Migraines and other things...

I am making something for someone for Christmas. I am not going to mention for whom on here because I am not certain if they read my blog or not. Anyways, I went to Hobby Lobby and about an hour into being there my head started hurting and by the time I got home my head was POUNDING and light/sound/movement made me feel like an army of jerks with sledge hammers were banging around on my brain and skull. It subsided some during the night and when I woke up it was still present but not too bad. Then about an hour after getting to work, my head felt like it was going to implode and I felt lightheaded. They made me lie down for a little and I took some toradol. Head is better now but I feel like I can't think straight and my ears ring sometimes. I hate migraines. If you have never had one, I sincerely envy you.

I very nervous about this thing I am making and I am so stressed it won't be good enough or I won't finish in time. I wish I was near my talented friends and family to help out. Anyways, those of you who do know what I'm talking about...be expecting multiple calls from me for input. You will be SOOOOO sick of me by the end of it all. And those of you who don't know what this is about, do not assume I am giving this homemade thing to you. I am only going to let SOME people know because if I screw it up bigtime, then the rest of you will NEVER know. :-P

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Hope everyone has a blessed Thanksgiving filled with love, family, friends, and of course FOOD! I am working today but we are celebrating tomorrow. Happy Thanksgiving!



I am thankful for (just to name a few):

The love and grace of my Lord and Savior

My husband and children

My extended family scattered across the US

My friends scattered across the US

My church family

The above people's continued health

My health

My job

My pets

My 2 working cars

My house

Food

Music

Technology

Freedom

Intelligence

So bored....

We are slow on a MONDAY. What the heck? I am so bored and fighting sleep. I would rather be slammed busy than this slow trickle of people. Time is crawling by and I can't believe its only 2:30pm. Someone be sick now, PLEASE!!

Charge Nurse

I am the assigned charge nurse today and I am counting down the MINUTES until shift change - 99 minutes. I would say seconds but I don't want to try to do the math on that.

Most of the morning it was slow. Living in the Bible Belt, most people go to church on Sunday and it usually doesn't pick up until about noon. It did pick up, but especially around 4pm we got slammed busy. The doctor felt a little overwhelmed but managed to muddle through. Thank God for Shane who made a Starbucks run. MMMMM, gingerbread latte!

Tonight is our church's home meetings. I volunteered for us to watch the kids that night and then found out later I was working today. He was mildly annoyed with me but it wasn't on purpose. Next time I will make sure before I volunteer that I will actually be there. I think it would've been fun to take care of the kids! I hope Naaman remembers to bring me home a plate of food or otherwise no dinner for me.

I FOUND IT!!

Kroger finally has holiday creamers!! I bought pumpkin spice, peppermint mocha, and gingerbread. Everyone at work seems to like pumpkin spice so I brought it with me to work today. MMMMM..enjoying it right now.

Abe's recent boyfriend dumped her 2 days ago. He had his cell taken away so Abe texted a friend to tell him that she wouldn't be able to go to church this wednesday since Naaman was at school and I had to work. Well, her friend told Abe he said, "Good!" when he was told. So she called him at home later that night and asked him why he said that and he said, "It's over," and hung up. Nice, right? I guess it's better than calling her up and saying, "I found someone else better so we're done," which has happened to her. This teenage drama is more than I can bear. It just makes my heart hurt for her when she's so sad about a break-up. Then next week there is someone new. I am actually glad they broke up because I didn't really like him, he never said hello to me or actually anything at all. I really, really don't like his mom. She always gave Tor and still gives me the dirty looks, which Abe says she did it to her too.

I need to get more organized and throw a bunch of crap out/have a yard sale. I am SO over the clutter. I think I would LOVE to get rid of 3/4 of my clothes. I just need the money to buy new ones PLUS I need to lose weight so I just don't end up buying the same size.

For christmas I am buying us an elliptical. I am getting rid of the desk in my room and the elliptical will go there. I don't use the computer on the desk so I'm giving that to my boys and I'll just keep using the laptop.

Waiting to see if I get a bonus from work. I am supposed to get a promotion soon, it's been approved but haven't seen a dime of it yet.

Still waiting for the new GI bill to kick in. Apparently they finally got everything they needed from Naaman's school and the VA has sent the letter, once we get that and give it to the school then he can start getting that money. They owe us like $5000!! $1400 is going to the actual school and we are using some for christmas, some for savings and the rest to pay off bills. I only have 2 credit cards to pay off and then we plan on rolling that money into paying off our cars early and then we'd be almost debt free (still will have mortgage)! If we pay only on schedule, it will be 2 years until extraneous debt freedom. Between this money and tax time we will have all credit cards paid off and a nice chunk in our savings. I never thought we'd get stuff paid off.

My seasonal true love in life....

PUMPKIN SPICE LATTES!

I could drink 5 a day easily. I love the holidays when everyone has something pumpkin, gingerbread, mint mocha, or eggnog. I need to invest in some flavor syrup to bring in to work. I am really mad because NONE of the creamer makers have any holiday flavors yet. I have looked at both Kroger and Walmart with no such luck. I need my cheap holiday coffee fix! People, I can't afford that much Starbucks and Panera!

Plus, I just found out that my favorite clerk has been dating for a month a great guy from her church! Sheila lost her husband a few years ago. Her daughter was into some bad stuff and gave her boyfriend and his friend the idea to rob her mom and stepdad's house and she was the getaway driver. They shot and killed Sheila's husband and now Sheila's daughter is in jail for life for murder. She has been alone for some time and it warms my heart to see her so happy for once. I hope he's the one!

How to make a coworker blush:

Janette was assigned room 1-3 which is a 3 bed bay. I was in the room helping Janette with something in bed 1 and Aaron and Janette were taking care of a patient across the room in bed 2. I believe the guy in bed 1 had to pee so I was shutting all the curtains so he could do so without an audience. I got near bed 2 and Aaron started helping me close the curtains around bed 2. I was closing another curtain and had my back to the curtain around bed 2. Apparently Aaron was trying to adjust the curtain just on the other side of where I was standing and he ALSO had his back to the curtain. He reached behind him to grab curtain but also got a handful of my butt! For a split second I thought I should just pretend it never happened but then I thought how much MORE fun would it be to embarass him? So I said kind of insulted, HEY! and threw the curtain back. Aaron was 15 different shades of red and purple and he kept apologizing over and OVER. Janette and the patient saw the whole thing and cracked up laughing. It was great! Never underestimate the entertainment value of embarassing a coworker.

Bunch of Naggy Friends...whom I love!!!

Don't die from shock, girls. It's an update!!! You can stop nagging, I mean "reminding" me.

So, I'm sitting here watching Gabriel Inglesias comedy show on comedy central (hilarious by the way) and checking out facebook and two of my very good friends start reminding me to update my blog. I'm like ALRIGHT ALRIGHT ALREADY, GEEZ. So I log on here and think DANG, I haven't blogged since Aug 28?!! Holy crap, I do need to update. So this one's for you girls!!

I spent my very first Halloween without my children. It sucks when you realize your kids no longer think you're cool. They all wanted to be somewhere else and not with me. I didn't dress up this year at all. I mean, why? I decorated my house BIG like I always do, so we get tons of kids - but I dress up for my kids to laugh at me. I was going to be - wait for it - the swine flu. I had a pig nose and wings. Naaman told me it was stupid, but I brought it to work for a costume contest. I ended up not being able to enter into the contest because we were too busy. Oh well!

My birthday sucked again. Naaman didn't do anything special for me for my day and my kids didn't either. At least they said Happy birthday, Naaman didn't even say it! He started to make me a cake but never finished it because I said I didn't like red velvet cake. How the heck was I supposed to know when he asked me what my favorite cake was and I said tiramisu and then he asked me if I liked red velvet and I said, "No, I hate red velvet cake" it was because he already MADE part of a red velvet cake. I still don't know why he chose that. I had been talking about him making me a tiramisu for A MONTH before my birthday because he said he was going to make me one. I was super excited about it. Why the heck would you promise one thing and then change it to something I have voiced my opinion on as NOT LIKING? I waited until 8pm on my birthday to see if he intended to make me something for dinner or take me out. I went to subway and got everyone subs and then went to bed. I have decided I am no longer celebrating my birthday because it is just a disappointment. I am also no longer doing something special for him because after 14 years of marriage and going all out for him and getting absolute crap in return sucks. I don't celebrate his birthday so I can get something cool too. It's about showing how grateful I am for the day he was born and how much I love him and how important he is to me. He obviously does not feel the same way that I do about birthdays. So if I can't beat him, join him.

Best work story ever since August - My favorite psych patient came in and I love her. She is hilarious crazy. It's the best way to describe it. There are variations of crazy - violent, angry, drunk, stupid, and hilarious. She is pure entertainment and I struggle not to giggle at some of the most ridiculous things that come out of her mouth. Have I ever mentioned that there is a reason I am not a psych nurse? Reason #1000 - it is impossible for me to remain professional when certain very ridiculous, silly things are being said. So I'm walking down the hallway passing the psych rooms, Cindy is in the room with Glen helping the patient get ready for admission. Glen is drawing blood, Cindy is taking inventory of her belongings. I am walking down the hallway and all of a sudden I hear this tremendous loud fart. It stops me in my tracks. I turn around and Glen is raising an eyebrow and staring at the patient. The patient says, "Well, usually I don't pass gas in front of people because I was raised to be a lady but I just couldn't wait any longer because YOU people were taking too long." I crack up laughing not just because of the ENORMOUS fart but also because this woman earlier was yelling and accusing people of trying to rob her - and not in a ladylike manner either. I barely make it down the hall and into the nurse's station and I suddenly hear an alot voice singing LOUDLY, "God bless America." It's her! Apparently after she farted, the gas she released must've hit something in that mixed up brain she has and she suddenly became patriotic and spontaneously burst into song! I just stood up straight and put my hand over my heart stuggling not to giggle. Glen comes out of the room snickering and then snaps into attention, salute and all. THEN suddenly, Dr. Allen starts singing along with her in a lovely soprano voice. It was the icing on the cake and I had to sit before I collapsed from the giggles.

Okay, enough for now. Hope to update more often.

Inglorious Blogging

Well, I didn't follow through with my notebook to blog idea - YET! A lot has happened since July 28.

Micah is now 13 years old. I can't believe he is a teenager now and I am now the mother of TWO teens. He is 6 ft tall and skinny as a pole. He is taking high school classes in 8th grade - obviously smart. He is so well behaved and polite. I must not be too bad of a mother, huh?

We just celebrated our 14th anniversary on thursday. Technically, it was on wednesday but Naaman had school. I had a great time with him all day. After brunch, we went to see a movie and decided on "Inglorious Basterds". It was actually a pretty good movie although after the 2nd hour I started thinking that the movie might be going a bit long. It was very gory, as Quentin Tarantino movies are, but very good. I would recommend it. I heard Tarantino quoted as saying that he wrote the movie as if history was not written already because the characters don't know what happened. I did think - this is how WW2 should have ended. I recommend it, just not for the kids - DEFINITELY.

Tomorrow, a good friend from college is getting married and I'm going to her wedding. I am so happy for her since she is so happy. I also get the added bonus of seeing another good friend and her baby whom I've never gotten to meet. I am so excited!

I am woman and I am EXHAUSTED and in need of a new phone!

I just finished off 4 straight 12-hr shifts yesterday and have cleaned my house to a shiny sparkle today because Naomi is coming tomorrow. Excuse me while I collapse in exhaustion. No, wait...I still have to go food shopping today! Hmm, maybe I'll just do that tomorrow morning before she gets here. I hate going to the grocery store. It amazes me how much money we literally flush down the toilet (after having enjoyed the taste of things for maybe 30 minutes).

4 days and Abriel is home and I can't wait to see her. I missed her SO much!

5 days and Micah will be 13.

6 days and Naaman will be 33.

11 days and the new school year starts.

30 days and we will have been married 14 years.

Which reminds me...yesterday I was doing triage and I had just brought a patient to the ER and walked back to triage and Naaman is standing in the hallway. My initial thought was, "Man, Naaman is so cute in his chef uniform." My second thought was, "What the heck is he doing here and not at school?"

I say hi and start to lean in to give him a quick kiss and he says frantically, "Why haven't you answered your phone and where did you park the car?" I say, "My phone has not rang all morning and I love you too!" Apparently, Naaman left his school stuff in the back of the van, which he normally drives. You see, the night before, I told Naaman the Focus kept overheating and that I was driving the van so he could figure out what the heck was wrong with the car and then collapsed into bed. I told him because he normally leaves stuff in whatever car he drives. Did he take that as a cue to get his crap? NO! And he was then yelling at me in the hallway where I WORK that I was ignoring his calls and he was late for school and where is the car. I told him it's in the same place I always park and he knows where that is. He swears it's not there. I said, "Unless a Ford Freestar appealed to a car thief out of hundreds of much sportier cars, YES it is still in my usual spot." He groans and runs out the door with me waving and grinning saying Buh-bye!

My phone had no missed calls, no voicemails, no texts - because it froze up for about the thousandth time. I took the battery out, booted it back up and then Naaman calls me telling me he found the car (in it's usual spot) and I need a new phone and would be buying one soon. I don't think I could have planned that better if I tried. I have been telling him for the last year I needed a new phone. He kept telling me it was fine. NOW I have his blessing to get a new phone. Anyone know where I can get a nice used i-phone?

Been a while...

I have just felt very lazy lately and not felt like blogging. I have been working as much OT as possible too so it isn't all laziness.

Let me think. What to blog, what to blog...

Abriel is in Virginia visiting her BFF and my second daughter, Amber. She left me on July 12 and will not be back until the 31st. She has been all over VA and even went to NC. I miss her very much and will post pics of her trip when she gets back. She is having such a good time I thought there was no way she could miss me. She tells me she misses me a lot, but I thought she was just saying it to make me feel good. What 15 yr old girl wouldn't love 3 weeks away from their 2 little brothers and parents? Well, I was looking at her myspace and she had her status set to: Having fun but really just want to go home to be with my family. It made me a little teary eyed to see she sincerely misses us!

Naomi is coming to visit us next Wednesday, the 29th, and will be here until August 9th. I am very happy to have her coming. Too bad my vacation time is AFTER she leaves but I just won't work any OT while she's here, so I won't be gone too much.

Naaman is back in school after his 1 month summer break. He is such a good student (his GPA is 4.0) and never misses class that he got a Presidential Scholarship and a Institutional Grant to make up for what the Pell Grants are lacking this year. I am so proud of him. He is still working at Papa John's as a delivery driver on the weekends too.

Micah will be 13 in 8 days and then it will be official that I have 2 teens in my house. I can't believe how old I am getting to have 2 teenage children. What the heck happened?

I owe, I owe, So back to work I go...

We had a guy come give an estimate on cabinet refacing and new counters. I knew it wouldn't be cheap but didn't expect $12,000! I am not asking for all new cabinets, just new fronts! I think it would be cheaper to get all new cabinets and install them myself for that much! I told him we'd have to think about it. I know if we did get the cabinets refaced, it would be a big selling point for our house. I just don't know if I want to invest THAT much. We first need new floors in the kitchen and bathrooms and to finish the room above the garage.

Starting today! So off I go to the store to price crap.

ER Creedo

I don't know if anyone has noticed my new little sidebar thing - The ER Creedo.

We the willing, led by the unknowing, are doing the impossible for the ungrateful.
We have done so much for so long with so little - we are now qualified to do anything with nothing.

I feel this every day of my life at work. I think this also applies to anything related to the military. I think the quote is meant to be humorous but to me it just makes me sad to think this can be so true - it's supposed to be a joke!

Real emergencies

Recently, our ER was an actual ER. We are not a trauma ER. Mostly we see sick people or people who THINK they are sick with the occasional mix of actual emergencies. I would say 35% of our patients are some sort of chest pain or COPD related problem that they just need reassurance for. 35% of our patients are sick with various other small to serious illnesses but nothing that a prescription or short hospital stay won't fix. Another 10% is "my neck/back/arm/head/leg and/or a combination of these hurts and has for months and TODAY it is an emergency." 10% are straight up ridiculous and should just go home. The other 10% are true "I need help now" emergencies.

I think we got the 10% quota for the month on this one particular day. We sent a bunch of people to intensive care, one to the cath lab, we had people bleeding in a few rooms, and one guy sliced an artery. He came in COVERED in blood and when we took off his make shift bandage to see the damage, blood just FLEW across the room. Another nurse squeaked in horror and the nurse that took the bandage off went, "Well, let's not do that again!" and grabbed the gauze slapped it on and held tight. I have never seen a pumper before in real life and I have to admit inside my head I was like that kid at the end of Incredibles "THAT WAS TOTALLY WICKED!!"

We also had 2 other patients needing stitches of some sort, a very bad nosebleed, a psych patient or two, and someone that was going to the OR fairly soon. I couldn't catch a minute to myself and then ended up staying an extra 2 hrs to help the night shift keep up until they got some more staff in.


It started me thinking - what if our ER was like this all the time? I wonder if I worked in a trauma ER how scared would I be that I would screw something up? I'm pretty sure ALL THE TIME.

Tests, blessings, etc.

Working OT today1130-midnight but we aren't busy right now so I thought I'd quickly do a blog. We have 1 patient right now and there are 4 nurses. I am supposed to leave in 2 hrs. I am SO glad I don't work night shift - too boring.

My friend at work, Marilyn, her daughter just gave birth to her 2nd grandchild. He is such a miracle! First he was crowning and just wouldn't progress after that, so they had to do an emergency c-section. Thank God they did because the cord was wrapped around his neck 3 times and then wrapped around his abdomen once and the cord had a knot in it. It is a COMPLETE and utter miracle he is alive, let alone completely undamaged from this other than a bit of a conehead from being stuck in the birth canal! God is so good!

Another friend at work, Jennifer, she took her GRE (graduate review exam) so she can start graduate school soon. I had no idea there was another stinking test to get into graduate school and now I have some other damn reason to wait to go back to school. She is super smart and she didn't pass it (she has 2 special needs children and is a single mom of 3 working full time, she says she didn't study enough - wonder why?), so how the heck would I pass this? I think I will wait another year or 2 before going back.

Yet ANOTHER friend at work, Bekah, passed her nursing board exam and I am so excited for her. I knew she would, she was such a good VALOR student here. She is working with us on day shift for now, but soon she'll be moved to nights. I hope they aren't too hard on her.

I work on Independence Day this year. This can be a good or a bad thing. Bad - I work on one of my favorite holidays and someone needs to stay with my children. Good - I get paid double time! I thought Naaman would have to work so I made plans to pawn the kids off to each of their best friends and then I was going to go to Shane's after work and watch the Nashville firework show (he lives very close to the show) and maybe have a drink or 2 with him and some other friends. Now, Naaman is getting off at 5pm but I don't get out until 7:30pm and won't be home until at least 8:30-9pm. I am wondering if Shane would mind if my whole family showed up at his place. ;-) I need to ask him next time I see him or I can text him tomorrow if I can remember.

Still waiting on some word on that whole bad situation. I really feel like they are just dragging their feet, making excuses for bad behavior, and being general jerks about it. I am going to complain higher if they don't do something VERY soon - one way or the other. Tomorrow morning I am going to attempt to file a protection order. I hope they give me one.

Tired of being afraid..now I'm just PISSED!

I refuse to be afraid of you anymore. You are ridiculous. You are crazy. You are pathetic. You think you are going to get away with this but you need to wake up and smell the folgers because I am smarter than you think. I am not going to be intimidated by your crazy ass BS any longer and will just call the police EVERY TIME I see you, whether you threaten me overtly, threaten me directly, or ignore my very existence. Be sure that you don't say anything to me or even look in my general direction or it will be documented. Make sure your little friends don't talk to me either because then I'll just make sure it comes back on you. You are not fooling anyone, we can see you for who and what you really are. You can hide and pretend you are a man of God but you are nothing but a fraud and God sees your heart.

Something you said to me will come back to haunt you and how fitting - "May God have mercy on your miserable, miserable, cold, blind soul."

Blah!

I had a very bad day at work yesterday. My day all started with a poor choice of wearing a pair of seriously uncomfortable shoes for a twelve hour shift on my feet and then ended with a spectacular mistake that accidentally brought in 2 of my favorite people from work. The patient was fine and it was something he needed and knew he was going to get but I forgot to make sure there was written consent before it happened. Anyways, I tore myself up about it for hours.

Then I had to take my cat to the vet today. Dexter probably had an infection and the drooling was a pain response or anxiety. They gave him a steroid shot and an antibiotic shot. That was $100. Then I had to buy Annie's flea and heartworm medicine - another $133 for 6 months of meds. I am already broke, so yea us for less money!

I think the best thing in these 2 days was that the vet walks in and I immediately think he looks an awful lot like Sean Astin as Samwise Gamgee the Hobbit in Lord of the Rings. He is short, has curly hair and a similar build to him. EVEN BETTER - the instant this man starts talking I have to swallow a giggle because he has a very slight lisp and NOW he is reminding me of Sean Astin in Fifty First Dates as Drew Barrymore's character's brother Doug (only Doug has a HUGE lisp). He leaves the room and I look at Abriel and start to say, "Doesn't he remind you of..." and she finishes my sentence with "Sam from Lord of the Rings?" So apparently my vet is a hobbit.

Further random thoughts

I worked today and felt tired on the way home but now I can't sleep. So I figured now is the time for some more random thoughts.

My cat that disappeared for 3 days came back and slept for 2 days and then the last 2 days has been drooling like crazy. Cats don't drool unless sick or hurt. I can't figure out WHY he's drooling, no obvious injury. So I come home from work and he has this HUGE open sore just behind his left front leg. It looks like a cigarette lighter burn. Last time he disappeared for 3 days, some asschunk cut my cat on his side and now similar situation and he has a burn. I am going to kill whomever is torturing my cat. I had to clean out his wound and the damn cat bit me HARD while I was trying to take care of him. On a brighter note, he has stopped drooling.

Toni (from work) gave me 6 huge bags of clothes and shoes for me and Abriel. I'm not sure why she gave it to me, I thought she hated me. Maybe the clothes are infested with something?

Rebekah, last years Valor student/this years new hire RN, asked me today how I look like I know all the answers and make it look so easy when she always feels slow. I told her, "Girl, the key is fake the confidence and shake on the inside. Walk in and look like you know what you're doing so even if you drop the gloves or the IV, no one notices because they are so busy noticing your awesomeness they don't realize you're really a dumbass in disguise." Because that is really how I feel most of the time - like a dumbass pretending to be a nurse.

I got my 1 year pay raise. I was a nurse 1 step 4, now I'm a step 5. Now I have to work on moving up to nurse 2, I can because I have my BSN but I don't know how long it takes and I need a project to improve the hospital/ER/nursing/etc. Everything I come up with is stupid.

When we move, I will really miss my coworkers/friends.

I wonder how long it will take before my sister or parents call me. I waited 3 weeks last time and then called them. I think this time I'll wait until they call me.

Random thoughts

Sorry I haven't blogged in so long. I just haven't felt like doing it for a little while. I have lots to tell but by the time I can, I am too tired to care or don't feel like it.

I took the kids to see Up today. That was SUCH a good movie, much more sad than most Disney movies, but still very good. We saw it in 3D which sometimes made the movie a bit disorienting but it was really cool.

Naaman has finals next week and then he's on vacation for about a month. He so deserves this. He works Tues, Fri, Sat, and Sun night - has class Monday, Wed morn, Thurs all day, and Fri morn. He never gets a break.

For Mother's Day, I asked for a Hammock and since I never got one (or anything else for that matter) - Naaman will get one for Father's Day.

I really think we are going to move back to Idaho next year, once Naaman is done with school. It would be nice to be so near all my family. Houses there are so much more expensive so I have no idea how it will all work out.

I need to rehire some pest control SOMEONE because the spiders are moving in and I've never had this problem since I've always had pest control until this summer.

As promised..FINALLY

Abe giving Annie a kiss

Noah and Micah outside Mammoth Cave

Me and My Children inside Mammoth Cave

Noah squeezing through Fat Man's Misery

Micah showing how low the ceiling is

Noah showing how narrow the cave is here

It really is as the sign says

This part might be tall man's agony

Historic Entrance to Mammoth Cave

Kids outside Mammoth Cave

Wider angle

I'm melting melting..what a world!

Last May our central A/C unit went out and the guy came and did something which cost me like $250 and then it worked for the summer and he said we would probably need to do this every summer since the unit was about 10 yrs old unless I wanted to buy a new one which would cost me around $3000. SAME THING is happening again. It is FREAKIN roasting in my house right now. Thermostat is set for 74 degrees and it is hotter than Hades in here now at 89 degrees with the A/C unit on right now! OBVIOUSLY it's not working properly. Thank God we have ceiling fans in almost every room or I'd be like a snowcone in Pheonix. I am desperate to call the guy we used last year but Naaman is at work and not answering his phone. I need my A/C!

We did end up going to Mammoth Cave yesterday. It was over 80 degrees and super humid and there was no way we were going to stay in the house roasting our butts off. My favorite part about the cave...nature's A/C! It stays around 65 degrees in the cave all year round. It was so cool and beautiful in there. It was funny because when we came out of the cave, I could feel the heat and humidity again and my glasses fogged up so I couldn't see.

Vacations - pronounced AAAAAAAAAAhhhhhhhh

I am on my first vacation since I started working. I was off yesterday and I don't have to be back to work until June 2. 10 days of blessed, unplanned, no early rising, whatever I want to do time. Too bad Naaman is still in school until the end of June!

I plan on taking my kids to some places I have wanted to go to since I moved to this state. We were supposed to go to Mammoth Cave and Beech Bend Park tomorrow but severe thunderstorms are in the forecast tomorrow. That shouldn't hamper the caves but it will definitely prevent a trip to Beech Bend - no water slides and roller coasters during thunderstorms. I wonder what else they have to do in the area besides the caves that is indoors. I saw they have an alpine slide - too rainy and probably closed. Horseback riding - rain. We could shop but I don't like going shopping with Naaman. I'm thinking get up early, go eat breakfast at some place near the caves, go do the 2.5 hr, 2.5 mile hike through the cave and then eat lunch and go home. I think it will still be fun despite the lack of a trip to the theme park too.

Guess we can do Beech Bend later! Hope to post some decent pics of our fun soon.

Belated Friday's Food for Thought

Breakfast
What is the most interesting biography you have ever read?
I really don't read biographies. Does the Bible count? I think I read Sidney Sheldon's but heck if I remember anything about it.

Lunch
What is the longest you have ever waited in a line?
I stood in line in front of Best Buy on Black Friday for 3 1/2 hrs so I could get my kids Rock Band for $75 and a DS for $100.

Dinner
Where do you want to be right now?
At home, in my pajamas, snuggling up with my family watching a movie or playing a board game. Anywhere but here at work as the charge nurse.

Midnight Snack
What is hanging over your head and causing stress for you right now?
What a loaded question! Um, where to start? I'm the charge nurse today and I HATE being the one to be the boss and put out "fires" all day long. Then there are my everyday ones: money, selling my house, about to lose contract on the house we wanted because of said unsold house, teenage daughter mood swings, was my house clean enough for the open house, is my house going to be robbed, is my family safe in that house, should I move on the other side of Nashville

Recipe of the Week
(instead of your recipe for life what is it just for the week?)
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. (Psalm 46:1-3)

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)

Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord you God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. (Isaiah 43:1b-3a)

Flip-flop

Ok, so now I want to move again. Some guy is breaking into houses, armed, and robbing them. 6 different houses in a 4 block radius! I need to get out of the neighborhood NOW! I'd like my family and myself to stay safe. I like my stuff and I'd like to keep it.

It makes me SO angry that people who work hard for their money and the things it buys have to fear from loser jerks who can't bother to earn the money for stuff and just take it, by force.

I don't think I want to move to Nashville, but maybe closer to the freeway or on the south side of Clarksville, where I could get up @ 5am or 5:30 and still make it on time for work.

Selling my house and stuff

I think I don't want to move anymore but I don't know how to tell Naaman. I tried to yesterday but he thinks it's because I am feeling frustrated that no one is really even LOOKING at our house. That doesn't help but I have been feeling unsure since the beginning of all this. I don't want to take more debt on when we have difficulty staying on top of it now. Sure, the drive is long but it's not so bad. I've been doing it for 2 years now. Sure, I'd like a bigger house but the one we have still fits us (if we finish that room off). Naaman only has 1 1/2 years left in school, I think we should revisit the idea of moving then.

My kids bring up all the time how they don't want to move and all their friends are here. Micah had a band concert yesterday and after the trip and lunch, I just took him home with me early. He said the only reason he wants to move is because he wants his own room but that he would rather stay here and share a room with Noah and be close to his friends than move. Abriel is finally comfortable with herself and I am afraid that will change when we move and she has to start over again.

I think in order to sell this house we would have to update some things. We need some new light fixtures, cabinet refacing, new floors in kitchen, bathrooms, and living room. We need a new fence too. We need to finish that room upstairs so that people can use the room we are using now as either a family room OR another bedroom.

I think if we are going to move anywhere, I'd rather move back to Idaho or Washington, to be closer to family. I am tired of missing out on the lives of my nieces and nephew. I miss my sisters (in-laws included). I miss my oldest and best friends. My kids are missing out on these relationships with their grandparents, aunts, and uncles. Even the kids wouldn't mind moving there.

I feel so rested!

Today is my first day back to work after 5 days off. For once, when the alarm clock went off @ 4:30am I didn't feel like smashing it into a million pieces and try to snooze some more. I just bounced up, feeling well rested and ready to get back to work.

My five days off were nice. I spent the first day home alone doing absolutely nothing in my pajamas until about 3pm and then I showered, dressed, and went to Abriel's concert. Friday I cleaned house a little and watched the storms pass through and flood the heck out of Clarksville. Saturday was supposed to be soccer but that was canceled because of flooding, so I just hung out with my family. Sunday was mother's day and we didn't really do anything special but it was still a good day. Yesterday I cleaned my house and am loving the cleanliness when I left today for work.

Work today is going nicely, steady but with enough breaks to let me do a little blogging. I have tomorrow and thursday off too but I work all weekend. That's okay, I'm ready for it.

My baby sings so beautiful!

Hijacked from a blog about another's blog...

Wow, this one kicked me square in the chest. It is so true and so needed to be said. I hope that I can let go too. She is so right!

Read this!

Day two and counting...

I have no idea what the hell I was thinking but I signed up for an overtime day on monday. I was already scheduled Sat, Sun, Tues, and Wed and I signed up on my only day off between those days. I am now working 2-12 hr shifts, 1-7 hr shift, and then 2 more 12 hr shifts - 55 hrs in 5 days pretty much non-stop on my feet. THANK GOD I have 5 days off after that. I will need it to recover from that. I expect day 5 will kick my butt and I will be a walking zombie.

Wednesday better not be a bad day because I don't think I can handle it. I am going to spend Thursday catching up on my Z's and doing nothing. Friday I'll plant my flowers.

44 days!!

My house has been sitting on the market for 44 days now. I am SO frustrated. I know God does all things in his timing and it is a possibility that we are not meant to move right now. I think Naaman wants this more than I do anyways. Don't get me wrong, it would be great to have a bigger house and to not have to commute so far, but it doesn't bother me as much as it does him.

I am going to lower the price of the house and if that doesn't work, in 2 weeks I am going to add in a bonus for new floors for the kitchen and bathrooms. If that doesn't work, then it wasn't meant to be and we will lose the other house and end up staying here. I would be okay with that.

Two for the Price of One

Saturday 9

1. If you could have just one more conversation with a person from your past, who would it be?
My grandpa on my dad's side. He tried so hard to be a good grandpa and I don't think I gave enough back.

2. Do your friends tend to be male or female?
Both

3. What is in your car’s trunk?
Those folding camp chairs to take to the games.

4. What was the last CD that you purchased?
The Afters, Nevertheless, and Remedy Drive were playing @ Rivers and Spires and Naaman was talking about not having anything to listen to while delivering pizzas so I bought thier latest CDs for him.

5. What is your favorite movie and why?
I could watch The Ref, The Money Pit, and The Burbs over and over and still laugh every time.

6. If you could wake up with a new talent tomorrow, what would it be?
I wish I could sing great. I don't want to be famous for it or anything, I just love to sing and wish I was good at it.

7. What is your favorite day of the week and why?
Any day spent with my family.

8. What are you wearing when you feel you’re at your best?
Probably my scrubs!

9. When was the last time you cried?
About 2 weeks ago.

Food for Thought

Breakfast
When was the last time you did something for the first time? What was it?
I had a student nurse work with me while I took care of patients, in the past it's been while I was screening. She had only started one IV before then so I let her practice on me (only took 2 trys) and then she got to start 3 more and she hit it first time every time!

Lunch
What's your middle name? Why?
Elaine, I'm named after my mother's best friend at the time.

Dinner
What was the first car you drove?
I think it was my parent's 1960-something Chevy Nova in our neighborhood when I was like 8. My mom wanted me to know how to drive in case something ever happened to her while she was driving, so I would know how to safely stop the car.

Midnight Snack
What is the strangest/weirdest gift you have ever received?
Naaman gave me a jar of Nutella for christmas.

Recipe of the Week
(instead of your recipe for life what is it just for the week?)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.

People....

PLEASE tip your pizza delivery man fairly! They make less than minimum wage similar to servers because of tip income. Naaman made 3 runs in a row and people didn't tip at all and then people ordering over $30 in pizza only giving him $1. Be nice to the guy who brings hot, gooey goodness to your door so you don't have to cook! He may have a family to support.

Things are looking so much brighter!

God is good, ALL THE TIME!

Things are finally looking a little brighter in my life. Naaman has a job! He is a pizza delivery guy for Papa Johns. It is perfect for him because he can work evenings and be off for school. It is minimum wage but with tips and the commission per delivery he came home with $80 cash at the end of the night last night and that didn't include his regular pay he'll get in about 2 weeks. Sunny, our wonderful next door neighbor and mother of Noah's best friend, is the manager of Papa Johns and knew we were moving and still gave him a job. I cannot thank her enough! Any ideas of something special and cheap I can do to thank her?

My work environment over the past week has been very pleasant, minimal conflicts. It has been very relaxing to not have all this tension. Hopefully this will continue!

My paycheck this friday was fabulous because I was able to work so much overtime and this will help us catch up. I have been working very hard lately. Now that Naaman has a job, I am officially looking for a once a week nursing job somewhere. I have had an epiphany that I will need to do something because next year I have to start paying back my student loans and Abe will be 16 so I need to save up some cash for her first car. We need to get all our excess bills paid off - my van, my car, my credit cards. I only have 1 credit card left to pay off and the car is going to be paid off once I sell my house.

I still haven't had any serious lookers at my house. My agent surprises me on thursday afternoon by showing up with another woman with a camera. She has another agent co-listing the house now and they took some new pics to put on the realtracs website. She said they would be posted that night, but it is sunday morning and there are NO pictures - not even my old pictures. I am becoming more concerned that I will not be able to sell my house in time to close on the new house. Keep praying for us!

Changed settings..

to my blog because I noticed today on my tracker that someone from the Commonwealth Of Kentucky Dept. Of Information Syst is reading my blog from an email link. I never emailed my blog to someone in KY.

All I need..MORE stress

SO..I have this super huge thing going on at work and that is piling more crap on my plate for me to deal with. I can't really say on here as I can get in big trouble at work but I will say that I didn't do anything wrong, it's something else entirely. I am now jumpy and paranoid which is crawling into my sleep - what sleep I can seem to catch. I AM SO EXHAUSTED!

My daughter's 15th birthday is in a week and I am so broke I don't know what the heck I'm going to do for her.

We spoke to my realtor last sunday about changing the picture she took in March of our house and posting a new one and dropping the price $2000. She hasn't changed it and it's a week later. I know she's on vacation now and it's Easter so people probably aren't looking right now but still, something needs to be done so I can sell this place.

Naaman still has no job and every job opening he finds somehow or another doesn't fit what hours/position/whatever that he is looking for. I very badly want to get a second job but I haven't because my kids came to me and asked me not to because they want me home with them. Soon, it will not be a choice but a NEED.

I need a promotion, more OT or something because my paycheck simply isn't enough. My gross pay is more than Naaman's pay but after health, dental, vision, and life ins - plus union dues, retirement and taxes - I am about $600 shy monthly. I forsee a huge cut back coming in my life and it really pisses me off. HE PROMISED me this wouldn't happen when he got out of the army, that our lifestyle would stay the same at the very least. So much for that, huh?

I am praying for strength, wisdom, and patience to carry me through. So far, I haven't had a nervous breakdown - so He must be doing his thing.

He is such a whiny baby!

I got an email from HIM again. He sends me one like once weekly. See below!

----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: RossTo: Justyne RN, BSN Date: Mar 29, 2009 5:23 PM
Subject: hello again
sorry to bother you again i know your propably busy trying to move and all. I just needed to know if you had found anything out about the parental rights deal where you are. I also need to know if the address you sent me is still a current address or if i send the paper work if it will be forwarded. I dont know if you are still willing to sign it or not seeing how i cant do anything as far as just giving up parental rights without a adoption. please let me know so i can either send the papers off or just give up all hope of ever being able to get anywhere in life
--------------------------------------------

OOOOOHHH, that set me off. Here's what I wrote as a response but haven't sent it yet.

Ross,
First off, you are bugging me about this. I read you loud and clear the first time. You can't do it from there. I get it. YES I KNOW, you need Naaman to adopt Abriel in order for you to get out of THREE more years of child support and the countless years of back support. You aren't doing US a favor, we're doing you one. Things on my end are working fine the way they've been. A piece of paper doesn't make Naaman the father he has always been to her. I don't need your money and I haven't pursued child support from you. The state of Idaho did when I just wanted her to have health insurance. We are residents of TN so unless you see something from them, it's not me making you give up the money.

Adoption costs about $5000. You have an extra $5000 around that you want to give to me so you don't ever have to pay another cent again? Because I don't have the money right now. I'm not rich. I have to work hard for my money and I have obligations too.

I think I've figured out why you are in such a hurry and keep bugging me. April 15 is coming, you want your tax return and YOU KNOW if you file and want any money to come to you, you'd have to not owe child support. Not my problem!

I was very nice to you the first time you sent me a message. I was angered by one of your comments, but thought, I can be a bigger person and just play nice. You've gone too far now.

You are probably going to think I'm a bitch and you're probably right. I've had almost 16 years of growing up since I last saw you and honey, I've grown a pair since then. I was trying to be nice before despite your RIDICULOUS comments: "I know it sounds like im trying to cop out on everything but i am barely making it as it is trying to keep a roof and food for the 4 kids i have now" (key word being NOW when Abriel is FIFTEEN years old and born way before all those you have now) and now you've gone even further with my PERSONAL favorite "please let me know so i can either send the papers off or just give up all hope of ever being able to get anywhere in life"

It doesn't sound like you're trying to cop out, YOU ARE!

And DO NOT blame me or MY daughter for your inability to get anywhere in life. You made your freakin life choices. I made mine. Funny how I am sitting in a big house that I own, rocking a job I love, driving the car I wanted, had 3 kids while I was WAY young, STILL went to college...when I started in the same damn place you did..IN FACT- I started off with less because I've had to raise a child since I was 16. You sure didn't help me get here. The most I ever got from you was MAYBE $100 monthly about 6 years ago and since you have those 4 mouths to feed, you tell me how far $100 can get your kids for the month for food, shelter, supplies, and clothing - especially when they were babies. It is not OUR problem you are where you are - with all your new kids - apparently you haven't learned about birth control STILL.

Here's a tip - if you're broke, USE BIRTH CONTROL, and you won't have any more mouths to feed! You can pick some up for free from the local health department. That's sound medical advice from a professional!

------------------------
Should I send it?

I really like doing these..thanks, Angel!

Breakfast
If you could live in any home on a television series, what would it be?
I always loved the house from Charmed and you may not remember the show, it was on last year and lasted a season - Journeyman - it was the house next door to the house on Charmed and just as beautiful.

Lunch
What did you have for dinner last night?
Hot dogs, carrots, mac n cheese

Dinner
If you had to be named after one of the 50 states, which would it be?
California (Cali for short) or Georgia

Midnight Snack
What is your favorite flower?
Asiatic Lilies and Orchids

Recipe of the Week
(instead of your recipe for life what is it just for the week?)

There will be a time when loud-mouthed, incompetent people seem to be getting the best of you. When that happens, you only have to be patient and wait for them to self-destruct. It never fails.

- Richard Rybolt

Have courage for the great sorrows of life and patiencefor the small ones; and when you have laboriously accomplished your daily task, go sleep in peace. God is awake.

- Victor Hugo

The S-word is a different word in the ER

We are never to say the s-word, for it will surely bring down the curse of a jam-packed ER.
BUT....
Boy, is today a s!^w day. Where did everyone go? I guess the tornadoes, flooded streets, and downed trees from last night and more predicted storms are keeping all the patients home.

Wimps! I drove home an hour through all that last night and I'm back again today and I'm fine! :-P

Food for Thought

Breakfast
What is the last thing you ordered on-line?
I honestly can't remember. It might've been 2 sets of scrubs for me.

Lunch
What is your favorite dessert at a restaurant?
Tiramisu

Dinner
What game have you played recently that you had the most fun?
Always - Apples to Apples

Midnight Snack
What job(s) did you have while in high school/college?
I cleaned a couple of teacher's houses and babysat. In college, I was a tax-preparer and a nurse extern.

Recipe of the Week
(instead of your recipe for life what is it just for the week?)

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." - Ephesians 2:8-10

Giving it to God

I am SO stressed out. I was talking to the friend I commute with and started crying. I think things have reached a point in my head where if I don't do something or at the very least, talk about it, I may explode.


I am almost as fat as I was before I started losing weight last year. I am working a lot, trying to get as much overtime as I can. This coming week, I work Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. I am trying to sell the house we live in and I am busting my butt keeping my house SPARKLING clean so I can keep the house show worthy. I come home from work and start cleaning. I get up and clean. My kids are not very motivated to keep the house clean and require CONSTANT reminding. I suppose that is my fault for allowing the messes before and suddenly requiring such cleanliness. I am trying to buy a bigger house closer to Nashville, at the prompting of Naaman, who is currently unemployed. We already put this bid on this house, which they accepted, and we are having difficulty paying the bills we have. When he got out of the army, he promised me we wouldn't go down in income. He told me he would have the unemployment and when that ran out, he'd work. Well, it ran out and he isn't working - not really trying to find work either. I have begged, pleaded, threatened, etc and it just isn't working. It seems my only solution is to get a second job and be more exhausted.



SO....

I am just going to do what I should've done in the first place and give it to God. I always think that I need to be in control of the situation and make sure things go smoothly. It is not that I think God can't do it - I know he can. But somehow in my head it always involves me fixing it and God helping me. Like I am THAT important - like I am always the key to God's plan. HA HA HA! How stupid of me! If Naaman doesn't get a job, then I will follow through and get that job and that may be the answer.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4/2/07 - Ok, so I started writing that a while ago while here at work and had to leave to take care of a patient. Then I started to rethink posting it. I don't have internet at home right now, so bear with the delays.

On the day that I started the above post, I was reading the newspaper and saw an article about a new restaurant in Clarksville. I don't usually read this stuff, but the title caught my eye. The VERY LAST paragraph was so key, I almost skipped it. It said something like "They hope to expand their dessert menu soon with the help of local bakers." I read that and grabbed my phone and called Naaman. "Naaman get online and read this article and then you go down there with pictures and sell yourself and your wares BIG TIME!" He actually did. They seem interested in a few of his desserts and they have an upcoming meeting to try the desserts and discuss payment. I sure hope that this will be enough for us or at the very least a START in the right direction. PRAY for us!

Food for Thought

Breakfast
If your job made you move, but you could choose which country you would be living in, which country would you choose and why?
Like Angel, I would pick Greece. It looks so beautiful, is coastal, and the food rocks. I might consider Ireland or some South American country too for all the same reasons.

Dinner
What is something you can't help but spend money on?
Food - We spend $650 month on food! I would love to spend more on my house though.

Midnight Snack
What profession/job did your parent(s) have while you were growing up?
My mom did a few odd jobs now and then - one being she worked for the league of women voters registrar. My dad was in the navy when I was small, then he got out and was a composite worker

Recipe of the Week
(instead of your recipe for life what is it just for the week?)

Patience has its limits. Take it too far, and it's cowardice.- George Jackson

I never failed once. It just happened to be a 2000-step process.- Thomas Edison

It is a mistake to look too far ahead. Only one link in the chain of destiny can be handled at a time.- Winston Churchill

Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Trying to understand is like straining to see through muddy water. Be still and allow the mud to settle.- Lao Tzu

Forgive, forget. Bear with the faults of others as you would have them bear with yours. Be patient and understanding. Life is too short to be vengeful or malicious - Phillips Brooks

Professional Behavior

I am normally a very nice person, but the instant you piss me off - all bets are off. Most people that know me, know this about me.

I was screening on Friday and triaged a patient to the same day clinic. I know I did it right, but the person whom I sent the patient to did not feel the same way. This person called me up while I was talking to another patient. This person spoke rudely and condescendingly to me from the moment I answered the phone. When this person questioned me and I started answering, this person started yelling at me and when I asked them to please stop yelling at me,their response was something along the lines of "This isn't yelling, ask my spouse what yelling is!" At this point, I am getting angry and then purposely begin answering questions stupidly and as obnoxiously as I can. Then I begin pointing out how busy I am and the ER is because I am trying to get off the phone and this person accuses me of giving them patients just because we are busy. I tell this person the conversation is over and I hang up. I should've hung up sooner, but by then I was mad and wanted to get even.

What is even worse - this person put in the chart our disagreement, of course making them look great and making me look like an ass. The patient's chart is not a place for airing personal discussions. I don't care how stupid, how ugly, how rude I think someone is - I would NEVER put that in the chart. It is not pertinent to the patient's health. I would simply chart that I spoke with the person and what I did after that with the patient.

I sent this person an email detailing that and how they should have maintained professionalism from the start and I admitted to losing professionalism but only after being treated poorly. I did not apologize.

Well, apparently they sent this email on to their boss who then sent it on to my boss. My boss then spoke to me about it saying that she doesn't care about the email and that I was probably right and how to take this other person with a grain of salt. Have I mentioned how much I love my boss? She is the best.

Anyone want a nice house in Clarksville, TN?

Well, it's official - my house is on the market! It went on the sites last night and the sign was posted in my yard on friday. While my realtor was putting the sign in, she had a couple people stop and ask her about it. I hope we get close to asking price for it. It is a very nice house and I have been pretty happy with it. I am thinking some of the pictures might need to be redone. I don't want people to think my house has been on the market for long since it has snow on it and it's now March. It is not my fault it snowed 3 inches 2 days before the picture was taken ON FRIDAY! It is not supposed to snow in March!

My old house

AND the other people accepted my offer on their house. We have set the closing date for the end of May. I hope that we don't have to move until then.

New House

Day After Friday Food For Thought

Breakfast
What is the longest consecutive time you have spent in a car?
2 1/2 days straight. We drove from Post Falls, ID to Clarksville, TN stopping only for food, bathroom, and gas - which was usually all at once- and drove in shifts - 3 adults, 5 kids, 2 dogs and 1 cat. LONGEST drive of my life!

Lunch
Where would you go if you were invisible?
Anwhere I wanted to!

Dinner
If you could swim in any liquid what would it be and why?
This is a kind of creepy question...I would think you were slightly weird if you answered anything besides WATER!

Midnight Snack
What store do you shop at the most?
Walmart and Target.

Recipe of the Week
Instead of your recipe for life what is it just for the week?
Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil....Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear...Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
-Ephesians 4:26-27, 29, 31-32

Now it's all about the negotiations and waiting...

We put a bid on the smaller house. Our realtor spoke to the realtor of the bigger house and though he wouldn't come out and say no, he made it quite clear that his clients won't drop the price so much.

The smaller house needs a lot less work on it right now and I think that suits our family. We want the seller to pay the $6000 closing costs and a home warranty and bargained for them to drop the house another $500. That technically brings the price down from $169,900 to $163,400. Every house we buy is another step up, 1 more and we should be about where I'd like to stay for the rest of my life since we jump up $50,000 in price with each purchase. A $220,000 would be a nice place to spend the rest of my life in.

My house is going on the market tomorrow. Pray for His Will so we sell and end up in the right house.

How tall will your child be?

Saw this online and thought it was interesting. It says Abriel will be 5'7", Micah will be 6'6", and Noah will be 6'5". I kind of figured my sons will be huge. How tall will your kids be?
http://health.msn.com/kids-health/height-predictor.aspx

Another one missed...SIGH

Well, today was my big house-hunting day. I looked at 8 or 9 houses today and I am tired. I was hoping to see more but some that I liked are sold now or in the process of being sold. The ones I like are out of my price range and the MOST perfect house was sold for a steal about 2 hrs AFTER I saw it. SIGH! I am so bummed.

This house had everything and more that I wanted: all brick, corner lot, 4 bdrm, 1 scrapbook room/office, 3 ba, hardwood floors, kitchen with island, pantry, huge side entry garage with storage cabinets and shop light, split bdrm plan, fireplace, HUGE bonus room (24x24) with huge tv and surround sound, wet bar, dart board, attic storage, 24 ft above grnd pool with separate deck, 2 tier deck with outdoor ceiling fans and lights everywhere, under deck storage, privacy fence, and on a dead end double culdesac st with a wooded view. Almost 3000sq ft for $175,655 - which equals $66/sqft. Cheapest house I've seen! It was a bank repo. Oh well, guess it wasn't meant to be. There is another house very similar that might drop in price soon if I wait. It needs a little improvement to be what I want it to be, but it is a very similar floor plan.

There is a very cute house on bundy lane (see few posts back mls#1053974) but after seeing all the others it just seems to fall a little short now. All the bdrms are upstairs and the rooms seem a bit small. It is a very nice house with nice carpets and a huge garage but I guess after perfection it is hard to step back into reality and settle for the nicest I can afford.

My other choice is a VERY huge house but the carpets all need to be replaced and the garage needs to be pressure washed. LR has lots of kool-aid stains. They have this pit bull that has peed all over the downstairs carpet and garage and it stinks. If that happened and they dropped the price about $10,000, the house would be perfect for us. Another split bdrm plan - master down, 3 bdrm-bonus (with built in huge desk) and office/scrapbook room upstairs as well. Has a HUGE LR/DR and huge kitchen. It's also in a culdesac. This would be the top contender if not for the price and the stench.

Well, I'm off to job hunt for Naaman and for my 2nd job so I can get my dream house.

Day After Friday Food For Thought

I'll take a cue from my friend Angel and do a food for thought blog today.

Breakfast
What is the most interesting car you have ever owned and why?
I loved my little red 1999 Ford Focus. It was a stick, which I think is very fun to drive and great on gas. I had racing seats and a kick-ass stereo. I loved driving it on my 1 hr commute, I would zip through traffic like it was no big deal. It's only downside was it was a 2 door. I bought it November 2007 and a stupid semi hit my back end and totaled my car May 14, 2008. I only had that car for 6 months but I LOVED it!

Lunch
What book are you currently reading?
I am currently reading Deception and The Romanov Prophecy. Deception is a romance novel and the Romanov Prophecy is an action thriller. I am usually reading 2 books at once - to fit the mood I am when I am reading.

Dinner
Did you have any pets growing up?
My first dog was a cocker spaniel named Heather. She was such a princess of a dog. Then we got Stormy, our Great Dane. Those 2 side by side were hilarious. Stormy was pretty much my dog since I took care of her all the time. I loved that dog and she was so huge I could ride on her. We have also had tons of cats throughout my childhood. The one we had the longest was Kris. Kris was a beautiful birman cat with blue eyes. He lived to be 14 and then got a huge tumor on his neck. He was put to sleep about 2 yrs ago now. He was one of the best cats I have ever had.

Midnight Snack
How do you unwind at night?
After I get home from work, I talk to my kids and husband and then sit down and watch TV and/or surf the net. On a day I already have off, I usually read or hang out with my kids.


Recipe of the Week
Instead of your recipe for life what is it just for the week?

"Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties
disappear and obstacles vanish." - John Quincy Adams

"Energy and persistence conquer all things." - Benjamin Franklin

"Let me tell you the secret that has led me to my goal: my strength lies solely
in my tenacity." - Louis Pasteur

Anyone want to go?

I am going househunting on Monday with my agent. I have no one to go with and I wish I did. I am tired of waiting for days where Naaman and I are both off, so I set this appt up to go ALL DAY around Nashville looking for our new place. The problem now is I want someone to go with me to have a point of view/opinion that isn't just mine or the realtors. Everyone I know is busy working or some other thing is going on. I can go by myself and I will, I just prefer that I have someone besides my agent.

Well, the next best thing is opinions about the houses I am going to look at. So, if you readers could just look a few blogs down and take a look at some of my choices and give me your opinions, I would really appreciate it. Thanks!

Got a washer..and allergencies

Naaman bought me a washer today! My friend Janette told me about some scratch and dent refurbished appliance store in Nashville. Naaman found my LG Tromm front loader washer for $375 just because it was a display model that had a dryer on it that scratched it so they had to repaint the top. WHOOPEE-doo! I saved almost $400 because of that??!! I was watching it for like 10 minutes while it washed and I left with the intention of coming back for the spin cycle. I came into the laundry room and spin cycle was almost done. I didn't even hear it! I LOVE MY WASHER!!

On another topic...I was talking to Victoria on the phone and I could hear John in the background talking his cute little boy talk. He dumped a shampoo bottle down the drain today because shampoo makes him mad. That was his reason, seriously. He is his mother's son for sure! I heard him tell Victoria's friend Megan, "You know what? I can't eat strawberries because I have an allergency. If I eat strawberries my allergencies make me get a rash all over." Is that not one of the cutest things? I miss those kids SO MUCH!

Houses and Washers..know where to find a nice, cheap one?

About 2 days ago, my washer kicked the bucket. It started about 2 weeks ago, leaking every spin cycle, and then it just stopped spinning. I hadn't done laundry 2 days before it broke, so imagine how much laundry my family of 5 has accumulated by now. I am in DESPERATE need of a new washer. Any thoughts, advice, etc on what kind and where to buy it?

ALSO - we went house hunting this past Saturday. I looked at 4 houses and then made another appt with our realtor for Mar 9 to spend the entire day searching. I am hoping I find THE HOUSE that day. This week is it..my house will be ready for sale by this weekend. I need prayer that we sell our house quickly but not before I find the new house - prayer that the timing is just right and in His will.

If you are so inclined, you can check out some of the houses we've been looking at/hoping to view. To look, go to http://www.realtracs.com/. Click on search for a property. Click on the tab "search by MLS number" under the map. Enter the numbers below. After each one, you can click on the tab labeled "New Search" to put in each MLS number.

The front runners so far are:
1053767 (pretty nice neighborhood, huge and cheap, not so great schools, haven't seen inside personally, corner lot)
1022581 (beautiful house, 1 car garage, small back yard, no back neighbors close, eat in kitchen, great schools, busier street than I'd like)
1053974 (LOVE this house - huge yard, huge garage, 4 bd, 2.5 BA, master BA has whirlpool tub and sep shower, nice galley kitchen, formal and eat in dining, fireplace, bonus room with weird sink for no reason, great schools, corner lot)
1059837 (no pics yet, but I've been in it - cute outside, beautiful dark wood cabinets, dark granite counters, dark wood floors in kit, all appliances convey and are blk, crown molding throughout, no bonus room or fence, shallow 2 car gar, not so great schools)

Some others I want to see are:
1037558 (old, foreclosed home, no other pics, in very nice expensive neighborhood near a lake)
1058102 (over 1/2 acre land, kitchen needs updating, fireplace in kitchen)
1034013 (plain outside, gorgeous BA, no garage, lots of space, 1 acre land)
1055065 (not so great schools, lots of space, laundry off kitchen, hideous pink bonus room)
1056543 (smaller than I'd like, nice floors, in Murfreesboro which means terrible traffic in commute)
1050511 (HUGE, no pics of inside, commute from Murf)
1056778 (kinda small kitchen, commute from Murf)
1043910 (unsure if is built, nice floor plan, commute from Murf)
1025765 (nice house, big, no fence)
1032570 (no garage, light cabinets, pretty yard with no back neighbors)
1048464 (crowded school, commute from Murf)
1047321 (small garage, unsure of neighborhood)
1053329 (crowded school, bald yard)
1024523 (crowded school, serious need of paint)
1045025 (love the neighborhood, good schools, bit $$, similar to house I've seen already)
1054548 (good schools)
991821 (not that fond of the all white kitchen)
1020032 (not very much counter space in kitchen)

These are some I found on another website:
http://www.thedailyclassifieds.com/framework.asp?f=idx.asp&r=816778
http://www.thedailyclassifieds.com/framework.asp?f=idx.asp&r=817113
http://www.thedailyclassifieds.com/framework.asp?f=idx.asp&r=793678
http://www.thedailyclassifieds.com/framework.asp?f=idx.asp&r=818080
http://www.thedailyclassifieds.com/framework.asp?f=idx.asp&r=818752

Fun...me?

How strange is this? Two days in a row having fun, not working, AND this fun did not involve my house or my family. I love my family and I love spending time with them BUT I have not had any fun outside of the house for two days in a row that did not involve work or family. Well, I was hanging out with friends from work but outside of work.

Tuesday night I drove out to Nashville to have a couple drinks and hang out with some friends. I met Janette and Christie at work so I could follow them to this restaurant called Red which is attached to a bar called Tribe. We were to meet Ron and his partner, Jack, and another friend from work, Shane, at this place.

Us girls entered the restaurant and it was funny because I noticed everyone kind of turn towards us. I thought we just entered loudly or something. We looked around the restaurant and didn't see Ron or Shane, so we walked around the corner to the lounge area. Ron was sitting there watching TV. We went back to the restaurant area and sat by the window and we were given the menus. I had already eaten at home, so I wasn't planning on ordering any food but I wanted to see what they had for future reference, if I wanted to come back. I started giggling because this menu was pretty original in it's titles.

Instead of Appetizers it was called "Foreplay". Tossed salads titled with the word "tossed" very emphasized. Sandwiches were called "Meat in the Middle" and it was at that point where I reached a realization. I looked back up and around the room. Janette, Christie and I were the ONLY women in sight. My eyes widened in recognition that I was sitting in a gay bar! This was my very first time and I remember thinking that even though I am an adult, if my mother were here she would yank me out of there so fast I'd have whiplash and nursemaid elbow from the strength of her pull. I mentally shrugged and thought, "Well, add this to another column of eye-opening experiences."

The others ate their meals and we had great conversations. Jack is a flight attendant and has some very interesting stories. To him the world is so small, for instance, he was talking about how he was telling a friend he had to go pick up his paycheck that day and that they could go out for dinner instead of lunch. The friend said to him, "Pick it up at the airport? We could still make lunch." To which Jack said, "No, I have to fly to Cincinnati and I'll be back in 3 hrs." Flying is such a big deal to me and to him it is like getting in a car.

Then yesterday, I volunteered for 2 hrs in Noah's class by doing a project for the teacher that she has never had the time to do. After that, I went with Janette to eat lunch at The Looking Glass. I love that place and I was so glad she wanted to go. We then met up with her jeweler who designs, creates, and sells jewelry. Some of his stuff is a bit gaudy for my tastes but Janette loves that stuff. He had the most beautiful gray pearl necklace, a pretty simple square setting diamond ring, and a few other things I wish I could afford. Someday! We met him at this antique shop - which I plan on going back to in the future. It is PACKED as packed can be, but it isn't all junk - there are a lot of very nice things. I saw a bunch of things I want. Too bad I don't have the money. I had a really good time yesterday too.

Today is my lazy day. I want to wear my pajamas all day and watch TV.

End of Life

I sometimes get attached to my patients. I know that is not a bad thing, but sometimes it can be. Some are nicer than others, some just tug at your heart a bit more, and some just drag you into their crisis like you are a part of their family.

I had a patient the other day that was there for a neuro consult - rule out stroke vs. brain mass. When he arrived, EMS said that he had become a little more confused on the ride over and became combative. They also told me his mother was on his way here too. Apparently the CT was not completely clear, so they were unsure if he had a huge brain bleed or if it was a large mass. The night before his mother noticed he had trouble grasping his fork and then she finds out he has been hiding other symptoms from her because he didn't want to worry her while she is busy caring for his very sick father. My pt recently moved into their house to help his mother care for his father.

I stayed with him all day long. He was much more complicated than he first appeared to be. I had to stay with him to watch for any further changes in his condition (seeing if he has less or worse weakness in legs, hands and arms, making sure his pupils are working right, and asking on a time schedule if he knew who, what, where, and when he was). He had right side paralysis and could only tell me what his first name was when he first arrived. Sometimes he could answer all the questions and then an hour later he could only tell me his first name. I am not sure if he just didn't know the answer or if the damage in his brain was preventing him from saying what he wanted to say. I asked our ER doctor why it would come and go, she said the brain is a mysterious thing still and maybe sometimes the neurons that need to fire for him to be able to answer can and sometimes it can't.

I went with him to MRI and held his hand when he got scared (MRIs often induce claustrophobia, even in people that never felt it before). I saw the MRI result that showed this man's death sentence. He has a very large brain tumor (glioblastoma) on the left side of his head that is deviating and herniating his brain. Deviation means it is pushing it off to one side of the head and herniating means it is pushing it down into the brain stem area too. The herniation is more deadly than the deviation. He is not much older than me and this made me very sad. When we got back upstairs, I became very emotional and had to go sit in the break room where Shane kept trying to make me laugh until I felt better.

I watched the doctor tell him and he cried and kept saying "No, no." About 15 min later, when I asked him those same questions again - he could tell me his name but either he couldn't answer the other questions or he didn't know the answer. I wondered if he even remembered the doctors conversation. I asked our doctor if the neurologist and neuro surgeon were coming so I can send him to a floor that can give him more in depth care, she tells me that they said they wouldn't see him until the cancer was staged (they wanted to see if it had spread and if the tumor was a primary or a secondary tumor).

What difference does that make, SERIOUSLY? This man has a tumor so big in his head that it is SHOVING his brain out of the way to make room for itself causing these terrible symptoms and if his brain herniates it will kill him. Will knowing that make a difference in where he was going? NO. Will knowing if the tumor is the primary or secondary change the fact that this tumor, no matter where else cancer may be located, is the tumor that is currently causing the biggest problems? NO. So why shouldn't he be brought to a private room, in a comfortable bed, with a nurse that can give him continuous, better-equipped care? Then they can go figure out all the rest of this crap.

About an hour before I finally got him upstairs, he starts trying to climb off the end of the bed. He is talking to me in logical full sentences and is able to stand! I asked him those same questions and he knew the answers. His answer to if he knew why he was here: "I'm dying." and then he gave me a sad little smile. I asked him if he was scared or in pain, he said, "No, just sad."

After I brought him back upstairs, I watched his nurse try to ask him the same questions and he couldn't say his last name.

I pray that I or anyone else I know is never afflicted with this terrible disease. Can you imagine being trapped in your body and wanting to say something but can't get the words out? Can you imagine how frustrated and helpless you would feel? Keep this anonymous man in your prayers.

Abe's First Formal

I admit I get very emotional with my children's milestones. Every milestone is a reminder that they will be all grown and on their way to leaving. Abriels first formal/date with a boy is no different

Notice how far apart they are?

She looked so beautiful and grown up. The boy looked so cute in his JROTC uniform. They were so funny because when we were taking their pictures, they were standing so far apart I had to make them move closer together. They were going together as friends, not really a date. He got her a corsage too! BUT just put it down on the back of the couch, I had to put it on her.

Once she left, I cried big time! I kept seeing her as a toddler and then thinking of her looking like the young lady she is now. It is very depressing to realize I only have a little more than 3 years left before she is considered an adult. What happened to the time?

She got home at 11:30, I waited up even though I had to get up @ 4:30 the next morning for work. She looked like she had a good time and apparently relaxed enough to get within 2 feet of her date.

Abriel and Amber