Names

They're running through my head again... which is very, very frustrating!!

It looks as though if Mr Indy and I have children, the first boy will be Lucius Marcus. I know that is going to please Mr Indy immensely! *giggle*

I asked him today if we did name our first son Lucius Marcus, could I be allowed to name our second son whatever I wanted. (That's if we have more than one child of course!) He said sure so I told him the name I liked. Well... he looked like I'd kicked him in the nuts (and I know he'll say that's an exaggeration but it's what it seemed like to me *snort*).

My favorite boy name is Jack. However, I feel like a given name should be more. I like having the option of giving my children nicknames derived from their given names. Granted, Midget's wasn't chosen that way but I've grown in the last 5 years. *snort*

So my choice for a boy name was Jonas Alden. Mr Indy doesn't like Jonas. *sigh* I've been in love with this name for a while now. In fact, at one point I wanted to give my children 2 middle names so I had chosen this to be Midget's first name. That's how much I love this name!

I'm on a search for a new J name to go with Alden. Why you might ask? Because Mr Indy's last name starts with a C. I planned on the nickname Jack for Jonas Alden so to keep that a possibility, I need a J name. However, there really isn't much out there in the way of J names. (Just like there isn't in the way of L names.) Guess that means I have to come up with a new favorite. *sigh*

Photo of the Day

Another genuine smile! I love when I capture these! (It's just too bad they almost always are out of focus! *sigh*)

Taken 10/23/08

Must. Brag!

I have the most gorgeous little boy EVER! AND he tolerated the constant click of my camera this morning so I have new photos!!!! *happy dance*

I can't decide if I like this shot more in black and white or color! But I do know this will be his "school" photo this year! *grin*

All these photos may have helped me figure out my focusing issues. I'll have to try a different lens to see if I'm right though. Gosh I'm so stinking excited to (hopefully) have figured it out!! It's too frustrating when you know there should be good, clear shots in there but none of them are.

P.S. What do ya think of my signature? Nice huh!?

Creativity

I finally figured out the coding to get a layout to look like I want. YAY! I'm stoked to finally be able to get creative with the layouts on my blog!!! *smirk*

Another creative thing I've decided to do is a signature. I've seen a lot of blogs with a signature at the end of the post and I think it's a great idea. As soon as I make the perfect one, you'll be seeing it a lot I'm sure. *giggle*

And with that, I'm going to bed!

Memory cards

They should be cleaned off regularly. Otherwise, you find photos from months ago on there that were actually GOOD! *snort*

Back at the beginning of August, my mom decided to take my sister's kids (minus the baby) for a week. She called me up one night asking if her and the kids could come up the next day for a picnic and a day out with me and Midget. I was game and really excited at the prospect of dusting off my camera.

We decided to go to this little petting farm in Peshastin. Unfortunately, Mom had a blow out on the way there. On her car that is. One of the tires completely shredded. Of course, that meant we had to turn around and get the tire fixed.

I took the car to get a new tire while Mom and the kids had their picnic. After 2 hours, we were back on the road to the farm. Once we got there though, I didn't like how the photos were looking on the screen so I eventually put the camera away disgusted with myself and my abilities. Apparently that screen sucks because most of the photos were actually good! *snort*

This is what I found on my CF card today. (Clicking on a photo will take you to a larger version of it.)

I busted up laughing when I saw this sign. What's even better is they made sure to put a feed machine to get grain for the animals within 3 feet of the sign! *snort*

They all had a blast feeding the animals. We had to keep telling them not to feed all their carrots to just one animal. Goofy kids!

P (my nephew) wouldn't stay still long enough for me to get many photos but C was a willing model.

The apples of our eye.... *snort*

K didn't want to be an apple but did let me get a photo of her on the wooden horsey. *grin*

Photo of the Day

It seems that I'm having a few focusing problems (although I'm starting to think it's the 50mm lens having issues, not the camera... guess we'll find out this weekend when I do photos for Tracey and her girls). I have far better photos of Midget but I got this one today and....*gasp* he's smiling! That like never happens!! (Meaning I never usually get a shot of him smiling.... he smiles all the time I just don't usually get it "on film".) *snort*

Happy Halloween!

Click on screen shot to see it larger.

It's Hallow's End time in World of Warcraft. Lots of fun stuff going on. The Headless Horseman is wreaking havoc on areas all over the world. Andur and Lluvy went up against him yesterday with 3 other people and it was much tougher than we thought it would be. In fact, in the last fight, Andur got killed a few times (no thanks in part to the healer in the group). But Lluvy got a great ring and a flying broomstick! (That's actually Tegwen in the screen shot. I'll try to get a good shot of Lluvy on her broom today--if I play at all.)

WoW is gearing up for Wrath of the Lich King which is out November 13. (WOOHOO! *happy dance*) They've added a bunch of new stuff that's pretty cool but the downside is that the talent trees aren't quite as good as they were--in my opinion. Lluvy used to be a badass Frost Mage and now she's lucky to be just bad let alone badass! *pout* I think I might respec her to Arcane or Fire but may wait until after Hallow's End is over before I do it.

Anyways... didn't mean to go completely WoW geeky in this blog but I'm too stoked about playing again. I'm going to have to limit my playing time to the weekends though or I'll never get anything done! *snort*

NO CANCER!!!

Tracey texted me and said the MRI came back that the lumps are not cancer!

WOOHOO!!!!!!!

We're so celebrating when you come up Tracey!! *grin*

Photo of the Day

Napping with Nana
(taken 10/13/08)

Boredom at Midnight

What's the best thing to do when insomnia keeps you awake?

Take self portraits in bed. *snort*

Alice

I can't believe I forgot to post about Alice before now! I had the photos uploaded but never posted. Sheesh!

Alice is the newest member of our family. She's purple and has a ramp. See Alice is our minivan and she's wheelchair accessible. With how fast Midget was growing, I found that I needed a vehicle that I was not constantly lifting him and his wheelchair in and out of. Thanks to 3 amazing ladies, we now have Alice.

If it wasn't for Tracey, I wouldn't have had the money to buy Alice. But then again, if it wasn't for my aunties Dorothy and Carol, I never would have even found Alice! So those 3 amazing ladies are who I have to thank most for making our lives easier. We will never be able to thank you enough! *grin*

The truth is in the shirt!

That is my oldest niece C back in January. She's 8 (but was 7 in this photo) and so much like me I about die when I see her. *snort*

Changes.

There will be a lot happening soon.

For starters, I'm postponing finishing my degree (if I ever finish it). The first week of school was pretty great... I guess. But my heart is not there. I sit in class and wish I wasn't in class. I'm not absorbing anything. I love accounting but don't want to do it forever. I need something more creative.

Next is Midget. I didn't elaborate much about his hip so here goes.

Midget has been having hip problems for a while. In July, his hip was starting to dislocate but it wasn't too bad so the pedi and I were just going to keep an eye on it. I believe Midget's Urologist referred us to Orthopedics. It was a good thing we made the appointment! His hip is now 50% out of socket when it was only about 20% in July. There are 2 things we could do:

1) Just watch it and let it be, hoping that it doesn't get worse.
2) Surgery.

There are 2 surgeries the doctor talked about.

The first would be to cut the tendons/muscles around the hip to loosen them, reform his hip socket (as his is not round but partially flat), break the femur and reposition the hip ball into the socket. This would mean he'd be in a cast for 6 weeks and then a hard, removable brace for the next 4-5 months. (It has a 6 month recovery time.)

The second surgery would be to just go in and remove the hip ball completely. The major downside to this would be the fact that he would absolutely never bare weight or walk. At least with the first surgery, there is still a chance.

The doctor wanted to wait 6 months and reexamine where he is. Then we would decide if surgery was appropriate. However, I'm thinking waiting that long is not going to give us any better results. I need to plan ahead.

I'm seriously thinking about putting Midget back into school for Kindy. He wouldn't start until fall '09 so I have time to work out the details. But if I did do that, I would need to have Midget's surgery done before March so that he's completely recovered in time for school.

Lastly, I need to find a way to do some photography. I was happiest when I was doing it and I have barely picked up my camera ALL YEAR! I miss how it feels. I miss being excited by taking photos. I miss being completely happy!!

Don't get me wrong! I'm happy with Mr Indy and while my life isn't perfect, I'm fairly happy with it too. But I want to be completely happy and that's what I am when I have a camera in my hand. When I get to come home and see the fruits of my labors! When I get the comment, "That's a GORGEOUS photo!" When someone loves a photo so much they just have to have it now! I miss all of it!

I'm not exactly sure where I'm going after I withdraw from school. I know Midget needs the surgery and I will talk with his pedi tomorrow about it. I definitely think it's a good idea to do it sooner rather than later. Get it over with this winter so he can enjoy being outside in the warm air next spring and summer! After that, I'm not totally sure. I know I'll figure something out. It will just take time. Hopefully people understand that too.

Cha-ching!

My birthday's looking up now!

We went to a poker game last night and Mr Indy and I walked away the big winners. He brought home $32 and I brought home $25. (Buy-in is $10 a person and there were 7 people there.)

Plus I think I've figured out how to write my management paper! (I had serious writer's block yesterday.) WOOHOO! One less stress to deal with today.... well as soon as I finish it. *snort*

The kid wants food. Must go feed him!

*waves*

Avoidance...

...that is why I blog today. I want to avoid writing my essays. (I'm such a horrible student right now.) *snort*

I haven't shared photos in a while (if ever) so today is the day! *grin*

Here is the incredible birthday presents I got from Mr Indy! A 42" plasma TV and a new TV stand.

We both absolutely love the them! In fact, this is what the boys are doing today while I'm supposed to be doing homework.

Mr Indy is playing The Force Unleashed on his XBox 360 and Midget is listening to all the sounds surrounding the game (including Mr Indy's "comments"). *giggle*

Here is my new do. It's not the greatest shot but it's me nonetheless. *grin*

And last but not least, Midget. Apparently watching me put an end table together was boring so he decided it was nap time.

He still wakes up early every so often but we just leave him be as long as he's not coughing or choking. This is how I tend to find him after I wake up. Apparently he surrenders to sleep again! *snort*

Sleeping photos are the easiest to get of him. But I do have one with his eyes open... sort of. *snort*

And with that, I shall go write the essay for my management class that is due on Monday. We have poker tonight and I don't want to be worrying about it while I try to take everyone's money. *snort* Tomorrow I will have to focus all my efforts on my Poe essay.

For today, I say goodbye! *wave*

Yay for Tracey!

I told ya I'd keep you updated on her situation. I'm going to be lazy though and just put a link to her blog. You can read about it there!

http://www.kristinedaae.blogspot.com/

Tracey... I'm so happy you're getting the help you need to get this done!

We need to do a shoot before you have any surgery though. I know you probably think you won't want to remember any of this later, but I want to help you remember how far you've come and how remarkable of a woman you are!

I signed up to be a part of this project... http://www.thinkpinkphotography.org/... when I was Snap Blossoms but I still want to do it with you! Call me and soon! *grin*

Happy freaking birthday to me!

As if my birthday wasn't going to suck enough already, I get to spend it sitting in a waiting room at Children's. (Midget has his monthly Keto check-up with the neurologist and dietitian that day.) *sigh* The things we do for our kids!

Oh and I either go to bed early the night before and miss watching Indy 4 (as it's released on the 14th) or I stay up late and drink LOTS of energy drinks first thing in the morning to stay awake on the drive. Lovely. *sigh*

I thought turning 25 was going to be awesome. Really. It just sucks.

Gilmore-isms

You really can learn so much from watching Gilmore Girls! *giggle*

In each DVD set, there is a little booklet that explains the many Gilmore-isms in that season. I'm flipping through the first season's booklet and come across this....

"Daniel Day Lewis cobbling shoes - Daniel Day Lewis had quit acting to become a cobbler before appearing in Gangs of New York"

I wonder what made him want to make shoes? Could he not find some in his size or in a quality or style that he liked? Or was he just trying to figure out how to make shoes for the sake of making them?

*snort*

God I'm amused by stupid things when I'm tired. *yawn*

Drink Your Candidate!

Seriously... you can support your candidate by DRINKING HIM!

I took that on my cell at the grocery store.... after I picked myself off the floor from laughing. (Don't shoot! I just couldn't help it.... I can't believe that they made them flavors!) I don't think a Presidential election has been so "huge" (don't think that's the right word though) to actually have a soda company make the candidates a flavor.

*sigh* What is this world coming to??

Quote of the Week

"Organize your life around your dreams--and watch them come true." --Anonymous

If only I believed that was true. Maybe I just need to revise my dreams!?

*snort*

I just read this hint about organization.....

"Stay in control of your time by organizing commitments according to your priorities."

Does writing essays have to be a priority for me right now?? *snort* If only it didn't. *sigh*

Well....

It appears that Midget will likely have evasive hip surgery within the next year as his left hip is dislocating. He'll go back in 6 months and we'll decide then if he'll have it or not.

Study break

Boy do I need one! Trying to write this essay is gonna make my weekend LONG! (Of course it's not the only paper I have to write this weekend either.) *sigh*

Midget has been on his diet now for over a month. He's doing pretty well on it. There have been a few days of many seizures but most of the days are free of them. *grin* I'm so happy that it's working as well as it is! I'm still trying to get his next monthly check-up scheduled because his neurologist has a very crazy schedule. But I'm optimistic that things will continue on the right path!

School is fun and not so fun all at the same time. I should have known there would be tons of reading since I was in a Lit class but I've been overwhelmed some days with the amount I need to absorb. I have to write an essay on Edgar Allen Poe's short story "The Black Cat" and am still having problems figuring out how I'm going to structure it.

A small brag. *snort* I had a math test last week and got it back today. I got a 115%!!! (Yes he offered us extra credit problems.) To think just a couple of days before I was so confused I didn't think I'd pass it!! But I managed to figure out where my problems were and worked through them. I'm so proud of myself!! *grin*

I got my birthday present from Mr Indy already and we're both totally in love with it. *grin* I haven't uploaded any photos of it but I will post some once I have.

I'm getting a new tat for my birthday. I still haven't finalized the design but it will be to honor some people who were very important to me (even though I never got the chance to know one of them). Hopefully I can get it done before my birthday. *giggle*

Well I need to figure out exactly what "angle" I'm writing my Poe essay at so I'd better get back to focusing on it. Hope that was enough of an update for everyone. *thumbs up*

Busy, busy

I feel horrible not posting much but I've been really busy. Don't really have the time now either but didn't want everyone thinking we'd fallen off the face of the Earth. I'll try to post a nice long update soon! *grin*