Treasures..

Before I had Anderson I did want a girl, just the idea of the cute clothes and stuff. Well as much as I think every daddy needs a girl, I think every mommmy needs a boy. Anderson is my light, Ron is my rock. They together complete me. Anderson is all the time picking me flowers, weeds, leaves, accorns.. little treasures that he sticks deep down into his pockets just for mommy. Then he comes running up with this amazing light in his eyes to show me my "SURPRISE" and presents me with whatever little treasure made him think of me that day... (I am scared to death one day it might be a LIVE treasure) hahha
Yesterday him and Ron went to the golf course to soak up some of the last sun rays of the year and A found his treasure. He came home and was so excited to present it to me.. he found a BEAUTIFUL rock, just for ME.
I just love my boys so much and I am blessed beyond measure to have them in my life. I have said this so many times, but something about that rock lastnight just brought a light to my heart and a smile to my face.
Boys are special and mine is no exception.

rut. funk. whatever..

I have felt like for the past couple of months my hormones have been changing. I have been going through some pretty drastic high's and low's.. Currently I feel like I am in a LOW, quick tempered, unhappy, low. This has lasted longer than normal and Ron has actually addressed me about it. It reminds me of right before I found out I was diabetic...
Ron told me that he didn't know what was wrong with me, but I needed help and he would support me 110% in getting the help but he could not and would not live like this anymore. (My blood sugar was running around 800 and to say that I was a bitch is an understatement.)So I went to the doctor to find out what the heck was wrong with me, I went in thinking that I had some thyroid issues and would take a pill and be fine. Little did I know that my doctor would look at me and say "Oh my, your diabetic." Not only did those words change my life, 4 years ago, but they are still a thorn in my thigh today. haha
Anyway.
My "rut" has been at work for a while, I am usually a go getter, excited to see what all projects I can get my hands in and I love seeing the finished product knowing that I had a hand it it. Here lately it's just do my job -- the bare minimum and go home. Now that attitude has followed me home and I am taking it out on my sweet husband who deserves this no more than than a tree in the back yard would....
(bad analogy; yes.)
He sent me an email today just asking if I was "ok" and letting me know that everything would be ok and that he would be here for me however he could be. He just wanted me to know that he was thinking about me and wanted me to know that whatever it is that I am going through we will get through this together.
>>How did I get so dang lucky?<<
Work sucks right now,I am learning that you can be right and wrong in the same breath and I am learning what it is to be the worker bee. To NOT get recognition for the projects that you do - unless they fail then you FOR SURE get the "recognition." I'm not afraid to fail at work, it's through some peoples greatest failures they have learned their most valuable lessons. I like my job and the ones I work with, I am just still learning the definition of "fairness" in the workplace. It usually has something to do with seniority and brown nosing.. around here anyway. But I have learned to LAY LOW, those of you that know me will understand how hard this is for me.. but who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks...
I am going to take a step back, ask for some help and see what happens. I am not a bad person if I say I am having trouble staying afloat right now. I feel as if I have no one to turn to, I have friends that have REAL problems. I can't even put a finger on whatever is going on so its been labeled as a rut. Why in the world should I call can burden my friends with these issues when I know that they are hurting- I don't want to add to that. So I do what I do. Bottle it up and make it look like everything is FINE. (that's a word I have come to HATE, fine. I'm fine, it's fine == everyone is always fucking fine, when you know that they may appear to be ok on the surface, but they are like ducks and their legs are going a million miles an hour under the water were no one can see just to try and keep THEM afloat. But they are FINE. Sometimes people say they are fine as an escape, its easier to be FINE than it is to hurt and I get that, I am the queen of FINE maybe that is why I hate it, because I know that I am NOT FINE. Yet we are all FINE.) I used to be really good at the bottle it up, press it way down and don't think about it stuff. Eventually it all went away, well most of the time it seemed to. Right now my old plan is failing me. I need to find a way to restructure, come up with a new game plan. I am a happy, helpful, fun loving person and I despise this person I am when the rut comes to visit.
Anyway. This is not a plead for help. haha I don't need to "step back from that ledge my friend" and I don't think I am in need of medical help -YET (have you seen the woman in my family.. its comin)Just kidding. I just needed somewhere to try and sort through whats swimming in my head. Sorry if you read this, it's a total Debbie Downer of a message. But aren't we all entitled to a few of these.....

See ya Summer .... Hello FALLL!!!!

Summer is winding down... I have figured out with the exception of Spring I love all the the season. I love living in a place where I get to experience snow and cold in the winter, all the blooms and rain in the spring, the hott sun in summer, the beautiful colors and cool temps of fall... I don't not like spring, its just that I fight my allergies so bad that is the only month I always dread and look forward to getting over before it ever gets here. (I do love to see all the color come back after the blah of winter.)
I am so excited for my favorite of all season FALL. I love football and cool temps, beautiful rich colors, cooking soup, chili, stew... awe!! I love the FALL.

I have several projects I want to tackle this fall/winter.
-Stain my living room (possibly texture as well)
-Paint my kitchen (tile maybe??)
-Paint Anderson's bedroom
-Paint the spare bedroom

When we moved into this house all the walls were stark white. I am not a fan of white walls, it makes a house (to me) feel very clinical. We have lived here for 2 years and I have managed to paint the living room, hall and our bedroom. So this fall and winter will be dedicated to some interior over hauls. hahah

I would love to re texture all the rooms that I am planning on repainting as well, but I don't know how far I will get with that.


ANDERSON UPDATE:
A started PreK August 16. He is doing so well already, they sent out a curriculum sheet and it says they will teach the ABC's and counting and to write his name. He already knows his ABC's and can count to 10, but I was floored that he might know how to write his name. He is sharp as a tack and makes me so proud to see him learn and come home excited to tell us everything. He is growing up so fast!!!

Family First!!!

Anderson is three now. When we first moved to Shawnee he was barely one. Our "vacations" consisted of going to my mom and dads or spending a long weekend in OKC, maybe Dallas .... Lame? Yes, I know. Last year we made it out to Thunderbird for a week in mid September, (I had started a new job and didn't have enough leave time until then)it was beautiful for about 3 hours. Then a cold front blew in, it was cold and rainy -- Anderson was 2, so we hung in the camper and watched cartoon movies with him. It was fun, a nice family get-away, but not a vacation.
THIS YEAR:
We found this little spot not but 2 hours from home on lake Eufaula called Jellystone Park. It's set up to be kind of like Yogi Bear or whatever, but what it really reminds me of is the place the family stayed in Dirty Dancing! It's in the cove of the lake, we rented a little cabin and we get a boat slip -- Some of the things JellyStone offers are paddle boats, they have water trampoline and water slided that are set up in the lake... they have a zero level pool, then they do activities in the evenings. They have an indoor / outdoor theatre, a little game room to play cards or table games, or build puzzles. Now those of you that love Mexico vacations and such are probably thinking, sounds like Church camp or something. And you are right to a point, but all I can think about is that this is our first family vacation and I know that Anderson is going to have a blast, and when he has fun so do we!!
This is kinda right up our alley anyway, we love camping and boating and just kickin back to relax. No agenda to follow, we wake when we want.... play when we want.... eat when we want.... Then when my 3 year old gets tired and needs a nap, we are seconds away from our little 5star cabin.. hahah
I have not been this excited about some thing in a very long time. I feel like a kid a Christmas, I haven't been able to sleep all week. Not because I have a list a mile long of stuff that I need to pack, but because I absolutely can't wait to get there and show Anderson what a REAL vacation is!!!
And if you think it couldn't get any better :: THINK AGAIN!!!!!
My bestest girlfriend in the entire world (and her hubs) are coming tonight, we are going to go play out on our lake all day tomorrow! We always have a good time so be looking for the next installment of "The life and times of Harry and Lloyd" .. and hopefully not long after that we will have
"The 3 stooges ... Harry Lloyd and Martha" That's right girls, its coming!!!
I hope that as we keep bookin through this year, this finds you and yours blessed, happy, and health! Love.

boots and ...shorts??

Anderson got a new pair of boots over Oil Patch Weekend from his cousin Miles. I thought that he would like to play in them, but I didn't realize just how much. This is what he wore ALL weekend. Shorts, Cowboy Boots, and a Cowboy HAT.. then he would not be referred to as Anderson, but as COWBOY. LOL

The summer is flying by. We have been to Perryton and Durant Ok more this summer than I would like to admit. We are going on vacation to Jellystone at lake Eufuala for a week in August. I think Anderson will really enjoy it, we are renting a cabin and taking the boat... its my kind of vacation!! I am suppppper excited. The weekend before we leave to go on vacation, Brice and Sunnye are hopefully going to come spend a weekend with us at the lake here. It's always a good time when Harry and Lloyd get together!!!! I am having a blast this summer and really enjoying my family. I wish my brother lived closer and didn't have to work so much. I really miss him.

We have a contract on our house in Durant and if that for some reason happens to fall through, we also have a back up contract. So push comes to shove, we should have it sold by the end of August. That will be a huge weight lifted.

My ten year class reunion is coming up in September, I am ecxited to get together with everyone and see all my OLD pals...

Other than that Anderson starts Prek the middle of August, I can't believe he is getting so big so fast. We are thinking about adding another, but I have to get my b/s back in better control first, so it might be a while, Anderson has a pretend sister... I guess he is trying to tell us something. Maybe next year we will stop preventing it -- I don't know about the whole "trying" thing. Anyway, its been a while since I popped in. So here is your summer update.

PRAYER REQUEST:
I have a friend that is going to have a procedure done the first of August. Please join me in prayer for her -- may God bless her and give her the desires of her heart. Love you ------!!
I pray this finds you and yours blessed and healthy. Love and Bless. Mindee

OPOSSUM.

Last night Ron and I were fast asleep, Anderson had stayed the last night night at his Nanny's house here in Shawnee. (They are moving back to Denison tomorrow) I took a bendryl so I would rest better, I don't sleep well when Ron or Anderson isn't at HOME. Anyway I hear Bo, this morning at 1:30am..This huge yelp crossed with a bark noise. I send Ron to the door to hush him, which he did.
Ron: Bo you better hush it up RIGHT NOW.
Just about the time he got back to the bed, Bo started it again. So this time Ron goes over to the door, mumbling under his breath the whole way there and throws open the door and hits the light and starts in again.
Ron: Bo. I said you better.... OH MY GOSH. Good job BO. Babe Bo has a possum cornered out here.
Mindee: A WHAT?
Ron: A possum come look.
So I jump out of bed and run over there and sure enough he had a possum cornered with its mouth wide open. That dang thing was frozen solid and was not moving. I am yelling at Bo trying to keep him away from the varmint and the next thing I know Ron comes barrelling out the back door in his under ware and flip flops with a golf club and a big plastic toy bucket.
Mindee: Now what in hell are you going to do with those Ron Duffell?
Ron: I'm gonna throw this bucket on top of it and trap it and call animal control.
Mindee: ... and the golf club?
Ron: just in case...
So he tosses the bucket - his the dang thing, which doesn't move - but misses.
Mindee: alright. Now what?
So I tell him to get a rock and throw at it. He does, hits it right on the head and it moves about 6 inches. I said you are going to have to chuck it. SO I picked up 2 rocks and rapid fire, missing both times but the thing RAN off into the yard.
...so did BO.
I called for him but he was busy chassin' he didn't hear a word I said. Now 2 weeks ago we had a skunk shimmy under our house, last night it was a possum. I LIVE IN THE MIDDLE OF TOWN YA'LL.
Anyway, after it was all said and done Ron and I laughed our butts off and thought maybe we need to get a gun. (I think a paintball or bee bee gun would work fine)

Gone. Gone. I have lost my power.

I just found out at the most inconvient moment, that I have lost my power. You see Anderson fell out of his swing Wednesday as Ron was mowing the back yard and I was pittling. He fell face first so he had a mouth full of dirt and was really upset. Scared more than hurt. I ran him in and grabbed a cool wash cloth to cool him off and wipe the dirt out of his little eyes, and gave him a bottle of water to get the dirt out of his mouth. After he spit in to the sink about 10 times I saw it was red and scrapped on his nose a little. He was still crying and upset so I thought he just needed a couple of momma's magic kisses.
I leaned in an planted a couple on his nose and with the biggest crocodile tears you have ever seen rolling down his cheeks he said.... "but momma. that doesn't make it better."
I felt like I had been punched in he stomach, it literally took my breath. My kisses were not magic. They didn't instantly take the pain way. What do you do now? I am at a loss I don't know what to do. I knew this day would eventually come, but why now? He is so little still..... So there you have it folks. My once magical kisses have been replaced all the sudden with regular old mommy kisses, which one day when I plant on him instead of saying they don't work he will label as YUCK. I am no more prepared for that day than I was for this one.

Ridin Dirty...

Only in Oklahoma can you get away with riding doubles on a scooter to have Sunday morning breakfast at GOLDEN CORRAL... hahha

Wrecks..Boats..Scooters..Skunks..Sun and Sunnye!!!!

My best girl friend in the whole world came to stay the weekend with me, I was put on a mission to relax her and make her laugh. I feel like I succede. After I got off work at 2:00pm, we went for a much anticipated ride on my new scooter. (Yes we both went...yes at the same time) We were riding along and after a serious of events, we slightly wrecked. Not compeltely, we didn't fall and I was pretty much in control the entire time. Sunnye's flip-flop fell off and I got us stopped about a block up the road. We laughed until it hurt, we cried we were laughing so hard. After our semi near death experience we meet Ron at the house later that evening and went out for an evening cruise, went to the casino to eat dinner and spend a few bucks playing penny machines. Sunnye got soooo mad that she couldn't just walk up to a machine and stick in a penny, pull the lever and WIN BIG! So what did we do instead... took a hand full and a half of pennys, nickles, and dimes to the cashiers cage and SHE counted them and gave Sunnye a whoapin $2. LOL (I thought Sunnye was going to have an anxitey attack when she saw that she acciedently left 2 quarters in her mix of otherwise small change.) Anyway, we played, ate free ice cream and headed to the house to rest up for our FULL day on Saturday.
Friday night late::
Ron and I woke up to the smell of something TERRIBLE, something burning. Ron got up and checked things out, nothing on fire but OHHHH the smell!!! A few minutes later it all came together and I realized what had happened. A SKUNK... A skunk had skimmied into our crawl space under the house, got spooked and sprayed. It was terrible, we made it through the night however I'm not sure how. haha Got up early the next morning and got the hell outta there. I got sick at Mcdonalds, I think from the fumes which we are still fighting... Embarrassing -- YES aweful --YES Lots of laughs --HELL YES!!!
Saturday::
Mostly uneventful. We spent the day at the lake on the boat, swimming, tubing (kinda) and tryin to wakeboard. It was the best girl weekend I have had in a while... I am so happy that Sunnye came to stay and we have vowed to have a weekend mini-vaca EVERY year, at least once a year.

A..B..C..

After Anderson's first week of school there were no tears. He has done amazing, it's so cool to me how God gets you right were you need to be. We were in the car this weekend and Anderson started to rattle off his ABC's, we have worked with him and he knew a.b.c.d.e.f.g.... so I assumed he would stop there and start singing now I know my ABC's -- NOPE. He went straight through! After one week at Liberty he know's his abc's, and he has adjusted better in one week than in six at First Baptist. (Not to say that there is anything wrong with FB Daycare, I just dont think it was for him.) I am so excited for him, he calls it his "WORK" so every morning we get up and I take him to work then leave and go to work myself.....
AHHHH My baby is growing up...

I am going this afternoon to re-join the YMCA and start working out again. I let myself go after some family issues but I am ready to get back on track and get going again. I am going to try and blog about my progress in a way to keep me honest and to stay accountable. I have been embarrassed to say what I am doing and my progress and then if I get off track, I really beat myself up about it. I am hoping to get going again and stick with it... SO...
With a little inspiration from my cousin Mandi, I am "trying something new"

And we all fall down.

Its been a while since I have posted, and several things have happened since then...
Anderson had his first tee ball game this week, it was so funny to watch him. He did so good hitting the ball and running to first, but when it came to fielding... Well let's just say there is room for improvement. LOL. He kicked dirt, played in the chalk lines, picked his nose, and every now and again would run after a ball or two. It was so hillarious!! We had a good time.

Anderson also started a 3 year old pre-k program this week, so far so good. I was really concerned about taking him out of one day care and putting him into another. God has a way though of opening and shutting doors to get you where he wants you. We put him into Liberty Academy. He calls it his "work" and has loved it so far. There is a little girl that was in his other daycare class that ended up in his class at Liberty and she came in their first day and gave him a big hug - they are buddies and play together now.

Nanny and Jimmy sold their house and will be moving back to Denison. Nanny's health is getting worse and she would be more comfortable being at home where she knows everyone. Like the Cheers song, Sometimes you wanna go...where every body knows your name... That is going to be a big change for everyone, but the biggest part was A not staying over there all day and so far that transition has gone pretty smooth. I pray that it continues.

Other than that, I am working for the Census part time, and have been making some extra cash for summer. Its a short gig, and has pulled me away from the family a bit but it has sure helped to keep us on track with our budget and still get to run and play!! Ron is good, the dress code at the bank just changed to polos, so he is supppper excited. No more monkey suites until labor day. We are sure ready for a fun summer on the lake with family and friends. I hope this finds you and yours doing well. God Bless and Love you all... (all 6 of you. lol)

Choices..

I am faced with a choice and I might be making to much of it, but it concerns my son so I want to make the best, and right choice for him. Ron and I made a desicion to put Anderson into daycare because of some things that happened with his family. I know that this choice was the right one because of how things worked out, I know that God had his hand on it. We put him into a good daycare that I have heard a lot about and the teacher that he has is a really good match for us. She is understanding, talks about feelings, and lets him be a boy.
Before we put him into First Baptist Church Daytime School, I filled out a pre-registration form to put him into Liberty Acadamy. This is a private school that takes pre-schoolers (3 years old)all the way up through graduation. Ron and I talked about putting him into Liberty for the pre-K program and possibling letting him stay there through kindergarden. The reason for that is, you can pay a little extra onto the tuition and they keep them there for afterschool care until 5:30. (We get off at 5 so that works great, and I don't have to worry about who is driving a van or bus to take him from preK to daycare.) Liberty only takes open enrollment 2 times a year, May for the summer program and August for the school program.

Originally we were going to leave Anderson with his Nanny and Papa until August and put him into Liberty for the school program. However, Nanny had some health issues come up which has lead us to making our decision to putting him into daycare immediately.

I got a phone call on Monday from Liberty to come and take a tour of the school and meet his teacher. I went ahead and made our appointment for Friday and they asked that we bring Anderson of course. I know that this might not sound like a big deal but he has been in his Nanny and Papa's care for almost 2 years and this is a BIG transition for us. I am making a pro and con list for both places and would love feed back from whoever!!!
*Like I said our apt is Friday, so I don't know much about Liberty yet, this is just where I sit right now, I will have to update after we take the tour and meet his teacher.

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
+He has been going for about 3 weeks. (on and off, he has been sick and missed some)
+We like his teacher.
+He has started to make friends.
+He is familiar with the routine there.
+They have a security system. (you have to idenitify who you are and who you are picking up before you can even open the door)
+They have been very understanding about having a parannoied mother calling 4x's a day to check on him.
+The allow them to have their own pillow and blanket for nap time.
-They charge weekly. $115 ($460 a month, unless there's an extra week then its $575)
-Only have a preschool program. (after that its public school, although they take them and pick them up)
-After school care is almost as much as full time daycare.

LIBERTY
+They don't leave the facility when he turns 4 for preK
+They charge MONTHLY $285 + $25 for extended care. $310 a month
+EXCELLENT school program where they also teach about the Bible. (this is why I wanted him here originally)
+Can stay here as long as we are willing to pay the tuition.
-No security system



**Like I said I don't know much about Liberty, and right now the biggest thing is that its a lot cheaper per month and he will be there the whole time. Not at school half a day, then have to be taken there. Money isn't everything, I don't mind paying the extra if that is the best place for him to be. However, by the time he would be able to start at Liberty he would have only been at FBC School for about 6 weeks. I just need direction, I have been praying that God will make it easy and show me the way to go. I am excited to let Anderson see the new place, he is a smart kid and I want to make him be part of the decision too.

Birthday Weekend.

This weekend will be a big one at the Duffell house, and boy am I ready for it. We have a ton of family coming in for bub's party, we are having it at the bounce house here in Shawnee. Anderson loves it there, he is so excited! I am ready to lay this week to rest and move on to the weekend, and celebrate Jesus dying and rising again to save us. This will be a wonderful weekend and I am more than looking forward to it. I know that being surrounded by wonderful friends and family is just what I need.
God Bless you all I hope your weekend is fabulous as well. Take a minute to let the people in your life know how special they are to you, even thought you know know they already know... it's nice to hear it every now and then!!

I love you Ron and Anderson.

FAMILY

Sometimes our hearts get tangled
And our souls a little off-kilter
Friends and family can set us right
And help guide us back to the light.
~Sera Christann

If you're going through hell, keep going. ~Winston Churchill

Resentment is like taking poison and waiting for the other person to die. ~Malachy McCourt

Do not teach your children never to be angry; teach them how to be angry. ~Lyman Abbott

Temper tantrums, however fun they may be to throw, rarely solve whatever problem is causing them. ~Lemony Snicket


Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future. ~Paul Boese
Our grandchildren accept us for ourselves, without rebuke or effort to change us, as no one in our entire lives has ever done, not our parents, siblings, spouses, friends - and hardly ever our own grown children. ~Ruth Goode

I am still determinded to be cheerful and happy, in whatever situation I may be; for I have also learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances. --Martha Washington.

Anderson

These last few months have been a whirl wind. My baby is getting so big, I catch myself looking at him sometimes just thinking how weird it is to have a 3 year old. He is so smart, I have never in my life felt as blessed as I do right now. What joy to see him growing and doing so well. He is like a mix of all of mine and Ron's best traits. He is kind, loving and soft hearted with a streak of meanness just like his momma. He is thoughtful, observant, and has a thirst for knowledge like his daddy. I know that a lot of things about parenting is challenging, I still question every single decision we make to try and make the right ones. Hind sight is 20/20 right. It feels good, like automatic gratification to see him doing well, and prospering.

CHANGES:
Anderson is growing and changing so much. Like we wake up every day and we don't know what he might come up with today, he has a huge imagination that endless. We cook, fish, go boating, work on cars, all from the 4 walls of his bedroom....amazing to see the world through my child's eyes.
When we moved to Shawnee Anderson started sleeping with us, in our bed. We occupied an apartment in a rather YUCKY neighborhood for 2 months until we could find a house. There was loud music, parties and fights. He woke up a lot during the night and I know he had NO idea where he was at. Two years later, he was still sleeping in our bed. We just moved things around in the house the past couple of weeks, Anderson now has a bedroom that was at one time a single car garage. HUGE for a 3 year old. It's awesome though, I just love it and he does too. When we made the switch I started making A go to bed that room. The first week or two was tough, but he doesn't even think twice about it anymore. Granted I lay down with him for a little while at night, and he still comes into our room early in the morning sometimes... but we take baby steps at our house. Its easier on me. haha
Again, he is growing up.
We brought the boat home and he is really ready to hit the lake, which makes us so happy because that is something that Ron and I both love to do as well.
BIG THOUGHTS:
We have started planting seeds about having another baby. Anderson says, I will take a girl. lol So funny. Anyway, Ron and I are "planners" for the most part. I say I am a planned fly by the seat of my pants kind of person. I like to know where we are going and when we are getting there but the rest is in the air. Needless to say we are trying to plan when we are ready to have another baby, right now we are thinking the end of this year sometime. I am really nervous but I think it will be ok, Anderson's will enjoy a sibling... right?

What about me?

This is a poor pitiful me post: please excuse me now..
If any of you know me well at all you might know that I have a tendancy to jump at any opportunity to take up for some one that I care about. Family, friends, you name it. (I know that this isn't always a good thing but sometimes it's hard to change who you are.) Let me give you an example: If my husband comes home from work a little agitated about something that some one had done or said to him; I would immedately jump on his side and be mad at that person for wronging my husband. (I know silly right) That is just who I am, I can't help it. It's like an animal instinct. I am a lot better about it now, I don't act on this instinct near as bad however it does still get the best of me from time to time.
I think I am just like my dad, but sometimes that is comforting. When you just need some one to get just as pissed as you about something. To validate your feeling and let you know that it's ok to be mad at that person, and some one to tell you that they would meet you in a dark alley and whoop the crap out of some one if they were ever given the chance. (Don't freak out here, my bark is bigger than my bite)
My husband and my mom and several other people I know think very objectivly. They are very good about pointing out things that I may not think of through my anger and most of the time that is very nice to have. Some one to walk you out of a cloudy head to see things the way they actually are not the way you some time think they apprear.
I have for years now joked that if I needed to call and vent and have some one agree that WHOEVER I am mad at is just a sorry SOB: I call my dad. If I need some one to tell me that I am being sorry SOB that should get over myself and stop being a baby I call my mom. hahah
Anyway, this instinct I have got the better of me this weekend. I took up for a family member that really didn't need me to do that. It slightly backfired and it ended up hurting me instead and causing some one close to me more problems than they aready were dealing with.
Some times I wish that this person would care more about me and my feelings but I guess this is the nature of the beast. I have got to learn that unless invited: my opinion and thoughts are mine and mine only. I don't always have to let everyone else know how I feel about stuff. I only know that I am a good person and I have good intentions no matter how they get misconstrude. I love my family and friends and I want to protect each and everyone of them from being hurt, let down, or wronged. I guess sometime I get a little big for my britches. Anyway- I am constanly learning things about myself and doing what I can to improve myself so this is just some thing I need to work on.

Flu

I guess by now you are used to my extra long post. I was going to break this up some but thought to myself... Self, why would you go changing things now? lol

Flu.
Anderson started getting a sratchy throat. Now a little back story [I have been blessed beyond belief with a very healthy child, we got tubes put in his ears Feb 2008 because of recurrent ear infections. After the tubes were in, he didn't go to a doctors office for anything but well baby checks for a whole year. May 2009 I thought he had an ear infection and took him to the doctor only to find out he was cutting a molar and was running fever and having some pain in that side of his face. Not sick] Needless to say when he got this scratchy throat I had him in the doctor's office at 8:00am Friday morning. He looked at his throat, then pulled him up on the computer and said... he hasn't been in for over a year, I said I know that is why I am freaking out! He sent us down for a nose swab (for flu) and a throat swab (for strep) and we went home to wait for the results. The doctor called about an hour later to tell us he did, in fact have the flu. I asked him what type if it was the H1N1 and he told me they didn't really test for that any longer, the treatment is the same. He also said that the H1N1 is usually upper respitory, which is where his seems to be, so what we need to watch for is pnomonia in a week or so. I took that piece of information as he DID have H1N1. (this was not my regular doctor, she was out of the office so this was a doctor from a walk up clinic in the physicans office) I took him to his Nanny's house that morning (before I knew it was the flu) and ran into the office to get some things in order and went to Walmart to fill his perscriptions and get some stuff to nurse him back to health. We got to the house around noon and he was already acting sickly, very clingy and wanted me to hold him and cuddle. He ate and took a nap, when he woke up he was burning up. I pulled out the thermometer to take his temp and .... you guessed it, the batteries were actually dead. I called his nanny to bring me one, took his temp and it was 101. I had already given him Motrin so I had to wait for 2 more hours to give him another dose, by that time his fever was up to 102.7 -- I was freaking out then. I gave him a dose of Motrin at 4 and his temp lowered back to 100. He slept on my chest for another couple of hours, I tried to lay him down but he wanted me to hold him. I didn't mind, I just didn't want to make him hotter. When he woke up he was doing ok.
Saturday night:
OK I DIDNT KNOW THAT WHEN YOUR BABY IS SICK THAT YOU CAN ROTATE TYLENOL AND MOTRIN EVERY 4 HOURS. I FEEL AWEFUL - HE JUST HASNT BEEN SICK SO I JUST DIDNT KNOW, HAD I KNOWN I DONT THINK HIS FEVER WOULD HAVE BEEN WHAT IT WAS... I lost my mom of the year award..
Anyway. Anderson had taken a nap Saturday and had a little spring in his step, got up and played for a bit then came and asked to be held. He asked what is the matter with my eyes mommy? I felt him and he was ON FIRE. I took his temp 104.1 I started pulling up stuff on the internet, asked pals on FB called my mom. We tried the tepid bath, but he said it hurt. (I think from being cold, you know when you have fever your body hurts anyway) So I stuck to a cool compress and had him to drink COLD apple juice, that was so scary he was lathargic and listless - my baby was just kind of out of it. I called the nurse hotline at the hosptial (this is when I found out about the mortin and tylenol rotation) they said if it got up to 105 to bring him in, when I called I had already got it down to 102.8. After I started to rotate the meds, he didn't run over 101 fever the rest of the night and was fever free most of the day Sunday.
We made it, he is better and I learned some good lessons, unfortunatly at my son's expense. I hated that he was sick and I hope we don't get sick again for a while, but after reading all about Layla I feel like I handled him being sick much differently. Well that was our weekend...

Now I lay me down to sleep...

I pretty much cried myself to sleep last night thinking and praying for a little girl I have never met and her family. I have been so touched by this families story it has given me a new lease on life, love, family, and made me take a second look at myself. Sometime, well more than sometimes I like to keep my family bubble. I want to keep all the bad things in the world out, not that by any means does this mean that we are ignorant or oblivious to what is going on; rather we choose to not fill out heads with it. It is hard to be a glass half full kind of person in these days and ages, I like to think that is how I view life and I want Anderson to grow up in a positive, encouraging environment. ....I want Anderson to grow up...
You don't think it will happen to you, to your best friend, your neighbor but it does. God sometimes for reasons that we might not know or understand calls one of his precious babies home earlier than what we feel is necessary.
The pain and agony Layla has gone through is beyond me, I can't for the life of me imagine having watch my baby go through any of that. The pain that her family is feeling... makes it hard for me to breath. Layla reached more people and touched more peoples hearts in her short 2 years than most of us do in a life time, that's a God thing. What Layla, and her family have done for me is humbled me. Made me seek out the good, because as bad as I think it might be - its not.

When I go home tonight, I will hug Ron and Anderson a little tighter, tell them I love them way to many times, be more patient with my full of life 3 year old, sit back and watch the 2 people that mean the most to me in this world and pray that God will allow me another day and another breath to breathe and do it all over again. You truly never know when the good Lord will call you home.

I pray for Layla and her family.. I pray that God wraps his big arms around her and takes her pain and suffering away and lets her rest peacefully. Amen.

Stars on the river
Stars in the sky
Stars that are falling
Stars burning bright
Stars disappearing
Stars come to light out of the dark

I see stars in every headlight
And I wonder where they go
I see stars that are stranded by the side of the road
I see stars that look like raindrops sticking to the hood of my car
I'm seeing stars

Wishing on stars
Only when you see 'em
Is like asking God for help
Only when you need it
But I'm wishing anyway
I'm wishing anyway
Wishing on stars
Only when you see 'em
Is like asking God for help
Only when you need it
But I'm wishing anyway
I'm wishing anyway

Tonight there's stars on the river
Stars in the sky
Stars that are faded like the stars in her eyes
One lonely tear drop
One long goodbye
Hit me hard
I'm seeing stars

Wishing on stars
Only when you see 'em
Is like asking God for help
Only when you need it
But I'm wishing anyway
I'm wishing anyway

I'm seeing stars
I'm seeing stars
(Stars on the river, stars in the sky)
I'm seeing stars
(Stars that are faded, stars in her eyes, I'm seeing stars)

Put that bone down Chico.

We have a new baby in the house. Chico. He is very lovable, likes to lick, and play with his "bone" & of course, play play play!
No we didn't get a dog if that is what you are thinking, Chico is Anderson's little multiple personality. It is so funny, at the drop of a hat he will come running over panting and tell you to say, Chico put that bone down. So he will put his bone (whatever toy is laying around) in his mouth and wait for you to say it. When you do, he comes over for you to give him a good petting. hahha I think it is so neat to watch his imagination at work. He gets bowls out for food and water, and even wags his tail.
The hard part is when he is playing and suddenly decided to be Chico, he gets mad when you call him Anderson, then he puts on his "fighting face" and glares at you saying, I'm not Anderson, I'm CHICO!! hahah
Well this is the new thing in our house, I think its so funny so I wanted to share. I hope you all have a wonderful and blessed weekend. We have no plans but to hang around and be lazy, which is much invited. xoxox

Valentines Weekend.

45 days. Sunday was Valentines day as you all know. I have been without sweets for 45 days, and was doing very very well. My mom and dad came down and went with us to The Affair of the Heart and then we took them out to eat. One of mine and Ron's favorite places is SaltGrass, we ate there on our honeymoon so its kind of like our go to place if we are doing something special. They also have a KILLER chocolate cake dessert. We talked about it and since it had been 45 days since we had either one had a dessert of any kind we thought we should go ahead and share a piece of cake. IT WAS AMAZING and so worth the cheat.
The following day, we started over and recommitted so on we go. I think that Vday, our anniversary and Christmas will be cheat days. I mean dang, diabetic or not 3 desserts a year isn't bad right. It was really nice, I felt terrible afterward, so I got to see the effects of it and it made we WANT to get back on my diet and keep eating better.
I feel like we are trying to make better choices for ourselves and in turn that helps Anderson too.
My mom and dad were here, we had fun with them but since we went to TAOTH it was a fast and furious weekend. Anderson was asking them when he gets to go to their house and play, so I think that might be in the works in a couple of months. I love getting to watch my mom and dad interact with Anderson. It brings back so many good memories and he loves them so much I can just see it all over them. Its great to have such supportive parents, I only hope that I can be as good to Anderson as they were to me and Blake.
We enjoyed our Monday off, since it was Presidents' Day the banks are closed as well as State offices so Ron and I both got to stay home with Anderson and recoop from our weekend and our company. All in all it was a great weekend. I am so looking forward to summer, I hope to get to spend some good QT with my family at the lake.... I hope you all are doing good.

PRAYER REQUEST::
Ron's grandmother (who watches Anderson) was having trouble with her vision and we just found out that she has cataracts. (sp) The doctor told her they aren't "ripe" yet so she just has to live in a state of fog until they get ripe where he can do surgery to remove them. Please keep her in your prayers.

YaYa & PoPs

My mom and dad are coming this weekend to play with Anderson, I am so excited to see them! We had a little family Valentines dinner planned before they decided to come, so my mom told us that we could just go out just the 2 of us. I was excited but felt bad about leaving mom and dad at the house, its Valentines day for them too and I was excited about sharing the day with Anderson. He is so fun around holidays. SOOOO... I called Salt Grass yesterday and made a reservation for 5, I can't think of a better way to spend dinner than with a table full of people I love dearly. I called my mom and told her to bring some clothes to go have dinner one night in so she wouldn't just bring her comfy since they usually like to stay in and play with Anderson all day. I love to be able to take my parents out to eat and things and actually pay for THEIR meal. Lord knows they paid for me and half of Perryton to go and do all those years in high school, and have taken Ron and I out more times than I can count since we have been married. It feels good to try and return the favor!

Ron and I are going to go catch a movie that evening and spend a little time just the 2 of us, but for dinner we will have a full table! I love Valentines Day..

Punky Pie!

I have nothing to talk about specifically, so we are just going to see were this goes. Today at work was very slow so I spend some of my free time planning Anderson's 3rd birthday. I can't believe it. THREE. He already knows that he will be 3, he is a big boy and no longer allows me to call him my punky pie because he is a BIG BOY. Its like when he started to walk but worse. I remember working with him because he wanted to go so bad but just couldn't quite get it all together, then one day he stood up and took about 5 steps. It happened to be in front of me, Ron, and the in-laws and it felt like as soon as he took those 5 steps within a week he was running.

I find myself here again.
We are still working on the potty training thing, he just uses a diaper to go poop in the rest of the time including night time, he is in big boy underwear. I know that just like the walking thing, he will get it, he gets it now it just has to be in his own time. But its like since we put the passy down he has just flown from little baby to big boy all in one fell swoop.

The first of this month I turned in his application to Liberty Academy, its a private school that has a good preK program. When I turned in the application I felt like some one had just kicked me in the gut. Was it time already? For my son to actually start school? He is excited, we have shown him the building which he quickly pointed out the play ground. I know that this will be an adjustment as he has spent most of the last 2 years with Nanny and PawPaw, but I also know that he ready for some interaction with other children.

I just don't understand how time can fly this fast. I remember it like it was yesterday when I was pregnant and couldn't wait for him to get here so I could hold him and show him off. Now I would give anything to slow his little butt down a bit. I am scared, he is just growing up so quickly. WHEW. *big deep breath*
YOU ARE OK.

Life happens fast and I know it does nothing but speed up and all we do is run around like chickens with our heads cut off hoping that the lessons and things we are so desperately trying to teach them stick. I know I have a bright little boy that loves his mommy and daddy, and right now he still loves to shower us with kisses, but I know the day will come when he will tell me that I can't kiss him in front of his friends....

and of course.... because I am who I am, I will DO IT ANYWAY!!!
He will always be my punky pie.

Adventure.

Have you ever done anything to make your husband look at you like he wants to slap you into next week.. only he really isn't kidding? Well for the past 2 days I have received that look more times than I would like to count.

(If you know me or Ron this is very out of character in our relationship, and don't go letting your mind wonder. We are doing just fine living in marital bliss)

We have been since January really working at eating better and exercising more often. Not so much to loose weigh, alothough we both have goals we are working toward meeting, but to get AND STAY healthy. We are actually trying to unlearn bad habits and create some that will be beneficial to me as a diabetic and to our family as a whole.

So why the looks I was talking about? When I was in High School a new VHS excersice system came out called TaeBo. I was crazy about it. I loved it. Until recently, in my opinion, it has been one of the better put together workouts that requires no equipment other than your own body. I saw a new one over Christmas break that sparked my intrest. It was quite a bit more expensive than TaeBo was so I jumped on ebay and bought it from China for a fraction of the cost. Ron said he has never been this sore in his life, but I told him when you are sore you know its working. I also told him this isn't good for him, that I really like this DVD program so far and we are going to weigh and measure to see actual results.

Day 58 of INSANITY
We are on the 2nd day of insanity, we will do the 3rd workout tonight. It is just what it says, INSAINE!! It feels like I am back in the high school gym going through 2 a days workouts. Ron and I are doing them together, and Anderson like to run in and out and has even mastered a push up. The program is a 60 day workout where you workout 6 days a week, rest on the 7th. I am so far loving it. They are hard, they make TaeBo look like a walk in the park, I sweat and pant but I can feel them working already. I am excited to keep going, you do a fit test at the beginning and at 15, 30, 45, and 60; I can't wait to see our improvement.

That is where we are now, Ron gives me a go 2 hell look every time he has to get up because his legs are so sore. I don't mind it though, we are doing good and we are going to keep on truckin..

God Bless Single Mom's

OPERATION Ron is Out of Town::
Ron and I will be celebrating our 7 year wedding anniversary this June. I tell you that to say that in the seven years we have been married I can count on one hand how many times we have spent time away from each other. We were married 3 years before we ever spent a night apart, I went to Houston TX when I was almost 7 months preg with Anderson for my cousins wedding. We left on a Friday and came home on a Sunday. I won't detail the couple other times but this is the first full week that Ron has been gone since we had Anderson, its also the first time for me to be alone in our new house that we bought almost 2 years ago. haha I wanted to give a shout out to single mom's. You don't realize how difficult some of this can be until you are doing it alone. Its the little things that I get overwhelmed with. I don't have some one to keep Anderson busy while I take a shower or bath, if I am cooking, or on the treadmill, or in the shower and he needs to go pee pee... yep, stop what you are doing to help! I have an amazing husband that does above and beyond his part of house work and helping with Anderson so it has been a heck-tick week to say the least; I have loved the one on one time with Anderson but I sure miss my husband too!
Night One (tuesday)
We got a late start on the evening and I was trying to get everything in order for then next morning. We finally got to bed around 10:30pm, I couldn't sleep so I called and talked to Ron for a bit then went to bed. I finally fell asleep a little after 1am. Only to be woke up around 4 because Anderson had an accident, I changed the sheets, got A back to bed, started the washer and laid back down at 5am. My alarm went off @ 5:20am. Ya right, I turned it off and went with my back up alarm for 6:30. We got out the door and headed to Nanny's at 7:45am, I handed him off (luckly he was in a good mood and very cooperative) and jumped back in the car to make it to work by 8am. I pulled into the parking lot at 7:58, whew.
Night Two (Wednesday)
Lastnight was much better. Before I left work I made myself a time line. Ron's Grandmother, Nanny, watches A every day and has been so sweet while Ron has been gone. She has had Anderson fed and supper on the table at 5, which isn't anything new, its just even NICER when you are doing it alone. My time line went as follows ::
6p home from Nanny's
7P treadmill
8p baths
8:30p snack for Anderson
9p in bed
9:15p talk to Daddy
9:30p lights out.

All went according to plan exept for Anderson was a little more chatty than normal so he talked to his Daddy until about 9:30 but we were both pretty much asleep at
10p. Which made for a nice morning, I got up at 6:00 and we were out the door at 6:40 and I got to work with time to spare. Now don't get the wrong idea, just because I am getting into my stride doesn't mean I like this. When Ron is gone its like walking around in a fog. I'm more forgetful, I have to really plan and think things out. (I'm what I would say planned sparatic, I like to know whats going on but not planned out hour by hour) I guess you could say he really does complete me. hahah
Anyway, I said all of this to say, I am ready for my man to come home. I know that if I had to I could do it, I have done it all week. I just wanted to say that women who do it alone day in and day out are spectacular. Who get their kids to school or daycare, get to work, keep house, cook dinner deserve a gold star in my book. And those of us who are blessed enough to have some one to help out should make sure that those people know how much we appreciate it. So many times we forget to tell our spouse the little things that make our days a little eaiser, and with Ron being gone this week it has sure brought a lot of those things to light.

I love you Babe, I can't wait for you to get home!!!!

4 day weekend!!!!

We had a wonderful weekend last weekend! I got to have 2 paid days off because of the weather, and you just can't beat that. Thursday we didn't get called off until about 15 till 8:00 so I was already up and dressed for the day. I was leaving the house to go and pick up Ron for lunch, I put one foot on the step on our front pourch and the next thing I knew I was looking straight up at the sky. I fell. HARD. It knocked the breath out of me and my elbow and the lower left side of my back were already throbbing with pain, but I popped up from that step like an 8 grade cheerleader. I was scared to death that someone saw me fall, and I have to say that I am guilty of laughing when people fall. Not in a mean, I hope they are hurt way, but like the America's Funniest Home Videos I think some of the funniest ones are when people fall, or the chair they are sitting in breaks, or they walk into a wall.. I could go on and on. So I was pretty sore Thursday, and it was worse on Friday, but I didn't care I was so happy to be home. Anderson and I spent all day Friday together, we didn't leave the house once! I even laid down with him and we took a 2 1/2 hour nap, all snuggled up in Mommy and Daddys bed. When we woke up, Anderson helped me cook chicken and dumplings which tasted like a little slice of heaven with the snow outside.
Saturday.. day #3 of my four day weekend..
Ron was off, we got up and stayed in our PJ's all day. It was a wonderful day, just the three of us. We watched movies, I got the laundry caught up. Nothing really special, just a good holesome day with my family. I need more of these.
We ventured out of the house for a little while Saturday, just to see the snow and ice. We went over to Nanny's about 5 and Ron played some dominos. We were ready to go and Anderson said he wanted to stay the night. (at nanny and pawpaws what anderson says goes) He stayed the night! Ron and I went to the movies and saw Book of ELI. Great movie, a little gorry but it had a great story behind it. I like the name Eli, Ron likes Elliot. We don't have a boy name, so every now and then we toss around ideas. Oh Ok stay on track... So after the movie we went home and got in bed at 6:00. That is were we stayed the remainder of the night. It was nice.
Sunday::
We went to pick up Anderson and had breakfast at Nannys. Ron and PawPaw played another game of Dominos and then we left to go home. Ron was ready to shovel the drive way and the sidewalk so Anderson and I attempted a snowman. It kinda looked like a snow blob, so we gathered up our bowl of snow and went in to make snow icecream for the first time. It was yummy. I only had one bite. Anderson and I made a snow icecream man, which wasn't much better looking than the blob outside, but he love love loved the snow icecream!!! I took the leftovers to Nanny and Jimmy. We are cutting back and trying to get healthy and I am pretty sure I could have eaten every single bit of that Icecream.

Here is it January. I swore off cake, candy, coke, donuts, ect the first of the year and I have had NONE.. When my Granny quit smoking years ago she always left an open pack in her car, I asked her why and she said its easy to say you don't smoke when there aren't any around. If I can sit here and know there is some right here and STILL not smoke that is when I know I have quit for good. Well for 2 weeks I have been carrying a snickers in my purse. I will tell you that I have got it out and looked at it at least 3 times. But I put it back and its still there now. I am doing much much better with my diabetes and it all started with letting go of the sweets and getting off of this poor pitiful me mode and get into this I am not going to let this disese take my life over. I am in control for the first time in 4 years and it feels so good!
I am however planning a cheat. Valentines day I was asked to accompany 2 sweet sweet boys to one of our favorite restruants Salt Grass. We are going to have dinner and order a molten chocolate cake to share. I am looking forward to it, but after that, I will not have any sweets again until our 7 year anniversary in June. I figure a little cake 3 times a year won't hurt me.

Duffell vs. Duffell

We had a stand off in the Duffell house lastnight:

I should warn you that this is mostly about going #2. If you want..STOP READING NOW.

Anderson has really been potty trained, other than poopoo for about 2 months now, but he is scared to death to poop in the potty. Last Saturday, he did it, I thought after the first time he would see that it isn't a big deal and just roll on with it. WRONG. He didn't go poop all day Sunday, or on Monday. This is a kid that is clock work, about 10am and again between 5:30 and 7:00pm depending on what time he eats dinner. When I picked him up yesterday from Nanny's house, he was sickly acting, just wanted to be held and cuddled. Nanny thought he was getting sick. I knew better. He needed to poop so bad, but didn't want to go in the potty. I took him home and he was needing to go so bad if he walked he walked on his toes. (I think to get a better clench lol) Anyway, we sat on the potty for 45 minutes. I read 6 books and he cried and cried and begged for a diaper to go poopoo in. I said ok, when you get ready to go, let me know and we will try again. He fell asleep in my arms. While he was asleep he said, I dont want to. Which he had repeated over and over on the potty. Then all the sudden the poop started coming. I got up and ran to the bathroom and set him on the potty and he couldn't stop it now. He was mad as all get out!!

Now I feel terrible. I know he gets it, he tells us every single time he has to go. Other than that, he hasn't had one single accident not even at night. So what do I do? Keep making him try? Give him a diaper just to poop in? I don't know, it makes me feel so terrible to see him sitting on the potty just crying and knowing that he is needing to go poop. I know that he gets it though. He tells us every single time he needs to peepee, with plenty of time, he doens't wet the bed at nap or bed time. I know that this is new and there will be accidents but right now I just have so much guilt eating at me. I guess that is part of the joy of being a parent. Its like its 6 this way and half a dozen the other.

I know that he will get it soon, but what about now? I dont want my baby to hold it in and make his little belly hurt. Who knows.

Changes.

There are a lot of changes that will be going on around our house in the next 9 months. No I am not preggo, but that might be easier to wrap my head around. Let me give you a little history here.
When we moved to Shawnee about 2 years ago, Ron's grandparents, who we are extremely close with wanted to move as well. There were several family matters that had nothing to do with us that contributed to their decision to move. We all knew that this was not going to be a permanent move, they own there house where they moved from and have kept it. The plan was that they were going to move here until their health started getting bad then they would move on back and live in their old house and have a cousin take care of them. (this has all been set up for several years now)They have been talking about moving back for about 3 months, but the plans were in a couple of years, after Anderson got started in a full time school program.

Plans Changed.

Let me start by saying, I'm not mad, in fact I am very thankful. Anderson has got to stay with his Nanny and Pawpaw for almost 2 years now. Since we moved here he has not had to go to a daycare or be around people that I don't know. (one of the draw backs of moving some where new.) He has been able to spend Monday - Friday from 8-5 with 2 people that I know love that boy as much I we do! That is a very comforting thought. He goes on field trips to the grocery store, the hardware store, and is the only 2 1/2 year old I know that can tell you were Lowes, and Ace is. He does projects with his PawPaw, including building fence, laying concrete, working in the garden. These things you just don't get at daycare. But he is almost 3 and we have been around the idea of putting into a 3 year old preK program. Since Nanny and PawPaw got wind of this there have been a whirl wind of things happen in the matter of about 48 hours. Nanny found out that a cousin of hers that lives in Texas is wanting to move back to Shawnee to be closer to his family. He has come and stayed with them here in Shawnee a couple of times, and it just so happens they love their house here. The contract will be up in September so they brought it up and asked if they would want to sell the house to them? (the original idea was that he could get a rent house for a year or two and then buy Nanny and Jimmy's house when they decided to move) Well Nanny's head started spinning and she decided that if he was willing to buy it, they should just go ahead and move back and let them buy it in Sept that way it will be a smooth transition from one place to another for every one involved.

New Plans:

We are going this week to fill out an enrollment packet to a private school here in Shawnee. They have a really good preK program and if we choose to they go all the way through 12th grade. What we are thinking right now is leave him there through first grade then move him into public school. Anyway, long story longer. We are very excited about Anderson going to school, he is so smart anyway I am excited to see him play with kids his own age and start all the little arts and crafts for me to paste all over my fridge. I am praying for him to have a smooth transition, I think he will be fine, he talks about going to school all the time so I think he will really enjoy this! Its funny how things change and turn and you never know what direction you will be going in. I think that God some times has a way of giving you a gentle push to show you the direction He is wanting you to head in.

A new start...

I had a doctor apointment yesterday to go over my liver enzymes, which you may or may not remember were high for a couple of months. When I went in, I talked to my doctor and we discussed my options for my future. Ron and I are wanting to try and add to the family the end of this year sometime, I need to be healthy and have good b/s for several months prrior to getting preggo. We decided that insulin will be my best route, we have exhausted several different options with no luck at bringing my sugar down.

The game plan:
I am on 2 types of insulin now. One that I take at night called Levemir, it's a long acting insulin which means it stays in my system for 24 hours. I also take Novolog with every meal, whether it be 2 or 4, this is a fast acting insulin used to counter act the food that you eat in your system and prevent the spike in blood sugar after meals. I normally try and eat 3 to 4 small meals a day, so I take 3 to 4 shots of the Novolog depending on the amount of carb intake. I am some what used to this, I was on the same thing while I was preggo with Anderson. The shots don't bother me and since Anderson is comfortable around it that makes me feel a lot more at ease than it would if he was scared of the shot. My sugar is already lower today than it has been in probably 6 months. I took one dose of the fast acting lastnight, one with breakfast and one with lunch today, as well as the long lasting before I went to bed lastnight and my sugar when I checked it a while ago was 119. That is amazing.

My goal:
To stay on it. To keep it up. I have done really good with the no sweet stuff, that has made a huge difference. A HS friend of mine told me about a snack that she ate while she was preg and had diabetes, sugar free bananna pudding. YUMMY. So I am going to try and do my best to get things under control and maybe even get on a pump. We are really hoping to have another little Duffell in the family the end of the year.

Anderson keeps saying he wants a baby Carlee at our house. (a cousin that he got to hold and feed.) When we ask him if he wants a boy or a girl he tells us a baby Carlee, so... we will be crossing our fingers for a girl, but I will go ahead and put this on record... I think we will have another boy. I dont konw why, I just do! Of course either is fine, just happy and healthy.

Duffell Shuffell...

The last few months this is what it has felt like we have been doing. With the holidays behind us, and our house finally rented, its like we are taking a breath and SLOWING down a bit. Which is nice, don't get me wrong, I love the hustle and bustle of the Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year, and my Birthday season, but by the time they all get done, we are.. whats the song.. I'm ready for a slow down...

We have made some pretty drastic changes around the Duffell house since new years. I am not trying to refer to any of it as a new years resolution because its more like a goal. My dad bet me that if I could stop eating sweets IE brownies, cake, candy, sugar ect that he would stop smoking. So far so good. I haven't had anything sweet since Jan 1, not even birthday cake on my BIRTHDAY!! So since I was taking that pretty serious Ron decided to jump on board and so we are cutting back, kind of counting calories and and exercising in the evenings. I am having a blast with it, and Ron is really helping me to stay motivated. Watching Anderson play with us and exercise and laugh is so much fun!! We are hoping to trim up and get ready for the lake this summer, so I am hoping that we stay focused.

Ron is so good to me and helping me go through and cut things out and helping me eat better for my diabetes, I am so lucky to have a such a wonderful person to share my life with. He truely cares for me and he wants me to be healthy as well. I love him more today that I did when we first fell in love.

So far life is good and things are going good. I hope that twenty ten finds you and yours great as well.

My future doctor

I know we all have high hopes for our kids, I don't care one way or the other what Anderson grows up to be, I just want him to be happy and enjoy whatever he does. None the less, its fun to make predictions based on your childs intrest. So here is my first occupation prediction for Anderson:


Every night before we go to bed Anderson reminds me to take my shot. After watching me for about a week he wanted to help. Now with my supervision, he gets my shot bag out every night - puts a new needle on it, then hands it to me. I load it and poke it in, then Anderson pushes the top to administer the insulin. Then I pull it out and take the needle off, then he kisses my ouchy and puts the insulin pen bag in the bag and zips it. It's so cute! Maybe one day he will be a doctor. I thought this was pretty goo for a 2 1/2 year old!!!