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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?