Happy Halloween

Wow, it's Halloween already?!  Seriously, where has the time gone?

I got a writing prompt in my email regarding a "memorable Halloween costume" and I thought it would be fun to share one of my favorites!

My husband dressed as the Wolverine and I was a (chunky) Phoenix... Well, my husband really looked the part, but I was just... well, I had fun anyway!  (please excuse the messy kitchen!)

As you can see, my hubby nailed it with his hair and the way he shaved his face!  The "Claws" are just toys, but they actually make metallic clanging sounds when you swing your hands to make the claws come out.  It was lots of fun.  Especially since this was before we were married, pregnant, etc... just the two of us and his teenage son (who's now a 21 year old young man!)

We both love Halloween and enjoy taking our two youngest trick or treating.

It was a very memorable Halloween for us.  Lots of fun!

Do you have any memorable Halloweens that really stand out?  Feel free to share!  I'd love to hear about them!

Writing Prompt

Writing prompt by Mama Kat

10 Random Things I Know How To Do:

• I can hit a 100 yard target the size of a dime with a rifle.
• I know how to change the tires, spark plugs and brakes on a car. (but that doesn't mean that I want to)
• I can dance The Twist.
• I know how to build my own computer. 
• I know how to crochet.
• I can make my kids laugh. (usually at something totally stupid that I'm doing)
• I can type 55 wpm.
• I can make my own really good Pinewood Derby race car.
• I can recite/sing 12 different Mother Goose stories while feeding a bottle to a baby. (handy when my 2 year old gets out his collection)
• I know how to write basic HTML. (I really need to update my knowledge on it, but I think I'll have to wait until after the Terrible Two's)

A Poem about the Holidays

Writing prompt by Mama Kat

The prompt I chose was to write a post in twelve lines, 

so I chose a poem and this is what came of it.

Holiday Overload

1. One, two, buckle my shoe
2. Three, four, there’s a knock at the door
3. Five, six, time for treats and tricks
4. Seven, eight, I've put on more weight
5. Nine, ten,  I see a ghost, a witch, and a Barbie and Ken
6. Eleven, twelve, too many decorations to put up and then shelve
7. Thirteen, fourteen, too many thoughts in my bean
8. Fifteen, sixteen, a whole house to clean
9. Seventeen, eighteen, where’s my caffeine?
10. Nineteen, twenty, next is Thanksgiving with food a-plenty
11. Twenty-one, twenty-two, then Christmas and Santa and reindeer too
12. Twenty-three, twenty-four, I can’t take any more

Broken

Writing prompt by Mama Kat

What's Broken?

My Sanity, for one thing.  I don't know what I was thinking... potty training a two year old in the throws of Terrible-Two-Tantrums while also having a newborn.  I mean seriously... at my age?!  42, I'm 42 years old.  I loved my 30's, but my 40's aren't treating me so lovingly.  Although, it might be the little munchkins that I'm raising.  Of course, it was my hubby's bright idea to start potty training this early, but he's at work all the time, so it doesn't really affect him at all.  I, on the other hand, am worn thin... having to take Bugaboo to go "pee pee" every freakin' five minutes.  But I digress......

What else is broken?  Gee, around here, what isn't broken is the question.  It'd take a lot less time to list!

• The kitchen sink & counters need re-tiled (we have a new set, we just haven't had the time to install them yet.)
• The wood flooring in the living room was never finished, (thanks to a wonderful EX of mine... did ya catch the sarcasm?  I never should have let him tear up my carpeting, but that's another story) the edges were never evened out and it wasn't installed properly in the first place.  I wish I had my carpeting back!
• The fridge seems to be on the fritz, I don't know what it is, but we just can't seem to keep produce in there.  Everything else is fine, but veggies and fruit seem to go bad awfully quick in there.
• The dryer is on it's last legs.
• The roof is in a desperate state.
• The garbage disposal has a loose blade, so it makes a horrible sound when you turn it on.
• The pantry door fell off (it wasn't the right size for the pantry anyway, someone didn't know how to measure when they were building this house.)
• My patience.
• The camel's back.

The list goes on with numerous little things that, alone, aren't a big deal, but when all put together on a list like this, it makes me feel like the whole place is falling apart.  Don't get me wrong, I'm very blessed and I'm thankful for what I have, but when posed the question as Mama Kat has, I can't help but to reflect on just how much could really be improved upon.

As far as the house goes, it's mostly because whoever built this house took a lot of short-cuts and I honestly don't know how it passed code.  Add in the fact that it's a "starter home" and we're anything but "starters" since we've got a family of five, we've got too much stuff and not enough time to go through it all to weed out the crap, and we've got a two year old who gets into everything, and you've got a recipe for How to Wear Out a House.

No, this isn't actually my house & fridge. It's a
photo I took of an old run-down house a few
years ago, but it fit the post, so I thought I'd share.

Fashion Faux pas

Writing prompt by Mama Kat

Today's Writing Prompt:  Share one of your biggest fashion mistakes.

My answer:  The 80's

Need I say more?!

Honestly, I was a teenager during the 80's and if you were anywhere around during that time, you should totally understand.  I wish I could find the picture... I kept the photo portion of my first driver's license... my hair took up the entire picture!  No exaggeration... it was that poofy!  I had a poodle perm and then I would take 45 minutes in the morning using a curling iron and practically a whole can of hairspray to "calm" the curls, yet make it even bigger somehow.

It was terrible.  How I didn't set myself on fire with all the hairspray, I don't know.  And how I actually made it to school on time with how long it took me in the mornings to fully get ready, I couldn't tell you that either.

These days, I'm all for comfort and ease... I wash my hair and comb it... that's it.  And just for the record, I still happen to like scrunchies and I'm not afraid to admit it.  I just use the simple soft ones, nothing huge and in-your-face with bold colors or anything, just the simple stuff.  (well, except during Halloween and Christmas, then it's no-holds barred!)  They're easier on my hair, and since I keep my hair in a ponytail most of the time, I'm sticking with them.  As for the clothes, if it's comfortable, I'll wear it.  If it looks good, that's a bonus!  But in the 80's?  Well, we couldn't afford all the really expensive brand names like many of the other girls, but I tried my best with the cheap knock-offs.  I never succeeded, but I tried my best.

So, that's my fashion faux pas from my past.  The entire decade was just a huge mistake fashion-wise, although at the time, it was fun... just ask Cyndi Lauper!

Looking Forward to Baby

Writing prompt by Mama Kat

This week's prompt is:  

Share one good thing you're looking forward to.

Oh my gosh, this is so easy for me... I'm looking forward to having this baby!  Having the baby and recovering from the c-section, that is... kind of all rolled into one.

Because getting past that one period of time allows me to then be able to enjoy our new baby, play with him, learn how to juggle two small children, teach my first son how to help with the baby, hopefully I'll be able to breastfeed this time around, I want to start working on losing weight, getting rid of this really bad sciatica pain, enjoy not having to get up numerous times in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, get back behind the wheel of the van and drive (I don't fit anymore with the baby belly all up in the way,) get back on my fibro medication (well, after the breastfeeding, that is, if that part happens,) and, in general, do a lot of the things that I can't physically do right now.

Because of all the pain I'm in, I can't get down on the floor and play with my son because I can't get back up without help.  The last time I got down on the floor to look for one of his toys, I almost wasn't able to get back up... and it took me a while and it was painful to do so.  I can't bend over very well anymore because of the big ol' baby belly that's taken over my mid-section.  I can barely reach the keyboard on the laptop!  I have the laptop on my lap right now and my belly keeps me from having it too close and my arms are barely long enough to reach... and certainly not comfortably.  (which is another reason why I haven't posted much lately, it's just not that easy anymore! LOL)

I don't get out of the house much anymore either, because I just hurt too much.  When going to Wally World, I need to use one of the electric carts, because my hips and back hurt too much to walk very far.  And that's totally embarrassing.  I hate having to use one of those things.  I don't know why.  I suppose I shouldn't let my pride get the best of me like that, but honestly, I was hoping to not ever need one of those.  My mother needed one and I just never wanted to get that bad, physically.  So, I suppose I should take better care of myself, right?!  But I don't and I guess that's one of the biggest reasons for me looking forward to having the baby and recovering from the surgery... Being able to get back into shape.

Well, getting into shape and becoming independent again.  It's tough having to depend so heavily on others for help.  Especially when I have always been such an independent person all throughout my life.  And I look at other pregnant women (most of whom are a lot younger than I am, which doesn't help) and I see them taking Zumba classes or some other such crazy activity, some of them, you wouldn't even know they were pregnant except for the cute little bump of a belly because they just fly around doing everything they usually do without any problem, and I'm jealous and amazed that they can move so well.

But, no need crying over spilled milk, I suppose.  It's done, I'm pregnant, and there's no going back, so the only thing I can do now is look forward to having the baby and recovering from the surgery.  Then I can move on and work on the many other things that I'm so looking forward to doing... with my babies in tow!

Peace & Quiet

Another Writing Prompt from Mama Kat

Time for a break! Show us where you go for quiet time.

Quiet time?!  Pppfftttthhh, yeah, right... I can't even pee in peace anymore, since having kids... For some quiet time, I used to just go to my back yard... when I was single and my yard wasn't torn up from the dog(s) and hubby's hobbies (ie motorcycles, four wheelers, lawn mowers, and other miscellaneous crap) and I used to have nice green grass back there.  Now I can't stand to look at it, let alone sit back there for any peace and quiet.

So... where do I go???  Well, if and when I can actually leave the chaos behind, here's where I try to go.  (Or if I can't, here's where I fantasize about going...)

The Beach... I LOVE going to the beach, especially in the early morning.  There's just something so peaceful about it.  The sound of the waves rolling in, the coolness of the morning air (before it turns 2000 degrees here in Florida,) the smell of the ocean and the salt air.... *sigh*

Panera Bread... Ok, call me weird, but this has become one of my new favorite places.  Yeah, yeah, I know it's been around for a while, but we just recently got one in our town and I'd never been to one before.  Yes, I'm out of the loop, but whatever.  I'm there now and that's what matters.  Anyway, I just love this place.  And it's not the food that brings me back... don't get me wrong, the food's great, but it's the atmosphere that gets me.  Especially when it's not really busy.  I love the soft music, the lighting, the seating, etc.  It just makes me feel like I'm on vacation or something.  Maybe because it's new to me, I don't know.  But Panera Bread is one of my Get-Away's.  I've already told my family that if I ever run away during one of my Mommy-Meltdowns, to look for me there first.

Yes, I realize that this is a video game and it doesn't actually exist, but if I can get hubby to take Little Man outside to play and I can get a few minutes of "No One Bother Me" time, then I stick my headphones on and play.  It's great for when I can't leave the house, don't have time to leave the house, or am just plain lazy and just want to sit and relax and forget the world around me.  I get "in-game" and enjoy a world where the Real World and all it's problems don't exist.  Yes, I'm a gamer and I'm proud of it.  Of course, the people I play with in-game don't realize I'm a 42 year old pregnant woman, but that's ok.

Now this wooded area would be nice.  Back when I grew up in Pennsylvania, I used to go hiking in the woods for hours at a time.  It was the most blissful time I've ever had in my life.  I really miss being able to do that.  But down here in Florida, there are too many poisonous bugs and creepy crawlies to be able to do that on a regular basis.  Although, I'd gone hunting with a friend down here before and it was almost as good.  Very nice, very peaceful, but there's just something about the cool mountain air that sets PA apart.  Wish I'd have had a camera back then to take pics while hiking.  There were so many great spots that would have made amazing photos.

5am... Ahhhh, my best chance of escaping for some quiet time.  Puts a whole new meaning to "It's five o'clock somewhere!" for me, anyway.  I come out to my recliner in the living room and do whatever it is that I want.  Usually I get on the computer, but sometimes I'll read or crochet, write or sketch... anything that's a quiet activity.  The rest of the house is asleep and I remain undisturbed for a little while... depending on when Little Man figures out that I'm out here.  But sometimes, I can take him in to snuggle with Daddy and I'll squeeze maybe another hour out of the morning to myself.

So, there you have it.  My escapes.  I'm glad I did this writing prompt.  It was actually quite peaceful just writing about it.  Of course, I've been up writing about it in the wee hours of the morning, but it's made me feel refreshed.  I wonder if I can sneak in a quick drive to the beach.....?

Ten To-Dos in June

Blog prompt from Mama Kat

For this week's prompt, I chose:

Ten To-Dos in June:

1. Clean out the back room & put everything in it's proper place (omg, you have no idea how important this one is... and yet we haven't even started.  In fact, recently, we piled more crap in there!  This has got to be done, no if's, and's or but's about it)
2. Clean out and organize my father's book case (he built this really nice book case with sliding glass doors and now that I've inherited it, I need to organize it with my stuff, rather than his and mom's things)
3. Put up shelves for books & crafts (honestly, I just have too much stuff and this house has no storage for anything.  And it's ridiculous how little cabinet, cupboard & shelving space this house has.)
4. Keep up with dusting (whole house... we just did a massive clean for in our house, so I need to start keeping up with this so that it doesn't get out of hand again!)
5. Organize master bedroom closet and all the clothes in the bedroom (mine, hubby's and Buggaboo's... with the new baby coming, we really need to organize the baby clothes too and see what we have & what we need)
6. Re-season my cast iron skillet (it was my mother's, so I have no idea how long it's been since it was originally done and after watching this video, I've been caring for my skillet all wrong.  We don't use it a whole lot, so hopefully not too much damage has been done to it)
7. Work on novels (I've got one done, but needs massive editing and I've started another via Camp NaNoWriMo... but I'm severely behind on my word count, so I really need to push myself to get caught up.)
8. Post to blog every day (so far so good...although my posts have been pretty lame, at least I'm doing keeping up with something!  And I've been having fun with the weird holiday posts.)
9. Work on photography (so far, not so good on this one... spreading myself a bit thin again)
10. Work on internet portfolio (Done!  This has been updated... of course, there's still plenty of work to be done, but I've at least finished one more page on the site.  Since I have so many projects going at once, my goal is to work on it and finish at least one page per month.  That way, it's not so overwhelming.)

Trust me, that's just the tip of the iceberg!  LOL  There's a TON o'stuff that needs to be done and lots more that I want to get done.  But those are priority... at the moment, anyway.

What's on your to-do list for this month?

Writing Prompt of the Day

Here's another writing prompt from Mama Kat.  The first list is from her workshop.  The second list is my own, inspired from the first.

List the top 10 things you miss about being alone.

1. Peace & Quiet  (I think I could just stop this list after this one and feel completely done!  LOL)
2. Not being interrupted when I’m trying to do…. Anything!
3. Not having to share my meal with a toddler who sees Mommy eating and thinks he has to have some of it (or most of it)
4. Being able to just get up and go… anywhere… without having to pack up the Little Man or wait for or find someone to watch him
5. Not having other people’s messes.  If it’s messy, it’s my own fault.  If I clean it up, I didn’t have to worry about someone coming right behind me to mess it up.
6. Being able to do what I want, when I want, without having to think about or worry about anyone else’s needs/wants.
7. Not having to worry about anyone else… did they get where they were supposed to be?  Will they get home ok?  What are the kids doing?  Don’t touch that!  Don’t do that!  Etc…
8. Being able to walk around naked in the house.
9. Being responsible for myself, my own bills, my own meals (If I skipped a meal, it wasn’t a big deal, but I can’t skip feeding my children)
10. Going out and hanging out with friends any time I wanted.

List the top 10 things I love having now that I’m not alone:

1. Unconditional love from my son.  I never thought I could feel so much love, especially from someone so small.
2. Having someone to take out the garbage and carry in groceries for me.  (Ok, so that one's a bit on the selfish side... it's still one of my favorite things of having a hubby!)
3. Having someone to share things with; how the day went, what happened, things to do, etc.
4. Having a partner (my hubby) for all eternity.
5. Being able to be a SAHM
6. Being the Mom for Mother’s Day!
7. Watching the miracle that is my son.
8. Being able to enjoy playing with toys without anyone thinking I’m weird
9. Being able to watch Disney movies without anyone thinking I’m weird
10. Learning lessons that only my baby boy can teach me.

The Language of Flowers

1.) What type of flowers would be in a bouquet that best describes you? (inspired by Persipacity and the article Talking the language of Flowers)

(Writing Prompt from Mama Kat)

 

A bouquet of wildflowers, my favorite.  It’s a mix of everything… every emotion, every thought and care in the world.  Everything from worry and anxiety to love and tenderness and everything in between.  I have just as many emotions as there are flowers in that bouquet.  I also have just as many interests.  It all depends on the Mood of the Moment as to which one’s aroma I choose to enjoy (or dread) in my life right then and there.

From iFlorist.com:

Absinth/Wormwood: Separation and Torment of Love

Almond Blossom: Hope and Watchfulness

Aloe: Wisdom and Integrity

Azalea: Fragile and Ephemeral Passion

Carnation, Yellow: Disdain and Rejection

Chestnut: Independence and Injustice

Cinnamon: Love and Beauty

Clematis: Artifice and Ingenuity

Convolvulus: Humble Perseverance

Daisy: Gentleness, Innocence, Loyal love (one of my favorite flowers)

Forget-me-not: Faithful Love, Memories (could this be used for forgetfulness?)

Gladiolus: Strength Of Character, I am really sincere

Heliotrope: Devotion, Eternal Love

Hibiscus: Delicate Beauty

Honeysuckle: Sweetness Of Disposition (one of my favorite scents)

Hyacinth: Games & Sports

Iris: Faith, Wisdom, Valor, Your Friendship means so much to me

Ivy: Friendship, Wedded love, Fidelity, Friendship, Affection

Jasmine, Yellow: Timidity and Modesty (my other favorite scent)

Jonquil: Violent Sympathy and Desire, Love me, Affection returned

Larkspur: Open Heart

Lilac, Mauve: "Do You Still Love Me"

Lily-Of-The-Valley: Purity and Humility, Sweetness

Lotus: Mystery and Truth

Petunia: Anger and Resentment

Poppy: Imagination, Dreaminess, Eternal sleep

Queen Anne's Lace: Fantasy

Zinnia: Thoughts of Absent Friends

And those are just the highlights of “Me” there are so many more, deeper, parts (issues?) of me as well.  But those would make a good bouquet, although a rather large one.

Is there a flower for Distraction?  I’d have to add that one in too! 

My 2 Cents on (New) Motherhood

5.) Advice to new mothers.

Mama Kat’s Writing Prompt

Sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep!  I can’t stress that enough… I don’t mean to do nothing but sleep.  You’re a new mom and you certainly have your hands full.  But I was told to “Sleep when the baby sleeps.” and I ignored it.  Boy, was that a bad call on my part.  I figured, “Yeah, right, but I’ve got tons of stuff that I want and need to do!”  Pppttthhhhh!  I’d try to do something, figuring that I’d do “whatever” for just a few minutes, then take a nap.  HA!  Just as I’d be wrapping up getting ready to lie down, WAAAAA!!!!!  There’s the baby.  Up and cranky and hungry with a full diaper.  (honestly, I’ve never seen anyone pee as much as my son!  But that’s another post. LOL)  Hours later, I’d finally get him back to sleep and finally get my 15 minutes of snooze-time before it would start all over again.



One day old

And you’ve heard about this PPD crap, right?  The Post-partum depression that some women suffer from… well, everyone gets moody, right?  You just had a baby, your hormones are all out of whack, you’re having anxiety because this is your first or because it’s just such a tiny, helpless thing, and you just feel a bit out of sorts.  Well, don’t let it get out of hand.  A few weeks of that is usually normal, but if it goes past that, don’t hesitate to talk to your doctor.  Even if you feel totally stupid about it.  I was told this same piece of advice.  I didn’t listen.  Now my baby is one year old and I’m a total basket case and on meds with a full-blown case of PPD and PPA (post-partum depression and post-partum anxiety.)

So, to recap, SLEEP WHEN THE BABY SLEEPS and BE TOTALLY HONEST WITH YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT YOUR EMOTIONS, THOUGHTS, FEELINGS, ETC. 

Yes, I’m yelling because no one yelled at me, no one checked up on me, I didn’t have any close female support, so I missed out on some really wonderful bonding time with my son because I was emotionally distant and unable as well as physically exhausted.  Please don’t let that happen to you.

I’m getting better now and I’ve bonded with my son, but I’m sorry that I let it go so long and I’m still exhausted, but I take more naps now! 

So, to the new mothers reading this, congratulations on your new Little One, be sure to take as good of care of yourself as you do for your baby.



Amazing how much he's changed in one year, isn't it?!



Hobby Hoarder

2.) If you were a hoarder, based on your personality…what would you hoard? (better yet, ask someone who knows you well, what they think you would hoard). 
(Writing prompt from Mama Kat)

“If” 

If?

IF?!

HA!  Now that’s funny… “If” I were a hoarder… Well, I wouldn’t say I’m a hoarder, not in the TV show “Hoarders” image… I’m a COLLECTOR!  A collector of EVERYTHING!  OMG this prompt is tailor made for me.  My mother was a packrat, I’m a packrat and low and behold, so is my husband.  I inherited my mother’s house (ie all of her stuff) and of course, there’s all of my stuff… then my husband and I got married and he moved in…. well, let me tell you, the amount of stuff that we have is incredible! 

And believe it or not, we’ve been purging!  You wouldn’t know it to look in our garage, or the bedroom, or the third bedroom that is supposed to be the baby’s room.  Someday it will be the baby’s room.  (currently we’re co-sleeping, but that’s just because we have yet to clean out the baby’s room.  He’s already one year old, by the way.  Of course, I’m having issues with PPD and PPA, so we’d probably still be co-sleeping, but that’s my little secret!  Shhhh, don’t tell my hubby!) 

So, what do I hoard?  Well, I used to collect coffee mugs, unicorns, key chains, sea shells, and any number of miscellaneous items.  I don’t drink coffee anymore, but still enjoy a cup of hot cocoa or herbal tea now and then.  The unicorns from my childhood have been lost in many moves, but still hold a place in my heart.  The key chains are strewn about, forgotten mostly.  I still collect sea shells, though, and probably always will.  And then there’s the Disney stuff, but that’s a whole other blog post.

It’s all the sentimental crap that clutters our house.  You know, the things that you don’t need, nor particularly really want, but you just can’t seem to get rid of because of a wonderful, nostalgic moment in time that has been reborn in your memory because you came across them again as you cleaned out an old dusty box from way back in the back corner of wherever that you haven’t seen in ages.

And then there are all the crafty, artistic, hobby stuff that fills up any gaps left.  I’m an artist and have numerous art and craft supplies.  Everything from paint brushes, sketch books and lots of sketches to stamps and stamping supplies and scrapbooking paraphernalia fills up many totes and drawers and other nooks and crannies in the house… particularly the “baby’s room.”

Oh, and the books!  Well, let’s just say I could open up my own personal library and leave it at that.

And that’s my personality… nostalgic, artistic, a little geeky and chaotic.  (probably a bit dusty sometimes as well LOL)  I’d say my main issue is that I have so many interests that I don’t have enough “House for my Hobbies!”

Now that I’m a “Mom” however, I find myself trying to purge more and more out of necessity for the baby.  He needs his room and my husband and I really need our room, for the sake of our marriage!  I long for the days of spooning with my hubby as we fall asleep. 

Yard sale anyone?!

Biopsy Blooper

Once again, it's time for another one of Mama Kat's Writing Prompts.  This week, I've chosen:

5.) I sometimes laugh when I'm uncomfortable...or being yelled at...or in church...or at a funeral. Write about a time when you laughed at an inappropriate time.

Unfortunately, that's too easy.  You see, a few years ago, I had my first mammogram.  Not the most pleasant experience in the world, but it got worse when they found a “suspect” spot on the x-ray.  They said that my breasts were very fibrous, so it was difficult to tell for sure, so they would have to do a biopsy. 

Biopsy.  One of the scariest words in the English language.  It is full of the unknown and has the potential for the worst case scenario at it’s end.

Needless to say, I freaked. 

I prayed, I had many family and friends praying, I got a blessing from the Bishop and one of his counselors, I ran the whole gambit… I wasn’t taking any chances.  If I could have found my lucky rabbits foot from when I was a kid, I’d have broken that out too!

So, the day finally came.  They numbed me up, prepped me, etc.  I was terrified.  And then, during the “explanation” of what was going to happen, they showed me the gigantic needle that they would be inserting into my breast to take a few samples.  Oh. My. God.  It was HUGE!  The needles they take your blood with are dwarfed by this baby.  It’s David and Goliath time when comparing this needle to one you usually see when having blood drawn. 

Again, I freaked.

I started shaking even more and here I was, lying on the table, one arm up over my head, breast exposed, crying a bit because of the stress and all the emotions running through me and then the raiologist guy who was going to perform the biopsy took out one of those long q-tips with that reddish stuff they put on an area to keep it clean for any type of surgical procedure.  He rubbed it over my breast, hit the nipple with the q-tip, and it happened…

I laughed.  And not just a little giggle, but a huge guffaw.  I couldn’t help it.  Everyone was shocked and the radiologist said, “Well, that’s a first.  In all my years, I’ve never had anyone laugh during this procedure.”  I tried to apologize, I was so embarrassed.  I’m so darn ticklish and all the emotions and all the anxiety had nowhere else to go but “out with a laugh.”  Nothing I said made it any better either, everyone was just standing around me staring, so I finally shut up and just waited.  The radiologist took his cue and continued to rub the q-tip around a bit more and honestly, it was all I could do to keep from laughing even more.  I really am that ticklish!  And with my underarm exposed... well, that’s one of my most vulnerable tickle-spots.  Just having someone close to that spot can make me giggle in anticipation of a tickle, so I was doomed, to say the least.  There must have been a very traumatic tickle-war in my childhood... but I digress...

The procedure went on and I went through the dreaded “waiting in limbo” time period.  And the healing period was quite painful as well.  Thankfully the prayers all worked (I’m giving God all the credit, for sure!) and it came back negative.  But due to the laughter incident, I was totally mortified and come to think of it, I haven’t been back for another mammo since.  Hmmm... well, with all the poking and prodding I had done during my pregnancy, maybe, just maybe, I won’t be so ticklish from now on?  Yeah, right!  Don't even think of going near my feet! 

One of my favorite things...

(Now I have the Sound of Music song stuck in my head... "These are a few of my favorite things" la la la la la la.......)

Welcome to another one of Mama Kat's Writing Prompts. I just love this next idea!

5.) On a piece of paper write down something that makes you happy...take a photo of your paper and wa la...there's your post.

So, here it is. (I may even do this again... maybe on a regular basis... if I could actually write in my blog on a regular basis, that is!)

I absolutely love vacationing at Disney World in Florida.  But it's gotta be with the addition of staying at the Polynesian Resort, one of their Deluxe hotels.  Pricey?  Yes.  Worth it?  YES!  I hope to, one day, take my boy to Disney World and have him experience the wonderment that I did when I was little.  My first time was when I was 7.  Things have changed, of course, but it's still holds the magic for me and I hope it will for him too.

I know I didn't need to add anything to this post... just the picture was the idea, but I felt like telling the "why" as well.  That makes me happy too :o)  So there!