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