Westroads Mall

Brianna and I went to Westroads today. They had a station right outside Von Maur where you could make snowflakes for the victims. We ate lunch first and viewed the Christmas tree with some snowflakes on it also.

Brianna wanted to make her own. So if you see a dark blue 8x11 fringed paper snowflake, it is hers. She couldn't cut through the folded paper so I let her cut her own. She had a blast but didn't want to give up the scissors.

I wanted her to be able to tie what she saw/heard on TV to reality. She was a bit fearful of the security guards, but I assured her she was fine and safe. We prayed for the victims as we entered the parking lot and saw Von Maur's store front.

There were a ton of people and I was so glad to see the support that everyone was showing. Quite impressive!

My brother and sister-in-law

They found out that the twins they are carrying are a boy and a girl. We will be welcoming Nadia and Darrell in the spring sometime, she's do in April.

Children's Hospital Stay

We went to her doc appt on Monday. They did a breathing treatment on her and then did another chest x-ray (oh so fun....not). Then he delivers the news. Her O2 levels are barely hanging at 90 and her heart is having to work extra hard to pump blood. The breathing treatment did nothing to ease her breathing, so off to children's hospital we go.

She was admitted Monday at 2pm. By 5pm she is having an IV placed in her arm to aleviate some of the dehydration. Later that evening we go down for another chest xray since the doc office didn't send ours with us.

They are giving her nothing through the IV except normal solution, no meds. They come and check her at midnight and find she is running a fever of 103.6. They give her some motrin and recheck her at 1am, 100.3. They come and check her again at 4am and all is good and she is up for the day .

Tuesday she is starting to perk up as the day wears on. I can't keep her in the bed and the IV is hindering her. She is playing with the toys they brought in and the toys my mom brought. She can't leave the room because we are in isolation. If she leaves for a test, she has to be masked.

Tuesday morning she has a sputum test. They stick a tube up each nostril and vaccuum out the contents. They send that to the lab for test results. I still don't have a diagnosis or a time when we are going to be discharged.

4pm Tuesday, they take the tubing off the IV and Brie is free to roam the room. She kept asking me, "I sit here?" I told her, "You can sit anywhere you want. You can sit on your bed..." "I NOT sit on my bed!" apparently she is tired of her bed!

5pm comes and I am told we are going home. I've still not seen a doctor only the residents and the students (a teaching hospital). They remove the IV which is traumatic! I begin to call all the relatives who've said they are coming to visit to stop them. I call my mom and tell her to boogie up, she needs clothes and we need the extra pass to give back (security card to let you in on off hours).

The doctor finally came in. He states she has viral pneumonia. There is no antibiotic to fix it. He then looks at her ears. He has to clean out the wax to see the drums. Again, traumatic. The child looked like she was possessed and if she could have cussed she would have!

She has the beginnings of a double ear infection. He writes a script for Omnicef ($$$ drugs, but it works). By 7pm, we are out the door and she is happy about that! She declines the wheel chair and we are home free.

I got her meds filled, with the generic of Omnicef (yippee!) and we were home by 8:15pm (stupid pharmacy was slow as molases). She got to sleep in her own bed. She's been coughing since around 5am but is sleeping. I had to call into work. They've been understanding, but I'm way over my time alotment and could be written up when I get back. So be it!

It has been awhile

Well hello again! I've made some changes here and hope you like them!

Momma's night out

Friday night I went out. I dropped her off at my aunt's house, headed to the game, some fireworks, and then a fabulous concert featuring Blake Shelton. He is awesome and a great performer. He really interacts with the crowd.

He has the most gorgeous blue eyes and oh those dimples!

Adventures in pet ownership

Well, there is a new pet living at our residence as of last Wednesday. His name is Nemo. Can you guess what he is? He's a red beta fish. Brie picked him out and named him. She also feeds him and has to make sure he's okay everyday. It is very cute. I'm sure at some point, she will forget that he exists and mom will have a new pet!

Eventful day

The morning started off early and slow. Brie lounged on the couch most of the morning and then we went for a really long walk down by the lake. It was starting to get a tad toasty outside by the time we got back home.

Brie got a diaper change and then she went down for a nap. I did laundry, dishes, and played on the internet while she napped.

After nap, we ate dinner then went out and played. She chalked on the porch while I pooper scooped the yard. I had to get out the hose to stop the stupid dog from barking. I left it on in case I needed to use it agian.

Brie came over and started playing with it. I didn't mind, it kept her occupied and I could finish scooping the yard. By the time I was done, she was soaked and shaking she was so chilled.

I brought her in, the drenched dog (she will never learn to not bark) and we got ready for bed. She slept late (7pm), so I figured she wouldn't be ready for bed. I put her down at 9 and she was still pretty chatty. By 9:30 she was out!

Not sure what we'll do tomorrow. My parents come back, so I know I need to make sure the laundry is finished, the dishes are done, and the house is picked up. Other than that, I have no idea. It is supposed to be really hot!

Batchin' it!

This weekend Brie and I are batchin' it. The parentals are gone and it is just us. I wish the parentals had taken the mutts with them. *sigh* The barking trash eating monsters!

Things are very quiet around here. We may head over to the Luis Palau festival this afternoon. It depends on how Brie feels (allergies) and if we have an early nap or not. The festival has Veggie Tales characters at 1pm this afternoon. She'd really love to see that.

If we do that, then I need to scrounge up some batteries for the camera. I'd use my parents' digital, but the memory is full and I have no idea where their cord is to download photos off of there.

Today should be a beautiful day. Tomorrow, the heat sets in once again. I really do need to track down that perfect weather location.

Eggs, anyone?

Grab the cooking spray and meet me on the front sidewalk, we'll fry up some. Yes, it is hot enough to cook a full course breakfast out there! It is 98, but feels like 99 (yeah, I think they are lying about that...more like 150!).

Did I mention I don't have any air in my car. The only air I have is the kind where all the windows are down and you are driving at top speed. But even that isn't helping today.

This kind of heat is the oppressing sort. It envelopes you and makes you feel boxed in. It suffocates you and makes even the wimpiest of a/c units feel like heaven!

On the Brie front, she is with her dad this afternoon. She is NOT staying the night with him. I'm selfish, it's my birthday tomorrow and I want her with me ALL day long. (Yes, I can do the pouty face, arms crossed, and tongue out).

I'm hoping he brings her back at a decent hour. She did take a nap, but if you put her to bed late, she tends to rise early. This makes absolutely no sense to me, but that is how she operates!

On the mommy front: I got my license switched over today. I was completely amazed that it only took 30-40 minutes to complete. The line was huge and the place was packed. I guess since I didn't have to take a test it was quicker. As a bonus, I get an extra year! My NE license was set to expire in 2010, but by switching, IA gave me an extension!

Have a safe, cool weekend everyone!

Money

or lack thereof. The 1/2 way point til the next payday is always a guessing game. Will there be enough gas to coast home on by Friday? Will I even make it home Thursday night? Will I have to call in sick Friday due to no gas in the car, only compounding the money problems?

This is where I am right now. It is Tuesday and I have about 1/4 tank of gas. If I go nowhere tonight or Wednesday I am guessing I can make it to work and back home on Thursday. Friday? Yeah that is still a stretch. If I have enough to get to work, then the bank, I'll be set. I can get gas on the way home (not as cheap as if I could make it home!).

I could really use the child support I'm not getting!

On the upside, I am getting free tickets to see a ball game and a concert with Blake Shelton on July 25th. I'll be getting a babysitter and then heading out for a mommy's night! Woot! Have only had a handful of those suckers since 2004!

I hope everyone had a safe and happy 4th of july!

Things are starting to fall into place

Well, I think I've finally found a rhythm in this new life. Brianna and I are settling in and getting into the new groove. Since we share a room, she is up every morning at 5:45 unless I get up before the alarm. She then goes out on the couch and "wakes" up and then eats some cereal while I get ready for the day.

Next, its off to daycare for a fun filled day. This usually includes a dirt bath, lots of running and playing. Then we come home, have dinner, go for a walk and then off to bed. We throw some bath times in there as well, especially on the dirt bath days! LOL

Her dad usually comes to see her every other Saturday and takes her for about 5 or so hours. She goes willingly, but is always so happy to be home with mommy again. I love the little break. Of course, all I do is play catch up or just vegitate!

I'm not liking the new job. I was hired on permanately with my company, but in a different department. This is a more stressful and larger department. Work has slowed down, so I'm often left with nothing to do.

Today, I was supposed to train on the phones (oh joy!), but my co-worker went home sick while I was at lunch. This left me with her job as well as mine and no training on the phones. I have to take over on the phones July 6th! By the way, the phones is more like a switchboard operator and not just a "how may I help you" type phone. I hate the phones!

On the positive, I am now medically insured! I've been without health insurance for almost 2 yrs. I pray I won't have to use it, but if I should, I have it! My uncle works for the insurance company we use and he says this is the cream of the crop plan. I don't have to pay that much per month for it either $82/month. Not bad!

Next on my to-do list is to get my car registered and my license changed over. I am trying to find a day to get that done w/o taking time off of work. I also need to sock some extra cash away for that. I can't seem to accomplish that once I pay rent, rent on the storage shed, cell phone, and then regular bills. Oy! I will get it done though, I am determined!

Well, I think that is it for now!

Hello! I am back!

It has been a very long time since I've been on this thing. So here's what is going on in a nutshell. At the end of January I asked my husband to leave the home and I became a single mom.

Then last weekend Brie and I moved back in with my parents. In the process I had to surrender five cats. 2 are still missing in the old house somewhere. THey have food and water and a litter pan, so they'll be fine. Good luck to the new tenants!

Well, gotta run. I am off to garage sale and then to a funeral. Brie's dad came and got her for a visitation. This could be a nice thing!

Abigail Rose 1996-2007

It is with a sad and heavy heart that I let my friends and family know that Abby has went to the Rainbow Bridge. She has been a good and faithful friend. Abby, you can now play bally to your hearts content and never be in pain. Rest, my old friend.