2010 Update Blur

I know it has been since August for an update, I really thought I would be better about this blog. Truly, my life is pretty boring, so I also thought it was boring to others to read. Anyway, here is my life recently:

We went camping for Halloween and the kids had a great time. Ashley was in the magic show and thought that was pretty cool.

My Granny had a heart attack and triple by-pass. Things were not going well and she was put on a ventilator, ultimately, she made a huge turnaround and will hopefully be released from rehab within the next week or so. Always make time for your family, you never know when you will see them last or when you may not get the chance to say just one more thing.

A co-worker from Sears has a 10 year old son, Ewing Wilson III that was recently diagnosed with leaukemia. Please pray for a speedy recovery!

Baby Sam has his stem-cell transplant tomorrow. He turned one on Thanksgiving Day (11/24).

Thursday

This week has been a little hectic as we had our server crash. I just about missed Ems birthday on Monday, for working with the IT person to try and atleast get the office up and running.

Em turned 8 on Monday and it is just hard to beleive how much she has grown. We have not planned her party yet. She starts 3rd grade this year. Tomorrow we are going to get school supplies so she will be ready next week.

Its been a while....

Sorry its been a while since I posted. We have been busy, as everyone else. Em's birthday is less than 2 weeks away and I have planned nothing! The girls also go back to school in about 3 weeks. We have been building a deck on the pool, I am hoping to have it done soon, Mark has worked really hard on it.

Back to reality! Vacation is OVER!

Well, we ended up making a weekend trip to the lake last an entire week! We had a great time with great friends. We went out on the boat almost everyday, we went to Amish stores, took the kids to the movies to see Toy Story 3. I have got to get back to my Boot Camp, because I eat WAY too much on vacation!

My neice, Lindsey, just has a few more weeks until her baby girl will be here. I am excited for them and praying she can find peace knowing everything will be just fine.

Well, I must get back to the grind!

July 4th Weekend

We are going to a friends house for the weekend. Should be some swimming, fishing and some good eatin'! I have not had a softdrink for a week now, and it will be tough getting through this weekend when they have ice cold cokes in the cooler!!! But if that stuff eats corrosion off a car battery, it truly can't be good for me, so that is what I keep telling myself! I got a week off from bootcamp, but I start back next week. I hope everyone has a safe and fun 4th of July weekend!

Weekend "Stuff"

Ashley and Emily got to spend a few days with Aunt Anna this past week, we got to go to Nolin and not worry about what are kids were doing, fixing them plates, making sure they had life jackets on the boat, etc. I know it sounds a little selfish and lots of people would love to have the opportunity to do all these things for the kiddos, so I hate to sound like it is a chore. I just mean it was nice to relax and watch everyone else chase their kiddos around!

I have this week left in bootcamp and then I am off for a week. I will tell you, I needed the class and I am glad I have done it, but I am looking forward to a week off.

Gosh, now I have been so negative, I need to atleast be pleasant to some degree.

We did get squash, bell peppers and jalapeno peppers out of the garden. We had a very enjoyable time at the lake. I will try to be more positive at my next post!!! ;8)

Boot Camp - AGAIN - GEEZ

Ok, to be honest, I did NOT want to get up for boot camp this morning. But, I decided I want to get healthy and that it would be worth it! I am sure it will pay off, because if what I am doing doesn't work at helping me become healthy, NOTHING will work!

I made my 1st batch of homemade laundry detergent last night, and then washed my sheets. So far, I like how it is working. Everything smells fresh and clean with no extra chemicals added for scent. I let Em help pour in the grated soap and the water and she thought it was really fun. Next time, I may let her help a little more, before ya know it, I will have her making it for me!!!!

Hope everyone has a great day!

Remember Friday is the Baby Sam Fish Fry at FBC Mt. Washington. Please consider coming if you can. There will also be a dessert auction and corn hole tournament.

Boot Camp - Session 6

Boot Camp seems to be getting a little easier. Each week we change our exercises just a bit to cause muscle confusion. Although this weekend, I ate WAY too much. I will just blame the company!!

Marks brother, David and his wife Cindy and kiddos Dave & Molly made a sneak appearance on Thursday! Luckily, Marks mom did not have a heart attack. Seems the family rehearsed a certain phone call, calling Granny to tell her how much they miss her and how they wish they could see her soon, but it would be another year. As Granny sat on the phone chatting, she had no idea that they were walking in her back door from Port Aransas, TX. We had a nice time visiting with everyone, but they had to head home today.

Today is mine and Marks 13th wedding anniversary, I think we may celebrate this weekend.

Ashley had a Jr. Scout ceremony, where she earned her bronze award for community service. She will now be a Cadette Girl Scout. Her troop leaders and all of their help are the best! The girls in the troop have had an excellent experience with scouting as a result of wonderful leadership.

Baby Sam started his 3rd round of chemo and he has been a little on the sick side, so if you will keep the family in your thoughts and prayers! There is a benefit fish fry this Friday for anyone that can make it.

Also, I have a very dear friend who has a brother that was hit by a car. He has bleeding and bruising on the brain and a broken leg. He has some mental and physical disabilities and this has really been a tough few days for their family. He is responding now and we will continue to hope for fast progress so he can move out of ICU. He is at the best trauma hospital in the area, but there are also alot of things that are unpleasant there.

Hope everyone has a great night!

Boot Camp Session 4

Well this morning was a tough workout, it was the same as Monday, but with the soreness still hanging on from the Monday workout, it was tough. We start out with jumping jacks, trunk twitsts, arm circles and do about 3 sets of each to warm up. Then we get into groups of 5ish (we were down on attendance this morning), we do squat thrusts (which I look ridiculous doing), jump rope, bench presses with the exercise balls, something that looks like your are climbing a mountain on the floor, squats with kettle bells, set ups and leg lifts, oh and there are these ladder bar things your run through, then sideways run through and then bunny hop through. The cool down is a bit easier with side bridges (except when your arm slips in your nasty sweat), side bends, and stretches. It is very intense pretty much the entire time. I know I have sweated more in these 4 sessions than I have in 4 years combined! I have been drinking A LOT of water and trying to eat a bit healthier! 8 more sessions to go!

Boot Camp - Session 3

Ok, Session 1 was TOUGH and I was sore on session 2, but session 3 worked out well! I have changed eating habits, buying myself 1% milk, healthy proteins and limiting my softdrinks to 1 per day (I don't drink coffee and I don't smoke) I have to be allowed 1 habit!!! The instructor said we will be sore tomorrow, I am hoping he is wrong! We changed our program a bit today, i guess to give muscle confusion!!!

Boot Camp - Session 1

Today I started something very new to me...... I started a 4 week "bootcamp" class at the gym. It is 3 days a week for 4 weeks. It started off ok, but by the end of the class I was about worn out! I haven't sweated like that for a long time....maybe never! They say I will be sore tomorrow and I do beleive them!!! I am excited as I want to see what results I get, but I also know it will be a tough journey, learing to eat properly and do what is best for my health! Gotta keep motivated....I CAN do this.

Baby Sam had his stem cell harvest yesterday, they didn't quite get enough, so they are going to try again today. I know he wasn't feeling well yesterday. Keep his family in your thoughts and prayers, they are a wonderful family and handling everything with so much grace. It makes you thankful for healthy children, whether they are yours or not. I know this is my personal opinion, and I know it is a bit negative, but it just doesn't seem fair that a little fella should have to go through so much! He is a trooper and we just pray that the treatment works well as his momma says.

Ashley graduated 5th grade yesterday, its hard to think she will be in middleschool this next school year. I am not sure that I am ready for it!!! Guess I better get there! We have orientation tonight.

Hope everyone enjoys their day.

Tuesday, can you beleive it is June 1st???

We had a wonderful and relaxing holiday weekend. Our friends invited us to their lake house at Nolin to enjoy in their fun! We ate a lot! We went out on their boat and just relaxed and had a great time! It is hard to beleive the time went so fast, but time does fly when you are having fun!

Baby Sam's stem cell harvest should happen this week. Keep his family in your thoughts and prayers, he will start Round 3 of chemo next Tuesday. The little fella is just a doll, and such a happy baby. His benefit Fish Fry is 6/18 for anyone interested in supporting this family.

Ashley graduates from 5th grade today, I am not sure if I am ready for middle school, but I guess I better get there!

Hope everyone has a great week! I am so glad summer is here!

It's Monday and the weekend is OVER!

This weekend, as most, was extremly busy. My sister, my friend Tina and I went to a Tyson chicken sale and filled our freezers! Mark and his friends put the roof on our carport, mowed, did errands and all the normal stuff. It seems like the weekends just fly by, as I am sure it does for everyone.

I am really looking forward to next week. I have decided to sign up for a 4 week "Boot Camp" at my gym. I am really hoping that this will help me start seeing more results than I have been seeing from going to the gym on my own. I am thankful to a dear friend Tina who has met me at 5:15 am to workout for the last several months. Our mornings will soon end, and I am sad, but looking for ways to continue in the afternoons if at all possible. We have worked to hard to let it go.

To all who are familiar with Baby Sam, he has just finished his 2nd round of chemo and did a little better this round. We are hoping and praying that he and his family will be blessed with good news and healing for little Sam. It just doesn't seem right for an adult to have to go through what he is going through, what alone a child.

Looking forward to this weekend at the lake with friends! Thanks for the invite John & Kelly!!! You all are awesome!

Happy Anniversary to Mike and Jen!
Happy Birthday to Shawn!
Happy Retirement to Pap!

Well I will wrap it up for today! Hope everyone has a wonderful week!

Wednesday 5/19

My cousin and his wife are expecting their 1st child, a baby girl to arrive today.

Life has been a little busy these last several days. Mark mowed all day Sat., so we didn't get our garden in. Then, it rained ALL day Sunday, so again, we didn't get the garden in! Maybe this weekend. We really want to get our deck started so we can open the pool.

Thursday! WOOHOO!

The weather has been beautiful all week and I just feel a sense of peacefulness in life. It's a great feeling and I am not really sure why I have it. I think I just feel really blessed to have such a happy and healthy family. It's nice that when you have friends and loved ones, they love you unconditionally, even for your faults. You take so much for granted until you realize how desperate you COULD be. Desperate for healing, desperate to have a loved one back, desperate for so many things. No matter what you have going on in life, SOMEONE has it worse than you. When things can't get much worse, know you have friends and loved ones that would do anything for you!

I hope everyone enjoys Mother's Day, I wish my mom could be here! I miss her often, but holidays just bring it more to the forefront. I hope that everyone makes time for their mom, and if your mom is not here, make someone else's day pleasant! (Because that is what your mom would want you to do!!) My mom had such a kind and gentle heart!

On a happy note, my cousin Matt will be coming home soon from Peru, where he is a missionary who has committed a minimum of 5 years to the people of Peru, for the birth of his first child, a daughter. Congrats Matt & Charla!

My neice Lindsay has a baby on the way (due in August) and her husband was admitted to the hospital yesterday. Please keep them in your thoughts!

Thursday (Derby Week)

I am so thankful for getting off early today due to Derby festivities. I usually don't do much for the Derby, although last year, I won the money pot at Bridgette and Chucks Derby Party! I LOVED WINNING! Today is the Derby parade and although the kids would love it, I just hate driving to Mt. Washington and then turning around and driving back to downtown.

I am still asking that all of my wonderful friends keep 5 month old baby Sam in your thoughts and prayers, this was his first week of chemo. His family has been strong for so many others and it is amazing to watch them deal with the issues with such grace.

Have a great day!

Monday

It is a typical Monday, I was on the phone and chat with Verizon and Palm over my new phone for what seemed like an eternity, however, I know with other friends problems, I should be thankful for dealing with Verizon/Palm for that long!

On another note, Little Sam will be starting Chemo today, please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers. They need all the support they can get right now. They are a faithful family and know that God has a plan for Sams' life, but I know as a parent, I could not imagine going through what they are going through.

I am looking forward to permenant warm, sunny weather!

It is FRIDAY!

I have learned a lot this week. I have dealt with some personal issues as I will call them and I have found that some people are just unreasonable and negative. I have watched friends be dealt difficult days with the death of one's father and the sad news of one childs' condition. Both of these families have been humble and faithful even though the shoes they were given to wear, were not shoes I am envious of. It is amazing how family and friends can pull together to get through each other through trying times, while other families like to tear each other down. It is amazing to watch people be thankful for their last 7 weeks they are given with their parent or thankful to be able to hold their baby as long as God allows and not be as bitter as people who have great lives with many blessings and few problems. It is amazing how supportive your true friends are! I have always been someone that just "deals" with negative people, but this morning I have officially decided to rid myself of people who are like that. I refuse to allow negative people to affect/influence my moods and my behaviors. I have a lot to be thankful for and I am going to live the best I can. I hope everyone can relate and make the right decisions for them-selves. I know I making the right ones for my family and I.

Thursday FINALLY!

This week has been a little crazy, but I always have to remember that everyone is facing their own issues! I am glad it is finally Thursday and I start my weekend very soon! For all of those that have said so many kind hearted things about my friend Cassies' baby (Sam), I wanted to let you all know that his cancer (Neuroblastoma) is considered HIGH risk, which is not what his mom and dad wanted to hear. I could not imagine having a baby that seems so healthy and being dealt this illness. So, with that in mind, PLEASE continue keeping them in your thoughts and prayers. We also have some dear friends Lea & Bryan and Bryan has lost his father this week, so keep them in your thoughts and prayers as well.

Friends baby Sam

Last week we had a friend who's 4 month old baby was diagnosed with neuroblastoma (A form of cancer). He is so cute and so "normal" in appearance. It sometimes makes you question God, although I know he has a plan, it is still difficult to understand. I know I am not supposed to question, so it really is hard. I know if I struggle with it this much, what his mom and dad are going through. I can not imagine going through everything that his family is going through right now. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers!

Weekend

This weekend was a great preview to upcoming summer! We were outside most of the weekend, Mark mowed our lawn, our neighbors (She had a brain annurism and has a tough time) and cleaned up limbs out of Yvonnes. He tilled our garden and we planted onion sets, radishes, and lettuce. The girls had a great time "helping".

The girlscouts had a pancake breakfast on Saturday morning and it was great! Both troops made quite bit of money and the girls had fun taking orders from friends and family.

I also took the girls to see a movie on Thursday, since it was Spring Break and I took a day off to spend with the kiddos. Ashley had Carly over Wednesday night and Thursday and then on Friday, both girls had friends over (Bailey and Julia).

It was certainly busy days, but we had great times! Looking forward to opening the pool in about a month!

Sara, Tommy, Joshua & Annie

Well, Sara, Tommy, Annie and Joshua leave today. We are all sad to see them go, but really glad they took the time to come and visit! Ashley and Emily have got to play with their cousins a lot during this spring break and I am sure it is memories that will last a lifetime. I think little Annie MUST get her red hair from the MOATS side of the family (HAHAHA!). I will be taking tomorrow off from work so I will have a 5 day weekend!!!! WOOHOOO!!! Still promising to download some pics soon!

Emily

You know the conversation is not going to go well when your seven year old says "I know this isn't nice and I never thought I would say it but"........ Sometimes we have to work on empathy and taking the high road. I will leave it at that.

Monday

Today, Sara is coming to Kentucky and bringing Little Tommy, Annie and Joshua. Ashley and Emily are on spring break and I wish I was too! This morning Em asked me when I would be home and I told her as soon as I can be, she said "No, I don't want you to", which is much different than what I normally here, and then I realized, she doesn't want me to come home, because she wants to visit with Sara and the kiddos longer! Smart thinking on her part, but I must admit, it caught me a little off guard this morning.

I will post some Easter pics as soon as I take the time to download the camera. Yesterday, we had a great day. The only bad part was Ash and Em didn't get to play with Kaylie and DJ because we had to leave as they were getting there. Mark would say the only bad part was he had to mow! We then went to dad and Joan's and then Mark and I went to the hospital to visit a very dear friend. It was a full day, but the weather was beautiful and warm.

Easter Sunday

Happy Easter to all! We will be going to Yvonne's for dinner and dad & Joans for an Easter egg hunt later. The girls were so excited after dying eggs last night. I love spending time with family, I wish I could see ALL of my family (hint to those of you in Ohio, West Virginia and Peru!!)! I will try to add some pics on here later if I get home in time to download the camera. The girls have started Spring Break, wish I had too!

Saturday

The girls just dyed Easter eggs. Tomorrow we will be enjoying the day with family. My great brother in law came and helped Mark get part of the roof stuff on the carport we are building (It was very helpful, Mark does not like heights without much support)! Now Mark is mowing while I blog, I mean while I do laundry! The weather has been beautiful and I hope it stays that way!

Yesterday was a beautiful day and we are expecting great weather again today! My wonderful brother in law came to help Mark with our carport building, (THANK YOU!!). The afternoon wasn't what we expected and we have some dear friends that need all the thoughts and prayers that can be sent their way.

A lot went on yesterday with some very dear friends, it was a tough afternoon. When you think you can't handle anything more, know that God will not give you more than you can handle (even when it seems like you are at a breaking point). Know that there are friends that will listen for as long as you need and know there are people there that love you, even when you don't think anyone does. Know that when people make threats, they need your help and threats aren't always empty. If I am your friend, know that I don't care who else is or isn't, how rich or how poor you are, what you have or don't have. I am your friend because I care about YOU directly.

Well Hi all! I typed a long "blog" the other day and then had a server error so it didn't post. This week has been different but in a nice way. Mark has been on the early shift all week due to training, so yesterday, he picked up the kiddos and I went home and started dinner. Usually I have to do both, so a nice little break. Tomorrow is supposed to be near 80 and I just can't wait! It is hard to beleive another month has already passed this year, but that means summer is getting closer! I can't wait for days to get home and let the girls go swimming. They just love that!

Well I typed a really long post this morning and when I tried to post it, there was a server error. So I am going to re-test

Monday

Well, looks like Ashley will be signing up to play an instrument tonight, she is so excited. If she doesn't sign up for 6th grade, then she can not play in the future. I sure hope she does not need help from her parents! I think I will take the girls to Dairy Queen tonight with their report cards to allow them to claim their hamburger and fries for their grades!

Starting the blog again!

Ok guys - I thought about how fun it would be to blog on a regular basis and years from now, look back and see what actually happened in our lives, the funny things that we forget! I started it a while back but then only posted once. Let's give it a try again!

Ashley is in the 5th grade and Emily in 2nd. Next week is Spring Break and the kiddos are really looking forward to it. I am wishing I would have appreciated Spring and Summer breaks more when I was in school, because you sure don't get the time off once you are in a work environment!