We're in the home stretch.......

February 23 is right on down the road here....3 more weeks....and my Granddaughter is here!!!!!! Everything is pretty much in place...well as in place as it could be considering that I am dealing with my son...who at the moment is being a butthead...I called to ask him if he and Manisa had decided where they were going to be when the baby comes....at Manisa's how or my house...He didn't know yet....OH...didn't know yet...I have only been asking him for the past month...I have to get my place in shape then for the arrival of the baby if they are going to stay here....that means I need to get all the stuff they are going to need to have ready at my place...you know..diapers, clothes, wipes and whatnot...I finally gave up and called Manisa....She and I decided that she will be here...Figured I would have to go thru the wife...hahahaha...I love Patrick but I am afraid he's in for a rude awakening when the baby finally does arrive...Life as he knows it will cease to exist....It will be filled with messy diapers, spit up, Doctors, crying and smiles.....Oh those sweet baby smiles.....and the way babys smell right out of the bath...I think he's going to put down the XBox cause Kiari Rose will be much more interesting....

But ladies...just so you know...I have been working on the curse...I have been saying it and repeating myself since Patrick was little...You know....the Curse that says I hope you have children that act just like you did??????? I will happily await that first phone call from Patrick....It will be the one where Kiari won't leave stuff alone..."Really?" I will answer happily...Or she's figure out how the child proof cabinet locks can be undone...Or that pea got stuck up her nose...One of a whole bunch of things....And I will sit there smiling, knodding my head knowingly....


Cause I know with when she's with me....She's grandma's little angel who doesn't do anything wrong and I can spoil her..............Yes....I am going to love this guys!

So glad that the week's finally over..........

Get to sit at my desk for lunch instead of having lunch with Mike (one of the perks of working at same hospital) I am waiting for a phone call from Glen's teacher...I really need to discuss his homework issues with her...I like his teacher but I will say she's not a "Seasoned" teacher...you know...fresh out of college and doesn't know how it all works yet????

My sister, I think, is finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel so to speak...As most of you remember her hubby fell off the AA wagon and thier lives had taken a downward spiral???? Well he is going to jail...in fact he reports Feburary 4th...Diane has been really trying to just deal with it until Mike goes...but it's not been an easy road...Mike got control of the money and stayed at the bar all the time...sometimes he'd come home...sometimes not...bills weren't getting paid and it was basically a nightmare...Hey I've been where she is....I know exactly how she felt...

She finally contacted Welfare (She hated to do that but she really didn't have a choice) and found out she's eligible for just about anything they could give her...So now she and Justin have Medicad and Food Stamps...and they called the electric, gas and water company and explained her situtation...so now she doesn't have to worry about anything getting shut off...I told her to find out how much basic phone service would cost and I would foot the bill for that...It should only be about $20 a month...It's just been really tough on her...I know that when Mike leave for jail...she will be able to get herself together and in shape...As for Mike going to jail...every one agrees that Mike needs some serious help...once the judge heard the whole story...he agreed and apparently the jail Mike is going to has tons of counceling, support groups and Psychiatric care for him...I hope that he utilizes it fully...Like I said...with the exception of last all this bullshit this past year...Mike is a heck of a guy...

Not sure what Diane is going to do...There' s part of her that wants to file for divorce but the other part that says give him a chance...They've been married for 10+ years so it's not an easy thing for her to do...I've told her that what ever she decides I'd support her whole heartedly...So has my family...who also has been brought up to speed on this...I was the only one who knew what exactly was going on...no one else did...I finally convinced her that the rest needed to know....she needed moral support...So I called the troops (if you want to call them that!)

I also asked Diane if Michael's ex knew about any of this...and she said...Of course she did.....she told Diane that "Well looks as if I got what I wanted...Mike will never see Lindsay again.." Can I smack that bitch????? UGH! That totally pissed me off...I hope she grows warts all over her face....or worse....

Lastly the only thing else that happened to Diane was she has to put her dog Delila down...She got hit by a car on Monday...Di was pretty tore up about this as Delila is to her what Asha is to me...and those that know me..know how much I love my little dustmop of a dog! She still has Samson (they were actually brother and sister) but Delila had that special place in her heart...So with all that mess...this had to happen....but she's doing okay knowing that next week Mike goes and she can start rebuilding....I personally think she's going to be just fine but I did let her know again that if she needed to pack it all up ...I'd come get her and bring her and Justin down with me....Sometimes knowing that you have a place to go....takes weight off your problems.....


Well Gang...Gotta get going here.....Ya'll take care now!

HI GUYS!!!!!

Okay finally have a little bit of time to write until the courier gets here with our morning mail....GEESH! Have we been busy!

I've just had a lot going on lately...I've checked out other blogs but I have had writer's block when it came to my own...Oh well...I got over my slump...The slump I was in slowly got worse and last week I found myself wanting to cry all the time...I think everything in the book was setting me off and everything was getting to me...I blamed hormones for the most part as it also happened to be Mother Nature time...I told Mike I was just tired of the way things were going...(Not between he and I-just things in General) Something needed to change...Mike and I talked about how I was feeling and we came up with some solutions to fix the problems....I hope they work....

The first one was dealing with Glen's homework....I am at work from 7:45 until 5pm, come home, eat and then precede to spend the next 2-3 hours working with Glen every night to get him to get his work done...I am not kidding here...Glen is hyper and figets a lot...We have talked to his teacher and she has changed things in the classroom to make work more easier for Glen...it's when he gets home that the problems really start...Mike and I both agreed that I was the better of the two to handle his homework as it is heavy on English and that was my best subject...They are doing expository writing in class and he has to write something everyweek...When Glen and I sit to get his homework done....His focus is gone, and he constantly moves his body so most of the time I am trying to get him to sit still....Hence what should take 45 minutes to complete takes 2-3 hours...This was EVERY night...I just got tired....I love Glen but this was going way beyond ridiculous...Plus there were issues about how much I should help him with...Glen wanted me to hand him all the answers and I was not going to do that...He needed to learn how to think for himself and to do his homework by himself...This had been going on for several months...There was no way to get anything else done during the week and the rest of the stuff was suffering...Mike never realized how much I actually did until I couldn't do it...I was frustrated cause I wanted to but by the time I got done...All I really wanted to do was hit the bed....But like I said I hope we've solved the problem....We'll see...If not we may come up with something else....


So this is what we have done...They have homework help that Glen has been instructed to go to in aftercare...He bucked the system on this as it took away playtime in aftercare...We put our foot down and basically told him that his homework was his responsiblilty, he was to get it done before playtime...(That's what my kids did!) I would check it over when I got home for corrections...As far as the writing is concerned, he was to do that as well but on a separate sheet of paper for me to look over for mistakes...Then when I got home, he would re-write it...much neater of course...His teacher counts penmanship! YEAH!

We also went over responsibilty in doing his homework by himself....This was done for two reasons...first to make sure he knows he needs to get it done...If he doesn't do it in aftercare after this week... "I forgot" is not accepted, and there is a consequence for it as well...secondly to see if he is paying attention in class as far as knowing what to do...(For which I suspect is also a problem) If his work is done wrong then I will wonder if his mind is wandering and not focusing on class...That's a possibility where Glen is concerned...I have raised 2 ADHD children so I pretty much know what I am dealing with...We will keep in contact with the Teacher...For the most part Glen is on track in Math, science and social studies but reading and writing are his problems...I am also trying to get him to read more...I had a slight issue with his teacher as the reading homework he has during the week instucts the parents to read to the kids...I disagreed saying that Glen would hear the story but not pay any attention to the written words, He needed to read the story himself...She finally realized that it really made more sense to do it my way...Lastly we are trying to deal with his constant fidgeting when he is trying to do his homework...He needs to learn focus and control...This is essential for Hyper kids....and it starts at home...This is where Mike let me take the reins here as I have dealt with this before and he gave me his blessing...So now everytime that Glen fidgets....I deduct 1 minute from his bedtime and he goes to be 1 minute earlier and so on.......He can quickly loose a half an hour let me tell you! LOL....This is actually working and I do see him trying to keep still...

Glen is not happy about any of this but he has to deal with it...I told Mike to expect it to get worse before it gets better....that's usually how it goes...Last night was the first time that homework was finished and I could get other much needed things done around the house....

And speaking of that....(Femminists everywhere will send me burning bras for sure) This was another thing that Mike has been trying to change me on...And I have been bucking the system...So to speak...My Dad never taught me how a woman was to think...I developed that on my own...I may talk about Men helping out with the housework...laundry and all that...but when it comes right down to it...I actually feel guilty....there I have said it...Whew..wasn't that tough...I hardly let Mike do anything around the house...He works all week as well but he comes home and cooks dinner and that's about it...I really don't let him do anything else...If he trys to help fold clothes...I tell him to go and relax...I got it covered...I do all the other housework minus the bathrooms (The kids actually do those-and the dishes as well) I really never voiced how I felt about this primarily because I know that I shouldn't think this way??? That may not make a whole heck of a lot of sense but as I said...This is me...and this is how I think...So needless to say Mike has been trying to get me to realize that he can help out too....that I already do way too much and I should let him chip in...Guys...This has actually been really really tough for me...When girls talk about how men are...yadda yadda yadda...I chip right on in but the reality is I feel that Mike should not have to take care of the house....I should have to do that...Smack me if you want...but I am trying to change that...

I think that's why I was feeling so overwhelmed last week and near to tears...how I think was in conflict with what was happening and I really felt like I was failing him somehow..Well I had 4+ loads of laundry to fold last night and I let him help me get those done...for which I got a finger in my face cause I folded 3 loads and he folded one (SORRY...I just fold faster!!!!!) I'm trying but I gotta tell you...It's really hard to change your mentality.....

There's more to write about all this but that covers the main points....in the midst of all this with family...I was also dealing with my sister...Remember how I said on here that she needed your prayers???? Well..things have gotten steadily worse...I will go into that in another blog...there's a lot there....But please keep her and her family in your prayers guys....she really needs them right about now...

I think the only bright spot is that I now have a month left until I finally meet my granddaughter!!!! I have so been looking forward to this...you cannot imagine...Manisa has been feeling wonderful all throughout this pregnancy...she and I have pretty much gone over just about everything....I was also quite frank with her about post partum depression and I talked to Patrick about it too...I had it with both my kids...not bad of course but I wanted make sure she knew what to watch out for....I stressed to Patrick that he was going to have to find a way to make sure Manisa gets time for herself...to regroup and all that....I am glad that we can all talk so very openly with me about all this....

I think the only other thing worth mentioning is that my daughter Hayley finally told her father something that shocked and amazed me....For those that have known me for a while know that I am none to fond of the woman he married...Patrick at one point called her a "Psycho Bitch" and that's sorta stuck thru the years...Ah but this is what my ex left me for...At any rate...Her Father and this.....um....person....fight...and they fight alot....Last weekend I guess they had a whopper of one and Doug ended up walking home from a park...Hayley trotting right along beside him...She finally said "Dad....if you guys get a divorce...I wouldn't care at all"....(Steph...I really hope you weren't drinking anything! hahaha) I guess she then vented to him....and then to me....She's none to fond of this person either whom Hayley finds very controling and not at all like me...(as if she could be hahahaha!!!!) Now please keep in mind that while I have my own colorful opinions of Doug's wife...they have never been voiced to Hayley...this is all on her own...Love that child I do!!!!! After she vented we had a long talk.....it was really good.....

Well...I think that should do for now....I have way to much drama in my life...UGH!......


You all take care now.....And Stacy....if there's a way.....you can send me all the snow you want!!!!!

A little bummed out today......

Just way too much on my mind today as I woke up....Kinda bummed me out but only slightly....

I only have 2 and 1/2 months here on my job...then it ends...HCA (They own the hospital I work at) has been slowly over the years consolidating certain functions...So far they have consolidated the business office (Patient billing in other words) purchasing....now they are consolidating Account Payable (where I am at) These departments now run out of Service Centers...Still owned by HCA of course...The problem is that where they are moving AP too...I do have the option of moving to the Service Center if I want...but it's just too far to drive...would take me over an hour to get there and to get back....2 hours a day on the road??? Also for the money it's not worth it to move and the area is not all that great...

SO...I have been scoping out other jobs at the hospital...I'd really like to stay here and not loose my benefits...I've been here 12 years...so I'd hate to loose all that time as well...Keep your fingers crossed that I find something here! They are paying us a pretty nice chunk of change when our jobs go away so that will definitly keep me afloat until I find something...I may just take 2 months off to just be a regular old housewife! I've been thinking about it! It would drive me crazy to take off more....I'm the type of person who needs to be working...I cannot stay home for long periods...but I do think I need a break! I shall miss everyone that I work with....They were a great bunch....We definitely had our ups and downs...especially between me and my boss!!!!

Then I am bummed about Patrick....He's been told (and this too may change-it has so many times already) that his unit will head to Iraq in September for 7 months...I am so hoping this changes for him and he stays...He is going to miss so many things with his new Daughter...He's won't be here for her first Christmas!!! (That really bums me out!) Her First steps...(I will be chasing her around the house armed with a camcorder!) Now don't get me wrong here guys....I am so very proud of him for being a Marine...but I gotta tell you that it is a hard life that our service men and women lead these days...Especially in Iraq....That scares the crap out of me...Now logic tells me that he works on C-130's (For those that don't know-they are the bug supply planes) and will pretty much be out of harms way but who can tell over there any more??? I am just venting I know....it's just been a really hectic past couple of days for me....I'll get over it.....I am looking forward to my Grandaughter's arrival! I think all we have to buy is a bassinett and we are all set...Manisa's closet is about to explode with all the stuff we have for her....

Ah well...I had better get going...Talk to you all later!

Okay this was cute!

You Are a Beagle Puppy

Cheerful, energetic, and happy go lucky. And your sense of smell is absolutely amazing!

What Breed of Puppy Are You?

I love beagles!!!!!


And this was oddly amazing too:

Your Famous Blogger Twin is Wil Wheaton

You're a friendly, funny guy (or girl) next doorWith more than a touch of geekiness

Who's" Your Famous Blogger Twin?

Considering those that know me know I am a Star Trek Fan.............

I got the "Back to Work After Vacation Monday Blues"......

There's a country song in there somewhere.....and Tim Mcgraw is singing it........


I have to say that last week was very productive having the week off with the children.....We had a really great time New Year's Eve...Although I think Hayley and I ate too much shrimp (is that even possible???) I spent Sunday, Monday and Teusday mega cleaning...dusting...vacumning...doing up all the laundry and going thru all the crap we had accumulated the year before...I felt very good taking care of all that...no more dust bunnies....no more clutter!

Suffice to say I now have enough stuff to get rid of for a garage sale...We tried for one last Saturday but it didn't go very well...This Saturday we are going to the Drive-In where for $20 bucks you can have a spot and sell your stuff there...I hope it goes okay as hundreds of people flock there on the weekends for it...The Kids also have stuff they want to sell...I hope they sell everything!!! hahahaha....

Other than that...I finally started the boys on Guitar lessons...Their Mom had bought them each one of those "First Act" guitar's for Christmas...They are perfect for first guitars for Kids their ages and size...Monday found us at Marathon Music to pick up a pitch pipe and tuning of the guitars...I can keep them in tune afterwards and I upgraded the pitch pipe for an electronic tuner just this past weekend as I found out they were on sale! So finally we were all set for me to teach them! Now I will admit that I am rusty on a "Git-Fiddle" but I was amazed at how much came back to me while giving the boys thier lessons....I was even more amazed at how well Wesley did....We went over everything and he picked it up no problem at all! I was really impressed at his memory skills at memorizing the stanza's...I know it's going to get harder on down the road but he seems pretty determined to learn...I hope so...but I had also told the boys they could quit at any time....I was not about to force them to learn...so for now Wesley is enjoying it....I really hope he keeps up! Glen on the other hand....Well....er....Glen makes a really beautiful racket on his guitar....hahaha...But then he is 8, still a little guy....He wants to learn but he wants to play also...can't blame him there...So lessons are sorta playing around and maybe hitting a few notes....As long as he has fun! I will admit that I can only take them so far in lessons...if they surpass what I know...then I will get them lessons with an instructor....I mean I can play....I can play almost any chord/note on a guitar...it's the speed at which my fingers shift from chord to chord that has always been my problem...it was never quite there...A quarter beat between chords always ended up a whole beat....and while practice makes perfect...I don't think this was true for me...but I still loved it and may even buy me another guitar at some point...(I had sold my old Ovation a long time ago) But what I know is more than enough to get the boys going and playing...So when I work with one child I use the other childs guitar to practice along with them...I have to say...It's really been a blast! Hayley is excited too as I had told her that if she keeps up making the Honor Roll this year...She will get an electric drum set...again...the beginner's desktop ones WITH HEADPHONES!! Told her she was on her own learning as I know nothing about hitting the skins...but I have scoped out some really good CD-Rom's about learning how to play drums...

Now If I could just get Mike to learn how to play bass.............mmmmmmmm.....Mike playing bass.......Okay mind wandering there.....hehehehe....We'd be a regular Partridge family! "Hello World there's a song that we're singing...Come on get Happy!!!!"

Now does everyone have that song going thru thier head now??????



Take care all!!!!!!