not yet...

...still not yet fully recovered from this stomach bug.

...i must be getting old. this GI thing has totally messed with my world and i am struggling to get back on track.

...pray that i can get back my energy and get back on track. i am off this weekend so hopefully i can rest up and re-group.

kelsey is good...struggling a bit with a cold but having a wonderful time. she comes home on sunday night.

sorry so short but not much going on these last few days.

have a wonderful weekend!!!

thanks for checking in

tammy

wire-brushing

i am not sure how many kids would have called home SO EXCITED that they got to RE-ACTIVATE MOLD while sitting ON THE RAFTERS for 6 hours their first day on the job...but mine did. (yes...that was my first question...they DID wear masks)

i guess the habitat trip is going well...they are having a blast.

feeling better-still a bit sluggish but attempting to go to work today.

thanks for checking in

tammy

brutal...

...it is 3:30am and exactly 25 hours since i started with this GI bug.

...i was excited to lose another 5-10 pounds but NOT this way. kelsey left for new orleans yesterday and i could not even take her to the school (i had to call a neighbor) how sad is that. she called last evening and they got there fine and she is SO EXCITED.

...i talked to meg yesterday who is so jealous that her sister is down there...she said that it was the BEST week of her life being down there with HABITAT. but then she went on to say that it was ok because she just had the BEST weekend of her life with THON.

...i have ashley here taking care of me while i am battling this marathon stomach thing...ICK.

...at 25 hours into this stupid thing i am finally able to keep a few ice chips down. (hopefully). still feel like a train wreck. wearing about 4 layers of clothing because i am freezing...yes...i am freezing...that is when you know i am REALLY sick.

well...even typing is making me tired so back to bed i go

say a prayer for kelsey each time you think of her this week...and it wouldn't hurt to say one for me this week too. missing some work to recoup today. my back is KILLING me from being sick so many times and i am totally wiped out.

awesome

what an awesome experience i had today...i wish that i could somehow put into words what i felt while i was out in state college today. i laughed. i cried. i bounced. i stood. i swayed.

seeing these kids (young adults actually) at the tail end of a 46 hour dance marathon was mind-boggling. the sights. the sounds. the smells. (what could you expect after 46 hours of non-stop dancing...)

i learned a lot today about how thon is run and all the time and energy that goes into such an event...and event that i am sure megan will be a part of each and every year she is at PSU. i was so proud of her (and all the participants) today.

they exceeded the $$$$ from last year...WOW.

they shared stories...both encouraging stories and sad stories.

they showed more LOVE and COMPASSION for these kids than i could have ever thought was possible. FTK was the chant of the day...FOR THE KIDS.

well...i could go on and on and on but tonight i need to get my "other" kid ready for a service trip to new orleans. kelsey flies south tomorrow to help build a house or something. these dewalt kids are exhausting me...but this proud mom isn't complaining.

pray that they have a safe flight down and have a very rewarding and fulfilling trip. meg went down last year and absolutely loved it. it is hard work but so rewarding-especially when you get to meet the family that you are helping re-build.

ashley made it home safe from her solo trip to berwick...even swung by bloomsburg university to check out the campus...go huskies (1984 graduate). my babies are starting to look at colleges (am i that old?)...i guess if she doesn't choose PSU i can't complain about her picking bloomsburg...it is a great school.

thanks for checking in

tammy

3 teen drivers...

...like that is not stressful enough i just received my updated vehicle insurance premium statement in the mail.

...it was a good thing i was sitting down. and i thought college was expensive!!!!

...WOW

tell me again why someone would have three kids in a period of 2.5 years??? oh yeah...it was a twin thing. they should have a special rate for parents having 3 teens on their insurance...oh wait they do...and it is PAINFULLY sending a message that we were crazy having our kids so close together.

don't mind me...i am a little stressed. ashley and a friend are on their FIRST SOLO trip to berwick this weekend. i get a little freaked out. kelsey went up last weekend with 2 friends and made it up and back safe...so now it is ashley's turn. they are so chill and relaxed and i am pacing the floor until they call and tell me they got there...i guess what goes around comes around. i can remember my first SOLO trip was out to the pittsburgh area and i bet my mom paced until i got there too. they are growing up.

do you realize that we had three in high school at the same time and i will have three on my auto insurance at the same time and i will have three in college at the same time (for at least 2 years) and there is a good chance that i will have three weddings within a relatively short period of time. i can only hope they choose to ELOPE.

pray for me

thanks for checking in

tammy

THON

THON is the largest student-run philanthropy in the world.

for those of you who are not aware of what THON is...i thought i would give you a little history lesson.

THON=the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon

In 1973 a small group of dedicated students from Penn State held the first marathon...they had 34 dancers and raised $2,000.

Now THON has 15,000 student volunteers, 700 dancers and has raised more than $61 million, benefiting THE FOUR DIAMONDS FUND at Penn State Childrens Hospital. (for the fight against childhood cancer and to help families ease some of the financal burdens)

i think that it is SO COOL that meg is on a THON committee and is already talking about becoming a group leader next year...i just received a TEXT from her that said: this is incredible and it hasn't even officially started yet. can't wait for you to see it.

am i one proud mom or what...not only do i think it is awesome that she is fundraising for the same kids that i help treat on a daily basis by running their lab work BUT the fact that she is getting out there and volunteering TONS of her time is amazing. this event takes months and months to pull together.

the event is starting friday evening and runs for 46 hours or so...yes...the dancers dance for days!!! i am heading out on sunday and can't wait to see it...i am sure i will need a tissue box...but that is ok.

when you are up roaming around in the middle of the night the next couple of days...say a prayer for these kids....that is a LONG time to stay on your feet.

thanks for checking in

tammy

dragging

two night shifts followed by 4 day shifts...and i am about toast.

i can't even think straight enough to update the blog tonight...stay tuned

i have the weekend off and i promise to shoot off an update. on sunday i am heading out to PSU for the four diamonds dance marathon. meg is psyched.

on monday kelsey leaves for new orleans to help with a habitat for humanities service trip. she too is psyched. more to follow on that trip.

thanks for checking in

tammy

the big V day...

here is the situation...it has been OVER one year since i have shared a valentines day with my husband (so this makes v-day #2). in my head i was so sure that i was over the fact that i was going to be "rose-less" on sunday. i had to work the night shift so my entire schedule is out of whack.

...i work friday night (sleep a little)

...i work saturday night (now totally exhausted) but we need bread so i swing by the grocery store early sunday morning. not a wise thing to do...you walk into our GIANT and right in front of you in this GIGANTIC display of flowers and balloons and teddy bears and cards...and all these guys scrambling around to find that last minute gift (ok...maybe even a little late) and i found out rather quickly that i am not yet over the fact that i am going to be without my valentine today.

i am sure part of my emotion was the fact i was sleep deprived but i also know that it is still OK to be missing tim. it is just the fact that i never really liked this holiday when i had a valentine but now that he is gone i really miss it.

so i come home and i go to bed...

and i hear the doorbell and open the door and close the door.

then i hear open the door and close the door

then i hear a doorbell and open the door and close the door

(ever have one of those days when you should forget about the sleep and just get up)

so...i walk out into my dining room area and i just CRACK-UP. there is a table FULL of red roses and cards and teddy bears and chocolates.

i say: who are those 12 roses from? a boy

i say: who are those 12 roses from? a different boy

i say: who are those 12 roses from? a different boy

i say: who are the teddy bears from? one of those boys

i say: who are the chocolates from? one of those boys

now...keep in mind i ONLY have TWO teenagers at home and i have THREE boys bringing a dozen roses and teddy bears and chocolates to my door. i don't know if their dad would be proud that they found sensitive caring boys or if he would be loading the shotgun about now.

so...today i get to enjoy the roses on my table (even though they are not mine i find some comfort in the fact that after the morning i had i woke up to three dozen roses on my table) our house smells like a florist shop.

hope you all had a great valentines day...

thanks for checking in

tammy

laughter in the rain...

...raindrops keep falling on my head

...it never rains in california

...rainy days and mondays

...rain on my parade

...here comes that rainy day feeling again

...i can see clearly now

WHY ALL THE RAIN SONGS...

because that is what we are singing every time we walk into our LIVING ROOM.

i am getting an education on rubber roofing and ice build-up and plastic and beach towels and blankets and cardboard and shoveling rooftops.

i was always told that putting up an umbrella in the house was bad luck...but REALLY some days i wonder if it would really make a difference.

i have water and ice dripping from light fixtures UNDER the porch...we have since taped off those light switches.

i have sun light coming through areas of my attic

i have it raining in my living room

BUT...what would we do without a little excitement in our lives??

thanks go out to the two guys that will ALWAYS show up at my house when i have an emergency...thanks john...thanks steve

i guess when the spring thaw rolls around i have some projects that need to get done...i am not a huge fan of being a home-owner on most days. i often think that once the kids are out of high school and we don't need to live in the township i may look for a townhouse to reside in...i am just not feeling the whole "handy man" thing is a right fit for me. i much prefer the "call the maintenance guy" thing.

thanks for checking in

tammy

its that time again...

hard to believe that it is time for the night shift weekend again.

start the coffee...its gonna be a long weekend.

the kids are loving this snow...

sunday they went skiing/snowboarding

monday they had a 2 hour delay

tuesday a regular school day

wednesday they were off

thursday they were off and went skiing/snowboarding

friday they have a 2 hour delay

monday is a holiday

i wish i had a week like that...

talked with megan quite a bit this week. ones perspective on large snow storms changes a bit when one has to WALK everywhere. (and contrary to what the news said...because of the wonderful invention of HEATED SIDEWALKS at PSU megan did have classes all week...this week i think she misses high school)

well...tonight i finally got around to taking the christmas tree down. kelsey wanted to take off the ornaments and replace them with hearts. (tim did that once or twice...i was not a fan) so while she was gone tonight i took it down. she is sad but will get over it.

thanks for checking in

tammy

actually...

...i am still loving the snow. (sorry)

there was something about this last storm that made me think back to my childhood days...when storms like this were more the norm. back when we would come home from school and jump on the snowmobiles and ride for hours. those were some fun times.

for the first time that my kids can remember we have a HUGE pile of snow out front that was the size of the ones we used to make into igloo's and forts every winter.

i went into work today which gave me a later start on the shovelling...but my girls stepped it up and had my parking spot cleared off for me and the sidewalk started. when i got home we spent some good quality time out in the snow together...it was fun.

long day today...going to hit the sack.

thanks for checking in

tammy

love the snow...

not so sure about the shoveling...

i will not be needing my bowflex for the next few days. getting out of bed was a tad bit of a struggle today...i had a feeling before i went to bed last night that i should have brought the meds into my room.

i love the snow and i love being outside in the snow. i find that in the city there are two times that you REALLY get to know your neighbors...in the fall when we are all outside raking the leaves to the curb (we live on GREEN STREET and it was appropriately named for all the trees) and the winter when we are all outside shoveling the snow.

yesterday was an awesome day. being outside ALL DAY was awesome. helping the neighbors was awesome. JUST BEING 40 pounds lighter and being able to breathe while i shoveled was awesome. BUT as the kids would say...OMG...am i going to pay for it today and tomorrow and the day after.

i am not sure what i was thinking...other than the fact that i was having so much fun. yesterday was the strangest day. at any given time i had 6-12 teenagers at my house...many of which slept over friday night. we got about 20 inches of snow dumped on us...and i was the happiest person in the township. i told mom that i think that this was the FIRST significant snowstorm that we had that i was NOT totally stressed out about either having to get into work or get tim somewhere for an appt or often times make sure the kids were ok because he was in the hospital or worry that i was going to have a heart attack while trying to shovel...the list goes on and on.

i had no worries. i felt good. the kids were safe and having fun. i had enough food in the house to feed a small country. it was a good day.

so...i will only whine a little about how i have found more muscles that i had no idea existed...especially in the neck and shoulder region working it's way down my back. but ADVIL is my friend and i can soak in the tub and i have nothing besides church that i have to do today...except maybe watch a silly football game (i do like the commercials)

i was amazed at how much more energy i had being 40 pounds lighter. (perhaps i need to funnel that energy into smaller shoveling sessions in the future but it still felt good to be able to do it) thanks go out to all the offers to help me shovel out yesterday. i promise i WILL call if i need anything. (like traction)

funny how it actually feels good to be in agony...i thank GOD that i feel good and can get out there and do the work. there were some people really having a rough time yesterday. i am blessed to have good health and awesome neighbors.

enjoy super sunday...

thanks for checking in

tammy

love the snow...

it is about 12:30am and we just came in from playing outside.

we have just over 6 inches already and already shoveled the sidewalks twice...mostly because i LOVE being outside in this weather. i will probably be out one more time during the night.

kids are having a sleepover...why they call them sleep-overs is beyond me...they should be called sleep-afters.

lots of food

lots of fun

its a good night...kids were just out on the trampoline. fun times

enjoy the weekend.

thanks for checking in

tammy

wednesday...

...not too eventful today.

one kid at college

one kid at wing night

one kid at wrestling match

one parent home enjoying the quiet...i get to use the TV remote tonight...how exciting!!!

i had the day off to take ashley back to the concussion clinic for our follow-up appt. i was very disappointed when we got there and they had never received the report from the neuro-psych exam. they are going to call them and get it and will give me a call next week. BUMMER

other than that things are going pretty well. i am doing "ok" on my diet...not great but "ok". i guess i am getting kinda tired of the whole thing and that kinda frustrates my AP but we are working through it. infact i think i am meeting with her later on tonight...she is earning her pay these past few weeks.

i am proud to say that i have reached my 41 pound weight loss goal...i always like to say that i lost more than a milestone number...like instead of I LOST 40 POUNDS...I CAN SAY I LOST OVER 40 POUNDS...kinda wierd i know...but those of you who know me...not a big deal (wierd is normal)

i guess the AP frustration is that she KNOWS that this is not even half of what i want to lose and she wants to keep me focused. (plus i kinda fool around with her a bit and that drives her kinda crazy). she hasn't quite figured out when i am serious and when i am kidding around. i had better straighten up around her or else i will be regretting that in many ways...she had certainly found how to get my attention. (she kinda reminds you of a very strick 5 grade teacher...and i guess i remind her of a 5th grade rebellious student at times) but we are still friends...i think.

if i don't have my humor through this adventure i don't think i will make it...so "most of the time" the consequences are well worth it.

well...better take advantage of having my favorite chair and the TV remote.

thanks for checking in

tammy