My 33 weekers walked at different times. Kurt started standing up in the middle of the room around 9 1/2 months and was walking by 10 1/2 months. Shelby, OTOH, refused to walk until she was almost 17 1/2 months corrected age (so almost 19 months).
APRIL FOOLS! 2005
My children really got me!
My SIL called from work that she was off the weekend and wanted to take the kids to Six Flags (she gave us season tickets for Christmas). So I call my Mom and tell her I need her to bring the kids home by 4pm so I can meet my SIL at her house by 5. She calls me back a few minutes later and tells me that the kids decided that they didn't want to go. I exclaimed, "WHAT!" Then all the kids yelled, "April Fool's!"
JABA? CHANGE DIAPERS? 3/25/05
With our first child, Jaba rarily changed a diaper, nor did he do much of the parenting until she started walking. However, with each subsequent child he has been more comfortable with the task of changing diapers and being left home alone with them. With the twins he even cared for them all by his lonesome several times during the first 3 months. This is a big achievement for him as he cannot stand to see any type of tubes in family members, not because he's queasy about it, but because he lost a brother when he was 9 who had a lot of medical problems due to PKU.
DEBATE
I absolutely love to express my opinions. However when the best that someone can do is disrespect me for my views that are religiously based or discount them or say they have no place in politics or start name-calling then I just don't want to be a part of it.
I may disagree with someone's opinion, but that doesn't mean that I don't have compassion for ALL people of differing opinions, no matter the subject.
Another thing is that sometimes I like to sit and "chew" on a subject for a couple of hours up to a day or two before I post to it. Usually by the time I figure out my position or collect my thoughts it gets closed because someone doesn't know how to hold civil fingers.
CLASS CELEBRITY
I didn't know it for a number of years, as I'm not a big NBA fan, but my graduating class has a celebrity...PJ Brown--NO Hornets NBA.
THE TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS
I received a gift card from
Lisa (LisaMunoz)
Carol (CalligraphybyCarol)
Eric (EricBarr)
Sandi (Cassandra)
Step (Princess & the Peanut)
Cindy (Babies4and5)
Laura (8isgr8)
Melissa (TwinkieMom)
Anissa (Anissa)
Amy (Mamagoose)
Gwen (Emmybean)
Amy (Momof7)
Sabine (J&Jmom2001)
Peggy (PAW5kids
Dawn (purplekatz)
Melissa (MommyMelissa)
Dina (DinaJ)
Christina (ChristinaB)
Cherine (Cherine24)
Kim (KimberlyR)
Nicki (Nickimom2-3)
I am so blessed to have friends (only 3 whom I've met briefly) that I have grown to love, have prayed for, who have prayed for me, supported me as a twin mom, a large family mom, a Christian and as a friend.
I've been crying off and on the last half hour, really 2 hours since Lisa first asked me if I had recieved her second card. And since we can all do with a little happy ending drama, I tell you where I actually found the card.
After Lisa asked me about it the 3rd time (she just finally came out and bluntly said that it was a gift card and that she was worried that it had gotten lost in the mail). I called Jaba and asked him if he had picked up the mail; he hadn't. So my next step was to totally clean out my suburban (you know how it is with twins, much less with 5 kids). I went through the envelopes that I had on my dash, then looked under the driver's seat, inbetween the seats, then on the floorboard of the passenger seat. Praise God, it was there, unopened.
So I run back into the house and AIM Lisa, that I FOUND IT!!. Then I opened it and had to "prove" that I found it because Lisa thought that I was just being nice. So I described the puppydog with reindeer on the giftcard and the amount for which it was (she had not divulged that information).
I think we both cried. As I'm still crying.
Thank you to all of you. My children do have some gifts for under the tree, but now Jaba and I can get Mary-Jo the bike that she wanted, Alex the Rachet and Clank game that he wanted and Cynthia--I don't know yet.
Finally, Thank you for richly blessing our Christmas.
GINGERBREAD HOUSE
I went to my SIL's house this last weekend to do some Christmas baking. She bought the older kids a Natavity Gingerbread Kit to put together.
DEVELOPMENTAL CLINIC (KURT & SHELBY 8/12/04)
I took Shelby (and Kurt) for their Developmental Clinic on July 29 (16 1/2 mo evaluation). The day after I wrote that post, the Clinic called to inform me that the Doctor wanted to refer Shelby for Physical Therapy. I was a bit surprised because she seems to be doing so well IMO. Well, the PT office called the next day to schedule an appt, but I told her that I wasn't sure that we really needed PT and that I was going to get a 2nd opinion from my Ped because he told me that as long as she was walking by 18 months (corrected age) that he wouldn't, and I shouldn't, worry about it.
Well today I took her for her appt. My Ped said that she doesn't show any signs of even mild CP (bends legs to step up and then pushes up with her knees to stand). He agrees with me that she most probably was delayed due to all the meds that she took for toxoplasmosis (which she DIDN'T have) during her 3-7 months of life. These meds are similar to chemotherapy in nature.
So in conclusion, we will go back in a month to see how she is progressing (she is already taking 3-4 steps to and from furniture and me and she walks around fine even when she is just holding on to me with one hand). I really expect her to be a full-blown walker by the time we go back to the ped's office.
ALEX PED APPT 8/12/04
So I finally decided to take him to the Ped, because reminding him and forcing him to go to the bathroom all day was not working.
Turns out it is hereditary (I had bedwetting problems up until I was 10 or 11). Also 10% of boys have a this problem.
The Ped prescribed Desmopressin Acetate Nasal Solution 0.01% to be sprayed once in each nostral before bedtime. He also told me that there is a new med for the pooing out that he was reading about. But he suggested that we try this med for a month first to see if we have some positive results.
I am soooo praying that this medicine works. He is such a social boy and gets really embarrassed when he has an accident. Some neighbor boys have begun to pick on him about it, too. I really think that this problem is what instigated or aggrevated his behavioral problems on the school bus last year.
SUMMER VACATION WITH AUNT DARLENE 6/04
The kids and I took a vacation in Texas with my SIL. We stayed in Cleveland, TX, but visited all over. SIL worked nights and slept days (she's a contract ICU RN). While she slept this is what we did....
Friday...Stopped at McDonald's to eat a late breakfast and to play in the outdoor playland then drove to Houston and visited the Fireman's Museum (I didn't take pictures this day)
Saturday...Drove 2 hours north to Palestine to ride the Texas State Railroad from Palestine to Rusk and back with Amy (Mamagoose) and Sabine (J&J Mom). If I had driven the posted speed limit it would probably have taken me 2 hours and 45 minutes, but thankfully I got behind some speed demons. Otherwise we would have missed the train and made my SIL late for work. Other than Astroworld, this was my favorite day of the whole trip.
Sunday...We washed 4 loads of laundry (my three oldest still have bedwetting issues), then headed to Sam Houston State Park. After we got back to the motel, I took the kids swimming in the motel pool. (no pics this day)
Monday...ASTROWORLD!!!!! My SIL was off today and decided to pay for Astroworld for all of us. This day was my kids favorite day of the trip. We arrived at Astroworld at 11am and didn't leave until 9:15pm. It was a full and long day. Around 2pm my SIL and I split up. She took Cynthia on the Rollercoasters and I stayed in the Kiddie Part with the 4 youngest. Shelby slept for 3 hours (thankfully). Alex was a little upset that he didn't get to ride the big kids rollercoaster, but he made the most of his time and settled for the smaller rides.
Tuesday...We washed another load of clothes, ate cereal at the laundry-mat, then drove to Lake Livingston. We stopped at the Trinity River Spillway (comes out of Lake Livingston). The kids loved seeing the birds diving in for fish. We then went to Lake Livingston Park. The pool was closed, but we had a swingset and slide to play on. Then we took a walk on the concrete walk-way around the lake.
Wednesday...Another load of laundry. Then we went to the Houston Zoo.
Thursday...Another load of laundry. Then we headed back to Lake Livingston to swim. We actually got to swim for about 5 minutes before it thundered. We waited the 30 minutes required and were about to reenter the pool when it thundered again so we nixed the swimming plans and drove on into Livingston. I found a McDonald's with an inside playland. I let the kids play for about 3 hours to expend some pent up energy, then we headed back to the motel. After taking my SIL to work, the T-storm (with dime-size hail for about 5 minutes) had passed over and the sun had peeked through so I took the kids swimming in the motel pool again. The two nights that we got to swim were the best nights of sleep that all the kids (and thus ME) got.
Friday...We headed back to Alexandria. But we stopped in Livingston for a BIG breakfast at a little local breakfast and lunch restaraunt. The food was GREAT!
The week of vacation was great. For the most part all of the kids and I enjoyed our time together. I was quite exhausted by the end of the week because I had 5 children with me 24/7 with no DH to give me a sanity break, but if we could do it again, I would because I enjoyed giving the kids and myself great family memories.
3/03/04 PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCE
WWell, Cynthia got all A's again. I really proud of her for her continued accomplishment.
I wish I could say that she works hard, but she never brings home homework, with the exception of a project once a six weeks. But it is usually finished in a nights time. When I was in 5 grade, I think I had maybe 30 minutes of homework at least 2 or 3 times a week.
I have Alex's tomorrow at 3:00. I hope he is doing as well.
CYNTHIA'S SCHOOL LUNCH STRIKE (SALAD BAR TAKEN AWAY 3/3/04)
Cynthia came home yesterday and asked if she could bring a lunch to school starting tomorrow. Well, I'm not one to just say no or yes, I have to ask why. Well she told me that the Schoolboard took away the salad bar and juices at lunch. Some of the 6th graders got together and decided to get all the kids to sign the petition and boycott lunch until they bring it back. My daughter made signs to post.
Today, when Cynthia came home I asked her how many kids brought lunches and she said there were only about 10 kids who got school lunches! I'm so proud of her for taking a stand for what she believes in.
I'm sure it was a financial decision, too. Our schoolboard and it's Superintendent has not managed their money well. I hope the next time that elections come up that we get a whole new crew!
DISCOVERED EXCEMA ON KURT 12/11/03
While I was undressing Kurt for his bath yesterday, I found 8-10 oval, slightly raised redish splotches in differing sizes on his torso (back, shoulder, nipple). The average size is about a centimeter by 1/2 centimeter.
Do any of you have any idea of what this could be? I put cortaid on them and they seemed to have started to fade, but have still not disappeared.
WHERE DO THEY SLEEP?
Right now I have my 3 oldest (12g, 6 5/6b, 4 2/3g) in the same room and b/g twins (almost 2) in the same room. Shelby doesn't care what room she's in as long as she has a separate sleeping space. Kurt & Mary-Jo wans to snuggle up to someone (generally it's Cynthia, Jab or myself). Cynthia would rather sleep alone and in her own room, but I've told her that I would change the sleeping arrangement this summer before she goes into 7th grade. The 4 youngest will share the big bedroom and she will get the twins' room. I just need the summer to help both K&S to get adjusted to sleeping without "barriers".
The one thing I can tell you is that I like it when K&S get up in the morning at the same time. If one doesn't wake up with the other (rarely happens) I will even wake the later sleeper within 30 minutes so that nap and bedtime don't get messed up. I really cherish the 1-2 hours of quiet time during afternoon nap time.
TEETH BRUSHING
we started with the soft infant brushes at around 6 months when they started really drooling and you could see the bumps start where the teeth would push through. By 10 months they were holding the toothbrush themselves in the bathtub. Kurt got his first tooth around 7 months and Shelby didn't get her's until 11 1/2 months. They are now both using the spinbrushes and absolutely love them.
1/25/05
milestones that I'm struggling with....
Shelby---she will not eat, she wants to drink all day long, but refuses to eat solids for the most part. I would be estatic just to find 1 or 2 items that she would eat at each meal served, but it's hit once or twice a week and miss the rest of the time no matter what I serve.
Shelby and Kurt have started to repeat words back to me now. It's not all the time, but they are beginning to learn speech!!! Woohoo!
THEY ARE STARVING AND DEHYDRATED ALL DAY LONG 12/28/04
Kurt is only 22 months yet he eats more than any 2 of my other children combined. I don't know where he puts all that food. Oh, and if you are getting a plate or a snack for yourself, you better make sure you get enough to share with Kurt! I think he has 7 invisible legs that he has to fill. I'm seriously dreading his teen years!
Thankfully my boys are 5 years apart so maybe I won't have to deal with 4 teen hollow legs to fill all at one time.
ZOO CHRISTMAS 12/02/04
Jaba and I took the kids to the Zoo last night. It was a "thank you" for being a FOTAZ (Friends of the Alexandria Zoo) member.
We got to see the new reptile building, pet a HUGE dog, a snake & a baby alligator, ride the train & the carousel, sing karoke, tell Santa what they wanted for Christmas (photo op!) and eat chili or hot dogs. The kids had a great time (the parents did, too).
I'M #3 ON AL'S THANKFUL LIST 11/30/04
Al (my 6 yo son) brought home his Thanksgiving papers today. One of the papers is a "What I am thankful for" essay. This is what he wrote.
quote:Okay, now I'm a little sad
I'm thankful for God and my puppy and mom and dad and turkey and church and home and my fish.
that I'm 3rd on the list and that I'm behind the puppy 
. However, when I saw that he had God first on his list, I just sat and 
bawled like a baby. Then I thanked God, myself, for giving me such a sweet little 
boy that loves Him.CYNTHIA IS 12 (11/28/04)
I can't believe how fast time flies by. It seems like just yesterday she was learning how to walk & talk. Talking is what she does best, too. When she was about 20 months, my Mom took her on a hour trip to pick up my Grandmother. Cynthia talked the whole way there and 80% of the trip back. When they were about 15 miles from getting home, Cynthia just summed up her soliliquy with, "I'm through talking now." And she was, she didn't talk for about an hour. This is one of her favorite stories to hear about herself, so I thought I'd share it with my TS friends.
Happy 12th Birthday to my beautiful daughter, Cynthia.
She wanted it for the 50's dance that her school was hosting on Parent-Teacher conference night. The poodle was cut out of a pink jacket that my Mom had but had not worn in 3+ years. Cynthia wanted to wear her new belt, so I had to incorperate belt loops. I'm not really an accomplished seamstress, I really only learned how to follow a fairly simple pattern just in the last year. But I had to try, so I just cut and snipped and sewed and cut and snipped and sewed some more. It took me about 3 hours to finish the skirt. Then it took me another 3 hours to clean up all the messes that Mary-Jo and the twins made while I was building the skirt. But the reward of seeing a big smile on my daughter's face and the hugs and thank you's were well worth the 6 hours of labor.
My Mom and I took Cynthia (she'll be 12 on Nov 28) & 2 of her friends to see the Incredibles for her birthday yesterday. WE also took Al (6), a boy cousin (also 6), and Mary-Jo (4).
The 3 girls enjoyed the movie, but I think it was more because they were together. The 6 year old boys OTOH were glued to the screen as soon as we walked in the theater--we walked in during minute 1 of the movie.
Mary-Jo didn't like the dark parts of the movie. I ended up having to walk from the last row in the theater to the second row at least 3 or 4 times. Thankfully we were in a stadium seating and the aisles were along the side so we didn't interrupt anyone's line of sight.
The first part of the movie wasn't really that great, but once the family was in the superhero protection program the movie was quite interesting to me.
THE CHRISTMAS HUSTLE
We usually end up having 4 Christmases. One at my Grandmother's, one at my Step Grand-mothers, one at my IL's and one at our house. The one at my Step-Grandmother's is the Saturday before Christmas. My Grandmother's is either the Saturday or Sunday after Christmas. Our Christmas is Christmas morning and then we go to my IL's afterwards.
As far as gift giving, we had years where we've gone all out and year's where we only had $10 to spend on each family member. I've like the years where we only had $10 to spend the best.
For the Grandparents' on my side, we've had years where the parent would bring one gift for their child to open and other years where Grandparents would provide a gift under the tree. At the Great-Grandparent IL's, the rule of thumb is that children 18 (or still in school) and under receive a gift. Generally they get a Christmas ornament from their Great-uncle, a gift from the parent, and a gift from the Great-Grandparent. At my parent's home, they get a gift from my parents. We used to draw names for the children at my Grandmother's, but we've decided not to do gifts there anymore.
Now, at my IL's we STILL have to get gifts for everybody, but when you consider that there are only 6 other members besides our 7, it's really not that bad except in the lean years. And this is one of those really lean years.
I wish I could convince my husband that we don't have to go bankrupt every year to prove to our children that we love them, but I suppose that one day he will get the message that just spending quality time with us is the part that they will remember the most.
CHILD OF THE WEEK 11/01/04
Mary-Jo has definately NOT been elected child of the week. She has destroyed every piece of make-up & fingernail polish that I have. Not only that, she has pulled out markers, pencils, candy, everything imaginable.
I guess I would have to say Cynthia is the Child of the Week, even though I have to ask her or argue with her to do things, she will do them
.
SHOWER? WHAT'S THAT?
The only times I get to take a shower is after Cynthia (my almost 12 year old) get home from school (4:20pm) or when my DH goes into work at noon. I have to be honest, though, I only take a shower, wash my hair on the days that Jaba goes to work at 11/noon. Which is 4 days a week. I know, I know, nasty, nasty. But I do at least wash up on the other days, just no leisurely shower or bath.
HOW MUCH DO THEY SLEEP?
At 18 months Shelby and Kurt sleep 12-15 hours a day.
Night time they sleep 10-11 hours
Nap time they sleep either two 1-2 hour naps or one 2-3 hour nap.
WHEN DID THEY START WALKING?
Cynthia 9.5 months
Alex....7.5 months
Mary-JO 11.5 months
Kurt....9.5 months (8 months adjusted)
Shelby..19 months (17 1/2 adjusted)
GUM IN HAIR
Just so you know....PEANUT BUTTER gets gum out of hair and pretty quickly, too!
Don't go shaving the hair off their heads (like I did with Alex when he was 4)!!
Now that I've armed you with a solid defense, go out and buy your kids some gum.
SHOE SIZES 8/11/04
17 months.....3 narrow...Shelby (tiny, tiny feet!)
17 months.....5 wide.....Kurt
4 years.......9.5 Tod....Mary-Jo (tiny feet, too)
6 1/2 years...1.5 Youth..Alex
11 3/4 years..6.5 Women..Cynthia (she was a size 3 six months ago!!!)
HARRY POTTER WITH CYNTHIA 6/18/04
Cynthia and I went to see POA 2 weeks ago. Cynthia (my oldest daughter 11 1/2) said she loved the how the scenes were beautiful and how they were put together. She also loved the action in the scenes. While we were watching the movie, she kept trying to tell me spoilers. She just finished reading POA at camp on Tuesday and started reading book 5 today. When she came back from 4-H camp this morning she told me that one of the friends that she made at camp told her that her parents wouldn't let her read it because it teaches you how to cast spells
. So I just told her that "parents have the right to make rules about what their children can or cannot see, do, read, etc."SPOTLIGHT ON ME
Is Jaba your DH's real name? If it's a nickname, how did it come about?
No, Jaba is not his real name. It is the name that everyone calls him. The only people that have called him by his real name (Alfred) are the Nuns at school. There was also one fireman (when Jaba was a fireman) that called him by his real name for about 2 years. That was before I gave him a dressing down at a softball tournament, though, and since then he and Jaba became great buddies.
Jaba is the III. So he went through a few nicknames until he was about 4 years old. He was called Allie up until the time that his English nanny took to calling him Abba-Jabba. Jaba's Dad was an instructor in the airforce and was teaching his students the abba jabba 7 radar device. His students were quite unruly one day. When his Dad came home he found Jaba being the same way and said, "You're acting just like my Abba-Jabba-7 students". The Engish Nanny (Jaba had an older brother-11 yrs older-who was severly mentally handicapped due to PKU) liked the way it sounded and started calling him Abba-Jabba. Eventually the Abba was dropped and he was called Jaba. During all the time that I've known Jaba and his family, I've only heard them call him Jaba. A thought just crossed my mind. I should have called Kurt, Jaba Kurt, that way both of his son's would have their fathers name (besides his last name, of course.
How did you and DH meet? Tell about how you met and decided he was the ONE.
The first time that I met Jaba, he was dating another girl, Janell. I actually went on a double date with them and a friend of his. About 6 months later, my Mom and her best friend from work, Carl, set me up on a group blind date with a friend of Carl's. There was a group of 7. The guy and I were not impressed with the other. Jaba admitted later that he was playing footsy under the table with me, but I didn't notice as I had never been on a blind date before and was quite nervous. About 3 weeks later the same group with a few more added in met at Carl & Fritzie's house for a BBQ. We played some board games. That was the night that both Jaba and I "clicked". This was about a 2 weeks before my 20th birthday. We officially started dating exclusively on my 20th birthday. I think he knew I was the one a bit quicker than I did. He told me he loved me, first. I was just a bit surprised by the declaration and responded back with, "I'm not sure, yet. I've said the words before, but later found out that it wasn't love. I wanna be sure, first." About a month later, I was sure, when he wasn't scared off by all my religious and other life-long questions. Even though we had different religious backgrounds, our core beliefs matched up.
Just a note, his mother liked me sooo much that she hired me to work as her assistant manager for an apartment community after only 2 months. It was just her and me in a tiny little office for the next 8 years.
What is your favorite color? Emerald Green
What is your favorite flower? Gladiolas(look) Gardenia(smell)
What is your favorite food? Fresh fruit (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, peaches, nectarines, kiwi, watermelon, etc)
What is your favorite TV show? Charmed, AI, Alias
What is your favorite song? This is a tough one. If it's one I've learned how to play it would be "Caccia and Chorale" by Tchicosky(sp). One that I could listen to over and over again "I Can Only Imagine" by MercyMe and a classical piano rendition of "I Surrender All"
If you could go anywhere in the world for a visit, where would that be?
The first place that I would want to visit would be Jerusalem to walk where Jesus walked. The second would be to take a cruise anywhere.
What would be your idea of the perfect evening?
Sitting on the back porch with family and friends eating leftover BBQ (the kind with anykind of meat w/ or w/out sauce
) watching all our kids playing in the yard.What was your favorite subject in highschool?
Band! But behind that Math.
Do you want more kids?
Well at first, I only wanted 3 or 4, but now I think that I would love to have a whole house full of kids. I would like to have one more at the least.
Do you have a favorite board game...nonboard game?
Trivial Pursuit, Scrabble, Pictionary are my favorites.
I love playing volleyball, softball and basketball. Although multiple injuries have stopped me from playing basketball, now.
Do you have a special place you like to go to recharge?
My escapes are going to the movies, reading a book from start to finish without putting it down, or mowing the yard.
What do you think your kids will be when they grow up?
This is a hard one. I'm really not sure on this one. The main thing is that I would like for them to be God-fearing individuals. If they happen to become a Pediatrician (Cynthia), a Preacher (Alex), a musician (Mary-JO), a forest ranger (Kurt) and a writer/missionary (Shelby), then I wouldn't be unhappy with that either
Do you have a toy that your kids LOVE but you wish they would lose?
We don't actually "lose" them, we take them to grandparents, SIL's or accidentally leave them at their cousins house! Especially if they were the gift giver
. I've only done this with 2 or 3 toys, though.What was your most embarrasing moment?
As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I don't really remember wanting to be anything until I got into highschool and that was to be a teacher in math or music. Oops, no, I remember, I wanted to be an olympic figure skater or gymnist.
If I gave you a gift of money, are you likely to spend it on something you need, something frivolous or something for your kids?
Pay bills or something needed for the kids.
What is one totally frivolous thing that you would like to have, but wont buy it for yourself?
A personal trainer and/or housekeeper.
Are you an optimist or a pessimist?
for the most part I'm an optimist
Are you an organized person or a disorganized one?
Work--very organized Home--very unorganized
Are you prompt or tardy?
before children--prompt
after children---very, very tardy
Do you drink Coffee, Tea or neither?
When I was working I drank 4-6 cans of DrPepper a day. Now that I'm at home, I drink milk, water, juice.
What did you play in the band? I played flute/piccolo. But I've also played piano, clarinet and oboe.
I would like to know what is the highest level of education (besides on-the-job Mommy training, that is ) that you have?
I have finished 2 years of college. I am also a CPM (Certified Public Housing Manager)
Have you had a job outside the home? If so, what type of work?
Apartment Manager--VISTA volunteer & Christmas Cheer Coordinator for 1300+ families, CaseManager for Homelessness (all for the same ecumenical non-profit)--Public Housing Manager
How did you become a Christian?
I asked Jesus to come into my heart as a small child. I was 5 years old. I grew up in a ****-Fire and Brimstone Baptist Church. I remember the fear that I had that I would not go to Heaven to be with Jesus if I did not ask Him to come into my heart. I accepted him as a child, but I have grown so much since then. It is still a daily struggle to choose God and to submit to His ways. I fail miserable some days when I begin to think that I'm in control, other days I do better.
What church do you go to?
I attend a large (average 500+ members) Southern Baptist Church. We just moved to this church about 7 months ago because it is only 4 miles away as opposed to 25 miles away that the other church was. We also felt that our children should attend a church where their school peers attend so that they could foster close friendships with children that both attend chruch with them and go to school with them.
What outside activities or hobbies are you involved in?
I sing in the church choir, help with the Wednesday night preschool AWANA's, I volunteer to help with Christmas Cheer for Children and the Elderly. I used to help with Food For Seniors once a month, but I have not gotten back into that after I was put on bedrest back in Feb 03.
quote:
I know you have said you were in the band. How many instruments can you play and what are they? Are your kids also learning to play (and are you teaching them)? Have you ever done solos (with instrument or voice)?
I've played and am proficient in this order: flute, piccolo, piano, clarinet, oboe, zylophone and cymbals.
I was first chair flutist since 10 grade so had many opportunities to play solos in concert band. Over the last 5 years I've played solos quite frequently during church offeratory, weddings, Christmas parties, Senior citizens parties, non-profit organizations, etc.
Cynthia went to piano lessons for about 3 months before she decided she just wasn't interested. I'm hoping that over the summer that I can get Alex interested in learning piano (we have a piano at home) and teach Cynthia beginning flute. Mary-Jo is always singing, I'm hoping that I can get her into some voice lessons. Cynthia loves to make up lyrics to songs, however she is very tone deaf.
quote:
Has your swamp dried up yet???
There is only 2 places left that have a small bit of standing water, and about a 1/3 of my yard is very muddy underneath the grass. DH is off on Thursday, so I plan to mow the parts where I won't bog down then.
quote:
I have another question: If you could be on one of those PBS specials that go back in history and live like they did then (like Frontier House & Colonial House), which time period would you like to go to?
I would love to live like they did in any historical period. If the twins were at least 7 years old, I would love to take my whole family to live in either of those times.
However, my real desire is to go to a 3rd world country with a church group.
quote:
What was your most embarrasing moment?
Whoops, I just realized that I didn't answer this question.
There are so many to choose from. I suppose the most embarassing was my senior year in highschool. About half-way through the year, I "crushed" badly for my band director (he was only 5 years older). About a month later everyone was informed that he was dating another band student (she was 19). They eventually got married.
What is your favorite noodle?
Fettuccini seafood is my favorite.
Have you had an interesting pets?
no, just dogs, cats, fish
Can you roll your tongue?
I can swirl to both sides and like a hotdog bun.
what one question do you REALLY WISH someone would ask you! (And then, of course, answer your question!)
Laura, this is a toughy. I am just grateful that there are people interested in finding out about me. I've generally thought I was quite uninteresting. I generally have a tough time opening up myself to IRL people because I'm afraid to be judged. I've only had 3 or 4 real friends who I was not afraid to share everything with who did not judge me. Only one of those was an adult friend. I'm really grateful for the friends that I've made here. I didn't know that I could or would get so attached to the cyber-friends that I've met here at TS. So, I really don't know the question that I "answered" here, but I glad you gave me the opportunity to open up.
Are they Crawdads or Crayfish?
neither, they're crawfish.
Are you in anyway what us non Louisianans would call a Cajun?
No. I would say that I'm more of a country girl.
How far do you live from the house where your parents lived when you were born?
I was born in Shreveport, LA, so I'm about 110 miles from there. However, I grew up just 50 short miles from the house that I grew up in.
How about Jaba's home when he was born?
Jaba was born in Dade County, Florida (he's an airforce brat). He's also lived in Germany and England. His parents chose to move here to Alexandria, LA, because of the excellent Mental Health State Hospital located near the AFB (now closed) here. Jaba had an older brother who died due to complications from PKU. He was 9 when his brother died at the age of 25.
If you could live anywhere else in the world, where would that be and why?
I don't know if I'd want to live anywhere but in the United States. I'm pretty happy with the freedoms that we have. I think that I would like to live in Texas or near the Appalachian Mountains in the states of Georgia, Kentucky, West Virginia or Tennessee.
One last question. How far off I-49 do you live and can we drop by for a glass of Ice Tea when we head to Dallas in November?
I'm about 14 miles NE of exit I-49's exit 84
How did you pick your children's names?
Cynthia Darlene is named for my Aunt Cindy and Jaba's sister.
Alex is the IV
Mary-Jo Renee is named for my mother, Mary and Jaba's mother Josephine. She originally was going to be Mary Josephine, but Dh decided to add Renee at the last minute. Kurt and Shelby do not have family names. We figured they were special enough just being twins. We went through hundreds of names before we compromised. I ended up getting to choose first names and Jaba got to choose the middle names Daniel and Danielle.
What has been your most memorable mommy moment?
Oh, boy it's hard to choose just one. But I suppose it would be when I went into the NICU on the 8th day and a new male nurse picked up Shelby and handed her to me. It was the first time I had held her. I just sat there and boohoo'd. I'm tearing up now just remembering. I got to hold all my singletons immediately. I also got to hold Kurt just as soon as I went into the NICU for the first visit. Those times were just as special, but 8 days seems like an eternity.
What is your favorite food/meal/dessert?
I love fresh fruit. BBQ'd chicken & Grilled shrimp with shish-kabobbed marinated veggies. Fresh strawberries and blueberries over homemade cheesecake (slightly flavored with lemon).
What is your favorite drink, alcohol/non alcohol?
Are you living the life you imagined for yourself when you were 15?
No, I thought I would be a teacher. I knew I would have at least 3 children, though.
What kind of life do you think you will be living 5 years from now?
I'm pretty satisfied with my life as it is now. The only thing I would see different is me working again (but not a 8-5, M-F job). I wouldn't mind having one more child.
1. Did you have any nicknames as a kid, or even now?
Oh, Boy, I had some doosies! My maiden name is Herboldsheimer (pronounced Her' bold shy' mer).
Purpleshimer started in grammar school. One of my HS boyfriends called me Marajuana Herboldpie
. My best friends in HS called me Meryl, DH calls me grumplepuss. My paster called me Lena. But mostly I've been called Marilyn. I was the only Marilyn in any grade althroughout school (There were only about 200 seniors in my graduating class). So when someone said Marilyn, everyone knew who they were talking about.2. What compliment do you receive most often?
This is a hard question for me, because I don't take compliments well. I'm always embarrassed when someone gives me one. Most of my compliments have come from church members who have listened to me sing or play flute solos. They've said that they are moved when I play or sing. I feel quite honored by these compliments because when I play or sing, it's not for recognition, it is me praising and worshipping God, but when others say they were blessed or that the music touched them, I give the praise to God that He blessed me with talent to serve Him.
3. When you are feeling "down", what always makes you feel better?
This kind of goes with question 2. Usually when I feel down, I turn to God. One of the first songs I sing is "When I'm low in spirit, I cry Lord lift me up, I want to go higher with thee. But the Lord knows I can't live on the mountain, so He picked out a valley for me. He leads me beside still waters, somewhere in the valley below. He draws me aside to be tested and tried. But in the valley He restoreth my soul". After singing this song 2 or more times, I begin to feel a fellowship with Him and move on to prayer, praise songs, silence to "hear" (and no I do not hear His voice) God speaking to my heart, more prayer. He is my refuge.
and finally,
4. List the names of your pets, from childhood until now.
Saucy. (I was 7) We found him on the side of the road out in the country. He was a little black curly-haired dog. After about a month of trying to find the owners (he appeared to be well taken care of and was a "registered" type dog) my parents told us that we could keep him.
Tiger. (I was 11) A black and gray striped feline. This cat would ride on my shoulders on my bike to the cornerstore for candy.
Taxi A black Lab. She was more my sisters' dog because I was away at college when we got her. She was always escaping the fenced in back yard and was hit by a car when she was 3.
Colonel. (I was 19) A brownish-red pekingnese that was given to me by a co-worker. When I went to college, I shared him with my Aunt who became his adopted Mom.
Missy. (I was 31) A medium long-hair cockerspaniel. Someone poisoned her and she died before she was 2 years old.
My SIL is giving my oldest daughter a black female weiner dog. To be honest, I'm not really too thrilled about it because she will be an inside dog. That's all I need now is another thing to clean up after. But it will make all of my children very happy, so I'm trying to sike myself up for accepting her into our family over the next 7 weeks.
What do you do to pamper yourself?
Unfortunately, I haven't really been able to do anything to pamper myself in quite a long time. But what I really like to do is go for a day of beauty treatments. I love getting my hair washed at a beauty salon. Those that do it right wash, scratch, and rub your head for about 8-10 minutes. I would sit there for 30 minutes it they would let me.
What is your favorite piece to play on flute?
It's NOT "Flight of the Bumblebee"
My favorite to play for others is classically arranged hymns.
My favorite to play for my self is a book of Flute duets, flute/clarinet duets and a Selected Studies for flute that was used for regional tryouts when I was in HS.
Do you play just for fun at home, too?
Before the twins were born, I would play at home about once a month. Mostly just to brush up on my sightreading & technical skills. Now I get them out about once every 3 or 4 months. I will usually sit there for 2 or 3 hours playing.
How often do you play?
Before the twins were born, I would practice 2-3 times a week and play in church on Sunday mornings.
What kind of flute do you have? (I want all the details!) I have 2 open-holed Gemienhardts with low B. One is just silverplated. The other has a Silver head piece. I also have a silver Gemienhardt piccolo.
You didn't ask, but I also have a Buffet clarinet and a Wurlitzer Piano.
Are you teaching any of your kids to play?
I haven't started yet. Although I did put Cynthia into piano lessons 2 years ago. She didn't like it much. She wouldn't practice at home. She caught on quickly, but I really didn't want her only practicing at her music lessons. I hope that she will enjoy playing the flute or clarinet better.
If the job situation that I applied for doesn't work out, I plan on teaching Alex some music theory and piano this summer. He and Mary-Jo have an ear for music. Cynthia is just plain tone-deaf.
What were your Parent’s hopes for you for your adulthood (aspirations, goals, dreams, personally and or professionally)?
Do you feel you met them?
My parents never actually verbalized their hopes and dreams for me or my sisters. They basically just guided us to be God-fearing and compassionate towards others.
For the most part, I feel as though I have not disappointed my parents.
What were YOUR hopes for you for your adulthood (aspirations, goals, dreams, personally and or professionally)?
Do you feel you reached them?
I don't know that I ever mapped out a plan for my life. I did know that I wanted to go to college after high school, get a job, get married, have children. I thought that I might become a math or music teacher. But to be honest, I'm glad that God had a different plan for me. Even though I got paid for it, I loved my job as an apartment manager for subsidized apartments and my job as a Case Manager for Homelessness at a Judeo-Christian non-profit. There have been many people who have come to me years later and told me that I made a difference in their lives because I always treated them with respect no matter where they met me or what circumstances they were in. I haven't always waited for God's plan for my life, but for the most part, I've listened to His quiet urgings.
Sometimes I've felt like I have totally blown it in my personal life. As far as professionally is concerned, I would have liked to have ascended the corporate ladder, but I don't think that is where God wants me.
What do you like to do to relax? Read, mow the yard, watch movies, take a nap.
What would be more fun to do with DH:
Going on a cruse?
Staying at a cabin in the mountains?
Staying at a Beach house?
Staying at a Lodge and skiing?
Other?
I would have fun doing all of those things. But since you asked the question "with my DH" I would have to say sitting centerfield (anywhere from 35-35 yardlines) about halfway up at a LSU or NotraDame football game or going to a Braves Baseball game series of 3 games. He does other things with me and/or the children, but if it revolves around a game, he enjoys the extra stuff better. Another thing that he equally loves is taking an AmTrak trip. The SaltLake to SanFransisco AmTrak ride that we took was our favorite trip with the kids.
When do you feel like you became an adult?
Do you think it is an age thing?
A maturity level?
An education level?
When you got your first job?
When you moved out of your parents home?
When did it hit you that you were an adult? Was there some event that sticks out in your mind that made you think "I am an adult!"
I think I felt like I became an adult somewhere between my 1st and 2nd child. I think it was about the time that DH and I became responsible to cook and/or buy every meal that we ate. Up until that time we ate most meals with my IL's who lived one breezeway over. So I guess you could say it was when we "moved out from under our parents wings."
I think that the first time I eligible to vote (1988 presidential elections) and when it became legal for me to drink (age 18) were the first time that made me think, "I'm an adult!"
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