today/yesterday

I wish I had something totally inspiring to say, but it's just another day. A glorious day, but as usual I'm tired. I could lay down and take a nap, but??? I had trouble even getting up this morning. Maybe I should just take a walk. There is one daughter that would surely go with me, Alley. She got to spend the afternoon alone with me yesterday while the rest went for a play date, (Abbey was a mother's helper). Al and watched a movie "Wind Runner",make dinner together, made artist trading cards (I should blog about that and get feedback and address to mail to people who might be interested in trading--a scrappers dream), inspected unknown debris in our yard blown in by the winter wind, and shopping for our youth jr high class drawing award (it was a hand held fart box, Kara you should take one to yoga class....heehee, Curtis won it. Now Richie is conspiring a pay back for my household of girls, I'm afraid of what might be coming my way....). Carey said when we got to church and he saw Alley, she was simply glowing. It's so wonderful to know one on one time can be so rewarding for them. It sure flew by, and it was so quite and delightful in the house. We kept waiting for someone to come down from upstairs. I need to find some other ways to spend time like this with the others.....while not spending money...any ideas?

My quirky quote

"just be" friend from college, Stephanie DuBois 2000.

My rebel self -- is back

Ok, what's my problem. The sleep medicine seems to be helping some...at least during the night. During the day I'm still getting drowsy. So I give in a try to sleep but inevitably one out of five comes to bug me for something. So I can't rest anyway. I'm so tired of being tired. But? I also know I have to train myself out of it and get back to life. I have little patience for the everyday things and the pettiness of the children. Ugh, I want to toss my hand up and give up, but then I'm still here with the same situation and circumstances.

In my Bible study about the "normal" state of the mind; means to rest in peace, so that God can speak. I can't even go to the "potty" by myself let alone 5 minutes of peace. Ok, I know it means peace at heart. Well, maybe I can start with a shower to "feel" refreshed then maybe I can at least cope with joy in my heart, and be grateful for my little blessings of life.

Oh, and I miss Zaylei. My little snuggle baby. She won't be back for two weeks. She's going home with her grandma to Kentucky. I and the girls adore that little punk. She's so much fun. I just feel like a big cry baby today........sorry. Having a major temper tantrum in my head!!! I see that little girl jumping up and down screaming. I much prefer that little girl to be dancing in joy and praise to the Lord. Maybe I should practice what I preach and go put on some praise music. See ya soon after the ice storm.......

AGAIN!!!! It should have been expected?

Well, my poodle doodle, Ainsley has now gotten the flu bug; or whatever we have been passing around here. Last night she started out just not feeling well. But by bed time she had a fever. Although low, I was able to give her medicine to treat it successfully to keep it down and manageable. She's pretty punk today. It's hard to make plans with sick children. I'm suppose to have Zaylei tomorrow too? What about dance, Thursday church, Saturday's "The Night", and Sunday???? Sometimes it's so hard to tame the mind isn't it?

At my visit to the doctor Monday, he decided to put me on a gentle sleep aid medicine. Of course I couldn't get it filled until yesterday. But I didn't feel comfortable taking it last night with Ainsley sick. The doc said I'd still be able to get up, but I didn't want to risk it, in case she needed me. I did get up once to dose her during the night. So my sleep test said I was a 5 for sleep apnea. People with typical treatment are 50-60. So? Then he looked at the fact of the 600 minutes recorded, I only actually slept half the time. He still maintains I'm not getting enough good sleep and wants to try the sleep aid medicine. We'll see.

Quit complaining already.....

I don't know if Jay Leno really wrote this, but I agree with spirit in which it's written. Let's quite complaining about it all......


I hope you will all read to the end. Jay Leno puts it into perspective and makes us think about the pathetic negativity. That's right, Jay Leno!!



Jay Leno wrote this; it's the Jay Leno we don't often see....



"The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true, given the source, right?



The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed, and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the President. In essence, 2/3's of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change.

So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, ''What are we so unhappy about?''
Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week?

Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter?

Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job?

Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time, and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?

Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state?

Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter?

I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough.

Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provides services to help all, and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.

Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family and your belongings.

Or if, while at home watching o ne of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss.

This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90 percent of teenagers own cell phones and computers.

How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world?

Maybe that is what has 67 percent of you folks unhappy.

Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S. , yet has a great disdain for its citizens . They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have , and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.

I know, I know. What about the President who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The President who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same President who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The President that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks?

The Commander-In Chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me? Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad?

Think about it...are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the"Media" told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day.

Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go.

They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general'' discharge, an ''other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a ''dishonorable'' discharge after a few days in the brig.

So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans? Say what you want, but Iblame it on the media. If it bleeds, it leads; and theyspecialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner?The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations.They offer whatsells, and when criticized, try to defend their actions by "justifying" them in one way or another. Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book about "how he didn't kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this way"...Insane!

Stop buying the negativism you are fed everyday by the media.Shut off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as a country. There is exponentially more good than bad.

We are among the most blessed people on Earth, and should thank God several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative.

"With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, "Are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?"

Jay Leno 2007
Please keep this in circulation. There are so many people that need to read this and grasp the truth of it all.

Here she is

Here she is....Audrey in her new reading glasses. Of course the challenge now is to not to loose them. She's already left them at church today, and she just got him yesterday. Little booger.It sure was nice to get back to church today. I'm exhausted now though.

FYI: I see the doctor again tomorrow.

Quote for today goes random

We watched a movie yesterday called "Same River Twice". In the beginning was a quote from someone I haven't heard of, but it intrigues me:

"If there is magic on this planed, it is contained in water." Loren Eiseley

I love water. I'm fascinated by it. The ocean, river, stream, waterfall, lake, pond, stream, pool. I am a retired swimmer. I came down to WV from NY to swim at Shepherd College (University now). I had a partial scholarship after my first year. The discipline I learned those first two years at Shepherd by the practice of swimming is really beyond explanation. Oh course I'm not meaning my grades...heehee....it was more the physical and spiritual aspect of working so hard at something. I probably, well, for sure, was in the best shape of my life then. We would get up at 6 am and trek across campus in the snow to dive into a cold pool and work out for 1-1/2 hours. Then go to classes, or whatever, until 3-5 for more practice. We swam so much. Over a mile a day easy. I wish I could even calculate it now. It's amazing to ponder the race against time and the rush to try to beat my previous record. The bizarre thing was, come watching the clock, or, stopwatch, while in labor with Abbey and Alley; that minute I use to swim a four length freestyle race in seemed to go so slow for a contraction. The race of time. hmmmmm.

ps the girls are still sick. Carey says Alley needs to go to the doctor???

WRONG AGAIN!!

Alley has a fever now again!!!! aaaaaaaaaaahh! We're going to entertain ourselves with a bunch of family movies Debbie gave us at Christmas. This sickness is definitely going around at the studio, Kirsten's fever was up to 104., Lena, Chloe. I'm sure more I don't know about. I don't know about any at church this time around...thank God.

Continued Sickness for us....

I really thought Alexa was in the clear from this sickness. Quite a bummer, but she began not feeling well at the Valentine party we attended Monday. Sorry guys. No way to know. She's ran a very high fever causing her to vomit, it's her third day now. Alley finally broke her fever yesterday, and started feeling better, but coughing uncontrollably. Abbey is better, and I can give her adult cold meds to modify her coughing. I just pray the two little ones don't get it, as it will be more taxing to me. Plus I'd like to get to church Thursday (I love being with 'my' youth) and Saturday Ab & Al have a party to attend. Oh, and Carey and I are to go to the Valentine Banquet--Venetian style. So much for schooling, but with the weather the schools are out anyway. We're on lessons #79-80 as we've combined lessons after the new year. Some subjects have already been completed. It feels good for once. Now I just need to get Ainsley reading fluently and Audrey going.

I don't have an update on the apnea test yet. I can't get to the doctor for follow-up due to the sickness and weather. Maybe next Monday.

Sickness.......boohoo

Abbey and Alley are both sick with high fevers (102. without med. and 99. with). It's hard to see them so miserable. The rest of the girls had this illness a few weeks ago. Fever, dizzyness, stomach aches and eventual tummy upset. I haven't seen her so sick in a couple years. And you know her, with her OCD it's hard for her to deal with. She's now worried about the youth group she was with Thursday while she was dizzy and we didn't know she was sick. Plus worried she's made Leslie or her kids sick while a moma's helper that day. Alley just sits with garbage can in her lap......poor thing. Samantha has agreed to take Children's Church for me tomorrow. Hopefully we'll be well for the Valentine party Monday.

Making up for lost time

Here's my update from my doctor apt Monday. He thinks I have sleep apnea. I've neglected to post an update and focus for prayer, partly because of being busy, also tired, and just pure negativety to the idea of sleep apnea being my problem. Finally yesterday, I couldn't stay awake while schooling the children and couldn't take it anymore. I called to schedule my sleep test. It's tonight. I'm trying to be excited about the prospect of being a test dummy by being hooked up to electrodes all over my body while I sleep. I've always dreamed about such a strange thing, but for different reasons--to actually record my thoughts. Now I know that's not possible, so this is the next best thing. I'm not wild about being away from home, (I have to drive 45 minutes away tonight just to go to sleep) and having to return so early before life begins in the morning. But I'm hopeful for answers, as Carey is too. So the doc is pretty sure it's not the thyroid so wanted to go in this direction of testing. We'll see. He still did the blood work for the thyroid and vitamin D to double check that. The nurse had the nerve to say to me as she stuck me, "If I didn't know better, I'd think you were a junky with all those 'stick' scars." Nice hu? All I could say was, it was due to having 5 babies.....

My baby finally needs glasses

Shortly after Audrey was born I knew she wasn't seeing properly. We went through some fairly vigorous testing for a newborn, EAG, MRI, to determine to just wait as her eye development caught up to her. Every six months since then it's been the same. Wait another six months and see. Today it was determined she's finally at the age (5) where her eyes need to be strengthened, like a weight lifter lifts weights, with glasses....just for reading. So one eye is weaker than the other, but both can use the extra help and allow her to see with ease. Now she'll be able to learn her letters and learn to read with more ease. Now "f" won't be confused with "t". Sweet thing, she'll look adorable in her pinky/purple frames she picked out. I'll update the picture when the glasses come in.

Ms. Shabeckti WHERE ARE YOU?

At our back to school party we had a guest teacher, Ms. Shabeckti. She only visited for a short time, but gosh, she was a great teacher. Look at these students hard at work sewing back together their peaches in our science lesson! It's almost SPRING BREAK! Will Ms. Shabeckti be back for another visit? Two young gentlemen have stated she'll never be back. But I know there are a few students who would love to see her return.




We can only hope........

My prayer

I wrote a wonderful blog yesterday about hypothyroidism, then lost cable connection and lost it. So?? When the mood hits again I'll get back to that. For now, my heart goes out to Ruth and Violet.

Lord, I ask that you would stir your spirit within them. Let them both rest so their bodies may heal. Give the families peace as time can allow the healing you've begun. I thank you for family Father and that we can rest in your assurance as we comfort others.

Amen.