Monday, June 30, 2008

Grandma's Letter


(She is 88 years old and still drives her own car.  She writes:)

Dear Granddaughter,

The other day I went up to our local Christian book store and saw a "Honk if you love Jesus"  bumper sticker.

I was feeling particularly sassy that day because I had just come from a thrilling choir performance, followed by a thunderous prayer meeting.  So, I bought the sticker and put it on my bumper.

Boy, am I glad I did, what an uplifting experience that.  I was stopped at a red light at a busy intersection, just lost in thought about the Lord and how good He is, and I didn't notice that the light had changed.

It is a good thing someone else loves Jesus because if he hadn't honked, I'd never have noticed.  I found that lots of people love Jesus!  While I was sitting there, the guy behind started honking like crazy, and then he leaned out of his window and screamed,

'For the love of God! '   ' Go! Go! Go! Jesus Christ, GO!'

What an exuberant cheerleader he was for Jesus!  Everyone started honking!  I just leaned out my window and started waving and smiling at all those loving people.  I even honked my horn a few times to share in the love!

There must have been a man from Florida  back there  because I heard him yelling something about a sunny beach.

I saw another guy waving in a funny way with only his middle finger stuck up in the air.  I asked my young teenage grandson in the back seat what that meant.

He said it was probably a Hawaiian good luck sign or something.

Well, I have never met anyone from Hawaii, so I leaned out the window and gave him the good luck sign right back.

My grandson burst out laughing. Why even he was enjoying this religious experience.

A couple of the people were so caught up in the joy of the moment that they got out of their cars and started walking towards me.  I bet they wanted to pray or ask what church I attended, but this is when I noticed the light had changed.  So, I waved at all my brothers and sisters grinning, and drove on through the intersection.

I noticed that I was the only car that got through the intersection before the light changed again and felt kind of sad that I had to leave them after all the love we had shared.

So I slowed the car down, leaned out the window and gave them all the Hawaiian good luck sign one last time as I drove away.  Praise the Lord for such wonderful folks!!

Will write again soon,

Love, Grandma

Sunday, June 29, 2008

MARITAL COUNSELING

A husband and wife came for counseling after 20 years of marriage. When asked what the problem was, the wife went into a passionate, painful tirade listing every problem they had ever had in the 20 years they had been married.

She went on and on and on: neglect, lack of intimacy, emptiness,
loneliness, feeling unloved and unlovable, an entire laundry list of
unmet needs she had endured over the course of their marriage.

Finally, after allowing this to go on for a sufficient length of time,
the therapist got up, walked around the desk and, after asking the wife to stand, embraced and kissed her passionately as her husband watched with a raised eyebrow. The woman shut up and quietly sat down as though in a daze.

The therapist turned to the husband and said, "This is what your wife needs at least three times a week. Can you do this?"

The husband thought for a moment and replied, "Well, I can drop her off here on Mondays and Wednesdays, but on Fridays, I fish."

Saturday, June 28, 2008

25 Weeks!

Your pregnancy: 25 weeks


See the big picture How your baby's growing
Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. Her weight — a pound and a half — isn't much more than an average rutabaga, but she's beginning to exchange her long, lean look for some baby fat. As she does, her wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and she'll start to look more and more like a newborn. She's also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture.

See what's going on in your uterus this week.

Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.


How your life's changing
Your baby's not the only one with more hair — your locks may look more full and lustrous than ever. It's not that you're growing more hair, but thanks to hormonal changes, the hair that you'd normally shed is sticking around longer than usual. Enjoy the fullness while you can — the extra hair will fall out after you give birth.

You may also notice that you can't move around as gracefully as before. Unless your caregiver has advised you otherwise, it's fine to continue to exercise, but follow a few safety rules: Don't work out when you're feeling overly tired and stop if you feel any pain, dizziness, or shortness of breath. Don't lie flat on your back and avoid contact sports as well as any exercise where you're apt to lose your balance. Be sure to drink plenty of water, and make time for both warm-up and cool-down periods.

When you have your glucose-screening test at 24 to 28 weeks, a second tube of blood may be taken at the same time to check for anemia. If blood tests show that you have iron-deficiency anemia (the most common type of anemia), your caregiver will probably recommend that you take an iron supplement.

Have you started thinking about baby names yet? Choosing a name is an important decision, but it should be a fun one, too. You may want to consider family history (Great Grandpa Zeb), favorite locations (Venice, where you honeymooned), or cherished literary or film characters (Greta, Meg, or Atticus, for example). Check out a couple of baby-name books to help you brainstorm, too.

Friday, June 27, 2008

before and after

Same shot...before and after the levee burst along the Mississippi...




http://www.thehawkeye.com/news/slideshowview/?flood-aerial-061808

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Snoring Duck!

This is too funny!

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

More pictures...




From our reunion this past weekend!

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Ice Cream Personality Test




Your Ice Cream Personality:



You like to think of yourself as a fairly modest person. And it's true that you don't talk yourself up... but you're also pretty happy with who you are.



You are incredibly cautious. You rather miss out on something than make a mistake. No one would ever call you wild... but they would call you responsible.



You are a somewhat open minded person, but deep down you're fairly conservative. You don't like trying new things very much. And if you do find something new you like, you stick with it.



You tend to have a one track mind. You prefer not to multitask.



You can be a big dramatic and over the top sometimes. You are bold in every way

Monday, June 23, 2008

Musical Monday: Kids Songs

Over the weekend, I was introduced to "Here come the 1,2,3's" by They Might be Giants! I'm learning all of these cool kids CD's just in time for my little arrival! ;-)





Sunday, June 22, 2008

24 weeks!!

Your pregnancy: 24 weeks


See the big picture How your baby's growing:
Your baby's growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts him at just over a pound. Since he's almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), he cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but his body is filling out proportionally and he'll soon start to plump up. His brain is also growing quickly now, and his taste buds are continuing to develop. His lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help his air sacs inflate once he hits the outside world. His skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon.

See what your baby looks like this week. (Or see what fraternal twins look like in the womb this week.)

Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.


How your life's changing:
In the past few weeks, the top of your uterus has risen above your belly button and is now about the size of a soccer ball.

Most women have a glucose screening test (also called a glucose challenge test or GCT) between now and 28 weeks. This test checks for gestational diabetes, a pregnancy-related high-blood-sugar condition. Untreated diabetes increases your risk of having a difficult vaginal delivery or needing a cesarean section because it causes your baby to grow too large, especially in his upper body. It also raises your baby's odds for other complications like low blood sugar right after birth. A positive result on your GCT doesn't mean you have gestational diabetes, but it does mean that you'll need to take the glucose tolerance test (GTT) to find out for sure.

Finally, if you don't already know how to spot the signs of preterm labor, now's the time to learn. Contact your caregiver immediately if you notice any of the signs mentioned below.

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Friday, June 20, 2008

TGIF!

Here we are at another Friday! Today is going to be a crazy day as I only am working until noon and then I'm heading out of town for our family reunion. Bill won't be joining me as he has to work, so I'm heading down with my sister and my nephews.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Men vs Women

NICKNAMES

If Laura, Kate and Sarah go out for lunch, they will call each other Laura, Kate and Sarah. If Mike, Dave and John go out, they will affectionately refer to each other as Fat Boy, Godzilla and Four-eyes.

EATING OUT

When the bill arrives, Mike, Dave and John will each throw in $20, even though it's only for $32.50. None of them will have anything smaller and none will actually admit they want change back. When the girls get their bill, out come the pocket
calculators.


MONEY

A man will pay $2 for a $1 item he needs. A woman will pay $1 for a $2 item that she doesn't need but it's on sale.

BATHROOMS

A man has six items in his bathroom: toothbrush and toothpaste, shaving cream, razor, a bar of soap, and a towel .

The average number of items in the typical woman's bathroom is 337. A man would not be able to identify more than 20 of these items.

ARGUMENTS
A woman has the last word in any argument.
Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument.

FUTURE
A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband.
A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife.

SUCCESS

A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend.
A successful woman is one who can find such a man.

MARRIAGE

A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he doesn't.
A man marries a woman expecting that she won't change, but she does.

DRESSING UP

A woman will dress up to go shopping, water the plants, empty the trash, answer the phone, read a book, and get the mail.

A man will dress up for weddings and funerals.


NATURAL

Men wake up as good-looking as they went to bed.
Women somehow deteriorate during the night.

OFFSPRING

Ah, children. A woman knows all about her children. She knows about dentist appointments and romances, best friends, favorite foods, secret fears and hopes
and dreams.

A man is vaguely aware of some short people living in the house.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

A married man should forget his mistakes. There's no use in two people remembering
the same thing! SO, send this to the women who have a sense of humor and who can handle it ... and to the men who will enjoy reading it.

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Another Funny


A Friend Is  Like A Good Bra...

Hard to Find

Supportive

Comfortable

Always Lifts  You Up

Never Lets You  Down or Leaves You Hanging  

And Is Always  Close To Your Heart!!!



Share this  with a friend!


I DID

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Prayer request


For all the flooding victims in Iowa and Illinois!

I spoke to my friend last week.  She and her family were all ok.  Her parents still live in Cedar Rapids, although they are pretty far west of town.  Lori lives further north, so they were not impacted.

My friend Marcy called me on Sunday and her parents were evacuating their house along the Rock River, as things were starting to get a little bit messy there.

The town were we have our campers is pretty much underwater.  The trailers themselves are fine...we are far back enough from the river, but the downtown is completely underwater.  The town just to the north of us where we go fishing is also in trouble.  There were 2 breaches in the levee on Saturday, so the entire downtown is in trouble again.  The record heights of the water have exceeded that of the Flood of 93.

I just hope that everyone is as safe as possible for now and that people don't have to suffer for too long!

Monday, June 16, 2008

19 years ago yesterday...

was when we moved into our house in Schaumburg. WOW!

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Happy Father's Day!


To all the Dad's and Grandpa's!

Last night, we stopped off at my parents house to hang out with my dad.  He got a tshirt that said:

"Grandpa's To do List"
1.  Load grandkids up on sugar
2. Send Home

Today, we went out to my inlaws.  We got his dad the same grandpa shirt as well as another one that said "Grandpa's my Name, Spoiling's My Game".  yea, that's all too true! ;-)  It was nice to spend the day with him.

Saturday, June 14, 2008

23 weeks

Your pregnancy: 23 weeks


See the big picture How your baby's growing:
Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With her sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. And now that she's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango), you may be able to see her squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in her lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing her for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze her when she hears them outside the womb.

See what your baby looks like this week.

Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.


How your life's changing:


You may notice that your ankles and feet start to swell a bit in the coming weeks or months, especially at the end of the day or during the heat of summer. Sluggish circulation in your legs — coupled with changes in your blood chemistry that may cause some water retention — may result in swelling, also known as edema. Your body will get rid of the extra fluid after you have your baby, which is why you'll pee frequently and sweat a lot for a few days after delivery. In the meantime, lie on your left side or put your feet up when you can, stretch out your legs when you sit, and avoid sitting — or standing — in one place for long periods. Also, try to exercise regularly to increase circulation, and wear support stockings (put them on first thing in the morning) and roomy, comfortable shoes. You may be tempted to skimp on liquids to combat swelling, but you need to drink plenty of water because staying hydrated actually helps prevent fluid retention. While a certain amount of edema in your lower extremities is normal during pregnancy, excessive swelling may be a sign of a serious condition called preeclampsia. Be sure to call your midwife or doctor if you have severe or sudden swelling of your feet or ankles, more than slight swelling of your hands, swelling in your face, or puffiness around your eyes.

Friday, June 13, 2008

TGIF

This week went by so fast!

Tonight, our friend and her son are coming by for dinner. Tomorrow, we both have to work and Sunday is Father's Day. Another FAST weekend!

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Who are you?




Arty Kid



Whether you were a drama freak or an emo poet, you definitely were expressive and unique.



You're probably a little less weird these days - but even more talented!

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

My attention span




Your Attention Span is Medium



Your attention span is just about average.

You may think that you have a short attention span...

But being distracted is something most people struggle with.



The most important thing is that you're aware that your mind wanders.

If you find yourself daydreaming, you can usually snap out of it.

It may be tough to concentrate at times, but you can do it... if you want to!

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Are you smarter than a 2nd grader!?!?!


The following is a test most 2nd graders can master in about 2 minutes. How did you do?
 

www.funstufftosee.com/frogleaptest.html

I'll send the answers out later this week!!

Monday, June 09, 2008

Sunday, June 08, 2008

40 years ago today

My parents became husband and wife.

Yup, today is their anniversary...they were married 6-8-68 on the blazing heat. The following week, my dad graduated from college and it was FREEZING cold.

Today, we are taking them out to dinner with the family and their close friends who are visiting from Florida. Ken is a minister and has offered to renew their vows, which they are looking forward to!

I'll make sure to share pics! HAPPY ANNIVERSARY MOM AND DAD!!

Saturday, June 07, 2008

22 weeks!

I can't believe how fast this is going!!

How your baby's growing:
At 11 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash) and almost 1 pound, your baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn. His lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and he's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath his gums. His eyes have formed, but his irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment. If you could see inside your womb, you'd be able to spot the fine hair (lanugo) that covers his body and the deep wrinkles on his skin, which he'll sport until he adds a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside his belly, his pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily.

See what your baby looks like this week.

Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.


How your life's changing:
At this point, you may find your belly becoming a hand magnet. It's perfectly okay to tell folks who touch your tummy that you'd rather they didn't. And if people are telling you that you look smaller or bigger than you should at this point, remember that each woman grows — and shows — at her own rate. What's important is that you see your practitioner for regular visits so she can make sure your baby's growth is on track.

You may start to notice stretch marks on your abdomen as it expands to accommodate your growing baby. At least half of all pregnant women will develop stretch marks by the time they give birth. These small streaks of differently textured skin can range from pink to dark brown (depending on your skin color). Although they most commonly appear on your tummy, stretch marks may also show up on your buttocks, thighs, hips, and breasts. There's no proof that lotion helps prevent stretch marks, but keeping your skin moisturized may help with any itching.

Friday, June 06, 2008

TGIF!


This week has been completely crazy and I'm definitely looking forward to the weekend.  We've had a lot of issues at work, which I won't go into, but it's made things so much fun! <note sarcasm here>.  I thought about coming in this weekend, but NOPE, I'm not going to!  Tomorrow, we have a graduation party for dh's cousin and Sunday is my parents 40th Wedding Anniversary, so the weekend is going to be pretty hectic.  I'll try and share some pics from the weekend festivities!

Thursday, June 05, 2008

And we go...


From winter to summer in 5 seconds flat!

Welcome to Illinois where it is possible to have your heat and your air conditioning on ALL in the same day!   We've had a couple of hot days and there are plenty more where that came from.

Wednesday, June 04, 2008

Last Bell Choir Rehearsal


I can't believe that it's June already!  I know I keep saying that...sorry.

Tonight will be our last rehearsal for Bell Choir and then we break for summer.  I won't be playing the first few months of the fall for various reasons! :)  I'm definitely looking for my Wednesday nights to be free!

Tuesday, June 03, 2008

Happy Birthday Curtis!

How is it that he went from this...



to this??



My nephew and godson is 4 years old today. I can't believe how fast time flies. I remember holding him for the first time in the hospital, I remember holding him when he came home. He's such an adorable little boy! He's active and entertaining, but when he's tired, he's still a cuddler and will climb up in your lap to snuggle.

I can't believe that in 4 months, I'm going to be holding my own little one! It's all surreal!!

Happy Birthday Peanut!

Monday, June 02, 2008

Back to work...

It's another Monday morning and time to go back to work. No short week this week, but hopefully it will be a little calmer as it isn't month end and most of the schools are starting to get out for the summer. My mom is done tomorrow and most places finished last week and the rest will be out within the next week or two.

I still have a to do list for October. Update alot of things and hold trainings. Summer will be over before you know it!

Sunday, June 01, 2008

Fun day yesterday!

In the morning, I went out to visit and have lunch with my friend Jill and her two girls, Jessica and Brook. I haven't seen Jessica in almost a year (shame on me) and I met Brook for the first time at my 30th birthday party! Both of the girls were very entertaining. Jessica kept pointing to me and would say "baby tummy"...such a little sweetheart! After the girls went down for their nap, we just talked for awhile.

Then, once I got home, dh and I headed into the city for my nephew's birthday party. I can't believe that the little guy is going to be 4. It was a beautiful day for a party, so all the kids played outside for the most part. I'll share some pics of the birthday boy a little bit later.

Not much planned for today. I am going to work for a few hours...I said that I was going to go yesterday, but Jill called about getting together for lunch and I thought that was more important! :)