December/Christmas 2009

December has been a pretty crazy month around our house. Lots of things to do - places to be - stuff like that. There was ear doctor check-ups for me...Jordan's birthday...orthodontist appointments...Christmas program practices for the kis...choir practices and her last program for Jordan...Christmas parties to attend...& shopping - lots of ((online!!)) shopping!
Among all the hustle and bustle of the season, Terrance and I were struggling with whether or not to pull Jordan out of her school and have her home schooled again. She has been asking for weeks to be home schooled again. At first, we just thought that she was just being kind of lazy and not wanting to do all the extra work that came with middle school. After talking to her at length about it, she told us that a girl at school - that she has had several previous encounters with this year so far - thought she was bi-sexual and had a crush on Jordan. This made her extremely uncomfortable ((which I could totally understand)). She normally loved to go to school every morning - but started dreading it. She would ask every night if she could stay home the next day. Terrance and I talked about it at length and decided that if we had the ability to pull her out and have her home schooled - why wouldn't we? There is no reason that she should be subjected to that level of discomfort every day.
Thankfully, Myles' babysitter, Mama Jean, agreed to home school her again. She had home schooled her from kindergarten until second grade and will do it again. We are so excited about it, as is Jordan. I know Myles will be ready to spend the days with Jordan again too. As soon as we told Jordan that we had decided to let her be home schooled again - it was like a weight had been lifted off her. She looked so relieved to not have to return after winter break. She was able to keep all of the workbooks from school that she had started - so Mama Jean will know excatly what all she has done.
With all of the stressing about Jordan's schooling - it's no wonder that I haven't really been in the Christmas "spirit". I'm not sure why, but it never really felt much like Christmas until yesterday (Christmas day). We had a great time yesterday though with the family. Christmas Eve was spent lazing around the house. It was really nice because I usually have to work on Christmas Eve - but because Christmas fell on Friday this year - and we usually got the day after off - we got the day before off. It was really nice to just lay around with nothing on the schedule until the Christmas Eve service at church that night. After the service, we went over to some friends house for our annual Christmas Eve get-together. On the way home, I remembered that 16 years ago - on Christmas Eve - Terrance picked me up from work and drove me down to the Opryland Hotel to look at their beautiful light display. While we were out looking at the gorgeous tree right out in front of the hotel - Terrance proposed to me. It sure doesn't seem like it has been that long ago. I guess that's a good sign. :)
Christmas day was spent opening gifts as a family. (Stockings were done on Christmas Eve...a new tradition we are trying out. Second year doing that.) We then headed over to Terrance's folks house for Christmas and breakfast with them before heading down to my folks' house for Christmas and dinner with my parents and Steph, Travis and the kids.
All in all, it was a great day. We had a blast hanging out and watching all the kids open their presents. I love the looks on their faces when they open something they're really excited about. Terrance got me the most comfortable pair of boots - cowboy boots, too!! - I really love them. He also surprised me with a mani/pedi gift certificate that I can't wait to use. :)


Here are just a few pics from our day:


Myles was sooooo excited to get another Clone Wars movie. lol He does wear clothes (as many people have wondered) but this is Christmas morning...and when you sleep in your underwear...you open presents in your underwear. :)

Jordan got a new (electric blue!) ipod. We debated about whether she was ready for the responsibility of an expensive gift (the dog ate the last one) and decided to give her another chance.

Probably my favorite gift I gave this year. Terrance is a huge watch freak. He loves watches! But, unfortunately, most of them need batteries - so I decided that this year...I was buying a watch that doesn't need batteries. I must be getting smarter in my old age. lol

My dad loves apricot nectar - so every year, Jordan gets him 2 cans for his stocking. Noelle decided she needed a pic with Grandpa and his nectar can. :)

Probably my favorite pic of the day. When I saw that Elizabeth had crawled up on the couch to lay with "Jorny" - I knew I had to take a pic.

Review:::Race To Witch Mountain & Orphan

Race to Witch Mountain is a great family movie! I rented this for the kids - thinking Myles would like the car chases and Jordan would appreciate that it wasn't just a cartoon. What I didn't expect was that Terrance would be the one that was most "in to" the movie. lol! When I would try to say something to the kids, he would say, "Keep it down! I'm trying to watch the movie!" Love it!!

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson plays a helpful cab driver that reluctantly helps two "kids" - that end up being adolescent aliens from another planet. This is a remake of the Disney classic Escape to Witch Mountain. I loved that the kids from the original movie, Kim Richards and Ike Eisenmann, are both featured in the movie. They portray the waitress and the sheriff of a small town.



Orphan had an ending that I was totally not expecting. For that...I really liked it. I love it when a suspense/horror/thriller type movie can actually surprise me. Orphan was more suspense/thriller than horror. I thought it moved a little slow at first - but I'm sure that was just meant to be build-up to the climax.

After the tragic death of their youngest child, Kate and John Coleman (Vera Farmiga and Peter Sarsgaard) decide to adopt a child. They choose 9-year old Esther from a local orphanage. It doesn't take long for Kate to see through Esther's angelic facade. When John brushes Kate's suspicions off as paranoid, Esther begins to wreak havoc on those around her.

Monday Reflection

Church was good yesterday - the sermon really hit home in several areas. But, before the sermon, some of our music team got up to perform the offertory song.

Sometimes, it is hard to focus during the offertory...offering baskets being passed - kids dropping money in and getting so excited, etc. So, I am so glad I was tuned in enough yesterday to listen. They sang Press On - by Selah. I wish I could post a link to their actual singing - they did a phenomenal job! I know I've heard it before - but I don't think I've ever paid attention to the lyrics before now.

When the valley is deep

When the mountain is steep

When the body is weary

When we stumble and fall

When the choices are hard

When we're battered and scarred

When we've spent our resources

When we've given our all

Chorus:

In Jesus' name, we press on

In Jesus' name, we press on

Dear Lord, with the prize

Clear before our eyes

We find the strength to press on

In Jesus' name, we press on

In Jesus' name, we press on

Dear Lord, with the prize

Clear before our eyes

We find the strength to press on

To press on

I just really needed to hear that.

Friday Felicities ~ November 6, 2009

Things that make me happy:

::: Friday's!!!

::: Being flu free in (what seems like) a sea of sickness

::: Recovering from ear surgery

::: Finally being able to sleep on my right side (since said ear surgery)

::: Thanksgiving month!! My favorite holiday

::: Hot and Spicy Chex Mix...yum.

::: A dear hubby that pulled in behind me today and offered to pump my gas...it was cold this morning. :)

Link up over at Becky's with things that make you happy.

Daybook ~ November 5, 2009

Outside My Window... It is an absolutely beautiful day. And...it's supposed to be this beautiful all weekend!

I Am Thankful For... That the flu bug that is going around has (for the most part) left us alone. We had a small bout about a month ago - but have been very healthy since then.

From The Kitchen... Pizza tonight! I have this movie from Netflix. Jordan is very excited to watch it - so I think we will have an improptu movie night tonight.

I Am Wearing... A black skirt and multi-color shirt with my black boots. My feet don't exactly hurt...but my slippers and comfys are calling my name.

I Am Reading... Almost finished with The Last Word. I've really enjoyed it. I will have to get the rest of the series.

I Am Hoping... To just get through the rest of the week...this has been a long one. Not bad...just long.

I Am Hearing... Law & Order: Special Victims Unit...watching it through Netflix. Have I mentioned how much I love Netflix!! :)

Around The House... Hopefully, not much. I just want to relax and enjoy myself tonight.

One Of My Favorite Things... Fridays!! It really has been a long week.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... I am "helping" to throw a baby shower tomorrow morning. Which means...I am bringing the flowers. Other than that - probably just tackling the laundry pile.

Here Is A Picture Thought I Am Sharing With You... Halloween pics from last week. Jordan was a punk rocker - and Myles is the Clone Trooper. Jordan went trick-or-treating with a friend from church - so Myles went with his bestest buddy...Andre - aka Wolverine. We had a good time.

Reviews ~ Blood Work & Donnie Darko

I can't believe I've watched 2 Clint Eastwood movies in the last couple of months. Normally, I don't consider myself a big Clint Eastwood fan. The squinty eyes - the gruff voice...never was a Dirty Harry-type of gal. But, I liked Gran Torino - so I thought I would give this one a try.

This one wasn't bad...a little predictable. By about 1/3 to 1/2 the way through - I had figured out "whodunit". Eastwood plays a retired FBI director named Terry McCaleb who is forced into retirement after suffering a massive heart attack while chasing down a serial killer. He ends up needing a heart transplant. He is hired by Graciela Rivers (Wanda de Jesus) to find the murderer of her sister, who, coincidentally, is the donor of his heart. He soon discovers that the serial killer he was hunting before his surgery is behind the new murders.

If you're a Clint Eastwood fan, you'd probably like it. I didn't "hate" it - but I probably won't rush to watch it again.

Ok, this movie was a little weird. Apparently, it is quite the cult-classic - but I didn't really see what all the fuss was about. The language was pretty bad. A lot of useless cursing. The kids would cuss in front of the parents and they wouldn't say anything - and sometimes laughed. That was annoying.

Jake Gyllenhaal played Donnie Darko, a teen struggling with sleep-walking and visions of a 6-foot tall, doomsday prophesizing bunny. The bunny steers Donnie through his sleep-walking to commit crimes like vandalizing the school and burning down a house.

The movie has quite the all-star cast with Drew Barrymore, Noah Wyle, Patrick Swayze and Mary MacDonnell. But, even with all of that talent, it was still a weird movie. Again, nothing that I will be clamoring to watch again.

Daybook ~ October 28, 2009

Outside my Window ... It's dark.

I am thankful for ... my dear hubby that was cleaning the kitchen and vacuuming when I got home from work. :) I'm so glad he's neater than I am. Not that I'm a slob...I'll just wait longer than he will.

From the kitchen ... Sloppy Joe's and fries tonight. Not very healthy - but good none the less.

I am wearing ... Green sweat pants and a blue shirt. I don't think I really match - but I'm comfy...and that's all that really matters.

I am reading ... The Last Word by Kathy Herman - I think it's part of a series - so I feel like I've missed something that happened in a previous book - but it's good and I hope to go back and read it.

I am hoping ... not for much. Just for my hearing to come back. :)

I am hearing ... Myles watching Monsters vs. Aliens. He really likes this movie.

Around the house ... Halloween is this weekend - so that's what we are preparing for. Hoping that it doesn't rain like it's planned to. I've rented some scary movies for me and Jordan to watch. She thinks she likes scary movies - but she's never really watched one - so I rented Poltergeist for her. I haven't seen it either - but imdb.com says that there is no nudity or cursing and that it is more suspensful than anything. Should be fun!

One of my favorite things ... picking up Myles every afternoon. He is always so excited to see me - and that just warms my heart.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week ... Just planning on Halloween-ing it and relaxing.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you ... Fall in Tennessee. The allergies might suck here - but the autumn's are beautiful.

After The Surgery...

Well, I thought it was time for an update after my surgery. The official name for the surgery was a tympanic mastoidectomy. Yeah, I didn't like the sound of it either.

My surgery was on Monday, October 12th at 9:00 am. I wasn't too nervous going into it. I had my book of favorite verses on my bed and I just kept reading them over and over. The one I read the most was Joshua 1:9: "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Every time I would read it, I could feel myself becoming calm.

The surgery ended up lasting about 6 hours. They had said that it would be anywhere from about 3 hours to as long as 8 hours. I guess it was right about in the middle.

As soon as I woke up, I puked. Not a fun feeling. I ended up throwing up about 3 times before I was allowed to leave the hospital...then I threw up again after we got home. Yuck! Apparently, when they work in your inner ear for hours on end - it can make you a little nauseous.

I have stiches inside my ear and behind it. It hurts. I feel dizzy and tired all the time. I have zero hearing on my right side now. I thought it was bad before - but I have realized that *anything* is better than nothing. It is a really weird feeling not to be able to hear anything. Terrance said the doctor told him that it could be this way for several months before the hearing starts to come back - and then it would only be back to about 45%. I guess if i get another surgery, it might come back to about 65%. Terrance is thinking that really isn't worth it. We'll have to see on that. I'm definitely not looking forward to another surgery.

I am starting to admit that all of this has gotten me kind of depressed. But, the depression is bothering me though. I try to be an upbeat-type of person. I'm kind of a "glass half-full" type of person. But, this has really knocked me down. It's been almost a week and my face is still a little swollen and the whole area around my ear is still really sore. And!...my ear sticks out! It is not cute at all! I know that sounds shallow - but I just think that on top of not being able to hear and being nauseous - it looks funny too. I hate that it is bothering me like this - but it really is. I thought it was annoying before how much I couldn't hear - but this is so much worse.

I guess I just need to give it time. Patience is something I need to work on. I know God has a plan for all of this...I just need to wait for His timing and not be so ready for "my" timing.

Daybook ~ October 8, 2009

Outside my Window ... It's dark...night has fallen.

I am thankful for ... friends that have been so wonderful and praying for me for my upcoming surgery. I love you all!!

From the kitchen ... Well, I didn't cook dinner tonight...but I did start on dinner for tomorrow night. We are having a yummy roast with carrots and potatoes! I just hope I have an appetite for it.

I am wearing ... Jammie pants and a tank top...I am so ready for bed.

I am reading ... The Knight by Steven James. I'm only a few chapters in...but it looks really good.

I am hoping ... To just survive this weekend. It's going to be crazy.

I am hearing ... Not a thing. Everyone is in bed and the tv is off!

Around the house ... I've been getting ready for Myles' first birthday party...not to confuse the facts...he is 5 years old. This is just his first "friend" party. I've been stuffing the pinata...stuffing goody bags...making sure I haven't forgotten anything - which I'm sure I have.

One of my favorite things ... Diet Dr. Thunder...I am slightly addicted to it. Mommy gets very crabby if she runs out! lol

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week ... I have my pre-op appointment at the hospital tomorrow morning, then taking Jordan to work with me so I can put her to work on my filing (lol!), Jordan has acting class on Saturday morning, Myles' friend party on Saturday afternoon, church Sunday morning, family b-day on Sunday afternoon, CRASH Sunday night - surgery on Monday...

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you ... Myles and Mama Jean made his birthday cookie today. A few days late since he's been sick...

Invaded By Sickness

Sickness has set in at our house in a major way. Jordan started with a sore throat and chills Saturday night. By Sunday night, her fever was up to 103.1. That is really high. She was listless and chilling. I called the doctor and they told me to alternate Tylenol and Motrin (ibuprofen) every 3 hours. Tylenol alone was just not bringing it down.

Look at those eyes...she is sick. :(

Finally, her fever started coming down - but today (Wednesday) is the first day that she has woken up without a fever. Yeah!! Myles and I both started running fevers Monday night. Mine was up to 102.9 yesterday. I was freezing cold at times - then burning up an few hours later. It was making me crazy!

Myles and I both still had fevers this morning when we woke up - but they have since gone away. Hopefully, they will stay gone. I can live with the coughing - but the fever is wearing me out. That, and the fact that none of us has had much of an appetite...poor Terrance is starving since no one is fixing any food. :)

I finally got Myles to take a nap yesterday. If the floor is where he chooses to sleep - then that is ok with me.

More Than You Ever Wanted To Know About Cholesteatoma

Apparently I have a cholesteatoma. Yeah...I didn't know what that was either. It sounded like a cross between cancer and high cholesterol. I had never heard of it.
I have been experiencing a "plugged" feeling in my ears for about 6+ months. I have been to my regular doctor 3 times about this and never got anything more than ear drops. I tried to tell them that I thought it was more than just an infection...that something else was going on. I finally asked for a referral to an ENT. I had to go back the third time before they actually got one for me. Kind of frustrating. I haven't had any pain with it - just a loss of hearing...which in my case is not good. I have had chronic ear infections since I was small. There was a long break between junior high and into my mid to late 20's where I didn't have hardly any, but when Myles was born in 2004, I started having them fairly regularly again...like 2 or 3 a year.
My appointment with the ENT was Friday and immediately upon looking in my ear, he told me I have a cholesteatoma. He said, "I'll get you a pamphlet on it." So most of what I have learned has come from this pamphlet and the all-mighty Internet.

A cholesteatoma is defined as an abnormal skin growth in the middle ear behind the eardrum. Repeated infections and/or a tear or retraction of the eardrum can cause the skin to toughen and form an expanding sac. Cholesteatomas often develop as cysts or pouches that shed layers of old skin, which build up inside the middle ear. (((yuck, I know))) Over time, the cholesteatoma can increase in size and destroy the surrounding delicate bones of the middle ear. Hearing loss (got it), dizziness (got that too!), and facial muscle paralysis are rare, but can result from continued cholesteatoma growth.

Cholesteatomas usually occur because of poor eustachian tube function as well as infection in the middle ear. The eustachian tube conveys air from the back of the nose into the middle ear to equalize ear pressure ("clear the ears"). When the eustachian tubes work poorly, the air in the middle ear is absorbed by the body, creating a partial vacuum in the ear. The vacuum pressure sucks in a pouch or sac by stretching the eardrum, especially areas weakened by previous infections. This can develop into a sac and become a cholesteatoma.

A large or complicated cholesteatoma usually requires surgical treatment to protect the patient (me!!) from serious complications. Surgery is performed under general anesthesia in most cases. The primary purpose of surgery is to remove the cholesteatoma so that the ear will dry and the infection will be eliminated. Hearing preservation or restoration is the second goal of surgery. In cases of severe ear destruction, reconstruction may not be possible. Reconstruction of the middle ear is not always possible in one operation; therefore, a second operation may be performed 6-12 months later. The second operation will attempt to restore hearing and, at the same time, allow the surgeon to inspect the middle ear space and mastoid for residual cholesteatoma.

Cholesteatoma is considered a "serious but treatable ear condition". A cholesteatoma should never be ignored. Bone erosion can cause the infection to spread into the surrounding areas, including the inner ear and brain. If untreated, deafness, brain abscess, meningitis, and, rarely, death can occur.

info from American Academy of Otolaryngology

So, now that I've spelled out more than anyone should ever know about cholesteatomas...I must say I'm glad I went and had it looked at and pressed for the referral to the ENT. There is no telling how bad it could have been if I had put it off.
I have to keep my mind positive and not dwell on all the insecurities and fears that are flooding my system right now. I have to keep reminding myself of two of my favorite verses...

Have I not commanded you?

Be strong and courageous!
Do not tremble or be dismayed,

for the Lord your God is with you

wherever you go.

Joshua 1:9

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:13

Review ~ Fireproof

This movie was amazing! I recommend this movie to ANY married couple. I wanted to watch this with my hubby...and I was sure I was going to have to pull teeth to get him to watch it...no gunfights, no car chases...a movie about marriage??...I didn't think I had a chance! God was definitely on my side when I asked him to watch it. He agreed! and...he liked it!

Fireproof really struck home to us in a lot of ways. I could see us in the situations in the movie. I cried (and cried and cried!)...like 4 times!! I think it opened our eyes to a lot of things. Maybe we should watch it a few more times... :)

Synopsis:

Capt. Caleb Holt (played by Kirk Cameron), a dedicated firefighter whose marriage to his wife, Catherine, has taken a severe turn for the worse and is about to end in divorce. Just when hope seems to be running out, Holt's Christian father intervenes, challenging the couple to a 40-day experiment that he hopes will renew their love for each other -- and for God.

Daybook ~ September 24, 2009

Outside my Window ... It's starting to cloud up to what will probably turn into rain...but - it's kind of sunny now, and since it has rained every day for about 2 weeks - I've very excited about the sun.

I am thankful for ... my hubby, Terrance, who has agreed to take on some roles around the homestead so I can get a much-needed break...I need some sane days.

From the kitchen ... I think we are having Zaxby's tonight. Yum!

I am wearing ... a black skirt and a blue shirt...I look like a bruise. lol But, I love this shirt - it's a great blue color. It matches the blue streaks in my hair that I'm sporting today. :)

I am reading ... Finally finished the book that took me FOREVER to read...now I am on to Parenting Today's Adolescent...and Just Take My Heart. One for need...one for fun.

I am hoping ... To get my filthy house cleaned this weekend - but will all that's going on: 1)Jordan's acting class, 2) taking food to the Smith's, 3) missions conference at church...I'm not sure when I will get it done...the next few weeks don't look any better.

I am hearing ... not much...it's lunch time at the office and it's really quiet here.

Around the house ... not much happening other than the usual busy-ness. It doesn't seem like we are there much lately other than to sleep.

One of my favorite things ... Hulu...I am loving it! We all know that mom get's the last pick when it comes to tv watching - and now I don't have to miss anything. :)

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week ... Jordan has choir practice tonight that may or may not be interrupted by a trip to the orthodontist for a painful spring incident. Tomorrow, I have an appointment with the ENT to see what is going on with my ears. Hopefully, I will get some answers.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you ... A certain 4 year old is turning 5 in about a week and a half...and he is very specific on what kind of birthday party he wants:

Friday Felicities

Things that make me happy:

• Friday...the week is over...this had not been a good week for our family...injuries - burns - sickness.
• That Myles was not hurt more seriously when he was burned.
• Anniversary at work...been here 11 years!

Short list this week...Been a hard week...

Link up over at Becky's

When Someone Hurts Your Child

What do you do when someone hurts your child...physically, emotionally, mentally, etc? As a parent, I find this one of the hardest questions to answer. My gut instinct is to hurt that person back...my head tells me to calm down!

Let me back up and relate what happened...

Jordan has had issues with a girl from school. This is the same girl that took her cell phone a few weeks back and started all the lying and covering up issues. That time - it was an emotional hurt. The girl hurt Jordan's feelings and disrespected her. This time she physically hurt her. Jordan had borrowed the girls coat this morning because she was cold. By lunch time, she no longer needed it and she attempted to give it back. The girl threw it back at Jordan's feet and yelled at her to hang onto it - that she didn't want it back right then. Jordan picked up the jacket and went on to her next class. As she was waiting by her class for the teacher to arrive, this girl came up and yanked the jacket from her arms...hard enough to leave abrasions and burn-like marks on her arm from the jacket zipper. Her arm immediately started swelling and Jordan went to the nurse and called me.

What do you do in these situations??? Terrance and I had both warned her about this girl after the first incident. We had told her that this girl might not be a true friend to her...that she might not have Jordan's best interests in mind. But Jordan kept hanging out with her...

I know that sometimes you have to let your kids make their own mistakes...that sometimes getting hurt is the only way to learn...but that is so hard to watch as a parent. Watching her get hurt is excruciating! It's one thing to make the mistake yourself...it's another to sit here and watch her through this. It hurts my heart as her mother to see her in pain...physically and/or emotionally. It hurts to see her not wanting to go to school tomorrow because she will have to face this girl...at school and on the bus. Jordan hates confrontation...she always has. She is the girl that cried on the soccer field when she accidentaly kicked the ball and it hit another girl in the head...super-sensitive, caring, non-confrontational.

I learned this verse last year in bible study and it has become a rock for me. I read it to Jordan and told her to just trust in Him...He is with her wherever she goes...let it be the same rock to her as it has become for me.

Joshua 1:9

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

Review ~ Quarantine

I really enjoyed this movie - I must say that first of all. I love scary movies! I know I've said this before...but I like scary movies...not gross movies. I love a movie that keeps you on the edge of your seat - that keeps you wondering what is coming next...what is around the next corner...and this is one of those movies.

Synopsis:
While on assignment shadowing LA firemen, newscaster Angela Vidal (Jennifer Carpenter) and her cameraman (Steve Harris) ride along to what is supposed to be a routine 911 call to an apartment building. After their arrival, the police and CDC officials quarantine the building trapping all inside. Phones, televisions, cell phones and electricity are all turned off...leaving them in the dark with...something.

This is a POV movie - meaning the movie is shot from the point-of-view of one of the characters. 2007's Cloverfield was shot the same way - but I didn't care for that movie at all. The acting in Quarantine was excellent. Their emotions and fears practically leapt from the screen - pulling me in. I actually jumped a few times - and I can't remember the last movie that made me do that.