Growing Pains

Yesterday, I received an emailed pic of my niece wearing a shirt that said "Big Sister" on it from my sister in Springfield. YAY! I get to be an auntie again!

Today, I was visited at the office by a external account rep from my old Temp Agency. I looked at her card...and said..I used to work for you guys! I asked about my recruiter...and learned she was still there and had just recently gotten married. After the rep left, I had to call her! She was very excited to hear from me and to know how things were going for me. She updated my records and where I was employed. I was thrilled to tell her that I had been with my company for over two years. She said that was so great...and what a personal accomplishment that was for me. Indeed! She worked so carefully to get me assignments despite my ragged resume.

This afternoon, I realized that the boys had completely worn through their shoes. So we headed off to Payless. J had been complaining of his feet hurting for several weeks now...and even asked the chiropractor to adjust his feet today. I was astounded when the lady measured his foot at 1 to 1 1/2! He WAS wearing a 13...and his toes had literally grown out of his shoes! No wonder his feet were hurting! It's also official...J has passed his brother N up in shoe sizes. N was measured at a 13 to 13 1/2.....up from a 13...LOL!

Tonight, I had a productive phone conversation with my ex regarding the boys. Over time...with much diligence and encouragement, I think I have been successful in learning ways to communicate with him. I give God all the credit in giving me strength to persevere and not succumb to manipulation or spiteful remarks.

I am truly thankful for the growing pains...as I look back on the steps of the path that have brought me here. It's funny to think about, when T and I have discussed the actual physical growing pains with our children.

It's real. But it's not bad. But it hurts. But it's always okay.

GREAT NEWS!

I am soooooo EXCITED! I just heard that 7th Heaven is being resurrected! Which explains why they had a "season" finale vs. a "series" finale....and thus my disappointment.

Apparently some more news is that UPN and WB are merging into a new network called CW....which will combine some of the programming from both networks.

Here is the INSIDE scoop!

$20 Joke

I am still stuck on my post about spending only $20 on my shoes...lol!

I wore them today...and received compliments from the two other women in my office. They both agreed that "Wow, you got them for under $20!" So I believe I have my money-savvy answer!

Just to see what else can be done with a $20 bill...here is the joke of the day for you:

A friend and I were standing in line at a fast-food restaurant, waiting to place our order.
There was a big sign posted. "No bills larger than $20 will be accepted."
The woman in front of us, pointing to the sign, remarked, "Believe me, if I HAD a bill larger than $20, I wouldn't be eating here."

Now You DO Know Everything!

22. Leonardo Da Vinci invented the scissors.
23. Maine is the only state whose name is just one syllable. (I had heard this, but forgot)
24. No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver, or purple.
25. Our eyes are always the same size from birth, but our nose and ears never stop growing.
26. Peanuts are one of the ingredients of dynamite. (no wonder it kills people)
27. Rubber bands last longer when refrigerated. (I had heard of putting nylons in the freezer)
28. "Stewardesses" is the longest word typed with only the left hand and "lollipop" with your right hand.
29. The average person's left hand does 56% of the typing. (yes, but didn't know the %)
30. The cruise liner, QE2, moves only six inches for each gallon of diesel that it burns.
31. The microwave was invented after a researcher walked by a radar tube and a chocolate bar melted in his pocket.
32. The sentence: "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog" uses every letter of the alphabet.
33. The winter of 1932 was so cold that Niagara Falls froze completely solid. (I knew that it did freeze solid...didn't know what year)
34. The words 'racecar,' 'kayak' and 'level' are the same whether they are read left to right or right to left (palindromes). (and my sister's name Hannah)
35. There are 293 ways to make change for a dollar.
36. There are more chickens than people in the world. (that's why People eat Chickens and not the other way around!)
37. There are only four words in the English language which end in "dous": tremendous, horrendous, stupendous, and hazardous.
38. There are two words in the English language that have all five vowels in order: "abstemious" and "facetious." (I DID know this one about "facetious"...and its my favorite word!)
39. There’s no Betty Rubble in the Flintstones Chewable Vitamins. 40. Tigers have striped skin, not just striped fur. (interesting)
41. TYPEWRITER is the longest word that can be made using the letters only on one row of the keyboard. (hidden agenda?)
42. Winston Churchill was born in a ladies' room during a dance. (I had read this) 43. Women blink nearly twice as much as men. (because we are always rolling our eyes at the things men do)
44. Your stomach has to produce a new layer of mucus every two weeks; otherwise it will digest itself. (Boy, do I know ALL about this process!!!)

Shoe Sale!

I had to replace my black dress sandals today. The ones from last year were worn out. And I have been told in "no uncertain terms" from a couple of friends, "that I had better throw out shoes when they wear out", so that I won't be slipping and falling again...ending up in the hospital like last summer!

I stopped at Gordman's by my house to look over the clearance racks...because I have to stick to a budget. I was able to find some black dress sandal/heels appropriate for work....and they were 40% off....making my total $17.94. I was thrilled!

At the checkout, the cashier handed me my receipt and said, "you saved $34 by shopping with us today."

In my mind, I know my limits...and I wanted to spend no more than $20 on a pair of shoes. I would NOT have spent more than that, no matter where I found them. So did I really save $34?? Or did I only spend $20??

Think You Know Everything?

1. A dime has 118 ridges around the edge.
2. A cat has 32 muscles in each ear.
3. A crocodile cannot stick out its tongue.
4. A dragonfly has a life span of 24 hours.
5. A goldfish has a memory span of three seconds.
6. A "jiffy" is an actual unit of time for 1/100th of a second. (I did know this one)
7. A shark is the only fish that can blink with both eyes.
8. A snail can sleep for three years.
9. Al Capone’s business card said he was a used furniture dealer.
10. All 50 states are listed across the top of the Lincoln Memorial on the back of the $5 bill. (cool...)
11. Almonds are a member of the peach family. (yes)
12. An ostrich’s eye is bigger than its brain.
13. Babies are born without kneecaps. They don't appear until the child reaches 2 to 6 years of age. (I did know this!)
14. Butterflies taste with their feet. (and this)
15. Cats have over one hundred vocal sounds. Dogs only have about ten.
16. "Dreamt” is the only English word that ends in the letters "mt". (YES, I knew this one)
17. February 1865 is the only month in recorded history not to have a full moon.
18. In the last 4,000 years, no new animals have been domesticated.
19. If the population of China walked past you, in single file, the line would never end because of the rate of reproduction.
20. If you are an average American, in your whole life, you will spend an average of 6 months waiting at red lights. (that doesn't make me feel any better...lol!)
21. It’s impossible to sneeze with your eyes open. (never tried)

1 Corinthians 13 (for Moms)

I can read bedtime stories till the cow jumps over the moon, and sing "Ten Little Monkeys" until I want to call the doctor-- but if I don't have love, I'm as annoying as a ringing phone.

I can chase a naked toddler through the house while cooking dinner and listening to voice mail, I can fix the best cookies and Kool-Aid in the neighborhood, and I can tell a sick child's temperature with one touch of my finger, but if I don't have love, I am nothing.

Love is patient while watching and praying by the front window when it's 30 minutes past curfew.

Love is kind when my teen says, "I hate you!"

It does not envy the neighbors' swimming pool or their brand-new car, but trusts God to provide every need.

Love does not brag when other parents share their disappointments and insecurities, and love rejoices when other families succeed.

It doesn't boast, even when I've multi-tasked all day long and my husband can't do more than one thing at a time.

Love is not rude when my spouse innocently asks, "What have you done today?"

It does not immediately seek after glory when we see talent in our children, but encourages them to get training and make wise choices.

It is not easily angered, even when my 15-year-old acts like the world revolves around her/him.

It does not delight in evil (is not self-righteous) when I remind my 17-year-old that he's/she's going 83 in a 55-mph zone, but rejoices in the truth.

Love does not give up hope. It always protects our children's self-esteem and spirit, even while dealing out discipline.

It always trusts God to protect our children when we cannot. It always perseveres, through blue nail polish, burps and other bodily functions, rolled eyes and crossed arms, messy rooms and sleep-overs.

Love never fails.

But where there are memories of thousands of diaper changes and painful, labor(s), they will fade away.

Where there is talking back, it will (eventually) cease. (Please, God) Where there is a teenager who thinks he/she knows everything, there will one day be an adult who knows you did your best.

For we worry that we fail our children, and we pray they don't end up in therapy, but when we get to heaven, our imperfect parenting will disappear. (Thank you, God!)

When we were children, we needed a parent to love and protect us.

Now that we're parents ourselves, we have a heavenly Father who adores, shelters us and holds us when we need to cry.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

That was Interesting!

I just had the craziest thing happen at work here this morning!

Our Fire Alarm went off....the sharp flashing lights...the whoo-up alarm...the computer generated voice saying "There is a fire in the building, please evacuate immediately, proceed to the nearest stairwell, do NOT take the elevator"...ALL of this was sounding SIMULTANEOUSLY!

Now, if you remember, when we were in school...they taught us to drop everything...do not go for your coat or anything. Leave immediately. I would say that is good advice...because kids can dawdle...and one never knows how close/big the fire may be.

However, it is a completely different story in the corporate world!

When you work in the financial industry, as I do, there are client accounts to protect. We have to shut/lock our computers to avoid a social security number being violated.

So when the alarms went off...I immediately hit CTRL-ALT-DEL to lock my computer....picked up my breakfast (that one of my reps had just brought back for us)....and grabbed my phone and purse...BEFORE exiting to the stairs!! I overheard another group of people asking their admins if they had turned on the Night VM message before leaving...so we don't always do as were taught, I guess!

Yes, this one was a real call...the firetrucks showed up and everything. But it must have been an electrical fire...

Still glad I got to eat! =)

Evolution of a Mom

Some humor for my "expecting" friends! =o) ....especially for Golden!

Clothes:
1st Baby: You begin wearing maternity clothes as soon as your OB/GYN confirms your pregnancy.
2nd Baby: You wear your regular clothes for as long as possible.
3rd Baby: Your maternity clothes ARE your regular clothes.

Preparing for the Birth:
1st Baby: You practice your breathing. You want to get this right.
2nd Baby: You don't practice. You remember that last time, breathing didn't do a thing.
3rd Baby: You ask for an epidural in your 8th month.

At Home:
1st Baby: You spend every day gazing at the baby.
2nd Baby: You spend a bit of every day making sure your older child isn't squeezing or poking the baby.
3rd Baby: You spend a little bit of every day hiding from the children.

This one is from my own real life experience!
1st Baby: You thoroughly sanitize the pacifier with boiling water.
2nd Baby: You just rinse it off or make sure there is no fuzz on the pacifier.
3rd Baby: You just let them suck on their fingers....can't find the pacifier anyway.

And the tissues please....

I am SAD....and actually CRIED.....tonight was the last episode of my absolute favorite show....

I remember the first episode of 7th Heaven. I was pregnant with my first son. I was home alone...but fell in love with this family...that I secretly wished was mine.

The second season, I became addicted! I was nursing and rocking my oldest son to sleep during the 7 o'clock hour. I was absorbed into this family for that hour. And soon realized that it was my escape from reality. However, I also realized that I was usually encouraged after the shows...and really felt like they became my family.

So now starts the grieving process.

It's like reading a book...I become attached to the characters. I experience the joy and sadness along with them; the triumphs and disappointments; the love and fear.

Knowing that I still had 7th Heaven to watch....helped cushion the emptiness when Friends said goodbye. =)

The "B" List

You know we all had an "A" list that we looked up to growing up. And we all had a "C" list that we looked down upon. So that means we all end up in the "B" list. Remember in Romy & Michelle's High School Reunion, one of the girls that felt left out excitedly exclaimed that, "wow, she made someone else's life miserable!"

Still I find myself comparing my life to those around me. I used to think that I actually COULD make a way to fit in with friends, even as a single parent. However, the bitter truth is finally dawning upon me....it's easier said than done.

I went to my small group from church tonight for the last time. I am saddened but also realize that my energy needs to be spent on taking care of myself and my children. I remember praying for this small group to find a place to "fit in"....or as my old church used to say...."a place to land"....to call home.

It was nice to meet other families that were raising children of the same ages as mine. It was great to hear that not only do I struggle with the daily discipline, but others do too. Yes, the stay-at-home moms could relate to the work load of raising children by themselves while their husbands are at work all day and travel alot for their jobs.

But it's still different.

The ladies can call each other up and meet for lunch with the kids...they have friendship that allows for that. They can discuss the woes of marriage. They have alot in common. I guess you could say these ladies are my "A" list. A group that I can't quite compete.

I am single, but a parent. I have been married, but now single. I am a parent, but no spouse. I am single, but not a "never-been-married-without-kids" single.

Sitting with the ladies tonight, we can all laugh about how let down we feel when an underwire breaks, causing us to buy another one. But do they KNOW what it's really like to HAVE to BUY another one? I know the ones in my small group don't. Their husbands bring in the money, and they raise the kids. That's their setup. They don't really have to worry about how they are going to get the money to buy another necessity AND buy shoes for their growing children.

I know there are families that have to be as frugal as I, but that is not my point in this blog. My question is, "What do I really have in common with this group?"

What group do we have for those of us in the same boat as me?

Back to the Word

In my life, I go through ups and downs, like most people. Some days I am more in tune with God and where He is directing me. Some days, like the last several months, I feel completely lost. Yes, I am still praying, but not with the fervor I sometimes have.

I am learning to consider the facts that my health has not been optimal. But I don't like feeling numb to my spiritual growth. I understand we have plateaus occasionally. And I will have to confess, I don't want to pray to be closer to God right now, because every time that I do, I go through TERRIBLE crisies.

I am tired of dealing with crap. I am too exhausted to "make it through" somehow. I yearn for the closeness of Christ without the agonizing ordeals that get me there.

I am reading the book of Ecclesiastes after I read a blog tonight that had quoted Ecc. 1:18. (Since it is God's Word, I am not really plagiarizing...lol).

"For in much wisdom is much grief; and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth in sorrow." (KJV)

Ironically, my Bible italicized the word IS...hmmm....how true!

Dollar $ense

After reading T's blog about the good deal on the summer movies, I have been reminiscing over my life and what a DOLLAR has meant to me.

For lunch today, I had gone through Wendy's drive-thru for an order of chicken nuggets off the 99-cent value menu. With the first bite, I was transported back to Georgia, when I was pregnant with my first son. I remember how GOOD those nuggets tasted for only a dollar. I had scraped change out of my jewelry box in order to have some "bought-out" food!

After I was married, I never had money...so when I found change...it was a big deal. After I separated and actually had cash in my purse....it was WEIRD! But every dollar was precious....

Even though I try to stay on a budget....sometimes its just good therapy to go buy some chicken nuggets or an ice cream cone for a DOLLAR!

Keeping up with the Dash's

I have to say we are now "keeping up with the Franklins"....literally!!!

Tonight for the first time in our life, both of my boys and myself were on bicycles....at the same time!

I have had bikes for the boys for a few years now, but have never gotten to get them out for use. When I was first given them, I was putting on the training wheels, when we had a car accident and my right wrist ended up in a cast. So, no using my toolbox for awhile!

Then we moved and the bikes have been in the storage closet ever since. On our last trip to OPK, we took the bikes along so that the boys might become more interested in learning to ride (with the encouragement of their friends Little Artist and Lego Master). After much protest, they finally accepted the idea of learning WITHOUT the training wheels. Since everyone only REALLY learns without them....and I couldn't fit the bikes in the trunk with them on!

Tonight was the third night of the boys "trying out" their bikes. I am VERY PROUD of them because they were sharing N's bike most of the time because J's bike chain fell off. I was able to get the chain on and had to tighten it to stay on (it kept falling off even after I kept putting it back on...argh). They both hopped on and were pedaling around.

Next thing you know they say, "Mom, I sure hope you remember how to ride a bike." Now that may seem funny to hear from them...but I was actually wondering about that myself! It HAS been 11 years since I have been on a bike.

BUT, I am here to tell you that the old saying IS INDEED TRUE:

"Once you learn how to ride a bike, you never forget!"

Check and Double-Check

As I prepared for my outpatient follow-up Endoscopy today, I mentally went down the checklist. Once you have visited the hospital as much as I have in the last 3 years...you learn how to make the trip the most successful as possible! Kinda sad, huh?

Here is the checklist...feel free to make copies for any future visits you may need!

1. Wear comfy clothes...the more simple the better...shirt/pants. (Don't forget socks.)

2. Wear no jewelry...earrings, rings, watches. This includes not wearing glasses if at possible. (There is nothing worse than being rolled down hallways when you can't see anything or where you're going, but you can lose glasses easily if going to a surgery procedure.)

3. Leave full purse at home or locked in the trunk. Only take in billfold with insurance card, phone, and a book. (At least 200 pages if headed to the ER first...lol! Also, its less items to keep track of...and the full purse has to go to Security.)

4. Make sure you go to the restroom BEFORE going back to the room/bed!!! (Trust me, once you have an IV in...you are stuck!)

5. Don't look at the clock or watch the time. It only makes the waiting unbearable. (I have learned to take a nap...by staring at the tiny spots in the ceiling tiles.) =D

You know it's a sad sign when the nurses AND the transports recognize you! ....and um...that would be ME!

At least today, I had my contacts in and makeup on...but of course, I didn't see any of the cute doctors that I usually see when I look like death warmed over....ROFL!!!

BTW, my scope came out positive that my esophagus is HEALING! Doc does want me to stay on the meds for another 3 months, then we will look into more permanent methods....since my case was "very severe" (in his words).

Thanks for the prayers from everyone for my health over the last few months!