You need some more medicine?

Kayla has come down with a cold this week. Now, I'm the type of person who when feeling uncomfortable throws all sorts of pills etc. at my symptoms until I no longer can feel a thing. So when Kayla was feeling bad the other night I had her take her prescription allergy medicine...it didn't work. So I gave her some OTC nighttime cold medicine...it knocked her out. I was worried that was too much so I was relieved when she woke up the next morning. However, I knew she couldn't take that medicine and function at her day camp. So we went to the store and got nasal spray and daytime cold medicine, which I promptly told her to take both at the same time, and prayed that I'm not overdosing my kid. But she headed off to the Y this morning where they were going to Wild River Country for the day. Playing in a water park for 8 hours...yea, that will really help her feel better!

Happy Retirement to my Dad!

After almost thirty years of service to the University of Arkansas football staff and athletic administration, my dad has officially had his last day of work. Wish I could say the same for myself, ha! Enjoy your freedom, Dad, and do some fun things for yourself. You deserve it. And remember you'll always be a Razorback for life.

http://www.wholehogsports.com/adg/228922

My sister

Please pray for my sister who lost her beloved dog in a horrific accident this weekend. R.I.P. Abbey, you were loved immensely your whole life and will be missed.

An Answered Prayer

For those of you who have been following the school drama, we got a call yesterday that Kayla was approved to go to Pulaski Heights Middle School. We had to file an appeal for her to go to this school, the top-rated middle school in the LRSD, and I wasn't sure if we would get it. For those of you familiar with the LRSD, there's maybe two middle schools that are decent and the rest are well...not any place I would want to put my kid in. And seeing how I cannot afford private school tuition, I was praying for a miracle and we got it! Thank you to Dr. Daniel Whitehorn, the principal of PHMS, who wrote a letter on our behalf that I'm sure swayed the committee. I owe him big-time. So now Kayla's in the best school for her and I also personally know the principal, school counselor, school nurse and 8th grade English teacher so we will have a lot of support...and she won't be able to get away with anything! I'm so thankful to have this worry off my mind. Kayla is so excited and wants to buy school supplies now. She also needs a whole new wardrobe...I just discovered last night that she has no jeans or pants. None! So we've got a lot of shopping to do. If anyone has hand-me-downs, send them my way.

Officially kid-free...for now

I'm officially kid-free for the week. I dropped Kayla off at the Y Day Camp this morning and her uncle is going to pick her up this afternoon. She is then off to St. Louis with them until Saturday. She is so excited about it, especially going to the Cardinals game! She told me at dinner the other night that she wished I would win a million dollars so I could go with them. I thought that was a good sign that maybe, maybe she's starting to attach to me. Also said at dinner the other night, "You need a vacation." Trust me, kid, I know. Little does she know that this week is my vacation. I feel like I have so much to do and nothing to do at the same time. I'm going to catch up on my meetings and spend time with my teenagers that I haven't got to spend quality time with lately...I'm going to take naps...I'm going to read books...I'm going to get Reba's hair cut...I would love a massage if anyone wants to give me one! I'm going to rest up and recharge my batteries and enjoy the silence...and see how long it takes for me to start missing this little girl.

How much can you pack into one weekend?

We had a busy but fun weekend. Friday night, we went to dinner at Chili's and gorged on their awesome queso and then went to Mamma Mia! What a fun movie! Saturday, we ran errands in 100+ degree weather. Kayla got her hair cut. We walked into Supercuts and Kayla wanted a drastic change so she got her hair cut to her shoulders and layered all over. It's very cute and she officially looks like a 7th grader now. Then we had to go buy her tennis shoes because she had outgrown the ones she had. We finally found some orange and pink Nikes she loved at Shoe Carnival. We also went and bought CDs at Target. Camp Rock for her and Mamma Mia! for me. We then used our gift certificate at Cold Stone Creamery. Since it was still early and so hot, I suggested we go see the last showing of Kitt Kittredge: An American Girl. It was a cute movie and even made me cry. Then I fixed tacos and we watched Penelope. I think with all that we had some really good bonding time. Yesterday, Kayla was excited about going to the lake with her church youth group but when we got there, they told us they had changed the time to earlier in the day. No one ever notified us! She was disappointed but got over it quickly. We went and ate pizza and she was so excited about today that she was bouncing around the house all night. We definitely had fun, though, which I wanted her to have before I send her off to her aunt and uncle's for vacation.

James Bond?

So we went to see Casino Royale at Movies in the Park last night downtown. Is it just me or does anybody else not get the hype for James Bond? I was confused from the get-go and had a hard time following what was going on...and I am a fairly intelligent person. It was all chase, chase, blow things up, kill some people, chase, chase. And I couldn't even figure out who he was chasing or why. Granted, he was nice to look at but I won't be first in line for the next one. Kayla gave up and went to sleep. But it was a beautiful night and we got to be with friends and enjoy the stars in the sky. I'll be first in line for Mamma Mia! though. Definitely the best musical I've ever seen...I'm eager to see how it is on the big screen. Give me something fun and uplifting rather than boring car chases. The Dark Knight is on my list to see also but considering it is sold out until 2010, I will have to practice patience on that one.

Random Thoughts

Kayla told the caseworker that one of the best things about living with me is that I cook good dinners! (Those that know me, know that cooking is one of my weakest spots so this is absolutely hilarious to me).

Don't take your dog walking across a huge pedestrian bridge when it is almost 90 degrees out. She will sit down and refuse to move. Then you will have to carry her hot furry body the rest of the way (but hey it was a good arm weight).

You can spend $70 at The Container Store in less than 10 minutes and barely buy anything.

Kayla asked for a Facebook the other night...since when did 12-year-olds need Facebook, MySpace, cell phones, Ipods, laptops, etc....there was no Internet or cell phones when I was growing up and I survived. No wonder kids don't read today and have no idea how to spell.

A tank of gas (premium gas at that) doesn't even last me a week anymore...I want my new car!

What is going on with Madonna and A-Rod?

Weekend

We had a good weekend. We went to see Journey to the Center of the Earth Friday night in 3-D. It had been ages since I had seen a movie in 3-D and it was awesome. The movie was kind-of cheesy but the special effects were a lot of fun and Kayla loved it. Some friends of mine took her to a pool party with some other kids Saturday and I got some much needed rest. It's amazing how much better you feel after a few hours of recharging--I haven't been able to do that in so long. Saturday night, The Children's Theatre held open auditions and we went, along with 100 other kids, but she really enjoyed it. She talked about it all night and showed me the dance they taught her. The odds of her making it are slim and she knows that but she wants to try again so that's a good sign. Sunday night I took her to youth group and told her to just try it out and if she absolutely hated it she didn't have to go. As I left her there, I just knew she was going to hate me for dropping her off with a bunch of strangers. However, one of her old school friends was there that she thought she'd never see again and she came home all excited about it and looking forward to the swim party they are having next week. We pretty much drove all over the city this weekend using up good quantities of $4.00 gas so I am counting down the days when I get off the waiting list for my new 36 mpg car. I hope it happens sooner rather than later.

Hectic...and stressed

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. Life has been very hectic and stressful lately, what with adjusting to a new daughter, a sick grandfather, major car trouble, etc., etc., etc. I have forgotten what peace feels like and can't wait to have it back. Adjusting to a new person in the household has been a lot harder than I expected. I went to classes, read books, researched the Internet and read message boards and thought I was ready but the reality of parenting is very different from reading about it. It's a 24/7 job where you have to be "on" all the time--no more running to the bed and shutting off the phone when you have a bad day and don't feel like talking to anyone. No more long Sunday naps and reading for hours at a time. It just takes time to get to know another person and what they are about and what they like and the process doesn't happen overnight. It hasn't with any other relationship I've been in so why should this be any different? It gets easier each day, though, and some days are even fun. Like last night, when Kayla and I watched "The Bachelorette" finale and they posted a number to call to nominate someone for the next Bachelorette and she called the number and went to the website and filled out an application on my behalf (but won't tell me what she said!). So I'll be looking for ABC to come calling soon. I also enrolled her in summer dance classes. She is taking a hip-hop class and it was so much fun watching her dance with the other girls. She really enjoyed it. Those are the good times and they make up for the days when you wonder how you are going to get through it. I'm hoping there are many more of these good days to come.

My Papa

My grandfather had a heart attack late last week. He is still in ICU. Because he's in the beginning stages of Alzheimer's disease, surgery would not be good for him. If he made it through, it would accelerate the Alzheimer's and he would have to be put in a nursing home and probably wouldn't know any of us anymore. So my grandmother is going to take him home and be with him for however long he has left. He is at his best at home and with my grandmother so as heartbreaking as it is this is his best option. He will get to leave this world remembering the people who love him instead of forgetting that they did. I love you, Papa.