Christmas in February

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

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

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

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

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

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

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