Here We Go Again...

We're off in the morning to take the boys back up to Akron Children's Hospital....they see there Immunologist and have blood taken AGAIN. Hopefully this time they will take enough to get a read. Carter's had another fever the last few days so not sure if they'll do all the testing on him or how that works. This means that with in the week I should know if we're good or if we need to go through blood infusions...and prepare myself. Man next week is going to be a BIG week for our family!!

Here's to hoping this is our LAST trip...............

A new way....

So I started a different way of nutrition about a month ago [I don’t like the word “diet”]. My goal isn’t weight loss, though a nice side effect, its really just health. I started the Zone, it’s really just about getting all your fruits and veggies in and proportions. It’s weird though cause I’m eating way more than I ever had….but losing weight. I guess my body was really just starved.

So this week I’ve added walking in the morning, it’s great me time, something I haven’t done since the boys were born. It works out great cause Chad’s back to the later shift, so he watches the boys when I go.

My shins ache, and my thighs burn….But I feel great!! Add since staring my new eating plan, I’ve been off my medications for my FM for almost a month now!! So far I’m doing great. I always worry what all those meds are really doing to your body and the good ole liver!!

On a different note: We heard this week about the thing I was asking for luck vibes on…. We should hear something by the end of this week beginning of next!! So far we are told its looking good! So please please keep the luck vibes a flowing!! Oh yeah and once we know I will tell…I just don’t want to sabotage it!!

The natural disaster was God’s will… But what’s are answer for the man made disaster that followed??

For Trojan....

I could not beleive this!! You always said....

You Are Austin

A little bit country, a little bit rock and roll. You're totally weird and very proud of it. Artistic and freaky, you still seem to fit in... in your own strange way. Famous Austin residents: Lance Armstrong, Sandra Bullock, Andy Roddick

What American City Are You?

October 3rd....

I can't beleive I have to wait till October 3rd!!! Have I ever mentioned I am not a good waiter??

Interesting...and True....

Arty Kid

Whether you were a drama freak or an emo poet, you definitely were expressive and unique. You're probably a little less weird these days - but even more talented!

Who Were You In High School?

Used Up Part II......

Brae: "It may not sound so great but used up goods with baggage is just how we are viewed. Not to mention that if a man has a baby then nothing about him changes. If a woman has a baby everything on her body changes and not all for the good. I think that is in the back of the mind of me also. They don't mind it if the body changes when it is there baby but for the woman to come already that way is another story. It is a harsh world out there for the mom's and especially for the single mom's."


I found this comment from Brae very true but disturbing. As if women don’t have enough body image issues as it is from the media and society at large.

Trying to be the perfect size double zero!! I was at the mall a few weeks ago and there was a store advertising in their windows that they now carry “size 00”… Oh well great!!

I was talking to my sister the other day and she was talking about her class she took on photo shop. She said the instructor was telling them that all magazines use photo shop for their models. They take the already emancipated models and stretch them 10-15 percent!!! This way achieving that oh so sought after long and lean look. The look millions of girls are trying to have…. The look that totally computerized!!

Back to Brae’s comment: It reminded me of a preview I saw for a Dr. Phil episode, [note: I don’t watch Dr. Phil, mainly because just a simple preview fires me up I’m not sure I’d make it through a whole episode heart attack free]. The episode was about a married couple that was having problems. They were always fighting and they weren’t having sex it all cam down to the man saying he was “Disgusted” by the way he’s wife looks now after having their kids!! Disgusted ladies and gentlemen!

First of all: She was littler than me. I’m guessing around a size 6-8. Disgusted? He said it was the rough stretch marks and that she was “softer” than before. Disgusted?

Second: I’m taking it that their problems may have something to do with the fact that HE is a DISGUSTING JERK WHO NEEDS TO BE BITCH SLAPPED!!!!

If I were she I wouldn’t even be getting help for the marriage…He obviously didn’t marry you for love of who you are. You can’t fix that!

So as I was saying no wonder we women have such body issues!!! Between worrying that we may disgust our husbands by our changing bodies and the media stretching all ready emancipated models promoting an unreachable ideal that girls think is what you need to look like to be attractive and to attract a guy. I’m a pretty secure women and I feel the pressure…Imagine what its doing teen age girls!! I know what it did to me at that age…And it’s only getting worse.

The "Used Up" Experiment........

A few months ago Chad and I ventured out into the wilderness know to many as The Mall. The boys hate going in the actual stores so I run in and look at what I want to look at and Chad pushes the boys around in their stroller. It was during this activity that I became aware of something and have since expanded on the theory.

I noticed that while pushing the stroller with the cutest babies in the world in it, Chad got lots of “checkouts” from the ladies. This “accessory” of his made him all the MORE attractive and desirable…… While on the other side, when I push the stroller, nada…. Nothing… I’m used up goods, a mother. It seems it makes me LESS attractive. This was all very interesting to me. Though understandable, as a woman I must say that yes seeing a man with a baby or babies, does give him that extra special something. But may I ask why it doesn’t work with women??

Expanding on my so-called knowledge I did an experiment. On Thursdays my parents take the boys out for dinner and adventure time with grandma and grandpa. I use those few hours to get errands done; I take my mother’s car since they have to take the van for the car seats. Enter my experiment….

In my car, a mom mobile minivan, I receive no looks no nods nothing. BUT on Thursdays in my mothers silver Camery…. Hello single days!! You all know as to what I speak, guys aren’t the most discrete gender when looking at a lady! You know the whole half nod upward with the half grin, when you’re stopped at a red light. So it brings the question gentlemen, is it the girl or the car she’s in?? I’d also like to point out for the record that the van bares no difference to the ladies when it comes to Chad driving it.

Conclusion: Men with babies = Hot Hot Hot…

Women with babies = Used up goods.

A semi answer was given by a buddy of mine. He said that men assume that a woman with babies is taken. To witch I replied, “Well who do you think their taken by? The babies father??” He informed me that while yes that is sometimes the case, but a lot of times they’re not with the mother anymore, and by taken he means taken by the children.

First of all: That is profiling the male gender. “And profiling is wrong”. I’d venture to say most men are good loving husbands/partners.

And second: So what? Now were used up goods with baggage??

Bath HNT.....

Seeing Red...

I got mad at the Bastards over at DirecTV….The liars!!! I got so frustrated with them that I made them turn off my service right then and there!!

Only thing I didn’t think about was that Rockstar is on tonight! DAMN!! You all well have to let me know what happens and who goes home and who sings with them tonight!!!

Addiction or Disease….

Those that fight addiction and fight to overcome it say it’s a disease.

Is it?

And is it fair to say that when others have “true diseases”. Let me explain.

Most diseases are not curable. Some can be maintained through treatment…but never cured. You will always have it and have to learn to live with it and deal.

There is help for the addicted, and a cure from their addiction. Of course one can argue that even after sober, they still must go through treatment to maintain. Many addicts say that while they’re sober, they will never fully be cured, and will need life long treatment and support. So then is it a disease.

People with medical diseases however did not do anything or choose to have they’re life turn out that way. And some lives are even shorten by it, so is it really fair to compare?

Addiction is serious yes. But some where along the line there was a choice and there is help and a “cure”.

But for those with Cancer, Aids, and even MS, there is not…Hope but no cure.

Laughin' Levi....

Things you might not know about me.....

I have never thrown up and I’m deeply afraid of doing it…I refuse to, flat out refuse!!

I’m VERY stubborn, tell me not to do something or that I can’t…and watch out!

I got married at 19.

I’ve had FM since I was 15.

I’ve always had a passion for rape crisis and the counseling of victims, not sure what I’m to be doing with that passion but it’s there.

I’m an old TV show junkie… Dick Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore, The Rhoda Show, Happy Days, Cosby, you get the jest.

Reese’s Pieces are my favorite candy.

I have all the seasons of Sex and the City on DVD and have to watch at least one episode a week. It’s freaky but true.

I like to dip Burger King fries in a Wendy’s frosty.

I’ve never flown.

I’ve never been west of Ohio, South but never west.

I hate waiting, so of course I’m always left waiting.

I have the worst time making decisions and hate to do it; again oddly enough I’m always the decision maker!

I suffer from panic attacks, they suck they’re scary than they sound and I hate them, and I hate that I get them. I hate having things you can’t control.

I love teen movies!! Mean Girls, 10 Things I Hate About You, and Clueless are my top three. I also like dance movies, Center Stage is my favorite.

My two favorite books are, Cane River, and White Oleander.

I hate the feeling of heat, of being hot, I’d much rather be cold.

And lastly…
Though my cynical side is tough, under it all I’m still a romantic though I’ll probably just laugh.

My Favorite Shirt HNT...

I'm In Lust....

I'd say more but I'm too breathless..... Though another that takes my breath away is his rendition of REM's losing my religion...Check it out at KimmyK's.

Where's all these work from home jobs?? Every one I look in too is a scam...if you can't tell me exactly WHAT I'll be doing, than forget it!!

My sister thinks I should do Mary Kay, but I don't know if I get out there enough to build a client list..... Any body know anything about that, or anything else???

Shit Happens...

Shit happens as the saying goes.

I personally don’t buy in to this particular theory. Shit really doesn’t just happen. A lot of planning goes in to it.

You have to eat food to produce it for starters. And we all know it’s a fact of life and have planned accordingly. We have books, magazines, and some even have TV’s in their bathrooms all in preparation for it. We buy toilet paper, sprays, and candles in preparation for after it happens.

So why the saying?

It should be “Babies Happen”.

Because try as we may to prevent them, they still can happen.

And thus starts my suit against Durex Condoms…..
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At last we were lucky, but I still think I could have a good suit on my hands!!!!

But during the “waiting game” it got me thinking about family, babies, years between birth order, and the number of…on and on….

As everyone is well aware of I have two-year-old twin boys. The plan after their birth was for Chad to get the ole snip-ero..But at the last minute we changed our minds not sure enough that we didn’t want any more.

But here are my concerns and questions that float around in my over boggled mind. Can I handle anymore…? I have a 4 times greater chance of having twins again since I naturally conceived the ones I have… So if its twins again can we afford them and handle them. If I knew for actual certainty that it would be twins again I know I would wait till the boys were in school. But I can’t know for sure.

And if its not twins do I want the baby to be that far apart in age from the boys???? And what if it takes awhile to conceive?? We were lucky the last time we tried once, and BAM!! But after a c-section they say a woman can have a harder time conceiving…

The thing about having had twins is this… You have the two kids most families want in one shot, but at the same time you only get to be pregnant once and go through the baby stage once, (and at such a blur you don’t remember cause there were two!), And in my case no girl.

Many moms have told me not to put too many years between them especially if it isn’t twins cause you wouldn’t want them to feel left out all the time with the boys being so close.

Do you see why I am consistently telling my mind to “SHUT UP ALREADY”!!!

My problem is I’m a planner….. And some things you can’t plan. I hate that about life,

it disturbs me.

Last Night....

I needed some tape, The boys’ 2 year pictures came in and I needed some tape to fit my 11x14 in the matt and frame I have.

Three rooms, 5 drawers, and 35 minutes later I finally found said tape.

During my frenzied tape hunt I came across an old fashion scrapbook of mine from my senior year of high school. I used to cut out things I liked in fashion magazines and paste them in this book. For the outside of the notebook there are clear sleeves that I made collages and put in them.

I had to giggle to myself…On the back there was a little thing I cut out and put above the name “Kate” I found. It said…..

“I’m not who you think I am, I’m who I know I am”……

Guess I should of learned the first time. Why does it always take us getting screwed more than once before we finally learn? Or maybe I just need to grow a little through life before I could see what others were trying to get me to see.

There's a saying that says... Knowledge comes with age. Does it? Or did we have it right back then but failed to listen to ourselves??

I Need A..........

Scanner!!! I found somethings I'd like to post on here but I would need a scanner....

Anyone have suggestions as to whats the cheapest but best for your money????

Getting Back To My Roots…

The last few weeks I’ve been going back to church. I grew up in the church, went to this particular one since I was in the 2nd grade or so. Senior year there was a lot of drama with leaders and members and I got a bad taste in my mouth about the whole thing. It just seemed it was full of hypocrites and people who hide behind the term “Christians” as an excuse for really just being judgmental and controlling. It’s taken awhile to find my path back again. It helps in this crazy world to have something and someone to believe in...I have someone and now I have something once again.

But for some reason a few weeks ago I really just wanted to get back to my roots. So I went back….And it was great!! It was the ole church I remember growing up in and I’m excited for the boys to follow!! Every one was so warm and welcoming this time. It was great to see all the people and turns out a lot of people who had left before for what ever reason they had of there own, are starting to come back as well…must have been something others where feeling as well. It was a full house so to speak..just packed!! It seems activities are picking up and they shared about the vacation bible school they had and about the community block party coming up, and how for the first time in a long time they have more volunteers than jobs!! The feeling of getting back to your roots must be flowing through others as well.

I am being a little premature in putting the boys in the nursery, we haven’t gotten their blood work back yet to know how their blood is doing, but I’m praying He’ll watch over them while they’re in there. We were suppose to hear this week, but they couldn’t get a read on the blood they took last week so we have to have it retaken. Arrggghhh I’m so not a good waiter!! Dr. Kishore wants to see them in his office at Akron Children’s Hospital on the 31st and he’ll have them retake it then. I hate waiting to hear if this condition has turned it’s self around…. I would like to put the worry of blood infusions behind me OR start preparing myself for them. It’s a tough thing cause you can’t control it and you can’t change it or make it better, and though I know its not my fault you can’t help but feel that if you’d only kept them in a little longer…… Then maybe……

So anyways that’s what’s new with me, just enjoying my new since of self, looking forward to what the future might be bringing our way and where it might be taking us, finally feeling at peace and getting back to my roots!!

Doctors in Boxes....

The need for doctor visits are becoming increasingly unnecessary. With the upraising of more and more “Home testing kits”. But are these a good thing??

Here’s a list of just a few I saw while shopping the other day…… There are pregnancy test, Ovulation test, test for UTI’s, and Yeast infections. I saw a home test to see if women have started menopause yet and if so where there at in it, there’s a test to tell you if you have a ear infection, and there’s even a home test kit you can have sent to you for the purpose of checking your twins DNA… To see if they’re identical for sure or fraternal for sure. Oh and lets not forget the upraising of parents with home drug test kits for their teenagers.

Are all these a good way to lower our medical cost or a scary way of missing something bigger??

I can see how some of the test would be helpful in cutting cost… You wouldn’t want to pay an office visit and lab fees every time your periods off….Its cheaper just to get a test to find out what’s what.

But how accurate are some of these other ones and will it cause people to not only self diagnose but self treat as well? For example what if you take the UTI test and it comes back negative but the symptoms still persist? Why go to the doctor the tests said it was negative….yeah for that particular problem.

And what about all these home drug testing kits? If you feel you need to have your child pee in a cup each night than I think there are other issues at hand than your suspicion he’s on drugs. And you’re using this test to cover up the real issues and get them and the family the help they really need. Taking a pee test every night is not helping them…It will only serve to push them away even further.

The ear infection one is another….Supposedly you look in their ear with this device and then compare what YOU see to the charts that come in the box, to see if what you see is an infection based on the charts. Um yeah, no room for mistakes there….Meanwhile I can see a parent going by this and blaming a mistaken ear infection on teething!!

I guess as I walked through the store and saw more and more “home test”, I couldn’t help but be perplexed. Is this what health care is coming to??

I have trouble affording health care cost and insurance premiums as much as the next guy….But I’d rather be taken care of by a Doctor than a device in a cardboard box you buy at Walmart.

Tanless HNT....

Here's a little something you might not know about me....I HATE the heat...Therefore I do not go out in the heat, therefore I never have a tan. So for my 202nd blog post I've decided to share my very "white chick" belly!!! HHNT

Pocket Change....

Apparently the economy is in an upswing… Except, get this, in the Northeast. More pin pointedly Northeast Ohio…

That’s me folks.

I think it may be time for a change… A move.

Of course in places that are flourishing the properties are higher the rents are higher and gas is higher…. So I guess you really wouldn’t be making much more money its all a wash.

Like wanting to raise the minimum wage. Yes you’ve raised it but now the companies that have to pay the higher wage [not that its SO high its going to break them, though they’d lead you to believe that] will now raise the price of their product, and once again we’ve accomplished nothing. It will all wash out in the end. As my father says, “The working man WILL ALWAYS be the working man.

But I still think its time for a move, a change of scenery, maybe our “thing” will work out and we can do JUST that. Distance…Distance is what I need.

Keep the vibes a pouring we should know in a week or so.

Texas..

Hey all of my Texas friends out there......

I became aware last night as I was shipping an Amazon order to Texas that there is a city called Flower Mound. For some reason I found this very funny!!! Have any of you been there???

Mary Mary

They just don't make shows like this anymore!!! I grew up watching it with my Father on Nick-at-Nite.... And I now have the first three seasons on dvd...LOVE it!! Always have always will.

Just noticed that the fourth season is out...Hmmmm

Now if they would just put the Rhoda show on DVD... I'd be the happiest little girl!!!

Ology of Me...

GRUB-OLOGY

What is your salad dressing of choice? Ranch
What is your favorite fast food restaurant? Chipolte’s (sp)
What is your favorite sit down restaurant? Red Lobster….But no fish the cajun chicken pasta!
On average, what size tip do you leave at a restaurant? 20 percent
What food could you eat every day for two weeks and not get sick of?
Anything bread!!
Name three foods you detest above all others? All seafood, liver, any of that hippie grassey shit
What is your favorite dish to order in a Chinese restaurant? General Sous
What are your pizza toppings of choice? Cheese, tomatoes, onions
What do you like to put on your toast? Apple ButterWhat is your favorite type of gum? The blue winterfresh stuff

TECH-OLOGY

Number of contacts in your cell phone? 20
Number of contacts in your email address book? 25
What is your wallpaper on your computer? The boys picture, see a few post down
What is your screensaver on your computer? Space
Are there naked pictures saved on your computer? Yes but there all of the same person…I think she knows who she is..
How many land line phones do you have in your house? 2
How many televisions are in your house? 3
What kitchen appliance do you use the least? The blender
What is the format of the radio station you listen to the most? Alternative rock/Alternative christian, but mostly I listen to CD’s I burn and PLUMB
How many sex toys do you own that require batteries? None, but I’m workin on that…Do you all know that the rabbit is 95.00!!! That shit’s pricey…Of course you can’t put a price on the Big O I guess.

BI-OLOGY

What do you consider to be your best physical attribute? My eyes
Are you right handed or left handed? Right, much to the dismay of my father.
Do you like your smile? Yeah.
Have you ever had anything removed from your body? A couple suspicious moles and my babies.
Would you like to? What have something removed? Um half my ghetto booty would be great!!
Do you prefer to read when you go to the bathroom? Yeah I guess I do its my only alone time.
Which of your five senses do you think is keenest? It’s a toss up between my sence of smell and my intuition.
When was the last time you had a cavity? I’ve never had one….**knock on wood***
What is the heaviest item you lift regularly? My twins they are 26lbs and I lift them both at the same time..you do the math.
Have you ever been knocked unconscious? No..But does passing out count..cause I do do that.

MISC-OLOGY

If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die? I don’t know, yes and no. It would be nice to “have a plan” but I also wouldn’t want to be so anxious about it coming up that I forget to live.
If you could change your first name, what would it be? As a kid I always wanted to change it…but now I can’t imagine it being anything else.
How do you express your artistic side? By writing and redecrerating though Chad prefers the writing.
What color do you think you look best in? Dark Brown.
How long do you think you could last in a medium security prison? I’d either go really crazy or I’d thrieve…. It one of those toss up things for me.
Have you ever swallowed a non-food item by mistake? Not that I’m aware of…Well ummm Maybe depends what you catogrize as Non-Food…
If we weren’t bound by society’s conventions, do you have a relative you would make a pass at? Hell no.. what kind of question is that??
How often do you go to church? Not as often as I use to which was every Sunday, but I’m lookin in to changin that.
Have you ever saved someone’s life? I’ve created two lives… Does that count??
Has someone ever saved yours? Every day.

DARE-OLOGY

For this last section, if you would do it for less or more money, indicate how much.
Would you walk naked for a half mile down a public street for $100,000? I would do it but it would have to be for say like a mill.
Would you kiss a member of the same sex for $100? Sure and already have on a lost eurcher game!
Would you have sex with a member of the same sex for $10,000? Ummm Hmmm I’m going to go with no, but if it where a few Million I’d be tempted especially if it was like Kate Winslet or someones else I find Hot.
Would you allow one of your little fingers to be cut off for $200,000? A pinky finger? It would make typing a little harder but I think I would it not we’re talkin’ a thumb here.
Would you never blog again for $50,000? No Way. Its what keeps me stable.
Would you pose naked in a magazine for $250,000? Totally. The human body is a beautiful thing…C- section scar and all.
Would you drink an entire bottle of hot sauce for $1000? No way.
Would you, without fear of punishment, take a human life for $1,000,000? No way I couldn’t live with my self and theres no price tag for life.
Would you shave your head and get your entire body waxed for $5,000? I’d wax my body but if you want me to shave my head alla Annie Lenox than your gonna have to raise you price a little.
Would you give up watching television for a year for $25,000? For Sure.. I barely watch it now… I hadn’t even seen the Tyler Hicks commercial for Ford!! Anthony had to post it for me!!

The News...Or Lack There Of..

The saying that good things come to those who wait….Better be true. We found out last night that what Chad and I did that we’re excited to hear if it is to be, so to speak, is going to take 3-4 weeks to hear anything!! So hopefully it will turn out “good” news after waiting so long.

We should hear about Carter and Levi’s blood by the middle of next week. They did awesome yesterday. Carter didn’t even cry!! Rendering me to remark to Chad, “Look honey how good he did, he didn’t even need to be laid down with a pillow and given orange juice!!”…. Which I got a “Yeah Yeah…” back. Levi was more like his father, but he still did well.

Now I have a question to ask. The other night I was IM-ing with Trojan and Chad was on the phone and said “oh Kate’s talking with one of her girlfriends on the computer”. Now I ask you all do you refer to your friends who are girls as girlfriends?? Is this a generation gap or something? Every time he says that I’m like “Wha??”

I have never referred to my girl … friends…. As girlfriends. But he does and most of his buddies do as well. So it got me thinking that maybe its just one of those things that his generation does and mine doesn’t.
Anyone??

Sweet HNT....

Last Time Hoping....

Tomorrow we all venture up to Children's Hospital for the boys' blood drawl. We are hoping this will be the last time...And that they're numbers are finally in the normal range. If they are not we are looking at blood infusions in the fall....So we are hoping they are up. I have a good feeling about it though, so I' think all will be good.

Yesterday Carter went for a repeat x-ray of his hips, after he squirmed too much for the first one and the doctor couldn't tell if it was him squirming or if he saw a problem- (he was the breach baby, breach babies and hip problems go together and require braces to correct)- So we went back yesterday and he was the perfectest little guy, and the x-ray was normal!! One hurdle down one more to go.

We should hear more about our other thing on Friday....So keep the luck vibes a flowin' and think "numbers up" for the little dudes!!

RocketFuel

My sister does a weekly comic strip called RocketFuel. Its all about her life with her husband John, it's hilarious and so true to form. The most amazing thing to me about it is the drawings!! What you see is EXACTLY like what it looks like in real life....Her house, the car the cats each lay out of each room....Its so amazing to me. I wonder what its like to have such talent??

So check it out.... I always have it linked to the right, but for this I'm putting a web button I got from her site!!!