had been 2 feet to the left, I wouldn't be typing this.

Cuz I'd've been in the hospital.

With a concussion...

A few broken bones....

Probably another neck injury...

And a killer headache.

The snow wouldn't have been white.

I like pink but not that much.

It took over half an hour for my heartbeat to slow down.

Then we got to shovel it off the sidewalk.

At least I haven't slipped and fallen on the ice yet.

Key word being yet.

Guardian angels are awesome.

Tired of snow talk?

2005-12-14T02:31:00.000-06:00

I know I've done nothing but talk about snow. But I just gotta say...

WE GOT OVER 2 FEET!

I stepped...errr stumbled into a drift that was up to my thighs.

My thighs!

Now I'm only 5'6". So my thighs aren't that far off the ground.

But I've never seen snow over a couple of inches....

Like what we got the week before.

However, this snow is awesome.

Literally awesome.

I'm like a kid in a candy store.

With a no-limit credit card.

*grin*