As if I wasn’t starting to worry enough already!

We've had quite a few break ins in our neighborhood recently. I've been worried about having our windows open, afraid someone would come in. I've been afraid to come home alone at night. I am constantly concerned about where the kids are, and I'm sleeping with the baby monitor turned up, even when Gavin is in our room. Some of the break ins have occurred when the people are home and asleep.

Well, the guy next door was gone to the race all weekend. He just got home about an hour ago to find his house ransacked. Since we were home the rest of the weekend, we're figuring it must've happened while I was at my reunion the other night. The rest of the time, we probably would've heard something. His front door isn't far from our bedroom, and we usually hear most of the outside movement through the baby monitor when it is turned up.

To top it all off, it turns out our neighbor had 11 guns which were stolen, along with money, electronics, etc. I am ticked enough finding out that he had guns to begin with. This guy is drunk 90% of the time he is home, so that scares me. It scares me even more knowing that they were stolen by whoever is doing these break ins.

And what scares me most of all is that he now thinks he knows who is behind all the break ins. It turns out he is renting his other bedroom to someone for $100 a weekend (and all the break ins have been happening on weekends). I don't know why this didn't tip him off not to rent him the room, but my neighbor said the guy is a big time druggie. HELLO?! What was he thinking?!

So now I get to be scared of a druggie breaking into the houses with guns.

9:46 PM - 2 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Am I the only one?
Current mood: annoyed

Am  I the only one that is already sick and tired of the political bull---- being aired 24/7?  I know it is important to get the word out and let people decide on their own who to vote for.  However, I think there is such thing as too much publicity, especially when so much of it is smear campaigns.

I am sick not only of seeing all this, but of also having to hear about it everywhere I go.  I cannot even sit in the comfort of my home without having to constantly hear something about politics.  I cannot go visit certain people without a political debate taking place directly in front of me.

I choose to stay informed in other ways.  I look at the information online.  I watch what little bit I want to watch on TV.  I make my own opinions, and I stick to my right to not only decide for myself but to also hold my opinion to myself.

I would love, just for a day, to not have to hear or see any political remarks!  I think, for now, I'm gonna lock myself in a bedroom and hope it works.

8:46 PM - 1 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

A few funnies

I just had to share a few things that Alexis and A.J. have said the past couple of days.  These are good for a few laughs.

1) When we were my friend Lori's house yesterday, A.J. suddenly informed me that if Lori's car was white, it would be Herbie The Love Bug.

2)  After A.J. made this observation, I asked them if the kids if they had seen Lori's girls at school this year.  Alexis said yes, and that Lori's daughter had died her hair black again.  She said that Abby is apparently becoming "Gotham". I am pretty sure that Alexis was just a little confused and really meant Gothic .  Now I hardly think black hair qualifies her for being Gothic, but I couldn't help laughing at Alexis's decision that Abby was becoming "Gotham".

3)  While I was playing Wii Sports the other night, Alexis decided to try to guess what each of my results were going to be (hit or miss, strike, spare, etc).  She decided that she is "Sidekick" .  Somehow, I don't quit think she meant she was Batgirl, but instead that she was "psychic".

Here it was, I thought they'd outgrown the misuse of words and the fun comparisons.  I've had so much fun with these the past couple of days.  Finally, a glimpse that my children aren't quite as grown up as they'd like me to believe!

2:08 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

SO THRILLED!
Current mood: ecstatic

Sorry for all the caps in the title, but I just got such a major relief and am so thrilled that I can't emphasize how thrilled I am enough. 

Most of you know that I was taking summer classes, and that I had the obstacle of surgery thrown into the mix this semester.  My grades in all of my classes slipped while I was sick (I got a 66 on a midterm in Computer Concepts, a class I had a 100 going into the test for, and I had to take two tests in Astronomy while I was medicated, including one two days after surgery while I was still so doped up I couldn't stay awake for more than an hour).  My grades in Astronomy were the worst all semester, though I had turned in a research paper and some extra credit assignments that I didn't know how I had done on.  A couple of days after the final, I finally got the grade on the research paper and it was a 100.  It brought my grade up, according to my calculations, to a B.  I was thrilled because I thought before then that I might actually have to repeat astronomy.

Well, I just got to see my final grades for the semester. My grade in astronomy was an A!  I got A's in English and Computer Concepts, as well.  I got a B in Statistics, which I had expected.  At one point, my grade had dropped to a low B while I was sick, but I pulled it back up to an 88 before the end of the semester.  A 90 would've been an A.  I can't complain at all, especially given the summer I've had.

I am just so thrilled and relieved that I was able to pull through the obstacles and do so well in school this summer!

8:08 AM - 3 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

Yet another update

Just wanted to update everyone and apologize for not doing so earlier.  I arrived at the hospital at 6am last Monday for surgery, with my surgery scheduled for 7:45.  I went through the surgery really well. The doctors said I had a hard time waking up from the anesthesia, which had them slightly worried, and they were relieved when I finally started waking some.  We got home around 11:30 that morning, after I'd managed to get some Sprite amd a graham cracker into me, and then to go to the bathroom.

I ended up so groggy from the anesthesia (and a combo of pain meds and phenegren) that I could not stay awake for more than an hour on Monday or Tuesday.  Wednesday, I managed up to two hours a couple of times, which was extra hard since I was home alone with the kids.  Thursday, I was up all day, with the exception of a two hour nap (and sleeping in until almost 11!).  Friday, I still slept in some, but only took a small nap during the day.  I managed to get out of the house for about two hours with my sister-in-law, but still wasn't seeing clear enough to drive.  Saturday, I managed to get out for an astronomy observation Saturday night, which Tad had to drive me to.  Sunday, I was able to go grocery shopping and take Alexis with me.

I'm finally feeling a little better.  I'm able to see clearly now, and I'm able to drive.  It makes me feel a lot better knowing that I'm not as tired as I was, and that I'm able to get some of my independence back.  I'm pretty sure it can only get better from here.

Thanks to everyone who prayed for me and sent well-wishes.  They are all greatly appreciated.  I'm so lucky to have you all in my life. 

10:31 PM - 1 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Another Update
Current mood: sick

Just wanted to let everyone know the latest on my gall bladder.  I went yesterday for an ultrasound.  When I first went in for it, the lady doing the ultrasound told me it would take 2-3 days to get the results.  By the time she was done with the ultrasound, she changed it.  She told me to have the doctor call her at 1:00 for the results, that she'd make sure she had them ready before then.

I finally managed to get the doctor's office to tell me the results a little after 4:30 yesterday afternoon.  The nurse I talked to only told me that I did have gallstones, and that I would need to be scheduled for surgery. She said she would refer me to a surgeon, and I told her I wanted the appointment ASAP.  I told her I'm in a lot of pain and I look 9 months pregnant from the swelling (which you can see in the picture below.  Since my shirt was so loose, I lifted it over my stomach to show how big it was.  I'm having to wear sweatpants because my regular pants won't even fit right now).  She called me back almost immediately and told me I had an appointment for 8:30 this morning.

I went to the surgeon this morning.  She walked into the room and immediately said "We need to get your gall bladder out."  She said that there were "multiple stones" and that my gall bladder was "thick".  She said I'd probably want it out as soon as possible.  I agreed.  Needless to say, I'm scheduled for surgery Monday.  The hospital will call me with the exact time sometime on Thursday, and I'll arrive a little early for bloodwork, etc.

7:32 AM - 1 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Just a quick update

I just wanted to give everyone a quick update.  I don't know how many have noticed that my status message has read "Allie has heard rumors about this thing called sleep. Does it exist?" for over a week.  Well, thanks to the effects of pain killers, I've finally been getting to find out that sleep isn't such a myth afterall. 

Wednesday night, Tad and I went out to one of our favorite restaurants.  Shortly after returning home, I started getting an incredible back ache.  In fact, it was the worst pain my back had experienced in a very long time.  By the time we went to bed, I was in such pain that I couldn't get to sleep.  By 7:30 the next morning, I'd had 4 Advil, 2 Tylenol, my back rubbed in Icy Hot, soaked in the tub two times, and had put an ice pack on my back, all to manage a total of 30 minutes of sleep- TOPS.  By this time, I'd also decided that the pain was so severe that I'd rather give birth all over again.  

When the ice pack was on my back, I noticed something about the pain that I hadn't noticed before.  It wasn't actually coming from my back.  It was coming from my right side, and it was radiating back.  Stubborn me knew that this was most likely my gallbladder, but I refused to wake Tad up and have him take me to the ER, afraid that he'd have a seizure if he was too exhausted.  Instead, I laid in pain, waiting for him to wake up.  He called in sick to work, and I made an appointment to see the doctor.  I still wouldn't spend the money to go to the ER since I knew that we could go to the doctor the same day.

My doctor's appointment wasn't until 2:45 in the afternoon, and I was still in a lot of pain by the time I got there.  The doctor agreed that he thinks it is my gall bladder.  Then he set up an appointment for an ultrasound to verify it.  Unfortunately, that appointment isn't until 8:30 tomorrow morning (I have to be at the hospital by 8:00).  In the meantime, I have a prescription for pain killers to help me get through until I can have surgery.

I will try to let everyone know what is going on once I know something else.  For now, though, I might be absent a lot while I'm asleep from the meds.

6:25 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

I finally found out where Gavin got his blond hair!

Many of you know how Gavin is obsessed with Billy Idol. Well, we were just watching the White Wedding video yet again. Gavin started pointing at Billy Idol and saying "Daddy". He was so excited about it.

Guess I have some explaining to do!

10:04 AM - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

My son, the Spazz

We are always teasing about how A.J. is a complete Spazz. He made the perfect example of why yesterday.

I really wish I had taken my camera to church. During early service yesterday, they had their program for VBS. In my rush to get out the door, I left my camera sitting on the desk. I would have loved to get their performance on video, and I'm still kicking myself in the butt for not taking it.

It started off with the 3 year olds singing together, and then all the older kids joined them for the last two songs. Each of the songs had hand motions to go with them. During the first song, you could really tell A.J. was concentrating too hard on the movements. He was barely singing, and his movements were over from everyone else. The last song was the best, though. There was a CD playing the songs with them, and the last song had a lot of guitar in it. My son, standing in the front row next to the smaller kids, starts playing air guitar along with the song. At the end of the song, he got down on one knee and was really rocking out on the air guitar. Thankfully, everyone got a kick out of it and started laughing. It really was hysterical, but all I could think was "Leave it to my son..."

5:19 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Fake $100 bill

I've been meaning to post about something that happened on Tuesday night, and I completely forgot I hadn't posted it!

I went to the new Dollar Depot next to our Kroger the other day, hoping they'd have a pitcher so Tad could quit whining about wanting tea (since Gavin cracked our old one using it as a drum). Anyway, they didn't have one, but they had something else I've been meaning to pick up. When I was standing in line, the lady in front of me tried paying for $4 in items with a $100 bill. The cashier used the little pen on the bill to see if it was real, and the ink turned out black. The cashier told the lady that the bill wasn't real, and she started insisting she'd just gotten it from the bank, but she didn't really seem upset about it (more like embarrassed to be caught).

Anyway, while the lady is counting out nickels, dimes, and pennies to pay for her purchase, the cashier and the other lady working with her were talking to the customer. They told her that occasionally fake bills do make it past the bank, and that she needed to take it back to the bank she got it from. Then one of the ladies said "So the bank teller just gave it to you? If your bank is still open, I'd go and let them know which one you got it from." Here's where the kicker comes in. The customer said "I didn't get it from the teller. I got it from the ATM. They won't be open until morning."

Now tell me what is wrong with that statement?

So when she left, I went to pay for my items and I said, trying not to sound like I didn't believe the ladies story just so I could hear their reaction, "I wonder where she found an ATM that gives $100 bills. It sure would make my life easier to know which one it is since I pay most of my bills in cash each month."

It took a good 45 seconds before the lady working with the cashier said "Wait a minute. ATMs don't give $100 bills. They only give $20s, and occasionally $10s." DUH! The cashier hadn't even caught on to what the lady had said, either.

There is always a police officer on duty at the Kroger, and I told them they needed to see if they could tell him about it and see if they needed to do anything. They really should let the police know that someone was trying to pass a fake $100 bill, and obviously was well aware of it since she tried using a cover story that you could tell had to be fake.

5:47 AM - 2 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Well, it’s official!
Current mood: excited

My grades for all four of my classes have officially been posted to student records.  I did end up with all A's!  I am so excited!  I feel like this is such a big accomplishment for me, since I'm being a full time Mommy and a full time student at the same time, as well as being a wife, taking care of the house, etc.  I am thrilled that I have been able to do so well with my first dive into college.

8:24 AM - 5 Comments - 10 Kudos - Add Comment

Problems in school yet again!
Current mood: pissed off

This afternoon, I stopped at the school to take roses to the kids teachers and to the school nurse (in honor of both teacher appreciation week and school nurse appreciation day) before it was time to pick them up.  I went to A.J.'s class first, since it was closest to the office where I'd had to sign in.  When I got to his class, I asked the teacher if I could see A.J. for a second.  I was going to have him give her the rose.  She told me he was in the nurse's office (surprise surprise) with a sore throat.  She said he'd acted like he was clearing his throat and had taken a few sips of water, but then he'd kept coughing until he couldn't talk.  He'd written a note to the teacher asking if he could go to the nurse.

From there, I made a quick trip to Alexis's classroom so she could give her teacher a rose, and then I went to the nurse's office.  By the time I got there to give her the rose from my kids, A.J. was no longer in the clinic.  She said she'd sent him to the principals office to talk to her about why he had been in the clinic.  She said he couldn't even talk, and had written everything for her.  She told me that A.J. told her someone had pushed him down on the playground and shoved a sticker down his throat! She then told me that his class had been having a lot of discipline problems lately, and that she figured sending him to the principal to tell her what had happened was the best route to go.  Keep in mind that at this point A.J. still couldn't talk and he still had a sticker down his throat!

So after giving her the rose, I went on a search for A.J.  He was no longer in the principals office, and the principal was nowhere to be found.  I ended up going to his classroom, where he was sitting at his desk.  He told me that he'd managed to get the sticker up and out of his throat, and that the principal had just told him to throw it away.  He says he doesn't even know who did it because it all happened so fast.

I'm just so fed up with it.  I told him that next time someone pushes him down, use the self defense he's been taught, and if his teacher has anything to say about it she can take it up with me.

2:08 PM - 3 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Thanks a lot Josh

The rules are: Once you have been tagged, you write a blog with ten weird, random things, facts, or habits about yourself. At the end, you choose ten people to be tagged, list their names, and why you chose them. Don't forget to leave a comment that says, "You are tagged," and tell them to read your latest blog. Enjoy!!! 

WHAT:
1- Despite all the hard times in my life, I still try to remain a "glass half full" kind of person

2- Once in a while, I get in a mood where I only want to listen to oldies.

3- I've always enjoyed helping people, and have a hard time saying "no" when asked, even when I really should.

4- Despite telling myself I wasn't going to, I just signed up for classes for the summer semester!

5- I have a wild side that not many people have had the chance to see (gotta keep up my angel image!).

6- I have been an aunt since I was six, and I'm heading to my now 21 year old oldest niece's wedding this month.

7- I've never been one to judge a book by its cover, instead choosing to see what is on the inside before making my decisions.

8- I love to bowl, even though I suck at it! (my average is only about a 106 )

9- I have suffered from insomnia since I was about six, even faking sleep when I thought I'd get in trouble for still being awake.

10- I love dolphins and had a wonderful opportunity to spend some time with them and get my picture taken with one when I was a teenager (I'll have to find that picture).

WHO:
1- Lori because I'm sure your facts will be done in an entertaining way.

2- Kathleen because I'm sure you'll have some great things to share.

3- Tricia because you have a crazy life.

4- Heather because I'm sure you'll have a lot to tell.

5- Tory because there is so much for us to catch up on.

6- Belle because I'd like to know what she has to share.

7- Liz because I have to include her!  (you know I would include you even if you didn't have inclusion issues)

8- Tiffany because I want to know.

9- Beth because I'm sure she has a lot to share.

10- Gena because she's very entertaining.

2:12 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

If I’ve calculated right...

If I've calculated correctly, I have all A's for my first semester of college!  I believe I had a 98 going into both the English and Public Speaking finals.  I just found out I got an 85 on the math final, bringing my overall grade to a 92.  And if I have everything figured out right, I have about a 93-96 (can't figure out exactly based on how the teacher has it scaled) in my art history class.

I'm so relieved to be done with my first semester, and to know it is possible for me to do well while raising three kids. 

8:45 PM - 2 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

Waiting and more

The grade for my math final is supposed to be released no later than midnight tonight.  Here it is, 9:30 at night, and it still isn't up.  We haven't even been able to access the program where the grade will be posted since sometime around noon today.  I'm really getting anxious to see how well I did.

When I went for my math final, some of the other students were having a discussion while waiting for the testing time to begin.  The teacher asked if any of us were taking any classes this summer, and one said she was going to be taking PE online.  We all started talking, wondering how that would work out.  Then the instructor said she was also surprised to know that communications was offered online, and she wondered how well that work, too.

I guess I was the only one with experience on this, because no one else spoke up.  I actually came out of my shell and spoke up, telling the others how I was surprised with how well the communications class worked out online.  I explained the process we had for turning in our various speeches, and that the class also included learning how to write and prepare for a speech.  I also told them how I had learned to have more confidence this semester, thanks to a mixture of the classes, and that the communications class gave me a chance to practice using my new confidence. 

I was actually surprised this morning when I had an email from one of the students that was there last night.  She told me that it meant a lot to hear that the confidence was able to come out in me, and that it gave her hope for herself.  She said that, like me, she has become a little more shy in recent years, and that she was overwhelmed by the idea of speaking up in class, just as I had been.  I was surprised to read that what I said really had an effect on someone! It really made my day.

And my day would get even better if I found out I got an A in the class!

6:29 PM - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment