School Projects

This weekend we have been working on finishing some school projects!

Scott (14) had to build a model of a molecule for science. He built Potassuim (K) .


Michael (11) had to read a book on how to do something and then do it. He chose model ship building and he built an air craft carrier.

James (8) had to do a science "research" project. He did an experiment to see which brand of toy car was the fastest. He chose the same make of car , a Ford GT-40, and tested 3 brands, Johnny Lighting, Match Box and Hot Wheels. Johnny Lighting won! He predicted Hot Wheels would win.

The pictures did not post where I wanted them to , but I am sure you can figure out which picture goes with which project. It was alot of work but fun also! We e-mailed Daddy pictures of the finished projects. We sure miss him, but we have only about a month to go!!! During Christmas break we will be able to go and see him for awhile! Can't wait!!!!

I am still here! Just been very busy with life! In case I do not get on here again before Christmas, MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Young Writer

I have to brag about my "big boy" again! He had a writing assignment recently and I was really impressed with what he wrote. I am not a good writer so I am maybe not a good judge. Tell me what you all think! He was given and illustration with the caption "Another Place, Another Place",written under the picture. The picture was of 4 kids on a rail road hand car that had a sail. In the distance down the track was a castle. Enjoy!!



Another Place, Another Time


He lived in the town of Blandington. In Blandington, everyone and everything was the same. The males of the little town all wore berets when ever they were out-doors, and had short-cut hair, and wore slacks with white button-up shirts, always tucked in. Every female wore the same exact modest, rather dull looking dress, and their hair was neatly trimmed above the shoulders. If anyone in Blandington had ever asked anyone else the word “individuality” meant, they would promptly be directed to the nearest dictionary, and even then not find a definition. This was just the way things were in Blandington.
He wanted out. His name was Quentin. He knew that somehow, somewhere, there had to be a beyond, something outside of Blandington. You see, Quentin was like any other person in Blandington. His hair was short, he wore a beret at all times when he went out-doors, had short-cut hair, and wore slacks with white button-up shirts, always tucked in. He even pressed his slacks regularly, which was more than most boys his age did. And he never went anywhere without his beret. But despite his obedience to all the recognized protocols and dress codes, Quentin, though a mere boy of thirteen, was a free thinker.
His best friend was a girl his age named Priscilla. Priscilla also followed the protocols and dress codes, and she also cared for Quentin. Though she did care for Quentin, she thought he was a pretty strange kid. And he was.
Quentin heartily agreed with this statement, for Priscilla had told him this many times before. There was still one thing though, that Quentin thought himself, and that was this: through the heart of Blandington, there ran a set of railroad tracks. It merely sat there, and no one had ever seen any thing or anyone come down it, nor did they wonder…except for Quentin. One night, Quentin made up his mind to follow the tracks, wherever they may lead.
“Come with me,” he said to Priscilla, who was staring at him in bewilderment, as he stood outside her bedroom window.
“Why?” asked Priscilla, baffled.
“Haven’t you ever wondered what those tracks are for, what travels on it, what’s at the end?” interrogated Quentin, nearly hysterical with excitement.
“Quentin, it’s 11:23 at night. You’re breaking curfew! Maybe tomorrow. I have to sleep.”
Quentin stared her down.
“Oh, fine!” said Priscilla, giving in. “I’ll come.”
Priscilla was outside with Quentin within ten minutes. It was only a two minute walk to the tracks. And so their journey began.
They had been walking for about 24 minutes, and hadn’t even gotten all the way out of the town. Quentin looked at his wrist-watch. Almost midnight. He had heard many different stories about special things happening at midnight. He also knew that there was something special about these tracks.
“Quentin, we should turn back. If we’ve walked for this long and haven’t gotten anywhere, what makes you think that there is anything at the end of this track?” asked Priscilla, beginning to tire of this late-night stroll.
“Priscilla, tell me something,” said Quentin, patiently.
“Okay,” said Priscilla, somewhat meekly.
“Have you ever seen that house before? That one, with the barber’s markings?”
“No, I don’t think so. The barber that we go to has different markings on it, but so what?” asked Priscilla, her interest somewhat piqued.
“Well, if we haven’t gone very far yet and we already see something new, just think what all we could find at the end of the track!” elaborated Quentin. “Besides, I’ve heard that at midnight, special things happen.”
Almost as if on cue, Quentin saw a dim light behind them, rapidly growing brighter. Quentin quickly pulled himself and Priscilla off the track. The light’s speed began to slow down and revealed a small sail-driven railroad car, carrying a boy that appeared to be a little older than Quentin’s and that wore a sailor’s outfit, as well as another, slightly younger looking black-skinned boy wearing a bowler. Quentin and Priscilla had never before seen anyone with black skin.
“Evening folks!” greeted the boy in the sailor’s outfit. “Where are you headed?”
Stammering slightly, Quentin replied, “W-we’re trying to get to the end of this track.”
“Is there an end?” inquired Priscilla skeptically.
“Well of course it has an end!” replied the sailor boy jovially. “But you’ll never get there by foot. Climb aboard my car with me, I’ll take you there.”
Quentin eagerly climbed onto the car, pulling the measurably less enthused Priscilla behind him.
“You folks comfortable? Good, good. Full speed ahead, Jojo,” said the Sailor boy referring to the black boy at the front of the cart.
“Yessir!” replied Jojo enthusiastically, with a grin across his face. With out so much as a breeze, the sail seemed to drift forward as though filled with wind. They were off.
“Hang onto your beret, Quentin!” said the young sailor excitedly.
“How did you know my name?” asked Quentin, bewildered. “And what’s your name? And how did that kid make the sail fill?”
“Ha ha ha!” chuckled the sailor boy. “I’ve been told all about you. You’ve been expected for a long while now. And, how rude of me to not introduce myself. My name is John. And Jojo there is able to fill the sail simply because he is different and takes pride in it. I wouldn’t be surprised if you could fill the sail yourself.”
“And who might you be, miss?” asked John, addressing Priscilla.
Priscilla looked at John strangely. “Why don’t you know my name?” asked Priscilla.
“I’m not sure. I guess you just weren’t…expected,” said John with a slightly worried, forced smile upon his face. “Let’s press on then, shall we?” The cart continued to roll along with great speed.
Before long, the houses seemed to simply melt away. Soon there was nothing anywhere in sight but the track on which the foursome traveled, as well as something neither Quentin nor Priscilla had ever seen or even heard of before: the sea.
Quentin could only stare in awe at the sea. He had been traveling for an hour and a half now and already, he was finding more than he ever expected. He couldn’t wait to see the end of the track, and possibly find out why Blandington was so, well, bland. And finally, why none other than himself had ever even wondered about the track. If there was an answer, he knew he’d find it there.
The car had been moving swiftly now for hours, and still, the sea and the track stretched as far as the eye could see. Priscilla had long lost interest in the sea at this point, and she was beginning to get impatient.
“Are we there yet?” she whined, shortly.
“You jus’ gotta have patience, ma’am,” said Jojo, eyes never straying from their course.
“But we’ve been traveling for hours and have gotten nowhere fast!” snapped Priscilla, still uncomfortable with Jojo’s diversity.
“He’s right, though Priscilla,” said John, in his calm, ever cheery tone. He thought for a moment. Then, speaking to Jojo, “Stop the car.”
The car slowed down as the sail deflated and finally came to a halt.
“Wait, why are you stopping?” asked Quentin, a hint off worry in his voice.
“Don’t worry, we’ll be off again before you know it,” John reassured Quentin. “Just as soon as Priscilla fills the sail again. Go ahead, Priscilla. Fill the sail”
Jojo moved over and took Priscilla’s seat. Quentin was feeling a little edgy.
Priscilla sat where Jojo had just been and set about filling the sail. She sat there for five minutes, willing the sail to fill with the invisible breeze. Nothing happened. Quentin took a peek at his wristwatch. Five more minutes passed. Still nothing.
“Why can’t I do it?” demanded Priscilla.
“Because you do not truly believe that it’s possible,” explained John, who knew exactly why. “You do not even believe that there is an end of this track to get to. You still don’t wonder about this very track on which you have been traveling for the past few hours. You were correct in saying that we’ve been getting nowhere fast. And you are the reason for that. We were not expecting you. You were never meant to travel to the end of the track. You were not born with your eyes open. This is where your journey ends.”
Just then, the sea began to bubble and froth.
Quentin understood what must happen, and why. He would miss Priscilla, but not as much as he thought he might. He realized that she did not belong.
The water’s bubbling and frothing began to get more violent.
Quentin said his final goodbyes to Priscilla. He would never see her again.
The water pulled back and began to curl, forming the beginnings of a wave.
Priscilla could only stare in horror. She did not quite grasp that the wave was meant to take her away, or why. She glanced at John, and then at Quentin, imploringly. John only gazed at the wave, waiting for it to carry out its purpose.
The great wave crashed over the car. It pulled back out as quickly as an eagle who had just snatched up its prey. When the wave was gone, so was Priscilla.
Quentin, John and Jojo were still as dry as a bone.
“Well then” said John, breaking the silence. “Shall we press on?”
Quentin, immediately picking his spirits back up, “Yes, let’s keep going! I want to reach the end of the track, with or without Priscilla.”
“That’s the spirit!” encouraged John. “She was only slowing you down. If she had remained, you would have lost any chance of getting to the other end. She did not believe, nor does any was else back in Blandington.”
Jojo began moving up to his place at the front to fill the sail.
“Wait!” yelled Quentin, stopping him before he could even sit down. “I would like to fill the sail.”
Jojo looked back at John, who nodded in consent. Jojo gladly stood aside and took a seat next to Quentin. Quentin eagerly sat in the drivers seat.
With barely any effort at all, Quentin filled the sail with the invisible breeze. The car took off so fast that John was knocked off his feet into his seat.
John was amazed at the speed that Quentin was able to create. He had never been able to make the car move at this kind of speed before.
Quentin could only grin with delight. He had already forgotten about Priscilla. Within a very short time, Quentin could see a castle off in the distance.
“What’s that?” he asked John.
“That, Quentin, is the other end of the track. The other end of the track is not only in another place, but another time.” replied John.
Quentin grinned and turned his gaze toward his wristwatch. It no longer ticked. Here there was no time. He was finally on his way. He had all the time in the world.

JR ROTC Cadet

I thought I would show off some pics of my "little " cadet. Scott is a freshman in HS and participates in JR ROTC.

I am not the greatest picture taker. Too bad Auntie CV is not here!

Anyway he is handsome Cadet and I am proud of him!

"I'm Already There"

Feeling a little melancoly today. My hubby is gone for awhile.

We did get to see him this weekend though. Saturday was our anniversary, 17 yrs! I can't believe it! Johns brother lives in Jacksonville FL and Jacksonville is the half way point between home and where John is in Sumter SC. We had a nice weekend together just hanging out with family.

On his way back to SC my husband heard the song ,"I'm Already There", by Lonestar, on the radio. I have heard it before but I don't think he had. Anyway that song always "gets" me even if John is not away and it really "got" him too. He sent me a sweet e-mail with a link to it so I can hear it whenever I want. I have the CD but it is in storage, just like everything else.

For those who would like to hear it again or hear it for the first time , here is the link http://www.operationhomefront.org/Community/community_inspire_lonestar.shtml

Be sure to have a tissue handy!

AAADD

This was sent to me by a friend and was just too funny!!! Enjoy a good laugh!!!

AAADD - Age Activated Attention Deficit DisorderThis is how it manifests.I decide to water my garden. As I turn on the hose in the driveway, I look over at my car and decide it needs washing.As I start toward the garage, I notice mail on the front verandah table that I brought up from the letter box earlier, just after the mailman had been.I decide to go through the mail before I wash the car. I put my car keys on the table, put the junk mail in the garbage bin beside the table, and notice that the bin is full.So, I decide to put the bills back on the table and take out the garbage first.But then I think, since I'm going to be near the post box when I take out the garbage anyway (and the mailman picks up the mail at noon). I may as well pay the bills first. So, I take my check book off the table, and see that there is only 1 cheque left.My spare cheque book is in my desk in the study, so I go inside the house to my desk where I find the can of Coke I'd been drinking earlier this morning.I know Im going to look for my check book, but first I need to push the Coke can aside so that I don't accidentally knock it over. The Coke is warm, so I decide to put it in the refrigerator to make it cold again.As I head toward the kitchen with the Coke, a vase of flowers on the dining room table catches my eye - they need water.I put the Coke on the dining room table and discover my reading glasses that I've been searching for all morning. I decide I better put them back on my desk, but first I'm going to put more water in the flowers.I set the glasses back down on the table, go to the kitchen sink to get a jug and fill it with water and suddenly spot the TV remote on the window sill. Some-one left it there.I realize that tonight when we go to watch TV, I'll be looking for the remote, but I won't remember that it's on the window sill, so I decide to put it back in the lounge room where it belongs, but first I'll water the flowers.I pour some water in the jug, but spill some on the floor. So, I set the remote back on the kitchen bench, get some towels and wipe up the spill. Then, I head down the hall trying to remember what I was planning to do.At the end of the day:- the car isn't washed- the checks aren't written for the bills to be paid- there is a warm can of Coke sitting on the dining room table- the flowers don't have enough water,- there is still only 1 check in my check book,- I can't find the remote,- I can't find my glasses,- the garbage hasn't been taken out- and I don't remember what I did with the car keys.Then, when I try to figure out why nothing got done today, I'm really baffled because I know I was busy all day, and I'm really tired now.I realize this is a serious problem, and I'll try to get some help for it, but first I'll check my e-mail.Do me a favour. Forward this message to everyone you know, because I don't remember who the heck I've sent it to.Don't laugh -- if this isn't you yet, your day is coming!!GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY.GROWING UP IS OPTIONAL.LAUGHING AT YOURSELF IS THERAPEUTIC.

Things

Well the first full week of school is almost over. Three out of four of my kids love it so far! The one hold out hates change , but he will be fine with a little bit more time. I went to my daughters school yesterday to give her some medicen and she was upset with me because she thought I was going to take her home. She is really loving school! My husband and I are impressed with the teachers they all have.

My hubby is home from the family reunion he went to in the beloved NW. He is on leave now until he goes on his next tour. I have him" all to myself" until 27 Aug. It has been really nice having extra time together! He is enjoying being here in the mornings when the kids head off to school. I'am going to be really spoiled by the time he leaves again! Then it is off to South Carolina for 4 months. He will be close enough that we can seeh im sometimes and during Christmas break we will go to him. We will have to make sure the time we have together as a family is quality time!

Have a blessed day everyone!

New school year!

School starts Thursday and I must confess I am looking forward to it! I love my kids VERY much, but they do not act like they love each other very much sometimes. Some days this summer it felt like all I did was mediate arguments. I think kids need their " space" and alone time and with all four being home most days, they were not getting it. They also seemed to think we should go somewhere each day, not thinking about the work I still need to do at home. I did try and find ways to spend one on one time with each child. They are each funny and amazing!

My" baby" starts Kindergarten this year! I can't believe it! I hope to get more involved with volunteering at their schools. I was limited with what I could do last year with Emily still at home.

There are some talented Moms out there, with more kids than I have, that can homeschool without a hitch, my Mom did it, but I don't seem to be one of them. Things did not go too well when I homeschooled them in Germany. Anyway they have great schools here and the kids are doing well.

shutter sputter

My very bestest girlfriend now has a blog. Check it out at shuttersputter.blogspot.com
I wrote about her in one of my earlier posts. She is an amazing person and a great writer!!
Enjoy!

I went to the Dr. today and he said the pathology came back clean! I had ductasia. Anyway I am fine and am just supposed to get my annual mammos. I think I will try exercising again on Monday.

On another note my hubby found out yesterday that the military is sending him to Shaw AFB near Sumter, South Carolina, for 4 months. He leaves sometime in August. We are definately NOT going to enjoy being apart from each other, but at least he will be in the same country and even in the same time zone! The job he is going to do will also be good for his career. He will be gone for our 17th anniversary, but he says we are going to celebrate early! It will be difficult having him away, but we have done it once before and we will survive.

update

Surgery went well! they found the faulty duct and got it out. The Dr. said it was smaller that he expected and that it looked good. It was sent for pathology, but he expects it to come back clean. I am not in much pain, but have to keep ice on the area for all of today. I am just a little tired and my throat is sore and raspy from the tube they stick down there.

My in -laws just left for home and my house is all clean , so I can just veg today and tomorrow.
Hopefully by Monday I will be ready to keep up with activities and kids.

Thank-you for your prayers!

Surgery

Boy has this been a busy summer! When I last posted I was wondering how I would keep my kids busy all summer, now they go back to school in 3 weeks! Aug. 3rd! They have been "hogging" the computer and I have not been on here much.

June we got to see a lot of family. My parents and nephew came to our house for 2 1/2 weeks and then Johns Dad a step Mom and younger brother and sister rented some rooms in Orlando and we ( Johns older brother and family) all descended upon then for most of a week 16 of us!!! It was wonderful to see family. Johns Mom and step Dad now live 2 hours away so we see them more often now. They will be here tonight in fact.

They finally finished poking and prodding me and I am having surgery tomorrow at 12:30 EST. There is a breast duct that they want to remove. They do not believe it is cancer, but said it could turn into cancer later. SO I am getting it out! It is supposed to be same day surgery , and I will come home in the evening. I would appreciate your prayers! Another surgery to add to the list. Ugh!!

Other than that everything is great! I looks like the military will keep us here for about another 18 mos. No more moves yet!
I'll try and post again after the surgery! Thank-you for your prayers!

Also on another positive note! Since learning about IR ,and finding out the right way to eat for this "syndrome", I have lost 20+ pounds! This makes me very happy! It has been a 5 year struggle. There is still more I want to lose , but I know how to get it off now. At least the way it works for me.

FSMA Conference

Male readers, you might not find this post interesting- The Florida Society of Medical Assistants coference I attended last weekend had some interesting classes and I was able to earn 10 CEU's.

The one that perked my interest the most was on Natural Hormone Replacement Therapy. The lady that spoke with us is a specialist in this area and has been praticing it for 16 yrs. She got started in this because of her own health issues. She had a hysterectomy at a young age . (She was an EMT and so she had medical training) She litearlly woke up from the surgery in menopause and "was a mess". She wondered why when you have a hysterectomy 3 hormones get taken away from you and they are only replaced by one, Premarin, made from pregnant horse urine. She was basically told, that just the way it is, no real answers. She started researching on how to get all three ( estrogen, progesterone and testosterone) back and in a natural way. A few months after her surgery her Doctor saw her in a store and asked what she had done to herself because she looked great! She explained what she had discovered and he told her he had a woman he had been working with that was not helped by anything he had tried with her. He told her that if she could help this woman she could have a job as a consultanat for his patients. The next day the woman called her. It was the Dr.'s wife! She was able to help her and was hired as a consultant.

Now she does this full time and speaks around the country. She is part of the staff of Signature Pharmacy, here in Florida, but helps people anywhere they are. The hormones are made from wild yams and soy and are bio-identical. Signature Pharmacy is a compounding pharmacy and they are formulated especially for each person. They save the "receipe" for future reference if changes need to be made.

Anyway I am excited about hearing all this. I had heard about it a little bit in the past and was interested because I am afraid of artificial hormones. I think birth control pills are what caused my pitutary tumor that I had. Now that I am 40 and starting to have peri menopausal symptoms I am really interested. I had my consult with her already. She believes getting mine all regulated will help my metabolism also. I'll lose some more wt.!! She says if you suffer any symptoms you can get help even if it is only a small amount.

The web site is www.signaturepharmacy.com and you can read all about it and then just click on the womens consultation form , button. Within 72 hrs. her secretary will call you to set up a telephone consult with Lynne. Her name is Lynne Byron. They accept all insurances and if you don't have insurance they keep the cost low. You do need your Dr. to write a pescription, but she communicates with your Dr. and gives her recommendations.

Anyway I am excited about this! They even have something for the men going through Andropause- yes, guys go through a "change" too!!

Busy life!

Hi All!! I am still here! Some of you have been wondering where I have been. It is just getting a bit busier with the end of the school year activities, field trips, and extra Dr. visits. I had my mammogram and they saw some things they wanted to check out. I have been to the Dr. way too much lately. I have one more test on the 15th, but so far everything is fine. PLT!!

My husband did not get the civilian job in Tampa, but the military says they have more work right here while he keeps looking. He is working LONG hours right now but they are taking good care of him. He goes to Qutar in June for a few weeks for another conference. The next IED conference after that will be right here at MacDill. That will be nice !

The kids only have a few weeks of school left. I am glad , but now I have to find things to keep them busy without spending too much money. It will be more difficult getting my turn on the computer when they are all here all day. Even my 5 year old wants her turn! We have family visiting in June and that will be a wonderful distraction.

Things are going well with eating the IR way! I am starting to let myself get excited that I am finally going to get rid of the extra "baby wt."! I am down 9 lbs since starting early April. Little by little- as long as the number is going down!!

April here in FL is considered the dry month. It has been in the 80's and low 90's and no rain. Our yards all look pretty pitiful. We are only allowed to water 2 days a week. We got a letter the other day from the HA assoc. telling us to work on our lawn so now my son is watering it each night. If someone complains I'll show them the letter. You can't make the lawn look better with out water!!

I am a Medical Assistant, not currently working, and this weekend, Fri-Sat, I am going to the FL Society of Medical Assistants Conference in Orlando. John is taking leave on Friday to take care of the kids and I get to go alone! I will be earning some CEU's and having some Me time. I have not had that since I was alone in the hospital in Germany last year in March. That was quiet, but not fun.

I'll try and get on here more often!

Here is a quick update. My husband did not get the job in Germany and they decided NOT to send him to Iraq! He is still in the running for a job here in Tampa and we continue to look for jobs to apply for. We saw one in Alaska. That would be a change from sunny Florida! God has a plan! Can't wait to see what it is!

The IR Diet

Yesterday I was talking to a friend at a ladies Bible study I go to. She asked me if I had any prayer needs, so I told her all that was going on with us, job search etc. I also shared with her about my recent diagnosis of Insulin Resistance. She told me she had newly been diagnosed with IR also, by her GYN Dr. He suggested a book that has really helped her. Anyway she told me about the book and I went out and got it as soon as I left the church. It is called The Insulin Resistance Diet, by Cheryle R. Hart M.D. and Mary Kay Grossman R.D. I have almost read the whole book. It is like they were writing about me! There is an Insulin Resistance Self Test in the book that helps with diagnosis.

It is very infromative and teaches you about the Link-and-Balance Eating Method. Each carbohydrate serving of 15 grams needs to be linked with at least 7 grams of protein. A simple formula to keep in mind is- maximum total carbohydrates of 30 grams links and balances with a minimum protein of 14 grams.

The only vegetables that need to be linked are corn and potatoes. Most fruits need to be linked.
Raw fresh apples, and grapefruit do not need to be linked.
No food is totally restricted. You learn what needs to be linked to protein and how much.
I am still reading and learning, but I am hopeful that this is going to be very helpful for me. I have been eating very careful since I found out about IR, but this gives me some tools and a plan. IR will never go totally away for me. It has to be controlled. Anyway I am excited that I may have a way to finally loose this wt. and continue to get heathlier!!

No update on the job situation yet. We are still waiting.

Insulin Resistance

Monday I went to see an Endocrinologist. He confirmed that the pituitary tumor is not returning. That is a blessing! I discussed with him my inability to loose weight, even with all the exercise I do. He is running some lab tests, but believes I have Insulin Resistance (IR), also called Metabolic Syndrome. I fit the profile,( lower blood sugar, high blood pressure and high triglycerides), and what he said makes sense. IR leads to Type 2 diabetes and possible coronary problems. My Father has Type 2 diabetes. I wonder why a Dr. did not suggest this possibility sooner. I have been fighting my wt. for 5 yrs.

Anyway I have been researching it some and found some pretty good links.

http://syndromex.stanford.edu/InsulinResistance.htm

http://www.heartlandnaturopathic.com/irdiet.htm

I have been eating close to the way the diet tells you to eat, BUT I usually give myself a" free day" or have something sweet now and then. Doing that takes me back to "square one" again.
Until I get this reversed and loose some weight I can't indulge, even a little bit. This is going to take some work and discipline, but I have to do it! I want to be healthy and avoid some of the health issues my parents are dealing with.

The Dr. also asked what my life has been like the last few years-any stress?! When I told him about the 3 moves in the last year , major surgery and a husband headed for Iraq if he does not get a civilian job soon, he said my stress level is off the charts ! Stress raises cortisol levels and keeps you from loosing weight also.

In about 9 days my husband will know if he has a civilian job, back in Germany for 3-5 yrs, or if he is headed for Iraq the end of April, returning in July. If he gets the job in Germany he has to be there 15 May and the kids and I would go to him after school is out. I would "get " to handle all the moving details again!

My husband would be a GS employee working for the Army. He is an Air Force Reservist right now and has been on active duty since 7/01. Here is a link to where we would go.

http://www.grafenwoehr.army.mil/default.asp

I would appreciate your prayers as we navigate through all these possible changes! My husband hates making us move again!! It weighs heavy on him!! If he gets this job we would stay put for at least 4 yrs and he would be in the GS system and could transfer, back to the states, after that time. We would be back in Europe and would have all the support this time instead of on our own. Maybe I will get to see Scotland yet!

And Life Begins!

They say life begins at 40!! If that is so, my life "began" Saturday, March 18th! We went to my husbands brothers house to celebrate. My husband was out of town . We had a nice time! Here are some pictures of what they did for me! There were 40 flamingos! Then the kids decided to add to the flock! Later in the day we took the kids roller skating. I have not tried that in over 25 yrs! I used to go alot when I was young. I remember stompping my skates to, We Will Rock You! The music Sat. was a bunch of hip hop junk I had never heard! BUT we had fun! My husband came home Sunday night and he had more presents!

Finally!!

I finally got my results! I found out they had not even left the imagining dept. on the base yet and did some "prodding" (in a nice way) to get them faxed. Anyway my pitutary and brain look all normal! No sign of the tumor coming back. I did ask my Dr. what we were going to do about the abnormal lab and the other physical symptoms I am having .She wants to send me to an endocrinoligist now.

I am just glad the tumor is not back! It was not fun the last time. The other stuff does not worry me as much, but maybe they can find out why when I exercise as much as I do and try to eat right that I can not get the weight off that I want to loose. I am still carrying around that extra 25 lbs of "baby fat" from when I had my daughter and she is 5. I just keep trying though. I have been reading The Search For Skinny, for new ideas from those ladies.

Thank-you for all your thoughts and prayers!

MRI update

I called the Dr.'s office today and it sounds like the report is there. I was told the medical assistant would call me back. She didn't, so I called them back. The medical assistant was not available and I was told that since my chart is still on the Dr's deask she could not tell me anything anyway. They are supposed to call tomorrow. If they don't I will go show up in person!

I 'am a medical assistant and I get really frustrated when I do not get the level of service I was expected to give when I worked. I think I took pretty good care of my patients and as a patient myself I hope for that same quality of care. I know how busy a Dr.'s office can be and I think because of that I muster up a little more patience, but why couldn't they a least talk to me! I couldn't get past the front deask.

I guess I am a little spoiled because in the past, when I worked, I usually worked at the same clinic where I received my care. If I wanted to see my labs, test results or read my chart ,I did. I could talk to my Dr. whenever I wanted .

I guess I need to get a job again! LOL!

I will post about this again when I have some answers! Stay tuned!

Strawberry Festival

Heard about a cool web site. It is www.notreligion.com Check it out!

I love anything strawberry and yesterday we went to the Strawberry Festival in Plant City FL. It was really neat, but crowded. I would have liked to look around a lot more, but the kids were hot and tired. The neatest thing we did there was watch Steven Curtis Chapman do his sound checks and pratice for his two concerts he was going to do later in the day. It was great! He was singing all the songs we know. My son heard him first ! He said," Mom I hear Steven Curtis Chapman, is he here?!" I had forgotten about the concerts so this was a neat suprise. We were able to sit in the bleachers and listen all we wanted. An hour before the concert he went back stage and the "show " was over.

It was fun for us!

MRI Today

I had my MRI today- although it almost didn't happen! After almost 2 months of referrals and waiting for this appointment, they were almost not going to do it because I did not have a script in hand that said, " she needs an MRI of her brain and pitutary". Never mind that they had the referral from my insurance company in hand! My Dr. did not hand me a written script for it. She called in a referral to the insurance company and gave a verbal order. Anyway I started crying like a big baby !! I took alot for me to arrange to even be at the MRI! I had to go to the Air Force Base clinic , which takes an hour or more to get to in morning traffic. I also had to arrange for someone to watch my daughter and get her to school. Well I blubbered! They were very nice to me and called my insurance to see if they had the script and then they called my Dr. and asked her to fax one over.

I finally got my MRI, which went well, and in a few days , 3-5, I should know if the tumor is back or not. When I/we know we can deal with it accordingly! Just a little more waiting! Stay tuned!

Great Quote

I have been meaning to post this quote since Valentines Day! It was in a chocolate fortune cookie. It says, "Love is realized not by finding the perfect person, but by seeing an imperfect person perfectly."

I am so glad the important people in my live do not dwell on my imperfections! My husband calls me "the perfect wifey and Mom". My parents think I am the "perfect "daughter. I feel FAR from perfect, but I am glad my husband and others feel that way. It makes me want to live up to what feel about me and see in me. They love me!

My Heavenly Father sees me perfectly too! He does not see my flaws because of Jesus and what He did for me, and for the whole world! That also totally amazes and humbles me! My Creator thinks I am perfect and He loves me too!! WOW! This inspires me to be all He created me to be!

Love is amazing!!

Time Change

I think I am ready for time change this spring! I live in "sunny"Florida, but I have had a really hard time lately getting up when it is still dark. I have to drag myself out of bed.I just seem to have been more tired lately. Once I am up for awhile it is much better.

Maybe it is from all the playing last weekend. We spent Sat and Sun at Disney! We stayed in the park all day on our feet and then after coming back to our hotel and eating we would play in the HEATED pool until late. Then ,beacuse you are in a hotel room, you think you have to check out all the channels on the TV. Usually there is nothing to watch , but you keep "checking". My husband and older boys went to Downtown Disney Sunday night and were out late. They brought me a present though!

Also, I have sleep apnea and forgot to take my c-pap machine. So that contributed to poor sleep. I have to admit though that I worry in the back of my mind that the tumor is back and that it is causing the sleepiness. That is one of the things it did last time. March 1st will at least answer that question!

Anyway I hope I sleep good this week end! We don't have to be anywhere Saturday until 10:30 am!

Happy Endings

Happy Valentines Day!
I watched Oprahs Valentine show today. It was very good! I like Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwoods music. They were the main guests on the show today. I loved hearing their story and their happy ending! I was just a sweet show!

MRI was changed again! It is now Mar 1st , at 9:30 am EST. Hopefully this is the last change.
Thank-you all for your prayers!

My MRI is postponed until 27 February. My insurance company wants me to go out to the AF base to have it, insted of locally where I was going to go. So, I have to wait longer.

MRI

Back in the spring of 1993 I was trying to get pregnant with our second child and it was just not happening. My period was gone but the pregnancy tests were negative. Tests were run and in August after an MRI I was diagnosed with a pituitarymicroadenoma. A benign prolactin secreting tumor of the pitutary. The pitutary is very small and the tumor was only 4 mm, but this tiny tumor caused a lot of problems. I was put on medication to supress it and was told by my Dr. that when not pregnant I would probably have to take it the rest of my life. The medicen worked, the tumor shrank to 3 mm, and in April 1994 I found out I was pregnant . As soon as I was pregnant all the weird things I was feeling went away, and I have felt great since.

After Michael was born in January 1995 they did another MRI to see if the tumor grew during pregnancy. The tumor was gone and I was told that some spontainously dissappear. Since that time my prolactin level is checked when I get my physical each year. The normal level is 10 or below. Mine is usually 5. This year it was 38 and I go for an MRI on Thursday. My prayer is that if there is a tumor there again, they will see it clearly. I do not want to go through what I went through before. It was not fun! Mainly because I could not control how I was feeling and there did not seem to be a reason I should be feeling the way I felt.

New Floors

Well here are the pictures of the before and after shots of the areas where we put in the wood floors! I really like how it turned out and can't wait to do the bedroom!

My Family! 

I'm still here

I have not posted in a week but I am still here! Life just seems to consume my time! When the kids are home they all want their turn on the computer and my husband has been using it a lot more lately filling out job applications. When he is home he usually does not want to be at the computer anymore having been in front of one all day.

My husbands Mom and step Dad are visiting this weekend, so I felt I had to have the house "perfect". I stressed about it like I usually do and then they arrived 2 hours early, so it wasn't ready anyway! To top that off I wasn't ready either! I had come from the gym and had not cleaned up yet and was also stuck on the phone. Two of my kids and my in-laws all walked in the door at once. I shared this all with my hubby and he just laughed! But he understands why I fret! The weekend has gone nicely though.

My husband and I went yesterday to pick out wood flooring for the carpeted area in our front dining and living areas. We found something we like and it may be all installed by the end of the week! Yea! I did not know the carpets were so bad when we bought this house, so it will be a great improvement. We want to put wood in our bedroom also, but we will do that later.

Well this is just chatter. I will try and post something more thought provoking later, when I can think myself.

SeaHawks

We don't watch much football at our house, but we have been intrested lately because of the SeaHawks. They played a GREAT game today and they are headed for the Super Bowl!!
Yea!!! My husband was born in Seattle and I was born in Bremerton, so we love the Seahawks at our house. All of my kids were born in Washington also. I think we will be watching the Super Bowl this year!

Asthma

There was a bit of intrest about my asthma and a few questions, so I thought I would try and write about my experience with it. And then answer the questions. This will probably be a very long post!

I was diagnosed with asthma when I was 3 yrs. old, 1969. Back then they were still learning about asthma and what caused it. At that time they told my Mother it was brought on because I was jealous of my new baby brother. At age 4 my right lung collapsed and that was my first long hospital stay with it. When I would have problems they would usually argue about if it was asthma or pneumonia. Sometimes when my Mom took me in they would say she was over reacting. Other times they got on her for not bringing me sooner. My Mom had Asthma too ( not as bad) and because of our health the Navy gave my Dad a medical transfer from South Carolina to sunny California. We lived in California for 7 years and during that time I was only hospitalized once. There were a few trips to the ER, but we pretty much took care of it with an inhaler. The time I was hospilized they thought maybe I was jealous of my Aunt and the time she was spending with my Mom. They had recently moved to our area. Both in SC and CA I was tested for allergies, which showed nothing. They even had me talk to a phycologist for a few visits. He told my Mom I was fine and to stop coming. Anyway Doctors still had a lot to learn about asthma and what went on with it. In alot of ways it is unpredictable.

Because of asthma I was restricted in my play for fear of an attack. Later a study came out where they were trying to give asthmatics more independence and to learn how to care for themselves. They encouraged activity and taught kids what to do. After reading about it my Mom started letting me do more things. At that time we were also told not to give asthmatics milk or ice cream. They said it caused more phlegm. I remember being heartbroken one time because I couldn't have some of my Moms homemade mint chocolate chip ice cream. When I was in the hospital the one time in CA Mom let me have some after I came home. YUM!!! It is still one of my favorites!

After leaving CA, we moved to Oregon for 6 months and then to Idaho for 3 years. In both of these places my asthma was pretty calm. We even thought I had maybe grown out of it. There would be some problems if I had a cold though.

In 1982 we moved to Oklahoma and boy did things change!!! I was allergic to many things there and was in the ER about 3 times a week and hospitalized 15 times in the 4 year period we lived there. Surprisingly during my senior year of HS it was pretty well controlled with all the medication I was on. My meds were carried in a mini taclke box and I was teased by teachers that I was spacey. After I was perscribed my own nebulizer to have at home the ER trips were cut down. I had the attack I talked about previously in April 86. That was the last time I was hospitalized in OK. We moved back to Idaho in July 86.

After returning to Idaho I was hospitalized two more times. This time there were toxic levels of theophylline in my system because I was getting better. I still had some problems though and because my parents room was upstairs from me they rigged up an alarm system so I could call for help. I went on to move to Washington and lived with my Aunt while I attended college to become a Medical Assistant. My Aunt was a nurse and when I was in trouble I just had to call out for her. My aunt was good friends with my Doctor and they would discuss what to do with me. He allowed me to have epinephrine shots at home if I needed them and taught me how to give them to myself if my aunt was not around. If the attack was too bad he told my aunt when to put me on prednisone.

Not long after moving to Washington I read an article about how hormone fluctuation affects asthma ( this is true for me- everytime I was in the hospital it was around my cycle) and that birth control pills seemed to help. I talked with my Mom about it and we went to get some for me. The doctor had read studies about that also, but I think the nurses thought I wanted them for other reasons. They did help and by the time I met and married my husband things were better. He has only seen one or two really bad attacks and a lot of little ones.

When it was time to think about having babies I needed to make a change. I really wanted to breast feed and could not on my current medications. The current trend was to try and put asthmatics on a variety of inhalers. Steriod inhalers to prevent inflammation and a rescue inhaler. My doctor sent me to an asthma and allergy specialist and they weaned me off theophylline and put me on inhalers and I was able to have my babies and nurse them. Things were definately much better, but when ever I got a cold it would got right to my chest and cause problems and I would have to go on antibiotics.

At the beginning of my third pregnancy I was attending college, to get prerequisites done for a nursing program, and working one day a week. I caught a cold and it went to my chest. I had stopped my steroid inhaler because I was PG. I wanted to get through the frist trimester with out taking it. I went to the doctor and she gave me antibiotics and wanted to put me on prednisone. I told her no that I thought I would be OK on the antobiotic alone. I wasn't! The next morning my husband took me to the ER. I was hardly pushing any air. I ended up in the hospital and on LOTS of prednisone. The first time in 10 yrs. This episode in some ways was more scary than all I had been through previously. I think it was because I was pregnant. I learned my lesson about the preventative treatment of asthma and have been a much better patient since. I had always tried to be tough and brave. Because I was pregnant and afraid for my baby, I asked the nurses to bring me a doppler. I was 9 weeks along and I laid in the bed using the doppler until I heard my babys heart beat. It was amazing that I found it, and it was a great reassurance for me! I had a nurse listen for proof!

After that hospital stay I was put on a new inhaler treatment that had come out. Flovent ( a steroid inhaler) and Seravent ( a long acting albuterol inhaler) This worked very well and after having James I even started trying to jog. Unheard of for me ever! When James was about 1 yr. old Singulair came out and my doctor added that to my regimen. Singulair changed my life! I could do things I had never done before without asthma interferring. I have been on it since and have even been able to go off Flovent and Seravent (4 yrs. ago). That is my asthma story "in a nut shell". Now I will try and answer the questions.

I was asked if there were a way to measure the impact on my life. I don't know, but it has had a huge impact! My life revolved around it. Especially in Oklahoma. How many decisions were influenced by it! Many! I could not go into certian stores (books, craft) exaust would bother it. Tabacco smoke. My uncle , where I lived while in college in WA, smoked a pipe with cherry tabacco. I loved the smell, but could not go around him while he was smoking it. I would have to stay in my room and he smoked it almost every night. I worked for my brother, in his cleaning business, while in college, and had to give that up. I could never clean an oven. There were some times of intimacy with my husband where I would have to stop and take a shot of epinephrine. That sure cools things off! He was so patient! I could go on and on!

How many memorable life experiences revolved around it? Lots! My poor mother has spent every major holiday with me in the ER or hospital. Including her anniversayy and birthday. I was admitted once on Christmas day. Planning for my babies. I even got to where I would do extra prepration before intimatcy. I never went anywhere without an inhaler. It was almost like a friend.There was one in every car , every jacket, in my purse . When I swam there was one on the edge of the pool. When I started trying to exercise there was one right there with me. I was afraid without it. A nebulizer went with us on any long drive or trip. Luckily as a medical assistant I could get sample inhalers for free to put in all those places. Now I have only one or two and they usually expire and I have to throw them away. We don't have to bring the nebulizer for me when we go on trips. I can run, exercise, anything!

How has it shaped my personality? I think I am pretty "tough". If I can get through that I can get through anything! It also puts into perspective what is really important. I am compassionate to those with breathing difficulties. Growing up I would try and hide my asthma problems so I would not be a "bother". In some cases if I had asked for help sooner it would not have been as bad. I would feel like a burden sometimes. I was fearful of asthma at times but I also looked at asthma as a enemy and did not want to give into it. I think I was a fighter and at times I would fight it too long.

There were several times I should have died, but I think God protected me until modern medicen could figure asthma out better. My daughter now has asthma and I am thankful I know what to do. I am not afraid of it anymore! I am confident that I can take care of her and that she will never experience the things I did.

Well I think I am done!

Chocolate Chip Cookies

I was just making Chocolate Chip cookies today and got to thinking about my "history" with them. My Mom taught me early how to cook and how to make them. I started out with the basic Toll House recipe and have tried different ways to change it over the years.

In High School on "party" days I was always asked to bring them and was gauranteed "friends" on those days.When my Uncles would come to visit the first thing they would ask for was cookies. If there wern't any I would make them quick! CC cookies caught the attention of my first real boyfriend in college. I made them for an assignment and ended up making them for him many times in our year of dating.

When I was dating my husband and first met future in-laws I gave them a gift of cookies. I now make them for my husband and kids almost every weekend. Its tradition! Ha!

When we lived in military housing in Virginia it was customary to greet newcomers to the neighborhood with food. Everyone knew not to make cookies because they had dubbed it to be my job. Our close friends across the street knew on baking days they would get a plate of them . ( this kept us from eating too much at our house) If word got out I was making cookies one of the neighbors would usually be at the door asking for one. One neighbor even sent her cute twin boys over once and they said," my Mom wants a cookie"! That neighborhood was a very special place to live!

Anyway these cookies have helped to cultivate friendships over the years. I love making them and don't think they are really that special, but it has been fun! I thought I would share my current recipe. Enjoy!!


In a small bowl mix: 3 cups Flour, 1 tsp. salt, and 1 tsp. baking soda, mix well and set aside.

In a large bowl mix: 1/2 cup butter, 1/2 cup butter flavor crisco, 3/4 cup DARK brown sugar, 3/4 cup sugar and 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla. After that is mixed well add 2 eggs and turn up the speed of the mixer as high as you can. Beat the eggs well for about a minute and then mix in with the rest of the mixture. After all that is mixed well add the flour mixture. Then add one or all of these "mix-in" suggestions. 1/2 cup pecans, 1/2 chunk chocolate chips, 1/2 cup M&M's

Spoon onto greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 12-14 min. ,until they are just turing "golden" (depending on your oven)

I'am very picky about how my cookies look. I like them soft and not crunchy. Anyway enjoy!

Rom 8:28

My last post had me thinking more about that almost fatal asthma attack and the hospital stay that went with it. I had quite a few visitors and well wishers while I was there. The family I was a nanny for brought me 2 dozen yellow roses. (I actually just remembered that) But there was another friend that visited that was a great encouragement. My life verse is Romans 8:28 and has been for a long time. I don't know if this friend knew this , but they came and visited me and chose to read Romans 8 to me. The whole chapter! I remember it was a sunny spring day . Spring is a sign of life. Anyway it was a blessing to me and I had a peace that I would be O.K.!
I don't know if I will ever see this friend again in this life, but it is a memory I cherish forever in my heart.

Friends are truly blessings from God!

CaraBear

I had a request from Seeker to tell the story about the friend who saved my life. I call her my CaraBear and after my husband , she is my dearest friend in the world. I met CaraBear in Jan. 1983, but really got to know her better during the annual walk-a-thon for the Christian school we attended in OKC. A twenty mile trek around Lake Overhausler (sp?) I have asthma and completeing this trek was a big deal for me. She sprained her ankle on the walk.

It did not take much for us to become fast friends! She is extremly funny and incredibly smart!
She recently was sought out and asked to interview fro a job on Wall Street! She is not just my friend- I condiser her my sister. I love her dearly! Now for the story!

As I said before, I have Asthma, and have had it since I was 3. While living in OKC it was the worst it has ever been in my life, then or now. Thanks to modern medicen, I found my"miracle drug" in 1999 and with Singulair, it is like I do not have Asthma! My life was changed with that medicen and I never cease to be thankful for it! But back in those days I was in the ER at least 3 times a week and in a 3 year period was hospitalized 15 times.

CaraBear is a hard worker and at that time she worked at a childrens convalescent center in OKC. She usually worked a late shift because she could not go to work until after classes at the college we attended after HS. One day after she had already went to work I found out that a mutual friend in the college, that we had also went to HS with, had had been kicked out of the college for breaking the 6 inch rule with her fiancee while home on spring break. I think they kissed or something, I don't know exactly. (I was later her maid of honor in her wedding and as far as I know they are still happily married)

Anyway I was very upset! I looked up to this girl and didn't understand how this could be happening. I knew CaraBear would be upset too, so my Mom and I went to her work and waited for her to get done and had her come to our house and spend the night. She was no longer living in the dorm and had her own apartment. She would not have been able to come if she still lived in the dorm. She came over and in the night I had one of my bad attacks, and the three of us took off to Tinker AFB to the ER.

Now I had been in the ER and admitted to this hospital so much that they had "threatened" to put my name on one of the rooms. Everyone knew me. But on this particular night there was a new set of medics and nurses that did not know me. They were even trying to implement some new rules that did not go over well with my Mom! Ever see an angry Mama bear? They were trying to tell her that I was a big girl and she should wait in the waiting area. Needless to say she went with me and CaraBear had to wait. Nothing went well. They did most of the usual things, except for one. Usually if I had to have three shots of a certian drug they would say"three strikes and your out", and admit me and send me upstairs. This time they only gave me two and then gave me a longer acting version of the drug and discharged me. My Mom asked me if I felt clear and I said, " not really but I'll just do another breathing treatment when I get home". I wanted to get out of there because it was a frustrating visit.

We went home and I did another treatment and we all went to bed. The next thing I know I wake to this pain in my wrists. I open my eyes and someone is poking me with a needle, every 5 minutes, checking my blood gases. I was in the ER in a hospital about 2 miles from my home. There was no time to go to Tinker!
They were planning on intubating me but I came around. (This was the last time I was hospitalized before leaving OKC.)

About an hour or so after we had gotten to bed CaraBear was awakened because something heavy was lying across her body. It was me and she discovered I was having a seizure from lack of oxygen. I had attempted another treatment , my nebulizer machine was on. She immediately did the necessary lifesaving procedures and called 911. She saved my life! If she had not been there that night I would not be here today. No one would have found me until morning. After that I was" glad "Kat got kicked out of school. CaraBear would have just went home as usual.

It was one of those forever bonding experiences and I will love her always! She has been with me for most of the major events in my life. My wedding, the birth of my children, when I was diagnosed with a pitutary tumor and could not function, to name a few. There is never a dull moment at my house!

I Love you CaraBear!

Choir

Wednesday night I went to choir at Church. I love choir! We go to a large Chuch and the choir is as big as one of our former Churches. It is kind of a Church within a Church. Anyway I had a great time, learning new music. Music and singing has always been my favorite form of worship.

I got to thinking about why and I think it goes back to when I was young ,like 8 or 9, and my brother and I used to sing and dance around while my Moms Praise albums played. I think she had 2nd Chapter of Acts too. I can't remember them all but it was when contemporary Christian was just beginning. Like 1974or 75. Anyway it was playing alot in our house and at Church and I loved it.

In 1978 we moved to Oregon from California and starting attending a Independent Baptist Chuch (IBC) and suddenly our music was bad and "ungodly". My "friends" couldn't come to my house to play because they might be exposed to my music. I had John Denver and Debbie Boone too. I was invited to their house sometimes and exposed to "good" music, but my house was taboo. I didn't really understand it, but I liked their music too. We were not at that Church very long because we only lived in Oregon for about 6 or7 months.

We moved from Oregon to Idaho, to our family ranch. My Dad commuted from Oregon on the weekends for a few months. He was finishing up his time in the Navy. We lived in a trailer at first while our house was being built. We even lived in a cabin on our property for awhile, with no running water and a wood stove for heat. And we had our music back. The three years we lived in Idaho, before moving yet again, were very special. We lived simply in the country. We went to "town" once a week, we hauled our water and went to a wonderful ,simple country Church.

In 1980 my Dad retired out of the mitlitary. Two years later he wanted to go to Bible college in Oklahoma City OK. He chose OK because my Grandmother was there living alone in a 4 bedroom house and needed someone to be with her. The college he chose was a IB College and Church , stricter than even the Church in Oregon. Anyway our music was again taboo, and to make a long story shorter I was limited in what I could listen to until I moved away from home and then married my husband. At that time he listened to Amy Grant, DeGarmo and Key and Twila Paris.

Whenever I talk about my parents please know that they were and are wonderful!! They were only doing what they were told was better for us. The people that told them that were mistaken. Music did not stop being inspired when the hymns were finished being written! I love the hymns, but there is some wonderful contemporary Christain music out there that cuts deep into the soul and it is lively and fun.

Well thats enough about that. Choir just got me thinking about it. We sing very lively music with a full orchestra and band. Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir is coming to our Church in a few weeks.
I can't go hear them though because it is on a school night and there are too many other things going on.

Who Am I?

Well I'am entering the world of blogging! I don't consider myself to be much of a writer but I will do my best.

Who Am I? I'am first a follower of Jesus! Without that realationship none of my other relationships would be what they are today. Second I'am a wife. I have an incredible husband and we have been married almost 17 yrs! It is through my relationship with my husband and watching him as a father that I have gotten a better picture of my Heavenly Father and what that relationship should be like. I'am also a military wife, my husband is in the Air Force Reserves and has been on full time active duty since July 2001. Since 9/11 they have kept him very busy. I'am thankful though that we have only been seperated 4 mo. during this time. I adore him and love being his wife! His Helpmate!!

Next I'am a mother to 4 great kids! We have 3 boys and a suprise girl. Scott is 13, Michael 11, James 7,and Emily 5. They keep me very busy and I have learned alot from them as I try to be there mother. You acquire a lot of "people skills" raising kids! I 'am also a Medical Assistant (Doctors office Nurse). I have not worked in that capacity for 4 years now but I keep my credentials up and after Emily is in school I will probably work again. I would like to finish getting my RN someday. After my family, nursing is my passion! Maybe it is from being in the hospital so much!

I'am also a friend and I hope I have been a good friend. I have been blessed with good friends wherever we go. Some friendships are for a season, but I know we would connect again easily if we saw eachother, and some friendships are for a life time. My husband is my very best friend, but I have several girlfriends that I consider "lifers". I know they would do anything for me. One even saved my life once, literaly!

I'am also a daughter, sister and sister-in- law, and in those relationships I try and do my best also!

All that I'am and all these "hats" I wear come with a lot of stories. I'am sure these stories will come out as I start blogging.
Welcome!

I did it!

I finally did it! I created my own blog! I have been enjoying reading others blogs and decided to give it a try. I'll post some more later when I have more time. It is at least started!
McMom