he loves me in this hat...

as i was walking out the door this morning, curtis grabbed me & pulled me in close 4 a squeeze & a kiss...then he says

"i love u in that hat!"

he still makes me giggle ;0)

ps. anytime jaden witnesses such an event between curtis & i (hugs, smooches, or curtis' fav thing 2 do 2 me - the hiney tap), he'll say "oh brother!" ~lol~

mini me's

the girls & i made our trip 2 target 2 pick up the converter box while jaden was in martial arts training this week...our target has a starbucks inside (i don't know, do most targets have a starbucks?) & i was definitely in need of a caffeine pick-me-up, so i grabbed a latte (gingersnap, yum!) on the way out

i also got the little princesses a hot chocolate - they were on cloud 9!

u should have seen their grown-folk-swagger as we walked across the parking lot 2 the van...they thought they were something else with their "little coffees"! ;0)

over-hyped DTV conversion...

ok, so we haven't had cable for years...& i love it!

curtis? he hates it!

the kiddos? they don't really get that we could have more channels...they're content with what we have...they get excited when we go 2 nana's & they can watch spongebob and drake & josh, but they never question y we don't get those channels too

we use rabbit ears on all our televisions...& we're able 2 pull in 5 channels pretty darn clearly - ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX & WVPT/PBS...all u need, right?!

we've been seeing those DTV deadline commercials for MONTHS! curtis would always joke about how we'd b the only ones without any tv come february 17th, cause i didn't buy in2 the hype right away & rush out 2 get a converter box

i did go 2 their website & request the two $40 coupons/gift cards that each household is allowed...& i hung on 2 them - i still didn't see the need 2 rush out & get ready 4 the "big transition day"

curtis would love 4 us 2 totally forgo all this converter box nonsense & just get cable/dish! we've discussed it many times, but i really do not think it's the way we should go...we'd only end up watching way more tv overall & y add another bill 2 our already full plate in these hard economic times?! let's just say it's still an open discussion ;0)

so monday, february 16th came - midnight (the 17th) was the deadline...& i was anxious 2 see just how many channels we'd actually lose (i knew that at least NBC had decided 2 extend their transition date 2 june)

guess what...we only lost 1!

yep, ABC was the only channel that made the switch...their programming was replaced with this converter box infomercial, but all the other channels were still coming in loud & clear

tuesday, i decide 2 go ahead & get the converter boxes...sunday night on ABC is my 2nd fav tv night (1st fav is thursday night on NBC) & i figure we've got the coupons, we might as well use them

i almost suspected the stores would b out - u know with all the hype...target indeed had run out of the 2 models they'd been selling 4 months, but had a new shipment in - of a 3rd, totally different model...the electronics guy let me know that they'd found out the $40 coupon was not refundable...so if 4 some reason, the converter box i bought & took home didn't work, i wouldn't b able 2 just exchange it 4 another one - i'd b responsible 4 the full cost of a replacement

say what?! leave it 2 the gov't!

& since they hadn't sold any/many of the new models yet, he couldn't tell me if i would possibly have trouble with it...he suggested i just buy 1, take it home & try it, & if it works, come back 2 buy the other one...so i did

& guess what - it works just fine - in fact, the channels r all crystal clear...BUT i'm not quite sure what all that hype was about...we get THREE whole channels with the converter box - the ABC channel we lost, another ABC valley/local channel & a different kind of FOX channel (filled with family guy & south park - ACK!)

soooooo, after months & months of hype...waiting weeks 4 the coupons...& then finally going & buying the box...we only turn it on 2 watch ABC...then we turn it back off 2 watch the same channels we've been pulling in with rabbit ears 4 years

go figure!

weekend recap & PET scan...

i hope u all enjoyed your extra long holiday weekend!
we sure did!

after jaden & i arrived home from home from his sleep study saturday morning, daddy & i exchanged Valentine's gifts...the kiddos were so excited about this! we never do much - just some sweet personal gifts, but the kiddos think its so sweet & mushy! ;0)


i also get the kiddos something small every year...the girls LOVE perfume! so this year, i got them each their own little bottle of baby soft - do u remember that stuff? they still make it & it still smells exactly the same! don't believe me? just come by my house - the whole place reeks of the stuff now! ~lol~

after breakfast, we took a Valentine's Day trip 2 the park

& found some Valentine's Day treasure! ;0)

later that day, the kiddos realized that some friends from school live just 2 doors down! they came over 2 play 4 a bit

funny story about corinn's lunch right there...she's forever trying 2 b different...the other 2 kiddos have PB&J, a banana, yogurt, etc 4 lunch...& she wants leftover deer steak, mac & cheese & green beans from the night b4! that's my girl tho! ;0)

speaking of my girl, she & i got 2 nap 2gether on sunday....which was sooooo nice!

we had a pretty chill day on sunday too...daddy was coming down with a nasty head cold & had 2 head in2 work later...the kiddos & i played outside & watched some movies, & only left the house 2 go visit nana later that evening...she had just got home late on friday from her trip & the kiddos missed her!
(stay tuned this week 4 nana's guest blog post about her trip!)

monday, i got the kiddos off 2 school & came home 2 fix breakfast 4 my sick hubby...

we were so psyched about getting 2 spend the day 2gether without kiddos - of course he'd go & get super sick! it was still nice just hanging out & watching tv 2gether tho...we're hoping 2 get 2 do it again soon - without the germs keeping us separate! ;0)

then today i had my PET scan


i'm assuming i'll get the results next monday, when i meet with my oncologist b4 chemo...but u'll know as soon as i know! ;0)

jaden's sleep study...

friday night, jaden & i headed over afton mountain for his sleep study...daddy & the girls had plans 4 a sleepover...the popcorn was already popped & the 1st movie was already in the DVD player when we left

they were ready 4 us as soon as we arrived at UVA...we changed in2 our pj's & got settled in2 the room...jaden couldn't wait 2 jump in2 that bed with his best bud jamal! & of course he turned the tv on immediately!


jaden surprised me at how cool he was with everything that needed 2 b attached 2 him...he commented several times during the hook-up, saying "i think i must look like a dork"...but we assured him he actually looked pretty cool - like a robot!!! ;0) he definitely made jacob earn his pay that night - asking tons of questions about the whole process...he wanted 2 know all about the wires & tubes, the glue they used in his hair, whether or not they could see his dreams! ~lol~ that question surprised me, but i thought it was a very good one! jacob said they would b able to tell when jaden was dreaming, but not what he was dreaming about...he had about 5 wires glued 2 his hair, 4 on his face, 2 on his neck...he had a microphone glued 2 his neck, an oxygen monitor under his nose & 2 belts around his belly/chest 2 monitor his breathing...there were also video cameras in the ceiling, so they could watch his movement


once he was all hooked up, jaden had me take pictures & show them to him on the camera, so he could see what he looked like...then jacob went in2 the other room & had jaden do a couple of things 2 test the connections (open/close eyes, pretend 2 snore, breathe in & out, etc.)...jaden then got 2 watch tv 4 about 15 minutes or so, until i told him it was lights out time...surprisingly, it didn't take him long 2 fall asleep - he had been so excited about coming, i thought it would have taken him 4ever! but by the time we laid down, it was 10pm - past jaden's bedtime, but way 2 early for ma's!!!


jaden started snoring right away...& i just lay there, counting sheep...thinking about the million things running thru my head...trying 2 get comfortable on the most uncomfortable sleeper sofa EVER...i'm not sure what time i finally did fall asleep, but it wasn't like it mattered...almost every hour, jacob was coming in the room to reattach something that had come loose from jaden (usually, his oxygen monitor)...it made me wonder how they could get a realistic look at jaden's normal sleeping process - if he was being woke up every hour

b4 i knew it, 6am arrived & jacob woke us up...jacob unhooked jaden & we both got dressed & brushed our teeth...luckily, i had brought along a toboggan 2 sleep in - i never thought about the fact that jaden would leave with gobs of glue in his hair!


we made a quick stop at mcdonald's 4 some breakfast on the way home (something jaden could not understand - y weren't they serving burgers?! ~lol~) & then headed back over the mountain...catching the sunrise with jaden was pretty cool! ;0)


i've got a call in 4 the doc...if it turns out that jaden's sleeping is completely normal & all, i don't want 2 have 2 drive back over the mountain just 2 hear that...so she's gonna give me a call 2 discuss whether a meeting is needed or not...i'll make sure 2 update u guys once we know

valentine madness!

i had big plans 4 the kiddos' valentines this year...we were going 2 get crafty (at least us girls were - jaden LOVES to draw, but isn't big into getting "crafty")...but the week started slipping by - & i could tell, it probably wasn't going 2 happen this year

so tuesday night, we went by good ol' wally world on our way home from our nightly kiddo activities, & picked up the ever-so-popular themed/boxed valentines & candy

the kiddos were still psyched - they got 2 pick out their fav characters...corinn picked out hannah montana, gabby grabbed some bratz ones (ugh!) & jaden picked up kung fu panda & some cool hologramed dino ones (he has a HUGE after-school daycare class, on top of his 2nd grade class & resource rooms, so he needed 2 boxes)...they didn't really care that they wouldn't b giving out handmade cards

i still had plans 4 us 2 work on these each night - leading up 2 today, when they have their big parties...but as usual, our eves r jam packed & it just didn't happen

so last night, we nixed martial arts training (i was draggin' ass tired anyway) & went home 2 get em all busted out!


all 114 of them!

seriously! would i lie 2 you?!

including all classmates, daycare friends & teachers - the grand total was a whopping 114 valentines!

the girls made it thru theirs just fine...they only had 15-20 to do (each), & even tho they started complaining about the "hard work" as they neared the end of their lists, they managed 2 make it thru

jaden, on the other hand, made it about 1/2 way thru his 2nd grade class list & the frustration set in...i'd catch him staring at the same name 4 a few minutes & when i'd ask him what the hold up was, i'd get "i'm concentrating!" (his go 2 come-back when he's really just daydreaming or not wanting 2 move along with his work)...we battled some tears & made it thru a few more, b4 i finally took over...i began writing out all the friend's names & just had him sign his name on the rest...no concentration needed - just write "jaden" over & over! problem solved

then of course, i wasn't even going 2 begin trying 2 have all 3 help me tape the candy 2 the cards...so mama spent her thursday night ER watching time, doing that...& i swear, i didn't eat not even 1 piece of candy! ;0)

is it just me, or is this not excessive? what ever happened 2 working on valentines at school?! in elementary school, i remember decorating cute shoebox containers 2 collect our cards in...then we'd sit 2gether as a class throughout the week, & cut/paste/color/address...stick em in the boxes, then have our party on the big day


i know, i know - most ppl don't have 3 kiddos all around the same age, that need 2 bring in quite so many cards...& school is different now-a-days...there's so much curriculum 2 get 2, i'm sure the teachers would have a terrible time fitting in more crafts

& it is only once a year...but that's kinda my issue too...i want my kiddos 2 love & appreciate all that they have every day - their family & friends, their classmates & helpers at school...their health & happiness...their Heavenly Father, that showers down His blessings on us each & every day!

curtis & i have never been big in2 celebrating valentine's day...we both appreciate the love & admiration that we try 2 give each other on a regular basis (plus, who can find a sitter on VD anyway?!)...having my husband by my side, there 2 always lend a helping hand & b my rock - that speaks volumes, compared 2 some roses or chocolates on that one day a year!


regardless of how big or small u & ur loved ones celebrate 2moro - i hope u all have a FABULOUS valentine's day! take the time 2 show those special ppl in ur life that u love them...don't just say it with a card - show it!

-----

on a totally separate note, 2nite is jaden's sleep study...& boy, is he ever excited?! he woke up this morning saying "i'm so proud it's friday ma!" ;0)

he pestered me about letting him stay home from school 1st...then asked if i would pick him up from school, instead of him riding the bus 2 after-school daycare...luckily, i had that special VD party 2 fall back on (u know, his 2nd or 3rd one of the day?!) - he wouldn't want 2 miss that! but i reassured him that as soon as ma got home from work, we'd gather up our pj's & snacks & head over the mountain (or volcano, as jaden calls it - ever since our one trip in thick fog - u know, volcano smoke?!)

we'll check in2 the UVA sleep center around 8pm 2nite, then check out around 6am in the morning...i'm hoping it goes smoothly

jaden is super excited about:
1- taking a special trip with ma, that doesn't include the girls
2- getting 2 watch tv in bed until lights out time (he calls the tv on the arm that comes from the wall "auto pilot")
3- getting 2 sleep in a "huge" hospital bed that adjusts

ma is not excited about:
1- dealing with any issues jaden may have with the whole hook-up...he's prob going 2 b fine with the wires taped 2 his head, but i suspect he'll have trouble dealing with the oxygen monitors around his nose/mouth
2- sleeping on a sofa bed - nuff said!
3- driving 4 over an hour, over a mountain, in the dark, on friday the 13th
4- not waking up beside my hubby on valentine's day!

wish us luck!

-----

& on another separate note, i'm off work on monday - whoo hoo! & the best part? the kiddos have school!!! ~lol~ yep, i'll get 2 spend the 1st 1/2 of the day with my hubby, b4 he heads in2 work...kiddo free!

now, that's what i call a good VD gift! ;0)

i'll b back with my usual weekend recap post on monday or tuesday - have a great weekend friends!!!

my 1st swap...

last month, crystal hosted "a little something" swap...i had never participated in a bloggy swap b4, & this one sounded totally fun & doable - so i joined in! ;0)

my assigned partner ended up being rather local...she lives only about an hour & a 1/2 north of me (near where we used 2 live/work, actually)...& she's got 3 adorable lil punks too!

our swap was 2 include a pair (or 2) of cozy/fun socks, a favorite hot drink & a sweet treat (i sent along cupcakes in a jar with mine - & i hear karen had 2 fight her fam 4 just 1 of them! ~teehee~)

the package i received from her was PERFECT!


super fun socks - including some cozy thigh highs (love em!), karen's fav tea & some to-die-for ghirardelli chocolates (caramel filled - how did she know choc/caramel is my fav combo?!)...she also included some suprise goodies - some soaps & a soap dish from her shop! yummy!

thx so much karen - my 1st swap ROCKED!!


ps. i have another thank u post coming up soon...i want 2 include everyone, but remembering 2 take pics &/or write things down (so no one is left out) as i receive them is more challenging than i thought...i'm so grateful 2 each & every one of u & i have plans 2 thank u each individually within the next coming weeks (or maybe months - pls b patient with me ~wink~)

chemo #4 & some other random stuff

chemo #4 (of 8) was yesterday - i've made it past the 1/2 way point!!! i have a PET scan scheduled for the 17th...2 see how the cancer is responding to the chemo & 2 start coming up with a plan 4 my radiation that will follow

the therapy session went as usual...i even got another neck & shoulder massage! then i felt pretty good most of the evening - just tired...my girls' amazing daycare provider offered 2 keep them late - she feed em dinner & let em hang out with her daughter for a few extra hours, so that i could take it easy...curtis picked up jaden from daycare b4 heading in2 work...so he & i just hung out - he played video games & i chilled on the sofa, chatting with him about his progress in the game...that boy is a real gamer - he's zooms thru new levels like it's nothing! not just his manuvering throughout the game, but the strategic planning he puts in2 figuring out how to master the levels, is quite impressive! of course, i made him read a book afterwards! ;0)

one new, & oh so fun, side effect that i'm experiencing is mouth sores...it's actually a lot like canker sores, all around the front end of my tongue...u'd think with the vomiting, the sores, & the metallic taste in my mouth that makes even water taste nasty 4 for the week following treatment - i'd b miss skinny minny by now! but i guess i'm making up 4 it on my "off" weeks...things really do taste good that weekend b4 chemo! ;0) & i'm thankful that the sores r minor compared 2 what others experience sometimes (sores all over inside of mouth & even down throat)...mine's totally tolerable

-----

i wanted 2 touch on the incident that happened with gabby at school last week (since several of u have asked me how we handled it)...well, she didn't bring it up - i even probed - asking her lots of questions about her day (more than usual)...but she never once brought it up! i went back & forth all weekend - wondering if we should...but we decided not to

i was happy with how the school handled it...especially the immediate email 2 let me know! i was just totally shocked that 1 of my kiddos would b exposed 2 that word already...i'm not naive enuff 2 think it would b a word they'd never hear, but dang - kindergarten?!

we're hoping & praying that this will b the last time she'll hear that word 4 a looooong time - & we're not sure that 6 is really a good age 2 delve in2 the topic...i know the world is a cruel & harsh place sometimes, but we'd like 2 let our kiddos keep their innocense as long as possbile...i know that if we explained to gabby that the word is full of hatred, directed at a whole race of people - one that she belongs to - that she will no longer look at the world the same way...do we really want her 2 go out from this day forward, knowing that there r people out there that may dislike her just because of her skin color? we're gonna let her b a kid 4 just a lil while longer ;0)

-----

corinn decided on saturday that she wanted 2 mail nana a letter...she wrote this up, totally on her own...it says "i ♥ mom, jaden, dad, me, gabby, nana"...nana has one 2 many NA's & i'm not sure y she left off grandpa, but i was seriously impressed! especially with the "me" vs her name!

i was all out of envelopes & told her i'd pick some up the next time i was out...she says "that's ok, i'll just make one!"...& she did...she came back a little while later & had folded 2 sheets of paper 2gether 2 form a pretty impressive envelope...we taped it all 2gether, addressed it, stamped it & stuck it in the box - with the flag up (her fav part)

-----

P-dub's post came right on time 4 me...i'm so anxious 2 start planting flowers & maybe even a small garden 4 us this year! i'm excited 2 follow along with her & learn some tricks...i have such a black thumb, but i love the earth & i love seeing something through from beginning 2 end like that - 2 b able to reap the rewards of all ur hard work! & even feed ur fam in the process! sweetness!

-----

a fellow church member came up 2 me after the sermon on sunday, & asked if i'd b interested in writing a "mom's corner" 4 the church newsletter! she said she reads my blog & enjoys my writing ~lol~ sorry, not sure y i laugh at that - i guess it's the lack of structure in my writing...incomplete thoughts, crazy spelling/punctuation/gramatical errors, runon sentences galore! & this is going 2 b read by the church members?! oh, the pressure!

she told me 2 think about it...& i'm waiting 2 hear back on the details - how often, what kind of topics, etc...we'll see - it could b a lot of fun! ;0)

-----

& lastly, i wanted 2 share this video...Pastor Ryan posted it on his blog & i'm totally digging it! so i had 2 share it with u! i'm sure it took FOREVER 2 make this - but how stinkin' cool...really?!

Oren Lavie - Her Morning Elegance
by IgnitionVM

weekend recap...

saturday, we had a late breakfast (daddy made his infamous bacon, egg & cheese sandwiches - mmmm)...corinn was itching 2 get in the kitchen & help, so i distracted her with brownies ;0) we usually add semi-sweet chocolate chips 2 our brownies (a regular dessert in our home, since they're daddy's fav), but we were all out...so we tried white chocolate chips instead - not bad

then, went 2 town 2 meet up with my aunt & cousin (almost 14 yr old jordan, who my girls adore!)...we had lunch & did a little shopping (btw - big kiddos clothes sale @ old navy thru 2/19)

then, daddy had 2 head in2 work - mama & kiddos headed home 2 enjoy the rest of the day...it got up to 66 degrees on saturday (& almost as high on sunday 2!)...the girls took advantage of the sunshine & had a little water play...i think they'd have water play every day if i'd let em...i was just thankful that they got 2 have it outside this time!


jaden got a new bionicle (he's up to 3, has named the all, & plays with them ALL THE TIME!)...it first had 2 b assembled, b4 he'd go outside...getting his new friend all put 2gether was his only objective...he let us know several times at old navy, that "i'm ready 2 go home now." ;0)

his mouth doesn't even open - but if u could hear the sounds coming from this boy when he plays with these - it's kind of amazing

sunday, church


then, the skate park in the gorgeous sunshine!

there goes daddy again - taking pics!!! love it! ;0)

this one was actually taken with daddy's cell!

then daddy had 2 go back 2 work again...but we still had a great weekend!

gabby & corinn want 2 leave u with their silly faces on sunday...i ♥ these nuts!!!

happy post...

i couldn't have my last post b4 the weekend, being one about hatred & disgust

so i wanted 2 jump on here & publish a happy post!!!
:0)

it's 10am & 33 degrees outside...it's supposed 2 reach 50 by noon, & we have a high of 61 predicted 4 the day!!! it's gonna b a gorgeous day!!!

i hope u all have a FABULOUS weekend & get 2 enjoy the sunshine with the ones u love!
♥ ♥ ♥

un-freaking-believeable!!!

i just got an email from my daughter's KINDERGARTEN teacher...i'm so angry at ignorant people & the shameful things they teach their innocent children!!!!!!!!!!

the email...

"I just wanted to let you know of an incident that occurred at lunch today just in case Gabby comes home mentioning it or asking any questions about what happened. One student called another student a "nigger." That student was dealt with and then apparently (since I was not there) Gabby asked another teacher what the word meant and why it was bad. The teacher just ended it by saying, it is a bad word and we don't say it."

grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

headed to the Dominican Republic...

nope, not me - but my mom is!

she serves as the area coordinator of the operation christmas child leadership team here in the shenandoah valley...she became involved in the project in '93 & as the area coordinator, she oversees the collection & promotional efforts of volunteers in our area

operation christmas child is a project of samaritan's purse that encourages people 2 pack shoe boxes with small toys, school supplies, hygiene items & a personal note...the gifts r collected in november, then hand-delivered 2 children in more than 100 countries suffering from war, disaster, poverty, terrorism & disease...since '93, more than 68 million boxes have been sent 2 children worldwide! the mission of operation christmas child is 2 demonstrate God's love in a tangible way 2 needy children around the world & 2 share the Good News of Jesus Christ

every year, my mom travels 2 north carolina as a volunteer - 2 help out at the warehouse where all the boxes end up, b4 shipping out 2 other countries...finally, she gets 2 go & help hand out these boxes! she's been talking about it for months now, & the time is finally here! she leaves for the dominican republic on monday & will return next friday...here's a quote from ma that was put out in a recent press release (she'll b taking phone interviews while she's there)...

"After working with Operation Christmas Child the past 16 years, I am thrilled to be able to witness this final stage of the shoe box journey," said Wilkins. "Personally seeing the children open their boxes on this trip will continue to motivate my desire to promote the project in my community."

she's already agreed 2 b a guest blogger 4 me once she's back...i can't wait 2 post her pics & a full report!!! please say a prayer 4 my mom as she travels & gets 2 b a part of this fabulous journey!

pic from last year, during box collection at the local chick-fil-a