Kindergarten Field Day

Today was the 17th Annual Kindergarten Field Day at Corey & Collin's school. The boys and girls competed separately in a few different events. Collin came home today with five ribbons (3 second place and 2 third place), and Corey brought home two (a second place and a third place). It was so cute to watch. All of the kids had a great time and they were all rewarded for their good sportsmanship with a freeze pop. Here are just a few pics:


Sebastian and Corey in the Hula Hoop Race

Austin (he's so adorable!) in the Bean Bag Throw

All of the boys in the Ostrich Race

A nice "air" shot of C&C in the Frog Hop Race

Corey, Austin, and Collin

The whole class

The whole class making silly faces

Collin enjoying a freeze pop

Corey enjoying a freeze pop

9 months,0.3 miles, and 25 minutes later.....

When I look back now, it doesn't seem like it was that long ago. So much has happened since then, yet time seems to be standing still. It shouldn't have taken so long. I am on my way, and today was a victory for me, in a way. It took 9 months and 0.3 miles, and all of about 25 minutes. Normally, I might feel shame, but I'm learning that it wouldn't be "normal" to feel that.

It was the third day of school when Brad went to Scouts that night and came out with his teeth in his hand. It was also the second to last day of us having health insurance because Dennis changed jobs. I was able to get him in to see the dentist that following day, but we couldn't get it fixed without the insurance.

From that day on, some really weird things happened to me. I never imagined I could feel like I did or that I could cry that much. I had a few panic attacks, went to the ER a few times, had all kinds of tests done, etc. I ruined Christmas, New Year's, and everyone's birthdays. I had not one piece of cake and I cried and apologized as I snapped pics of my boys' birthdays. I was a mess.

Dennis's insurance was supposed to start in October, or so we thought. He asked about it, and his employer said, November, which then changed to December. Dennis finally had insurance, but by that time, the dentist's office was closing for the holidays. Not only that, I still wasn't well enough to make appointments. I didn't know from one day to the next how I was going to feel. It really didn't matter, as it turns out, because the insurance changed as of January 1st!!! Ugh.

I had bloodwork done, more tests, lots of doctor visits, and eventually, at the end of February, beginning of March, my mom came to stay with us. She came to help me because by that time, I wasn't even able to get the boys onto the school bus. I didn't sleep well at night, I woke up with shaky knees, I felt heat in my arms and head. I was throwing up on a daily basis and had no appetite at all. I lost 18lbs in a short period of time.

It is only within the past few weeks that I've been feeling like I might be getting a little better. I've been alright to drive. I had a small panic attack at Brad's concert recently, but I made it through it. I've been well enough that I've been making appointments and plans like crazy!

Brad was hoping that last week he'd get his teeth fixed but because of his bleeding gums, the dentist just gave him a cleaning and told him to brush aggressively and come back in about 5 days. He (the dentist) didn't want the blood to stain the tooth material (I forget what he called it?).

So, after my long novel, here is Brad's before and after pics. I am smiling just as big as Brad is now. I'm so happy to see him so happy. He couldn't stop looking in the mirror.

Oh, and did I mention that the dentist is just 0.3 miles from our house (within walking distance!) and Brad's appointment was at 2:45pm and we were out of there by 3:05pm!! (Thank you, Dr. Sherry!!)

Before:

and after:

He is anxious to go to school tomorrow for all of his friends to see! He'll have to wait almost a week to show his fellow scouts. He's not sure that he'll be able to keep the nickname that they gave him......."Chip". LOL

Personality Quiz

I was reading my friend Vicki's blog and she did this little quiz and I took it too. I'd have to say, it is pretty close to accurate for me. Click on the link below and see how accurate it is for you! :)

You Are An ISFP

The Artist You are a gifted artist or musician (though your talents may be dormant right now). You enjoy spending your free time in nature, and you are good with animals and children. Simply put, you enjoy beauty in all its forms and live for the simple pleasures in life. Gentle, sensitive, and compassionate - you are good at recognizing people's unspoken needs. In love, you are quiet and sweet yet very passionate. You love easily. You have an underlying love for all living things, and it's easy for you to accept someone into your heart. At work, you do best in an unconventional position. You express yourself well and can work with almost anyone. You would make a good veterinarian, pediatrician, or composer. How you see yourself: Sympathetic, kind, and communicative When other people don't get you, they see you as: Incompetent, insecure, and overly sensitive

What's" Your Personality Type?

Plant a tree and watch it grow.......

Yesterday was Arbor Day and the boys brought home a little tree to plant. We didn't get to plant yesterday, so we planted them today. Hopefully these trees will grow and thrive with proper care from the boys. They really enjoyed planting them with a little help from Mom. :) Actually, I think I enjoyed it just as much, if not more, than they did.

Here is Collin planting his tree:

It's not easy to see, but we hope to take a pic regularly so we can chart the growth of Collin's tree.

And Corey with his tree:

It's not very easy to see Corey's tree, either, but we'll take pics of his too.

Now that I think of it, it may not look like the trees are growing because my boys will be growing too. *sigh*

A little fieldtrip?

There was no school today (Act 80 day), so Corey, Collin, Bradley, and I went to see Dennis at lunch time. I was more curious than any of them. The building was once a banquet hall/restaraunt before Dennis' boss bought it and turned it into "Hydra-Tech".

It really is a shame. It was such a beautiful place. The walls and trim are still somewhat nice (and PINK!) but now there are no fancy table linens. Just big ugly dirty machines and the scent of paint. Just weird.

After our visit was over we stopped at Dollar General and then went home to play outside. It's so nice to get out.

Tomorrow we are planning a visit to Mem & Jerry's house. :)

A little update...

It's been forever and a day since my last entry. Ugh. I've been sort of sick and just not up to typing in all of my sadness. My last entry was in December, and that was one of the hardest times ever in my life. Not long after that, Dennis finally got health insurance and I was able to go to the doctor.

I made a few trips to the ER before and after insurance. Things were getting pretty scary for me. I didn't understand what or why I was feeling. Scary is one word to describe it. I could barely leave the couch and I'd cry and cry because of how afraid I was of the trembling that I was feeling inside.

I still wake every morning with the trembling or "shaky" knees. I just tell myself that it will pass and getting the boys ready for school sometimes keeps me busy enough to forget the shakiness for a little while.

I now see a therapist. Her name is Kim. I'm not sure that Kim is exactly helping, but at the same time, I don't want to rush my opinion. I had a session this morning and she suggested journaling. Journaling reminded me of this poor blog that I've neglected again. I hope to get better with keeping up and get better healthwise too. I'm getting there, it's just taking a lot longer than I'd imagined it would. I am also now reading "Feeling Good" by Dr. David Burns. Hopefully that will help!

I'm trying my hardest to be more positive, although at times that is very hard. It's hard some days to find happy people to surround yourself with. Dennis is miserable at his job, Trevor is angered by his work schedule, Brad hates homework, Corey and Collin don't want to come in from playing outside. It's always chaotic here.

Yesterday was a "milestone" for me. It's been 3 months since my last cigarette! I talk about it often and I'm sure some people are just sick of hearing me, but I don't think they understand just how hard it is to quit such a habit and I did it with no help. Cold Turkey!

I am happy today and hopeful. It will get better!

I hope to come back here more often and try to update as best I can. So much has been missed.

A great song!

I'm not a big Carrie Underwood fan, but the words to her latest song really hit home for me. I've been doing so much worrying lately and I've got to stop. It's not healthy, and I've learned that so many times, I've worried for nothing because it works out in the end, anyway. *sigh*

****** So Small ******

What you got if you aint got love?
The kind that you just wanna give away
It's okay to open up
Go ahead and let the light shine through
I know it's hard on a rainy day
You wanna shut the world out
And just be left alone
Don't run out on your faith
Sometimes that mountain you've been climbing
Is just a grain of sand
What you've been out there searching for forever,
Is in your hands
When you figure out love is all that matters, after all
It sure makes everything else
Seem so small

It's so easy to get lost inside
A problem that seems so big, at the time
It's like a river that's so wide
It swallows you whole
While you're sittin round thinking about what you can't change
And worryin' about all the wrong things
Time's flying by, moving so fast
You better make it count, cause you can't get it back

Sometimes that mountain you've been climbing
Is just a grain of sand
What you've been out there searchin for forever
Is in your hands
Oh, When you figure out love is all that matters after all
It sure makes everything else
Seem so small

Sometimes that mountain you've been climbing
Is just a grain of sand
What you've been out there searchin for forever
Is in your hands
Oh, When you figure out love is all that matters after all
It sure makes everything else
Oh it sure makes everything else
Seem so small

Visiting Santa

Corey (left) & Collin (right)

Every year, around this time, we go to Weissport to see Santa and to let him know just what we'd like to see under our tree on Christmas morning. This is such a bittersweet thing for me. It's amazing how fast life seems to be flying by. I think back to when each of my boys was terrified to sit on this strange man's lap. I got to go through this at three different times in my life, when each of them was small.

Today, Corey and Collin gave no fuss and had no problem telling Santa what they wanted him to bring to them. They still have a bit of shyness to them when they speak, but they didn't need any coaxing to get on his lap. It saddens me that I won't have this for too much longer. They will revert back to the day that they didn't want to get on his lap, just as their big brother Brad did this year, and big brother Trevor did years before. Once you hit "that age", it's not "cool" to sit on his lap. I must admit though, even at my age, I would've like to sit on his lap and tell him my Christmas wishes. lol

Music to our ears....

Corey, Collin, and I went to the Middle School to see the Christmas concert. Brad didn't join the band this year, but he did join the chorus. It was so nice and even nicer that Corey and Collin were very well behaved and enjoyed the concert.

I'm tired.....

Yes, it is almost midnight, and I should be in bed. I'm tired, but not "sleepy". I am just tired of whatever it is that's going on in my body. My right side has a weird pain. It's not the kind of pain that strikes when I move a certain way, it's just a dull pain that is always there. I've been taking Ibuprofen like mad and I've tried muscle relaxers, but nothing takes it away. Ugh.

I'm tired, too, of waiting for health insurance. I'm guessing that any day now, we should get the cards in the mail, or at least some sort of documentation so that I can start making my appointments. I was hoping to be "all fixed up" by the holidays, but now I'm beginning to wonder if that will happen? What a great gift that would be!

I don't like to be such a complainer all the time. Complaining doesn't make it go away. That will be at the top of my resolution list this year.....to be more positive and complain less. I'm sure Dennis (and everyone else that knows me) will appreciate that. *Sigh*

Oh Christmas Tree

We went to pick out our Christmas tree this morning. We had to go early because we didn't know when the freezing rain was to arrive.

Normally, Mem, Jerry, and Toby would go along and get their tree too, but because of the weather it was just Dennis, Corey, Collin, and I that went. It just wasn't the same. Dennis is the most impatient person I've ever known. Always in a hurry. Luckily, it didn't take us too long to find our tree.

One thing that didn't change was that we set out to get a smaller tree this year. Every year we end up cutting most of the tree to get it to fit in the stand, and in the house too. This year, just like any other year, we ended up with a 7 1/2 footer. lol I have to say, though, that this tree does seem a bit thinner than last year's.

Dennis cut the tree down in no time at all. The trunk was rather small and we are thankful since he didn't complain or do any swearing. ;)

The good, the bad, and the headless......

Ahhh. The day is just about over. I was to be at Becky's for 10am for a haircut and perm (well, more like a trim). I got the boys on the bus and then did some cleaning up and Dennis was in bed. He went in late to work today because he didn't feel like he could drive to work being so tired. He's not sleeping well because his acid reflux is getting bad again. (He stayed home from work yesterday.)

Just as I was getting myself dressed and ready to go, Trevor called. He'd need a ride home from school at 9:15am. I'm pretty sure that I rolled my eyes as I told him I'd be there to pick him up. Just what I like, add some more to my "to do" list and give me something else to worry about. I never know what time to leave the house to get to Becky's because she is a bit of a distance from here. I don't like being late.

I picked him up and dropped him off at home and I was on my way. I was about 1 1/2 miles from the house when the little light on my gas guage lit up. The van is almost always on "E". Ugh. I only have enough money to pay to get my hair done and I thought about cancelling my appointment, but instead, I kept going. The way things have been going lately, I don't think running out of gas would've mattered.

I made it to Becky's, got my hair done, and got back into the van. Started her up, and sure enough, the light was still lit. (Guess I was hoping the van could run on the perm fumes from my hair?) I called Dennis to see if he was awake and ready to go to work, told him of my fuel situation and of course, his memory of the fuel guage was much different. He told me to call him if I ran out of gas. (That way he could run his gas out coming to get me and lose some more time from work.) I assured him of my faith in my van and my thoughts about a faulty guage and that I'd find a way home. No worries.

As I turned onto our road, I thanked God for getting me home.

I did some more cleaning up (it messes itself in here), had some lunch (left-overs) and then watched a bit of tv. Actually, I think I dozed off a bit. Then, my cell phone rang. It was Dennis. He called to make sure I made it home and to tell me that we will have health insurance as of Dec. 1st!! YAY!! A little better still, he was also given 2 personal days. He'll use one for yesterday and he'll use the other next month for us to do our Christmas shopping.

I started supper a bit early because Brad had scouts tonight. I was repulsed by the chicken legs, but I made them anyway. (Really, they are just disgusting!!!)

Soon after that, Corey and Collin came home from school. That's when my day really gets nuts. They get their folders out of their backpacks and then there are papers scattered from one end of the living room to the other. They then go to the kitchen and want to eat everything in sight, ignoring the smell of supper in the oven that's just about done.

We ate our supper and I started on the dishes right away. As I'm doing that, just like any other night, there is constant chaos. I have to settle some arguments and keep them from getting into things they're not supposed to be in. As I cleared the plates into the garbage can, I noticed "Blitzen" was in there and he was headless! (Mom gave me "shelf sitters" of the eight reindeer.) I did some investigating (Ok, Corey tattled on Collin) and found out that Collin broke him and didn't want to tell me, so he just threw him away. UGH! I asked where his head was (the reindeer's.... but now I'm wondering if I should've asked Collin the same about his head?) and he told me he threw that away too. It looked to me like a little glue and "Blitzen" would be alright. As disgusting as it was, I dug through the garbage and as I suspected, it was a nice clean, repairable break. How exciting it was for them to watch me dig and retrieve. So exciting, in fact, that they felt the need to inspect "Blitzen" some more. I told them not to touch it. I didn't need them to chip a piece off making it impossible to fix.

Do you think they listened to me? If you guessed, "YES", you couldn't be more wrong. I had my back to the kitchen table as I washed the dishes when I heard it hit the floor. A bit scared to turn around, I did, only to find that "Blitzen's" head was now missing an ear! UGH!! Just lovely. Now what? When Dennis got home, he didn't think it was as big a deal as I did. He just couldn't understand that there are 8 reindeer, not 7. Could you sing "The Twelve Days of Christmas" and skip a day??? I don't think so!

Finally, I calmed down some and decided I'd use a broom on the kitchen floor and then sift through the dirt pile and hope to find the ear. By this time, too, there was now a pile of "reindeer ear brown" colored cat food spilled on the floor. (Give you one...ok, TWO guesses who did it....)

I went to the laundry room (next to the kitchen) for the broom, and low and behold, there it was! "Blitzen's" ear! (I admit, I was surprised that the broom was there too. They like to play with that too.)

I did a little more cleaning up, and got library books loaded into the backpacks, discovered a roll of Windex-soaked paper towels, and zipped the vaccuum through the living room real quick because of the Rice Krispies explosion that must have happened while I was searching for a reindeer ear.

Now, here I am. It's a little after 11pm. I'm tired and have to go to bed. Tomorrow morning I have another appointment, but this time there is gas in the van. I'm hoping that makes the difference for tomorrow.

*Sigh*

Two Hour Delay

The boys started school 2 hours later than usual today due to the snow. I didn't even have to wake Corey and Collin this morning, they woke on their own, earlier than a "normal" school day. lol Trevor and Brad were anxiously watching the school delays and closings scrolling across the tv screen, in hopes of the school closing.

It's snowing!

Corey and Collin were beyond excited this morning when they woke up to see it snowing outside. Collin couldn't wait to wake us up and asked immediately if he could get his sled out.

It's been snowing all day, and we could get 5-7 inches of the white stuff, till all is said and done. It should end by 10am tomorrow morning. The bigger two are already placing bets as to if there will be a delay tomorrow. lol

If there's enough out there tomorrow after school, I might let them get their sleds out. For toinight, though, Corey and Collin were satisfied with just a little "taste".

Theft in a small town

Trevor called me yesterday around 4:45pm from a friend's cell phone to tell me that someone stole his cell phone. I wasn't sure how that could happen because he normally has it in his pocket? He was upset and near tears as he was telling me how it happened. He gave me the names of the 4 boys involved and all I could do was roll my eyes. GRRR!! Through "association", I could get in touch with 3 of the 4 culprits. It's a small town, afterall. I was a bit confused and told him that I'd have to get his brothers ready and we'd pick him up and we'd go to the police station to report it stolen.

As I was finally ready to head out the door, I received a phone call from the police. As Trevor was waiting for me, a policeman drove by and Trevor flagged him down and told him what happened. The policeman took him to the station to get a statement. Just then, Dennis came in the door and I told him what happened and he headed for the station.

In the meantime, I made a few phone calls of my own. I was going to find out what happened to the phone. As I was doing this, Dennis would call me on my cell phone to tell me what was going on at the station. The police had 2 of the boys at the station and they were obviously lying and gave their (false) statements. They knew who had the phone, but they weren't giving that information. GRRRR!!! The police spent a lot of time with one of the boys, and in the end, I think he (Officer Solt) put a pretty big scare into the boy.

Around 7:30pm, Dennis and Trevor came home. Luckily, we are "pack rats" and save everything. Trevor gave Dennis the box that his phone came in and Dennis called the police with the numbers on the box. Dennis then went to go to AT&T (cingular?) to have the phone disabled, disconnected, or whatever the word is.

In the meantime, Trevor and I still did some investigating of our own. Through a few phone calls, and thanks to the scare the police put into one of the boys, we found out just who had the phone. We called the police with the new information that we had, and we were told that the police were aware of what was going on. Two of the boys went into the station to change their statements, and they were on their way to a 3rd boys house to get the phone.

Around 8:15pm, the policeman called me back. He had the phone in his custody, but the battery is missing. The thief took it out of the phone just to be a jerk. He said he threw it in his back yard. The thief is supposed to go to the station today to give his statement. (I'm not sure that he'll even show up. He has a warrant out for his arrest to begin with.)

As it turns out, too, the thief really is no stranger. His mom was married to my uncle, years ago. The thief is no stranger to the police, either, and had he told the truth from the start, it could've made things a lot easier.

We will be pressing charges.

I need something to calm me down

Seriously. I think I should see a doctor. It would not be surprised if all of what's going on doesn't send me completely over the edge!! Just the thought of it all had me a sobbing mess today (and a little yesterday, too!).

Tomorrow is the first day of school. Trevor's "first day as a Senior in high school", Brad's "first day as a 6th grader", and Corey and Collin's "very first day of school". I'm tearing up as I type this! Yikes! I guess, I'm most nervous for Corey and Collin. Well, mostly Collin. He is the least mature. I can't help but place the blame on myself. I just can't let go. (He is the youngest, afterall!)

I'm hoping, that once they are in school for a time, I can look back at this post and laugh at how worried I am (was) for nothing. I'm hoping, in posts to come, that I can write about how great they are doing.

For now, these are my thoughts and/or concerns:

Collin is least mature. He doesn't like to color. He sometimes has a hard time staying on task. He can be quite shy. He speaks softly and quickly. He angers easily. He wants to do what he wants when he wants.

Corey is more outspoken. It's sometimes hard to keep him quiet. I really don't think he'll have a hard time in school. He is quick to learn and not afraid to try new things. He is the "papa bear" type that thinks he knows what's best for everyone around him. He likes to give orders.

I will be doing this all on my own tomorrow. Dennis is going to NJ with his job and won't be home until Tuesday night. Even though it is only an "overnight" thing, I don't like it.

I'm just not ready for all of this. I feel ill.

TGIF

It's finally Friday! I'm so glad this week is over. What a week it's been. There's just been too much going on, here, in the Moyer house. Yikes!

A re-cap of the past week:

****MONDAY: Dennis stayed home from work. He's been so sick lately and one part or another of his face has been swelling. It's hard to keep a good man down, and even harder to witness it when it does happen. This was the day that Dennis was to give his notice at work that he was moving on to another employer.

The boys and I waited for a phone call at 9am from the Guidance Counselor, but never received it. I called the school and the woman I spoke to offered to give us a tour of the building my boys were to attend. I wasn't all that excited, but I wanted to get it over with. Still gritting my teeth at the idea of them going to Shull David and in a 2-year kindergarten. We went, we saw, we played on the playground. That is, until Collin decided he had to go to the bathroom! Since the hospital is in plain view of this playground, we decided to run over there real quick and we hoped to sneak a peek of Trevor or Aunt Chrissy working. Lucky us, we saw both of them and the boys each got a little snack pack of Oreos, too! After our little visit, it was back to the playground for a quick slide and then to the car and to head home.

I had an appointment at the dr, but ended up not being able to see him. The insurance that we have wasn't one that he accepts. UGH! I'll have to call when Dennis gets insurance again, and just pray that it's something the dr accepts.

After supper, I took my bike out for a ride. (When I say bike, I don't mean motorcycle. There's a lot of pedalling to do!) It was nice to get away just for a few minutes. It's been sooooo long since I rode my bike. I was very close to getting off and pushing on the first hill (ok, tiny incline) but I saw some people out and was too embarassed. I swear, if it would've been dark outside, you could've seen the flames shooting from my knees. OUCH!

****TUESDAY: Nothing too exciting, other than Dennis made it to work and gave his notice. It went well and there were no hard feelings on either side. It's just something Dennis had to do. It was getting too costly to work there.

****WEDNESDAY: Scouts night. Took Brad to scouts and then went over to Weissport. Aunt Linda wasn't home and I didn't want to pest Chrissy again. I pested her last week. I stopped in at Dad's. I haven't been there in a while. When I got there, Dad just came home from work, had a bath and was ready to eat supper. He'd be going to bed after eating because he was going back out at 11pm. I didn't want to stay long and keep him from his supper and slumber, but we did get to talk for just a bit. He gave me shirts for the boy that he and Marilyn picked up when they went to Washington, D.C. recently. I thought Corey and Collin's were cute, "Born to be wild". LOL

I had more time to kill before picking Brad up from scouts. It would've been foolish to drive all the way home and have to turn around and leave, so I just decided to wait in the parking lot. I went through a few things in my purse and read the book to my camera to kill the time. As I waited, some other parents came for their boys. I'm not one for starting conversations, so I sat there trying to coax myself to get out of the van and at least go and say hello. Finally, I got up the nerve and went over to say hello to *Sally* (not her actual name). We got to talking and I told her about my boys and the whole Prep-K thing. She then filled my ears with some very important information. It seems as though *Sally* had been through the same thing! She gave me some very useful information and told me to put up a fight and not to give up! She knew, too, that my boys didn't need the 2 year program. She pointed me in the right direction for my "ammo" and told me to call the principal in the morning. Another mom that was standing there told me not to even bother with the Guidance Counselor. If only I had known this sooner!

When I got home that night, I did some research and prepared myself for the next day. I had plenty of notes and gave a lot of thought to what I'd say. I had to make the call the next day because time was running out! Orientation was coming up at the beginning of next week!

****THURSDAY: I made my call, only to find out that the principal wouldn't be available until TUESDAY! Tuesday would be too late! So, I called *Sally* and she recommended the Superintendent. I called the Superintendent at 9:30am and spoke to his secretary. She told me he was in a meeting and would call me back. So I waited. And waited. At 1:10pm, I called again. I left another message. I called again at 1:50pm because I thought they were only in until 2pm. I wanted to know what was going on, since I was running out of time, I needed this taken care of ASAP (today!). The secretary told me he was looking over my boys' scores, etc. and she couldn't guarantee that he'd be calling me back today! GRRRR!! I was not at all happy. I did find out that they'd be in until 2:30pm. I asked her to please call me back and at least let me know that he needed more time and to give me a rough idea as to what time he'd be calling me on Friday. She said she'd do that. At 2:25pm, I called back, and this time I wasn't so nice. I didn't even get to speak to the Super or his secretary. The woman I spoke to didn't know what to tell me. I was furious!! 2:30pm came and went and I heard nothing.

Finally, around 4:45pm, I got a call from the Superintendent. He did apologize for taking so long to get back to me. He didn't really have anything more for me. He told me that he was having an Asst. Principal and the Guidance Counselor (grrr!) go over my boys' scores and they'd call me in the morning to discuss this with me.

At 8pm, I had to take Brad to the park in town for the "Concert under the stars". As part of a merit badge requirement, he was to attend a concert. He had to leave there knowing what the encore performance was, to prove that he had been there. When we got there, I thought the rest of the scouts weren't coming. Then, *Sally* and her scout came. They sat with us and we all were enjoying the concert. In between pieces, *Sally* and I got to do some talking. It was the second to last piece when something "clicked" to *Sally*. She had more "ammo" for me, and it was going to be easy to attain. It was published in the newspaper and I could get it online!

We got home and I hopped onto the computer. (Well, you know what I mean). Found the info and printed it out. I was sooooo ready for the call in the morning!!

****FRIDAY: (Today! :) ) I got the call! It was the Asst. Principal. She was all nice at first, and as the conversation went on, I could sense that she was going to try to talk me into keeping the boys in Prep-K. I shot down just about everything she said. Then, I pulled out my "ammo". She was a bit surprised, and even told me that! She told me my boys' actual scores from the Kindergarten screening. They needed 85 points (out of 118) to "pass" and be enrolled in K. Corey got an 85 and Collin a 78. Not too far away! The boys scored very high, academically, but they felt they needed the Prep program for their fine motor skills. They didn't cut along a dotted line. The Asst. P's story was just a tad different than the conversation I had with the GC.

Towards the end of our conversation, she told me that the GC just walked in and he felt comfortable with putting them in Kindergarten. We are to go to the orientation at Mahoning, and we should get there a little early to fill out some paperwork. We'd have to do this so we couldn't hold them responsible down the road. I was also asked to not spread the word about this because they didn't want a bunch of parents calling them to do this for their children. HUH??? Unreal, and kind of sad. I wonder how many more are being held back so they can keep the Prep-K program going? Ugh.

Anyway, we are all happy as clams. Normally quite and weak, I stood up to them and didn't take no for an answer. I won this one for my boys, and I'm sure they will do great in Kindergarten, where they belong! WOOHOO!

*******

Yikes! I had to scroll back to make sure that I didn't say that I'd make this brief. I have to learn to log in earlier at night so I have time to post each day in it's own post! LOL There's even a lot that I didn't mention. (imagine that!)

I'm trying

I'm trying so hard to snap out of this "funk" I've been in. It's not easy, especially when things go the way they did today. Ugh!

Dennis stayed home from work again. He was sick to his stomach and is swelling up again. Not as bad as it was before, but it's obvious that the meds he's been taking for a little over a week aren't working.

I had an appointment today with Dr. Miller. I've been having some problems and it was time for my "annual" anyway. I didn't have the money to go today, so I called ahead and asked if it would be alright for them to bill me for my co-pay. It would be fine.

I got to my appt. a few minutes early. There was no one in the waiting room. That's not something you see often, but I went to the window anyway to let them know I was there. I was asked to fill out two papers and make any corrections to my insurance information. As it turned out, I wasn't there in about 16 months, so my info did change. I filled out the out the new info and handed her the ins. card. She made an unusual face and then told me that the dr doesn't accept that insurance!! I wanted to cry. It takes a lot to get me to the dr to begin with and now that I finally made the appointment, I was turned away. I asked how much it would cost me out-of-pocket. The visit alone would be a little over $100!!! I had to cancel.

So, now, here I am. I don't know what to do? I don't want to go to any other dr. I've been going to Dr. Miller since I started "womanhood". He delivered ALL of my boys. I wouldn't be comfortable going to someone else. UGH!!!!

It's now another game of "wait and see". I will have to wait until Dennis gets his insurance at his new job (that could be 3 months!) and hopefully Dr. Miller will accept it. I will call the office as soon as I know and hopefully get an appointment then.

I didn't even make it all the way out of the building and I could feel the tears coming. I'm trying so hard to stay positive and to be happy, but it's getting more and more difficult. All I can think about now, is, what's next?

No pain, no gain?

I took the boys to the playground today. They wanted to play on the playground at Shull David, but it was too hot. No shade. So, we went to the Grove instead. How could I say no? They had just been to the Dr. and got their shots they needed to start school. The playground helped because they quickly forgot the pain. I'm sure it will come back to Collin, though, because he seemed to mean it when he told me that he'd never go back to the dr's again. lol

Rewind, back to the Dr. visit.... The boys are growing like weeds and in great health! :) Here are their stats at 5 1/2 years old:

Corey: 48lbs, 46 3/4" tall
Collin: 45lbs, 46" tall

They are quite tall for their age and weight, and that's fine. Much better than being overweight.

The receptionist got a good laugh at my little "cheaters". Collin was first to do the eye exam. He was to tell the dr which way (up or down) the "legs" were going on the letter "E" on the chart. As the dr got lower, it was getting harder for him to see. At first, he tried sneaking a little closer to the chart, but the dr caught on. He tried again, but this time, the receptionist caught on....as it got tougher, Corey whispered the answers to his brother! The dr did the exam again, this time with his brother in another room. He did fine, and so did his brother.

Getting better.....

Today was so much better than yesterday. Really, could it have gotten any worse? lol

I took Trevor to work in the morning and called the dentist at 8am. The soonest they could get us in was 4:30pm, but they'd call if there were any cancellations. So, I stayed offline and waited most of the day for a call that never came. We went at 4:30. Corey did really well with the x-rays. I told him they'd take pictures but he didn't have to smile, he'd just have to sit very still, and he did! The dentist was so impressed and told Corey that since he was so good, he could go and get a prize from the prize box while we waited for the x-rays to be developed. Dr. Sherry made sure to tell Corey that he's never allowed anyone to get a prize until the very end of the visit. Corey walked proudly to the box. He picked a bubble necklace shaped like a star. He played with the train table while I talked to the dentist. We'll go back in 2 weeks to see how it looks. If it gives him pain, we are to call, but otherwise, the tooth will stay there until it pushes out on it's own. Dr. Sherry told me that he must have hit "just right" for it to jam up there the way it did, and for it to happen to just one tooth was amazing. (I'm more amazed that I am still somewhat keeping my sanity! ;) )

Dennis is looking a bit better today, but his lips are still a bit swollen. The meds are making him sleepy and more irritable than normal.

We went to K-Mart tonight and put some things on layaway. It's a start and I'll be happy once the stuff is picked up and my kids won't be going to school naked. lol

Now that today is almost over, I feel a little better and I am looking forward to tomorrow being even better! :)

Never a dull moment..

The day started off with me thinking I woke up very early. Dennis was still in the bed. I got up and looked at the clock....it was 8:30am. I let him sleep and started my day.



As it turns out, Dennis woke up this morning and his face was VERY swollen. He didn't want to wake me, but was a bit worried (and freaked out!) so he went to the ER. When I saw him, his lips were still pretty big and I could see that his nose and cheeks looked a little "odd". So, anyway, the ER told him it was probably some type of allergic reaction. To what, we don't know? He was at the hospital for a little while, they gave him something in an IV. He was given 2 prescriptions and told to take Benedryl. He was NOT to drive to or go to work today.

I called the school to find out why Corey and Collin would need Prep-K. It pretty much boils down to maturity, or their lack of it. Corey did a little better than Collin and was borderline for regular Kindergarten. They'll have to go to Shull David. :( So, now, it all depends on what happens in the first five weeks of school. They will be re-evaluated and if they do good, they will go to Mahoning for "regular" Kindergarten.

Mr. Blakeslee brought something else to my attention that I hadn't even thought of. If Corey continues to do well, and Collin doesn't, they will advance Corey to Kindergarten, but Collin will stay in Prep. They will stay at Shull David to keep them together. Then, next year, Corey will move on to 1st grade, Collin would go to Kindergarten at Mahoning. Yes, they'd still be twins, but they'd be a year apart in school. I'm not sure what that would do to Collin's self-esteem? All I can do is hope that it doesn't happen that way!

The rest of the night was going alright. Same old, same old. That is..... until......Corey tripped over a boot in the dining room. He fell and went face-first into a container (holds the play-doh stuff). When he came over to me, I thought he knocked his tooth out. It wasn't there, as far as I could tell. I'm not good at blood or gore, so I ran into the bedroom and woke poor Dennis up. (He handles gore, and I handle pukes and poops! ;) ).

Upon closer inspection, Dennis discovered that the tooth was still in there, but it was shoved up his gums!!! YIKES!!!! He told me to call the ER and see what I should do. So, I made the call. They told me there was really nothing they could do since there is no dentist there. They couldn't give me any advice without seeing him, so they let it up to me to decide if I wanted to take him in. I decided we'll just call the dentist in the morning. Dennis gave him tylenol for the pain, and he took it like a real trooper! He went back to playing on the computer and then went to bed without any complaints. Poor kid. :(

I've been in such a "funk" lately, and really didn't need so much trauma in one day. I'm tired and just want to have a good cry and go to bed.

Little surprised and a little disappointed....

The letters that we've been waiting for finally came in the mail today. Letters from the school, stating where and when Corey and Collin will be going to school. I wasn't expecting what I read. The boys will be going to Prep-Kindergarten, and not "regular" Kindergarten.

When they were tested back in May, the teachers doing the testing told me that the boys did really well. They didn't pull me aside and tell me what to work on until August like they did some of the others. That's why I was surprised.

I was disappointed when I found out that they will have to go to Shull David, and not Mahoning Elementary. :( I was hoping they'd go to Mahoning, close to home. No, Shull David isn't all that far away, but they are unfamiliar with SD like they are with Mahoning. They've been to Mahoning many times when Bradley went there. They are even known by the teachers and some of the staff there. I feel sad, in a way, too, since every time we drive past the school, we'd tell them that it's the school they'll be going to. :(

I plan on making a phone call on Monday. I'd like to know why they decided my boys need the 2 year Kindergarten? When Brad started school, he didn't know his alphabet, couldn't write his name, and he didn't even know how to hold a pencil. He was in the "regular" Kindergarten, and did VERY well. (By 3rd grade he was being tested to be put in the "advanced" classes!)

According to the letter, Prep-K doesn't necessisarily mean they will do 2 years of K. They will test after 5 weeks (sometime in Oct) and then do a re-evaluation to see if they could go to K. I want to know if they'd stay at SD or if they'd be transferred to Mahoning? I was thinking, too, that maybe we could try it the opposite way. If they don't do well enough in K, then put them in Prep?

Maybe my emotional ties to Mahoning is what's getting in my way? I went there, and so did Trevor and Brad. It kind of saddens me that C&C won't be. I'm sure they'd go to Mahoning next year, but I'd kind of like them to stay with the same group they started with, if that makes any sense?

I had my heart set on being more involved this year. Since I make the yearbook for Mahoning, I was hoping to be there and to be able to take pics for the yearbook. Not only that, I found it very difficult to put together a yearbook for a school that none of my boys attended. Don't get me wrong, no matter what school they attend, I DO plan on being involved. It's just now I will have to make myself familiar with a different school. I'm not good at that sort of thing. Ugh.

I guess, all I can do is wait and see what they tell me when I call on Monday. And to think, my biggest worry until this was if I should separate them or keep them together.

Two sides to every story?

They say there are two sides to every story. I think there are actually more.

There is HIS side, and HER side. The RIGHT side and the WRONG side. It all depends on who's side you are on when you look a little closer. Tonight, I guess I actually learned something. There are many sides to the story, and it all depends on how you look at it.

Eight years ago, today, Dennis and I were married. We'd been together for 8 years before we finally said, "I do". So, technically, we are together for 16 years.

All day long, I imagined how the night would play out once he got home from work. He'd come home and get a shower. We'd eat supper and then go out in the back yard to the spot we were married and we'd have our picture taken. Then, Trevor would keep an eye on his brothers and Dennis and I would take a little ride in the country before stopping at the Boulevard for an ice cream. (I'd have a vanilla in a cone, and I just know he'd pick chocolate!) We'd talk about everything and anything, uninterrupted! We'd come home to our lego-scattered living room and watch some tv before he'd have to go to bed. (He has to get up very early in the morning.)

I was not at all prepared for how the night really went..........

Dennis came home from work. I was on the phone with a friend. This was at least the 4th or 5th phone call I got today. I talked to EVERYONE!! When the call ended, he looked upset and asked what he should get from the store for supper. We decided on bbq'd chicken. I asked him to get drumsticks and thighs, since they are on sale at Giant this week.

He came back with leg quarters. Don't ask me the difference between a leg quarter and a whole leg. They kind of look the same, only a little smaller? Of course, I made a face, since I requested drumsticks and thighs. He told me to just cut them in half. So, I did. If there's one thing that really ruins my appetite, it's Giant's chicken legs. EEEWWW!!! They should just label them "Portly Poultry". The thigh part is more FAT than meat! YUCK!!

I cut them all and had them ready for the grill as he talked on the phone. He was all smiles, even after he hung up. I put the chicken on the grill and came back into the house to get the potatoes going. I don't even think a whole minute passed when Collin came running in to tell me the grill was smoking real bad. A second after that, Dennis came in and told me the chicken might be ruined. I went out to have a look.

Well, the drumsticks looked fine. A little charred from the raging fire beside them, but still edible. The thighs, on the other hand,......YIKES!! They were black and burnt beyond recognition. I told him this happened because they were so fatty. He didn't think so. I'm sure, if I would've brought the fatty chicken home, it would've been the chicken, but because he bought it, the fire was from the burgers he made on the grill nights before. UGH!!

He got mad, I got mad. He said he'd eat the chicken, he didn't care. I ended up finishing the drumsticks in the oven to make him happy, even though they weren't making the grill flame up. The whole point in making bbq chicken on the grill was so I didn't have to turn the oven on and make it hot in the house. But, what do I know?

By this time, my appetite was completely gone. He said some things, I said some things. It got pretty ugly. I fed the kids, he ate his burnt chicken. After supper, and a few apologies, armed with my camera and tri-pod, I headed outside for the "anniversary photo shoot". Dennis was filling the kids' pool, and was more worried about how much money was on the debit card so he could go and put gas in his car. I went back in, got the phone and handed it to him. I then went to the back yard and did my solo photo shoot. He saw me down there, knew what I was up to, yet said nothing. I took photos of myself. Yipee. They were a flop, and I really didn't care. The camera wasn't focused right, but so what. A miserable picture for my miserable night. UGH!

Not long after he got back from getting gas, he went to bed. I got online, and went to the message boards where I have friends that always make me feel better. My frown was turned upside down. :) A nice little chat, and I'm feeling much better.

So, then, after all of this, I came to realize that a story does have more than one side, and if you look at both sides, from EVERY angle, there could be something you are overlooking.

I see now that this wasn't the first time, in 8 (16) years , for burnt chicken, and I'm sure it won't be the last. Life is too short to worry about burnt chicken, especially when there's a Burger King just up the street. ;)

I LOVE you, Dennis, and I guess sandwiches and potato chips will be fine tomorrow night. ;)

Tooth Fairy is coming!

The Tooth Fairy is coming tonight, and Corey couldn't be more excited! It's the 2nd tooth he's lost, but this time he didn't lose it literally, like he did the last time. LOL Collin lost his 2nd tooth a week or so ago. We never did find the first one.

**Rewinding just a bit**

When Collin lost his first tooth, he came running out to the living room to tell me that he lost his tooth. I asked to see the tooth, and that's when he told me that he LOST it somewhere under Corey's bed. We had no luck in finding it.

Next, it was Corey's turn. His first loose tooth. We reminded him to be extra careful so it wouldn't get lost like his brother's did. Every day it seemed to get wigglier and wigglier. We went on a trip to Baltimore and it was in the hotel room that he showed us again that it was very wiggly. We went out to eat and then came back to the hotel. It was then that we noticed that Corey's tooth was gone. There was no way we'd find it.

Collin's turn again. His 2nd loose tooth. Again, he comes to me and tells me he lost his tooth and again, I ask to see the tooth. He told me it was on Brad's bedroom floor somewhere. YIKES!! I didn't think the Tooth Fairy would ever get to come here! lol Luckily, it was found and he raked in a whopping 50 cents and he was thrilled.

Well, I did it today. I finally made a call and made an appointment to see Dr. Miller. Just in case there are male family members reading this, I won't go into any details. I've been having some female problems. ;)

Finally, too, I made a call to the cable company. I swore I'd never talk to them people again, but I did it. Did I mention how much I dislike dial-up?? Anyway, I could go back to cable AND have a high speed internet connection for a little less than what we are paying now for the dish! Not only that, I'd get a free modem, too!! Sounds good, until I mention that we have a past due balance to take care of first. Ugh! I am $194.76 away from a high speed connection. It may as well be a million dollars. Waaaaah!!! :(

If only I had enough teeth to pull out for the Tooth Fairy to raise the money. LOL

Christmas in July?

It's certainly not music to my ears, but for the past few weeks, Corey and Collin have been singing "Jingle Bells". Mom and I have always said that we were born with a little too much of the Christmas spirit, and I do enjoy Christmas songs, but I'm not liking what my boys are singing. Their version of "Jingle Bells" involves Batman, Robin, and the Joker. It also involves Cheerios and peeing on walls. UGH!!!

Thanks a lot, older brother Brad!!!

A ride in the country

After supper tonight, we decided to just go for a ride in the van. Dennis and I both agreed that this was something we needed to do more often. It was nice. We were in no hurry to get somewhere, no worries about being late. We didn't go very far, and we didn't have to.

As always, I had my camera with, and I guess it's a lot like fishing. There were two "good ones" that got away. The first one was a doe near a corn field, and the second was a young buck. As soon as he spotted us, he darted into the woods. I didn't expect them to "pose" for me, but it would've been nice! ;)

Before we could come home, we had one stop to make. We went to the "little gas station" (that's what we call it) on Mahoning Street and treated the boys to slushees.

Jumping back in.....again

This is really getting old. I'm not going to make excuses or even talk about how I've neglected this blog. I will shamelessly put the blame on......dial-up!!! I'm so, so tired of this. My online motivations go down the drain because of it!

All has been somewhat well in the Moyer household over the past year. We still have the same daily struggles, and we are still (somehow) managing to get through them. When it's bad, it's bad, but when it's good, it's good.

School will be starting back up in about a month. It will be a first for Corey and Collin, and it will be the last (year) for Trevor. Yes, Trevor is a Senior in High School!! Yikes! Where has the time gone? Brad is in the middle, going to 6th grade. :)

I'm not exactly sure what I'll do? I want the best of both worlds. I want to work and I want to stay at home. So far, my plan is to wait just a bit and see how things go. I will know better what kind of job to look for once I know how much and when I'll be needed by my boys. It's another bridge that we will cross when we come to it.

Oops, I did it again!

I'm not talking about that annoying song. I've neglected my blog again. I'm so bad with this sort of thing. It doesn't help, either, that I am technically challenged. My blog isn't very pleasing to the eye, but I barely have time to post, let alone add pics and such. I will have to work on that!!

Let's see, what's happened in the Moyer household since my last entry??? A LOT!!! It would take me all night to post it all, so I'll just have to pick up where I left off, and when I have nothing else to say, I'll throw in an update.

Tomorrow is day 3 of Trevor's first job! He's working at the hospital in the kitchen and so far, he likes it. He turned 16 on Feb 24th, but he still hasn't gotten his driver's license or permit. We're going to wait on that for a little while. He's got some maturing to do. (He's not happy about that, but I'm the mom!)

For the past four weeks, Bradley has been taking flute lessons. He joined the "summer band" program at the middle school. Friday we'll see just how much he and the other students learned. They'll be performing a concert for their families. I can't wait! He chose to play the flute and if he likes it, he can join the Middle School band. We shall see!!

Corey and Collin are growing up so fast. They are up to their same old tricks and getting smarter and smarter. I am amazed at how much trouble they can get into in so little time. They're excited about next week. We'll (Bradley, Corey, Collin, and I) be going to Cub Scout Day Camp out at the lake for the week. I'm going as an adult volunteer, and Corey and Collin are going as "Pixies". (Pixies are too young for scouting). It should be a great experience for us all. I'm sure we'll all have a great time! I'll be updating!!

Dennis has had his ups and downs, been laid off from his job, and then thankfully, found another job. Unemployment just wasn't cutting it. He went back to Monocacyfabs, and some days is glad to be back, although he works so much harder there than he did at the last place. Three weeks ago, he quit smoking!! YAY!!!

My brother moved in last month and will be staying for this month yet. He worked at the same place as Dennis and was laid off too. Just today, he went for his 2nd interview at Blue Ridge Pressure Castings and he'll be starting in a week or so. Congrats, Ted!!

Well, I think that's enough for now. I've got to get to bed!! Goodnight, I'll be back tomorrow. :)

I'm trying

My head just isn't very clear tonight. I came here in hopes of journaling my weekend, but I've been doing more backspacing than anything. Now that things have settled down some for me (for now?), I'm hoping to get a fresh start tomorrow morning, and I'll make an entry or more tomorrow.

I'm trying to keep this blog current, but unfortuantely, tonight I just can't do it. I figure, something is better than nothing!

See you tomorrow! Good night.

Whew!

Today was one of those days that just flew right by! I can't believe that in a few minutes, it will be "tomorrow"!

I spent most of my morning printing out valentines for Brad. He picked out the pictures he wanted on them last night. I printed them out on postcards, with a picture on one side, and on the other side, we used minature M-Azing candy bars. The candy bar makes the valentine read, "You're an *M-Azing* Friend". His teacher will get one, of course, that says, "You're an *M-Azing* Teacher!"

While I was working on that, Marilyn (step-mom) called. Her sister, Linda, passed away last night. She'd like it if I could put together some photos for her to display at the viewing/funeral. I have until Tuesday afternoon to complete it. I just hope I do as well as they expect me to. I'm hoping to have it done sooner, though. (I can dream! I'm such a procrastinator!)

As if I didn't already have enough going on, Corey, Collin, and I decided to bake some cookies today. They are my helpers, so they got their "bakers" out. "Bakers" is their term for an apron.lol They got out my "hot pots" (oven mitt and pot holder) for me. The cookies were a little "flat", but they must taste pretty good, since they were gobbling them up!

The cookies took a little longer than I expected, and before I knew it, Dennis was home from work. That meant that I had to get my rear in gear if I was going to be showered and ready for cub scouts tonight! I wanted to leave earlier than normal, since I'd have to stop at Wal-Mart for supplies for the picture boards. I made it out of here just in time.

At cub scouts, the boys played board games while the parents set up for tomorrow's big race. It's Pinewood Derby time!! This year, amazingly, Brad's car should be dry when it goes down the track. Every year, we start too late and end up working on it until the very last minute. I sooooo don't like that! I just hope his car does better this year. He's never really made it very far other years. He does have a good time, though, so that's all that matters.

After scouts, we went over to Dad & Marilyn's to pick up the pictures and things that she and her mom had picked up for the picture boards. It didn't seem like we were there very long, but we didn't leave their house until almost 10pm! I thought for sure that Dennis would be mad, but luckily, he wasn't. It's so hard for me to keep track of what's going on lately. We're both so stressed out over the van. Finally, the junk yard tested and found a good transmission. Dennis was hoping to have it put in by now, but it's not even here yet. Ugh! He'll go and pick it up tomorrow when we get back from the derby. I can't wait to have my van back!

I'll post some derby pics tomorrow, and hopefully I'll be able to post a pic of a trophy, too. ;)

Long time, no see

It's been so long, that I had a hard time getting in here. Luckily, I wrote my username and password in a little notebook. Here it is again, a little over a month has passed since my last entry. Now that I'm finally back, I'm not sure how to go about updating on all that's been going on around here. I guess I'll make a list, just to update, and if you think dull thoughts in between, than you'll be up to speed on what's been going on in the Moyer household. LOL

Let's see.......

In early January, we celebrated some birthdays. Bradley turned 10 on the 4th, and a week later, on the 11th, my "babies", Corey and Collin turned 4. (Don't tell them I called them my babies. They'd get pretty mad!) We had a small party at the house for Corey and Collin. Brad didn't want a party, but instead decided that when it's warm out, he'll have some friends sleep over, possibly outside in the tent.

On Jan 25th, I got a new camera! I've been searching the internet and found one that I totally fell in love with! It's a Canon Powershot S2 IS. We used part of our Income Tax refund to purchase it. I felt a little guilty, spending so much on a camera, but Dennis wanted me to have it. This camera should be all I'll ever need in a camera. I was really excited about the 12X zoom, and all of the other features that this camera has. I'd love to share pics with everyone, but I can't until I get this blog stuff figured out. There's got to be an easier way to post pics in here, but I haven't figured it out yet. I'll work on that.

It was hard to be excited and happy about my new camera. When we got home from buying the camera, there was a message on the answering machine. Steve Pfeiffer, aka "Pappy Pfeiffer" had passed away that morning in his sleep. It was quite a shock, since I had just seen him the day before, and he looked like he did any other day. I'm so glad that I got to talk to him that day, and he will most definately be missed.

Almost a week later, on Jan 31st, Dennis surprised me and brought home a laptop for me.I knew I was getting one, I just wasn't sure when. We weren't sure if I'd get a laptop or if we'd buy another desktop. We decided on the laptop, because it wouldn't take up as much space as a desktop, and the fact that it's "portable". There were a few occassions that I could've used a laptop. Well, now I have one! Again, I feel pretty guilty for spending so much money on myself.

The guilt weighed heavier on me this past weekend (Feb. 4th). Long story short, the transmission in our van is no good. Right now, the van is in the driveway, so I'm thankful that it didn't leave us sit, or have to be towed from far away. The day it conked out, I had all 4 boys with me and it was raining! It's times like these that I am so thankful that Dennis has mechanical abilities! It would cost us a small fortune if we'd have to take it to a garage to be repaired. As it is now, Dennis is hoping to have a new transmission in the van by tomorrow night. I'm not sure how or if he'll be able to do it, though. I'm no mechanic, but I'd imagine that it's not an easy job to do, let alone get it done so quickly! I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

The van has to be done by Saturday morning. Brad's cub scout pack is holding it's Pinewood Derby (or, as Corey calls it, "the pine dirty")! I'd really like us to go as a family to watch Brad race his car. We won't all fit in Dennis' car, so hopefully, the van will be done.

I know there is probably a lot that I've forgotten. I'll have to sneak it into another entry. I've got to go now, it's time for lunch, and I've got 2 hungry boys here!

Until next time.....

Really, cats don't like water!

I'm not allowing Corey and Collin to play in their room for a few days.(They destroyed two days in a row with frosting one day, and cupcakes the next!) They are not at all happy about it, but it's not like I'm depriving them of their toys. There are toys scattered all over the house. They certainly are determined little boys, because I caught them using the broom handle to unlock their door (we have a hook & eye lock on the door). They thought they were funny when they got in. I put the broom in their room and locked it again. Minutes later, they took the plunger from the bathroom to unlock it. I put that in their room and locked it again. Their final attempt was with the toilet brush. They got the door open and I did the same thing again. After that, I think they got tired of that game, and they played in the living room.

My biggest mistake was thinking that I would be able to make supper once they were somewhat settled. Little did I know, they decided to play in the bathroom, and they thought it would be fun to put some shampoo on Skittles (one of our kittens)! It wasn't like she was covered in shampoo, but it was enough for me to think that if she was to clean herself, she'd be blowing bubbles for a while. My main concern, though, was her getting sick from the shampoo.

I wasn't sure what to do, but I was pretty sure that what I HAD to do to get the shampoo off of her. I'd have to rinse it from her hair. I don't ever recall giving a cat a bath, but I imagined it wouldn't be easy. As much as I hated to do it, I held her with one hand and used the kitchen sprayer and tried to rinse it out. She most definately wasn't enjoying it, but she never hissed at me like I thought she would. My left arm is full of scratches from her trying to get away, but at the same time, I think she's glad to have it off of her. After I rinsed her, I put her in a towel and dried her off as best I could. The poor little thing clung to me, and looked so pitiful with her hair weighed down from being wet.

I was a little worried about her, at first, because she isn't normally so happy to be held like that, let alone dried off with a towel. After a little while of holding her and trying to get her dried off, she finally wanted to get down. She seems to be doing just fine now, and she actually smells pretty good, too.;)


I can only hope that tomorrow will be better.

Happy Birthday Bradley!

It doesn't feel like 10 years have passed, but today is Bradley's 10th birthday. If you've ever met him, you already know that he is quite unique! He's our "Science Boy" and has a great imagination. He dreams of being an inventor someday, and it wouldn't surprise me if he would do it. His little mind has come up with some amazing things. Things that I never gave any thought to until he mentioned them. He's truly an amazing kid, and I love him dearly!

I figured today I would post his birth story. I hope you all enjoy it. :)

My pregnancy was for the most part, "normal", although most of my OB appointments showed that I was losing weight and not gaining. My dr wasn't too concerned and said the baby was taking from me and was gaining weight, and was measuring right on, so I wasn't to worry. I don't recall having an actual due date (but then again, it's been 10 years!), but I do remember being told that I'd have my baby sometime between Christmas and New Year's. I thought for sure that I was carrying a girl. This pregnancy wasn't the same as my first, with my oldest son (I had him single), Trevor, 6 years earlier.

Christmastime came and went. No baby. New Year's, same thing. At my next OB appointment, the dr scheduled me for an induction at 7am on Wednesday morning, January 4, 1996. January 3rd came, and I was going to take a bath and go to bed. I was so nervous and anxious that I couldn't sleep. Finally, around midnight, I got my bath and went to bed. I was going to wash my hair in the morning before we'd leave for the hospital. (I have a "thing" about having my hair done!) I wasn't feeling so good, and I thought that was because I was just getting over a "bug". The week before, I called Dr. Miller because I thought I was in labor, but it turned out to be stomach cramps. I felt like an idiot, and I think he was a little upset with me because I called him pretty late at night. (oops!)

Around 2am, I woke Dennis up. I couldn't sleep, and by this time, I was quite sure that it was labor. By this time, I was timing contractions, and they were about 5 minutes apart. This being his first child, he pretty much went into a panic. For some reason, all I could think about was that I'd have to get my hair done! LOL So, I washed my hair, and brought my hair dryer and curling iron into my bedroom and I was going to do my hair "quick" before we'd head to the hospital. There was no way that I could stand at the bathroom mirror to do my hair. I think it was 2, maybe 3 times that I had to stop the blow dryer and breath through some rough contractions. While I was doing my hair, Dennis called and woke my mom from bed to tell her we'd be bringing Trevor to her on our way to the hospital. He called the hospital and told them we were on our way.

Of course, the night before all of this, we got a pretty bad snow/ice storm. The roads were pretty rough, and being in labor, I swear, I felt every bump! I remember crying as we dropped Trevor off, even though I knew he'd be just fine with my mom. I'd never really had him with a sitter before this.

We arrived at the hospital sometime after 3am. By this time, the contractions were very strong. At 3:20am, I was examined and I was already dialated to 7-8 cm. My OB wasn't at the hospital yet because he lived about 10 miles away, and the roads were pretty bad. I was scared that he wouldn't be there for the delivery. The nurses put an IV in me, checked my stats, etc. At 4:08am, I was wheeled me across the hall to the delivery room. They could see the baby's head was coming as they transferred me from one bed to the other. I kept telling them that I had a bad urge to push, and they kept telling me that I shouldn't push. I couldn't help it, it was soooo hard to hold back. Just as they were putting my legs in the stirrups,at 4:12am, my OB arrived. He still had his coat on when he went to check me. I thought he was joking with me when he told me that I could have the New Year's baby. He told me too, that I'd get all kinds of gifts, etc. At 4:18, I had my baby. The dr said, "It's a boy!", and then I heard him cry. I was a little surprised, but happy none the less. I thought for sure I was having a girl, but I was just as thrilled to have another son. As the nurses took him to be weighed and measured, the thing that stuck out most was his toes. So tiny, but the big toes seemed really big in comparison. He weighed in at 6lbs 12oz, and was 19.75 inches long.

The nurses asked what we'd be naming him, and we weren't so sure. If he would've been a girl, his name would have been Heather. One of the nurses laughed, because HER name was Heather! We were undecided if we would name him Corey, after Dennis' best friend that died that previous June, or if we would name him Bradley. One of the nurses said he looked more like a Bradley, and we thought that too. So, Bradley Robert it was! I was then taken to a "regular" room.

I don't remember what time it was, but it was later that morning that I found out that I DID have the first baby born in Carbon County for the year. People brought all kinds of stuff in to my room. I received a rocking chair, a case of diapers, flowers, an exersaucer, a gift certificate, and a case of formula, and a few other things. I was also asked if I'd mind being on the local news. I had to sign some things, and before I knew it, there was a cameraman in my room! I felt awful, I mean, I did just deliver a baby! LOL I was so worried about what my hair looked like, and of course, it was pretty bad. I was so nervous (and tired!) that I wasn't even sure what I was saying. It was quite the experience, and one I won't ever forget.

I can't help but feel a little teary-eyed now, and I wish I could say that my memory was so good to remember the exact times like I posted, but I didn't. I cheated and looked at my hospital records. I wouldn't be able to remember exact times like that, but I can remember the events like it was yesterday. I can't wait to one day tell my grandchildren, or anyone else that will listen, for that matter!;)

When Brad was a baby, I would try to imagine what he would be like as he got older. I imagined he would be a great kid, and he turned out even better. We've been so blessed!

Happy 10th Birthday, Brad! I love you!!

happy thoughts, happy thoughts, happy..........

I've been wanting to just post about good things, and not negative ones, so tonight, I'll have to work extra hard in order to accomplish that. LOL Luckily, I have a great sense of humor, because today, I really needed it!

I slept much later than I would've liked to, but it did feel good to finally do some catching up. On a normal night, Corey or Collin will have me up at least once during the night for a drink of water or to be covered up. Last night, was a "straight through" sleep, and it felt pretty good. When I opened my eyes this morning and saw that it was close to 9:45am, I was shocked, and I got right out of bed. It's been soooo long since I'd slept so late!

The day was a typical day in the Moyer household. Dennis made sure that the couch didn't get up and run away, Trevor and Brad made sure their tv's and video games got some wear and tear, and Corey and Collin did everything in their power to make sure that there was plenty for this mom to do.

I started the day with my usual morning routine, but I started it a little later than normal. I did the dishes and straightened up the house. (I've really got to get in the habit of doing the dishes right after supper!) As soon as the last dish was washed, Dennis decided that he would make breakfast, and start a new pile of dirty dishes for me. So thoughtful!

I was on and off of the computer, worked on my jigsaw puzzle,did a few loads of laundry, cleaned the litter box, and ate some candy (so far,eating candy was the best part!lol). Before I knew it, it was time to start supper. I was to be at a meeting (parent's meeting for cub scouts) at 6:30pm. I wasn't sure there would be a meeting, since the weather is supposed to get bad. Some say we could see 3-5 inches of snow, some freezing rain, etc before this storm moves out. The meeting was not postponed, since it was just raining outside. The "bad" stuff would be coming much later at night and in the morning.

So, I made a list of things for Dennis to get from the store. I had myself so hungry for spaghetti with sharp cheddar and bacon sauce! Dennis ran to the store and got me everything I needed. I fried my bacon, dumped it in the pot. Melted the cheese, dumped it in the pot. Then, I dumped the tomato sauce in with the bacon and cheese. I thought something smelled a little "off", but then thought maybe it was the cheese? It's been soooo long since I last made it, that I wasn't sure what it should smell like. I dipped my finger in and gave it a taste. YUCK!!! I then sniffed the can with the remaining sauce in it. YUCK!!! It was obviously spoiled! I was sooo mad! I just wasted the bacon and the cheese!!

So, I got the receipt from Dennis and called the store that he bought it from. I explained to them that the sauce was nasty, and I felt a little foolish, but I also asked them if they would replace the bacon and cheese that this sauce had ruined. I was told that I'd have to speak to the manager. They transferred me to the manager, and I explained what happened to her. Her first question to me was, "What are you making?" LOL I told her, and after a few minutes of talking, she told me they would make good for the sauce AND for the bacon and cheese that was ruined because of it. I was happy about her response, but I wasn't exactly happy about having to make the sauce a second time.

While I was on the phone, Dennis went into Corey and Collin's room to "check in" on them. They were giggling, and that usually means they are up to no good. Yup, you guessed it! They WERE up to no good. I'm not sure when, but it was sometime between me making the bad batch of sauce and my phone call, that Corey and Collin got ahold of the box of spaghetti. They had it all broken up and thrown all over their room! Dennis was sooooo mad. So much gets wasted around here, and it's usually Corey and Collin doing the wasting. He added spaghetti to his new list and headed back up to the store.

I made my second batch of sauce, and it was delicious! I hurried and ate and then I had to get ready for the meeting. I didn't have a whole lot of time! Long story short, I was late for the meeting! UGH!

The meeting didn't last long at all. Maybe because I missed some of it? I don't know, but when I got home, I went straight to Corey and Collin's room and started to pick up the spaghetti. I imagined how nice it would've been if someone else would've had it all cleaned up, but that would be a real big stretch of my imagination. I have such a supportive and helpful family. grrrr...

Cleaning up the spaghetti probably would've been a lot easier if my lovely boys wouldn't have pulled every article of clothing from their dresser drawers and had it scattered all over their room. I also discovered that they had some fun with the treats for our kittens. Two little canisters of cat treats were the meatballs for their spaghetti. Luckily, the cats don't like the treats, or they'd be walking around with very full bellies right now.

I wasn't exactly sure how to clean up the mess. Some of the noodles were very long, while others were very small. It wouldn't be easy to vacuum, but it was a real pain to be on my hands and knees trying to pick it all up. I gave up and got the vacuum out. YEAH RIGHT! I think it took me longer that way than if I would've just stayed on my hands and knees! My poor vacuum cleaner, the one that's been on it's last leg for close to a year now, was just picking it up and putting it down somewhere else. The hose blocked up several times and I had to try and unblock it. I really should take a pic of my vacuum and share it with the world. It's a real sight to see, and works about as good as it looks! Hopefully, if things go right, I will be able to get a new one in the very near future. My next one won't be a "ride on" and I'll probably have to keep it under lock and key if I want it to last!

I eventually gave up, and decided to call it a night around 10:30pm. The kids had to go to bed, and I was missing "chat night". I went on the computer, and that's where I've been since. Now, here it is, sooooooo past my bedtime, and I'm rambling away here. I hope I'm not keeping you up too? LOL

So, I will finally go to bed now. I'm hoping to have a real pleasant dream. In my dream, we will be having "take out" and my maids will be keeping my house real clean!!

Night! :)

Out with the old, In with the new

I guess things would be pretty boring if they were always the same? This New Year, I hope that things will improve and be even better than the last. It's amazing how much faster the years seem to be going. Each year goes by faster than the last.

We've been going to Aunt Linda & Uncle Rusty's house for a New Year's celebration for many years now. They've had New Year's parties for as long as I can remember. For years, you'd see the same faces, and many of them seem to be unchanged, but the youngest ones seem to change so much from year to year. (I still can't get over how much Kyle has grown!) This year, there were a few faces that we missed, but that's not to say that we weren't thinking of them.

A few minutes before midnight, we all headed up to the park to "ring" in the New Year. Dennis and I got the kids' coats on and we headed up to the park. We sat in the parking spot waiting for the others as we watched Uncle Rusty put the rope on to the bell. We remembered how, for many years, my brother (Ted) would put the rope on. Ted hasn't been there for 2 or 3 years, since he's moved out of Weissport. His life has changed quite a bit, but I'm sure we'll be seeing him putting the rope on in years to come.

As we waited for everyone else, Corey was still strapped in his car seat, telling us that he wanted to lay in his bed and cover up. He was tired. Collin, on the other hand, couldn't wait to ring the bell.

It wasn't long before everyone was there. Uncle Leon was watching the time, and when the clock struck 12, Uncle Rusty rang the bell. Collin was first in line, so he rang it too. (He needed help, because if he would've had the rope by himself, it would've pulled him up!) Once Corey heard how loud the bell was, he backed away. The rest of the kids were running around and throwing snowballs, while some of the younger ones stood in line for their turn to ring the bell.

After everyone had their turn, we all got back into our cars and some of us headed home, while others headed back to Aunt Linda and Uncle Rusty's house. Dennis (and Corey) wanted to go home, so that's what we did.

Another year gone, but not to be forgotten, and we'll wonder what this new year has in store for us, and what a blessing it will be to see everyone again the next time we ring the bell.