Mummy Kiddy Play Date

G'man's best friend H1, invited him over to play today. This gave Mama H and I some much needed girl gab time.
Mama H has four adorable children all under the age of first grade! Her house is always bursting!

During our time H1 showed G'man that he could now ride a bike without training wheels - my son not to be out done immediately had to practice!
 

Upon arriving home Papa immediately had to take off G'man's training wheels. Sad to say I have known full well that my son could have had his wheels off all summer.
I kept them on not for him, but for Prissy!
Her balance is not near as good as G'man's and she falls alot!
Keeping my children from sharing their toys is like telling them not to breathe - so the training wheels stayed on.
Now my daughter is learning how to ride without the benefit of training wheels and I am armed to the teeth with bandages!

One week of after school program for Prissy and she still loves it! I am so happy! 

Tidbits of Life

G'man, my first grader and one of the joys of my life. He is still having a hard time at school. He has found a few friends. He is no longer the lone man out and yet yesterday he came home with a bump on his head.
When I asked how it happened he told me that a kid he didn't know pushed him down the concrete steps.
My emotions on this are varying and intense, but above all is worry.
Please pray with me that he will be safe, that kids won't stand by and allow others to hurt him.

This week I went through and worked on re-doing my book cases. Layering, moving and side stacking for better visual impact. I am pleased with the results - its not so much of an eye sore as it is restful.

Also I started using a Home Made Face Cleanse
and redid my fridge shelving

To see the full post on my new shelving protectors please Click Here.

Other than these small things I have been under the weather this week, struggling not to come down with my children colds. Next week I am hoping to be able to help in G'man's class, in the hopes that I can help him somehow...

PTA, Rants and My Week in a Nutshell

This year, my first time of having down time, I have joined my children's school PTA.
This week that commitment was tested with my first event, Skate Night. Prissy helped run the table (did amazing) and I ended up as the popcorn queen.

While we were there my daughter showed me that she can do the monkey bars! After breaking her arm, this fell into the "maybe" pile. As in maybe if her arm healed well she might be able to do this - Thankfully this not only is something she can do, but will help her therapy move forward!

RANT

I picked a fight this week with the president of an organization. Here's a tip for those that don't know me well, you hurt my family or friends and I will find a way to mess with you.
This started out rather light and fluffy - then she deleted my comments and went into private messaging - first mistake, I play nicer in front of an audience.
Second, DO Not, I repeat DO NOT tell me how much you value your volunteers - when my BFF worked for months for you - designing and running a website - only to have all of her work deleted behind her back and her permissions revoked - without a word or a response from YOU.
You want me to be nice and not say the word UGLY? That's fine how about HIDEOUS and STUPID?
~Things may have been worked out between you and her (namely because after five months you finally called and talked with my BFF.) It does not change my opinion of how the site looks nor the person running it.

GREAT NEWS!

I applied for reduced lunches. School lunches here in Utah cost 7.50 a week per child. Making it 15.00 a week for me to feed both kids a hot lunch.
For me, that hurts.
Really hurts.
Last year and the year before that, we qualified for reduced lunches, making the cost 1.40 per child per week.
I just got the letter back today - we qualified for FREE lunches!
Total saved is around 600.00!!!
You have no idea what a weight off my mind that was!

 

Dinner tonight (hubby and I are sick)

came with two perfect fortune cookies and yes I wish life were as easy as fortune cookies!

His is on top!

After reading how we qualify for free lunches you can only imagine how a promotion would help us!

Mine is talking about parties and gatherings!

Between joining the PTA and my upcoming Miche Purse Party!

I think my is spot on!

 

Yes my party on November 24th is a purse party - yes my sister will be offering these for sale - NO its not a sales party. Its a party party. We will be having food, drinks, raffles, prizes and all out fun girl time!
What girls don't like to also look a purses?
Especially ones you can change with your outfit?

If you can't make it to the party the link (click on photo) will be viable for my purse party until November 23rd.
You can find my party under Telisha Garris, South of the Border party.

Trust me its going to be great. Already I am making the decorations, planning the menu and creating prizes and gifts for those that come! This is my first party in several years and I can promise you, you don't want to miss it!

Photo Friday Five

Photo Friday Five

All right years ago when I was on Y360 (best blogging platform in the universe and dumb yahoo choose not to fix the bugs and scrapped it) there was a group called The Friday Five.
Every week five questions were posted and you answered on your blog - then posted the link to share with the rest of the group.
This group is still going on a few different blogging sites - blogger included - however the person who runs it is completely different and I have never really gotten into the swing of this persons style or group - also its a rather dud of a group - you post and four people will comment - four out of the 98 that played.

The other day I was wondering how I could show a few of my favorite things with you, in a fun - quick - photo versatile way hence - this week I will be doing a group post - I will post a link within at the bottom and you can add your link with your own answers (photos not necessary).
If you are participating I would like it if you would at least view 2-3 other pages (if people participate).


1. Five People you can't live without

Not in any order

My Daughter, Prissy

My Son, G'Man

My Sister Dawn Marie

My Hubby

My Best Friend Margie

 I have another sister I would add but I did say five - so just know that I choose BOTH my sisters!














 
2. Five Things you can't live with out

 These items are not in order, but serious loves of mine!

1. An Immersion Blender
Seriously for years I heard how so and so loved them - watch them on TV ect ect.
Finally I gave in and bought a 30.00 one - I love it!
2. My new Rain Shower Head!
Another LOVE both the soft feeling of rain and a hand held sprayer!
3. Toilet Wipes
This is EPIC, a must have. 9 years of not having a lot of money but always finding room in the budget for these!
4. Laptop
Really need I say more?
5. Erasable Monthly Calendar
I got mine at Target, but any store that sells home items should have these.
I have a more detail calendar, but being able to see the whole month at a glance is a good thing.


3. Five of your favorite Movies

Serenity (the movie at the end of the FireFly Series)
Pride & Prejudice the LONG version, its amazing
The Thin Man Series! I have this box set - its amazing and about to be redone with Johnny Depp!
Harry Potter (yes I am a huge fan!)
Love is a ball - Glen ford - lets face it this movie is a classic! "Mmmm Mediocre!"

Bonus Movie - Lord of the Rings 

4. Five of your favorite TV shows

Doctor Who (BBC)
FireFly (The series that comes before Serenity)
Dharma & Greg
The Vampire Diaries
Sherlock (BBC)

Bonus Shows - Warehouse 13 & Eureka
I don't mind pairing them as they interact between the two every now and then.

5. Five of your favorite foods (or dishes)

Alright my all time favorite food in the whole world is Chinese (American Chinese).
I love Sweet n' sour, Sesame Chicken, Orange Chicken, Beef Teriyaki, Cream Cheese Wontons, Egg Rolls... you get the idea right?
However I don't have photos off hand of my favorite Chinese... I normally eat it too fast.

Instead I will give my five "other" favorites
1. Salad - Salads deserve themes - I do a different salad each time, varying the tastes and textures- salad is wonderful and should never ever be boring or overloaded with dressing!
2. Meatless Navaho Tacos - Yum! All I can say on this one is YUM!
3. Turkey Sandwiches - easy, can be healthy and always a favorite
4. Chicken Pot Pie - Life long favorite dish
5. Sesame Thai Noodles - not really a meal, but AMAZING! New favorite

Come on and join the fun!

A CHD Super Mom & Gerber Baby

 VOTE

My cousin. Its hard to explain thirty years of knowing someone. A quiet, reserved, smart, independent woman. A woman who took a leap of faith to meet and then marry an incredible man. We may not be BFF's and share all our secrets, but we have forged our own friendship.
How little I knew her until the pregnancy of her second little boy.

You see he was born with a Congenital Heart Defect. This photo of Heather and her brand new born baby is from the precious first moments before he was taken away. (Visit her Blog, The Sweet Geek's Blog Here)

While its not hard to agree to placing your baby in a lifesaving device like this one, knowing that your baby is going to undergo heart surgery in a few days... there are few words to express the emotion, but you can read the birth story of Aiden here.

The surgery went well.
That is to say they were able to close most of the hole and open up the blood flow.
He was a trooper.

His parents finally breathed.
Finally slept.
Finally hoped.
Months of waiting were over and months more were ahead.

5 months old and already a second surgery is being proposed - the hole has grown and the artery has shrunk. They will have to monitor him over the coming months to see if it will correct (it's only grown worse) or if they will bring in him for another surgery.
In spite of it all, Aiden is a very happy young boy. He adores his older brother. He laughs, smiles and loves to be held.
And my cousin, the beautiful brave woman that she is, is happy. She is happy that he is growing, that he is off the feeding tube, off the oxygen tank and mostly that he is such a happy baby.
She celebrates his life. All the little moments so many mothers forget about or want to sleep through.
To that end she entered him into the Gerber Baby Contest and I can't think of a baby or a family who deserves it more. Please take the time to vote.

She is also the second woman to be awarded the Super Mom Award!

To read what it mean to be a Super Mom - Please Click Here

Heather has done and gone through so many Super Mom Moments its hard to choose which one to award this too - but I pick putting her baby into the Gerber Baby Contest.

In spite of all the struggles and worries - they celebrate!

How amazing!

 

We will end this wonderful story, with an explanation of  Congenital Heart Disease

What is a CHD?
You passed me in the shopping mall…(You read my faded tee)

You tapped me on the shoulder…Then asked…`”What’s a CHD?”
I could quote terminology…There’s stats that I could give…
......But I would rather share with you…A mother’s perspective.
What is it like to have a child with a CHD? it’s Lasix,aspirin,Captopril…
It’s wondering…Lord what’s your will?…It’s monitors and oxygen tanks…
It’s a constant reminder…to always give thanks…
It’s feeding tubes, calories, needed weight gain…
It’s the drama of eating…and yes it’s insane!
It’s the first time I held her…(I’d waited so long)
It’s knowing that I need…to help him grow strong…
It’s making a hospital…home for awhile…
It’s seeing my reward…in every smile.
It’s checking his sats…as the feeding pump’s beeping…
It’s knowing that there… is just no time for sleeping…
It’s caths,x-rays and boo boos to kiss…
It’s normalcy…I sometimes miss…
It’s asking…do his nails look blue?
It’s cringing inside… at what he’s been through.
It’s dozens of call to his pediatrician…
(She knows me by name…I’m a mom on a mission)
It’s winter’s homebound…and hand sanitizer…
It’s knowing this journey…has made me much wiser.
It’s watching him sleeping…him breathing is steady…
It’s surgery day…and I’ll never be ready.
It’s handing him over…( I’m still not prepared…)
It’s knowing that his heart… must be repaired…
It’s waiting for news…on that long stressful day…
It’s …praying…it’s hoping…that he’ll be okay.
It’s the wonderful friends… with whom I’ve connected…
It’s the bond that we share…it was so unexpected…
It’s that long faded scar… down my child’s small chest…
It’s touching it gently…and knowing we’re blessed…
It’s watching him chasing…a small butterfly…
It’s the moment I realized…I’ve stopped asking…why?
It’s the snowflakes that fall…on a cold winter’s day…
(They remind me of those…who aren’t with us today)
It’s a brave little boy…who loved Thomas the train…
Or a special heart bear…or a frog in the rain….
It’s the need to remember…we are all in this plight….
It’s their lives that remind us… we still need to fight!
It’s in pushing ahead amidst every sorrow…
It is finding the strength to have hope for tomorrow.
And no…we’ll never be the same…
It’s changed our family…
This is what we face each day…
This is…a CHD

Parenting And Why It Ages Me

I love my little girl.
She is bubbly, friendly, loveable, sweet, loyal, always has a positive attitude and a gentle heart.
She is so much more than I can write in a short blog post, but yesterday she aged me.

Over the years both of my children have aged me - repeatedly.
With my girl its been late night asthma treatments, watching her break out into large hives and of course breaking her arm and needing surgery.
With my son it was when he stopped breathing (swallowed his tongue) or rode his bike into the street without looking for cars.
All kids go through these phases - so many that at times I wonder how anyone lives to adulthood!

Yesterday after school Prissy came home, did her homework and then ran next door so she could play with her friend. A younger by 3 years friend.
After a few hours she came home and started playing with her brother in the driveway - all was well - all was normal.
Then came the knock on the door.
my next door neighbor - a woman I used to walk with in the morning, a woman I like - was standing on my front porch and she was not happy.

My daughter and the neighbor girl had been playing in her back yard (without either of our permission or knowledge) the young neighbor girl had crawled through the cat flap of the neighbors garage had gone inside and unlocked the door - allowing my daughter to enter as well.
They then pulled out all the cat toys from the garage scattering them all over the yard while chasing the baby kittens.
Have I mentioned that besides the fact that my daughter could be charged with trespassing and breaking and entering, that she is allergic to CATS?
I mean serious face swelling, asthma inducing, itchy hives, allergic.

Now if I had asked my daughter (and I did after the fact) if she thought that going into our neighbors yard, crawling in and unlocking the door and playing with items without permission was a good idea, I know she would say NO.
I also know that she was not the instigator. My daughter did not come up with the idea.
I know you may think that's a naive hope of a mother, but with my daughter its the truth, she wouldn't even think it was an option - nor did she know anything about what was in the garage in the first place.

Our young friend is the 10th child. She is the baby of a large family. She is allowed to run freely, oft times barefoot and has since she was three years old.
She is an independent instigator.
The problem is that my almost 9 year old is willing to follow the whims of a 5 year old girl, who has had a very loose childhood.
My problem isn't that this happened, its how to stop it from happening again.
Right now my girl is grounded for a week - from friends, TV and school activities (like tomorrows Skate Night) will it be enough to make my daughter think twice when her young friend comes up with a "scathingly brilliant idea?" I don't know.
Hence I'm turning grey!

10 hour Stain Gloss?

First off let me say for the record, I have not nor will I be paid for this. I bought the product and I am testing its staying power as well as its color.
Above is my photo of both my Super Stay 10 hour Stain Gloss and the color on my lips. They match very well, still it was brighter then I had anticipated.

This is what the whole container looks like.
Being truthful I will admit a semi-vain and semi-silly reason for my buying this. As I am now on the PTA there are days where I will spend a full day at the school. This coming Thursday is shaping up to be one of those days.
Now I am a stay at home mama, chubby and I have long ago given up my looks to my children. However, I do like to have a bit of color on me so that I don't feel quite so bad or plain.
That said I am not vain enough to be running to the bathroom every few hours for "beauty" breaks.
Hence - Lip Stain

Here I am with the lip stain newly applied.

10 hours later and the majority of color is gone - however I still have some color.

During the day, I ate, applied chapstick, washed my face once (not my lips) kissed the kids and drank with a straw.

I will most likely buy this product again, but as for 10 hours... well not really more like a good 4, an okay 6, faint 8 and a barely there 10.