Bless her heart!

My poor, pitiful, sick, sweet, little Ashlyn.

These are some pictures of her just laying

around being sick.

Frazzled

Where do I begin? Work has been a bitch since last Wednesday. We have had someone out Wed, Thurs, Fri, and today; which means that I get more phone calls and more orders to take care of. It just really bothers me that someone can be out for nearly a week straight from work. We all get sick, that's a given, but to be out for nearly a week at a time.........that is just uncalled for! Even if you don't feel 100% yourself, you should still give an effort to come to work. There are many days when I don't feel good, but I still come to work. If I didn't come in every time that I "don't feel good" I would be out of a job. It just gets under my skin. Sorry........I just had to get that off my chest.
Friday I received a phone call from Mom while I was at work. They weren't supposed to get in from Costa Rica until late Sunday night, so it startled me a bit when I heard her voice. She said that her and Dad were on their way home. I was puzzled........"what's wrong?" I asked. She informed me that she has had a terrible eye infection that started on Wednesday. She had gone to a doctor there, but they do not have nearly the equipment or technology like we do here. Finally by Friday, she couldn't stand the pain anymore and her vision was fading. She told Dad that she needed to come home, so they went to the airport Friday morning and booked a flight home. Britt, Ashlyn, and I went to pick them up from the Airport Friday evening. Her eye looked terrible! We called the Oncologist on call and he met us at 9:45 that night at his office in Lincolnton. The doctor wasn't really sure what was going on. He told mom to use some antibiotic drops and some drops for pain that he had prescribed for her(the doctor in Costa Rica had already given her antibiotic drops and some kind of drops for pain), and that he wanted to see her again on Saturday. She was in severe pain. She went to her appointment on Saturday. The doctor was shocked that her eye had not gotten any better, only worse. Now her cornea had an ulcer on it. He scheduled an appointment with a cornea specialists on Sunday. She went to the specialist on Sunday, and they didn't know what was going on. Every doctor that she's seen all say that they have never seen anything like this. That's just what you want to hear after coming home from a foreign country! She went to another specialist today, and they seem to think that the pain drops that the doctor in Costa Rica had given Mom were toxic. Here in the US, that drug is unheard of. That's the exact word that the doctor used........"toxic". So.........they still really don't know what's going on with her eye. The doctor wants to see her everyday for the next week or two. Just keep her in your prayers. Hopefully it will begin to heal on it's own, and she won't have permanent damage to her vision.
Ashlyn is sick AGAIN!!!!! I swear.........she finally got better from her bout with the flu. It took her nearly a month to completely get over the cough and runny nose. This weekend it started all over again. Her nose is RAW, completely raw, from her wiping it so much. Bless her little heart! I just hope and pray that it's just a little cold and not something worse! Just call us the sickling family. LOL =)

Was it Really Him?

Saturday night I had the strangest dream. My Pappaw Sherrill died when I was 19. He was extraordinary man. He LOVED his grandkids, Kyle and me! We were his life, well other than his dogs. He had dogs for coon hunting, water racing dogs, he had all kinds of dogs that were worth tons of money! I remember him trading dogs all of the time. He would trade a dog for a truck, a gun, a motorcycle.......basically anything depending on how many races the dog had won. My pappaw was the funniest man ever! He didn't have any teeth. My mammaw bought him a set of dentures, but he just threw them away. He would grin that toothless grin. I miss him sooooo much! On Saturday night I had a dream about him. Just out of the blue. It was the wildest thing. I dreamed that we had been living our lives all of these years without him around, and then out of the blue he walked up behind me and tapped me on the shoulder. I turned around in total shock........there stood my Pappaw Sherrill right in front of me. All of these years without him and then there he was. He had the biggest grin on his face. The same look that he always had when he got excited. He looked me straight in the eyes and gave me the biggest hug. Then he told me "Min....you've grown up so much. I'm so proud of you! Look at Ashlyn and how beautiful she is!" He looked exactly the same in my dream. Had the same expressions. It was the strangest thing. My question is, was it really him, communicating with me through my dreams? How do we know? Maybe it was or maybe it wasn't, but I know one thing.......I miss that man more than anything! That dream brought him back into my life. I hope that he continues to talk to me and watch over my family. I'm sure that he's up in heaven looking down on me chuckling. That's the kind of man he was. I love you Pappaw and I miss you!

Wacky Weekend

Girls......I had so much fun Friday night! Everytime that I go out with you girls I laugh so hard that I'm sore the next day. I'm not kidding! That says either one of two things......either we have WAY to much fun when we go out, or I am WAY out of shape. LOL!!! It's probably a little of both!
Saturday Ashlyn and I got up and went to Wal-mart. I absolutely hate going there, but they have the best prices on groceries.......so in order to save a little money I go there and always ask myself why I went there as I'm leaving. I have to say that it wasn't nearly as bad as it normally is. I think it's because the new Wal-mart opened in Conover, so I'm sure that everybody's going to check it out. After grocery shopping we went home and basically did NOTHING! I was so bored. Normally I like to have days like that, but Saturday wasn't one of those days. I really didn't even care to take a nap, which is not normal at all for me. I laid Ashlyn down for her nap while I made some chicken salad. I don't know what it is lately, but I have been craving chicken salad. It is the kind that Britt's mom makes. I swear it is the best chicken salad that I've ever eaten. Britt told me that I had finally made it just right this go round. YES!!!!
Mom and Dad are in Costa Rica right now on a mission trip. They left on Friday so we are keeping Symba while they are gone. He's usually no trouble at all, and I figured that it would be good for him and Rudy to have one another to play with. WELL......let me tell you these dogs have been nothing but TROUBLE! Rudy does not care anything for Symba. He just growls any time that Symba gets close to him. Now both of them are house trained. I wake up Sunday morning and while I'm in the bathroom getting ready I get a whiff of the worst smell that I've smelled in a long time. I had just let both of the stupid dogs out, but since it was raining they hurried and ran right back inside. I peek my head in the kitchen to check on them and Symba had pooped in the middle of our dining room floor! The smell was AWFUL!!!!!! I was gagging while cleaning it up. Ashlyn's dirty diapers smell like roses compared to this odor. Then I look around and Rudy had peed in the floor. UGGGHHHH!!!! I was about ready to kill them both! I cleaned up both messes. Then I got Ashlyn up and got her ready. We went to Mammaw Sherrill's for Annette's birthday lunch. We had the best time over there talking and laughing about old times. I just love my family! When we arrived back at the house I walked in and still smelled a foul odor. I looked all around for more doggy doo, but nothing. I let Rudy out of his kennel and low and behold he had pooped all in it. It was all over him, all over his blanket. I was so aggravated!!!!!!!!! What is up with these dogs????? I thought that it was going to be an easy time with Symba, but it looks like it's going to be a VERY LONG WEEK!!!!

Mood and Emotions

Since I've had my IUD removed I have felt so much more like my old self. You wouldn't believe the difference. I can't believe that a device that small could have such side effects. The IUD and I have one of those love/hate relationships. The #1 thing about the IUD was that I did not have a period the entire time that I had it, which was a little over 2 years. That was GREAT, but boy did it make me moody! I am just amazed at the difference in my moods after having it removed! I honestly don't know how I didn't drive Britt completely insane, hell I drove myself insane because I would get so upset over nothing. I would get so frustrated with myself for feeling the way I did. If I would have known that the darn IUD was causing all of that I would have had it removed a long time ago! =)
I feel like my life is taking on a whole new chapter. It's kind of hard to explain right now, but let's just say that I think this year is going to bring a few new changes. And NO......I'm not pregnant. Things are just finally beginning to come together for me. I'll tell you girls all about it when we meet on Friday! I can't wait for that! Just thinking about all of us bowling makes me laugh out loud! LOL!!!!
I've also signed up with a company called Just Ducky. They are based out of Asheville. I'm going to be a sales-rep/hostess for their company. They sell an amazing line of children's clothing. They mail me the trunk show pieces (fabric swatches, styles of clothing, etc.) and I host home/trunk shows and sell their line. Everyone mark your calendars. I will have the show Feb. 15-18. I will be able to take any orders during this time period. If you or anyone you know would be interested in attending or hosting a show in your home please let me know. Britt's sister buys from this line every year. She's the one who told me about the company. I'm telling you......this line is AWESOME! Check it out for yourself. www.justduckyoriginals.com .

Ashlyn's earrings

It was finally time to get Ashlyn's ears pierced. She had been asking about having earrings for a while. She sees all of the little girls at church with their pretty earrings, and was always asking when she could have some earrings too. I finally gave in. I told Britt that I wasn't going to get her ears pierced until she started asking about it......and since she is ALL GIRL I decided that it was finally the perfect time. We went on Saturday afternoon. She did GREAT. She cried for a split second, but once she looked in the mirror and saw her "big girl" earrings those tears stopped in no time. These aren't the best pics, but I wanted to post a few of Ashlyn and her earrings.
Moriah - I really need you to look at my camera sometime. It is starting to take the crappiest pictures. Also, tell me what kind of camera to get for our next one. I think that I'm going to ask for one for Valentine's Day or my birthday.

Favorites

I had heard people talking about this store in Hickory off of Hwy 127 called Hobby Lobby. They carry fabric and craft supplies, plus they carry home accent furniture and decor. Let me tell you......This place is my new favorite store. It is HUGE inside! They carry trunks, accent tables, shelves, candle holders, mirrors, pictures, picture frames, vases, floral arrangements.....I could go on and on. The items look like pieces out of pottery barn and pier one. If you haven't been there before, you DEFINITELY need to check it out. I could not believe the items and the GREAT DEALS that they offered. I was looking at a trunk or a sofa table for our living room. It is REALLY bare right now and we need some new furniture in there to help spunk it up a bit. Anyway......they looked like the exact same thing that you would find in pottery barn, but less than half of the cost that you would pay there. I'm telling you I fell in love with this place. And the best thing......they have sales ALL OF THE TIME. And the items that are on sale aren't cheesy items that no one would want to buy. They are actually great bargains on great items. I just wanted to fill everyone in on my new find.

New Year's and More....

This weekend flew by! Friday evening was the Black's Christmas get together. It's always fun going to see all of that side of the family. They are a hoot! Sherry's always there, and you know there is never a dull moment with her. She was showing us her scars from bowling. LOL! They had all taken Collins, Mitchell's little boy, bowling over Christmas break. Well, Sherry was trying to help Collins roll the ball down the lane and all of a sudden Collins went running down the bowling lane, and Sherry went running after him. Need I say more!?!?! Sherry completely busted her tail. She had bruies all down her arm, a broken tail bone, and a busted lip. I would love to see a video of that. I can see it now. Thank goodness she's ok! She's just really sore.
Friday night we went over to Steven and Rebecca's. They were having people over to play cards and just hang out with friends. It was a fun, but tiring night. Saturday Ashlyn still wasn't feeling back to her normal self, so her and I just laid around all day while Britt went to play golf. We had dinner with some friends at River Crest Country Club. It was the best food I think I've ever had! After dinner the guys came back to the house to watch football and the girls went to watch a movie. We decided on 'The Holidays'. It is going on my favorites list Girls....You've definitely got to check it out! It was GREAT! The only thing that sucked was coming back to reality.....our beer drinking men with no romantic bone in their bodies after we left the movie. =)
For New Years we went to Catawba Country Club for their annual New Year's Party. I really wasn't sure how much fun we would have....I mean how much fun is it to hang out with a bunch of old yuppies? The answer....REALLY FUN!!! There weren't nearly as many older people there as I thought there would have been. You paid in full and got as much food and drinks as you wanted plus a limo ride home. You can't beat that! And the best part is that we didn't get kicked out. I'm kind of surprised that we didn't with all of the craziness that was going on in our group. =)
Monday I took down all of our Christmas decorations. I love the decorating, but I HATE taking all of that crap down! It's such a pain. That's my weekend. Ashlyn is finally beginning to eat again. It's taken her a while to build her strength back up. I hope that we are done with any sicknesses for the next year. We've had enough to deal with the past month to cover for a whole year.

Happy New Year!!!!