So, it's Ash Wednesday.  I've been really struggling with what to give up.  I want to sacrifice something that means something to me...so, I'm going to be giving up desserts and sodas.  This is going to be tough.  Since going back to school, my soda intake has sky-rocketed.  I never used to drink the stuff...now it is out of control!  It's time to do something about that.

Oh, I do have some pretty awesome news.  My dad started rehab yesterday.  It is an out patient type of process and although I may be skeptical, I am just going to pray that he finally finds the strength and courage to kick alcohol out of his life.  I love my dad and just can't imagine him not being around.  I'm already losing my mom, I can't stand the thought of both of them being gone.

Well, you all have a beautiful evening. 

Hola, folks.    What a weird weekend.  Nothing unusual happened, or amazing, it was just weird.  Hmm.

Went to the doc on Friday for this recurrent RT lower abdominal pain, fever, etc.  The PA who saw me asked me if I was a heavy drinker...at this point I shoulda just walked out the door.  It didn't get any better.  So, I wrote a letter to the office manager.  I imagine she'll get it by tomorrow, and I'll be called by the end of the week.    I don't typically do things like that, but it was a bad appt, folks, just bad.

Saturday went to my neice's 5th birthday party.  Sooo happy that it was just family and not the free-for-all that happened the next day!  We did get to see the new puppies...11 week-old Australian Shepherds, a boy, Patches, and a girl, Scout.  Patches is blind in one eye and mostly deaf.  They are adorable!  Really loved Spence's Mushy...his adored, loved, gross, stuffed animal.  He was not amused. 

Sunday was great!  Our church is purchasing 105 ACRES!!! of land.  We'll eventually be building a church, a gym, activity center, ampitheatre, sports fields...so the church wanted to show us up close and personal this land.  Chartered buses took us there and then we were able to walk the land.  Dang, that was cool!

And, to round things out, yesterday evening, and this evening, our kiddos have decided to streak throughout the house.    I have no idea why this is a good idea, it's winter, ya know.  But, Kyra and Spence strip to underwear/diaper and run around like crazy, giggling the whole time.  Sure, it's silly, but it sure is a great way to end the day...those smiles and giggles are just amazing. 

Only 31 more days until I am laying on a beach, relaxing....  *sigh*  It couldn't come fast enough, in my opinion. 

Soo, the kiddos decided to give Royce and I one of those Valentine's gifts that keep giving...they both decided that puking Friday night...all night long, would be the way to start things out.  Spencer, unbelievably, slept through the entire process and we didn't know about his "gift" until he awoke.  Ugh, that stench...ne'er mind.  Anyhoo, Royce came down with it sometime during Sunday night and I got hit yesterday afternoon.    Ahhh, the family that just shares everything.  Very Leave It To Beaver, don't you think?? 

Hope you all are doing wonderfully. 

Haahaaaaa!  I don't usually do quizzes, but I had to do this one. 

She's my FAV character from the movie.  Y'all have a great weekend.  Don't forget to give the one you love a hug and kiss tomorrow. 

create your own visited states map

So, I've actually been to 41% of the United States.  Kewl.....

But, only 5% of the World's Countries...


create your own visited country map

We had a GREAT weekend.  First, if you ever happen to be in the Nation's Capital...please try to hit the Spy Museum.  It was amazing!!  Royce and I were there 2.5 hours and only managed to cover 1 floor!!  There is soo much to read and see and do.  My only recommendation is that you should NOT take kiddos who are under 9 years old.  It will quickly become old reading displays and seeing mini-movies.  (Oh, and there is a great restaurant around the corner for afterwards, Jaleo...it's a Tapas Restaurant.)

The hotel was absolutely a blast.  We've decided to make a tour of the Kimptom Boutique hotels in DC.  They are amazing, awesome decor, service, etc. 

As for Royce and I, it was just great to have time as husband and wife.  We are typically soo focused on being daddy and mommy, that we forget that other part of ourselves.  I love him soo much and it was wonderful to share some time together.  The kids barely missed us as they were getting plied with chocolate milk and lollipops at home by Royce's parents.    Well, I have much to do.  You all take care!

I'm sooo excited for this weekend to get here!!  Royce and I are having our Valentine's Day a little early.    First, just to have fun on Saturday afternoon, we'll be going to the International Spy Museum.  Everyone we know who has gone has loved it!  Then, we're heading here.    I'm sooooo excited!  Yes, this will be our first time away together since Kyra was 9 months old.  (she's 3 1/2 now)  The only bad part is that I've got to scrub the entire house since my in-laws will be watching the kiddlets.    blech  Oh well, it's totally going to be worth it!

Ok, must do a bit more work before I crash for the night.

Hola, folks!  So, did you enjoy seeing Janet Jackson's boobie, I mean the Super Boob, I mean Bowl, yesterday?!?!?    Good lord, are celebraties that desperate for attention and money that they stoop to such stunts??  Too bad we were putting the kiddos to bed and missed the whole spectacle...yeah, right.  Just pitiful, in my opinion.

On the better "stuff"...haven't updated you on my fab two lately.  Kyra is getting sooooo precocious!  The stuff she says just about knocks me and Royce out of our chairs.  She pulls NO punches, that one.    I'm always amazed at her kindness towards her little brother.  There have been a few occasions where she has yelled at Royce or me for telling Spencer no or punishing him.  It's pretty neat to see.  We have also entered fully the Princess Stage.  I have become very adept at getting her Princess outfits over all types of clothing.   She has also begun amazing me with the letters, numbers and words she can recognize while we go about our day to day life.  She's amazing!!  I bought both her and Spence Fridge Phonics by LeapFrog® and they love it.  Essentially, it's all 26 letters that are big, chunky magnets that fit into a box that is also magnetized.  If they push the letter, it says the name of the letter and the sound(s) it makes in a song.  Push another button and you get the ABC song.  For a noise-making toy, this ROCKS! 

Spencer has caught up to his growth curve, thank God.  I had him weighed and measured last week and it's like the dip at his last appt never happened.  I'm soooo relieved.  He is definitely a strong-willed little man.  His favorite activities lately: pulling the plug covers out of the wall, chasing his sister and having her chase him, eating lollipops, giving hugs, dancing the Hokie Pokie.    It doesn't matter how bad of a mood anyone in the room is, once Spencer enters the room, there is laughter and lots of smiles.  He is a magnetic personality!

Alright, I need to git.  Y'all stay warm!

Okay, what the **** is going on with Xanga???  I got an email saying that my request for cancellation of Premium has gone through?!?!?!  What the....?????    Is Xanga having trouble with hackers?!?!?!

Yes, I am still flying from my suturing experience of Thursday.  Scared the beejeepers out of a Middie at the Naval Academy yesterday when I told him I'd be doing his suturing on Monday.    heh heh  I guess telling someone that I just learned yesterday is not something I should've said, huh? 

So, I confronted my dad today.  Told him that his drinking HAD to stop.  Told him that at this point he could not do it on his own, that it would kill him so he had to go somewhere.  Also told him it's time to put mom into her facility full-time now.  He scared me terribly yesterday, enough to make me mad as he** and give me the courage to talk with him.  I let him know that we all love him but I refuse to loose both parents this year.  It is NOT going to happen.  So, he'll go on his vacation as planned next week and when he comes back, off to rehab he goes.  I tell you, for the first time in nearly 2 years I can breathe easy.  I know that God definitely gave me the strength to do this, but someone here also helped me in her own way...without even realizing that she did anything.  So, thank you, Kris.  You rock!

Well, I must get back to studying.  Have my first peds exam of the semester on Monday...if the snow doesn't mess that up!

Okay, since I haven't had a chance to talk with my hubby yet...I have to share with someone.  And, since y'all are a captive audience I have to share!!  I did my first suturing today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sure, my patient was a pig's foot, but it was still cool as heck.  I didn't do soo bad, even my profs said I did well.    Unfortunately I didn't take pictures or bring it home to show, but I will bring the camera next week so that I can.  I LOVE this, it's soo great to finally do some of the practical application of all this book learning.  Let's just see how I do when I have my first live human patient....