Wednesday, February 25, 2009

"Where are you?"

"Mommy, Where are you?" As I am awakened out of a deep sleep to the sound of my child's voice bellowing through the house.

"I am in the bed NyCee." (Really, at 230a where else would I be?)

Shuffle, shuffle, shuffle.

"Mommy, that's my pillow." As she attempts to climb into my bed and claim her teriotory.

"Would you like mommy to scoot over so that you can get in the bed with me?"

"Yes ma'am"

5 minutes later: sound asleep

Monday, February 23, 2009

1/2 way there



I caught Tyler trying to pull himself up in his crib. He just has to figure out how to get his legs to cooperate.

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Come and Gone

My mother came to Phoenix for a visit. I did not get one picture while she was in town. Partly because my camera is broken. The other part is we were busy. I had to work everyday and she made plans to visit family members.

Although the week flew by, we enjoyed her company and she enjoyed the warm weather.

Saturday, February 14, 2009

May Cause Drowsiness -- REALLY?!?!?

When a bottle of medication is labeled, "May cause drowsiness" generally that statement is true. While I recognize side effects occur differently in individuals, I did not expect hyperactivity.

Tyler was prescribed a pain medication after his surgery to be given on a "as needed basis." Well, I didn't fill the prescription until late yesterday evening because he seemed fine. He was a little sleepy but not fussy or in pain.

Around 8pm, he was just done. He'd had a long day and I thought the numbing medication had finally worn off because he just cried and cried. But the pharmacy advised it would have taken 1 and 1/2 hours for the prescription to be ready. I just decided to forgo the wait and took the kids home.

I picked up the medication this morning and then the kids and I went to run a few errands. When we returned home, I gave Tyler a dose of the medication before lunch time. My thought was if he would be sleepy from the medication, then he needed to take it early as to not affect his bedtime. The dose was given around 1130a.

He was so hyper. Nap? What nap? He was on overdrive. He played in the crib for about 2 hours before he wanted to get out. I finally just took him out while I combed NyCee's hair.

I was called into work in the Nursery at church. So, I arrived around 445p and worked until 1030p. Tyler did not go to sleep at all. He just played and played and played. He fell asleep around 400p and slept for about 20 minutes because I had to wake him up so that I could go to work.

He finally tuckered out in the car during the 5 minute car ride home. I put on his pjs and now he is sound asleep.

As for the medicine, well, I just hope no one was injured when I pitched it out the window! Just kidding. It is still in the cabinet but Tyler will not partake of anymore of it.

Friday, February 13, 2009

Under the Knife

Tyler's surgery went better than expected. Well, that's not entirely true. I expected it to go very smoothly as I had been praying about it for weeks. But it was quick. He was such a big boy during the check-in process. All the nurses just cooed over him and spoke of how adorable he was.

After signing all the necessary documents, the nurse took him to the surgical area. Both doctors came out and spoke to me in a very polite and understanding manner.

I went to the lobby to get an iced coffee and danish. I returned to the waiting room, made a couple of phone calls, sat down to make a grocery list and the next then I know, the doctor is telling me the surgery went well.

Approximately 10 minutes later, I was paged to the recovery room. When I arrived, Tyler was awake and smiling. Several nurses commented about how well behaved he was.


He cried briefly when he saw me but I gave him a bottle of milk and the world was once again a wonderful place. He slept off and on throughout the day. But overall, he was a very good boy. He handled the surgery like a big fella!

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Abounding in Blessings

After work, I rushed in the house to get dinner into the kids' bellys before heading to church. While getting dinner ready, I received a call from the car dealership. The representative advised there was an error in the price of the vehicle on the bill of sale. He proceeded to tell me the car was over priced so I would need to come in and resign the documents. He further advised the terms of the loan remained the same but due to the adjustment of the car price, my loan had to be restructured.

As a result, my car payment was lowered and the overall amount financed is $1000 less than the original amount.

"I am abounding with the favor of you Lord and I am full of your blessings."
Deut 33:23)

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

So Silly

I had to laugh at myself today while driving to work.

Because Smurfette was old, I would drive in the far right lane. I now know that she was moving so slowly because the transmission was going out. I just thought she didn't have as much spunk because she was 14 years old.

Well, Fabulous has a whole lotta spunk. So much so, I find myself having a lead foot.

This morning after dropping off the kids at daycare, I entered the freeway and immediately made my way over to the far left lane. In my new car, I can cruise in whatever lane I choose!

Sunday, February 08, 2009

A Ram in the Bush

And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint.
Galatians 6:9 (Amplified Bible)

First, GOD ROCKS!!!! Okay, now that I have gotten that out! As you know, Smurfette has passed on to that great junkyard in the sky. But God is so faithful because I did not miss one day of work. Nor did she give out on the freeway or side of the road. I was never stranded with or without the kids. God is so faithful.

Yesterday, I went out to look for a new car. I called my dad from the dealership because I haven't purchased a new car in about five (5) years and I really needed his help. Initially, I looked at a Toyota Corolla but after some research my dad advised it was not worth the money. Plus, it was just too darn small.

But while at the dealership, not ONE salesperson acknowledged me. Even my dad commented about it because he had a good 30 or 40 minute conversation as I walked around the lot. So, I got in the car and left. I was determined to not return to that lot. I figured no one wanted my money.

Today after church, I arrived home and there was a message on the machine from a representative of the dealership. I thank her for the call but advised that I would not be returning to the location. She connected me to her supervisor.

I explained the situation to the supervisor and explained that I did not see anything that I wanted so I would look elsewhere. (I found a minivan at another dealership that I had planned to visit on Monday.) I explained this to the manager and he told me he would meet or beat the price of the vehicle that I wanted because he didn't have that model. So I made an appointment to go to the dealership and look at the minivan in stock.

The finance manager was waiting for me and was very kind. He apologized again for the poor service at the other dealership and showed me the minivan. I LOVED IT! It was better than the one I planned to drive the next day. The seats fold down into the floor creating a cargo space without actually removing the seats. Also, there is wood grain on the dashboard, CD and cassette (required for my MP3 connection), power everything, and more. The best part, I got it for $2,000 below sticker price and 2% off my interest rate! Now you understand why I started out with the statement GOD ROCKS!

In January, the heat stopped working in the explorer. So I just put blankets in the car and bundled up the kids. I wore my mittens and prayed all the way to work. In September (one of the hottest months of the year) the air stopped working. But even then, I would run errands early and return home.

God just keeps blessing me. I found a nanny for my children which cuts my monthly daycare expense in half. My car payment is actually very decent. God is so faithful.

Presenting, my 2007 Chrysler Town and Country Mini-Van, whose name is Fabulous,(really, did you expect anything else?):

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Hebrews 13:8 (New King James Version)

Tuesday, February 03, 2009

All That Remains

This license plate is all that remains of Smurfette: my 1995 Ford Explorer.


I was disappointed that the car could not be donated to the breast cancer foundation. Because the transmission was removed, the foundation would not accept the car. However, God always as a back-up plan. With the help of a friend, I was able to donate the car to a Christian organization. Something good resulted from my loss.

While in conversation with a friend, I said, "Smurfette was on life support and finally died." To which she replied, "Good! She's been in hospice for months!" HA!

The tow truck driver showed up at the transmission repair shop about 2 hours earlier than I had arranged. Thankfully, the gentleman that I had been working with was kind enough to remove the plate and released the vehicle even though I hadn't paid for the work yet. He trusted me to come in at 1:15p, as I had arranged, to pay the balance. And I did.

Initially, I was sad because I didn't get a picture of Smurfette before she was taken away. But I see God's hand in that as well. I am glad that she was picked up and I was not there. The explorer was a piece of my past. This year is all about moving forward in Christ Jesus.

So, what am I going to do about a new car? Well, I will do what King Jehoshaphat did: while surrounded by armies on three sides, he "set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah." 2 Chronicles 20:3 (Holman Christian Standard Bible).

"Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem in the LORD's temple before the new courtyard. He said:
LORD God of our ancestors, are You not the God who is in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand, and no one can stand against You. Are You not our God who drove out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel and who gave it forever to the descendants of Abraham Your friend?"
2 Chronicles 20:5-7 (Holman Christian Standard Bible).

"This is what the LORD says: 'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's." 2 Chronicles 20: 15.