Monday, December 31, 2007

Off to the villa

 

I am getting ready to go check into the villa.  I can't wait.  My BIL is going to be meeting me there so we can get things set up.  Mark is still at work.  I will be coming back home to pick him up after we get things set up.  I hope that all ofyou have a wonderful New Years celebration!  I know we will.  We are supposed to get snow tonight, 4 - 6 inches, so I am glad we will be staying in one spot!  No driving for us.  I will take pictures so all can see how cute this villa is. 

 

Sunday, December 30, 2007

Survey

1. Will you be looking for a new job? I sure hope not

2. Will you be looking for a new relationship?
Friends maybe but not a new love relationship

3. New house?
no way

4. What will you do different in 08?
exercise more and eat better

5. New Years resolution?
same as # 4

6. What will you NOT be doing in 08?
eating fast food

7. Any trips planned?

a couple of them
8. Wedding plans??
no

9. Major thing on your calendar?
the twins graduation

10. What can't you wait for?
summer

11. What would you like to see happen differently?
too many things to name

12. What about yourself will you be changing?
my weight

13. What happened in 07 that you didn't think would ever happen?
Jeremy and Robbie graduated

14. Will you be nicer to the people you care about?
Yes

15. Will you dress differently this year than you did in 07?

smaller sizes
17. Will you better your relationship with your family?
Yes

18. Will you do charity work?
Yes

19. Will you go to bars?
Probably a few

20. Will you be nice to people you don't know?
yes

21. Do you expect '08 to be a good year for you?
Yes

22. How much did you change from this time last year til now?
Not much

23. Will you plan on having a child?
no

24. Will you still be friends with the same people you are friends with now?
Of course

25. Will you be moving?
no

26. What will you make sure doesn't happen in 08 that happened in 07?
That I just sit on my butt and not make a difference in my body

27. What are your New Years Eve plans?
Renting a cottage and having a party with some family

28. Will you have someone to kiss at midnight?
You bet ya

29. One wish for 2008?
That my family and friends all stay happy and healthy.


Thursday, December 27, 2007

Our Warrior has passed

In memory of anyone you know that has been struck down by cancer.


A Candle Loses Nothing by Lighting Another Candle.
Please Keep This Candle Going! 
 
I was so sad to read about Kim's passing.  What a wonderful person she was.  Truly a brave warrior. Kim you will be missed greatly here in Jland.  My thoughts and prayers go out to Jim and your children.  Rest in Peace.
 
 

Monday, December 24, 2007

Christmas Eve


Now you would think that since I have the day off and I could sleep in, I would, but no not me! For some crazy reason I was up at 6am.  I have gotten alot done, but I know that by the time the evening comes around I am going to be dead tired and I won't be able to go to bed.  I will have to get the stockings together for Santa to deliver! 
For some reason this morning my coffee did not turn out good.  I made it the way I always do and for some reason it was the weakest coffee I have ever had!  It was like tea!   I had to throw the pot out and start over.  The new one was fine.  I have no clue what happened but I really wanted that cup of coffee this morning so I was very disappointed! 
I have to get Aiden's presents wrapped today.  I have everything done but his.  We will be seeing him today at Mark's parents and we won't get to see him tomorrow so I have to take his presents with us today!  I can't wait to see him when he gets his bike and his electric riding thing from his dad.  We got him the bike and Jeremy got him the ride on jeep thing.  He is going to be really excited.  I am looking forward to tomorrow morning too.  I love it when the kids open thier presents.  They still get excited, even though they don't belive in Santa anymore.  Well I guess that will be forever since I still get excited!
Well I better get going and start some cooking.  We have to be at the party at 2.  Mark is working so he won't get there till around 3.  Poor guy!
Have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Saturday, December 22, 2007

It's getting close


I am finally getting into the spirit of Christmas!  I have been so not into it and I am not sure why but I am getting it these last few days!  Mark and I have our shopping done, I just have to get some trial size things for the stockings and we will be all set.  We even have all the stuff we need to make the food for Christmas Eve and Christmas day.  Christmas Eve we will be heading over to my SIL's to celebrate Christmas with Mark's family.  We have to bring cheesy potatos and a vege tray.  All the gifts are wrapped for that party.  The kids will all be with us for that except Manda, who has to work that night at the hospital.  She has to work Christmas day also but not till the afternoon.  She will be coming out to our house after work on Christmas Eve so she can be with us on Christmas morning.  After the kids open up thier gifts and have breakfast on Christmas morning they will be heading to thier dad's house for the day.  My sister, her husband and my nephew (he is 33) will be coming over for Prime Rib!  This is my favorite part of that day!  Well no maybe it is the mimosa's in the hot tub!  Yea I like that part too.  All in all Christmas day is pretty low key and is spent at home.  Once the kids arrive home it is pretty much time for bed since we will all be worn out!
I have to go back to work on Wednesday but we will be working short hours.  I have lots of data entry that needs to be done!  I really need to get busy with that and we will be really slow those three days so it will be a perfect time to take care of it. 
I am not sure what our plans are for New Years eve yet.  We were supposed to go to a party with my brother in law and SIL but we just realized that we have Marks daughter that night so I am not sure what we are going to do now.  Ah well such is life.  We may just be sitting at home for the night which would be just fine with me.  Well I am off to bed.

Thursday, December 13, 2007

I think this is gunna hurt


Ok I promised I would do this so I am.  The one with the statue was taken in Oct. of 2002.  The competition one was taken in July of 2002.  It wasn't so very long ago that I took very good care of myself.  I am making that promise to myself again.  Tonight is my first appointment back at the gym.  I am leaving in just a few minutes to go start working out again.  No I don't want to compete again but the Oct. 2002 picture is what I want to look like again.  Tonight I am on my way. 
Oh yea and just so you can see how bad it has become........no not a bikini one

Yea I know. ............I have alot to lose.  About 40 to 45 pounds.  I am on my way down tonight!



Wednesday, December 12, 2007


I am very tired tonight.  I have been working this crazy shift at work for the last few weeks.  4am to 12:30pm.  I am very glad that I am done with it now.  It wore me out.  It wasn't so bad while I was doing it but I am starting to feel the toll that it took on my body.  Tomorrow I go in at the normal time of 7am.  We are having a little "tea" tomorrow for Christmas with cookies and all those kinds of goodies, oh yea there will be fresh fruit also for those that don't want the sugary treats!  I thought that was kinda nice.  I will be eating the fruit.  I am going to be one of the servers from 12 to 1 tomorrow.  I have meetings tomorrow morning too.  I hope it makes my day go by fast.  Friday will not be a fast day, I already know this since I have to help the reps do thier inventory on implants.  Yippie.  No it isn't much fun but it does have to be done.
Well I am off to bed.  Have a great day.

Sunday, December 9, 2007

Sunday


Here is Josh, this is the day that we went out to visit GVSU.  I have to say that it is by far the nicest college that I have visited.  Josh fell in love with it.  He really wants to go there.  Amazingly it was the cheapest college we have looked at also.  So  unless he gets an amazing scholarship offer this is the school that he will go to. 
The day there was great.  I did finally get to meet Kelly.  Kelly, it was a pleasure!  The picture of Josh is taken at the restarant that Kelly, Josh and I went out to eat at.  The food was great!  Josh had this club sandwich that was HUGE.  He couldn't even finish it, which shows how big it was cuz Josh can eat ALOT of food!  I can't wait to go back and visit more of Grand Rapids.  Josh has a race there sometime in February that we will be going up there for also.  I am  hoping to be able to stay the night there so we can check out the city a little bit while we are there.  But that will all depend on what day the race is.  Keep your fingers crossed that it is a Friday!  Or at least a day that he has off of school the next day.
Mark and I have been doing tons of Christmas shopping.  We are almost done, I am happy to say.  Usually we are running around the last week trying to find everything.  This year we are trying to get it done so we can avoid all that stress involved with doing it at the last minute.  Five of the six kids are done and the other one is more than  half way done.  We have bought for all but one of our friends.  We still have to get his mom and dad and something for his nephews.  We should be able to finish that up today. 
My last entry was a wonderful rant on how disgusted I am with the weight I have gained.  I really am upset with myself for allowing myself to get this heavy.  I sat down the next day and wrote up myself an action plan.  That plan involved a running schedule (my last marathon was in April of 06 and I have not run since then, shame on me)  it also involved finding and joining a gym again.  The other item on the action plan was working out an eating program.  I called around to a few gyms and found one right by where I work, it is actually owned by UofM and I joined it.  It is only 20 a month for employess or students of the university.  Can't beat that.  I also found that the hospital has a weight loss program.  The new session starts in January and I have joined that as well.  I am really looking forward to that starting.  I am going to start going to the gym before that starts though.  I know that I am terribly out of shape and need to get myself under control.  I am going to be posting some pictures of myself from 5 years ago, and from now, in my next entry.  You will see why I am so disgusted with myself.  But then I am going to take pictures monthly after I start to see my progress so I won't get discouraged!  (hopefully!!)  I am hoping that by May I will be able to compete in another marathon.  I just have to decide which one I am going to run.  I am going to be researching that too!  So wish me luck!
I need to go fold another load of clothes.  Mark should be home soon and we will need to get out and get shopping!  Have a great day.

Saturday, December 1, 2007

A rant

Ok I am seriously aggrivated.  I have a party to attend tonight and I have gained so much weight that nothing I have to wear fits the way I want it to.  A diet is seriously in order.  Anyone have any ideas on good diets?

Friday, November 30, 2007

Road trip


Good Morning!  I love being able to wake up and have a little bit of down time before the day starts.  I have the day off today so I have some extra time to just sit and go though journal alerts and enjoy them at a nice pace!  Seems I also have time to post and entry!  Amazing!
Today I am taking Josh to Grand Valley State University.  He has a tour and a meeting with a counslor and with the cross country coach.   It should be very exciting.  He is acutally thinking about going out of state also though too.  He could get more scholarship money from and out of state school than from one here in Michigan so we will have to see what all happens with that.  He really loves Grand Valley though and he hasn't even really checked it all out yet.  He has gone to a meet there though and loved it. 
Tomorrow is going to be fairly busy for me.  I have to work in the morning and then we have a Christmas party to go to in the evening.  I am looking forward to the party.  My boss at my job that I left is the one who is having it and I am looking forward to seeing everyone that I worked with for so long.  It hasn't been that long I know but I still miss them all!  It should be an enjoyable evening.  She has this party every year and it happens to be the party that Mark proposed to me at.  Yes he did it in front of my boss and all my coworkers!  They were all in on it though!  LOL!  So the night has an sentimental meaning to me also. 
I love my new job.  It is a huge challenge and I am just getting to learn my way around everything.  It is awesome though.  It will be a few years of major changes for that area in the hospital but it will be so worth it in the end.  Everything that they are putting into place will make things there run so much more smoothly.  Lots of grumbling will be heard while getting it in to place but once eveyone learns the new systems they will see how much easier it will make thier jobs. 
Well I guess it is time for me to jump in the shower to get ready to go.  I will let you all know how the trip went.  Have a great day!

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Survey says........


1. If your doctor told you TODAY that you were pregnant, what would you say?
I would be totally stunned since I had a hysterectomy six years ago but I would be SUPER happy

2. Do you trust all of your friends?
No

3. Would you move to another state or country to be with the one you love?
Yes


4. Do you believe that everything happens for a reason?  Not really
 

5. Can you make a dollar in change right now?
Yes
6. Which one of your friends do you think would make the best doctor?
alot of my friends are doctors, I work in an operating room.
7. Are you afraid of falling in love?
no

9. Is there someone who pops into your mind at random times?
lots of different people do

10. Whats your most favorite scar?
I am not fond of any of them but I guess my csection one.

11. When was the last time you flew in a plane?
march 3,2007

12. What did the last text message you sent say?
you got an acceptance letter from aquanis....it was to my son john

14. Fill in the blank. I love:
Jesus and my family


17. How many kids do you want to have?
I have five children and one step daughter. I would have more if I could but I cant so I won't


18. Would you make a good parent?
I am a good parent :)

19. On your Myspace, where was your default picture taken?
the hallway of my house


20. Whats your middle name?
elizabeth

21. Honestly, whats on your mind right now?
Christy has a myspace?

22. If you could go back in time and change something, what would it be? oh this is to tough to answer

 
23. Who was or will be the maid of honor/ best man in your wedding? Linda

24. What are you wearing right now?
blue jeans


25. Righty or Lefty?
Righty

26. Best place to eat?
luckys steak house


27. Favorite jeans?
Levi's
28. Favorite animal?
cats


29. Favorite juice?
cranberry juice

30. Have you had the chicken pox?
Yes

31. Have you had a sore throat?
yes

32. Ever had a bar fight?
unfortunatly yes


33. Who knows you the best?
Linda


34. Shoe size?
6

35. Do you wear contact lenses or glasses?
glasses when I drive at night
36. Ever been in a fight with your pet?
kinda
37. Been to Mexico?
yes
38. Did you buy something today?
yes,  a 5ft plam tree with christmas lights on it to put next to my hot tub and to use at the camper when it is warm again.


39. Did you get sick today?
NOPE

40. Do you miss someone today?
every single day

41. Did you get in a fight with someone today?
No

42. When is the last time you had a massage?
about a year ago

43. Last person to lay in your bed?
Mark.  Does he count since it is his bed too?

44. Last person to see you cry?
Mark

45. Who made you cry?
Me

46. What was the last TV show you watched?
Dancing with the stars but Ifell asleep before the end!


47. What are your plans for the weekend?
Friday I am taking Josh to Grand Valley State University, hopefully meet Kelly while we are there,  Saturday morning I am working, Saturday night we are going to a Christmas party, Sunday is church

48. Who do you think will play along?
I hope everyone who reads will

49. Who was the last person you hung out with?
Karen

50. If your "significant other" asked you to marry them TODAY what would you say? ABSOLUTELY, YES!

 

 


Saturday, November 17, 2007

Working on the mess


Well I have been working on projects in my house for the last several weeks.  Projects to get rid of clutter.  I can't stand it clutter and I seem to be building up alot of it.  Last weekend I started on my bedroom.  My bedroom is the room that has the most clutter because it is the room that I put everything that I think I need to look at later, ie...magazine articles, magazines that I don't have time to go through, books that I want to read....well I managed to get it all cleaned out, the closet included, but now I have piles of things in my room that I have to take care of.  Even I was a little shocked by the extent of it. 
In my room I have now have the following piles
46 actual magazines
8 sales catologs
49 books to read
5 books that I have started but not finished!
Well I know it is going to take me alot of time to go though all this stuff, mostly the books to read.  The magazines I can go though and clip out the pages I want to keep for recipes and such.  I have manilla folders that I keep certain articles I want to keep and file them in the file cabinet.  The recipes I put in a manilla folder until I am able to add them to the computer.  I am hoping to get alot of this done this weekend!  Keep your fingers crossed that I will be able to get though at least the magazines. 
HUmmmmm do you realize this means that I will be able to sit on the couch wrapped in a blanket all day and still accomplish what i want to accomplish???

Friday, November 16, 2007

In love so far........

It has been a truly wonderful week.  I am still learning my way around that huge place.  I am able to find my way from the parking lot to the locker room.  I can navigate from there to my office and all the OR rooms.  I can manage to find the cafeteria and the gift shop!  I can also find employee health and Starbucks!!  I think I am doing pretty good, most of my daily basis are covered!  Learning the way they do things has been challenging.  Going over blueprints of the new Central Supply is awesome.  I can't wait till we start actually working on the area and I can see things starting to take place!  There is alot of boring work that needs to be done..........catolog numbers collected, correct names found.......things along those lines to get all the instruments and sets on line and up and running.  Months of work will be taking place to get that going.  Good thing I found the Starbucks cuz hours sitting in front of a computer will make me very tired!!  I haven't had a problem with that this week though.  I am to excited to be tired. 
We have a trip to Grand Valley on the 30th of November.  I am looking forward to that and hopefully meeting Kelly!  Let me know Kelly! 
I am looking forward to the time off this week.  We have Thursday off for  Thanksgiving but we also get Friday off as a holiday too.  Four days off will be marvelous!  Well just wanted to update.  Hopefully tomorow I will get a chance to leave another entry.

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Excitement!!

Yesterday was my first day at U of M.  I was in orientation all day.  I thought it was going to be boring but the day just flew by and I acutally enjoyed all the presentations.  Today is another day of orientation for half the day and then it is on the the hospital so I can start my new job.  I am so excited.  Nervous too.  I haven't had to go though an orientation and things like that in 20 some years! 
They did have an awesome party for me Friday night.  There were alot of people there and we had a great time. 
I will update more later!  Have a great day.

Saturday, November 10, 2007

Fours

4 Jobs I've Had

core coordinator for OR

Burger King

Receptionist for H & R Block

Appointment setter for Waldonwoods

 

4 Movies I Can Watch Over and Over

Pretty Woman

Beaches

Terms of Endearment

Dare Devil

 

4 Places I Have Lived

 Ferndale Michigan

Oak Park Michigan

Pleasant Ridge Michigan

Hartland Michigan

 

4 TV Shows I Love To Watch

Grey’s Anatomy

Dancing with the stars

The Bachelor

Brothers and Sisters

 

4 Places I've Been To On Vacation

Florida

Mexico

California

Oregon

 

4 Websites I Visit Daily

AOL

MySpace 

thebar.com

 

 

 

4 Favorite Dishes

Steak

chicken

chinese

fast food (my biggest downfall)

 

4 Places I'd Rather Be Right Now

Hawaii

Bora Bora

Mexico

Florida

4 People I'm Tagging

anyone who wants to play along

Friday, November 9, 2007

The twins


I had someone ask me about my twins the other day and I wanted to do an entry about them.  My twins are my babies.  The were numbers 4 and 5.  I can't believe that they are almost 18 years old already!
John and Josh (John is older by one minute, and is on the left in this pic) have always been very athletic.  They have been in some type of organized sport since they were in 4th grade.  They played basketball (John still does)  they played football (neither does anymore) they played baseball (neither does anymore) josh tried wrestling for one season, and they both run on cross country and track.  Cross country and track are the two sports that they EXCEL in.  They are both awesome runners.  Both have recieved scholarship offers from various universitys.
Josh

John
For the last few months we have been visiting different campuses and taking tours and meeting with counselors and coaches.  Yesterday we went to Central Michigan University. 
I am quite sure this is where John is going to go.  He loved it there.  I have to say that I liked it alot to.  The fact that it is only two hours from home makes it very appealing to Mom.  That and the fact that the Soaring Eagle Casino and Hotel is only 10 minutes from the campus makes it nice too!  Mom can come visit John and stay the night at the Casino Hotel (maybe win some money to help pay for two colleges eductions at the same time!)
Josh has pretty much decided that he wants to attend Grand Valley State University.
The reason that Josh wants to go to this college is because they have the whole six year physical therapist program there.  He won't have to transfer to another college after finishing his four year degree.  That and the fact that his girlfriend is going there and his best friend. 
John and Josh's track and cross country coach, inhigh school, went to the University of Tennessee!  Yes Dad he sure did go there and he is true to his school to this day!!  John and Josh are not going to go to school there because Mom could not handle them being so far from home!  And they never acutally asked to look at a college that was outside of the state of Michigan.  So I gues they will staying close enough to home to visit Mom every few weeks.  (like getting thier laundry done) 
I get really sad when I think about them leaving me, but I also get really excited when I think about what awesome boys they are and what wonderful men they are growing into.  I will keep you all updated on how things go with them!

Mate Meme

The Mate Meme

1. Who is your mate?
Mark is my hubby, my mate

2. How long have you been together?
Our first date was Feb. 14th 2003.  We were married on Feb. 26, 2005

3. How long dated?
Two years

4. How old is your mate?
He is 41

5. Who eats more?
He does

6. Who said "I love you" first?
He did

7. Who is taller?
He is by far

8. Who sings better?
Neither of us!

9. Who is smarter?
Not sure

10. Whose temper is worse?
Mine!

11. Who does the laundry?
I ususally do but he will do it when I am busy

12. Who does the dishes?
All of us, kids included

13. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed?
If your laying in bed it would be him

14. Who pays the bills?
He actually writes them out but the money to pay them is earned by both of us

15. Who has bigger feet?
He does

16. Who has longer hair?

Me

17. Who is better with the computer?
I am, he rarely uses it

18. Who mows the lawn?
The kids do

19. Who cooks dinner?
Sometimes him sometimes me

20. Who drives when you are together?
He does

21. Who pays when you go out?

He dies

22. Who is most stubborn?
I am

23. Who is the first to admit when they are wrong?
Not sure on this one

24. Whose parents do you see the most?
His, mine are both deceased

25. Who kissed who first?
He kissed me first

26. Who asked who out?
He asked me out

27. Who proposed?
He did, at  my work Christmas party at my bosses house.  The two of them had it all planned out.  Yes I am friends with my boss so it wasn't akward for him to plan it with her!

28. Who is more sensitive?
I am

29. Who has more friends?
That is probably pretty equal

30. Who has more siblings?
I do

31. Who wears the pants in the family?
Be both do.
                     
 
That was fun!  I hope you all play!  It will fun to learn a little more about your 'better half'!!! 
 
I hope everyone does it... even the men! 

Sunday, October 28, 2007

On to the state finals


Well yesterday was certainly a very exciting day.  The regional races were held yesterday and let me tell you it was YUCKY outside.  It had been raining for the 24 hours and everything was a total mud hole.  I felt so bad for the boys and girls who had to run in that mess.  The picture I have here is not from yesterday but one from earlier in the year.  I will post some pictures of yesterday day when I get them on here.  There was alot of slipping and sliding going on I will tell you that much.  I had a hard time running around trying to cheer them all on, I can't imagine how difficult it must of been to race in it.  I thought that our team was going to make it to the state finals.  We finished fourth, top three go to states.  My son, Josh, finished 9th individually and the top 15 go to the state finals, so Josh will be heading to MIS next Saturday to run in the state finals!!!  It is so odd because his twin brother, John, made it to the state finals last year.  They finished almost exactly the same this year as they did last year but they reversed positions!!  Now they can't say that one of them is "oneup" on the other one!!!  They will both have competed in a state final for cross county!  I am very proud of my boys and I am very proud of the whole team.  They all ran great races!  Now I am off to clean up those uniforms!

Friday, October 26, 2007

Finally an update

There that is much better.  Josh, Kendall, Kaleigh and John.  That was right before they left for the homecoming dance.  They all looked so nice.  I am having such a hard time with senior year, for the last time!  I cry at the drop of a hat!  I guess since the twins are my babies it is feeling really final.  Its a good thing they still need thier mom as much as they do, or they at least pretend that they need me!!

Life has been so busy the last few weeks.  Lots of things have changed for me.  Good changes!!  I know that I had written a few times about the surgeries that I was having.  Well I had the first one on the 17th.  It went well.  They took some biopsys.  I got the results of those back yesterday.  They were able to tell what is wrong with me from that.  Which is a good thing because it means that I do not have to have the big surgery to remove adhesions because they are not what is causing me my problems.  I don't want to go into details about what they found but it isn't cancer so I was very thankful of that.  It is a disease that I will need to take care of for the rest of my life with diet and such but I can handle that.  I might even lose some of this extra weight that has seemed to pile on in the last five years.  That would be nice.  I will also have to have medication for some time, not sure how long, but that to I can handle.  So there was a little bit of bad news in there but I don't have to have the big surgery and for that I am grateful.  I am also grateful that we finally know the extent of the damage that that little bugger bacteria caused, which is good to know so it can be fixed.  So over all I am happy about the outcome of my health at this point. 

The really big news that I have that has be so happy is this.  I was offered a new position.  It is at a new hospital.  It is a significant raise in pay and it is closer to home.  The hospital is the University of Michigan Hospital.   I have wanted to work at this hospital for years.  It is such an awesome place.  Just huge.  I never thought that I would be able to work there since it was so far from my home.  But when I moved to Marks house when we got married I was much closer to it that I was to the hospital I have been at.  I have been at my current job for 22 years.  Yeah long time. But this new job is sooooooooo exciting to me.  I have been there twice to check it out.  They let me get scrubs on and go all over and check all the departments I would be working with out.  I was so excited about it all.  The job itself is going to be a huge challenge, which is probably the biggest reason I took the job,  I have been so bored with the routine of my current job that I really wanted something new.  I am so happy that I got this job.  I start on November 12.  My last day at my current job is November 7th.  I can't wait to start.

Other exciting news,,,,,,,,,,tomorrow is the big regional race for John and Josh.  It is going to be a good one.  This race determines who goes to the state finals.  Top 15 individuals go to state and the top three teams go.  I am keeping my fingers crossed and saying extra prayers in both catagories.  We have some excellent runners on our team.  I am hoping the team goes and some individuals.  I will let you know tomorrow.

 

Thursday, October 25, 2007

OOPs I messed that picture up.  I will have to fix it later.  I just wanted to let you all know that I am still alive.  I will update sometime this weekend.  I have been really busy and I have some really awesome news.  The picture is from homecoming. 

Saturday, October 13, 2007

Saturday Night


Yep there is my Dale's car.  Nope he didn't win, but damn I love him anyways!! 
I have to tell you............we had the most awesome time.  I can't wait till next year to go back.  I always have such a great time with Linda when I see her.  It seems like forever in between.  We saw each other three times this year.  VERY RARE.  It is usually only once a year.  I miss her so much.  We have been friends since third grade.  I wish she would move back or we could move there.   Mark gets along so well with Linda's husband, Colin and of course there is no describing how Linda and I get alone.  She is "my person" !  For any of you that watch "Grey's" you will understand that!    But she is the person that has been a part of my life almost forever and I love her.  We have our birthday party at Talladega.  We exchanged gifts and we just plain had fun.  I will have to take a whole long entry to try to explain the fun that we had.  Mark and Colin sure put up with alot of silliness when thier wives revert to 12 year olds for the weekend!  LOL  I can't wait till next year.

Are we not the silliest looking girls??  Our hats are the same, they came from our bottles of coconut rum.  We found drinks online this year from  thebar.com.  The one we liked the most was called, PB Breeze, it was awesome.  As if you can't tell from the way we look in the picture!!  We even had "the circle" going.  That means that only Linda and Linda can come into the area we are in.  I dont' think I can even explain that one.  Mark and Colin were a little confused too!
The race was awesome though.   I was a bit upset that Jeff won the race though.  He came from no where!!  GRRRR!!  I did remember Phil though while I was there and made sure to take a few pics for him.  We had some Tony fans camping next to us and I had to take a few pics for Phil to see what true Tony fans look like.  What do you think Phil???


Gotta love those race fans.
And then of course our seats were directly across from Tony's pit so I got a pic of his car for Phil.

The thrill of Nascar! 

Monday, October 1, 2007

Sometimes these things hit to close to home

Seek Love

Today's Scripture

“The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (I Samuel 16:7 NIV).

Today's Word from Joel and Victoria

Is there someone in your life who has wronged or offended you? Maybe it was intentional, or maybe they don't even know they've hurt you. No matter what the circumstance, as believers, we are called to forgive. When we forgive, we seek love, and the Bible says that God is love. If we don't forgive, we are turning in the opposite direction--away from God. Choosing forgiveness doesn't excuse the other person's behavior. It simply releases the debt they owe you so that God can release the debt you owe Him. Forgiveness opens the door so that you can be free! I've heard it said that forgiveness is giving up hope for a better past. Choose today to let go of the past and look towards the future. Seek love by choosing forgiveness. And once you do, as the verse says, don't bring up the issue anymore. Move forward and let God be your vindicator. Remember, He promises to take what the enemy meant for evil and turn it around for your good! Seek love today. Seek forgiveness and choose to step into the abundant future God has in store for you!

Sunday, September 30, 2007

Aiden

I forgot to add a picture of what he looks like now!  Blowing out his candles.  Of course he had to stick his chin in the frosting!  Grandma just loves when he does that kind of stuff!  Dad...doesn't like it so much but oh well who cares, Grandma thinks it is hilarious!

Then here he is playing with his blocks.  He got tons of presents for his birthday but he dug his faithful blocks out and started sharing them with his friend Jayden. 

Aiden Tyler Johnson

I was not happy when Jeremy told me that Heather was going to have a baby.  Jeremy was only 18  and Heather was only 16.  This wasn't the way I had wanted his life to go.  But sometimes (who am I kidding, most of the time) things don't go the way we dream them up in our heads for our children.  They are, after all, human beings with minds of thier own, and they don't always want to listen to what Mom and Dad have to say.  So I had to get used to the idea that I was going to be a Grandma.  And I did. I went an ultrasound appointment with Heather and Jeremy and found out that he was a boy.  I fell in love with him that day. I could see him right there on the screen and although I couldn't hold him yet, I loved him.  The due date was November 7th, which is my birthday.  But it didn't turn out that way.  I got a phone call at work on September 30th.  Heather's dr. said she needed to go to the hospital right away.  She needed to have the baby by csection, her blood pressure was to high and they couldn't get it down, the baby needed to come out.  I flew to the hospital they sent her to.  She was supposed to have him at the hospital I work at but the other one was closer that so that was where she went.  It seemed like many hours that we waited but I know that it wasn't.  I got to see Heather before they took her back and I got to see Jeremy all dressed up in scrubs so he could go in and see his son born.  I was sitting out in the waiting room and I said to Heather's mom.  So his birthday is going to be September 30th.  And it hit me........................it was the day my mom had died.  I had tried so hard to block that day out, it was such a sad day to me and I had managed to not think about it all day, till I said it.  How could Aiden be coming six weeks early?  How could it be the exact day my mom had died on?  Because she didn't want it to be a sad day anymore....................

I will never foget Jeremy coming out of that room.  I will never forget the look on his face.  He was so proud.  I cried!  Seeing your child become a parent is well it is just amazing.  Aiden was in the hospital for 3 weeks, he was so little!  He was a huge fighter though and the day he came home was wonderful.  He still is a little fighter! 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AIDEN, GRANDMA LOVES YOU MORE THAN YOU KNOW. 

THANK YOU MOM

Saturday, September 29, 2007

Saturday Night

The time is almost here!!  Remember when the kids and I bought Mark the tickets to Talladega for his bday?  It seemed like such a long time till we got to go when we gave him those tickets but here it is less than a week before we leave.  Mark and I only have to work Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday this week and then at 4am on Thursday morning we leave for Talladega!  I am so excited.  I will be having drinks with Linda (best friend since 3rd grade who now lives in FL) by 7pm on Thursday night.  A little earlier if traffic is good all the way!  I can't wait!

Today was Aiden's bday party.  I have pics that I took but I have not had the chance to sit down and upload them and to be honest I am to tired to find the camera and hook it up right now!!  I can't believe that that baby is 3.  Well acutally tomorrow he will be.  Aiden's bday is September 30.  Tomorrow I will put some pics of him on here and I will tell you the wonderful story of how I became a grandma and how I felt the day he was born! 

 

Sunday, September 23, 2007

Quiet Sunday

This is what a coach who has just won a KVC dual meet for the first time in 8 years looks like!  The boys Varsity cross country team finally won!  The boys have won many meets and many invitationals but not within the Kensington Valley conference.  The KVC is the toughest league in the state of Michigan.  Hartlands cross country team has consistently been the last in the league for many years.  The team has been getting consistently better for the last four years and now they are a force to reckon with!!  I am proud of all these boys for all the hard work and dedication they have been putting in this past year.  They got together at least 5 nights a week over the summer to run together.  They have truly learned what it means to be a team and to work together to get wins.  I am proud of my twins too.  They are learning how to be good captains and how to support the team and make the team grow, they have learned that it isn't just about them  They are running really well.  Josh is running exceptionally well!  John is right behind him.  They are going to be amazing by the end of the season.  I am looking forward to what this teams does by the end of the season.  They competed in a large invitational yesterday and 6 of our boys placed in the top 30.  It was amazing.  6 out of 7 boys brought home a medal!  Way to go boys!  I just love this team.

I have not had the best of weeks though.  The boys doing so well has been a boost to me and they bring me alot of  happiness that I otherwise would not be having right now.  I have had all my appointments with my dr.s and they have gotten all the information they need to do what needs to be done to fix me.  The first thing they have decided to do is a colonoscopy with biopsys.  I have to be put totally to sleep to have this done (not just the iv sedation that you would normally get for this procedure) because of all the adhesions I have, it makes the procedure a little more difficult.  I will be having that on October 17.  Then on November 12, I will be having the surgery to remove the adhesions.  They are hoping to do this by laparascope but there is the chance that they will be unable to remove it all that way and they will need to open.  I am praying for scope all the way.  They are doing the colonoscopy first because the biopsys will show if I have any of the infection left in the lining of my intestines.  If I do I will need more antibiotics before they do the other surgery so that everyone in the OR will not be exposed to it when they do the bigger surgery.  Hopefullly it will all be resolved after this and I will be able to get myself back to where I used to be.  I am tried of dealing with an out of shape body that I can't get back into shape.  But soon I will be able to and I will be back to what I once was.  Well with a few added years on it.  Lose the extra weight and be able to go back to school are the two goals after this is all resolved. 

I am getting ready to leave for church now.  I have to work the book store today.  I hope you all have a great day. 

 

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

GRRRR

Have you ever had a day where nothing you did was right?  Well you thought it was but others certainly didn't.  I am having one of those days.  Nothing I do seems to be the correct thing even though I am working my ass off to make it all right.  Maybe I should just not worry about it so much.  I do know after all these years on this earth that I can't please every one all the time.  The twins have a meet tonight against Brighton, I hope things go right there!

Sunday, September 16, 2007

Moving right along

Things are moving along really well here!  I have gotten lots of laundry done, the dish washer emptied, filled and run, all three bathrooms clean, John and Josh's room cleaned and the sheets changed and the carpeting cleaned.  I also did the hallway outside thier room.  I was frusted in the linen closet upstairs trying to find the right size sheets for thier beds so I cleaned that all out also!  I got the computer room all cleaned up and dusted too.  I have been working on the living room, kitchen and dining room as I go along.  Now I just have to finish up the living room, kitchen and dining room.  Sweep and wash the floor in the kitchen and dining room, vacuum and dust the living room and then run the carpet cleaner in the living room and hall and I will be done for the day.   I think that will be enough cleaning for one day.  What do you think?

Whole lot to do today

I just love this picture.  This picture is taken from my bedroom window.  I heard the balloon out there, it is what woke me up the morning that I was to be baptized.  It  made that day even more special.  I haven't seen any of them this summer.  Last summer they were coming by alot but not this year and I miss them.

Today I have alot to do.  There is lots of cleaning and laundry that needs to be done.  I am determined to get it all done today.  I will have to have the help of my kids but I am sure that we will be able to accomplish it. 

Yesterday was a great day.  John and Josh ran awesome.  Josh managed to break 17 minutes!!  He was so excited and of course so was I.  John had already done that but Josh had not so he was happy.  I can't even image running 3.1 miles in under 17 minutes. Now Josh's best time is 16:45 and John's is 16:26.  Both of them will be beating those times again this year.  I have a feeling it is going to be a year of broken records for those two.  The whole team is doing amazingly well.  We now have four boys that have broken 17 minutes.  Only two of them are seniors (figures it is my twins!)  so next year they are only going to get better!  Coach was beside himself with happiness!  We took home a trophy!  Love it!  I am sure I will be going to some races next year to see how the boys are doing. 

Kristen cheered at the football game last night and she did an awesome job.  All of the girls did.  The boys did lose but the girls kept cheering them on right till the very end.  I sure do miss coaching those girls but I knew that if I coached them this year I would miss most of John and Josh's senior cross county year.  They don't like thier coach this year though and that makes me upset, I don't want them to have a coach they don't like.  Oh well maybe next year. 

Well I had better get off here and get started on mycleaning!

Saturday, September 15, 2007

It's Saturday!!

It is Saturday and I am so happy!  I got to sleep in a bit and the twins have a cross country meet today!  I just love watching those boys run.  Things are a little different this year though.  Josh has been beating John.  That hasn't happend in two years.  In 7,8 and 9th grades Josh was better most of the time.  Josh went through two years of complications and injuries.  He had surgery on his testicles, he had an appendectomy, he had a broken toe and he had the problem with passing out while he was running (neuro cardiogenic syncope) everything has been resolved now and he is running awesome!  I can't wait to see how things go today.  They are both so talented. 

My week was busy.  I didn't get a chance to to any updates on here but I was able to read journals and comment so I did make my rounds!  Just didn't update mine!  I did find out some things this week that didn't make me real happy but I guess I am going to just have to deal with it, do it and get on with life from there.  It was determined yesterday that I am going to have to have the surgery to remove the adhesions.  The ultrasound yesterday revealed that there is no change.  So my gyn will be consulting with a general surgeon, they will schedule and do the surgery together.  Fun huh?  She is going to try to do the surgery though the scope but won't know for sure till they get in there if they are going to have to open or not.  Please pray that they don't have to open.  That is so much longer of a recovery.  I want a quick recovery.  LOL  Please keep me in your prayers. 

I still have not been had the time to get the picture program loaded on here to upload my pictures but I am hoping that I will be able to do that tonight or tomorrow.  Mark is gone this weekend to Drummond Island for the "guys" weekend.  They go every year so maybe I will have some time to get it loaded and show you some pictures. 

Time to get ready for the cc meet!  Have a great day.

Wednesday, September 5, 2007

Two days in a row!

Hello.  Look at this!  Two entries in two days.  That is amazing.  I am so proud of myself.  LOL  I guess I must just have some extra time today to be able to post and for that I am thankful.  The fair is all done so I don't have to go there after working at the hospital all day.  I put in 40 hours at the hospital and 39 at the fair.  I have to tell you that that is just way to many hours in one week.  I won't be doing that again any time soon.  My body is still hurting from it!  Maybe that is just old age!   Not sure which, probably a little of both.  I am enjoying my time in the evenings though that is for sure.

Mark and I will be at the campground until the 21st of this month.  I really enjoyed being there this morning and being able to wake up slowly.  Having my coffee and enjoying it instead of slamming it down on my way to work!  I won't be able to do that most days.  I just wasn't working today so I was able to enjoy it.  Possibly tomorrow also but not sure what is going on at work for tomorrow yet so not sure if I am working or not yet.  Playing it by ear.  I really like being able to keep the trailor on site for extended times.  It is almost like having a cabin.  I can go there and stay the night if I feel like it but if I feel like staying home I stay home.  The site that we are on now is beautiful.  Lots of shade trees, but has an area that you can sit in that lets sun in if you feel like getting sun.  Mark wants to be able to move the camper today or tomorrow to another site though because he said we are supposed to get four days of rain and the site we are on will not work well with lots of rain.  It is kinda sandy and it will turn to mud so we need to move to a very grassy site.  Oh well I guess that makes sense.  I just enjoy my time there.  When I am stressed I just jump in my car and drive there and chill out for a bit by myself or with Mark and then within a few hours I am ready to come back home and deal with things.  Mark just loves being there!  He really is an outdoors kinda guy.

There he is on his boat!  I just love this man!

Mark is going away for a guys weekend with his brother and some friends the weekend of the 15th.  I am going to be having  a girls weekend at the camper that weekend.  It should be alot of fun.  I would be happy to have any of you come along, if you want to come just let me know and I will send you directions!  LOL!

I did get to see the boys senior pictures on line.  The pictures are awesome.  If anyone would like to view them email me or leave a comment and I will email you the site so you can check them out!  I can't belive how grown up they look.  Tomorrow is thier first offical cross country meet of the season.  I am so excited for it.  It is hard to tell which one of them is going to be better this year.  Josh has been training really hard and he is doing really good.  He beat John in both the pre season races.  So it should be an exciting season.

Well I better get off here and get some laundry done.  I also have to start making our list of things that we need to take to Talledega, that is coming up fast!!

 

Tuesday, September 4, 2007

Wow it's been awhile

It has been a very busy week and a half!!  I worked at the state fair every night during the week and I worked during the day Saturday and Sunday both weeks.  I did get to take yesterday off.  I was able to enjoy one day off of everything.  I layed next to the campfire in my lounge chair for the entire day.  I only got up to eat dinner.  Aiden was with us Sunday night and most of the day yesterday.  He got to hang out with Papa and Kristen which made him very happy.  They went in the lake and the pool at the campground!  Aiden loves to go camping. 

John and Josh got their senior pictures taken and I was so impressed with how well they did while getting them taken.  They never complained once.  I get the proof books back today or tomorrow.  I will make sure to post some of them when I do get them.  I am so excited about seeing them.  They really took alot of them.  I only cryed once during the whole session.  It took three hours for them to complete all the pictures! 

My computer downstairs in the office is really acting like hell latley.  I am sure that it has a virus in it.  That is the computer that I use to put all my pics on so I haven't added any new ones to it.  I promise that as soon as I figure out how to put the program for the new camera onto the computer upstairs I will do it and post all the new pictures that I have taken for the last few weeks.  Just haven't been able to yet.  Been to crazy busy.  Soon though I promise.

 

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

I get to relax some

Well I did get to do a little bit of relaxing over the weekend.  Spent Friday evening in the hot tub which was really nice.  Mark and I haven't been able to go in it in quite awhile since it has been so hot.  It cooled down nicely around here though.  We had lots of rain over the weekend, which we needed very badly.  The water level in the lake was so low, I don't think I have ever seen it that low.  I went to bed early Friday night and slept till 9am on Saturday morning.

We went shopping for clothes for John and Josh's senior pictures, which are tomorrow.  I am so excited to get their pictures done.  My babies..............seniors!!  Wow.  They sure did look nice in the clothes they picked out.   They look very grown up and handsome in the suits.  They picked out the same color suits (black) but they finally decided on different shirts and ties.   I really didn't want them to be exactly the same for thier pictures!  I have the day off tomorrow to take them to get thier pictures done.  They are doing inside and outside shots so the session will probably last close to three hours.  I wonder if they will be able to handle having thier pictures taken for that long?  I will let ya know how they did with that one.

Sunday we went to Campers World and to Cabella's.  Mark has been wanting to take me to Cabella's for years and we finally went.  It was a amazing.  It is a store dedicated to outside activiteis.........hunting, camping, boating....  we bought a new tube for the boat.  I can't wait to try it out.  It is a two seater!  Should be a blast.  The store was wild though.  They have so many animals that have been stuffed there, ones that are real.  I took picutes inside the store of them.  I will post them on here tomorrow.  They even had an elephant.   We also bought a few little signs to hang inside the camper.  One says " an old moose and the one he makes moosic with lives here!!  The other one says "we are happy campers"  I just loved them and had to get them.  We also bought a set of dishes for the camper, they have mooses on them also.  Can you tell my husband loves moose??  LOL

I have to work at the MIchigan State Fair tonight for Waldonwoods, acutally have to work there for the next 10 days.  I guess I am going to be one tired girl when the fair ends.  I like working the fairs though.  I ususally only work three nights a week for three hours at Waldonwoods but I love doing the fair stuff so I am going to work each night and on the weekends during the day.  You can make alot of money at the fairs, that must be why I like it!  Gotta pay for those Talladega tickets that I got Mark for his birthday!  Well time to get going!

Friday, August 17, 2007

Time to relax

Hello!  I am so happy that it is Friday and I have the day off.  It has been a busy week.   John and Josh had cross country camp this week.  They just got home this morning.  I made swedish meatballs for dinner for all of them last night.  There are tons left over so  I guess we will be having those one night this weekend!!  The boys loved them.  I made them for them last year also and they were a request for this year.  I went there this morning to help them all clean up the lodge and make sure it was back to it's normal way of looking before they left.  They actually did a great job of cleaning up after themselves this year compared to last year.  I was proud of all of them!  John and Josh are VERY tired though, as are all the boys from the team.  Coach runs their butts off at this camp.  They are very happy to have the weekend off of running. 

I had my dr.'s appointment on Thursday.  It went very well.  The infection is still in my stomach so they can't do the surgery yet.  I  have to have another ultrasound done on September 14 to see if the fluid is still built up in my abdomen.  I am still hoping that all this is being caused by the infection and not the scar tissue (which is also called adhesions)  If the fluid is being caused by the infection, then I don't have to have surgery, if it is caused by the adhesions then I will have to have surgery to remove them.  It would be a pretty big surgery and it would mean cutting me open.  When I had my right ovary removed it was a difficult surgery to do because of all the scar tissue (adhesions) and my OB dr. had to call in a general surgeon to remove the scar tissue from my bowel because it was attaching my ovary and my bowel.  I know it all sounds so complicated.  The biggest problem that they are having right now is in determining weather the fluid build up and the pain is from the infection I contracted at work or from scar tissue.  Neither surgeon (OB or Gen) wants to go in unless they are certain it is from scar tissue.  So they are doing everything possible to rule out side effects from lingering infection as the cause.  Which I am thankful for since I do not wantto have surgery at all but if it needs to be done then it needs to be done. 

I have no plans for this weekend.  I am just having a relaxing weekend.  I am hoping to get all the laundry done and finishing my book that I started awhile ago.  I usually finish books quickly but I have had no time to do any reading.  At night when I get into bed I just fall asleep!  So I am looking forward to the weekend.  The boys will probably sleep it away since they worked so hard at camp all week. 

Robbie is on vacation this week in Connicut and New York. He went to see Rent last night and he was very excited about it.  He loves that movie and we looking forward to seeing it live.  He saw Wicked live last time he went to New York with the high school band.  I am waiting on his call to find out how he liked it.  I am hoping that he will be able to come home soon to visit me.  I guess I shouldn't say come home, since his home is in Holland Michigan now and not here!  Either way  I want to see him soon.  I miss him.

I hope you all have a marvelous weekend.  I am sure I will be updating over the weekend since I am home and doing not much

Saturday, August 11, 2007

1   What's your favorite movie???

Probably my favorite is "Terms of Endearment"

2    What's your favorite color???

Light blue

3    What's your favorite ice cream flavor???

Haggen Daz Vanilla Swiss Almond

4    Where do you want to go on vacation??

Bora Bora and I want to stay in one of those little huts over the water that have a glass bottom living room.

5    What's your favorite animal???

My cat.  Diva

6    What's your favorite T.V. show???

Brothers and Sisters

7    What's your fav. drink???

Sangria!!

8    What's your favorite flower???

Pink roses.  I love the smell of them

9    What's your favorite pet???

My dogs are going to be so jealous but Diva is my favorite

10   What's your favorite book???

I love Danielle Steel books.

This meme is for Dawn's little girl.  She made it up so play along and send a comment to Dawn to let her know you did it so her daugther can see!

Friday, August 10, 2007

IT'S FRIDAY!!!

I am so happy that it is Friday.  The week went by really fast but I need a break from work for a few days.  By Friday I am usually dragging around cuz I am so tired.  I wish I didn't have to get up so early each day.  I wouldn't like to stay at work any later than I do though so I guess i willl just have to suffer. 

Tonight I have no plans.  It is just going to be a quiet evening.  We have the camper at the campground but I don't think we are going to go there tonight.  Mark has a golf outing tomorrow and I have a jewlery party.  Lia Sophia.  I love thier jewlery and am looking forward to getting lots of free jewlery!!  If any one would like to come feel free to drive on over and join us.  Just remember to bring so suit so we can lay out on the boat after the party is over!  There are quite a few who I know are going to be there so it should be fun. 

On another not so good note.  My dr. called me about the results of the ultrasound that I had a few weeks ago (she was out of the county so it took awhile to get back to me)  I am going to have to have surgery for sure.  I go into the office to have a consult with her and a general surgeon on Thursday.  I will know before I leave that day when my surgery is going to be.  I guess I will be having some time off and will be able to play on the compter a bit more for awhile.  I guess that is one good thing about it! 

Aiden is going to be at our house tonight also.  Jeremy picks him up at six and they should be out there shortly after that.  I am looking forward to seeing that little boy.

Sorry so short but I gotta run some errands be back later.