I'm Still Here

Hello! I hope everyone is doing well. I have missed you guys ..... I still having computer issues. But should be fixed come Thursday.
BIG NEWS......
DRUM ROLL PLEASE....................

We got a house..... No longer homeless!

Well OK for 3 weeks we will be.
We need to be out of our house the October 31 and we get into our new house Nov 21. So I am going to live with my parents & Michael with his mom on the couch... I know your thinking HUH?
Well his uncle.... His
moms brother lives with her and well is Little bit of a stick in the mud... He does not like dogs or kids. And I well that's not a healthy environment for Jacob to be in. And my parents have a cat & Michael is SEVERELY allergic.....So He is going to work his norm 9-9:00. Come to the house tuck Jacob in. See me... the go home to bed.And weekends we will spend together. Its 3weeks...... We have to deal. there are no monthly rentals in our area. Especially w/ winter coming. It will be hard but in the end its worth it!

So other than that work & looking at house has been my life. Now its packing and playing with Jacob.

But I better go! I will post later.



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System Problems & internet/ TV Outage

Well...... my computer is experiencing some technical difficulties... I have no idea what possible virus or something. So blogging will be limited till fixed. Then on top of that PA got hit by the remnants or Hurricane Ike. Last night we got slammed with 79mph winds. Thank god we have electric. But cable TV Internet is not working.
I may be going to the office tomorrow. It literately looked like a tornado went through. I have pictures BUT can not down load them her... at my sister in laws unloading my parent frozen goods since they may be out of electric for a few days... Yes a FEW DAYS!!!

Anyway I got to go....
Oh Jacob got allergy testing he is not allergic to anything. They said he has a idiopathic allergy large term for unknown allergy....
OK enough must go... my nieces & nephew all 3 of them are terrorizing me.... so if anything is spelled wrong they are covering the screen , pulling the keyboard.
2 seconds form Aunt Ann finding a corner & sitting them all in it...Yeah good luck ones hard enough to get there....Ha ha ha

Prayer Greedy.....

Did you ever have a moment in life where all you feel like you do at night is pray to god for something. Well that's me! I lay at night thinking & praying that god will help our niece to fight her cancer. Then I pray for our family (Michael, Jacob, Simon, & I) to find a new house. Then it was the fundraiser .... Please let us make some money for my niece & her family. I feel like all I do is constantly pray or ask god for something. I feel Prayer greedy. Does anyone else ever feel this way? Or am I just insane!

My Emotional Rollercoaster

Searching for our next place to call home has been a up & DOWN roller coaster. We found this house pretty quickly after a long search for sale by owner..... We placed a bid they agreed. We were waiting forms but then another person bid. We counter offered again they said on that Wednesday to give them till Monday ( we were on vacation & could not sign papers). Anyway Monday comes and a voice mail they decided not to sell at all. So I went through the tears & all that on vacation. Well today after our buyers 5 hours inspection of our house and the emotions of waiting to hear what they had to say... we get a call they are selling it and are willing to take our bid still. I was so excited.... More than I can express.... they said papers would be here tonight. I waited & waited nothing. Then to get an email someone who heard from the grape vine they were selling it again ( no sign up. or in paper nothing) ...happened to call & will pay cash... what a load of bullS***. I really hate people like this I know we must all look out for our families. But there is a thing called respect...next time call everyone let them know & do not except offer till final person called.. So here i sit in tears... Yes I know its just a house but.... its where I imagined raising my son for the last 5 hours... and last week for DAYS!!!
Michael called them which he never does stuff like that & thank him for turning our life upside down the past 2 weeks. And hope that he got what he wanted & that it does not fall part.. cause we will not be here waiting.

I guess I was raised better... Why is it that nice people get crapped on all the time?
should I be a mean, rude, disrespectful person? Is that what it takes to get some where in this world? Cause I seem to get taken advantage of a lot... for being nice.

Well to bed I go...
I have had enough for today!

thanks for listening to me vent...... and being my shoulder to cry on. My poor husband has to truly deal with me now.

More Pic from Vacation... Nags Head NC

Here are some more pics.
While over there we took a drive & took are car over on a ferry to Ocracoke Island. It was really neat never been on a ferry before. We wanted to take my car 4 wheeling on the beach but my mother in law & sister law were a little moody with one another & ended that whole plan. And our long drive & ferry ride was a loss.
Next pic... Jacob Loves Lemons & I happen to capture his first nibble... sour face!! then him just hanging out drinking( yes a bottle... get off my back I hear it enough from others... he is just not ready. I have TRIED & TRIED!!!)
Then the group of us went go kart riding...even Jacob(double car with this dad) and this is our pic after... ( I am taking the pic) So I was driving slow so I could be with my men and they come up wave & floor it.. Rudeness!
Then our beautiful niece Gemma!! Smiling which was nice to see.

Vietnam Adoption

I am sad to hear, say, think...etc that today Vietnam will no longer give referrals to families who are waiting. My heart really goes out to them. Our son has been my everything. And with out Vietnam as one our options we may not have been able to adopt. We to have thought of extending our family again through adoption and Vietnam but when the whispers started being passed around we were worried. So again to those families..you are in our prayers.
Everyone always told me god has a plan & there is a reason ... and I never really understood why until I saw Jacobs face.
Now I can not say I 100% fully agree... I still struggle...
Why would God give an 18yr old young woman ovarian cancer, then take her father(he passed), then have her cancer come back.
So should I really give that advice... I am not sure. There is no real words or advice that can comfort in any feeling of loss... and losing an opportunity to adopt from Vietnam is a loss. The country, people, culture and the beautiful children who await families is a loss. But I believe the program will be back & hopefully soon.

Good night all!!

We're Back!!

So Saturday @ 5:30am we pulled in our driveway... after a 9 hr drive. It was nice to be home!
We shared a 3 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath home with my in laws. ( My mother in law/ 2 sister in laws/ Nephew Billy ( who is 3 months younger than me) & niece Gemma)
Now the vacation started out a little rough with a few issues with the house..... door knob fell off bathroom door/ none of the out side lights worked and one tub took for ever to drain and the other would not hold the water( we tried everything) it took 3 1/2 days for some one to come fix this all. Then I get home to a message that said we left a stain on the rug.... Bull Pucky! that spot was there when we got there. and the would be talking to us about payment. Needless to say I can be a B***h... when needed. I called & of course got through to no one ..... So I left a message telling them about the issues we had that they were aware of during our stay & also about how the stain was there. And that if anyone deserved money it was us. We had to leave my mother in law behind the 1st day we were there for no one to show up..... But no call back so ... to be continued.

Other than that the house was great. In laws were not to bad. We had fun playing scattagories, cards or serades every night. I have some stories about the serades but its a little late and I am a little tired but tomorrow I will write about it... FUN TIMES!

Jacob was all about his dad on the trip. I felt like the in laws thought I beat Jacob ( never would)or something since all he wanted was his dad. But Michael works long hours so I think really he just wanted his daddy. I was a little broken hearted but at the same time happy cause now Michael got to see why sometimes its hard for me after 40 hours of work and all to get every little thing done or why I am frazzled when he gets home...... Men! If they only knew how hard it can be......

Our niece Gemma came with us. I was SO happy she decided to come. She is fighting her 2nd battle with ovarian cancer and unfortunately treatment is not working as well as they hoped. We are looking into other care and she should be starting a new experimental treatment soon. So please keep her in your prayers. Our fundraiser that I have been working on is Sunday & i hope we raise alot of money for her. She has been through alot. And being & seeing her on vacation really opened my eyes. She is having a rough time getting around and eating and sleeps alot.
It was nice on vacation to just talk to her... learn about her boyfriend, her doggy, & just her likes & dislikes. She is a very sweet girl.

I also got to know my nephew on Michael's side Billie.....
I love him... what a hoot & a half... Funny!
I am not a big drinker but we made some mixers.... Pina colodas, Mud slides, and others.
We were liquoring up the old ladies!! They were funny to.
I had a few drinks. My yearly max is normally 1 drink per year .. I have exceeded that for this year... but nothing to out there.... 2 mudslides & a pina colada & another mudslide.... ( not all on the same night)
Him & I went to the beach & pool a few times our selves. We had a blast!


But anyway I better go...
here's some pic's

Josh Gillham--caring bridge site

This site is dedicated to Josh Gillham. I grew up with his wife Cathy Morgan- Gillham through grade school & some of junior high until they moved to Illinois. He sustained 2nd and 3rd degree burns over approximately one third of his body, following an explosion at his employer in Smithton, IL. Josh is 27 years old and lives in Belleville, IL, he has a 2 1/2 year old daughter, Morgan, many friends and family who are praying for his recovery.

Please go on ...read, watch, & donate to help families in need. Thanks

Article:
http://www.bnd.com/breaking_news/story/438905.html

Site:
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/joshgillham

New channel Report:
http://www.myfoxstl.com/myfox/pages/ContentDetail?contentId=7239656


Please pray for him & his family......

Vacation Here We Come.......

Finally our vacation is here . I really need one. If I do not get away soon I may loose it!
Selling house, trying to bid on house, work, keeping home clean for sale of house ( they looked at it 3 times), waiting for hopeful good out come of home inspection (knock on wood), our Mid size SUV need 4 new tires 500.00 ( its CRAZY!!!)Anyway so we will be leaving here in a few days & I will not have much time to write.
Our niece who is seriously ill. ( we are doing fundraiser for her) is coming with us. I am very excited she is coming. She is Jacob's god mother & I really want him to get to know her better. Yes I know he is 2. I will take lots of pic's. Anyway I want her to have the best time ever. Also Michael mom, 2 sisters, and nephew... Well I got a lot to pack plus some laundry to fold ... better go.

Happy Anniversary to US! (LATE)

Here are some pictures from through out the years... our wedding day...couple Christmas, family vacation, And our engagement picture... (My hair was platinum blond & I was to SKINNY)

On Aug 3 Michael & I have been married 6 years...Wow & to top it on august 8 we have been together as a couple 10 years...WOW~

I was very young when I got married at age 22. And to an older man (17yrs older) I know what your all are thinking WOW… I thought so to at first. How did we meet? We met at a wedding reception I was 18. He ask me to dance I said NO.. Then I turned around and on the last dance I asked him. He offer his ph# if I was ever interested in buying a phone. And I said or I can call you to go to the movies… God I was brave! ( he was never married, once engaged but was mutually ended, no kids)But we talk for hours on the phone for months(4months) before we actually met & went out. When we did meet after all our talks I knew he was the one despite the age. We just clicked…

He is TRULY the LOVE of my LIFE... My SOUL MATE!

I'm Still Here.....

Well we have been insanely busy. We received a bid on our house & they had some to see it 3 times in the last 4 days. Lets just say it was crazy keeping everything IMMACULATE with a 22 month old who is obviously starting to a touch of the Terrible 2 syndrome I hear so much about.
Anyway we excepted & now we wait for inspection..... Keep you fingers crossed all moves well. Than to find us a house. We are nervous. We have no house in mind they all sold while we waited to sell ours. We did look at one the other day but it had a Sub pump ( not sure if that's what its called) anyway.... alot of the house we looked at either have that or a minor moisture issue or the ceiling is low in the basement or a dirt floor. Some of the homes are over 100 years old. So do we over look that..... I do not know! Any advice would be appreciated!

On top of that Jacobs cold, I am coordinating the donation part of my nieces fundraiser with the help of a wonderful lady Tanya. Between calls, letters, stopping at stores, walking all through the mall shops... I am beat!

Anyway much to do...bye

Nikon D40 addiction

Loving my camera..... I have a tendency to take it every where. I have been trying new things. Trying to do more pictures like a real photographer would do.

Far from being a photographer but would love to take some classes... hard between work & all. I refuse to be away from Jacob more than my job already makes me.

Anyway enjoy the pic's let me know what you all think.....

Out on the Town

The other weekend we went to a local church festival. We had alot of fun and really spent hardly any money. A whole whopping $3.50. Now we are broke... Just joking!

Anyway Jacob rode the train we daddy then mommy. Got a free balloon hat. And then we splurged on a teddy bear tattoo. We wanted to get the flaming dice.... but the little guys arms & legs were to small to fit it. And if we are paying for it... I want it visible! But the teddy bear showed his softer side. And the girls loved it!

Off to the ducky pond we went. He won a whistle and sea horse squirter. Which I ended up playing with both. Yes I know.... Grow up!

Anyway we all had a ball... Next year he will be able to do the moon walk.... ( a big enclosed jumpy blown up thing) Can't wait!

To Go or Not to Go... That is the Question?

Our doctor always tells us to give a cold 3-4days to run its course. And usually he is right. But this time we did what the doctor ALWAYS tell us to do... we waited 3 days for Jacobs little morning & evening cough/ runny nose to work itself through his system instead of taking him to the doctor immediately and then a horrible rash appeared.... Yes another rash. I have had it up to here (you know) with rashes. He has only had 2 and that is enough. Ok so back to the story...called the doctor they could not see him till 5 which meant 6pm since you must wait & with school coming back in I completely understand.... doctors office tend to be very busy then.

The normal questions

Fever? No

eating? Nit picking

drinking? yes...

Cough? morning & night

runny nose? yes

sleeping good? yes



nothing really different...just cough/ runny nose and the rash that appeared the night before.

Here we come to find out he has STREP Throat....
Can you believe it.... I felt like the most horrible mom...
But he is taking his medicine & mommy is giving him some more TLC..if that is possible

Keep him away from children for 24 - 48 hours ... So he does not share it they say....mean while in the waiting room he played with 7 different kids.... So I wait at the desk to pay & I am thinking hope no one heard the doctor say he has strep cause I might get the evil eye from some other mom's.

How was I to know! He was playing & running around like normal..... nothing different. I have to say I did feel bad & hope he did not share with any of them!



But I got to go ... I am beat and I need a bath.... I was cleaning the house like a mad woman & it was suppose to be cooler today but was still hot....

Catch up!!

Well it's been a while since I have done an update...actually to long.

Jacob is now just 11 days shy of 22months... He has really started to grow into his own little person. I love it & also think where did my baby go?

You can slowly see the baby face leaving and I guess you would call it the toddler look.But he is still the most cutest handsome little guy I know. (yeah I know ...I am his mom) Anyway he is starting to like new things and seems to be picking more & more words.

Vocab: Moon, window, baseball, Bob, Mommy, daddy, Shadow ( my moms doggy), pappy, gram ma, ba ba (bottle.... yes still not willing to give up completely..but we are getting there), bus (everything bigger than a car is a bus), whats that?, please, cheese, teeth, meatball, Ashley, Steve, Mary Kay, no, yes, sit, tree, see, Me know, Ann

Ok I am drawing a blank there are several more but its 10 pm...give me a break

Likes: coloring, outside, his wagon--pulling it, His dads golf clubs, pretend driving his dads car, walks, playing with other children of any age, and the life guard girls at the pool, builder bob, dancing to any music that comes on,

Dislikes: being told NO... that all I can think of

Food: loves everything pretty much and willing to try anything...fav's cheese, soft pretzel w/ cheese, hot dogs, strawberries, bananas, steam peas & corn, corn on cob, pickles, potatoes

Popsicle's ( which is getting out of hand... he had 4 all natural pops but that's all he will want)

apples, yogurt, rice pudding, turkey burger

Tid bits: dances to any song... no matter where we are at

took him riding on a pony at a festival & every pony he rode he would first pet its neck & say is the smallest cutest voice HI!

Love his pappy first thing in the morning he yells Pappy..cause my dad babysits while I work. And he comes to my house ( I know I am very lucky- I thank god every day for a dad like him)

He will pull your hand if your sitting on couch ... & when you walk with him he takes you either to the fridge for a Popsicle or side door to go out side.

He still has a thing about having to hold your sleeve when he falls a sleep for a nap.

Loves the ladies.... at the pool he works the life guards... they bring him extra cheese for his pretzel, gets him napkins, and has a Popsicle ready when he gets there...... what a stinker!

Loves Bob the Builder..... for now. He goes through phases. 1st was Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, then Little Einstein on Disney channel and now Bob builder

Loves to sleep.... Sleeps from 9:30 - 8am on week days and weekend 9:30- 9am...LOVE IT!

loves to go outside at night to find the moon... its so cute he points and yells...MOOOOOOON!

Well I could go on forever how great his is but I got to get laundry out and I am tired!!

Going to a picnic tomorrow & then Sunday is our anniversary.....6years!!! So we are to go out to see the new batman movie & dinner.

August 8th we will have been together 10 years. (when we started dating)

Check out the pic's the 1st one if you click and enlarge its the 1st picture I got where his beautiful eye lashes really show ( love my Nikon d40)

the others are us in the yard ... getting artsy... I love photography