From, me

pics

2009-03-14T17:11:00.003-05:00

Wow, it's been a while!

2009-02-04T16:26:00.017-06:00

Well, I didn't realize it had been so long, so here's the last couple months (in reverse for some reason. Wish I could fix that) from crawling to standing up and barely holding on to our first tooth! My computer has issues with my camera sometimes.

2008-11-30T15:39:00.005-06:00

For Kathleen

2008-11-04T16:41:00.000-06:00

Got this email today...I kinda liked it.

YES, I'M A BAD AMERICAN

I Am the Liberal-Progressives Worst Nightmare. I am an American.
I am a Master Mason and believe in God.
I ride Harley Davidson Motorcycles and believe in American products.

I believe the money I make belongs to me and my family, not some Liberal governmental functionary be it Democratic or Republican!
I'm in touch with my feelings and I like it that way!

I think owning a gun doesn't make you a killer, it makes you a smart American.

I think being a minority does not make you noble or victimized, and does not entitle you to anything. Get over it!

I believe that if you are selling me a Big Mac, do it in English.

I believe everyone has a right to pray to his or her God when and where they want to.

My heroes are John Wayne, Babe Ruth, Roy Rogers, and
Willie G Davidson that makes the Awesome Harley Davidson Motorcycles.

I don't hate the rich. I don't pity the poor.

I know wrestling is fake and I don't waste my time watching or arguing about it.
I've never owned a slave, or was a slave, I haven't burned any witches or been persecuted by the Turks and neither have you! So, shut up already.
I believe if you don't like the way things are here, go back to where you came from and change your own country! This is AMERICA ..
We like it the way it is!

If you were born here and don't like it you are free to move to any Socialist country that will have you.
I want to know which church is it exactly where the Reverend Jesse Jackson preaches, where he gets his money, and why he is always part of the problem and not the solution..
Can I get an AMEN on that one?

I also think the cops have the right to pull you over if you're breaking the law, regardless of what color you are.
And, no, I don't mind having my face shown on my drivers license.
I think it's good..... And I'm proud that 'God' is written on my money.

I think if you are too stupid to know how a ballot works, I don't want you deciding who should be running the most powerful nation in the world for the next four years.
I believe the president of the United States should put his hand over his heart and say the pledge of allegiance and should have no reservations about wearing American flag pins on his lapel.
I dislike those people standing in the intersections trying to sell me stuff or trying to guilt me into making 'donations' to their cause. Get a Job and do your part!

I believe that it doesn't take a village to raise a child, it takes two parents.
I believe 'illegal' is illegal no matter what the lawyers think.
I believe the American flag should be the only one allowed in AMERICA !

If this makes me a BAD American, then yes, I'm a BAD American.

If you are a BAD American too, please forward this to everyone you know.
We want our country back!

We NEED GOD BACK IN OUR COUNTRY!

WE LIVE IN THE LAND OF THE FREE, ONLY BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE

2008-10-18T11:31:00.002-05:00

So, I guess I'll actually write about what Kylie's doing. She's almost 7 months now (will be on Wednesday). Can you believe it?? I sure can't. Where has time gone?!?! She is the most precious little girl, EVER. Sorry if you disagree. ;-) I really have no complaints, I mean I think I, we (Mike and I), have the easiest job as parents in history. She eats, sleeps, poops and plays. What else can you ask for? Or what less could you ask for I guess would be better put. She so much wants to crawl. She's almost there. I'm dreading the day because I'm not ready to have to keep up with her! She's getting up on her hands and feet, sometimes the knees. And, the dreaded new thing, she's started shaking her head "no". Of course, she doesn't know what it means, just something she's doing, but, it's the beginning of the end, haha. Nah, we'll just start saying "yes" more often. :)

Last time I weighed her she was 16.2lbs. I don't know how long she is but at the last Dr. appointment I think she was 25.5 inches. I don't really remember.

I think we've finally gotten our first "head cold". Hopefully it's nothing more serious. She's had a runny nose and is stuffy, and has had a low fever. I'm keeping Tylenol and Motrin in her. She's been pretty happy, not too fussy. She cried a little last night but we fell asleep in the rocker, so all was well.

She's been sleeping all night for a while now. It's a wonderful thing! She can usually find her own paci and put it in herself. Sometimes she can't find it so she lets me know and I go plug it in and she's fine. I barely even wake up. :) She's been sleeping quite a bit during the day lately. I'm wondering if she's having a growth spurt again. She can put herself to sleep, as well, which is also a wonderful thing. We just put her in her bed with her paci and bear/blanket thingy and off she goes (after about 10 minutes of rubbing the bear and turning over a few times). Well, speaking of her sleeping, she's waking up from a nap, so I must go. I'll try to write more, more often. :)

more 6 month pics (not fancy ones, just her while she's 6 months)

2008-10-17T19:08:00.005-05:00

Pumpkin patch photos

2008-10-13T16:48:00.019-05:00

I couldn't get her to smile in any. It was really windy so I think she was taken by the wind, but they're cute anyway. I hope to get back out there before all of the pumpkins are gone and do some different pictures.

almost 6 months

2008-09-18T19:48:00.021-05:00

trying sweet potatoes for the first time!!!

going on 6 months

2008-09-08T18:30:00.011-05:00

2008-08-23T20:03:00.012-05:00

all for now

2008-08-22T19:31:00.007-05:00

Don't know how to put the pics on here differently...so they're just gonna be one long line. :)

2008-08-21T20:55:00.008-05:00

Kylie's 4 months old!!

2008-07-23T14:07:00.000-05:00

So, I told you I wasn't very good at updating this but for the myspace world, I'll try to do better.

Here are some pics (in reverse order) of the first 4 months. Enjoy!!

She found her feet!!

Chewing on her favorite toy in her Bumbo.

Just woke up.

Rolling over!!

Chillin

4 generations

Being silly

Meeting Brayden Murphy.

Meeting Gabe. (He's going to be mu husband one day)

Ready to work out. :)

She is just amazing!! She can roll from front to back and almost back to front. She's talking up a storm, enjoying her carseat more (yay), playing with toys, taking things to her mouth, laughing...I can't even think of everything right now. She weighs just over 12 lbs and is about 24 1/2 inches long. She's finally fitting into her age of clothing!!

just a few more pics

2008-04-16T21:49:00.000-05:00

2008-03-24T20:22:00.000-05:00

i'm a mom.
Kylie Jo
6lb 4oz
20in

2008-03-08T04:31:00.000-06:00

So, ok, I'm really bad at this game. It's been nearly 3 months again. Nothing's really new though. Life's still pretty much the same, just gonna try to start getting ready for the arrival of A BABY...I still can't believe it really. I'm not sure I will believe it til she's actually here. We have lots to do still to get ready. Her room is...far from complete. Hopefully that will all get done next week, during my spring break. Well, I'll post a new pic, quite a difference from the last one, but that's all I have! :) Until the next 3 months...............

WOW

2007-12-16T21:46:00.000-06:00

Has it been forever, or what???? So, I don't really have an excuse other than, I just haven't updated. I don't know how many people actually read this so I don't know if it really matters or not but, whatever, I'll write an update anyway. So..............

Last time I wrote was the beginning of July..lots has happened since then. Well, not really a lot, just..big things I guess you could say. Shortly after I wrote that blog we went on our mission trip with our church to Panama, yes, the country. It was great. It was a lot different thatn Nicaragua, which I miss. But, it was beautiful and wonderful in it's own right. The "hotel" was on the water and it was very pretty. We had a good time. The rest of the summer ended up busy, but fun.

School started back the first of August, and the first day the kids were back, I had a positive pregnancy test!!! Woohoo..it was kinda crazy. I won't go in to all the details because that was a long time ago and if you're reading this then you probably already know about it all. So here we are 5 1/2 months later, pregnant with a girl whose name will be Kylie Jo. This is the latest picture of me. It was taken last week and it's somewhere around the fisrt of my 23rd week. I am getting more and more anxious everyday. Especially when I hear of friends having babies or even new ones getting pregnant. I can't even count all the friends that are pregnant right now. It's kinda crazy. My next dr's appointment is on Dec 31. That is when I have to drink the nasty stuff for the glucose test. I'm not at all excited about it. Hopefully I'll be able to keep it down so they can do the tests and everything turns out fine.

There are only 3 days of school left before Christmas break, and I couldn't be more excited. Sure, I love these kids, but they're wearing me out!! We're going to have a busy break. We're leaving Thursday morning for GA just to drop the dogs off at Mike's parents then head to KY on Friday to spend about 5 days, then we'll head back to GA for I think 3 days then back here to the coast. I'll have a few days to recover before having to go back to work. I'll need it after all that traveling. But, it's going to be a good time.

Well, I supposed I'd better head to bed. Tomorrow's my early day..thank goodness my last one for 3 weeks!! If I don't get back to this before then, I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!!!!!!

Been a while

2007-07-02T16:47:00.000-05:00

Well, as usual, it has been a while. Summer has proven to be very busy, and I can't believe I'm only a month away from it being over. So far I've made a trip to GA, LA, church camp for a week, then we had VBS, and I just got back from UPLIFT, which was amazing. In that six weeks, I had two off, and tomorrow we're going to a New Orleans Zephyr's baseball game (they're a Mets AAA team, and they're playing the Cardinals team). Then Wednesday we're driving to Clarksville, TN so stay the night with Ty and Kyla then Thursday we're heading to KY to see my family and we're coming back Saturday for two days then we're going to Panama on Tuesday, the 10th, through the 17th and then I think we're done. Then I only have 2 weeks til school starst back. Bummer. Anyway, I've had a great summer so far, and I'm looking forward to going to Panama. I'm sad I won't be going to Nicaragua but Panama I know will be a good substitution. People keep asking me how my vacation's been...I'm like, what vacation? But it's been good.

So, on to other things...Mocha likes water!!! Who's ever heard of a lab that doesn't like water? Used to she would run and hide if she saw the water hose but yesterday I got it out to fill up their pool, that I just got back, and she let me spray her. She kept coming back for more water!!! It's so amazing. Now if we can just get over the loud noises. I'm scared for her for Wednesday because I am sure that there are going to be a lot of fireworks going on around here. And, poor Mocha has to go on a diet. We all know she's a little over weight, but when we took the dogs to the vet last week she weighed 90lbs. Kenya only weighed 49. It's kinda crazy. She doesn't really look that big, I think it was just a bad day.

I've had a hard time leaving our animals at home this summer. There is one family that I trust with them but our neighbors, I don't really. Have I told this already? Sorry if I have. I just get the feeling when I come home that there's something not right. Not like they stole anything, well, other than like food, but I dunno. I just don't feel like they really spend any time with our animals other than feeding them and changing the litter. Oh well, only one more week.

So, as has been the story of my life for a while, everyone's STILL pregnant. I've recently found out about a few more that have just become pregnant. I'm still trying to talk Mike into it...it's not working so well, haha. We'll see...

Anywho, I guess that's all for now. If I think of something else I'll be sure to let you know! Hope all are well!! Have a good rest of the summer if I don't talk to you before then..

Steph

Stress relieved

2007-05-18T21:09:00.000-05:00

Well, it has been a while. Lot's been going on. Especially a lot of stress. I've been worrying about money, but I found out today that I do get a paycheck over the summer..well, two. So, that is a big relief. God's been answering some prayers..now he just needs to answer the house prayer..haha...I'm ready, anytime he wants to tell me what it is. :)

It's officially summer!!! It hasn't really hit me yet that I'm not going to be working for 2 1/2 months, but I know it will. We're starting our summer off very busy. We're going to try to leave Sunday afternoon for Georgia. We'll stay there for a few days then come spend one night at home then go to Louisiana for Grady's wedding. I can't really remember immediately after that right now, but I know it's going to be busy. And that's ok, because I like to be busy...sometimes, haha. I'm looking forward to it all.

Well, I'm running in a 5k in the morning and I'm exhausted. Friday's are my early day and then add the stress of it being the last day of school--though I did get a massage today :)--I'm pooped. I know I could write more but I might fall asleep in the middle of it. Thanks to all for your thoughts and prayers...I know I am blessed with great friends and people in my life!

Update on Granny...

2007-04-30T19:26:00.000-05:00

My grandmother is ok. She is very bruised from the airbags and seat belts, but she is ok. They are keeping her in the hospital overnight to monitor and make sure nothing comes up...

A few things heavy on my heart...

2007-04-30T16:30:00.000-05:00

First, my grandmother is in the hospital again. She was just recently in for what they thought was a heart attack, then didn't think it was but then, maybe it was?? I'm not sure. Anyway, she has several health issues, but today she was in a car accident. I'm not really sure on all the details. When I talked to my mom she was on her way to the hospital. They said she was ok but my uncle said something that maybe her arm was broken, so at this point I'm not really sure what's going on. I just ask you all to say a little prayer for her. She's had a rough last few years. I don't know if any of you know about the ongoing lawsuit with some drug company for some drug that a bunch of people took and now they're having strokes and lots of health issues from it. She's in on that lawsuit and has been waiting a long time to hear something, and she's had lots of issues since then. Anyway, just say a little prayer for her.

And, I'm worried about finances once again. For some reason the month of April has been super expensive. There have been lots of unusual bills come up, not to mention we had to pay over $1000 for taxes and therefore didn't get anything back. Then there's been insurance, and some other things. I'm not liking the way the checkbook balance looks. I know it will all be okay, I just don't like it being this low. It hasn't ever been this low before, and it's kinda scary. HOPEFULLY we will sell our house soon and we will get a little bit of money (and I can buy a new car--2007 Camry--we'll see about that...)

AND, Mike is in Searcy and I'm jealous..that's all there is to say about that. (Thank goodness it's a free trip!!!)

Well..relatively stress free...

2007-04-19T17:13:00.000-05:00

So, I just sat down and opened the blog to write about my pretty stress free day, then I hear the sound of fence slats coming loose with dogs escaping through them...yep, they were free. Thank goodness we were home. We've been waiting for the day one of us comes home and they're not here. This fence is the lamest fence I've ever seen..well, not totally, but I'm not happy with it. It hasn't done a very good job of keeping my dogs in. We ghetto-rigged one part of it, putting a resin table in front of some of the loose slats to keep the dogs away, but that's where they got out. Mocha came back farely easy, but Kenya, oh Kenya, she had to go for a joy run. I chased her a little bit, then I lost her for a second...then she comes running down the road full speed ahead straight for me, then..whish..off to my left side, so I turn around and follow her a little bit and she comes back at me full speed ahead again..whish, to my right side..then I said, Kenya, bad girl and she slowed down a little. I'm not sure if that was from exhaustion or b/c she doesn't want to be a 'bad girl'. So, I finally got her and CARRIED her back to the house. We don't have collars on our dogs, but I think we will now. Surprisingly, I wasn't out of breath after this little endeaver, and Kenya felt like she only weighed about 10 lbs. I guess my adrenaline was pumping. I wasn't as scared as when Gizmo got out. I knew she'd come back, it was just a matter of when and what bribing I had to do. So, right now I hear the sounds of Mike hammering nails in the fence to fix the loose slats so hopefully the dogs will stay in for a month or two more.

Now on to what I was going to write about before that excitement began. I've talked about the boy in my class who is a totally different kid in the pm than the am, I think. We'll assume so. Anyway, so, my teacher said something to the school nurse and I guess she referred him to a counselor. Well, the counselor came to our room yesterday asking about him and she sent a letter home asking about what medicine he takes in the morning or if he does at all even. So, today he comes in and I can tell he's a different kid already. He's polite, and actually sits down and does his work!!! It is so amazing what a little note can do to make parents BE PARENTS!! There is no way he was getting his medicine in the mornings by the change of personality this kid was going through. Today was a good day and it's getting near to the end of the school year. Things are starting to pick up with trying to get things done. State testing is in two weeks. That should be fun. The teacher I work under is moving to 5th grade next year so she has to have her room completely cleaned out by the end of the school year. She's so ready to get out of 3rd grade. Who can blame someone when about 5 times just this semester 3 of her students peed in their pants...3rd graders!! Oh well, you gotta love em. If this kid can keep up taking his medicing life will be much happier. Maybe I'll start glowing soon............

Why do we do this?

2007-04-18T16:10:00.000-05:00

Why do we always act like we are the ones in control? I'm all trying to stress over lots of things like where money is going to come from for all these big bills coming up. So far, things are working out fine. I've been worrying about the house situation, well, I don't know any more than before, but I'm going to give up trying to figure it out and just let it work out. It would be nice to know what's going to happen, but I'm not going to worry about it. Whatever happens will work out either way. I've just got to let go and let God...

I have been super..moody? these last couple weeks. I don't know what my deal is but the kids in my class are really getting on my nerves and I can't handle it. I just want to scream and smack them. I get so frustrated at the smallest things, which these are things that have been going on and they just don't seem to stop. No matter how many times you tell them to "SHUT UP" they keep talking, or follow along reading and they're staring off into space. Today we did practice testing for the state testing coming up in a couple weeks. One of the kids that needs help the most wasn't even paying attention when we were doing everything to his advantage. We were reading all the directions and questions, what we were legally allowed to do, or will be allowed to do on the actual test, and he still made barely above a 50%. One of the others who needs help actually did a good job. Granted he made in the low 70's, but that's outstanding for him. He's barely passing anything else. One of my IEP kids did a good job too. He made in the low 70's as well and that also is good for him. This kid is a different kid from the am to pm. Have I talked about this before? I can't remember. Anyway, we gave him the test after he took his medicine and we know he did a lot better than he would have before. My other IEP kid...she took the 2nd grade test...I might as well have given it to my dogs..haha, I don't mean to be hateful, but it's the truth. Poor girl.

Anyway, this was giong to be a short one but..I like to ramble...until next time!!

First one, but it's a doozy

2007-04-11T16:55:00.000-05:00

So, here I am again. We all have these days...I hope anyway. I just feel...I don't even know how to explain it. Not really depressed, but...yeah, I don't know. I'm kind of discouraged because it feels like half of the marriages of friends my age are ending in divorce. I know it's not quite half, but it just feels that way. It's sad....

I'm also sad b/c I got to see my cousin for the last time before she leaves to go back to Washington in the middle of May. We're 3 months apart and she is so much like a sister. We've lost a lot of contact since we've been separated by so many miles, but I got to spend a lot of time with her this spring and it's been wonderful. Not to mention her absolutely adorable daughter whom I absolutely love!!! And on the baby note...if they're not getting divorced, my friends are all having babies!!!!! I've lost count of them all...seriously.

Now, there's the issue of our house in Searcy. The tenants are great. They've never complained about anything. I don't know what we're going to do w/ the house and they're deciding what they want to do. They kind of asked about us selling it but I haven't heard anything back. I kind of want to sell it just to get rid of it, and then we could get a little money...but I also want to keep it. We're not really making any money off of it. We're actually kind of losing money when you consider taxes and insurance. If we could refinance to lower the payment but keep the rent the same then we could make money but if we try to refinance we're going to have to pay like $4000 because there isn't enough equity in the house to finance it all. We are paying way too much for the house and really got the short end of the stick on the deal, but that's our fault and you live and you learn. On that situation, I just need to be patient and let God decide. I'm trying to decide all for myself and obviously it's getting me no where.

To continue the 'woe-is-me' segment, we don't really have 'friends' here. We have some friends that actually just moved in to the duplex we share a building with. They're a little rough around the edges, but I know God put them there so we could be examples to them. There are a few couples at church that are our age and going back to the divorce paragraph, there's a couple who hasn't been married long and they have a daughter who is over a year old. He went down to Cuba for his deployment. There were issues before he left I think and now they're not any better, obviously. I hope we can help them in their situation. He doesn't come back til AUGUST!! That is so long, too long for a 'marriage on the rocks' if you will.

Anyway, I reckon, yes I said reckon, that is all for today. I'll get off my rear-end and clean house or something. It needs it!!! My dogs stink and they are shedding like crazy! OH, I almost forgot.....TAXES!! We have to pay over $500 this year b/c for Mike's job he doesn't get taxes taken out of his check so now we have to pay...we'll fix that for next time but, it's going to be a pain right now b/c there are a lot of things coming around due, like, house insurance, house taxes, Mike's insurance...those 3 totalling about $1500. :-\ Where's it going to come from???....ok, that's all.....