"Little Tree"

Well we knew it would happen. We are just thankful the tree is only been found leaning a little just once. I just KNEW it would be crashing in the middle of the night....but she has been a good girl, although there are still 12 days until Christmas! When Checkers and Dustie were kittens....the tree was placed in a playpen, so Skittles must be much more careful! (It's a good thing...because we are fresh out of playpens in this house!)

This little tree (3 1/2 feet tall), has really served it's purpose! It was for our first Christmas in the apartment. When we became home owners...it was live Christmas trees all the way and the tree spent a few years with my sister in her apartments...but then we hung onto it for some reason. When Shark Boy was 7 months old and again when Mermaid Girl was13 months old....it came out for sheer "Mommy Sanity" those years. It has returned to apartment/rental house Christmas', and although it needs to sit on plastic tubs for a little height...it still brings a lot of cheer! We are looking forward to a larger tree in our own home next year....but we just might hang on to Little Tree.

Some friends of ours back home, (J and V), have a second tree just for displaying Christmas cards and Christmas photos. I hope our next home will be big enough for 2 trees... because I think this little tree would be perfect to display the Christmas Cards (and letters) I just love to receive!

Hopefully, SB's red throat is better tomorrow. I'm working evenings and can get about 2 hours of shopping in sans MG. She CAN NOT keep a secret and spends too much time on looking for Santa ideas to be helpful. Although - she has the Christmas Spirit and is addicted to DVR Frosty the Snowman this year!

Hope your Advent Season is bringing JOY!

Blessings,

Patty

The big meeting

Well last night at 9 PM, We had our offical big meeting with the placement director. Yes, thats right -- 9 PM. I wanted to say no way for a dozen reasons...most of which it is bedtime for kids and sometimes for Mommy. Thank Goodness for good friends like W and S to watch the kids in their jammies. We were tired. He was tired. But it is done....the frustrating part was he wanted to hear similar answers that we gave last year. But the good part is he feels we will be placed in the West side of the state we want....or the East side. Both would be great! If this doesn't work - he plans to talk to the south district of the State to the North of our home state or the East part of the state to the West of our home state. Confusing enough? This code writing to protect my family from the evils of the net is confusing...but I think most of you will understand where. His plan is convertible and as close to home as possible. We vote for that. We do know nothing is guarenteed and God will place us in the best place. As he has our friends! Our first hope is a good match for B, and a good match for our children...especially MG, then a place not on a big river due to the allergies. He did comment that it will limit the houseboat ministry - he had planned for us. I had dropped my request for Hospice. Now that I feel we might go closer to home. I wish I had placed a bigger focus....but God knows. I just hope he knows I can not do a nursing home! Oh Please-- I hope he knows that! We will know more in April.
Blessings, Patty

Kitties

Poor Skittles. Yesterday was her big surgery. Tummy Spayed and front claws removed. She was happy to come home....but is furious with me to lock her in 2 rooms of our house. Of course...she doesn't understand Dr's orders and protection from her own crazy kittenish actions. She kept poking her paws under the door for about an hour and then gave up to take a nap. Mean Mommy. Checkers was really worried and seems quite happy that Skittles has returned.

Checkers herself went to the vet on Monday due to stomach issues and a 1 pound weight loss in about 4 weeks. A little bubble gum Amoxicillin has made her start to eat again and gave her lots of spunk back. Thank you WONDERFUL VET!! Of course - she hates bubble gum flavored medication. The vet said it is the same that human kids get and they can comment as to how much they would dislike tuna flavored medication!

pickup line conference

So proud I could pop!! Picking up Shark Boy from school-- could turn into a little mini parent teacher conference, about the days events or advise. It can be very embarresssing - especially if there are a 100 minvans waiting behind me. But today - S.B. last year's teacher flagged me down to tell me. "S.B.'s group of boys have been bickering for the entire pickup time about what they are doing and who can be involved." I even said "oh no" and looked backed to SB with a disappointing look... when she said. "But SB defended the others and said. Come On Guys let them play too"!!! He beamed! It made our day! Thanks Mrs. H!!

updates

Updates.

I tend to post and then forget to update.


My allergies have been much better since the cooler weather has arrived and the leaves have dropped. Some new friends have let us borrow their air purifier to try. I do think it makes a difference. We have installed filters in all of the vents as well. I have cut back on my inhalers and noticed the asthma symptoms coming back...so I am going to be a good patient and take them as prescibed. Nurses make the worse patients! My sleep study showed sleep apnea that they want to keep monitoring. It should improve as the allergies do. The pulmologist says I have mild COPD, that could get worse as my allergies continue. So #1 is controlling the allergies and #2 is continuing the Advair. I have more allergy tests next week. We meet with our placement director on December 4th. We will be sharing what the doctors say about the southwest of the country. But also that we think the best for our children is to go back near family.

Weight watchers....not so good. The whole exercise bit makes a difference!! My sister gave me back my ecliptical trainer. I am excited to begin...but it sat in our van for 5 days due to work schedules and rain. It came in the house and has been warm for about 3 hours,now. Only the kids have been using it. I'm hoping the motivation to use it comes soon!

Skittles and Checkers survived our weekend home. In fact, Checkers seemed very settled! We have noticed Skittles is much calmer....I think Checkers really appreciates this.

No more snakes came home from school thank goodness!!! Right now Shark boy is reading his first book for a book report. 172 pages! And it was wrote 50 years ago. The major character did not have television! Shark Boy can not imagine the horror!

Mermaid girl was ready for Christmas yesterday. I was telling her all the work we needed to do and everyone that we needed to buy presents for... " But -- But, I just want Christmas for ME!!" Yep, need to work on Christmas Spirit and the real meaning of Christmas right away!

I have my Christmas letter wrote. I have not printed yet....as I put my blog address on it, to follow up with our changes next spring....but I am not brave enough to put it on yet. If you get a letter from us and the blog is not on it....feel free to call me a wimp!!

Well, back to cleaning the house. Mermaid girl has way too many barbies and accessories!!!

God bless!!

my first meme

10-20-30 years ago

10 years ago: I was working as a nurse for substance abuse treatment center. I loved the nursing part....not the group therapy sessions I was doing. I had started volunteering for hospice every week and loved it. I did not want to work for Hospice as I did not want that experience to change! I was waiting not so patiently for a baby. I also realized my husband was spending an awful lot of time working at church! Little did I know how different life would be for us!

20 years ago: I was in my senior year of high school. Senioritis had really sit in and I dropped band to allow me to work more at my job as a cook for a nursing home. Yes....I was the cook! HA HA! Ruined my desire to cook I tell you...76 meals every time! I lived on a farm 7 miles from town. I thought a farm was the very worse place to raise kids. Now I think it would be the best place to raise a family! But I deliberately did not marry a farmer!! I was going to the big city and become a nurse and live far from a farm.

30 years ago: I was 7. We lived in small town usa. We walked everywhere and only needed to report to Mom at supper time. The world was a much safer place. I learned to ride a bike when I was seven. My 6 year old sister learned an hour before I did. I was so mad!!! I no longer was scared of the thing. I wanted to be a social worker or a nurse.

Wow. This exercise -- has brought back lots of good memories. I wonder what 10 years from now will bring......

Blessings

When you don't know what to post...post pictures. Someone famous in the blog world said that recently. This is the best blessing in our going home for a weekend! And Skittles has the right idea --- I should go to bed!

Actually I do have updates, but I'll get busy on them this weekend. I work Thanksgiving...on call but I already know of 4 patients I need to see. Lets hope the phone doesn't ring off the hook with anymore! We will have Thanksgiving supper with 2 good friends, S and W and their son, D. Another deferred couple will be there as well. We are looking forward to it.

Many Thanksgiving wishes to you all!! May God continue to bless you!