Farewell, 2008.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. I sure did. I got all I wanted and much more.

Tonight I am going to hang out with Karen, Jay, and some friends for new year's eve. I haven't gone out on new year's eve in forever. I don't usually stay up late, so we shall see how long I make it. We are going to sing karaoke. I love to sing, so it should be fun. Tomorrow I am going to the Predators game and Caleb is going to go home with Ian afterward.

Tomorrow morning I am going to try out the new griddle that Mom got me for Christmas. I am trying to get really good at making pancakes. I loooooove pancakes. Cracker Barrel's are my favorite. Mom got me CB pancake mix, too. I can't wait. The griddle is super cool because I can flip it over and it is a grill on the other side. I will let you know how it turns out.

I have a couple of prayer requests. I will be having surgery later this month to try and get rid of some of the endometriosis and adhesions in my pelvis. Also, I am having another issue that is too personal to post on this public blog. Please keep me in your prayers.

Happy New Year to you all!

Caleb's Room

Mom, Dad, and I started working on Caleb's room around 7:30 Christmas eve morning. It took us about 12 hours. We were exhausted and sore, but it was totally worth it to see his face Christmas morning. He freaked out. Loved it. I must say, I am quite proud of it. I forgot to take before pictures and I am sure I have some somewhere, but I can't put my hands on them at the moment. His room was painted two shades of blue with a chair rail border with sports stuff. He had a loft bed with a desk under it. Here are the after shots:

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Woo Hoo!!

I got Titans playoff tickets for Christmas! Thanks, Matt!

It's Almost Here...

I can't believe Christmas is Thursday! I can't wait. Caleb's room is coming along nicely and my tree is overflowing with gifts. Caleb and I are going to read the Christmas story tonight. He will be going to his Dad's house tomorrow, so I won't get to read with him on Christmas eve.

Mom has been home for a few days now and Dad will be home this afternoon. Caleb will be home on Christmas Day and we will open presents and stuff then. Good Times.

Ruby Tuesday

It's cold and rainy. Yuck.

Mom will be here on Thursday so I need to go home tonight and clean my house. I also need to go to Kroger to get stuff for Caleb's Christmas party at school. I am responsible for the cheese cubes and juice boxes. His teacher is calling it a Christmas party. I love this because in the past they have only had "holiday parties." They are exchanging puzzles for gifts. I thought that was pretty neat, too.

I am almost finished Christmas shopping. I am expecting two gifts that I ordered online to arrive in the next day or so. After that, all I have to buy is the paint for Caleb's room. Mom is going to help me paint so it should go quickly. Karen and Jay brought a steamer over on Sunday so we could take down the border in his room. I tried to do it without the steamer - big mistake. It only took about 10 minutes once we steamed it. Now I have to spackle and sand so we can paint.

Not too much going on today - hope you all are doing well.

See you soon!

Winter Wonderland

This weather is crazy!! The weather man said that we would get a little snow last night but nothing would accumulate on the roads. He lied. As I drove home from work last night the snow, ice, and slush started to build up. It took me an hour and a half to drive home from Franklin. It was pretty, but a big mess. The weird thing was that there was thunder and lightning but instead of rain it was snow. When I got up this morning everything was frozen. It took forever to get to work. I dropped Caleb off at my friend Rebekah's house this morning. She was kind enough to keep him while I go to work. She had her grandson today so Caleb and Jackson will play together.

Caleb is going to his dad's house tonight, so I will be home alone. Woohoo!!

Not too much going on this weekend. Hope you have a good one!!

AFC South Champs!!

How 'bout those Titans? Caleb and I almost froze our behinds off at the game yesterday, but it was so much fun. The walk to and from the stadium was the worst. Once we were in our seats it wasn't so bad. We were in the sun and surrounded by people, so it was really nice where we sat.

Over the weekend I cleaned out Caleb's room to get ready for the makeover. This weekend I will paint and Jay is coming over to help move his old bed out. It's huge so I can't do it by myself. I moved everything else on my own. I can't wait until it's finished. I will post pics.

Hope everyone has a great day!

Say-Say....

...it's your birthday!!

Happy Birthday to my BCF (best cousin forever),Sara!

I love you muches!

Caleb wants to sit by you at the game tonight because he misses you. LOL!

Have a great day!

Crazy Week

This week has been a bit of a roller coaster. Thanks for all your prayers. They mean more than you know.

Yesterday I went to the Gyn. Fun stuff, right? I have endometriosis and it has gotten pretty bad. It is a very painful disorder and unless you have it, you have no idea how bad it can be. I had an ultrasound today. It was basically normal. I will most likely need surgery. It will be fine, though - I'm not worried at all. I'm just ready to feel better. I see the surgeon on the 29th, so keep me in your prayers. If I need surgery, I want to make sure it's the right surgeon.

Tomorrow I am going to the Preds game. It is Sara's birthday so we are going to celebrate with the Preds. Caleb and his friend Daniel are going, too. Dan has never been to a Preds game and Caleb is very excited to take him for the first time. Should be fun!

BTW - Tam and Kasey - your Christmas decorations are beautiful. If any of you haven't seen them, use the links on my blog. Very pretty!!

Later!

Urgent Prayer Request

I have a request that will, for now, be unspoken. Please pray.

Thanksgiving

Today is my last day at work for the week. WooHoo! Mom and Dad came in yesterday and they will be here until Sunday, I think. Caleb and I went to the Preds game last night and he is at home with mom and dad today. Tomorrow Karen and Jay are coming over to eat and watch football and stuff.

I have so much to be thankful for. I am truly blessed beyond measure.

Happy Thanksgiving. Love y'all!

Yay, Friday!

This weekend is going to be busy. Caleb decided he wanted a bedroom makeover for Christmas, so we are beginning the project this weekend. He never plays with most of the stuff in his room, so it's going to Goodwill or the landfill. Then I have to tear down his border and prime and paint. He is getting a new bed because the bunkbed he has is "too baby." We are doing a football theme. Mom and I bought him some Fatheads. They are these lifesize posters of athletes and the best part is that they are not permanent. They stick to the walls but you can take them down and move them around. His room is going to be a huge project, but it will be awesome when it's done.

After we clean out his room we are going to a movie to reward ourselves for our hard work.

Sunday its the Titans and the Jets. Go Titans!!!

Have a great weekend!!

Another Weekend Gone Too Soon

Weekends seem so short lately. I had a good one, though. Karen and I went shopping most of the day on Saturday. Cool Springs was busy!! Caleb stayed with Matt and Kami and the kids Saturday night and I spent the evening by myself on the sofa with my new soft throw from Linens and Things. They are going out of business and had some super good deals - you should check it out.

Sunday Karen and I went to Matt and Kami's to watch the game. How bout those Titans?! 10-0 Baby!!

By the way, for those of you who don't know, my sister is a rep for a company called 31 gifts. They have really cute stuff and almost everything can be personalized. I'm hooked for sure! Check them out at www.thirtyonegifts.com

Catch ya later!

Sleepy

The weather today is making me sleepy. It's cool and rainy and foggy. It's the kind of day that makes you want to stay in your pajamas and drink coffee. Alas, I am at work. Around 8:30 this morning the fire alarm went off. The second floor of our building is being renovated and the contractor tripped the alarm systemw, fire and security. Everyone evacuated the building into the drizzle as the EMS, fire and rescue, cops, and the alarm company people all showed up, only to find out that it was a false alarm. Grrr. I hope it gets better from here.

My shows are on tonight. Earl and The Office - yay!!

See y'all later!

Monday, Monday

Mondays are rough at the doctor's office. The only day worse than Monday is Friday. See, most people get sick at the beginning of the week and then wait until the very last minute and just HAVE to be seen on Friday. Those who don't come on Friday wait until Monday and just HAVE to be seen. Monday spills over into Tuesday, Wednesday levels off, then Thursday is dead, then BAM Friday hits like a Mack truck. Ugh. It's one of those Mondays. We were doing so well, then someone showed up late and now we are behind. I work for a doctor who does not run behind. He is, for the most part, very punctual. The only time we ever get behind is when someone shows up late. He usually sees the tardy people if they aren't more than 15 minutes late. Any later than that and they have to reschedule. Three people have been late today. It's frustrating. On top of all this, I have a screaming headache. Pray for me.

Psalm 109:8

"Let his days be few; and let another take his office."

Prayer Request

My boss' son is in the hospital. His name is Ian and he is 8 years old. Please pray for him.

Thanks!

I am a Monkey!!

You Are a Monkey

You are a very fascinating creature. People are interested in every little thing you do. You are smart, curious, and clever. You are naturally witty, and you have a great sense of humor. You can see things from many different angles, and you always have an interesting perspective on life. You are likely agile and playful. You stay physically fit simply by staying active.

What Animal Are You?

Code Blue

GO TITANS!!!!

Less than 11 hours to kickoff! I can't wait! I wore my light blue Titans scrubs to work today to show my support. It's gonna be awesome!

TGIF!

This has been quite a week. Work has been very busy. I have probably given 100 flu shots this week. We still have many patients to see today, but I had a little break so I thought I'd blog.

I don't have much planned for this weekend. Caleb is going to his dad's tomorrow morning. Sara and I are going to the Preds game tomorrow night. We love our Preds and we always have fun together.

Next week is the first parent teacher conference. I'm not worried because Caleb always does well. He's an overachiever. I wonder where he gets it ;) Northfield Elementary is having their annual Turkey Trot on Friday. TT is their yearly walkathon. Caleb is having his teeth extracted on Friday as well. He should be able to make it to school in time to trot if his anesthesia wears off quickly. We shall see. He would be so disappointed if he missed it. I also need to get him a halloween costume. Yes, I allow my child to dress up and trick-or-treat. Some people get their knickers in a twist over this and that's ok. Those people and I will have to agree to disagree. I did it when I was a kid and I'm still saved and everything. I have pictures of some of the finest Christian people I know dressed up for halloween and I fully expect to see all of them in Heaven, too. It's harmless. That's all I have to say about that.

Well, gotta run. Duty calls. Actually, Matt calls. Love y'all!

Caleb's Teeth

Bless his heart, Caleb has the worst teeth. He brushes, flosses, rinses - nothing helps. He has new cavities every time we go to tha dentist. Next week he has to have two teeth extracted. One of his teeth literally crumbled out of his mouth and the one behind it has a huge cavity to the point where the nerve is exposed. He is having significant pain when he eats so the teeth have to come out. The one that crumbled left a piece in his gum so it has to be cut out. He will have to be sedated. Not just gas, the good stuff, the Versed / Fentanyl coctail. Fabulous. I say if you have to have oral surgery, it is definitely the way to go. The surgeon Caleb's dentist sent us to is really nice. His dentist is great, too. The not so great part of all this is that I have to pay $400 out of pocket for the anesthesia. Ugh. Thankfully, October is a 3 payday month so I do have the extra cash. Thank you, Jesus! His dad is supposed to split this stuff with me 50/50, but you know how that goes...

Anywho, gotta run. Love y'all!

Tired

Whew. This has been an exhausting week. Dad is still in the hospital. His kidneys were not working properly right after surgery but they are improving now. The surgeon came in last night and told them that the lobe of his lung that they resected was completely dead. He said that he did not know exactly how or why but that his illness had to have been going on for at least a year. Scary stuff. Dad is still in a lot of pain but seems to be feeling better.

I am at work right now and completely bored. Matt is out today so that leaves me here to answer the phone and blog. Caleb is staying at MeeMaw's tonight. MeeMaw is his best friend Daniel's grandmother. She treats Caleb just like one of her own grandkids.

I guess I'm on my own tonight. Sounds nice.

Have a great weekend! Love y'all!!

Dad

Thank you for your prayers. Dad had surgery this morning and it took much longer than expected. The surgeon thought that he could just go in and clean out the infection, but the infection had eaten away quite a bit of the lower lobe of his right lung, so he had to remove that part of the lung completely. No cancer, thank the Lord. He is in the ICU for at least 24 hours since he has chest tubes. When the tubes come out they will move him to a regular room. Thank you, Lord, for a successful surgery and the complete recovery that is coming!

Prayer Request

My dad is having surgery tomorrow. He is having an abscess removed from his lung. I am believing for a successful surgery and complete recovery. Please keep him in your prayers.

Thanks!

The Big Easy

I had the most fun weekend. Karen and I went to New Orleans. Karen's husband, Jay, works for AT&T and took a job working down there until they get caught up from all the hurricane damage. We decided to go visit. I had never been there before. We had so much fun! We spent two days wandering around the French Quarter. We ate beignets and drank cafe au lait at Cafe du Monde. I had my first real po' boy - an allligator one - at Pierre Maspero's. Yummy! We went inside St. Louis' Cathedral at Jackson Square. It was beautiful. We went to Bourbon Street. It smelled awful. Lots of nudie clubs and bars. It really did reek. We found the coolest little shops and restaurants. I ate so much and the food was so good. I took home a cookbook so I can learn to cook cajun or creole or whatever. Jay worked all weekend so we only got to see him at night, so we had the days to do whatever. We saw some of the funniest stuff. We found a Shell Station that had a casino inside. INSIDE the gas station. Crazy. Also, they have drive through daquiri bars. I guess so you can get your drink on while you drive. Safe. We got stopped by a group of guys who were having a bachelor party. Karen had on a tanktop and everytime they saw a girl in a tanktop the groom had to do the "Souljah Boy" dance in the street. I got it on video because it was hilarious! I will probably post the pics to MySpace.

Caleb is in Florida with mom and dad. They went to Universal yesterday and today. They also went to the zoo. He is having a great time, but I miss him. He will be home Friday. After that, it's back to our usual hectic schedule, which is actually comforting for both of us because it feels strange to have downtime. Saturday is Ian and Anna's birthday party then the Preds home opener that night. Then Caleb will go home with Matt and Kami for a sleep-over.

I am so excited about hockey season! Can't wait!!!

Can't think of anything else now - gotta run! Love y'all!!

Just a Quick One

A few prayer requests. Sara had an interview today. I know many of you were praying for that already. She said it went well.

Karen has an interview today at 1pm. Please pray that it goes well.

Caleb is making his pitching debut tonight at 5:30. He has not had much practice but he has been asking the coach at every practice and game, "can I pitch next time?" so coach finally gave in and is letting him be the relief pitcher. I want him to do well. It is so important to him, so please pray that it goes well. I will be proud of him no matter what, but he gets so disappointed when he feels like doesn't play well. This will probably be his only chance this season, so I want him to have a good experience.

Have a blessed day. Love y'all!

Settling Down

Things are finally getting back to normal around my house. All the funeral stuff is finished, Mom and Dad are safely back in Florida, and I think I finally have caught up on my sleep. My routine is back to where it should be.

Caleb had a game last night. Unfortunately, they lost, but it was the best game they have played yet. Caleb was a little discouraged when the game was over. He was the last out (grounded out to 2nd). He said, "I feel like it's my fault." At out post-game meeting, he was awarded the game ball. He had a base hit, 3 stolen bases, several excellent plays at 3rd. It was his best game yet. He perked up after that. We didn't get home until 10. That is way past our bedtime!

Not much going on here. I'm at work and it's a slow day, which is odd for a Wednesday. Wed is our late day and is usually packed full. I'm grateful for a slow day today.

Gotta Run - love y'all!

Exhaustion

The last couple of days were really tough, but we made it through by the Grace of God. I was overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support shown by so many. Thank you to all who visited, sent flowers, and especially those who prayed and are praying for us. Your love means so much. Thanks to Trish for the yummy pasta. It really hit the spot when we finally got home Sunday night.

Sorry this post is so short, but I'm beat! I'm off to bed. Again, thank you, and I love you all.

Bad News, Good News *Updated*

My PaPa passed away early this morning. I'm sad that he is gone, but so glad he is no longer suffering. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. I love you all.

For those who wanted to know, visitation is on Saturday from 3-5 and service is Sunday at 3 at the Hackett Chapel of Sanderson Funeral home.

www.sandersonfuneralhomes.com

Thursday

Not a very creative title, but it will have to do , as I am not feeling especially creative today. I did get a new layout - pretty cute, huh?

Just to update, my PaPa is still not doing well. He is just lingering. I hope that he isn't suffering. My Granny says that he said the sinner's prayer with my uncle Eddie, and I am so thankful for that. Please continue to lift my family up in prayer.

Not too much going on here. Caleb is playing ball. His team is 0-3. He is not used to being on a losing team, so he takes it hard. He was in tears the other night. He told me and Sara that he felt like a loser and that he was trying his best, but still felt like a loser. We tried to reassure him. As I tucked him in, he told me that he was concerned that he would not get into a good school if he couldn't play ball. LOL! He's in third grade!! I told him not to worry about that right now. Good grief. Where do they get this stuff?

Tomorrow is "Grand-persons Day" at Caleb's school. My mom is coming in to go to his program. Caleb is so excited. The past few Grand-persons days, Sara has graciously filled in because Mom is in Florida and he gets upset if he thinks no one is coming. Since Mom is in TN, she will get to go. Sorry, Sara. You will probably still get to go to book fair!

See you later! Love y'all!

Tagged

I got tagged.
Here’s how you play:
Once you have been tagged, you have to write a blog with 10 weird, random things, facts, habits, or goals about yourself. At the end choose 10 people to be tagged, listing their names and why you chose them. Don’t forget to leave them a comment (you’re it) and to read your blog. You can’t tag the person that tagged you. Since you can’t tag me back, let me know when you’ve posted your blog so I can see your answers.

1. Midgets freak me out.
2. So do birds.
3. I love to make people laugh.
4. I love fireworks. Seriously. I love the 4th of July. I could spend every dime I have on fireworks.
5. Tardiness is my biggest pet peeve.
6. I can stomach just about anything. I can clean poop, pee, vomit, or blood, but I cannot stand earwax. Yuck!
7. I would love to learn to play piano.
8. I like to eat peanut butter straight from the jar.
9. I also like peanut butter on my waffles.
10. I am really good at giving shots. My patients tell me all the time that they don't even feel it.
I tag:
Karen and Tammy, because they are the only people who haven't done it yet.

Update

First, thank you to everyone out there praying for my family. It means more than you know.

PaPa is not doing well. He is still in the hospital and is still very agitated and not eating. He doesn't recognize people and thinks my Mom is his sister. His blood pressure is up now and they are trying to get it down so they can send him home. Mom arrived safely and is at the hospital now. Please continue to pray.

On a lighter note, I have a praise report! Earlier this year when I did my taxes I found out that I was going to have to pay a huge chunk of change to the government. This was very frustrating to me because I really didn't have the extra money laying around, but that's the way it goes, I guess. So yesterday when I got home, I had a refund check in the mail for almost $500! Praise the Lord! I was shouting in my living room and running around waving the check thanking the Lord for such a wonderful blessing on what had been, until then, a really lousy day. God is soooo good all the time, and knows how to give you that extra boost of goodness right when you need it most. Thank you, Jesus.

Love y'all.

Please Pray

My mom just called. Granny told her that PaPa is very bad and he probably won't make it through the day. The hospice nurse told Granny to call an ambulance and have him taken to the hospital, which I don't fully understand, since he is a hospice patient. Usually you don't take hospice patients to the hospital just because they are actively dying. That's the whole point of hospice, to let them die in peace at home. Anyway, that wasn't really supposed to be the focus of this blog. I really just need you all to pray for my family today. My mom is driving up here now. Please pray for her safety on the roads. Karen is taking this really hard. Just pray for all of us, please. Thank you, and I love you all.

Long Day

I woke up this morning at 5:30. It's Saturday for goodness sake! I could not go back to sleep. So I watched TV until it was time to get Caleb up for ball practice. I had to meet his coach at Hastings at 8:30 so he could ride with him. I got a little housework done while he was at practice. They practiced for more than 2 hours! Then we came home and got ready for Drew's 1st birthday party. There was a balloon animal maker there. He was amazing! I have never seen someone who could make so many things out of balloons. He made a car. It was big enough for Drew to sit in. He also made Ariel from The Little Mermaid, complete with purple shell bra. It was unreal. He made a palm tree with a monkey in it. That was my favorite.

I went to buy shoes for Caleb today. He is in adult sized shoes now, which means more $$. Shoes are expensive! When it comes to sneakers, I don't buy cheap. Sorry, I'm a sneaker snob. I save everywhere else, so I splurge on our kicks. He has had the same pair of Under Armour shoes for about 6 months, and they finally gave out. Under Armour is his current obsession. He has shoes, socks, underwear, hats, and shirts (long, short, and no-sleeves - perfect for every season). He wanted another pair of UAs, so I went to 2 different stores to find them and neither of them had them to fit him. I finally ended up special ordering them and having them shipped to the house. He has another pair he can wear until they arrive. So far, shoes are the only thing he doesn't let me pick out for him. He has, thus far, been pleased with my clothing choices. We'll see how long that lasts.

Gotta run - Caleb wants to play on the computer. Love y'all!

TGIF

This week has been forever-long. I am so glad it's Friday. I have nothing to do tonight. Actually, I really need to get busy cleaning my nasty house. Since we were gone last weekend, I didn't have time to clean. I will start tonight. I got a new dishwasher last week! I remember a time when a new dishwasher would have meant nothing to me. Now, it's like Christmas! Caleb is going skating with his friend Daniel tonight, so I will have the house to myself for a while tonight. Well, Sara might be there, but that's OK. We always have a good time together, even if we aren't doing anything but watching "The Soup" while she is on her Mac and I read a magazine. I love me some Say-Say.

I am at work right now. It's really slow and boring. Matt went to Buffalo for a funeral so I have nothing to do but watch my message basket and do refills. And blog, of course. If I was a good nurse, I would go through his mail for him. The day is young - I might get to it.

So, you may ask, what do I have on tap for the weekend? Well, Caleb has ball practice tomorrow, then we are going to my friend Melissa's house for her son Drew's first birthday party. Church Saturday night. After that, who knows.

Have a safe weekend. Love y'all!

Weekend Fun

I am worn out from this past weekend. Caleb and I went to Wilderness in the Smokies Resort with Matt, Kami, and their kids, and Jamie, Ann-Michele, and their boys. The resort has a waterpark. The kids loved it. The adults did, too, but it was much more fun for the young ones. The weather was perfect. I will post some pics when I get time.

Yesterday was Caleb's first kid-pitch baseball game. They lost. We were playing a team that has been playing kid-pitch for 3 seasons and they whuped us good. The pitcher looked like he was playing in the majors. We fielded well, but we could not get our bats going. Caleb was a little disappointed, but he got over it fast.

For those who didn't read it on Sara's blog, our PaPa is not doing well. He took a turn this weekend and is on major pain meds. The hospice nurse was supposed to have a hospital bed brought in on Monday. Please continue to pray for our family.

That's all for now. Love y'all.

It's Not Good...

My PaPa went to the doctor yesterday. He told him that he has about 3 months to live. They sent him home with hospice care. He has also been complaining of headaches and confusion. They are going to do a CT scan to see if there are any brain mets. If there are, they can treat them with radiation. I don't think they will find anything. His headaches and confusion predate the cancer. I know that you all are praying and it means more to me than you know. Thank you from me and my family. Someone asked me why I'm not praying for his complete healing. I tried to pray that way. I just didn't feel right about it. It's not that I don't think he can be healed. I know that God can heal him right now if he wants. I just don't feel in my heart that I should be praying that way. I feel like the Lord is telling me that it is almost his time to go and that I need to pray that he gives his heart to Jesus before he's gone. I feel like my focus needs to be on spiritual, not physical, healing. I so want him to go to heaven. I want my family to know that he is going to heaven. I want my Mom and Aunt Kim to know that he has made peace before he leaves.

Please continue to pray. I love y'all.

Prayer Request

My PaPa Frizzell is very sick. He has lung cancer and it has now spread to both lungs and some lymph nodes. He is getting weaker. I'm afraid he won't be with us much longer, and he is not saved. My Granny and mom and her brothers and sisters are hurting so much. It breaks my heart. Please keep him and my family in your prayers.

Judy

To my Mama Judy, whom I love and miss more than anyone could ever imagine.

And especially to Mandy and Lori. I am thinking of you today. I love you.

Seriously?!

So Mr. Patchouli-man came back today!!! I am going to be sick! The whole office reeks. Apparently, dude left his cell phone and came back to get it today. Everyone is commenting on the smell, and everyone has a different theory on what the smell resembles. Some say disinfectant, others say bug spray, and Matt says penicillin mold. I say ick. It is truly disgusting. I implore anyone who has made the choice to wear this horrific fragrance to please reconsider. If you must wear it, keep it at home. Shower before leaving the house. Think of the children.

I need a shower. It's all over me. Now I have a headache.

Tuesday Blues

So, it's Tuesday and I am, once again, bored at work. I hate when we don't have patients scheduled because I have nothing to do but stare at my computer. Matt came back just a few minutes ago so he will probably give me some stuff to get me through the rest of the day. Mostly we just goof off when it's just us here. Tomorrow is nursing home day. That means that the first half of the day Matt makes rounds at the nursing home, then we see patients in the office from 2-6.

I encountered a gentleman today who smelled just awful. Matt says he smells like penicillin mold. He said the hippie-chicks in college smelled like that. Must be a med school thing - I don't have a clue what penicillin mold smells like. I do know that this was the worst smell ever, but a familiar bad smell. My friend Kathy and I sat in front of this guy at a Preds game one time and he smelled equally terrible and Kathy says that he smells like patchouli. I looked it up on the internet and it's an herb used in many perfumes. I don't know any reasonable person who would intentionally go about smelling that way. It's just so bad. Moral of the story - stay away from patchouli. Trust me on this one.

I registered Caleb for school today. I can't believe he is going into the third grade! He is growing up right before my eyes. He is such a good kid. He is so funny and smart and he has such a big heart. I am so blessed.

Caleb has baseball tonight. Hopefully it will cool down some by 7 pm. He has been pitching really well and he seems to like it.

Thanks for all the prayers for LaNada's little girl. I haven't heard anything new, but I promise to keep you posted. Keep praying.

Love Y'all!

Urgent Prayer Request

Many of you know Freddie and Juanita Harding. My mom got an email today from their daughter, LaNada. She and her husband are missionaries in Indonesia. Their daughter, Alaiyah, was bitten by a spider a week or so ago and seemed to be doing better, but in the last 36 hours she has taken a turn for the worse. She has been through painful procedures to try to drain the pus from her little leg. She is very swollen and has a very high fever. I believe in a God who heals and I know that you do, too, so please lift Alaiyah up in prayer today. Pray also for LaNada and Nathan, and for the Indonesian doctors who are treating her.

Thank you, Jesus.

Amen.

New Treat!

Today at lunch I went to Sonic. Not a healthy choice, but it's really close to work and I didn't have much time. Anyway, they have a new ice cream treat called the Fried Ice Cream Blast. It's vanilla ice cream with caramel sauce and pieces of fried ice cream stuff mixed in. I am not a huge ice cream fan, but I used to get fried ice cream at the Mexican restaurant when I was little and I loved the crispy cinnamon part. So I got it and it is delish! MmmMmm.

Today has been a pretty slow day at work. Everyone is out enjoying the sunshine, I guess. It's good that no one is sick, but it makes my day go slowly. If not for physicals, we wouldn't have anyone on the schedule today.

This weekend is going to be busy. We are having family portraits made tomorrow at Cannonsburg. I have to find a white button-down shirt. Dad, Caleb, and Jay are wearing their shirts from the wedding, but I don't have one. Gotta find one quickly! Sunday is our family reunion on the Merrell side. It's all the way in Camden, which makes for a long, tiring day. I am not much of a social butterfly, so I don't like mingling with people I don't know, even if I am related to ALL of them. I will stick close to Jay and Karen.

Have a great weekend! Love y'all!!

'Nother day...

Thanks for all the comments y'all left on my "memories" blog. Good memories. Good times.

Not much going on today. Matt doesn't see patients on Tuesday afternoons, so I am here answering the phone and filling scripts. Mostly boring stuff, so now I'm blogging so the world may be bored, too.

Erika blogged about her daugter singing "momma's gonna buy you a knocking bird" over and over. Too funny. It got me thinking about when Karen was little and she used to sing "there's flour in the blood" all the time. Those were the only words she knew, and she didn't even know them correctly. Caleb sings "Cat Scratch Beaver" and "Another One Fights the Dust-AH." When Amy was little she used to sing a song about a booger in the water. I think Jacinda made it up. I wish I could remember. Kids crack me up.

Anywhoo... Gotta run. Love y'all!

Weekend Fun

Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a great weekend. Caleb spent the night with his friend Ian on Friday, then Mom, Caleb, and I went to the Sounds' game Saturday night with Matt, Kami, Ian, Anna, and Isabella. The Sounds won and there were fireworks afterward. I love fireworks!

I can't believe it's almost time for school to start. I look forward to it because I feel like I have more of a routine then. During the summer when Mom is here and Caleb is out of school it's more relaxed, but I enjoy having a daily routine. First, I get up and take a shower. Then I wake Caleb up and get him ready, then breakfast, then teeth brushed and shoes on and out the door to pick up Daniel and head to school. Then I go to work and when I get off it's ball practice / games then home and homework, dinner, bath and bed. Same thing every day. It works well for me and Caleb.

August is going to be a busy month for us. Our weekends are already booked. This weekend we have family pictures on Saturday, then a family reunion on Sunday in Paris. The next weekend I have to make several huge banana puddings for a party on the 9th. The next week school starts and we are going to Gatlinburg with the Abbates and MacDonalds for the weekend. We are going to the new Wilderness in the Smokies resort and waterpark. Should be fun. By then, I will need a weekend away! The next weekend we have 2 birthday parties, and I'm sure ballgames will be starting then so I will be a busy bee!

Well, gotta run. I'm supposed to be working!

Love y'all!

Game

I stole this from Erika:

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that we had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot; anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses.If you leave a memory about me, I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. Have Fun!

The Pics I Promised...

Caleb is Home!!

Caleb is home after being in Florida with my mom for 3 weeks. I missed him so much. I think her grew several inches while he was gone. This week I am taking him to Atlanta to see the Braves play and go to the aquarium. I am trying to keep it a secret. I want to just put him in the car and go. I'm not very good at keeping that kind of thing under wraps, but I am trying.

Over the weekend, Caleb taught me to play Guitar Hero. I bought him the new Aerosmith edition. I'm not big on video games, but that is really fun! I see how people get hooked on it. It gave me hand cramps and a sore wrist, though.

Matt is on vacation this week so I am here holding down the fort, answering the phone, filling prescriptions, and whatnot. I am only working today and tomorrow, then I am off for the rest of the week. Thank the Lord for vacation.

I finally found the charger to my camera, so I can get some of my pictures off it and post them. I will try to do that tonight when I get home. I have some good ones from Sara's graduation party and Karen's wedding. Hopefully I will find time to post them - I know some of you would like to see them.

Love y'all!!

Me Too!

COUNTRY WESTERN SINGER NAME: (mother & father’s middle name): Ray (mom doesn't have a middle name)

NASCAR NAME: (first name of your mother’s dad, father’s name) : James Dennis

STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first name): Bulam
DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal): Det. Orange Coonhound

SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born) Kathleen Mayfield

SUPERHERO NAME: (2nd fav color, fav drink, add “THE” to the beginning): The Pink Sweet Tea

FLY NAME: (first 2 letters of 1st name, last 2 letters of your last name)AmBu

ROCK STAR NAME: (current pets name, current street name):Miss Howler Snyder

DANCER NAME: (name of your fav perfume/cologne, fav candy): Juicy Twix

AMERICAN GLADIATOR NAME (model name of your current car): Malibu

Relay For Life

Tonight is the Relay For Life. It is a charity walk that supports cance research. I am walking the midnight - one a.m. shift this evening. Definitely past my bedtime, but it's for a great cause. I don't know anyone whose life has not been affected in some way by cancer. My PaPa Frizzell was recently diagnosed with lung cancer - please remember him when you pray. I am walking for him tonight and also in memory of Judy Douglas, someone I love and miss and think of every day.

Blessing - Good health.

Doctor Visits

Today I had 2 appointments. First, I went to the GYN for a small procedure. I have endometriosis. No big deal, but this procedure was slightly painful and I am still having some residual cramping. Funny story - I have been saying for weeks now "I am going to the gyno." Today as I was getting ready to leave, Caleb asked me, "Mom, what's a dino?" I said, "what?" He said, "you know, the 'dinotologist' that you are going to see today." LOL! I thought is was hilarious!

After the "dino" I went to the dermatologist. I had to have some skin tags removed from my neck. I am not a needlephobe by any stretch of the imagination, as I give shots everyday, and I don't mind getting them, either. However, when the nurse brought in the needles and scalpels today, I was surprised by how I freaked a little. I mean, considering that I am not a complete moron, and, in fact, have a medical license that allows me to use those same sharp objects on others, I should not have been surprised by the fact that Dr. Byers would need them in order to remove the nasty moles, yet I was still a little put-off by them. I got over it and didn't feel a thing and everything was fine, other than having what looks and feels like four HUGE insect bites on my neck.

Caleb has a baseball game tonight at 8:00. Man, that's late for an 8 year old to play. I guess since school is out it doesn't matter, but I am a very "early to bed" kind of girl, so we will get home past my bedtime. Oh, well. It's just one night.

Blessing - Each of my procedures went well today. Oh, and a day off from work!

Love y'all!

Yay, God!

Thank you, Lord!

I requested prayer for my friend Julia yesterday. Well, as expected, the Lord came through for her in a big, BIG, way. Thank you, thank you, Lord!! You are our provider and our strength - thank you for you endless grace and mercy.

Wooooooo! I just want to shout!

Prayer Request

Today has been rough. I have been yelled at on the phone by more than one person. I pray for those who yelled - may the Lord bless each and every one. Thank you, Lord.

Please lift my friend Julia up in prayer today and tomorrow. I love you, Jules, and I know that the Lord will intervene for you and Gavin. You are victorious, in Jesus' name.

I love each and every one of you and am praying for you.

Sorry, I forgot to blog...

I always forget to blog. I read and comment on everyone else but for some reason I forget that people might want to know what I am doing.

Today, I am at work. It's a little slow today, as Thursdays tend to be. Mom is visiting for the summer, so Caleb is spoiled rotten. Last time I blogged he was going to Mobile with friends. He had a blast! Tuesday night he stayed with his friend, Ian, and last night he stayed with the Bradfords. Tonight he has his last regular season baseball game and then he starts tournaments on the 9th. Whoo! We are busy. Well, he's busy. I'm just along for the ride! I'm glad he stays occupied. It's better than sitting around playing video games all day, although he has been known to do that, too.

Work has been slowing down a little lately. It usually does during the summer. People are sicker during the fall and winter, or maybe it's just too pretty outside to waste time at the doctor's office. We have had three cancellations today. I'm not complaining, because I would like to get out on time for Caleb's game.

Gotta go - many mammograms to schedule and pap smears to obtain. Ew.

Not much going on...

I'm just sitting at work trying to think of something to post about. Caleb is going to Mobile Bay this weekend with Matt and Kami. They love to take Caleb places and have him over to their house to play with their son, Ian. They always compliment him (and me) on how well-behaved and polite he is. It makes me feel good to know that other people see that, too. He will have fun and I will have a kid-free weekend. Weird - I hardly ever get those. I am not used to being away from him because, well, I'm never away from him. He will be gone for 5 whole days! Karen and Jay and I are going to see the new Indiana Jones movie on Friday night. Ball practice tonight and then I have to do one more load of laundry to finish packing Caleb's stuff. I have to get my emissions tested then my new tag stuff tomorrow then drop Caleb off at Matt's then come to work. My supervisor is great - she's letting me come in a little late so I can get all my stuff done. Thanks, Shelly!

See, not much going on.

Blessing -my handsome, smart, funny, well-behaved son. Have fun this weekend, babe.

Love y'all!

My Turn

One word answers YOU CAN ONLY TYPE ONE WORD!Not as easy as you might think. Now copy or forward, change the answers to suit you and pass it on. It's really hard to only use one word answers.
1. Where is your cell phone?.......Purse
2. Your significant other? ..........Nada
3. Your hair? ............................Blonde
4. Your mother?..........................Funny
5. Your father? ............................Recuperating
6. Your favorite thing? ..................Caleb
7. Your dream last night?.............amnesia
8. Your favorite drink?...................Tea
9. Your dream/goal?....................contentment
10. The room you're in?.................Office
11. Your hobby?...........................Singing
12. Your fear?...............................Gators
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years?.......Happy
14. Where were you last night?...... Recliner
15. What you're not?......................serious
16. Muffins?...................................Sure
17. One of your wish list items?.........television
18. Where you grew up?................Nashville
19. The last thing you did?...............Blog
20. What are you wearing?..............Scrubs
21. Your TV? ................................Old
22. Your pets?................................Howler
23. Your computer.....................Slow
24. Your life?................................Hectic
25. Your mood?..............................Silly
26. Missing someone?...................Nope
27. Your car?.................................Malibu
28. Something you're not wearing?......Jacket
29. Favorite store?...........................Book
30. Your summer?.........................Ballpark
31. Like someone?........................Sure
32. Your favorite color......................Orange
33, When is the last time you laughed? ..............Lunch
34. Last time you cried?..................... Sunday
35. Who will resend this? .....................Unknown

Hanging Tough

I am going to see New Kids on the Block in Chicago in October.

Yes, you read that correctly. Karen and I along with our friend Ashley and one of her friends are going to Chicago to see NKOTB. I am so excited. It has brought up all kinds of memories of the last time I saw them. Kim Taylor bought me tickets for my birthday. She had me go on a scavenger hunt to find the tickets. I don't remember too much about the show, I just remember being really excited and having the time of my life with Kim and Wendy and Terra. At least, I think Terra was there. Anywho, it was awesome and I think I still have the t-shirt somewhere. We got the tickets before they actually went on sale (thanks, Ash) and Chicago was the closest venue. I have never been there. Should be lots of fun!

I had a great Mother's day. Caleb got me a Barnes and Noble gift card and a Bon Jovi CD. So sweet. He knows I love to read and I love Bon Jovi! We stayed home all day and watched Indiana Jones movies.

Gotta Run. Love Y'all!

Good Times

Sara graduated from MTSU on Saturday and afterward we went to Aunt Kim's for her graduation party. It was so much fun! I especially enjoyed getting to see some old friends - David and Rita, Tammy and Steve, and LaDonna. When I saw LaDonna and Tammy I just wanted to cry! I didn't realize that I would be so happy to see them. It was good getting caught up and just being together. I was also glad to meet Lindsei, LaDonna's daughter. She is beautiful, just like her mom. Everyone seemed to have a great time. There was a ton of food - most of us took home piles of leftovers. Thanks for inviting me, Sara! I had a great time.

Caleb had a baseball game last night. They won by a landslide. I almost felt bad for the other team. Caleb had an unassisted double play at third. He was so happy. He is also batting better. His dad worked with him and it really seemed to help.

This week is nurses week, so hug a nurse!

Love y'all!

Congratulations!

Just wanted to give a big shout out to my cousins, Sara and Jennifer. They are both graduating from college tomorrow and I couldn't be more proud.

Congratulations, and I love you both.

First Day Back

It's my first day back in Internal Medicine and it has been challenging. We normally start clinic at 9am. Matt showed up at 8:45 and I thought, wow, we can get a running start. I already had 3 patients checked in, so I brought the first one back early. Or so it seemed. Unfortunately, I discovered that the scheduling template was changed and our patients had been booked starting at 8am. So we weren't 15 min early, we were 45 min behind. We were booked at 8am for the entire month. After a phone call or two and a minor freak-out, we started clinic. As of press time, we are an hour and twenty minutes behind. Now I know some of you are thinking that doctors run behind all the time. Not this one. We are very punctual. The only times we run behind are in cases of unforseen disaster such as this, or people really sick at the hospital, or - and this is my biggest pet peeve and the #1 reason we get behind - people show up late. So we have spent the majority of the morning apologizing to cranky guests. They are justified in their crankiness, as am I since it was not my fault and I will not be getting a lunch today.

I pray it gets better.

Goodbye, Neurosurgery!

Today is my last day working in neurosurgery. My time there has been most enjoyable. Dr. Boone and Jack have been terrific. Too bad Dr. B is moving to Houston. If you ever need spine surgery and are in the Houston area, look him up. He is the best.

So tomorrow I am back in my home. I don't think Matt is terribly thrilled about coming back to work. Our schedule is going to be crazy for the next few months until we caught up. I can't believe he has been gone for 6 weeks! We are together 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. After 5 years of that, I guess we needed a break LOL!

Pray for me. Tomorrow will be insane!!

Life is Hard...

... But God is good!

I found out today that I have to re-apply for my job. Not just me, all the nurses in my clinic have to do this. I have had the same job for more than 5 years. I'm told it's because they are reorganizing and my job description is changing so I have to decide if I want to keep my old job with new responsibilities. Sounds like a lot of paperwork and expense for nothing. In then end, it is creating new jobs in our building which means more help for me. We will have a clerical person to do all of the paperwork, a phone nurse who handles nothing but phone calls, then me - the clinic nurse. It sounds good, in theory, but I am not sure if it is practical. Also, they want to put an additional nurse to float in between me and Rebekah (another clinical nurse). To tell the truth, I am so used to doing everything myself that I think I might get bored. AND - here's the best part - anyone can apply for any position in the clinic. So anyone can apply for my job. Silver lining - Matt has sole discretion on who his clinical nurse is, so I don't think I have anything to worry about. Unless he is tired of me. Nah.

My legs are much less swollen today, but still very red and slightly painful. I tried to wear my New Balance to work today, but I had to take them off because they are rubbing the tops of my feet. Luckily, I don't have patients or a provider today, so I can sit in my office shoeless and nobody knows or cares.

Today was "crazy hair day" at Caleb's school. We bought that spray-on hair color last night. He wanted half his hair blue and half green, so we painted it before school this morning. He looked funny. We picked up Daniel and he had a bright blue mohawk. I saw lots of crazy hair when I dropped them off. Yesterday was crazy sock day and tomorrow is sports day, so Caleb is wearing his football stuff. I used to love going to school dressed crazy. Pajama day was my favorite.

Let's see - baseball tonight, then to the grocery for a couple of things, then home to bed. Sounds like a full day!

Blessing - My sweet Caleb who makes me laugh every day. I love you, babe.

Love ya'll, too!

Acute Radiation Toxicity

We got back from Florida on Monday and I drove myself straight to the emergency room. Yes, friends, I have sun poisoning. My feet and lower legs were so swollen I could barely walk. By the time I got to the ER my feet didn't even look like feet. They looked like large loaves of bread with toes sticking out. Huge! I was afraid that I had cellulitis, but the doctor said that he didn't think I had any infection - yet. He also said it was one of the worst cases of sun poisoning he had ever seen. He gave me pain meds and told me to take aspirin four times a day. I feel much better today. I was able to put a shoe on. It is still painful to walk, but much improved from Monday. For those of you just itching to lecture me on the value of sunblock, save it. I was wearing it. Only the bottom half of my legs got the scorching. The rest of me is a very pretty tan.

The wedding was beautiful. We had a really good time (aside from the sun poisoning) and Karen looked gorgeous. The weather was perfect. It was really hard to come back to work after being off for almost a week!

Mom and dad moved into their new house yesterday. It is so pretty. I am happy for them.

Not much else going on - Love y'all.

Wedding Nonsense

I am going on vacation this week and I could not be more excited! Karen and Jay are getting married on Sunday in Jacksonville. I am leaving on Thursday and it can't get here fast enough! It will be a long drive, but totally worth it. Julia, Gavin, Caleb, and I will be pimpin the Malibu all the way down to the beach. I am so excited! I am almost completely packed - you know, all but the stuff you can't pack until the last minute, like toothbrushes and stuff.

We had Karen's bachelorette party on Saturday. It was very tame, just her best girlfriends all together eating, laughing, and telling stories. It was fun.

Did everyone read on Karen's blog about the snapping turtle? If not, use the link on the side of my page to go there. It was hilarious! That was the biggest turtle I have ever seen. And it had claws and it peed on Karen. I wish I had been there. That kind of stuff only happens to Karen.

I am kinda bummed because I am missing the Preds game tonight. It's the playoffs. Normally I wouldn't miss a playoff game, but Caleb has a baseball game so I have to go to that. He is missing Saturday's game because we will be in Florida, so he can't miss tonight. I will get to go on Wednesday, though. Hopefully the Preds can pull out a win tonight so we can stay in the playoffs. We shall see. Sara is going in my place. Yell loud for me, Sara, and give my love to #20.

Love y'all.

It's A Girl!

Baby Isabella arrived yesterday at 5:25 pm. She is soooo cute. She has a head full of black curly hair. Thank you to all who prayed. She is perfect, healthy and adorable.

Pray

I know I ask y'all to pray all the time, so it won't come as a shock to you that I am asking again. They are taking my friend for an emergency C-section. I know that God will take care of it all.

Blessing - knowing that I have praying friends. I love y'all.

Beautiful Day

Isn't it gorgeous outside? I soooo did not want to come back from lunch today. I got my car washed because it was all yucky from the snow and salt. It was so pretty and shiny in the bright sun!

Not too much going on. Baseball practice started last week, so that is going to keep me busy through mid-June. Caleb really enjoys playing and he is pretty good. Out of all the kids trying out in his age group, he was drafted 2nd. I was impressed! He likes playing 3rd and 1st bases, so I hope he gets to do that again this season.

M&K's baby update: C-section is scheduled for March 24th. I am really excited for them. Matt seems nervous, but he will be fine.

Blessing for today - beautiful day and my sister brought me lunch.

Answered Prayers

Thank you, thank you, Jesus!

Fluid levels are up; no C-section today!! Yay!!

I Need Everyone to Pray, Please...

...For my friend Kami. She is pregnant and not due until April 1st. The doctor told her today that her fluid is very low and that if it is not better by Wednesday she will need a C-Section then. This means little Isabella will be about 4 weeks premature. Please say a prayer for Isabella, Kami, and Matt.

I love y'all, and thanks for the prayers.

My Blessing For Today

I am thankful for good friends. Caleb did not have school today, so I was kinda stuck without a sitter. My friend Rebekah graciously offered to keep him today so I would not have to miss work. Thank you, Lord, for my friend.

Prayer Request

Pray for Karen. She woke up this morning with severe low back pain and her right leg was numb. She is in the Vandy ER now.

My blessing for today is that everyone in my house is well. There is so much sickness going around right now. I don't ever remember a year when we have seen so many sick people. Kami (Matt's wife) is in the hospital again with nausea/vomiting. Both of her kids are sick with strep and flu. The lady in the office next to me is hacking and has a fever, Dr. White down the hall has the flu. It's awful. I am trusting Jesus to keep me and Caleb (and Sara and Amy, since they live with us) well through the flu season.

I also want to give a shout out to my future brother-in-law. He is so good to me and Caleb. He picks Caleb up every Wednesday because I work late. Last week he took him to Logan's for dinner and then brought me dessert when he dropped him off. Thanks, Jay.

Oh, What a Night!

Saturday night was the 2nd annual Vanderbilt Winter Dinner Dance. Sara was my date. We had so much fun. There was dinner and dancing and getting to hang out with my work friends. It's weird seeing everyone dressed up since we are usually in scrubs. I got to sing with Soul Incision. I was awesome, and everybody danced while I sang. Karen and Jay were there, too. Karen looked so cute. Julia did her hair and it was adorable. Sara looked cute, too. I have pictures of all of this on MySpace, so go check it out. I think Sara put some on her blog as well. My feet were killing me by the end of the night and I lost my voice, but we had a fantastic time.

Blessing for today - We have a lighter schedule at work today and will not be as rushed as we were on Friday. I will be able to get caught up.

Great Idea, Tammy!

I think Tammy had an excellent idea about blogging about blessings.

Today, Amy sent me a text offering to cook dinner for me tonight, turkey burgers and salad - yum! Thank you Amy, and thank you Jesus for wonderful friends and family. It will be such a blessing to not have to cook when I get home from work tonight.

I am blessed!

Stormy Weather...

I am exhausted today. We (Amy, Sara, and I) were up most of the night because of the storms. We spent some time in the bathroom. Well, Caleb did. He slept for about 45 min in the bathroom floor, bless his heart. The rest of us watched TV in Amy's room and kept each other laughing so we didn't think so much about the storm. The funny thing was that during the tornado warning, it really didn't do much outside, but after the tornado warning expired it stormed really bad for an hour or so. Thank the Lord, we didn't have any damage.

Say a prayer for Matt's wife, Kami. She was admitted to the hospital last night with severe vomiting. For those who don't know, Matt is the doctor I work for and Kami is very pregnant. Hopefully she will get to go home today but she is feeling pretty miserable right now.

Thanks, Sara for showing me how to do the links and stuff. I feel better about my blog now.

Good Day

I have not been feeling well this week. Today I felt much better and I was able to get a lot of housework done. Laundry was reaching critical mass here - I did eight loads!

Melinda Doolittle sang at church tonight. She brought the house down! God has blessed her with such talent. She just blessed me to pieces. She was in the lobby after church and she seemed just as sweet and humble in person as she was on television.

Allen's sermon was great, too. He made one statement that really stuck with me. "Just because you fail does not mean that you are a failure." So simple, yet it really hit home for me. So many times I feel like when I fail I have to give up and start all over. God loves me, faults and all. He knows that I will stumble, fall, and fail. I shouldn't feel like a failure. I am not a failure. I am an overcoming child of God.

I love you all.

Britney, Britney, Britney *shakes head*

I am so frustrated with Britney Spears and her acting like a retard. Seriously. She needs Jesus.

I have been sick for the last few days. I took a flu test today and it was negative, thank the Lord. I guess I just have the crud like everyone else. Mucinex and fluids for me! I called in sick to work yesterday. I hardly ever do that, to which my 208 hours of accrued sick time will attest. I probably should have stayed home today, too, but I can't stand the thought of going back to work to a big mess, and that's exactly what will happen if I stay gone too long. It's not that the others here are incompetent, they just don't do my job like I do and then doc gets all fussy and stuff is left undone and I have to clean it up. I do feel better today, but I know I could have used the rest. Oh, well.

Love Y'all.

RIP, Heath Ledger

I'm kinda bummed about Heath. I think he was a good actor. So young. Now his baby has no daddy. So sad.

On a lighter note (ha!), I have lost - drum roll, please - 7 pounds this week! I am so happy and proud of myself. I still have quite a way to go, but I know I can do it. Thanks again to all of you for your support.

We have been pretty busy at work today. We are seeing lots of what we just call "the cough." It's a persistent cough (I'm talking weeks, y'all), sinus congestion, and fatigue with no fever. There's not really a whole lot we can do for it. Antibiotics are not helpful. Rest, fluids, Mucinex. I feel bad for people because I know they are miserable and there's just not a magic feel-better pill. If there was, I would give it to Amy and Sara. They have wicked-bad bronchitis. Seriously, my house sounds like a TB ward. Caleb and I have escaped it thus far. I pray he doesn't get sick.

I tried to come up with another paragraph, but I'm all out of stuff to talk about.

Love y'all.

Not Much Going On

I took the day off yesterday and didn't do too much. Caleb was out of school so Daniel came over to spend the night Sunday and they played most of the day on Monday. We were supposed to go to the Preds game, but Caleb fell asleep around 4. He slept for a few hours, got up and ate, then went back to bed.

Dance War was good last night. Bruno's team was better, and I'm not just saying that because Charity is on his team. Their routines were just better. Granted, I think Carrie Ann has the power house singers, but they still fell short in my opinion. I voted 5 times - Go Charity!!!

Work is dull today.

See y'all later. Love y'all.

Thanks, Y'all!

Thanks to all for the encouraging comments on my last blog. You have no idea how much I needed it.

Today has been pretty dull. I cleaned the house, did lots of laundry. I am really bad about putting laundry off until I'm down to that last pair of drahs. You know, the ones you've had for years that don't quite fit and have that one spot that won't come out but they really are clean but you haven't gotten rid of them and always make them your last resort? Maybe that's just me. Anywho, lots of laundry.

Church was good tonight. I enjoy Saturday night service. We started our New Year's Series. It's a World Outreach tradition. It has an airport/travel theme so the courtyard looks like an airport terminal. They also had an airplane flying overhead with a light-up sign underneath it that announced the new series. The message was really good as well. He talked about fear. Did you know that the Bible uses the phrase "do not be afraid" more than 400 times?

The diet is going well. I have not cheated at all and I credit this to Jesus. I pray for the ability to resist temptation, because I love me some food. I am going to weigh on Wednesday, so we shall see how it goes. I will keep you posted.

Amy is downstairs eating green bean fries with ranch dressing and lobster tortellini from TGIFridays. Give me strength.

Love you all.

The Fat Bridesmaid

I decided at the first of the year that I would order Nutrisystem. I started today. When the box of food came last night, it was a little overwhelming. The box weighed more than forty pounds and I started to freak out a little. It was slightly bizarre to see all the food I would be eating for the next 28 days spread out in front of me. Caleb was excited. He kept saying, "this food looks good. I wish I was fat so I could eat it." LOL! I feel more motivated than ever to lose weight. I refuse to be the fat bridesmaid at Karen's wedding. So far today I have eaten cereal with a banana, cheese tortellini with fruit, and tonight I will have a cheese pizza. I have also consumed 60 ounces of water. For dessert tonight I get to eat a cookie. Funsies!

My starting weight was 239 pounds. I will keep you posted. Prayers and words of encouragement are always appreciated.

Love y'all!

P.S. - Sara, did you ever know that you're my hero? You're everything I wish I could be. I can fly higher than an eeeeeagle. You are the wind beneath my wings. Flyyyyyyyy..... Flyyyyyy....

So I Turned 31...

No big deal. It was quite uneventful.

Did everyone catch Dance War last night? I am so happy for Charity! I think she is going to do well. She kinda got screwed on that first song last night. It was a terrible song and it was obvious that the key was not comfortable for any of the girls. None of them sounded good on it. Charity danced her butt off, though. Bruno is lucky to have her. We all need to make sure we vote for her!

You will be happy to know that I think we got rid of the smell in our office. It doesn't smell like the Mission in here anymore.

Y'all have a good day!

Prayer Request

A woman I know is having brain surgery next week, so I am asking all of you to lift her up in prayer. I believe that the Lord will bring her through it, but it it always comforting to know that others are praying and believing with you.

Dance War

Did everyone see Dance War last night? Charity was awesome!

On a Completely Unrelated Subject...

...We have a problem with the air ducts in our office. It has been warm today, so Matt turned the air on. The air that blows out of the ducts smells like dirty feet. At first I thought it was me, so I'm smelling my pits and making sure there's nothing on my shoes. After about an hour I started asking other people if they smelled it and, of course, they did. It wasn't me. It smells like something soured. Like when you leave a wet dishrag laying around. Funky. Beyond funky. I mean, this is a friggin clinic. It should smell clean. Right now it smells like the church sanctuary after a night of "Room in the Inn." Come on Woodbiners, you know what I'm saying. Ugh.

Sometimes I Forget to Blog. Alot.

Today, I just have to blog. God is so good to me everyday, but today in particular he blessed me to pieces. I won't go into details, but I prayed for something last night, something I really needed, and I just put it in his hands and believed that It would happen, and It did. Praise the Lord! I actually had needed it for a while, but I tried to do it on my own, and I just screwed it up. Why do I always do that? Thankfully, the Lord had mercy on me and my hard head and took care of it. Thank you, Lord.