Boy, let me tell you what has been going on......


First, Joe is really busy. He took out a loan for a machine called a bobcat to start a brush clearing business and has already done 2 jobs with it. Of course, with the loan, we now have to tighten our belts (at least, I do). He worries about the payment, so he takes all the overtime he can and I try to keep my mitts off our joint account. I'm getting better, but it's hard. My mitts are used to getting whatever they want. I keep telling myself - 4 years, 4 years, 4 years...... In 4 years it will be paid off.......

About Madison: The doctor said that with the questionaires filled out by her teacher and I, he does think she have ADD. He gave her one medicine that I knew the first day wasn't the one we were going to use. It made her depressed. It was horrible and it really scared me. I didn't know what to do. The doctor said to continue and call him at the beginning of the week. It wasn't better, so he said to double the dose. I said okay, but couldn't go through with increasing it. I finally called and asked if he would change her prescription; I couldn't see increasing something that made her feel so terrible. Thankfully, he had no problem with that and switched her. The second one, I think, is a keeper. It seems to be working well. Still not quite right, but that's in dosage adjusting. She is still somewhat negative, but I'll keep an eye on her and see how things work out. She's doing better in school - that was our primary focus.


My baby is having a baby! My shih tzu is pregnant! I have a 3 year old female brindle and white and a 1 year old male brindle/silver with a black mask. They are going to make the cutest babies! I let Joe know that I would want to keep one of the babies and I don't think he agreed. He said something about the excrement of a bull...... I don't know what his parents cattle have to do with my Molly's pups......? He just doesn't understand...... When I told him I needed to schedule a prenatal visit for Molly with the vet - he said she didn't need one. I told him I wanted to get her vitamins - he said no to that, also (I did actually get her some). I want the healthiest, smartest pups that are possible........ A girlfriend of mine said that I was thinking about it all wrong..... I was supposed to wait 4 weeks and then give her a pregnancy test...... :o)

It's really slow at work, and I'm about ready to pull my hair out. I definately prefer to be busy. Our company was bought out by another and things are still up in the air about what changes will be made. Today was a little better, though... more going on. I just try to handle things as they come. I go to work each day and take care of my job, then I come home each evening and take care of my job....... Don't ya love it?

Updates of the Joy

I would say that its been a long time, but that's something of an understatement... So much happens and time flies, whether we are having fun or not...... I'm still in the same position at work, but I have a few other duties that keep me busier (thank goodness), and make me feel useful. That's one of the main reasons I started working, again. Funny how staying at home made me feel unnecessary. I love my babies, but I need to be busy and have my own separate identity. When I get caught saying something more age appropriate for someone about 8, I make sure to explain myself as being a Mom of three..... That instantly explains it all...... Huh? I wonder if they think I play and am silly with the kids or just completely crazy? :o)

My Madison has been having a hard time of it lately. She has a doctor appointment this Monday to find out if she has ADD. I put this off and put this off...... I've thought she did for a while, but as long as she was progressing and doing alright, I didn't want her to have to go through all the mess involved in this. Girls more often have ADD versus ADHD and it is diagnosed later than the ADHD that is more frequent in boys (like my Ryan). Madison has been having a harder time of it the further she goes along in school. She doesn't have any behavior problems and that's usually what the teacher's want to fix. I really hate the thought of giving her the meds that are needed with this diagnosis, but her poor progress has started affecting her self- esteem and she has just seemed so frustrated. My Ryan has had to take meds since he was in first grade. It has been horrible and the kids were merciless. They used to tell him it was his crazy medicine. How do you defend your children from their classmates? He is almost 17 and still struggling to make it through. I guess we all do what we have to........ and no one is perfect.

Work has certainly been interesting. I am enjoying the work more. The people are being a little more accepting of me and more talkative, shall I say. I don't know how to explain what has been going on there. I can honestly say I've never had such a work experience before. We've lost 2 employees in my office, one right after Thanksgiving and the other about the middle of January. This is NOT any fun. It was very emotionally straining or draining, whichever. I think that's as far as I'm going to get into that.

On a positive note, Madison has passed 2 test leading into an onstage school spelling bee. This is supposed to be on the 9th, next Friday. I am so excited for her! She is such a stinker though. Grandma has done the majority of studying with her, and I'm trying to help with the deadline coming up, but Madison just won't cooperate. I think she wants to spend time with Grandma and that's why she tries so hard for her. Grandma also spoils her rotten..... I'm not sure who to fuss at there! I'm sure we'll get it figured out, and get her back on the right track. I don' think Grandma feels very good. She is usually very quiet about anything she has going on with her health, and she told me that she had a procedure on the 8th and couldn't quiz her the day before the spelling bee. We worry about her, too, and want to know and help as much as possible.

Kaitlyn is wonderful. Doing well in school. Doing pretty well at home. She is such a....... I don't think there is one word to describe her. She really is intelligent (I like to think so anyway). She can read really well along with being able to spell her colors and the days of the week. She wanted to learn how to spell words like sister, how can you turn her down? She also has SULTAN down pat. Madison was having a hard time with that one and so she was quizzed on it over and over. Kaitlyn couldn't help but pick it up. I really do love OLV. They do so much more there than public school. They're constantly exposed to new things. Kaitly has learned sewing, cooking, music, spanish, they've had a gymnastics class..... there's just so much. They cook their own snack on Monday's (Kaitlyn just loves that).

I will have update you more later. I do think I've run on at the fingers....... :o)

Back Again.......

This is only picture I have of me, except for the one that we had taken @ the festival. I don't usually like pictures of myself....... I usually think they make me look fat (something I am, but don't like documented evidence of). I did love my dress though. All three of us got to pick out our own material. I just loved the lace. It was a sheer black with velvet roses on it.

In my previous post, I forgot to mention that being so close to Halloween, we joined in an after hour ghost walk. It was so fun! Everyone had already left and we got together and followed around 2 guys in the dark carrying flashlights. They took us to all the sites where a departed member of the festival had worked. He even mentioned that one of the people had his ashes spread across the festival grounds...... Madison loved it! Of course, she had to stay less than 2 inches from me at all times.

Halloween turned out fun, also. I was so tired afterwards, but it was worth it. We went trick or treating up and down our street. Then to the Northside Baptist Halloween party. We usually go there for most of the evening, but the kids are getting older. They now want to focus on friends and candy. After that we went trick or treating at a friend of Kaitlyn's and then Madison's. At Madison's friend, I went inside and had a nice visit with her grandmother...... Such a nice lady. The girls handed out candy to the children still coming around. We ended the evening back at home checking on Daddy and Ryan. They had stayed and given out candy at home. I guess next it's on to Thanksgiving and Christmas....... Oh heavens, already? Can we freeze time for a while? I think I'll start early on Christmas shopping. I am such a late shopper, it really stresses me out at the time I should be enjoying myself. Take care and be safe.....!

Renaissance Festival

My Madison finally got to go to the festival with us. We have been dangling it in front of her face to keep her in line all year. Wynne, a 20 year long friend, and I try to go every year and make it a girls day. Wynne thought Madison would be old enough this year to take with us. So, we set about making costumes for the visit. Wynne sews, so she did the brunt of the work. She did a great job! We were up until 4am the morning before we went finishing up. Madison's dress was the last to be made and it was started before we realized it wouldn't fit her. My baby looks like about 14 or 15 and you tend to forget she is only 10. So we had to go shopping for more material and notions and make a completely new dress....... Wynne made Madison's dress in 2 days! I know she had to be exausted! We ended up sleeping in a little later than we should have the morning we were going. We got up and started moving about 9:30, but we didn't leave until about noon. Usually we leave about 5 or 6am. We definately were unhappy about getting there so late (3:30), but I knew it would be alright because the previous year we left at about 3pm in the afternoon. We were not able to make it all day.

Madison loved it. It was like another world to her. I know that I had fun seeing it with a fresh eyes (her eyes). This was also the first time we had gone completely in costume. Last year we did the best we could but didn't go all the way. It was still fun. In costume, they include you in a lot more. They make conversation more and I guess they just know you will help them with the entertainment because you are in costume.

These are my favorite pics....... You couldn't ask for anything better to happen to your child and friend........ I now have blackmail material........ The front says potty mouth priss for Madison and the back says nose-picking liar....... Wynne's back pic says proper child bearing hips. All it cost me was $1 per person and a healthy bribe to make sure that I didn't end up in the stocks after them........

Here I Am!

Guess what? I am still alive! It has been a while and a busy while...... I am finally in a permanent position and so far I am enjoying it. When I first started, I was miserable. It has definately gotten better. I don't know if I'm used to everyone or if I have gotten to where I don't care, but it is better....... I will post again, soon. I just wanted to let you know I was still here.

Guess what? I'm still alive...... It has been a while, but I think I am getting more settled into my working life, now. The last company I was temping for offered me a job and I took it, hoping for better work relationships once I was permanent. So far it has helped. I am still at the same place, but now that I am permanent, I am in the computer doing much more..... I have more responsibilities and that's good. Before, there wasn't enough to keep me busy. That was one reason I was questioning my decision to stay. I've gotta get the crew ready for soccer games, so I will post more later.......

Continued Joy....

It's Saturday morning and I am up and going..... I don't understand how...... but I am. The girls both have a soccer game this morning. Grandma is coming to get Ryan bright and early. And Joe will get up at 4 am to get ready and go to work. Great relaxing day for a Saturday...... I guess it can't always be a relaxing weekend.

The girls are excited about their games. Kaitlyn didn't even know about hers. She didn't get a call about when the practice was or when the game was. It is a good thing we know where to look for the schedule (on their website). I hope they will have her uniform there. She hasn't gotten that, either. She loves her soccer, and this is disappointing. She is the only girl on the team, but that didn't bother her. Last years coach spoiled her. He was dependable and sweet. His wife was wonderful also..... I guess we all got spoiled by her spring season......

To date, I have lost 38 pounds. I don't believe it! It just seems to melt off. I eat pretty much what I want, but when it doesn't matter to me, I eat low glycemic foods. This seems too good to be true. I am in control instead of my stomach. I feel so much better. I am still tired, but I can get up and move around easier. I was upset last night when I went shopping for yet more clothing because I felt like I had done so much work but I still look fat. I have gone down 2 sizes in pants and shirts. A lot of my clothes are too big. I didn't think that I would ever feel this way, but I am tired of shopping for clothes! I guess you can never make me happy...... I had bought such cute things and now they don't fit anymore...... :o)

I guess since I am up already, I need to do some work on the house...... I got up because I wanted to make sure Joe had clothes to wear. I went to sleep when we (Kaitlyn and I) got in. I was so tired! After work, I ran home and came to get Madison at school. She wasn't there so I came home and found my mother in law taking laundry to her truck while she thought I was working. I know I'm a terrible housekeeper, but to humiliate me like that..... This is the third weekend in a row that she has done that. She took the girls school clothes and sheets and towels. Joe also gets mad when she takes laundry, because it makes him feel bad. Of course, the blame is put on me.... So there are bad feelings all around. Oh well, yet more to worry about along with work being so unstable, soccer all the time, my children not behaving, me worrying I'm not spending enough time with them, and my husband always being gone. I also worry about his back and upcoming probable surgery. I guess I will take everything with a grain of salt and keep going like always. Grandma just wants to help me take care of her grandbabies, the kids know that I work to take care of them, at work-everything will settle once I finally find a permanent position, Joe has always been on the go and will be fine with all the medical help Jean will make sure he has..... Happy Saturday!

Midweek

Guess what? At work they have asked me to stay a couple more weeks. I am struggling with an answer. This may be leading to a permanent position and I am not sure what to do. I have until Tuesday to decide. I will talk it over with Joe and he will help me weigh the pro and cons......

The kids are still enjoying school. Soccer has started for both of the girls, now. I was told the games start next weekend. Madison has had only one practice and she definately needs more. I think we will start walking again tonight. I will have her dribble all the way and maybe that will help her improve a little (or at least improve her self image).

I will post more later.......