7 kinds of sex....

Thanks to Richard's Aunt Carlyne for sending me this in an email! I love it! ;)

The 1st kind of sex is called: Smurf Sex.
This kind of sex happens when you first meet someone and you both have sex until you are blue in the face.

The 2nd kind of sex is called: Kitchen Sex.
This is when you have been with your partner for a short time and you are so horny you will have sex anywhere, even in the kitchen.

The 3rd kind of sex is called: Bedroom Sex.
This is when you have been with your partner for a long time. Your sex has gotten routine and you usually have sex only in your bedroom.

The 4th kind of sex is called: Hallway Sex.
This is when you have been with your partner for too long. When you pass each other in the hallway you both say "screw you."

The 5th kind of sex is called: Religious Sex.
This means you get Nun in the morning, Nun in the afternoon and Nun at night.

The 6th kind is called Courtroom Sex.
This is when you cannot stand your wife/husband any more. She/he takes you to court and screws you in front of everyone.

And last, but not least, the 7th kind of sex is called: Social Security Sex.
You get a little from time-to-time, but not enough to live on.

Ah, the words a woman loves to hear....

Kyra: "Daddy, you have to clean the house and be nice to mommy today because it's MY BIRTHDAY!"

LOL! I can already tell that being five suits her well! ;)

*sigh* My "baby" is FIVE!

Five years ago, on 6-16-01, this beautiful little angel came into my world and changed it forever. I will never forget the day that she was born. I was in total disbelief that I was "a mom" and was very unsure of myself. But I was in love. I looked down at this tiny creature and couldn't believe my eyes. She looked exactly like me as a newborn. Even my dad felts pangs of "deja vu". Her daddy took one look at her and his heart melted.

Life with her was not easy those first few weeks. She was very "colicky" and cried a lot. She wanted to be held, then she wanted to be put down. I was a mess. Richard said that he couldn't deal with both of us crying! LOL! But around the 6 week mark, I felt better and we finally found a formula that suited her. Then life was golden again.

She slowly progressed into the most easy going baby ever. She didn't get into much and was perfectly happy sitting in front of the TV and watching "The Wiggles". She also did everything early. She cut a tooth at 4 months, crawled at 6 months, and walked around 11 months. Yep, this kid had it all together. But did I? ;)

Her toddler years were wonderful too. She was such a sweetheart and adapted well to people and social situations. She loved school. She grew to really genuinely care about her family and friends. She loves to talk, but remains quiet when she's supposed to be.

As a preschooler, she found her artistic and imaginative side. She loves to draw. She loves to pretend. I catch her doing the cutest things and just sit there in awe and smile. She's made friends.....lots of them. She now has a sister that she adores. She's worried about how *I* will adjust when she goes off to Kindy in the fall. That's just how she is though. She puts others before herself and I'm very proud of her for that. She very seldom worries about herself. She's always concerned about others.

I can't help but look back at these last five years and marvel at how far she's come. She's gone from this tiny little baby to this very grown up and independent individual. I never dreamed that she would be the wonderful person that she is today. But she is. And I love her for it.

Happy 5th Birthday Kyra Marie! Mommy, Daddy, Maeve, and Mia love you more than words can say!

Tomatoes, anyone?

This is about 3 days worth of tomatoes. Richard has a huge tomato crap, oh I mean *crop* outside along the fenceline. We are up to our eyeballs in tomatoes. The cherry tomato plants are slowly taking over my backyard. There's just too many darn tomatoes on them, so they've given up and grown outward instead of upward. *sigh*

What do we do with so many tomatoes you ask? Well, we have given lots to friends and family. My dad took some to my sister the other weekend and kept some for himself. I usually get Richard to make some fresh salsa for us and we eat it with chips or on salads.

Kyra really likes picking the tomatoes. When my sister and I were little, we couldn't wait to go to my grandma's house to pick eggs that the chickens had laid. I think that Kyra gets that same excitement from picking tomatoes. ;)

Oh happy day!

The girls and I went swimming with Dean (their Godfather) and Jake (his little boy) today. They all had a blast. Maeve was a little timid at first, but she soon warmed up to the water. Kyra was all over the place. She had her floaties on and was all over the pool. Their neighborhood pool is really neat because it's very shallow on one end (like 1-2 ft.) and slants slowly to get deeper. We'll be meeting some friends in Lakeway tomorrow, so we are going again! Kyra is so excited. This afternoon, both girls crashed hard on the way home. I love wearing them out! ;)

Then I get home and check the mail and my new Body Flow and Body Step releases have arrived! I swear it's like Christmas when those things arrive! So I have my work cut out for me within the next two months. I've never learned two releases simultaneously. It will be interesting.

Have a great weekend!

A lot on my mind....

I was going to do a "Thursday Thirteen" today, but blogger wasn't working for me, so I gave up. :(

Richard's mom is coming on Sunday and probably staying through next weekend. Richard is having surgery on Tuesday morning. We have to be at the hospital by 7 and surgery is supposed to start around 9. This time we'll probably be there overnight. His mom will be here with Kyra and Maeve. I'm pretty relaxed about the whole situation. I know the kids will be fine. As for Richard, he'll be nervous, but maybe it won't be as bad as it was last time because he'll know what to expect. For those that want to read up on what's going to happen, go here. Richard's condition is called a PFO or Patent Foramen Ovale. I'll update on Wednesday when we get home. Just keep him in your prayers.

I also have to get everything together next week for Kyra's party on Saturday (the 17th). We are having it at Buda City Park in the morning. I hope for good weather. I wish it would be overcast that morning. We're having pizza and cake. I got Kyra a pull-string pinata. The theme that she chose is Hello Kitty. We have like 13 kids invited. There will be lots of adults too. I just hope with Richard's surgery next week that I still have time to get everything together.

I was supposed to have my teeth cleaned in March, but with everything that went on with Richard, it got overlooked. I still have to make that appt. July is coming up and that also means it's time for "the annual". Lovely.

Kyra has to go in for her 5 year well check this month. She'll be getting the Hepatitis A shot. It's a series of 2. It's not required to go into Kindergarten, but it is recommended. The school nurse told me that sooner or later, the state of Texas will probably require it. At the end of July, Maeve will be 15 months and she'll go in for a check and some shots, so I might get Kyra's 2nd Hep A shot then.

Kyra's also due for a dentist appt. in July. Ugh.

In August, it's time to recertify for AFAA (fitness certification). I'll probably send my stuff in in July to give them a month to get everything processed and sent back to me. So, I have to get that together too.

Oh, and I keep having to remind my forgetful husband to take his medicine. Since it's a week before surgery, he's on baby Aspirin and blood thinners. He'll have to be on them for 6 months afterwards in order to avoid blood clots. This is so hard for him. He's not very responsible in the pill department.

We are thinking of going to Corpus for a few days in July. I'm excited to be able to take the kids to the beach and maybe to the Aquarium. Kyra will love it.

OK, I'd better quit now. My head is spinning. ;)

Dear Kyra,

Thank you so much for teaching your little sister how to scream today. The joy that I experienced by listening you two go at it all day today is immeasurable. I never knew that a 13 month old's scream could be so loud and high pitched. As a result, my head feels just lovely tonight. I'm sitting here thanking God that He blessed my children with such wonderful sets of lungs. Here's to an even better (and louder!) tomorrow!

Sarcastically yours,
Mommy

Gym gems....

I kid you not. This entire conversation was loud and overheard by me while I was in the bathroom stall in the ladies' locker room at the gym today.

Girl #1: (Obviously looking frantically in her bag) "Crap! I forgot my (tennis) shoes!"

Girl #2: "You what?"

Girl #1: "I forgot my shoes. I guess you'll be working out solo today." (By this time, I had concluded that they were co-workers and workout buddies)

(At this point Girl #2 is starting to freak out)

Girl #2: "But you HAVE to work out with me today. Hey, why don't you just work out in your socks? We are only doing chest and triceps anyway today."

Girl #1: "No way. I AM NOT going out on the gym floor in just socks. That's embarrassing."

Girl #2: "No it's not. (Probably only thinking of herself) Just do it."

Girl #1: "No."

Girl #2: "I think that I have a pair of gym shoes in the back of my car. I should go get them."

(By this time, I'm thinking that they are both stupid.)

Girl #1: "We should just go grab a bite to eat, grab the shoes from the car, and then work out after work today."

Girl #2: "Okay."

LOL! It was so "junior high" how these girls had to "hold" each others' hands. Geez. I wish I could have been around to see if their workouts are indeed intense of if it's just "social hour".

Earworm Monday.....

I'm participating! YAY!

Go here to hear something that's sure to be stuck in your head for a while! LOL!

And if you remember the earworm above, go here. I'm sure you'll remember this one too!

Enjoy!

It's Jen again! ;)

I was tagged.

2 Childhood Fears:

1.) Gorillas

Yeah, laugh all you want. It all started one Halloween in Schulenburg when we went on a hayride around town to trick or treat. I must have been 3 or 4 years old. There was an older boy dressed up as a gorilla. None of the other costumes bothered me, but this gorilla one did. I was horrified. My mom kept saying, "Kim, there's someone under there. It's not real." and I just kept on screaming! LOL! To this day, I can't stand Halloween and all that comes along with it. I'm a total grinch about it. I think people dressing up in costumes is just stupid. I don't understand all of the hoopla surrounding it either. I'd just rather put my kids to bed without any candy and call it a night. I guess that one bad experience totally ruined things forever.

To make matters worse, I had yet another gorilla encounter in Schulenburg soon after that. We would go to the Schulenburg Festival parade every year and the Shriners out of Houston came and one of their floats was a big cage with a gorilla in it. By the time the float got to where we were sitting, the cage was open and the gorilla was gone. He was roaming the streets shaking peoples' hands and scaring the living daylights out of little kids. Everyone knew how I hated gorillas, so they were like, "Hey buddy, come over here!" Niiiiiice. Gotta love family that's looking out for you. :(

2.) The "Boogie Man"

To this day, I have no idea who the "boogie man" is/was. I just used to always hear, "The boogie man is gonna come get you if you don't behave." WTF? What's amazing is what parents can make up to scare little children AND the fact that the little children will believe anything they say! We were so naive. We weren't those kids that said, "You're just making that up....there is no boogie man!" Nope. We were stupid. Richard has even told Kyra that if she doesn't eat right, the "junk monster" will come and get her. She believed in the "junk monster" for about a week. Now she refers to her daddy as the "junk monster". *sigh*

So if anyone knows who the "Boogie Man" is and what he does, please let me know. ;)

***I tag anyone else who reads my blog who hasn't participated in this one yet.

Ridiculous....

Now this is absurd. WTF? I heard that the website sent one to the new "Jesus" aka Shiloh Jolie-Pitt. $17,000 for a pacifier? Are they nuts? Don't they know that the dog usually gets a hold of that thing and that pacifiers require frequent washings? Pacifiers aren't JEWELRY for goodness sakes!

Ugh! Stupid, stupid people.

"My boyfriend's back and you're gonna be in trouble..."

http://people.aol.com/people/articles/0,19736,1200409,00.html

He's mine! All mine! ;)

Let's talk soaps.....

So the one that I'm going to talk about today is "Guiding Light". My mom used to watch it when we were kids, so naturally, we got hooked on it too and I've watched it on and off for years. Now this might not be the case with the soap(s) that you watch, but mine has changed a lot and I don't like it. I hardly ever tune in anymore because it's gotten so ridiculous.

I don't understand why when an actor or actress leaves the show, they immediately decide to recast the role. Hello? Give us a chance to get used to the person being gone first! They throw a stranger into the mix and then I'm all confused. The acting is not the same and it's just so weird hearing a stranger being called by a familiar name. You don't see actors/actresses in primetime being recast. If they leave the show, then the writers must concoct a reason why they aren't shown anymore. And believe me, nine times out of ten, it's better that way. Leave good enough alone and move on.

Another thing that they do that REALLY ticks me off is that they kill off wonderful characters and try to bring them back years later as someone else. WTF? You made the mistake the first time. Live with it. My beloved characters are GONE because of you. Don't bring them back as someone else that I will NEVER get used to. Ugh. This is my biggest pet peeve of all of TV. Dumb executive producers.

On that last note, please stop bringing every Tom, Dick, and Harry onto the show. I cannot get used to all of the new people! And stop firing the veterans! The veterans make the show! It's non-existant without them! We love old fashioned love stories when characters are happy for more than 5 seconds. Quit making everyone sleep with everyone else. The "Who's The Daddy?" storyline has been done so many times. It's over. Done. Finished. If you want to let your creative mind run free, then surely you can do better than that.

What ever happened to Friday cliffhangers? I guess they don't exist anymore. I used to hang onto Friday's episode all weekend long and I couldn't wait for Monday to arrive to see what happens. Instead on Friday after the show, there is a "spoiler" for Monday's episode and you don't even see Friday's storyline on Monday's episode. You have to wait till Tuesday or Wednesday to see those characters again. No fair. So much for trying to be "suspenseful". By that time, nobody gives a damn.

Again, the storylines are ridiculous. Cousins sleeping with cousins? Who's the daddy? Breast cancer, but not telling your family? "Accidentally" kissing your sister-in-law? Come on! These things never happen in real life! If you want to connect with your audience, give us something that we can believe in for more than 5 seconds.

I'm banning this soap from my TV and my mind. I'll only tune in if I'm beyond depressed and need a good laugh. ;)

Tagged yet again.....

It was Jen this time. ;)

6 Weird Things About My Childhood:
(this ought be easy....I was a weird kid)

1.) My sister and I used to have "Barbie weddings". We'd line up Barbie and her bridesmaids and Ken and his groomsmen and have them pose for a group photo (like at a real wedding). My mom was the photographer and to this day, they are in a photo album somewhere.

2.) Like Kyra, I carried my very own "blankie" around. My mom and dad called it my "covers". Only I couldn't say "covers". So I called it my "cawcas". LOL!

3.) Lisa and I also played "church". We would kneel against the sofa and distribute communion to each other. We used to take pieces of white bread and smash them up to form a Host. ;)

4.) The mailman used to call us "little boys". My lovely mother (rest her soul) gave us these Dorothy Hamill-like cuts only they almost looked bowl-like too. *sigh* So we'd be out in the driveway and the mailman would walk by and say, "How you boys doing today?" Lisa would yell, "We're girls, not boys!" LOL!

5.) We had a tape recorder and Lisa and I used to tape ourselves singing into it....pretending to be in a studio and making a record. It was hysterical! One time, we were arguing about who was singing what song and it actually got recorded by accident. Ooops! (See, I told you we were dorks.)

6.) We also played "hotel" and "bank" and would put keys and money in the microwave (um no we didn't turn it on). That was our pretend "safe". LOL!

Thursday Thirteen....

"I figure that if the kids are alive at the end of the day, I've done my job." ~Roseanne
(Thanks for the book Margaret! I love it!)

13 things that will never be the same again after you have kids.....

1.) Your sex life- I hate to burst the bubble of those of you that haven't had kids yet, but in all honesty, you have to almost "schedule" it. Really. I'm saying that you have to find time to squeeze it in. You also have to get creative. For example, we got pregnant with Miss Maeve while popping in a Care Bear video for Kyra to watch. You get the picture. ;)

2.) Your potty time- Want to use the bathroom discreetly? Forget it. As soon as I walk in the bathroom, two sets of little feet come trampling in after me. Ugh. Maybe when they are 18 I'll be able to coax them into letting me have some ALONE time in there again.

3.) Your TV time- Three words: Digital Video Recorder or DVR. This is the most wonderful invention in the world for two reasons: 1.) You get to tape all of your favorite shows and watch them UNINTERRUPTED when kiddos are asleep and can FF through the commercials. 2.) You can also tape the kids' shows and provide some entertainment for them in a feeble attempt to get online and check email, message boards, blogs, etc. without any interruptions....if you're lucky.

4.) Your tummy- Unless you are blessed with wonderful skin, your tummy is bound to accumulate a few stretch marks as a result of having those little stinkers. I received a book the other day and in it is a quote from Joyce Armor (who's she?) that says, "Think of stretch marks as pregnancy service stripes." Um thanks, but I'd REALLY rather not have this road map on my belly and have my gorgeous, smooth skin back instead. *sigh*

5.) Your eating time- I swear the kids have a radar. When I try to almost "hide" and eat alone, here they come. Maeve almost "steals" food from me now. Kyra just begs for me to get up and get her something to eat too. Can I eat in peace? No. :(

6.) Your public appearance- Yeah, I like to think of myself as a frumpy mom sometimes. I confess that there have been days that I've put on a t-shirt, shorts, some flip flops, and have barely brushed my hair to go to the store. Makeup? Nope. That takes TIME. And when you have kids, you don't have time. I just want to get to the store, get what I need, and get the heck out of there before a temper tantrum ensues. I don't want to be one of "those moms". However, I'd like to be known as a MILF one day, but that won't happen unless I leave behind my frumpy ways. ;)

7.) Your memory- Oh this is a big one. One word: LISTS. Lots and lots of lists. You'll forget things that you never thought possible. For example, Kyra will come up to me while I'm busy (on the computer) and say, "Mom, I want something to drink." I'll say, "Ok Kyra, I'll get it for you in a minute." I walk away from the computer, put a load of laundry in the dryer, play with Maeve, change her diaper, etc. and about 30 minutes later, Kyra says, "Mom, my drink?" Crap. I forgot. I swear that on some days, I'm losing my mind. Forget alcohol, having kids will cause you to lose a few brain cells. :)

8.) Your bladder- I was lucky (?) enough to have two c-sections, so my babies came out the "back door", but I'm sure those of you that have had vaginal births can relate because we've ALL had kids that have kicked, punched, jumped, and stomped on our bladders while we were pregnant. I still cannot sleep through the night without getting up at least once to use the bathroom. Are you with me? (Please say you are because I DO NOT want to have yet another thing to bring up when I go for my annual in July.) ;)

9.) Your sanity- Once again, I'll confess. With both of the births of my kids, I asked (*coughbeggedcough*) to be put on Zoloft. In all honesty, I think I had mild cases of PPD, and Zoloft was my saving grace for that. And I must say that as time went on, I was glad that I was put on it. It helps me cope with things better. I'm not saying that everyone should be on it. I'm saying that it helped me get through the rough spots when I thought that I couldn't handle another whine or cry from my children. Happy mommy= happy children, right?

10.) Your house- I always thought that I was so neat and organized. Then I had kids and all of that went out the window! LOL! My house is a mess right now, but my kids were bathed, fed, and put to sleep in the most gentle way tonight. They are alive and happy. My messy house will get cleaned sooner or later. The kiddos are what's important. The dishes can wait. The laundry can wait. Their childhoods won't wait though. They grow up in the blink of an eye and I want to be there for every moment of that.

11.) Talking on the phone- Ask Jen about this one. She hears my kiddos in the background when she and I talk on the phone. Usually Kyra is saying, "Is that Papoo? Is that Grandma? Can I talk on the phone?" Maeve is just in awe of the flashing lights on my phone, so she's trying to grab it from me. You get the picture. Many times I've said, "Can I call you back?"

12.) Your pocketbook- The girls each have a closet full of clothes and toys galore to prove it! LOL!

13.) Your heart- No matter how hard things are, that cute smile, that huge hug, that sloppy kiss, and that cheerful "I love you mommy!" make it all worthwhile. :)

Randomness....

-Jen, where are you? I'm beginning to think that you drowned in some boxes or something. ;)

-Richard is gone tonight. He's taking an informal guitar class on Tuesday nights at the local community college. Class is from 7-8pm for 10 weeks and only cost him $40. I hope he's learning something. I don't want him to come home grumpy. ;)

-Kyra is driving me bonkers. I think she's hit a growth spurt. She's been asking for food all day long. *sigh*

-Maeve is a pro at walking.....she's so good that we are sure that she'll be running soon. Ack!

-Kyra is telling EVERYONE that she's going to have a birthday party and she's going to be 5 years old. Today, she announced it to the lady checking out books at the library and the checker at the grocery store. LOL!

-My back porch is now free of Richard's little "john" boat. Hooray! He's had that thing out there for like 2 weeks now. I was a bit worried that it would be in my house next! ;)

-The yard got mowed this week. Finally.

-The 60% chance of rain that we were supposed to get today never happened. Figures. WTF is up with these weather people? Might as well say it's going to be partly cloudy every freakin day because IT IS!

-Maeve is also obsessed with walking into a room and closing the door behind her. It's hilarious! I guess she wants some privacy! LOL!

-I finally gave poor Mia a bath today. She's needed one for so long. Now I can't find her. Perhaps she's mad at me. *sigh*

-I think I've finally "dried up". Bring on that margarita! :) You know, I should declare Richard my DD and go to Baby A's and have a few Blue or Purple ones!

-Maeve has been sleeping through the night. Alleuia! She started doing it when she turned a year old, quit nursing, and started walking. I guess my baby is tired!

-I honestly think that Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes didn't have a baby. She's a month and a half now and we still haven't seen pictures of her. Every time they go out, they are without a baby. I think it was all an act for MI: 3 and it FAILED! Mwhahahahaha! I also think they are freaks!

*faint*.....

I just made a list of the kids that could *possibly* be at Kyra's party. I came up with 13 kids. Then I realized that's not counting siblings that might tag along. *faint*

I'm so glad that we are having it at a park and not my house. I'm crossing fingers for beautiful weather that morning. :)

Church sign chuckle....

Currently on the marquee across the street from our house:

"What did Noah do with the woodpeckers?"

LOL!

Oh no.....

I'm a little sad right now. Kyra is taking dance camp this summer and apparently her first day is June 13th. That's the day of Richard's surgery. So, her Grandma Debbie will be here and will have to walk her across the street for her first day of dancing. I'll have to miss it! For some reason, I thought that they started on the 6th. Oh well! :(

I'm running again!

Within the past week, I've ran three times!

I ran for 45 minutes on the treadmill last Friday. Tuesday I ran about 30 minutes on the treadmill. This morning, I put Maeve in the jogging stroller and ran for 40 minutes outside! I'm so excited! I credit Body Step for giving me the stamina that I need for these runs. I think that running will also help my stamina in Body Step too. It's ALL good!

Pray, pray, pray for the numbers on the scale to go down! :) Before I got pregnant with Maeve, I was running a lot and it really helped me change my shape.

Thursday Thirteen.....

13 things that made me HAPPY this week:

1.) Taylor Hicks is the new American Idol!- I love him. I really do. He totally deserved to win. I still wish that it would have been a Taylor vs. Chris finale though.

2.) Richard's surgery is scheduled for June 13th.- I'm not really happy about the actual surgery, I'm more relieved that it's on the calendar and it's going to get taken care of soon. I'm happy that this will all be behind us.

3.) Maeve has been sleeping through the night.- I'm trying to wean her and since I'm not feeding her anymore during the night, she quit waking up. YAY!

4.) Jen called me tonight!- It was so nice to hear from her since she's been MIA online lately! She and Kevin closed on their house today and will be in it by the weekend! YAY!

5.) I taught my favorite Body Flow 22 today.- I just love that release and get so much wonderful feedback from it.

6.) Kids went to bed early tonight.- It's always nice when they are in bed by 8:00! :)

7.) Kyra told me tonight that she'll love me forever till I die.- LOL! I asked her, "So will you love me after I die too?" (She said "yes" BTW.)

8.) Mia has been extra cuddly lately.- Whenever I'm kidless on the sofa or chair, here she comes. I guess she wants some lovin' too!

9.) There's nothing major going on this weekend.- Kyra has a birthday party to go to on Sunday from 1-3, but that's about it. Richard has to work. So I guess it'll be me and the girlies this weekend. I'd love to venture out to church on Saturday night if Maeve takes a good nap. ;)

10.) Plenty of shows taped on the DVR this week, so I actually have things to watch.- That's ALWAYS good.

11.) I'm writing in Maeve's baby book!- I finally got it out and have written in it some. I have a long way to go though. *sigh*

12.) I'm working on weaning right now.- That means that I'm one step closer to that much needed margarita! Shoot, I'm going to have a party!

13.) I bought some cute swimsuits for the girls.- They are going to look FAB in the pool! :) Now I just need to work on me. *sigh*

My walker!

Here she is in all her glory! LOL! Please ignore all of the junk
in the background. *blush*

I just have to say that it's so cute to see those little feet trampling
around everywhere! Her smile is so big and she's so proud of herself.
She claps when we clap for her. And seeing her with her arms out to
the side wobbling to keep her balance is oh so cute!

The bad news is that she's getting faster by the day. Soon she'll be
running! *sigh*

They do indeed grow up.....

This morning Kyra put her blankie in Maeve's crib and said, "Here Maeve, you can have this. I'm going to Kindergarten and I don't need it anymore." Thus ends 5 looooooong years with blankie. Or does it?

Yeah, we'll just see if she has that same tune tonight when she goes to bed.

Oh and Richard went to the dentist today for the first time in years. He hates the dentist. He came home and told me that it hurt and he'd rather cut his arm off than to have to sit there again. I guess it was bad. :(

Kyra: then and now.....

From Kyra's portfolio from school this year:

Then:

"When I grow up, I want to be an ice cream man." 9.5.05

Now:

"When I grow up, I want to be a ballet dancer." 5.2.06

She's come a long way in just 9 short months! LOL!

I love that girl!

Too much time on their hands....

Looks like an international blogger has a bit too much time to waste! LOL!

http://dixi.blogter.hu/?post_id=46845

Thursday Thirteen....

13 products that I know and love.....

1.) My DVR- I seriously don't know what I'd do without it. It allows me to tape my shows and the kids' shows (and play them over and over again). Richard wants to get rid of it to save money. I'll cut my arm off before that happens. ;)

2.) MK Timewise Visibly Fit Body Lotion- I can't get enough of this stuff. I seriously think I have a complex. Thanks Jen! ;)

3.) Sprite Zero- I love it. N0 caffeine, no sugar, no carbs. Does it get any better?

4.) Listerine toothpaste- My teeth just don't feel clean with anything else.

5.) My cell phone- It's not the greatest, but it's the only one I got (don't have a land line).

6.) Johnson's Bedtime Bath- I love the smell of lavender and bathing a baby in this stuff is heaven scent! I've been tempted to use it myself. ;)

7.) The Step- We use them at the gym and I also have one handy here at home. When haven't I loved a Step? LOL!

8.) Toaster Scrambles- Just pop'em in the toaster and waaalaaa! Breakfast! Kyra loves them too, so that's always a plus.

9.) Luvs diapers- I know I'm going off on a baby product tangent, but I really love Luvs! ;) The are cheaper than Pampers and work just as well if not better. Kyra used them and Maeve is using them too.

10.) Irish Spring deodorant soap- We've used this for as long as I can remember. We used to always disagree on what soaps to use, but we finally found one that we both liked. My favorite is the Aloe one.

11.) Orange cleaner/degreaser- I love, love, love cleaning with this stuff. It smells so good.

12.) Swiffer WetJet- I hate to mop. This product saved my floors. ;) I honestly think that this is one of the greatest inventions ever.

13.) Ziploc snack bags- This is a must have for anyone with kids. They are 1/2 the size of regular Ziploc bags and are handy for snacks, crayons, puzzle pieces, etc.

Tagged again....

And this time it was the lovely Chelle who tagged me. ;)

I AM: tired. I really need to go to bed soon.

I WANT: a pedicure. Since I quit working I've been banned from spending $30 and getting one though. :(

I WISH: that Richard and I could get away and spend a weekend alone and away from the kids.

I HATE: people who are embarrassed to show their true feelings. Get real!

I MISS: my mom and my Granny.

I FEAR: dying at an early age and leaving Richard and my kiddos behind.

I HEAR: nothing but the buzzing of the computer. Kids are in bed and it's quiet!

I WONDER: if I'll ever get skinny again. ;)

I REGRET: losing contact with some of my greatest friends. I guess a true friend would have stayed in contact with me, right?

I AM NOT: as neat and organized as I used to be. *sigh* I guess that's what having kids does to you.

I DANCE: with my kids. It makes me happy and it makes them laugh.

I SING: in the car. A LOT.

I CRY: over anything sappy that involves my kiddos. I cried at preschool graduation yesterday. I guess I'm one of "those moms".

I AM NOT ALWAYS: happy. I can name a million other emotions that take over me besides happiness.

I MAKE WITH MY HANDS: geez, I really don't know how to answer this one. LOL!

I WRITE: invitations and thank you's for parties. One ends and another begins. *sigh*

I CONFUSE: my husband. A LOT. He never looks at the calendar, so he doesn't know what's going on from week to week. I start naming things that we have to do and he's totally confused.

I NEED: money. LOL!

I SHOULD: start writing thank you notes to Kyra's teachers.

I START: the day hearing a jabbering child in her crib.

I FINISH: the day around 10:30-11:00. I really should go to bed soon. *sigh*

OK, I tag Jen, Lynda, and Audrey.

And in other news.....

MAEVE IS WALKING! She's been taking steps here and there, but today she decided to walk halfway across the living room! She's finally getting brave enough to let go.

Oh and she had a wonderful encounter with the toilet yesterday. Soon after she woke up, I caught her in there sloshing the water around. Ewwwwwww! :(

My preschool graduate.....

Here's a pic of Kyra marching into her preschool
graduation on Tuesday. I have updated our album
pages with 3 new albums. So all pics are new! YAY!
Go here to see them all:
http://groups.msn.com/SpiegelAlbum/shoebox.msnw

Bad flashbacks....

I was reading the Celebrity Baby Blog and came upon this. Sure it might be a learning device, but it's freaking me out! You see, when I was a toddler, my parents took me to Six Flags in Arlington. They didn't want me getting lost in a huge theme park, so they put me on a LEASH! I think I'm now scarred for life. ;)

It's baaaaaaaack......

My husband bought some at the store yesterday. Damn him!
He always thinks that he's won the lottery when he comes upon it! LOL! *sigh*
Oh the temptation.....

Kids don't come with instructions.....

Unfortunately, they don't. As I sit here reading, "The Happiest Toddler On The Block" to try to retrieve some hints on how to get Maeve to sleep through the night, I realize that it's no use. She's going to keep waking up till SHE decides that sleep is more important than mommy. See we didn't have this problem with Kyra. At 10 months old, she slept from 7pm till 7am and still took a good 3-4 hour nap during the day. To this day, Kyra is a 12 hours-a-night sleeper. Maeve has other ideas. If you never put her in her bed, she'd continue to think that there's an all-night party going on and that she NEEDS to be attending. This kid is a clone of her father (who might I add stayed up 24+ hours straight....he worked last night and never went to bed today). She has to be where the action is. I can already tell that we definitely have our work cut out for us with her (again, it's that 2nd child syndrome).

You can read every book on the planet and think that you'll be the best parent or that you'll get your kid to do what this book says or that book says. It's not true. And the more kids you have, the more likely you are to let all of those ideas go out the window. With Kyra, I read every book that I could get my hands on. I had "What To Expect When You're Expecting", "What To Expect The First Year", and "What To Expect The Toddler Years". Honestly, the only books that I've really been into thus far with Maeve have been the nursing ones. And I've found that they haven't provided all of the info. that I was looking for. There are websites out there (like kellymom.com) that have provided more than a book ever could. I'm also fascinated by browsing message boards and reading other's experiences because we just might have something in common.

If you aren't a parent yet, but plan to be someday and you find that your child doesn't do everything "by the book", then don't fret. I don't think most babies go "by the book". They all have unique personalities and what works for one might not work for another. I'm finding this out right now with my two. They are like night and day. Kyra was a very trying infant, but now she's the sweetest, kindest kid I know. Maeve was a dream of a baby, but now her little spitfire personality is shining through.

Forget books. Your best resources are friends or family members that have "been through it all". Or find a message board where you can chat with other mommies that have similar issues. Finding that you're not alone can almost be liberating. Remember that a happy mommy= a happy baby. :)

For the mommies.....

You want to what???

I'm totally convinced that I have IBS (if you don't know what that is, look it up ;) and it's all because of Richard. I swear he's probably giving me ulcers as I type. Richard is a hyperactive adult. He simply cannot sit still. He's always got to be doing things. I've known for a while that he's getting bored with his current job. He's been there for almost 9 years now. For those that don't know, he works Wed., Thurs., Fri., and every other Saturday nights. So, he has every other Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday off and goes into work on Wednesday nights. Bottom line: He has a ton of time with me and the kids. I like it this way.

So a few days ago Richard tells me that he wants to go back to school to be an x-ray tech because he'd make more money (not really) and thinks it would be exciting. So, I do what any wonderful wife would do. I do some research.

You see, a wonderful friend of mine used to be an x-ray tech. So I email her this little bit of info. and she emails me back with some of the things that she had to do. It ain't pretty. I don't think that Richard could handle barium enemas, puke, poop, catheters, and prodding people for blood. My husband is queasy. When I cut my leg open in '99, he saw it and passed out. When both of my children were born via c-section, he wore earphones in the OR. He even brings Maeve to me when she needs her poopy diaper changed! And he wants to do this?

So I forwarded my friend's emails to him. I wanted him to hear firsthand what he'd be dealing with. I think he'll change his mind. ;)

Friday fun......

Bored on this Friday? Take a stab at what we did this past weekend at my cousin's baby shower. Here's how it works. I'll give you the first letters of a nursery rhyme/song and you have to guess which one it is.

For example: MMQC= Mary, Mary Quite Contrary

Ready to play? GO! Oh, and NO CHEATING! ;)

IBS=
TTLS=
RABB=
HDD=
LMM=
JAJ=
HD=
PACPACBM=
FITD=
IALT=
JBN=
LBIFD=
MHALL=
HDD=
RRRYB=
TBM=
BBBS=
TLP=
OMDHAF=
RATR=
PGTW=

6 minutes.....

6 minutes is all I ask for you to see this. If you're not at least smiling by the end of it, something's wrong. ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMH0bHeiRNg&eurl

Thursday Thirteen.....

13 of my favorite "feel good" songs.....

1.) "My Sharona" by The Knack- This song was in "Reality Bites" and was played a lot during my senior year in high school. I know it's an older song though. But whenever I hear it, I crank up the radio and jam out! It's actually the inspiration for this list because I heard it on the way to the gym this morning. :)

2.) "Margaritaville" by Jimmy Buffett- This is the ultimate "drunk anthem". Who hasn't sang this song when drunk? LOL!

3.) "Footloose" by Kenny Loggins- If this song doesn't make you get up and dance, then something's wrong. ;)

4.) "If" by Janet Jackson- I know that she has a lot of other good songs, but I love this one!

5.) "Dream Weaver" by Gary Wright- Don't laugh. I heard this song the other day. There's something about it that I really like. The beginning sounds so psychodelic! LOL!

6.) "Little Less Conversation" by Elvis- Another doozy huh? I like it though!

7.) "Don't Worry, Be Happy" by Bobby McFerrin- The song says it all!

8.) "Love Shack" by the B-52's- "TIN ROOF.....RUSTED!" LOL!

9.) "Bust A Move" by Young M.C.- I heard this one on the radio today too!

10.) "Mickey" by Toni Basil- This is the ultimate roller skating anthem. I hear this song and immediately think of the skating rink, which was my favorite hangout as a kid.

11.) "Brown Eyed Girl" by Van Morrison- It's one of my sister's favorites too!

12.) "Take Me Out To The Dancehall" by Pat Green- You just want to get up and dance when you hear it.

13.) "Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynryd Skynryd- Another oldie but goodie!

YAY! Another game to pass the time....

This is how it works: Comment on this entry and if you'd like to play, I will give you a letter.

Write ten words beginning with that letter in your blog, including an explanation of why you chose it, and then pass out letters to those who want to play along.

Jen gave me the letter "I".

1.) Ice Cream- I love ice cream. I'm obsessed with the texture of it. The flavor is just an added bonus. I can't pinpoint a favorite flavor, but I have a favorite brand and that's Blue Bell. :)

2.) Idol- American, that is. I'm still watching the show. I really hope that Elliot goes tonight. I hate how the judges try to sway the votes though. I hope that America doesn't listen to them because I want Katharine and Chris in the final.

3.) Interrupted- My sleep is still interrupted at night by a baby standing in her crib that wants to nurse. *sigh* What I wouldn't give for a wonderful night of uninterrupted sleep.

4.) Interesting- Life sure is interesting right now. The kids keep me busy. There's never a dull moment with the two of them around. Having a very active husband who can't sit still is also interesting. Sometimes it's like a zoo around here. ;)

5.) Internet- Dear lord what did we ever do without it?

6.) Invitations- I need to work on Kyra's next. They are up in her closet ready and waiting for me to fill out and mail.

7.) Ice- I'm chewing on ice right now. I had some Crystal Light with it.

8.) Inside- Yes, I'm inside today because it's so freakin hot and humid outside. I despise the heat. :(

9.) Inventory- Hopefully I'll be getting rid of some MK inventory today. I have a lady coming by that wants a lot of stuff! YAY!

10.) Involved- After seeing Kyra's future school for the first time yesterday, I've decided that I want to be very involved in happenings of her class. I'll volunteer whenever I can and I wonder if she's mind if I go and eat lunch with her every once in a while. ;)

Reality has hit.....

I went and registered Kyra for Kindy today. I cannot believe that she'll be going to school in August. The BIG SCHOOL. I was fine with preschool. I think it's because there are so many "little" kids out there. Today I got a glimpse of the "big" kid life and I wasn't so sure about it. I sat in a little hallway at a table filling out all of the forms and during that time, several classes had walked by. I heard a teacher tell some kids to quit tattling. Another kid walked by and asked what I was doing there. Another kid was bleeding on his leg and was almost celebrating it! LOL!

It was then that I thought, "My baby is going to be subjected to all of this soon." Up until now, she's been pretty sheltered at a Christian preschool. She's made friends easily. She adores her teachers and she loves all of the arts and crafts that they've done. I hope and pray that she loves Kindy too. My Kyra is so sensitive. She was crying today when I picked her up from school because they didn't have Stretch N' Grow (their fitness program) today. She told me that another girl pushed her in chapel and that upset her. I just want her to have fun and fit in. I think I'm worried more than she is. She's ready to go and would go tomorrow if she could. She's eager to learn. The other night she said, "I know I'm going to have homework, but that's ok." She's so stimulated by learning. And for that I'm grateful.

So pray for me on August 21st. I'll need it. :(

2nd child syndrome....

"It's a good thing she's cute."

Richard and I mumble these words to each other all the time. Yes, we are talking about Maeve. This kid is just over a year old and we already have had a hint as to what to expect in the next few years.

All I can say is that I better have the following thing handy: some Motrin, some earplugs, some wine, and some hair color because Lord knows that I'll acquire a few gray hairs along the way. She's a handful. She's into everything and when I say everything, I mean EVERYTHING!

If there's a piece of lint on the carpet, she'll find it. I don't ever remember Kyra being this active. Kyra played with toys. Maeve wants to play with household cleaners, the ball on the computer mouse, various wires....you get the picture. Yesterday, we caught her with Mia's dog food. She took her bowl that was full of food and started shaking it....sending all of the food flying into the air. It was hysterical. The bathtub is another story. I told Kyra last night that I'll have to start putting about two drops in the tub for Maeve to bathe in. That's because she can't keep any water IN the tub. Even Kyra doesn't want to bathe with her anymore! LOL!

And her voice. That's another story. She babbles from morning till night. And it's not just the cute baby babble either. She's VERY LOUD! She looks at you with those expressive eyes and means business! LOL! Maybe she'll be on the debate team! ;)

She does all of this and she's not even walking yet! ACK! She's almost there, but not quite. I can't imagine what our life will be like when she's toddling around and reaching higher and higher.

So what is it with the 2nd child? I know some of you moms know what I'm talking about! Why are they soooo different from the first? I told Richard that God makes child #1 the perfect little angel so that there's a chance for a #2 to come along! ;)

Yep, that about sums it up....

http://www.atomfilms.com/af/content/go_away?mid=50763852

Everyone have a great weekend!

Sweet mother of......

I was home today when my kind UPS man came by. You know, the one that leaves the box by the side door so that when we get out of our cars to come inside the box is right there. Anywho, this time I met him at the door and holy moly! He's HOT! He's tall and tan with dirty blonde hair. YUM! I don't know what I expected, but it totally wasn't this!

Maybe next time I'll hide the kids in the closet and invite him in! (Kidding!)

Thursday Thirteen.....

13 things that ROCK!

1.) Taking an uninterrupted shower- For example, today Kyra was at school and Maeve was taking a nap. It was sooooo nice not having someone (Kyra) barging in and mumbling about something.

2.) Hearing "I love you mommy!" several times a day- Thanks Kyra! I love you too!

3.) Having a sister that just "takes over"- I swear mine's a saint. She loves my kids. She's like a mother to them. She helps me when I ask her to and even when I don't ask her to. What would I do without her? I only hope that I can repay the favor one day. ;)

4.) Having kids that go to bed early- Mine are almost always in bed around 8:30 and it's soooo nice! I finally get some peace and quiet!

5.) E-mail- What did we ever do without it? It's so easy to keep in touch with friends and family members and for someone that hates talking on the phone, it's a godsend!

6.) Richard's "shop"- It's an awesome room! I use it to work out in. This morning I did Body Flow and blared the music and didn't even wake Richard up in the house! Good insulation and surround sound ROCKS! ;)

7.) Having a husband that's off on Mondays and Tuesdays- Those are my main workout/errand days and it's wonderful to get out of the house with no kids or just one kid! YAY!

8.) Living about 1/2 mile from an HEB- We are so spoiled by "the store". And the Walmart that they are building here is even closer! SWEET!

9.) The portable DVD player- As I've stated in a previous post, I love this thing! It's a great tool for me to learn my choreography and it keeps kids happy in the car! Too cool!

10.) The DVR- For those that don't know, DVR stands for Digital Video Recorder. It's like Tivo. I love it. It makes me happy. It also makes me not miss my favorite tv shows. It's hard to be able to sit down and watch an entire show when you have kids. Now I don't have to worry. :)

11.) Small town living- I love it out here. Granted this area is growing, but you still get that small town "feel" around here. Everyone is so nice and friendly. It makes me really happy that my kids will grow up here. Richard keeps saying that we are going to buy land west of here soon and move even further out in the country! LOL!

12.) Baby babble- I've missed it. Maeve's brought it back! ;)

13.) Staying home with my kids- I'm fortunate and lucky. Having just a wee amount of debt because of it is sooooo worth it. I don't think I'll ever look back and ponder this time and say, "I really wish I would have worked when my kids were little and spent less time with them." ;)

Global warming....

Holy cow!

So I did taping #1 of Body Step today. I did a "mock" class and was rather pleased when 4 friends showed up! I didn't mess up all that much, but since I'm subbing on Monday, I'll probably try to video again.

I cannot believe how hard this class is to teach! OMG! I felt like I was going to DIE! Taking the class and teaching it are two totally different things! WOW! I wish I would have had a heartrate monitor on. All I know is that it was waaaaay up there.....probably toward the higher end of my zone.

I have until May 26th to do my video. Someone will assess it when I send it in and then I'll get the results in the mail. I'm not too nervous about it. I'm just anxious for all of this to be over with. This is the last step in the certification process. :)

Busy, busy, busy.....

First off, we survived the weekend. I had 9 extra people at my house on Saturday night. A chunk of them slept out in our "outside" room or Richard's "shop" as we like to call it. We had it all cleaned up very nice for the party. Maeve's party was on Sunday. I'm not sure, but I think we had about 20 people here at the house. It went well. Maeve took a nice nap from 10-12, so she was ready to party the afternoon away! She ate different foods that we had and we even found that she is very fond of a straw! LOL! She loved a Capri Sun! She didn't get into her cake like I wanted her to (exactly like her sister was) and that was a bit disappointing. Oh well. I got lots of pics and promise to post some here soon or on our album page. The food was awesome and I owe my life to my sister who helped out tremendously with everything. I hope that I can repay her one day. I'm sure she'll need me when she has kiddos! ;)

Tomorrow (Tuesday), I'm going to try to round up enough people at one of the gyms to tape my Body Step video. I teach Flow on Wednesday. On Thursday, I have to take Maeve in for her one year appt. which includes shots. *sigh* I might meet a friend for lunch on Friday. On Saturday, we are going to a family reunion in St. John. Saturday night, we'll spend the night at Lisa and Nathan's. Then on Sunday is Megan's baby shower. We'll come home on Sunday evening and then next Monday I'll sub my first Body Step class. Then next Tuesday and Wednesday is registration for kindergarten! So much going on!

I'll try to blog when I can. But if you don't hear from me, don't worry. I'm just busy. ;)

Weekend meme....

Thanks Jen! Oh and if you're reading this blog, consider yourself tagged!

Here are the instructions:
Do an image search for the following things, using Google, Yahoo or whatever.

Put in :
-the name of the town where you were born
-the town you live in now
-your name
-the name of your grandmother
-your favorite food
-you favorite smell
- your favorite song

Then post the images.

Here are mine:

"Plastic" Posh Spice or Victoria Beckham (Gross!)



A Buda statue


Kim Basinger (Damn I wish I looked like her!)


This is what came up when I entered Evelyn for
my maternal grandmother. Looks like Chinese belly
dancers....WTF?


....And this girl must be Clara.
(Which is my paternal grandmother's name)


Yummy! Pizza!


I loved the smell of rain last night before the thunderstorm.


I love Rob Thomas' song "Ever The Same" and
I swear that this is what came up when I entered the
title! LOL!

Happy 1st Birthday Maeve!

My Maeve Elizabeth is a year old today! I can't believe it! Where has the time gone? She was just my teeny tiny little baby yesterday, right?

We are gearing up for her party on Sunday and have LOADS of company coming tomorrow. She's pretty oblivious to it all. My only hope is that she enjoys it and tears into her birthday cake! Kyra just picked at it, so I want Maeve to make a mess! It makes for good pics! ;)

Thursday Thirteen.....

13 things that I have learned in the past year:
(In honor of Maeve!)

1.) You are even more hungry when you're breastfeeding than when you were pregnant. I didn't think this was possible, but I was famished those first few weeks and ate everything and still got back down to my pre-pregnancy weight! Breastfeeding really does help you lose weight (well in the beginning anyway....now is a different story).

2.) It's possible to have a child with blue eyes. I guess that Maeve has that recessive gene. ;)

3.) Breastmilk does have the ability to spew across the room during a forceful letdown. I can't count how many times Maeve has pulled off and I've either sprayed her in the face or gotten the recliner wet. *sigh*

4.) It *is* possible for a 4 year old to remove her 5 month old sister from the crib in her room and carry her to the Bumbo seat in the living room....and all without our knowledge. *shudder*

5.) Breastmilk poops don't stink. (I never believed this one, but it's true)

6.) Biting hurts.....very bad. :(

7.) A runny nose most often means that there's a tooth on the way. And the teeth come in two's. If one pops through, there's almost always another that will come through as well.

8.) Just because Kyra slept through the night at 10 months and slept 12 hours straight, doesn't mean a thing. Maeve has other ideas. If there's a "party" going on, then she WILL NOT sleep.

9.) Pumping is fun! (NOT!)

10.) Nipple confusion is a horrible, horrible thing.

11.) Most conversations with moms that I've met with kids Maeve's age begin with, "Are you nursing?"

12.) It *is* possible to have a 4 year old escape the jealousy that comes with a new sibling. From the beginning, Kyra and I have had one day per week where we do "our thing". We go to the gym, go to the grocery store, and go to the library and pick out books for her. It's worked for us.

13.) The bond between sisters is immeasureable. My two girls are already the best of friends. My heart melts when one of them makes the other one laugh. :)

If you're bored, try this.....

This is so stupid, but I swear that you won't be able to do it.

1.) Sit down

2.) Extend your right leg.

3.) With your right foot, rotate your ankle in a clockwise direction.

4.) While you are rotating your ankle, raise your right arm.

5.) With your right index finger, draw the number 6.

Did your ankle start moving the opposite way in a counterclockwise direction? ;) If it kept moving in a clockwise direction, then you are officially a freak! (Just kidding)

Praise God!

Kellie Pickler got the boot from AI tonight. Thank God. It was painful to watch her on Tuesday night. She butchered "Unchained Melody". I had to press "mute" and walk away from the TV. My ears, my ears! Ugh. It was horrible. Good riddance!

Richard and I were cracking up when Paula was crying over Elliot! OMG! WTF is in her Coca Cola cup anyway?

Mommy and her girls....

Richard took this last night before we went to Family Fun Night at Kyra's school. I told him to get a pic from the waist up! LOL! He did a good job! And I'm sitting over here laughing because Kyra and I both squint in the sunlight! Maeve didn't want to look right at the camera, but you can still see her baby blues. :)

I lost my TV tonight.....

We just got home from the Family Fun Night at Kyra's school and Richard is watching this on TV. Ugh. It should be banned. I just don't get how it can be interesting.

I'm taking a hot shower and then going to bed. :)

Crunch time....

I've got an extremely busy week ahead. And I don't think it'll slow down after the week is over with either. :(

First of all, I went to the gym this afternoon and ran through my Body Step routine. I know tracks 1-10. I just have to learn the last two. I've decided to try and get together a "mock" class on Tuesday, May 2nd to try and get my video done. The gyms are still on launch with release 63 and since I trained on 62, I have to do that one. I'm praying that at least some people show up on that Tuesday. I just want to get that sucker in the mail and not have to worry about it anymore!

We are in birthday party planning mode around here. The party is on Sunday. I'm still in denial about Maeve being a year old. Didn't we just bring her home from the hospital yesterday? I still have to decide on a cake, get last minute stuff, plan a menu, and clean my house. Anybody want to come help me? ;)

Tomorrow (Monday) night is Silent Auction/Pizza Night at Kyra's school. We have to be there around 6:00 because Kyra's class has put together a little program and they'll be singing songs. She's extremely excited about this. She wants to wear her Easter dress and be all pretty for it. We'll videotape it too. I'm sure it'll be a hoot!

I guess that's all for now. I've been going nonstop all day and I'm so tired, so I need to go to bed.

Have a great week!

We're home!

We are home and everything is fine! They started the TEE this morning around 8:30 and that didn't take long at all. Then they wheeled Richard up to the 4th floor and did the heart catheterization on the right side. Since it was on the right side, they went through a vein and not an artery, which is A LOT better. All of that was done around 10:30 and we were released at 12:30. Richard was awake during both procedures and was just given a sedative because he was so nervous! :)

All tests came back perfect. Richard's heart is not compromised by his condition. All of the pressures were fine. Dr. Zeineddin recommends that Richard see a colleague of his at North Austin Medical Center that specializes more in PFO's. We'll make an appt. with him and go from there. Surgery to repair what Richard has is fairly easy and doesn't require any incision. He'll have an overnight stay or if it's done early enough in the morning, then he might get to go home that evening. From what I gather, they'll go in and put in an "umbrella-like" mechanism that will reinforce the septum. This is the best explanation that I've found thus far:

www.stcardiology.com/patients/services/pfo_education_frame.html

The hearts cells will grow over the device and the wall will be formed. Cool, isn't it?

Thanks for all of your prayers. I know that they helped so much. Richard is sitting on the recliner taking it easy while watching TV and messing with the laptop. ;)

Have a great weekend! I'll keep you all posted on the next step that we take with this!

Love to all!

Good housekeeping tip....

My friend Emily sent this to me. I love it!

"Always keep several get well cards on the mantel... so if unexpected guests arrive, they will think you've been sick and unable to clean."

LOL! Good one!

My new favorite blog....

OMG! I love this! I've worked for a photographer and have heard about "classy" people at weddings! ;) The sad thing about this blog is that I can relate to a lot of it (in that I've been to weddings where I've seen some of this crap). Some of it doesn't seem so unusual to me. Does that make me a redneck? I hope not! ;)

Thursday Thirteen....

13 things that I love about my husband:
(since he's having surgery on Friday, I'd better be nice, right?)

1.) He came home on Easter morning with flowers. Richard hardly ever buys flowers for me. Kyra grabbed them and brought them to me and said, "Look what daddy got for me!" He made her think that they were for her, but I looked at him and immediately I knew they were for me. :)

2.) On the nights when he's home from work, he puts Kyra to bed and reads to her. There is nothing sweeter than a daddy reading to his little girl. I have to take a peek at them because it's so cute. My heart swells with pride.

3.) He took pics of Kyra on his boat the other day. She was thrilled. She felt very special.

4.) He calls me when he's not having a busy moment at work and we talk for a few minutes. It's golden because the kiddos are usually in bed and we can have some adult conversation! :)

5.) He told me that he's been looking at heartrate monitors (how ironic) for me because he knows that I want one. I do. I want a fancy one to see how many calories I'm burning during a Body Step class.

6.) He gets on the floor and plays with Maeve a lot. She loves this. I remember him saying, "She doesn't even know that I'm her daddy" during those first few weeks because she and I were nursing so much. Well she knows who daddy is now and follows him all over the house!

7.) He let Kyra help him in the flower beds last night. She got her shovel and they were digging away. It was so cute. Richard loves that Kyra likes to be his helper and follow his every move. Too bad she's such a "mother hen" to him too and nags at him more than I do! LOL!

8.) He cares more about others than he cares about himself. He's always willing to go that extra mile for anyone. His friends count on him. His family counts on him. I count on him. That's just the way he is.

9.) He's a very "hands on" daddy. Every once in a while, he'll pick Kyra up from school. He'll take her to the library if I don't. Yesterday, he took her to Home Depot and they picked out flowers together. These are things that I never did with my dad when I was a kid. I'm glad that Richard is such an active daddy.

10.) He lets others see his faults. Kyra knows what's going on with him. She knows that daddy doesn't eat good stuff all the time. I know that we aren't the wealthiest people around. But we're happy and healthy (most of the time) and that's all that matters.

11.) I love the way that he talks about the future and the future still has "us" in it. There's so much that we want to do with our lives yet. We'll get there one day. I'm just glad that I'm always part of the picture! :)

12.) He takes care of us. I do a lot, but he does more. I think we have a good balance. I'm good with the house and kid stuff and he's good with money and other things like yardwork and just odds and ends around the house.

13.) He praises me more now than he used to. This is HUGE! I've heard positive comments from him about nursing and working out. I can tell that he's proud of me. And I'm proud of him too! ;)

Oh and a ***BONUS*** that happened this morning:
Richard was trying to get things in the mail that he sold off of ebay/message boards, etc. and I agreed to mail them for him this morning so he could go to sleep. He says, "Where's the cheap diapers that Maeve has?" I point him in the right direction and I see him wrapping the little parts IN A DIAPER! OMG! He says, "It works and it's a lot cheaper than bubble wrap!" I almost pissed in my pants! Those poor people! What a guy! LOL!

I want my boring life back....

Seriously, I do. When life is boring, everything is fine. And I like it that way.

So here's the game plan. My sister Lisa and Richard's mom are both coming up tomorrow night (Thursday). Richard has to go to the hospital at 4:00 tomorrow afternoon to pre-register and get bloodwork done. Then he'll go to work for a few hours (I'm thinking 3-4 hours). He can't eat anything after midnight, so I told him to have a big meal around 10 or 11 (he's used to eating at that time anyway when he works). We have to be at the hospital at 6:30 on Friday morning. Surgery is scheduled to start at 8:30. Now I've heard that it'll take 3 hours, but that is depending on what they end up doing (and if they start on time). My sister said that they'll have Richard sign a release saying that if they thought that his septum needed repairing, then they'll do it while the catheter is in there. Then they'll have to keep him for observation for a few hours. I assume that we will be there overnight on Friday night. I think it'll be 6 or 7 before they stop keeping such a close eye on him and depending if the doctor needs to see him, etc. they'll probably just keep him overnight. Hopefully we'll come home on Saturday sometime. I'm sure he'll want to rest up for a few days, but then he'll be just fine.

OK, back to the game plan....my sister will stay here with the girls. I'm so happy about this. She's more like a mama to them anyway. She's kept them before for an entire weekend, so I know they'll be just fine. Richard's mom will sit with me at the hospital and we'll keep each other company. I will make as many phone calls as I can. If you don't hear anything from me, then try my dad's cell or Lisa's cell (we don't have a land line here at the house). Those of you that are family have their numbers. Jen, I'll call you and let you know how Richard is doing. Susan, I have your numbers, so I'll call you and you can update everyone else. I'm sure Richard's mom will have her phone with her too, so those of you that have her number can call her. I'm sure she'll call Jerry and Marie with updates though. Oh and Margaret, I'll call you too. I think that about covers it. Surely you'll hear something through the grapevine. Hopefully it's awesome news. Please keep us in your prayers on Friday.

Richard is pretty nervous about it all, but realizes that this must be done sooner rather than later. He pretty much saved his own life by going in and having his nose looked at and then deciding to have that surgery. An angel must have been giving him a push. Thank God he listened.

I know that a lot of you are curious to what he's having done. The first procedure is a TEE. Even though it says that you can be awake for a TEE, he'll be out because he's also have a cardiac catheterization done. I think I've pretty much narrowed down what his condition is called. I think it's a Patent Foramen Ovale or PFO. He doesn't actually have a hole though. The septum is more like a flap instead of a wall.

I think that's everything you need to know. I'll keep you posted as best I can and if you don't hear from me, then you'll probably hear from someone else.

Love to all!

5 weird things....

Jen tagged me. So here goes.

1.) I'm sitting here drinking my idea of a "fruity" drink. I can't drink wine or wine coolers because I'm still nursing. So my concoction consists of 1/2 Sprite Zero and 1/2 Apple/Cranberry juice. It's actually really good.

2.) I'm obsessed with grooming my kids. I have to make sure their nails are clipped, their teeth are brushed, their hair is brushed, their ears are clean, and their noses are bugger-free. Honestly, it's an obsession. Kyra's like, "Mom! Leave me alone!"

3.) I make numerous trips to the bathroom before bedtime. My bladder has to be completely empty in order for me to fall asleep. This annoys Richard to no end.

4.) I don't like watermelon. In fact, I hate it. I tried it once with a guy that I liked so that he didn't think I was a freak for not liking watermelon. After I ate it, I wanted to puke. I even hate the smell of watermelon gum. Have you ever met anyone that didn't like watermelon? Didn't think so.

5.) I still get excited over getting mail. I'm a kid in a candy store when my Body Flow stuff arrives every 3 months. I just feel so special. :)

Dear weather gods,

It's April! APRIL! Do you hear me? It's not supposed to be 95 effin degrees on Easter Sunday! It's just wrong on so many levels! As you probably already know, the heat and I don't mix. We don't get along....never have. If we have to endure this heat through April, May, June, July, August, and September, we just might melt away and I just might have to up my meds. again! Oh and heat + hormonal woman= HELL! Ugh!

(BTW, for those of you on the June board, I keep chuckling to myself because I'm thinking of Missy and her "sweaty boobs" discussion from a few years ago! LOL! That's me! *blush*)

Just because....

Here they are on Easter morning. I know that you're probably laughing because every picture that I've taken lately has been against Maeve's yellow wall. But it makes for a good background, don't you think? ;)

Note to self:

NEVER, EVER venture out on Good Friday again. We traveled maybe 5 miles to Payless for some sandals for the girls and people were driving liked lunatics! A STOP SIGN in a parking lot means that you do just that....STOP! I cut him (or her) off and showed them! LOL! Geez! I was there first! Oh and a person missed their exit, so they just made their own exit and cut across the grass. I HATE when people do that. Grrrrrr!

I'm soooooo glad we're home!

Happy Easter all!

This is Kyra and her homemade bonnet that she made at school. It's an upside down paper bowl! LOL! It's cute though! Her teachers are so creative. I love them.

Hope everyone has a great Easter weekend! If something blogworthy comes up, then I'll post. If not, then I'll see ya'll next week!

My girls are growing up....

I took Maeve to the gym with me this morning fully expecting to leave after 10 minutes or so because they couldn't quiet her down in the Kids' Club. I took her in and sure enough, she started crying when she saw me leave. I went and hopped on a treadmill and ran for 30 minutes. Still no page from them. Then I did some weight work. Again, no page for me to come and get her. Then I finished up with some ab work and stretching. I look at the clock. An entire HOUR had passed! OMG! I went in there to get her because it was nearing lunchtime and she was just sitting on one of the lady's laps with her fingers in her mouth. They said that she crawled around the room and played and played! Boy was I pleasantly surprised! WOW! We just might try it again tomorrow morning after her nap. This time big sister would be with her too!

I'm about to go sign Kyra up for summer dance camp. The dance place is right here by our house. It takes about a minute to walk across the street. So I figure why not let her go. She hears about it from all of her friends. She'll go on Tuesdays from 9-12. I want to see if I can get her into Vacation Bible School across the street at the church if they offer it. She needs a lot of stimulation, so this will keep her busy.

And I sent out invitations for Maeve's party today. *sniff, sniff* Will my baby really be a year old in two weeks? Oh and then on May 9th and 10th is kindy registration for Kyra. I think I might just have that nervous breakdown. ;)

Thursday Thirteen....

13 things that I wish I had more time for:

1.) Reading- I used to be such a book person. All of that has been put on the backburner since I have kids. Now I have no idea what I'd be interested in reading. Any ideas?

2.) Organizing photographs in albums- I'm so far behind on this that it's not even funny. I wanted to have some put together for Maeve's 1st birthday party for people to look at, but I don't think it's going to happen. *sigh*

3.) Movies- Again, like reading, this used to be high on my list of things to do. Now all I go to the theater for is kids' movies and all we rent are kids' movies. I can't remember the last time I went out on a "date" with my husband to a movie. It's so sad. :(

4.) Working out- I bet you're shaking your head on this one, but I truly wish that I could get a few more "hard core" workouts in per week. I do Body Step on Mondays and Tuesdays and teach Flow on Wednesdays, but lack any type of workout structure on the other days. I haven't really tried to keep Maeve in the Kids' Club at the gym much. So we stay home and when she naps, I usually do things outside in Richard's shop. It's hard to get motivated at home though.

5.) Dusting- I can keep a somewhat clean and picked up house, but I am really lazy in the dust department. I need to get in the girls' rooms and wipe everything down. I've been thinking about it, but just haven't done it. :(

6.) Talking on the phone- I don't really like to talk on the phone because it's not that much fun when you have an 11 month old fussing in the background and a 4 1/2 year old wanting to talk to whoever it is that you're TRYING to talk to. I wish I had more peace and quiet so that I could actually get in a decent adult conversation with my sister or my friend, Jen. By the time it's quiet around here, I'm ready to relax and then go to bed.

7.) Cooking- This is so hard to do now because Maeve likes to follow me everywhere and her favorite place is the kitchen. She pulls on my leg and wants me to pick her up. I can't cook with a 20+ pound kid on my hip that grabs at everything! So, our meals are simple and short. We eat whatever, whenever. *sigh*

8.) TV- I only tape a handful of shows on the DVR. I wish I had more time to devote to some dramas like "Lost" and "Grey's Anatomy"....you know shows that everyone talks about. But somehow I stray away from those and get more into documentary type shows. My new favorite show is "Mystery Diagnosis" on the Discovery Health Channel. Richard even watches it with me!

9.) Traveling- I really want to see more places. We're just so tied down with the kids right now. I hope that will change once they get a little older and we can leave them behind. ;)

10.) Volunteering at Kyra's school- This is so hard for me to do right now since Maeve is so little. I hope to do more when Kyra is in Kinder. I think it's very important for parents to be involved as much as possible. I'll probably have even more time to do it once Maeve is in Mother's Day Out in the Fall of 2007.

11.) Spending quality time with my husband- This means WITHOUT the kids. I want dinner and a movie! Anything! LOL!

12.) Shopping- But I'd need the money for it first! ;)

13.) "Scripting" my classes- I know the choreography, but wish I had more time to sit down and think about what I'm going to say in a class. I want to create a more meaningful experience for my participants. I think it would help them to get more out of the class. And it would help me have more self-confidence as an instructor.

Busted.....

And no, this is not my cat or my dog. It's just a picture that I found on the net that I thought was really funny and cute too! ;)

An update on Richard's condition.....

Richard went to the cardiologist yesterday and finally got some answers as to what is causing his irregular heartbeat. As many of you know, he went in for some surgery to be done on his nose almost a month ago and they refused to perform it because of an irregular heartbeat. He was referred to a cardiologist and they did a scan of his heart and he did the Holter test (wearing a monitor for 24 hours) the other week. Here's what they found.

Richard has an Atrial Septal Defect. But instead of having a hole in the septum, the septum just didn't "thicken" up enough when it was developing when he was a baby. So instead of a wall, it's more like a flap. Now I talked to Richard's mom and apparently his brother was told that he had a hole in his heart when he went in for surgery as a child, so I'm wondering if this is genetic. If it is, it'll be interesting to see if Kyra or Maeve has it. I plan on talking to their pediatrician more about it and having him listen to their hearts very carefully to see if he hears anything abnormal.

The prognosis for this is excellent. Right now, the doctor has Richard on some beta blockers to see if they will help improve his condition. He will go in for a Stress Test next week to see how his heart reacts to some stress placed on it. Up until a few years ago, the only way to repair this sort of thing was to be operated on with an incision. Now they can go in with a scope/catheter and repair it! Eventually, Richard will have to go through surgery to reinforce the septum. We'll just take it one step at a time and see when the doctor recommends that he do this. We just don't know yet.

I'm very thankful that we caught this when we did. At least Richard is aware of it and now is under the watchful eye of a cardiologist. Richard is happy with the diagnosis because it's not something that's too serious. He can still lead a long, healthy life.

I'll keep you posted on what the doctor says next week and the results of the Stress Test.

An Easter tidbit....

My blue eyed baby......

Richard and I still wonder where the heck these blue eyes came from. My mother-in-law swears that an uncle of hers had them. I wish I could see a picture of him!

The portable DVD player and how I love thee....

I swear that this thing is a lifesavor. Here's how ours came about.

It was just before Christmas and Richard wanted to get one for Kyra, so he went to WallyWorld dot com and ordered one to be shipped here to the house. That same night I talked to my sister on the phone and told her what we were getting for Kyra. Her first words were, "Uh oh." It turns out that she had already gone out and bought one for Kyra so it could be from my dad for Christmas. So when ours was shipped here to the house, Richard ended up taking it back and WallyWorld was even kind enough to refund the shipping! Kyra got the portable DVD player for Christmas and I thought, "Wow, this will be such a lifesavor in the car and in her room. She has plenty of DVDs to play on it." Well guess who's been using it a heck of a lot more than Kyra? MEEEEEEE! I love it.

I took it to my Body Step training back in February and used it in the gym, in the car, and at a friend's house to learn my choreography. Here at home, I put it right next to the computer and play the DVD or CD over and over again and learning choreography has been a heck of a lot easier with it around. I can tote it in the bedroom or outside in Richard's shop and set up a CD in it and a DVD in Richard's player out there and switch back and forth. The uses are endless.

I just had to blog about this little savvy machine. It's sitting here oh so close to me and just being my best friend. It feels good to be on the verge of dumping (literally) my other best friend, the breast pump. That's a whole different post though. ;)

My Energizer Bunny.....

The more and more I get to know Maeve, the more and more I realize that she's a clone of her daddy. She has boundless energy and sleep seems to be the last thing on her mind. Lately, she's been fighting her morning naps. Well, she doesn't actually cry in her crib. She sits, stands, and lays down and just plays and plays till she finally konks out an hour or two later. I don't remove her and let her get even more tired because I do want her to get the hint that it's time to go "night, night". She just has so many things to do and talk about that she's not thinking about a nap. She's got a plan....an agenda. She crawls around the house and has this fire in her eyes. She thinks about where she's going and goes there. She sees something that she wants and pulls herself up to try and reach it. She's determined. She's hard headed. And she's loud....very loud! She wants us to know that she's in the room. Oh and if she can't find me, she crawls around the house until she does and then bursts into laughter. Yes, we are going to have our hands full with this one. ;)

Thursday Thirteen....

13 random thoughts/worries:

1.) The cardiologist still hasn't called Richard back with his test results from last week. I wonder why they are dragging their feet with this. Please God let everything be ok.

2.) I have to finish learning Body Flow. I'm not participating in the launch on Friday, but have to know all of it by next Wednesday when I teach. It shouldn't be too hard. I plan on going over it at the end of this week and this weekend. There's just a few tracks that I need to polish up on.

3.) On the heels of #2, I need to video myself teaching Body Step. This won't be to submit for certification yet, but will be a learning tool to see what I really need to focus on improving. I have till May 26th to do my "real" video. I've been cleared to teach, so that's exciting! I still have so much to learn though!

4.) I need to make a dentist appt. for myself. I was due for a cleaning in March, but with Richard's issues, I just put it off. Now I probably won't be able to get in till May or later. Ugh.

5.) I need to start planning Maeve's party. Richard and I talked tonight and we have a pretty good idea of who we want to invite and what we want to do. It's just all the preparations that get me stressed out. Oh and then after that's over with, it's time to plan Kyra's party. Kyra's will not be here at the house, so that's already making me feel better.

6.) My dad is coming up on Sunday. He doesn't know about the itty bitty boat that Richard has in our backyard and I'd like to keep it that way. Richard needs to push it behind the shop so that my dad doesn't see it. If he knew that Richard was on a lake with that, he'd have a heart attack.

7.) I guess I need to make Maeve's appt. for her 1 year checkup. Gosh I'm in total denial about that. I really am.

8.) I'm starting to get the question, "So you're STILL nursing?" Um yeah, I am. I hate how people think that you magically stop nursing on your child's first birthday. I want to nurse my baby all day on that day! LOL! Then in the months to come I'll think about weaning. I really am wanting to have my body back. I know that sounds really selfish, but I don't think that this will be a difficult process since Maeve isn't that attached to the boob. She takes bottles and she doesn't nurse to sleep. We don't co-sleep either. I'm hoping the transition is a smooth one. I'm about ready to run over my pump! ;)

9.) The heat is already stressing me out. It's freakin APRIL! What's it going to be like in July and August? Have I mentioned that I hate the heat?

10.) I have to register Kyra for kinder in a month. That's fine. No big deal. Then I hear my mother-in-law say the other day, "Kyra, you'll be going to school in August just like me!" August? This August? No! Oh and Kyra riding the bus is another issue. I am on the verge of a panic attack over it. Why? I don't know! She's just my baby...that's all!

11.) Richard is threatening to change ISPs! NOOOOOO! Then I lose my email! Bastard!

12.) Money. That's always something to worry about. :(

13.) My house is just dirty right now. I don't like living in a pig pen, so I'm not to happy about that. Maybe tomorrow I'll clean. Maybe.

Well that was quick....

http://www.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,18735,00.html?fdnews

Yeah, all of that "Today I will marry my best friend" crap on their invitations was just that! LOL!

Scully, your man is available again! ;)

What's going on?

First of all, my body still hasn't adjusted to daylight savings time yet. I keep wanting to be up past 11 and usually that means that I don't fall asleep till after midnight. Ugh. The good thing is that the kiddos have been sleeping late in the morning. I think Maeve slept till well after 8 this morning. I pumped before I left, so I didn't even get to nurse her! I bet they are up at 7am tomorrow morning....the one morning that I CAN sleep in. :(

I hated that they had "country night" on American Idol tonight. Kellie and Bucky got praises from the judges and I think that they suck. So who knows who's going home this week. Is it just me or is Taylor losing steam? He seems so plain now. What happened? Oh and Mandesa singing Shania Twain made my ears bleed. I do not like Shania at all. And Ace still looks like he's taking a crap when he sings. He's like "Constantine revisited". Ugh.

I'm half ass jealous of my sister this week. No, scratch that. I'm sooooo jealous of her and Nathan. Tomorrow morning, they are flying out of Houston to Playa Del Carmen for her friend's wedding that she's in. They'll be back on Sunday. I'm sure she'll have plenty of stories and beautiful pictures to show me when she gets back. I wish I could take a trip to paradise!

I learned today to never underestimate the crawling power of an 11 month old. Jesus she's fast. She's come a long way in a month's time. Tonight she was cruising along the loveseat. She's into cabinets, drawers.....you name it. I think it's safe to say that we are going to have our hands full with this one.

Richard blew up Kyra's little pool this afternoon and she went swimming in it. He put it next to the slide and she slid down and into it. I walk outside and all I hear is "CANNONBALL!" LOL! Crazy kid. I have no idea where she got that from.

Walmart on a Saturday evening....

Ugh. It's not the greatest place to be. All I had to pick up was some photos that I had uploaded online and some new crayons for Kyra. That's it.

So I'm in the line to pick up my photos and I hear on the loudspeaker, "This is an Amber Alert for a 10 year old boy in a gray shirt. Your mother is looking for you. Please come to ladies' apparel immediately." WTF? How on earth would the kid know where ladies' apparel is in a Walmart Supercenter?

I got lost once. It was in a Weiner's (low-end department store). They took me to customer service and described what I was wearing. They asked me what my mom's name was and I said, "Mommy." My mom came immediately and got me. I would think that the same thing would have happened with this little boy. But I guess his mom was looking for him before he was looking for his mom. Oh and I taught Kyra at a very young age what her mommy and daddy's "real" names are.

Also, I think all teenagers in town are working at Walmart on the weekends. Ugh. Kyra could have checked me out faster than some of them. They were just taking their sweet little time. I could tell that some people were just as frustrated as I was....especially since they have all of these people waiting in line and about 3 lanes open. Grrrrrr! It's a Saturday! It's a weekend!

I sincerely hope that the Walmart here in Buda is better than the one in South Austin. And kudos to our HEB here in Buda for having every lane open most of the time. You rock!