"JARDNA"

2011-11-02T11:50:00.000-07:00

The Webster dictionary defines retard as to make slow, delayed.

So when you use the term directed at another person it pisses me off. Because if you look at my son sure you would not say that he is "retarded". I get that all the time "He looks great" and " He's doing so well." Yup he is but some days it's a struggle, most days we don't even think about it and some days they are mountains we barely get over. If you look at Joe on paper he has delays and is slow. While the word "retarded" has never been written about him and I am not trying to call him something he is not but I did get offended and generally pissed off by this off hand comments.

To the pajama pant wearing dirt bag in CVS today buying chap stick with a girl way too good for him and using not only the f-bomb and the R word in the same phrase , my eat shit and die look was not even close to the emotions I was feeling. I was about to give you an ear full. But I didn't. I don't have time for you.

But to the other's out there that drop it and throw it around, please know I am pretty sensitive about it. We can be smarter with our use of language. We don't have to throw racial slurs or offensive language around. It needs to stop. You know better you're just being lazy. It sets an example for your children and please know if they are in my house are near my child and they use those words they will be corrected. When I hear you use those words it really does make me sad that you would do that. To those that are not "acting retarded" as you like to say. Think of the life they lead. Think of the battles their parents fight every day. Think of your life, your childs life and how different it would be in the blink of an eye and then pick a better word.

Here is how MY day went.

2010-08-24T16:13:00.000-07:00

I knew it was going to be a busy day. I was prepared. I MADE the bed before I left. I know.

So I dropped Joe off. Check that off, it went well. Moving on.
I went to the gas station and sat behind 5 cars for a wash. When it was my turn.... the car wash was broken and no longer working. No car wash for me.

Off I go to the library to drop off a book I found deep in Joe's book case.... slammed my three fingers in the book return metal, heavy book return bin. OUCHIE. Plus I am sure we will be getting a fine for this book I cannot tell you how long we've had it. Hey San Joaquin Library let me pay fines online I swear you'll get them faster from me. Just a suggestion.

Had coffee with Christy and it all went well. (Thank goodness)
Headed to my class in Stockton and got a rockin parking place close to the building with just enough time that I wasn't running to get there since I did have to go to the 4th floor.
I get to my class room and luckily it's close to a restroom, I pop in real quick and find (I swear to GOD) 7 ballerinas swing around to look at me. GULP. They were all looking at me as if to say "apparently you are so NOT in our class"
Did you know you can't wear nail polish in that class? I did not, but apparently it makes the head ballet gal VERY upset. Who knew? So the fumes of nail polish remover was THICK and I do mean THICK in the air.
So I wiggle pass them and do my thing and head to a class that I cannot even tell you what the heck we went over.

The rest of my day went well, the roofers are coming, it's like a thousand degrees now and I feel bad that they are coming NOW to fix the roof but that's how it goes. My meeting with Joe's IEP team went well and they are so squared away at his new school it kills me.
I promise to update more. I promise to have a more exciting life.
Now tell me how YOUR day went.

I am back

2010-08-21T14:58:00.000-07:00

I 've been gone. Most of you are following the details of my exciting life on Facebook. Haven't felt much like writing. But alas the world is going to hell in a hand basket so I am coming back.
Going to make some changes around on the ole blog.

In the mean time check out this amazing girl...

The things she does with these dresses. LOVE IT.

See ya soon.

Happy Birthday To You

2010-07-27T16:22:00.000-07:00

My cousin and his wife had their first baby today.
Welcome to the world Brady Thomas. You have made Ryan and Whitney parents. My aunt and uncle grandparents.

It's all new and wonderful and I am very anxious to meet you. Your cousins are over the moon for you already.

There is so much you will learn over the course of this lifetime the sooner we start the better. Here goes.

Keep your hands and arms inside the ride at all times.
Wait until the ride has come to a complete stop before unbuckling the seat belt.
Keep your eyes on where you are going, never where you have been.
You can pick your friends and you can pick your nose (when your mom isn't looking) but you can't pick your friends nose EVER.
Love your mama, listen to your daddy always.
Lean your grandparents phone number before you learn your own, you never know when you might need to call GiGi to give your side of the story first.
Don't put anything other than your elbow in your ear.
Eat your veggies, drink your milk and hockey and soccer really are sports no matter what others might tell you.
When you find yourself talking loud and someone asks if you are related to Christy, yes, you are you can't help it and neither can we but she's going to be a great cousin so it's a good thing really.

The competitive streak in you and the urge to argue or bet on just about anything is strong and a family trait you can't help, embrace it, practice using it, it will come in handy.
You come from a huge family and will find you are related to just about everyone you see for the first five years of your life.
Riding a bike is not really that hard and neither is potty training you can do it.
Sleeping is a wonderful thing and best if done in 8-9 hour stretches as soon as possible.

You have these amazing goldfish chubby hands that will wrap around your mama's finger perfectly it will melt her heart do it often.
As soon as you learn to smile and can crack out the first giggle don't be alarmed by the water that will come out of the eyes of those around you it's perfectly normal.
You'll eat your first Oreo, your first ice cream, your first french fry, your first jelly bely, your first piece of Uncle Tom's bbq tri tip, your first piece of Aunt Doreens cake, your Gigi's macaroni salad, and sooner or later someone will give you a beer. These are part of the wonders of life enjoy them in moderation.
You'll learn to play with Lego's and video games, hit a baseball, play cards, and even hit a golf ball. You will wear green on March 17th every year for the rest of your life and learn all about a cousin crawl.

Along with all of the people that are in love with you already and are really going to enjoy watching you grow there are a few people that gave you some kisses and and put those wonderful wrinkles on the souls of your feet before you arrived. Every precious wrinkle there is a reminder of those that hugged you before you left heaven and came down here to us.

So be a good boy, you'll have your moments, don't grow too fast and get dirty often, play hard always, boys really do cry and it'a ok and we all love you and always will no matter what.

Happy Birthday Joe

2010-07-17T20:32:00.000-07:00

Where have these 7 years gone? And that other boy is just weeks away from being a teenager. MY GOD. It's going so so fast.

He had a great birthday (I think) and it's been fun watching these boys grow.

Summer Vacation.

2010-07-16T09:35:00.000-07:00

if you're looking for us you might just find us looking like a pair of alligators in the pool.

Summer has me busy

2010-07-12T15:31:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe how busy we have been like every single day/weekend you name it. Go go go!
Tried to slow down today but was not really all that successful.
The days are clicking off the calandar and the boys will be back to school. If i am lucky to score a job everything will be different. I was telling the boys last night that I was sorry we couldn't take cruises or nice nice vacations but that daddy and I really try to provide for them and do fun things and the trade off is that I get to stay home with them all summer and they can sleep in and I am here when they are sick and Joe said "You need to get a job I want to go on a cruse!" It was so funny. He didn't miss a beat.

Then Derek tells me I need to write a book like Twilight only better and make lots of money and get a Volvo. So I bounce ideas off of him and he says "no that's not good" , he doesn't seem to like any of my book ideas.

I have a huge project under my belt. I am hanging pictures in the house. Wish me luck. I am getting all of my stuff together so I can tell Dom where I want them. You'll have to come over and check it out.

A Day At The Beach.

2010-07-03T21:26:00.000-07:00

That Summertime Wall

2010-06-30T15:46:00.000-07:00

We have hit the wall. The boys are bored and grumpy. We're good if we are all in separate rooms but the moment we bump up against each other it's on. I have tried to keep them as busy as my wallet will allow but some days life needs attention like the laundry and some cleaning.
I think the dog is even bored.
So today we have been grumpy and tired and cranky. No fun. No fun.

What to do with the rest of our vacation?

2010-06-27T10:51:00.000-07:00

Have you seen this article? Have you heard about this?

From Yahoo (and every other news source)

A California couple was on the hunt on Wednesday for bargain shoppers at a Walmart -- hoping to sell their 6-month-old baby for $25 outside the store.

Patrick Fousek, 38, and Samantha Tomasini, 20, were arrested hours after Fousek allegedly went up to two women and asked if they were interested in purchasing his child, according to police.

Salinas police spokesman, Officer Lalo Villegas, said the women initially thought Fousek was joking. But when he became pushier, they got suspicious and called police.

“I don’t know if they’re mothers but they definitely had that instinct to help,” Villegas said of the two women.

Police said they found Fousek and Tomasini at their home at 1 a.m., and the duo appeared to be high on methamphetamine. The house was in shambles.

Tomasini told Child Protective Services, who took the baby, that she also breast-fed the child while she was under the influence.

The couple was expected to be in court for arraignment on Friday.

This is so very sad. But then this follow up article was in the paper today.....

Father's Day came a bit late for Patrick Fousek.

The demented dad, arrested for allegedly trying to hawk his 8-month-old in a Walmart parking lot, has been brutally beaten in a California jail after his cellmates heard of his heinous crime, police said.

The baby bargain was $25.

Before being arraigned on Friday, Fousek was attacked in an open dorm of the Monterey County Jail when inmates learned of the offense on television, according to the San Jose Mercury News.

The dad was briefly hospitalized and treated for two cracked ribs and injuries to his face.

He appeared in the courtroom, beaten and bruised, sitting apart from his fellow inmates.

After the attempted sale, police found Fousek and his partner Samantha Tomasoni holed up in their squalid apartment where they appeared to be high on meth.

Apparently unable to find a buyer, the couple still had the 8-moth-old in the apartment with them.

The two inmates are now being housed under heightened security in segregated cells.

They face up to four years in jail for the child endangerment charges in addition to the lesser offenses of possession of a controlled substance.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2010/06/27/2010-06-27_patrick_fousek_dad_accused_of_trying_to_sell_baby_outside_walmart_brutally_beate.html#ixzz0s4qI94Po

Late night BK run.

2010-06-26T22:54:00.000-07:00

We had a busy day. Took the boys to John's Incredible PIzza.. man that place makes my ears bleed. So after watching hours of Nick while Dom worked on homework and took a test for his online class, so my job was to keep the boys and Stella busy. So about 9:39 I grabbed Joe and Stella and headed to Burger King for a late night Onion Ring run. The moon was full, the music was nice, the windows were down. It was a great thing to do on a summer night.

The World's Reaction to Landon Donovan's Game Winning Goal

2010-06-25T19:35:00.000-07:00

You know Soccer is BIG in my house. You know it's the beautiful game here. This is a wonderful piece to watch.

Enjoy

2010-06-25T18:43:00.000-07:00

Dear Mr Tax Man

2010-06-24T11:56:00.000-07:00

This makes me steamy mad! We are still waiting for our tax return and they tell us this is why.

Incarceration was no barrier to the prison inmates who successfully claimed $9.1 million worth of fraudulent first-time homebuyer credits from the Internal Revenue Service in 2009, according to a Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration audit released June 23.
Home buyers who bought a house for the first time between April 8, 2008 and April 30, 2010 can take advantage of federal incentives such as interest free loans or an outright tax refund. While imprisonment isn't an automatic disqualification for the homebuyer credit, TIGTA statistical analysis finds that the IRS allowed at least 1,295 prisoners to gain a tax credit in their 2008 tax returns despite being in the gaol during the time in which they allegedly purchased houses.

Read more: Prisoners fraudulently claim $9.1 million in homebuyer tax credits - FierceGovernmentIT http://www.fiercegovernmentit.com/story/prisoners-fraudently-claim-9-1-million-homebuyer-tax-credits/2010-06-23#ixzz0rnYplusJ
Subscribe: http://www.fiercegovernmentit.com/signup?sourceform=Viral-Tynt-FierceGovernmentIT-FierceGovernmentIT

Iam sure if we owed the IRS they would be harassing us. So when I call them they tell me "You don't need to call every week" oh yes, yes I do indeed. Grrr. Here we are still waiting. We processed our tax return online in February and are due a refund of $1600 and they tell us to wait 6 more weeks. They said they had to hand process everyone that got that homebuyers credit well I have cousins that got the credit and they got their returns just fine. Why does nothing go smoothly for us?

Not your typical mom.

2010-06-23T15:13:00.000-07:00

I am pretty sure in some ways I am not your typical mom (what ever that means really what is typical?)
I guess what I mean is that in some ways I see that I am so not like other moms at all. Not by a long shot.

Today I took the boys to the pool at the gym. We have been going at 4 and hanging with daddy but it's been pretty crowded so today we went just me and the boys at 1. It was all great till the summer camp kids arrived and holy cow it got crowded in a hurry. It was all good for Joe he made some friends and was off. Derek and I hung out and swam around Joe and people watched. We went back to our chairs and this "mom" showed up with her three girls. Alex, Marissa and Chloe. Then the fun began.
This mom used the can of sunscreen that you spray like Pam cooking spray. Those poor girls were instructed by mom to HOLD YOUR BREATH!, CLOSE YOUR EYES while there mother sprayed. I think the mom should have made us all close our yes and hold our breaths when the cloud came our way. Each girl was sprayed up one side and down the other till they were greasy as Easter hams. Then the faces had to be covered in SPF 1000 by hand. Then these ear covers were put on, swim socks and then these floaty things. Derek and I just sat with our mouths open and watched the whole thing.

Here is what happens when I get to the pool.
We find a seat to dump our stuff. The boys take off their shirts, put there shoes under the chair, grab their goggles and off they go. Then I remember the sun screen and try to pull them out of the water and put it on them all wet. Sometimes I'll admit I just give up and don't do it. I know, I know , it's bad. At the beach I am good at the pool for our 1 hour dip I am not so good. I have been known to be very squared away and put it on before we leave the house. How's that?

So the girl with the floaters was told by the life guard she could not wear them, the mom said (same sun screen spray mom) " but these are the expensive ones!?" like that was gonna make any difference at all. Good grief! So floaty girl falls into a heap and crys. The deepest the pool is at any point is 5 ft. She would be fine and the mom could get in the pool with her and help her learn to swim, it's pretty much how my boys learned. No, mom sat in the chair and yelled at the girls the whole time who could not hear a word they were saying and floaty girl kept crying. I gave my boys a knuckle punch for being boys. Sure they cry and carry on but not in the emotional girlie way. I know I am a girl. i was a young girl. I am glad I have my boys.

So we got bored of them and turned our attention to the mom who had her son decked out in swim trunks and rash guard shirt for the pool. She put sunscreen on his face like think zinc stuff that covered his face but some how it didn't get rubbed in. He was in a bad mood and half of his face is white from the sun screen. He gets in, slaps the water and gets right out. What his issues was I have no idea, it was funny in a disturbing kind of way.

Boy #3 who was in the summer camp found the jet and was happy to sit by "my friend the jetty, jet jet" which he kept saing over and over again. At this point Derek thanked me for being a stay at home mom.
It was a strange day at the pool. Thanks you crazy moms. I am sure they are talking about me "she didn't put a speck of sunscreen on those boys, and they swam without shirts or shoes and she was IN the pool WITH them. GASP? I know I know I am not typical and I apologized to the boys for my short comings.

Hard for me

2010-06-18T15:37:00.000-07:00

I have a very hard time forgiving and forgetting. I have a hard time forgiving others, it's even hard for me to expect others to forgive me. I sit and chew on things far too long. I admire those that forgive and forget others. It seems they sort of breeze along and put it behind them. While here I sit holding this horrible thing. I need to let it all go. So many things I need to let go. Doesn't change anything. Most of what I need to forgive or forget are things I have done and others have long moved past it yet here I sit.

I have to say with this whole facebook thing people have come out of the word work, mostly people from high school and they want to be your friend and it's nice and yet I stop and think "but you did a horrible thing to me, or at least at the time it wasn't nice" and yet here we are moving along because that was a long time ago. Really? It's that easy we push it aside and move to the next thing? We have all grown up and that's that?
That was very easy. Too easy. No apology "Hey i was an ass in high school but I have grown up" in some cases I have found "hey I was an ass and on occasion still an ass but hey lets move on look at my score on bejeweled"

Not to mention the jealous green with envy feelings I get every so often. Need to deal with that too. Oh boy.

So we can all be friends and play nice and never correct each others grammar or spelling on facebook and jab each other's sports team and send birthday wishes and move along. Ok I will try to play nice too.

It's Fathers day weekend so don't forget those fathers in your life. I am got Dom some soccer shirts and we are taking him to dinner tonight and the beach on Sunday. I got my dad a small gift and when's moving around and feeling better we'll do a dinner.
Get the man in your life a card, a gift, a breakfast. Do something will ya. I won't forgive ya if you don't

2010-06-17T22:12:00.000-07:00

The Lakers are not my favorite. Seems I am never a local hometown team kind of girl.

So Joe did great at his sleepover. They called me about 2 pm and said he wanted to stay another night and that was ok. I said No, thank you but no, he needs to come home his mama misses him. His brother didn't miss him at all but I sure did. He had a great time. He didn't miss me at all he said.

I have been dealing with some major mosquito bites those stupid bugs chewed me up! Then last night I was walking Stella and she took off after a cat and pulled a muscle and now my neck and shoulders are super sore. Dang it.

Ok gotta go to bed got an early soccer game US vs Slovinia early in the am. Ciao!

2010-06-15T15:12:00.000-07:00

Tonight my littlest chicken Joe is going on a sleep over. His very first ever. He has been packed since Saturday afternoon for this sleep over.
As far as the grand order of people go in his life, the person he will be hanging out with for the next 12-16 hours or so is pretty high on the list of favs. Dom's cousin's son Mitchell will be 21 in August. When Derek was little Mitchell was very cool to him. Once Joe came along, he too saw how very cool cousin Mitchell was. So Mitchell and his mom are going to take him for the night.
Joe cannot wait to hang out with Mitchell.
I am nervous for sure. They live very close by so if it all goes south I can hop over and get him. I tell him I am going to miss him and he rolls his eyes at me and says "It's only for 1 night mommy".
Derek is happy that little bro will be gone for a night (I bet you he'll end up missing him). Dom wants Mitchell to take Stella too. Stinker.

I'll let you know how it goes. I am sure he'll be fine. I'll let you know I do.

June is National Drowning Prevention Month

2010-06-14T19:20:00.001-07:00

Drowning Prevention is most effective with a “layers of protection” approach:

Never leave a child alone near water, even for a few seconds
A supervising adult should be close enough to touch the child under 4 years old near water
Keep a constant adult eye on young children
All collections of water are dangerous for infants and toddlers including bathtubs, buckets, toilets, ponds, spas, swimming pools, and natural water sites
Swimming pools should have fences, alarms, and drains that meet regulations
Pool gates should be self-latching, opening outward, with the latch out-of-reach for a child
Keep reaching and throwing aids near a swimming pool
All children should wear a personal floatation device while playing near bodies of water
Parents and child caregivers should know how to perform rescue techniques and strategies to respond in an emergency
If a child is missing, check the pool first

WHY WHY WHY

2010-06-09T14:10:00.000-07:00

Ok so last night was the whole pebble in Joe's ear thing took place. Then this morning the Direct tv thing is just out. They said we need a whole new set up see ya Friday maybe. Thanks so much. Summer vacation and no tv. Thank goodness for online videos right?
So I sit down with the paper and the dog drank my coffee out of my coffee cup.

I load everyone up and head to the dog park, Stella was coming down from her coffee high and didn't feel like playing, off we go to my folks house and water their plants, the boys steal some candy so we get set to head home and I close the door and find that I have just locked us out of the house with MY keys in their house. My aunt and my uncle came to my rescue and we were free. Derek gets in the car and opens the candy one of those Dove things and it says on the wrapper "Mistakes make life interesting" which is so so true for us given the last 24 hours we have had.

Now I just want to sit and close my eyes for a week or two.

My joe

2010-06-08T22:13:00.000-07:00

Tonight Joe was laying on the floor rolling around. He found a tiny rock and said "what should I do with this?... I'll put it in my ear" I said "No joe don't put it in your ear" too late. There it was in his ear. When I asked him why he did this he said "I didn't know where to put it"
So he went and got a Q-tip and yeah you guessed it poked it down further. We headed to the Er and a wonderful doctor took it out in no time flat. The doctor actually said that the large amount of wax in his ear kept it from going further. Joe was happy to hear that and said "See the wax saved my life" silly boy.

Daddy got us some milk shakes on the way home. We are no worse for the wear. Joe said 'I am never doing that again" thank goodness.

Vacation

2010-06-08T14:07:00.000-07:00

They say that vacations are good for the soul. I think I need one.

Summertime

2010-06-07T22:31:00.000-07:00

Nothing says summer like a $5 slip n slide. This is what Joe decided to get with his money that he got for having a good report card.

Keeo Amy Dancing

2010-06-06T21:25:00.000-07:00

Keeping the faith alive and the sprit moving.

On Sunday, May 23, Amy Wooddell suffered a stroke and underwent 7.5 hours of surgery to remove the clotting in her basil artery. Additionally they found that her right vertebral artery was torn and was repaired with a stint. She awoke responsive and could even whisper her own name. However, a few hours later her brain began to bleed resulting in an emergency procedure to relieve inner cranial pressure. On Monday, May 24 she was comatose with brain function of only 3 (normal is 15) and it was uncertain that she would survive.

But she did.

On Tuesday, May 25, Amy was considered in stable condition and brain activity began to increase (between 5-7) but was still in and out of consciousness. Inner-cranial pressure had dropped from high 20s on Sunday night down to 1 on Tuesday night. She is responding through blinking (made direct eye contact with Jonny (her husband) on Tuesday night and on Wednesday morning blinked 5 times in response to “Amy, blink a bunch of times if you want Jonny to buy you lots of diamonds” and 3 times for “I love you”). And she is now breathing on her own 8 out of 18 breaths a minute.

But she’s been unable to move her limbs. A recent MRA is showing some blood in near her brain stem which is hindering motor skill movement.

Amy is only 24 years old and has been married to Jonny for 4 months. She is also an accomplished dancer.

While we are seeing God’s healing touch on Amy, we know she has a long ways to go and any permanent damage is still unknown. We are asking for your prayers for Amy’s complete healing.

More information can be found at or by following her husband’s updates on twitter at twitter.com/jonnydoubleu

Major Haircut.

2010-06-02T20:06:00.000-07:00

Derek got a major haircut yesterday. I really like it. I have to keep doing a double take to figure out who the heck is walking around my house. Between that and his deep voice he is quickly turning into a man.

Milestones a plenty

2010-06-01T11:28:00.000-07:00

The other night I started my five year plan. All the things I plan on doing in the next five years. No specific time frame just want to have them done. Don't ask me what they are I wont tell you.

So I got to thinking of the milestones. This has been a big year for me so far. I turned 40. I graduated with my second degree and my certificate. I worked hard for that. I really wanted to party like a rock star for that more so than the turning 40 that was an easy thing to do I just had to keep breathing. But this graduating thing took a lot out of me. Alas, so many things going on, Dom and the boys were sick, our bank account got sick, the celebrations did not happen and now I am over it. Time to move on to the next thing.
I am looking forward to celebrating Derek graduating from 8th grade and Dom getting his degree. I think I like planning things for other people more than for myself. Seems too over the top to plan your own stuff.
I even got my own graduation gift on my own, a nice frame for my tassel.

So I started working on how to celebrate Joe's birthday he loves a good celebration. He must get that from me. He'll be 7 in a few weeks. 7! How did that happen? He wants an ice cream cake and Iron Man 2 plates. I will make sure that happens for him.

But today is the first official day of summer vacation for my boys. We slept in until 9. We had cinnamon rolls and we watched a movie. I want this summer to go slow for them and for them to really have a good time. Nothing grand just little things to remember.

This week is gonna kill me.

2010-05-26T20:39:00.000-07:00

Went to Shriners Tuesday. It went well, I guess. We'll have to wait for the results. I am trying not to get discouraged until we get the final results read to us. Joe did a great job and handled the whole thing really well.
Tuesday night Derek got the bug I had and got sick all over the place. sigh. I got him and everything else cleaned up and sent Joe to school this morning with my neighbor so I could stay with Derek in case he got sick again, I didn't want him to be alone. No sooner had Joe left, Dom walks in the door. He is sick as well.

Derek is feeling much better tonight, I can only hope Dom is on the mend soon too.

Had graduation practice tonight. Tomorrow night it the real deal.

Now I am off to get everyone into bed. I am exhausted from taking care of them all.

2010-05-24T14:14:00.000-07:00

Just about every year I give this to Joe's teacher. If you want it, need it. Borrow it. It's wonderful.

There was a young man walking down a beach at dawn. He saw a frail old man picking up stranded starfish and throwing them back into the sea. The young man gazed in wonder as the old man threw the small starfish from the sand to the water. He asked, “Old man, why do you spend so much energy doing what seems to be a waste of time?” The old man explained that the starfish would die if left in the sun. “But there must be thousands of beaches and millions of starfish!” exclaimed the young man. “How can you make any difference?” The old man looked at the small starfish in his hand and as he threw it to the safety of the sea, he said, “I made a difference to that one!”

Happy Birthday Auntie.

2010-05-22T20:34:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Auntie Esther.
Papa cooked some great streaks, we had a great weather show and Stella was a good girl.

Hope you had a great day.
Love ya

No Plan

2010-05-20T19:26:00.000-07:00

Have I told you the story of the bookstore fiasco? No. Ok well here goes. I go to the book store to get my cap and gown. $31.26. For the cap, gown and the tassel.
They tell me the atm/credit is down I have to pay cash. I have no cash. I ask if they will take a check. No they won't. They tell me there is an ATM machine in the student lounge. It charges a fee but that's my problem not theres. So I go to that ATM and guess what, it's not working either. So i go back to the book store. They can't help me. So they try my card six times to see if they can get the machine to work and it will not. So I walk to my car and go to the bank.

At the bank my card won't work. I go inside they tell me that my car is blocked because there was some strange activity on it. I tell them yes that was me. They say well now it's secure for x amount of hours. Fine. I need cash. They give me cash and I go back to the book store. I give them cash I get my cap and gown. Thanks.

So my card is dead for the day fine. Next day I check our account and guess what? All 6 times they ran my card went through. $187 worth. Grrr. Didn't have that much in the account thanks so much. So guess what? Now we are overdrawn so now we have fees. Guess what? Now the fees have made us like very overdrawn and now we have like extended over drawn fees added.
sigh.
I have called the bank and I have called the book store. They are sending in the corrections to it all and it should all be taken care of in 72 hours. Hasn't yet but here I sit. Can't get can't use my card. DAMNIT!

I suppose from now on I shall strive to have extra cushion in our account at all time. Ahh in a perfect world that would be the case. A small $187 error would not cause such a mess to some folks but to me that is not the case.

My husband does not want to speak about this mess it makes him all red faced. sigh.
The dog and I are in the dog house. sigh.
But my gown is neat and the tassel is pretty and it sure sort makes it feel like I really worked for this darn thing.

A Mother's Love

2010-05-19T19:17:00.000-07:00

If my horse was any higher this week, I would get a nose bleed from the altitude.
It's been a heck of a week and it's only Wednesday baby. Oy!

My labor of love this week includes an 8 page, 1694 word, 32 paragraph 165 lines, research paper I have worked on/for/with Derek. Call it what you want. It was a project that overwhelmed him. I have helped him. At time competed parts of it for him. It's done call it what you want. You can say what ever you want let me tell you I have heard it from my husband already. It's done and I am eating brownies.

People are shocked to hear that we have never left our kids overnight and we rarely leave them with sitters. I would like to say that the are well behaved, confident, good boys as a result. They come to us when they are hurt, sad or need a soft place to land. Heck other peoples kids come to us too. That's ok by me.
Sure there are times I would love a break. Love to sleep straight through the night without SOMEONE two legs or four waking me for God knows what. Would love to go to the restroom without some one knocking on the door or busting in to lick the shower curtain.
It's funny how as a young adult discovering your sexuality you have to sneak or hide it from your parents and as an adult or old married couple you have to sneak or hide from your kids. Oy! How on earth have those Duggers conceived 18 children? It's no picnic.

I am really not in any rush for them to be grown and gone. They make me crazy for sure. But my goal is for them to be good men. Good husbands. Good people on this earth. To go out on their own and do whatever they want to do that makes them happy. A friend of mine said today that her son was going to be 9 and in one more block of 9 years he was going to be out on his own. Wow. That's really cool. So for now I will slave over a research paper, explaining the plot of New Moon for the 2 millionth time and find myself out of my bed so these two can have my warm spot. It goes so fast. I had excellent mother role models and most days I feel I am doing a decent job even if I am not getting much sleep at least I have brownies and these two faces.

2010-05-18T14:56:00.001-07:00

A group of 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders, accompanied by two female teachers, went on a field trip to the local racetrack, (Churchill Downs ) to learn about thoroughbred horses and the supporting industry (Bourbon), but mostly to see the horses.

When it was time to take the children to the bathroom, it was decided that the girls would go with one teacher and the boys would go with the other. The teacher assigned to the boys was waiting outside the men’s room when one of the boys came out and told her that none of them could reach the urinal.

Having no choice, she went inside, helped the boys with their pants, and began hoisting the little boys up one by one, holding on to their 'wee-wees' to direct the flow away from their clothes.

As she lifted one, she couldn't help but notice that he was unusually well endowed. Trying not to show that she was staring the teacher said, 'You must be in the 5th grade.'

'No, ma'am', he replied. 'I'm riding Silver Arrow in the seventh race, but I appreciate your help.'

Really?

2010-05-14T20:02:00.000-07:00

Here we are what, 9 days away from the last day of school and Derek has a research project due Monday. sigh. He has done some work on it but not nearly enough that needs to be done at this point on the 10 page report. The fact of the matter is, he has no clue what he's doing. Granted neither did I in 6th grade.
So here we are...wait...where did he go?....here I am gathering and organizing and trying to push him off the cliff.
At this point just get what you get and get over it. If he worked as much as he complains he would have been done weeks ago.

I can't believe his teacher is going to get all of these papers read and graded in the 8 days left of the semester? NO way.

The Zoo

2010-05-14T17:00:00.000-07:00

Spent the day with Joe's class at the Sacramento Zoo. It's a pretty nice zoo. The weather was wonderful.
My foot survived the day thanks to steady doses of Advil.

Do ya Zumba?

2010-05-13T18:09:00.000-07:00

So the gym has Zumba classes. I am intrigued I must tell ya. It looks like fun. So I checked out the Zumba craze on the Internet. (About Zumba) Found some neat stuff some links on how to find a class, tips for success etc, then i find a link that says "dress the part" and I am stumped. What I gotta dress up for it? I think I am gonna have to practice at home first so I can wear the cute outfit to take the class. Derek says it's like a big Zelda game where you have to go get this so you can get that and then you get that and you gotta go get something else. Maybe the idea is getting the outfit is part of the work out. Getting into is and then getting to class and you've lost weight from all the stress you fit right in.

I gotta get my foot better before I zumba. I swam some laps today and it was NOT happy with that. I have a decent bruise on my foot from the shot. sigh.

So tell me do you Zumba? Wanna Zumba with me?

Writing Skills Test

2010-05-13T13:47:00.000-07:00

So I am taking a Writing Skills Test for my Bachelors/Master work. Have you taken this test? It has me second guessing myself every step of the way. I just down loaded the sample pretest. Not that I am jumping in BA or Masters work yet but since I am not working not taking any summer courses why not take the test see how I do and go from there. Not too difficult to study for it I am thinking. In the fall if I dont have a job and I am working on resueme so we'll see how that goes, I am going to take 2 classes that will help me transfer to San Fran State (most of the classes are online ) so I can get my BA in Speech Therapy and work with adults. Especially in a VA position working with brain injury or stroke patients. I have taken so many classes I don't have that much more to go so why not?

My foot is still not my best friend. I thought I could do some laps at the gym thought that would be low impact. My foot did not like the kicking. Hard to kick with one let. Are there any famous one legged swimming champs? Gotta google that one. I stepped into the Sauna because I have never been in one, I gotta say I didn't like it that much and I am not sure what the Sauana/Gym etttigute is. There was a lady in there but it didn't say "in use" or anything. I just sort of zipped in for maybe 3-4 minutes and zipped out.

Tomorrow me, Joe and my right foot and his first grade class are heading to the zoo. The moms were joking that I could rent one of those motorized wheel chairs to get around the zoo. Very funny girlies. Not a bad idea maybe. I am sure it will be better by tomorrow.

Open house tonight for my Joe. He can't wait to show off his classroom. He really, really, likes his new school.

Put your left foot in.....

2010-05-12T17:23:00.000-07:00

.... Today i went to podiatrist finally. He took some x-rays of my feet and determined that I have heel spur and I have torn my plantar shield. So he gave me a shot in my heel and let me tell you that sucker hurt. I told him I was gonna kick him! Now my foot hurts more than before. Dang him. I have these things to wear in my shoes now and it's best if I don't wear flat shoes. I need shoes with a bit of heel to them. Really? I have been wearing flat shoes forever because I thought they were best. sigh. I look for flat shoes but he says no i need a heel to them. Whatever.

So I am laid up today. Sort of. I still did laundry, I still made dinner. But I skipped the gym and other things I had to do.
Time for more ice I think.

National Stroke Awareness Month. Pass it on.

2010-05-11T06:41:00.000-07:00

Join National Stroke Association in celebrating National Stroke Awareness Month this May.

It's a time to educate the public about important stroke information, like the importance of understanding stroke symptom recognition and response!

Want to help reduce the impact of stroke? First, remember that strokes strikes F.A.S.T. and you should, too. Next, spread awareness about how to recognize and respond to stroke symptoms by learning the Face, Arms, Speech test, otherwise known as F.A.S.T.

F = FACE

Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?

A = ARMS

Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

S = SPEECH

Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Does the speech sound slurred or strange?

T = TIME

If you observe any of these signs, it’s time to call 9-1-1.

To learn more about stroke or find ideas for how to spread awareness during May, visit www.stroke.org/SAM.

Forward this email onto friends: The more people we reach, the better for reducing the impact and incidence of stroke.

Long day

2010-05-10T20:25:00.000-07:00

We were on the road bright and early. Today was our check up at Shriners. We hadn't been in awhile. We saw a new doctor who is a hand specialist.

We had to wait a bit for her.

Look the boys lost their minds we had to wait so long and had to hug each other.

Then they made Joe a 3D character by putting this little light up stickers on him.

Joe the Christmas tree.

He walked back and forth at least 20 times and then they made a 3 D image on the computer just like they use to make video games that have real players like Tiger Woods and Derek Jeter. It's the same thing they used for Tom Hanks in the Polar Express.
Very cool stuff.
So we will have one more test done and then looks like some surgery on his wrist in early summer. The goal is for his right hand to be more functioning for him.

I am beat from it all. I have put my Christmas tree to bed and I am headed there now too.

2010-05-09T14:10:00.001-07:00

Here they are the most popular names for 2009. I love every single girls name on this list. LOVE them. I think I know at least one girl in either of my boys class with at one of these names.

The 10 most popular girls' names, in order, are: Isabella, Emma, Olivia, Sophia, Ava, Emily, Madison, Abigail, Chloe and Mia.

These are pretty standard boys names. I was stumped to find that Cullen did make the list of popular names thanks to the Twilight books and Barack was added to. These are the top 10. We liked Jacob when I was pregnant with Joe but obviously skipped it. I liked Daniel but he boys have an uncle Daniel.

The 10 most popular boys' name, also in order, are: Jacob, Ethan, Michael, Alexander, William, Joshua, Daniel, Jayden, Noah and Anthony.

We have some babies on the way around us. Our neighbors on one side are tight lipped about what they are having and what names they like. The neighbors on the other side are having a boy and are naming him Liam. I might suggest Cullen to the famly baby on the way. What do you think? How about Edward? Joe says to name him either Joseph it's his favorite name so why not or how about Jose for the Sharks. Then he begins to rattle off Sharks players names he thinks would be nice. Patrick, Scotty, Ryan, Evegni, (so not likely)
Well my naming days are over. I got my boys and my girl, just passing along the info.

Mothers Day

2010-05-09T13:07:00.000-07:00

Every day is mothers day right? Every day there is laundry to do, chores to do. Ho hum. That's the way I see it. That is what my mother always says. Holidays are stressful around here. I am the one that does the holidays. The cards, the gifts, the plans, the meals. When it's a holiday to celebrate me it just stumps them. So honestly I just want the day to be over. They all seem confused and grumpy.

I made spaghetti and meatballs for my mom along with a strawberry cake that was pretty darn good if I do say so myself. She and Papa and auntie came over and we had a nice meal last night and then the Sharks beat Detroit which was pretty great.

I guess today we are just hanging out. Boys are busy doing their thing, Dom is busy, I am doing laundry and finishing Joe's school report.

Hope all of the mothers are having a nice day. Hope you all are showered with cards and gifts just as you should be. Hope someone might be making you a nice meal, got you a nice card. Small gift. Something. Hope no one is mad at you for not telling them what you wanted to do today. Maybe they could have thought of something sweet to do ahead of time. Hope no one waited until today to make plans and then is upset and grumpy that every place is crowded. Hope if you just want to veg and watch a tv show or read the paper they let you and might at least hear that the dog is out of water and take care of it at least for today. Yes? Gee whiz. .Hope they might have made you or gave you a card. Hope your day is great. I hope it's over soon.

Joe and Nana at the Mother's Day Dinner

Nana and Auntie at the Mother's Day dinner.

Joe, Nana and Aunit.
We were all there but Derek is very involved in his new video game and we've hardly seen him all weekend. I took the picture and I am not sure where Papa and Dom were at the time.

Do Be Do Be Do

2010-05-06T21:18:00.001-07:00

What have you been up to? Sneezing mostly.
Stuffy head and all that good stuff. It's horrible.

Stella

2010-05-02T14:49:00.000-07:00

One year ago today we made the trip to Dublin to look at dog at the SPCA. The dog we wanted was not available but in the kennel next to her was a batch of fuzzy puppies. I loved the faces of these pups. The soft fur. The warm way they just came up to us.
After hours of talking and debating we decided to bring Bagel home. We got Bagel bowls and toys and a crate and a new name and welcomed her to Foxwood Court.

We've been through a lot with this crazy pup. She has eaten a couch, legos, nerf buttles, sunglasses, socks, stuffed animals, a Quzinos' sandwhich right off the table, a cupcake without the wrapper, she has taken us on wild adventures through our neighborhood through rain, sun and dark of night. We have become regulars at the dog park, the soccer practice and the pet groomer.
She is the best fuzzy alarm clock ever and she's always happy to see you when you come over. Even Dom. She loves the boys, she loves her electric blanket and mama's bed and a good belly rub.

It hasn't always been easy, but for me it's always been worth it.

Happy Anniversary Stella.

Be-Crazy

2010-04-30T15:40:00.000-07:00

From Yahoo news. I am crushed.

We thought we were pretty hot at Bejeweled 2.

But we've got nothing on steel contractor Mike Leyde, of Riverside, CA., who managed to score so many points, he broke the game.

Leyde became the first person in the world to reach the game's maximum score of 2,147,482,575, after which the game simply can't process any more points. It took him over 2,000 hours of gameplay -- the equivalent of about three straight months of 24/7 play -- to amass the score, which the game's makers, Popcap, had thought impossible to reach.

"While developing Bejeweled 2, we debated endlessly whether it was even possible to best the 2.147 billion 'maximum' score," said Popcap co-founder John Vechey. "We deemed it impossible...and thus kept the cap at 2,147,482,575 knowing we were safe."

Safe, that is, until Leyde came along. His winning score saw him collect over 4.8 million gems and reach the game's 439th level, though his three-year commitment is apparently par for the course for the skilled gamer.

"If you're going to invest time in something, you might as well be as good at it as you possibly can," Leyde said. "I really enjoy the thrill of victory – like when I won my first stock car race or when I bowled a perfect 300 game."

Although Leyde actually completed his feat in March 2009, Popcap wanted to be sure it was genuine before crowning him King Bejeweled.

"We took some time in validating the score to make sure it was real," a rep told us -- and holding off on the record-breaking news let the achievement be part of Bejeweled's 10th anniversary celebration, which happens this month.

2010-04-29T10:08:00.000-07:00

May 1 is this Saturday and kicks off National Stroke Awareness Month, a time to raise public awareness about stroke.

National Stroke Association reminds you to contact as many friends, colleagues and loved ones as possible about the importance of stroke awareness in the coming days.

We urge you to tell others about how to:

STOP stroke through risk factor management.
Act F.A.S.T. to increase recognition of and response to stroke symptoms.
Spread HOPE about recovery from stroke.

To learn more about stroke or find ideas for how to spread awareness during May, visit www.stroke.org/SAM. The more people we reach, the better for reducing the impact and incidence of stroke.

Thank you for your efforts!

Ragamuffin Crew

2010-04-28T17:29:00.000-07:00

Carolos Whittaker's CD dropped (that's industry talk for it was released for purchase) yesterday. It's avaialable on iTunes or you can purchase it from his site. http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/
I got mine. You should go get yours too. Enjoy!

The Derby Runners

2010-04-27T18:45:00.000-07:00

So who ya picking to win the run for the roses on Saturday? Right now I like Devil May Care and Noble's Promise.

A Little Warm @ 150/1
American Lion @ 14/1
Awesome Act @ 12/1
Backtalk @ 60/1
Conveyance @ 18/1
Dean’s Kitten @ 35/1
Devil May Care @ 30/1
Discreetly Mine @ 30/1
Dublin @ 12/1
Endorsement @ 15/1
Homeboykris @ 35/1
Ice Box @ 11/1
Interactif @ 50/1
Jackson Bend @ 20/1
Line of David @ 28.1
Lookin at Lucky @ 7/2
Mission Impazible @ 18/1
Noble’s Promise @ 12/1
Paddy O’Prado @ 15/1
Sidney’s Candy @ 6/1
Stately Victor @ 30/1
Super Saver @ 12/1

65 Roses

2010-04-27T15:45:00.000-07:00

You may have seen this on the CNN page today. I came across it by chance.

This is the story of Eva a brave fighter who documented her battled with Cystic Fibroses (or 65 Roses as she called when she was a child)

Love the woman she was. Love how much she shared.

Go read.

Eva's 65 Roses

Smile

2010-04-26T16:05:00.000-07:00

Seems with technology today just about anyone can take a great pic. I am amazed at some of the pics Whitney takes. I think Derek snaps some pretty great ones too.

There is just something about Jennifer's pics and how she adds the stories behind the shoot and the people she photographed.

Jennifer and I went to high school together she's a bit younger than me, I do recall her being smart as a whip and so creative.

If you need a photographer or know someone who does she's your gal.

Check out her sight and her amazing photos. LOVE THEM.

Jennifer Brotchie Photography

You are cordially invited.

2010-04-25T10:37:00.000-07:00

San Joaquin Delta College's
75th Annual Commencement Ceremony
Thursday, May 27, 2010, 6:00pm

Stockton Arena (where the Thunder plays)
248 W. Fremont Street
Stockton, CA

So, yeah I'll be there in cap and gown (FINALLY)
you're all invited.
No tickets needed just come as you are.
I know these things are long and sometimes boring but walking on the stage FINALLY means so much to me. At least take a moment Thursday May 27th at 6 pm and raise a glass to me and to yourself for all of your encouragement.

Big Girl Fun

2010-04-24T09:47:00.000-07:00

Last night Dom and I went out without the kids. GASP!
We were out for an hour and half just the two of us. Derek stayed home babysat Joe and my other 2 sons from across the street.
It was Dom's high school reunion pre party. There were a lot of people there and it was loud but it was fun to get out and not have some one complaining about wanting to go home. I even had a cocktail (sort of).

Thanks to everyone who came out. Dom is so glad to have his performance OVER. I think they did a pretty good job not getting much time to pracitice together.

Really Big Show

2010-04-23T19:12:00.000-07:00

Tonight is Dom's reunion. Not the real one, just the pre show at a local bar. Some of the guys that he use to sing with in high school will be getting together night and singing some good ole 80's rock sons.

Don't worry there will be video and it will be up on You Tube. Hee Hee.

If you're in Tracy tonight come on by soon between 8 and 9 and check it out.

Redemption

2010-04-21T18:26:00.001-07:00

It's Stanley Cup Playoff time. It's lots of hockey around here. My Black Hawks. The Sharks. The Bruins.
I am happy to sit on my butt form 4 pm till 10 and watch me some hockey every night.
Dan Boyle had a rough night the other night, but I last night was much better for him so lets show him some love.
This is just one of the reasons I dig hockey. Ladies don't you agree?

San Jose Sharks Dan Boyle does his Zoolander Impression.

We love ya Dan... we really do.

More dreams

2010-04-18T11:28:00.000-07:00

Last night I had this dream that I had twin daughters named Selena and Stella. They had jet black hair and were cute as buttons. My old boss wanted me to break into the corporate headquarters of Google and steal their Grammy award so we could melt it down and use the gold. There were helicopters and tanks and buses. It was crazy. I swear I wake up feeling exhausted from all this crazy dreaming I do every night.

Dom is painting the second bedroom that since we have moved in has been the game room. But we are turning it into a real bedroom for Derek. He needs his own space. It picked a great blue for one wall and a color called popcorn for the other. I'll take some pics and show you.

Stella decided after getting paint on her nose yesterday that she wants to stay out of that room which suits Dom just fine.

Strange dreams

2010-04-16T21:07:00.000-07:00

The other night I had this dream with a big green bull frog in it that had a big yellow flower painted on it's back. I loved this frog and was petting it and kissing it. The frog was even sleeping in my bed with me. Eww.
I woke up half expecting to find this frog in my bed it felt so so real.

Last night I had this dream I was a photographer on a reality show and Matthew McConaughey was on the show too but he wasn't a famous actor he was my boy friend. I am not even all crazy about him like some people are. I mean it was nice to have him in my dream hubba hubba. Why I went to bed and dreamt of him I"ll never know.

Wonder what on earth I'll dream about tonight. I can't wait to go to sleep to find out.

Changes

2010-04-14T19:43:00.000-07:00

There have been some changes around here. Joe has started his new school, has started to wear underwear every single day and now wants to be called Joe. He's a Panda now and we've been walking to and from school each day. Take us about 10 minutes. He has a big room, his own desk, his best buddy in his class and a teacher that opens his juice box for him so far every single day this week.

While he was in tears this morning because he forgot his folder and thought he was gong to have to sit on the bench, she said "oh no big deal, bring it tomorrow" and we were both in shock. The smile that came across his face nearly cracked his face open.

They start every morning with the pledge of allegiance and get Panda points for doing good deeds.
So far we are very happy.

We went to Costco with Nana tonight. She never says no the boys so we are home now with Beef Jerky, Jelly Belly's and angle food cake. Yummy. So so good. I got a new thermometer and I am so jazzed about that I want to take everyones temp so I can figure out how to use it.

Ok time for the play off game. GO SHARKS!!

Tax day treats

2010-04-14T13:19:00.001-07:00

Make sure you score some of these free treats tomorrow.

- FREE COFFEE AND TREATS

CINNABON: Get two free bite-sized cupcakes from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at participating mall locations as part of "Tax Day Bites!" Flavors include Chocolate Passion, 24-Carrot Cake, Vanilla Bliss and Cinnacake Classic.

MAGGIEMOO'S: Get one free slice of ice cream pizza -- ice cream with red frosting to look like sauce and white chocolate to look like cheese -- at participating locations from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday.

STARBUCKS: Get free brewed coffee all day Thursday if you bring your own mug, a promotion the cafe chain says is friendly to the environment as well as taxpayers.

-- DISCOUNTED MEALS

BOSTON MARKET: For a "last-minute tax break" -- one free meal for each one you buy Thursday through Sunday -- show this coupon: http://bit.ly/d1YlRO

IHOP: Expanding on the tax deduction parents get for kids, the restaurant chain is offering free dinner for one child age 12 or younger with each adult meal purchased 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. all month long.

MCCORMICK & SCHMICK'S: The seafood restaurant is offering $10.40 dinner and drink specials in the bar on Thursday -- a nod to the 1040 tax form. Bar guests who come in April 15 also receive a $10.40 gift certificate for a later visit. And professional tax preparers, who may have to work right until the midnight deadline Thursday, get their freebie Friday: dessert on the house plus a $10.40 certificate if they show a business card.

P.F. CHANG'S: Get 15 percent off food purchases for dine-in or take-out, excluding alcohol and happy hour food and beverages.

-- STRESS RELIEF

HYDROMASSAGE: Get a free massage Thursday through Sunday at participating locations. The mall-based massage chain suggests calling ahead to book an appointment. Find a location at http://www.hydromassage.com/taxday.

The City Beat Me Up.

2010-04-09T19:25:00.000-07:00

We took a trip in San Fran today. Dominic had an appointment at UCSF so they could look at his tongue. It's not cancer or precancer but they need to get it all taken care of. What an old creepy place that USCF is.

We took the boys to the beach it was so nice. Then off for some ice cream and headed home. It was a long day and I am so tired.
I must tell you that Dom had an incident at the bridge toll, there was no one in the car pool lane to collect fees so we drove through...we will wait for the ticket for that one and this time it's on HIM. Joe stepped into an elevator while we were paying for our parking fee and the doors closed. MY GOD! Dom opened them and got him out before the elevator went anywhere.

See I am tired.

Burning down the house

2010-04-08T13:47:00.000-07:00

The other night I was cooking dinner, the boys were outside playing, Dom was taking a shower. I was talking to my mom on the phone and boiling water for pasta and cooking some bread in the oven. I start to smell this horrible smell but figure it might be the bread. I go to the stove and notice it's the spoon rest and it's melting to the top of the stove. sigh. What a horrible smell.

We got that taken car of but the house was full of smoke. Dom opened all the window, doors and put the fans on.

Disaster avoided the evening moves on. We settle the boys down with a movie and Dom and I start to work on homework he was reading on the bed and I was at the Mac. At the exact same moment we say "Do you smell something burning?" and we jump up and start sniffing away. Where is it coming from? What is it? I was starting to panic. I swear it took us nearly 5 minutes to find it.
Derek had put Joe's SJ Sharkie on the lamp shade to keep it away from Stella. His stuffed Sharkie leg was sitting on the light bulb and started melting. So we removed him and put the lamp outside. sigh.

The rest of the evening we once again had windows open and the fans on to get the smoke out.

Good grief!

ThE scare of my life.

2010-04-05T21:05:00.000-07:00

Tonight the boys were eating those war head candy. They start out really sour in your throat and then they get sweet. If you can get past the sour you have a nice piece of candy. They were popping the candy in making all these goofy faces and then Joe was spitting them out... they are really horrible candy. Derek seems to like them. I don't know how he eats them.

He puts one in his mouth and starts running down the hall with the candy in his mouth then gags and starts chocking on it. I could tell right away he was chocking.
I grabbed him and gave him a hard whack on his back and it came out. Thank God.

I was mad and crazy and scared all in a matter of moments.

I wish that boy would slow down.

I am taking my nerves and my precious boy to bed. I am done with this day.

Falling for you

2010-04-05T17:26:00.001-07:00

Today Joe started the day with the recklessness he goes through life with. Sure enough he crashed. I don't know what he was riding. He banged up his elbow and his hand. Not to mention that while he's getting scraped up he's bruising himself up. So we soak him and we give him Tylenol every night.
I am waiting for the fall to be hard enough to break that wrist that is bent. He has as splint he wears to keep his wrist in a more natural position to give him a bit more stability, so we have him wearing that. I can only hope and pray that helps.
He's not afraid. You would think he would say "whoa that scooter hurts me I am gonna lay off that for a bit" but no he just gets back on.
So we buy more bandages and tape and keep going.
Today he was sore and tired and I saw his foot drop more than usual.
Off we go to Shriners in May for them to see if there is anything more that can be done. Sadly today I found myself saying "I just want him fixed" but while I should just accept him as he is and I do, I wish all the time that his body could keep up with him.

An Easter Morning Raising.

2010-04-04T10:40:00.000-07:00

The boy (Joe) was up at it early this morning. The first number on the clock was a 6 and the rest doesn't matter. He was excited. So happy to get a Super Soaker. So happy to get candy. Derek was not happy to be up so early. Stella was wondering what the heck was going on.

I opened my email this morning to find some great links to other blogs about Cerebal Palsy which I am so grateful. While I have always known that compared to others we really did pull a lucky card. Yes he is fully functioning. Yes the disabilities he has are all that he has and there won't be any more to crop up. I mean we will continue to uncover how the Stroke has affected him but from what we have been told this is it.

I can't wait to dig into these other bloggers and read their stories. It is a blessing to wake up and find others walking this path and willing to share.

Here are some links if you want to come along.....

I believe her name is Shannon....
http://lifeofthedifferentlyabled.wordpress.com/

This is Amy her son Nick has Cerebral Palsy

F-ing Cerebral Palsy

2010-04-03T20:06:00.001-07:00

I don't know if Joe falls a lot because,

1. He's a moving rough and tumble boy.

2. He has two feet that don't move as fast as he does or that other boys do that he tries to keep up with

3. He doesn't have two fully functioning hands to catch his many falls.

There is no fancy magnetic ribbon on my car. i don't have any t shirt, coffee mug or bracelet. I won't walk, race or rally for the cure because guess what, there isn't one. I don't feel the need make you aware CP exists. I am aware of it every day. To everyone he's just Joe. Yes he's perfect and he's wonderful but the fact remains this is what he has, this is the deal.

I think in the past 24 hours he has fallen at least 6 times. Scratched up, bruised up and bandaged.

This is what Cerebral Palsy looks like to me.

Oh and I learned that vegetable oil can remove the sticky residue that ban-aids leave behind with. We also learned that he new Johnson and Johnson brand Band Aid's have braille on them. How cool is that.

Life G Style

2010-04-02T19:52:00.000-07:00

Why oh why does life have to be so darn expensive? I know we have two growing, eating boys and it's only gonna get worse. I can't wait to get a job and really contribute to the fund-age around here.
I know the dog did not need a trip to Petsmart for a bath but I only do that maybe twice a year. I try to use coupons for the rest of life as much as I can but when you sit down and look at the numbers it makes me nausea.
Gotta hit the lottery.
Gotta play it first.

Happy Birthday Carla. Love the ink work. I remember the first of your birthday's we spent together. That seems like a life time ago.

Hope everyone has a good weekend.
I am gonna go dig for some dimes in the couch.

The Day After.

2010-04-02T13:52:00.000-07:00

April Fool's.
Boy I fooled you guys didn't I? Well at least some of you.

Heaven's no there is no Baby G cooking. Just a sinus infection and an ear infection that has me down for the count.

Derek slept 12 hours yesterday. Went to bed at 7 pm and got up at 7 am (in case you were having trouble figuring out what 12 hours was) I kept checking on him and he kept saying "go away". If he's sick he'll beg me to stay so I knew he was fine.

Took Stella for her Easter bath, now she's a clean happy dog.

I am beat and ready for a nap.
Thanks everyone for being so good natured about it all.
Wait till next year.

I Think I am gonna be sick.

2010-04-01T11:03:00.000-07:00

Well I am back from the doctors. I know why I haven't been feeling well.

We will have to talk about this later.

So Happy It's Thursday

2010-04-01T06:48:00.000-07:00

I made this comment at roughly 5:50am this morning to Dom who said "SHIT" and I thought he had forgotten something. No that's just what So Happy It's Thursday is SHIT. So there you go.

I am off to the doctor at 10 am today to see why I just haven't been feeling well. Feeling down right icky. I think I am tired of feeling sick and tired. We'll see how this goes.

sayings

2010-03-31T10:53:00.000-07:00

What is that saying "being in love means never having to say your sorry?" I am not a fan of that. I know being in love and being married and being family means you just take the good, the bad the ugly. So sometimes having someone say "I am sorry" really goes a long way. So Dominic's "I am sorry" really helped this girl feel a lot better.

Today I prepared to say Good Bye to Joe's school. He'll be starting his new school after the Spring Break. This will give them an idea of where to place him for the next school year. When I spoke to his Speech Therapist that is when the tears came. What is wrong with me? He really likes her but she could see that he's been having a rough year. I am not expecting the grass to be greener. But I have learned a lot and I know who to proceed from here.

I told his teacher to make the good bye brief and at the end of the day tomorrow.
There is no hand book for this I am just making it up as I go along. Doing what feels right for my little silly guy, who by the way cannot wait for April Fools Day. He has been practicing all year long!

Keep your mind on your money...

2010-03-29T18:32:00.000-07:00

...and you money on your mind. I think that is from rap song. Is it still called Rap? Or is it just R & B?
Whatever. My friend Beth is starting her own business. So if you need any help with your book keeping she has the mad skillz. Hey she does accounting and payroll the works...and she named her son Benjamin. (Get it? Like Ben Franklin the dude on the money?!) Ha Ha. Beth I just got that. I don't think you did it that way but it does sort of fit.

Here is her web site. Keep it in mind spread the word the lady is great she'll do a great job.

Go check out her web site and give her lots of hits. It will make her day.

Everything Account For Bookkeeping Services

I bristle at the thought.

2010-03-29T10:21:00.000-07:00

I don't take criticism well. Does anyone? Dom is king of dishing it out in heaps. Yesterday he wasn't feeling well and he gave me pots and pots of it. I tried to take it all in stride like I do, taking into account that he wasn't feel well. By the end of the day I was so done. Once he got it off his chest he was fine and seemed to feel better and moved along with the day and felt good to get it all out. I was bruised and worn out.
I am expected to be better today. Expected to be over it. After all that was yesterday. Gee whiz. But honestly I am not.
So I can sit and analyze it and chew on it or move along. I am trying to move along. But there is a dark cloud walking with me. At least somebody likes me. I shall embrace it and hold it for a day or 2 or 4.

I think even Stella is mad at me for not letting her eat a rock. As if? Stupid dog eating a rock do you know what that would do to your insides? Do you know how much more trouble I would get if I had to take you to the vet? I can't even bare it. So no rock for you.
Derek was mad because I made him finish all of his homework and drove him to school today because he had 5 or 6 books to take back. How horrible am I? Driving my son to school? MY GOD! I am wicked.
Joe wasn't mad at me and said he would miss me. Thank you sweet boy.

The Love Boat

2010-03-26T21:47:00.003-07:00

Lately Joe has begun to make comments about his right hand. Saying things like

"I wish I could cut this off. It doesn't work right"
"Stupid hand, it's in the way"

These statement kill me. So we have started to talk to him about some Botox injections that Shriners would like to do to loosen the tight ligaments in his arm and wrist to see if we could get some control. He would have to be sedated and we just haven't been in any hurry to do this. After a few months the shots wear off and you're back where you started. But it would give you an idea of what the arm and wrist could do and you could look into transplanting ligaments. So we started to talk to him about it. At first he said no. Then little by little he started to ask questions about the procedure. So we'll see.

He's a rough and tumble boy. He runs a lot. This also means he falls down a lot. Here lately he has been just full of boo boos on his arm and leg. He said "I sure wish I didn't get so many boo boos" again kill me why dontcha.

So one of his very best friend has announced that he will be taking the Disney cruise. Joe thinks it has something to do with the Leukemia and I am not sure about that. So Joe asked me if there was a cruise he could go on since he has a stupid arm that doesn't work and his friend is getting better right and he's still going to have a stupid arm. sigh. What do you say to that?
I say yes that his friend is getting better and isn't it great that he's going to take a cruise?
Then we had banana splits.

Heavy heart

2010-03-25T20:40:00.000-07:00

Tonight my heart is heavy.
Tonight I pray for a sick child. A child too young to be dealing with a gun shot would.
I hop you all take a moment and help me pray.
A friend I sadly have not spoken to in some time is suffering from a tragedy. Please keep this family you may not know in your thoughts.
It's not my story to tell. The details really don't matter now. I am sure they will come out soon enough. What matters is that we all join in prayer to help save a young girls life.

To Saint Gerard....

St. Gerard, who, like the Savior, loved children so tenderly and by your prayers freed many from disease and even death, listen to us who are pleading for our sick child. We thank God for the great gift of our son (daughter) and ask him to restore our child to health if such be his holy will. This favor, we beg of you through your love for all children and mothers. Amen.

Matt and Madeline and Liz

2010-03-24T12:28:00.000-07:00

If you read Matt's blog then you will know today is his daughter Madeline's Birthday. Happy Birthday Maddy. I have been reading Matt's blog for almost the whole 2 years. I have watched this man raise his daughter and grieve for his wife, who died the day after giving birth. Liz never got to hold Madeline.
It's an incredible journey and I feel so blessed the Matt has shared so so much with us.

Happy Birthday Maddy while I wish with all of my heart you had your mommy with you every day, in turn you have a million mommy's that think of you always.

You're doing a great job Matt,she's going to be an amazing woman just like her mom!

Matt and Maddy (go check them out)

Joe Day......

2010-03-24T12:10:00.000-07:00

National Joe Day

When : Always March 27th

National Joe Day is a chance to change your name, if only for today.

Many people do not like their given name. They wish they could change it. A few actually do. On National Joe Day, it is perfectly okay to have everyone call your "Joe". Why Joe, and not Bob or Mike or Radcliffe? Simply, because everyone likes the name Joe. If you are called Joe today, we know that you're "Joe cool"!

This works well for the men out there. What about the ladies? We suggest you choose Josephine or Jody.

Origin of "National Joe Day":
Our research did not find the creator, or the origin of this day. Obviously, it is a person who does not like their first name.

This is referred to as a "National" day. However, we did not find any congressional records or presidential proclamations for this day.

So now you know!

Go Figure

2010-03-19T21:14:00.000-07:00

The past two nights my boys have been up until 11pm or after. It's the time change. It's been things like open house and just late nights. Tonight, here it is Friday and they are both in bed already here at 9:15. What on earth? I think they are exhausted from the two late nights.
So I am off to cuddle with my book and my hubby.

Rant Rave and Rescue

2010-03-18T13:47:00.000-07:00

That is my new favorite phrase often used for mothers of school aged children. Often used for mothers of children with special needs. Call it what you will. Say what you want. I suppose it's how I operate.
I do not expect the school district to do everything for my child. I shall feed him, clothe him (Well Nana helps out a lot with that) and teach him to be a good person. I am sending him to school for the fundamentals of reading , writing and math and how to really handle himself in the world. If he should have an issue with someone, bigger or smaller than him in the world, I do not expect him to know how to handle it, I expect him to figure it out in due time. He's 6 and I don't want him growing up any faster than he has to. Same goes for my 12 year old. There is a time for everything.

So I shall rant and rave and ask and be nice and then I shall swoop down and rescue when it's needed.

So off I go to his IEP. To make sure all of his needs are being meet and to make sure they are going to be met next year.
Would it be too much to ask that all documents be written in blue or black ink? sigh.
Keep you posted.

Happy Birthday

2010-03-18T13:43:00.001-07:00

Today is Stella's birthday. In honor of the day Dominic is being pretty nice to her. I am very touched by that.
We are taking her to dog park for a romp tonight (have a dog in T-Town come meet us)
Her certificate from the SPCA says she was born on 3/18 so that is the day were are going with.
Happy Birthday Dog Dog.

Daylight savings time.

2010-03-14T19:30:00.000-07:00

This is not pleasant. How do you get a 6 year old to understand that even though it's still light outside it's not play time any more. It's shower and bed time and his favorite show is about to come on? Hard to explain the whole spring forward concept. Especially when his older brother pipes in with this arguments that it doesn't make any sense and can you just not participate in it and we said you could but you'd be late everywhere you go. sigh.

Today was a wonderful day lots of sunshine. Got lots done. Got some great sleep and no headache today. WOW.
I have a busy busy week. Meetings, open house, doctors and dentist appointments with everyone. It's best to start the week with as much clean laundry as I possible can cuz that can get out of hand in a hurry.

Ok, go watch Sons of Tucson tonight on your local Fox channel. Check your cable provider for the time. Derek's friend will be on episode 3 and 11. Tonight is the first one so I want to watch so I know what's going on.

The fun never stops

2010-03-10T14:46:00.000-08:00

Today I went to the dentist. I have not had my teeth cleaned in 2 years. (I know.) We haven't had dental insurance. I have receding gums. I am telling you this getting old thing is for the birds. I have some pockets that are at category 5. (Yikes! Is that like a hurricane? Yes sort of. 1 is best 5 is bad)
BUT she was very gentle with me, the dentist is like a spa, and I got free teeth whitening trays. I am in heaven. I have always wanted to do that and now I am going to get to.
New glasses, white teeth. Watch out!

Getting old stinks.

2010-03-09T15:11:00.000-08:00

I know. I was the one who just a few days ago was saying birthdays were great and 40 wasn't so bad.
Well forget every darn word of it.
I went to the eye doctor today.
Why is it when you go to the dentist you leave feeling pretty good, your teeth are nice and clean. When you leave the eye doctor you feel like you can't see a darn thing your eyes are numb and have been dilated? I could see better when I went in there when I left. That's just wrong.

So my insurance is better than it's been in years and I got some great glasses for $10 (my portion) and picked out some great sunglasses I really like too...for a little more.
The bad news? I need reading glasses. I am not ready for bifocals but I do need a different pair of glasses for reading. sigh. You know. Those reading glasses you get at wal-mart? Those little ones? I will have them all over the house. On the one hand I can have several pair. Won't that be fun. Won't it?
I also have dry eye syndrome so I have to put drops in my eyes 4 times a day for the rest of my life. My tear ducts are inflamed or something like that.
That was depressing.
I did get some cool little droplet things to use which I kind of dig but that's going to get old fast, fast.
So there you have it. My eyesight is already going and I haven't even been 40 a week yet.
Yeah.

Excuse me while I figure this out.

2010-03-08T13:00:00.000-08:00

I have never had a son with specials needs. But here I am learning as I go along. I think it's hard enough to raise a child but then throw in the mixed bag we have with Joe and I sometimes I making it up as I go along. I am. Me. Me. Most of the time me alone. All by myself. Dom can't help it, and I hear him lament how he wishes he was more involved and he really is as much as he can be but the day to day things and the dealings with the school and teachers and therapists and most doctors it's all me honey.

So the word on the street was that Joe was sort of attacked and I as the momma bear rescued him. Wasn't really how I saw it but it was how the other two moms in the room saw it. They said I acted gracefully and did more than they thought they could. They said it was a situation I just could not win. Totally not how I saw it at the time but I was acting with the fight or flight defense. My boy was lost confused and upset and maybe I am teaching him that I will always rescue him when he's lost and confused but isn't that what moms are for? There will be a time for him to learn to care for himself. I get that. But there is a reason we care for our young far longer than animals in the wild. Get it? I want him to always feel that I am there for him. That no matter what Mom has got his back. No question. I will not ever leave him there to cry and be confused feeling that he has done something wrong when he has not.

He is quick to cry at home now. Whining and clingy. Stomach aches. We keep thinking he's coming down with something but that's not the case. He's anxious that he's going to mess up. I hate that.

So I want to meet with her, tell her my feelings about Friday. Tried to talk to the principal but that turned around on me.

I would like to crawl into bed and pull the covers up over my head. But I won't my boys need me. So up an at them I go and keep an eye on them and I am there for them. If nothing else maybe I'll teach them and show them how to always have a voice.

I am beat

2010-03-07T20:08:00.000-08:00

What a weekend! So much fun. I had such a good time hanging out with my family on Saturday. So good to see everyone.
Today I went to the movies with some great friends. Not sure how I liked Alice In Wonderland. Wasn't much of a fan of the book and the book is not the Disney version and this was Tim Burton's version for sure.
But it was good to have a girls (plus 2 boys) day out.
Now I am beat. I can't party like I use to. So it goes being older right?
Now to prepare for the week ahead. Deep breath. Good thoughts. Let's do it!

Thank you

2010-03-06T10:33:00.000-08:00

Big thank yous to everyone who sent birthday wishes. When you have birthday's with zero's in them you just have to celebrate. I read a wonderful quote today from a lady who's sun suffered a traumatic brain injury from a car crash. She has had to teach her 21 year old son to talk, eat, crawl all over again. Her book is about raising her son twice. Love it.
Anyway, I know how it's the little things in life that sometimes can be the biggest celebrations. So celebrate every moment!
Every moment. Every bolt of lighting is new and exciting when you rarely see it. Every word in a book read when it's the first time you've heard your son read it. Every birthday is special it means you are still around to witness all the wonderful miracles.

So crank up the blender. Break out the cake. Celebrate whatever you want.
We all deserve it.

It's gotta get easier.

2010-03-05T09:53:00.000-08:00

Today was my day to work in Joe's classroom. It's always so stressful. His teacher starts the day barking out the orders. Never a good morning. Never a happy good to see you all today. No. It's always sit down and get working! Snap that whip. It gives me a stomach ache. She jumped into a telling them to do this and this and then this and of course... my Joe was lost. So when it was time to go over the packet...he hadn't done it because he forgot what he had to do.
I know she does not have the time for one on one time with him, which is what he needs, but she really needs to remember he can't have it all thrown at him.
So he got a horrible stomach ache for being in trouble for not know what to do... I brought him home.
So there are three moms that work in the classroom. At least one day a week. An upcoming field trip only has seats for 4 moms. I would think that the three moms that work in the class should get first pick. Nope. She said she can't do that. Really? Why not?
I am beyond frustrated over all of this.
I don't want to ever send him back.
Now he's upset that he has a horrible stomach ache for the weekend. UGH!

Birthdays aren't so bad

2010-03-03T19:26:00.000-08:00

The big day arrived. I am officially 40. At 10:16 am it became official I have been on this earth for 40 years.
I had a great day. My boys showered me with gifts and hugs and not fighting. Stella ran out the door this morning and normally Dom would let her go but since it was my day he ran after her (what a guy). The boys got me a Bullet Express food/juicer mixer upper thing that frankly scares me but Derek loves. (Wonder how he'll like the Wii fit I am planning on getting him?) I had breakfast with my aunt and father. It was a super nice day. I really enjoyed the thunder and hail mixed in for a little extra something special.
I hope Ryan had as nice a day as I had. I hope you all had a nice day too.

My mother was right.

2010-03-01T14:14:00.000-08:00

My mother is usually right on a lot of things. My father too. It use to just kill me to admit that. But the older I get, and the wiser I get I am thankful for how smart they are.
My mother told me long ago that I expect too much of people and I will move heaven and earth not to let anyone down yet find myself let down like a hot potato.

I expected something from someone today. Something big. Something I didn't ask them for they offered, and they offered more than once. I waited and waited, cleared the day, prepared, and you guessed it, they failed to make it happen.
So I will do it myself. Just like every other thing I do. Fine!

Sixteen years later

2010-02-24T15:32:00.001-08:00

He did it. My dad returned to the job he left sixteen years ago. Shook hands with some of the men he worked with, saw some of the things he use to work on. These men are the men Dom work with and these machines are the one Dom works on. Well at least until Monday when he'll have a new job.

Dom's boss was wonderful enough to take my dad on a tour of some of the warehouses he use to work in. Seems like all of the equipment is different now and some of the warehouses are gone but I am glad he went.

Costco

2010-02-24T15:25:00.001-08:00

First let me tell you that Joe is learning all about Picasso which he calls
"Pa Costco" which cracks me up every darn time.
He can tell you lots of things about Pa Costco and his blue period and his rose period and the funny faces he made. He really likes him. I am glad he enjoys art like that. I am glad he's learning art from that perspective.

So when we were at the real Costco he found this wonderful rug that he just had lay on. It was great fun until I saw the price tag. Just 100 bucks. I quickly picked it up and put it away. Imagine the fun he and Stella could have had on this?

Bravo

2010-02-24T09:59:00.001-08:00

I am a big fan of all of the Bravo tv shows. I really like just about all of them. (Derek and I are going to spoof the real housewives show with a real housewives of San Joaquin County...the wives will hold tomatoes like the wives of Orange county hold oranges.)

Anyway I just have to vent a bit about this season of Sheer Genius. I love Jonathan Antin (love him!) but I gotta tell you, Camila Alves is so not my fav. Who thought that was a good idea? Half the time I cannot understand her. sigh. She really bothers me. Really, really bothers me.
So Dom has a new job. He is a GS now at he Depot. That means no more coveralls, no more tools, it's a desk job. He's very excited. He'll be working in the transportation department. Today is his potluck as he's leaving the department, the same one my father retired from. So I am taking me dad out to the depot. He hasn't been out there in sixteen years. I am sure it's very different from what it looked like when he was out there. So many changes have taken place on the depot. I am glad my dad is going out there.

This day

2010-02-22T21:00:00.000-08:00

I went into the meeting armed and ready. Note book. Files. Paper. Notes. Ready.
Once again I was side swiped. After careful consideration it has been decided that Joe will not be retained. He will not repeat the first grade. What?
I know.
He will have full resource help. 30 minutes 4 days a week. Help to finish an assignment. Help with whatever he needs. Help in the classroom. The helps he's needed all along he will finally. FINALLY be getting.
I shall ignore the fact that all was written in pink pen ( I am my mothers daughter the banker and all documents shall be in blue or black. Colored pens make me cringe.)
It went well. I felt good.

He still struggles. He will always struggle. He's reading better. He's writing and doing math better. He was feeling good. Then he tripped on his way to his desk in class today and some kids laughed, some were worried about him. It all just falls apart. But he always picks himself up and moves along. His emotional brother was sad for him that he tripped said "it's ok Joe, you had new shoes on today right?" and they moved along the two that were fighting earlier. sigh.
Mama is still recovering from it ALL.

Stella WILL not stop eating and chewing just about anything she can get her teeth on. Poor thing. Could she be working on the last of her big girl teeth?

Daddy had the BEST time yesterday skiing. He came home a new man. His whole demeanor was changed. I was happy for him. Who knows the last time he had a day like that. A full day of fresh air doing something he's wanted to do for a long time. I swear today he seemed more relaxed than I have seen him in a long time. Very good for him.

Now after mowing the lawn and helping with the boys homework my head is pounding I am trying to get everyone to bed.

What I like.

2010-02-21T18:50:00.001-08:00

I like the color blue.
I like coffee.
I like the beach.
I like a great book.
I love great, warm socks.
I love nice purses.
I love t-shirts.
I love lotion (I am addicted to it)
I love lip balm.(That too! Although nothing works as well on my lips as mentholatum)
I love pens. (I never put the lids on and they are forever drying out)
I love baths.
Heaven help me I love these shoes
I think this is a lovely room dontcha think? I really like the blues.

I am really into Doves too these days.

I adore this painting... check it out at Esty.com (Thanks Whitney for introducing me to it that site)

I love lilacs.
I love sleep and I am off to go get some.

Armed and Ready

2010-02-21T18:47:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow bright and early Dom and I will sit down with Joe's teacher and his resource specialist and talk about next year.
We are armed and ready. I have my idea of what a perfect day in class would look like for Joe. I have my list of things he needs (or at least I really believe he needs)
I know what I want.
I am ready to hear what they have to say about my boy. Always rough days for me. "He's a bright boy, he's a smart boy" and then they drop it "he can't count by two's, tell time or count money or cure cancer"
Maybe not.
So often I leave these meeting with more questions than answers we'll see how this goes.

The Big Day

2010-02-21T18:43:00.000-08:00

Today was the big day. The day that has been in the planning since 2002. No kidding. Dominic went skiing. He was so excited all week for this day. He got sick. He still was set to go. The weather got ugly nothing could keep this man from hitting the slopes today. He got up at 5:30 and hit the road and has been gone all day. He called about an hour ago and said he ate lots of snow but had a lot of fun. I am so happy for him. He needed this day to go out and have fun. I am glad he got to do it. I am glad I got to stay home (I am not a fan of snow)
The boys missed him. Stella missed him but he'll be home soon and he deserved it.

Can I tell you I went into an Ultra store today. Tell me who knew about this store and never told me? My goodness what a store. I had Joe with me so I had to be quick about it, but frankly I loved every moment in it. I plan to go back soon all by myself or with another girl and just browse. lovely lovely store. :)
So Dom had a good day. I had a pretty good day too.

Need a good book

2010-02-19T21:11:00.000-08:00

I need a good book to read. I am all out of books. I just finished John Grisham's Ford County. It was pretty good. Now I have nothing. sigh.
Maybe I'll pick one up tomorrow.

We took Dom to Chevy's for dinner tonight and you know they give you a sombrero and sing to you for your birthday? He wore the darn thing the rest of the night. What a goof he is.
Dom and Derek are watching District 9. Joe and I are watching Smackdown. He loves a good WWE match.

Happy Birthday Dominic

2010-02-18T16:29:00.000-08:00

Today my Dominic is 44 years old. He comes from some very good jeans. He has a cold so it hasn't been the best birthday for him but he did get a free breakfast at Denny's this morning and we made him a cake. He's going to hit the slopes this weekend and go skiing for the very first time ever and he's been waiting to do that for a very long time.
I hope he has a wonderful year.

Thanks Hallmark.

2010-02-17T19:33:00.000-08:00

I am not happy with Hallmark. Every year the boys and I send Dom an e card from Hallmark. We have big fun picking one out and we usually send him one from each of us. Well now Hallmark charges you 99 cents for their cards. They have just a handful of free ones but they aren't as good as the ones they want you pay 99 cents for. Thanks a lot Hallmark. What a bummer.

Tonight Stella got out after dark and ran like she does to the park and then to the house over on the next court. Thankfully they had a puppy we used to lure her to me and then we nabbed her to take her home. For a split second Derek and thought about keeping the puppy and running and leaving Stella with them. I have got to find a way to keep her from running like she does. As soon as the door or the gate is open she's gone. It's getting really old and I am so afraid she's going to get hit by a car one of these days. sigh.
On the way back Derek starts to complain about his teacher and then goes "oh shoot I forgot I have to answer each question with a complete paragraph not with just a sentence" so the homework that he had done was not done and now we have to go back over it. Then we have to dive deep into his vocabulary and spelling packet and it felt like the evening that wouldn't end. Then Stella got a hold of an orange and that was a mess.
Joe comes in and fills the bath tub to over flowing. Then says he's all done but his hair is not even wet. So I wash him real quick, So then he goes and gets Stella all crazy and she nips him on the ear and you would have thought she took the whole ear off (she didn't) but he goes into wailing about his ear being gone and he can't hear and where is it can we sew it back on.
I am done. It's time for all eyes to be closed around here. I am done. Who knows what tomorrow will bring?!

Recap

2010-02-17T13:46:00.000-08:00

I got this wonderful flowers from my husband. Tulips.

We ate this heart shaped pizza.

We celebrated their birthday's.
It was a nice weekend.
The boys are feeling better. Dom has a cold now he is trying hard to shake. Looks like he's going to be sick for his birthday tomorrow just like last year. Dang it.

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend too!

Hearts and Flowers

2010-02-14T14:07:00.001-08:00

What a lovely weekend so far. Yesterday was my mama's birthday so we had dinner and pie. Oh love that Nation's banana cream pie! It was so nice to hang out and stuff ourselves silly. We watched some of the men's speed skating and hit the hay just in time to wake up and hear the firecrackers signaling the beginning of Chinese New Year.

Today the weather is wonderful. I am doing homework by an open window watching a humming bird zing about. The boys are outside/inside playing hockey, rollerblading, riding bikes. So nice to see them well and in the sun!

Stella is hanging out outside. I slept in a bit this morning and she was happily hanging out with me...or so I thought. Turns out she was pulling the stuffing out of a bed pillow. STELLA!?! Really? My Gosh!

Dom sent me some lovely tulips that are in a pretty vase along with a box of amazing chocolates. So good.
Tonight is our heart shaped pizza and some of the left over pie. It's a great weekend.
Hope everyone is feeling the love. Feel it. Give it. Pass it out. It will come back to you.

Did I Mention....

2010-02-10T15:00:00.000-08:00

my washer is leaking?
Every load. Every time. Water all over the floor. It's the seal in the door (I have one of those fancy Whirlpool front loaders...) the seal has a tear. New seal... $96.
So we have a cookie sheet under the door for every load. It fills up, I have to dump it. sigh. What a pain. I always spill some of the water out on the floor, then I have to use a towel to clean it up and now I have a wet dirty towel. It's never ending.
One day I thought it had magically fixed it's self. The cookie sheet was not filling up so fast. WOW.
No. Seems Stella was drinking the water. Of course the soapy water made her sick. What do I have? Dirty towels to clean.
I am having so much fun over here I can't stand it. I tell ya I can't stand it.
I shall leave you now and tomorrow we shall talk about the funny noise my car is making.

Peace

2010-02-10T09:53:00.000-08:00

The house is quiet. Well, except for Stella who will NOT stop barking. I have no idea what her problem is.
The boys went back to school and are doing better. Dominic went to work today too. I am here alone and it's nice but too quiet.
There are a million things to do. Laundry, mop, you know those things. I know my "job" is to keep the house running. I know I should give it the 8 hours that any other job would give it. I guess my job just starts earlier than some (when the boys wake up) until they are FINALLY asleep and all of the in between time. Homework, projects, IEP research, errands. So I am calling this my lunch break. I am taking it early.

I had a dream last night that my cousin Christy and her husband Tony got a dog. This tiny thing. Some how they moved in with my aunt and uncle with the dog and my aunt and uncles house was a mess and it's never a mess so it just really bothered me that it was so so messy. Then they all just kept taking baths over and over and I kept telling them if they cleaned the house they wouldn't feel so dirty all the time. Then my uncle turned into Eric Bana and went jogging. Then we all went to the Lady Gaga concert (all of us, my whole family) but my dad got sick so we left early to take him to the hospital. But I had to drop Joe off at meeting that he had to go to all by himself and Derek was mad at me because he didn't think that was fair.
So many mad, dirty strange things I woke up very glad this life is not at all like that one.
So now my lunch break is over. I have a million things to do.