My Mom - my inspiration

This is my mom and my inspiration. She has the most beautiful heart and is the strongest person I know in the whole world. She was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 1999 and given 18 months to live. Well, that didn't fit into her schedule, so she set out to prove them all wrong. After chemo that would kill a horse and 2 back to back stem cell transplants, she has been in remission for 9 years. She was told that she would have to be on maintenance chemo for the rest of her life, but at her last checkup 6 months ago, the doctor decided to give her body a break and take her off the meds. Bad idea. She is at this moment in Little Rock for her check up and is out of remission and undergoing some additional testing to determine the route to take now. They also found some suspicious spots and are thinking she may also have colon cancer. She's a tough lady, a true fighter (and a little hard-headed) and that along with her faith in God is how she's gotten as far as she has.
Although I know she can't live forever, I just can't imagine my life without her. She has been my rock through all sorts of things - divorce, raising 4 kids on my own, dealing with teenagers and the list still continues. I love her so much. Keep fighting, mom, and we'll keep praying.

Unexpected surprise!!! A Day Off!! I'm so excited because I really don't like working Fridays. Now I realize that most of the world work on Fridays or at least a five day work week. But I work long hours and usually put in over 40 hours in just 4 days. So having Friday off is a much needed thing. SO... I need to make a list or nothing will get done. Housework first then hopefully some scrapbooking.

Life has been hectic both at work and home. Trying to get a new software system up and running has been a long, arduous process. Not much frustration with it - just ALOT of work. At home its just constant running. Everyone going in different directions and absolutely NO FAMILY TIME in a long time. As much as I love watching football, it consumes our life beginning in the summer because we have one playing high school football. My husband just laughs because he knows I just don't "get it" but I don't understand why the coaches make the kids eat and breathe football. Our head coach is, quite frankly, excessively unfair and sometimes mean. My son chose to attend a week long Christian Youth Conference during summer practice and had to endure the punishment and ridicule of missing practice when he got back. All this from a coach that "preaches" God, Family, School, Football. No, I don't understand that.

There's so much more going on..... but I must get started on my list so I can scrapbook later.

I didn't realize that its been almost a month since I've posted something. Life has been a little hectic lately. Everyone is finally back in school. 2 in high school and 4 in college (including hubby). I'm the only one not in school.... just trying to get everyone to do their homework.

Work has been busy and a little.... not quite sure what the best word is... disappointing? maybe? I work with a great bunch of people but lately there has been an issue with a particular girl that I have actually known and worked with for 12 years. She has been extremely nosy about every little aspect of my life and quite frankly, its getting on my nerves. I love her to death, but when she is opening up folded pieces of paper on my desk and reading them its a little annoying. I'm beginning to have a really bad attitude about the whole thing and that really bothers me. I'm searching for the answers to handle it the way God wants me to. I don't say anything ugly or anything.... its just my daily attitude. I know she is having some financial issues and has had some bad luck but also made some bad decisions in that area, so I'm trying to be understanding but its hard. My hubby says she's just jealous - maybe, but there's no reason to be. But I'm praying really hard every day - all day sometimes - to work on my stinky attitude.

My Family

Just a little peek into my life and my family. I have a blended family and it has not always been an easy task - blending. I have four children - 3 daughters and a son. Nine years ago I met a wonderful man, Scott, that I fell in love with and that to my surprise loved me too and all my kids. He has one son. We married almost 5 years ago and began the crazy task of blending our two lives - not an easy task especially with teenagers. At the time I had 3 teenager girls and a preteen boy. His son was 11. Scott has two brothers (no sisters) and only a son (even his first marriage there were two stepsons), so his world became quite interesting with teenage girls!! He still doesn't understand the unexplained shrieks and giggles, but he's adapting. The kids are older now, but we still have 3 teenagers in the house. lol. Its never quiet and there's never a dull moment and someone always needs gas money, but I love my life. As the clock ticks and they get older and slowly begin leaving my safe nest, I find myself panicking. I just want to grab them and say "stop growing up". So any of you that have small toddlers that seem like endless bundles of energy, please remember to try to enjoy every moment whether good or bad. It is true that "this too shall pass" but some of it I wish wouldn't. Just love them and make sure they know it.

Its been a stressful one

It is 1:37 in the a.m. and here I am unable to sleep. The restless legs woke me up even tho I took my meds. I contribute it to the stressful day yesterday. With 5 children there is always something and sometimes more than just a something. It started out with trying to get my youngest daughter registered for college and all the financial aid hoopla you have to go through. After about 4 hours it all worked out. She is so happy to be starting school. She also is wanting to get a new car - this one financed by her. But I will probably have to co-sign which I have no problem doing, but my husband does have a problem with it. So that has caused some friction. I may not have mentioned that 4 of the children are mine from previous marriage and 1 child is a stepson. That whole family blending experience is a whole other blog. Child #1 is almost 25 and living in Mississippi and trying to go to school too. She's calling me for money for school.

And with all this going on, my 76 yr old mom broke her toe the other day. She is stubborn and not a very compliant patient. She insists she still can do it all and won't ask for help. So we just have to show up without asking her and start doing for her. Another blog another day - she is my inspiration.

And through all that I am called a million times a day at work and it often difficult to get into a major "discussion" about all these things. So I guess all that has contributed to my inability to sleep and the onset of a bad attack of restless leg. I even went to bed early so I could get some much needed extra rest, HAHA!

As frustrating as it can be at times, I love my life. Tomorrow (rather today) is a new day and it will all be fine in the end.

Good Morning

Its my favorite time of the day... early morning. With a house full of teenagers often with friends/boyfriends hanging around, this is my only quiet time. I love my family and the neverending bustle of everyone, but I do need my time. Although I sometimes dread the 5 a.m. alarm, after my shower and a cup of coffee I'm good to go. The funny thing is, when my husband gets up around 7 and I'm all chatty Cathy with him, I couldn't understand why he just wasn't in the mood to talk to me. One day it hit me... I had already been up for 2 hours and he was feeling like I did when I first get out of bed. So now sometimes I still talk to him a little too much, but I don't expect alot in return until about 9. lol. Unfortunately that hour in the morning goes by much too fast..... so here I am now waking the boys for school and off to get myself ready for work. There's always tomorrow.

4:00 a.m.

Its 4 am and I'm wide awake thanks to the restless leg. Luckily I don't have to work tomorrow although I had plans to scrapbook all day. I guess I can nap if I need to. Life is hectic these days. Getting ready to have 4 in college - 3 daughters and 1 hubby. Was hoping to have one graduated by May but doesn't look like that's gonna happen - scheduling conflict. My baby girl is starting college too. She's excited. Its bittersweet for me - having all the kids growing up. Two more in high school (one is a stepson) and my Collin be graduating this year. 15 years ago when they were all so little, this day seemed so far off. Some days I longed for this day but now I hate it. I guess I'm having letting go issues. Well, maybe I can get a few minutes of shut-eye before getting the boys up for school