Our Departure is at Hand

This weekend will not be one of rest for the weary around here.Its laundry and dishes and cooking for a few days,oh my!Ive started the laundry and actually did un and load the dw yesterday am.but theres still more to do.When I went to Philly I left the house trashed,and at Neils request,I will not do it this time.So as of now Ive drained a pot of coffee,but I still wanna curl up with a book.So Im writting instead.I will be wearing things to wrok,I wont be taking to Cali,and if I do it will be on Monday and tuesday.I thought Id have much more time to get my shit together.I really thought during my interview that thed tell me,thanks,nice to meet you and thats it.But No,I got a job.Im really liking it too.I tend to put that size 11 in my mouth alot though.Im chalking it up to being around nothing but kids for 2 years.Ill iron it out.I think Ill have to start over when I return.Levi may or may not match this week at Sams,but I dont care,even if she does,lol.Ive gotta pack mine and his stuff both in one suitcase and keep it under 50lbs.Fortuantly I traveld sorta light when I went to Philly,so I can do this.I HOPE.I bought a small stroller at a yard sale last weekend.Im thinking of putting Levi in it,putting some crap in my suitcase,hauling my back pack,and ugly ass thing Im carrying for a purse and wlaking up the street.Im sure Ill get some looks from the neighbors,But Ive gotta practice.I ahve semi nosy neighbors up one section of the street,but down the ohter,there aint no houses,so Ill embarass myself down that way.Im in training dangit.Im renting a car seat from Fox.it would cost 50 to fly it,on top of luggin it through the airport,alone,so Im spending 7 bucks a day and renting.Fox rental cars has gone down to 9ish a day ont he intermediate car,so Im getting a good deal on that.Thankfully brother and fam have a washer and dryer,so maybe I wont have to come home wiht a ton of dirty laundry.And nephew wears some of the same sizes as Levi,so Ive been told I may borrow whatever I need to.Becky siad Id need a bigger purse,so I bought a bag that lloks like a laptop toter to sfuce as a purse.under normal circumstances I wouldnt be caught dead totoing such an ugly bag,but I need more room to tote all my crap for the baby for the plane ride.on the test of how much crap fits into a back pack I learned it aint much!Becky,who up untiol a few minutes ago thougth everyone was pissed at her,is happy I took her advice.I tried to channel her and her boss Amanda whom she says totes these huge beach bags things as "purse".Anyway,Now I hope I have enought room for all my on board stuff.I need food,clothes,and extra shirt for me,case he hurls,and diapers,wipes,toys,portable dvd player,magnadoodle,cup,bottle of water,some bynadryl,ID for both of us,wallet,insurance card,tickets,baording pass,and the list goes on and on.........I hope I dont forget anything,but heck I dont even know what I need to really take!!!!there aint no check list .....

A Period of Adjustment.

So right at a week on the job and i need a vacation,but wait,Im taking one!There has been so much to learn.Im trying to not let those blonde roots show too much.Having never worked in a finacail institution before,its a whole new world for me.I stand there to wait on members and my brain goes totally blank.Can they see the bog question mark above my head I wonder.Sometimes yes.I got a bit teary eyed yesterday b/c Levi is having such a hard time right now with Mommy gone.Hes in good hands,,I know,but they arent mine.Sam siad he cried all day yesterday.the only thing that amused him was Dora the Explorer.And though she didnt mind Dora in moderation,4 hours of Dora yesterday grated on her nerves,who can blame her?I told her I was having just a hard of time too.I cried when I picked him up.Its diffrent with Jake,b/c hes older and is in school.He does his homework when he gets there and plays with her son,and any other child that comes by.Levi not so much.Sam has a daughter that is 6 weeks older than him,so he has a buddy.But still.When we get home he just wnats to be held and is a tyrant!He wants me,then he wants Neil,then he wants me.He does not want to be out of our sights!I feel so bad for the lil guy,whos had me 24/7 since birth.I worked a few weeks last year,but he was so tiny,all he wanted was to be held and changed and a bottle.Now,its difffrent for him too.He KNOWs im not there.God I hate it for my baby.But I also am feeling good about working too.Its like a catch 22.I need to work finacailly right now.No way around that.With the economy,things keep getting mroe expensive and Neils stress keeps going up tp be a good provider.My hosue looks like hurriacane Ike came through.Ive gotten up early to load the dishwasher.theres still a few celan dishes,but its looking bad around here.I'll get into the swing of things.I hope.Neil does not expect me to do everything anymore thank goodness.Hes been cooking dinner and stuff,so hes a big help.And we even had nekkid time last night.Makes twice in one week!that dont happen around here too much!lol.But shortly afterwards,at 9 pm I passed out cold.Im so drained at the end of the day.Not that the job is labor intesnsive,but my brain is in overload.My Pcp is changing my meds agoan too.I cant do Paxil anymore.Made me freak out.So today Im headed to Walmart on my lunhc break to get another 4.00 generic of Celexa.2 of my friends take it.So we shall see how that one works for me.I know things will settle down once I get into a routine.right now im just not in one.Im not leaving my house this weekend.we will eat what we've got!Ife gotta scrub and scrub some more and attmept to start packing.Here I was thinking Id have all this time,a month,to sit on pins and needles before our trip.not so much anymore.Ive gotta work till 4:30 ,aka 5 everyday next week.I swear tursday night im gonna want to go to bed at 7 their time,and Im sure ill get lauhged at,but i wont care.Im hoping to have everything just baout ready to go,on sunday night,save for a few clothes for Levi and me.God is in control,and thats what I have to remeber!

I have a new Mantra

Yesterday my friend,Becky,and I went shopping for clothes.Becky and I wear about the same size,but are diffrent shapes and heights.I am a few inches taller than she.I have a big Ole booty too.Its like a shelf where my hips are!She on on the other had has more in her love tank and chest area.We hit 2 stores.Cato and Maurices.Did you shopping will totally wear you down?We each had money,time,and at some point motivation!we hit Cato first.I knew they had cute shirts,as I had just bought one in the one where we live.{she and I met in the middle,since she lives in Memphis,and I left the kids with the inlaws}.when you walk in to the left is WOmens sizes nas the right is Misses sizes.She went left and i went right on some bizzare divide and conquer mission.I told her save for maybe pants,I had not yet progresses to Womens sizes.I have a normal size chest and a bit of a gut,but I can still wear XL on the misses sizes.Both of us ever th bargain shoppers hit the center clearnace racks with a vengence.I knew I didnt need too many shirts,but a few new ones would be nice.Between the 2 of us out of that first batch,there was 1 for her and one for me.It looked like a torando hit the dressing room,which we shared so we didnt have to flaunt our fat to unsuspecting size 1 jrs.who wants to do that,come on.After both of us giving up on the clearnace racks we hit the regular prices.I kept getting drawn to purple yesterday,I dunno know why and Becky towards a pumpkin color.The purlpe is ok on me,but pumpkin on her aint happening.Bad as we hated it too cuz there were some cute shirts!Made her look yellow.So I found one purple one that would suit,and we hit pants.We hit pants on the opposite side of the store.Im tall and wide.I have long legs,Becky does not.She has shorter legsWe tried on a few pair,one in "my SIze dammit".But alas that was not the case.It was then and there we decided SIZE does not matter.Its how it fits and feels.In my size you could see every bit of hail damage on my ample cheeks.And Becky in her size was doing the fat woman wiggle to button.{yes,theres were the same sizes,mine just in talls.}.We left the Cato with a path of 30 shirts in our wake and 5 pairs of pants that went back to the racks.Both ever concious of fuleing our volumptious figures,we decided it was lunch time.I needed a drink and quick!THank goodness here there is a Mexican place on every corner with Margaritas.It was over them that our new mantra began to devlop.Becky has had the gastric bypass surgery and to me still looks great comapred to the before pictures.But with some things that have happend to her recently,shes gained some weight back.She still looks wonderful though!Me on the other hand its a combo of protecting my butt by eating crap to expand it!I had a baby and am still claiming baby weight,but she knows the truth,lol!Its sitting at home and eating.The whole purpose of the shopping extravaganza was to get new bankers clothes,lol.After downing one Maragrita,I hadnt yet sloshed myself enough fortitude to try on pants.So I ordered another.I got an eye brow from her on that one,she knows I dont drink much!I just couldnt take it!I am having a hard enough time figuring out this new world im in,much less the new body I have.I wont say its new and improved,it just takes up more space!So I digress,the new mantra.iYeah,it came about to be ,It dont matter what size it is,its how it fits.How it feels and honestly how it hides the hail damage!For her,she needs those instanlty slimmin in the belly.I told her if they had jeans that instanly took off 50 lbs Id spend my last dollar for them!She agreed!So we leave the Mexican place and Im full on buzzing.We pull into the store,5 doors down,but we drove,yes we drove!There was s sign int he window of Maurices that said sizes 1-24.Something about that sign made Becky snap a bit! I was hazy at that point ,but she said something to the effect of who freaking wears a size 1.I told her folks with no kids,husbands or lives!I had to give our war battle scars SOMETHiNG of validation!We earned our size,dammit!Life put it on us! SO we go draggin in and a sales person asks us if we need help.I told her we needed more help than she could ever give,and I had to get drunk to buy pants!Could she point us towards the big ass pants please.We tried on a bunch of pairs,in MY SIZE please.WRONG.On us our sizes werent even going past our hips.Beckys got ample ones too.MIne are just bigger,lol.The fat woman wiggle wasnt even working on them.So I went up 4 sizes.I mean fits!Finally,we found 2 pairs of work pants that fit me.No sizes remember.they are fitted right and i can eat lunch and still breath.She has a hard time finding jeans that fit her.She was telling me about the color Nazi at Avenue one time.THe clerk mearured her and informed hershe was a yellow.They yellows howver didnt fit her,adn she wanted a diffrent style.BUT,the clerk argued,I measured you and yorue a yellow.BUT I AM NOT,she siad Id like a diffrent color.Beckys dear hubby went and got her a pair in every color!SHe didnt leave there with jeans.Our clerk at Maurices was more than helpful.Becky finally found a pair of jeans that fit her! We then hit the clearance rack.We didnt take any chances starting htere this time.HTe lunch pow wow changed our tactics a bit.So we each found a pair of jeans that fit,adn were on SALE too! Funny how that happens!THe moral of the story is...Go shopping with a close buddy you dont mid seeing her hail damage if she dont mind seeing yours,Forget sizes!jsut forget them,every store is diffretn,even MEcca aka Walmart,and have fun.B do remeber,sometimes a little Jose helps.
NEw Mantra: ITS NOT THE SIZE THAT MATTERS,ITS HOW IT FITS AND FEELS!and it should feel good on your body and flatter you too!

A SAHM no more!

From the title you can read I am a Stay at home mom no more.I am now a credit union employee.My status is considered part time,but there will be times when its normal hours.I will be going in every day,just not all day once I am done with training.It has been a hell of a week to say the least.The interview was on Monday,and she called me Tuesday and I started thursday.And since then Panalerium has ensused at my house.When it was just Jake and Me it was easier getting it together.Now with 2 more members in my family,not so much.I will have to get used to it.In this economy of ours every little bit will help.{I hope}.But it was just 2 days this week,so we shall see,lol.The coworkers are all "nice".I brought jam to bribe them on the first day,and no one got food poisioning.It is an all female envioronment.I had to sign a praivacy thing,so I will not be using any names of either members or co workers or get too specsific about their lives.I dont feel I have that right.And its kinda like the Drs office.Balances are said in hushed tones,and ppl are not talked about once they leave.I guess that makes me feel good to know that there IS discression in the credit union world and it is taken very seriously!The coworkers...Ahhh,I miss Meme! She is my soul sister and she got me!My new ones Im sure thing Im from some other planet.I adore Neil,I like sushi,and I drink community coffee.To some those are forgein words! It is a small establishment,very home town,and i like that! they know the members,and since I was used to knowing my customers when i sold phones,i like the customer service aspect of it.Its been very nice to be in adult comapany.My tainer,Ill call her teller 1,is a whiz! She can almost anticipate what they need before they ask,I hope I can be like that,one day.then teller 2,is someone I feel like i have to big sister to.Shes ten years older than me,but is sheltered.Those are her own words,.I guess I shall find out more,later.Shes a critter Mama,and from what Ive heard her say,shes good at it too.Then theres teller 3.SHes jazzy.Shes my mamas age,and dresses well,has the bleached hair,and red nails.My kinda lady!She also has great taste in shoes,and purses.So do I!then theres Boss Lady and 2nd Boss lady.Very nice women!But I d knwo from expericnec from working with women that they can be bitchy.I can be that way too,though.lol.Teller 1,is my trainer.Its been nuts the last 2 days,so not much actual training has been done,but lots of observing and smiles,of I will be able to help you soon,but not just yet.One of her offspring comes in to file and she seems like a great kid.And to teller 1,she and her other offspirng are her world.Nothing wrong with that,if you ask me.I feel the same way.I dont know really how much theyve traveled,or food allergies,but I hope to learn.They know Im going to Cali and how excited I am about that.{rental car is down to 11,97 a day,wha hoo!}.So Im sure it will get even more intersting as time goes on.Teller 2 is on a quest to loose weight,so Ill be encoruaging.Wouldnt hurt if I lost 50 or so either!lol.They do like Crystal Lite,adn some like coffee.I think they are all great at customer service and I think I can learn alot.I neglected to inform during my interveiew that I was nuts and horrible with numbers! Ihope I can keep em fooled for abit longer,lol.FIL who also works at a credit union said theyd need never know either b/c theres adding machines.But the crazy I need to keep under wraps for a while,lol.My SIL also wrks at a union,so I hope she can help too!Ive joined the new clans business and I hope it works out for both me and my family and them too.We shall see.

When Mama is sick,Everybody Suffers!

So, I have succumbed to the fallish sinus itis.Ive also got an ear infection,and now I find out yesterday Ive got an infected lymphnode from dental work i had done 6 months ago!Im all jacked up,but noit in a way Gretchen WIlson would be proud of!
It all started last week with Levi being in a bad mood and a bit snotty.I dont know if Ive written about my aversion to snot and other things you hack up,but UUUUHHHHH,I cant stand it.Bring on blood,vomit,and diahreeah anyday.Cant stand snot.He started leaking like a faucet,adn when the leaking truend green,I took him to the Dr.Hes prone to ear infections,as we learned last winter,so I didnt want to take any chances.So alas,he did have the beginnings of one,and thankfully only in one ear.SO a round of antibiotics it is,and hes feeling much better.
ME,not so much.I started the drips too and since I need a check up for my crazy pills anyway,I hit the dr with a full on assault.I love my pcp,shes very concerend about her paitents,and their families.So I blew in there,pun totally intentded with;Ive got a yeast infection,a sinus infection,my lexapro aint doing its job and the GERD is not letting me sleep at night,despite 2 prilosec otc's I take a day.Fix me please Doc! So she did! I left there with blood drawn to ck on the stomach issue,a Zpack,calrniex,and paxil.Off to Walmart I went.We have shitting drug coverage,but Walmart has 4.00 generics.it really saved me!
Then later that day I had to take Jake to the dentist.he and neil see the same one,but ive been seeing someone diffrent.Jake had no cavities yet again!im so happy!My baby got the sperm donors teeth and not mine!i come from a long line of fillings,partials,and in Mama's case,a full set of porcelin at age 44.SO I made myself an apt with them b/c htey are so great with Jake.Oh the regret!Not on their part,but on mine!I got my dear Mama's teeth,as did my brother too.Hes got a gerogus set of veneers.Wish I did.SO yesterday I went,thanks to Sam,sans Levi.I had the xrays and I thinkt he dentist eyes lit up when he saw them.dollar signs were dancing above his head!Ic ould tell.THe hygentist,Susan,was great.She told me I had a mouth full of holes..But on a psotive note,I have good connection with my gums,so my teeth arent going to fall out,theyre just gonna rot away.I grew up on non flourideated well water.Nothing against my country upbringing,but well water is BAD for your teeth.So I learned I need 4 root canals,a crown and various fillings.Stuff I alredy knew but had been avoiding!like ive siad Im poor and we have crappy dental insurance save for the 2 free cleanings a year.I had had some work done back in Feb shortly before flying to Philly.DONT DO IT.dont have dental work done before you fly.You will have massive headaches the entire trip.So,I left there with another haul of meds.Back to Walmart I went with darvocet,antibiotics,diflucan,and valium.The valium is for the day I have 2 root canals done at the same time.Neil gets to take me.Hes seen me give birth and thats all well and good.but I was not scard to do that.THe dentist,is a totally other story.I had a traumatic expericne as a child when I told the dentist the tooth he was getting ready to pull still hurt.He told me just to lay there and relax and basically be quiet.Still give me freaking nightmares!So he ripped it out and I screamed.My Mama came rushing in cuz she herd me hollering.I had to have oral surgery to get the rest of the rotten ones out.And even as an adult when the same dentist became my wireless customer I was a bitch to him.I never for got that.So now I have a great new dentist who belives in stuff like pain meds,and valium.Ive never taken it before,but I cant wait to try it.The work will Not be done until Levi and I return form Cali,as in 2 days afterwards.They wanted to do it before,but I got VERY vehement that they werent going to ruin my good time,and Id just take the darvocet with me incase I started hurting on board.Then theres the 6 valium pills too.Bring it on Levi on the plane.Ive got bynadryl for him and now Ive got semi sedation for me!

Explaining 9/11 to my 7 year old

This is an actual serious blog.Last night Jake told me he could hear the TV in the Lr and wantd to know what I was watching.It happend to be a show about 9/11 widows.It showed stories about how the women spent their widow money,showed domestic parteners being left out,and it showed the 2nd plane hitting the tower.Jake saw that,and asked where it had happend.I told him it happend in New York City,and those 2 were not the only planes.That there were 2 more.All crahsed,all dead on board.and others in the buildings they hit.Including firefighters,police,and kids.I wasnt quite sure where to go from there,but then he asked Why.I told him there were ppl out there who hated America and our way of life.He wanted to know how theyd gotten the planes to crash.I told him they learned how to fly and over took the pilot.The fear in his innocent eyes was as real as mine was in the days after 9/11.I was going to EMT school at the time,and that day during class we were glued to the TV and hugged and cried for our fallen brothers.Not only the EMS workers,but simply fellow Americans.He asked HOW could such a thing have happend here?Its a question Ive asked myself over the years since then.How?I explained to him that we live in a great Nation,where freedom rings.That we get more priveleges than any other country in the world,and we are the BEST!Best at everything!We are the best b/c we are free.I think he was even more concerned about Levi and my up coming plane ride to Cali.I told him Id flown 2 diffrent times since I'd been his Mommy and im still hear.I told him thats how come all the securtity was so tight and it took a long time at the airport.And that Id come back home twice and Id come home a 3rd time.I dont know,that if I dont return,that he will ever forgive me for intentionaly lying to him.I felt at that point my job as Mama was to reasure him.I told him there were brave men and women who died that day,including those on flight 93.That thye gave their lives so we could still drive to Ms with out about a bunch of legal paperwork.I told him he'd understand it a bit more when he was older.I told him there were bad ppl in the world who didnt like our way of life.I told him that he was so blessed to live in America.I hope to instill a love of country in my children.I come from a long line of military servants.Who did their duty proud ad with honor,and I hope he does the same.I may be raising the next soildiers who put flags on the top of Mountains,despite the battle not being over.Or men that will rush into buring buildings,to help ppl with out a thought of their own safety.The men and women,military,ems,and civialians alike who gave us our freedom that day are all heros.As are the men and women who continue to serve our great nation,no matter their capacity.I eventulaly had to end our conversation b/c it was getting past his bed time.But I hope I will continue to instill love of God,family and country in my children.I think I started the love of country last night.Or planted more seeds that have already been sewn.I think we do live in a great land.Aside from voting,my favorite freedom is being able to get in my car with a full tank and take off to wherever I want to go.And the only thing I need is a map,or even just my TN driver Lisence.After the trip to Philly I appreicated the Revolution even more.Being born in Vicksburg,deep in Confederate history,I have a love of my home state too.those men who fought for the south fought for what they believed was right.As did the ones from the North.I hope America never goes through that again.That we can co exist despite our diffrent veiws.Thats what we're founded on.Thats what makes us so great.I hope God will continue to bless America,and we never forget just the price that was paid for it.

Sometimes the road less traveled gets you lost!

There could be other titles for this blog too including...
Spontaneaous travel with 2 kids...not a good idea.
Thank Heaven for good friends...
Hard to tell a 7 year old,No you cant go see your Memaw you havent seen in 2 months even though we're a scant 30 minutes from her.
That is how it happend Friday.
The kids were out of school for Fair Day.and I decied it would be a good time to take my offspring to see Poppy at the bank 2 hrs away and have lunch with him,though there were a million other,cheaper things to do.Like dishes,laundry,....But really who wants to do that?
SO I loaded up the SUV got some gas and off we went.Its raining too btw,still remnats of Gustav!So we stopped at Wendys and got Poppy a man size lunch and went to see him.THe visit was nice,the oohs and Ahhs from his 99% female co workers,were wonderful.Then I took that first wrong left turn and we were suddenly in Dowtown Memphis.At this point I probably should have truned the way I knew to go home,but No,I didnt.The exact words from the back seat and Jakes little mouth were,"YOu know Mom,we're only 20 minutes from Southaven.I havent seen my Memaw in months and months."
How can you say no to a request like that.He doesnt get the gimme's too much.Sure there the latest Hannah Montana book or magazine he HAS to have,but other than that hes great!
So I made a phone call to the EX-MIL and off we went.SHe and I have a good freindship.SHes glad that Neil is there for Jake.ANyway,SO I met her in SOuthaven for a drop off a few hrs to see her only grandson.Then I called Mel and said to Get up,We're going to Target.SHes an old High school friend and we've gotten very close lately.We missed almost 10 years of each otehrs lives,but picked up right where we left off.I just love her very much,her husbnad and son are GREAT too.Theyre family to me and mine.SO I picked her up and off we went to the "new" Target.Ive said before my home town aint what it used to be,and neither is the whole county I come from.While walking around,I got that phone call from Neil asking where I was.I simply replied,that I was walking around Target with Melanie.It took him a minute to realize what Id said thorugh his sleepy head.I told him I was in MS.I explained the who Jakes need to see his Memaw.He understood,the man is a siant,I swear.I told him Mel said I could sleep on their futon,and was it ok if we stayed.SURE he said.Neil and I respect each others right to be alone at times and I was thinking he needed some.Well then on the way back to her house I changed my mind,called Neil and siad we were coming home.His words hurt.."I was kinda hoping you'd stay down there..."Tears welled up!I took it personally,so I yelled at him,"Well FINE THEN".and hung up.Mel was suprised as I was,due to his calm manner and sweet,albeit grumpy at times demeanor.So I went to Dinner with them.Neil called and asked if I was mad.Nope,Just hurt my feelings I said.and that I understood he needed alone time and we'd be staying with Mel.
So yesterday on the way home I Google mapped a diffrent way to come home.One that hoepfully was shorter and faster.Andy,Mels husband told me to go the way we all always did.UH NO,I was going this new way to try it out nad if it was shorter and faster,it would be the way I went to them from now on.Didint someone once say All roads lead home.They didnt say that those roads were windy and new.ANd my favorite Poem is..The road Not Taken,by Robert Frost.Its been an insperation to me.Well not yesterday!I took the road less traveld and got lost in Brownsville,Tn.SOme nice firefighter named JR told me I couldn get to the road I need from there.I looked my savior in the eye and said Bull SHit,If I can get home from Louisville,KY with no map,I can get home!lol.He laughed and was even more willing to get this lost Phycho traveling Mom out of his firehouse.So off I went on another way towards a town Im familiar with,that jsut happens to be on the old way home.SOme how I took a right turn in the Ghetto!I was lloking at ppl walking down the street in no bras with shirts on that said MO MONEY taxes on them.Finally I saw one of Ripleys finest and asked him to help me home.We knew some of the same ppl,and after he was a bit of an ass,he was throughly amused at my plight.He told me how to get back to the hyway and off we went.After a phone call to Tido,the ppl me and Ripleys finest knew,I had him howling!Cussing the road system in West TN and all that.After I told him the long sorid tale of taking the first left turn,I told him to try living with me!He howled even more and helped me more.He told me the road I was on would take me closer to the hwy I needed to turn off of and get my butt back home.Finally after almost 3 hrs and no more miles save 6 that google maps said it would take I pulled into the driveway at our HOME.Finally!The kids were tired,I was tired and Neil was thoughly hung over from his Daddy time!So we ate TV dinners and frozen Pizza for supper and I went to bed!I didnt mention that I had run out of diapers,that purpose of the Target run,and I had to buy Jake a change of clothes.We got home and I showered first thing,to get the roads not taken off of me.I love to hop in the car,but Dang,I feel Im too old for this stuff!Next time when I plan to make a day of it,I will have a tooth brush and change of drawers in tow and a box of diapers!I am glad though that I needed food,shleter,and bed for me and mine and I was provided it!

Going Back to California!

Ok,So I recieved a wonderful early Christmas gift on my birthday none the less.An unnamed benefactor took pitty on our poor asses and gracously bought me a plane ticket to go see my brother and his family in southern Cali.Ive been down in the dumps that I have a newphew Ive never met before.And a wonderful sister in law Ive only gotten to spend a few hours with,and a brother any sister would want!Grwoing up we tried to kill each other a time or two,but who didnt.he took off out there,mad at the world and the most wonderfult hing happend to him.He fell in love.in fact we share the same anniversary,same year and everything.Feb 1 is a great day to get married.My whole family has been out there since the nephews arrival last July but me and mine.We're poor,like Ive said,and it just has not been possible.Neil gave me the choice to go to Philly or Cali,and since Cali was twice as expensive I chose Philly.Then I found a cheap ticket and wha la,a benefactor agreed to buy the ticket!So OMG Levi and I are going to Cali.Ive never flown wiht either of my kids before.Jake has been a lot of places,Houston,Iowa,Tampa to name a few,but ewe've always been in a car.Made for some long road trips,but hes good about that.Levi on the other hand gets antsy.Taking advantage of they fly in your lap for free until 2,I decided to take him with me.Jake had a chance to go,but decied he wanted to stay home with Neil and do man things.He put it to me like this,I get to spend time with him,and he dont.So Jake is really looking forward to a weekend of beenie weanies,frozen pizza,hunting and farting.I however am not looking forward to airports and plane rides with a child who is busy!Ive googled traveling with a 16 mnth old,and theres mixed results.Some say its wonderful,if they sleep,others are more blunt and say it will be hell.Ive gotten advice from my myspace friends who have been more realitic and from experience.They say head phones and gummy things are great,but waiting is not.Assent ans decent is not fun either.So the pacifier,we call it a sucker,is not going until after we return home.The ped. office said no to dramamine but yes to bynadryl.So its not cruel and unusal punsihment.THe dr office and other moms have said to test the bynadryl before hand to make sure it wont hype him up.I did that at 4 am after 3 hrs of crying and restless ness.Its now almost 9 and hes still snoozing.So,I dont want to conk him out,jsut chill him out a bit.So Im thinking 1/2 a tsp will do the trick.Im sure hell feel my nervus vibes too.i noramlly take a xanax before hand to counter act the coffee and smokes I chained and drained on the way to the airport.Its right at a 3 hr drive to the Nashville airport and 2 1/2 to the memphis airport.But flying outta Memphis was close to 500 bucks.Out of the question.So N-ville it is.Ive done it before too when I went to Philly.HTe roads were clear during my waaay early morning ride there and this time I fly out at 8 versus 6.So I dont have to leave at 1,I can wait till 3ish.I am a very spontaneous person,kind ready to go whenever,but honestly I like to be prepared.SO this trip I will be cking to see if Fox goes down ont heir compact car rates,I opted for a compact versu econo to be sure I got 4 doors for the 2 hr drive east.I cant wait to go back to the beach where the feet pics all began and take more,and see Levi in the sand,albeit a brief trip to the beach,Ill be anxious to get to the dessert to meet my nephew!I just ciant wait! THeres a 2 hr layover in houston,adn so Levi acan run his little heart out up and down the terminal until we board for the 3 plus hr flight to San Deigo.Jake is not jealus at all,esp when I told him hed been alot more places than Levi,just not on a plane.SOme of those raod trips I wish we'd flown!Im so excited and will be googling even more as our early Oct departure date nears!!!!