Brett's Quest

This is dedicated to the one I love. Oh, and to relive the moment of course. For all of you out there who haven't seen it, I hope it means as much to you as it does me. Did I mention that there might be a rematch in a couple of weeks?


It does get a little long, but the end is definitely worth it. The best part of the whole thing came 20 minutes after the race in the car ride home. He was so sick he couldn't even drive, or keep his eyes open for that matter. When we got home he just "really needed to lay down". His color was awful, he pretty much matched his shorts. I was really worried I was going to have to call an amubulance. Fortunately, he peaked up about 20 minutes later.

A look at the Past

I don't even know what to say. I am the baby in this picture. My brother found some old slides and put them on our family blog. I'll post a few more later. They are pretty scary. Between the haircuts, the clothes, and the faces someone is pulling in everyone, one might wonder where we came from.

"Baby, I think"

The following conversation took place after Kid 2 got out of the bath-tub with her dad.

Dad: Let's go get your t-shirt on big bellied girl.
Kid 2: Don't call me that. I'm having a baby, I think.
Dad: No your not, your tummy is just big.
Kid 2: No, I'm having a baby, I think.
Dad: TRUST ME. You are not having a baby.
Kid 2: Uh-huh. Look at my tummy, I'm having a baby, I think.
Dad: You have to be a girl and grown-up to have a baby.
Kid 2: Daddy, if you were a girl you'd be a mommy, too.

He would be a cute mommy at that.

Feed Me Mama

While on the computer for the last couple minutes, my little one escaped downstairs. She was upset, I thought she was looking for dada. She threw quite the tantrum when he left. Threw herself on the floor, rolled around, kicking and screaming for about five minutes. When I finally decided to pick her up she threw her head back into my shoulder. I think it will leave a mark. Anyway, she came back up the stairs carrying a jar of peaches. Think it is time to go. My baby must be trying to tell me something.

Alien Planet

We moved out to the middle of nowhere over a year ago. OK, it really isn't the middle of nowhere, but compared to where we used to live, we feel like it is. The water supplied to water the lawn is irrigation water. I don't know what the deal is with it, but it somehow helps these absolutely ginourmous weeds to grow, and weed types I have never seen before. I wish I would have taken a picture, but my husband pulled out a weed yesterday, IN OUR WINDOW WELL, that was atleast 2 1/2 feet in diameter with just huge leaves. I feel like the water must have weird chemicals that has mutated other types of weeds. It really kind of grosses me out. Now you see why my kids think I am mean in the summer when I won't let them play in the sprinklers. I would hate to see what the water might turn them into, not to mention the risk of E. Coli. I am amazed at how quickly the weeds have grown considering it is only April. Last year our neighbors had weeds taller than I was in their yard, they hadn't put their grass in yet. I really felt like I lived on a different planet. This year it seems like we are off to just about the same start. Strange things coming to life in my yard again. Next time I will prove it with a picture.

My Sweetie of a Boy

My last few days have been consumed by what is going on with our friends. There little boy is up in the hospital undergoing some serious treatment and they have been having to deal with the effects of it. When I found out what he had, it tore me apart. Some told me I was lucky because I knew what was going on. I don't feel that way so much. In a way, it is nice because I know what they are talking about and what is good and what is bad. But, at the same time, I know what lies ahead, and I know it isn't easy. My little boy is torn as well. He asks about him first thing in the morning. He asks about him all the time. He reminds us before we say a prayer, to pray for him. He wants to know how long he will be sick for. It is difficult to explain things like this to a 5 year old. I have had to try and explain things to kids for years with work. It never gets easier. I know my little T man has such a tender heart, and I know this is why he cares so much. I have told him he needs to be a really good friend to his little friend, and I know he will. I just pray that things will go well for them and that the side effects of the medication will be minimized. Anything to make it easier on our dear friends.

Too Close to Home

The last couple of days have been extremely difficult. One of T man's best little friends, and one of our dear friends son, was diagnosed with a chronic illness. It is breaking my heart to think of everything this family is dealing with. No words can calm the troubled heart, but to all involved, my thoughts and prayers are with you. I have noticed parents giving their kids a little extra hug or squeeze and having just a little more patience, myself included. Remember to love and to show that love often and then to cherish those moments, big and small.

The Other Fish

Hot topic #2. A nurse stated that the countries economic issues are all related to the war in Iraq. Ok, I will agree that there are some economic issues related to the war, but to put the entire blame there is a little over the top. I think history clearly demonstrates that our country does not prosper during times of war. Go figure. But then she continued to say that all the problems surrounding the real estate industry are also related to this. She stated that if the government hadn't made it so easy to get loans, etc. etc, we wouldn't be in the situation we are in.
I have a problem thinking that just because the mortgage industry made a few changes in regulations to make getting loans easier, it is the governments fault. Whatever happened to CHOICE AND ACCOUNTABLITY? The mortgage industry realized that is was difficult for a lot of people to obtain mortgages. In hopes to stimulate the economy, they made it easier to get loans. This plan obviously backfired on them. My problem boils down to this: just because one could qualify for a mortage with a monthly payment of whatever, doesn't mean that you should max yourself out or even go beyond your means to get into the house you want. There has to be some accountability when deciding what one can afford. Just because the program makes it possible for you to do something, doesn't mean you should do it. I feel there is a total lack of financial responisbility in our country, and this is just one very fine example of it. Instead of looking at themselves, they point the blame at the industry for making it possible. I realize it is somewhat of a double edged sword, but it is time people be responsibile for choices they make.

A Few Fish to Fry

Working late into the wee hours of the morning, if the patients are stable, sometimes a few issues in conversation come up that just seem to get me thinking. This week, it happened to be a few that have been weighing on my mind since the actual conversations.
The first topic I would like to discuss is that of Hillary Clinton. I didn't bring her up, another "liberal" nurse did. She stated that she has heard that somewhere Hillary had said something derogatory about nurses. She didn't know what it was, but she wanted to find the statement to know just what is was. I decided to do a little investigation myself. What I found out, seems to be just in line with what I think of the lady, or when I see the lady. Apparently in some interview back in 1993, (shortly after Pres. Clinton had taken office) after her father passed away she stated that nurses were over paid monkeys, and that untrained nursing assistants would be able to do our job for far less. Continuing she wanted to make it clear that nurses were the most overpaid profession for their level of education and thought that about $6/hr was enough. So, can anyone find the actual statement now? Absolutely not. Maybe it is just some rumor, but I highly doubt it. The Clinton's have the unseen ability, brilliancy, and sneakiness of just making things in the public eye disappear. Some of the best magicians I have seen in a long time. Many in the nursing profession remember the statement being said, so I have a hard time thinking it wasn't. I am not going to defend her. Some have said she was bitter about her father's death and tried to place the blame on the nurses. But, anyone who is in the public eye should know better than to go yippin off her chops with a statment like that. To clean up her disappearing act, she participated in yet, another great publicity stunt. She pretended to be a "nurse for a day" in Aug. 2007 to try and gain support of the ANA (American Nurses Association). It scares me to think that she might gain power of the White House and try and get Socialized Medicine. I am not going to disagree that something needs to be done to change health care, I am going to argue that I don't think it is Socialized Medicine. How can anyone who thinks that of nurses, be in charge of our health care? Nurses are an integral part of medicine, and if you start to treat them like "monkeys", health care really will be down the drain. I think she should start to focus on her own profession, that of LAW, and maybe focus on some tort reform. I think that could work wonders for health care and insurance issues. But of course, it is much easier to look at the actual organization for problems than on outlying factors. I am tired of people not taking responsibility for their own actions. I look at how the costs of health care have spiraled out of control. But, there are a number of issues surrounding it. When it comes down to it, I believe it is because many people believe the government should take responsibility for their bad choices. Which leads me to topic 2 to be discussed in another post. But until then, OOH-OOH, AGH AGH (my imitation of a monkey).

I See, I Want, I Get

Apparently I have a few more lessons to teach Kid 2 after the following conversation took place this morning:

K2: Mom, where are we going?
Mom: To the grocery store.
K2: Can I get some princess breafkast?
Mom: You mean princess flakes?
K2: Yeah, I like em, they make my milk pink.
Mom: Well, only if they are on sale, do you know what it means to be on sale?
K2: It means Heavenly Father wants us to buy more.

I think if you asked my husband he would agree that I have the philosophy that if it is on sale, I must be able to get more of the item, and my children have taken on the same thought process. Looks like I have a few things to teach my kids about the value of money and hard work, and just because it is on sale, it doesn't necessarily make it a good deal. But, it still makes it so hard to pass up!!!

Creative Hair-Do

Yesterday I decided I needed to attempt to do something with my daughters pitiful, thin, short hair. She seldom lets me do it and I have resorted to blowdrying it with a round brush to give her a cute little "page boy" hair do. We were headed down to the Jazz Practice Facility for the NCAA Championship game and I decided she needed a little help. This is what I came up with, although, it wasn't my creation obviously. I have never done it before, I could have used a little help, but she loved it. I truly am a novice when it comes to doing hair, but with 2 girls, I should learn at some point. I guess it would help if they actually had hair and weren't bald for the first few years of life. Until then, things like this will have to do.

One Year

My baby,


The moment they put you into my arms, I knew you were mine, forever. You reminded me of your sister, yet had a look or your own. You were chubby, and squishy and new. You were a good baby and we learned about each other in those first few days. Your spastic, uncontrolled movements consistent with those of a newborns, quickly became controlled, purposeful movements, and you were determined from the beginning to move. But then again, you had to, to escape the nonstop bombardment from your siblings. But it was apparent in your look that you adored them. You had to see what they were doing, and had to laugh at their antics.



Which brings me to your smile and laugh. It is so contagious. I asked your big brother what he liked most about you and he told me-your laugh. It is so sweet and content. You love to flash so many others that smile of yours. I had a guy tell me in church he was excited we sat in front of him for the second week in a row because he loved to see you smile at everyone.



You are a busy little girl. I knew it from the time I tried to contain you on my bed with pillows and you managed to escape them at only 4 months. It has been a race to keep up with you since. You were one speedy crawler and have now turned into a drunken speedwalker sailor. It makes us all laugh to watch you amble about. You try to get going so fast, but more times than not, slide into first, safe as always. I am sure you learned to be so fast so you could escape the unrelenting grasp of your big sister.



You are a charmer and a sweetheart. I love how your big brother refers to you as his "little sweetheart". He sees you and says, "Hi sweetheart" without fail, he calls, "Come here sweetheart", and you come. But the problem is, you have melted all of our hearts and have learned to be all of our sweethearts. Your heart is tender and you have a concern for others. It makes you upset to see others cry and you always want to reach out to them and give them a hug. It is amazing that at a year, I can see such characteristics in you already.



We have been through a lot together. You have defnitely been my most challenging baby, but have taught me that with patience and understanding I will and can endure. I can't believe that you, my baby, are already a year old. You have brought such joy and happiness into my life. You have touched us with your sweet spirit and have blessed us with your presence. To the years to come. . .much love, your Mom.

A Birthday Preview

So Secure

I try. I really try. But I just can't seem to get the hang of these things. Bobby Pins. I will try and try again to use them. I have used them before and I know I can be successful, so I have at them again. Ten minutes later, still no luck. Twenty minutes later, I finally decide to throw the towel in. I don't understand why they are called "So Secure". They sure don't make me feel secure in my hair doing abilities, or in keeping my hair secure. I feel like I should be able to throw them in my hair in one minute, but it never, never happens. I put them in and my hair pokes out at funny angles or the bobby pin slips out the second I put the bobby pin in. I try opening them to put them in, doesn't work. So I try to slide them in, even worse. But, I don't give up easily, so I go back after the 20 minutes to try again, just a few more times. I have conquered before, so I will again. I think I should learn my lesson and just throw the things away.