I am so gald we didn't go to church this morning.   The Dr called this afternoon and said that they let Josh's throat culture grow over night and he *DOES has strep throat.  He is contagious for another 24 hours.   He started antibiotic this afternoon.  Of course they said I needed to take the other kids in to have them tested as well.  I too need a throat culture since I have had a sore throat for a week.   So tomorrow morning Tommy, Erik and I will be getting our throat cultures done. 

Hubby and I took Tommy and Kristen a local church for a Winter Festival.  They had a great time.  We went through alot of tickets and won a few prizes.   I did get a little bit of Josh's scrapbook started.   I hope to work on it more next weekend.  

I am off to clean up and do my bedtime routine.  Then it is bathtime and bedtime!   Hpe you all had a great weekend!

TO DO TODAY:

• Put Supper in Crockpot
  
• Scrapbok (set up layout for elementary school)
  
• Iron Clothes for the week
  
• Laundry
  
• Type up Minutes for Church Committee
  
• Take tommy and Kristen to St Pious Event??
  
• Set up My Meds for Week
  
• Rip Another Book To Computer

Our weekend isn't going as planned.   I think we will be having some illness going through our home.  Josh was at the DR and vomitted in the exam room.  I think the Dr was glad to see us go.   His rapid strep was negative.   He is still not feeling well.  Last night he and I laid on my bed and watch Herbie Fully Loaded.  This morning he is on the couch and having toast and 7-Up.   Erik is starting to get a cough as well.   My hubby had a difficult time sleeping last night and still sleeping.   I didn't want to wake him up so he is still sleeping.   Tommy seems to be ok so far.   We will see who all comes down with this virus. 

I didn't get any scrapbooking done yesterday with taking Tommy to the movie and taking Josh to urgent care.   When we drove up the movie theater with Tommy, he was sounding out a work.  I asked him what he was doing.  I am reading he said!   I listened some more and he was sounding out the name of the theatre and pretty much had it right!  Tommy sure is loving reading!  

I made lentil soup last night and it wasn't the greatest.  too much blasamic vinegar.  I will have to work on that recipe.  Our tax returns are done and we have a good return coming.  We will have to earmark it for different expenses through out the year.  We make sure our paychecks can meet out monthly expenses and we use our tax return throughout the year for unexpected items and events.  I have Josh's graduation open house this year in addition to a number of other things. 

Well I am off to shower and get supper into the crockpot.  Today I am watching my neice so I am not sure how much I will accomplish.   have a great day!!  I would like to get a few more books on tape put onto my MP3 player.   I am almost done with the one I am listening to now. 

Sounds of my house........cough, cough, cough.....

Well we had a fun time at the movies.  Tommy sat very well.  He does very well at the movie.  I came home and Josh is sick.  He has a fever and a sore throat.  I will be taking him to urgent care for a throat culture.  Both Tommy and I have had a sore for a few weeks but neither of us have had a fever.   But since Josh has the fever I will take him in. 

So I am off to spend the Saturday sitting in urgernt care.....Later!

Pretty good nights sleep for once.   I did hear Josh come in after hanging out with friends for a bit last night.   This morning we are off to have our taxes done.   I can't wait to get that out of the way.  The rest of the afternoon I will be starting on Josh's School Days Scrapbook.   I bought a small photo printer that goes with my digital camera.   It is nice and prints well.  I will be able to take my laptop and printer to the hotel when I go for the conference.   Very cool!    It will make scrapbooking easier.   I have four years of photos that I haven't printed.   Many photo projects to do.

Tommy and I are going out to the movie this afternoon.  We are going to see Curious George.   He is very excited.  I think this will be the third movie he has seen in his life.  That is all we have planned for today. 

Tomorrow I agreed to babysit my neice most of the day.  I am off to wake up Josh so he can watch Tommy and Erik for us.   Have a great day!

Time has gotten away from me again.   I haven't blogged since Tuesday really.  Hmmm....I did type up a post on Wednesday but it got ate, so I gave up. 

WEDNESDAY - cleaned up around the house a bit in the morning and then off to the dentist to get some fillings done.  ARGH....I hate going to the dentist.  He didn't feel I could keep my mouth open wide enough for him, so he used a prop to keep it open.  OUCH...my jaw muscles were so sore all night.   I didn't go to church for supper with the kids since I dcouldn't eat too well.  I would have been drolling my food down the front of me.   It sure took a long time for the novacaine to wear off.   So I spent the evening with Tommy, reading and getting caught up on my bible reading as well.  We were in bed early and fast asleep.

THURSDAY - I was suppose to be home early from work, but I couldn't get into my van.  I had my van washed on Wednesday and it must have gotten some moisture in the lock and it froze.   So I had to hunt around work for someone who had some de-icer.   That made me about 45 minutes late for leaving work.   I raced home and made Broccolli and Cheese soup and some rolls.   I didn't get to have any supper as I was off to a community education class on making a School Days Scrapbook.   I am all excited to get started on Josh's scrap book for his graduation.   I can't wait!  After Josh's I will start on Erik's.  The sad part is we don't have any baby or early childhood pics hardly of Erik with his Dad or anything.   Erik's mother kept all those so hubby has few memories of that time with Erik.  He missed out on so much.  Once I came into their lives, we have picutres!!  You know me!  But hubby has a huge amount of pics and memories with Tommy.  I am so glad I could give that to him! Though it will never make up for what my hubby lost.  But I think I can pull together a pretty good scrapbook for them.  I think it will mean alot to my hubby.   But first I have to get Josh's done and start Tommy's!

TODAY.....Stopped at Wlamart before work to buy De-icer for my locks so I could lock the doors at work.  I also picked up a couple of scrapbooking things I wanted.  Josh and Amy are goign to work on a scrapbook of their own so they can use my supplies as well.  The rest of the day consists of working and then going home to work on Josh's scrapbook.  He actually said he would help me with it this weekend.     He has alot of pictures and things in his room I can scan and include.  He is a good boy!   As i scan all these pics I will get them ready to use in his CD movie of his life that we will be playing at the Graduation party.   I made one for my hubby's 40th Birthday and helped make one for a friend's sons graduation last year.   So we are getting started on our graduation projects.   I also need to finish painting my living room and dining room, since they are only 1/2 done.   SO much to do...............

LATER!  Lunch it over...........time to get back to work!

Finished my first book for February:

Rococo - Adriana Trigiani - 3.5/4 - Average Read

On to my next book on tape....hmmm....sorting through files on my MP3 Player...what should I listen to next???? 

Yep...the winner is a Young Adult Book................

Second Summer of the Sisterhood (Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants)

I just got two new books in the mail yesterday that I bought for my book group.    What is my book group reading this quarter????

February - Milllion LIttle Pieces - James Frey
March - My Sister's Keeper - Jodi Picoult (already read)
April - The Covenant - Naomi Regan (this one looks good!)
May - Island of the Blue Dolphins - Scott O'Dell
June - Beginner's Luck - Laura Pederson

September - Everythings Illuminated - Jonathan Safran Foer (already read)

Actually was pretty productive.  I got a fair amount of stuff done at work and we (hubby, Erik's Mom and I) emailed to finally get his IEP meeting set.   We aren't that happy with his current program.  We also need to address issues regarding Extended School Year. 

After work I went to a meeting at church.  We planend out next 2 cooking sessions.  They are a big hit at church.  Also my friend asked me if I wanted to attend the Twin Cities FlyFest 2006 with her.  I am hoping to be able to meet her there!  I haven't been able to make it to their meetings, but would like to join the Fest!    I asked my friend about NI Magnuson school since two of her children go there.   I am feeling even better about Tommy going to private school now.  I think it will better meet his needs than public school. 

Tommy was up and wound up when I got home.  He was difficult to get to bed.  He read book 3 to me of the Bob Series, which was more difficult.  We will have to work on that one for a couple of days.  He is getting the idea of sounding out words though. 

I am still really tired, but once I am up and moving I seem to be ok, at least I make it through the day!   I stayed within my WW points yesterday and am doing pretty good today so far.  I am just finishin up my lunch and then I have to get back to filing.   TOnight I have a meeting with a mom at McDonalds.  So I used Dotties Restaurant Guide to figure out what I could eat at McDonalds that would keep me within my points for the day!  Can you believe that a Big Mac is 14 points??  YIKES!!   Good thing I rarely eat fast food!  So I plan on having :

Side Salad - 0
Light Balsamic - 2.5
4 Chicken Nuggets - 4.5

Total of 7 points for supper. 

I am really trying to count my points and plan my meals for the week better.  I also have been making sure I have one big bottle of water before I can have a can of Dt. Mt Dew.   That is one way to make sure I drink my water!  I certainly want my pop!  The games I must play to stay motivated to lose weight. 

Tommy had preschool today and I remembered to sign up to bring some things for the Valentine's Party.  I thought of helping at the party, but I wasn't sure what I had going on work that day.   Actually now that I look at my calendar, I have an appointment with the endocrinologist on that day.  Last night Tommy and I finished up his Valentines for school by putting a couple of pieces of candy with each one.   He was very excited to help! 

Tomorrow I only work 1/2 a day from home.  I will write two reports for sure from home tomorrow.

TODAYS TO DO LIST:

• Get a Haircut
  
• Send Greeting Cards/Thank Yous! - DONE
  
• Grocery List/Menu
  
• Clean out Fridge
  
• One more load of laundry

TOMORROW's TO DO LIST:

• Errands - Groc and Plates for V-day Party
  
• Walk at Mall at least 2 miles
  
• Dentist Appointment for Fillings - - 10:30
  
• Church - 5:00
  
• Do Flylady Missions and Zone
  
• Write out Bills/ Budget
  
• 2 Loads of Laundry

IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER - by Erma Bombeck
(written after she found out she was dying from cancer).
I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.
I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.
I would have talked less and listened more.
I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.
I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.
I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.
I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.
I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.
I would have sat on the lawn with my grass stains.
I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life.
I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.
Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.  
When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later. Now go get washed up for dinner." There would have been more "I love you's" More "I'm sorry's."

But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute...look at it and really see it... live it and never give it back. STOP SWEATING THE SMALL STUFF!!!

Don't worry about who doesn't like you, who has more, or who's doing what
Instead, let's cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us.
Let's think about what God HAS blessed us with, and what we are doing each day to promote ourselves mentally, physically, emotionally. I hope you have a blessed day.

Monday means "weigh in" for me at Weight Watchers.....I was really dreading it today!!  But I acutally had a small loss.  YEAH!! 

I think it has really helped that I am privately posting what I plan to eat each day and I hope I am back on track!  

   I do need to keep walking and as it warms up here I might be able to walk more.  I didn't feel well this weekend so I didn't go walking at the mall on Saturday morning. 

12.2 pounds to Goal........

**My goal for next week is to track what I eat at least 5 days of the week.