Thoughts…..

I realize that my posts are far and in between, but for my many one or two readers, I will let you in on a little secret…. I AM EXHAUSTED!!!

Someone in our house has been sick everyday for the past 2 months! No lie! I know this because I have been wanting to go see my Mamaw, who has ovarian cancer, for the past 2 months, but can’t because of one person or another being sick. After being in remission for a little over a year, she was told that it has returned. She wasn’t able to start chemo right off because of how weak she had been. They had every one really worried. She has now been able to start radiation, but still doesn’t need to be around anyone that is sick.

The kids had both gotten RSV, but at their age, there is nothing to do for it, except treat the symptoms. Once that went away, we think Bubba ended up with bronchiolitis. He got over that, just as Hubby got sick with the same junk…oh did I mention that I got it as well?? Well, we ALL got better, I was planning on going to see Mamaw this week, but then Sissy didn’t sleep good last night because of an upset stomach. This morning she woke up, still complaining of her stomach being upset, and then she started throwing up. What next??

I did manage to talk her into eating some french fries from Mickey D’s. After eating a handful of them, she looked at me and said, “Mmmm…..Momma, my belly not hurt anymore! These french fries make me all better!” I sure hope it stays that way, sweet girl, I would hate to see those come back up!

I believe we have set a closing date on our house, finally! March 8th, seems to be the go date. We could do it as early as March 3rd, but the seller can’t move his stuff out until the 8th. So we decided that instead of paying interest on the house, and us not living in it, and him being moved out, and us not being able to do anything to it because we haven’t closed on it, we decided that the 8th would be the best. For now. Our seller seems to be kinda strange….which is a nice way of putting it. It may change before then.

I am SO ready to get into our new house and be able to paint and do what ever we want to it so that it fits us!! The house is also about 400 more sq foot than the house we are renting now is. The kids are gonna have so much more room….not sure if that’s a good thing or not yet though.

So until next time…hope everyone has a good week!

OOOOH. MYYYY.GRACIOUS!

This past weekend was very uneventful, even though it was the much coveted Valentines weekend. Hubby had Saturday, Sunday, and Monday off, and we basically laid around and did nothing.

Sunday morning, the kids and I got up and went to our church for Sunday School, then met Hubby at his family’s church for services.  It started snowing as soon as we walked out of the church doors!

We then took the kids home for some much needed naps! We decided for lunch we would do something we haven’t done in quite some time….we got Chinese to go!!! We used to eat Chinese ALL the time, but since the kids, we don’t ever, and I mean EVER go out to eat anymore. It’s always, “Order something and go get it”. Anyways, as Sissy and I walked out of the door to get lunch, the ground was already covered in white!! Of course, it didn’t last long. By yesterday afternoon, it was all almost gone!

Because of the snow and cold/icy weather, our church activities, including the annual Valentine’s Banquet was cancelled for the evening. So we spend the evening watching the NBA All-Star game….Go Bron-Bron! Go Bron-Bron! LOL…that’s what Hubby and Bubba kept screaming while watching it. Of course Bubba’s was more “Gu BomBom! Gu BomBom!” Too cute!!

I have been wanting a new cell phone. Nothing fancy, I don’t do fancy, but different. I have had a Razr since they first came out, and really wanted something with a QWERTY keyboard. Hubby and I had been checking out the Straight Talk prepaid plan, which happened to have a phone like I wanted, and decided that going with that was going to be the best thing for me. The plan I got is a $45 a month plan with unlimited EVERYTHING!!!

Straight Talk is only available at select WM’s and our hometown WM has been out of them for a while now. So I got online and tracked down the closest WM that had some in stock. There was one about an hour away that had some, and I HAD to go!!

So Yesterday, Monday, morning, we all got up and around and headed that way. We made a day of it. We drove about 30 minutes from that WM and went to the Fort to look for a a new car. Hubby is looking to trade in his 2 door sports car, for a 4 door sports car. LOL

So we went by a Toys R Us, and somehow, Sissy knew exactly what it was and wanted to go. So before leaving town, we stopped.  The kids LOVED it! So many toys, and things to look at. All Sissy could say as she walked down the aisles was, “What in the world?!?! OOOOHHH. MYYYY. GRACIOUS!” She was super excited to see all that stuff!

On the way home from the Fort, our Music and ATV minister from church called me. Since the Valentine’s Banquet was cancelled, they had rescheduled it for last night. They were doing pictures, and the girl who was supposed to do them couldn’t make it, so he called me. I had 30 minutes when we got home to get my camera ready and set me new phone up before having to be there. But I had fun, none the less.

Hubby had to go back to work today, so the kids and I sat around and did nothing today. We did find out that it is a HUGE possibility that we may get to close on our house by the end of next week!!!!!!!! I am SUPER excited about that!!! So more on that later, I think I have bored you guys (or you  one person that reads this!) enough with this post!!

A giveaway link!

So most of you know that I got an awesome new camera for Christmas! I have been looking for a super cute camera bag for it. My wonderful friend, Stacy, has given me what was her first camera bag, and I love that I have one. But I would love it more if I had this one!!! Sorry Stacy, but this bag is SUPER cute!!!

If you want to get in on this giveaway just click on the link above and follow those instructions! Good Luck! But not too much luck, so I REALLY want to win!! LOL

My Little Miracle!

I had to have my yearly check-up today and was reminded just how much God has blessed us!

Before we had Sissy, we had went through 2 miscarriages. We actually didn’t get very excited when we found out we were pregnant with her. Didn’t want to jinx anything!!!

So today, in the doctor’s office I was reminded of just how lucky we are to have our 3 1/2 year old little girl!  One of the workers , LH, was was telling the other worker in the office, ML, about how Sissy is lucky to even be here today. That we had a lot of problems with her.

I made the comment that yes, we had 2 miscarriages before her. LH said, “Yeah, but you had a lot of problems while you were pregnant with her!” She then told ML the story of my first prenatal office visit, the one I totally forgot about after the past few years.

When I went in for my first visit, DR. JM wanted to do an ultrasound, just because of my previous issues. He told us that he couldn’t find a heartbeat, or even a water sac. In fact, he could see no evidence that I was indeed pregnant, except for my urine sample.

He told Hubby and I that he expected me to have a miscarriage and told me the steps to take when the time came. He did say that he wanted me to go to the hospital 2 weeks later to have the ultrasound technician look and make sure that everything had ‘expelled’ like it should, or if, by some miracle, I was still pregnant, that everything was okay.

Within the next two weeks, I experienced no bleeding, but tons of morning sickness instead. When my US appointment time had come, we were prepared for anything.

Tears filled both of mine and Hubby’s eyes as the tech told us the news…. “There is the heartbeat, which is beating fast and healthy!! Everything looks good! Congratulations!!”

Three and a half years later, our little miracle baby can be a handful, but she is most definitely a gift from God!!!

 

 

3 Amigos

I have issues. Let’s just get that out there.

So I realized last night that I have changed. From the person that I was at age 16.

My life has changed. My mindset has changed. My personality has changed (Yes, it can happen…believe me). My body has DEFINITELY changed. But we’re not talking about that…

Anyways, when I was 16 I had an accident (that’s a whole different post). Before this accident, I was a happy go lucky, carefree, didn’t worry about what other people thought girl. She was replaced by a self-conscience, semi-depressed, jealous girl with low self-esteem.

Self-conscience - If I am in a room, or close proximity to just a few other people, and they start whispering…I automatically think they are talking about me.

Semi-depressed – During the winter months, when there is less daylight and sunshine, I have problems with not only with depression, but panic attacks. Thankfully though, having kids has helped me some what with that. My attacks don’t come as frequent as they used to (something my mom was really worried about when Sissy was born).

Low-self esteem – That kind of goes along with being self-conscience. I just feel like I am always being scrutinized. Personality wise, looks wise, everything wise.

Jealous – Oh my! How I hate this!! My jealousy has nothing to do with materialistic things.  It’s more of the relationship type. For example, if I am friends with someone, and they have another friend that they are close to as well, I get jealous of that relationship. I worry that I’m going to lose that friend. Or if I have two friends that are also friends I feel that they do things without me…in turn, pushing me out of the circle.

Childish, I know!!!! I can’t help it!!!  It’s hard for me to get close to anyone because of it. It puts a wedge in between Hubby and I. It makes me want to be a hobbit…okay, so not that extreme. But it is hard to become close friends with anyone.

The Lord has recently blessed me with some wonderful girls in my life though. There are 3 girls that I feel extremely close to, and I have so much in common with all of them.

One of the girls, is married to Hubby’s boss, and she goes to church me. She is also like me in the whole ‘jealousy/relationship thing’.

Another one of the girls, I went to high school with. Her and I were two totally different people. We ran with different crowds. She did the rodeo scene, I played sports. She was a cowgirl, I was a tomboy. Yet, here we are, years later, best friends that have TONS in common!

The third girl, has actually known me most of my life. Her grandma used to keep me when I was little…too little to remember, in fact. Her and I both have blogs, and started following each others. We then became friends on FB, and it progressed from there.

I love these 3 girls! And I know that God has placed us all in each other’s life for a reason. I realized last night that my ‘issues’ are not part of these relationships. I don’t feel insecure or depressed around them. In fact, they make me feel good about myself. I also don’t have any jealousy with them. If they wanted to do something, or they talk without me, I’m okay with it. I don’t feel that they talk about me at all.

Isn’t that what true friendships are really all about??

Movin’ On Up….

….to the East side.

We are one step closer to owning our own home! I’m oh so very excited, and ready to be a homeowner!!!

I know there are con’s to owning your own home….one of which is the fact that if something breaks, or you have to replace something, YOU have to pay for it. Not the landlord. Or the fact that you have to pay for the home’s insurance, taxes, and all that fun stuff.

The pro’s are SO much more appealing to me though. We get to paint it the colors we want (which we have already picked colors out), we can change out fixtures, or countertops, or floors, or anything else that tickles our fancy. We can also add on, which eventually, hopefully, we will.

My friend, Stacy, and I are already planning a trip out of town to ‘look’ at some decor stuff. I’m SO looking forward to that! I’ve also been picking stuff out on e-bay and Wal-Mart. I’m just hoping we come into some extra decorating money! LOL

I’m still a little worried that something is going to fall through though. (Yes, as a matter of fact I am a ‘the glass is half empty’ type of girl! Thank you very much!!) But I am relying on God, and for His will to be done on this. 

I called today to find out what we needed to do about letting our landlords know we were moving. That made my anxiety about things worse. I was basically told that 30 days after giving our notice, even if the house falls through and we don’t get the house, we will be without a place to live. That they will list the house the moment our notice is given. So if someone signs a lease on it, we still have to get out! Then I’m not sure WHAT in the world we would do!!

But, like I said, I’m TRYING to leave it all in God’s hands!! Wish us luck…and lots of prayers!!!

Jumping on the Band Wagon

So, like a few of you already have, I have downloaded “Windows Live Writer”. Which is what I am using write now.

I was worried  about ‘being smart enough’ to figure out how to use it but I seem to be okay…so far.

Today, Hubby had the day off, and we went and got our taxes done. I am SO excited about our refund! We will be able to pay off the debt we have and still have some left over.

After we got our taxes done, we went to talk to a lady to see about buying a house.  We are super excited to say that yes, we might quite possibly be able to finally buy!! We still have to wait on the ultimate okay, but so far, it’s looking good!

We have been renting our current house since we have moved back “home”…which will be 4 years next month! As much as I am ready to have a house we can call our own, it’s still a little sad that we are going to move out of the only home my kids have known! The house that we brought both of them home from the hospital to. The house that the learned to walk and talk in. The house that they call home.

As much as I despise this house, it’s still home….for now! I am SO ready to move on and be first time homeowners!!!

For now, I leave you with this picture and story. The other day, Bubba kept crying for ‘Nana’….my mom. He was screaming her name and crying “Nana! Nana! Nana! GO!!” He REALLY wanted to go see her!!  As he was going to the door, I told him, “No, Bubba. We can’t go see Nana right now!” And this is the start of the fit he threw!! He was NOT very happy with me for quite a while after that! Darn kids!!!

Stoked!!

I'm super stoked! I was contacted by a friend on FB about doing pictures for her. Wedding pictures!!

Why am I 'super stoked'?? Because it is a small intimate wedding. Immediate family only. Maybe 15 people. I love that it's this small, because it's my FIRST wedding! I think it will be less pressure on me, doing my first wedding, when it's that small.

(I've had the opportunity to do a wedding before, but then it fell through. You might remember me blogging about it here.)

When thinking about what price to quote the bride-to-be, I thought of many different things:

1. I am an amateur professional, not a professional.
2. It's a very small wedding.
3. The wedding will be located out of town, but only about 45 minutes away.
4. I have known the bride-to-be, and her brother, for YEARS!
5. It's only double what I normally charge for family/individual pictures.

She was excited about the price and told me that she would talk to her fiance' about it, but that she was pretty sure he would agree to hire me!!

I am SO excited about having the opportunity to grow my portfolio!!

Photography

Yesterday afternoon, I got the opportunity to do a photo shoot with a precious little girl, who is a month old!! I used to work with her momma before I became a stay at home mom. I had SO much fun at the shoot, mainly because they were so easy to work with, and was up to do anything I suggested. Also because I LOVE doing photography!!

I have tried to get my "business" up and running, but with little to no luck. The Marine shoot was my first actual paying gig, then three months later, right before Christmas, I got my second gig with my sweet friend and her family.

I am looking forward to hopefully doing a lot more, because I enjoy doing it! And it doesn't hurt to have a little extra money coming in. I know there are quite a few "amateur professional" photographers around here, but I also know that there are some people that don't know of any of those people, and don't want to pay the big bucks for, "professional" ones. I'm hoping that my name gets out there and I am able to do a lot more!

I also just realized that I never posted any pics from my second gig I did. So here are a few of my faves from both shoots.

My Brazilian Sister

When I was 15 years old, we hosted a foreign exchange studentwho was 2 years older than me, from Brazil. She and I were really tight...she, in a sense, was my sister. She came to live with us during Christmas break and stayed until the end of the school year. A few years later, she came back to stay a week or so with us. I was so happy that I was able to drive and her and I could actually go hang out together.

When she went back to Brazil the second time, over 10 years ago, I didn't know if I would ever see her again. I, of course, thought of her all the time. Wondered how she was, if she was still living in Brazil, if she was married, had kids, and just what she was up to now-a-days.

I found her on myspace, only to realize that she never used it. I had her e-mail address, but it was her work e-mail, and didn't know about holding conversations over it. So I decided to look for her on Facebook (I get on there every day..sometimes more than once. Okay, more than 10 times a day. Sad, I know!) I couldn't find her. So I sent her an invite to her work e-mail to join.

The next day, I got an e-mail back. It was her telling me that she had JUST added me as a friend on there, right before she got my e-mail!!! How awesome is that?!?!? So we connected on FB and got caught up. She is married, and has been for 3 years. No kids. And she moved from Rio de Janiero to Sao Paulo...about 266 miles away.

She also told me that she would be coming to the states in October and would love to see me and my parents! She will be flying into Orlando, then fly to LR, drive to see us, stay about 3 or 4 days, then fly to LA where she will be attending a birthday party for her friend's one year old, and a wedding! I am more than excited to see her, and for her to meet my husband and kids!

I will have to dig out an old pic or two of us together and post in the next few days or so. I don't know if I can wait until October now!!! Eeekkk!!!!