Tingle Tingle Tingle

Things have been a little different around our house lately. But then again that is totally normal. This year in February I told my husband and daughter (who had already met the insurance deductible) that if they were going to have anything majorly wrong with them….this is the year. Well why not? We hit our deductible after 5-6 short weeks of the new year. Here it is July and we are near 100% coverage.
I really wasn’t serious when I told them they could be sick or have something wrong. It was just kind of one of those funny little jokes. Anyhow, K and the hubs have been somewhat fine lately….the curse has fallen on me to be sick.

We have been seeing the same doctor for 6-7 years. I love our doctor. He is great and always on top of things and blunt and to the point. I love my doctor even more, because the only time I usually see him is when I take K in for something. When I made an appointment for myself last week, he was very concerned and got to work asking ten million questions and poking and pushing in ten million places.
Basically over the last few weeks, I have had NO energy. That is so not me. I have to go nonstop all the time. I also started getting A LOT of tingling in my arms, legs and face. I have no strength….I even actually took a nap last Sunday afternoon. I NEVER nap!!

The final conclusion, after all of my lab work came back “normal” is that I have Neuropathy. HUH? That is what I said. I have turned to several friends that are in the medical profession to explain a little more, to see if my doctor was telling me everything. (he was) Basically it is what is considered a secondary diagnosis. ONLY they don’t have a diagnosis. So now they are starting the testing to find out what is causing the neuropathy. To keep you from looking it up, neuropathy is muscle weakness, cramps, and spasms. Loss of balance and coordination may also occur. You can also have tingling, numbness, and pain. Pain associated with this nerve is described in various ways such as the following: sensation of wearing an invisible "glove" or "sock", burning, freezing, or electric-like, extreme sensitivity to touch.

The doctor said he is going to go head to toe on me to find the cause. I guess he meant literally…. I have an appointment in the morning at 8:15 for an MRI on my head. I won’t go back until Monday to get the results. This is going to be one LONG weekend! It is so hard not to stress…But I am trying not to!

Catch Up Time!

I have been SO lazy about blogging since we have been back from vacation. There is actually a reason and I will share that in a later blog, when I know more about the situation. But here is somewhat of a recap of all the happenings: NOTHING! Life as we knew it (busy and chaotic) while I was in school is so done. I just can’t believe it!

The garden has somewhat died out. We had enough squash, cucumbers, and zucchini to feed 8 families for a month make several families shudder with fear to think they may have to eat any more garden vegetables. I was actually able to make salsa and can it from fresh tomatoes, onions, jalapenos and habaneros that I grew myself. I was proud of myself… I got 8 pints! Of course I did have to buy a few extra ingredients from the store, but about 90% of the salsa was pure freshness. The tomatoes, cantaloupe and peppers are doing well now. Yesterday I pulled out all the vines that were dying out and planted new seeds for the fall garden. I have been trying to keep up with the flower beds and flower pots. They seem to be doing well and I am attempting to keep the beds weed free.

K has been having a typical summer. We either have extra kids at the house or she is at a friend’s house. Last week she had a different friend stay the night each night for I think about 5 days straight. I really don’t mind as long as they don’t tear up the house clean up after themselves.




A couple of weekends ago, we had our company picnic. That was actually fun. We played putt-putt, batted in the batting cages, drove the go carts, bumper cars and bumper boats. We let K take a friend with her, we just aren’t cool enough too cool for her to be seen with all the time.




This past weekend we went with our friends to a private ski lake. I has to laugh at the sign that was found posted out there....



That was a great day – food, fun & sun. They pulled K on the tube and she also got to practice her wake boarding. We also got to watch them slalom ski some and that is just amazing how they make it look so easy. There is no way I would even ever attempt.


K has also been very busy taking pictures.I am in love with the fact that she has found a way of expressing herself through pictures.





We will be leaving on a mini vacation soon. Going to head out to the lake for 5 days, well actually 3 days there and 2 days traveling. I think this will be the first trip we will be traveling alone. Well, kind of... While we will miss the fact that we will have no other families with us, we have allowed K to invite a couple of friends. There is a wake board festival going on that weekend so it should be interesting to keep track of 3 girls with all those "boys" running about! *BIG SIGH*

It's Blog Hop Time!

***It’s Blog Hop Time!
Three Things You Didn’t Know About Me!

1. I may be an accountant now, but I was once an early childhood teacher. I actually have a Bachelor in Early Childhood / Elementary Education -- AND – my MAFM (Masters in Accounting and Financial Management). Some know that, many do not…. I only started working in the accounting field about 2 ½ years ago. I have made a profession out of going to school. HA!

2. I always planned on having many children, well at least more than one child. God had different plans for me and I am ok with that now. After my K was born, I had two back to back tubal pregnancies. I didn’t know I was pregnant either time, which is probably a good thing, as that did not allow me time to get attached to the idea of being pregnant and another child. The first one happened at 10 weeks and the second one happened at 14-16. Yes that is right 14-16 weeks. The pregnancies happened about a year apart.

3. Yes I am living in the “city”, but I am actually pretty countrified. I was born in Texas, raised part of my childhood in Maine, then moved to Oklahoma in the 2nd grade and pretty much been here most every since. I did move off to Arkansas for a semester in Jr. High, but that to me really doesn’t count. I am not as prissy as I appear, however, I do love to pamper myself. We will blame my clothing and shoe addiction on my new profession. I must dress well for my clients  Right? A lot of my friends find it funny to think that I used to get up and feed cattle in the morning (before sunrise), I helped pull calves, I harvested wheat, bailed hay, branded cattle…. You know all that great farming stuff, but hey you do what you have to do! I also feel countrified in my cooking-lots of butter in everything! I also love to make my meals homemade-I make great chicken fried steak and fried chicken. I love to cook chicken & Mexican food too.

***

Not Me Monday

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

Oh what a weekend! A very long weekend in some ways, but yet a very short weekend in others. Over the weekend I did NOT tell my daughter no, she couldn’t stay the night at a friend’s house and then I most certainly did not change my mind and end up taking her into town at 10pm. I would never back down on my word like that. Not Me! I am a Momma of her words….

I would also never let my daughter and her friends rent scary movie after scary movie to watch late at night with all the lights out. Not Me!, I am not that kind of Momma. I am also not the kind of Momma that would open the door to the spare room (where they were watching the movies) and scream really loud. Nope not me! I would never laugh at the way they all screamed and curled in the fetal position under the covers. Nope - Not Me!

I am also not the one who did nothing all weekend but lay in the pool. Nope, Not Me! I am too much of a busy body to do something like that….

A New Hobby

Warning....this post contains a million and one pictures! My daughter K has totally found a new hobby, photography. She really has been taking pictures since she could hold a camera, but lately, she has taken her "hobby" to a new level and I am really proud of her. She loves to take pictures and edit them. Here are a few examples...

So Bad...

I am so bad! Yes I am! I can not believe I have not gotten time to post lately here in the blog world. Time has actually flown by and gotten away from me.

First there was the vacation. That was a great glorious week! Lots of nothings to do. We did see rain one day of the vacation. Of course that came ON the night of the 4th. However, there was actually a 45 minute break in the storms and the fireworks show went on as planned.

Once arriving home, the projects have been never ending. There was of course the 20 loads of laundry. The lawn had to be mowed, the pool had to be cleaned, and the flower beds...OH MY! They were unsightly! The vegetable garden also needed some TLC. Then there was spraying for bugs in the yard and garden. Of course the house needed a thurough cleaning.... so UGH! I need another vacation!

Last night was wonderful. I am not a TV watcher, seriously I don't understand why we have 9 tv's in our house, but we do. Anyhow, my one weakness is Big Brother. Why? I do not know.... But I totally get hooked on that show. The season premier was last night. I am not totally sure of my opinions yet, but I do have one. I am so sad that Jesse is back in the house. UGH!

Forgetter Be Forgotten?

We are mostly packed, just a few little things left for last minute in the morning. The whole family is so ready for this trip. I am completely exhausted from loading everything in the travel trailer today. But I look at it this way, I can sleep on the way!

I really did have a hard time packing today. I swear my brain is already on vacation. everal times I would walk into a room to get something to pack and forget what I was after. Well, actually I would remember 2 minutes later and go back and then would forget what I was doing when I went after what I had forgotten! HA! After a long discussion on the phone with my Sis-in-Law, she sent me this poem. I do not know who it is by or who it is from....but I could so relate and I thought I would share!


My forgetter's getting better,
But my rememberer is broke
To you that may seem funny
But, to me, that is no joke


For when I'm 'here' I'm wondering
If I really should be 'there'
And, when I try to think it through,
I haven't got a prayer!

Oft times I walk into a room,
Say 'what am I here for?'
I wrack my brain, but all in vain!
A zero, is my score.

At times I put something away
Where it is safe, but, Gee!
The person it is safest from
Is, generally, me!

When shopping I may see someone,
Say 'Hi' and have a chat,
Then, when the person walks away
I ask myself, 'who the **** was that?

Yes, my forgetter's getting better
While my rememberer is broke,
And it's driving me plumb crazy
And that isn't any joke.

CAN YOU RELATE???

Not Me Monday!

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

What a wonderful weekend and Monday morning! This weekend the family was invited to a BBQ down the street with several other neighborhood families. I was not the kind of person that just offered something like chips. I would never take a store bought item to a BBQ...Not Me!

So, after having a wonderful time at the BBQ and eating alot of wonderful food and some chips....I was leaving the back yard when a small snake went across my foot.... I did not squeal scream bloody murder and start to tinkle in my pants... Nope Not me...

Sunday evening left me trying to hurry up and get some pouches sewn for an upcoming camping trip and various other sewing projects. I had to push everything aside so that we could set down at the table and eat supper together. Yes I normally sew at the table in the spare bedroom, but that was full with wet tie-dye shirts. Anyhow while I was sewing my darling K and her friend kept taking my scissors. I had to ask for them every time I needed them. When I went back to work after supper, it was no different, the scissors were gone. This time K was in the shower. I did not make K get out the shower to try to find the scissors, only to have her not find them. An hour later, I did not find the scissors in another area of the kitchen that I had needed and used them....never, nope not me!

What a weekend! I did not decide to stay in bed later this morning...Driving to work, later than normal, and in thicker traffic an nice gentleman in a truck did not cut me off and cause me to swerve and slam on my brakes...I also did not wave one finger at him. I am not that kind of person...nope not me.... not me at all!

Summer Fun

I love summer.... Love watching the kids grow up.... having fun at...
baseball games...

the lake...

the park....

getting icees....


and the sleep overs.... Summer is just fun!

Let the Countdown Begin...

Vacation is coming.
Vacation is near.
I am SO ready!

This trip is going to be so exciting! I am sure there will never be a dull moment! We are leaving one week from today to go to Jellystone for 7 days of relaxation fun and chaos. More fun than chaos I hope. We have several friends going and lots of family too. There will be 24 of us spread out among 4 travel trailers and 1 cabin. I really kind of feel sorry for the guys think that the guys men will have tons of fun. There will only be six poor fellas in that large group.... I am still wondering how did we manage to have ALL girls!!! We are actually going to have an equal number of adults to children this trip -- 12 to 12. Many of the trips we take, the children outnumber the adults and we must join forces and plan out every move strategically.

Let the list making begin....
-menu
-grocery list
-clothing list
-bathroom list
-food list
-toy list
-movie list
-list of lists needed :)

Monday Aready?

The weekend went by really fast! It seems there is never enough time to get everything done. Maybe my list of things to do is just to long or maybe I just can't get motivated on the weekends to do anything.

K left last Thursday to go to the lake with a friend and her family. It has been extremely weird around the house without her. She will be back today or tomorrow. So with K gone AND no homework-- I was left in total confusion. Seriously, I have been in school for the last 8 years, I think, it may be longer... I was taking one class at a time working on an education degree and then WHAM, changed gears and took accounting classes for 2 years and with what I already had done, was able to get my bachelor's in accounting, then I took about 6 months off and started working on my masters. I told K that I had finished all my homework and I was done with school. She asked when my next class started. When I told her I was DONE, she was in amazement and was like you have always been in school ever since I can remember!

Anyhow, I did the grocery shopping on Friday and really did nothing else but socialize with the neighbors. Saturday my allergies were causing such a headache, I couldn't get moving. I did start some laundry, but then I left and went and spent 3 hours getting my hair cut and colored :) The evening was fun, as we went and ate at chicken & chops with some of our neighbors...we then set out in the lawn chairs and chit chatted with all the neighbors.

Sunday was better. We got up and ran errands. We came home and I cleaned and vacuumed the pool. It was so pretty and clean. The Hubs & I got in and soaked up the sun for a while. My mom made an unexpected visit and stayed for dinner. While we were sitting down eating they started cutting the wheat in the field to the South of us...seriously didn't even know there was wheat back there. ANYHOW, there went the nice clean pool... Oh well....

First Time

I have always totally loved home grown veggies. This year I forced kindly asked my handyman wonderful husband to help me make a garden. He built a frame, took out all the grass and brought in ALOT of garden soil. This year I planted onions, jalapenos, habenaros, bell peppers, cucumbers, yellow squash, zucchini squash, cantaloupe, egg plant and tomatoes.

With school being done, FINALLY, my MAFM is complete.... I was actually able to get out in the garden for many hours Saturday morning.We had high winds several weeks ago and it really damaged my onion tops. They were pretty much on their way to dead, if not dead. Heard two stories, 1. they would be fine and 2. the onion would wrought in the ground. SO to be safe I dug them up and shared with the neighbors :)

Summer Time

This summer is going way to fast already! There is so much going on, it seems that there is never a moment to just stop and rest. But That is what keeps life interesting. I promised a few pics from our first outing this year in the travel trailer.

K having fun in the lake...

K and friends building a sand city....this kept them busy for 3 hours! At least!




K got a new camera for Christmas this year...she loves using the tripod and takes 10 million pictures a week. Well pretty close anyway. Thank goodness for digital!
Here are a couple of her pics...





And one final picture. In a previous post I was talking about trying out fondant. Well the baby shower came and I was able to pull it off. Still not perfected, but much better than the first two attempts...

I will be totally done with school as of this weekend. My MAFM will be complete. I am SO SO ready and so excited! I hope to be more of a regular on here at that point...

Almost Done

It is getting closer and closer, my last day of school is almost here. 17 more days, 4 more papers, and about 3 hours work of homework left to go. I am really so excited to be reaching this goal of mine. My Masters of Financial Management and Accounting will be complete. I will take a couple months off then start working on trying to pass the CPA exams. I am totally scared of those! I do not test well at all.

Summer has officially begun for K. We have managed to keep her busy so far. I have not heard the "b" word (bored) YET. I am so totally loving the fact that she realizes, if she wants to go and do something, her room has to be clean :) Amazing, day four of summer and her room is still clean.

I am counting the days that we leave for vacation. This trip we will be pulling the travel trailer to Jellystone in Eufaula. We will get to be there for a whole week and I am ready to lounge by the pool or on the beach and best of all I will have NO homework to deal with. We have many friends and family members that are going at the same time, so there should never be a dull moment. The big fireworks display that the city of Eufaula puts on every year will be done almost directly over the camp grounds. I am glad we will not have to drive down to it this year.

On the Road Again....

Ahhhhhh Vacations are wonderful, until reality slams you in the face the moment you get home and start back to work. I promise to share some of the few pictures I remembered to take at the lake this trip. There wasn't many, I was to busy doing nothing. We did make a few trips to the casino. I was blessed by the penny slots. On our trip into the casino one day, this is what we saw.



I thought it was kind of comical. I wonder how many decided to actually stop in for gas that day :)