Snowed in!

Ack! Ohio is in the middle of near blizzard-like conditions. I don't have exact snowfall amounts but it's nearly knee-high in our yard. I will take some pictures tomorrow and post them. It's insanity. Our area is not used to large amounts of snowfall like this. Where Matt & I are located, we are between snowbelts...the areas of Ohio that get the largest amounts of snow, regularly. So this is definitely not the norm for us. Matt *did* have to go to work today, to call people and see if they'd like to reschedule appointments for another day. Only 1 insisted on coming in today and their appointment wasn't until 3pm. So he had to sit around and wait for them all day long. Sure, he got paid, but he also risked his life by driving in this weather. So that really pissed me off. Stupid people that don't think about others and what their actions cost them. I mean, yes he had to go in to call people, but he could have left immediately after that, had they all rescheduled. Instead, he had to sit there while the snow continued to fall heavily, not being able to leave until several hours later, when the driving conditions had worsened.
So my point to all that is to please think about what you put others through, by driving in conditions that you have no business being on the roads for. If it's not a dire necessity, keep your ass home! That's all for my PSA! I'll post pics tomorrow!
If you're in Ohio, STAY IN and keep warm! If you're somewhere warm, well blech on you LOL. Be thankful you are!

Birthday Plans

Birthday plans are in full swing!!! We have Matt's 30th birthday on March 31st, Ben's 2nd birthday on April 7th, and our brother-in-laws 30th birthday on April 25th. So we are combining the three parties into one big one! My sister-in-law, Stephanie, and I have been planning and buying and shopping! For the double 30th party, we are having a Movie Night themed party, complete with a red carpet rolled out, a movie statue pinata, stars hanging from the ceiling, top hats for the men, gold beads for the ladies, VIP passes for the birthday "guys", etc.! It is coming together so wonderfully! We are going to have a great time. If all works out ok, we will have dvd's of the guys throughout their lives, set to music. I'm using Phil Vassar's song "My Next 30 Years".
For Benjamin's birthday, we are doing a Fisher Price Little People's theme. I'll have print-outs of the Little People characters, primary colored crepe paper/plates, etc., and for his cake I'm using the Little People's Musical Birthday toy set on top. I'm designing it myself. It should be fun!
Stephanie and I are going shopping at Flower Factory tomorrow, for some more party supplies. That is...if the weather holds out for us!! We are expecting another snow storm, overnight and into tomorrow and Saturday. Yipee! (Insert eye roll here)
So that's what I've been busy doing, lately. Which is why I haven't updated my blog! Sorry!

My Poor Baby

My poor Benny Baby had to get 5 vaccinations today! Y We had to get his vaccinations caught up...long story involving our pediatrician's partner and they're not allowed to have them at the office anymore. But they didn't put it to the patients that way, and let us think they were getting the vaccinations in at any time. So instead of taking Ben to a different doctor, we just waited. Finally got out of them that they won't be getting the vax in any time soon, to just take him to the health department. So that's what we did today.
I made Matt go with me this time. He held Ben during the shots, then I got to comfort him after. The poor baby cried so hard. I felt awful. Mommy got teary-eyed too, a couple times. But afterwards, I got to hold him and love on him, and that made him happy. So he came home and took a nap. My father-in-law came over to sit with the boys so we could go file our taxes and run to the bank/grocery store (the bank is in the store). So now we're getting ready for dinner and not much else!
American Idol is on tonite, yay! So far, I have about 4 favorites. But we'll have to just wait and see who gets cut, over the next couple of weeks, before I make a final decision.
Any ways, that's all going on with us. Nothing much really. Blessed be!

Snow Snow Snow

If you couldn't guess, we got dumped on with a bunch of snow & ice!! Nathaniel hasn't had school since last Friday! Monday they cancelled school due to extreme temperatures. Our windchill was -15!!! Tuesday & today was due to snow & ice. And they're already scheduled off for Friday, for a "teacher in service day", and then they're off next Monday for President's day! Talk about a nice mid-winter vacation here! At best, he'll have to go to school tomorrow, which should prove interesting! Tomorrow is Valentine's Day and the teachers are throwing each class a party. My mother-in-law got Nathaniel some Spiderman valentine cards and some candies to pass out. So tomorrow should be an easy school day, assuming the winter weather mix takes a break tonite! Road crews have been working around the clock, trying to keep up with the snow & ice. My Dad, personally, has been working 16 hour shifts, as a snow control operater for the County. The overtime is always a blessing for my parents. But as Dad gets older, it's gets harder for him to work those long, cold shifts.

Well, if any of you are in the Ohio area being affected by all this snow, please take care. Stay in and stay warm. And if you HAVE to go out on the roadways, please exercise caution in your driving. Drive a little slower, brake a little sooner, use appropriate turn signals. Don't let common sense go out the window!

Results of Game Night

Ok so we had game night at Matt & Stephanie's last night. Beforehand, Stephanie made an awesome meal of homemade salisbury steak, homemade mashed taters, corn, and homemade Pistachio Bundt Cake. Everything was delicious! Once cleanup was over, we let the kids play for a while, got baby Lilyana changed & fed, and then we set up the Pictionary game.
SuperMama's vs. Team M&M (stands for Matt & Matt lol). What a riot! Between people not understanding or knowing certain words (bug sounds like rub?! lmao), and others not knowing how to draw particular animals (ribbit), and others drawing more complicated pictures (dam), on top of keeping the kiddo's in line (ages 7 yrs., two 2 year olds, and a 3 month old), it was quite the challenge!
Other than watching the Jeff Dunham video's (Silence...I KEEL YOU!), I haven't laughed like that in so long! It was a very relaxing, fun evening for us. While we were there, brother-in-law Matt got online and found out that Nathaniel's school (along with hundreds of other schools in NE Ohio), was closed for today, due to extreme cold, and windchill advisories. So we got to stay even longer than originally planned. However, that put us at not leaving until about 2:30am! lol Good thing I put the kids in their pj's before we left our house for the night!
So all in all, we had a blast! Matt & I got to spend time with our nieces...Matt & Stephanie got to spend time with their nephews. We hadn'ts een each other since Christmas, so it was great to be with them.
By the way, if you were wondering...sadly....Team M&M came out on top this time. Team SuperMama's demand a rematch in the very near future, though!

"Shadow of the Day", by Linkin Park

I just have to say how utterly sick it makes me, when I think of our men & women in a war that we no longer have any business being involved in. At first, yes. But now? No way. This is a civil war that Iraqi's have to got to learn how to deal with on their own. We can't keep policing and babysitting the entire world. We have our own mess in our own backyard that needs desperate tending to. I try not to get too political when I post my blogs online, but this just needed to be said. It's been eating me up for a long time now. Do I believe we went in with false information? I don't know. I don't think anyone will ever know for sure. One of the mysteries of the White House. Do I believe there were WMD's at one point in time, in Iraq? Absolutely. But Saddam had HOW MANY YEARS to move them, before we went in there? Bottom line about Saddam...he needed to be taken out of control. What he was doing to his people was despicable. However, what we continue to put our military through is just as deplorable at this point. Bring our troops home and bring them home NOW!

First time Sleep over

So Nathaniel had his first sleep-over at our house, this weekend. A neighbor boy, Chuck, has been walking our puppy for me (he handles the cold much better than I do). And he mowed our lawn once, at the end of the summer. He & his Dad came around a couple of times about a car we were selling, asking for a friend of their's (also in the neighborhood). Since then, they've come around a few more times, and we've gotten to know them a bit, especially Chuck.
He's a bit older than Nathaniel, but he doesn't seem like it. He seems in between his age and Nathaniel's. And since he stayed here, this weekend, I was more comfortable with the difference, being as I could keep my eyes and ears open.
He's really good with Nathaniel & Benjamin. Ben adores Chuck. He's such a good kid. He even offered to wash the dishes after dinner yesterday! I am NOT used to that offer! lol
So Nathaniel's been having a blast all weekend. Now tomorrow, Chuck has to go home. We're having a family game night with Matt's sister & her husband. It's Pictionary night and it's gonna be Girls Vs. Boys...Girls RULE, Boys DROOL! lol Stephanie & I have to defend our winnings!! So that should be a lot of fun. She's making dinner, beforehand, for everyone. The kids will get a chance to play. Ben & Destiny haven't gotten to play since Christmas, with us all being sick.
That's what's going on in MY neck of the woods, this weekend. Not much else to tell, really!
Blessed be!

Our puppy, Haven

Here's Haven, as a new addition to our family. She still has this bear, she sleeps with it every night, plays with it during the day, lol.

These last 4 photos were taken in December. So you can see how much she grew. And she's grown even more since then.

I have received a couple of emails asking about our puppy. So here's a little background. My parents had to put my dog, Tessie, to sleep, back in September-October-ish. I had a really hard time dealing with it, as did Peanut. In fact, Nathaniel still breaks down in tears, every now and then. When asked what's wrong, he replies that he misses Tessie terribly. My poor baby!!

So our then live-in friend, Jimmy, a couple of days after Tessie's death, in an attempt to make me (his 'mom') feel better, brought home this cute, black furrball. He had already named her on the way home...Haven. She was so adorable...she still is, just bigger and a lot more hyper LOL. At first, no one was sure whether Jimmy would take her once he moved out, because he bonded with her just as quickly as I did. But in the end, a puppy would have been too much for his bachelor lifestyle, haha!

She's now, roughly six & a half months old, or right about there. Her paws are huge, which indicates she will be a rather large dog. Jimmy was "told" that she is black lab & a husky mix, but I seriously doubt the husky. Whatever other breed she is, it is quite clear that the black lab is the dominant breed in her. She's jet black! In fact, she's so black, that in pictures I have to lighten them, so that you can make out that she's a dog, and not some black lump, lol!

She has had a difficult time house-training, but she's getting there. We're down to just random, sporatic accidents in the house now. Our biggest problem with her is the hyperness. It's beyond hyper, it's like super duper hyper! lol But she really is a sweet dog. Nathaniel loves her, and every time he goes to school, she sits at the door and cries, until she finally realizes he's not coming back right away. Benjamin has always had a fear of dogs, since itty bitty. So we thought maybe having a tiny puppy like she intially was, would help. At first, it was okay, he really had nothing to do with her. Then as she started to really grow, Ben made more attempts to stay far away from her. Now, though, if she's laying quietly, he will go over to her, kiss her, hug her, and lay down on her.

And Haven, being the sweetie that she is, loves to have Ben lay on her. She lays perfectly still, and just lets him do his loving! We do still have 1 cat, Sylvia. Angel became sick in the early fall and I found her in the basement while I was doing laundry. I was devastated, especially since the day before she had been up running around, meowing, eating, etc. We had noticed a slight decrease in her appetite, but figured it was just a phase. Sylvia and Haven get along well. Haven is just curious about the cat, mostly sniffing her, then leaves her alone. Sylvia just keeps to herself as much as possible, like a lot of cats, lol. Miss Independent!

And now for some pictures of our little ball of fun!

Fibro-flare, Here I Am

Here in Ohio, it has been on the warmer side, but very wet. We've been having thunderstorms...Yes...THUNDERSTORMS...complete with lightning and heavy rains, flooding in many areas...in the beginning of February. Definitely some odd weather patterns occurring. Now we are awaiting the cold front to move back in, some time today or overnight, I heard...in which case, we will be getting snow again.
So what does this do to a fibromyalgia patient, you ask? Well let me explain how I felt when I woke up yesterday.
Even with it rainy, yesterday, I actually had a good day. The antibiotics for the bronchitis worked and I'm starting to really feel better from that, and I've stepped up my multi-vitamin to 2 a day, to help boost my immune system. I even INSISTED on doing the running around yesterday! I had to run to WIC & the health department, then to the dollar store to pick up some things like shampoo, body wash, etc.
I then went to get diapers for Benjamin, came home and Matt had dinner made. I ate dinner, then headed back out to Rite Aid for milk (it's only $2.89 there!) and to Giant Eagle to get Ben's Pediasure. Now because it was almost 60 degrees yesterday, I didn't bother with a jacket...probably not a best idea on my part, but it felt so good out there!! I got caught in the rain around 9pm when exiting the grocery store. But it was still fairly warm, probably around low 50's.
Now fast-forward to this morning...I awoke and was extremely groggy, and had a difficult time waking up, which is very odd for me. I typically hear the alarm and am up in a second.
So as I'm sitting up, rubbing my eyes, trying to focus and as I start to put my legs over the side of the bed...it hits me. All throughout my shoulders, arms and legs...that heavy feeling you get in your muscles when you have the flu. That achey feeling, also. I woke Nathaniel up and got him going for school. I woke Matt up and told him that I was going to lay back down, once Nathaniel was on the school bus.
I headed back upstairs and climbed into bed and turned the electric blanket on high, hoping the heat would help my muscles.
I laid there for 20 minutes, feeling the fiery pain moving up my arms, feeling the tension and pressure of the pain in my shoulders before I got back up and took a pain pill (a non-narcotic that doesn't do much good). Then I rubbed my achey muscles down with icy-hot and went to sleep for a while. I still feel like hell, but I'm up, at least. Even my fingers hurt, and typing doesn't help. But sitting still, watching tv, hurts too, so I'd rather be on here, at least doing SOMETHING, rather than feeling like a lump on a log in my chair. The burning pain gets to me by the end of the day. I feel like I want to scream. But I know that won't help, so I keep silent, and don't say much about the pain to anyone, but my Mom, who also has fibro and very much understands what I'm going through.
I don't mean or intend for this to sound like a whiney entry. There are just so many people out there who don't know what fibromyalgia is, or how it affects people in their day-to-day lives. Hopefully this will help even 1 person understand what it's like, so that THEY can be more compassionate to a person in their life that may have it. It's definitely an "unseen disease", and because of the lack of outwardly signs of it, many people just think it's made up, or a mental condition. But I can assure you, it is neither of those things.
Well, it is time for me to mosey on to my comfy chair and put my feet up. I think I'll sit on the heating pad for a little while. It helps alleviate some of the pain, even if for a while.

Jeff Dunham

I had never head of Jeff Dunham until my friend, Cathy, started raving about him. She finally linked me (because I'm too lazy to look him up myself) to some of his skits that are on http://www.youtube.com/. Holy crap, is he hysterical!! So now, for your viewing pleasure, I present to you...JEFF DUNHAM and ACHMED THE TERRORIST. {You HAVE been warned: You WILL laugh, you WILL probably pee yourself -so please put on Depends-, and there IS some swearing, all in fun!!!}

Bitter People

Ok, so what makes people so dang bitter?? We have a neighbor that has caused problems for us since the day we moved in. We hadn't lived here 2 weeks (I was still in the NICU with Benjamin at this point, so I hadn't even actually gotten to live here yet), when our witchy old lady (she's in her late 50's to 60's, I'd guess) reported us to the city that our grass hadn't yet been mowed. It was the first 2 weeks of APRIL, for pete's sake!!! You know, when there was still FROST on the ground, and we ended up having snow later that month! I don't know what the heck her problem is, but this is getting seriously old. We have 4 bags of garbage outside our back door, and she called the health department on us again!!!! What in the hell is this woman's problem?? She's never even met us and has been a total pain in our ass! I cannot WAIT until we can afford to put up a privacy fence around our entire backyard! Then maybe her NOSEY butt will stay OUT of our business!! I am so fed up with this woman. And today I had just decided that me & the kids were going to try and be nice to her, and send her an anonymous box of chocolates for Valentine's Day. Pffft...Maybe laxative filled ones now! UGH! What did we ever do, besides moving in here, that pissed this woman off? I seriously don't get how one person can be so nosey, bitter, and hateful to people she doesn't even know! I know from other neighbors that this isn't a new hobby for her, that she's caused numerous problems for people throughout the years. Perhaps it's time for her to find a new hobby...and maybe get a life!

My latest song obsession...Enjoy

The sickies...again!

Yes, we all have the sickies again! Or still, if you prefer! I have bronchitis, and am on an antibiotic and cough syrup. The boys both are on antibiotics and breathing treatments. Lemme tell ya, the first couple of treatments for Ben was NOT pleasant, but he sits very still now, and doesn't cry anymore. Yay! Peanut, of course, is a pro at them, he's had lots of experience with them!

Matt is in a new job now. He is managing the Olan Mills, here in Massillon. Congrats to him! He loves it!!! He has much more room for creativity through Olan Mills, and he actually gets to STAY HOME all the time, and not have to travel, like with United Studios! Of course Peanut is LOVING this aspect of the new job. Plus we get really awesome discounts! So Matt started his new job just this past Sunday. So he's still in training. Mainly needing training on the computer (paperwork & editing), and how to use the camera, as it is set up on a pole and it swivels and moves up & down, while you try looking at the faces you are photographing on a monitor. It's a co-ordination thing that I would so totally suck at lol! So props to him!

We're getting a phone hooked up thru Vonage this week. We're waiting on the router to arrive so we can hook it up! We get 2 months of free phone service with them! Yay!!

Other than that, nothing else going on. Just trying to get everyone healthy. Nathaniel has Presidents Day off of school, so I think the night before, we're gonna drive to PA and stay the night with his grandparents. They've been wanting us to do that, and I think it would be so much fun. I just adore Matt's grandparents. I know they would love some one-on-one time with the boys, too. The only thing is, I don't know what we'll do with the puppy. Maybe Jimmy will come stay the night with her. We will have to call him and ask him.

Any ways, so that's what's up. I'm gonna add a couple of more pics of the kids. Enjoy!

Bad day...week..

Hello all. Yes, as the title says, I'm not having so hot of a week. I ended up with another stomach bug this week. And the temps in Ohio have been very cold, which really affects my fibromyalgia. I've been in a lot of pain this week. My arms constantly feel like they are on fire, the muscles burn in pain. I can't even really describe it. All I know is that I hurt and the pain medication my doctor has me on isn't helping at all. So I've been pretty miserable. Sorry to not have an upbeat, bubbly post for today. I just don't have it in me.

I am waiting for Nathaniel to get home from school so that he can keep an eye on Ben, long enough for me to take a quick shower. I'm hoping the warm water will loosen up some of my stiff muscles, even just a little bit. Odds are, it will just tire me out even more. I've been up since 4am, due to the pain. So I'm completely exhausted. Ben is being so good for me, though. He's watching Cars and chomping on some pretzels.

The puppy, on the other hand, oy vey!! Haven is into everything today. She's totally wound up. She's got a lot of energy built up. I may have to tie her out back for a while, and let her run around.

Any ways, that's it for today. Thanks for stopping by.

Some pics from Christmas

My theme song as a Bipolar Sufferer

The Holidays are Over....

...and life returns to "normal". Nathaniel is back in school now. He went back yesterday. Now it's the weekend and 2 more days off, haha. Benjamin & I have been sick all week with colds. Poor baby is all congested. He goes to the dr. on Monday so that we can discuss his speech delay, the head banging issue, and some other things we've noticed.

So how was everyone's holidays? Ours was great! We had a really nice Christmas, spending time with each family. The boys got tons of gifts, both clothing and toys. Matt & I did pretty well ourselves, too! Christmas eve & Christmas day were 2 very busy days for us, visiting our 3 families. The day after Christmas, for the first time ever, Matt had off. So we actually got to rest and relax together the next day. It was a really nice change of pace.

New Year's Eve, we spent together as a family. Just the four of us. I had gotten corn dogs & fries for dinner, pizza rolls and mozzerella sticks for snacks. And Matt bought a bottle of sparkling cider for us to toast with. Ben & Nathaniel both made till after midnight!! Nathaniel conked out at about 12:30am, and Ben laid down on the couch with Matt at about 12:15am. We made our normal calls to our parents and Matt's sister at midnight, as well.

Next is my birthday, in February. Then Steph and I are planning a combined 30th birthday party for her Matt and my Matt. They turn 30 within a month of each other and to save money, we decided to combine their parties. Ben's 2nd birthday also falls in between the two Matt's birthdays! So I think we might just combine all 3! I'll get a Ben a separate cake from the two Matt's, though.

Well, that's all I have for my update for now. Until later, when I might have something to ramble on about... God Bless!

UGH!!!

This weekend has been difficult. Yesterday I awoke to an upset stomach, which went into a very nasty stomach flu. I will spare you the details, but I will say that this flu is enough to make the toughest man you know, cry, in pain. I am still not feeling that great. My stomach has been very rumbly all day. Nathaniel also ended up with it, late last night. He & I started out with things coming out opposite ends, now he's where I started. Poor kid is asleep in my bed, right now. Our puppy, Haven, is keeping him company.
Matt is on a shoot in Cuyahoga Falls, of which I'm not happy about. Now it looks like he will be stuck up there, due to the snow storm we are in the middle of. If it's as bad as it is down here, I can't imagine what it must be like up north, where he's at. Oh well, had he stayed home and taken care of his family, like I requested, he wouldn't be stuck. But hey, what do I know.

We are going to be decorating our tree tonight!! I am so excited to share this time with my boys and husband. I can't wait to see Benjamin's face when we light the tree! I just love everything about the Christmas season. Everything seems so much more magical during this time of the year. Especially when a toddler is experiencing it for the first time. I mean, truly experiencing it. The sounds, smells, tastes... I love Christmas carols, my favorites being The Little Drummer Boy, What Child is This, Do You Hear What I Hear, just to name a few. I love walking into the stores and you're hit with the smells of cinnamon, pine, and baked goods. And the foods during the season, yummy!! Honey-glazed ham, fudge, various Christmas cookies & desserts. And don't forget the decorations throughout town and the Christmas scenes in front yards and in the stores! We love to just drive around and see all the light displays in people's front yards. Some are so extravagent. They're beautiful. I even put lights in my boys' rooms! What a wonderful holiday. And these things don't even touch on the major reason for the Season. We get to celebrate Christ's birth and remember what a glorious gift we were given through Him. We have the happy memories to make with family & friends. Spending time with loved ones, when, in this busy world, it's hard to set aside time during the rest of the year. We get to reflect on the year past, and look forward to the year ahead and the many joys and surprises it has in store. And at the same time, we can remember loved ones who have passed before us, and share memories of times when they were with us. So as this season progresses, remember to share your love with the people closest to you. Enjoy your time together, for we never know when it will come to an end. It may be years from now, or it could be tomorrow. Let's make good use of our time on this Earth. And don't forget those who are less fortunate than yourself. Do a good deed today.

Christmas Countdown by Christmas Gifts.org