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Sorry. Just having a rough day. My pity party will be over soon~ hopefully.

Snow Day Fun and 25 More Random Things

We were off from school/work today because of the ice. We stayed home all day. We started the day with pancakes and sausage for breakfast. Drew made some regular pancakes, blueberry pancakes and some with bananas and pecans. They were YUMMY!

Then I got out the Play-Dough. We played for about and hour and a half. We had to stop when the kids started messing with my creations! I'm a little possessive about my play-dough.

We played in Addison's room for a while and had lunch. Addison went down for her nap and we went back to bed. The boys stayed in the living room and watched Bonanza for a couple of hours.

Drew made pork chops, roasted potatoes, black-eyed peas and sauted spinich for dinner. Again, he made a yummy meal.

We had a great day. I didn't even go to the gym. I decided to take the entire day off. Oh, yeah, we stayed on the computer a lot, too.

When I was on FaceBook I completed my list of 25 Random Things About Me. I realized that there are many more random things about me, so I am going to do 25 More Random Things About Me here:

1. I have to take a bath every day as soon as I come home from work. I make the kids take one too. I have done this since I started teaching PE and have given the kids one or made them take one since they were babies.

2. I love pajamas and have two drawers full. Everytime I go shopping I look for more, although I don't allow myself to buy them any more.

3. I also love panties! I have almost 100 pairs. I am constantly searching for the perfect fit. I have some that I really like, but they aren't quite perfect.

4. I have to work out most days of the week. I have been doing this for years. I have only taken off to have my kids and the week after having them. Although I don't look like I work out all the time, I know my insides are showing the effects!

5. I have to clean every week. Sometimes I only use Clorox wipes to clean the counters and floors, but I HAVE to vacuum, dust, clean the toilets and sweep the floors EVERY week~ sometimes more than once a week.

6. I spend way too much time on the computer. Since I started blogging last summer I am on it way too much. Now FaceBook has added to my addiction.

7. I love to read other people's blogs. Even if I don't know them, I love to read them. More often than not I end up crying while reading!

8. I don't like helping Bryson with homework. He is 8 and knows "everything." Enough said!

9. I don't like wearing dresses. I never have and just don't feel comfortable in them. Skirts are even worse.

10. I loved being pregnant! I know Drew remembers it differently, but I loved it each time.

11. I drive really fast. I don't mean to, it just happens.

12. I love to watch cooking shows. I hate to cook but love to watch other people cook.

13. I often dream that I am playing basketball.

14. I am terrified of the stomach virus. (I shouldn't even be typing about it.)

15. I have to shave my legs every other day. I cannot go longer than that or they start to itch and I can't sleep.

16. I haven't been on a plane in 11 1/2 years since we went to Cancun on our honeymoon.

17. I like to ride roller coasters.

18. I brush my teeth several times a day.

19. I chew gum almost all day every day.

20. I love to be out in the sun. I think I am addicted to it. I love to feel my skin burning from the sun. This is why I have so many freckles!

21. I cannot stay up late or sleep late. I have tried and just can't do it. i am usually asleep by 9:00 and up by 4:30 or 5:00.

22. I like to play Monopoly on my iPod and I win almost every time.

23. I don't really listen to much music. I listen to Sports Radio in the car. Drew got me started on this and I really enjoy listening to guys talk about sports and stuff~ mostly just stuff.

24. I love to have my feet rubbed.

25. I love it when my kids brush my hair. It only lasts for a few minutes, but I love it.

So there you have it~ 25 more random things about me. I am a pretty random person, so one list wasn't enough!

It's Cold Outside!

Last night we gathered blankets and pillows and settled in for movie night. We watched Kung Foo Panda and ate popcorn and candy. Can you have more fun than that?

Since it has been cold, I have been blow drying Addison's hair most nights. She loves to have it dried and sits very still while I do it. I use a big round brush and put a little hair spray on at the end. When I am finished she will say, "Ditty (pretty)," and kiss herself in the mirror. Am I creating a monster? This is one of the only times I know I have a little girl. Usually she is holding a gun or light saber and chasing her brothers around the house! I long for a little girl who will let me dress her up and fix her hair. She is pretty good about the hair. When I try to dress her up she gets so dirty! I will keep trying, though. Maybe I can train her!

Here's a close up of Addie. The girl has good hair! She hasn't had a hair cut, yet. I am trying to wait until I can tell what her hair is going to do so I will know how to get it cut.

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Drew had a game tonight, so I had to cook dinner. Have I told you that I HATE to cook? I thought so. Anyway, Jackson asked if he could have "that really good stuff that you made that one time with ham in it." After several questions I finally remembered what he was referring to~ scrambled eggs with ham and cheese!!!!! Does this tell you how much I hate to cook? My son thinks that the best meal I can make is scrambled eggs! I couldn't disappoint, so guess what we had for dinner?! I toasted some bagels and cut up some fresh strawberries and oranges just to round out the meal! And you know what? They ate every bite~ even Addie! We will save the "real meals" for when Drew is cooking!

So, tonight was a good night. Everyone was fed and bathed and homework was finished by 6:00. Maybe I can get this mom thing down after all.

Two Little Monkeys Jumping On the Bed

I needed something lighter to post so I videoed Jackson and Addison jumping on the bed the other night. I know I will one day regret letting them do this, but for now it's fun! Oh, and you must pay attention to her wonderful nose trick. I am so proud! ;0)

January 22, 1992

Two posts in one day! Drew is home tonight and not tomorrow night, so I am going to take advantage of the time and post tonight what I was going to post tomorrow. Make sense?

I guess you can tell by now why this date is so significant in my life. Seventeen years ago I walked into my bedroom and found my sister dead on my bed. I could tell as soon as I turned on the light that she was gone. This day is etched into my memory.

I was in my second year in college at Texas Wesleyan. I went to school in the mornings and worked at Montgomery Ward in the evenings. I was home in between school and work. My sister was home sick. She looked horrible. She was sitting in the recliner watching t.v. I was only home for a short time. We must have spoken to each other~ I don't remember. The last thing I remember saying to her, on my way out the door, was, "You're not that sick. Stop moping around." Then I left for work.

We were in the process of taking inventory at work. If you have ever worked retail at inventory time you know what a big deal it is. I was not scheduled to work the floor that evening, I was only working inventory. After a couple of hours of working I had the urge to go home. I didn't know why, I just wanted to leave. I didn't. I worked my scheduled time which was until about 6:00.

When I got home, about 6:30, all the lights were out in the house. A friend of mine (We will just call him a friend at this time. That is a post for another day. If you know who I am talking about, you know what I mean!) lived next door. He met me at the driveway and said that my dog was out earlier and our front door was open. He put Murphey inside and walked to the back of the house. He said that Jamie was asleep on my bed and all the lights were out. He left Murphey inside and went back out through the front door. I thought that was strange. He walked in with me and I began turning on the lights. When I turned on my bedroom light I saw her laying on the bed. I immediately knew from her coloring that things weren't good.

I picked up the phone and dialed 911. They started asking me all sorts of questions. They asked me if she was breathing. I told them that I couldn't touch her, but I didn't think so. I don't know how long I was on the phone. The next thing I remember are the paramedics knocking on the door. They came in and went back to my room. They had the door shut so I couldn't see what was going on. After a while, I don't know how long, they came out and said she was dead. They asked where my mom was. I had already tried to call her at work and she had already left. This was before everyone had cell phones so we just had to wait until she got home.

I remember that I called my dad, who lived in Waco at the time. As soon as he got on the phone I said, "Jamie is dead." That is all I could say. I think someone took the phone away from me and talked to him. I don't remember what all happened after that. I remember being questioned by the police. I remember walking around the house noticing that she had thrown up several places on the floor. There was just a flurry of activity. I remember my mom driving up and being met at the door by some police men. I remember her hugging me and telling me she loved me. Everything after that is a big blur. We had her funeral three days later and she was buried in Oklahoma in the country cemetery down the road from my grandparent's house.

I don't know how we survived those first few days. I guess you just go through the motions and put one foot in front of the other. We didn't talk about her much afterwards. The pain was just too deep. To lose someone so young with so much life to live just seems so wrong.

An autopsy was performed and her death was ruled pneumonia. This still baffles me to this day. How does a seemingly healthy 21 year old die of pneumonia? She had only been sick for a day. It doesn't make sense to me and probably never will.

Being a mom, I don't know how my mom survived afterwards. I know she had the support of friends at work. She had her family. She was so much stronger than I ever knew.

Just typing this is freeing. I want people to know that Jamie was my sister and that she had a life. I don't want to forget her. Although we don't talk about her much, I think of her often.

I had reservations about posting this. I don't want to seem like "Debbie Downer, " but I believe everyone has a story. I believe everyone has events in their life that shape who they are. This is part of my story. This is one of the events in my life that helps me appreciate my kids and my family. This helps me remember not to take one single day for granted. I will remember this date, January 22, 1992, for the rest of my life.

Three Course Meal

You all know that I think my husband is the greatest of all time. If you don't want to hear about what put him over the top today, don't read this post! :0)

Drew decided last week that he was going to take off today just to have a day off. We never do this and I was going to take off with him. Plans changed when Addison got sick last week and I ended up taking off 2 1/2 days with her. I didn't want to take off again. Anyway, he stayed home today to relax. He asked if he could bring me lunch. Of course, I said yes. Since payday isn't until Friday (It better get here soon!) I knew he would just bring me lunch from home.

He came into the gym about 15 minutes before my class ended, so he just sat down and waited. He didn't bring any food in the gym with him. I asked if he brought lunch and he said, "It's out there," and pointed to the doors. Okay. I didn't know why he didn't bring it in- but whatever.

When my class was finished I opened the gym doors and out in the hallway was a picnic basket. Our picnic basket. I was so suprised I didn't even know where to go to eat. Do we eat in the gym? Do we go to the lounge with everyone else? I thought we might want to be alone, so we decided to go to my office. I went to the cafeteria to get us some tea to drink. He took my keys and went to my office.

When he opened the picnic basket he has real glasses, (We didn't have to use the plastic ones from the cafeteria.) cloth napkins, silver wear and plates. (The plates were the plastic ones that came with the picnic basket.) He fixed our salads. He poured salad dressing on the salad and shook it up in the plastic container it was in and he put it on the plate. He handed me my bread that was kept warm in aluminum foil. When I was almost finished with my salad he served me my entree. He made chicken breast and put it over some pasta. When that was gone he brought out some muffins for dessert. Nothing fancy, but it was good and still warm.

How many men would think to do that? How many men would take time out of their relaxing day off to bring lunch to their wife? How many men would not be embarrassed to bring lunch in a picnic basket? I don't know of many. He was so cute walking around carrying that picnic basket. He wasn't embarrassed at all. I don't care that it wasn't a gourmet meal. He put thought and effort into making that for me.

Drew Simmons, you never cease to amaze me. Thank you for taking the time to show me how much you love me. I know it was just lunch, but it was special to me. You are the best husband to me. I love you with all my heart!

Update on Granddad

Well, my granddad went home yesterday. Nothing was done or planned for him. I asked him what the doctor said, and he said the doctor just told him to go back to the E.R. if he started having problems again. I honestly don't think they know what to do for him. He has already had everything done to him that they can possibly do. It is amazing that he is still here. I always knew where my stubborn side came from! I just wish there was some way to keep him comfortable on his bad days. I can't imagine feeling bad and hurting for days at a time.

On his good days he still gets out and washes the car by hand, mows the grass and piddles around the house. (No, I don't mean THAT kind of piddling!) I know it is tough on him, but I'm glad he can still do things that make him happy. He and my grandmother also enjoy going to singings. Or "sangin's" as they are called up there! They are very involved with their church~ he leads the singing and she plays the piano. They have friends they see and talk to regularly. And of course they have me! (Just kidding about that one!)

Please just pray that my granddad can find some comfort and for the doctors to know how to treat him.

On the Addison front: She seems to be getting better each day. Her eyes were really red and draining last night, but they are clearer this morning. We do have a call in to the doctor to see if we can get her some eye drops. Her cough is becoming wet and productive. (Just what you wanted to hear before breakfast, I'm sure.) She is running around the house with a light saber and is asking me if she can go outside. This makes me know that she is feeling better. Thanks for all your warm thoughts and prayers for her these past few days.

We will be enjoying our day off today and will get outside and enjoy this great weather of ours. Is it just me or does anyone else think the inauguration day should be a national holiday?

Cabin Fever

This is a picture of Addison yesterday. If you click on the picture you can see what her eyes look like. She is feeling better but not 100%, yet. We needed to get out of the house today, so I took her on a walk to the park while the boys were at church. She played on the playground a little bit and threw some rocks then she was ready to get in her "bike." (aka stroller~ Anything with wheels is a "bike" to her.) She still doesn't have her energy back. Before we went on our walk she sat in my lap for about an hour. If you know Addie, you know that she NEVER sits still for that long. Her voice is hoarse today and her nose is running like crazy. Her eyes are still red but seem better than yesterday. Thankfully, we are off tomorrow so she will have one more day to recover.

This evening we are having some friends over the watch the NFC Championship game. It will be a good change of pace from the last several days.

My granddad went to the hospital yesterday morning. His heart rate is dropping into the 30's and his pacemaker doesn't seem to be kicking in when it does. (Pacemakers are common place in my family, unfortunately.) He is in the hospital in Mena, Arkansas. If he needs to have something done he will come to his doctor in Plano. My granddad keeps defying the odds. He has had 10 stints put in his arteries, triple by-pass, and several heart attacks. He has one kidney (The other one was lost to kidney cancer several years ago.) and is diabetic. He seems to have more bad days than good days. I am selfish and not ready to lose him. Please pray for my granddad and for my grandmother. They have been together most of their lives and I don't think she would know what to do without him.

I've Gone CRAZY!!!

Crazy for scarves! These are the scarves I have made since Wednesday. Yes, I know, that was only TWO days ago and there are FIVE scarves pictured. I had to do something with myself while I was home from work with a sick baby. I started making scarves about a month ago. I have made about 20 so far. I gave them as Christmas gifts this year. But now, I just don't want to stop making them! I have so much fun choosing yarn and making them. I can make one in about two to three hours depending on the length and width of the scarf. Now I have to decide what to do with all of them. I made one for myself, but I prefer to give them away. I may just give mine away!

Here is Addison wearing her scarf. I made her a "tube" scarf and attached little pom poms to the ends. This one only took about an hour to make. I don't know if she will ever wear it, but it sure looks cute on her.

This is Addison before church last Sunday. This dress is a hand-me-down from my neices. She looked so cute wearing it~ she KNEW she looked cute, too!

Here is a close up. I was trying to get a picture of her earrings. Her Gram gave her a pair of silver heart earrings from James Avery for Christmas. She looks like such a big girl!

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Like I mentioned earlier, Addison has been sick for a few days. Her babysitter, Miss Linda, called Wednesday morning and said that Addie had a 103 degree temperature. She had been a little fussy that morning and the night before, but we just never know with her if she is feeling bad or just being fussy. She didn't sleep well that night and kept having a fever. I stayed home with her on Thursday. Thursday afternoon she had a 102 degree temp. Drew called the doctor and he said she should come in before the weekend. She didn't sleep well that night, either. This morning she woke up with "goopy" eyes, congestion and a cough. The doctor said it was adenovirus. (I knew he would say a virus and hated to spend $25 to go since there is nothing they can do for a virus, but I took her anyway.) He said it starts in the head, goes to the throat and into the chest. It should last between 10 and 14 days. We are just alternating Motrin and Tylenol for any pain she has. Tonight her eyes looked worse, red and "goopier." I know she feels miserable, but we can't do anything except let it run it's course. I just hope the boys don't get it. So, that is what I have been dealing with for a few days. That and making scarves!

Super Sweet!

My husband is awesome! I know I have bragged on him before, but I feel the need to do it again. Drew helps me out so much every day. On the weekends and when he is home at night he says that I am "off duty." He takes over with the kids, laundry, cooking, cleaning, you name it. He allows me to go to bed early each night so I can get up early in the mornings to spend some time at the gym. He makes breakfast and lunch daily. Yesterday I left work not feeling too well. I called him to tell him I was on my way home. He immediately fell into "fix it" mode. He talked to the other basketball coach and arranged to leave early and pick up the two little ones so he could come home and take care of us. Tonight he came all the way home to pick up Bryson for basketball practice. I was planning on taking him, but he didn't want me to have to get out. He doesn't complain or ask for praise. He does all of this because he loves me. It is sometimes hard for me to accept his care and love for just what it is. You'd think after 11 1/2 years of marriage that I would stop wondering what is motive is for doing all of this for me. I always wonder if he will resent me one day for all he does for me. Believe it or not, I am not always very loveable and yet he continues to love me daily. I am not always easy to live with and he never disrespects me or loses his patience with me. If he does lose his patience, he doesn't show it. This is amazing to me. I show my feelings easily (too easily!). I have snapped at him, criticized him and have been a little less than gentle with him. He has never faltered. He is not perfect, but he is perfect for me. I know I don't deserve his wonderful treatment, but I will take it! Drew, thank you for your unconditional love. You have shown me what that means. You are an excellent example of a man for our children. I pray that Addison will find someone who treats her as well as you treat me. I pray that our boys will grow up to show their wives the respect and love you show me. I love you with all my heart and don't show it nearly enough. You are everything I never knew a husband could be. I love you!

Not Much Going On! (This is a good thing!)

My last post (actually 3 posts) took me so long to put together (about 4 1/2 hours) that I haven't felt like blogging much this week. Nothing really exciting has happened. I am okay with this. Sometimes it feels like there is too much going on and I just want some quiet. This is what I have this week, so I will enjoy it!

Jackson did get stung by a bee on his toe today. He keeps calling it his "broken bumblebee toe."

Addison continues to amaze me every day. She can do so much and can say everything we do. Her favorite thing to do right now is color. We can't even say the word "color" without her yelling "yahoo" and jumping up and down. She will color for 30-45 minutes at a time. She wants us to "dook" (look) at every mark she makes and tell her how "ditty" (pretty) it is. So we do plenty of that! The boys will sit and color with her also and tell her what a good job she is doing. I just love to see them interacting and getting along. It helps make up for the times they are screaming, crying and tattling on each other. (Almost!)

Right now Addie is jumping on the bed and saying, "Dook, Mommy! Dook, Mommy!" over and over and over... She thinks she is the funniest thing around!

I will go for now before my little monkey falls of the bed!

Mom~ Through the Years!

Mom 3rd grade

Mom 4th grade

Mom 6th grade

Mom 8th grade

Mom 10th grade

Mom as a teenager. There was no date on the picture so I am not exactly sure how old she was here.

Mom 17 years

Mom and Dad in 1967. They were about 17 years old here. They weren't married yet.

Mom and Bryson in 2002. He was the light of her life.

Mom in 2002. She was on a cruise with some of her close friends.

2003

Jamie~ Through the Years!

Jamie Elizabeth Mckay born September 10, 1970

1 year old

Jana 5 months, Jamie 18 months

Jana 1 year, Jamie 2 years

Jamie 2 years

Jamie 3 years old

Jamie 4 years old

Jamie Kindergarten

Jamie 6 years old

Jamie 7 years old

Jamie 3rd grade

Jamie 5th grade

Jamie 6th grade

Jamie 15 years old

Jamie 18 years old

Jamie 21 years old. This is the last picture we have of her. It was taken about 3 weeks before she died.

This is Jamie and her fiancee, Tracy. They were planning to get married in August of 1992. She died in January of 1992.

Jana~ Through the Years!

Jana Renee Mckay born October 18, 1971.

1 year old

3 years old

4 years old

4 1/2 years old

5 years old

Kindergarten I think I look like Nicholas from Eight is Enough in this picture!

2nd grade What was going on with this hair?!

3rd grade Bad hair-bad teeth!

9 years old

4th grade

6th grade

9th grade

10th grade

16 years old

Homecoming 1989 I worked long and hard on that hair. Remember Stiff Stuff? I used it A LOT!

Dale Hansen and myself in 1989. I was a one of Dale Hansen's Scholar Athletes of the Week my senior year in high school. Check out that hair! I thought I was lookin' good!

20 years old

Me and Drew 2002. I'm sure I was happier than I appear!

Me and Mom 2003

I LOVE looking at pictures~ mine or anybody else's. I enjoy looking back at the hair and clothes and remembering what it was like "back then." I don't scrapbook, but I thought I would put together some pictures of me, my sister and my mom~ through the years. I have been wanting to do this for a while and just never took the time to do it. I don't know if will be of any interest to anyone (other than my grandmother!), but I am going to do it any way! I have put the ages under each picture. I am going to group them together in separate posts. I hope you enjoy the pictures as much as I have!