The *@#&% Flu!

Ok, earlier this year, I had the opportunity to have a flu shot. I didn't take it. My thinking?

"What me? A FLU SHOT? Heck NO! I never get the FLU! I haven't been sick in years!"

Smartie that I was! Aside from my psychotic fear of needles, I don't much care for Doctors either, they HAVE the needles!

I took a nap last Saturday and woke up all out of sorts. I even snapped at Most Handsome! We went to dinner and the steak I was craving tasted like sawdust.

Most Handsome thought it might be a good idea to take my temp. What does he know? He's a (gasp) MAN!!!

Sure enough, Low grade temp (for someone who has a normal temp of 96.8, that is a big deal!). He promptly shuffled me off to bed with two extra strength Tylenol.



I will be starting my new job next week, and since I will be working for a National Corporation, I had a drug test on that Monday. Meaning, I could take NOTHING but Tylenol. Ugh the misery!

I spent Sunday in bed, and Monday morning, first thing, I managed to make it to my drug screening. I told the young lady doing the test that I had the flu. Needless to say (do people our age still use recreational drugs?) my tests were negative except for an abnormal (read higher than normal) glucose level. She eyed me suspiciously over her glasses and asked me if I had been drinking. My eyes misted over, as I sputtered out, OK OK, I CHEATED, I COULDN'T STAND IT ANYMORE I TOOK A NYQUIL.........OK OK, I TOOK TWO!

She took my temp, and for some reason found this very very funny. She gave me the all clear with the very stupid comment, "Drink lots of fluid, take plenty of Advil or Tylenol as you need it, even Nyquil if it helps you feel better, get plenty of rest and come back here if you don't feel better in about three days."

Like I was EVER going back there!

Today I can actually manage to sit up in bed for longer than ten minutes! YAY!!!!!!!!!

Moral of the story: TAKE THE DARNED FLU SHOT!

Julian's Battle

In your prayers today, please include Julian Michael Avery and his parents and siblings.

His little 4 year old body gave up the fight against brain cancer this week. He was with his parents.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Julian's name to:

Cook Children's Medical Center, 801 7th Ave, Fort Worth, TX 76104

Make A Wish Foundation, 1407 Texas St., Fort Worth, TX 76102

Julian's World future foundation, in care of Fellowship Baptist Church, 1600 N. Old Decatur Road, Saginaw, TX 76179.

Please go visit his guest book here.

If you would like to make a personal statement, please wear yellow on Wednesday, January 23, 2008. It was his favorite color.

Mimi, please know all of us out here in the blogging world's hearts are with you today.

New Beginnings ROCK!

For the love of my life Allen, and My Mother, and Mom and Dad, and Shari and Jim and Diana, and Jo, and my new friend Bronie, and John and Diana, and and and.......


I borrowed the headline from Bronie who inspired me this week with this:

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11)

You..... All of you...........are my inspiration, my friends, my family and my love.

Thank you all for your support. It was a rough time, but it ended well.

I forgot that God's ways are subtle, that He decides what He wants to remind you of, when you need reminding.

It truly is a New Year now. And for all of you, my family and friends, I hope it will be a great New Year, full of promise.


NEW BEGINNINGS...............ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

From Childhood to Adulthood via PUBERTY!

Of all of the great events in my life, there are a few that I knew would come, but I wish I could put off like.............FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Feast your eyes on my darling daughter:








She was cute, wasn't she?




Well, as of two days ago, she is now grown. Well, biologically anyway.






I have always been open in speaking with my girls, but I didn't realize I would actually have to give them up to WOMANHOOD (ugh, shudder).



I did all the parental things, I have been open and honest, she is so beautiful, so self possessed, so AMAZING..........





Why couldn't I get to keep her little? Just for a little while longer? I am not ready to give her to this big bad world!




Ah well, like my Super Star would say: "Suck it up Mom, I had to grow up sometime. But I love you, and I will always be your baby".





She's DA BOMB!

Making Peace with the Past

Like most of you know, I went "home" this weekend.

And since this is a New Year, I will be the first to tell you, you may go home again, but don't expect to feel "at home". Let us qualify "home".

You have heard the sayings.....you know the ones.....Home is where the heart is! This is so true. My heart is no longer where I thought my home was. This weekend allowed me to realize that.

This is where my home is:

This is where I grew up:


It's beautiful, isn't it?

It's not home anymore. Let me show you what home means to me.

Home, to me is my Mother:



And My Aunt and Uncle:



And my dearest friend Shari:



And it's about My Most Handsome's Mom and Dad:


And it's about my Babies:




It was so fun to ride in this:



And acting like a tourist (yes, I got up out of the sunroof to take this) like this:



And you know we HAD to do this:


Because we left Harley at home....

But he missed us, so we had to come home and love him and shave him, and love him some more:





You will never know what life brings you, what great thing is just around the corner. Sometimes it kicks you in the teeth, sometimes it sneaks up on you.

In three short days, I made peace with a world I left. A world that was so beautiful, as long as you were either on the water or 6 stories above it. Street level, it just sucked.

I am who I am because of whom I have just shown you, I will always be who I am because I listened to them, instead of the allure of the city I love so much.

I am a tourist in my own home town, because I no longer understand it. I have made peace with my past.

All of you, My friends and my family.
You are my and my children's future.

As beautiful as the past is, it is a past that can only be viewed from 6 stories up.

Happy New Year!~!!!!!!!

Holy Cow!!!!!!!!

For those of you that know me, you know I never pretend, never hide and never shut my mouth.

What a day today.

I ended my job, had to get ready for a new one, worried about my Mother having not seen my babies in years, worried about my friend Sharon, dealt with Christmas, dealt with the kids, etc etc etc.........

Oh what a crock.

Tonight, I drove home in the worst rain storm ever. It was a sad day, and I so do not do sad (what a lie, I cry like a baby).

I had to say goodbye today to good friends, a job I loved, and then when I left work, .....

YUP, you guessed it...........a torrential rain storm. Just what I needed.

All the way home, I prayed. My Prayer:

Dear Jesus, just get me home to my babies safely please.

I finally got home, thanking God, and was about to back into my driveway when my phone rang.

My Most handsome Other half decided I needed a surprise (he is the most awesome). His line:

HONEY! Can you and the girls throw some clothes in a bag? I have to pick up a trailer (boat) from Ft Lauderdale, and I thought you all would like to visit your family for the weekend!!!!!!

Has the man learned ANYTHING in four years?????????

Me, female extraordinaire, Oldest Daughter ...female extraordinaire in the making???? And the Taters.......with Zoe?????????

Ugh, Hilarity at My house........

I am pleased to report that we all are ready to leave at 7:00 Am.

The rest,

My mother has miraculously , managed a whole 1/3rd of our very extenuated family to change their schedule to be there for exactly two hours on Sunday (oh, we are so not going to get done by Monday morning),

Poor HIM! He, being the great son of a great man, brought up in the south where manners reign supreme, is about to clash with my VERY Southern family.................OH TO SAVE THE DAY!

By MY VERY SOUTHERN FAMILY, I mean VERY southern, not just south of the border, I mean almost south of the Equator!

Now, the time line. it is an 11 hour drive from here, we will be lucky (remember we have two daughters) to leave here by 10:00 Am. We will get there by dinnertime. Mother will have the kids (she hasn't seen them in a few years).

I will not bother you all with the time line,Suffice it to say, we are squeezing in a whole three weeks into two days.

Therefore, I will be taking my camera with TONS of batteries!

What man dares to say "can you guys just throw some clothes in a bag (at 6:00 pm), we are leaving at 7:00 AM, and live with it!!!!!!!

The greatest man in the world!

I don't care that the reason we are going home is to pick up a piece for work, I don't care that it was last minute...........

The girls and I haven't been home in years. SuperStar is taller than her grandmother. My best friend who is so inviting into her home (and godmother to my daughters), has had a really hard year and I can't wait to put my arms around her. Tater Tott, well.......none of my family has seen her since she was a baby........

And we have all of that to do in 72 hours!!!!!!! NOW tell me I am not Super Michelle!!!!!!!

I will post pictures, there will be many.

All my friends, pray that this is safe trip, a joyous one is undeniable!!!!!!!!!

Love to you all



M

Harley in desperate need of a shave.

Mom and Dad, this is for you.

Allen wanted to wait until we actually groomed him this weekend (so he can wear his Christmas sweater with pride), but I think we can do "before" shots now and an "after" shots when he decides that we are not horrible parents and we shave his face for his own good.

What a face.

Here you go Mom and Dad:

Here is our most handsome little man

I am not sure who is more active, Harley or the kids.

So, Mom and Dad, Here is our boy. He is super smart, in love with the girls, and in bad need of grooming (although this is the second time he has been groomed), he hates his face being done.....(.too bad toots, Mom and Dad want to see your face dagnabit). He will get his this weekend (he has to look handsome in his new cardigan and Polo shirt!!!!)

We love you and wish you were here with us for Christmas!!!!

M & A

Wordless Wednesday

Let us never forget the MIRACLES!

Such a busy weekend, so many pictures!!!

So, I am not writing, am just going to post pictures:

And away we go.........




Taylor's Tremendous B'Day party,

Peyton, Ashley, Taylor, Mia and Taylor


Taylor, Eddie, Cameron, Sanjay, Peyton, Ashley, Jazmine, Mia, Taylor and Megan

The Best Man EVER IN THE WORLD making a gingerbread house!!!!






what I want from Santa..........


I can't actually have it, not at $197,000.00 (I can think of better ways to spend that kind of money), but it sure is nice to dream!


Wow, what a weekend!!!!!!!!!!!

Life in this house is always an adventure. Christmas is THE BEST TIME of the year.......


Taylor had THE BEST B-Day, The Gingerbread house was a kit, but Allen was so intent and made it beautiful, and I didn't get to keep the Benz!!!!!!

It sure was fun though!!!!!!!!!!

We love all of you who come here to see us.

Merry Christmas!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday Taylor!!!!!!!!!!!

Taylor is 9 today.

I woke up this morning and all I could think about was the day she was born.

I was having induced labor, so Cathy and I packed up Ashley, picked up my mother and headed to the hospital. It was a beautiful cool night (rare in Ft Lauderdale) and we were enjoying being together. Cathy and my mom were teasing me, that I didn't LOOK like I was 9 months pregnant, I hadn't gained much weight (Taylor gave me morning sickness for all 9 months, and it wasn't just morning, it was afternoon and evening too!).

About a mile from the hospital, we turned towards the hospital and found a police roadblock. We turned around, and tried another approach and found another roadblock.

I pulled up next to a Broward Sheriff and told him that I had to get to the hospital, His response was :

"Lady, we have an escaped prisoner from the jail in this area somewhere. Whomever you want to visit, you will have to visit tomorrow".

Ummmm.....WHAT??????????????????

Me: Officer, I know it's hard to tell, but I am having a baby!!!!!!!!!

I don't think that poor officer could have been more shocked if I had slapped him.

He asked us to wait a minute, went back to his car and spoke with his partner, his Sgt, not really sure who else.

After about 10 minutes he came back to the car and told us that he had arranged an escort for us to the hospital. And, true to his word, three police cars surrounded us, and (at about 10 mph) we drove the last mile to the hospital.


Once at the hospital, I was made comfortable, all the monitors hooked up, and we were well on our way. After about an hour, the anesthesiologist came in. He was a terribly grumpy and brusque man. He promptly informed me that he was going to give me my epidural early because he was tired and wanted to go home! Of all the NERVE!!!!!!

Funny part about is was, after making me horrible sick for 9 months, Taylor's delivery was a breeze. I pushed a couple of times, while reading a book, and OUT SHE CAME!!!!

All pink and beautiful and PERFECT! All 6 lbs, 9 ounces and 21 inches of her.

I got to take a nap for a few hours while the doctors poked, prodded and cleaned her up. About midmorning, they brought her back to me. I was amazed at those huge brown eyes, they looked so ...Intense!

It hadn't been ten minutes that I got to enjoy my new baby before the nurse told me that I had visitors. I expected my family, but I was surprised.

The door opened and the first thing I saw was this HUGE teddy bear, followed by about 15 uniformed Broward Sheriffs officers. They were all of the officers on duty during our escorted entrance to the hospital. They held her, cooed over her and were so very special.


Taylor had an eventful entrance into this world, and every day is an event with her.





Taylor, you are the most beautiful, funny, sweet, charming, bright, loving child. You have a heart made of gold and a twinkle in your eye that Santa must envy.

Happy Birthday my baby!!!!!!!!!!!

This is how I feel today.

Oooohhhhhhhh I am in TROUBLE now!

I am such a bad mommy/other half for doing this, but I just couldn't help myself!

Turn up the volume and ELF along!

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1330517200

Christmas Concerts and Joyful Noise

Tonight was Ashley's annual Christmas Concert.

As Dawn (Ashley's best friend Jazmine's mom) and I sat there we realized that we are old hat at this. Our daughters are soon headed off to High School. We had done these concerts a hundred times. We try to keep the kids in line, critique, praise, make funny faces from the pews......

Doesn't Ashley just look like she wants to say Fu**...I MEAN FaLa La La La

Heads up, Ashley and Jazmine have been friends since fourth grade, they are inseparable. For better or worse, they are attached at the hip.

I want you all to be very proud of me! I actually have learned to not sit in the pew with a tissue, I can cry when I am proud (and yes, I am DAMNED PROUD that my daughter singing makes me cry with joy) and still not let the kids see it!

The kids were great! Ashley had her complaints.....the 7th grade sang with the select chorus and ruined their performance, etc......But, they worked hard and the noise emanating from all those throats was truly JOYFUL!

The cutest picture of the night is one Ashley isn't even in (she had to run an errand for her Chorus director). Think Logan will ever forget this moment??????

If you enlarge this picture, and look in the upper right, there is Ashley coming out of the Choir room!

Wow!

This is my favorite concert every year, and YES MOM .....I cried!

The Whole Crew

Baby It's Cold Outside!

It's cold outside (yes even here in Florida, it gets cold in the winter), so SOUP'S ON!

Over at BooMama's House She is having a Soup Off!

If you have a great recipe, SHARE BABY!

My humble addition is so easy, and SO yummy!

My Favorite Seafood Chowder

1 Can Cream of Celery Soup
1 Can Cream of Potato Soup
1 Soup Can Heavy Whipping Cream
1/2 Soup Can of Water
CrushedGarlic
Olive Oil
1 Bag of peeled, deveined, tails on Shrimp
1 Fillet of your favorite Fish ( I love Grouper for this, but you can use anything you like)
Dill
Red Pepper Sauce (either Louisiana Hot Sauce or Tabasco)

In a small pot, cover the bottom with olive oil and add the garlic. Use as much or as little as you like. I LOVE garlic, so I tend to add more.

Once garlic is cooking, add the soups, the heavy whipping cream and the water. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently.

Once soup has boiled, lower temp to simmer, add the shrimp, the chunked fish and about 1 tsp of dill, and a couple splashes of Either Louisiana hot sauce or Tabasco. Simmer for 10 minutes and serve with fresh crunchy French bread.


Oh, PS.....this recipe can be doubled or tripled. The kids don't like to eat seafood as much as I do, so I usually just make this for ME!


Pss.....As a Christmas Wish, I wished all the calories out!

Stinky Sweat and the BEST Christmas

Oooooooh Boy!!!!!!!!!!

I won't mince words.

Kyle is home. His baby who hasn't seen him since she was just an infant, has her daddy home. Monica, who loves her husband has him home.

Tonight, we were all on pins and needles.....Kyle was coming home. If you know anyone in the military, it is really short notice, they cannot tell you exact, date time........all they can do is an approx.
Monica went to the base, waited all day. Tonight she brought him home! HE STUNK!!!!!!!!!!!

Still in his desert BDU's (do they still call them that?), dirty, STANKY!!!!!!!, and so happy .

Not just him, all of us. I hugged him, for dear life.

Our families are so close. We celebrate every holiday together (except for that New Years that he pissed me off on the 7th by lighting fireworks off in front of the girls bedroom ON A SCHOOL NIGHT!!!!!!!)

I can't do this now. I have to just stop, thank God that Kyle is home. I can blog about this another day.

I am way too emotional.

KYLE IS HOME....safe, all parts intact (and looks like he's been lifting weights (he's going to need that weight training, his baby is a SWEET bundle of about 15 lbs!!!!!!!!!!)

Good night,