August 4, 2008

Baby birds on our front porch

Picture of the day

Lake Powell
August 1, 2008

August 2, 2008
Trying out SIL Melissas cool camera lens....So jealous, I want it!

August 2, 2008 Bonus!
One of 3 fish I caught.....Poor little catfishy. I released them all.

August 3, 2008 On our way home.

Picture of the day X 4

July 29, 2008
Laney did my hair. Pretty Ain't it?

My flowering tomato plant.
July 30, 2007

July 31, 2008
Nice sign in Kanab, Utah. The Freashest Sandwitches...hehehehe

IT

Saturday night I was playing with our kitty Lilly. She is the cutest thing ever. Black and fuzzy. We have had her a month, and she's about 3 months old. We got her from a neighbor, who said she was a girl. I didn't want any male cats. ( No offense gentleman, but male cats.....) So, I'm messing around with Lilly, and happen to notice a nice package underneath. I look. I look again. I start to second guess what I am seeing. Maybe I just don't know what a boy cat versus girl cat area looks like. So I look at our other kitty Bella...and I am pretty sure " Lilly" has some goods Bella doesn't own. Poor Lilly is a boy. Hopefully the poor cat won't have a complex about his name the last several weeks. After placing names in a bowl, the first pick out was Elvis. Elvis it is. Other names in the running: Jethro ( My pick, dang it all) Chauncy, Willy, Pussy ( yes, real names put into bowl by 4 and 5 year olds....) Jacob, Booger, and my all time favorite. Keith.

Driving down Memory Lane

I just moved to an area not far from where I went to school from grades 7-9Th. My old stomping grounds are literally up the street. This morning I went for a drive down those old familiar streets. It was eerie seeing where my best friend at the time Tonya used to live. Still yellow. Still looks like crap. At least they added a fence. Too bad it's chain link so you can still see the house.

I drove by the *Smith's place ( *Not their real last name...:):):) Then right across from there is the boy that made me play Debbie Gibson over and over. His name was/is *Ashley. (* yes, his REAL name..) Made me remember his obsession to Michael Jackson before the whole burning nose incident.

Next door to Ashley is the girl I almost beat the living daylights out of. ( We shall call her Nicole, and make you wonder if in fact it was/is her real name.) I went to her door in fight stance and her dad answered the door,asking if I had come to play with " Nicole". So, I was stunned for a minute, and thought..." well, technically, you could consider what I wanted to do to her face playing...... But instead, I slowly nodded no, and walked away. Sucker.

A bit more down the road are the Roberts. Still there after noting name on the mailbox. Good old Roberts. How I despised Kelly, and wanted her to look like Michael Jackson after his nose incident. She was holier than thou, and her smirk made you want to slap if off regularly. But then there was her older brother who was my first kiss at 13 ( he was 16...... male slut, so was the rumor..) on my back deck, under a blue sleeping bag with sprinklers for our sound effects, and the big dipper as our witness.

There are new homes too, and our old place looks just as it did. Same sky, same dreams still in my head as back then. Maybe someday I can move forward with a few......

Batman

Batman, feeling the crunch of gas prices.........

Saw Batman movie the other night, and I actually liked it. I am not a huge follower of comic story lines, but of course there was this sick persuasion of it being Heath Ledgers last movie...even though I have watched only a couple other movies with him in it. I thought he was brilliant as the joker. It was good.( Even disliking Maggie what's her butt..She bugs me....get some cream for those eyes sweetie.....) Christian Bale was nice eye candy too......

Deeper thoughts

I have decided that I want to keep this blog for me.....not about my children, or their crazy happenings. I have a family one for that. On here, I am not going to hold back, or apologize for my imperfections..I am just going to let loose. So, if there are grammar police in my midst....SUCK IT UP!

So, a few months back I came across a cool website. This guy named Jamie Livingston, took a picture a day for 18 years. From March 31, 1979 to the day of his death on October 25, 1997 . I thought it was a tremendous effort on his part. I have been thinking about it for months now, and have decided to give it a try. For those that know me well, I am not the most, how shall I put this..UM, Okay. I don't follow through with things that are not pressing. ( Like dishes...and stupid laundry.) So, this will be a challenge for me. I think I am going to try at least. To see Jamie's Pictures, go to http://photooftheday.hughcrawford.com/

And here is my picture of the day with added bonus of what I was in the car doing;

Photo A day July 24, 2008

We went on the Alpine Loop today, and it was gorgeous. The alpine loop is this wonderful corridor through the mountains, with beautiful forests of twinkling alpine trees. All those pictures were blurry ( Of course ) but the view was spectacular.

Just a song?

On our way to the Colbie Calliet/John Mayer concert last night, I got into a great conversation about music with my SIL Melissa and Sister Holly.
We were listening to my Colbie CD, and Bubbly came on. I explained to them that when I had first found this musician on myspace, I had listened to that particular song over and over. I just loved it. While listening, was also reading blogs and what not. I found out an old friend had lost their baby boy. So, as this sweet song played, I read about anguish and loss...and my heart was breaking. The fact is, that no matter what, when I hear this song, it takes me back to the loss of this baby, to the feelings of sadness and loss for the parents.

I guess music is like that for me. I can be taken back to 1989 with only the first bar of
Lost in Your Eyes by Debbie Gibson. That was the song I connect to my first broken heart at the tender age of 14. Sitting on my bed in the dark, hugging a pillow to my heart, dreaming of that cool guy that would never in a million years notice little old me, and crying as I push rewind on my tape of Miss Debbie and getting lost....

Or perhaps it's hearing Teen Spirit by Nirvana and being whisked back to my Senior year in High school with the windows rolled down in a 1979 Cutlass Supreme, head banging down state street in Orem.....

Or maybe remembering that first sweet kiss of my first love to Vanessa Williams on Squaw peak. Even now, when that plays over the grocery store intercom system, Every emotion, taste, & smell invades me, and I am there once again like it was yesterday.

Just a song to many, I'm sure. But music is just as much a part of me as eating and sleeping. Every song IS a memory, a sort of journal that I can reach back and pluck something from. The year, the feelings, the insecurities, the pure joy...anger, frustration.... all rush back. It's good to remember. Keeps us moving forward, waiting to hear the next memory.

K..Need to start this up again

I will begin with a tag from Melissa!


Five jobs I have had in my life:

Manager at Taco Bell
Merry Maid
Cashier at Reams
Newborn Photographer @ Hospital
Photo Developer @ Walgreens

Five movies I've watched more than once:
Steel Magnolias
Beaches
Don't know!
Not a huge
Movie
Person.

Five Places I have lived:

Minot, North Dakota
Huntington Beach, California
Salem/Keizer Oregon
Arvada Colorado
Memphis, TN

Five places I have been:

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Maui, Hawaii
New York City
Calgary, Canada
Atlanta, Georgia

Five people who email me on a regular basis


Kari
Gianetta
Melissa
Nathan
Julie

Five of my favorite foods:
Mexican
Chinese
Arby's French Dip
Toxic Smell
Roma tomatoes, avocados, & feta cheese

Five places I would rather be right now:
In bed
Hawaii
Taking a bath
Hanging out with Melissa, Holly & Carrie
With friends/family

Five friends who I will tag:
Kari
Carrie
Holly
Julie
Della

Five things I am looking forward to this year:

New House
Lake Powell
Summer BBQs
Date nights
Losing my weight!

Five TV shows I watch: ( or want to watch?)

Without a Trace
CSI
Medium
Cold Case
No kid shows!!

Wow...over a year

Hello Readers!
I can't believe a year has gone by since I have blogged on here! Whew! A lot has happened, but I won't bore you to tears by sharing it all with you. Biggest event...I moved. Yeepers. I am back home. Snow capped mountains. Bad drivers. ahhhhh, the good life!

I just wanted you all to know I am going to try and catch up on here. Keep checking back!
~~~Christi~~~

It's almost been a week, I'm healing....

Tomorrow will mark a week since my surgery. I am healing nicely. I am sore and bruised from the incisions, and still really tired. My tummy is still swollen too. But, that pain on my right side is GONE! Whoohoo!!!
So, the diagnosis. The cyst on my ovary was pea size by surgery date, so he left it alone. I was correct in where my pain was coming from. Everything else was FINE! The uterosacral ligaments that attach the uterus was where the pain was originating from. On the right ligament there were 5 " Cysts" with their own nerve endings. They are not supposed to be there. That was why I was in so much pain. I am just so happy it was something that could be fixed. Although, they are likely to grow back again at some point. Could be 3 years, or 3 months ( Hoping for years..) He was able to burn them off. There were a couple on the left side, so they are gone as well.
My Mom was able to come on short notice, and I was happy to have her here. I was able to sleep and rest. She made lots of yummy meals and treats.
Sorry this is short. I just thought I would give you all an update. I will hopefully be back online soon.
ChristinaMaria

Health Stuff

I went to the Dr. again yesterday. I am feeling very discouraged with my body right now. This year I have been through more health problems than I would ever care to have again.
I went back in because the pain I have experienced since July ( The same pain that had me end up in the ER in UT thinking I was having a appendicitis.) has gotten worse. The Dr. was hoping after this last surgery that it would go away. It has not. Even with the pain there, and the discomfort and tears, I have delayed getting back to the doctor. I have felt more like a burden to my family this year than a help. I sat on that all familiar fake leathered, slick, brown table covered with flowered paper at the Dr's office, and had unwanted tears falling down my face. "WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?" I screamed this in my head, as the paper under me shifted, and it made that crunching sound.
Dr. Worthan went through the scenarios. It could be that cyst from August, could be endometrios, could, could, could.....BLAH BLAH BLAH. I mean, come on. I played the "could" game already at home typing my symptoms into Google. Who's the Dr? Who gets paid the big bucks? After 3, almost 4 months, surely the good doctor might have an idea?
So, I get another Ultrasound. If it is an Endometrioma Cyst, than he can treat it with a shot of something that puts me into " fake" menopause. Great fun. If the cyst is gone, then that narrows the playing field for where the pain is originating. If the cyst is bigger, than surgery will be required, and depending on what he finds during surgery, I might lose my ovary and uterus, or I could feel like a million bucks because the pain would be GONE.
Ultrasound findings are that the cyst is significantly larger ( I don't know how big that actually is though) and it is NOT an Endometrioma Cyst. So, he wants me scheduled for next week for surgery. Tuesday it is. Another burdensomeness mess for everyone.Finding childcare, knowing that I can't lift my toddlers for a week or so. I just feel like I am an inconvenience for everyone involved. This is short notice.
I just want to feel better,ya know? I don't want to feel like I am in labor( That's what the pain feels like, early labor all day.) Done complaining:)

I know that compared to dear friends, my maladies are like kiddy candy. I just found out last week that my dear friend Paula, a friend that I have know for 4+ years, had our last 2 kids within weeks of each other is fighting for her life. She was diagnosed with breast cancer when her littlest baby was an infant( He is 2.5 now) She beat it, had radical mascectamy to be safe. She went in for a routine scan, and found that metastatic breast cancer that has traveled either through her blood or lymph nodes to her liver. They see five tumors in her liver right now.She also got more bad news yesterday. It is in her bones. Her back had been bugging her for a while. It's in her spine.
I want to scream. I am aching for her. I am crying and praying for her. She is fighting. She wants to see her babies grow up. She is only a few years older than me. I will write more on this later. I can't write anymore.
ChristinaMaria

Halloween 2006

Angel in progress( HAHA) Miss. Aubrie Nicole

 

Halloween Pictures 2006

Halloween 2006

Fairy Princess Sophie

Tinkerbell that refused to wear her full costume Delaney

Sword fighting, ninja destroying Knight Caleb

Dr. G.....wanted to be a Veterinarian, but decided to be a real Doctor Kiera.

 

My life!!

I know you have probably had this emailed to you a gazillion times, but I still giggle every time I get it. So, I thought I would post it!

A man came home from work and found his three children outside, still in their pajamas, playing in the mud, with empty food boxes and wrappers strewn all around the front yard. The door of his wife's car was open, as was the front door to the house and there was no sign of the dog.

Proceeding into the entry, he found an even bigger mess. A lamp had been knocked over, and the throw rug was wadded against one wall. In the front room the TV was loudly blaring a cartoon channel, and the family room was strewn with toys and various items of clothing.

In the kitchen, dishes filled the sink, breakfast food was spilled on the counter, the fridge door was open wide, dog food was spilled on the floor, a broken glass lay under the table, and a small pile of sand was spread by the back door. He quickly headed up the stairs, stepping over toys and more piles of clothes looking for his wife. He was worried she might be ill, or that something serious had happened.

He was met with a small trickle of water as it made its way out the bathroom door. As he peered inside he found wet towels, scummy soap and more toys strewn over the floor. Miles of toilet paper lay in a heap and toothpaste had been smeared over the mirror and walls. As he rushed to the bedroom, he found his wife still curled up in the bed in her pajamas, reading a novel. She looked up at him, smiled, and asked how his day went. He looked at her bewildered and asked, "What happened here today?" She again smiled and answered, "You know every day when you come home from work and you ask me what in the world I do all day?" "Yes..." was his incredulous reply . She answered, "Well today, I didn't do it."

Have a nice day!
ChristinaMaria

More strep, cotton candy hair. Old age.

Laney and Sophie do have strep. I went in to get checked, and although my test came back negative, he did note that my tonsils and throat were red and swollen, and pocked with scar tissue. He asked if I had problems with infections in my youth. That is an understatement.
Caleb was in the clear.
I am feeling so blah. I haven't been getting to the gym, and am feeling the effects of not exercising. Part of that is that stupid pain that has been giving me fits since July. I really wish I had the fortitude to go through medical school. Nursing school is looking better and better. When all the kids are in school, that is my goal. It's funny how your life's ambitions can take a radical change so late in life. When I was in college, my major was early childhood education. After I had kids, I said " NO WAY!"
I am not a young duckling anymore. I see it everyday in the mirror. I plucked a grey hair from my scalp on Monday. YIKES! I have laugh lines around my eyes. Nathan recently commented that I have wrinkles on my forehead when I am in deep though, or I am angry. ( Thanks for pointing that out dear..)
You rend to think of yourself as always being young. I am still Me, still Christi. I still think like I did when I was 16, and I remember all too well my teenage years like they were yesterday. It blows me away that I was 16 16 years ago. Half my life ago. You just never think that old age is creeping up on you. Not until you run on the treadmill for 30 minutes, and feel like your having an aneurysm.
I assume that is how our parents, and grandparents feel. Your heart and mind still are young and the memories are there, but your body starts to betray you. Hands that used to be porcelain, flawless and smooth now bear the effects of time. I have noticed it with my own hands. My Mothers hands. Hands that do mounds of laundry and dishes. Hands that bathe children, and peel potatoes. Hands that soothe fevered brows and clap the hardest as children kick a soccer ball, or sing in the school talent show. My hands now bare battle scars from raking leaves and lifting bags of groceries. All for using them as they were meant to be used.
So, I am growing old. So what. Graceful I may not be, but every scar, grey hair, line on my face will have been earned the very hard way. So bring it on Father Time!

Oh, Cotton candy hair. I desperately tried to straighten my hair this morning. I lined up my arsenal of product. Hair straightening serum and cream, a special brush, and blow dryer. I somewhat succeeded after 30 minutes of pulling and blowing hot air onto the cuticles. I was happy!
Then, I walked out to the van with the little ones to go run an errand. It was drizzly. As soon as that moisture hit my hair ( and not even the rain itself, just the moisture in the air) it was over.
I will use cotton candy as an example. Have you ever eaten cotton candy? Of course you have! When your tongue moistens the candy ( Pure sugar I may add), it melts. Yep. That's my hair. Simple as that. A clumpy, curly mess. I need desperate hair help.

G'night my little birds!
ChristinaMaria

Strep Throat

Yeppers, it's strep. Aubrie's Temp was 103 when they got to the Dr's. We will take the little girls in tomorrow to get them swabbed. Perhaps Caleb to be on the safe side. Hopefully their meds start to work fast. I was a little peeved at Nate though. I called his cell and told him to get the antibiotic shot. They get home and he says " They wouldn't get the shot." I said "What do you mean they wouldn't get the shot?" Long argument later, the girls balked at the idea of the shot, and Nathan thought he could save a few bucks going the route of 10 l o n g days of oral meds. * Sigh* ..... 1 shot in the hiney versus 2 doses a day for 10 days ( that is 40 doses among them in case you have to count on your fingers like me..) Grrrrr. I argued that the choice was not theirs to make, that it was non- negotiatible. I lost an already lost battle. Sometimes choices we make for our kids are not the most popular , and they may not be so thrilled with those decisions. But, in their best interest, some decisions are based on a logical and safer alternatives. Yeah..They will hate me when they get older, eh?
So, here I am with a sore throat, wondering if I need to get checked as well. I missed several weeks, if not months in 5th and 6th grades to strep( and thus becoming immune to several antibiotics) This is only the 3rd time Kiera has ever needed antibiotics. I am not one of those mothers that takes her child into the DR if the sneeze, or cough, and demands antibiotics. I do my research, and only need the John Hancock on a stupid piece of paper for the medication. I already knew the rash Kiera had was a strep rash. Maybe I should become a medicine woman and find the natural cure in Africa with Sean Connery. Hmmm...There's a thought!
Okay, I had better try and get some sleep. The girls will be missing one more day of school, and it will be like pulling teeth when I get their make-up homework tomorrow. I don't even want to think about how much work they will have.

~G'night all. Sweet dreams.
ChristinaMaria

P.S. I think I am psychic. Seriously.:) I dreamed Sunday night that I was sitting at the kitchen table and there was an earthquake. I told the kids to get under the table. I didn't find out until Monday, late morning that one had hit Hawaii. My friend Kari expressed worry, and wondered if we should go over to the islands and see if our assistance would be needed on the beaches....

Off to work I go

I started a part time job this week. I am working at Target in soft lines( Clothing, shoes accessories, ETC) Some extra money for the holidays, and our trip to Arizona this Christmas. Plus, if you you can believe it, it's a break for me. Something different, away from kids for a couple hours. I miss Nathan though. I enjoy the work. I was going to work the night shift ( 10-3 or 4) but decided against it. Even with my insomnia, I was afraid I would wear myself thin. So 6-11 is not too shabby. Only 20 hours a week.
Kiera saved up enough money to buy a replacement hamster for Delilah. She decided on a male on this time, and got as handsome chocolate and cream colored one and named him Covington. I am sad to report that his strong name was not enough to sustain him, and he passed sometime Saturday. Kiera was beside herself. I honestly could not console her. I told her that perhaps hamsters were not the best pet, and maybe we could convince Daddy to get a puppy. Her sad eyes have about won him over, and we may get a dog soon. Hopefully one that will snuggle with a 9 year old animal lover and be content in her arms for a few years.
We have all been so sick the last week. Some nasty , fever bug. Nathan is taking the older girls to the Dr. Here in a few. Kiera has a weird rash today, and her fever won't go below 102( 4 days now) Just when they seem to be getting better, they both crash again.

I will write more later.
ChristinaMaria

Bliss. Sleep.Too much to do Saturday. Long winded stuff about nothing.

YEAH!!!
I was able to fall asleep before 3 am! It was close, but I did it! I feel somewhat refreshed. Although, the last few precious moments in bed should gave been cozy and lazy, but the thoughts started up again. The Grocery list was running though my head. The washing machine that we need to put the new agitator part on so I can do laundry. Mowing the lawn, preparing my Sunday School lesson one more time for tomorrow. I get to train a newbie. Boy is my replacement in for a huge roller coaster of a ride! ( I was released last week. I will tell you later what my newest calling is..) What kind of cake Aubrie wants for her birthday on Monday. Chocolate or white? I would assume, her being related to me that chocolate would be in order. Chores. Maybe going to the YMCA to work out today and let the kids swim.
What ever happened to lazy Saturdays? Reading the newspaper while sipping OJ and eating puffed cereal? That is why I chose to take a Mommy break from Soccer this fall. I just could not even deal with 3 different practices, 3 different days. 3 games on Saturdays, all different times. Aubrie was really peeved at me. More so when her old team coach called me up to take the team pictures. I told her that each kid could chose what activity they wanted to do this spring. Aubrie wants soccer. Kiera is leaning toward Gymnastics. Caleb will play b-ball this winter, and I was thinking of Piano in the spring. He has shown an apitude for playing. Nathan played the one song he even remembers from years back,( E.T theme song, LOL) and Caleb went to the piano after he left, and played it. He has my ear for it,( I can play anything one handed by ear, but I don't read music well, although I know the notes....) and perhaps the gift to really make some beautiful music. He is such a talented guy, that little man of mine.

Nathan and I got to go out last night on a date. We had free movie passes. We went and ate at On the Border, and then saw The Guardian. It was a pretty good movie, overall. I am not a Kevin Costner fan, or Ashton Kutcher, but it was a good film. So, I give it 3 thumbs up! That is, If I had 3 thumbs I would do so.Maybe 2 thumbs and a big toe. :)

I have been enjoying old pictures that Holly's friend Barbara has been sending me. I look at them and see the fight I fought even then for control of my hair. I guess the 80's isn't the best hair decade, especially for someone with curly hair. At the time I thought it looked good. I had a fro. Blow drying curly hair, as I see from the evedience, only increases frizz. And the poor ozone from all that Aqua Net. Watch for pictures from my past later on today!

Insomnia

Insomnia is characterized by an inability to sleep and/or to be incapable of remaining asleep for a reasonable period. Insomniacs typically complain of being unable to close their eyes or "rest their mind" for more than a few minutes at a time. Both organic and nonorganic insomnia constitute a Sleep disorder. It is often caused by fear, stress, anxiety, medications, herbs or caffeine. An overactive mind or physical pain may also be causes. Finding the underlying cause of insomnia is usually necessary to cure it.

I can't sleep. I just lie there looking at the red projector clock on the ceiling. I count how many times Nathan turns over. I kick the cat around with my restless feet. I hear every creek the house makes. I listen to the Fedex planes fly over the house. I hear every groan, snore, sigh, cough, sniffle that each child/spouse makes. I know every morning around 1:30 am Kiera stumbles up the stairs, knocking into walls and doors, fumbling for the bathroom light( Even though there is a functional, bright night light.)

My mind is overactive. I think about too many things, but this occurs all day every day. I really would like my night to be free of worry and wondering. When I do get that opportunity to fall into a deep sleep, I am living my day over again in my dreams. ( Very vivid dreams, I might add)

I have tried just about everything. Herbal Tea. Hot shower. Last night I ended up on the couch reading some love story at 1 am. ( I hate romancy novels...yeah, I know that romancy is not a word. Add it to my list of Christiisms.) I was giggling, eating Haagen Daas Dulce Leche ice-cream out the container, with a purring cat snuggled up against me. Sounds nice, but preferably during the daylight hours. I did eventually fall asleep. I woke up on the couch, and no sooner than lying my head on my own pillow, in my own bed, did both little girls wake up. Sigh.

So, it says above that " Finding the underlying cause of insomnia is usually necessary to cure it.So, what is the underlying cause? It's not like I am lying there in a darkened room, tired and praying to stay awake. I WANT to sleep. I NEED to sleep. SO, what is the cure??

ChristinaMaria