Ugh...Field trips/Fundraisers

Jay has a field trip coming up in November. I'm all for my kids going on field trips. This one is to a science camp for three days/two nights....in North Carolina. The cost $210. I said no at first, But Jimmy convinced me that it would be something Jay would love...He LOVES science....and Jimmy would work extra to make sure it could happen.

So above my better thought, I agreed. Yes, I know Jay would love this. I know it's only available to the 5th graders. And yes I know that all the 5th grade teachers will be going, along with many other chaperones. (I'd love to be a chaperone but know I couldn't find someone to be here for my other three children.)

So to help cover the cost of this field trip, the school is doing a fundraiser now. We're to sell gift certificates to Krispy Kreme. The cost, $6 for a free dozen glazed donuts and 1/2 price a 2nd dozen if purchased at the same time. Also a $10 gift certificate to Nathan's Deli here on Hwy 61 for the price of $8.50. Each certificate sold for Krispy Kreme takes $2 off the remaining balance for field trip. Each certificate sold for Nathan's Deli takes $2.50 off remaining price.

So I sent the forms with Jimmy to his job in hopes some would help out. His main bitch is that he doesn't mind paying full price for Jay. He'd rather the fundraising money go towards the students whose parents cannot afford to send them. I'm fine with that. I'll call the school Monday morning and tell them to put the credit Jay's gotten towards a student who may not be able to attend.

My bitch is regardless whether this fundraising helps Jay or another child, I want Jimmy to at least ask for help. I don't mind the help going towards another child that may not otherwise be able to attend.

All that being said, would anyone like to contribute? The checks aren't even made out to me, but to the school. If you like to purchase certificates to either Krispy Kreme or Nathan's Deli, email me directly at SunnieFaerie@comcast.net and I'll tell you how to make the check out to, or make arrangements to meet and have you sign the forms and pay in cash. Up to you. But if anyone would like to help out, whether it's for my child or another, please let me know. Thanks in advance.

The ABC Meme

The ABC Meme, stolen from Mike, who stole it from Well Mannered Frivolty. LOL

• A - Accent: Southern with a mix of midwest (so I've been told)
• B - Breakfast Item: Sausage McMuffin with egg
• C - Chore you hate: Scrubbing the floor
• D - Dad's Name: Bill (ex-stepdad, but only Dad I've ever known)
• E - Essential everyday item: Water
• F - Flavor ice cream: Mint chocolate chip
• G - Gold or Silver?: Silver
• H - Happy Place: Relaxing in the tub with a good book
• I - Insomnia: Rarely
• J - Job : Domestic Goddess, Domestic Engineer, call it what you want
• K - Kids: 6, 4 living, 2 in Heaven
• L - Living arrangements: Me , Hubby Jimmy, Jay, Justin, Korinne, Jackson
• M - Mom's birthplace: Charleston, South Carolina
• N - Name your pets: Jay, Justin, Korinne, Jackson. LOL J/k no pets
• O - Overnight hospital stays: 2 days giving birth to Jay, 3 days giving birth to Justin, 4 days giving birth (c-section) to Korinne, 13 days when I gave birth to my twins, 3 days giving birth to Jackson
• P - Phobia: Burning alive
• Q - Question: Why do children argue just for the sake of arguing?
• R - Religious affiliation: Baptist
• S - Siblings: Shannon, Billy, Joshua and Robert (the latter two from ex-stepdad)
• T - Time you wake up: Whenever Jackson wakes up. Otherwise 6:30am
• U - Unnatural hair colors you've had: My hair has been red (my favorite), black, brown and my natural blonde. It was also accidently dyed burgundy (looked reddish-purple) once.
• V - Vegetable you refuse to eat: Spinach
• W - Worst habit: smoking
• X - X-rays you've had: When I was ten and cut my finger badly
• Y - Yummy: japanese food
• Z -Zoo animal: turtles

Jack in the Box

Look, Ma! I found a box!

Pffffffft I'm playing in the box! HaHa! Riding along in my automobile...

What do you think?

Jimmy says Jackson needs a hair cut. I have never had to take any of my kids for a hair cut before the age of 2. This is Jackson normally. With his helmet on and his hair hanging over the top. This is Jackson without the helmet. He has more hair than my others had at his age. I don't want to get his hair cut. Right now, since he wears the helmut 23/7 I don't see why I should cut his hair. It's not in his eyes. What do y'all think? Should I bite the bullet and take my angel for a haircut?

Beautiful skies

The sunset tonight was absolutely beautiful! Jimmy grabbed one of the digicams and took these pics. Of course, the pictures don't do the sunset justice.

What was I thinking??!!

Earlier in the week, I called our former neighbors to see if their oldest son could spend the night with Jay. I called my sister to see if Justin could spend the night with his cousin. Both were yeses.

Saturday afternoon, I drove 45 minutes to my sister's house to drop off Justin. For some reason he got all upset and didn't want to stay. I wasn't going to force him, but I did say that I did NOT drive all that way for nothing. So Alex came home with us. We went grocery shopping on the way...me plus 5 kids ages, 10, 6, 5, 3, and 1. The 3 year old and 1 year old behaved. LOL

Upon leaving the grocery store, I called my old neighbors to say I was on my way to pick up D. Jimmy called and said he was done working but wanted to know if he could hang out a bit longer. I said that was fine, because it was. He hardly ever hangs out with people. He's usually at work or here with us.

We get home and the four older ones all want to play video games. I said no way and sent them all outside to run off some energy. It really wasn't that bad until it was time to settle down in bed and watch a movie. They couldn't agree on a movie. a few wanted The Incredibles, the others wanted Austin Powers. We settle on the Incredibles, but because my boys don't know how to take care of their movies, it started messing up. That's when I put in Austin Powers. Within 30 minutes or so starting that, they were all passed out. I let Korinne sleep in the boys' room because she'd passed out on the floor with her sleeping bag.

When I woke up in the morning it was to hear Jimmy saying, "Keep it down so your mother c

an sleep!" (Sundays are my mornings to sleep in.) I was awake and there was no going back to sleep. LOL

We had a great day though. We cooked out, had good food, played with the kids. When my sister came to pick up Alex, she stayed to babysit my kids while Jimmy and I went fishing. Jimmy's birthday is Tuesday and he wanted just me and him to go fishing. We didn't catch anything, but we enjoyed ourselves nonetheless. The rest of the day, we listened to music, danced with the kids and just enjoyed ourselves.

I hate Mondays! I love having Jimmy home. Though I admit, I love being able to pay the bills more. LOL

The Black Dahlia

Ok first, I have to admit that I am totally addicted to crimes. Not the actual crime itself, but how they're solved. I'm addicted to Court TV. I love the forensic shows. So when I saw the previews for the movie Black Dahlia, I jumped at it. I bought the book over the weekend and devoured every word. There are actually two books on this. One was in the true crime section and it was all the files concerning the case. That book was 26 bucks. So I chose the book that was in the mystery section that told the story.

Now that I read the mystery book, I really want the one from true crimes with the files. I think I'll check out eBay on that.

Now that I read the book, I really, really, really want to see the movie. If I have to go by myself, so be it. LOL

Jackson and allergies.

Today Jackson had his appointment to be tested for allergies. According to the skin test, he's allergic to egg whites, egg yolks, cows milk, peanuts, soybean, shrimp, fish and I cannot remember the last one. We were given a referral or whatever to have blood drawn to get a more conclusive result.

I just learned that even though his formula doesn't look or taste like milk based formula, there are broken down milk proteins in it. Then I learned that milk allergies can cause eczema. I haven't been able to get his eczema under control since he first came down with it. Then I thought hard and realized, he didn't get eczema until I quit pumping and gave him formula. Why did I quit pumping? Because he was in the hospital for almost two months so I wasn't able to get him used to nursing. When he came home, he lasted a month before he was drinking more than I could pump.

He was three months old when I put him on formula. It was also then he developed eczema. So have I been causing the eczema by giving him formula? I just don't know.

We go back to the allergist in two weeks, so I hope I have answers then. Until then, I'll keep doing what I'm doing...NOT giving him anything dairy. I'll stick to the foods he's been fine with.

UGH!!!!!

BIG UGH! I just saw online an article that Dog the Bounty Hunter, his son and brother have been arrested. The charges? Illegal detention and alleged kidnapping. The "victim?" Max Factor heir Andrew Luster who was convicted of raping three women. This asshole flees the country, is caught and the bounty hunter that caught him is being charged? What the hell kind of justice is that? DAMN!

What a day and night!

To quote Heather, "It's just one of those...weeks? Maybe it's been a month."

I'll say! Jackson has had several hearing tests since he came home from the hospital. Each one was discouraging. Finally we were referred to the Pediatric ENT. Because Jackson's ear canals are so narrow, no one, not even the pediatric ENT has been able to see his ear drums. However the hearing test he had on Friday was promising. It had better results than his last one. So apparently as he grows, his canals get a tad wider.

We had a great weekend, nothing eventful. Just good family time. We did try this new Greek recipe. I'll do another post on that one later.

Sunday late night, Jackson wakes up at 12:52 am screaming. I give him some tylenol and baby orajel, cause I know he's got another tooth that bout ready to pop through. I fix him a bottle but when I come back from the bathroom, he's passed out, so I put the bottle in the fridge. I go back to bed where I toss and turn for an hour or so. Then Jackson wakes up at 4 am. Nothing I was doing was making him happy. He screamed for two hours straight. I just gated him in the living room and laid on the floor with him, praying he wouldn't wake anyone else up. By the time Jimmy got the boys up at 6am, I was in tears. I'd gotten 3 hours of sleep and knew my day was shot for any rest.

Jay had an eye at exam at the medical university for a second opinion on whether vision therapy was really needed for him. When I explained why we were there, they actually sneered. Apparently they've been having a lot of appointments for second opinions lately where vision therapy has been recommended from another optomologist. They did a lot more tests on Jay and assured me that there was nothing wrong with Jay's eyes other than him being slightly near-sighted. So there was no reason for me to waste my time, not too mention the money on something he doesn't need. He said, (and I quote) "There is no reason for anyone to waste their time and money on something that hasn't been scientifically proven it works." Didn't matter to me, I was just relieved that Jay's eyes are fine.

So we leave there, drop Jay off at school and head home. I call Jackson's asthma doctor and make an appointment for him to be tested for allergies. The three times I've given Jackson anything milk-related, he's developed a rash. Now that he's a year old, he can no longer get formula on his WIC, unless his pediatrician writes a prescription. After that call, I call his ped's office and request they write the prescription. We then headed down the road of his ped's office for a visit to the dermatologist. That doctor gave us a different med for Jackson's eczema. On the way home, we stopped at the ped's office and picked up the 'script.

We arrive at home at 2:50. Just enough time for me to change Jackson's diaper and head to the bus stop. Jackson is burning up! I take his temp rectally (I hate doing it that way) and it was 104. I gave him some tylenol and after we got Justin off the bus, I gave him a tepid bath. It's then that I realized he'd been sleeping all day. I just chalked it up to him having been up a lot the night before. When Jimmy came home from work, Jackson still had a fever. I sit down and write down all of his symptoms. High temp, loss of appetite, hardly any diaper changes, lethargic, extremely sleepy, wheezing (I'd given him two breathing treatments already). He had a few moments of energy but those were few and far between.

So I finally convince myself that I am just not going to get any sleep unless I call his pediatrician's office. Because of Jackson's medical history, I was told to take him to the ER just to be safe. So I load him up into the car and head downtown. His temp there was 102 (rectally) and they were concerned with his breathing. They send us to a room where most of the time, I sat with him sleeping in my arms. They gave him a breathing treatment with a stronger dose of albuterol than he gets at home. They're not satisfied with that so they send him for a chest x-ray. They saw a small hazy spot on his right lung that resembled pneumonia. Lucky me! Poor Jackson! The ER doctor said she was glad we'd brought Jackson in before he developed full blown pneumonia. He's given a shot of antibiotics and a prescription for me to fill. By the time we're sent home it's after 1 in the morning. My poor little guy didn't even budge when I put him in his bed. I collapsed into bed exhausted at 1:45.

Jackson slept all night and has been so much better today. His appetite is coming back, he's drinking his pedialite and even cruising around the furniture. We went to his ped's office for a follow up visit this morning. That went well. He has no more fever and his breathing has gotten better. His coloring looks much better and his eyes are no longer red.

Jackson had a check up with the pediatric neurosurgeon today. I had to reschedule that. Then I had to call and reschedule his appointment with the helmet guy (the Doctor that handles his helmet fittings) and the plastic surgeon even though those appointments were next week. The last two though are contingent on the neurosurgeon's visits.

I plan on going to bed at half past dark. LOL 7 hours of sleep in 48 hours is not something I'm used to. LOL I hope the rest of the week goes so much smoother.

Only cartoons for us today.

We will be watching Nick Jr and Discovery Kids all day. Well when we're home.

I can't bring myself to watch the news or anything else. Sitting here remembering that day 5 years ago, I can remember every detail. It was just after 9am, I was on the phone with a friend. I changed the channel to watch Montel and saw instead news going on. I vaguely listened when I saw the the second plane hit. I screamed, "Oh My God!" and dropped the phone. When I picked it back up my friend, was freaking out asking what was wrong. She thought something had happened to Justin, who was 10 months old. When I told her what was going on, she turned the TV on at work. She worked in the office of the apartments we lived in.

It was all so surreal. I was horrified, thinking of all those people dying. I was frantic with news from my online friends that lived in that area. I was holding Justin so much I was afraid to let him go. I called Jimmy at work just to tell him how much I loved him. I called the school to find out if the students were being sent home. They were, thankfully, because I'd have walked to that school to get my baby if I'd had to.

I avoided the news this morning. I did take dessert and a Thank you card to our local fire station. The fire chief almost made me cry. Though I did learn that oatmeal raisin are his favorite cookies. LOL So next time I feel like baking cookies, I'll bake him some of those. I think we should all take a moment to thank those who risk their lives everyday for us, firemen, police, military.

I'll have a whole different post tonight on my night last night and day today in my household. Lots to share on Jackson and doctor's appointments and whatnot. Until then, God Bless you all as we commemorate today.

Calling the doctor...

Guess I'll be calling the doctor Monday. The allergist to be exact. Seems Jackson's body does NOT want him to have dairy.

The first time I gave him dairy, it was mac and cheese. He broke out in a rash and had welts on his arms. He hasn't had anything since. Well he's a year old now, which means no more formula on his WIC. We still have formula left (his formula is not milk based), and he eats regular food. So today I give him 2 ounces of regular milk. He seemed fine. The only reddish areas were where he has eczema. SO I thought nothing of it. Tonight I give him 4 ounces of milk. Now he has a rash on his face. So I wake him enough to give him some Benadryl.

That's why I'll be calling the allergist. He already sees this doctor for asthma. Now I want to know what he's allergic to because I'm afraid to give him anything new.

None of my older three had allergies, so this is all new to me. Wish me luck! I think I'll need it. LOL

Ernesto...Schmernesto...

Ernesto...was NOTHING...compared to the rain I'm getting now. It's thundering AND lightening now. And the rain is coming down MUCH harder than Ernesto. Go figure!

Body man in training?

On Saturdays when Jimmy goes to work, he takes one of the older boys. He alternates so each get a turn. Jay likes to go to catch lizards and just hang out. Justin likes to go to actually work. LOL This past Saturday was Justin's turn. While Jimmy was working on a car for the shop, he let Justin sand on his truck (right next to him.) He told Justin he could sand anything but the tires and glass. Thankfully, he took the digicam with him because I have proof that Justin actually helps. LOL Here they are!

Hard at work!

Hey Daddy, I can barely reach this part!

CA law to ban smoking in cars..

with children, that is.

I came across this blog about smoking with children in your car. Now, I'm a smoker. But I do NOT smoke in my house. Or in my car if my children are with me. I used to smoke in the house and subject my innocent children to second hand smoke. I quit that almost a year ago when Jackson came home from the hospital. Since then, when I feel the need for a cigarette, I step outside. Yes I know I can carry the smoke through my clothes. I try to take precautions with that...wearing a different sweater/shirt/whatever.

The fact is, I smoke. But I DO smoke away from my children. I don't smoke in the house. I don't smoke in the car. And I do NOT smoke when other people's children are in my care.

I don't know how to comment on the blog in question. On one hand I'm outraged that the government is yet again telling us how to live our lives. On the other hand I'm in agreement with parents NOT smoking around their children.

I'm such a hypocrite because I smoked with all of my pregnancies. I tried stopping but just could not. So anything and everything that is going on with my kids, I blame myself for. Even for the major things that have nothing to do with me. I still feel the guilt.

But I do feel banning people from doing something will just make them do it even more. No matter what it is.

What do y'all think>

4 movies....

I've recently watched four movies, albiet reluctantly, that I found I enjoyed. Two were stupid ass comedies. Two were action. Now, I'm more into the horror movies than anything. I tend to avoid action movies. And only watch the comedy ones when Jimmy's watching them.

So the four movies lately were:

1. Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector. This movie was so stupid it was funny. Now I love Larry the Cable Guy...he's hilarious. Again, the movie is stupid. But I found myself laughing the whole time.
2. The 40 Year Old Virgin: I am so not a fan of Steve Carell. I find him incredibly annoying. But this movie, was funny. I laughed so hard.
3. The Transporter: HUGE action film. Basically, it's about this guy who transports things, no questions asked. Of course thing go awry.
4. The Transporter 2: Same premise as above, different plot.

I thoroughly enjoyed all four of these movies.

So now I ask you all...what 4 movies have you ever watched and enjoyed, even though you didn't expect to?

Disappointed...

I'm so disappointed in today. The media had a lot of people freaking out about the "storm" coming. It wasn't even a hurricane, yet schools were closed, lots of businesses were closed. And all we got was a full day of rain.

My kids were all freaking out, asking, "when is the storm coming?" I had to explain to them that the rain WAS the storm. There was no thunder, no lightening. Just rain. My kids were out of school for a rain day?! Come on people! I could understand more if it were a SNOW day. We rarely get snow. But for a tropical depression, we shut everything down? We were actually under an EPSOM 1...whatever the hell that means. I know it's not good. But if they're going to get all freaked out, at least let it be for a hurricane, category 1 or so. Not for a tropical storm or tropical depression.

I KNEW this was just going to be a "rainy day" and everyone else was freaking out, evacuating or going to shelters. I stayed where I am usually at. HOME. Inside. With my children, in the AC, watching cartoons or playing games or coloring. LOL

Yes it rained a lot and hard at some times. But there was nothing being blown around. I had to clear out my patio for nothing. My grill is in the back of Lucy Blue and all the chairs were brought inside...where we constantly tripped over. This place is not big enough for outside furniture. LOL

I am glad that it was just a rainy day though. I would not be here for something as strong as Katrina. My kids and I would be long gone.

Shelters?

The shelters here are requesting you only bring neccessary items. What do you deem neccessary? I, myself, would choose things that CANNOT be replaced over items like blankets, clothes, computer, etc. I would choose my pictures and cds of pictures, birth certificates, and ss cards. No, those won't help me live through a disaster. But those are the things that CANNOT be replaced...ok as far as pictures go. Birth certificates, SS cards, and stuff like that CAN be replaced, with a hassle. But pictures, and heirlooms, how can you replace those?

I also have to admit...

I admit that if it weren't for me having school age children, I wouldn't even know who Ernesto is. The only reason I have been keeping up is to know whether or not I'm sending my boys to school. I think this is going to be just a heavy rain storm. I know it could gain strength and all that. I've been watching the news. But I think since this is the first big "storm" to head our way, people are overreacting in fear of another Katrina. The biggest difference, we were all aware of how strong Katrina was. This is just a Tropical Depression right now. I highly doubt we're going to be hit as bad as the Katrina survivors were. Yet, when I went to the grocery store for sodas earlier, you'd think we were preapring for a national disaster. It was a madhouse!

Friends of ours are evacuating. They're from NY so I guess they're not used to hurricane threats as much as we are, even though they were on the East Coast as well. I could be wrong in all of this. It may gain strength, but I don't think there's enough time for it to become over a category 1. I know the weather people are worrying because we're supposed to have high tide when the storm hits us, so there will be major flooding. But to put people in a panic over a tropical depression? Sorry, not gonna happen.

Plus we have Harriet making her special Hurricane cookies! So we're gonna be just fine! YAY!

Happy Birthday!!!!!!

Happy Birthday to my Jackson!!!!

He is 1 year old today and I am thankful for every minute with him.

And yesterday, I learned he has a tooth! YAY!

You can't see it, but I can feel that it finally broke through the gum.

No wonder he's been happier lately. LOL