Yes, It's thursday

It's been an exhausting day. Working in a toxic environment of pessimism and negativity takes every ounce of my energy to deflect. Thankfully tomorrow is Friday and I'll get a short time away from a place I more and more grow to hate. If only I were able to live without it. But my budget disagrees. So for now at least, I stay. Selling my soul for the sake of my family and our materialistic needs. Such and oxymoron. Materialistic and Need. Enough with the debbie downer for now. On to more interesting things.

Chase and I had our first consult with the orthodontist Wednesday. They basically confirmed what we'd suspected in that Chase's problem is his jaw really not so much his teeth. It's got an 11mm offset and would need surgery to realign his jaw bones which can't be done until he's nearly done growing and has all of his adult teeth. Which on average is around 15. He'd also need braces post surgery in order to pull the front teeth back in now that they've jutted forward more and more from resting all these years over his lower lip. Something he's very comfortable doing and does it without even thinking. There is one other solution they've suggested in the meantime. It's an appliance similar to a retainer on steroids called the Bionator. Unfortunately it's got a few side effects. Most notably it affects your speech but Dr J assures us friends and family will adjust to it over time. YIKES! That sounds a bit extreme! And it's not like you can test drive it to truly understand exactly what his description really means. And for $1700 with a $300 each replacement cost it's really something you better be sure about before signing on the dotted line. At this point were still deciding what choice is best for Chase and at that cost will have to wait until January anyway before proceeding when my flex can be reloaded. He wants to try it but the fact he's lost his science workbook already this year at school and often struggles with personal responsibility doesn't help me feel any more confident that we'll just be throwing our money away. But the thought of his self esteem improving. helping him to feel less victimized at school from the heartless children who've taunted him for far too long for his teeth, is something a Mother cannot ignore. So for now I'm planning on doing more research online regarding others real life experiences with the bionator. And eventually we'll do whatever's best for Chase.

Shawn is adjusting well to his life's changes living here in Iowa again with his Aunt Lisa. He has a part time job at Subway and recently was given $1.25hr raise. He's had a lot of obstacles to overcome from years living in not the greatest of environments and even though we've done our best to help him build a beginning foundation, it's now up to him to continue brick by brick making it stronger. As with all young people he makes some choices that set him back a bit and he's learning to pick himself back up and remember he can keep going. Realizing with priviledge comes great responsibility and hard work. Finding out more of who he is, was and wants to be while coping with the daily struggles and stresses of working toward self sufficiency. I believe he will continue to move forward and learn from his mistakes. I am very proud of the work he's done thus far and will continue being a support and reminder of what things need improved. Wanting only for him to be happy, emotionally able cope with challenges and to find what makes him build self worth in doing what's right and working hard. It's not easy being young. Lord knows I made monumental mistakes that only hindsight could have convinced me were just plain stupid! If only I could have trusted my Mother enough to think she wanted what was best for me WITHOUT having to live through the pain of immature, impulsive, pipe dreams of love and fairy tale endings. It is only now that I see more clearly how wise she was trying to steer me to more stable relationships, education and career choices. It's hell trying to make up ground later in life for bad planning while young and not realizing time moves so quickly that before you know it, You are wanting the same things for your own sons.

It's getting late now and Jeremiah turns out the lights at 10 so I'll have to leave more new season tv musings for another blog day. Thanks for listening. Feel free to comment if you feel like sharing.

Survivor Pizza Night and more

Wednesday's at our house are compiled of easy suppers and gathering in front of our tv watching my favorite show Survivor! Tonight was create your own bobolli mini pizzas with choices of grilled chicken, veggies, garlic alfredo sauce, bacon, pepperoni and LOTS of cheese! This way everyone gets pizza exactly like they like it. Jeremiah's not a big fan of Survivor but even he watched it with Chase & I tonight I'm enjoying watching Russell's nephew struggle with his demons and heading for a meltdown! He seriously has got some issues I think but Jeremiah has a different opinion, even suggesting he's smart? Riiiiight ;) Either way now that's it's over and tribal council has finished, I think it's a good idea to just keep it on Myth Busters to make the boys happy! Not MY first choice but I imagine that's a SHOCKER.

On another tv note...The X Factor auditions have been pretty boring and slow. Not to mention over promoted by the host after every commercial break. I don't think it needs to be tooting it's horn so soon considering what I've seen thus far. Things like the extensive air time it's given to some very offensive and obvious nut jobs! Who are not half as amusing as the SNL '**** in a box' skit with Justin Timberlake and Andy Sadler. JT is one funny talented dude I might add! I nearly wet my pants watching the SNL season finale not too long ago with him in that '40' beer bottle outfit and singing with the teabagger lady! OMG that was just wrong. But hilarious. If you really need to know you can always google it and find it on youtube. Especially if you're a lady gaga fan since she also appeared in the 'mascots' skit dressed as a wine glass! Who knew she was funny too?

On a side note. If anyone would like some smoked pulled pork feel free to let me know. Last Sunday Jeremiah smoked one in our Masterbuilt and we have lots left!! He's off and running again now too with 'smoking fever' since it's been some time since our last smoker binge. He's leaning toward smoking some boneless chicken breasts next. I'm skeptical but his coworker and others online seem to think it's not going to be a dried out chicken jerky like I fear it could turn out to be. In all seriousness, I think he's an awesome cook/smoker/baker so it'll work out just fine. He makes one hell of a mean pie crust too I might add! In fact, between you and me, we're thinking of making a peach pie for my Mother. Jeremiah HATES peaches with a passion though so he'll only make the pie crusts! We will also try making large quantities of apple pie filling along with empty pie crusts and freezing them in foodsaver bags for enjoying a wee bit of summer in the middle of winter hopefully. WITHOUT all the work too if both are frozen and we just have to toss together and bake. You know what they say about the best laid plans though!

Tune in tomorrow to the blog for our orthodontist consult news and musings on the season premiere of The Mentalist, Harry's Law and my first installment of 'What Shawns Up To Lately' segment! Stay tuned.

Off Kilter

When I saw this sign at a rest stop over the summer on our 'Oregon Whirlwind Adventure' it didn't occur to me that it's not only rattlesnakes I should be concerned about. I obviously should have realized how dangerous my job is! I didn't see it coming but late today I became the dazed and confused owner of an entirely new job. No more accounts receivable for me. I'm now going to be the sole person in charge of working my 'detail magic mind' on purchasing/inventory for all sites. Too bad I don't have an f'in clue nor experience on how to do that but as usual I guess I'll learn as a I go. It's just very odd to not have applied for nor really got to choose an entirely different job! Needless to say tonight I'm processing and feeling completely off kilter without solid foundation. It's a good thing that I'm such a positive, competant person otherwise I might think this was Big Brother trying to backdoor me and vote me out the house!! :P You just wait! I'm going all the way and gonna win that $500K though! Then you'll all be sorry. Oh wait. That's right. I just get a new job with the same pay AND no prizes even. In fact I probably will get to wear some sort of embarassing and belittling costume too! Oh that's right. THAT'S just my normal wardrobe. Maybe it's time for me to call it a night and snuggle with Mi and our canine kids. At least there I can dream about being in control of things! -screams- G'nite.

So much has happened...

So much has happened since last I blogged over a year ago. I wish I had the dedication it takes to blog on a more consistent basis but realistically it's not going to happen. For Today though I feel like doing it sooooo...here we go.
This past year has brought so many, many changes and challenges to my life. To my families lives. One of the biggest and most difficult was my Mother Carol being diagnosed with small cell lung cancer in November 2010. A very sad milestone was Jeremiah's grandfather, Grandpa Lamb passing away spring of 2011. He'd became unable to live alone in his family home and went to stay with his daughter Bonnie and Son in Law Jack but slowing deteriorated until finally being admitted to the Hospice House in Des Moines where he finally was able to join his loving wife Betty. I like to think of him that way. It makes the void he left in the family more bearable.

An unexpected and sudden event was my oldest son Shawn's relationship of the past few years ending and him moving from Oregon back to our hometown in July. He's for the time being living with my sister Lisa and began working at Subway part time. Long term goals are still being worked through with everyone taking things one day at a time. His brother, my youngest son Chase, enrolled in public school August 2011 after 7 years of private catholic school. At the same time he started wearing glasses, is growing his hair way too long and has an appointment with the orthodontist to figure out what we can do to help with his overbite that causes him much anguish from others teasing him relentlessly. He and his brother are attempting to begin getting to know each other better as siblings now that they're living much closer and both getting older. The significant difference in age doesn't help between a very strong willed older sibling and a younger boy trying to find his own identity. But we'll work it out and another example of just taking it one day at a time!

Jeremiah & I spent a week driving to Oregon and back over the summer to pick up Shawn and his two very large dogs. Neither of us had been to the west coast before and it was a lovely time with just the two of us on the way there taking in all the sites. Mountains, forests and the west coast are an awesome sight. It was a great time to be able to use my new camera that Mi bought me for my birthday in July. Which reminds me of another change! My other birthday present from the previous year. My little sheltie puppy named Samuel! He just turned 1 year old in April 2011 and we now finally feel like we've left puppyhood since Raven turned 2 that same month. It feels like they've always been a part of our family and non e of us would have it any other way now. While we were gone and in Wyoming there had been a strong storm in M'town and a very large limb broke off our tree and demolished our screened in porch. Needless to say when we returned it was a mass cleanup and we're still figuring out how to utilize the insurance money or whether we'll just apply it to our mortgage principal instead after making a few other repairs to our house gutters and roof. I think it's going to take some time before we make the final decision though as it's important to make the right choice for our future.

Speaking of the future. My Mother is in remission now after one hell of fight these last nine months. She recently had another CT scan and I'm hopeful the results will continue to be positive. Her hair is finally starting to grow again little by little after brain radiation but currently shingles are kicking her ass and she's in a lot of pain and discomfort. But she's a fighter still and her brand new puppy Molly she just got last week should be a wonderful motivation. Already my Dad Bill sees how inspired she is by having another canine companion. This thanksgiving is going to be a pinnacle one since last years was such an uncertain and devestating time not knowing what a year later would bring to our family. I am hoping we all come together this time and enjoy celebrating how thankful we are that we're all still together. Even if we're just a difficult lot that can be quite moody! We shall see. I'll keep a margarita close just in case though ;) Which reminds me. Mi's idea to make them ahead to store in glass mason jars in the freezer was nothing short of genius!