Thursday, November 27, 2008

Short Lived

(This is what my bass looks like)


I broke out my bass today. First of all let me just say that I have not picked it up forever because of the kids. I can barely keep the house clean and the food cooked...but there are so many times that I will be listening to a song and think I want to learn it. Usually that happens when I want to learn the piano for it. I wish I had a piano so I could just get the sheet music and learn those songs, but other times I'll be listening to a song and think I wish I had my drum set here so I could play along to this. Today I was listening to a song and wanted to pick up my bass and learn it. This happens too. Someday I'll be able to get back into my music but Phoenix was napping and Marce was watching a movie so I figured maybe I could play around for a bit. Wrong. I plugged everything in only to find that something wasn't working. One time before this has happened and it was my bass that needed to be taken in because it had got jostled. I have a feeling it's my guitar chord this time, which would be good. They are cheap. Marce has gotten it out a lot of times and played with it before I could snatch it up and put it away again. I doubt it's my bass. It hasn't been touched basically since the move. But, it could be. Whatever it is, I'll figure it out sometime. I was going to learn Starlight from Muse. It doesn't really matter because as soon as I hooked it all up and found that it wasn't going to work, I heard the cry from the crib. Such is my life...

Friday's Footage - Thanksgiving

This is what it's all about.


Thanksgiving


This year is the first year I am missing the Willard Thanksgiving reunion. Having said that, I hardly realize it's Thanksgiving at all. I don't really feel a loss, but more like there's nothing to lose as we aren't having a Thanksgiving dinner, nor are we getting together with family. So, happy Thanksgiving to all of you, and I will have to wait another year to see my dad's side of the family.

I want to say that a few of the things I am most grateful for at this time are good health and opportunity. No one in my family has been sick for a very long time. I thank and pray for good health everyday for my family. I am very mindful of that blessing and I do not take it for granted. I personally have not been sick since I was in the Hospital last March. I felt the sickest I'd ever felt in my life at that time. I knew I was not going to die, but I felt the closest that I ever have, and I remember thinking in the Hospital that if it weren't for my family, I would have been ok with it. That's how sick I felt. My body was overtaken with a sickness so powerful, I had not experienced anything like it before. It came and went quickly, but it was the worst I have ever felt physically. I have not been sick since then. Marcelus has not had the flu since last winter, so it's been about a year. I am so grateful Phoenix is a healthy baby with no complications and he has not really ever been sick yet. The Lord has blessed us with good health for some time now.

I also said that I was grateful for opportunity. Right now could be a turning point for our little family. Good opportunities are always out there. Sometimes they work out, and sometimes they don't and you try again. We will see what lies in store for us, and move on with life regardless of the path, but I am grateful for the opportunities that come to us in the first place.

Happy Thanksgiving and I'm looking forward to a very Merry Christmas and a New Year! I love those fresh beginnings!

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Second Hand

A few days ago, I went Christmas shopping for the first time this year. I had already decided that this year I was going to shop at second hand stores to find what I could and then from there, I'd hit stores like Ross and Big Lots, and if I had to after that, I'd shop at Walmart and Target. The last few months for us have been tight and I thought it would be a fun thing anyway. I love second hand stores, not because I'm cheap. I have no problem spending money when I have it, believe me. It's because I find things there that I'd never dream of seeing anywhere else. It's like finding a hidden treasure somewhere. I feel like Mikey on the Goonies and I get all excited. Yesterday I found some really great deals on toys at Big Lots. That store is right next door to my favorite store to shop for clothes for the boys, Once Upon A Child. Believe it or not, Shar and I got our couches at Big Lots. I then headed over to DI in Mesa. I wish they had more than one but let me tell you, it is worth the drive! Good condition children's books for 50 cents. I got a big stack. I got two nice shirts for Marce at two bucks a piece, and I got about 5 VHS movies. I figure I have a VCR and even though they are bigger and take up more space and are a little less vibrant as far as sound and vision go, Marce can't break them and for one to two bucks a piece...totally. I had so much stuff it seemed at the checkout, I was getting a little nervous as she rang me up, you know that feeling at the checkout when you have a specific budget and you can't go over. When she was finished and told me my total was $21.00, I almost laughed. I already want to go back there. Second hand store shopping is quickly becoming a hobby for me. At DI, there was this big trunk I wanted. It was heavy duty and beautiful. It was priced at fifty dollars. It looked like a Pottery Barn piece. I wish I could have gotten it but maybe next time I go back I can, if it's still there.

I LOVE Once Upon A Child so much. I have been shopping there since Marcelus was 2 months old. I have found the best brands and the cutest clothes there. I'm excited to venture out though to other types of second stores. I have never been in a Good Will or a Savers, but I love DI!

And seriously, if any of you out there are on any kind of Budget for Christmas shopping, check out Big Lots. Their stuff was nice and clean and they also had a lot of cute Christmas decor and wrapping paper. I went to Ross but Big Lots had a lot of the same toys for 3-4 dollars cheaper.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Mother Knows Best

Yesterday Sharrid had planned on going down to the Social Security office in Casa Grande to turn in some paperwork for something he needed to obtain from them. He called first and the lady there said that the paperwork could not be handed in but had to be sent in (In fact it was going to a totally different state in the midwest...). I kind of listened to his conversation on the phone and then asked him questions after he got off, like "What did she say?" "Are you still going?" and "So, can you just turn it in?" Easy questions...Sharrid didn't really answer my questions. When he doesn't answer my questions to my satisfaction and then tells me he's going down to the office, I get a little worried. I can see exactly what is happening. He got good info on the phone and is now disregarding it. What's worse is I begin to tell him to not go down to the office and to just send in the paperwork like the lady said. Shar had his mind set on going down there in person (He often drives all the way to Tempe to turn in school work when I'm sure it can just be sent in...???) Sure enough, he gets back and I said what's the deal and he told me, yeah it has to be sent in. (He says this sort of apologetically...if he were a puppy, his tail would be between his legs...) Hmm, what did I just say an hour ago, further more, what did the lady on the phone who knows say? I rest my case. What a waste of time and gas! When will he learn? I don't rub it in his face. I'm waiting for him to learn to take my advice and listen to me. He is not really learning yet though. The same thing happened about 8 months ago when Shar was speeding behind a cop. He thinks that if an ambulance or cop is speeding in front of you, a good idea is to just pop right in behind him, you'll get there faster and there's nothing like an ambulance to clear away traffic right? Wrong, like I said. You will get pulled over. I don't understand why he thinks he wouldn't. So, yes we got pulled over. I don't know why the cops just keep warning him. They are awfully nice because he still has a perfect driving record. Maybe he let us off because I was big as a house pregnant with Phoenix...or maybe it was Sharrid's soft tender voice coupled with his politeness. I know if Sharrid was a Cullen, he'd be Jasper. But in this case, I am Carlisle; the ever knowing wise father, and I told him exactly what was going to happen approximately 30 seconds before it happened.

Like I said, this same pattern keeps happening and I just wait for him to learn....Sharrid hasn't really had a mom since he was 8 or so....maybe that's why he doesn't know. MOTHER KNOWS BEST.

Friday, November 21, 2008

"Cocky Sister!"


Cocky Sister is exactly what Marcelus' Cookie Monster sounds like. He doesn't watch Sesame Street often, but often enough to know the main characters. Lately he has been complaining if his diaper does not have cookie monster on the front. I buy Pampers and they are Sesame Street but some have Elmo and some have Big Bird and stuff. So he's just going to have to get over that.

Marce has really been into Trains and planes lately. Trains especially. Anytime he sees a train on a movie or in real life, he says "Train!" over and over again until I acknowledge that yes, it is in fact a train.

Marce will sometimes watch Saturday morning cartoons. They aren't like they used to be when I was a kid. They are pretty lame, but Spiderman is one of them. Yesterday Marce pulled out my DVD case instead of his and he found Spiderman (the one with Toby McGuire) and asked to watch it. He was so excited to find something familiar that I put it on without even thinking that it was PG-13. I tried to find the flying action and fast forward all the violence. That worked once but now I just need to hide it and get one of the animated cartoons on DVD for Christmas for him. It's kind of cute that he likes Spiderman because a lot of the things he loves still reminds me that he's very young, but some things, like Spiderman make me realize he is turning into a little boy pretty fast!

By the way, I left my cameras at my mom's so no pictures on the blog until I get those which could be as late as Christmas, sorry...

Sharrid has to work on Thanksgiving so we are not doing anything so I told him that weekend we'd just set up Christmas and pretty much surpass Thanksgiving. Even if we did do the whole Thanksgiving feast, I don't think it would be any fun with just our little family. Bring on Christmas, because I get to go home! Shar has to work on Christmas and the days surrounding it so we are celebrating our Christmas either before or after the real Holiday on a weekend. We haven't decided.

Lastly, my keyboard is getting worse and worse. The W couldn't be any worse, but the " and ' are horrible, and a few other keys also. It's pretty annoying. My sister said that maybe my parents have an extra, if that's true I'll get it during Christmas. The funny thing is I haven't been blogging as much as usual...just haven't had much to say. I have no pictures from Veterans at my moms because my camera was dead the whole time, and now that I left my camera there, there really won't be any pictures to post at all for a while.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Milestone

It's official! Phoenix is crawling! He won't be 6 months until the 25th. So I guess he's about 5 3/4. Pretty good for crawling. He is pretty much sitting up too, but still could use some work in this area. But I sit him up and walk away and he'll eventually be on the ground but he's good enough that I don't need to stay there and help or anything.

Today is clean the whole house and de-junk day. There are things that I have that we just don't use or that the kids have never liked, for instance my travel swing. Maybe I could sell some stuff to Once Upon A Child. I could use the money to get something for Marcelus for Christmas.

Speaking of Marce. My keyboard is pretty damaged by the juice he spilled. I don't even care because my attitude towards "things" has altered quite a bit over the last 6 or so months. I will just pick up a keyboard sometime at DI or Goodwill. A keyboard is a keyboard to me. I don't care what it looks like. Just for your information, my W, X, ', ", and Q are very sticky and hard to make work. So it will just be annoying if anything til I can replace it but if any of you have an extra keyboard laying around you don't want, sell it to me.

Anyway, I'm also starting on a homemade gift for Marcelus and for my sister's kids. I'm hoping they turn out pretty special.

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Tagged: 4th file, 4th picture

Yeah, I don't think I was really tagged but I just feel like any tag I want to do, I do anyway so hope you don't mind...this is what was in my 4th file as my 4th picture...lovely.

Stress

Yeah, isn't it wonderful. I thought I would post tonight since I've been gone for the last week at my parents. I hope my keyboard continues to work. Marcelus spilled apple juice all over it tonight. I guess I'll add that to the ever growing "replace" list. Either that or it will just be sticky and smell like wine forever...

Like I said, I've been at my mom's the past week. It was great to get away again and be home. A couple days into it I could feel my energy waning. I didn't work out the whole time I was there. I don't feel bad really...but more energy would have been nice. What is it? When you hit a certain age, man, it's like I'm working out pretty good every other day, I'm taking my prenatal and iron pill, trying to be consistent...I am on a constant quest for energy. Maybe it's just not going to happen until Phoenix is weened. That's fine but if I can just see the light at the end of the tunnel. It feels like walking across my front room is such a chore. I had a lot of energy as a kid and it just makes me a little sad. That's all.

A few days into the trip Phoenix started teething pretty bad. No teeth popping through yet but he also improved his crawling and I believe within a couple weeks he will be crawling. He can army crawl and get anywhere now, but I mean real crawling. I can't wait!

So we left early Sunday morning to make it to my parents one o'clock ward. My sister made Pomegranate Jelly with my mom. I made homemade bread with my mom. We played Nintendo 64. I played a one on one game of basketball with my brother. We went to the park and played soccer. Mom and I started to de-junk a little, and we went to the Veteran's Day Parade.

Everyone helped out with the kids a lot. I meant to take them for a walk to the school grounds but never did. I enjoyed everything I got to do there. Whenever I'm able to go home, it is never long enough to do everything I want. I always wish I could stay longer and I just feel like I'm rushing to fit as much in as I can til next time. I hate that. I would post pictures of the trip but I left my cameras at my mom's and the batteries were all dead on me too. The only thing I got was video of my sister marching in the parade for the high school band. A lot of things I did were so simple, make bread, basketball with Lan...but those are the little things I love. I think my favorite highlight of my whole trip was going to the park and playing soccer. My mom stayed with my dad and watched the kids so I could go and play with Michaela, Tib, and Landon for an hour or so. We missed Connie and Kira...but whenever enough of us get together and especially all of us, I feel such a strong feeling of unity. We were meant to be together. It's so easy. As my own little family grows and grows, and becomes stronger together and we move forward, one thing never changes. My immediate family is more important to me than it ever was. I would give anything to be with them everyday. If there was a feeling of separation, or independence if you will, that was supposed to happen when I got married or shortly thereafter....it never did happen, and at this point I don't think it ever will. I'm happy about that. However unrealistic, one of my dreams has always been that my whole family live next to each other. Just a cul-de-sac. I don't know, someday the dream might come true. One of my favorite quotes is from the movie Rudy. Pete says "Having dreams is what makes life tolerable." Isn't it true.

Friday, November 7, 2008

Random Thoughts

Nov. 2nd was my 17th baptism anniversary

I accidently cut my fingernails WAY too short

Oprah is driving me nuts, and I don't even watch her show!



AND...

This makes me so very happy!

The Park

Phoenix just sat there in the stroller. He just loves to be outside. Marce played and went down the slide.



and even I took a self portrait...

Out Cold

The other day Shar and I were talking about all the times I've passed out. I decided that I would then try to number them to really see how many times I have passed out. I have not been keeping count. I have had a lot of close calls, but I have learned what to do if it's getting close. Eat food as soon as possible, stay still (don't use energy), keep cool (temp. wise).....Of course there were those times and these are them:

Dry Heave: I was in middle school (Jr. High) and it was probably a Saturday. I did not eat breakfast. I think the reason was there was no good cereal to choose from. How dumb is that...Well, I got dressed and went outside to play. I rode my bike around, climbed a tree, and then came back inside. Our family friend Brannon was over talking with my mom, and my older sisters at the kitchen table. I sat down and then started to feel really exhausted and weak. I remember putting my head down on my arms on the table and trying to complain to my mom. After a while I got her attention. I probably looked like a drunken sailor. She grabbed me and took me over to the kitchen sink and then lifted my shirt up in the back. She put cold water on my back and I kind of started to gag a bit but there was nothing to throw up so that was short lived, thank goodness. That's all I remember about that but I'm sure I ate shortly after.

Pass out #1: I was a Sophomore in HS, and mom and I were planning to go to Overton for something. I remember I was wearing a red 49ers t-shirt and a pair of black cords. I was planning on eating this morning but I decided to get all ready first. Dumb. I remember I was showered, dressed, and all ready. I hair sprayed my bangs and that's when I started to feel it. I knew I should have eaten sooner then. I ran to the kitchen cupboard where the cereal bowls were. It was the fastest breakfast I could have eaten. I grabbed a bowl and turned around. Meanwhile my mom was asking me what was wrong. I probably just sputtered out "I need to eat something" I don't even know if it was coherent. My mom and Kira were there though in the kitchen. The last thing I remember was grabbing a cereal bowl and turning to face my mom who was inches away from me. Passing out just feels like a really deep sleep. It's nice while your out, but waking up is awful. Mom said I was out for only about 30 seconds. It felt to me like I'd been out for hours. I had to "remember" where I was and what happened when I woke up. Mom said she tried to catch me but I had a crick in my neck and that's the first thing I felt. I had a bun in my hair. I felt so sick when I woke up and the LAST thing I wanted to do was eat but mom made me eat a piece of toast, plain. Later, we still went to Overton but it took me the better part of the day to get back to normal. It was a total of 2 hours from the time I woke up til the time I was out, 9-11, I remember that.

Pass out #2: I was getting ready to start my senior year. It was senior picture day at the HS for the yearbook. We were in the Overton house. Kira was living at home getting ready to go on her mission. September 11th was probably only a month away from happening. Connie was already serving in Russia. Kira and I were the only ones home. I ate a bowl of cereal for breakfast (we ate a lot of cereal growing up) and was waiting for Kira to get out of the shower so I could get ready for my pictures. She had shut the door (like always) and it was a sauna in the bathroom when she got out. When we crossed paths she told me that I needed to pick the zit on my face because it was picture day. She was going to do my make up for me...Well, she picked the zit and I'm sure it hurt like the dickens. We were both in the tiny hot bathroom though. I was like dying of heat, sweating and everything. So at that point I was like "I need to get out of here" and so I stepped outside into the hall. I could feel it coming on. Finally I was being cooled off but it was too late. I slumped down against the wall in my towel and told Kira to go get me a glass of cold water. By the time she got back I was out. I woke up to her calling my name and trying to hand me the water. Later she drove me to the school and even though I have braces, I thought my picture turned out good.

Pass Out #3: I was just pregnant with Marcelus and it was the appt. where you fill out paperwork and give blood. Sharrid was there with me because he had to drive me. Later when we moved to the valley, my mom took me in to my appts. Anyway, when they took blood I swear they took 9 viles but come to find out I think it was 7. Still, to me it was unnecessary. They had to bring out the sniffers for the first time in office history. I told Shar I never really was gone but he claims I was out. I had to go lay down in a room on one of those bed things you get your pap done on. They gave me one of those nasty orange drinks to get some sugar in me til Shar came back with food. They also put an ice pack on my forehead. The ice pack really helped. Later in my pregnancy, Shar and I were at the Las Vegas Temple doing a session. Most of you have heard this story. Those who haven't, all you need to know is I did not make it through the session and at the worst possible time, I had to be taken out by a matron. Some other sister pulled my name through. I imagine both of us will be thanked for doing that sisters endowment. That's pretty unique. This is the one time I have gone to the Temple and not gone to the Celestial room. When they pulled me out, I went to the bathroom for cold water, then I found out another sister would take it from there. So I went to get dressed and then Shar and I went to the cafeteria. (I was still holding out for food)

Pass Out #4: I had just delivered Marcelus and had been transported to my recovery room. Since I had Marce at 5 in the morning it was still sometime in the morning when I needed to go to the bathroom for the first time. My right leg was still numb from the epidural and I needed help anyway, so a nurse was at my right side holding onto me and walking me to the bathroom. While in there I sat down, went to the bathroom and then I don't remember what happened. When I woke up, again I was kind of wondering what happened. It takes you a little while to figure out that you passed out. At this point there was a nurse on each of my sides holding my arms so I was still sitting up on the toilet. They were a little flustered but I was so used to passing out by this point. They got me taken care of and told me they'd teach me the "system" next time. They wanted me back in bed pronto.

Pass out #5: I'm pretty sure this is the next one. I can't remember if there are any between #4 and #5, I don't think so. So the next time I passed out is funny because it was just after delivering Phoenix. The first time attempting to go to the bathroom. Sound familiar? Yeah, the nurse was like "Why didn't you tell me you've done this before?" I told her I forgot I passed out with Marce in the same situation. Anyway, it was sooner after I'd delivered him that they wanted me to try to go to the bathroom so they wheeled me over to the toilet. I got on the toilet and then started to loose it immediately after trying and failing to pee. She asked if I was alright and I said No. I knew I was not going make it. She had sniffers and was telling me to stay with her. She was kind of frantic...like the other nurses before. What's the big deal. I have done this so many times before. Wow, those sniffers were powerful! Anyway, it was only after I had passed out that I remembered last delivery this happened. When I woke up it seemed everybody there, 2 nurses, Shar and Connie were trying to make me "sleep walk" to the bed. She told me I would pee on my own later in my recovery room but that she was going to put a catheter in me til then. The catheter was great! I didn't even feel it go in or out. Not too long after I was back in bed though, my body started to freak out. I got very cold and started to shake violently. I was SO cold. My teeth were chattering and I was all the sudden really really tired. They got heated blankets and put them everywhere around me and around my head and face. They also gave me oxygen through a mask they put on my face. It took a while to warm up but eventually I did. I didn't get to bed that night til after midnight and I was so tired. Luckily Phoenix was a decent sleeper because they didn't even ask me if I wanted him in the nursery or not.

That's the last time I passed out. I seem to do it every couple years. I know I would have passed out while pregnant with Phoenix during that stupid 3 hour glucose test if I hadn't barfed it all up first! Ugg

Well, til next time, happy passing out!

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Brothers




Why am I always seeing this? Marce loves to "handle" Phoenix...He lays on him all the time! I think he likes to test how much Phoenix will tolerate. Actually, he's very innocent and just likes to play with him. Phoenix is like a patient dog. You know, the kind that is really good around kids cause even though their fur and ears and tail are being pulled every which way, they still won't bite or growl...that's Phoenix, the patient dog. Marcelus has claimed a corner in our house to be his "throw all my toys and crap back here" corner. Remember the corner he fell asleep in? That's the one. There's not much room back there but he manages to drag Phoenix in there with him to play. Today, it was a little too quiet as I was putting away clean laundry in the boys' rooms, so I went to check things out. It turns out Marce was outside playing around on the patio...WITH Phoenix. He had somehow gotten him outside onto the patio. Phoenix never made a peep, I would have heard. He was just laying on the concrete on his tummy enjoying the cool breeze we have today...Awesome.
In other news, we voted this morning. We got there about 9:30, dropped off our ballots that we'd already filled out last night and headed back home...that was easy. I am a little burnt out on politics so today I plan on watching the Suns game and nothing else. I will be happy to find out who won tomorrow morning. Actually, I will be happy the whole thing will be over...

Halloween 2008

Our ward Trunk or Treat was on Halloween night and it was just so so for me. There weren't very many trunks at all, especially for a tri-ward event. We got chili and cornbread just before it was all gone. It was pretty slim pickins'. We went through the trunks once, got some chili, did the cake walk once, got some cotton candy, and headed home. We were both bushed for some reason. Marcelus was a Phoenix Suns basketball player and everybody was excited about that and said things like "Go Suns!" and "Hey, are you Amare?" to which I quickly told them yes. Amare is my favorite player in the NBA! One lady said that if he were really a Suns player, he mostly looked like Raja Bell. That's cool, from what I hear, Raja is the Hot one on the team according to the ladies...I don't really have an opinion. I watch the games for the basketball...

I couldn't believe it but I pulled out Marce's old mummy costume and it looked like it would be too big for Phoenix. He has managed to surprise me so many times with his size, I figured it would fit but instead I let him go along with the theme and wear a Phoenix Suns sweatshirt. Maybe he could be the ball boy...

Marce only filled his pumkin about 1/4 (maybe) of the way full and it was gone by Monday...so bring on Christmas!