Mother...Wife...Educator

2010

2011-01-01T21:39:00.001-08:00

Well I guess my first resolution will be to update the blog...I really want to keep it up for myself to make sure I remember things as they happen. So I will try to update more often than once a year.
2010 was an interesting year. Of course it had its ups and downs. I have enjoyed watching my two wonderful children grow.
Addison turned 1 on Dec 3rd. She is such a wonderful baby...well little girl. She loves to dance and to cuddle. She loves her soft blankets and animals. She can give kisses and say some words...mostly people's names. She started walking right before her birthday. She adores her big brother and knows exactly when Mommy needs a hug. I am so blessed to have such a sweet girl.

Tucker turned 3 in July. He is such a little smartie. He can be very rambunctious ( I know I didnt spell that right) and can stretch Mommy's nerves at times but he is such a sweetie at heart. He is sensitive and quick to let you know when you have hurt his feelings. He loves four wheelers and Woody and playing in the dirt. He is a Mommy's boy and I intend to keep him that way.

One of the downs this year was the loss of my Mam-aw on December 5th. She spent the 4th at my house for Addie's birthday and I was heartbroken to receive the phone call the next day. She was such a wonderful lady and a great example to so many. So many times in the past month, I have wanted to call or thought of something she needed or something I wanted to ask her. I know she is happy to be with my Papa and I know she no longer hurts or is tired but it is so hard for me and my family to be without her. I wish my Addison could have known her a little longer. When Tucker was born, she told me she must have been mistaken about her dreams. She had been dreaming of me holding a blonde little girl. Well, along came Addison and Mam-aw said...yep there she is! Mam-aw loved her grandkids and great grandkids and would do anything for any one who needed it. I will miss her greatly.

So 2010 had lots of memories and I can only hope that 2011 will be great as well.

Little Princess

2009-12-16T10:42:00.000-08:00

Well... Addison arrived on December 3 at 4:41 pm. I was induced that morning and things didnt really start progressing until about 1 or so. She weighed 7 lbs 13 oz. and was 20 inches long. She is a gorgeous baby-and I do not think I am just biased because all the nurses thought so too! Poor thing has my feet...with super long toes and she has very long fingers. The first couple weeks have been interesting. It is a big difference going from one kid to two. She has had her days and nights confused so we do not get a lot of sleep. Tucker wants to help with her but his little two year old boy self makes it hard. We are still working with him on being gentle and sweet and talking at least below a yelling level. I am already wishing I did not have to go back to work in January. I can't believe that I was blessed with twice with such beautiful children.

Update

2009-09-17T18:45:00.000-07:00

Well...life is busy! With school starting back things have gotten super crazy. I feel completely exhausted all of the time, I think that is the combination of school, being pregnant, and having a two year old! I have some pretty rambunctious (is that how its spelled) students this year. It always seems as if the class I have twice (because I teach them science and math) is full of "personality." They are a bit challenging for me. As for the pregnant thing, we are expecting our little girl around the beginning of December. I am really hoping for late November so I will have more time home but I want things to go well and for her to be healthy. I already put in for my leave at school and said I will not be going back after Thanksgiving Break-I may change my mind before then but we shall see how things progress. I went to the doctor today and things are looking good. I now start going every two weeks which will make school even more hectic.
Things with Tucker the last couple weeks have been interesting and stressful. He has decided he does not want to go to sleep. I put him back in bed at least 50 times a night. It is taking on average of 1.5 to 2 hours to get him to sleep. I do not know what is going on with that. We have tried everything-night lights, stuffed animals, new pjs, bribes...it is so tiring. He has never slept in our bed-ever- and last week he decided one night that 'tucker needs sleep in mama's bed.' I do not know where that came from. I just can't figure out what to do with him. So all in all things are busy!

Girl!!

2009-07-17T06:54:00.000-07:00

Well...I found out I was pregnant in April but decided to wait to make the announcement since it was so early. As time went by-we told a few people-mostly family but really didnt talk much about it. Then Monday I went for my official ultrasound. I always had wanted a girl but knew I was much more suited to have boys. My mom has no granddaughters except for Trinity-my step daughter and we did not get her in the family until she was almost 4-so they have not had a baby girl to dress up. They have really wanted a girl. On my husbands side-their are 2 girls with Trinity being the youngest and 5 boys...so they kind of were hoping for a girl too. While that one part of me wanted a girl so bad-I know it would be a whole lot easier for another boy to come along. He could share a room with Tucker and Tucker would have someone to play with. We wouldnt have to buy all new things...just easier. But i was super excited and 'shocked' when the ultrasound tech told me it was a girl. I went straight to the store and bought two pink nightgowns! My family are crazy excited. Trinity is excited-when she found out I was pregnant with Tucker, she said if it was a boy-we would take it back to walmart because they take anything back. There are going to be a lot of things to get ready. We do not have another bedroom. So after the baby moves out of our room, I think we are still going to move her in with tucker until they are a little older. Then eventually they will share rooms with the older ones. I just hate doing that because the older two are only here every other weekend and I know when they get a little older-it will be a big crazy fight having to get them to compromise. If we just had one more bedroom-it would be great! I also have to get a new car. Just lots of things to do. We did find out really early that I was pregnant so in a way this has been torture waiting...but now that I am almost 20 weeks, it is beginning to seem more real. I can feel her move around-which is a wonderful feeling. I just can't wait for my little girl-she has got to be calmer and easier than rough old Tucker!

Surgery

2009-06-23T08:58:00.000-07:00

Well..I figured I would update about Tucker's tonsil and adenoid removal last Wed. THe actual surgery went well. The doctor said that Tucker's nose was almost completely covered up by the adenoids and that his tonsils were very abnormally large so he was glad we opted to go ahead and do the surgery and not wait until he was older. He had to stay the night in the hospital which was interesting. He hated the IV. I think if it wouldve been out-he wouldve been a lot better. He was a very cranky boy that day and throughout the night. The only thing we could get him to eat/drink was dr pepper and ice chips! Once we got home, he was still a pretty cranky boy. He had to take meds for pain every 2 hours. He would have a pretty good hour or so of playing and being in a good mood and then a few hours of absolute cranky whining. The last couple days, he really started hating the meds. He cried so much yesterday that he threw up. He did the same thing today. He has lots of snot-I guess because of the swelling. Today is the first day the doctor said he did not need to take the pain meds...he just has to take the anitbiotic three times a day. He is really cranky and kind of 'hungover' I think. I am hoping he doesnt get the bleeding that would usually happen on the 7th day (tomorrow). It has been rough but I think it will be much better for him in the long run.

Workshop

2009-06-14T18:11:00.001-07:00

Well..Being a teacher-I have to have like 150 hours of development every 3 years or so. We do get some through the school, but we have to do some on our own. I decided to sign up for this resources and the environment workshop when I was at CAST this year. The workshop was for 5 days and was in Longview. So it was a pretty busy week. It was SOOOO hard being away from Tucker that long-I missed him like crazy. The week was really awesome though. Most of it was at the Sabine Mining Company-a coal mine outside of Longview. We hear so many negative things in the media about coal-it was neat to see their side. I was super amazed at how much they do to protect the environment. The do tons of reclamation and make the land so much better. We got to tour a power plant-climbing up(or riding the elevator) to like 350 ft but the neatest part was touring the actual coal mine. We got to see the big equipment and even got to get on the drag line-which is the big crane thing they use to dig out the dirt. It is over 400 feet long and we got to be in the cab while the guy was operating it-very cool. Each link on the chain that holds the bucket weighs 150 pounds. The bucket...is HUGE. We had 16 people just on the opening where the digging teeth are. They fed us really great while we were there and the Texas Mining and Reclamation Association-who put on the workshop-put us in areally nice hotel for the 5 nights. They gave us some goodies and we got to bring coal back for our classrooms. It was a great week even though it was hard to be away from my boy. I may put some pics up soon!

UGHHHHHH!!!!!

2009-05-29T18:03:00.001-07:00

You know how things always get worse before they get better??? Well , around here, they get worse before they get AWFUL!!!! As if there was not enough stress with the end of school-we had to do the stupid flexible year end plan which we did not have a clue about. I get like 3 days off and then I have a week long workshop...which yes I signed up for...but out of necessity. Then Tucker will have his surgery on the 17th-so there is a deductible due for that before he can register at the hospital. I have not been feeling well and have been stressed for some other reasons and now today...our air conditioning goes out!!!!!In the process of trying to help figure out what was going on with the a/c...a window was broken and glass got everywhere so I have had that to clean up-with three kids running around...while we try to figure out what is going on with the a/c. We so cannot afford a new unit right now...we just cannot get ahead. I just feel overwhelmed and keep waiting for the next thing to happen or go wrong. I need a vacation from life!

Easter and ENT

2009-04-13T15:18:00.000-07:00

Well...Easter was fun-I always enjoy it more than other holidays. Even though it rained a lot-it cleared up for the kids to hunt eggs. I got to spend to weekend with my family whick is great. I even got some alone/pedicure time with my big sister-which I don't get a lot of any more. I wish I had been off today to recover but I wasn't that lucky. On the not so good note...we went to the ENT today-Tucker will be getting his tonsils/adenoids out in June-earlier if it gets any worse. We are going to try to make it until June so that I can be with him and not have to take off work. The doctor said he will defnitely have to stay in the hospital overnight...since he is so young. I know as it gets closer it will get scarier and scarier...but I know in the long run it will help him. Okay...so here are a couple pics!

Back to the ENT

2009-04-01T15:23:00.000-07:00

Well...we will be heading back to the Ear Nose and Throat doctor in a week or so to see what he wants to do about Tucker. Our pediatrician said that his tonsils were defintely abnormally large and if they were swollen 90% chance that his adenoids are too. He did put him on a nasal spray along with the zyrtec. That is going to be awful having to hold him down for that.But hopefully we will get things fixed and we will have a happier Tucker which will make a happier Mommy!

My boy

2009-04-01T04:38:00.000-07:00

Well...Tucker of course is always sick. He already had tubes when he was 10 months. Well...when we went to the doctor in January for his 18 month check up, the doctor put him on zyrtex daily for allergies. He said if that did not improve how Tuck is always sick (coughing, snotty, congested) that we might need to see an allergist. No good changes have happened so I have already been dreading dealing with that. Well...about a month and a half ago...Tucker started snoring. I mean really snoring-he sounds like an adult man! Sometimes he even has the half snore...half whistle like you see on cartoons. He wakes up from his snoring with coughing and gagging. He is so tired in the mornings and they tell me at day care he also snores very bad and has had a few gagging/coughing type fits and he throws up a little. He has also had a big attitude change in the past week. Tucker does not snuggle...he does not sit still. He has only wanted me and his blankie to hold him a lot lately which tells me that he does not feel well. Well...of course I start researching the snoring anf find just what i suspect...it is probably sleep apnea caused by his adenoids being out of whack. I had always suspected that he might have problems eventually with this because of his allergies. I have also noticed that his tonsils are HUGE. He has never had a problem with tonsilitis or anything but in the past two weeks...his tonsils are so big they are almost touching. So needless to say, we are heading to the doctor today. If we end up back at the ENT, then we will deal with that when it comes. I just am so ready for summer so I can be home with Tucker everyday!

Houston Zoo

2009-03-17T11:09:00.000-07:00

Well...we spent yesterday in houston at the zoo. It is Spring Break and my step kids were also out so I got them for a few days. My mother in law went with me. It was a great day for the zoo. Cool and breezy. Cloudy so there was not a lot of sun. The kids all love animals! We spent probably 4 hours walking through the zoo and still did not see everything. Then after visiting the gift shop...we rode the train. They did very good considering the drive. Tucker got fussy a few times but we are still working on the no paci thing so I think that was it. Tucker picked out a snake at the zoo-a big stuffed one...and spent most of the evening once we got home running around sssssss-ing and getting everyone with the snake. They even all slept late this morning..until around 7:30. So all in all it was a good day. Today we have just been hanging around the house-in fact we are all still in pjs...sad I know. It is sad to think that this week will go by so fast.

Sick...Times three!

2009-02-08T18:18:00.000-08:00

Well...apparently Tucker was not completely over his little stomach bug he had on monday. He stayed with my mother in law on Tuesday but never threw up again after I got him the day before. No problems at school. Then Friday comes and I get home with him from day-care. He eats a snack and about 10 minutes later...puke! He ran fever and couldn't keep anything down all weekend. He would act okay in between but then got all whiny and just weak. Tucker has not ever been a snuggle baby...He wants his space and doesnt even like to be rocked. Well...not this weekend. He would not let me out of his sight and just wanted to lay on me. I have washed so many clothes this weekend with puck...its crazy. Well since he threw up this morning, was running fever, and obviously did not feel well, I decided to call my mom to see if they could come up to keep him tomorrow. They said they would. Well in the time I talked to them at around 2 or so...I started feeling yuck-I was hoping it was just from being up all night with Tucker. When mom called to say they were headed this way...I was in the bathroom sick. So my mom and dad are coming to take care of me and Tucker. Will is also beginning to feel bad...hence the sick times three. I hate being sick but hate it even more that Tucker is always sick. So now I am waiting on the parents to get here so I can go to bed. Being sick stinks!!!

Sick

2009-02-02T10:42:00.000-08:00

I knew Tucker was acting funny this morning...I thought it was just being tired from the long crazy weekend. Well I got a message at lunch that he was throwing up all over the day care...so they got someone to cover my afternoon classes and I left to get him. He looked so pitiful when I got there...they said he just was not himself. In other words he was quiet. We ran to Walmart to get some pedialyte and bananas...he was acting ok...tired but not really sick. Now he is taking a nap and I am grading papers...fun stuff.

Spring Break!!

2009-01-05T19:27:00.000-08:00

Isn't it awful that I am already counting down to Spring Break and I just started back today????? If I could just go to school and "teach", things would be okay. It is all the other stress of paperwork and uncooperative parents that makes is so awful. Plus, I am still having really bad headaches. I had to see a neurologist in early Decemeber and I was put on medication for migraines (ocular mostly). So far I feel like it is better some days and worse on others. THen to top it off, I called to reschedule my appointment with him because I have UIL on that day...well come to find out, I wasn;'t even in the books for the appointment the woman supposedly made me last time and the next opening is the second week of February. I know that the wait is expected for specialists but come on! I am super exhausted from having a migraine today. He also found that I may have thyroid issues and we can't make any decisions about meds for that until I have another set of bloodwork done-which cant be done until an appointment. It just adds one more thing to the stress that it called my life.

Pictures

2009-01-01T18:24:00.001-08:00

The pics are in an odd order..but here goes!

Jamming with rock band.. My boy enjoying some blue bell!

My nephew Caleb...he spent 6 hours of his Christmas at the ER with his dog bite.

Cousin Cody helping Tucker reach his new goal...but aggrivating sister keeps putting the monkey in the way

My mamaw made Trinity and I matching quilts...very special

Mom and dad bought all the boys Indiana sweatshirts.

Opening his goal

My dad being silly...it doesnt happen very often

Tucker loves the vroom vroom.

Cody taking Ma on a ride on his present

Leapsters

First tool set

First cabbage patch

Tuck loves his trike!

Tucker in front of the tree.

Christmas!!

2008-12-30T07:07:00.000-08:00

I really love Christmas...even though you always seem to get stressed and so busy that you don't really have time to enjoy it. Christmas this year was great! Very busy but Great! We had Christmas with my Mam-aw the Sunday before-just dinner because she would come to my moms to do gifts with us there. We had Blake and Trinity from that Sat until the 23rd-their mom wanted them for Christmas morning. Will worked Christmas Eve and we went to his Granny's that night. We had to check on his sister after she hit a deer but we then we had a nice cozy evening together with Tucker to rest up for the busy Christmas day. Will drove the 40 miles one way to get the kids at 8:30 that morning. He got back at our house with them around 10. We cleaned them up (they are always nasty when we get them) and opened presents together as a family. The kids got some good things...they loved their leapsters! We wanted to get them a hand held game but they really werent ready for psp's. The leapsters have good educational value too so I am glad they like them. Tucker got a tricycle which he loves although he cannot reach the pedals. I got a new camera and an ipod touch! I had my grandma make Will a blanket which he loved and I got him his GPS he wanted. We left our house at 11 (yes just an hour after they got home) and drove back almost in the same direction, to my Grandparents house. We had lunch with them. During which my nephew Caleb got bit by a dog and had to go to the emergency room. We were planning on doing my mom and dads christmas at around 3 but after waiting on Caleb and my sister to get back from the hospital we didnt end up really eating and all til around 6. I always love being at my parents house when we all are there. We just do appetizers at their house instead of a real meal so we just snack and visit. Cody and Caleb got four wheelers so we took ours and we all rode around the pasture. Every time Tucker would hear the four wheelers crank, he would go to the door and want to go ride. He loves them! We stayed at mom and dads and the next morning ran to Beaumont to exchange a few things and get a table from my brother. We stayed another night and did fireworks and came back home saturday. We returned home to all of our wrapping paper from Christmas day. Remember-we only had an hour. Ive spent the last few days getting the house back in order. We are having Will's family Christmas on New Year's since we have to wait for his brother and brother-in-law to come in. Then school will start back on Monday...EWWWWWW!!!!! I will post some pictures later!

Time Off

2008-12-02T18:33:00.001-08:00

Well...last week was crazy. I was off all week and spent most of it back home at my parents. The 21st I went to see my nephew be in homecoming...hes growing up so fast. I stay two nights with my sister and then back to Lufkin. Monday I had an appointment at my eye doctor....ive been having these weird episodes with my eyes getting blurry and really bad headaches...well I just thought I needed glasses. The doctor however-referred me to a neurologist because he thinks it is something else. So I will be seeing a neurologist this coming week. Tuesday I went to get my step kids and drove straight from there to my parents. We had Thanksgiving there on wed night. Thursday I drove to my husbands parents for dinner there-finally got to see the hubby-and then after that straight back to get my mom and then to Beaumont to stay with my other sister and do Black Friday. Lots of traveling and Tucker was a pro! He did very well with the changes in schedule. Friday when I finally got home I didn't want to do anything but sit with my hubby and talk. He made me go get a new phone though-which is ok with me!
So this week-back to school. But the bright spot is that the 19th we get out for Chirstmas Break! YAY!!!!! I sometimes question my becoming a teacher because it is so stressful. But having those times off is great when you have kids. A lot of people think we are over paid babysitters and that we gripe too much about our hours especially when we get off for summer and all. But I have to say that we (most of us) deserve it. I get at school at 7 every morning and do not leave until at least 4 in the afternoon....I then take home papers and lesson plans to work on. I spend lots of my own money on supplies and I usually am planning or doing other things on those days off...I hate it when people think we do not really work!! It is all worth it when you see kids enjoy learning and see that light bulb go off. I cannot wait to see what some of my kids become as they get older...

CAST

2008-11-09T18:06:00.000-08:00

Well...I was away from Tucker for the longest ever this week. I left Wednesday after school to head to Fort Worth and did not come back until yesterday afternoon. It was so hard being away from him! I missed him more than I have ever missed anyone. I was in Fort Worth for the Conference for the Advancement of Science Teachers (CAST). It is a really awesome conference. They have field trips and workshops you can attend. We did not get the okay to go from our principal until last minute so we did not get to sign up for any of the field trips but there are lots of free sessions you can attend to get information and ideas. Then they have this huge exhibit hall where people from everywhere come and have booths. There are textbook people, computer people, science supplies, animal reserves, just tons of people trying to get you to either buy their product or adopt their curriculum. The awesome thing is that they give you tons of free stuff...whether it be books, pens, posters...I had my whole roller cart full of stuff. I also bought a scorpion to have in my class and I bought some rocks and things. I even got to see a baby lemur and wallaroo (joey). So cute! It was fun but hard to be away from Tucker. It also didnt help that we had to stay at this awful motel while the people with us from high school (whose principal gave them permission on time) got to stay and the Sheraton. But over all it was fun! I am very exhausted though and dread going back to school Tuesday (I have jury duty tomorrow)...I hate having to be out because it is way more work than being there. There is no telling what the subs have left me!!!!!!!!!!

Halloween and Family Pics

2008-11-01T20:23:00.000-07:00

Well...This weekend we did the whole trick or treating thing...I was so tired afterwards. Then we went to have Family Pictures taken this morning. After that, there was a surprise birthday party for Will's granny...her 80th! Then we went four wheeler riding. So to say the least...we are all exhausted. Tomorrow will hopefully be a day at home to get the house back in order.

The kids before trick or treating

Mom and Dad

The kids

The whole family!

The Zoo

2008-10-06T18:27:00.000-07:00

We went to the zoo this weekend...This is the first time Tucker actually knew there were animals out there!!! He was so cute...he would see the animals and then point and gibber gabber to them. The best part was that he went crazy over the giraffes...which are my favorite. I have a kind of huge obsession with giraffes...Tucker has a 4 foot one in his room. He has toys, a chair, a tunnel, a tent---all giraffes. He has pictures on his wall. I have giraffes all in my classroom...so yes maybe he has been brainwashed to like them but it really made me happy how excited he got when he saw the giraffes out there. He sat there for like 10 minutes ( a long time for a 14 month old) and pointed and talked and laughed. He loved the train too. I just was excited to be getting to the point where I can take him to the zoo and him actually enjoy it!

Tucker, Mommy and the giraffes

Daddy and Tucker about to ride the train

Tucker and Daddy moving the jeep before going to the zoo

Tucker in his giraffe sunglasses (yes giraffe)

Big Boy Steps

2008-10-03T18:14:00.000-07:00

Well...Tucker is growing up on me...and right before my eyes. There are so many little things that he does that amaze me. Yesterday I told him to go get a diaper...he actually went to my bag...got a diaper and wipes-without pulling anything else out-and brought it to me. He has never done that before. He has started getting his blanket and going to his crib when I say it is night night time-stopping to give Daddy a kiss before heading into his room. Today I was trying to pay the cashier while holding him. I was looking for my credit card and he grabbed a dollar bill and proceeded to try to hand it to the lady. Yes these are simple things but it made me realize how he is becoming a big boy very quickly. He is really into giving kisses right now-which I LOVE! He is having his first day care Halloween Party. I got all emotional because all I ever wanted was to be a mom and I finally feel like one of those school moms who have to bake cookies for the party...wierd thing to get emotional about but I did. I feel like I have a real purpose in life. Yes I am also responsible for 105 kids every day as well...but I get to send those away and get new ones after a year (Thank goodness). I do enjoy being a mom and was telling Will today that I definitely want another one in the distant future. It is just too great of a feeling to only have it once.

Pics from Ike

2008-09-21T18:59:00.000-07:00

I thought I would show what dear Ike brought to us!

This is the tree that fell on our shop...as well as the neighbors fence

The view from the inside...under the tree is all of my husbands tools and things
Will next to the roots The jeep
And again...
We really were luckier than a lot of people. We only have a few leaks in our house because of blown off shingles...we've met with the insurance people and all so we shall see soon about getting it all fixed. I feel for those people who are dealing with much worse and even more for those who have not been allowed to go back to see what they might have left.

Slacker

2008-09-19T10:58:00.000-07:00

Ok....I am officially a slacker. I really am trying to get the hang of this blog thing...I don't even know how to add people's blogs and all...and to think that I should be more technically savvy!! Well...we are in the aftermath of Ike-the biggest pain in my neck since...well i won't name names. I had been back in school for 3 weeks (I have soooo many students in my classes) and here comes the hurricane. We are supposed to be far enough away from the coast but this time that wasn't true. We had my family staying with us since they are closer to the coast and I think we got more damage than those staying with us. A tree took out my husbands jeep and another took out our shop. Not good with us! We were out of electricity for 5 days which to us was awful but better than my family who may not get theirs back until October. My parents are still staying with us for a little bit just to escape into air conditioning for a while. We did get the week out from school which is bitter sweet. I enjoyed it but the students will be awful and crazy come Monday. Then to top it all off...my mother in law called and informed me that our nephew and neice have whooping cough and that since we were around them...we would need to get on antibiotics just in case-so today we went to the doctor and spent money on meds for me, Tucker, and Will. But better safe than sorry!

New Beginning

2008-07-28T14:09:00.000-07:00

Well...I have done the facebook and myspace blogs and cannot seem to keep them updated...plus alot of people do not have those accounts to view my blog. I am going to give this a try and see what happens. Just to let people know what has been going on recently. I am loving being home during the summer with Tucker. I do not know how I will start back in August. We have also been able to have Trinity and Blake for the last few weeks which has been fun although challenging at times. We went to Houston this past weekend for a nice simple vakay. We went to the Children's Museum and to NASA Spacecenter. I loved NASA and was excited at how interested the kids were. I think they enjoyed themselves. Tucker did well considering this was the longest road trip for him as well as the first hotel stay. We had a good time and I am putting up a few pics of our fun.