1st fever

Cole is sick right now with an ear infection. My mom said he had a fever this morning, but didn't take it and just gave him Tylenol. I have a thermometer and told her if his temp is about 38.5 call me. He ended up being 38.9 (102) later that day after the Tylenol. So I told her to bring him to me at work. I left early and took him to the ER. By then is temp was 40 (104) . His entire body was flushed (it was all red in color). He looked miserable and cried a bit, but looked to ill to really even do that. They looked in his ears to see that his one ear drum had a lot of pus behind it. The docs said they were glad I bought him in because it has a lot of pus and could've burst his eardrum. (I'm glad too!) So now he has antibiotics and just doesn't want to be put down right now. I can't blame him. He was so precious and good for being sick. I'm so lucky! I just gave him tylenol and put him to bed. He was getting his fever back again by the time we got back from the ER. I'm glad I didn't listen to his dr. who told me that fevers are usually nothing. He may have had a blown eardrum by tomorrow if I had listen to him! My stepmom Cathy told me to always listen to a mothers instinct. Usually a mother's instinct is always right! Thank goodness I took that advice!!

SELL OUT!!

I saw this story on Newsnet 5. It is so funny! I could never do this because I'm a die hard Indians fan. They are my all time favorite all around team. (I love all Cleveland sports teams!)

Here is the news story:
CLEVELAND -- A Cleveland Indians fan is selling his loyalty to the highest bidder.

Alex Chatfield has been an Indians fan for years. However, the team is in the midst of a 10-game losing streak -- its longest in almost 30 years.

For $299, Chatfield is renting his enthusiasm for the remaining 2008 baseball season to anyone who feels an extra fan will put their team over the top.

He offers to watch the new team at least once a week, and wear that team's apparel, with e-mails and pictures to prove it. He is also offering what he calls premium services: Boston fans have to pay $3,500 extra and Yankees fans have to pay $10,000 more.

Chatfield also wants an additional $15,000 for any team that Jim Thome is playing for. He's still bitter about Thome leaving Cleveland.

Bucket List

I saw the movie "The Bucket List". When I told people this, they all said, "I heard it sucked." It was far from sucking! Maybe it wasn't quite the caliber movie you would think coming from Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. They are gods in the movie world. It was light hearted and moving. They did some amazing things on their Bucket list. I thought about my own. The "bucket list" is a list of things you want to do before you "kick the bucket." Well, Brian and I talked about it and we have done so much stuff from "our list" already. Probably more than a lot of people get to do in their lives.
I wanted to travel. And I have traveled! ANd Brian and I have more traveling we would like to do. In one year he and I went to Hawaii for our honeymoon, France and Italy for his Ironman and New Orleans for my 30th birthday. We went to Ireland together for almost a month. We were engaged in Toronto Canada. We went over half of the US I think.
I've had children and started a family like I wanted. I have a house I love! I have a great guy! Other than traveling and watching my children grow and see their milestones, I don't know what else to add to my bucket list. I've had such a hard life. After Missy passed,I felt like I should live my life to the fullest. I feel that with Brian I have been able to do that. With as many bad things that has happened in my life, I still feel that I can say I'm blessed. I have a great husband and children! I have good friends and family! I like my job, but I could always do something that I like even more. (I'm sure that everyone could) I have to admit that the best job I have is being a mom! I love my boys! They are the greatest! I guess part of me was afraid that I wouldn't take to being a parent as well. I have done so many things like I said and enjoyed them. I knew that things would be different. But I feel so much happiness and satisfaction at watching them grow and learn. Being a mom is just amazing! It beats anything else! I still love my other interests. Even though I've become a parent, I think it is important to stay the person you are and keep the things you love. But my kids will always come first.
Well, I"m off to bed! I have to get ready for the busy day I have with the boys tomorrow!

BUDDIES!!

Bummer

So for the last few weeks I was hoping to get our stimulous check from good ol' W and the govt. It hasn't come. I was going to see my friend get married in North Carolina, but as time went on, I couldn't save the money because of the increased cost of everything... gas which is costing us $160 if not more a week. Then formula... 30.99 per 38oz container. They boys go through about 2-3 containers a week!! It is just some f-ing powder! Why does it cost so much?!! If woman couldn't feed babies breast milk back in the day, what did they give them? (I'm guessing they got a wet nurse, but is it there was something other than powered formula? I couldn't afford the trip and I feel terrible. I wanted to be there. I fully planned on it.. Then I started to realize that I really needed the stiumlous check, but haven't gotten that. I held out till last minute hoping that check would come. I can't believe how f-ed up this country has gotten. I think in many ways, we let the terrorist win because their act, lead to the "wrong war" which has ended up costing the U.S. trillions! I truly believe that we are in a recession, but the govt won't tell us that. It would cause a panic and more people would stop spending. I am scared that it is going to get worse and we will end up in a depression. How is anyone suppose to live this way? I make pretty good money and I'm finding it hard to keep up. I can't imagine what it is like for those who don't have good jobs or who have lost their jobs. I can't believe how fast gas has rose as well. Some news reports say that the U.S. has been getting cheap gas longer than it should have and it is keeping up with the price of inflation. Well I don't think that is true, but because people's income hasn't gone up with the price of inflation.. and I think they needed to ease this gas increase.. Maybe 2.50 for awhile. That is at least do-able. Leave it around there for a few years.. Then increase it to $3 for awhile. THen to $4. It went from 1.99-2.10 from 9/2005 around my wedding, to 3.95 in 5/08. Just totatlly crazy!!!!
I am so tired of reading the news. It just is terrible. People losing their jobs, their house! It is just terrible. No wonder why I've had anxiety issues! Someone said that people are just one accident, or one illess away from losing their homes.
I so pray that a decmocrat is better than what we have had. Regardless of what Clinton did in his personal life, the U.S. had great growth during that time.. And f-ing Jr. had to ruin that to hell for everyone and put all of us in a terrible situation!
I'm going to bed.. I may have to turn off the airconditioning because I may not be able to afford the energy bill!!

New Kids on Today

The New Kids on the Block were on the Today show on Friday the 16th. I was a big fan back when I was younger. Seeing them together on stage again was great. My friend Destiny and I are hoping that they come to Cleveland so we can see them again. Nothing better than reminicing back to your youth with your favorite band from back them.



www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1K68EViOBI

The need...

I really need to get working out. I did some last week, but I need to make it a habit! I have 2 videos. One was good for me not having done anything realy physical for awhile, (other than lift babies and adults all day long) It was a good pace I guess you could say. Then the other video I have, "HOLY SHIT!" It was kicking my ass only 5 mins into it. It's called Turbo Jam. As I was doing it I thought to myself that there is no way that Brian could ever do this video. He has NO rhythm:) He isn't allowed to do it with me, because we have another one he tried with me before and I couldn't work out. I was too busy laughing at him. He is cute for the effort though.

We bought a new mini-van. Yup I took the soccer mom step! Crazy I know! But it works out great for us and the 2 babies! It is all black and PIMP! (At least as pimp as it can be for a mini van!I bought myself a new knee brace and joined a co-ed softball team this year. I need a bit of practice. I'm going to see if maybe this Thursday if I can get some time in after Brian is home to go up to the batting cages and practice a bit. I'm excited.

The boys are getting big, rolling over, eating great and weigh 16lbs now. They are doing great the doc said for being born early. It was my first Mother's Day today and I had to work! Lame I know. Brian bought the boys to see me for a bit. It was great! He also made me chocolate covered strawberries, cherries and grapes. It was delicious! He is a good "baker". He makes sweets better than me, but I think I "cook" better than him. We make a great team that way!

So the pics about are of Cole (skinnier face) Caden (round face) and both the boys doing some tummy time and playing under the activity center. They are looking and interacting with each other on purpose now:) Cole found out that he likes longs sleeves. When he needs to comfort himself, he will reach with his left hand, pull his sleeve over his right hand and just mouth on his sleeve. His arm goes way down in the sleeve. I thought he was a genius for figuring that out!

I'm excited. There are acutally 4 tours I want to go see, but so far only 2 I'm going to.. Ok actually 5... Dave Matthews I'm going to see, Coldplay I'm going to see. 311 I want to see, Maroon 5 and Counting Crows I want to see. And New Kids I'm going to see no matter what:) If that makes me a geek so be it. It will be great to think back to some great memories of me being a 13 year old girl!:)

I'll be going to Raleigh to see my friend Michelle get married in June. I'm excited to see her get married, but I'm more excited because I will be all by myself and have a hotel room all to myself. I will miss my husband and boys, but I will enjoy this time and get some much needed sleep:)

Happy Mother's Day to all!

Towpath Half Marathon

I have decided to "walk" the Towpath Half Marathon on Oct.12. That will be my 32nd birthday. I decided to try and raise money for the Make It Right Foundation. The Make It Right Foundation helps raise money to build houses in the Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans. That area was the hardest hit by the floods that followed Hurricane Katrina.
If you would like to donate go to www.firstgiving.com/teresawhittaker
That will take you to a secure website to donate! Cole and Caden will be helping me in the my training this summer! Thanks so much everyone for your help!
Just to remind you, there are pictures of my last trip to New Orleans on October 2006 achrives. Heading would be under, "Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans?" :)
That trip was my 30th b-day present from Brian! I love that city and that was maybe my 6th time in New Orelans in 8 years!:)
Feel free to come cheer me on then. I will need it. And keep your fingers crossed for a great morning that day!

buddies!!

Guess which one is which!

New Kids on the Block 1st pic together in 15 years

My prayers have been answered! The New Kids have released their 1st photo in the last 15 years. Could Donny be anymore hot? My husband is giving me a hard time about it. I think he loves seeing me re-live my life as a 10-13 year old girl! He is getting a kick out of it as much as I am. I just tell him I'm proud of liking the New Kids! Why deny the person I was? Besides, it got me to the point in being the person I am today!! You just aren't going to catch me at their concert wearing an airbrushed jean jacket. (Remember that Destiny?HAHA) I will be at any concert they perform at though!:)

Matt is the real father!

So Brian and Matt for awhile now have gone back and forth making funny pics of each other. Brian once turned our entire football team into a bunch of Matt's.

Matt decided to tell Brian the real news.. The our sons are really his....:) haha check out how much the boys look like Matt!

St. Patty's Day 2008

The boys had their first St. Patty's Day this year and it also marked their 5 month birthday! Caden is in "Lucky Charm" . Cole is in the "Kiss me!" They are starting to look identical though they are not!

Wild kingdom

Brian called me at work to say, "Guess what I saw in the back yard!" I figured it was the family of 6 deer. But he said, NO! WILD TURKEY!! He never told me one of them was an albino turkey!! It was so cool!!!!

Wildlife in the backyard

We have a large area of woods behind our house. In the last few days I've noticed that a group of deer have been coming around looking for food. I think they may be starving and are looking for any food they can. I went to the store, got bird seed for the blue jays, cardinals and other birds I've seen. I bought corn cobs for the squirels I've noticed and I got some apples for the deer. Today my friend Frank and I set out everything. Well, I set out everything and Frank helped keep watch for the animals. Finally later in the afternoon, the birds were in the birdfeeder and the squirels were having fun. THen a deer came. It stayed awhile, but then left. I figured that was it, but then it returned with 5 friends. They found the apples and corn cobs. They tried some of the bird seed on the ground. Later in the evening when Brian was home, 3 more came. It was great seeing the wildlife in our yard. I felt bad realizing that our house took some of their home. I'm glad that the people who owned those woods haven't sold their property. I really hope they never do. I love the woods behind our house! I love seeing nature right outside my door. Here are pictures I took today. I only am showing a few!

New Pics

Cole

Caden

There is good news. Cole doesn't have scoliosis. I was scared. The ortho doc thinks that he likes to posture that way. He sits a lot in a bouncy, so we need to move him out more on to a blanket. He hates tummy time, as does his brother Caden. I feel relieved though.

I wanted to add pics that we took of them recently. They look a bit different. Caden more than Cole. They are just getting so cute. They talk and laugh. And they CRY:) It's rewarding getting to watch them change and grow!

Scoliosis- My momma said that my back is crooked like a question mark!

I noticed that Cole has a significant curve in his spine. I know that it is scoliosis. We will be taking him to the doctor next week so I'm not going to make an extra appointment for that. I read quite a bit about infant scoliosis today. I think his is significant enough that he may require bracing/casting to treat it. Most cases they just wait and observe. I think I may be able to deal with that, but it is becoming more and more noticable in the last week, so I really hope that we can start an early intervention. Because my boys were premature, I enrolled them in the Help Me Grow program. Tomorrow I have an appointment with the developmental specialist and will see what she recommends. They are all about early interventions so I think they will try and get me the help that I need. I don't have a lot of confidence in our pediatrician right now. I think depending on what he says about this situation will tell me if I should keep him as their doctor. I know that X-rays and an MRI should be done at least to see how bad the curve is.
I'm feeling a little heartbroken about all of this. You always want a perfect baby. Now I"m worried that he may not really make his milestones. That he will be further behind. A little scary if you ask me. I never realized I could worry so much. I may need that antianxiety med that my doctor offered me today at the docs office. (I've been having chest pains which I figured was anxiety. He just confirmed it for me!) I love these little guys more than anything. In seeing the curve I hope that it will fix itself. But if not, I know it will be a bit of a long road for the treatment of it. I'll pray and keep my fingers crossed that things will work out alright. I know there is so much they can do now. I'm just hoping that it doesn't require surgical intervention. Once we start something like that, that will be something he needs until he is out of high school. Not to mention be quite painful! My poor guy. Keep your figures crossed for my little Cole!

Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans , part 2?

I was watching Ellen today. She was doing a Mardi Gras special and talking about the lower 9th ward and the Make It Right Foundation. This foundation is raising money to build houses in the lower 9th ward. It was started by Brad Pitt and Ellen has picked up on it and is trying to help raise money as well.

As everyone knows I fell in love with New Orleans in 1998, the first time I was there. I have been back there quite a bit and only once since Hurricane Katrina. I had my bacholerette party there, I celebrated my 30th birthday there. I drove down for 3-11 day to see 311 in concert. I have been there a few other times as well. Not yet for Mardi Gras though, but that will be in the future. Last time I was there for my 30th birhtday in October of '06 (check my blog history for photos) I was sad at the things I saw. I told my husband as we sat once again at Pat O'Briens in the French Quarter, that I loved New Orleans. It is so familiar to me now and when we are there it feels like home. I love the atmosphere, the culture there. Even though you are in the US you feel like you are in another place, espeically in the French Quarter. It's important to keep those traditions. I remember for my bacholerette party , I took a few girls who have never been there. As we flew over Lake Ponchatrain, I told them about how 1 powerful hurricane could devistated the city. 3 months later, what I feared and told them about actually happened. My friends told me that they thought of me when they saw the news.

I think it is important to rebuild New Orleans. Please if you can donate to the Make It Right Foundation. You can also go to ELLENTV.com and order a t-shirt from her website for charity. I plan on donating money soon. (I've been on maternity leave and literally have $16 left to my name till my next paycheck) And I also plan on getting a t-shirt. Each house is estimated to be $150,000. So money needs to roll in! The shirt says, "MAKE IT RIGHT FOUNDATION" with the number 9 on it for the lower 9th ward! IT's pretty cool!

New Kids reunion

I know this will be funny, but New Kids on the Block are planning a comeback! I know you all will rip on me for this, but they were my first favorite band and concert. It will bring back a lot of memories for me. And I'm proud of who I am now, so I'm not embarrassed to admit that I loved them back in the day!!! I was 11-12 for God's sake! But it was still pretty good music and I know all you haters know all the words to their songs just as well as I do!!!
I can't wait!:)


From People.com....

After months of speculation and rumor, the Kids are coming back. A well-placed source tells PEOPLE exclusively that New Kids On The Block are indeed getting back together. The band's Web site, www.nkotb.com, which had been dormant, is now back up and running in anticipation of the official announcement, which the source says will be made in the next few weeks. The site currently features a television graphic with a fuzzy, flickering photos of NKOTB in their heyday, and a link inviting fans to sign up for info.The boy band, which made legions of tweens swoon in the early '90s, selling more than 50 million albums, became a worldwide phenomenon before calling it quits in 1994. Eighteen years later, they're still "Hangin' Tough." The oldest "Kid," Jonathan Knight, now a real estate developer, will turn 40 later this year. Since the band's demise, former members Donnie Wahlberg, 38, and Joey McIntyre, 35, have seen acting success, while Danny Wood, 38, has worked as a music producer and Knight's brother, Jordan, 37, has continued to record.

New pics of the boy

This Cole

This is Caden above... We take pics of the boys everyday because everyday they just seem so cute!!!! One of the pics I'm going to post is on honor of my cousin Julie. She is a Florida Gator, her husband is a Seminole. My husband was always a fan of FSU, so he sent Julie one of the pictures above. :)

In Memory of Heath Ledger

I just wanted to say I'm sorry for the loss of Heath Ledger. I thought he was a really great actor. I enjoyed his movies. It was a bit of a shock to see he died on the news. It never sits well with me seeing someone younger than myself pass on. I'm not sure how he died at this time. I'm only hoping it wasn't on purpose. That would be a waste of a great talent and sad for his daughter.