A little update..

 

We spent the weekend shopping, there are some killer sales going on.  Target had a ton of stuff for 75% off, there was an additional 30% off  some of the items.  I got shoes for $4.39! A four pack of socks for $1.98, two belts for Wayne $2.49, and a ton of clothes for less than $5.00 each

My birthday closet is full of toys for all the wee ones in our life.  Nothing like getting toys for 75% off!

J C Penny had a great sale going on as well, an additional 40% off their clearance. I heard old navy had a good sale going on as well, but ours was pretty bare. 

Weight Watchers is going well!!! We have both lost a few more pounds, will update tomorrow when we weigh in.

Willie B has a staph infection,  please PRAY it is not MRSA.  I am taking him back to the Dr, because it looks a little more irritated.

Still no placement, I am starting to think we will never get one.  We also got a six month old little boy, but they ended up placing him closer to home.  We got a call for two boys ages 4 and 8 yrs old, but we could not take them because they needed separate bedrooms .  Then there was the sweet baby I posted about the other day who is still in the NICU.

Every time the agency calls, I get excited on.  Thursday I jokingly told our worker not to call me again unless she had a placement for us!

That's all for now folks.. Hope everyone is doing well

Busy busy busy..

 

Yesterday my friend Julie and I cared for TWELVE children under the age of SEVEN from 8:30am until 6:30pm. There ages where: 14 mo, 15mo, 2 1/2 yrs, 3,3,3,4,5,5,7,7. My hat is off to those of you who have large families I am not sure I could do that all day everyday.

Wayne is busy outside scraping, and painting our house. He's a protectionist when it comes to home repair so he will be out there for weeks! 

I am taking a break from organizing every closet/drawer in the house.  I think my Mum  "the clean queen" has taken over my body as my mind is set in clean/organize mode.

My next chore is to clean attic..Its a disaster zone up there.

Resolutions

 

Instead of the traditional  New Years resolution, I am trying something new that I read about on Torina's blog, monthly resolutions. For the month of January I hope to:

 

• Kick start weight loss, and a newer healthy way of eating.

 

• run 3-5 days a week before work on my treadmill

 

• declutter, and become more organized.

 

What are your New Years resolutions?  What do you wish to accomplish in the new year?

Happy New Year!

Another year has came and gone, what a wonderful year it was, filled with a lot of up's, and plenty of downs. But isn't that what life is all about?

2008 did not start off well I had just lost my Mum to cancer. Watching her slowly fade was one of the hardest things I have had to endure. At the time I didn't think I could live without her. But some how a year has passed, and I continue on.

In 2008 Wayne asked me to marry him, we didn't waste much time, as we both knew we did not want a big wedding. So we decided to elope, and were married on Tybee Island in May.

I was bursting with excitement, I couldn't wait to call everyone to let them in on our big secrete! Marrying Wayne, was truly the happiest day of my life. Knowing I have a man that loves me no matter what is the best feeling in the world.

It seems my life goes from one extreme to another I hope that in 2009 things level out. There are many things I am looking forward to in the new year.

I am excited about our first foster placement that will hopefully take place sometime in the near future.

I can't wait until our one year wedding anniversary. It's almost been a year since we married.. wow!!!

I am excited about our upcoming vacations. We really enjoy vacations, and try to get away whenever we can. We are in the process of planning a European vacation.

I look forward to spending time with my friends, and family. Watching the kids grow up, and turn into little people.

I look forward to adding to my family. Who knows by 2010 there could be another Sanford in the house.

Happy new year. Wishing you and yours a wonderful 2009

SOLD

 

You don't really know how attached to  your car you are until it's time to sell it.  My CRV was my first adult purchase that I I bought and paid for all on my own. 

 

The car carries a lot of memories, I remember my Mum, and I arguing over the car, because she didnt think I needed an SUV.  But I knew that it was the car I wanted, because it was stylish and also fit Teagyn's wheelchair without having to fold it down.

I was sad to see it go, until "the guy" handed me the money, some how that made it all better.

Merry Christmas, Teagyn

 

Each year since Teagyn's passing I have purchased something in her memory.  An angel figure to go in her room,  or we have donated a book to our local library in Teagyn's memory.

 

This year Wayne, and I decided to pick a child off the angel tree.  We picked a little girl, who is 8, the same age Teagyn would be if she were alive.  (Hard to imagine.)

We bought her pink pants, a matching shirt, that said angel, as well as a pair of earring's.

I thought the angel shirt was very fitting.   I hope the little girl enjoys her gifts.

Thankful for

Life, and its ever changing experiences..

I was going to write a long post about everything,  and everyone I am thankful for but quiet frankly that will take too much time.

I am thankful for the life that was given to me 20 something years ago.  While I am saddened by some of my life experiences, the good times surely out way the bad.

Those "experiences" weather good or bad, made me into the person I am today.

Happy Thanksgiving..

.

Cake anyone?

My sister Nicola reminded me today of,cornflake cakes, a childhood favorite.  After visiting the three grocery stores in town FIVE times tonight, I was unable to find golden syrup.  I finally gave up and used corn syrup as a substitute.

INGREDIENTS

• 3 1/2 tablespoons butter
• 4 tablespoons golden syrup
• 4 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
• 2 3/4 cups cornflakes cereal

• In a saucepan over low heat, combine the butter, golden syrup and chocolate. Cook and stir until butter and chocolate have melted and everything is well blended. Mix in the cornflakes cereal. Drop by heaping spoonfuls onto waxed paper or a buttered baking sheet. Place in the refrigerator until set, about 15 minutes.

 

Enjoy!

45 Lessons of Life

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next  small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Don't  take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
5. Pay off your credit cards  every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to  disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8.  It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement  starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate,  resistance is futile.
11 . Make peace with your past so it won't screw  up  the  present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry
13. Don't compare  your life to others'. You have no  idea  what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret,  you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye.  But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the  mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful  or  joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19.  It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you  and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life,  don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets,  . Don't save it for a special occasion.  Today is  special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now.  Don't wait for old age to wear  purple.
24.  The most important organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your  happiness, except you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these  words:  'In five  years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone  everything.
29 What other people think of you is none of your  business.
30.  Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.
31. However good or bad a  situation is, it will change.
32. Your job won't take care of you when you  are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
33. Believe in miracles.
34.  God loves you because of whom God is, not because  of  anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the  most of it  now.
36.  Growing old beats the alternative--dying young.
37. Your children get only  one childhood. Make it memorable.
38. All that truly matters in the end is  that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting  everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone  else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have  all you  need. 
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up,  dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but  it's still a gift

If I don't laugh, i'll cry.

 

This weekend was spent working on our lovely little house.  We waxed/polished our hardwood floors.   We were working on the hall way, and had to remove our floor grate.  Wayne was down on his belly (cant kneel), scraping the floor. He went to stand up, and fell into the hole where the grate was.

As I was laughing my ass off, helping my wounded puppy hubby up I got into trouble for laughing at him. oops

Before we finished Spud, and Lilly our cats made their way into the hole, Spud managed to get stuck, and Lilly some how made her way outside.  (which means we have a hole in our AC ducts somewhere) Nice to know we are heating and cooling the great outdoors.

At the same time Pete escaped out the front door. You all should know what trouble Pete gets into when he's on the loose.

We spent a good half an hour chasing cats.  Unfortunately I was left with a few war wounds from the cat fight I had with Lilly.

We leave for vacation in less than 48 hours.  We're still not done waxing the floors, I am up to my eye balls in dirty laundry.  I have to go to the store to get kitten supplies for while we're gone. I have to round up carseats, a pack n play, and a few other baby items for my niece's to use.

No big deal, we have plenty of time!

I also have to work all day today, over night tonight, and all day Tuesday. Some how I am supposed to squeeze a pedicure into my schedule.

and what do you think happens today? Wayne wakes up with a red nose that's swollen to three times the normal size. Wayne has had more medical problems in the last three months, that he has had in his entire life.

The big red nose should look great, in our family pictures. At least I can pretend the red nose was intentional since I will be using one of the pictures for our Christmas card.

Creep

Someone stole pictures off my blog, and used them in a not so nice way. So my choice are:

to make my blog private,

remove all the pictures, or

figure out how to make the pictures non-copyable (That's not a word)

To the blog stalker: my blog was a good way for me to keep in touch with friends, and family especially those in Scotland who we do not get to see often.

What kind of wacko takes pictures off someone's blog, and does what you did? Do you have nothing better to do? Perhaps you should seek a new hobby, maybe you will make some friends in real life.

Hope you have a nice day.

Random post..

 

I think Wayne has MRSA again, It just appeared last night.  He will get it check out tomorrow, please keep your fingers crossed that it isnt MRSA.

If it turns out to be MRSA, we are by passing our family doctor, and going to meet with an infectious disease specialist.

Our agency just called, my Virginia CPS check hasn't came back yet, so we wont have our license any time soon. Which means we more than likely wont have a child until the end of Nov as we will be out of town from the 5th-20th.

If we don't get a placement soon we may end up with another kitten.  My poor cats are tired of me dressing them up, and wrapping them in blankets.  I need help!

For those of you who adopt, especially internationally, my hat is off to you.  I have no idea how you wait so patiently. 

The weather has been so random lately.  It has been as cold as 40, and as high at 80 by mid day. 

My car broke down yesterday, but thankfully I married Mr. fix it, and my car was up and running within a few hours.

Have I mentioned lately how much I love my husband!!!

What's going on

 

• Wayne's knee continues to heal, he attends rehab three time a week, and recently graduated to walking with a cane.

 

• His MRSA is clearing up nicely.  He continues to take bleach baths  few time a week.  Hopefully MRSA wont rear it's ugly head again.

 

• Baby Ella finally made it home after almost three weeks in the ICU, she doing a lot better, and weighed in at 9lbs 14oz at her last weigh in.

 

• We're still waiting to get our license in the mail, the unknown is driving me nuts.

 

• Only a few more weeks until Mark, and his crew fly over from Scotland.  We're gonna be busy.  Disney, the beach, and a tour of ATL!

 

• We've been mini van shopping, but haven't found one yet.  I would like a town and country, but don't want to spend an arm, and a leg.

 

That's all for now folks..How is things going in your life?

A Georgia thumper..

 

This is what greeted me today, as I pulled up to work.  It's a rather large grasshopper, also known as a Georgia thumper.  He's pretty small compared to some of the other ones i've seen. 

A am deathly afraid of bugs, and usually run screaming if one comes near me.  It's something I have had to get used to living in the south.  We have ants that bite, massive roaches that fly, and grasshoppers that scare the hell out of you.

Oh, and lets not forget the poisons snakes, and alligators that are in nearly every body of water.

Someone care to remind me why I moved here?

Who are you?

 

I want to get to know those of you who are reading my blog..So answer a few questions for me!

1. What is your name?
2. Do you know me personally?
3. What do you do for a living?
4. Do you have any children
5. What is your favorite food?
6. What do you like to do for fun?
7. Add one other thing, that will help me get to know you.

 

oh..and for those of you who don't know how to answer the questions..Copy and paste them into the comments section..

Catch up..

 

Things have been wild around here.  I am still working two jobs, Wayne's in full-time school, doing rehab, and working part-time at Winnstead. We also just spend the weekend in Albany, GA becoming IMPACT certified.

In between all of that I got pulled over for doing "an illegal u turn".  Gas went from $3.65 a gallon to almost $5.00 here in Thomasville. Someone broke into my car at work, and stole my purse, took my cash, and threw my purse in the back yard.

We had some uninvited guests in Parker's room. Baby  Squirrel's, three of them over the course of the week. 

Oh, and I almost forgot to mention the emergency ultra sound Wayne had on his leg.

What have you all been up too?

Patriot Day

 

The president of the United States has declared today as Patriot Day.  Please remember all those who lost their life in such a tragic way seven years ago today.

Gone, but never forgotten.

Waiting..

 

I can't wait until the temperature drops below 85 degrees.

I can't wait until Mark (my brother), and his family visit in November.

I can't wait till the leaves start changing colors.

I can't wait to until our vacation (Atlanta, Tybee, and Disney)

I can't wait for William to walk, my arms are sore..He's 27lbs.

I can't wait to see my sisters, and their children. (also in November)

I can't wait to meet baby Mariah.

I can't wait until the end of the month so I can sleep in.

I can't wait until my house is finish.

I can't wait until we get our first foster care placement.

I've got a lot of waiting to do..

Got chicken?

You will need..

• Boneless skinless chicken breast
• 1 can cream of herb soup (or any other cream of)
• 1 box of chicken stovetop stuffing
• Seasoning (I used Italian seasoning, slat, pepper, and onions)  
  

Place the chicken breast in the crock pot.
Mix soup with 1/3c milk, and pour over chicken
Mix stuffing with 1 2/3c water pour over soup
Cook on low for 6-8 hrs.
Do not stir

Today's the day

 

My best friend Crystal  is expecting her second child  She went for a check up yesterday and was told that she would be induced today at 38 weeks.  Today also happen's to be my 26th  birthday.  Happy Birthday too me! The gender of baby Garner is unknown, my vote is for a  boy!