Tales of an ARMY wife

Huh? What El Paso Is the safest

2010-11-22T19:37:00.000-07:00

So you may have heard El Paso is the safest city of 500,000+. Many don't believe it and I don't blame you. There is good and bad when it comes to El Paso. I have heard about people and known those who have been robbed, I have almost been assaulted by a mom that was mad that my child with Autism said her daughter is fat, I have been thoroughly warned about rape, told to stay away from certain parts of El Paso etc. Then there is Juarez, I won't even start with that. I will also say there is good and bad to almost anywhere you go.
Here are the overall crime rankings from best to worst overall
Here are the populations
Here are the top tens by populations

More importantly here is where they get their info..the FBI.

"Each year when Crime in the United States is published, some entities use reported figures to compile rankings of cities and counties. These rough rankings provide no insight into the numerous variables that mold crime in a particular tow...n, city, county, state, or region. Consequently, they lead to simplistic and/or incomplete analyses that often create misleading perceptions adversely affecting communities and their residents. Valid assessments are possible only with careful study and analysis of the range of unique conditions affecting each local law enforcement jurisdiction. The data user is, therefore, cautioned against comparing statistical data of individual reporting units from cities, metropolitan areas, states, or colleges or universities solely on the basis of their population coverage or student enrollment."Read more here

Here is the list of REPORTED crimes in Texas by city in 2009

Curious about your city/state..look here

So everyone when you read those safest city lists, please take them with a grain of salt. The only person responsible for your safety is you, use your brain and stay safe.

Good sometimes comes with Bad

2010-11-21T18:10:00.000-07:00

I just realized I never added a conclusion about my adventure with Accutane. My face was perfectly clear after 5 months so my dermatologist gave me the option of stopping a month early. So as of August 1st, I have been done with Accutane. Here I am now with my clear face:

Good stuff huh?

Unfortunately, for me despite having regular blood work in September I learned I had a side effect from the medicine. I have severe liver damage. My ALT is 460, normal is 12-78. Not good. I rarely drink and I don't have hepatitis so all signs point to Accutane. Who knows maybe it was the combo of Accutane and lupron..who knows, doesn't matter much now. I just need to keep up with my healthy life and pray my liver goes back to normal in time.

Now I wish someone would have warned me about what this med could have done to my liver instead of you cannot get pregnant and giving me all those warnings.

CoC

2010-10-25T07:56:00.000-06:00

I'll tell y'all one thing, i'm stubborn in my beliefs and I will go out on a limb and say what I feel and there is something that has always pissed me off.Even if something does not directly pertain to me. Abuses in chain of Command. At Fort Bliss the garrison commander has his own like page where you can come to him with your questions and concerns. I initially signed up for the page to learn about the various going ons at Fort Bliss. Instead I like to call this page "The Days of Fort Bliss lives." It is a drama filled page where it seems people can't do anything for themselves anymore. Really complaining that with the start of recycling you lost a trash can, complaining because your neighbor has 3 dogs instead of 2, complaining about medical care, etc. Most of the time I read and wonder what happened to the days when there were tough Army wives who knew how to take care of things on their own instead of just running to those in charge and complaining. What happened to the days of calling the housing office when you had an issue? I know with the privatization of housing you can go all the way up to that companies headquarters if you do not like the service you are receiving. Guess what you may get better action to your problem doing that. I know while on recruiting duty that is how us wives got stuff done. It got my family moved into a larger home, another family into a larger home and new tires for another wife. You can put on your big girl panties and handle problems without getting your spouses or garrison command involved. Guess what command will like you too because you are not that whining complaining wife that always has issues.You have a problem with your medical treatment, have you seen the patient advocate? Did you know you don't have to be seen on post, you can request to be seen off post. Yes, you may need to have a form approved but honestly I have never seen anyone refused to go off post. What i'm trying to say for most issues that a spouse deals with there are solutions that do not involve chain of command. Big girl panties..got it? You can take care of problems. If it is a green suiter issue leave that to your husband. He takes care of finance issues, he takes care of EO issues, he takes care of PCS issues, not you..it is their job after all. If your husband worked at the local electric company would you be going to his boss about your husband's pay issues and what not?
Now there is a another offense that pisses me off more than the whiny spouse. It is the civilian that thinks running to the soldiers command will get things done. Honestly really, do you want someone calling your boss to complain about what your spouse or child is doing? Having trouble paying your bills? Bill collector calls your husband's chain of command. You drop your kid off late to school, call dad's chain of command and get them involved so the child is not late to school. Now in the civilian world what would people think if people did this? Back to working at the power company, what do you think the boss- person would do if they got a complaint that your wife was picking your child up early every Wednesday from school. Honestly they would be, why is that my problem, I'm sure that person's wife has a reason. It is against the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and you have the right to sue a debt collector if they contact your supervisor at work. My husband's work has had so many calls they are turning over those violators to Jag now.
Oh and that school thing, really happened. The assistant principal at a local school located on post but is NOT a DOD school went and complained, urging the COL to help her. When I read her issue I was fuming. She is in assistant principal, she has rules for the school, if she is having an issue she has rules, they have consequences enforce them. Parents dropping off late, excessive tardies has a consequence. Picking up early, it requires a note. If she is not enforcing the basic rules there is nothing that can be done. If I was a parent at that school I would be complaining about her actions. It is honestly a disgrace that she thinks it is ok to complain to a garrison commander because she cannot enforce the rules at her own school, shame on her. I feel bad for the garrison commander having to field such as issues. He is stuck between a rock and a hard place, he needs to keep good community relations so can't just ignore her.
Really I wish people would understand this is our spouses job, if it is something that is not done in the civilian world. Why do people think it is ok in the military world?

4 weeks Post Op

2010-10-20T20:16:00.000-06:00

I am 4 weeks post op..woohoo!
Knock on wood my recovery has been pretty smooth sailing:) Some bladder spasms early on but that is normal esp. when my bladder is no longer being squished by a boggy uterus. A hematoma next to my belly button that went away on it's own. Currently my main issues are a swelly belly and having no energy to do the things I want.
My belly started swelling in Fall of 2008, I couldn't figure it out. I bought size 8 clothes. I was a bit sad because I worked so hard to get into a size 6. All of my measurements were the same except in my belly, I just couldn't figure it out. I also couldn't lose this weight I gained...10lbs..ugh:( The answer came with my hysterectomy, I had adenomyosis, my uterus was getting bigger and boggier and I looked pregnant. I also had adhesions all over my right side of my abdomen, they were so bad I ended up losing my right ovary.

So today I had a small victory. I decided to try some of my size 6 clothes on to see how much work I had ahead of me. Even though I haven't lost a pound I can do something I haven't been able to do for a year. zip up my size 6 pants...several pairs. They don't look the best, I was sporting a muffin top but I zipped them up...woohoo!

woohoo for small wonders. Now to just get rid of that swelling...yeah I know it takes time.

Exposed

2010-10-20T01:21:00.000-06:00

This picture was taken in August but it is me, and it goes with the blog battle scars from a few months ago. It is me Exposed...

Commence screaming now!

2010-10-16T01:02:00.000-06:00

This whole ordeal with my son has been frustrating to say the least. I called his pediatrician once again this week for the second opinion referral and was shocked. The nurse told me the Dr needed the report from the oncologist and then would decide if we needed a second opinion. Um say What?!? I inform the nurse I have spoken with my insurance company and it is my right to get a second opinion for my son no matter what his primary Dr thought. They have to submit a second opinion, no questions asked. The nurse goes on to say she will let me know what the Dr says. I am livid at this point. I call Tricare to see if they can help. Their hands are tied because the primary Dr needs to request the second opinion. My only option is to switch providers. Augh, do I really switch providers in the middle of this? That afternoon I talk with my husband who is livid as well and we decide to switch providers. We can't allow the pediatrician to decide what is best for our child after already dropping the ball once and we cannot leave his health to a complacent oncologist. The next morning I called Tricare to check one last time if anything was submitted, the guy searched and there was nothing so I made the switch. Called the new pediatrician and my son had an appt at 9am the next morning. We saw the new Dr and he agreed a second opinion was needed. He also decided to do his own bloodwork just in case the old pediatrician decided to take their time on getting my kids records to him. Poor kid, just had bloodwork done the previous day. So I called the oncology clinic in hopes of making an appt with the Dr kid 3 picked out. Yes, he picked out his Dr, he wanted the Dr with the bow tie. I fell into another road block. The oncology clinic does not make appts without the pediatrician and only the pediatrician calling and speaking one on one with the oncologist. Can there be anything else? So I called the pediatrician's office this morning and relayed the message and now we wait till Monday to call again. After all is said is done I received another call from the original pediatrician's office, they submitted the referral and it was approved. Oh my really? Approved pretty quickly too, nothing there Weds. but i'm getting the call at 11am Friday, wow. Makes you wonder.

So here I sit, frustrated at this whole process and my lil big man sleeping on the loveseat next to me. He's had a bout of night sweats already tonight. I only wonder how much longer are we going to be left in this limbo of not knowing. I just want to know, I just want him to be better.

The trip to the oncologist

2010-10-07T21:41:00.001-06:00

Right now I am at my wits end I do not know what to think. I am frustrated, mad, confused, sad and a variety of other emotions. We have made our first visit to the oncologist this week. Both my husband and I left the oncologist even more confused than before. Maybe we had expectations but going into the oncology clinic we both said, our child will not be treated here. My husband focused on pictures of now deceased children. I focused on clutter and dirt. Over a dozen iv stands just in a corner, the "waiting room" the floors were dirty, the chairs were gross. The chairs were those reclining chairs, my kids reclined one of the chairs and we had to keep them from "relaxing" in it and closed it quickly. The busted toy with beads with dirt caked on. I was going on germ overload. It was obvious this clinic was a mere after thought. You just looked around and you could tell this use to be something else. Going into a peds oncology clinic, I was expecting it to look happy and something to bring hope and happiness for these kids going through so much.

Our son has his vitals done and then we are told it may be 5 hours before we could be seen. The nurse took my phone number and said she would call when the patient before us went in. Three hours later we got the call and went back to the hospital to finally meet the oncologist. We go back to his office, torn kid's books, torn wall paper border more pictures of now deceased children. The Dr is very soft spoken, and it is obvious we have a bit of a language barrier problem.He in not completely understanding us. We go over everything my pregnancy, his birth and all of his 6 years. This is one thing I can say, I do not remember every single time my children get sick, I just don't. I remember the big illnesses but not every little one. We go over myself, husband, our kids , our parents, our siblings and grandparents. Leaving nothing unturned but yet he is still not understanding everything, we are confusing him simple with my husband's family. he has 2 full brothers, 3 half brothers and a half sister and then the fact we don't know much about his dad's side of the family...the man just reentered my husband's life in 2008 after a 20+ year absence...excuse us.

After being asked and examining my son the Dr is comfortable in treating my child. Huh comfortable?Your not confident? How are you comfortable that my child does not have something that the pathology from his biopsy is pointing to. Something that his surgeon and pathologist think needs to be ruled out. The oncologist is comfortable that he thinks my son has an auto immune disease. He is testing my child for various auto immune diseases. He his testing my child for HIV which completely throws me for a loop but we are thinking that is one of those check the box type tests. Then again, I have an auto immune disease, Lupus-SLE... the test that is used to screen for auto immune diseases is a ANA. My son was suppose to have had one. His pediatrician checked him for lupus which he does not have. If only those nurses would give me my son's bloodwork results. I will say the oncologist did say it was negative for lupus. I'm not a Dr though, just a mom, who has read too many journal articles and what not. I am not comfortable in this Dr at all, neither is my husband. We are trying to get a second opinion.

What am I suppose to think, I hate to think the worst and want to hope for the best but I just can't believe a Dr that is only comfortable with my son's care. Then there is the run down facility. I need someone who is confident and at least a good vibe going into the the oncology clinic.

A few words that scare every parent

2010-09-26T15:12:00.001-06:00

I want to wake up from this very bad dream. I can't though because it is reality. Something came back from my son's pathology report. Yes, that is the stuff that nightmares are made of. We can be thankful it's not lymphoma or anything major but then again it is something, they don't think cancer but it is cancerlike. The pediatric pathologist found histiocytes in my son's lymph node. He double checked his work and has sent away for some special stains to find out exactly what we are dealing with. I heard scarier words when I took my son in for a second surgery to remove a seroma that had developed after his lymph node biopsy. Dr Rocks-a-lot told me, "you need to make an appt with an oncologist." A cancer doctor, what? huh? no child should ever have to go see an oncologist. How in the world does my healthy little boy need to go see an oncologist. This just can't be. He is tired all the time and looks a bit pale but he's not sick. He is happy and silly and bounces off the wall sometimes. I want to scream, this cannot be happening. It is though, it has become my life. So now we wait, still waiting on those special stains to find out exactly what we are dealing with. We wait so impatiently for those stains to come back so the only pediatric oncologist that will see us can look at the results before making an appointment for my son so we can find out what is next. Chemo, radiation, who knows what else...things that little kids shouldn't have to deal with. My little boy I can't even imagine you having to go through all of these things. You are strong though, tough like your mommy and daddy. We will be here for you with all the love in the world to get you through this and you will get through this and become even stronger...nothing can stop you. I love you, my lil big man...love mommy.

To learn more check out- www.histio.org

Lupron the conclusion

2010-09-15T21:43:00.000-06:00

I started blogging about my experience with lupron and then I stopped. For that i'm sorry. That shot did things to me that I did not like and turned me into someone I did not like. I am still fighting to get back to my happy self.
My main side effects while on lupron were.... a free boob job I went up a whole cup size... I lost my hair, thank goodness I have a thick head of hair. I lost about half my hair and end up chopping it off. I now have shoulder length hair... emotions all over the place, I cried about things on tv and was extra emotional in general, I could be laughing one minute and crying the next.... I did not want to do anything, I had no energy or desire... hot flashes... weight gain, 6lbs in 3 months
Unfortunately for me the shot did not do all it was suppose to do. For being in menopause I had a period in July and August... that baffled my Dr. So far this month my iphone app says i'm late. The cramps and pain finally disappeared about a month after I had the shot only to return after I quit the addback therapy. Addback therapy is the hormones that women who have hysterectomies and ovaries removed, estrogen and progesterone. I started that one month after my shot. As soon as I started that I was back in pain central. To add to it I was always dizzy and lightheaded. One day while I was out running I started to feel dizzy so I slowed down to stop and blacked out. I came to as I was falling down. My heartrate was 195. After that my Dr took me off the addback and my husband wouldn't let me run anymore. I have to build my heart back up.

The conclusion at my follow up appt is I am having a hysterectomy. I will keep my ovaries. My surgery is next week. Lupron just didn't really work for me like it should have but I tried to tell the Dr I don't do hormones very well.

The actual surgery doesn't really scare me. I am nervous, who wouldn't be? I am more scared of after the surgery and my post op period. Not of the pain the surgery may bring but how things are going to work. I have no family here, very few friends and well I don't do very well at the asking for help thing so i'm relying on my husband. Thing is his work..the Army... his current unit. Not sure if it is going to work out or not. I will say his commander said he will fight for my husband to get the time he needs to take care of things. We will see what happens.

So there it is the conclusion of my 3 months on lupron. I just wish these hot flashes would stop!

Today was hard

2010-09-09T20:39:00.000-06:00

Today was a hard day, emotionally. My youngest son had surgery, a lymph node biopsy. He is now without one of his lymph nodes in his arm pit. The start of this was father's day weekend. We had spent the day at Elephant Butte Lake with friends celebrating a fatherless father's day. When we came home and my son was getting ready for bed, I saw the lump, then the other armpit, another lump on it. I looked it up on Dr Google and what a mistake. I decided to give it time to go down on it's own before running to the Dr. My husband came home from the field and the lump was still there so we decided to call the Dr. This now brought us to the first week of July. The Dr's were all on vacation..really wtf? So he had the first appt after the holiday weekend. This appt brought bloodwork and we were told he had 4 swollen lymph nodes. We were originally told this bloodwork was normal but at his followup were told of some abnormalities. Saw a different Dr at the follow up that decided not to do more bloodwork but to wait until August, to see if they go away on their own. The August appt came and the swollen lymph nodes were still there:( The Dr's plan do more bloodwork. After waiting a week for results I started calling and was finally told it was normal. The new Dr's plan of action was to wait 2-4 more months to see if they disappeared on their own still. My husband and I did not like this option at all. Our son didn't just have swollen lymph nodes but excessive fatigue as well. He can't walk a block without getting tired or his legs hurting where a year ago he liked walking home, he is 6 and still falls asleep in the car within 10 minutes and is just cranky and tired all the time. Plus he has not been sick, he has not had an illness to trigger his lymph nodes to swell. So I requested a second opinion from a surgeon who did a appendectomy on my oldest. The Dr's office at first was reluctant and tried to say it wouldn't get approved but it did. I called Friday afternoon to make an appt and they wanted him in Monday morning first thing and did not care about the bloodwork. So we went to see the surgeon, and it was discovered my son has new swollen lymph nodes in his neck. The surgeon put him on his schedule the following week.
Today was his surgery. We were up bright and early to battle traffic and get to the hospital by 8 for his surgery at 10. 10am passed us on by and at 1pm I kissed my little boy goodbye and said I love you and left to wait in the waiting room. The surgery was pretty quick, 30 minutes later the surgeon was out to talk to me and about 5 later I was back in post op.
So now it is the waiting game...what will pathology find? Please no Lymphoma or Leukemia:(

umm..yeah..thanx..whateva

2010-09-09T01:10:00.000-06:00

Let me begin this by saying that I do not volunteer for awards... awards, awards... whateva. It is nice being recognized though and when you are told you are getting an award and when you don't get what you expected it kinda hurts, what hurts more is seeing others being recognized who did less than or the same amount of work that you did and you receive the lesser award. That is worse than getting the same award as the next person who did 50hours when you did 500.
I was a FRG leader, I was fired, the commander later found I was not at fault, even asked my husband if I would be FRG leader again. I wouldn't, I will help but not in that role. I put my heart and soul into starting up a FRG for 6 months. I was the team player despite hostilities toward the different MOS's in the unit. I kept chugging away despite the lack of command support, first a brand new second lieutenant that had no clue what a FRG was then a captain that I still could not get the support I needed from. I had no FRL, so I was left to figure out the rosters myself, our FRSA had cancer on her brain stem and was out alot. I couldn't get info from command. Needless to say I bothered my husband alot. I put together the first facepook page in our squadron, I designed our FRG t-shirts,I attempted to start a girls day once a month, was planning a "be your soldier day/hooah"day, I planned frg meetings, got guest speakers, got toys for every child in our squadron for Christmas from toys for tots, did valentine goody boxes for our company and planned a kick-butt spring bbq complete with a egg hunt for the kids. I put in countless hours that I never logged. Outside of my husband's company I participated in almost every unit event until I was fired... bake sale in Oct,decorated the Italian Cafe in November, Christmas Party Decorations and later running my husband's companies table, The Amazing Resource Race. After I was fired I even still did the relay for life for my husband's unit team. The only events I did not do were... breakfast burrito and then brisket sandwich sale due to my son having appendicitis (really was I suppose to leave the hospital to sell brisket?), a ladies spur ride...an activity not a single wife in my husband's company did due to their MOS, armed forces day fundraiser which was not put out to my husband's company and lastly a ice cream social in June, an event that came straight off our calendar from January. So because we had no FRG as of April 1st and I did not participate in those 3 events, I "earned" the lowest FRG award...umm say what? Yet a girl who became FRG leader in June earned the highest along with the other FRG leaders... wow really is all I gotta say.

Thanks for showing me how you really feel about me.

2010-07-05T15:29:00.002-06:00

The Fourth and Me

2010-07-04T01:06:00.000-06:00

First and Foremost I want to wish everyone out there a Happy 4th of July! Happy 234th Birthday USA!

Many of us have our own traditions for the day, many include family, parades, bbq's and fireworks. I know in my family those are common things for us. We do one of two things every year, see family and do what is in their town or stay home and go to the closest Army installation for their fireworks celebration.

The fourth has always meant alot to me. It always brings memories of my childhood and going to my Grandma and Grandpa's in NY. There was always a parade and a ton of candy. There was always Raggedy Ann too. When I was 12 I finally figured out the family secret. Raggedy Ann was my Grandma! She started this tradition the year after I was born for my 1st Fourth of July.

(wasn't I cute!)

Every Year until 2006 my grandma did the parade. In 2006, my mom took a turn. Then in 2008, as crazy as this may sound I had a dream and all I knew is that I had to do it. In 2008, I was Raggedy Ann in the 4th of July Parade.

(with my grandma in 2008)

I did the parade again in 2009. That was Raggedy Ann's last year in the parade:( At my grandma's 80th birthday party the big secret came out, surprising many.

We are miles and miles away in Texas now, too expensive to fly the 6 of us out, takes too long to drive so we are staying here this year. I am a bit saddened though. When we aren't visiting family we always go to nearby Army post for their Fireworks Celebration. Fort Bragg, Fort Monmouth and Fort Dix always had something going. This year at Fort Bliss, they have no Fireworks Celebration. Going into the community the only free event is at the Chamizal National Monument .

(This is from Chamizal, the fields/picnic area...
That sign say Welcome to Mexico,)

(from the top of the hill..
you can see the lines of cars coming into the USA)

(This was taken when I was leaving Chamizal...
Right turn here and your headed to Juarez, Mexico)

After some long talks, my husband and I decided not to go to this. We would have to go into the Lower Valley of El Paso at night with our kids and that area can be iffy. Our kids are disappointed. Son #2 had a meltdown over the fact Fort Bliss doesn't have anything but what can we do. We are left to make up our own new tradition but I will be a little sad to not end the day with some fireworks.

For next year though who is with me? Who wants to help me bring the Fourth to Fort Bliss?

Holy Boobies!

2010-07-03T21:40:00.000-06:00

It has been a week since I had my Lupron injection and oh boy Friday the side effects got even better! New Symptoms are... Hot Flashes (I have had 3 -2 while out in public, those sucked!), Nausea- non stop since Thursday, and Oh My G-D my boobs. I have gone up a whole cup size! One of the side effects listed was breast changes but I so did not expect this! I'm falling out of my bra's it is so ..umm bad (Really, I could get a job at Hooter's, no problem,lol). I have a ball to go to in a month and the dress I was going to wear, I no longer can because of my boobs:( Showed my husband myself in the dress and he said the typical male answer,"I think you look good". Then again he likes my free boob job...men and boob's..geesh,lol. He did see how upset I was and say I could get a new dress (as well as some new bra's) but do I dare out of fear of them growing any larger? Looks like I have some shopping to do.

Adventure's with Lupron part 1

2010-06-27T18:37:00.000-06:00

On Friday I started the process towards hysterectomy. I had my first injection of Lupron Depot. In 3 months if the Lupron does what it is supposed to I will be having a hysterectomy. If not..I dunno. We didn't talk about that.
It has been 48 hours now and *knock on wood* I pray I do not jinx myself but side effects have been minimal.
I am still having pain:(
I had a crying for no reason spell that lasted 15 minutes that was followed by laughing hysterically yesterday. I thought I was losing it.
Oh I am having major cravings for nothing more than Junk Food. Good thing I don't keep that stuff in the house. Unfortunately I can make it...made Caramel Cupcakes with Salted Caramel (No frosting). My husband came in the kitchen, why are you making caramel?

So there it is my first 48 hours on Lupron. Who knows what is to come? I guess I'll see.

2010-06-27T18:23:00.002-06:00

Life's little Surprises

2010-06-18T23:18:00.000-06:00

I'm a healthy girl. My Dr says my bloodwork is beautiful, good cholesterol levels, blood sugar in check etc. I have nice low blood pressure too, 100/60 or lower usually.I watch what I eat, watch my daily calorie intake, read labels, cook from scratch, eat a lot of veggies and fruits, whole grains etc. limit fast food, don't drink soda or coffee. I think you get the point. I am healthy thanks to a healthy lifestyle.
I lost a bunch of weight after I had my daughter and a year after maintaining the weight took up running. I actually gained a few pounds running but that was ok. I was still the same size but now gaining toned muscles. I maintained this size for another year. I then started getting this bloated belly I couldn't figure out. I blamed ovarian cysts, which I frequently had and was seeing a girly Dr for. I went up a pant size to accommodate my belly. I was not happy. I blamed everything I could, eating poorly because I had been tdy, then it turned into well I had surgery then hurt my foot then moved and ate out every meal for a month. Once we were settled in TX I watched my weight like a hawk. I measured myself on a regular basis, one thing was for certain my belly was getting bigger.
I finally saw a GYN and he said he thought I had endometriosis not just cysts like I had been told. I had an exploratory lap in NJ to rule this out, it couldn't be endo. I know I have a monster of a cyst in there and fluid in my uterus. The Dr scheduled me for an ultrasound and after that was done it was the long wait, 3 weeks. I finally saw the Dr this past Friday.
I found myself in a tizzy of emotions. For the last 3 years I have been trying to find out what is wrong with my girly bits. Remember I did have cysts but I will say Dr's always said it couldn't be just cysts. They even sent me to other specialist to figure out the mystery. I like to joke that my body has gone crazy since it does not know how to behave in a non pregnant state. Well yesterday I received my answer, I have Adenomyosis ( http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/adenomyosis/ds00636 ) with possibly some endo. My Dr last year did not do any biopsies, he only looked around (after my appendix had been removed), unless he did biopsies there is no way of knowing for sure. I guess there could of been an area he missed or an area where the endo was not bad but there...I am not a Dr, just going by what I was told and have read. Adenomyosis can be hard to diagnosis without a biopsy as well. So now I have answers to why my belly looks like i'm 3 months pregnant and won't go away. With Adenmyosis your uterus get's boggy and big.
So what do you do when you have Adenomyosis to treat it? You have 3 options. First is pain management. I won't take anything stronger than Motrin so this is a no-go. I guess i'm a rare breed of Army wife I don't like to be out of it and loopy while my husband is gone and I have 4 kids to take care of. That's just me. My days of getting drunk for the fun of it are behind me as well but that's another blog.
The next option is a shot of Lupron. This will put me in a medical menopause. and the shot works for 3 months.
The last option is hysterectomy. HYSTERECTOMY, why is that such a big scary word? I am done having kids, my husband had a vasectomy but why has that little word thrown me into such a tizzy? Should I feel happy no more pain and what not and no more monthly friends but no just lost and confused.
I had no clue what to tell the Dr after he gave me my options. He understood how I felt about pain management 100% so I was down to 2 choices. I couldn't decide. My husband was unreachable as well. Up in the mountains in New Mexico doing that Army thing he does. Ugh what timing! So my Dr decided for me as he knew Hub's was gone because I had joked earlier about it. I'm going to get the shot of Lupron and in 3 months I will be scheduling my surgery. I am nervous as can be about this. My husband found out a couple days later when he finally was able to send me a text asking how it went. He was in shock as well and has his own questions.
So there it is, I'm gonna be getting a Hysterectomy. Wow, i'm 32. I'm still in shock.

My life by Ke$ha

2010-06-11T01:38:00.000-06:00

Dear Ke$ha,

I don't know why but your songs are constantly stuck in my head! So I think they should be stuck in other people's heads!

First a lil BLAH,BLAH, BLAH...

I will be the first to admit that over 11 years ago I use to hang out in the clubs of Tampa Bay. I was a regular, so much so that one night a guy pulled me aside and told me I was getting a real reputation of being a b!tch,lol. I remember that night all I can think of is this song,lol. I was anything but, I was out to have fun and DANCE, not get some, if that made me a bitch oh well. Now a days i'm a total mommy, very few know my crazy night club days.

Just over 11 years ago I found the guy whose love is my drug....

isn't it interesting how a few songs no matter what they are can relate to your life in some way?

Debbie's Super Easy Pasta Salad

2010-05-30T12:15:00.000-06:00

2 13oz bags frozen tortelenni (cooked per package directions)
16oz diced ham
1 red pepper diced
1 small red onion diced
1 cup tomatoes (diced roma's or halved grape tomatoes)
6oz baby spinach
16oz whole milk mozzarella, diced
2.25oz can sliced black olives
14oz bottle zesty Italian salad dressing (or olive oil and sun dried tomato vinaigrette)
Shredded Parmesan cheese to garnish

Combine all ingredients except salad dressing. Add enough dressing to coat. Garnish with shredded Parmesan.

Pink Princess Cookies

2010-05-30T11:59:00.000-06:00

Don't tell anyone but these are really cake mix cookies but now that I have a lil girl at times I need to make pink cookies. What could be easier than these 4 ingredient cookies.

Cake Mix cookies

1 cake mix
2 eggs
1/3 cup cooking oil (vegetable, canola, etc.)
confectioners sugar (optional)

Combine all ingredients

Then form into lil 1 in balls (I used a cookie scoop) and roll in confectioner's sugar.

Place on a parchment lined cookie sheet.

Bake in a preheated 375* oven for 6-10 minutes

There ya go...Pink Princess Cookies

Biscuits and Gravy...Good ole yumminess

2010-05-30T10:27:00.001-06:00

I am going to admit something, I am not a born southern girl. I am a convert, I claim the south as my home 100% but... I was born in New York, south western New York. I moved to North Carolina right before I turned 2 and lived in the south until the Army decided that my husband needed to be a recruiter in NJ in 2006. My mom never fried a chicken, made black eyed peas or biscuits and gravy for breakfast. Somehow though I can cook all of the above and more. Maybe being raised in the south it is just something that is now in my blood. Good thing because I have 3 Carolina boys of my own and we are pretty sure my lil Jersey girl is going to grow up claiming Texas as her home.

Getting back to food, I'm not much of a breakfast person. I can't stand eggs or cereal but give me some good biscuits and gravy and I'm all over that. I keep 2-3 things of pork sausage in my freezer at all times because we love biscuits and gravy so much. It is the easiest thing to make too and you don't need those canned biscuits. From scratch biscuits are easy to make.

Easy Biscuits
2 1/4cups Self Rising Flour
1TB Sugar
3/4cup shortening
1 cup milk

Mix flour and sugar together. Cut in shortening and mix until it looks like coarse crumbs. Add milk and combine until all moistened. Do not over mix.

Put flour on counter and take dough and spread to a 3/4-1in thickness. I use my hands but feel free to use a rolling pin. Then use a biscuit cutter, cup or whatever you want and cut your biscuits out.

This is part of a pampered chef measuring cup...It is perfect, imo for making biscuits.

bake in a preheated 425* oven for 20-25 minutes

Don't they look yummy?
Quick, easy and not from a can.

Now to go with the biscuits, you need Sausage Gravy. Yes you can by a powder mix from McCormick but why? Sausage Gravy is easy to make plus you get real sausage with your gravy.

Sausage Gravy
16oz pork sausage
2cups milk
1/3 cup flour
1tsp seasoned salt

Step 1 take Mr Jimmy Dean and brown

Once brown add milk and sift in flour and stir, add seasoned salt.
Or...
I use this:

It is a Tupperware Quick Shake.
I add the milk, then flour and seasoned salt and shake well (my kids love doing his part) and pour.

Cook on high heat and stir until it thickens.

There ya go quick and easy sausage gravy.

Now just take your biscuits put some gravy on top of them and enjoy!

Homemade Veggie Burgers

2010-05-25T23:33:00.000-06:00

I LOVE Veggie Burgers! My family can take them or leave them so we rarely have them. Until today that. I have edited a veggie burger recipe off allrecipes.com The only person who knew these burgers were veggie burger's was my husband and out of the 6 of us 5 of us liked them. Son #3 was being picky tonight and did not want corn so refused to eat his.

Veggie Burgers

2 16oz can Black Beans
1 green, red, yellow or orange pepper (or combination of different types)
1 onion
4-6 clove garlic (to taste)
2 eggs
2tsp hot sauce
2TB chili powder
2TB cumin
2tsp dried cilantro (optional for the anti cilantro people out there)
black pepper to taste
1 cup bread crumbs
1/2 cup flax meal
1 cup frozen corn (optional)

Rinse and drain beans well. In a food processor finely chop green pepper, onion and garlic. Drain any excess water. Use food processor to mash beans. Transfer to large bowl and mix in egg and seasonings. Finally sir in bread crumbs, flax meal and corn kernels. Mixture will be sticky but will form patties. Form 8 burger patties. Bake on a parchment lined cookie sheet at 375 for 10-12 minutes.

Orange Creamsicle Cupcakes

2010-05-25T22:27:00.000-06:00

I adapted this recipe from a key lime cupcake recipe I found on the internet in 2008 and had written down on a piece of paper.... Made a few changes and have come up with a really good orange cupcake:)

Orange Creamsicle Cupcakes

Ingredient's:
1/2cup butter
1 1/4cup sugar
2 eggs
1TB orange zest
2 1/2TB orange juice (fresh juice)
1tsp orange extract (optional)
1cup flour
3/4 cup self rising flour
3/4 cup buttermilk ( 1use 1TB vinegar then milk and let sit for a few minutes)
orange gel food coloring (optional)

Mix ingredients in the order listed. You want to first cream the butter and sugar. Next mix in eggs one at a time then orange zest and juice. he orange extract is optional. I have made these both ways. You can taste the orange flavor without the extract. My husband said I needed more orange but the people I made them for said they tasted perfect. This is just one of those personal taste things.

Next add in your dry ingredients and lastly add your buttermilk or buttermilk substitute. If desired add orange gel food coloring for that orange creamsicle color.

Fill cupcake liners 1/2 to 2/3 full and bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

Once cooled frost with a vanilla frosting. I use a simple buttercream.

Buttercream Frosting

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup shortening
4 cups confectioners sugar
2t vanilla
4TB milk

cream butter and shortening until fluffy. Slowly add confectioners sugar then vanilla and milk. You can add more or less milk to get the thickness you want. Once you add the milk whip on high speed, the longer you whip it the lighter and fluffier your frosting will be.

Now don't these look like some happy cupcake eating kids?
These kinder kids are quite discriminating as well...shocked and pleased when these cupcakes did not come from Walmart,lol

What would you do?

2010-05-17T20:48:00.000-06:00

Standing in Walmart, in line waiting to pay. Well dressed women and her daughter in front of me and my boys. She turns to pay, has blackberry and wallet on counter. She goes to pay with her texas lone star card... food stamps.

She is having trouble with her card, the cashier and herself try a good 15 times to get it to work. flustered she says put back everything except a chicken. She reaches in her wallet and gets cash. When she does this her other side of her face is shown and she has a fresh black eye. Then her other arm is visible huge bruises that are in the healing stages.

At this point I was about to go and pay for the rest of her and her daughters food when she found the pin in her wallet for her lone star card. She then buys her groceries and leaves.

I pay for my purchases and go out to my car, her Infiniti parked in front of me.

So what would have you done?

Oatmeal Peanut Butter Surprise Cookies

2010-05-15T17:50:00.000-06:00

I made Oatmeal Peanut Butter Surprise Cookies for my kiddos and to my surprise they loved them! Little did they know they not only were filled with wholesome oatmeal but flax meal (ground flax seed) and wheat germ. Why is flax seed good for you? It has Omega-3 fatty acids, Lignans, and Fiber. All good for general health, lowering blood pressure and cholesterol. Wheat germ is full of several different nutrients such as Vitamin E, Folic acid and other B vitamins, Fiber, Omega 3 fatty acids, protein and many others. It is also great for heart health and lowering cholesterol. I just love it when I can sneak something healthy by my kids:)

Oatmeal Peanut butter Surprise Cookies

1 cup shortening
1 cup butter or margarine
2 cups brown sugar
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 cups peanut butter
4 eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
3 cups flour
4 tsp baking soda
3/4tsp salt
1/2 cup flax meal
1/2 cup wheat germ
3 cups oatmeal

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Cream together shortening, margarine, brown sugar, white sugar. Then mix in peanut butter until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time and add vanilla. Blend well. Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt and stir into the creamed mixture. Add in in the flax, wheat germ and then oats until combined. Use spoon or scoop and drop onto parchment lined cookie sheet and bake 10-15 minutes

According to the State of Texas...

2010-04-29T00:40:00.001-06:00

Last Friday we had our final ARD meeting for my second son. It was to go over the findings of his Autism Evaluation. Heaven forbid, the glorious state of Texas believe a medical diagnosis, none the less a diagnosis that a student has had for just over 5years. The school district psychologist based on her observation and evaluations filled out by his teacher, school speech therapist and myself has decided that my son does indeed have Autism.
What does this mean? The school district has an in home trainer that will work with his teacher...oh wait already happening and not working out. The in home trainer will come to my home and help me set up a schedule for him, um yeah, 5 years of dealing with this, already done. The school district will pay for me to go to Autism trainings but unfortunately for this year they are out of money. So all that was done to his IEP was his code was changed to Autism with a secondary communication delay. Next year his current school is starting an axis program for kids with social and sensory issues which he will be part of but at present they are doing absolutely nothing to help him.
Moving here, they have taken him out of a self contained classroom setting because he was too smart for special education. Been told this many time's. They reserve self contained classroom for kids that are academically below grade level. My son is academically above grade level. They also took him out of OT and PT. They later placed him in adaptive PE. He goes to PE with all the kids in his grade 4-5 other classes and the adaptive PE coach comes in and works with him a couple times a week if that (when she decides to show up). When he is overwhelmed in PE they sit him by himself and give him stacking cups to play with. Nice huh? This happens alot. He is still in speech but the therapist is not working on the articulation skills he needs. He is in a mainstream classroom with the class within a class setting. This means the 2 special education teachers that are in the school come work with him in his classroom for math and reading. These same teachers service the entire school. My oldest son is in the same CWC classroom setting and has the same teachers. It was decided that my son did not need his own one on one aid despite my requesting it and the teacher thinking he needed it, as she spends alot of time redirecting my child. The school here in all honesty is not doing a thing to help my child. It is sad. To top it off he is doing work that he did in kindergarten in 2nd grade.

this is homework he has done this year

My son has regressed since we moved to Texas and it upsets me greatly. He has started doing behaviors that had lessened, he quit and a few that are new. He sadly hate's school now, he is just bored there. I at my wits end here. No child left behind my ass, El Paso, Texas schools interpretation of this law is ridiculous! They educate the child in the least restrictive setting despite what other needs the child may have. This is something I simply for the life of me cannot understand. How can I go from schools on the east coast of the USA that give my child everything that they could possibly need to excel to schools that give the bare minimum and only teach what is needed to pass the TAKS test. How is that any good for our children? I have to figure something out for the sake of my children. I cannot sit back and allow this to happen, I just can't. Our children are our future, they need to be given everything that we possibly can so they can excel.

Accutane

2010-04-28T22:01:00.000-06:00

I have been a bit nervous about saying anything, don't want to jinx myself but I think it's working. What? Accutane. I just started my third month and this past weekend I went out to functions with no more makeup than mascara for my barely their eyelashes.

This is what I looked like right before I started:

I'm far from being a teenager, my face should not look like this. I have battled acne since I was 12. I remember going to countless dermatologist's as a teen, trying a variety of treatments. Each doctor had their own theory. From the time I was 12 until 17-18 I was constantly on either tetracycline or minocycline. I tried retin-a, this cream that cream none completely helping me. When I was pregnant was the only time I had some relief from the huge cystic pimples but they always came back. When I was done having kids I decided to go on a quest to get put on Accutane. Accutane is a serious drug, period. It was first developed as a chemotherapy treatment for brain cancer and other cancers. If you become pregnant on this medication your child will most likely be born with some sort of birth defect. The other major side effects is depression and suicide. Doctor's don't just hand out Accutane, it is used as a last resort.
In my case I have tried everything and it was time for the last resort. There is a complete program to be placed on Accutane. You first are enrolled in the ipledge system. You have to have a negative pregnancy test, some blood work and come back a month later and have another negative pregnancy test. During this first month before going on Accutane you must also be counseled on birth control. To my surprise despite my husband's vasectomy, I needed 2 forms of birth control, a primary and secondary. Now that you have done this fun stuff you can get your script but before you get your script filled every month you have to go online and take a quiz about being on Accutane. When you go in to fill your script the pharmacist has to verify you took your quiz online. Once all checks are marked you can get your script. Month one, I didn't notice that much of a difference. At my 1st month check up I had some huge flare ups and had to have cortizone injections. Last Friday I had my 2nd checkup since starting, no cortizone and the Dr was pleased, hooray!

where there is pink it is healing scars from cystic acne

all you can see if the flush I get from my lupus.

I am pretty pleased, excited even. My skin is clearing up. No more feeling embarrassed because I have this nasty growth on my face. My husband has even noticed that my skin is actually softer now. To which I ask, was it like sand paper before? My hair is no longer on the oily side but normal. My side effects have been minimal, bloody noses and dry super chapped lips. Lip balm is my friend. Is accutane for everyone, no, if you want to go on it you need to weigh all the pro's and con's. For me the pro's out weighed the con's and being on accutane has been a very good decision for me. I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Smore's Cupcakes

2010-04-20T10:28:00.000-06:00

One of the best things about summer is camping and making smore's. It has taken some trail and error but I have finally figured out the perfect smore's cupcake.

Graham Batter-

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup flour
2 1/2 t baking powder
1/2 cup butter
2 eggs
1t vanilla
3/4c milk ( I added a lil more b/c it is so dry here)

cream together butter and sugar, add eggs and vanilla, dry ingredients and lastly milk. Fill cupcake liners with batter.

Chocolate Batter

1 cup butter melted
3 cups sugar
1t vanilla
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups flour
1 cup cocoa
1/2t salt
1 cup chocolate chips

mix butter and sugar then eggs and vanilla,combine dry ingredients then mix in chocolate chips.

Add 1-2 tablespoons of chocolate batter to the middle of each graham base filled cupcake liner.

Bake at 350 for 22-25 minutes.

Marshmallow frosting

1 stick butter, softened
1t vanilla
2-4 cups confectioners sugar
2 small jars marshmallow cream/ fluff

whip butter till fluffy, slowly add 2 cups confectioners sugar and vanilla and then marshmallow cream, add more confectioner's sugar to achieve desired thickness.

Smore's cupcakes

here's the inside...can you say yum?

Froggie Cupcakes

2010-04-20T09:17:00.000-06:00

With my kids I am always trying to think up new cupcake decorating ideas. Sometimes these ideas get saved and forgotten about. That is what happened with these frog cupcakes I found well over a year ago on Allrecipes.com.

My recipe is a little different than theirs and in my opinion makes a cuter cupcake.
We start with the cupcake a basic vanilla cupcake.

Vanilla Cupcake
1 cup Butter
2 cups Sugar
6 eggs
4t vanilla
zest of one lemon (optional)
3 cups flour
3t baking powder
1/4 t salt
1/2 cup plus 2 TB milk
bake at 350 for 18-20 minutes.
Some note's about the recipe...
First mix in ingredients in the order listed. You want to first cream the butter and sugar. When it looks like this:

you are done. You want it nice and fluffy.
Next mix in eggs one at a time then vanilla.

The lemon is optional and we like it

I love my mini grater, it is Tupperware.

Next add in your dry ingredients and lastly add your milk. On the milk most people can get by with only a 1/2 cup but I live in the desert. I add 2 extra tablespoons to combat the dryness here. In the end your batter should look like this:

It reminds me of thick vanilla pudding.
Fill cupcake liners 1/2 to 2/3 full and bake at 350 for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

Once the cupcakes have cooled comes the fun part decorating.

I use a buttercream to frost-

Buttercream Frosting

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup shortening
4 cups confectioners sugar
2t vanilla
4TB milk

cream butter and shortening until fluffy. Slowly add confectioners sugar then vanilla and milk. You can add more or less milk to get the thickness you want. Once you add the milk whip on high speed, the longer you whip it the lighter and fluffier your frosting will be.
In my opinion a kitchen aide with the whip attachment is the best thing to use to make frosting.

Since we are making frogs tint your frosting with green gel food coloring. Frost your cupcakes and sprinkle with greed sugar.

Now it's time to make the frogs. Gather your cast of characters-

Frosted and sugared cupcake, dark green sugar, large marshmallows (I prefer jet puff), Twizzlers pull and peel (cut in about 2-3 inch segments) and chocolate chips, frosting and water.

First cut marshmallows in half-

These will eventually become the eyes.

Next take water and place in a shallow bowl. Also place the green sugar in a bowl.

Next dip marshmallows in water.

Then dip in sugar

So they look like this-

Add frosting to the bottom and "glue" to the cupcake.

Once eyeballs are glued on peel apart Twizzlers into strands and add mouths.
The final touch is "gluing" chocolate chips with frosting to the center of eyeballs so they look like eyes.

Now you have your own cute little froggie cupcakes.

Enjoy!

FRG woes

2010-04-09T20:47:00.000-06:00

So for the last two and a half years I have been a FRG leader. I started from scratch, I had nothing given to me but a roster that needed updated. I read everything I could and learned all the rules. I threw myself into everything FRG and Army Family. By a stroke of luck I became a good FRG leader. I had people sending me messages asking me how to do things and then taking things back to their FRG's and making them work. I have had people tell me I would be an awesome FRSA or should work at ACS since I was so knowledgeable. Well, a week ago I was fired. I felt as if my world came crashing down around me. I sobbed in front of my husband's commander. I put so much of myself into this for it to be taken away without warning. The commander wants to start his program over, which is his right, FRG's are a command program. He fired all of his volunteers and I was the lucky one to tell everyone. He sang my praises, told me how wonderful I was and then asked me to mentor the new leader, at that he wants it to be a young wife. Huh, what? Your firing me and then you want me to help the new leader? Umm, it's been a week and the answer is still Hell NO! Really, do you think I would actually say yes? I saved your butt by writing your SOP's and this is how I get repaid. Thanks alot. Oh well, what's a girl to do?
How has the FRG membership felt about this decision? The greater majority have all been shocked. I get the i'm so sorry, others question why. Funny thing is noone has said they want to take over or have any part of the FRG. The young wives have never really participated and they make up the majority of the FRG. Oh well I guess, not my problem anymore. I guess this is my bad FRG experience.

Never a dull moment

2010-04-08T20:25:00.000-06:00

So we had soccer practice as usual i'm doing the pseudo-single mama thing and have all four kiddos with me. Oldest had a game and I was left with the three little ones. The princess has practice and i'm coaching. We had four kids tonight, so my assistant and I are doing our thing while numbers two and three sit on the bench playing with number two's new DS. I had a few interruptions that someone wasn't sharing. With 10 minutes of practice left number two said he had to go to the bathroom, I tell him we have 10 minutes left I will take you then. A few minutes later I hear my name and see my now 8 year old peeing in public. After talking to him about how this is bad and what he should have done I go to tell my assistant i'm done for the night let's wrap it up. It is then the voice of the parent that called me over reems me for not taking him to the bathroom. I explain to her he has Autism, socially he isn't like most 8 year olds, we have been working on the bathroom thing, that we don't wait until the last minute to tell someone, he sometimes says he has to go and doesn't (and can be real convincing) because he is bored and if I tell him to wait he is to tell me he can't wait. I am a strict mom, period no and if or butts. I have to be with a husband that is gone all the time but please do not try to critique my parenting especially if you are the parent who does nothing when your child pushes other kids down, throws sand at me among other things. Really, come on now, give me a break. yeah...never a dull moment in my life.

It's Autism Awareness Month

2010-04-02T21:22:00.000-06:00

I originally wrote this for Health.mil in April of 2009. Autism Awareness Month is here and I just wanted to share again ~Debbie

On April 7th, 2002, my family’s lives were changed forever. We had just had our second son, and our adventures with autism would soon begin. My second son was different from his older brother, but I wondered how different could brothers be? I knew enough that no two children were the same, but my mother’s intuition told me something just wasn’t right.

From the time my son was about a year old, I was constantly telling the doctors I was concerned about his development, but they wouldn’t do anything. The doctors kept telling me he’s ok, he is developmentally on track, and boys talk later than girls. I couldn’t I get a doctor to listen to my concerns. I was concerned about more than my son’s lack of speech. At two and a half he lacked speech, did not like being touched, was not affectionate, would not look you in the face, lined things up, had no fear, and wouldn’t respond to his name. It wasn’t until I changed my children’s primary care manager that I finally had someone listen to me and tell me that my son was different. Soon thereafter a pediatric neurologist diagnosed my son with pervasive developmental disorder (P.D.D.), or high functioning autism. My suspicions had been confirmed now and it was time to figure out how to help my little boy.

The one thing that has helped my son the most is therapy. He receives speech, occupational, physical and ABA therapy in school. He receives additional speech therapy outside of school. He would receive other services but in our area service providers are few and far between. At home we do a lot of repeating, constantly saying “use your words” and modeling. Practice makes perfect, right? With therapy my son has gone from being non-verbal to having fifty percent speech intelligibility at seven years old. His skill level is improving as well. He is developmentally at the same level as his five year old brother. It takes time but when you see your child doing or saying something new it is the best feeling in the world.

Routine is very important in our house. We have a schedule taped to the fridge and rules taped to the walls. If we need to break from the schedule without thoroughly explaining why in advance, meltdowns occur. Meltdowns are not fun, so if you can figure it how to avoid them, you do. My son gets anxious in crowded places and starts humming jingle bells, a song I really do not like anymore. He may even bust out with a funny dance too. He doesn’t play with other kids, only near them. He doesn’t understand the difference between doing something on purpose and what an accident is, no matter how many times we explain it to him. I can go on and on, the list seems endless. Things that are normal to me would puzzle most people.

My son, like other children with autism, has his “quirks,” and no two kids with autism are the same so what works for one child may not work for the next. As parents we learn what we can do to improve the quality of our child’s life. Above all we learn we are our child’s number one advocate, if we don’t fight for our children who will?

Goodbye Sprite Zero

2010-03-17T22:32:00.000-06:00

One year ago I quit drinking Soda. I was a die hard Coca-Cola addict. I later switched to diet and then Coke Zero. I had a teacher a year ago who had the class quit something for 6 weeks. I chose quitting soda. I did good, I past the 6 week mark and kept on going. I was going strong until Christmas time and my stomach was getting upset alot so I turned to Sprite Zero to settle it. What a mistake,I became a Sprite Zero addict and also turned my husband into one. This week I am putting a stop to it. I had my last can of Sprite Zero on Monday. I gave up my Coca Cola's I had been drinking since childhood so I think this should be easy... so here goes nothing, wish me luck!

the princess

2010-02-17T22:59:00.001-07:00

I would have never ever thought I would be a mom to four, NEVER, but now that I am I wouldn't change it for the world. It all started easy enough with one, a little boy. We then decided to try for two, and see if we would have a lil girl. After months of trying, miscarriages and fertility drugs I became pregnant with two, another little boy. My husband deployed and when he came back we agreed to try, but not really try for a little girl. Well we didn't have to try to hard within a month of my husband being home I was pregnant, with three, another little boy. When he was almost a year old I became pregnant again and had a miscarriage. The miscarriage combined with my 2nd son receiving his official Autism diagnosis and with my husband going TDY coming back and being told surprise your deploying...again I made a decision. I was done having kids and my three boys were more than enough. My husband on the other hand after losing a good friend who talked about his daughters all the time decided he wanted to try for a little girl. Well, I tried, but strong, long living swimmers are needed for little girls and then there was four, finally a girl.
Like I said, I wouldn't trade a thing in the world for my kids. I will say one thing though if my daughter was my first she would have been my last. Having a girl changes the whole playing field. There is a definite difference between raising boys and girls. While yes my boys are very energetic they are also at the same time pretty laid back. My daughter on the other hand loves to get down and dirty and won't take any crap from her brothers but at the same time she is such a girly girl. She is little momma and always concerned with how others are feeling. She likes to sneak off to my bathroom and get into my perfumes and lotions and makeup. On the girly girl note at three she already has plenty of spunk and attitude. She is our cuddlebug and loves to just sit and cuddle until she falls asleep in our arms. She is my princess and knows it. She has that daddy of hers wrapped around that little finger of hers and for me she is my sunshine when skies are gray.
Don't tell my husband but I am secretly happy he wanted to try one more, now. I couldn't imagine my life without my little princess.

I hate Valentine's Day!

2010-02-14T13:17:00.000-07:00

I have always been in the Valentine's Day sucks group. I never had someone for a Valentine. In high school thanks to super strict parents I didn't date and later in college I always seemed to be newly single around Valentine's Day. My husband and I actually met 2 days after Valentine's and even after 11 years I still have to say this day SUCKS! You would think having someone for these days things would be oh so blissful but sometimes their not.

My husband seems to be oblivious to the importance of these special days even commercial holidays such as Valentine's Day. Every Valentine's, Anniversary, Mother's Day and even my birthday I get my hopes up thinking maybe this year will be the year and only have my hopes crushed. In his defense there have been a few Valentine's in our 11 years together where he did remember and I can count those on one hand. He has sent flowers and/or jewelry while deployed or TDY but that is pretty much it. I guess as a girl I just don't get it.

I go all out trying to make these days special, being a military family you learn the importance of making the best of your time together. I always do something no matter how small or simple. Over the years I have grown cold and bitter on these days and then he is left wondering why I'm in such a bad mood. For this I have to say when you can't even make a little effort it hurts. It hurts a lot. Going to a shopping center and seeing couples going into restaurants smiling and holding hands, seeing people buying cards and flowers for their significant others hurts. With Facebook seeing all my friends posting pictures of their flowers and other gifts and aimless bragging about how great their spouse is just makes me sad. I sit here and type with tears running down my face because once again I did, bought my husband the stuff he wanted for work and on top of that made him a card and bought him the candy he likes, set it on his alarm clock so he saw it when he first woke up and he did nothing but say Happy Valentine's Day, I love you. There was no card, yet alone a gift, not even I love you written on a piece of paper. He then went and got ready for work, 24 hour duty today. I will bring him one of his favorite dinner's to work and a special dessert later but honestly, I don't know why. Why should I try so hard?

If anything only one thing brings me smiles on day's like this, my kids. They are so sweet and unfortunately have started to see what their daddy forgets to do. At the store picking up goodies for them they wanted to spend the money they received from grandparents on a Valentine's gift for me. So sweet of them but I told them no and to save their money. Seeing them act like this brings smiles to my heart, as much as some days they drive me crazy with their I want's, I must be doing something right.

Battle Scars

2010-02-07T21:18:00.000-07:00

I love my kids more than anything but there is one thing that they gave me that I detest more than anything. My battle scars. I have been pregnant more than my fair share of times, to be exact 8 times. I have had 4 miscarriages and 4 babies. With each pregnancy my belly grew to different sizes, sizes that many asked are you sure your not having twins and even triplets. I got big. I figured I would get stretch marks but noone ever prepared me for the loose, extra skin. It was quite disheartening to hear from my OB after my oldest that nothing, no amount of exercise would get rid of that skin. I would need a tummy tuck. Hard to hear when you are only 22.

My oldest is now 10, my youngest is 3 and my battle scars are still there no matter my weight. Added to that now are separated stomach muscles and a umbilical hernia, what can I say my stomach is shot. I won't even start about when my lupus decides to flare. I swear the condition of my stomach has given me body dysmorphic disorder over the years. I hate buying clothes, it is the actual reason this blog came into my head. I attempted to buy jeans today and walked out of the store with none. I found jeans that fit but...This style came under my belly and all the jiggly wiggly-ness would be free to jiggle and wiggle. Then there were the mom jeans, and I completely understand why mom's wear them now but wearing my jeans above my belly button, i'm sorry but no thank you. Lastly the trying a larger size method, it works but your pants look all baggy and then if they have any stretch your crack is showing all the time. What is a girl to do? I know i'm not the only person in the world with this problem. Get a tummy tuck? Can that really be the only option? Really, someone, anyone I just want a pair of jeans that fit.

That is all...something to hide what's underneath it all.

Your typical weight loss blog #1

2010-01-02T23:00:00.000-07:00

WARNING:This is your typical weight loss blog.

Well where to begin...

Weightloss isn't an easy task. It takes time, persistence and patience. This is how I lost the bulk of my weight.

I am a calorie counter to help with this in the beginning I kept a journal of EVERYTHING I ate and how many calories. There are tons of calorie calculators online to figure out how many you need. I eat no more than 1500 a day.

Read labels- how many calories are in this brand compared to that brand. How many calories are from fat? How many carbs?

Switch from white to brown....Bread, pasta and rice. Not all brands are created equal and some taste better than others. Barilla Plus is the choice brand in this house for pasta. I eat stoneground whole wheat bread as well (again some brands taste better than others) when I do eat a sandwich. Choose tomato and pesto sauces over cream sauces.. I learned to make my own pesto and it is super easy and my kids even ate it.Just a little EVOO, fresh basil, fresh garlic, sundried tomatoes(not in oil) and Parmesan all in the food processor.

Spice it up...add a lil cayenne pepper,chilli powder, cumin... add some heat another spice to add is cinnamon.

eat lean meats- I mainly stick to chicken breast and lean beef. If you use ground beef or turkey buy the leanest you can. My second son has a beef allergy so I use ground turkey.

Lots of veggies, the more the better. Use frozen or fresh, not canned. Beans (Pinto's, black beans,etc)are a different story you can go canned there but rinse them to help get the salt off.

In line with the other spices add spice not fat...skip the butter on veggies

pick whole fruit over juice

When you are craving something have it! Just try smaller portions. Like you want a candy bar buy a bag of the mini's have a couple and then hide it/ put it out of site.

Buy pre-portioned snacks, that way you don't over eat unless you eat 2-3 bags. 100 calorie packs etc. Or do it yourself, just don't snack your weight while preparing. We do this for baby carrots and raw almonds.

Nut's are good, they have the good fats in them. Buy reduced salt or unsalted. You can buy a huge bag of raw almonds at Sam's for like $10 much cheaper than the lil cans.

Try sugar free, lo fat and fat free versions.

Water...drink lots of it. To help feel fuller I often drink a glass of water before meals. Can't bear plain water...squeeze in some lemon, try crystal light it is 5 calories a serving, other idea's are iced tea. There are so many different blends out there create one of your own. I make my own peach tea,lemon ginsing, rasberry. Make iced green tea. Use splenda instead of sugar to sweeten.

You want a soda switch to diet and limit your intake.

Instead of using a dinner plate use a salad plate...

Oh and lastly fast food...keep it to a limit You would be surprised how many calories are in something. Like I had a wrap one day thinking it was the healthiest option, looked up the calories when I got home and I could have made the same thing with less than half the calories. Oh and when we do have fast food we stay far far away from Mcdonalds, I don't think I have had McDonalds since November 2006. I will say they have seen Super size me a few times. Another movie that is interesting is Fast food nation...it get's ya thinking. I will say we do eat fast food but not as much as we once did. We try to feed the monsters before we go out and get home in time to cook dinner.

The next thing is get your body moving in any way you can! Exercise is important.

That's it for now I will have more tips and things in the future. I will say that weight loss is not about being on a diet. Weightloss is making a health lifestyle change. Crash diets don't work. Sure you may lose weight but as soon as you go back to your regular lifestyle the weight comes back. Finally for weightloss to work you have to really want it deep down, without that drive you are simply going through the motions.

Weighty matters

2009-12-30T11:25:00.000-07:00

From 1999 until 2006 I spent at least some time pregnant every single year. In 1999, my first son, 2000 had a miscarriage, 2001-2002 two miscarriage's and my second son, 2003-2004 my third son, 2005 another miscarriage and 2006 my daughter. I spent most of my 20's pregnant and in a cycle of being pregnant,breastfeeding, starting to lose the baby weight and then getting knocked up again just as soon the weight started to come off. I spent a heck of a lot of time looking like this:

I had a month to go still in this pic!
This was baby #3 who ended up being 10lbs2oz

After I had my last, my little girl in 2006. I was determined to drop the weight. I needed to do it for myself first and my family. With 3 of my 4 kids I had gestational diabetes. This fact right there throws a huge red flag. My chance for type 2 Diabetes was increased. I was placed on medication while pregnant with my daughter. I did not want to go back on that medication or even worse have to take shots. Breastfeeding didn't work out for us, later found out I had retained placenta after she was born that I had emergency surgery for. So my weight loss start date was Feb 1 2007. I was ready. I didn't want to look like this ever again:

In 2005, 2 weeks after having a D&C.
My heaviest non-pregnant weight.

In a matter of months with a bunch of hard work, I dropped the weight. It melted right off.
no worries about getting knocked up, I was finally skinny again!

June 2007

I was pretty proud of myself and felt pretty good except for that badge of honor on my waist. I took up running and started doing 5k's. I was holding my own until a series of unfortunate events in 2009. While running I started getting sick, I mean wanting to throw up after a minute. I would keep on though and then the stabbing in tears from pain hit. My runs and trips to the gym lessened. I went to the Dr, had ct's and what not but noone could figure it out. My symptoms were a combination of appendicitis and ovarian cysts. An exploratory lap confirmed the Dr's suspicions, I did indeed have an ovarian cyst (again) and they removed my appendix. At this point I had chronic appendicitis for 6 months! I recovered and at the 2 week point I started running again. I went hard to, too hard. I developed plantar fascitis. True to me, tried to just suck it up but it was ultimately my demise, I had to quit running so my foot could heal. As soon as my foot was better it was time to move cross country. For a month we ate out every meal. I tried to be good, really I did but I didn't do good enough everything caught up with me and I had gained more weight. I was watching what I ate and trying to run,but you know the same old reasons. Kids getting sick (mono, the flu, and then my oldest had appendicitis basically the whole month of November), husband not giving me a break for that me time I desperately needed, then the holidays. The weight wasn't really coming off but thankfully more wasn't coming on.
So now here it is the end of the year the the time for resolutions. I do not make resolutions but I will say in 2010 I am getting back to my 10lbs lighter self! No more weight will be added to my body and those 10 pounds will be banished. My skinny clothes will not sit in a box long enough to go out of style again! So here goes nothing!

Me-12-29-2009

~Happy Thanksgiving~

2009-11-26T12:04:00.000-07:00

My family will feast like kings today and for that I am thankful. Thankful to my husband for going to work to provide for us. To the US Army for giving him job security and good pay. We may not live a lavish lifestyle but we live well and within our means. We have a roof over our head, clothes to wear, can pay our bills and have tons of healthy food to eat. Life is good.
~*Happy Thanksgiving Everyone*~

Can't always be Superwoman

2009-11-23T00:44:00.000-07:00

Sometimes we just think we can do it all and be superwoman even though we can't. Appreciation goes to those who are wise enough to help when we think we got it covered.

Personally I fell in such situation this past week. My oldest has been sick, original diagnosis was mild appendicitis. ER Dr left treatment up to my son's pediatrician. The Dr he saw chose to use antibiotics. My husband and I were not so happy about the decision but hey we are not Dr's. We felt down the road he would be having his appendix out. Well that day came sooner rather than later. On day 9 of antibiotics kid #1's pain came back. As luck would have it my husband was out in the field. OK, I got this, I can handle it. Call the pediatrician, they are backed up and send us to the ER. Gather up all 4 kids and we go. Not ideal but hey, in the military you are often separated from family and friends and like in my case, we have only been here a couple months, I don't really know people yet. So in the emergency room with 4 kids and we are doing ok, see the Dr. "I would have taken this appendix out over a week ago." At this point the ball is rolling, a pediatric surgeon has been called and eventually we are told my son would be transfered to another hospital and would be admitted. It was at this point I call my FRG Advisor and ask, can you get a message to my husband. In my brain at that time I had it under control. He would be having an appy, hopefully laproscopically and that is usually same day surgery. I had one myself back in April, I went home same day..I was thinking I can do this on my own. My advisor though was smarter than me at that point, with a simple we will get your husband home. That she did and I was so thankful!
My son's adventure to appendectomy was an adventure to say the least. He had his surgery in the wee hours of the morning. After surgery he spiked a high fever and had dangerously low blood pressures. After 24 hours his blood pressures went back to normal and his fever spiked every single night and kept him in the hospital 4days and 3 nights. He had flu tests, strep test and a full blood culture to find the cause of the fever. He was placed on preventive measures to prevent pneumonia. He was on IV antibiotics which had some not nice side effects themselves. I needed to be there for him, he wanted me.
If my husband had not come home I would not have been there like I was, whenever he needed me. I would not of even been allowed to see my son if I had my other kids. Thanks to that wonderful swine flu the pediatric ward had a no kids rule, even healthy siblings. What would I have done? How in the world would I be there for my son and take care of the other 3 at the same time? I have no clue how I would of done it.

Please remember... Unfortunately, no matter how hard you try you can't always be superwoman. I know I try to do it all even though I know I can't sometimes. Just a mentality and mindset that I acquired many moons ago. I have a hard time asking for help, that is just me. I will offer my help left and right but to ask for myself is hard. I am thankful for those who help even if I don't ask. I appreciate your help more than you may think. Thank you!

Paths can cross again

2009-11-16T00:17:00.000-07:00

We may live in a big big world but there is something simple to remember. Close friendships do not have to end simply because you hear these three little letter's, PCS. Military life is tough, being an adult and making friends is tough. When you meet someone and they are truly there for you as a friend you want to hold tight. When you hear the letters PCS you may think you will be losing your friends but simply thanks to technology you are not. Gone are the days of writing addresses in pencil in your address book. Today technology brings you the internet, you have email and social networking sites such as Facebook to stay connected. Then add to that not just telephones but cell phones with all of their texting capabilities. You can stay connected and it is very possible to stay long distance friends. Plus remember we are talking about the military and the military moves families around. You may end up stationed together once again or close to each other. Most importantly in this life remember goodbye is never goodbye.

The Wall

2009-11-12T12:49:00.000-07:00

I have a wall built all around me. It's a pretty big wall and very had to break down. I built the wall out of past experiences. I learned there are a lot of people out there who are not really who they present themselves to be. It is sad. It something I don't quite understand, how can you act one way but really be another. Much worse how can you say things about someone and even lie. I guess it's because maybe they just weren't brought up right. Maybe they had a questionable childhood. A person's childhood is always an excuse but quite honestly that is where problems start. If you do not reach all of the appropriate stages you are not got to pass onto the next one. Stages of development, say what? Just look up Eric Erickson;)

So I have this wall and I am glad that I do. Yes there is plenty of frustration when I find out a person's true colors but I am also saved a world of hurt. With past experiences I have learned who I am and what I am capable of. Now in my 30's I can say I have found who I am and truley believe.....

“As you become more clear about who you really are, you'll be better able to decide what is best for you - the first time around.” Oprah Winfrey

The age old struggle

2009-11-04T07:44:00.000-07:00

I have been affiliated with the army for a bit now. Long enough to be able to call myself a seasoned wife. Long enough to notice things that newer wives may not. I have been affiliated way before we had Family readiness groups and had Family support groups. I have seen a lot of change but one thing remains the same. The rift between the ranks and to this day I just don't get it.
Once upon a time I was a private's wife wanting to help and volunteer but I was told too bad your husband isn't higher ranking. It was like a brick wall I could bake all day for bake sales but there was no way in heck I was going to be a key caller or anything with responsibility. I wasn't allowed to have that position until my husband was a specialist and once he became Sergeant my doors opened and more people would simply talk to me. I understand the fraternization issue for my spouse with his direct chain of command but simply not talking to someone because their spouse is lower ranking, just made me say huh? Yeah we can't become best buds because it wouldn't be appropriate for your husband to come over and just hang out but hey you can still talk to me.
We left that duty station after 7 years and were thrown into recruiting. In recruiting everyone is the same. You have some higher ranks at battalion and a Captain or Major and First Sergeant at the company level but otherwise everyone is a Corporal, Sergeant, Staff Sergeant or Sergeant First Class. It was nice not to have that rank rift around but I guess I got spoiled by it. I was friends with the XO's wife and would chit chat with the XO from time to time but we were rankless and the same. It was nice to be treated as a person not based on my spouses rank. This is a huge thing I miss about recruiting.
So now were thrown back into the good ole regular Army and I am seeing that rank shift again. Simply comments that junior enlisted cannot afford things, or what if a junior enlisted family donated something for operation santa and then received what they donated...who cares? Really? Who? There are junior enlisted families that are struggling when it comes to money and paying the bills but there are also others who own their own home and have a nice emergency fund. Guess what the same goes for senior enlisted and officers some are simply better at handling their finances. Money problems are universal. Instead of just focusing on one group focus on the whole. Some people cannot afford to buy extra gifts, some people need financial assistance, etc.
I haven't even entered into other labels and stereotypes but those go both ways as well. Simply by appearances i'm mistaken for a higher ranking wife all the time. You know what I like that fact too. Not because I am ready to be a senior enlisted spouse or want my husband to go green to gold but because it disproves peoples stereotypes. I don't like stereotypes...I like proving them wrong.

Army Wifey's Healthy Chili

2009-10-26T12:17:00.000-06:00

Ingredients-

2lbs ground turkey
1 medium onion,diced (diced)
4 cans(15.5oz) pinto beans (drained and rinsed)
4 cans(15oz) tomato sauce
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 jalapeno, seeded if desired and diced
1TB Sugar
1TB Chili Powder
1 TB Cumin
1tsp Thyme
1/4tsp Cayenne Pepper
1TB Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Heat EVOO in skillet until hot and add ground turkey and onions. Cook until turkey is brown and the onions are soft and translucent. Place in crockpot and add remaining ingredients and combine. Cover, and cook 8 hours on Low or 4 hours on High

YUMMY!

Oh the things they say..stranger's that is!

2009-10-13T19:10:00.000-06:00

People make their comments and you smile and nod, ya know, what else do you say? Like the other day at the veggie store my boys were pointing to a Leek asking "what is that" as I am about to tell them an older woman says don't worry they will be in school soon...ummm so??? They are kids they are curious let me answer them. So what if school is starting soon, I would drag them to this fancy pants veggie store after school if I had to and I have many times.

Then there is the I have 4 kids deal. With that comes more stupid comments. I am so sick of the "so you have your girl now are you done?" Gosh darn people it is none of your business. If I had 4 boys we would have been done. Like my neighbor that has 4 girls she is done (but she gets the evil "are you gonna try for another?"). I did offend someone the other day I was calling my husband back and she came up to me and said something about having 5 girls I just smiled and nodded (as I am listening to my phone ring, pushing my cart etc.) She snapped at me it isn't funny. Well what the frick... don't come up to me and say something I swear damned if you do, damned if you don't. I didn't know having 5 kids of the same sex was so horrific. Not to mention I didn't say anything, laugh oh yeah I was a bit preoccupied, calling back my husband and I was getting one of my boys to the bathroom.

Now another mom of many thing. Sometimes when you go to the store your child wants something and tries to throw a fit. Why does that one person have to say, "you have your hands full don't you? God bless you". What the heck, really? If I had one, two or three kids no one would say a thing maybe get a look if that but now that I have 4 kids it is "you have your hands full, God bless you". What is the difference? What kid hasn't tried to get something and then got upset they didn't get what they wanted. Come on now. We don't make a scene, I don't give in and by the end of the aisle they are done, whomever you are you are only prolonging this, keep your thoughts to yourself and let us move on.

Finally this one is a favorite of mine...'Are they all yours?" Again What the heck!!! I swear. Let's me think... "No, I just borrowed them for the day". Yes, I know some people do babysit but all of my kids look enough alike to know they are related. Several people at my kids school say we are the family with the same face, no one can decide who looks like who etc.

So that is it, I am ready to put the polite aside and bring out the smart ass, just to get people to shut up.

People of the world we don't want to hear it.

Feel free to list your own don't want to hear it's but here are a couple extra...

Never ask a woman, "when are you due?" There is a chance she may not be pregnant, or even worse trying to get pregnant, is on fertility drugs has gained a few pounds and just found out she didn't get pregnant after her 15month of trying. Been there done that one too...not nice.

Never tell a pregnant woman any of the following:

"wow your only x weeks"

"wow your big"

"are you sure it isn't twins, or more"

"you look like your about to pop"

Most likely we know we are big and we are more than ready to pop.

We know it doesn't end there either it's just people don't think before they speak..oh how I wish they would!

Running...

2009-09-14T09:43:00.000-06:00

There are so many reasons to say I can't. I have asthma, I have lupus, I have spondyloysis/ bilateral pars fracture, arthritis....so many medical conditions that I hate going to the Dr out of fear of something new, so many reasons to say I can't. Can't just isn't in my dictionary though. I hate it when my kids say they can't do something so why should I allow myself?
In April of 2008 I was signing my oldest son up for the the navy kids run (Yeah I know we are Army but there was no rule saying he couldn't sign up and later win his age group) and on a whim I signed myself up for a 5k they were having for memorial day. So very out of my box but really why not, I thought. We got busy, moving to a larger house and my volunteer work I was going to just skip out on the 5k since I barely had trained. That was until my Army kid won that Navy kid run, now I had to do it for him and that is how it all began.
I learned running wasn't that bad and as I kept up, I improved, I got faster and had more endurance. I knew I was far from fastest but I was doing it. I ran 5k's with my daughter and each time my PR improved. I loved how when I went out running it was my time and I could really clear my head (and my daughter would actually nap). I had one concern my running and all my other worries would just float away.
My husband drives me crazy now asking me when are you going to do a half marathon, hey maybe in time but right now let me get use to high altitude.
I encourage everyone and anyone to run, don't say can't! Saying can't is the easy route that closes doors only on yourself. You never know unless you try!

For those that say can...here are a few things I don't leave home without...
My Road ID:

investment well made. Yes I carry an ID with me but this is strapped to my ankle and isn't going anywhere. Well, unless a car hits me and takes my leg off.
www.roadid.com on twitter also @roadid

Then my Ipod:

Pink's So What, really get's me going but I have all types of music on my running playlist, ShineDown, Salt-n-pepa, Coldplay, U2, Tom Petty.

A Garmin Forerunner:

Mine is old and I share it with my husband (cuz I bought it for him many moons ago). Honestly you can buy fancy ones but this works for me. As you can see it gives ya the basics.
My husband would also add in this category a heart rate monitor. I'd take a pic of his but it's at work with him. Basically you have this black band that goes across your chest and a watch thingy.

Body glide:

Oh body glide how do I love thee! Simply I have big thighs, always have and probably always will. No matter how much I run and exercise they do not get skinnier, toned yes, skinny no:

Hair Stuff:

Simply I have long hair and I can't stand lose strands in my face while running

My BOB stroller (and daughter):

I rarely run without this duo.
I have a cup holder attachment we bought also. I keep a bottle of water, my keys,my phone etc. in the compartments.

Finally me:

For shoes go to an actual running shoe store and get fitted! I went to www.roadrunnersports.com . Their staff in NJ was AWESOME! Try different shoes. I am wearing Sauconey running shoes and they are perfect so much better than the Adidas I once wore. You also want nice socks, I have some comfy/thick underarmor ones.

For your running clothes, it is all about what you are comfy in and trial and error. Personally I really like Nike stuff but running isn't about looking pretty, you don't have to match. You do what works for you

A couple other cool sites:
www.mapmyrun.com
www.coolrunning.com
www.active.com

So when are you going to start?

Move over pork chops and applesauce

2009-08-31T21:43:00.000-06:00

Pork Chops and apple sauce a meal made popular by Peter Brady from the Brady Bunch. Well, Peter Brady it is time to grow up.

Spiced Praline Pear Sauce with Pork Chops

4 pears, peeled and diced
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2TB Cinnamon
1/4tsp nutmeg

cook these two ingredients in a heavy saucepan on med-hi heat until pears are soft and sugar is syrupy/thickened up. Then add...

1TB butter
stir in until melted. then add...

1/2cup pecans
I like whole pecans..remember pronounced puh-cahn not pee-can...A pee can is something you keep by the bed to pee in.

next add...
1/4cup light corn syrup
again stir in.. then add

1/4cup evaporated milk
bring to a rapid boil for 1 minute then remove from heat and you will have....

Now doesn't that look good?

Now for the chops, you want something Easy-Peasy.

Place a dallop of EVOO in your frying pan and pan fry your chops (we like the thick ones) with a bit of kosher sea salt and fresh ground pepper. You want them to look something like this...

Now it's time to put it all together and plate...

mmm...

Now that sauce isn't just for chops, I am sure it would be good on ice cream and pancakes but I guess I will have to make it again. It was so good my husband ate the leftover sauce by itself!

Simple Strawberry Yummieness

2009-08-29T11:48:00.000-06:00

Homemade Strawberry Jam

1 pound of Strawberries (hulled)
2 cups of Sugar
Juice of half a lemon

Throw all of your ingredients in a heavy sauce pan, the heavier the better. You are cooking sugar here. Throw your temp onto medium-high and mash and stir with a potato masher. Bring to boil and continue to stir and mash until your jam mixture reaches 220 degrees F. Pour into clean sterilized jars.
At this point you can either process or place jar in the refrigerator to be eaten right away. I chose the later, it is good stuff and goes fast in my house. It's is yummy on toast, biscuits, peanut butter and jelly's, pancakes..etc. I think you get my point. The best part though is that it is easy and you know EXACTLY what is in your jam, no added ingredients. There's no high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup and sugar like in Smuckers ( http://tinyurl.com/kr9rbd ). It is simple goodness for you and your family that you can feel good about.

Parking Lot Etiquette

2009-08-27T22:02:00.000-06:00

My PSA for the day... If in a parking lot and you cannot tell if an aisle is an up or down aisle by simply looking at the cars, look at the road. That arrow tells you what to do. Is the arrow pointing at you? Well then smartie pants your going the wrong freaking way so back your ass up and get outta my way. While you are doing that please get rid of that look on your face, you were wrong not me.
When you are finally headed in the right direction and found that perfect parking spot please don't forget one thing. Please park completely within your space and as straight as you can. Yes, I may be able to squeeze through to my car but you and/or your passengers may not and I have a strong dislike of dents and dings in my car.
As always, have a beautiful day.

One Little Did

2009-08-25T22:01:00.000-06:00

“All The Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas
Layin' In The Sun,
Talkin' 'Bout The Things
They Woulda-Coulda-Shoulda Done...
But All Those Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas
All Ran Away And Hid
From One Little Did.”
-Shel Silverstein

My husband claims it is simple cultural differences but really I don't know. Yes, my move has put me into a bit of culture shock, I will admit that. Going from a pure melting pot of cultures to a primarily Hispanic area has been interesting. My curiosity has peeked though. I hear people complain bitch and moan but then they do nothing. Could this be the problem in the schools. Yeah, they are not teaching my child (fill in the blank) but oh well. Like I said my husband said it is just cultural differences.
Today there was a issue and I was frustrated to say the least. Other parents all around me were just as frustrated. They voiced their concerns among each other and with myself. I was the only parent who took the problem to the principal. He was a bit condescending but then again I was criticizing his precious exemplary school. I also got results, an email when I got home.
I fight for what I believe in. In NJ I fought for my kids, I proved myself and broke the stereotypes of Army wives within my kids school. I fought with housing and won. I can go on and on, simply I did my best to stick to my guns and stay tough.

So I may be a thorn in some sides here but oh well...I'm not stopping being me and being that one little did.

Habla Espanol?

2009-08-20T16:13:00.000-06:00

At my second son's school I asked someone who worked there a question and she asked me if I spoke Spanish (in Spanish of course) and I could only say muy pequeno. My espanol is rusty but in our 3 weeks here it is slowly coming back, so why not? It was the truth I know very little and I am trying to adapt. What a mistake! My answer should have been no because I had no clue what she said. I could only leave frustrated, thinking how in the world is this acceptable at a school of all places. The sad thing is Spanish is tolerated, parents were even on TV complaining that they couldn't help their children with their homework because it was in English! Yes the USA does not have a national language but... English is the prominent language and it is what is taught in school. That being said..if I went to a different country I would do my best to learn that countries language instead of asking them to speak English. Especially so if my children were enrolled in school there or I worked there. I guess I don't understand why those that come here to work from Mexico expect us to understand and speak Spanish. More so those that move here and make no effort to learn English but yet complain when they can't help their children. Like I said I just don't get it. Maybe someone else can explain it to me?

Experiences with Texas Schools and High Functioning Autism

2009-08-09T22:14:00.000-06:00

So we have moved from the east coast to Texas and I just have to ask what the heck is going on with their schools there? Really is having the best standardized test scores and being named an exemplary school the only things that matter?

It has only been a week but I am saddened at the thought of my kids in these schools and what type of education they may receive. It was one thing on the first day of school for the teacher to allow other students to introduce themselves in Spanish. Allowing my child and two others to sit there clueless. That is a fight I will not win. In this area Spanish appears to be the predominate language. I even received a message from my ones son's bus driver in Spanish. Thank goodness for my 2 years of Spanish in high school many moons ago and growing up in Florida. I can at least pick some words out. My kids aren't quite at that point, Dora and Diego don't go that far.

What really pisses me off about these school is being told my autistic child is too smart for special education and sounds like he should be mainstreamed. Say what Special Education is only for those who aren't smart enough..what??? My son is high functioning and he does have savant splinter skills but he is also in Speech, OT and PT. For that reason right there and the quantity of therapy he receives he cannot be in a normal mainstream classroom. He would miss to much class. Second, he has major problems in the area of social skills. Third, Sensory Issues larger class more problems. Fourth a traditional mainstream classroom lacks the structure that he thrives on. When his schedule is messed with without advance warning meltdowns occur. My child is not a problem child but with the last 3 issues I am sure he could be marked as one if placed in a mainstream classroom without in classroom support (which is something this area does not believe in). My son for the time being has been placed in a class with 13 kids with one teacher and two aides that are low functioning autistic that are non-verbal functioning below grade level. How is he suppose to thrive in that setting? Yes, he figured out multiplication on his own but he doesn't understand the difference between an accident and doing something on purpose.
My son is an early intervention wonder story. At age 3 he was non verbal he began school and speech therapy and he progressed and progressed. He is verbal now although intelligibility is an issue. When you look at his reports from when he was diagnosed and see him now people are simply amazed. I want him to continue growing and become the best that he can and I know that means my part getting him into the classroom setting he needs and in his therapy. How can he continue to improve if there is a lack of help from the school? I was told by the diagnostician after our ARD (IEP) meeting not to buy to many uniforms she see's my son back at his home school. Really, no child left behind my ass. Where is the help that our special needs children deserve in Texas?
Going to school is not simply about math and language arts. It is about developing the whole person. We cannot develop the whole person if services are simply not their to help our children reach their full potential.

Cookie Dough Cupcakes

2009-06-21T17:48:00.000-06:00

So I heard of someone making cookie dough cupcakes and I missed their recipe but with some trial and error I have figured it out myself and even a "semi-homemade" way of creating them.

To start First you need cookie dough. I like to make my own but the stuff in a tube will work as well.
Here is some of my whole-wheat chocolate chip dough:

Next take cookie dough and make into about 1inch balls..I use a small scoop but you can do this however you like:

Make 24 balls and place in the freezer for a couple of hours. Chilled dough works best for this recipe.

Once your cookie dough is well chilled/a bit frozen it's time for your cake batter. You can make your own batter or use a cake mix, white, yellow or chocolate. Whatever floats your boat:) Make per directions typically 3 whole eggs, 1 cup water and 1/3cup of oil. Place liners in your cupcake pan and fill 1/2 full.
Here's mine- were moving and I had a yellow mix in the cupboard:

Next place a cookie ball in the center of each cup:

Place in a preheated 350degree oven and bake for 18-20minutes.
When they come out they will look something like this:

Now place on a wire cooling rack and cool until ready to frost.
Use the stuff in a can or make your own buttercream.
I prefer to make my own buttercream:
mmm Buttercream!

Then frost as desired...my decorating supplies are packed up so I just used a spatula:
yeah Sponge Bob liners too:)

I had some leftover cookie dough too so I baked some cookies up too:

Once cool I quartered and decorated:

Don't those look Yummy!

Oh and they were, take a look here's the inside:

So there you go:) Go and make some and make some the best cupcakes you have ever tasted!

Happy Father's Day

2009-06-20T22:43:00.000-06:00

To all the dad's out there I hope you have a wonderful father's day!

In my attempts to make everything count I had our Fathers Day plan set but somehow the Army interfered or more so a problem child did. My husband has to go in at 9:30am now and I am hoping he will be back by 2-3pm if things go smoothly. For my husband I really hope they do. He hasn't been around for too many father's days:(

100 things about me

2009-06-17T18:57:00.000-06:00

1. I am very Shy and quiet and sometimes come off as a Stuck up B!tc#, or very religious etc. but i'm not.
2. I have often wondered if I have ADHD or is it just the fact i'm a mom of many.
3. I over extend myself all the time, I have a problem saying the word NO.
4. I over think everything! What I write, say do, how I should do things. It can take me hours to write a simple email.
5. I haven't had a soda/pop since March 23 3009. I gave it up for a project for school.
6. Oh yeah I am a Psychology Major/Sociology Minor. Hopefully I will graduate this year:)
7. I have body image issues...war scars from having 4 kids will do that.
8. I like to run but I am a slow runner but fast enough i'm not last in a race. I could pass the run portion of a PT test.
9. I have an addiction to chewy fruity candy like starburst, orange slices, swedish fish, sour patch kids.
10. I cannot cook Ramen or Kraft Mac N Cheese or any of those instant dinner things.
11. I can cook, several people have asked me about catering, opening a bakery etc.
12. Another addiction...creative cupcakes. Flavors/Colors/Decorating
13. I never imagined I would have 4 kids but I wouldn't change it for a thing!
14. I married my husband after knowing him for just over 2 months...btw we were engaged a month after we started dating.
15. I have been married over 10 years now.
16. I was married at the courthouse in a military town and i'm still waiting to wear that white dress. My husband wore a Pearl Jam t-shirt the day we got married!
17. I am constantly doing laundry.
18. My husband and I didn't spend our wedding night together. He spent in the barracks, I was at my parents. We moved in together 2 days later.
19. I love vegetables and growing a veggie garden. Homegrown Veggies are the best.
20. I'm a bit Crunchy.
21. I breastfed, wore my babies I even made my own baby food.
22. I dislike Seafood. I have gotten better and will try it now but I still don't like it.
23. I have eaten alligator...tasted like chicken.
24. I am a bit OCD, well maybe a lot.
25. I can be a perfectionist.
26. I am a klutz,plain and simple.
27. I have spondyloysis and bilateral pars fracture...I have a broken back
28. I was also diagnoised with Lupus at 24, Arthritis at 25...I started falling apart young.
29. I am missing a couple body parts...my gallbladder and appendix.
30. I try not to let my medical conditions control my life.
31. I hate taking medications. I have had a Dr tell me it is ok to take pain meds b/c I won't.
32. My kids are better at getting shots than I am.
33. I am better at bloodwork. I have to watch too
34. I am a deployment survivor, been through 4
35. I'm a FRG leader..for a few more days at least.
36. I'm an AFTB instructor also.
37. I have a love/hate relationship with the Army. Simply some things frustrate me.
38. I am scared to death to move to our next duty station.
39. I have a HARD time asking for help...I don't/do my best to avoid it
40. I wish I was superwoman sometimes but I know i'm not.
41. I believe God gives us what we can handle. I guess he thinks I can handle a lot!
42. I hate stereotypes/preconceived notions etc. I like to prove them wrong.
43. I hate the statements, "Oh, you have your hand's full don't you?" "Oh you got your girl, are you done then?"...
44. Heck I hate stupid comments by stupid people!
45. I went to Middle and High School in Florida.
46. I worked at a nightclub..beergirl, coatcheck and security
47. I moved about every 2 years until I was 12 and my family was not military.
48. I have a tattoo of a ladybug and daisy on my stomach/hip
49. I once had my belly button and tongue pierced.
50. I am allergic to pineapple and coconut.
51. My first car was a chevy cavalier
52. I have taken fertility medication.
53. My favorite food is mashed potatoes
54. I love the beach
55. I hate cold weather, snow is only pretty.
56. I have had 4 miscarriages
57. I coached my son's soccer team when we were in NC
58. I am only a shimmer of the girl I was in high school and college.
59. I have started to find out who I really am and what I can do in the past 3 years.
60. I like helping people.
61. I own a shot gun...and I can shoot it if need be.
62. I am a girly girl:)
63. I love to wear really high heels..good thing my husband is 6'5"
64. I try to see the positive although at times it can be hard.
65. I believe in Karma.
66. I try to see both sides of the issue/problem.
67. If you look up Murphy's Law..you will see my picture.
68. I do not eat at Mcdonald's...YUCK!
69. I like fishing but I won't bait my own hook, or take the fish off.
70. I have gone camping, I want to like it but...I like showering and bathrooms in general.
71. My oldest has Central Auditory Processing Disorder,ADHD(inattentive type) and PDD-NOS
72. My Second son is High functioning, Hyperlexic and Savant Splinter Skills and has comorbid ADHD (combined) .
73. My kids help keep life interesting.
74. I love photography
75. I love taking pictures..I feel I learn and "perfect" my craft by taking pics not reading a book on how to.
76. I learn best by doing...not reading a book
77. I can't remember the last non-school book I have read:(
78. I like scary movies.
79. I am a roller coaster enthusiast
80. I hate people who suck up...btw I do not suck up
81. I have a hard time letting people in, I have been burned in the past.
82. I like owls and ladybugs (as in collecting items w/them)
83. I was going to join the Army or AF then I met my husband and life happened.
84. I hate cleaning bathrooms.
85. I am a details persons..the little details do matter.
86. I hate the word can't.
87. I believe that it doesn't hurt to ask, the worst thing someone could tell you is no.
88. I believe change can happen but you have to make it happen.
89. I am the one little did, not the woulda-coulda
90.I am a natural blonde and do and say some very blonde things sometimes
91. I am patient
92. I try to do my best
93. I won a bake off held on the Navy Base I currently live on
94. I will do anything for my kids
95. That painfully shy part...i'm working on it/I have forced myself into doing things that are out of my box
96. I would rather email (and now text) than call someone
97. I often choose to bite my tongue instead of saying something.
98. I ruined my husband and my last alone time/kid-free weekend with FRG stuff. It was ATC. I still feel bad about it. We don't get opportunities like that vey often.
99. I have big dreams.
100. I am me and noone else.

Cha-Cha Changes

2009-06-01T19:36:00.000-06:00

Time is ticking away and soon we will be going from a non-deployable Army Unit (yes they do exist) back to a deployable unit. Can we say ACK!!! For the last 3 years I have had to the joy of having my husband home nearly every night. There was only one time my husband was away (due to the Army) and even at that if I had adequate childcare I would have been with him. During this time I went from from independent momma to dependent wife. Simply my husband said to me one time that he liked feeling that he was needed and I just bit by bit took full advantage.

It was while I was away TDY that he came down on orders and at the end of that week when someone that was part of my group spoke to General Casey I cried for his last 3 deployments. Strong Army wife was gone in an instant. Reality sunk in at that moment and I simply could not stop crying. He was going back to a deployable unit, he would be deploying, will the deployments be back to back...again and finally, how did I do this before? My head was spinning and I felt like one of those whiney wives. I couldn't have that.

From then on I knew I had to make the rest of our time here rock and make the most of every moment we had together. Honestly, I have had some grumpy days. Like Mother's day, all I could think was, he may not be here next year and to put it in my 7 year olds wordsmy Mother's day, it was lame. I'm still asking for my redo although none are in sight. With just over a month before we start our move i'm still trying to make the most of it. I think i'm driving my husband crazy. I don't think as much as he misses it he clearly remembers how things were. I'm doing this for us, for our kids, I have to give them good memories because there will come a day when Daddy isn't here for whatever reason and I will be able to say remember when...and then they will remember and can smile:)

It's OPSEC baby

2009-06-01T17:50:00.000-06:00

I guess you can say I am an ole pro at this, as I am a seasoned Army wife. Simply OPSEC. A quick basic guide can be found here- http://tinyurl.com/abnkpr .

Why this popped in my brain today I was on Twitter and there was a call for deployed military service members. Simply, you are not going to find many of your career soldiers that way. Too many soldiers have jobs where their identity needs to be kept secret. You know how some people check to see what comes up when you Google their name well these are the soldiers Google their name to make sure nothing comes up. Simply having people know who they are and what they do can cause problems with mission. You know that old saying, Loose lips sink ships? It is as true today as ever. These soldiers have to go through and pass various security clearances and they don't want to jeopardize their job or potential job because of a tweet, some picture on facebook or myspace or who knows what else.

I can say for myself, just like rank, I don't give two hoots about what your husband or wife does. Honestly I have met General and Mrs Casey and General Casey was just Sheila Casey's husband, yeah he technically is my husbands boss but to me he is just a person. An awesome soldier in the Army that is;) That's what all these guys and gals are, awesome Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors, Marines and Coastie's.

Just because you can't find them does not mean they don't exist, you believe in Santa right? They exist and they are keeping their identity private to help keep you safe and free. Keep on supporting the military they are here, there and everywhere and do appreciate what you do!

Never Forgotten

2009-05-24T20:38:00.000-06:00

As an Army spouse it is pretty hard to forget those who so bravely have given up their life for our freedom. My husband has been lucky during his deployments as his unit had few casualties. His last deployment he lost one of his good friends. A wonderful man who chose to deploy with his unit one last time instead of staying back on Rear-D until he ETS'ed. He deployed and talked so greatly about his lil girls he had my husband turned onto the idea of us trying for one more so he could have his lil girl (at the time we had 3 boys). On Oct 3 2005, SGT Large lost his life.

Well my husband got his way and shortly after his return home I was pregnant with number four and due on Oct. 3 2006. A few months later very much to my shock I found out I was having a little girl. I believe an angel from up above wanted his buddy to know what a wonder having a lil girl was like. Oh and what a wonder it has been as girls are so very different than boys! Thank you SGT Large for looking down on your buddy, you will never be forgotten.

Welcome

2009-05-06T22:20:00.000-06:00

Once again I am taking the plunge and I am going to try to devote more time to this. Writing is such a wonderful creative release.
So who am I? Well, I'm Debbie. Wife to my soldier for 10 years and mom to 4 beautiful kiddos. Yeah i'm a bit biased. I have "special needs" kiddos which make things interesting. My oldest has Central Auditory Processing Disorder and mild ADHD (inattentive type), my second son is high functioning autistic and has comorbid adhd. I could write a book on him. Then we have 3 and 4 who are at this point "normal". While i'm kinda on the subject, yes I call my kids by number and they know their number and do respond. I'm a strict mom but in this life it is needed and I know when to relax if needed.
What else, what else? Well I am a jack of all trades and i'm sure you will learn this if you keep reading. Maybe you'll learn something interesting or i'll make you laugh but thank you for reading this far. I hope you keep reading my tales of an Army wife.

Tales of an ARMY wife

Huh? What El Paso Is the safest

Good sometimes comes with Bad

CoC

4 weeks Post Op

Exposed

Commence screaming now!

The trip to the oncologist

A few words that scare every parent

Lupron the conclusion

Today was hard

umm..yeah..thanx..whateva

The Fourth and Me

Holy Boobies!

Adventure's with Lupron part 1

Life's little Surprises

My life by Ke$ha

Debbie's Super Easy Pasta Salad

Pink Princess Cookies

Biscuits and Gravy...Good ole yumminess

Homemade Veggie Burgers

Orange Creamsicle Cupcakes

What would you do?

Oatmeal Peanut Butter Surprise Cookies

According to the State of Texas...

Accutane

Smore's Cupcakes

Froggie Cupcakes

FRG woes

Never a dull moment

It's Autism Awareness Month

Goodbye Sprite Zero

the princess

I hate Valentine's Day!

Battle Scars

Your typical weight loss blog #1

Weighty matters

~*Happy Thanksgiving*~

Can't always be Superwoman

Paths can cross again

The Wall

“As you become more clear about who you really are, you'll be better able to decide what is best for you - the first time around.” Oprah Winfrey

The age old struggle

Army Wifey's Healthy Chili

Oh the things they say..stranger's that is!

Running...

Move over pork chops and applesauce

Simple Strawberry Yummieness

Parking Lot Etiquette

One Little Did

Habla Espanol?

Experiences with Texas Schools and High Functioning Autism

Cookie Dough Cupcakes

Happy Father's Day

100 things about me

Cha-Cha Changes

It's OPSEC baby

Never Forgotten

Welcome

~Happy Thanksgiving~