If life gives you lemons.........

Make lemonade, pee in it and serve it to the people that piss you off! As tempting as that may be I could never....or could I? Mwuhahaha!

Life seems to have handed us a crate of lemons lately and boy do I want this sour taste out of my mouth. In fact I'm pretty sure I hate all things lemon. Back In January we noticed our daughter was showing weird changes in her behavior.  Signs that gave us a red flag.  She was extremely emotional, easily agitated and had gained a little too much weight.  My fear was that she was going to start her period at any moment and frankly that was something I was not prepared for!  Hell she's only seven.  I really didn't think I could handle that at such a young age (really, I'm too young for this, ha)  and I was pretty sure my husband despite being a doctor wasn't up for the challenge!

After many many tears, I'm pretty sure I've cried more than a river.  We realized this wasn't going away!

I spoke to her doctor and had her in for a physical and blood work.  Well, we were relieved that she didn't have an issue with her thyroid and despite me not getting my period until I was a freshman in high school he said there isn't a guarantee that hers wouldn't come sooner than mine!

I have some friends that their girls have started menstruating at 10.  Wow even that is early but that sounds better then 7!

I spoke with her teachers and had them do an evaluation to see if we needed to have her tested for ADD.  Turns out that her IQ was spot on.  Well of course, she is my daughter after all, lol!  The psychologist said she showed many signs of ADD and would benefit from medication.

Really do we have to go that route?  I have seen some of those children that take meds and they are clearly in need, but mine, no!  I mean she isn't bouncing off the walls like some, but she does seem to get easily distracted.  Come on, what kid doesn't?  Hm mm, what adult doesn't?  It was pretty weird sitting and talking with the psychologist because all of the different signs he laid out for us had me shaking my head like yep, I can see that oh wait are we talking about Claire here or me?  I began to realize that I have a little ADD and did as a child.  After all, he did say it was hereditary!  Great, so she is the way she is because of me?  Funny, she has often been called Mini Me!

She has now been on some medication for about 3 weeks and although her summer math tutor said she could see a difference, I can't really say I have.  Maybe if we had started this while she were still in school then we might be seeing some improvement but all I have noticed is that it has screwed up her sleep so much that I will often find her up at midnight reading!  Although I'm happy she has turned to reading, no one needs their 7 year old up at midnight then up again at 7 standing at the side of your bed looking like this....

Poor poor puppy! At least her sense of humor hasn't changed!

I would love to report that her emotions and anger have disappeared, but sadly they have not!  Sometimes its like we live in a mine field.  We find ourselves tip toeing around because we are afraid that at any moment we might trip a grenade!  And yes, Claire is that said Grenade!

So I guess you can say I've had my hands full for a couple of months and blogging hasn't been a top priority!  Boo Hoo that's another reason I've been crying!

Ha, and to make matters worse,  I'm currenty trying to slam together a garage sale for this weekend!  Can you say CRAZY!

At this point, I'm open for any advice, suggestions, tips, medication (for me), or shock collar you care to give out!

Ok Pinterest.....How are you reading my mind?

It's funny how you can be on Pinterest and say very loudly, "That is so me!" I can sit at my computer and laugh for, well, longer than I care to admit. Then, when my husband walks by and asks, "what's so funny?" He soon regrets asking because he just doesn't get Pinterest and frankly, he never will!

Besides pinning my life away, I"ve been a crazy cleaner and organizer lately. I've been walking around the house yelling, "Use it or Lose it!" It's really helping eliminate the "stuff" we just don't need! I am really hoping to get back to my regular scheduled blogging real soon!

Crazy about Stripes!

I've been seeing a lot of stripes lately and I'm loving them! Stripes are all over the fashion scene. I use to steer clear of stripes before I lost 60lbs. No way on God's green earth was was I interested in drawing any more attention to my large chest, then with horizontal stripes hitting people in the face as I walked in a room!



Now when I see stripes I run...towards them!





I can't say I ever liked Michelle Williams in Dawson's Creek but she sure has become a great actress and is so darling here with her short crop and outfit! She is wearing Jason Wu's collection from Target. I ran to that large red bulls eye but no luck! It was all sold out! It must have been some really good stuff!



I'd like to thank you for all the kind words and prayers regarding the passing of my grandfather. The funeral was very lovely and the time with relatives was priceless!

Saying Goodbye!

I've been a little MIA for a while. I guess that's what life and kids do to you! I've just had a lot on my plate and didn't really feel the need to lay it all out here. Then life hit us again and we lost my grandfather yesterday. He would have been 98 in April. Amazing isn't it? I guess it's in the genes so I'll be living for quite a while, wow! A week ago He had taken a fall and broken his hip. He had surgery and things seemed to go smoothly, until he got pneumonia. My father said that when he took his last breath he looked like a young man. He seemed so peaceful and happy!

It's strange that not too long ago I was worried about GFC and losing all my followers. I was so consumed and worried that I would be forgotten. Funny how none of that seems to matter anymore!

Some of you may remember I went to visit family in January. I am so glad I did. I got to see my grandfather for the last time. Claire came with me so she was able to visit with her great grandfather. I am thrilled that I remembered to take pictures. He enjoyed our visit and was so tickled to meet his newest great grandchild Wyatt. He just beamed when he saw him.

I seem to always be the one behind the camera. Well at least there are pictures then. One of our many Italian family dinners; with of course red wine and lots of it!

A couple of years ago my father and grandfather took a road trip here to Iowa to visit us. The kids really enjoyed having both grandfathers to themselves and not having to share with the cousins.

What a trooper Gramps was when Claire asked if she could paint his nails!

My grandfather was really enjoying Claire's guitar one evening, he was contemplating going on the road with it! Claire said, "No way GG!" She didn't like the idea of him taking her guitar!

Oh such wonderful memories! I'm so glad I took as many pictures so the kids can look back and remember a great man!

We will miss you Gramps! You are now home in Heaven with Grandma. Tell both Grandma and Mom hi for me!

We love you!

LOVE!

(Couple of things I found either at home or thrifting, for above my mantle)

Hope your day is filled with lots of Love and of course chocolate!

Things that should NEVER happen on a Monday!

1. Notice your little dog chasing her tail and boot scoot across the carpet!

2. Yell at her for boot scooting across the carpet and think to yourself she has no idea why you're yelling!

3. Decide after watching her drag her ass across the floor one too many times, to get up and investigate.

4. Lift her tail and yell, "Holy Shit!" Because pardon the pun, that is exactly what was there!

5. Yell more expletives because you had to discover it, but wonder if your husband saw it first and chose to ignore it!

6. Get nauseous at the thought that she was in your bed last night and you slept with that!

7. Put her on the table (except if it's where your husband eats, don't worry, lots and lots of paper first) to see how bad it truly is!

8. Realize this is something you really won't be able to do without totally puking!

9. Call the vet and explain you aren't quite sure if your dog is impacted or just matted with shit!

10. Make an appointment for an hour from the time you called and decide to lock her in the big dog's crate, just so you can preserve your couch and your sanity!

11. Get the courage to put the dog in the tub and see if there is a way through the matted jungle while holding your breakfast down!

12. Wish that you had found a nose plug and gloves before taking on this Dirty Job!

13. Yell more expletives, but this time at the husband!

14. Raise your hand to wipe the sweat from your brow and leave a little dollop of excrement, unbeknowest to you!

15. Forget to check yourself in the mirror before answering the door because of said dollop and again yell, "Holy Shit!"

After living and surviving this day, I hope to never have a repeat like this one, on any other day of the week!

Here's to a poop free day tomorrow, and the next and the next and the next!

P.S. For some reason, oh yes, too much poop clogging the ole mind. I have managed to hit a few buttons and my post might come out looking different. Hopfully after I'm unclogged I can figure out what I did!

Super Bowl...I just don't get into it!

I truly have no desire to see the Super Bowl! I couldn't even tell you what two teams are playing, I swear. If my son hadn't reminded me that today was the day it would have just passed me by without even a thought!

Yup really! I kind of forgot today was the infamous Sunday that everyone has been waiting for...except of course me! I really don't see what all the craziness is about! I know that most people would say it's the commericals but even those do nothing for me, really! My life will still continue to go on even if I don't see the latest beer, Doritos, or car commercial. I did hear that Madonna was performing at half time and even that doesn't make me want to go running to the television! I laugh because even if I truly wanted to see any of it we don't have cable or an antenna so we couldn't watch it anyway.

I kind of look at the whole super bowl craziness like Maxine!



So whoever is out there getting ready to watch the big game and stuff their faces with all those rich carb laden treats, I say enjoy, truly! I myself will enjoy a board game with Claire.

She is like her momma and says, "Super Bowl, yuck!" The boys went to a friends house so need to feel sorry for them, they will be enjoying the game with the masses!