AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: December 31, 2008 17 min to go
DATE: 12/31/2008 20:45:22
STATUS: publish
BODY:

It's been a good year, things are looking up.

I'm tired, working hard this week and feeling ill to my stomach. I'm going to go see Dad on Saturday, can't wait to show him how big the boys are getting.

Nothing left for tonight, I'm going to fold the laundry and go to bed. Hopefully in the next 15 minutes.

Night,

Me.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: December 27, 2008 A struggle of conscience
DATE: 12/27/2008 17:39:38
STATUS: publish
BODY:

1 Tim 5:8

8 Certainly if anyone does not provide for those who are his own, and especially for those who are members of his household, he has disowned the faith and is worse than a person without faith.

WOW, what a powerful message. Does this mean that those who don't provide for their in laws are faithless people? I'm horrified at this passage. My mother in law doesn't like me b/c I won't let her smoke around my boys or in my house. She would tavel from her house to very close to ours and never stop. We felt as if she just didn't want to be around us. Does this mean that if we don't care for her when she is no longer able to care for herself that we are faithless? Sounds like it. What to do? Looks like we will be trying to make appropriate arrangements for when this day comes. Something along the lines of in-law's quarters. Where she will still not be able to smoke. There will be no smoke in any property that I own period. I'm trying to get Duck to stop allowing people to smoke in the garage as I would one day love to have a functioning office out there and an area for the kids to play while we are out there.

Okay I need to go take a shower and finish my lesson plan.

Katy

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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Kim H
DATE: 12/30/2008 17:16:01
The passage is talking about your household. You, your husband, and your children. Your MIL is not a member of your household. If she were to become a member of your household, she would still need to abide by your rules of no smoking. Your first responsibility is to your immediate family. When your husband married you, you became immediate family and his mother became extended. (....Shall leave his father AND HIS MOTHER and cleave unto his wife....)

We have in-laws that smoke. Thankfully, they live out of state, but when they do visit, the know the rule. No smoking on the property. I don't need my children getting sick from putting a butt in their mouth. If they smoke, I will throw water in their face. Cruel? Maybe. Crueler is endangering the health and life of my children. They have a choice. Visit and don't smoke or don't visit.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Katy
DATE: 12/30/2008 20:27:27
That is what my further research and discussions turned up. I also feel that a good Christian would take care of their in-laws and parents if needbe. I do struggle with that and I COMPLETELY agree with the no smoking thing. Today we stopped in a persons house and I can't believe the overwhelming stink of the smoke and by the time we left (I was without the kids and only there for maybe 4 minutes) I could still feel the crap in my lungs. The taste had even seeped into my mouth. YUCK. I wish they'd raise the tax on Cig to perhaps 20 dollars a pack. That would certainly limit it. Of course then it would be underground as is a lot of the other drugs. I also think that it should be against the law to smoke out in public period. Including outside of restaurants or places of business. As a previous smoker I no longer have any sympathy for anyone who smokes and think that they are getting off easier than I'd let them.
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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: December 27, 2008 a joke and a dream!
DATE: 12/27/2008 16:27:20
STATUS: publish
BODY:

My dad sent me an email telling me that my step mother was 3 mo prego, knowing that this was more than likely a joke I sent him an email back telling him that I didn't know how to tell him, but I too was prego. I think he believed me, he is trying to name the baby and told me this one better be a girl. I need to call him again tonight to make sure he knows that it was a joke in response to his. NO I'm not prego, unless Jehovah decides I need to have a baby, I will not have another.

I read an article today in on cnn.com. It broke my heart. These kids in a 3rd world country are wasting away to nothing waiting on food.

Rev. 21:3,4

3 With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: “Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his peoples. And God himself will be with them. 4 And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.”

My fav is Rev 21:4. Imagine! A day when when there will be no more death, no more suffering, no more hunger, no more wickedness a Paradise. Imagine, a place where men, women and children walk with God's creatures, where we are all unified, we all have one goal, one desire...to please Jehovah, our God, our Creator and our Father.

I had a friend send me an email today telling me that her father in law died early this morning. I long for the day when we will be able to walk and learn with our relatives again on Earth, when we are among those who want to be loyal and serve.

Rev 20:13

13 And the sea gave up those dead in it, and death and Ha´des gave up those dead in them, and they were judged individually according to their deeds.

There is one more scripture that I'd like to share tonight:

Psm 83:18

18 That people may know that you, whose name is Jehovah,
You alone are the Most High over all the earth.

Along with all the one that I have posted in my "Blast" 1Cor 15:33 (which I know by heart) Do not be misled, Bad associations spoil useful habits.

Okay, I need to do my study lesson for tomorrow. I also picked up another person's hours since her Grandmother is dying, she wants to spend as much as time with her as possible. On another note, I look at the schedule wrong, way wrong. I even called in yesterday to see if they needed more help. I was a no call no show last night, and this morning I was called at 11:15 to be told I was late. I told my manager that I wasn't due in until 5 pm, she said, no that was last night and you didn't show up. I told her I'd talk to her when I got there. I apologized up one side and down the other. Even though I don't like the night manager I would NEVER be so rude as to do that on purpose. I think that she forgave me, she said she didn't have access to the computer where my number was and didn't think to look in my file. I will now make up some hours tomorrow and went over my schedule with a manager. It is now in my handy dandy new pocket calendar that I will keep everything in so I can keep track of my apts.

Okay, gotta run.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: December 23, 2008 Why?? (a rant)
DATE: 12/23/2008 17:35:22
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Why is the question that I want to ask! WHY? Why spend all this money for stuff that is killing us? If I was in office, not that I'd ever run, I'd raise cigarette taxes so high only the richest of the rich would be able to continue to smoke. I would make every pack gradually raise to $20.00 in the next 3 years. Then those who do smoke would have a 50-75% increase in health insurance. This would stop the problems. I would also tax the crap out of the tobacco farmers, making it not worth them growing the crop at all. They could be growing corn, beans or whatnot, something that everyone needs. Not everyone can smoke their dinner, but everyone needs to eat at some point. Whether it is corn to feed the animals which we end up eating or hay to feed them. There are too many starving people in the US, and the farmers are growing tobacco instead of food...anyone else see a problem with this?

On another note:

AP Sources: Teixeira agrees to $180M Yankees deal

This deal is to pay him 180 million over the next 8 years! That's 22.5 million every year. WHY? Why in the world does one person need 22.5 million dollars to live on? What in the world are they doing with that money? What makes him more important than the guy who bags your groceries at the store, or the person who babysits your kids or the person who collects your garbage? Okay, so he can throw, catch and swing a wooden stick to hit a ball and run around in circles. Big deal...I've got it!

I'm now for sale, I can catch a ball, throw a ball, swing a stick at a ball, I can even do dishes and put up with people's garbage...how much is that worth? I sure as heck know that I could put my millions to better use than he is going to. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not only picking on him, this goes for all the pro athletes who think their poo doesn't stink...guess what, I'm sure it does! Just because you know how to perfectly throw something, catch it and make a point you aren't anything special. I'm so sick of people worshiping this false idols!

Don't even get me started about the Dome in Indy...Okay too late! I watched the footage of it being reduced to rubble. WHAT! Okay, so they raised the taxes in Indiana to cover the MSA that was torn down because the ball players wanted something better. So I'm pretty sure that it was raised again (taxes) to pay for the dome. I read that Indiana still owes 40 million on that debt (I could be a bit wrong on the exact amount) and that Lilly offered 40 million of the 49 million for the debt to build that Dome. What in the heck happened? We are still paying on the dome, we are still paying on MSA and now we are paying because of another tax increase for Lucas Oil Stadium. What in the heck is going on Mitch Daniels? Why not let the players who are making MILLION and MILLIONS and MILLIONS of dollars and are spending a good part of that money at the local girly places and booze and drugs and jail bonds and lawyers and have them donate each a million per year until it is paid off. Make it part of their over inflated contracts. Or send them packing!

Duck and I did the math the other day. The 700 Billion dollar bailout package if paid by the 305 million persons in the US (I am assuming the Census Dept is only counting the legal tax paying citizens) it would amount to $2288 per person. This means that my family of 4 would end up paying $9152 for the bailout. Okay, that is just a bit more than half of what Duck made this year and less than half of what I made. This better work or the US government is in serious trouble.

I would like to take this moment to laugh at OPEC. Their decision to lower the output of oil has seemed to work in their adverse effect or is it affect..both might be right in this instance. Oil prices are falling along with the rest of the economy. Okay, let us think back to this past summer. We were all suffering the $4 + per gallon prices while they were going ch-ching all the way to the bank. Maybe they should have held back some of that money and give the rest of us free gas for a month or quarter or even year. Or here's a brainy idea...maybe they should have never let them get so ridiculous to begin with, we wouldn't be in this instance then at all...well not nearly this bad.

Okay, don't ranting for now, I guess most of it is the horrible weather and the even worse headlines. GIVE ME A BREAK...give the tax payers a break.

All in all I think that we treat our underprivileged like crap, our poor like poor and our rich like rich snobby brats that are throwing tantrums on the floor until they get their ways. While the rest of the middle class struggle and suffer. I'm grateful to Jehovah for all that I have and I'm doing my best for follow the guidance of the FDS to simplify life.

K~I met the lady that had the daughter with the heart problem today. She came and p/u a bunch of FC stuff from my house. I was going to tell you something else, but I forgot! Oh yeah, did you read the article about the man that threw nothing away for a year? Pretty cool!

Night everyone, rich, poor and everyone in between, sleep well and safe.

Katy

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: December 22, 2008 I DID IT!!!
DATE: 12/22/2008 14:14:16
STATUS: publish
BODY:
I passed my final with flying color. Granted, we were able to use our books and we wee told how many forms we were suppose to use. I was VERY excited that I was able to do well and get it right. Okay, gotta run, kids are hungry!
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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: December 20, 2008 Today....
DATE: 12/20/2008 19:11:47
STATUS: publish
BODY:

I went to work, I worked and I came home.

I ran into a lot of the brothers and sisters at work, I love it when they are there or when they come it. They put a smile on my face. I was able to witness informally to some coworkers. It was nice! I even got to learn a new thing today! I'm so very excited!

Okay, so I'm home with my kids and I need to play with them and do some laundry and clean a bit and take a shower and such.

night

me.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: December 19, 2008 Feeling much better!!!
DATE: 12/19/2008 20:14:52
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Went to the doc today and I have Bronchitis and a sinus infection. She gave me a shot in the bum to loosen up the stuff in my chest and nose. I also got a script that is suppose to last 10 days and apparently is expensive. She gave me a $15.00 off coupon and a free sample...that's going to be bad. I have to work tomorrow and Sunday. I'm glad that I went, I don't think that I would have lasted all weekend feeling like I did Thursday.

On another note, I did have a burst of energy again today and ran a load of laundry, load of dishes and rinsed the other. Got the cans filled for settling and the livingroom picked back up again for the 3rd time today.

Hopefully Duck can get the windmill wired into the house to at least run one power strip this weekend. That would do wonders! We could run the tv area off that one switch.

Okay I need to go to bed, I'd like to get up early to study a bit before I have to go to work!

Katy

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: December 18, 2008 A burst of energy!
DATE: 12/18/2008 20:53:48
STATUS: publish
BODY:

I feel horrible today, my throat hurts, my sinus hurt and so on, I'm pretty sure that it is a sinus infection. I called and got an apt tomorrow with the doc. She said that I'd have to be patient since she had to squeeze me in, no worries, at least I will not have to suffer all weekend. I'll live this isn't the end of the world

I did go through most of the stored clothes for the boys, I found a lot for Sunshine and an entire kitchen trash bag for Smiley. I also found some clothes to give to a family that is down in their luck and another grandfather who needed some help. It was nice to find all the clothes, now I have fewer worries about where we are going to come up with the money for that.

Okay, well my battery is almost dead and I need to get to bed.

Night,

Katy

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: December 17, 2008 Goals for 2009 and part of 2010
DATE: 12/17/2008 19:45:45
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Iwill do my best to post a weekly update of my goals, this will keep them fresh and up todate. This will also help me add when I need to!

Goals:

Paint living room
Paint hall way
Paint Front Door
Fix Water system
Put Grommets in and hang curtains
Go through books and purge!
Put up plastic on windows
Build a Solar Heater for upstairs
Build a Solar Heater for Kitchen
Build a Solar Heater for Laundry Room
Clean and organize Laundry Room
Go through cupboards and purge
Move stereo out to garage
Fix basement stairs
Put insulation up in basement
Put plastic up in basement
Connect windmill to house
Potty train A
Potty train C
Put up Curtain in bathroom
Put up Curtain in Hallway
Seal front and back Doors
Put up socket sealers
Caulk baseboards on exterior walls
Take AC units out to garage
Move desk
Move computer
Put up closet in small closet
Brace clothes bar in big closet
Go through boys toys
Go through boys clothes
Fix both bookshelf dressers so they won’t separate
Fix laundry room drawer
Fix kitchen drawer
Make new table seats for booth in kitchen
Seal windows in basement
Seal basement
Paint basement ceiling
Paint garage ceiling
Paint bathroom ceiling with Kilz
Put up shower surround
Put up clothes line in Kitchen
Hang coat hanger hooks for boys
Steam Clean all carpets
Move bedrooms around
Get Twin bed for C
Put all item on eBay that need to be sold
Finish body work on Blacky
Paint Blacky Black
Finish body work on Bluey
Paint Bluey
Fix truck bed
Body work and paint truck
Fix hole in siding above bedroom window
Make Windmill #2
Make Windmill #3
Make Solar Panel
Buy Battery #2
Buy Battery #3
Buy Battery #4
Buy Battery #5
Buy Battery #6
Detail Van
New baseboards
Lose 20 pounds by March
Lose 40 pounds by June
Lose 60 pounds by September
Lose 80 pounds by December
Lose 95 pounds by March 2010
Get a Geo Thermo Heat Pump Installed
Get energy usage down to 1200 wph

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: December 17, 2008 Ewww....gross!!!
DATE: 12/17/2008 19:19:55
STATUS: publish
BODY:

First I would like to touch on my previous entry, I found another new article that stated some other children who had suffered from such rooms, most of the time it said the children were Autistic. I'm horrified! We will make sure that what ever we do with Sunshine he is never in a school that has to use such punishment. I don't see that will be a problem as they have never has to restrain him, but oh my goodness, these poor parents. Homeschool gets another pro and point!

A bit earlier Apollo (my faithful kitty) came home, I was beginning to worry as I didn't see him for more than 24 hours and he had a HUGE abscess on his face. Okay, so this is the 3rd time and NO I didn't take him to the vet, the would have had me do the same thing that I do, or they would have lanced it right there and I would be stuck with a HUGE vet bill and blah blah blah. Under the direction of the vet when he had the first one, it will eventually reputure like a zit and boy oh boy tonight did it! I was on the couch the first time he came in and I held him up to wipe some of it away from his face and it smelled like dead flesh (or I'd have to assume that is what dead flesh smells like). I got some of it out and he began getting very aggitated and I'm sure it hurt so I gave him some medicine. Now when he came in the first time tonight it looked like he swallowed a golf ball, and I'm NOT joking, it was every bit the size of a golf ball or bigger. So when he came in the second time he ran upstairs and sat at the top of the stairs and cried. So I went up and could see the puss and junk coming out, so I grabed a cloth and started pushing and squeezing, he didn't fight nearly as much and all in all it shrunk nearly completely. The only thing left now is the blood that is bright red with no traces of puss. I now have to worry about him bleeding all over the place until it heals or scabs. He has been in the same place for nearly and hour and no blood had dripped to the floor so I'm confident that it will only be in his bed area and I will just scrub it down in the morning. He is truely a great cat! I do wonder what got him this time for it to be that big. The first two times it was on his paws, back and front, this was on his face/cheek area. So back to my title...EWWW GROSS. It was horribly nasty! The things we do for our kids, husbands and pets.

I haven't gone to see JH recently, I'm too sick to spread my germs to him. He gets to go home hopefully next Thur, I'm really glad, we will have to wait and see what happens. I think that I need to remind SH that Thursday is Christmas and even though we don't celebrate, I'm not sure that the doc will allow him to be released on that day. I will be tactful and polite in my point.

Okay, I need to get off of here and finish picking the Living Room back up and throw the last load into the dryer before I hit the hay.

Night!

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: December 17, 2008 Horrified!
DATE: 12/17/2008 09:01:38
STATUS: publish
BODY:

http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/local&id=6559357

Shame on these parents and shame on Wal-Mart. I am all for freedom of speech, but this is cruel and unusal punishment. These parents are horrible for the hell they are going to put their kids through. What in the world were they thinking? These people are trying to make themselves sound better when they say they aren't racist, after all they wanted a swastika, this just screams racist. Why now put a confed flag on their front door and a noose in their front lawn tree. This angers me so much, these poor kids need to be homeschooled for thier sake, otherwise the need to learn to fight because they will be exposed to daily harrassments from other kids, and lots of them! What in the world were they thinking???

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: December 16, 2008 Ready for bed?
DATE: 12/16/2008 20:09:54
STATUS: publish
BODY:

I'm so ready to go to sleep. If I had periods I would think that I was going to start soon, I couldn't get enough to eat, I finally had to just stop eating. I should be full, bursting, but I'm not, I'm still hungry. I'm not going to eat again tonight, I need top stop before it settles in too much. They both took a nap earlier and are now wired and ready to stay up, after this movie we will lay down.

Smiley has learned the phrase, "NO mom!" AHHHH. At least most of the time it is apporiate.

We went to the store today, thinking that the roads are only going to get worse until Thursday and I don't want to get out tomorrow. I slipped and fell in the parking lot of our local little store. The sad thing is it was next to the handicap spot and it was a complete sheet of ice.

In a separate occasion, the other day I think that I may have fractured or severly bruised my pinky carpal bone. It is still swollen and hurts pretty bad to touch. I will see how it feels next week. My book study meeting was cancelled tonight, my bible study was cancelled this afternoon and I found out today that Duck is going to be laid off on Friday for sure. Class was moved to earlier on Monday and that is when we are taking the final. We also found out that we are recommended, but not required to attend an unpaid training session the first week of Jan. I need to try to figure things out until then.

By the way, did I tell everyone how bad out local accessors office messed up our taxes? The treasurer is now going to have to refund us $971 of the $1740 we paid in taxes last year. I'm happy that all the fighting I did paid off, nearly a thousand dollars. The bad new is that we won't get it until late Jan or early Feb. If I alread said this, sorry! I also had got our taxes this year reduced from $1080 to $510, OVER HALF! Maybe I should apply for a job at the acessors office.

I need to jump off of here, I should really try to read some of my book so I can get a jump on things, there are certain things that I don't have completely grasped, Sch A's are MONSTERS!

Me.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: December 16, 2008 BACK TO RILEY
DATE: 12/16/2008 13:05:41
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Oh my godness, it is back to Riley. Sunshine has a double ear infection and it has been deemed that the local doc's are incompentent. I had one ask me what medicine to give my child since he is allergic to penicillin. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? He is actually running a fever and the doc put him back on the antibotic that he won't take. All in all, this means that he can't go back to school until after the first of the year. She also documented the bruise on his back after I showed it to her. This was key because he was losing his balance and running into things and falling and such. He shows signs of aggression as well when he isn't feeling well which would explain his fustration with his brother last night. Okay, I need to jump off of here and sweep the diningroom.

me.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: December 14, 2008 Okay so it's REALLY late!
DATE: 12/14/2008 21:57:00
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Today I went to the meeting, I came home and made cards with JH with the boys. Took them up to the nursing home and dropped them off and then ran to work. Worked 5 hours, came home, ran a load of dishes, put the rest in the sink, wiped down the counter and straightened up generally. Now I need to finish the livingroom including vacuuming and getting the laundry together. Tomorrow I will be working on my class work...oh shoot, is it reall 1 am? OH MY GOODNESS> I still have a 4 yr old wide awake. Smiley must have crawled in bed with his dad, he went upstairs and hasn't come back down. Since he can't reach the light, he must have found his way.

Okay I need to do about 10 more minutes worth of cleaning so I can get some sleep. I need to take Sunshine to the doc in the morning, I think he may have an ear infection. Between the fever he ran yesterda and the running into walls and falling, I'm pretty sure that is what it is.

More tomorrow.
Me.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: December 13, 2008 Why is life so cruel?
DATE: 12/13/2008 16:31:41
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Okay, without opening the bible it is obvious that life is cruel. Look at us, we are born, we live lives most of the time that are somewhat of a struggle in one way or another and then our bodies give out and we die. Okay, so I know that we suffer and go through trials and tribulations because of Adam and Eve when they sinned. And until Revelations is fulfilled, we are stuck here under Satan's Rule. Oh how I long for the day that Jesus returns to earth and everyone is judged.

Tonight I was with a friends dad and it was so sad. He was so emotional and confused. I took him from the dinner table since he was finished and wanted to go back to his room. He kept thinking that his wife was there or soon coming, he kept telling me that he wanted to talk to her, so I called her and let him talk to her. He was so sad, I kept trying to reassure him that he'd be able to go home soon. All in all, it was heartbreaking.

Okay, I need to go, I have a lot to do, all three of my boys are sick, I have some studying to do and housework.

Me.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: December 11, 2008 Busy again and behind
DATE: 12/11/2008 19:38:46
STATUS: publish
BODY:

I'm feeling awful, my chest is tight, it hurts to breath in, my throat hurts and my sinuses are causing ear congestion, headaches and tooth aches. Enough complaining, nothing motrin and Mucinex can't cover until Mon.

There was a rumon at Duck's work about layoffs being earlier than the 19th. Either way no worry. I kinda wish it would be this week, then I could spend the week at the librar studying, either way I need to use my time better. I will get up early tomorrow and study, then I will clean before I take Sunshine to school if he goes. He was warm today and didn't move for about 2 hours before school. He was ver not himself...best way to describe it.

Duck and I just had spat, he doesn't get to do what he wants to because of time, I don't get to do what I want to because of time. He threw my FSM into the argument and meetings. GRRR. The bible states...Don't forsake the gathering with others. I apologized that he didn't have enough time and he apologized that he didn't get me enough time. Tomorrow, no games, no movies no nothing until after class. This is a critical week.

I stopped by LHM again and found a pair of pants for Sunshine and a couple more shirts. I will be going through the extra clothes this weekend and see if he has any in there. I think he has some pants, and then we are set. If not I will see if I can run into GW or the other LHM and find him a few pairs. He is growing like a weed. Smiley is getting tall and thin, his pants don't fit, they are either too long or too big around the waist.

My nesting continued a lot today, I cleared one shelf completely from the bathroom storage cabinet in the Laundry Room, got rid of the baskets, the food we won't eat, then it was off to the bathroom. You would not believe how much stuff I have gathered. I found lice shampoo that we bought when we were in the process of adopting JD since he once had lice when he came over and we wanted to hault it in it's tracks! The exp date was 2005...goodness! There was a lot more than that, tanning lotion, it's been a few years since I fake baked. All kids of stuff, like a 2/3's bottle full conditionar that I'm allergic to. Best of all I found Sunshine's book which contains all of his med stuff and therapy stuff. Major big deal!

I see that my post for the 9th still hasn't come up....double Grrrr...it had my list of stuff that I wanted to do on it. This weekend, Duck is going to clean the garage, put up a curtain rod for the 2nd closet and brace the other one, fix the dressers to prevent them from falling again. I'm going to go through all the boys toys and clothes. Sunshine has been using the potty at home, but won't use it at school, I don't even want to go there. I did talk to the programs Psych today and informed her of my dislike of this school year....she was a bit surprised at what I told her as far as Sunshine re-gressing.

I didn't get to go see JH today, I will take Smiley up if I get my work done in the morning, that way I can at least give him some company. I was feeling so bad today, it hurt to talk and I even missed the meeting. Speaking of which I need to send out an email.

Okay, I need to run, I've got a lot to do, I would like to get most of the house picked up tonight that way I have less to do tomorrow and more time to study.

Me.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: December 10, 2008 Sad day
DATE: 12/10/2008 17:39:30
STATUS: publish
BODY:

At a study today of one of EW's students I learned that there was a baby not to far from us that went through a terrible series of events. It just reminded me the horror that children can face behind closed doors. After I read it to Duck he asked where they were located and if he could go and visit the jail. I told him that the best thing to do is to hug his little boy and be greatful that he isn't like that. Broke my heart, at least the 10 mo old little girl will not remember any of this and will be able to lead a life hopefully that is more successful and productive than her parents.

We went to see JH today in the Home, he was in PT working with the nurse and the nurse walked down with us to the PT room. She said that he wouldn't take his meds so I thought that the baby would help perk him up. Sure enough it was nice, he perked up and then took his meds. Smiley even gave him a kiss goodbye. I told him that I would come back after the study. He was waiting for his dinner. It was very sad in there, he had tears in his eyes and was so happy to see us. He knows that things aren't like they were a long time ago but he just doesn't understand. I can't wait for th end of this system of things, Satan has to be put to death, things have to start getting better after the judgement.

Okay, I need to scoot, I need to clean the livingroom for the 3rd time today and do some studying.

Me.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: December 09, 2008 Been very busy!!!
DATE: 12/09/2008 20:12:01
STATUS: publish
BODY:

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: December 04, 2008 On the lighterside
DATE: 12/04/2008 20:23:54
STATUS: publish
BODY:

'WINTER'

a poem by
Abigail Elizabeth McIntyre

SHOOT, It's Cold !

The End

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: December 03, 2008 Okay I'm back
DATE: 12/03/2008 19:13:45
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Okay, he's over it. There isn't enough hours in the day to do everything. Take care of the kids, take care of the house completely, take care of the animals, take care of Duck's every need, go to class, study, study for meetings and so forth. I have a pounding headache and I'm starting to get sick.

Today was one of the worst days. This afternoon while I was reading...side note, Sunshine was home because last nigth he had diarreah so bad that it made him bleed and I needed to keep him home incase it is viral...they were playing upstairs while I was studying and I heard this crash and screaming! I'm mean a crash like half the house was going to be missing. I ran up stairs, almost like I was flying and sure enough the top of Sunshine's dresser fell on Smiley. I was horrified, at least he was crying so he was alive. I couldn't see him so I had to start pealing it off of him. I looked him over and there was no broken bones or scrapes or whatnot. He must have slid in between the shelves an that is what saved him. I'm very greatful that he is okay. I kept remembering about that little girl who had a TV fall and kill her from the top of a dress, while there was nothing that heavy, the shelf isn't light at all, especially for a 24# little boy.

Later tonight the boys were waiting for Duck to get back into the van, we were in the driveway waiting for him to feed the dogs so he could ride back up with us. Smiley hit the toggle switch for the window and rolled it up on Sunshine face, it busted his lip. OH MY GOODNESS, can't we have a calm night? All is well, a little swollen and was bloody, but good now.

K~I hear you about the constant whinning and crying and such. Smiley is doing the same, they want to go outside and play so bad but with the asthma and such it is too cold and damp. He cries at a whim, he had his 2 yr check up yesterday and she said that his 2 yr mollars were still trying to come in and that was probably most of his complain. We are going to bring in the slide and trampoline so they can be active. Good luck with the 2's!!! I sure know that I'm going to need to exercise a HUGE amount of patients with this child, he is a holy terror compared to Sunshine. Just that he is into everything and refuses to sleep more than 30 or so mintues without being right next to or on top of me.

Okay I need to scoot, I have a bunch of reading and studying to do first thing (5:30 am) in the morning. I figure if I get up early then I can get it done w/out distractions.

By they way, this sounds like an awful entry, it has just been a really bad day at our house with accidents, normally we don't have such drama as this!

Later....Me.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: December 03, 2008 From bad to worse
DATE: 12/03/2008 17:57:14
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Well, I first want to say how much I dispise (if that is how you spell it) MUD. Give me snow, give me sun, but I hate when it al melts and there is mud. AHHHHH. Okay, Class isn't going much better. We are now 2 classes at least behind. That means more homework, less one on one, less time to prep for the final.

Okay, so that's all I'm going to have time for, Duck is having a melt down

me.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: November 26, 2008 What is true beauty?
DATE: 11/26/2008 18:00:21
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Is it the makeup you wear? The clothes you have on? The diamonds on your ears, neck or hands? The size of your house or the type of cars you drive? What is true beauty to you?

To me, true beauty is love for Jehovah God. The beauty is in everything around us: The trees, the air, the children's laughs and cries, the smile of a stranger, the love of a spouse of between parents and children.

I'm truely a blessed woman, wife and mother!

Love,
Katy

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: November 26, 2008 Attacked by a duck!
DATE: 11/26/2008 10:27:58
STATUS: publish
BODY:

And I don't mean my Duck which is commonly refered to as my husband for nickname reasons. Sunshine woke up with pretty bad breathing troubles today, we rushed to the local place to get supplies for the neb and there you go. I kept him home from school and he is doing a bit better. I will keep him on both meds for the next couple of days. So on the way home, we stopped by the breadstore as we crossed the bridge we saw that the Ducks had not left yet so we stopped to feed them. I ran out of bread, bad mistake a guess, a Swan started pecking the side of my van. UNREAL. I wouldn't stop so I had to pull out and it continued to follow. I injured myself trying to get the kids back into the van, I hit the part between my ankle and heel on the corner of the door and it is HUGE...OUCH.

Tomorrow we are going to dig a trench for the windmill wiring to come into the house, we are going to clean up the back yard and finish the rest of the outside stuff before it is too cold. I am also going to work upstairs and hopefully get all the laundry done. I also need to go through the clothes, both boys have outgrown or are starting to outgrow their shirts.

Well they are getting into something so I really need to get off of here and get the livingroom picked back up and get a load of dishes and laundry done.

Tata.

me.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: November 24, 2008 Class...well, there's always next Mon.
DATE: 11/24/2008 19:31:24
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Well, I did worse on my test today than I did on Fri, I will have to retake it again, I did however have all my homework correct which I thought would be wrong. This chapter is the hardest by far, my head was spinning in circles by the time we left. I did part of the homework and not sure I did it right, tonight I will set up a schedule to read a two chapters everyday so I can get them all re-read and get my bearings before the final in a month.

My friend has now lost almost 50 pounds doing WW, I'm really looking forward to started on it. I am also going to get a project list started, things I want to get done by the end of the year.

I'm going to get started on that now because I really want to get up at 5:00 am to get things going for my day.

Me.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: November 24, 2008 Not doing what I'm suppose to be.
DATE: 11/24/2008 09:39:12
STATUS: publish
BODY:

I'm suppose to be studying, but I just ate lunch and I need a few minutes. I cleaned 70% of the kitchen today, including running 2 loads of dishes! OMGosh, that's a LOT. I have only ran one load of laundry, but it is getting chilly in the house again so I will dry another load. If I keep that up, I should be able to keep the heater off. The solar heaters haven't been working, there hasn't been any sunlight so there isn't any solar heat. Thursday Brother L is going to come over for Duck's Bible Study and then Duck is going to go out and dig a trench for the cable. I want the windmill to finally start working for us, not just the garage. It could relieve about 200-300 watts an hour hopefully. That would cut the lights and tv out of the equation. I would like to just run one or two plugs into it so we can get the best use out of it. Duck said that it has filled the batteries that we have and it is flowing in still. I need to make sure that he has the time to do that Thursday. I will be cleaning upstairs. My goal is to exercise once a day to my WATP DVD, read one chapter a day out of my class book, even if I have already read it, I will only go 2 chapters ahead and then start over, this will help ensure that I am retaining what I'm doing. If I need to I will start reading 2 chapters a day. I'm going to start getting up in the morning with Duck, that way I can get things done before the munchkins get up and get my reading and exercising done. Odds are that Smiley will be getting up super early with me and taking a nap, which is another benefit. Okay, I really need to get my class work done and get ready for tonight.

More later, hopefully!

Katy

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: November 21, 2008 Okay
DATE: 11/21/2008 19:09:40
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Here's what's up!

We got not resolve with the school, now we have to go to the director. Sunshine is liking school a lot better, but with respect we are still concerned.

Duck starts back to work on Monday, I've had to cut out my hour in FSM during the week, cut my hours back at work and keep my hours at class and the meetings. This isn't a good thing as it may seem. If he goes back to work, he will have to wait another week for unemployment benefits when he gets laid off on the 19th, which we have rec'd a letter stating to that fact. I'm grumbling, he has to bail them out of a pinch and then screw him over. Okay, so I should be greatful for that fact that they are there, they are going to pay him money, but they are going to cost us more in the long run. They screwed us over on insurance, they said that they would cancel it effective 10.31, they cancelled us effect 9.30. Now that he is going back we may be required to pay the 80 per week for 7 or 8 weeks that he has been gone. That's HORRIBLE! This really is a bum deal. We should know more on Monday. We also have to go fight the property taxes, they STILL have them wrong. Don't they listen? Don't they have ears? Are they just trying to aggravate everyone? Then each office is blaming the other. AHHHHH.

Sunshine has an apt for Kindergarden in the middle of next month, this is going to be interesting. They told one mom that her daughter has strong signs of mental retardation and she should be evaluated by Riley. This child doesn't speak, she's smart, she's involved, there is no call for this diagnosis in either of our opinions (mothers and mine). But hey, I'm not a doctor, just a mom.

Okay, it's late and I need to get one more load of laundry done before I go to bed. I need it for work tomorrow. I also need to start doing my exercising and studying, I am going to start getting up with Duck in the mornings to get my stuff done before the kids get up and get things set into motion for the day.

Okay, gotta run,

Me.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: November 21, 2008 Free Dr. Pepper
DATE: 11/21/2008 18:47:29
STATUS: publish
BODY:

I thought this was a joke, but it's true...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081121/ap_en_ce/guns_n_roses_dr_pepper_5

Gonna get my coupon as soon as I can!

Katy

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: November 21, 2008 Cute story
DATE: 11/21/2008 12:44:05
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Last night while I was at the meeting Duck told me that Smiley was playing a eye glass case using it as a phone. He was talking to whomever and then handed the phone to Duck. Duck said, "Hi, How are you, that's good, okay bye!" and handed the phone/glass case back to Smiley. Smiley then told the other person, "Shhhhsh!"

Okay, so it was really funny to us as parents.

Katy

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: November 19, 2008 What in the heck???
DATE: 11/19/2008 20:22:51
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Have you seen my previous email? If not, I strongly recommend you take a look. What has this world come to? What is going on? What was that dad thinking? Why in the world does he have his kids back (I don't think he has them all)? What on earth would possess him? I think this case calls for an eye or an eye. Let's tie him up, making him helpless, and let every angry parent out there who views this take swing at him. Now don't get me wrong, I don't exactly condone violence, but my heart broke for that little kid. Those images will remain in my mind. I need to look into it more and see if it was his child. I think that holding him and making him watch that over and over again for hours would be punishment enough. Where was the mom on this? Why did she allow him to post this to UTube? Why didn't she say something or better yet, do something.

My friend's husband was in a bad wreck the other day, he is going to be okay, but the truck driver responsible died.

Well I need to scoot, I need talk with Duck. He got called back to work today, but the new isn't good at all. He is going to be laid off again on the 19th which really messes up his unemployment and everything. I'm not sure what we are going to do.

Me.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: November 19, 2008
DATE: 11/19/2008 20:07:21
STATUS: publish
BODY:

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2008/11/19/pn.toddler.fight.cnn

This is so horrible.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: November 16, 2008 Huge amount of pain.
DATE: 11/16/2008 18:50:12
STATUS: publish
BODY:

This morning I got up after only 6 hrs of sleep to get ready for the meeting, Smiley joined me in the tub and we were getting ready. I started having stomach pains and nausa and then diarreah, sure you didn't want to know that! So we passed back out on the couch. Today my leg has peaked in the pain level. I need Duck to rub that spot on my back. It feel as if my hamstring is getting real short. I have troubles sitting on the couch or even in a chair for too long. I have to rotate my legs a lot and get up and walk around. I'm now sitting here with the TENS unit on for the 4 or 5th hour straight. I'm not feeling well. I'm not sure what we are doing on the electricity. I do know that my house is a mess, and I'm just not motivated to do anything about it.

This week is going to be busy!

M - Work 11-4 class 6-9

T - I think I'm off work so I'll go out into FSM - Meeting from 7-8ish

W - work 11-5 class 6-9

Th - Work 11-4 - Meeting 7-9ish

Friday - I may be off again and I have class again from 6-9

Sat I have to work and Sun also. She had me scheduled from 9-whatever and I stood my ground, I cant work until after noon on Sunday's PERIOD! If my job depended upon it, I'd quit.

Okay, I need to run, I'm going to try to do the other two midterms.

I'll write this week as soon as I can.

Katy

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: November 14, 2008 While there are no right answers...
DATE: 11/14/2008 20:40:16
STATUS: publish
BODY:

There are opinions. Things that some would do, things that some suggest and things that are questioned that raise further questions. While we have gone through 2 forms of assistance today, the conclusion rests that we need to contact the principal and provide the reports we have rec'd. Inform him of the situtation going on and humbly req the right to drop by and visit anytime. Such a report merits a huge concern that the teacher is acting inapporiately in the class room. If she has nothing to hide then she will have no reason to refuse our drop in visits. So now the mind wonders....I will not stress over it this weekend. Sunshine had a great day at school, and is very happy and cooperative tonight therefore I will go to work tomorrow, do my house work and Watchtower Study tomorrow night along with my reviews and class work and Sunday I have the meeting. I will go over my class stuff once more and then go from there. I can't remember if I work on Monday.

Okay, well I need to run, lots to think about.

Me.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: November 13, 2008 At a loss...
DATE: 11/13/2008 18:27:13
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Today has been busy, it was fun, but not as productive as I felt it could have been. I wanted to go running full steam ahead and I was held back....grrr. I went to the meeting tonight amid the last minute chest pains of my husband. I am home now and need to run the dishwasher and play with my boys.

Gotta go Smiley just go put into time out for biting.

Katy

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: November 12, 2008 I did it!!!
DATE: 11/12/2008 21:39:34
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Today we were sent home with our midterms.....AHHH. I pulled number 3, I was hoping for number 2. It looked much easier. The instructor said that number 3 was the hardest of them all. She gave us 3 options...without affecting our grades at all we could choose one of the following:

have her tell us which forms to use
the final answer
nothing at all...

The other two girls choose the form offer and I choose the the answer. She then advised me that she once had a girl choose the answer and she drove herself crazy because she did the return 4 times and never got the right answer. I would like to let everyone know that I did the return correct the first time. I did have to go back in the middle to fix an error that I caught, but the first time I looked at the answer, I was correct. I DID IT!!! I was estatic! I will have to finish up chapter 8 classwork and homework tomorrow and I will do the other two midterms this weekend just to see if I can do them. This is a step in the right direction.

In other news I found out from my husband last night who rec'd a call from his brother that their sister clocked their mother over a religious debate. AHHHH!!!, that reminds me of that blond joke...have you heard it?

Here goes...

A blond is in a row boat in the middle of a harvested corfield after a hard long rain. She is rowing as hard as she can. Another blond stops her car as she is passing, jumps out and shouts, "It is blonds like you who give blonds like me a bad name and if I could swim I would come out there and kick your butt!"

Moral of the story in case you missed it, there was no reason to be in the middle of a corn field in a row boat trying to row out when she could have just walked. (for those of you who say she was just exercising, try to follow the story without digging in so deep, it's a blond joke after all) The second blond didn't need to swim out to kick her butt, she could have walked.

My point is this....Just because we as Jehovah's Witnesses don't agree with someone's point of view we aren't going to assult someone over it. She is studying trying to become a Witness and she is giving us a bad name by her actions. I sent Duck's mom an email first asking if she was okay and then advising that that isn't how we handle non-believers. I quoted these scriptures...I'm not going to look them up for your tonight, okay, here is exactly what I said, I am to tired to even type them all out again.

I assure you that we as Jehovah's Witnesses do not turn to violence in religious differences we prefer proving our point from directly in the bible. Gal 5:19-23 Eph 4:31, 32 1Cor 13:4-8. I strongly recommend the 1 Cor verse, I really like that one showing that love is a wonderful gift from God.

Okay all, gotta run, I mean walk to bed before you start seeing the "H" key over and over again because I have fallen face flat on the keyboard.

Night, me

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: November 10, 2008 First it was good..now it is sad...
DATE: 11/10/2008 13:59:14
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Today stated out good, I enjoyed work today, but then I read the mail. I rec'd the report from an incident that happened last month and now I'm more confused than ever. It is hard, what to do? What's the right thing for Sunshine? What's the best thing for Sunshine? What can I do to make this better? What can I do to make sure he's happy and learning and still getting the interaction that he needs? It was so sad to read I actually cried, to hear what my child went through is so tough, and I wasn't even there. What he must have thought! What he must have felt! I've been in that situation before as a child and I understood what was going on and why it was going on....he doesn't! Oh boy, the things I need to pray for guidence on and figure out what is best for my kid.

I've gotta go to class and try to concentrate!

me.

By the way, when I was reading this report, he came up and said, "I love you mommy!" and gave me a huge kiss.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: November 09, 2008 One last thing for the nigth!
DATE: 11/09/2008 16:28:19
STATUS: publish
BODY:

I really don't like this time of year! While the cold temps are better than the 100 deg temps, this time is so depressing! It is dark a LOT, people are cranky, gas (home right now) prices are high and we are all miserable. The kids don't get to go out as much as they did or as much as they'd like to and it is an all around depressing time.

Got to make the best of it though, I want to be better this year!

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: November 09, 2008 Movies I loved!!!!
DATE: 11/09/2008 15:45:47
STATUS: publish
BODY:

There are two movies recently that I found that I LOVE!

1.) Mona Lisa - while this movie has implication of fornication and promiscuity, it is a very good story. I love the movie that I have watched it many times in the past two weeks.

2.) No Reservations - A WONDERFUL SUPER MOVIE. While there is a bit of language and it's VERY minor, it is truly a movie that I have no worries about watching this movie in front of my kids. It is very similar to Ratatouille from Disney, only get this...it's cleaner!!! It is far more kid appropriate. Sad, but SUPER!

I've done 2 loads of dishes, going to do a third, I've done 3 loads of laundry and still have a bunch more and I've cleaned up the living room (and will have to do again before bed), and wiped down the counters. The fridge we just got is too big for the hole we have for it...we are going to see what we can do.

Okay, well I should scoot, I need to get my homework done and pick up a bit. I have to work tomorrow and I have class. I also need to get ALL the clothes put away.

Ta-ta!

Katy

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: November 09, 2008 I hope to be able to walk
DATE: 11/09/2008 09:50:46
STATUS: publish
BODY:

with this boy in Paradise Earth. This is one of the bravest persons I have ever seen in my whole life.

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2008/11/09/jaffey.wa.last.wish.komo

Boys like this make me pray for a better tomorrow knowing that they were here today!

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: November 08, 2008 Busy busy week!
DATE: 11/08/2008 19:11:00
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Had dinner with friends on Friday...my lausauna was cold, I didn't let it cook long enough. Sure that wasn't spelled correctly. Her cake was really good, I don't like apple things a lot, infact I haven't eaten an apple in over...well I can't remember. I eat applesauce occassionally, but not apple stuff. It was really good.

Our usage for the past 8 days is 231, not bad, not huge good either.

Smiley is cranky cranky cranky.

I need to get going, I need to clean up and take care of the babies.

Me.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: November 08, 2008 Busy busy week!
DATE: 11/08/2008 18:33:58
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Our usage for the past 8 days is 231, not bad, not huge good either.

Smiley is cranky cranky cranky.

I need to get going, I need to clean up and take care of the babies.

Me.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: November 04, 2008 Stomach bug...
DATE: 11/04/2008 14:34:28
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Last night we woke up in the middle of the night to the sounds of a child gagging and gasping. It turned out that Smiley was trying to get sick and couldn't. (which is usual for him) He has been throwing up since then randomly. He'll play, get sick, sleep, wake up play and so on. So we decided to call Riley to see if they still wanted Sunshine to come up and they said no, he could be carrying whatever Smiley had. So we went ahead to sent him to school, Duck told the teachers of the situtation. About 45 mintues after dropping him off they called. He was sick also. He had diarreah very bad. Duck went to pick him up. I've had to do tons of laundry today, the bed sheets, towels and so on. The nice thing it was really nice and I was able to hang them outside and they dried very quick.

I talked to work yesterday I'm only going to work 2-3 days a week. I am still going to class and I'm attending 3 days worth of meetings and trying to do 2-3 days worth of FSM as well. I can't wait to take my tests and hopefully pass all them so that I can start work and get my life back in order.

Okay, I need to go for now. I have to get the house picked up and I want to get all my studying done since I have to go to work in the monring.

Me.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: November 02, 2008 Getting worse.
DATE: 11/02/2008 20:58:29
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Last night was fun, we ate well, the kids played and we all had a good time. Then Duck and I got into it over religion. Ironically he showed up at the meeting this morning. He is smart and he will see when he stops being so, "Your completely wrong and I'm completely right!" It is hard. And then to add insult to injury he came unglued tonight as well. I think he is starting to see how house wife life is. It isn't having the house clean one minute and dirty the next. It isn't easy to watch the kids and type on the computer at the same time. It isn't easy following kids around all day and not getting to do anything you want. It is hard, it isn't always fun, when it's bad, it's bad and when it's good it's wonderful. Above all he doesn't realize that he is bothering me more than anything. He is getting fustrated because I'm never home to let him do what he wants to and Sunshine just doesn't understand certain things. He doesn't understand that the three of us (me and the boys) have had our worlds turned upside down with me never being around. It is so hard to leave my babies at home and not get to see them as much as I want to. I'm working, making next to nothing, we are even going to be able to afford health insurance, studying for a job that I'm not going to make any money for this year, doing FSM which makes me happy and going to my meetings. It is hard to juggle it all at the same time and leave my boys behind. I love my kids more than anything and I'm really trying to do the best I can. What gives? He needs to back off a bit, he needs to understand that it is hard for me.

Okay I need to go, we are getting ready for bed and I have to be up again early to get a start on the day before work at 11 am.

Katy

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: October 31, 2008 Been a couple of days.
DATE: 10/31/2008 21:32:08
STATUS: publish
BODY:

First: Readings:

29th: 88555

Today: 88595

Total: 40 KWH used = 1667 wph FOR 2 DAYS!!!! YIPEEEEEE

No heaters, no dryer that I can think of, one load of dishes and very little waterheater turn on PNR.

Went to work today and they still didn't have my uniform, had to go home shortly after I got there. I did get to work on some training video and so on. I am ready, this is going to be a cake walk. Duck is talking about going into management for a friend. I'm not so sure, it is going to be a long trip. All that being said, he would more than likely work nights which would be bad for him since it is hard to drive and I'm in class right now. I wil also work after class is over. I am going to ask my day job to cut me down to 3 days a week, 4 MAX. I thought about 4 but Duck wants me to only work 3 days to spend an extra one with the family since I want to do FSM.

We visited with another family tonight, K invited us to stay but we really needed to get our things done, we stayed too long as it was. The kids ran around with the goats, chickens, dog and turkeys. We have plans (prelim) to go back on Friday so I can see a chicken or turkey...um...meat it's demise...notice I said meat and not meet.... We didn't get Smiley's hair cut today like I wanted to and we also missed the closing time to pick up the windmill part...DARN IT. It was our fault. I'm going out in FSM in the morning, I want to try to get about 5 hrs a week, with everything going on that would be good.

Okay, I'm really tired and I didn't get anything done, we are suppose to have company tomorrow which I forgot as well.

Okay, gotta scoot for now.

Me.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: October 29, 2008 Solo
DATE: 10/30/2008 11:54:20
STATUS: publish
BODY:

First:

Readings: Yesterday: 88493

Today: 88555

Total: 62 KWH used = 2583 wph used

Okay, that's terrible! So I either read it wrong, it was dark and cold out or Duck really wasted electricity today, which is very possible.

We kicked on our gas furnace today. It was 58 degrees this morning in the house...that was way way way too cold.

I'm exhausted and very very cranky. I also found out that the insurance that I'm going to be getting though my part time job sucks! I will ask for a clarification tomorrow. They only cover 5K, which is stupid. The first time someone is in the hospital there goes the entire plan for one person. (it's 5K for each) And it isn't cheap, it's quite expensive for what it is. Basically for Duck and I, it is going to cost us 2707 a year for a max amount of 5K in coverage each. So what to do??? I'm not sure that we can wait for the HIP plan, that is 6mo without insurance. I think tomorrow I need to call and see what our options are. The whole purpose was to get decent insurance...unfortunately I didn't think that it sucked so bad.

I was solo today in class, it was just me and the teacher. While nice,

Okay, gotta run...me.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: October 28, 2008 Short and simple
DATE: 10/28/2008 18:40:06
STATUS: publish
BODY:
Readings:

Yesterday: 88449

Today: 88493

Total: 44KWH used = 1833.33 wph used.

Not good, but we are still using space heaters.

Good day, FSM went well, Book Study went well and now I have to pick up the house and get my studying done.

So I've gotta run. It looks like I will only be blogging on Fri, Sat or Sun's. Depending upon my hours at work.

Later,
Me.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: October 27, 2008 HOLD THE PHONE...or LIGHTS!!!
DATE: 10/27/2008 19:54:49
STATUS: publish
BODY:
We have burned through 203 KWH in the past 4 days...yup 4 DAYS and we were even gone all day on Saturday. Now please keep in mind that my darling husband hasn't yet turned the heater on so we are heating our house using 110 heaters. It has been cold and we are sick, so we have kept it around 66ish. Holy MOLY! That's too high. We are going to have to go back to basics. AGAIN! I've gotta get that down.

Class went well, I retook my test and got an 87.5 so that is B-/C+ range if she rounds it will work in my favor. We then covered chaps 2 and 3, took our quiz for 2 and I did worse, I will be retaking that test on Wed, it appears that I want to give people too many tax breaks! I will be going over chap 2, 3 and 4. I have homework for chap 2 and 3, I will do the class work for chap 4 to see if I'm right and I will need to study hard for the three quizzes. AHHHH. If that wasn't enough, I am going out if field service tomorrow morning at 9am, bible study at 1pm, book study at 7pm then home around 8ish. I will then have orintentation at 9am on Wed for my new job study for class and go to class at 6pm. I also had a flat tire today, really bad, like tire off the rim. Had to have the teacher take us home, Duck came back with us and fixed the tire (donut) and we drove it home. We are going to have to get new tires. I am going to see if I can make it through the next two months, this should be over by the end of Dec, then I can work 2 jobs for 2 or 3 months and then one. I'm so lucky that Duck is here to take care of the boys. I never wanted to be the sole supporter of our house and in this point I'm not. I will be making a lot more until he goes back to work or the business really kicks up. He is planning on going back in Feb when they start calling people back, this way he can collect his vacation pay and then we will see where we can go from there. That will be a rough week, I may have to take a temp leave from one job. The nice thing about taxes is that this is only 4 months worth of work.

Okay, I really need to scoot, I want to get my bible and book study done in the next hour so I can be in bed by midnight and up at 8 to go into FSM. I will need to blow dry my hair becuase it is going to be very cold in the morning.

By the way, I canned the other night, 2 stock pots full of chili, one did burn, but Duck said it was edible. They came out great. With the smaller jars I will be putting noodles with them to make it go further, I may even get accustemed to doing that all ways around, that way it does last longer.

Okay, I think that's all.

Night!
Katy

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: October 27, 2008 MIA
DATE: 10/27/2008 13:04:24
STATUS: publish
BODY:
I've been MIA for the past few days, and I only have a few minutes. I'm literally hiding in the bathroom just so I can blog in peace. Friday was great, I forgot to take the reading, I will catch up on that tonight after class. Sat we were gone all day, I forgot how long the round trip is. We saw all the family. Duck's mom must hate me, his sister is progressing spiritually, GG is dwendling quickly, ASG seems to still be very sad about RG's death and all in all seems to be coping, Dad is doing great, lots of new toys, the girls are getting big are cute as ever and very playful, D is doing well, she looked a bit tired, but it nice to see her smiling face. Then it was time to come home....darn it I've been discovered. I went almost straight to bed, I was so tired I took some medicine and hit the sack. We have been passing this cold thing around and it's getting old...FAST. Okay I'll write more after class, I need to get ready by doing the 2 boxes I sold...whoohooo. I also got a job today, no interview, no nada, hey...when can you come in for orinentation. Okay! Hey, I wanted something else to do on top of FSM, Meetings, Bible Study, Book Study, Class and 2 kids....hum...how crazy am I?

More later.
Me.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: October 24, 2008 The first day of the new life!
DATE: 10/24/2008 09:39:01
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Today was the first day of Field Ministry Service. I did it! I'm so very very happy. This was the most wonderful time I've had in a very very long itme. We covered an entire territory in less than 2 hours today. That means approx 12 city blocks and end streets. It was really a remarkable experience.

Okay, gotta run to get my house work done and the million loads of laundry caught up.

Later,

Katy

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: October 23, 2008 Up lifting day...
DATE: 10/23/2008 18:33:09
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Today was uplifting, until I read another blog with the distress she is going through.

Yesterday - 88229

Today - 88246

Total - 17 KWH = 708 wph

Yeah, well that's wrong! I ran the heater a lot today, this evening and early this morning. The hot water heater has been on a lot and the dishwasher got ran. Maybe I need to learn how to read the meter again!

We went to a local pumpkin patch today on a field trip with school, it was cool. It reminded me of K&G's we walked away having that crisp farm smell...they had goats, ducks, chickens and a pig. It was cool, the kids had a blast and we enjoyed watching them have fun.

I went to the meeting tonight and was too nervous to answer the questions. I don't know what my problem is, I don't want to give the wrong answer, but all the answers that I know are said by others. I need to get the nerve up and doing it during the WT study this Sunday. I'm going to go out into FS tomorrow, I really am looking forward to it, I just want to make sure that I give a good and correct presentation.

The dryer died the other day and Duck finally got the part in to fix it, he is working on that tonight so I can do my laundry. This way I can wash a lot tonight and dry and allow the heat to warm the house tomorrow. We are going to make rounds tomorrow and see some family, it is going to be interesting. These are the ones who don't feel it necessary to NOT smoke infront of my children. In the current state we are ALL in, I REFUSE to allow them to be tainted by even the slightest wind of smoke, they are both back on breathing treatments and we all have sinus things going. Sunshine still won't take his medicine, it is hard. They have no options available. I even called a special Rx place and they said that there is nothing that they can do. The doc said that they can't give him any shots becuase the meds in shot forms he is allergic to. BUMMER! NO SMOKING AROUND MY CHILDREN. This is very harmful to them and it angers me more than anything on this plant! I don't understand why the grandparents feel that a cig is more important that the life of their grandchild. Now, granted it won't kill them, but it could very easily put them into the hospital.

Okay, Duck is back in, we are looking for a home for Max. Okay, well I want to watch a movie and clean...more like clean and listen to a movie. I will talk again more tomorrow. I am nervous and I still need to study for my class and for the meeting on Sunday. A Sister asked me today how I can fit 2 (3) hour class a week, 2 (2) hour meeting, 2 (1.5) meetings (book and bible study), taking Sunshine to school and still find time to do FS. I told her that Jehovah will give me holy spirit to help me where I need it.

Okay, gotta run,

Me.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: October 22, 2008 Sad day for me!
DATE: 10/22/2008 19:48:47
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Yesterday - 88182

Today - 88229

Total - 47 KWH = 1958 wph

The dryer broke down, had washed a lot of clothes..in trouble! We are getting the thermostat to fix it tomorrow.

I went to class tonight and did HORRIBLE on my test. I scored an 81 percent! That's terrible, I missed 3 of the 16 questions. I'm happy that she allows retests so I will make my test up on Monday. This will allow me to study more and allow me to read the questions better. I was not happy with myself. The other person scored 50% on the test. I'm sorry for him, it seems we are going too fast, and I hope that he is able to catch up and keep up. It isn't the easiest of courses. She didn't even explain the hardest question on the test before we both missed it. Now we know. I need to get off here and go to bed, I'm tired and achy so I need to hit the sack.

I am going to read my chapter everyday and try to make sense of the 1040. I will review it several times a day to understand it more fully.

Okay, off to bed.

Me.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: October 21, 2008 Just a sick day...
DATE: 10/21/2008 18:26:27
STATUS: publish
BODY:

While Sunshine has still been bouncing off the walls, he has been clearing his throat and slept in until 12:30 this afternoon, he'll be up late. Sunshine's nose is running again. He didn't take a nap today because I have hardly sat down long enough to hold him. He just jumped up in my arms, assumed the nursing position and immeadiately passed out. No he isn't nursing, but he still likes to fall asleep in that position.

Okay here's the readings:

Yesterday - 88156

Today - 88182

Total - 26 KWH = 1083 wph

Not bad, not sure how we did that, used more electricity today, I must have read the meter wrong, or used more yesterday than I thought.

The solar heater seems to be working, it was so hot in here today it was too much to stand. I only ran the dryer once and the spacer heater very briefly to warm up the room just a bit. Just enough to take the crispness out of the air. Upstairs it has been warm enough all day not to run the heaters. Just need socks and long sleeves.

Anyone want a dog? I'm ready to hurt him, he won't quit barking, I am going to lose my mind.

Okay, I need to go, I gotta get him to stop barking before he winds up waking up the baby.

Me.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: Entry for October 20, 2008
DATE: 10/20/2008 18:31:28
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Yesterday's reading: 88111

Today's reading: 88156

Total KWH - 45 = 1875 w/p/h

Okay, that was a bit high! Gotta slow this down now. I did a bunch of laundry, dishes and drying.

Class was a bust! I don't think that I'm going to get enough hours, I don't think that I will get enough money to pay for what I wanted to. I will have to see what is going to happen. Only one other person showed up and it was a relative of the instructor and the other person we waited on was another relative. There were 6 confirmations to the class and NONE of them showed.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: October 19, 2008 I did it!!!
DATE: 10/19/2008 19:27:09
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Today I had the meeting with the brothers and I'm now a unbaptized publisher! I'm so excited. You know how the golf legends are happy to get the green jacket, I'm happy to get the green book! I'm so excited I can't wait. I'm trying to work out my schedule to see how well this is going to work.

Can't talk too much tonight, I need to pick up the house and get the boys bedroom finished.

Yesterday's reading: 88073

Today's reading: 88111

Total KWH - 38 = 1583 w/p/h

Okay, I saw that one coming! It is going to be high again tomorrow. We are using 2 space heaters, on upstairs while we are up there and one down here as sparingly as possible. It is still high, but I'd hate to see how high our gas bill would be if we were using the gas furnace. We did drop tons in our gas compared to the last year readings.

I must remember to send the links to K and G tomorrow, I will have to find them...don't let me forget!

Okay, gotta scoot.

Me.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: Entry for October 18, 2008
DATE: 10/18/2008 20:17:50
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Yesterday's reading: 88053

Today's reading: 88073

Total KWH - 20 = 833 w/p/h

Okay, I can deal with that! That's 2 dollars for the whole day... wait until you see it tomorrow, it's going to be high!

I have a meeting with the elders and I can't go out in the field service because I have to come home for Duck to work. We are freezing, the heater apparently got turned off like I wanted it to, but we are having troubles getting it back on, so we are using space heaters at 750 kwh and 1500 kwh. Only running for a few minutes here are there to keep the chill down.

I'm going to finish the upstairs tomorrow because I am dying to clean the carpets. I also need to remember to clean Max's blanket, he stinks from being outside. He came in with 4 muddy paws tonight, not sure how they got muddy, but they were!

Okay, I'm going to go take a shower and read my WT for tomorrow. I'm very tired from helping my friend move today. I am hearbroken that I missed my friends wedding. She is more than a friend, more like a sister. She is very angry with me, but I'm not sure she understands who this makes me feel. I know that this is her special day, but my reasons were clear, honest and the right choice for me and my relationship with Jehovah. Bottom line is, he is the creator, provider and father of all, whoes side would you rather be on? His or hers? I'm picking his, he can judge me, correct me, dicipline me, provide for me, listen to my prayers, offer advise that is the most beneficial and if I'm walking in line with his heart grant me forever life on Paradise Earth as it was meant to be before Adam and Eve sinned. I pray for my friend always that she will come back, she will do what is right and quit being tempted by these demons that are haunting her. (disclaimer: While I pray a lot, I don't have a sit down face to face with God...for those of you who go that mental pictures...just want to clarify!) I did want I felt the bible was telling me to do, what Paul was counceling us to do and what I know were in line with the guidelines of our faith.

That being said, I love you AD and I want you to do what is right. I am going to take a shower and get settled in for the night. I have to run another load of laundry and get some ready to hang out tomorrow.

Me.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: Entry for October 17, 2008
DATE: 10/17/2008 18:19:28
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Readings...been cleaning like a fool!

Yesterday's reading: 88037

Today's reading: 88053

Total KWH - 16 = 667 w/p/h

I don't get it, I just don't get it! I have had the water heater on all day and ran the dishwasher twice, the vacuum and the computers....hum...

Maybe I made a mistake yesterday.

Katy

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: October 17, 2008 Day of crying..headaches..fit throwing..
DATE: 10/17/2008 14:14:07
STATUS: publish
BODY:

not getting much done, cold (our heater won't work), long day. Anyone want to join me? Okay, I wouldn't jump on that chance either! I need to get the boys room done now since Smiley is finally awake. He is worse today than he was, and now it's too late to get him into the doc. I will see how he is tomorrow. His nose is running, draining not so pretty stuff, he is starting to cough with a croupy wheez afterwards. Breathing treatments...here we come.

I baked 2 lausagnas today that I started to do the other day and never got done. YUMMY. They came out like reddish/noodly gold! If MH is home tonight I will take the one down to here that I had planned on taking, otherwise I will cut it and freeze it for another day. My laundry is STILL outside, day 3! I think it might be too cold to get anything dry so I am going to have to run my dryer. There goes my electricity! I will wait for Duck to fix the duct take so the heat can heat the house. Sunshine won't use the potty at all now...AHHH. I'm going to pull my hair out. I have a terrible headache because my teeth hurt so bad from the sinus pressure. Time to take some ibprofrun...okay so that isn't spelled correctly either.

Tomorrow I am going to go yard saling. I need to find a sewing machine, exercise bike, clothes for the boys, canning jars and a wood burner. Then I'm going to help a friend move.

I did my own little experiement with speghetti. Mine was an accidently experiment. I put in a jar while very very hot some cooked speghetti sauce. Needless to say I threw it in the fridge and forgot about it. I saw it from time to time thinking, hey I need to toss that. We'll it's been a month and there it sits. But, here's the thing...the jar sealed itself. Does this mean it's safe to eat? If so could I take it out of the fridge and put it on the shelf? If so could I do this everytime I made sauce?

I was in the basement yesterday and about soiled myself. I just about stepped on a toad...yes a toad, you know a frog thingy...that was bigger than my hand. (that's big for those who don't know me.) I got pics but I can't download them from my camera yet..don't know how to do it to the laptop. We were evaluating things in the basement. We have to put in insullation in the crawl space, found some stuff that is already wrapped in plastic. Then block it off after we seal the heater pipes. We are going to wrap all the hot water pipes and part of the cold water pipes. We are also going to put a blanket on the hot water heater, and wrap some of the heater pipes in insullation. I found 2 leaks, which means we really really need gutters. We have to do some tuckpointing, in we I mean Duck! I am going to try to help him clean it up down there and possibly paint if we can find some cheap very light colored paint. He is going to put up another light and we are going to start looking into growlights. I would like to put some plants down there for the winter. We are also going to fix the stairs and finish sealing the floors. We are then going to have to work on the windows, sealing them and fixing any bad wood and then covering the walkout that is letting in all the cold air. I'm hoping to get this done this weekend and into next week.

Bathroom, we are going to seal the outside wall (caulk the floorboards), seal the windows, paint the ceiling, seal the tub better, plastic the window, make new thick curtains for, put the thresh hold back down and possibly block off half the under sink for extra storage. Then general cleaning (clean out the cabinets, toss, donate, fc) toilet, sink, shelves, walls, shower, tub and floor.

Laundry Room - put up new shelf, hang lines, clean out shelves above W/D, clean out W/D and DF, clean off white metal shelves, clean off black metal shelves, seal outside wall, seal window, make curatins, seal heat register, clean out cabinet, move pic frames, move Max in, clean carpet.

Kitchen - Fridge inside/outside/top/behind, counters, go through shelves, drawers, cabinets, tops, window seat, sink, microwave inside/outside/top/behind, stove inside/outside/top/behind, floor, windows, curtains for windows and seal outisde wall.

Dining Room - Sand down table, put down thresh holds, clean off file cabinet, move stero, remove glass door from stero, finish painting, baseboards, clean floors, Seal outside walls, seal window and new curtains for window, seal back door and fan.

Living Room - New Curtains, seal outside walls, seal windows, clean fan, touch up walls, baseboards, carpets, tv area, desk area, couch inside/outside/top/behind, vents, bottom of door jam, seal front door, clean off front porch, go through books on book shelf, clean off shelf of unbook items, clean stairs, pick up shoes, clean carpets really well.

Bedroom - put rest of clothes away, seal outside walls, seal windows, new curtains for windows, fix desk, put in new clothes rod, move bed, dresser inside/outside/top/behind, Clean carpets really well, bring drawers downstairs, clean ceiling fan and hallway.

Boys room - Seal outside walls, windows, new curtains in their room, pick up books, toys, put rest of clothes away, put bed frame up, clean ceiling fan, clean carpets really well.

Back yard and garage a whole-nother story!

This is what I want to get done by next friday. On top of the fact that I'm going to go into field ministry next week and start my classes on M and W.

Okay, well It's down, let see what I can get done! Here I go, I'm starting upstairs!

Me.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: October 16, 2008 Busy day!
DATE: 10/16/2008 18:55:20
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Yesterday's reading: 88005

Today's reading: 88037

Total KWH - 35 = 1333 w/p/h

Wow, that's a jump.

Well gotta go stop the dog from tearing something up and get a diaper on the naked little boy.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: October 15, 2008 Oh my goodness everything I just typed
DATE: 10/15/2008 18:11:52
STATUS: publish
BODY:

is GONE! AHHHH. Okay, don't feel well, can't retype right now.

Here is the readings:

Yesterday's reading: 87977

Today's reading: 88005

Total KWH - 28 = 1167 w/p/h

going up a bit! I forgot to shut off the hotwater heater, time to go take a nice hot bath while it is hot!

Me.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: October 15, 2008 How clean is your...
DATE: 10/15/2008 08:30:15
STATUS: publish
BODY:

tap...I mean bottled water?

http://green.yahoo.com/news/ap/20081015/ap_on_sc/impure_bottled_water.html

I think I need to start selling bottled water.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: October 14, 2008 what a mess!
DATE: 10/14/2008 20:07:49
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Readings:

Yesterday's reading: 87950

Today's reading: 87977

Total KWH - 27 = 1125 w/p/h

I think I made a mistake on yesterday's readings. It was 27 KWH not 50.

The house is a wreck, Max is going to be dogfoo if he doesn't quit whinning, Sunshine is excelling in school, Smiley is doing great learning wise, but has a horrible cold. Duck is cranky and I'm not motivated to do anything. I need to get motivated, I have studying to do and a house to clean...tonight before midnight..that leaves 1 hour. Looks like I will be up later than that. I put most of the clothes away in our room today, about 10 loads! Went through the boys clothes, pull out summer and put them on top of their dressers incase it is too warm for pants and pulled all the small clothes out and either put them in storage or divided them up for familes I pass on to. I found out that LHM sends clothes that aren't any good to foreign countries I will be taking all clothes to them that I don't want and can't find a home for. I cleaned my room, at least half of it and tomorrow after bible study I will work on the other half and the boys room. Then hopefully by tomorrow night I will be ready to clean the carpets. I will do it once at night and then again the following morning. I want to get two passes done before I have to take it back.

I wonder why my usages were so high, I didn't do much yesterday. One load of dishes and one load of laundry. Guess it is going to be hiher tomorrow I will do a bunch of laundry to get it done before the rain and cold. It is going to start getting too cold to hang the laundry out without direct sun or wind. It just doesn't dry when it is chilly out. Not as well at least.

Okay, gotta run, I've got too much to do.

Me.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: October 13, 2008 Another painful day!
DATE: 10/13/2008 17:34:37
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Readings:

Yesterday's reading: 87923

Today's reading: 87950 Total KWH - 50 = 1125 w/p/h

Okay, that was about double yesterday's reading. I ran 4 loads of laundry today to get them done before the rain.

I didn't get hardly anything done today, I have been in a lot of pain with my back. Between that and the teacher having to hold Sunshine so I could leave..it has not been the best of days. I'm going to try to get more done tonight since I'm feeling a bit better. There is no more school for the rest of the week...Fall break and P/T conferences. We have one tomorrow afternoon. I'm still waiting to hear if I have a job and I am also waiting to see if I get to go out in field service. I would like to get all the dishes done tonight and the meat cooked for the lausagna (how ever you spell Garfield's fav food). I'm going to make 2 batchs tomorrow. I can't wait!

I need to jump off here and get some things going.

Me.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: Entry for October 12, 2008
DATE: 10/12/2008 18:28:02
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Readings:

Yesterday's reading: 87907

Today's reading: 87923 Total KWH - 16 = 667 w/p/h

Didn't get all I wanted to get done today, my back is killing me and Sunshine has broken out in what looks like chicken pox. This time it is on his arms, hands and now is spreading to his face. His doc thinks that it is just something like spider bites.

We'll see what happens tomorrow. I need to run, I have some clothes to put up.

Me.

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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Kim H
DATE: 10/15/2008 13:22:16
So, is it chicken pox? If it is, can I send my children over?
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Katy
DATE: 10/15/2008 18:02:19
You know when I first thought that it was pox I was going to call you to offer such a weird offer. Unfortunately it is only what appears to be hives. This is the second outbreak in a week or so. I will let you know if happens to come down with them. I agree with your thoughts here!
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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: Entry for October 12, 2008
DATE: 10/12/2008 13:04:33
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Yet another reason not to take my kids from door to door dressed up for candy. Ghost, spooks and that sort are all demons from Satan. Why would I encourage that? It is so unChristian.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween#History_5

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: October 12, 2008 A hole in my parachute!
DATE: 10/12/2008 10:27:56
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Today was good...so far. I went to the meeting after waking up two happy little boys. Notice I said happy. We went to the meeting, little trouble was encountered as far as fussiness and such. It was nice to see the circuit overseers before they left. I found out that we have a convention around 12.6. I'm looking foward to attending. I will have to get more info as to where it is and how long it is.

We borrowed a couple of movies from the library this week, I will have to take them back on Monday. Sunshine will be disappointed. But there will be more movies to borrow and watch. Smiley went to bed last night without any troubles. Infact they both did. It was really nice to go to bed without a fight. Smiley didn't even cry that he didn't get any milk. He only woke up once to nurse and didn't fight too much when I wouldn't give him any. He is really doing well without nursing. I haven't had too much engorgement thus far, but I expect that to change tonight.

Back to the hole in my parachute! I was so happy about our good readings last week, so very very happy. Then I found out that my darling husband left the waterheater on all night. DARN IT! I am also having to run the dishwasher twice today and I will do about 2 loads of laundry. Duck is helping dad so we haven't been able to do the solar thingy yet. I hope to get that done tonight. We are also going to put together a bunch of cells and get them posted.

I haven't gotten much done on my list for this weekend so I need to jump off of here, take care of my ankle and then get working on it. I want to clean carpets tonight which means that I have about 6 hours to get my list done so I can get the cleaner and get one pass done tonight before bible study tomorrow. Okay, gotta scoot...more later.

Me.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: October 11, 2008 Just another Saturday Madness!
DATE: 10/11/2008 17:16:33
STATUS: publish
BODY:

RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN to get orders done and in the mail. The post office people hate me, and I hate their attitudes towards my coming in a few minutes before close. They are hateful and disrespectful. I rarely ever keep them late and they give me so much grief. New meaning to going postal huh?

Readings:

Yesterday's reading: 87886

Today's reading: 87907 Total KWH - 21 = 875 w/p/h

Wow, the same, how wonderful!

That's so cool! This week's total: 185 KW! YE-HA!

Okay, Max ran away, gotta go calm Duck down before we have dogfo for dinner.

Night!

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: October 10, 2008 Doctor, Hospital, Hospital, Home
DATE: 10/10/2008 19:11:24
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Let's start out with the reading:

Yesterday's Reading: 87865

Today's reading: 87886

Total KWH - 21 = 875 w/p/h

Only one load in the dishwasher, hot water heater on all day and no laundry. Pretty good! Almost half of what it was before we stopped readings. I'm very pleased!

Went to the doc, she is concerned about my stinking (not literally the smell) ankle. She gave me a savve to put on my ankle, an antibotic which I can't find still, a tetnus shot and wanted x-rays. So after Duck got home I went up to the hospital for the x-rays. They told me it would be at least 2 hours becuase of the two accidents they were taking care of and one of the patients needed a LOT of x-rays. So I said I'd be back. Came home we took the boys to their favorite restaurant for dinner where I think I secured a job (LITERALLY) and then I went back to the hospital. Got right in, where the took about 10 x-rays. I wonder why the needed a knee x-ray for an ankle injury. Don't know how that will help, but apparently they needed it. So that was the extend of the fun I had today.

Max ran away, more like wandered the neighborhood and then came home. Dumb dog...he's going to give me a heart attack or get hit! I am going to get off of here and start my stuff to get us ready for tomorrow. Lots to do.

Me.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: October 09, 2008 Readings...
DATE: 10/09/2008 19:05:05
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Yesterday's Reading: 87845

Today's reading: 87865

Total KWH - 20 = 833 w/p/h

Okay, I'm baffaled! The day before we did less and used more, today we did way more and used 1/2. Things that make you go hum...I'm too lazy to go out and check the meter again for a verified reading. I'll see if it gets caught up tomorrow.

Well we had a WONDERFUL meeting tonight. It lasted 2 hours which was more than the normal book study would last. It was good though. It explained how we are to trust the Faithful and Discreet Slave in his teachings, directions etc. Priceless.

Anyhow, need to get going, we are tired and I have a lot to get done before bed.

Night,Katy

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: October 09, 2008 Did bad yesterday!
DATE: 10/09/2008 10:59:05
STATUS: publish
BODY:

We did pretty bad yesterday with electricity usage. Today won't be any better. I did 4 loads of laundry that are out on the line except one and 2 loads of dishes. I did really bad eating wise yesterday. I made the huge mistake allowing my blood sugar to drop. I was shaking, shivering and very weak and cranky. I ended up eating too much of all the wrong things. I am trying to do better today. I want to get some more fruits and veggies in the house. I would love to get some good start soil for next years garden. I also want to see how K does with her canning of spaghetti. I'm really interesting in seeing if it works!

I am going to try to make some candels. I also want to get the carpets cleaned and the boys rooms done.

This is my weekends to do list.

Go through boys clothes, pull the summer and put in the winter.
Pull out 18 mo clothes for Smiley.
Go through toys and put up toy box block.
put all clothes away in our room and move dressers to clean behind.
Get shelf put up for desk
Have Duck put up the pole in boys closet.
clean fans
clean carpets upstairs.
clean stairs
straighten book shelf.
clean desk downstairs
clean fridge
clean around microwave.
paint livingroom
finish painting diningroom
gray water repair
clr the shower head, washer and dishwasher
back porch
front porch
take down old clothes line
put up shelf in laundryroom and put up indoor clothes line
make solar heaters.
clean out van
clean out cabinets in kitchen
clean out cabinets in laundryroom
clean out cabinets in bathroom
move bedroom around
print off all income slips
create spreadsheet of all expenses and mileage
clean vacuums

I think that will be too much to get done, but I'll sure try. I'd also like to get stuff in the basement done, the garage cleaned up and candles made.

Gotta scoot!

Me.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: October 08, 2008 Quick reading, going to bed!!!
DATE: 10/08/2008 19:49:54
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Yesterday's Reading: 87806

Today's reading: 87845

Total KWH - 39 = 1625 w/p/h

I ran a ton of laundry today! Duck also left the desk top on all day and the hot water heater was on longer than normal.

Gotta go to bed!

Katy

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: October 07, 2008 Went up
DATE: 10/07/2008 19:53:04
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Yesterday's Reading: 87768

Today's reading: 87806

Total KWH - 38 = 1583.33 w/p/h

Not as bad as I thought, I really really want to keep it below 1600 in the worst case. This is running the dish washer, 3 loads of laundry. We also forgot to shut off the waterheater last night.

I'm happy...I got to go to the meeting tonight. Duck bucked a bit about it. It was nice to get to go. I'm still really sad about the AJD thing, I wish she could see how she is being. She'll understand one day.

Okay well I don't have much to say today. I'm sitting here eating split pea soup..tastes like baby 2nds foods. Okay, the baby is pulling stuff down, gotta run.

Me.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: October 06, 2008
DATE: 10/06/2008 19:15:46
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Yesterday's Reading: 87749

Today's reading: 87768

Equals 19 KWH in one day! Equals 791.67 watts per hour~

Cha-ching!!!!! That is what I'm talking about. This is the highlight of my day.

Okay, now the crappy part of my day! Satan continues to try me day after day. Doing the right thing according to Paul in 1 Cor 6:9-12. So by doing the right thing and trying to live as close to the bible principal as I can I am being yet again pursucuited. None the less by a former Witness. She is disfellowshipped, marrying a non-Christian and she is having an idol wedding. 3 reasons NOT to attend. Most of all, she thinks that I'm using this as a power trip. I owe part of who I am today to her, had she not shown me that there was a hope, I doubt I would have found it on my own. She was disappointed that I had sent her a letter then called her. While I'll admit that calling her would have been better for her, I needed to get out what I need to say without her intrupting me, objecting or crying. I did enough of all of that when I was writing the letter for 3 days. She doesn't understand how it is from myside, one day she will realize where I'm coming from. I'll come right back to this, Duck needs the computer.

Okay, I'm back! She seems to think that this is all about me, it isn't, this is all about her. This decision doesn't come lightly, it took me a VERY VERY long time to make this decision. I weighed all the facts, all the myths, all the pros, all the cons and all the reasonings I would use before God to prevent my total distruction knowing that I was purposfully going against his will. This was a very hurtful decision that I had to make. I knew that it would hurt her feeling and it is killing me. While I don't agree with her decisions, I'm happy to see how happy she is. I'm not here to judge her, I'm here to do what is expected of me. I'm disappointed that she would throw that fact that she spent 9 years with a former Witness who abused her. Did she not abuse herself by staying? Just because he was being led by bad works, doesn't mean that he was a true Witness. Doesn't mean that he was a true Christian. All of that doesn't excuse her current situtation. It doesn't excuse me for going to her wedding, it doesn't excuse my moral conscience that if I go it would be right. I have to be the best Christian servant to God, sister, mother, daughter, wife, firend and neighbor that I can be. That means not picking the rules I want to follow and the rules that I didn't think I need to follow. I've never heard of a man getting away with murder because he thought that particular law didn't apply to him. (okay so maybe this has happened, but it is a point) I should never have opened her letter, I knew that it was a mistake as soon as I saw it. I forgive her for the hurtful things she tried to impress upon, I still love her a sister, but I want her to understand that without repentance, she will not inherit God's Kingdom! I want to spend the rest of my life on paradise earth hanging out with her doing God's will.

Okay, so I'm going to not do what I would have done in the past, I'm not going to call her, email her or send her a rebutal letter, I'm going to forgive her and pray for her. I love her and want her to see that when she is ready, life is better on this side of the fence when you please God than when you let Satan drag you down time and time again.

I have a doc apt on Wed at 1:45 for my leg and possibly a follow up for my cold/infection that seems to be getting worse. Max was apparently hurt pretty bad by one other dogs, I have started him on a round of antibotics, he is pussing a lot and has an abscess. Poor puppy. He'll live!

Sunshine had a rough day back to school today, he didn't seem like he wanted to stay, he was crying when I left and hid in the corner.

I'm sorry if this was scatter brained today, I'm hurt by her letter, hurt by my decision but I KNOW I'VE MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE. I love her and want her to do what is right. She can save her family spiritually by doing what is right. This isn't my opinion only, how many people out there believe in God?

Okay, gotta run!

Katy

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: October 05, 2008 Correction and reading!
DATE: 10/05/2008 19:20:18
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Okay, so there was a bit of electricity used in the poor man's heatpad. It takes electricity to heat up the rice in the microwave. That being said, I don't forget to unplug it and it isn't connected to any cords therefore I don't have to sit next to the outlet or worse yet lay with the cord going from my head to my leg. (the outlets are at the head of our bed, this poses a further risk with the fact that we are cosleepers)

Reading:

Yesterday's Reading: 87722

Today's reading: 87749

Wow, a bit higher than yesterday. But I ran 2 loads of washing and one load of dishes, which is about average for us. Duck also replaced all the lights in the garage with the open doors and the cork screw bulbs.

So daily watt useage was: 1125 per hours which is FAR lower than it was when we stopped taking daily readings. We also have shut the desk top off completely unless we are printing. I need to see if I can hook the usb into my laptop to print directly from this computer. So I'm VERY proud that we are coming down in our totals! That means at the current rate our utility bill would be around 90 a month at a .10 cent per kwh rate. WOW, that would be a lot different than the 143 we are paying now. I also need to factor in the fact that we will be using our electric heater at night upstairs to keep it comfortable since we turn the heat down to 63. Our hopes are that the solar heaters will have the house bearable in the morning when we get up so that we don't have to crank the heater past 68, or up at all! I've read were some people are getting between 10 and 25 deg in temp change with the units! We are going to put in 4. Today we didn't get any done, infact it was an AADD day! We've been busy all day and nothing really seems to have gotten done. I've been in pain most of the day with my stupid ankle, it is REALLY red and the whole is big. Even if I went to the doc they would have only put maybe one stich into it. It bled during the meeting today and got on pretty skirt.

The talk was about RAP today. Kinda weird huh? Rap standing for - rebelling against parent. Basically rebelling against our father Jehovah God. It was nice to see CB and the girls today, I am very warmed that he is trying to make progress! He gives me hope and the desire to make it to every meeting and do all I can. I miss T so much, she has moved to the Brazil Hall and we miss her a TON. I can't wait until this system of things is over.

I found a needle today since I can't seem to get my paws on a sewing machine, then I lost the stupid thing. GRRR> I'm going to go get some and try to hand stitch some things together to get them done. I also need to finish JM's blanket, she is going through a rough time and I want to give her somthing warm to ease her sorrows.

Business is dead! Gotta find something new to do along with it. I'm bummed! We always make it and we will make it now. I'm going to sign up for the class that I wanted to take so I can get things working in that direction.

Well I think that is just about all I have to say today.

Night!

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: October 04, 2008 Poor man's heating pad!
DATE: 10/04/2008 20:29:11
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Okay, and cheapskate's heating pad! I have NEVER bought my own heating pad. Duck bought one about 6 or so years ago that lasted 2 months. I have used rice in a pillowcase for big jobs, but tonight decided to use a sock that is getting ready to be retired. Let me tell you, WONDERFUL. Filled it about 1/2 full with rice, tied a knot in it, threw it in the microwave for 1 minute and Viola! It wraps around my ankle and can be heated back up if I need to. PLUS...here's the cheapskate, I prefer the word frugal, NO ELECTRICITY!

Cha-Ching!

Okay, going to bed, gotta go to the meeting in the morning...well I don't gotta go, I REALLY WANT TO. I need the relief feeling I get from the meetings!

Night,

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: October 04, 2008 The down swing!
DATE: 10/04/2008 18:39:19
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Yesterday's Reading: 87709

Today's reading: 87722

=13KWH = 541.67 watts per hour! Now that's what I'd like to see everyday! I'm sure that this was a fluke! I didn't run the laundry today (didn't need to) and didn't run the dishwasher today, I need to do that tonight. I also haven't had the need to turn on the hot water heater since late last night! I did shut the computer off, turned the freezer down a bit and made sure all the light were shut off when they needed to be. We also shut the TV off when we feel asleep instead of leaving it on.

I was push mowing the yard that the rider doesn't get to and I MAJORLY hurt myself. I was over by the burn barrells and apparently I hit a rock or 2 or 3. I have 3 MAJOR bruises on my ankle and one of them cut into me. At first it looked as if it hit the vain. There was so much blood from the burn area to the front of the garage it looked like my foot was cut off. I bled A LOT and I'm still trickling some when I walk. I felt like my foot was cut off, it hurt that bad! I was more diappointed that Duck got to mow the yard with the rider than I hurt my foot! I love going out there doing doughnuts and cutting the grass.

A friend dropped off some patio furniture yesterday that she no longer wanted! Goodie for us! They are going to look soo cool! It is a glider rocker and a patio table that we picked up a umbrella for at HF. My umbrella clothes line is up so I can now take down the one that is stretched all across my yard and the kids playset. Tomorrow we will be digging a trench, finishing the box for the solar heater, final touches on the windmill and fixing the gray water unit in the basement. I got all 70 cans cleaned out and tabbed tonight. I want to get the lids off and maybe start soldering them. Duck will have to put drill out the bottom. I want to get this done tomorrow. We picked up the styrofoam, filler and paint today. I'm so eager to get this done!

Okay, I'm going to go to bed, I need to get up early for church, and I have a ton of things to do tonight.

Me.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: October 03, 2008 consume, reuse....heat????
DATE: 10/04/2008 00:06:24
STATUS: publish
BODY:

That was an email that I sent to a lot of you earlier today..yes I'm still on Friday, had too much caffine and now the adrenline kicked in to clean. That was my idea, I just didn't know how to do it. Duck had mentioned it last year and I brought it up again tonight. The goal last year was to heat the dogs house during the day in hopes that it wouldn't get too cold at night. So if it could heat the dog house during the day, why couldn't it help our heating during the day???? Well duhhhh...it could. K~you've taught me to be a green maniac~! We are going to put up solar heat boxes in all our windows that face south. (that is the side of the house that the sunshines the most) I'm going to start one out in the livingroom window. If that works I will build a HUGE one to heat the basement (hot air rises) and then one for the kitchen window and our bedroom window. This would hopefully cut down on the amount of times the heater has to kick on during the winter. For those of you who didn't get my email...here is the parody info, that is correct, I just won't be using beer cans!

http://www.squidoo.com/beercansolarheater

I'm so excited! I've already got 15 of the 70 cans that I need, washed and drying. The next step is Duck drilling them out. We will build the box tomorrow and get the stryophome needed to insulate it and the dryer vents to vent it into the house. The units will be temporarily mounted into the windows so that they can be removed during the warmer months.

I'm still looking for a stinking sewing machine..gonna have to hit the yardsales and see what I can come up with. We have decided against the woodstove because of the kids asthma. Since Oct-May is the worst time for them, we felt it was better not to put all extra mold and stuff in the air for them to breath. We have enough troubles as it is. We are going to however look at getting a generator as recommended by the windmill people. We are also going to get some water stocked up(this winter is suppose to be bad along with can goods and kerocene for the heater) Just incase we lose power.

I would also like to start an indoor garden if I can swing it. I'm just bugged with bugs that I start inside. They are teenie tiny little flying bugs that hang around the plants, they killed a few of my plants last year and I'm NOT happy! I would like to have green beans, tomatoes and possibly cucumbers...not sure how that will all work.

Okay, it's 3am and I need to go to bed, I have to be up in 5 hrs!

Katy

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: October 03, 2008 Busy..results
DATE: 10/03/2008 20:07:54
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Okay, so here are today's readings:

yesterday:87662

today:87709

That's 47 KWH AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

RU KIDDING ME???? What in the world is going wrong? Time to shut off all the power and do a one by one set up to see what is going on! That's 1,958 Watts per hour! Even when we are asleep. I'm over this! I can't believe we are going in the wrong direction here. You know the only thing that has changed from the last time we check it regularly was the fridge....We got a newer one and we are doing worse...how does that work? Okay, gotta run, gotta figure this out.

On a lighter note we found an entire house water on demand heater for 1/3 the normal cost. We didn't pick it up because we want to do more research. It requires a 200 AMP service.

Katy

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: October 03, 2008 relaxed and anxious all at the same time!
DATE: 10/03/2008 13:02:32
STATUS: publish
BODY:

I'm relaxed, my house is a mess, my baby is trying to get sick, my 4 yr old is playing his game (and I'm helping when he needs me), my husband is finishing up the windmill and I'm sitting here blogging with a still really bad soar throat, but taking care of it. I need to get up, do the dishes, hang the last load of laundry, get my packages ready for mailing, fold the laundry already dry, wipe down the stove and sweep and mop the kitchen, dining room, hallway and bathroom. I would like to rent a carpet cleaner tomorrow so I can clean the livingroom and bedrooms. My carpet cleaner is capuit! Max is enjoying the penned dog life with the big dogs and we will be going out there this weekend to work on getting the cage finished. We are also looking into screen printed solar panels...I'll let you know how it goes. Duck set my umbrella dryer up last night while I was at the meeting, the boys helped him fill in the hole. I'm sure it ws cute. Sunshine had a really rough night last night.

I've got this itching curosity that I can't seem to get out of my mind, I just don't know what or how to do anything about it. I will discuss it with Duck to see what he thinks. If we can build a hot box by solar stuff for the dogs for during the day, why can't we do the same for the house? HUM.....I just asked on FC for a sewing machine, I really need to get my hands on one. I want to make some things for the house for winterizing. I want to make very thick curtains for the windows..12 in total. This will help at night to prevent any heat from escaping and any cold air from coming in. I also want to make door jam blocks and then I want to make pillows and possibly some blankets. If I get decent at it I can make a skirt out of some materials I found that I like. I'm not going to try for shirts right now.

Well I need to go hang the last load of laundry and find out where Duck is in the scheme of things. I will write with electricity results later!

Katy

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: October 02, 2008 What the heck is going on???
DATE: 10/02/2008 19:27:15
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Reading 12 hours ago: 87642 Reading just now 87662. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I have run the washer 3 times and I'm line drying the clothes, ran the dishwasher once and the water heater was on for an extended time....OH MY GOODNESS.. that's 20,00o watts in 12 hours. What are we doing wrong? I didn't have anything really going on today...is someone tapping into my electrical. I just don't get it! Time to do some serious evaluating....

The new lightbulbs that are LED...are JUNK! They are apparently equivlant to a 15 watt light bulb. What a waste of money. I spent 5.5 on each plus shipping.

Okay, the meeting was great today...better than great....WONDERFUL. I feel spiritually charged! Can't wait for Sunday.

I must be going, I have a ton to do and I'm ready for bed.....will worry about electricity problem tomorrow when I won't get so fustrated and lose important healing sleep over!

Tata~

Katy

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: October 02, 2008 Nominate this man for "Father of the Year"
DATE: 10/02/2008 08:17:23
STATUS: publish
BODY:

While I think it is sad one man lost his life, the intentions and happens of this dad prove his love for his children. I would do the same for my child in a heartbeat!

http://www.theindychannel.com/news/17599147/detail.html

If you have time, it's a sad fact of life that this system of things (being how the world is headed right now) must be coming to an end soon. While I concur that things could get worse, I hate to imagine how.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: October 02, 2008 Close call!
DATE: 10/02/2008 06:29:40
STATUS: publish
BODY:

One should always read the warning labels on the medicine before the take it. I almost had to quit BFing all together last night. The new medicine had an "undesired effect on infants". OKAY THEN! Didn't take it, got new medicine and all is okay. I still feel like cutting my head off and putting it on the shelf for a week so the infection clears up. Okay so you know I'm not serious about the whole cutting it off, that it is a medifore.

reading from last night 12 hrs. late. 87642 WOOFTY...that's horrible!!! The last reading 36 hours ago was 87547. That's what 95 KWPH? OH MY GOODNESS.... That's roughly 2638 watts per hour...what in the world went wrong??? Darn that dryer....

K~ Do you still use your handy washer? I haven't heard y0u talk about it in a while.

Katy

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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Kim H
DATE: 10/02/2008 19:09:53
That is 209% of the national average. That is high. We use the washing machine still and the dryer is minimal usage. Hubby uses it more than I do, but it does get used on occasion. How much electricity gets used depends upon the age of the dryer, how high the heat setting, and how big a load you are drying.

Continue line drying and use the dryer sparingly. If you do need to use it, use it early in the morning to help warm the house from the cold night.
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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: October 01, 2008 Mysterious rash!
DATE: 10/01/2008 10:07:18
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Does that sound good to you? The doc classified that Sunshine has a mysterious, curious, unknown rash. Boy that's just what a mom wants to hear. They started asking about vaccinatoins and wanted to make sure he was up to date on his pox. Of course he is. They said that there was one other child with this mysterious rash, but hers was on her stomach. They said that one of his spots looked like chicken pox but they normally don't start on the legs, they start on the chest or stomach. So the answer? What and see what happnens. Boy I really don't like that!

On the other hand I have a sinus infection. She gave me some meds that I'm not allowed to be in the sunlight while taking. Bummer!

Well I need to jump off of here, I have a million and one things to do today.

More later.

Katy

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: September 30, 2008 The good, the bad and the well...
DATE: 09/30/2008 20:47:54
STATUS: publish
BODY:

The well....our usage was 87547 and now it is 87592. That means that we used 47 KWH today. Hmmmmm....we were gone most of the day...what happened there? I did run the dryer...could that be what it was? I think I may have run the dishwasher twice...not sure about that one. Hum...will have to work on this. We are going in the wrong direction here. I want to be at 24KWH...we have some work to do.

Duck got laid off today. While this is not a good thing in the aspect of the insurance, it is a good thing for him temp. His nerves are shot from that place. We will ride out the storm. It really does help that we aren't celebrating the holidays this year, that way all that wasted money isn't well....wasted.

The good, well I woke up this morning. Is that good enough? I woke up to having laid in pee, my wonderful almost 2 year old apparently took off his diaper in the middle of the night. So you can imagine what I was doing today! Sunshine still didn't go to school, Duck and I both caught that stupid stomach bug yesterday. I'm still running a fever and feel like...poop.

Well we've gotta go to bed, gotta get up early to get on a good schedule and I have to take Sunshine to the doc, he has some questionable bites on his leg...no the aren't human...they are well...red round welts that look like a marker spots on his lets.

Well going to bed, I need to sleep so hopefully I can get over what ever this is.

Me.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: September 29, 2008 The "R" Word...
DATE: 09/30/2008 09:58:34
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Are you scared?? Worried?? Surprised?? For of you who don't know what the "R" word means...it means RECESSION. That is what our economy is headed for. This election can't come soon enough. It is always worse during an election year. No I'm not scared because I know that we've made it though tough times before and we'll make it though tough times again. Worried, we yes, I'd be an idiot not to be worried. I still have a house payment, insurance and light bills to pay...don't you? Surprised??? No one with half a brain should be surprised. No one ever learns from the past, they keep making the same mistakes over and over and over and over and over again and again! Above all I know that God will take care of those who put him first.

On another note....I've still got an ear infection, still didn't go to the doc and now I've got the stomach bug that Smiley had....gee thanks kiddo! No matter how many times I have to explain it to them, that they don't have to share their bugs with me they just can't resist.

We are going back to nightly readings for our energy usage. I need to knock it down below 1500 watts per/hr.

87547

Let's see what we are doing tomorrow. We are looking into a second windmill, first I want this one up and running completely. The new blades are on, the thing is spinning well, (it may need to be oiled) and it is higher than the last one. We figure that we can put 3 more on the big garage and maybe 3 on the small garage. Then we would like to put 2-3 solar panels on the house to help! Since we would like to get below 1500 w/p/h we should be covered as far as usage and what we over produce we will sell back to the power company. So with 7 windmill say they only produce 250 w/p/h per windmill so that would be 42,000 watts per day or 42 KW per day. We use right now 36 KW per day, so we would be sending approx 6 KW per day back to the power company. So that means that with our tax check if we get a heat pump we would be able to bank as many KW as we could during the sping/summer/fall to use for heating the house during the winter. We also just purchased some LED light to see how well we like them. Running them 12 hours a day for one year would cost us about 80 cents. The cost to buy them is the hard pill to swollow. They were 5.50 each. So we bought two for the livingroom, and one for 17.00 for the flood light outside. We will see how much it lowers our bill. The current lights we use are pulling 24 watts each for 75 watt bulbs. The new ones are suppose to pull about 2 or 3 w.p.h.

Okay, gotta run, this was suppose to be posted last night.

Me.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: September 28, 2008 Recap of this week's events
DATE: 09/28/2008 20:16:45
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Tue we had a meeting with the director of Sunshine's school program. We are less than happy with how things have been going and even less happy with the teacher. We will send him back to school tomorrow as long as he is feeling well in the morning and is okay with going. It may come to the fact that I may go with him for part of his day.

Wed we met Dad at RMH in Indy and stayed the night, it was great! I loved it! Thurs morning bright and early we called security to take us to the hospital to get Sunshine to his surgery. After lots of fighting and tears in the preop stage Sunshine was swooped away because he wouldn't take the separation medicine and he was off to surgery. The doc came out about an hour later and said that it went smoothly and he was in recovery, we should be able to see him in 30 min or so. An hour later I was biting my nails, pacing the floors and about ready to start raising Cain when they told us that we could go back. He just woke up and was very groggy. Then he pulled his IV out and there was a huge bloddy mess. During all this Smiley stayed with Dad and it was not nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be. Duck went to get Smiley and Dad and I stayed with Sunshine trying to get him to drink so they wouldn't have to put another IV in him. With very little success we he finally asked for "Bomp Bomp" which for those of you who know him means McDonald's. They called Duck to have him pick some up and we all said in the aftercare room until they released us. I was very nervous about them letting him go. I knew that he wouldn't take the medicine and thought that he'd be in a lot of pain. To this day he hasn't taken any pain meds nor reg meds. They said that it would be okay. He's shown a few signs of pain and we'd tried everything to get him to take his meds. I even asked for pills so I could hide them and his sixth sense kicks in, he knows that they are in there. At this point I think it might be worse for him to take his pain meds, it might be worse when it wears off and he won't take anything. What is one to do? I've listened to everyone who thinks they know what to do, how to handle it or thinks they know my kid, let me tell you, I've TIRED IT ALL!

This morning Smiley woke me up throwing up in Sunshine's bed and then in mine! Good morning!!! Had to wash all the sheets, covers and pillows. On a funnier note....I've been hanging my laundry for a very long time now only to find out that my dryer isn't broke... it was an I D 10 T error....don't know what that means...here I'll show you ID10T. Get it now? One of the kids had set the dryer to cool dry or fluff mode, therefore it never got hot! So Duck took the whole thing apart, tested the two heating elements only to find out that they both were working. So he put the old element in and started the dryer...nada. Then he asked what setting it was on...duh!!! Okay so if you didn't laugh it was funny to us! (in a fustrating sort of way) Anyway, Smiley has had a 102 all day and he's been clingy and cranky. I now have an ear infection as well and Duck is fine! Max has proven that he is stubborn...his collar isn't stoping as much as it was. He still barks. He is also so risky...he' try to get the kids food right in front of us with us telling him no. Crate training has proven to be annoying...

Last night I had to call the cops on a neighbor. While I hated to do it, I would have felt bad if the domestic disturbance would have ended in something worse. The kids were screaming also so I knew something was going on. The best we could see in the pitch black, he was taken by the cops. I've seen no signs of life there to day at all so I'm not sure if she has left. I had to, while it wasn't my business I 've been there as a child. I've seen what it can do and how far and bad it can escolate to be something dangerous.

Okay, well I'd like to mop my floors before I go to bed and I have a few more loads of laundry I'd like to get done.

Good night to all.

By the way someone else did a list of things they wanted to complete in the next year on their blog and I thought it was a good idea. I've got a list I'd like to share, but I don't have the moment to type it up. I'll try to do it tomorrow!

Good Night!

PS: If there are any misspellings please forgive me. My "L" key and a couple others aren't working up to par and my spell check isn't working tonight either~!

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: September 21, 2008 Pic of Smiley too!
DATE: 09/21/2008 19:57:40
STATUS: publish
BODY:

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: September 21, 2008 Always options!
DATE: 09/21/2008 19:10:17
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Life is about options. Do we drive or do we walk? Do we eat junk or do we cook healthy? Do we drink or do we abstain? Do we send our kids somewhere they don't want to go or do we make different arrangments? This questions has been puzzling me. The answers aren't easy. Yes he has to go to school even though he doesn't like it. Yes he needs an education. Yes his school was perfect for him last year. Yes he is different and yes I've given this teacher all the rope that she needs to hang herself with. Guess what...the noose it tight! He is no longer going to be going until a meeting/conferece is arranged and all issue are straight. Yes there is something going wrong at school. He is starting to digress in his day to day habits/abilities. He has even digressed so much that he is back to hiding while sucking on a passy. He won't use the potty at home or anywhere else for that matter and he has to be drug out of the house to get him to school. Red flag, red flag, red flag, red flag...something is going way wrong. I can't even let my kid play outside and have a good time in fear that he is going to get hurt and I have to hear about it in a disgraceful manner from a so called special needs teacher. She has no business teaching pre-K, she should really consider teaching 3rd or 4th and up. I want my Sunshine back....he isn't the same. I want him to love school again, I want him to be happy to go, I want a teacher that acts like she cares, I want him to get the help that he needs, the help that they said they could provide, the help they are paid to give him, the help that HE DESERVES. Sunshine is a very special boy, he has his quirks, but he is remarkable in so many ways. I hate to see everything that we have worked so hard for in the past 4 years be frittered away by the actions of a lousy teacher.

So what are my options?? I am going to talk to them and get a conference. If we are happy there will be a probationary period where they have to straighten up or I will go further up the ladder. In the mean time he will be monitered very closly including frequent random unscheduled visits to the school. There is the option to pull him out and get him into another school that doesn't specialize in this field, but are great with kids. The other option is to pull him out and teach him pre-k from home and then the last option is to home school him for pre-k and maybe further depending upon how I feel about it.

Anyhow, I need to jump off here and get ready for bible study in the morning, it is getting late and I want to get my reading done before they get here. I also need to get Duck's lunch packed and get him off to bed.

To my wonderful children, I love you more than anything on this planet. You both are the reason that I'm here, the reason I try so hard, the reason I am who I am...I was meant to be your protector, your teacher, your guide, your companion, YOUR MOMMY!

With all my love,

Katy

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: September 21, 2008 It's been an awful week!
DATE: 09/20/2008 22:44:24
STATUS: publish
BODY:

First I would like to say that I have very spolied children. While they may be spoiled I would never let them have more material things than love. EVER! My childern are the most important things in my life. They are the biggest blessings from God a mother could ever ask for. While I'm sure that all of you think that your kids are the best, we too feel that ours are the greatest. Every child is different. Sunshine has sure proven that time and time again. The worst part of the week has already been told to those who should know or I feel comfortable enough telling. As a parent we do ur best to teach, help, raise our kids, while none of us are perfect, most of us do our best. All in all I think that I'm a good mom. While I admit that I have certain things I can work on like organization, cleaning (I've been better more recently!) and prioritizing. I still do the best for my kids that I can.

Anyway with all that said, I will move on!

I had to cancel with my friend who helps me often because I was to emotional and worked up this week to do my work. I did make it to the planned cook out last night at a sister's house. I needed the company and Sunshine needed the socialization. Then I was invited to a wedding the next day (today) so we went, it was a sister and brother of our congregation. It was beautiul, she was so pretty and the reception was nothing like I have ever seen! It was trying an amazing.

Sunshine has surgery this week so I will be spending most of the week trying to get ready. We have also decided until we get a meeting with the director of his preschool he will not be going back to preschool. He is not happy and he is really starting to display some questionable and disturbing actions. Actions that he could have only picked up there. The teacher also admitted a while back to making him sit in time out for an excessive amout of time. He wouldn't say his sorry for expressing his unhappiness for being put into time out. While I agree that he shouldn't have yelled, he was simply expression his unhappiness about the situtation. Yelling in circumstance like that is VERY common for children with PDD NOS. Beating them for it or excessive punishment such as long timeouts do no good. For a child that doesn't understand that sorry really means, just that he is suppose to say it when he gets into trouble. Anyway, I don't need to keep going about this right now, I will get myself worked up and be very unhappy.

I'm sorry this is so sketchy, I think that is how my brain is working this week.

Me.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: September 12, 2008 AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
DATE: 09/12/2008 21:25:39
STATUS: publish
BODY:

That is what I've been saying for the past few hours. Duck and I got into over the phone..so bad in fact he hung up on me. The sad thing was that it was really over money but nothing! He's really tired and I was just trying to make a simple point that if we sell the exact same thing as everyone else at a higher price they won't buy from us. Am I right? Anyhow, he called me back and apologized, I feel bad for upsetting him, I just want him to be able to leave his job ASAP and we are working backwards at this point instead of forwards. I've lost Max's bark collar and I'm ready to tape his mouth shut....YES I'M SERIOUS! He snapped his inside chain, which is where I had him while I had the boys in the bathtub. He tore up the trash and ate 3 diapers. {bad words, bad words, bad words} Okay, not that bad, but I'd rather not post them. I've been on the computer all day working on eBay and the business, well that is when the boys weren't tugging at me. Right now Sunshine is putting a snake around Elmo and Smiley is asleep at my side. My house is less than desire able, I have a backache that's bad and no motivation at this point to clean. I will run the last load of dishes and pick up the laundry on the floor that the kids pulled out so they could play in the totes.

By the way....Hurricane Ike is really getting on my nerves! I'm ready for this rain to end. Wed when I looked at the weather it wasn't suppose to rain Thur so I did laundry and got all but one load washed Wed night and ready to hang Thur morning...guess what...it rained and pretty much hasn't stopped. Duck will have to put in the heating element tomorrow or I will have to hang it all on the inside clothes line. (which is pretty much what is going to have to happen.) Either way they all have to be rewashed.

I was reading a friends blog and found out that I was able to directly link to my blog...hey that works for me! I'd rather link through hers then have to back out and redirect! She had a point the other day about individuals in the military who boohoo over the fact that they have to serve when they didn't think they'd have to. Well let's think...you signed up....you did the training and was paid to do so by money and an education....now you don't want to fight? Well setting my personal religious beliefs aside for just a second....you signed up! Don't sign up and then complain...Personally I would love for peace on earth...(Hope the Mrs. America padget has my direct blog link hehe) Okay, so I'm nutty tonight. Time to take some pain killers!

Business has slowed down a lot, but we are still going. I'm looking for windmill blades so Duck can do that on the second tue of next week...(that's the only time he has time to do it) I want to get back in the saving energy groove and I'm looking for a wood burning stove or something alike....K~what did you say you got? I need to reduce my gas bill this year because we won't be able to afford it. I did put in my application today, and I'm setting the deadline...We have to have x-amount of money in the savings by Jan 1st. We have to do it at all costs! I'm hoping to only work enough hours to cover what my insurance would be for the family..probably about 10 to 20 hours a week. For 3 months I will be able to bank the money to help us reach our goal. Rumor has it that the plant Duck works for will be doing a massive layoff, half the employees will be laid off and they will go down to one shift. While him keeping his job would be ideal for the insurance....I really don't mind if he does get laid off. Then I really can take the class that I want and do taxes like I want in the spring. Again there my goal would be to make enough in the how ever many months to pay the mortgage for a year. Meanwhile Duck would stay home with the kiddos. Then he would be blogging about the fits of psychotic emotions he is having.... I really want to get out and do field ministry also, I think it would be enlightening. I did read something the other day during the meeting that was VERY reassuring!

1Cor 10 and on

10 To the married people I give instructions, yet not I but the Lord, that a wife should not depart from her husband; 11 but if she should actually depart, let her remain unmarried or else make up again with her husband; and a husband should not leave his wife.

12 But to the others I say, yes, I, not the Lord: If any brother has an unbelieving wife, and yet she is agreeable to dwelling with him, let him not leave her; 13 and a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and yet he is agreeable to dwelling with her, let her not leave her husband. 14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in relation to [his] wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in relation to the brother; otherwise, YOUR children would really be unclean, but now they are holy.

I find it very reassuring for Duck's sake!

I love going to the meeting, it gives me a sense of accomplishment. If the whole day is mush...at least I did something right!

Okay, well Duck is going to be home soon and I really should pick up the living room. If I can manage with my back hurting so bad!

Katy

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: September 10, 2008 Busy going nowhere
DATE: 09/10/2008 19:51:51
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Just as it says....maybe it should also ready...getting nowhere. I tried to watch the blood video last night and Sunshine FREAKED out. He was balling, clinging and completely beside himself. I think that I will have to watch it on the laptop to prevent him from seeing it again. I need Duck to see it to understand why I oppose the giving of blood issue. Medically it is unsafe. There are so many things that they can do now to prevent the need, it is quite sad that they use so much blood. Even worse then that...they have crack heads, prostitutes and other vial people in the world selling their blood an it would be too late if they found that it was infected with a disease. I don't want him to have to take blood.

I just saw something I don't think I've ever seen before. Smiley is laying, asleep, next to me and he yawned. Never seen anyone yawn in their sleep.

Somehow...either my kids or a daring act of bravery my biggest fish jumped or was pulled out of the tank. He had to have been out for quite a while also. Smiley found him on the floor around the corner from the tank. He was completely dry! I picked him up with a towel and he moved...shocked I put him back into the tank. He was still trying to suck (he's a sucker fish) and now he looks like nothing ever happened. AMAZING!!

I had a rough experience at McD's with the kids. These other two kids were bullying Sunshine. I'm the type of parent/person who feels that it isn't my place no right to correct someone else's kids or whatnot, as it drive me crazy when people do it to mine. But it was so bad that I had to jump in. And as much as I hate to condone the fact that my kid may have hit, I saw the whole thing and never saw him hit, the other kids would have deserved it completely. They had him pinned, (not physically restrained just wouldn't let him out or let him keep going forward) in one part of the maze. Then the three started to fight and I told the grandmother that she needed to step in as I was calling Sunshine down. That was the second time in less then 20 minutes that these kids had been hostile towards Sunshine. I will NOT put up with someone harming my child...period. These kids who were about 5-9 were yelling things in the play area that were TOTALLY inappropriate. We left as the kids were being reunited with their mother and they were telling her their side of the story. It's amazing how early kids are learning to lie. Thankfully Sunshine isn't there yet...I just don't think that he understand how to lie as he still has troubles comprehending what is being asked of him. We left and went to the park were we had a blast!

I need to show my friend my new (old) canning guide book. I put my chili that I cooked the other night into my canning jars and put them into the fridge....they sealed themselves, but I wonder how long that would have lasted. Something else to research!

We built a new enhancer today...very interesting in design. We did it as a special request by one of our customers who is putting our enhancer on fleets. I'm hoping that this is helpful to him as in turn it will be profitable for us. I hoping in fact that it is good enough to allow us to use part of our money to take a vacation over Winter School Break. Since we aren't celebrating Christmas we see no need to spend the money on presents and such things...we would have fun on a vacation!

I'm also going to start looking for a wood burning stove...then I have to figure out how to get the duck work done in the house to make it safe. I've heard that this is going to be one of the worst years on record as far as cold and bad weather. I'm really concerned about the gas bill we are going to start seeing. I can't keep turning the dial back on the thermostat, otherwise we will just have to leave the heat off! Gotta figure out what to do and how to do it!

Okay, I've got a lot of work and house work to do so I best go since I have one down and one on the way I need to seize the moment!

Night,

Katy

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: September 09, 2008 Absolutely horrified....
DATE: 09/09/2008 19:37:33
STATUS: publish
BODY:

I found this website that linked me to Obama and McCain...out of curiosity I checked it out. After all I am going to be living in this country during their term and was curious as to how bad it was going to be. I'm ready to PUKE! The website is www.hoosiertopics.com . Obama apparently is a lying Muslim...granted...to each his own, but dang...don't lie about it. McCain can't get on the fence or get off of it concerning abortion..I didn't have the stomach to look at any of the other topics. So we have one person who is being backed by the Islamic Jihad, Al-Quida (not sure about the spelling and frankly don't care) and other various horrible groups and another candidate who says yes to abortion only if they were raped but no rape check. No to funding to prevent teen pregnancy and yes to stem cell research and yes to heavy punishment for fetal homicide if other than abortion. He also wants to prosecute the doc and not the mother who are murdering their babies. Now...here's the point that is going to throw you for a loop. I don't vote, even it I did I would tell them to stick the ballet and get better candidates.

Dismayed beyond all belief!

Katy

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: September 08, 2008 Just sitting here...
DATE: 09/08/2008 21:39:42
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Not doing what I am suppose to be, but hey, it will be here tomorrow.

I talked to a friend who is dropping weight like a bad habit! She is doing great...time to get on the ball, I'm jealous!!! I need to start doing my walking workout and lowering my intake as far as calories. I need to keep a journal and here would be a good place but I think I need a comp book and do it personally. I just don't get on enough here to keep track and I'd fall off the wagon.

Anyhow, I bought some fabric the other day on clearence and I plan on making pillows...now to find a sewing machine...and to learn how to use it. I would love to make my clothing when I lose all my weight, there are so many really nice patters out there and beautiful fabrics. Anyhow gotta get going just thought I'd put those down to look at them later.

Me.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: September 08, 2008 Okay...cook off almost accomplished
DATE: 09/08/2008 17:56:43
STATUS: publish
BODY:

I have cooked a pot of chicken noodle soup, a pot of chili, a pot of speghetti sauce and I still need to make the stir-fry and fixings for that. I also have to make the steaks in the fridge and I want to bake some bread. I've been in the kitchen a lot today and we will have plenty of food for the rest of this week. I'm thinking about doing a non lausagna lausagna. I want to use a different noodle, not sure what I could try...I'll ponder this. I may try the really big shells if I can find them or maybe even the large rotini. I have so much house cleaning to do now it isn't even funny. By the way, I think the weather people should be fired!!!! We had some thunder, no rain and I have 2 loads of laundry that are wet and waiting to be put out. I will have to hang them inside and finish up the rest tomorrow. I also need to get the boys room done so I can get them to bed in their own room and get my room done.

I have a lot of things I want to do I just need to find the time to do them and the complete things to do them with. I found a really cool soap idea, I just need to figure out how to do it or what molds would work. I also want to start making my own candels...when I have the time. I enjoy candels and with winter coming quickly it may be good to help heat the house both by cooking the materials and burning the candels.

I need to get supplies sorted for the business and see what I have. I was going to ask my friend to come back over this week, but unless we have sales it will have to wait until next week at the earliest. I still haven't paid the mortgage this month...things are starting to slow down a bit and I think we are going to have to reduce our pricing and create more things that work. Duck had a super idea today and I can't wait to get it on.

Smiley was so cute today, he was doing dishes(playing in the dish water) and I got a pic. He was standing on the chair on his tip toes and at times he was hunched over the sink with no feet on the chair. He had a blast, my floor got cleaned from all the water spilled and I got some stuff done without him being under my feet and in the danger of getting burnned from the stove.

Sunshine is doing very well. He for the first time today told Duck that he didn't want him to go to work. Broke both our hearts. But he went. I really need to go to get a job. I need to see if they can work with Duck's schedule. Maybe I can only work on weekends of a few hours here and there. I don't want to work full time becuase of all my obligations here. I think I'll go get an app tomorrow to see what happens. I really need to get going on that for insurance purposes. I want Duck to quit his job and work from home after the 1st of the year. It was going to be in 30 days, but it is more beneificial for him to stay through Dec so he can get his vacation pay and holiday pay. Free money right? This will also give me the 3 months in that I need to get insurance.

Okay well I need to scoot, I have a lot to do and 2 sleeping kidos.

Katy

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: September 04, 2008 Today was less than desired!!
DATE: 09/04/2008 20:42:58
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Ever have one of those days when you just wish you didn't wake up from the dream you were having? Boy oh boy that was today. I had to call the dentist first thing to get Sunshine squeezed in. They couldn't get to him until 2. Then I had to make the one call I was dreading, calling the pound to take Max back. I explained everything to them and they said that I needed to bring him back. I asked if they were going to put him to sleep and they said they wouldn't unless he tried to bite one of them. At first I was sad, but okay. Then I started to pack his favorite toys and I stated to ball. It still makes me very sad. I talked to Duck and decided to give him one last chance. To keep an eye on him at all times when he is in with the kids and to make sure that he is rec'ing the training that he deserves. Duck will finish his crate tonight and we will work on that this week.

We took Sunshine to the dentist, he loves it they have a playground, then they took the two of us back and the waterworks begain. They didn't even touch him before he was crying and covering his mouth. He knew where he was. They decided that he needed an x-ray and that was no easy task. It took 3 of us to him him down only to realize it wasn't working they'd never get a good picture so they paped him. They put him on this board and while kicking and screaming they velcored his hands down and his entire body to this board. Then we had to shove our fingers into his mouth and try to get the film in. All the while he was spitting I'm sure because of anger, fustration and the nasty taste of those gloves. The one lady was less then patient with him and I feel that she was almost rude at times. I had to explian what his condition was to her 3 times before she got it and then was rude about that also. A nurse and I carried him into the room where they were going to keep him and they ended up quickly pulling a dentist from another room to work on him. They said that there was trama to his gum which caused it to swell and forced the tooth out. Since it was that far out there was nothing they could do but pull it. So that is what they ended up having to do. It may be a couple of years before he ever has another tooth there when his tooth would have normally come in. He wasn't happy and I was less then happy with their service mainly from that one lady. They are dealing with kids...COME ON. So now I feel rotten because I should have taken him sooner, but never thought it was going to get bad, it looked like it healed on it's own just fine and didn't need anything else. I even called my doc to see what she thought I should do. That was before I thought it became infected. Next time I know to get them in right away.

We later took Max to a local pet store where I spent 140 on him with a shock type color for barking, training treats, a no jump/pull harness, long lasting chew bones that aren't rawhide as they told me those were bad for dogs and some type of supplement to help him relax during the training process.

I talked to my dad today, I hope that he can come to Riley with us. We need a middle man while Sunshine is in pre-op so we can see him and keep him calm. THere is only a few people that Smiley will sit with and they usually don't work anyway. I hope that he can because it is important that Sunshine have both of us with him in pre-op. If he can't make it we will manage. I'm going to contact the surgery dept and talk about the blood issue.

I have also come to the conclusion that I can't attend a friend's wedding. For this reasn:

1 Cor 5:9-13

9 In my letter I wrote YOU to quit mixing in company with fornicators, 10 not [meaning] entirely with the fornicators of this world or the greedy persons and extortioners or idolaters. Otherwise, YOU would actually have to get out of the world. 11 But now I am writing YOU to quit mixing in company with anyone called a brother that is a fornicator or a greedy person or an idolater or a reviler or a drunkard or an extortioner, not even eating with such a man. 12 For what do I have to do with judging those outside? Do YOU not judge those inside, 13 while God judges those outside? ��Remove the wicked [man] from among yourselves.��

The main point being this:

quit mixing in company with anyone called a brother that is a fornicator or a greedy person or an idolater or a reviler or a drunkard or an extortioner, not even eating with such a man. Since she is a disfellowshipped sister of the organization this completely applies to her. The problem is the emotions...As a friend I feel like I would be letting her down if I didn't go, but who would I rather let down, her or God? Who would you? Taking the emotion out of it, I'm going to do what God wants me to do and what is stated in the bible. It simply is the right thing to do.

Gotta go,

Katy

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: September 03, 2008 Meth
DATE: 09/03/2008 19:35:22
STATUS: publish
BODY:
I am meth.

This was written by a young girl who was in jail for drug charges, and was addicted to meth. She wrote this while in jail. As you will soon read, she fully grasped the horrors of the drug, as she tells in this simple, yet Profound poem. She was released from jail, but, true to her story, the drug owned her. They found her dead not long after, with the needle still in her arm.

Please keep praying. This thing is worse than any of us realize.

I destroy homes, I tear families apart,
I take your children, and that's just the start.

I'm more costly than diamonds, more precious than gold,
The sorrow I bring is a sight to behold.

If you need me, remember I'm easily found,
I live all around you- in schools and in town

I live with the rich, I live with the poor,
I live down the street, and maybe next door.

I'm made in a lab, but not like you think,
I can be made under the kitchen sink.

In your child's closet, and even in the woods,
If this scares you to death, well it certainly should.

I have many names, but there's one you know best,
I'm sure you've heard of me, my name is crystal meth.

My power is awesome, try me you'll see,
But if you do, you may never break free.

Just try me once and I might let you go,
But try me twice, and I'll own your soul.

When I possess you, you'll steal and you'll lie,
You do what you have to- just to get high.

The crimes you'll commit for my narcotic charms
Will be worth the pleasure you'll feel in your arms.

You'll lie to your mother, you'll steal from your dad,
When you see their tears, you should feel sad.

But you'll forget your morals and how you were raised,
I'll be your conscience, I'll teach you my ways.

I take kids from parents, and parents from kids,
I turn people from God, and separate friends.

I'll take everything from you, your looks and your pride,
I'll be with you always- right by your side.

You'll give up everything- your family, your home,
Your friends, your money, then you'll be alone.

I'll take and take, 'til you have nothing more to give,
When I'm finished with you, you'll be lucky to live.

If you try me, be warned- this is no game,
If given the chance, I'll drive you insane.

I'll ravish your body, I'll control your mind,
I'll own you completely, your soul will be mine.

The nightmares I'll give you while lying in bed,
The voices you'll hear, from inside your head.

The sweats, the shakes, the visions you'll see,
I want you to know, these are all gifts from me.

But then it's too late, and you'll know in your heart,
That you are mine, and we shall not part.

You'll regret that you tried me, they always do,
But you came to me, not I to you.

You knew this would happen, many times you were told,
But you challenged my power, and chose to be bold.

You could have said no, and just walked away,
If you could live that day over, now what would you say?

I'll be your master, you will be my slave,
I'll even go with you, when you go to your grave.

Now that you have met me, what will you do?
Will you try me or not? It's all up to you.

I can bring you more misery than words can tell,
Come take my hand, let me lead you to hell.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: Entry for August 29, 2008
DATE: 08/28/2008 21:39:05
STATUS: publish
BODY:

It's been quite a while. Business is getting much slower, time to find something else to do so Duck can finally stay home. I am really wanting to take the tax course this year and possibly do taxes next year. My goal is to make enough money to pay the mortgage payments for a year and maybe our health insurance for a year.

We are going to the local festival this weekend and it is going to be inter sting. Today Smiley started to run a fever and it's got to be high, he is on fire. He is cutting his last 4 teeth. My baby is growing up. While it's sad I'm happy too. Duck did make a weird comment the other day, he told the boys that they were all they had for now...notice how he said for now. Hum...wonder when he's due, I'm not having anymore.

We found out that LW is in jail until Oct. at one of the roughest Juvy's in the state. We had JD for the weekend and realized that his mom is full of it. Not going into that. Boy I do admit thought that I'm not looking forward to my kids picking out their own clothes. We had the discussion about what was acceptable and not. A blood red shirt with black skulls all over it IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. My point was simple, I want our kids to look nice, I don't want to be embarrassed about taking them to the meetings if we are running late in what they have on. How many "goth" people do you know, besides Marilyn Manson have made it big? And when I say big...I don't mean a movie actor or singer. Big is doing something with your life, like being a doctor or whatnot? Most of the "goth" kids that I knew growing up wound up in jail, pregnant before they were married or poverty stricken. So if that means that preps have a better life, bring on the polos!!!!! Now that doesn't mean that I'm an idiot, I will not be shopping at the mall for my kids clothes, I'd rather put my money to the world wide preaching work then pay $50.00 for a sticking tshirt that is junk.

I was doing my bible study for this week tonight for tomorrow morning and read this yet again, while it isn't my favorite it weights heavy on my conscience which incidentally is what we are covering.

1Cor 6:9, 10

9 What! Do YOU not know that unrighteous persons will not inherit God’s kingdom? Do not be misled. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men kept for unnatural purposes, nor men who lie with men, 10 nor thieves, nor greedy persons, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit God’s kingdom.

The part that weights the most is the drunkards and greedy persons. It also has changed my beliefs about the gay/lesbian aspect. While judging is still an issue for me I remember these:

Rom 14:10

10 But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you also look down on your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God;

Mat 7: 1-5

1 “Stop judging that YOU may not be judged; 2 for with what judgment YOU are judging, YOU will be judged; and with the measure that YOU are measuring out, they will measure out to YOU. 3 Why, then, do you look at the straw in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the rafter in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Allow me to extract the straw from your eye’; when, look! a rafter is in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First extract the rafter from your own eye, and then you will see clearly how to extract the straw from your brother’s eye.

Okay, gotta go to bed it's late and bible study is early.

PS: Sunshine wanted his pic posted, he picked it out. It's from earlier this year.

Katy

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: August 06, 2008 Mistakes....
DATE: 08/06/2008 20:44:18
STATUS: publish
BODY:

We all make mistakes in life. That is why they are called mistakes. I've never in my life met someone who was perfect, there are so many people out there with skeltons in their closets. There are things I'm not proud of that I've done in my past as I'm sure there are things that you have done too that you aren't so proud of. While I don't wish to list the things I'm proud of as there isn't enough room on the internet for this one entry. They are called mistakes because the weren't suppose to happen, but the true mistake is not learning from it. There are mistakes that I've never admitted and while I now see it was mistake I let things get out of control then. I will have to atone for these mistakes one day, for now I can just remember it was a mistake and never let it happen again..and of course pray for forgiveness. Anyhow, no special reason just thought it would be a good point to make.

We are all very sick and I'm very tired, I'm going to bed.

Me.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: August 04, 2008 Hopefully life will keep going!
DATE: 08/04/2008 17:46:01
STATUS: publish
BODY:

We are doing well in our business although we have slowed down a bit. I think it is the weather. Duck is looking for more to do to make sure our income is supplemented.

In other news...I will be 27 shortly and yet I feel like I'm turning 35. Just another day! Due to some research, I will no longer be celebrating birthdays.

Smiley plugged a box switch into the light socket today...boom! He got shocked, it went dark and it was all followed by screaming!

Sunshine is unbearable right now! He has tonsilitis again...now we are going to have to get them taken out...yet another trip to Riley.

Okay, well I have 2 legs being pulled out...literally. Gotta run

Katy

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: July 27, 2008 OH BOY!!!
DATE: 07/26/2008 21:36:18
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Life is going really good right now. So good infact it is starting to get depressing..how you ask..well there are two major things in life...you either have the time to do things and no money or the money to do them and not time. I have the money to show my kids a great time like taking them to the zoo, mesuem, etc but not the time. I've been so busy that it is sad. I took time out of my day the yesterday to lear now to can....yup!!! can. I CAN'T WAIT TO APPLY MY NEWLY LEARNED SKILL. Someone that I hadn't talked to in a LONG time, before just recently taught me to do it. While I felt like I wasn't doing much, she showed me a ton. Guess what??? I went all over yesterday looking for a canning cooker and couldn't find one under $40.00. I searched eBay all night for one...no such luck...then talking to a lady that goes to the same hall as me, and she had one that she has been trying to get rid of for a sister at the hall for over a year now. Badabing!!! $10.00 and I'm the proud owner of a pressure canner!!! I now need to find a grate for it and buy some jars and it's off to the races. I feel that I may do more canning during the winter because of the use of the hot stove. Thank a million K~ BTW, did you get my email? Okay well the kids want to play and I need to jump off of here we are going to be out of town for a bit tomorrow and we need to get some sleep! Take care...hopefully talk sooner!

Katy!

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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Kim H
DATE: 07/28/2008 08:21:49
Congratulations! And I will be calling you later today.

Grate substitute: Get some rings (you can find them with the canning supplies) and place them in the bottom of the canner. The glass jars will sit on those.
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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: July 09, 2008 Another day...
DATE: 07/09/2008 19:15:43
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Max is driving me bananas!!! Seriously! I can't wait until he gets out of this puppy stage. He is about to find himself a home outside. My house is a wreck, my kids need baths, I have 40 more boxes to build, 30 to get ready for Duck to build and my laundry is still on the line from yesterday. I did manage to make it to the grocery store today and my stir-fry stuff was on sale....okay, huge sale! I bought 40 or so bags of it. Yummy!!!!

Sunshine is getting into his "back-talk" stage.....AHHHHH. Today he got into trouble and had to sit in time-out. He told me to be nice, and I explained that hitting the dog was bad and that he had to sit in time out for it. Wanna know what his reply was????? SHUT UP! Oh, yeah...boy oh boy!! I said, "excuse me??" and his very swift reply was, "excuse you!" I think I'm going to have my hands full. On another note, he has this strange rash looking thing on his arm. I can't figure out if it is poison ivy or a spider bite. It is HUGE! If it doesn't go down or goes up by tomorrow, I'll run him into the doc.

Smiley had to have his blood redone for his CBC, it clotted! He wasn't happy and neither was Sunshine. He is a very protective big brother and doesn't like to hear Smiley cry. They were able to do a finger prick and go what they needed. I hope that the results are in soon!

Well we are having company over tomorrow and I need to get things picked back up. My goal is to have all my boxes done and Duck's started. I want to rip up the Dining Room and Hallway tonight since trash is tomorrow.

Okay break time is over!

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: July 08, 2008 Just when I think....
DATE: 07/07/2008 21:55:36
STATUS: publish
BODY:

I'm having a crappy day, I read someone else's blog and determine mine is nothing compared to theirs. Today we took the boys to the doc in replace of the appt we missed. Sunshine got his Kindergarten shots, even though a year early (okay to give them now), best to get them over with. He was FURIOUS! 4 shots, 2 pokes, they do a tandem shot so he only feels two pricks. He is also having troubles aiming if you know what I mean. She said his hole is a bit upward, but nothing to be worried about. She could send him to a urologist, but I don't think it's necessary right now. He is caught up with kids in his age group and she was amazed at the progress he has made. I was very happy. He has been having troubles with the TV, he won't let us turn it up past 22, which you can't hear it on. I think that is my fault, when Duck is on days, we keep it real low so it doesn't wake him. Something to work on.

Sunshine was a completely different story! His weight is still way down, in fact he has fallen off the chart completely. He is still less than 22 lbs. His height however has gone back up to the 10 percentile range (which is where he has mostly been). She gave him his one shot and they requested CBC and lead testing. That was horrible, so much blood from a tiny guy! All in all, I believe he is fine, and is just going to be small like his daddy was.

I earned my keep this weekend, we (the kids and I) watered and weeded most of the garden. What is coming up that is. I mowed the yard, raked where the dog tore stuff up at and cleaned up the back patio. Sold almost 100 units and am ready to die because I'm behind and nothing is getting done. I missed the meeting this morning and I'm not going to attempt to take the boys alone tomorrow night. I'm busy beyond all belief and nothing is getting done as far as house work. Yet I'm sitting here typing huh? My carpet and vinyl is laying in the living room and dining room and the wafer board is loitering my front porch. I want to get the vinyl tomorrow and hopefully the carpet done sometime this week. My nerves are fried and I can tell. I'm exhausted, over whelmed and loosing my mind! ON that note, I need to get off here and finish cleaning my kitchen before my husband gets home. I'm going to try to get his help tonight on some of the boxes that have to be built!

By the way, here is something that I'm very proud of!!!.

http://www.suncommercial.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&subsectionID=2&articleID=2538

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: July 01, 2008 By the way....
DATE: 07/01/2008 20:22:22
STATUS: publish
BODY:
I ABSOLUTELY HATE 4TH OF JULY! People go out, get drunk, and light off explosives? How is this a good way to celebrate? All night the only thing I hear is my poor dogs barking and fireworks going off until about 1 am. It is annoying and a total waste of time and money. With the money that everyone, not us since we don't buy them, wastes on these things, we could feed an entire starving village in a third world country for a month, if not longer! Okay, done ranting!~
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Kim H
DATE: 07/05/2008 14:43:46
Happy Independence Day. (One day late.)
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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: July 01, 2008 I've been advised that I've been quite!
DATE: 07/01/2008 20:19:51
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Over the past month I've sold more than 100 enhancer and countless extenders. Business is good. We have also had company for 2 weeks that was over paid and not very productive. Hum...what else is new. Well Duck applied for a new/different job. We'll see if he gets an interview. I've been attending the meeting regularly. This week I should make it to all three, plus my bible study. Duck's nephew showed up the other day, head saved except a Mohawk and he let his buddies spray paint his head. I also found out in the midst of cleaning up an infected wound on his arm that he was drunk when they did it and one of his buddies had heated up a knife and touched it to LW's arm, causing the burn that I was bandaging up. He also has been tattooed and got into a fight with another kid and certainly lost by the huge cut on his lip the should have had stitches. It made a fine T in his lip that would have fit my pinky in. Then on top of it all, he and his buddies stole a paint guy and some cash from, are you ready for this??? A COP! Of all the people to steal from. It was wrong and now he is sitting in jail and I hope that he stays there. His mom's excuse is that she is on this med that makes her sleep and he sneaks out. POOR EXCUSE. Stop taking the meds or talk to your doc and get something else. Her child is suffering from her and of course his own stupidity and it is sad. They've had their phone shut off and recently lost power due to the rising expenses of his dumb decisions. And all the while I say this harsh stuff here, I don't dare put it so harsh or in such blunt terms to him. Duck laid into him like you'd never believe. I kept telling him to lay off, he is just going to shut down and not hear any of it. I talked to LW and asked him why he did those things, if he knew they were wrong and if he knew what could happen as a result. His answer was yes. When I asked him why, he didn't want to give me an answer. I told him that he deserves what ever punishment he gets and that I hope from the bottom of my heart that he learns his lesson. Apparently that day the authorities were alerted that he and his friends had been stealing mail and burning it, which is a federal offense. He is now sitting in jail. A good friend visited with her girls the other day. It was a very nice visit. We got the your weird (or should I say Duck got it) conversation. His cousin who was staying with us had a ton (according to his standards a ton is 2 loads) of laundry to do, but we didn't want to wait around Indy so he could do it. We told him to bring it out and he could wash and hang it out. He couldn't wrap his head around the fact that we don't have a running dryer. Of course, this is coming from a man that is 33 years old who can't hold down a job and is living with his mother in a retirement center. Can't really wrap my head around that either. We also got into a sort of religious debate over the mark of the Devil, he thinks that it is a microchip, and if you get it you are going to hell. Okay, so in the beginning of time when the book of Revelations was written they knew it was a microchip that was the mark of the Devil. He wouldn't get off the fact that it may not be a microchip, it has to be that because that is what his mom's pastor says. Um...okay, what ever! While I believe in the Mark of the Devil, I don't think it is set as it is going to be. We'll have to wait and see. He also thinks that if you don't take the Mark you will die because you can't buy food or drink ever therefore you will die. The bible tells us in Hebrews and in Romans that isn't the case. Those who stay faithful to God will not die, he will provide for us what we need. Anyhow, life has been hectic. Oh an by the way, in case anyone ever needed to know...if a certain 4 year old puts 2 jugs (small ones) of two cycle oil into your washer it only take 4 loads on hot with bleach and tons of soap to get rid of it. Oh and the clothes that he poured it on, will come clean too! One last thing...they always tell you that when they say uh-oh or oh-no that something just happened, they were wrong, you will never know what was flushed down the toilet once that was said, unless of course you go to grab the roll of TP next time you potty and it isn't there. Then I guess you'll figure that one out. Sounds like fun at my house huh? Okay, back to work.

K~ Hope all is well with H, please keep us posted, she and all of you are in our thoughts and prayers. If there is anything we can do, we are only a phone call or drive away!

Me.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: Entry for June 21, 2008
DATE: 06/21/2008 20:34:19
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Our Family!!!

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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Kim H
DATE: 06/28/2008 20:37:07
You've been quiet.
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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: June 16, 2008 Busy beyond all belief!
DATE: 06/16/2008 09:37:29
STATUS: publish
BODY:

We took a break from work on Sat and took the boys to the zoo, it was WONDERFUL. It wasn't too hot, but it was very tiring. Duck got to pet a shark and I couldn't get close enough to one to pet it. They boys had a great time and then we picked up CB and came home. He is going to be staying with us for a bit to help us out. Today I am going to clean my house top to bottom and weed my entire garden. I will help with the garden, but the rest I'm on my own. Life has been very busy. I've had over 100 aunctions close in the past month and that's great, but BUSY! Well MC is getting sleepy which is good for me because I can sneak up stairs after he passes out and do my work up there. Gotta run!

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: June 09, 2008 Got Prozac????
DATE: 06/08/2008 23:42:27
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Okay, I'm on the verge of loosing my mind. I have decided that I want to start doing my bible study and daily reading during or before bkfst or on the pot. This way it will get done and not done when I'm too tired to absorb the very useful info!

We have endured SEVERAL SEVER storms. We have been pounded so hard that our town was shut down the other day. Duck was late to work because the road, normal and VERY used route) was closed. Someone I haven't talked to in over a year called to make sure we were doing okay, which was a very sweet gesture. I had to get one package out in the mail and was able to do that at 11:55, I had to drive all the way around the town to get to the other side. What normally is a 5 min drive at most took me about 15. Duck made it home safely and we went out to dinner for our anny! 5 years of wedded bliss. Granted it hasn't been 100% perfect but it's close. I love him more today than I did 5 years ago! We ran a few errands and then came home. During the say 3 or 4th storm it totally bent our windmill pole in half. Then of course it dropped the windmill on the ground and snapped one of the blades and bent the blade plate. Now it is going to cost an arm and a leg to get new blades. Granted Duck has been wanting them, I am just not ready to spend $270 dollars on them. We bought a new tower today, another approach to it and we'll see how it works. We are going to stick up a ton of guide wires to hopefully prevent this from happening again.

Dad isn't coming up this week, I asked him to wait until next week. He seems like he has a lot of things he wants to get done. He is going to fix the toilet, tuck point the outer brick, cut down some trees, maybe put up some clothes lines for me and possible some other things he hasn't told me about. I wish he would tell me in advance so Duck could get off of work and we could help him. I need to mow the grass tomorrow hopefully before it rains. Otherwise it will be Thur before I can do it. I have to go to the PO to see what it will cost to mail 4 out of country packages, not sure eBay is doing what they should with that mail. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. I'm exhausted and I need to go to bed. I've made more in the past 2.5 hours then Duck will make all day today at work. Poor guy!

I had a scripture that I wanted to shave, but I can't remember exactly where it is. I will have to look it up tomorrow. I know it was Matthew 26...or I'm pretty sure.

Okay, night. And K~thanks again for your kindness and checking on us.

Katy

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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Kim H
DATE: 06/09/2008 16:10:42
I'm just glad to know you all are safe and sound.
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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: June 05, 2008 How often does one pray????
DATE: 06/05/2008 06:23:01
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Yesterday morning we had some of the worst weather that I remember. 2 or 3 days in a row. The first was at about 11 pm when we lost power until 5:30. The second and third were yesterday morning, one at about 1:55 am and the other around 4:30 am. The thunder rumbled so loudly that it shook the windows and house. I thought for a moment that we were having another earthquake, but realized that it was just thunder. It woke Duck up out of a dead sleep and Sunshine too. Not much new to report, still working our bums off on this business we started. It's sad, we have made some bad decisions with the money, but we are going to turn that around. Tomorrow we will eat out for dinner or go to the Strawberry Festival. It was the only two requests that I made for this weekend and our anniversary. We will be married 5 years tomorrow. Doesn't sound like a lot, but in Oct we will have been together for 8. And many more happy years to come! Gotta run, work to do....

By the way as for my headline, I prayed everytime I was woke up by the storm for the safety of my family and all the others who were going through such rocky weather. Parts of town were blocked off because of the huge amounts of rain, but we were good. We didn't even loose power yesterday morning. I do however have 3 totes full of water ready for the garden this weekend!

Tata!

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: June 01, 2008 Time for A/C
DATE: 06/01/2008 13:29:24
STATUS: publish
BODY:

It just about made me sick today to turn on the a/c. The hottest part of the day is close and I just turned in on for 10 minutes. I'm going to leave it off since we plan on leaving in a few to take LW back home. I will do a reading when I get home and then tomorrow we will only run it if it gets over 80 inside the house. With the boys and their asthma I don't want it to get too hot. Over the next week we will be sealing cracks in the windows and such from the outside. The windmill did get put up last night, and now we need to wire it into the system.

Last night I watched the movie Becoming Jane. While I will admit that I wasn't overly impressed with the movie, I feel that way about a lot of "real life" movies. It certainly wasn't what I thought it was going to be.

Gotta run

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: May 30, 2008 WOOH Slow down~!!!!!
DATE: 05/30/2008 13:42:06
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Goodness, I'm not sure which way is up anymore. We went to the meeting last night and made it through the first half. Sunshine has poison Ivy and the doc wanted me to buy this very expensive stuff. Just can't afford it and he isn't scratching. I will bath him everyday and if it speads more than the dime size it is now (that is blistered) I will get some pink stuff.

I picked up a lawn mower for a single mom on the block the other day through fc. She really appreciated it and I was happy to do it. Tomorrow LW is coming over to help Duck with the shirts, windmill, garage, dog pen area and such. They have about 50 shirts to silk screen, a dog shelter to build and a garage to clean out. I assume I will be posting a ton of stuff to fc this weekend. I'm also going to see if M's boys want to come down and help me with the ehancers that we are building. There was a guy today that wants to order 20 - 50 at least a month. That would double or replace Duck's income. The problem is that we don't know how long this "fad" is going to last therefore we will just kill ourselves now to get the extra money in and pay the mortgage up as much as possible.

K~ what is the national average? I think we are doing well. Our daily average is: 23.69 kwh. Which that transulates to about 2.67 dollars a day, plus tax and stuff. I wanted to get all the laundry done today, but I got 3 loads finished, I will put the rest out tomorrow. I will be so busy this weekend! I need some sleep! Okay, well nothing more to say, gotta run. Cleaning to do and some school work. Next week we hope to start a schedule and this included getting up around 8:00ish (hopefully sooner for me) and getting breakfast, playing outside while doing laundry, snack, school work, cleaning, lunch, cleaning and inside play if it is too hot, snack, More free play, dinner, play outside, bath, reading, bed.

Okay, gotta run!

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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Kim H
DATE: 05/30/2008 14:59:43
Here is the calculator:

http://www.peakready.com/r4a.php

You are using 78.6% of the national average. That is good. That is way better than me.

Riot for Austerity has a year long project (the year is winding down, but more people are still joining) to get people to use 10% of the national average for pretty much everything. I used to be at 247.9% of the national average. Well more than double what most Americans use. You see where I am now. :)

Main site for Riot:

http://www.riot4austerity.org/blog/?page_id=13

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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Katy
DATE: 05/30/2008 19:11:43
I used to use to use 132.7, WOW! That's really cool. And on the other aspect of it, my electricity bill went from 134 average to about 118 per month. Gives me something to work on. We've been shutting the tv off, I've stopped watching the dreaded soaps, which I loved, but it was a total waste of my time. Most of my time is now spent either with the boys or on here working with customers. Sunshine watches too many movies, but he is speaking more. I need to get him back into puzzles and into his school work and cut out that tv. We really don't have much time for it now. I don't think I will make it down to the 90% reductions, but I'm happy and will work from here. We are going to try the LED light in our main sockets. It would drop the watts per bulb from 13 or 23 to .6! We are also going to get the windmill set up this weekend, hopefully, boy that's been a challenge! Thanks for the info and glad to see you found your trees, sorry I couldn't find you any great deals! Thanks for the advise on the strawberries, I've gotten impatent with God beauty and blessings, I want instant gradification, and know that I need to be patient!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Kim H
DATE: 05/31/2008 09:48:00
One thing I have learned with growing and raising our food is that there is no such thing as instant gratification. But the gratification that does come is much sweeter and much, much more satisfying. It truly gives us (or me) a visual sense of what "Wait on the Lord" means and helps me to apply it to other areas in my life where I am waiting on Him.
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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: Entry for May 27, 2008
DATE: 05/27/2008 14:50:09
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Unexpected guests! We had company until after midnight last night and they were back bright and early this morning. While I am accommodating, I was surprised to see them. Duck worked until after the birds started singing this morning, he is tired and didn't even get done what he needed to.

Smiley decided to take off his diaper in the middle of the night. He ended up soaking my bed, which isn't fun cleaning up. When he woke up this morning and I wasn't there, I had come down early, he started to whine, he then climbed in to bed with his daddy. Then all the sudden Duck said he felt like it was raining. Poor guy! What a horrible way to wake up. I bleached my dining room carpet this weekend and it now looks like I never did anything to it. I need to get runners for where the high traffic areas are. The rest looks good, now I will have to redo the main lane area of the dining room and the living room. Tonight I will spend most of the night after Rev Study up stairs rearranging and go over the beds again. I am happy that I have more sheets for them, but I now need to check the weather to see if it is going to be nice this week so I can do laundry. It looks bad right now.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: May 24, 2008 Green thumb day
DATE: 05/24/2008 19:00:11
STATUS: publish
BODY:

We bought 2 apple trees, fertilizer and mulch today...among tons of other stuff. I got the trees at 50% off, which was a steal! I have one more to buy and we are going to try to grow one from the ground. My garden is blooming in full swing, I expect to know what is where in about a month, but hopefully enough comes up so I can see where my rows are so I can weed. Sunshine did WONDERFUL today, I was very happy with him and very proud. Of course Smiley was wonderful as well! Well I hate to cut this short, but I really have a lot to do and I want to get everything done on my list before Monday.

I'M SO HAPPY ABOUT MY NEW TREES!!!!

Katy

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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Kim H
DATE: 05/24/2008 20:01:33
Wonderful! Where did you find the trees?
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Katy
DATE: 05/24/2008 20:53:30
Well, as you would call it, Evil Empire on the southside and they only had one more. If I run across anymore good deals like that are you interested? If so, how many? I am going to Menards sometime soon to see if they got in anymore Yellow Del, I think they were 25. If your interested, how many and how much? My dad said something about sometimes needing more than one to pollonate the other. That is why we got the red ones first, I think they are called winesap. I will be picking up the yellow del which needs one of the other brands to pollonate it or so I've heard. No worries either way, my kids are going through 6-10 pounds a week and what they don't eat I will either make bread with or applesauce, which is something else they eat a ton of. Apples just don't go bad in our house. I'm mean when the kids are done with the core, the dog eats what is left. I'm amazed!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Kim H
DATE: 05/25/2008 13:36:11
Yes, please let me know. We are wanting 2 granny smiths, 2 red del or some other sweet red, 2 apricot trees, 2 pear trees, and 2 peach trees.

As well as a grape vine and some other fruits.

You are so sweet. Thank you for keeping your eyes out for me.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Katy
DATE: 05/25/2008 18:40:43
Kim~ I went to Rural King today where we picked up our last tree. Yellow Del. It was $20.00 and they only offer a 90 day warrant unlike WalMart or Menards. I know that they had peach trees, many more apple trees and maybe even a few plum trees. I didn't see any Granny Smith and only one Yellow Del. There were a few Gala and a bunch of reds. I bit the bullet and payed an arm and a leg for my grapes at Menards or Lowes, I think I spent about $9 and I won't even see production until next year. However, it looked like Lowes has some ready to produce, but no apple trees. At RK though they had a tree that was already showing apples...I was surprised. I will keep my eyes out for the "cheap" ones for you. I can't get my strawberries to grow or produce.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Kim H
DATE: 05/26/2008 16:34:49
Some strawberries are picky. They will produce, but only after a year of nothing. If nothing happens next year, then I would say pull them and start over. Give them time, though. You thought the corn wasn't going to give you anything for a while there, then one day you saw corn sprouting.
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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: my boys!!!
DATE: 05/22/2008 21:20:13
STATUS: publish
BODY:

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: Sunshine cooking
DATE: 05/22/2008 21:16:11
STATUS: publish
BODY:

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: sunshine & mommy last summer
DATE: 05/22/2008 21:14:12
STATUS: publish
BODY:

when he likd having his pic taken

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: When Smiley and daddy get sleepy...
DATE: 05/22/2008 21:11:19
STATUS: publish
BODY:

They hold eachother! Note, Smiley is still part frog!
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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: When daddy gets sleepy.....
DATE: 05/22/2008 21:09:40
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Elmo holds daddy!
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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: When Smiley gets sleepy...
DATE: 05/22/2008 21:08:10
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Daddy loves to hold him!
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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: When Duck Gets Sick....
DATE: 05/22/2008 21:06:01
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Max keeps him warm! This was in Feb or Mar when he had the onset of pneumonia.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: May 23, 2008 I'm going to post some pics.
DATE: 05/22/2008 21:04:02
STATUS: publish
BODY:

My future doctor
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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: May 22, 2008 What a day!
DATE: 05/22/2008 16:23:38
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Did anyone hear that there was a tornado in Colorado? I don't think I've ever heard that. While it isn't impossible, I've just never heard of it. I'm also thinking about contact the NWS and seeing where the tornado that his my house was from. OM Goodness! This is the worst my house has looked since we moved in! Now, don't get me wrong it isn't "dirty", we have a dog to eat what has been dropped by the baby, but it is a mess. I worked my butt off today. We are now running 2 business, one will die real quick and the other is slowing down because I made it. We are VERY VERY busy right now and I can't see strait. Not to mention, the lady who placed an order today changed it 3 or so times before I took what she last left on my VM. It will be that and I'm saving to stupid VM to prove it if I need to. Boy I blew the paper trail on that one. I finished my bible teach book last night. I wanted to get started on the next installment, in fact, I want to get 3 chapters read tonight, but it is a more intense book and a lot more digging as I have been told. I may have to get some paper, pen and only do one or two chapters, but 3 is my goal.

Wanna hear something funny! Okay, while you may only appreciate this if you have a boy, this is what my darling little boy did last night. While cleaning he took off his diaper so I let him run a bit without one. Not like there are any little girls running around and he has had a bit of a rash so air is going to help. So he sits down on the floor, and starts singing the "I love you" part of the Barney song, thinking he was talking to me, I looked over and said, I love you too Smiley. No, he was holding his manhood and singing to it. I went to get a diaper!

I admired my corn today, it is beautiful, I need to get out and weed the garden. I posted that I wanted to re-mulch the other day. I want to do it only for attractiveness. My flowers NEVER grew there so I'm going to plant in baskets and set them out or hang them. The mulch does cut down on the weeds and for that I'm very grateful. So, that is why I haven't done it, in order to do that number one I would need to make the time and right now the only time I have is at say 3 am, and the second reason of course is that it cost money to buy something and I really don't need to do it.

Okay, I have to run, I want to get the boys room upstairs finished. At 1 am I decided that I wanted to move it around, so I started, now it is a huge mess and I need to get it finished. I also want to work on the down stairs. I have a lot to do today.

Katy

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: May 21, 2008 Houston we have corn!!!!
DATE: 05/21/2008 14:34:33
STATUS: publish
BODY:

I was SOOOOOO excited today I could barely hold it in. Why you ask?? Well, I was push mowing the kids area and the other places that I can't get with the rider and I saw that my garden is starting to sprout corn! YAHHHHHHHH. Okay, so it's corny to be so happy about corn, but I'm glad to see my garden doing something besides growing weeds. I was thinking I would have to put miracle grow on it, but I don't have to now. Now if I can get my strawberries to start blossoming, I would be happy!

This weekend, is going to be busy and we aren't even going anywhere. We are going to be working around the house and I can't wait for everything to get done. I'm thinking about re-mulching the front, but I'm not sure if that is something that I want to put into the budget. I'll have to see. My goal is to get one month ahead on the mortgage for now and keep it up. I didn't walk today, Sunshine felt warm this morning. We've been cutting back on our TV time, but we keep forgetting about the water heater. I also am running into the problem about running out of water, I can't seem to keep the tank filled. That could be because Sunshine is learning to potty and he flushes every single time.

Smiley got shocked last night. He stuck something in the light socket and it had to have shocked him for as loud as he screamed. I'm thinking about trying to get a water storage tank and using rain water to wash my clothes in, then I will use reg water to rinse. That would GREATLY cut down on the amount of water we use. I'm wanting to look into one of those portable washer things, but I'm not sure I would use it.

We have been really super busy with our new business and we are starting to have troubles keeping up. I was suppose to learn how to solder today, but there just wasn't time. I will also start learning how to hook up the right wires and making the sensors myself. Then I will learn how to make the fuel cells as well. Besides Duck hating his job again, live is good. I'm more spiritually connected with God, I've been doing all my studying again and I'm about 8 pages from finishing my first study book. Then it will be onto book #2 and keeping up on the Watchtowers and Revelation book. I've found out that we are starting a new book after we finish the rev book so I will need to do the entire rev book and start on the other one at the same time. Sounds like a lot, but I want to be in the right position to be baptized by next assembly. I still have some changes to make, but the closer I draw to God, the easier those changes will be. First and far most I must remember the scripture at the top of my blog page. "Bad associations spoil useful habits". It's so true.

Okay, well Smiley is ready for a nap, and I need to clean up the living room and fold clothes.

Me.

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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Kim H
DATE: 05/21/2008 16:36:27
Congratulations on the corn! The main purpose of mulch is to keep moisture in the ground. The secondary purpose of mulch is weed control. If there is already mulch, then there is no need to remulch until next year. If weeds come up, have the boys help. They are old enough to pull weeds and even if they don't do a "good job" (picking the weeds instead of pulling out root and all) they are still learning and working by your side.

Congratulations on the Bible studies. I am thrilled at the spiritual growth I have seen in your blog. Keep up the good work. Both spiritually and ecologically.
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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: May 21, 2008 Well...something new!
DATE: 05/20/2008 22:04:22
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Sunshine has NEVER just thrown up and kept going. Today, was a first. He got to school and at snack got sick and then he coudln't stop. I thought it might have been something he ate, so I wanted to get him a treat. On the way home he just started throwing up everywhere. All over himself, the van seat belt and floor. Poor little guy. He slept for about 3 hours today and he has been up and bouncing around ever since. Now he will miss the last day of school because he was sick today. I have a HUGE list of stuff to get done this week end. Being a long weekend, we will be home. I am planning a small field trip to the local park to take the kids to the carnival. I want to see how Sunshine will do. We will only buy enough tickets for one ride and go from there.

The nursing thing is quickly coming to an end. The other night I thought I was nursing Jaws! He has now started to use his top teeth to keep the nipple in his mouth and I'm about to die. The other night it was so bad I told him no, and he whimped all night. Tonight I was telling him that he was a big boy and big boys don't need mommy milk, they need big boy milk. He was just laughing at me. Literally! I'm just about over it, really. It isn't comfortable right now at all, and thus not enjoyable. While I love to watch him drift off into a milk druken sleep and love how happy he looks, I'm done.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: May 19, 2008 Burrrr....
DATE: 05/19/2008 14:01:27
STATUS: publish
BODY:

So much has been done and yet so much more to do. Iha ve about 10 loads of laundry to fold. The last of it came in off the line during the first sprinkles. I went to help a friend clean up before construction today. Not sure I was all that big of a help, but we seemed to get a bit done. The items that are left require very stong men to move. Our new venture is exploding. We are so busy with it, we can't even see strait! We have made about 700 dollars in the past week. I've had to slow the postings down so I can get a breath of air. It would be nice if this would keep up enough to pay our house payment for the rest of the year. That would relieve a bunch of stress off of us. We could start working on other things then.

My garden has flopped. Nothing has come up yet, but I still hope. I need to get 2 loads of dishes done, I cleaned out the fridge so now I only need to wipe it down. I'm going to put the rest of the pot roast that I cooked yesterday in the crock pot in a smaller container so I can wash the big one. I need to fold all the clothes, clean the bathroom, pick up all the toys, declutter the back of the couch and side tables, vacuum, clean off the stove, and counter in the kitchen and sweep and mop the floors. Doesn't sound like it would take me long, but it's a LOT! I also have to do book study for tomorrow morning and night.

I have a wonderful story to share, but I really have to get going for now. I will do my best to come back and tell it tonight. God is an amazingly powerful and mysterious being.

Me.

Oh, yeah the title, what happened to the heat? GRRR. I wish it would stay about 75 all the time. Things would dry outside on a nice day, the kids could play outside, I wouldn't need to turn on my heater or a/c. One of these days!

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: May 15, 2008 Bad day....
DATE: 05/15/2008 20:53:45
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Boy oh boy...this is got to be a doozy of a day. Sunshine has been "free-styling" since we are still trying to get the potty thing under wraps. He peed on my wall.....MY WALL. AHHHHH Smiley cried most of the night, just fussy, not really sure why...possibly teeth. The dog...well the dog is about to find himself outside. He walked with me today, but only 1.25 miles, he was trying to drag me down the track in the mean time choking himself. He just about threw up and I tied him to the bleacher so I could see him all the way around the track. He has been horrible all night. I have company coming early tomorrow morning and I'm not ready...just needed to gripe for a minute. Okay, I feel a bit better.

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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Kim H
DATE: 05/16/2008 19:14:15
I am laughing hysterically because I have been there. Charlie used to pee down the heat vents.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Katy
DATE: 05/16/2008 20:56:24
I've heard children doing that, I think I would be on the brink of madness if he did something like that. I would probably cry. I really don't think that he did it on purpose, but who knows. He has been doing really well, he just won't do it all the time. Any pearls?
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Kim H
DATE: 05/17/2008 07:54:07
Patience, a sense of humor, and consistency. I have a timer that I normally use for bread baking, but I have also used it for potty time. I set it for an hour and when the timer goes off, I bring Bethany to the potty. I'm up to two hours now between potty beeps and just encourage her to go inbetween beep times. That's not to say there are no accidents or moments where I feel like ripping my hair out, but it gives some semblence of consistency to help her remember when she gets busy playing.
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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: May 13, 2008 Things look better....
DATE: 05/13/2008 19:50:31
STATUS: publish
BODY:

My house looks better, I only have about 2 more loads, maybe 3 of laundry to do. I am going to do some touch up on my walls tomorrow where the paint has been scratched, colored on or knicked. I STILL have not taken the recycle down. I need to do that too. We went to the meeting, Rev book study tonight and it was a disaster. The boys were noisy, it was hot and they couldn't sit still. There is only about 25 or so on Tues so they don't hook up the PA system. So I can't go into the mother room nor the side rooms. Sunshine would have done so much better sitting next to P, but it didn't work out, we were a few minutes late and it was too late to play musical chairs. We were in the back listening as Sunshine walked up and down the hall, when P came down to use the restroom. Sunshine gave him a hug, which was sweet and then talked to him for a second. Once P went into the men's room I told Sunshine that he couldn't go in there because he doesn't use the big boy potty. All the sudden he said, "Mommy I go pee-pee." So we ran into the ladies room and I got him situated in the mean time Smiley had taken off and was trying to sit on the other potty. He just about fell in. Mom's need 8 arms.

So we are home now and getting ready for bed. I'm going to wash up the rest of the dishes, by means of putting them into the dishwasher and pick up the rest of the living room. I also would like to get the rest of the laundry folded. It was such a nice wonderful day that I think I got 5 loads done which included some blankets that had gotten wet from one of the boys soaking through their diapers.

Not much new to report, just hanging out with the kiddos. We did drop down to less than 1000 wph yesterday, I'm curious to see what it is now since Duck left the water heater on all night. I think I'll go see....It took us up to 997.8, which is still low.

Gotta run, I'm just been pushed past my last nerve.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: May 11, 2008 We made amends...
DATE: 05/11/2008 12:28:16
STATUS: publish
BODY:

My dishwasher and I have made up. It has decided to work after a CLR shower (second one), a rinse, dish run and dish rinse with vinegar. The dishes look great and I will be using store bought soap. Which this is fustrating, it will have to do. Thank K for the points you gave me...they seemed to have worked. I must now remember to pick up Vinegar this week so I can keep running it.

I woke up today with sharp pains running down my back and through my right leg. This is a result of sleeping in between two bed hogs and not exercising enough. I did miss the meeting this morning. I could hardly carry Smiley down the stairs. Right now I'm sitting here with the TENS unit on hopeing I feel better before tomorrow. I will walk, but I would rather not have the pain. I am also going to finish up my laundry tomorrow since it is suppose to rain a bunch this week again. I'm stuck because my "water collectors" are full and I am loosing the benefit of all this water.

Well I don't have much to say, I need to jump off of here and get some more things done.

Me.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: May 10, 2008 My toes are numb....
DATE: 05/10/2008 15:58:40
STATUS: publish
BODY:

The last three toes on my right foot have been numb for about 3 or so weeks now. Ever since we started walking. I wonder if I'm pinching a nerve. This can't be too good, but they aren't cold and the color seems to rush back in when I squeeze them for a few moments. Hum....

We went to a Menard's today and got some things for the wind mill and such. We also picked up some cheap play sand and some strawberries since non of mine are coming up. Actually wanna hear something funny? I think that I taught the plant was a weed and I pulled and tossed it. Darn it...So I planted them up front in the front flower bed since non of my flowers came up this year. I am going to re-mulch this year as well. I need to get my grapes in the ground and get to work on my hanging baskets that I've been trying to get done for ever! I got most of the weed eating done this morning, but I ran out of sting and Duck started working on the wind mill so I can't finish. We have discovered that the wind mill isn't spinning right because it isn't high enough. I'm really disgusted with this rain right now. It is coming so much that we can't get anything done outside. I have done about 4 or so loads of laundry today and hope that Mon it is nice enough to do Duck's work clothes before he leaves. Now it looks like it is going to rain and I'm not going to get anything done. I should be working in here, so as soon as I get off of here I'm going to go load the dishwasher and see if I can get it to work right. I did buy some soap today at Big Lots while I was out. I also started to burn trash, but I'm sure that Duck didn't keep that up either so I will have to go restart it real quick so it can finish before it rains. I also have to run to the store today, hamburger is on sale and the sale ends tonight. I also need to pick up some over ripe bananas so I can make some bread for a guy at Duck's work. He has offered to trade me some bread for a wind chime. I've never had done so I'm kinda excited.

I've gotten Smiley to sign more and please. He'll now walk up to you when he has done something good and ask you to give him five. He's very funny! Sunshine has learned the phrase, "Good Job!" So when I give him something he really really likes, say brownies for example, he will say with tons of enthusiasm, "Thank you. Good job Mommy, you did it!" He is speaking so much and it is very very cool!

We only used 17kWh in the past 24 hours!

Well I think I need to get off of here so I can get some dishes done before I have to run to the store.

Me.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: May 09, 2008 By the way.....
DATE: 05/09/2008 15:53:09
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Smiley's new words are - on, off (used appropriately) and cheese, of course then he smiles and makes a camera shutter sound.

We also only used 12kWh in the last 24 hours, don't know how, but that is what the meter says.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: May 09, 2008 Last nigth.....
DATE: 05/09/2008 15:50:55
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Last night was AMAZING! Sunshine sat next to P most of the night with minimal assistance. P shared his song book, TM book and helped shush him. Sunshine did wonderfully for a 4 year old having to attend a 2 hour meeting who just started. We did end up in the offset room because Smiely had gotten too fussy. This was shortly after they had announced the new baptized members and share some other good news that was clapped for. Sunshine clapped for the first set of good news, and we had to stop him from clapping, then they the second and the same, we had to stop him, telling him good job all done. Then Brother L was asked back up to the podium and Sunshine was the only one who clapped for him (this isn't something we normally clap for) and the whole congregation turned, smiled and laughed, of course we then couldn't get him to stop. I was able to get Smiley asleep and left him in two chairs in the room right next to the meeting room. Sunshine went back up to P and we finished with a song and prayer. It was VERY WARMING and so cute! I later talked to MH to make sure that Sunshine wasn't being too much of a bother and she said that she was happy that Sunshine was standing next to P (who is 12 or 13), it made P pay more attention to the meeting. So it sounds like a win win in all directions! I'm just glad that he has found a kid to warm up to that he likes. It helps that they live two doors down from us and he seem P & M playing all the time. Plus going to more meetings really does help. Okay, well dogs barking his head off, my feet are freezing, we haven't eaten dinner yet so I need to get up and get in gear. By the way I think that the local weather man should be FIRED. He sucks at his job. It was suppose to be "scattered showers" today mainly after 5, nope it pretty much rained/sprinkled from 12ish ON. AHHHH... Well at least my laundry is going through a second rinse. Guess I will have to wait for it to dry in the morning to switch it out.

Peace!

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: May 08, 2008 My dishwasher is NOT my friend....
DATE: 05/08/2008 14:39:15
STATUS: publish
BODY:

My dishes aren't coming out like they should and I'm getting very annoyed. There are so many variables that could be off. They may not be enough salt in the tanks downstairs. I could be using too much soap, which is a new problem. The jet dry thing isn't working AT ALL...I thought the CLR cleanout would fix that. It could just be old and ready to retire in Dishwasher paradise. It may be getting the boot to paradise rather quickly if I can find one really cheap, I may just go back to handwashing.

Oh, and WHY did I get a dog? On days like today where the rain is up to my ankles, which I love by the way, the dog stinks! I would rather smell a smelly diaper!

Babies crying gotta run.

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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Kim H
DATE: 05/09/2008 16:24:54
If you are using homemade, leave out the washing soda and just use borax and put vinegar in the jet dry. Also, use only half the amount you would normally use for dishwasher soap.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Katy
DATE: 05/09/2008 19:21:42
Thanks for that tip, I will have to try that route, I will try it and if not, the only other thing I can try is regular and then if not, it's gone. The Jet Dry disp isn't working at all. I haven't put JD in it for about a month and it's still full. What about Baking Soda, I read somewhere that is good to use also. Have you tried it?
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Kim H
DATE: 05/09/2008 20:13:03
Baking soda leaves a film on plastic. Since the jet dry is not working, then put some vinegar in the bottom of the dishwasher at the start of the cycle. Maybe 1/2 cup or so.

Good luck.
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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: May 07, 2008 Starting the process...
DATE: 05/07/2008 22:00:24
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Well I'm starting the weaning process. Smiley is wanting to nurse so often and still try to play at the same time that my nipples are incredibly tender. Perhaps even more so than when he was first born. I'm even getting some cracking that hasn't happened since Sunshine. GRRR> So we are only nursing right before nap and bedtime and the obvious if he wakes up in the middle of the night. I am also trying to get his toddler bed set up, it is time for him to transition. Sunshine will start sleeping in his bed and then we will work on getting them into their own room. I'm tossing around ideas on how to set up their room to be cool and functional at the same time. I've thought about dividing the room by furniture and curtains to give each child his own space, but I think they are too young to "want" their own space per say. We have thought about suspended beds and bunk bed units with desks and drawers. But there isn't any place to really put them since the ceiling are real low. I'll keep looking for ideas.

I ran the CLR run today in my dishwasher and I'm not sure that it did the trick, I'm going to find out in a few minutes. I think I may have to switch back to reg dish detergent instead of the homemade stuff. It is just leave the dishes with a film on them that is gross. I'm having to wipe out and rinse all the dishes before putting them away which is defeating the purpose. I REALLY need to take recycle out tomorrow, I have 4 bags. I would have done it today but I realized that we had goofed on the account and had gone into the negative. I spent most of the day tapping into the "rainy day" funds. Which meant lots of rolling coins. Ironically it was a rainy day and I LOVED IT. I wish we would have gotten more, but we are suppose to be getting more the next few days. I can't wait for a dry day though, I have a ton of laundry to catch up on and found even more upstairs....that what happens when one cleans. Double GR RR> I've started the laundry, but it goes slow when you have to hang it inside. Tomorrow I will put the fan in the bathroom window and keep the door open and just gate off the hallway so I can get some air circulation. Perhaps Duck will find and put in the screen, that would help too!

Tomorrow is going to be busy, and then we have to go to the meeting at 7pm. I'm going to try to start going to 3 of the 5 meetings a week. One other is in Rockville, which right now with gas prices, I can't attend and the other is on Sat when they do field service, which I don't think I'm "ready" for.

I can't wait for Duck to get home, I want to take a shower and don't trust the dog to stay off the couch where the boys are crashed. I also need to finish cleaning the kitchen up. I'm trying to think of ways to preserve rain water, but right now all I have is old butter tubs and such which blow over in the wind. I was thinking about having Duck put up some sort of gutter on one part of the house and run it into a water tank, or run the water from washer. On the other hand, if I could get enough water to run into a storage tank, I could use it to do my clothes and water my garden....hum..the thought! I would have to get a gutter guard to stop leaves and stick from going in along with any bugs or spiders that get trapped. But I would have to figure out how to use fresh water to rinse the clothes and then I'd have to figure out what to do during the winter if there isn't enough rain. And then I'd have to figure out how to keep the water from turning green with Algae. All thoughts to ask Duck.

I couldn't find my bell pepper seeds the other day so I still need to plant 1 of those plants. Since we don't like peppers, it will suffice to only do one. I did get to see the windmill turn really well yesterday, but it is slow going for now. We will have to wait for CW to come over to help Duck add another pc of pipe to raise it a bit. Unless the blades loosen before then and start to pump the juice out! I'm hoping in worse case scenario that we will get 300 wph at min out of the thing. That would drop our usage by 25 percent. We need to start doing more to conserve more. I'm going to start shutting the TV off, especially when it is nice out and we can go out. Since the hot weather is coming we are going to have to do something. I've been meaning to look into the hand crank washers, I know that K got one, but I've not read anything more about it. I think it would be perfect for things like our towels which we only use once. It seems like I do a load of towels everyday. I kick myself every time I walk into the LHM, I saw one for less than $5 and didn't pick it up, of course that was way before I thought about conserving energy. We are also going to section off our rooms with cloth. We are only going to run our a/c when it hits 80 inside mainly because of the boy's asthma. But we aren't going to cool off the bathroom or pantry. Just doesn't seem like a need. We are also going to only run the upstairs unit for 2 hours and then let it kick off. (we only have window units) We do need to get some more batteries for the windmill, I think that is what we are going to do with our extra check. 3 batteries, a patio table set, mulch, trellis, chicken wire, wood and some concrete and tarps. We have also decided to start the boys a savings account. We are going to try to deposit in it every other week or at very least once a month. If we stop eating out twice a month then we can afford to deposit $20.00 in each child's account. Going back to the whole retirement thing and whatnot. If someone were to deposit $3000 a year into a reg savings account for 5 years starting at the age of 18 then they would have close to or over a million by the time they were 65 and ready to retire. Hopefully if we start now we can save enough to pay for most of their college and they could get grants and such for the rest. If Duck and I had the money, we would go.

Okay, I need to go, Duck said he is working over tonight so he doesn't have to go in on Sat. Which is nice! I want to get the kitchen done so I only have the dining room, living room and upstairs to work on tomorrow. I think I'm also going to go ahead and jump into the shower, I'm about to crash.

Later......

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: May 06, 2008 Well it certainly later....
DATE: 05/06/2008 21:01:02
STATUS: publish
BODY:

We tried to go to the Revelations book study tonight....disaster. I did find out where they are though and I can work with that at home. He just was fussy and whining and crying and it wasn't fair to everyone. Since the book study isn't very big they don't do it over the speakers, it is more of a sit down infront of everyone setting. So I couldn't hear it from the mother's room or the conference room.

So I read someone else's blog tonight and it reminded me of the millions of things I too have to get done. I have to:

Scour the entire bathroom
Run a CLR load through the dishwasher...it's acting funny again.
Mow the grass if we don't get rain too early
hang the laundry up so it will dry
straighten up the laundry room
clean the kitchen top to bottom
clean the diningroom top to bottom
clean the livingroom top to bottom
touch up paint the livingroom
Go throught Smiley's clothes again and bump him up to the next level
give the dog a bath
wash the front of the house, ie porch
mulch the flower beds
plant the grapes
weed the rose bush area
take recycle up the street
set out more water collector for rain water for the garden
mow kids area
weedeat whole yard
Do more book study for personal bible study, rev study and Watchtower meeting.

I'm sure that isn't it, but it's a start.

Okay, he's crying again.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: May 06, 2008 Been VERY busy....
DATE: 05/06/2008 13:45:05
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Sunshine is still sick. His throat is very swollen, we decided today before I read my last comment that holding him down letting him choke it down is better than not trying at all. So...that is what we will do.

The windmill is up, I'll post pics as soon as I can find the camera. The garden is planted...most my starts stopped growing. I want to get my grapes planted, they won't produce for 2-3 years but at least they will be started. I also want to get a cherry tree and see if my apple trees start, if not I will go find some golden delicious ones.

Well I hate to cut this short, I need to have some laundry out before the storms get here, otherwise I will have to hang it inside, either way, no biggie. I'll write more later.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: May 04, 2008 At a total loss
DATE: 05/04/2008 15:21:10
STATUS: publish
BODY:

I took Sunshine and Smiley to the doc on Fri. Smiley was tugging and playing with his ear too much and didn't have a happy face while doing so, so I thought an ear infection. He woke up Friday morning with a yellow runny noise. Sunshine was starting to be a bit more aggressive and I saw his tonsil was swolen. He has tonsilitis and Smiley has an ear infection...grr. Sunshine WILL NOT TAKE HIS MEDICINE! I'm at a total loss. I've put it in just about everything, he tastes it and everytime knows. He will go most of the day not eating or drinking anything if I try to force it. Then when we do hold him down it ends in us both needing baths again. I need another alternative.

Tomorrow we have a meeting with the teacher and I'm going to call the doctor back. I don't feel confident enough that he has had enough med to send him back if he has strep. I will also weedeat the grass, pull all the weeds out of the rose bed, plant all the veggies and mow. I'm going to try to get Sunshine to help me pick up the grass clippings so we can put them on the rows. I am also going to work on my hanging baskets. I am also going to plant the grapes. I need to figure out where to plant them.

Gotta scoot for now

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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Kim H
DATE: 05/04/2008 19:46:58
Using a syringe or dropper, squeeze it into the back of his cheek. Fighting and pinning him down are unfortunantly a part of giving a child medicine sometimes. But if you can get it to the back of the cheeke instead of just in the mouth or the back of the throat, it will force a swallow reflex.

Good luck.
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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: May 01, 2008 Still keeping track....
DATE: 05/01/2008 15:59:35
STATUS: publish
BODY:

I do a daily reading at 6:30 of our electrical usage. Today we were on the low end. We only used 21kw yesterday. That's still A LOT! I hope that the windmill cuts at least a third of that. That means that our bill will only be about 50 per month which would make me happier.

We only walked 1.25 miles today which makes me sad, but hey, it was at least a walk. I don't think we are going to walk tomorrow so I hope to get to walk a lot at the convention. Or at least walk on the day it isn't suppose to rain to get my 3 miles in.

We had a second bible study this week tonight. It was interesting, short but effecive none the less. I was going to weed eat the neighbors yard, but my head and back hurt too bad to hold that weedeater in that position for that long. I think that Duck picked a short one for himself. Guess he will have to do all the weedeating.

I need to contact the local LLL leader to inquire about a diet that uses these "herbal" remedies. I need to remember to do that.

Okay, I must go, I need to see if I can get the clothes hung up and there was a bang, need to go check on my husband.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: April 30, 2008 2.25 miles....
DATE: 04/30/2008 18:27:01
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Tomorrow...2.5! 3 by Monday! I tried to do a nice thing yesterday for a neighbor, did I mention this, well I mowed her yard today and I will weedeat it tomorrow. I even swept her porch off where the clippings were. I also need to mow our house tomorrow all before bible study at 4! Tonight I have to straighten the livingroom, clean the carpets in there and the diningroom and then do my book study. I also have to run the diapers again since the weather is going to be sketchy this weekend.

Well better be getting to it!

Me.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: April 29, 2008 Real quick...
DATE: 04/29/2008 20:14:28
STATUS: publish
BODY:
Sunshine has finally accepted that we need to eat dinner as a family. I cooked dinner tonight, got everyone's plate ready and sat them all on the table. He ran into the livingroom, shut off the light and tv and told Duck who was on the computer to come on daddy. It was warming and wonderful! For those who know, this is a huge step for us.
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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: April 28, 2008 What do you get when you....
DATE: 04/28/2008 19:46:27
STATUS: publish
BODY:

put 235 pound worth of dogs, 11 pound of cat...2 children and 2 adults in a Ford Windstar Minivan???? You get the comment....the only thing missing is a pig. Yup, Duck had to bring up that horrible pig incident. Hey at least the 4 dogs and 1 cat smelled better. We went to get the dogs their shots today. They are now good for 3 years and it only cost us 80 for all 4 of our animals and the other dog was 35 because he also go the heart worm test. So we were in the car one hour one way, and about 45 min the other, I had to pee so bad I had more encouragement to get home. Well I just wanted to share that funny comment from my darling husband. My kids are further tearing my house apart as I had it cleaned up today and I"m having company early, it is only befitting to tear it up again huh?

Me.

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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Kim H
DATE: 04/30/2008 19:04:48
That horrible pig incident turned into a nice dinner. lol
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Katy
DATE: 04/30/2008 20:16:10
Smile LOL
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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: April 27, 2008 I'm torn....
DATE: 04/27/2008 20:43:17
STATUS: publish
BODY:

I have all my "recyclables" ready to be taken. I have found a place that is less than a mile from my house. I need to get them off tomorrow so it doesn't pile up. I will throw them into my van on my way out to take Sunshine to school and drop them off after my 2 mile walk. So my dilemma is....is it better to burn your trash, what you can't recycle, or send it to the land fill? Both have arguable points, but I guess it is who you ask. If I cut out my trash service, that would save us about 21.00 a month. Okay, so most of you say...oh...big deal...21.00 a month, but that's 252 dollars a year which would pay 2 months worth of electricity and then some. It would also cover my vehicle car insurance for 2 cars for 6 months, or one car for a year!!! We are going to start buying the LED lights, I have found them reasonable, if I use 3 in each fan like in my living room, dining room and both bedrooms. It would only use 1.8 watts per hour for each room. WOW! Right now, I am only using 1 light in each fan, that is 13 watts per hour. So that would save me 11.2 wph in each room. We added it up, if we changed our bathroom light fixture out to the LED's we could save 60.00 per year, just in the bathroom. We could also run our entire house with LED's off the windmill battery for about 5.5 DAYS. Without the battery recharging.

I'm sad to report that my seeds aren't taking off, except for my gourds. I don't know what to do, I think I may have to replant them. I have put them outside to sit in the sun, and tomorrow night I will bring them back in in fear of the frost. I will probably plant this weekend. I haven't totally made up my mind which day I'm going to the district convention this weekend. It will be a long day and being away from my kiddos that long will be a tear at my heart. I think that I may try to go without them though. I may have to take Smiley. Duck and Sunshine can have fun all day without us. I'm trying to wean Smiley, but it isn't going as well as expected. He had a bit of a diaper redness going on today so after his bath I let him run around naked to dry it out a bit. He came up to me while I was on the computer checking my email, crawled up in my lap and nursed himself to sleep...little stinker! Speaking of stinker.....Sunshine pottied #2 twice in the potty today. Now if we could only get him to do that all the time or do #1 all the time. GRRR. We did the potty dance and praised him up and down. Okay, well I need to get to bed, I have a lot to do tomorrow and I want to get an early start.

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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Kim H
DATE: 04/28/2008 11:22:10
What trash is there that needs burning?
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Katy
DATE: 04/28/2008 19:40:20
Stuff like cardboard pizza boxes that have been tainted by food and any plastics that are above 7. And the worst of all...diapers. I was thinking about just putting them in a diaper pail in plastic bags and when we run to get gas, tossing them there. I'm not sure what to do about them.
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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: April 27, 2008 4 years ago today!
DATE: 04/27/2008 10:07:46
STATUS: publish
BODY:

I was holding a brand new beautiful, wonderful little boy. My big boy turned 4 today. We went to church only to leave early because Sunshine wanted to show me every letter in the bible and I couldn't hear the speaker anyway. I came home, made yummy cheeseburgers, mac and cheese and I'm going to make Sunshine some brownies. One of his fav. We went to the grocery store last night. Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast was 1.67 a pound. I bought about 35 pounds! My bill was 235.00 before I used my savings card and then it was 170, then my coupons brought it down to 159. My aunt had sent me a gift card there a few months ago for 100.00 so that brought my bill down to 59 and some change. WOW I bought 235 dollars worth of groceries for 59.00! Plus I saved 10 cents per gallon of gas, which still cost me $50.00 Smiley is sleeping, Sunshine is running around eating yellows, Duck is building his hydro thingys and I'm COMPLETELY unmotivated to clean. So I need to jump off here, turn on some music and get to it. My house is a wreck and since we are walking everyday I need to clean so I have time to walk tomorrow. I'm chomping at the bit to plant, and I've been cutting grass and weed eating. The deal is that Duck gets the stuff running and I will do it for him so he can play with the kids and relax. I love to run around the yard on the rider, it's fun and gives me an escape for a few minutes!

Okay, gotta clean...gotta quit procrastinating!

me.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: April 26, 2008 Chilly Saturday
DATE: 04/26/2008 12:40:42
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Well we got a new bed from a fellow FCer. While it is GREAT condition, it is as hard as a rock. I could bearly more this morning and I didn't sleep well at all. Tonight we are going to try to stack it with the old set to see if maybe it is just this set's box springs.

The wind is blowing so much that I can't wait to take a shower tonight so I can dry off with a soft towel. Crazy, I know. I am on my 4th load of laundry and I'm done. Once this load is finished I will put it out on the line. Duck is putting up the windmill today and hopefully it will be hooked up tomorrow. We still need to find something to use as a load diversion.

More later I just dumped my tea all over the keyboard.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: April 22, 2008 Almost 2
DATE: 04/22/2008 15:12:39
STATUS: publish
BODY:

I walked 7 laps today which equals 1.75 miles. That is cool, I could have done more. Today I felt the heat though, it was really hot this evening. Which is good because I didn't get all my laundry out in time. Infact, I think that I am going to wash another load of diapers real quick. I need to check the weather. If it is going to be nice on Fri, then I can let it wait, but if it is going to rain all week, I need to do them now! The news comes on in 10 minutes so I will listen then. I went to SAL today and found A TON of meat sharply reduced in price....the sell by date was today. So I brought about 6 packages of stew meat, 2 roasts and a package of 4 NY strips. All in all I spent about $35.00. I was pleased. I put it all in the freezer except for the roast that is in the cooker right now. Threw in some potatoes and carrots...YUMMY! I guess it is an acquired taste, I've made it a few times for other who didn't care for it. Smiley got burned today on the vacuum, I was cleaning out the head because it was making a funny noise and didn't think about the pin being hot. He grabbed it and wasn't happy. No blisters though so I think he will know not to do that again.

I read a story from another blogger that was COMPLETELY disturbing. I guess there is rationing going on in California over rice, flour and oil. Tomorrow I will be going back to the store to pick some more up. Too bad I don't have a Sam's card anymore, I would pick up a couple of 50# bags. We just didn't feel it was worth the extra cost, especially right now when we don't go that way often, not even really once a month because of the gas prices. I can pick up most of the groceries that I need locally at the grocery. I will be buying my meat though at the local butcher market. That way I'm supporting them and it is cheaper for me as well. I just can't pass up good deals on meat. I'm hoping to raise enough veggies in my garden to not have to buy them throughout the winter. We'll see. My tomatoes are starting to come up and my gourds are very ready to be put into the ground. They will have to wait another week though, I want to make sure this frost we are suppose to have doesn't kill them. Hopefully I can talk Duck into tilling this weekend so I can plant next week while Sunshine is in school. The first weekend in May we are going to be at the District Convention for church. None of my bulbs came up this year, I would have thought that they would. I'm going to pull up all the mulch and plant regular flowers and re-mulch. I will use what I pull up on my garden. I want to think of things this evening to collect the water from the rain in this week while it rains. I need to start watering my plants up front and I want to use water from that.

Well I need to go, I have to check on the roast....have a wonderful evening!

Katy

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: April 21, 2008 Power walker~!
DATE: 04/21/2008 16:08:04
STATUS: publish
BODY:

I would consider myself a power walker. I like to walk fast and keep walking. We walked 1 mile today, which was nothing. If it weren't for my feet killing me, I was getting blisters on my heals, I would have walked another mile. It didn't take us much time at all. I hope that LC doesn't feel too hurt from doing it today and still wants to do it tomorrow. I wish I had a treadmill, it would be nice to walk a mile at least everyday. It was easy and fun today. Smiley loved strolling along with us as he watched the beauty of nature. We were blessed with a wonderful day. By next week I want to be walking 2 miles a day (when it isn't raining)!

Duck put his hydro contraption on his truck today. If I forget remind me and I'll let you know how much it improved his gas mileage. The info we got says is should help between 30 and 80 percent. Next it will go on the black car...although I may just have him put it on the van. I saw the MOST adorable car today...it was called SMART.

It was so freaking cute...I WANT ONE! I think it would be the perfect little car to take Sunshine to and from school and I'm sure that it is great on gas mil age. I think perhaps next year I will put him on the bus though, that way he is ready to go to school when he starts kindergarten next year. Duck and I were talking the other night and I guess we had our "lions" crossed. He thought I was going to school this year and I thought I was going at the end of next year. I will do it this year if we can work it out. My goal is to be able to make enough money to pay the daycare expenses while I am at work if they can't work with me and still make enough to pay a years worth of mortgage payments. That would greatly help us! Our energy usages have gone up a bit since we keep forgetting to shut off the water heater. I am going to put a timer at the door or turn on the stove timer. Duck has also been working out in the garage more. We have bought new lights to put up out there. We are also going to be pick up a butt load of paint from his cousin to paint the walls and ceiling. We will use some of it to help his mom paint her house also. It is left over paint from painting jobs so we have to take what we can get. But the key word is that it's FREE. As long as it is White, it will work. We will mix it together and then go from there. I am also trying to figure out what to do or how to collect water to water the garden and animals. And even perhaps fill the tank for the toilet when we run out of water. I wish we could hook up that washer to help. I have found a website that gives ideas for pesticides that aren't nearly as harsh as strong chemical pesticides.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Homemade-Pesticide-Recipes&id=308404

Pretty nifty!

Okay gotta run, Smiley is no longer amused!

Me.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: April 21, 2008 By the way.....
DATE: 04/21/2008 07:12:07
STATUS: publish
BODY:
I felt the 4.5 "aftershock" last night at 1:30ish. I can't wait for this to be over!
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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: April 21, 2008 Energy boost!
DATE: 04/21/2008 06:29:41
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Yesterday morning since I was the only one going to church I decided to spend the very nice (cloudy but warm and nice) morning walking. It is about half a mile on way and it was lovely! I had to change my route so the brothers and sisters of the congregation would not have to stop and ask me if I needed a ride. It gave me such an energy boost yesterday that I was up until 2 this morning cleaning, answering emails and doing laundry to hang out today. And I'm already up. Granted I slept on the floor last night in the living room and I'm a bit tired, but I am pumped! I am going to walk again today with a preschool mom at the track. I put my clothes out last night hoping they might be dry this morning, I think that they are more wet then they were when I put them out....GRRRR This is putting me behind schedule. I have 3 loads waiting to go on the line which I can usually get about 2 loads on at on once. I bought an ADORABLE rack at LHM, did I tell you all this? It is a wine rack, but I'm using it as a plant holder...hum...I wonder if it frosted last night and killed off my plant...that would be a bummer. I heard that we are suppose to have a frost at the end of this week so that is going to stop me from planting until next week and I will have to bring in all my potted plants again. Okay dogs barking his head off...gotta run.

Me.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: April 19, 2008 OK...FINE
DATE: 04/19/2008 15:41:24
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Is my soon to be 4 yr old's newest phrase! Along with, "Okay, Max, I'm coming!" and tons more!!! I spoke with his teacher a lot last night and she said that she thought he was excelling very well. I wish the sun would have come out and stayed. I would have loved to hung the diapers out to dry. I have about 4 loads of laundry to do tomorrow. That way I can just get them all done and hung. I need to clean the bedroom carpets today, the dog got sick everywhere last night. It was gross! I have a lot of cleaning to get done so I need to get off of here. I want to get things rearranged tonight so I can do nothing besides daily grind and relax tomorrow. Monday I am going to start walking the track with a mom from school. We are going to walk daily unless it rains or we can't get together. Speaking of which I need to find out when I set up my bible study this week. I want to make sure I don't miss it!

Me.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: April 18, 2008 California is out for me.....
DATE: 04/18/2008 02:53:15
STATUS: publish
BODY:
As you can see it is AM that I am writing. I was just jolted awake by an EARTHQUAKE..... I woke Duck up because it scared the crap out of me. The door was literally rattling and the bed felt like it was on the ocean. I asked him to come downstairs to check everything and turned on the news. They are now trying to figure out what the magintude was. I'm so shaken that I'm nausous. Yes this is the first time that I've ever felt anything like this. EVER. I've lived through a hurricane and tornadoes going through towns around me, by never the ground shaking. I am wide awake and not sure I'm going to make it back to bed. Okay, I'm going to listen to the news.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Kim H
DATE: 04/18/2008 19:24:00
It was a 5.2 and there have been 4 recorded aftershocks. Are you ok? The goats and chickens were skittish, but they have calmed down so we will be ok. How did the dogs react?
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Katy
DATE: 04/18/2008 21:01:17
Kim~ I'm very greatful that you show concern for us! We are fine...my stomach has been in knots all day, but everything is fine. Duck felt one of them while we were on the southside today. He thought the boys were shaking their seats, but they were asleep. We were on the road most of the day so we didn't feel any of the others. Max didn't really react, but the big dogs were barking. The cat wasn't home yet so I'm not sure how he did. How did your puppy react? Did your kiddos wake up? The boys slept through it and Duck wouldn't have woke up if I hadn't woke him.

I picked up some Kerr jars the other day at LHM for .59 cents each. I saw that WalMart has their canning supplies out. When I asked you if you could use a recycled jar I was wondering because I washed on in my dishwasher and then put it together and the pop thingy went down and hasn't come back up. But I don't want to give my family food poisoning...(spelling) Do you have to boil or pressure cook the jars? I saw a pickeling salt and was wondering if you have to add anything to the food like that to can it...??? I'm sure that I could learn a lot if you need help sometime. My lettuce and gourds are already starting to sprout from sowing the seeds, so I'm excited. I heard that our last frost should be around this week. Duck said he'd see if he could borrow the neighbors tiller to till this next week sometime and hopefully we can start planting. Best of luck with your garden this year, I remember you had a rocky start last year.

Thanks again for your concern....I do hope this rumbling business is done!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Kim H
DATE: 04/19/2008 10:45:18
Mason (Kerr, Ball, ets) can be reused. The lid popped down because of a vacuum created by temperature changes as the sealed jar cooled.

All jars (new or used) need to be washed before being used. Some people boil the lids and rings before use.

Canned food need to be pressure canned. Some foods can be canned using a boiled water bath method.

Pickling salt is used if you are going to be making pickles. (Pickled cucumbers, pickled eggs, pickled beets, etc.)

As for the earthquake, the children slept through it and I doubt they even noticed the aftershocks. Or if they did, they didn't care. There didn't seem to be any reaction. The dog did bark, but he came through it ok.

And the children are playing with water so I have a mess to clean up.
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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: April 16, 2008 Plastic Bottle warnings...
DATE: 04/16/2008 14:47:27
STATUS: publish
BODY:

See link...

http://green.yahoo.com/news/nm/20080415/sc_nm/plastic_bottles_dc.html

I haven't read it all, I can bearly sit up. I think that Duck and I have food poisoning. Possibly Smiley too, although he isn't showing the symptons. so the apples may very well have flushed his system out. Anyhow, gotta run.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: April 14, 2008 Interesting studies....and bad news.
DATE: 04/14/2008 12:58:31
STATUS: publish
BODY:

First let's start off with the bad news. We rec'd a call from my MIL today, she informed us that my husband's step-father had died this morning. We will be heading south at some point this week to attend the funeral. While sad, this was completely expected, I just didn't think it would've been so quick.

I read a article in one of the old parenting mags that I get. It was about a father who decided one day to try cloth diapers after trying disposables for over a year. While he didn't exactly get off on the right foot, the article quoted studies from P&G and from some place in England. The study found that disposable diapers to be between 20-25 cents each, which I found out that my diapers are 17.6 cents each. They wind up in the land fills and are horrible for the environment. The "diaper" which is a pad put into a special diaper cover is the most expensive at 37 cents per diaper plus the cost of the starter kit and in my opinion the worst as far as "hands on" You have to peel the ends of the pads dump them in the toilet, break up the pad exterior with the stick they give you and then flush....wasting water! Or you can toss them in the trash since they are biodegradable. There is the cloth diapers that I use which look like dish towel...the initial cost according to him was 1.25 per diaper...which I paid 12.99 x 2 for the diapers + 12.99 x 2 for the cloth flat fold inserts + 3.00 x 4 for the covers = 2.67 each...but that is 24 and 63.96 is cheaper than $549. for a year of disposable. Although there is the added cost of water, soap, vinegar and drying them, which I line dry so there is a bit of a savings. They said that these cloth diapers still impacted the environment, I assume from the washing and drying. And then there was the "good Cloth" which from what I understand it he diapers that are cloth, but are just like a reg except you wash them. No pins just Velcro. They are rated at $15.00 per diaper but still hurt the environment same as the cloth ones but not nearly as bad as the disposable. So for all of us out there that are using cloth....kudos to us, we are still trying to save a bit of the earth, and all in all we are saving more in the long run. There for I would like to be considered as "conservative of my money" instead of the common "cheapsake" for trying to do a bit better for the plant and pinch a few pennies in the mean time. By the way, that reminded me, I need to call the local trash company and see what their policies are on recycling and how it works here in town. I'd be more than willing to recycle if I didn't have to drive too far to take care of it. and I mean like less than 15 miles. Gas is too high to waste. I am also going to start using cloth grocery bags instead of the plastic ones all the time...now granted I will still get a couple here and there because they make for perfect bathroom trash bags, smelly diaper bags and perfect car trash bags...so while I will recycle them, I will not be getting nearly as many. Anyhow, I think I'm going to go do that now...Perhaps more later.

Me.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: April 13, 2008 SO it's Sunday...
DATE: 04/13/2008 13:04:55
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Here is another fav bible phrases:

This from the book of Matther Chapter 7 verses 21-23

21 “Not everyone saying to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of the heavens, but the one doing the will of my Father who is in the heavens will. 22 Many will say to me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and expel demons in your name, and perform many powerful works in your name?’ 23 And yet then I will confess to them: I never knew YOU! Get away from me, YOU workers of lawlessness.

I've been a little sad, my bible study teacher will be leaving our congregation to join another that is quite a bit away from me. Sunshine absolutely loves her and last night I was do some thinking. There is a reason that she and her husband have been called to help this other congregation and I should be happy for them and for the congregation that they are receiving such wonderful people. While it will be sad for her to go, she really isn't that far and she is doing what God is asking of her. SO I wish her the best and ask that she stop by when she is in town so Sunshine can still see her, and me too of course!

I went to Dollar Tree yesterday and bought 6 hanging baskets for my flowers. I can't find the filler things to go inside of them so I will have to improvise. I think I read someplace that you can use newspaper. We were also going to pick up tomato stakes things and they were nearly 2 dollars a pc. GRRR. I don't want to pay that much when I need about 20. I need them also for my peas and green beans. So I picked up some....oh yeah, bunny fence and we are going to make our own. I will be able to keep them from year to year and that way we saved about 6 dollars this year and more next and next...well you get the idea. Anyhow, I need to jump off of here and get things going. We are going to take all the dog in for their shots tomorrow. I found a place that charges 20 per animal for the rabies and distemper. So we will be taking 4 dogs and 1 cat so far. I'd take more if I could find someone who needed it, but they'd have to either come along or crate their animal.

Me.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: April 12, 2008 Just a rainy day...
DATE: 04/12/2008 12:05:46
STATUS: publish
BODY:

I've started a huge part of my house work, and now I sat down to lunch. cheap easy and quick. I need to go to the grocery store today. While I checked out our local butcher facility, their prices are a little higher than I can find items on sale. Although they are very reasonable! I can get reg gound beef (fresh) fro abou 1.79 a pound in 30 pound incriments. Which is much cheaper than the usual 1.99 a pound I pay. Duck has been working his tail feathers off! The layoff's seemed to have stopped and they are hiring more people back. We have been doing t-shirt for people, banners, signs, decals and all that jazz. I just need to pick up the livingroom and take all the folded clothes upstairs and put them all away. I want to take the bed down that is up there, C is going to take it. I also need to pack up the pack and play for T, since Smiley doesn't use one now I gave my other one to my aunt and uncle. We are going to put up the twin bed and the toddler bed in the other room. We are trying to get the boys into their own rooms. I think we will start to just transition them. I also have ton of ideas for their bedrooms. I can't wait to paint in there and decorate for them. I'm on the look out for something cute to put on my front porch, I want to put my flowers out that I planted yesterday, but I can't wrap my head around it.

Gotta run, Sunshine is being difficult!

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: April 11, 2008 Ramblings from one who isn't a judge
DATE: 04/10/2008 21:44:15
STATUS: publish
BODY:

So I’m having a problem with 360, might have something to do with the series of storms that just came through. I have been thinking about a headline that I heard about. A group of 8 children ranging from 14-18 years of age lured a girl into a house and into the bedroom of one of the girls where they ambushed her and beat the crap out of here for “trash talking them on myspace.” The headline on cnn.com had something to do with all 8 being tried as adults and may get life in prison. For more info on the story read the article on cnn.com. Basically this girl lost part of her sight, hearing and she was so unrecognizable that he own father couldn’t recognize her in the ER. They knocked her unconscious and when she awoke they started video taping it and beating her again. COME ON. Over words??? I have a few questions….Where were the parents of the child whose house this happened at. Okay, so if they were at work, why are they allowing 9 kids in their house unsupervised? While I think an example needs to be made of these children, life seems a little harsh. Convicting them as adults and giving them a felony record will hurt them tremendously in the future, but they deserve that. I think that they should all be convicted as adults (since this was certainly a premeditated occurrence) as charged, but the punishment should be something along the lines of 1 year of nights and weekends (or when not in school) in juvenile or jail. After that they should have to be on probation for at least 5 years, if not on an ankle bracelet. They should be forced to undergo a serious psychiatric evaluation and attend regularly anger management courses/classes/groups for at least 5 years. They should be forced to pay high probation charges once they get out for the entire time they were in jail and for the entire time they are on probation. They should get AT LEAST 5,000 hours of community service. And then of course you know they are going to have a civil suit against the parents of these children if not directly against them. And rightly so. What ever happened to sticks and stones? Yes words can hurt, but big deal…they are just words. If these kids spent half the time studying as they do on myspace or being active CONSTRUCTIVE members of the community this country would be a better place. I personally feel that community service is just a slap on the wrist. What is a 100 hours? That is nothing, this is something that these kids should never forget…in fact, part of their punishment should be to have to go to other schools and explain the experience to the students at an assembly. So while I feel sorry for this girl and her parents, I don’t think these young adults should spend life in prison. Murders, child predators and serious criminals don’t spend that much time in prison. Don’t get me wrong, this could have gone very badly and it was certainly premeditated by someone if not the whole group. Perhaps the 18 year old children should serve a little more time because they are “expected” to know better. This SHOULD NOT be something that is going to be expunged off a juvenile record and these kids should get the same punishment, even if they didn’t hit her. They were part of it, they should have stopped it or left. The one who “orchestrated” this should be dealt with a little harsher. This is truly a sad situation.

K~ I appreciate the offer, perhaps when you are going to can again and want some help let me know. If I can I will I would love to learn. Can “recycled” jars with lids be used? Or do they have to be only the ball jars?

Okay everyone, enough with the psycho ramblings of the one who didn’t become a judge but wanted to.

Me.

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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Kim H
DATE: 04/12/2008 09:42:00
They need to be "ball" jars. Ball, Mason, Kerry, etc. Rural King carries them. You can also look at yard sales, Goodwill, K-mart, and many other places.

Last year, a case of quart-sized mason jars was just under $9.00.
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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: April 09, 2008 And yet sick again....
DATE: 04/09/2008 19:34:15
STATUS: publish
BODY:

I dropped Sunshine off at school this afternoon. As soon as we walked in the door and I put Smiley down on the floor he started projectile vomiting. AHHHHH. Called the doc and he has an apt tomorrow morning. I ended up paging her this evening because he continues to vomit everything within 3-5 minutes and there isn't anything left to bring up so it is bile. I told her that he was very pale, running a low grade temp, vomiting, sluggish yet occasionally smiling. She said it was more than likely the stomach bug going around and she wants to see him in the morning and if he gets any worse to page her again tonight. So, I'm sleeping sitting up on the couch with him and we are going to the doc in the morning. I washed a load of laundry tonight and I had to line dry them again, but it was too cold. They got mostly dry, but still damp. I brought them back in and hung them up. I now have a load in the washer and I have 2 more to do. I'm going through towels like CRAZY. Okay, I need to go. I'm exhausted and my house is a wreck.

Me.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: April 08, 2008 I need to stop thinking so much...
DATE: 04/08/2008 21:05:46
STATUS: publish
BODY:

I was asked if I was going to can or freeze. Not wanting to can because of a bad experience I witnessed when I was a freshmen in HS, I never wanted to try it. Now thinking about it....reading someone else's blog about the possibility one day of losing power for longer than 24-48 hours rings to heart. I will lose everything that I freeze, but my can goods will be fine. I think that I will try to see if I can find someone to help this year in canning so I can learn and I will buy my jars and such when they go on clearance at the end of the year. It is amazing how one person can impact another and another and another and then all the sudden, that one person who started the idea going has made a huge effect on a lot of people. So many are interested in our water recycle idea, wind mill and our hydro system. I'm very grateful that I married a geek.

Today was a beautiful day! While a bit windy it dried my clothes in record time. Tomorrow I need to clip Max's toe nails. Duck has been so busy doing shirts and stuff that it is amazing how when we start to stress over money because of stupid acts on our part, I pray. And we ALWAYS make it through. Speaking of stupid acts, I HAVE GOT TO STOP EATING AT McDONALDS. Their food is killing my stomach. While good and cheap, it leaves me with a very unsatisfied feeling of what in the heck did I just put into my body. All those calories and fat and grease. Duck and I both notice the difference it makes in our bodies, none to mention the diapers that we change are awful and there are more. I don't know what I am going to do this summer about the A/C. I'm a wimp and can't stand the heat. I think that I'm going to block off the back part of the house (laundry room and bathroom) and the hallway leading up stairs. That way I'm just cooling the kitchen, dining room and living room. Then at night we will only do our bedroom. That is when it is over 80 at night. The house will stay at or around 75 and I'm going to try to find a comfortable way to save the energy.

During bible study the other day we were talking about serving God with our whole heart not just part of it. I will try to find the scripture that says that. I'm stumped. While I want to serve God and please him in every way that I can, I sometimes feel like I fall very short. I feel that I'm allowing Satan to question his sovernty (right to rule, I know it's spelled wrong I'm tired) by the temptations that I fall into. I need to start asking myself, "I want to do this, but is this going to make God happy?" I want to go see my friend who is disfellowshipped, but I know it isn't right. She knows that what she is doing is wrong and isn't making any rapid actions to take care of the situation. I talk to here off and on and I always bring up new bible verse that I know she knows, but that apply to her situation. Sometimes I just don't get it. Why would one not want to please God, or at least try to make an effort to do so? If you would have asked me 10 years ago if I thought I would have been here, I would have said no. There is just something powerful when you leave a service and feel like the whole weight of the world has been lifted off your shoulders, that's where you belong. You know, I went to a party this weekend. It was a kids party at a Catholic Church. The adults packed more booze than they did drinks for the kids. They knew that there was going to be lots of kids. I would say about 100 or so. They brought 2 gallons of sugar free lemonade. On the contrary, there was 2-3 boxes of wine, 1 large bottle, 2-3 cases of beer and there were people bring it in by the 6 pack. Did I miss something here? Granted and this is a quote, "We are Catholics, we are allowed to drink!" THIS WAS A KIDS PARTY. YOU SHOULD NOT BE DRINKING AT A PARTY WHERE YOU ARE THE HOST FOR OVER A 100 KIDS. Is your brain floating in booze? Oh wait, it probably was. Some things don't even surprise me. And people wonder why my kids are always with me or Duck....I just don't trust that many people. At this point there is only 3 people that I would trust my kids with. And when I say trust I mean, they won't expose them to smoke, drinking, violent movies or abuse.

Okay well it's midnight or two minutes till. I need to get off to bed. This dishwasher is almost done and I want to pick up the blankets that the kids were playing with in the living room. Sorry if this offended anyone, if it did, perhaps you should read it again and think long and hard. There is a verse in the bible that refers to drunkards and such. I'll find that one tomorrow too...I'm pretty sure I know exactly where that one is.

Good night and God Bless,
Katy

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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Kim H
DATE: 04/09/2008 19:34:44
Didn't offend me. You are right. Even those who are not Christian should have sense enough to not become intoxicated when in charge of children. And who was the designated driver?

As for learning how to can, I can teach you. If you have my number still give me a call. Or e-mail me.
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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: April 08, 2008 The Garden...
DATE: 04/08/2008 14:06:27
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Well I decided that before I start planting I need to see what I have to plant and how many I think I need. Now keep in mind that I don't want to go overboard, but this is really a lot in my opinion.

Green Beans - 3 plants
Corn - 40 plants
Cucumber - 2 plants
Squash - 2 plants
Pepper mix - 3 plants
Tomatoes - 5
Cantaloupe - 2
Gourd - 2
Lettuce - 2
Pumpkin - 3
Zucchini - 2
Peas - 3
Broccoli - 3
Carrot - 10
Cauliflower - 3
Potatoes - 15

The only one that I know nothing about yet is the potatoes. I know know how much they will need, or how long it will take them to grow. I plan on doing some research on that later. Duck doesn't seem to think it is going to be too big, which surprises me to no end. He has ranted and raved over not having a garden and he seems a little more excited this year than last. It is truly going to save us money!

Gotta run...

Me.

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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Kim H
DATE: 04/08/2008 16:31:50
The only difference I would make is adding more peas, peppers, tomatoes and green beans if you are looking to store for the winter.

Do you know how to can? Or are you going to freeze? Do you have a "root cellar" for the squash and potatoes? (A dark place where the temp is between 40 and 60 degrees.)
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Katy
DATE: 04/08/2008 19:28:31
I will take your suggestions into consideration, thanks! No we only have the basement, is that what you were talking about? I'm going to freeze. I don't know how to can, and I don't have the supplies this year. I may try to find them when they go on clearance again at the end of this year, but freezing will have to work for now.
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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: April 07, 2008 Oh my energy saving....
DATE: 04/07/2008 18:40:11
STATUS: publish
BODY:

I am SOOOO excited. We have been tracking our daily usages to see how much we are using/wasting. All the lights are converted over to the energy efficient bulbs except the bathroom and the garage...they're next. My dryer hasn't run in about 5 or so weeks. My water heater is only 2-4 hours everyday. We have gone from using 1,666 kwph to using 974 kwph. WOW. I am going to work on trying to use less where ever I can. Like powering my computer down every night before bed and making sure that things are completely unplugged when they aren't in use. We are even going to take out the lighting in the garage and put up individual sockets with energy efficient bulbs.

Okay, I didn't get nearly everything that I wanted to done today, I'm spent....I am so tired from not sleeping well I can't believe it. I want to get some planting done so I think I'm going to jump off here and start my list of what exactly I want to plant and how much. I don't want to over do it this year because I don't want to get overwhelmed and give up. I'm thinking that most things I will only plant one maybe two plants of. Things like tomatoes I will plant only about 5, and I am going to do about 6 rows of corn. They said it is better to do more rows then having them in straight long lines. So maybe 10-15 long in 6 row. Okay, well I need to jump off of here. I'm very excited about my energy savings, but I am more excited about getting to take a shower.

Me.

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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Kim H
DATE: 04/08/2008 06:22:59
WOOHOO! Way to help save the planet! I am so proud of you!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Katy
DATE: 04/08/2008 13:51:07
Thanks for the vote! You are the one who got me thinking Green! Or atleast a little more...
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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: April 07, 2008 Today's Goals and a side note
DATE: 04/07/2008 07:28:03
STATUS: publish
BODY:

My goals for today is to:

wash, hang and fold the 2 loads of laundry that magically appeared last night
clear off the kitchen counters and sweep and mop the floor
mop the bathroom floor
pick up the millions (not really, but close) of puzzle pieces all over the livingroom floor
put all the clothes away that are in laundry baskets
bring bed downstairs and get ready for pick up
sweep stairs
plant my seedlings later on tonight

I got my strawberries weeded yesterday and I'm already seeing some sprouts from last years batch. My batch inside isn't doing anything.

On a side note. While we were driving home the other night, my very unromantic husband did something romantic. Shania Twain came on the radio and I was singing along. It was either sing or sleep, I choose sing. The song was something like "Look how far we've come now baby", I will post the words if I can find them. It was really a touching song and pretty much described us well. He put his hand on mine. Now, I know that isn't much, but for him to do that it was A LOT!

Okay, well I need to get started on my list.

Me.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: April 06, 2008 Oh what a weekend
DATE: 04/06/2008 16:43:07
STATUS: publish
BODY:
I got to see my dad this weekend, it was wonderful. Sunshine, for the first time, went up to him, offered him and hug and a kiss, and kept calling him krampa. (no I didn't spell it wrong, that is how he pronounces it) We got to see my grandmother, she isn't doing so well. We had lunch with my aunt and she has lost a ton of weight, guess that is part of the grieving process. Then we left to go to Newburgh to the kids party only to find out that it was about 10 blocks away from where we were to begin with. So we went to the church where the part was held and I was immediately put to work. Which is no big deal. Sunshine had only a couple of melt downs and had a blast. They tried to talk me into staying until it was over, but it was already 7:45 their time, 8:45 ours and they weren't even close to being over. I had a 2.5 to 3 hour drive home and I couldn't stay any longer. While the boys were being good, they both asked me numerous times it we could leave. I needed to get him to make sure that Max was let in and everything was okay here. We got home about 11:30 after a couple of stops on the way to potty and such. Everyone slept the whole way home which was nice. We got home to find Max was outside still, the person who was going to let him in had a crisis yesterday and totally forgot. No worries, he was still home and still had water. He came in and ate and drank and then wanted to go back outside and play. Silly dog, we went up to bed and I got up for the meeting this morning and went. I did 3 loads of laundry today and hung them all out, I need to get the last few items that were still a bit damp off the line. I will also need to close the windows soon to keep what heat in the house here. We also have to get baths done and get to bed early since Duck has to be up at 4:30...which reminds me, I need to pack his lunch. The first Monday back is the worst. Well I need to jump off of here. I have a lot going on right now and I have typed long enough. Best wishes to all!
Katy
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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: April 04, 2008 It's official....
DATE: 04/04/2008 13:51:24
STATUS: publish
BODY:

"Junior" is going to actually happen! There is a pregnant man living in Oregon. He is 6 months along and apparently it has shocked the country. He is a transgender man who is legally a "man" and married. Now, they are having a baby. If you want to know more about the story, go to Yahoo and search for it...it's a pretty cool story, of what I read. I just wonder how he got pregnant. I guess I'll have to go back and read the full story. I've been trying to juggle too many things today as usual to read the whole story. Anyhow, I think it unique. Hum...well not much to say, I've been going through toys and clothes for the second day in a row now and I have to put the rest of the clothes away, put more on the line, and hopefully wash and dry one more load.

Me.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: April 03, 2008 The great debate in our house....
DATE: 04/03/2008 19:42:51
STATUS: publish
BODY:

I was reading someone else's blog today and they mentioned buying a scooter or moped or whatnot. We have looked into it and while it may work for this individual I'm having a hard time finding the savings. Duck has been saying that he wants a motorcycle for the past 5 years and just about had me convinced to buy one this year. I don't like the idea because of the major risk factors. So then we started talking about mopeds. He looked them up and they were about $1100.00 for a decent one. So starting off we are -$1100.00. Now they get about 70-90 mpg on gas. We spend about $30.00 a week in gas, so we would only spend $30.00 every three weeks for gas. He can only ride the moped safely from about May-Sept maybe Oct. So I will do a little math...... We will use $690.00 in gas for the car for Duck to go to work for the next 23 weeks. So we would spend $230.00 for the next 23 weeks. Now lets add $90.00 to that because inevitably there will be 15 to 21 days in the next 23 weeks that we will have rain or the threat of rain. So now we are up to $320.00. The cost for insurance for the moped would be about $100.00 per year, yes I said year according to our agent. So now we are up to $1100+320+100+50 (for a helmet)=$1570.00 for my hubby to drive his moped for the summer. That isn't including any maintains, and any tax, title or license plates. So, let's round it off to $1600.00. For $1600.00 we could have bought a very small compact car (for about $500.) installed the hydro system on it to get double the gas mileage we are getting now. So that would mean - $500.00 (for the car) + $130.00 (insurance 6 months) + $345.00 for gas + $70.00 for tax/title/lp roughly = $1045.00 (ROUGHLY) I'm tired and my math might be a little off. This would leave us $555.00 in savings to pay the next 6 months worth of insurance and in the event that our car breaks down, or we need to split up with the kids it would be safe and more legal to have them in a car then on the moped. The idea just doesn't work as well for us. I do hope that it works for this other person. We would however like to find a diesel to use the veggie oil idea on. It cost about .60 cents a gallon to make, if you can get the oil for free. To save some in gas this summer I do plan on going to the grocery store on the bike, solo with my backpack.

We have decided that I am going to do the tax job when Sunshine goes to Kindergarten. My goal would be to make enough money to cover my daycare expenses and cover the mortgage 6 months. That way we have a nice cushion, we can still make it very comfortably on what Duck makes and have a few extras when we need them.

Well I need to get off of here, I have to finish the upstairs before I go to bed. I have too much to do tomorrow to worry about it. I also need to put the next set of clothes on the line.

Night, Me.

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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Kim H
DATE: 04/03/2008 20:03:00
For smaller mopeds, you do not need plates, registration, or even a drivers license. It will take a few months for us to save for one. And (thankfully) I still have my motorcycle helmet. Plus having come from the Buffalo, NY area where riding season was very short, riding in the winter is doable for me. Riding in the middle of Feb here would be like riding in April there. And it leaves the primary vehicle available for George and the children in case of emergencies. Which is our main worry. The moped does not allow for passengers, so no child will be on it. It is for me for when I am working and taking care of his aging mother so that George is not stranded here if there were an emergency or doctors appointments.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Katy
DATE: 04/03/2008 21:12:13
Sounds like you all have put a lot of thought into it. Riding on the highways at 60 miles an hour on a moped would worry the crap out of me. But I completely understand your point about not leaving George stranded. That is why I insist we have more than one car that can fit us all in it. That way, if one is down, or one of us is gone in the other we have a back up. I am also not driving the van right now unless I absolutely have to. The car and truck get much better gas milage. But if Duck has the car, can't safely put both boys in the truck there fore I have to drive the van. 9 times out of 10 it is to pick something up that we need really bad at the local store so the trip is short. I can't imagine riding in the cold weather, although that is never anything I have had to do. I'm sure if it meant making ends meet at home, I would do it in a heartbeat! Kudos to you for taking care of you MIL. Every aging person should be luck enough to have someone take care of them in a way that they should be taken care of.
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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: April 01, 2008 Men are such babies!
DATE: 04/01/2008 21:03:31
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Duck is still sick and all I keep hearing is how he refuses to get a shot or give blood for the blood draw. If he's sick enough he will, mark my words. He doesn't want to get as bad as he was. We have however run into a snag about the work issue. If he misses one more day he will quality for the FMLA, but he'll lose the vacation time, if he takes the points he will be fired. What to do.....it sucks because they allow 4 "professional" days, but no sick days. You have to have a scheduled sicknees..

Gotta run.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: March 31, 2008 Oh rainy day....
DATE: 03/31/2008 15:08:04
STATUS: publish
BODY:

So I thought that it was suppose to rain all day long. Early this afternoon I was frustrated because it wasn't raining and I needed to do a load of laundry. So I braved the circumstances and did my laundry. I did get it hung out for about 2.5 hours when it started to rain. Luckily I got it all down before it got to bad. We are suppose to have another round of storms come through. Right now my windows are open and we are getting fresh air in and dog out. Yet I remember why I don't have inside dogs. I don't like the smell of dog. I need to get him a bath.

Okay well I need to get off of here and get dinner started. We had a late lunch, but we are getting hungry.

Me.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: March 29, 2008 My Duck is now sick....
DATE: 03/29/2008 18:58:32
STATUS: publish
BODY:

He is/was running a fever and is feeling the "flu" symptoms coming on. He is currently out in the garage trying to put together the tower for the windmill. I also did all of our bed sheets finally. I have two more blankets to wash, but they aren't necessary for us to go to bed tonight. We've all been sick so I thought it was best to wash everything, including our pillows. We may be going to bed without those. The temp has dropped a lot and I'm not sure they are going to completely dry tonight. I may have to bring them in to the inside line.

Duck forgot to shut off the water heater last night before he went to bed. Take into account the following calculations: During 8 hours of not being in demand, our water heater used 4,000 watts = 4 kw. We pay (ranges from .05 to .09) currently .09 per kilowatt. That mean that it cost us .36 cents ever night to run our water heater for nothing. No big deal huh? Think about it like this: It is 11.70 per month and 140.40 a year...roughly. To pay for something we aren't even going to use. Now lets look at it a different way. We run our water heater for maybe 3 hours a day. That means that it runs hard for those three hours so I will equal that to an 8 hour time frame since a water heater doesn't run constantly when it is on all the time. So now let's double those numbers - $23.40 per month and $280.80 per year. What can you do with an extra $23.40 a month or an extra $280.80 a year? Shutting of the water heater really does make sense. Being on a tight budget, this helps us more than not. Granted sometimes a hassle, but we live through it!

I'm trying to talk Duck into taking the dryer completely out of the house. He thinks that I will just use it next year. I figure that if he just moves the plug in out to the garage, since the garage can run 220, then if I need to, I can run out there and throw something in.

We plotted out the garden today, I am going to get everything in between the small garage and the kids area. That is going to be a lot to till, but I will make the deal with Duck...if he tills I will only ask him for a small amount of help with the garden. I hope to turn it into a relaxing family thing that we can all work on together for about 15 or so minutes a day. I figure with 15 minutes a day we can keep it weeded and picked.

Sunshine threw the BIGGEST fit today in Wal-Mart. It was horrible. It was the worst of the worst. I don't know what to do anymore. If I spank him for acting out, I'm teaching him that hitting is okay and everyone looks at me like a horrible mother for "abusing" my child. If I don't hit him I hear the whispers, if that was my child..... I'm going to talk to the teachers on Monday and see if there is anything possible that they can advise or offer to help him sooth himself. I know that he is getting over his "illness" but that doesn't excuse what happened today. He wouldn't listen, he was warned twice and he was then put into cart, tried to climb out so he was forced to sit in the front. At which point he screamed at the top of his lungs, literally the entire rest of the shopping trip. Guess right now I will just chalk it up to another bad experience and move on. Next time I will be taking him to the ladies room and taking care of his attitude.

We had a nice dinner tonight, I made cheese burgers, mac and cheese and veggies. We ate to sunlight and had nothing in the house on. It was really nice. Mental note...I'm out of ketchup.

Well I must be going, I need to pick up some more things in the house and then finish my studying for the meeting tomorrow. I'm a little behind but at least I started.

Me.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: March 28, 2008 Imagine what would happen if....
DATE: 03/28/2008 15:56:57
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Las Vegas would particpate in this:

http://green.yahoo.com/news/afp/20080328/wl_asia_afp/climatewarmingaustraliae...

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: March 27, 2008 Why do I try????
DATE: 03/27/2008 14:50:45
STATUS: publish
BODY:

I clean and clean and clean and clean and still it is dirty. I cleaned the kitchen floor and put fresh water and food for the dog down....wanna know what he did? He grabbed the bowl with his teeth and drug it across the room spilling it all over the floor along the way. Put the bowl in the dining room and laid down on the floor to eat. Next he'll do the water if I don't watch him. So is he offended by the yellow bowl, by the fact that they are plastic or is it just that he can do it so he does it? I will not pretend to understand. He did get his staples out today and we got another round of meds for his cough. Sunshine is really loving the dog, he and Max play with the rope, balls and anything they can play tug a war with. Sunshine laughs, Max barks and life is good.

I'm sitting here listening to my personal stash of music mix, it is amazing to go from Sublime to Garth Brooks and then to Marilyn Manson. I will say that I can find anything to listen to. I love everything from classical and opera to soft core rap and soft core heavy metal.

I'm going to have my first mommy's day out in May. I can't wait, we are going to Fort Wayne to the Vera Bradley Purse thingy. It should be fun, while I don't think I will buy anything because it just isn't my taste, I may pick something up for DW. She enjoys them and has gotten me two. Good thing she has good taste, I would have hated to end up with one of the lime green ones, or hideous pink or blue ones either. While they are.......flashy I just don't afford to spend that much money on one. This is like a discount blow out type thing.

Sunshine has taken absolutely everything apart. I am just about literally following him around with a screwdriver wondering how in the heck he is doing it. He has taken apart 2 gates....completely and he started to take apart the Kirby today. I need to hide my stroller so it isn't in pieces. He loves to watch his dad fix things and take them apart, so it is no wonder he is good at it. I was hoping he would go into dentistry or medical of some sort.

We discussed today that as the adults in our house we need to set a better example for our children. We need to start walking/exercising more, we need to make sure we pick up after ourselves, we need to start eating at the table a lot more as a family. The table thing should also help at the meetings. I think that this is yet another reason why we don't smoke or drink around our kids. We don't smoke anyway and from time to time (maybe once every 3 months) Duck may have a beer, but we don't want to show that these things are normal. You would've thought I would be an alcoholic. My step-father was until his horrible accident, both my mother's parents were horrible drunks, my father drinks too much as does most of his family. I thank God everyday for the life he has given me and the path he has shown me. My house is looking better, not perfect, but it never will. I do need to vacuum the living room, apparently daddy gave the boys some Doritos in a bowl the they ended up crumbled up and EVERYWHERE! I got almost all the laundry folded last night, need to hang the rest when I take it upstairs. I want to get it all put away and try to got through the toys and take down the spare bed. I think we may give it to CW. He seems to like it and we just don't need a full size anymore, we need a twin.

Life is good, I feel spiritually happy, sorry I can't make it to the meeting tonight but happy. My marriage is going great, we are busy as ever but happy. My boys are alive, healthy for the most part and so much fun and joy to have around. Last night Smiley and I sat in the living room which Sunshine was sleeping and played in the laundry basket. He would sit in there and stick his fingers thought the holes and I would lightly grab them. He would laugh and pull them back, we played pick-a-boo, he did butt bounces in the basket, I spun him around in it and then he spent about 10 minutes drinking and blowing bubbles in my tea. He seems to think it's funny blowing bubbles and his laugh is so funny. You always know when he is about to do it...he looks up at you and then puts his little lips around the straw while trying not to smile or laugh and then blows and laughs hysterically.

I need to take the papoos chair back in to be cleaned...AHHHH....Sunshin spilled his juice in it and it is sticky and went all the way through. I may try to clean it myself and then air it out on my back porch. My carpet cleaner isn't sucking the liquid back up, I think I will have to get the shop vac in the next time I want to do my floors, that way the water is picked up. When the puppy has accidents we clean it up with a towel or paper towels then pour peroxide over it. It pulls the smell out and doesn't leave a stain. A friend had told me about it, and it works. I have a bottle upstairs, in the living room, kitchen and then our med supply one in the bathroom of course.

Well that's all that's been going on, I could write forever, I feel like talking today, but I have a lot to get done, or should I say that I want to get done.

Me.

PS I try because as a good wife and mother that is what I am suppose to do. I am working for more inner peace to be of great value to God. "And do not let your adornment be that of the external braiding of the hair and of the putting on of gold ornaments or wearing of outer garments, but let it be the secret person of the heart in the incorruptible [apparel] of the quite and mild spirit, which is of great value in the eyes of God." ~ 1 Peter 3:3-4

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: March 26, 2008 Stains.....
DATE: 03/26/2008 20:33:08
STATUS: publish
BODY:
Any ideas on how to remove set in stains? Smiley is HORRIBLE when it comes to getting stuff on his clothes. I just want to strip him down and feed him in his diaper. No outfit is safe that is on him. Although I must admit....when he is covered in Speghetti, he is adorable! At least he eats the speghetti, Sunshine won't touch it.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Kim H
DATE: 03/29/2008 17:33:43
Fill a small bucket with 50/50 water and vinegar and throw in a cup of baking soda. Scrub by rubbing the stain against itself. Let it soak for a bit.

Throw it in with the next load of laundry.

Hang to dry in the sun.

Good luck.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Katy
DATE: 03/29/2008 18:34:03
Thanks, I'll have to try that. I bought some new stain stuff today to see if it is going to work and like a dummy I didn' read the back. It says to apply to stain before it dries. ???? It isn't a stain until after it dries and you can't get it off right? Anyhow, I'm trying the oxyclean and water right now. I'll try the solution you gave me next.
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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: March 26, 2008 Kay Sue Rah!
DATE: 03/26/2008 11:19:13
STATUS: publish
BODY:

One a side note I haven't slept that much in the past few days and I just thought if I ever got pregnant again and with triplets I would name them: Kay, Sue and Rah! Hahahah. Okay, I'm really tired and I can't go back to bed until the boys go to sleep tonight.

The reason that I am writing is that we just got our first official water recycling bill. It has gone down 20 dollars. We are saving about 240 dollars a year on this project and it really isn't that bad. On another note I must remember to buy bleach because once the tank gets empty it starts pulling off the bottom and we have found that the bottom doesn't smell very good. So, what can I do with 240 dollars extra a year. Hum...pay it to my mortgage company which would cover 4 times the principal we are paying now....sheesh....I could pay off another bill, I could stock up on can goods, I could spend it on my kids, we could buy some movies with it, we could donate it to the church or charity, fix something else that I want done in the house, buy new carpet for the living room, buy linoleum for the dining room and hallway. Not that bad for having old ways huh? I do own them in a great part to someone that we used to hang out with. While it too me nearly a year to start seeing things a little differently and expanding my mind to the three R's (reduce, reuse and recycle for those who don't know) it is certainly helping my family and helping the environment and in the event of something grander, making us more self sufficient.

We are also saving about $40 a month on our electricity bill, but the true test will be this next month. We still haven't fixed the dryer and although it is a bit of an inconvenience, I have hung up 7 loads of laundry today because this is the last nice day for nearly a week. It was do or hang it in the house. Guess what I'm doing tonight....folding laundry.

I took Sunshine to the doc today, he has a double ear infection, sinus infection, throat infection and somehow got ringworm on his knee. The best we can figure is that he got it while playing outside in the dirt the other day. Which makes sense, it didn't show up until after that.

Okay, Smiley just woke up and I need to get Duck's plate ready for tonight.

Me.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: March 25, 2008 After deliberation....
DATE: 03/25/2008 21:04:19
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Duck and I have decided that in Dec, unless we need more money sooner, I will be taking a class at a local tax place. I will prepare taxes in 09 until tax season is over. Doing it this way, I only have to have the boys in daycare when I am working, Sunshine will be starting Kindergarten in Fall 09 and Smiley will start attending a preschool in Fall of 09 as well, or when he is 3. I think that I will still start to take classes for either office stuff or for medical stuff. I am leaning more towards the medical end. And to top it all off, this way if I decide to go into field ministry, which I would like to try, I will have the time during the summer, fall and winter. I have been told that they work off of a "draw" system and if you exceed your draw at the end of the "tax year" you will get a bonus equaling what you made over your draw which would work so much better for me. If you don't meet your draw you don't have to pay it back, but next year you are adjusted to a lower pay grade for your weekly draw.

Max has to go back to the vet tomorrow to get his staples removed and I think I am going to ask for another round of meds for him. He is still coughing A LOT and sounds like his chest is rattling. I also need to pick up some clippers, he scratched the heck out of Allen today when they were playing. Well I think I am going to jump off of here and try to take a shower. I pray that neither kid wakes up.

Good night,

Me.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: March 25, 2008 Just another day in Indiana
DATE: 03/25/2008 13:36:40
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Boy oh boy, I am really not happy with the weather. I was hoping for upper 50's today so I could hang my laundry out on the line. I now have to hang the diapers inside and they are going to be stiff. I'm not doing much today, I got "most" of my daily cleaning done already. I think that I will work on cleaning out/off the fridge and maybe work on the laundry room or go up stairs and weed through the toys. When Smiley goes to bed tonight I will do my seed planting I think. I'm not sure how I want to approach this. They said to wait until May 15th to put into the ground since that is after the last chance of frost.

We are also looking for a load diversion for our wind mill. We need something that will pull the juice when the battery is full. I think that we need to go ahead and get one more battery first and then work on something else. We are looking for a small water heater to take up the excess. Then we will have hot water first thing in the morning. I also found some really cool shower water heaters on ebay. It is a thing that you put on your shower head and it heats the water as it comes through. I'm not so sure about it, but hey if it would work that would save a ton on water heater stuff. That means that I would only have to run my main water heater for about an hour everyday. Right now we are running it between 1 and 3 hours, depending upon when we decide to take our baths and run the dishwasher.

One a funny after the fact note, last night I was putting the dog out on the chain and Sunshine wanted to come out with me, I didn't want him too because he didn't have any shoes on and it was cold. I told him no and he got mad, slammed the door behind me and locked it. AHHHH. I didn't know what to do, I was locked out of my house with both kids inside and no way of getting in. I knocked on the window finally and he came up to the window, I pointed to the lock and he unlocked it. I was able to crawl through the window. When I got in, I took him over to the door, point at the lock and told him that he is not allowed to touch it. That he locked mommy out and she was scared. I told him that was bad and he wasn't allowed to touch the lock ever. He ended up crying and I think my point got across. So far he hasn't touched the door. Usually when he gets upset, he leaves things alone. I'm going to have to figure something out.

Well gotta run, I'm working on JM's blanket and I want to get it done this week. More later perhaps.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: March 24, 2008 Two new projects....
DATE: 03/24/2008 07:51:32
STATUS: publish
BODY:

One of them we aren't really divulging yet....we are working on something that we hope to pitch to an inventors group. Something that could save a child's life.

Our next project after we get the windmill set up, hopefully this week will be to get a DC heating element and a 110 heating element. We will then dump what is extra, after the battery is full, into the hot water heater. We will also use 110 to heat the hot water heater up instead of 220. I want to see figures on this, becuase I'm not so sure about the whole 110/220 savings. It is reported to take 4 hours for a 110 unit to heat up a water heater. Doesn't sound much like it could save us energy.

On another note, we have dropped our usages by: We saved 257 kwh from last month and 432 kwh from last year. So last month we used 941 vs. last year at 1373. SO if my calcs are right we save 27% over last month and 31% over last year.

I can't wait for Friday, it is suppose to be really nice and I'm not going to do laundry until then. I will also fill my dishwasher to the brim everytime I run it. I need to find tubs, buckets even old pans or something to collect water in to water the garden this summer.

Well got lots to do today so I really must be going.

Katy

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: March 22, 2008 Hey look what I just read
DATE: 03/21/2008 21:54:20
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Environmental Lovins

Low-cost ways to conserve water at home

By Kendra Tupper Posted Tue Mar 18, 2008 11:15am PDT

"When the well's dry, we know the worth of water."

-Benjamin Franklin

If you live in an area where water shortages are not an issue, consider yourself lucky. Nearly 450 million people in 29 countries face severe water shortages. Predictions indicate that within 5 years, at least 36 U.S. states will face water shortages due to a combination of rising temperatures, drought, population growth, and waste.

But there is hope -- research has shown that residential water use could be reduced by as much as 50 percent through efficiency. Here are a few simple, low-cost suggestions for reducing your family's water consumption.

Reduce water use from showers and faucets
Although it's often the smallest room in the house, the bathroom is where 75 percent of indoor household water consumption occurs. Seem impossible? Consider this: The average 6-minute shower uses about 20 gallons of water! Reduce this amount with the following tips:

No cost: Limit shower time to 5 minutes or less.
Less than $10: Install an on/off valve between the shower arm and showerhead. This temporarily shuts off the flow while maintaining the temperature, and can be a useful water-saver while soaping up or shaving.
$10-$50: Install a low-flow (less than 2 gallons per minute) showerhead. Previous low-flow showerheads sacrificed water pressure for efficiency, but now there are many options (GAIAM and Delta make two of my favorites) that don't simulate a dripping faucet.
$20-$50: Insulate all accessible hot-water pipes, especially those within 3 feet of the water heater. You'll get hot water faster, avoid wasting H₂O while it heats up, and save energy in the process.

Finally, fit all household faucets with low-flow aerators (less than two gallons per minute). This is the best in-home water conservation method, and it's also the cheapest.

Toilets are the enemy
Each day, the U.S. uses 5.8 billion gallons of fresh water to flush waste. If you're in the market for a new porcelain throne, check out options with either a very low (less than 1.6) gallon per flush (gpf) rating, or dual flush controls.

This new technology provides 2 buttons for flushing: one at 1.6 gpf for solid waste, and another at only 0.8 gpf for liquids. These double-duty flushers can reduce water usage by up to 67 percent compared with traditional toilets.

Feeling even earthier? Go for a waterless composting toilet and be the envy of all your neighbors!

And if you haven't budgeted for a new toilet, try these quick fixes:

Check for leaks: Put a little food coloring in your toilet tank. If the color begins to appear in the bowl within 30 minutes, you have a leak that should be repaired. Most replacement parts are inexpensive and easy to install.
Displace water: Most older toilets don't require nearly as much water as they use (3.5-5 gallons) to flush properly. To "trick" your toilet into using less water, place a half-gallon plastic bottle inside your toilet tank to displace water volume. (Be sure at least 2.5 gallons of water remain in the tank so it will flush properly.) Ideally, weigh down the bottle with sand or pebbles so it doesn't interfere with the tank mechanisms. This simple retrofit could save a three-person family 225 gallons of water per month! Not a do-it-yourselfer? For only a few dollars, you can purchase a prepared toilet bag designed to displace 0.8 gallons of water with every flush.

Minimize appliance water consumption
Outside the bathroom, most water is used to wash clothes and dishes. Rather than wearing dirty clothes and using paper plates, keep these tips in mind while tackling daily chores:

Fully loaded: Dishwashers and clothes washers should be operated when full for optimum water conservation. If you must wash partial loads, adjust the water levels as appropriate.
The dishwasher is your friend: Even old-school dishwashers don't use as much water per dish as hand-washing. Newer, more efficient dishwashers use only 1/6 of the water used during hand-washing, and save 230 hours of yourtime each year.
Scrape, don't rinse: Pre-rinsing dishes before loading the dishwasher is unnecessary. Scrape off food and then trust that bad boy to do its job.
Pass on permanent press: Avoid the permanent press cycle when washing clothes, which uses an additional 5 gallons for the extra rinse.
Upgrade your equipment: Consider buying a water-saving front-loading clothes washer, or a top-loading one with no central agitator. Check ENERGY STAR for ideas and ratings.

Kendra Tupper is a consultant with the Energy & Resources Team at Rocky Mountain Institute

This was one of the headline stories on Yahoo when it came up. And to think I have "old ways"!

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: March 21, 2008 "Old ways"
DATE: 03/21/2008 20:32:34
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Well I have been officially told that I have "old ways" or something like that. Well, let's see. If you asked me 2 years ago if I would have "old ways" I would say....R U CRAZY? I once had a friend who had "old ways" which I thought some were extreme and I thought that some were reasonable. While my "old ways" are strictly a financial benefit to my family, I think it would serve a lot of people well to try some of the old ways and quit wasting so much. I hang dry my clothes and plan to do so in the winter also. Why? This is because it is going to save us a ton in electricity. I use cloth diapers so we don't have to spend money on reg diapers. They are WAY too expensive. And since I'm at home, I have the time to wash, dry and fold them...what's the big deal? I want to plant a garden. Not for the "organic" reason, because fresh produce has become so expensive it doesn't make sense not to. By the way, did I mention that I stay at home. If I can get everything done around the house I have time to budget time to weed my garden. Plus it's peaceful, and rewarding. So what's wrong with that? We recycle water for our toilet. Okay, again what's wrong with that? Our bath water goes into a water tank in the basement and then a DC pump pumps it back up into our toilet. This reduces the amount of waste water we use since our water bill is so very high. We keep our furnace at 70 during the winter and 75 during the summer. Again, saving money on energy. These are very comfortable temps. We cut it back at night, why do we need to heat a house that isn't being used? Would you leave your car on while you are at work? Duh.... I breastfed my baby because it is better for him and hey, when you can save 25-28 dollars a week on formula, it adds up. About $1300. We shut off our water heater when we aren't using it. My water heater hasn't been on in nearly 24 hours and my water is still warm enough to wash my hands. Again, what's wrong with that? We are saving about 30 dollars a month. I only use my dishwasher right now because we have all been sick from the flus going around and I want the dishes sterilized. So what do all these saving add up to be? I can stay home with my kids without fear of where I am going to get the money to pay my bills. Saving a little extra so when something comes up I can take care of it. If I could do more to help out the earth, I would. I'm looking for somewhere to recycle that is close and not too far out of my beaten path. We are building a windmill to cut out some of our power and going to try a stationary bike experiment. We are trying hydrogen things on our car to get better gas mileage. All this only makes sense. We can't spend money we don't have. This is why we don't waste money at Christmas, in fact it is a Pagan holiday anyway, why spend anything above and beyond? My kids get things all year long. When God told Adam and Eve to go forth and subdue the earth, he didn't mean trash it. We are just trying to do our part. If it came down to not feeding my children because we didn't have the money, I would in a heart beat get a job to help out. I would work anywhere that I need to, fast food, gas stations, ANYWHERE as long as it helped my family. Me staying at home right now helps my family the most.

Duck and I will have been married this year for 5 years and together for 8, which we have had our fair share of "spats" we have only had 2 fights. We tease each other and sometimes people thing we are fighting, but we aren't. One of our fights was over racism and the other was over pets. Both of which happened 6.5 years ago. I love my husband, he is my soul mate. He is the father of my children and the most wonderful man that I know. We have our good days and our bad, but we are human. The only time divorce comes up is in a joke, and while most say, you shouldn't do that, we both know we are only kidding. Both of us have plans to go back to school, hopefully this fall. I'm leaning towards nursing and he is leaning towards geek stuff. I'm not a perfect mom, wife, human, servant of God, housekeeper or woman. We don't go out without our kids because we are miserable when we do. Yet again, people say to us, you should do that it is good for you, it isn't when our stress level raise when we are out, we don't enjoy ourselves and we rush home just to be with our kids. We will have all the time in the world to grow old together after they are in college or have families of their own.

I do my best not to tell lies, I call it like it is. Sometime I come off as a "Bitch", but again, I tell it like it is. I was pushed over most of my younger years and I need to stand firm for my family. I'm willing to try new things and listen to new ideas, but just because I don't do it doesn't mean that it doesn't work for your family. Sorry, I'm not killing a chicken in my back yard, I will go to IGA for that one! Although I did try to talk Duck into getting chicks during the chick day thing so we could have fresh eggs. He said that he didn't want to hear a rooster crowing at the "butt crack of dawn"! I would have never thought about some of the ideas that we have had, had I not met the person who I was referring to earlier. Life can be more peaceful.

On a final note for the evening, I feel that most kids are a "product of their environment"! If a kid is forced to leave something alone, what will he do? Messes with it until he drives you crazy. If he isn't taught properly to use, play with, help, and so on, he will not understand what too hard is, what too much is or even in some cases what good is. Had we not let Sunshine help Smiley he would have been way to rough with him, he wouldn't understand that he is a baby and he isn't as big or can't help himself all the time. Now Sunshine, who is a rough and tumble boy, gives Smiley a cookie before he gets his own. Something I never thought I'd see, and I don't know how long it will last. We don't send our kids to their rooms, too many bad things happen when a child is left along for such a long time. Granted, some time is okay, but let's face it. You have kids to take care of them. When you get into a relationship with someone who has kids, you are assuming the responsibility to take care of that kid also. When a child feel neglected, unwanted, pushed away or unloved what does he do? He pushes back, he messes with the situation until he has caused a reaction. A child has to be taught to love, share, help, play nicely and so on and that can't be done if the child is always in their room.

On that note, good night.

Katy

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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Kim H
DATE: 03/22/2008 12:52:49
Chick day at Graham Feed (the free ones with the purchase of a bad of feed) are all roosters.

A rooster is not required for hens to lay eggs. Thus, no wee hours of the morning crowing.

Happy Resurrection Day.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Katy
DATE: 03/22/2008 15:55:23
Thanks for the info, I didn't know you that a rooster wasn't necessary for the hens to lay eggs. I will keep that in mind next year. I have to see if there are any ordinaces for chickens in our yard since we live more in town than you do. I'll have to call and see how much chicken feed is. I know that Sunshine would love to have more animals, but I'd be the one to care 100 percent for them. I'm also not so sure about the whole "slaughter/pluck" process. Once it is time to kill them, I'm not sure that I could. Even worse, I'm really more sceptable about the whole plucking thing. humm...things to ponder for next year.

Happy Resurrection Day to you also, we are celebrating the memorial of Jesus's Death at service tonight and Monday we will celebrate the Resurrection. According to our beliefs it isn't celebrated on the "same actual day" each year. For example, according to the research done by our elders and our elders elders and so on Jesus's death doesn't always fall on "Good Friday" each year,just as our birthdays don't nor 4th of July. It is all according to the moons and the Jewish Calendar.
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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: March 21, 2008 A WONDERFUL DAY
DATE: 03/21/2008 15:45:46
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Last night was one of the worst nights we have had in a long time. To sum it all up, it was a full moon and everything went wrong. But today was wonderful, the sun was shinning, I was able to put the clothes out on the makeshift line I put up and I have almost dried 3 loads and want to get one more put out before it gets too dark. The wind is blowing so hard and much that they are drying in record time. This will be the first time in a few weeks that I have laundry sitting around. When I do it inside I just fold as I take down. With the kids and dog it is easier to throw it in a basket and bring it in. By the way, here is a pic of our rescued puppy Max. We got the rest of the stuff at Menards today to finish the windmill we are only waiting on two more items we had to order. Now we are looking for a small electric water heater to do overflow for and then we will start of the TV project. He is still working on the hydrogen project, we hope the stuff we ordered will be here tomorrow. The TV project required a GM alternator, stationary exercise bike and a deep cell battery. If you want to watch TV, jump on the bike, charge up the battery and then you can watch a bit. Well I need to jump off here and get dinner started. I think tomorrow I will try to talk Duck into Chineese...hehe...Duck. Okay, silly I eat Cat, I mean Chicken from there. We also are going to the meeting tomorrow night, this is a once a year thing to honor Jesus's request to commemorate his death. Then we will go back on Sunday.

Me.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: March 16, 2008 Never enough time.
DATE: 03/16/2008 21:41:38
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Smiley has cried most of the day, he has 2 or 3 teeth coming in. Sunshine is doing a lot better, he will be going back to school tomorrow. Duck is playing in the garage STILL. There are so many projects he has to do. At least he has all the banners done that he needed to finish. One didn't turn out as well as he would have liked, but it was the best he could do with the circumstances. Tue we are going to pick up our new family member. We still need some parts for the windmill. I'm ready for it to be up, we are suppose to have 50-55 mph wind gusts this week and that would be nice to have. I haven't used my dryer is over a week now and I don't mind so much. My clothes are not as soft and I hate that my towels are not soft, but I will survive. I got a lot of cleaning done today, not as much as I would have liked, but a lot more than I usually get done. I need to jump off of here, drag the baskets of folded laundry upstairs and finish reading my "study work" before the memorial on Saturday. It is a once a year even in remembrance of Jesus and the fact that he gave his life to save ours. I also need to find a cheap place to get the animals vaccines done at, they are due. I am also starting a new blanket, on for JM. She and I are both excited. She really needs a pick me up and I wish I could get it done a lot sooner than it is going to be done. Since it is going to be nice a few days this week I will try to figure out where to put my clothes line. I want to get my clothes drying outside since Duck is complaining about them drying inside. I also will start leaving my peas outside when the temps are going to be 40 and up at night. They are so big now I had to transplant them last night. I'm hoping to get some soon. I'm also having milk allergies again since I haven't had milk in over a week. I'm not liking this at all...guess I will have to try to take the meds again when I start to drink it again. I plan on doing well with my diet this week and hopefully get some walking time in with the pup. Okay, gotta quit rambling on now, Smiley is throwing a fit.

Me.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: March 16, 2008 10 down 90 to go
DATE: 03/16/2008 13:00:25
STATUS: publish
BODY:

I lost 10 pounds last week and didn't really try that hard at the diet. I will try harder this week. My goal is again to lose 10 pounds. I will incorporate the exercise part this time since I feel a lot better and it says to wait until you are no longer sick. We also will be picking up a new addition to our family which will require me to exercise more and lose more weight. I'll post a pic on Tue when we pick him up. Gotta run..

Katy

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: March 11, 2008 Trying to do better....
DATE: 03/11/2008 14:56:19
STATUS: publish
BODY:

While I haven't had the chance to study the bible yet today that is on my list. I plan to take it to bed with me to get it done. I want to get through the info before the meeting on Sunday. That would make me very happy. I also have decided at this point to leave our new used dryer out in the garage incase we need it. Since we have 220 hook up out there it will be no problem to run out and throw something in, just a hassle. I will have Duck take the one out of the house and see what he wants to do with it. We put up an inside clothes line since I don't really know if they will dry outside and I don't have an outside line yet. I'm trying to figure out where to put it where the birds won't poop on my clothes and I can still do it and see the kids at the same time. I figure I go through 1.5 loads a day, while that is a lot, I am trying to figure out where to cut back. I know that we wash our towels after EVERY use and most people use them more before a wash. I'm just not convinced that is sanitary. Of course no where is sanitary anyway. I'll have to ponder this. I have also stopped using my dishwasher, however I will use it when the need arises, but not when it is just us here. I've got about a million and one things to do so I will cut this short, I'm just really glad that things are going. We will put the windmill up this week (hopefully) and I will try to post pics here or on the new site I'm transitioning to. Duck is going to work on R&T's truck to get it back to them and then he is going to put the E85 conversion thing on the car. This is suppose to let us put E85 in our car when we are running in town and then switch to gas when we are going on long trips. We will lose some gas mileage but it is about 70 cents per gal cheaper. And with the Hydro hooked up also, that should counteract the loss in mileage. They are talking about gas going up to 4.50 a gal this summer. We CANNOT AFFORD THIS>>>>> This is horrible. Anyhow, need to run.

Me.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: March 10, 2008 Can't seem to get it all done!
DATE: 03/10/2008 17:44:06
STATUS: publish
BODY:

I've been very sick since last Thursday. Smiley was sick Sat and Sun so I missed the meeting. Sunshine woke up with a high fever this morning and has slept most of the day. Duck hasn't been sick yet, but he has been taking Vitamin C to make sure he doesn't get it as bad. The dryer went out Saturday so I'm hanging all my laundry in the pantry. I'm not convinced that I will replace the dryer until the end of summer if even then. I am also not going to use my dishwasher hardly at all. I may even have Duck remove it to prevent me from using it. Although it would be useful if we have a dinner party which we may on Thursday and doing dishes for 11 is going to be A LOT. So I will miss the meeting on Thursday also. We went to a dinner on Fri and it was wonderful. It was with the lady that has been studying the bible with me. We wanted to get Howard in to meet her husband and they hit it off like white on rice. I cried half the way home because I was in so much pain, I really should not have gone, but it was too late to cancel when it really started to hit me so hard. We had a wonderful time and Duck got introduced into the beliefs that I am studying. It is like I told him. As much as I know deep in my heart the truth that my kids are mine, this path feel right. Being raised that there was no God and that anyone who worshiped was weak and horrible to walking out of the meetings feeling like the weight of the world was lifted off my shoulders. That says something. Now I know that many don't like what I'm doing, how I'm studying but that is mainly because they are too judgmental and close minded. If they looked for one second at what we study they will understand that it is straight from the bible. Here is a passage that I found interesting recently.

(Matthew 7:21-23) . . .“Not everyone saying to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of the heavens, but the one doing the will of my Father who is in the heavens will. ²² Many will say to me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and expel demons in your name, and perform many powerful works in your name?’ ²³ And yet then I will confess to them: I never knew YOU! Get away from me, YOU workers of lawlessness.

Okay, more later I must run.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: March 05, 2008 15 month check up
DATE: 03/05/2008 12:03:46
STATUS: publish
BODY:
21 lbs, and 29 inches. He is getting ready to go through a HUGE growth spurt. She said that he is at the 18 age milstones except for the naming or recognizing body parts. He knows where his eyes and feet are. He is also using A LOT of sign language along with words. He is doing very well.
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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: March 01, 2008 The worst
DATE: 03/01/2008 19:34:32
STATUS: publish
BODY:

We just got home from the WORST trip to Lebtucky EVER. Smiley cried from 32 to 41. It broke my heart so much that I too started crying. This is absolutely sad. He was so upset that he was thrashing. When I'd pull over to try and nurse him he'd just want to play with the stuff in the front seat. So I put him back in his seat and he was furious. I knew that he was just upset from the VERY long car ride we had been on. I went to pull over at 41 and he passed out seconds before the exit. Thank God, but I tell you what, it totally broke and still breaks my heart. Well I need to get ready for bed and take some Motrin, my teeth are hurting from stress clenching. We are doing well, we have just been busy with church stuff and windmill stuff and life stuff. WE are all feeling better and hope to do well. I will have more tomorrow hopefully.

Love,

Me.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: February 24, 2008 It's been awhile
DATE: 02/24/2008 12:35:46
STATUS: publish
BODY:

We have been really sick lately with this stomach/head cold bug going around. It has been harsh! I have been to church just about every week once if not twice. Plus our weekly bible studies, which I need to do some reading on for the one coming up. I am very physically drained but I must keep going. Sunshine is doing well at school, I have held him out for the past two Friday's since the weather was so bad this week it wasn't worth the risk and the Fri before he was running a fever and mean. I've got so much house work to get caught up on I really should get off of here. By the way, we ordered our wind mill Friday. We will have the power company come out and do what they need to do so we can get it put up. I will keep a posting on how it is going. We have also lowered our monthly bill by 23 dollars each month by shutting off our water heater. We need to do more and we are working on it. I am going to do my best to tolerate the line drying of clothes this summer and not use my dryer. Hopefully that will save us money. Our water thing is Finally up and running completely, although we don't have a big enough tank, we recycle the water until we don't have any left in the tank and then switch back. We are going to buy two more tanks, one for the basement and one for outside. The one in the basement will be for the toilet project and the one outside will be for watering the dogs, garden and washing the cars. I have successfully done my peas again, they are growing really well, I need to transplant them this week. I also have some early flowers started that should be nice. Duck is also going to put his windmill up when he has it done. That will hopefully take our electricity bill down to about 30 or so a month. We will never be without a bill unless we get the power shut off permanently. We will be charged a 9.95 monthly service charge for the privilege of being tied to their system. The windmill will be supplying energy to the power company and into a separate box where the numbers will run backwards. We will be using the power from the power company unless we lose power then we will throw the switch downstairs and use the back up power in the batteries and what the mills will produce. Why do we do this you ask, well we have to remain tied to the power company in case of a problem with our systems. Then since we are still tied, we see back to the power company at the same price we are charged so it is the same as using what we are producing. If we weren't tied and wanted to sell back the extra we would sell it at a far lesser rate which would make it not worth it at all. This will also help in the event that we need more power one month and have a credit vs a month like May when it is nice and we don't need heat or air. Make sense? Anyhow I have one more thing to share with you before I run as I have needed to do so for a long time now.

Cream Cheese Recipe....

2 bars of cream cheese

1 bag of powdered sugar

1 LARGE tub, I think it is two of the small ones of whipped topping.

Mix cream cheese and sugar together thoroughly and lay in the whipped topping. YUMMY. I about fell out of my chair yesterday when I at the cake at the wedding reception!

Katy

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: February 14, 2008 Our Prayers
DATE: 02/14/2008 19:16:22
STATUS: publish
BODY:
go out to those affected by the shootings at the campus on NIU. Such a tragedy that one feels the need to do such a horrible thing.
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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: February 13, 2008 never an end...
DATE: 02/13/2008 19:31:47
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Tomorrow will NEVER come. Oh, I'll do it tomorrow, oh, I'll do that tomorrow.....tomorrow has never come. I can't get caught up and stay caught up on my chores. I have two tornadoes running behind me. Then when Duck comes home I have 3. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Okay, I feel better. I am taking some time off from cleaning right now because I had to sit down and pay a few bills before I forget and we don't have water. The water company is only in the first 15 days of each month so if we get disconnected we are for lack of better words...screwed! I did about 5 loads of laundry today and still to fold about 2. Then tomorrow I will put them away. We have a school party to go to and I'm not sure if Smiley and I will attend. I have so much to do. My van also started not starting again...Did you catch that? I shut it off while I was waiting for the teachers to come out and get Sunshine and it wouldn't start again. I sat waiting for 36 minutes for the darn thing to start. Luckily I had a book to read. Then I went to the store later while Duck had the boys and...same thing. Sounds like another 75 dollar part for the van....this van is killing my wallet!

Smiley now has 8 teeth, 4 of his molars have come in and I'm grateful that they have finally arrived, it has been a rough 2 weeks with his teeth hurting and the 3 of us being sick. He did go to sleep with a passy last night instead of me...I was extremely grateful! He is going to be a drummer when he grows up, he beats on EVERYTHING.

We lost another fish today, one of mine, now I have 1 tiger left, 3 goldfish one of which is turning black and 1 algae sucker.

Well I need to go, if Sunshine doesn't stop the running he is going to wake up a very angry Duck who isn't feeling well and has to be up early for work.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: February 12, 2008 Been a couple of days.
DATE: 02/12/2008 16:04:32
STATUS: publish
BODY:
So it's been a couple of day, not much new to report. Duck went back to days....yipeeeeeee. We like it better when he is on days. We are also so very glad that Jericho and BB9 are going to be on today! We DESTROYED the house looking for the stupid remote. Not much new, just here. Gotta run to clean the house back up, hate to have a dirty house.....it is just so discouraging.
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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: February 08, 2008 Sounds like 360 is closing!
DATE: 02/08/2008 21:45:22
STATUS: publish
BODY:
I read the mod's blog today and it looks like 360 will be stopping soon. I will spend this weekend looking for a new home. Bravenet was not very user friendly so I will not be going there. I will post my new home as soon as I find one. I will NOT be using Myspace, I find it repulsive and annoying to no end. There is nothing in my house that need to be in my children's view that has to do with porn. I also know that while they expand their efforts to remove the child predators, their efforts are futile. They will never find them all because unless you know me IRL, I could be Jane Doe. Okay, baby's not cooperating, gotta run.
Katy
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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: February 07, 2008 Oh boy!
DATE: 02/07/2008 20:19:26
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Qualities of Leadership

Can you imagine working at the following Company? It has a little over 500 employees with the following statistics:

29 have been accused of spousal abuse
7 have been arrested for fraud
19 have been accused of writing bad checks
117 have bankrupted at least two businesses
3 have been arrested for assault
71 cannot get a credit card due to bad credit
14 have been arrested on drug-related charges
8 have been arrested for shoplifting
21 are current defendants in lawsuits
84 were stopped for drunk driving

Can you guess which organization this is?

It's the 535 members of the United States Congress. The same group that perpetually cranks out hundreds upon hundreds of new laws designed to keep the rest of us in line.

While this is going around as a joke, I haven't had the opportunity to validate it. But if it is half true, it is still a horrible thing to think about.

I had to dump and trash my peas...they got bugs in them and the only thing I could do was to use a pesticide, unfortunately I used too much before I realized it. So now I have to start over and I have decided to go a different route. I will not use a flower pot instead I will use an old Ice Cream container and keep it covered. Since it is see through the light will still shine and keeping the lid on will work as a little Green House. Bummed! On another note, I bought another Strawberry Plant, now I only need an apple tree and a grape start.

They did another layoff at the Dane today. Luckily Duck wasn't part of that layoff. We are keeping a lot of our tax check back in case we run into a bad situation. I will also start to wean Smiley so that if/when I have to go back to work he won't miss me as much.

The boys and I went to church tonight, the first time Sunshine has been to this one. With all the new people and his inability to sit still and use an inside voice we felt it was better to leave him at home. Since I couldn't leave him alone, I took him. He did well for his first time. After wards we went to Bom-Bom and came home. About an hour later he decided that I was thirsty since he was and he got into the cabinet, by himself, got us both glasses and poured us something to drink without making a single mess. I was so proud.

Okay, I need to go, I have a TON of house work to get done and I have about 400 or so more steps to take on the stair climber.

Katy

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: February 06, 2008 Hum....
DATE: 02/06/2008 21:48:38
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Well I have all the classic symptoms of being pregnant. I give up, tomorrow I will go and buy a test and take it. The only difference is that I think I have pleurisy again. My chest is hurting especially around my back and I'm coughing my head off at times. I pray that I'm not, I don't want to have to face the possibility of having a child that has sever problems or having a miscarriage because the doc has to pull the IUD out.

On a lighter note, I have finished the baby blanket for Sunshine's teacher. I do hope she likes it. The colors are a bit much for me, but I'll post a pic to show everyone. We had some storm damage last night, not nearly as much as most, but enough to keep Duck busy this weekend. There are limbs down everywhere. We pulled one of our limbs out of our elderly neighbors yard today because we didn't want them to have to deal with it. Our trash can was wedged between their fence and trees, the decking is coming off the patio and we have damage to our big garage. Well we also have minor damage to our little garage...there is a piece hanging down that Duck still hasn't fixed and thus it gets ripped off a little further each time. Part of the, well I don't know what to call it, it isn't siding, but it is the stuff that is like above where the gutters would be. It goes up at an angle to meet the corner of the top of the garage at the point. Once of those parts were ripped off and we found it mangled in our yard. We will have to replace it.

Okay, I'm going to get up and do the dishes, it's late, but Duck should be home anytime and Sunshine will then want to go to bed.

Me.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: February 05, 2008 So it's been a while...what's up?
DATE: 02/05/2008 20:27:48
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Okay so A LOT has happened. My van was overheating...problem solved, thermostat changed, still over heating. Duck decided he put it in backwards,problem solved...still over heating, figured part was bad, took back to auto store for replacement and actually put it in right, problem solved. And yet it is still over heating. Duck says that it is the water pump, he has argued the point with about 5 different people and still insists that it is the water pump. He says that he has gone through all the other steps to eliminate the possibilities that it could be something else. Sat we should have it jacked up and hopefully fixed. This will require him to jack the engine up two inches to pull the back part off. GRRR. That was most of last week events scattered.

Saturday a friend came over, he has been spending the weekends with us. It's great for Duck to have the wonderful help, play with a friend, but we are beginning to miss him. Every time the back door opens Smiley says, at the top of his lungs.....Dada? My dad came up also, it was a nice short visit. They boys got to see him and Sunshine climbed on his lap and talked his ear off. He loved it and was happy to see Sunshine talking. Saturday night C and Duck built a hydrogen fuel cell to put on their trucks. C thought it was funny to see it go boom, so he kept lighting it to see the reaction. It rumbled the toilet at one point with me on it. YIKES. They had fun and they are pretty sure that they have figured it out. Duck is going to finish his this week and hopefully install it late this week or this weekend. This is suppose to increase his fuel economy by at least 10 percent but the ad says it will be somewhere between 40 - 80 percent or so he says. This would mean that on 4 oz of water Duck will be able to drive his truck 100 miles. I'll believe it when I see it.

Sunday we had company over, it was nice. They kids played, had fun, made a huge mess, had fun and they they left since they had to go to school early in the morning. I also found out the next morning that the boys installed the prelim device on the truck and it imploded because the wires were shorted out or something like that. We also found out that someone tried to hack into our computer Sunday and planted two worms on it. It took Duck a day and a half to fix the problem. Double Grrr.

Monday I stepped over 300 feet which is the same height as Big Ben in London or where ever it is in Britain. Both boys have been showing signs of pink eye AGAIN. AHHHHHHHHH More eye drops and I'm not going to stop them until I run out. They sent home a note saying it was going around and I'm tired of my kids getting it.

Okay, well a HUGE storm rolled through earlier and I need to finish cleaning up my living room and fold the clothes. It was a REALLY nasty storm.

Okay, need to remember to do my bible study also, I want to get done with this guide by the end of next month and onto the other. We had a productive day, short but productive. I found my new favorite passage. Provers 30:32-33 I also like the parts before that as well about the animals and such. I think that's right.

Night,

Katy

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: February 03, 2008 This is going to be interesting!
DATE: 02/03/2008 12:18:53
STATUS: publish
BODY:
We will have 6 children and 5 adults in our house at one time...gathering for the common good of our bellies!

Sorry to be short, I just heard a waterfall of Goldfish in the livingroom, this isn't going to be fun! Katy
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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: January 31, 2008 Kiss my butt!
DATE: 01/31/2008 18:31:00
STATUS: publish
BODY:

First let me back up. My 3 year old has become prone to falling...A LOT. He climbs just about anything he can and then of course sometimes he falls. I asked him one day if he wanted me to kiss his ouchy to make it feel better and it has totally taken off. Less crying and a lot more kissing. So as you can assume by reading the headline...my Sunshine fell on him bum and arm today, so I kissed his arm and then he wanted me to kiss his butt. I couldn't stop laughing...maybe you would have had to be here to get the humor in it.

Smiley has been sleeping A LOT during the day which could be the reason he doesn't want to sleep at night. I had to wake him up after a 3 hour nap today because I don't want to be up too late. His teeth are giving him fits. Speaking of fits, let the games begin. It is horrible being 14 months and not getting your way all the time. He however is speaking a lot more and starting to use sign language which is adorable. His new word is fish. Speaking of fish...I just remembered today how bad the smelled. YUCK. I nearly gag every time I walk past the tank. I do hope that I get used to the smell again.

The heater upstairs wouldn't work the past couple of night...duh gotta clean the lint off the filter. I need to remember to check that more often. I need to get up and do my chores, my dad is coming on Saturday, CW will be here Sat night for the weekend and we have dinner company on Sunday...lots to do.

I made a new meatloaf today...it was okay. It is Italian meat loaf. It has spaghetti sauce, tomatoes, garlic, eggs, stove top stuffing, meat of course and mozzarella cheese. I wanted to try it out before Sunday dinner...since that is what I'll be cooking.

Okay gotta go now, I need to get the dining room and kitchen done completely tonight and I would like to work on the upstairs bedrooms, at least ours.

Katy

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: January 30, 2008 Gotta peepee?
DATE: 01/30/2008 15:47:22
STATUS: publish
BODY:

I've said this about every 5-10 minutes today. I have a half naked 3 year old running around. I ask him often hoping he will need to go. My children are in rare form today. Smiley was us MOST of the night crying. I couldn't even nurse him to comfort him and he has been WHINNY ALL DAY. He has also gotten into this habit of hitting. AHHHH. Sunshine has been going up and yelling at Smiley and hasn't been sharing this afternoon, he was great this morning during bible study. Sunshine also insists on playing the the toy at the bottom of the drawer and usually it is at the bottom of the last drawer, tomorrow he will be interested to find that he has no toys downstairs if he doesn't pick them up. Well gotta run for now, I have a ton of work to get done.

Katy

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: January 29, 2008 Energy usages.
DATE: 01/29/2008 20:13:25
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Boy, oh boy, today was the day to have a wind mill. Darn it, all the energy wasted. It has dropped 31 degrees in 2 hours according to the new guys. Burrr. I also found another leak in our roof, boy this guy was not intelligent when he did things around here. I am happy to report that our energy usage is WAY down. Last year for Jan we used 1888kw this year we used 1257. That is a HUGE difference, just over a third. Well I need to get off of here. I have company coming in the morning and I need to get the laundry out of my living room.

Katy

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: January 29, 2008 The great debate
DATE: 01/28/2008 22:09:13
STATUS: publish
BODY:

to cater or not to cater. At what point should we not cater to our children? Should we cater to them when they are sick? Should we cater to them when they don't like what we made for dinner? Should we starve them if they don't want to eat what we have made? Should we let them make something for us for dinner? What if we don't like it, should we starve? Should we force our children to eat what is on their plates? Should we force them to eat all of it? Should we force them to sit at the table the entire time? Should we force them to wait to drink until they are done with their dinner? All these questions have answers and I'm not sure you will find any one parent who agrees 100% on all the answers. So as many of you don't agree with my decisions and I'm sure that I wouldn't agree with all of yours either, does that stop you from eating at my house or inviting us to dinner at your?

I think I should cater to my child until he is able to cater to himself.

We all like to be treated special or helped when we are sick, this does come to a point though. When a kid repeatedly is "sick" because he is playing hookie or tying to get out of something. When my kids are older it will be in bed all day without toys, only books while they are out of school. If they are too sick to go to school, they are too sick to watch TV or play with their toys.

The eating debate, Sunshine is SO picky, and this is common with kids who have ASD. There is only one person that I know who had children who loves everything their parents make. Kudos to them...for the rest of us, how incredibly hard is it to make at least one thing that you kids like for dinner, even if it means that you have mac and cheese every single night? It isn't that hard to please most kids, why make dinner a fight? Who has the desire to come home after a long day at the office just to fight and make your children miserable over something as small as dinner? There is only one thing that kids can really control in their life and that is what they put into their mouths. We control everything else, when they take a bath, when they go to bed, when they get up and so on. Why take all the control out of their hands? Now don't get me wrong, I don't think that everyone should ALWAYS give in or feed their kids junk food, just make something that they will eat.

I also don't believe in the phrase, "if you eat everything on your plate, you'll get some desert!" What are we teaching our children here? Hum...eat everything and then I'll give you something sugary. This has been part of several studies that have linked to childhood obesity. I would rather serve my child seconds than to temp them with junk food. I also serve my children small portions so they don't over eat and I give them more when they ask for it. My children get a "no thank you helping" of everything I cook, that way we aren't wasting what they don't want but have the option to try it. As they get older they will be asked and expected to try the "no thank you helping" and if they don't like it that will be okay, but at least they tried. I also don't personally agree with the no drink until you are done with dinner rule. Do you not drink during dinner? I know that I do, often times I drink more than I eat. There are cases where I agree with this rule, say for example a child who drinks all his milk and then won't eat because he is no longer hungry...okay so give him a sip of drink, not a whole glass. Give him something to wash his food down with.

The sitting at the table until everyone is done....not a good idea in my house. My kids would never leave the table. Duck eats slower than anyone I have ever seen. I serve him first just so he can get done eating at a reasonable time. While it works for some families, I would rather my children getup and play than to be stuck in a chair waiting for everyone to finish...that is when I can get Sunshine to sit down at a table.

Okay I've gotta go, Duck should be here any second and I want to take a shower before I get into bed. I'm exhausted and I haven't got a whole lot done today. We were playing and hanging out most the evening and Sunshine will need to visit the doc in the morning for some eye drops, I'm almost certain he has pink eye. Grrr.

By the way, if you don't agree with my ways, that's fine, I'm sure that you have your own and there is nothing wrong with that. There is only one person who I was appalled by. She ate at our table many several times after the incident. I respected her rules and her children followed them when she was there.

Night,
Katy

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: January 27, 2008 A little off today.
DATE: 01/27/2008 16:58:53
STATUS: publish
BODY:

I feel grouchy today....especially in the past few hours, I think I'm over tired. Between trying to teach Sunshine not to beat the heck out of the fish tank or his new toy to my van not working right, I'm a little on edge. I also need to run to the grocery store tonight which I wanted to do a LOT earlier than now. I tried to clean up the laundry room today, but Duck needs to take the counter outside to fix and bring it back in...so for the time being I will be unable to walk into my laundry room because I have had to put everything on the floor. I also need some things taken to the basement, I need to take some things upstairs and I need to put all the clothes away. Okay I'm done gripping.

My tomato plant is really maturing fast, not sure what I'm going to do now. I have to wait until after May 10th to put it into the ground. The weather guy says that is when it is safe after the final frost. I also planted two pea plants today, we love peas. They won't produce for 61 days. I think that I will end up putting them in the garage and pulling the plants out during the day when the sun is out and then putting them back at night. I have almost all my seeds which I picked up last night.

Well I need to get off of here, I have a lot of cleaning to do, my children have absolutely been tornadoes and my house is a huge mess.

Katy

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: January 25, 2008 Fustrated!
DATE: 01/25/2008 20:19:36
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Well I signed up last night for a new account with bravenet and I'm sad to say that I'm very unhappy and frustrated with their system. I can't even find my page. Doesn't seem very user friendly.

I noticed yesterday that I have the beginning of my tomato plant. YIPPEE. I will find a bigger pot for it and hopefully I will be getting tomatoes shortly after I transplant it in a couple of months. It would be great to have early tomatoes.

Well I need to go, I stated this 4 hours ago and the boys have been in rare form today...which isn't good for me.

Katy

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: January 24, 2008 He can click
DATE: 01/24/2008 18:48:18
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Christian has started clicking his tongue, he has also started the ut-oh after he throws something. He is also using sign language, following songs like patty cake, if your happy and you know it and itsy bitsy spider. He gives kisses upon request, covers his mouth whenever he coughs, feeds himself and us and climbs EVERYTHING! The joys of having an older brother for his is wonderful and the same with having a younger brother for Sunshine. Although I think that Sunshine would do better with an older sibling. Sunshine has been doing wonderfully, he has been going around singing the happy birthday song. Every time Sunshine has his shirt off Smiley runs up to him, wraps his arms around his waist and blows raspberries on his back or belly and Sunshine does the same with Smiley.

Cut short again by a clingy child!

Katy

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: January 24, 2008 I may be looking for a job....
DATE: 01/24/2008 16:31:43
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Duch was just informed that 75 people will be laid off tomorrow. They haven't said who in hope that everyone will show up for work tomorrow, but 75 will be gone. I'm nervous but at the same time trying not to get too worked up. I think I'll look in the ads tonight to see if there is anything that I can do. I don't want to put the kids in daycare since we won't be able to afford it, but if we can find jobs working opposite shifts it might help us out a lot more.

Perhaps more later, gotta run.

Katy

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: January 22, 2008 Well I'm shocked
DATE: 01/22/2008 16:22:06
STATUS: publish
BODY:

While I don't agree with the gay/lesbian way of life, I feel that it is their life and they are the ones who have to answer to Jesus for their actions. I'm not put on this earth to judge or get upset over their desire to do such things...I'd rather put my effort into pro-life activities or breastfeeding activities. Anyhow, Heath Ledger died today at the age of 28. Since he is only 2 years older than me and I really enjoyed all his movies except for Brokeback Mountain. Yes I saw the movie and yes it was about two gay guys on a mountain and no I didn't like the movie all that much but only because it had a HORRIBLE plot and really didn't seem to go anywhere. I'm just shocked...at all beginning accounts it almost sounds like they think he committed suicide because of the sleeping pills they found. It's sad that life could be so rough for someone that they think their only way out is death.

Well I've been busy cleaning and I want to get back to it, I just wanted to take a break to check my email and saw the headline....off to clean!

Katy

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: January 21, 2008 Diagnosis is....
DATE: 01/21/2008 20:25:18
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Upper respiratory infection and sinus infection. Poor Smiley, he was so miserable. The medicine he is one he likes to take which is a plus but it seems to make him tired. He is also cutting teeth and doesn't feel the best so I'm sure that will have something to do with him being tired. So we have moved the bible study to Thursday since the two of us are sick and we don't want to get anyone else sick.

I just heard that the federal government is wanting to put a 40 cent increase on our gas tax. That will increase our local gas from about 2.99 to 3.39 for unleaded plus what ever the station owners want to charge. I'm going to be stating my opinion about this to our state officials...this is CRAP! I'm glad that they can afford the increase while driving their gas hogging vehicles, but I can't afford it period. Governor Daniels says that we have a 10 year plan set forth for our state highways and such that is paid for or being paid for. Why should we be the ones to suffer? I can't see 40 cents per gallons, 5 I wouldn't complain too much, but 40 is ridiculous. I wish Washington would stop throwing away money and start spending it on what they are suppose to.

Okay, I need to go to change a poopy diaper.

Katy

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: January 21, 2008 Project #2 completed
DATE: 01/21/2008 05:34:49
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Last night Duck put the finishing touches on the water reduction project. We'll have to wait for a month to see how it has affected out water usage. We will need to get a wind turbine or solar panel to charge the battery to run the DC Sump Pump for the tank. We'll see how this works out. Duck also looked up info on Soy Bio-Diesel. He said that it can be made out of used veggie oil. One guy gets it from his local McDonald's to run his motor that runs his house. He said that it costs about 60 cents per gallon to make.

The other day I was teaching Sunshine how to sign I love you and I'll be darned if Smiley didn't pick it up. Now granted, he does his own little version, but it is cuter than heck.

Now that Project #2 is complete I have added Project #4 to the mix. That leaves Project #1 being the solar/wind power and #3 to be weight reduction which will be an open project for at least a year. I figure that if I can just 15 minutes of weeding a day I should be able to keep up on it. I want 4 - 8 rows of corn, I hear that you only get two ears per stalk so I want a lot, I want 7 pea plants, 7 green bean plants, 8 tomato plants, 3 broccoli, 3 cauliflower, 8 potato spots, 1 pepper plant, 1 red, yellow and orange pepper plant, 1 cucumber plant, 1 hot pepper plant and about a row of carrots. We have also discussed putting up an apple tree since we go through so many apples it would benefit us greatly. I've already planted on tomato plant using seeds from a really good tomato we had. I want to get an early start on one set of tomatoes so I can make spaghetti sauce, the recipe I have calls for 36 tomatoes. I don't know if you've been to the store recently but they are expensive. All the produce is. We are also going to plant a row of trees along our the property line. I am looking at tall thin evergreens. Not that I want to block our neighbors out, but just because I think they are pretty. I may do it across the front instead. Duck said that we have enough room to put up 4-6 windmill in the back behind the dog pin.

Okay gotta go save the cat.

Katy

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: January 19, 2008 I am ready to admit the truth
DATE: 01/19/2008 18:00:45
STATUS: publish
BODY:

I have an addiction. I am addicted to food. I eat all the times it seams. I eat when I'm hungry, when I'm not, when I'm bored, when I'm stressed, when I'm lonely, when I'm happy or sad, all the time. I have learned that I eat just to eat...I love food and I love chewing and tasting food and IT'S BAD FOR ME. I am ready to admit that I'm at the heaviest I have ever been. I got weighted at an emergency doc apt this morning and I weighed 242 lbs. I'm down two pounds from Tuesday. The first thing I am doing to combat this problem is to stop eating unless I'm hungry. Then I drink a glass of tea or water first, wait 20 minutes and fix something small. Then I realize that I don't need more, even though I want more I need to stop. I'm not full, but I'm not hungry anymore. I'm also using my stair stepper, although I can't go for a long period of time I am doing it. I am also going to start doing my crunches again. While I just don't feel like I'm ready to do a diet, I am eating less and better. I'm not totally cutting the junk food out, but I'm asking myself how I'm going to feel after I eat it. I also want to try to get some celery, which I really don't like and eat it when I feel like I need to munch on something. I also have chewing gum that I love. My goal is to be 150 or a size 10-12, I really don't care which. So weekly, to keep me honest, I will be going into my doctor's office to get weighed and they will be putting it on my chart. This isn't going to cost me anything, it is just a recommendation that she had to keep me plugging away. Okay I need to go, I have medicine to take for my sever sinus infection that I let get out of hand. I'm exhausted and miserable...perhaps that is why I'm sharing so much when I'm humiliated about what I've allow to happen to body.

Katy

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: January 18, 2008 Okay so....projects....
DATE: 01/18/2008 13:28:28
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Project one is..shall we say at a stall. We have determined that a week of taking showers and giving the children baths the tank is only 1/2 full. Not good enough. Duck is going to fix it this weekend and we should be ready to rumble.

We have plans on hooking our TV up to a unit that would require us to ride an exercise bicycle for at least 20 minutes to get to turn it on and watch it. A whole movie is going to have to be stopped so one of us can ride it for more TV time...this is going to be rewarding in more than one way.

We found out today that we will need to have a special separate meter installed for the wind mill. This is done free of charge by the electric company, but it will keep track of what we send back to their grid. Our goal at this point, since we will never be able to get paid for sending them energy is to come out even each month, or even a little ahead. We already know that we will have a $10 a month charge just for being hooked up to the grid and that there is know way we can avoid that, even if we don't use their power at all. I guess we could always just not pay the bill forever and then let them disconnect us. If we start to really get a stock pile of energy going, we will use the money that we are saving to put in a electric stove and then an electric furnace. We've been shutting the water heater off a lot so that should help some.

Well gotta run, we had this brainy idea that it would be cool to have a fish tank in the living room, which we got for free. We were driving down the street and there it was with a free sign on it. The only thing that we need is a heater and a filter...and fish of course. Sunshine is going NUTS over it and it is going to drive me crazy. He just can't let it be, just like fire.

Okay, gotta go

Katy

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: January 16, 2008 Long night
DATE: 01/16/2008 20:17:33
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Smiley woke up with fever this morning, he has been clogged up nasally all day. He can't even nurse without stopping to take a breath...my nipples hurt. You just wanted to know that did you? He is not eating but will be fine as long as he continues to nurse in between breaths. We have had our water heat off all day except for maybe 1 hour, I will turn it on in about 30 minutes to make sure Duck has enough hot water and I will want to take a shower when he gets home. Sunshine jumped of the pappason chair and best I can determine, fell onto the legs of his Cars chairs scraping up his knee really good. He cried himself to sleep and that was at 7:30. Not sure if he is going to wake up, but more than likely. Well I need to get into the living room and straighten up before Duck gets home, he likes to see a kept house when he gets home after a long hard day at work. I also have 2 loads of laundry to fold, I'll take care of the kitchen in the morning since I don't have a full load of dishes, I won't waste the energy or water.

Night,
Katy

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: January 16, 2008 We have a new set of words.
DATE: 01/16/2008 06:39:37
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Having one child that is so far behind we are working double time to catch him up helps the child who is growing up listening to all the words we are suppose to be saying. Smiley will bring you something, hand it to you while saying here and then say thank you and walk away. He is so freaking cute! He vocab is now over 20 words. He climbed the ladder the other night while Duck was on it....oops. It was so cute he was holding on so tight. He has also been walking up the stairs if you hold his hand, and his newest trick is to jump on the bed. Over and over again without having to stop. Stinker!!! He also is trying to do somersaults, of course modeling after his big brother! We are a happy family! Sunshine is saying so many new things, in fact, his new favorite phrase is, "Leave me alone"! Along with, "Don't do that", "I said stop it" oh and, "No way Jose!" Oh do I have my work cut out for me!

Gotta get to bible study...

Katy

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: January 15, 2008 Okay can't be long tonight
DATE: 01/15/2008 21:17:41
STATUS: publish
BODY:

I've been in a cleaning mood. I went to the doc today to get my IUD checked...this will be an every 6 month thing....grrr. But I haven't had a period for well over a year now. Smiley got a new jacket today...it is 12 months and it swallows him whole. We had two bouts today with broken glass, both of which I couldn't get cleaned up fast enough for Smiley to step and prick his poor little foot in. Darn it! The last one was the worst and I thought I had it all up, I will be re-vacuuming in the morning to make sure it is all taken care of. I washed his foot with water then peroxide and put a neosporon band aid on it. Sunshine is wide awake and I've cleaned the living room twice tonight so I want to finish the dining room before I head back into the living room AGAIN. I had some facts I wanted to share with everyone and before it is thought, these aren't aimed at anyone in particular, there are just something I read from a group in San Angelo TX about absent fathers.

Potential Consequences of Absent or Uninvolved Fathers....

Fatherless daughters are 111% more likely to have children as teenagers.

Fatherless daughters are 164% more likely to give birth to an illegitimate child.

Fatherless daughter are 92% more likely to fail in their own marriages.

Fatherless men are 35% more likely to experience marital failure.

Fatherless children are twice as likely to drop out of high school.

Fatherless children are failing school not because they are intellectually ore physically impaired, but because they are emotionally incapacitated.

In schools across the nation, principals are reporting a dramatic rise in aggressive, acting-out behavior, especially among boys who live in single parent homes.

Fatherless children are from 100 to 200% more likely to have emotional and behavioral problems according to the National Center on Health Statistics.

Fatherless young adults are twice as likely to need psychological help.

Fatherless sons are 300% more likely to be incarcerated in stated juvenile institutions.

Fatherless daughters are 53% more likely to get married in their teenage years.

The most reliable predictor of crime is neither poverty nor race, but growing up fatherless.

More than 70% of all juveniles in state reform institutions come from fatherless homes.

Children from father absent homes make up 63% of youth suicides.

Children in father absent families are far more likely to

be poor
be emotionally disturbed
fail at school
become violent
have illegitimate children themselves

than those growing up in biological or adoptive two-parent families.

This does not mean

That couples should stay together regardless of what abusive conditions may exist.
or
That all children who are living in single parent homes are doomed to life-long emotional, mental or physical consequences.

What this does mean

Even if the identified father does not live in the home probably will not be involved in child care, and may take off, it is important to foster a relationship with him.
Help him to know the child he may plan on leaving, He may want to become involved in the child's life again sometime in the future.

He may learn that he is important to that child and decide to stick around.

Now this info was given to me a while back, not that it was aimed at Duck it was just a leaflet that was being given out at Smiley's Developmental Therapy Session. Some of those statistics are alarming and even if you don't believe them, both Duck and I have seen most of these in action, including the suicide one. Dads make a difference and I'm very glad that Duck is very active in our children's lives. He is such a wonderful father and they really can tell that he loves them in return. Children are only young once, and while doing the dishes can wait sometimes until tomorrow, the child won't always be there tomorrow asking for you to play with them. Fathers....please hug your kids an extra time tonight and tell them how important they are to you, they will understand it even if they can't quite understand the words, it is the actions that count and that is what they do understand.

Love to all and God Bless,

Katy

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: Entry for January 14, 2008
DATE: 01/14/2008 12:46:49
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Overall: 40% Conservative, 60% Liberal

Social Issues: 25% Conservative, 75% Liberal

Personal Responsibility: 50% Conservative, 50% Liberal

Fiscal Issues: 25% Conservative, 75% Liberal

Ethics: 25% Conservative, 75% Liberal

Defense and Crime: 75% Conservative, 25% Liberal

http://www.blogthings.com/howliberalorconservativeareyouquiz/

I went to this link off of anothers blog....interesting!

More later..
katy

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: January 13, 2008 Okay...almost complete
DATE: 01/13/2008 15:09:20
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Apparently we had very different ideas when it came to the project. Duck is now saying that it will take at least until we are done with our shower tonight to get the tank were it needs to be. Only "part" of our bathtub water is going into the toilet. I think that he will be back down there in a week or so fixing it to my way, but we will wait and see. I don't think that his plan will give us enough flushes. Smiley and I went to church this morning, it was nice. Very short, but nice. We had a brother from Robinson talking today and for some reason it only lasted 35 minutes, which was more than long enough for him. I will need to remember to take something for him to do next week. Well not a whole lot to say today, just been busy. Sunshine has been trying to make applesauce angels on the livingroom floor....and yes I said applesauce angels. GRRRR. He is into everything...well gotta go!

Katy

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: January 12, 2008 What do you get?
DATE: 01/12/2008 17:43:19
STATUS: publish
BODY:

When you put the following in a stock pot?

12 cans beans (chili and kidney), 2 large cans tomatoes, 1 large can v8, 3 lbs. of hamburger and jalapenos.

A VERY large pot of chili. It was good! We had if for lunch and then we had it on hot dogs for dinner. All but one small container is sitting nicely in the freezer ready to be pulled out 2 days in advance for our next desire to eat chili. I also made a cake for desert. It was good, I didn't have any icing so thought I'd make some only to find out that I didn't have the required ingredients. GRRR> I just sprinkled powdered sugar on top for an icing and left it at that.

I want to learn how to make my own spaghetti sauce, the recipe I found says it take 36 tomatoes pealed. WOW. That's a lot, but a few plants this summer should produce way more than that without any problem.

Duck is finishing up his project. The bath tub water will now run into a tank in the basement. From there it will be pumped into the toilet tank on the back of the toilet and then we will flush the toilet using the recycled water.

Okay, so I need to go, the boys are at it again and I need to referee the two. I also need to get everything picked up so we can head to bed early so I can go to church in the morning.

Night,
Katy

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: January 12, 2008 Fridge blues....
DATE: 01/12/2008 14:46:24
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Today I cleaned out the fridge. And now I'm blue! I realized how much food we actually waste. NO MORE. Everything is going into tupperware and then into the freezer. If someone wants some the next day they should pull it out in the morning. By the way, I've heard of another idea for conserving energy. Kinda korny, but every little bit helps. When you pull things out to thaw, thaw them in your fridge, this will help the temp a little and keep your fridge cold. This will require in most cases advanced planning. You will probably notice that it takes a day or so longer to thaw. Tomorrow I will finish up my grocery shopping. There is a deal at IGA that I can't pass up. Well gotta go, cake in the oven, and I am trying a new receipe for frosting...wish me luck!

Katy

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: January 11, 2008 Is it a sign of change or things to come?
DATE: 01/11/2008 09:53:40
STATUS: publish
BODY:
For the first time in a VERY long time it snowed in Baghdad. I'm not sure if I spelled that right. You can see the ad on Yahoo.com, it's pretty cool.
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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: January 10, 2008 Sleepless....
DATE: 01/10/2008 19:01:31
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Duck is snoring away upstairs in Sunshine's bed while I tried to get both boys to sleep in ours. No such luck, the louder they got the louder the snoring got so I gave in. I brought the boys back down stairs and they are playing with the balls...in fact they are being really quite, brb! Well that wasn't good...I'll have to keep an eye on Sunshine for a while now.

I made up a menu, it isn't good though, the cost is going to be around 350 to fulfill the necessary items. And that includes NO extras. I'm going to have to wait for Kroger to do their 10 for 10 thing again so I can get some items that they have. I am going to try to start growing some tomatoes now so I can get really good starts and perhaps some as soon as I plant them outside. I want to start making my own speghetti sauce and we use a lot of tomatoes in things like chili and speghetti. I also want to learn how to can. This would be ideal for the winter months. I'm also going to grow potatoes, green beans, corn, peas, carrots and maybe broccoli if it will work. We are also going to look into putting in an apple tree some where. We picked up 5 lbs of apples tonight and Sunshine has already eaten 5. Okay, I've gotta go before they kill one another. They are having so much fun romping around and playing. I'm just afraid they will wake up Duck.

Me.

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: January 10, 2008 So there aren't any....
DATE: 01/10/2008 05:56:10
STATUS: publish
BODY:

"Green" geeks in our area. I will have to try 4H to see if there are any there. I was looking for a group that meets and bounces ideas off eachother for "Going Green" ideas. Thus far...failed. We have determined that if we can get the DC elements for our water heater and stop using our dryer we can reduce our montly electric bill by half. The only thing that would be left to us so much energy would be the microwave. The windmill that we are going to buy is a 2000W windmill and should take care of our entire house. Although we aren't allowed to go "off the grid" we will be able to feed any "extra/unused" energy back to the electricity company. If that plan works, we will be able to pay for the unit in less than 2-3 years and we will still get the tax deduction next year on our taxes. We are going to only buy as many batteries as we need and then buy as many as we will get a tax rebate for in December. They are offering a 50 rebate per batter so we average the final cost to be approx 20-30 per battery. All in all, sounds good to me. The less money going out means that more money we have to fix things around our house. I will also start a garden this year, I will start my plant starts in March and plant them in May, that way they will be nice and ready to produce. I want to set up a green house as well. I figure that would be a nice addition to the back or side of the garage. okay gotta go make breakfast.

Katy

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: January 09, 2008 Stage 2 complete...almost
DATE: 01/09/2008 18:09:20
STATUS: publish
BODY:

We went to Menards today to buy the supplies needed to hook up the water tank. We are missing 2 parts that they didn't carry or could find cheaper and we we were directed to RK which we will go to on Sat during our monthly grocery shopping run.

I had a wonderful bible study today, while a little confusing at times, it explained a lot. Smiley is doing great, his new word is "Uh-oh". Sunshine is doing great in school, he has learned so many new words. I smoked us out of the house so we left for dinner, guess that's what happens when the pizza overflows. Darn it! It smells like someone blew out about 100 candles in my house.

Well gotta go fold diapers and work on the blanket for Miss K.

Katy

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: January 06, 2008 Project #2 Stage 1...COMPLETE
DATE: 01/06/2008 13:24:17
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Our water project will be finished this week. We were fortunate enough to find someone who had a water tank, while we think a larger one would be better we are going to try to use this for now. They also had the pump that we needed and the fittings. All this only cost us $30.00, instead of the $200.00 price tag that we were looking at. We now have to by some special hose and extra fitting for our needs which should only amount to about $20.00. Then the whole project will be complete. This should prove to be a wise investment, I'll be sure to post the next few water usage amounts as soon as I get them.

I have a ton of cleaning to do since Duck and C tore apart the kitchen last night and painted the whole thing. It is beautiful and completely a mess. I also have about 5 loads of laundry to fold and put away. I am pushing around all kinds of ideas right now.

Perhaps more later...

Katy

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: January 05, 2008 Step one...complete
DATE: 01/05/2008 18:50:01
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Buy motor for wind turbine and figure out if there are any town ordinance against us using a wind turbine. We are SOOOOOOO excited. We have set up a 24 hour reading and we are starting to cut back in so areas. For example, my TV has been off since about 4 pm. Normally that is an all day appliance, some for the noise, some because I enjoy watching it. We are also going to buy the plans off the net because we couldn't find any thing in print available. Once we receive the motor Duck is going to hook up an old fan blade to it and see where he needs to go from there. The biggest monkey in the wrench is that the box we need for this is 884 before shipping. That's a LOT of money and will have to wait until we get our tax check.

We are also pushing around an idea of water recycling. Now for those who can follow me and to those who don't care about the three R's you will think this is gross. We are going to install a large water taken in the basement. This will collect all the water from our bathroom sink, tub and washer. We will use a sump pump to pump the water back up into the back of our toilet and therefore save on the amount of water we use for flushing. Right now we are just leaving the bath water in and I am scooping it out of the tub into the back of the tank. We believe this not to be the best idea since we have a baby walking around who loves to climb into the tub this could pose a drowning hazard so we have to lock the bathroom door when we are done. Why are we doing this you ask? We spend A LOT of money on water each month. In fact our sewer bill is 3 times our water bill. Since we don't have a sewer meter, only a water meter, we will recycle the water and reduce our water bill. Now to keep the general public from knowing our secret we will drop a blue pill as I call them in the back of the toilet and hopefully that will take care of the "not clear look" to the water. We estimate our water bill to go down by a third. Set up cost if we can't find a free tank will be about $100.00 for the tank and about $90 for the D/C pump which will run off wind power. I have also gone down to only using the dishwasher once a day or every other day...no more period!

We have used an idea, and sorry if I have already mentioned this, but we are shutting our water heater off at night. So for 8-9 hours a day our water heater isn't running or using electricity. We even have hot water in the morning so I can still wash my hands properly.

I need to start think about hang drying for the summer although the dryer heats our house for now we won't be able to use the dryer on the windmill or solar cells because we won't be set up for it yet. I need to figure out how to get my clothes softer, I hate the stiff dry itchy feeling of them being on the line, but I guess I will do what it takes.

Also in the works will be a exercise bike that will produce electricity (stored in a battery) while it is being rode. Kinda the same principal as the crank flash lights only exercise and power. I'm learning a lot, but most is going over my head. That will take back burner to the wind mill, but if I can get my hands on one while we wait for our tax check that will be a great project for Duck to work on in the mean time. Now if I could only convert my car over to electric. We have been doing a lot of research on the michaelbluejay website and it has proved to be useful. He even has recommend this program that has a $500 start up cost but locks in a rate or something...I start to read it but it wasn't something that we were interested in and I was looking for something else so I went on. Well I need to get off of here and use my electricity sucking vacuum to clean my carpets and wipe down the counters.

K~ if you two would like to review the plans for the build it yourself wind turbines, let me or Duck know and we will email them to you.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!~

Katy

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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: January 03, 2008 Going Green
DATE: 01/03/2008 16:25:04
STATUS: publish
BODY:

Okay, so I must admit that when I read someone else's blog and they said that they were going 90% energy reduction...I thought, wow, you MUST be crazy. So I've been thinking, how would I reduce my energy by say 20 percent, so we have been keep track of our meter to see how much we use. By the way.....I haven't seen a post about your energy useage lately. We have decided to go wind and solar dependent and cut out our electricity, hopefully all together. It would even be nice to produce so much energy to sell some back to the company. So we have done the figures and it is going to be around $3700.00 to tie into the grid. So we are thinking about our tax check, but not sure we are going to have enough. We will have to see. Needless to say, she isn't crazy to reduce energy and if it doesn't put her family in a bind then 90% is great, we are looking for 20-30% reduction in our energy. We are going to buy a blanket for the water heater and clean it out. We are also going to set a timer and only run the heater from 8 am to 9 pm.

Well gotta go, I have lots more to talk about, but too much cleaning to do.

Katy

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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Kim H
DATE: 01/05/2008 16:33:43
That is wonderful to hear! I am so happy! We got a new thermostat (our old one being an old mercury one) and our electric bill dropped by almost $80 and that is with using MORE electricity due to Christmas lights. WOOHOO! Once the lights are down and put away, I am going to do a "normal" 24 hour reading and see how it compares pre lights and pre new thermostat.
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AUTHOR: mykatybug2002
TITLE: January 01, 2008 Resolutions
DATE: 01/01/2008 08:31:09
STATUS: publish
BODY:

While they have never really worked in the past, I think it is because I haven't worked them.

#1 - lose over 100 pounds by eating healthier and exercising daily. I can do this, I'm not the person in this body.

#2 - Work the flylady program and keep it up. This is a goal to keep my house presentable at all times.

#3 - Pay off remaining medical debt by June, this will mean that besides our house we will be debt free.

Those are all obtainable goals. I would also like to volunteer somewhere. I just am not sure where yet.

Well gotta run, lots of house work to do, perhaps more later.

Katy

Wilkerson Family

Monday, July 6, 2009

2008 old blog posts

Low-cost ways to conserve water at home

Qualities of Leadership

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