Boo hoo. :(

Being sick in the summer sucks.

No fever. No other real problem.  Just chest congestion.  And LOTS of it.  I've been taking Mucinex D trying to loosen it up.

This really, really blows.

I need to take the kids to the pool today.  They've been incredibly patient.  Way more than I would have been.  I'm thinking about going when they open so that I can sit in the shade.  Still not sure yet.

I'd like to think that this is the end of my pity party.  But I'm sure it's not.

Saving some $$$

I am about to blow your minds.

Really.

Sit down for this one.

Ready?

When my current stock runs out, I am going to terminate my relationship with Diet Coke w/Splenda.  I know.  It's sheer insanity.  They have just gotten too expensive.  I tried some of Mr. B's Wal-Mart brand stuff last night. It was good.  And I can get used to it.  And it's definitely less expensive.

Pretty grown up decision, huh?

In other news - - I'm not going to watch Big Brother this summer.

*collective gasp*

I just can't do that to my family.  I could just watch the show.  Sure.  But I get too invested.  I follow message boards of people who watch the live feeds.  (I've even subscribed to the live feeds before.)  It is more of a time sucker than Facebook.  And, if you don't watch the live feeds, you don't get the real story going on.  They definitely edit the show the way they want the viewers to see it.  So, I made an executive decision to terminate that relationship.

Watch out fans.  I think this little girl just might be growing up after all.

What's been going on...

This past week was a whirlwind, to say the least.

Thursday, Justin had a field trip to the Rec Camp.  They were short on parents going, so I volunteered.  I had other things I desperately needed to get done.  It turns out, we had a great time.  Cameron got to go with us.  Justin's class totally embraced Cam into their fold and they all had a good time.  Enter one of the little turds in Justin's class.  This kid is beyond disobedient.  I was frustrated with him the entire year.  Apparently, he said, "ha ha" to Cameron.  About what?  I don't know.  I just know that it was enough for Justin to jump in the middle of it and "go all big brother" on the little turd's arse.  Justin basically went into a protective stance and wrapped his arms around Cam.  Justin was at a loss for words.  He just grabbed Cam, walked past the little boy and stuck his tongue out at him.  Normally, I don't advocate this kind of behavior.  But this little turd has had much worse coming.  He's lucky all he got was the stuck out tongue.  (I wanted to go mama bear on him, but I refrained.)  Anyway, little turd shouts out, "I'm gonna go tell your mom!"  Ha!!!  I watched the whole thing go down.  I was ready.  When he got to me and told, I basically told him to just go play.  He told me he was just saying ha ha to his own hat.  Uh, whatever LT.  Now go away.  About that time, we had to rotate playing stations.  This is what the rotation looked like from my point of view

Awwwwww!  I know, right?  I thought so, too.  Melted my heart.

Cameron and I left after the kids had lunch.  We ran a couple errands and then picked Justin up from school. In the meantime, Cameron had been coughing up a storm.  It was a deep chest cough.  No fever.  No sore throat.  No drainage.  Just a wicked cough.

Friday morning, Mr. B wakes me up with, "Cameron threw up all over his bed."  Craptastic.  Justin graduates from Kindergarten in a little more than an hour.  What am I going to do.  The poor kid couldn't stop refunding.  That drainage he would cough up and then, ahem, swallow (I know, very gross) wreaked havoc on his tummy.  My mom jumped in to save the day!  Mom - - thank you, thank you, thank you.  I was almost sick at the thought of missing J's graduation.  My mom did what mamaw's do.  She really took one for the team.  I know she was looking forward to it.

Graduation was awesome.  Yes, I cried.  It was brief, crowded, but full of love and parents beaming with pride.

We get home and Cam was still refunding.  Gah!  His pediatrician was out of the office.  So we went to the doc in a box.  The doc felt like it was the drainage causing his stomach to be so upset.  So, one shot of phenergan later, I took my screaming child home.  It was funny to watch the shot start to kick in on the way home.  He got real chill, real fast.  He slept from then (about 10:30 a.m.) until 5:30 p.m.  Then he slept all night.  He's still coughing today, but seems better.  I told him to not swallow that nasty stuff when he coughs.  I hope he understands that now.

Yesterday afternoon, a pool party with some fantastic friends while Mr. B worked from home with a very knocked out Cameron.

Last night - - chill.  Very, very chill.  The chest congestion started with me.  Today, I sound like a man when I talk.  Well, a man, or someone who has chain smoked their entire life.

So - - our summer has started out with illness.  Could we possibly be done yet?  Cameron has caught freakin' everything that's made it's rounds.  Everything.  And this time, he gave it to me.  (I totally know he takes sips of my coffee when I'm not looking.)  I'm big on not sharing drinks, eating after each other, double dipping, etc.  I fear the germs.  They found me anyway.  Oh well.  I hope it passes quickly.  We are ready to embrace summer and all it has to offer.

Mr. B just took Justin to the little league closing ceremony while Cam and I stayed home.  I just started Mamma Mia.  I'm going to do a little cleaning and straightening up.

I hope you enjoy your summer.  I know we will.  Soon.  Very, very soon.

Papaw and Justin

How cute is this?

Good Morning!

It's 8:00 and I don't have anywhere to be until 2:30.  Cam is still asleep (he's just like his momma) and I'm watching a movie on Lifetime and sipping a cup of coffee.  Still in my jammies.  Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

I'm going to be lazy until this movie is over.  But after that, I have several things to cross off of my "to-do" list.  I crossed a good hurdle yesterday.  I submitted my article for next week's publication.  Whew.  I hate it when I wait until the last minute.  It turned out pretty good though and I'm looking forward to the feedback I'll get from it.  The feedback I got from my editor really encouraged me this time.  It was just what I needed!

It's been an exciting, fun-filled week around here.  Justin had his last t-ball game on Monday night.  He popped two balls all the way to the fence.  He has really come into his own in this sport and he seems to love every second of it.  He's doing very well at second base.  He seems the most comfortable there.

Before we went to the game, the boys swam over at Mamaw and Papaw's house.  Justin had another loose tooth.  Papaw wanted to pull it so bad but was afraid he would be over-stepping.  (He didn't want to do Mr. B's job.)  I assured him Mr. B wouldn't mind and let Papaw get after it.  He got it!  Justin is now missing his bottom two front teeth.  So stinking cute!

Cameron and I have just been hanging out, enjoying our time alone before summer really commences.  Today, realistically, is our last day.  Tomorrow we have to go on a field trip with Justin's class and then Friday morning is Kindergarten Graduation.  And *snap*!  Just like that.  Summer is here.  We are ready.

Okay.  I'm missing my movie.  See ya.  :D

Winky

I just got an e-mail that the subject line read:  No more troubles with your winky.

Hmmmmm.  I wasn't aware that I had a winky.  If I did have one, I'm certain I wouldn't call it that.  And if I had problems with said "winky" I sure wouldn't look for help from whoever sent me this e-mail.

Spam e-mails are the bane of my existence.

Good Day at the Pool

I knew it would be money well spent.  Convincing Mr. B of that was not easy.  I'm so glad that I was tenacious regarding the subject.  We finally joined one of the local swim and racquet clubs.  (Not the country club.)  Why?  When my parents have a pool we can use for free?  Those were his questions.  We visited several times last year and the year before.  It's just - - different.  The kids have friends they can play with.  I can sit in the shade of the trees and visit with my friends, read a book, etc.  


Today we went for the first time this season.  None of our "usual" friends were there.  We went by ourselves.  And guess what?  We knew several people there.  The kids had a blast and so did I.  They didn't want to leave.  I assured them we had the whole summer ahead of us to play at the pool.  Here are a couple of pics from our day:

Cameron chilling.

Justin jumping off the diving board.

The view from my chair.  Me and Scrapbook Trends magazine.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Actually, I'm nursing a pretty bad sunburn from yesterday.  I was SO stupid.  Where is stupid?  

Uh yeah.  "X" marks the spot.  That's the nexus of stupid.  So the shade was quite welcomed today.

Gotta jet.  The kids need me to "finish" a part of a video game they can't.  Yep.  I'm the "go-to" gamer.  Gah.

Goodnight.

Chicken Lasagna

I totally forgot to give you guys this recipe.  It has become a family favorite around here.

3 cups cooked chicken (I use boneless-skinless chicken breasts.  I usually stew them for about an hour or more.  I then cube them into bite sized pieces.)
8 oz lasanga noodles, cooked (I used the oven ready kind last time and they worked great!  Much easier.)
1 1/2 cups small curd cottage cheese
2 cups grated Mozzarella cheese
3/4 cup Parmesan cheese (I use the shredded, not grated)

Mix the cheeses together.  I add a little milk or half and half to this mixture to make it easier to spread.

Sauce:
3 T butter
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped green pepper (I finely chop both because of finicky eaters.  We're talking, almost use the blender!)

Saute until clear.

Add:
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup milk
1 cup sliced mushrooms (optional)
1/2 tsp basil (I used Italian seasoning instead)

Layer in a well-greased 9 x 13 pan, sauce, noodles, cheese mixture and chicken forming three layers.  Top with additional mozzarella cheese.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes covered and 15 minutes uncovered.

This freezes wonderfully and tasted very well re-heated.

Let me know when you try it.  Enjoy.

Better, but not 100%.

Thanks for your calls, texts, messages, etc.  My peeps love me and are concerned for me.  Yay!!

I've had two PT treatments and it REALLY helped with the pinched nerve.  I can turn my head now.  However, the pain in my lower neck/upper spine is still there.  Just really tight muscle spasms.  Hopefully, I'll get to start traction next week.  I'm hoping this relieves some of the pressure.

You gals are the best.  Thanks.

*muah*

Catching up...

This will be brief.  But just so you know...

It seems the after effect of the car accident in March is rearing its ugly head.  I've had trouble with my neck ever since.  And it's gotten progressively worse.  I finally went to the doctor about it and he said I have whiplash.  I've been very sore.  And very grumpy.  Yesterday morning, something went wrong.  I can't turn my head to the left. At all.  I also can't lift my head up when laying down.  I can, but not without a great deal of pain.  I started physical therapy yesterday afternoon.  I go back today and Friday for ultrasound therapy and heat therapy.  They also hook me up to this TENS unit that seems to help.  It is incredibly difficult getting in and out of my van (I have to duck my head to get in) and it's hard to drive because I have to shift my whole body to look left.  I'm trying to keep the driving at a minimum.

I'm also trying to keep my computer usage to a minimum.  And scrapbooking.  Sadness.

So - - I may take a mini-break from blogging.  Just a short one.  At least until I feel better.  Don't worry.  It's only slowed me down a little.  I'll get my groove back soon.

See you on the flip side...

Get in Line

The line to kick my butt.

I think I need therapy.  I've been listening to Taylor Swift.  And I like her.

God help me.

Do you all want to form some sort of human spanking machine?  I deserve it.