New Years Eve

It is New Years Eve! I remember in the past I used to spend the night with my cousins Sherilyn and Ethan. Ethan and my sister Lana were too young to stay up but Sherilyn and I would stay awake and watch the ball drop. We would take construction paper and rip it up in tiny pieces and put it in a big tupperware bowl. At midnight we would go oustide the garage into the driveway and toss all the "confetti" into the air. It was so fun, such good memories. Tonight Tony and I are going to put the kids to bed, eat pizza, and play guitar hero. Tony's brother, Matthew and his wife, Anne Marie got it for us for Christmas and we haven't played it yet. I am excited to spend a quiet and fun evening with my husband.
Wishing everyone a Happy New Year, see you in 2009!

When you thought I wasn't looking...

A message every adult should read because children
are watching you and doing as you do, not as you say.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you hang my
first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately
wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you feed a
stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind
to animals.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make my
favorite cake for me, and I learned that the little
things can be the special things in life.

When you thought I wasn't looking I heard you say a
prayer, and I knew that there is a God I could always
talk to, and I learned to trust in Him.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make a
meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I
learned that we all have to help take care of each
other.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you give of
your time and money to help people who had nothing,
and I learned that those who have something should
give to those who don't.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you take care
of our house and everyone in it, and I learned we have
to take care of what we are given.
When you thought I wasn't looking I saw how you
handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't
feel good, and I learned that I would have to be
responsible when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw tears come
from your eyes, and I learned that sometimes things
hurt, but it's all right to cry.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw that you
cared, and I wanted to be everything that I could be.

When you thought I wasn't looking I learned most of
life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and
productive person when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking I looked at you and
wanted to say,’ Thanks for all the things I saw when
you thought I wasn't looking.'

Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly.

some Christmas pictures to share...

Merry Christmas

Wanted to get on here and wish you all a Merry Christmas.
Things are sooo incredibly busy with the holidays and moving ten days before Christmas was insane :) We have had a great holiday season so far though. We went to a parade and celebrated Christmas with my family (my brothers and their kids)earlier in the month. Last weekend we went to my mom's for dinner, gingerbread houses, and then we took a drive down Christmas Tree Lane and saw lights, it was nice being together. Tonight we baked and prepared casseroles for tomorrows lunch. Sophia put out cookies and carrots for Santa and the reindeer. She was very excited. We spoke about Christmas and it being when we celebrate Jesus' birthday. I was talking to her about Mary and Joseph. She told me that baby Jesus was going to come tonight and play with Troy :)
Merry Christmas everyone :) and... remember the reason for the season :)

totally overwhelmed

I said the hiatus would continue... Tony always jokes with me, when I am stressed he says "why don't you blog about it?" OK- I'm blogging about it. Get ready people! After my post on Thursday... I got the stomach flu, it started Thursday evening. Troy had a horrible night Thursday, he was throwing up and crying for hours during the night. Friday, I felt better- I took Troy back to the doctor, he was still having breathing problems, he was throwing up, and crying ALL the time!! The doctor said the antibiotic wasn't working and he had developed an ear infection which was probably causing the vomiting. He seemed better Friday afternoon. He was in a great mood Friday evening. Tony called and said he was really sick, same stomach virus that Sophia and I had. The pediatrician said it was same virus just presenting itself different in Troy. Tony was at work and didn't get home until late, by the time he got home he had already thrown up and was ready to sleep. He felt better this morning, Thank God! OH- Friday night, Troy ate scrubbing bubbles!! I was cleaning the bathroom and had the scrubbing bubbles on the bathtub, he ran in and put it in his mouth, I grabbed it from him and when I did he bite down and the foam filled his mouth. I broke the tip of the scrubbing bubbles off in his mouth. I cleaned his mouth and called poison control.. he is fine. But what a scare! Now to today- Troy has been feeling like crap again! I don't know when he will start feeling better but I pray that he can kick this sickness. So all of our stuff is packed, we went and got the UHaul and Tony began loading it. I had a systematic order of how I wanted everything loaded that way the kids things were to the back of the truck, so that they would be easily accessible if we needed them. I feed the kids dinner and gave Troy his antibiotic. I was getting him ready for his bath and he was running around naked then it happened... diarrhea all over the carpet, the more poo the faster he ran... it was everywhere. To make matters worse all of the cleaning things and rags and towels were in boxes somewhere in the moving truck. I just pray that he doesn't throw up or have diarrhea tonight- his sheets are in the truck and my washing machine is in the truck... which Tony and his dad drove to the new house tonight- so my washing machine and extra towels, sheets, cleaning items, etc. are 40 minutes away!!! Luckily Tony's mom (they live next door, remember!?) offered that if I need anything I can call her... I hope I don't have too but she may be getting a call tonight so that I can borrow extra towels or sheets for Troy if he gets sick. I was feeling so overwhelmed tonight. I just want to get moved, everyone to get better, and get back to a sense of balance and order in our home! Well, I am going to try and get some rest...
THERE IS MY VENT :)
Please, know I am very excited to be moving, blessed that we have found a home, soo exhausted and hoping that Troy feels better and his little body heals from this yucky sickness.
Where is Sophia in all of this? She is holding on tight and enjoying the ride. I have been stressed and her excitment and activity level is exhausting sometimes but I better appreciate that child and embrace her more during this time of change. I guess I kinda' feel guilty for being frustrated at her. I have a lot to learn from that free spirit. :)

Christmas Wish

This is totally worth sharing. It will make you cry but it is really happy. What a beautiful Christmas Wish.

unannoucned hiatus...

Well, it was a short, unannounced, unplanned hiatus from blogging. Life has been overwhelmingly busy the last few weeks. I can't even remember where I left off, but throwing the update out there- we are moving in three days. We found a beautiful house(huge!) on one acre for half the cost of what we pay now, totally a God thing if you ask me. :) Tony was out of town for a week during my hiatus; during that time Sophia got a "tummy flu" so with Tony gone and a sick kiddie and Troy missing his favorite person in the world (daddy) that was a hectic week. Once Sophia got better and Tony made it home safe Troy decided he'd take his turn being sick, not the stomach flu, but he has a nasty cold and some HUGE tonsils :) He hasn't been eating well and his asthma is acting up worse than ever. Last night he threw up... I am hopeful that he doesn't have the stomach bug on top of whatever else he has. He has been taking LOTS of medicines and hardly eating a thing, so I'm hoping it was the meds that upset his stomach. I have felt "erpy" ever since but I think it's mental (I hate stomach bugs!) The Norovirus was going around the kids school last week, I am pretty sure that's what Sophia had. If you've never heard of it, it's just a stomach virus with a sudden onset, vomiting, diarrhea, and slight fever, that quickly goes away, it affects a large amount of people in an area- it's the sickness that you hear most times affecting cruise ships. 120+ students and teachers went home from her school with it the Friday before Thanksgiving, that's what I heard anyway ;)
Well, we have been packing like crazy. I told my mom "we are living out of a box" at least we aren't living in a box. :) My Internet classes are going good. I have slowed down a bit since we are preparing to move, trying to complete 3 classes per week instead of one a day. I only have 4 more tests left. WHOOT WHOOT! The decision to get a job is an emotional one, not getting a job, but putting the kids in daycare, not being with them all the time, you know that phrase about when your children aren't with you it's like a body part is missing? That's exactly what I'm feeling. Also, I worry about Sophia -what if the stress of change causing her to start having seizures again, she has done so good being off medication but she is also in a very controlled environment (regular naps, quiet time, good diet, etc) not that I don't think the daycare could offer the same things but!? mommy does it best right!? and Troy he is so young still, my little guy. I'd miss them soo much. Also, do you know how much childcare is for two kids!!?? After insurance and daycare, I'd make like $70 a week -I make almost that now babysitting twice a week. :) So, Tony and I decided that I was going to sit tight, take my classes, get moved into the new house, keep the kids in a routine, and if the perfect job came along take it! If the "perfect job" doesn't come, I'll be home as long as I can and then I'll have to go back to work. I think that's a great decision. :) Gives me some time to adjust and wrap my mind around going back to work, I'm very change resistant (that's where Sophia gets it) but I'll come around. Not to mention we are dealing with a lot of change anyway, moving to a new house.
IT is early here, 5:15am right now, I got up with Troy around 4:30 and couldn't go back to sleep, we have to leave early to go sign the papers on the house this morning so might as well get up. Sophia keeps waking up saying she has a runny nose (she doesn't) but I help her get a tissue and blow her fake runny nose and she goes back to sleep. It is so windy here. I am going to have to turn on the news, maybe a cold front coming in. It was great yesterday 80 degrees, only in Florida can you wear shorts and flip flops in December :)
This weekend will probably be a busy one, I'll be around, reading but probably not writing much until later next week. Then, I'll be back, maybe sooner because boy to I have some funny stories to share with you guys! :) Happy Thursday!
Here are a few pictures from the Gaylord Palms ICE in Orlando. We went a couple weekends ago. It was amazing and freezing! They chill the rooms to 9 degrees, give you parkas (because who in FL has clothes for 9 degree weather!?), and hot chocolate on the other side. It was really fun, until they evacuated the building, I'll blog on that later though. :)

my farm kids

Still taking medical terminology... I am still trucking away at a chapter a day.

I have some cute kid stories to share, here is when I take time to write intentional memories...

Sunday Tony and I went shooting at my mom's farm. We took the kids with us but I forgot Troy's shoes. So, we stopped at Target on the way there and picked up a pair of cheap shoes for him to wear. I ran in while Tony drove around the parking lot. I found him a cute pair of knock off crocs that looked like Lightening McQueen from the Cars movie.. they were on clearance for $4, can't beat that. They were a little big but I figured they'd work and Troy loves Lightening McQueen so I knew he'd like them. I just didn't know how much. The shoes kept falling off of his feet while he walked in the clay around the barn. He would stop and pick up the shoes and try to put them back on. Eventually I gave up and let him walk and ruin a pair of socks. When we got home, I took the shoes and put them on his shelf with the rest of his shoes in his room. Last night after his bath he was running around his room wearing his diaper and he found the bright red car shoes. He chased after me saying "EEZZZZ" and hitting the shoes on his foot. I asked him, "Do you want to wear them?" He gave me the shoes and sat on the ground. I would put the shoes on him and he'd walk very slowly so that he could keep the shoes from falling off. He loves them. He looked so cute. His curly brown hair, pop belly, saggy diaper, and red shoes. What a sweetie he is.

Sophia and Troy got in a fight last night- a real fight. Rolling on the kitchen floor, screaming at each other, one on top of the other, they were fighting over an Elmo book that my aunt got Sophia for her birthday when she was 2. They were both wearing fleece pajamas, slipping and sliding around the floor. I came in the kitchen and grabbed them each in one hand and they slid apart, still screaming. I yelled "be quiet" and they both stopped, looked at me, and both started crying. I picked them up and carried them into the other room and sat them down, I was so shocked that they were fighting and I really didn't know what to do, I said "you figure it out" and I walked away to contemplate my next move. They were sitting on the floor in the dining room looking at my crying. I walked into the kitchen got the book, put it back in Sophia's room. I told Sophi "your book stays in your room"... I really still didn't know how to handle it so I turned around to figure out how to handle the situation. Then I looked, Sophia had crawled over to Troy and they were holding each other. Sophia was rubbing his head saying "I'm sorry Troy" and he was clinging to her saying "Titty, oh Titty". Not five seconds later they were up and playing again, loving each other. So sweet. I guess I don't always have to know what to do, they "figured it out"

Tonight Troy was climbing all over Sophia while she laid on the floor wrapped in a blanket, she says "I'm wrapped in a cuddle." She hugged Troy and said "I'm thanksgiving for you Troy" :)

I hope everyone has a good thanksgiving, I'm thanksgiving for you :)

God is Good

This week has flown by. I started taking medical terminology online so that I can get a J-O-B. It was a decision that I have gone around and around with. I really didn't want to have to put the kids in daycare. With the possiblity of us moving I didn't want to add more change by going back to work and then having to put the kiddies in daycare. Lots of prayers and some jobs presented themselves that I could work at night or some days, but it really wouldn't affect the kids schedule and they wouldn't have to go into fulltime daycare, which I thought was an answer to prayers. I applied for the job only to be turned down, I needed medical terminology. So- I checked into the classes and the hours and days would no way fit in with our everyday life. I prayed about it more and God opened another door and my good buddy Kelly showed me that I could take this class online. She had already started it, as she too is finding herself in a life changing time. I started it and have been trying to complete a chapter a week, thus the lack of attention on my blog this week. I gave tonight to tackle the loads of laundry that has been piling up in my room all week. I folded laundry for two and a half hours straight! It is all done though and I think most of our clothes are clean, folded, and put away.
Sophia still is doing great with no seizures. The nuerologist said that she thinks the medication that Sophia was on was aggrivating her seizure condition instead of helping it- I think she may be right. Her mood is so much more stable. She is still they typical three year old with tantrums and high emotions. But all of that is so much easier to understand. She is so happy and hasn't once had a depressed day like she used to say she didn't want to get out of bed, she would say she wanted to stay in her room... she hardly ever complains of her tummy hurting- unless it really does. :) She is doing really great. Praise God for that!
Troy is doing good. He has been sleeping so much better. This week he has slept until about 4:30 every morning, only to eat a bottle then he goes right back to sleep until around 7:30. He is such a sweet little guy. He is talking more. He started saying some new words this week "Muck" which is milk, "Bah Bah" for his bottle.. he calls Sophia "Titty" because he can't say Sissy.. now that's funny right!?
Well, I'm really tired. I hope everyone has a great weekend. :) I'll update more later.

what's going on with us

I should be sleeping.. Sophia is spending the night at her Mimi's house (my mom) and Troy is in bed. Tony however, is playing video games... would you believe that he is almost 30 and still playing video games!? Men really are big kids. Now, I must say, it's not a kids game, but I don't see many video games that I think are good for kids these days. Maybe the Leapfrog games but those aren't really "video games"... he is playing some war game. What a nerd, I'm almost embarrassed to type that... LOL

This has been a good week for us. Troy is recouping from his nasty sinus infection. He is such a sweet boy. The quick weather changes in Florida are hard on the kids immune systems. It went from 65 degrees to 85 degrees in two days, it has been warm here. I hear another cold front is moving in this week, meaning back in the 60's... I know to most of you that doesn't sound cold, but for us Florida kids, we are used to the 90's. I've never even seen snow, so anything under 65 is freezing in my book. :)

Some of you have asked about the new house... well, no it didn't work out. Tony put an offer and they wouldn't take it- Tony said he really didn't care for it anyway, so it was for the best. Then we decided to stay put until our house sells.. two weeks later they called to say they accepted our offer. Although it was hard to turn down, we figured it would be best to stay until the house we are living in sells. In the meantime, I have still been looking and it sure is a buyers market. I am just hoping this house sells because I have my eye on a beautiful house at a great price. We will see... I am praying for a buyer to come along and put an offer on this house. Things have stabilized in Tony's job, at least for a while, and he is feeling more secure. That feeling of urgency is gone and we are just watching and waiting. I know God will provide and we will be OK, where ever we are. I am just thankful that Tony has a job and we got the insurance thing situated, for now anyway... life really can change in an instant. I guess we are supposed to hold on, and enjoy the ride. :) For those of us control freaks... hold on and close your eyes I guess, you never know what twists and turns are next and your strapped in and can't get out and... well, that's just how I feel... but I am trying to hold on, and enjoy it. I really am. :)

Tomorrow is church and then I think for lunch, we are going to use the Outback Steakhouse gift card that's been sitting in Tony's wallet for too long now. Yummy!

Hope everyone has a good weekend. :)