It Was Good While It Lasted

So it's been about three weeks since I've used a sick day. May hadn't been feeling quite right since Sunday, but nothing, but tired and a fever. Monday morning she didn't complain of everything and I just gave her some tylenol to help her through the school day in case her fever came back. Yesterday when I picked her up from school she was so tired and just came home and slept so I called and was able to get a strep test appt for her this morning so I was going to take a half day of work off. Then this morning when I woke up May she told me her ears were hurting too. So then I had to make an appt with a doctor, but couldn't get in until the afternoon so it ended up being a whole day off for me. Poor Mayme has a double ear infection and most likely strep. Since they put her on antibiotics for the ears there was no point in doing the strep test, but she said it looked like that's what she had. I just don't know what to do to keep her healthy!!

I forgot to mention that on Saturday when we went to the zoo Lydia was so tired near the end that when she was walking by me holding my hand she was resting her head on my arm. I loved that.

It Was Good While It Lasted

So it's been about three weeks since I've used a sick day. May hadn't been feeling quite right since Sunday, but nothing, but tired and a fever. Monday morning she didn't complain of everything and I just gave her some tylenol to help her through the school day in case her fever came back. Yesterday when I picked her up from school she was so tired and just came home and slept so I called and was able to get a strep test appt for her this morning so I was going to take a half day of work off. Then this morning when I woke up May she told me her ears were hurting too. So then I had to make an appt with a doctor, but couldn't get in until the afternoon so it ended up being a whole day off for me. Poor Mayme has a double ear infection and most likely strep. Since they put her on antibiotics for the ears there was no point in doing the strep test, but she said it looked like that's what she had. I just don't know what to do to keep her healthy!!

I forgot to mention that on Saturday when we went to the zoo Lydia was so tired near the end that when she was walking by me holding my hand she was resting her head on my arm. I loved that.

I Did It Mama!

Well Lydia refuses to act like she's 1 and is in such a hurry to grow up. I have never heard "I did it Mama" or "Let me try Mama" so much as this weekend. It was a great weekend I must start off by saying. Friday I got to have a playdate with a friend and her daughter. I put playdate in bold because it was such a fun, fun, thing! It made my day. It was quite fun to watch the girls play and also see my friend and visit. It was a gorgeous day on Friday and after the playdate I had to run into town and get groceries and quick race home before my husband had to leave for work. Later on in the day the girls and I went over to my dad's which was real nice because we haven't been there hardly at all. Mayme decided to take a flashlight and look under my dad's stove in the back room. She found a marble, two bouncy balls...one of which was mine when I was a kid, a bulb from an old camera, and an old pixie stick wrapper. She was so excited to find these "discoveries". I told her there is a lot to discover at grandpa's house. It was pretty cute. From the moment we got to my dad's though Lydia was into everything. My dad said "Mayme is pretty trick, but I think Lydia is going to be a bit more tricky." Indeed. :) Saturday we bundled up and decided to go to the zoo. We have a membership so everything is free as long as we eat well before we go and don't give in to buying food there. We did well. We didn't buy any food or anything from the gift store. It was so cold! We were lucky that we got there an hour after it opened so we got a parking spot nearby, but still us and others going to the zoo were running to the door because the wind was just brutal. We spent all the time inside. It was so much fun because Lydia actually knew what some of the animals were and enjoyed looking at them. She really was into the monkeys. We went by the fishercat and Lydia didn't understand it was glassed and in and couldn't get her. She started backing away from the glass and was saying "Scared, scared." After she realized it couldn't come through the glass things went better. We ended with the monorail which Lydia almost had a meltdown on, but thankfully we kept her distracted enough until we were able to escape. haha! Her and Mayme were out like a light in the car. We spent the night watching a few movies we got at the library. Today has been cleaning, cleaning, cleaning!! Mayme and Lydia were ready little helpers to take the sheets off the bed, vaccum, dust, pick up and other things. It made things a lot easier for me and they had fun which is perfect. Lydia surprised me by being able to get up on our rocking horse by herself. All of the sudden I heard her say "Look Mama, I did it" She then got off and repeated it again. Then tonight when I got her out of the tub and I was drying her off she started going potty and I was amazed she went over to the potty and sat down. She got a little in her potty chair, but mostly it was just on the floor, but she was so excited for that tiny bit in her chair and frankly so was I. Maybe she is capable of figuring it out so young??

I cannot believe February is almost here!!

Okra Winfrey

Every night Mayme and I play the alphabet game and we will do one with things we would take on a picnic and one of animals. Last night I got O on the picnic and I said Okra...to which May says "Mom, Okra is a woman not a food!!!" I laughed so hard.

A Touch of Gray

Well the house is finally up to it's normal temperature. YEAH! I just had to report that it has been a week now that Lydia has gone to bed without whimpering or crying when I walk out of the room. We rock and she nurses. Tonight she told me she was ready for na night. I put her down and said night and she said night and I closed the door. What a weight to not have to wonder if she's going to whimper or scream when I leave the room. Another hurdle overcome. How many to go?? :)

Oh and by the way about two weeks ago I found my first gray hair. I am more wiser and sophisticated than I knew apparently.

A Touch of Gray

Well the house is finally up to it's normal temperature. YEAH! I just had to report that it has been a week now that Lydia has gone to bed without whimpering or crying when I walk out of the room. We rock and she nurses. Tonight she told me she was ready for na night. I put her down and said night and she said night and I closed the door. What a weight to not have to wonder if she's going to whimper or scream when I leave the room. Another hurdle overcome. How many to go?? :)

Oh and by the way about two weeks ago I found my first gray hair. I am more wiser and sophisticated than I knew apparently.

Is it warm yet??

Well we survived the monster truck show and we all still have our hearing. We almost didn't make it for the fact that a couple hours before we were to leave Mayme pulled on Lydia's arm so hard that Lydia screamed everytime she tried to move it. Lydia fell asleep on top of me and when Paul's mom came to watch her so we could go she woke up and started screaming all over again and her arm was a bit swollen. We put some ice on it, but it seemed that there was no stopping it. So Paul and I decided to take her to the ER. I figured I would sit in the backseat with her while Paul drove, but the minute we got to the stop sign at the end of our road she was waving it around happy as can be. We called the ER to see what they said and they said as long as she was moving it around not to worry about it. So we turned back around and exchanged Lydia for Mayme and headed to the cities. (The only thing we can think of is that when Lydia fell asleep her arm stiffened from where it hurt...maybe that's why it hurt so bad right away??) All that matters is that it was nothing serious. Oh the joys of having more than one child. Reminds me of the time my brother broke my arm. haha!

We did have a good time Saturday night and got home around midnight. We all slept in Sunday morning, Lydia was battling her cold still and she slept in until 10. Today I was just rushing all day it seems. I rushed to work and after work I had to rush and pick up Mayme so I could take her to dance class and help her get into her uniform. Class is usually at 3:15 and that's what time pictures were set for, but every year it seems people think they can just show up whenever. It wouldn't have been so bad except along with individual photos they take a group photo. So even though May was done at 3:20 we didn't get everyone for the group photo until ten to 4. Oh well. Then I had to run to my mom's and pick up some stuff. During this time Paul called to tell me the furnace wasn't working. Our furnace is old and so it seems when we get done with a cold, cold snap it quits working. Of course it's still cold though so I thought I was going to have to take the girls and spend the night at my dad's, but the furnace guy came and fixed it so now the heat is a-going, but it still is chilly. I think we have finally reached 60 degrees. I am so excited we don't have school Friday, but I am completely spoiled by these 4 day weeks. It's will be a bit longer until the next one now. I dont know where January has gone.

I'm back

So I seem to be keeping up the organizational things, but of course haven't kept up on this. Here it is Saturday already. Last week was para week and yesterday we were treated to breakfast by our boss, cookies and hot chocolate for a mid morning snack from the kids that we work with closely and subway subs for lunch. Not a bad day. It was quite nice and relaxing. Lydia and I have come down with colds again. sigh. Tonight Paul, Mayme, and I head to Monster Jam. I am trying to feel up to it, but it's hard when I ache so bad and can hardly breathe because my nose it so congested. Mayme's nose seeems to be getting some relief from the flonase, but unfortunately it's not helping with her hearing. She finished up her roller skating yesterday. She was telling us yesterday she was even attempting lifting one leg off the ground while rolling. She said she fell a few times trying it, but I was pretty proud of her for continuing to try it. She also told me that her teacher is going to have a baby. When I asked her how she knew she said she asked her. I asked Mayme why she asked her teacher if she was pregnant. And she said "Because her tummy is getting big". So I had to ask her and ask again that her teacher did say yes and also tell Mayme that just because someones tummy is getting big doesn't always mean they have a baby in it. Thank goodness in this case it happened to be true. She is due at the beginning of May. whew! Lydia is now counting 1,2,3,4,8. She just said from across the room "I need help." She needed help getting open a polly pocket box. She surprises me when she does that. Right now we are watching veggie tales and the name of the story this week is "The Asparagus of La Mancha", so my concentration isn't all on this. Next up will be Jane and the Dragon which both the girls love and me too. So I am going to have to continue this. I am sure I will have a lot to write about in the morning.

Come On Jess

Well our January weather seems to be back or at least visiting. Friday I had to stand outside with the kids for half an hour and that was long enough. I felt like my forehead was going to explode it was so cold and that's not good. At the end of the day we got to have an ice cream party though so that's always nice. May and I had another movie night. Some friends of mine came up to join as well. We let Lydia join this time and she kept refilling my bowl of popcorn which was nice, but then decided to dump the ice cream pail full of popcorn all over the floor. So once again our floor was quite the sight. After the movie we played a game of Yahtzee and Mayme took us all to the cleaners. It was fun though. Now that she's getting older I can see she wants to be part of the girls with us. Like the part when it was my turn to roll and I hear her say "Come on Jess....you can do it!!" I just looked at her and she then says "um, Come on Mommy, you can do it!!!"

Saturday morning I took the girls in to get groceries and they were both real well and May helped me a lot. She had her winter dance show last night and she did so well. She is so cute to watch, but she looks so grown up. Afterwards we went with Grandpa for a treat at the Dairy Queen. When we got home it was time for the girls to go to bed. Mayme usually talks in her sleep, but last night she was screaming and sounded like she was crying. I went in to check on her and her eyes were closed. No tears. I just woke her and asked her if she was having a bad dream and she said that she wasn't. It was really strange. Right now I am eagerly awaiting everyone waking up so we can have our Sunday morning breakfast!! :)

(static) Houston (static) We Have Lift Off

At 2:01 a.m. central standard time a bright light shown as the Space Shuttle Mayme traveled to the planet known as Bathroom where she pottied. This is the first lift off that she has traveled to this place on her own at night. There were many previously scheduled launches, but she failed to launch or had issues with wet "weather".

May this be the first of many travels in the wee hours to this planet.

(static) That's one small step from her bed and one giant leap over this hurdle!! (static)

Nothin' Better

I swear there is nothing better than walking through the house and hearing Mayme say "Mom? I love you." I was just walking by her and she just said that which I am so blessed she does so often. Not for any reason other than just to say it. I've really tried to say it a lot so she knows a lot how much I love her. Lydia tonight too surprised me. I rocked her and then when I get up to put her in the crib I will sometime just swing with her a bit. Tonight she gave me a big kiss on the cheek. I put her in her crib and she wanted her "meow meow" that she like sto sleep with. I went an found it for her and when I brought it in I tucked her in and said "ok, na night" and she said "i lub you". That's the first time I have heard her say that. It's just been lootoo. I think it helps one of our cats name is Lovey and she always calls her lubby. So I told her I love her too and we went back and forth for a bit and then she said ok when she was ready to go to bed. I just wish every night was like that. Some nights she is just ready to go and others she wants to hang on. At least she let me sing to her. She was going through a streak for awhile when I would rock her and she would say "no sing" every time I started. Sometimes I would stop and other times I would basically tell her too bad. Tonight I asked "Can I sing to you tonight?" and she said mhmm.

sidenote: I am desperately trying to avoid cleaning the cat box, but to no avail I cannot avoid it any longer. ergh!

It's nice to be remembered

Today was another good day. It seems the colder it is the harder it is for me to want to get out of bed though. I think I could have slept in until noon if I was allowed. I am thankful for the cold if it kills all the germies going around. Although I wish it would get cold the week I am inside at work. It's not much fun standing outside for a little over an hour when it's cold. It's not that it's that cold right now either, but man the wind is wicked. I had a student with me all day today that was in suspension so that left me pretty much in my room the full time. At least I had things to occupy my time so it worked out nicely. After my fitting last night I have decided next week to go back on the Special K diet. I lost a few pounds when I did it about a year ago, but I am hoping to add in some regular exercise as well. After work I picked up May and we headed home. I grabbed the mail and saw a letter addressed to me. There was no return address which is sometimes fun because if you don't recognize the handwriting then it's like a little surprise. I opened it to find out it was from a girl that I knew from the first year I started at my job. She was a 5th grader than. The fifth graders that were there the first year are the ones I really remember because they were new to building and I to the school so we learned together. Anyway, her mom had battled cancer on and off three years . The night before she was to graduate from 7th grade her mom died. This girl was so special and could always make me laugh and my heart just broke for her. I had the chance to meet her mom about 6 months before she died and she was such a happy person and I could see where this girl got all laughter and love from. She would always tell me jokes her mom would make about her cancer or the chemo. She just never had a down attitude. This girls parents had been divorced and her dad lived in another town so when her mom died she moved away and we wrote a few letters back and forth and then we both stopped writing. I mainly because Lydia was born and I just got busy and her I am sure because her life was moving forward. Long story long I got a letter from her telling me how well things were going in her life. Her dad was going to remarry. School was going well and she was out for a lot of activities. She has great teachers and friends. She also sent me a school picture. She's in tenth grade now and it just really meant the world to me that she still remembered me after all this time and that she took the time to write me a letter. The kids I meet at my job are incredible individuals and it is so exciting to see who they become as they get older. I am really lucky.

Hi Ho Hi Ho...it's back to work I go

So I returned to work today. While at work Paul took Mayme to her doctors appt.. Our doctor said that she is quite convinced that Mayme has an allergy of some sort going on. Her ears have filled up with fluid again, but because of the congestion and continuous sore throat she is fairly sure we should try Flonase antihistamine for the next 4-6 weeks and then we will stop her from taking it and see what happens. I am just so thankful that there was something we could try. Paul and Lydia also got checked out while they were there and it's just viral. So once again it will pass. Work went by really fast. I stayed until 4 to make up for our snow day. It's great having snow days, but we have to make them up which stinks, but since we've only had one so far it's not like I have piles of hours to make up. After work I went in to get measured for my bridesmaid dress. Yikes. It went smoothly and the lady was really nice, but she had to remind me that the other girl in the wedding party is a size 2, which I am DEFINENTLY not, but I still have a few months to trim down a bit.

Tonight and supper Mayme took her drink and said "Mom, do you know what this? A fluid!" So I said well what is an ice cube ? and She thought for a second and said "A solid." Then Paul blew air in her hair and he said well, what's that? And she thought for a little bit longer and said "a gas". I seriously do not remember learning this in 1st grade. It was crazy. So all night we've been pointing to things and discussing which category it fits in. It was a really good day and now I am looking forward to going to bed. I am sleepy tonight.

I'm Not It!

Well I am home today and for once it's not me. Paul and Lydia are both sick so I am home nursemaiding today. The sun is shining and I must admit sometimes it's nice to stay home and take care of the ones I love. It's when they are throwing up that I would much rather be at work since it's harder to be at home seeing them go through all the pain and cleaning up the mess. Yesterday we went into town to get Mayme a new bookcase. She has so many books and I allot so much money a month for her to gets book from scholastic. The bookcase she has now is filled and overflowing with books on top, books in front of... I saw a good deal on a 71 in. tall bookshelf and told her that instead of books this month that I wanted to get her a bookshelf because I want her to take care of her books and I didn't want to buy her anymore if she didn't have a place for them. She was all for it. We also went into town to get her bangs cut and find her a lamp. She had a lamp in her room and then we put that in Lydia's room, but have found that Mayme really needs one back in her room too. It was a good quick trip and I think she thought it was fun that it was kind of an "all about her" trip. We were so excited to get home and put together the bookshelf, but unfortunately the guy who loaded it in the truck failed to noticed or noticed and did not care that there was a piece of the box ripped off on one side and the wood was chipped. We didn't look it over side to side when they set it in. Ergh! So we are going to have to take it back. Yesterday Lydia was so tired and I thought it was because she didn't get a nap, but she started with a nasty cough now on Saturday. She fell asleep around 5 and most times when she falls asleep at that time she will sleep through the night, but nope. She woke up around 9 and was just hot. Her temp was close to 102 and everytime she coughed she cried and she told me her neck hurt. So I think she had a sore throat. I gave her some tylenol. All she wanted to do was breastfeed. After a couple hours though of her wanting to nurse and then not and then again. Well...it was time to try and get her back to bed. I laid her down and she started to whimper and I just told her that I just needed her to try and sleep. She said na night and was quiet. I called in thinking it would be a long night and she would be up a lot, but she ended up sleeping through the night. Her temp isn't as high today, but you can tell she still doesn't feel up to par. Paul is sick too though so I guess it helps him out too by me being home. I am VERY fortunate to have a job that is so understanding about taking sick days not just for me but my family as well.

Sunday, Sunday. So Good To Me.

I love Sunday mornings. I always have. Things just seem quieter on a Sunday morning. More still and peaceful. (Helps that I live out in the country). I find myself getting up early just for the reason that everyone else tends to sleep in. I did my sleeping in yesterday so now is when I find my alone time. My perfect Sunday morning used to consist of going and getting a paper and smoking the whole drive. Then just sitting on the deck, reading the paper, drinking coffee and smoking. Well it's too chilly to sit out on the deck. I don't want to use the fuel to go get a paper and I quit smoking so it's just me and my coffee. I also enjoy watching the CBS Sunday Morning Show. aka The Sun Show. May's hates it so she cringes when she wakes up and wants to watch something and I tell her nope...it's the sun show. I gave up the smoking in June 2004 and am happy to say I have only faltered once when a friend (who also gave up smoking) and I broke down and bought a pack and split it in an evening of sitting outside just chatting and listening to music. I decided to give it up for the fact that okay first of all I had found out I was pregnant and second of all, yes I know it will improve my life, my health and there is not just me to think about anymore. Also because Mayme is older and not stupid at all. I don't want her to see me doing it and pick up on it. I didn't want to be a mom that has to sneak out of the house at 2 a.m. for a cigarette in the backyard either. For awhile there Mayme was copying her Grandpa with pens or other things to pretend she was smoking. I remember doing that too. I would roll up a piece of paper and pretend to smoke. Oooh and those bubble gums that had the powder on them and when you blew it, it looked like smoke. I really should try those when I am having a stressful moment. Oh how the times have changed. I was very proud of Mayme because on the way home from my uncle and aunt's anniversary party last year we stopped at a gas station and we got out of the truck and my dad decided to have a smoke. Mayme said to him that he needed to stop or else he would die. Then of course I feel bad for my dad because I know he's tried and tried and tried........After 50 years I'm know it's hard. I know I don't like to hear that I am going to die though.

Which reminds me that Mayme and I had another conversation about that that left us both crying. When Gerald Ford died we were watching the news and Mayme asked why he died. I told him that he was 93 and when you get old your body gets older and tired and your heart eventually stops. If only it was that way for everyone. So she starts crying and telling me she doesn't want me to get older and that she doesn't want anyone we know to die and I start crying because I start thinking how I don't want anyone to die yet I am trying to tell her it's a good thing when you die because of what happens in the next life. Then we mutually decided to stop talking about it. But for some reason lately I have been trying to tell her that if I were to die that I would want Paul to get married again and be happy. That I would want her to have someone to watch her in my place even though I would still be watching her too. That was a fun little story wasn't it? Over Christmas I had a dream about a friend of mine that died 10 years ago. She was with me and it was like we were watching our lives in high school on tape and at the end of the dream she had been dead for awhile and I went to visit her family and was tears because I felt so bad that I had visited them or even sent a card. They told me they understood and I just tried to tell them I wanted them to know I care, but didn't want them to be reminded of what happened if I tried to contact them. It was really weird and really sad. I don't think I've dreamt about her since a day ot two after she died.

I didn't get anything done that I thought I was going to yesterday. The main thing was go in and get May's bangs cut. She has her winter dance show next weekend and pictures the week after that. The girls and I ended up napping in the afternoon and then Grace came over to play. By the time she went home the hair place we closed so I just ended up watching Tommy Boy. Holy Schnikes I love that movie!!

Nana in the Shoe and Elep-hants

So I am enjoying this being organized deal. I am going with it for as long as I can. So far I have been able to be caught up....at least on the things I want to be caught up on. haha! I find I do all the main things around the house and then find I have nothing left that , okay, nothing left that I want to do and then I find I get bored and lazy. So I am tyring to keep the momentum going. I am at least feeling good that I am able to find time to write on here.

Last night Lydia asked me for a banana and I gave her a piece. The next thing I heard coming from the other room was "Mama, come look!" I went into the bedroom and Lydia pointed and said "Nanas in the shoe". Yes, she had stuffed her banana in her shoe. I am remembering old memories of such things happening with Mayme and I should know better than to let my 1 year old run around with any kind of food, especially into another room...Yet I still finding myself doing it. I find it gives us a continuing reason to destroy the carpet so we can get new carpet 15 years from now. I swear.

Mayme was reading a book about Noah's Ark last night and I've been trying to tell her that when she has trouble sounding out a word to look at the picture. Well one page had a picture of 2 elephants and that's what it said on the page. "Two elephants" yet it was so interesting to hear her say Elep-hants. I corrected her and she looked at me like I was crazy and said "but there's no f in there". So that was pretty cute. After Lyd went down Mayme and I had our movie night. We watched Pirates of the Caribbean 2. We have watched this movie before. I keep it quite edited for her. Last night she was truly a six year old. She just kept asking question upon question up question. It was a lot of fun though. Except for the fact that we had popcorn and our floor looked like the bottom of movie theatre floor by the time we were finished.

Today has been much laughter. The girls wrestling with eachother. I can see Mayme looking at Lydia more like someone to have fun with now than a pain...which I think she felt for awhile. It makes me long for more of that. We were hoping to try for a another baby this year, but after much deliberation it seems like now would not be the right time. So it looks like another couple of years. Lydia is a lot more needy I find than Mayme ever was. I have discussed with Paul that I just don't know if having another one right now would help her calm down on some of her emotional stuff or make her more irritated. I grew up with a crazy brother who is fine now, but always wanted kill me (and my friends) as we were growing up. I just get visions of that for some reason. So I think she needs some more mommy-daddy time to secure her. Plus we don't have a vehicle that would fit three car seats so after my previous blog you see that is another thing to start saving for. I think it makes me feel more comfortable too. Just for the fact that by that time Lydia will be 4 and starting preschool in the fall and so she will be able to be out and about without a baby at home all the time. And Paul will get a break too. 3 will probably be it for us. I have probably mentioned before that I always wanted to have 4 by the time I was 30....not going to happen. (Unless it's twins and I were to get pregnant next Jan or Feb..) I am kind of excited about waiting to because I am going to turn 30 in December and really want to be able to celebrate. Basically drink, yes. It's funny how I always thought 4 kids for sure, but at one time thought 6. Then I had one and that number for sure stayed at 4. Then we had Lydia and then I thought for awhile two was good. :) I do want another one though and if it happens then I want that easy labor they say that happens the second time around that I never got.

A Light at the End of a Long Tunnel

So along with it being a new year comes the relief of knowing that our BIG loan should be paid off sometime this year. We knew four years would go by really fast yet at the same time it has seemed to last forever. We are hoping to get money back from taxes and pay it off sooner. We have a few family members to pay back and a few other bills to pay down, but to know we will be done with it going to one place every month will be nice and then when everything is squared away being able to save will be the best. We look forward to being able to have a savings for us and the girls. Extra money for groceries even!! I don't want to go crazy when we have extra money, but I really am looking forward to being able to go get groceries and splurge on a 12 pack of pop if I want. Not that I haven't, but every time I get groceries we really have had to try and stick to a strict budget to pull ourselves out of a deep hole and bad spending habits. I give most of the credit to my mom. She has been supportive of us through this all. Borrowed money if she had too, took time to talk it out with use and offered ideas, but never once did she lecture me. She knew I felt bad enough about our situation and she just wanted to help. Her biggest help has been the "BILL BOOK". At one time or another she has sat down with all the kids and started us on them. Unfortunately it was when we all started having money issues that she taught us instead of when we were teenagers, but I am just thankful for the lesson. I know where we've been and know I don't want to go back there. I was so excited to receive a new bill book for Christmas. I have the first half of the year planned out...although things always come up. Now I am calculating numbers all the time....Paul can see me starting to turn into my mom. Always trying to save money and budget. I see a lot of people I work with spending money they don't have and that's exactly where we were. It's been helpful for me that I grew up with not a lot of money so there isn't really anything I miss or find I need to have. I guess either I knew it wasn't what I had that was important, but who I was ...or I knew we were so poor there was no point in asking for things. I wouldn't say we were poor either. We had a roof, heat, clothes and food, but we didn't have a ton beyond that. I have to admit through this time it has been hard to sit by and watch my coworkers get take out for lunch everyday or friends wanting to go do things and me not being able too because I couldn't afford to spend the money. Sure I have also had those moments where I wanted to go spend money (even if I didn't have it) just to make myself feel normal. Oh who am I kidding. To make myself feel good. I have had those moments and acted on them too, but then felt guilty and taken things back, but it felt good to by them even if I didn't keep them. I do find myself taking more time to look into seeing what I really "NEED". That's what so funny with Paul. He's an only child and has usually gotten what he wants and he also has expensive taste. Mayme and him are so much alike. You can show them two identical things and without knowing the price they will choose the more expensive. I am more like "whatever gets the job done and is cheap." That's thanks to my parents. So Paul usually hates when he says "We need to get such and such..." He usually cringes as he know what I am going to say..."Do we really NEED it?" We are learning to find happy mediums. :)

So that was a lot there. It has been a really good week. Maybe it was because it was short. Maybe it was because the sun has actually been shining. I don't know, but I really like it. It definently makes work a lot more enjoyable and life in general. May the rest of the year go this way, may I share those happy moments with those I love and perfect strangers and may I always remember what is truly important in this life: To give, live, and love....oh wait that motto has already been taken, but it's a good one...I'll go with that. Cheers!

You just won 10,000,000 dollars!

Well this morning I prepared my publishers clearing house papers to send off in the mail. My chances are slim, but I figure "hey! why not". May was eating breakfast and we both gave the envelope a kiss for good luck and talked about what we would do if we won that money. The only think she was concerned about was that she would like a Roboraptor. (I'm thinking it's going to be a birthday present) So after talking for awhile about it and getting ready to leave she asked if she was going to see the truck delivering the money after school. To which I had to tell her that no we didn't win anything-probably wouldn't win anything and that it's just fun to talk about. After school she said we should check the mail to see if the money was there. Again I had to correct her. Finally at supper she said "So, mom when we win the money..." and then I just glared at her and didn't have to say a thing. She simply said "If we win the money" and continued on her way. Yikes!

It has been a really good week. I am trying to be more organized which is allowing me more time for myself and with the girls. I am finding Lydia is more and more miss independent, but am trying to incorporate that into her helping me. She wants to do everything. I am noticing her and Mayme playing more and more together. It's really fun to watch. Mayme was pretending she was a train and had Lydia holding on to her and they were choo choo-ing all over the house. It's just a nice sight to see and fun to her their laughter. Mayme starts her roller skating tomorrow.......to be continued.

2007

Well here it is three days into the new year (I think) and I am completely messed up on the days. It's January and that means 5 months until summer vacation! So I figure that's roughly 20 weeks, but we still have about 2 weeks worth of days yet to have off and I will miss a few more going to Virginia at the end of March so that gets me to about 18 weeks. I think I can handle that. Break went by fast, but it was a break none the less. Mayme is having hearing issues again so we have an appointment set up for her next week. I am hoping that we can get her on some medication to clear up her nose and get her ears cleared up. I feel so bad for her not being able to hear. I just found out today that one of my older cousins went in to the emergency room last week because he hadn't been feeling well and was tired. They figured out it was his heart and were going to do surgery and then found the two valves that are real bad and unfixable and now he is on a heart transplant list. I can't even imagine going to a doctor and finding out that I would need to be on a transplant list. He will have to go in once a week for monitoring and tests until he gets to the top of the list. Keep him in your thoughts.

I am hoping to keep on this better this year. Maybe some more interesting things will happen. haha! I have a friend getting married in June and am in the wedding so soon that will be here too....better get to losing that weight from the holidays.