Christmas Giving

Hi Everyone!

I hope everyone is doing good in this month of December!! This is one of my favorite months! For one, today is my Birthday!! I always felt like Dec 5th was a magic day! Looking back, I now realize my parents made me feel how special I was and in return made me feel like Dec 5th was magical. Talking to other people they all feel the same way about their Bday. The one thing we all have in common is loving parents who made us feel loved/love. In this month of giving please remember the ones who don't have loving parents to make them feel special or loved and please consider giving/donating so these precious children can have a chance at being adopted. A gift as small as $5 will make a huge impact!!! Please go to this link and read all about these sweet, wonderful, lonely children who need mommies and daddies!! Thank you!!!

http://covenantbuilders.blogspot.com/2011/12/head-shots.html

Baby Boy Adoption

I thought I would write a little about what has been going on in my life before posting the info of the sweet boy that needs a family. But don't worry, I will post info of sweet Nolan at the end.

I took a break from my blog a couple years ago because I don't really think anyone was reading it and I needed a break. Things for us as a family are great. Both my boys are doing great dealing with cf and we still try to make that as small of a piece of their life as we can. Branson is currently doing home IV's for a tune-up. This is his 3rd week. It was suppose to only be for two weeks but the first antibiotic didn't do a good of a job as we hoped so the doctor changed his med and we will see where we are at after a week on this one. For Branson it is always something about this time of year. I am not sure if it is allergies or just the one year since his last tune-up wearing off but I always hope he can skip a year but so far no luck. Maybe next year.

Kyler is doing good. He is in 7th grade now. Middle school. Wow! How did that happen? I feel like I was in middle school just yesterday. And believe me..the issues with middle school that I had are still issues today. Yuk! I really don't miss middle school! Kyler did get to skip a couple of years of tune-ups but this past summer he had to have polyps removed so we went ahead and did a tune-up since he would be in the hospital anyway.

Jade is in pre-school now but acts like she is a teenager! She is doing good with her diabetes and she is very intune with her body. She is still using the omni pod insulin pump. Her teachers are very good with her and her needs at school. I was really worried about it before we got her into school but I refuse to let diabetes hold her back and so far my fears were a waste of my time because her school has done an excellent job with her!

So I haven't written on my blog in a couple of years but I have kept up with other blogs. And how I found Reeces Rainbow was through a blog that I followed. The blog I followed was about a family that had a child with medical issues. At one point they decided to adopt through Reece's Rainbow and I followed their blog all the way through the adoption. Their daughter was beautiful but after they got her home she really just blossomed! It was amazing seeing how different and beautiful their daughter became after being home only a short couple of months. Since then I have followed many other blogs that have adopted through RR and every SINGLE child turned into a different child after just a few short weeks home. Everyone blossomed! I love watching that miracle unfold with each child.

Looking through the pictures of each child on RR just breaks my heart. I wanted to do something to help. I want all those kids to have a Mommy and Daddy! So that is why I decided to start the blog up again. I don't know how to get people to look at my blog? Anyone know any tricks? I try to make titles that might be words people google in hopes that my blog will show up. And I donate when I can and I pray ALL the time for those children! I can't keep images out of my mind about those kids going to bed with no hugs, hungry, lonely, scare. The saddest part is knowing that when they turn 5 or 6 they head off to mental institutions.

Yesterday I was going to post a picture of a little girl that I had been praying for to find a Mom and Dad for awhile. Her name was Bridgett. She was 5 and I knew her time was running out. She was a blond hair, blue eyed beauty. She had HIV. Her birth Mom refused her at birth. A couple that was at her orphanage adopting her best friend blogged about how Bridgett asked every day if she had a Mama and a Papa coming...Broke my heart to read that! They talked about how sweet she was and how she loved little bitty toys and heart stickers. They talked about how hard she cried when they walked out of the gates with their daughter, her best friend for the last time.

So I prayed for her and I donated to her fund and yesterday when I went to find her info and picture on RR it was gone. My heart started beating fast and I hoped it would be on the page "My Family Found Me." I frantically scrolled down that page and her picture was not there. I cried. The only thing it could mean is she has been transferred to a mental institution and she is no longer available for adoption. Her time ran out. Oh how my heart is hurting for her! A six year old little girl in a mental institution because she has HIV. Unthinkable! No toys, no education, no swings or slides. They will have a bed and food if they are lucky. Most children do not make it two years once they are transferred. All I can do is pray for her now.

But I will continue to advocate for these kids and hope people find my blog and hope that God will tug at their hearts. For all those who are coming and reading my blog Thank You!!! And now here is a sweet little boy up for adoption through RR..

http://reecesrainbow.org/nolan117

Boy, Born September 9, 2004

Nolan is such a handsome boy! He needs a loving family!

From his medical records: long-term effects of some early trauma, slight mental delay, flat feet, farsightedness. He has fine motor skills, understands everything, he talks but it is hard to understand him. Nolan is very physically active, happy and cooperative, friends with other children.

These children are truly living on borrowed time, and families should be home study approved before an official commitment can be made for this child.

Nolan is 7 years old and he is already at a mental institution. But it is a mental institution that will allow kids to still be adopted so that is the great news! The bad news is the mental institution that he is at is a bad one! A lot of kids die of starvation at this institution. The fact that he has held on this long is a miracle! As I have said before RR takes you through the international adoption process from beginning to end. So please if you are considering adoption please consider Nolan. From what I understand his flat feet are (were) the worst of his conditions. A lot of times when they say mental delay it is because they have never been to school and once they get to the institutions they are kept in their bed day in and day out but I have watched kids come alive once they got home. Their brains catch up quickly! If you email RR they can email you back with more pictures (if they have them) and more info on Nolan. And if you can't adopt please consider donating for the cost of his adoption. Thank you!!

School's Out For Summer!!

I am done with school as of this week!! I am still waiting on grades but have my fingers crossed for A's! My kids are not out of school till June 5th so I have a few days till we are all home. I am not going to school during the summer because my kids will be home but I am ready for a break and some traveling!! I had a lot of fun this semester at school and am really glad I went back. I met a lot of great people and some really great friends!!

Boys are doing great and Jade is also doing great! We got her the omnipod pump for her diabetes and it is going pretty good with it! It is a wireless pump that has a remote to put in what she eats, ect. We are pretty excited because the part that goes on Jade is really small but in Dec omnipod is coming out with an even smaller version that is suppose to be 40% smaller by lenght and width!! That is just amazing to me because it is already so small!! The technology is pretty amazing with the omnipod too!!

Hope everyone is doing well and ready for summer!! I am I am ready!!!

New Post

So I haven't posted in a while...not sure why. Things are going good. Jade has been good, the boys have been good. I have been trying to just process everything I guess. I find myself making up these dumb sayings like....The world just keeps on going, guess I better jump back on or it will run over me. Or .....well now I can't think of all the little saying I have made up in my head the last few days. Wow! Just totally blank! I do know my mind has just been spinning a mile a minute the last few weeks. I feel somewhat disoriented. Not really in a bad way, just my whole normal thinking has been thrown off. All the "why, why, why?" and I just search my brain for some sort of answer. I have come up with a few that make sense to me. I really couldn't type them out...I tried to explain a few to Paul but couldn't really convey what was in my head, although Paul said he understood what I was saying.

The preschool Jade was at told us she couldn't come back. Said they couldn't take on that kind of liability. Ok, fine. I understand that but we payed for the whole month of Feb and she only went till the 9th of Feb so we asked for the rest of the money back. They said fine but we have to give them two weeks notice since we are leaving? What? So we say, but we are not wanting to leave..you are kicking us out so why would we have to pay two extra weeks for a notice? They say, well that's the way we do it. Ok, whatever. It's all about the buck these days. I sure couldn't run a daycare and make a family pay for two weeks because we couldn't take their child any longer because they now had diabetes. I couldn't look anyone in the face and ask for that. But, guess that is just me. Yep, some things really let you get to "know" people.

So one of our friends has been watching Jade for us while I try to finish this semester at school. At first I was just going to quit, but Paul said I should at least finish this semester and see where it goes from there. So far it has all worked out so we will see what happens. Right now we are waiting on another preschool to see if they will let us in. They said it was a good chance they would because they have had kids with diabetes before. The Dr had to write a note and then it goes before the "review board" at this preschool. It is a fancise so it has to go to corporate. She loves school and I hate that this is now a challenge. I told the place we are trying to get into now that I could just have her come a couple days a week and I could pick her up right after lunch so they wouldn't have to do the shot so we will see.

Jade has been as cute as ever! She has really been talking up a storm the last couple of weeks! Saying words she has never said before and just talking, talking, talking! Cute, cute and cute! Me and Jade have always been close (she is my BABY!!) but the last few weeks we have gotten even closer! I love that girl with all my heart and it just grows everyday!!

The boys have been as sweet as ever as well! Kyler started up spring baseball and had his first game tonight! It was a tie but Kyler played really well and got a hit first time up at bat! He made it to 1st base and then ran the bases!! He also played second base and got a kid out on the other team! He was smiling ear to ear he was so proud!! Branson started back up in soccer. His first game is this Sat. He is really excited about it!

Well that is it for now...Jade has her first Dr appt tomorrow so I will let you know how it goes. Although, I am pretty sure it will be fine since Paul knows more than the Dr. LOL! We have to call the Dr every day to give her blood numbers and then the Dr is suppose to adjust the amount of insulin but the Dr has been asking Paul what to do. LOL! She said Jade has had the best numbers and told Paul he should become a diabetes Dr.....You really don't understand it as much unless you have it I guess, even if you are a Dr.

Night!!

Wow! 3 posts in a row!

Paul has posted 3 new posts in a row!! It is some kind of miracle! Take a look if you get a chance...on my blog list under This And That

I have a busy weekend a head of me studying for my first test on monday. I went to BanesandNobel to try and find a easy to learn anatomy book. Didn't really find anything but did get the book anatomy for dummies because it had practice tests in it. See if that helps me any. Then I went and bought some ear rings to make me feel better....shopping can make almost anything ok!

Well time to get back to studying! Hope everyone has a good weekend!

PayDay Comes A Lot Faster Now!

Well at least it seems that way now! Since I started school back up it feels like the week just flies by! I can sit down to study for what seems like 30 min and 4 hours has gone by! But yet I don't get 4 hours of info in me but more like 30 min? How does that work? My anatomy class has taken over my entire life! We have gone over 5 chapters in two weeks and we have a test on Monday. We have both the Lab test and the Lecture test! Some days I feel that I am ready and other days I feel like I am defiantly not ready. Today I feel like I am not ready! Last night I was dreaming about anatomy!! In my dream I couldn't remember the name of a certain cartilage. I woke up and had to go get my book and look it up otherwise I wouldn't of been able to go back to sleep...it was Hyaline Cartilage btw. I have talk to a couple of other people in different anatomy classes and they told me they went over 1 chapter in two weeks and will have the first test over 1 chapter!!?? How did I not get that teacher?? Dang! Well please send out prayer my way that I am able to do good on my test on Monday! Thank you!!! I really want to do good on it so this weekend will all be about anatomy!

Enlightenment Tag

I was tagged by Marcus over at RT Student Blog to tell you 10 things about me. Here we go....

1. I love little sports cars! Me and Paul always try to have a 3rd car called a party car and its always a sports car to drive when me and Paul just go out or if I am going to the store by myself I will take the party car. We use to have a mustang but sold it about a year ago because it was starting to break down alot. We have been talking about getting something soon. Maybe something like an eclipse. Just a fun little car to drive.

2. I use to be a worrier. I would worry over everything! I would worry about worrying. Over the years I have really worked on this and have gotten much better at "Letting go and Letting God" but I will say since starting school back up that my worrying has reared it ugly head but I am working on it!

3. I love clothes!! I don't like shopping for clothes but I love having clothes!! This last year I have really tried not to buy too many new things because I have a lot of clothes with tags still on them that I have never worn so I am really trying to wear what I have. But I do love clothes!

4. I am a huge animal lover. I can remember when I was little how I just could feel that love I have for animals! I mean REALLY feel that LOVE! My mom always told me to be a vet but there is no way I could deal with losing an animal.

5. Even though I have watched football all my life I still don't understand a lot of the rules. I probably never will.

6. I love dancing!

7. I am addicted to facebook! It is so much fun!

8. I like all food except moon pies! When I was a kid I use to go to a public swimming pool with two friends (they were twin sisters that I grew up with on my block) and their dad would always buy us a moon pie. I was always taught that if someone buys you something you have to eat it no matter what. It took all I had to get those moon pies down! One time we finished our moon pies and their dad asked if we wanted one more. The twins said yes and I said no thank you . Well he came back with a moon pie for me too! He thought I was just being polite not wanting him to spend money on me. Again it took all I had to get that moon pie down. A few years later their dad died and I was really glad I ate those moon pies!

9. I love finding fun little dive bars.

10. I love jewelry!! I love buying jewelry everytime I buy new clothes! Not expensive jewelry but stuff you can get at Target or the mall. Jewelry can really make an outfit shine!!

Ok well now I need to tag two people I think I will tag Phenny's mom from Phoenix's Fight and Tammy from Word on the street! Thanks!!

Passports and Scooters!

Hi! I just wanted to let everyone know I haven't added pictures lately because my laptop ran out
of disc space and so Paul bought me a passport (usb hard drive) to put all my pictures on. Well when I want to pull out a picture I have to hook it up to this little passport and well I have been too scared to try it. I just need Paul to show me how once and then I will be fine but when he is home I never think about asking him to help so I need to remember....

Onto the scooters...For Christmas we got both boys electric scooters. They are so fun and go up to 12 mph. You just plug them in when you are done riding and they charge up. The kids are so cute because they have friends all up and down the block and every day after school they will get their scooters and ride to their friends house to play. It is almost like they have cars. It is so cute! All their friends on our block want one. :) I do have pictures but I will have to wait till I figure out how to get them....

I take my anatomy class downtown and their is no parking close! I would love to bring one of these scooters to ride from where I do park! I am sure I would look so cool! Lol! Oh well the walk is good exercise! On another note in my anatomy class today (The Lab) I was completely confused! We learned about connective tissue which I understand it from the book and the pictures they show in the book but in Lab we pulled out the slides and they all look the same and never look like the pictures in the book. A lot of people were confused about it and then there were the few that totally got it and tried to explain it to the rest of us but I didn't get it today. I am hoping it will click for me! They have an open lab on Sat so I may have to take a trip up there on Sat and see if I can better understand it. Wish me luck!

Wild Cat Of The Week!

Every week at my kid's school they pick a person to be Wild Cat Of The Week and this week it was Branson. He was very excited! We had to do a poster all about him with pictures of him, his family, favorite places, wishes, dreams, what he wants to be when he grows up, ect. They announce his name on the speaker on the morning announcements and the parents can come eat lunch with him for free (you can eat lunch with your kids anytime but have to pay for your lunch, which isn't a big deal). So me and Paul had lunch with Branson at school and he was so excited! All the kids at his table were so cute and all wanted to talk, talk, talk! Kyler came in when Brans' class was done eating and he came over and said hi. We asked if he wanted us to eat with him and he said no. Lol! Aww, the life of a 4th grader! I hate that he is too embrassed to eat lunch with his parents already! I do remember those days well though, so I understand.

Today I had my developmental psyc today and I really like my teacher. She use to be a paramedic, then she went back to school for psycology and got her masters. Then she had a practice and now she teachers and is going for her PH D. She is a very good teacher and very interesting! I love teachers like this because it makes class so much more fun! Today we laughed so much (she is also very funny!).

So all in all today was a very fun day! My hand is sore from writing so much (all the note cards I have been doing for anatomy class). I haven't writen this much in forever!

I Know! I Know! I Know!

Well here is a little school update. My anatomy class is going to be fast and furious and I am a little worried about this. Our first test is in two weeks and it will be over 5 chapters!! And on the same day we will also have our Lab class test! And this first test will be the easiest of all the tests!!! The second test will be over 7 chapters! Whatever happened to going over 1 chapter for a couple of weeks then taking a test? Guess that was back in high school. :)

So the 19 year old in me would of waited till about two days before the test then started studying and reading the 5 chapters. I know this because that is how I use to do it and amazingly I did pass but with C's. So this weekend I read the first 3 chapters and made a million note cards and studied the note cards! Today in class the teacher would ask questions and I felt like that annoying person that would throw up her hand and be like "I know! I know! I know!! Pick me! Pick me! Pick me!!!" Haha! I had never done this before and I was so proud of myself!! Usually I am the one where when the teacher asks the question I pretend to be deeply engrossed in my note taking that I could not possibly answer any questions. Lol!

So we will see what happens on the first test! Maybe my mom was right..." Your smart, you just never apply yourself." It is a different experience to go to class and actually understand what is going on! Can you tell? All my old school issues are coming up! All week I have been having flashbacks from high school and college!

School Update

Well I started school this week! I really like my classes so far. Almost everyone in my Human Anatomy class is going for nursing so it was nice to meet other people with the same goal. Unfortunately we have all been sick this week so I wasn't feeling my best but I pushed through. Jade was sick last week, then Kyler was sick over the weekend, then I came down with it on Sunday night, Paul on Monday and Branson was today. Kyler and Jade are back to their normal happy selves and have been at school all week. Branson missed school today and will probably miss tomorrow. Paul has been in bed since Monday and I would of been in bed but have had to get out to go to school. I didn't want to miss the first week of school. I did pretty good today (I was tanked up on Day Quil) but crashed once I got home. We are all ready to get over this cold. It has been a strange bug because one day you will feel sick, then next day you will feel better like you are getting over it and then the next day you are back to feeling worse than every before. It tricks you. Hope everyone out there is feeling well and I will update again soon!

Questions and Answers!

I got this off another blog so here it goes...

1. Do you like scary movies?
Not anymore. I use to like them when I was younger but now they just seem to be really gross. All blood and guts.

2. What kind of cell phone do you have?
I have a blackberry. Sprint was giving them away free if you upgraded your contract for another 2 years. I love sprint so I had no problem doing the 2 year contract. I love the blackberry. You can check email, facebook, myspace, ect. It is like a mini computer.

3.Do you have a passport?
Yes. Got one when we went to Cabo last summer. My first one!

4. Has anything out of the ordinary happen this week?
Well my daughter did get a rash on her hands and feet this week. Dr said she picked it up from school. It is gone now.

5. Have you broken any bones?
Yes in a car wreck when I was 21. My knee/leg. Had to have knee surgery and have a bolt put in my leg because the bone was too crushed. I set a lot of airport security off. LOL!

6. Did you do anything this week that you normally don't do?
Yes, I am taking two classes and a lab at school starting next week and they are at two different campus so I went to both campus and found where my classes would be. Talk about flashbacks!

7.What's the worst thing you have had in your wardrobe?
Hmmmm.....probably the jeans that were up to your belly button. Back when they were in, not anymore. I am sure there has been way more than that but I try to block it out! Haha!


8. Did you ever have braces?
No! :)

9. Ever win a big sum of money?
Well it wasn't a really big amount but the second time in Vegas I didn't want to spend a lot at the slots so I was joking with our friends and said I was only going to spend a dollar. I put it in and won 150.00 in quarters. I was like 'ok I am done with the slots!' haha!

10. Any big plans coming up?
Well we are trying to decide what to do for Spring Break...maybe Disney?

Update

So here is a quick update. I am going back to school for nursing. My classes start next week on tues Jan 20th! I can't wait to get the first week over with! I only have 4 classes to take before I can apply for the nursing program but have to take my anatomy class before I can take the other 3 classes. I also have a psychology class that i can take now so I am taking 2 classes and a lab this semester. I did have all my math, history, English out of the way so I was really glad that all my classes I took way back when still would count! Back when I was 19 and started college I had thought about being a nurse but had never really been around nurses, hospitals, ect and thought that you had to be as smart as a Dr to be a nurse and I didn't have the confidence to think I could do it. I had really no direction at that time and just took basics (which now I am glad I did that). Well now that I have been around a ton of nurses I realize I could be a nurse. We have had some really great nurses and we have had others. After I get my RN I would really like to work at a dermatolgist office or a plastic surgeons office. I really like skin care and love all the Dr 90210 shows. If that doesn't pan out I would like to work in labor and Delivery. Or I might just be a school nurse and have all the holidays and summers off. I just love all the possibilities! I may even stay in school till I get my masters and then I can be a nurse practitioner. I am really excited about going back to school and actually having a direction this time!

ps. Head on over to Phoneix's Fight down on the right side of my blog and leave him some love and prayers! Thanks!!

Ruby

I have been watching the show Ruby about a woman on a weight loss journey. I really like the show and it is very inspirational. It is on Style Network on Sundays 8/7 c.

She weighed almost 500 pounds when she started and she has lost over 100 pounds. They show reruns through out the week so I have caught up on past episodes. She really has changed from the beginning! On one episode some people started making fun of her. They were adults, not kids, and it made me so mad I wanted to go gives those people a piece of my mind! I can't believe how rude people can be and how mean!! She was going to a restaurant and having a hard time walking up the stairs and the mean people were sitting outside and started making fun of her. It just amazed me that people could do that right to someone's face!

Anyway just thought I would pass this on in case you are looking for a show to watch while most shows are in reruns.

25 Tips For A Better Life- 2009

25 TIPS FOR A BETTER LIFE - 2009

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.
2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you have to.
3. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'My purpose is to __________ today.'
4. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
5. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.
6. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
7. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts o r things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
8. Eat breakfast like a king
9. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
10. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
11. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
12. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
13. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
14. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
15. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
16. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'
17. Forgive everyone for everything.
18. What other people think of you is none of your business.
19. GOD heals almost everything. . . and He can heal everything if its in His plan. We just need to trust His bigger picture.
20. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
21. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch!!!
22. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
23. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I am thankful for __________. Today I accomplished _________.
24. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

25. And lastly, always know that I love you!

Hmmmm...

It's not what you eat between Thanksgiving and New Years that matters as much as what you eat between New Years and Thanksgiving!!

I heard that awhile back and thought it was cute!

Picture Tag- Read Below Picture!

The object of the picture tag is to:

1) Choose the 4th folder where you store your pictures on your computer

2) Select the 4th picture in the folder

3) Explain the picture

4) Tag 4 people to do the same

NO CHEATING! (cropping, editing, etc!)

Here is mine!

A couple of months ago Jade became obsessed with shoes! My shoes, her shoes, any shoes (yep she is a girl!) and everyday she would go in my closet and come out with a pair of my shoes on. The funny thing was she would get a different pair everyday. So this is a picture of her with my shoes on.

Ok, I am not going to just tag 4 people...I tag everyone!! So now go find your 4th picture!! Can't wait to see yours!!!

My Bday Pictures

Life

Do not try to tame the heart,
but listen to its song,
and it will lead you to the place
where you most belong.

Life is about becoming what you were meant to be....

Chirstmas Tree Ornaments

Ten years ago me and Paul bought our first Christmas tree and ornaments to go on the tree. I was very specific on the ornaments. I had a certain look in mind. I wanted a very upscale looking tree. We spent a fortune on the ornaments and the tree looked fabulous.

Then our kids were born and we started the tradition of putting their picture in an ornament each year and each year the kids pick out an ornament of their choice. Last night I was looking at our tree with all the spidermans, supermans, Doras, baseballs, soccer balls, The Hulk, puppies, cars, starwars figures, all the school made, ect, ect, ect ornaments and couldn't help but cry. Each kid's ornament from over the years has added such beauty I could of never imagined. Each kid's ornament has a story of that year that it was picked out. Each year when the ornaments are going up the kids remember each one and tell the stories of why they had picked that one. It brings back such good memories and the kids remember each one.

Each year more and more of the ornaments that I picked out that first year stay in boxes and I know one year there won't be a trace of those first year's ornaments. But I wouldn't change a thing! Our tree is more beautiful then I could of ever thought possible filled with happy memories from top to bottom with more and more added each year! This is one of my favortie parts of Christmas!