Have you heard this song?

"Laughed Until we Cried" by Jason Aldean

Goin’ through my closet the other day
I found an old yearbook
Flipped right to the page of that senior trip
Down there on that Panama strip
We all started yellin’ when we smelled the beach
Couldn't wait to try our fake I.D.’s
We only had a few days
And a whole lot of memories to make

Oh man we were livin’
Didn't waste one minute
We talked and drank and danced and said goodbye
We laughed until we cried

This past year my family
Was sittin’ cross-legged 'round the Christmas tree
Listenin’ to granddad
We all knew it probably be his last
He was crackin’ jokes and we were takin’ turns
Tellin’ stories ‘bout fishin’ or lessons learned
Out on the porch with him
We all felt like kids again

Oh man we were livin
Sittin' there reminiscin'
We sang and talked and traveled back in time
We laughed until we cried

It's like the best days under the sun
Every emotion rolled into one
A little of this a little of that
Kinda happy kinda sad

Just the other night the baby was cryin’
So I got out of bed rocked her awhile
And I held her tight
And I told her it would be all right
And my mind went back to a few years ago
When we tried so long
We almost gave up hope
And I remember you
Comin' in and tellin’ me the news

Oh man we were livin’
Goin’ crazy in the kitchen
We danced and screamed and held each other tight
We laughed until we cried

_________________
The other day I kind of started to freak out. But first some background:

In high school, my periods were infrequent. I would go about 2-3 months without having a period. And then I would have a period that would last about a week or so. At first I liked having a 2-3 month window. But then it started to bother me. I would never know when my period would start...and it always seemed that it would start when I wasn't expecting it to.

So I went and saw my doctor (I believe I was in college at the time probably sophomore year) and he ran some tests. He thought that I had polycystic ovary disease but they only symptom I had was infrequent periods. I didn't have severe acne, or facial hair. So he drew some labs and noticed that my hormones were opposite from where they should be. (At the time I didn't know anything about hormones, so I don't know what hormones he was talking about, nor do I know the results.)

But my doctor did say: "you might have a hard time getting pregnant" and "we will face that when you are trying to get pregnant."

He prescribed birth control pills to help make my periods regular, predictable, and shorter.

Now, I am realizing that I'm starting to get old. I will be 30 in no time at all. And I don't know if I'm going to be able to get pregnant on my own.

A friend of mine from nursing school posted a post on myspace the other day: she's pregnant again. She got married shortly after graduating from nursing school, and even though they didn't purposefully try to get pregnant, they did. Then, with her baby 5 months old, while using both BCP and condoms, they got pregnant again!

I am happy for her, (she is still getting used to the idea of being pregnant again) but so jealous that it came so easy for her. (And I do not want to be pregnant with a 5 month old ideally my kids will turn 2 years old before a new addition) But like I said she didn't mean to become pregnant that quickly...it just happened.

I am not actively trying right now. I don't have enough leave for work yet. I don't think we could afford none of my paychecks coming in. I would like to be living in a new house and married before we start trying, but Jamaal isn't sure that we will be able to afford to move yet. So he wants to stay where we are for another year....and so we are throwing money away waiting...we are throwing precious time away waiting...

and I leave you with some more lyrics:

"You're Gonna Miss This" by Trace Adkins

She was staring out the window
Of their SUV
Complaining, saying,
I cant wait to turn 18
She said, "I'll make my own money"
And I'll make my own rules"
Mama put the car in park
Out there in front of the school
And she kissed her head
And said 'I was just like you"

You're going to miss this
You're going to want this back
You're going to wish these days
Hadn't gone by so fast
These are some good times
So take a good look around
You may not know it now
But you're going to miss this

Before she knows it
She's a brand new bride
In her one bedroom apartment
And her daddy stops by
He tells her "It's a nice place"
She says "It'll do for now"
Starts talking about babies
And buying a house
Daddy shakes his head
And says "Baby just slow down"

Cause
You're going to miss this
You're going to want this back
You're going to wish these days
Hadn't gone by so fast
These are some good times
So take a good look around
You may not know it now
But you're going to miss this

Five years later
There's a plumber
Working on the water heater
Dogs barking, phones ringing
One kids crying, one kids screaming
She keeps apologizing
He says "They don't bother me.
I've got two babies of my own.
One's 36, one's 23.
It's hard to believe..."

But
You're going to miss this
You're going to want this back
You're going to wish these days
Hadn't gone by so fast
These are some good times
So take a good look around
You may not know it now
But you're going to miss this
You're going to miss this
Yeah you're going to miss this

______________
It's too bad Jamaal doesn't like country music...because it is the soundtrack of my life...

This is love

After dinner tonight I asked Jamaal "what do you want to do tonight?" It was 7pm, which seemed early to me. Today is my Friday, so I have 2 days off, and I want to get started on a project. So when he said, "I don't know what do you want to do?" I said...

"I want to go buy fabric."

He looked at me, I was in my pajamas, and said "you're in your pajamas."

Of course, I said "I can change my clothes."

And he said "well hurry up before I change my mind."

So I got dressed quickly, waited for him to finish messing with his fantasy football league, and we were off.

The boy was bored the whole time. He didn't really have any opinions for me, he played games on his phone while following me around, but he went. He didn't really complain except when I asked him to watch the cart while I looked for something else...there was a line of like 6-7 people to get fabric cut. I guess it's kind of popular right now to buy fabric with Halloween coming up.

But that is love. He knew he would hate the trip. I knew he would hate the trip, but he went anyway to keep me company.

I would love to share with you the fabric I got, but I wont be able to for a few more months. I'll be taking pictures as I work, and will show you in a huge, blow out, ginormous post!

So I guess you can look forward to that!...

Be jealous...two great things to be jealous about!

Today I woke up at 5:15, decided that was way too early, and that I would go to work without taking a shower today (I didn't take a shower yesterday either so I was going to just grin and bear it.) That 30 extra minutes was worth it. So I have 2 alarms on my phone, one to wake up, and one to leave the house. The latter goes off at 0600 and I need to leave by 0615 or 0620. So my alarm had gone off, and I put my phone in my front scrub pocket, and I feel my phone vibrating...I look and it is work calling me!

When work calls two thoughts go through my head, do I reject the call? or do I accept the call? Many times I will reject the call. However, since they couldn't be calling me in to work, I knew they must be calling me off of work!! Sure enough I got the day off. :D It was a perfect day for that, because Jamaal has the day off, and yesterday he told me that he was going to be going to see his parents and go and see Kevin...and I got a bit jealous. (Even though I get to do what I want on my days off, I wanted to go see his parents and Kevin too!) I also wasn't looking forward to some of the work I was expecting to do. I didn't really have time to start the paperwork for discharging a few patients, and most likely the night shift wouldn't have had time either, so I was expecting a very busy day. I still have to go to work tomorrow, but I love the surprise days off!

Before I accepted the time off I asked Jamaal if I could go with him today. (He of course said yes!)

I slept in until 1000 today! It felt good to sleep, but I didn't mean to sleep that long. However I think Jamaal woke up only a few minutes before me...15-30 I would guess. I don't wake up very easy so it's hard for me to say.
_______________

Well Jamaal got the new Google Phone (the link takes you to T-mobile.com, the google phone is all over it...) a week or two ago, and he loves it. I saw it and got completely jealous. I could update my blog on that phone. I could have a decent calendar on that phone. I could totally be cool with that phone! ;) So I think the day after I saw Jamaal's phone, I ordered mine. :D It will be here on Thursday, which can't come soon enough.

I'll be able to place orders for workshops on that phone, I think at least...and that will just make my day!

Those girls are at it again!

Well I wanted to have pictures for this post, but a lot of the things I will mention here, it is too late for pictures...

You might remember that Bacardi is a problem child...if you don't here is a post about her!

She has since pulled down an aluminum tray with pasta from a table in the kitchen, and eaten it all (Bella helped to eat it).

I found a chewed wood block from one of my stamp sets with the rubber stamp missing...the rubber was found not too far from the block unscathed, so the girls have lived to see another day. My Upline knows a lady who doesn't use her wood blocks for her SU! stamps...It is still unknown which girl was the culprit, I believe Bella did this one...

Bacardi has eaten 3 plastic cups that are usually used to put dog food into their bowls (we have gone through 3 of them because she keeps eating them...) They were 5/$1.00 at walmart...

There is a nice, fresh, area of newly dug dirt by the walkway in the back yard that seems to grow every day. And for some strange reason my girls' paws seem to get dirtier and dirtier every time they come in from outside.

I have had to throw out approximately 15 pairs of underwear, because underwear gnomes have chewed holes in them!

Bacardi pulled down a box with 5 donuts in it and ate all 5 donuts! Jamaal was pissed because he didn't get a single one. I had one that morning and stupidly left it on the table in the kitchen. She gets locked up in the kitchen during the day, and Jamaal thought they weren't opened so he didn't move them. (I think she would have gotten the donuts out either way opened or not.)

I think that kids are easier to discipline and handle than these darn dogs are! We will be so prepared for a little babe because of these two bratfaces! (Bratface is a term of endearment that I use often with my girls...they like it)

Goals, goals, goals...

So lately I've been feeling pretty crummy. I haven't gained weight, but I feel like I have. And I've realized that I feel so terrible, because I haven't been to the gym in nearly 2 months!!

Night shift screwed me all up. I was doing really well, but then I started to just get tired, and I was able to find an excuse to not go.

Today, I went to the gym and upgraded so that I can go to multiple clubs. I have been travelling to Renton, because at the time, it was the closest club. They opened a club in Tukwila, about a 5 minute drive from my house, probably 10 minute walk, in June, but I really liked my personal trainer so I stayed at Renton. Now, I still like my personal trainer (even though he didnt call me to make me go train) but will only have to go to the Renton club on the days I train, or when I'm in the area.

So here are a few of my goals, I need someone to hold me accountable. (although already I feel much better and I just worked out today...)

1. Drink more water. I need to get a water bottle so I can keep track of how much I'm drinking. But I want to drink at least 2 liters every day.
2. Work out 3 days per week. Right now that is realistic for me. When I work 12 hour days, I don't have much more energy to make myself go to the gym too. However, I am going to attempt to go to the gym before work this Wednesday, since my gym is closer I might be able to workout, shower, and leave the gym by 6:15? It opens at 5. I might be able to do it. perhaps I'll only rinse off, and leave my hair and makeup on? We'll see.
3. Snack less at work. I find myself hoping that there will be some kind of cookie or snack left for us in the report room. It is terrible, and instead of eating the apple I brought I reach for the brownie. Last week I started this one...I did better than normal, but still need work.

Well that's all folks! Let me know what healthy things you are currently trying to do...successes and "works in progress" (I wouldn't say failures...) are both welcome!

Politics according to a 4 year old...

So my sis-in-law, Michelle, told this story at dinner tonight:

Connor, my nephew who is 4 years old, was coloring at Michelle's parents house. Michelle came to pick him up after work. He says to her, while coloring: "I want McCain to win. He's a jerk. *pause* I like jerks." And he continued to color. It was so matter of fact.

We all laughed at that story...

He is just growing up so fast. It just breaks my heart. Wesley, 10, made me a card-front with a Stampin' Up! stamp, and he did a pretty good job too! I'll post it on my other blog, eventually....

What happened to the days when we were excited that they colored in the lines? Well I still have that with Connor, but not for long...

Support nothing

The other day I went to Leavenworth with a few friends and we saw this magnet on a tow truck:
I was appalled. I really just think it is tacky, and I personally would not call that tow truck company to tow my car after seeing that magnet.

I hope that someone put the magnet on the tow truck as a joke, instead of the company putting it on their truck.

I get that it is a joke, but to me it isn't a funny one.

Butterflies and Bad dogs

I was just looking at a few pictures on my computer and found this one:

I took this picture when Jamaal, Bret, Joe and I went to Sequim for a weekend. As we were leaving I noticed this butterfly land on a flower. I got several pictures of it, it stayed still for me, and even let me get right next to it! It was gorgeous in person, and I think this picture is a pretty good one!

___________

Jamaal read online that American Eskimos don't mature until age 2, and Bacardi is now only 6 months! She is such a problem child. The other day she took nearly a full loaf of bread down from the counter! and ATE it. She shouldn't be able to reach it! Jamaal said "you should keep things like that out of her reach" !!

She shouldnt be getting things off of the counter in the first place. I thought it was out of her reach! It was definately out of Bella's reach. Besides the fact that she is scared to try to get things down from shelves. We are going to have to do something...Bacardi is quickly becoming a problem child.

PS: Don't forget to check out my crafty blog: ink On the Cardstock!

Two sleeping ladies...

Well as I previously stated, my sleep cycle is all kinds of messed up. I have been ready to go to sleep at like 9pm or in this case, 8pm. Here I am, with Bella on the couch. I had made dinner for Jamaal and I (Monte Cristos, check out the recipe here!) and started watching something, then fell asleep.
Jamaal took this picture, without me even knowing it. (There was a flash). I didnt know that Bella had joined me on the couch, and I woke up to hearing the shower going. I was ridiculously exhausted. But I really think it's an adorable picture... I love my Bellers.

Is there a baby in my future?

The other day I ran into a friend of Jamaal's at Safeway in Federal Way. I had just gone to my ultrasound appointment for my thyroid, and while waiting for my mom to go on her lunch break, I decided to get grocery shopping done. I had forgotten that Kevin, Jamaal's friend (and mine) was now dairy manager at the 320th Safeway. I went around a corner, and almost hit him with my cart.


He asked why I was shopping so far from home (or something a long those lines, basically asked why I was there)


And I replied "I just had an ultrasound and was in the area so I decided to get some grocery shopping done."


We said "see ya!" and went our separate ways.


In the back of my mind I thought, "I'll bet he thinks I'm pregnant." But just kind of shrugged it off.


I asked Jamaal last night if he had talked to Kevin lately, and he said "The last time I talked to Kevin was a couple days after you two ran into each other." I had to pry to get more information.


Jamaal said, "He was like 'So do you have anything you need to tell me?' and I didn't know what he was talking about, and he asked if you were pregnant and I was like No, man. No!"


Hehe...


Next time I'll be sure and specify the body part for my ultrasound. But it was kind of fun how this one turned out. I love that Kevin couldn't ask me at the time, but had to call Jamaal about it later. I can only imagine the conversation Kevin had with is wife...

_______________________

Well I guess I haven't updated about my thyroid drama.

About a month ago I noticed that my thyroid, upon palpation, felt a little bigger than before. So I decided that I needed to see my Thyroid MD again to decide what to do. If you don't remember, read this. So we scheduled an ultrasound, and the radiologist said that he/she didn't see a change in size. My thyroid MD recommended to get another ultrasound in 6 months, and would like to do a biopsy in her office (with much smaller needles) in about 3 months to check things out. I still don't know about that...she says it isn't as traumatic as my experience during my biopsy.

We'll see. The biopsy is starting to not sound that bad...I must be going crazy!

Radio, and Aubrism #2

I was listening to the radio this morning on my way home from work, I believe it was 104.9 a local country station. The hosts were asking random questions to callers, I think for fun. Questions like "Is your second toe longer than your big toe?" The questions were all rather simple. Mostly one word answers.

Well they asked "What kind of stereotype would you describe yourself as?" and the caller said something that no one quite understood. After she repeated it a couple times, the host realized she said "Sony."

Stereotype. Type of stereo. Same thing right? haha! The caller sounded young. And when the hosts laughed, she hung up. I laughed too...it was pretty funny.

It reminded me of a time when I was young. Star 101.5 was asking callers to call in with the "coolest car." Well I thought it was a contest. And I had a brilliant thought, told my mom and said I wanted to call in. So I did.

My "coolest car" idea, was an icecream truck. They didn't know what to say. And I was sad that I didn't win anything....so a part of me felt for this person who responded "sony."

The radio in the morning keeps me entertained!! :D

Who needs sleep anyway?

My sleep cycle is all kinds of messed up! I worked friday night, so Saturday (my day off) I meant to sleep until noon, so that I would have most of saturday to work on WCMD prep. Well I slept in until 4:45pm. (I was exhausted...I accidentally went to work early on monday, so I worked a total of 48 hours in 5 days. Two 12hour shifts and three 8 hour shifts. For me that is a lot. I know people out there do that every week, but it was really exhausting.)

So saturday I wasn't tired again until about 3 am, and even then I kind of had to force myself to go to sleep. So on sunday morning I woke up at 630, and was pretty much awake, but laid in bed for an hour trying to go back to sleep. No dice. So I just got up took my shower and finished getting ready for WCMD. Finally at 1030 I started getting sleepy, but I knew I had guests coming at about 11. I finally got a nap in from about 3pm to 630pm when Jamaal came home.

I was starved and we ordered sandwiches from dominos, ate and talked a bit. Then I fell asleep on the couch again. We went to bed at 930, and when his alarm went off at 700 this morning I was ready to face the day again!

I got out of bed this morning around 730, and now...it's 930...i'm ready for lunch! :D I am so turned around.

Meanwhile tonight I have to work from 7pm to 7am tomorrow. So I better take a little nap before then. (Which is kind of sounding good right now)

Only 4 more night shifts until I am back on the day shift for at LEAST 3 months!! :D

The holiday schedule came out: I'm working days for all of them. I work Thanksgiving day, but have the day after off, and I work New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. That means I have Christmas day and Christmas Eve off!! :D

Last year I was on evening shift, I worked Christmas day, so we had to rush through the opening of the presents fiasco on christmas day, and then I pretty much left afterwards so I didn't really get to play with any of my new toys for a while. Goodness do I hate evening shift!

Tamale Bake

So here is another Aubri creation. It is something I dreamed up about a year ago, and then found out it had already been done. :D So it is really just my twist on Tamale Pie, Tamale Casserole...etc. The picture is on Jamaal's camera, which is probably with him at work right now...




Tamale Bake
Ingredients:
-3/4-pound of ground beef, browned and fat drained off
-1-15 ounce can of white beans (rinsed well)
-1-8.75 ounce can of whole kernel yellow corn, drained
-1-14.5 ounce can of diced tomatoes with green chiles
-about a half a packet of taco seasoning
-polenta "chubs"
1. Combine all ingredients except the polenta in the baking dish you will use to cook the dish. I used an 8x8 glass dish. Mix well.
2. Sprinkle the polenta on top. And if desired bury some of it on the bottom. I used the whole "chub" of polenta, but Jamaal thought it was too much. (I didn't).
3. Bake at 350 for about 20-25 minutes. Or until browned and bubbling. :D
NOTES:
-Polenta is a corn meal based product. You can buy it dry and make it yourself, or you can buy it in a "chub" haha that cracks me up everytime. Visit : http://www.polenta.net/index.htm. This specific brand is based out of Kent, WA which I find cool! (I have had that kind before and it was great, but this time I happened to be in trader joes, so it was TJ brand...)
-You can buy dried white beans and cook them first yourself...I'm lazy so I reach for the canned stuff.
-You can use ground turkey or chicken if you prefer.
-I used diced tomatoes with green chiles to add a little kick. I don't think they are too spicy, but of course you can use regular diced tomatoes.

Underwear gnomes...

My lovely girls seem to think that the best thing in the house to chew on is my underwear! Clean or dirty, they don't care. They seem to love to make them as holey as possible before we catch them with them in their mouth!

It drives me insane! Now I am quickly running out of underwear. I have to go shopping for some once I get paid on friday because it is getting a little ridiculous around here.

Bacardi will pull the clean ones out of the plastic hamper, through the holes! I just don't understand their obsession. Bella does it too, but usually she just licks more than bites, so if I catch her soon enough there are no holes in my underwear. Bacardi, well I might as well throw it out if she has had it for a millisecond!

Sometimes these girls test me...