10 Things You Can't Live Without

10 Things I Can't Live Without

1. My iPhone: I don't go anywhere without it, I keep everything on it, and I would be lost without it!
2. My computer: I'm on it all the time...like they say, all my friends are in there! (is that sad to say???)
3. The cheap sheets we bought at the outlet mall that are on our bed (they said it had a high thread count and I don't know if it does or not, I just know that they are the softest sheets I have ever felt!)
4. Sierra Mist: My go to drink. I like it because although it is a soft drink, there is no junk, no high-fructose corn syrup. I would rather drink real sugar...a drink with 5 ingredients that one with 15.
5. Coffee: Really, I kind of like ours better than Starbucks, and it is cheaper! We just brew regular coffee, then steam some milk and add in some hot chocolate. Well, I like it!
6. Chocolate: My favorite is Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. If my husband is traveling through an airport that has one, he will bring me a couple of bars. Otherwise, I get a couple of the single serving sizes of Ben & Jerry's Chocolate Fudge Brownie Ice Creams. It has to be the single serving size or else I will eat too much!
7. Trashy tv: Anything on Bravo, E! is great. All of the Houseviwes, the Kardashians, I love it all!! My husband doesn't understand it, but I love it!
8. Meds:whether it is my kids meds or mine, I can't live without them...truly!!
9. My mom: my mom helps me in more ways than I can mention. We literally chose the house we live in because it is within walking distance of where she works.It has come in handy more than once!
10. My husband: I mean, do I need to explain this one? He is my best friend so no, I can't live without him! It is bad enough I have to make it through the week without him, I don't want to have to live without him!!

Why don't you join up too? List your 10 things you can't live without!

A Day in the Life of the worstest mommy...Part 1

My day starts at 6:30. I wake up and already have a text message. It is from the mom I carpool with. I almost cannot make out what the text message says....I think what she is asking me is what time my daughter needs to be at school. (back story, my daughter is a breakfast buddy at the elmentary school and she was going to ride with my boys to school that morning) It is too early for my brain to have to work this hard. I have to text back a clarification, then I get up.

I go into Jonah's room to wake him up. He does not want to wake up, but I shake him several times. Putting his clothes on his bed, I leave his room...I will come back to him later. I go to Ethan's room next. He is already awake, so he gets up right away. I tell him to come downstairs and get his clothes on. Ethan has severe ADHD, so he needs his medicine as soon as he wakes up or you can forget getting anything accomplished the rest of the morning. I give Ethan his medicine and he puts on his pants. We have a disagreement about whether or not he is going to wear the same shirt he wore yesterday...he decides he will change his shirt, but he is going to pick it out.

I put my coffee in the microwave to warm it up. Does it matter that it is a day old? Right now, no! I start making Ethan's lunch...I really need to go to the grocery! Peanut butter bagel, water bottle, peanut butter & cheese crackers...hmm, what else? Let's see, here's a Reece's egg, some conversation hearts, and a cheese stick. Looks good to me!

Down comes Ethan with a shirt that says something about Santa not talking to his teacher. I mention that it is not Christmas, but he insists that it is cool...whatever. Not worth arguing about. I ask if he wants breakfast...oh, yeah, I guess! I "make" cereal and soy milk. WTG mom!

Back upstairs to get Jonah up and wake up Lindsey. Usually, Lindsey doesn't wake up until later, but because she is volunteering this morning she has to get up early. Jonah stomps down the stairs, crying and whining all the way. Oops, he forgot to get dressed. I go get his lunchbox to pack. I don't even bother asking him what he wants. He has himself so worked up that he can't stop coughing so a breathing treatment is in order. So I set up the nebulizer and put the mask on him. If nothing else, it will give him a chance to calm down for 5 minutes. I pack his lunch...Daddy's hamburger helper, chocolate/vanilla pudding, chocolate milk, and cinnamon cheerios in a bag. All bags and coats by the door...except Jonah's coat is no where to be found...hmmm???

Jonah is finished now and wants breakfast...it's 6 minutes until carpool picks them up. I quickly pour him a small bowl of cereal while Ethan runs upstairs and gets Jonah's clothes for him. There are no socks to be found anywhere...there never are when you need them! Finally I find 2 non-matching socks...1 Halloween, 1 blue sock and he puts those on. We still have no coat, so as the carpool van pulls up outside the house, Ethan and Lindsey go out the door and I pull out of the coat closet Jonah's big puffy winter coat and he melts down! I say, "Sorry buddy. Guess you'll remember to bring your coat in from the car this afternoon!" He goes down the front steps crying, saying "You're the meanest mommy ever!!" Do I feel bad? Nope! This happens way too often!!

And it's only 7:30!!
...to be continued

The Day Jonah Went to the Doctor

My youngest, Jonah has severe asthma. It has been a problem since he was a baby. For a long time, they said it was just allergy related. Last year, I finally got a doctor to listen to me and agreed to send us to a pediatric pulmonologist. There is not one in the town we live in, so we go one town over...just 28 miles to a great children's hospital... Brenner's Children's Hospital. Everytime we go there, I am always so impressed how everything is catered towards children. Sometimes, doctor offices will just throw some toys in a box and call it a day. This office has a train set out in the lobby. There is a family library to use. This is the little cornere we were waiting in.

Yeah, this is a computer...complete with all kids programming!

We had to do a lot of waiting and testing so we brought Jonah's Kindle to play.

Luckily, we have managed to get his asthma under control to where he used to have to use a nebulizer twice a day to now he uses a regular discus inhaler and only has a flare-up occasionally. He had been taking steroids so much, there was a concern about his growth and the possibility of ulcers and now that concern has passed. I am glad that I kept pushing for what I knew in my heart was the right thing all along. Asthma can definitely go hand in hand with allergies and that is how he had been treated for his whole life up until last fall. At that point, my argument to his pediatrician was that there where times when he would wheeze and his asthma was flaring when his allergies where not...therefore I felt his asthma needed to be looked at as a separate illness. Luckily,the pediatrician agreed and the treatment course taken has made a world of difference.

Have you ever gotten a doctor to change their mind about the way they are treating you or your child? Are you having trouble getting your doctor to treat you or your child the way you think you or your child should be treated? I would love to hear the story!

St. Patrick's Day Wreaths

I have a few things that I use to decorate for St. Patrick's Day, but I have yet to get them out. One thing that I do not have is a wreath for the door. Here are some great wreaths you can make yourself.

Burlap pieces cut in circles, glued on wreath, with felt shamrock

Yarn wrapped wreath

Styrofoam wreath, could hot glue stones or anything green on it

Ceiling medallion painted, decorative ribbon to hang, decorative stones glued around center

Satin ribbon glued on, shamrock ribbon wrapped around

Picture frame painted green, with dictionary cut into banner

Autism Awareness Month

 April is Autism Awareness Month and so far I have nothing planned. I have contacted the NC Autism Society about doing a presentation at my son's school and will be talking to the principal about that possibility. Some other options to consider are to sign up for the Autism walk this spring, raising as much money as possible, and to purchase one of the tshirts or bumper stickers I have posted below. I am also planning to attend at least one day of the Autism Conference being held later this month in Charlotte. I am a member of the Autism Society and that is money that goes towards autism research.  April 2 is Autism Awareness Day and many places will be turning things blue...turning on blue lights to symbolize their support for autism awareness. Sometimes you can find blue lightbulbs at Home Depot or Lowes. If I can find one this year, I will put those in my outdoor lights on my porch for the night. If they can turn the Empire State Building blue, I can turn my porch blue.

Autism Buttons
April is Autism Awareness Month and I have nothing planned. 

Autism Posters

Autism Posters

Autism Buttons

Autism Buttons

Bumper Sticker

11 Random Things Game

Megan, at Potato Chip Cats, tagged me to play in the game, 11 Random Things Game, and here  are my answers.

The Rules:

1. Post these rules.
2. Post 11 random things about yourself.
3. Answer the questions set for you in their post.
4. Create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer.
5. Go to their blog and tell them you've tagged them.

11 Random Things About Myself:

1. My little toe doesn't have a toenail.
2. Clowns freak me out.
3. I'm pretty random myself.
4. I don't really like to cook.
5. I stay up too late and am too tired in the morning.
6. Sometimes I take a nap after the kids go to school instead of going to the gym.
7. I love watermelon, but I am allergic to it.
8. Same goes for green peas.
9. I kill every plant given to me...except one bonsai tree, that is barely making it.
10. My favorite age is between 1-2. I'll take any child at that age!
11. I never read the newspaper anymore, but I always watch the morning news.

Answer to Megan's Questions:

1. What is your favorite food to cook? (or if you don't cook, restaurant food?) I do not cook, and I don't usually eat out. Instead, my husband cooks! I prefer his homemade pizza! 
2. Do you have a word that you say too much? Seriously? Seriously!
3. What is your most looked for quality in a significant other? loyalty
4. Have you ever tried online dating? yes
5. What is your favorite book?  Hard question because I don't get a lot of opportunities to read books. "The Kite Runner" was great, but one that really impacted me as the mother of a child with autism is "10 Things Every Child With Autism Wishes You Knew."
6. Why do you blog? Mainly to record the events of my kids. Everyone told me I should write a book, so much happens in my life that is just so unbelievable. Just the basic circumstances of our family are pretty unbelievable.
7. Where was the most amazing place you've ever been? I haven't been that many places...so I would say Key West, Florida.
8. Do you have a motto to live by or a favorite inspirational quote? I think just the basic, "treat others the way you want to be treated."
9. Do you play an instrument or did you used to? I played piano for 13 years growing up.
10. Is there a wild animal you'e seen in pictures that you would like to see in real life? um...no!
11. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas, without a doubt!

My Questions For You:

1. What is your favorite thing to drink?
2. What is your favorite color?
3. What is your favorite vegetable?
4. What is your favorite season?
5. Do you collect anything?
6. Do you have a hobby?
7. What is your favorite movie from the 80's?
8. What is the best vacation you have been on?
9. Where do you live?
10. How did you meet your spouse or partner?
11. Who is your favorite author?

Tag! You're it! I'd love for you to play the game, but there's no pressure and you don't have to. 

1. Allison@GiveawayHog
2. LaVonne@Long Wait for Isabella
3. Heidi@Mama Nibbles
4. Reyah@Reyah's Page
5. Jenny@The NY Melrose Family
6. SazaMom@Family Fun and Life
7. Melissa@Five Kids and Crazy Me
8. Monica@Monica's Mom Musings
9. Amanda@The Lily Pad
10. SRM@Suburban Rebel Mom
11. Anna@Living the Leviner Life

Mom Style vs. Daughter Style

Tonight, my daughter is going to a school dance. It is not as formal as a prom, but nonetheless, to a teenager, it is a big deal. I am very lucky that my daughter dresses modestly, but we do not always agree on what she should wear. I decided it would be fun for her to choose an outfit and I would choose an outfit to compare our different styles. This is what we came up with...
Lindsey's choice...


featuring a floral lace dress

This is what I chose...

Romantic Marie Antoinette dress:
it is no longer available, but I still like it!

Glitter Nails

Via Spiga "Alexis" pump

This is what she actually wore

So, what do you think? Not too bad, right? I don't think our tastes are that far off...although I am sure she would not want her friends to know that! ;-)

In Honor Of Dr. Seuss

*You can find these quotes and more on my Pinterest boards.

Boom Goes the School Bus

As I drove down the school driveway I breathed a sigh of relief because the line was not too long...I was afraid that I was running late. I pulled in and parked behind the last car in line. To my left, I noticed some of the buses had pulled out of the parking lot and were lining up in a row. This driveway is not very wide and the parking lot is not that big...people sometimes drive like idiots, speeding down the driveway without a care.

So I thought it was a little unusual that the buses were outside the bus parking lot...but nothing had clicked yet. From my rearview window, I saw a firetruck coming down the driveway, then pulling into the bus parking lot. In my mind, there were still no warning bells...the siren wasn't on, no one else seemed concerned. Then BOOM!!! I didn't know where that noise came from, but I knew it wasn't good. Black smoke just billowed from the bus parking lot....and as I pulled up just a little more, I could see a bus parked all by itself, hood up and firemen all around it. Soon, teachers and other staff members were all in the front of the school, trying to direct traffic...2 rows in, 2 rows out, and they had us pulling in the teacher lot on the other side of the parking lot where the bus had just been on fire!

There was no way my kids would see where I was parked, so I walked up to the front where are the kids that are car riders were waiting. My youngest and his friend that we carpool with were completely fine...with almost a hint of excitement that something had happened, but yet, they didn't quite know what. But my middle one, he was a mess. I don't know if he thought the same thing would happen to him, or that he was going to get hurt...I just don't know. But he has been in meltdown mode the entire afternoon and night.

As it turns out, there was a whole series of events that ended with the bus fire. A child fainted on the playground so they called an ambulance...child was taken to hospital. Then, kids are getting on the bus...one child already on the bus, pushed another child off the steps of the bus...the child's head hit the pavement hard and soon, there was blood. So they called the ambulance back, and the child's mother. The ambulance took the child, but the mother's car wouldn't start. So they tried to jump start the car from the bus. That is when the bus caught fire. One of the teachers ended up taking the mom to the hospital, and the fire was put our initially by the fire extinguishers kept on the bus.

What an ordeal! Have you ever pulled up to your kids school with a firetruck or ambulance there?

Top 10 Reasons Spring is Amazing

Top 10 Reasons Spring is Amazing

David Letterman style while enjoying a morning so warm, you don't need a coat!

• "Spring is nature's way of saying, 'Let's Party!'" Robin Williams
• Even if Winter is long, Spring always follows.
• Spring flowers
• Easter
• Amazing energy that seems to some from Spring
• Spring Break
• Time to make plans for the Summer
• Spring is a symbol of rebirth and renewal
• Days get longer
• The weather is perfect...not too hot, not too cold

What do you like best about Spring?