Life

I have been away from many things lately, not just my blog. I don't know if it is appropriate to include this on my blog, but I do know that I have some friends that read it so it saves me from numerous emails telling it over and over. I have been away because after we moved into my folk's house the weekend of the 20th and were trying to get settled, my Dad had a stroke on Tues the 23rd. It happened when he was at work. I am very glad I was here so I could take my Mom to the hospital. He is in Columbus now at Riverside Hospital receiving therapy to help him gain mobility back on his left side. It was a bleed in his basal ganglia portion of his brain which is extremely rare, and was caused by strain. He was lifting something he probably shouldn't have been lifting. He is doing really well(the power of prayer is something I will NEVER doubt). He isn't able to move his left arm very well, and he is having to work on his walking. He gets himself around in a wheelchair right now. The doctors are saying 2-4 weeks in the rehab unit, then home for some home therapy. He is such a strong and determined man, I know he will recover. But, I have never been more scared in all my life. They are three men who I don't know what my life would be like without them; Tom, my brother and my Dad. I am so thankful that he is okay and will be 100% eventually(hopefully!) Please keep him in your prayers and thoughts. If you know him, you know he is a great, kind, smart, talented, loving, and giving man.
*hopefully I will be back tomorrow with a new SPC entry.

I am now in my early 30's! Eeeekkk!!!

No pics today! Sorry folks, life is just too messy and chaotic right now to worry about catching moments!! We have moved in with my parents and slowly getting adjusted. There is still a TON of stuff and crap to do at our old house, but we have another weekend to get that done. Whew!
In other news, I turned 31 yesterday. I don't think I know what I think about that quite yet. I still feel like I am 20. I have a hard time sputtering out 31 when asked my age. I remember being a teenager, and thinking "My God, 30 is old!!" But at the same time, I thought by the time I turned 30 I would have figured everything out and know everything. Well, turns out, I don't know much more than from when I was 20!! I feel more at ease with myself and I "know" myself better, but I still couldn't explain the meaning of life or the reason why the world has so many problems in a intellectual or philosophical manner. BUT, I have three wonderful kids that I have learned a thing or two from throughout that last 6+ years. I can tell you that the meaning of the life in my small world is to ENJOY it and be accepting of people and their differences, to love one another, to be courteous and kind, to laugh and hug. It's not about how much time you spend at work or how much money is in your account, or what kind of house you live in, car you drive or clothes you wear. It's about how many memories you make with your loved ones and that you lend a helping hand to someone in need, and that you give a little of your self. It's not about "ME,ME,ME!!!" But, US,US,US!!! In the small and large spectrum. Life shouldn't be about what you can do for me, but what can we do for each other or together. I think if most people could see things this way, we would live in a much happier and peaceful world.
Maybe turning 31 won't be that bad. After all, your only as old as you feel, Right!?

MOVING DAY...er, weekend!!

Just a quick update, we are moving this weekend and will be at my parents house tonight. Hopefully, I will have lots of news to post on Monday, like never, EVER move unless it is absolutely necessary!!!! Have a great weekend everyone, you know I will be!

Happy Birthday Biggie!!!

Today is Nolan's birthday, he is 2. My little man is growing up and I am a little sad. It is all bittersweet. He was such a little perfect baby. (Not that my girls weren't!) But you know how babies are wrinkly and red and sometimes a little odd looking when they are first born? Well not my sweet, sweet boy. He was 9lbs and 2oz and almost 22 inches of perfection!! He was soft and pink and warm as toast. I fell in love with another man as soon as they put him on my chest. That is when I began my "love affair"!! He is a mama's boy, and I couldn't be happier. I hope that he continues to be that, because when all the kids are older and the girls can't stand me, because well....I am their MOM!!! He will still be my friend and want to tell me about his day.
Nolan's 1st day at home


Nolan's is a loving boy that will run up to people and give them the biggest hug and be so glad to see them. He loves to eat and he loves his cars and trucks. He LOVES music and to groove to the beat! He also loves books and to read. We often find him in his room, sitting in the chair with a pile of books beside him, "reading". He also loves his baths and by the way he has been acting in the tub, we are excited to get him in the pool this summer!!
Nolan Summer 05- 6 months old


Halloween 05, 'Wyatt Earp'

I am so excited to see what kind of boy he becomes and eventually, what kind of man. I love that he is always smiling(almost) and he is a happy boy. I am so very blessed to have him as my son, and to be able to have him in my life. He makes my days full of sunshine.
Birthday Boy 1/18/07

Happy 2nd Birthday Nolan!! You are the greastest little guy!!!!!!!

SPC #3 To Maintain Peace and Happiness in Chaos

As you all are most likely aware of, we are in the process of moving. Tom and I have agreed that things are going to, well...suck for the next couple months. BUT, we have also agreed to remain a somewhat happy and sane family while our "routines" are off kilter. Now mind you, I don't care for routine, but now that I have kids I know how crucial they are at times and they do thrive better with a daily routine. We will all be in a different home that is not ours and in different beds and with things that are not ours. But I resolve to not "freak" out on the kids or my great hubby during all of the craziness. I will keep perspective of how things will be when we are through with this transition and in our new home and my kids can finally settle back into old routines.

Picture courtesy of Janey-Do

In a much larger and uncontrollable capacity, I will resolve to maintain peace and happiness in Chaos in the walls of my home. That being said, I do not watch the news. I know, I know how can I NOT know what is going on in the world? Well, I do read news on the web, but I don't put news on our television, ESPECIALLY when the kids are around. I find the "media world" to be disturbing, upsetting and all out cruel! I don't want to explain things like bombs, war, murder and terrorists to my children just yet. I will keep them in our 'bubble' for as long as I can. Soon enough they will hear these words and know what they mean and be familiar with their ugly faces. For now, we will concentrate on love, friendliness, kindness, giving and all of the other things that you won't see on the news.

Janey and Nolan sharin' a little love

*for more SPC Resolutions click here

It's Done

It seems like we have had such a busy weekend! Friday we closed on this house making us no longer homeowners for a little while. It felt GOOD to be done with that chapter in our lives, now on to the next. We only have 4 more nights left in this house then it is off to Casa Folks!! Oh, joy! We are very appreciative that they are letting us stay there until our house is completed, but I would be lying through my teeth if I said I was looking forward to it. So other than closing, this weekend has been filled with yet again packing, moving and sorting through YEARS of stuff. I realize how really disorganized organized our life here has been. Does that make sense? For example, if I need to find an important paper, I know exactly which PILE of papers it is in. So, when we get settled in the new house, I am going to live by "Everything in it's place and a place for everything!"
Tom is home today for MLK day, so we are gong to be moving stuff to our storage unit in between him working on his assignments for school this week. According to his professor this class he is in is the cornerstone of the MBA program and it is going to require lots of work and time. I have seriously been contemplating going back to school when he is finished(which will be March 28th to be exact) but the thing is, I am not sure for WHAT?! I know I would love to get my teaching degree, but sometimes I wonder if I really have the patience for teaching. Being the complete and utter indecisive person that I am, I would love to hear some career ideas from you people!! I know that may sound really odd to be asking friends and complete strangers what to do with my life, but that is what I am doing. Just to give you all some insight on me, I have worked LOTS of different jobs mostly customer service related, but my most favorite jobs were working at a coffee shop and waitressing. I think because I love people and being around them. I liked my "regulars" but also everyday meant meeting new people. Don't misunderstand, I don't want to do either of these jobs at this stage in my life. Being in my early 30's and with three kids, I would rather not be working nights!! Plus, I want a career and I want to go back to school and be a student again. The degree that I already have is really useless for me now, because I have no interest in it any longer!!! I have thought about something in the medical field, but it has to be one where there is not a lot of gore and guts!! I told Tom the only kind of 'nurse' I could be would be a L/D nurse, because yes, there is blood and gore, but also there is a brand new life to cancel out the yuck! So please help! Bring on the suggestions, I am open to a lot of different ideas! Happy Monday!

* I know this blog is kinda weird and all over the place, but I am feeling like that is how my life is right now!

Go Away Sickies!!!!!!!!!!! Please!

Thanks so much for all the comments about my reading material. I am anxious to get started on 'The Lovely Bones', but I am still in the middle of 'Everyone Worth Knowing'. I am usually a quick reader, but I have had a lot of other things to deal with! Hopefully by the weekend I will be starting 'The Lovely Bones'. Also, I am open to suggestions for future books to read. I enjoy a lot of different books, just not sci-fi. So bring on the recommendations!!

I had to pick up my poor baby Chloe from school today because she threw up at lunch time. She was so embarressed and mortified. Why is it we begin feeling humiliation so young? Especially, when it is something out of our control. I had to tell her a story from when I was 6 or so and threw up on the school bus. I was in one of the front seats and the said vomit creeped it's way to the back of the bus where the older kids sat. Sorry for the really gross topic, but I think it made Chloe feel better that A LOT of people have got sick at school. I have been lovin' on her and doing the movie thing while snuggled on the couch in her comfies and slippers. Hopefully, she is feeling better soon because she has her first sleepover on Friday. I think I will feed her my medicinal recipe of room temp 7-Up and saltines for dinner tonight.

What a disapointment!

Not the pictures on this post, but last night's game. What a disapointment!!!! What happened to our buckeyes?!? I swear it was the fault of the stupid band director. Yes, TBDBITL was AWESOME as usual but why would the director choose the song from when the ship sunk in The Titanic and then proceeds to have the band take a ship's form and "sink" into the blue ocean. Kind of metophoric for what happened to the bucks, huh! Well, I didn't watch the whole game. I did sit in front of the tv, but for some of it I was reading a mag. I am a Nervous Nelly when it comes to games like last night, and frankly, I find it hard to watch. And I will confess that I dozed off in the 3rd quarter, woke up to see the 41-14 score and told Tom, "I can't watch them lose, I am going to bed!!" Poor, poor bucks. They had a chance to make history and didn't. Stupid Gators!!!

Chloe with her 'Charlotte's Web' loot!!
My girl Janey, LOVES her Polly Pockets!!
"Why did these silly girls have to wake me so darn early!!!!!"
Chloe's new American Girl doll that looks like her, and she really does. Freckles and all.
WE HAVE AN ENTIRE BASEMENT!!!!!!!

SPC #2 To lose myself

Less boobtube, and more fiction enjoyment of the literary kind.

Date Night!!

Not a whole lot new to post about. Still up to our necks in boxes, stuff, boxes and did I mention boxes?! I swear, if I never move again it will be too soon!! But tonight Tom and I are going to enjoy ourselves with a much needed date and dinner and drinks!! We are headed to one of my most favorite places to go on date night. Yea!!! I know one of my New Year's Resolutions is less beer, but tonight I am indulging myself. Mostly because they have some of the best microbrews on tap. So I will enjoy!!! Then maybe to do some window shopping for the new house. We talked about seeing this because I really enjoy Clive Owen. Yum!! But we will wait for it to rent. I used to love to go to the movies, but I am finding that I am just as happy to rent them when they are available. I like the power of the 'pause' button. Hope you all have a great weekend. A GREAT game coming up on Monday!!! Everyone wear your scarlet and gray!!!!! GO BUCKS!!!!!!!! And because I am such a dork........Eat them gators, they taste like chicken!!!!!!!!!

Resolutions? What?

Yes, I have decided to make some resolutions this year. Every year I fail, but why stop now. Right? I have a list of things that I would like to do, become, try and accomplish. So, with no further adieu I give you all my list of resolutions, maybe it will help keep me on track knowing that more than just Tom knows what my plans for myself are!!

• Start in on my daily walks again. Not solely for exercise, but for my mental well-being and stress reliever.
• To take better care of my body. I need to take it easy on the beer and wine and consume more water and healthier alternatives to the alcohol. Not saying I am going to completely cut out the vino and brewskies, but just not so many and not as often!
• To read more and watch less TV. I love reading and I do it quite often, but I also fry my brain entirely too much in front of the boob tube at night once the kids are in bed.
• To not lose my patience with the kids over the little things. They are too special to me and life is too short to worry over messes and petty fights between them.
• To completely organize my house, files, well..... life as soon as we get into our new house!
• To learn a new skill or find a new hobby. I don't care what it is, but anything new to me.
• Maybe think seriously about going back to school!

I don't know if anyone else makes resolutions, but if so, good luck on trying to keep them and again Happy 2007!

Hello 2007!!

Sorry I have been away for so long but with all the busyness of packing and the holidays, time has just escaped me! So, Happy New Year to all! We had a wonderful Christmas and the kids loved all of the magical things that Santa brought. We spent lots of family time together and with extend family as well. It was nice to see people and spend time together. We have begun the packing process and will be out of our home in a couple of weeks! I can't believe how fast time seems to be flying! I can only hope the next few months continue to go as quickly!

Janey at her Christmas Program @school

Our New Year's Eve was completely relaxing and great. We did NOTHING!! It is a tradition with Tom and I to do exactly that every year. We like the time spent snuggling on the couch with some drinks and then later champagne, watching movies and the ball drop and seeing the New Year come in with just the two of us. We have even been known to turn down plans and invites by other people for New Year's! Maybe someday, we'll get crazy and actually do something on New Year's, but for now I like our little tradition. We did have a nice dinner of pork and sauerkraut on New Year's day with Tom's family. Again, tradition because who wants bad luck in the new coming year!!

Chloe at her school Christmas party

As you can tell from the picture below, they have begun the work on our new house. We even have our basement walls now!! I will soon post a pic of the kids in front of the site wearing their hard hats!! I am also going to be comprising a list of resolutions and things that I want to happen in the new year. Maybe, I will get around to that post tomorrow!! I hope everyone had a wonderful and loving Christmas, and I wish you all a healthy and prosperous New Year!!
Our NEW home(to be)!