Praise from my Dad

I just talked to my dad for a few minutes this afternoon to let him know that although the rest of my family has had the stomach flu with vomiting for nearly 24 hours I have managed (by God's healling powers and grace, I know) to avoid it COMPLETELY, so I WILL be coming up for a visit this week. He was soooooo happy! He also told me that he has NOT HAD ANY ill side effects (thank you God) and has been feeling just fine! I informed him that I had a bunch of people (most of which I don't even know) praying for him to have NO SIDE EFFECTS and to make this colon cancer treatment a success... He seemed to be shocked that 1) I would have my "friends" pray, 2) that God would "answer".

Soooooo, I just want to say thank you!!! Thanks for praying for me and my parents!!!!
I will be traveling this week to see for myself how he is, so please pray that my trip is safe and goes well. (It will just be That Other Kid and me, as dh has to work and That Kid has school and hockey to tend to.)

This will be the first time I have left That Kid alone with dh at home, so this will be a test to see how mature he really is -- see dh is not real alert to his surroundings (ie, he locks himself in his office and doesn't come out other than to eat) so it will be like That Kid is home alone! Hope they come out of the week unharmed;)

I'm taking my computer so if I get a chance I will let ya'll know how things are going while I'm there, otherwise I'll check back in Thursday sometime. Have a great weekend....

Please Pray for Beth

I'm sure they would appreciate your prayers...Beth at I Should Be Folding Laundry

She's one of my regular reads and I thought you might want to go over and pray for her family, too.

Finally My 100th Post....

It actually is my 111th post so I added a few more things that you might want to know about me!! You probably could care less, but I'm sharing anyway!

So here goes....

1. I was born in Wichita, Kansas
2. I lived in the same house in Hicksville,(not a real town, btw) Kansas until I got married to dh
3. I lived in that house over 18 years
4. I went to 4 different schools – elementary, jr high, high school and college
5. I graduated high school in 1983, so my 25 year reunion is coming up!
6. Dh and I got married when were barely 19
7. I was a SCARED, little girl when my daddy walked me to the alter
8. We got married on the Arkansas River in Wichita, Kansas
9. The only person at our wedding that came specifically for dh was his mom…She’s the BEST 
10. We spent our wedding night at the Sheraton Hotel in Wichita, Kansas
11. My parents gave us a coupon for the hotel and dinner there, so it was cheap
12. We were dirt poor…dh didn’t even have a job!
13. After our night out in the Sheraton we moved into a little 1 bedroom apartment the next day
14. That apartment costs us $275 a month we didn’t really have (
15. I worked part time in Spangles fast food restaurant
16. I majored in Elementary Education in college
17. I loved working with the kids, but hated taking all those goofy classes
18. I went to college for 2 years and nearly flunked out my last semester….
19. I would love to go back to college, but the thought scares the cr*p out of me
20. My GPA is 1.8 so if I do go back to school I would be on academic probation
21. I had to be a wife, work and go to school at the same so it didn’t work out very good for me
22. I was a good student
23. A good wife
24. A good employee
25. But I couldn’t do all 3 at the same time!
26. I wonder who said you have to be smart to home school your kids!
27. NOT ME!!!
28. I have lived in Kansas, California, and TEXAS
29. My favorite restaurant is Carlo’s O’Kelly’s in Wichita, Kansas
30. It’s why I love to go there to visit so much! 
31. I like to eat Mexican food, but not if I have to fix it myself!
32. I don’t like Italian food but my dh loves it, so I can prepare lots of it
33. I would rather have a burger and fries (just like my daddy!)
34. My parents have been married nearly 44 years to each other
35. I have been married nearly 24 years to the same man
36. I am the oldest child of 4
37. I am the only daughter of those 4 kids
38. I’m the only one of my siblings that doesn’t live near home
39. My oldest son looks a lot like my oldest brother….kind of scary!
40. My oldest brother was a Marine. I’m so PROUD
41. I thought he was crazy
42. It turns out I’m the crazy one!
43. I love to cross stitch
44. I almost started a cross stitch business when I lived in California, but changed my mind
45. I haven’t done any cross stitching in over 4 years
46. I made Christmas stockings for me, dh, and That Kid, but haven’t made one for That Other Kid yet….maybe I should since he’s already 4, huh?
47. I love to read Christian historical fiction
48. My favorite author is Tracey Peterson
49. Reading short novellas seem to be the easiest way I can make it through a book, these days
50. I love Chick Flicks….
51. My favorite Chick Flick’s have Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan in them
52. I love Sleepless In Seattle, You’ve Got Mail, Joe vs. Volcano
53. My most recent Chick Flick is No Reservations
54. I hate blood and guts movies, and movies with excessive violence and language
55. I never seem to have time for TV anymore, which is ok as there is so little out there to watch
56. The last tv series’ that I watched faithfully were Gilmore Girls, 7th Heaven, and Everwood
57. They all ended the same year, so I have nothing to watch now
58. I love to snuggle on the couch with my boys and watch tv and fall asleep
59. But I have to have buttered popcorn if the show is longer than 1 hour
60. I fell asleep watching Star Wars in the movie theater with dh on a date
61. Science Fiction is obviously not a favorite of mine
62. I still fall asleep if I watch Star Wars
63. It has become a family joke! And I’m ok with a good nap every once in a while!! 
64. Spring is my favorite time of year
65. I love to see the grass growing
66. I love to be outside, playing ball with That Other Kid or going to the park
67. Summer is too hot, unless you have access to a pool!
68. Fall is nice, cuz I love to watch the leaves change colors
69. And we can go to the park again! Can you tell I want to be outside enjoying God’s green earth?
70. Winter is not a favorite of mine
71. Snow, cold weather and flu season are just a few of the reasons I don’t like winter
72. However I LOVE Christmas time
73. I LOVE to buy presents for everyone and make them guess what they got
74. I absolutely LOVE SURPRISES!! That’s why I love to give presents
75. Both of my kids were surprises….that’s why I love them so much 
76. No one told me that Birth control pills don’t work when you take anti-biotics
77. I know better now!
78. I always wanted 2 kids
79. That’s what I got…
80. I always said I wanted my first baby before I turned 25….he was born 3 days before I turned 25
81. I always said I wanted my second baby before I was 30, but God knew better!
82. That Other Kid was born when I was 38
83. I felt like I was 50….sometimes I feel like I’m 100 now
84. When I was a kid I wanted to be a nurse, but I can’t stand the sight of blood so I changed my mind
85. Then I decided I wanted to be a teacher….I am
86. I just don’t get paid for it
87. I love being a mom and a homeschool teacher
88. Watching my boys grow into young men is the greatest joy
89. Helping them learn something new is VERY rewarding and satisfying
90. I value the relationship I have with my boys
91. When That Kid was 11 I took a part time job at Target
92. I feel like I missed so much of his life during those 18 months
93. I liked working and helping others in the work force, but I missed helping my son
94. I have worked many different jobs and none have been as rewarding as being a mom
95. I am a very social person by nature
96. I started my blog so I could socialize with other moms
97. I have “met” many others that are blogging for the same reason
98. Blogging gives me a social outlet that I don’t get otherwise
99. Now when I am down I turn to the computer and read blogs AND I ALWAYS AM LIFTED UP
100. I am always encouraged by others online
101. I THANK GOD FOR THIS OUTLET….It helps keep me somewhat SANE
102. I THANK GOD FOR MY FAMILY
103. I THANK GOD FOR MY FRIENDS
104. I THANK GOD FOR MY BLOGGING BUDDIES
105. I THANK GOD FOR THE FREEDOM TO HOMESCHOOL
106. I THANK GOD FOR THE ABILITY TO RELEASE SOME STRESS THROUGH WRITING ABOUT MY DAILY DOINGS
107. I THANK GOD FOR MY HEALTH
108. I THANK GOD FOR MY HOME
109. I THANK GOD THAT I LIVE IN AMERICA, HOME OF THE FREE
110. I THANK GOD FOR LOVING ME, IN ALL MY INADEQUENTIES
111. I THANK GOD THAT HE SENT JESUS TO DIE IN ORDER TO SAVE ME!!!!

Thanks for being a part of my life today!!!

Talked To Dad....

Before cancer was found in my dad this statement would have been something I would have only said on holidays, birthdays and other special occasions. Now that cancer has been found I am trying to take communication with them a lot more seriously and I want to value the time I have with them, even if it is a few minutes on the phone a couple of times a week.

So, anyway I called my parents this afternoon to check on my dad and he seems to be doing well. He said he has not had any of the bad side effects that they told him to expect. No hair loss, no weakness, no diarrhea....so all is well so far. Week 3 starts tomorrow with the chemo treatments. This will be round 2, as it goes 1 week on, 1 week off. I will be traveling to Kansas for a few days next week on his off week, so I can see for myself how he is doing.

So now it is really time to ensure that I DON'T GET SICK....my dad can't have visitors who are sick....so it is imperative that I don't get sick. I MUST STAY HEALTHY...so lot's of vitamin C and lots of handwashing!! So far, so good, I just feel kind of tired and a little achey. Maybe it's just cuz I have been taking care of everyone else for the past week and I'm worn out.....

Keep praying!!! and I'll keep you posted!

Whine, Whine, Whine....

I'm so tired of whiny people...everyone is still on the rebound from the stomach flu (vomiting for That Kid ended early this morning) and everyone is WHINY....I'm even whiny and I'm not sick, although I am feeling kind of achey and sore, so who knows maybe I'm getting it too. I hope not, as the rest of the family doesn't do well when momma is sick! Not to mention both boys still are not feeling all that great. Although, they did feel well enough to drive me crazy today with their teasing and whining!!! Did I mention everyone is whiney???


Well enough whining from me...I hope your family is healthy and well! and if it's not DON'T WHINE to MEEEE!! Just Joking!!

3 Down; 1 More to Go...

But hopefully my immune system will be strong enough to avoid it!

That Kid woke up at 6:15 a.m. this morning and RAN to the bathroom, and threw on the light and proceeded to lose his bedtime snack -- a BOX OF WHOPPERS!! I'm guessing he won't eat a box of whoppers anytime soon! He's been vomiting about every couple of hours today, so had to put off a tutoring session with his math teacher, and had to find a replacement for his job tonight. Fortunately, someone had mercy on him and took the assignment for work. Now we have to find someone for tomorrow afternoon's 2 game set...

He's been laying on the air mattress in the middle of the living room since about 2 this afternoon either sleeping, vomiting in the trash can or watching tv! I guess he's getting the break he said he wanted, although I doubt he is enjoying it!

DH is feeling pretty goood finally, so he is able to help himself for the most part. That Other Kid is still kind of clingy, and whiny. Whether that is because he doesn't feel good still or he just wants momma's attention it is hard to tell. Although, he hasn't really been playing like normal so I guess he's still not 100% yet.

So.....please pray that I am immune to this stomach bug and that That Kid feels better soon... I'll keep you updated!

Round 2 of the Plague

4 a.m. this morning was the beginning of a VERY long day for That Other Kid. He started vomiting at 4 a.m. and vomited every 30 minutes to 1 hour until 7:30 p.m. Yes, that's 15 1/2 hours of vomit!! We went to the doctor and he was given a suppository to try to prevent dehydration and keep him from vomiting. I gave it to him at 6 p.m. He vomited again at 6:30 and then again at 7:00. He finally fell asleep at 7:30, and he's been asleep now for 2 1/2 hours and he hasn't vomited now for 3 hours. 3 glorious hours of NO vomit!!.

He keeps moving around now (he's asleep on the couch) so I'm guessing he's about to wake up....But I managed to get the laundry folded and put away, which is good since he puked on almost all of his clothes and a good bunch of mine!!

Hope you avoid the plague in your house. I guess I've got 2 more rounds...with me and That Kid.

Out of the Mouth of Babes....

That Other Kid...."Mom, your lucky to have me!"

Me... "Yes, I am lucky to have you!"

That Other Kid.... "Your lucky to have That Kid, too."

Me... "Yes, I am!"

My 2 blessings!!! I am VERY lucky to have them....!

The Plague of 2008

I have spent the past few weeks reading about the terrible "stomach virus" going around. As I was reading about it I thought to myself, "oh we will not get this one, we never go anywhere that we could catch this". Well guess what???? DH got it!!! and it was HORRID For the past 2 days I have listened to him vomit with such force that it sounded like he was going to keel over. Now that it is mostly over his vocal cords are sore, as well as his diaphram and esophogus. He hasn't eaten anything since Friday night's dinner from Boston Market. He tried to eat a banana yesterday and ate 2 bites and had to vomit again. He decided he didn't want to eat that bad. He is feeling better this morning and has had a banana, an apple. So far, so good.
I hope it's over....and I PRAY THAT YOUR FAMILY DOESN'T GET IT.

A Little Birds and Bees within the Bible

Tonight as That Other Kid was preparing for bed, he asked to read a story. This is a rarity so I gladly agreed to read a story even though it was getting late and he was more than grumpy! I told him to bring a book from his room out to the living room and I would read it to him as we did "medicine mask" (nebulizer for asthma). He brought in Bible Stories for Little Kids, that That Kid bought for him about a year ago (see he is a good kid!). I have never actually read through the whole book, he gets bored about half way through usually (reading takes time and you have to sit, and be quiet or you can't hear the story-- this is just too much to ask for).

About 3/4 of the way through tonight the story was talking about Abraham and Sarah having a baby, and That Other Kid says to me, "how did that baby come out of the mommy?"
Wow!! wasn't ready for that one!

Then he turns to me and says "was I in your tummy, mommy, when I was zero?" (That's his way of giving an zage to an infant.) I tell him "yes, before you were born, (ie, before he was zero) you were in my tummy."

He then turns to me and says "how did I come out!!???"

How do you answer that question to a 4 year old???

I told him I went to the hospital and the doctor helped him come out. That seemed to satisfy him for now!! Of course, he's only 4 so I better come up with some better answers as he gets older!!!

Oh the things that come out just reading a simple Bible Story book...maybe I better stick with Dr. Suess!!

Personality Painting

Click here to create your own painting.


I found this over at Life Is Like a Box of Chocolates http://www.tuttlefamilyadventures.blogspot.com
and thought it would be fun to try, since I haven't really been in the mood to talk about the boring, mundane things of my life. Nothing exciting has happened to me or the family in the past couple of weeks, unless you want to count the sinus infections that we all have, the miserable cough I have AGAIN, the messed up foot that That Kid got while at hockey practice last week; the grumpy, ill-mannered and misbehaving that That Other Kid has been exhibiting. Not to mention the 40,000,000 loads of laundry that has been washed, dryed and folded and put away.

This all on top of the "dumps" that I have been in since I found out dad has cancer. BTW, he started chemo today, thank you very much. He only has 7 more sessions and then he gets to do chemo with radiation. Then he gets to undergo surgery! No, I really don't have anything to write about, so I decided to do this nifty little personality test and see what kind of picture I would paint....that is if I painted, ya know!

The Grocery Store

...is not my favorite place to go on a Saturday evening but sometimes ya gotta go! Tonight was one of those nights. I was out of laundry detergent and I needed to do laundry tonight and we were also out of apple juice w/calcium which is the only calcium That Other Kid gets, cuz he has tons of food allergies, including milk.....so we went to That Kid's hockey game, which we won! and HE SCORED!!!, then left him there to work a game and went to the grocery store. We had about an hour and 15 minutes, plenty of time for a quick trip, right?
Well I should know better after 4 years, that taking That Other Kid anywhere after 6 p.m. is a mistake of huge proportions, but I continue to do it....what is wrong with me??? We walk in and we're doing pretty good till we find the race car cart that he wanted, being driven another family. It went downhill from there.....I want that CAR, not THIS one.....this one is BAD....now granted 30 seconds earlier it was just fine, but not now. They had what he wanted!!! I moved on and got him distracted with something else, I don't remember what now, but anyway.....moving along I had a number of my purchases in the CAR/CART and decided to go down the cereal aisle that also has kids movies...no biggie! I happen to notice "Schoolhouse Rock" you know the ones that were on Saturday morning commercials way back when???? I LOVED those clips and got more out of those than all the grammar classes I ever had. I thought, cool I will buy this and I will hel my boys learn grammar the way I learned it!! But, I didn't realize it cost $16 and I'm cheap, so I put it back. In the meantime he sees movie after movie he is interested in....and starts THROWING A MAJOR TANTRUM!!!! I'm talking screaming I want that at the top of his LUNGS. I tell him HE WILL NOT get a movie if he doesn't stop throwing a fit! But no, he wants a movie, any movie, and doesn't stop screaming and crying....
So the remaining trip through the store is done while listening to a little boy screaming and crying....such a pleasant way to finish a long day, don'tcha think? By the time we were at the checkouts I was in a tizzy, and he was still screaming about the injustice of it all...the clerks just tried to get him interested in something else while ringing up my purchases as fast as possible.
I will never, never again criticize a mom and her brattylovely child in the grocery store again!!! So here's to all the moms I have criticized previously......I'M SORRY!!!! MAY GOD GIVE YOU A QUIET NIGHT!!!

Update on Dad....

Ladies, Thanks for all your prayers and kind words of encouragement. It's nice to know there are ladies out there that care....

For the lastest in the drama that is the VA Hosptial in Wichita Kansas -- my dad had a MRI then had to wait a week for the results and consultation with the doctor. The mass is in his colon and is cancer. They believe it can be treated and removed through a series of 4 weeks of chemo and then surgery. They inserted a valve this week (Tuesday) in his shoulder that will be the place they work from (why his shoulder, I don't know or understand?). While looking at the MRI they saw some unusual "spots" on his liver so they want to further investigate that. To do that they did a CatScan yesterday, (Thursday). He was told they would have results and consultation later that afternoon, but alas we now have to wait another week for those results (next Thursday).

Now, the spots on his liver could be from the 55 years of drinking 6 beers a day :( or it could be something more. We are just playing a wait and see game...which I HATE... being down here in Texas has been very difficult. I just want to go up there and take care of everything, but being there will not help anyone or anything right now, so I stay.

What is now making things more difficult is that my mom gets an annual bout of bronchitis that lasts about a month, and guess what --- she is getting sick now, too. They got 4 inches of snow on the ground yesterday and they were both trying to shovel snow...my mom with bronchitis and my dad with a chemo valve in his shoulder awaiting cancer treatment...ugh!!

So, I'm asking for more prayers....for both my parents to get better and the weather to cooperate so they don't have to endure the snow. Pray also that the VA hospital will stop dilly-dallying around and get to it....the longer this is prolonged the worse it can be in the end.