30 Things for Summer

I've noticed that alot of the blogs I follow use Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop as inspiration for their blogs.  I fully admit that I had the best intentions of checking out her site and getting a little direction of my own, but I just haven't had time. . .till today!  I saw that yet another blog I follow was using her guidance, so I FINALLY clicked and decided to give it a whirl! 

I chose to follow her prompt:  30 things you vow to do this summer.  So here goes!

1.  Read The Help (it's been on my nightstand since Christmas!).

2.  Get serious about carving out time for the Couch to 5K program (since I have committed to Lose It with the RHOK. . .I need to get my booty in gear!).

3.  Have at least one Girls Night Out per month for June, July and August.

4.  Have at least one Date Night per month for June, July and August.

5.  Cook at home (aka GRILL) at least 5 out of 7 nights per week.

6.  Enjoy our neighborhood pool more.

7.  Schedule end-of-the-summer swim lessons for Bubs (we already did beginning-of-the-summer lessons).

8.  Help make our school's fundraiser a huge success in July.

9.  Save, Save, Save!!!

10. Finish the Beth Moore Bible Study that I am attending and sign up for another one for the Fall.

11. Finish our rotation teaching Sunday School for kids and start going to the adult class.

12. Officially join our church. . .we have been going, we teach Sunday School, we love it. . .just haven't made it "official" yet.

13. Have a fabulous family vacation!

14. Don't go a single summer day without perfectly pedicured toes!

15. Lose more "baby" weight.

16. Utilize the extended daylight hours to spend more time outside with the kids.

17. Have friends over to our house more often.

18. Plan Busy's 1st Birthday Celebration.

19. Be more creative on my blog -- here and here.

20. Don't let my tomato plants die!

21. Don't waste the tomatoes!

22. BBM, call or email my Bestie at least once per day. . .we both need encouragment these days!

23. Keep my running dates with McBFF!

24. Walk-Run a 5K every month for June, July and August.

25. Perfect Schmoops' morning Mocha.

26. Hide Schmoops' Blackberry for at least ONE weekend.

27. Treat others as I would have them treat me (even my boss)!

28. Get out of the office for at least one lunch per week.

29. Make a new friend.

30. Have a Happy and Grateful Heart!

I am going to follow Heather's lead and check back in at the end of the summer for a post about which of these I actually accomplished!!

I was also going to put 31.  Get a tattoo.  But I just don't know if I'm there yet.  Do you have a tattoo?  What is it?  Where is it (if you can share)?  Did it hurt?  Do you love it?

Thankful Thursday Five

Today's the day to post 5 things that have made us

Joyful

Giddy

Excited

Thankful

Jubuliant

or

Just plain ol' happy (orTHANKFUL) this week!

Once you do that..go visit Keely and link up.

My Five...

1.  I am very thankful that my husband could stay home with Busy today because she was running a fever again (we actually think it is only teething this time) because I could NOT take off another day from work!

2.  I am very thankful that the prep I did for an important meeting yesterday was all worth it and the meeting went very well.

3.  I am thankful that everyday I am one step closer to the day that I can stay home with my sweet kiddos!

4.  I am thankful for the special morning I had with my son today.  Since Daddy stayed home with Busy, Bubs and I got to have a donut date just the two of us.

5.  I am thankful that Schmoops and I will get a little mini-vacay on Saturday night when we travel to Dallas sans our children to our friend Johnny's wedding -- he's marrying the very wonderful Melissa!!  And I am very thankful that such a sweet and deserving friend has found a wife, lover, friend and soul mate with whom to share his life!


Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:22

Wordless Wednesday. . .except to say. . .INSERT ME & 3 BFFs HERE!!

As much as I would absolutely love to be friends with Carrie, Charlotte, Miranda, and even Samantha (though I already have a Samantha friend. . .in both respects!). . .I would like it better if this pic were ME, my dearest Bethie, Nikki, and Melanie.  So fun!!!  And you know "Stanford" would have to be there too because Garon would just be too much fun to leave at home!

XOXO to all of my Besties and to all of your Besties too. . .Here's to tried & true undying friendship!!


For more Wordless Wednesday Photo Fun. . .visit 5 Minutes for Mom and link up!!

Post It Note Tuesday. . .er, Wednesday. . .

 

 

 

 

Go Link Up with Supah. . .here!

Thankful Thursday Five!

Today's the day to post 5 things that have made us

Joyful

Giddy

Excited

Thankful

Jubuliant

or

Just plain ol' happy (of THANKFUL) this week!

Once you do that..go visit Keely and link up.

My Five...

1.  As always, super duper thankful for my AMAZING kiddos who brighten my day EVERY DAY!!!  I love them more than I could ever express!!!

2.  Also, it is too bad that sad/tough times often remind us to really appreciate those that love us. . .I am SO thankful for my INCREDIBLE husband who is SO supportive and loves me so much that sometimes I have a hard time believing it.  We don't have a lot of help in our lives so we struggle sometimes to make everything work with both of our jobs and the kids and his travels for work.  But somehow we make it and he truly does go above and beyond in the love, understanding, and support departments!!!

3.  On that same note, I am reminded these days that I have some FABULOUS friends who have been so supportive and helpful to me that I don't know how I would make it without them.  Even when I "fall off the grid" with stuff that has come up and responsibilities I have, all I have to do is call any one of them and they are there to help!

4.  I am thankful that although I definitely do not like dieting, I am finding success this time -- 10 lbs down!  :)  And I am noticing that I am alot more conscious of what is going in my mouth these days.  I typically just yo-yo diet to get where I want to be for a certain event or something.  That is how this diet started, but it has turned into be really giving thought to what I am doing.  Hopefully it will be a lifestyle change!

5.  Oh. . .don't want to forget that I am tremendously thankful for above-mentioned fabulous friend for inviting me to a Beth Moore Bible Study course that started last night.  It was just the introduction night, but I could already tell that it is going to be amazing and the small group is a bunch of interesting and phenomenal wives and mothers.  So excited for the next 7 weeks!!!

Wordless Wednesday - 4th Birthdays Sure Are Sweet!!

For more Wordless Wednesday FUN. . .visit 5 Minutes for Mom and link up!!

Where the heck I have been. . .

I haven’t posted in two weeks. That is a long hiatus since I brought the blog back up and running. And really I have missed it! I have missed checking in on my bloggy friends too! 

A week ago Friday, Miss Busy was just not acting herself. She had been really fussy all afternoon as we visited the ENT to talk about getting tubes. She slept off and on; she cried A-LOT! She would not allow me to put her down. She was running a very low fever, but she has been teething so I chalked it all up to that. We finally got her down for the evening (or so I thought) and I snuck out of the house to go purchase a birthday gift for one of Bubs’ friends. During my shopping escape, Schmoops called me on the phone to say that Busy was awake, vomiting and running a high fever. I dropped all my shopping finds and headed out the door. On the way home, I texted our pediatrician – yes, I texted and drove; not something I typically do but hopefully I am forgiven this time! I told him of the vomiting, fever and how she had been lethargic all day. He immediately called me and said that she needed to be seen right away. He called ahead to the Pediatric Urgent Care and I headed home to load up our precious little girl.

We arrived at the PUC and the waiting room was abuzz. Several kiddos were apparently not feeling well on that Friday night. We were given our place in line and we began to wait. Not too long after taking a seat, Busy proceeded to begin her projectile vomiting again. This precipitated us being “bumped” to the front of the line and taken back to a room immediately. The doctor saw us and took a bunch of notes and then sent two nurses in who proceeded to take a “clean urine” and several vials of blood. Busy is only 10 months old so you can imagine how this went over. I sang her favorite song, Old McDonald, repeatedly until the torture had subsided. Then we were moved to another room and she was hooked up to an IV for fluids. We both got a little rest and waited for the doctor to give us the all clear.

The “all clear” never came. After about 1 hour of IV fluids, the doctor re-emerged and instructed that Busy needed to be hospitalized. Now it is about 11:45 p.m. at this point and I am all alone with my baby girl. I called Schmoops and told him that we were not coming home. After waking my mom up and giving the short orders that she was needed at my house so Schmoops could me us at the hospital, Busy and I set off for the children’s hospital.

I have never been so scared in all of my life. Bubs has had two sets of tubes and his adenoids removed, but he has NEVER been in the hospital for an overnight stay. . .or ever even been on the verge of being sent to the hospital. This was new territory for me and I will admit I was very upset.

Luckily, the PUC doctor had arranged a direct-admittance for us so as soon as we arrived at the hospital we were immediately given a room. The nurses proceeded to do a few more tests and then an intern doctor came in and told us that they would perform tests for a variety of things and Busy would need fluids all night. We would probably go home the next morning. Um, no.

The next morning came early. . .4:00 a.m. Busy was convulsing (or so I thought) and burning up. We called the nurse and they took her temp which was 102. However, the convulsing was “just the chills”. They gave her some Tylenol and I wrapped her up and hugged her to me. She seemed unaware and slept soundly. I did not. At 6:00 they took her temp again and it was 104. But the nurse assured me that often a temp goes up before coming down. I had never heard this especially after Tylenol had been administered but Schmoops told me not to worry and wait like the nurses said. Around 8:00, Busy was awake and seemingly back to her old self. However, she would not drink. They took her off the IV and we proceeded to try to give her bottle after bottle. She was not having it. At 6:00 p.m. we finally saw a doctor and were told we were told #1 she had para-influenza and #2 we were not going home. . .DUH! They hooked the IV back up and we set in for another night.  Here's a picture of Busy with her little IV cover on her arm.  She is all smiles charmin' those nurses. . .but we still had to stay!

I am going with the power of prayer because I had not prayed harder in those 24 hours. And around 8:00 p.m. on Saturday night, Busy drank an 8 oz bottle. Then she slept a glorious sleep and at 6:30 a.m. she drank another 8 oz bottle and ate breakfast as normal. By 12:30 that afternoon, she was eating, drinking and playing as normal. The doctor sent us home. . .just in time for Bubs’ 4th Birthday party!!! (I had been telling the nurses all along that I had a birthday party to manage at 2:30 - -more on that later! -- and they all said they could tell I was a “task-master”!)

It was a scary experience but we were lucky that it turned out fine. Busy got tubes Monday morning and has since been her normal self. . .my wild child!!! So between hospitals, birthdays, tubes and a tiny bit of sleep (oh, plus my fabulous job. . .cough, cough, cough). . .I missed out on adding my little bit to the blogosphere. I am glad to be back and truly truly thankful that my daughter is on the mend and happy as ever!

Below is a pic of Busy and Bubs at Busy's post-Tubes/post-hospital stay visit with our pediatrician -- 2 days after getting her tubes. . .as you can see both kiddos are healthy and happy!!  YEAH!!!!

Happy about Thankful Thursday!

I'm going to shake things up a bit today and link up with MannLand5 for my "Thankful Thursday".  (I'm not "meme-hopping", but it looks like The Outdoor Wife might be taking a little break. . .)  So here goes. . .

Today's the day to post 5 things that have made us

Joyful

Giddy

Excited

Thankful

Jubuliant

or

Just plain ol' happy (of THANKFUL) this week!

Once you do that..go visit Keely and and link up.

My Five..

1.  I never thought I would say this, but I am super thankful for CUCUMBERS!!!  If you close one eye and stand on your left food and in your dieting mind pretend really really hard, they are surprising good as a substitute for CHIPS!!!!  These long green friends cut into slices are certainly helping me stay on my diet.

2.  I am thankful for my camera phone so that I can send my hubby pics of our kids when he is out of town and make him smile. . .gosh I love that smile!!  Today I actually sent him a picture of my lunch so he would feel sorry for me that I am living on rabbit food so I will look ultra hot for his friend's wedding next month! ;)-

3.  I am thankful that no one I know was hurt during the tornadoes that have been descending all across our State.  I have a good many friends that live down the turnpike from me and they tend to get it worse than we do in Green Country.  Continued prayers for everyone during the Spring and Summer months when this type of atmospheric activity is at its worst.  (P.S.  I wish I had gotten a picture of me and my kiddos SLEEPING in the closet last night as the tornado sirens repeatedly went off.  Obviously if I was asleep as well there wasn't much picture taking.  I guess my back started hurting and I woke up at 12:30 a.m. and took everyone to their beds!)

4.  I am thankful that I have lost 4 lbs so far so I know that I am not dieting and exercising for nothing!  Isn't that so discouraging when you try and try to "be good" and you step on the scale to see the SAME OLD NUMBER???  It's nice to debit something other than my bank account!

5.  Bubs and Busy would like me to extend their thankfulness that Daddy is coming home tomorrow!!!  Um, yes, they love me. . .but Daddy brings presents AND never disciplines!

As a post script, I'll add two more things since I typically do 7 thankful thoughts. . .

6.  I am very thankful that so many of Bubs' friends can come to his IRON MAN birthday party on Sunday.  It should be a blast and he is beyond thrilled that the countdown is nearing to an end.

7.  Somewhat thankful (and somewhat that time keeps marching on at such a fast pace) that Busy is now standing all by herself.  I know that the first step isn't too far beyond.  Then WATCH OUT WORLD!!!

WW: Picture of a Good Day!

I assure you that Bubs is one othe GREEN STARS!  Yeah!  Those days are far and few between for my "all boy" boy!

Visit Five Minutes for Mom for more WW fun!

Post It Note Tuesday

Welcome to another addition of PINT with SupahMommy. Click and join the fun this week!


At the request of Supah, I am posting this as well:
 
Twitter Party For Mission Monkey Next Week!  Donate ANY amount to be able to join and win win win!  (each dollar = 1 entry for prizes- donate more= more entries) Next Tuesday - 5/25 - 9-10 PM EST

Please POST THIS ON YOUR BLOG!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'd like to thank the Academy, God, my family and friends. . .

Oh, sorry. . .while I am rather dramatic, I did not receive an Academy Award. . .I got something better!  My 1st Blogger Award -- The Versatile Blogger!!!  I am so excited that my friend Ms. Wendy over at Running on MMT awarded me this award.  I am very honored!  I can't remember how I found Wendy's blog, but we have fast become bloggy friends and I love reading her posts.  We also have alot in common. . .we're moms, we're runners, we're reality TV junkies, we're totally fabulous, AND WE ARE BOTH VERSATILE BLOGGER AWARD WINNERS!!  :)

There are a few rules along with this award in order to "officially" add the fancy award badge to my blog!

I'll call this Rule 1a - Post the rules so whomever I nominate knows what they need to do!

Rule 1 - Say thank you!   Thank you, thank you, thank you Ms. Wendy!!!!  I was so thrilled to see that YOU got an award when I looked at my blog roll this morning that I opened that post FIRST. . .imagine how SUPRISED and THRILLED that MY NAME was listed as one of the people you nominated.  I am still so excited that I am having trouble typing this.  So THANK YOU!!!  You have absolutely made my day!!!!

Rule 2 - Share seven fun facts about yourself!

1.  I absolutely love love love coffee!!!  Honestly, I am not sure I could function without it.  I don't know how or when the obsession started and it might be directly attributed to my college boyfriend who loved to go over to Columbia, Missouri and hang out at the hippie coffee shops and philosophize. . .yes, I was entranced.  I actually got hooked on Chai Tea. . .then Mochas. . .then Vanilla Lattes (which I still love once in a while). . .and now I just go straight for the hard stuff straight up!  My hubby got me a Keurig coffee maker for absolutely no reason and I love it.  You can get any types of coffee you like in little pods and make a cup. . .or 6. . .all for little old me!

2.  I am so freakin' tired today I can't even express it!  Sometimes I like to surprise my husband with little treats that I know he will love even if it is not something that I would particularly choose.  One of those things is going to concerts.  So....a while back we attended the Nickelback concert at the BOK Center, but the band Schmoops really wanted to see was The Sick Puppies.  Hmmmm. . .I know, but stick with me.  Well, they just so happened to be the opening-opening-opening band (before Shinedown, Breaking Benjamin and then finally Nickelback).  Well, our babysitter was running a little late and we didn't get down to the arena right at 6:30 when the tickets said it started. . .we got there at 6:40. . .and The Sick Puppies were OVER!  Literally, I thought Schmoops might cry. . .he certainly pouted. . .and I could tell that the rest of the concert was a letdown (as it was for me but that is a totally different story because let's be reminded that I went FOR HIM).  Enter my "Bright Idea of the Day" also known as things that sound great at the time but in reality are not very well thought out.  So after the Nickelback concert debacle, I got on the internet and found out that The Sick Puppies were playing last night in Fayetteville, a short jaunt from our home.  So I ordered up some tickets, asked mom to watch the kids and off we went.  Now Fayetteville IS a short jaunt at 2 in the afternoon when you are driving over. . .at 2 in the morning when you are driving home. . .not so much.  Ugh. (See #1 above. . .it will be my life source today!)

3.  As you might have guessed from reading my blog, I long to be a Stay At Home Mom and Housewife.  We have a plan. . .it is coming. . .I can't wait.  Until then, um, I really really really hate working.  :(

4.  Re: work. . .the dude that walks down the hallway whistling and humming all day long. . .UGH. . .SO ANNOYING!  I can appreciate happiness and I love it that he must have such a joyful life, but seriously.  We have cubes.  It is not quiet on a good day when everyone is working.  Do we need another distraction???

5.  I am a closet rap music lover.  I know, I know. . .it is hard to believe.  And I am not talking about the ones that cuss more than anything else or where they talk about raping, pillaging and killing.  But I gotta say that I love me some Ludacris, Jay Z and a bunch of guys that they play on the radio that I don't even know their name but when their songs come on and I have the sunroof open, I could not be in a better mood!  Seriously.  Please note that I do not listen to rap music with my kids in the car and I have also come to the realization that most parents at my kids' school do not understand my appreciation for this genre of music, so I make sure to turn it down when I hit the main street leading to the school!

6.  I miss my grandma EVERY.  SINGLE.  DAY.  It has been 12 years since she died.  Everyone says it gets easier with time.  I guess.  "Manaw" was the most awesome individual to me in the entire universe.  I loved her so much. . .still love her so much.  It kills me that she never saw me get married (she did get to meet Schmoops since we were friends in high school), that she didn't see me become a mother, that I can't call her and tell her that I am so tired and will she make me some hot chocolate.  I don't know why I just told you guys that. . .I'm not sure if it is a "fun fact". . .but it was on my mind.

7.  This is the last one, I better make it a good one.  Like Ms. Wendy. . .I am the LUCKIEST girl in the world!!!  I am married to my very best friend and soul mate.  It took us a long time to get together but it was definitely worth the wait.  And I have the two most AMAZING kids in the entire world!  My family is everything I ever dreamed of and so much more.  I am truly happy. . .and sadly, I'm not sure how many people can say that in the world today.  I wish everyone half as much love as I have and surely their cups would runneth over!!!

**********************

Okay, back to the rules. . .


Rule 3 - Copy and paste the picture of the award at the top of my post and add it to your sidebar so all your bloggy friends know you received it and someone thinks you are special. For good measure you can thank me for giving it to you!

Rule 4 - Pass this award onto other bloggy friends who I think are pretty special!  GLADLY!!!

All Things Cake  (not currently updated, but a good friend of mine/cousin who I think is AMAZING!!)

Family of Shorts (I'm a Stalker of "Muffin Top to Skinny Jeans")

Green Momma (one of the inspiration sites for me on my own going green journey)

The Ladies of the RHOK at their individual sites which I have come to read and love:
That's Baloney (actually been a follower for a long time because I know her from "the real world")
Kellyology
Dawn's Diversions
The Southern Family
Our New Journey
The Redneck Diva

Geez. . .I follow so many super fabulous blogs that there are TONS more, I assure you!!!

Thanks again, Wendy, for the great honor and happy blogging to all!!  XOXO

Bloggers Without Makeup Day

I just love this idea!!  And FYI. . .I can often be found sans make up!  I love a clean face and natural beauty. . .plus I like sleep alot so I will gladly take away from "puttin' on make up time" so that I can get a few more zzzzzzzzzzzz's!!  I will say that it is somewhat hard to find a pic of me without make up though due to the fact that typically I am the one taking the picture. . .or we are having the pic taken for a purpose -- holiday, special occasion, etc.. . .so I have applied my un-natural beauty products!

Anyhoo...Jodie with Mummy Mayhem has sanctioned this day, May 14th, as Bloggers without Make Up Day!  She posted a picture of herself in all her natural beauty and she asked female bloggers of the world to do so too.  I actually jumped on board after reading Beautiful Momma's post over at the RHOK.  I echo her sentiment that showing our daugthers (and our sons!) that being beautiful naturally inside. . .and out. . .is the most beautiful thing about being a woman. . .well, that and raising a naturally beautiful child as well!  So here are three pics of me in all my freckled-face glory and without a stitch of make up. . .coincidentally they happen to be three of the happiest days of my life as well. . .birthdays of my two babies and finishing my first 5K with McBFF.

I hope you will celebrate this glorious day and link up over at Jodie's original post.  130 of your female sisters have already done so!

Thankful on Thursday!

Feel free to head on over to The Outdoor Wife or join me here for Thankful on a Thursday. Here are 7 things I'm thankful for this week!  (I just checked and there was not a post today, but maybe she will get one up and we can all link up. . .and you can still be thankful regardless!)  And you can also participate in Thankful Thursday with Grace Alone.




Week Four:

I'm thankful for...

1.  Lunch "hours" (plural) with a good friend. . .two days in a row!

2.  Creative recipes (read "concoctions") for diet-friendly food. . .

3.  Great friends who have planned a great girls' night out, a great girls' weekend AND a great girls+family mini-vacay and all I have to do is show up!

4.  Good books and an awesome book club to share them with

5.  My mom (Happy Mother's Day -- again!)

6.  My children (Happy Mother's Day to me -- again!  Because being a mom is the greatest honor in the world!)

7.  My hubby for being so understanding and doing everything he can to try to alleviate my stressors -- real and imaginary!

Thankful, thankful, thankful!!!

Wordless Wednesday. . .In Honor of Mother's Day!

For more WW fun, make sure and visit 5 Minutes for Mom!

Post It Note Tuesday

For more Post it Note Tuesday fun. . .head on over to SupahMommy's site!  She actually just got her ONE THOUSANDTH FOLLOWER. . .Wow!  Ms. 1000th Follower happens to be a very nice lady named Trish who could use your support so head on over to her site too!

MckLinky Monday: Know Me from A-Z

Those Housewives are making me WORK this morning. . .but I guess this will give you a little more insight into Mrs. Howell and my life.  Thanks Mrs. Sinclair!!!

Mrs. Howell from A to Z. . .

A - Age: 36. . .of if you ask my son 30 which I like better!  :)

B - Bed size: Queen

C - Chore you hate: Cleaning the bathroom.

D - Dog(s') name: Clementine and Pete (we also have a cat, Musashi)

E - Essential start your day item: COFFEE!!!!

F - Favorite color: I may be a Bluejay, but I bleed ORANGE!!!

G - Gold or Silver or Platinum: All, duh!

H - Height: 5'6 1/2"

I - Instruments you play(ed): forced to take piano lessons as a child. . .ruined me for all musical instruments. . .although my son and I have a mean air band!!

J - Job title: Compensation Consultant

K - Kid(s): Bubs (3 1/2) and Busy (10 months)

L - Living arrangements: House

M - Mom's name: Anne

N - Nicknames: Ma, Mommy, and KW

O - Overnight hospital stay other than birth: zero

P - Pet Peeve: Oh GAWD. . .I'm such a hag lately. . .pretty much everything is peeving me!!

Q - Quote from a movie/show: "The most exciting, challenging and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself. And if you find someone to love the you that you love, well, that's just fabulous." –Carrie Bradshaw - An American Girl in Paris (Part Deux) –Series 6

R - Right handed or left handed: Right

S - Siblings: zero

T - Time you wake up: 5:00a.m.

U- Underwear: granny panties

V - Vegetable you dislike: peas

W - Why you run late: KIDS

X - X-rays you've had: teeth, hand, foot, back, chest. . .heck, I don't know?!?!?!?

Y - Yummy food you make: EVERYTHING, of course!  Why?  What did my husband say?????

Z - Zoo favorite: Flamingos because my son just LOVES them. . .it makes me smile!