Taco Bell

After the Car Show we all went to Taco Bell in Pearland.
This Taco Bell is in the worst top three.
3. Lake Jackson, Texas
2. Pearland, Texas
1. Mt. Pleasant, Texas

I am sure this list will be updated given enough time.

In the second picture Jaime is completeing an on the phone customer service survey.

Rock Wall

Christian got to climb a rock wall while we were at the Car Show.

Houston Car Show

We took our family (along with Daniel and Walter) to the Houston Car Show last night. Out of all the brand new cars these two would be my absolute favorites. The first one is a 1968 GT 500. The second one is a Volkswagon complete with luggage on top.

Ellen Update

Ok, so a different aunt phoned this morning to give me an update on Ellen. She is still very critical at this point however they are saying that she is beginning to stabilize a bit. They have not started dialysis at this point. She has had several seizures and they are having difficulty regulating her blood pressure. The renal biopsy returned with a diagnosis of Glomerulonephritis (pronounced gluh-mare-you-low-nih-fry-tis), or Dense Deposit Disease. Ellen is 17 years old, married with a one year old daughter. Her husband is currently in Africa on his way home after a tour of duty in Iraq. The doctors have told her will never have another child. Please continue to lift this family up in your prayers.

January 28,1997

12 - That is how long my husband and I have been saved. As a matter of fact it will be twelve years exactly right around eight tonight which is about the same time my husband will begin preaching. I stand in awe at God's goodness.

January 26,1989

On this day twenty years ago, my husband and I met for the very first time. I could have NEVER imagined how quickly the years would pass. It seems as yesterday. Sometimes we go back to the spot where we met. Our lives have been blessed beyond words. God has been more than gracious with us. The first eight years were extremely hard...we were lost then and the effects of sin were taking its toll on our lives. All the nights I cried for our lives, the fights, the harsh words ..these were not easy times but all part of God's plan for us. God reached down in mercy and cradled us both in His loving hands. The journey since has been hard as well..but different. We are now enlighted by His Word and Truth. I have been blessed with a GREAT man. As I type the tears are flowing freely remembering all the years and being thankful for God's grace. Today, I have know way of knowing how many mores moments, days, weeks, months, or years God will give us in this life but I pray they will be used for His glory.

January 23

A very special HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my wonderful husband and companion of almost 20 years.

Thank you, Jesse, for a wonderful life together. For stabilty, for the five beautiful children we have together, for love, compassion, tears, and smiles.

I pray that our futures hold many more years together serving God who made the past years possible.

I LOVE YOU!!!

Old things

I took all my 'old' things down today and washed/dusted them.
I have these things hanging above my dining room windows.
I like old things and have collected a few.

This is probably my favorite thing.
Can you guess what it is?

PKD Update

I got lab results back today: Low Hemoglobin 10.2, Low Hematocrit 31.6 thus the tiredness I suppose. I also have an elevated white blood cell count and and EGFR of 56. I have the general 'I don't feel goods' but can't put my finger on the problem. I see the Renal doctor on Feb. 3rd.

Potty Training

This is how my 2 year old feels about the whole potty training issue.
While I thought he was being a 'VERY good little boy' he was secretly scheming to clog up the sewer lines:)

Monday

I took Victoria to the doctor today.....throat infection w/swollen tonsils. She started meds today and should be feeling better in a few more days. I am feeling quite a bit better. YEAH!!! I did run and have my blood work done while I was out and about.

Enoughs enough

OK... I am tired. Victoria has been running a fever (off and on) for 9 days now. I have missed the last two Sundays at church. She started feeling really bad again on Saturday morning...moderate fever, aches, chills, nausea. (Same thing as last week) I am going to call the doctor in the morning and see if they can get her in. While I am out I will stop by the lab and have my blood work done for my upcoming appointment. (I always do the blood work first, that way the results are in when I actually see the doctor) I will take Jesse to work in the morning and use the truck (UGH) The inspection is out on the van (remember) and we did not realize it so it was not bugeted for last payday. Therefore it has to wait until next payday. Good thing for two vehicles;) It is supossed to turn bitterly cold on Thursday. I guess we will have to wait and see. I am sure it will be warm compared to Alaska no matter how much our temperture bottoms out.

Kidnapped in Monterrey Update

Ok so here is the story.... Tuesday evening Jesse's uncle received a phone call from an unknown man. This man stated that his nephew Jesus along with his wife and children had just flown into Mexico City. In their procession they had $30,000 cash (I wish) which they failed to declare. (By law you can only enter the country with $10,000) In order for Jesus and his family to be released the uncle was supposed to deposit 11,000 pesos (about $1000) into a Mexican bank account upon which time his nephew and family would be released. The unknown man then passed the phone over to another man who was supposed to be my husband. The second man verified that the information was true and correct. I am not sure of everything that transpired Tuesday night, however Wednesday morning the uncle received yet another phone call from the caller. This time he said that we were still being held and that it was urgent for him (the uncle) to make the deposit if he wanted us all the be released. The uncle once again talked to (Jesse) and asked about his brother (Jesse's dad) the response he got was not quite right and this unsettled the uncle. The caller said he would contact them again later in the day to see if the deposit had been made. In the mean time the uncle along with his family went to a local news station and asked to speak with a reporter. (You go to the Mexican authorities for nothing!) The reporter told them that if they did not have very clear proof that someone was missing or being held against their will to pay no money. They were told that it was probably just a scam trying to get them to pay money. If it had been professionals they would be demanding a lot more money. So that is the story (in a nutshell) of how our family has been 'kidnapped'.

Kidnapped in Monterrey?

I just got a frantic phone call from Jesse's aunt Lucy in Monterrrey Mexico. Apparently the 'mafia' showed up at his aunt Ophelia's house this morning and told her that Jesse and I had flown into Monterrey. As we exited the plane we were kidnapped and are currently being held hostage for $30,000.00 US dollars. (Guess we are not worth very much even as a couple) If the money is not provided we are to be murdered. Jesse's family is devastated and confused. Thankfully aunt Lucy had enough sense to call our home and see if anyone answered. Not really sure what will become of all this. I am sure Jesse will make some phone calls when he arrives home from work.

Things I learned living in Texas

My dear neighbor sent me this and I thought I would share it here.


Things I learned living in Texas


1. A possum is a flat animal that sleeps in the middle of the road.

2. There are 5,000 types of snakes and 4,998 of them live in Texas .

3. There are 10,000 types of spiders. All 10,000 of them live in Texas .

4. If it grows, it'll stick ya. If it crawls, it'll bite cha.

5. "Onced" and "Twiced" are words.

6. It is not a shopping cart, it's a buggy.

7. "Jaw-P?" means, "Did y'all go to the bathroom?

8. People actually grow and eat okra.

9. "Fixinto" is one word.

10. There is no such thing as "lunch." There is only dinner and then there is supper.

11. Iced tea is appropriate for all meals, and you start drinking it when you're two. We do like a little tea with our sugar.

12. Backwards and forwards means, "I know everything about you."

13. The word "jeet" is actually a phrase meaning, "Did you eat?"

14. You don't have to wear a watch, because it doesn't matter what time it is. You work until you're done or it's too dark to see.

15. You don't PUSH buttons, you MASH EM.

16. You measure distance in minutes.

17. You switch from heat to A/C in the same day.

18. All the festivals across the state are named after a fruit, vegetable, grain, insect or animal.

19. You know what a "DAWG" is.

20. You carry jumper cables in your car --- for your OWN car.

21. You only own five spices: salt, pepper, Texas Pete, Tabasco and Ketchup.

22. The local papers cover national and international news on one page, but require 6 pages for local gossip and high school football.

23. You think that the first day of deer season is a national holiday.

24. You find 100 degrees Fahrenheit "a bit warm."

25. You know all four seasons: Almost summer, summer, still summer, and Christmas.

26. Going to Wal-Mart is a favorite past time known as "goin' Wal-Martin" or "off to Wally World."

27. You describe the first cool snap (below 70 degrees) as good stew weather.

28. Fried catfish is the other white meat.

29. We don't need no driver's ed. If our mama says we can drive, we can drive.

30. You understand these jokes and forward them to your Texas friends and those who just wish they were from Texas .

Tuesday

Today was Nick's appointment to see the kidney doctor. We left our house around 8:10 this morning. It was cold, rainy, and traffic was terrible. Due to the size of our van we must valet park when we arrive. ($13) The clinics were all backed up so the process went VERY slow. Upon check in Nick's blood pressure was 161/94 NOT GOOD!!! So the only news for this visit is an increase in blood pressure meds. We called downstairs in advance to have the van ready. When we got downstairs I could not find my debit card ANYWHERE!!! (Now I rarely ever carry any cash I pay for everything with debit) Today was no exception....NO CASH!! I borrowed money from Nick to pay for the parking (Thankfully he carries cash) Nick continued to search for my debit card while I frantically tried to remember where I left the silly card. Then it came to me....in my coat pocket. YIPPIE!!!!! The weather was nice and sunny all the way home. We stopped at Bucees in Angleton and got drinks and a snack. As we came into Freeport I decided to go ahead and go by the bank to get the money to pay Nick back. Then.....right in front of the bank it happened. I got pulled over by a Freeport Police Officer. Why is he stopping me. Maybe to give me a good driving award?? I checked all the children to make sure they had not unbuckled. (They had not) Then why was he pulling me over??!!?? Well....I was not speeding that is for sure, I always wear my seat belt, I most always signal.....what could it be??? Truth is I could not figure it out. But...would soon learn. My inspection sticker expired in December and we had NO clue. The officer was very polite and did not issue a citation. As we made our way into the bank parking lot with the police car behind us I told Nick...now you just watch and everyone we know will drive by.....and sure enough HELLO OLIVIA!!!! (now I know plenty of people other than Olivia but she was the one we saw go past as we sat helpless in the bank parking lot. That was my day in a nutshell. We arrived home around 2:30 this afternoon.

CVS Monday

Ok so here is today's breakdown. I needed the Tylenol and Motrin so I made the need work for me. (My children have been running fevers and we were just about out). I made four seperate transactions.

Transaction #1 (2) Speed Stick 24/7 on sale 2/$6
One Touch Ultra Smart on sale for $29.99
Garnier Scrunching Gel on sale for $2.99
Coupons used BOGO Speedstick -$3.00
Garnier Styling Product -$1.00
One Touch Ultra -$30.00
-$4.00 off $20 or more Cvs coupon
Transaction #1 Total $.99 I earned $5.00 ECBs which I used to pay for my next purchase.

Transaction #2 (2) Irish Spring Body Soap on sale for $1.49 each
Palmolive Dish Soap on sale for .97
Softsoap on sale for .99
(2) Wrigleys Double Mint Gum $1.19 each
Coupons used Softsoap -.35
Palmolive -.25
Double Mint BOGO -$1.19
-$5.00 ECBs from transaction #1
Transaction #2 Total .53

Transaction #3 Childrens Motrin on sale for $5.50
Childrens Tylenol on sale for $5.50
Tylenol 8 hour 100 capsules on sale for 8.50
Bandaids 60 count on sale for $3.00
Coupons used Childrens Motrin -$1.25
Childrens Tylenol -$1.25
Tylenol 8 Hour -$1.00
Transaction #3 Total $19.00 and earned $10 ECBs for next transaction

Transaction #4 Bandaid 60 count on sale for $3.00
Johnsons and Johnsons Buddy Soap $1.19
T-Gel Medicated Shampoo $6.29
Tums three rolls 24 count $2.59
(2) Skittles on sale 2/$1.00
Coupons used Johnsons and Johnsons -$1.00
T-Gel -$1.00
Tums -$2.00
ECBs -$10.00
Transaction #4 Total .27

So I spent $20.79 for $150.70 ($83.07 on sale) worth of merchandise.

Saturday Deals

I almost missed out this week. But here is what I managed to get at CVS.
I made three seperate transactions.
Total before coupons $126.11
Final total after all coupons and ECB's was $39.77.
WOW WOW WOW