Getting to know your friends...Christmas edition

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1.. Wrapping paper or gift bags? ~~~wrapping paper~~~
2. Real tree or Artificial? ~~~real tree~~~
3. When do you put up the tree? ~~~couple weeks before~~~
4. When do you take the tree down? ~~~after NewYears~~~
5. Do you like eggnog? ~~~NO~~~
6. Favorite gift received as a child? ~~~barbies~~~
7. Hardest person to buy for? ~~~Mom~~~
8. Easiest person to buy for? ~~~Zach~~~
9. Do you have a nativity scene? ~~~No, but want one~~~
10. Mail or email Christmas Cards? ~~~Mail~~~
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? ~~~coal~~~
12. Favorite Christmas Movie?~~~polar express~~~
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? ~~~varies~~~
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? ~~~no~~~
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? ~~~candycanes~~~
16. Lights on the tree? ~~~of course...got some new ones this year that are icecicles~~~
17. Favorite Christmas song? ~~~Silent Night~~~
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? ~~~Stay home, unfortunatly~~~
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? ~~~N0~~~
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? ~~~Angel, Bob's grandmothers~~~
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? ~~~Morning~~~
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? ~~~overly crowded stores~~~
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? ~~~dont really have one~~~
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? ~~~Healthy Family~~~

What are your answers?

Didnt realize how choked up I would get

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I just realized I won some of the wonderful prizes from the MomDot Christmas of Dreams contest! I really almost thought of pulling my entry because there were so many families that could really use the gifts more than us. I really thought these would be a great way for us to be able to give to some families in the hospital, that are going through what we went through last Christmas. Now I am off to try to plan our visit to the hospital and figure out how to go about bringing Kennedy to give the gifts to the children...I also want to make up something more to go along with some of the gifts that we won. We have a couple appointments at Childrens this week so I think I will try to talk to a hospital social worker or staff member to make arrangements.

Thank you MomDot and sponsors! Lisa you truly deserve the grand prize...God bless you! Thank you for sharing the items that you and your son would not use.

I am so touched by all the stories and hope everyone can have the christmas of their dreams!

Decorate

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Well I decided we had to decorate something for Kennedy...

So I decorated her IV pole for her feeding pump. She has been staring at it since.

Christmas decorating

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Well I am debating on putting up some Christmas decorations. Hubby thinks it is still too early, but I am bored and think I will pull out stuff today. We bought some snowflake lights to hang from the outside of the house, but last night I was thinking that there is no way for me to plug them in out front. We only have an outlet out back, and we didnt get lights to go all around the house. Hmmm? What to do?

Hubby is off the naughty list

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I think he is trying to not be so "humbug" since his comment about Santa. I think after remembering last Christmas he wants everything to be better this year. He said we need to decorate more this year and try to make it more special. We went out last night and got new lights for the tree and even some snowflake lights for the front of the house(he has never hung lights outside)...and he didnt even complain that we spent over $50 on lights. Then he wanted another turkey so we stopped and got another one(he likes to deep fry, I like it in the oven)...anyways, he even bought a turkey for a stranger in the grocery store last night!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VylpzbG_tA

Happy Thanksgiving!

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I am very thankful for all that I am blessed to have! I am blessed with a great family, near and far. I am so thankful for all the prayers we have recieved this year from all our family and friends. I am so thankful for all the doctors, teachers, and therapists that work with both of my children. I am thankful for my daughters smile and my sons laugh(even if he is faking)! I am thankful for my husband and that he sticks by me even when I am melting down. I am thankful for my family that has been able to visit and help us through this rough year. I am thankful for my friends(in person and online) that have listened to me and comforted me.

I am so thankful that I have been able to share this day and hopefully the next with all my loved ones! I am truly blessed and for that I am thankful!

editting to add~~~After writing this last night the day 12 Momdot Blog party question was to write about this comment:

"I’m Thankful this Year because"…. They must have read my mind...although I am sure a lot of other bloggers also already wrote about this. Again Happy Thanksgiving!

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Sponsors: Day Eleven Blog Party Question is Brought to you by Shishu Style and Mimsi Bags.

Day 11 Question:

I you could only pick one food to eat on Thanksgiving, what would it be? I know, pure torture! Do you have a home-cooked meal or eat out? Does your family dress up?

mmm...tough question...I think I would eat the stuffing if it was just dinner stuff...or the apple pie if it was just dessert stuff...I think overall the apple pie wins out...especially if it is my grandmas!

We do a home cooked meal. I have never gone out to eat on Thanksgiving. No our family doesnt dress up. We just like to be comfy!

Happy Thanksgiving! Hope everyone gets to eat more than just one thing!

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Go visit Christines blog Power of Housewife Word of Mouth and enter your chance to win a build a bear Wii game. This is her very first sponsor of a contest and is very excited to give everyone this chance! This is also a great way to spread the word to go to ebay and check out the celebrity designed build a bears to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern California. There are some really cute bears there...go check them out, bid, and help support a great cause!

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Sponsors: Day Ten Blog Party Question is Brought to you by Organic Blankees, Huddy Buddy, and Baby Legs.

Da 10 Question: Do you decorate for the holidays? Do you have a themed tree? Share pics! Do you think there is such thing as OVER decorating?

Well of course we decorate. I love decorating the tree, and love homemade decorations. We have never had a themed tree...I love the decorations made by the kids in school or from when I was a child. I loved decorating last year and having the kids sing along to the Christmas songs playing in the background. We had a lot of fun. I think as long as you keep the meaning of Christmas in your decorations then there isnt any over decorating.

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Click on the picture for your chance

of the "Christmas of Dreams" giveaway.

On November 28th, MomDot will be pulling ONE winner to win prizes from all of these amazing sponsors to help you celebrate a Christmas of Dreams at your house this year.


Sponsors are (and subject to be adding more as the month goes on):
Dyson
BabyPop
The Shrunks
Soda Club
Kadi Prescott
Uncommonly Cute
Lollipop Book Club
Kuster
Silly Monkeez
LA Plates
Natitys Design
Little Black Box
Koshas
Kidz Sunglasses
jaC Jewelry
Appledonia
LeapFrog
Mutsy
Kushies
Huddy Buddy
Mimsi-Bags
BottleWise
Lets Go Strolling
DaBib
Sassy Baby
Baby Legs
Scentsy
FeeFiFoto
Randi100
Organic Blankees
Shi Shu Style
Georgie Tees



To win these prizes from these great sponsors would be such a great way for us to give back. Last year while Kennedy was in the hospital it was great seeing a couple families come in and give to the children in the hospital. I would love to do the same! I could just picture Kennedys sweet smiling face giving gifts to other children! She has always been able to give the gift of a smile! I would also love to see her face light up this year when she sees some special gifts for herself and her brother while we are able to spend this Christmas at home!

Some perfect gifts from the sponsors above...that I would love to give to some children in the hospital would be:

~~ Sunny the fearless guard dog from "The Shrunks"

~~ Some books like "The Polar Express" or "A Mouse Before Christmas" from "lollipop book club" (picked these titles because I love "the polar express" and my nickname is mouse).

~~such adorable tshirts from "appledonia" like this little brown mouse...so cute!

~~some leg/arm warmers like the pink flame warmers from "Babylegs" would be great ...in the hospital you get so cold wearing those gowns! They would be great also for a special friend of ours and I like the flame ones because she would look cool cruising in her wheelchair(shot out to Lydia!)

~~The Cat in the Hat Tag gift pack from "Leapfrog" ...I would love this for Kennedy and it would be a great gift for children in the hospital. Kennedy was lucky and recieved a leappad from santa last year in the hospital(unfortunatly the cord makes it difficult...but with tag it would be much easier). Kennedy loves Dr. Seuss books and just giggles and giggles when you read them. We would love to share these giggles with some other children.

~~A Soda Maker , from "Soda Club" would be pretty cool to make some special drinks for the holiday...for Kennedy drinking and eating is very difficult...but she loves bubbly drinks!

~~ "Im a Tough Little Monkey" shirt from "sillymonkeez" would be a great little gift...especially for a little boy like Landon. I would have to send this off to him...as he is such a tough monkey and would love to wear it when he gets to go see KoKo at the San Diego Zoo(which the family is selling warrior bracelets to help raise money for him to go...check out his site).

~~ A beautiful nursing cover from "Natitys Design" would be great for moms and their babies for a little privacy while being in the hospital.

~~ A cute photo pillow from "FeeFiFoto" with maybe a pic of their family or favorite pet to snuggle with in their hospital bed would be a great gift.

As you see these sponsors offer great gifts for our family, your family and we would especially love to share some of these this year with some families that are in the same place we were last year. God Bless them!

What a busy day...Monday Madness

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Gotcha....tagged with a snowball!

Well I woke up to our first accumulating snowfall...and of course hubby was out of town. So I had to hurry and shovel our quite large driveway. Kennedy had the lab coming sometime by 8am and it was 7am. I finished it about 10 minutes before she got to the house..and that was because she was late from all the snow. Then I had to hurry and get both the kids and myself ready for the day before the physical therapist came to the house. She was coming early and then we were going to Kennedys school early for a thanksgiving party. We made it out and dropped Kennedy off...then Zach and I went to the playground and played in the snow for a while. He had a lot of fun. Then we joined her class for lunch before he had to go to school himself. Then I went back to Kennedys class. We had a half hour after we got home before she had occupational therapy...phewww then I thought I would rest...ok so really I meant I would try to get a fire going in the fireplace and start making dinner. Then Bob got home. He finished getting the fire going because mine didnt want to stay lit. I finished making a yummy lasagna..and finally able to sit and relax!

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Sponsors: Day Nine Blog Party Question is Brought to you by jaC Jewelry, Cutie Covers and Sassy Baby

Day 9 questions:

What is the most unusual gift you’ve received? It doesn’t have to be bad, just unusual.
What was one of your favorite gifts?
Do you think re-gifting is OK?


Well I dont really remember anything really unusual...the only thing that comes to mind is when my sisters and I received a huge box from our Aunt Marge and Uncle Jim. We unwrapped it and then there was another box..unwrapped it ..and so forth until we came to one small box...it had a piece of coal in it! Ha Ha Ha!

Favorite gifts: I loved barbies...so anything barbie was always great.

Regifting: No...I would never regift something. I might give it away, but not as a gift to someone else. I remember in elementary school one year we did a christmas gift exchange. I remember being so bummed because I picked out something I thought was really nice and then I received an empty tootsie roll bank. Thanks for that regift...lol(didnt even get the tootsie rolls).

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what a nice surpise to see I received another award...thank you Christine.

The award is a pretty portuguese award meaning:

"This blog invests and believes, in ‘proximity’ [meaning, that blogging makes us ‘close’ - being close through proxy]. These blogs are all charming and they aim to show the marvels of friendship. Let’s give more attention to them! So with this prize we must deliver it to eight bloggers that in turn must make the same thing and put this text.”

I am so happy to see that my blog is getting spread around and people enjoy reading about my little family!

My eight people:

Famous Words of Caitlynn

special momma

Life one day at a time

till the short bus

Our Journey Home

Mommy Goggles

Keeper of the Cheerios

One beautiful life

There are caring and helpful people

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There are so many times I read about other parents experiences out and about with their disabled child...and how people have been rude(or so they think). Many times I myself try to just ignore those that might stare too much, or look away quickly...I dont take it personally ...there are so many people that just dont know how to be around a person with a disability. If people ask questions...I dont take it as they are being rude...There are many around that have never really been around disabled people and just dont know what to say. I think educating people is the best way for them to become more accepting.

So today I am just sharing my shopping experience...so that people see that there are caring people and you can go out and not be stared at. We went to toys r us saturday. I am sure we looked pretty interesting...mom, daughter in wheelchair, son in shopping cart...mom pushing wheelchair and pulling cart through crowded store. I do not think I had anyone staring. I had at least 3 customers ask if they could help push the cart for me. Then I had a customer run all the way to the back of the store to check for an item I forgot while I stood in line...and then another customer save her place and push her cart in line for her. Then we had another couple let us jump in front of them because I almost walked out of the store with my son holding unpaid for matchbox cars...then another offering to help us out. I just could not get over how generous and helpful so many different people were on one day! A day that could have been really stressful was actually a pleasant day out. (now if only the employees were as nice as the other customers...but oh well).

Lets party at 4am

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So that is what my kiddos thought. My hubby was supposed to be leaving at 3am to go with a few friends to a football game several hours away. Well thanks to the ones that were an hour late my kids both heard him up and decided it would be good to get up also. I tried getting them both to go back to sleep...but gave up. So now it is 5pm and I am tired and ready for bed...and I doubt I will be able to go to bed early because my son took a nap an hour ago.

sign card and support make-a-wish

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It's easy. It's fun. It's free! By signing this card, Frecklebox will donate $1.00 to The Make-A-Wish Foundation, up to $2500- so please pass it on and help grant wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions.



I signed...please sign it and pass it on. For those that dont know...make-a-wish is very dear to us. My daughter Kennedy received a wish this past year.



http://www.groupcard.com/c/3HjdAnQEioY/ol

(Kennedy in her princess wish room)

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Sponsors: Day Eight Blog Party Question is Brought to you by Koshas, Leapfrog and Soda Club.

Question of the day:

Do you shop on Black Friday? What time do you start? Do you finish all your shopping on that day? What’s the best deal you have found? What’s your shopping strategy?

I dont really have a shopping strategy...and kind of shop when I can. Sometimes I will shop on black friday, but it depends if there is really something that I think is worth the extra hassle and cant get on other days. I havent started the early shopping since I lived in NY and would head out with my mom early...now it is too hard with my kids. Lately I look around online and try to see who has some deals, check ebay or amazon...or I just go to the stores and look around.

Win dvd bundle from momdot

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http://www.momdot.com/christmas-dvd-bundle-contest-5-winners/#comment-69321

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Day Seven Blog Party Question is Brought to you by Sillymonkeez and My Baby Bump

Tell us who is on your naughty list? Who is on your nice list? Why?

well my naughty list: my husband who is the grinch! Seeing he upset me the night before last he is on the nuaghty list. Santa came on tv and I said to Zach "look its santa"...then Bob pipes in and tell him " dont let them fool you..there is no santa...I am sick of santa taking all the credit for the parents hard work ..and the parents get no credit!"....Err I was MAD!

everyone else is on my nice list!

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Sponsors: Day Six Blog Party Question is Brought to you by Flying Colors Baby, Uncommonly Cute and Lollipop Book Club.

We would like to know what is your favorite holiday memory from your childhood(todays question):

I have so many wondeful holiday memories growing up...we always had warm homes to visit and lots of family and friends to share the holidays with! Some of my favorites:

~Having breakfast at grandma and grandpas

~doing christmas exchange with my godparents and family

~visitting with all the family on christmas eve at grandmas

~going to midnight mass

With all these warm memories in my thoughts I want to send out a message:

I hope all my family and friends have a wonderful holiday season! I really miss everyone and wish we could be "home" to see everyone. I also want to thank everyone that visitted, sent cards, and prayers for Kennedy last Christmas! Last year was so rough and all your prayers got us through it! Even through all that happened last Christmas...when I was doing the question for the day...the thing I thought of first (even though it wasnt about my childhood) was how happy Kennedy was last year when we were decorating our Christmas tree. She only got to spend that day home...but she was having a great time and was singing to the christmas carols we were playing. It is a great memory!

Some pictures of this week

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Kennedy lost a tooth yesterday. Here she is excited to check if the tooth fairy came, then she decided to play peek a boo, then the prize...whoo hoo the tooth fairy came!

Zach waiting for the bus

Kennedy rocking out!

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Sponsors: Day Five Blog Party Question is Brought to you by Baby Pop and Chic Covers

Today, make a blog post about what you do to give back during the holidays. Do you volunteer your time? If so, please tell us where. What do you do to teach your children the true meaning of the holidays?

I honestly dont give back as much as I should or would like to. I have given to toys for tots, but have never done a lot of "extra's".

I do volunteer...I help out at my daughters school. I help one of the teachers a couple hours a week.

As far as teaching my children the true meaning of the holidays...that has been a difficult one. I dont think my children really understand much about God. I really should try harder with them.

Blog party....starting late

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Well I just joined mom blogs at MomDot. It is a great way to check out others blogs and spread my blog around. Come check them out and join the blog party!

The party question today is brought to you by Bottlewise and Glow Mama.

party questions:

What is your favorite Holiday recipe?

My favorite is probably just my moms very simple stuffing. Just take a loaf of bread, a couple stalks of celery, small onion and a little salt, pepper and poultry seasoning to taste. Saute the celery and onions in some butter. Pour over the bread(broken into pieces). Add the seasonings and some chicken broth to moisten. Stuff the turkey and bake...Pretty simple, yet yummmmy!

Describe your Holiday table.

Well unfortunatly my holiday table is normally very small these days. Since I moved from NY to WI we dont have much family around for the holidays. Some holidays we have a couple friends over. Last year was the most family we had around for a holiday....but we unfortunatly spent it in the hospital with our daughter. We will not repeat that this year!

What is your biggest Holiday cooking disaster?

Well this would probably be more of a clean up disaster than cooking disaster. A couple years ago my husband decided to play Emeril and do a cajun infused deep fried turkey. Ok so when he was using the infuser to stuff the turkey with the seasonings it pretty much exploded all over my kitchen. I had to clean the wall, cupboards, husband, and the worst.... almost the whole ceiling!

something to check out...great for gift giving ideas

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www.mommygoggles.com

I found this blog tonight looking for Christmas gift ideas for the kids. It has great reviews with videos! Check it out, you can even get a chance to win some things!

Send some prayers for Bob's Uncle Art

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We just received a phone call that Bob's Uncle Art is in the hospital. He had a heart attack. Please send some prayers for him, that the doctors can help and that he will be back in good health very soon!

We love you Uncle Art...stay strong!

Send letters to Santa...support Make-A-Wish

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http://www.macysbelieve.com/#/PostOffice

Write a letter to Santa and help make wishes come true
Starting November 9, bring your stamped letter to Macy’s addressed to Santa At The North Pole, and drop it into the special Santa letterbox. The letters will be counted, and for each letter received, Macy’s will donate $1 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation up to $1,000,000. The letters will be brought to the Post Office for mailing to Santa.For more information on the Believe campaign, please visit www.macys.com/believe.

I am again asking for lots of prayers for Landon

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If you go to our last post it has his caringbridge page. He has a mitochondrial disorder like Kennedy...and their last update was that he needed to be placed in a pentobarb coma(like what we had to do for Kennedy last winter). Please pray this is what his little body needs to fight his illness! Watching your child go through all this and then being put into a coma is such an emotional time!

Please send some prayers to Landon

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http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/landonweber

I would love if everyone who reads this could send a nice prayer along for Landon to get better. He is sick again and might need to go back to the PICU soon....so lots of prayers are needed that they figure out what is causing the illness now and can treat it and get him home with his family!

11/11 update: please send lots of prayers for Landon...He did end up in the PICU and is not doing well.

Pretty Princess getting nails done

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Pretty in Pink!

Zach having fun.... Wiiiiiiiiiii!

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Well wasnt I pleasantly surpised to find I got this award from a long time online friend. Thanks Tiffany ! Everyone should check out her great blog! I havent been blogging for too long so this is great to see that people think my blog is interesting enough to keep checking back!

The rules of the award:

1. List 6 things about yourself

2. Pass this award on to others

So for my not so juicy things about myself:

1. I really dont know a whole heck of a lot about computers...everything I have pretty much learned is just from goofing around.

2. I am volunteering at Kennedys school while she goes(only goes 3 hrs a week)...well there are days already that I feel like skipping school....pathetic huh!

3. Saw 4 is out now...and I really want to see it....I love scary movies!

4. Speaking of scary. I have had to tell my hubby to quit watching news channels in bed...because I have dreams about what is on the news. I had one once that I brought Kennedy to school and had to run to wally world...and we were then attacked by terrorists. Not a fun dream!

5. I am so boring trying to find 6 things about myself to type is getting difficult!

6. Hey I just found a penny...and it is heads up! I still do the silly "pick up a penny" thing...heds up good luck...and dont pick up tails up cause that is bad luck. Guess I should have good luck today. "find a penny, pick it up, all day long you'll have good luck"

So for the second part: pass the award to others~~~ I think I will pass this along to a few people that I found their blogs, but dont really know...and dont think they really know me.

1. Mighty Mathew

2.My Crazy Normal Life

3.One Beautiful Life!

4. Our Jouney Home