My oh My ~ Number 3

Shall we call her Princess ... She is our third child and we love her dearly. I haven't known what to do this year because she entered Kindergarten. She sits next to me as I write this blog crying. Why I ask . She is crying because I wanted to refer to her as Ms. Sassy Pants and that hurt her feelings. She is my most sensitive princess.

She loves to talk!

Princess is my only girl! Can you tell! This is a picture of her at the first day of kindergarten. She is so precious. My favorite thing she has said to me since school started "why do I have to do this anyway?"

Her Brothers love her!

She loves tennis. She loves her "Nanni" which is her blanket that she goes to bed with. She loves the beach and sand. She loves getting her picture taken

Introduction

Hello Everyone,

Please stop by and say hello to my friend Jessica. She is a SAHM with a great heart. I wanted to introduce you all. Have a wonderful and blessed day.

Networking

I want to first say it is still very interesting to meet new Bloggers. I want to say thanks to my blogger friends that have stuck with me while I have been gone. Thanks Tiffany my California friend. I wish I was still there. What a support network. Also met a new friend Rhea who is very interesting check her out.

A lot of you know that it has been a crazy year but I think it is slowing down. In all aspects of good and bad. My real estate has come to a slow halt but that is ok. Keeping it in my back pocket. My family grew in December (got the in laws) and I think that we have settled into a routine with full time caregivers that help. I Have a brother in law fighting cancer, a best friends 4 year old daughter fighting leukemia, friends businesses struggling, and my oldest son being diagnosed with severe food allergies. We are doing it God has put his challenges before us and we can handle it. At least that what I tell myself.

Started a new business marketing energy in Texas and Georgia. This is the most exciting news in a long time. My business is growing and I am doing it very part time. It is so exciting. It has motivated me to go to the gym daily well actually Kimmie did that. Regardless I am going. I am on day 7. My husband said he has never seen me so excited. It is awesome when you can save your friends money on their energy bills. You can help me grow this business if you are in Texas or Georgia. Send me an email and I can get back in touch.

Have a wonderful evening!

WOW

Hello everyone,

I know I have been gone for a long time. So much has been going on. Were shall I begin?????? We had a wonderful vacation and it was back to the grind but I promise the grind is going away in the very near future. We found out that my oldest is allergic to several food products and I am praying that they put a whole foods closer than 45 mins away. My very dear friends daughter is battling Lukemia, please pray for her and her family. My best friend is having a rough August.

On a brighter note I have gotten very involved in my new business. My husband and I are working for an energy company part time it is awesome. We market natural gas in Georgia and Electricity in Texas. Our business is growing leaps and bounds in the first month. WOW we are excited. It doesn't take much of our time and it is fun. I know this is the answer to a lot of questions. The most important one being. How are we going to spend more time with our children? If you want to know more about how easy this opportunity is send me an email.

As a family we are working very hard in many aspects of our life. Eating, exercising, spending, and time management.

Have a wonderful day and have missed you all but I will be making an effort to check in more often.

I AM BAAAACK with some exciting changes

And some would say crazier than ever. I don't even know where to start. I feel like I say this every time. Ok, Ok I took a little sabbatical. Why, I don't even know because I read all of your blogs on a daily basis. Let me fill you in on what I have been doing.

When school got out I was talking to Kimberly and said I wasn't sure about blogging right now. It is the summer, the business is good and when I have a free minute I want to be out with my three wonderful kids at the pool or doing something really fun!

Well it has been a roller coaster of emotion. I had originally started this blog with the intentions on blogging about our wonderful elders. My in laws have moved in this year and it has been an eye opening experience. How our wonderful government works, how insurance works and how we are being screwed royally by our pharmaceuticals. If someone could tell me why a memory drug cost over $200 a month you would be on my A list. I have several post in the bank regarding aging but it got very tiresome writing about what I was living in everyday. STRESS!

So I started telling you about my children, than work and than I took my mini sabbatical. I enjoy reading most of the blogs I frequent. Sometimes I wonder why he(meaning GOD) introduced me to this crazy blog sphere of people.

I think that the plan is to start blogging again about the elderly. Many of us in our 30's and 40's need to become more active in our aging parents life and planning for the future. I am learning the hard way but there is more to come. If you have friends who have aging parents please send them to my blog because you will start to see some interesting stories on how we can plan for our parents future!!!!!

Stay tune........

Do you think that an 80 year old should pay over $500 a month in prescriptions?

Peace~

The Secrets in the Sauce

Hello Everyone,

Just when you thought I have fallen off the face of the earth! I have returned! Most of you know by now I am in Real Estate for the best builder and largest builder in the USA. So as you can imagine this is my time of year to sell. So I have been doing just so.

On that note I have been reading all of my bloggy friend blogs just not commenting. Well I am going to comment on this one.

Two of my bloggy friends Heather and Tiffany have created a blog to make us all FAMOUS! You are both so sweet thinking about your bloggy friends.

Go over and see them at The Secrets in the Sauce and take a look it is really cool. They are also giving away really cool prizes.

They are great and have fun things to read about so check it out.

Mini Sabatical

Hello Everyone,

You have probably been wondering were I am. I promised you pictures and all. Well life doesn't always go with your plan. I will tell you I had been taking my days off to work in the garden that I haven't been able to enjoy in days maybe even weeks. I planted 3 rose bushes, black eyed daisies, and dianthus my favorite. I purchased new patio furniture and beautiful hibiscus trees for the patio. I have two birds nest one in each one that have the most beautiful blue eggs in them. We are excited to see them when they arrive.

Just when you think you are overwhelmed it comes crashing and it is almost to late to get control. That has been the last two weeks. My neighbors best friends son was killed in a car accident at the age of 16. Talk about a ton of bricks on the brain. My mother in laws Alzheimer's is rapidly getting worse. I was marrying Frankey the other day. Who the heck is Franky? I got a bad stomach virus. Puked everywhere Preschool graduation (loved it) 1st grade teacher moving (so sad we will miss her), high school graduation parties(lots of fun). My business partner retired(going to miss her greatly). I am expected to work 7 days a week until further notice. Selling homes like crazy but no time for me and the kids. I just want to go to the pool. Fighting the school board over bogus issues regarding my upcoming kindergartner. They don't want her at the same school as the boys. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Kimberly stated about two weeks ago you better get control. That is the best thing about a best friend. THEY JUST KNOW. Especially when I snap over the smell of the detergent that was used to wash my clothes you know that something can't be right.

SO you all wanted me back but maybe not in this state. I am usually not a very emotional gal but lately I can cry at anything. I am not complaining and don't want sympathy but you have never met the overdone LuLu. My dad always told me you only cry when you are over tired and guess what I am way over tired.

Looking forward to summer. Today was the last day of school for us and we are excited about vacation.

I have missed you all to0. I will be joing Kimberly for the summer bible study to do something for me.

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day

To all my bloggy friends that are mothers. We are all mothers according to our lord. May you be blessed with lots of love.
I would like to share the Franciscan Prayer for Mothers

Holy God, Creator of all life, You compare Your love for Your people to the love a mother for her children. Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, abundantly bless my own dear mother.

She taught me how to stand and to walk; Give her now the strength of Your Spirit. She showed me how to speak and to pray; Surround her now with the sound of Your voice. She nurtured me and loved me into life; Tenderly touch her now with Your joy and peace.

Grant her the serenity and rich fulfillment of a job well done, a life well lived. Forgive all her mistakes and frustrations. Reward all her sacrifices and self-giving. May she, who carried life in her womb, be gently welcomed into Your Divine Embrace, to rejoice for all eternity with everyone she loved and cared for.

AMEN

Have a blessed day!

Last night Bubba and I were sitting on the patio with a cool breeze passing. When number 2 came out he is so cute. He is going to be seven this year. He crawled up in my lap and fell asleep so I thought. Bubba and I kept talking, trying to figure out what we were going to do this weekend. I was telling him lets have a low key weekend the house needs tlc and I am exhausted. When this little head pops up and says NO mommy. I want to go over to Ms. Kimberley's. We started laughing.

I told him that we would see how things went. He was not very happy with that answer.

Don't you just love getting snuggles. He was so sweet. He was also listening to every word that I said. I remember when he was little and Bubba would be out of town and I would have to call him on the phone and talk to him until #2 would fall asleep. My sweet baby boy.

Terrific Tuesday

Ok

You all must think I am a manic depressive but I have yet to be clinically diagnosed. I first want to thank all of you for your support through my rough week 2 weeks ago. It only got worse when I was attacked by my asthma. I am better now after spending a little money. JUST KIDDING!

I have lots to share and little time. I have been working on a project that I will share this afternoon. Need to take the pictures. I have a big smile on my face and ready to conquer the world today.

I hope you are all well. I promise I will be back.

Sad Saturday

It is really strange. Sometimes I think that this blogging world is surreal until I ran across an old friends blog. It doesn't look like she is blogging any more but she blogged all of 07. Very interesting that this blogging world has been around for some time and were was I? Working, being a mom and taking on new challenges and POOF here I am blogging.

This past year my husband and I took a challenge on for our family and to be honest I think that this week was an eye opener. I sit here and think do our deeds go noticed? Yes I am feeling badly because what we are doing is more than we should handle but we are doing it even graciously. I have learned more about Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease than I ever thought I would know. Even though we have a full time caregiver who is phenomenal we still are very active in my in laws life. Does anyone recognize that we do it all for them? We are going on 5 months since they moved in and yesterday I didn't want to go home.

In this challenge I realize that I need God more than ever, along with my friends, and especially the kids and my husband.

I can't even imagine his pain to watch his mother's health decline. When the family comes to visit they are saddened to see her. She may or may not remember them. It makes me think back to the Dr. Seuss book Are you my Mother?

Sometimes when you are going above and beyond and you are not thanked it really hurts. More than you can imagine. Do you ever just love someone so much and think that if you don't tell them how you are feeling it will just go away because you make excuses for them? Some days I get sick of the excuses and want to scream. The pain doesn't go away it is just softened. I tell myself someday I will be able to express my pain. Maybe? On the other hand I love them so much that it is ok and I am very excepting.

I understand that not many can understand what we do on a daily basis from medications, bills, care, Dr.'s appointments and so much more I can't even remember most days. If only some of the deeds went noticed.

Yes I am having a pity party. I am having a really hard week. Thanks for listening. OH and by the way the real estate market is in the pits.

Tag You're going to be IT!

Hello Everyone,
Thanks to my cyber friend Heather for tagging me. If I had been reading lately I would have known but my noncyber friend Kimberley called to say you are it. I started laughing because we were just saying that blogging must decrease in the spring and summer months. Now that we all have met some really great people, we think, we will have to keep in touch over the summer.


Wait, first I have to tell you the rules.
1. Link back to the person that tagged you.
2. Post these rules on your blog.
3. Share six unimportant things about yourself.
4. Tag six people at the end of your entry.



The six things most people today don't know about me are the following;



1. I played college basketball. One thing I learned was never pick a school for sports even if they offer money. GO for the education. I was young and immature back then.



2. I coached girls basketball for 5 years during and after college.



3. Always wanted to experience having twins.



4. Lost 60 lbs between Number 2 and 3.



5. I did 3 sets of lunges this morning UGH! Thanks KM


6. I love the beach!

I am going to tag the following:
1. Politics for Moms
2. Cape Cod Cupboard
3. Karyne

Ok I added my 3 tags but all of my friends have already been tagged.

Have a fabulous spring day! I am out planting and listening to the birds.

Going on vacation with our best friends

I know, I know, I just got off vacation, I haven't posted my trip and we are planning another for the summer. I have to plan 9 weeks of fun for my children. So 1 year ago my husband we will refer to him as Bubba agreed and promised that we would go to Florida with our best friends in 08'. We have all been talking about it for a year. Now is the time we need to book and if you could hear 4 adults trying to agree on a house to rent at the beach it is pretty hysterical.

Mind you there are 4 adults and 5 children going on this trip. This is going to be lots of fun. We are all pretty laid back and easy going. We start with a budget and that was interesting. I don't think there was one.
We are all searching on the Internet calling each other at all hours of the days, did you see this house or that house. If we only had $10k to spend each we could be right on the ocean and have a pool and 10 bedrooms. Back to reality. So we all agree on a house that will fit us and you know that it had no availability. Back to the drawing board. I think we have found a house that will fit us and we will have lots of fun.

So we went to dinner the other night and the rules came out. I just think to myself oh no! My best friend just turned into my mother. She requested the kitchen be clean at all times. I think to myself no problem then I asked if my bed be made for me everyday. We have had lots of laughs planning this. I am so excited.

When I was growing up I had lots of friends that had grown up together and of course the parents had known each other since the Pre-K days of their children. We moved when I was in 6th grade. So we weren't part of the spring break trip that everyone went to Myrtle beach. I always dreamed of having friends that we went on vacation with and our kids. There is no other family that I would rather spend a week with than our best friends.

Now it will be a debate between Red Wine or Red Stripe.

I look forward to lots of fun and sun! We can keep the kitchen clean and Bubba will make the bed for me in the morning.

TA DA!

It has been a fabulous weekend! I finally found 2 minutes to help Darcy finalize my new look and go LIVE! THANK YOU DARCY! She is the most patient person you will ever meet. She is a good listener. Darcy you would be great at sales. When you are ready to go big Darcy I will be your east coast sales rep!

Again a big thanks!

Now to all my blogging friends I hope you enjoy. I will be bloggin about family, friends, aging, selling homes,etc. Stay tuned because I have kept it bottled up long enough. Let me know what you think of the new look.

Have a great week. I will follow up with Vacation Pics. We had sooooo much fun. Now we are planning our Summer Vacation.

Vacation

Hello everyone, I just looked at my last blog post and it was 14 days ago. Were in the world did 14 days go? I have no idea but I know that I was busy. I had Easter Sunday off and it was a great day. We cleaned our garage out and can finally get a car in. The kids were in disbelief that this could actually happen.

Since I work for a builder my days off are Tuesday and Wednesday. I help out with the kids at school or run errands on those days. Now it is Wednesday again and we are actually leaving for vacation on Friday. Guess what? I am not even close to being ready.

I am on my way to by CROCS for the kids and get my toes painted. Then I have about 2 years worth of laundry. Maybe the live in nanny will help me today. She always helps if I bring her the clothes. You got to bring her the clothes to get them done. She always laughs because she thinks she is just about done with Grandma and Grandpa's and the kids clothes and her I come. I kind of feel bad but it is a big help.

I am looking forward to my vacation and when I get back there will be a new look to my post. I am also adding my sales goal for the year and my weight loss goal. I have lost 2 pounds and 50 more to go.

Happy Spring!

Time Change

Hello, I couldn't agree with Kimberly about being hung over from the many nights of partying at the UBP. I think I met 100's of new friends. Whew it was a lot of fun.

I believe it all started Saturday. Just the thought of the time change. There were snow flurries in GA? My customers at work were very high maintenance on Saturday. The eczema started on my arms. Sunday customers were high maintenance again. I think to myself what did I do to deserve this? I felt crazy.

Monday Child # 2 Mr. Sensitive said when I went to wake him for school that he just went to bed and I didn't let him sleep. Child #1 Prince lost all gaming toys until the next spelling test. It is Wednesday and just figured out he couldn't find it. It is in my dresser. LOL Child # 3 Princess, her school called me because she had a tummy ache. In my professional parenting opinion she snow balled the teacher.

I started walking with my neighbor T (look closely in picture above you see the jogger I took princess today.) She is a great gal. We walked yesterday and today. We got a late start today because we were crazy running errands. So we cut the walk short and went to pick up the kids in the golf cart. It was so funny. I am really sad that I didn't have my camera. We stopped to feed the ducks which ended up being the catfish and I pulled the golf cart up and I was sitting watching. #2 decides he is going to walk over the front seat to the back with his muddy shoes. I went to turn around and scold him and I pressed the gas to the cart. Couldn't figure out what I was doing and grabbed #2 from falling off and almost ended in the pond. It was comical, the lord was watching over #2 so that he didn't get scolded. He wisely says what were you doing MOM. I just thought O my. Took a deep breath and off we went.

Now the girls are playing outside it is 65 degrees here and the boys played some basketball and ate me out of house and home. I will be broke in 10 years. They eat now, never mind when they are teenagers.

I could take a nap but my phone has been ringing off the hook trying to get some houses closed. I feel like someone took a day away from me not an hour.

How did the time change effect you?

Party Post

Yeah,

It is time to party. I always love a great party and it has been a fantastic week.

I am a 30 something Mom of 3, wifey, daughter, sister, and I work as a sales professional for the largest builder in America and LOVE IT. I am a work aholic who was introduced to blogging this year by my bestesst friend Kimberley.

I love meeting new people. I have lived all over the US starting in VT, MA, CT, GA, MI, CA, CO, SC and GA again.

I have 3 beautiful children, a great husband, the inlaws just moved in and the Jamacian caregiver (we lover her sooo much). I never thought the world could come at me so fast. I know that the guy up there has given me strength during these times.

I look forward to meeting you all and party on.

Krista aka LuLu

Your Invited!

Good Morning,

Now that I discovered the WWB (Wonderful World of Blogging). I am going to participate in the Ultimate Blog Party for Moms. Sounds awesome. I am really excited. Go to 5 Minutes for Mom to get details and instructions. It is easy and will be really fun. Great time to meet new cyber friends. It starts today on March 7 for a whole week. Look forward to meeting you!



Krista

Just when you think things are down!

They seem up again so fast.
Yesterday, I was at my weekly sales meeting and on my hour drive I thought to myself, another Monday meeting. What more can we hear about the depressing housing market. You guessed it, I sell homes for the nations largest builder.

Our management brought in a motivational speaker and he did his job. I consider myself successful but have been having a slow year compared to other years. Must be the market!
He started with - Ask yourself if you have done any of the following?

• Set Goals




• Long term Plans




• Daily Plans




• Spiritual life

It clicked, I have not done any of these things above lately. I always right down my goals, I looked back and thought why didn't I do this? Maybe because I thought that I did it last year and succeeded so I didn't need to do them again. WRONG. So today I have been pondering my goals and plans and how in the world am I going to sell 30 homes this year and I am almost in the second quarter. I look back and there have been so many changes in my life this year that I haven't made time to do things for me and to make my business successful.

My daily goal today is to start and finish writing my goals and how I am going to get there. I was at lunch and the phone was ringing off the hook. Sorry Kimberley :( I scheduled two appointments and now on my day off I will be at the office at 6:00 tonight to write a contract. I will take it. If need be I will write my goals and plans tomorrow but it will get done!

I am going to get back on my game again and sell, sell, sell and sell some more.

To finish this entry, I woke up this morning praying to the lord that he would guide me in my everyday life. To give me strength to persevere this down market, to love my children, my husband, and my family. I got all my tasks done on the list today except one. I think that he sent the rain to slow me down and it worked. I was able to take an hour to do something for me. Now off running again the kids just got home and homework it is.

I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't ask you all if you need to buy a house?

Krista

New Template

Now that I am getting into the blogging world. I have choosen a more joyful template. Maybe some day I will even have Darcy from 3 Boybarians design me a page.

Originally I was going to blog about aging parents and I will talk about that once in awhile but right now I have some much going on with the aging parents that I need a break from it. I am writing my thoughts so once in a while I will discuss that but now I am going to have fun in the blogging world!

Krista

Number 2

I am going to start by introducing child number 2. The words that describe him are sweet, loving, cuddly, adorable, sensitive, caring and amazing.

• The definition of his name is Desire Born ~ and that is the truth

How it all began:

We had just gotten back to Denver from a 3 week trip to Europe and Boston to see my parents for Christmas. I told my husband I was so tired and that if I hadn't just traveled across country I would think I might be pregnant. We had a nine month old and there was no way I could be pregnant. Of course I could. I took a test and sure enough baby number 2 was on its way. Due September 21st.


We had lots planned that year we flew from Denver to Hilton Head Island, S.C for a week in March for Easter. Saw the Dr. in between and everything was great. She said that it was safe to travel.


Then we got home and flew to Hawaii and this is were it all began. I was early in the second trimester at this point and I was having lots of cramping every time I picked baby #1 up, got out of a chair, or any kind of up and down motion. I chalked it up to ligaments stretching. My husband took over the carrying of the baby. The trip was great and we came back to Denver. I went for a check up and the Dr said everything still looked great and that it was just probably stretching because at this point the pain had stopped.


I got on a plane to Boston because I was going to spend 2 weeks with my parents before this baby got here. Plus I love Boston in the summer. I got to Boston and over 4th of July weekend we drove to Vermont to see my grandparents because they loved to see the grandchildren and with the new baby on the way I didn't know when we would get there for a visit again. He was about 14 months at this point. Soo cute. I woke up and was not feeling well. I went to get up and it felt like my water broke! All I could think was that this couldn't be happening to me I was only 28 weeks pregnant.


I called for my mother a nurse of 40 years and head of the OB ward for most of it. I couldn't believe this was happening I was 28 weeks pregnant. She dialed 911 and off I went to UVM the local hospital. They discovered that my placenta was tearing but they didn't know how bad. They couldn't determine by the ultra sound. My husband flew in from Denver that morning. After 5 days the bleeding stopped and they said this could happen on and off through the pregnancy but I couldn't fly back to Denver. They really didn't want me to drive back to Worcester, MA but that is were my parents worked and we had to get back. My aunt, my mothers twin got us connected with the best perinatoligist in Worcester and they were waiting my arrival. We left VT on Friday and stopped every 30 mins to go to the bathroom like they said. We were 45 mins from home and I started bleeding again. So back to the hospital I went. 7 days this time.

The bleeding stopped they said that I could go home and be on bed rest. I was home less than 48 hours and started bleeding again. It took over 20 mins to get to the hospital from the time we dialed 911. That was too risky because if you have a total placentia abruption they need less than 8 mins to do a c section to save you and the baby. 45 Days this time!

Now I am in the hospital for the duration of the pregnancy. I was at 34 weeks and the my awesome Dr. scheduled an amniocentesis to check the levels of lung development because at this point that was the last part to develop.


I called my husband who went back to Denver once they stabilized me because he had to work and said that they are doing the amnio on Monday am. He flew in Saturday night and came to see me first thing on Sunday morning. I had gotten up and ate breakfast and I felt that the babies head was in my ribcage. I thought this can't be good. Then my husband walked in and we talked for an hour and the nurse asked if he wanted a wheelchair to take me out to the garden. In the meantime I went to the bathroom and had started bleeding again. At this point God was with us. My Dr. was on call that weekend THANK YOU GOD, because her orders were an emergency c-section the next time I started to bleed and I really didn't want a c-section because I just wanted to get back to Denver soon.


They did an ultrasound immediately to see the position of the baby and of course he was head up. I just started to cry c-section . Although the last 45 days in the hospital I knew that was the plan. I just had a feeling that day that it didn't have to be that way. The Dr.'s put a plan together with us and it worked. With 8 hours I had baby #2. It was an easy delivery. The NICU team was there and after about 1/2 hour of work they said that sometimes it takes babies at 5.5 weeks early time to adjust. They put him in my arms. I looked at the nurse and said this is not normal. Why would they leave this baby with me he can't breathe. She called them back and sure enough they whisked him away. I was nervous and tired. I had the steroids, the stress, the bed rest and it was just not enough. He was born with undeveloped lungs. He was intubated for 8 days. He was only in the NICU 15 days.


Being in the hospital for 45 days I learned a lot and met several people who had babies at 23 weeks and on. It was a long journey meaning my pregnancy and the first year was hard. We had RSV, tubes, weezing, testing for cystic fibrosis which thank goodness it was negative. The stress was crazy but he was so cute. He is #2. He is the happiest 6 year old you will ever meet. He is all boy with a big heart. He naturally strives to be the best.


From the beginning he wanted to see the world that we live in. I learned a lot that year and came to grips with what perfect truly is.


My Journey with #2 We love him ~


Krista

Lunar Eclipse.

What a day! If I believed in the stars there must have been something crazy going on last night with the eclipse. We started watching but it was a but cold out side. I believe God is giving me challenges and hopefuly I can handle them as they come.

The morning started off great, got ready for a realtor function. It turned out fabulous. My Chef Nancy cooked tortilla chicken soup for us and it was delicous and the crowd seemed to like it. We had about 30-40 realtors and if I heard WE DONT HAVE ANY BUYERS, one more time I was going to scream. Were is the positive attitude? I left praying that the spring would bring more buyers. I know it will, I just need to get busy. Ask for the sale. Right it is that easy? So they say. HELLO KRISTA.


With the transition in December with my husbands parents moving in it has been difficult to focus on my business. From this day on I am getting back on my game. Yes this market stinks but it is my job. I represent one of the largest builders in the country and he counts on us.

So I get home from my function and my renter on an investment I have decides he cant afford it any more and gives his notice. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH. So I take the kids to Target because it is spring break and we get a few treats because they have been good while we have been busy at work. We had a great

Tuesday evening I was on The Nester this site made my day. I have been looking to do something with my blah bookcases that are painted red like every other bookcase in the state of Georgia. I told my husband that we will be going to Hobby Lobby to find some decorative paper to put on every other shelf for a new look. You can only imagine the look I got of confusion because he knows that I could never come up with an idea like that. Thanks Nester.

Have a great week.

Krista

Tempered - Reasonable

Some may say I am an aggressive Northeastern but I have learned to be reasonable and God has put me to a new challenge. I am trying to be the best I can at this new adventure. My eight year old asked me today why we have to keep telling my 80 year old mother in law that has a rare type of demention the same thing over and over again. I am trying, I want to give her a loving and kind enviroment. I am also trying with my own family to keep life on an even temperment. My 6 year old cried today when he needed to tell me that he got in trouble for the first time this year from his teacher. Broke my heart. HE PINCHED ANOTHER KID! I sometimes have to remind myself what our goal was with this project. Sometimes things like this little quiz can shed light on what you are seeking. Some times I have so many words that I want to put in my blogs but I would be here all night. What was my goal for this project???
Take this quiz and report back to hockeypokeylife.blogspot.com.

This is my brain pattern.

Your Brain's Pattern

You have a tempered, reasonable way of thinking. You tend to take every new idea in, and meld it with your world view. For you, everything is always changing. Each moment is different. Your thinking process tends to be very natural - with no beginnings or endings.

What Pattern Is Your Brain?http://www.blogthings.com/whatpatternisyourbrainquiz/

Very interesting.

Krista

Eight

Everytime I think about the number eight I think of my new life. Eight is enough says my husband. I really would have liked to have another baby but instead we were blessed with my mother in law and father in law and a care giver that takes care of all of us.

To think about grocery shopping for eight is just crazy. Crazy Eights

Being in Real Estate I used to think the families that lived together were crazy but here I am the crazy one. I could never imagined this life.

We always feared if we had another baby to grow our family to six we would get twins and have 7 here we are with eight of us. The baby sounds really good right now. At least easier for the moment.

The family sized chicken pack is now one meal instead of two. It is amazing. 36 eggs every week sometimes.

We added 2 additional barstools to our kitchen. The match our kitchen table. The kids get to trade off and have some space so that we are not all on top of each other at the table.

Eight people under one roof is completely amazing to me. I never knew that we had it in us to do. I prayed and prayed. We have been doing great. We still get to play cards on the weekends with our great friends. We made them promise to us that they would still hang out with us with our new addition. They have been a great support. So now when we order pizza for card night it used to be for nine but now it is for 12. WOW!

Eight is enough for us now. I told my father in law that isn't he happy that he doesn't have the 8 degrees in Michigan and is enjoying 58 degrees in Georgia today.

OK

Today another great day! I am now out with my blog. I guess I will have to add great pictures. I just am here to let people know about my experience with aging parents. I have lost grandparents and have grandparents that are in their 80's but it is different when it is one of your own parents. Ok so I married an older man and who's parents married late in life so alas I have 80 something in laws. We are learning a lot with this transition what we should of done and what needs to be done. At some point in time we will figure this out.
The best thing is that we have great support from friends and family. Last night we had our good friends over and grandpa decided to hang out with us. That's cool! He is looking for interaction. So my mission this week is to get him involved in the community some how. Motivated is my word for him. Get him Motivated. What do you do with an 80 something male that is new to the community? I will let you know as soon as i find out.

We Bloggin Mon'

I just confessed....I've told others before my lover! We Postin Mon'! She ain't mad, she just glad, she my lover...not really, I'm married to Bobby, just a sick inside joke, Mon'.



WE BE BLOGGIN'



Yippeeee!!!!

New beds

Hello I have been very busy the last 2 weeks. We have decided that for our family that 24 hour care around the clock would be best. I actually was very energized getting 8 hours of sleep for 3 days in a row. WOW.

How do you tell your parents that you have to seperate them because you need the care giver to sleep in the same room as your mother because she has gotten so unstable?

We thought this was going to be difficult. But this morning when Dad woke up he asked why this wasnt an option when they first moved in? We laughed really hard. Mom didnt fuss at all. She asked why I was keeping such a nice bed from her. The bed before now was really nice also.

Well hope the new beds work. We got a tempurpedic ajustable which raised her head and I think that she liked it a lot. We got the care giver Ms. D a posturpedic and Dad got the queen size bed to himself.

Stay tune

Doing the right thing

It has been 8 weeks now and we are adjusting as a family. In early November our family decided it would be best for my husbands parents to move in with us. At that time we need to do a quick but costly renovation. We gave up the formal living room to become a beautiful bedroom and made the half bath into a full handicap bathroom. At this point a walker is used but there is room in the future for a wheelchair if necessary. You could never believe the cost of ADA materials. The built in shower seat, the rails that are on each side of the toilet. My 4 year old will be great on the parallel bars. It is CRAZY. As I said before it all began on Dec. 9th. We survived the holidays. Our kids are doing great.





My 4 year old daughter keeps my mother in law busy when she isn't off coloring, painting or pretending she is a mommy with her dolls.





My seven year old sometimes thinks it is BORING because we don't go out to dinner any more. Oh well we are losing weight because of it.




The six year old is sooo cute he actually takes the time to respect his elders and introduces his friends.




We are learning a lot already. You need to stay on top of the hospitals and the Dr.'s. Figure out the mailaway pharmacy because you will be there weekly. It's amazing how many times a month we go to get prescriptions. So much to learn in a little time.






We have made strides with accupuncture for a severe case of spinal stonosis. We are in the process of determining the confusion. We try to make each and everyday a pleasant one.







I know in my heart that this was the right thing to do. Give our all of our love to our family memebers.

3 Hours?

Have you ever asked your parents how long their Dr.'s appointments are? One day I was talking to my mother in law and asked her how her appointment was and she stated that the Dr. was behind 3 hours, so she waited. She said it was a constant problem.

She probably didn't tell me that she was 20 mins late. I would scratch my head and ask why?Didn't you tell them that you were waiting? Did they forget about you? Question after question, we asked them to change because the Dr.'s office was too far away for the long waits. Well now that I have had an experience I can put the puzzle piece together.

Situation -
I called to make a follow up appointment from an emergency room visit. At 10:45 I called the office to schedule and they said you can come today at 11:15 or tomorrow at 9:00am. I said well I know that we can not make it in 30 minutes, we will come tomorrow at 9:00am. My husband got to the office and told him he was late by 18 mins and the Dr. now would have to fit them in at her convenience any where from 30 minutes to 2 hours. My husband called asking why I gave him the wrong time. Well I knew that it was not the wrong time because I have a book that I had written the 2 times down. The office had imputted it incorrectly. I called and spoke to an extremely rude nurse that didnt care if the 81 year old waited 24 hours. I asked to speak to the office manager and she said it was the Dr.'s decision. I told her to put the Dr. on the phone and next thing I knew he was being called in.

Is it right to let an 81 year old sit in the waiting room for 2 hours?

It is one thing if they are late but they are 80 and maybe they should build in a cushion for lateness. At 30 something I push it to be on time.

So at the end of the day if you hear that your parents or grandparents are waiting at the Dr.'s for a crazy amount of time. Take Charge!!!!!! Remember when you were little and sick who was your biggest advocate?

The beginning

This is my first blog. I am starting this blog because I don't think that our Senior population has a loud enough voice. I am going to use my personal experiences and what I learn from others to help increase the voice of our seniors. I will give you the quick details how this all became.

It all began in September 2007 when my husband and I went home to have a family meeting regarding his parents. The FALLS had began and the CONFUSION started. SCARY is all we could think. The result of the meeting was that they would be moving to Georgia. We came home to renovate the house to get things moving for them to make the move from Michigan to Georgia.

December 9, 2007 was the day that the work really started.

We had 5 Dr. appointments, 4 hair appointments, and 1 trip in the ambulance on christmas eve, all in the first month. I think to myself how do they do it on their own? We have appointments with specialist because we have a NO sleep issue starting at 12am daily. We thank the lord for putting the caregiver in our path. We will see a Dr. who specializes in accupuncture to see if that can help the stonosis???? Eastern Medicine I say bring it on. We live at the Drug Store. They know me by name in such a short time.

Do you ever wonder why your parents sit at the Dr's Office for 3 hours when they go? I will fill you in on my next visit.