My Poor Old Man

The below freezing weather, has slowed down my poor Dakota. He has arthritis in his hips. Usually, first thing in the morning he carries his right hind leg, until his hips loosen up, and as the morning progresses he starts to use his leg more. During the past 2 days he looked so miserable and didn't want to get up. When he finally got up he looked to be in so much pain! Tonight he seems to be better and I see the young dog in him, as he happily chews his bone. He was very helpful when Cottondust took out the trash. He walk with him to the dumpster to look for cats and pee on everything there and back, using both legs.

Yes he needs a hair cut, but he does have his Valentine bandanna on

Why do dogs have to age so fast?

Work Gloves!

Last week Cottondust announced plans to work in the yard this weekend! So early Saturday morning he got up and realized it was to cold to start as early as he had planned, but that did not stop him. He decided Cottonboll needed work gloves to help him, so off the 2 of them went to Wal-Mart and I went back to bed. Hey it was 7:30 on a Saturday morning. Anyway they return way to soon for me and my morning nap. Cottonboll was very excited about her Dora work gloves and big plans to help Daddy rake leaves. Saturday was to cold to get started so Cottondust had to wait until Sunday afternoon.

Sunday afternoon the 2 of them finally got to work in the yard. No I stay inside and cleaned house (with out too much help) allot faster this way! I also snuck outside to snap a few pictures to Cottonbolls delight and Cottondust irritation and occasional comment like "Why don't you help" "there is another rake" " Were are the work gloves I bought you".

This is the picture I got when I ask to take a picture of her work gloves. She was way to interested in raking leaves at this point.

Cottondust and Cottonboll working hard

Stomping down the leaves. This was Cottonbolls favorite!

Cottonboll had her own trash can to help haul leaves to the dumpster (old plastic planter)

Our poor old man Dakota, his arthritis was hurting him, but he still wanted be in on the action. He did finally come in the house and hang out with me after a while

As any 4 year old she has a short attention span when it comes to work. Cottonboll did work hard and help her Daddy rake leaves as the pictures above shows, but she also ran in and out of the house and in and out of the garage trying out her other tools. Her little red rake also came with a yellow shovel and a purple hoe which she had to try out. At one point she ran in the house and asked if she could take her wheel barrel out side to pick up sticks. Sure I said, then she said "Daddy said I sure am chasing down more equipment then I am leaves". laughed her little laugh and went off to get her wheel barrel. All Icould do was laugh !!!



and oh yes! she did have to jump in the pile of leaves also.

But she sure did work hard too!

Crazy Me!

Sorry it has been 6 days since the last post! Crazy me, decided to work 4 nights in a row over the weekend. Due to the MLK holiday Cottondust was home on Monday so, I traded Wednesday night for Sunday night. I actually got more sleep that way, but it was hard to work 4 nights in a row. The good news now, is I don't work tonight and I have 10 nights off. HOORAY! My friend Lori who moved from Phoenix Arizona was able to stay home on Sunday and cheer the Arizona Cardinals to victory with her family.

So it was a win win situation.

Back to routine

Back to routine! Eating a snack and watching Tinkerbell before bedtime.

After a fun filled Christmas's break and a very long week of being sick we are back to our normal routine. Cottonboll is back at PDO Tuesday and today. Loving every minute of it! She came home Tuesday full of stories of what happened that day , what she learned, who said what and so on. The other kiddos ate up every bite of her stories about her straw in her hand to help her drink. So interesting and funny to hear her tell it and answer questions about her hospital experience. I love the mind of a 4 year old! Cottonboll went back to Dance class yesterday and wore one of her new dance outfits. so cute. Then after dance class she dance all over the house until dinner time and I made her change clothes to eat.



Cottondust is back a work also. Last week he went into the office some but not much. I think he is glad to back at work. The man must have something to do outside and stay busy if not he turns into a very grumpy man. When I tried to give him something to do over the holidays he wasn't very interested!, but did it any way and was still slightly grouchy at times. Got to love him! It was nice to have him home most of the time, because God knows I do love that man!



Dakota is doing well also. He loved us all being home over the Christmas break too. He was not thrilled about last week when Cottonboll was to sick to play or let him in or out of the house at his will and didn't like when we were not home for 2 days. He had to stay in his room, but other then that he is the same old man. (Please scratch my ears, help me on the bed or couch) sweet old man!



I pretty much worked my regular schedule I just had more sleep! Back to routine means days like today when I can sneak off and get my hair done all by my self. Oh yea, less sleep, but I hear sleep is over rated anyway.

Being REAL!

Okay. Me being real here again, bear with me.

I went to my first weight watcher's meeting (again) yesterday. I need the meetings and support! I have tried to lose weight on my own ,but I have to be held accountable for my weight. Does that make sense? I need some one (an anonymous someone ) to weight me and say "you had a good week!'. "Keep trying" or "bad week huh?". So here I go again! Once again I know what I need to do and how, but why cant I eat healthy all the time?

The concept is basically the same. You can eat what every you want, as long as you stay with in your points limit, of course the healthier you eat, the more food you can eat. The New Momentum plan helps you feel satisfied, by choosing healthier foods that will help you lose weight and keep you satisfied. Also track every thing you eat and drink (accountability again). Eat smarter, attend meetings, build helpful habits and move more. Sounds easy huh? HA!

I have the concept down now for putting it into to motion. I'm not a breakfast eater! Never have been! But everything I have read says "skinny people eat breakfast" So this week goal is to eat breakfast. (Building helpful habits!) I will keep you posted.

Attend meetings.... check
Building helpful habits.......check

What a week

Caution not for the weak stomach! BewareLittle Miss Cottonboll has had a very mean and nasty stomach bug this past week. It all started last Saturday morning. I had worked Friday night and scheduled to work Saturday night as well. Cottonboll had spent the night at Nana's house, Cottondust was still dozing and I was tucked into bed and about to drift off to sleep with the help of a sleep aid (to insure I will sleep and not hear the day world). Nana called and said Cottonboll has thrown up. I said oh no I hope she is not sick, Cottondust jumped up and said I will go check on her, she probably ate to fast and started playing to hard. U-uh, sure! I will go make some coffee!. No no he said, sleep, I will call you if we need you. So off he went and called an hour later, uh yea she is sick! As soon as she can travel we will be home and honey what do I do? I said wait it out, keep a trash can close, keep her comfortable and give her ice chips. Call me if you need me and let me know when you guys get home.

Cottondust was great! He took great care of her, by the time they finally made is home he had it all under controlled. He new by the look on her face she needed a trash can and a cool wash cloth. Saturday she threw up all day, Saturday night I called her Pediatrician's nurse and ask for a suppository to help her stop throwing up and rest. She finally stop throwing up and slept on and off for most of the night, Sunday morning the diarrhea started! and she did not want to eat ice chips or sip anything. Spirit was sour and had rolling bolls in her mouth, the same with Ginger Ale and don't even get me started on what she said was wrong with pedialyte. Have you ever tasted that stuff? yucky! I had to agree with her on that one. She did have 2 Popsicles, few bits of jello and attempted chicken broth. Monday the same, diarrhea, not drinking and me pleading, please a sip, ice chip? So Monday night we tried orange Gatorade, ( Gatorade does not have the right mix of water, sugar and minerals for children) I was desperate at this point. We sat down and she sipped and I pushed. Bad mistake, She throw up everywhere. OK this is it! I am calling her Pediatrician in the morning.

Tuesday morning she woke up with sunken dark eyes, cracked lips and sticky mouth but, she wanted ice chips and to play. Yahoo!. I talk the her Pediatrician's nurse and she encouraged me to keep doing what I was doing and we both agreed she had finally turned the corner. We play a few hands of Go fish, she nippled on ice chips, a Popsicle and became very tired, we laid down to rest. She woke up dry heaving was weak and listless. This is it! we are going to the ER for a IV hydration.

The ER Doctor was a jerk! He examined her and turned and looked at me. Why do you think she needs an IV? Because she has been throwing up, has had diarrhea and has not been able to keep anything down or in since Saturday! She is weak and listless and look at her! He stated "Well the inside of her nose is still moist. We will draw labs, get a urine and stool sample and we will see how dehydrated she is. Then gave me a look and left the room. JERK! Cottondust ask what does that mean? I said he thinks I, we are stupid! and he doesn't think she needs an IV.

To make a long story short she was dehydrated and we ended up spending 2 nights in the hospital for IV rehydration. Dr Jerk went off duty and did not see her labs to see how dehydrated she was. The doctor who came on was very nice and reviewed her labs and call her Paediatrician.

Cottonboll is very glad to be home and feels so much better. Thank you for all of your prayers and support.

Love The Cottondust family.

New Years Resolutions

Okay, I have to be real! I need to lose weight. I must lose weight! I weigh more now then I have ever weighed in my life (even the day I delivered Cottonboll at 38.6 weeks). I can tell you many reasons why, and the reasons for the weight gain will remain the same, but the cold hard fact is I need to lose weight. So, like many of you out their, my New Years Resolution is to lose weight, become more active and healthier for me, my daughter, my husband, my family any future child I may be blessed with. Bear with me you may have to read (or not read if you choose) about my struggle and determination to lose weight and become healthier.

One thing about me, I will not do something until I decide its time. I have decided is is time! Wish me good luck and I will keep you posted.

Thank You to my dear friends and family who are joining me on this adventure.

Go Red Raiders

Go Texas Tech Red Raiders

From the young and old fans.

Christmas/New Years

Today we spent the day with my family. We all took lots of pictures and I thought I would post some. As in every picture of large group no one is looking were they are suppose to at the same time.

Back row from left to right. Neil (brother), Cottondust (half hidden), Dad, Melvin (brother in law). Second row Camie (sister in law), me, Mom, LaJeannia (sister), Third row Brandon, Sage, Emma, Fourth row Lilly and Cottonboll. ( i was attempting to proof read and just notice Emma's Face) hahaha.

The picture above, believe or not is the best out 24 pictures. The first time the timer went off the camera was set to take 8 pictures. My child yes, Cottonboll started to walk away after the first flash, so the next 7 pictures you can see Cottonboll walking off, then back on and then she stands there with hand over face laughing. The next series of 8 picture Camie my sister in law (the one on the left) was cut in half. So we scooted closer together and Brandon my nephew (the boy right in front of me and Cottondust) is covering half of Cottondust's face.

With my big mouth open saying Hey get back here!

But seriously the best out of 24. funny funny facial expression. Plus the Kiddos were done with standing still.

but silly us, we tried to get another picture of the Kiddos with Mema and Papa.
Family picture. LaJeannia is the oldest, me and then Neil.