Did you get an Influenza A shot?

We didn't and boy did we get it! Molly started getting sick the Friday before Christmas. She ended up with a wicked cough. The day after Christmas I took her to the doctor. On Christmas morning Ike had three more presents left to open when he announces he is going back to bed! We tried to talk him into staying and finish opening and he just said, "No thank you" and headed to bed. He's four mind you. By Wednesday Jake was miserable and Marissa had 104.3 temp. With all the coughing aimed right in my face it was no surprise by Thursday I was down for the count. Bruce drug us all to the doctor on Friday but by Friday night it was lights out for him as well.

According to the Nurse Practitioner, had we all been good little boys and girls and gotten the flu shot we would not be in such shape. Well, if you know me, you know all these shots are NOT my thing so I guess its egg on my face! Oh well, we WILL survive the flu in 5 to 7 days. Would we survive the cancer we get from getting all these “necessary” shots??? I know, I know…but that’s me!

Peek a Boo!

Thanks for finding the camera, Molly! 

"Is it leaning a little bit, Mama?"

This is truly a child's Christmas tree! Bruce put the tree together and the lights on. I put the tinsel garland on and the kids did all the rest! Now, I did have to do a little clean up on it because Ikey thought putting as many ornaments on one branch was just peachy!

We put the tree in "Bruce's corner" in the family room this year. It works, but now as I look at the picture it truly looks like an Ozark Hillbilly Christmas with his gun rack in the background! After Molly and Bruce put the star on, Molly got off the stool and stood back and said, "Is it leaning a little bit, Mama?" Yip, it sure enough is! Hopefully it will last the remaining 7 days until Christmas. Next year Bruce wants to chop a tree down from the farm. I just get visions of "Christmas Vacation" at the thought of that...

Well, from our house to yours..."Merry Christmas"!! And as Ike likes to say, "Happy Birthday, Jesus!" 

A lesson in teeth whitening

I had a dentist appointment last Friday and found out some interesting facts about teeth whitening that I thought I would pass on to ya all. First off, if you are thinking about whitening, the hygienist suggested that two weeks prior to using any whitening product you switch to sensitive toothpaste, like Sensodyne. Most regular toothpaste has ‘sodium laurly sulfate’ , which is what makes the toothpaste suds and also takes a protective layer off the tooth. (Can’t remember what that protective layer is called…) Anyway, that’s what can make the teeth sensitive after years of brushing.

Now if you bleach your teeth the follicles in your teeth open up. Yes, you have follicles in your teeth just like your hair. (Interesting, didn’t know that.) When those follicles are open they will take color/stain so if you are bleaching do not eat or drink anything that will stain your teeth for 12 hours after you bleached. You need to give your teeth time for the follicles to close back up.

The dentist office offers much better products to whiten than “over the counter”. Of course, much more pricey too! What she recommend was custom designed trays and syringes to the tune of $390. Sorry, don’t think so! They also offer the Crest Whitestrips Professional for $95. They have better, longer lasting chemicals than the Wal-Mart Crest strips. But she said that if you were going to go the over the counter way, using strips, Colgate’s White Strips were the best. Then she said for the best overall effect though using trays were better still than strips. There are some over the counter products that use trays but I haven’t researched what they are yet.

One last note. If you have any crowns or bridges they will remain the color they already are!! They will not whiten or lighten with the bleaching. So…if you’re sporting a three crown bridge like I am…BEWARE! I’m still thinking about it. Do I want to risk sensitivity? Will my bridge stick out like a sore thumb? Will I end up like Ross on that one episode of “Friends”? And probably the most deciding factor of all…will I spend that much money on myself??? Oh the vanity of vanities!!

Say Mama

Bruce thinks Marissa thinks my name is "SayMama" because I'm always telling her..."say Mama!" She smiles and smiles.

I took Marissa to her re-check last week with the developmental specialist. She has made such progress since we started giving her floor time! In November she was 6 weeks to 2 months behind on some skills but now 4 weeks later she has improved by 6 weeks. So, her adjusted age at the visit was 31 weeks and she was checking out at 28 weeks. She made improvements in her attention and focus and her fingering (being able to pick up something as small as string) and being able to transfer a toy from one hand to the other. She is so close to being able to turn over from her back to tummy. And she gets on all fours in the crawl position and rocks and rocks like she has somewhere to go. We are all praising God for her improvements every time!!

She is not feeling so hot right now. Jake was sick earlier this week and she has been having a low grade fever and whiney for her. She acts like she has body ache. Ya know, how you just don't feel good and want to whine? Bless her heart, she's still as sweet as she can be!

No more appointments until Feburary! Then she will have her 1 year check up! (Birthday is January 26)

Sorry no pictures to post. The camera has been MIA. Molly found it last night under a pile of clutter!

Please don't make me angry. You won't like me if I'm angry!

Molly saw the original movie of Bill Bixbie/Lou Ferringo in "The Incredible Hulk". The first time he turns into the Hulk is in a rain storm and he has to change a flat tire. Molly said, "If he only had a flashlight and a cell phone he wouldn't have had to get so mad!"

Bruce explaining to Molly that there were no cell phones in the 70's and her looking completely lost was priceless!

They are so spoiled and they have no idea!

You know you are getting old when...

1. Just because you were a Roller Skating Queen in 7th and 8th grade, that doesn't make you a R.S.Q. at 39!! Last Friday I took the kids roller skating for the very first time. I thought I should strap on some skates to be able to help them. Whoa! What happened? Could 25 years (and a lot more pounds) make that much difference? I hope I haven't done permanent damage to myself!

(By the way, the kids LOVED it! Molly fell down the most but never hung to the wall. She just kept getting up and trying again. She even limboed and speed skated! Nothing was keepin her off the floor! Ike thought he was an old pro. He was skating around with his hands in his pockets! I am so proud of Jake! He was scared to death as soon as he stood up on the skates! He clung to wall so he didn't fall that much but after a lot of encouragment he would slowly move out from the wall. He even tried the limbo. They all want to go back again.)

2. When you can't read the instructions on the back of the medicine box. I recently wanted to give Marissa some baby tylenol so I turned to box over to see the dosage. Oh man! I could not make out those tiny, tiny words! I strained and struggled getting my arms in the right position to see! Then I have noticed it since trying to read the boys label on their underpants to who's is who's...I can't see the size! I'm finding more and more stuff everyday I can't see! How can this be???

3. Your birthday was yesterday and it didn't even matter that you had a meeting to go to!

Thanks for all the birthday greetings, cards and surprises! Life is good!

Jake's 1st Piano Recital

Can I just say one word? Precious! Well, of course I am going to say more than one word! He was great! He was number 4 on the program and he got right up from his seat and sat down at the piano and played "The Little Drummer Boy". He did awesome! Then he stood up, turned around to take a bow and saw all eyes on him. He froze! He was like a deer in the headlights. He couldn't move. Bruce motioned him 3 times to come on back to the seat but it was like his feet where just planted there and his eyes as big as saucers! Bless his sweet little heart!

He had been practing Little Drummer Boy since October. He started taking lessons in September. We couldn't be any prouder of him! That is his teacher in the picture. I really like her. She has the patiences of Job. Every week she tells him the same thing about his fingering and timing with such kindness as if it was the first time she's told him.

I tried to upload the video we made to YouTube to share with ya all but I'm not computer smart! Next is Federation is March. That's where you are judged. He has a new piece all picked out. I'm impressed...it has sharps! 

Grrrr! More Ranting!

OK, here I am approaching my birthday. What does that mean? In Missouri it means that your drivers license could be expiring soon as mine does. Bruce, who turned 39 Nov. 21, already went through this with renewing his license. He told me there is a new law called "Show Me Proof" (isn't that cute, they try to ease it in by using our state slogan!). This new requires that you have Proof of Lawful Presence, Proof of Identity and Proof of Residency. In order to provide this proof you need a birth certificate. Sure, I have my birth certificate. It's filed away somewhere very safe. So safe...I can't remember where it is!!!

Well, I went to the local health department and paid $15 for a stamped and sealed copy of by b.c. and proceed to the renewal office. I pull ticket number 99 and they are on 88. As I am sitting there in the chairs they have posters all over saying "READ THIS!!!". I begin to read. If the name on your proof is not the name you are using today then you also need to bring proof of name change. C'mon! You're killing me!

I have a marriage certificate somewhere. Probably filed very safely with my birth certificate. In order to get a copy of the marriage certificate I have to go to the recorder of deeds in the county I was married in. That would be Buchanan which is about 4 hours away!!!! Grrrr...

OK...this is getting out of control! I understand we have an illegal problem and need to make sure that we are not giving drivers licenses to just anybody. But seriously, is killing the legal citizen with paper work going to correct this problem? I think not. It's just like gun control. Making more paper work for gun owners is not going to stop the thugs from getting their guns!! Please! What happened to common sense??

I understand that this is a lesson in my organization skills and I am working on finding that exact right system. (Flylady) I still say that all this paper work is going to do NOTHING to stop the ornery person who shouldn't have a drivers license from getting one! Remember before you were 21? Enough said!

Birthday count down begins!

Only 8 more days till my birthday! Turning 39 is not something I though would happen this soon! Seriously, I can't be passed 27! Thanks to Kendra and the 3-4 color she does her magic with...you can hardly tell I have any gray hair! I do feel it in my bones though. I'm not nearly as spire as I was when Jake was a baby/toddler. And my patience is eroding away. I'm not sure that's from 39 years gone by or 4 kids! I can tell you I am feeling less and less self righteous with each passing year. Humility definitely comes in years and children if nothing else!!

I couldn't be happier with my life approaching 39!! I have the kindest, funniest, loving, most patient, hardest working husband! And he's so much more than that! I have the sweetest, funniest, most forgiving kids! I have a church family that is kind, loving and compassionate who strengthens and grows me! Friends and family that love me even though they know me...very well! I am truly blessed! As I count down the days until my birthday I feel safe, secure and so greatful to my Lord and Savior for 39 years of life and 20 years of them knowing Him personally!