test results and an update

What happened to Thankgiving!! It just flew by.
The Christmas tree is up, presents under the tree, 85 and sunny today, perfect Florida Christmas!

Something special to me about were flip flops in December! I know some people don't like it but if I can wear shorts on Christmas day I'll be happy!!
We went to the Christmas parade last weekend. Well, not we, Sophia and I did. The Gator game was on and we couldn't peel Troy and Tony away. To bad they lost, just watching the reruns I cried with Tebow. Can't wait for the Sugar Bowl game though!! :) Gator Chomp! Troy has become quite the football fanatic, God bless him.

Sophi, the bravest girl ever, begged me to let her do the bungee jump at the parade/festival. She was the smallest one having the most fun!


Tony is home and won't be going back to Texas. We are more than happy! He got a job working about 30 minutes away and the kids and I are sooo glad that he won't have to travel out of state for work!! Praise God for that!! So yes, if you noticed on my Facebook that he is still around and nothing going back to Texas that's why!! :)

Seems like this blog is the best spot to update family and I know some of you are patiently waiting for some test results...
Blood work, high liver enzymes, already knew that. She's been on lots of medication so her liver enzymes are always high.
Abdominal Ultrasound, normal. Hurray! Tummy aches are intermitent. The neurologist thinks they could be seizure activity that she isn't explaining correctly or a possible "feeling" that she is describing as a tummy ache. So we went for an EEG today...
EEG today, abnormal, I haven't got the official results, won't until next week, but... She actually had a seizure during the test so a good indicator that the results will be abnormal. The doctor came in and said that she saw "sharp spikes" on the EEG indicating seizure activity. Well, I see the sharp spikes and I saw her jumping like a fish on the table so yes.. I'd say we have seizure activity.
The seizure happened after the strobe test and after the breathing exercises once she feel asleep during the first 2 minutes of sleep. Lots of jerking during the first 5-10 minutes of watching her sleep. The neurologist said they would give us the complete report after reviewing the EEG and she said that as upsetting as the jerking was to watch that it couldn't have happened at a better time since she was hooked the the machine. Some kind of blessing. ;)
Here is the picture I took while she was getting ready for the test. She was asking me what she looked like with all the wires on her head.

She is a sweet one. She is just nervous about having to do another 4 day study... I'm afraid they may request another one. But we shall see. She told the EEG tech that the long test made her have a headache and she didn't want to sleep with that camera watching her. I was suprised she remembered it.
Well, I'm pretty tired.. it was a long day.
Time for bed!
I will write more tomorrow but I know I have family who reads this who are out of state who have been patiently waiting for an update. Thanks for your patience and I don't mean to not answer your emails... LOVE YOU!!

Can't believe Thanksgiving is almost here!!

Lots to write about.
No, my space bar has not been repaired, I have just gotten really good at using it like this. What took me 5 minutes to write now takes me no time at all. Funny how we adapt to things.
Sophi was quite the mouth today. She has gotten pretty quick with that tongue. She reminds me very much of her daddy. I guess me too. She comes by it naturally. Tony is good with his words, which can sometimes get him into trouble. Yes, I've been known to get into trouble with my tongue too. Well, looks like Sophi got her daddy's gift. She told some adult at the park last week, "what are you doing on that toy, that is a kid thing, and my brother is a kid, and he wants to use it! And you are smoking here, do you know that will make you die!? Kill us all with that smoke." I was mortified. I tried to tell her that we can't talk to adults like that, speaking to her very loud in front of the man so that he would know I was dealing with this mouthy child. Even though I totally think that jerk deserved it! Troy was standing there while this big man smoked his cigarette in the park leaning on a rocking toy that Troy was looking at saying "share, share". Poor Troy. I'm glad Sophi stood up for him, but I can't tell her that.
Well, Sophia is always keeping me on my toes.
We are getting the medication all worked out she is almost back to her regular strength of medication. We are one pill away from her being back where she was before we got all screwed up. But that one pill is going to have to wait because now she is having abdominal pain which the pediatrician thinks is not related to the change in medicine but a side effect from this or other medicine in the past. This has been going on for a little over two weeks. It is intermittent when she complains about it. She will be playing and fold up grab her tummy and say it hurts. When she is quiet she complains more so I don't know if it is a constant or what. At first I thought it was that stomach flu she had afew weeks back that was lingering causing some gas pains or something. Then I thought maybe she was faking it, I often wonder because when she was younger she was on Trileptal which did upset her stomach but she learned that she could use that excuse to not have to do things she didn't want to... so I just blew it off. Then we had the few episodes last week where she had some pretty long nights. She spent the night with my mom Thursday and Friday and my mom said she complained about it there too. Now, my mom babies that girl to no end so I am sure she played up the dramatics while she was with my mom but no doubt that her stomach is bothering her. Saturday and Sunday were the same, she would randomly complain that her tummy hurt. So, Monday morning she woke up and was really fired up saying her tummy hurt and she was very frustrated that it wouldn't stop hurting. I told her I was going to make her an appointment to see the doctor. She went to school and I picked her up early and took her to her pediatrician. He examined her and said that everything sounded good, pushed on her tummy, she had no pain, but he wants her to have an abdominal ultrasound and blood work, possibly following up with a pediatric GI doctor. There are lots of side effects to the medication she takes one of them being ulcers, he suspects that may be the case but said not to worry just yet. Sophi has been on lots of different medication in her short life and this is just one of the side effects of taking medicine. He also wants to check her liver enzymes which always come back high but the ultrasound will be able to see it. So.. we are going Friday for an ultrasound and blood work. He told me to tell her about the blood work because if she was doing it for attention that she would stop. She hasn't. She did for a day and now she just complains about her tummy then whines that she doesn't want to get a shot. Terrible to see them so upset. I am looking forward to knowing what is wrong though. I am getting frustrated with her constantly complaining about her stomach too. I feel bad for her and at the same time all the whining is unnerving.
Tony comes home on Sunday and will be here through Thanksgiving. So glad for that. It will be nice to have him home. I have realized that it is really true, "men you can't live with them and can't live without them." My house is so easy to keep clean! The electric bill is less. The food bill is less. The kitchen is rarely dirty. No dishes in the sink. Way less laundry... but something is missing. It's a lonely feeling that no matter what you are doing or who is around you still feel like part is missing. It's not like when your kids are gone from you. That's almost like you are missing part of yourself, like a body part. This is different. It's a shallow feeling. That's the only way to describe it. Tony really is my soul mate. God picked him just perfect for me. I am so lucky that I found him so soon in my life. I was thinking about it a few weeks ago. At my age, 25, Tony and I have never been a part longer than 6 days in the last 10 years. He has been gone for just about 4 weeks now. It has been good in some ways but I wish we never had to be apart. We are all looking forward to having him home, even if just for a week. I can't wait to pick him up from the airport on Sunday! It is going to be the best moment in a long time.
Then Thanksgiving!! We will be celebrating with our families! It will be a fun, busy day! I can't wait! I am excited now that the kids are a bit older it will be easier with them to travel to and from our families homes. Not like we are going far, just about 30 minutes from our house to his parents then a 45 minute drive to my grandparents house from there. It will be nice. Lunch with his family, dessert with mine. Then I am working that night... which is just fine. I am ever so grateful for my job and my great insurance, especially with Sophia Ann for a daughter!

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Sophia has a birthday party today. Her good buddy Maicee Morgan is going to be five!! We will be heading out to the park this afternoon to celebrate! Looking forward to that.
We went to church this morning. We went with my mom and Grandparents to the church that Tony and I were married in. A great sermon by preacher Mike. I love going to church on Sundays... This Sunday was very special to me, walking through the doors, it felt like coming home.
Thank you Mike for a great sermon!! Funny how if we ask God gives us just what we need.
Well, I was going to write more but my darling son has damaged my computer...

I have no space bar, this short blog has taken me about 20 minutes to write. I have a tiny dot that I am using when I need to space it takesabout10hitsbeforeitworks,sounlessyouwantoreadthisthewholetimeIbettergetthisfixedtoday!!!

Busy Day...

Today was a busy but incredibly fun day.
I am worn out now though. This cold is lingering and I am hoping to get a good nights sleep tonight so that it will stay away.
Notice the new pictures on the blog? I took those today at my parent's house. The kids and I went out there this morning to take some family photos for a friend of mine and her beautiful family. I love taking photos. I had forgot how much I enjoyed it. To be honest I really didn't feel like going and taking pictures today, I haven't felt like doing much of anything that I don't 'have' to do lately. It was nice though, I am glad I did it and it reminded me how much I love taking pictures.
I got in a few shots of the kids while I was taking their family pictures. I just thought they were irrestible. I am going to use them for my holiday cards I think :) If you see them more than once that is why.

With permission of course, here are some pictures of the Newsome Family.












I started this blog, last night. Then Sophi woke up saying she was sick to her stomach. Not again!! Luckily she didn't ever throw up. One of the side effects of her medicine is that it can upset her stomach. It is possble that is fighting a virus or that her medicine was causing problems. We have been adjusting the dosing since she was sick last time so I think it is possible that the medicine caused last nights issues. She did miss school today which she was very disappointed about. She was up half the night and I let her sleep this morning as long as she could. Today was show and tell and painting day, her very favorite day.
I have to work tonight so I am hoping the kids will take a good nap for me so I can nap since I was up with Sophi last night. We shall see I guess.. well, off to give Troy a banana then naptime!

Totally Blog Worthy

Recalling past posts about Troy not sleeping anywhere besides his crib... he used to cry and climb back into his crib when we tired to move him to a big boy bed. I found him one night close to 11 o'clock sitting in the living room with Tony's ball cap on drinking his bottle at the dining room table because he hated his twin bed.
Well, I started looking for a car bed for him a few months back. Tony saw a twin race car bed at a thrift shop for $20 by the time he got a hold of me to see if I wanted it the bed was purchased by someone else. So I found a fire truck bed on craigslist for $35 yesterday. I like the fire truck bed because it has the high walls around the back and kind of mimics a crib. Tony's brother Gabe mentioned one day that Troy probably likes the crib because it is enclosed and makes him feel safe, "like his little nest", I laughed it off at the time but then Tony and I started joking about Troy and his "nest"/crib.
Well, I found the firetruck bed and called the guy, it was still available. I called my brother to see if we could go pick it up with his truck. It was set we would go get the bed at 430 when the kids got up from their nap. I posted on Facebook how excited I was to have found such a great deal. Not a minute later my friend Kati's husband Bradley called my phone and said "why are you buying a fire truck bed when I have one sitting in my attic?"
I don't know why I didn't think to ask them!? I knew they had one from their son, I guess I thought they had sold it when Paul got to big for it. Nope, they still had it in the attic! Awesome! Troy got his new fire truck bed from Sophia's future husband Paul! It was even better when Katie and Paul brought the bed over to our house. Sophi loved seeing "Paulie" as she so lovingly refers to him. And Katie and my brother took down the crib and we rearranged Troy's room and set up his new bed. Did I mention they took down the crib? Uhh.... my heart cried. That was Sophi and Troy's crib. My sweet babies!! It was really hard to see them take that crib apart. Knowing that we aren't going to have anymore babies sleeping in that crib and knowing that I brought both my babies home from the hospital in but them in that wooden crib... I may see if I can have someone make my casket out of that crib and take it with me when I die :)
I was nervous about him not wanting to sleep in his bed, but he was a sweet boy and got up once to tell me he needed more milk, then again to tell me he was poopy, which he was not. After that he was asleep by 840 and stayed in his bed until he woke up at 8am. Sweet boy!
So now we are too nap time the next day. He hasn't gotten out of bed but has called me in to tell him he needed more milk. I am trying my hardest to get him to do like Sophia did when she was little. Once I put her in her bed she wasn't allowed to get out unless I came and got her. Sophia was a little saint and followed by this rule like an angel. She never would get out of her bed without permission. I don't expect Troy to follow Sophi's steps completely but I do expect some kind of understanding that you don't get up without permission, nap time and bedtime will is not a free for all. How did I do this with Sophia? I bought Super Nanny's book and followed her directions about bedtime routine and staying in the bed. Lots of consistency and repetition for sure :)
We shall see how that goes. Sometimes I wonder if Troy's will is stronger than mine though. I have learned one thing in parenthood, never say never! :)

medicine!!!

I hate medication!! Poor Sophi's medication is so screwed up! From her being sick with the stomach flu. She was on a plan to gradually increase her daily med from 5ml twice a day to 15 ml twice a day. Seems like a big increase but supposedly she is not at a 'therapeutic level' so this needs to be done so she can be protected by the medication. So when she got sick she couldn't keep anything down so we had to start over with the increase in pills. She was to 10ml in the morning and 10ml at night. Every two weeks I am supposed to add 5ml to one of her doses. Anyway.. it is very confusing but I guess it can be dangerous just to start on the larger dose it has to be gradual. That has been all bothered today... BOO to medicine.
Well, I am hope from work until Thursday next week, hurray!
This week we are planning on school, gymnastics, and the normal everyday.. I will be very content if nothing extra goes on.
We have all been missing daddy! I wish he was here. Tuesday will begin the third week of him being in Texas. The kids, I think, are getting used to it being just the three of us. Which doesn't make them miss him any less but at least they don't ask for him every other hour. I am missing him more everyday. I can't wait until he comes home the end of this month. Whoo whoo!!
I am tired and sick. This head cold is kicking my butt. The weather is nice today so I have the windows open and letting the house air out. Getting all the sickness out of my house! I hope we can all stay well for a while.
The kids are at my mom's house right now. I got home from work this morning at 7am and came home and went right to sleep. I got up to go pick them up and my mom had just laid them down for naps. That gives me some time to get the house picked up and disinfect a bit before they come home. Also gives me time to blog.
Hope everyone is having a fabulous weekend. God Bless!

Off and Running..

I should be getting ready for work, ironing my scrubs(something Tony always did for me), packing the kids bag to take to my mom's house, and getting some coffee, or maybe catching up on 10 more minutes of rest before my two day work week. I am now working two twelve hour shifts. In the next 48 hours I will work 24 hours, sleep appox 10 hours and play and love on my babies for the remaining 14 hours. This is the busiest most exhausting part of Tony not being around.
God spared me from the stomach virus but I got a nasty head cold in return. I'd rather have a runny nose than an upset stomach though. I went to the grocery store with Troy this morning and stocked up on chicken soup, organge juice, and Dayquil which will get me through the next 48 hours.
I am typing and laughing while I listen to Sophia and Troy, both in their bed, in separate rooms, singing as loudly as they can to one another. They are so funny. Two peas in a pod for sure.



Well... off to get ready.
Hope everyone is having a great week.

Sophia's version of 'God is so Good'

Enjoy!!



Isn't God Good?? hahah!

The Sickness is going around!

The kids have both suffered with this nasty stomach virus Troy seems totally back to normal. He is currently locking himself out of the house on the back patio. It is a nice morning. He is swinging his golf club and looking in the sliding glass door asking me did 'you saw that?' Glad he is feeling better.

Sophi is in the 'sick spot' on the couch watching Ice Age and eating a popcicle. She had a rough night. I was just praying that I don't get it. Still praying I don't get it but atleast it seems the kids are better if I do get it atleast they are feeling better.

The 'sick spot' is a place on the couch that I cover with blankets and only the sick person gets to sit there. It is really to cover my couch from whatever bodily functions may dispurse but the kids think that it is a special spot just for them and that mommy does it because she loves, I'll let them think that. :)

So, Sophi has also been good at getting to the toliet before she gets sick. Troy on the other hand, like Sophi says 'he has boy brains' but Troy did get a clue from Sophi last night.

Now, before you watch, excuse my laughter, and no he was not getting sick. I wouldn't video tape something like that. But he is a pretty good actor. Even with the sound effects.

Presenting... Troy the barfing boy.

Sad VS Happy

The past weeks have been a complete mad house around here. There is so much to catch up on, so many pictures to show, so much to say! I don't know where to begin..
Let's start at the first thing on my heart, the sad vs happy. Please don't judge me for this post.. it is a very emotion filled one and may seem like an 'over reaction' to some but that is the point.
To start here though I have to catch you all up to speed.
Tony is in Texas. Not on a vacation without us, but he is working there, for three months. So there is the initial hurray! he found a job! Then there is the eww.. we live in Florida, that we love, that our families are here, that we never want to move. Then it's the oh it's only for three months. Well, it is a guaranteed income for three months so that is a great thing! We are hoping that it could turn into a job in Florida thing, but trying not to get ahead of ourselves. We are very excited about his opportunity. Tony is so glad to be the 'provider' again. He says he feels so glad to be able to 'take care of us' financially again. I am so proud of him, that is one thing that I always admire about Tony, he will always make sure we are taken care of. We will always have food and shelter.
This economy has defiantly taken it's toll on us the past year. I was thinking about it the other day...
when I have good days, positive thankful days, the days I feel God's strength, this is my story...
We had a lot of things, we lost a lot of things. We bonded together and we made it work. We never lost our friendship and in fact became even stronger through the hard time. Our daughter has been healthy, she is here with us, suffering no brain damage and for the times we thought she had a brain tumor she did not! We have a healthy happy baby boy. Who teaches me every day to just let things roll and not worry. We have so much to be thankful for. Even though we lost our things we never lost what matters most, our family and our faith.
On the bad days, the negative, doubtful days, the days the devil uses to drag me down, this is my story...
We lost everything we had when Tony lost his job, our house, our cars, we had to sell our things, Tony pawned his ring so we could buy groceries, I had to get a job so that we could afford health insurance to cover the rising medical bills that we were drowning in debt with, we borrowed money from our families, and now my husband has had to move across the country for a job to support us and we are split apart.
Two totally different takes on the same story huh? Can't believe what a foothold the devil can get if we really let him. I mean there is some harsh reality to the 'sad story' but the truth of the 'happy story' is really what I try and focus on.
It has been really hard, it all has been really hard. It has been hard to see him go to Texas. The joy in the blessing of him getting a job was almost over shadowed by the loneliness that I felt the day I drove home with those two little babies in there car seats.


The doubt that day swallowed me. I didn't even want to go home from the airport. When Tony left through the security gates we stayed at the airport and looked in all the stores. We stayed in the Sea World shop for thirty minutes as I contemplated using my toll money buy Sophia a doll and buy Troy a plastic shark. Then when we got off the free way we stopped to eat lunch, we went inside and sat together, the three of us, for close to two hours. I have never been so patient watching Sophi dip her spoon in a frosty and lick it like a lollipop, taking forever to eat that frosty which when she finished she could drink like a chocolate milk. Troy sat in his seat and folded his little hands saying "amen, amen" I knew God was reminding me to pray. I did. I got my courage and drove the rest of the way home. When we got to town I stopped at the grocery store, I made up some excuse, but I really just didn't want to go in that house without him. When we pulled into the driveway we sat outside and played with sidewalk chalk for close to an hour before I even put the key in the door. The reality really wasn't that bad. It was our house and just because he wasn't there in that moment didn't mean he was gone. I really had let the devil just run with my heart that day. I mean, it is ok to be sad, but this wasn't the end. It was the beginning for my family to start over. I put the kids down for there naps and prayed.
So Tony has only been gone for 5 days. He sends the kids videos and we send videos to him. It has been fun spending so much time with the kids. Everything is working out perfect. I am still working and will continue to work, we need the benefits. I have gone down to part time though and I like it much better.
Everything that I was worried about so far has gone very peaceful. The kids spending the night with my mom, they love it! I was worried that they would miss me and Tony, they do but my mom keeps them so entertained they hardly think of us :)
I was worried that they would be sad, they are, but I am helping Sophi deal with the heartache and she is ok. She cries sometimes and I let her. She told me the other night that she just wanted to hug him, she said 'I'll even close my eyes and not look if I could just touch him.' I felt my eyes get tearful and I swore I wouldn't cry about this in front of her.. I almost did. I told her it was ok to cry and be sad but Daddy really wanted her to be happy and enjoy this time with mommy and Troy and Mimi. I am soo glad that she can see him and touch him again. My heart breaks for those families who have children who can't see there parents again. But at 4 years old it doesn't make it any easier. She is happy and doing her best. I can now say from experience though that my family should never be separated. It doesn't work for us.
Troy doesn't really get it, he still thinks that Tony is flying around on the airplane somewhere. He only asks for him when he is screaming in time out and he is his typical laid back self. He is struggling through a stomach virus right now, which I pray Sophia and I don't get. I think it's just a 24 hour thing, he seemed much happier tonight than he did earlier today.
I got scared last night and Tony wasn't here to check the locks for me. I got scared and my mind started wandering... I felt myself beginning to think some very irrational thoughts.. I prayed for peace and I got it.
God has been so gracious to me this week. Now lets see if he'll protect me from Troy's stomach flu.
It is a roller coaster of emotions for sure. But we are doing ok.

I have so many pictures I want to share but I am saving them for another post.
Hope everyone had a Happy Halloween :) Love you all.

sickies and a birthday

Well, where have we been?
Troy, Sophi and Tony were sick for close to 10 days with the swine flu. Oh, how fabulous that was! They were so sick and I am so glad that they are better and that I didn't get it.
Sophia missed a week of school and Troy was hit hard with a high fever for close to five days straight.
Evey one is better now and just in time for Troy's 2nd Birthday!! Hurray!
Happy Birthday Troy Anthony.
My little boy turned two yesterday.
He walked around saying "it's ma day, it's ma day!" so cute!
He had a 'boys only super hero party'. Of course with his two girls cousins, sister, and his little buddies older sisters who were in attendance it wasn't really an all boy party- but it was great! He was dressed like the Hulk. who he calls "rah rah" and he ran around in his costume and had a best day ever!
Here are some pictures of Troy's Day.

He got the sandbox from his GiGi and the cake with Hulk was his 'rah rah cake' mommy worked hard on that because my cake lady moved to Jacksonville, doesn't look as good as hers but it tasted great :)






I am a proud mommy and I was so happy to tell him, "yes Troy today is your day"

Things I really say...

"Don't hit your sister with a shopping cart!" -to Troy

"Don't bite the dog" -to Troy

"Please don't eat your bugers" -to Troy

"Don't tell him you are 'going to rip him'" -to Sophi

"Don't drive your car on the tv screen." - to Troy

"You pooped play doh" -to Sophi

"Don't wipe your nose on my arm" -to Sophi

"Do not run mommy over with trucks" -to Troy

"Please don't eat food stuck on the bottom of the table" -to Troy

"Don't let the dog bite you" -to Troy

"Do not put your tongue on me" -to Sophi and Troy at the same time!

"Stop eating the couch" -to Troy

"We do not wash our hair in the potty water" -to Sophi

SHARE.. WHAT DO YOU REALLY SAY?

a very small rant...

I ran into the Dollar General yesterday. They had this cute little ironing board and iron set for kids, only it was pink and purple. I wasn't in the purchasing mood but Troy would have loved that set.. I would not have bought him a pink ironing board though. But why is the ironing board pink? Is an ironing board only meant for little girls?
Then they had a pink vacuum and a purple broom and dust pan. Now this is starting to bother me, then right next to it... a black grill with a grey little lounge chair.
They might as well sold this with a plastic 12 pack!!!

Is there something wrong with this?

I continued on my shopping and went over to Publix. I noticed something that has never occurred to me before this day... the "feminine products" and the "cleaning products" aisles are right next to each other. Oh how convenient for us women to have our tampons and our mildew remover so close together.

I continued shopping and I was over in the pancake aisle getting some syrup and I heard a man on his cell phone afew aisles over.. he was in with the "cleaning products"...
"well, if you would come to the store and do your own shopping we wouldn't have this problem"
He was obviously talking to his wife. It was my observation that he had probably gone shopping for her. Bought the wrong thing, and she sent him back to get the right thing, and he was going to give her a run for her money that he couldn't find it.
That was just my observation.. but my husband tells me that women are way more observant than men.

He was fussing at his wife for a few minutes. While I wondered over to this aisle to listen... I pretended to look for Comet as I listened. He continued to argue with her about how Publix must not carry the product she was looking for anymore and questioned her about using something else instead. I could hear her describing the products label to him, I looked over, I noticed as he argued with her, he wasn't even looking at the products on the shelf, he was just focusing on arguing with his wife. Had he stopped rolling his eyes he may have noticed the product directly in front of him.

She was looking for Scrubbing Bubbles

My husband has told me that men aren't good multitaskers... they can't argue on the phone and look for something at the same time.
While I was standing there with my two kids, listening to this man, while pretending to look busy, and checking off my list... it is possible I was on my cell phone at the time too, I found the product his wife was looking for.

I just grinned as the wife told him to forget it and she would come back and get it herself. He slammed the phone down and went to walk away. He probably thought to himself, "I taught her."
I picked up a can of scrubbing bubbles and handed it to him. I considered handing him Comet, which he probably would have trusted me that is the correct item, I felt I'd to a favor woman to woman and give him the correct item.

He looked at the can, looked at me, and said "thank you, see that's why women should do this stuff"

He totally meant this as a compliment but after the pink ironing board, pink iron, purple dust pan and purle broom at this point I didn't take it as one.

Maybe if we put the "cleaning products" with the beer men would better know the difference between scrubbing bubbles and soft scrub.

A way to a man's heart is through his stomach.

Even a little man.

Troy loves it when I cook. He stands in the kitchen while I cook and hugs my legs saying, "Ummm momma, I luv you. Umm.. Momma"

This particular occasion I was cooking spaghetti for my dad's birthday. Troy moved his table to the counter climbed on the top to sneak a taste at the spaghetti sauce that was in the crock pot.




Troy, sweet, little guy.

If I have one request for his future wife... she better cook for him :) I have never seen a child so excited about home cooked foods. The way he acts you would think I never cooked for him. I cook all the time. He doesn't like frozen foods. If you try and give him a frozen dinner he will pick and look so longingly at his plate but if you slave away in the kitchen and make him meatloaf, steak and potatoes, grilled chicken salad.. he will clean the plate!

Sweet girl of mine, she is just as happy as a little clam as long as she has her Daddy's peanut butter and syrup sandwich.

no charger part 2

I found my charger!!
Want to know where?
In my mom's minivan.
Ready to know the weird part? I keep my laptop and the charger in a backpack that never leaves my room.
So, I am guessing I must have dropped it in there when Tony was in the hospital and the one time I took my backpack anywhere I must have dropped it out in her car while I was borrowing her van taking Tony clothes back and forth.
OK, yes, Tony was in the hospital. I know lots to catch up on...
He gave us quite a scare. We went to a CPR class together the day my laptop charger went missing. We like to stay current on this stuff, especially with Sophia Ann in our house, but really I believe that all parents need to be CPR certified when they leave the hospital with the little bundle of joy. Why worry about organic foods if you can't save your kid when they choke on a broccoli?? OK, I am going to get off this soap box.
Back to the story, we were at the CPR class and Tony said he was going to pass out. He never did but he turned many shades of grey and was feeling like he was going to puke. He had been doing this for a week and a half. He had even fainted in the doctors office the week earlier. Really passed out, the office called and told me that he was out for like a minute and they used smelling salts to get him back... I summed it up to a vagal nerve which causes some people to pass out when they get there blood drawn but he has never done this before.
This time I told him we were leaving the CPR class and going to the ER where I work so they could check him out. It would have been pretty cool to have a non responsive patient in the CPR class though :) I would have been the one doing the mouth to mouth though.
They checked him out and told us that he had an abnormal EKG and the doctor admitted him to the cardiac floor with a heart monitor and ordered some tests. It was very nerve racking to think that there was something wrong with his heart. I kept thinking about Jen and Shawn and he importance of early prevention of heart problems. They kept him over night and I called numerous times checking on him. I was supposed to work that night and would have loved to work just one floor above him but I had to stay home with the kiddos. In the morning the greatest cardiologist I know came in to see him and talked to him, sent him for an Echo of his heart but told him that his EKG looked fine and it wasn't that "abnormal" -still waiting to figure out what that means but sounds like relief to me! I got to the hospital and saw the doctor in the lobby he said he didn't realize Tony was my husband, I said "I told him to tell you!" So next time someone says "tell Dr. so and so, I'm your friend", you better tell them! He said that Tony's heart was fine! but he did think that he had diabetes and that it has been undiagnosed and that is why he has been feeling so poorly. Not eating properly for a diabetic. If he changes his diet he should be able to control the symptoms and stablize his blood sugar.
So far he has surprised me and done really great with his eating. He goes to the doctor tomorrow for a follow up appointment with our family doctor and he should be sent for the glucose test that all us preggers get to do :) Fun!
Anyway, that is his hospital story. Glad it turned out not to be his heart and he should be just fine.
Now, cold/flu season is here! I was calling the doctor this morning to make appointments for the kids to get flu-mist and then Little Miss Sophi woke up this morning sick. With a fever of 103.1, snotty, coughing, feeling like crap. Troy has been a grumpy boy this afternoon so I hope he isn't getting sick. I always worry when Sophi has fevers because of the febrile seizures that she is so prone too. She said that she had a seizure last night, but I don't think I believe her, she usually doesn't remember them. :) She will be sleeping with a monitor tonight just so I can keep a closer eye on her. Praying for no seizures tonight.
She has only ever had three daytime seizures so I worry more about night, maybe it's the dark and that she hates sleeping in the bed with us so I can't keep an eye on her. I think she knows I worry and she purposely tries to stay away from me :) Little Stinker!
We had a busy weekend. My aunt from Miami came into town for a short visit on Saturday. My family came over for a spagetti dinner on Sunday night for my dad's birthday. Troy's 2nd Birthday is right around the corner on the 18th. So much going on!!
We are very blessed with full lives, lots of friends and family.
Speaking of friends and family.. the newest arrival in our circle of friends. My good friend Kati had her new baby Cadence Olivia, aka "little Monkette", they are all monkey's in that family! A perfect little bundle of joy! Congratulations Momma Monkey, Big Monkey, and Little Monkey!!!!

four not fourteen

I have a, newly turned, four year old, not a fourteen year old! What is wrong with her lately!!??
She is so bossy, moody, it is like toddler PMS.
This morning I was getting her dressed and everything I pick out for her doesn't match or isn't cute enough. My word! When did my little girl become such a fashionesta!? I guess my whole life I have been mismatching my clothes and apparently I have never looked cute.
Let me just remind her how she choose to dress herself just a few short years ago...



She would gasp! She has always had a mind of her own. Yes, she wore this get up to the grocery store one afternoon. But I did insist that she wear her shoes and not her daddy's. What would she say if she knew I let her go out like that.. haha! This is defiantly going to be one of those senior yearbook pictures!

This morning upon request I put a braid in her hair. She ran to the mirror to look at it when I was finished and started screaming in the bathroom. I ran in thinking she had gotten hurt some how. There she was staring into the mirror screaming in horror at the sight of one little stray hair that was too short to fit into the braid. For those of you who braid little girls hair.. you know that at this age there are lots of those little short baby hairs, she is lucky it was just one that was poking out. I smoothed it down with some water and she ran into my bathroom for the hair spray. I considered ignoring her request but you know her hair is really important to her. So I went ahead and helped her.

It brought back memories of her first haircut. She ran to look in the mirror and started screaming, you cut all my hair off!! We cut like three inches. She slept with her swept up hair in a ziploc bag for three nights after that incident. Since then she has had her hair cut once.

My sweet darling fourteen year old, I mean four year old. <3

no laptop charger...

Poor Poor Pitiful Me! I lost my laptop charger.. I am using Tony's computer right now. I don't know what to do!!!?? It is really lost. I don't know where it went. I never take my laptop out of the house so I have no idea where it went!!!?? You can bet tomorrow I will be searching high and low for that thing! Hope everyone is doing well.
Love you All.

Show and Tell

My little darlings- Troy is starting to look like a little man to me ;) I love his hair!!! and Sophi, always the little mother!



Show and Tell was my favorite thing about preschool I remember after kindergarten I was so sad that there was no more show and tell. Once my mom even brought my pony for show and tell and gave all the kids rides on him! So, now my darling daughter has show and tell, every Thursday and it has to go with the theme for the week. Last week was the first show and tell, this week was their "A" week. She insisted on bring a black stuffed cat, how appropriate. I told her that is was supposed to go with the letter "a" and then I made a "AAA-" sound.
I hinted that, "AAA-, apple starts with A, can you think of something else maybe to bring that starts with a?"
"I'll bring my cat." She said.
"OK Sophi do you understand that cat, CCC-, cat starts with C, not AAA-, A right?"
"Yeah, mommy, but you and daddy are AAA- allergic to cats."
I guess she is smarter than I am. So she took her cat to school and told everyone that she loves her cat, it is the only cat she can have because her mommy and daddy are AAA- allergic to cats.
This week is shapes and colors week, I wonder what she will bring this week!? I am going to over my pumpkin with the triangle shaped eyes but I don't know what she will decide to bring and ultimately it is her choice.

This would be my show and tell, I bought this on clearance at Lowes, it so sooo dying. I do NOT have a green thumb, but I managed to bring this back to life! So pretty!


Troy had tumbling today. We took Sophi to school and then went to his gymnastics class. He loved it. He bumped his head on my tooth while we were stretching though and cried a little bit about that. I am the one who should have been crying though, my tooth still hurts.
Last week we missed the beginning and he was so confused when they first got out on the floor and started running... he ran by me fussing for me to hold his hand. He was looking around at all the kids and holding my hand so tightly while we ran with the class.

This is why Troy is so good in gymnastics, he's a monkey! Here he is climbing the fence at church and my arm reaching to grab his shorts as Tony flashed a picture.. yes, he was shirtless at church! He is such a rebel!!


Sophi has gymnastics tonight. I have lots of laundry to fold. Tomorrow I am working, in the morning however my mom is coming to stay wtih Troy and take Sophi to school because Tony and I are going to get recertified in CPR. We both were certified and we both let it lapse, it is a requirement for my job at the hosptial so we are going together to take the course in the morning.

Then I am working for a long stretch. I unsually work 3/12 hour shifts from 7pm-7am.. this week I am working 4 days on 1 day or 1 day on. Reson being.. Tony is leaving for TN next week and I need to work my two weeks worth of nights in 6 days. Then me and the kids for 5 days without Daddy. We are already dreading him being gone, Sophi told me she doesn't want him to fly away. I told her he will fly back :) The kids love airplanes and Sophi says she wants to fly with him. She may try to go in his suitcase. :)

My kids love their Daddy.. here they are in Sophi's bed before bedtime.. Troy was reading a book.. LOL


OK, well, off to finish that laundry!!!

blogs blogs and more blogs...

So I have had another blog for a while now.. it is one that I use to remember little humorous stories about the kids, to vent frustrations about motherhood. It has had many names and now I have finally figured out how to import it to link it to this blog. So... barefoot with a baby on my hip is up and going. Check it out.
For those of you who had it saved under 'angry housewife' that blog no long exists - some of you have asked where it went and I can honestly say that I don't know what I did to it!!?? I couldn't access it either!? Oh well, I got it figured out now... although there is a new name and new web address. ;)

Love Hate Relationship

My son and daughter are so close. They love each other with every being in their body. But as much as they love each other that is just how much they fight.
Tony told me one day that police often get injured when responding to domestic violence calls and that is how he feels when he gets involved with Sophi and Troy.
I must say that I agree.
Alot of times I let them argue and just sit by and watch. I don't want to always intervene if they can resolve it themselves. I watched as Troy came by and hit Sophi on the top of the head with his hulk gloves and then I watched Sophi respond with a gentle shove as Troy feel on his behind. Then he grabbed his plastic hammer and went to swinging... I grabbed him up to put him in time out. Just as I was scooping him up he whacked her on the shoulder with hammer. She screamed! I told him "NO" and put him in the corner. He was crying... just as I turned around Sophi ran into me screaming, at first I thought it was over her 'ouchy' then I realized she had just pushed me! I said "what in the world" she was holding her hurt arm and screaming at me that I made her brudder cry and I was not nice to him.
I said, "he just hit you"
"I know but I don't want him to cry," she says with tears in her eyes.
Now, let me tell you, if he had hit me with that hammer, I'd want him to cry....

Time and time again if I put Sophi in time out Troy will go and stand with his nose in the corner right with her. They sit in time out together holding each other and crying.

They have a very strange relationship.

wine wine wine.. I whine!

Awesome movie.. ok not awesome, but informative
So I know nothing about wine. My husband however loves it! He has books about it, he really enjoys wine.. different types.. he acts so sophisticated about it. So, I decided that I wanted to know more about wine.
I looked at his books, didn't like them.. boring! But... I was searching netflix in the 'special interest' section and found the most awesome movie about wine.
John Cleese's Wine for the Confused
If any of you out there are totally confused by wine... watch this movie!!! It's the most interesting thing to get information about wine that I could find.. I am pretty excited about it, although I still don't like wine. Atleast I understand it a bit more..

My tumbling Kids!

Hope everyone is doing good.
The kids are signed up and loving gymnastics! Sophi goes to gymnastics in the evenings on Wednesday and Troy is going to a mommy and me tumble class in the mornings. Sophi really is the little ballerina but we just couldn't get it to fit in our schedule this year. Gymnastics is good for her, she is so weak in her skinny little arms. It was precious to watch her on the bars last night. Troy is my little monkey man. He loves running and tumbling. He loves the rings and can hang for soo long. He is so cute! I will have pictures of his class next week, but here are some pics of my girl!

birthdays birthdays birthdays!

What an amazingly busy week we had! Monday was labor day and two BBQs, Tuesday was Sophi's birthday and first day of school, Wednesday I had to work, Thursday I had to work, Friday was my birthday, Saturday was Sophi's bday party day, and Sunday was church, football, family, plus a quick trip to the grocery store.
Now, I am sitting in the living room listening to Troy scream 'Daddy.' Tony went to a mens fellowship tonight at a church about an hour away. He has been going to a weekly mens bible study there on Monday nights. Troy is not used to Tony not telling him good night and this is tough on the little guy. He loves his Daddy to tuck him in. I just called Tony and he is at least an hour away from being home. I can't let him stay up that late. Sophi has school tomorrow and there is no way that I can keep Troy quiet to let Sophi sleep and him stay up. I think he is settling down now though. Nothing worse than hearing your baby cry.
On a brighter note: Here are some pictures from Sophi's Bday party!





Post this link in your browser to see all the pictures..
http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLanding.action?c=11qp8sz4.8u7gozz8&x=0&y=-xufh4t&localeid=en_US&cm_mmc=site_email-_-site_share-_-core-_-view_photos_button
What a fun day!!!

Grumpy Morning

What a great day!
I got up and really didn't want to. I was kind of stressed and didn't sleep well... it was one of those days when you just want to stay in bed as long as possible with your head under the covers. I felt just like this...

Then.. the phone rang... I looked at the clock and it was 8:23, that was sleeping in. The kids were awake, I could hear them in their rooms but they were content playing in their beds. I answered the phone trying to sound awake, I didn't want whoever was on the other end knowing that I was being so lazy as to not be up and moving at 8:30. It was the preacher man from our church, wishing us a good week. I guess it was like God's little reminder to get up and be grateful for even the littlest blessings.
I got up and remembered that I had told my friend Lisa that I would walk the 3.2 miles around a lake close to our house. She was going to be over to get me at 9:30. Tony was home so he watched the kids for me so I could go. I got the kids up, feed, dressed, and there was Lisa right on time. I ran out to her car and we headed to the lake. We walked around the lake and my hips were throbbing, I was hot and wanted nothing more than to go home and jump in the pool with my favorite little monsters!
So, when I got home I got the kids ready and we went to the pool. We had a good time. Tony went to the store for dog food and diapers. When we got home we feed the kids and naptime. So, my tired, lazy, morning ended up being rather productive. Now, energized I sat on the couch and played on the computer for a little bit. I was chatting with our friend Bradley and we decided that the best thing to do this evening was for Tony and I to load up the kids and go have dinner at their house. We have been friends with them for two years now and we have never been to their house. I know that sounds strange but they had a dog that I was severely allergic to so we always had them over to our house. Their dog passed away a few months ago, God Bless Amos, but I was really glad that I could come over to their house now! ;) Kati is one of my dearest friends and I really enjoyed her company. We had a great time. The kids played and had a great time! They have a little boy who is just a few months younger than Sophia. She loves him. She told us tonight that when she gets up she wants Paul to be her boyfriend. Troy adores Paul, he is the big brother Troy will never have. They are great friends and we had a great time. Not only is she a good friend but she is very very crafty, I'd call her an artist!! Check out her etsy shop. I ordered a few things from her for Christmas gifts. The bean bags are darling! She is having a baby in just a few weeks so if you want any custom orders before Christmas you better hurry! ;) We got home late and the kids were very tired and ready for bed... so to bed they went and to bed I am going...
So my grumpy morning ended being an awesome day.

Speaking of Sleep Deprivation...

Brace yourselves ladies and gentlemen...

Here is the dumbest thing I think I've ever done. Now, in my defense, I don't think I would have done this had I not been so tired. Remember the stories about sleep deprivation? This could go right under that topic.

I stumbled into the house last week at 7am, no I wasn't out all night partying like a rock star, I was working. It had been a long night and all I was wanting in that moment was my bed.

However, I was the only one home on this morning so I had to take the dog out and take a shower, keep in mind I work in a hospital, I must take a shower and disinfect when I get home!

Upon getting out of the shower I put my toothpaste on my toothbrush and began to brush. Although the toothpaste didn't suds up like normal. I spit and my tongue went numb. I grabbed the toothpaste tube and realized it was anti fungal cream!

AHH!

I spit, and spit, and spit, and grabbed the crest and began brushing my teeth faster and harder than ever!

It was all I could do to read the back of the anti fungal tub and read the follwing " if swallowed contact poison control immediately".

I felt like my tongue was swelling, my throat was closing... I felt faint. I grabbed the phone book, looked up the number for poison control.

Multi-tasking, I rinsed my mouth with water and dialed the number.

It was ringing... my mind was spinning... what would I tell them, "yes I just brushed my teeth with athletes foot cream" NO! So, I did the same thing that any honorable woman would do. "Poison Control, How can I help you?"

"Yes, my daughter just tried to brush her teeth with anti fungal cream, I don't think she swallowed it but is there anything I need to be concerned about?"

"What exactly is the cream, mam?"

Oh NO, they know it was me..

"Equate, Anti fungal Cream, for athletes foot 1% anti fungal"

"How old is your daughter mam?"

"4"

"How much does she weigh?"

"One hundred.... I mean forty pounds" I almost lost it... I hope that's how much a four year old would way? My three year old weighs 32lbs so I thought that sounded about right.

"OK, mam, let me look this up for you."

I waited, feeling like my throat was closing, I couldn't feel my tongue, I may not be able to talk much longer.... was my voice horse?

"OK, looks like everything is going to be fine, go ahead and give her something to drink and rinse her mouth, call us if you need anything else...."

Instantly, my symptoms disappeared, just what I wanted to hear. I was going to survive. Ahh....

I gargled with Listerine and fell into the bed... I called Tony and told him what happened, just in case I died in my sleep. I can see the headlines "Mother found dead after brushing her teeth with athletes foot cream."

Sheesh!

end of summer whoorraaahh!

New Splash Park



Sophia starts school next week so we are making the most of this last week together. Today we went to the new splash park. It was really nice. A great addition to the city. It wasn't too busy because most of the schools started last week. It was $2 to get in, the area isn't to large, there are benches so you can watch your children which was very nice. The only thing that I didn't like was you have to pay even if you are the parent just sitting on a bench watching your kids. Tony had his swim shorts so he went in with the kids I sat out to take pictures and watch. Good thing I did though because Troy was less than thrilled. The water was a bit too cold for him and I think he is so short so it splashed him right in the eyes. Poor little guy. Sophi loved everything about it though. She also loved having her daddy all to herself. So Troy and I wondered over the park next door. He loved the slides, swings, and the spaceship with the wheel in it. I was sure, him being the water baby that he is, that he would love the water.. but no sir! He wanted nothing to do with it.
Here are some pictures from this very fun morning..
Me and My Hunny

Sophia who would not stand still long enough to get her picture taken...

Troy who stood very still...


Lastly her is a video I took of Troy at the park.. he was getting annoyed with all of my repetitive questions but it was so funny..