March 21, a day in photos

Kayden's shirt speaks vloumes about his personality!

Justice wearing Poppy's shoes.

A view I hope to never forget.

There is just something about grease and dirt that reminds me of my childhood.

I love you, Mom.

He may be goofy, sometimes a little funky - sometimes a gigantic pain in the butt, but he is my brother and I couldn't love him more.

Mom's Wisteria

Tot Soccer, game # 3

Justice warming up...

This is what the majority of the games look like - its pretty funny.

Look at the intense look on her face. You go, girl!

Sidney and Justice held hands and ran around the field. It was cute!

Kayden's Piggy Bank: Phase Two-still under construction.

Side 1, remember, has the hand print. This is side two, so far. Kayden picked out the colors for the letter of his name, and also all the other stickers that are there. Kayden had fun putting the stickers on (with Mommy's help)... On the piggy bank's butt there is a little blue snail and on his forehead, right between his eyes, is a bright yellow cross. I love that Kayden chose that spot for the cross.

It makes this momma proud that my kids are starting to learn the importance of God in their lives.

Thank-You, Jesus!

The new "pets"....

Today we got to celebrate Kayden’s birthday –again- with Grandma Georgia. She and Rudy took us to lunch at Applebees, and gave Kayden a wonderful gift. Can you see me rolling my eyes?

Ladies and Gentlemen, let me introduce you to the latest craze meant to drive parents completely bonkers: Zhu Zhu pets. These little things are just like real hamsters except, well, they are fake. They roll around the house making noises and get caught under the couch, insighting riotous cries from my children to “get them back for us!”

Without further adu, here is "Zhu Zhu" - so aptly named by Justice,

 

and "Pink" named by (suprise, suprise) Kayden.

 

This is the car and surf board that they play with:

 

 

Pictures Of My Son

This post is entirely comprised as the title implies… pictures of my Kayden Noah at two years old. I think that he needs a haircut (don’t tell Grammy that) because after his hair dried, it was a big red puff… lol.

401 on Tuesday Nights at BCCC

Our God is a God of order.

The slightly OCD part of me LOVES it!

I am going through a class through my church called

'Touching God In Prayer'. It has been completely eye opening and enlightening. Prayer is our highest calling, as children of God. Jesus' life flowed out of prayer. He talked (with God) then he walked. Jesus' ministries were between His times of prayer.

So I have been learning that there is a God-designed order to our prayers.

I also just learned the correct way and the reasoning behind the Armor Of God, and have been teaching my kids to 'put on' the armor every morning. It is quite entertaining.

I encourage everyone to spend time alone with God daily.

 If Jesus needed to do it, how much more should we?

Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig!

St. Patrick's Day Blessings!

A busy Weekend

This weekend/weekend has been soooo busy! Following Wednesday/Thursday SWAT and K9 ops/callouts, we thought we would be in for a quiet weekend. Ha! Think again.... Friday Kevin went to work as usual, after K9 training. He (Praise the Lord) got off a little early, so he could get some sleep before Justice's soccer game.

Justice was completely miserable, and didnt want to play at all. She did, for a minute or ten, then just wanted to sit on my lap.

She had been battling high fevers since Fri evening. Saturday evening landed us in the ER, where the doc confirmed that Justice has a double ear infection. Her very first, ever. Which is weird, according to the Doc, because of her history with allergies.

The 4 of us in the ER, waiting...

So, they perscribed her Azithromiason and sent us on our way. Once we got the medicine in her, she immediately threw up. Not uncommon for her, so we thought nothing of it. Again, we thought wrong. Justice woke up Sun morning with a rash all over. We went to church anyways, and it wasn't long before they paged me to come get her. She didnt even want to play with the other kids, she just wanted to sit on my lap. During prayer time, Kevin and I took her up to be prayed over.

Sunday afternoon, I called the pharmacist and the ER again, and they switched her perscription to a sulfa drug. Thank God, by Monday morning, she was basically back to normal. Whew!

Monday we spent time outside, and cleaning out the garage.

Here are the kids petting a chick at Robinsons, when we went to get dog food for Bronx.

Monday night I got a special treat, a date night. I cannot tell you how long it has been! Kevin took me to Lodi Lake, to scout out some good spots for me to take our family pictures, and watch the sunset. It was so nice. Then we went to dinner at ShangriLa.

Today we are doing yard work, and more cleaning out the garage. Fun. (not)...

Kevin and I bought the kids new piggy banks, and I decided that we could decorate them today. Here is phase 1: 2010 handprints. I think that it would be cool to do a new hand print every year, in a different color.

During quiet time today, we watched the Princess and the Frog. Cute movie. Good thing Jus' birthday is coming up, it gives me a good reason to go buy it. lol

Kayden's Runny Nose Update

So..... Doctor visit number fiftybajillion went like all the rest have. Dr comes in, listens to his chest and then says "let's wait it out until Monday". Lovely. So we got some Zyrtec for the boy and we have to give the Azithromycin the full 10 days to work. Yes, 10 days. Even though he olny had to take it for 3 days, we have to wait 10 days. LAME!

So, we play the waiting game. I, personally, feel it is allergies and just want the stinkin referral already. But Im really not in the mood with all the other things going on, to fight right now. Kayden is in no harm, and the runny nose is really just annoying. If he had some flesh-eating nastiness or some super-bug, we all would have caught it by now.

So, I'll update you when there is more to update you on!

Thanks for your support!

"Oh, Yeah? And What Does Your Daddy Do?"

Today was Justice's last day of school before Spring Break. Being Thursday, it was 'share day'. So we decided to treat the 3's class of St. Peter Preschool to a special treat: A K9 Demo!

Justice was too shy to really show off her Daddy, but Kevin pulled her into the middle of the action and had her help him give Bronx some commands.

The kids were all totally well behaved. It was great to be involved and see how excited those kids were when Kevin showed up in his call-out gear (he had just come from a k9 call-out, right after a SWAT call-out. Yes, it was a scary morning for me - I spent the first part of my day on my knees praying).

Here is a picture of Justice's class with Kevin and Bronx.

Happy Spring Break, everyone!

Kayden and the Case of the Runny Nose

Hello, blog readers!

I wanted to share an update on my poor Kayden Noah:

Today I am taking my son to the doctors for the 6th (yes, SIXTH) time in 6 weeks. To be fair, yesterday his appointment was for his 2-year well-baby checkup. So today's visit will mark the 5th visit for the same symptoms in 6 weeks.

Kayden has had a runny nose since our camping trip back in January! Fevers havent been persistent, coming and going occationally. The highest was last week, when they shot up to the mid 102's seemingly ramdomly. The doctor tried to put him on Amxoicillin two weeks ago, but Kayden developed an allergic reaction to it, and got a nasty case of Diahrrea, and consequently diaper rash.

Then, last week, the doctor perscribed him Azithromycin. No reaction, no nothing! It hasnt helped at all!

I am at my breaking point, and I vaguely recall being in this very same predicament YEARS ago. Two years ago, as a matter of fact.

Justice had this same situation.

We fought with doctors until they finally sent her to an allergist.

When our allergist finally got to see her, she had a sinus infection so bad that it took xrays to see how bad it was, and steroids to kill it, and her lungs were only opperating at 70% capacity! If the doctor had just given us the referral when we first asked, maybe Justice wouldnt have to take Plumacort and Zopanex breathing treatments from a nebulizer every night!

So today I am going to tell the doctor, that if he doesnt have any more ideas on how to sae my son from this chronic runny nose, I want the referral to the allergist. No exceptions, no more waiting!

I will try to remember to update you all on this situation after our appointment this afternoon.

Please pray with me:

Dear Heavenly Father,

I praise Your Mighty Name. You are the First and the Last. The Creator of all things and the Manager of all time. You are Jehovah Jireh - our Provider. You generously provide everything we need at every moment. Thank You, Father, for the gift of parenthood and for the gift of discernment concerning these precious children. I pray You would be with us today as we take Kayden to the doctor again. I pray You in your mighty wisdom would grant us peace and joy in this situation, that we may be lights in the world, and glorify You. You are Jehovah Rophe - our Healer. And today, Lord, as I sit and pray, I ask You to put Your hand on Kayden right now and heal his little body. You know what it is that is making his nose run. You know the anguish this has caused us. Heal and deliver Kayden, Lord, as it follows Your will for his life. Give me strength as a mother to accept any diagnosis with grace, and Your peace.
I commit the day to You, to doing Your will.
In the mighty and powerful name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

Thanks, everyone. Have a good day!

99 Things I Ought To Have Done

I got this from my girl Erica at an rud is annamh is inotach:

99 Things I Ought to Have Done

Instructions:

Copy the list, bold the ones you've done (with explanations if needed), share with friends.

1. Started your own blog

You're reading this, arent you?

2. Slept under the stars

Every night - there is just a roof between me and them!

3. Played in a band

4. Visited Hawaii
Kauai. April 2007.

5. Watched a meteor shower

6. Given more than you can afford to charity

Every month.

7. Been to Disneyland

A few times, and again this December!

 

8. Climbed a mountain

Oh, geez. A bunch. But the most memorable was that one with my dad when I was like 7.

9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sang a solo

11. Bungee jumped

12. Visited Paris

October 2005

 

13. Watched a thunder and lightning storm

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch

15. Adopted a child

16. Had food poisoning

Kev and I had it together sooo bad one time. Nasty Quiznos!

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

18. Grown your own vegetables

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France

In the Lourve. It's not as big as I thought it would be.

20. Slept on an overnight train

21. Had a pillow fight

I hit Kev with pillows all the time

22. Hitch hiked

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill

Who hasn't?

24. Built a snow fort

25. Held a lamb

"Tina"!

26. Gone skinny dipping

27. Run a Marathon

In October, Jenn and I are planning on a half marathon!

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice

We almost died. It was a horrific experience..

29. Seen a total eclipse

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset

All the time.

 

31. Hit a home run

I hit a triple in 8th grade.

32. Been on a cruise

Alaska. June 2005.

 

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors

35. Seen an Amish community

36. Taught yourself a new language

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

39. Gone rock climbing

40. Seen Michelangelo’s David

41. Sung karaoke

With my cousin at a county fair. 1995 probably.

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

Yep. Been there, done that!

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant

44. Visited Africa

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight

Once upon a time

46. Been transported in an ambulance

For E15M, but never because I was hurt

47. Had your portrait painted

48. Gone deep sea fishing

I miss you, Grandpa!

 

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

It was windy! But we got to eat in the restaurant up there, and that was cool.

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling

Snorkeling on Kauai 2007.

52. Kissed in the rain

I was proposed to in the rain. Of course I kissed him!

53. Played in the mud

What kid hasnt?

54. Gone to a drive-in theater

Saw Transformers 2 in Sac. Good times.

55. Been in a movie

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business

58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies

62. Gone whale watching

In Alaska. It was BORING!

63. Got flowers for no reason

Isn't "because I love you" a reason?!

64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma

Once. NEVER again!

65. Gone sky diving

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

67. Bounced a check

Stupid mistakes.

68. Flown in a helicopter

Just last year. It was SO INCREDIBLY COOL!

 

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy

My Bubba Bear. Jus sleeps with him now.

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial

71. Eaten caviar

72. Pieced a quilt

73. Stood in Times Square

74. Toured the Everglades

75. Been let go from a job

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

 October 2005 - So the pic isnt of the changing of the guards, but here is proof Ive been to London - you'll have to take my word for it that Ive seen it.

77. Broken a bone

...or two or three... (sorry, mom)

78. Been a passenger on a motorcycle

Only my dad's... I dont trust people.

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person

April 2009

 

80. Published a book

81. Visited the Vatican

82. Bought a brand new car

Brand new to me :)

83. Walked in Jerusalem

84. Had your picture in the newspaper

Once for cadets, once when I turned 16 (thanks mom). Ive also had a couple letters published.

85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve

eeww... people are gross.

86. Visited the White House

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating

Fish.

88. had chickenpox

1989. Kindergarten. LAME!

89. Saved someone’s life

Kevin tells me all the time. (143)

90. Sat on a jury

Got called in once, but dismissed. Luckily I wont have to do that for a LONG time, if ever!

91. Met someone famous

Lauren from like 3 seasons ago from Project Runway was on

our catamaran in Kauai but I never talk ed to her.

92. Joined a book club

or two!

93. Got a tattoo

Just the one, so far.

94. Had a baby

TWO babies.

 

95. Seen the Alamo in person

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake

97. Been involved in a law suit

Not directly.

98. Owned a cell phone

Ive had quite a few.

99. Been stung by a bee