HUGE update coming

I have a very big update to type out about everything that's going on around here, but I just can't seem to get around to it... I will try to type it all up tomorrow!!!

But for now, you can read the tribute I wrote to my grandpa Thompson in 2007. This year marks 20 years since he passed, that's hard to believe.
Charles J. Thompson May 25, 1923 - May 23, 1989

Daily Rambling

So last night I broke Charles' toe. Wasn't that nice of me? His obnoxious giant legs stick out 40 feet from the couch, and I trip over them nearly every time I walk over to my chair, but last night I really smashed his toe nicely. He says it is really sore this morning.

Oh, I almost forgot to mention that the daughter of a friend of mine was diagnosed with a chronic heart disease yesterday. It isn't fatal, but it is chronic, and she will most likely be placed on the heart transplant list. You can visit her hospital journal over at CaringBridge to read more about it. Please keep her and her family in your thoughts and prayers.

Dr. Appointments

This morning I got up at 6:20 - YES 6:20 - A M ! - because I had a Dr.'s appt and so did Ally and Trey. We all got our checkups and everything looks good. My Dr. sent me for some blood work because apparently I was anemic on the blood tests I had done 3 years ago, but the other Dr. never told me. She wants to check my thyroid, cholesterol, and all the other basic stuff. So I will hear the results of all this soon, but I don't anticipate any big surprises. My blood pressure was pretty high 140/83, and so she checked it again at the end of the appt, and it was still 138/80 which she was mildly concerned about, but since I don't normally have high blood pressure she just wants me to keep an eye on it.

Ally and Trey looked great and the pediatrician had no concerns. YAY!! :)

Shampooing the Carpet

I think we should just leave all the furniture out of the front room, what do you think? lol Oh, and don't mind the curtain fuzz, it was a laundry "incident" that we can't seem to remedy... long story that I sooooooo don't want to relive...

But anyway, we got some of the carpets shampooed - the hallway, front room, and the landing of the staircase and the top of the stairs - the stairs themselves were too narrow to shampoo with the machine we had. Needless to say, we are all much happier now that all that is all cleaned up and our front room carpets look so much better. They are FAR from pristine, but they'll do until we win the lottery and can recarpet the whole house - oh wait you gotta win to play - CRAP!

Misc. Pics

"I am not a Crook!!" lol
Charles telling everyone, Peace, dude! And Dorothy with a safety pin in her teeth. Why? Because it was cute, and she has a pretty mouth and gorgeous teeth!



Dressup at Nana's. Trey's multiple personalities and Ally as an old lady. Man, Trey is pretty much filthy in these pics hahaha!!!



That is an evil grin if I ever saw one! Trey loves this dog! Her name is Sugar, she belongs to my mother in law's best friend - we were at her house for minute after Iona's heart cath before we left for home - AT TEN PM!!!



Ally at Nana's playing dressup and also showing her wings that will be part of her Halloween Costume.

EXHAUSTED!

I implore you, what's worse than mopping the floor...??? MOPPING WITH NO MOP! That's right, you heard me! The time had come for me to mop my floor because it was so gross I couldn't stand it anymore. I haven't had a working mop for a while and had just been wiping things up as I go - lol or not, depending on my mood, unfortunately. Anyway, I finally just decided to clean it the hard way. In all honesty, the floor looks MUCH nicer than you could ever get with a mop, so I can't complain too loudly. Now my body is hating me, but my mind is happy with the shine. :-)

Dinner tonight - and Movie Trailers

Man oh man, I made Apricot and Pistachio Rolled Pork Roast tonight and it was DELICIOUS!!! I highly recommend it - email me if you want the recipe (fakeppy@comcast.net). We had sides of Fettuccine Alfredo and Caramelized Brussels Sprouts (which were also VERY VERY tasty!!!)

I've got Trey's bday cake in the oven and the frosting has been made - its a little sweet, but I guess it will do lol. I am not looking forward to decorating the cake as I am like the world's worst cake decorator hehe!! I haven't done one in years, so it should be interesting to say the least. :-)

He keeps talking about his cake and pointing to pictures of chocolate ones in the cookbook saying NO HUH CAKE! PAPAW DIE! (Which means, we can't have this cake because Papaw will get sick - he's allergic to chocolate, gives him migraines). Its so cute cuz he's looking out for Papaw's health lol.

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As for movie trailers, the following look pretty good:

Paranoid Park

He Was a Quiet Man

Yummy yum yum!

Tonight I really wish I'd had my camera out to take a picture of the beautiful dinner I made! Caramelized Salmon with Pineapple and Orange Salsa, Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots, and Green Bean Amandine. It was all as tasty as it was pretty, too. I made desert tonight, too, an apple and cranberry pie - it wasn't wonderful. I didn't have any shortening or real butter so the crust was made w/ margarine, so I knew it would suck, but you gotta do what you gotta do, right?? lol. I had bought a bag of apples at the orchard yesterday and the kids were eating bites and leaving half eaten apples around already, so I needed to use a bunch quickly. ^^

I don't know if its because of the running I did after the dog yesterday, or just because of my body's stupid reactions to cold weather, but I have been terribly uncomfortable today. Whole body aches, and I was on the couch nauseated all morning, but fortunately by about 1pm that had passed. (no, I'm not pregnant, I can guarantee you that lol!!!) I'm hoping I can move around better tomorrow, because I gotta clean house and get ready for Dorothy and the Wizard who are coming up Saturday evening for Trey's birthday and to work on our water heater again - yea, its STILL not working right...

Speaking of Trey's birthday, his "homework" on Tuesday was to color in this birthday cake and cut it out and glue on candles, but we couldn't find any glue then he lost the paper so it didn't matter anyway... BUT - we were supposed to practice saying "My birthday is January 22". So every time I'd say "my birthday is" he'd say TREY BOONE! and laugh and laugh lol. It was really cute!

No Rest for the Wicked

Man, today Dorothy and I ran around like mad people!! The orchard, Trader Joe's, and finally Saraga. Lots of fun... until we got home and Meg ran outside and decided to bolt halfway across the neighborhood and my fat ol' butt had to go RUN after her. I think I had a heart attack, a stroke, and it all ended in pneumonia... such fun indeed.

Anyway, Dorothy cut up my chicken for me so I wouldn't get hives and that made me happy so it was all good again hehe! She cut my pork roast for me too for the pork roll I'm making, too. (I'm not very adept at knife-handling... HAHAHAHA!!!)

So after making a GIGANTIC supper (buttermilk brined fried chicken, roasted asparagus w/ gruyere, mashed potatoes, and biscuits), cleaning it up, getting everyone bathed and having a chance to sit quietly and watch TV things are finally calm around here - well, with the exception of the kids screaming from the bathtub in the background, but that's a nightly event lol).

Boring Week

This week not much has been going on, so I haven't had much to report on here... I guess that's a good thing though, right? hehe Well, I suppose so... Trey is doing GREAT on his vocabulary, he's picked up SOOO many words in the last 6wks or so, and pretty much new ones every day. Yesterday he picked up "kiki" which is what we usually call Isis, our cat, and "kook-ey" which is Trey-ese for cookie. ^^ I'm amazed at his progress!

For the food situation, we are LOVING our new improved menus... We are going to be having the following this week:

• Fettuccine Alfredo
• Salmon with orange & pineapple (if I can ever find a good fillet around here anywhere!)
• Spinach & Almond Meatloaf - don't groan, spinach is yummy!
• Apricot Pistachio Rolled Pork
• Chicken Pad Thai
• Eight Layer Casserole (just a hamburger casserole
• Buttermilk Brined Fried Chicken
• Cream of Broccoli & Cheese Soup
• Cheesy Potato Soup
• Chicken Fajita Rollups (cuz we didn't get around to them last week)
• Biscuits & Gravy
• Pancakes
• Hot Artichoke Dip for a late night snack one night

Yummy yum yum!

UPDATE: I couldn't wait I had to make the artichoke dip tonight and it was scrumptious hehe!!!

Definition for Dorothy (and cooking plans)

Crème fraîche (IPA: [kʁɛm fʁɛʃ], French for "fresh cream") is a heavy cream slightly soured with bacterial culture, but not as sour or as thick as sour cream. Originally a French product, today it is available throughout Europe and the rest of the world. Crème fraîche can be made at home by adding a small amount of cultured buttermilk or sour cream to normal heavy cream, and allowing to stand for several hours at room temperature until the bacterial cultures act on the cream.

Crème fraîche is very similar to sour cream, however its higher fat content and lower viscosity allow it several advantages. Unlike sour cream, crème fraîche can be mixed with air to form whipped cream. Furthermore, the higher lipid content (and lower protein content) of crème fraîche allow it to be directly cooked without curdling.

As for cooking plans... I am SOO tired of the same old things I've been cooking for years and years. So, I was looking through my new Betty Crocker cookbook that Dorothy got me for Christmas and went to the store tonight to get all the "fixins" for some new deliciousness.

So, the plans for the next few days will be a mix of old standbys and new additions:

• Mexican 7 Layer Dip
• Quesadillas
• Fish Sandwiches with a coleslaw dressing
• Shrimp Etouffee
• Pot Roast
• Shepherd's Pie
• Lemon Chicken Pasta Toss
• Cheesy Potato Soup
• New England Clam Chowder
• Chicken Fajita Rollups

Hopefully the new things will be tasty - I'll try to keep you updated hehe!!!

Pepto Bismol Complaint

So, I saw this commercial for Pepto-Bismol a few weeks ago, and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it. I finally decided to write them an email and voice my complaints. I am sure they won't care or give it notice, but at least I've written them and I feel better.

Now, I realize that the whole point is probably SUPPOSED to be that this dude doesn't speak ENGLISH as his first language, but in my current situation, making fun of anyone for their speech issues is anything but funny...

Here is the commercial:

Especially for Marigold...

I love doing genealogy - I have been doing it on and off since I was in junior high school - so over 20 years lol. I never got anywhere NEAR where I am since the invention of the net though!!! It's been very exciting getting with other people researching the same people and filling in the gaps.

So far, I have located 30 out of 32 of my "3rd Great" Grandparents. I have much farther back on some lines - I'm missing a "2nd Great Grandfather's" parents...Maybe one day I can track down exactly who they are, I'm optimistic. ^^ Lately, I've been doing alot of documentation of the information I have compiled. Its tedious and most people probably wouldn't bother, but if I can't attach a source to my info, I'm never convinced its accurate. (I'm kinda a stickler about sources lol).

As for Trey - nah, its not usually "bad mama" its usually "Aya Bad!" (Ally is bad!) or "Pup Bad!". I'm usually good hehehehehe!!

Somewhere over the rainbow.....

But anyway - we were supposed to go to my Aunt's house for some yummy Chicken Cordon Bleu, but the stupid snow/ice storm kept us from going. ; ; We are all very sad... BUT - the good news is that we have rescheduled for next Sunday. WOOT!!!

As usual, not much going on around here - my Family Tree Maker file now has over 15,200 names in it, and that is very exciting. ^^ I actually worked my way through a brick wall I've had for like 15 years lol. My GGGGrandparents - seems like everyone had them confused with two OTHER people named very similarly and assumed they were the same people. I never did because the dates weren't logical, and FINALLY I found proof - and that opened a whole SLEW of new names and info. It's all very exciting - well, to me anyway. (And Jennifer maybe lol who would totally understand my excitement)

Trey is doing GREAT with school, even though its only 30min 2x/week. He's repeating words and using a few new ones spontaneously. His favorites are "honey" and "shadow" lol. Oh, and "bad" hehe...

Too bad I didn't take a picture - And INSOMNIA

Man, I really wish I would have snapped a picture last night!!!

When I went to bed, Charles was lying on a Mighty Morphin Power Rangers pillow, and Trey was asleep beside him in a PINK shirt with flowers on it. The dog was asleep half laying on top of Trey. The whole scene was just SO funny! But I know Charles would have freaked out with my posting a picture of him like that (and Trey in PINK!). ^^ hehe

Some of you might know that I suffer from horrible insomnia. Well, this week its been VERY bad. I haven't been asleep before 3:30am in about 5 days. Its no fun. I've taking OTC sleeping pills (and even prescriptions in the past), but nothing seems to help. Charles and I were talking about it today and he mentioned maybe its the Holidays because we both don't function very well at this time of year, and I said maybe so... Then I talked to Dorothy about it, and she agreed that we don't do well. Hmm... I didn't realize it was so obvious how dysfunctional Holidays make us LOL!! Seriously, though, Nov/Dec are depression central in our house hold (All winter some years). Maybe we need that UV light therapy. I'm getting a little sun and exercise with the dog, though, so maybe that will help. This can't go on like this, though, that's for sure - not sleeping sucks giant donkey tails.

Thought of the Day

Isn't the "Civil War" an oxymoron??

I'm sure you've heard that before, but seriously... War isn't civil.

And on a TOTALLY unrelated note - - - if you have a runny nose and congestion - try the New Puffs Plus tissues w/ VicksVaporub in them!! They are AWESOME!!! (The smell is very strong though)

LOL! Dooce is so funny

Funny stuff!!

Poor KiKi - and Trey's evaluation

Isis (our cat) had to go to the vet today. She hates me now, its official!!! She got poked, prodded, then brought home and had pills and liquids shoved down her neck hole lol... She has anxiety - poor thing!! She has fleas, well, she had ONE flea on her, but her issues are stemming from her having had fleas - now she has anxiety about itchiness and is habitually overgrooming as a result of this anxiety and stress... So, we treated her for her fleas w/ a pill and the "squirt on the neck stuff" (which I haven't gotten on her yet - she was too upset for anything else lol). Then she's on prednisone for her itchiness and an antibiotic for her sores. If after 1 month she isn't better she has to go on some short term anti-anxiety meds. They also gave me a flea treatment for Athena.

What a fun day!!

Oh, on Sunday Trey got a haircut - he got a mohawk and it SOOOOOO cute you can't even believe it!!! I'll try to get a pic up from my phone. Its ADORABLE and he loves it. Its funny because like every other man that passes him out in public comments about how awesome his hair is. He loves to look at himself in the mirror and rub his head lol. He walks around asking us to rub his bald head hahaha!

We picked up his evaluation today - and he is "severely delayed for his age" in his communication skills. So, obviously, he's gonna be eligible for preschool - I hope he likes it!!! I also hope it starts soon! We have our official meeting next Tuesday about the whole evaluation so we will know more then.

Busy Busy

Its been busy around here the last few days! We had my bday party at my parents house on Saturday which was lots o' fun. They had a cookout and I had a cake and everything hehe...

I've been doing LOTS of genealogy stuff lately! Sleep is eluding me, so I stay up all night reading censuses lol!!! Yeah, I'm weird like that!

Today was Trey's first day of evaluations. Poor little guy peed his pants, so he must have been VERY engrossed in whatever they were doing because I can't even tell you the last time he did that... Oh well. He seemed to have a great time, though! He is really excited about going back tomorrow! We will get the results on the 6th, and then we have a conference to make decisions about placement, etc. I'm nervous, but confident that all will go well.

Whine

Well, we JUST missed Hailey - the dog in the last post. She's going to be adopted by another family this weekend. But that's ok because at least she's getting a good home!