An Ode To Oklahoma

(Sung to the song "OKLAHOMA" Keep in mind I am not a song writer.)

OOOOO-klahoma where the snow falls at the end of March. And the waving wheat would sure smell sweet if it wasn't covered with frost. OOOOOO-klahoma every night my honey, kids and I, plan a trip to the park then change the mark because we're frozen in until JULY!

We know we belong to the land (yes sir), and the land we belong to is fickle and then we say, "YOOOW, I yip I owe EEE BRRRRR." We're only saying you're doin fine Oklahoma, Oklahoma. OK, honey will you thaw out my car?!

Now where's my chai latte? It's cold out here!!

It's a Sign

Yes, my friends, Coop has finally decided to take a step, not a physical step, but a language step. He finally journied into....*drum roll* sign language world.

He is more reluctant to sign than Chloe Joy was. She still signs to this day. It's funny. I'll say, "Say please." She'll say, "Peeeez." while rubbing her heart. Very sweet.

Now Coop, I'll tell him, "Say milk." while I sign it. He'll say, "Daddaddad, aaaahhhhh, *squeal in frustration, reach for his milk* grrrrrr" Until we had a breakthrough. A moment.

A few days ago, I thought I'd try try again. So I signed milk while giving it to him. I wasn't even looking. I wasn't expecting a response other than the previous response.

I glance up at him and he is signing like crazy, milking the cow with his little hand. It was so funny.

Now, he has it figured out.



Matt changes Coop before he heads off to work. That's around 6:00am. Matt told me that this morning when he leaned over Cooper's crib, he was signing away. "milk, milk, milk, milk"

Yeah, I do not rise at 6:00am. Coop went back to sleep and got milk later.

Boy In Disguise

Cooper is a boy of many disguises....

A flower with sparkles on its petals...

and a bunny without a tail.

Don't tell his Dad I took these pictures.

The Fog Has Lifted

So things are getting back to 'normal.' The clouds have lifted from around my heart, Doctor says, I am better. He gave me a good outlook and predicted a happy life, full of laughter and cheer.

I did get my MRI report. Well, I went to the hospital and got it myself b/c my doctor is out of town until sometime in April. It says, "There are tiny C4-5 and C5-6 central disk bulges. There is abnormal linear signal within the cervical cord consistent with a spinal cord cyst/syringohydromyelia. This extends from approx. C5-6 to C7-T1. It measures 1.2mm in max. diameter."

That was for my neck. Now the cyst has been there at least since 2005. I believe it is the cause of some of my hand tingling stuff.

For the lumbar, "L4-5 demonstrates desiccation of the disk space and central disk protrusion causing mild anterior effacement of the thecal sac. No neural foraminal narrowing is present."

From what I understand, there is no fluid in the disk space.

(I read you the stuff that was wrong and left out the stuff they said is ok.)

Sooo, that's good news, I think. I'm pretty sure it means it is not MS. My legs have not been bothering me for the past few days. I think I've been making a conscious effort to NOT bend over and to just take it easy. It's not easy with both kids weighing over 20lbs, but I make due.

I'm trying to rejoice in this news, but am still letting myself think the worst is yet to come. I guess I am worried it could still be MS b/c they didn't specifically test for it. BUT I am trying to tell myself "what the MRI says explains everything."

The fog may have lifted and my tulips may have bloomed, but Cooper's diaper is definitely causing the house to smell like a dead animal... Yumm.

Cloudy Day, Cloudy Heart

I feel like I'm in a funk. The weather outside is frightful and the wind is not so delightful. And I just want to lie in bed all day and sleep, sleep, sleep. Who am I kidding, I could do that ANY day, but today is one of those days you feel ugly inside-cloudy is the word I am choosing. Now I know others suffer from those days as well, b/c we have spoken, but other than that person and I; do any of you suffer from 'cloudy heart' days?

The friend who is suffering from this same disease claimed hers to be the cause of 'not reading the Word as often as needed.' I agreed as my disease is cause of the same. She read a few verses out of James 1. That helped lift some of the clouds from around the important valves needed to supply blood.

I had read today's devotion last night, b/c I have a habit of reading ahead, I always got in trouble for that in school, but I had to! I needed to know what was coming so if I were called on to read I could pronounce the words and sound as good as the other kids in my class. Anyways, the devotion had two quotes from people I had never heard of but their words have stuck with me- since last night. They said, "God will not permit any troubles to come upon us, unless He has a specific plan by which great blessing can come out of the difficulty." -Peter Marshall

The other quote reads, "When God tests you, it is good time for you to test Him by putting His promises to the proof, and claiming from Him just as much as your trials have rendered necessary." -A.B. Simpson

So clouds go away, there isn't room for you and God.

Eagle Cam.

I'm in love with birds. A few years ago, I discovered a website that puts a camera in the nest of bald eagles. I could see animal carcasses like turtle shells, bones of something tasty and of course baby bald eagles.

I thought I'd share the website so you can see the little momma and pappa eagles. When you click on the link you have to scroll down to the two black boxes that are side by side. Give it about 30-45 seconds to load. click here to see eagles

While I was typing this I kept clicking back to check on them b/c I had read there are three eggs in the nest due to hatch any day... WELL while I was watching, one of the eagles stood up and a baby was underneath her!! The mom and dad began feeding it!! SOOO CUTE!! So if you watch long enough or check back during the day you may get to see the babies hatch or catch a glimpse of the baby eagle number one.

It's like a gripping movie, you just can't change the channel!!

Pampers Diapers Packaging Scheme

I know I already posted today, but I had to put this out there.

Those of you who buy Pampers in Size 4, have you noticed that they eliminated 6 diapers from the box and kept the price the same?!!

I bought diapers last weekend. When I got home I noticed the box was smaller than it used to be. Upon opening the box, I realized they had packaged the diapers differently. "Hmmm," I thought. I had a bag of diapers from the 'original style' box and counted them. There were 44. I then counted a bag from the 'new style' box. There were 41. Which means the new box has 82 diapers and the old boxes had 88!! The price? Oh it's the same as when I paid for 88 diapers.

Berry Berry Sneaky. (Mr. Deed's quote)

Hmmm, guess people aren't buying diapers like before eh? Parents must be using paper towels and tape or people are reverting to predominately cloth diapers? I don't know.

"Pampers, you didn't fool me!! I caught your attempted packaging trick you tried to play on me! You can't slip a packaging scheme by me, Mr. Diaper Packaging Man/Woman Boss person. I see the little optical illusion you are attempting. Well, it didn't work! Now what am I going to do about it? NOTHING b/c I have to have diapers and I'm too lazy to go to cloth, PLUS our dryer is in the shed and I don't like going out there for fear of spiders-black widows to be exact. So keep sticking it to me. I'll just try to rush potty training. Oh and have a nice day. I hope your kids poop on you and you don't have a diaper b/c you chose to eliminate 6 from a box of size 4's."

Pictures

I just thought I'd blog about something, anything, just to move the
photo of 'Her' lower and out of view. So here are a few pictures of Chloe. She is picking her lip b/c there is skin hanging and it drives her nuts, so she pulls on it.

Let me tell you a little ditty about Chloe. She's just like me. Ok there's the ditty. She hates it when her hands are dirty. (Me too) If something is out of the norm, like it's not where it should be, it drives her bonkers!. (Me too) If Cooper doesn't have his silky every minute of every day, it sends her hunting for it to give to him. (That's all her) She can't handle trash on the floor. (Ya, kind of me) She doesn't handle chaos well, but neither do I. But she does love to smile and watch cartoons. (That's the both of us.)

She walked around the house most of the afternoon wearing her tutu I made her forever ago. She is slowly entering that 'dress up' phase. I say slowly b/c dress up would consist of her putting on something over her clothes and that tends to bother her. BUT I think she loves the tutu b/c she looks like Abby from Sesame Street and Chloe loves to dance.

The picture is kind of blown out. She was sitting in front of the window, it's the only way I can get enough light in the house. Ohh how I long for that lens. If I had that lens, I could take a picture without having to sit in front of the window.

MRI

I have my MRI Thursday morning or if you are reading this on Thursday morning, I have my MRI today at 8:00 am. If you are reading this after 8:00am then I had my MRI this morning at 8:00am. I'm not sure when I will hear anything, but I'm not expecting to hear until after the weekend.


So to help pass the time and give you the chills and possible make you clean your house from top to bottom like I did even though I found it outside, may I introduce you to 'Her.' (That's her name, 'Her')



She was outside on the window sill.. good times. Did I have a panic and clean the house from top to bottom? Yes, until the vacuum needed cleaning.

Brain Teaser & Answer

Ok, so I'm totally not a math buff, BUT I do enjoy a good puzzle every once in a while. I'm an addict of the cryptograms and sudoku. I thought it would be fun to give a problem that didn't require a calculator, spouse or prayer.

Here it is.

There are 6 pails, 3 of the pails are filled with water. Can you move only one pail and make a pattern of: full pail, empty pail, full pail, empty pail, full pail, empty pail?

Give me your answers and don't be tempted by the google feature installed on most internet surf programs.

This may be too easy for some of you, we'll work up to the hard stuff.

You guys are too smart!! Your answers are correct! Good job!

The Answer Is...

Let me remind you of the question.

The cost of tires is $60.00 with a 30% discount for 6 pairs or more. How much would it cost to replace the tires of 5 cars (not including spares)?

Let me tell you how I figured this out. This might get a little elementary at times, please bear with me.

5 cars would have 20 tires. 20 tires would be 10 pairs which is more than 6 pairs and the discount says '6 PAIRS or more' so take the 10 pairs times $60.00 and that equals $600.00 (quit judging me right now!) then take 600 times .30 (the discount) and the answer is 180. Soo subtract the 180 from 600 and you get $420!!! wahoo I did it.

Matt checked my answers, "You got the tire one wrong."
"What!? No I didn't!! You are wrong! Look at it, the question makes you think in order to GET the discount they have to be bought in PAIRS!! 6 PAIRS it says!"

"No, you don't work the problem as pairs, you multiply... " blah blah blah blah, I'm smarter than you, blah puck blah is what I heard after that b/c I quit listening.

AND so have you know, I did this test all alone, just me and my tingling leg, arm and mushy brain.

So for those of you, Kara, who came up with $420, you receive the award for 'Trying To Score The Best Deal.'

And for those of you who agree with Matt you get ummm to imagine me drinking a chai latte while you paid $840 dollars for tires and I paid $420.

No really, you got the job and Kara and I didn't.

This Is A Test

The company Matt works for requires you to take a test; a math test, if you will. It consists of many questions, some of which I found very hard. No, who am I kidding ALL of which I found very hard!

Tonight, I wanted to see just how dumb I truly am (when it comes to math). So I took the test.

There was a question that I feel needs to be asked to my friendly readers. I want to know how you would answer this question, then in a few days or so, I'll give you my answer.

The cost of tires is $60.00 each with a 30% discount for 6 pairs or more. How much would it cost to replace the tires on 5 cars (not including spares)?

Leave your answer and good luck and no cheating.

No Answers So Lets Laugh

Went to the doctor today... no answers yet, which was expected. I will have another MRI and then I should get some answers to what my deal is, but in the meantime...

My friend Leann is in love with Chick-Fil-A. She posted this video on her blog of a guy named Tim Hawkins singing about the Chick. Now I had never heard of Tim Hawkins until yesterday and he's my new favorite funny person right now. Here's the Chick video.



On parenting.



Christian Songs...



And lastly,things you don't say to your wife.



Have a great weekend!!

He has more videos on youtube.

Today

Here is today, in all its Daylight Savings Time glory. Apparently, I can't handle even one hour difference and neither can my Chloe. I will definitely NOT be moving to the east coast anytime soon.

I was going to have blood drawn today to check all of its tenants, but have decided to start the doctor process over, from the beginning, like, the beginning.

I went to the chiropractor last Friday b/c in 2005 I had an episode like the one I have been having since January of 2009. (tingling leg, hand, can't feel leg in space)

In 2005, I was MRI'd and tested for M.S and all came back fine, so said the neurologist then. He referred me to a shrink. Jerk! I'd give his name, but I can't remember it, lucky him.

When I went to the chiro. last Fri. she said she wasn't going to jump to any serious conclusions... I knew that meant MS, so I tell her I had been tested and all was fine. She then dropped a bombshell on me saying that the episodes can come and go and it maybe didn't show up the first time on the MRI. *gasp & gulp*

She got a hold of my 2005 MRI pictures of my sexy back and read the doctors notes. It said, I had a bulging disc in my lumbar region and some fluid sac thing in my neck. (that was in 2005)She thought maybe the disc is worse and is causing the tingling.

I don't know. If I tilt my head forward, look down, I get tingly in my right leg and in my left hand. She didn't know if the fluid sack would cause this or not. I am not constantly tingling. Only when I get out of bed in the morning and if I run, jump or lifting the kids out of bed can cause a sensation. Tilting my head adds fuel to the fire.

I talked to my mom, who advised me to dump the chiro, respectfully b/c she really was great and not money hungry. I need to see a neuro surgeon.

So today...

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth.

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same.

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
-Robert Frost

Question

For those of you who read my blog, this is your warning: The ride you are about to take over the next few weeks WILL consist of some random funny moments and some random serious ones. Thank you and enjoy the ride.

Sorry about the dramatic bombshell I dropped on ya last night. To answer your burning questions, I am going to be tested for M.S. Wednesday I will have blood drawn and within the next few weeks I will have an MRI. I will definitely keep you posted and continue to please pray.

So here is a random question to bring some laughs; hopefully.

Question: How long does it take for a Wal-Mart bag, in Oklahoma weather, to break apart and fall out of a tree?

Answer: Just over a year.

And how do I know this, well there was one in our tree and it finally broke into enough pieces that it fell out today. That brutal north wind did it in. Now we don't look so country with a bag dangling in our tree.

Pass The Test

My mother-in-law called me tonight, "Megan, I just wanted to hear your voice and to tell you, you have been on my mind a lot lately and in our prayers. We are praying that they will find nothing. Right now is a time to call on the Lord and ask Him to help you through each and every day. You may ask for his help as soon as you wake and five minutes later you are letting fear creep in. It is going to be a minute by minute prayer. This is going to be a test, a test for you to choose to grow closer to God or let Satan rule your life with fear. Are you going to rise up and accept the good news and or the bad news? Or are you going to succumb to the intense fear you are feeling right now? God is going to use you, who knows who you are going to help b/c of all this." (There was more but I had to edit b/c I was crying and can't recite it all verbatim.)

"I know, but I am just terrified I will get the bad news."

"Ya, but God loves you and he doesn't want to bring harm upon you, he is going to love you through this and you are going to love Him more b/c of this."

Isaiah 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.

I have never handled 'tests' very well. I tend to think God is out to get me when bad things happen; I tend to forget the love aspect. I have had many tests in my life and when the clouds and fog lifts I often say to myself, "Megan you didn't handle that very well. You should have been crying out to the Lord and not just crying."

So through this test, no matter the news, I am determined to get an A+. I want, no I yearn to be closer to God, to know Him more intimately, so I will pass this test. I have to, there's no other option.

I may receive devastating news. I HAVE to make myself think on the moment- think on God.
I may receive great news. I HAVE to rejoice and be glad for the test...

Now pray.

Coop

Cooper's first birthday is less than a month away and I have no idea what I am going to do, if anything.

When Chloe turned one, I sent out some invitations and then ended up telling a few people it was ok if they weren't able to make it b/c out house is itty bitty.

So now that it's that time again, I'm feeling conflicted. I want to have a little shin dig, emphasis on little, but I don't know if I really want to.

On Cooper's actual birthday, April 3rd, we are all going to see Elmo at the BOK Center, so that'll be fun- for Chloe.

Cooper is so much like his dad though. I think if Coop could talk he'd say, "Mom, I really don't care if I have a party."

We look forward to the day when our home is bigger than our mini.

There is always the park.

(Hmm, I think I may have an idea... stay tuned.)

Butters

I looked out the window today and saw a butter headin' south.

I wondered if he was late to the party in Mexico; the one that honors his kind.

Or if he missed his exit and has to use my driveway to turn around.

Either excuse; I was glad to see him again.

(Oh a butter is a butterfly in Chloe language.)

11 month old Coop

Just give me a moment so I can cry like a baby and drink my chai,

My little bug is almost one.

*boohooo hooo*

I need a tissue. And I think I need that new lens, I'm pretty sure this picture would look better if I had it.

Side bar: I'm enrolled in a little photog class at the local vo-tech.

Matt asked me the other day in reference to the lens I want, "Would it help you do better in your class?"

I sat there for what seemed an eternity, but was only a second. I thought of what I should say versus what I wanted to say. I wanted to blurt out, "Yes, it will help me with my class, I think I really need it."

Instead out came, "Well, it won't keep me from getting an A."

Crud, that was the wrong answer.

When I Go To Heaven..

... I believe there will be a never ending mug of one of these waiting on me. Ohh I long for the day.

Maybe I'm in heaven right now.

Because I have 4 of these sitting on my refrigerator waiting for me to drink them.

Anyone want to join me? Chai's are on me!!

I Want A New Lens

My brother in law took this picture of Cooper. He was convincing me I should invest in another lens for my camera. One that will take good portrait shots.

Yah, I'm convinced.