Stuff Happens

Well, I thought that the last blog was long! Thanksgiving Holidays ended with this.... When will Jeff ever learn not to make me mad???? Nah! Just kidding! As I was trying to decorate the front porch for Christmas on Sunday, Jeff comes to the front door and says, "Come help me please" and walks away. When I get to the bathroom, his face is COVERED in blood! I immediately panic, but he is walking and talking, so I calm down a little. I start cleaning his face and discover the source - a very nasty gash over his right eye. So, to the emergency room we go. When I had last seen Jeff, he was napping in the recliner. However, while I was hanging garland and lights, he decided to go put up a deer stand. Mr. Bein is not afraid of heights at all, so he thought nothing of climbing to the top to secure the stand with a chain even though the stand was not stable to the tree! So, he fell (probably 15 feet if I had to guess how tall those stands are) I am going to measure them this weekend! Aparently he fell on his face! We are so blessed that is was not any worse than it was. We spent a 3rd trip to the ER in a weeks time getting x-rays and stitches. Dr. Larkin was the lucky one on call. He is always so calm that it has a calming effect on me. Jeff is sore, but he walked out of those woods and home and that is what matters! Thank you, God, for protecting him when he wasn't looking out for himself!

So, I went back to work on Monday but was scheduled to have a colonoscopy and Upper GI as well on Tuesday. Of course, Will wakes up Tuesday running a 99.6 fever and isn't feeling well! My mother is an angel and kept him while Jeff and I went for my test/procedure. I must say it was an experience! The before and after definitely stink, but the stuff they put you to sleep with is really good! I survived they whole ordeal. There were two polyps and one was rather large. The doctor said it definitely would have turned into cancer in a few years! That is just scary. Now I have to do this every 3 years! So far in my quest to find out what the pain is I am having in my abdomen, I have found a dermoid cyst and had to have surgery to remove the right ovary and cyst, and now we have discovered polyps that had to be removed. The sad thing is that none of these things are causing the pain that I am having.... So, the wonderful doctor wanted me to have a CT scan of my abdomen. I did that today! Unfortunately you have to drink stuff that looks like and has the consistency of thin glue! Banana flavored glue! (It was better than the colonoscopy stuff - I ended up throwing half of it back up!) Anyway, no word on the abdomen scan. I'm just praying that they don't find another extra part that I need to have removed. I only just turned 40 and the falling apart starts already! On top of all of this Will was running fever and not feeling well at all. Mom really helped me out this time! Jeff was scheduled for the Cardiologist tests on Wednesday, so I have missed most of 3 days of school this week. I am ready for things to get back to normal. Neither of us know anything from any of our tests yet.

Will is feeling better now, but I did have him out in the weather for the parade! I know - STUPID!!! I bundled him up really good! I'm keeping my fingers crossed...

Some would say that when it rains it pours. I say: Thank you, God! Thank you for the doctors we have to help us. Thank you for saving us from danger. Thank you for causing us pain that leads us to discover things that could cause us more harm later on! Thank you for healthy children that get the sniffles every now and then, but have no other problems! Thank You from the bottom of my undeserving heart!

Precious Memories

Well, a lot has happened since my last blog! I turned 40, I have had my hubby in the emergency room and my son in the hospital, and I had to fix an entire Thanksgiving feast all by myself! A lot can happen when you turn 40...

I had the wonderful surprise of most of my entire family (16+ people) sneaking in my house (WHILE I WAS IN IT!) and surprising me EARLY with a birthday party! Wednesday was the only day that we actually got to go home without soccer, dance, or any other distraction and I cooked supper. Anna came in and started picking up toys, putting away folded clothes, washing dishes, etc. I told her I was concerned about her... She usually has to be asked to do such things. I should have seen it coming. ANYWAY, she straightened up and I decided not to "look a gifted horse in the snout" as my dear German friend, Marina always says. I went in and changed into my t-shirt and stretchy clothes to lounge around in and got real comfortable...However, after supper, I was sitting on my couch reading my OPRAH magazine when all of a sudden through my front french doors comes the whole crew of my family at once singing "Precious Memories" and bringing all sorts of goodies for old people! (They had met down my driveway and drove without headlights down the driveway!) I started screaming and all I could think was OH @*&% I don't have on my bra! (I remedied this as quickly as I could, but it was funny!) They have been plotting for a long time to get me, 'cause I have always enjoyed their 40th birthdays. Actually, some are yet to come! They brought me cake, lovely gifts like depends underwear, Geritol, denture cream, prunes, etc., as well as things I am truly beginning to need like reading glasses, a magnifying glass, wrinkle cream, and vitamins! ha ha My dear sweet sister-n-law made a beautiful black on black cake and I even needed help blowing out those pesky candles from my little Spencer! She thought of everything and brought me a bib and a big bowl and even fed me! How precious it that? Of course, my mother was there since she still remembers giving birth to the 8lb 4oz little baby so many, many, years ago!

If you are wondering who the planning culprit was, WELL I have my suspicions...

However, I wouldn't trade any of them for anything. I have the most wonderful family and they are a true blessing. They did help create precious memories. I haven't had that much fun at my own birthday party since my Holly Hobbie Birthday party when I was 10! Did I mention that they brought flowers?

After that, I thought I was safe! WRONG! Some of the above mentioned culprits, decided to decorate the Berrytown Road Detour with signs informing the world I was turning 40. (EVERY 2 miles it seemed!) I had people I don't even know wishing me a happy birthday! They even got my friends at work in on it. They also sent more flowers! In a mug with 3 handles! My dear friend Janet gave me a hearing aid that I really needed! I wish I had pictures of the signs, but I am afraid I don't have pictures of those, because the rest of the story has me in emergency rooms and hospitals with my boys. I did have a great birthday and had many nice people give me many beautiful gifts! I thank them all from the bottom of my heart!

Friday night we went to Columbia to watch the FC BULLDOGS play! It was a game that had us on the edge of our seats, but we pulled through! Anna, Haley, and I froze our butts off, but we cheered them on! They will now play Tylertown! I'm planning on VICTORY! My sister, Marla keeps Will on Friday nights usually since he does not like going to the games. She did this Friday and then kept him the day of my birthday, Saturday. I spent the day washing clothes and cleaning - a never ending process around here... Jeff gave me a Columbia Ole Miss jacket and a gift card to CATO's !!! Anyway, Jeff and Anna wanted to take me out for my birthday, and we went and picked up Will from Marla's. We had a good time. We ate at Ruby Tuesday's. It was good - except my steak was more rare than medium, but I digress...

We came home and all was well with the world. However, Jeff woke me up at 4:00 Sunday morning and told me he was having heart palpitations and had woken up in a cold sweat at least twice. I tried not to panic when he took me up on my offer to go to the emergency room! He is NOT a complainer, NOR does he do doctors! So, I woke Anna and told we were leaving them and going to the emergency room (which she has no memory of at all)! However, the kids never knew we were gone. The emergency room doctor ran all sorts of tests, but nothing indicated a heart attack or anything. You could see where his heart was beating irregularly, but not sure what is causing it. He is going for more tests next week. We think caffeine may be the culprit, but are not certain. I was scared, but God blessed us that it was not serious or doesn't appear to be at this time. He is laying off caffeine and that is something I need to do also... So, we got back from the ER around 7:30 a.m., Jeff layed back down and I decided to cook breakfast for us and also lunch to take to mom's. I got the kids up and ready for church, we went to church and just as we are entering the doors, Will told me he didn't feel good and had a headache... Uh - Oh. I turned straight around and took him home. Our elderly people do not need little kid sick germs. Will gotTylenol and seemed okay, but later on he started running over 101 fever... More Tylenol - not helping - got Motrin from my sister. Finally his fever broke, then he started with throwing up. NO SUPPOSITORIES at my house, but have phenergan in pill form... He finally, after 3:00 in the morning, went without throwing up for a while. I ended up in bed with him upstairs to help him. I kepta close watch over him and he was cool to the touch, hadn't thrown up for a few hours... Then I touched him and all of a sudden he was on FIRE! I jumped up and took his temp - - I stopped watching after it hit over 103 and tried to get Motrin down him - Nope - comes right back up! We threw on clothes and to the Meadville emergency we went. Actually to Sue, but she sent us straight to the hospital. His fever was 104.5! I was in a state of panic! Jeff had gone to McComb to the Cardiologists office, so I had Anna who I pulled out of bed! I ran up the hill from Sue's office to the hospital because it was quicker than driving. I almost needed oxygen, but I made it! (Did I mention I was carrying this 57 pound child this whole time?) He was not able to walk! He was admitted and tested positive for the flu. They gave him a steady drip and suppository. We stayed all day Monday, and spent the night. His fever finally broke early Tuesday morning. We were released later that morning. He hasn't run a bit of fever since then! Praise God! I guess we caught it early enough that it really kicked it out with the many bags of drip! I didn't know a little boy could hold so much fluid! He had one scared momma! I hate, hate, hate for my children to be sick...

Anyway, since we are not sure whether he is possibly contagious we decided to keep him home for Thanksgiving! That is hard when you have a family as large as mine! We have mass chaos with 5 plus families merging with food and fun! However, I made a pretty nice Thanksgiving Feast all by myself! The turkey came out perfect, I made a huge pan of dressing, green beans almondine, sweet potato souffle, ham, fried okra for Anna and rolls! We had apple pie for dessert. Anna had found a recipe for little white chocolate tarts and she made them. They looked just adorable and tasted yummy! I missed my chaotic family get together at Momma's house, but we still had a nice Thanksgiving together!

I am thankful for all the many blessings that God has given me! God Bless!

RtI and GNO

After a day of RtI, I just think I need a GNO! Today was a day of too much information AGAIN in a workshop today. I'm tired and frustrated and need my GNO's so we can unwind and recharge with talk and laughter!

Words cannot express the special place in my heart that my GNO's have. I love a lot of people in this world. People that I work with, people that I go to church with, people that I just know in this community, family, BUT my GNO's have a special place in my heart.

They know the real me and still love me anyway!

Why GOD Gave Us Friends

GOD knew that everyone needs

Companionship and cheer,

He knew that people need someone

Whose thoughts are always near.

He knew they need someone kind

To lend a helping hand.

Someone to gladly take the time

To care and understand.

GOD knew that we all need someone

To share each happy day,

To be a source of courage

When troubles come our way.

Someone to be true to us,

Whether near or far apart.

Someone whose love we'll always

Hold and treasure in our hearts.

That's Why GOD Gave Us Friends - unknown

Thanks for being my special GNO's! (I could sure use a GNO right now! )

Sunday Afternoon

Aren't Sunday afternoons wonderful? After church every other Sunday, we go to my mom's house to eat lunch and fellowship with my brother, David and sister, Marla and their families. It is nice to have such a large family. I love them all - it gets loud and wild! Espcially with two boys who are so rowdy! There is a six month age difference between Ethan and Will, this is an old pic, but you see what they get into unsupervised!

Today we came home a little early and I have just been straightening up a little and mostly been lazy. Jeff is building a deer shooting house and William went to find him. Anna is conked out on the couch - she is recovering from a full day of soccer yesterday! I am recovering too!Tournaments will kick your butt! And that is from a spectator viewpoint! IMAGINE if I had to move!!!

Of course keeping up with Will is not easy. He is everywhere. We took toys and he played and played. Of course here he just looks innocent and sweet! Looks can be deceiving! Anna's JV team won all of their games and she played well - as did all of the girls!

They are fun to watch! Of course I was cheering her on when she wasn't even out there, but who was counting?! I lost my (new) glasses and they all look alike with their hair up in ponytails! If I have to turn and locate Will, it distracts me from people being traded on the field! It was funny!

She loves it and it is great exercise. She also gets to fellowship with girls around the same age that share a common bond. It's good for her! It was a beautiful day to be outside all day. Today is a gorgeous day as well.

Franklin County Bulldogs football won their playoff game Friday night and will head to Hazelhurst this weekend! Goooo Dogs!!!!!!!! I just love to go and watch them play! I taught some of the boys and am very proud of them!

I have to go to Hattiesburg for the next two days for a workshop for school. I hope it will be better than the last one! We havc more soccer, dance, and other drama I'm sure, coming for the week. I look forward to NEXT Sunday afternoon! : ) Did I mention I love this crazy, drama filled life?

Oh well, I guess I have rambled on about nothing in particular for long enough! Take care and have a great week blog buddies! : )

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I knew I would stink at blogging

Well, it didn't take long to determine that I will be a stinky blogger. I spend too much time living my life to have time to write about it! I have been busy with work,

soccer,

dance, BULLDOG football, Halloween, a 22nd wedded bliss anniversary, recovering from surgery... you know, the usual.

I guess I should blog about how cool it is to live in historical times! After all of the prophesy of doom and despair, we are all still living after Obama has been elected. I'm sure if we can survive Clinton, anything is possible! I am not a Democrat, I am not a Republican either. I just vote how I feel. Sometimes it is with Dems, sometimes with Republics. However, I don't think that one person is going to make or break this country. We are doing a pretty good job of breaking it as a society ourselves...

Do you want to know what I think is really wrong with our society? There is a serious lack of family. This has many implications: No family means no one to teach and model for children, it also means that children are growing up with no morals, they grow up, have children, and the cycle just gets worse. Of course the families that are spoiling their children so that no one can possibly stand them or so that they will end up breaking serious laws when they grow up are just as damaging. Those people are going to live in misery for a long time if they never figure out real life is not about self. .....I'll get off of my soap box now. : )

We had haircuts today and Ms. Tracy straightened mine! I am going to try to wear it like this tomorrow and freak everyone out! My usual afro is replaced with smooth, sleek, straight hair! Of course I told her that it only took me 5 minutes to fix my hair every morning, (It took that long to straighten 2 strands!) However, I WISH it looked smooth and sleek all the time. I guess God just didn't intend for me to have sleek. He must have intended for me to be fluffy from head to toe! : )

I have been busy, but I am also trying to rest more... I don't do enough of that. So, I am going to cut it short now too! William needs a story...Take Care!

Extreme William!

T. M. I.

I went back to work today... In a way... I had to go to a workshop in Hattiesburg today. All I have to say is I feel sorry for anyone who was just starting out in a new job having to listen to it. It was stressing out 30 year veterans. : ) Actually that is not ALL I have to say, it is just all I am going to say! How are things in your world???

Why Leon?

Many people want to know why I am known as Leon. It all started about 10 years ago when my little niece Gabby started talking. I might add here that she is not my first niece. She is my fourth. I have been called Wee Ann by most of them, but when Gab came along, she could pronounce L's. However, it came out as Leigh On. Of course everyone ran with it and now I am Leon to all family. Of course, after she started school, her whole class called me Aunt Leon, then all my co-workers picked it up. There was no turning back. I officially became "Leon"

So, about two years ago, Gabby called me Aunt Leigh Ann, out of the blue. I almost wrecked my car because I was driving home after school! I said, "Gabby what did you just call me?" She said, "Aunt Leigh Ann. Did you know everyone calls you the wrong name?" I couldn't believe it. I told her the story of WHY they did and forbade her to ever call me Leigh Ann again! It was funny. So, I will always be Leon. : ) (Especially to my Gabby Goorilla!)

How did I get here?

Well, somehow I just set up a blog! I love to read other blogs, but really don't know how up to date I will keep one! I just happen to be bored to death after sitting home for a week now after surgery. It has been an experience that I hope to never repeat! I am still in some pain, but not anything I can't handle. I hope that I can do this. I think it will be a great thing to look back on. I certainly have plenty to say! ha ha Not really, I just think I do!

I live in Mississippi with Jeff, my husband of 22 years and our 2 children, Anna (14) and William (5). I am an educator and have been at that for 18 years. We live in the country and love it. I hope to share more about my life as time goes by.