Life of the Party

      As it turns out, I will get to have my gallbladder removed. The ultrasound displayed a rather alarming number of stones, and this is what has been causing all of the issues. I'm now on a waiting list for surgery and will get a notification call three days before the date!     I'm somewhat nervous because it's an outpatient ordeal. 

    This book had me guessing from the beginning to the end of the story.  I never expected the ending and will not be a book spoiler! The overall plot was amazing and this could easily have a sequel attached to it. I would love a stand alone book about Livi just to see how her future turns out.      I do think this follows a similar book's story, but the ending was completely different. This is one of the books chosen by my hometown book club that I have recently joined. They seem to have a common theme with each reading selection. I would sadly only give this book a 4.2 due to similarities to another book. 

      I struggle each year with when to plant seeds. Once again, I feel as if I have messed up. There are cold spells that usually last up until mid May, but I wanted to the the seeds in the ground. I'm over zealous and excited beyond measure.      I love to garden. It's not only my hobby, it's my passion. I find solitude and peace when weeding the beds or flipping my compost. There is nothing more soothing than watering fledgling plants. Mountain life means that sometimes you plant seeds in weeks of each other in case the first batch gets damaged by a late frost.      Raised garden beds are so overrated too. I have a mix of a regular garden area with tilled soil and several raised beds. One is not better than the other in my opinion. I will say the tomato plants are more successful in the raised beds, but you'll have to water more frequently and pay close attention to the pH of the soil. The smokey mountains is so wet that sometimes pla...

      By now I believe that my doctor just wants me to suffer. He continues to send me for ultrasounds and monitoring instead of removal. Between the kidney stones and gallbladder attacks, I'm about done with the pain. I think this has been one of the toughest sicknesses I have endured and I almost gave birth to Taylor naturally.  I was dilated to over an 7 without any medication before my C-section occurred.      I haven't really ate anything bad, so I don't understand why the pain keeps persisting. I went a whole 6 hours without pain and thought I was out of the "danger zone," but I was greatly mistaken. Any suggestions? There isn't any other doctor's I can switch to within a hour's drive.  

      I think planning for anything takes up too much time. My child's 2nd birthday is slowly approaching and I'm frantically trying to get things done. I have a written plan of everything that needs to be done, bought, or paid for. With everything going on, I haven't been able to start checking off items.      She is turning two and I just really want her to experience a party. She didn't get one last year because we were having to take her back and forth to Mission Children's Oncology in Asheville, NC. We would have to cancel her appointment if she had a fever or runny nose. I was so overly cautious that we had a simply smash cake ordeal at home. Mom and I were the only ones to attend. Her dad was at work and couldn't take off. Taylor will not remember it, but I will. I felt horrible that she didn't really get to celebrate. The "mom  guilt" was real!      This year I want things to be perfect. Cake, chips, and hotdogs here we come...

      That first week back after Spring Break is the toughest. The kids are counting down until Summer Break and EOGs are looming in the near future. I think the transition between April to May is  critical and the most exhausting. Prepping for the big tests becomes a massive focal point and a constant end point that drives your lessons.      Yes, you will think about the tests all year, but as they approach you start to dread them. My subject isn't tested, but I think teachers are a TEAM and it is ALL of our jobs to pitch in. I will be doing more primary source work with lengthy reading attached to it to help build reading stamina. I like to use EOG like questions to accompany these reading selections as well. Everything helps!      There are a ton of reading articles and sources on NEWELA. This is one of my favorite sites to use along with actual speeches.      What ways to do help your student prep? 

      My current advice is having a gentle billy who is easy to deal with. Our billy, Junior is the absolute best and his well mannered behavior makes him worth his weight in gold!  With his floppy ears, what's not to love. He even plays with the kids and has never really been aggressive.  Buy you billys when they are young and keep them gentle. 

I'm not usually a person who reads thrillers. Always guessing who did it makes me anxious and I hate to get the prediction correct, but this book was actually decent. I loved the fact that Alyssa's character was so well written. Her character alone made the book worth reading/ listening to.      This book took me a little over a week to read/ listen to. There was chapters where I couldn't put the book down. The plot unfolds in a way that would make an incredible book. The only issue I really had with this novel was the ending. To end such a fantastic novel so abruptly did the whole book an injustice. I wanted to know if Alyssa could heal herself form watching her brother die. I was also questioning how this affected her kids and what that looked like on a daily basis.      I would rate this book a solid 5 out of a 5. That rating does not come without some scrutiny. Like I stated before, the ending did seem to cut the rest of the book short.   

      Taylor had to have her stitches removed, so we were already in Cherokee. She had a mishap with the nightstand which resulted in three stitches and a trip to the ER. She was such a trooper and deserved to be rewarded for being so brave, so we stopped at the Bear Zoo on our way home. She was absolutely thrilled with all the animals and seemed to be especially interested in the lemurs! She spent over twenty minutes watching them move around their cages. The "zoo" was a dead zone, so she had the place basically to herself.      I enjoyed every minute of her excitement! She even loved feeding their goats. Taylor always accompanies me when I feed so she was happy to feed them out of her hand. She kept screaming for Boo Boo, and didn't understand that her goat wasn't in the pen.      This is located near the Burger King. I would give it a 5 out of 5 for being kid friendly. The ramps are super steep, so I would not say that it is accessible for...

       It was a close call Tuesday afternoon as a power line started a fire near the back side of my property. I was beyond nervous as I watched the helicopter make numerous trips to my neighbor's pond to dip water. They battled the fire for what seemed like hours.      I'm so thankful for the folks that spent their afternoon fighting that fire. I had a few bags packed along with as many animals as I could take as possible. My husband was at work and it was up to me to keep calm in all of that  chaos. I think I handled the situation well. In the event that a fire gets too close I still don't know what I will do with all of our live stock. I will try my best to do a back burn, but I don't know how successful that will be. I'll turn on all the sprinklers and wet everything down.      Planning ahead is a must! 

  An unlikely place to find me on a Tuesday. I usually avoid the casino, but today it just wasn't happening. An old college friend of mine wanted to meet up for coffee and this was the nearest Starbucks. Sadly she couldn't find the coffee shop in Cherokee. I haven't been in this place in so long that I had to use a directory.      It has grown so much in just five years even adding a new parking deck. I was pleasantly surprised that it is a non-smoking facility now. That was a major reason that I had avoided going into it in the past. The smoke was so terrible that I used to have to use an inhaler. I hated it. It's a better establishment and healthier now that they have banned smoking indoors. I plan to go back to explore when I have time. Well, to be honest I probably will not go back in. I never have free time and taking my toddler into the casino seems a little weird. 

      Reading has become something more than a hobby. It is my way of still being able to connect to my peers. This book was on our reading list for our local book club. I always love books with a happy ending.      I had to put this book down several times because the main character, Austin really got on my nerves. She should have spoken up about her father sooner! Due to her character development I was somewhat displeased with the plot. Why had she took on all the responsibilities? I want to know more about her mother-daughter connection. Her mother must have bestowed all her "motherly" duties on Austin.      A fair rating for this book would be a 4.5. I feel like this is a true depiction of this story. I watched a movie as a child that followed this same story, but not every scene. I wonder if this was in fact made into a movie at one point? Lowe had me completely captivated with his character, Vance. I want to know more about him as ...

      The wonders of technology will always be exciting for me. I have recently started using a Dexcom G7 and I'm somewhat pleased with its ease of use. Unfortunately, I had the mishap of having one not connect in via bluetooth to the meter. Insurance doesn't care if it was faulty or not, so I had to go a whole week without using it.      I do like the way my doctor can simply see all the results. I feel like an older person might struggle with the set up, but with some help they too can be successful. I like not having to carry a meter everywhere and simply connect it to an app on my phone. This is the best part, in my opinion!      The struggle with removal of the adhesive is real! It always seems to leave residue and it's painful to remove at times. Hint: Remove it when you are in the shower! 

      You know what? I wish some people weren't completely honest about everything. I had a very trusted neighbor tell me that I'm strange because I talk to all my animals. I never really noticed that I held entire conversations with my animals as I'm feeding them. I greet them and tell them about my day.      Being a farmer's wife has really shaped how I think about my animals. I literally name every animal and take time to know their personalities. Yes, I believe they all have their own personalities and moods. If I name a farm animal they are NOT food. Once I'm attached to the named animal they are "family" and will probably live out their entire lives on the farm. Even if they don't have a purpose, I will keep them. It really irritates my husband to no end when I do this, but I really do not care.      I spend my afternoons caring for our animals in the best way possible. I always have good intentions, but sometimes I may seem strange. Be...

      Our HelloBaby system for Taylor is out of this world. It's easy to use and simple to add an additional camera. I love that it has a two way feature  where I can talk to her directly without going into the room. Whoever gifted us this second hand was a life saver. Taylor shares a room with us, but I don't like going to bed super early. This allows me to enjoy an hour while she falls asleep. The distance the HelloBaby covers is also worth mentioning. This devise get a 5 out of a 5 for me! It's a parent's must have. 

   This cheesy mess is a family favorite of ours. I never get any negative feedback when I serve this up.  Ingredients:  -Some type of noodles (2 Cups) - Velveeta Cheese (1/4 block) - 1/2 cup of chopped red bell peppers  - 2 roasted corn (Cut it off the cob) - 3 kielbasa sausages (Ours is made of goat and deer meat) Cook your sausage until well done, slowly adding in the roasted corn and red peppers.  Once noodles have been cooked to desired texture add to the mix. The last step is to simply add in the cheese and stir slowly on warm until melted.  Secret: Add one to two cups of milk too! It makes it more creamier. This is a toddler approved meal as well! 

     I was not too impressed with this book selection. I recently joined a book club in my hometown and this was what they voted for. The young woman who runs the club must really enjoy young adult fiction. I found the story line to be overly predictable and too close to so many other stories. I feel as if I've heard this entire plot before.                    I would rate this book a 1.5 out of 5 due to the plot itself. I also didn't like the character development and how the protagonist is so cringy and whines throughout the whole book. I get what the author was after, but she just didn't get there for me. I would not recommend this book to read and waste time in. I think there is a sequel that I WILL NOT be reading.     

      Oh, girl! I'm still having issues and the pain is REAL!  All joking aside, I really need to pass these and I have been drinking so much water that I feel like I'm floating.      After two ER visits, I just want to thank everyone who had to deal with me. I'm currently have to see two different specialist just to manage this massive issue. I find out Thursday if the infection has improved. I don't know what all this week holds for me. 

 #40. Fly in a plane.  Check A+.       I did end up flying in a plane. The year I turned 30 was one of the best year's of my life so far. My best friend/ sister convinced me to go to the infamous Vegas. The four hour flight was breathtaking and I will forever remember the feeling of lifting off. I do not ever really want to fly again. We hit some MAJOR turbulence on the way home and I was frightened to the point I had a panic attack.      We enjoyed seven days of shows,  shopping, and exploring. We averaged over 15,000 steps a day and slept well at night. That was what life was like before children. My sister and I could take off with a moment's notice and go where ever. We took off to NYC to watch the ball drop one year. As it turns out it isn't an actual ball at all.  #45. Save a life.      Well, this one is really out there. Let me think...   I have saved a life but not like a you are thinking though. I go and...

 I will share some of my old lists. Not all content is sharable.   #14. Leave all unfinished business in the past.      I wish I could tell you guys what this was referencing, but I cannot remember. This list was made so many years ago. I wanted to do "this" before I turned 30. I can just about bet it had something to do with an old flame or some transgression I had with a peer. In my younger years I was so full of life bursting with opinionated attitude. Not caring what others thought about me was freeing in many ways. It was my way or the high. I was not well liked and often struggled with friendships. The younger me was so self confident and self assured. I knew what I wanted and went for it. She could have conquered the world. I was voted by my peers my high school year as being the most outspoken. I would say my peace and move on.      I admire the younger me. She was inspiring and willing to push through what ever wall got in her way. I gues...

        While cleaning out some storage boxes today I found various books with list being used as book marks. These books are well worn and have been read dozens of times. The lists were left in chapters that I deemed important. I reread some of the saved items and soon discovered that I had a list of what my thirties need to look like. It's a laughable concept. I really had all these plans as to how my thirties would look and be. Let me share a few of them with you.  #4. I will be an independent woman that doesn't rely on any man.  #9. I will have obtained a master's degree in some field that has purpose.  #21. I will live somewhere far away from town.  #24. I will have the job I have been wanting my whole life.  #31. Break away from family that doesn't see me for me.  #39. Buy a car that no one else has ever owned.         Context:         I wrote this list as a first year teacher. I was 21 ...

    Yeah, you read the title correctly. This has been a VERY rough week on my body. I currently have five kidney stones that don't seem to be moving and have caused a massive infection. I was unable to urinate and had to report to the ER to get relief. I lost over 6 lbs at the ER once I was cathed and provided with medication to help ease the pee out. Extreme pain has taken over.      This morning a new symptom has started.   I started vomiting and had extreme burst of pain under my right boob. I hit the floor in pain and the spasm lasted around 30 minutes each time. I made my way back to the ER and this time they did a contrast CT. As it turns out I'm battling two major sources of pain. I didn't have enough inflammation for emergency surgery.      I was advised to call tomorrow to meet with the surgeon and get further instructions. I'm beyond upset. I cannot seem to catch a break.   

      This is her last book in the Covenant series and I'm beyond sad about it. I have fallen in love with Alex's story and her struggles. I'm thrilled that Armentrout ended the series with a "happy ending." I think knowing Alex and Aiden will remain together as Demi gods really was the icing on the cake. I read somewhere that she has a spin off that continues the story about Seth. I will be looking into this. I would rate her last book a 5 out of 5. Honestly, I didn't see the ending coming. I never expected Seth to end up being one of the good guys.