Please Explain Emergency Rooms To Me!

What a rough Sunday. Mom and Dad had to rush Noah to ER because he was jumping on the couch and his foot slipped in the crevice that is in the back..and there was a metal "springy thingy" and it stabbed him between his toes.

PAUSE:
OK, it is NOT like he hasn't be told ....ummm...let me think....at least....5,000,000,000 times NOT to jump on the couch. (I may have exaggerated by a hundred or two!)

PLAY:
So we get there at around 11:30 pm. I am so excited because I only see TWO people in the waiting room. YEAH! This will be a short visit.

PAUSE:
Yes, little things like that DO excite me. I am easy to please!

PLAY:
So Dad is carrying him in and we tell them what happen and *poof* we are in with the nurse to get the "story", and *poof* we are at the station where you go through all the insurance information. And I am as pleased as punch that we are zipping through all these steps. And then I say it. The words you are not ever suppose to utter in an ER. And...I even whispered it. "Wow! There aren't a lot of people here tonight." I figured since I whispered it, I was safe.

PAUSE:
No I do not believe in some ER god. And I am sure, by now, you know where I am headed.

PLAY:
So we are told to go sit in the waiting room. That is fine. NOW, there is only ONE person in there! I am watching out the window to the entrance so I can see any ambulances coming. I see none. We settle in, and begin our wait. LMN or Lifetime Movie Network was on and showing "The Natalee Holloway Story". I can deal with this. I felt so bad for that mom, now I will see the REAL story.

PAUSE:
The movie was actually really good and if you get a chance, watch it. And don't let your children EVER go to Aruba, on a Senior class trip, where the drinking and gambling ages are 18. That whole "stupid senior trip" could be a whole other post!

PLAY:
An hour later, we are still sitting there. They gave my son a wheelchair, and he is pushing himself around the whole waiting room. The ONE person there, is a little scary, and repeatedly asks us if we smoke. I guess "NO" really means "YES, but I am not going to give you a cigarette, but if you keep asking me I will wear down and give you one?" We thought she was waiting for someone, till she was called in. Now down to just us, and we are in hour 2.

PAUSE:
Did I ever tell you that on a scale of 1 to 10, in the patience area, I would have to say a 4. Now, in an ER waiting room, at 1:30 in the morning, it is about 1.

PLAY:
I had enough and asked Dad to go ask what the deal was. "All the rooms are full." But there is no one here but us. I hadn't seen 1 ambulance come...wah wah wah. Hour 3 rolls around and I am about ready to bite the arm of my chair off. This is crazy, I don't understand, it isn't like he has to have blood tested, or urine or a brain scan! He just needs his toes cleaned of blood and looked at.

PAUSE:
We didn't clean the wound cause Dad kinda looked pale and said, "We need to go now!"

PLAY:
Around 3 am, we finally get called in. The lady who took our insurance information looked at me as we walked in and said , "You jinxed us!" Which I kindly reminded her that I only whispered it. The nurse walks us to our "room" and informs us that we will still have a "long" wait as the, yes THE, doctor is still checking people out. Hey, I don't care cause we are in, so I am, in my unrealistic mind, thinking "long" will only be 20-30 minutes. We were so lucky to have been put in a "room" directly across from where the, yes THE doctor sits at a computer doing....ummm what , I don't know. Which is the whole problem with this situation.

PAUSE:
Remember my "patience scale", I am now at -4. Oh, and did I tell you that sometimes I get vocal when I am at that level?

PLAY: For another hour and a half, we watched her come and go from the computer. I am playing games with Noah, and Dad is sleeping...(could do another post on that alone). I am getting more and more irritated. It is catchy, because the more I am calmly and quietly complaining, the more irritated I am getting Dad. Dad isn't as calm and quiet as I am. Poor man. I am just rambling on about why this is take so long, why there is only one doctor..THE doctor, why no one has even come in to ask us what is going on or if we even want something to drink since they OBVIOUSLY know, by now, that we have been there for 4 hours. I also discuss with Dad how it should be done. Ok, here is the plan. I am THE doctor and I examine patient A. "A" needs blood work, and I know that is going to take 30 minutes to an hour, so I move on to patient B. "B" needs blood work,too, and urine as well. I order them and move on to patient C. "C" needs stitches, so I ask the nurse to prep the patient by cleaning the wound and getting the necessary equipment ready for me. Now by this time, the blood work has come back for "A" and I "do" whatever it tells me...let's say there is an infection, so I will give "A" antibiotics through and IV. On to "B" who seems to have normal blood work, so maybe I will consult "someone" via phone, they aren't there so I leave a message. "C" is getting a shot in the area needed for stitching and I sew them up very nicely, prescribe some antibiotics and send them on their way. I am now going back to "A" and writing a prescription for continued antibiotics and a follow up with their regular doctor in 3 to 5 days.

PAUSE:
No, I am not in the medical profession, but have had to play one many times with the aches and pains of my children, and unfortunately, too many ER visits!

PLAY:
The "someone" has called me back and after discussing it, have decided to admit them for further testing.
OK, was that all too difficult. I do realize that ambulances come in and things get out of whack. But, again, I didn't see any ambulances come, not was there even any "loud" noises in the ER. Noah and I were the loudest. (surprises you, I know.)
Finally, the....yes THE doctor shows up to look and we are now on the move. No stitches, no broken toes, nasty puncture would and some "lacerations". He got Tylenol Codeine and some antibiotics, prescription for more and off we went. We were the easiest, but we are made to wait last. I agree that those with breathing problems and such need to go. Noah's wasn't life threatening. But, good grief, there has to be a better way than making a family wait 6 hours for an ER visit! We all got home when the sun was coming up and we were so exhausted. I had 1 1/2 hours of sleep before I had to get up to go to a doctor's appointment myself! I don't even remember half of what she said!

So, here's the thing, I would love to know if any of you know the "inside scoop" on ER's. Maybe, if I understand it more, I won't be so impatient. Or could at least try to be. Educate me.

Ahhhhh Spring.

Spring has sprung..and what that means in my house is sickness! Every spring and fall one or many of us are sick. So far, it is just the boys with the runny nose, fever, and coughing all night.
The sun is shining and the snow has finally melted. Praise Jesus!
Crocuses are up and there was actually a warm breeze the other day! After the sickness has "left the building". We will be trying to get the bikes out, working on the garden, blowing bubbles, and drawing on the driveway with chalk.
Ahhhhhhhh spring...nice to see you again.

Easter "Stuff"

I thought I would share some links about great Easter activities.

Resurrection Cookies Recipe


Resurrection Eggs Game


Fun Easter Games

Share your favorite Easter activity with us.

A Different Kind of Easter

A friend of mine just recently lost her niece in a car accident. I believe she was only 19 years old. She was saved and that knowledge helped the grieving family so much to know they would see her again one day.
The other day on Facebook, this same friend said that she " was struck by the realization that Tyla will be celebrating Easter in HIS presence!!" It gave me chills.
We as Christians, celebrate this season as the Resurrection of Jesus, who died for us so we would not know "death" or separation from God, if we would just accept His gift of Salvation. It isn't about bunnies or eggs...it is about an empty tomb.
I think of those who have passed away this year in my life. Some knew the King and some did not. How awesome to be them celebrating this most glorious holiday with the Savior!
I pray that in this time of family gatherings, if you have someone who went "home", take heart and know they are with The Risen Lamb of God!

My Children's Fun April Fool's Day..Ok Maybe It Was MOMMY's Fun Day!

Oh what a day it was. BA HA HA!!

I scraped off the frosting from inside the oreos and replaced it with Desitin.
I squirted lemon juice into a glass of apple juice my son was drinking.
I squirted lemon juick into the mouthwash my daughter uses.
I filled a glass 3/4 full with Mylanta -mint flavor, and then filled it the rest of the way with milk. I then proceeded to dunk "regular" oreos into it and pretended to eat them. After I saw some crumbs in the drink, I asked my milk-loving daughter if she wanted the rest because I was "full". She agreed.
I gave my daughter a Cool Whip facial. Her skin never felt so soft.

Ahhhhh....busy, busy day for a hard workin' momma!

How about you?? What did you all do for April Fool's Day?

The "Race" May Be In The Past, But The Point Is Timeless

I realize the elections are past, but I found this and just had to share. It speaks for itself.

I Don't Understand The Workings of A Boy Brain

Just a little background before the story. I am an ONLY child. My mother's side had predominately girls. When a boy happened to come, we all acted like ...what do I do with this? There are 7 1st cousin girls, and 3 boys. On my father's side, any boy was much younger or much older, so there was very little interaction.

OK, so God decided to bless me with 2 boys and 1 girl. When my first son came, I was terrified. The first thing that terrified me was the "plumbing"! Especially after circumcision. Praise the Lord my mom was here then, not that she knew a whole lot, but together, we got through that stage. He was also my first child to be breast fed. WHOLE new world there, too.

He was sweet and loving but had a horrible temper. Still does. But all this is beside the point. I am here to discuss the "workings of a boy brain".
Last night, my baby boy was drinking from his milk cup in my bed. I figured he would just go to sleep. Of course not...what a silly thought. He ends up stepping on the cup, popping the top off, and the milk streamed down to where I was sitting. I have no clue this has happened until I felt COLD wet on my thigh. That is when I realized and I started yelling for my eldest son to come and help. I tell him to get a towel. My obedient boy runs to the bathroom and brings me back the towel his sister dried off with when she showered an hour ago. It is still damp. I tell him I can not sop up wet with a wet towel. So, I am expecting to get a dry towel. He comes back with a wetter towel. I am starting to lose it a bit as the milk is all over me and seeping into my MEMORY FOAM mattress top. I say, again , I don't need a wet towel. He comes back a third time with a dripping wet towel!!! AGHHHHH!
OK, mom's you know there comes moments in your parenting career when you kinda "lose" it. When you "blow your stack". This was my moment. I just could NOT understand why he would continually bring me a wet towel to soak up something wet.
I ask him, "When you clean up a pee spot from the puppy, you put a paper towel or napkin on it. Do you ever wet these before you try to clean it up?" He agreed that you didn't. But gave me NO explanation to why he kept bringing me wet towels. I needed one.
It was like he zoned in on the word "wet" and kept taking it out of context and thought that I was asking for a wet towel instead of me telling him not to bring me a wet towel. Lazy thinking? I just don't know. At some point, I thought that "common sense" would prevail...yes I know silly me.
I am hoping that I am going "get" the "workings of a boy brain" because I have another one coming up the ranks. My daughter leaves me in 4 years and I will be left with these "boy brains"! Do they have a "Dummies" book for this?

April Fool's Day Share-a -Prank Program

There are not many days left to pull an awesome prank on someone you love. April Fool's day is one of the more "fun" holidays cause ya get to do "something" to "someone" and you don't get in trouble cause it is "April Fool's Day!" Ya got to love it, don't ya?!

If you have not read my post Pulling A Prank On Your Child - Evil or Genius? please do so. It will give a glimpse into my adoration for a great prank. But sadly, I am running out. I am NOT empty, just running out. I need YOU! And, I think we could help each other and many other people who suffer from "cannothinkofanyprank-tosis"

Please share some great pranks that we can pull on other non-suspecting people. I will be posting after April Fool's Day to see how you all did.

Here are a few of the ones I have in "storage".

Oreo cookies swap-er-roo! Get a package of Oreo or Oreo like cookies. Anything with a "white" filling. Scrape out the filling and replace it with.....? 1. cream cheese
2. sour cream
3. toothpaste
4. lotion

Lemony Mouthwash! Take either a fresh lemon or lemon juice and squirt it in the bottle of mouthwash. (make sure you have another bottle to replace or split it up between bottles.)

Cool Whip Wake Up! Make sure you cool whip is room temp or you will wake them up before you want to. Take some and place it some in their hands and either tickle their nose, or wake them up..and voila! Cool Whip Wake Up!

Switching things are always fun....think of some you can do....regular Listerine/apple juice
salt/sugar, cola/root beer, sprite/seltzer water. The possibilities are endless!

So, please share yours, take mine, and let's have some fun April 1st. Don't forget, to keep track of what you did so you can share afterwards!

BA HA HA HA!
(my evil laugh)
Long Live April Fool's Day!

Facebook - The Worst Thing I could do?

"Hi, my name's Tonya"
"HI! TONYA"
"I'm a Facebook addict. I have been using for only 3 months now. I spread my addiction to others via Flairs, sending "What 80's Song are You" quizzes, and Super Poke Pet, Farm Town, myFarm, and Pet Society invitations. I also slip them some 'Smiles', 'Hugs', and 'Upstate NY Gifts'. I can't stop. I have even gotten my children involved so I can earn more money on my Poke Pet game!"

Do you or any one you know have these problems? GOOD! I am not the only one.
I have set up Facebook accounts for both of my kids. My daughter first because she found one of her homeschool friends were on there. It was a great way to chat because they rarely see each other. She immediately got into all the virtual pet applications and then went into "farming". Being that she loves farms and animals..she is in heaven.

My son just recently joined. He is the "flair" giver. I love it because the flairs he sends to people show his personality in a way I don't get to see. He is choosing on his OWN what to send. I find it so funny. He, of course, loves the pet and farming, as well. The only difference is that he keeps wanting to interact with everyone! If he sees a "friend" on, he is "chatting" with them in a second. He even does it to me and we are sitting across the room!

I really debated getting them on Facebook. But, after being on it myself, I see all the control I can have with it to give them a safe environment. I can control who sees them, which the most important part to me. We are sitting in the same room, so I can see what they are doing at all times. I have not come across an application I thought was bad. I am sure they are there..but we aren't looking for them nor do the people we are "friends" with. They always ask me "who is so and so..and can I be friends with them." There are some flair that are questionable, or don't fall in line with our beliefs. I kinda look at that like going to Wal-Mart or a mall. There are shirts there that say things I don't like, but we still "see" them. As long as we don't buy them and wear them is the important thing.

All in all it has been a very positive experience. They are having conversations, on their own, with relatives who live across country that they would never get to talk to. They get to share their beliefs and life choices through different things they show on their profile. I am encouraged by the way they are handling themselves and interacting with others.

The only downside is that they are now kicking ME off my laptop so they can get on Facebook! I need another computer!

Legislative Day - Lesson's Learned

Today was a very special day for two reasons. One, it was my dear friend's birthday.."Shout out to Adirondack Trina!" Two, it was Legislative Day. My daughter..."Shout out to Today, Shelby Says!", my friend, and I went to our state's capital for Legislative Day. For those of you who do not know what Legislative Day is, it is a day that I get to go and listen to speakers, senators, and assembly persons who believe in the same things I do: Jesus is the ONLY way, Pro-Life, Marriage between a man and a woman, etc. I guess you would call it Republican Conservatism's...but there were Democratic Senators there also, believing in the same thing.

I wanted to share a couple of things I learned today because I am hoping that they will inspire you the way they inspired me.
1. Politics and Faith - Many people want the representatives to keep their faith out of their politics. One speaker said today that their faith was their "Moral Compass" and what could be better than a belief in Jesus Christ and in God's Word (which USED to be THE "moral compass" of our founding fathers) to be his "moral compass"? I agree. I am a mom and I see the morality of our world going down, down, down. I want a representative who has morals, and what would be better than having God's morals!

2. We need to be PRAYING! How much time do you take to pray for your senators, assembly persons, governor, president, or our nation? How "bad" does it have to get until you do? One example a speaker gave was : When you have had your children taken away from you because you have been found to be" abusive parents" because you shared the gospel with them...will that be "bad" enough to pray?" ( paraphrasing) Boy did that get me thinking. Many Christians are just "sitting on their hands" instead of being prayer warriors and being BOLD! I don't mean bold as in "in your face", I mean bold as in not being afraid to share their view, opinion, or feelings on issues. So I ask my self..along with you...How "bad" does it have to get to be praying daily for people in office and our nation?

3. All life is precious. I have always believed this, but today....oh my. The key note speaker was the defense attorney for Terri Shiavo. Do you remember her? Do you remember how the COURT ruled to kill her by a slow, painful death of starvation? Not many people were there in the last days and hours of Terri's life, but he was. He explained how there was a POLICE OFFICER in Terri's hospice room with STRICT orders from the courts to arrest Terri's mom if she gave her ice chips...she couldn't even wipe her daughter's brow. I can NOT imagine watching my child go through this, and having some COURT rule to KILL her in front of my eyes, and be helpless to stop it. By the way, in case you didn't know, the judge that ruled to have her put to death, NEVER stepped ONE foot into her hospice room to meet her, see her, talk with her. If you were going to make this landmark ruling, don't you think you would have done that? I will be honest and tell you I had to leave the room. I could NOT take the details of her final hours. I was already so emotional, empathizing with Terri's mother. I just couldn't listen to anymore. I stepped out until he was finished those details.

There was another speaker, a college student who went around the country posing as a 13 year-old pregnant girl. She would go into planned parenthood and explain to them that she was pregnant by her "31 year-old-boyfriend". Law requires you report this to the police as it is rape. She is rigged up with a hidden microphone and camera. We watched as the nurse told her to LIE about her age and LIE about the age of the "boyfriend" so she wouldn't have to report it. Of course, Planned Parenthood fired these people and covered it up as quickly as possible. Kudos to her for exposing this #1 Abortion Providing Clinic in our country. Life...it is too precious. I believe life starts at conception....THE END!

I walked away from my state's capitol feeling renewed, educated, apprehensive, and sad. I am renewed in my commitment to my prayer life. Prayer is a powerful tool and God is just waiting to hear from me. I need to cry out to Him and pray for our nation, the unborn, and the "moral compasses" of our leaders. I was certainly educated on the STUPID bills that are trying to be passed in our congress , what they entail, and how I can let my representative know that I DO NOT want them. I am apprehensive of our future. Many, many things have changed with this past presidential election. I am apprehensive of his "moral compass". Many pro-life bans will be overturned. How long will God keep His wrath from us? I am saddened for all those lives lost. I am saddened for the girl that is scared and doesn't know where to turn because she is pregnant and terminates the life of her child. I am saddened for Terri Shiavo's family and all those that have been "murdered" in the same way.

I realize that this post is a bit heavy for my usual light heartiness. But I must be BOLD and I encourage you to be BOLD, too!

P.S. both Adirondack Trina and Today, Shelby Says wrote about Legislative Day, too. Check out their experiences.

St. Baldrick's 2009-March 21st

I know what you are thinking, "St. Baldrick's 2009?" St. Baldrick's Foundation is a wonderful foundation that raises money for children's cancer research. Their slogan is: "Shaving the way to conquer kid's cancer!" This is a legitimate foundation whose mission is to "raise awareness and funds to cure kid's cancer by supporting cancer research and fellowship." Now before you stop reading...please rethink it. Take a look at what a fellow blogger is doing:


Jay, from the blog Halftime Lessons is a part of this wonderful "shaving" on March 21st. He is trying to raise money for this awesome cause. No cancer is "good", but when an innocent child get's cancer and their life is cut so short by this horrible disease, it is the "worst" cancer. I wanted to share an excerpt from this blog about last year's fund raiser:

" Last year as we all gathered to shave our heads in empathy outside the medical center, our organizer motioned for us all to look up at the windows where the children on the oncology ward were standing and waving at us...one female doctor from the hospital was so moved by what was going on outside that she came out, walked to the front of the line, and asked us to shave every bit of the beautiful long auburn hair running down the length of her back. People cried, and laughed, and cheered, and gave everything they could to help try to stop one more child from having to go through a terrible ordeal.

This will be the second year I do this...last year I personally raised over $1600, and our venue, one of hundreds, raised over $60,000. And yes, today I am here to ask your help." ( to read the complete post, click "Last year")

Now, if all that isn't wonderful enough, Halftime Lessons is having a contest! For every $5 (and seriously, what is $5!) you donate, your name will be put in a drawing. Grand prize #1 is YOUR blog name written on his head! A button made of that photo and linked to your blog and displayed on THEIR blog for 3 months! So really good advertising there! There are many , many prizes from a custom, handmade necklace, to $20 in scratch offs, to St. Baldrick's T-shirts.

Please remember it is for not only a good cause...but an AWESOME cause. There aren't many days left. Please go support Jay and the "kids".

(picture taken from St. Baldrick's Foundation website)

Jelly Belly jelly beans & $10,000 Contest

Just wanted to give a "Heads UP" to all the Jelly Belly jelly bean fans...new and old! They have some new flavors and a $10,000 Contest! Go check out the post at my site Our Alphabet Soup for the details. Sweet tooth...you will be satisfied!

What is your Theme Song?

I was over at NightOwl Mama's place. She had a post "What's Your Theme Song?" I loved the idea. So, I am bringing it over to share with you all.

My theme song is by Mercy Me, "Keep Singing" I have had a rough couple of years with my mom having to be taken away from our home and put into a "Respiratory Rehabilitation Center". I was pregnant for my third child during all of the beginning of this. I am an only child and she and I are very close. Life still had to go on. And If I am very honest, I will tell you how lost I feel without her. I still visit her once a week. It is a 2 1/2 hour drive one way, but it is so worth it. Without God, I would be so much worse. I know He has carried me often.

I thought Bart Millard, the writer of this song and lead singer for Mercy Me, had snuck into my head.
Truth is some days being a mom, wife, daughter, teacher, cook, maid and referee can get overwhelming....but you got to keep singing.

I tried to put the video in my comment to NightOwl Mama's post, but it won't let me. If you leave a comment, and share your theme song, and put the link to your song, I will put your video on this post with your name attached to it.
Thanks again to NightOwl Mama for a great idea! I can't wait to see all your songs!

Tonya's Theme Song- "Keep Singing" by Mercy Me

Shelby's Theme Song- "Set The World On Fire" by Nicole Brit

Brenda's Theme Song- "Unwell" by Matchbox Twenty

NightOwlMama's Theme Song- "Baby, You're My Destiny by Jim Brickman and Christina Aguilera

Trina's Theme Song-"I Know Who Holds Tomorrow" by George Younce and Larry Ford

Roger's Theme Song- "If Tomorrow Never Comes" by Garth Brooks

The Ultrasound "Water Torture Test"

I had to go have an ultrasound done today. I am experiencing some unusual pain and I am sure they are checking for any cysts and such. My appointment was for 2 pm. The "directions" tell you to drink 32 fluid ounces an hour before your appointment. OK. So here is out how it went for me.

I drank my 32 fl.oz actually on the way to the appointment. I sign in and sit. I am pretty impressed with myself because I am 10 minutes early. I want a band to parade by , balloons and confetti. This is a miracle. So I sit. And I sit. At about 2:15, I am feeling quite "full". Not only do I feel like I have to go #1, I also am getting twinges of #2. I am in sooooo much trouble.

I go up to the window around 2:20 and try to whisper to the "lady behind the glass window" so the two people that just HAD to sit by this window would not hear. I explain my situation and ask if they are running behind. Stupid question because of course they are! OK then, "lady behind the glass window", what am I suppose to do? Not taking this ultrasound is out of the question. They go and ask "someone behind another set of glass windows". While I am waiting, I say, "They should use this" ultrasound water torture" on terrorists." Everyone in the little room agreed and shared how they "couldn't be able to hold it if it was them". Real encouraging.

After a few moments, a tech comes over and tells me to just let "a little" out. I laugh and say..are you kidding? When the "raging river" starts to flow, I am not sure I have a "Dam" strong enough to stop it. I thank them and sit back down. Yeah, that made it better! PRAISE THE LORD no one was there drinking some water or slurping on a soda...I may have fainted.

I can no longer take it. Sweat is starting to form on my brow. I tell my daughter that I am going to try the "little bit " approach. The tech's exact words were "just count to 20 and then stop." So as I am walking to the restroom, I am thinking, OK...how fast do I count? What if I count to slow? What if I count to fast? At this point the pressure and pain is so bad, I am wondering if I can even remember how to count to 20. My next dilemma is how I am going to do "one " and not the "other". All this worry is too much.

I reach the rest room and am concentrating on "everything" and I did it! I counted to 20, I only did "one" and I felt relief. God is so merciful! I am praising Him and being so happy that I got through this and just knew they were going to call me as soon as I sat back down in the waiting room.

Ten minutes goes by and I am off to the restroom for another "little bit". Praising God on the way out. Ten minutes later, repeated. I sit back down and then they finally call my name. I think I scared everyone with how loudly, joyously, and quickly I said "I'm here!"

Finally I get in the dark room and lay down...with my knees up. It hurts too much to put my legs straight because, guess what? My bladder is full to the "rim" again. She tells me I have to put them down and I proceed to administer a death grip on the sides of the "bed". Then she starts pressing. As she is doing this, she gives me even more great news. They are going to have to do an "internal ultrasound", too. Oh yeah!

The pain was so bad, and she was being as gentle as she could, but I broke and was literally crying. Finally, she told me that she was done and I could go empty my bladder. EUPHORIA!!!

We proceed with the "internal ultrasound" and she tells me, "Your bladder is still so full I can't see anything." OK, I just left the bathroom 10 seconds ago. Do I have the fastest filling bladder on the East Coast? Do I need to inform Guinness Book of World Records and get published? She takes pictures of what she can and then tells me to empty again.

EUPHORIA!!

I come back out and she says the same thing..."too full". She again does her best and informs me that we will try this one more time.
EUPHORIA!!
Hop back up on the "bed" and she could see! Two minutes into taking the pictures she has been waiting for, she tells me she has to hurry because my bladder is filling up again. Oh my word!
Why can't I be this productive with house work? In the end, guess what she finds?
She finds nothing...no cysts...or tumors on anything.(PTL!) She told me I was going to have my period very soon though. I am surprised she didn't tell me that my bladder grew to the size of an elephant's head!
She told me that I did not qualify for Guinness Book of World Records...but I am still going to check it out!

Praying With Your Kids!

Please indulge me! I will set up a video of the day widget...but till then....enjoy this.
I seriously had to watch it 3 times cause I was laughing so hard I couldn't see the screen, only hear it. My kids said they never saw me laugh so hard. I almost wet my pants!

St. Patty's Day is Coming Soon!

St. Patrick's Day is coming soon and maybe you are struggling with finding a gift. Shop Irish.com has awesome products. I am sure you could find what you are looking for here!

I love St. Patrick's Day for two reasons: I am Irish! I LOVE emerald green. I have a Super Poke Pet on Face Book...can I get a "YEA, FOR POKE PETS!!" They have St. Patrick's Day items. I have an EMERALD ROOM! My dream room! I hope my St. Patrick's Piggie will take you there.


Here are some of the products from ShopIrish.Com.

Green Sequined Baseball Hat

Women's Personalized Grandma etc Claddagh Design Sweatshirt

Baby Irish Diva Onesie

Irish Scream Hot Sauce

Shamrock Bouquet Stained Glass Window

Only for Leprechauns Figurine

Things You Don't Say To Your Wife

I found this and JUST had to share! This is Tim Hawkins and EVERY husband/boyfriend/son needs to watch this!

A New Me - M Tonya M

I decided to have a new make over after I read a post on Brenda's Page . I am committed to treating myself like a queen. I will stay as sweet as I possibly can. I will feel "girly" even in my socks! I will stay strong when it comes to the kids and homeschooling . I hope you all will enjoy he new me.

Now if you are feeling the need for a little change. Click HERE!

One request, share your new you with me. I would love to see ya!

3 Columns...YEAH!

When I first started this blog, I didn't think I would need to expand. As I go along, I have so many things I want to share with my friends: products, funny sayings, other blogs, verses, other places to find me. I wanted to find a 3 column template but I loved this background. What a dilemma!
In my visiting other blogs, I came across this one- The Blogger Guide. This is an excellent blog for STEP-BY-STEP instructions for changing your blog into 3 columns.
The exact address is - http://bguide.blogspot.com/2008/03/3-columns-minima-two-right-sidebars.html .
I was able to do this easily and keep my background that I love so much. I highly recommend this site. I am going back to see what other "goodies" it has!
THANK YOU "THE BLOGGER GUIDE"!

"Thin-skinned" Blogger

Wow, I am shocked and bewildered! Last night I had 9 followers and this afternoon I had 6. I lost three people. Hmmmm. So how do you NOT sit here and wonder why? Why did they "ditch" you? Should you feel hurt, rejected? I am not sure. Since I am a newbie here, I don't have 40 followers and so when 3 leave, it is kinda big!
What do you do when you know WHO stopped following you? Should you feel offended? Should you keep following them? Should you ask them? What if you listed them in your blog list? Should you keep that? Is it personal?
Was it something you wrote? Was it that you weren't writing enough? Did you break some kind of "Blogger Rules" that no one talks about because everyone should "just know"?
Could it be a "Since you follow me, I feel obligated to follow you" kind of thing? Well, if that is the case, you don't have to. I choose to follow you because I like what you say and I find your blog interesting. I would love for you to come look at mine, but if you don't, that is fine.
If you are wondering, YES! I was the kind of girl in school that was liked by the majority of people and when someone didn't like me, it really bothered me. I try to be nice to everyone. I try to show love and kindness to everyone. So things like this will drive me insane for awhile.
I guess, I will be like Jesus! I will shake the dust off my sandals in their "towns" and move on to people that will appreciate me!

Hope At A Funeral

My daughter and I had to go to a funeral today. It was for a very humble, loving, caring woman who loved God with every fiber of being and had cancer in almost every cell of her body.
So many questions go through your mind. Why did a Godly woman like this have to suffer so much? Why didn't He heal her?
She leaves behind a husband, two adult children, two grandchildren, and a church filled, today, with people whose lives her life has touched. There were songs of praise and tears of joy for her suffering is ended. There were also touching memories shared and tears of grief for our loss.
If you knew her, you knew that she wanted a message of salvation preached at her funeral. Matter of fact, she had already asked people to sing and what song, people to read scripture and what verses, amazing. I am pretty sure, facing my life's end, could I be that way? To the very last act done on her behalf, it was STILL about getting the message of Salvation out to those who needed to hear it.
Her brother spoke and cried. He touched me greatly and gave such a wonderful picture of salvation, so easy to understand:

Have you ever played Monopoly? You know that when you hit the 3rd corner, you are going to jail. Do not pass Go, do not collect $200.00! It is a rule and you accept it. Then why don't you accept the rules in here?( he holds up her Bible.)
Have you ever played poker? You are sitting there with 4 queens in your hand and just smile knowing you are probably going to win. You bid and wait. The person across from you lays down 4 kings! It is a rule that kings beat queens and you accept it. Then why don't you accept the rules in here? (he holds up her Bible)
When playing Monopoly, no matter how many hotels you have, how many properties you own, or how much money you have; it ALL ends up in the box. You put the game away.
No matter how much you work, how much money you make, how many "toys" you have, you will end up in a box. (he points to her in the casket) How can I say this? She isn't here! She is home being comforted by the One who saved her!
There is this gift...a free gift just waiting for you to open it. You are in jail and right outside your cell, in arms reach is a piece of paper that is your pardon. All you have to do is grab it! You rush to rip open your Christmas presents and Birthday presents, why not rush to rip open your Eternal present?

All you have to do is:
A -Ask forgiveness...we all fall short of the glory of God, we have all sinned. My friend who is now in God's arms sinned...she is still in God's presence. Why? By His stripes we are healed. His blood washes you clean as snow, He remembers your sins no more.
B - Believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, the One who died for you. The wages of sin is death BUT the gift of God is eternal life, THROUGH Jesus Christ our Lord. He paid the price for you with His life, so you could have eternal life with Him.
C - Confess it. Tell someone, tell a pastor, a friend who is saved, family who are saved, me (w8tn4him@fronternet.net). Share your questions, worries, doubts,joy about this gift.

As grieved as my heart was today for the loss of such a wonderful woman, there was such HOPE there...at a funeral.

Last question....what about my funeral? Will my funeral give the hope of eternal life to anyone? What about yours?

excerpt from "Homesick" by Mercy Me

Your in a "better place" I've heard a thousand times. And at least a thousand times I've rejoiced for you. But the reason why I'm broken, the reason why I cry is how long must I wait to be with you?
And I close my eyes and I see your face. If home's where my heart is then I'm out of place.
Lord won't you give me strength to make it through somehow?
I've never been more homesick than now.


Nancy I will see you again and try not to be too "homesick" until then.

Being sick-why can't it be a choice?

God gives us a free will to choose between right and wrong. Why can't we have the CHOICE on whether to get sick or not? We can do all the "ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" tactics, but unless you are a hermit, you WILL come in contact with a bacteria or virus somewhere at sometime. It is never our choice to be sick.
Now, sometimes, if you have a great hubby or awesome children who almost love the chance to "wait" on you because you are sick, (I am blessed with a daughter like this. Try NOT to covet! :-)) it is kind of like a mini-vacation! Depending on the "sick" part. If you have your head in a bucket or toilet, it will NOT be any kind of vacation. A mild fever, some sniffles, is almost bearable when there is chicken noodle soup, glass of never-empty O.J., magazines, and soft tissues brought to you. "Mom, don't worry about anything, we will watch the baby." I could almost be THAT kind of sick once a month!
I am sick now, and it did start with the "That" kind of sick, then my baby took the "spotlight". He decided to get sicker than me! How dare he! My poor 19-month-old baby has been throwing up all morning. (1 a.m. to 10 a.m.) My daughter and I had to help him because he became so weak and tired, he couldn't even sit up by himself.
It has calmed down a bit now. So he and I are in bed, getting chicken noodle soup, (his just broth in a cuppy), my never-empty O.J., cartoons, and soft tissues. "Mom don't worry about anything, we will clean up the house and wash all the sheets and towels." If all that wasn't great enough, I have one of the three best cuddlers-in-the-world with me! I will CHOOSE that any day!

Hurting Myself With Love

It is so hard to lose weight, would we all agree, Ladies? I am in a bad situation where I have no drive or determination to lose weight. I know I should lose weight for health reasons. I am a little more than 100 pounds over weight. I know that at my age, almost 40, I am just asking for something very scary to happen. Yet, I do nothing.
I eat because I am happy..."I am celebrating". I eat because I am sad..."You are going through a rough time, you deserve it." I eat because I am angry..."There, this will teach them!" I eat because I am bored..."Nothing better to do." I eat because I am typing this post..."I can think better on a full stomach." Can anyone relate?
There was a time, last year, when I lost 26 pounds. It was during a Biggest Loser season which usually always inspires me. I was walking on my treadmill, had subscribed to BiggestLoser.com, kept a food journal and made right food choices.
Biggest Loser is on again, matter of fact in it's 6th week, and I have only watched about 4 weeks of it. I am avoiding it because I feel ashamed that I have not done anything about my weight. It is bad enough I haven't lost anything, but now I am gaining! Will my "wake-up" call be a heart attack? Diabetes?
I am watching Biggest Loser tonight, and tearing up in parts, like I always do, and my 14 year old daughter says, "Mom, I am making you a surprise, so don't come out in the kitchen." She had made me brownies, bless her heart. That is just one way she shows me she loves me, she makes me my favorite things: brownies, banana bread, Kraft Mac N Cheese, grilled cheese, scrambled eggs, ramen noodles, cookies, cakes, Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls, etc.
Now, I have THE best daughter in the world! You may think you do, but I do! My daughter will clean the whole housefor me so I don't have to. She will do the dishes, laundry and sweep the floor for me. She can do any household chore. She can cook a handful of meals, and loves to bake. She is my right hand, which leaves me feeling guilty many times. She is very observant. If she thinks I am stressing, she will always try to fix it. If her brothers are upset, she is trying to calm them. She is the ultimate people pleaser. She is loving, funny, beautiful, selfless and compassionate. She gives a mean "Ped Egg" session with lotion! When I was pregnant, she created "Night Spa". This was her re-creation of what she thinks a spa treatment would be...candles, music, etc. But her favorite thing is to make me a sweet treat. It makes her feel special inside and beams when I "oooo" and "ahhhh" over them. See, told you I had THE best daughter!
So I am sitting there tonight, watching Biggest Loser, and thinking I need to start, I need to do this. Next thing I know, a hot brownie is placed in front of me. I "oooo" and "ahhh" and she beams. How do I tell her she needs to stop? Making me a salad just doesn't have the same effect!
It is time for so many things. Time for she and I to have a talk about mommy's emotional eating. Time for mommy to get it together before something happens and I leave this young woman and her brothers. Time to be on my knees asking my Father for forgiveness for being in sin about my eating for so long. Time to ask my Saviour for help in breaking these habits. Time to stop hurting myself with"love".

Face Book Obsessed!

How many of you are on Face Book? Oh my, bad place to go for someone like me who adores all the quizzes and presents that you can send people. I love the place where I can hug someone AND then slap them....BA HA HA! (in love of course) I even found gifts from where I live to send to people. That is so cool because there are people who have moved that I get to share "massive snowbanks" with. BA HA HA!
If you have never been on here...try. It is great. I tried a my space and to quote my cousin "I felt like I was going to have a seizure from all the ads blinking around". I felt that way too, way tooooo busy. Face book isn't like that at all.
You can have a cork board for flair pins, join a cause, throw a sheep, send a salad and have a blast. I love it! If you get on, or are already on, please stop by and say "Hi". Make sure you add in your message you read this so I will know to add you.

Confessions of Bedtime

Ok, so I ALMOST made it. I turned off the puter at 1:18. Do I get any points?????

Sleep Depravation for Mommas

I figure at this rate, by the time I am 60, I will get a full night sleep! When I read about the Proverbs 31 woman, I am pretty sure she was exhausted, too. When you are tired, you don't look yourself. Maybe that is why women had to cover thier heads in church ! LOL
A lot of it is my own fault. I am Facebook crazy right now...under Tonya Barker in Albany, NY. I could be on that stupid thing for hours taken quizzes, karate chopping people, giving people sushi and sending them songs. Who would ever want to leave??
Tonight, though, I AM going to go to bed early...hopefully. That is what I say everynight, and I get sucked into something else. Just one more eHow article, one more post, one more link, one more...........
We would tell our children NO, go to bed. Why can we not take our own advice? Ok, why can I not take my own advice. Sorry to through you all in my "soup". Forgive, you all are probably very diligent at getting to bed on time and rising with the dawn. Bottle whatever you have and send it my way, will ya? Sister to sister??
So, I really will attempt sleep before 1 a.m. I promise...and I will even be accountable and tell you all tomorrow. Cross my heart!

It Has Started...Sigh

After only 4 days in office, the president took off the ban on overseas abortions. Now, our tax money can go to fund abortions in other countries. Are there not more important issues that OUR country is facing than killing innocent babies in other countries???????
PLEASE click on the Catholic link. I am not a Catholic, but we do agree on this subject. It is right to the point and it WILL bless you.

Pray
Pray
Pray
Pray
Pray
Pray

CatholicVote.org

CatholicVote.org

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Into the Future

We have a new president. A proud day in our nation considering the history we have had with racial issues. I posted in my other website "Our Alphabet Soup" in more depth about how I feel about this historic moment, so please go and see.
I need to remember that NO MATTER WHAT happens, good or bad, in the next four years, God knows. He knows how it will end. He knows the conflicts we will have as a nation. He knows the victories we will have as a nation. There is such peace in that knowledge.
I will be praying for our new president.
I will be praying that his term will be full of God's wisdom.
I will pray that any of President Obama's ideals that are against the will of God will not not come to fruition.
I will pray that the veil that covers his eyes concerning abortion will be lifted.
I will pray that God will put a hedge of protection around him and his family from any racist people in our country that would seek to harm him.
I will pray that he will grow a stronger relationship with our Lord.
I will pray that God will give him the wisdom to help our economy.
I will pray that he will be a leader to turn our country back towards the One who has blessed us for so long.
I will pray that all of us will be praying these prayers.

Server Frustration

I have only been doing blogging for 3 weeks. I stepped outside of my comfort zone to get my own domain name and have an "official website". It has been down for 3 days due to: OK ready for this? Terrorist attacks from a hacker to a server at my host server. They can not tell me how long it will take to "do something" to fix it. It has been the THIRD this year and I can do nothing.
Somehow...I got to get to my site a half hour ago, get my post all typed up, ready for my pictures to go in, and............CRASH! Server down.
There are two things that really upset me about this: 1. I haven't been there very long and so my first experience with this company is etched in my mind as "Not the Greatest". 2. I can not do ANYTHING to fix it. I need to rely on someone else to fix it. They don't understand the importance of my site to me. How I NEED to get to it as it creates income.
So instead, I NEED to breathe and give up. I will go to bed and pray that God will send His angels to my host server and get rid of the terrorist hacker thingys that are trying to attack my server.

OH NO -THE PIPES ARE FROZE!!!!

I will NEVER understand the plumbing in my house. It drives me insane! I got a pellet stove this year for heating which eliminated using the furnace in the basement. BIG MISTAKE! The pellet stove is wonderful..but I think there needs to be a mixture of both.

We have had two days of extreme cold, for us. It was -16 degrees this morning and we have struggled to keep the house at 70 degrees all day. The washer pipes are working because we can use the washer. The kitchen pipes are working because my 8 year old son, Noah, had the distinguished pleasure of doing the dishes! My bathroom sink pipes are running just fine, and so is the toilet. The tub is not. Not only will no water come forth from it's tap...no water will go down it's drain.

So we have a space heater in the bathroom, hoping it is a "thawing" issue. Tomorrow is suppose to be warmer so I think this will resolve itself.

BUT until then.....

Shelby, my 14 year old is giving my 18 month old, Joshua a VERY quick bath in the tub. It is needed because he got soap in his hair. His fetish with soaps and lotions are for another post!

Ok, so he is the only one who is going to fit in the sink!

So tonight, everyone will take turns "washing up" in front of the pellet stove with a nice bowl full of warm water. Sounds like fun, huh? It probably will be for the kids...not for me!

Good news...we can wash our hair in the sink. Bad news...I pray the Lord will allow permanent, selective amnesia to anyone who has the misfortune to glance at my porch tonight!

Just For Fun

Hello all! I wanted my first post to share a couple of things. The first being the title of my blog.

When I was a little girl, my grandmother, Nani, who is now 84, used to sing to me a song about "loving you a bushel 'n a peck". I don't remember the tune, and I don't think she remembered it much then either. I do remember how much fun the song was and how loved I felt when she sang it to me. I loved that she shared it with me.

Now for the title of the post. How often do mommas really get to do something, for themselves , just for fun? We have fun with our kids, our husbands, our friends. Alone time...does that exist in your life? Not much in mine. So I decided to have this blog Just For Fun! If you are following me from Our Alphabet Soup , you read my "About Me" page and know that I love to be silly. So here is my space to be silly, not 100% momma, or 100% wife. A place to have fun, love, and share, just like Nani did with me when she sang "loving you a bushel 'n a peck"!