Will Returned With Honor

Kim was so excited and who could blame her?? Her third son,Will, is the SWEETEST and BEST young man ever!!! He was gone for two whole years on a full time mission and she only spoke to him on Christmas and Mother's Day but on Tuesday, January 27, he returned with honor!!! Kim's grin could have lit up the darkest room!!!

There were a lot of us at the airport and we were all excited...Kim's granddaughters were never far from her lap!!

Will's dad, my brother-in-law Jerry (aka the Bishop), constantly checked the board and the computer for updates on the flight...I remember the day Will left, he cried and said, "I just don't know if I can let him go." But he did and now, finally, he was coming home!!

My Dad, aka Daddy Tom or just "DT", said on Tuesday morning, "I think I am as excited as Kim!" We disagreed with him but I honestly do not think I have ever seen my Dad MORE excited about anything...he LOVES his grandchildren and even if he doesn't agree with their beliefs, he is proud of their dedication and desire to serve the Lord...and I'm not kidding...everyone adores Will..he just has an unbelievable demeaner that reminds me of Christ!The Edwards Five...note the neckties Jacob and Jared wore with their jeans to honor Will in his suit!! I think David changed the most while Will was gone...only a few more years and we'll be sending him off...but I am so glad that after so many years, Kim gets a break from having her sons far away in another country!! Don't they look happy to be together again? I know it sounds trite but it really does seem like yesterday that Kim and I were burning up the road between Hartsville and Charlotte so our kids could all have cousin time! Those were such fun days!!!
I cried...I was so happy for Kim but sad too because I knew that my sister Jean would love to have all of her children PHYSICALLY in the same room...Noah is never far from any of our hearts and minds...and I shed a tear for Andrew and Peter even though I know they are both being missionaries today and will serve full time missions some day with their wives...but mostly, I cried tears of joy for my wonderful nephew and his return to his mother's arms...and our lives...WELCOME HOME WILL!!!!!

Jenny Craig...Week Three...it's a celebration...

Pete has been unbelievable...no slips...no cheats...eats everything on the plan and not a bite of anything else! Go Pete! AND he started wearing a pedometer and walking more...even walking a few miles on the dirt road next to our house while I was out of town! He is determined to get back in shape and has as his goal...enjoying some excursions on a cruise he and I are taking next fall...those of you that know him know he is unstoppable when determined! He will reach his goal even though he was discouraged by this week's weight loss...Jenny Craig is a BALANCED NUTRITIOUS plan and is not a quick weight loss plan...its goals are 1-2 pounds a week or 1% of body weight which for him would be 2-2 1/2 pounds a week.

DRUM ROLL........

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He was dead on target with a weight loss of

.......

2.5 pounds!!!!

WOO HOO!!!

.....

Then there's me. I had a busy week...took a journey in a big rig, was out of town for 2 days and went to the movies, ate out 3 times...yeah, I was scared to weigh in but only because of the theater buttered popcorn...did you know that a large buttered popcorn at the theater has over 1600 calories and 25 grams of fat???????? good thing I didn't eat it all...and I skipped supper that night to make up for it!...and I learned that Longhorn's children's grilled chicken and steamed veggies is very very good and with a small salad and 2 pieces of bread (but hey..no butter!!) it will make you very full! I also found out that Alodia's in Ballentine has rotten service but GREAT FOOD and their grilled VEGGIE panini (is this me talking??) is fabulous...grilled eggplant, zucchini, squash, onions and cheese with basil mayo (oops!) on grilled ciabatti bread is awesome! Other than those splurges, I tried really hard to be good and make good choices and must have succeeded because......duhn to duhm.....drum rollllllllllllllll....

tadatadatadatada...

...

I lost 3 pounds!!!! WOO HOO!!!!

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Celebrate good times, come on,Celebrate good times, come on,
There's a party goin on right here,A celebration, to last throughout the years,So bring your good times, and your laughter too,We gonna celebrate ...

A Moment Out of Time...with Aunt Dee (Debbe)

I have an aunt in Mississippi that is six weeks older than me. We were best buddies as kids even though we only saw each other twice a year...we would be so excited to see each other and then spend the majority of our visit fighting (over toys and then boys)...and then we'd hug and cry and cry when it was time to say goodby. Debbe and I were brought up in totally different worlds...and we grew up to be very very different adults. I am a nurse, a mother of 7, and live a mostly SERIOUS, RESPONSIBLE, and BORING life. Dee has always been a totally free spirit...she is a lifelong cowgirl and professional rodeo rider..and after a serious knee injury that ended her rodeo days, she became a "bull-hauler"...in other words, a tractor trailer driver and mostly carries cows and bulls from auction to feed lots all over the southwest. She and I could not be more opposite and these days we go years without seeing or even talking to each other. But there's something about the bond of family...shared memories with someone who has known you your whole entire life and knows secrets only the two of you remember. Today she was here and she had her big rig and asked me to take a ride with her to drop off a trailer in Charlotte. I came home from work drained and sad and almost depressed and eagerly traded sleep for an opportunity to reconnect with my reckless but fabulously hilarious Aunt Dee. I knew she'd shake me out of my doldrums but I didn't realize how completely my time with her would restore my peace!

The twins begged to go for a ride in a real truck...

I allowed them to go but refused to let Sarah Beth drive...
And nope...Connor can't either...and neither can Dee's dog Skip... I don't LIKE dogs but Skip is adorable...maybe not a beautiful dog but very sweet...I really enjoyed him but I still kicked him out of his regular seat and sent him to the back with the kids...
They all loved the big bed in the back of the cab...And Aunt Dee and I had a blast up front. We talked and laughed and acted like silly girls instead of the middle-age women we are! I can only describe the feeling as joyous

On the way home we cranked up the George Jones and belted out songs from our past and just rocked out with the pedal to the metal...much to the twins astonished delight!
For a moment out of time, I forgot about being an adult and just rejoiced in being with my aunt...it made me yearn for my Grandma Nell...I know Dee and I could not be happy living the other's life but for a moment we met each other halfway and it was spectacular!!!

I love you Aunt Dee...until next time...be safe out there.

Ten Four, good buddy.

Anyone interested in a Service Project????

I know many of you are in leadership positions and may need a service project or just want a family project so I am posting below a notice that has been running in our employee newsletter. Please call if y'all are interested! I can personally tell you that either is GREATLY appreciated!

THANKS, my friends!!

From Children’s Hospital
1) Children’s Hospital’s Sew CAPtivating program allows pediatric surgery patients to choose their own hand-made keepsake surgical caps. Available in every color of the rainbow with themes ranging from favorite sports teams to Disney characters, the caps serve as icebreakers connecting pre-operative nurses with their young, typically frightened patients. Employees are encouraged to donate lively fabrics to the Child Life Surgery department and/or spread the word to service organizations (sewing clubs, church groups, sororities, etc.) that might help sew the caps. Contact , 803-434-2151.
2) Children’s Hospital’s Child Life program needs new stuffed animals for comforting inpatient children and patients in the Children’s Emergency Center and Outpatient Surgery. Employees are encouraged to have their local schools, Sunday school classes, reading clubs, sewing clubs and professional groups collect and donate stuffed toys. For more information, contact , 803-434-4368.

Connor's Facebook

Connor loves to learn and is smart because he reads and investigates and asks millions of questions and listens...here he is with a "Book of Knowledge" LaNelle sent him for Christmas...he STOPPED opening presents to start reading it and telling us fact after fact... Our cable is out...who knows why?? I reported it but am not too concerned...it's nice to have a "TV break" and so last night Connor wanted to go onto his facebook. My older boys made it for him as a joke to aggravate me and it did at first but I have come around and used correctly, it is another great way to link farflung families and friends so I allow it. ANYWAY!!!!! Connor knows he cannot accept a friend without our permission and last night he kept asking about the "adding people you may know list", "Do I know Laurel Knuckles?" (yes, she's Aunt Laurel) "do I know Peggy Albrecht?" (no, she's related to a friend of Mommy's) "do I know Nancy (and yes LaNelle he pronounced it simmons) Simons?" (yes, that's Steven's mommy) and while it was a little aggravating, it keeps him safe and I encourage any type of reading and writing...and he sent me the sweetest note on my wall (I loovvvvvvveeeeeee yooooouuuuuuu Mommmmyyyy)...

I always check his facebook out after he has been on it and laughed today when I saw this notification because we have not even covered this in school yet..he is so much like Peter!!

Congratulation you have passed the They/Their/They're Test

Ok, y'all are probably hoping I'll get cable back soon, huh? I should be writing a paper...

CATS!

My best good girlfriend Jackie (in the leopard print..love it!) took us out to Olive Garden and then to a fantastic broadway show...CATS! really hate my picture and will never wear that shirt again but had so much fun anyway!!! I asked Mary Beth if she was done dieting because she looks really really beautiful. Sweet Christi is always taking the pictures and rarely gets in them...she is just gorgeous and though you can't see it in the picture, she had on a really hip outfit and is an inspiration to all of us because she surely does NOT look like she has a less than one year old baby!!! She looks like a high fashion model!! and she and Jackie look so much alike

ok...here is my other best good girlfriend...not that you could recognize her in this shot...it's a fuzzy wild looking CAT!!!!

THANKS JACKIE!!!!!!!

ps: the funniest part of the night was when the usher picked his way across all the people in our row to get to our center seats and so when he had the entire row's attention, he tapped Laurelann on the shoulder (she was just admiring Jackie's new camera and happened to be holding it!) and told her she was breaking a law and had to put the camera away...she turned red and we all howled with laughter!!!!

It Makes Me Wanna SHOUT!!!!!

So this week was a challenge for both of us. We took a quick trip to Virginia and had to turn down Grandma's famous mac n cheese and fried chicken...ok so I used a splurge and ate a tiny portion (and believe me I COVETED that platter and dish..I could have eaten it all!) but Pete stood firm since he knew he had to save his splurge for today's business lunch (steak, of course!).

AND...last night my best good friend Jackie treated me to OLIVE GARDEN and the play CATS! But, I only ate ONE breadstick, salad and the Jenny Craig approved "meal on my own" Apricot chicken (fabulous and I only ate 1/2 the chicken...go me!)

So...drum roll please....................

Pete lost 4.8 and I lost 4.5


We-eee-eeel....You know you make me wanna (Shout!)Kick my heels up and (Shout!)Throw my hands up and (Shout!)Throw my head back and (Shout!)Come on now (Shout!)

Looking ahead...this week is full of treachery also...Will comes home and I am visiting DT and DeeDee but I'm bringing my cooler of Jenny Food!!! Go us!!

Why The South Loves Snow!!

We love to run and play when it's falling... and even when we have to search for enough snow to make a snowball...

it's so much fun to plot and hide and throw 'em... and if we scrape and scrape, we can sometimes find enough snow

to make a miniature snowman...

and then, before nightfall, it's all gone...

So goes snow days in the South!!! Nothing but fun for all!!!

Tonight all of our children will pray for just

"one more snow day!!"

A quick trip to Virginia

Pete's mom has spent New Year's with us every year since we were married but this year she wasn't able to come so at the last minute, we decided on Sunday morning to drive up to her home near Roanoke, Virginia and visit with her! It was a "less-than-24-hour" trip but we were so glad to get to see her!! She never ages and is always gorgeous! Pete and his youngest sister, Peggy. Peggy and George Hoffman have two sons, George and Jeremy. George and Anna have a precious 2 year old, Ethan.

The twins LOVE playing with Ethan. He amazes me...he's barely 2 but sits and draws...like REAL pictures with details...he is too cute!
We spent a lazy Monday just visiting and enjoying being together...and yes Pete is at the computer checking out the weather forecast for the drive home! It was so good to see Jeremy..he always came with Grandma on her visits and I adore him! We have missed his visits and hope he'll come visit us this year at the beach!

About 6 years ago, Grandma and Peggy and George redesigned the Hoffman's garage and it became an apartment for Grandma...I had never seen it and I was really impressed with their creative use of space...the step up from the living area into the kitchen hides the plumbing and electrical work underneath... She recovered three very comfortable chairs instead of a big sofa and even has a nice fireplace...and the plasma TV up on the wall can be viewed from the bedroom or living area so she only needs one TV...sweet!

Grandma wanted an open concept so she only had a half-wall built between her bedroom and living room and it does seem very spacious that way! Note the two paintings on the wall in the picture below...GRANDMA painted those (no, they are not paint by number!!). She discovered a hidden talent...they are gorgeous!

I love that she left up her Christmas decorations for us...I also liked her quilts...and that the half wall makes a great headboard...smart Grandma!!
The trip was too short but it was so good to visit with Grandma and the Hoffmans! August of 2010 will be Grandma's 80th birthday and we are planning a huge family reunion (maybe at a beach house with a pool near Charleston so we can enjoy the beach, swimming, crabbing and fishing on the river and the historic fun of Charleston!) MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!!!!

What does it take to close schools in SC???

Yep! a dusting of snow that will be melted and gone by noon...gotta love winters in the South!

oh...the Quote

I posted it back in October...it was for a contest (THAT I DID NOT WIN!) but upper management liked it better than the winner and chose it for our "Best 100 places to work" poster...I can't get the poster to save and post but the qoute is:

“Our vision clearly guides every employee every day and makes
this the best place to work in healthcare. We treat all patients
(and each other) as we would want to be treated. It sounds
simple, and it is. From the boardroom to the basement and
everywhere in between, we smile, we help, we go the extra mile.
We’ve got the knowledge, skills and technology to heal but it’s our
heart that sets us apart!”
Elizabeth Sheridan
Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
Richland

proving Andrew and Peter right...

My boys think BLOGS are just a bragging post...and I say, "and your point is????" So just to prove them right, I'll blatently brag...

I had some very nice emails in my work inbox from some very important people at Palmetto Health...all congratulating me on a qoute that was included in this week's "Pillar Talk" (a communication sent out to management) and also telling me that my quote is featured on a poster that will hang on every communication board in every unit at Palmetto Health...well then!
There's just something cool about seeing your name in print on every bulletin board you pass at work...and nice to know senior management know my name in a good way! My 15 minutes of fame...at work anyway...

Sarah Beth wasn't exaggerating THIS time...

So we all know that SB is a little dramatic and loves being the center of attention and has many perceived ailments...in fact, she will tell you, "I have hypochondria and Dr Guyton says that means I get sick a lot"
So yesterday when she slept all day at Beth's and was hard to wake up, I assumed she was tired because she hadn't slept much the night before.

Then, when she did wake up and complained of a headache, I gave her motrin

and pretty much ignored her when she complained of a sore throat...

and then of being itchy...

and then of her lips hurting...

and even smiled and shook my head when I heard her talking with a pitiful "put-on" raspy voice...

until I looked up and saw these GI-NORMOUS lips

even then, the PICU nurse in me just thought...hmm allergic reaction to something...I gave her some liquid benedryl and a tepid bath and noted some whelps but waited for the benedryl to work...

45 minutes later when Sarah Beth started wheezing, that same PICU nurse realized she had no artificial airway equipment, no oxygen, no steroids and no epi at home and high-tailed it to the ER...

which was slam packed full of not very sick kids and their tribes of laughing-eating-drinking-fighting-rude-yelling at kids for nothing-ignoring bad behavior-making out(not joking!)- obscenity speaking-smelly-trashy-irritating families! Thank goodness a severe allergic reaction bumps you to the very top of the waitlist and we immediately went back where every staff member was a known and trusted friend!!! Hallelujah!!!

By now the benedryl was belatedly working and the lips were receeding...of course!

But no worries... a few steroids and one Scooby Doo video later, we left for home...this time with a script for steroids and an epi pen!

and we will NEVER hear the end of this from our little hypochondriac who said, "Wait till I tell Dr Guyton you just ignored me and I was having a flatic shot (otherwise known as anaphylaxis shock which she was NOT QUITE having but heard the dr and me talking about)!"

She got sent to her room for that remark!

I expect she'll tell him that too! AHH gotta love kids!

Diet Update...week 1

Okay now, in response to some requests, I am reluctantly agreeing to be accountable to my blogging world on a weekly basis...

just remember that old very fat people will not show a loss in pictures for quite a few weeks

...last year I lost almost 40 pounds and unless you held before and after pictures side by side, no one really could tell (yeah...that is a little discouraging!). Pete will show a change quicker and also lose quicker...just another perk of being a male!!!!!!!

ANYWAYS...here we are in SLC last month which is pretty much a before picture...do not expect measurements because I can't count that high!!! (ok ALL of mine were in the fifties..yes that was 50s!!!!) I'm pretty much a block of globby fat. But that was then and this is now...we had a great 1st week...we really stuck to it! Now we have to add exercise...

Check out those twin double chins and baggy eyes and note there is no longer a jaw line...yuck!

We started at (Pete) 235 and (me) 278.5

DRUM ROLL PLEASE...........

I lost 5 pounds and Pete lost 7 pounds....

Woo Hoo!!!! that's the way, uh huh uh huh I like it, uh huh uh huh!!!!!

A week with us...

Sunday..the twins LOVE primary in Irmo and Pete teaches the High Priest lesson. I finally get to go to Sacrament but then I crash for the rest of the day since I work Saturday nights!

Pete spends a good part of his week at the BCBS Tower on I-20 and Alpine...a long way from home.... but only 4 years and 2 months till retirement!!!!!

and we have been hitting the books in our virtual school...we slacked off in December but are FINALLY all caught up...the twins are just ridiculously smart so it's easy...it just takes ALL of my time!!!!! But, it's worth the sacrifice!

I am taking one class every 8 weeks and have 4 more left until I get my BSN and am FINISHED with formal education forever!!!! I really do not enjoy it and just want to be done...it's easy but very very time consuming and I always feel like I am behind...even though I'm not...

Connor went to an audiologist last month and tomorrow he has to have some minor surgery to help his speech...like LaNelle and Peter, he is "tongue-tied". LaNelle's was fixed at 2 weeks by Dr Cohen and Peter's at age 6 by his dentist. So now it's Connor's turn! yikes! Then, Sarah Beth and I get to go to Girls' Activity Days (which is held at night...) We love it!!!

Wednesday is diet check in day for us at Jenny Craig....we have been perfect this week and the scale shows it...love the food

but there are times when I am very hungry (due to my crazy up all night life!!!) but we are still determined....and I have almost quit drinking diet coke...my head hurts all the time which underscores how addicting caffeine is...and I am having to back off slower than cold turkey...but I am making great progress.

Connor loves Wednesdays because he loves scouts!!! He has a SUPER leader....he's so cute!!

On Thursday, I have a day long class at work so my neice Beth has graciously agreed to let the twins visit her for the day. My twins are sooo excited to play with her 4 children! Thanks, Beth!
and then Friday will be the start of the twins' K12 Bowling league. They bowl each Friday afternoon with other K12 kids and the scores are listed nationally in the "virtual league". Fun!!

And Friday nights mean two things.....Football for Connor (2 more games!) and...

back to the Children's hospital to work for me....all weekend

:(

but I do love what I do and am thankful for the ability to help financially and still have all week with my children.

My cord to my blackberry is missing in action so I have been cell phone-less most of the time since January 2nd and I have missed talking to my kids and girlfriends...but I'll get a new one soon!!! Meanwhile...see you on blog/facebook!!!!