Raise Your Hand if You Are SICK of Winter

Ugh, another snow day. I mean, I love having Jeff home & all....but he & I would both rather he be home on a day in May - between 'regular' school & summer school - a day of warm temperatures that would be better spent at the zoo or at the park.

Instead of

inside.

again.

But what can a girl do? I can mope about there being several inches of ice & snow on the ground, as the sky pours out buckets more upon us.

Or....

we can make blueberry pancakes

and

build

a fort.

I'll Try to Forget

that today it is 50 degrees colder than yesterday....
that right now it's in the 20s & is sleeting...
that we're supposed to get several inches of snow...



And remember
that I wore flip flops this weekend...
that we played at the park...
that I wore short sleeves...
that my mom got sunburned...
that our windows were wide open...

Don't Hate Us Because We're In Love

Don't hate us because we had the night to ourselves Friday.

Or because we had a dinner alone, no interruptions, no cutting someone's meat for them, or cleaning up a spill.

Try not to be jealous that we actually 'caught up' & finished a sentence and stared into each other's eyes.

Don't despise me because my husband is clearly blind & actually thinks I'm beautiful (& here's the sickening part, he tells me about 20 times a day).

Just remind me that I'm lucky.

Because I never want to forget.

"Highlights" From My Week

It's been a good week. Everyone's healthy & I hear higher temps are on the horizon (matter of fact, it's 54 degrees right now!!) !

Here are some things about this week that made me smile...

Getting my hair done for the first time in three years.

I think I was too conservative, I told the hairdresser that I didn't want it to be too obvious, that I'm not a flashy girl.

But I was a little sad when I looked in the mirror & could hardly tell anything was different (I naturally have red highlights...and no, I'm not balding, but it sure looks like it in the above photo!)
Flynn's profile.

If that doesn't put a smile on your face, what will?!

Watching the kids at their weekly Popcorn Making Ceremony.
Flynn pours the popcorn into the lid, Bubby pours that into the popper, & Daddy plugs it in. It really is a family affair.

And this week will be complete tonight...

Gabe went to Grammy's. Flynn's going to Aunt Gi's. And Momma & Daddy are going on a date.

Hope your week was just as bright.

Vintage Video

Okay, so it's not really vintage. It's from a year ago.

Just thought I'd share before I take it off my computer. This was Jeff's 'birthday card' last year.

(be sure to pause my music, down at the bottom, before pressing play on the video)

Vintage Find

I guess I could be partial to this piece because it's dated my birth year. Or because of the sweet little old lady, who owned the home, where I got this garage sale find.
Maybe it's the orange. Maybe it's the green. Maybe it's the cute little animals hiding behind each letter.
Whatever the reason, I knew this little piece of material, for which I paid 25 cents, would have a new life in Flynn's room. I contemplated framing it but wall space is limited & I knew little hands would enjoy being able to rub the stitching & trace the animals.
It's just waiting for a pillow to be slipped inside & to be laid on Flynn's white wood bed.

What Up G?

Because It's What I'm Good At

I quite often find myself sticking my foot in my mouth. Like all the way.

And today at Target was no exception.

Gabe & I were checking out. I had "freed" him from the baby spot in the front of the cart - to the big basket in the back. He was supposed to be putting his coat on. Instead he was attracting the attention of the little girl behind us.

This wasn't hard to do. We were making church purchases as well as personal purchases - and because church purchases are tax exempt, we have to do separate purchases (since my purchases are not).

Target has to have the most old fashioned process of tax exempt purchases; therefore, it takes a while.
And you know how people feel about being asked to wait. I mean, Lord forbid I inconvenience someone else.

But I had sympathy on the mother of the little girl. She had the little girl who was about four & a baby in the contained part of the cart. The mom looked pretty young & was clearly aggravated that I the checker was taking so long.

I have this nasty habit of caring how I effect other people, so when I do these church purchases, I usually let the people behind me know it might take a bit longer & I usually apologize, like a zillion times.

My apology didn't matter to her. She was still ticked off.

Then, the little girl pipes up while watching Gabe & his shopping cart antics,
"Hey, he's a baby."

I wanted to correct her & tell her not to use 'Hey'. But, instead I obliged... I usually converse with little kids everywhere I go because I seem to be a magnetic for people in the 10 & under category. I speak their language & have a strong rapport with them the same mentality level.
So, I came back with, "Yah? Does he seem like a baby since he's a little younger than you?
He's two. Are you four?"

Apparently this made her think of her dad,
"My dad has a girlfriend."

And, wanting to make sense of our conversation, it seemed logical for me to make the connection,
"Oh? Does she have a baby?"

And if the mom wasn't mad at me before that...

Shoot off the Confetti Canon

He did it. He went potty yesterday - on the potty.

I do recognize & admit it was purely accident & literally, "At the right place, at the right time."

But still...

maybe we're one step closer to being diaper-free.

Helpful Tips on Parenting

I know first time parenting can be confusing, but seriously? (really tho, I've always picked baby's nose -- they much prefer it to the bulb syringe)

Lunar Eclipse

So, we meant to check out the Lunar Eclipse...and capture it in photos.

We didn't have the chance.

So, instead, we waited 'til the full moon, and had Gabe position his big melon in between us & the moon.

Then move his head just a little. Four times.

Just kidding.

This is really the lunar eclipse.

But doesn't the eclipse silhouette look slightly hairy?

Just Returned

from this.

Spent the night with all the girls from church. In a hotel.

And...

I won the fancy slipper contest with some slippers I'd handcrafted myself with fancy pink bows & flowers.
They were hideous. But they won & scored me a $15 Victoria's Secret giftcard. When Jeff saw it, he grinned like a child. He is excited about the possibilities. He doesn't know I'm going to get me some new flip flops.

Inviting You Along My Journey

There's change beyond the horizon for the Perrys. I write this must more positively than I previously thought of it.
When the discussion began, I was a mess. I was so scared for Flynn. But I prayed. And we prayed. And we tried to trust. And we asked more people to pray. And we trusted some more. And I'd like to say that I've 'given it over to God'.

You see, when I married a teacher, it was pretty much assumed that this would always be a two-income family (& I don't just mean his two jobs). And to tell you the truth, I was never one of those girls who esteemed to be a stay at home mom. I had nothing against that lifestyle, it was just never a goal of mine. I worked pretty hard at earning all my degrees & by golly, I'd use them.

Then we had Flynn. And we found out she had such a severe allergy. And when I realized that not only could she die if accidentally handed the wrong milk, or snack, but for crying out loud, if her neighbor at the day care table spilled his milk, she'd have a reaction from that as well; well, you would be right by assuming this made me panic.

When I went back to work when Flynn was a baby (6 mos), before we knew of her allergy, poor Grammy was watching her when she had - what was probably her very first anaphylaxis. Only, we had no clue. None of us knew a thing about food allergies. And when Grammy gave her a bottle, of breast milk mixed with formula (I was in a week-long conference & couldn't pump as much as this baby drank), her eye swelled, she began a series of sneezes, wheezed, then vomited more than she drank. After that, she went right to 'sleep' & slept for hours.
We had no clue.

So, when it just got too hard to get family to watch her, here & there, (along w/ a gamut of other complaints about the job), we decided I would just stay home & babysit.
I did stay home & babysat, for the next two years (which I did until one year ago, exactly, to the day). Along with being on staff at church, which I still am. I also sell some things on eBay when I can. Sold all our college textbooks & any other book we finish or that is collecting dust. I do any odd job that pays enough, I use coupons & rebates, I gladly accept hand-me-downs & cast-offs, & when the warm weather hits, you can find me every Saturday morning (before the sun rises), at every 'good' garage sale in the area.
Do I like doing these things? Meh, not really. Do I need to do these things? Yep.

For the last four years, our life has been a series of being broke, barely making it, & having to be content with the bare bones (by the way, there is nothing wrong with living with just the necessities, I almost like it). It's been wondering if there'll be enough in the account to cover the bills that are due. Or even conversations like, "Don't buy anything until payday, even gas." A few weeks ago, I had to take cash from my wallet, to deposit into the checking account so a bill would pass through.
It gets old I tell ya.

I've had to do lots of praying for contentment & have also had to force myself not to wallow in pity. I had to fight back the thought that we've worked hard for our educations, are currently paying for those educations, and why, by golly, do we have to struggle.

But you know what? It has been worth the struggles. Not only has this scenario lent itself to the reassurance that Flynn is in a safe environment each & everyday, is here in case something happens (so that we can rely on my judgement rather than a daycare teacher's), but I've had this sweet, precious opportunity to be here, almost everyday, & have seen every inch my babies have grown. I heard every grunt, every sound, some days - to my distress - every cry. I never had to wonder if the babysitter just didn't tell me that Gabe took his first steps, so I'd think when I saw them later that evening at home, that I'd witnessed his very first step. I never had to wonder if Flynn's diaper was changed often enough, or if she had to cry herself to sleep at nap, if she was sat in front of a tv all day, or if the toys she played with were germ laden.
And when one of the kids was sick, Jeff & I didn't have to stress or argue about "Can you take off this time? I took off last time."
I got to be in MOPS. Flynn has had play dates. And story time at the library. Gabe has gotten to run the roads with me while Flynn is in preschool. The kids have gotten to dictate their own schedule, stay in their pjs 'til late morning, bake muffins for breakfast, play with their own toys, take naps in their own beds, and when they've gotten hurt - or been sick, it's momma that's there to comfort them.

I say all that in order to thank God again for the last four years of bliss. It was a gift I never asked for & sometimes those are the best gifts. A surprise in a package.

But last month in a series of bad snippets of news (called reality) - combined with a burning desire to move within the next 18 months, we had to once again reevaluate the situation. Anyone who doesn't believe that God literally provides can take a look at our finances. We have a ton of debt. You know that commercial where the guy displays all his cars & his home, then says through his teeth, "And I'm swimming in a sea of debt"? -- that's us. We're certainly not being irresponsible right now in our lifestyle. But, like I said, five years ago, we never dreamt we'd be a one-income family. And the medical bills - oh the medical bills. Flynn's on about four meds per month, me three, Jeff two. Gabe, thankfully, just hits the vitamins.
Somehow, we have $1,000 more going out, than in. How does that work? I really don't know. But it does. And we never miss a bill. We never starve. We always pay our tithing. And we never manage to miss a birthday or leave anyone out on Christmas.

So, we decided it was time. It was really really time. And with tears in our eyes, we considered a decision that for four years now we've shuddered at.

Are we all of a sudden lowering our standards for Flynn's safety & care?
No, sirree Barbara.
However, we've happily given thought that perhaps her sensitivity has slightly decreased. Along with how overjoyed we've been with her new preschool & how safe & loved she's been there. The fact that, hey, that situation has worked out -- maybe other situations could work out. Not to mention, they do have an extended day & by golly, I trust her teachers!

Do I have a clue how this will work out? Nope. And, being the control freak, planner, need to know right this very minute how the next year of my life will be... well, this not-knowingness, it's downright killing me.

But this I know, in the book of Matthew (in the bible), it says this:

25 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God[d] above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

Hey, read that again in my current favorite version, the message:

25 -26"If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don't fuss about what's on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds.
27 -29"Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion—do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them.
30 -33"If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.
34"Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.

So, the journey has begun, along with I'm sure - the good variety of emotions I'll no doubt experience -- as I make this transformation from Life & Times of Life at Home to Life & Times of Life Wherever.

In lieu of a ticket, this ride will only cost you prayer. For me. For the job God has in store for me. For Flynn's safety when she's in someone else care. For ease in Gabe's transition from being with the Momma he loves, to learning to love someone else 10 hours each day. Pray that our home will be harmonious despite the change in atmosphere (& atmospheric pressure). And although many many homes are lovely & wonderful & work perfectly with mom at work all day, it will be different here. Just different. But I hope better. There will be less stress.

I will journal my journey. And this is entry one. And if you've read this far, congratulations...

Baby Birds

I started this tradition habit while making noodles...

I will say, "BABY BIRDS, BABY BIRDS!!"

And here they'll come, heads up,

beaks open,

while I drop in the baby bird pieces.

The Fatter the Face, the Funnier it Is

Oh, these Japanese shows...I don't like their pan noodles, but how I love their gameshows.
I also love that I am SO busy, yet I just keep hitting replay.
But what I love the most is that this is a PERFECT game for us to play this summer at VBS.

Tossin' & Turnin'

Night Terrors

What is it?
Within fifteen minutes of your child’s falling asleep, he will probably enter his deepest sleep of the night. This period of slow wave sleep, or deep non-REM sleep, will typically last from forty-five to seventy-five minutes. At this time, most children will transition to a lighter sleep stage or will wake briefly before returning to sleep. Some children, however, become stuck and are unable to completely emerge from slow wave sleep.
Caught between stages, these children experience a period of partial arousal.
Partial arousal states are classified in three categories: 1) sleep walking, 2) confusional arousal, and 3) true sleep terrors. These closely related phenomena are all part of the same spectrum of behavior.When most people (including the popular press and popular parenting literature) speak of night terrors they are generally referring to what are called confusional arousals by most pediatric sleep experts.
During these frightening episodes, the child is not dreaming and typically will have no memory of the event afterwards. If any memory persists, it will be a vague feeling of being chased or of being trapped. The event itself seems to be a storm of neural emissions in which the child experiences an intense flight or fight sensation. Once it is finally over, the child usually settles back to quiet sleep without difficulty.
These are very different from nightmares.True sleep terrors are a more intense form of partial arousal. They are considerably less common than confusional arousals and are seldom described in popular parenting literature.
Who gets it?
The tendency toward sleepwalking, confusional arousals, and true sleep terrors often runs in families. They tend to be more common in boys, and are much less common after age 7.
The events are often triggered by sleep deprivation or by the sleep schedule's shifting irregularly over the preceding few days. A coincidentally timed external stimulus, such as moving a blanket or making a loud noise, can also trigger a partial arousal (which again shows that the event is a sudden neural storm rather than a result of a complicated dream).

What are the symptoms?
Typically, a confusional arousal begins with the child moaning and moving about. It progresses quickly to the child crying out and thrashing wildly. The eyes may be open or closed, and perspiration is common. The child will look confused, upset, or even "possessed" (a description volunteered by many parents). Even if the child does call out his parents' names, he will not recognize them. He will appear to look right through them, unable to see them. Parental attempts to comfort the child by holding or cuddling often prolong the situation.

Is it contagious?
No

How long does it last?
Most often, a confusional arousal will last for about ten minutes, although it may be as short as one minute, and it is not unusual for the episode to last for a seemingly eternal forty minutes.

How is it diagnosed?
The diagnosis is based on the history.

How is it treated?
When an event does occur, do not try to wake the child -- not because it is dangerous, but because it will tend to prolong the event. It is generally best not to hold or restrain the child, since his subjective experience is one of being held or restrained; he would likely arch his back and struggle all the more. Instead, try to relax and to verbally comfort the child if possible. Speak slowly, soothingly, and repetitively. Turning on the lights may also be calming. Protect your child from injury by moving furniture and standing between him or her and windows. In most cases, the event will be over in a matter of minutes.

Flynn has had night terrors for about two years now. It didn't particularly scare me at first, as I had them growing up as a child & continued to walk in my sleep through adolescence.

Her episodes each might only last five or ten minutes, but the problem is, usually on a night she has an episode, she has about 10 episodes. And will struggle with it all night.

Like last night. I'm not sure we slept. We know she's okay & that there's not a lot we can do, but I still challenge you to sleep through hearing your four-year old screaming bloody murder from her room. Or yelling, "Mom, NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Or one of my favorites, "Bubby, get OFF the tv!!" It's usually mom or dad she's yelling at in her episode. And last night she even yelled about the brand new puppy she saw yesterday at Gi's.

Usually we take turns going into her room at crucial times (by crucial I mean where her screaming is getting so loud it will no doubt wake Gabe). I'm not totally sure what Jeff does, I usually hold her & sing to her (even tho I read above that you shouldn't hold them). Sometimes, it bothers me so bad to see her scared that I wake her, get her a drink, etc.

She never remembers. So, I realize she won't be scarred. But, still, you can't tell me it's a positive experience to be tortured in your subconcious. I don't remember having them when I was young, but I do remember my mom waking me or trying to comfort me.

I can definitely see where it could scare someone. And it's beyond scaring me. I'm just completely exhausted with it. It's about once a week.

Next time I'm going to try getting her up to go potty, maybe a full bladder is causing it.

After that, I'm strongly considering contacting a sleep therapist. It might be worth the ovary I might have to sell to pay for it.

THE Question

We have had us a girls' night, that's for sure. Gabe is with Daddy at a boys only church fun night & we've been taking advantage of the interruption-free evening.

We enjoyed a tea party, with chocolate soy milk instead of tea. And rather than biscoti, we devoured some blueberry bagels, bread-sliced.

After Flynn did her breathing treatment, she decided to make a "face" (pictures forthcoming. what? you don't believe me? I always say that? Then the pictures never forthcome? okay, you're right. but this time I promise.)
So, we make a face. Complete with feathers & jewels, this face has apparently been bedazzled.

So, I saunter over here to the computer while Flynn finished her garden grean beans. And, out of the clear blue, she says it.
Lord help me. My little girl, only four years old, just asked me THE question.
You know the one.
Those words that you hope you won't hear for a long long time.
And when they do come out, you cringe & twitch & time seems to stand still.

"Mom...how does womens get babies into their tummy?"

A look of terror must've come over my face. I felt beads of sweat form on my scalp. She was looking right at me.
"Um. Eh. Um. Well. Uh...."

She wouldn't look away! Look away! Give me a chance to think of something!! 'God help me. Let your annointing fall on me & inspire me to give an answer. Just something.'

That didn't work.

So, I started praying that Jesus would return. 'Please Lord -- right now is a good time for you to split that sky open & make known of Your glorious return.'

That didn't work either.

"Um. Eh. Well. You see."

She didn't see. She just kept looking at me. And in the four years I've known her, she has never shown such concentration. She's never had such an attention span.

"Well. God puts the baby in the mother's tummy."

She still stared at me. She knew that wasn't all there was to it. She could smell the fear emitting from my pores. She wanted the real answer, the goods.
But she's only four & she doesn't need the goods.

"Whenever Daddy & I knew how much we loved each other, we prayed to God that He would bless us with a baby. And we showed each other how much we loved each other" (and really, that's pretty racey right there).

I looked up at the wall, hoping she'd look at the wall too. And then she wouldn't be looking at me anymore.

WHY IS THIS SO HARD TO TALK ABOUT? I'm a pretty honest person. Possibly the most direct person in North America.

But, she didn't look at the wall. She wanted clarification. I really don't think four-year olds need clarification, but apparently she felt like she deserved all the details. Lord help me.

"But Mom, how does the baby get into the mommy's tummy?"

You know, I don't think I knew these details 'til I was like at least seven years old & even then, I think I was too young to handle such truth. I really wanted to tell her that when a woman is at least thirty & is a virgin, never having known a man, she marries the man God has destined for her to be with FOR THE REST OF HER LIFE, then they, being financially stable & with a perfect relationship, ask God to bless them with fruit of their loins. Then, without any type of fertility issues or clomid or progesterone, are magically inpregnated.
But, that's not exactly the case.

Her eyes never left the side of my head, they just began to bore a hole in it. So, I gave in. I turned to her & prayed that I wasn't sharing too much & that this wouldn't land her in therapy.

"The baby is as small as a seed & is made in the tummy when the Mom & Dad show their love to each other."

I mean, I really didn't think I'd give her that much honesty. But, she threw me off-guard. I definitely didn't think we'd be having this conversation so early in her preschoolhood.

"Oh."

And she went on to humming & picking at her green beans.

37 degrees, Feels like 28

Makes me think of this.

Personal Trainer

Before you get too excited for him & send him CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR POTTY ENDEAVORS cards, know that this, right now, is nothing more than something to pass the time.

I [Heart] You

Well, despite all that plagued the house, we still had a fun & loving holiday.

Gabe & I sent Sissy off early to school & later joined her for some cheer at her class party.

Doesn't he look like he's taking this photo?:

He is thrilled to be at her school, I wish he went to school there...
I'm sorry my lens was dirty here, Flynn has the sweetest expression:
Here the whole room is praying over snack.

Look at my heathenistic children!:
HeartRule Breaker
Thank you Jesus for milk-free two bite brownies at Walmart:


Ms Jo, Flynn's art teacher, helps her deliver her valentines:
Raise your brows if YOU LOVE CHOCOLATE!

King of Hearts

So my funny valentine had too much heat to really be romantic yesterday, he still came through with some goods.
The photo above shows three prints just like the one I got...same line from Target. I got a single, square shaped one, with the exact colors, but more of a sprig/leaf design.
I had been lusting after it for quite sometime & Hot Hubby knew this.
I've been a fan of decorating green for years now. I keep thinking it will go out of style, but green never does...just changes shades. Back in college I was into that hunter & burgundy stage. Then, when we built this house & I was afraid to PAINT ANY WALLS becuz for crying out loud, that SERIOUS COMMITMENT, I agreed to paint the basement walls. We chose BITTER GREEN with, you guessed it,shades of sunburst orange. I love it downstairs & it gave me the courage to used those some colors in Flynn's room (a post about my children's rooms forthcoming).
Anyway, back to green. I tried to be non-thematic in the kitchen & totally neutral in the livingroom. It's worked in the livingroom, as our couch is camel & creme & has a very faint pattern. And the wood (not real wood) furniture is blond wood cubes. I also have a piece like a chest, that I got from a garage sale. It was only $20, was in great shape, is 'real' wood & is the same shade as the rest of the livingroom family. It has pier 1 stamped inside so I thought it was a definite score. The rest is hodge podge, but it always ends up being fairly inconspicuous.
The kitchen as I said was just very mix & match. On the cabinets, I put old glasses, bottles & pitchers & an old cookie jar that I found at a garage sale (looks just like the one my mom had growing up that my sister now has). Then, I found some great buys at a little garage sale at a really old house in town. It was a little old lady, she was so sweet, & seemed so surprised that I drooled over the old porcelain partridge & melamine cups she had for sale. And a swatch that is in the process of becoming a throw pillow for Flynn's bed (post on that project, also in the near future).
SO...
Those few pieces all shared a common hue. Can you guess what it is?
Yep,
Hello Lover.
So, I gave in. I decided that it was God's will for green to be the kitchen's color.
Soonafter, I saw the lucious silk print that I showed Jeff at Target. He agreed that it would tie in the different shades of green & be a good piece to flow from the part of the wall that is kitchen, to the wall which is livingroom (not easy with the cathedral ceiling).
Yesterday, when he was bringing Flynn home, sick as a dog, he had her deliver the gift to me. "Close your eyes" & she took credit for the great surprise.
He even went so far as to hide the gift as Grammy's & pay with cash so I wouldn't notice the deduction when online banking.

It took so much effort, he had to then stumble into bed & not get up until today.

But it was worth his effort. And it's already hanging.

HELLOOOOOOOO NURSE

And by Hello Nurse, I am not talking Betty or Smurfette.

The only nurse I need is my wonderful wife who has taken care of me for 2 1/2 days. Not to mention taking care of the kids and house.

Thank you, Amy, for putting up with me whining around for these days. I love you and do not know what I would have done without you.

Love

Jeff

Steamy Romance

And when I say my hot hubby is hot for me, I mean hot.
Like 102.6 degrees.

12 Days of Valentine, HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

This is the photo that inspired me when making my wedding bouquet...

It's the final day, the 12th day...and it couldn't be more appropriate that this day I choose to thank you Jeff for your...

LOVE

You give it so freely, to everyone.

If this was the one thing Jesus really cared about asking us to do (appears in the NIV 551 times!), He's probably pretty pleased with you.

And the UNCONDITIONAL love you've shown me from the day we met, cannot be overlooked, nor can it be matched by anything.

This love shines through in everything you do. From the two jobs you keep, to the tireless way you come home from those two jobs & help me with the kids & the house & the chores that I should've had done by that time.

This love shows when you take your family to church every Sunday, and if we're so lucky to sit down during church, together, you never fail to put your arm around me & caress my shoulder.

That same love that inspires you to stay awake a little longer each night so that we can pray together.

It also is the same love that has cried with me in our sorrowful times...and has gushed with joy during the happy times of our life together.

It was in the look you gave me when the doctor told us Flynn was a girl, the look in your eyes when they laid Gabe on my chest.

In the tough times we've had together, it was the one constant. And despite the worries I may have had, everything else seemed to melt away with your regular display of love.

And on this, our 7th Valentine together, I hope you never doubt my love for you. It has not only kept from fading, it burns so brightly sometimes I'm sure I'm beaming. And it's because of you...

Happy Valentine's Day Jeff, I LOVE you!

Psalm 117:2 "For he loves us with unfailing love..."

Pass it Around

2002, After snorkeling in the Bahamas...

So, it seems I may have given Jeff whatever this is that I 'have'. And that's obvious to everyone, including Flynn.

As Jeff lay down & asked her to give him some space so that she didn't also catch what's going around this house, she thought a while and said,

"Because you got this. From mom. From kissing her."

12 Days of Valentine are drawing to a close...

Jeff proposed to me, right here, literally where I sit....only there wasn't an office chair, at a computer, in a livingroom. There were plans to be, but there wasn't yet. He took me here to look at the progress of our would-be house, and formalized the way we'd felt & the plans we'd made, and asked for my hand in marriage. 6 weeks later, we were mr & mrs. Now that's romance.

11th Day, 11th Way

GENTLENESS

From how gentle you kiss me to how gentle you lovingly discipline the kids.

How when you get mad, your brow might wrinkle, and that's probably the only physical change that will take place. I doubt your heart even beats faster.

You put things together with a tender touch & hold a baby like he or she is an egg.

And I love you, the way you are.

12 Days of Valentine...10th Day

I know, too freakish to be funny...

On this, the 10th day of Valentines, I had to pry my sick self from the recliner but you're worth every cough I succumb to send you my love...

The 10th day, the 10th way is your easiness.

Get your mind out of the gutter! By easiness, what I mean is you're so easy going you make everything easy.

You rarely stress, I never see you nervous. You never get uncomfortable because you are new, or don't know anyone.

As a matter of fact, I think the 2nd time you'd visited my parents, you were laying sideways across their loveseat, feet dangling off the side. Probably the third time you visited my sister & her family, you got a blanket (what we fondly call the "pimp blanket" on account of its furriness) & laid down in front of the fire & covered yourself. You were completely comfortable.

And that's how you approach life.

Easy.

I love it. It's the very reason my blood pressure is high & yours is low.

Easy to please & easy to love.

And I love to do both.

xoxo

Modeling Schmodeling

In all honestly, it was no big deal.

It was in the city, so we made a morning of it (running all the errands we needed to while in town, I finally went to the dr & got an rx for antibiotics so I can kick the cough I've had for weeks).

The whole morning, she kept asking, "Is it time for me to go to "my" modeling?"

Well, it was a casting call for sure. No pleasantries, no chit-chat. It was sign your kid in, and wait for your number (name) to be called.

When they called Flynn's name, I stood up, and was quickly told that I could wait where I was. I tried to not be offended as I realize this gig pays at least $400.

The room she took Flynn to was within earshot (in case you think I'm nuts for letting a stranger lead my kiddo off to Lord knows where). I could hear them talking, but knew there wasn't much said, & that it took at most of five minutes.

Then, she led Flynn back in, told us thank you, and called the next child.

We weren't told anything, neither was the other parent we left with.

On the way home, I tried to get info from Flynn...

"How many photos did they take?"

"Um, three."

"Did she ask any questions?"

"No."

And then, she continued playing with her mini-cabbage patch, "Destiny Ava."

But then, when I let her call Nana (who was pretty concerned that I get to a doctor), she gave Nana all the info:

"They took three pictures. The first one, they handed me a paper & had me hold it. They took another one. And a third one of my whole body.

When the lady handed me the card, it had something written on it & a number.

The lady asked me if I knew what it said, I told her, 'it says Flynn.'

I smiled."

And that friends, is where I got all info & any answers to the question, 'how did it go?'

O's, not X's

Are you a Careful Kisser?

How to Smooch Safely with Food Allergies This Valentine's Day

DOYLESTOWN, Pa., Feb. 11 (AScribe Newswire) --

For most parents ofteens, Valentine's Day may evoke over-protective thoughts regarding their child. "I've got two daughters and I think they should never kiss anyone!"exclaimed Roger Friedman, MD, Clinical Professor of Allergy, Immunology, andPediatrics at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.

All joking aside, parents of food-allergic children have even more cause to be wary of smooching. Today, 3 to 4 million children are affected by food allergies, and allergic reactions can be triggered not just byconsuming food firsthand. Kissing - ranging from passionate to a peck on the cheek - can also prompt a reaction.

"You're pretty unlikely to have anything severe happen from a kiss. But it can happen and you need to be smart," Dr. Friedman advised.
A common form of affection on Valentine's Day, kissing becomes a problem when a grandparent or date consumes an allergen before smooching afood-allergic child or teen.

"A peck on the cheek from a parent or relative will almost always only result in a local reaction such as a welt or hive; it's very unlikely to cause any severe reaction that you'd be worried about," Dr. Friedman explained.

Short of suggesting kissing be prohibited this Valentine's Day, Dr.Friedman recommends teenagers, especially, play it safe. "If you're in a committed relationship that involves passionate kissing, tell your date 'I'm allergic to nuts, please don't eat any before you kiss my face!'" he suggested.

Todd D. Green, MD, Assistant Professor of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, agreed.

"If a date cares enough about their Valentine to kiss her or him, hopefully they'll care enough to refrain from eating the food theirValentine is allergic to that day," he said.

Kissing (and even sharing utensils, straws and cups) causes exposure to food allergens through saliva, which can contain enough allergen to cause local and systemic allergic reactions. In a study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, participants ingested two tablespoons of peanut butter to establish how long the peanut allergen stays in saliva. Researchers collected the saliva of the participants at different times, and also evaluated mouth-cleansing techniques (brushing teeth, rinsing and chewing gum).

According to the study, "the most effective way to avoid causing an allergic reaction, if you're going to eat the food to which your partner is allergic, is to eat the food several hours before a kiss and have a mealf ree of the allergen before you kiss - although not eating the food at all would always be the safest approach," said Dr. Green. Though the risk of having a severe allergic reaction from a kiss is small, there is always a slight possibility, said Dr. Green. "Unfortunately you can't predict the amount of protein that will be transferred during kissing, and it is difficult to predict the reaction," he said. That said, it is better to err on the safe side.

Online support group Kids With Food Allergies offers these tips for safe smooching on Valentine's Day:
- Remind your kissing partner about your allergies;
- Suggest your partner avoid eating serious allergens, if possible;
- Ask your partner to minimize allergen exposure, such as by washinghands and face, or brushing teeth thoroughly, before kissing;
- Carry appropriate medication and know how to use an injectableepinephrine kit;
- Wear emergency medical identification (such as a MedicAlertbracelet).

For more tips on staying safe this Valentine's Day, visit http://www.kidswithfoodallergies.org .

Our little Flynn's milk allergy is very much like a peanut allergy in that she's so sensitive to contact (& she even has had an airborn reaction a time or two).
Even to a kiss from Papa on the cheek, after he's drank coffee w/ cream in it. Or once when daddy ate ice cream & only 'rinsed' his hands (didn't use soap) -- everywhere daddy touched Flynn, there were burn-like marks.
If you ever want to show our girl affection, first we suggest you just give her a hug; but if you feel compelled to kiss her on the cheek, please wash your hands & face after eating the unsafe food.
Her little cheeks appreciate it!

Jungle Jeff

What to do when it's less than 20 degrees outside & your days of playing at the park are but a blur in the snow?

Why, turn your daddy into a slide, a jungle gym, & a playground, that's what you do.

Lips Glossed, Fingers Crossed UPDATE

As luck would have it, the highways & roads out here are completely covered by about 1/2 an inch of ice. And it's still coming down, to be followed by snow.

So, Flynn missed her audition, but Hark! we rescheduled! For 11 am tomorrow.

Even tho I completely presented her with the information that she would be doing a "job" today, talking with people, answering questions, & "they might take a couple of pictures", she somehow devised the truth & asked me this afternoon,
"When are we going in for my modeling?"

Hopefully the snow plows do their thing tomorrow morning & we're able to get this girl to her gig.