To get the cell phone or not to get the cell phone, that is the question...

Here it is just 6 days til Chase's 11 Birthday and I don't have a clue what to get him. The only thing he wants is a cell phone. Urrrrgggg....why does an 11 year old need a cell phone?? Well, I think I might know the answer to that question. As much as it pains me to admit it...an 11 year old needs a cell phone to keep his mother from worrying. Okay...I said it...it's the truth, LOL! He is getting to the age of "branching" out more (riding his bike over to Mitchell's or to Sierra Vista Elementary School to play basketball with friends, etc...), and yes, I worry, worry, worry. One other factor is the difficulty in getting in touch with him when he's elsewhere. I have noticed more and more families do not have a land line anymore...just cell phones...so it just makes it harder to get a hold of Chase in these cases. Jean told me about a pretty good deal with Cricket for about $40/month. That price includes unlimited talk and text...which is essential as I'm not sure I could trust Chase just yet to keep to a certain amount of minutes, texts, etc. I haven't talked to Nolan about this yet, and being sick this week has hampered my shopping stuff...so stay tuned for...Adventures in Cell Phone Buying...coming soon to a family near you, LOL!!

Why didn't I think of this...

Okay...in all the blogs I follow, I have to admit that I'm always "fascinated" or maybe "flabergasted" with Janis' Blog. I read it our of pure morbid curiosity, LOL. Anyway, today she had a post regarding a FHE project she did with her family called a "vision board". A poster board with a collection and/or collage of clippings, pictures and sayings, etc...that describe who you are, what you believe, and what you strive/desire to become...and I have to plead insanity here cause I really like the idea/concept. There seems to be so many things in my life right now that just don't seem to be me and I'm working on changing...but I need more inspiration...so, I'm thinking I might try making a vision board of my own. Who'da thunk it, LOL???

Still battling the bug....

Uhhhh....well, it's now day 5 and I'm still battling this darn sinus bug, rats!! I haven't been as achey (that's good) so I haven't had any Ibuprofen for a couple days now. I have managed to wash, dry, hang, fold and put away an alarming number of loads of clothes, linens, etc...and get this...while heating up some water in the microwave (for some hot cider to ease my sinuses and throat) the water exploded. Whoa...guess it was time to clean the microwave anyway, LOL!

While Nolan is "suppose" to be on "vacation" (he was in Denver all day yesterday delivering the Black Hills Bid) and then today, he had to run up to Colorado Springs for a meeting with the tapping machine reps .He did stop and bring me some more boxes on his way home (must have boxes to get rid of crap since I can't bring myself to throw out perfectly good stuff...wonder when DAV will call again?)...anyhow, he's at Walmart now getting me some Nyquil and nose spray to try and help unclog my poor sinuses. I secretly think he just loves "running to Walmart", LOL!

Well, my nose spray has arrived, LOL!!

Another trip to the new Pueblo West ER...

except this time, it was me being seen. Urrgggg....yeah I went kicking and screaming (well...not literally). I woke up sick Friday morning...sore throat and just feeling miserable (tired, achey, etc.)...but this morning, there were white spots on my throat. I was just saying on LLFs the other day how I've only had strep throat once (that I can remember) since having my tonsils out back in 1996...but it looked pretty bad. Nolan thought we should go in, so we did. Well...after an hour and forty-five minute wait...my rapid strep came back negative. The doc said it's probably just viral anyway and if it is a sinus infection...he wouldn't think of treating it until I've been sick for 2 weeks...whatever! That is about the stupidest logic I've ever heard. It's not like this is my first sinus thing (I actually thought that I was getting a sinus infection until I saw the white spots in my throat). So I spent the afternoon in the urgent care/ER only for him to tell me to take Tylenol, yeah....I also have a cough from hell...waaaaaaa...I don't have time to be sick. They did say that the rapid strep tests are notoriously false/negative...so they will culture for 24 hrs and if it turns out positive, they'll call me. I do have one Ace up my sleeve though. Since I don't want to go into see Dr. Kemling...I'm thinking about calling my dentist cause I'm also having that funny thing on my left, lower jaw where my wisdom tooth was removed...it's all flared up again. Last time it flared up, I just called Dr. Chambers and he called in a script for Z-pack. I'm positive I either have strep or a bad sinus infection and I'm not waiting 2 weeks to start treating it. Sheesh, the last time I waited that long to seek medical treatment, I ended up with pneumonia...that is so rediculous...

So now my darn exercise routine is on hold til I'm feeling better. I told Nolan that I must be allergic to exercise cause every single time I start an exercise program, I end up sick. Funny thing is...he told me he was thinking the same thing. IDK, I think there is probably some truth to it...most likely just a temporary "run down" state when first starting to work out. The other factor was our late night out last Monday (with Chris). I know we were up til 3 am or so and the next day at my hair appt...I felt horrible. In fact, I remember when Shelby was rinsing my hair, I got a chill. I'm sure those 3 factors all played a part in my getting sick. I can't remember the last time I was sick or saw Dr. Kemling (other than a 24 hr. stomach bug here and there). I can't remember the last time I had a sinus infection or even a cold. Oh well, what can you do, LOL...

I'm trying not to get discouraged having lost 3 days already in my workout schedule...I'll just pick up again where I left off as soon as I'm feeling better. Besides...I have to feel better by Thursday night for the Bull Riders Only show. Nolan already bought tickets and Tim is going with and I'm pretty sure that Clay is coming down to go too. Can't wait to see Clay...haven't seen him since we were in Steamboat Springs last October!

Looking a little different around here...

Wow...the Christmas decorations are down and things are starting to take shape. Nolan has been working tirelessly to clean out my office to make it back into the exercise room (YAY!!)...We moved the new furniture (that we bought for the basement bar/pool table area) upstairs to the living room. We had to take it out Chase's bedroom window (as it wouldn't fit up the staircase) and because it's a sleeper sofa, omg it was seriously heavy. I don't really like the look of it in the living room (it's a little too casual and big)...but, at least it's new and comfortable (until we can afford new stuff for the living room). We got the love seat and wingback chair (that was in the living room) moved into the formal dining room with the piano (makes a nice sitting room). After we divide the entertainment room (into 2 separate rooms) we're going to use one of the rooms for storage (so we can empty out our storage unit...savings = $ 840/year). With everything here (as opposed to the storage unit) we can systematically start going thru all the boxes and be rid of so much junk. If/when we move, I do not want to take all that junk to a new home...so it's good to get it done now. I also want to get out all of the things I packed away to storage (when the house was on the market)...I will no longer live bare bones whether the house is on the market or not. I am going to make this house our home and when the time comes to sell...that is how we will sell it. I am convinced that my dislike of this house has actually been the reason it has not sold in the past. I have to learn to love this house and truly make it "home" before it will be "loved" by anyone else. I must take advantage of the next 4-5 months (while the kids are still in school) and get my projects going and done...so if the market looks favorable later this year, we'll be ready to list it. I am hoping Nolan will get some kind of bonus this year and perhaps we will get a decent income tax return that we can use to help accomplish this. For the first time in a long time...I'm actually feeling very hopeful that we'll soon be living on "the Ranch" on Casa Grande!!

I'll add some pics as soon as I get everything put away!

Mmmmm, the smell of turkey...

Since we had Thanksgiving at my sister's house...I had promised Nolan that I would make a turkey so we could have our "own" leftovers, LOL. So, Monday...I put the frozen turkey in the garage fridge so that I could cook it for New Years dinner. I went to the "mad house" grocery store yesterday and spent the better part of the evening making stuffing (from scratch). Get up this morning and my turkey is still frozen solid. Oh boy...so Nolan ran to Walmart to get a fresh turkey. While he was gone I made a pumpkin pie. The turkey's stuffed and in the oven and our house smells heavenly. Sweet potatoes are cooking and I'm gonna go peel white potatoes in a few minutes. We're having the turkey and all the fixings. I'm making a pecan pie too which I'll stick in the oven as soon as the turkey is done. I might could get outta cooking all weekend, LOL!! I think this is the first time I've ever cooked a turkey when it wasn't Thanksgiving and it's so much more relaxed. Now I might have to cook the still frozen turkey for Easter, LOL!!

I guess miracles do happen...

Our sweet Jordan returned this morning at 5:30 am. It was strange...Taylor spent the night at Brooke's so Chase and Paige slept in our room (Paige at the end of the bed and Chase on the floor at the end of the bed). Anyway, I was in the middle of a vivid dream when I heard a loud, cat screech (so loud it woke me from my sleep)...Zoey (who was sleeping between Nolan and I) also sprang up. Nolan and Chase were still sound asleep...and I said, "...what was that?..." Nolan thought someone was trying to break in as he hadn't heard a thing, LOL. I told him that I had heard a cat screech and to open the door (we have a door in our bedroom that goes outside onto the deck). For a second, I wasn't sure if I really heard it or dreamed it...but there at our door was Miss Jordan. She purred and purred and purred all morning! Zoey was sooooo happy to have her pal back again. I'm so relieved that she's home safe and sound! Thank you God!