Time for a change

I decided to whack off my hair. It's been long for 3 years or so. My hair grows fast so it's not such a big deal when I do decide to cut it off. I can easily grow it back within a year. But I was ready for a change, a big drastic one. I also got some curl put in (a perm) as my hair is not naturally curly.

I can't really say that I like my new hair do. I didn't really like it before hand either. I rarely ever "like" my hair. I just do the best with what I have. So here it is. Pictured below is the day I got my hair done & then with it all fixed up. (Excuse my pale pasteness, it is the middle of winter & I'm painfully aware of the lack of sun my skin has seen.)

Books

Andrew has a new love of books. He takes several to bed with him & "reads" them by the light of his nightlight. He'll get upset if I don't read them to him first. It's a new bedtime ritual.

First tooth

John lost his first tooth. He promptly wrote a letter to the "toothfairy" that he'd like $10.25 left under his pillow. Toothfairy was a tad broke since it was the day right before payday, so he only got $1.

Happy Birthday John!

Yesterday was John's birthday. Our first son born to us. It was a "normal" day with school & such. He actually had his party weeks ago with Brianna. They had a joint party since they both wanted the same thing to celebrate. Each of them had a few individual friends, but there was also many family friends. Plus you throw in the cousins and such....it's much easier to have 1 big party.

It's not only John's birthday, but Matthew's (John's twin). Many of you may not know John had a twin. This twin was not actually born, but we know from early on ultrasounds that there was a twin in there. And in our eyes & God's that counts 100% as one of our children. At the time, I'm sure due to shock, we didn't name the twin or even talk about it too much. John is the one who has embraced the fact that he has a twin, he is the one who named him when he was about 3 years old.

For me (Carmen) it is extreamly bittersweet as I have ALWAYS wanted twins (or any kind of multiples). It was shocking enough that we were pregnant again when Brianna was only 3 months old, but to find out there was twins. I was literally in tears as I wondering how I could possibly even do this. It was a darker time for me as those were the years I struggled deeply with post-partum depression. God, in His infinate wisdom, had a perfect plan though and I don't question that too much. We'll just have to wait to see that twin in heaven. Until then we'll just have to embarce him in our hearts!

On a flip & humorous side...can you imagine TWO John's!!!! If you know him personally and the little ball of energy that he is....oy vey! He's great to have though. Thank you God for giving us John! Enjoy the little slide show of his pictures.

John

It's the dreaded pink eye!

I've got 3 kids who woke up today with pink eye. I noticed the baby right away cause her one eye was matted shut. I had the other two (Mandy & John) up & getting ready for school like any other usual day. They didn't have the discharge (yet) but when I finally got a good look at their face their eyes were all "pink" & bloodshot. They could not go to school. Mandy was upset cause she was suppose to give a presentation for her big science project. Although, as I type this, I think she's totally over it as she's vegged out on the sofa watching t.v. John has been on my nerves a bit as he's a ball of energy and stuck at home. That's the frustrating part, they can't go to school or anywhere else, but they are not really sick....just contagious. However considering that it could be fever, vomitting & who knows whatelse, I'd rather deal with pink eye.

My only pass out of the house today will be to go to Walgreens & their drive thru. Otherwise I think I'll find plenty to clean. It is the end of the month (ALREADY?) so I'll be stripping the beds & getting fresh linen on them. Good timing cause then I can wash away them germies festering in their beds. In fact, I just heard the dryer buzzer go off.....

Tri, tri, tri

Yesterday Jim & I participated in an indoor triathalon. It consists of swimming 1/2 mile, biking 7 miles & running 2 1/2 miles. I have done this race 8 times as an indivdual, Jim twice & we have done it together as a team twice. Racing is really my thing, but every once in awhile Jim likes to join me in my endevors.

The goal of this years race was just simply to finish. Neither one of us had given any particular effort to training for this event. Carmen's reason is obvious ~ she just had a baby. Jim, well, he's just coming off his busiest season of the year for work. However we are still very happy with our results & finish times. I completed mine in 1:08:57.72. Jim completed his in 1:15:44

We look forward to competing next year and should be more back in the game.