Mucho Stache

My friend Lynn, who was responsible for bringing you the monkey butts, didn't believe me a few years ago, when I told her that I do nothing to my upper lip.


But driving to church a week ago, I saw it.


Nothing short of a handlebar growing up there.


So, I made the decision. It was time to do something about it.





So I consulted the professionals.





And, I'll be dealing with that tonight.



Wish me luck.

Can't Keep a Straight Face

My family is & has always been silly, like to the point that others don't appreciate or understand us. We can't just pose normally in photos. In serious venues, we crack jokes.

No one is safe from being poked fun at by us.

So, why should I not be suprised when Flynn made these faces recently, while I tried to snap a pic of her & her friend Isabelle.

Isabelle is looking at her like, "I don't think I'm coming back over here....this girl is crazy."

Check out Bubby, he's nobody's fool.

Then, it just wasn't enough to make a face...she had to hurl herself backwards.

Dude Looks Like a Lady

This one will make Daddy cringe...

Bubs has taken to trying on shoes. He loves the thrill of wrestling with the shoe to get it on, then balancing his way across the room, usually dragging a great deal of shoe behind him.

Even MY shoes...

Crazy 'Bout a Ford Truck

Our friends, the Azars, blessed us with this new ride-on toy.
What more perfect thing to go cruising down the newly-cleared yard!

PeeWee Picasso

I try to be a good SAHM/WAHM.... I try to offer my kids activities & art projects. I work with Flynn on her letters, shapes, patterns, math skills.... I monitor tv watching.
I always think about if they were in day care, what would they be doing? I'd want to offer them the same.

Like fingerpainting outside.

And She's OFF!

This day must come in every Mom's life...
The day their baby
goes to preschool.

sniff-sniff....

Because we can't send her to conventional preschool, with the chance of her being accidentally exposed to something, we had to jump at this chance...

Daddy is teaching summer school at the elementary school (on his middle school's campus) & noticed some VERY small tikes walking through the halls to their classrooms. So he inquired. Apparently, four year olds, going into Kindergarten, attend summer school at the Pre-K room. The teacher invited Jeff to bring his little girl! Jeff talked extensively with her about Flynn's situation.... she reassured him there were other allergies in there that they were dealing with. Since Daddy will be in the building, we decided to chance it. She'll spend the 1st half of the day there, and I will pick her up at lunch (can't chance that one).

She was so excited. Bound out of bed. Quickly got dressed. Ate her breakfast in a hurry. And didn't complain about me pulling her hair when I fixed it.

Of course I got out the video camera, and she sang 2 songs, recited the alphabet, counted down from 10, and rambled on about how Bubby will be taller than her soon (this is a fact!).

She waved goodbye to me, as I was pressed against the window....

and she never looked back.

Dad's Day '07

Not much can take a moment like that away...

Last year I posted a pic of Daddy with Flynn, this year it's the moment I held Gabe & Jeff gave me that look like, "I love you & the fact that you just pushed that big noggen from your loins."

Well, there was a little more emotion than that going on.

Anyway, it's Father's Day & I'd be amiss if I didn't give my hearty, grateful thank you to my daddy & the daddy of my kids.

Both whom give my children the kind of love they deserve from the men in their lives. And who give me the respect & the help that I appreciate so much.

I love you Jeff...and I love you Dad.

Happy Father's Day!

Hot Buns Contest

There's some dive across the street from Walmart... called the Magic Carpet or something cheesy & gross like that.
Tonight, their marquee read, 'Hot Buns Contest'. Upon reading it, hot husband turned to me & said, "Hot Buns Contest....You should enter."
I laughed weakly & said, "Yah, right."
He started to argue with me about my derriere & that's when I reminded him...
"Day Old Bread."

Some of My Prayer List

Here are some of the things I'm diligent to pray for...

My own relationship with Christ

Jeff's relationship with Christ

Flynn's & Gabe's relationships with Christ

Our marriage

Flynn's allergies & healing

My Aunt Alice

Zach

Traveling safety for everyone

Flynn's husband

Gabe's wife

Nieces & nephew

Our cousins' & friends' kids

Flynn's career & purpose in life

Gabe's career & purpose in life

Our finances

Jeff's career, coaching, teaching

Decisions we have to re our house, etc.

The finances & financial decisions of our entire fam

Eagle Point

EP's children's dept

All the kids/babies under my "care"

My own 'nitty gritty', like my lack of patience, anger, shortness

(I could go on...and on...)

My health

There's actually a VERY long list, but that's I guess a condensed list

(for the times I don't have a LONG time to pray)

Helpful Hints

Never put an open, extra large box (or any size for that matter) of baking soda on a high shelf in your cabinet.

And also, it's really hard to clean off cabinets, burners, floors, and people.

Monkey Butts

I got these photos from my friend Lynn, who took them at the zoo last week.

Lynn is funny. She & I met at Missouri Southern State my first semester there.

Our first conversation was about poop... it's no wonder if you know either of us, that upon hearing that topic, we knew we'd be good friends.

She lives in Texas now with her hubby & cute boy & we've managed to keep in touch for over 10 years now. I was delighted to see these disgusted photos on her Instant Messager & immediately asked her to send so I could share with you....

Aren't you glad??

The good thing about monkeys?

They just don't care. They have a neurotic, retentive need to pick bugs off each other...and they don't care who's watching. This picking is their nature & I'd imagine that when God made them with this habit, He did so under the pretense that they wouldn't be stuck behind a pin or sheet of glass with humans watching their hiney-picking.

Well, I guess He knew that'd be happening, being He made the universe, knows the future, and all that other omniscient stuff.

Anyway, these primates are kinda cool like that if you ask me. Not the bobo-scratching stuff (well, maybe that too), but the ability to keep doing what they're supposed to, despite the fact that people are watching in disgust (or in my case, delight) at what they're doing.

Everyday, everywhere, people are worried about what other people think. Individuals feel the need to do or not do according to what a family member, a friend, or even a stranger, thinks they should be doing (or not doing)...

I'm pretty sure there's only one person we should worry about pleasing.

It's not the group of people watching us from the other side of the zoo glass.

Now you know how I love my hot hubby & my kids (so cute they could win a contest)... and you're wondering why they wouldn't be grouped into the ONE I should please. But the truth is, that all falls under the 'God umbrella', in that if I'm working on pleasing Him, I'm most likely pleasing them. Since the bible is full of stuff like, taking care of your kids, respecting your husband, etc.

I'm glad... that the person I was made to worship (the being rather), cares about all that stuff.

Remember that, the next time you see a baboon inspecting the hemorrhoids of another baboon.

And only I could somehow turn monkey butts into talking about God.

Adding Again...

but this time it is tres positive!!

After several hours of boob poking & prodding, the prognosis is 'lumpy breastitis'...

I am a-okay.

Thank You God!

I think it wouldn't hurt for every mom...really, just anyone... to have to spend a day wondering how much longer they have to live.

I think it makes things sweeter.

Anyway, we've had our share of drama for the week... for the month...actually, for the whole year!

I can hardly post w/o a pic, so enjoy the pic of the sweeties last week at Grant's Farm...

I Hated to Add Today...

As I know this entry will pop up over Mae West & I think that picture should be on top of the blog for a while...
but...
I'm worried.
I just saw the dr for a lump in my breast & am now getting ready to leave for a mamogram.

As soon as I had a moment, and considered blogging, I talked myself out of it... knowing that if I wait a few hours, I'll have 'real' info; perhaps nothing to even blog about.

But I think thoughts & reflections are important (otherwise I wouldn't blog) and I consider it part of my prayer life (meditation)...

I truly believe that God allows us to walk through certain shadows & valleys... I'm sure everyone agrees that it builds your faith, your trust, etc. Even non-believers quote that what doesn't kill us makes us stronger.

So, here I am with lots of thoughts (most worrisome thoughts), coursing through my mind.

You know, before 4 or so years ago, my health didn't concern me that much. Sure, I wanted to be healthy, but what happened to me ultimately, didn't WORRY me.
I'm not afraid of death, as I know where I'm headed & the glory that awaits me there.
BUT
I do not want to leave these two wonderful kids, who so depend on me... and whose lives would be more full with two parents.

So, that's what I'm thinking about this afternoon....

But on the way home from dr #1, I told God,
'I trust You Lord.
No matter what.'

And I do.

YeeHaw

When I brought this hat & 'accessories' home from a garage sale,

Flynn was thrilled & quick to run & get on her ropers (hand me downs from Cousin Mo),

so she'd have somewhere to put the spurs.

Notice those skinny legs coming from her shorts.... all boo-booed up,

covered in band aids.

Mae West never looked so good.

Put Them in a Padded Room

JEFF Man they're being crazy.

ME I know. I wish we could put them in a room with padded walls & let them go crazy.

JEFF Yep, that would be good.

ME Hey, what would happen if we put them in the pool (unfilled) & they ran around.... would it harm the pool? It is really soft with all the sand & dirt under it. And the walls are rubber!

JEFF I think that'd be just fine!

Quit Growing Up Already, Would You??

These legs belong to Gabe... a picture taken last month, when he fell asleep in the recliner.

For some reason, his legs looked awfully long to me. And they are.

It's scary actually, how quickly he's growing?...which just isn't right.

Isn't there a rule about the baby staying a baby?!

That would make me feel better.

Reasons to thank God,

Who Always Has His Hand in Every Situation...

• First of all, there was a dr in attendance at the party... and it's worth mentioning that he wasn't there at first, his wife made a 2nd trip & went & got him
• The party was at a location approx 2 mi from a hospital
• Flynn came AND GOT ME when she was having the reaction, she could've just laid in the ball pit a while & we would've been none the wiser
• She possibly displayed that she maybe be slightly less sensitive than before (as in the past, her reactions have happened IMMEDIATELY upon her tongue touching the food), this time it took 5-10 minutes for her reaction
• We had planned to be leaving sooner than we did, which would've meant her having a reaction in the car, with me, alone, on the way home (& much further from the hospital)
• She only ate 2 or so cookies
• The cookies were eaten while she was w/ me.... she could've eaten them while I was working & she was with a babysitter (aka fam member), who might not have realized what was going on, which would mean her being at home (by the hospital that would NOT save her life)
• The first epi-pen injection helped, thus saving her life... sometimes the first one doesn't "take"

Psalm 18:

1-2 I love you, God— you make me strong. God is bedrock under my feet, the castle in which I live, my rescuing knight. My God—the high crag where I run for dear life, hiding behind the boulders, safe in the granite hideout.

3 I sing to God, the Praise-Lofty, and find myself safe and saved.

It's Official... I'm Human

It's not easy to be the parent of an allergy kid. NO ONE knows, until they experience it first-hand.
And before I share my screw up, I feel the need to defend my own honor by sharing just how careful I really am....

When eating dinner, I typically eat w/ my right hand, to reserve my left hand (clean) to deal w/ Flynn, her food, her cup, etc.
I label her cup & Gabe's w/ a "G" or an "F", for when Papa, Nana, Grammy, Aunt G, or Hannah babysits.
I read labels once, twice or several times.
I forgo some parties or situations where I feel she might not be kept safe.
I put my career on hold, as working full time would force us to put the kids (Flynn) in a group setting where she might not be kept safe.
I'm her advocate in certain situations like church... for example, we quit the last church we attended because they wouldn't make her classroom a milk-free zone, as the children's director, "[couldn't] ask that of [her] volunteers".
I read everything I can get my eyes on.
We try our hardest to educate Flynn on her allergy, but try just as hard to make her feel like she's "normal" & doesn't miss out on too much.
I'm a clean freak when dealing w/ milk. If I'm giving Gabe his milk cup/refilling it, I wipe the counter off after his lid touches it.
I hover over her in group situations.

And everyone who is around my Flynn-parenting, can attest that we are careful, to a fault. It's almost neurotic how we behave around her.

So, can you imagine that last night, I made the first & worst mistake I've ever made with her....

We went to Delaney's birthday party at Woody's Cafe (a chuck e cheese type of place)... so I had planned to not only bring her her own dinner (plain hamburger happy meal), but I wanted to be sure to bring a special dessert/snack for her to eat while everyone else ate cake.

P.S. I'm on steroids for an allergic skin reaction (to what I'm not sure), and am on a high dose of prednazone, to which I'm blaming any not-myself-ness....

The other day I had the kids (way too close to naptime) at Dierbergs trying to do a quick shopping trip. Gabe was throwing a fit, he was tired & hungry & bored. He was trying to cliff dive from the shopping cart. People were staring, Flynn was laughing & I was sweating.
On the end cap, I spotted the cutest animal crackers. They were iced & sprinkled & were calling for me to buy them, as the funnest b'day cake alternative.
Remember how I mentioned my meticulous behavior when it comes to label reading?...
So I picked them up, at the very bottom was the allergy warning (a practice that the FDA tried to pass by Dec '05) which informed me that the only allergies were peanuts.
I've NEVER by the way, just took their word for it, I've always read each & every ingredient myself to see if any of the 40-something milk-based ingredients are in the food.
But I didn't. I don't know why. Maybe the roids. Maybe Gabe's ability to rush me. I don't know.... Maybe I figured I'd read closely at home?
I didn't.
I grabbed them last nite & I put them in a container for her to eat at the party.
And she did.
Then she ran off into the ball pit & started playing.
About 10 minutes later, she ran up to me & was crying, and sneezing & clawing at her throat & skin.
She was clearly having a reaction....but to what? I had no idea. I sat her in a chair, grabbed her bag, and started medicating her....benadry, albuterol...
Then, as God sent him, up walked a doctor, a friend of the Frosts & he quick got involved.
Not long after, she started to drool & show signs of airway closure.
I knew it in the back of my mind, but Lee pointed out the obvious....the EPI PEN.
I hate the epi pen....altho there are several situatons where she probably SHOULD have had it, I didn't....cuz I'm scared. It's A TON of adrenaline, a shot of a chemical that will open your vessels, your airway, you name it.
That's when I lost it.... you know that I'm typically a calm & collected person when it comes to her health, but I knew this was the worst she has been.
He gave her the shot....and we jumped in the car....
**************************************
We passed a cop who I yelled out my window to for a police escort.... Dr Lee from behind me yelled out that he was a physician & that Flynn was having an allergic reaction.....
but apparently it was donut break in a matter of minutes (sorry to my friends & family whom are policemen & take offense to that), as he declined.
Fine. I turned on the flashers & floored it, pealing away from the cop so he could get back to pasting the big orange sticker on the stalled car (apparently far more important than saving a life).
We blew through red lights & stop signs & in probably 2 mins, I skidded into the ER entrance.
Dr Lee grabbed Flynn & her bag, I grabbed Gabe, and off we ran.
Thanking God a millionth time for Lee, who ran in w/ Flynn, again announced his profession, & what was going on. They ran us back to a room, where in a matter of milliseconds, there were 3 or 4 people in the room.
It was bizarre.
It was surreal.
It was my little girl coming close to death.
**********************************************
I write through tears as I reminsce the way I felt. Jeff was at home 30 minutes away & I was so scared. I realize at times like that just how much I rely on him...and thank God that I'm fortunate enough to have a husband who is an equal partner in parenting.
**********************************************
They gave Flynn another shot of epinephrine, more antihistamine, and started her on oxygen & albuterol, and something else that I'm forgetting. They put leads on her chest, to monitor her heart (that epinephrine is some crazy stuff), and she had a "glow toe" (blood ox pulse thing on her toe).
Her swelling started going down. But we spent the rest of the night under close observation with regular intervals of meds.

Can I tell you what a stud this girl is? Other than crying from the epi pen (which I would do too), she didn't cry. She never showed fear. She is amazing.

When I was holding her cheek to mine while she got the epi pen, we talked again about the lesson that meant so much to her a few weeks ago.... the book of Joshua: God is with us always. He never leaves us. I'll tell you that I needed it as much as she did. Maybe more.

I wish I could be more like her. She never doubts it. She's quick to remind me that God made "the earth, the planet we live on" & that Jesus lives in our hearts. When she looked at me through her swollen eyes last night, she reminded me that it was okay.

This morning, while we drove to my parents to get Gabe, she called up to Jeff, "I wanna be a teacher when I get big, just like you." Even though her professions of choice are fleeting, it didn't keep Jeff & I from getting teary-eyed.
And I think she could be a doctor. But God's definitely got something special planned for her.

Eggs to Dye For...More Shots of Easter

Gonna Make My Blue Eyes Brown

Not only does this photo show how bad little Flynn's eczema used to be, but that her eyes have not always been the dark chocolate eyes that we see today.

This picture was taken when Flynn was about 10 months old. Her eyes were still blue & were slowly turning green/hazel, which they'd only be for a few months. Her eyes settled on the beautiful brown they are today, when she was about 14 months old.

This was such a cute stage. And she was such an adorable little girl, just about everything she did made us ooh & ahh.

This is What You'd Call, Sibling UNrivalry

An unusual, but welcomed sight!
I guess since they were looking proper on Easter morning....
they decided to ACT proper.
I don't care the reason why.
I just love to see them act this way.

Even if it is only once a year. ;)

Happy Fifth Anniversary!

Five years ago I was sweating, scared, & popping a zanix.

I was hoping it wouldn't rain, hoping the heat index wouldn't get any higher...and praying I wouldn't forget the words the song I'd be singing.

I was nervous.... we'd done everything ourselves & on a very tight budget. This made me worried, did I forget something, would I do everything okay?

I waited in a room at my parents after I'd gotten ready. I peeked out to see who had shown up for our big day, then I saw Dan leading Jeff & his friend Mike out to their places. My stomach did a flip-flop when I saw him. How did I get such a gorgeous man?

My parents' place was so beautiful. And despite the fact that he was about to melt, Jeff looked more handsome than ever.

So it went off without a hitch. Everyone nearly died of heat, but it was beautiful. And I'll forever hold the memory & think of it everytime I drive up my parents' road.

The wedding was important, but even more important than that is the fact that our marriage is so incredible. There was a big chunk of time in the beginning where I kept waiting... because surely someone can't be as perfect as Jeff is. I seemed to always be expecting the other shoe to drop....

But it never did. And through all we've experienced, Jeff still is pretty darn close to perfect.

Happy 5th Anniversary Jeff. I love you... and am looking forward to spending fifty more anniversaries with you.

I Can See Clearly Now

Curbside Shopping

Can you believe someone put this on the curb for trash pick-up?!

Fine by us, Jeff simply knocked on the door, told them we were picking it up, said thank you, went & got a new tank, made several delicious dinners since then.

They upgraded.

So did we.

Thank goodness for upgrades.

Gabe's Profile

GABE Loves his binky

Hates having his diaper changed

Bubby Could Be a Big Brother

I just heard several of you read that & gasp.

No, I'm not pregnant, nor will I be (less the vans deferans tubes decide to play a cruel joke on us & fuse back together)....

But today is May 25th.

3 days ago Gabe turned 21 mos.

This is the exact age Flynn was when I gave birth to her baby brother.

Can you imagine? Knowing Gabe, can you see him as a big-anything?

It kinda puts it in perspective, just how old (or young rather) Flynn was when she was no longer the baby.

It's scary too. But if you asked Flynn she wouldn't have it any other way.

And neither would Bubs.

Flynn's Profile

LOVES her soy milk

HATES spending time at home

Cuteness

It's a very busy day today.... the usual, dishes, laundry, dirty behinds....
But, I always have a few minutes to jot down some cute things about the kids...

• Gabe's new thing is kisses on the cheek. I'm so glad he's inclined to go for the cheek, as she sometimes forgets & plants smooches on loved one's lips (icky). This used to be random, but now at request, he takes a long lean over & strategically lands a love on our jaw. I'd pay $100 for one of those.
• Flynn has taken to being chummy with friends on playdates & such. Yesterday, at a church playgroup, she took a liking to our friend Savanah, who she fondly called SABANA, the whole time. SaBana took her down the slide, swung her, and followed her around like a Mother Hen. When we were leaving, Flynn said, "Maybe I could go over to Sabana's & play today." yeah right.
• Gabe hit his head REALLY hard today, while we were out playing. I actually heard his skull hit the wood. And while I expected to see lots & lots of blood, I scooped him up & ran inside to get ice. What was he most upset about? He screamed & bucked & swung at me & swung at Sissy, cuz by golly, HE WAS TICKED OFF THAT HE HAD TO COME INSIDE.
• Flynn learned Sunday, about God's everlasting presence; their lesson was in the book of Joshua. She's never talked so much about what she's learned at church... and the whole ride home Sunday evening (from Aunt G's house), she told me, "Mommy, God's with us. We don't have to be scared. He's always here. He never leaves us." She fell asleep talking about it. Isn't that a great way to nod off?....talking about the Lord's presence?

Shave & a Haircut...

Get Lost.

I was not completely satisfied with the hairdresser I'd been going to for the last couple of years. So, I started looking at some local friends' hairdos, and asking who they saw. So, a girl in my MOPS group has great hair, lives here in town, & I figured she probably wasn't the unreasonable type to spend too much money.
So, I got the salon name, the hairdresser's name, and called asap to make an appointment.
Since I don't get to get pampered in that manner, once every 4-6 months, I always plan it around a date or wedding or some other occasion where I'd like to look decent.
So, I scheduled it before E's brother's wedding & started counting the days to having straight hair for a night.

Two months later, when I arrange to leave the kids & go get 'perty', I drive up to the salon to see it dark inside & a note on the door. My heart sank. The shop had been closed.
Do I listen to reason?....do I drive away & accept that perhaps it was best for me?

No. I get out of my car to read the paper, and I see that "Barb" (name NOT changed) is now at Infinity, which was described to be a block away.

When I pulled into the parking lot, and saw it sitting RIGHT NEXT to a tattoo parlor, I should've just kept going. But I was desperate. I needed some glam. So I parked & went inside. Even despite my detour, I was still exactly on time. So I walked in, explained that I actually had an appointment at the "closed" place, and could Barb fit me in?

Miraculously, Barb had kept my appointment. But didn't emerge from the perm she was doing, until 5:20. My hatred for tardiness just makes me a better teacher, so I don't excuse it. Especially when I am a patron.

So she finally brings me back. I had two pictures.... not a lot shorter than my current hairstyle, but more layers, as I was hoping to have the option of fixing my hair like Farah Fawcett (I know, I know). But TWO PICTURES. So how hard could it be? Really, it just required of her, that she cut more layers, then fix it right.

Some background on her. She looked to be in her 60s. She looked good for her age. And looked like she worked out, ate well. But still, lady, you're in your 60s. And if my mom ever dresses like this, I will barf. And the whole time I talked to her, and showed her things about my hair, she only looked at her OWN reflection. It was bizarre. And it was love. (her love for herself).

So, she winds me through the smokey smelling "salon" to a couple of sinks in the back cozies up RIGHT NEXT to a nail station. PS She never put a cape on my to wash my hair. And no towel under my neck, etc. She spent the whole time she was shampooing, chatting with the nail tech. She wasn't even looking at me, and was spraying the side of my face. And, at one point she said, "Oops, that was the third time I shampooed you." So clearly, I was not the object of her focus.

Next (& after seeing how ditzy she was I should've retracted my appointment for the wax), she waxes my brows (which later showed to be COMPLETELY UNEVEN). Then led me back to her station for the haircut (by this time it was 6, remember, my appointment was 5). And as soon as she start combing out my hair, her next appointment came in. She acknowledged them, just as she had acknowledged EVERY SINGLE person who walked through the door. She even turned her direction away from me (when I was mid-sentence) to talk to a person who came in.

Next, she begins scissorhands....she cuts...and cuts...and even though I told her less than 1/2" (I somehow have decently healthy hair), I see strands of 3-4" falling into the floor. I told her that altho I wanted to be glam for the day, the next 90 days I'd be wearing a ponytail, so please make sure that the shortest layer will stay back in a ponytail (yet today, 2.5 wks later, I have a strand tucked behind my ear).

Then, she's done cutting & gets out a blow dryer. She's talking to other people, looking at herself, and half hazardly blowing & using her FINGERS to pull on my hair...when I reminded her that I'd need the hair to be smooth for the style. I told her that I use a large paddle brush & a chi iron to smooth my hair. She said, "Using your fingers is just as good." But I don't need my cosmo cert to know that makes separeted & curly hair.

So, after she'd pulled out 1/2 my hair w/ her fingers, and greeted everyone who entered, she looked at my reflection & said, "So, what do you think?" I couldn't believe it. It was frizzy & she hadn't even tried to fix it. And the whole back was still wet (which meant spiral curls when it would dry, on its own).

I said, "I'm sure I'll like it once it's been fixed."

So then she takes out a curling iron & he ho hems around about hating that particular iron. And it starts to stink, she comments on the smell, then takes a section of my hair & "attempts" to curl it. She acted like she was either paralyzed, or had never used an iron before. It was awful. Then she leaned over & peered at the picture & made a comment at how it looked like my hair.
Remember the Friends episode where Monica's hair is frizzy?...well, imagine that toned down a bit, with a curling iron curl on the side.

It looked STUPID.

And I could see it on her face. She knew the next appointment was getting impatient (because by this time it was 6:30), and that she'd have to wrap it up with me EVEN THOUGH SHE WASN'T EVEN CLOSE TO GETTING MY HAIR TO LOOK LIKE THE PHOTOS.

So she says, "Well, I'd fix it for you, but then I'd have to charge you for a hairdo.... and that's a lot."

I just wanted out of there. Otherwise, I would've argued with her that I wanted one, and that I hated my hair, etc.

When I got home, I realized that she'd charged me for a blow dry (an extra $3), even though my hair was sopping wet in the back.

Lessons learned: Don't get your hair cut next to a tattoo parlor. If you show up for your appointment, and the place is closed, don't persue it, Just accept God's advice & go home.

My Mantra

Can mantra be synonym to excuse?
Either way, here's a cute poem...

Some houses try to hide that fact

That children shelter there.

Ours boasts of it quite openly--

The signs are everywhere.

For smears are on the windows,

Little smudges on the doors.

I should apologize, I guess,

For toys strewn on the floor.

But I sat down with the children

And we played and laughed and read.

And if the bathtub doesn't shine

Their eyes will shine instead.

For when, at times,

I'm forced to choose

The one job or the other,

I want to have a lovely house,

But first I'll be a mother.

--Author Unknown

FOOD ALLERGY WEEK

Last week was food allergy week.

So I figured I'd lift some facts from another blog & post them, for all to see.

Here goes...

13 Facts about Food Allergies:

1. Scientists are reporting an increase in food allergies over the past decade. In particular, peanut allergies among young children doubled between 1997 and 2002.

2. Approximately 12 million Americans suffer from food allergies, with 6.9 million allergic to seafood and 3.3 million allergic to peanuts or tree nuts.

3. Food allergy is the leading cause of anaphylaxis (a severe allergic reaction) outside the hospital setting.

4. Eight foods account for 90% of all reactions in the U.S.: milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts (walnuts, almonds, cashews, pistachios, pecans, etc.), wheat, soy, fish, and shellfish.

5. There is no cure for food allergy. Strict avoidance of the allergy-causing food is the only way to prevent a reaction.

6. Food allergic reactions result in over 30,000 emergency room visits each year.

7. It is estimated that between 150 and 200 people die annually from anaphylaxis to food; including children and young adults.

8. Approximately 2.2 million school-aged children have food allergy.

9. One in every 17 children under the age of 3 has food allergy.

10. Milk allergy is one of the most common in young infants, with 2-3% of children under three years of age allergic to cow's milk proteins.

11. Trace amounts of a food allergen can cause a reaction. Patients should be on guard for hidden ingredients (such as milk or peanuts) in unsuspected places such as candy, baked goods, trail mixes, sauces, desserts, and gravies, just to name a few.

12. Medications can even contain dairy (Prevacid Solutabs is one example).

13. Virtually all infants who develop cow's milk allergy do so in the first year of life, with about 80% ‘outgrowing' their milk allergy by their fifth birthday. Nearly 25% of these milk-allergic infants retain their sensitivity into the second decade of life, and 35% go on to develop other food allergies.

Putting You out of Your Misery

Oh for crying out loud people...

Here's my quizzie poo & the answers (since no one seems to know me very well except Hannah & Linda)...

Question #1
What day did Jeff propose to me?
May 1st
March 22nd
January 4th
April 1st

Question #2
What's my favorite color?
orange
pink
blue
periwinkle

Question #3
What was the name of the boyfriend I had at 16?
Matt
Jack
Scott
Jason

Question #4
What was my first college major?
nursing
teaching
advertising management
macro economics

Question #5
What boy band autographed my pregnant stomach?
hanson
jars of clay
n'sync
barenaked ladies

Question #6
What did I surprise Jeff with at our wedding?
a song
an engraved ring
his long lost aunt nancy from japan
a tattoo bearing his name, across my bosom

Question #7
If I could change anything, what would I change?
the war
flynn's allergy
the size of our humble abode
my breasts

Question #8
My favorite book in the bible...
Matthew
Jeremiah
Daniel
Proverbs

Question #9
One surgery that I'd have in a heartbeat...
breast
lyposuction
eye
facelift

Question #10
Number of kids I always wanted?
4
1
3
2

There. Now, I feel all better.

BFF & other people

We recently went to a wedding of BFF Elizabeth's baby brother. When we were in third grade, her mom had her baby brother, which seemed so cool. I wanted a baby brother. But that wasn't an option. So I thought she was even cooler.

Anyway, here are some of the photos from the reception...

Could my husband be ANY HOTTER? My gosh.

This Charlie's Angels pose was long overdue.... after 20-something years of friendship, why hadn't we thought of it sooner? Too bad my egg-shaped dress makes me look pregnant... NO!, I'm not pregnant (I'd have some "serious 'splainin to do to Jeff." Altho -- look at him! -- I'd love to have another one of his babies.

In third grade, E invited me to her b'day party, that's when we started becoming good friends, but she moved in 5th grade to Arkansas.

Heather & I became BFF in 4th grade, while in girl scouts together.

E moved back from AR our sophomore year. Things were a little rocky, we got a little competitive, a little like the Heathers movie.

But here it is 15+ years later...

I think we've worked out our differences.

My Wishes are Granted

The other day when I was looking at old posts, to confirm that I had indeed been vomitted upon last year, I ran across a post including my wishlist. For whatever reason.





Anyway, I read it & chucked, as God has answered nearly all of those wishes, here they are...





5.12.2006

My Wishlist
1. A level backyard, perfect to play in this is partially answered, as we had a 20x20 spot cleared, and are in the process of getting a super cool playset finished up


2. A year of good health (well, a lifetime of health would be great) Yay! For the most part, my ailments were gone, too bad it was Jeff that opted for weird stuff last year


3. My babies to LOVE sleep Well, they don't LOVE it, but do usually sleep the nite thru


4. A self-cleaning house with a couple more bedrooms & a FULL basement not this year at least


5. A work-from-home job CHECK! My new gig at church allows me to work about 1/2 of my 20 hours from here


6. A better ear for hearing God's voice God would have to comment on this one


7. A good working back On my way to that... maybe the shots will help


8. A good working lawn mower CHECK! Thanks to the IL's


9. Energy & desire to clean the house DESIRE?, no. ENERGY?, a little more this year, since I'm not the Perry Dairy, having every ounce of nutrients sucked from my body


10. A smaller butt Um, no, & that's all I'll say about that

This was March...You can ALMOST see the rainbow thru the trees, it was a full rainbow (which I'm sure they all are, but you typically can't see the whole thing), but I could only get the one side on the camera.