Cowart Gang

This day

                                                                                                                                                                                -at this very minute

-exactly FIFTEEN years ago

Happy Birthday, Ryan!

Pictures added (thanks, nana)

Supper tonight: Homemade Belgian Waffles, REAL Whippd Cream w/ a touch of mexcian vanilla, & fresh strawberries (just cause we can, huh Graham )

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Ryan has been enjoying spending time w/ his girlfriend Elaine.  They talk on the phone NON-STOP when they aren't texting.  She's come over to our house the past two Saturdays to visit w/ Ryan since he is still on the "strickly rest" treatment program.

This is an intentionally serious pose.  They crack me up!

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THE FAIR, THE FAIR, THE FAIR was IN TOWN!

of course we went.  Graham took off to hang w/ well, I'm sure anyone who wasn't his mom, dad, or sibling.  Ben stuck pretty close to us and rode w/ sam when sam wanted him to. :)

Speaking of Baby Sam....he had a BLAST!  You can tell by this photo.

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my fruit lovin' 4th grader decided yesterday at break-time that he would help two of his friends study for their next period 9 weeks test. (isn't he just sooo sweet!  I wasn't even there pinching his arm to get him to do it!  YAY!)  Anyway, he picked up his drink and without looking took a swallow - yellow jacket and all.  He was stung on his inside upper lip.  When he tells the story he makes known that he pulled the stinger out and it had a little sac on the end that contains all the poison.

I got a call from the principal asking what I wanted her to do. (mainly WHAT is going to happen NOW)  I assured her that even though Graham doesn't have GOOD reactions to stings....it's also not stop breathing reactions, either.  Off to school I go in my pajamas.  Graham walks out to the car with his hand over his mouth (mainly holding the ice pack) and he shows me the damage.  WHOA!  The kid's upper lip is likely 4 times it's size and has now blocked his nose and is causing him to breathe from his mouth.  I gave him benedryl immediately and THEN THOUGHT TO TAKE A PICTURE.....so, picture this......but WORSE!

Today

There's a freakin' plane flying over my house again and again and again.  It's loud.

I called the doctor's office to check on our appointment.  All medical records have been faxed.  The doctor will review and call w/ an appointment.  Are we auditioning or something?  Geeze.

The twins are here!  Jay & Alisa have a GIRL and a BOY!  Now neither Spencer or Leigha will have to run away or give the babies to MiMi.  Congratulations!      (I bet nana has pictures up tonight)

untitled

because a "title" just won't come to me.  Let's see, where to begin?

the patients- Ryan & I went for blood work on Monday of this week.  I got a call from Doc just before 5pm today.  My hope of returning to work was shot down like a poor, defenseless dove in the field on opening day.  Ryan is hovering around 1200 and I am down from the 800's to the 700's.  If that doesn't mean anything to you, I'll put it this way...4 weeks of rest = not much change.  I'll honestly say I am not happy about this.  I'm not happy about much these days. Very blessed, yes.  Happy, no.  I want life to return to normal.  Mom tells me life is not normal.  Ok, I want life to be predictable.  Get up, go to school, come home.  I'm not asking much.  I WANT to work.  I WANT to be busy.  I WANT to be well.  I am worried about Ryan getting to far behind his first year of high school.  I am worried that his grades will fall.  I am worried that his GPA suffer past the point of no return.  I am worried that I am letting my boss down.  I am worried that my students are suffering because I am not there.  See the pattern?  I am going to ask for a refferal to an immunoligist/infectious disease specialist.  We'll go from there.

Shelly- is doing really well.  His ankle bothers him some, but not near as much as I feared.  He's been roping a little and competed in a Deep South event last weekend.  There's another one this weekend.

Graham & Ben- a lady actually thought they were twins. Both are growing so fast. I used to warn Graham about picking on Ben because one day he would be bigger.  It looks like I was right.  I took them for a check-up in Jackson on Tuesday.  While we were waiting I sat and looked at them.  It amazes me how much Graham is like Shelly and Ben is like me right down to their names. 

Sam- has been the bright light in this whole dark ordeal.  I have really missed watching him grow up.  Mom & Dad have been right there w/ him his whole life and they are usually the ones to tell me about all the new wonderful things he does each day.  He is so much fun!  I took him (and Ryan) to the dentist for a cleaning yesterday.  Have you ever seen a kid excited about going to the dentist? Sam LOVES it!  He marches right on back by himself w/ a big smile when they come get him.  I think he showed everyone his clean teeth after the appointment.  On the way home he announced that he is going to school next year.  I told him that all my babies will be in school then and Papa will be sad because he will have to take a nap after lunch by himself.  He was quick to say that Nana can nap w/ Papa in his place.  We'll see if he leaves the pap paps at home on the first day.

I have lots of pictures to upload: Ryan & his girlfriend, my 1st canvas portrait, the boys playing, etc.  I have good intentions then oh well happens. (Aunt Cookie, email me a picture of Amy & Andrew, please.)

Thank you:

my church family, the suppers that have appeared in my kitchen have been wonderful. The cards have come at perfect moments. You are all a wonderful blessing and very much loved and appreciated.

Tiffany, my flower beds look so much better. You couldn't have given me a more perfect gift.

YaYa, Janice, & Nana: the homeade chicken noodle soup was great!  Great that I didn't have to cook it, Great that it had my favorite carrots in it, and Great that it was good for me versus all the junk stuff I've been eating.

Papa, thank you for picking up Sam.  I know he misses you, too.  Have a little patience w/ your hard-headed punkin'.  You KNOW where she gets it from!  LoL. Have I told u lately that I *heart* u?

My co-workers, thank you for the sweet cards (Mrs. Winnie, & Mrs. Jean), for reminding me that it will all be there when I get back, that I'm not the only one that can get it done, for donating days so that I can rest and get well. I don't know how I could ever express what this means to me.  I may have to come up w/ something scrappy and see how close that comes.

Mel & Megan, thank you for always checking on me and offering to do anything that I need done. Your prayers for this get-a-long gang are the best that you could do for us.  Knowing you are always there gives me peace.

annual staff- thank you for keeping my plants alive and staying on top of the projects for the 1st deadline.  I know I will be blown away by all you have done when I see you tomorrow to pick out the cover.

Grace Gals, thank you for the continued prayers during my absence.  I lurk a little and most days just don't feel like talking.  Heidi, thank you for the card. I actually laughed out loud when I envisioned my boys waiting on me.  You'd have to see their faces when I simply ask them to do their chores.

Stephanie Mc & Allan, thank you for taking on my projects along w/ your already overloaded schedule.  I owe you ladies!

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Let me leave you w/ this joke.  I know it's ok to post because of the person who told it to me!

What did the little fish say when he swam into a concrete wall?

DAM!

Shelly + Surgery

= a very long day tomorrow. Shelly will be having surgery in McComb tomorrow to remove the screws in his ankle.  We have to be at the hospital @ 9:30am.  I will post an update after we get home and Shelly is settled.

THANK YOU! Gran is doing really great!  I can't even begin to explain how this makes me feel.  I've tried not to ask too many questions about the surgery because I knew that I would want to be there and that wouldn't be a good thing for me or anyone else.  Thank you for praying for Gran. 

fourmoreweeks&fivepounds

that pretty much sums it up.  Ryan and I have at leat four more weeks at home.  I have decided to put the worries aside, hire someone to keep my yard up, follow through w/ the chore chart each day, & hand over the grocery list...at least for the next four weeks.  I never realized how active I am until it all came to a screeching halt.  Based on the scales in the doctors office this morning I've gained 5 pounds in 6 days.  I'm no math whiz but if that happens each week for the next 4 weeks....well, let's not go there.  I've never wanted to put on my walking shoes so bad in my life.  It doesn't help that I cleaned out my closet not too long ago and gave away everything that was even a hint loose.  Ahhh, Life is Good.

Double Digits

Graham is 10!  oh to be 10 again.  I remember my 10th birthday.  Mom & Dad put a flashing sign in the yard outside my window.  It said "Happy Birthday, Jennifer - You're a 10!" Remember now, we lived next to the jr high & high school.  Every school bus in the district came by the house. LoL.  The next birthday I remember was 12 and then 16.

We didn't put a flashing sign outside the house for Graham but we did have a small party at Nana & Papa's.  I was going to have hamburgers, cake, and ice cream at home but mom decided that it would be easier at her house.  Thanks mom & thanks dad for cooking the burgers.  We had fun.

Ryan & I went to Brookhaven earlier in the day and picked up a cell phone for Graham.  I conceded and let him have one earlier than I had planned.  It's set up for only text messages and so far Graham is still interested but I don't think it will last.  I sent a text to a lot of people (family, friends, etc.) asking them to send Graham a text on his new phone.  A message came in as he was pulling the phone out of the box.  I think he had 17 messages on it already.

The funny part was the response from Sam.  He immediately started crying & saying he wanted a phone, too.  I think we'll make him wait at least until he's potty trained. (such a struggle w/ him... ugh.)

Graham also got a pair of new boots

(Doesn't he look happy?!)

and money from Nana & Papa. 

Overall it was a grand day and I think Graham was pleased.  Happy Birthday, Graybaby. I am so proud of you.  You have become such a sweet, kind-hearted little man.  It seems like you've shot up at least a foot overnight.  I vividly remember the day I brought you home.  It doesn't seem so long ago.  Time is flying away.  I hope we always make the most of it.

test results

pretty much stink!

Ryan's was up from 1080 to 1200 and something...

Mine is still in the 800's.

Doc said that we are in a holding pattern and it shows we are resting...we need to keep on resting for a while.... :(     (easy for him to say)

JOY for today: Re-runs

Illness Update

not much new stuff to report except that I have a companion at home w/ me now.  Yup.  Ryan relapsed, too.  He was at the hospital visiting and I sent him to the lab.  His "levels" were up and mine were slightly down.  Mom took us both to the dr this morning and I'll know Friday how we're doing.  I thought I was ready to run a marathon until I got up, got dressed, rode in the car, sat for a WHILE, blah, blah, blah without resting in between.

we left w/ instructions to do nothing and drink, drink, drink.  Now, sounds easy, huh?  Not so much.  From the one who spent her whole summer vacation sleeping late and doing nothing...it's not much fun when it's not your idea.   Even diet cokes aren't appealing and food is the enemy. (you'd think the scales would show it - nope!) 

I've always been able to sleep whenever and now it seems I'm fighting a losing battle w/ insomnia.  Forgive me in advance for not answering the phone.  I'm not screening calls, I've just turned the ringers off in case I do manage to take a nap :)  I check messages and figure a life threatening event will wait.  I think I just jinxed myself.  I might better let the boys schools know to call 1-800-NANA in case one of them up and forgets to ride the bus!

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JOY for today:  anatomy class - seems that veins can be FOUND in and around where they SHOULD be even when they don't want to be found.

The verdict is in...

my EBV test came back w/ numbers over 1300.  That's over 350 more than last time.  I have to take time off from work to get well and there's really no way that I can afford to do it.  Even though I have disability assurance, (yes, that's what they call it) it will only pay half of my salary because I haven't raised my coverage to meet my rate of pay each year.  My only hope is that a letter from my doctor to the school board will allow sick days to be donated to me.  He has already told me that my illness doesn't fall under the guidelines for that.  PLEASE PRAY that I will be able to LET GO and LET GOD.  I need to stay at home and get better and right now I just don't see how I can.  Much Love to you all.