Southern California Fires

I just found out today that my brother-in-laws parents home most likely was destroyed in the Sylmar fire. They are 90+ years old and I don't know what is going to happen now. They had enough time to pack some clothes and important papers before they were evacuated. They have lived in this home for quite a few years and everything may be gone. Out of the 600 homes there only 100 made it through the fire. Those are not good odds for them. I am now sitting here praying to the Lord that there house was spared. I am asking anyone that reads this blog to please offer your prayers to them that they were spared this horrible tragidy and to offer prayers to those who were not so lucky. I thank God every day for the people and things that are in my life and pray for those who don't.

Finally in New Mexico

Wow, it's been a really long time since I've blogged, shame on me.

Lena and I have finally made it to New Mexico and it is great to be back with Randy. She and I really missed him. The house Randy rented for us is perfect, he knows me all too well. We rented our house in Utah to some friends so that worked out great. Lena started at her new school the Wednesday after the election and she has already made some friends in her class. The school is only 4 years old and really nice. The day we drove into the driveway she made a friend in the neighborhood. A little girl that lives down the street.

I love being here, but would not do the drive again. It took us about 11 hours to get here and let me tell you, I was so tired I just wanted to lay down on the floor and sleep for about 2 days. Alas, that was not possible, all the wonderful boxes I had packed in Utah now had to be unpacked. My parents were here until Wednesday, so we got a lot accomplished. The house is almost put together with the exception of all of Lena's toys that are still in the garage. I'm not looking forward to packing up again in about 2 years. Hopefully, the house in Utah will sell and we can buy in Oregon and Lena and I will stay there while Randy travels.

Well, that's all for now.

Here I Am...Alone...Kind Of

Today Lena has a friend sleeping over. My dh, this morning says he'd like to go fishing, I said ok, little known to me that he would still not be home at 9:00 p.m., when he left at 12 today. So, I'm a little pissed off at the moment. I figured that he'd be gone for a few hours, not 9 hours and counting. And once again he didn't take his cell phone, although I don't know how much good it would have done for him to take it anyway since he never turns it on. He went fishing the Thursday prior to the 4th and said to me on his way out, I have my phone, so at 9:00pm I called and guess what? It was off. That just infuriated me to no end, why take a phone if you're not going to turn it on? I have said this to him time and time again and it falls on deaf ears. I just have to vent, cuz I really don't want to vent on him because I know he's having fun, but by God, gone for 9 hours cat fishing? Who can do that, I know I can't, but then again I'm not a guy thinking he has to come home to a 6 year old and a 9 year old and deal with them all day, but then again, why not come home and help the wife? Oh well.

So Far So Good

Lena is on her second week of day camp and so far things are going well. Last week she had science camp and she loved it. This week she has animal camp, they are learning of all the different animals that can be found in Utah. She came home today with a lot of drawings of different animal that she had made and an alphabet book with drawings of animals that start with each letter. I really thank God that they have this program here, however it only runs until July 23rd, so I will still have about a month to figure out what to do with her.

I joined a site called Cafe Mom and I have met quite a few nice people who I can hang out with. A lot of them have kids Lena's age, so it's nice to have some different friends. We all get together on Wednesday mornings for play time with the kids, and we are trying to plan a bbq so everyone can meet and the husbands can meet. Last week I met up with Judy and we went to the Pioneer days at Eagle Mountain. They had a cute fair set up with rides and Lena and her son Christian got along really well. I'm really glad that my friend Jamie, who moved to New Mexico, turned me onto this site.

Well, that's about it for now.

Summer Time Fun and Frustrations

When we got back from California I suddenly realized that I didn't have Lena set up for anything other than her Ballet on Wednesday afternoons. I went into a panic, thinking that I would have her all day, every day for 3 months, and I started to break out into a cold sweat. So, she and I went to the local pre-school where she takes ballet and signed her up for some summer day camps. She now has something to do for 3 days a week for 2 1/2 hours a day for the next two weeks, yeah! I think I will set her up for 2 more classes, she really wants to do the princess day camp and the bug day camp. Thank goodness for this place or I would probably be pulling what is left of my hair out. She's a very high energy kid and I just can't keep up with her all day. She really wants to get back into horseback riding, but I'm aprehensive considering she freaked out when she fell off the horse the last time and refused to ride anymore. I told her I think she should wait until she's older to start again, plus it's pretty expensive. I don't know I guess I will think about it.

Back from California

We got back Thursday night and I'll tell you I was glad to get home. Lena and I both missed Randy a lot, he was glad we were back too.

The visit was good. My sister and my brother both made it, so we drove up to Grass Valley on Friday and on Saturday we had my aunt Jesse's memorial. A lot of family from the San Francisco area came, so it was nice to catch up with cousins I haven't seen in years. We drove back to my parents' house Sunday and my Aunt Sheila and Cousin Michelle drove up from San Jose and we all had dinner. It was great seeing my cousin, I haven't seen her in 15 years. Lena loved her, they had a good time playing lego's together. We then met them on Tuesday had lunch and brought Lena to a really neat park near them and were there for quite a few hours. My Mom,Dad and I took Lena to the SF Zoo on Wednesday and walked around for about 4 hours, headed home and had dinner. Thursday we just hung out because Lena and I need to be at the airport at 3:00 to catch our flight. All in all it was a nice time.

I just wish we were coming back to Oregon instead of Utah, hopefully one day soon.

The FAT word

I'm so sick and tired of the kids around here telling Lena she is fat. She had friends over today and one of them told her she is the fattest person in our family, on another day another neighbor kid told Lena she looked fat in dresses. What is up with these people. They and their children are supposed to be so religious, yet their kids are the meanest I've ever come across. So I told Lena she is not fat and the next time someone says that to her she should remind them that God and Jesus don't like it when people are mean. And if they continue to say mean things to her then she should tell them they are being mean and she doesn't want to play with them anymore. I just don't get it. I know kids can be cruel, but come on, it seems that every kid in this supposed religious neighborhood has the meanest streak I have ever seen. She has other friends at school that she has played with a lot and they NEVER say those things to her.

Done venting.

Rainy Day Blues

This weather here is soooo strange. Yesterday it was 80 something and today it is 62 and rainy. I just don't get it. I went and got my hair cut yesterday to see if maybe that will help with the fall-out. This morning not as much hair fell out, so that's good. I now have no bangs and that is weird for me, I have always had bangs, cuz I have such a high forehead, so now I feel like I look really old. I have to do the infamous comb over and tease my hair to make it look like I have more than I do. Randy likes the new do, but I guess it will just take time for me to get used to it. I don't know if he is just saying that to make me feel better or if it actually looks ok. Lena likes it too, so it must be ok, because she has no problems telling me if I look bad. Isn't it wonderful to have a kid that says, Mom, that looks ugly on you. I got that when we were out trying to find something for me to wear to my Aunts memorial service. I tried on about 6 different tops and pants and it seems that every one I put on and showed her she said was ugly. So she went and pick out an outfit for me and I actually liked it more that the things I picked out. Weird, a 6 year old is dressing me now. Anyhoo, she pick out a black and white scooped neck top with those 60's style ankle dress pants. Then she proceeded to tell me, when we got home, that I should wear my black pumps with it, then I'd be fashion. I don't know where she gets this love of shopping from, because I hate to shop.

Well, Randy's calling got to go.

It Is What It Is

I went to the dermatologist on Wednesday and she told me there is nothing I can do about my hair falling out. She said some people lose all their hair and other don't, it just depends. So just in case I ordered a wig on line. I don't want to pay upwards of $300 for a wig when my hair will grow back, eventually. So my husband will be coming home to a light brunette in hopefully a week or so. Every blonde wig was the really light blonde, and I'm not that. I hope I only have to wear the wig for a couple of months, until my own hair grows back, but we'll see. I will post a picture of me with my new do when it arrives.

My Hair is Falling Out!

From my understanding from the web and my doctors that when I got sick in February, I also got Toxic Shock Syndrom. One of the many fall outs from this is your hair falling out and you fingernail and toe nails coming off, yeah for me! These symptoms don't present until about 2 to 4 months after. I have noticed for the last month, while taking a shower (I know, you didn't need this mental picture) that my hair has been coming out in handfulls. So, needless to say, I will probably be bald in the next month or so. The hair will grow back, but come on, I don't want to be bald. On the up-side Randy said I should go but a blonde, brunette and red-head wig so that it will be like a new woman each day. He's just trying to make me feel better, but how can you feel better about your hair falling out. I guess I should start investing in really funky scarves. So when I get back to Oregon I probably won't have hair, yeah for all of you. Maybe I should have a buy Laura scarves party? What do you think?

MOther's Day

I had a wonderful Mother's day this year. Lena spent Saturday night at a friends so Sunday morning Randy went and picked her up early because we were both missing her. It was too quite in the house and it really weirded me out. When she got home we took off to Wal-Mart and bought her another pool, I figured I'd go ahead since we will probably be here all summer and she swam in her old one every day last year. Then they took me out to lunch, we came home watched one of her new movies and hung out. Randy then made dinner for me, I had to do nothing all day and my daughter said to me, "I will do whatever you ask me today without whinning, because it's Mother's Day". Boy I wish it were Mother's day every day. Lena got me some really pretty flowers and randy got me flowers too. Lena's class also made these cute mugs, they are plastic with paper between the outer and inner layers. Lena colored hers with hearts and wrote I Love You on it. I think this is the best present I have ever gotten. I will remember that mug and when she gave it to me for the rest of my life. My Mother's days just keep getting better each year.

I hope you all had great Mother's Days

Move to Oregon

Randy just found out today that the Oregon job has been put on hold for about 6 months or so, he doesn't know why he was just told that by his boss. The boss' are now in a meeting trying to figure out where to send Randy. Randy thinks he will be going to New Mexico for a job that just started there and then when that job is done he will go to Oregon. Hopefully our house will be sold by then, or sooner, so Lena and I can get back to Oregon. This is just so frusterating for me, not knowing what our fates are. I guess Lena and I will be here by ourselves until this house sells or until Randy gets to Oregon.

This all on top of finding out this morning that Randy's grandmother was taken to the hospital. She came home from working out a curves and was light headed, couldn't breath and her chest was tight. Randy's mom called 911 and the ambulance took her to the emergency room. We all thought it was a heart attack, but after many tests the doctors determined she has a blood clot in her lung, so they admitted her. That is all I know for now. Mind you this woman is turning 91 in September and she has no business doing a high impact workout like curves. She goes twice a week, and I don't think she should be doing this kind of work-out. I told her that she would be better off with Yoga or Pilates to start out then maybe work up to the Curves deal. She didn't want to hear it. She thinks she can do anything a 40 year old can do. There is no telling her anything. Well hopefully she will be ok.

I Hate Insurance Companies

Today I received a claims report for my 2 1/2 day stay at the hospital. The total charge for everything was, I will round it up, $16,000.00. My lovely insurance company only paid $4400.00 because the hospital Randy took my to is not contracted with them. What the HE**! It's not like he was thinking about this at the time, and why did they not tell him that when he brought me there? They could have stabilized me then transported me to a participating hospital. So now I have an $11,000.00 bill that we need to pay. How are we going to do that? We have no extra money each month, well I guess we could if we ate hotdogs for the next 20 years. I'm not going to do that, they should have told Randy and then trasfered me. I don't know what we are going to do, Randy is going to hit the roof when he hears this.

I called the insurance company and they said because the hospital isn't contracted with them they don't take deductions off the bill. What? Shouldn't every ER be covered?

My Aunt

My Mom called on Saturday and let me know that my aunt had passed away Friday night. Thank goodness she was in no pain and went quickly. She had a stroke Wednesday evening and was taken to the hospital where the doctors said she had bleeding in her brain and there was nothing they could do for her. My parents drove to Grass Valley that morning and stayed with her. Thankfully they were there when she passed. They had just gotten back from having dinner with my cousin Bobby and his wife, within 5 minutes of their return she died.

I wish I could have seen her once again. I hadn't seen her since my Grandmother died around 10 years ago or so. Life always got in the way of visiting. I did keep in touch with her with phone calls and pictures, so I know she knew I loved her. I will miss her deeply, she was always full of life and always happy. She and my uncle never had children, so my parents were the ones taking care of her the best they could for the last few years. I know this is very painfull for my Mother, my Aunt was the last of her immediate family.

She is going to be cremated, so my Mom is waiting to have a memorial service until my cousin Bobby's parents' come to visit in June. Lena and I are going to try to make it for the service, it just depends on the money situation. I would like to go not only to be there for my Mom, but to also put flowers on my Great Grandmother, Great Grandfather and my Grandmother's graves.

Field Trip to the Zoo

Today was Lena's field trip to the zoo with her class. We had a good time, but I wish they would have gotten off on time so we would have had more time at the zoo. We were supposed to leave at 9:15, but didn't actually get on the road until almost 10:00, so we only had about 2 hours at the zoo. We probably would have seen more if it hadn't started hailing pea sized hail and then snowed for the rest of the time. Poor Lena's jeans were soaked about a half a foot up her leg. The other kids also had wet pants. I do have to say that maybe next year they should plan this trip in May. They already had to cancel and reschedule once due to bad weather and we parents were told that if the trip didn't happen today it wouldn't happen at all, so all of us trooper mothers were there freezing. Thank goodness I had the forethought to bring extra pants and two small umbrellas with me. I just had a feeling it was going to be bad even though the weather people said slight chance of rain. Slight my you know what! It hailed for heavens sake and then proceeded to snow the rest of the time. Oh well, we had fun anyway. I told Lena we would come back this summer so we could see the rest.

When I got home there was a message from my Mom saying that my Aunt Jesse, who lives in Grass Valley, CA had a stroke last night and it wasn't looking good. I called my Mom and she said that an artery burst in her brain and it's swelling up with blood. This is not good, Randy's grandpa had the same thing happen and the doctors said there was nothing to do but wait. I really want to be there, but can't afford it right now. Lena and I would have to drive because the closest major airport is Sacramento and I'm not driving from there to Grass Valley, so I sit here praying and hoping she might come out of it. My family was planning a birthday party for her next month, 92nd. I guess she won't be here for that.

Day 4 of Spring Break, only 3 To Go

So far so good at least after the fiasco of Monday. On Tuesday we had Lena's friend Madison for a sleepover, that went really well. She and Lena always get along. Wednesday I took them both to the Legacy Center to swim. They had a great time, then we went to lunch at, I'm sure you can figure this one out without me saying a thing. Today we met Randy and some of his co-workers for lunch and now Lena is off playing at a friends house. Peace and quiet, yeah!

I'm still trying to figure out when Lena and I will be coming back to Oregon to house hunt. I really wanted to on Spring break so she wouldn't miss any school, but I guess Randy's comany still didn't have all the i's dottet and t's crossed on the contract, so they wouldn't pay for us to come out yet. That has been finalized, so now we need to figure out when we will be going. I hoping to have Nicole watch Lena for a few days and maybe one of her sisters' for another day and her Grandma and Great Grandma for another so I don't have to drag her all over looking at houses. I think maybe it would be nice for her to spend some time with her old friends too, so I will have to get ahold of the Mom's to see about that.

That's about it for now.

The Dash

I thought this was too good not to share.

The Dash I hope you enjoy this as much as I did, and maybe it will help you take life a little slower and with more meaning. In July 2006, a short 3-minute movie was launched on the Internet called The Dash. Since then, over 40 million people from around the world have watched it; and over 20,000 a day continue to watch it as a result of people passing it along. The movie has been more successful than we could have ever imagined. More importantly, however, it has inspired many, many people to reflect on their lives and ask that all important question, 'Are my priorities where they should be?' I hope you enjoy this movie and share it with those who are close to you.

Click This Link to View: www.dashpoemmovie.com

Thank Goodness My Husband is Home Now

Just wanted to say thank God Randy is home now. I was about to explode earlier today. Read previous post. I have to say I have the most wonderful husband in the world. He came home from work today and I vented and he said I will take over. He has been downstairs cooking fresh trout he caught and has taken over the Lena duties.


I LOVE MY HUSBAND!

First Day of Spring Break - ARG!

Today was the first day of Spring break for Lena, so I planned, what I thought would be a fun day. We went to McDonald's for lunch then to the movie Nim's Island. Well, it didn't go as well as I had planned. I liked the movie, I thought it was really cute, but Lena kept wining at me that it was "boring", she kept squirming around and making me crazy. This is the first time she has done this, so I was getting a bit mad about half way through because she wouldn't stop. I was not about to leave a movie I had just spent $9 getting into. We are really poor this month and I stretched the budget in order to have money to do things this week. She continued to wine and cry all the way home, so I told her if she was going to act this way we wouldn't be doing anything else this week, and she had better stop before I got really mad. Well whe went on and on and pulled out the I don't love her card and I just lost it. I screamed at her to shut up. After that I felt somewhat bad, but I still didn't talk to her the rest of the way home, and it actually worked, she shut up. Wow, if I had known that those two little words would work like that I would have said it to her much sooner. Oh, I know, it won't work for long.

I wish they would do away with spring break, I mean come on people, school gets out here the end of May, can't we all just hang on a couple of more weeks?

Now I don't know what I'm going to do with her the rest of the week. Her ballet classes aren't going on either. Anybody HELP!

First Lost Tooth

Wow, Lena's tooth finally came out last night after we finished reading her bedtime books. I didn't think it would ever happen. She refused to let anyone take it out and wanted it to fall out on its own. It took so long that her permanent tooth is right behind.

This morning she came in and told me the tooth fairy left her $3. She was so excited. She also informed me that she saw the tooth fairy, so I asked her what he/she looked like. So matter of factly she stated, "well, she had long brown hair, bright red lipstick and a pink dress with sparkle all over it." I have to say that Randy must be magical in order for him to look like that. I just started laughing and said she will have to tell daddy when he gets home that you saw the tooth fairy.

I am glad and sad at the same time at this new milestone. On one hand I'm happy for Lena because she has been waiting for this for so long and on the other I'm sad because my baby is growing up way too fast. We have already had boyfriends and now a new one this week. Next week who knows. The next thing she will be driving! I just want her to be little forever, I know that's not realistic, but one can hope can't one?

Picture of Jasper

Yes, he has been re-named, again. This one will stick I think. He really looks like a Jasper.

A New Addition To Our Family

Well, Randy finally broke down and we got a new puppy today! He is so cute. He is a mix breed of Shih Tzu and Chiuaua (sp). He looks exactly like a Shih Tzu and is so small he has crawled under my couch and is asleep there. I was originally going to name him Jake, but we have another dog named Drake and I think he might get a bit confused, so I have changed it to Jack. I think this will fit him really well.

I have been wanting another dog since my baby Sammy died in February. I was really trying to wait until we got back to Oregon, but I saw his picture on a PetFinder site and just had to go see him. Well, needless to say he came home with me. Did anyone have any doubts on that one?

I will try to get pictures and post them.

Love to you all.

It's been far too long

I know, I know, it has been quite a while since I have posted anything, so I decided to take a quick few and let everyone know how things have been.

I am finally starting to get my energy back from being so sick in February. To be honest, even though the doctor told me it would be a couple of months until I was back to normal, I didn't really think it would take that long, but alas it has. I had my last check-up a couple of weeks ago and the pnumonia (sp?) is gone, however I do have a scar in my lung that will be there forever. It shouldn't cause any problems, but it will always be there. My white cell count is back to normal and my iron level is also good. I will just pray that I never get that sick again.

Lena started ballet yesterday and so far she loves it. She looks so cute in her leotard. Her schooling is going great. She got her 3rd quarter report card last week and she has mastery in all areas, even the following classroom rules and guidelines. She is really looking forward to moving back to Oregon. I hear about it almost every day.

Well, we need to get to Cabelas. I will try to keep up on my posts.

Love to you all.

Crazy Times

Things have been a little crazy around here. Trying to keep this house imaculate for showings is really a hard thing to do. Even though we only have Lena it seems at times that we have 6 kids around here. She is like a tornado, and I'm FEMA running around picking up after her.

We have an open house this coming Saturday, so needless to say I have been cleaning like a mad woman trying to keep up. I've decided that I'm going to have Merry Maids come in on Saturday morning and do another clean up before the open house. The reason for this is Randy got me a 4 hours spa day for my birthday and I just don't feel like cleaning in the morning before I go.

Yes, Thursday is my 43rd birthday. I can't believe that I'm turning 43, I don't feel that old. I have always thought of my age as just a number, I really don't get into the feeling down and depressed thing like a lot of women do. I feel it is a waste of time and you are only as old as you feel and I really don't feel 43. I think having a 5 year old has a lot to do with that. I don't have time to feel old. I have to keep up with her and let me tell you that is a job.

Lena will be turning 6 on the 27th of this month also. I have also decided that we are not having the huge friend party this year. I just don't think I can handle it after last years Chuck e Cheese. That totally stressed me out, trying to keep track of 18 kids at that crazy place, so she is going to have a girls' party this year. We will take them to this fun play place in Pleasant Grove and then have them spend the night. I actually couldn't believe it when I brought this up to Randy, the sleepover thing, and he said he was thinking the same thing. Wow! that just blew my mind. I thought I would have a fight on my hands. Well, I guess great minds think alike. So that is the plan for her.

Now, onto the moving part. Randy's job is now saying he won't be leaving until May sometime. That is ok with me, since I really wanted Lena to finish out the school year here. We really aren't looking at houses anymore since it's a bit early and anything we find will probably be gone by then. We are still looking into moving around the Cottage Grove to Thurston area, it just depends on what we find.

Well that's all that is happening now.

Moving is the Pits

Well I have spent the last two days de-cluttering and cleaning my house like a mad woman. Our house went on the market Monday, so I have to keep everything clean as a whistle for showings. Mind you I have a 5 year old and it seems as though I have 6 kids running around here. I have already packed up two boxes of her stuff from the playroom and her bedroom to try and make the house look better. I have boxed up two boxes of misc. stuff from our closet and it still seems as though there is too much stuff laying around.

I have spent the whole day today doing laundry because it has gotten totally out of control. I have never liked doing laundry, so I usually put it off until my poor husband and daughter have virtually nothing to wear and then I have to spend the whole day washing, drying, folding and such. I know, I know, if I would just do a load a day it wouldn't be so bad. My Mom has been telling that to me for years, but I just can't seem to get it through my head that I would be better off doing it her way. I guess you can call me rebellious still. If mom suggests it, I won't do it.

Other than the mad cleaning things are going really well. Our friend Lester is moving out on the 18th of this month, yeah! I can get that area down there cleaned for showings. Right now I would be embarrassed to show anyone that room, but I don't have much longer to deal with it. Lena is doing great in school, but is really excited about moving back. Our dogs are finally medicated so they aren't coughing as much at night. Oh yeah, forgot to mention that when I brought Sam to the vet on the 26th he contracted Kennel Cough and has been hacking for 3 days and now Drake has gotten it. I was not happy at all and let the people at the vet know this in front of another client. The vet came in to see me and told me that what I had said in front of another client was inappropriate and unprofessional, well that got my blood boiling and I let him have it. I told him there was nowhere else he could have gotten it but there. We have no other dogs for two blocks. I can't really use the same language on here that I used with him. By the time I was done with him he sulked out of the room. My Irish/Italian blood got the best of me.

Well, back to laundry duty.

Starting Anew in 2008

Well, I have decided to start fresh in 2008 and not be so negative in my posts. A friend of mine read my posts and said that I needed to put more uplifting stuff on here and she was right. I never let anyone know about this blog because it was for me to rant and rave about things in my life that weren't going well. Needless to say there was only one thing in my life that was stressing me out and that was all I wrote about. So I have decided to delete those posts and start again, telling everyone about my wonderful family and the things that are happening to us.

Randy's job has decided to send him back to Oregon, yeah! I'm so excited to get back to my wonderful friends and family. Life in Utah has been difficult for me. There aren't a lot of people out here with my same interests. I have met a few good friends here, but I dearly miss everyone in Oregon and I'm really looking forward to going home. I will always consider Oregon home no matter where I am. That is where I met my wonderful husband and gave birth to my daughter.

Randy is probably going to be going back mid March early April. Lena and I will stay her until the end of the school year. I don't want to pull her out and put her in a new school for a month or so, but we will have to see how that goes. Our house is going up on the market tommorow, so it all depends on how soon we sell. Lena is excited about coming back also. She misses her friends and family too, so I think it will be good for all of us. If Randy's job sends him somewhere else, Lena and I will stay in Oregon. That will be our home base from now on.

Lena and I went to see The Waterhorse last week. It was such a cute movie. I found myself really getting into the movie and saying things like, go,go get out of there! and such. I wouldn't mind seeing it again. This was Lena's first time and a movie theater and she loved it and wants to go back again.

Well, enough for now.