33

Where has time gone?  I will be 33 on Saturday!  More to come!

Short Lived

This could very well be a short lived thing, coming back to blogging but I thought I would give it another shot.  **Thank you Amy for the push!!!**  I find as the kids get older, it's harder to just sit and type, though I somehow find time to surf facebook.

Brock has been sick for about 6 days now with some kind of mean upper respiratory bug.  He's now taking steroids, antibiotics, an inhaler, nose spray, cough syrup and Tylenol for the fever.  Poor kid.  He missed 4 days of school this week.  *SIGH*  Berkley has the horrible cough too.  Speaking of school, our Brock is a wiz!  He's excelling in everything imaginable and is reading over a 4th grade level while in the first grade!  Wow!

Berkley started pre-school where Brock used to go.  We didn't start her at the beginning of the year (August) because she was struggling with UTI's and issues.  She finally started in January and the first day was fine.  We decided to move her to another class which was more on her level because she had never been in school and also a smaller class size.  Needless to say we had 2 weeks of "terribleness".  She cried and begged and pleaded for me to take her with me and for me to not leave.  They would have to peel her away from me.  I waited around in the hallway to make sure she was fine and she surely was.  She LOVES school now and wants to go more than twice a week!  Whew!

Greg and I were married for 8 years in January.  We hope to plan a real honeymoon at some point and also hope to get to take the kids to Legoland in Winter Haven, Florida soon.  We haven't been on a vacation together nor have we had a family vacation either.

I have lost around 30 pounds!!!  Around a year and four months ago, I stopped taking antidepressants that I had been on for years and years.  The weight started to fall off.  I weigh around 110 now which I haven't seen before my wedding day 8 years ago!  I actually went to see a plastic surgeon this past Thursday to consult with him regarding a mini tummy tuck. I'm so sick of the bulging pregnant looking stomach and the extra hanging, sagging skin.  (I'm well aware that not a lot of people feel I shouldn't do this or even think about it, but my body, my decision!)  He checked me out and said I'm actually NOT a candidate for a mini and that I'd have to have a full one done (hip bone to hip bone).  A mini deals with the muscles below the belly button only.  I actually have muscle separation from underneath my bra all the way down.  He said "THAT NO AMOUNT OF SIT UPS WOULD CHANGE MY BELLY!!!"  That was nice to hear seeing as I've heard, "just do some situps" from Greg.  (haha honey...told you.)  The surgery is very lengthy, taking 3 hours, and the recovery would be very tough.  I pretty much had my mind made up going in but now I'm really considering many more things.  I have to make sure the kids will be cared for and that recovery doesn't involve me missing out on anything with the kids or regarding the kids.  It is possible that if I decide to do this, I may have it done in April, but may wait until Winter before I have it done.  Just have many things to go over.  With Greg working out of town and not being here most of the time, the burden of child care and taking care of me will fall on Granny or my mom, so I have to clear scheduling with them as well.

I hope everyone in the blogging world is well.  I'm going to try to update and post some pictures since I'm about a year and a half behind!

Take care,
Crystal

Sweet, Sweet Papaw...

As the kids get older, I find myself getting busier and with less time to do the things that I enjoyed.  I'm not complaining though.  It's so amazing to see these little people transform in what seems to be overnight, into happy, healthy, whole individuals.  Brock is now 6 years old and is in Kindergarten.  He is excelling in school!  So much, that they are testing his reading level within the next week to see what grade level he is actually on.  He reads all the Kindergarten material like it's a breeze and almost like it's boring!  Berkley is hell on wheels but I love every minute of it!  She has such a fun and care free personality and is stuck to me like glue!My grandfather, one of the loves of my life, passed away on Christmas Eve night.  He suffered from some liver problems and it finally shut down on him.  We knew it was coming but not that quickly.  They called in Hospice and he only had them coming to the house for around 2 days before he passed.  He was always there for me.  ALL.MY.LIFE!!!  All I have now are the memories, and I can say that they were all good.  He was my biggest supporter and up until his death, I would still crawl up in his lap and he would rock me.  I miss him so much and I still cry every day because he isn't here.  I know time will heal but his memory remains in my mind and heart forever.  One of the toughest things right now is dealing with the kids.  Brock tells me all the time he misses his papaw and Berkley says that she wants papaw to be with us and to come to Granny's house.  She says he is with the angels in heaven.  It's almost like she has hope that he will come back to Granny and back to us (insert tears...).  It does seem to give her a sense of peace, that he is with the angels.  Brock has had a harder time because he knows he isn't coming back.  It's just sad.  I knew this would happen some day, of course.  As my grandparents get (got) older, it is inevitable...we are all here to die.  I still have Granny and she is precious.  She is my best friend.  Unfortunately, her care taker, life partner, best friend and soul mate isn't here anymore....  At least I have her, I'd just love to have them both.  Someday, I know I'll be with him again.  My worst feer now, is losing Granny.All in all, life is good and I will try hard to update more, if anyone out there is still reading.Love,Crystal

It has been FOREVER! In the meantime...

...my baby Brock turned 6 YEARS OLD!  You said what?!  Yep.  He turned 6. Okay, he isn't really a baby anymore but it is so hard for me to believe!  It really seems like yesterday he came into my life and he has truly been the light of it ever since!  He is just so precious.  Here is a sneak peak of our HUGE celebration this past Saturday!

I promise to blog more.  It's been so hard getting on here.  The kiddos keep me so busy during the week...I have no time!  Brock is now on a strict schedule because of KINDERGARTEN!  Yes, I said it...KINDERGARTEN! 

Berkley's 3rd Birthday Party is this coming Saturday so I'm sure I'll blog that!

Much love,
Crystal

Brock & Berkley-ism's

Brock:  Mommy, when I stick my finger in my ear like this (sticks finger in his ear)

Mommy: Uh huh.

Brock:  I almost can touch my brain!

Mommy:  Um.  Really?

Brock:  Yeah.

Hot Flashes

I think the hot flashes are going to be the death of me.  Since my hysterectomy, they haven't been this bad.  Just awful!!!  Ugh!  That's all I have to say about that.

The End!!!

The REAL scoop on Kady Paige Blankies and The Duggars

I do not have much time this morning but I thought I would write a little blip.  I will not be using the apostrophe key because I DO NOT have one.  Just got the computer back and  Berkley decided it would be cool to rip the key off and also the little rubber thing in under the key.  ARGH!

Anyhoo, on with business.  My new found friend, Jennifer over at Kady Paige Blankies (see previous post) has become a good friend of mine.  Kady Paige, her little girl (one of four children) was born premature.  She weighed a little over a pound and according to Jennifer's (yes, I used the apostrophe blank on my keyboard) they did not know if she would make it!  You should see Kady today!  She is a beautiful, healthy, bubbly baby girl!  WOW!  I saw someone comment that Jennifer's ring would fit around her wrist like a bracelet!  What a miracle!!!  Jennifer makes the most beautiful blankets!  I won a $20 gift certificate to her shop and ordered an adult sized blankie all for myself.  It should be arriving anyday so I will post on it once I get it in!  YAY!  Just talking to Jennifer through chats and convos on etsy, I feel like I have met a long lost friend.  It stinks because she is in Oregon and I am in KY but I think our friendship will thrive through conversations on the telephone!!!  Hopefully, we will visit my father in law this year (he is in Oregon too) and I will officially get to meet her.  It is wonderful how the internet can afford so many friendship opportunities and opportunities that we never would have had otherwise!!!

I have been watching The Duggar re-runs this am since I was cool enough to sleep in the recliner last night (ugh).    My question for you is, when do you have enough kids?  AND, if you have one daughter that has the possibility of needing more care than all of your other children and possibly facing death, how could you say that you may have more children!  I understand the whole philosophy of the Duggars that they will leave it up to God.  I just do not understand how they could not just count their blessings and be content with what they have in life.  It is not my decision to make though and not for me to judge.  They seem to do the whole bunch of kids thing very well and sometimes I wish I could have the patience that they possess.  Michelle Duggar seems to be so mild mannered, soft spoken and I truly believe that she is a fantastic mother, as Jim Bob is a great father.  I just think to myself that maybe it is time to stop with the kiddos!  I cannot fathom life beyond 2 children so I do admire them for their organizational skills, their loving kindness and compassion for each and everyone of their children as well as their Faith in God!

All is well here.  Berkley is a little firecracker as usual and Brock is still the smart, sensitive one.  Till next time!!!  Time to get ready to work now!!!

C