Forty Toes: 101 WINNERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Forty Toes: 101 WINNERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our Jack Rusell has a first name, it's O-S-C-A-R

Every since we have moved out to our new place, the boys (Patrick included) have begged for a dog. The deal was ok, but after Zander got here cause of the whole puppy/baby acceptance thing and wanted our dog to like everyone. So, after we lost Zander, questions started rolling. Malachi's weekly drawings of dogs went to daily ones. Someone convinced Patrick that Jack Russell's were great for keeping snakes out of the yard and great for small rodent's so the search was on....

I found one breeder within 100 miles that had Jack Russell pups ready to go. She wanted $1000 ! Well, Mriah Carey got one of her puppies. WHO CARES ! We live in Northeast Oklahoma! So, the search continued. Finally one in Hominy, OK. An hour and 45 mins away and a lot more in my budget. It was just meant to be. He was the only one left in the litter. All the other ones were sold at 3 weeks but they had not posted his picture until the day I was searching. Evidentally the mother was mean and bit his face when he was a couple weeks old. So, on that day when he was 7 weeks old they felt his face was healed enough to take pictures and post of him. This is what sold us. He just looked so happy and like he had a personality. The other sites had there puppies all post with a background, etc. Not our style! To hominy we went that night..

On the way home Malachi decided that he looked like an Oscar. Yes, the 4 1/2 named him. And Oscar, who knows. We put in the rule of no super hero or cartoon character, but other then that, he was on his own. He has turned out to be a wild, very playful dog. But then gain, he is a puppy! The other benefit of getting him when we did was that I would be off of work still so I could work on potty training him. Went well at frst and then the rain interrupted. So, we are still working on it.

OUR GRANDBABY TURNS ONE !

Okay the last blog was a little too much poor poor me. So, for some happier moments! I guess I will have to spread them out over the next few days though and spoil the heck out of everyone cause who knows how long the roll of blogs will last !

Alli turned 1 a couple of weeks ago! She is STILL not walking, but growing like crazy.

Her birthday was a terrible party experience for me. The wind was blowing 40+ mph and everything was blowing away, so by time most of our friends arrived everything was in the trash or car.

Many were disappointed because my decorating was not up to my normal standards, but OH WELL I finally decided after whining to Patrick for 10 minutes. But, it was fun, the kids had fun and that's what matters. RIGHT? Yeah, right :) Well, not completely true. Two kids cried at the party and they were mine! While Alli was opening her presents, she wanted a birthday card, her father took it away. I then got on to my son for doing that, he went to give it back and poked her in the eye! She cried for the 2nd time at party, first being during the cake. She did not like the whole cake experience. Then the other drama was Malachi. He gashed his toe on the wonderful merry go round. It was not to merry for him after that!

Hopefully soon I will get to add her professionally done 1st birthday pics. But, we have already failed at te first 2 attempts. First appointment was complete failure. About the time she is usually napping! Then like an airhead I go and make the next ppointment only 30 minutes earlier! This time I scheduled for 3 hours difference. We'll see!

GOD's tests on my family....

Let's see. I'm sure this will be a repeat for many, but it is an update on my family since last time so there may be something new. These past 10 months have been quite a test of faith for our family....

June 10, 2008: We had to bury our baby Bennett that we lost at 24 weeks. Never found out the correct medical term, but it was basically explained as something that is very common in 8-10 week miscarrieages. There was a sack that develeoped in between the placenta and Bennett that was taking away all of his nutrients.

October 2008: John didn't do to well in his custody battle over Alli. He basically got hung with higher child support and set visitations. It was actually better before when she would just call, want us to get her and leave her longer, more often, but 4 days a week every other week isn't too bad.

January 2009: Greer's couple of months of spending time with us ended after she got her presents. Still haven't seen her since that! My poor husband and Malachi. But she refuses, we aren't fun and don't have enough money is what I am told. Oh wait...WE HAVE RULES AT OUR HOUSE! Mom moved 8 hours away to Iowa as well :(


February 12-15, 2009: Malachi, Patrick, and I headed to visit Mom and Tom in Iowa for my birthday. Poor John didn't get to go because it was his weekend with Alli, her controlling mother said she couldn't go and she wouldn't trade weekends. While we were there, we got robbed! John was at work while this was happening. he came home to find my husband favorite thing (Plasma TV) was stolen as well as anything else electronic or hunting related. Sad thing is, we pretty much know who it was, he works with my hubby and son, but since we live in tiny old Pryor, CSI is just a dream! (insurance did replace most of it)


April 6, 2009: My blood pressure had been elevated over the weekend off and on so I laid in bed ALOT. When Monday came, I did as usual, got up at 4 AM to go to work. I faxed my doctor's office my BP readings for the weekend, expecting them to just call in a BP med. About 10:00 the nurse calls telling me to get to the hospital to be evaluated. No big deal in my mind. I text Patrick telling him that I am headed over there that he doesn't have to go if he doesn't want to, but thank goodness he did! The nurses were having a difficult time finding Zander's heart rate. They finally did, the doctor walked in saying that I was having contractions, but that Zander was not liking them so we had to do an emergency c-section. Since I was 33 weeks and he was a good size the doctor said he felt everything would be ok, but that an ambulance would be on standby in case he needed to be transported to better NICU. We were ok too. Thinking early, but heck Malachi was born at 35 weeks, 7 lbs.10 oz and perfectly healthy. Nerves were going but we put our faith in God. Once in surgery room and spinal tap was just given the nurse started yelling that his pulse was dropping so they threw me back and began to cut. A nurse grabbed me by the face saying that spinal would not kick in for another 3 minutes but that I could not let them know I was not numb or it would delay on my babies chance for survival. Still thinking everything would be ok in the end I sucked it up until I felt them pull him out and heard nothing. I heard a nurse say wow he is so big and then another say OMG he's dead. I began to freak out and was told all kinds of stuff like oh we don't want him to cry yet and this and that until they confirmed it and then they finally told me that he did not make it. The placenta biopsy showed that there was a kinkk in the umbilical cord, but that due to the extra amniotic fluid he was unable to move enough to undo it. He was so beautiful and perfect. He weighed 6lbs. 1 oz. and was 17 in long. We had to bury our second baby, right next to his brother 3 days later.


April 20, 2009: Before everything happend with Zander, I had just gotten my truck back from having a new engine put in. I was headed to pick Malachi up from school after I got out of class. I was gonna be 30 minutes early and was starting to get hungry so decided to run in to the casino (only place between where I was at, my house, and Malachi's school) and order a sandwich to go. I went in with my phone, $12 ($7 for food and $5 to play on while waiting). Food took 10-15 mins later then usual and I was starting to get ticked. As soon as it was ready, I ran out the door to see a bunch of people looking at a fire. Joking around, I asked if it was a white 4 door Ford. Well yes it was! My truck had exploded! It was on fire like crazy. No fire trucks, just security and onlookers. After about 10 mins and all but 3/4 of the bed left, the fire department shows up. Luckily we had full coverage, so after tons of phone calls, reports, etc, they gave us a settlement amount yesterday.



So, there is a pretty good some of things! Not fun around here. No, we are doing pretty well considering. We have really tried to remember and focus on the bible. We often have to remind each other that GOD does things for a reason and it is not our job to ask why.

Some good news though. I do not have to rely on my old Blazer anymore. Patrick told me that I could pick out whatever vehicle I wasnted on their lot. So, I did not go with my "ideal" vehicle, but decided to be smart for once and to pick out something that we could pay for with our settlement check and continue to not have a vehicle loan. I went with a silver '05 Equinox. Not that it's bad by any means, just not me! So, after I finished my last final yesterday, I decided that I was going to make myself like it. I pulled out the manual and learned EVERYTHING that it has. So, I think today I like it now :)

My Aunt Jane emailed me with somthing that I would like to share before I close....

Suffering is rightly called "the school of faith", for it is only through trouble, difficulties, and setbacks that we are brought to the end of ourselves. The normal human tendency, particularly for strongwilled people, is to rely on our own strength and resources. But when those are not available to us, when everything has failed, when we have to abandon every other hope, we are forced to trust God alone. She got this from a book she's reading called The Faith.

And yes, I will try to keep my updates better. More then once every 7 months! Who knows :)

MUD RUN...

A few weeks ago, Patrick had approached me about an upcoming race that his work was sponsoring. There was a 5K and fun run he said. He was doing it and wanted me to do it to. Ok, I am not a runner and never have been. Look at me and what the heck is he thinking? So, I played a long and than went to the website. (http://www.pryorfeverrun.com/) Hmmm....that looks interesting. I get to pay an entry fee that goes to a good cause, Physical Education Departments at the Pryor Elementary Schools and Thunderbird Youth Academy in Pryor, and have an excuse to play in the mud. Sign me up! Than the next thing was to convinve my best friend to do it with me. So, Patrick just signed her up! Eventually she was ok with it.

Next problem. It's a costume contest too! I am too cheap to spend money on a costume that is going to get ruined! So, improvise. By this time the guys (John signed up too!) are wanting me to make something. Wrong. As before, not wasting the time to be ruined. Than I remember my good ole' UMICH days. I still had two unitards left! John was pumped, but Patrick refused until the night before. Then Marla and I needed one. So we decided on the 80's looking workout gear. But, I got her the wrong sizes so she had to go with just the sweatband and other clothes.

You can't see much from the pics, but it is basically a mile long obstacle course. There were several mud pits that included stuff to jump over or to crawl under and even a slip in slide! It was a blast, we ended up nasty. Marla got off a little easier because we weren't quite as mean to her since she actually did it! But next year will be different! :)

OUR WONDERFUL MAYOR JIMMY T

HEADED DOWN THE SLIP IN SLIDE

WE ARE SO OUT OF SCHAPE!

(WE WERE ACTUALLY RUNNING RIGHT BEFORE THIS)

TIME TO CLEAN UP

This isn't heaven and why all the rocks? Malachi asks....

With the cool evening weather and feeling of fall arriving, I decided to change Bennett's theme from summer to fall. The other day Malachi and I went and put out floral arrangement that I made and to my surprise, new headstone STILL has not arrived.

Let's back step real quick...We picked out a really "unique" headstone that come to find out is difficult to cut the way that it is needed. So, when the headstone FINALLY arrived at the first of August-took 6 wks for them to make- I freaked out. Concerned that it might be my OCD kicking in, I had my husband and best friend look at it for their opinion. Before they ever got to go view it, the guy from the funeral home called me expressing his disapproval of it because the horses head was deformed. He got on the phone to monument company telling them to make us a new one that everyone was dissatisfied, etc. and was told that they would have to start over from a new piece of stone to make one since it is a very rare style and that there are none available in the U.S. (our reason for picking this one!) But that meant another 6 weeks! Well, it has now been 7 weeks and it has not been replaced. They were nice enough though to allow us to keep the deformed one until the other arrives. Hmmm.....

Ok, so back to this week's adventure. Malachi is 4 and of course a smart boy :) Each week he learns and becomes more and more aware of biblical information. When Bennett first passed, my friend/pastor's wife Jamie took Malachi to the cemetery to talk with him about things. From what he would say to me, she did a great job.

Well, this week has been quite challenging.... It started right when we pulled in to the cemetery. "Mommy why are there all these crosses and big rocks in funny shapes?" Well son, when people pass away/die this is where their bodies are buried. "No you are wrong Mommy, Baby Bennett is in heaven with Jesus and this is not heaven so who's horsey rock is that?" Ok, hmmm....Let's not lie and be misleading because I want him to understand, but how do I explain this? Please God I am needing some help! Ok, Malachi when someone dies that has made the right choices and lives their life through Christ, their spirit goes to heaven, but we still need somewhere to put their bodies. When we get to heaven our bodies, like our face, arms, legs,etc. don't go with us. They stay here. And that is what is buried under those rocks along with all of the toys that you bought for Bennett. Was that ok, did he understand, he is looking a little confused... The response..."I got those toys for Bennett to take to Heaven with him so that he could play and now they just in the ground. And does that mean that I should have been put in a box when I was a baby because I want to be with Jesus too!" Well son, if you continue making the right choices than yes one day you will be in Heaven with Jesus and your body buried under one of these rocks. But, you need to wait until God decides he is ready for you to come home to Heaven. Ok, hands in the air. I thought I am taking him to Jamie and James's house. They can help him understand. But than it passed and no more questions.

Today I went back to put up the cross/hook thingy my step dad Tom had made for us to hang pots, wind chimes, etc. from. Everyone's at work and no one around to drop Malachi off with. Oh no, do i need to pray and have God answer some questions to prepare me for his questions. Than I decided suck it up. I want him to feel able to ask anything that he wants and to hopefully be able to answer his questions.

It went pretty well other than the running and confusion of why all the headstones were different, why some had this, and some had others. But the cutest had to be..."Can I ride Bennett's rocking horse?" Um..no. It does not move and does not rock. So, a little bit trip today. I still think that next weekend I might have Jamie take him back, she does so much better with his questions! :)

Bennett's Graveside Fall Look

A Family Update....

Some of you have maybe not had much contact lately with us, etc. so I will try to do a brief (yeah right!) summary. If you have spoken to us within the past few months, than stop reading and move on! :

Let's see Patrick is still selling BS, I mean cars, at Roberts Auto Center. He loves his job! Way too much actually, maybe more than the rest of us. He turned 40 last Wednesday. Yes, my husband is A LOT older than me. I know, but I figure men are so immature that, well we are about the same age mentally/maturity wise. And bless his heart, he is falling apart day by day. He has not done well with his age.

I am still with DaVita Dialysis. I enjoy my job most of the time. But, it is a job. I am also going back to school to complete my RN degree AGAIN. It seems like every time I get accepted in to the program I wind up a prego and have to decline my acceptance. So aiming for Fall of '09 to begin the program. I am just getting all of the small stuff out of the way now so all I have is my true "nursing classes." We lost our baby boy Bennett when I was only 24 weeks along on June 10 so that has been quite a battle and adjustment for all 4 of us. My due date is coming up in a couple of weeks so the feelings are getting stirred up again. So, I apologize ahead of time for the blogs that might be coming soon. :)

John turned 18 over the summer and is trying to enjoy the journey that he is on. He is now a senior due to some credits not transferring from his old private school. He works at the dealership with Patrick and is quite a workaholic. He was recently crushed due to "budget cuts" decreasing his hours drastically so now he only works 3 days a week. I was quite excited thinking that I would have extra help around the house... YEAH RIGHT! When he's not at work, he is with his girlfriend or riding the horses. He also has a daughter named Alli that was born April 28, 2008 that he usually has on the weekends which keeps him very busy as well. (Yes that means I am a grandma at 28!) But, he's young and learning to make better choices. He is a great Son though with a VERY big heart!

Malachi is now 4. He began "big boy" school in August. Parents fear that their children will be scared and not adapt well, etc. but not our kiddo. He loves it. And wants to go everyday of the week. We are enjoying it while it last. I am not sure what he does all day though because when we ask what he learned that day he tells us nothing. Boy, can't wait for parent/teacher conferences!

Patrick also has a daughter named Greer. She turned 12 yesterday, but we do not see her often. It's sad, but basically holidays. She only lives about 2 miles away with her grandfather. It's a very touchy subject for Patrick, but there is nothing we can do. Actually there is, but we are not wanting everyone to be miserable. I just hate it because one day when he is gone and her brother is old enough to see things she will regret it.

My Very First One...

So, I have been looking at Ang and Sara's pages here the past couple of days and decided to join in to the blogging world! Not sure how well it will go because my life is hectic and crazy enough as is. I am sure at first it will be updated often and than monthly that quarterly and so on. Plus our lives are not that exciting! Normal drama, but most of that I can't post on here due to stalkers :)