Life with Elvis

News that you never want to hear

2008-12-08T06:32:00.000-08:00

It breaks my heart when terrible things happen this time of year. In the last week I have lost an Uncle, a friend lost her baby at 20 weeks, and my cousin's grandmother died. It never seems to fail that there just seems to be just so much sorrow at this time of year. I don't know if it is just a coincidence or we just seem to notice it more with all the holidays. While I understand that these things are a part of life, something very tragic happened to a person I share a connection with that should never be a part of life. The murder of a child.

I belong to an adoption group online, Adoption.com. It has been a wonderful place of support, education and fun for me and many other families whose lives have somehow been touched by adoption. Our little corner of the Adoption.com world is the Guatemala board. I have been a member since before we even started Carlos' adoption. If you have not experienced the rollercoaster of international adoption I know that it might not make sense. Everything is just so out of your hands and it does take a huge leap of faith to get you thru just those first steps, so having other's who have been there and done that is a huge help. You basically hand your dreams over to someone in a country, most times you have never even seen. In our case it took me a while to even find it on a map. So even though I do not know many of these families personally, we have never met, we share a bond. Thru this board we have become a family, we fight like siblings, we cheer each other on when things seem impossible. We celebrate each other's milestones, such as getting the Dna tests done, getting in PGN. You become experts at words that in any other life would never make sense. You do all this because you know in your heart, deep in your soul, that this child, who was born to another woman, in another country, to another world and language, is your child. Like any parent, whether your child comes to you by birth or adoption, we will do anything for these children. It seems that everyone on the Guatemala board has now become so attached to their child's birth country that we go back for visits, we long for visits, we keep in touch with our foster families. Some people even still help support their foster families, their child's birth families or orphanages that have just found a spot in their hearts. I know that I will never be the same person I was before I traveled to Guatemala and saw for myself the beauty of the country, but also the poverty. Guatemala has become part of me.

I logged on to my Guate board this weekend and found a thread that chilled me to the bone. My heart hurts and I feel so very helpless. One of the family's daughter was murdered in a home invasion. This child was possibly going to be home for Christmas. She was in the final steps of her adoption. I don't know the details, I just know that this is so wrong in so many ways. I cannot even begin to understand this. Josi was 5 years old, a beautiful little girl who's family was looking forward to her homecoming. Now her family is having to deal with this senseless tragedy. They had just paid their final portion of the adoption fees. They have been trying to raise funds for this adoption as many families have done. Now they have lost their child, and from what I understand other's were killed also. I know that it is Christmas time and economically it is hard. If you can, make a donation. If you just don't have the money, please just say a prayer for this family. http://azhderianfamily.blogspot.com/

Wacky Wednesday

2008-12-03T07:30:00.000-08:00

Hell Cat

My poppi is having surgery today so I am sending all my love, thoughts and prayers that he is all better really soon.

All of my cats have colds, so imagine me running around here trying to give them medicine and wiping their noses...yep you read that right..I am wiping little kitty boogers. Ahhhh the life of a mommy. We have a new kitty with us right now but I don't think she will be able to stay. First let me give you the history of this little lady. I have mentioned I think that we do kitty foster care. Well this little girl and her sisters and brothers came to us at 2 days old. Katie and I bottle fed and taught them how to use the litter box. So we decided to keep one of the litter, one of the little boys did not make it so we had 2 girls and 1 boy. We kept this one because she was the runt, we had called her everything from flower to Tinkerbell. Well a few months later Carlos came home from Guatemala and poor little defensless thing the cat would attack him. We started calling her Helley or Hell Cat. My sister came over one day and this cat just climbed up on her and that was it a match made in Heaven. Fast forward, Tinkerbell, Tinkerhell, Hell Cat is now called Vegas(yes, my sister has issues, she also has 2 dogs, Reno and Tahoe, I love her anyway) LoL She calls me and tells me that she can't keep Vegas and did I want her back or could I take her to the farm (see the last post about my parents' farm, Snapp Happy Farm, the Barnyard Hilton:) Well we decided to give her another chance..surely it was just a teenage phase she was going thru???? OH NO....this cat is the devil. She is stalking all my sick kitties and chases them thru the house, she attacks from behind furniture, We are all being held hostage by this HELL CAT. So I am going to try to find some wonderful (Sucker) to take this little charm off my hands....just like my rotten sister did...heee heee

The missing Thanksgiving post

2008-12-03T06:10:00.000-08:00

A little late but finally getting a chance to post about our Thanksgiving adventure. We visited my father up in Monticello. It is about a 4 hour drive from here and a very beautiful part of Florida. He has a farm up there so the kids love going to feed the cows, pigs, gather eggs and just be able to run around. We drove up Wednesday morning and after we visited a little and unpacked we finally got around to making a drive in town to the grocery store. My dad had left to take my mother to the airport (yes, she was abandoning us for the weekend) so Tony and I headed out to get what we needed for our feast. Only once we got to the end of the driveway did we realize neither of us knew which way to go to get into town. Right? Left? go right...well we passed several things that looked familiar and started to talk, a rare treat since Carlos was asleep in the back and Katie was with Grandpa. After a while we both noticed nothing looked familiar anymore...we get to the end of the road..another dilemma...right or left? Neither we turned around and went back the way we came and started all over..we did finally find the town and eventually we did find the one grocery store in town. After finding most of the things we needed we packed back in the car. A few stops for marshmallows and we were ready to head back home...oh shoot of course we now need gas, maybe because we have driven over God's half acre already. We stop at the gas station and I do the woman thing...go ask for directions on how to get back home since yes....we are lost again. Mind you this is a very very tiny town, where they call the roads..Wacilla road instead of C257 or what ever the name is on a map. Big Daddy is trying to figure out the gas pumps because there is no card slot. Huh? No card slot..what on earth. By this time I am in the midst of one of my menopausal hot flashes because I missed my refemine dose this morning so I walk in to the gas station with a tank top on and no jacket...yes it was 45 degrees...sooooo what's your point? They looked at my like I had 3 heads and when I opened my mouth to ask directions I swear I heard a collective "ahhh haaaa" as if they all understood. I go back out to check on the gas situation to find my husband at a loss, he tells me to go back in and tell the man he wants to fill up and gives me his credit card..no I really don't want to go back in and face the people who have already decided I have escaped from somewhere. Before I can say a word the man says "use like a debit" very loudly in an Indian accent, startled and really convinced I am NOT IN KANSAS ANYMORE TOTO I go back out and tell Tony to "use like a debit" again we search for the little slot. Dejected and really wanting to go home, he goes in...again he does not utter a word "POOOOsh Hrddd" he is told very loudly. Still really not understanding he goes back out and finally manages to get some of that $1.89 petrol in the car (of course we could not have found the one with the $1.75 price) we leave the station and just bumble until we finally find the right road out of town and manage to make it home. It only took us 3 1/2 hours. We were laughing so hard I thought I would pee. OH and did I mention we have a spiffy new GPS that was trying to help us the whole time????

So we put together our pies for the next day and go to bed. We are staying in a camper, a very small camper and Tony and I are not exactly little people, plus Carlos and our 2 dogs. Katie had the sense to stay at the house and sleep on the couch. The next day was absolutely beautiful, sunny and nice and cool. We cooked and baked and fried and had a marvelous meal at 1:30. The day was perfect and we all had a very good day. It was very nice to spend the holiday with my Poppi, I don't get to see him a lot and sometimes when we do, we don't play nice. There is something about a father/daughter being just alike that makes it hard to get along sometimes. We love each other very very much, we just don't always agree. But today we were both on our best behaviours and it was a perfect holiday. Oh and that morning Tony, Katie, Carlos and I all read our blessings from the blessing box that we fill with notes from the past year. I love this little tradition we have, it is very fun and helps remind us of all the wonderful memories of the past year.

Thursday afternoon we went fishing and I caught the biggest fish I have ever caught. A large mouth bass no less. I thought the only thing in the pond were monstrous catfish.

Friday the rain started and did not stop. It is very hard to keep two kids entertained in a little house that is not accustomed to having little people. Tony took the kids to the mall and I decided to surprise my mom by dusting, she hates to do it. So I got to watch old Bette Davis and Joan Crawford movies with my pop and clean a little.

Sunday we headed home and it has to have been the worst car trip ever. What should have been a 4 hour trip took us around 6 1/2 to 7 hours. Many times our top speed on the interstate was 25 miles per hour.

In spite of the long trip home it was a wonderful weekend and I am very thankful I got to spend it with my Poppi, whom I love with all my heart, and my beautiful perfect little family.

Halloween

2008-11-07T08:31:00.000-08:00

Too much fun
Squirt
My Bug trying to keep warm while carving pumpkins
Squirt and the Dark Fairy (who forgot her antennas)
Cheeseball smiles

Ok so I am finally posting pictures from Halloween. The kids really enjoyed carving the pumpkins the night before. We did one for each of us. Mommy had fun carving them too. I wasn't sure Carlos would wear his costume since he was a little apprehensive in the days prior but when the big day arrived he couldn't wait. Thanks to his big sister who seems to be able to get him to do anything somedays. Katie was a dark fairy and had friends with her so we let them venture out on their own. Carlos was Squirt from Nemo again since his costume still fit. Once we went outside there was no holding him back. He took to it like an old pro and wanted to hit all the houses. There was a group having a hay ride and he climbed up on the wagon and invited himself along even though he did not know any of the people. They were sweet and let him join in their fun. That is the nice thing about our neighborhood, everyone is really kid friendly. So he would jump off the wagon with the big kids and go to the doors then back on the wagon to go down another few houses and do it all over again. I thought I was in for a very short night thinking he would only want to do a few houses and then go home and eat his candy...wrong. After the hay ride came to an end we continued around our block and finally made it home. We were gone approximately 2 hours and I had to carry him about half of that time. We were both exhausted. Once we got home his daddy tried to change him for bed but he would not have it, he insisted on wearing his costume more and wanted to watch tv. It was all too much for him but he would still not give up the lollipop.

A day at work

2008-10-22T16:38:00.001-07:00

Have I ever mentioned what an awesome life I have? My boss is really cool, I can work in my jammies and never get dressed, and my work involves playing ball or just watching tv. My daughter stayed home again today with her icky stomach and Carlos is on day two of a cold. Unfortunately when he is coughing like this the only thing I can give him is Ventolin (otherwise none as Kiddy Speed)I have often suggested to the Pediatrician that he needs to hand the mommies a prescription for xanax when he hands them the prescription for Ventolin. It does work and helps knock the cough out of their chest but weeeeeeeeeeehhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeewwwwwwwww does it make them crazy. Today though we all three just hung out in my bed, watched TV, looked at old photo albums and took a long nap. Then the kids used a tracing thing to make Halloween pictures, and as Carlos likes to say "kirkles" since he cannot pronounce the "s" sound. We all sat in the laundry room(a very small room indeed) and played with our latest batch of kittens. One of them we call Dust Bunny,she will hide under the dresser and that is just what she looks like. I guess it was a pretty good day at work.

This past weekend we went to our local pumpkin festival and here are some pictures we took. Right now Carlos is going thru a "don't take my picture" phase so good pictures of him are far and few between lately.

A tisket a tasket I just ordered a basket

2008-10-17T19:47:00.000-07:00

Here is Berta, who Carlos calls Teetee and Karla delivering the basket.
I found out about this really cool service and ordered the essentials basket for my foster mom. I am beyond excited and cannot wait to get my picture and see what her reaction is. I think the name is perfect Not Forgot in Guat. I have tried to make sure our foster mom understands that we will never ever forget her. I will definately be ordering again and will post a picture when I get one of my foster mom with her basket. I placed my order about 30 minutes ago and have already gotten a response that they will be verifying the address tomorrow. Please go to www.notforgotinguat.com and check it out.

Guatoberfest 2008

2008-10-17T12:13:00.000-07:00

We had such a wonderful time at Guatoberfest. I have not posted yet because I am still having a hard time putting words to what an amazing experience it was. So many beautiful babies, so many happy families. We met so many great people, and even finally got to put faces with some friends I have made on the adoption board. I heard stories that touched my heart. I still don't really totally understand the pull I have for Guatemala other than that is where my son would be born one day, but I can see that I am not alone.

22 years

2008-09-29T07:51:00.000-07:00

My husband and I celebrated our 22nd wedding anniversary this weekend. It was not a very good celebration I am sad to say. We are both sick right now so neither are on our best behaviors or very patient. Friday he did take the day off and we went to the beach together, Little Man to the babysitters and daughter in school. Mommy and Daddy time alone is a very rare treat. It was a wonderful day and we found lots of sharks teeth and snorkled. I got my hiney burnt just like I did on our honeymoon, you would think I would learn??? I don't know if we just wore ourselves out or what but after that we just could not seem to get along or agree on anything. That makes me very sad, because it will be another whole year until our anniversary comes around. But something that you learn after being with a person for 22 years (more actually because we dated 3 years) is that a date on the calender may mark your anniversary but everyday you have together is special.

I have never really talked much about my husband or our story, but here it is:

I met my husband thru a friend in 9th grade. He was the big football player and I was the cute girl with the funny name and purple Nikes. We started out as friends, he was one of those guys all the girls loved, a big teddy bear. After a while we realized we kinda liked each other more than friends. We dated 2 weeks. I dumped him right after Valentine's Day because he gave me a card that he wrote I love you in. Now mind you...don't we all say I love you and not really mean it? The problem was I knew he meant it and it scared the hell out of me. I was only 14, how on earth could I be in love? NO WAY. We tried to remain friends but ended up just not being able to do it. Fast forward about a year. I noticed he was dating this girl. Well, hmmmmmm I can date....but oh no. him?..that will never do. Then we literally ran into each other in an empty hall way. He promised to call, and did. There were alot talks, fights, starts and stops, back and forth, but soon we were together. Things have always been crazy, I am a very moody and emotional person, so when I am mad everyone knows it, when I am happy everyone knows it. He is very sarcastic and arrogant,(which is one of several things I love about him) but also passionate, whether it be about football or me so things were crazy somedays. Sometimes I am still amazed that we ever managed to stay together. Right around the time we started dating my Ulcerative Colitus symptoms kicked in worse than ever and I had to start taking medications to try to keep it under control. For the next 2 years things would continue to get worse until I was hospitalized. I was very dehydrated, ended up with a punctured lung and was not doing well, so I was moved to ICU. I don't remember much except that everytime I opened my eyes he was there. I don't think the nurses had the heart to make him leave when the 5 minutes was up. I got moved back to Progressive ICU. It was our first Christmas that we would get to spend together (I normally went to visit my mom) and it looked like I was going to be in the hospital. Tony showed up one day with this little tiny tree and decorations. He decorated my room for me. I got out Christmas Eve and my mom drove me by where he worked. The look on his face was amazing. We did get to spend Christmas together. By April I was so sick again that I knew I was going to have to have an ileostomy done if I ever hoped to have a semi normal life. I went in the hospital April 15th, had surgery May 1st and was released May 15th. He walked to the hospital everyday and stayed with me most of the day. My father, who had not talked to him for the first 2 years we dated and would only grunt at him finally said, he really does love her and stopped making us miserable with his attempts to make us break up. I graduated in June, we became engaged in December and shacked up in January. We were married the following September. One of my biggest concerns about having my surgery and the others that have followed thru the years is how it would effect our having children. After we were married 5 years we decided to start a family. We would try just about everything under the sun over the next 5 years until we decided to give it just one more try before starting the paperwork to adopt from Guatemala. We were told I had a bun in the oven...LOL My pregnancy was pretty uncomplicated for someone with my history, but eventful none the less. So after false alarms, hospital stay for a weekend, bedrest, and then daily visits for monitoring, our little girl was delivered. I have never seen a father so in love with his little girl in my life. Now according to my daughter I have had a surgery for every year she has been alive and she is honestly not far off the mark...if not a little short. Everytime my husband would step in and assume both roles like a trooper. When I would come home, he then became nurse on top of all his other duties. I have actually been released early because he was doing such a good job of taking care of me in the hospital that they did not see a reason to keep me. I have watched him be a prince, dance with my daughter and say the lines he was told to say. We decided to adopt, I saw him let go of his reservations, once we were matched I watched him fall in love with a picture of a sonogram and then about a month later I watched him cry because he had to tell me something that he knew was going to break my heart and then helped me explain to our daughter that the sister she had always wanted was not going to happen. 3 months later I watched as he put his heart out there again and started to love a little boy who was just a picture until he held him. Now I watch him play ball and fish with that little boy. I see him look at our little girl he once danced with and carried on his shoulders and smile when he can see he becoming a lady before his eyes even though I think somedays he would love to turn back time for just a little longer. I have watched his hair turn gray, most of which he says I have caused. I see him go off to a job everyday that is sometimes not pleasant so we can have our beautiful home and I can be here to raise our babies.

I suffer from depression, that may actually turn out to be bi-polar (we are still in the see what works phase) and he has been there and tried his best to help me. I know there have been times he wants to say, snap out of it, get up, knock it off. I know that it has not been an easy road and sometimes I do wonder why he has stuck it out. I do know that I am grateful that he has. I love the Rascall Flatts song Everyday that says

Everyday Lyrics
by Rascal Flatts
album: Still Feels Good (2007)

You could have bowed out gracefully
But you didn’t
You knew enough to leave the well enough alone
But you wouldn’t
I drive myself crazy trying to stay out of my own way
The messes that I make but my secrets are so safe
The only one who gets me yeah you get me
It’s amazing to me how
Everyday
Everyday
Everyday you save my life
I come around all broken down and crowded out
And your comfort
Sometimes the place I go is so deep and dark and desperate
I don’t know I don’t know how
Everyday
Everyday
Everyday you save my life
Sometimes I swear I don’t know if I’m coming or going
But you always say something without even knowing
That I’m hanging on to your words with all of my might
And it’s alright, yeah I'm alright for one more night
Everyday
Everyday
Everyday
Everyday
Everyday
Everyday
Everyday you save me
You save me
Everyday you save my life.

That pretty much sums up our story it is a work in progress and even though somedays it is hard, I will never give up. I love my husband, he is my life.

Pish

2008-09-21T09:15:00.000-07:00

We have a lake behind our house and Carlos had developed a love for fishing...he got it from his Mommy...Daddy does not have the patience. So we found this adorable Cars fishing pole at Walmart. Now we have to go "Pish" every evening, sometimes even during the day. He has gotten very good at casting and can throw it out there like a pro. Right now there is a bunch of muck and algae so the water looks gross but that does not seem to bother him. I swear he is 100% boy. One day last week I had to pish, then play catch, kick the football and take him for a bike ride, meanwhile Mommy is still fighting her yucky cold. That's ok, the fresh air did us both good and I just can't say no when he gets his Daddy's hat on and his ball glove. Here are some pictures to share of my little Man.

Sick of being sick

2008-09-15T06:24:00.000-07:00

Princess Fru Fru

UGGGGHH another cold. My head is stuffy and I can't stop coughing. Is there anything more annoying than a cold? Yeah, the stomach virus that put me in the hospital a week ago. I am ready to be unsick. Ok, anyone got some cheese??? crackers??? I will stop whining.

Gosh what is new since July? Sorry I am a blogger slacker, I have issues, I will seek help.

We have a baby alligator in our lake. Baby alligators are actually cute, until they become big alligators, and then the cuteness seems to fade. Unfortunately, some kids have been messing with him so now he is swimming over when he sees people so he is gonna have to go.

We had to take our little Wolfie to my Poppi's house, the Barnyard Hilton. He just could not play well with Wesley or Carlos. Now, he is very happy. He has 15 cats, chickens, ducks,3 pigs,4 goats, 3 cows, and another dog to keep him company. Most recently he has acquired a brother, 2nd Chance a turkey who has joined him at Monticello's Florida's largest petting zoo. The last I heard he steals my Poppi's leather recliner when it is not occupied, but quickly jumps to the couch when he hears my Poppi coming in. 2 grumpy old men, perfect match

Not sure if I mentioned we do foster care for a local organization Gulf Shore Animal League. Right now we have 4 adorable black kittens. We have had them for about 4 weeks so they will be leaving soon. We worked at Petsmart over the weekend and one of them has already been adopted, but he has to get neutered first. It is hard to give them up but knowing they will have a great home helps. But we have also gotten the recent label of being foster failures. Our last batch of kittens were 3 sisters, 2 got adopted and the last one just seemed to adopt my daughter. She begged, her dad and I caved. So we proudly announce Princess Fru Fru has officially joined our clan. Our totals are now 2 dogs, Wesley and Brandi, 3 cats Pete, Gus and Fru Fru, a ferret named Lola, Mr Whiskers (Whiskey) a guinea pig and a few fish. If you read the paragraph above, you can see I get it honestly.

The girl child is now in middle school and I think Carlos is very happy to have mommy all to himself again. But as I see Diego is about to end, I will to for today.

A quote to ponder: Nothing is good or bad, but thinking makes it so. Hamlet

The best photographer ever

2008-07-03T20:41:00.000-07:00

I just have to share pictures that Kristie at Kulik Photography took. Yes, they were done a while ago...ok, it was a long time ago, but I just finished scrapbooking them and thought what an injustice it would be not to share. So here we go...here is my beautiful wonderful amazing family. She also took the two pictures of Carlos that are on my blog. Kristie....you rock.

The day after Disney

2008-04-05T07:12:00.000-07:00

Well it is Spring Break for my daughter so we took a family trip. Where does a family from Florida vacation at? Disney, of course. It was the little man's first real trip since his last one he had pneumonia and was completely out of it. We are members of the vacation club (a fabulous idea by the way)so we stayed at the Old Key West resort. The best part about staying in the condos as opposed to the hotel room is the WASHING MACHINE, only a mom can appreciate this fact. Coming home, unpacking clean clothes and not having a mound of laundry to do is vacation enough to me. We left on Sunday and just hung out at the quiet pool and cooked hamburgers. It was the first time we put water wings on the man. At first he thought we were trying to kill him, but as soon as he floated in the water, and did not sink to the bottom he was very cool with it. He has always been very good in the water and has honestly never sunk to the bottom. He has no fear, which can be a blessing or a curse. His sister, whom he has taken to calling Sissy, instead of School, was such a help to me, because I had to take pool duty while hubby cooked the Bubbas. The water was sooooo cold, see people from Florida don't usually get in the water, pool, beach, lake, until at least Memorial Day, preferable Fourth of July. We had a very relaxing first evening. The next day after getting up and lazing around (boy I was really loving this vacation stuff) we headed off to the Magic Kingdom. I swear the moment we stepped thru the gates, it started to rain, now we are experienced Disney travelers so we did pack the ponchos, we unpacked the ponchos in the room and that is where they stayed the entire trip. We watched the parade and then proceeded to the back of the park, like a salmon swimming upstream. Little Missy and I were going to ride Space Mountain but the wait time was 130 minutes, the fast pass return time was 8:50pm...it was 3pm. No way we say, we are not going to wait that long or tie up our fast pass tickets for the whole evening. Needless to say it was 9pm when we got in line for Space Mountain, after waiting in the 70 minute line for about 30 minutes we were politely informed that they were having technical difficulties. What does one do? I mean do you really want to ride a rollercoaster that has just had difficulties? Is it safer, or is it more likely to have another difficulty, and do I really want to be on it in the middle of it's difficulty? By the way, what was the difficulty? Paper blown on the track, one of the lights blew out, cart flew off the track with a person who took their chance after a difficulty? Yep, we waited and took our chance, we did not fly off the track, but I may have tinkled my pants (oh maybe that is what happened, they had a little "spill" on the track. We both enjoyed it, but you know there is a huge difference between riding Space Mountain when you are 13 and when you are 40. We ended the night with boom booms and then the parade.
The little man did not seem to be especially impressed either way, and really only liked Goof as he likes to call him. Sure, he trusts the one that is like 7 foot tall, but not the cute little Minnie Mouse. We did a character breakfast(Animal Kingdom) and dinner (Liberty Tree)and he did finally warm up to them, but overall, he really didn't get it.
Oh well, maybe next time.....

Kittens, kids and kitchen tools

2008-02-13T14:15:00.000-08:00

I am proud to announce that we have a litter of week old kittens. We do foster care for some of the local animal rescue teams and they had a cat who had just given birth to kittens. Well, me being the animal lover that I am of course jumped at the chance to have babies in the house. Remind me to call my therapist.....So I have given up my big bathtub...not for lent....for cats. I even boiled chicken today and gave some to the cat. Ok, yes I was making chicken soup and already had the chicken cooking, but I chopped it up in tiny little bits and served it warm. What is wrong with me? I make a salad for the guinea pig everynight, chicken for the cat...they eat better than I do.

The boy is officially two and showing every bit of his HOT LATIN TEMPER. I was warned by my peditrition(a latin male) yesterday that I have not lived until I have raised a latin 3 year old male. This did not make me feel any better. It just confirms my suspicions that I may not live thru this. I am trying to figure out some painless method to wean him from the bottle. My daughter is convinced he will be waving to me out the window of the big yellow bus, with bottle hanging from his teeth. Yeah, well.....

I have officially joined the world of home based businesses, I am now a Pampered Chef. Maybe more like a confused, unorganized, stressed Chef, but I have hope. I am actually really excited and I think that I will enjoy it. I have been waiting for my new consultant kit to arrive, and don't you know yesterday it gets here. Well, that's great you say? Fed-Ex dude was not a happy camper...you see when it rains at my house I don't have gutters and therefor I have a beautiful waterfall in front of my door, we did not have to pay extra for this added feature I want you to know....at least I don't think so...(ok...I hit the dang italics button on accident and can't get it turned off.) So he smiles, more like a sneer, and says it's really heavy. I told him to just leave it on the door step since I had all three dogs trying to push me out of the way. They did not want to get to the Fed-ex man, they are not vicious, they wanted my new toys. They knew that there was something wonderful in those big boxes, something that I would use in their favorite room of the house, then once I had used said items and placed the wonderful delectible tidbits on the counter to cool, one of them....usually the little guy would create a diversion and the other two would jump up on the counters and steal whatever I have put there, this is a con they run daily. Poor little Wolfie, never gets the goods, and the other two big mooses won't share with him..maybe that is why he is so grumpy. Ok, back to the other part of this story, I being the most generous and loving wife, have yet again sacraficed and took my poor husbands cold from him...so now I am feeling like doo doo. I could not even enjoy my new kitchen goodies, last night. It was like Christmas in my living room and I could not even enjoy it. I did however play today and woooowweeeeee was it fun. I just know that I am going to be my very best customer.

Making friends

2007-11-03T18:08:00.000-07:00

Today we went to the Mis Amigos picnic and made some new friends. It is a support group for parents/families who have adopted Latin American children. We had a blast. Hopefully this will become a regular event. Carlos had a great time and made a very special friend Ana. She was a peanut just like him.

bloggers/boogers and no manners

2007-10-27T13:19:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I am not a faithful blogger...why when I read that word do I always think ...booger? Yes, I forgot my password again.

Why is it that people think that it is ok, to send their children down to play at someone else's house with no phone call to say Hey is this ok, or are you busy? Yesterday one of the neighborhood monsters came down to play with my daughter, she also brought a friend with her. They banged on the door, rather than a polite knock, which of course got all my dogs barking and woke my son up from his nap. He has pneumonia so sleeping is a big deal here right now. Turns out that the little monster had a bug up her butt and really just wanted to show off for her other friend by cutting my daughter down and being an all around brat. After staying 30 minutes, getting me and the dogs all miffed, waking my son and insulting my daughter, they left. I asked my daughter why they didn't go to one of their houses to play, she said they were not allowed to play at their own houses. So in other words, I don't care what you do...just don't do it here. People are just rude. I am tired of being the kool-aid mom. What they never showed in those commercials was Mom A, B and C dropping their kids off at Mom D's house so they can go home and do what ever they want, leaving Mom D to have no life and being the neighborhood freebie babysitter. I realize that I am the only one who can change this and that I am going to have to just speak up and say...no they cannot play here, no I will not lend you the community pool key because you are too irresponsible to either keep yours and not lose it, or too cheap to spend $15.oo to get a new one, no I did not just go to the grocery store so that your children can have a snack, no I will not watch 4 of your children with 5 minutes notice for an hour or so because your mom has to go to the doctor, no I do not want to hear you gripe because your husband is being sued for paternity in another state and you are pregnanat with your 5th child. No your child cannot come into my house and climb the ferrets cage, break things and hit my son. I just don't understand people with no manners who want everyone else to raise their children for them.

On a brighter note, it is cooling off here, we just have 100% humidity...so I am ready for Halloween, finally. I am even ready to go get a pumpkin, it's just 4 days away!!!!

Shopping with Spunky

2007-10-01T18:31:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we went to the mall in search of shirts to wear for our family portraits this coming weekend. First we started thinking we would all wear red button downs, untucked with jeans and barefoot. After searching Macy's my daughter and I could not find a single button down red shirt, ok...she asks what is our "backup" color...hummmm. Since I knew we would just walk in the store, go to the rack and pick up the perfect red shirt, I did not have a backup color. Ok well lets try Dillards, I bet they have a red shirt...well long story short, it seems there is no such thing as a plain red button down shirt in Florida at the end of September and I really wish people would stop looking at me like I have two heads...Oh wait, were they looking at my zit????????? While searching in Dillards we are approached by this spunky little lady who quickly tells me she is not a salesperson, she works in customer service. Oh no, we don't need a bit of help, we will know it when we see it, but Thanks anyway, we smile and say.....well spunky lady will not take no for an answer. My picky daughter, who thinks anything I pick is totally ewwwww, starts working with this woman, next thing I know we are in the Ralph Lauren section....oh no...no we cannot afford Ralph. Oh great I watch as they pick out a pink top, oh and of course we need a fushia sweater to go over it. No just walk away honey, didn't I teach you not to talk to strangers...don't do it baby, get away from that dressing room. It won't fit, it will be itchy. I run after her, thinking I can talk some sense into her once we are alone. Meanwhile my hubby comes up with the cutest pink button down in just my size. It's on sale he says with a huge smile. Good thing, love, cuz your daughter is shopping with her new best friend, who seems to have a passion for Ralphie...I squeeze in the door just as it is shutting...Hi honey, need momma's help? Yes, of course baby, it looks really good, but....I catch a glimpse of a red slash on the tag....could it be?? Yes, it turns out the shirt and the sweater are both under $10.00 each...my baby has scored a 75% off sale. That's my girl...momma taught you well. I try on my shirt, it looks great and is just what I want, nice and light. We both hear "spunky" approaching the dressing room...then I hear her talking to my son....if you keep looking at the fur vests we are going to have to call you Elvis, she says laughing......My husband says, well that is his name, which of course cracks her up. It turns out our little Dillard's devil was a gift from Heaven. I never would have even ventured near that little man on an horse section.
Ok mission accomplished for the girl team...now for the boys.....4 hours later we head home. We then realize that both hubby and mr Elvis have the perfect denim shirts hanging right in their closets.

Passwords and Zits

2007-09-25T18:01:00.000-07:00

Ok, note to self...write down your password and user id. It has taken me almost a week to finally remember mine. Today I woke up with a goose egg on my forehead. I thought after a hysterectomy there would be no more zits... I actually called and cancelled my dr appt. and told hubby he had to go get the girl child after school because I was not leaving the house. Everyone in the family has been warned that big trouble will come to the person caught staring at my head.

My anniversary is coming up on Thursday, 21 years. I need to get my hiney to the store and get a card, that is if my egg has shrunk. I have also promised to make my hubby a pecan praline cheesecake. I have discovered Paula Dean. So now I am having fun trying out all sorts of recipies.

Blueberry Pancakes and the White Shirt

2007-09-15T15:51:00.000-07:00

Today we attended a fundraiser for school. It was a pancake breakfast, chocolate chip, blueberry or plain. Me, like an idiot, wore a white shirt so needless to say I had a "few" stains by the time we were done. I am not a morning person...so that is my excuse for the lack of thought put into my wardrobe. We went to the pet store and played with the baby ferrets, of course we really wanted to bring one home but we were restrained and didn't do it. Yesterday we went to a different pet store and played with the puppies. One was the cutest chihuahua that we named Skippy Jane Jones. We have the book Skippy John Jones about a cat that thinks he is a chihuahua. It's a great book.

2007-09-14T10:54:00.000-07:00

I finally did it. I have been threatening my family with starting a blog to expose all their little secrets, and now here it is. I guess I should give a little background, I am 40 (and I am actually liking it) my birthday was just 2 weeks ago. I feel like I am finally grown up. I just recently had a hysterectomy due to endometriosis and feel soooooo much better now. NO more pain and misery. I married my highschool sweetheart when I was 19 and we have been married for 21 years this month on the 27th. He is the most amazing guy and I am just as in love with him today as the day I married him. More actually. He probably doesn't know it but I adore him. We have a daughter thru the miracle of fertility treatments. She is 10 but it seems some days like she is 40 and I am 10. She rocks and I am a very lucky mom. More about her later.. We adopted a boy from Guatemala and brought him home August 24, 2006. He is a blast...but he sure keeps me on my toes. I am fortunate that I am able to stay home and be here for my kids. Some days, it is harder than I ever imagined, but I love it and could not picture my life any other way. It was always my dream to be a mommy and I am actually living my dreams. I was raised on a farm so my poor husband puts up with all of my craziness. We have 3 dogs, a mutt, a lab and a psyco Lhasa Apso, 2 cats, a ferret named Lola who rules the house and has all of our hearts, a guinea pig (he was my b-day present this year) named Mr Whiskers, 2 fish tanks, 5 hermit crabs, and occasionally we do foster care for the humane society. It is a zoo here but I love it.

TGIF!!!!!

Well the little man is now down for his nap. Since I am still recovering from surgery, I am taking a break, watching shamelessly horrible tv, gotta love reality tv. Blind Date ....boy I am so glad I don't have to be out there in the dating pool....yikes. How do people do it?

Carlos has been saying a few more things. Today he said shoe...sounded more like "chew" but hey I will take it. Yesterday, he took his diaper off and threw it away after he had just wet it...then he came to me and pointed to tell me he needed a new one. We have a Diego potty but right now it is more fun to stand in than to use it. He really loves to play outside and insists on going in the pool (blow up) everyday. Most of the time he insists on being naked.

2007-09-14T05:35:00.000-07:00

9-14-2007

Happy Birthday to my Mom.

Who would have thought that this face could change our lives so much. This is my little man, the first pictures we saw of him. He was so tiny and perfect. His name was Elvis, and instantly I knew he was ours son. It is amazing how much he has changed. I am so in love with this little boy and I can't believe how lucky I am to be his mommy.