We're approved!

As of last Friday we are officially licensed foster and adoptive parents! Thanks to all of you who gave support, reccomendations, well wishes or "just" an ear! We greatly appreciate you all!

Email a duck, raise a buck

Many of you got this email last year, here it is again. I tried bring my old duck into action (#594) but all it shows is the generic duck, but it does have my map from last year. Let's try to get this duck going further!
http://www.munchkin.com/projectpink/forward_duck.php?duck=5371

What's on your feet?

I saw this the other day and just fell in love with it, I want it on a shirt!

"Life's too short for boring socks."

Next time you see me, ask what's on my feet, you never know what you're gonna find!

Pics

We had our family pics done yesterday and we picked up an extra 1 of the boys. I have to say that had to be my favorite photo session ever! So many pics turned out great, it was hard to choose! Now I just have to get JJ's 3 year old pics soon, and Brandon just had his school pics done Friday! So I'll be updating the wall soon, lol.

Bad week for the men!

So, 2 hours after JJ hurt himself the other day (see yesterday's post) John sends me a text that according to a nurse coworker he has divertaticulitis and "may" go to the doctor. Did a little research and made him go. He's on antibiotics for the infection (no palpable pus pockets or knots) and since yesterday on meds for the cramping which had not fully gone away.

Yesterday, Bran's playing dodgeball in gym (didn't most schools ban this?) and some kid lands on him and he hurts his knee. Of course they can't see anything at the ER, its swollen, so he goes to the ortho Wednesday, in the meantime keeping in wrapped. Districts is coming up next weekend (the only freshman to make it!) so hopefully he'll get the all clear before then.

So, does anyone want to guess how much the guys will be milking it this weekend? I'll probably be running out the door Monday morning, but how will they deal with each other's miserable selves alone that day, lol.

Foto Friday

This is a pic of JJ with his friend Bud at daycare Wednesday. Kristin joked that they must've called each other to discuss what they were going to wear. Thankfully you can't see in the pic that JJ has the makings of what will be a black eye, and a purple lip from trying to do a headstand off the couch. I told Kristin if he's anything like me he will be a little dare-devil, but what scares me worse is he will be like my Dad, no fear (2 years old climbing on the roof of the old farm house! And my Dad thinks its the neatest thing in the world that JJ is so much like him - black eyes, serious expressions, planes, motorcycles, and now our own little Evil Knievel!) Kristin told me last week she caught him tying to put a bicycle on the slide to ride down it! Long ago I did tell my mom he was going to be my Dennis The Menace, not malicious, but inquisitive. HELP ME!

I'm turning into my parents.....

Who didn't hear growing up that if we didn't pick our clothes off the floor then they'd be thrown away, or giving to Goodwill?

We've graduated it seems, to threatening that you will get 1 set of clothes to wear all the time. And this isn't John's or my threat, but I love it, lol.

Wacky Wednesday

An Army Of Women

http://mailing.armyofwomen.org/rd/9z1zamn0ht5n4d2t3vjm6vtilpmvi47bns79k4g2200
Help find a cure for breast cancer! The Army is dedicated to representing ALL women in research so that the research results will apply to ALL women. This means we need you to help us recruit women of all ages, ethnicities, sizes, and shapes. We need women who have had breast cancer and women who have not. We need African American women, Asian women, white women, Latinas, and lesbians to be involved.

Race For The Cure

Please join me on Sunday, October 19th so you can be among the anticipated 35,000 people who will participate in the 2008 Komen Maryland Race for the Cure held in Hunt Valley, Maryland. Your help will help support the Komen promise of saving lives and ending breast cancer forever by empowering people, ensuring quality for all and energizing science to find the cures.

Because early detection is the best protection for breast cancer, Komen Maryland sponsors grants that increase the number of women who have annual mammograms and clinical breast exam screenings. Komen grants also target the entire range of breast health services from transportation to appointments and financial support to clinical trials and national research to find a cure.

Let's work together to help find a cure, so other families & friends will not experience the loss that we all have! Breast cancer touches everyone, let's help find a way to stop it!

All you need to do is follow the link to my personal webpage to make a donation or to register as a race participant! It's that easy! For more information visit my personal web page and help me in my efforts to support Susan G. Komen - Maryland Affiliate - copy and paste the following into your browser: http://2008RFTC.kintera.org/faf/r.asp?t=4&i=262076&u=262076-228830770&e=1939609922

Mondays

How is it that when Monday morning rolls around I'm already wishing the time to fly for the weekend. Life isn't suppossed to be this way, especially when at the same time I'm wishing time would slow for the boys growing up!

Cold!

Is it just me, of does 71 in the Fall seem so much cooler than 71 in the Spring? I so was meant to live in a warm climate!

Halloween Questions

Since "Wacky Wednesday" was pretty serious, here's something lighter and takes a little input. Here's 2 one liners, let's see some answers, the cornier the better!!

1. Why did the skeleton go disco dancing?

2. Why do ghosts shiver and moan?

October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October in Breast Cancer Awareness Month. this affects many of us 1 way or another.

As you all know, June 2007 I lost my mom to her 2nd battle with breast cancer. My mom was my best friend and no one could ask for a better mother! She was 1 of 21 kids (an identical twin so as we all say, JJ has 2 grandmothers since he insists on calling my Aunt "MawMaw.") As you can imagine she didn't have a lot materially growing up, so she strived to make sure I had it all, and at the same time she raised me to appreciate what I was given as well. She put up with my dad and myself, many times being between what must have felt like as 2 brick walls. She was a miracle worker with her yard, a WONDERFUL cook, and took great pleasure in sewing for others (there are many things around our house touched by her hands!) There have been many times when I have tried to express in words the extent of her personality but there are no combination or words that would adequately describe her!

My mom was diagnosed the first time 5 years ago and went through radiation therapy, even missing her own father's wake, to make sure she didn't miss an appointment! She was given the all clear, went to her follow-up appointments, and had all the necessary checks and tests. She refused mammograms and instead had MRIs b/c with her first mass, even though it could be felt, the mammogram would not pick it up. Had she not been persistent in that decision, they never would have found the 2nd cancer under her chest cavity. Right after JJ was born (her 1st long awaited biological grandchild) she was diagnosed the 2nd time. This time she had to endure numerous chemotherapies, most of which left her weak and sick. Even the PET scan that she had gave her skin cancer which had to be treated daily by a nurse who would come to the house. But, she was doing good, the cancer levels had gone to the bottom of the chart, so her doctor gave her 2 months off, then an extra month off. We think this time gave the cancer an opportunity to mutate b/c after that no form of treatment would keep the numbers from rising, but the doctor was still hopeful she would still have a few years, that he would get it to a manageable level and she would go in regularly for that they call "maintenance" treatments. Unfortunately, the CAT scans did not show at any point that the cancer was spreading, only after she had a stroke and they did a full body MRI did they see to the extent that it had. My mom passed away peacefully surrounded by those of us that loved her. She was blessed in that she did not suffer, and we were blessed to have had her.

Our only hope is that we can all try to pass on to JJ just how lucky he was to have her for a grandmother! We are and will remain vigilent in finding any way possible to find a cure so others do not have to go through what my mom did, or feel the loss we now do! Many of you have had to endure silly emails about sending a duck or making a woman since the sponsers are donating to breast cancer initiatives. In a few short weeks we will be doing the Komen walk in Hunt Valley, like we did last year in New Jersey (so forgive me ahead of time for hitting you up for $.) Also, my friend has added and will continue to add information to her blog, please go through the link below to visit her site!
http://luvkids334.blogspot.com/2008/10/going-pink-and-purple.html

(and as a side note, please do not remain lax in your own breast health! My best friend was diagnosed a month after my mom's passing with inflammatory breast cancer, 1/2 way through her 2nd pregnancy. Thankfully both she and her son are happy & healthy! This really does affect us all!)

Yep, JJ's taking after his uncles.....

.... he likes older women.....

Many of you know I have a "step-niece" who comes down a couple times a year. While on myspace this morning I was commenting on her school pic and JJ says "That's Bwitney, she's pwety, Bwitney in Penswlavana."

And 1st thing he asked when I picked him up from daycare yesterday "We going home?" I told him yes, did he want to go home and he answers "no, I wanna see Ms Kerri." I told him not tonight and he said "gonna see Ms Kerri tomowow."

Yep, already the little ladies man, forget girls his own age!