First week of school!

Colby started school on Monday at Lackland Elementary. It is much smaller than his previous school and we are very excited about this change! His previous school had around 200 kids in his grade and Lackland has about 50. His teacher is Ms. Carrion and so far she is great! She even called our house on Friday afternoon to see how his first week of school went and if we had any questions/concerns! We have seen a complete turn around in his behavior/attitude this week. He is also going to the Youth Center after school instead of daycare. We have gone 5 days without a meltdown, he is more relaxed, eating better, and more respectful. I think it is because he is feeling less stress. His teacher from last year told him that 3rd grade was going to be hard. So, he has spent all summer dreading 3rd grade! Poor baby! So far I am very impressed with Lackland Elementary and if his attitude remains this way it will be well worth the drive every morning!

YIPPEEE!!!

We got the call last Thursday that Colby was accepted into school on base! We are so excited about this change! Lackland ISD holds a lottery for those kids who live off base. So, we registered for the lottery with the hope that his name would be drawn. Sure enough, he won the lotto! LOL There are only two 3rd grade classes, as opposed to 6-7 3rd grade classes at his old school. He will be going to the Youth Center after school everday. This is what he is most excited about. He has been getting really tired of daycare the last few months. Colby has not made any real friends at school since we have moved here. So, I am hoping going to school on base with other military kids will help him find that common ground.

We have a busy week ahead of us. We have to go to orientation at the youth center this evening, orientation at the school on thursday, and meet the teacher on friday. We are super excited about the new school year!

Back to School!

I can't believe that it is already time to get ready for back to school! Where did this summer go? I also can't believe that Colby will be a third grader! The good news is that the legislature finally wised up and made it to where they do not have to pass the TAKS to be promoted to 4th grade. The TAKS is still attached to promotion in 5th and 8th grades but hopefully we will either be out of Texas by that time or they will wise up about those grades too! We are trying to get Colby into the school at Lackland. They hold a lottery for those children who reside off base. We got him all registered for the lottery and they will hold drawings after their registration on August 12. Pray that he gets in! This would mean that he would have smaller classes, be around other military kiddos, and we just haven't been all that satisfied with NISD. He has a hard time relating to other kids whose parents have "normal" jobs. He has not really made any good friends at school. His best friend is another instructors son who is a year older than he is but does not go to the same school.

In other school news, I am taking the final course in my masters program. YEAH!!! I had to wait a whole year for them to offer it. By the end of August I will have M.S. after my name!

There is talk in Steven's squadron about moving him to academics, so he would no longer be pushing flights. This is great! It means more time at home, less stress, and a normal work week. It took him a while to get excited about the idea but he is coming around. I, of course, am praying that it does not fall through! I am so proud of all his accomplishments as a Military Training Instructor, but two solid years of 18 plus hour days is enough! I would like to be able to enjoy the remaining time we have here in San Antonio.

Surgery

Well, I had the cyst removed from neck on Friday the 26th. It is healing well. The pathology came back that it is benign and contained respiratory epithelials (respiratory cells). The doctor thinks it was related to the "fluid sacs" that were there when I was born. I am sure you have all seen the scar on my neck from that, although you might not have known what it was. The surgery went very well, but recovery has been rougher than expected. They put in a drain to make sure that it doesn't come back. The drain was in until monday. It was gross! Stitches came out on thursday and I am getting back to feeling normal.

Colby could not take it so he went home with my parents on Sunday the 28th. He has been having a blast at the farm. We will pick him up when we go to the lake on Thursday. He is saving his money to buy a DSI. So, he is getting paid for the "work" he does at the farm. I won't be surprised if he doesn't come home with enough to buy his DSI.

It has been very quiet around the house without him but Steven and I have not killed each other. We are glad that we have at least 10 more years before our empty nest years!

Sweet words....

Colby made me a beautiful card for Mother's Day. It said I love my mom because...she makes me laugh and she's supportive and she's nice. My mom loves me and good. My mom has my heart. It's good to have a mom in the house.

*Tear* I love my baby boy!

Sex, Sex, Sex

Okay, so apparently a congressman from Virginia wants to ban Viagra commercials because they are too sexually explicit. Really? He says he cannot watch a ballgame with his grandchildren without worrying about them asking what erectile dysfunction is. Okay, so why not ban all birth control commercials, commercials advertising menstrual products, and Herbal Essences commercials while we are at it? I do not understand people who wish to keep sex such a secret from their children. It is perfectly natural and healthy to enjoy sex. If it were not such a taboo subject, we might have a lower teen pregnancy rate in the US. I have no problem explaining to Colby what an erection is. I would much rather he know what it is and that it is normal before he experiences it! I am reminded of the scene in the movie Carrie where she starts her period and thinks she is dying. There is just no reason for this. There is nothing wrong with educating our children about the natural processes of the human body. It does not have to be explained in an explicit manner. Colby has a book called, "What's the big deal?" and that is exactly how I want him to view sex. If it is not taboo, there is no reason to rush to break that taboo.

People need to realize that we are no longer in the Victorian age. Wake up to the reality that 750,000 teens become pregnant every year in the U.S. (Center for Disease Control). Educating teens about birth control makes them MORE likely to USE contraception when they begin having sex. Teaching abstinence does not impact the age at which teens begin having sex. They are going to have sex. But if educating them about contraception makes them more likely to use it when they do have sex, doesn't that make more sense? I see kids....KIDS!!!...every day who have absolutely no business having children who are either pregnant or already have a child! My co-worker is supervising a 12 year old girl...no, it is not a typo, I said 12!...who is pregnant! Think about that for a second. When she is a senior in high school, her child will be 8 years old! When she is 24 years old, and should be enjoying her young adult life, she will be raising a pre-teen! Now, if you are okay with this, by all means continue to keep your head in the sand. If you are not, I would encourage you to write to your congressman, city councilman, and school board to include contraception education in sex education programs around the country.

Neck Lump Update, Sleepover, and Spaghetti Sauce

Okay, so the results of the CT scan show a cyst at the base of my neck. Cysts are benign most of the time and rarely cancerous. However, I am scheduled to have an MRI on April 29. After the MRI, I will be referred to ENT for a surgical consult. The doctor said there is no reason to prolong having it removed. It can grow but there is no way to know if it will. Because of the location, if it does grow it can affect breathing, swallowing, and possibly compress veins/arteries in the neck affecting blood flow to the brain. We all know that I cannot afford to lose any blood flow to my brain! LOL! Steven is getting mad at me for making jokes about this all the time. So, it looks like surgery to remove the cyst will be in the near future. I am okay with that because pathology can then be done to determine exactly what it is and if it is cancerous.

On another note....we survived our first sleepover last weekend! The boys were great. They stayed up until midnight watching a movie and then were up at 6:30 playing the Wii. There were no fights and everything went smoothly! Colby had a run in with a jar of spaghetti sauce on Sunday morning. He was trying to get the syrup out of the pantry and knocked down a jar of spaghetti sauce in the process. He was covered in spaghetti sauce and glass. The jar hit his big toe and he will probably be losing that toenail! He had to wear flip flops to school yesterday but was back in tennis shoes this morning. It was chaos at the moment but pretty funny now! I watched the whole thing and it felt like it was in slow motion. I yelled at him not to move a muscle and lifted him out of the mess. I passed him to Steven who took him to the sink to wash the spaghetti sauce off and make sure he didn't have any glass anywhere. What a mess!

WWJD?

I was forwarded an email over the weekend has really made me think about the phrase, "What would Jesus do?". The email is regarding the family that was killed in the recent plane crash in Montana. According to this email, the family affected by this tragedy owned an abortion clinic. The email basically states that this family was killed due to their involvement in the "murder of children". The article came from the Christian Newswire. This is a prime example of why I no longer associate myself with any organized religion. The amount of hypocrisy, greed, and corruption surrounding many religious organizations has completely turned me away from organized religion.

The Bible has been used to defend the discrimination and oppression of so many people. I feel that the church has gotten away from its tenants and is no longer recognizable. Jesus, as he was imparted to me by my grandfather, was a generous, caring, and non-discriminating man. As Christians we should live our lives and show through our actions Christ-like love towards all humanity. It is not for us humans to determine the judgement of others. For a Christian organization to propagate such an ugly and judgemental vision of who this family is/was goes against everything I was taught to believe in. I am saddened by this article and the use of Christianity in this manner. Jesus did not turn away from prostitutes, lepers, murderers, or any other person. Rather, he did not condemn them but loved them. He by example through his actions and unconditional love. This is how we should live as well. Always ask yourself, "What would Jesus do?". I do not believe Jesus would speak ill of the deceased, nor would he condone such actions by others.

I do not want to proliferate such hatred but if you would like to read the article I am referring to it can be found at http://www.gingiedmonds.com/.

Quick Update

I saw a different provider today for a second opinion. Dr. Lawrence sent me straight over to Wilford Hall for an ultrasound. I felt so bad because it was 11:30 am and I knew someone was having to work through lunch for me! Dr. Lawrence called ahead to tell them to work me in. He said after we get the results from the ultrasound we will know if we need to proceed with the CAT Scan. The doctor read the ultrasound right away and conferred with Dr. Lawrence. Then, I was told that I do need to come back in on Thursday for the CAT Scan. That is not great news! I was hoping they would do the ultrasound and say there is no need for the CAT Scan. So, I go in on Thursday morning for a CAT Scan and I guess we will see where we go from there!

Doctor Mess

So, it was a typical visit to a military doc. I try not to complain too much about our healthcare because it is free and that is more than most people can say. I got to my appointment and my provider decides that the lump in my neck (thyroid area) is caused by an infection! So, he decides to give me antibiotics. Mind you, I do not have a fever and have not been sick lately. His next sentence was, "Worst case scenario, it is cancer. So, I will go ahead and put in an order for a CAT Scan. If it is still there after you have finished 10 days on the antibiotics, go ahead and make the appointment for the scan. Then I want to see you back 2 months after the scan, if the antibiotics don't take care of it." WTF???? Needless to say, I was not a happy camper when I left. I picked up my antibiotic, went to the car, called Steven, and cried. I was so MAD! We decided to call patient advocacy and now I have an appointment with a different provider on Monday the 23rd and a CAT Scan on Thursday the 26th.

So, still don't know much but well on the way to knowing what the heck is growing on my neck!

Nerves

Just trying to work out some nerves before I go to the doctor this morning. A few weeks ago I found a lump in my neck. It is in the thyroid area, so there are a number of things it could be from a goiter to cancer. I am trying to remain positive and believe that it is something benign but am nervous that my optimism will be crushed. So, please pray this morning that I find out good news! I will post more when I get finished with the doctor!

Oh Puhlease!

We recently attended the Rampage Military Appreciation Night. Steven has been in the Air Force for 11 years. In that time he has been deployed to Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Curacoa, and completed a one year tour in Korea where he was not able to take Colby and I with him. He is now a Military Training Instructor at Lackland AFB. In this position he works 18 hour days for weeks at a time to train incoming Airman. So, when we heard the Rampage was hosting a Military Appreciation Night we decided to go. Colby plays hockey and we frequently go to the games. When we arrived and purchased our tickets we realized that there was no discount for military personnel or their families. We were told that the only seats available were balcony level. Thinking that surely there was more to Military Appreciation Night, we purchased our balcony level tickets at full price and went in. Once inside we decided to ask one of the ushers what Military Appreciation Night was all about. He directed us to a supervisor. It was then that we learned that Military Appreciation Night did not include any discounts for military guests but simply a military display in one of the lobbies and a tribute during intermission. To top off the evening we saw an Iraq War Veteran who lost a limb also seated in the balcony level. It was bad enough that Military Appreciation Night did not include discounts for military personnel but to sit a disabled Iraq War Veteran in the balcony level is unexcusable. We have received flyers through our Colby's school where upper level tickets (not right on the glass but up one level) can be purchased for $15 and with that you receive a hot dog, soda, and a bag of chips. If they are able to do this for the schools, why couldn't it have been done for Military Appreciation Night. This was a huge disappointment. I believe the Rampage will lose fans for this.

Thank Goodness!

I just read that the hospital is not likely to release the octuplets to their crazy mother. She spent all that money on invitro and couldn't give some to her parents (who she lives with) to help with their mortgage? She is reportedly going on the Dr. Phil Show. Can't wait to see what he has to say about this! Thank goodness the hospital has the sense to see that she cannot possibly care for and provide for 14 children! I do feel terrible for those babies though. They deserve so much better than what they have been born into. Who knows, maybe CPS will step in and some wonderful families will be able to adopt these babies and provide them with great homes. I also hope that for the well being of the other 6 children, this woman gets some much needed help!

What a week!

Colby started running a fever on Monday and continued to run fever until Friday. I originally thought it was the flu but when he still had a fever on Wednesday, I took him to the doctor. The doctor did a strep test (the three day one) but said he really thought it was just an upper respiratory infection. The doctor said that if we do not hear anything by Friday the results were negative. So, Friday comes and we haven't heard anything about the strep test so we assume it is negative. Colby's fever finally came down and I thought everything had worked itself out. Imagine my surprise when at 7 am today he comes into my room and says his ear hurts. So, I call to get authorization to take him to an urgent care clinic. We wait 2 hours at the urgent care clinic to find out that he had strep throat and it has moved to his ears! I am one hot momma! My poor kid had to miss a week of school and suffer through strep throat without antibiotics. The ear infection could have been prevented if 1.) they had done a rapid strep and 2.) they would have called with the results and gave him antibiotics. He is now on a hearty dose of amoxicillin twice a day. Here is to a better week next week!

Death by Taxes

Steven and I have spent our married life proving to all those people who said we were too young when we got married, that we could still achieve our dreams. So, here we are 11 years later. I will earn a Master's Degree in Criminal Justice Administration this summer and Steven is almost 12 years into his Air Force career. Steven has been, and continues to be, very sucessful in his Air Force career. As retirement gets closer, he has set his sights on getting his education and becoming a teacher. We have a wonderful child, who has taught us soooo much! Colby is healthy, happy (most of the time), smart, and a wonderful little hockey player. So, why is it that we will not be getting a tax refund this year? We have tried to be responsible by saving money for our "golden years" but we don't qualify for the Savers Credit. We make "too much money". We no longer qualify for the Earned Income Credit. Again, we make "too much money". We know that owning a home would help tremendously but we were trying to be responsible by not purchasing a home. It is too risky for us to get saddled with a mortgage when we know we will be moving. All this time we thought we were being responsible. And yet, those who got themselves into mortgages they knew they could not afford, got bailed out by the government. Why can't hard working Americans get a break? We are a middle class family, who pays our debts on time, work hard, and try to plan for the future. And yet it seems that everyone in America is getting a bailout except Middle Class Americans!

It is not like we absolutely need a tax refund, but it is nice to get a refund and be able to do something fun with that money! I am just absolutely bummed about this situation and wonder where we went wrong?

Ranting and Raving (Warning...long)

Okay, so I watch the Dugger's on TLC. I am both appalled and captivated by that show. It is like Howard Stern, you can't stand it but you can't stop listening! Last night they had the Very Dugger Wedding where Joshua, the oldest, got married. He and his wife courted and vowed not to kiss until their wedding day. There is something to be said for waiting until marriage to have sex but the whole kissing thing has me baffled. I kissed alot of frogs before I found my husband. There were guys I thought I was physically attracted to but when we kissed there was nothing there. I would be so scared that that chemistry would not be there and then it is too late. I also do not understand why you want to share your first kiss with 300 guests. I will ALWAYS remember my first kiss with Steven. I will remember that feeling forever. It was a very special moment that was shared with just the two of us.

I was also appalled that in their wedding vows they vowed to allow God to determine the number and spacing of children they would have. Great, just what we need more families having upteen million children. Even the Catholic church condones natural family planning! I think it is very irresponsible to have that many children. And exactly how is a used car salesman (that is what Joshua does) supposed to support those children? I do think it is great that the Dugger's on not on government assistance, I don't know how but they say they aren't. In one episode, the older girls went to Florida with Joshua so they could help with wedding plans. The parents said how hard it was with the little kids without the older girls there to help. THEN DON'T HAVE SO MANY KIDS!!! It should not be the older children's responsibility to raise the younger children. I also have issues with the homeschooling aspect but we can leave that for another post :)

Going back to the birth control issue. This morning on CNN they were discussing the new economic stimulus plan. Apparantly they have stuck in some legislation regarding funding for birth control programs. They were interviewing some right wing person who made a comment regarding providing birth control without parental permission. Well, guess what folks, these kids do not have parental permission when they decide to have sex! My thought is that if they are taking steps to be halfway responsible in preventing pregnancy, why would anyone want to stop that? I understand there are side effects from the pill and other birth control methods but it is not like they would be getting it from the black market. It still has to be prescribed by a physician and they still have to return to the doctor to get refills. In my line of work, I see so many teenagers who have babies and who have no business raising a child at this point in their lives. I also see families who have multiple children and cannot support them. And who pays for this? We do, thats who. I would rather pay for birth control to prevent pregnancy than pay for other services once the pregnancy has occured.

I don't want anyone to get me wrong. Children are a blessing but I am very jaded having worked at CPS and now at Juvenile Probation. You have to have a license to drive, a license to get married, a license to own a business or cut hair. You should have have a license to have children too.

Photo Tag

The rules are simple... 1. Go to the 4th folder in your computer where you store your pictures. 2. Pick the 4th picture in that folder. 3. Explain the picture. 4.Tag 4 people to do the same.

This is a picture of Natural Bridge Caverns. For what it is worth, we didn't like it nearly as much as Carlsbad.

I tag April, Melanie, and Tory. I would tag a fourth but that would be Kelani and she tagged me :)

Two Wheeld Wonder

Today, I took the training off of Colby's bike. It took a few tries but he was off and riding with no training wheels in no time! I had to get it on video so I am posting them below. I can't believe he is riding on two wheels! The next thing I know I will be teaching him to drive a car! Dear Lord, please help me when that time comes!

Complaining...as usual!

So, yesterday as I was watching CNN getting ready for work I see this new multi million dollar recruiting center the Army has introduced in Philadelphia. The Army exceeded its recruitment goal last year but felt the need to construct this 13 million dollar recruiting center that uses virtual reality and video games to recruit soldiers. In these economic times, why would they opt to spend that amount of money? Especially when they are meeting their recruiting goals without it?! If the Army has that kind of money laying around, why not put it towards improving living conditions in base housing or developing better family support centers. In a time when many soldiers are away from their families for a year or more, wouldn't ensuring the well being of the families left behind be more of a priority? When families are well taken care of at home, soldiers have fewer worries and are safer while deployed. Rather than focusing on what is going on at home, they can rest assured their family is being taken care of and focus on their mission. I just don't understand such opulence.

On the same day, as I was driving to work, I hear a discussion on NPR regarding the closing of the Guantanamo Bay detention camp. I think this is a step in the right direction. Did we really think we could keep these people prisoner forever? It is a flagrant violation of the Constitution to continue to keep these people detained without charging them with a crime. Move them to federal prisons, allow them access to attorneys, and charge them with an crime or let them go. Americans would be outraged if Americans were being held in a detention camp for this period of time without access to an attorney and without being charged with a crime.

Okay, stepping down from my soapbox.

New Year

So, I am not a fan of New Year's resolutions. I never make them because then I only get disappointed with myself for not keeping them. Over the weekend I was watching infomercials and saw Tony Horton's 10 minute trainer. I thought, "I can do 10 minutes a day". Then it occured to me that I already have a 10 minute pilates video that I bought several months ago. So, I made a deal with myself that if I will consistently use the video I already have for a month, I will purchase the Tony Horton set. Yesterday was day 1. I can do this! When we lived in North Dakota I was in the best shape I had ever been in. I was working out 5 days a week doing cardio kickboxing and taekwondo. When we moved down here I just kind of stopped everything. I have a heavy bag in the garage that I do not use because the garage is a mess and it is way too hot here to be out there working out. I have not joined a gym because it takes half an hour to get anywhere in the city. By the time I get home at 5:30, get changed and out the door, I am not hitting the gym until at least 6:30, work out for 30 minutes, get home at 7:30, then have to cook supper, get homework done, Colby bathed and put bed. That is just too much, especially with Steven's job. I hate working out at home but it seems that is my option at the moment. So, I am jumping into it and not looking back. After 18 months of laziness it is time that I do something to get myself back into shape. I am not calling this a resolution, just time for a change!

Hello blogworld!

I know, such a leming! Everyone else has one so I decided to take the plunge into the world of blogging.

I just finished reading a terrific book. It is My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult. I have picked this book up several times in the bookstore but always put it back on the shelf. I didn't think I could read it. I will try very hard not to give too much away because I think everyone should read it for themselves! The topic is a teenage girl who is suing her parents for medical emancipation because she no longer wants to be a donor for her sister who suffers from leukemia. This book takes you on a roller coaster ride of emotions. I was mad at the mother but in a way understood where she was coming from. I was mad at the father for not standing up to his wife. I was mad at the attorney for being such a jerk! I loved the little girl for taking a stand. It is a great read! Like I said, I don't want to give too much away for those who would like to read it on their own. I highly recommend it.