The pictures are from yesterday...Memorial Day. We also celebrated Alan's 33rd birthday. It's hard to believe we have a son that old:) My Mom fixed a wonderful meal with grilled chicken, steak and shrimp and lots of yummy veggies and fruit. A dieters dream meal!!

After the meal Alan and Beca and Kael went down by the lake to shoot off a rocket that Alan had gotten. I will post some pictures of that tomorrow. They are really cute and show Alan climbing up the tree to get the rocket!!

I have had trouble with swelling for about a week now. My ankles are almost undefinable. I noticed when we got to my parents house yesterday that the patch had fallen off. I had just put it on Saturday and it's supposed to last a week. It was too early to refill the patches and I didn't really want them if they are going to keep falling off. I called the doctor's office and told them my problem this morning...of course, it's my doctor's day off but his associate called in the oral form of the patch I was using. I took it around 4:30 and it's 8:45 now and the swelling has gone down considerably. I had begun to think it was the morphine in the pump because it can cause edema but now I think it's because that patch kept falling off and I wasn't getting the medicine. The nice thing is that the oral form is $8.99 and the patch was $40 just for the copay.

Saturday night I was working on cleaning up my scrapbook room. I had been standing too long and the pain was getting pretty intense so I started to rush to the recliner in our bedroom...my most comfortable spot. While I was rushing I banged my foot into the door frame. It hurt so bad and I even had a little trouble sleeping Friday night because of the pain. It was still hurting on Sunday so I called our daughter (the nurse!!) and asked her if she thought I should go to the ER and have it x-rayed. She thought I should so we did. There was only 1 person ahead of us to go back to the room. The rooms were pretty full but the nurse said it shouldn't take too long. Well, by the time we left we had been there 3 hours and 45 minutes. And, what a waste of time...my foot wasn't broken. The worst part about it is Wayne kept telling me he didn't think it was broken and I had to tell him he was right!! I picked a seat right across from where people check in and I will sit there when I go back in the future. For a nosey person like me I got to hear why everyone was coming into the ER. It was a variety of reasons....one lady got wire embedded in her leg from having it thrown from the mower her husband was riding, another guy was putting lighter fluid on his charcoal for a bar-b-que and didn't realize it was leaking all over his pants and they caught on fire and another lady broke her foot falling off of her pier while she was catching a fish.

I have a pump refill this Friday. I'm going to talk to the doctor and see if he thinks there's anything he can do to reduce the pain while standing and walking. He hinted last time we were in that I may have to learn to accept that as part of my problem. If so, I will begin to deal with it and maybe even consider looking into how much our insurance would pay for a motorized wheel chair. Then I wouldn't be so limited in where I can go.

I hope that whoever is reading this had a great holiday weekend!! Ours was interesting, relaxing and fun. The ER was interesting, all day Sunday was relaxing and being with the family for Alan's birthday was fun!!

American Idol latest news....

According to Andrea Bocelli's website Katharine McPhee will be touring with him in June:
We've just received confirmation that AI second place winner Katharine McPhee will be touring with Andrea Bocelli on his June tour. Concert dates and ticket information are available on HTTP://WWW.TICKETMASTER.COM NOTE : This information is subject to change.

When Kristi is here visiting from Memphis she almost always makes a trip to visit her "old friend" from her horse showing days. They have remained quite good friends. Maybe it's because Jody was in the car when Kristi got broad-sided by a full dump truck that they feel a bond! Jody cuts and highlights Kristi's hair and this time she cut Jacob's hair too. She has this little 4 year old pony whose name is Boomer. Kristi said Beca wasn't scared of the pony at all even though he tried some typical pony tricks like going to the gate all the time. Beca would get off of Boomer and lead him away form the gate and get on him again. When she was done riding she got to brush the pony and then it was time for Jacob's haircut. She wanted to be shut in the stall with the pony when Krist and Jody went inside but thank goodness Kristi and Jody knew better than to do that.

I remember so well how much I loved horses and ponies at Beca's age. I used to go to sleep at night just thinking about horses and praying that one day I would get one of my own. When I was 10 years old my Grandma and Grandpa bought me a horse at an auction. I rode her and she was so nice.....I think her name was Lady. But, she must have been drugged because when we got her to the barn where we boarded her she would act terrible. She would try to rub me off on the fence or gate, she would rare and try to run to the barn. I don't remember being scared of her at all...I was just so thrilled to have my very own horse.

Beca has mentioned that she wants to take horseback riding lessons this summer and I guess Alan and Temy are going to find somewhere for her to do that. I think she will have such a good time.

Jacob looks like an old pro up on the pony. I thought maybe he'd be scared but doesn't look like he was scared at all. Maybe he's got his Mom's love for horses in his blood!!

If we had a little better income and my back was better I would love to get a nice pony for the grandkids. There is no way I could begin to care for a horse or pony anymore. I'm just thankful that I could do it for so many years while our kids were showing horses. I would clean their stalls 2-3 times a day...think I'm a perfectionist. I just hated to see the stall dirty or smelly.

Every child is so different. Maybe horses are a girls thing? There were sure more girls showing horses than boys. But, anyway, I told Tyler about Beca and Jacob riding the pony and asked Tyler if he'd like to go ride a horse or pony. He said. ..."Nah, that's okay." I told him how his Mom used to ride a big horse when she was his age but he didn't seem overly impressed with that either!

I have had a lot of swelling in my feet and ankles the past two days. When I put on my clean robe this morning I noticed that the blood pressure patch had fallen off. That is so frustrating and it's probably why I'm swollen so badly. Hopefully by tomorrow the swelling will be a little better.

I think I broke my toe tonight. I was hurrying to sit down because my back was hurting so bad and I walked right into the door frame. It's been about 2 hours and my foot and toe are still throbbing. Of course, my feet were swollen before that and now the left foot is swollen even more. I'm glad we don't have to go to the ER because they know me in there and would probably laugh at another freaky accident. The last one that they still talk about was when I stepped on a toothpick and it lodged wny down deesp.

I have had a little more energy for the past 2 days. But, the back pain is so bad that I can't do ANYTHING without the back flaring up. It gets so frustrating at times. Just think of all the things you do standing up and you'll realize what a handicap it is to not be able to stand more than 30-60 seconds!!

I tried to crochet at least one blanket for every grandchild. I think the only one I missed is the last baby, Kaleb. Jacob and Caden are only 3 months apart (Caden is the oldest). They both love their blankets and that's why this picture is so cute...they're looking at each others blanket like...how'd you get that? That looks like my blanket!!

The other picture is Tyler using the hula hoop. I remember using a hula hoop when I was about his age and it was so easy for me. Now when I try to use it my back hurts and the hula hoop falls right on the ground. I guess some things are just meant for children.

I am feeling so much better today. I even went out and ran an errand. It felt good to get out of the house!!

I don't know if I've posted this recipe before but I'm going to do it again. I made this vegetable soup this morning and can't wait to have it for supper tonight. If you are on the Weight Watchers plan it is 1 point for a one cup serving. This recipe makes a huge batch of soup so I usually make half a recipe and it is still quite a bit of soup.

THE LADY AND SONS BEEF VEGETABLE SOUP

Recipe courtesy Paula Deen

2 tablespoons vegetable oil (if using chuck roast) 2 1/2 to 3 pounds beef short ribs or 2 1/2 to 3 pounds boneless chuck roast
4 quarts cold water
1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 1/2 cups chopped onion
3 tablespoons dried parsley
2 tablespoons beef bouillon granules
1 tablespoon dried Italian seasoning
1 tablespoon House Seasoning, recipe follows
1 tablespoon seasoned salt, plus extra for seasoning
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon celery salt
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus extra for seasoning
2 bay leaves
1 cup thinly sliced carrots
1 cup diced celery
1 cup sliced green beans, fresh or canned
1 cup chopped potatoes
1 cup frozen butter or kidney beans
1 cup corn kernels, fresh or canned
1 cup diced potatoes
1/2 cup uncooked elbow macaroni
Chopped fresh parsley leaves, optional

If using chuck roast, heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Place the roast in the skillet and cook until browned on both sides, about 5 minutes per side. Remove the roast from the skillet and cut it into 1 1/2 to 2-inch cubes; discard the fat. Place the beef cubes in a large stockpot. (If using short ribs, you can put them right in the pot with no preparation).

Add the water, tomatoes, onions, dried parsley, beef bouillon, dried Italian seasoning, House Seasoning, seasoned salt, Worcestershire sauce, celery salt, garlic powder, black pepper and bay leaves. Bring to a boil over high heat. Cover the pot; reduce the heat so that the liquid simmers, and cook for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, or until the meat is very tender. If using short ribs, remove them from the pot and cut the meat from the bones, discard the bones and fat, and return the meat to the pot.

Add the remaining vegetables and the macaroni and return the soup to a boil, stirring to distribute the ingredients. Reduce the heat and simmer for 45 minutes. Just before serving, season with salt and pepper and add fresh chopped parsley. To remove excess fat from the surface of the soup, swirl a lettuce leaf around the surface—it will pick up a lot of the fat.

*The chuck roast will yield more meat, but the bones from the short ribs give the soup an incredible flavor.

House Seasoning: 1 cup salt 1/4 cup black pepper 1/4 cup garlic powder
Mix ingredients together and store in an airtight container for up to 6 months.

About an hour after writing on the blog on Sunday night I started to get sick to my stomach. I ended up spending a few hours hugging the toilet and throwing up. I must have caught Kristi's flu. My immune system is so low that I catch anything that goes around.

I have spent the last two days trying to recover my strength. It doesn't take much to get me down and then it takes so long to get my strength back! I think tonight was the turning point and I felt so much better.

Tonight was the finale of American Idol. This is the first year that I didn't have a clear favorite. I just lean slightly towards Katharine McPhee. I really think they will both have successful music careers.

The swelling from the medicine has finally gone down and the pain in my feet is so much better. It was almost unbearable with the swelling and nothing would really touch the pain. I'm always thankful when something like the pain in my feet lets up. The best way I can explain the pain is it feels like I have a bunch of rubber bands wrapped around my feet and then on top of that they burn and feel like they are on fire. It just makes me think that we don't realize how thankful to be for every part of our body without pain.

Tyler had nursery school graduation on Saturday morning. He had a very good turnout that came to support him. He had his Mom, Dad & Caden, Aunt Kristi & cousin Jacob, cousin Rhebeca...his good buddy, Great Grandma Marilyn & Great Grandpa Dick, Great Grandma MaryLou and Great Grandpa Vic Great Grandma Norma, Nana & Paw Paw, Grandma Becky & Grandpa Wayne. He was probably the best represented of the whole group.

His first program was Christmas 2004 and he wouldn't even come out on the stage...he was shy and scared. He has come a long way since then because he stayed on the stage the whole time and even sang 2 songs with the gr0up...the second group he sang with his eyes closed but I saw his lips moving. I felt so sorry for him to be that scared in front of people.

I almost didn't get to go. I had woke up with a lot of swelling all over my body...my feet, ankles, hands, etc. were all almost double the size and I hadn't been able to urinate for almost 24 hours. I was lucky enough to get into the doctor (and MY doctor, too!!) at 10:00...the program was at 10:30. The urine was fine and I told the doctor what I suspected. I had started taking Lyrica for the nerve pain in my feet and it was causing all the symptoms. He said I wasn't the first one he had seen that swelled up so badly with Lyrica. The only other choice for nerve pain was Neurontin and that's the medicine I gained so much weight taking. So, for now I told him I would continue taking the pamelor for my neuropathy and asked for vicodin for the pain. The vicodin really helped and we got out of the doctor's office just in time to get to the graduation.

I am just today beginning to feel better because everything is working again and the swelling has gone down considerably all ready. I had not continued with the diet for several days because I felt so sick but tomorrow I'm ready to hit it hard again!! Wayne told me yesterday that he was hungry 2 hours after lunch...he wondered why that would happen and he wasn't hungry at all when we were dieting. I told him it's probably because we were eating foods so high in fiber that they were helping to keep us feeling full! He's ready for us to get started again too. When I get so sick and am retaining all that fluid and am nauseated the last thing I want is a salad. I just have to accept that about myself and on my good days I can count calories and do what I can to drop weight...on the bad days I just have to accept that I feel too sick to diet. I just hope the good days will begin soon to outnumber the bad ones!!!

I felt so discouraged about my limitations over this weekend. I think it was from not only feeling sick and wondering what was wrong but I also saw all the other grandparents helping with the younger siblings at the nursery school graduation. They were all doing what I want so badly to be able to do. Sometimes it just overwhelms me with grief for my good health and I just wonder why I have to suffer with this when others enjoy so much better health at the same age and older. I feel that way too when an older person goes around me with their cart at the grocery store and I'm in the electric wheel chair. Most of the time I can deal with it but this weekend it was hard to deal with. I'm beginning to accept it again by tonight and that's where I need to be.

This is our daughter Kristi and her son Jacob. They are dancing to entertain Grandma and Grandpa (Wayne and me). It's always good to have them come to visit but it goes way too fast:( I am hoping and praying that I can go with Kristi and Katie tomorrow to eat lunch out. Kristi always wants to visit Hacienda one time when she visits. They have her favorite quesadillas that she's liked since she was a little girl!!

I was really hoping to have a good week physically but it hasn't turned out that way. I have been worse than I have for months. My feet and ankles are swollen almost double and are very painful and I've been exhausted. Last night I finally got a decent night of sleep. I'm praying that tomorrow I can go with Kristi and Katie to South Bend....but I never know till I wake up and see how I'm feeling.

Kristi is just starting to sell MaryKay. She came over tonight and gave me a pedicure with the MK products. It sure felt good to painful aching feel:)

Jacob got to play with his cousin Caden today. Caden is 3 months older than Jacob. I guess they loved playing on the basement stairs and they also had go be taken away from each other when they started spitting at each other. I think they have both just figured out that they can spit and it's a fun technique that they can try out from time to time. They will probably figure out pretty quick that it's not real acceptable!

The two pictures are of the Mother's Day projects I made. I have two more to make a title page for and then I want to make one for myself to keep in my purse. I thought they turned out really cute. The hardest part was picking out the picures when I began looking towards doing this for Mother's Day. A couple of them will be delivered late but at least they are done!!

My health...where do I begin?? My feet and ankles have been swollen about double their size for 3 days now. It's so frustrating because I've gotten different reasons from the doctor's as to why they swell. The pain doctor says it isn't the pump but I've read many articles saying that morphine in the pump can cause swelling. Then, there's the fact that the heart doctor said my heart could be causing the swelling and that makes sense to me too.

And for some reason I've had trouble sleeping again. I have been needing to take night-time tylenol again. It works but if I don't take it early enough it hangs on for half of the next day. I stayed up till 4:00AM to get the project that's in the picture done. I thought Wayne's parents were leaving to visit his sister today but after staying up so late/early Wayne said they all ready left. At least it's done for when she comes back.

I have switched from seeing the nutritionist to doing Weight Watchers online. I really like their program...lost about 45 pounds on it 5-6 years ago. I've gained it back...plus more after being on all those pain killers that slow down everything...including the metabolism. U switched only because of money. Weight Watchers online if about $5 a week for the first 3 months and then it goes down to $3.75 a week after the initial 3 months. C ompared to $20 a week seeing the nutritionist weight watchers is a real bargain...and I have to take advantage of all the bargains I can!!!

Tyler finally got to come over yesterday and we had a good time together. He has a routine when his Mom comes to pick him up...he runs real fast into the guest room and gets under the covers of the day bed and waits till his Mom finds him. He doesn't let out a peep.

Kristi and Jacob will be coming here on Wednesday. Sounds like it will be a wild time. I said something about putting things up so he doesn't get them and she said that won't do it because he'll just pull a chair to whatever he wants to get and crawl up and get it!! Sounds like he takes pretty good care of himself and what he wants/needs.

I needed to send some thank you cards and was in the mood to make them last night. Now if you're reading this and wondering why I haven't sent you a homemade card lately it's because it's like the stars have to align just right...no really I have to feel halfway good to feel like scrapbooking or making cards. And, I have had a couple of good days in a row. I am so thankful for a good day when I get one...probably more than most people who don't have a chronic illness. I know I never used to be thankful to wake up feeling good. I can remember before I got the morphine pump at times just pacing the floor and crying because the pain was so intense. That has not happened with the pump because I can get out of pain rather quickly. The pain still gets pretty intense at times but all I have to do is sit and I'm all better!!

I was a little disappointed that Tyler didn't make it here this afternoon. He was supposed to spend the afternoon with me but Katie had forgotten about some prior plans. I really missed him today...especially since I had planned to have him here. It was sure a lot quieter here w/o him...sometimes that's good and sometimes it's great to hear the chatter of a child.

Alan and Eutemia and their family have been battling the stomach flu. I feel so bad for all of them. The two youngest boys have been vomiting and it's no fun to have a little one vomit because they don't make it to the toilet or sink....it's just wherever it lands. I hope this weekend will be one of a little bit of healing for them. I know I'm staying a distance till I know they're well because I catch anything within a hundred feet of me:)

The 3 remaining American Idols will be flying by private jet to their hometowns tomorrow. (Saturday) I can't even imagine how it would feel to come back after just a few months ago being a "nobody" (in the sense that they weren't famous...no one is a "nobody"). Anyway, now they come back as an American household name. What a shocker to handle. I have read several interviews with Chris and he keeps saying how shocked he was to get voted off. He was really expecting to win the competition because everyone kept telling him he would. I guess it just shows we never know what to expect in life...Chris...welcome to the real world!!

Today was the first day I can say I feel pretty good for about a week or more. I even took a shower and I'm sure everyone looking at me is pretty happy I did!

I even went to WalMart with Katie and the "boys". Tyler came with me on the electric cart and did most of the driving. He does a pretty good job. I only have to grab the wheel occasionally...especially when it looks like we're going to drive right into the back of someone standing there. I have been so broke lately but he still managed to talk me into 2 toys for him and 2 for Caden. I also got him some fishing lures and he talked quite a big about how tricky that will be to make it look like the fish is eating a jelly fish or worm and then the hook will get them! He's got a great place to fish at his house right off their pier.

American Idol was a little bit of a shock tonight although because of http://www.dialidol.com I kind of had myself prepared for Chris to go home. They have been right 85 % of the time and tonight they got it exactly right with Chris and Katharine in the bottom two and Katharine beat Chris by only a couple hundredths of a vote.

I went with Wayne to see the doctor today. He's been having trouble with his knee and the doctor said it's not trouble in the knee itself but bursitis of the kneecap...from kneeling on hard surfaces too much. I need to try to find him some knee pads somewhere so back to WalMart tomorrow. I think maybe I'll leave Tyler at home this time!! He explained to us why he refused to fill out my social security disability papers. There are 2 different types of forms to fill out. He fills out the simpler of the two all the time but the attorney had sent him the one about my ability to work and he doesn't know how to do that one and that's why he referred it to the pain doctor. Evidently the doctor has to come up with percentages of my ability to work or not work and it gets pretty complicated. I felt better knowing he didn't just refuse to do it...that's just not how he has acted in the past. He has always been more than helpful in every way!!!

The pictures are samples of what I am doing for Mother's Day gifts. We are strapped for money so I wanted to make something special. These little bitty layouts are about 2 1/2 x 3 1/2. They go inside a plastic sleeve and then I punch a hole in it and thread a jumpring into the holes. It is a nice little picture book you can keep in your purse. The pictures can be easily switched out if desired as the child grows. I have about 4 of them done and want to make 2 more.

My health has put a halt to the Mother's Day projects. I have been trying to get over a UTI as I stated 2 days ago and now I think I have another virus. My throat is sore and I have a fever and ache all over. By 5:00 today I'm feeling slightly better but I haven't had a very productive day. I just feel rotten! As usual, it effect my back too. All viruses seem to attack my weakest spot first.

American Idol is gearing up for their final in a couple of week. This week the four that are left went to Graceland in Memphis because they will be singing songs of Elvis tonight. Should be an interesting night. Here is a list of the songs that they will sing....

"It looks like Idol has leaked the song choices. I knew they would... Check out this AOL story. You have to click through the pictures to get the songs. Here they are:
630
Elliott Yamin: "Trouble" and "If I Can Dream"
Chris Daughtry: "A Little Less Conversation" and "Suspicious Minds"
Taylor Hicks: "In the Ghetto" and "Jailhouse Rock" blink blink blink Why Taylor Why?"
Katharine McPhee: "Hound Dog/All Shook Up" and "Can't Help Falling in Love"

"That was a copy from my favorite American Idol blog. Here are a couple more very interesting things. I think you will like them too:)


You ever wonder how much these people make? I found an article about Simon and he should be smiling and happy all the time if money makes him happy. It is reported that he makes $36 million a year or $98, 630 a day! That's a lot of money!!

Another article I read about Tim McGraw. He said he likes American Idol and he never would have even gotten past the audition stage. His favorite to win? The gray haired guy...Taylor!! He said he likes him because "he's real".

I haven't been online for a while because I've been so sick. I went to an associate of my doctor on Saturday morning and found out my problem is a urinary tract infection. I not only had that pain to deal with but I had been nauseated for about 10 days. The doctor gave me antibiotics and yesterday was my worst day. So nauseated that nothing sounded good to eat. I fixed Wayne an omelet with egg beaters and red, yellow & green peppers and mushrooms with just a tiny bit of diet cheese. It looked so good when I started making it and then it started making me sicker just to smell it. Before I was done I was in the bathroom throwing up. Then I had to go out and finish the omelet. I was going to make one for myself after his but now it sounded awful to eat. Wayne said...don't you even think of trying to stay on this diet as sick as you are. He went out and got me some Dairy Queen ice cream. That is what always tastes good to me when I get nauseated. By this morning the nausea is gone and I'm back on the diet...except for drinking cranberry juice for the infection. I got "lite" cranberry juice so hopefully it won't wreck the diet too badly.

That's all that's new here!! Hope everyone reading is doing well and enjoying their weekend. We have had just beautiful weather. It's a little cool and sunny....my personal favorite kind of weather:) I keep my window open by where I sit/sleep in the bedroom and enjoy the fresh air.

Caden...Katie and Steve's youngest:)

Grandma Marilyn (my Mom) with Rhebeca

Our daughter Kristi and her son Jacob

I hope you enjoyed a few of my favorite pictures that I have downloaded on my laptop. If you want to put them in your document folder on your computer just right click on them and press save picture as....then type in a title .... Please excuse any typos tonight....it's almost midnight and I haven't slept more than an hour the past 3-4 days so I'm really tired and keep falling alsleep sitting up:) Hopefully the night time tylenol will help.

Today was my visit with the new dentist. How does a person ever know who to go to for a dentist. My Mom had a great idea and we both decided we'd go with her idea. She joined a new dentist insurance program so there are only certain dentists we could use with this insurance program where the dentist will give reduced prices. There are 3 in the area and she prayed that the first one that could get me in for an evaluation would be the one that we should use.

The first one that could get me in was a Dr. Murphy. That is where my appointment was today. They did a full set of x-rays and he went over the work that needs done. I had been told in the past that 2-3 teeth needed root canals and he didn't think I needed any more root canals...what a great thing to hear!! I do need some crowns and bonding done but it's about half the price of the other dentists for the entire work that needs done.

I am also extremely hard to get numb. The dentist I went to here in town for several years would get frustrated with me and would go ahead and drill and it was very painful. That made for very bad dental experience and now a lot of fear. The interesting thing is that Alan and Katie are also hard to get numb. I can be the "test" and see if this new guy can get me numb and if so I'm sure they'll switch . The dentist today said there is a new numbing medication and should work well for someone like me....I sure hope so!!

I had a lot of extra back pain today and was kind of uncomfortable with it. Motrin has kind of taken care of the pain for me...thank goodness!

Tyler and I started a new game on Tuesday... I think I mentioned it on my blog Tuesday but it is a game where you raise and sell fish. I got so hooked on it that I got up every couple of hours to check on my fish and make sure they didn't need food and to remove all the fish that were sick and died. It woke up Wayne every time so tonight I had to pause the game:) If you would like to look at it, it is at real arcade. Here is the link....fish tycoon.

Tyler spent the afternoon and part of the evening with Wayne and me yesterday. We had such a good time...again:) Tyler found a game on Real Arcade called "Fish Tycoon". It is an aquarium of fish and you can raise babies and sell them and then you have to feed them and buy all kinds of things for them...even medicine for when they're sick. It was a good lesson for Tyler in thinking ahead. You start the game out with $300. He couldn't wait to spend it all. I told him he could do what he wanted but he should save some back in case one of his fish got sick. He went ahead and spent it all and sure enough one of his fish got a fungus infection and needed medicine. We tried selling some fish but couldn't get money fast enough and his fish died. It will be interesting to see when he comes next time if he saves some back. I have been checking on the fish every hour today...it gets kind of addicting.

Dial Idol was right on the money again tonight about which idol would be going home. Wayne and I don't think it was her time yet but Paris Bennett was voted off the show tonight. She is 17 and will only get better. She is a fantastic singer and has a real bubbly personality and loves dressing real "different". I was always anxious to see what outfit she'd come up with next. It will be an interesting few weeks coming up as this show winds down for 2006. I can't believe it's almost over all ready...seems like I was just excited because it was starting! Such is life:)

Tomorrow I go to the first of 2 dentists to get an estimate and plan for my teeth. I'm a little worried about hearing what needs to be done. I just hope that they don't have to do root canals on my front teeth. I know there are some cavities in them but hopefully they just need drilled....I'll know by tommorow this time.

My neck has been a little bit better lately. I didn't get the shot last week and I think I'll just wait and see how my neck feels in the next couple of weeks.

I went to the scrapbook store today to get a few more things for my Mothers Day gifts. While I was in the store I saw Molly...my 2nd (?) cousin....or is it my 1st cousin once removed. I never did understand that...her Dad is my 1st cousin...that I do know. I had gone to the back of the store because my back was getting really painful and was going to sit for a few minutes till I could get up again. When...in walks Molly. I think we talked for over an hour. She's such a special person...and has had her share of problems!

I decided this trip to the scrapbook store that from now on I am taking the walker. With the walker there is a seat I can sit down on wherever I am. I feel like a little old lady using it but pain speaks louder than any feelings of embarassment. I'm just thankful I have something that will help for times like that. I would imagine I will end up getting an electric cart in the not so distant future.

That's about all that's happening in our lives today...I'll post tomorrow what the dentist has to say about my teeth!!

This is the picture I tried so hard to upload (download??..not sure which) last night. It is the last one I wanted to post of the birthday party. Tyler and Rhebeca are such good friends. As friends go, they have their moments of fighting but overall they just love each other and always come up with the most imaginative play. In the picture they are playing tic tac toe. I always let them win when I play with them...Beca caught on to my little trick right away. Tyler probably knows but he likes winning so much he doesn't care. When he and I play "Sorry" he always wants to shuffle the cards. But, his way of shuffling is to stack the deck in his favor.

We made it one more day on the diet. I have lost 6 pounds since Thursday afternoon. I know it comes off fast the first week and slower after but it's kind of nice to have that big of a weight loss. It helps me to stay focused on keeping on it. I want to lose this weight so badly because I think it might help with my back pain. The pain management doctor said losing even 10 pounds could help with the pain. So...that's a good way to stay focused on losing the weight...thinking of maybe less pain.

I am so lucky because my hairdresser comes to the house to color and cut my hair. For so long I was in so much pain that I just couldn't have made it into her shop so she started coming here. She said she doesn't mind doing it so I just keep on calling her for a "house cut". Today she highlighted and cut my hair and while I was processing she cut Tyler and Caden's hair.

It's been pretty uneventful around here so there's not much new information.