Emily's play

Yes...we have a future star on our hands. Thursday Emily and all the 2nd grade classes put on a play for all the school and another that evening for all the parents and families. It was adorable.

Now you would have thought we were watching a Broadway show, the way Emily fussed and talked NONSTOP for a week about it. And you would have thought she was the star of the show as you were watching.

I might have mentioned before...that Emily has this thing for music. Singing and dancing to music in fact. I really could not tell you where she gets it from. I mean, it's not like her Mom and Dad go to a lot of Concerts and always have music playing around the house. It's not like we dance around with Emily in our PJ's on a Saturday Morning. What? What's that your saying? We do dance? We do go to Sammy Hagar Concerts like we're Stalkers? Oh...ok then...where were we?

So the play was called Life Cycles. It's about how plant's and critters grow. And the classes were mixed up into groups of Butterflies, Snakes, Fish, Tadpoles, Farmers, Gardener's, Plants and forest animals, and people. And it was a musical, lots of singing. It was very precious.

Can you see her? She is the second row from the right, third person back. Just look for the huge smile and pig tails. It's dark because I was all the way in the back and had to zoom in and flash couldn't reach that far. Sorry.

Remember that part about Emily being the star of the show? Yea...she not only played her part of the Gardner, she played everyone else's parts too. She sang along with each part, danced the parts of each step...it was hilarious. Everyone was commenting how cute she was. And she was having so much fun. She was clueless to the 500 people sitting there watching her. She bounced around and sang her little heart out.

I would of had more pics and video to show, but the vibration of my cell phone going off and DH calling to tell me his truck died (2 months after we paid it off!) and he was waiting for a tow truck pretty much ruined the moment. It turned out to just be a dead battery, thank goodness! He missed the evening play. But we had taken time off work earlier and caught the 2pm play they did for the school kids too, so at least he did get to see it.

And can I please make a suggestion to parents out there. When you are attending a school function, or any function for that matter, and you want to record it for future matters, can you please kindly stand in the back with the other video recording parents and not sit in the seats in front of hundreds of other parents wanting to see their kids perform and hold a video camera straight in the air with both hands and record the WHOLE FREAKIN PLAY while zooming in and out and fussing about and blocking the whole stage viewing area??? Thank you to the several parents who blocked our line of view of our own children just so you could sit on your butts and lazily record your own with no consideration of others. My parents and I finally had to get up and stand on the side just so we could see thanks to you.

Thank you for letting me get that off my chest...

Have a great weekend!

XOXO

Happy Friday Quote...

*The Little Things*

It really is the little things

That mean the most of all...

The "let me help you with that" things

That may seem very small

The "I'll be glad to do it" things

That make your cares much lighter,

The "laugh with me, it's funny" things

That make your outlook brighter...

The "never mind the trouble" things,

The "yes, I understand,"

The interest and encouragement

In everything you've planned

It really is the little things,

The friendly word or smile,

That add such happiness to life

And make it more worth while.

~Mary Dawson Hughes

Spring Pictures...

Spring Time always brings with it School Pictures. The Spring Pics are way different then the Fall ones. The Fall ones are much more official and formal. It is the picture that goes in the yearbooks, that goes out in the Christmas cards, that goes on their student ID cards. The Spring ones are much more fun. You get to wear new spring clothes, and pick fun backgrounds.

Emily's pictures came home today. I somehow have a feeling her class had theirs taken at the end of the day due to her appearance. I hate school pictures for that reason. You have to pay an astronomical fee for a picture you have no idea how it's going to turn out and your stuck with it.

For the most part...I have been mostly happy with what has come home. Now this one...I'm not quite sure how I feel. Do you see her slouching? Her tired eyes? Her messy hair? Her cute little Capri's cut out of the picture. And what is up with that background?? THAT is the "Beach Theme" I picked?

Well, I at least have a token of their school age years to show them when they are older. That's really what it's all about, right?

P.S. Happy Birthday Melinda!

XOXO

Baseball...

We had another late night of baseball last night (thus the lack of a new post first thing this morning) plus I had to work in the snack bar most of the night. Our Yankees lost their game, but we were playing the #2 team so we knew it would be tough. We have two injured players out so that already hurt us. But we made many errors on the field that cost us dearly. The boys always do this. When they know they are playing a team they can't beat, they just play half hearted and heads down. Us parents try our best to rally them, but if they don't take their eyes out of the dirt, they can't play the game.

Snack bar duty ~ Have you had to do this yet? I like the opportunity it gives you to mingle and visit with the other players parents while in there, but it is so mundane. I always get the Soda and Snow Cone machine area. So i come home covered in syrup! ;o) And when it's 98 degrees outside, can you guess what the #1 item was we sold all night??? Yep - Snow Cones. Do you have any idea how many times I had to shave ice and pump syrup? LOL...

DH is the field dad - which means before each home game, he chalks the fields and makes sure the bases get put out and hoses the dirt down. When we are the visiting team, he has to stay late and put the bases away, rake the whole field and lock all the equipment up. So I get the snack duty. But let me see...this is the first year he's been field dad, and we've played baseball 8 years, times 2x snack bar duty a year, and he has never served in there...hmm...I think i'm getting the short end here! LOL ~ DH says I'm the socializer, so I get to do it.

Emily was completely happy last night because I let her get a snow cone. It was so hot - and she was so good sitting waiting for me while i worked. She worked the snow cone for an hour! Quietest hour ever! LOL

So Monday after practice, the coaches surprised the team with water balloons! It was Memorial Day, and they wanted to have a little fun for the players that came out to practice. 11 players, 3 coaches and 500 water balloons! Yep, 500!

So after the water fight was over, coach tells them their is a prize for the one who picks up the most balloon pieces! Let me just say...I have never seen so many pre-teen boys move so fast in my life! And guess who won???? Austin! He won $20!

I said to the coach - "Hey, If I knew money was on the line, I would have knocked the kids out of the way and picked them up myself!" :o)

So imagine my heart bursting with pride as Austin and I are walking back to the car afterwards and he says to me "Mom, can we bake Coach some cookies? After all, he did just give me $20 and he didn't have too."

Yes Austin...we will bake coach some cookies...

XOXO

It is time for...

This is the part where I may or may not tell on myself and the imperfections I may have so that you can see I am not nearly as perfect as I like to think I am. Please take the idea and share on your blog. We all love sharing in each other's guilt. :o)

*I absolutely cried my eyes out at the end of the movie, Marley and Me on Friday. But I wasn't the only one...

*I had the best time at a friends wedding on Saturday. It was a lovely day for an outside wedding and the location was perfect.

*I did envision my own wedding as I watched theirs and how differently I would have changed things.

*I did not secretly wish I could go through the buffet line again because the food was so delish that I still get goosebumps thinking about it.

*But I did thoroughly enjoy watching Emily out on the dance floor by herself getting her jiggy on and giggling at herself.

*At our family BBQ on Sunday, I just may have been a little excited over spending time with everyone and enjoying home cooked food from each.

*And the Strawberry Swirl Cake I brought was so Yummy, I did not have a devilish thought that no one else would take any so I could bring it home and finish it! ;o)

*The weather was so nice this weekend that I wished I was on vacation so I could enjoy more of it.

*I may or may not have felt a great deal of sadness when I realized we only have 6 Baseball games left of the season and then tournament week.

*And I was extremely happy when Emily asked to take swim lessons this summer as I have yet to get her in them because of her fears.

*I am excited about my 2 nephews staying three days with me this coming weekend, but I also may have felt a little worrisome about keeping 4 kids entertained and happy during that time.

*I really do miss our swimming pool from our first house and am wishing so much DH would let us put one in.

*I may or may not have taken a one hour nap Monday that was just what I needed to refresh me for the rest of the day.

Monday Humor...

XOXO

Did you all just see that?

It was super fast, and really sneaky. But I felt it. So I know it happened. I didn't imagine it. Couldn't have dreamt it, nor could it be a fantasy. It really, honest to gosh happened.

*My Son snuck up behind me and wrapped his arms around me in what I almost took as a hug and whispered "I love you" in my ear.*

Now that the rumor has been dealt with...back to business.

Memorial Weekend is upon us. But in the hustle and bustle of making plans for camping, road trips, bbq's, family reunions, weddings or swim parties, the real meaning of the holiday gets lost.

I come from a military life. My Grandfather, my Father, my Brother and my Nephew have all served this fine country we all live in. More wars then I can list, more time overseas then I have fingers. Pride and Honor run really deep in our veins. And I have never been more proud of my family. They sacrificed for us. They lost time they will never get back. Time away from their spouses, children, careers, parents and friends. Most of them have lost friends right in front of them. Others learned new skills and trained so in time when their country needed them, they would be ready. Memorial Day is a day for this country to remember and memorialize those that served but did not make it home. To Honor the ones who did, and to Cherish the ones who came back wounded.

I have the freedom today to choose where I want to work, to choose how many kids I want, to earn a fair living, to have housing and a vehicle to drive. Schools to educate, Government that is ever changing to fit the needs of our country. I have the privilege to walk down the street and feel safe.

And I have all this because of the Men and Women who fought for it.

To all of them, I take my hat off to you, and say "Thank You"

Happy Memorial Day...

XOXO

Happy Saturday!

It's Memorial Weekend...We have a Wedding, Baseball, Family BBQ, and Baseball to do this weekend. And at some point, I need to catch up on laundry and CLEAN my house! We've been gone for like 4 weekends in a row, so my house has been neglected. Anyone want to come help? :o)
XOXO

Happy Friday Quote...

If you don't have faith there's nothing worth believing...

Author Unknown
XOXO

Did someone say CHICKENFOOT?

I could swear I hear it...It was very soft... And it got louder...And it was calling my name...

XOXO

O - M - Gosh....

So I've mentioned on here a time or two before how much of a Sammy Hagar Fan (Stalker) DH and I are. LOL - We really love him. It is our time we take for ourselves to have fun and be carefree. We see him a couple of times a year. We don't have "Date Nights" or go to restaurants every week. No movie theaters for us, no high priced clothing lines, no frivolous shopping. Just Sammy Hagar!

DH and I have traveled to Cabo San Lucas, MX. twice to see him and his club there, and we travel to his other club that is 2 hours away to see him several times a year. He also just happens to live 2 hours from me on the coast. And we have seen him several times in his hometown there. DH even saw him in Chicago before he met me. We have been on-stage with Sammy five times. It is an experience like no other and I highly recommend if you get a chance to do it!

We have seen Sammy when he played with Van Halen. When he went Solo, when he played with the Wabos, and now...we have seen him with his "Supergroup" he started with fellow musicians. And at every show, I say he gets better. But this new group...the energy...the vibe...the cosmic flow is everywhere! And it was AWESOME!

Sammy Hagar (Singer), Michael Anthony (Bass/Van Halen), Joe Satriani (Guitar Virtuoso) and Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers Drummer) make up this SuperGroup. The radio stations are calling them the next bigger thing then Led Zepplin and Van Halen. Their first song released is already a chart topper. The Road Show rehearsal concerts (5 total) sold out in 2 minutes. The Europe tour that lasts 6 weeks sold out in 10 minutes. This fall, they are doing a US tour. And it too will sell out. Because they ROCK! They are AWESOME! Yes, they are that good!

We have waited...a long time...for this moment in time to happen. And we knew it would. We knew Sammy would get the accreditation he deserved. That his moment to shine would come. Not the whole aftermath of VH, the slandering those VH brothers tried to do, nothing was going to touch this.

And by some grace of god...our friends and us got 6 tickets to Sunday's show in San Francisco. Only 1000 tickets, small club venue, and we scored! We drove 2+ hours to get there, stood in line for 3+ hours, lost 15 lbs in sweat (i wish), and it was PRICELESS!

Best freakin show of our lives! Amazing! I have no words to describe it. I have dreamt of it, still dreaming of it. I wish I had pictures to share, but no cameras allowed. But...they filmed a video during our show, and we are on it!!!! We got right up front of the stage...and we rocked! All night!

Thank you DH for allowing us to have these moments. For making them special by being there with me. For sharing in the memories. I wouldn't want it any other way. I love you!
XOXO

It is time for...

Hello! Time to unabashedly share with the world what a perfect person I am by letting you know all of the things that I did or didn't do this past week. I will invite you all to join me at the end of this post! So, with almost full disclosure, I present to you, my week:

*As I shopped Saturday for my sister's birthday present, I did not then love what I bought her, and go back down the aisle and get myself one too.

*I did however enjoy baking her cupcakes and surprising her at Scrapbook Club with them and a small gift and everyone singing to her, knowing the real reason for my happiness was that SHE was turning a year older and not I.

*I just may have enjoyed myself so much at Scrapbook Club that I talked and visited so much I got half the pages done I normally do.

*And I certainly did not stand in my front yard talking to my oldest, dearest friend after Scrapbook Club until 12:30am and laughing so much my cheeks hurt.

*And I most certainly did not then climb into bed at 2am.

*But I did giggle like a girl Sunday as I got ready for our big Sammy Hagar/ChickenFoot Concert. It was a Roadshow rehearsal test concert, for a new "Supergroup" band he started with Joe Satriani, Michael Anthony and Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers), and only 1000 people got tickets, and I got 6 of them!!!

*And I may or may not have danced so much my legs hurt today.

*And I Did scream so much my throat hurt.

*And I did stand in line for 3 hours and get the equivalent to 2nd row seats in front of the stage. So close that when Sammy came to our side, I could have touched him. And I almost did, but the big security guy standing in front of me was scary.

*And I did get butterflies in my tummy when Michael Anthony pointed at me and sang to me all the while looking right at me and then waved. Is that a sign that I go to too many concerts to see them? The guy next to me asked "does he know you?" LOL - if only he knew.

*DH did get a Joe Satriani guitar pick when he threw it in the crowd to go with our collection.

*I may or may not have been so excited that during our 2+ hour drive home I could not sleep. But when we got home at 1:30am Sunday night (or is it Monday Morning?) I crashed like there was no tomorrow.

*I did however have so much fun with friends on the drive down, dinner, show and drive home that it was priceless.

*You live only once, so I am living it LARGE!

XOXO

Monday Humor...

XOXO

Does this ever happen to you...

I get so caught up in the day to day grind of life and being a mother, that sometimes it's like someone just reached out and grabbed my arm and made me stop and look around. This week has been that way for me. I have been enjoying my children so much this week. I realized that through all the Pre-Adolescent Hormone, Independence Seeking and the Temperamental stage of life, I am still in love with my son. I enjoy his hugs, his smile, his big, brown eyes when they light up with laughter. I love when he helps his sister with homework and plays catch with her outside. I love that he brings me Toby and says that he needs some Mommy time and cuddle. I love that he loves so hard and passionately with every ounce of his soul, that at times it hurts him, but he never stops loving.

I enjoyed spending time with Emily this week. She had such enjoyment at her birthday party, watching her playing with friends and absorbing the love in the room for her. So many friends and family that came to be there for her. I loved that she has said "Thank you Mommy" for her party 15 times since then. I enjoyed spending her actual birthday day by surprising her at school with Yummy frosted cookies for her class. And I especially had so much joy wrapping her presents and listening to her giggle when she walked in the door from school and saw them. And I loved baking her favorite brownies with chocolate frosting and watching her gobble them down and giggling at her chocolate covered face. But I really loved when she screamed out loud after opening her High School Musical Backpack that she has been wanting for months now and that she has not put it down once since. Emily and I played Go Fish tonight with her new Winnie the Pooh deck of cards she got and she caught on right away and had so much fun saying "Go Fish Mommy" and then giggling every time she took a card from me.

My children are my life. But sometimes I get caught up in the day to day. Doctors appts., school projects, homework, housework, life work, career work, wife work, and just plain life. That sometime I forget to just stop and enjoy the moment. Enjoy my kids. I don't want a day to come when I look back and say I missed it all.

In High School, I was in a pretty severe Car Accident and injured. I had temporary brain loss of my long term memory. And during my recovery, I made myself a promise:
I would never live my life with Regrets.

I remind myself periodically, and have stayed pretty true to that. So I present it to you. Do you live your life with regrets? Always taking the safe route? But missing out on the adventure? Or do you grasp life with both hands and hang on for the ride of your life and never miss an opportunity?

XOXO

Happy Friday Quote...

Whatever you give a woman, she's going to multiply. If you give her sperm, she'll give you a baby. If you give her a house, she'll give you a home. If you give her groceries, she'll give you a meal. If you give her a smile, she'll give you her heart. She multiplies and enlarges what is given to her.

Author Unknown
XOXO

Happy Birthday Emily...

Today is Emily's Real Birthday. You all know she was my Mother's Day gift that year, but did you know what a trooper she is? How she has the strength that amazes me beyond words? That she never gives up on anything she wants to do?

That's right. You see, I have mentioned before that she was my "Special" daughter. But I've never really gone into detail before. Because I wanted you all to see her, get to know her and love her as I do before you knew the road she has traveled down.

Emily was born into this world on May 14, 2000 at 6:36am as a Beautiful 8lb 11oz Bundle of Joy. We were so excited to finally see her. Our precious bundle that I fought so hard to keep inside me through a really rough pregnancy was finally here. Her first three months of life were uneventful. She was extremely happy and smiling all the time.

In August that year, I took Emily in for her usual 3 month shots not thinking another thought about this perfect life we had going. Until the next day. Emily immediately became lethargic and wouldn't eat. Her face started swelling. Then she became very agitated. It lasted throughout most of the day and I finally called the Doctor and said somethings wrong. They ended up having to give her a Benadryl shot because she was having an allergic reaction to one of the vaccines. They noted it in her chart to report to the state (all vaccines allergies they have too) and told us she would be fine and to go home.

But she wasn't fine, ever after that. Her eagerness to thrive had stopped. She was content to lay on the floor under her jungle gym for hours. She would stare at you as if she was looking right through you. My gut told me this wasn't normal. I had an older child to compare her too, and this wasn't right. I repeatedly took her back but kept being told she was just a late bloomer. Finally at her 1 year check up, she still hadn't begun crawling, much less walking.

Her pediatrician still was telling me she was just slow in developing, and that each baby is different. But he did tell me he was on vacation the next week. I knew it was more then that. So the next week when he was gone, I called his office and got them process a referral to a Pediatric Neurologist. We had to drive 2+ hours to get there.

When the neurologist called us in, he was waiting. He had been observing us in the waiting room, and watching Emily. He ran some test, but he knew already.

Emily was labeled with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Developmental Delay with Sensory Integration. We sat there in a state of shock. Trying to comprehend what he was saying and absorb it. He gave us statistics, information, but no hope. That was the longest drive home in our lives. Finally we broke down and cried. Every parents nightmare had just come true for us.

The hardest part was telling family. The tears, heartbreak and emotion of reliving it over and over. One day, someone told me "Cindy, you've always been a fighter all your life. Why stop now? Now you must fight for your daughter." And that's exactly what I did.

We started aggressive therapies with Emily. She had Speech Therapy 2x week, Physical Therapy 3x week and Occupational Therapy 3x week. And I worked full time. And I had another child who needed me. Exercises we had to do daily. It was grueling, week after week. We had to bring in a Behavioral Therapist. Emily couldn't communicate, so she would get frustrated and melt down. There were days I didn't think I could get out of bed and face another day. There were days I didn't think this family would survive. For three years...we pushed. Pushed her to do more, pushed ourselves to give more. We had to make a choice. Our Family above everyone else. DH and I lost a lot of friends during that time who couldn't handle the situation or that we weren't available anymore. But we gained some really awesome friends in the process too. And I became an advocate. I learned my rights, Emily's rights and the states obligations. I fought Doctors, Insurances companies and anyone who said she couldn't do it.

Her S.I. condition means her five senses (taste, touch, hearing, seeing, smelling) is at an extreme high and she can't regulate them. So we have to brush her skin daily. Introduce her to certain textures in her mouth daily. We have to speak slow and moderate the sounds in our house. She would hear all the white noise sounds we tune out.

On her second Birthday, she started walking. That same year, she transitioned from sign language to speaking 15 words. By three, she was walking with leg braces pretty well, her vocab was about 40 words and she was acquiring OT skills that they said she would never do. At 3 she entered a Speech and Language preschool and excelled. At five, we pulled her and put her into a private Kindergarten class because the school district told us she couldn't do it. She did. Just slower then the others.

We held her back in Kinder, and had her repeat her second year at the Public school. She needed school services and socializing. She is now in second grade. The oldest in her class and a foot taller, but excelling so much this year. She gets pulled 80% of her day to the Learning Center for one-on-one lessons, but is with her class for Music, Computers and Library. She has made so many new friends. And they are patient with her.

I still fight for her. With school district offices for more help, with school staff for more communication, with school staff that tells me she can't do something.

Emily, if you looked at her is a normal, beautiful little girl who sees the world very different then we do. She knows the struggle it has been for her, and what it still will be. But when I think back to that Doctors appt. 8 years ago when they told us she would never be normal, I am amazed at my little girl. She plays on the playground, running and yelling after her friends. She goes to sleepovers with friends, and birthday parties. She played soccer for the first time ever last season. She did gymnastics for half a year.

Don't even think about telling her she can't do something...She has her Momma's strength and spirit in her. She will do it all!

Happy Birthday my Little Angel, I am so very proud of you.

XOXO

It's time for...

*I may have lost my temper at Emily's Birthday Party with the owner of the party place, and I did take satisfaction and joy in getting my DVD free from him.

*I may have eaten a cupcake at her party, but I only did it for her. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

*I did not feel all warm and cozy inside watching her laughing and having such a good time! My "Special" Baby has come a long way in her life and she deserved every moment of it.

*I may have had a thought cross my mind as the noise level was reaching ear shattering limits and so many kids running around that I was ever so thankful I did not have that many children myself.

*During Austin's baseball game this weekend, I absolutely did not want to jump the fence and go play with him, they had so much fun and won the game. But I did take a bunch of pictures.

*I will not confess that on Mother's day when DH did not bring my usual Mother's Day breakfast but instead tried something knew, that I was pretty disappointed. But being the wonderful DH he is, he sensed it and went and got my usual for me anyways! ♥

*I will confess how much I LOVE my homemade goodies from kids.

*I had such a grand time at the park with all my family for Mother's Day playing games, visiting and kicking back eating good foods!

*I will not admit to the thoughts I may or may not of had when my daughter woke up at 5:45am this morning and was playing with the dog outside my bedroom...

*But I will admit I DO NOT feel like cooking dinner tonight. Maybe it's a Cereal kind of night...

XOXO

Emily's party was a...

SUCCESS!!

Emily and the Clown from the party.

She had so much fun...as well as all her guest. The day did not start off without drama though. To Austin misbehaving because the attention was not on him (for once!) to a screaming, yelling, cussing, ready to jump over the counter and strangle the owner of the party place we had her party at. Yea...is that even possible? I mean, your in business for CHILDREN, and you service CUSTOMERS...so who is suppose to be treated with respect and courtesy?

Emily and her best friend, Melissa

Long story short...because I don't want this to turn into a business bashing post...it is about Emily after all...the business changed their policy (which I learned was because of the health department) but did not inform us of the change, and thus tried to charge me and my guests more money. You see, it's a giant warehouse with a 3 story Jungle Gym like structure that the kids run around in. Well, my invitations DO NOT say anything about needing to have socks on, and the one he pulled out did have it. I booked the party last month. But when we showed up Saturday, there were signs everywhere saying Socks Required to play. Well, it was 90 degrees that day and everyone came in flip-flops and no socks. So he wanted to charge us money to buy socks from him. So long story short...after screaming back and forth and him accusing me of lying and I accusing him of not honoring his initial contract with me...we got him to sell us the socks at his cost. AND i got a FREE DVD of the party that plays to birthday music and captures all the joy and fun. He charges $25 for the DVD, and i had planned on buying it anyways...so I shook on it and the party began.

Emily getting ready for presents. (blurry, sorry)

Emily had 3 friends from school attend and 3 family friends, and all her cousins. So she had a great turn out.

DH shooting the missile ~ notice the big smile? They use those baskets to run and get more foam balls to load the guns.

I even caught my BIL and DH in there battling it out in the Giant Missile Launch area! Oh and my 15 year old nephew, who was WAY too old for this sort of party and was ONLY coming to watch...yea...I busted him in there laughing his butt off and running in and out of the tubes. So young and old alike had a great time.

15 yr old nephew absolutely NOT having any fun...LOL

Sorry...you won't see any pics of me in there. I really wanted too...but I'll be damned if I was gonna pay for another pair of socks. :o(

Thursday is her actual Birthday, so she'll get DH and my present to open then.

XOXO

Monday Humor...

XOXO

Happy Mother's Day!!

BEFORE I WAS A MOM...

Before I was a Mom, I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put her down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom,
I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.

I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom.

The Best Mother's Day present EVER...

Nine Years ago ~ I was given the BEST Mother's day gift ever. Can you guess what it was? What's that? A hint you say? Let's see...it walks...and talks...and eats...and sleeps...wears pigtails...calls me mommy...You guessed it! Emily Renee was born on my Mother's Day in 2000.

It was rather inconvenient. You see my Grandma was moving the next day. And we were all going over to pack her up. So Saturday night, I was wrapping Mother's Day gifts for everyone I had bought for, and Holy Cow, what was that??? Contractions started. For a few hours, they were 10 minutes apart and then...NOTHING! Ugh - by now it is 10:30pm so I decided this is seeming a little too real, so I go take a nice, hot, and long bath hoping it would relax my tummy and stop the contractions. I had 4 more days until my C-Section. After my Bath, I realize I am starving as I didn't eat dinner through the contractions. So I go downstairs and make a sandwich. DH and Austin had stayed up playing video games, and Austin fell asleep on the floor in front of the TV. DH was still playing.

So there I am eating my sandwich and Uh-Oh...my water breaks. Well...there's no denying this baby wants into this world. So off we go, and at 6:36am, Emily Renee was born on Mother's day!

She has since had her birthday fall on Mother's Day one other time since then. And the Hospital went around to all the mom's in the L&D rooms and gave us huge bouquets of flowers and balloons. And the Candy Strippers brought stuffed animals. So I was totally making out! ;o) My Mother on the other hand thinks I had both my children for her. You see, Austin was born on her birthday, and Emily on Mother's day. Yes Mom...it's all about you! ;o)
So today we are celebrating Emily's Birthday and having her party, but Thursday is her actual birthday. She is so excited. It's all she's talked about for days now. And she has been very specific on what she wants for gifts.

Happy Mother's Day to all you Hot Momma's out there!
XOXO

Happy Friday Quote...

There comes a point in your life when you realize: Who matters, Who never did, Who won't anymore...And who always will. So, don't worry about people from your past, there's a reason why they didn't make it to your future...
Author Unknown

XOXO

Baseball game recap...

Austin's team played the A's on Tuesday night and Oh Boy was it a nail biter! We were winning the whole game by one point. They would score, we would score, and back and forth until we hit the 6th inning and we tied 8-8.

It's 9:30pm and we go into overtime (7th inning) to break the tie. The A's are up to bat first. Our pitcher managed to strike one out, and Austin stopped the ball at first base to get two others out. We hold the score.

Yankee's now up to bat. Our first batter gets struck out. Our second batter is our big Home Run hitter. All of us parents hold our breath. Can he do it, right at this moment when we need it, or will he crack? He's already hit an Out of the Park Home Run at the beginning of the game. His second time at bat, they walked him on purpose. He's up again...will they pitch him or walk him?

*CRACK* his bat connects with the ball......and it flies right over the fence for another Home Run!!!

We Win the Game!!! 9-8

So Proud of you Yankee's!!
XOXO

It is time for...

*I may have enjoyed myself so much this weekend with friends away from kiddos for 3 days that I wished it was one more day so I could catch up on sleep.

*I did not drink so much that I was too full for dinner, but the food so good I ate anyways.

*I did act like a school girl when Sammy Hagar was singing and scream and squeal.

*I may or may not have wished I was the only one in the room he was singing too and kinda sorta wish he was all mine. ;o)

*I may have laughed so hard this weekend that my face hurt.

*I did not have several Starbucks coffee's this weekend to help get over the hangover of tiredness from staying up and laughing until 2am each night.

*I absolutely did not eat dinner at 11:30pm after the concert at a Hard Rock Restaurant because we were too busy drinking before the concert to stop and eat.

*I may or may not have called during Austin's Baseball game on Saturday to see what the score was and how the game was going because we were missing it and it killed me to not be there.

*And I did not scream out loud in our hotel room while we were on said phone call and heard the winning Home Run Hit that won our team the game.

*And I did grab my kids in a huge bear hug when I saw them after we got back ~ Distance does make the heart grow fonder.

XOXO

Weekend recap...and then some...

DH and I had a WONDERFUL time with Sammy. Err..I mean at Sammy's concerts. LOL ~ We went with some old friends and met up with some new friends and had a great time. Good food, good laughs, good concerts, good times!

We made it home Sunday and immediately went to a family BBQ because my nephew, Nick is home on leave from Basic Training! It was so great to see him. Man, what a change in him. I had to ask him if those guns were loaded ~ he's totally buff now! He left a boy and came home a man. And I might add...He is now Engaged! He proposed to his high school sweetheart the night he came home. But that's another story! Well, the younger cousins were bored, so they begged and pleaded to walk to the park and hang out, and we relented and let them. So the 3 of them took off (Austin included) and we proceeded to visit and eat. Out of the blue, my cell phone rings and it's my nephew who left with Austin to the park. And all I hear is "Can you come get Austin, he's hurt!"

My worst fear happens. The dreaded phone call. "What?" I say. "What do you mean hurt?" only I realize I am screaming it. I am already running out the door to the car, phone in hand and yelling for DH to grab the car keys and run.

Nephew says "he got hit in the head with a baseball." Family is scrambling wanting to know who is hurt and what is going on. I realize I have no idea where the park is and my brother jumps in the car with us to direct us. My BIL jumps in his car and races off too. We fly to the park and find them standing on the curb waving us down.

Austin is there, crying and holding his head. He has a huge goose-egg on his forehead. I grab him and get him in the car, and we race back to the house. They were playing catch, Austin saw the ball out of the corner of his eye, but couldn't react fast enough to move.

Ice immediately helps bring the swelling down. But Austin keeps saying over and over he wants to go to sleep. He keeps crying and saying he doesn't know why he's crying and can't stop. He starts going into an Asthma attack. Momma's Flight or Fright syndrome kicks in and I am racing around. Family all over wanting to see and worried. I can't get Austin to calm down. I know he's in shock. My little medical knowledge from college is telling me he has a concussion and shock. I immediately start gathering him up and get him to Urgent Care. But they wont see him, head trauma's have to go to ER.

Off we go again. Austin is crying again, saying he doesn't want to go, he's fine. I am sitting in back with him holding the ice. I check his eyes, not glazed over anymore. He stopped shaking. The lump is almost gone. I realize the shock is wearing off. We decide to head home and watch him thru the night and head back if needed. All that kept running through my mind was Natasha Richardson. But I did not want to expose him to the 50 people who thought they had the Swine Flu and were sick dogs waiting to be seen either. So we had to make a call...

Momma's legs took several hours before they stopped shaking, and my pulse to calm down. Hours later I still had that panic feeling. I realize how bad it could have been. How I would move heaven and earth for my son.

This week in school is Star Testing, Mandatory and no absences allowed. Austin insisted on going today. But he did have a headache all day and came home and put ice on it himself. He also took a nap. Still been watching him. I woke him through the night a few times and checked on him. We gave him the memory test. His name, his age, his town...he passed.

So much for coming home from Sammy shows all relaxed and rested...

XOXO

Monday Humor...

XOXO

I'm with my Sammy...

Don't call me...Don't comment for me...Don't Facebook me...Don't email me...Don't visit me...

For DH and I are gone on our "Adult Only" Weekend and have tickets to TWO nights with MY Sammy. Yep, Not your Sammy, Not THE Sammy, but "MY" Sammy! We are off to see and party and relax and enjoy the company of some good friends and sing and dance along with MY Sammy! So I will be in heaven singing along with Sammy, drinking and laughing with friends and enjoying good food.I will miss you, but DH and I only get this one weekend a year alone. So my dear followers, I must leave you...But no worries - I will be back! ;o)

XOXO

Happy Friday Quote...

"What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is about the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it."

Author Unknown
XOXO