Tagged By James

I got tagged by James. This one was pretty interesting to me. Well because it is about me, of course.

If you could be any person in the world, who would you be, and why?
A man. Any man. Just so I could see how the other half lived.

Describe a place you remember from your childhood.
My backyard in Alta Loma. I had a huge tortoise that like to dig holes throughout the yard. My pony, named Kim, was white and tied up near the fence. There were tiny grapes that grew on vines along the walls. My mom said they were wine grapes but I ate them anyway. They were very sour. She always got mad at me and begged me to eat the strawberries instead. I liked the grapes. We moved from that house when I was four.

How did you meet your closest friend?
My hubby. We were introduced by my aunt and cousin.

What is something you do well?
I can cook southern, greasy, bad-for-you food pretty well. Fried boneless porkchops being my family's favorite.

What would have happened if you didn't leave the house this morning?
I would have played neopets far too long. Thank God for errands.

If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go?
San Diego to see my Daddy. I haven't seen him in a while.

What sets you apart from the crowd?
My fat body. I am the crowd.

What do you want to be remembered for?
I want to be remembered as being generous and caring. And being the mother of the most wonderful, well adjusted, successful children in America. Not asking for much, am I?

What is the nicest thing you have done for someone?
Opened my home to them.

What is the greatest lesson you've learned so far in your life?
Things rarely work out the way I had imagined they would.


How would you spend a found $20 bill?
At the casino. That is LUCKY money!

What is your favorite day of the week?
April through October it is saturday because of the farmer's market. But usually it is friday.

How old would you be if you didn't know your real age?
probably around 25. I feel young most of the time, yet my mother instincts make me mother-hen people close to my own age. weird.

Name some things you are thankful for.
my family, friends, health, chocolate, baseball season, diet Dr. Pepper, the internet, music, ritalin, Roger Clemens, Jeff Bagwell, Craig Biggio, Brandon Backe, Andy Pettitte, Roy Oswalt, Brad Ausmus, Lance Berkman, Preston Wilson, Morgan Ensberg, Willy Taveras, Jason Lane (two homeruns in two days!)....okay my brain has hiccupped and is stuck in Astros mode

What was your favorite childhood toy?
hands down, my Col. Steve Austin Six Million Dollar Man action figure complete with bionic eye!


this one was kind of fun. You should all try it.

A Lame Post About My Contact Lenses

I got these new contacts last week. I have worn contacts before but never this kind that my totally awesome (and adorable) eye doc gave me. In the past, I have had trouble with my contacts wadding up into a ball and getting stuck under my eyelid. I even had to have Mr. Daphnewood pull one out with a set of tweezers. They always get bubbles and get blurry at spontaneous times. These new contacts are a whole different story. They are made of silicone hydrogel and I want to know why on earth have I been wearing crappy ones for so long? These new kind are AWESOME. Not once have they wrinkled, bubbled or got stuck under my eyelid. I love them. I can whip them out of my eyes and put them back in in 2 seconds flat. Okay that was an exaggeration but these are very good contacts. I just had to spout to the world that I have been behind the times and finally have been blessed with a great eye doctor that gives me quality vision care.

Happy Birthday Little Man

Today I am no longer the parent of the cutest 7 year old in the world. Now I am the parent to the cutest 8 year old in the world. Happy Birthday Little Man. You keep me young and happy.

EEG Update and Contact Lenses

Mr. Daphnewood checked on M-boy's EEG. The results:NEGATIVE!!!! whoohoo! That means those few seizures he was having was only because he was sick and rundown. We'll see what his doctor says but usually they only prescribe meds for positive tests. This is really far off into the future but if M-Boy ever wants to drive, he cannot be diagnosed with a seizure disorder. He has several years before he even gets a learner's permit but I am always thinking ahead.


Yesterday, I went to get my contact lenses. I had let my Rx run out from Houston so I had to start from scratch. Our new eye doctor is possibly the best eye doc in America. He is very thorough, kind, patient, attentive and it doesn't hurt that he has gorgeous brown eyes. He dialated my eyes and then checked the "pressure". Just like brain surgery this is all foreign speakese to me. Apparently, my pressure was high. Then I had to get even more drops and let some cutie Doogie Howser tech tap my retina to see how thick they were. The good news was I do not have glaucoma nor am I considered high risk to get it. My mom has it but he said my eyes were rather healthy. The bad news is that my left eye is still sore from the abuse it went through yesterday which means I cannot wear my contact lenses yet. I want to wear them! I am sick of my glasses. Hopefully, by tonight my eyeball will be fine.

Don't you just love that word? Eyeball. It just rolls off the tongue.

A Baseball Post, Feel Free to Skip

I know, only 19 games into the season and here I am posting about baseball AGAIN. Last night the Houston Astros lost to the L.A. Dodgers because the closing pitcher, Brad Lidge, gave up a grand slam homerun in the top of the 9th inning. Losing sucks and losing in this manner really sucks; especially for poor Brad Lidge.

What made me mad about the whole thing is that when the Dodgers got the hit, almost everyone cleared out of Minute Maid Park. What jerks! So what if your home team is losing. It is like a marriage, for better or worse. I cannot stand fair-weather fans who only want to back a winning team (like the French and die-hard Yankee fans). Even if the Astros were dead last I would be cheering them on. Now, so-called fans will bad-mouth Brad Lidge (as if they could pitch better). Brad Lidge is still the best closer in the game IMO and has saved 7 out of 8 games so far this season. His one loss was last night and it was a big loss. I would still rather have one big loss than several little losses like many other closers. Okay, my rant is over.

Go Astros!

Potential Exceeds Level of Effort

Mouse is getting a "C" in algebra. Progress reports were mailed and her teacher put a comment "Potential Exceeds Level of Effort". Basically, I chewed her out. I am not one of those parents that demand good grades. I just want my kids to give it their all even if they fail. But when a bad grade is because of lack of effort. Oh yeah. Whoopass time for sure.

Thunderstorms

We had some LOUD thunderstorms last night. You know those kind that set off all the car alarms on the street? We even had hail. I hope our tomato plants are okay. mmmm.....tomatoes. Happy Sunday all.

Benefits of Having a Doctor In House

M-Boy's EEG went better than any other time ever. I was amazed. He only slept 2 hours the night before (you have to be sleep deprived) and the tech was really good with him. I got his hair buzzed last weekend so the wires were a snap to attach. He was still for her and then fell right to sleep. I really think it is a testament to his maturity because we used to have to drug him up to get this done. Three cheers for M-Boy.!

I was watching the EEG "machine" capture his brain waves. I am not sure if anything showed up or not. It is hard to tell. I told Mr. Daphnewood about it and he said "Oh give it a day or two and I will pull it up through PAX" Oh my gosh, medical records at your finger tips! Before anyone freaks out that random doctors can pull up medical records of anyone at their hospital, that just isn't true. If it isn't your patient or family member then you cannot get the records. Yes, Clinton's privacy act is well in effect. A little too much if you ask me. Anyway, so in a few days we should know how things turned out. I really hope no abnormal activity was present. Keep your fingers crossed!

A Day That Changed My Life

Leslie recently posted about certain days that changed her life. We all have them. I have had many (since I am getting up there he he he) but the one that is haunting me tonight is about M-Boy. Tomorrow I will be at the hopital with my son. Hopefully it will not take all day but one never knows. He is getting an EEG. These are harmless but tedious. Wires have to be "glued" to his head to measure brain waves. Basically we want to see if his seizures have returned and at what capacity. It really is a very imprecise test and the success rate of catching a measurable seizure is 50/50.

When M-Boy was 2, things started changing in our world. He stopped talking a few months earlier, he acted weird and never smiled or laughed anymore. One day I saw him roll his eyes and shake. Then Mr. Daphnewood who was taking a whole lot of biology classes saw M-boy's eyes flicker. He said we should take him to the doctor. I asked why since M-boy did that all the time. He said "that is a seizure. not all seizures are people flopping on the ground". I got a little upset. We had his first EEG a few days later. It came back moderate which meant a bunch of meds for M-boy and another appointment for an MRI to make sure there were no "lesions" on his brain.

I took M-Boy to the hospital and they dressed him in soft green pajamas. He had an IV hooked to his arm and I could see his diaper sticking out above the waistband of his pj's. They wheeled him away from me on a gurney and at that point I realized, my kid could die. When you become a parent you think that nothing really bad will ever happen to your child. You know and expect broken bones, chicken pox and fights at school. Getting wheeled away on a gurney with tubes stuck through them never once crossed my mind. M-Boy was fragile. How did I never notice this? How could this happen when I was taking good care of him? I fed him balanced meals; I read to him at night; I bathed him daily and got him his immunizations on time.

Thankfully M-Boy had no tumor or lesion on his brain. But here we are 11 years later still going to the hospital getting "tests". Each time makes me fear for him. I will never get over seeing him in that fragile state. To me, he is still 2 years old wearing hospital issued pajamas while we wait, hoping the news will be good.

High School Shakespeare

My daughter has to give an oral presentation in her english class. She and her partner (a boy) have to act out a scene from Romeo and Juliet. She has the part of Juliet and he is Romeo. She even took a dress to school for this project. My tomboyish daughter almost never wears dresses. This whole affair has me thinking back to my high school days. When I was in high school we didn't read Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare is a high school standard in most American schools (even the private schools) so we read Julius Caesar, King Lear, The Tempest and A Mid Summer Night's Dream. But I have read others since then. I think Julius Caesar was my favorite back then. I still like those war/betrayal/murder type stories. But honestly, I really got into Chaucer more so when we read the Canterbury Tales. So tell me dear readers, what Shakespeare fare were you exposed to in your high school days? Did you enjoy it? Have you ever seen a stage play of his works?

Late Start

My kids have late start today. When I was a kid we had early dismissal instead of late start. It is kind of nice to sleep in but only two of my children have late start. Little Man is up and ready to go to school and complaining that he never gets late start. Well next week when he has early dismissal I will remind him of this morning. Have a great day everyone.

Because I Must

I just have to say that despite their best efforts to give the game away, the Astros won last night. Why blog about this? Because they are in first place! I may never get to say that again for the rest of the season so I had to blog about it now. The picture is of Roy Oswalt. He was the winning pitcher last night and one to be feared. Houston better NEVER trade him.



image taken from sportsnavi

Commenting To My Commentors About Last Post

When you have nothing to blog about, just respond to previous comments! Aren't I clever?

Regarding my last post about Easter and your comments:

Etchen- I have been roped into too many things that I really felt uncomfortable doing and also at times unqualified. A perfect example was when I was asked to help out with the prayer team. Hey praying for people should be easy, right? Not so when the people you are praying for really need some medical attention as well as spiritual and they refuse worldly remedies at all costs. Some people just don't want to hear the truth. I know I don't sometimes.

Vickie- we often have our own "services" at home. It mostly consists of Little Man leading us in worship. He plays this DVD that has Chris Tomlin, David Crowder Band and Newsboys (to name a few) and then makes us sing along. He says at church the guy that talks just sounds like "blah blah blah blah blah" and wishes they would just be quiet and sing songs. Well I am sure the pastors across America would just LOVE to have him at their church. And I knew you'd like the boots ;)

Al- oh Al, houseguests that have no intention of leaving anytime soon. I feel for you. Not only one but THREE people is a huge adjustment. I would have drowned myself in your culinary creation there. It sounds great. I need to come over to your house for dinner sometime.

Boozie- yes, I am too young to have any children at all. I am just a wee sprite with lots of life left in her if her family wasn't trying to suck it all out of her. Just kidding. I am 36 and started young (21) but nowadays people start at like age 15 and graduate from high school with 2 kids and 1 on the way. Of course MY daughter will be 30 before she even dates. Have you seen the email with Hanes No Way panties? I am going to buy a closet full for her.

Sangroncito- ooooooh! I like jelly beans especially the jelly belly kind. I like the freaky flavors like buttered popcorn and peanut butter. I also like the Dr. Pepper flavored one too. My husband likes black jelly beans and only black. gross. I hate that flavor. hope your tummy feels better!

Jayleigh- I didn't get baptized until I was 17. My dad was catholic but my mom wasn't. It is kind of funny that I married a catholic man but our kids haven't been raised catholic. whoa, getting off topic here...yes, God knows what is in my heart and He also knows what is in my closet and what ISN'T (like any dresses at all). It's kind of sad but really had nothing to wear. Even my kids don't have dressy clothes right now even if I wanted to go to church. When we moved I left a lot behind. whoa...getting off topic twice. How do you do that to me?

Ryan- Sweetheart, you can be in my boat any day. You can even have my life preserver if you want since I love you that much!

Kimananda- I know you didn't comment on the last post but I was wondering how the research was going? I am jealous of your library. Such tidy shelves.

Easter Recount

My Easter was very peaceful. I did not go to church. I know, you're probably thinking "not even on Easter?! What a heathen!" But three different things can happen when you go to a church that isn't your own for Easter. 1) people judge you and shame you for only attending church on Easter and Christmas 2) church members think this is prime time to jump on you and try to get you involved in their church thus prompting several 'sales pitches' about the attributes of the church or 3) nothing at all. You sit thru a sermon and thank God for His gift of life.

I didn't like my odds. Okay I am joking (somewhat) about that. Really, yesterday morning I was running fever and felt very sick. I hid some eggs around the house for the kids then fell asleep. I barely ate anything but watched the Astros game in the late afternoon (they won!). I hope everyone else had a fantastic Easter.

A flashback Easter pic: Daphnewood on Easter morning 1973. I know you are all jealous of my go-go boots.

Losers the Morning After

Last night the Astros lost to the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Arizona Diamondbacks?! I was fuming. It wasn't a close game at all either. 1-5. The Astros could only manage one run. Then now that I think back about it, I feel like one of those fat husbands who sit on the couch in their underwear drinking beer while yelling at the TV during sport games. It is just a game and the season is so young. They have like 125 games left and I am getting upset about one? Lets just say I needed a healthy dose of reality and a major shift in my priorities this morning. I feel great and will go outside and enjoy the day for it is. No staying huddled around my computer watching every pitch and swing. I see flowers to pick and a quick jaunt to the Farmer's Market. I love the Spring.

Good Friday and Baseball

Today is Good Friday. I never really understand why they call it "good" when it was the day Jesus was crucified. Anyone ever watched "The Passion of the Christ"? Yeah, not a good day at all. But, as my beliefs go, Jesus went willingly so we could spend eternity with him. Some of the world's people seem undeserving of this but the reality is that WE ARE ALL UNDESERVING. My prayer for the Easter weekend is that my Christian friends make a little room in their heart for non-christians because God loves them just as much as He loves us. And my other prayer for the weekend is that my non-christian friends could see Jesus in someone's life (hopefully mine) and realize Jesus isn't looking to change anyone, just love them.

I also will be following baseball rather closely this weekend. In San Francisco yesterday my Astros played a double header. They lost the first game 3-5 but kicked some major butt in the second game 8-0. Roy Oswalt pitched 8 and 1/3 innings. That is almost the entire game! He was smokin' yesterday. So Kim and Sangroncito (my SF friends) we split the series. Not bad for a compromise, eh?

81 Degrees!

I saw the forecast for today and it said it would get up to 81 degrees today! Yes! Spring has arrived. I should dust off the shorts and break out the sandals. Daphnewood is getting some sun. Whoohoo! Now let's just hope I don't blind anyone with my mayo legs.

Guests From Cali

My niece is visiting from California along with her friend. I won't be blogging much for a few days. Mostly I will be catching up with your blogs. I feel like being a reader instead of writer right now. Anyway, I read some blogs on the sly and now I will share one link with you. His name is Craig and a really nice guy from the land down under. Yay Australia! So everyone check out this guy and show him some love. Tell him that I sent you!

Craig Armstrong

Practice Makes Perfect

Little Man didn't study for his spelling test last week. It has always been a tough task for him (spelling) but this week I just had to share. Number 10 was suppose to be "shirt". I have no idea what he was trying to spell for number 6.

How do teachers keep a straight face when grading these kind of things?

The Band Meme

I stole this from Brooke. It is a meme of sorts that all questions are answered by the titles of songs by a single band. She reminded me of the usefulness of google for this project. You all know that I used to be a U2 freak so I chose them.



Band: U2

Are you male or female? Trash, Trampoline And The Party Girl
Describe yourself. Mothers Of The Disappeared
How do some people feel about you? Sweetest Thing
How do you feel about yourself? Running To Stand Still
Describe your ex: Bad
Describe your current significant other: The Unforgettable Fire
Describe where you want to be: In God's Country
Describe how you live: I Will Follow
Describe how you love: Two Hearts Beat As One
What would you ask for if you had just one wish? Beautiful Day
Share a few words of wisdom: Some Days Are Better Than Others
Now say goodbye: Another Time, Another Place

Pagers and More

I was really shocked to see that people had no idea that pagers were still very much used. I am not sure about the "outside world" but in the medical world they are constantly used. Dear Rowan stated her husband uses them in his profession. So does mine. Mr. Daphnewood has an alpha numeric pager. I can send him text messages anytime of day. He can be in surgery and the pager will accept the message. Only in the case of heavy walls (x-ray, MRI, etc) the page won't go through. All doctors have cell phones too but in the O.R. it's a no-no. They have in-house cell phones that are specially made to not interfere with any equipment but no one uses a phone to call outside the hospital (while in the O.R.) unless an emergency has arisen. Pagers don't mess with anything and therefore are indispensible to the medical community. Every doctor has a personal pager assigned to him/her but some departments have a department pager as well. So for instance, if Mr. Daphnewood is on call that night he has his own pager as well as the neurosurgery department pager. Not fun. I can tell you his life is NOTHING like E.R. I like to think that I am what makes his life glamorous and exciting, not his job.

Not Even Coffee Will Fix This

I am not a fan of the person who invented pagers this morning. Beep beep beep! all night long. I am going back to bed once the kids are off to school. I really don't know how Mr. Daphnewood does it.

On a positive note, the Astros won their season opener. The KC Royals did not but the season is a LONG season.

I Wish This Was A Real Movie!

I found this last night while surfing. Isn't it a hilarious picture? I just love Bill and Ted.



image taken from filepile

I've Got The Fever

This is the time of year when I lose many readers. Yes folks, it is baseball season again. I will try to keep the baseball talk to a minimum this season. However, I am working on keeping a game tracker on my side bar to let everyone know how my Houston Astros are doing. Mostly it is for me but you understand, don't you? I have new team to watch which I am very excited about because they are in the American League: The Kansas City Royals. This team gets no respect (much like the Astros) and had a terrible season last year. Most people in KC are Cardinal fans which is really sad. I predict that this team will be a fearsome sight to behold within the next 4 years maybe sooner. Baseball fans will laugh at this assumption but don't forget that I predicted the Astros making it all the way to the World Series. They had to beat two very good teams ( ATL Braves and STL Cardinals). So watch out for the team in blue American League. You just might be surprised. And that Mike Sweeney will be a new first base favorite since my Jeff Bagwell will not be playing again. To a long fun summer!