so we're well on our way to closing.....termite, county occupancy, and building inspections are all scheduled for friday. kalen got the loan commitment today, and he's locked in at 5%! we're getting a storage unit for a month or two, so we can start to move stuff outta here so i have room to really get down to the nitty-gritty. i decided tonite the older girls are gonna have to earn their bedroom. we were gonna spend about 3k on building their bedroom and bathroom, but after what i found in their current bedroom i refuse until they can show me they appreciate the expense and effort!! so when we move in they'll be bunking w/ kyndal and kamdyn until they earn their way outta the room!!
ended up in the ER w/ alexa and kamdyn last nite. kamdyn fell and hit her head and lexi apparently had an allergic reaction to the amitriptyline she started last nite for her migraines. both girls are fine.
andre'a and alexa got to go the cirque de whatever it is at the Fox this evening w/ their Bigs. they had a blast. i'm so glad they got to go. a lil jealous, but glad! **wink**
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
we are under contract!!!!!!
we are officially under contract! closing is tentatively scheduled for april 24th. we have our building inspection on fri. i'm calling in the morning to get the county inspection, hopefully for friday as well. we're on our way!!!
http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/6932-Parc-Charlene-Dr_Florissant_MO_63033_1105852369
check out our new home!
http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/6932-Parc-Charlene-Dr_Florissant_MO_63033_1105852369
check out our new home!
Saturday, March 21, 2009
and so.....
well, let's see....househunting....SUX!
we've seen so many properties. we made an offer on one last weekend and were outbid. we saw more yesterday and were about to make an offer on it today although there is already an offer in on it. BUT i realized when i woke up this morning that there are still like 10 houses we haven't viewed that we were interested in. so instead of going to sign an offer we're gonna go see some more properties.
kids are well.
i had a scare w/ stroke symptoms but turned out to be a mutated migraine and now i'm on maintenance meds for them.
only have a minute so that's the general update on the fam.
we've seen so many properties. we made an offer on one last weekend and were outbid. we saw more yesterday and were about to make an offer on it today although there is already an offer in on it. BUT i realized when i woke up this morning that there are still like 10 houses we haven't viewed that we were interested in. so instead of going to sign an offer we're gonna go see some more properties.
kids are well.
i had a scare w/ stroke symptoms but turned out to be a mutated migraine and now i'm on maintenance meds for them.
only have a minute so that's the general update on the fam.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
house hunting week 2
ok, so last friday kalen's aunt who is our acting "agent" picked us up since our car was still in the shop and we went to see a few houses.
well, let me backtrack and say that we've been advised to use a local lender and for one of our state's down payment assistance programs we have to use one of their certified lenders. so it's between pulaski and us bank. us bank offers a program called the american dream mtg which doesn't include mtg ins so it's supposed to save you money on your mtg payment every month....tara if you have any insight on that i'd appreciate it cuz not having mtg ins just doesn't sound very smart to me. there are income and credit limitations/restrictions so if we don't qualify for that we know we're good on a fha. we have a homebuying class from 9a-4p on the 21st. anyhow, we're waiting on kalen's tax transcripts since i can't find some of the tax info for the life of me.
anyhow, we went looking and it hit me that this is not gonna be as easy as i thought it'd be. it's one thing to sit here and scour the internet and look at pics and read descriptions but actually stepping across some of these thresholds is like stepping into the twilight zone.
the first house we saw was listed at 89900 down from 99500. 3 bedroom/2 bath, large backyard, large rec room in the basement. yes, we need 4 bedrooms but if there is enough space in the basement we're willing to go that route. so we walk in and there's a "cozy"...real estate talk for TINY...living room...it was like a livingroom/kitchen combo! we won't even go there on the outdated cabinets and appliances. three very COZY bedrooms, the "MASTER" BATH was hilarious...i had to turn sideways to get in there and i'm like 5ft 135lbs! the basement, well, when we went down there the carpet was pulled back from the wall and there was literally a pond of rocks....like they put in a sump pump but didn't pour the concrete. ok, it was quickly crossed off the list, but the backyard WAS HUGE.
the second house would be great if we didn't need something more move-in ready. the copper had been stolen off the water heater. the vent duct was damaged and hanging from the basement ceiling. both of the plumbing stacks were all copper, kalen said that's a rarity, but one of them, had been sawed thru. the sliding door was secured w/ a wooden stick angled against the jam to deny entry, but the door wouldn't even slide shut completely. other than that that basement was huge. the hardwood floors were shot. but the layout was pretty cool. nice size livingroom/dining room combo...the kitchen....WOW. i swear the cabinets were the handi-work of keebler elves drunk off whiskey trying out for the team in front of big poppa elf, and NOT making the team. off the kitchen, so back to back w/ the livingroom was a family room. there was built in shelving thru-out. on the other side of the first floor were two bedrooms. one that accessed the main floor full bath. a nice double coat closet and two linen closets. upstairs were 3 more bedrooms and another full bath. the bedrooms were pretty good sizes, too! and there was water damage everywhere...it was clear it needed a new roof. ugh.
on to house #3, we walked in, sped thru it and walked back out...the house had been broken into...the back door was boarded up...the floors were sinking around the toilets (thank you, syndi!)...one of the bedrooms i swear, was really a walk in closet.
moving on....house #4....i actually liked house #4....kalen hated house #4. it had no basement. there was an add on room that was not cooled by the central air. and the other bedrooms were "cozy". you could be on one side of the house and look clear thru to the other. ok, fine it was super cozy. and it had no gutter.
house #5....again, no basement. the "family room" was about as big as the closet i call a bathroom in our current apt. it had the best looking bathrooms we'd seen. a floor to ceiling fp in the livingroom. the kitchen was soooo tiny. i mean you could stand on one tile and reach everything, stove, sink, microwave, pantry, etc. and there was standing water in the backyard.
yaaaawn, i'm exhausted just thinking about it! we're taking a week off and we're supposed to go back out on monday and tuesday of next week. right now, a cardboard box is looking pretty inviting and a lot less stressful!
well, let me backtrack and say that we've been advised to use a local lender and for one of our state's down payment assistance programs we have to use one of their certified lenders. so it's between pulaski and us bank. us bank offers a program called the american dream mtg which doesn't include mtg ins so it's supposed to save you money on your mtg payment every month....tara if you have any insight on that i'd appreciate it cuz not having mtg ins just doesn't sound very smart to me. there are income and credit limitations/restrictions so if we don't qualify for that we know we're good on a fha. we have a homebuying class from 9a-4p on the 21st. anyhow, we're waiting on kalen's tax transcripts since i can't find some of the tax info for the life of me.
anyhow, we went looking and it hit me that this is not gonna be as easy as i thought it'd be. it's one thing to sit here and scour the internet and look at pics and read descriptions but actually stepping across some of these thresholds is like stepping into the twilight zone.
the first house we saw was listed at 89900 down from 99500. 3 bedroom/2 bath, large backyard, large rec room in the basement. yes, we need 4 bedrooms but if there is enough space in the basement we're willing to go that route. so we walk in and there's a "cozy"...real estate talk for TINY...living room...it was like a livingroom/kitchen combo! we won't even go there on the outdated cabinets and appliances. three very COZY bedrooms, the "MASTER" BATH was hilarious...i had to turn sideways to get in there and i'm like 5ft 135lbs! the basement, well, when we went down there the carpet was pulled back from the wall and there was literally a pond of rocks....like they put in a sump pump but didn't pour the concrete. ok, it was quickly crossed off the list, but the backyard WAS HUGE.
the second house would be great if we didn't need something more move-in ready. the copper had been stolen off the water heater. the vent duct was damaged and hanging from the basement ceiling. both of the plumbing stacks were all copper, kalen said that's a rarity, but one of them, had been sawed thru. the sliding door was secured w/ a wooden stick angled against the jam to deny entry, but the door wouldn't even slide shut completely. other than that that basement was huge. the hardwood floors were shot. but the layout was pretty cool. nice size livingroom/dining room combo...the kitchen....WOW. i swear the cabinets were the handi-work of keebler elves drunk off whiskey trying out for the team in front of big poppa elf, and NOT making the team. off the kitchen, so back to back w/ the livingroom was a family room. there was built in shelving thru-out. on the other side of the first floor were two bedrooms. one that accessed the main floor full bath. a nice double coat closet and two linen closets. upstairs were 3 more bedrooms and another full bath. the bedrooms were pretty good sizes, too! and there was water damage everywhere...it was clear it needed a new roof. ugh.
on to house #3, we walked in, sped thru it and walked back out...the house had been broken into...the back door was boarded up...the floors were sinking around the toilets (thank you, syndi!)...one of the bedrooms i swear, was really a walk in closet.
moving on....house #4....i actually liked house #4....kalen hated house #4. it had no basement. there was an add on room that was not cooled by the central air. and the other bedrooms were "cozy". you could be on one side of the house and look clear thru to the other. ok, fine it was super cozy. and it had no gutter.
house #5....again, no basement. the "family room" was about as big as the closet i call a bathroom in our current apt. it had the best looking bathrooms we'd seen. a floor to ceiling fp in the livingroom. the kitchen was soooo tiny. i mean you could stand on one tile and reach everything, stove, sink, microwave, pantry, etc. and there was standing water in the backyard.
yaaaawn, i'm exhausted just thinking about it! we're taking a week off and we're supposed to go back out on monday and tuesday of next week. right now, a cardboard box is looking pretty inviting and a lot less stressful!
Sunday, February 1, 2009
our journey to homeownership....
i figure i'll keep a journal (yeh, right cuz y'all know i'm no good at keeping up w/ my blogs) of our experiences as we make our way to purchasing our first home.
for reasons beyond our control (long story some of you already know) we're needing to purchase a home sooner than later. apparently this is a good time to do it since everything we read and everyone we talk to say it's a "buyer's market".
so far, we have a pre-approval on kalen alone. we have decided although we're approved for more, our max budget is 90k. we need a 4bd 2bth house to fit everyone comfortably. of course, dre'a and lexi would love a 5bd so they can have their own rooms, but they'll get over it.
we had to first decide what area we want to live in. our biggest deciding factor is joshua. if we stay in certain parts of the city then the girls could remain in their kirkwood schools, but joshua would be suffering. he's in the city public schools (because kirkwood can't take a full time special needs student from the city)...and the city SUCKS! our best bet to get joshua the services he needs and are entitled to are to either move to the county so he's serviced thru the special school district or remain in the city and pay for him to go thru the archdiocese. sooo, with that being said, county it is. we can't afford a mtg and a school tution. the girls have stopped crying and are excited about the move now. they'll be happy to have a backyard and more space.
we were focusing on the spanish lake area since that's where my in-laws live and a couple of my closest friends, but it dawned on us that they're subject to move at any time so we need to just get across the county line where it best suits us.
we'd found a prospect in spanish lake that seemed promising. we went to view it saturday and omg! i think the house was built in 1976 and has NEVER been updated! if it were a case were we had to move like w/in 30 days, we'd take it...it IS doable...however since that's not the case....it's on the list but has moved out of the top spot.
we welcome feedback along the way since we are new to this. any tips, things to look for, things to avoid, etc...please share.
this is house the only house we've seen so far...the price has been reduced from 99,900. it was last appraised at 127k. it's apart of the deceased's estate now. it's not BAD but it needs help. they replaced the plumbing stack last week once they found a leak in it. like i said, if we had to move NOW it'd be ok...omg the microwave! i've never seen anything like it. you know those clocks were the numbers like scroll upwards..almost like a stamp where you change the date on it, you scroll it around, yeh...it's one of those...i mean all original here!
midwestgroup1.missouri.remax.com/listings/listingdetail_r4.aspx?LID=53950786
for reasons beyond our control (long story some of you already know) we're needing to purchase a home sooner than later. apparently this is a good time to do it since everything we read and everyone we talk to say it's a "buyer's market".
so far, we have a pre-approval on kalen alone. we have decided although we're approved for more, our max budget is 90k. we need a 4bd 2bth house to fit everyone comfortably. of course, dre'a and lexi would love a 5bd so they can have their own rooms, but they'll get over it.
we had to first decide what area we want to live in. our biggest deciding factor is joshua. if we stay in certain parts of the city then the girls could remain in their kirkwood schools, but joshua would be suffering. he's in the city public schools (because kirkwood can't take a full time special needs student from the city)...and the city SUCKS! our best bet to get joshua the services he needs and are entitled to are to either move to the county so he's serviced thru the special school district or remain in the city and pay for him to go thru the archdiocese. sooo, with that being said, county it is. we can't afford a mtg and a school tution. the girls have stopped crying and are excited about the move now. they'll be happy to have a backyard and more space.
we were focusing on the spanish lake area since that's where my in-laws live and a couple of my closest friends, but it dawned on us that they're subject to move at any time so we need to just get across the county line where it best suits us.
we'd found a prospect in spanish lake that seemed promising. we went to view it saturday and omg! i think the house was built in 1976 and has NEVER been updated! if it were a case were we had to move like w/in 30 days, we'd take it...it IS doable...however since that's not the case....it's on the list but has moved out of the top spot.
we welcome feedback along the way since we are new to this. any tips, things to look for, things to avoid, etc...please share.
this is house the only house we've seen so far...the price has been reduced from 99,900. it was last appraised at 127k. it's apart of the deceased's estate now. it's not BAD but it needs help. they replaced the plumbing stack last week once they found a leak in it. like i said, if we had to move NOW it'd be ok...omg the microwave! i've never seen anything like it. you know those clocks were the numbers like scroll upwards..almost like a stamp where you change the date on it, you scroll it around, yeh...it's one of those...i mean all original here!
midwestgroup1.missouri.remax.com/listings/listingdetail_r4.aspx?LID=53950786
video of kalen and stef's nuptials
link to video of kalen and i getting married.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3111723822816492730
i think!
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3111723822816492730
i think!
mercury in corn syrup...
mercury in corn syrup
Share
Tuesday, January 27, 2009 at 10:32pm | Edit Note | Delete
Reuters
Studies find mercury in much U.S. corn syrup
Tue Jan 27 18:15:03 UTC 2009
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Many common foods made using commercial high fructose corn syrup contain mercury as well, researchers reported on Tuesday, while another study suggested the corn syrup itself is contaminated.
Food processors and the corn syrup industry group attacked the findings as flawed and outdated, but the researchers said it was important for people to know about any potential sources of the toxic metal in their food.
In one study, published in the journal Environmental Health, former Food and Drug Administration scientist Renee Dufault and colleagues tested 20 samples of high fructose corn syrup and found detectable mercury in nine of the 20 samples.
Dufault said in a statement that she told the FDA about her findings but the agency did not follow up.
Dr. David Wallinga, a food safety researcher and activist at the nonprofit Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, said he followed up on the report to find mercury in actual food.
"When I learned of that work, I said that is interesting but we don't just go out and eat a spoonful of high fructose corn syrup," Wallinga said in a telephone interview.
"We went and looked at supermarket samples where high fructose corn syrup was the first or second ingredient on the label," he said. These 55 different foods included barbecue sauce, jam, yogurt and chocolate syrup.
"We found about one out of three had mercury above the detection limit," Wallinga said.
The Corn Refiners Association challenged the findings.
"This study appears to be based on outdated information of dubious significance," the group said in a statement.
Wallinga and colleagues said they believed the mercury got into the food during manufacture, at plants that use mercury-grade caustic soda produced in industrial chlorine plants, although his team was unable to show this.
"Our industry has used mercury-free versions of the two reagents mentioned in the study, hydrochloric acid and caustic soda, for several years," Audrae Erickson, president of the Corn Refiners Association, said in a statement.
Wallinga said the studies were based on samples taken in 2005, the most recent available.
Many studies have shown that fish can be high in mercury. Wallinga said consumers should know about other potential sources so they can limit how much they eat. "The best mercury exposure is no exposure at all," he said.
"Even at low levels methylmercury can harm the developing brain. The last thing we should intentionally do is add to it," Wallinga added.
He said his team did not test foods that did not contain corn syrup to see if they were also high in mercury.
Share
Tuesday, January 27, 2009 at 10:32pm | Edit Note | Delete
Reuters
Studies find mercury in much U.S. corn syrup
Tue Jan 27 18:15:03 UTC 2009
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Many common foods made using commercial high fructose corn syrup contain mercury as well, researchers reported on Tuesday, while another study suggested the corn syrup itself is contaminated.
Food processors and the corn syrup industry group attacked the findings as flawed and outdated, but the researchers said it was important for people to know about any potential sources of the toxic metal in their food.
In one study, published in the journal Environmental Health, former Food and Drug Administration scientist Renee Dufault and colleagues tested 20 samples of high fructose corn syrup and found detectable mercury in nine of the 20 samples.
Dufault said in a statement that she told the FDA about her findings but the agency did not follow up.
Dr. David Wallinga, a food safety researcher and activist at the nonprofit Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, said he followed up on the report to find mercury in actual food.
"When I learned of that work, I said that is interesting but we don't just go out and eat a spoonful of high fructose corn syrup," Wallinga said in a telephone interview.
"We went and looked at supermarket samples where high fructose corn syrup was the first or second ingredient on the label," he said. These 55 different foods included barbecue sauce, jam, yogurt and chocolate syrup.
"We found about one out of three had mercury above the detection limit," Wallinga said.
The Corn Refiners Association challenged the findings.
"This study appears to be based on outdated information of dubious significance," the group said in a statement.
Wallinga and colleagues said they believed the mercury got into the food during manufacture, at plants that use mercury-grade caustic soda produced in industrial chlorine plants, although his team was unable to show this.
"Our industry has used mercury-free versions of the two reagents mentioned in the study, hydrochloric acid and caustic soda, for several years," Audrae Erickson, president of the Corn Refiners Association, said in a statement.
Wallinga said the studies were based on samples taken in 2005, the most recent available.
Many studies have shown that fish can be high in mercury. Wallinga said consumers should know about other potential sources so they can limit how much they eat. "The best mercury exposure is no exposure at all," he said.
"Even at low levels methylmercury can harm the developing brain. The last thing we should intentionally do is add to it," Wallinga added.
He said his team did not test foods that did not contain corn syrup to see if they were also high in mercury.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
bringing in the new year....
just a quick update to say.....we got married!!
i'll update more later...
i'll update more later...
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
making progress....
i'm one week post-op today. today has been my most active day, and by far my most productive as far as blood flow. my drain tubes are working overtime today. all of my pain is associated w/ my tubes now. these suckers are no joke. my appt to get them out isn't until the 11th and there is just no way. giving them another week and then i'm yanking 'em myself!!
the kids are doing well.
we're all adjusting better to josh's milk allergy.
the kids are excited for halloween. not gonna even tell ya how much we spent on costumes, and they were on sale! and the babies are dressing up!
the babies are w/ kalen's mom thru saturday and for that i am so thankful. keeker just doesn't get it and likes to climb and crawl all over me like always.
my mom is sick, going on three weeks now and it's really starting to concern me.
my great grandma is still in cardiac icu. she's not any better, not any worse.
i've managed to update myspace and facebook.
laughing, coughing, sneezing, blowing my nose, crying, deeply breathing, yelling...all hurt like h-e-double hockey sticks!!!
i somehow double posted the video of kamy getting her shot. oops.
the kids are doing well.
we're all adjusting better to josh's milk allergy.
the kids are excited for halloween. not gonna even tell ya how much we spent on costumes, and they were on sale! and the babies are dressing up!
the babies are w/ kalen's mom thru saturday and for that i am so thankful. keeker just doesn't get it and likes to climb and crawl all over me like always.
my mom is sick, going on three weeks now and it's really starting to concern me.
my great grandma is still in cardiac icu. she's not any better, not any worse.
i've managed to update myspace and facebook.
laughing, coughing, sneezing, blowing my nose, crying, deeply breathing, yelling...all hurt like h-e-double hockey sticks!!!
i somehow double posted the video of kamy getting her shot. oops.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
it's sugery day!!!
ok, life took over and i haven't had time to update, and even now, i'm rushing to get last minute things accomplished before heading to the hospital.
so here's the quick version:
andre'a.....is having issues w/ her tummy, still. she's had two within a month. her labwork keeps showing her pancreatic amylase is elevated....what that means, i'm not sure....i googled it, but it was so varied....the drs were trying to call it a "high normal"....but i'm sorry, having my gma pass from pancreatic cancer, that doesn't cut it for me! so she had a ct of her pancreas yesterday...and we're waiting for results. other than that, she's doing well in school. she's really maturing. she's a big help. she's freaking out about today. i'll have to upload videos of a dance performance she was in recently.
alexa......is doing well. she was so excited to get her flu shot. weird. only a child of mine! she's barreling her way thru learning her division facts.
joshua....my joshua....last week he finally had an appt w/ the allergist. wow! long story short, he's allergic to bermuda grass, dust mites, cats, mice, milk and shrimp, which they expanded to include all shellfish. and let me tell you, trying to keep a child on a completely milk-free diet is H-A-R-D!!! i had him eating chicken nuggets all weekend, because he loves them, and will eat 'em all day if i let them...yeh, the rest of the bag is hiding in the deep freezer because i didn't read the label until monday, heck, it's CHICKEN!...but yep, milk! guess it's in the batter. ugh. i've seen great improvement in his daily allergy symptoms since they started him on a new regime of meds.....he's on pulmicort, allegra and flonase by day and allegra, singulair, and pulmicort by nite.
kyndal......what can i say about that one! she's a handful...so hilarious. thinks she's as old as the older girls. and we sometimes forget that she's not because she's so grown up. i have to keep reminding myself and kalen she's only 21mos now.
kamdyn....is 9 weeks today. she had her 2mo well check yesterday. she's up to 11lbs 2.6oz. she's starting to smile and it just melts my heart!!
and then there's me......my surgery is at 10a today....i'm having a full abdominal hsyterectomy w/ the other long medical term they use to say also remove ovaries and tubes..and my mesh is being replaced. we're all nervous wrecks. and of course, i wake up w/ a scratchy throat and stuffy/runny nose. and i'm officially hypertensive and on bp meds and have vertigo...it is awesome to be me!!
kalen is just dealing w/ it all...and i think he's ready to faint.
so that's the quick update. i'll update to say i'm alive when i get home and will eventually get some new pics up!!
o hey...yyyyyaaaaayyy for me......last week was 6yrs kicking cancer butt for me!!
love to all!
so here's the quick version:
andre'a.....is having issues w/ her tummy, still. she's had two within a month. her labwork keeps showing her pancreatic amylase is elevated....what that means, i'm not sure....i googled it, but it was so varied....the drs were trying to call it a "high normal"....but i'm sorry, having my gma pass from pancreatic cancer, that doesn't cut it for me! so she had a ct of her pancreas yesterday...and we're waiting for results. other than that, she's doing well in school. she's really maturing. she's a big help. she's freaking out about today. i'll have to upload videos of a dance performance she was in recently.
alexa......is doing well. she was so excited to get her flu shot. weird. only a child of mine! she's barreling her way thru learning her division facts.
joshua....my joshua....last week he finally had an appt w/ the allergist. wow! long story short, he's allergic to bermuda grass, dust mites, cats, mice, milk and shrimp, which they expanded to include all shellfish. and let me tell you, trying to keep a child on a completely milk-free diet is H-A-R-D!!! i had him eating chicken nuggets all weekend, because he loves them, and will eat 'em all day if i let them...yeh, the rest of the bag is hiding in the deep freezer because i didn't read the label until monday, heck, it's CHICKEN!...but yep, milk! guess it's in the batter. ugh. i've seen great improvement in his daily allergy symptoms since they started him on a new regime of meds.....he's on pulmicort, allegra and flonase by day and allegra, singulair, and pulmicort by nite.
kyndal......what can i say about that one! she's a handful...so hilarious. thinks she's as old as the older girls. and we sometimes forget that she's not because she's so grown up. i have to keep reminding myself and kalen she's only 21mos now.
kamdyn....is 9 weeks today. she had her 2mo well check yesterday. she's up to 11lbs 2.6oz. she's starting to smile and it just melts my heart!!
and then there's me......my surgery is at 10a today....i'm having a full abdominal hsyterectomy w/ the other long medical term they use to say also remove ovaries and tubes..and my mesh is being replaced. we're all nervous wrecks. and of course, i wake up w/ a scratchy throat and stuffy/runny nose. and i'm officially hypertensive and on bp meds and have vertigo...it is awesome to be me!!
kalen is just dealing w/ it all...and i think he's ready to faint.
so that's the quick update. i'll update to say i'm alive when i get home and will eventually get some new pics up!!
o hey...yyyyyaaaaayyy for me......last week was 6yrs kicking cancer butt for me!!
love to all!
Saturday, September 20, 2008
reflections on our week....
reflections on vertigo, hbp, bumpy thigh, toddlerhood, and more
ok.
went to the dr about my dizzy spells and after she grabbed me by the head, layed me back, dropped my head, yanked it to the right, turned it back upright, and sat me up all in one dizzying fluid motion, she told me i have vertigo. put me on a med for it that i have to go pick up today. told me if it doesn't make me 100% better by wednesday to come back and she'll teach me an exercise that should help.
my bp was high enough to give the nurse a heart attack! initially it was 190/122. after she calmed HERSELF down, and i assured her i was calm and she took it again it was still super high. so she put me in a room and waited and had me rest and then took it and got 159/92 in the right leg and 151/96 in the left. sooo, i'm also starting a bp med.
i got my tdap and flu shot and my thigh is so swollen and hurts like h-e-double hockey sticks!!
my older children never really took me thru the 'terrible twos' but kyndal! omg! this kid! my bf/her cousin calls her the devil's spawn. she definitley has a forceful personality. i lost count on how many times i said "kyndal no!" this week alone. she managed to play on the house phone and dial someone who called back cussing me out and threatening me. dumped a whole bag of pretzel sticks on the livingroom floor. threw anything she could get her hands on in the trash can. and i can't even remember what else at the moment.
alexa is a future kidnapping victim of america! mike owens, the investigative reporter from channel 5, and his driver followed her bus from her school to here and then searched for her because her bus stop is around the corner. every single lesson i've ever taught them on stranger danger, etc apparently went out the window cuz she told him her name and confirmed her school and her fave subjects and which apt she lives in all before giving him MY NAME AND TELEPHONE NUMBER....and then taking his business card to give to me for me to call him. of course when i did was not all that pleasant and had to check him on stalking my kid and takling to my minor child w/o me present. he's doing a story on the bus company that transports them.
we had dre'a's first parent/teacher conference and it went really well. we're really proud of her. she's doing awesome and her teacher loves her. the lil hellion she turned into last year is gone and we have our girl back.
joshua was cussing on the school bus. funny how the kid w/ the speech delay can manage to very clearly say "ass" and "bitch". and why? because dorian was doing it. bang my head against a wall.
kamy is growing like a weed. she slept for 5hrs last nite!! it was beautiful.
and as we speak kalen is fixing the water pump on the car. at least it was something he can fix.
and now on to my saturday which includes laundry, and relaxing lexi's hair, and all that other mommy stuff
ok.
went to the dr about my dizzy spells and after she grabbed me by the head, layed me back, dropped my head, yanked it to the right, turned it back upright, and sat me up all in one dizzying fluid motion, she told me i have vertigo. put me on a med for it that i have to go pick up today. told me if it doesn't make me 100% better by wednesday to come back and she'll teach me an exercise that should help.
my bp was high enough to give the nurse a heart attack! initially it was 190/122. after she calmed HERSELF down, and i assured her i was calm and she took it again it was still super high. so she put me in a room and waited and had me rest and then took it and got 159/92 in the right leg and 151/96 in the left. sooo, i'm also starting a bp med.
i got my tdap and flu shot and my thigh is so swollen and hurts like h-e-double hockey sticks!!
my older children never really took me thru the 'terrible twos' but kyndal! omg! this kid! my bf/her cousin calls her the devil's spawn. she definitley has a forceful personality. i lost count on how many times i said "kyndal no!" this week alone. she managed to play on the house phone and dial someone who called back cussing me out and threatening me. dumped a whole bag of pretzel sticks on the livingroom floor. threw anything she could get her hands on in the trash can. and i can't even remember what else at the moment.
alexa is a future kidnapping victim of america! mike owens, the investigative reporter from channel 5, and his driver followed her bus from her school to here and then searched for her because her bus stop is around the corner. every single lesson i've ever taught them on stranger danger, etc apparently went out the window cuz she told him her name and confirmed her school and her fave subjects and which apt she lives in all before giving him MY NAME AND TELEPHONE NUMBER....and then taking his business card to give to me for me to call him. of course when i did was not all that pleasant and had to check him on stalking my kid and takling to my minor child w/o me present. he's doing a story on the bus company that transports them.
we had dre'a's first parent/teacher conference and it went really well. we're really proud of her. she's doing awesome and her teacher loves her. the lil hellion she turned into last year is gone and we have our girl back.
joshua was cussing on the school bus. funny how the kid w/ the speech delay can manage to very clearly say "ass" and "bitch". and why? because dorian was doing it. bang my head against a wall.
kamy is growing like a weed. she slept for 5hrs last nite!! it was beautiful.
and as we speak kalen is fixing the water pump on the car. at least it was something he can fix.
and now on to my saturday which includes laundry, and relaxing lexi's hair, and all that other mommy stuff
Thursday, September 4, 2008
20 days is now 48days......
so i get a phone call today from the plastic surgeon's office and the secretary leaves me a voicemail saying "we've got you scheduled for oct 15th" and then i get another message 5 mins later that says "o, you ob/gyn called back and said you want your surgery AFTER the 15th so we've got you on for the 22nd." what?!?!?
so i call back and explain to her my insurance coverage ends on oct 31st and she assures me that my post-op visits will all be covered. they better be.
so i went to my ob/gyn's office for the rx for xanax and asked him about it and he said he doesn't have to push it back that far. so i called plastics back and asked for an earlier date.
final decision.....is oct 15th, gotta be at the hospital at 630a. so instead of 20d to lose weight, i've got 48, which is better. and the kids have a half day on the 16th and no school on the 17th. AND then the mail runs and i've got a jury duty summons for oct 14th, how perfect is that?!?!?
so, i'm off to go lose weight and get a little healthier.
so i call back and explain to her my insurance coverage ends on oct 31st and she assures me that my post-op visits will all be covered. they better be.
so i went to my ob/gyn's office for the rx for xanax and asked him about it and he said he doesn't have to push it back that far. so i called plastics back and asked for an earlier date.
final decision.....is oct 15th, gotta be at the hospital at 630a. so instead of 20d to lose weight, i've got 48, which is better. and the kids have a half day on the 16th and no school on the 17th. AND then the mail runs and i've got a jury duty summons for oct 14th, how perfect is that?!?!?
so, i'm off to go lose weight and get a little healthier.
20d.....152.8
ok, i'm gonna try to keep a pic diary of this, too. just gotta figure out what outfit i have that'll photo best but anyhow, here i am 20d til surgery (although neither dr has called and confirmed it for me so maybe it's 27d.....either way..SOON!)
weight is 152.8 which is awesome cuz over the weekend i was 160.2. so maybe it won't be so hard and already being down to 152 means i can really get away w/ just 20lbs, which is still a lot, like a lb per day, but i have no choice really.
i was 156.6 when i got pregnant w/ kamy, 172.6 at delivery 15 days ago, put on exactly 16lbs....and now i'm 152.8 so i've lost all kamy's weight and i'm working on kyndal's (i was 131 when i got pregnant w/ her, and only lost 3 lbs)
my diet plan?
special k w/ red berries for breakfast
special k bar and protein water for lunch
slimfast or something to that affect for a snack
steamed veggies and fish for dinner
and put to use my pilates and sweatin to the oldies tapes everyday for 30mins. i CAN do this. i think.
weight is 152.8 which is awesome cuz over the weekend i was 160.2. so maybe it won't be so hard and already being down to 152 means i can really get away w/ just 20lbs, which is still a lot, like a lb per day, but i have no choice really.
i was 156.6 when i got pregnant w/ kamy, 172.6 at delivery 15 days ago, put on exactly 16lbs....and now i'm 152.8 so i've lost all kamy's weight and i'm working on kyndal's (i was 131 when i got pregnant w/ her, and only lost 3 lbs)
my diet plan?
special k w/ red berries for breakfast
special k bar and protein water for lunch
slimfast or something to that affect for a snack
steamed veggies and fish for dinner
and put to use my pilates and sweatin to the oldies tapes everyday for 30mins. i CAN do this. i think.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
KAMDYN ALYSE SIMS
completed our family on wednesday, 20 august 2008 at 309p after just under 2.5hrs of active labor. she was 6lbs 10.3oz and 19.5in long (although at 8 days old the pedi says she's only 18.75in long, maybe she shrunk). she's absolutely perfect and we couldn't be happier. she sleeps all day and parties all nite. hopefully we'll get that reversed sooner rather than later.
here's a link to pics from labor and delivery (and i look like a train wreck! thru kamy's first 4 days)
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AZtGrZs3YsmLDuA
here's a link to pics from labor and delivery (and i look like a train wreck! thru kamy's first 4 days)
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AZtGrZs3YsmLDuA
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
calm before the storm
i swear this is the calm before the storm. after our moms meeting last nite and this morning.....i'm vewy vewy vewy afraid and i'm not kidding!!
dre'a's bus is due at 740. lexi's is due at 743. no idea which side of the corner. so we were all out in force. kalen and kyndal and josh standing on one corner. me and the girls on the other. and then came my mom going back and forth. last year their busses were over an hour late.
today, lexi boarded at 755 and dre'a at 804. WOOOOOOWWWWWW!!
so then josh's bus that was almost an hour late yesterday, is due at 841. we came back in, finished getting him dressed. let him watch diego. at 833 i went to go potty and then told him grab his bookbag and we'd go on out. i have a chair behind the door so i can sit on the porch since he's a door to door pickup. josh asked me can i open the door, told him yep....and i hear diesel engine.....what in the world!! his bus is sitting outside at 835!!!!
and as i turned to walk back up the stairs, never even went all the way down, just got close enough to yell have a good day and kick the door closed.....the first contraction. and i've been contracting ever since. they're so hard i want to vomit.
kalen and kyndal laid down and took a nap while i've moaned and groaned and rocked. but i'm so used to it. i'm not tripping. kalen has to go transmit and go out the POs for an intake. so now i'm all alone. maybe i'll time 'em just for entertainments sake. i've got 3hrs before kids start pouring in. i already know, tonite is a pizza/canned pasta nite....i can't stand/walk. i'm basically trapped in my recliner right now.
dre'a's bus is due at 740. lexi's is due at 743. no idea which side of the corner. so we were all out in force. kalen and kyndal and josh standing on one corner. me and the girls on the other. and then came my mom going back and forth. last year their busses were over an hour late.
today, lexi boarded at 755 and dre'a at 804. WOOOOOOWWWWWW!!
so then josh's bus that was almost an hour late yesterday, is due at 841. we came back in, finished getting him dressed. let him watch diego. at 833 i went to go potty and then told him grab his bookbag and we'd go on out. i have a chair behind the door so i can sit on the porch since he's a door to door pickup. josh asked me can i open the door, told him yep....and i hear diesel engine.....what in the world!! his bus is sitting outside at 835!!!!
and as i turned to walk back up the stairs, never even went all the way down, just got close enough to yell have a good day and kick the door closed.....the first contraction. and i've been contracting ever since. they're so hard i want to vomit.
kalen and kyndal laid down and took a nap while i've moaned and groaned and rocked. but i'm so used to it. i'm not tripping. kalen has to go transmit and go out the POs for an intake. so now i'm all alone. maybe i'll time 'em just for entertainments sake. i've got 3hrs before kids start pouring in. i already know, tonite is a pizza/canned pasta nite....i can't stand/walk. i'm basically trapped in my recliner right now.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
38 weeks!!!!!
i am stepping outside of my perfect lil world in my head where i'm choosing to reside now, ya know, the one where i'm NOT pregnant anymore, to comment on reality. i am now officially 38weeks pregnant!! 38weeks! 9.5 months! that is unheard of in my life! the only one i've carried this long was dre'a, that was 11yrs ago. carried her to 39weeks exactly after laboring for 4 days.
ok, that's all i wanted. i now return to my currently playing fantasy in my head.
ok, that's all i wanted. i now return to my currently playing fantasy in my head.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
37w 3d
it's wednesday. and i just woke up and managed to clear the livingroom of children w/o ever saying a word.
i can't even describe how i'm feeling. let's just leave it at loooong nite.
i'd really opt for a drug induced coma until after delivery at this point.
yesterday was one for the record books. our car stopped on kalen at the post office. and after 4 hrs, changing the spark plugs that his mom had to bring down, and adding gas that his dad had to bring down, and calling AAA for a tow cuz neither of those seemed to work, right as the tow truck pulled up it started.
was forced, yes, i was forced, to call the chick at wic a b***h. long story. don't feel like typing it.
we need a new oven that they'll be bringing in a week.
there were some highlights. after two days of busy signals and waiting on hold. i finally got thru to transportation and THEY ACTUALLY HAVE JOSH'S BUS RIGHT!! door to door pick up, a/c, aide, seatbelt. i can't believe it. it took three weeks, THREE WEEKS, to get it right for the summer session. so now let's just hope he has a good driver and aide and not the one who was cussing kids out over the summer.
and although the paper they sent me was wrong, both of the girls instrument registrations are correct for the fall....lexi doing violin and dre'a doing trumpet. we soooo need a house. i forgot all about them practicing. ugh! and both girls are assigned to the same school for lessons so that worked out perfectly.
i can't sit here. i have to move. trying not to move in front of a speeding bus although that sounds really appealing right now.
i can't even describe how i'm feeling. let's just leave it at loooong nite.
i'd really opt for a drug induced coma until after delivery at this point.
yesterday was one for the record books. our car stopped on kalen at the post office. and after 4 hrs, changing the spark plugs that his mom had to bring down, and adding gas that his dad had to bring down, and calling AAA for a tow cuz neither of those seemed to work, right as the tow truck pulled up it started.
was forced, yes, i was forced, to call the chick at wic a b***h. long story. don't feel like typing it.
we need a new oven that they'll be bringing in a week.
there were some highlights. after two days of busy signals and waiting on hold. i finally got thru to transportation and THEY ACTUALLY HAVE JOSH'S BUS RIGHT!! door to door pick up, a/c, aide, seatbelt. i can't believe it. it took three weeks, THREE WEEKS, to get it right for the summer session. so now let's just hope he has a good driver and aide and not the one who was cussing kids out over the summer.
and although the paper they sent me was wrong, both of the girls instrument registrations are correct for the fall....lexi doing violin and dre'a doing trumpet. we soooo need a house. i forgot all about them practicing. ugh! and both girls are assigned to the same school for lessons so that worked out perfectly.
i can't sit here. i have to move. trying not to move in front of a speeding bus although that sounds really appealing right now.
Monday, August 11, 2008
pic captions....
are so freaking frustrating and i don't feel like figuring out how to edit them, but you guys are smart.....first three are now and last three are kyndal.
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