Extreme Makeover (Home Edition)

Ty Pennington is in the 'hood.

Yep, that's right, he's in southern Indiana. In a little-bitty town called St. Meinrad which is real close to Santa Claus. I guess St. Meinrad is in Spencer County, but it's right on the border of Perry County. Monday was the "HELLO Farina family!" and they wisked them off to a resort for a week. They come home to a NEW house next week.

Apparently what's significant about this family is that the woman is 26 and she had breast cancer. She had to have a double masectomy (sp?) and has since been very involved in Relay for Life. They have three kids. There's more on the Holiday World blog with pictures of their old house.

Shopping Spree!

Lucy called me yesterday. She asked me to sit down. She told me she just won a $5,000 shopping spree from Simon Malls and Outlet Centers. She had entered a contest on the Edinburgh Outlet website. She get's to chose from a location in New York or California and gets airfare for two to the location. Spend three days. and gets limo service for 8 hours.

$5,000 at an outlet mall will go A LONG WAY! Congrats to her!!
(And curse myself for not entering the contest too)

In other news...
I went to the Chiropractor yesterday for the first time. I've had constant neck pain since around June that just isn't getting better or worse. So after finally being fed up with it, I decided to see a doctor and I liked it. It was odd. He was just gently pushing on joints and stuff and be able to tell what was wrong. Then he could push around and suddenly pop my back, lower back and hips. (Ahh). He popped the right side of my neck but couldn't get the left side to do it and THAT HURT. At one point he made his finger into a hook and put his finger tip on the roof of my mouth and pulled up.. Like he was pulling my skull off my shoulders. *interesting* The whole thing lasted maybe 10 minutes and I go back tomorrow. He said "Okay, tonight, when the kids are in bed, you'll need to ice down your neck because I was pulling some stuff that hasn't been worked over for a while. and there might be swelling". I was like "yeah right. that was nuthin!" But man! I did feel it last night!

Twenty-Nine

Damn. Today is my birthday. My last year of being twenty-something. The don't trust anyone over 30 club is kicking me out. I'm .. depressed.

Last night Mom came over and she asked Cole to help her get something out of the car. Ryan asked me what they were doing and I said "She's getting my birthday present out" and he says "Birthday?!" and I said "yeah, tomorrow" and he looks at his watch and shuts up. Yep. he pretty much forgot. So today he volunteered to take the kids in town and managed to run out and pick up a card. He's such a dork. And so predictible.

Anyway. We're having a cookout Saturday with friends. Should be fun if it doesn't get too cold!

This is neat..

Instructions on how to make a secret hiding spot in an old book.

My only problem would be actually cutting up a book... but I'm sure I could find some hard cover math book that I have no emotional attachment to. ;)

By the way...

It sounds like Dish Network has outsourced it's phone operations to India too.

Upgrade

I finally called DishNetwork today and upgraded to a DVR receiver. Ryan will probably give me "What do we need that for, I'm not paying extra for that a month" song and dance but you know what? He doesn't pay that bill every month anyway. I do. And I think once he uses it.. he'll be hooked. I know I will. I've feel in love with the whole TiVo concept a long time ago.

It's an extra $10 a month, but we're also adding another TV. It'll either go in our basement or in Cole's room. Not that I'm a fan of kids watching tons of tv... Cole doesn't watch much actually.. but sometimes he's easier to get to bed/fall asleep for naps or bedtime with cartoons on.

It's supposed to arrive tomorrow for installation. We'll see how this goes. I've not had much luck with Dish installation people.

There's a one time upfront cost for the unit ($69.00) that I wasn't too happy about, but I'll use my b-day money for it. Happy Birthday to me.. again ;)

Something to think about

Why is it...

When you go to the doctor, you have to arrive early for paperwork, etc. and they let you know about their long policy on "appointments". If you need to cancel, you have to do it at least 24 hours in advance, if you're late, you may have to forfeit your appointment or be pushed back to another time. If you're late or you miss an appointment, you may be subject to a fee.

What about me? What about my time? I'm constantly finding that I'M the one waiting in the office for 45 minutes or an hour before hearing my name called. Is there any compensation for my wait? Shouldn't I be entitled to an appointment policy too?

It just angers me that they hold such strict guidelines for you and their appointments, that they don't hold the same consideration when it comes to patients and their time.

I waited in the dentist office for 45 minutes today, actually, it was more like an hour because I arrived 15 minutes early (as directed) to complete paperwork. How and the hell do you get that far behind? They start at 8 and my appointment was at 9. Somehow in that first hour they got 45 minutes behind?!

This screws with other scheduling I have going on. Like work, kids, life!

But other than that...
I like my new dentist! I have a small cavity that he's going to get with a laser, but other than that, he said my teeth will out live me! He took digital x-rays of all my teeth, and did a oral physical--check for cancer, measured gums, etc.. Next time is the cleaning. He's very nice and I'm glad to finally find a dentist I like (and is in my network!). yeh!

Em's Wedding/mini-class reunion

At Emily's wedding yesterday I realized about half of our graduating class was there! So we had our picture made. From left. Mandy, Chasity, Leah, Emily, Matt, Me, Tonya, and Leah.

The wedding was "Western-style", so that's why we're all in jeans.

This group pretty much stays in touch with each other.. well, except for Matt, Chasity, and Leah. Matt lives in Corydon, Chasity in Owensboro and Leah lives in town, but we don't ever see her.

Ahh Thursdays

Thursdays are my favorite day of the week. The reason? Television and self indulgence :)

First off, Thursday mornings I can't wait to download the latest Tim Gunn from Project Runway's podcast. That's my favorite show through the week. I'm obsessed with it. Then I mosey on over to Socialite's Life and read the J. Harvey blog about it. Always full of laughs.

Thursday evenings are jammed packed my favorites. The Office, ER, CSI. -- Which will start soon!!

Happy Birthday to ME!

My birthday is still a couple weeks away, but I went ahead and ordered what I wanted today. It's a new digital camera! I've been planning to get it for a couple months now, but figured September would be a good time to order for several reasons:

• I'm expecting payment on several freelance projects I've been working on.
• It's my birthday and since no seems to know what to buy me (except my parents), I get money --Ryan's favorite gift to give...and if you're lucky, he might even throw in a card ;)
• I have two rechargable batteries for my old camera and one of them died, for good, and I didn't want to purchase a new one with the camera at the age it is.
  
• Ryan just bought a digital camera that you place in the woods along deer trails to take pictures of wildlife (and to see if there are any HUGE antlered deer around). It uses the same storage cards as my old digital camera and this new camera uses different cards. So now he can have the old ones for his swanky hunting camera.

Another added bonus is that I'll use this camera for freelance work, so I can also claim this as an expense on my income taxes, to help off-set some of the earnings this year.

What I like about this camera!
My old camera (Nikon Coolpix 885) was pretty good when it first came out. It was pricey too, as were most digital cameras (about 4.5 years ago). It offered 3.2 megapixels, 3x optical zoom and 4x digital zoom. It served me well. It does have some issues, like freezing up and showing a system error on the screen.--very annoying. But I've taken thousands and thousands of pictures with it. It was there for my New Orleans vacation, the birth of my two boys, and many other life events.

But like with computer equipment, digital cameras age quickly. There's always something better around the corner. I usually get a new computer system every 4 or 5 years, so I can justify a new digital camera. This new one, Kodak Easyshare z650, offers a whopping 6.1 megapixels AND 10x optical zoom! It's like a high-end camera with a mid-range pricetag. I'm in love!

I ordered it from Amazon and it should be here Friday :)

Dentist time

Cole visited the dentist for the first time today. He did great! He let the assistant (shown here) clean his teeth and he picked out a toothbrush and sticker. Then when the doctor came in, he opened wide so he could count and check everything out.

The spacing between Cole's teeth is perfect. It's a good sign. That way his 6 year molars will come in and have room. He said some of that space will close in when that happens. It's also a good sign that he *might* not need orthodontic work. However, he does have a slight overbite. I don't see how he got so lucky! Ryan and I both had braces, plus I had retainer and other mouth gadgets beginning in the 2nd grade. We already figured any offspring of ours would require orthodonitic work before we even had kids! So to hear that so far everything looks great, is good news! He also doesn't need x-rays because of the spacing between the teeth. No cavities to report. Go back in 6 mos.

I do have to say that going to a pediatric dentist was wonderful. They totally cater the child and try to make it as fun as possible. No trama. and the staff was great with him. He was good too.. they said he was their best patient that day! And I know that was true because while we were in the waiting room some kid was screaming his head off. I thought they were pulling something, or filling a cavity. Come to find out, they were just cleaning his teeth. and he was like 5 years old. Cole was asking why the kid was crying and I didn't want to tell Cole it was because of the dentist. and make him scared. So I just said "I don't know why he's crying. Maybe he fell down". lol. and Cole was satisfied with that answer. 

Wrestling

Cole was wrestling with Blake. I was being the ever watchful mother hen. I was constantly saying "careful Cole, don't do that, watch out", etc. And Blake, the whole time, was LOVING it. he was giggling and smiling. He's going to be a rough-neck like Cole. 

They're so happy!

Two of a kind..

Boys will be boys. 

Blake Growing Up

My how time flies! This is Blake at a few days old. So tiny and wrinkley. Back in February.

This is him now. A 21 pound bundle of smiles.

Growing up

Blake had is 6-months check up today.

He's doing great. Staying steady on his own little curve. He's 27 inches and 21.5 pounds. In comparison to Cole at this age, Blake is one inch shorter and one pound heavier. What's crazy is when I look at Blake, I don't think he looks as big as what Cole was.--Cole was such a chunk!

Blake had to get shots. Supposed to be three of them, but one of their refridgerators went out over Labor Day weekend and ruined most of their vaccinations. They were able to get some over-night delivered, but not all of them. So we go back in 6 weeks for the one we missed today, plus scheduled flu shots for Blake and Cole.

I never get flu shots. I just don't think they really work.. at least for healthy adults. Last year my doc suggested I get one(because I was preggo), but I didn't.. and I didn't get the flu either. But the pediatrician said for Blake's age, it's important. Plus Cole, with his semi-asthma threat, should have one because asthma sufferers are at risk. And since Cole could be more at risk for it, then Blake should definitely have one so if he caught it, he wouldn't pass it to Cole.

*sigh*

I also bought a new carseat today. A 20 lbs. baby in a carrier feels more like 50 lbs. for some reason and my back simply can't take it anymore. Carrying the carrier around is so awkward anyway. There's no simple way of holding the thing without having your body twisted and contorted. Plus the pediatrician said with Blake's weight, he's about to outgrown the safety requirements regarding weight for those things. Cole is still using the same carseat he graduated to after the carrier. It's one of those 'grow with you' things that can be modified as the child gets bigger. It ultimately can be a booster seat with the cross strap from the car holding him in. But rather than keeping that one for Cole, I bought him a real "Booster" carseat. Hopefully it'll take up less width in the backseat since I'll have to use the other one for Blake. What's neat about this carseat is that it has the cup holders and up by the headpiece there are two flashlight things for 'night-time activity' I'm not sure if I'll show him that feature just yet ;) He'll have the backseat flashing like a disco strobe light!

By the time Blake get's Cole's age and is ready for this car seat, Cole will be ready for the next booster seat (the backless kind) which this one can convert to, but I'll probably just buy a new one of those too and hand this one down to Blake.

SEE PEOPLE, this is why I'm NOT crazy having two kids roughly two years apart!

wow

The Crocodile Hunter is dead.

And from what I've gathered, it was a freakish, "bad luck" accident.

The Info.