got my computer back!!

Well, as you all know, I have been computerless for almost a week now. That is a horrible thing to go thru! Brad got the desktop up and running the other day. I have been in the process of getting all my pictures onto CD's so I can delete them from the computer. We also deleted a bunch of unused programs. That has helped tremendously. I still have one program that came with my photo printer that I can not get off the computer. That has been one of the biggest problems with the computer. That program just creates files on its own. You can ask Brad, I'm not crazy. But at least I have a computer back. I think the laptop is done for. Thanks mom, for giving it to me. It was wonderful for the year we had it!

I had a long night with Ryan last night. He kept waking up crying so I ended up taking him out to the livingroom so BRad could sleep. I slept on the couch and he slept on their little couch. He did eventually go to sleep but I didn't sleep well out there. I could hear all the neighbor dogs barking all night. So instead of taking a nap after I got Hannah from school like he normally does, I put him down after lunch at about 11:30. He yawned all morning and had a low grade fever. His nose has been running non-stop for weeks. He is getting teeth in the very back of his mouth so I think that is most of his problem. But it is taking him a long time to get over it. So he is still sleeping, a little over 2 hrs later, and Hannah is next door with Brad's grandma. I really wanted to take a nap too but I had to get the pics off the computer before it died again. I was so worried that I was going to loose my pictures. I took the monitor over to grandma when I went to get Hannah from school and I knew she would be asking to stay over there when I went back to get the monitor. I didn't even try to argue with her! I just told her she had to ask grandma if she even wanted to watch her. She always does. I can't think of 1 time she has told her no. Well, I hear Ryan coughing so I better go.

no time to rest!

After 2 days of non-stop fun and playing, I am afraid I have to get to work and clean the house! Brad was off yesterday (Friday) and I thought Hannah didn't have school so we went to the circus. I found out later that Hannah's class did have school and I just didn't know it! So she missed school for the circus but we had a great time. It was pretty expensive--$20/ticket but well worth it. The circus has changed a lot from when I remember going when we were little! Then we came home and played outside all afternoon and then ordered pizza with Brad's grandma for dinner. I told her today that she will be tired of us come winter time. The kids always want her to come out while we are out there so her and I usually end up sitting outside all afternoon watching the kids. Today we left the house early to take a bnch of junk over to Teays Valley and didn't get home until early afternoon. We took the kids to the park for awhile and looked at baby chickens and ducks at the tractor supply store while we were out. They were sooooo cute. I wanted a duck. But we decided against it will all the stray cats and dogs around us and not having a fenced in yard. Then, of course, we played outside again for the rest of the afternoon and ate dinner with Brad's grandma. Brad grilled and she made some baked potatoes and corn and stuff. Now here I am....looking at the dirty floor and all the junk around me. Thinking how bad I really need to clean. Of course I am pooped from all the activity this weekend but I'll try to get a few things done. by the way, the laptop miraculously is working again like nothing was ever wrong with it. we'll see how long it lasts!

Finally!

If you have been wondering where I have been the past few days, both of my computers crashed on the same day! I finally got the laptop to do something today! I am not allowed to touch the desktop until Brad has a chance to look at it! So don't worry about me, I am just suffering major withdrawls because my connection to the outside world is basically dead!! Okay, so I started writing this this afternoon but the computer shut off (surprise, surprise) so I am trying again. I can't believe I got the internet up twice today. I think I am pushing my luck!! We spent most of the afternoon outside. It is beautiful! I just got done reading an email from my cousin who I haven't really talked to in awhile. She is pregnant with her third. I have to admit I am jealous. I have been praying for God to take away my desire for another baby and I though it was working but now I don't think so. I don't know why I want a baby so bad. Maybe because I am female?!?! Well, I better get off before the computer dies before I can post this. I'll try to get back on later. Brad isn't home from work yet but he is supposed to be off tomorrow. I am going to try to talk him into taking us to the circus this weekend. He really want to go camping but Sat is a spring clean up day where you can take big junk to somewhere in Teays Valley and we really need to be around for that. Believe it or not, we have lots of junk to get rid of--old tires, tool box, water heater, I could go on forever but I won't! The kids are fighting in the tub so I better go.

I've been thinking.....

what does it mean to be blessed? I often catch myself saying to people, or myself, how blessed I am. Whenever I think about my kids, my wonderful husband, our income, my ability to stay home, our house, our material possessions (things of that nature) or if I see someone who may have less than me in these areas, I begin to feel blessed. But who is to say these other people, who some might say are less fortunate, aren't blessed--maybe even more blessed than myself?! After all, it isn't all these things that makes us blessed, right? It is God. He gives us all things. We can't do anything for ourselves. We would be nothing without him. So I am trying to change my focus a little. I love all the things that I mentioned but I would be blessed regardless because I have Jesus.

SO about my day.....It was actually pretty good. I stayed busy all morning. It is amazing how fast the house can become a disaster area after being cleaned!! It didn't look good for long after Brad cleaned it wihle we were gone last week!! So that is what I spent most of the day doing. You couldn't tell it if you came to my house now. Then Hannah had a recheck dr appt from when they put her on Miralax a month ago. We just have to use it as needed now. She rarely ever complains about her stomach hurting now. Brad just got home and it is 9pm! Poor guy. He doesn't seem too happy either. I better get off here and see if he needs anything.

back to life.....

back to re-al-ity!! I have been singing that song a lot today and yesterday!! The kids and I left mom and dad's in NC at about 9:30 yest morning. We stopped once in Beckley, WV (about 2 1/2 hrs into the trip) to eat lunch at Bob Evans and stretch our legs. The last hour and a half went by pretty fast after that. I had been nervous about making the trip without Brad, having never drove it myself without following someone who knew where we were going. It turned out to be pretty easy and I am looking forward to making the trip again soon! I don't ever remember feeling like I had been gone soooooo long! (not because we didn't have a good time in NC) I also never remember feeling such relief and calm about being back "home". I have never really considered WV my home. I wasn't born here, didn't come here till I was 13. And I was angry when we had to come here. None of my family lives here anymore. But now I feel like this is my home. I belong here. I couldn't really see myself living anywhere else. Except in the house that Brad and I are going to build out in the country on some property when we are older--but that is another blog in itself!! Anyway, so I was never so happy to be back in WV! It was about 2:30 pm when we got home. The kids didn't sleep at all on the drive so they were pretty grouchy the rest of the afternoon. I couldn't believe how clean the house was! I know i didn't leave it that clean! The sweeper was out, there were no dishes in the sink, there was not one piece of dirty laundry in the hampers. It was amazing! Brad even washed our sheets because "I knew you would be excited to be in your bed" He is so wonderful! After he got home from work we just hung out for the evening. He was on call so we couldn't go anywhere. We jumped on the trampoline with the kids. Brad's mom wanted us to call when we got back so we made plans for her to keep them during the day today. They went to bed around 7:30pm and I heard Ryan out in the livingroom at about 6:50 this morning. Brad and I got to go out to lunch together, went shopping at the mall for almost3 hours (that has never happened with brad and I) and got some groceries at Walmart. Then we got the kids just in time for a bath and bed time! And I am headed to bed after I close this out!

6 miles.....5 hours later......

Today has been a long day. We went to the zoo. I forget how long those days are. We go to the zoo every year (usually Columbus) and at the end of the day I am always saying that I am so glad it is over!! That is about all we did today. Stopped at McDonalds on the way home and then gave the kids baths, ate some ice cream, Hannah played a couple games with grandma and then it was bedtime at 7 o'clock sharp!! It seems like we do more walking than it is worth at the zoo. Several exhibits were closed and a lot of the animals were sleeping or hiding out somewhere we couldn't see. And we seriously walked 6 miles from beginning to end and back, taking turns pushing the double stroller. But it was a good family day. Ryan doesn't do well in crowded areas! He was constantly running ahead, not looking where he was going, stuff like that. Hannah wanted to ride in the stroller the whole time excpet to get out at the different enclosures. Ryan wanted to walk most of the time. So I am headed home tomorrow. I am nervous about the drive because I've never done it myself. I am sure it will be fine though.

another day in NC

Today was the first day since I've been here that we didn't get up early and rush around in order to leave and go somewhere. That was nice for a change. Ryan and I actually slept until about 8 but it wasn't as nice as it sounds because he was up several times during the night coughing uncontrollably. The poor guy just can't beat this stuff. He was sick earlier in the week last week before we came to NC and then it got better in time for spring break and now it is back! But he only coughs bad during the night. Anyways, so we just hung out this morning and took our time getting showers. Then we decided to go try out the park that a lady from the church was telling mom about. Apparently it is the only one around here. Which is surprising to me with as much other stuff as they have so close. It was only about 15 minutes away. It was really nice. There is a big lake right by it with a few docks you can go out on and sidewalks around some of it. The playground equipment was very nice and like none I had ever seen. We were only there about an hour and then came home for lunch and naps. I found a tick on me too. SO now I have been feeling like I have bugs all over me and I have been running my hands thru my hair looking for more! Then we went back outside for awhile and then came in and ate dinner. Now we are waiting for church. It doesn't start until 7:30 tonight and it is Lord's Supper. I jokingly asked dad if they were having open communion so I can participate. Then he showed me the wine they use. Just the smell made me want to gag!! So I don't want to be involved anymore. I was going to go home tomorrow. I am starting to get a little home sick for my hubby and my bed! And home in general. Today is his brithday. We called him and sang Happy Birthday on speaker phone this morning. I think he really liked it. We are supposed to have nice weather tomorrow so we are going to go to the zoo. It is about an hour away from here. Then I will leave on Fri. It is nice to be able to sdecide things last minute and to not really have to be home for anything at any certain time. Well, guess I will go now. See what Ryan is doing. Oh yeah, I put pics on facebook too mostly of our trip to SciWorks earlier in the week. Go check them out.

another day in NC

Well, right now Ryan and I are hanging out in my mom's computer room. My parents and Hannah went to the nursing home service that a man from their church preaches at once a month. I was surprised that Hannah still wanted to go after I told her it would be just like church. I think she was curious about seeing where old people live who need someone to take care of them. That is how I explained what a nursing home is. Anyways, this morning mom and I took the kids to a place called SciWorks. It is only about 15 minutes from their house and it along the same lines as COSI if you have ever been there. A smaller version though. They also had a small version of a zoo outside. It might have taken an hour to walk thru the outside part and that was stopping to take pics and things and another hour and a half to go thru the inside stuff. It all went pretty well. We got there early so there weren't many people there and it was still a little chilly out. We wanted to go to the zoo but they were saying 80% chance of rain. Needless to say, we didn't see a single drop all day! I'll post pics on facebook after I get home later this week. It was very reasonably priced too. I'd recc to people who were going to be in the area. Then we came home, ate lunch and took a nap (me included). Mom made sure to remind me not to get used to that! I did that yesterday too and paid for it last night. It took me forever to fall asleep and then I woke up in the middle of the night and couldn't go back to sleep and Ryan has been sleeping with me (anyone with kids knows what I am going thru there!). Also, mom and dad's bed is killer! I can't wait to be back in my own bed! Mom's bed isn't as hard as the one in the spare bedroom where they are sleeping but it isn't great! It probably will rain all day tomorrow so we are planning on shopping. I can't believe my visit is almost over already.

hello from NC

I am having a good time in NC with my parents. The kids are loving having grandma around to do things that mommy doesn't normally do. And I am loving getting a small breakI am sure most of you have been reading about my visit on my mom's blog. I miss my hubby already. Our 10 yr dating anniversary is coming up this week on the 14th and then the 15th is his 26th birthday. I can't believe we have been together for 10 yr already. It has been great. Anyways, so I don't really have much to say. We are wanting to go to the zoo tomorrow but they are calling for rain tomorrow and Tuesday so we are thinking of other options like museums and aquariums. There are so may things to do around here. That is what I like about being here. Well, I better go for now. The kids are having a disagreement!

I am exhausted!!!!

Have you ever had one of those days where you just feel so tired all day? That is how I have felt today. I think it has a lot to do with the weather being so lousy and knowing that vacation is coming in a few days. It has been rainy, cold and just miserable all day long. I had to do the dreaded grocery shopping today also. That is horrible in itself. Doing it in the rain and cold and in the back of the truck makes it worse. I decided I don't like having to load all the groceries into the big tub I have strapped into the back of the truck. It is just too much unnecessary work. That is what I miss about my SUV. No climbing around that back of the truck, lugging bags of groceries around to get them into the tub and so on. Anyways, by the time we got home it was almost time to go get Hannah from school. She woke up this morning with this horrible cough like she was barking. So dry and harsh. Ryan's cough is the exact opposite. I have had a sore throat too. Right in time to go to grandma's house! I am going to put the humidifier in Hannah's room when I get done here. I don't know what Ryan needs. I thought he was getting better because he didn't wake up all thru the night last night like he has been and he didn't cough too much during the day. But I did have to go in and give him a little drink of water earlier because he started coughing. Anyways, back to how my day was going.....The kids fought a lot more than normal today. I think it was because they were both tired and we couldn't go outside and the weather in general. Ryan slept in the car on the way home from getting groceries so I didn't even bother putting him down for a nap because I knew he wouldn't sleep. So I spent most of the afternoon yelling at the top of my lungs. But Hannah did get her room clean so I can sweep tomorrow while she is at school. Brad called at like 3 and said he was on his way to Mann so he wouldn't be back until late, later than normal late for him. he's still not home and it is about 10pm now. Poor guy, he is probably more worn out than me! So after dinner and a bath the kids were in bed by about 6:45 and then I got ready and went to the ladies meeting. I took the monitor over to Brad's g-ma. We had a good time at the ladies meeting. I love these get togethers. I really look forward to them. It is supposed to snow tonight but I really hope it doesn't. I have to go to the dentist in the morning. I have to take some pills before to dry my mouth out so i will be less slobbery for them to fill the cavity. I am kinda nervous about taking the pill because it is the same medicine (pill version and not shot version) we used at the animal hosp if a pet's heart rate got too low while it was on the table having surgery or if they got nausous from the anesthisia and were drooling everywhere. So I hope my heart doesn't start racing or anything crazy after I take it. Well. I think I am going to go to bed. I haven't heard from Brad but I hope he gets home alright.

another fabulous day in the Palmer house

We have been very busy today. This morning Hannah and Ryan were up bright and early at 7:15. We didn't sleep well either because Ryan is sick so he has been waking up crying a lot. When I went to see what he was crying about one time, he was wandering around out in the livingroom! Don't ask me why! Brad got up with him a couple times too. Hannah had an easter egg hunt to go to at school at 11. We had already been outside for almost an hour jumping on the trampoline and playing by that time. She has been looking forward to it all week. After the hunt they had ice cream sundays. It was a good time. Then we ate lunch and the kids took a nap. I did a few things in the house while they were sleeping (swept floors and laundry and dishes) and then went outside where Brad was pumping water and working on the lawn mower and stuff. After the kids woke up we went back outside and played around for a few hours until everyone started getting hungry. Then we went to McDonalds and came home and went on a short bike ride, ate an ice cream cone, gave the kids a bath, brushed teeth and put them in bed. Now here I am! I took a lot of good pictures. I might go work on that next. Tomorrow the weather is supposed to be even better than today before chances of snow the beginning of the week. BOO!!! And then it will be off to NC this Fri to spend a few days with my parents.

I don't know

I don't really know what to say tonight.....Brad is laying on the other end of the couch sleeping. I am thinking that sounds pretty good to me too! Last night was a long night. Ryan went to sleep very clogged up. He absolutely couldn't breathe out his nose at all. Needless to say, he didn't sleep long before he was awake, coughing, gagging and crying because he couldn't breathe through his nose. After going in his room about 4 times I decided I wasn't doing that all night and I just brought him to our bed where he miraculously went to sleep with no problems and Brad and I suffered all night. Today he has seemed fine, just a little runny nose. He went to sleep fine tonight too so I don't know what his problem was. We played outside a lot today. I think that is going to be the big thing this summer. Bike rides around the back streets by our house and the trampoline. I don't mind though. Whatever gets me out of the house and away from the work! Hannah had an emotional break down this morning too. Today was crazy sock day at school. The socks I had picked out for her to wear were the toe socks that are like gloves. She hates them and I knew it but she wanted to wear them at first. But as soon as I started trying to get her toes in there she started crying, saying she didn't want to wear them so I took them off. Then she started crying because I took them off and she wanted to wear them! I told her we didn't have time for all this, we needed to go! So she ended up not wearing the socks. When we got to school she started bawling! I figured it was over the socks but when I went and got her she said it was because she was tired and didn't want me to leave her. Her teacher said she didn't cry long after I left. But there was no way she was coming back home with me! And I didn't feel bad about leaving her there crying! So Brad has worked late all week and he is off tomorrow but Hannah has school. Normally she doesn't on Fri but I think tomorrow is a make up day or something--not sure. Well, Brad is on call so we wouldn't be doing anything anyways. Tomorrow night is game night at the church. I haven't decided whether I am going to go or not. Ryan won't be able to do anything, and he wouldn't want to if he could, so I will just be chasing him around and I would rather do that in my own house! Then Sat is and easter egg hunt at the school for the little kids. Hannah has been talking about that all week. We also have lots going on next week and then we are off to NC for spring break. Can't wait! Well, I an running out of things to say so I better go now.