911 What is Your Emergency?

Yesterday I had the gymnastics carpool and what a drive it turned out to be.  JJ had spent the night at a friends house who is also on the team, so she was going to meet us there.  I still had to pick up E and get Nina to her class.  When I got to E’s house I realized I had forgotten JJ’s grip bag.  I know her well enough to know that I was going to be in some serious mom trouble if I didn’t go back to the house to get the grips even if it meant getting to the gym late.  I told E that we were now “Even Steven”  since JJ had to leave practice early last week due to E getting sick one her mom’s night to drive.

On the way back to our house from E’s I noticed a man pulled over on the side of the road.  He was standing with the trunk open and getting ready to put something inside.  The next thing I know as I pass by,  is two ARMS taking the object from him.  Yes the arms were attached to a person who was INSIDE the trunk!  Then the man shut the trunk and pulled onto the road right behind me.

Still is shock of what I had just seen I called a friend.  I told her what I just saw.  She said “call 911″.  I sorta thought that was what a normal person would do but I guess I just needed the boost back into the normal world (where people aren’t riding in trunks).

I had turned the corner and wasn’t sure if the guy was behind me anymore and because I was so focused on the person in the trunk the only thing I could remember about the car was that it was white. 

Looking in the rear-view mirror I saw that  he was still behind me.

I have now instructed the children to see if they can read his plate # while I call it in.  The man had gotten so close to me that we couldn’t read the plate # but I knew that he was in a white Saturn.  The call went something like this:

911 Operator:  911 what is your emergency?

Me:  Yes I am driving on ……… road and the man driving behind me has a person in his trunk.  He had his trunk open on …… park rd. as I passed by him and I saw the person in the trunk take something from him before he shut the trunk and continued down the road.  I am not sure if this is a college prank or what.  No one looked stressed out about the situation.

911 Operator:  Which way are you headed on ……. road?

Me:  Towards the ………… road and ……….. road intersection.  We are approaching the stop sign now.

911 Operator:  What type of car is he driving?

Me:  A White Saturn but we can’t get the plate number as he is too close to our van.

911 Operator:  Is he still behind you?

Me: Yes but he is going to turn at the intersection the opposite way.  He will be heading towards ……….. road.

911 Operator:  Thank you mam we have put out the call.  What is your name please?

 

Oh yeah I told her my name, yes I know she only wanted it so that they could use it when they talk about the crazy lady who saw a living person willing travel in the trunk of the Saturn.

When I got to the gym one of the Dad’s who happens to be the Chief of Police  got a good chuckle out of my experience and reminded me that everyone should have a “Car Thing” .  Those of you my age and older will giggle at that as you remember watching  “The Adams Family”  from way back when. 

I asked if he knew how my story ended.  Did they find the car?  Was there indeed a passenger in the truck? 

No such luck.  He knew nothing besides a call had been put through about a car with a person in the trunk.

I still think my call to poison control about Moe brushing his teeth with Icy Hot takes the cake…. but this too was one of those strange things that only I could encounter.

Goal Setting

The New Year will soon be here and with that comes the evaluating of past goals and setting new ones.

There are the traditional ones like lose weight and keep it off. Be more organized. Be better about reading my scriptures daily. Watch less television etc……

Some of those (maybe all of those) will make my list this year as will the following:

1. Be more positive about cooking meals, so the kids don’t grow up dreading it.

2. Praise Moe when he accidentally wets his shirt, at least his underwear and pants are still dry. (Long story)

3. Replace the painted carpet upstairs. Read how it became painted here.

4. Spend more time with my “Martha” friends. Maybe I’ll learn a thing or two.

5. Come to grips with the fact that Rodi will never understand what being grounded really means. He will always find an excuse to play basketball.

6. Remind my gym clothes what the inside of the gym looks like. They might be surprised to see they were intended for more than lounging around the house.

I’d like to be able to post 10 goals but I think that may be a tad ambitious for 1 year. Wouldn’t want to look like an overachiever *grin*

You make me smile

JJ and I were on our way to the store when she told me this funny little story.

JJ: “Mom the other day at gymnastics Tami (not her real name) told me how lucky I was because she only gets $1 a week for allowance.  I told her I don’t get an allowance.  Then she said ‘Oh well, I do chores for my allowance’  Mom, I told her I do chores and don’t get an allowance.  It’s not like everyone gets an allowance.”

ME:  “That’s right.”

JJ: “Tami said that she has to watch her little brother for an hour a day to help out her mom.”

ME: (said in my head) I know you watch your little sister and brother all the time.

JJ: “Tami asked me how I get all my money then.  I told her.  I said I pull my teeth.”

ME: *Laughing really hard*

JJ:  “Then I told her I just wait for Birthday money or sometimes even some money at Christmas. But I have some more loose teeth”

ME: *Still laughing*

*** SIDE NOTE*** 2 weeks ago Carley lost THREE teeth in one night.  The tooth fairy had to borrow money that night.

The past month in review….

I am still here really, I am.

JJ and Nina began gymnastics last month.  They are doing great and JJ has already moved from level 1 to level 3.  Level 4 is when she can start competitions….. I am hoping she is in level 3 for a while.

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JJ got her braces this past week.  What an experience this is going to be.  Poor thing has been eating scrambled eggs, soup, and mashed potatoes for the past 3 days as her teeth are SO sore.

Funny thing happened while JJ was getting her braces put on.  I was sitting in the room with her trying to hold her hand or foot (whatever I could hold and not be in the way) when I looked up and saw a familiar face.  I could not believe what I was seeing.  There she was kids in tow (much bigger than the last time I had seen them) and she had a new baby in her arms…. it was S. Tackett!!!!  I hadn’t seen her in 5 years.  We lived near them in Germany when our babies (Nina used to be one back then) were not even 18 months old yet.  Here we are in Virginia in an Orthodontist office of all places having a reunion!  Poor JJ had been left to deal with the pain as hugs and introductions to the newest addition of her family were made.  We exchanged information and then I headed back to my seat where I could keep a watchful eye on JJ.  She never really knew I was gone…at least I hope that is the story we are sticking to. *grin*

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Bubs finished off his wrestling season last Saturday.  He had 8 boys in his bracket and he finished 4th.  It wasn’t what he had hoped for since he had placed 1st in last years final matches.  It took some time to explain to him the differences this year, 1) he was a year older and in a new bracket where he is one of the younger kids not one of the older ones 2) he lost out on a lot of practice and match time this year due to his ankle injuries 3) THIS IS NOT THE OLYMPICS…. you did great, you had fun, and BONUS you placed 4th.

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Moe is doing good.  He accidentally did a front hand spring in the front room the other day.  He really didn’t mean to.  He was trying to do a very fast forward roll, threw his arms down and before he could ever get his head to the floor his legs went up and over and ta-da he was standing again.  It surprised even him.

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Rodi is on leave this week so we are taking our spring break from school.  We have something to do each and every day this week, something fun that is.  No school just time as a family to goof off, relax and enjoy being a family.

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I read something on another blog and it has really been stuck in my mind all day…… I just wish I could remember where I read it!!!!  If it seems to be something you have read as well please let me know so I can give them proper credit. I am probably not even quoting it exactly *sigh*

“Say yes more often so that when you say no they know you mean it”

This was referring to the raising of children, and I found it to be quite a powerful statement.  One to ponder anyway.

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Last but not least…. you MUST check out this blog! I was rolling in laughter as I read it today.

Red, Red, Red….

Are you wearing your red today?  Today is Go Red for Women day.  Please wear red if you have it and show your love for those who have been touched by heart disease in their lives.

My grandparents on my Dad’s side of the family both died in 1993 in their early 60’s of heart disease.  My Dad past away in 2002, 2 short months after turning 50 of heart disease.  My mother’s side of the family has also been touched by this ugly beast.

My dad may not have been the picture of health but at the same time he didn’t look like a heart attack waiting to happen.  My grandparents were VERY healthy people and their lives were cut short by this life threatening disease as well. 

My family story has shown me that heart disease does not discriminate and while you may not look the part it can still worm it’s way into your life.

I am trying my best (though it is very hard at times) to keep it at bay.  I do not want my children to look at their children and wish that they could have known me.  It brings sadness to me quite often as I watch Bubs at a wrestling meet, or hear something that Moe has said and I can’t pick up the phone and call my dad to share in that moment with me.  My grandparents were never able to meet Rodi and that would have meant the world to me.  I think my grandfather would have loved the fact that Rodi was into athletics and that my children are following that path as well. 

So instead of my grandchildren wondering who I was and having my children shed tears about conversations that can no longer occur, I am going to step up to the plate and do my best to not let heart disease take over.

Please check out the Go Red For Women web site today.  There is a ton of wonderful information on the site.

Join me as I CHOOSE TO MOVE

Hurry up already!

I don’t know about you but I am ready for 2008.  I am ready to get a fresh start on a new year.

Maybe it has something to do with my past week????

Last week in review:

Monday- JJ was SICK you know that is she going to live kind of sick, poor thing

Tuesday- JJ was still sick, and Moe had the whole infatuation with Icy Hot, I think this might also have been the night that Tonka escaped from the pasture as well.  But to be honest I can’t quite recall which night it was.

Wednesday- JJ was feeling better the school day morning went great.  After lunch Moe pushed Nina backwards causing her to fall and split her head on the entertainment center.  There was blood EVERYWHERE!  She soaked the back of her shirt and oh yeah, my carpet had a nice trail leading to the kitchen sink where we applied tons of pressure as we soiled many clean towels.  Thankfully no stitches were needed.  Sadly there was a visit to the ER though.

Thursday- Things are looking up, but Moe is coughing again.

Friday- Moe is coughing and can’t stop, poor kid can hardly breathe.  In the afternoon on our way to the bank we drove past the hospital and Moe said “I go there”.  Well yes he has been there (a few times more than I would like to remember).  Rodi and I just thought it was one of those odd “Moe”ments.  Then that night at the dinner table Moe was coughing and crying and grabbing his throat.  Too late to go to the DR and of course it was Friday so no hope for an appointment in the morning either.  Urgent care is out of the question as our brilliant insurance requires a referral for that (I guess they don’t understand what urgent is).  They do however cover ER visits 100% we just have to suffer the wait in the chairs.  Turns out my sweet Moe has asthma and it is not the wheezing kind, no it is a coughing kind.  That coupled with an upper respiratory infection made for one sad sick little guy.

Saturday I spent in the kitchen as I made 56 cinnamon rolls for neighbors and families from Church.  That night we went to the Church Christmas party.

Sunday was a typical Sunday, 3 hours at Church followed by a quick clean up of the house to get ready for a late lunch early dinner.  We had our family night and then headed to my MIL’s with a can of soup as she was not feeling well.

I had hope that this week had to be better and up until lunch today it appeared that it would be.  What happened?????  Our Microwave up and died.  Yep and it smelled awful!  Darn thing is only a year old too.  Now if my washing machine is making funny noises.  If it goes I might just have to cry.  Have you ever tried to go without your microwave?  We did when we first moved here…..it only lasted a week or so.  You just never realize how many things you use the microwave for.  All I wanted it for this afternoon was to warm up left-overs for lunch. *sigh*

Life WITH Rodi

It is taking a bit of time but I think we are all getting adjusted to life with Rodi amongst us again. 

I think the one who is having the hardest time adjusting is Sunny.  Rodi seems to think Sunny is a bit too loud at times.  Sunny wasn’t here before Rodi set sail this summer so they are still trying to get acquainted with each other.  This may take some time I have a feeling.

Moe won’t leave Rodi’ s side and every time that Rodi has to go somewhere Moe runs to me and says  “Dad on Boat”  I think he is very fearful that he is going to disappear all over again.

I had to laugh last night as we were driving down the interstate on our way home and Moe sounded off with his favorite Moe-made noise…. a siren!  He is very good at this imitation and has the volume of an actual siren at times.  Rodi didn’t know what to do.  He was trying not to laugh but was upset at the same time that Moe wouldn’t be a bit quieter.    There we were Rodi was trying to talk on the phone Nina was upset and crying about something, a DVD was playing to keep the kids quiet (worked well can’t ya tell) and Moe was playing police man.  It really was fun to show Rodi a bit of what he had been missing.

Now we are heading into a new week and trying to prepare for JJ to turn 9 this coming Friday.  I told her she wasn’t allowed to have a birthday, she isn’t allowed to get older.  She didn’t think that was a great plan.  So I guess the cake will get made anyway.

I am Thankful For…..

my husband and the wonderful man and father he is,

my children (even on the not so great days),

my parents and the wonderful job they did raising me,

my sister and the lessons she taught me in sibling rivalry, as it has helped me in my parenting *grin*

my sister and her desire to still talk to me after all the lessons I taught her in our younger years. (yes I am the oldest)

my house and the shelter it provides for me and my family,

my well and it’s ability to not run dry during this year’s awful drought,

my lovable Zebu and the many adventures they allowed me and the children to have this summer,

my friends near and far for the many smiles they have brought me,

weight watchers and the guidance they provided me in order to lose the weight I have shed this year,

my extended family for taking my phone calls *grin*

I am thankful for many many things big and small, but mostly I am thankful for….

my Heavenly Father, for his constant presence in my life and his never ending love and compassion. 

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