Christmas Pictures

Lots to be Thankful For

We have so much to be greatful for as Thanksgiving approaches. My children are so healthy. Alexandria, Hunter, and Gabby are growing into little people and while we have so much fun to look forward to, it is hard to believe that my babies are growing up.

The toddler stage is rather difficult. I want to leave the country most of the time, but somehow I manage to make it through another day. They are into EVERYTHING!!! Whining occurs alot. I am going to get some earmuffs for Christmas, but for now I am enduring.

They all say momma, dadda, nana, baba, ice or eyes (not sure which), duck, God, ball, uh oh, ca-ca, and cup. They are learning more words every day. AND we are in the Barney (I love you. You love me. We're a happy family) phase. The girls' hair is FINALLY growing but it is slow!! I can put their hair up in piggie tails. Hunter had his first hair cut a couple of months ago. I miss his long hair, but he is still a cutie pie.

They are such adorable kids, I have to pinch myself. Gabby is a mama's girl. Allie is in the "daddy's girl" phase. I hope she grows out of it soon. Hunter is not fickle. He will go to whoever!

As if it weren't enough that we have these beautiful, healthy, children...

I am greatful for all of my crazy relatives and in-laws. My dad is home from Iraq right now, but I haven't been able to see him yet. I have been commanded to quarantine due to being sick with the itises (bronchitis, sinusitis, etc.) He doesn't want his 2 weeks of home to be plagued with illness. Mom and Grandma are always buying the kids stuff but can't handle too much "alone" time with the brats, I mean kids. They say they are too "old" for this. Ha Ha.

My sister-in-law Lauran spoils the kids too, but the worst spoiler culprit is their Aunt Judy. I blame her totally for their rotten behaviors because she coddles them and caters to them. However, I have heard but sure haven't seen that she will give them a spanking when they get really bad. I'm sure!!!

My extended family is rare to be seen, but I love them all and am greatful to have them. One of these days I will get to Tampa to see some of you.

I will post a picture on here soon!!

The Dentist From Hell

I have been going to the dentist since I was 2 years old, according to my mother. I can only recall the last 7 years that I have been going to Dr. Oxer in Lake Placid as a positive experience. That man and his staff are so wonderful. Well, then why would I go to any other dentist? A little thing called insurance (courtesy of my husband's employers). The only place in town that we can go with this lovely insurance plan is the mall dentist. It took me 6 months to get into this dentist as they are fully booked. When I did get in there, I was pleased to find out that the only thing I would have to pay out of pocket is $31.00 for flouride. Wow!!! I am used to paying everything out of pocket and then waiting for reimbursement at a rate of 50 to 80 percent. That was great news to me. They scheduled me for my fillings and I made my appointment, which is quite unfortunate. I should of found something better to do, because this was the worst experience I have had with dental health.

On the day of torture, the dentist greeted me herself. She brought me back to the dental chair and was pleasant enough as she proceeded to put the lovely topical numbing gel on my gums. I told her that although I wasn't afraid of dentists, I had managed to go 36 years without seeing the shot and asked her if she could just let me know when she was going to bring the shot out so I could close my eyes. Well, she didn't oblige my request. She just brings the gigantic shot right out without saying a word. I should of known at this point there was going to be trouble. But, I let her give me a dozen shots in the mouth without any problem. Then, I sat back and waited for her to return and start drilling.

She came back with the dental assistant (who is a lovely person and will soon be my niece in all actuality) and she proceeded to start to drill on a front facial tooth. I felt it. Boy did I feel it. A tingle went up the side of my face and immediately I jerked. Well she didn't like the fact that I jerked. She told me to "Be still. You can't move." She started drilling again. I jerked again. I think this is a natural response when you have a nerve being hit. Well, she didn't agree. She got very angry and stood up and said she couldn't work on me because I was "too nervous." I immediately tried to appeal to her by telling her "I am NOT nervous. It hurt." She grabbed the novacaine and injected me some more. She left the room for a minute to calm down or whatever. I then asked of the dental assistant, "can I have another dentist?" "She's all we have" was the response. Oh great! She came back to the room, tense and unhappy and went to another tooth. She drilled away without any problem from me. Then, she returned to the prior tooth and started to work. I jerked again. It hurt. She then became very very unhappy and started to chatter away in some tirade about how this "doesn't hurt" me. I would of gladly changed places with her. The dental assistant offered up some advice about possibilities of where to inject me to numb me better, which wasn't recieved too well. "I KNOW WHAT I AM DOING!" she grouchily retorted. Well you could of fooled me I silently thought from the chair. I wasn't about to say this aloud with the angry dentist working on my tooth. I sat there and cried as she drilled on the tooth. I held back and just tolerated the pulsating shooting pains as she drilled this "superficial" cavity. When she was done, she hastily stormed out of the room. I sat there in shock. I hadn't ever been treated this way. The staff was apologetic and sweet. They were going to "talk to her" in regards to the treatment I had recieved. The outcome: still waiting for a phone call.

The numbness wears off and my tooth in the front is fine, but oh my, I have pain in the back tooth she had filled. I didn't go in with a toothache, but I have one now. I contacted the big conglomerate that this mall dentist belongs to and they thanked me for my candor as I complained about her. I was told that a regional manager would be in touch with me to let me know my options (as in... where can I go to get this toothache handled?) It has been 2 days so far. I wonder how many motrin and advil I will have consumed by the time anyone has the courtesy to return my call. I should probably just shell out the money to go to Dr. Oxer, but it isn't just the expense. I would have to explain my "cheating" on him by seeing a different dentist. Who said the best things in life are FREE?????

I am starting a new private practice!!

I am so excited! I am starting a new private practice. This is my dream and I can't believe I have found an affordable place to hang my little counseling sign. Any suggestions out there for names of my business or should I just use my name? Please give me some ideas.

I can't say I am not nervous, apprehensive, butterflies instomach, and somewhat overwhelmed by the hurdles I have to jump to get it going. Me, in business for myself??? But, YAY!! I am finally doing it. I will do everything I can to make it successful.


By the way, it's going to be on the circle in Sebring!! Send people my way :D

Rock You slide show

From Jello to Stuffed Animals

Allie aka Lexie aka Alexandria (dang we should decide)


Gabby



Hunter
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IN THE PLAYROOM, DADDY GETS THEM TO POSE










Eyes that will make a model jealous

Our Girls

The girls have been walking since the end of April at 12 months of age, which is darn good since they are preemies. They are into EVERYTHING. The love to open drawers and pull everything out, pull all the video tapes out of their cabinet and put them all over the floor, empty out all their socks, find the pots and pans and pull them out to bang, and run around outside. It sure is a challenge. I have been told that the walk like Paris Hilton. I am sure they will grow out of it, even if she didn't. They are beginning to say more words. Gabby says baby, hi, and ice. Alexandria says okay. They love to mimic sounds and gestures. They wave bye bye, shake their heads no, give kisses aka "wahs", and climb! I guess they are not babies anymore!



Gabrielle



Alexandria



Allie again



Gabster

Hunter's Pageant in My hometown!

At the end of last year, Hunter won Mr. Oktoberfest and got his entry free to the state finals in Augusta Georgia. Besides a nice $500.00 gift certificate to the mall and other prizes, I thought it was great to take a trip to my "home." Although I was born in Texas, we didn't live there very long. Augusta is where I spent all of my elementary and the beginning of middle school; I really wanted to see it again. Of course, I thought it was great that Hunter could win scholarships too. So... Auntie Granny Lauran, Judy, Daddy, the three babies, and I loaded up and took an 8+ hour drive to Augusta at the end of May for the "State Finals" of New Star Discovery. The trip was hallacious with three little ones, but they did well considering! We stayed at the Mariott in Augusta which is (to date) the nicest hotel I have stayed at. That part was wonderful. We got settled in the first night, preparing for the next day's competition. They had so many categories, which meant different outfits, accessories, etc. From 8am till 3 or 4 pm, we were parading back and forth from the hotel room to the pageant area, after changing into the next new outfit from: playwear, swimwear, angel face, sweetest smile (where your child is supposed to smile on command) to state costume, parent/child, formalwear, product, etc. etc. etc. There was no real nap with the longest break being an hour ( a bad plan for babies) and Hunter was fit to be tied. He cried and cried everytime he got on stage. The judges stopped even paying attention when he would come onto the stage. He got better in the afternoon, but it was too late. He may have been one of the most adorable babies there, but nobody could tell with his face all scrunched up. I didn't get many pics or much video because I was too busy trying to stand near the stage doing everything from jumping up and down to making funny faces to get him to smile (after taking cues from other parents and some displeased judges). I knew 15 min into the "competition" that he had no chance of winning.... again... not because he wasn't adorable, but because he wasn't going to cooperate after an 8 hour trip and sleeping in a strange bed (pack and play) in a strange place and then getting on a stage with 100s of people staring at him. Okay, live and learn. While he was on stage "not" doing his thing, the girls were quite happy running around and smiling. My husband said that we should of entered the girls because at least if one was having a bad moment, she could have a body double. Ha Ha. I learned just enough to not want to ever do it again, unless the kids probe ME to do it. But, it was still a nice trip and Hunter surprisingly finished 3rd runner up overall for his age and several 1st place trophies were recieved for different categories. We went to my old neighborhood, saw my childhood home, and had some great food. I fell in love with the area. I don't recall being in love with it growing up. I guess I had to grow up to appreciate it. The trees abundant and green, the huge lakes, the beautiful streams and the river front area abundant with flowers and greenery, lush green grass, hilly roads, fresh air..... I wish I lived there. I asked my husband if we could move there, but sadly he said no. I'd have to relocate several family members there and most aren't willing to go. Sigh. Oh well. Here are a few pics from the trip. Enjoy!!


Hunter in the car

Hunter(L)Gabby(C), Alexandria (R)



The Trio Again


The beautiful woods of Georgia



The neighborhood of my old childhood home



More of the neighborhood



The neighborhood and our new Jeep




My old home in Augusta. Brings back good memories!! Started kindergarten there and I still remember it.




Alexandria getting dressed up in Hunter's State costume with Auntie Granny




Alexandria aka Mickey again with Auntie Granny.




Hunter throws a fit!! One of many to come!!!



Pajama Contest



PJ Contest Again. One of the good moments!!!



Our Little Cowboy in Western Wear portion of contest!


Whew!! Another one he made it through without screaming!

Summer

It has been a long time since I posted or put any pictures up. I will try to be more consistent. Here are a few recent ones. I am not in them. They were taken by Judy at their Auntie Granny's house on a couple of occasions. They are having fun watching volleyball... giving beer to the guys playing volleyball, eating french fries, and playin on a water slide.