Merry Christmas to all....

Just a quick note to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas. Hope all was well with each of you. The kids seemed happy with what Santa brought them. They are getting older and I am having a bit of a hard time with the lack of magic Christmas seems to hold for them. The anticipation seems to be gone for the boys. There is no magic in it for them anymore. That saddens me. I wish that they were still little and their faces lit up the way they did when they were 2 and 3. But it is what it is. I can't make them little again and it's up to me to adjust to it.

Kamry on the other hand had a Santa related meltdown about 11:30 last night. She saw some stuff in my room and jumped to the conclusion that I was Santa. I explained that it was up to her and to trust what her heart and gut told her. She said that she would rather know there isn't a Santa than to have me lie to her. I didn't lie. I just danced around it as best I could. I covered, I bobbed, and I weaved. In the end, I talked her down off the ledge and I think she is good to go. I just basically told her that I know 5 year olds that DIDN'T believe, but that I knew 35 year olds that DID. It's up to her. This is one of her first experiences in trusting herself and her gut. What ever she comes up with is fine by me.

I spent the better part of the afternoon at Mom and Dad's. It was nice, but different. My sisters and their families weren't there. I missed them. The boys went to Joe's after we got done eating and Kamry and I went to see a movie. It was not a good choice for an eleven year old, she was bored and we left early. We intended to see Marley and Me, but all shows until 10 pm were sold out. We were gonna then see Bedtime Stories...same issue there. We ended up in Yes Man and its great for adults, but not her! Lesson learned.

I guess this wasn't that quick afterall. I have to work tomorrow. Kamry is always wanting to go with me, so tomorrow is as good a day as any. Now let's see if I can get a good nights sleep and then we'll see if I can get her up in the morning.

I hope that all had a peaceful, relaxing day.

Love to all....ME

PS....My birthday is Saturday in case anyone was wondering...... :-)

Shut up Nate!!!

Here's an update for you....

I just took my last final. This semester is one for the history books. Two more classes next semester and another degree shall be mine!!

FYI...I work with Nate. I thought he was a nice guy. Now I'm not so sure. Just kidding "Uncle Nater". When we going for ice cream again???

Till I have more time....ME

Wow...didn't see this one coming...

Ron called this morning. He got let go from his job this past Friday. Lack of work due to the economic crunch felt by many. This would be the down side to working for a small business. He managed the pawn shop for almost 7 years. Now, too many people pawning, not enough people buying equals not enough money to pay employees.

My downside on this is the child support I will not be receiving. Selfish, yes. But also practical on my living paycheck to paycheck self.

Any one got a job they want to give a hard working, dedicated and determined guy? I know one that is looking....

Thank goodness I have a job to come to everyday.

Me

Should I change the name of the blog to Kathy Monthly???

Probably....

Well, it's been a month.

In that month, Kamry got better and I got sick. Between the 2 of us, I missed 6 days of work. That went over like a dead balloon at the workplace.

In that month, the kids got their report cards. 1 pretty good, 1 decent, and 1...well...not decent. But things are looking up and I have high hopes for the coming semester.

In that month, Hunter has turned into a big boy, and I haven't seen him. I got sick a couple of days after our last visit, which was the weekend before Halloween. 3 weeks!! Babies change a lot in three weeks. I miss the lil man.

In that month, I have decided exactly how much I hate Philosophy. Well, the class anyway. I just wanna be done with it. I don't know if I will even pass, and what's more, I don't care. That is rare for me. I pride myself on my 3.5 GPA. That may nose dive if I don't pass this. I will just have to pull it out...

Well, that's it for now. I will try to do better. I make no promises.

Peace, love, and hope...ME

This week

This week I have worked one day.

This week Kamry was sick.

This week, I got a new front door, a new back door, new shower fixtures, a new shower wall, and hopefully soon, a new roof. I am very happy with the improvements and can't wait to see the final outcome will be.

Next week, I go back to work.

Next week, Kamry gets another week off. This time its for fall break.

Taking life one week at a time. Enjoying being able to bond with my child again. There are worse things. I just wish she wasn't sick during our bonding. She's getting so mature at times, and just like me, can be really immature at the drop of a hat. I guess she's more like me than I really ever thought.

We are heading to Harriman tomorrow to hang out with Carol and the kids.

Sunday we're headed to a baby shower for a good friend of mine. The baby is two months old. But they live in Mississippi while her family lives here. This is the first time they are coming here since the baby. Her mom is throwing the shower for her Knoxville family and friends. I am excited to see her. It's been two years.

So needless to say, I am not complaining. I am glad that I can take the time to do things that make me happy and allow me time to spend with my girl.

Josh is off camping with a friend of his this weekend. We will see him on Sunday.

Joseph is going to homecoming and then has a men of tomorrow meeting tomorrow.

Is it possible that my boys are too big to bond with and we are what we are? I hope not. They just have other things they would rather be doing than hangin with mom. I think I'm actually okay with that. Is that ok?

Well, Kamry wants to get on her webkinz so I am gonna go log her on.

I will post again later. Hopefully not a month from now.

Peace, love, and antibiotics....ME

Hunter William Jones

Born: September 15, 2008

Time: 6:03 a.m.

Weight: 6 lbs. 12 oz.

Length: 19 1/2 inches

Parents: Carol Stratman and Jerry Jones

Sisters: Olivia and Chloe Jones

Thank God for a healthy beautiful boy!!

Peace, love, and all the things little boys are made of!

Kathy

Question/Answer

1. What time do you get up in the mornings? I start yelling at the kids to get up at 6 a.m. I personally roll out at 7.

2. How many beers until you're drunk? N/A because I hate beer.

3. Do you like beer or hard liquor? In looking at my answer to question 2, I would have to go out on a limb and say hard liquor. Not in a mixed drink though. I want it down and over fast. Or mixed up in a frooty fru fru drink.

4. How do you take your coffee? I don’t. I leave it in the pot for those that partake in the coffee experience.

5. Do you eat breakfast? Not unless it’s for lunch or dinner

6. Do you prefer sleeping alone? I have no choice in the matter…for now.

7. Do you smoke cigarettes? No!

8. Have you ever burnt your hair? Well there was this time that I was lighting Tammy’s grill and we had a small incident I like to call the “You don’t have to wax your brows for the next month or two” flash fire that sizzled the hair and brows on the left side of my head.

9. Do you sleep with a pillow? Eight to be exact.

10. What were your habits as a child? I'm confused...

11. Do you want kids? Not anymore…Playing…I love them and would love to adopt someone elses when mine are all grown.

12. Are you an only child? Nope, 2 sisters…I’m my parents favorite middle daughter.

13. Do you like road trips? Most of the time.

14. Do you brush your teeth in the shower? This is a guy thing, I think. Joseph does this.

15. Do you eat leftovers? I don’t unless they are leftover from Wasabi. My kids will eat the crap out of leftovers though. Maybe that is why I don’t, they eat them all and there is none left for me…

16. Do you prefer being single, or in a relationship? I prefer being in the right relationship. When it happens, I will no longer prefer being single.

17. What do you take when you have a headache? Advil or Tylenol

18. Roughing it or luxury hotel? I like to camp, but who wouldn’t rather stay in a luxury hotel?

19. Beach or pool? This is a tough one. I'm happy with either but you don’t get a sandy crotch at the pool.

20. Ever hitchiked? No

21. Ever picked up a hitchhiker? No

22. Roses or daisies? Roses.

23. Do you consider yourself conceited? I consider myself confident in some aspects, but I’m definitely not conceited.

24. Is your hair its original color? Nope.

25. Do you wear makeup? Most days, no. I forget and then once everyone has seen you, what’s the point?

24. Do you eat ranch dip with your pizza? Love it!!

25. Do you believe in God? Yes

26. What food could you absolutely never give up? Beef

27. Who's your favorite cartoon character? Not sure, haven’t thought about it an awful lot.

28. What tv shows do you watch? Grey's Anatomy, Desperate Housewives, Extreme Home makeover, What not to wear, Who’s wedding is it anyway.

29. Do you think you're attractive? I don't think I'm unattractive. I'll do.

30. Are you allergic to anything? I get seasonal allergies, but I'm not even sure exactly what causes them anymore.

31. Do you wear socks to bed? no

32. How do you feel about breast implants? I don't really get the appeal - I mean, I think you should love what you have - but if another woman wants to get them, whatever.

33.What kind of shampoo do you use? Garnier Fructis.

An update from St. Mary's, because...

...we're (Carol & Jerry) are having a baby!

Would have updated soooner, but I have been sick an it's been the furthest thing from my mind.

Anyway, when last we spoke, we were on our way to give Grandma a coronary. Well, that didn't happen, but she did get a little extra shaky in the legs. We all went in to sit and chat. She called a couple of her friends and was just so happy for us to be there. Funny woman was under the impression that us showing up was her birthday surprise. LOL! Not....

For the next two days I didn't do a whole lot but lie to my Grandma at any and every turn. I swear that she had to think that I was the most mental case ever created. It seems that when I had to run an errand or do a project Grandma was told that I "just needed some time" or that "I went to walk the mall to blow off steam". Grandma was probably scared for me to take my children home with me for fear that I might kill them. I am sure she thought that I needed a huge Prozac and a bottle of whine just to survive each day. But my mommy said that when you lie to your grandma for a good reason, the Man upstairs forgives you. I hope she's right!!

So, I am on a loaned computer and really don't feel like thinking anymore, so that's it for now. You'll get the rest when I am good and ready to give you the rest.

Peace, love, and baby boys....ME

So I promised an update, well...

...I stink and that didn’t happen. Let’s just move on.

August 21st saw me, my kids, and my mom taking to the air to go to Florida for Grandma Saikley’s 80th Birthday Bash. The trip down went well, but that says nothing of the night before where Kamry and I are concerned.

When I got off work on Wednesday, I stopped to pick up a few things for our trip. While walking around Target I realized that my mouth had an oddly familiar feeling within. Back on the 4th of July weekend, I had had shingles…with the sores appearing in my mouth. This was that same feeling. The same pain, bumps, everything…just on the right side of my head instead of the left. Great, just what I needed.

So I head home to load up three wound up, excited, we packed a week ago kids. Kamry, instead of running around like a wild woman busting with excitement, was laid out on the couch crying and clutching her stomach. This continued on through the evening. While me and the boys were trying to get the house mostly cleaned up, dishes washed, so on and so forth, she laid on the couch. We left to head to mom and dad’s as we were staying with them because they live closer to the airport and we had to be up at the butt crack of not even dawn to get to the airport. I walked in, asked mom what time the walk-in clinic closed and headed back out the door. The walk-in place was closed, but I was determined that I would not be miserable on my trip, and I wasn’t taking a sick kid. We needed drugs!!! I headed to Parkwest ER. We walked in, explained our ills, filled out a couple forms, you know the drill. We got in our room. Were both given gowns. Check this out; they give us both the same size gown. Kamry’s has her for lunch and mine; well let’s just say I kept my pants on. The two of us…it was a site.

The doctor was not convinced that it was possible for me to have shingles in my mouth in the first place, and that it “doesn’t EVER happen!!” for me to get them again, on the opposite side. Well, have you met me?? Have you met any one in my family?? We are walking talking exceptions.

Kamry got the full workup. Urine sample…didn’t need her mommy to help. IN her words, “I’m big now. I don’t need you to help me anymore. Really!”. Sniff, sniff. IV stick…looks at what is going on but only says, “I really don’t want to do this. I really don’t want to do this.” Chest/Tummy X-ray…no mom needed there either. WHAAAT? She was very dehydrated, had all kinds of proteins and ketones in her urine, her blood sugar was bottomed out because she hadn’t eaten or drank because her tummy hurt, her tummy hurt because it was full of gas (no not that kind of gas), and her tummy was full of gas because it was being put off by the raging urinary tract infection she had going on. So three hours, a bag of fluids, a huge ass syringe of antibiotics, and a dinner plate from the hospital cafeteria later, we were on our way…to the pharmacy to get scripts filled. Then to mom and dad’s were I got to sleep from 2 am til 4 am.

We got up, headed to the airport, and started our next adventure. The flights and all went perfectly fine. When we arrived at baggage claim in Palm Beach International Airport, it was 93…in the building. Can you say welcome to the sunshine state? The air conditioning in the airport had decided to greet us by going on the fritz. It was bad enough to cause the sirens and lights in the claim area to be going off. Oh, and let’s not forget the recording that played over and over and over and over, “An emergency has been reported in this area. Please stand by for further instructions”. (Side note: further instructions were NEVER provided). We played ignorant, got our bags, and proceeded to the car rental desk. Mom scored us an upgrade to a Infinity G35 (MSRP Base: 35750). We make our way to the Hertz shuttle and arrive safely at our “Fly Rental Ride”. The boys loaded the bags, mom and Kamry search for any scratches, dents, etc., I get in to get the car started so it will be nice and cool. This sucker has push button ignition…ya don’t need a key…just have the fob near by. Unfortunately for me, I didn’t fully read the instructions or pay attention to the pictures, and Joseph had to tell me that I had to step on the brake for it to start. Smart-ass! Who asked him anyway???

Off to run some last minutes errands for the party, stop by Aunt Marti’s for hugs, hellos, and party good’s stashing and we were off to give Grandma a coronary.




If you look close you can see Grandma with her hands over her mouth, Kamry is in front of Mom with 2 Happy Birthday balloons (there were 3 but the kid at Winn Dixie failed knot tying 101 and the third got away from it's ribbon), and Joshua has his head cocked to the side as he is in the process of telling Grandma, "Grandma, I got up for school this morning, got on the bus, and ended up in Florida. Can you help me?" It was GREAT!!

I am going to finish this up later. I have some stuff to do before I head home tonight (I am at work afterall).

Peace, love, and adventures...ME

Working on an update...here's some pics to tide you over

I am typing an update now...these are pics from Joseph's 16th birthday party. ENJOY!!

Update.....

I say it over and over again, but I have to get better at this updating thing. I want to be like Anne who updates regularly. It’s not always earth shattering news, but hey, it’s up to date and interesting. Mine, well, it stinks. I always blame school, work, and kids for the lack of time to update, but I spend plenty on time on the net, so I should make it a point to stay current.

Let’s give you the skinny on the household……

Me…
Finishing this semester of Biology 2, Spanish, and Sociology. I thought that Biology was going to be my horror class…nope. I might come close to pulling an A, but I am pretty confident in a B. I got an A in lab, so that helps. Spanish is a nightmare. I have a tutor. That about says it all. My major this time around is in Sociology with and emphasis on Criminal Justice. So why do I have a C in that class?? I don’t think this bodes very well for my future in this area. But maybe if I hadn’t assumed it would be a breeze and paid more attention to it my grade would be higher.

I am taking my first ever summer course. US History 2. I was hunting around on the school web site and discovered that I had almost 1000 dollars in summer financial aid to utilize. So what the hey…I love US History and am actually excited about it.

Once I finish the summer class, I have 4 more classes till I am done at Roane State. So 5 classes altogether till degree #2. May 2009, pencil it in. This time it’s a Saturday morning ceremony. I probably won’t walk. I don’t know. For some reason this one doesn’t hold the same special “twinkle” as the last one. I wonder if it is because it went so quick. I was able to carry forward many credits therefore shortening my time to completion.

Joseph…
Joseph is ready for school to be out. Go figure. He is running track and loving it. He is doing fairly well in it. He improves his times each go round. That’s what is supposed to happen, isn’t it? He has decided to play football again this next season. Stanton is one of the track coaches and apparently talked to Joseph about playing. So he gets done with track practice, he heads over to football. The boys that are running track and playing football aren’t allowed to hit at football. It makes for a long day for him and I hardly see him. But on the flipside, he’s staying out of trouble for the most part. He’s still 15 and still has that attitude that goes with it. But it can be worse. It has been worse.

Joshua…
He returns this evening from a week in DC with Aunt Carol and the rest of the 8th grade at Oakdale. I love that this small, rural school does this for these kids. My other 2 actually don’t get the opportunity to go to DC on a school sponsored trip unless they have been on safety patrol. Big school, lots of money, or more than Oakdale at least, and the small school manages the trip. Josh made 3 A’s and 1 B on his last report card. We should read back a year and remember how crappy his grades were and what an awful spot we were in. Day and night and what seems like 2 different kids. Thanks Aunt Carol for everything. What a difference you made in our boys life. Next on the agenda….HIGH SCHOOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kamry…
Kamry participated in her schools Math-A-Thon for St. Jude Hospital. She loves math and it comes very easy to her. She had a booklet with around 250 problems that she needed to work. I sent an email around work letting them know that she was a participant and asking for donations. One of the girls I work with decided that she would double her initial pledge if Kamry worked every problem in the book. Well, the idea caught on and of the 20+ people that sponsored her from my office, more that half followed Michelle’s lead. When all was said and done and all problems were worked (in 3 days) her grand total was $416. She was the second highest money raiser in her school. I was really hoping for her to be highest, but I went into it with the assumption that someone’s doctor daddy would drop a 500 dollar check and knock us out of the running. I don’t know if that is actually what happened, but the little girl that raised the most did raise just over 500 dollars. Kamry is going to start middle school next year. YIKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, that is it for now. I have updated from work and it’s almost time to go home.

Till next time...ME

Easter in words...

We are sitting in Mom and Dad's living room. I am updating (on my laptop), Anne is surfing (on her laptop), Mom is emailing pictures (on her laptop). Do you see a trend? The other adults in the house are attempting to single-handly create our very own earthquake. There is some major snoring going on. Kamry said that her Grandpa is trying to make it very clear that he is asleep.

We were up early (apparently to personally witness the Resurrection :-}) and came home to hunt eggs and then eat breakfast. The eldest of the grandkids (Joseph) begged off hunting this year. Is he really getting to old for all this?? Well, at least we have back up on the way in the form of the newest grandchild that will be arriving in September. Go to www.everypathhasapuddle.blogspot.com for more info.

So below are just a few pics of the kids and grandparents on Easter Morning. Hope it was good for all.

And for the record, yes things are better, happier, and brighter.

Love to all,
Me

Easter 2008

:-(

Today was a sucky kind of day. I am stressed and want a magic wand...or a genie in a bottle...or a bottle of crown...something to make it all go away...if you know the location of any of the previous, lemme know.

Happier times will come. Things can ALWAYS be worse.

Me

I love my bed

And it's a good thing. I have been in it since getting home Thursday night from the doctor. I took Arissa to the doctor for Anne. And since she thought Arissa might have a bladder infection or a UTI, she thought that she needed a girl in case she had to leave a urine sample. I had started feeling ill Thursday morning. I seriously thought I had a migraine, but aside from the headache itself and the queasy stomach, nothing else made it feel like one. As the day wore on, i got more nauseous, more achy, running a fever, sore throat, so on and so forth. I decided to call Mom and have her meet me and the girls (Kamry came along since I hadn't really seen her all week) just in case. It was a good thing too. I had them check me out since I was already there. I had lost a little more that 2 pounds in 2 days, running a slight fever, increased blood pressure. My diagnosis, double ear infection and sinus infection. Doctor's care payment 87.56. Arissa had sore throat, headache, achy back and leg, and by time we got there, a fever of 103.4. Arissa's Doctor's care payment, 20 bucks. Arissa's diagnosis...the flu. My pharmacy tab, 36.81. Arissa's pharmacy tab, 35.00. Number of times i had to get back in the drive thru line cause they were taking forever to get a bottle of tamiflu off the shelf and put the magic pharmacy water in it, 3.

Arissa is doing better I think. That is what I read on Anne's blog. I am glad they are both doing better. Poor girls. Sickness and surgery are no way to spend bonding time, but bonding is bonding I suppose.

I am off to find some soup or something. I will chat with you all later.

Much love,

Me

I might get to work a full week...

Well, I am updating from home. When we did Anne's birthday lunch yesterday, Kamry was quite puny. She said she didn't feel well. She mostly sounded congested, so I didn't worry too much about it. I got up this morning to get her up and dressed and as I was getting in the shower, she came in crying. I asked what was wrong and as she was sniffling and sucking snot, she said she felt AWFUL. I asked if she was going to school and my child who hates to miss quite emphatically said NO. Off went the shower. She went back to bed. And I called work.

I missed a day last week with her tooth extraction. However, I worked from home and more than likely put in a fuller day than I would have had I physically been in the office. Which I was for an hour and a half getting everything I needed to work from the comfort of my bed and in my jammies. I have contacted those that might miss me today and let them know that I would be available via email and cell.

So I will get through the week and try again next week to work in the office all week.

Til later...ME

Not quite a month...but the year in review...I can cheat too

1. What did you do in 2007 that you’d never done before?
Let one of my children go live somewhere else, but for great reasons with even greater results.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't recall making a resolution last year......

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Not that I am aware of (which if I'm not aware of it then how close to me could they really be?)

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Thankfully, no

5. What countries did you visit?

6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
Patience

7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
January 20, 2007. I beat Anne to meeting her out-of-pocket for the year. Gotta love a midnight appendectomy.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Surviving!

9. What was your biggest failure?
Patience

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I will not complain. Go to www.peasinourpod.blogspot.com if you have questions as to why.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
My laptop

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Carol

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Various people throughout the year

14. Where did most of your money go?
Adderall

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Adderall and weight loss

16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
Umm...

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? same
b) thinner or fatter? thinner
c) richer or poorer? Same, I stay poor

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Exercising

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Eating

20. How did you spend Christmas?
With my family

21. Did you fall in love in 2007?
Alas, not this year

22. What was your favorite TV program?
Anything on Discovery Health or TLC

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Nope, hated him last year too

24. What was the best book you read?
The Dixie Cash Series

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Lime wire - music downloading site

26. What did you want and get?
My laptop

27. What did you want and not get?
Abundant wealth, commitment, patience

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
Cars

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
36, the fam went ice skating.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Mo' money.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
Limited, not the store, the amount of clothes I have

32. What kept you sane?
You are assuming I am sane.....

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
None that I can think of....

34. What political issue stirred you the most?


35. Who did you miss?


36. Who was the best new person you met?
Carman

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007.
People are who they are. You can’t change them. Don’t even try.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.