Davison Family News

Official Diagnosis

2011-10-18T15:48:00.001-04:00

Jeff had his follow-up with Dr. Taylor yesterday, and all is well. His official diagnosis is "Fibrous Hamartoma of infancy. "Fibrous hamartoma of infancy (FHI) is a rare, benign soft tissue tumor that usually occurs within the first two years of life." It is unlikely to recur and is completely benign.

It is pretty rare though. Not a commonly seen type of tumor. It is always treated with surgical excision.

Thought you might like to know!

Update - Jeffrey

2011-10-14T21:03:00.000-04:00

I would like to thank you all for the prayers you have offered up for Jeffrey and for the doctors and nurses in whose care he was trusted. His surgery was performed this past Monday, and all has gone very well.

We arrived at the hospital at 7 am, as we were instructed to do. Soon after, we were in the Pediatric Surgery holding area, where we were informed that his surgery was to be delayed, due to an emergency appendectomy that needed to be performed. No big deal, though, because we knew that this could happen.

When it was Jeffrey's turn, the nurses gave him a sedative about 30 minutes before his surgery was to begin. This made him a little drowsy, but mostly just plain old silly! He was speaking funny, moving in what seemed to be slow motion, and toppling over. You couldn't help but laugh.

When it was his time to go, the nurse carried him away. Jeff was super calm, which made things much easier on me and Paul, for sure. We waited for his procedure to be completed for about 45 minutes. Finally, Dr. Taylor came out and let us know that the surgery went very well! In addition, she showed us a photo of the tumor, which she was almost sure was just a lipoma, or "fatty tumor", and nothing to cause further concern. Thanks be to God!

While we won't know with 100% certainty until this coming Monday, we are greatly relieved. I had expected bad news, based on her original thinking. I can only attribute her great news to the plethora of prayers said on Jeffrey's behalf.

Jeff's follow-up appointment is this Monday, October 17 at 2:30 pm. We will have the definitive results from the pathology lab at this time. I am sure if the news were negative, we would have received a phone call to come in earlier.

So again, my dear friends and family, thank you for your prayers. It has meant all the world to us.

Our love,

The Davison's
Paul, Jessica, Andrew, Amanda, Jeffrey, and Peter

Who Are You Without Your Stuff? Really??

2011-10-07T07:09:00.000-04:00

I just saw a really disturbing commercial from Norton about protecting our "stuff". The end of the commercial really struck a nerve, though. The question was, "What are you without your stuff? Or better, who are you?"

I don't know about you, but you can take away all of my "stuff" and I will still be the same person. I am not defined by what is on my computer and gadgets. I am defined by what is in my heart and my brain. My value as a human being is not tied to what I own.

I am disheartened to know that this is how marketers see people. We are just a bunch of stuff to them. So sad. Is this how most people think these days? I sure hope not.

Prayers, Please...

2011-09-29T12:47:00.001-04:00

As you may know, Jeffrey has a lump in his right arm that has been there for a while. At his well-child check this month, the doctor felt it and said it was most likely a "fatty tumor", and nothing to worry about. To be on the safe side, though, she referred us to the pediatric surgeon upstairs.

At our visit with the surgeon, she asked a bunch of questions, felt the mass, and ordered an ultrasound for his arm. We had the ultrasound last week on Thursday.

Yesterday, I received a call from the surgeon, Dr. Taylor, with the results, which are inconclusive at this time. She said it does not feel like a fatty tumor to her, but the US indicated it could be. It is not calcified, it is solid with perhaps a little liquid in it, and it is not vascular. It is not a hemangioma or a lymphoma. It could be benign, or not. Beyond that, she really couldn't (or wouldn't) say.

She did strongly recommend surgery to remove the tumor, however. I know, I know, she's a surgeon so she will want to cut. I did ask about doing a biopsy first, but they would have to put Jeffrey under general anesthesia for that due to his age, so they really may as well remove the entire tumor anyway. He is scheduled for surgery (outpatient) on October 10 at 8:15 AM. We won't have pathology reports until Wednesday, the 12th.

As any sane person does these days, I spent time yesterday googling tumors in the arm. Much of the things I read are a bit worrisome to me. For instance, calcification in a tumor is usually good, because they are mostly benign when calcification is present. Jeff does not have calcification. I am scared to death that he has a malignant tumor and will have to have further medical procedures. I am not sure how this momma can handle those words.

All of that to say this:
Please, if you are a firm believer in our God, or have even an inkling of suspicion that there might be one, please please please offer your prayers for Jeffrey. I am praying for a positive outcome for him with all my heart and soul. I know God is listening, and hope he grants my petition. Please add yours to mine, and ask your friends to do the same if you are so inclined.

In the mean time, I will be holding my boy ever tighter, because I love him so much. I hate that he has to go though this, and wish I could do it for him. Thanks in advance for your prayers. I will feel better knowing we are not the only ones praying for my baby. Love to you all.

Jess

Photo Op

2011-09-14T15:37:00.003-04:00

Say "cheese"!

That is all for now!

The Worst Internet Ever

2011-09-13T16:05:00.001-04:00

I really hate my internet provider. You see, I live out in the middle of nowhere. As a result, I can't get DSL through the phone company, or cable internet either. Nope. We are stuck.

We are stuck with Hughes Net. Yeah, that's right. The only way I can get internet is through satellite. And it is ridiculously expensive - like $90 a month. Furthermore, I have a download limit each day, which means that you can forget about streaming music or videos because they use too much data. Oh, yeah. I can't do the work I was doing from home, either.

Someday, they say, the internet will reach these here parts. Until then, I'll just have to deal with this crazy satellite connection I have. I think internet will be a priority next time we move, and it will make us consider a move much sooner than we otherwise would have.

P.S.
This isn't a new problem. It has been an issue since we moved here. We were told internet would not be a problem. Well, they lied. And I am finally fed up!

On Cloth Diapers...

2011-09-10T08:00:00.000-04:00

I really love using cloth diapers. No stinky diapers in my trash, no diaper rash on cute little bums, and no money flying out of my wallet every couple of weeks. Rather, we have two loads of laundry, 2 to 3 times a week, bums adorned with cute little covers, and a one time expense.

So, what do I use? I actually have two different diapering systems, but they work well together, too. First, I have prefolds that I currently use on Peter's little butt. I got them when Jeff was a baby, and they are now on baby #2! The difference now is that I use Snappi's with Peter, while I used pins with Jeff. I'll tell you, Snappi's make cloth diapering so much easier. I don't know why I didn't get them with Jeff. I have Bummy Whisper covers, too.

With Jeffrey, I use BumGenius one-size pocket diapers. We have 18 of them, and they are the most awesome diapering system ever. Just throw an absorbent layer in the middle, and your diaper is ready to go! I can even use the large prefolds I have in the pockets for overnight, when he tends to get a little wetter than normal.
I'll have to post some pictures of their cute little butts in these cloth diapers. Peter in particular looks cute because he is so small and the diapers look so big on him.

Cleaning them is no problem, either. I just toss the diapers into separate pails as we change them. On wash day, I dump a pail into cold water with some detergent in the washer. They soak for about a half hour. Then, I empty the water and fill the washer with hot water and detergent. I pour plain white vinegar in the softener dispenser, set the washer for an extra rinse, and let it run! If the weather is nice, I hang the diapers to dry on the clothes line. If not, into the dryer they go! It's as easy as that.

Oh, I also use cloth wipes, and my own homemade spray to keep them clean. The cloth wipes are great, and you don't feel bad when you use multiples on one diaper because you just wash them! Our spray consists of water, a little baby wash, about 8 drops of tea tree oil, and some lavender oil for a nice fragrance. All of that goes in a spray bottle I got at the Dollar Tree. The essential oils last a really long time, too. My two small bottles lasted 2 years!

For this truly minimal effort, I have happy baby bottoms, a happy wallet, and laundry that I actually don't mind "folding" because it really involves no folding at all.

I Really Need to Stop Blinking

2011-09-09T21:04:00.002-04:00

Andrew back in 2008 - Notice the nice little boy face.

It happened all at once, it seemed. One day, he was my little boy. The next, becoming a man. How did the time go by so quickly? In the blink of an eye, his little voice grew deep. He shops in the men's department of stores. His cute little baby face was replaced with that of a young man.

Yes, Andrew is growing up. He came home from school two weeks ago today, telling me stories of how the kids in his class were naming the darkening fuzz above his lip. Strange, yes. They called it a "squirrel". He didn't quite know what to think of this, but decided that he really needed to shave. So I told him to talk to Daddy.


See his face here? Notice the mustache? The longer, thinner face?

Andrew received his lesson on how to shave his face the next day. And out of the bathroom came my now clean faced boy, who is suddenly no longer a boy because he needs to shave. My baby, my first born, is shaving. Not that he's needed to since then, but the mere fact that he needed to in the first place is proof that my baby is no more.

As Good as the Real Deal

2011-09-04T07:29:00.000-04:00

There are few things in this world that only the name brand will do...Grape Nuts, Bounty paper towels, and Windex are 3 favorites of mine. I have never found a suitable replacement for any of these. Until yesterday, that is.

No more Windex purchases in this house! I am making my own. Wanna know the "recipe"?
     1/8 cup ammonia
     1/2 cup rubbing alcohol
     1 quick squirt dish soap
     enough water to fill up the old Windex bottle

Let me tell you, this stuff works great! I tested it out on a few of the many windows in this house, and they sparkle! My mix would have even been blue if I had used regular ammonia. However, my blue dish soap mixed with my yellow lemon ammonia, and made green glass cleaner. Works for me though!

Now, if you could help me out with the other to things on my list, that'd be great. And no, Nutty Nuggets are not suitable replacement for Grape Nuts.

Accident Prone

2011-09-04T07:13:00.000-04:00

My beautiful 2 year old, Jeff, seems to be my "accident prone" child. If someone is going to get hurt, it's gonna be Jeff. I don't know why that is, but it is.

Please excuse my messy face! I had to get in on the picture-taking fun!

Consider this:
Earlier in the year, I took Mandy and Jeff to Chuck E Cheese with my neighbor and her two darlings. On the way out, while I was holding leftovers and Jeff's hand, he decided he didn't want to walk anymore and sat on the ground in the middle of the parking lot. Not a great place to stop. I dislocated his wrist trying to get him up to safety. ER visit #1.

Then, in May (or was it April?), he was running around the house here in TN, fell over a toy truck in the living room, and hurt his foot. My boy never cries, and he screamed bloody murder. After his crying induced nap, he still wouldn't stand on his foot. Turns out he broke the bone just above his toe, and was in a cast for 3 weeks. ER visit #2.

In July, shortly before Peter was born, he tripped in my room while playing with Mandy and Andrew. He fell face first into the corner of Paul's dresser and hit his lip. There was blood everywhere, along with my poor screaming baby. He ended up needing a stitch in his lip to close up the wound, and now has a scar where it was. ER visit #3.

A few days ago, Andrew dropped a glass bowl on the floor in the kitchen. I did my best to make sure the entire area was clean of glass. I must have missed a piece, though. Whose little foot found it? Yeah. Jeff. He has a nice slice across the bottom of his right foot, making him walk funny. No ER visit for this one, thank God, but still.

Why is it always one child who just seems to attract injury? Could it be his full-speed-ahead approach to everything? Is it just the nature of boys? I don't know for sure, but I sure hope things calm down for my precious baby.

My Struggle With Weight

2011-09-03T18:42:00.000-04:00

No, not my own weight, which is down quite nicely after this last pregnancy! I actually weight less after baby than I did when I started, believe it or not. And I haven't tried to lose weight, either. I only had a net gain of 6 lbs.

Nope, this is about my struggle to help Peter gain weight. And quite a struggle it has been.

When he was born, Pete weighted 6lb15oz. When we left the hospital the next day, he was a respectable 6lb10oz. However, he soon dropped to 6lb4oz. After being labeled "failure to thrive" by nearly 3 weeks old, we had to begin supplementing our nursing with formula. I didn't mind, as it was what was best for Peter at this time. However, I tried very hard to increase my milk supply to eliminate formula all together.

Alas, it was not to work. He was barely on the weight chart at his last appointment at 5 weeks old. He weighed 7lbs4oz. Supplement more please, the doctor said. And so I have been. It seems to be working, as well. He is finally starting to put some meat on those little bones of his!

I thought I would feel worse about not being able to exclusively breast feed my little boy, but every bit he gets is helpful. I still nurse him first, but we follow that with a bottle of formula, which he usually finishes. I really feel badly that he was still hungry those first weeks, when he wasn't gaining. Hopefully, our doctor's visits will normalize after his next checkup at 7 weeks, though he will surely need to go back again for a 2 month check. I am pretty sure he will be on the charts at his next visit, and above the 2nd percentile, as well.

How To Turn a Floor Into a Friend

2010-12-16T09:37:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, we laid a laundry room floor for one of our customers. This is not something we have ever done before, and he was WELL aware of it. However, we did our research, chose a great product, and sent our proposal for the work we completed. He called to accept, and we set yesterday as the date to complete the work.

Not only did Paul and I arrive on the job site, but our kids came along too. You see, Howard just loves them, and they really enjoy spending time with him, as well. Paul and I worked to tear up the old vinyl floors (2 layers) which went very fast. We cleaned to floor, and then took a break for lunch. Howard spoiled the kids with cookies and ice cream after their sandwiches!

We went on to begin laying the new vinyl tile floor. Setting the first course was very quick, as the tiles literally peel and stick. Around the edges, we had cuts to make, but even that went well. It was getting late, and Howard offered to buy us all dinner. Mandy and Andrew went with him to Taco Bell to order our food, and we had a nice dinner with Howard.

After dinner, Paul and I grouted the tile, creating a BEAUTIFUL finish that you would never think was vinyl. It looks like a ceramic tile floor, except it will be much more durable. We replaced his washer and dryer, got everything all set for him, and got ourselves ready to go! Here he is, our client, and he has turned into a great friend, as well.

I really love the work we are doing. Building relationships with people you would otherwise never meet is a great way to do business, for sure.

Happy Birthday, Andrew!

2010-12-03T19:45:00.000-05:00

12 years ago today, my life changed forever. My baby Andrew was born, bringing never-ending love, joy, and happiness to our family. Since that day, our family has changed a lot. But one thing will never change. I will love this boy all the days of my life, and beyond. He will always be my baby, no matter how big he gets. And he will always be the one who made me a mother. Thanks, Andrew, and happy birthday! I love you more than you will ever know.

The Goodbye

2010-10-02T10:29:00.000-04:00

They were getting ready to leave, those two men of mine. Andrew was in the car while Paul completed a few last minute tasks before their weekend away. Mandy took this time to speak to her brother. It was all very secretive.

As they pulled out of the driveway, we watched and waved our goodbyes. Then, Mandy turned to me to tell me what she said to her brother before they left. "I told him that it wouldn't be the same without my best friend," she said. My heart melted a bit as my girl revealed her feelings for her older brother.

Then, I smiled as she told me his reply. "But I'm your brother. How can I be your best friend?"

"Andrew! You may be my brother, but you're also my friend!"

Sweet, this little relationship they have. I hope it lasts forever.

Special Moments

2010-10-02T10:24:00.000-04:00

They're gone for the weekend, father and son. And so I am left with my two younger children, to play and have fun. We all need this special bonding time, I think. Not that we are not bonded with our children, but it is different to have one parent to yourself - or almost to yourself. You can do things you normally wouldn't with everyone around. Possibilities open just a little wider.

The boys have their weekend planned out for them, but we are free to do what we please. While the possibilities may be endless, we will end up being mostly practical with our time, I think. Already, cleaning is being done, a special breakfast has been eaten, and the day begins in a nice little harmony. We are all at peace, even though we miss each other.

Life is good.

The Never Ending Battle Against Clutter and Dirt

2010-09-29T09:08:00.000-04:00

I clearly did not inherit the cleanliness gene. How many generations does that skip? Because I did not inherit this, I have to train myself to follow certain routines in order to create and maintain a reasonably clean house. The only problem is that I am too impatient for a slow but steady approach. And then, on the flip side, I am too overwhelmed by the "clean it all today, and then keep it that way forever" approach, as well. So I end up cleaning it all today, then letting it sit for a while until I can't stand it anymore. Not a great way to approach house cleaning.

I am sure my issue is shared by many. How can we, then, conquer this problem? I have already tried Flylady.net multiple times. I am frustrated by her "shine your sink for a week straight before we add in anything else" approach. Not fast enough results for me. Maybe I should just focus on one room for a week. Get it clean, and keep it clean every day. The next week, I'll add another room. And so on. I think I will begin with the kitchen, as this is the most essential to keep clean. Then, I'll add in the living room.

So today it begins. I will keep my kitchen very clean and neat every day this week. I will begin by decluttering my counters, which definitely gather much clutter in our home. Keeping the dishes out of the sink will be another challenge. The rest is not so bad. I do have a large kitchen, so this will be a chore for me. I'll try to add some before and after pictures so you can see my progress. With a bit of dedication, I will have this room clean and ready for company every day of the week. The rest of the house...??

The Pile

2010-09-27T09:17:00.000-04:00

5 baskets, filled to the top. Washed, dried, folded, and put away. I thought it was over, but I was wrong. Where there is one, there are surely many more. It can not be left alone, for it only seems to multiply. I know I am not alone in my never-ending quest for peace from this daily task, yet there are none who willingly battle alongside me. The fight, for now, is mine alone. I will survive and conquer. It just might take me some time. Today, the battle is won, but the war is far from over.

The Ride

2010-09-26T09:26:00.000-04:00

"I'll mow the lawn," I used to say with pure excitement. Anything for a chance to drive that big, red tractor. I knew I would be riding and driving for about an hour. It was a chance to experience driving before I was ever allowed to drive behind the wheel of a car, something I used to practice by steering the tire iron from the backseat.

On a recent trip back home, he got to experience the thrill, as well. On our last full day, Grandpa got the tractor running. He climbed up into the seat, that look of pure excitement plastered across his face. After a few minutes of instruction, he was set free. You could see the joy in his face. There is nothing like a boy (or girl) and his tractor.

Welcome, Baby Anna!

2010-09-24T12:28:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, my little sister welcomed a new baby girl into her already wonderful family! Congratulations Sandie and Sam!

Hanging On

2010-09-20T08:55:00.000-04:00

With temperatures still in the 90's here, summer is fighting to keep its grasp on our area. Fall is going to have to duke it out with Summer sometime in the very near future. I can't wait to move back to an area where summer is the weaker season, and fall comes out on top.

How's It Going?

2010-09-09T10:17:00.000-04:00

Things, as always, remain hectic in our household. Mandy and Andrew are doing awesome in their school work, having some easier days, and some harder ones as well. Mandy is zipping through her math, as she is currently repeating 2nd grade math only. She will be in 3rd before we know it. She is such a smart, attentive little girl. Andrew is learning to take responsibility for his learning, as he does most of his work on his own. I check up on him, and discuss what he has learned on a daily basis. We are really loving Calvert.

Illness seems to be spreading in this house, as well. First, Jeff was sick for a couple of days. He actually refused to walk, which had us concerned, but is now back to normal. Mandy then came down with a fever, reaching up to 104 at one point. She is all better now. I actually had a low grade fever yesterday, but seem to be on the mend.

My most pressing concern is, as it has been for some time, the health of my dad. He really needs a lot of prayers. Currently, we are praying that he is accepted onto a transplant list, which will be his best chance. I know I should not pray for something specific like this, so I pray that God's will be done, and that He gives us all the strength to handle his decision. Each life on this Earth has a purpose, guided by the hand of God. I am not ready to say goodbye to Daddy, so I hope and pray each day for a positive outcome. It really does not seem fair that he has his condition, and to see him struggle chokes me up. It is so hard being so far away at this time. I wish I was there to lend a hand every day.

That is what's up here for now. I look forward to updating with better news in the very near future. Please add our family to your prayer chains. Miracles do happen.

In The Mail

2010-08-21T16:11:00.000-04:00

I walked out to the mailbox in a drizzling rain, wondering what might be in the box. Of course, the only thing that ever is in our mailbox is junk, or a bill. Today, there was an invitation for Andrew to join People to People and travel to Australia next summer. It all looked very impressive, and made it seem like Andrew was privileged to be invited.

As I did a bit of research, it turns out anyone can go. All you have to do is fork over $5,500 for the trip. Wow. We are feeling really special for having the honor of paying for a vacation to Australia for 2 weeks at the bargain price of $5,500! Can you tell?

There has to be a better way to see Australia. That's all I'm saying.

A New School

2010-08-18T15:21:00.004-04:00

This year, as I think you may all be aware, we have enrolled Mandy and Andrew in a Charter School here in South Carolina. Because we felt the local school they were attending was not meeting their needs, we have enrolled our children in the South Carolina Calvert Academy. After our orientation today, we feel we have truly made the best decision! We can't wait for school to start on Tuesday!

Today, Mandy and Andrew made some friends in their classes, met their teachers, and have their new school t-shirts to show their school spirit. We got to attend orientation in Columbia, at the South Carolina State Museum. It was officially their first field trip, and school hasn't even begun yet.

Best of all, this school will teach Mandy and Andrew how to take control of their own learning. They will have much responsibility for their learning, as they have not before. I think it will be a great experience for them, and for us as a family, as well.

A Whole Bunch of Random

2010-02-21T15:53:00.001-05:00

I looked into Jeffrey's mouth today while I was changing his diaper and it became quite apparent the is cutting 4 teeth at one time! Poor baby.

Andrew was an awesome big brother today...he bought Mandy a treat from the ice cream truck with his own money. His friend next door did not do the same for his sisters. In fact, this friend was willing to let his sisters have nothing at all! I was proud of Andrew for being a great big brother when it would have been easy to follow the example set by another and be mean to Mandy.

Mandy was pretending to talk to Grandpa on the phone today. "How are you feeling?" was one of her questions. The other? "So, Grandpa, how's that magic coming along?" She is so funny!

Paul sold his first car yesterday! We think #2 is coming back in today. Not bad for a weekend. It did mean, however, that instead of coming home at 5 yesterday, he wasn't home until after 9. And we had friends over to celebrate his birthday. Oops. But hooray at the same time! Good thing our friends are really friends and very understanding!

That's all for now! Bye!

Funny...

2009-12-11T07:28:00.002-05:00

Said Mandy:

Mommy, I can't find my shoes. They are probably right where you took them off. I know mine are where I took them off. Where are your shoes, Mommy? In my room. Mandy, where are you going? I'm going to look for my shoes by your shoes.

**By the way, folks...her shoes were right where she left them...tucked in between Jeff's crib and her play kitchen, stacked right on top of each other. As soon as I told her, she said, "Ohhhhh!"

Pictures

2009-11-22T09:08:00.000-05:00

I'll try to post more later. But here are some to tide you over! Sorry about the dribble in Jeff's picture. And he is hiding in the carrier in the second pic.

Fast, Cheap, Easy, and Delicious

2009-11-21T10:11:00.003-05:00

Sausage, Pepper, and Onions:

1 package sausage (I use mild italian)
3 peppers (cut into thin strips)
2 onions (halve onion and cut into thin strips)
sub rolls

Directions:
Cut the sausage into bite sized pieces. Cook over a medium-high heat until cooked through. Add onions and peppers to the pan. Cook until veges are done. Add salt and pepper if needed.

Place oven on broil. Heat rolls until crispy - be careful not to burn them!!

Cut rolls to make a sandwich. Stuff with sausage mixture. Halve rolls. Eat and enjoy!

This meal takes about 15 minutes to prepare. It comes out quite delicious! I hope you enjoy it as much as we do...even the kids love this meal!

My Book of One Page About Jeffrey

2009-10-12T11:06:00.002-04:00

Written by: Andrew Davison

Jeffrey is my baby brother. he likes to smile alot. Jeffrey also likes to talk and kick. Nobody knows why or what he's smiling at. Everybody likes to take pictures of him. Jeffrey drinks alot of milk. He likes to bounce and play on his play mat. I feel really lucky to have him as my baby brother because bouncing is also my favorite. Jeffrey also likes to take baths. He loves when he can splish-splash. He might be an Olympic swimmer one day!

Report Cards

2009-10-08T08:49:00.000-04:00

Mandy and Andrew both received their report cards yesterday. They came home with stellar grades, as expected! Andrew had 3 A's and 2 B's, while Mandy had 3 A's and 2 S's.

Great job, kids! Keep it up!

New Stats

2009-10-08T08:48:00.001-04:00

Jeffrey's 2 month doctor appointment went well yesterday. He had a thorough look-over, got new measurements taken, and received his immunizations. So, he is now 11 lbs 11 oz, 24 1/4 inches. He really has grown!

2 months

2009-10-06T09:29:00.001-04:00

Today, it has been 2 months since Jeffrey joined our family! I can not believe how quickly time has passed. Already he has changed so much - not just in how he looks, but also in how he acts. He is a beautiful child who smiles and is starting to coo at us. He is a joy to spend time with. Happy 2 months Jeffrey!

Andrew

2009-10-01T13:33:00.000-04:00

Andrew is home sick today with Mandy. He came home yesterday with a 103 fever. He is doing better today, but still has some symptoms, such as a headache, sore back, and his eyes hurt. Mandy is mostly better today, so she will PROBABLY go back to school tomorrow, though I am not sure yet.

Jeffrey is still fine!

Love you!

Home Sick

2009-09-30T10:30:00.000-04:00

Amanda has been home sick all week. She has a fever, sore throat, and cough. Today, her eyelids hurt as well. I have kept her home from school. I took her to the doctor on Monday, when her symptoms began, and they told me the H1N1 is what they are seeing, and she may feel this way for up to a week. She has an excuse for the entire week, returning to school on the 5th. I thought she would be going back today, but she woke with a fever again. Oh well.

Believe it or not, she actually cried this morning because she really wanted to go to school. I felt bad that I had to keep her home. So far, no one else is exhibiting symptoms of any kind, so that is good. I will have to keep her home tomorrow, as well, because she needs to be symptom free for 24 hours before returning to school.

The Haircut

2009-09-26T12:58:00.001-04:00

Mandy has been asking me to cut her hair for WEEKS now. She really likes this length. Her hair was very long, so I had to cut off about 4 inches to get this length. Jeffrey's feet are in the background.

It's Back!!

2009-09-24T17:31:00.002-04:00

You may remember that a while ago, Paul broke the screen of my laptop. I have it back now, finally! It will be sooooo nice to be mobile again!

Playing with PSE

2009-09-24T11:47:00.003-04:00

I have been playing with Photoshop Elements 7.0 and having SO much fun with it! These are all pictures of Jeffrey taken in the last several days, so he is 6 weeks in all of them. As you can see, he has started to smile!

On the other hand, these are all pictures taken at the hospital, so Jeff is not even 1 day old here! I have been experimenting with frames in PSE. It is amazing how much he has changed in the last 7 weeks, and yet he still looks so much the same. Time flies way to fast.

You Looking at Me?

2009-09-24T10:41:00.001-04:00

Which Do You Prefer?

2009-09-19T17:56:00.002-04:00

I always though that I would like for my children to take a pacifier, feeling that it would be soooo much easier to take away than a thumb. My own long-term relationship with my thumb, which I sucked into 2nd grade, was my influence for this thinking. Unfortunately, Andrew and then Mandy both found their thumbs rather early on, eliminating the use of the pacifier forever. Now, they both still suck their thumbs, though only at night. And Andrew doesn't even know he is doing it. I have tried a variety of strategies to eliminate the habit to no avail, lest you think I have not tried.

Jeffrey, however, gladly takes the pacifier when he needs "comfort sucking". He really likes the Avent pacifiers, preferring them over the Playtex one we also have. I hope he does not find his thumb. When he outgrows the need to suck for comfort, it will be so easy to take away. The pacifier simply disappears, whereas the thumb is attached forever.

So my question is, which do you prefer, and why?

Why I Love...

2009-09-19T14:46:00.002-04:00

***Consignment sales are awesome, especially if you can find a reputable one. We just got back from "Andrew and Abby's Closet", a consignment sale in it's 6th season here. For $43.50, I walked away with 12 complete outfits for Jeffrey (3 months and 6 months, both winter) and 5 pieces for Mandy.

***Kodak earned major points for customer service today! My Easy Share 5300 printer has been on the fritz lately. It does not print right at all, even after running all of the cleaning and calibrating utilities. I went on their website to run their troubleshooting, and they determined that I needed a new print head. Total cost to me??? $0. I should have it later this week. That is good customer service, and I didn't even talk to a single person!

***Mommy and Sandie are both sending me items that I can use to scrapbook digitally. I am really thinking about selling this service through a website if I can master this technique. It is a really addictive hobby, scrapbooking! I want to thank them both in advance for supporting me in this way. Thanks!!! (Though this is by no means the only reason I love you!)

2 Weeks Notice....

2009-09-18T08:47:00.001-04:00

For my sisters.

I am going to clean out the maternity clothes from my closet in 2 weeks. If you would like my maternity clothes, please call or e-mail me. I will gladly send them to you. If I do not hear from you within 2 weeks, I will assume it is OK to send them all to Goodwill or sell them on E-bay or Craig's list. They take up too much space in my closet!

Thanks!!!

Digital Scrapbook Page - Sleeping Cutie

2009-09-17T12:01:00.001-04:00

This is my first attempt at digital scrapbooking. I think it came out cute. What do you think? It was actually pretty fun to create this page. I used Photoshop Elements. Adobe offers a free 30 day download option. I think you can print out the page, as well, if you click on it.

Smiling

2009-09-17T09:01:00.001-04:00

Jeffrey is starting to smile. I took this last week, and he is smiling more and more every day!

The Apple Orchard

2009-09-17T08:48:00.006-04:00

Every year, we make at least one trip to Sky Top Apple Orchard in Hendersonville, North Carolina. This year, it took us a little longer to get there (about 1 1/2 hours), but it was still a nice trip. While we did not capture any pictures of the actual apple picking, we were able to get some shots of the Mandy and Andrew in front of their usual displays.
Andrew, as you can see, is just above the 5' mark! He is growing so fast!
Mandy comes in just above the 4' mark. I'll swear she grew a foot taller when Jeffrey was born!
Jeffrey was asleep in the front carrier the entire time. This was the best picture I could get of him, as I was the one doing the carrying!

All in all, it was a fun day. We got to enjoy the beautiful weather and the company of one another. And we purchased some tasty apples to top it off!
My little hams can't wait to go back another time!

Sleeping Cutie

2009-09-17T08:46:00.002-04:00

Jeffrey
September 17, 2009

Growing Up Too Fast...

2009-09-16T10:00:00.001-04:00

Andrew is growing up way too fast. 5th graders are allowed to go to a dance on Friday night. Andrew was thinking about asking a girl to the dance. He is WAY too young for this. I told him that I would gladly pick up one of his friends (boys only) so he had someone to hang out with if he wanted to go. I can't believe he is old enough for school dances, though!

We're Under Contract!

2009-09-15T17:28:00.001-04:00

Just wanted to let you know! Looks like we can stay in Tennessee!

NO GO ON THE HOUSE

2009-09-05T08:28:00.002-04:00

We heard back from the Realtor yesterday. Apparently, the offer made on the house was the best the buyer could do. They were not approved for more than their offer. We completely expected this, though, so it was no surprise on our part.

Some News

2009-09-03T14:02:00.003-04:00

Well, I will start you with a picture of Jeffrey taken yesterday. His face is much fatter than it was before...can you tell? That's what happens when you gain 18 oz in a week!!! Also, one of Jeff and Paul (Paul was very tired from work), and one of Andrew. I'll post Mandy soon!

It seems that we got an offer on our house today. However, it is a VERY LOW offer, and they are asking for $5000 in closing costs, as well. We will definitely NOT be accepting this offer, as we would lose a lot of money in the process. However, we will probably counter. They will probably not like the counter, however. We have the house listed at 139,900 (slightly more that we paid for it 5 years ago). After fees, we would barely come out ahead at this price. Our counter will most likely be full price, $3000 in closing, and the home warranty they asked for. This will just about break even for us. I have a feeling they won't take it, though. We'll see.

Jeffrey had a doctor's appointment today. After supplementing with formula for the past week, Jeff has gained 1 lb and 2 oz. He now weights 8 lbs, 13 oz! His jaundice is also resolved, so we have graduated from weekly appointments to one next month! I can not believe he is 4 weeks old already. Sunday will be 1 month that he has been with us!

Mandy and Andrew are both doing very well in school. They are greatly enjoying Ridgeview. They are both awesome siblings to their baby brother, as well. I love to see how they all interact.

Paul is still not happy with his job, and it just keeps getting worse. They cut the hours he is allowed to schedule by another 25 per week, allowing him to use only 130 hours. Also, another of his crew gave their notice, and will not be replaced. He will have to run his department with himself, 2 full time clerks, and 1 part time clerk. Needless to say, he is looking for other work.

Other than being tired, I am doing fine. I love having Jeffrey around and can not imagine doing anything other than taking care of my family right now. If I had to go back to work, I would, but my heart would very much not be in it. I am looking into ways to make money from home so I can contribute, but still be very much present in our house.

Jeffrey Update...

2009-08-21T08:52:00.002-04:00

We went to the doctor yesterday to monitor Jeffrey's jaundice and weight. The doc said that the jaundice was looking better, but Jeffrey lost an ounce over the past week. They (and I) are concerned about that, and Jeffrey will need to go back next week for another weight check. If he is not gaining well, I will need to supplement with formula. In the meantime, I am pumping after each feeding and giving it to him at the next feeding.

Hopefully, when we go back next Thursday, Jeffrey will have gained weight so I can stop worrying about him every day. Mandy and Andrew never had any issues when they were newborns, so this is all new and rather scary for me. It does cause a great deal of anxiety. I know he will be OK, but I can't help but worry.

Other than those issues, Jeffrey is doing fine. He loves to spend time on his tummy while he is awake, and is able to pick up and turn his head from side to side. He also manages to scoot up on the blanket on the floor while he is there. He has very strong leg muscles and a nice strong neck. His eyes are still blue-gray and his hair is very light, as well. He is such a cutie, he melts my heart every time I look at him! I will post pictures later today!

School

2009-08-11T09:51:00.002-04:00

Mandy and Andrew are starting school next Monday. We went to the school yesterday to get them registered and to walk around and see the layout of the school to make them more comfortable.

Everyone in the school seems very friendly and helpful. The office staff was pleasant, the principal excitedly met my children and asked if we had any questions, and the custodian walked us around the school, showing us where everything is! Mandy was able to meet 2 of the second grade teachers, who were genuinely excited meet her. And here is the scary part. Andrew is on the "middle school" hallway, which houses grades 5-8. He will have a locker this year!

I can not believe how grown up Mandy and Andrew are, and at the same time I have a newborn baby! It makes the age gap seem so huge. Fortunately, they are super helpful with Jeffrey, and completely in love with him. I am blessed to have such a wonderful family!

Jaundiced

2009-08-11T09:39:00.002-04:00

Jeffrey has jaundice. On Sunday, I noticed that his skin and the whites of his eyes were pretty yellow. I called the pediatrician, and she said they would check him at his appointment on Monday. So, at his appointment, the doctor agreed that he was jaundiced, and sent us to the hospital for lab work to check his bilirubin levels.

At the hospital, the man running the lab was absolutely awful. He was slow and a bit clumsy. It took him 10 minutes (which seemed like hours) to get 2 vials of blood from Jeffrey's heel. I whispered in Jeffrey's ear the entire time, tears running down my face because Jeff was screaming the entire time. He cried so hard, he fell asleep. I felt absolutely awful. Paul said he was getting really angry at the man because he seemed so clumsy and slow with our baby. If Jeff ever has to do that again, that man will not touch my baby. Surely it could have been completed much faster.

Anyway, that seemed to throw Jeffrey off all last night. He was up for 4 hours straight, crying much of the time. He ate really well, then seemed to have a gas bubble or something that was making him uncomfortable. Finally he fell asleep around 4 am.

Today, I will be napping with Jeffrey. We are both pretty tired.

We go back to the doctor on Thursday to check on his jaundice levels. The doctor's think he will be OK, but didn't want it to be a potential problem. Not sure what they will do if it is not getting better, though.

Sorry if I am rambling...I am pretty tired right now!

Introducing...

2009-08-08T15:17:00.003-04:00

Jeffrey Robert Davison!!

After several false starts, Jeffrey joined our family on Thursday, August 6th at 8:41 a.m. He weighed 7 lbs 15 oz and was 21 inches long at birth! He made quite the entrance, debuting just 30 minutes after our arrival at the hospital. We were the talk of the maternity ward, apparently.

After just 2 days with our family, it already feels as if he has been with us forever. He has a wonderful personality, and is very content most of the time. He only cries when he is hungry or still wanting to be held...and since he is held most of the time and fed frequently, that leaves little need for him to cry. Oh, he also does not like the cool cloths we use to clean his diaper area!

Enjoy some pictures of our new arrival!

Sent Home

2009-07-30T18:24:00.003-04:00

So on Tuesday evening, I began to have some contractions. They began in my back and radiated around to the front of my belly, so I was paying attention to them. I had a doctor's appointment on Wednesday morning, so I didn't worry about them, but I did hope they were doing some work!

At the doctor's appointment, I was dilated to a 1 and still having contractions. I spent the day walking around and relaxing, since the contractions felt pretty regular, but sort of spaced out. When I went to bed, things had picked up. I knew I would be going to the hospital soon if things kept up the way they were going.

Well, at about 12:30 Thursday morning, I decided it was time to go. The contractions were closer together and were rather uncomfortable at that time. We gathered all of our things and off we all went.

Upon being checked, I was still a 1, so they monitored me for an hour. On the second check, I had progressed to a 2, earning me another 1 hour stay. After the 3rd hour, and progression to a 3, they decided to put me in a more permanent room. However, I was told that I would have to do everything on my own, as they would not further my labor by breaking my water because I was "only" 37 weeks 5 days.

Needless to say, I did not progress beyond a 3 by 1 p.m. The doctor came and checked me 2 times - once at 8 and again at 1. He actually said that I had probably walked in at a 3 and the nurse did not check me right (I felt everything and am pretty sure she did!). I was sent home, still having contractions.

So, here I am. Still pregnant. Still dilated to a 3. Still contracting - though not as regularly. I guess I am supposed to live with contractions for the next week or so. After this very rough, tiring, and emotional morning, I will not be going back to the hospital unless I am SURE this child is on his way out!

Nope

2009-07-24T11:57:00.000-04:00

Seems to have stopped.

Early Labor?

2009-07-24T08:30:00.002-04:00

Yesterday, I began having some contractions. They did not go away when I changed what I was doing, so that leads me to believe that they are NOT Braxton Hicks contractions, but the beginnings of the real thing. They were pretty spaced out, though - as in 15+ minutes between them.

Last night, I continued to have them, though they spaced out a bit farther overnight. They would wake me up, though.

This morning, they are still going on. They are not too intense, but they are definitely more than the regular tummy tightening BH contractions I usually have. I will continue throughout my day and let you know if there are any changes.

I am 37 weeks tomorrow, so it is early, but not extremely early. They say that any time after 37 weeks is considered "full term".

The Sting...

2009-07-17T19:50:00.002-04:00

I was talking to my sister on the phone today, which we haven't done in a couple of weeks. After a while, the kids went outside to play. Shortly thereafter, Mandy came in the house screaming at the top of her lungs. I hastily hung up as I ran down the stairs to see what was the matter.

Amid all of the screaming, it was difficult to determine just what had happened. Fortunately, Andrew was right behind her and was able to tell me what had happened. Mandy had been stung by a yellow jacket.

Now, I don't know if you have ever been stung by one of these, but they hurt like heck. She was already leary of them, as we had had an angry nest outside the front of our house a week ago. But this time, she didn't even know it was there. She had been minding her own business when she felt a tickle on the inside of her thigh. She ended up squeezing her legs together in an attempt to make the tickle go away. Instead, she felt intense pain as the yellow jacket stung the inside of her thigh. My poor baby didn't know what to do.

She ran home, opened the door, and proceeded to scream. I took her into the kitchen, got her some ice, and made a baking soda paste as fast as I could. Andrew went back next door to ask for some liquid Benadryll, as all I had were pills. I got some of that into her system pretty fast. After about 10 minutes, she started to calm down enough to ask for M&M's. At this point, I pretty much knew she would survive.

45 minutes later, she was doing much better. The Benadryll worked and the swelling around the sting went down completely. She is left with a nasty looking sting site (no stinger attached) that is a little red around it. Otherwise, she is none the worse for the wear. I will probably give her anther dose of Benadryll before bed, as I picked up my own supply of the liquid gold at the grocery store today.

Now she almost proudly tells her brother that if he ever wants to know what it feels like to be stung, he could just ask her. Because she now knows, after all. Andrew has never been stung. Now Mandy has.

Did You See That Ticker?

2009-07-16T12:29:00.002-04:00

That's right! Only 30 days to go!

Paul's mother will be flying in on Aug 6th to give us a hand, and will be staying until the 25th. With the kids going back to school on the 17th, and baby due on the 15th, things are bound to be hectic around here. I could use all the help I can get!

I had a doctor's appointment yesterday and met the 3rd and final doctor in the practice. I have to say that I am very happy with the last 2 I have seen, and happy with the first as well. Since I was GBS + with Mandy, they will automatically treat me as if I have the infection with this LO as well. I feel much better about that. I had the GBS test yesterday and was "checked". No dilation here! Big surprise.

We are still hoping that baby boy comes a little early, so the kids have time to adjust at least a little before adjusting to a new school. They have so many changes coming at them in such a short period of time. I know that they will deal well with all of them, but a Momma can't help but worry.

How to Anger Yellow Jackets in One Easy Lesson

2009-07-09T09:12:00.002-04:00

Step 1: Find an active yellow jacket nest.

Step 2: Pour gasoline over said nest.

Step 3: Light gasoline on fire.

*Please do not try this at home! Our home builder did this to try to kill the yellow jackets. It didn't really work too well. We have a bunch of angry suckers flying around the nest now.

Special Delivery

2009-07-08T11:00:00.002-04:00

My diapers are arriving today! So is my order from Dave Ramsey. I can't wait for the UPS man to arrive!!!

She'll Never Do That Again...

2009-07-08T10:53:00.002-04:00

It was Monday night, and Mandy had gone upstairs to take a shower. Out of the peaceful quiet came a loud CRASH! I rushed up the stairs, coming first across Andrew.

"Are you OK?" I asked. He was unharmed.

"Mandy, are you OK?"

"You're going to be mad at me!" she exclaimed through tears. I was more worried about her being hurt, though, so anger was not an emotion I was even thinking about at the time.

"Are you hurt?" I asked again.

"Yes, I hurt my butt. I fell down."

It appears that my daughter, while waiting for the shower to warm up, had decided that it would be fun to climb up the wall while holding onto the towel rack. Needless to say, the towel rack did not hold her 46 lbs. and came crashing down. Mandy unfortunately landed on her rear end, as her feet were helping her up the wall at the time. She is a little bruised, but none the worse for the experience. The wall is a different story. It needs some major surgery.

I think it is safe to say, however, that she will not ever be trying that again!

Some People Just Can't Take No for an Answer...

2009-07-07T12:54:00.002-04:00

This morning, as we were eating our breakfast, there came a knock on the door. I got up to answer the door, and was face to face with a young woman. Now, I had been forewarned that she was going to visit by my neighbors, who were very suspicious of her, as she asked a lot of questions about the families in the neighborhood.

I stepped out on the porch to talk with her, closing the door behind me. One of the kids tried to come out, but I kept the door shut. She did a lot of talking about other families in the neighborhood that she had already talked to. Still, she had not mentioned her purpose at my door. I asked again how I could help her, and she finally told me she was selling educational books. I politely told her I was not interested, but the darn girl would not take no for an answer!

Well, after telling her 3 times, nicely, that I was not interested, she still was persisting. As she reached down to take something out of her bag, I said one final "No, thanks!", opened my door, went inside, and locked the door. As I was locking the door, she was still talking!!!

I understand that you need to be persistent in door-to-door sales, but seriously? This was just too much! I felt a little guilty for locking the door in her face, but what else was I supposed to do?

And This is Where We Live*...

2009-07-04T13:33:00.003-04:00

*Barn not included!

But Seriously...

2009-07-04T13:33:00.002-04:00

Did I Say "Camera Shy"? What Was I Thinking?

2009-07-04T13:27:00.003-04:00

Andrew

2009-07-04T13:25:00.001-04:00

Andrew took a little cajoling in order to get him to "strike a pose" for the camera. He is much more content to just sit there and wait for me to take a picture. I guess he is a little camera shy!

Yes, the Camera Actually Works!!

2009-07-04T13:20:00.003-04:00

This morning, after charging the camera battery, I decided to take some pictures of Mandy and Andrew. It really has been a long time since I have done this.

This is Mandy's glamour shot. She is such a diva for the camera!

1st REAL day off together...

2009-07-04T11:47:00.002-04:00

Yesterday was our first REAL day off together since Paul began working for Earthfare. Previously, every day off we have been working on the house in SC or moving! It has been quite stressful. However, with the official listing of our house, we only need to keep up on yard work there now, and we have some neighbors helping out with that.

So, yesterday we all slept in (if 7:30 can be called sleeping in). Andrew made us breakfast in bed! Then, we went to Bay's Mountain, a wonderful place with walking trails, animal habitats, and a planetarium. It was a perfect day for it, as well.

Then, we went to Babies R Us, where we found a travel system (stroller and car seat with base) for only $10 more than the car seat alone. We also purchased the Pack and Play with a bassinet attachment.

Finally, we went to K-mart so the kids could purchase the toys they have been working so hard for. They have been diligently saving and learning how to comparison shop!

Overall, it was a perfect day. And we get another day off together tomorrow! We will be going back to SC next week, either Wednesday or Sunday, to look in on the house, yardwork, etc.

Happy 4th!

Little Storage

2009-07-02T09:24:00.003-04:00

This house has little to no storage space. For that reason alone, I would never consider purchasing it. There are no linen closets to speak of, which leaves one wondering where to put extra towels, sheets, pillows, etc. In addition, there is no attic space, leaving the garage as the only "storage" space in the whole house! This house MUST have been designed by a man!!

Tricked

2009-06-27T18:36:00.001-04:00

For just a brief moment today, I though my ticker said 19 days left. It turns out that it is really 49 days left. I feel tricked! (Really, just wishful thinking!)

Only a Child Could Think of This...

2009-06-24T16:30:00.002-04:00

"Mommy, when a baby farts in your tummy, your breath could smell like a fart!"

This is what Mandy thinks about (and Andrew laughingly agreed)....Thank God she is not right! That could be embarrassing.

Time for the Tooth Fairy!

2009-06-23T10:31:00.002-04:00

She was sitting in the living room, eating a piece of watermelon. She was scraping the last pink pieces off of the pale green rind. She took another juicy bite and exclaimed, "Daddy! Daddy!" When I looked over at her, her eyes were lit up and her smile was curiously different. The tooth that had been dangling by a thread was no longer in her mouth, but was being displayed in her grasp.

"My tooth came out! I was eating my watermelon, and I bit something hard. Then, I realized it was my tooth!"

Needless to say, after rinsing her mouth, we called Daddy to let him know!

Just a Little

2009-06-20T15:35:00.001-04:00

Naps can be so incredibly restorative! Just wanted to share!

Good Night...and Good Morning!

2009-06-19T04:53:00.002-04:00

This whole pregnancy thing is crazy. For several months now, my appetite has been completely normal. Yesterday, and apparently today as well, it went into overdrive. I woke up this morning at 4:30 to use the RR, and realized I was starving! I couldn't just go back to bed without food - that was not an option. Instead, I came downstairs and ate my 1st breakfast. Now, it is back to bed I go. So, good night...and good morning!

Ready for Baby?

2009-06-17T12:26:00.002-04:00

I have to say that I am completely NOT ready for this baby. Granted, we have 8 weeks before he is due, but I really have nothing together. Actually, I did put the crib together and it is in Mandy's room. She really wants to share with the baby. But, that is as far as we have gotten. I can't help but feel that time is running out and I need to prepare.

Granted, I am not looking for much for this baby. I know what I need and what I can completely live without. My list of items includes the crib bedding set and extra sheets, a Pack and Play with a bassinet (our house is 2 stories now, and I would like to be able to set this up downstairs), a car seat that fits in my car with 2 other children (this one is a huge challenge), cloth diapers, onesies, and a few receiving blankets. I am pretty sure those are the essentials we will be needing. Being the middle of summer, other clothing is optional.

I have had my eye on a crib bedding set at K-Mart for a few weeks now. I just checked online, and it is on sale! Rather than paying $49 for it, it will only be $29. I think I will head to K-Mart and make a purchase.

I have also checked into cloth diapers online, and it seems I can get enough diapers, covers, pins, and flannel wipes to last from birth to 30 lbs. for about $267. There are 4 dozen infant sized prefold diapers, 6 small covers, 3 dozen regular prefold diapers, and 6 medium covers in the set. Also, that includes 60 flannel wipes I can throw in the wash and reuse, as well as plenty of diaper pins. I think it sounds like a pretty good deal for the price. It seems to be enough diapers and covers as well, from what I have read on many different web sites.

That leaves me with looking for a good Pack and Play, as well as a car seat. The other stuff is pretty minor, though needed.

Any car seat suggestions? Andrew doesn't need a booster, but Mandy is still in one. Andrew is not a small child, either. The seat for the baby can not be too big, or else everyone will not fit in the back seat. This is my struggle. Also, I do not want to pay too much money for the car seat. I am thinking infant car seat under $100, but am also looking into convertables under $150.

How Do You...

2009-06-16T14:29:00.000-04:00

How do you keep up on your laundry? I do just fine with getting everything washed. It is the folding and putting away that I fall miserably behind on. Any secrets or tricks out there?

Keeping Things Tidy?

2009-06-16T13:00:00.002-04:00

When Jennie introduced me to FlyLady, I just couldn't get into it. There were too many e-mails and I always felt like I was overwhelmed with all of them. But now, I think I may give it another try. I do not plan to subscribe to the e-mails, because that is just too much for me. However, since this is a new house, and it started out nice and clean, it really should not be that hard to keep it clean, right???

Maybe it will work better for me this time. Plus, I am a SAHM now! I need to keep my house clean and tidy, as this is my new vocation. Paul is working hard each day to provide for us financially, so the least I can do is keep down the homefront. It will be my way of providing for our family.

The Day is Done...

2009-06-15T19:30:00.002-04:00

Today seemed incredibly busy, though I am not sure how much I actually accomplished. I hate when days leave you tired, yet feeling unproductive at the same time. I guess I should expect that being 31 weeks pregnant!

The morning began with a doctor's appointment at 10, which lasted until 11:45. The good part is I really liked the doctor, but she is one of 3, so I am not sure if I will like them all. They do seem willing to let me have a bit of leeway in the delivery room, however, as far as moving around and such is concerned.

After that, we went to visit Paul, as he works about 2 minutes from the doctor's office. There we made a few produce purchases, for which we receive a 20% discount. Then it was off to the regular grocery store, which is much more within budget. After that, we stopped by Kohl's to look for new shoes for Mandy, followed by a visit to the post office to mail a package.

All that took us until about 1:30, when we arrived home for lunch. I am unpacked a box or two (for the kitchen) and then sat down for a few minutes. Then, it seemed time to start dinner, as Paul was on his way home.

And now, here we are. The kids are off to take their showers before bed. Paul and I are both ready to lay down ourselves. Andrew will need to take the dogs out, and there are probably a million things I should be doing, but I think I will go relax for the evening.

Hope you all have a great night! Talk to you tomorrow.

A Little Paint, a Little Cleaning...

2009-06-14T21:08:00.002-04:00

So we spent the day in South Carolina, cleaning and painting the house. We keep managing to find more things to bring back with us. We still had some things that did not make the original trip in the kitchen cabinets. Now, the kitchen is officially empty.

The only rooms left to paint are Mandy's and Andrew's rooms. However, they are ready to go! We got all of the prep work done, the walls and fans cleaned, holes spackled, etc. It was a long, yet productive day.

We lost another tree in South Carolina, too. The entire tree, with the exception of the root ball, is in our neighbor's yard. Unfortunately, that makes it our job to clean up. As if we needed one more thing to do. Steve may get to it for us, though, which would make things a lot easier. I am not sure why Bill won't just do it, but he is a stickler for rules like this!

Friday will be our next trip to SC. Hopefully it will be productive!!

Where to begin?

2009-06-13T17:09:00.001-04:00

We are unpacking, or supposed to be unpacking, from our move from South Carolina to Tennessee. My questions is, where do I begin? You would think, after all of the moves we have made over the years, that I would know the answer to this question. Yet, it still eludes me.

I suppose I will just have to start with a box. I guess it doesn't really matter which box I choose, so long as I open it, empty it of its contents, and put all of the stuff away where it is supposed to go.

Now, if only I could figure out where all of this stuff is supposed to go...

The Evening Blahs

2009-01-27T20:04:00.002-05:00

Well, I went back to school today, even though I would rather have stayed home in bed all day. I really hate being sick, when your body aches from coughing all the time. Now that it is evening, I am getting back that stuffy feeling. I really detest a cold.

And It's Later Today...

2009-01-26T18:55:00.002-05:00

I went to the doctor's office this afternoon, and everything is looking great! They did another ultrasound for the NT test, to check if the neural tube is properly closed - it is. The baby was not very active and was laying on its back, so the tech had to jiggle around to get the baby to move into a nice position for the screening. I got lots of great pics from the ultrasound. And I got to hear the heartbeat! 168 BPM.

The bad thing was that Paul was picking the kids up from school, so he missed all of this :(

Next time, they will do the heartbeat with the doppler. The time after that, it will be time for the BIG ultrasound, where we will be able to find out what we are having! And yes, I would like to know.

Also, it is safe to take Robitussin for a cough, and I can use any cough drops. Still, I opted for sugar-free lemon drops to help with the cough.

I really love this doctor's office. They have been my Ob-Gyn since being here in SC all those years ago. They have delivered both of our children. And their office staff is WONDERFUL!!

Well, I am going to go rest now. I hope you all have a wonderful evening. Talk to you later!

11 Weeks and 2 days today!

2009-01-26T07:20:00.002-05:00

Hello all! Wow, I really need to get better at this blogging thing. Well, I am 11 weeks into pregnancy by now. Time is really flying, too. The first trimester will be over very soon, and the baby will really start to grow!

I am going to the doctor this afternoon, so I took the day off from work. This is supposed to be a long, boring appointment. I will let you know how things go later today.

So, my pants don't fit at all anymore. If I wear my regular clothing, it is with adjustments. For example, I had to use a paperclip the other day to keep my pants closed without squishing my insides. I have purchased 5 pairs of maternity pants, which I much prefer to wear. They are extremely more comfortable than my normal pants. Did you know they actually make maternity pants with the elastic and buttons like they do for children's pants? I have two pairs of dress slacks like that, and I love them! As I get bigger, I can make the pants bigger too. And I have 2 pairs with the tummy panel (my least favorite) and a pair of under belly jeans (love these!). Unbelievably, they are all long enough for me, as well. I remember that being a problem in the past.

Well, I have been a bit under the weather this weekend. I have a cold or some such nonsense, so I would be staying home today even without the doctors appointment. I have this cough that just hurts everywhere. Very uncomfortable. And of course you can't really take anything when you are pregnant, either.

Talk to you later today!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-27T14:47:00.002-05:00

Well, it's been a while! School and family have been keeping me very busy. I am enjoying my 5 days off for Thanksgiving!

I just wanted to wish you all a happy Thanksgiving. Hopefully, I will talk to you all soon.

Love to all,

Jess

Another Chance

2008-09-23T07:36:00.003-04:00

Update: The interview lasted from 1-3. At 4:40, she called and offered me the job, which begins on Monday and requires a 3 year agreement. I am accepting the position this morning, and will be "shadowing" the long-term sub on Thursday and Friday! Thanks for your support!

Yesterday, at around 2:00 in the afternoon, I received a phone call from the principal at Chandler Creek Elementary school.

"Would you be interested in interviewing for a 5th grade position at Chandler Creek in the Greer/Taylors area?" she asked.

Naturally, I said that I would. When she asked why I resigned from my previous position, I informed her that I was looking to explore another school format, to find where I fit in. We set up an interview for 1:00 Tuesday afternoon (today).

I immediately called my previous principal to find out what my PACT scores were like from last year, so I had that information at hand. Unfortunately, he was not available at the time. After picking up Mandy and Andrew from school, I sent Dr. K. an e-mail asking for the same information. He called me almost immediately, and let me know that he just got off the phone with the principal at Chandler Creek!

He pretty much told me everything they talked about, and exactly what he told her. He was EXTREMELY flattering to me, and has wished me much luck in my interview. He even told me that, if he had a position available at this time, he would hire me back. Dr. K. said I had a really great shot at this position.

When I hung up the phone, I was just about in tears! It was so nice to hear these positive things from my previous employer. He has been extremely supportive.

Paul and I just celebrated our 12th anniversary on Sunday, and we lamented that we were beginning "lucky 13"! So far, it seems that it may actually be a lucky year.

So, if you are so inclined, and you read this before 1 pm today, I would really appreciate a prayer said on my behalf.

I love you all!

Jess

Andrew on TV

2008-09-21T10:10:00.003-04:00

Check out this link to see Andrew...

His teacher won the "Golden Apple" award, and they filmed this.

Thinking...

2008-09-16T10:55:00.001-04:00

You know, I feel like I should blog, but I just don't have anything interesting to write about.

So I won't until I feel an urge.

Don't give up on me yet...just be patient.

Jess

A Few Great Reads

2008-08-20T17:22:00.002-04:00

I have recently read "The Last Lecture" by Randy Pausch, and I have to say it is a MUST READ. I originally came across the book in Costco, and thumbed through it. I decided to check it out from the library, but it was on reserve for a while. I finally had the opportunity to read it, and it made me cry. What's more, he succumbed to his cancer about 2 weeks ago, which made the story that much more impactful. If you are interested in a truly inspiring book, this is one to read.

Also, I have read "The QBQ: The Question Behind the Question" by Dan Miller. This one I read back in May, but it is a book that I constantly think about, and has changed the way I view a lot of situations in my life. It is a book about self-accountability. If you have EVER fallen into victim thinking (you know, "Why did this happen to me? Why can't things ever go right for me? When will it be my turn to win?"), then you need to read this book!

I love it when GREAT books come across my path. It is amazing to me that someone else's written words can change my life. I hope they change yours, too.

What's New

2008-08-12T08:34:00.002-04:00

Wow! So much has been going on since I last blogged. We are keeping very busy around here.

I have been working at my chiropractor's office for a couple of weeks now. I do not spend too much time there, however, as he is still relatively quiet. I do go help out on Tuesday's, which is his busiest day. I am learning all about running a doctor's office, and it is nice to be learning something new and different. Right now, I am being "paid" with free chiropractic care for the family, which is very helpful, as it is one less expense for us.

I also have been working on my web site, www.theprofessionalsub.com, which keeps me pretty busy. Most of the things I have been working on are not on the site yet, so you will just have to bear with me on that. I am hoping, however, that this site will be making money within a year, which I feel is fairly realistic.

Additionally, we have listed some of our hand made items on Etsy.com. My store is www.davisonfamily.etsy.com. We only have a few things listed so far, but we are working on that as well.

That brings us to school! We are one week away from the new school year beginning here. Andrew is moving into 4th grade, and he has my friend Melanie Holland for a teacher. I know from working with her that she will do a good job, but I worry about Math and Science. She is weak in those areas, and she is adopting a math program called Excel Math that I do not like. It is a lot of worksheets that Andrew could teach, because it is a highly scripted program. That is not teaching to me, but I do not get a say in the method she uses.

Mandy is so excited about going into 1st grade! She has been counting down the days until school begins. Every morning and evening, she double checks the days remaining. They go back on Tuesday, the 19th. She has Mrs. Gwinn for a teacher this year. Mrs. Gwinn has adored Mandy, so I am sure she will have a great year. She is one of those teachers that you hope your child will have, because she is so encouraging of all the children in her class.

One more thing...ANDREW MADE HORIZONS!!! OK, so you have no idea what that is. Horizons is the name for the academically gifted and talented program in our school district. At the beginning of the summer, we received a letter that Andrew did not qualify, though he missed by 2 points in each of the 2 possible areas for making it. On Saturday, we received a letter that he made it, based on Spring testing results, namely the PACT test. We are so happy for him, as he has many friends that are also in Horizons. It will be great for him.

Well, that's about it for now. Talk to you all again soon!

New Web Site up and running

2008-08-01T22:58:00.002-04:00

Please check out my new web site and try out all of its features. I would appreciate it if you would let me know what you like and do not like about the site. If something does not work correctly on your computer, I need to know. Thanks a million for your help!

Jess

FYI

2008-07-22T11:20:00.003-04:00

Just wanted to let you all know that we are still alive here. Though I do not have a "job" for next school year, we are making the best of the situation. I am working on starting a home based business. What kind of business, you may wonder?

Well, it seems to me that many people enjoy homemade crafts, but most of these people either do not like to or don't know how to make things. So, my idea is to create some crafts, such as knit and crocheted items, as well as some other items, and sell them online. I plan to have items for baby, children, and adults, as well as holiday and home decor items. I am working on a web site to sell things from, as well.

We are still working on a name, however. Does anyone have any ideas? It needs to be usable as a URL as well.

I have been working hard on creating items to sell over the past couple of days. I have a few already, too! I am hoping this idea works well, but we will see what time brings.

In addition, I plan to substitute teach this school year. That should keep me pretty busy!

How to Survive With What You Already Have

2008-07-15T08:59:00.005-04:00

Jennie has a good thread going over at her blog, and I just had to add to it.

A lot of our culture today is based on "have it now". We definitely have entitlement issues. After several years of marriage, many of us have the same lifestyles of our parents, often with bigger homes, newer cars, and more fashionable clothing. The trouble is, they can afford their lifestyle after 20+ years of working hard for it, and we can not. So we go deeply into debt for it. Add to that the fact that we have to "keep up with the Joneses", and you have a surefire recipe for disaster.

So were does all that lead? It leads to fear, arguments with your spouse, and a general discontentment with the things we have. Isn't it time we stop this insanity? But how can we do that, you may wonder?

First, make it a point to communicate with your spouse about money issues. Paul and I had a hard time with this at first. I had been taking care of the money for so long, I was a little scared to tell him exactly how much we had (didn't have was more like it) and how much we owed. But it wasn't that bad once we actually had the talk. It seems he was thinking things were much worse that they were.

Second, sit down together and spend EVERY SINGLE DOLLAR on paper before the month begins. You know how much you make, you know how much you spend on your "necessities", and you should have at least an idea how much you spend on food and gas. When we did this, we noticed that we spent a ridiculous amount of money on paying back our creditors. It was almost a third of our take home pay, actually. Once you have this taken care of, you can see where you can trim your budget. We chose to suspend our DirecTV service for 6 months to add that $65 to our payoff plan. We also use cash now for food, gas, and clothing purchases. According to Dave Ramsey's research, people spend between 12% and 18% more when using a card of ANY type for these purchases, and I would have to agree.

Finally, learn to tell yourself NO. This is where the contentment comes in. If you really look around your house, how many things do you have that you truly love? Probably not as many as you would think. I can look around and see many things I would love to get rid of. Have a yard sale with all of the junk you don't love. Then, you have to be able to say no the next time there is something you just have to have. NO IMPULSE PURCHASES. If you want something bad enough, it will still be there tomorrow.

For more information on how to take control of your finances and become content with what you have, click on the "Family Tree" banner at the top of my page. It will take you to Dave Ramsey's site. I think you can learn a lot there.

Job Update

2008-07-07T11:45:00.002-04:00

Well, it didn't happen. I was e-mailed this morning and told that the positions had both been filled. I have to say that I am a bit disappointed. I thought things were looking good for this one.

I am not sure where to go from here. I am feeling a little lost. I need to find my way.

More later.

Notice Anything New???

2008-07-06T10:21:00.002-04:00

Money from Heaven

2008-07-06T10:19:00.001-04:00

It is funny how, when you have a budget, money seems to come out of nowhere. We received an $850 check from Publix yesterday. It will put us about 2-3 months closer to getting out of debt! It is truly heaven sent.

Yard in Progress - Before and After

2008-07-06T10:00:00.004-04:00

Paul and I (emphasis on Paul) have been working on the back yard the last 2 weekends. I have to say, it is coming along. If you have been here recently, you would remember the mish-mosh that was our back yard. The paths had grass and weeds growing on them, they were strewn with pots, and the berry bushes were perhaps a bit overgrown. The other paths were partially covered with gravel, with a healthy dose of weeds growing in it. And, you really could not walk on them for all of the pots in the way. It looked like this...

Now, after a lot of hard work on Paul's part, it is looking much improved! Paul spent quite a few hours removing the weeds and grass from the path. Then we both placed pavers on the ground to make stepping stones on the path. We also moved the fire pit to a more usable location, surrounding it with a paver patio and using some of that gravel underneath (my idea!!). Finally, we laid cedar mulch down on the path. The result is quite attractive, if I do say so myself!

What a difference!!!

It's Independence Day!

2008-07-04T14:34:00.003-04:00

On this day in 1776, our forefathers saw fit to declare independence from Great Britain. It is in these words that we have since lived our lives.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, tha all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness."

To those of you who have valiantly fought to preserve these freedoms, and to the families of these brave men and women, we can never thank you enough.

Happy 4th of July!

Job Update

2008-06-29T10:20:00.002-04:00

Things look good for the job. The principal e-mailed me to find out where I am at in the process of getting my NC certificate. She said that she can not move forward in the hiring process until I have that complete. Needless to say, I working overtime to get the paperwork needed and should hopefully have everything in the overnight mail by Wednesday!!!

On Money and Choices - REVISED

2008-06-29T10:06:00.003-04:00

You know, this has been bothering me all week now. I have a friend that I taught with last year. She is making monthly payments to a debt consolidation company in order to "get out of debt". She and I were talking about getting together with the kids (she has 2 girls), and I said I would love to, but I would not be able to go out to lunch at this point. She knows our situation and what we are doing to get out of debt, but she feels sorry for me and felt bad about telling me about the fabulous beach vacation she has planned for July.

My friend chooses to allow an outside entity handle her debt. She has the money debited from her checking account each month, and she does not have to think about anything other than making sure she has that amount when they draft it. She has not changed any of her money habits, nor the way she thinks about money. She will often tell me that she is not allowed to have a credit card until she is done with these people. I fear that she has not really learned the lesson or changed the habits. As such, I fully expect her to fall back into debt within a fairly short period of becoming "debt free".

DONT' FEEL SORRY FOR US. The reason we are in debt is because we made poor choices. We were in the mindset of "have to have it now". We have seen the error of our ways and are working hard to correct them. But by no means do we want our friends to feel sorry for us.

I want people to know that the things Paul and I choose to do with our money are our CHOICE. We do not HAVE to put all of our "extra" money toward our debt, we CHOOSE to do so in order to be debt free fast. We could have gone to New Jersey recently, because we could have saved money to do so. However, it would have put us several months behind on our debt freedom plan to do so. Paul and I both felt that this was not in our best interest at this time. Unfortunately, that decision made some people unhappy. Know that it was our choice for our family.

In the three months that we have been actively getting out of debt, we have managed to reduce our debt by almost $20,000. We have sold some things that we realistically could not afford, we have reduced spending, we have been living on a budget and paying cash for everyday purchases, and we have put every extra penny towards our debt. And we feel great about this!!!!! On Wednesday, we put our final credit card payment in the mail!! We are down to 2 debts, and we feel great! By October (at the latest), we will only have Sallie Mae left to repay.

We are working hard and "living like no other" in order to be able to "live like no other" in the future!!!

The Interview

2008-06-24T17:55:00.002-04:00

So I had my interview at 1:30, which you already know. I was given a brief tour of the school by the lead teacher, who is basically the Assistant Principal. Then, on to the conference room, where I spent the next hour and a half having a lovely interview conversation with the principal and lead teacher. We seem to fit well together, but I will have to wait and see.

They will hopefully be letting me know by the second week of July. And, as it turns out, they are NOT a year round school, and follow a normal school schedule. That will work out much nicer, though we were prepared for Paul to take a leave from work in order to make this work out.

So, I still need your prayers, if you are so inclined, or your happy thoughts! I will let you know what the plans are as soon as I know them myself.

Thank you for your support!!!

Today is THE day...

2008-06-24T09:57:00.002-04:00

I am nervous. I have not ever really had to participate in many interviews before, so I still do not know what to expect. When I was hired at Fairforest, it was the only interview I went on. I was hired before my next interview was scheduled. So I have butterflies in my stomach and my interview is still 3 1/2 hours away.

I have a good feeling about this one, though. After praying about a position for next year, this school called me for an interview. It is the only school that called, so I feel like this is where God wants me to be next year. Perhaps that sounds silly. I also have been having dreams about teaching second grade next year. I do not know why. That may be because I would really love the chance to teach a younger grade than I have before.

The school I am interviewing at is a year round school. They actually start back in about 2 1/2 weeks. They have as much time off as a "regular" school, but the time is spread out over the course of the school year. They have 3 weeks off in September and December, 2 off in March, Spring Break in April, and then a month in June. It might be a great chance to earn extra money, as it would be possible to sub during my interim breaks.

Wish me luck!!!