Heaven has a new Angel...

This photo was taken off a recent post on Aleida's blog. WE SURE ARE GONNA MISS YOU LADY!!
The world has a little less humor and brightness today. I will miss her puns on how I can just go on and send her what ever project Im workin' on since her baby girl's name is Bella also. I will mis her in the blog world as well as the scrappin world. SHe was such a funny lady.

My friend Greta has gotten some info and is getting her blog turned into a hard bound book to give to the family. She is accepting pay pal donations. PLEASE if you would like to donate anything feel free to it does not matter how much every dollar will go to her family. She hopes to have some left over to just give them the money.

you can read the information and how to do so HERE



I have thought about this all evening and can't get it out of my head. This is such a horrible tragedy. For those that don't know. She was killed Friday in Dallas in a car accident. SHe was hit by a car driven by a 22 year old that ran a red light.
The scrapbooking world is in tears. No one can believe it is true.

It has made us all hold our kids a little tighter.
I am so glad her family will have those beautiful scrapbook pages she made. They will have those memories of her to look at forever. THAT is why I scrapbook.
It is making it even more important and real tonight.

I hope if you don't scrapbook or anything of the sort, That you will at least take more photos after today. Capture memories for your family to continue on with. I know scrapbooking isnt for everyone but, anyone can take a picture.

Hug your family a little tighter and tell em you love em an extra time today.

We will miss you Aleda and I wish I had known you even better than I did.

Finally!

I think we are about to kick this. HUGE PROGRESS. I feel so much more human. Want to thank everyone for their prayers and well wishes. Im still not 100% but IM getting there quickly. Thank you again so much.

We are watching this Hurricane IKE now. My goodness he sure is causing a big mess and throwing alot of water around.
I fear for those people in Galveston Texas. One of the news reports said that the coastal areas had so much flooding expected that IMMENENT DEATH would be if they didn't evacuate.
Hmmmmm. I THINK THAT WOULD BE MY CUE TO LEAVE! It is hard for me to believe people still continue to stay when they announce 50 foot waves headed your way. Maybe they have surfboards and a really clear conscience. I dunno.
I pray for everyone in harms way though. I hope it doesnt do alot of damage. I know what all it is causing here and we are several states away so I can only imagine.

I hope to get to scrap some this weekend IM SOOOOOOOO behind on stuff.
This has really kicked my tail. Im glad it is about over with. My house is so in dissarray. I can't find NUTHIN haha. Poor John and Bella they have been doin best they can while I have been out for the count for so long.

Speaking of which I better go on and get something out of dinner... I WANT REAL FOOD!!!!
Have a great day I hope to ceom back later with scrappy stuff to share!

stilll tickin...

Yes Im still alive, No Im not well yet. Still got chicken pox on my face and neck and a few scattered here and there that are sores now (thank god they have progressed to sores from the blisters) Yes I am still running fever Yes I still feel like crapp. YES I Plan on going back to dr.
I think I covered all the questions. If you have ever had pneumonia you understand how hard it is to talk on the phone but also how hard it is to sit up for any long period of time. Makes everything hurt. SO I was just getting all the questions I am being asked out of the way.
YES I am doing the breathing treatments i got up to every 6 hours before having to go back to every 2 hours.
Im going to go back to bed now. BUT thank you so much for the prayers and well wishes Just isnt anything new to tell. I do think I am a little better... Just dunno what its gonna take to get rid of this crapp.

Almost alive....

I have no idea what day it is at this point. I tell ya, Chicken pox/shingles have to be the work of the devil. We say Chicken pox because they are all over not just in a straight line on one nerve. THEY ON ALL MY NERVES!! Hard to really be able to describe if they hurt or itch or burn. Miserable is the easiest description. THEN because they were down in my throat (and my throat kept closing... what a nightmare) I ended up with this pneumonia.
I am finally starting to feel almost alive. I know I am still not out of the woods but I can at least see the edge of the forrest.

I am so behind on things. I have a stack of projects needing to be done. Bella has things needing to be done. John has things needing to be done.. and all I wanna do is crawl back to my bed and throw the covers over my eyes. (they burn like staring into a blazing fire)
Ok enough complaining. Not alot I can do about this so I just have to buck on up and move forward... sigh.
The last few weeks have been full of all kinds of emotion from things going on in our family, to anniversarys of sad days, and hurricane watching. (yes there is another one out there spiraling towards us but hopefully is going to by pass us)

I did get a lovely email today showing the project I made "The man you never knew" for the Scrapbooking.com newsletter. That is such a fun publication and has amazing ideas in it. If you would like to look you can see it HERE
Be sure and sign up for the free newsletter so it will automatically appear in your in box.

Well not alot to say. I still feel like crapp. Was hoping mind over matter but it aint workin' So I guess I will find my way back to bed.
Hope you have a great day. SOrry for such a downer post.

Yall aint gonna believe this crapp...

This is REALLL long. so if you dont read it all I dont care. It is mainly for my family and close freiends. I am really hoarse and hard to talk on phone long. and I want my friends that have MS and Lupus that READ MY BLOG to TAKE NOTE of what happened to me. THIS COULD very EASILY happen to you!!!!
so BE CAREFUL ESPECIALLY if you are taking one of these medications we have to take that effects your immune system.
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT you do not wait.


THIS is just..IT IS BEYOND crazy.
THE GOOD NEWS... I AM OK.
I am at home. THe hurricane is going away. that is good news too.

The bad news
there are 3 more tropical storms out there.
the other bad news.
I have the chicken pox/shingles
AGAIN
YES
I said again.
I KNOW I KNOW you are saying " I thought you could only get them one time"
well yeah.. MOST PEOPLEEEEEE only get them one time.


I AINT MOST PEOPLE.
I Have M.S. (Multiple Sclerosis) and Lupus and..... I wont give the whole list because it is just pointless. regardless I have alot of crapp wrong with me. Physically (sometimes we wonder about mentailly and shut up cuz I know you are going " YOU FORGOT MENTALLY TOO!!"
see I dont have to say it.. you already know that.

BUT SINCE I am on an interferon and it messes with your immune system I can get everyting.
well to tell you how viruses work on people that take interferon (which is chemotherapy just in smaller doses than what cancer peopel get) my immune system is screwed up. SO If a kid at Bellas school has chicken pox.. even though Bella doesnt have them she can carry them. same thing with other viruses too. We just have to be careful. no eating after each other, no eating ice cream and kissing mommy on the lips, (yeah i know gross but that is what i think happened) or kissing me on mouth period she has to only kiss me on my cheek. wash hands alot. I mean what can ya do?
I cant ship her to another country!!

THat is why I Dont go nowhere. I stay at home from church, from wal mart the grocery store etc. cuz my dr always says that is where you catch stuff cuz people will come there with stuff and not know they have it yet or come anyway even though they are sick.

SO ANYWAY. At 10 something I told my cousin Jan I was almost positive I had a shingle on my ear behind it that i felt weird. but I didnt want to say out loud it was a shingle and jinks myself and that be what it was. I showed it to john and said ok so maybe its just a zit he said looks like a zit to me so we kinda went in denial.He looked kinda like oh great. so I kinda dropped it thinking ok mabe its a zit I dont want him mad. The medicine is expensive and well we have spent sooooo much money lately with the hurricane and my medication is god awful expeinseive i had to ahve the mri and well you guys know how expensive it is you all take the same crapp I take. PLUS we were having bad weather and who wants to get out in that...
maybe it was a zit it will go away.

few minutes later one came up on my lip real good (i had a little one there but thought i had hurt my lip brushing my teeth.
nope SO i told john IM sorry. Dont be mad at me. I know it is gonna cost alot of money and we aitn got it but.. i think ireally need to go to the dr. This is feeling tingly and i think i am getting more of them.
so i called dr he said come in at 2. This was about 10 30 or somthing (It was after Joy and Sheri got into the political fight, and after the "new kids on the blocks" tryin to dance like the temptations but they instead looked like some just really ugh.. middle aged men tryin to dance like the temptations making us laugh our butts off) so it ws after that. whatever time that was..
well iwent and laid down. i noticed my throat felt weird and i couldnt breathe
good so I got up to go get my inhaler out of my purse and I fell. hurt my lip more and started beating on teh bedframe with the remote control.
my legs from knee down went ice cold and knumb

john FINALLLLLLLLLY came back there and got me on the bed i ponted my throat eh said need your nebuliser i siad ya he thought i was having an asthma attack. no
my throat was closing
i did the inhaler just kept on pumpin it over and over had to be 20 times total so he ran got hte nebuliser an i rem prednisone. they always give epi,(you know on ER they always say "push so and so mg of epi" but he said there as on in the cabinet and one also at her school, anytime someone is unconscious,, just I wasnt unconscious but i was headed that direction. Bella had and epi but i thought it was with her at school. so anyway he goes and gets prednisone and i swallow it it goes halfway down so I told him heat u p my water and i drank it and dissolved it (dont try that just for fun cuz it is nasty as all get out)so anyway we did ALL that stuff.

so anyway he got me to the dr ( it was an experience cuz we used my computer chair and my legs were draggin and i kept slidin down. its kinda funny now. you have to laugh so you dont cry cuz it is pretty humiliating.

They gave me a big shot steroids and a breathing treatment and i got to feelin better and could talk
throat wasnt raspy
also noticed I could feel my legs a little better and wiggle my toes
but i still cant walk exactly like before now I drag my right leg and my foot turns in and on the side.
like i walk on the outside where my pinky toe and side of my foot are all the way t touching hte floor on the side instead of flat on the sole of my foot. SO we are praying as the shingles/chicken pox (he said it was chicken pox some argue it is shingles that you cant get them again but they aint me... and ughmm he said when you run fever and they are all over it is chicken pox not shingles. shinges is just on one side in one spot on that nerve in a line (and i have had those too) and you dont run 101. something fever almost 102 after taking 2 aleeve either. (I am on that every morning when I take my shot the night before yall know the drill with that and phenegren so i dont have the shot side effects so bad)so when i was feelin crappy jus tthought it was cause i took my shot the night before. WRONG. DO NOT WAIT if you ahve a bump and feel weird CALL THEM dont ASSUME IT IS the shot!!! (like I did)



my eye is swollen, I have them in my throat on my lips and my thigh my back and my stomach my inside arms are a couple on my eyebrow and on my shoulder.
They keep popping up so who knows where all they are.

I am doing breathing treatments every 2 hours and taking big doses of prednisone and taking the antiviral med that you take for shingles/chicken pox.

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO IF YOU TAKE INTERFERON. IF YOU HAVE a zit that feels funny dont try to ignore it even if you think your husband will get mad cuz all your other meds cost so much and you knwo that the medicine for it is expensive so you didnt want to think it really was shingles....
DON't go there do not do that!!!

INSTEAD GO to the dr even if you suspect because when you take that it messes with your immune system and can kill you!!! IT can happen that fast.
SO LISTEN TO ME cuz it just almost happened to me

(not to mention I heard christian music and this pink hair lady singing amazing grace on the tv and it was gettin louder and i was layin on the remote but by god I thought the angels were signign and I was about to check out!!)

PS. I didnt allow comments on this post for a reason. NOT that I DONT care if you leave condolences and yes I appreciate your prayers more than anything. BUT this post was more to INFORM people to do not do what I DID. Because I wouldnt want any of you to suffer with soemthing that happened to me. PERIOD.
So it isnt to offend, or get any attention yes i appreciate your sympath, but mainly I wanted you to learn something and that is NOT TO WAIT GO TO THE DR Even if you are scared they will thing soemthng negative. YOU still need medical help it is your life in their hands.

We are still doing good!

Edited to add:
It is 2:32 pm It is still pretty windy and on and off rain. Our power is going on and off on and off. We are fortunate it keeps coming back on. I talked to my cousin Angela from Morgan City. They evacuated to a friend of her's house in Dallas. THey are ok and are safe. Was sooooooo good to hear her voice. I was worried about her but confident the lord would take care of her. I want to tell the friend of hers that took them in THANK YOU so very much for taking care of our family. If you ever need something and in Mobile... Angela will tell ya how to reach us.

Bella's school is closed tomorrow according to the tv unless they call us and tell us to bring the kids. I guess since it is in ZONE 1 they have to go in and access the situation make sure there is no damage at the school, flooding etc since it is in grand bay (closer to the gulf) our COUNTY is still under a tornado warning but not right where we are. (read previous post about Mobile county vs Mobile the town.)
Our power has stayed on straight now for a while so thats cool. I might try to scrap some later. If Im not hurtin as bad. Feel ALOT better but still achey from the weather. It sucks gettin old! (grin)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It is 11:30 am The worst part of it is way over and we are still fine. Still have power. IT is windy windy. There are still tornado warnings but not that are an immediate threat to us. I am hurtin pretty bad so had to take some pain medication. JOints and stuff are swollen and achey but, will make it.

I have tried to call mama and reassure her that we are ok but I keep getting her answering machine though, ( can't talk to her on that cell phone she hurts my ears)but we are trying to keep it low key around here about the storm now that it is so windy to keep Bella oblivious to it. It is not raining real bad now just some showers off and on. NOT like we had earlier with the monsoon downfalls and the high winds. IT got a little scary earlier when it was raining really hard and windy and the alarm on the tv went off (and woke us up ok ME UP) with the tornado warnings, THANK YOU LORD she slept through it. (John looked at it a couple times and then went back to sleep)
Bella is now playing Fashion show. She is dressing up as someone, a character, with one of her costumes (or she makes up her own costume) and we have to guess who she is and what movie or tv show or whatever. (kinda her version of charades)
HEY WHATEVER WORKS!! SHE is happy and not wiggin out so we are happy. I have been in the bed so she has a long walk way lol all the way down the hall and to the other end of the hall and shows daddy. so cute!

Turned it over on the weather channel and CNN and we can't watch that long or will get you all upset and worried about the weather and upset her also.
So just letting you know we are all ok. (I promise mama.) They freak out on tv to get people to watch.. kinda like the train wreck everyone has to look at? We watch with worry and concern but end up all upset worse) We are all praying for everyone in an area that is getting this storm and pray they have power and everything they need to get through! IT didn't feel any worse here than when we went through katrina but didnt last as long as Katrina. The difference is we lost power in the first 30 min of the storm with Katrina so we had no clue what was going on.
I AM GLAD and very THANKFUL WE HAVE POWER THOUGH cuz that air conditioner is just a ginnin'!! IT SURE was HOT when Katrina came through for soooo long with no a/c!! so we are very fortunate and THANKFUL. Our prayer was answered. We are all ok and Power still on. Everything is fine mama I promise!!

I will update again this evening.
Gonna lay back down for a bit try to rest.

Hurricane Gustav, Havin' a Hissy Fit!

It is 7 30 am and so far so good. It has gotten really windy and hard rain fall on and off but we are ok. I am learning alot of the names of the little bitty communities around. I learned there is MORE THAN ONE COTTAGE HILL (like the one by us) when I woke John up goin "GET UP WE GOTTA GET IN THE HALL" and he barked at me that it was way "south east of us" and they are showing projected path going "north of us". (oh, Well thats a relief! glad he pointed that out. Saved a pair of underware for me!)
We Still have power and cable and the internet. Obviously, an boy John is happy cause I would be in there buggin him right now instead of updating my blog hehe)

They are saying it will be out of here by lunch time. ABOUT another couple hours of this stuff. OH and by the way, You know how back home, how we have tornadoes always goin' through Sandhill.
Well what do you know? There is a community called Sandhill here too! Its north of us though but, I am having a very educational Geography lesson this morning. (I would have preferred to just maybe toured these places when the Azaeleas are blooming but hey, I am sure I will remember it this way too!)

Stay safe. You all are in our prayers as well as everyone in or effected by Gustav's path of his hissy fit he is pitchin right now. Ready for Mother nature to call him off us already!

Will update again after while.

Update

It is 11 pm and as of right now we still have power and its not that bad....yet.
They say the worst will hit between 3 am and 9 am in the morning. THE GOOD NEWS they also say it will be improving significantly by noon. Bad news... its sup to be stormy the rest of the day but not like it will be from 3 to 9.
I want to clarify something, we live in Mobile. BUT, the COUNTY is also called Mobile.
ITS A BIIIGGGG county that goes all the way doowwnnn to the water. WE are more up at the top. WE are NOT in ZONE 1 where there was mandatory Evacuation. What yall are seeing on tv those mandatory evacuations,I know yall are watching the Weather Channel and they will scare you to death. I just check in on it from time to time UNLESS it is getting bad. On our LOCAL CHANNELS HERE is what we are going by. That is the stuff you guys don't see. SO I KNOW as far away as some of you are. IT LOOKS alot worse than it is right now.
That is not to say it wont get bad. SO WE DO APPRECIATE THE PRAYERS. PLEASE KEEP EVERYONE in the path in your prayers for safety.
I hope to go to bed soon and pray I can sleep through it. (PLEASE LORD) Maybe Bella wont come super man Dive us at 2 am and wake me up. :)
love and hugs
PS: JOHN FOUND MY HAND HELD BATTERY TV!! Made me smile real big. It was on top of the refrigerator. (it was wayyy to the back and well.. yall know I am short hehe)

Hurry up and Wait...

So far we are still in watch mode. Neighbors car alarm went off and scared the beejeebers out of me. so thought I would come check the weather. It is still iffy.. the way these things kick back right. Praying it will lose its strength and fizzle (One can hope and dream huh?) I spoke with my cousin Angela, They weren't sure where they were going yet. I told her to be sure and keep in touch so we knew where she was at. Still can't find my hand held battery operated tv, I KNOW its here. I had all our storm stuff together in a box (platic tote) Then I got sick. Few days ago I open the box.. there are 4 c batteries and half a flashlight and some fruitloops loose in the bottom of it... hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm wonder who could have been in THAT BOX?
Anyway after the search we found enough that every one will have one and we have the big one. We have a battery operated lantern also (better to scrap by if it would even be a possibility again, one can hope!)Today will be a busy day of preparation. Depending on the rain that is sup to be here before hand I dunno if Bella is gonna get to go play on the water slide with Brayden again tomorrow or not. Will have to just wait and see. It worked out good because she was creating more mess faster than I could get things cleaned up. VERY FRUSTRATING.
I tried to get her to do it as a game and help me but ughm NO.
SOOOO I finally asked her if we had to evacuate what were her 3 most very special things she had to take with her, one was her big teddy bear, her Hannah Montana guitar (god forbid we have to bring that I think it needs to stay!)The last one she said she would have to think about because she couldnt decide she kept changing it every 5 minutes. so that kinda kept her occupied so I could get some things figured out. Get my photos backed up and things..
So John has an air card and if it is possible I will try to give updates. IM PRAYING this is nothing like katrina and we keep power. We have sooo many evacuees I know they are all worried and terrified. That would be just one more inconvenience for them. Well for everyone.
I hope if you are in the path that you will make good decisions and stay safe.
ps. I copied the photo off the site HERE: but I wanted you to see what we were looking at real time and for a future scrapbook page in Bellas album http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at2+shtml/025240.shtml?5day#contents

So what Three things (not counting clothes and food or pets or family or essentials we know you have to have ya meds and stuff hehe fun stuff extra stuff?
What would you bring?

**EDITED TO LET family and friends that cares to know That my Aunt and cousin are evacuating to Dallas, Texas. (phew I was so worried about them driving in this mess!)

GO AWAY GUSTAV!!

IT is no secret. THERE IS A HURRICANE A COMIN!! OH my word everyone is freakin out already. I on the other hand am unbelievably calm. Maybe it is because IT ISNT IN THE GULF YET! so we don't really know what it is gonna do. SO far their best guess is it is going to make landfall in west Louisiana. Praying hard for those lousiana folks. THey need a break. BUT DONT SEND IT HERE PLEASE!

IF you would like to follow along with us. Here is a really cool hurricane tracker that updates itself constantly.

We are being cautious. John did fill all of our gas cans, make sure our plywood would still work,cranked the generator, we got a window unit a/c, got more batteries and replaced a couple flashlights. He got a new propane tank for the grill (yall know we do some good eatin' during a hurricane!) John and Bella paid our monthly dues at Wal mart. You know if there is going to be a storm YOU HAVE to go get water and food that is like some kinda law isn't it? We are getting all my meds filled (they are delivering a new month of these lovely injections today) Is kinda handy that they come in these neat little small coolers with re freezable ice thingys.

So I think we are ready to batten down the hatches and hunker down. We will keep a steady eye on it.

Everyone be sure you have your supplies you need ready even if this one doesn't hit.. Hurricane season is not over until November.
Everyone STAY SAFE!

I miss you daddy!

Hard to believe that another year has gone without daddy here. I miss him more and more every day. 13 years ago today he was taken away from us in a horrible way. Although, I will make sure his name lives on forever, and that he will never be forgotten. I love you Daddy and I miss you!!
Mississippi Fallen Officers.

ANYTHING CAN BE A TEMPLATE!!

I used this months Kit from Scrapbook Obsessions, to make this project. Here is a tutorial to show you what I did. It wasnt that hard and made a cute little book.
You can see the kit HERE.


HOW TO MAKE A MINI ALBUM FROM SCRATCH.
Using leftovers from this months kit from Scrapbook Obsessions.

I used this package of Making Memories Noteworthy Brads as my template.

These are the Brads Im talking about.


On the backside of a piece of patterned paper. ( I used Harvest Moon by Pink Paislee in this months kit) Trace around The templates outside edge. CUT OUT.

Using a bone folder or scoring tool. Score at the folds just like the brad packaging.


Punch a hole (large enough for a brad) half inch in from each side.



Using the stamp roller and the ink in this months kit as well as the Banana bliss from the add ons. I inked the white side of the album
to give it some character

Cut out the number of pages that you want to go in your album from scrap pieces left from your kit.
Measuring 4 and 1/2 by 3 and 1/2, SCORE 1 inch in on each page.

Punch holes in each one and put a large brad to hold them in place.




Cut the ribbon (in this months kit) In half and place along the edge by the brads.



Decorate your cover with 2 smaller scraps cut in rectangles then adhere a flower with the center taken out and replaced with a jewel. Add a glittery sparkly B and tiny Making memories letter stickers to spell your self.




Crop your photos to size of the pages. Embelish as wished.
I used rub ons that I rubbed on scrap paper and cut out along with flowers and epoxys to decorate my pages.





The last page I adhered to the back of the album so It wouldn't FLOP open and tear easily.

You can find other projects and tutorials at Scrapbook Obsessions to go along with this months kit. The Design Team has worked hard to put lots of fun pages and projects up for inspiration.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Its been raining and raining here today. The Tropical storm Fay is blowing through veryyyy slooowwwllly. It is ok though.. we need the rain.
Bella has her BFF Eva Caroline over to play today. I finished up my remaining project for Scrapbook Obsessions, and now gonna attempt to clean up my mess I made haha. I am tryin to think of something good to fix for dinner tonight. Nothing has appealed to me lately. So HOT who cares about eating. Blahhh.


I also wanted to let you know that THE PEN PALS CHALLENGE is up. They are gonna wait another week for everyone to get their pages or your definition of the challenge sent in. SO go ahead and join in. IS a wonderful way to polish your Journaling skills!
They are also looking for Guest challenge hosts so be sure and play along for your chance to host one of the challenges there.

Hope everyone has a great weekend.

can you name that tune?

For a while now I have let friends and family over the phone hear my child singing at the top of her lungs while in the tub at night. Yes the neighbors cant wait till 7 30 each evening. We call it the news. Because that is when we find out everything that happened at school. who got in trouble. who did good. All the little songs they sang, rhymes they learned. She rehashes the whole day in the tub. I guess its her way of reliving her day and letting it all kinda soak in with the bubbles. IT is massive entertainment. Every one says OH YOU NEEED to record this. Well, she is 5 and she is always in the tub when she does that so I didnt want to so much.. DO THAT. (especially and put it on my blog!!) I do draw the line. THEN today. I did this with my camera. It was crackin me up so bad. I wont bore yall with the ENTIRE thing. Here is a snippet though. She and Eva Caroline her Best friend were swingin' and singin'
I guess.. if they were singing the same song maybe??? or remotely knew all the words to one of the ones they were singin?(to turn off the music playing on my blog scroll down and on the right there is a music list and a box with the song titles, on the tool bar is a button that has two lines. click on that and it will make it stop so you can hear this link) anyway.. just take a gander
ok so now.. you get it. NAME THAT TUNE

While out there... we saw this (be warned before you scroll down. IF you are a spider freak and they scare you... then just scroll on past the next three photos. Im warning you its a big ol like family of em like the Sopranos. There all over. I swear they looked at me and one even say "Hayous dewin" when I took these photos.
so just be warned.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.not yet
.
.
.
.

.
.
.almost.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
HERRRE It is so scroll quick by then look at the other stuff after it.
**
*
*



NO those are NOT the same spider its different ones at various places in the yard. THAT ONE looks like its growing a shell. UGHHGHGHGhhh yikesssss

and what realllllllllly got me.. IS BELLA AND EVA CAROLINE WERE ALL GOIN OHHHH COOOL LOOK AT THE SPIDER. IM ACROSS THE YARD... Using the ZOOM LENS going ewww no get away. They are all up staring at them and stuff. givin me heebie jeebies.




Ok so on a different note I did this layout for Scrapbook Obsessions. Im sure Chantele and J.R. appreciate me pimpin their site after the spiders... sorry bout that but I just had to show yall those things. I am still amazeed.
so anywho here is the other page I made with their faboolous kit for this month.
That would be John's dad. He is so funny.




Bella brought us this home from school today. Im grinnin at the lets on us. and Guido grinnin with 2 feet aint it cute?!!
Well that is all I got tonight. IM whooped. Just those few minutes outside videotaping that I didn't think I was going to be able to get back inside. My legs didn't want to move. MS is such a wacked out disease. It hates heat too. Yeah.. weird.
It is shot night so I got to get my game face on and ready. (and saving grace is coming on in a bit)
Have a good one!

An update

Bella survived her first week of school with giggles and smiles. She came home every day so excited that she was the line leader for the week. She has alot of little girls in her class this year. So, she has alot of new little friends to play with. she comes home every day telling us about a different little girl she was playing with. Last year there were nothing but little boys and just a couple girls in her class. I have to say I am happy to see more little girls.


This months Kit at Scrapbook Obsessions is amazing to say the least.
I have had a great time creating with it. I guess I need to let you all know, I don't even think I have said anything about it. J.R. and Chantel asked me to be a fill in on their team for the next several months. One of their regular design team members (that is so friggin awesome I can't imagine taking her place) everyone knows and loves some Colette! Has to take a break for the next few months.(this is temporary she is coming back I tell ya!! SHE IS!)I am very excited and happy that they thought of me to fill in for her while she is away. I am feeling a lot better and getting used to these shots so I think it will be good for me to get back to scrapping and try to get some normalcy in my life again. Lord knows the last 8 months have been anything but normal more like the middle of a train wreck where the cars are all zig zagged off the tracks explains it a little better. I think this is going to help alot. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH to my giyulls at Scrapbook Obsessions.

So back to this months kit. It is the awesome Pink Paislee Vintage Moon Collection and what a treat it is to the eyes. IT has alot of versatility. You can make your pages as simple or as complex with this kit. I have 3 examples so far:


This is a quick and easy page, that focuses more on th photos to tell the story.
I used the Die cut striped paper from the kit.
I cut the card stock to 8 and 1/2 x 10 rounding the corners.
I inked all the edges of the die cut and the cut card stock with color box fluid ink chalks in Dark brown
I used the brown and blue polka dot ribbon but turned it on the opposite side.
I took the center out of the flower and put the number 3 as its center.
I used the title AUTUMN on the top right.
In the bottom left corner I wrote "Nicholas - Boyd Pumpkin Patch, Brandon, Mississippi" with a Black extra fine tip Sharpie.
then put the year with Chipboard on the bottom right.





The colors are so vibrant. THE thickers have foil on them so they are shiny! ( you know me, I love shiny!)

When I saw the owl on this paper I KNEW I had to cut it out. HE would be so cool in 3D. SO I carefully cut it out. I added foam pop dots to it so it would lift off the page. I really wanted to focus on the guilt in this page also, So I pop dotted the center photo as well.

* I used the Threading water punch to add an edge to the top of the layer of patterned paper.
* I added flowers to accentuate the color of the pinky red lipstick used across her face in the photo.
* I used bling for the owls eyes.
* I used the ribbon for another layer of bring blue across the top holding my journaling in place.
* I added some phrases across the bottom of denial of guilt to help us question "who dun it"
* I used a number 4 in the bottom corner to remind me she was 4 years old in the photo.
* I inked all the edges.

Bling, the flowers, foam pop dots, and threading water punch, not included in kit.

The journaling reads: Sometimes I wonder if all 4 year olds are as mischievous as you. I cannot turn my head
for a second or you are into something. It has been that way since you were able to crawl. I had to laugh
under my breath especially when I saw the shoes, as you walked; little puffs of powder came out the back
like smoke behind you. It almost made me forget the fact you ruined your uniform and my make up a
nightmarish afterthought. I am so glad I got these photos to torment you with as you get older.


Wasnt me***** Make up? What Make up? ******* Did you SEE ME do it? ****** I WANNA TALK TO MY NANA!!


For step by step instructions on how to make this page, go here: http://www.scrapbookobsessions.com/forums/...c=12783&hl=

THE Journaling says:
I Pray you never forget the snuggles, the kisses and hugs. How good nana smells.
How beautiful she is inside and out. Her generous giving nature, but most of all
how much she adores you!

I used the September kit Pink paislee Harvest moon collection.
Black cardstock
Pink Paislee Vintage moon: Harvest moon, moon pie, moon Glade
American Craft Thickers
Prima Flowers
lace paper
Banana Bliss powder puff (add on in kit)
Blue Hawaiian powder puff (came in kit)
KI lace cardstock

* not in the kit
7 gypsies photo turns
hobby lobby pearl and jewel stickers
making memories journaling book
Basic grey buttons
Bazzill Just the edge strips
colorbox fluid chalk inks

For more information on these layouts,other inspiring creations by the Scrapbook Obsessions Design Team and the kit be sure and check out SCRAPBOOK OBSESSIONS.


The injections are going pretty good. They said I would get used to it I guess they knew what they meant. Still having a bit of headache and tired but NOTHING like it was. I did ask the dr about Tysabri the IV that you can take once a month and he just looked at me with a blank stare. I wonder about this dr. sometimes. I know he is very intelligent I can't imagine having to retain and remember all the information he has. I often wonder if he has me confused with some other patients. Im so glad John goes with me I always forget a lot of what I wanted to tell him in the midst of all of it.
We told him about some different symptoms and he just gave us blank stares like it could or could not be the MS. It is just weird. We already KNEW it could or Couldn't be it, when we went went in the first place. I get a lot more answers from the support group I go to online than I do from my dr. Sad huh. I guess that it's kinda good, These people live it every day so they KNOW what is what. They have helped me understand a lot of weird things that have happened. HE IS taking me off the carbatrol though so maybe that will help with some of the nauseau and things going on. HEY ONE LESS MED TO TAKE MAKES ME HAPPY!! One less med to pay for makes John very happy.

It is doing a whole lot of raining here today. I hope you are having a good day where ever you are.

PENPALS CHALLENGE

My buddy Colette is a part of a wonderful blog called Penpals. It is to help you strengthen your journaling skills and to get those fabulous journaled pages in your scrapbooks. They issue these challenges and you pick a topic and jump on it. This first challenge was to journal an age that was special. Wow I had so many ages that were special to me that it was hard to choose one but by far... This one stood out ;)
Thank you Colette for showing me this blog and makin me jumpstart and get back on track with my scrappin' and Journaling!!



Journaling is as follows:


For over Five years John and I had stars in our eyes, We played with other peoples kids. We had baby sat other peoples kids. BUT, We wanted our own babies. We just weren't real sure if we could have a baby of our own. The dr had told me it wasn't a "GOOD IDEA" with all my medical issues and kidney issues but it might could be done. Well that is all I needed to know. MIGHT was still something huh?
What would we have to do. I don't care. I want a child. I would have to go off medication for no less than 6 months. ok. well we did. and, right at the mark. When we really started trying, BAM, it took. I have never been so happy, yet so scared, in my life. I have had miscarriages before and I didn't want that heart break ever again. I want a baby. just one. that's all. The dr confirmed we definitely were pregnant. Finally my dreams of being a mommy were going to come true. Through many trips to the hospital and stays at the hospital through false labor, pre term labor and blood pressure issues... Resembling more of a whale than anything, The dr finally decided on April 21 to induce labor. It would be better than letting me go into labor on my own. Lupus is a tricky disease and can cause a lot of problems on labor and delivery. During labor my blood pressure got dangerously high, your heart rate, got dangerously low. I have never been so scared I didn't want to lose you. They wouldn't let anyone in the room trying to keep me calm as possible, but it was so scary. Finally the dr said he had to take you. so Caesarian they took you out.
IT was a long time, which felt like forever before I got to hold you. When I did I didn't want to let you go. So yeah you may be a little bit, OK you are totally spoiled rotten, but its ok..YOUR MY spoiled rotten. You are my one child that GOD gave me. My dream that I wanted to come true. Even if it was a lot later than I expected it.. But ya know. I think it was better that I had you later. God knows what he is doing after all. Some dreams you have to wait on for good reason. I'm glad I did. You were worth waiting till 33.



I had a dr. appt yesterday. We are tapering off my Carbatrol (thank you lord) to see if that is why I am such a zombie and all I wanna do is sleep.. or if it is actually the shots. I think the carbatrol has alot to do with it. also the weight gain. We wil see. IT also makes me so dizzy and nauseaus. SO I AM HAPPY TO BE RID OF IT. Will take me a week or so to get off it but I will be celebrating when it is gone.
I have to go for another MRI and more blood work. They will call about that. That was about it.

Bella is doing good in school SHe is so happy this week. SHE IS THE LINE LEADER. That is a big deal when your in kindergarten!! haha. She looks so cute in her uniforms although they are a little big for her now but hey... Last year at the end of the year they looked more like shirts instead of jumpers by the end of the year.
We get a nightly review of what goes on in class when she is in the bathtub. We have been serenaded by extra loud versions of PRAAAAIIISEE YEEE DA LORD HAALLLEELUUYYAAHH! and learned the pledge to da cwistian fwag. (had to help her on that one.. she made me nervous) SHe has been holdin class in the Bathtub. It is sooo funny. I have to call my pals and let them hear because it is hysterical. I need to record this in some way but dont want to film her in the tub. But it is sooo dadgum funny. I want to remember this forever. All these little songs she sings. Oh it is so cute and just makes my heart so happy. All the sacrifices made to be sure she goes to this school. It is soooo worth it. I want her grandparents to hear her she is so cute. I call them on the phone to let them hear her serenading. She cant know we are listening though or she stops... so I have to be sneaky.

I have been watching the olympics OMG MICHEAL PHELPS can you beleive that guy!! HE IS A POWERHOUSE in the water!!! I get so excited I have to be careful when Bella and John were in Bed last night I was yellin go go go go! THen THe ladies gymnastics. Man I felt so bad for them. THey had an off night. China just was amazing. Those little girls (that look 12 by the way) were amaaaazing. OUr girls did great but just had an off night I felt so sorry for them. I know many tears were shed. BUT HEY SILVER IS STILL GREAT!!
Ok that is all we are doing so I will let ya go for now. I had alot to cover lol

BY THE WAY THE LAST DAY TO ENTER THE PENPALS JOURNALING CHALLENGE IS TOMORROW SO GET YOUR PAGES TO THEM QUICK QUICK!!!! you will be happy you did. BE sure and stop by and read all the girls journaling. IT IS AMAZINGGGGGG. I have learned so much about my friends. VERY TOUCHING HEARTFELT JOURNALING!! I CANT wait to see yours too!!!
Hope you have a great Wednesday!

First day of school... rain? aaaaaah

TODAY was the first day of school... Last year. I was paparazzi mom and followed her around with the camera. THIS YEAR... I didn't get to. It was raining too. Not to easy to get in and out with the rain so I said We would just have to pretend another day and get some pics. sad I know
SO INSTEAD... it did let up a little (the rain) and I got some of her when she got home. ok I got 2. not great shots but.. its something.
It started sprinkling and she took off into the house... sugar melts ya know. ::insert eyeroll:: I think it was because I worked so hard on that hair band yesterday and she was scared it would fall apart if truth be known haha.

I took a photo of what she did at school today. SHe was so proud she colored all in the lines (we worked hard on this all summer) IF BLOGGER WILL LET ME SHOW YOU THE PHOTOS!!!

Thank you for all your emails and well wishes. We made it through the first step up shot ok. Headache and dreadfull tired but that was it!! YAY!! so now we just got them every Monday Wednesday and Friday for the ressssst of my lifffffe. BUT... IF IT WORKS... Just glad I am getting used to it and not hangin out in the little girls room all day now. Although last night we fought kidney stones but that is an entire different post. Im just so tired I cant even fuss anymore it is to the point of ridiculous. I did work on a layout for a challenge over at my Friend Colettes PEN PALS blog. I will try to get that up tomorrow if the sun would peek out just a tad I mean just enough to let me take a photo that looks decent. I can post it.
Ok mini me is into something I hear her saying OH COOL WHATS DIS. that is never good while she is in my scrap room. Hope yall stay dry.
(THIS MESSAGE BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE LETTER I. AS IN "I" GOTTA GO!)

A good Start...

I had a really good day yesterday first in a while and I did another layout. First time I have scrapped in quite a while now. THe journaling looks awful on this I know but my hands are really shaky still from this med. I plan to rewrite it when they arent so bad. The Journaling reads: " Sometimes it is a good thing to have strong arms push you in the direction in which you should be going. We will always try to help you with love and support and a push every now and then to keep you in the right direction. We love you. xoxoxox Mommy"
I was gonna do it on the computer but my giyulls fussed at me and said no. rofl. so.. I will just try again on a day Im not shaky.
Last night was the last 22. I know yall have heard that plenty of times. I am very nervous moving up to this high dose I have heard horror stories. But Im gonna remain confident that it wont be bad.
We have Bellas BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT at her school tomorrow evening. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT! She is going into Kindergarten. Hard to believe my little rat is 5.
Time goes by so fast. Anyway. Hope you all have a good day. Im gonna go rest.

WHEHEW! FINALLY!

I think I am finally somewhat getting used to this crappp. WOULDNT YOU KNOW IT... I have to move up to the 44 mcg Friday rofl. Im just sleepy and exhausted tired but dont feel like IM gonna hurl every time I move. SO WHEHEHWWW for improvement! ALLS I CAN SAY IS I PRAY THIS STUFF IS WORKING!!

Bella is sooooooo excited She starts school next week. She is "practicing" all the stuff they used to do. We have been trying to get her to go to bed at a decent time so she can get back on her schedule. SHE IS SOOOOOOOOO not a morning person.

I actually scrapped yesterday. I used the AUGUST KIT from Scrapbook Obsessions. There are several diecut papers in there. soooooooo cute. THICKERS (love those chipboard thickers) the ribbon and the Bobunny organic papers. Very cute kit.

Here is what I did with it.
I wanted to hilight the Die cut paper so yes I intended it to look that way... (dont ask)I am about to have scrapped all my photos of miss priss at the beach with her cute little self. They had soooo much fun. John got some really cute and funny pictures. He did so good. Hate I couldnt go. Thats ok. She and Eva had some fun Daddy daughter time. Playin in the sand looking for shells and fighting the waves right at shore.
I got the coolest RAK in the mail from one of my Obsessions friends THank you Miss Donna for the Threading water punch. THOSE ARE SOOO COOL. I haven't been out shopping in foreverrrrrrrr and I tried to explain to John what it was... rofl. Oh well. THANK YOU SO MUCH that is so sweet. You made me smile big yesterday!!! CAN'T wait to use it on a page. I practiced with it on some just regular paper yesterday till I could get the hang of it. THey need to make that thing in 12 x 12 lolol! It was fun though! THANK YOU AGAIN!

Well Im gonna go play with Bella bug while IM not so nauseaus. Hope yall have a great day!

I may not be able to scrap but.....

Not alot happnin' around here.. been raining a lot. Still taking these blame shots.
I mean I am taking my injections and trying to not bat an eye. Bella has been keeping us busy. She is so bored with it raining and ohhhh man I just want to rest and lay down where it is dark!!

Not a lot to talk about because I haven't been scrapping. I have been writing. I did some articles for scrapbook.com you can see one of them here
It is amazing how much Bella has grown in the last year! SHe looks like a baby there.

Scrapbook Obsessions new kit comes out today and OMG IT is full of yummy new pink paisley!! you can see it HERE

That is all I know for now. Tonight is shot night so we aren't doing much and I know I will be in the bed tomorrow but hopefully Sunday It will feel better. Im starting to adjust to it. NEXT FRIDAY I move up to the big dose so IM interested to see how that is gonna do.
THanks for all your prayers. hugs
xoxoxox

step up

Well we made it through the step up to the next dose ok. It wasn't as bad as we figured which is a good thing. Im just surprised at the overwhelming tired. all i wanna do is sleep. the nurse from www.mslifelines.com which are the makers and supporters of this poison I mean med I have to inject 3 x weekly into various places of my anatomy, called and gave me some helpful information. I had been using ice before the shot (what they told me to do...) but obviously that wasn't workin for me because i get these baseball size knots and bruised places that look like I got beat. SO she told me try heat after and do deep massage for 2 to 3 minutes to disperse the med. OK.
so it doesn't look but like a golf ball size welp now but hey. I will take that over the other one.
AL so she told me to take the anti nausea med and the aleeve before I take the shot so it is in my system ok. tried that and I didn't throw up near as much. It was beginning to look like the set from exorcist for a while here.
Im just glad that is over. We have 5 more at the 22 mcg then move up to 44 mcg. and then we are on that one for the long haul. so just getting through this rough part is the key.

I have alot to get me through and lots to keep fighting for. we had Hannah Montana night here Saturday night as she had her 3d show on Disney. I watched that for about 10 min before nausea set in but Bella loved it. I did take some photos. She was in full outfit wig to guitar to enjoy the show.

She had Vacation bible school before that. her program was on the 20th
the photos didnt turn out so good I was exhausted by the time we got there.
This is her friend Mandalyn they looked so cute.

here she is on stage doing her thang. They had a hawaii theme this year which was just her thing since Nana had just gotten back from Hawaii. she had on her MOOMOO and her flowers in her hair like a true little native girl.





Just some various shots from the Program. Here are some from The Pie in the face. Her teacher Mrs Gloria got the pie in the face. THe kids had to bring money (change) to church and put it in the jar of either Mrs Gloria or the Pastor (His name escapes me right now) well the boys went out collecting I think for him they got all their piggy banks together cuz Mrs Gloria lost and was to get the pie in the face.






Mrs Gloria prepared she had a shower cap on and glasses and a tarp wrapped around her all ready for the pie to hit. THe preacher hit himself with it instead then hit her hahahahahaha so THEY BOTH got the pie in the face. THE KIDS LOVED ITTT! I think the adults did too. It was great fun. SHe was a good sport about it too.
sorry my photos didn't turn out so good. but you get the general idea. THEY HAD FUN AT BIBLE SCHOOL.

I think that is about everything going on right now. Bella is getting ready to go back to school. John is working and Im in bed mostly.
I did have some publications come out with scrapbooking. ONE THAT I HAVE BEEN WAITING A WHILE ON. I will take photos when IM up to it and show you soon.
hope everyone is doing well.

Im still alive .... sorta

This is a very short post to tell yall I am still alive... The injections are going... well they are going. The actual shot isnt to bad its the after effects. I am just dragging trying to do this post. Amazing I felt better BEFORE I started this. I KNOW they are for long term stuff to keep my brain from looking as much like swiss cheese. Sometimes I wonder if It is worth it to just take the time you have and have fun with it instead of making your time longer and feel like crapp the entire time.. who knows. NOT LIKE IM GONNA DIE so dont even get your drawers knotted.
Just how long I can do some of the dubious tasks for myself instead of requiring help.
Bella has an ear infection and A red red throat. some leftovers from strep. I have to stay away from her which is hard when your baby is sick. she wants mama but then again she would ask for the pope if it would get her out of taking this nasty medicine. I dont blame her I tasted it and I agree with her its just gross.

Too bad health care cant be fun and make things taste good and be all sunshine and bunnies. Truth is .. its not. I havent scrapbooked since well.. I dont remember I started that mini album with the photos of Bellas trip to the beach and it is still sitting there waiting on me not to be so nauseaus and come embellish and journal it. I figure in about 4 to 6 weeks (according to the dr) I will be used to this poison I mean medicine I have to shoot into my body 3 times a week and not be hurling my guts out. yeah sorry thanks for the visual huh? Just be happy john didnt take a picture for the scrapbook..

Rebiject?

SO I started my Rebif therapy. This is a photo of the auto injector that makes giving the shots easier. AND IT DOES REALLY. It has taught me alot, mainly how looks can be deceiving. Cuz this thing looks kinda cool but OMG the stuff that is inside it.... not so cool!
I want to meet the man who wrote the side effect journal for this medication and kick him hard in the nuts and say OH! IT WILL PASS.
TAKE A TYLENOL!
My body has never shook so hard, even at a rock concert has it not shook this hard. The chills were overwhelming and tired like you have never experienced tired in your life. The flu is not a good way to describe it. THe headache the chills the fatigue. I PRAY this does pass. I did get in touch with a good friend that has been on this rebif therapy for 3 years now and she says it gets better. (THANK YOU GOD) cuz I cannot do this for the rest of my life. THe body is an amazing thing it will adjust and adapt to most anything. THIS WAS JUST THE SMALL DOSE! the 8.8 dose. I cant imagine the 44.0 dose. She told me to get Naproxen that it is stronger or either just take more of the aleeve, that one, aint gonna cut it. TO take the med at bed time so you sleep through most of the bad stuff. HOW DO YOU SLEEP? YOUR BODY IS SHAKING SO DANG HARD NO ONE CAN SLEEP!!@!
IT will get better it will. I keep saying that over and over it will get better.
I didnt expect the nausea and the overwhelming tired. I literally have slept since I took the first injection on Friday. I was ok at first and thougth this aint too bad If this is as bad as it gets I can handle this no probbbbllleeemmm, then, omg the aleeve wore off or the meds kicked in or the little rebijector thing came and kicked me in the stomach I guess. cuz the shaking started. The Fever, The nausea, the omg what have I done feeling.
BUT good news is all the bad stuff, IT is starting to wear off now and I feel a little better still just tired. THE GOOD NEWS IS.... I get to take another shot tonight and do it all over again.. hurrah!

Bella is going to Vacation Bible School this week.. which is kinda good so I can sleep in and she isnt here until later in the afternoon. Poor baby. I feel like a horrible mom some days especially like now when I wanna go and be at VBS and help them do stuff but there is just no way I can physically stand up for more than 2 minutes better yet be around 60 screamin kids...
Maybe by the time school starts it will be better and I can help do stuff then.

GOD HAVE MERCY!

FABULOUS!!!

I got happy mail today!!




I got the book in the mail today! So if you seee it in a store soon by you, buy it, then look on page 81! That is my nephew Adam! HEY ADAM! I know he thought this page was never gonna be in print. surprise. Thank you so much to Wendy McKeehan and Kitty Foster for using my page.

I got some cute cute photos the other day of some Wee Wii players. Check out Eva Caroline under Bellas tootalege :





They were playing Wii Bowling which Bella is TOTALLY DOMINATING us all in.
She and daddy have been playing Wii sports EVERY NIGHT. I always know when I hear Bella's wheheww I WONNNN I WONNNNNnnnn I BEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAT YOU I WONNNNNN I DID ITTT I BEAT YOUUU NA NA NA NA naaanaaaaaaaaaaaaa NA! in her cute little sing songy voice.
I need to teach her how to be a happy winner I guess. SHe just needs to be a little more open when she wins and a little more happy about it (insert that ROLLING EYES smiley here)
I will be right back she just informed me "SHE WASN'T DOIN NUFFIN SHE WASN'T POSED TO BE!" WITH HER ALL INNOCENT FACE.... I better go check this one out.

She said she wasn't in my closet tryin' on my shoes. "She was just borrowin them for a little while then she will puts em all backed." Im thinking she will be doing that NOW!



My mom just called me with some sad news. My Aunt Norene is in the hospital. She is 90(?) ish years old I can't remember her exact age but she is in the hospital, she has some blockage and shingles. They are doing surgery on her today. SO please keep her in your prayers.

Happy Fourth Of July!

I hope everyone HAD A VERY HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY. This year was really again, different for me. I guess I say ME. Because IM USED to the big 4th Of July family reunions at My aunt and Uncles house. John didn't grow up with this so he doesn't "get it" It is not as important to him and kinda a headache to do a big family thing for him. With my health these days.. I kinda have to agree.
Bella has been sick with Strep and then last minute came home. so We didnt have anyone here for the 4th but just us. It was nice and quiet, ahhh relaxing,
but I couldnt help but think of the years gone by, how fun it was having the entire big family reunion. (it wasn't at our house though thank you Jesus!) My nerves aren't great with those things anymore either.
I can remember growing up everyone would gather at my grandma's house. Her house wasn't a mansion to say the least. It started as a very small little house and as more kids came more rooms were added with whatever materials they could find. Over the years that left some spots where one could admire the stars from bed, or if something was under the house under ya feet. It was comfortable though. It was full of love and always had a crew of folks there. AND ALWAYS SOME GOOD EATIN!
THey would put a big pot of something... on the front porch.. ussually fried catfish or something. The menfolk would sit out there and lie and tell tales I mean they would tell stories about the good old days. WHo had what and was doing this that or whatever. Im sure there were a few beers in that cooler behind the chair but DONT LET MY GRANDMAMA see it!

After Granmama died it moved up to Uncle Tom's house. Everyone would meet and we would go behind their house under the pecan trees. There was a whole slew of us.
Some years in excess of 60. We always wondered how we all fit in that house of Grandmamas but we always did.
Slowly family members either moved away, some passed on. Some married and had other things they did on that day and the numbers dwindled.
John and I moved away 4 years ago and havn't been to one since, MAINLY, because of my health and because ussually he has to work the next day (this is first time in those 4 years it has fallen on a weekend). This year was no different. I just am not up to riding that far in this heat. Birmingham almost killed me riding that far. I was in bed for several days afterwards. Also gas prices... ughmm yeah. Medical bills right now have to take a preference. The family SAYS they understand. Yall know me and my sentiments that they are gonna HAVE TO understand.
Mama and Kasi and her husband were going to come here, but, Bella had strep and didnt come home till the last minute, so we kept changing plans till we just decided to just hang loose this year.
I miss those family reunions from WAY BACK IN THE DAY. BACK when Uncle Earl and Daddy were alive.When Aunt Auglalia (just call her aunt Pauline we couldnt ever pronounce it right either) would come to Mississippi from florida with her kids. OH I loved it when they all were there. LET ME TELL YA those three didnt pull no punches. THey didnt let any family drama take place cuz they would tell ya RIGHT QUICK TO SHUT THE HELL UP YOUR ACTING STUPID. Man I miss them so much. LIfe has not been the same since they passed on. AND...It just isn't as effective when I say it. Although I say it about with the same distinction they did.. I should have paid a little more attention I guess.
I miss those big cookins' and eatins' we did back then.
How the kids would "go play" and they better not see you back till they called ya. Everyone talks about global warming well let me tell ya, July 4th In rural Rankin County Mississippi IT GOT HOT!!! PLENTY HOT! Didn't matter, we were kids we didn't care.
We would play "king of the pond" and "who could catch Peanut" (the horse, he was meannn he didnt like to be caught that much) we played "chase" and whatever else we could think of to occupy us till it was time to eat. When it got dusk we caught Lightenin bugs in jars and dared each other to walk back to the old barn to see who was the most brave... or stupid for that matter. THERE WAS BATS IN THAT BARN I SWEAR IT TO THIS DAY.
Now.. all that is gone. Those days are over. I hate I cannot give that to my kid. The days are so different now and it is harder to get people together. When you do it is more hurried and rushed. The kids are all up in the house in the a/c playing video games (hey can you blame em its hot out there!!! I would be too)
SO different today.
BUT, The whole family reunion thing is nice... but we all should be grateful we had those days. Thank those forefathers that kicked butt for our freedom, We could be speakin some other language that was alot of vowels and complaining about having to get up and work in the textile factory getting beat instead of having our own business or being able to do AS WE PLEASE In this great ol US of A! SO now we have the right to miss our familys or complain about the one we have. ALL because those dudes fought for those freedoms we have now.
GOD BLESS THE GOOD OL US OF A!

Hope you and yours have a wonderful 4th.

grrrrrr MEDIA"CON"

YEAH yeah yeah I know this post is late in the day getting out. just CONTACT MEDIA"CON" about that, that would be our cable and internet provider. CHRIS in customer service is one of my new found friends. LORD KNOWS I was on the phone with every customer service rep up there tryin to figure out what exactly the reason we had no internet or television at exactly 6:05 when the sun was shinin' and there were blue skies.
All I could get as an answer was "outages happen" hmm wonder what they would think if that was the reason you didn't pay the bill? well I had an outage in my check book as in its outage of money... sorry we will get to you as soon as a technician can put some money in the account... yeah right. THAT WOULD GO OVER. Not ONLY I was upset but several neighbors that were having the same issues and getting the same answers from the loverly customer no service reps. grrrrrr. FINALLY I demanded SOMEONE who was a supervisor of I didnt care what department.. did they have a vehicle that they could go get someone to fix it? so CHRIS came to the phone. I asked his name because I figured we would be friends because I was gonna keep calling him because I didn't have anything else to do, I couldn't work because.... MY INTERNET WASN'T WORKING!!!! He thought that was pretty funny but soon learned I was serious. Bless his heart I have to tip his hat for the patience he had. He told me of some of the calls he was getting from some VERY IRATE individuals (a stockbroker that worked online, and several online business') I advised him that hmmm that might clue em in that THEY HAVE A PROBLEM! ALthough he was in SOMEWHEREVILLE USA and couldnt really do nuttin. HE DID TRY REALLY HARD.... BUT, We are sooo fiddna go to DSL!!! .. RANT OVER....

SO ANYWAY.. I scrapped while we had no cable or internet.. heck not much ya can do. Sit here and stare at each other. John played video games. I scrapped lol. was a funfilled night at the Jones residence. This is the kit I showed you from Scrapbook Obsessions. HOW ADORABLE IS IT!?!! GCD studios papers omgosh if you have not used these... they feel like ..like wall paper sorta. I dunno they are not papery feeling if that makes sense. I LOVE LOVE THEM! THey are now on top of my list of favs. WAS REALLY FUN to play with this kit this month I have more stuff to make with it so check back and see the yumminess they have!

Bella I BELIEVE is getting FINALLY a little homesick. SHE CALLED TODAY on her own will and I told her I missed her and she said "I miss yous too mommy" FIRST TIME she has said that since she has been gone! I hate she is missing us. She can't come home though till the Strep is gone.. I cant start this med yet if I catch Strep :( The dr said I DONT have to live in a bubble and be as cautious as I WAS when I was on the other meds that I have been on, but, if someone is sick.. DONT go near them on purpose. so, we just have let her stay there with all the strep germs they already have.
I hope she gets well soon I really miss my kidlet!!!
Thank you all soooo very much also for your sweet comments and emails yesterday. I got all of them today so I may not have replied yet but I will. I have a ton of email to do. I am in a better mood (about that) today and back to my we are gonna get through this and it aint nothin but a shot attitude today. I am just gonna demand not to be sick rofl (as if that has worked so far ya know) from these meds.
So Im not worrying about it one more moment until it gets here. I have too much to do :) THANK YOU ALL AGAIN. YALL ROCK!!!