Photohunt: furry

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Theme: Furry

This is my nephew Connor and my moms dog toby!

Thye are both pretty furry!

(he put himself in there)

Friday Fitness....I want my cake and eat it too!

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Well I am kind of bummed cause I have made sure to exercise everyday for at least a half an hour....but I am at the same weight as last week. I guess having a birthday with some cake doesnt help...but I didnt think I was doing too bad though. Guess I need to try better this week.

On a good note using my Wii fit for my exercise I have done good getting to my high scores on hoola hoop, boxing and advanced step. I also am adding in more arm movements for the step and making it a better work out. My goal for this week is to add in 15 minutes of stregnthening along with my 30min of aerobics....and doing better at watching my diet.

A thousand Words Thursday...Rainbow

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This is from our trip to Hawaii, Volcanoes National Park.

I loved the rainbows there. You could catch so many rainbows and could see one end to the other.

special exposure Wednesday: past park days

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I love the days of the kids really enjoying the park! Sometimes I feel so sad looking back because Kennedy cant enjoy climbing around the park like she used to. We do try our best when we go for her to have a good time. Now we take longer strolls around and make sure to check out the petting zoo part during the summer months. Occassionally we will scoop her up and sit her on our lap and take her down the slides or on the swings.

silly monkey stories : Ribbit!

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Sisters

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Today as I was reading some other blogs that I follow I found myself thinking about my sisters and about sibling relationships. Chefdruck was discussing being the oldest of three sisters and how they had those typical fights and now as adults have things that pull them together. Her post seemed so much like my sisters and I. I am the middle of 3 girls. I really understand now why my father was so quiet....3 girls! As children we fought like crazy. I remember my older sister, Shawn, getting so mad at me because I was in the bathroom during "her" time. She even picked up the curling iron and burnt me...yes she did...I locked her out of the bathroom after that. I was so mad back then and now look back and think how funny it was. My little sister, Carrie, She was always fighting with us. She was the youngest and made sure we knew she was in charge...lol! Now she stays pretty busy with her family and her horses! I hated horses...so that never pulled us together. Even though we dont have tons of stuff that interests us in common when I visit my family we are close. We always have tons of stuff to talk about. WE are always there for each other when it is needed! Even back then...fighing and all...we stood up for each other. If a school friend would say something about a sister...it was like, hey I can say that, but it isnt cool if you say it! I think that fighting and making up really helps us grow and helps us learn about relationships.

Love you Shawn and Carrie!

Magic Marker Monday: Social Stories

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This week I thought I would share Zachary's bus Social story his speech therapist made. I do not have all the pages listed but this gives a good idea. He really enjoys this. It has helped some at school and since we have had the book getting off the bus has not been an issue. We had issues of him throwing himself down when he had to get on and off the bus. He really likes the bus but he has transition issues and the fact that he knows it means that his school day is over.

In this pic the parts on the right that didnt come out well in the pic show pics of a child falling and mention that he should fall on the ground. That it hurts.

Bye Bye Bus! He always likes to say!

United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation ...support Tiny TPN Turtles

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Christopher's 5K Fun Run/Walk is being held Feb. 7th in Houston. Click here to go to the page to make a donation and help support the UMDF and find a cure for Mitochondrial disease. You can also see a video there about Landon http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/landonweber who will be participating in a group called Tiny TPN Turtles. We always ask for continuing prayers for Landon and other children with mitochondrial disease! You can go to his caringbridge page to see about his recent make-a-wish trip to disney world.

Sunday Smile : William Tell Mom Song

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This is so Funny! Dont ya feel like this by Wednesday Mornings?

Identification Devices LLC "ID"....A way to help my children in an emergency.

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Having two children with special needs I have been searching for an item that can provide me with a sense of security while my children are away from me. I have found that item.... Identification Devices "iD". Identification Devices iD is a custom flash drive that can be easily read by most emergency technicians via their windows computer.

Last year Kennedy was taken by ambulance to the ER(from school) with out me being present. She has a progressive disorder and has an emergency room protocol. Now having the iD the EMT's can easily have access to the ER protocol and all her critical medical information. In emergencies I find it hard to remember all the medications she is on, the specific IV solution to use, the tests that should always be ran, and the doctors phone numbers. With the iD all this information is easily accessable by just slipping the device into their Windows USB drive All the information I entered onto the device automatically appears and is conveniently ready for the emergency technicians.

iD offers emergency technicians with information such as name, emergency contacts, a list of your current health conditions, medications, medical history, blood type, a list of your physicians, so you can be properly treated at the scene of an incident. In addition, the device can also contain a recent photo, and other medical documents such as living wills and Do Not Resuscitate orders.

iD is not as well known as some other types, such as medical alert bracelets, so they have included along with their ID, the universal medical symbol on each device. This symbol lets emergency technicians know that this device can be helpful to save your life.

The devices are designed to not only save your life, but also to enable the safe return of your missing child, or your parent who's suffering from Alzheimers disease. I also plan on using this for my son, Zachary. He has autism and rarely answers questions. There have been many times I have been nervous about losing him in public areas and him not being able to tell them who he is. With this device, his name and pertinent information would be available, as well as my contact information.

Click here for applications of using iD.

The device can be attached to an adults keyring,to an alzheimers patients article of clothing, to a child's backpack, or even in a hikers medical kit. For Kennedy I attach this to her feeding tube backpack which she always has with her while we are out. For Zachary I would attach this to his clothing while we are on an outing.

When I received the iD it was very easy to set up. You simply plug the USB flash drive into an open port on your windows computer, and after the ID form appears automatically, fill in the information in the requested fields. You enter all the information yourself, without passing the information to the company. This way all your information is kept confidential. There are no fields for social security numbers or credit card information so any issues of identity theft are eliminated. Once the form is completed, you click the SAVE button so the information is copied to the device. An overwrite password protection is also included so you can guard against the information being changed, unless you want to change it. You can save up to 10 critical documents, such as living wills, ER protocols, or court orders. You simply need to have them stored on your computer and then upload them onto the device. Also if you have a recent photo that can also be uploaded onto the device. Once all your information is saved on your device you can also print the ID form. You can easily change the information also if needed. You just need to once again insert the iD in your USB drive, open the form, enter password, and change the information, remembering to save again. The print option for us is great. Whenever we have a doctors appointment I can print the current info and then I can be assured they have all our recent information.

I am really happy with this device. Thank you Chris Owens, owner of Identification Devices LLC, for providing me with a newly acquired sense of security! I am confident that iD will provide emergency technicians with the critical information needed. I can now feel more relaxed and assured that my children will be well taken care of in an emergency!

You can purchase an Identifications Devices iD online.

http://www.identificationdevices.net/

Or by calling toll free (866)955-0535

Identification Devices LLC

2598 E. Willow Wick Ct.

Sandy, UT 84093

iD - Critical Information...........in a flash!

click here for other success stories

Seperating the kids

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Well today I am sitting here listening to Mickey Mouse Clubhouse from two seperate rooms...total surround sound! I have seperated the kids! Why you ask...Have they been fighting? Are they in trouble? Nope not at all. They never fight! This is what happens when one child gets sick and you are trying to avoid getting the other child sick. Poor Zach has been not feeling well this week. He has been acting tired, rubbing his ears, peeing his pants, and constantly laying down in school. Totally not himself. So Thursday I took him to the doctors, but he couldnt find anything wrong. Then it hit Friday...he started vomitting! Ugghh...I think I have one of the pukiest houses around. My couches and floors (and even poor Kennedy one time) have been puked on so many times I cant even tell you anymore. Between one child that had to get used to tube feeding and then having motility issues to the other child with food aversions and extreme gag reflex and then illnesses on top of those...I know how to clean up the messes without even bothering me anymore! So today I am going to try to keep Zach away from Kennedy as much as possible and use lots of hand sanitizer. A stomach bug for him kind of wipes him out...but a stomach bug for Kennedy could lead to a hospital stay! On top of this poor Kennedy might be lonely today...because I woke up with a sore throat!

Fitness Friday: Week 3

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Ok...so food wise I wasnt quite as good this week. The beginning of the week I made too many things for dinner that I really like. I ate probably more than I should have, but still less than I normally would have. I tried to make up for it towards the end and didnt make things that I wanted to chow down.

exercise I have done well. I used my Wii fit 30minutes a day(at least) for 8 days. Last night was the first night I didnt exercise, needed a break. I killed my self hoola hooping the night before. I think that gives you such a work out doing it a couple times in a row. Weight: I am down 2 lbs. I am at a total loss of 9 pounds.

Mom Time in 09 : Time Saving Tips

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Check out Jolly Mom or Go Graham Go and find out what others time savings tips are!

What are some of your time saving tips?

For me the biggest thing is when I have run to doctors appointments earlier than I would normally leave the house. I really try to plan ahead for these days. For example yesterday Kennedy has a long day of doctors appointments. One thing I did was get her tube feeding supplies for that day all together and her medications and packed them up. I also packed up her care notebook and other information I needed to take along. I got her bag ready with the necessities and got her clothes set out. That morning I got up and got myself ready, and then loaded the car up. I then got her dressed and ready to go as she was still sleeping.

Another thing I regularly do is check the kids bags when ever they come home from school immediately. I sign any papers or repack anything that needs to go the next day...that way it doesnt get forgotten.

A thousand words thursday...Kennedy

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This is my sweet daughter Kennedy.

I just love this pic.

She looks so precious here. This was from Our wedding.

Mom time in '09 kickoff! Me time

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Ok so today is the kickoff of the "Mom Time in '09 party" over at Jolly Mom and Go Graham Go. They are having lots of Mommy prizes and interesting topics.

Today they are asking all of us "How do you take time for yourself". Me ....hmmm??? Good question. Sometimes I feel like I dont. Other times I feel like I need to do more family stuff. Typically me time is after the kids are off to bed I either play on the computer or watch a show I recorded. I love my hospital shows...Grays Anatomy, House, Private Practice, etc. Once in a while I get lucky and get to do some shopping with out any children. Then on a very rare occassion I go and visit my family out of state and con my sister into kind of watching the kids while I nap while we are supposed to be watching Days of our Lives! Ha ha thanks Shawn!

So head on over the both sites and join the party!

Sunday Smile...Good puppy!

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I saw these online...not sure who makes them...but they are so adorable!

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Photohunt: Theme hats

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(click on pic to go see more or share your own) Here is my son when he was just under a year old. Here is my daughter when she was just under a year old.

This my husband Bob, several years ago, standing at the top of a cliff overlooking a lake.

Man, he is so skinny in this pic

(and I dont see him often with a hat anymore or a clean shaved face)

Fitness Friday...Week 2

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Well I feel like I am doing pretty good. I have really been trying to cut back on portions and eating healthier. I even went out to dinner last Saturday and took home 3/4 of my meal while leaving feeling quite full! I received my Wii Fit Monday and set it up Monday night. Wow all I did was a few yoga poses and really felt the stretch! Tuesday I was a little dissappointed at first with the cardio section of the Wii Fit. You have to work at gaining more games, reps, time etc. So I didnt really feel like I got a lot out of the cardio. Then today I worked on that area and was able to open up the advanced hoola hoop and the advance step and they were a lot better. I felt like I was able to work up a sweat by doing those a few times each. I love the strength training. I really feel the burn doing those. I am not so great at the balance and yoga stuff....gotta keep working at those. I definitly think this is going to work well. You can get a work out, yet the time goes by fast and you can switch it all up any way you like.

On a funny side....my son copying me doing the hoola hoop hip movements was quite funny!

Overall with my dieting and exercising I have been losing at a great rate I think. Last week(after one week) I had lost 3 lbs. I believe I have lost another 3-4 lbs this week. Tonight as I weigh myself I am down a total of 7 lbs!

All Dogs Go To Heaven

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We had a very sad day here yesterday. Our dog Jackson was hit by a car yesterday morning and didnt make it. Fortunatly my children do not really understand, but my husband is taking it very hard. Jackson was a big ol dooffy dog, but he was very loveable, and was great with our kids. He loved sqeeky toys, chasing/beating up flashlights(he loved chasing the lights), catching bubbles and playing with matchbox cars. He was a good dog. We will miss him a lot!

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“When Life Gives you Lemons, Make Lemonade Award”

The Rules:
You must link back to the person you received the award from.
You have to nominate 10 bloggers who are deserving of this award!

Thank you Wii Fit Mommys for the cool award and thinking of me!

1. Too Much Information

2. Special Momma

3. Famous Words of Caitlyn

4. One beautiful life

5. My sippy cup runneth over

6. till the short bus

7. mommygoggles

8. Barefootmommy

9. Kidz

10. 3garnetsand2sapphires

The Crosswalk

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The Crosswalk

Every once and a while, a seemingly simple email comes around that ends up being quite profound. This is one of them. Awesome!!

We complain about the cross we bear but don't realize it is preparing us for the dip in the road that God can see and we cannot. Whatever your cross,whatever your pain, there will always be sunshine, after the rain.... Perhaps you may stumble, perhaps even fall; But God's always ready, to answer your call.... He knows every heartache, sees every tear, a word from His lips, can calm every fear... Your sorrows may linger, throughout the night, But suddenly vanish, by dawn's early light... The Savior is waiting, somewhere above, to give you His grace, and send you His love.