A Leap Day Limmerick

The last day of February is here
The most miserable month of the year.
It's been quite a gem,
but I'm sick of the phlegm,
and now I'll greet spring with a cheer.

Well, she looks the part...

Before Kayleigh's very first soccer practice.







"the soccer girl pose" (self titled)

Night Night Taylor

You'll have to excuse me. I'm really overcome right now with my beautiful daughter. If you don't care for mush, you can skip it.

Taylor,

I just spent the past 20 minutes rubbing your back and putting you to sleep. You were scared because you aren't used to sleeping in your room alone. We spent tonight watching movies and eating treats because your big sister went to a slumber party, and your daddy is gone to church with the big kids.

I don't know how I can't appreciate minute of every day how how amazing you are. Of all of the girls, you are definitely the one who can push my buttons and make me frazzled. You spend a lot of time trying to be independent even when you're not ready. You're strong willed, spirited, moody, and sometimes your dad and I give each other a knowing look when you come down that hall in the morning. You know, when you already walk with the gait of someone who just got pushed out of bed. It's all part of the fire I can see building in you, you are going to be someone who will not be told they aren't good enough for something. You won't take no for an answer when you dream big. You'll be the first in line to do something brave, new, and step out of your comfort zone. I know that these years are trying for me sometimes with you, but having this little secret tucked away within me will help me to be patient in my discipling, and I hope I never douse that spark I see.
Gosh, but how you love us too. You're the first one to come snuggle. You lay there in my arms and ask me questions that I've never even thought to ask myself. You're the first one to pray for someone who needs it. At three years old, you have the most unshakeable compassion for those around you. You pick up your baby sister when she falls (even though she probably weighs more than you do). You make sure that you tell me you love me at least 10 times a day. And when we open the door to leave in the morning you say "what a beautiful sunshiny day". Now that is a great way to start a day.
You are all of my wildest ambitions, greatest frustrations, moments of pure joy, and purpose for life rolled up into one skinny, blonde, roaring, storm. You make me proud and excited to see what you've got in store for life. I love you so much!

Mommy

At least it's not the flu????

Well, after a horrible feeling day yesterday, I went to CareNow. It turns out, no, I do not have the flu. I should be saying, yay! Well then what the crap is wrong with me? Turns out that I do, in fact, have a double ear infection, bronchitis, and get this... pnumonia. So, after getting rightfully chastized for not coming in sooner, a steroid shot, a breathing treatment and a buttload of perscriptions, I was gently sent home. I have to go back in monday to check my progress. I do feel better after the steroid shot, (sorry mrs. butt cheek)so I'm having a better day than I've had in quite a few weeks.

I'll update later for anybody who might care. :)

Toodles.

Come up with your own title, i'm too sick.

I actually thought of one but..., "Waking up on the wrong side of the coma" (nah, too cheesy),

Man Tells Wife Off, Rouses Her From Coma
Friday, February 22, 2008


A desperate husband who learned a hospital was about to take his comatose wife off life support managed to awaken her doing the one thing he knew she hated — being "told off," it is reported by the Daily Mail.

Yvonne Sullivan, 28, of the English seaside resort town of Weston-super-Mare in Somerset suffered severe blood poisoning during childbirth July 5. The baby, named Clinton, died after the 14-hour labor and Sullivan fell into a coma moments later, according to the report.

Dom Sullivan, 37, stayed by his wife's bedside for two weeks while she was in intensive care.

But when the hospital told him they planned to pull the plug on his wife, he snapped and gave his wife "a firm telling-off," the report said.

Dom Sullivan told the Daily Mail his wife never liked getting a good chewing out. But the move appeared to work and Yvonne Sullivan started breathing on her own two hours later. Within five days, the hospital was able to shut the ventillator off as Yvonne Sullivan regained consciousness, according to the report.

Someone Make it stop!!!

Can I just say, that I have been sick for over a month! The coughing, the congestion, the aching. blah. Of course, everyone in my family either has the crud now, or has had it, or will have it. I'm about to boycott winter and hibernate like a bear. I'm so ready for spring right now. Someone Make it stop! (on a side note, I have lost 5 lbs. because I can't eat much, sweet...)

Weekend Humor

Check out Fark.com if you like sarcastic humor about the news. One of their members photoshopped this for one of their online contests. (make your own ipod sillouette ad...)

Enjoy.

The day before chocolate bloat...

V- is for the vomit from all of the candy your children will eat
a- is for the acreage of cellulite that will develop on your behind from all the
chocolate that you will eat
l- is for the lesson you will teach your husband should he forget to buy you said
chocolate
e- is for the early bedtime you plan on giving your children
n- is for the ninety times they will be in and out of bed
(that reminds you that romance is how they got here in the first place.)
t- is for the test that I have to take on the evening of Valentines day for my speech
class
i- is for the images from all of those Valentines "KY Intrigue" commercials finally
being removed or at least toned down a notch.
n- is for the number of discarded candy wrappers you will find for the next month
under your kid's bed.
e- is for the everyday love that makes valentines, for the most part, just an
ordinary day. (collective awwwwww)

The Love Banquet

Our awesome church hosted a fund raising event on Saturday evening to raise money for a wheelchair lift inside the church (dinner and a show). It was really lovely. Baxter was asked to be the m.c., and there were plenty of fun skits, videos, and songs to keep us all entertained. I especially loved the videotaped interviews with all of our children describing love, marriage, and kissing (played on the huge projection screen). I'll give you a rundown of my children's enlightening answers to these questions. (keep in mind, basically our whole church was there for this event)

On love...

Kayleigh-"Love is being kind to one another"
(pretty good, and straightforward. I was proud.)
Taylor-"Love is having a heart for a person"
(it was an awwww moment.)

On Marriage...
Kayleigh- "Probably when I get married, I'm going to find someone who loves me for just who I am"
(this girl really has it down)
Taylor-"When you find your prince"

On Valentines Day, what mommy is getting...

Taylor "probably a heart"


On kissing...(get ready, here it comes)

Are you ready for this?

Kayleigh-"sometimes mommy lays down on the couch and daddy lays on her and they smooch"
(the mortification continues)

They warned us something was coming,they called it "our inauguration into the family". gahhh.

I want to drink the kool-aid

I'm guilty. I feel euphoria while watching the happy, unified celebrities and musicians. I start to look at the other candidates in a different light. But then, I think...

I want to believe that more babies won't be killed for the sake of birth control, I want to believe that we won't be taxed into oblivion for a universal health care system that we in no way can afford. I want to believe that those less fortunate will get a hand up to help themselves instead of a hand out (of my pocket). I want to believe that our border will be protected from people (and/or terrorists) who might want to come to our country and reap all the benefits of our society without participating in the privilege of paying for it. I want to believe that the morals of the majority of the country won't be pushed aside for the sake of "progress". I want to believe that yes we can, get the politicians (republican and democrat)to quit lying, and playing games with the people that they are supposed to represent. I want to drink the kool-aid. But gosh, where's the plan?

Okay, soapbox officially back under the desk.
Sorry for the hijack, Jaybrams.

Hometown Heartache

Last night around 7:00, the very small town that I grew up in (we finally got a stoplight my junior year) was hit by a tornado. The high school where I was a band nerd, and a cheerleader was damaged. The Crispy Cone (where we would go any chance we could to get a burger and curly fries) is completely destroyed. Many landmarks, hangouts, and businesses, either damaged or gone.

My parents still own a house (though they live here in Texas) in the area, and we have no idea the condition it is in. My grandmother also owns a home close to where the damage happened (she has also moved). The town doesn't even have a local hospital. The nearest fully operational hospital is 45 minutes away. There are power lines down in the streets, along with the debris. Cars have been flipped like matchbox toys, and I haven't even heard the extent of all the damage. Someone said that they saw the tornado coming down the highway, and he could easily recognize the storm because he could see the headlights of cars swirling around inside the funnel.
These people need prayers, and lots of them.

I need a hero.

As I sit here coughing and hacking at my keyboard (wishing desperately I was at my Bible Study), I am preparing for my first speech of the semester. It's a three to five minute speech about my hero. I've found it hard to pick a topic for hero worship. I could, of course, do the obvious and pick Jesus, or Paul. But do I want to possibly alienate all of my classmates? Am I that confident in my evangelism skills? What if someone (gasp) asks me about it afterwards, or they all just stare at me with smug condescension? How do I even think of someone other than my ultimate hero? And why is it that everyone I pick, I just start picking apart. "Well, I would pick her, but she's too bossy", "She smells like cheese", "He smokes, I can't make him my hero", (are you wondering if you are the one that smells like cheese right about now?, ha,) Well, after much debate, I've decided that this speech brings enough pressure on it's own, I don't necessarily want to have to defend my faith along with it. I chose someone who helps me get closer to the real hero everyday. Someone, who displays a lot of the self sacrificing, humble, and honorable traits that I know we are all supposed to emulate. My husband. I can surely stand up there and talk about him for 3 to 5 minutes, right?

She came and took my child.

I answered the door and then suddenly Taylor was gone. But, maybe I should mention that I feel like I just got hit by a truck. (I'm slightly ill, you see) and that my very good friend Monica came and took her off my hands for a little while. She also brought me soup, cough drops, Dayquil, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, and a Kit Kat bar (those will help you feel better right?)and last but not least a Cherry Vanilla Diet Dr. Pepper (she and I share a crack like addiction to this beverage). It was all unsolicited, and very appreciated. Taylor will be back any minute and mommy is very glad to have her, now that she's a little rested. Ella would have gotten to go too, if they would just hurry up and buy a minivan... thank you so much, lady!

What time am I?

I actually agree with this. I am like coffee that slowly warms your insides.



You're the time of day right around sunrise, when the sky is still a pale bluish gray. The streets are empty, and the grass and leaves are a little bit sparkly with dew. You are the sound of a few chirpy birds outside the window. You are quiet, peaceful, and contemplative. If you move slowly, it's not because you're lazy – it's because you know there's no reason to rush. You move like a relaxed cat, pausing for deep stretches that make your muscles feel alive. You are long sips of tea or coffee (out of a mug that's held with both hands) that slowly warm your insides just as the sun is brightening the sky.