The Curly Q

Xmas 2008

2009-01-08T20:58:00.010-06:00

My parents were able to join us here in DFW this Christmas . . . and I believe all had a good time- here are some pictures: (click on pic to enlarge)

Damon received some games for his PSP.

Pappy received a digital picture frame.

Damon purchased some pearl earrings for Christy.

Damon picked out a Cowboy's blanket for "Pop".

Kassie likes Christmas!

Meme got a pretty Christmas sweater that Damon picked out!

Xmas Eve 2008

2008-12-27T11:17:00.002-06:00

Our Christmas Eve festivities traditionally include going to Christmas Eve service at church, then heading over to Philip's "step" brother-in-law's home for a family get together. Everyone brings food and gifts for a gift exchange. . . it can usually get pretty interesting around there, to say the least! Here are a few pictures from this year's gathering. . . . . (click on any pic to enlarge it)

Carol and Neil wound up with a Fondue Pot - guess we know what they will bring to the gathering next year!

Irene opened a Trivial Pursuit game.

and Caitlyn received a couple of puppets.

Damon played "Guitar Hero World Tour" with his cousin, Colin.

Go Cowboys!

2008-12-19T13:01:00.009-06:00

Well, Philip and his Dad had their annual trip to the Cowboys' game. Below are a few pictures from his trip to Texas Stadium for the Cowboys vs. Giants game this December.

Final score: Cowboys 20, Giants (a measly) 8.

(as usual, click on a picture to see a larger view!)

And, of course, the real reason for going to the Cowboys' game: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders
(we all look like that, right ladies?)

Just a Quick Note

2008-12-11T09:16:00.002-06:00

A few "new" friends have requested to read along with my past breast cancer experiences. So, to make things easy, I've put a link to the journal to the LEFT of this journal under "Important Links."

If anyone is interested in reading, it's there - you have to start back at August 2004, and come forward from there.

You asked for it ladies, so there you go - it's quite a journey, to say the least.

Ahh . . . . It's Christmas !

2008-12-08T22:13:00.006-06:00

Well, that time of year is FINALLY here! Hectic, but oh, so rewarding! It's wonderful to be surrounded with the sounds, smells (Damon always stops to smell the scented pine cones in every store we visit!), sights and joyous feelings of the season.

This weekend, we got around to putting up our Christmas decorations. I had to scale back some, as I don't have all my "regular" furniture back in it's proper place after deciding NOT to move.

However, it's still beautiful, and it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. (Click on a picture to see a larger version)

KASSIE likes Christmas - and the "warm fuzzies" that come out at this time of year!

SCIENCE Field Trip

2008-12-04T11:45:00.010-06:00

Damon FINALLY finished the 70-something page chapter on plants in Science. He learned almost everything you could possibly want to learn about plants!

I planned a field trip to the Fort Worth Botanical Gardens, and he had an assignment on which he worked while we were there. He had to pick out several of his favorite plants and classify them according to root systems, leaf margins, leaf venations, etc. He did a very good job! He definitely knows his plants.

Here are some pictures from our outing (click on a picture to see a larger version):

Damon decided he was going to bring his fishing rod next time!

Friday F.U.N at Church

2008-12-04T09:35:00.011-06:00

Well, I had mentioned that I was "practicing" face painting for the Family FUN Night at church - here are some pictures from our evening. . . . the kids really enjoyed the old fashioned games we had planned. (Click on a picture to see a larger image!)

The Three Legged Race:

The Wheel Barrow Race:

Face Painting:

Potato Sack Race:

Pie in the Face:

Egg-Spoon Race:

Face Painting

2008-11-05T20:00:00.006-06:00

Our church is having a Fall themed FAMILY FUN NIGHT, and I am involved in the planning of the evening. We are having various "old fashioned" games: bobbing for apples, pie in the face, potato sack races, face painting, etc.

Well, I've done some face painting before - on a totally amateur basis, of course - and volunteered to do the same for Friday evening. . . . . I have some new designs that I've never done, so I'm giving it a shot . . . . and using Philip and Damon as guinea pigs this week!!!!

Below are tonight's efforts. . . . they are not perfect, but this IS just a free church get together - so I think they will suffice. . . the kids should like it.

Heath Family's - Annual Pumpking Carving Night !

2008-10-30T18:29:00.009-06:00

Well, it's that time of year again! We had our annual pumpkin carving night this week. Due to Philip's Carpal Tunnel, he can't take part in the carving activity as he would like - his hands give out quickly. For example, his hands were done after carving out the lids for our 2 pumpkins. So, he serves as our adviser and photographer.

Here are some pictures - Mom and Damon each carved a pumpkin following our trip to the local pumpkin patch. . . . . . (Click on a picture to see a larger version!)

2008 Hamster Derby

2008-10-08T19:18:00.010-06:00

Well, Damon entered his hamster, Shadow, in his first hamster derby at PetCo. It was pretty funny, to say the least!

Once they call "start," the owners are not allowed to touch their hamster balls. So, when the hamster runs half way down the track then decides to stop and do a bit of grooming, or decides to turn around and run the wrong way, the kids can't do anything to change their FATE.

It was pretty funny when the hamster next to Shadow stopped and began running the wrong way, the kids jumped up and down, yelling, "Go, you dumb hamster, THAT way!"

Shadow won his first race!

Then they pitted the first place winners from the "regular sized hamsters" and the "dwarf hamsters" (which are about the size of a large walnut) up against each other. Shadow didn't win that race - but came in 2nd!

Damon (and Shadow) were awarded a 2nd place ribbon along with some free hamster treats.

All in all, a good day! Enjoy a few pictures from the race. . . . .

Just warming up - getting ready for the big race.

The first race for "normal sized hamsters"

Shadow won this race!

Shadow has won 1st place in his group . . . now we are waiting for the finals race to begin!

Now it's time to pit Shadow up against the little "walnut hamster!" (dwarf hamster) Shadow came in 2nd place!

Receiving his prize . . . . a ribbon and hamster treats!

Our "boys" - Damon and Shadow

Here We Go AGAIN!

2008-10-08T06:35:00.004-06:00

Damon was out playing basketball with a friend on Saturday evening. He came back complaining that he had fallen and his foot was a little sore.

I decided to just watch it and see how things went. By Tuesday, he was still complaining about pain (worsening) and he had bruising on either side of his foot. I decided to take him to the Dr.

GUESS WHAT?!?!? The child is in a cast yet again!

The way his foot twisted when he fell caused the tendon on the outside of his foot (below the ankle) to pull away from the bone, taking a piece of the bone with it! OUCH!

So, here we are again, in a cast for 4 weeks. Then we will XRay it again and see how things look.

I asked the Dr. if it was normal for a child his age (12) to be in a cast for various injuries 4 times in the span of 1 year. He said if they have severe ADHD like Damon does - YES. Especially at this age, they are more "gangly" (sp?) and are a bit out of sorts in the first place. Also, these kiddos don't pay attention to their surroundings as much as your average kid, and therefore, are more likely to step in a hole or fall or step off the curb on accident and injure themselves. They have already run a bone "strength" test on him, and things are totally normal - so there's nothing to worry about.

*SIGH* Oh, these boys. . . . .

Our "Critters"

2008-09-29T19:22:00.004-06:00

Just a few cute pictures. . . . . since our "critter" side of the family has grown!

"Kassie" (the beautiful one)
"Rocket" (the snuggly one)
"Shadow" (the little one)

The "MAD" Scientist at Work

2008-09-19T15:23:00.003-06:00

Damon absolutely LOVES Science. I never realized how much until I began teaching him this year. We have covered soil and are just beginning to cover plants (nothing terribly exciting - not like the human body or anything like that) - but he is so excited when Science rolls around each day . . . and of course, he just LIVES for the experiments.

Today, we were testing seeds for traces of starch. . . . . I snapped a few pictures while he worked on his assignment.

School has begun . . . . . .

2008-08-27T05:30:00.004-06:00

While I haven't had any of these days YET, I got quite a chuckle out of this little cartoon. I think I might just post it on our fridge . . . . . . I know these days will come periodically - I might as well be able to laugh at them (after I've dealt with the situation, of course!)

I don't understand how people can fit "homeschooling" into just a few hours a day. Maybe they are homeschooling smaller kiddos, and the work is not as in depth? Damon takes a full hour on each subject area, which makes our day just like a "regular school" day - we are there from 8-3 each day.

I always knew he had focusing issues, but is that what is really causing the longer hours on our end? Maybe . . . . . I guess it can account for him needing at least 30 minutes on an assignment. These, in most cases, are pretty short assignments - I teach him the material, then he has a "practice" session with it (either verbally or on paper) - and as it doesn't take long to teach the material, the rest of that allotted hour is spent with him "practicing" . . . . not that he doesn't understand it - he's mastered everything so far - it just takes FOREVER to get it out of him.

Glad we had the forethought to slot all the time we did for each subject area - looks as if we are going to need it!

HAPPY BACK TO SCHOOL, Everyone!

Who's Your Hammy ???

2008-08-18T14:20:00.004-06:00

Well, he has finally gotten his wish! Damon saved up his money over the last year in hopes of getting a hamster. Since it doesn't look as if we will be moving, we allowed him to go find his hamster and purchase all the needed materials. . . . . . .(Apparently, moving will "stress" out the hamster and make him sick, so we told him he needed to wait until we either moved or decided NOT to sell the house.)

WELCOME, "Shadow" !!!!!!!

"Rocket Man"

2008-08-18T13:43:00.004-06:00

Just a cute picture - Rocket loves to bury himself under blankets and pillows. He quickly made himself a spot right after I made the bed this morning. . . .

Party, Party, Party!

2008-08-18T11:52:00.007-06:00

Well, Damon's birthday was a success. We had a total of 8 boys, including Damon. He had a swimming party at the local waterpark and a sleepover. Needless to say, our house was a very interesting place to be on that weekend! Here are some pictures to commemorate the event . .

And, of course, with EIGHT 11-13 year old boys . . . . the inevitable Burping Contest : (Phyllis, Judy, and Jayme - you should be proud of your boys - they were very good! HA!)

To finish up the party on Saturday evening, the boys were let loose on our unsuspecting neighbors. Divided into 4 teams, they were sent out on a Scavenger Hunt. . . with a twist in order to "make it difficult." (They were required to use a neighbor's fingernail polish to paint one team member's fingernails - then they were required to borrow a neighbor's lipstick - on a q-tip, of course - to put lipstick on the other team member. They were required to wear it until they returned to the house for judging)

Surprisingly, they ALL did it! I couldn't believe it! So, of course, I had to take pictures of each returning team - it's no good if I can't embarrass them a little, is it ?!?!??

Until next year's fiasco . . . . .

The Classroom is FINISHED

2008-07-26T20:59:00.006-06:00

Yea! I spent all week organizing and getting things laid out correctly, and we spent this weekend getting the chalkboard up on the wall. It finally looks like a classroom.

It's sooooooo nice to have somewhere quiet and "focused" to go in order to work on lesson planning, etc - a place where I have everything I need at my fingertips, without having to walk into other rooms in order to search for each piece! There is even a storage cabinet in the closet that contains all the beakers, test tubes, and other materials needed for his science experiments throughout the year.

I still have some lesson planning to do, and daily supplies (paper, pens, etc.) to purchase, but for the most part, I'm done! The hard part is over with. . . it will be smooth sailing from now on.

An environment rich for learning - he can "see it," he will "hear it," and he can "do it." Perfect.

Let the MADNESS Begin . . . .

2008-07-20T14:26:00.004-06:00

Well, Philip and I took advantage of Damon's absence this weekend. We spent all weekend moving furniture, etc. Damon's room is normally upstairs along with is playroom. However, with School about to begin (5 weeks total), I will be turning his large playroom into the "schoolroom."

So, some changes were needed. We moved the office from one of the downstairs bedrooms up into the loft area. Then, we moved Damon's bedroom down from the upstairs bedroom into the downstairs bedroom that used to be the office. Next, we moved the playroom out of the large room upstairs into Damon's "old" bedroom. Then, we had all the furniture, books, etc. to move into the "old playroom," or now, we call it the Schoolroom.

Anyone confused yet?!?!? HA HA!

Yes, it was quite the madhouse here this weekend. Thankfully, we didn't have any house showings - boy, they would have walked into a war zone! However, we did it, and were very proud of ourselves once it was complete.

My job, however, is far from being complete - I still have a room to settle, supplies to purchase, and lessons to plan. However, I believe that I will actually be at a stopping point a couple of weeks prior to school starting, so I will be able to have some BREATHING TIME before the school year begins.

Maybe a massage is in order . . . . . . . humm . . . . . definitely!!!!

Here are a few pictures of the madness that we created - these are the BEFORE pictures of the school room. . . . I'll post AFTER pictures when I'm done "being creative."

Our Annual Trip to Arkansas

2008-07-11T18:37:00.016-06:00

Well, Damon and I go to Hot Springs Village, Arkansas every summer for a week-long visit to Meme and Pappy's house. I finally have the pictures in, so here we go - a nice recap of our trip. This year, we did some things that we hadn't done before - so it was nice to have some new items on the agenda.

One thing we did was go to a magic show. This was a show featuring "Maxwell Blade" of Hot Springs, Arkansas. It was in a cozy little theater, about the size of one side of a small sanctuary. We were very up close and personal with the magician, and it was really fun. He was very witty and really interacted with the audience. We forgot the camera, so the pictures were taken with a camera phone - hence, they didn't turn out very well - but I will post them anyway:

1) He took a volunteer from the audience without telling the poor kid what he was going to do for his next trick. . . he pulled out the guillotine and demonstrated/tested the device on some carrots which were promptly demolished. The child's eyes grew very big. Once the kid was in the apparatus, he began telling Mom that he loved her and for her not to cry too much. . . it was pretty funny to say the least. Needless to say, there were no emergency room trips or blood on stage, so the kid came out OK. I still haven't figured this one out yet. . . . . especially since new carrots were placed right next to his hands, and they were demolished, while the child wasn't. (Much to his little sister's dismay - she actually pulled the "trigger" so to speak - after being informed that she would NOT get in trouble for doing her brother in . . . ) :)

Damon was called up on stage to assist in a mind reading trick. . . .

Our next adventure consisted of going up on a mountain horseback riding through the trails. We didn't get any pictures this time. We ALWAYS go horse back riding when we go to Arkansas. We all enjoy it so much. Damon had quite a spirited horse, which meant LOTS of trotting for him. Even though he was at the front and I was at the back of the line, I always knew when his horse was taking off I"d hear a bouncy "Whoa" and lots of giggles.

We also went to an Alligator Farm. We have never been to one of these, and truthfully, didn't know that one even existed. This was also a petting farm, so Damon really enjoyed the farm.

Damon pet the goats, Ostrich, the deer, a spitting Llama and even a real live alligator!

They had other animals at the farm, so we also saw Cougars, a Peacock, Leemers, a turkey, a white wolf and of course, Alligators!

We also (as a new activity) went up on the mountain and dug for crystal quartz. Damon always enjoys visiting a rock shop and bringing home a souvenir, so I thought he might actually enjoy digging for his own. . . . .

Damon had several good finds, and brought home about 20 quartz crystals! He really enjoyed it.

We also had a visit from Damon's cousins, Tayton and Caitlyn. Christy's brother and sister-in-law, Brandon and Mandy, also came along for the visit. We gathered at the beach for some fun in the sun. .. . . .

And, a fishing trip completed our visit. Success! However, there will be no fish for dinner tonight. . . . the pickings were slim. All in all, our visit was just perfect ! Until next time . . . .

Doctor Results

2008-07-04T22:18:00.002-06:00

Well, I was finally able to talk to another doctor, and his opinion agreed with my Oncologist/Hematologist. So, here are the facts:

1)Official diagnosis: Secondary Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) - aka "Pre-Lukemia"

2) What does this mean?

a) My bone marrow "factory" is not producing enough blood cells, and some of the ones it is producing are malformed.

The malformed blood cells are unable to carry iron/oxygen (and everything else) to the rest of the body as it should,

resulting in severe anemia.

b) This is also the reason my spleen is enlarged - the spleen's job is to "eat up" cells that are not functioning correctly - so,

when the blood cells pass through the spleen, it absorbs them, causing it to eventually become enlarged.

c) This syndrome is labeled as "Pre-Lukemia" because in 40-60 % of the cases, it will turn into Lukemia over the passing years - it could be

in a matter of 5-10 years, or 30 years down the road. Lukemia in the adult stages of life is not cureable . . . but can be treated and slowed down.

Right now, my body does not have any signs of being anywhere close to Lukemia - so that was good news - and my Dr. will continue to watch it

closely.

3) What can be done about it?

a) in SEVERE cases (cases leading towards Lukemia), a bone marrow transplant is suggested. However, I am not a good candidate

for a bone marrow transplant because my body has been exposed to Chemotherapy and Radiation. I run a HIGH risk of rejecting

the transplant, therefore leading to even more serious health problems.

b) in some cases, they will treat it with Chemotherapy - but since my case is CAUSED by chemotherapy, it is really dumb to subject

me to more chemo - it will only cause more problems . . . . so we WON'T do this one.

c) treatment usually consists of just treating the symptoms, which will include:

i) periodic blood transfusions (but not too many, as too many can cause a severe spike in iron, and result in having to do

treatments similar to dialysis in order to filter the overflow of iron in the body) This will give me more "correctly functioning"

red blood cells, more white cells and more platelettes. However, they will diminish over time as they get used up - and in time,

another transfusion will be needed - but we can't go overboard on them (as stated above) - so we combine it with other items listed below.

ii) periodic iron infusions (which, last time - during chemo, caused a brief bout of kidney stones, and I was in the emergency room hooked up to morophine 2 nights in a row - but maybe that won't happen again when we do this in the future)

iii) monthly "Arinesp" shots - which give you more energy, and help to keep you out of the anemic state - I had these during chemo.

iv) PRAY that this doesn't turn into Lukemia over the upcoming years -

That's pretty much all I have for you now - I know a lot of you were waiting to hear what the doctors had to say . . . and there you have it. I'm not happy about it, but what are you going to do?!?!?!? I had to have the chemo or I may not be alive for very many years - but at the same time - for the cure of one thing to turn into the cause of another is quite the BUMMER. I'm a "fix-it" person, and the fact that there is no "easy fix" for this problem is driving me crazy. However, I'm not showing signs of anything worse at the moment, so I'm fixating on the good news, and dealing with the rest the best I can.

Pray for me! I can definitely use it!

Love,

Christy

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO US !

2008-05-02T17:48:00.004-06:00

Well, it's been a whole 6 years. . . . . I can't believe it - so much has happened in that short time. However, God has helped us weather the storms that have come along, and here we are - celebrating our 6th Wedding Anniversary.

Our anniversary is actually on Sunday, May 4, but we tend to make a weekend of it - Damon is gone to his Dad's this weekend - and here we are. . . . all alone . . . . all weekend. You get the picture! HA HA!

This evening, I decided to surprise Philip with a romantic dinner. What was on the menu? Several of Philip's favorite dishes.
Entree: Grilled Steak with Chipotle Gorgonzola Cream Sauce
Baked Potato with all the fixings
Salad
Wine

1st Dessert: Chocolate Dipped Strawberries (Just a teaser)

2nd Dessert: Homemade Sweet Potato Pie (with real sweet potatoes - no cans!) for Philip
Apple Dumpling for me - I don't do sweet potatoes.

I set the table nicely, and put on some romantic music for a romantic candlelight dinner.

What's on the agenda for this weekend? I'm getting a massage tomorrow, and tomorrow night we will go to a high $$ restauraunt of my choice (I'll probably get Lobster!), and have a relaxing, romantic weekend together. Couldn't ask for more . . . . .

Talk to y'all later . . . . . much later! (hehehe)

Wanna Know How . . . . . . .

2008-04-01T16:44:00.003-06:00

. . . . . to get a BIRD out of your house??

Well, I was so lucky, I found out this morning -bright and early at 5:45 am!

We have a little bird friend who has built her nest in my wreath on our front door. I have been loath to move it, as she has laid 5 eggs in it. She normally hears the car drive up, and skidaddles before we get to the front door, and she usually hears the door jiggle in the morning prior to Philip walking out to go to work.

Well, she must have been sleeping well this morning, as she didn't wake up until our door was wide open, and Philip was walking out. She flew into the house and landed on our stair railing.

Philip and I tried to shoo her out of the house towards the wide-open door, but to no avail. Philip had to finally just leave for work, and I was left to my own devices. I spent 45 minutes trying to call the bird, I placed bread crumbs on the front porch and the front foyer floor, I waved a fly swatter at her, not to hit her, but to poof some air at her to make her fly. . . .but she just flew between my ficus tree upstairs, the stair railing, and the ceiling fan. It didn't help that we have high ceilings in the living room and a loft area. . . she had too much room to fly around in.

Ok - "Where's the hidden camera? I feel like an idiot!"

Eventually, I called PetsMart thinking that they would have some tips in dealing with fly-away birds - they get loose in the store, don't they?

Here's the big scoop: Turn off all the lights in the house except a light where you want them to go - so I turned off all the lights, and left the porch light on with the door wide open. She eventually took flight again, and tried to land several places - but couldn't find footing. She finally went towards the door, and out of the house!!!!

This all happened before Damon woke up - I was kind of hoping that he would get a chance to see her - he's developed a "love" for our little bird on the front door. However, although he would have thought it "big fun" to shoo the bird back to her nest, I don't know that I would have ever gotten him ready for school! Too bad.

I'm looking forward to when her little eggs hatch - Damon has been able to see inside the nest and see the eggs - it's just a wonderful thing to be able to witness God's creation in the creatures outdoors - I just hope we don't have any little baby birds drop out of the nest once they hatch - Damon might very well be heart- broken.

So, how FUN of a morning did you have? HA ! I'm definitely awake now!

In Loving Memory

2008-03-13T06:11:00.008-06:00

Mary Louise Chase (Younger)
1921-2008

Following surgery for a perforated colon a week earlier, Memaw passed away on Wednesday, March 12, 2008. May she find peace in our Father's house. She will be dearly missed.

Christmas Day 2007

2007-12-26T09:19:00.000-06:00

Philip has posted pictures on his blog, and will soon be posting a slide show with all the pictures. . . . . so I'll just leave you with the link to his blog and go with that. Click Here to see Philip's Blog with the pictures.

Damon enjoyed opening a table top Foosball game and a new archery set (including a large target). He also received several movies, including Eragon, Flushed Away, Shrek the Third, and Underdog. He really enjoyed getting his new drawing kit from the family. He got a 300 + piece sketching kit along with plenty of drawing paper and "how to draw . . . " books. He really enjoys just sitting on the couch listening to the radio and drawing away - so this will definitely keep him busy!

I received a shiatsu massaging cushion - RELAXING!! I also got another Music Box (I love them!!! I'm starting to collect them - Philip got me a Phantom Of the Opera Music Box last year) This year, it was a Wizard of Oz Music Box from "The Music Box Company." I'll have to find some sort of display case for these - they are BEAUTIFUL. I also got a toaster oven and a beautiful silver/diamond snowflake necklace from Damon! Much needed clothes were received from the family.

Philip got a Dallas Cowboys Pewter Star Beer Glass set from Damon, and clothes (that will actually fit him) from me. I also took the puppy dogs to get their pictures made - which many of you have seen. . . so I took those pictures and framed them for him. He now has a picture to have at home and at work.

We are heading to Hot Springs Village, Arkansas to visit my parents today (Dec. 26) and will return on New Year's Eve. We are looking forward to seeing my side of the family again and having a grand 'ol time there!

Merry Christmas everyone - and Happy New Year!

The Meaning of the Candy Cane

2007-12-21T20:05:00.000-06:00

The story of the Candy Cane:

There was a candy maker who wanted to invent a candy that was a witness to Christ.

He decided to use a hard candy to symbolize that Christ is the rock of ages. This hard candy was shaped so that it would resemble a shepherd’s staff, since Christ is our shepherd and as sheep, we have gone astray. He used white to represent the purity of Christ.

Finally, a red stripe was added to represent the blood Christ shed for the sins of the world, and three thinner red stripes for the stripes He received on our behalf when the Roman soldiers whipped Him. Sometimes a green stripe is added as a reminder that Jesus is a gift from God.

The flavor of the cane is peppermint, which is similar to hyssop. Hyssop is in the mint family and was used in the Old Testament for purification and sacrifice. Jesus is the pure Lamb of God, come to be a sacrifice for the sins of the world.

So, every time you see a candy cane, remember the message of the candy maker: Jesus is the Christ!

CHRISTmas at the Heath Household

2007-12-07T21:27:00.000-06:00

I love this time of year! Starting with Thanksgiving, I just love the get-togethers with family and friends, the special services at Church, and the feeling of the season.
I can't wait to put up the Christmas decorations following Thanksgiving, and I just really enjoy sitting in the living room with the lights turned out, basking in the joy of the season. MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone!

Christmas Carol Trivia

2007-12-05T06:11:00.000-06:00

A friend sent this information to me, and I thought it very interesting - ENJOY!

The Origin of The Twelve Days of Christmas...

There is one Christmas Carol that has always baffled me. What in the
world do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans, and especially the
partridge who won't come out of the pear tree have to do with Christmas?

Today I found out, thanks to the Internet.

From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to
practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as
a catechism song for young Catholics.

It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning, plus a hidden meaning
known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a
code word for a religious reality which the children could remember.

The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.

Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.

Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.

The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, &
John.

The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of
the Old Testament.

The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.

Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy
Spirit: Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution,
Leadership, and Mercy.

The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.

Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit: Love, Joy,
Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self
Control.

The ten lords a-leaping were the Ten Commandments.

The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.

The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in
the Apostles' Creed.

So there is your history for today. This knowledge was shared with me
and I found it interesting and enlightening and now I know how that
strange song became a Christmas Carol...

... so pass it on if you wish.

BOO ! ! ! !

2007-10-28T19:07:00.000-06:00

Well, tonight was Annual Pumpkin Carving Night in the Heath Household. Below are what our efforts produced.

We all had a blast . . . . .

Philip's Birthday

2007-10-13T15:57:00.001-06:00

Well, Philip had 2 birthday weekends.

For the "first weekend", Since Damon was going to be gone to his Dad's house for Philip's birthday, we took him out to eat early. Damon wanted to take him out to a restaurant that I had mentioned to him where they dance the chicken dance (which Damon had just learned in school). We took Philip to the Bavarian Grill in Plano and had German food.

Philip and Damon were able to dance the chicken dance together and Philip was required to yodel in front of the crowd for his birthday. . .

Then on Philip's birthday weekend, I planned a surprise party. We went out to eat at a restaurant called The Covey on Friday, and then I kicked him out of the house on Saturday and planned his party. Below are some of the pictures from the party - most of them taken at the end of the party . . . . KARAOKE is so much fun!
(YES, Philip is wearing a crown . . . since I worked on the lineage of our families, he continues to remind me that he is "a descendant of royalty" - so I made sure everyone else knew it too!)

YES, A GOOD TIME WAS HAD BY ALL . . . . .

Dogs are GREAT

2007-09-05T05:39:00.000-06:00

"How's life, Kassie ?"

"Ruf . . . . ."

Neglect ?

2007-08-23T20:12:00.000-06:00

I know that it has been quite a while since I have posted - we have been so very busy!

Ok - Damon went to his Dad's house on a Friday for visitation. Well, they were at the courts playing Tennis when Damon tripped and fell. He twisted and hit the outside of his ankle up against the pole that holds the net AND he hit the back of his head on the concrete when he fell. (This was Friday night)

Well, Damon continued to complain about his ankle hurting all weekend - but did DAD take him to the ER or even just CALL the Dr? NOOOOOOOO - can we all say "DUH!!!!"

So, Damon comes home Sunday night barely able to walk on his ankle and continued to complain about it all day on Monday. I took him to get some crutches since he obviously didn't need to be on the ankle. I asked if DAD took him to the Dr and he said "No, he just poured water on it." - WHAT?!?!?! Whatever . . . . .that makes no sense to me -

THEN, over the next day, he was acting very fussy, lethargic and spaced-out . . . VERY MUCH SO - in addition to his ankle. So, I made doctor appointments with both his pediatrician and his psychiatrist. . . . I thought his behavior may have been a problem with his ADHD medicine, since we had recently made adjustments. So, first, I took him to his Psychiatrist at Medical City Children's. She determined that it was not his meds, but may have been a CONCUSION!!!! So, she sent us down to the Pediatric ER and sure enough, he had a CONCUSION and they DID find the cracked ankle - his growth plate, no less.

So, he was suffering post-concussion-syndrome, because by this time, it had healed, but the effects were still remaining - AND a cracked growth plate in his ankle.

And DAD didn't do ANYTHING?!?!?!?! And WHY couldn't DAD have done this? It costs like $10 to see the Dr. . . . . can anyone say "Stupidity"?

I "questioned" his Dad about all this and his lack of interest in the situation - he said "Well, I didn't know what to do. . . . " Well, DUMB ASS - Let's see - how about just call the nurse to ask if you need to bring him in if you're not sure - or better yet, call his MOTHER and ask how to take care of the child.

Come to find out, if the crack in his growth plate doesn't heal correctly, his leg could grow incorrectly for the rest of his "growing years" . . he could have a limp or something to that effect for the rest of his life. . . . OMG!!!!!

So, Damon is now sporting a nice cast up to his knee on his left leg, and is suppose to get it taken off next week - IF the crack has healed already. He will have been in the cast for 5 weeks at that point.

I was so infuriated - I send him to his "FATHER" and this is what happens? Now, I know that accidents happen - but you are suppose to TAKE CARE OF HIM and take him to the Dr. just to be SAFE. But, "Uncle Dad" has no inkling of what it REALLY means to be a father - just a playmate. I guess taking him to the Dr. would have interfered with playtime.

We're lucky that he ever woke up from falling asleep over the weekend - you know - the whole "wake the concussion sufferer up every 2 hours. . . . "

And to put the icing on the cake, I had to send him BACK to his Dad's that following weekend! ARGH!!!!

NEGLECT???? You Bet. And don't think for a minute that I didn't make note of this one for future use.

Ancestery

2007-07-02T07:56:00.001-06:00

Well, I have taken on a project that I have always wanted to do, but have never had the time. I've started to trace our ancestors.

I started with Philip's side of the family since that is where I had the most information to go with (his mother was very quick in answering some questions).

I have come across some very intersting finds. Through is grandmother, Zelma, I have traced his ancestors all the way back to ADAM & EVE. This is a very tough and long process. However, I lucked upon a professional geneology expert in whom we share a common ancestor. So, from that point back, I was able to take advantage of her research. He descends from the line of Noah's son, Japeth on one side, and Noah's son Schem on the other side. It was very interesting to trace him back that far.

It was a strange feeling to find yourself "rubbing elbows" with people like Adam's son, Seth or Abraham. We all know that we ALL descend from these people (with alot of inbreeding! HA!) in one way or another . . . as we know that God created the first and only people at the time, Adam & Eve. But it takes on a whole different meaning when you can physically trace your lineage to that point and know exactly who you descend from.

Some other interesting people to whom he is "related" are St. Arnold, Bishop of Metz (The Patron Saint of Beer Brewers - There will be absolutely no living with him now!), LOTS of royalty . . . Alfred the Great, Charlamange the Great, etc. Believe me, I haven't heard the last of THAT yet!

"I'm a descendent of Royalty . . . "

I also came across some ancestors who were reportedly involved in the fall of Troy. Now, I know that this is from Greek Mythology, and I wasn't sure how "true" this was at the time. However, I did some research, and it looks as if Greek Mythology is a collection of stories about not only their "gods", but also their heros and heroines. From what I could gather, when there was someone who was particularly heroic, or a great battle of some sort, they would imortalize them and there would be tales written about that REAL people or event. They used these far-fetched stories to add some grandeur to the facts.

So, I have taken these people and put them in our tree - knowing that they were real people and events, but that the stories behind them were not necessarily true. However, it is very interesting to read the stories that were created about them. So I have included the legendary information in our tree under the "notes" section on each person. I figured it would add some interesting coversational tid bits to the tree.

If anyone knows more about this than I do, and see that my findings are incorrect about Greek Mythology, let me know - I will have to cut these people out or add notes to the effect that we don't necessarily know if this person really existed or not. . . . it's all very confusing.

Until next time!

Standing Up For Ourselves

2007-06-19T20:16:00.000-06:00

A friend emailed me a "rant" from someone she knows, and although it seemed harsh at first, I have to agree with it wholeheartedly. (NOTE: Notice that this is talking about RADICAL Muslims - not all muslims - we're talking about the TERRORIST-TYPES) See Below:

*********************************************************************
Written by a housewife from New Jersey:

"Are we fighting a war on terror or aren't we? Was it or was it not started by RADICAL Islamic people who brought it to our shores on September 11,2001? Were people from all over the world, mostly Americans, not brutally murdered that day, in downtown Manhattan, across the Potomac from our nation's capitol and in a field in Pennsylvania? Did nearly three thousand men, women and children die a horrible, burning or crushing death that day, or didn't they?

And I'm supposed to care that a copy of the Koran was "desecrated" when an overworked American soldier kicked it or got it wet...I don't. I don't care at all.

I'll start caring when Osama bin Laden turns himself in and repents for incinerating all those innocent people on 9/11.

I'll care about the Koran when the FANATICS in the Middle East start caring about the Holy Bible, the mere possession of which is a crime in Saudi Arabia.

I'll care when these thugs tell the world they are sorry for hacking off Nick Berg's head while Berg screamed through his gurgling slashed throat.

I'll care when the cowardly so-called "insurgents" in Iraq come out and fight like men instead of disrespecting their own religion by hiding in mosques.

I'll care when the mindless ZEALOTS who blow themselves up in search of nirvana care about the innocent children within range of their suicide bombs.

I'll care when the American media stops pretending that their First Amendment liberties are somehow derived from international law instead of the United States Constitution's Bill of Rights. In the meantime, when I hear a story about a brave marine roughing up an Iraqi terrorist to obtain information, know this: I don't care. When I see a fuzzy photo of a pile of naked Iraqi prisoners who have been humiliated in what amounts to a college-hazing incident, rest assured: I don't care.

When I see a wounded terrorist get shot in the head when he is told not to move because he might be booby-trapped, you can take it to the bank: I don't care.

When I hear that a prisoner, who was issued a Koran and a prayer mat, and fed "special" food that is paid for by my tax dollars, is complaining that his holy book is being "mishandled," you can absolutely believe in your heart of hearts: I don't care.

Hopefully, Sooner or later, this information will get to the people responsible for this ridiculous behavior!

If you don't agree, then please don't complain when more atrocities committed by RADICAL Muslims happen here in our great country!

And may I add:

"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem." - Ronald Reagan

"If we ever forget that we're One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under." also by... Ronald Reagan

One last thought for the day: In case we find ourselves starting to believe all the anti-American sentiment and negativity, we should remember England's Prime Minister Tony Blair's words during a recent interview. When asked by one of his Parliament members why he believes so much in America, he said:
"A simple way to take measure of a country is to look at how many want in, And how many want out."

Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you:

1. Jesus Christ
2. The American G. I.

One died for your soul, the other for your freedom. MANY SEEM TO FORGET BOTH OF THEM.

**********************************************************

I, personally, might not have voiced the views in such strong sentiment - but then again, maybe so - I'm not sure.

However, the general theme and message is very true. The people in this country have become worried about what everyone else thinks about the country - and are so worried about stepping on someones toes - heaven forbid we offend anyone! - that they forget what all these brave men and women are doing for them and why.

Are we just supposed to look the other way and let this type of thing continue? If we don't, we might offend someone - Gasp! Give me a break.

I constantly see America bending over backwards for everyone else, trying to accept everyone and be the "mother of all" . . . . but who takes care of America? We do - and we need to remember that and remember WHY we are doing what we are doing now in the first place. We didn't decide to attack Afghanistan/Iraq just for the fun of it - it took an attack on us first. . . . why are we so concerned for the enemy? I know that sounds harsh - and YES, there need to be limits - but some of the stuff I hear about on the news is CRAP - we're baby-footing around issues that should have no bearing on our actions. It's ridiculous.

Off my soapbox for now. . . . . Until next time.

Early Father's Day

2007-06-09T19:51:00.000-06:00

Well, since Damon will be with his biological father on Father's Day, we celebrated Philip's Father's Day with Damon this weekend.

Damon chose to paint Philip a special gift - so we went to the pottery shop and he picked out a coffee mug. (We all know how Philip loves his coffee!) He spent the entire week painting the mug. It has a stained glass effect with various bright colors around the top portion of it, and he painted Philip's name on the cup. He was very proud of it.

Guess what Philip will be drinking coffee out of for the rest of his days?? HA!

Damon also chose to "do something special" with Philip. We talked about several ideas, and I gave him lots of options. I made sure that I didn't sway him in any way - I wanted this to totally be his deal. He chose to take Philip to the new Star Wars exhibit at the Ft. Worth Museum of Science and History. He said, "I know how much Philip likes Star Wars - and I do too!" So, off we went. (In this picture, Damon looks so serious - I think he may have been a little intimidated by Darth Vader!!)

Damon was so excited - again, like with Mother's Day - I think he is now able to pretty make all decisions and choices on his own and it really excites him. He was bouncing off the walls and couldn't wait to show Philip what he had, in his words, "thought about all by himself - it was all his idea."

We saw an IMAX show on how they do special effects, which covered movies such as Star Wars, Jumanji, Independence Day and King Kong. We also went to the Planetarium to listen about Space. (Damon has really become a Science buff, and really enjoys learning about Space, Gems and Minerals, and the Earth). Philip and I thought it was a bit corney, but we know that Damon enjoyed it.

The Star Wars exhibit consisted of actual props, costumes and models that were used in the movies. They had Luke's speeder from the Star Wars IV, Chewie costumes, Darth Vader costumes, models of the Millenium Falcon that were actually used in the shotting of the movie, R2D2, and of course, C3PO.

We also went out to dinner at the 29 Degree Tavern in Ft. Worth - dinner was nice and all in all, I think everyone enjoyed the day. Damon was so proud of himself - but I'm sure he didn't SUFFER any, having to see all that Star Wars stuff! HA HA

Until next time. . . . .
Christy

8 (Little known?) Facts About Me . . .

2007-06-07T07:08:00.000-06:00

Well, I have been tagged by Amy to list 8 facts about myself.

Some of you may know some of these, but some may be new! Check it out . . . .

1) I am a breast cancer SURVIVOR. (since July 2005)

2) I have been certified in Child Passenger Safety. (Have a question about your little one? I'm your girl!)

3) I am related to our 15th President, James Buchanan.
(After reading about his Presidency, I'm not too sure that I should be very proud, but there you have it.)

4) I have been inside a medical helicopter (CareFlight). . . however, I don't remember it since I was unconcious. My daddy teases me that he paid good money for that, and I should at least remember SOMETHING!

5) I love to snow ski!

6) I'm a history buff - I love the Victorian age, the Renaissance and the Middle Ages. I love Civil War history and drag Philip to all the historical sites when we go on trips - I'm sure he just LOVES that! When we went to Murfreesboro, TN, we saw the Civil War battlegrounds and cemetery.. . . . I was so excited, showing him that "this" was where people died - wasn't it exciting that we were standing on that exact same ground where an actual battle took place hundreds of years ago?!?!?!? Apparently NOT in his mind. He just wanted to go.

7) I hate Beer - and can barely stomach wine. I make "funny faces" when I taste either.

8) I play the Clarinet - off and on for about 17 years, now. (solidly for the last 5 years)

9) I was the starting pitcher for our Fast-Pitch Softball team for 10 years. I was clocked at a pitching clinic during my Junior year of High School at 75 mph.

OK, OK - so I went over by one! I was having fun! Let's see, who's next? None of my friends are blogging. . . . so I guess this part will have to end with me.

Until Next time,
CHRISTY

Back in Business -

2007-05-26T20:07:00.000-06:00

Well, I'm up and running now that the computer is back in business after our fire. YES, WE HAD A SMALL FIRE . . . see "hubby's Blog" for more details and updates - I'm not going to retype everything!

Anyway, I was reading the paper the other day and there is a big to-do in Farmers Branch about renting out properties to ILLEGAL immigrants.

Apparently, there was a big vote in City Council about the issue and alot of people were up in arms about it. (most likely the ILLEGAL immigrants' families).

The city has decided that it is against the law to rent apartments, houses, etc to ILLEGAL immigrants. Now, I ask you - WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS DECISION??? Why is everyone up in arms about it?

They are ILLEGAL immigrants - why should we allow them to stay in the country illegally? If they want to stay and live in this country - FINE, they need to go through the proper channels like everyone else does. We can't allow these people to just up and decide they want to break the law while we look the other way.

I understand that this is the "melting pot" and the "land of dreams" . . but there has to be a line drawn somewhere - otherwise, what happens to civility? If we allow people to break these laws, what other laws are next? Will it be OK to murder someone we don't like? Kidnap children when we feel like it? I know these examples seem pretty extreme - but really . . where does it end?

I don't know why people are so quick to defend those who are openly defying this country's laws - what about all those people out there who are obeying the laws and working hard in their lives - don't they get any breaks? Why dole out favors to those who refuse to obey the laws and follow the rules?

Heaven forbid we "OFFEND" anyone . . . . whatever happened to expecting everyone to follow the laws set forth my those in our government and working hard to earn a living in the LEGAL way?

Off my soapbox until next time. . . . .

My Celebrity Look A-likes

2007-05-16T20:50:00.000-06:00

A friend had this on her blog, and it looked like fun! Go to www.myheritage.com to find your celebrity look a-likes!

http://www.myheritage.com

Liberace - HA HA!!!! Too funny!

Happy Mother's Day !

2007-05-13T12:57:00.000-06:00

Well, today is "the day!" Yesterday, we spent the day together as a family and went to the Dallas World Aquarium. Then we stayed home and played a game of "Pirates of the Caribbean". It was fun to have the time together.

Philip took Damon out to purchase a gift, and he quickly came home to wrap it. He made me a homemade card that said "There's only one day like Mother's Day. A Day where you are appreciated."

I laugh now, because as I read it, it sounds like the only day I'll be appreciated is on Mother's Day, once a year! However, I know what he was trying to say! It was so cute. He couldn't wait for me to open his gift, so I opened it last night - he got me a beautiful necklace. It was blue topaz in the shape of a heart with "diamonds" and gold around it. He was so proud of himself. . . he continually asks if I liked his necklace. It was beautiful!

So later that evening, Philip went back to wrap my present from him. Damon begged to be let into the bedroom so that he could see what it was. Philip showed him - and as I was fixing dinner, Damon casually came around into the kitchen and asked, "Mom, is your cookbook all torn up and dirty?" I was very confused about this question and told him no. He left by saying, "Ok - I was just wondering." I remained confused, but dismissed the incident.

THEN it was time for me to open Philip's present . . . . guess what?! It had the shape of a book! Now Damon's question was starting to make more sense. . . . you see, I had a cookbook that I found a couple of weeks ago that I really wanted - but I wanted to wait until it went on sale since it was like $40. So, now Damon's question started to make a little more sense.

Yes, it was the cookbook that I wanted - so I was excited to get that . . . . . I cook a full-fledged dinner every night, so I'm always looking for new recipes. Yea!

We went to church this morning, and Mom got to spend her Mother's Day doing absolutley NOTHING! Came home, ate lunch, and I got to take a nap! Tonight, we will be going out to dinner to Abuelo's Mexican Restaurant. Yumm!

And just an addition . . . . since I've been writing this Blog, Damon has heard the call of the Ice Cream Man - he went out with his own money and bought ice cream . . . . and brought something back for me "because it was Mother's Day." This is really the first Mother's Day that he has totally been over the edge about it . . . it's really cute to see his excitement. I think because he's doing everything on his own, he's totally into it. Funny.

Happy Mother's Day everyone! I'll leave you with these little quips about being a woman:

I know what Victoria's Secret is.
The secret is that nobody older than 30 can fit into their stuff.

The older you get, the tougher it is to lose weight because by then,
your body and your fat are really good friends.

Just when I was getting used to yesterday, along came today.

Sometimes I think I understand everything, then I regain consciousness.

I gave up jogging for my health.
My thighs kept rubbing together and setting my pantyhose on fire.

Amazing! You hang something in your closet for a while and it shrinks two sizes!

Skinny people irritate me!

Especially when they say things like, "You know, sometimes I just forget to eat."

Now I've forgotten my address, mymother's maiden name, and my keys. But I've never forgotten to eat. You have to be a special kind of stupid to forget to eat.

A friend of mine confused her valium with her birth control pills.
She had 14 kids, but she doesn't really care.

The trouble with some women is that they get all excited about nothing
and then they marry him!

I read this article that said the typical symptoms of stress are:
eating too much, impulse buying, and driving too fast.
Are they kidding? That is my idea of a perfect day.

Manners, Anyone?

2007-05-10T16:18:00.000-06:00

Well, I've strained a muscle in my hip - so I've been told to take a week off of working out in order for it to heal. Hope I don't lose any ground!!!

Anyway, I chose to take myself to the movies today and see a movie that I had been wanting to see - Perfect Stranger. It was a little heavy on the foul language (what isn't these days?), but it was a good story with a nice little twist.

Ok - so I'm in the middle of this movie with about 5 other people when this lady who is sitting about 3 seats down from me has a ringing cell phone. She ACTUALLY answers it! Then continues to have a conversation for about 5 minutes. As she hangs up, she tells the person on the other end that she would have to ask her husband and call them back. THE NERVE! So, instead of getting up and leaving to make her "important phone call," she decides to call her husband right then and there! I couldn't believe it. . . . . what a JERK. (I want to use another term, but since this blog is "rated G", I won't!) So she calls her husband and continues to talk another 5 minutes. But wait! She has one more phone call to make.

Before she did so, I had the guts to address her and ask her, "Are you here to watch the movie or talk on the phone?" It may have been rude on my part, but I was the closest aggrivated movie-goer to her, and was totally fed up, so I felt it was my duty to do so. She retorted, "I'm sorry, was I that loud?" I informed her that she was and that we couldn't hear the movie over her phone converstaion. I said, "Can't you take the phone call outside?" She said, "No, but you can go outside." WHATEVER! I informed her that I wouldn't do that, but I would go and get the manager so that he could show her outside himself. . . .

Well, I actually did it - I figured it was worth missing 5 more minutes of the movie in order to not have to sit through the remainder of her phone calls. The manager came after I returned and spoke with her . . . she was very angry - and I DIDN'T CARE! As she looked at me with a nasty expression, she said "That was rude, thanks alot, B---h." I know it was bad, but I was sowing my oats and I answered her, "Oh, was that rude? . . . . . .So sorry." (I have to admit it was Sassy . . . but like I said, at this point, I didn't care)

She looked like she was gonna slap me - in a way, I kind of wish she would have . . . I could have pressed charges - that would have made me feel much better. I'm so tired of people having absolutley no respect for others and just flat out being IDIOTS.

Anyway, as she was leaving, I heard several Thank You's and a quiet round of applause from the other movie-goers. We were able to finish the movie in peace.

I have done my good deed for the day! ;-)

Celebrating Our Anniversary

2007-05-06T09:32:00.000-06:00

5 years together. . . . WOW. I can remember it all like it was yesterday. The day we got married, our honeymoon, and the years since then.

I have a wonderful husband. Many women have stated their jealousy and wishes that they had a husband like him. And yes, I do brag!

We have definitely put our wedding vows to the test over the past years with car wrecks, cancer diagnosis, chemotherapy, and various surgeries. We've had our scary moments and wondered what was else was in store for us (although we didn't really want to know!)

Through it all, my husband has been my source of strength, my love, and my knight in shining armor. He has stood like an Oak through all my tears during my illness and treatments. He's been that level head that has kept me grounded during those scary moments, waiting on test results. He is the love of my life, and always will be. He is my knight in shining armor when I have been wronged - he goes off to fight for my honor and makes me feel so loved and cherished.

He not only gained a wife when we married, but he also gained a son. He became an instant father to a 5 year old and has done it with flying colors. They have had their moments over the past few years, but they have finally come to that understanding and are doing wonderfully.

A Poem . . . . .
The time is now, the day has finally come,
We've been married 5 years now, our time has just begun.
Five years worth of hugs and kisses is what I have treasured,
All this love you've given me can never ever be measured.
My love for you has grown deeper with each passing day,
I've thought of you in loving memories in every single way.
From that day when our lives came together,
To now 5 years later our love remains forever.
You give me purpose you give me strength,
Your love for me it has no length.
To wake beside you every morning,
To look into your eyes they're so adoring.
It's why I long to feel your touch,
It's why I love you so very much.
From now until that final year,
My heart is yours to keep my dear.

Does Anyone Have Control Anymore?

2007-05-03T15:19:00.000-06:00

Just the other day, I was watching the evening news and saw a story that just floored me. It made me wonder, "What is wrong with these people?"

The news story was about something new called a "TV Cart". It's a shopping cart that has a TV in it for kids. Now, I ask you - what is the reason for this?

I've checked out other blogs and stories about these TV Carts, and everyone pretty much has the same idea: "It makes my child behave for me while I shop." Here's an idea: How about YOU make them behave? One man even stated during his interview with the news reporter, "It's better than them run around the store and me having to chase them."

WHAT?!?!?! And this person is a parent, having been trusted with the job of bringing up a responsible citizen? SCARY!

What ever happened to PARENTING? How about actually EXPECTING your child to behave in the first place? No wonder we have a load of kids who can't sit still for 5 minutes and can't entertain themselves to save their lives! If they can't stay with you, then strap them into the seat of the cart and set some pretty daunting consequences if they unbuckle and try to climb out. If it happens - so what? - enforce the consequence. If the consequence was strong enough to begin with, I can pretty much guarantee you it won't happen the next time you shop. If they don't like the seat, they will learn to stay with you or find themselves riding in the seat anyway.

It seems that so many parents are letting their kids run the show. If little Johnny wants it, he gets it because it's the only way to keep him from throwing a fit. Being a mother of a very temperamental Bi-Polar child myself, I can attest to the embarrassment of sitting on the floor in the middle of the aisle at Tom Thumb with my arms and legs wrapped around my fit-throwing child. However, I stuck with it - and low and behold, he stopped because he wanted to get up - he didn't want to sit on the floor with me! He realized that I wasn't moving until he stopped and controlled himself. THEN we moved on as if nothing had ever happened. Of course, he suffered consequences at home as a result. (Taking over Mom's chores while she sits down and reads a book for most of the day Saturday is not much fun! Especially when he could have been outside playing with friends) Moral of the story? It never happened again. Go figure.

"Gee, you mean if I actually expect my child to behave and enforce it as if I'M really the BOSS, it will make them behave?" WOW! What a novel idea.

How about parents being parents (we make the rules and enforce the behavior), and children being children (they follow the rules or suffer the consequences). None of this wishy-washy stuff. Parents these days need to find their spines and take their kids in hand.

Christy

Introduction

2007-05-01T19:24:00.000-06:00

Well, here I am. . . an official blogger. I'm not too sure that I have much that others will be interested in, but I've decided to humor my husband and create a blog. My name is Christy Heath, and I'm married to my wonderful husband of 5 years, Philip, and I have an 11 year old son.

We live in Hurst, TX (for those not of the DFW area, that is in the "mid-cities" area - aptly named since it sits 1/2 way between Dallas and Ft. Worth).

Some of you may be wondering about my blog title. Well, following chemotherapy treatments for breast cancer, my hair began to grow back BLACK and VERY curly. (Previously it was basically straight and an auburn-red color!) Even though it has lengthened, the curls have just gotten bigger and longer. I basically look like a black-haired Shirley Temple. And they're totally natural.

Since this seems to be a major subject of conversation with people I come in contact with, I figured the name would fit.

I'll leave the introductory post to that, and will write more later.