let's ultrasound that melon belly

Today I took the almost 4 year old and his preschool classmates on a field trip.

They have been studying the farm so we went to see some miniature horses a few miles from town.

Upon arrival, the farm owner (a old family friend), said, "So, did you swallow a melon?"

A bit later he asked if I wanted to use the ultrasound machine he uses on the horses to see the baby. I have to admit I was half tempted.

All I could think of were the 3 and 4 year olds who would go home and tell their parents that they saw a baby in a teacher's belly at the farm. I politely passed on his offer. He did say it could be used for humans and some of the women from the colony have used it in the past to see their unborn child. I hope my hubby doesn't find out I had the chance...

I do love those carbs...

YIKES!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20995289/wid/11915773?GT1=10412

Dale &Thomas Popcorn - Just pay shipping

It's listed as one of Oprah's Favorite things. For a limited time, order it
and just pay $5.90 S/H.

http://www.mommysavers.com/deals/dale_and_thomas.htm
On the left hand side click on the link that says "Order Free Popcorn"

Last year I passed on this, but this year I am splurging. YUM!

Thanks again to mommysavers.com for the information.

Cooperation with God's plan

For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome. Jeremiah 29:11


Dh's birthday was the 19th. The kids and I made him a banana cake with cream cheese frosting and we had a piece the night before while he opened his card. On his birthday, he got up, walked upstairs and threw his can of chew into the trash. He said, "This is the first day of the rest of my life." At first, I thought he was joking. Before I got sick (that is my time line now, before cancer and after cancer) he chewed tobacco during baseball season only. That summer, the summer of my surgery and diagnosis he never stopped using it. Then he started chewing in the morning and then all day long. I knew he was stressed and I wanted him to stop, but how could I expect him to do so? I was told by my oncologist to give up sweets and did I stop sneaking chocolate, nope. Anyway, I was shocked and awed by his commitment to give up the stuff. I am proud of him, I HOPE he is successful. I hope I can afford to buy him a pack of gum for every day of the year... Thank you God for will power to kick our bad habits when we are ready.

Doctor says baby is good, BIG, but good. She is thinking of inducing for sure by the 6th of November if not earlier. There is something about making those last few appointments that really finalizes the whole thing. I mean, to the average person I look pregnant therefore I must be, right? But, in reality, when I am trying to keep a house together and get a kindergartener and a preschooler ready each day and sub a couple of days a week and everything else that happens each day, the belly is really an afterthought. When I do sit down and feel a foot or an elbow I think about it and how it will affect the dynamic of our family, but I have no fears anymore. Only FAITH that what will be, will be. Thank you God for your plan for my family.

Spent the weekend at the in-laws. They are refinishing their basement and hubby loves to get his hands dirty. I spent Saturday with my daughter and mother-in-law rummaging (FYI: I am amazed at the little stash of baby onesies I have. I only just started looking for white's and yellows and green's and I have a cozy little pile of baby items and a cute little Columbia winter fleece snowsuit for our new baby. The PLAN is already in place and it will work out, it feels like only a week or so ago I was worried and now I am content. Wish I wouldn't have wasted the energy thinking about it.). Anyway, dh wanted to fish a bit and we had the boat so we went out on the lake and dd was her typical tired, crabby self. It sort of ruined the whole event. I felt angry and disappointed that her behavior was such a problem. Later I took both of the kids to the park and I watched them play together. I began to think about all the things that their little brains have had to absorb in the last 12 months. All the days I was lying around after surgery and chemo, what did they think of their mother not being around for them? Then, as soon I was feeling better the baby comes into play...they must be so confused? So I began to pray. I prayed for them to feel love and for them to be able to wrap their brains around all the transitions that have been thrown at them. They have grown up into little people these past few months. It happened so fast. I feel like I missed something. I prayed for myself and my husband to have patience and to be content with our lives and not want, want, want. It is so fun to dream and wish but what are we teaching the kids? We have to be happy with what we have, we should be...we are blessed, beyond what we need to live. I prayed for PEACE. Thank you God for restoration.

Every tiny piece of God's creation is such a blessing. Saturday with my two children I experienced so many of them, a blade of green grass, a tiny ant, a seed, a drop of rain, a soft warm wind, a ray of sunshine, a flower, an empty playground, two precious children and a few THOUGHTFUL prayers. Man, life is really good. Thank you God for life.

It's pink and it cleans for a cause...

I want it! You can enter to win, too...

HERE

So, if I win do you think my dh will still do the vacuuming?

Whew, it's only strep...

I was on the phone waiting to schedule a doctor's appointment a little after 7:30 this morning. Listening to the elevator music while inside my brain is spinning; cough = cancer. It can't be. I am just sick, normal sick. My ds has been coughing, too. How young can Hodgkin's get you? I mean, it's environmental. He has lived in the same place I have for the last almost 4 years. Could he? Of course we couldn't get in until this afternoon. So, I spent the morning trying to avoid thinking about it.

So we hurry up and wait at the doctor, and wait, and wait...

Then he finally gets to us and does his thing and tells us it's only strep. Whew! I have not felt relief like that in, well, a long time. I did ask him what the chances are of an almost 4 year old getting Hodgkin's...he smiled and said, "Next to none."

I know the white coat is not a god. I know he is just another imperfect human. I know he is not right all the time. But it felt good hearing it from him.

So we will take some antibiotics and get better. Another day in the life of a stay at home mommy, cancer survivor.

Home sick for Homecoming...

(Can you believe it's a bus? She has been asking when we will move to the country so she can ride the bus to school.)

It was homecoming here this past weekend. Both of my children were in the parade, so I felt 'naked' watching all the little children pick up their candy and fill their bags. It won't be long when we have another little one again. It still seems hard to believe. I will post a picture soon of dd on her 'float' she was SOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSO excited to ride.

I, of course, could not enjoy the football game. I came down with some terrible feverish, sinusish, snottish, thingy. Only Sudafed 12 hour in combination with Tylenol and a wee bit of sleep has been helping. My ds has a bit of the bug, too. And we have been coughing. Which scares me to death. So I won't talk about it.

I have a busy week planned with dh working, dh's birthday, reading rally, doctor's appointment and subbing. I am praying for improved health and a bit of calm thrown in amongst my chaos.

How much is that Doggie in the window?

Well, a couple of my dear blogger friends were just saying how much they would adore a puppy and since I know where the best little ones are bred, I thought I'd give ya'll a link to Auntie's site. She is the world's biggest animal lover. Take a peek...I know she ships them overseas so up north wouldn't be a problem either...HAPPY WINDOW SHOPPING! She still has 4 pups that will be 12wks this weekend and 4 pups that will be 6wks.

http://www.freewebs.com/petpalpups/

http://www.xanga.com/yorkie_pups

http://www.myspace.com/ilove_yorkies

http://s4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/pamela54/Older%20pictures/?action=view¤t=1171810095.pbw



We Have AKC West Highland Terrier Pups For Sale

4 Females $550 each

We Have AKC Yorkshire Terrier

Pups For Sale

2 Males $1,000 each

We Have Fourche Terrier

Pups For Sale

3 Females $450 each

We Have AKC Yorkie Stud For sale

He has sired 4 litters of tiny's $1000

ONE DAY ONLY, Wednesday Sept. 12

FREE color or black ink printer cartridge refill at participating Walgreen's, Wed, Sept 12th only.

My local store did not have an icon next to it signifying that they were participating, but I called them and they are, so don't go by that.

* Offer excludes Canon and Epson cartridges.
See the complete list of refillable printer cartridges. (look for the link on the bottom of the linked page)

Free Printer Cartridge Offer | Sweepstakes & Promotions | Walgreens

Thank you mommysavers.com!

DE-NI-AL

I am not getting any sleep. Getting up 4-8 times to pee.

I can't bend over to pick things up any more. I have to wait for the hubby or the kids to get them.

Those pains that bring me to my knees can't be contractions already, can they?

I crave coffee, sleep and chocolate; not necessarily in that order.

I can't complete a task before starting a new one; hence the sink full of soapy water and dirty dishes, an open washer waiting to be filled, quarts of canning to be put away, blogs started and never finished.

I keep looking at the baby things online, but have not made one purchase.

My ds's birthday is in three weeks and I have no gift or party plans.

My feet hurt and my hands are numb.

That 10 year anniversary trip planning will never be completed.

Baby, what baby?

For Kris A.K.A. Lou

ENTER TO WIN 1 OF 3 COLORADO VACATIONS

- The Rejuvenation Vacation
- The Western Adventure Vacation
- The Rustic History Traveler's Vacation


http://www.letstalkcolorado.com/entry.aspx

If it's round it must be the same, right?

I have been teaching dd how to properly clean her skin. She (unfortunately) inherited my pores and her nose in particular needs extra attention so we have been using those round pore cleansing pads to clean her nose daily.

The other day I was cleaning out the store room and I found a half of a box of breast pads,you know the round cotton discs you put in your bra when you are nursing. I put them in the bathroom closet for easier access.

Imagine my surprise when my dd came down the basement stairs with a breast pad stuck to her nose. She had peeled off the adhesive backing and tried using it as an astringent pad. So glad dh was not here to see that one...

a new friend for dd, regardless...

That last post with all Polly Pocket shoes reminded me of something that my almost 6 year old said the other day. It went something like this...

DD: Mom, I made a new friend today.

Mom: Good for you.

DD: She is in first grade, she was wearing an orange shirt.

Mom: She sounds pretty special.

DD: Yeah,...(pause)...she wears the same pair of shoes every day.

Mom:(Gulp- realization of my own insane shoe fetish rubbing off on dd and making her judge new innocent friends by the boringness of their shoe style scares me into needing to have the 'shoe talk')Oh,dear, Honey about your shoes, not every body has a different pair of shoes for every outfit...

PPP, Arts in the Rain, and Cafe Au Lait...

It's been one of those days. It started out with Polly Pocket Pandemonium. I rescued these from Dh's sister when she was downsizing. I took about 1/4 of what she had. They are fun, but what a mess. The pieces are so tiny!
Next we traveled the 30 miles to the big city to check out the Sidewalk Arts Festival, in the rain. We spent most of our time at the Kirby Science Center in the Washington Pavilion. It was free admission today.


So I was reading cookbooks this afternoon looking for a pick me up to make and I came across this recipe that I friend turned me onto a long time ago, even before the BLOG. I was ecstatic because I had DECAF instant coffee and ALL the ingredients in the cupboards. One point for frugality, one point for ingeniousness, one point for this being my Calgon today. I think I'll go get a second cup. Don't mind if I do?!

Instant Café Au Lait

• 1-1/2 teaspoons instant coffee
  

• 1-1/2 teaspoons powdered creamer
  
• 1-1/2 teaspoons sugar
  
• 2 tablespoons dry milk

Measure all of the ingredients into a coffee cup. Add hot water and stir to dissolve. Savor the flavor of savings.

1-1/2 teaspoons is the same as 1/2 a tablespoon or 1 very heaping teaspoon. Every time you drink this instead of buying coffee from the local coffee shop, you save $2 to $3 bucks.

If you are out of either powdered creamer or dry milk, then double up on the one you do have. This would be 1/4-cup of dry milk powder or 1-tablespoon of powdered creamer.

Recipe courtesy Hillbilly Housewife.com

more now than ever...

Happy Birthday Dear Daddy!

I hope that when you look down on me, you are proud of what you see.

I miss you now even more than when you first were gone. I wish you could have seen my wedding, met your beautiful grandchildren and watched all of your children's families growing.

Can't wait to join you...

your firstborn

Especially for Bobbi and Carey....and all the other princesses I know!

Title :Superchick - His Girl
This is lyrics from www.lyrics007.com

Goodbye Revelon
I'm not a covergirl
I don't need you if I'm not of this world
Supermodel made out of plastacine

Why don't you tell me
what you really mean?
You're losing points in a game that I won't play
Cuz I'm his girl
I'm an heir to his kingdom
I'm justified and purified in the cleansing of his blood
Yes I'm his girl
and he's made me a princess
and he calls me beautiful and I think that's enough
oh I know it's enough,
hey, hey..hey heyyyy hey..

I know I may not have buns of steel
But I know that his love for me is real
I won't listen to you anymore.

I lost the keys right after I slammed the door
I'm in his presence so I am set free
Cuz I'm his girl
I'm an heir to his kingdom
I'm justified and purified in the cleansing of his blood
yes I'm his girl
and he's made me a princess
and he calls me beautiful and I think that's enough
oh I know it's enough

Cuz I'm his girl
I'm an heir to his kingdom
I'm justified and purified in the cleansing of his blood
Yes I'm his girl
and he's made me a princess
and he calls me beautiful and I think that's enough
Oh I know it's enough, I know it's enough..

I really need a bandaid...

Today was a LONG (the kind of long that involves hours upon never-ending hours of watching/babysitting teenagers while they try (and keep trying no matter what) to weasel out of homework, sitting in their desks, staying awake, staying in the classroom, following any rule whatsoever)day.

I was kinda cranky when I got home. I had planned to make some wonderful homemade spaghetti sauce and from scratch bread sticks, but I had no energy. My wonderful and supportive hubby ended up using a can-opener on a 99 cent can of sauce and adding it to noodles, which tasted like an amazing gourmet meal to me; another sure sign I was cooked.

So we all sat down to a 'family', as the kids call it when all four (almost five) of us are at the table. My ds was preoccupied with something and dh finally asked him what was going on. "Well, my foot has an owie on it and it has been hurting for (and this part he really emphasized) TEN HOURS!" My dh looked at me and we both busted out laughing. Thank goodness my mouth was empty or a noodle may have come out my nostril. After a few moments of our uncontrolled giggles, my ds stood on his chair with his hands on his hips and said, "So, can I have a cool band aid, or what?" He was referring to the colored band aids I recently purchased. He has probably been searching for an owie since I took them out of the shopping bag.

I need a cool band aid, too, for my sore feet and my stretched out belly and my aching body. I wonder if they make cool band aids for mommies. I think it's called a spa day...

Where in the world is Waxahachie?

My auntie's and my mom.

My sister and my auntie with adorable little Belle.
The trip was a success, but it's always good to be home. Waxahachie, as well as the entire South, I suppose, is full of these beautiful trees called Crepe Myrtle's.

The name made me think of French food; my sister said she thought of crepe paper, which is exactly what the flowers looked like up close.

We went 'junk'shopping (as auntie calls it) on Saturday and found these really interesting book purses. I wanted one, but I am picky and want a classic Dr. Suess book or novel to wear around :)



We spent late Friday afternoon at a lake near auntie's house. The water was perfect.

Mom and my sister spent most of their free time riding these. My uncle has a large chunk of land with a gorgeous landscape that is fun to observe while riding. I, of course, restrained. Being 30 weeks pregnant forces one to do so. Ah well, there is always next year...

Deep in the heart...

It's a bit before 5 am here in Waxahachie and I am awake due to some acid indigestion and a bit of a grumbly tummy. Most everyone else has just barely climbed into bed. It tends to be this way when mom gets together with her sisters. I can't imagine being in a family with 5 sisters. There are only 3 of them here now and it get a bit loud and unruly at times.

Despite the Internet guestimation of 14 hours, it took us closer to 18 in our 2008 Saturn Outlook to travel here on Thursday. We left a little after 5 am and arrived here shortly after 11 pm. Partly because my sister decided to take us a scenic route in Iowa, partly because my bladder is the size of my pre-pregnancy pinky. We stopped twice to eat at small diners along the way. The rest of our stops were at gas stations to use the facilities and fill up the enormous vehicle. The third row seats fold down and so do the second row, so we folded the back seat half way and made a bed of pillows to take turns sleeping on. It wasn't too uncomfortable. I had the pleasure of driving through Oklahoma City and it was extremely busy, my desire to stay at the speed limit and my mother's desire to keep up with the flow of traffic forced my 'turn' to expire quickly. I may not be allowed to drive on the way home...aw shucks.

We went straight to the sheets Thursday night and arose Friday morning to the sound of a tiny whine. It seems one of Auntie's 10 puppies had taken to a fever and wasn't doing well. She called around and finally got an emergency appointment with a veterinarian. It seems little Belle (who is only 10 weeks old, weighs less than a pound and is already sold to a potential buyer for 2000 clams) has low blood sugar. In fact, her blood sugar level was 14 when normal levels are above 40. We were forced to give her 1cc of karo syrup and water every 15 minutes all day. I do believe that Auntie just finished a dose in fact. She seems to be perking up and hopefully come day light she will be a new pup. Unfortunately, this breed of Yorkie sometimes has problems with liver function and the poor thing may require surgery to place a stint near her liver. She is so tiny and even full-grown may not even tip the scales at 3 pounds.

Belle came with us everywhere yesterday. We went to the market for some fresh food, to Walgreen's for a prescription and to the lake for an afternoon swim.

I experienced a first. Since the county that Auntie lives in is 'dry'. Several surrounding counties market unique ways to sell alcohol. Needing some cool beverages for the lake, we put an empty cooler in the car and drove to the rear of a convenience store where there was a 'garage' of sorts with wall to wall coolers of beer, wine and beverages. Upon entering the garage we popped open the hatchback and a girl in a tube top and shorty shorts walked up to the drivers window and took our order. She then proceeded to fill the cooler with the drinks and topped it off with 5 gallon bucket of free ice. She shut the back and off we went.

We drove past fields of cotton today. The first time I saw cotton was in Mo., when I was a teenager. I would like to stop and get a sample for my daughter to share with her kindergarten class for show and tell. It is pretty green here yet, they don't harvest it until late September or October, but the little white tufts of cotton are just peeking from the pods and it looks beautiful in the fields.

In a few hours we are going to the Farmer's Market to see the local produce and arts. We also plan to meet my mother's aunt and her cousin for lunch in Dallas. It is an hours drive from here.
Tonight my uncle is making his famous barbecue ribs and we plan to eat and relax as we are leaving after breakfast Sunday morning.

My poor sister has not been feeling 100% and believes she may have caught a bug or something. Last night while sitting outside enjoying the 80 degree evening breeze she was wearing a sweater. I called home to check on things and my ds has not been feeling well either. I feel a twinge of guilt for not being there to take care of him, but I know my dh is doing a fine job. While we were traveling here on Thursday he managed to make another batch of salsa and take the kids fishing. Yesterday, my dd was on the phone telling me, "daddy was late picking me up from school..." I could only imagine her standing outside the building looking up the block with her hands on her hips. I have no idea where she gets it from. I am pretty sure he has his hands full. I have complete confidence my children will be fine...the house? now that's an entirely different story.

Well, it's almost 5:30 and the snoring dogs are reminding me I should be resting. I was going to try and put a photo of beautiful Belle on here, but I don't think I brought the right power cord for doing it. I will ask my computer whiz sis in the morning if she is up to it.