In the Blink of an Eye

WHEW!!!

2012-01-23T18:21:00.001-06:00

I PASSED!!

Gees, we had our first test of the semester today! The first one is ALWAYS the hardest regardless of the content. This one was not only the first one but the content was all over the place. Last semester, I flunked the first test and spent the rest of the semester trying to dig my way out of the hole. I did it, but I didn't want to start this semester off that way. LUCKILY, I didn't. WHEW!!

Jeff has decided to become obsessed with everyone in the house's grades. That sucks. He started in on Blue this morning, wasn't pleased with my test score today, and just closed out the evening riding Dalton over some extra credit reading that he isn't doing. Both kids have locked themselves away from him. I asked him what his problem was when he was less than pleased with my performance today. He backed off then. He needs to get busy with something else. Blue's test was bad, I'll give him that. She brought it home today and we looked at it. She actually marked the correct answers on the test and when she was bubbling in her answer sheet she messed up on one bubble and missed everything from that point on. UGGHH. JEFF, SOMETIMES IT HAPPENS..... Back off. He accused the kid of cheating. Everybody in this house makes excellent grades but no one likes to be micromanaged. I've ALWAYS handled the kid's grades, let me do my job, dear. We love you! (And if you cancel my DirecTV like you threatened to tonight, I'll just sell some of your power tools or burn the house down :) Kiss Kiss)

Oh, and I won the election today. I'm pretty excited about that. We have a meeting on Wednesday. I guess I will learn what I am in for then. I dodged my "friends" today. I just don't have anything nice to say yet. I'll keep praying on that one.

I have to go save my son now. Blue just asked me when Dad started his Cougar, LOL. That's her code word. I don't know what the problem is. I wish I could figure it out though. It's bad around here tonight. He better watch out or I will clean off his nightstand.

Peace! We need some around here.

Kacy

Holy Smokes Batman!

2012-01-20T21:54:00.000-06:00

I've just had a Debbie Downer kind of day! I'm trying to fix that right know with a Peach Daiquiri, maybe it will be working by the time I'm finished typing, LOL. One day back, and I'm already in a mood :)

I woke up cranky. It's my fault. I usually keep an eye on the weather and subconsciously brace myself for the rainy days. Yesterday was so nice I guess I just assumed today would be, too. I wasn't so lucky. I knew before I opened my eyes. Any morning when you can't roll over by yourself....it's just not gonna be cool. Of course, once I get up and get moving it gets better, but it still sucks. School was good and we even got out a few minutes early.

My left foot has been hurting pretty badly since sometime around Thanksgiving. I ignored it for a few weeks, but after finals I broke down and went to the doctor. I had some pretty nasty inflammation in the joints in my second and third toes and in the joints where your toes connect to your foot. No real reason for it, just lovely RA stuff....they put me in one of those lovely RoboCop boots and I've been in it ever since. Blue has told everyone that my Carpe Diems were inflamed. She went with me to my original appointment and somehow got my metatarsals confused with carpe diem. Anyway, it hasn't gotten any better. With clinicals starting in the next couple of weeks, I finally broke down and agreed to cortisone injections. Those suckers hurt and I swear the smaller the joint, the more they hurt. I also know that the more they shoot my joints the less effective it will be the next time. I held out as long as I could, but it was time.

I sure hope it helps. They went in both of those toes and then in through the top of my foot in two different places at the base of my toes. Hopefully, it will start feeling better in a few days. Tonight it hurts worse, but that is to be expected. It's been traumatized, LOL.

OK, so here is my rant...I knew I needed this outlet. We have an election at school on Monday for an office in our Student Nursing Association. YES, I am running for political office. WTH was I thinking? I was hesitant at first, knowing that these typically turn out to be nothing more than a popularity contest. I'm a bit old for that, but after thinking about it, I decided I really wanted the position and had a lot to offer and at the time no one else was stepping up to the plate. After several more days, actually at the last minute, 4 others stepped up. That was fine. We had a meeting Wednesday and all had to introduce ourselves. It was interesting. I just told a little about myself and my background. A couple of other students did pretty much the same thing. One student developed an entire campaign and even started off with nursing jokes :) and another came up with a great idea she would implement if she won. We vote on Monday and to be honest, I haven't thought much else about it. We have our first test on Monday and I've been focused on yesterday's check offs and Monday's test. Any of us would be fine in the position. Tonight, once I got home and got settled, I got my laptop out and logged into FB. We have a page set up that is just our nursing class. There are 80+ members in our group. We talk about EVERYTHING on there. Lately, it's gotten out of hand and even been a bit weird, but whatever. So, I'm scrolling down reading questions people are asking about our upcoming test and BAM! There is a post from a young student directed at Kacy Acree. It asked me why I didn't disclose to the class that I had actually graduated from nursing school at this very school before??? WHAT? <> I guess negative campaigning even happens in nursing school. This young lady went on to explain how her mother told her that one of her friends told her that I had already done this and graduated. Sister, if I had already done this, WHY would I be here? I calmly replied that I didn't know where this information came from, but I was sorry it just wasn't true. I unfortunately had told the truth the other day. So then, her mama comments and proceeded to call names about who told her. I once again, calmly replied that I was pretty sure I knew more about my own life than anyone else did. About 20 minutes later she comes back with...well I called so and so to get to the bottom of this and she said she guessed the person that told her must have been mistaken. Sorry for the confusion. Excuse me, but WHAT? You went back and checked my story tonight with your "source"? OMG. A little while later, I got a message from our page "moderator" who saw right through the cheap "political" shot being taken at me and took the whole comment down. I have since been apologized to in my INBOX of course. I'm so stinking mad about that. I'm way too old for some crap like that and I sat in front of you today for two hours in class. You could have asked me if you really wondered why I wouldn't disclose such information, not that it should matter anyway. I'm old enough to be your mom for heaven's sake!!! Am I really that much of a threat?? GEES! I guess it actually hurt my feelings more than it made me mad. I felt attacked and rightfully so. I was publicly called a liar. For heaven's sake, somebody has been drinking too much HATERADE! Ugghhh! Why are people so stinking mean?

My peach daiquiri wasn't sitting too well, so I gave up and Jeff drank it. I've got to go study and TRY to get some sleep. I've been seriously deprived in that category lately. Have a great weekend.

Peace Out,

Kacy

Cliffhanger??? Sorry about that!

2012-01-19T18:09:00.002-06:00

It was once again brought to my attention today that it had been a long time since my last blog attempt. Hey Mrs. Briscoe =)

I've thought about it often, but just haven't made the time for it. After the second "gentle" reminder from one of my teachers today, I got to thinking more about it. It actually may be just the outlet I need. It cracked me up when she told me she missed Jeff and his nightstand. WHAT?? I didn't even realize anyone payed attention to one of my all time BIGGEST pet peeves.

But, just so you know....

NOTHING has changed. As a matter of fact, check out that yard sale stool that belongs to Blue that he hijacked so he would have more room to throw his mess on. The coke wasn't his (it was hers) but the rest of it...ALL HIM. UGGHHHHH!!! I'm sure some of those receipts are for a bottle of water, but he HAS to keep them. If he didn't have me, he would win Hoarder of the Year!

A LOT has happened since my last post. I passed my first semester of nursing school (Thank You Jesus)!! I've done a lot of stuff in my life, but this may very well be the hardest. I left you hanging on the catheter check off. I'll finish that real quick, but be warned, it's a little graphic.

I wish I had a picture of Mrs. Scott. She was my lab instructor last semester. She really is a wonderful woman and an excellent teacher, but to call her intimidating is an understatement. I promised myself when I went back to school that I would not let myself be intimidated, but it didn't work. It's scary. Catheter check off is by far the hardest one of the whole semester. It's a sterile procedure and staying sterile is difficult. If you break your sterile field, you fail. If you fail three times, you fail the semester. SO, here we go....

Everything was going pretty smoothly. My gloves went on (because I put a whole thing of baby powder in them the night before) and I remembered which side of the wigwam to clean first, second and last (yes, there is a method to wigwam cleaning, who knew?). By the time you get around to cleaning the wigwam of a manikin, things have already gotten intense. We have these very anatomically correct manikins that have heart beats and breath sounds and blood pressures and all kinds of stuff. So far, all of our check offs have been on female manikins. So, I've cleaned everything and it is time to insert the catheter. I take a deep breath and go at the hole with my hands shaking like a leaf. Luckily I hit it, and here we have to talk our way through it (pretend). So I look up at her and I say, I go in 2 to 3 inches and I see urine (with a big smile on my face). I tell her I advance the catheter an additional 1 to 2 inches. Then I use my non-sterile hand to anchor it and it's time to inflate the balloon on the catheter. We really do inflate the balloon. That whole anchoring thing is a booger. That one flunks a lot of people. So Mrs. Scott has her face down there ON your hands making sure you don't contaminate anything. So with her face down there in the wigwam over my shaking hands, I inflate the balloon on my Foley catheter. The poor balloon had been inflated about 30 times in practice. It decided, THAT was it. My balloon ruptured in the manikins wigwam and water shot out of the wigwam and got ALL OVER my sterile field (which ruins it) and even worse, Mrs. Scott. I'm pretty sure that I turned white as a ghost and my jaw landed on the floor. Mrs. Scott stepped back and took her glasses off and just bent over at the waist and died laughing. I'm pretty sure I peed my pants, but not from laughing. She said, just pretend that didn't happen and tell me how you would finish this up. I PASSED! Oh the things that happen in nursing school!

Today we checked off on starting IVs, IV pushes, IV piggybacks, trach suctioning and all injections. What a relief! We have our first test of this semester on Monday!!

The kids are great and crazy and busy as ever. Both are still playing soccer and Blue is doing some tumbling as well. Jeff and Dalton are going to Italy for 10 days at the end of March. Dalton will be playing soccer over there. He is SO excited and I couldn't be more proud of him =).

Hang with me while I find my new blogging groove! I miss having my journal. I guess I need to go back and read what I all I've said about the nightstand.

If you have a second, say a prayer...I'm getting the ole foot and toes shot up with Cortisone tomorrow. I'm pretty sure I'm gonna puke.

Rock Out!!

Kacy

Lessons Learned

2011-09-15T21:52:00.000-05:00

This week, I learned that I am but a mortal woman....

I had every intention of blogging this week, BUT then I woke up and real life set in and there simply are NOT enough hours in the day. Especially, when you are in Nursing School :)

But, I'll take a stab at recapping (it's been eventful....as ALWAYS).

WAIT FOR IT......

Oh Yeah!!

When the kids hit the ripe ole age of 12 and 13 I thought it might be OK for them to ride the school bus.

THOUGHT is the key word.

They thought I was a flaming idiot for sitting on the front porch waiting on them and even crazier for taking their pictures. Turns out, I'm really glad I took them. They serve a dual purpose. Any time I can multi-task these days, it's a good thing. This was their first and LAST bus ride EVER.

With my schedule being a "little" hectic these days, I thought the bus option may relieve a little stress on the days I really need to stay at school and study or practice a skill. We kind of live in the middle of nowhere. I tried looking up our address on the county website to find out what bus they would need to get on after school and where it would drop them off. It couldn't find me, so I called the county office. The lady was so nice and told me what bus it would be and that my house would be the FIRST stop. They just had to get on the bus and it would drive STRAIGHT to our driveway. So, Monday, we did a dry run. I knew I would be home when they got off the bus and that way if there were any issues, I could just come get them. Unfortunately, the nice lady didn't tell me that only 5 (two of which were mine) kids from the middle school rode that bus. It makes a stop at the High School and fills up before it makes that first stop at my house. NO THANK YOU. I learned all about sex on the bus, saw my first condom on the bus and got into my first fist fight on the bus in this very county.....and that was with kids my own age. My children will continue to be car riders even if that means I have to break my neck to get there, thank you very much.

So, we move on to Tuesday....

It was Blue's Birthday!! We had a full night of soccer. Dalton had practice and she had a game and by the time all of that was over, we only had enough energy for McDonald's. BUT, she did get tickets for the Taylor Swift concert in October and she was OVER THE MOON.

Wednesday got a little hairy.

I was at school (far from my children) and I got this....

Along with text messages of "I ripped my fingernail off", "I'm crying" (my kiddo doesn't cry), "I don't know what to do", "It hurts so bad".... Please remember I am at school and for the first time in her life, I can't come to her, I can't leave school. So, she's crying, I'm crying and I'm calling Jeff. He has to leave work, drive 19 miles to her school to look at her broken fingernail....Good times. It's a good thing he loves us both. Jeff, thank you for filling in the gaps I'm leaving lately.

It's her bird. Later that night, as I was wrapping it up (you know it hurt/hurts) she said, "Mom, I've broken my foot during warm ups and played the whole game on it, but this fingernail defeated me." I was still laughing about that today.

That brings us to today. Today, we had catheter check offs at school. Unfortunately, that is worthy of it's own post. I passed, but I did something my instructor said had NEVER happened before. It's getting late and I have to go pack. I am leaving early in the morning for a little MoZart Retreat in Louisiana and my Blue is going with me even with her broken bird. Mo, thank you for letting my girl come, she has been dying to ever since you announced this. I'm going to turn off my brain for a few days and see if any of my creative juices can still flow.

I CAN'T WAIT!!!

Kacy

Same Ole Same Ole

2011-09-11T21:30:00.000-05:00

I wish I could say my scenery has changed from my last post, but unfortunately, IT HASN'T. Jeff did buy me a new table/desk this weekend. He is supposed to pick it up tomorrow. He says the dining room table just isn't going to cut it. I kind of agree, but didn't realize I had the liberty to just purchase new furniture.

I guess he REALLY hates the table in here. I have been planted in this chair ALL weekend long. Unfortunately, I think I will be planted here for the next year and a half :) I even gave up my farm on Farmville....now THAT is serious stuff.

I had my first Nursing School nightmare last night. I spent most of the day yesterday doing my Clinical Orientation paperwork. Last night, I did my site specific orientation. I'm going to be working on an Oncology/Orthopedic floor. That really got my brain going and I woke up in a cold sweat sometime early this morning terrified because I didn't know how to handle a situation. Of course, as soon as I woke up, I couldn't remember what the situation was. Unfortunately, I think there will be many situations I don't know how to handle. Thank goodness for school :)

2 bits of EXCITING news....

If you've read my blog for any length of time, you know my best friend's daughter Haleigh competes in pageants from time to time. Not very often, but occasionally. WELL, Miss Priss took her first title last night.

Meet the new Teen Miss Desoto County!! Woot Woot!! We love you Haleigh Ash!! You were

AHHH-MAZING!!!

Second,

I AM LEAVING FOR WEST MONROE, LA ON FRIDAY FOR THE FIRST EVER

MOZART RETREAT!!!!!!!!!

Everybody knows Mo, right??

If not, go here. She is Angel Jake's Aunt and the bombdiggity on all things creative. I'm going to absorb some of that creativity and just have an enjoyable weekend with other women (who I don't know) and CHILL doing things I love to do. Thank you Jeff and Dalton and Savannah for giving me this time. Last I heard, she still has one opening. I'm already driving if somebody wants to board the bus, let me know.

I'm off to study for my second Medical Terminology Test for tomorrow. Pray for my kids, too. We are doing a test run on the bus tomorrow afternoon.

Kacy

HOT Friday NIght

2011-09-09T22:28:00.002-05:00

Don't be Hatin'!!

I know you want to put on your favorite striped PJ's and then add your favorite hot pink peep toe ballet flats just to feel sexy and sit at your dining room table in the middle of your den (that your husband is STILL griping about) and study all night. I'm sorry we can't all be as lucky as I am....

OH HOW I CRACK MYSELF UP.

It appears that I may be spending many more Friday nights like this over the next couple of years. To make it even better, Stella (the dog) is laying under my chair and she has a major case of gas. PERFECT.

Today, I spent my day off from school, at school, practicing catheterizing a mannequin for 3 and a half hours. Then I got to go to a friend's house for a Cabi party. It was my first experience and I'm pretty sure I'm hooked. LOVED IT.

Then I finally picked out the shingles for the roof. (Maybe public humiliation really works.)

Looks like I will be sitting in this very chair, at this very table, all weekend. Not much to report on, other than HOMEWORK. If something exciting comes up, I'll holla.

Cya,

Kacy

Dalton is a RED BELT!!

2011-09-08T22:30:00.000-05:00

I'm just going to go ahead and admit to not really getting the whole Taekwondo thing. Dalton has been taking classes for the last three years, although he took about nine months off last year to adjust to competitive soccer and middle school. But, he LOVES it. So, like a good mama, tonight I sat and watched him test for his Red Belt and succeed. Even though I couldn't have told you if he did something wrong or not, it made my heart smile. I gave my seat up to the parents of a girl his age who was testing for her Black Belt tonight. I figured my good spot for photos would be better served with them considering the huge accomplishment she was making. I ended up in the back and couldn't get a good shot of Dalton. I'll score one next week during class when is wearing his Red Belt with pride :)

I didn't get to practice my Cath skills today, because they sent the ENTIRE Freshman I Nursing Class for a drug test today to an office that had a total of two people giving the tests. If I'm not mistaken there are 87 students at this point. Of course, I had the extra large coffee this morning and had to wait just over two hours to pee in a cup. I gave new meaning to "My Cup Runneth Over". Anyway...some of my group decided to be dedicated and go to school on our day off tomorrow to learn this important skill.

Several people have asked me lately, why Savannah changed her name to Blue. Trust me, it gets complicated at times. Especially on the soccer field (where she spends the majority of her time) when she is in her red uniform and they are playing a team in blue uniforms. Parents from the other team look at us like we are crazy, because everyone from our stands is cheering for Blue. Anyway, Jeff started calling her Blue when she was a tiny little thing....

It was those eyes. They are much lighter now, and some days even more of a hazel color, but she made it clear she did not want to be called Hazel.

For good measure, here is a picture of my sweet boy too. These are just some pictures we took over the summer. We had a fabulous 10 day vacation to Sandestin this year. I wish I was there now.

He is so stinking cute and so sweet to his mama. I think it's just a boy thing.

Oh what I would give to be back at the beach.

This picture wins the award for my FAVORITE of the whole year. If this isn't the Acree's, I don't know what is....

Instead of being on the beach, I'm at home where the temps have been fabulous and the windows have been open all week.

Hope everyone has a great weekend. We are actually home this weekend and then if I'm not mistaken I'm out of town for the next 3 weekends. I plan to spend quite a bit of time at my table in the middle of my den. I managed to empty ALL of the laundry baskets in the house tonight. That is serious business around here and very rare. Oh, and one last thing, besides idiots in the car rider line at school, I think this is my biggest pet peeve...

Seriously???

Kacy

T-I-R-E-D

2011-09-07T22:19:00.000-05:00

Ok Gang. It has been a LONG day.

I started off by dern near flunking my first ever nursing test. I didn't flunk it, but I got about as close to close can be, especially considering "flunking" in nursing school is a normal HIGH C. So after I regrouped and sat through a Nutrition lecture, I came home and did what most normal people would do. I moved the dining room table to the center of the living room so I had more room to study and could still be in the center of things going on in my house.

Yep, right up in the middle of the den. Isn't that what you would have done??

Then, I wrote two papers, took Dalton to Taekwondo, came home and watched a little over an hour of videos on interesting topics like this one....

Good stuff...NOT. Poor men.

Dalton has a Taekwondo testing tomorrow night. If I'm not mistaken, this is for his RED BELT which will officially make him a board breaker. I'm so proud of him. Blue (have I mentioned that is the name my child has officially declared for herself now??) has a soccer game tomorrow night. I think I have testing duty.

One last important happening today....After nearly flunking my test today with a C, I decided I needed a large Diet Coke from Sonic (that's normal isn't it??). While I was waiting on my Coke, two young girls pulled up to the bay next to me to get them a Diet Coke, too. The only difference, they were on HORSES. Only in Mississippi.

Y'all have a good night and pray for my C making self.

Kacy

????

2011-09-06T19:51:00.000-05:00

Back to school today after a long weekend. Things are finally starting to feel real. I didn't have to report to Allstate immediately after class today. Even though I haven't worked for several weeks, I still had to get moved out of my space. I was there for 5 years and I accumulated a lot of mess during that time and a lot of pictures. Moving out was a chore. I think Allstate can now officially be considered a thing of the past for me. It feels really strange.

What do you guys do with pictures that you have framed? Most people that know me very well, know that I am a HUGE Hal Jaffe fan. My kids even modeled for him and are still in his some of his ads. Anyway, I have thousands of dollars of photos from over the years and not enough space to display them. How do you store things like this? I have to do something. I'm terrified they are going to get messed up. When I start showing you pictures from around my house, you will see I'm not kidding. I literally have no more wall space to display these things. That's it. It's time to build a new house.... It really is, but that won't happen until I get out of school (but that doesn't stop me from looking at floor plans).

My first test in Nursing is tomorrow. I'M A NERVOUS WRECK. To make matters worse, I opted to stay home and study tonight. Only one problem, I left my books in the truck and asked Jeff to take it to soccer practice and fill it up with gas for me :( UGHHH. Looks like it's going to be a long night for Kacy.

I'm used to a blog full of pictures. I can't take pictures at school. I actually signed something to that affect today saying I wouldn't take any. Most would be pretty gross even if I could. Today I learned how to insert and remove NG tubes and had the honor of learning proper administration of a cleansing enema. I'm going to pass on the insertion of soapy water in my rear-end for any reason, but I guess I can add that to the repertoire of skills I am learning. S-C-A-R-Y. Ewww, maybe I could threaten the kids with something like that too, LOL.

We are about to crank up some major house renovations. That should provide us with plenty of photo ops. My house still looks like it did two years ago when we bought it, with the exception of FINALLY getting the kitchen in. Oh, and the roof blew off back in March and Jeff hasn't found the time to get it fixed. Nope, in six months, he has not had a spare moment to get the roof put on this house. I picked out the new roof in April but he was too busy when we were there that day to order the material. I'm gonna go out on a limb too and guess he's done no less than 25 roofs for other people during that time. Keep in mind, he doesn't step foot on an actual roof. He has a crew that does it. In order to secure that crew for the day, the phone call would take just less than two minutes (I've listened in on many of those phone calls). But he has been so busy he just can't get ours scheduled. I'll go ahead and let you know that the roof I want is a special order (of course) and takes 2 to 6 weeks to come in once it is ordered (and mine isn't ordered yet). He did, however, find the time to build a huge storage building out back. You know how it is, who really needs a roof anyway?? I'm wondering if it will be finished by January???

Let me get this first test behind me and I'll get some BEFORE pictures posted. Have a great night, I'll be up late and I'll let you know how the test goes tomorrow (unless I fail).

Hi from Atlanta

2011-09-03T20:39:00.000-05:00

Well, the blog is officially under construction. I found a new background I liked, but I'm too tired to figure out the new banner. I just don't have the energy to watch a You Tube video tonight, but I'm getting there.

We are in Atlanta this weekend for a soccer tournament. We arrived last night about 11:15 and have been up since 5...BOOOOO!!! We get to sleep in tomorrow until the late time of 7:30, GEES.

OK, I'm going to give blogging another honest effort. I took some flack over my blog awhile back. It kind of just made me angry to be honest. This is MY blog and I don't require anyone to read it. I didn't appreciate being told that my content was inappropriate at times. Unfortunately, it's just my life. I don't make this mess up. I guess my life is inappropriate at times or at least that was how I took the criticism. If everyone were honest with themselves, I'm pretty sure their lives would be "inappropriate" at times, too. I just choose to share my life and all of the crazy things that go along with it. Writing about the weather just isn't something I'm interested in writing about or reading about. I also choose to tell the truth and not create a fantasy world as my online persona. What you read here is what you get. Come on over and see for yourself, or just ask my best friends. They will tell you, every bit of this is true. My days aren't always good and I don't choose to cover it up. You get the good, the bad and the ugly on here. So after months of missing my blog and several requests to bring it back, here I am. I found for awhile that Facebook was easier, but to be honest, I'm becoming more and more put off by FB. I actually just "defriended" about 300 people and may remove more. No fear, the people I got rid of weren't really friends anyway. They were more like colleagues and since I sold my agency, YES YOU READ THAT CORRECTLY, I don't see the need to be "friends" with every real estate agent and banker in Desoto County anymore. No offense to anyone, but your listings were taking up a lot of my news feed.

I am two weeks into nursing school and I'm fairly certain that will provide us with PLENTY of blog material. I learned this week that I am good with putting on a gown, but I flunked taking it off. Jeff said that sounded about right....we won't even go there. NICE. Who flunks taking their gown off??? That would be me. I have to repeat that skill. I truly hope you CAN teach an old dog new tricks.

Thanks for the encouragement to write again. I needed it and am looking forward to chronicling my nursing school journey and the life of a stay at home mom. Have I mentioned my kids are teenagers and have been invaded by evil two headed monsters? They stink too. Lord help me!

Phone Dump

2011-05-22T23:15:00.000-05:00

Hang in there, this one is kind of long...Not in words, just pictures.

I got a "Smart Phone" for Christmas a year and a half ago. I love my phone for many reasons, but I don't like the fact that the darn camera on there is SO much more convenient than the large Canon I LOVE. I used to take my camera everywhere I went and have slowly gotten away from it because of this phone. Last week, I finally took the time to sit down and figure out how to move the pictures off of the phone and on to my computer (that was no small task). It's so easy to take them with the phone and upload to Facebook to share, although, I will say that Blogger has gotten faster.

This is one I took of Blue (have I mentioned she prefers that name now????) one morning just after she had gotten up. She has these huge voluptuous lips in the mornings. I call her Big Lips Boom Boom. She won't like that I put that on here, but I don't think she reads....

This was our trip to the orthopaedic doctor. She was channeling her inner zen. She has MANY of the symptoms of RA that I have. She has been thoroughly tested and right now we just treat her with a prescription anti-inflammatory. Hopefully, we can keep it with just that and she will grow out of a lot of her issues. We'll get to more of that in a bit.

This looks like we were in a hotel room somewhere. I can't remember where exactly. We've spent a lot of time in hotels in the last year. Soccer tournaments times 2 kids keeps us pretty busy.

She calls this "Praying Mantis".

The Dalt Man at his first Taekwondo Board Breaking class. He was so proud. He broke ALL of those boards by himself. (I was pretty proud myself.) I still have the boards and need some creative ideas on what to do with them. He wants to keep them.

Just a random day when Dalton had soccer practice and Blue didn't. This was how we entertained ourselves on that particular day.

My favorite place on Earth. I'm headed back on July 1st for TEN WHOLE DAYS!!

My favorite cat...Tony the Tiger. During this process, I found there were more pictures of him on my phone than other one thing. I guess I like him more than I thought.

This was ANOTHER trip to the orthopaedic. This was prior to X Ray. The doctor made me a bet that she had broken that long bone in her foot. He drew on it so they would know what he wanted to look at. He was right. She broke it. And then she broke it again in the same spot about 4 months later. We took more time off and then did several weeks of physical therapy. So far, we haven't had anymore trouble out of it :) Jeff and I cringe everytime she hooks something with that left foot, although both breaks were NOT from kicks with that foot, but rather a plant. We also changed her cleats...if it happens again...well we just won't go there.

I walked in and found this one night...That's her daddy's belt. She acts a lot like him, too.

These are pictures of pictures...but they are too cute to pass up. This was way back in the day at Chuck E. Cheese. (I hate that place!!)

That is Dalton's bird. This was another trip to the ER. My kids got in a fight and Blue smashed Dalt's finger in the door. It was pretty bent up and black and blue. NOT A GOOD DAY. Blue would like me to share (right now) that this was an accident :)

These are my pendant lights that still have not been hung. Jeff did bring a fellow over today to mud the sheet rock around the fireplace so I can paint and he can install the mantle and new TV. Tomorrow, the insurance adjuster is coming out to look at the roof and all of the interior damage from these crazy storms we've had. Hopefully, this will get the ball rolling on getting things finished up around here. We've been here for almost two years....this is getting ridiculous. Blue has a friend spending the night tonight for the first time ever and I can't even believe I allowed it. I love her friends, but I hate my house. Well, I love my house, but I hate that it's not finished.

This is poor Izzy after she was hit by that car. She spent a long time in that collar :( but she's all good now. This broke my heart and was really hard on all of us. In the end, we saved her leg and that's all that mattered.

Jeff and the kids before singing Christmas carols at a nursing home (aren't they cute?). Jeff, Dalt and I love doing this. Blue is completely creeped out by the whole thing and waited in the lobby. I had to bargain with her just to get her there. She was going to stay at home by herself. Hopefully next year, she will come willingly.

Our Christmas Card this year. I was happy with how it turned out...I even had gifts wrapped under the tree this year ahead of time. I like the more creative cards. That's more my style as opposed to the traditional card. Don't get me wrong. I love those, too. These just tend to fit my family a little better and our personalities.

This was a picture I took during the Christmas Service at church. I love all of the candles. I've been going to church here for the last 14 years and this is always my favorite service.

Speaking of my house and the improvements that need to be made...how about the camo chimney my husband put up? He put a fireplace in and SHOCKED me with his choice of siding....This actually just got covered up about two weeks ago. Do you see why I'm embarrassed to have people over??

This is some embroidery/applique work I wanted to figure out how to do. One night when I was ready to throw my machine through the window, I figured it out....but I still haven't done it (story of my life).

I took this one snow day...we had MANY this year. I don't drive on the white stuff. As a matter of fact, I don't drive if there is a threat of the white stuff. I don't drive well in the sunshine, so I figure it's best for everyone if I just stay off the roads. Doesn't Tony look thrilled? Oh and I don't play favorites with Blue, I SWEAR. Dalton is not a fan of having his picture taken and Blue loves it so much she takes pictures of herself....didn't want anyone to think I was loving one child more or something. Blue doesn't like to talk to me but Dalton does. I just can't "show" you that.

My new favorite BLING...and I have the matching bracelet. Gotta love Chico's jewelry!! And those big rings, cover up those gnarly knuckles. Those pointer finger ones are the worst.

This was something I wanted to make. Blue likes these and I refuse to pay that much for something that would be more fun to make anyway...

This was probably another snow day and we were bored...I had a highlighter handy...one thing lead to another....

Blue's Easter Bunny sucker/cookies on a stick...A couple of them turned out good, some of them gave me nightmares....

I got up one morning and found these things EVERYWHERE. I thought this one hit the nail on the head...

Somehow, we ended up at Marlowe's one night after soccer practice. This really was an accident, but we had a blast and even bought a T-shirt. Elvis is getting cooler and cooler to me the older I get.

I've had this twice in the last year...That's my computer at work. I'm over it.

My feathers...I couldn't resist. One of the kids at the kid's school said, "I wish my mom was as immature as you are."

My sweet Mother's Day card.

Love those babies.

Rock Out.

Project of the Day/WEEK

2011-05-21T13:09:00.000-05:00

I took on a new project this past week that landed me outside quite a bit. I didn't really mean to start a project considering in the last 7 days I spent a day in the hospital with Dalton - food poisoning, Blue had an all day field trip to the Space Center in Huntsville Alabama, Dalton got inducted into the Junior National Honor Society, Blue had her end of the year 5th Grade Cookout (I'm Room Mom), Dalton had his last day of 6th Grade, all of the "normal" soccer events of the week, and oh yeah, I work.

Can you see that building among the trees? That is the building Jeff built last Fall/Winter. If I'm not mistaken, it's still empty. BUT, it HAD to be done then. He didn't choose to work on the inside of my still unfinished house. I'm having to take some of those matters into my OWN hands.

He did do a good job of camouflaging the building though, which was a BIG concern to me. There really isn't a way to make a HUGE metal building look attractive on your land. It also houses the Bug and Golf Cart and should house the lawn mowerS, but he chooses to keep those up near the house.

OK, we scored this awesome antique mantle on Craig's List. Jeff is an avid Craig's List shopper. Me...not so much. I like the deals he finds, but I don't have the patience to shop. This one paid off and we scored it for $20. We are having to do a little work on the wall for it to fit, but in the end we are still coming out great. AND, it gave Jeff the opportunity to show off his power tools. Power tools make him happy. I don't get it. I prefer a hammer and nails. Jeff prefers a nail gun that requires an air compressor. Whatever floats his boat..

I posted pictures of my score on FB and my idea to paint it white to match the trim. Several folks were as proud of my find as I was and suggested different ways to finish it. Considering everything else I had going on, my creative juices were not flowing on this one. It's a good thing I have friends I can count on :) Donna told me to spray paint that bad boy and but a chocolate glaze on it. She's never seen my house (that I know of anyway) but she couldn't have told me anything more perfect for my hodge podge of decor. After a few questions and a few brief directions that all played out on Facebook, I dove in. (I ain't skeered of some paint.)

This was after the first coat of spray paint and it was getting dark and I had to quit. Not to mention my husband had moved on to a gas can and some sort of fire making device...Have I mentioned the fire department has paid my husband MANY visits over the years. That small fire in the background was an ant hill. Poor ants.

I just think these are pretty so I took a picture of them. Anybody know what they are?? They are just occurring naturally in my back yard (a part which still has had NO attention) but I really like them.

I took the next two pictures in time sequence watching Jeff from a distance. He had a large pile of branches and sticks that have been blown around the yard from recent storms. What caught my eye, was that he had come back up to the patio for MORE gasoline. Apparently this size fire was not big enough for him.

So, he poured gas on it. I was shocked to find out he still had eyebrows when all was said and done.

I asked him to note that not only did he take out the ants, but to also note the LARGE amount of grass he burned. He doesn't really care what I think when it comes to the yard. I've left it alone. He'll get obsessed over it sooner or later. He always does...

I told you it was a busy week...This one passed out on the trampoline.

Two coats of paint...

Here is a misplaced picture of before, but we will make the most of it.

Here it is finished and back in my living room with that unfinished wall. I WILL BE SO GLAD TO HAVE MY DEN PUT BACK TOGETHER!!

I'll catch up on all of the other events later this week.

Peace Out.

Kacy

Crawling Back

2011-05-10T19:17:00.001-05:00

It's time to write...sometimes it's hard to write. The more I don't write, though, the harder it gets. My dysfunctional family has reached an all time dysfunctional high. Or would that be a low? Whatever it is, it's just plain NUTS and I'm just plain OVA IT.

I try to keep it positive and sometimes that just means I don't write....have you noticed how long I've been gone? Well, I'm back and just like I've had to stay away from reading some other folks nonsense, they can stay away from mine.

My family experienced a great loss last week. My cousin Dylan took his life. (That's a tough sentence to type...I just tried several different ways to say that, but there isn't a better way.) Dylan had to endure way too many things in his short 26 years. He lost his little brother and his mother and battled addiction since junior high. He was truly one of the most handsome men I've ever known. I didn't realize until after I had gotten this news that I had TWO pictures of him on my desk at work. It's been a week and a half now and I am still in shock. My dysfunctional family flared up two days before his intimate funeral service. We were all able to be in the same room together and the service was lovely. A pastor that knew Dylan from his childhood did the service and spoke words that my heart desperately needed to hear.

Tomorrow would have been his birthday. RIP Dylan. I love you.

On a lighter note, my last final of this semester is tomorrow morning and YES, I should be studying right now. All the more reason to blog, right? I start the Nursing Program in August and I think I'm getting NERVOUS, but super excited at the same time.

The kiddos are taking their state tests this week. They are both bundles of nerves and energy. Dalton is being inducted into the Junior Honor Society a week from tonight. SO PROUD OF HIM :)

We will explore what is on the camera next time...There is no telling...It's been awhile.

Kacy

THIS WEEKEND

2011-04-10T10:18:00.000-05:00

This sums it up for the weekend. I have written and backspaced and written and deleted and written and turned the computer off. Then Blue and I were listening to music this morning and I saw this. She changed the channel when the tears started coming again. They've been hard to turn off this weekend. I know we've gone days without talking, but not because we HAD to. It's different when it's a choice. Now it just hurts. I'm happy for you, but I wasn't ready.

Another Day on the Farm

2011-03-21T21:39:00.000-05:00

What do "NORMAL" people do when they get overloaded and start to feel a little overwhelmed? I'm feeling a tad bit that way at this particular moment, so I decided to blog about some more of the insanity that goes on at my farm (I don't really have a farm...more like a "funny farm"). That is Jeff scaring the poo out of me outside of my bedroom window a couple of nights ago. He WAS being too cheap to turn the air conditioner on and made us open windows. It was nice that one night, but when I saw 80+ degree temps all week, I got the air turned on :)

Tony also enjoyed his easy access to the outside. He went in and out quite a bit this particular night. NO SCREEN...thus an unhappy ending to the night when a moth attacked me. I don't do flying bugs...crawling ones (most of them, unless they have hair) I can handle, but things with wings go in the same category as clowns and carnies and gnomes...I CAN'T HANDLE THEM. I think Jeff measured for screens, but either way, the window got closed. My heart really couldn't take anymore.

I have finally decided to conquer my fear of public speaking. It could be what made me quit school the first time......just saying....so I am doing it now....as in WEDNESDAY. AS IN WEDNESDAY I HAVE TO STAND IN FRONT OF MY CLASS AND WORDS HAVE TO COME OUT OF MY MOUTH FOR A GRADE.....see why I'm blogging. I can't face it. I even shaved my legs tonight. I'll do anything to keep from writing a speech. Trust me shaving my legs is like the WORST thing to ask me to do. You long time readers may remember the time Jeff and I had a contest to see who could go the longest without shaving and I WON!! I used to at least shave every two weeks before I went to get my pedicure...I didn't figure the girls wanted to massage my hairy legs. Then I got to know them and now I don't have to worry about that anymore. I tell myself that ladies in the chairs next to me are staring because they are jealous. They only WISH they could grow hair that thick on their legs :)

I'm babysitting tonight, too.

This picture covers a LOT of ground. The cushion got put back on the couch (by me) and I revived that plant. What are those anyway??? You CAN'T kill them!! I call it an Easter Lilly, but I might have made that up. AND that is DUKE a.k.a. Ducas with his head looking out the window freaking touching my curtains by just standing there. His dad went somewhere with Jeff tonight and left him with me. I took him out for a walk and it was very much like walking a horse. He cried and cried when his daddy left him (so sad...I didn't know what to do so we went for a walk).

Izzy was NOT happy about his presence. She's cool unless I'm in the room. She doesn't like Ducas anywhere near me. I had to tell her she better settle down, I think Duke could take her. She finally got up in her chair and got in her "spot". We just have furniture for the dogs...

I learned that Duke does NOT like the flash on the camera and since I don't know what all of his barks and growls mean,

I decided to make that the LAST picture I took of him without his father being present. After all, the dog weighs at least as much as I do. He could probably take me, too. (I think he's a GIANT pushover though).

Recognize this space??? That's where the Christmas decorations were until Saturday. YEAH for public humiliation! Sometimes it works.

I got all creative yesterday morning. I knew I needed to be writing a speech or doing an essay or something so instead I decided my camera needed a new strap. I just went back and whipped one up....

It will do for some scraps and it got me out of speech writing. I'm pretty sure I'm gonna have to just wing this one and pray for the best. The anxiety has caused me to go on a diet and make drastic changes to my hair. I'm not sure I can take much more.

kacy

.....lots going on today....

2011-03-19T21:18:00.000-05:00

Sometimes "public" as in blog humiliation works....someone cleaned off his night stand. He employed a little slave labor from his co-hoarder.

Isn't he cute when he works?? He has a particular obsession with receipts, for EVERYTHING. I understand most of them, but the ones for gum, or a coke at Mickey D's....I don't really get those.

For Valentine's Day this year, I got him a purple box. Purple is his favorite color. I know, it was romantic...It was so he could clean off his damn nightstand and have a place to keep all of those receipts!!

Blue and I did some shopping today. We put a hurting on Jun Lee. If you are local, you know where I'm talking about. If not, let me know and I'll hook you up with the inside scoop on a great little Memphis hole in the wall with some serious jewelry.

No makeup, pictures were all post shower.

LOVE THIS!! Can't wait to wear it.

Savannah was doing tonight's photography and she is one of "those". You know the one's that ALWAYS have to take a picture of themselves. :)

Trying out some Biore strips...Anybody remember those??

And I ended the night with some homework :( NO FUN, but it had to be done.

Tomorrow wraps up our Spring Break. We managed to get the laundry done today and since tomorrow is supposed to be a beautiful day, I'm thinking we may need to get out for a little more shopping. Hope your weekend has been as great as ours has.

kacy

Back to the REAL WORLD

2011-03-18T22:49:00.000-05:00

We made it back home today!! We HAD to. Blue is doing some Physical Therapy for her foot. Jeff and I were a both a little skeptical on the front end if it would do any good or not, but I decided we needed to do EVERY thing we could to keep this foot in tip top shape. After her first two sessions, Jeff jumped on board and says she needs to complete all 8 appointments..... So, we rescheduled one to get a couple of days away but didn't want to get too far off schedule.

We were already getting bored in the waiting room...Friday afternoon P.T. was apparently a popular place. We had to wait a few minutes for Matt, our P.T. with mad skills.

We did have the TIGER game on the ole tele, and at this point it was going good, but it didn't end on that same note :( Oh well, we always have next year.

We finally got going....

Warming up...

She actually thought this was pretty fun. We are trying to strengthen that left foot. These balance skills are good for that foot and she actually enjoyed this little "game". From the looks of the place, kids are NOT the main age group they see.

This one freaked her out for some reason. She was afraid she was gonna fly off the end every time she jumped. Proud of my girl for hanging in there.

I got major bored. Have you ever seen my manicure look THIS bad? That would be NO!!

I totally split this middle finger. Blue's look just as bad. I think I know where we are headed tomorrow.

Hope you enjoyed your Spring Break. I think we did.

kacy

How do YOU keep kids from killing each other??

2011-03-17T21:41:00.000-05:00

I'd like to go on record here and officially say that from this point forward, I want adjoining rooms with these monsters!! A hotel room is NOT the funnest place to be cooped up with two EXHAUSTED pre-teens in a hotel that doesn't even have Pay Per View!!

WHAT KIND OF HOTEL DOES NOT HAVE PAY PER VIEW???

We can't agree on anything to watch.

We had a blast today at the Aquatic Center. I didn't take my camera because I actually got in the pool. I apologize to all of those that had to endure me in my bathing suit today :) Now we are all tired and stuffed and in bed and fighting over what to watch.... I think the only way to solve this is to give one of them the computer. SO, I'm out for the night. Heading back home tomorrow.

kacy

Spring Break!!

2011-03-16T21:10:00.000-05:00

Welcome to our home away from home for the next few days. I mean, after all, IT IS SPRING BREAK!!

What's better than going 30 minutes down the road and checking in some place where they clean up after you, serve you dinner in your room and, oh yeah, have a swimming pool? NOTHING if you ask my kids. I was up for a little something more this year, but considering we all got REALLY sick this week, this will do JUST FINE!! and even better if you ask JEFF...IT'S PRACTICALLY FREE!!

Dalton IMMEDIATELY found the remote. Luckily, we brought his laptop and Jeff just set him up on Netflix...have at it my little grasshopper.

I'm about to chug from the Nyquil bottle and pray I never have to relive today. I'll keep you posted on the fun this mini vacay or should we call it a "staycay" has to offer.

kacy

2011-03-15T20:07:00.000-05:00

Meet my new friend Duke. He's actually not a new friend...he's been around for a while just not AT my house. Here lately, he is a daily visitor. He is a Great Dane (A BIG DOG) and yes, those are my Christmas decorations behind me in the picture, but no worries, the meds are working well today.

Check out this huge monster. He can lay his chin on my kitchen counter without even stretching. He gets along well with everyone....thank goodness!! He even talks...he can say "I love you!!"

He's talking in this picture. He's too big to bark. He peed a couple of nights ago in the house. I thought a pipe had burst or something. He's got skills. (How about my pajama skills? I'm not shy)

Here is my best friend Izzy. For those of you that don't keep up with me on Facebook, which by the way is a MUCH easier way to "keep up" (just not a good journal) she got hit by a car on December 3rd. She almost lost her left leg. To be honest, I can't believe we saved it. It had a drain in it for a week that I had to flush three times a day and not enough skin to sew together. BUT, we did it. After we pulled the drain, I let her go back inpatient for 5 days for intensive wound care, but that was all I could take of her being away. We took care of it just fine at home in 7 short weeks without a single infection, she came out of that huge E-collar and all is well.

She has some permanent swelling and will more than likely experience some arthritis in that leg, but other than a scar that's actually hard to see now, you wouldn't know if I hadn't told you.

Of course, Tony still rules the roost, or at least he thinks he does. Right after we got Izzy to the point we knew she was going to be able to keep her leg, Tony got in another fight and had to have a toenail removed. Did you put it together that all of that was during Christmas?? Needless to say, Izzy's left leg was my Christmas present and Tony's toenailectomy was Jeff's gift :)

Blue invented this contraption last night. Her book light on her binoculars....I don't get it, but she thinks it's nifty. She did clean her room today. Only because my head spun around backwards last night and I spit pea soup...public blog embarrassment doesn't hurt either.

I'm having a hard time keeping up at the moment. I don't know why...it's Spring Break. I thought I was supposed to feel relaxed.

Here is a look at the planner on Spring Break....not much of a BREAK. Blue has PT pretty much every day. She broke her foot twice in 6 months...NO GOOD. We are working on some PT to see if that will help. She's been twice so far...we shall see.

Over and out. Time to bleach the ole mustache...don't act like you don't have to do it too....

kacy

anybody know why some of last night's blog had things underlined in orange????? that bothers me.

Spring Break 2011

2011-03-14T19:58:00.001-05:00

I wish I had something really GREAT and INTERESTING to come back at y'all with, but I don't. Just another old boring day in my crazy life. Today, was the first day of Spring Break. For those of you that don't already know, my nutty self decided I didn't have enough on my plate already so I decided to go back to school FULL time to chase my long lost dreams of becoming a nurse. Someone should have reminded me I was pushing 40, and things just don't roll the way they used to say (parts of me have a lot more rolls). I am happy to say, though, that after 2 semesters I am still carrying that 4.0 and I got into the fall nursing class. Zippidy Doo Da...Now if only that would get my house cleaned and my laundry done, all would be right with the world, well, maybe.

Even though, I am on Spring Break with the kids, I STILL have to work. Jeff took the week off and mysteriously disappeared today, so this is what I came home to....(have I mentioned I'm sick as a dog..sinus/allergy problems) Savannah was in my bed where she excitedly announced she had been reading since 2:00 o'clock. That's great and all but not when my kitchen looks like a tornado blew through.

Then we have Dalton. He's your typical 12 year old boy, oblivious to anything that happens outside of his video game of the day. He despises anything that has to do with the word clean. This unfortunately includes his personal hygiene. I think that brushing his teeth is TOP on his list of the things he hates most along with the d word...deodorant.

So, as these two went about what ever it is they did today, let me show you a little bit that was going on around them.

This is Jeff's box. It wouldn't be such a problem if it hadn't been sitting in my living room for a week now. I found it on my front porch a week or so ago. I hoped it had something great in it that we needed to finish the fireplace project that we started months ago. Unfortunately, I think it had lawn mower parts in it...not anymore. NOT for a week or so, but I guess he likes the box and paper. Have I ever mentioned that Jeff was a hoarder?? I know I have shared before that Savannah, or Blue, as she likes to be called these days is a hoarder. She comes by it honestly. Let me share his night stand with you...

This, my friends, is just the top of it, would you like to see the things that have fallen off....

I didn't think I was going to be able to handle it. After trying to break up, twice, and failing, I decided to just take meds and now for the most part it doesn't bother me....EXCEPT on days like today. I could handle just this, but NOT all of this...

Here is that fireplace project, that has yet to be finished...a girl can dream. It works, it heats the house, it just doesn't have walls.....

This picture says a lot....we have a soccer ball in the living room, with a couch cushion falling off the couch and the one and only plant in the house SCREAMING for water. Apparently, no one noticed that today.

Let's switch gears and move to the kitchen...I'll be glad when computers can convey odor...

Do you ever wonder why an empty cereal box can land on the floor right beside the trash can, but NOT in the can itself?? That one always blows my mind, but no matter who did it they will have a perfectly logical explanation.

This is a view down the counter from the trash can toward the sink. That's an EMPTY Barnes and Noble bag that Blue's new books came out of. Empty....the trash can is less than two feet away??? Those are the thermos bottles from the weekends soccer tournaments, they still have water in them on Monday night. LOVE IT!!

Now, keep in mind, I haven't eaten a meal in this house since, oh, last Thursday....ALSO keep in mind there is a totally EMPTY dishwasher less than two feet from this scenario. Are you feeling me?? Do you see where this is going?

THIS, my friends, has Jeff Acree written all over it. He is the only one in this house that would heat up a whole bowl of beans and then let them sit for several days.

And across the kitchen, we have Saturday's biscuits, Sunday's egg skillet, and I'm not sure what was in the cake pan, but it involved melted cheese.

I'll take the blame for the coffee cup with the pink ring around it. That is mine. NOTHING else on this counter is. And let's just see this one last photo. This one might win the prize.

Those are my Christmas decorations that I took down and packed up for Jeff to put away either in the attic or out in the HUGE shed he built for things like this. I took the tree down between Christmas and New Year's and it's oh what??? March 14th??? Yes, I could put them up myself, but then that would defeat the purpose of the meds I take to deal with him.

And this is the gray hair that my family has caused and I am too poor to go have it colored because Blue now requires her hair to be highlighted and Jeff is still in sticker shock.

I really do apologize for my long absence, and yes, I realize I am apologizing to myself since I no longer have followers. Lots of things have gotten in the way. Myself, mainly. The whole undertaking of school was HUGE and I've been scared to let too many people know. As cheesy as it sounds, it's what I've always wanted to do and that's a lot of pressure. I wondered if I could do it and if I could, would I have what it took to get back in to school? Now that I've answered some of those questions I feel a huge relief. I'm not there yet, but at least I'm in. I hope at almost 40, I have a useful perspective that some of these 19 year old young ladies can learn from.

I've also had an ongoing internal battle over my blog and putting my personal life out there for the public to read. Do I say too much? Do I not say enough? Do I portray a skewed picture of our life? In the end, I don't really care. It's my life and it's my journal and it's my story. So I have the freedom to tell it however I please. I also have the right to share as much or as little as I like. If you prefer blogs about the weather, or the disasters in other countries or the soaring price of gas, I may not be the blog you are looking for. If you are interested in a tired haggard mother of two pre-pubescent children married to an insane man who thinks he is God's gift to humanity and loves reality television and somehow finds time for it then you have found the right place.

GLAD TO BE BACK!!

kacy

WOW!!

2010-11-26T21:44:00.000-06:00

It took me a bit to remember how to log in. AND there are a ton of new features. Talk about a leave of absence. We have been one busy family lately. I've thought about the blog many times, but haven't found those spare hours in the day to make it all come together. I'm still not sure I have spare HOURS, so we will shoot for minutes. I miss my diary and I miss my pictures. I hardly even take any anymore. Time for change. Be back soon.
Kacy

Big Girl Panty Kind of Day

2010-06-07T23:10:00.000-05:00

While I believe I have finally mastered the picture thingy on blogger again, I regret to tell you....there will be none today. GASP, I know...I did NOT take a single picture today. Back at the first of the year I committed to Project 365. That didn't work out. I kind of decided to do it on New Year's Day and didn't think out a good way to document my pictures. I'll think that one out better next year (maybe). I still like the concept and don't really understand why it has to start on New Year's Day....why not my birthday? I think I like that idea. I hear Flickr is the way to go with this project....I guess I need to figure out Flickr since my age change is fast approaching.

Today turned out to be one of those where you really wish you hadn't left your big girl panties at home. I should have known....All this week my children have camps from 9 -1. Ordinarily, I would be doing the happy dance in the middle of the street to have 4 hours for 5 days in a row that my children were otherwise occupied. The problem is they both start at 9 and are about 45 minutes from each other. This is definitely a week of divide and conquer and carpool, too. For some reason we shelled out over $400 for this insanity. To make matters even more interesting, I had to go for my girly tune up this morning at 9:20. On my way out the door, I got a very suspicious text from a friend and fellow agent that is on vacation this week....Things were not going good. About the time I was shoving Dalton out of the truck, I found out a fellow agent is in the hospital in ICU and not doing well at all. I was instantly sick. Knowing that I had to keep going this morning, I prayed the whole time I was on the interstate. It's a good thing, I guess, because I have no idea how I got there and on time at that.

I have come to know that if I go into a doctors office thinking ALL is good, I am typically in for a rude awakening. SO, I pulled the extra stick of Secret out of the console that I keep for just such emergencies and slathered on an extra swipe or two. After my blood work and awesome trip to the scale, I was beginning to think things were going to be cool. SCREECH, put the brakes on. Only I can go in for a routine check up and come out with some minor outpatient surgery scheduled. NICE. So, I did what any woman should do after such a rough morning and I went shoe shopping. The doctor told me not to lose more than 10 more pounds. I would really like to lose 20 more. When I told Jeff, he said, "Well you aren't going to listen are you?" ???? Why did I get married again?

I let everyone know before we even got home from all camps that TODAY was the day the house was going to get cleaned. Of course, by the time I changed my clothes to get started, I couldn't find a soul. They were all outside and Jeff had decided that something just HAD to be fixed on the car. I DON'T think so, buddy. The kids split the bathrooms and I rearranged Dalton's room and cleaned the rest of the house and got all of the beds changed. Jeff walked around with a tape measure and managed to do absolutely nothing. I sweetly explained that this was the last time I would take my day off to clean house. If we are all unable to keep this place cleaned up, we will no longer be able to eat out because I am going to hire a housekeeper. I'M SICK OF IT. (I'm screaming that in case you were confused.) One meal out with my family would pay for the housekeeper for the week. Considering we typically eat out twice a week, that would do it. I don't care if they eat bologna sandwiches if my house is clean. I need that mental peace more than they realize. AND, they are all lazy. I think I'm going to start charging them to live here. Something has GOT to give.

We still don't know about soccer.....I guess they were kidding when they told us the whole Sunday night Monday morning thing. No, not really....I actually think they are going from 4 teams to about 7 or 8 teams and are actually completely overwhelmed. I am still hoping that my two children are a part of those teams. My two children are REALLY hoping they are. One of Dalton's friend's Grandmother lives not far from us and she came over and played this afternoon. The kids love her and so do Jeff and I. I was so happy to see my kids playing outside until dark. Dark here is pitch BLACK. Jeff had to take the friend home, because it was so dark outside. It feels good to see the kids dirty and exhausted from a hard day of playing.

Prayers for my fellow Allstate Agents please. I only know bits and pieces, but those aren't good and they have an uphill battle to fight. These are some special fellas in my market and they have become like family. Thanks for your help.

SHINE.
kacy

Weekend Update with Kacy Acree

2010-06-06T22:00:00.000-05:00

I sponsored a golf tournament this weekend for my favorite High School Junior, Haleigh and her Cheerleading Squad. We spent all day on the Cherokee Valley Golf Course Saturday, but we had a ton of fun. Haleigh hurt her little knee...:(. She has to wear that big nasty thing for four weeks...that means on our trip to Florida. UGGHHH. I just hope that does the trick for her...NO SURGERY.

This is the JV Squad and I think they were a little shy. I didn't know any "shy" cheerleaders in my day, but whatever. Maybe it was just because they didn't know me.

This tournament raised a lot of money for the Cheerleaders and their Scholarship Fund.

There are the Varsity Girls. NOT so shy. There was more drama on that golf course that day than you could shake a stick at. WOW. Savannah already creates a lot of drama....I'm kind of dreading this stage in her life. She stayed out there with me all day and just soaked it up. Jeff and Dalton were there most of the day as well. Thanks family for supporting me and my endeavors.

Here are all of the Junior girls! Too cute. Haleigh, thanks for letting me come out and enjoy the day with you all. Art, her dad, put most of this together and played in the tournament, too.

Aren't they cute? I love you Ash Family!!

We are painfully awaiting an announcement by the Olive Branch Rush Soccer Club for the new teams. We were told we would hear something tonight or in the morning. Both kids tried out this week. As a matter of fact, that is all we did this past week. Since it's almost 9:45, I'm feeling pretty safe to say we won't hear tonight, but tomorrow. I've been in bed all day today. I woke up with a horrible headache. I finally figured out tonight, that it was from a lack of caffeine. I fixed that and my head is finally feeling better. I'll probably be up all night, but my head isn't hurting.

We have two more weeks until our vacation in Florida. I'm praying for no OIL. We have already decided we are going regardless. The beach is my favorite place on Earth. I want nothing more than to park my rear end in the sand and let the water rush up over me, but if I have to park it at Big Kahunas all week, that will be fine,too. I'm just ready to leave for a week.

Dalton has his first play performance this Friday morning. I can't wait. He has been working really hard all last week and has really enjoyed camp. This week, he will be there every morning and Savannah will be in Memphis at soccer camp. Both camps are from 9-1 everyday. That's a bit of a logistical nightmare, but it will work out one way or another.

MY HOUSE on the other hand is about to be the death of me. We've been living on a construction site for almost a year now and I'm beginning to think that Jeff prefers it that way. He seems to find whatever he can to keep him from working around here. On some days, he'll even admit it. I don't know what else to do to encourage the finishing of this project. I've quit cleaning house, but I seem to be the only one bothered by it. Today, I announced I was going to hire a housekeeper thinking that might matter, but all I got was a "huh". I guess he realizes no one in their right mind would agree to clean my construction site. If you have any ideas on how to get this job finished, PLEASE let me know. I'm about to move out and into the crazy house. It couldn't be much different anyway.

SHINE,

kacy

Holiday Weekend

2010-05-31T23:13:00.000-05:00

Happy Holiday Everyone!

We decided this morning to spend the day around here today and it was a good thing. Dalton needed some new shorts, so I wanted to go get that out of the way. About the time I got to the store, the bottom fell out. It has rained on and off all day. It's been beautiful in between but then it starts up again. We didn't have quite the wonderful day outside that we have been having, but a good day still. I at least got some much needed cleaning done. This place is torn completely apart!! My laundry closet is being changed into a pantry and I'm giving up space in my craft room for a new laundry room and closet!! Have I mentioned that Jeff and I are "sharing" a closet? Yeah, THAT ain't working! I will gladly give up some craft room for some closet and some laundry room. Anyway, that means the back three rooms of my house are a WRECK. All of the contents of the pantry are on my kitchen counters...my kitchen still hasn't been painted and Jeff cut a giant hole in the wall of our house to vent the dryer out of my craft room that has never been a craft room because it still has boxes from when we moved in it. YEP, I'm feeling a little overwhelmed and I'm going on vacation in three weeks and in case you don't remember, I get a little freaky about my house when I'm leaving. That means we have three weeks to get this mess finished. OH, and I planted flowers in my flower beds this weekend that have no bushes because the house has to be painted. M-E-S-S!!!!!

I intended to talk about Dalton's graduation tonight, but since this post took a turn toward the dumps, we'll talk about that tomorrow night. I'm holding the fort down at work alone this week. PRAY. and I almost forgot, this is Dalton's first full week of camp and soccer tryouts are this week. BETTER PRAY HARD.

SHINE.
kacy

Summer Has Begun

2010-05-30T00:25:00.000-05:00

Today was a fantastic day and it has really started to feel like summer. Dalton's graduation pictures are out in the truck. I'm too tired to go get them tonight. I gave my blog a little makeover.

Dalton started camp today. He goes for the next two weeks. It's a drama camp and at the end they will do a performance of School House Rock!!! He tried out for the part of Joe who sings Conjunction Junction!! That was always one of my favorites from back in the day. I can't believe he got on stage and tried out. We won't know until Tuesday if he got the part. He said a girl tried out also that has been to these camps and in several plays and so he was a little worried she may get that part. We'll see??? The people were so nice and he had a BLAST. He's been talking about it ALL day and singing those crazy songs. I think there are 11 of them. I'm so proud of him AND he got his report card in the mail yesterday and had ALL A's for the YEAR. He's such a good kid.

I went shopping all by myself while he was at camp and Savannah went to work with her Daddy. That is the first time I have spent 4 hours alone in a LONG time. Since we are going to the beach in a few weeks, I tackled the horrid task of finding a bathing suit. What a treat!!! After fighting all of my rolls, sitting in the dressing room crying with sweat dripping off the tip of my nose, I settled for a fabulous overpriced red one piece get up that I look CRAZY SEXY in ;) I HATE BATHING SUITS!! Hummmm, I wonder if Spanx makes one? If they did, they would be trillionaires! The last time I put a pair of Spanx on, I decided it wasn't worth it. I was sweating from all of the hard work of getting my "extraness" into them. I had to lay down to reach far enough around to get them pulled up and I'm pretty sure the whole experience gave me bruises. All they did was push everything up anyway and give me an even worse "muffin top" than normal. SHEEESH!!!! I've lost about 15 pounds (THANK YOU LORD) but since I still have that much more to go, it seems like it will never happen....one day at a time.

This afternoon we all went and bought flowers for the flower beds. That is one of my favorite things and we are finally getting to it. Well, sort of anyway. Jeff said I could put flowers in, but no shrubs yet. We still have to have the house painted and the shrubs would be in the way. I can wait for shrubs to get my house painted, NO PROBLEM. When we got home it was sprinkling a little so I didn't want to start digging everything up to get rained out. Instead, I played outside with the kids. We traveled up and down our street and all around on the golf cart. Savannah was my driver and she's not a very good one. She said she is already scared that when she turns 16 (she's 10) and has to take her drivers test, she may have to pass gas when the instructor is in the car with her. I told her to stop being silly and she said, "Mom, this is one of my true concerns." Feel free to pray for the child. Then, somehow, we ended up on the trampoline. I had NO business getting up there, but I did and I showed Savannah up. She can't flip on there and I did it several times. I also did 10 toe touches in a row and she couldn't make it past 4. She would bust out laughing every time. Dalton could do it all. We had a good time.

We watched two movies tonight...Leap Year and The Lovely Bones. Leap Year was good, a romantic comedy. The Lovely Bones was a little scary but right up Savannah's alley. An end to a good day. We are going back to visit the church we went to last weekend only tomorrow it is an outdoor service in the park. I hope the kids like it better tomorrow than they did last time.

Have a BLESSED Sunday and Happy Memorial Day!

SHINE.
kacy

Huntsville

2010-05-26T21:24:00.000-05:00

Everyone was feeling all bright eyed and bushy tailed for 5:30 in the morning. EXCEPT ME.

There is my sweet boy holding his mama's GIANT cup of coffee. I think I needed an IV. After all of that coffee, I was ready to roll and chill out with the fifth grade class of Pleasant Hill Elementary!

I had never been to the Space Center before and certainly not with 200 ten and eleven year olds!! What a treat! I had a great time and truly felt honored that my boy WANTED me to go with him. I do realize these days won't last forever. (We just won't go there tonight.)

Look out Alabama, HERE COMES MISSISSIPPI...

We were the Kelly Green class. I have to admit, color coding the kids made my life much easier. I was only responsible for Dalton and two other kids in the class. I ended up with two very easy children and everyone got along very well and had similar interests, so it was actually a very laid back day.

Meet Ratchet...our fearless leader for the day...and YES, that is her real name (I asked). She was great and I really liked the fact that we met her upon arrival and she was with us the ENTIRE day.

The kids made and launched parachutes...pretty cool. If you haven't been to the Space Center I would definitely recommend that you make the trip. (Maybe not all in one day, like we did, but you need to get there. It was a great day.)

This was my MOST favorite part of all of the cool things we saw....

The ACTUAL craft that the first "monkey-nauts" went to space in!

Dalton, I love you so much and am so proud of you. I can't believe you are heading off to middle school. Please don't ever forget how much your mama loves you and how special you are to me. I enjoyed every minute we got to spend on this last elementary school field trip.

SHINE.

kacy

Survivor

2010-05-25T22:21:00.001-05:00

I have survived the roller coaster of this past week. I made it through the Space Center and both a 4th Grade Class Picnic and a 5th Grade one. My baby boy graduated and I didn't even snort during the ceremony. (I did it privately in my car the day before...I broke into the full on "ugly cry".) I am now the proud mama of a middle school boy! and just for good measure...I completely rearranged my den tonight. (I tend to do things like that in moments of extreme stress.)

I think, now that all of the festivities are over, I can find my routine again. I have a lot of fun things to share (or document for myself, at least). My mom let me know this morning when she saw Haleigh, that I never shared pictures of her from the actual pageant....WHERE HAVE I BEEN?? I promise, we'll get to it. It's back to work for me tomorrow and I am honestly happy about it. I miss the routine (and the "quiet" time).

BRING ON THE SUMMER!

Shine.
kacy

Fast Pitch!!

2010-05-17T00:28:00.000-05:00

I'm trying to keep it together, but it's 12:06 a.m. I've been at a soccer tournament ALL weekend in either the scorching sun or a monsoon. I'm exhausted, have had an Ambien and am still awake. I am obviously the mother of a child who is about to graduate from elementary school. I am about to lose it!! How do you do this? Every time I try to even think about the fast approaching ceremony, I can feel all of the stomach fluid in my body making it's way up to my throat. My baby boy...my sweet child...the tender hearted one that prays for the class bully...How do I enroll him in Middle School? I want him to stay in the cocoon that Jeff and I have helped build a.k.a. Pleasant Hill Elementary School. Dalton was in the very FIRST Kindergarten class there. He has grown up with the school. I can't stand it.

Emotions...that's an understatement. I'm overflowing with JOY for my boy, but I'm not ready for this part of life to be a pastime.

We have an insanely busy week. I have training tomorrow from noon to 5 and then a compliance inspection on Tuesday. Dalton has Takewondo Tuesday as well. Wednesday, Dalton and I have to be at school at 5:30 in the a.m. to board a chartered bus to Huntsville AL to the Space Center. Savannah has a soccer game Wednesday night but Dalton and I won't make it home until around 9 or 9:30. Thursday, we have Savannah's initial workup with the Pediatric Rheumatologist and then she has another soccer game that night (the last of the season). Friday is Savannah's class picnic and Field Day for which I am the Room Mother. If you see me around town this next week please pardon the gray roots, I realize my hair looks a hot mess, but I'll be lucky to put clean clothes on everyday this week so we'll get to those roots sometime around the first of JUNE.

I know we will make it, we always do, but this is the first time one of my babies graduated from elementary school. I cried for a week when he left preschool. He's fine and excited about it, but I could sure use some prayers.

I'm sure I'll have lots of pictures after Wednesday and will update as soon as I can catch my breath.

By the way, the soccer tournament went well and the girls, and boys, for that matter had a good time. We won our first game by a landslide. We lost the second game in a hurricane but the girls could not have played any better. They walked off the field with their heads held high. We played again this morning and lost again and honestly didn't play with much heart....It was one of "those". Two more games this week and then the season is over. Tryouts of the new teams are the first week of June. Gonna be tough!

SHINE,
Kacy

Don't Be Scared!

2010-05-12T22:09:00.003-05:00

Scary, huh?? She's gonna GET YOU! I'm coming at you live tonight from Dalton's computer which means our photo selection is extremely limited. As a matter of fact, our choices were the Miss Olive Branch Pageant, one of Savannah's soccer games, or Talladega. I chose Talladega. If anyone has requests for the others, by all means, let me know. I had an "educational" dinner last night for clients about the Retirement Red Zone. (I know settle down, I'm living LARGE, doing lots of "fun" things these days.) I left my camera there:(....Luckily through the planning process of this event, I got to know the ladies at the catering company very well, and I will just pick my camera up in the morning. We actually did have a fabulous time. I'm required to do this type of thing quarterly, and I have to say this was my best one yet. I owe a lot of that to Jeff who targeted many of his FedEx co-workers.

I didn't mean to be such a Debbie Downer on my last post. I promise I'm not laying around in my pajamas crying or anything. I just needed to share. That pain is there in my heart. My mom called me this morning, though, and said something that I have thought about all day. She read my post and hadn't talked to me in a couple of days. (I was busy yesterday making sure I was ready for dinner for 20.) The first thing she said was, "Are you OK?" After I explained that I was fine, just really sharing a deep feeling, she said, "You know Stuart can talk to you anywhere. It doesn't have to be there." (I hate when things hurt so badly they make you cry.) All day, I have had that on my mind. What is it about that hotel that opens up my heart to hear and feel what I do? Like I said, I don't even have a paranormal meter. I've had a few instances in my life that I know without doubt God was telling me something. You know those moments when the hair on your arms stands up? or when months after you made a decision it suddenly becomes apparent why you blurted out your choice without hesitation? I always felt safe and protected with Stuart. I have an overwhelming sense of security and clarity there. My mom is right though. I slow down when I'm there, I look around and I listen. I don't do that everyday at home. I don't always allow myself time to listen to what God is telling me. Some days I drive to work, get out and am inside and realize that I have no idea "how" I got there. Other days, I see the blooms on the trees and people that I know in the cars. As I get older, I "see" a lot more than I used to. I see other people who maybe "aren't getting older". I guess with age comes an appreciation for little things in life and makes you more aware of how you treat other people. I'm getting WAY off of my intended topic. WHOA, anyway, I've been trying to figure out how to find that little bit of time to open up and hear what I need to hear. A special friend turned me on to Max Lucado recently. I read a great little book, In the Eye of the Storm at precisely the right moment. I was smack up in the middle of that particular storm and it gave me some great perspective. I checked out his website and found a ton of material. I think I linked to it if you click on his name. Somewhere on there, I read about scheduling time with yourself. That seems easy enough. I've been trying. I think I'd have better luck running at a 6 on the treadmill for an hour straight. YEAH RIGHT. If any on you reading have figured out how to schedule time with yourself, let me know how you did it. I just scheduled time with myself for the gym. I was thinking that would be a good time to open up and listen to messages on my iPod or something. I quickly realized that I was so busy sucking serious wind that I hadn't heard a single thing coming from those ear phones. It was a good theory and maybe one day when I'm on the cover of SI this work out thing won't be so hard, but for now, if I don't concentrate, that treadmill is gonna throw me straight off the back and then they would have to call 911 and I do live in a small town and that would just be NO GOOD. So help me, WHERE do I fit it in?

Isn't my brother a cutie?? Oh and Jeff, too? Somehow when I started this post, I thought I could incorporate Talladega pictures, but it's not working so good for me. So we will just leave it that these two are good looking fellas and we made a lot of special memories on this trip. Bradley, I love you!! (Jeff, you are alright, too.)

I also had this picture that I don't think needs much explanation...tacky? YES, but it sure makes me laugh.

If I haven't already asked you to pray for a local little girl that was hurt two weeks ago Sunday after the bad storms we had here, I sure meant to. Her name is Madysen and she is BEAUTIFUL. (Click on her name and it will link you to her Caring Bridge site.) I don't know her personally but I know the family of the little girl that was with her when she was hurt.

I'm pretty sure Jeff volunteered our entire family to serve Bar-B-Q tomorrow downtown. Don't freak out, I will have my kids out of there before dark and then Friday we are heading back to Tupelo for another soccer tournament. I heard today the weather is supposed to get nasty again. I don't know what that will do for the tournament. Have a great rest of the week.

SHINE,

Kacy

Flooded Connections

2010-05-10T22:56:00.000-05:00

Do you ever have something that you feel so strongly in your heart but you have NO idea how to get it out? For the last week or so, I have found myself overwhelmed with deep feelings of sadness. BUT for every sad feeling I've had, I can hear God telling me to stop being sad and feel the joy.

I don't know where to begin and I'm not sure I can do justice to my feelings for the entire situation. Thanks to all my readers, first of all, just for following my nutty family. Based on those of you I keep in touch with regularly, I can say my readers span the nation. I'm sure you've all heard about the horrible flooding in the Nashville area. I can't begin to express the concern I have for the families there. Jeff and I have talked many times about how we would live in Nashville without a doubt. We enjoy the city immensely and visit often...several times a year. I have pictured myself being one of the families who were told to evacuate their homes and had only a few minutes to choose which belongings to take with them. As an insurance agent, I have seen what flooding can do to a home. I can imagine the mud and the destroyed "little" things that make a home a home lying there when the family returns. It breaks my heart. It hit really close to home...it could have been me.

It IS me. I don't know if I've ever mentioned my father in law, Stuart, on this blog. He passed away several years before I even thought about a blog. He was one of only a few men I have ever trusted and truly loved. We had a unique relationship, and I would have to say he was one of my best friends EVER. Jeff and I spent every day of our lives with him at least until we had kids and I'd have to say every other day after that. He wasn't just Jeff's dad, he was his friend as well. We worked together and we played together and we never got tired of each other. We fought, we fought hard, but we always loved each other and we always accepted our differences.

So how does this connect with the floods in Nashville?? I feel like I have lost my connection to Stuart. Oh, here is where it starts to hurt. It hurts to say, it hurts to feel, and it hurts to doubt. One weekend out of the clear blue, Stuart called us on a Friday morning and said, "Let's go to Nashville for the weekend." He wanted to go on vacation and take the kids to the Opryland Hotel. I honestly don't remember if they had ever been at that time. I don't think they had. Stuart could be spontaneous, but his wife Barbara WAS NOT. He knew Jeff and I would pack up and take off in a heart beat, and we were honestly shocked when he MADE Barbara go. We got to the hotel LATE that night and our rooms were screwed up. Luckily we ended up in fabulous rooms with atrium views. I have to admit, I was somewhat hesitant to take this trip because I was scheduled to go on a girls trip back to the hotel the following weekend. Jeff said come on, who cares...it's with Dad. Everything about the trip was perfect. The kids were great. We had brunch in the Cascade Restaurant and we had dinner at the steakhouse. I think our meal was almost $500 that night, and I remember Stuart saying, "Come on try it...We are on vacation." We shopped and took the boat tour through the hotel. We sat on a bench in the gardens and ate ice cream. We came back home on Sunday. My birthday was that Wednesday or Thursday and of course, we celebrated it with him at his house. He made me a cake. He always did!

I left again on Friday with my friend Jenifer to head back to the hotel for a relaxing girls weekend. We left early that morning and got there in time to hit the spa for pedicures. We went downtown that night and had dinner at the brewery and went back and hung out in the atrium at the hotel. My kids spent that Friday night with Stuart, they called him Pepaw (Pee-paw). Jeff picked them up Saturday morning after Stuart made them pancakes and he was getting ready to put up a new flag pole he had purchased the weekend before in Nashville. Jenifer and I were enjoying daiquiris at the pool. About 3 o'clock, Jen and I headed back to the spa for our massages. I had checked on Jeff and the kids and was SO looking forward to this massage. About 30 minutes after checking in and laying down and I think they were working on my legs, someone knocked on the door. Having never had a massage, this didn't strike me as weird. A lady stepped in and said, "Mrs. Acree, you have a phone call. It's an emergency." I remember standing up and feeling all of the blood rush to my feet and not caring a bit that I was butt ass naked. I HAD to get to that phone. My massage lady threw a robe over me when I was in the hall. (Have I ever mentioned I'm NOT shy?) They took me to the phone at the front desk. All the way there, I knew in my heart that Dalton was hurt. After all, he had been airlifted before, it had to be him and it had to be bad. Who knew where I was or how to find me? I picked up the phone and Jeff was crying telling me to get home right away. That was all he would say. I kept asking why and he finally told me he had found his dad and he was dead. I was sitting in the floor behind the front desk at the Relache Spa when Jenifer got to me.

Anyway, I got home... We have been back to the Gaylord Hotel every year since then at LEAST once. Every time I'm there I can feel Stuart talking to me. I can feel him behind me walking through the atrium. He is part of the breeze that flows through there and I get such an amazing calm that I don't get anywhere else. He has never been the reason for my return, but he is there every time I've been. Have you seen the hotel lately? It's full of water and ruined. I'm ridiculously scared of what it will be after it is repaired and terrified that my "connection" will be gone. I don't do the whole ghost thing, and hope that I don't sound crazy for sharing this, but it breaks my heart. If I had known when we were there in February, I would have said "bye". If I had known that birthday party would be the last time I saw him, I would have said "bye". Dalton told me last year he could still taste the pancakes and sausage Pepaw made him that morning. Stuart, we miss you and I can't believe I have lost that place of connection to you.

Thanks for letting me "share" something that has been weighing me down. Sometimes a good cry is all you need.

SHINE,
Kacy

Happy Mother's Day!!

2010-05-09T12:20:00.000-05:00

LOVE BEING A MOM!!
SHINE,
Kacy

TALLADEGA

2010-05-03T23:04:00.001-05:00

Well, I'm working from Dalton's computer tonight....this is a test mission to see if I can "manipulate" pictures from his computer. IF so, I'm going to go on a full blown protest with Jeffrey Michael to get my computer fixed. He bought me a back up drive for all of my pictures. I still can't move pictures around in blogger from my laptop OR check my email. That's really weird, but it's true!! I unloaded my Talladega pictures tonight...so I guess that is the topic.

I'm worn out tonight!! I went to the gym this morning. Scary thought, I know. I'm actually a little disappointed. I'm using Calorie Counter on my phone and keeping up with everything I eat and my exercise. Today (even after working out for an hour) I only ended up with a 1200 calorie deficit for the day....at that rate, from what I read, it will take me 3 days to lose 1 pound. Why can't losing weight be as easy as gaining it???

Still having trouble moving pictures around??? WHAT IS THE DEAL?? Anybody else have trouble?? First, we all posed for "kissy face" pictures!! I hate "kissy face" pictures....

HUMM, I may have just figured out my picture issue with a change to some "NEW EDITING" thing...This could be good. Sorry, no makeup to Talladega...it's a sunscreen day!

First of all, I think I mentioned that we got to actually meet Denny Hamlin. He is Jeffro's favorite driver so it was a real treat for him. I enjoyed it too, don't get me wrong, BUT it wasn't Carl Edwards.

They were very kind at the tent and fed us and gave us all kinds of goodies. FedEx is sending us the pictures they took of us with Denny. For some reason, we took those with our phones and I'm not savvy enough to get those on the blog. Check out the flower arrangements on the table. This was a great time and a real treat for all of us. We were eating Hot Wings at 8 a.m. GOOD TIMES!

And then we entered the pits and the massive crowds of people. I took a TON of pictures but I will highlight a few of my favorites (and Jeff's, too). I think you all know from past races, my favorite thing is to people watch!!

She went for the "layered" look.

These were the BIGGEST shoes we saw all day long.

...lots of kids this year!! I've never noticed kids there before and quite frankly don't think it's a good place for them.

OH YEAH, we were at Talladega! You never know what you might find...

Those were DUDES...I had to do a double take. We found this pair walking around in the pits.

These made me laugh out loud and if you look closely, THAT IS A MAN!

This was one of Jeff's picks for the day!

BAHAHHAHAHAHAHA!

And I saved the best for last...This is artistry in it's purest form...

I LOVE TALLADEGA!!

SHINE,
K-

RETURN

2010-05-02T23:09:00.002-05:00

I am in over achiever mode tonight. I cooked dinner for not only tonight, but several other nights this week. I even packed a bag to go to the gym in the morning. Since I was doing all of these things I NEVER do, I decided I should update the ole blog, too.

Dear Blog, I have really been missing you...When Savannah was playing soccer 6 days a week, I was having trouble getting anything for myself done. I miss my photo journal here. Facebook has kept me pretty well documented, but it's not the same.

I have a lot to share...Savannah's first soccer tournament, Dalton's Taekwondo Testing and Inauguration onto the "Extreme Team" (exhibition team), TALLADEGA and two weekends of severe weather. We will take it one day at a time and see where we get. I'm back and I'm committed. I'm also curious to see what I can do from my phone. That thing is getting more and more addictive for me. I'd have no idea where I need to be without it.

The real laugh for tomorrow may just turn out to be this trip to the gym. I'm all packed up and ready to go. I can't fit it in at night so I've GOT to go in the a.m. Jeff made it sound so simple until we got into actually packing what I would need to get ready at the gym....NOT SO SIMPLE. Gonna be a busy day at work tomorrow. The tornado sirens went off 6 times yesterday!! Last weekend all of the damage was from hail...this weekend I'm expecting wind and rain damage. Say a prayer for those who are struggling right now.

I'll pick a spot and start getting caught up tomorrow. Let me know if there is anything you want to see first!

PEACE,
K

VACAY RECAP

2010-03-18T23:30:00.008-05:00

Little Vacations are so wonderful....not very "relaxing" with my crew, but very renewing for the soul. We had a really great time just 25 minutes up the road. Just what we needed.
I love these critters. Our family completely believes in the power of the t-shirt. That is the ONLY thing these two will wear. I have bought TONS of shirts and this is what they want. They even have them categorized in to every day t-shirts and "good" t-shirts. (Dalton's is an every day t-shirt and Savannah's is a "good" one.)

We had a fantastic time at the Tunica Aquatic Center. If you haven't been...GO. Call us and we will go with you. I'll even put on a bathing suit and swim....it was that AWESOME. I don't know too many places a family of four can get four hours of fun for $16 either. LOVED IT.

This is Jeff trying to talk our kiddos into jumping off the 16 foot platform. It took a little bit of time, but NOT much.

If Jeff jumped off once, he jumped off 900 times. He said his legs were sore today from climbing the stairs so many times. He has also announced that this will be the perfect place to have his 40th birthday party. That was news to me. I had NO idea we were having a party.

It didn't take long before Jeff and Dalton graduated to the 22 foot platform. Once they did, they never went back to 16 feet. (That's Dalton suspended in mid-air.) Savannah didn't make the leap. She still had a ton of fun. Sixteen feet was just dandy with her.

When we left there we went to the outlet mall for the quickest pass I've ever made. We were all exhausted!! We did pick up a few things and then we made our way back to the hotel. Everyone was asleep much earlier than the previous night:)

We got home about noon and this little toot wanted some more pictures. She wanted to brighten things up a bit. We thought the tulips were blooming at the Dixon Gallery but they weren't quite ready. (They should be by next weekend and I'm going to take my kids and get some great colorful shots.) So we did what we could and found as much beautiful foliage as possible. We actually did pretty good. (These are straight off the memory card with no Photoshop. Not bad.)

...and of course these are NOT the best ones. I wouldn't dare show the winning shot prematurely!! Haleigh is such a great little girl. Yes, I still call her a little girl. After all, I met her when she was three years old. Her mom (Jenifer) is the BEST friend I have ever had so that makes Haleigh my adopted child.....and she drove ME around all afternoon.

Savy girl had a soccer game tonight. (Yes, thank you for asking, I am worn smack OUT.) She didn't play her best tonight, but she still did a good job. She was worn out, too. Jenifer and Haleigh came to the game to see her. That was very sweet of them.

THAT is what worn SMACK OUT looks like. It kinda looks like someone smacked me. That's my friend Jenifer. Haleigh was sitting in her lap. Dalton cut her out of the picture....that's OK though, I took 197 of her earlier this afternoon.

Savannah is the "throw in queen". She has to do it most of the time. The other girls don't seem to understand that you DON'T want to throw it to the other team. I won't even touch the fact that they don't understand the concept of "throw it up the line" and the worst part is that back foot. It HAS to stay on the ground...Soccer 101. I've never understood why that's so hard but IT IS.

Savy played Goalie for half the game. She hates it, but at least she got to wear the cool green shirt. I was silently thankful because that means not as much running which means less wear and tear on those ankles and knees. They are swollen tonight, but not as bad as last week.

Goal Kick!! Her RUSH team makes her work on her ball arcs. Pretty cool...even cooler to see her putting those new skills to use in this league. I just wish he would get her out of goal.....

Her lab results were back today. Her blood tests were RA negative but her ESR was high...just like mine. We go see her pediatrician next Wednesday to determine appropriate care until we can see the Pediatric Rheumatologist. Approximately 50% people with rheumatoid arthritis are blood negative. Did you know that?

I've decided I'm good with all of this. Life is what is. I don't know where I heard the saying, "That which does not kill us only makes us stronger." I heard it YEARS ago and I really like it. Adaptability is an essential key in life. I used to not have any. I'm not saying I'm totally go with the flow (Jeff is) but I have learned that it is usually best. I wake up every morning with an amazing gift. Somehow while I'm sleeping, God gives me everything I need to deal with the next day. Sometimes I have to call on God to help me get through the day, but that's okay. I think he likes to hear from us. Can you imagine how you would feel if you didn't talk to your children? I know God loves to hear from me and right now, I call on him quite a lot.

Thank you for the prayers and well wishes. Please don't stop. Her negative blood tests mean a long road to diagnosis. In a child, they have to rule out EVERY thing else. Pray for her to have no fear of tests. They scared me to death. I can't imagine how I would have reacted if I were 10 years old. Please keep Dalton in mind, too if you have the time. He's worried about his little sister and has had to take a back seat to all of this. He is such a sweet kid. He inherited the gift of compassion for others. He's been that way his whole life.

They are both in the midst of room makeovers (I call it a HOT MESS at the moment). I should have some pictures this weekend of the progress. Jeff built Savannah a loft bed kinda college dorm room style. It's great with a built in desk on the lower end. Dalton got a bunk bed with the bottom bunk being a futon. It's really cool and they will both have a lot more room now.

I'm out. Gotta work tomorrow!

SHINE,

Kacy

Oh, hey, if you have time leave me a comment on which pictures you are liking...we have to decide by the end of this weekend which ONE we want to enter. (Kinda hard when you took 1000)

Fun Day

2010-03-17T21:43:00.003-05:00

I have precisely 40 minutes of Internet access left tonight so I must make this quick.

WE HAD A BLAST TODAY.

The Tunica Aquatic Center is SWEET. Jeff wants to have his birthday party there. I think he told me that like 4 times today. Of course, I have pictures but no time to upload them tonight. We all stayed up until 3 this morning so we are exhausted.

Thank you so much for the well wishes and prayers. I can't tell you how much they mean to us all. I feel like that sounds cliche', but please know I mean it from the bottom of my toes (or heart). We are heading home in the morning. I have to work tomorrow afternoon. This has been an awesome break for us and it was really needed.

I'll get my pictures uploaded tomorrow and share some more crazy things these kids did today. They spent the afternoon jumping off a 16 ft high platform. I spent the afternoon with hives.

I wondered today just how much more I could possibly love them...I love them more today than I did yesterday. Does the heart just grow and grow? It just amazes me.

SHINE,
Kacy

Making Lemonade

2010-03-16T22:40:00.004-05:00

Look at that baby's pretty eyes and freckles. I was shooting pictures in the truck in line at the bank the other day. I wasn't really aiming. Just holding the camera down in my lap and shooting. It's a good thing she likes to have her picture taken.
She is also VERY into nails lately. At least once a month we go for a mani/pedi. I mean a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do. We do our best to go twice a month, but sometimes we have to be careful or we will get in trouble. Jeff just can't figure out why we need to spend $80 to have paint put on our nails that only lasts a few days. He sweats bullets when we get the nail polish remover out. It's pretty funny. We have to show him our chipped up nails before he will let us take the polish off. WHATEVER!

After a very stressful couple of days, we decided to leave our issues back home and take a vacation. We drove 25 minutes down the road and checked in....

This is our new home for the next two days. We are in Tunica!! Heck Yeah, Vacay Red Neck Style. Tomorrow we are going to hit the Tunica Aquatic Center and the Outlet Mall. If it doesn't rain we may even hit the RiverPark and we've been told we HAVE to eat at the Blue and White Cafe.

All I know is that I'm in a comfy bed with my pink gnomes on and all is right in my world. I'm piled up with my two munchkins tonight and my husband is downstairs at a BlackJack Table. Everybody is doing something they love. Dalton is watching Star Wars on his laptop and Savannah is making videos with her web cam.

This little toot has a had a rough couple of days. Yesterday, we spent four hours at the doctors office. She basically had her whole body x-rayed, at least all of her larger joints. Today we had to go back and she had to have a lot of blood drawn. She was not so happy about that and neither was I. Ten year old little girls shouldn't have to go to the lab to have blood drawn to find out their SED rates among other things. She is now fully in the midst of a JRA work up. See why we went out of town??? It was time to get away for a day or two and be "normal".

So, we did what we had to do and bought fake nails. Don't those make everything better?

They do for this squirt. This is how she makes Lemonade out of Lemons.....

We will be home on Thursday and I suppose we will have some lab results waiting on us. We were told by our Orthopedic Doc and Pediatrician that the blood work is a formality. While it may show completely negative, the physical symptoms are there and unfortunately so is the family history. The lab tech said we could almost certainly expect a high SED rate as she clotted twice while having her blood drawn. The inflammation is obvious and what finally drove us to the doctor. We have suspected this for the last few months. I am blood negative....We don't know what to expect with her. I've been telling her that we still just don't know and that I want all of her tests back before we decide the next step. We already have an appointment with the ONLY pediatric rheumatologist in Memphis. The two next closest ones are the ONE in Nashville and the ONE in Jackson Mississippi. Given the few doctors, she can't be seen until July. Tonight when we were putting on fake nails, she said, "Mom, I have it don't I?" I told her again that we just had to take it one step at a time. She said, "That's fine, but in my heart I already know I do. I knew it before we went to the doctor." UGGHHH, I HATE IT. If I screamed it from the top of this hotel (which is the second tallest building in the state of Mississippi) how badly I hated it, it wouldn't be enough.

Thankfully, her symptoms and swelling are not inhibiting anything at the moment. Honestly, they are nothing more than a nuisance. It kills me to see her limping on the soccer field, but it isn't bad enough to make her stop. I'm thankful for wonderful doctors who love her and care for her and know the right questions to ask to get a ten year talking about their pain. I told Jeff how amazed I was at the questions and how they were able to break it down for her to answer. I have a hard time telling my doctors about mine. I wish they could ask me like they ask her. Her pain and swelling are all in the larger joints....her ankles and knees mainly but one hip, lower back and neck???? She is taking two anti-inflammatory meds twice a day for the time being.

Thanks for listening to my venting...I didn't even get into what some of the insensitive freaks around us have said. Whew, I thought it was rough when it was me....I just can't sit quiet and listen to someone be insensitive and rude to or about my daughter. Dalton lovingly announced tonight that he was now the ONLY "healthy" one in the family. It actually provided some comic relief...He said, "Well, now I'm the only healthy one we have Mom. You and Savannah both have AR-tha-ri-tis." (You should hear the southern accent on that word, WOW.) I said, "What about Dad, he's OK." Dalt said, "Well, Mom, you know he's fat." I just love kids.

We pulled a "What About Bob?" and are taking a vacation from our problems. I think it's just what the doctors ordered.

SHINE,

Kacy

Hard Day

2010-03-15T20:46:00.002-05:00

Today was just NO good. That's about all I can summon up right now. It has left me feeling a little dark and empty and exhausted.

...the greater the love the deeper the pain.... tonight I hurt for my baby girl. Send her some good vibes and prayers for good health if you get the time. I'll do my best to pull myself together. Sometimes it just SUCKS. This is one of "those" times.

SHINE, (I'm trying)
Kacy

Can't Sleep

2010-03-15T00:49:00.004-05:00

OK, so the pics were a special request for Lesli...and I actually did that post with a house full of guests...mom and pop in law, without much thought. I realized tonight at 12:50 a.m. that I didn't "say" all I had to say. I have horrible insomnia. I don't think I've mentioned that here before. I know I have on FB and I've found that many of my friends suffer as well. Everyone raves about Ambien, but I might as well swallow a sweet tart. It doesn't touch this mess I have. I can't explain it really, but it stinks. Some nights I crash...gotta love those...about twice a week. Some nights it's normal, lie down, watch some TV or read a book and fall asleep. The other nights, the lights go out and BOING there is NO way I'm going to sleep. UGGGHHHH, I hate these nights. Those darn sheep jumping over my bed keep me up ALL night. And if I dare take an Ambien on those nights it gets even worse. That is some crazy stuff. I stay up all night long, I just have no recollection of what I did the next day. It usually consists of some serious Ebay spending and omelet making, both of which are dangerous considering I don't know what I'm doing.

It also makes me run into things and I score some interesting bruises.

I had a great day with Savy yesterday. I actually had a really fun week with both kids but seemed to spend a little more time with her for some reason. She spent a lot of time at the office with me. Savannah is wise beyond her years. Things that fly over Dalton's head sink right in with her. When Dalton comes to the office he pulls a chair over by the television and camps out. Savannah jumps right in with the office dynamic, answers the phone, runs copies and faxes, wants to know the background on claims and quotes and how our numbers are looking. She cracks me up and I found myself asking Jeff to drop her off when she got out of school for help. I took her shopping on Saturday to the outlet mall in Tunica. She and I both needed some new undergarments and there is an outlet down there so off we went. We were a sight in the dressing room. We were both sweating and it took MANY tries to find the right size and fit...MANY. We were exhausted when we left. We stopped at Sonic on the way home and refueled. It's probably a 25 minute drive from our house...all highway. We cranked up the iPod and sang Sugarland at the top of our lungs. What a great time to spend with my baby girl. I love you SavyG.

Savannah had soccer practice today so Dalton and I hung back at the house. He is undoubtedly the sweetest boy on Earth. I was chosen to ride the bus with the children on the 5th grade field trip to the Space Center in May (YEA ME?). So Friday I had to go to the school to settle my account. His teacher went on and on about what a sweet child he was. I'm scared one day he's gonna get his little heart crushed. I checked him out of school Friday afternoon and took him back to work with me. He hauled all of the trash out to the dumpsters for us. He also had a special little gift in his pants pocket. It took him a little while to get the nerve to show it to me, BUT HE DID. His special little friend that happens to be a girl and on the approved marriage list, gave him 4 Silly Bandz tied up with a ribbon. He pointed out that the ribbon made it even more special. "Mom, she took the time to cut a ribbon with paw prints on it, and tie these up for me." I just love him. I'm really looking forward to his field trip (and so is he) even if I do have to ride the bus. I'm terrified for him to leave the safe little world of elementary school. I hope he toughens up over the summer.

My weight is driving me nuts, but I was kidding earlier tonight when I said it was producing some all time lows in my life. I hope my sarcasm was apparent. I don't like it, obviously, but it doesn't change who I am. It has actually opened my eyes to a world I never knew before. I still don't really know what a calorie is, but I can assure you they never crossed my mind in the past. See, now I have something new to learn. I am thankful to feel good. No, good doesn't mean perfect like I used to, but good means good and that I can do most of the things I used to do. For that I am thankful. I made a commitment to myself this weekend to do what I can to get as much weight off as I can while I feel good. Hopefully I will feel good forever and get ALL of it off, but if not, that's okay. I just have to feel good about what I do everyday to feel good in the long run.

Well, it's 1:35 now and Jeff is fussing at me in between snores. He hates these nights. Just another reason to get my craft/utility/closet room finished. Jeff ran satellite to that room for me and my big over sized chair and ottoman are going in there too. I can see me spending many sleepless nights in there. Now he is trying to get Izzy to snuggle with him and making fun of my lipstick (lipstain). Savannah took pictures of me with her web cam tonight and changed my profile picture on FB. She said I needed lipstick....???? If you are a FB'r send me a friend request. Especially if you are an insomniac. Maybe I should start a page...I bet there is one already.

Peace out and SHINE,
Kacy

Photo Shoots

2010-03-14T17:41:00.004-05:00

Here is some of my artistry from the last couple of weeks. I think we have decided that we aren't using any of these (I hope so, considering I'm going "public" with them.) These are shots from our second trip out.
This little toot is absolutely too cute. Her mom has been showing some of these around and others are asking if I will take pictures of their families and kids. I don't think so. Haleigh is a dream to work with and up for anything.

I can also tell her when something isn't working and why....I'm not so sure I could be myself with just anybody. Today, we got her alterations done on her dress and cocktail dress and interview skirt. It must be hard to be a double zero.

I certainly wouldn't know. We are going to do one more photo shoot on Thursday. While we were able to make plenty of head shots out of what we did, we never concentrated on just that. After thinking about it more, we realized that is probably what we needed. SO, we will give it one more try.

Hopefully I won't take 787 pictures this time. It gets to be a little overwhelming especially since the majority of her pictures are GREAT.

Now, I'm looking forward to the flowers blooming (which they are starting to do) so I can take my own kids out and get some new pictures of them. The ones hanging in my office are three years old and look nothing like them anymore.

Thanks Haleigh for all of your patience with me. I had a great time both days! (These are only pictures from the second day.)

I still can't move pictures around. Maybe someday that feature will return. For now, I just have to load them in and go with the flow.

It's Spring Break around here. Tomorrow, I have to take Savannah to see an Orthopedic doctor. I spoke with my doctor this past week at my check up and he said we needed to go ahead and schedule an appointment with a Pediatric Rheumatologist for her. She has swelling in both ankles and one knee and periodically her elbows. She also complains of stiffness in her neck frequently.

He said while there may not be anything to it, given her family history (ME) and the involvement of multiple joints, it was better to be safe than sorry. I'm sure you can imagine, the lump in my throat when he put into words what I already suspected. There is only ONE pediatric rheumatologist in Memphis. SO, the appointment is 4 months away.

In the meantime, we are going to see an Orthopedic doctor to see if we can go ahead and get started on NSAID's. She is staying active and playing a lot of soccer but by the end of her games or conditioning practices, she starts limping and we have to ice her at night. She's tough, but it is breaking my heart.

My eyes are doing better, but not great. I am tapering off the OmniPred and I will try a different contact later this week. I'm still in these glasses. They were able to adjust them so they didn't hurt my ears anymore. Now they just slide down my nose all the time, but I don't care. At least I didn't have to buy a new pair yet. We have a couple of options of contacts that are apparently Uveitis friendly (at least for part time use). I hope one works. I DESPISE my glasses. I don't know about you, but I prefer peripheral vision.

We are mainly hanging around the crib for Spring Break. We booked our trip to Florida for June. Jeff is off all week and I'm trying to keep my schedule pretty open for whatever. I definitely want to get my kitchen painted and the washer and dryer moved to my craft room. We are converting the utility closet into a pantry and my craft room into a craft/utility/closet room. That will make such a big difference for us. Jeff plans to take the kids to the Aquatic Center in Tunica with a couple of friends one day. I think we are going to spend a night or two down there in one of the casino hotels. The kids always like doing that and since I have a gambling man, we have a few nights comped.

I decided yesterday I had hit an all time low. Ya'll know I'm not shy so just endure with me....Last year I bought a one piece bathing suit. I never wore it but I had it just in case (actually I think I wore it once, not much considering we had a pool). To date, the purchase of the one piece suit was one of the lowest points in my life. I topped it yesterday. I actually loaded a calorie counting app on my phone. Even though the app is really cool and has a lot of information, the mere fact that I have to count a calorie is just NO GOOD. I weighed in at a whopping 166 pounds at my check up. THANKS A LOT PREDNISONE. When I was diagnosed a year and a half ago, I weighed 131 pounds. Mrs. Rotundo is just not good with me. I've always thought that a tan helped the big girls out a lot. Oh sunshine, where are you? I need your help. I am now one of the aforementioned BIG GIRLS. My dear husband even went so far as to tell me that he didn't think I could be that "little" girl anymore. Humm, it's too bad he's a fat ass, too. (Sorry to offend...just sayin')

Well Savy and I are headed to the gym tonight. I need to figure out how to fit it back into my schedule. I had some pretty good results with it last time I went. The hardest part is making the time. I figure this is as good a week as any.

Hope you all have a great week. I'll try to keep you up to date with all of our fun this week.

SHINE,

Kacy

No New Hairs (At least that I can see)

2010-03-07T21:07:00.004-06:00

You sick of my ear hair??? I AM. Sorry to leave that post up so long.

Methotrexate caught up with me this week. After two weeks off, it kicked my booty. I did some serious sleeping the last few days but all seems headed back to normal. The ole hair is getting a little on the thin side, but the bodacious bod seems to be working. My eyes on the other hand, aren't exactly cooperating. The opthamologist mentioned the ole Uveitits to me, but I'm ignoring it for now...YEP, my Scarlet Syndrome is kicking in. The Omnipred eye drops (Prednisone for the eyeballs) seems to be helping. Most of the redness seems to be gone. They are still a little itchy and scratchy. Hopefully, Friday they will tell me that the internal inflammation is better as well. Until then, I'm sporting no eye makeup and a really old pair of glasses :) Good Times!!

Today was a fabulous beautiful day. The weather was great and I spent most of the afternoon outside shooting photos of great little girl....more pageant pictures. I think I shot somewhere around 400 today. I took my camera card and card reader to her mother tonight and left it so I haven't seen them all yet. I'm pretty sure we got "THE" shot today. I'm anxious to see them. We also did a fitting this morning of her dresses. She's a tiny little 00 (as in double zero). The pageant is on the 27th. I'm looking forward to it.

The kids had school yesterday (Saturday School). I think it went better than they expected. It made for a short weekend though. I can't wait for Spring and good weather for an extended period of time. I am so ready to finish this little house. Spring Break is the week after this week. Jeff took off all week. I'm going to take off as much as I can (SURPRISE JEFF). I want us to be able to work together on some of these "projects". We are going to have a fun "at home" break.

Jeff and I are catching up on a backlog of TiVo. (I told you I've been sleeping.) Have a fabulous week!! I know I will.

SHINE,
Kacy

Ears

2010-03-02T20:47:00.002-06:00

well...ummm yeah...how do i say this????

i, uhh, just found a 4 inch hair growing out of the back of my ear. now i'm disgusted and going to bed before i find anything else.

SHINE, (even if you have hairy ears)
Kacy

Computer Angels

2010-03-01T23:08:00.004-06:00

Well, we all prayed for computer peace last night (Thank You Lesli, Missy, and Maria) and I guess in a sense we got what we asked for. After many life saving attempts this morning by two different computer experts, my computer was taken to go live in Heaven. It could not be saved. It apparently had computer HIV. It had the really bad kind. It's gone. It lived a really short life. It was only 10 months old.

R.I.P.

I don't mean to sound heartless, but now I need you to pray a replacement comes in early tomorrow!!! The insurance business does not flow smoothly without a computer and working on this laptop in the office creates an extreme amount of frustration. UGGHHHH!

WOW, what a day! I have a new fella in training and my main gal called in with serious car issues today. So not only was I dealing with the computer undertaker, I was manning (or should I say womanning) the phones, moving the new guys furniture, taking payments and handling claims!! AND, I still managed to to have my monthly argument with my health insurance company regarding an unpaid claim, and speak to Savannah's teacher. Then I did a little photo editing tonight, and realized that I think we have THE SHOT for the pageant on the first try!! At least I didn't have to unstop a toilet today, OH WAIT, I did. The FedEx man had to go, I guess. YUCK! And did I mention I did all of that in a 3 inch heel!! Oh yes I did!!

What a blessing to have the energy to deal with all of this!! You know what today was? Today was life and I made the most of it. I laughed hard and I even shed a tear. When you lay down at night and you've done both of those things...you know you had a good day. I'm looking forward to what tomorrow has in store. (I hope it is a computer birth.)

SHINE,

Kacy

P.S. I almost forgot to welcome Stacey! She ain't skeered. She just signed right on up as follower. How does that make all you lurkers feel?? HA. I'm kidding. I've been reading Stacey's blog for a couple of weeks now. What an inspiration! You are one strong gal!! I admire you.

Broken Hearted!

2010-02-28T19:02:00.003-06:00

My heart is BROKEN!!! Today is a sad sad day. My favorite bracelet in the whole wide world broke today and pieces went flying all across my bedroom. By the time I hit my knees scrambling to pick up as many pieces as I could find, the tears were streaming down my face. Jeff had this bracelet made for me as a Mother's Day gift when the children were babies. I had wanted one since Dalton was born. Since I had made the decision to stay home with my babies, luxuries like this were few and far between. It is sterling silver and I think it cost about $85. It's funny how we simply DID NOT have $85 back then. I literally wanted one of these bracelet's for two years.

Jeff SHOCKED me with this that year. I have pretty much worn it everyday since then. It had two strands of silver beads with each of the kids names on them. Dalton's is the one that broke.

In the last year, I added a medical charm to it with the names of my meds and Jeff's number to call in case of emergency. This is the only piece of jewelry I wear everyday no matter what so that was the safest place to wear it. (That's Dalton's spelling list.) I found all of the letters and picked up as many beads as I could find. I know this isn't really a big deal and super easy to fix but it truly broke my heart. I guess it was all of the meaning in the bracelet and I just absolutely cherish it. Isn't it crazy how attached to something we can be? My fingers have been too swollen to wear my wedding rings, but I haven't cried over that. I guess I would if I lost them or it BROKE! I'm thinking I'm gonna have to have that sucker sized soon. (That's a whole other topic of conversation. This last round of steroids really packed it on and that whole concept of...oh it'll come off...yeah right!!! It doesn't come off!)

So, there you have it! My most prized piece of jewelry, and everyone knows I have WAY to MUCH jewelry, broken into tiny pieces. I can fix it. I know I can, but it's more than that. I guess I'll give it some thought and maybe change it up a bit. It's already not the same to me.

I spent a couple of hours today chasing this cutie patootie around town. I took a little over 200 pictures of her all over downtown Olive Branch. She'll be in the Miss Olive Branch Pageant later in March and has entered Miss Photogenic. We are hoping to capture the "winning" shot. I got some good ones today and also learned some things "not" to do as far as lighting and such. I've got to sort through some of those tonight so I can send them to her mother in the morning. She'll ring my neck if I don't!

It's going to be another busy week. I say bring it on!!

SHINE,

Kacy

Pray for computer peace in the morning! I'm not sure you can get much more stressed than when you own your own business and NONE of your computers work. HA, not good. HUMM, maybe if the phones were out.... That's happened before, too. This too shall pass!!

Weekend!!

2010-02-27T17:40:00.003-06:00

Crazy busy day with kids!! Well, every day is crazy and every day is busy and for the last 11 years every day has involved kids. I'm not even going to attempt the picture thing this evening because that would probably send me right on over the edge. The girl had a slumber party last night to attend that I found out about at 3 yesterday afternoon. From the time I found out about the party she had to be at at 6 both of my computers at worked locked up and shut down. That will be loads of fun Monday morning. I was finally able to leave the office last night at 6 to fly across the street to a little gift shop to grab a gift for the party. Of course they closed at 6, so we beat on the door and they let us in, we got our gift and they were kind enough to wrap it up. Sometimes I just LOVE living in a small town. Anyway, we finally got her to her party at about 7.

Jeff picked the girl up at 9 this morning (from a party where she went to sleep at 4) to take her to another party from 10:30 till 12:30. I, on the other hand, took the boy to Taekwondo at 10:30. Then we all met up for the girl's indoor soccer game at 3. She played well considering the state of exhaustion she was in. The boy was asked to join the Extreme Team at Taekwondo and he accepted. That starts next week. Did I mention the girl has had soccer practice EVERY day this week and again tomorrow? WOW, welcome back to the full swing of life MOM.

Then, the cat is sick again. I haven't been home all week to notice any strange behavior or extra clingyness. BUT, last night after a near mental breakdown over the state of my computers at work and buying gifts for parties I knew nothing of (the invites were lost in her room which at this point should just be condemned) and getting her to the party and taking Dalton to exchange some things at Wal-Mart, I was really looking forward to climbing in bed. I climbed into bed with a nice fat puddle of cat pee. THAT is a sure fire sign that Tony is sick. That means, "YO woman, I've done everything I am capable of trying to show you that I am not well, and you have not noticed, but guess what? I happen to know this gets your attention in a MAJOR way." Of course, he had to pull that trick on Friday night when the vet doesn't open up until Monday. And yes, he has been up under my chin every moment I have been home. Last night Jeff and I slept on the mattress with no sheets. It was kind of ole school. I don't even think we owned sheets back in the early days of marriage. Somehow, at this point in our marriage we only own one set and last night they were in the washer and then dryer and I was just too tired to put them back on the bed. I did make a note to self to pick up another set of sheets.

Tomorrow's schedule is almost as hairy as today's. Good times, huh? NOW, I need your help. I have questions....like when you are 36 (I think that's how old I am....I might be 37...but I'm just gonna be 35 till I'm 40...I like multiples of 5) what kind of jeans do you wear? Especially when you've hit double digits in size. That was a dark day, but one I've just come to accept. I don't know how to dress double digits, but I've got to learn and I'm not going to pay a fashion consultant. My expertise seems to be with the single digits. AND, how many sets of sheets should one have for each bed? When we moved, we all switched things up to maximize the space we were moving into. Somehow in that process, we all ended up with one set of sheets for our beds. I typically change the beds all in one day and it works out, but I would like to have a spare pair and it would be much easier. Somehow, in all of my years I never learned how many sheet sets one should have. Also, shouldn't you have a deciduous tree in your front yard? I'm very troubled by this. I believe you are and I do. My entire lot is surrounded by trees...lots of trees including the front of the house all the way around to either side of the driveway...both of the driveways as a matter of fact. On the left of the drive is a big tree, on the right of the driveway is the biggest crepe myrtle I've ever seen. It is lovely and could be even lovelier it were trimmed and shaped up. BUT, I just don't think it is supposed to be in the middle of my front yard. Thoughts???? We have some yard clean up and work and of course exterior painting and such to do this spring. So this is becoming more and more on my mind. ALSO, painted brick??? We have no choice in painting the brick on this house. It is positively horrific as it stands now and plus we will be adding brick to make the porch more aesthetically pleasing and we can't match this brick circa 1965. I've got a very pale yellow in mind which scares my family. My color choices always scare my family and then they love them when it's all said and done. You know, lime green in the whole house with an orange kitchen and slate counter tops. They were freaking out and now they love it. You should have seen Jeff's face when I had him go order brown and linen Tunisia for the curtains in the living room with the lime green walls!! HA! The house has extensive flower beds...a really large tall bricked in flower bed that I want to add another level to. I'm thinking if the house is a pale yellow with a brown roof and a lighter off white trim and red front door, some broad use of colors in the flower beds will bring it all together. Can you tell I'm getting excited about Spring. I am a flower freak, which you know if you've been reading with me awhile. That's a lovely trait I inherited from my Grandmother. I even found a couple of planters for the front porch I really liked today.

The girl and I are watching movies. She's worn out and I'm experiencing a little intestinal distress (TMI?). I see an early night in our future. Izzy is at my feet and Tony is trying to take over the laptop (poor guy is not feeling well). Actually now, the girl is shaving the hair out of her dads ears. Isn't it interesting how life changes?

SHINE,
Kacy

BUSTED LURKERS!!

2010-02-25T20:53:00.002-06:00

Today has just been one of THOSE!! You know "those". I got up at 6 a.m. which is no small feat for me. I have never been a morning person and with this RA diagnosis I became even less of one. It typically takes me a little while to stretch out in the morning and start walking normally. My morning gait is similar to that of C3PO. My new med (Lyrica) seems to be helping in that category although it makes me sleepy and tad bit spaced out...OK maybe more than a tad bit. The night before last, after taking my medicine, I typed a pretty long email to a friend and sent it to myself....SPACE CADET!! Anyway, I had to be at the hospital early today for an abdominal ultrasound, but I'll get to that in a minute. As I'm getting ready, I run completely out of my favorite lipstick. You know how you dig down in the tube with a brush to get the very last little bit out...that proves it was a fave!! So I chunked it. Knowing that I didn't have a lipstick, I made a point to pick one up today. Here is what I came up with....

CoverGirl Outlast Lipstain...yeah, DON'T DO IT. They take that word STAIN seriously. It literally goes on like a magic marker and not the washable kind. It is now in the garbage with the empty tube. This stuff was a nightmare, and I was stuck wearing it all day. Unfortunately, I bought it at Walgreens and they do not take make up back. Did you know that CVS does? That's where I usually shop, but I was in a hurry to get to work because the hospital was running behind (go figure). Sephora will also take anything back if you get home and don't like it. The great thing about there is you can try pretty much everything out in the store.

OK, so abdominal ultrasound...I basically have morning sickness. I'll be driving along in the truck, everything is cool, and then, stop the press, pull over and bluaaaak....clean up and keep on going. Showering in the morning, bluaaaak. On the way home from dinner, pull over, bluaaak. No rhyme or reason....sooooo, everything checked out this morning. It was all good. Of course, there are kidney stones on both sides, but those little boogers are cool until they start moving. Right now, we have no movement, so it's all good. I started a beta blocker yesterday to slow this nutty heart rate down. It's been bouncing around from 100 to 130 since last Wednesday. The thyroid checked out fine (good news) so we are blaming it on steroids and stress.

I've decided to change my diet up a bit. Red meat leads to an inflammatory response in the body, so I quit eating it. I'd like to call myself more of a vegetarian, but I'm not quite there. Tonight for dinner I had this...

Do those count? They were good. Any of you lurkers vegetarians?? If you are share some info, anything...I'm a newbie.

I also had these...can you tell those are grapes? Those were yummy grapes!! I'm also back to writing myself notes on my hand. It seems to be the most foolproof way of remembering things. I've been so busy, yesterday the whole side of my hand was covered. I had written all the way from the bottom of my thumb all the way up across the back of my hand. BUT, I got everything I meant to done. Now lets talk about my wrist. This could possibly be controversial. That is a temporary tattoo. I've worn one on my wrist for the last two days ( I keep TONS of them at work for the kids that come in). I secretly (well not so secretly now) want a real one on the inside of my wrist. I think I want a tattoo. Shane (my artistic cousin) is working on a design for me in exchange for some repair work I am doing on a pair of his jeans. Jeff says I'm not the tattoo type. I think I am and since I'm so mad at him tonight I could spit nails, I'm not taking his opinion into consideration. I want Shane to draw one on there (henna) and let me "wear" it a few days. Red nail polish makes me NUTS so I have to make sure this won't bother me. Anyone who REALLY knows me, knows that I wear a TON of jewelry all the time. That in mind, it would hardly be noticeable. HUMMM, I'm not jumping into it, but I am thinking about it. MO, I wish you were around to draw on me!!! Maybe in your spare time (BAHAHAHAHA) you could work me up some designs...peace sign with wings...I love your hearts with wings but I'm not a heart girl.

Jeff took this picture of Tony and I sleeping. I found it on my camera tonight along with 124 pictures of someones house whose foundation is sinking. That's NOT a good thing, but Jeff can fix it. MAYBE, if he wasn't so busy being a jerk to me!!! Flowers Jeff, call the florist and MAYBE we can make up. It's just not looking good for you right now. Tony is my friend now. Ever since I took him to the vet when his paw was practically killing him. I guess he realizes I was helping him and now he loves me.

I'm really impressed with you braveheart lurkers. THANK YOU for introducing yourselves. All of you found me though MO which ultimately means you found me through Jake. What an amazing testimony to that child. I'm glad I make you all laugh. That isn't my intention but I gravitate toward people that make me laugh as well. Jake and his family had a dramatic impact on my life. I don't know if you all know the story, but I didn't know Jake or his family. I had followed his CaringBridge for a month or so at the encouragement of another St. Jude child I knew. I prayed for Jake everyday and sometimes more than once a day. I felt led to go meet his family and to do whatever I could to help them. I knew Hunter and Hayden were at the hospital and trying to kill each other with pool sticks. I thought maybe I could get them out of there for a bit and give Don and Staci a break. Jake was on a ventilator fighting a fungal infection. I walked into that hospital a total stranger and walked out after meeting Jake and spending time with him with his two older brothers. I brought them home with me that day and we went swimming and cooked out!! We had a blast and I took them back about 10 p.m. I made new friends for life. Jake never left St. Jude after we met that day until he went home for his remaining few days. I spent many nights and Saturdays or Sundays visiting with Jake or making jewelry with Mo or playing games with the boys or watching movies with Staci or just cleaning up the waiting room after all of that nights visitors left. Jake came off the vent and we got to "officially" meet. He was watching SpongeBob on a laptop and wasn't real into our "meeting". I was so happy to see him sitting up in bed, I wouldn't have cared if he stuck his tongue out at me. I was honored that Staci taught me how to wash my hands and let me visit with him in the ICU. Even when Jake was his sickest, she always took me to see him. She let me hold his hand and talk to him or sing to him or just pray over him. What an honor!!

SO, Suzi from New Baltimore MI, yes, I ran in the St. Jude Marathon two years. I broke my foot the second year and have since developed RA so I don't run anymore. Now my kids run for Jake. They met him, too. If you identify with my crazy life and have teenagers, for heavens sake, you should blog, too. Start one and try it. You might just like it. Feel free to lurk anytime you like. I promise, I'll never call you out on it again. Like I said, anonymity is powerful in some cases.

Kim in Spring Lake Park MN, I love Mo AND Jessi. I told Jessi if she ever wants to move further north, I'd hire her!! We all know Mo is the bomb, but Jessi rocks herself. She designed my banner for my blog. It's about time for a new one. I need to give her a shout. She also designed some stuff for my Etsy store that I have never gotten up and running. She did all that for me last summer right before we moved and since my craft room isn't functional yet....well, I haven't gotten to it.

Maria, if you want the deal that tracks who visits your blog...go HERE. Click on widgets and then choose what you want and click on Add to Blogger. It's easy. Call my cellular metal if you get confused.

Nice to hear from you again, Renee from South Louisiana. I don't consider you a lurker. You talk to me from time to time. Thanks for the love. I have several Louisiana folks that show up. Which town are you in?

Jonesboro? Is that you Jenny? I know you are in Arkansas, but I think Radstitches is, too. AND, who is in Jackson MS??????? Come out Come out whoever you are????!!!! If you are a FB'r, click on my link and be a fan of my AGENCY, PLEASE. If you do it by the end of the day Friday, you'll be in the drawing for some TShirts. I need to get to 100 fans!! I have just over 60 in the first 24 hours, NOT too bad.

Congratulations if you made it through this long post. You deserve a prize if you did. I guess these new meds make me wordy, too. They sure do make me feel better!! TG tomorrow is F!! Make it a good one.

SHINE,

Kacy

Who are You? Who? Who? (Think CSI)

2010-02-24T22:36:00.003-06:00

OK, cats! I'm wiped out! I finally figured out how to make a page on Facebook for my agency!! I realize that most of you have probably done this before, but NOT me. To say I am not very technologically inclined would be a severe understatement. Jeff got me a "smart"phone for Christmas and I still don't know how to use it. I can't even manage to answer a phone call about 3 out of 5 times that it rings. I absolutely can't do call waiting, but I am getting better at texting. It took me all night to figure this out, but it's done and I think I even put a link on the blog, if it works. I still can't figure out how to make my blog feed to my Facebook page, hummm....maybe another night.

I'm gonna keep this short tonight, but I have a question. I installed this Feedjit thing on here because I saw it on someone else's blog and thought it was pretty neat. Actually they had a map of the USA on there with dots on it where people had visited from. I didn't end up with that, but instead got a feed of where folks were from. I know I have many more readers than are actual "followers" and that is fine....TRUST ME...I like anonymity (I'm gonna FALL OUT. I spelled that right on the first try). BUT, some of these places I have never even heard of and others I don't even know folks that live in these places. Please leave me a note and introduce yourself, PLEASE! I don't expect comments ever. I honestly don't even write for you...this is a journal for myself and my family and most of the time it just turns out to be a bit comical. I give Jeff and these crazy kids all of the glory for that. Now who lives in Mount Juliet, TN because you seem to be a regular. I don't even know where Rochester MI is and I know I don't send you a Christmas card???? How did you end up reading about my family? I do know where Boliver TN is but I didn't know I knew anyone there either. And what about Seymour WI and New Baltimore MI and Osseo Minnesota? Come on guys....introduce yourselves, I promise I don't bite!! I'm a germophobe.

Ya'll have a good night, you lurkers, you!

SHINE,
Kacy

BUSY BODY!

2010-02-22T20:32:00.007-06:00

I've spent the last ten minutes looking for a picture that would sum up my day. I couldn't find one. Instead, I found three.

The top one was pretty good but that little briefcase could easily be confused as an overnight bag, which to me means business trip, but to some could be confused as "a fun time". The second one shows how much a mom has to juggle. Yeah, well, how about being that mom AND a business owner. Sometimes it gets a little complicated. Today was one of those times. A particular member of management had an appointment that HE set with me today at 9 a.m. I spent all weekend preparing for that meeting to make sure I maximized the time we had allotted. Instead, he showed up after 1 p.m. Jeff had me pick the kids up from school today. I had another MALE agent (are you starting to see a trend?) call me on my cell this afternoon after I had picked up the kids. We were on a serious search for Silly Bandz. While I was discussing my retention ratio with him, I was talking to Dalton about his Bandz out of the other side of my mouth. HE asked me how I could switch gears that fast! Ya know, you just do it, and most days you do it in a three inch heel. While overwhelming at times, I can't imagine life any other way. When my babies were actually babies, I stayed home for 3 years. That was the best decision for my family and what I thought I wanted. In hindsight, I nearly lost my mind. I wouldn't trade that time for anything in this world or beyond, but I don't think I could do it again. Jeff and I had a serious conversation about it last year. As the kids are getting older, there are times when I feel like it might be best for them for me to be home NOW. It's a constant internal struggle. Jeff and I also came to the conclusion rather quickly, that after about two weeks, I would pull my hair out and then it wouldn't be a positive experience for anyone involved. The good thing is, I can leave to go pick up my kids ANY day of the week. I really do have the best of both worlds.

I am now officially the ONLY female Allstate Agent in Desoto County. There are eight of us, seven men and me! My meeting in Nashville last week was interesting. Us girls are few and far between. We had four breakout sessions with panels of four people speaking in each one. Oh, and a "moderator" in each session. All four "moderators" were....guess...men. And of the sixteen panel members only two were women. To say the football analogy was over used would be a terrible understatement. UGGGHHHH! It's frustrating at times. I think it's time to read a book I read when I began this venture..."How to Pitch Like a Girl". Sorry about that tangent. I just did an awful lot of juggling today that MOST of my colleagues don't have to deal with and in turn, don't understand or appreciate.

OK, time to lighten the mood. THIS has been in my head all night long. And then, Savannah and I were trying to watch the Bachelor (and ALL of its ridiculousness) when THIS came on. I fell out of the bed laughing and Savannah spent the rest of the night doing her own reenactment. Who watches this show? I never have until now and actually didn't start until about two or three weeks ago. It is a total train wreck. You know the kind of story that is just terrible, but you can't look away. It's AWFUL but I am enjoying every minute and I'm on pins and needles. I told Jeff tonight if Jake picks Vienna he better restrain me because I really may go through the TV. I'm a true believer in love at first sight, but not on a television show where women or men were picked for you off a piece of paper (oh and for rating purposes). No Thanks!
Whew, it's been an interesting day. I read somewhere online today that it was National Margarita Day. I didn't do any looking into that but it sure sounded kinda good. Too bad I don't drink. Instead I had an Icee! You gotta love a good Icee.

OK, long day, gonna be a long week. Savannah had soccer practice tonight with the rec team she is playing with. She has practice with them again tomorrow night and then practice with the RUSH team on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday (I think. Jeff if you are reading, call me about that. He's snoring right now, or I would ask.) Dalton has Taekwondo tomorrow and Wednesday night. AND Dalton has 3 books to read over the next three weeks (which means I have to read them to). UGGHHHH. Fast paced, is there any other way? I guess summer will be here soon enough and the children will be yelling, "I'm bored" in no time.

Hope you survived your Monday!

SHINE,

Kacy

Quiet Day

2010-02-20T19:07:00.003-06:00

Sorry no pictures tonight. Hope you don't mind. It's probably a blessing in disguise for my sanity. Jeffrey departed early this morning to round up some new construction work and decided he needed my camera. Considering he bought it for me and bought precisely the one I wanted deep in my soul and totally surprised me with it, how could I say no? I will, however, admit to the feelings of withdrawal I had in it's absence today. Where Kacy goes, her camera goes! It's gotten worse. I used to be somewhat scared of it. It is by far the most expensive piece of technology I own and one that I literally drooled over for years. At first, I treated it like a delicate piece of vintage lace. Yeah, not anymore. It's pretty durable and it lives hanging from my shoulder now. I'd like to take a photography class.

I'm home alone. THAT NEVER HAPPENS. Savannah went to the DCMS pageant with her best friend. Jeff took Dalton and picked up one of his best buddies for a night of bowling and pizza. I opted to stay behind. I'm working on some rest. I did go wash my truck today. After the trip to Nashville and yet another good snow, it was in really bad shape. I believe after sanitizing the inside that my recent illness was most likely from a pathogen that originated in the interior of that vehicle.

That recent illness seems to be passing. PtL!!! I haven't had any fever today and my heart has decided to take on a more normal rhythm. No fever = less aches and pains and normal heart rate = fewer anxious feelings...all in all, a MUCH better day. The laundry is done...now if only that House Fairy would show up, I'd be doing great. I hope to get that taken care of tomorrow and then I'll be ready to start a fabulous week. Oh, how I want my routine back!! I've been working hard the last few days, to put some measures in place to encourage that routine to flow smoothly. I'll admit it's been good for my soul. It's nice to have a feeling of some control in your life instead of feeling as though you are being jerked around and shredded by your own life. It makes me think of the song we have sang so many times in church and in the car, "It is Well with My Soul". That's one of my favorites.

I'm off to the land of more rest and Olympics. Actually, I have that song playing in the background now, and I think I'll lay here with my eyes closed for a while and just enjoy. Try it if you'd like. I find it refreshing.

SHINE,
Kacy

Catching Up

2010-02-19T21:43:00.005-06:00

Well, I still don't know what is wrong with the picture deal...I meant to try this post from one of the kids computers...maybe tomorrow. Tonight, I'm tired, so we will work with what we have. Isn't adaptability a key component in life? Thanks Lesli for telling me how you upload pictures. The problem is, I don't know how to use Flickr. BUT, I need to learn, so I'll give that a shot too.

Speaking of Lesli, pay her a visit. She is giving away some way cool stuff. I'd also like to give her a huge THANK YOU and cyber hug for reaching out and sharing her daughters story with me. The last few weeks have been a little difficult for me. I am coming out of my first major RA flare since I was diagnosed. It's not easy to get your confidence in life back to wake up one day and get smacked in the face with pain and swelling all over again. With Lesli's help, I reached out to the world of RA. I had never gotten "involved" in that world prior to a couple of weeks ago. I like to call it denial. I believe I have entered the world of acceptance and I think I like this world. Thanks again Lesli....I'm proud to call you a friend.

So this is what I found on my camera...we went to Nashville and somehow, I didn't find the time to get the camera out. I think it took ALL of my energy to make it through my meetings and the ritual walk through the mall. Once again, I was bored and Savannah was more than willing to entertain me.

She was eating a hamburger...this child can turn anything into a photo op!! I guess it's kind of a neat thing. Usually when I pull my camera out, which is ALL the time, people RUN. I used to be that way too. I never wanted my picture taken. Now, I don't mind at all. I'm not as bad as SavyG. I don't jump over others to get in the picture, but I have found that I like the memories. Who cares if I don't have on any makeup or if my hair is a mess? It's about having that moment captured to reflect on it later.

Savannah will have NO trouble finding pictures to reflect on her memories!! That's one of the little things I love about her. Dalton doesn't mind having his picture taken either, he's just not as up my rear end as she is...

I'm loving the Olympics!! ...just a little side note.

Dalton wanted to make a Valentine for someone special! Since she was on the approved marriage list, I helped him. I thought it turned out pretty cute. (If I could move the pictures, I would have presented this from front to back instead of backwards, BUT I CAN'T!)

Dalton has some amazing self confidence. I don't know too many fifth grade boys that would have given this to a little girl...but he didn't have any trouble with it. He came home and said, "Mom, she was shocked, and she LOVED it...I mean LOVED LOVED it." He is sooooo sweet. That's one of the little things I love about him. Jeff was even shocked he gave it to her:)

It's the end of an era. I got my hair cut last week. Ashlee (my amazing hip hairstylist) curled my hair and I really liked it. I was going to give it a try so I pulled the ole curling iron from HIGH SCHOOL out to give it a whirl. It doesn't work anymore....I almost cried. I know I teared up.

Just documenting my memories...don't be hatin'. I know most of you girls in person, I also happen to know you were rocking the BIG HAIR. I have a confession to make. MY NAME IS KACY ACREE AND I LOVE BIG HAIR!!! That is one of the reasons I wear it short. The longer it gets, the bigger I make it. I can't help it. I have inner REBA. Ashlee is working with me on this, as I try to grow it out. I confessed my problem to her and she said she wouldn't let me go there. Since she works downstairs from my office and there is potential for her to see me everyday, it might work. The curling iron death was probably a good thing. RIP.

I'm sad about the Ole Miss player that died today at practice. He was a graduate of the school across the street from my office. I can't begin to imagine what his family must be going through.

Jeff discovered Dalton's new booger collection tonight. I just love him. He had one that I found when we moved. I have to say, I'm glad I didn't find this one. What's up with that? I asked him if he had tissue on his night stand would he use it? He said, "maybe!!!!" WHAT? I have to wonder if that's a difference in boys and girls. It never occurred to me to collect them. I just love these kids. They keep you on your toes!

Have a fabulous weekend!! I'm going to!

SHINE,

Kacy

2010-02-09T18:54:00.003-06:00

Hey Ya'll....(or myself)

Tonight, I decided NOT to spend hours on my post and to give up on trying to figure out what my problems with the picture thingy are. The rest of you don't seem to be having any trouble. Jeff "cleaned up" my laptop a couple of weeks ago, and ever since, I can't move pictures around OR get my email. The latter of those would be the bigger problem, but he's been working on that and, well, still NO EMAIL.

So, tonight, we will go in the order they (the pictures) were put on here, which would be backwards of the order I took them. It seems only fitting, that's exactly how my brain feels, LOL (I'm not much on the use of LOL).

Two things, QUICK, before I forget...Savannah just got a web cam and I'm scared. Ashley gave me gnome pajamas for Christmas and now I'm not scared of gnomes...or I'm not afraid of my PJ's. (I'm not going in any caves with any gnomes any time soon.)

I took those pictures of the Prince and the Pauper this afternoon when he got home from work. He was placing an order on Amazon and Savannah wouldn't leave him alone. He doesn't seem to notice...ever...I thought my hair would fall out before he got home.

AND HUGE NEWS ALERT...

the bank called today, due to excessive use of the debit card (one of those annoying safeguards:) and this time, IT WASN'T MY FAULT!! I haven't used it since Saturday! That must be a RECORD! They wanted to talk to me...it's usually my fault, but this time, I told Jeff I couldn't answer anything. Even worse, I'd sound stupid because the last time I used it was at Exxon "somewhere" in Mississippi. I don't even know where I was. (That's the kind of "verification" questions they ask...) Another day or two on steriods, and I won't even rember what city I live in...much less my last three purchases...(I think that's the part I hate the most, it scares me.)

How about that sweet kitty face? That's Jeff's best friend Tony. Only today, he was my BEST friend, a sure indicator that something is wrong. After he was THIS in my face all morning, I started putting things together....Tony is sick. He lost part of a toe and his toenail in a cat fight a few months ago. We had to go to the hospital and all that drama and anyway after some pain meds and antibiotics, all was good. Fast forward three months, the toenail is growing back and after he all but slapped me in the face and said, "LOOK WOMAN, I'M IN PAIN", I figured out it isn't growing back in correctly. It's hurting and he's sad in his heart. So, tomorrow, we will go to the doctor. (Jeff said he would just call in to work and take him. That's how I know he's his best friend...he doesn't go to the doctor with me unless I make him.)

YEP!

I don't know what to say...I'm not sure if that's ketchup or lasagna on her face. She actually took those of herself, but until Jeff got home from work, she felt this close to my face. Have you noticed Dalton's absence? That would be because he prefers to hang in his underwear lately and his mom is usually armed with a camera and we have ONE girl we need to make a Valentine for... and that's all I have to say about that. (She is one of two on the approved marriage list, so I'm helping him make his Valentine.)

Sick kitty, I told you we spent a lot of time together today. Those are my favorite pink pajama pants. For awhile, I thought pink wasn't my favorite color...what was I thinking?

Yeah, there is that thing again...you have to remember all of these pictures are in the reverse order of how I took them. This was early on this morning when she was playing a phone prank on her Grams and I still thought she was cute.

Well, now I really don't know what was on her face. This was early, we hadn't had ketchup or lasagna yet.

She just screamed something about her web cam working. I would like to go ahead and issue a blanket apology to anyone she may stream video to. She comes with a warning...SHE WILL MAKE YOU NUTS.

Last picture, good thing, it's 8:30 and dinner is ready. This was what I woke up with this morning. They are pals!! They share a bed, MINE.

I was thankful for one more snow day, and I'm thankful there is NO chance of tomorrow being a snow day. I stepped out on the front porch today and turned around and came right back in. I'm feeling MUCH better...but deep down know it is the steroids giving me this "false" sense of well being. I'm gonna head to the lab tomorrow (after the vet) and have my lab cultures drawn. It's time to rule out underlying infection (again) and get a grip of this. I'm just a couple of days into this steroid mess and already have pink puffy cheeks:) It's ok for now, but I know two weeks from now, this won't be ok anymore SO, I'm starting early. Definitely Better, Definitely more Centered, Definitely Need to Stay There! CHEERS ENBREL!

SHINE,

Kacy

Ummm, hello....WORK????!!

CRACK

2010-02-08T19:52:00.005-06:00

Forgive me, I haven't slept quite 4 hours out of the last 30....

"I'm all jacked up on Mountain Dew!" "I'm gonna come after YOU, like a spider monkey!!"

So, this is what Prednisone does to me....THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS.

The "fairy" showed up in a major way today! I even moved the furniture and cleaned!! I'll get back to that..(you didn't expect me to sit still did you?)

This is what we woke up to this morning...out of the clear blue. Do all meteorologist have this much trouble? or is it just the one's in Memphis? That's MYRTLE!

The kids had a blast...(I don't know what is up with the picture thing and blogger...anybody else having trouble?) The picture above is looking to the right standing on my front porch!! How cool?

Savannah FINALLY got her chance to make Snow Angels! (PtL!)

This is our view to the left

...out front...

...and out back!!

My view was limited to the front porch and out the windows! I was riding this high ALL day and I wasn't about to mess it up by playing outside and getting cold and wet! I cleaned house and did laundry!! Trust me, we needed it. I was about to have to break down and call Merry Maids! These three that live with me are really good at making a mess, but they lack some serious skills when it comes to cleaning it back up!

Today, I switched the rug in the den out with the one in the kitchen...I like it better. When I asked Jeff what he thought, he said, "Yeah, do you think we are leaving any colors of the rainbow out?"

WELL, actually YES...I still have more to make...

...but we'll save that for another day! You see now why my bad days are so bad? My mind stays busy! It doesn't have RA! I've spent 35 years multi-tasking and staying up all night to finish projects. I get really frustrated when the body doesn't cooperate with the mind. Today was welcomed relief!

I had a little "God Wink" today, too. I've been praying for my head to clear of negativity. I've been asking specifically for something tangible to see, touch or feel that would help push me on the bad days. I sort of found that today. I have a new blog follower whose name is Lesli. She left me a comment today and introduced herself and her family. I spent some time reading her story this morning and was so thankful I did. She has a beautiful little angel named Ayla, who is 3, and was diagnosed with JRA at 18 months. Ayla and I have a lot in common, including ALL of our meds. I've said before that the one positive thing I had to hold on to was 35 years of NOT dealing with this. I don't personally know anyone with it right now. When I go to the doctor, every one is old and I'm sort of a novelty there. I've written to the magazines about putting more focus on my age group...I have a hard time identifying with gray headed women in SAS shoes and cardigans. I know people that know people with RA....and now it's time for me to meet them. Lesli, thank you for reaching out today. Your family is beautiful!! (and your style is kickin')

Finding it....
SHINE!
Kacy

Soccer Day!!!

2010-02-07T21:40:00.004-06:00

I don't even know where to begin. This day has become more eventful with each minute. It was a SLOW start this morning. I sort of anticipated it. I wasn't feeling great when I went to bed. When you have RA, a good night's sleep is sort of a joke to begin with, and you typically feel worse when you get up than you do when you go to bed. Today was no different. I was up most of the night and let Jeff know sometime in the wee hours, church wasn't happening for me today. Today was the "breather" week between sermon series' and it was baptism week. Since the kids slept till after 10, none of us made it. Dalton survived his slumber party Friday night and had some sleep to catch up on (I guess). I was just proud he made it all night!! (so was he!)

I forced myself out of the house for Savannah's soccer practice at 2 (cold is NOT my friend). It was her first practice with the U12 girls of the Olive Branch branch of the Tennessee RUSH. Did you get all that? I'm not sure I get it, but it is what it is. Apparently, Mississippi doesn't have a RUSH charter yet.....Don't get me to lying! Here is what I know so far, Tennessee RUSH. I sure hope we made the right decision. I just dug deep and let my heart make the decision, because my brain couldn't. I used my emotions to judge people that I had known for a total of two hours to decide whether or not to trust them with my daughter.....no pressure, huh? This club told us things that I would have had trouble telling parents I just met who were willing write me a rather large check to let their daughter wear a uniform. They focused on her weaknesses! While her weaknesses are mostly due to her age (she just turned 10 in mid September), they are still weaknesses that need to be focused on FOR HER. I appreciated that. SO, she will practice with the team, and play this Spring season as an alternate (that's the glorified "title" for bench warmer) and she will play "rec" ball in Southaven. She will get to play during club scrimmage games, but unless a girl goes down, she is not likely to see "competitive" play. She will have to put her new found playing skills to work in Southaven...another NEW thing for us. She's played Olive Branch since she was 4, never Southaven.

OK, on to the point, I was SOOOO proud of her today, I just about broke down and cried (umm, that doesn't work out well at the beginning of a steroid cycle...that comes later when you've reached your max). She completely understands the situation that I just spelled out for you. We explained it all in detail to her. I guess the part I left out, is that in order to take this "alternate" position, she gave up a starting position with the "other" club. Today was her first practice with the team she is looking forward to sitting the bench for. Have I mentioned she didn't know ANYONE? She met them all Friday night, for the first time, at try-outs. (She knew players and had played with girls on the "other" team.) Practice lasted two hours and twenty minutes. She had some good moments and some not so good moments. She ran and ran and ran and gagged and ran some more. She tried to cry once at the very end, but they didn't give her quite enough time to get it worked up and then she had to go lay in the mud.

(I don't know what's up with Blogspot tonight, but we aren't getting along.) That top picture is her laying in the mud at the very end. That was a very interesting drill. They made a human chain and sort of played leap frog...literally in the mud. The second picture was actually taken first, that was the lap before she started gagging. One boy threw up, at least that was all WE saw, he was beside us. They were running laps staying tight together and every time the coach blew the whistle, the last person sprinted to the front. UMMM, a lap is around the field. Try that 4 times! The ball was supposed to be over your head, but he only enforced that seriously the first 2 laps. SO PROUD, and better yet, I think she was proud of herself. She had a smile all night and said, "You know, I have to do that again Wednesday." I'm pretty sure I would have walked home (we told her NO when she asked if we could just leave) and caught the first flight to Mexico. PROUD PROUD.

That picture at the top of the post....those are the wild turkeys we saw in the field on the way home. I didn't have my zoom lens (sorry Jeff, I was unprepared today) so they are the tiny black specks out there. Again, I've never had this much picture trouble....sorry.

Getting the ole hip checkup tomorrow. It's much better!! The hands are in permanent peace signs, but the hip is good. Today, I read stress in the form of surgery can cause a flare......that sounded all to familiar so I turned the computer off real fast. (It didn't go away, though.) I found it again tonight. Don't you wish you were still 2 sometimes, so you could close your eyes and the "bad guy" would just go away? I'm gonna go ahead and call the bow tie tomorrow. I haven't been able to close my hands for two days now. I started Prednisone. That's why I'm up at 11:30!! It doesn't seem right...steroids cause the issues with the hip...but they are necessary when everything else flares up. They suppress your immune system which makes you a walking target! and lets don't even mention the chemo and biologics you pump into your system each week that cause cancer and shorten your life span. HA? and I have people that care about me that don't understand my sense of humor? Let me just say, I'm happy to have humor TODAY. I happy to have today. I'm trying really hard to understand that I am no longer capable of doing everything I used to do. Jeff told me today he noticed that the "fairy" tended to stay away when I wasn't feeling so great. I'm sure my kids are thrilled that I haven't walked down to their end of the house all weekend. I can guarantee their rooms are disastrous! All I did tonight was ask them both to show me anything clean they had to wear to school tomorrow. One day at a time, right? Yep, I was just starting to try to plan my week out when the whole bed, with all four of us on it, went crashing to the floor. It looked like something from a cartoon, I'm sure. You can't beat watching the end of the Superbowl with your bed taken apart and a drill in your hand.

It's a busy week...and an even busier weekend. I've GOT to get to feeling better. Working on it!

SHINE,

Kacy

Mission Accomplished

2010-02-06T20:52:00.003-06:00

I took this picture today. I stopped to pump gas and looked up while I was waiting for the tank to fill. I was somewhere in Mississippi...I honestly couldn't tell you where. As I was sitting there knowing that I really wanted a Coke but my feet and legs wouldn't make the distance to the door, I realized how well thought out this slogan was. It wasn't JUST Today. It was my attitude, it has become my life. Everyone in the truck (and I'm sure others in the parking lot and store) thought I had lost my mind for standing in the middle of the parking lot taking a picture of the front of the gas station. But I had to have it.

I took about 100 pictures today but this one sums it up! I had a fabulous day shopping with friends! I shopped ALL day today. I shopped with my daughter and my best friend and her mother and her daughter. We shopped in two states and came out victorious!!! Today's mission was a cocktail dress and a pageant gown for Miss Olive Branch 2010. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. Haleigh, thank you again for including me in your quest for "THE" dress. Considering Haleigh is a size 00 (yes, as in double zero) and MOST dresses start at a 0 and you don't even get into having a selection until you hit a 2 or 4, the majority of pictures that were taken are not Internet appropriate. Well, they are, but she would kill me. Bless her heart, they hung off of her and she either had me or her grandmother tugging on straps or wadding up fabric in the back so she and her mother could use their imaginations to "picture" it altered and fitting like a glove. I, of course, would never show the dresses we picked and given the nature of this pageant and the competition involved will not even share the colors.

SO, all that said, here I sit in bed at 9:17 with a wad of tissue trying to figure out what has happened to me. Keeping it real....I'M ANGRY. I hurt all over. I have two huge knots in my left hand that showed up this afternoon while driving home. My body is not keeping up with my mind and it's about to make me nuts. In days gone by, I would have made that shopping accomplishment and come home and run circles around it (the house that is) with energy and excitement for what we had got done. PAGEANT DRESSES, are you kidding me? Hair, makeup accessories and all that it entails....can you say N-I-R-V-A-N-A? A valid reason to shop two states in ONE day? I've only wanted to design and consult my whole life. Now, I can't figure out how in the world I will pull off church tomorrow and Savannah's soccer practice. Forget the Superbowl! That's not even on my radar. If I can hold my eyes open by that time, great, I'll watch it from right here, but I wouldn't dream of making plans. I'm beat and I'm letting it frustrate me.

Sorry for venting, but thank you for allowing me the cyberspace to do it. I guess it's time to find the polish and fix my...
SHINE,
Kacy

Christmas in February

2010-02-01T15:44:00.011-06:00

Tonight, as I sit down to make this post, I'm realizing that today turned out pretty good. My blog post is mostly done (with the exception of some photos) and I'm typing with dirty hands. Not dirty like poo hands, but dirty like ink and paint and crafty hands. Those are my favorite kind...that or muddy with dirt under my fingernails because my yard and flowerbeds look fabulous. Since it's teetering around 40 degrees outside, I'll settle for glue and glitter tonight.

(That was actually some of my weekend work...Savannah and I have been working on our 52Q tags tonight. Baby steps...we are catching up!)

Do you ever have that feeling like just giving up, you know, that one before you ever really even get out of bed? THEN, you decide, NO, not today! Today, I'm gonna get it straightened out. I did that today. I was really prepared for a huge undertaking only to find that nothing was really wrong....just lots of little things. Boy, those "things" can be blown out of proportion before you know it. I'm so ready to just get up and have a regular day without a doctors appointment or without feeling like my hip was going to spontaneously combust. I think I'm on that road and really ready for the potential it holds. A little to my surprise, I worked a full day today. That was my mental goal for myself. I wanted to be back at work today with all systems functioning. CHECK.

We had a great Christmas gathering at my Grandmother's house yesterday. Can you believe we actually got it in before February? We were surprised. I wasn't quite up for it yet, but pushed through because it had already been too long. Ashley did the same thing. I think she has a bad "crick" in her neck, that in true Ashley form, was crawling up the back of her head. She was miserable but managed to cut up in a few pictures with me. We practically have the same camera and are so addicted it's ridiculous. Ashley, we really need to take a class or something together! Ashley, we really need to talk about this in person one of the twelve times we talk on the phone everyday! HA Holla! Let's find a photography class that they won't kick us out of.

Anyway, it's always nice when the whole family gets together. We all live relatively close and pretty much always know what's going on with everyone but we don't see each other regularly. I am just so in love with all the kids lately. I always love them, don't get me wrong, but I could just eat them up. When my kids were little like that, I was the only one with kids. Now, I'm having fun, sitting back and watching everybody else fret with theirs.
How sweet is my Grandmother to keep her Christmas Tree up this long? I actually took this picture yesterday afternoon! We had a great time....

Were these two made for each other or what???

Ashley and I were just saying tonight, we were both pretty lucky to find somebody that would put up with us...
Check out those jolly round pink cheeks after just one week on steroids. Those things are a real booger! The mood swings coming off have been bearable, but noticeable.

My two favorite boys...Rhett ATE the entire time we were there. It was hysterical. I think Grandmother fed him a whole tub of Cool-Whip and Nash let me kiss him and didn't wipe it off. Now that is special lovin' there.

Love Love all these babies. I made all of the kids blankets for Christmas. I really thought they wouldn't like them much, or be like, OK, where's the toys? BUT, they actually liked their blankets. I made each one with them in mind and it really made me happy they like them.

We had a great time. (How many times can I say that?) Do you ever go to family functions though and just know there is an elephant in the room? We had a few of those going on. My Aunt Beth was missing this Christmas and that was difficult for my Grandmother and Dylan especially. A couple of other family members choose not to be a part of family gatherings lately. I respect that choice and just continue to pray for them. I would like to see them to get some closure on the issues for myself. I'm still pondering how that needs to be handled. I just think forgiveness on my part is probably best. I'm also finding it harder and harder to dance around the unnecessary lies that some family members tell. If you can't trust your family, who can you trust? It took me years to believe in myself and trust in who I was and to believe that I was everything God meant for me to be. I've struggled for years to be acceptable to myself for just who I am and not more than that, but I would never lie about who that is. I think you have to find happiness for yourself where ever you are in your life. Life is a constant road to travel with new things to learn everyday. Sometimes you have to stop and accept your life where you are and not keep making up stories about where it is going. Be proud of who you are!!

Side Note...I think the Bachelor is a stupid show!! These girls make me throw up in my mouth!

SHINE,

Kacy

Waking Up

2010-01-30T12:23:00.004-06:00

WOW, if anyone noticed, I have been avoiding my blog like the plague. I've spent the last couple of days trying to figure out exactly why and still can't put my finger on it, so we'll work through it together (my blog and I, and thanks to any readers out there that still remember I'm here from time to time.) I haven't felt well and really didn't want to post about it. I spent Thursday in the hospital and had this hip worked on some more. It seems to have helped my hip but my overall feelings haven't caught up yet. I'm very excited about the prospect of this hip pain leaving for good or even becoming bearable for awhile. I'll be glad when all of the meds wear off and the rest of me catches up to my normal speed. Right now my "speed" exists of sitting up in my bed with a laptop and TV. I've caught up with old friends and cleaned out the TiVo. Now I am on the verge of boredom and entering full blown panic over what Jeffrey and the children are doing to the house. They love to find things to keep themselves busy, but they don't believe in putting anything away before moving on to the next thing. That would go against every fiber of their being. Jeff swares a fairy comes in from time to time and cleans up all of the havoc he creates around here. He just told me he was upset, because that son of a bitch has not been showing up lately. HA! I'm honestly considering hiring a fairy. How did I live in a 7000 square foot house without a fairy and this 1800 square feet seems to require one? I think the mess was just less noticeable in all that space. Anyone interested in cleaning my house once a week or want to refer someone?

I took several large doses of steroids this week which are NOT helping these strong feelings of anxiety or the many trips to the kitchen. I'm pretty sure I have exceeded my daily walking allowance just between the toilet and fridge. It's a good thing we don't live in the big house anymore. I'd need a scooter. It's also a good thing I've come to grips with the extra 30 I gained over the last year and a half. I really did finally hit the point where I'm just glad to feel better and don't miss my size 2 pants anymore. As a matter of fact, I think they look great on the folks I sold them to!

We are supposedly iced in. Of course, if you tell Jeff Acree anything like that he swears that the public authority is wacko and it's all a conspiracy. He keeps asking me if I want to go to the store. I keep explaining to him that since all I have right now is the television and computer and they are telling me the stores are closed, there must be some truth to the reported road conditions. Now, he wants to make plans for tonight. I think the man is bored. He and the kids drove up and down the street about an hour ago. He said the streets seem fine but the trees are all frozen and many of them look like they could fall at any time. Since I'm pretty sure his "plans" would include something like a trip to Sam's or Lowe's I'm gonna pass on the making of plans for this evening. That just doesn't sound fun to me.

We are actually supposed to celebrate Christmas with my family tomorrow. Yes, we realize it is almost Valentine's Day, but everyone has been sick. I'll be glad to finally get the Santa suit out of my house and all of these gifts. My Grandmother still has her Christmas Tree up waiting for us to all be able to come over. I know she'll be glad to get this over with. Hopefully, the ice will continue to melt so we can move forward with the plan. I've missed my family. I haven't seen my Grandmother in awhile. I really miss my mom and I think it's even been a week since I've seen my Ashley. How did I spend 35 years of my life not realizing that my cousin should have been my sister? Ashley, I'm sorry we missed so much time we could have spent together and I've really missed you this past week.

Dalton just came in and jumped on his Dad and farted and I think I may be sick. My eyes are on fire and Jeff and I both have our sweatshirts pulled up over our noses. Dalton just ran! Savannah has locked herself in her room, again. She thinks that is the newest and most effective punishment for Jeff and I. Every time we don't do as she says, she locks herself in there for hours. I've tried the responsible parental thing of talking to her and trying to get her to tell me what is wrong and try to come up with some way of meeting in the middle. It hasn't worked and sometimes her absence and the quiet is actually welcome. She's locked in there right now, because no one felt like playing Charades her way. I've learned to pick my battles with that child and maybe she'll stay in there for awhile this time.

We were supposed to have gone to the Jersey Boys last night at the Orpheum, but our show got cancelled. We were able to get our tickets exchanged for another Friday night show. Jeff was very disappointed, but given the weather and the pain in my rear end, I was secretly happy for the delay.

Now that I'm over the hump of avoiding my blog, maybe I'll have some more exciting things to share soon. I think I'm in a drug induced state of blah at the moment. I was sharing with a friend the other day about her posts, and she just does them as she has time and saves them. Many of her posts are from days and sometimes even weeks before. On the days she doesn't have time for a full blown post, she pulls from her reserves. I like that idea. Many of my thoughts take days to develop. I always save posting for night time even though that's the most hectic part of my day. I wonder if mornings would be better?

Jeff found my coffee pot today! I think I may go make myself a cup and do something creative. My hands and arms are black and blue, but thanks to Prednisone, the swelling is gone. They blew a few veins in the hospital, Thursday. They don't hurt, they just look like they do. I've got a few scrapbooks ready just waiting for pictures and I haven't started my Project 52Q. I have everything I need though. Savannah wanted to participate in that project as well. Maybe I can lure her out with a cup of java and a project.

Have a great weekend, be safe if you get out. I promise to find my SHINE.
Kacy

2010-01-18T19:04:00.002-06:00

Well, I didn't try that new thing out about blogging in little bits as I could steal the time today. No, you see, today was not the typical day around here. The kids were out of school and made me realize that I was living a nightmare today. So much so, that as I sit down to type out my day at 7 p.m. they are both in bed. What really amazes me about that little bit of trivia is that Jeff hadn't been home more than an hour when he dropped the gavel and rendered the punishment of going to bed right after dinner. I managed to be here all day with them and didn't kill anybody.

They started in bright and early this morning about how bored they were. We decided we would see a movie this afternoon. We were all set and going to see the Spy Next Door with Jackie Chan (kids choice). Well, apparently we weren't the only ones with this plan. The place was packed. We got in, stood in line for candy and popcorn and made our way to our theatre just in the nick of time. We had to sit in the first three seats on the second row. Dalton went in first and then me and Savannah was on the aisle. As soon as we sat down, she started telling me her seat smelled like penicillin. I didn't smell a thing. After about 15 minutes of her flailing around in her seat and moaning that she was going to throw up or sitting with her shirt over her head, I offered to change seats with her. As soon as I sat down, I smelled what she was talking about. It smelled like that orange degreaser stuff. About 10 minutes later, she leans over and whispers that she thinks she must have a rash on her butt, it's stinging. That's nice. So, off we go to the restroom to check out her rear end. On our way, I realized, mine too, was ever so slightly on fire. We get to the rest room to find that both our rumps were roaring red. We washed up as best we could and headed back to the movie to find Dalton laughing hilariously. We were lost. We sat back down and tried to make it through the rest of the movie. When we got to the parking lot Savannah informed me I was covered in gum!! Nice. Apparently, they used the orange stuff to get rid of the gum. Neither worked and Savannah and I both had a sensitive skin reaction!! Fun times!

She is still in full swing on the whole iPod Touch thing as well. I told her today that was a fight she wouldn't win. I still don't think she believes me. I'm happy to have this quiet time. I hate to say that but I was starting to think I needed a vacation. I have a 3 day meeting in Nashville coming up in February, but I invited everyone to come with me. WE love Nashville. We always have and I just couldn't go spend 3 days up there without them. (I seriously questioned this decision today.) I guess, I'm also a little scared to go by myself. That's where I was when my first flare up with RA began. I got terribly sick and somehow by the Grace of God I had taken Jeff with me. I had spent weeks in Nashville over those few months by myself. I was preparing for the Series 6 and 63 exams and my career depended on my passing. I had passed and had to go back for my Allstate Certification and Acceptance by the broker. I was feeling beat down but just thought I was tired and knew this trip was just a formality. It didn't require any concentration or homework so I asked Jeff to join me. Thank goodness, he agreed to go. Otherwise, I don't know how I would have gotten home and would have most certainly found myself in the hospital in Nashville. I haven't been back since and guess I'm not ready yet.

I love being curled up with my laptop in the bed and love it even more with Izzy curled up here right beside me. This is also giving me a wonderful chance to catch up on some TiVo. Project Runway premiered last week and I didn't even know it. That could quite possibly be my favorite show. I don't know. I still love American Idol, but I can't sing. I love Project Runway and I can design (still working on those sewing skills). I've always wondered what if...... that was a world I never knew existed. To be quite honest, I didn't know a lot existed. I ended up working in a job that those around me worked in because that is all I knew. The insurance decision I made all on my own, finally. I was intrigued tonight to find out some of those cats are 40.....what does that mean? Can you switch gears and follow your dream at any age? Does it matter?

SHINE,
Kacy

2010-01-17T13:51:00.003-06:00

Today, I'm trying something new. I've been struggling with my blog. At the end of last year, I considered giving it up all together. I quickly dismissed that thought. Some days, it's just really hard to find the time to sit down and write. Throughout the day, I'll think I need to remember this later to get it written down. Do you have any idea how many things I have forgotten because of that? A LOT. And, by the time you sit down to actually write, your mood has changed so whatever you were feeling really passionate about earlier in the day just isn't the case anymore. Today, I decided to start writing when I have time. Instead of waiting for the end of the day to reflect....I'm catching a quick quiet moment and jotting my thoughts down. At the end of the day, I'll put it all together and see what we can come up with.

Jeff got the pantry built yesterday, so today, I am unpacking more of the kitchen and trying to put things away. It's nice to finally have a spot to put everything. Savannah was helping me, but she just went diving off the deep end into another mood swing. Her mood swings are exhausting lately. She's doing great one moment and then in tears the next over something really stupid. She woke up this morning and decided she wanted an iPod Touch. That came totally out of nowhere. I had never heard her mention it until today. She doesn't understand why I said no to getting the money out of her savings account for it. She already has an iPod that she doesn't use....I just don't get it. SO, she has barricaded herself in her room and I guess she thinks that hurts my feelings or something:)

Checking back in several hours later....WE HATE THE PANTRY set up. That is not going to work. It looks like my future craft room is going to house the washing machine and dryer. It makes sense and we had discussed it before but didn't think that was the way we wanted to go. It's official! We decided today, it will be a craft/laundry room....works for me. My new found flexibility is such a wonderful thing.

School is out tomorrow for what Mississippi calls the King/Lee holiday. Jeff took off work tomorrow to work on a house in Memphis we are "flipping". I suppose I will hang out with the rugrats! Dalton is hard at work tonight "building" Aniken's war ship out of Lego's. If I'm not mistaken Jeff and Savannah are outside jumping on the wet trampoline. I am curled up in my bed with the computer watching the Golden Globes. I have been worn out all week from what I thought was trying to get over the stomach bug. I woke up today with no knuckles on my left hand and my right knee about twice it's normal size. I'm not real sure what to make of it. Since my initial RA diagnosis and work up we were just steadily working toward getting it all under control. Since then, I've never had anything just flare up like this. My hand has gone down some today but my knee hasn't. I guess we'll see what tomorrow holds. I am supposed to have my second hip procedure done on Thursday this week. I just pray for NO steroids in my future.

I'm looking forward to a great week and meeting with Management teams for 2010 goal setting. I'm off to cook something for dinner in my kitchen (what a blessing)!!

SHINE,
Kacy

Weekend Update

2010-01-16T10:10:00.003-06:00

Wow, this week really got away from me. It was a good week though, very busy. I never felt quite up to par. I don't rebound from illness the way I used to. I guess I had that notorious 24 hour stomach bug. It's all good now.

Missy, isn't Izzy the best? I'm so sorry to hear about your puppy. I can't imagine. I've actually found myself wondering what I would do when that day comes. She is absolutely my best friend. She sleeps with me every night and cuddles with me on the couch. We spend time with each other every morning and I always just want to take her to work with me. If she didn't throw up in the truck, I would. SHE ROCKS. She's a little timid around people she doesn't know but she eventually warms up.

Since my energy reserves were running on empty this week, I didn't make much progress on the kitchen. We did, however, cook every night and were able to eat at home. I know that seems like a simple pleasure. Just imagine if you couldn't do that....that really stunk. Not so much at first, but it grew old really fast! I managed to get the laundry caught up but haven't been able to get Jeff and Dalton to stop fighting. I don't understand that. Jeff has been all over Dalton the last few weeks for the exact things he does. It drives me crazy. We have two great kids and I can't figure out why Jeff wants to fight all the time. He doesn't do that with Savy, but he stays on Dalton's case. I see Dalton slowly shutting down and losing respect for his dad. I tried talking to Jeff about it last night, but Jeff isn't very good about admitting his own flaws or even listening when you try to discuss them. SO...may very well be, a lost cause. Jeff, if you are reading, wake up and nurture the relationships you have with BOTH of your kids. They are growing up too fast and I hate to tell you, but you aren't always right.

I had a checkup appointment with the GREAT BOWTIE (my Rheumatologist) this week. I've got some more new inflammation in my hands. It really just started about two weeks ago. I guess I had sort of been in denial about it. I was blaming it all on the extreme cold. Even though, there is no documentation that clearly correlates the cold weather with arthritis, it is a well understood phenomenon amongst those of us with the problem. Anyway, I am going to see if Methotrexate will calm this back down.

Today, I am explaining the "Word of the Year" to Savannah and we are going to work on our "52Q" tags. I'm excited to use my artsy side for awhile. I feel like it is such a struggle to make time for that side of myself. I wish it were more a part of my everyday life. I'll work on that.... The Intergalactic Bead Show is next weekend at the AgriCenter. I am really looking forward to it. Savannah and I went last year but I had NO idea what to expect or even what I was doing. It's all different this year and I can't wait to stock up on some new things. I'm looking forward to all the new colors and to see what all I can put together.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend.
SHINE,
Kacy

2010-01-10T19:10:00.005-06:00

Life is hard for everybody when Mom gets sick. Why does it work that way? Everybody in this house has been sick in the last month except me....until now! I caught some sort of evil stomach bug yesterday, and the house fell apart. Jeff and Dalton are fighting and everything around here is covered in dog hair. AND somehow, I'm in trouble. Oh well....

Here is the beast responsible for all of the hair. She is the ONLY one that sheds and she thinks she's a lap dog.Eewwww, Sorry about no makeup. That's how I roll sometimes. Izzy is laying here on my feet as I type.

We did get one MAJOR (or Jeff did) thing accomplished this weekend. WE GOT OUR STOVE.

Hard at work.

OH, and there is my new fridge, too. It's one of those where you can change the panels out on the front to be whatever you want...I think I want it to look like my cabinets. I'm a little worried about calling our cabinet guy back (not to mention how long will it take??). Hummm, what to do?

I was just not feeling it this morning during this process. Savannah took over the camera and documented the whole first thing cooked......

Sausage Balls? That's all we could come up with to cook since we haven't been on an official trip to the grocery store in 5 MONTHS!

Savannah asked me tonight if we could be on Extreme Home Makeover. She said she wanted to go to Disneyland and come home to a new house with everything done. The Mom in me explained to her how lucky we were to have a roof over our heads when the other "me" just wanted to tell her YES, but can we go on a cruise? HA. What a great show!! I can't believe I got a stove on a day I can hardly pick my head up. Jeff posted some wonderful pictures of me throwing up on the side of the road on Facebook last night. Thanks Jeff. Savannah got out and "helped" me. NO fun.

Since I'm going to feel better (mind over matter) this week, I can't wait to start cooking. We are all so tired of eating out!! The thought just makes us all go UGHGGHHHHH. I'm sure it won't take long before we are begging to eat out, but aren't options wonderful?

Have a great week.
SHINE,
Kacy

Snow Day

2010-01-07T20:34:00.011-06:00

Today was a wonderful snow day that I spent on my bed WORKING. I think that's what insurance agents do in bad weather. Actually, most of the day was consumed with conference calls!.....lots of changes coming in the new year. Since I only had 15 to 30 minutes between each call, I didn't get much accomplished around here. This was my view most of the day... Check out that cool blanket I made the other day. I was feeling inspired the day we didn't have heat. :)

I did enjoy a fun photo shoot with Savannah today. That child loves to pose and it always gets me tickled and we just keep going. She is so fun and becoming more of a dear friend everyday. I hope she always likes me.

Savannah is all about the PEACE sign. She got this little necklace for Christmas from her MeMe. I think it was, by far, her favorite gift. She is a mess. Tonight, while I've been uploading pictures (which by the way, takes WAY too long on here) we have been video taping each other. If I can ever figure out how to post those, you would die. Jeff has been channeling his inner LL Cool J tonight and Savannah, well, Savannah just loves the camera.

Here is my other little tater tot. He got his hair cut this afternoon. I think he looks like a glo worm here. (Does anybody remember those?)

He's such a sweet boy but on the other end of the shyness spectrum. He does not like the camera and wouldn't think of posing like Savy does.

Jeff and I have discovered the True Blood series on HBO. Thanks Ashley. It is terrible, but we rented the whole first season and have gotten somewhat addicted. I can't believe I'm watching vampires and actually enjoying it. Tonight we are finishing the final dvd of the first season.

The kids are out of school again tomorrow. I don't know why. Southern freak out over snow, I guess. I hope to get some things done around here tomorrow. I am supposed to go to Jackson Saturday and Sunday with my friends to watch Haleigh's cheer competition. We had dinner tonight at Buffalo Wild Wings to support the OBHS tennis team. It was rumored tonight that the competition was going to be called off because of the "deep freeze". If so, I'm going to make it my mission to get my kitchen painted.

Enjoy the snow and be safe. Please take care of your pipes!

SHINE,

Kacy

I MISSED A DAY

2010-01-06T17:34:00.004-06:00

Thank you for the wonderful "Welcome Back" comments gang. I still have so many of you who think you can't post on the blog and email me instead. Just so you know, you guys (you know who you are) crack me up. But, thank you. I almost feel as if I were missed. And Maria, you know I can't identify those folks I laugh at publicly. Not only would that just NOT be nice, I'd be upset if they kept their ridiculousness to themselves. I need someone to laugh at on here.

Yesterday, I fell off the wagon. Is it okay to make New Year's Resolutions and screw them up on Day 5? I say, YES. I'm human. Cut me some slack...I do. I didn't take a picture yesterday. I know, GASP. I was caught out in public without my camera. If I had taken a picture indicative of yesterday, it would have been my computer screen at work. I had my weekly dose of Enbrel last night accompanied by Benedryl and that was all she wrote. The fat lady sang and I went down hard and left many things unattended including my blog post. Sorry. SO, today I took a picture of a sticky note that says, "I MISSED A DAY" and that solved that little problem. At the time of this post, I haven't taken my picture for the day. It will be of my new fridge. It is currently sitting in the front yard. Yep, that's where we like to keep them. No, Raphael brought it down to the house this afternoon but the dolly wasn't here. One of Jeff's bestie's borrowed it and didn't bring it back. He's gone to get it now. (I'm being sarcastic...just didn't want you to miss that.) I'm trying to improve my outlook on certain things (i.e. living on a construction site) so I am choosing NOT to take the picture of the fridge in the front yard. I'm sure you can conjure up a good mental image.

I have made two other New Years "Commitments". The first one is to be more present. When I tell people that, they just stare at me. I mean to live in the moment and enjoy everyday for what that day is, to love every moment and stop always feeling rushed and like I need to be doing MORE. The last couple of years have felt like that. I feel like they flew by and I didn't enjoy the little things. We've dealt with more than our fair share of mess recently and I feel like things are finally calming down. The move to this house and the simplicity it represents were long overdue and I am beginning to feel like I can breathe. I also see that my kids are growing at an insane rate and if I don't take the time to enjoy them and everything that goes along with this pre-teen age it will be gone soon. I am much more settled and secure in my job and my health is under control. It's time to breathe and find those little things that I love about each day and savor and develop more of those things. So, that is what I mean. That is what I came up with all on my own. That was my commitment for myself.

I found Project 365 online. I have also chosen to participate in another fellow blogger and friend's project. She stole the idea from someone else, I think, but I like her version and read her posts regularly. It is to pick a "word of the year". You can read what "Mo" has to say at http://www.mymojoy.com/. I met Mo about 4 and a half years ago when Jake (her nephew) was 4 years old. He would have been 8 this past New Years. She has an amazing outlook on life and the most precious girls. She suggests picking a word that describes you and the year you plan to have. Kind of one word to describe your year. There are worksheets to help you find your word and lists of words others have used. I picked the word SHINE. I didn't do the worksheets and I actually didn't see my word. I read the idea proposal and thought on it a couple of days. I liked the idea and got in and really like the word for many reasons. I'll elaborate more in the future. She has projects to do throughout the year that will incorporate your word. I'm looking forward to it. If you decide to participate or if you already are, tell me what your word is. I think it's a neat idea.

My fridge just made it in the house and Jeff is hollering for HELP. We are back in the routine of Taekwondo and expecting some winter weather tonight. I DO NOT drive in any of the white stuff, so this should be fun. At this point, if it doesn't snow the kids will be disappointed. AND my fridge rocks. I'm not sure if I mentioned we are keeping that stove that was in the middle of the picture. Jeff had a little melt down today with the appliance store, but I put my foot down and said this stove is staying. Glad that's done.

I promise to post pictures very soon. I also got the paint for the kitchen. YIPEEEE!
SHINE,
Kacy

The End of an Era

2010-01-04T20:27:00.004-06:00

Today was the last day of Christmas Vacation! It's 8:30 and my kids are getting ready for bed. This was Dalton's last Elementary School Christmas Vacation. That thought just hit me today. These wieners are growing up way too fast. I just don't know if I'm ready for Middle School. Thank goodness it's not Savannah. She's a whole other ball game. I feel like it's gonna be a long night. They have been staying up late and sleeping late for weeks. Tonight is going to be shocking for their little systems.

We spent one of the coldest days of the year today without any HEAT. Our heat went out about 3 this morning. When I woke up at 8 it was 55 degrees in the house. UGGGHHHH. About 5 this afternoon, we had heat again and found out it was some little part that cost about $6. We spent the day huddled up under an electric blanket with a space heater. My body does NOT react well to the cold temperatures.

I was hoping to finish unpacking my kitchen today but the thought of standing with my hands in a sink of water while freezing just wasn't all that appealing. To all you NON-believers about my lack of a kitchen, I give you a visual.

We've made a ton of progress, but I swear we are snake bitten on this "project". Sorry I didn't clean up for the photo op. I'm over it. That box on top of that stove has more of my pots and pans in it. I started unloading and hand washing dishes on Saturday and putting them away in cabinets. Most of them are done. I have that box of pots and pans to finish and my silverware is still lurking around here somewhere. Oh, and my coffee mugs...I haven't found those yet either. We bought a new fridge...not the one in the picture and a stove in November. We also bought the microwave on Black Friday. Last week, we took the microwave out of the box to hang it and it was USED. Nice, just what I always wanted. Soooooo, we took it back to Sears and of course they were out of that one and had to order us a replacement. It took another week, but it's finally in. I know you are wondering why the stove is in the middle of the floor....well, like I said we bought the stove and fridge from an appliance dealer in Memphis back in November. Our friend Rohn went and picked the stove up for us one day last week and brought it down one night after the plumbers left from moving the gas line (and fixing the kids tub, YEA!). I was so excited and ran in from shopping with the kids. I thought Jeff and Rohn were playing a joke on me when I saw it. They were so proud they had moved it in and unwrapped it and were getting ready to hook it up. I just stared at Jeff and wondered what happened to my husband, because this was some strange stove I had NEVER seen before. He didn't even notice. WHAT? SOOOO, anyway, I've got the wrong stove. At this point, I just want a freaking stove. I mean, how important is convection anyway? Of course, they don't have the one they sold me in stock.....yada yada yada. You see? I'm over it. They say good things come to those who wait. BAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAAA.

So that is my picture for today. One of the projects I committed to this year is Project 365. Today is the only day (so far, of course) that I only took one picture. I haven't figured out how I want to document them all yet. I'm still working out the details. One of the details I MUST figure out is how to get my camera to post the date on my pictures. Canon Rebel xTi....anyone know?

After a long day on my construction site, I think it's time for a pain killer and some zzzzzzz's. It's back to work for me tomorrow and I have to admit, I'm happy about it. I'm ready for the routine and ready to start swinging it in 2010. I think it's going to prove to be a trying year in the insurance industry. I'm ready for the challenge.

SHINE,

Kacy

Happy New Year

2010-01-03T23:48:00.002-06:00

In true Kacy form, I'm late!! No really, it's just a way of life for me now. I tried explaining that to Savannah just the other day. She didn't understand....I guess it's either you or it's not. Oh well. Some day, when she becomes a mom, maybe she'll understand. I wasn't always this way.

I have really been pondering this blog lately. I've missed it, but time seems so limited these days. I read several blogs quite regularly. There is one, in particular, that I read for it's ridiculousness and I'll admit, I had to wonder if others read mine for that reason. I have finally come to the conclusion that this is my blog and it's about my life and it doesn't matter what others do or what theirs are about. SO, bottom line, I'm back with no self inflicted pressure to live up to any "cyber standards" of performance.

I've missed this outlet and my blog buddies and am looking forward to a wonderful 2010! It won't take a lot to be an improvement over 2009.

I have made a New Years Resolution this year. I haven't in years. I really don't like any added performance pressure. I figured, since ignoring the tradition didn't work for me, we'd see how conformity works for me. I'll share it in the next couple of days. I have also committed myself to a couple of little projects and look forward to sharing those on my blog as well.

Of course, my main objective, as always, is to journal the NUTTY crap that happens in this insane life of mine. My kids have kept me laughing all through Christmas break and I have to admit, I'll be sad to see them go back to school. I do, however, believe it is in every one's best interest for them to return. My tranquilizer addiction is becoming more prominent everyday, and I'd hate to have to leave my family for a short stint in rehab. BAHAHHAHAHAHAHH! Not!

My crazy kids are not what will send me to rehab, it will be the fact that I still DON'T have a kitchen! Why YES, it has been 4 months since we moved! What the hell, kitchens are over rated! (I typed that with every little bit of sarcasm these arthritic fingers could muster!!!)

I'm dealing with a bout of insomnia tonight and they say the glow of the computer makes it worse. SO, I will cut it short tonight. I did, however, need to get this little ice breaker out of the way. I shall return very soon and appreciate anyones interest in still checking on my little piece of cyber space.

SHINE.
Kacy