Sick!

Spring Break = sick! Actually, any time I have a break from school I get sick. Mr. CB had it last week, so I guess I should be happy I'm not missing any classes like he did. I did go and do an interview for one of my assignments this morning. Miraculously I was able to pull myself together for it.

Recipe for being able to function while sick

Small bites of bread or soda crackers

Small sips of Sprite or Gatorade

Maximum dose of Tylenol

Maximum dose of Immodium

Priesthood blessing from Mr. CB (of all the ingredients this one is the most important!)

This lasts for about 2-3 hours, then it's time to take a long nap. Which reminds me, it's about that time for me. Hopefully I'll be able to function this evening without the massive amounts of medication. We'll see.

Did you miss me?

Sorry, dear bloggy friends. I want to apologize for my absence. A couple 30+ hour homework assignments and a medical emergency kept me at bay. But never fear, I did not forget you. Since this week is SPRING BREAK!!!!! I have a little extra time to post. I'll tell you all about the events of the last couple of weeks and I'll try to get some more pictures up. As for the medical emergency, my son Blue decided to join my bloggy friend T.J. in enjoying the benefits of a concussion. Both are okay, thank goodness, and hopefully no repeat performances will occur. T.J. I'm sure will be more careful, but I'm not convinced Blue will be judging by his continual noggin cracking he does on a daily basis! Although I will say that Blue had perfect timing. Mr. CB and I whisked him off to the ER right before I had a major test in pharmacology which I wasn't as prepared for as I would have liked. Consequently, I did not have to take the test for five more days, and thus scored much higher than I would have due to the extra study time.
Oh, and one more thing, did you see my new button on the right? My sweet nephew battles cystic fibrosis everyday. Click on the button to see the blog his darling parents have started with stories, photos, and videos. This year I am joining them in Great Strides, a fundraising walk for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Please sponsor my walk or better yet, join me in walking at a Great Strides near you. You can go here to donate.
I am soooooo looking forward to posting more this week. See ya soon!

How I became Ms. Crackle Berry, Part 2!

Haven't read Part 1 yet? Click here!

Me and Mr. CB in a Kmart photo booth soon after we started dating

Last we left off, I had moved to the midwest with my family leaving Mr. CB behind. I started college right away, bouncing from one major to the other, and working overnights to pay for tuition. James and I had broken up, and so I entered the shallow dating pool. All I came across were bottom dwellers, not a keeper in the bunch. I spent a year and a half trying to fit in to a place I did not belong. Tired of dating pond scum and directionless in my schooling, I decided to move back with my eldest sister Shay. Out of sheer familiarity, James and I started dating again. I began searching for a job, picking up applications at strip malls and burger joints.
It was at a music/entertainment/bookstore I ran into Mr. CB who happened to be filling out an application as well. We started chatting while we wrote down our personal info and work history. Mr. CB mentioned that he had just ended his apprenticeship as a body piercer at a local tattoo shop. As we continued to talk, I casually mentioned that I had always wanted to get a navel piercing. Displaying the kindness and generosity that would later sweep me off my feet, Mr. CB offered to do the piercing for free. All I had to do, he said, was pick up some supplies. I had no more boxes to check or lines to fill out on my form, so I wrote my number on a slip of paper, handed it to Mr. CB, and told him to call me the next week to set up a time for the piercing.
The next week James and I arrived at Mr. CB's apartment, hollow needle and barbell in hand. We chatted as Mr. CB sterilized the equipment. Later Mr. CB told me that as he was perched over my abdomen, all he could think about was how James and I were not a good fit, and that I shouldn't be with him. After the piercing was done, James and I left. I didn't see or hear from Mr. CB for another six months.
Then, one lazy summer afternoon, the phone rang. Who was it? What did they want? Stay tuned to find out!
Click here to go to Part 3!

We interupt this love story...

Sorry, but life has been a doozy and I haven't had time to breathe, literally. This last week has been full of asthma, a leaking roof, and Blue's visit to the pediatrician.
Asthma in 100 words or less.
Caught cold, got rid of cold, still couldn't breathe. 5 days and sleepless nights coughing, used inhaler more than recommended times per day, Mr. CB made me go to the doctor. 1 nebulizer, spirometer, major steroids, and $60 later I feel better! Still can't sleep because of the steroids but at least I can breathe.
Leaking roof in 100 words or less.
This winter sucks. Squat insulation in the roof, melting snow creates ice dam. Water pools on roof, leaks through walls, window, closets, basement puddles. Mold, wet drywall, and wet clothes. Clean and pack stuff up, call insurance. Ice dams are covered!
Pediatrician in 100 words or less.
Blue is too short, dropped 40% on growth chart. Height age is 18 months, actual age 24. Screaming x-rays of hands and wrists to measure bone age. If bone age is 18 months, we're ok. If bone age is 24 months, we go see the endocrinologist for hormone checks.
Oh, and I didn't even mention school.
BIG assignment due tomorrow (today actually). Spent 30+ hours on it. Lots of tests this week too that I haven't studied for because of aforementioned house, asthma, assignment, and boy.
BUT I am happy, whole, and warm. PLUS I am a Child of God, and nothing beats that. I have a great family, a reliable car, and a warm winter coat. Whew, okay, I'm ready to face the day (or hit the hay)!
Next post will be more lovin' with pictures!! Promise!!

How I became Ms. Crackle Berry, Part 1: The beginning

I met Mr. CB through my high school dance company. The company was performing a swing dance, which meant we needed boys. Big, strong boys who could swing us around without hitting our heads on the ground (it really hurts when that happens). Naturally all of us girls had our boyfriends be our partners because even if they didn't want to dance, they don't want us dancing with anyone else.
Mr. CB was dating another girl in the company (as was his brother, I guess the Crackle Berry boys have a thing for us dance co girls), and I was oblivious to other guys besides my then boyfriend James. The thing I remember most about Mr. CB at that time was that he was the only guy that seemed genuinely interested in being there! When our guys didn't show (which, unfortunately, was often), we'd practice with Mr. CB so we could teach our guys later.
The swing dance went well, but that was not the last I would see of Mr. CB (or so he tells me). I have quite the brain fog when it comes to high school. I remember very little unless it concerned dance or James. Anyway, Mr. CB tells me I sat with him and the dance co crowd every day at lunch. I do remember vague people-like shapes talking around tables, and their was food, so I am inclined to believe Mr. CB. Besides, several other dance co girls have backed him up. Continuing on.
Mr. CB and his girlfriend broke up, so I didn't see him for a while until he started dating a different dance co girl. See, even then he needed to be near me, even though we didn't know it yet. But life moved on once again and Mr. CB and I went our separate ways. I graduated and moved to the midwest with my family, Mr. CB stayed and worked various jobs, one of which was apprentice body piercer! Little did we know that it was his skills with a hollow needle that would earn him my number. More to come!
Click here to go to Part 2!

LOVE

A ver quick post since it's super late (or super early). In honor of Valentine's Day, I think I'll write Mr. CB's and my love story. If you would like to join me, let me know and I'll link up your blog! Fun, fun, fun! Stay tuned!

Oh, Blue!

Do you ever feel like your focus in on one child for a while, then it switches and your other child(ren) is your focus? I have found that right now I think more about and I do more things with Blue than I do Razz. She's pretty self-sufficient, but I still feel like she doesn't get enough of my attention. I always have to take care of Blue first. Blue needs this, Blue has to go in time-out, Blue needs a new diaper, Blue needs some "magic" time ("Magic" time is a good 20-30 minutes of uninterrupted Mommy play time my sister suggest when I have homework to do and Blue won't leave me alone. Once "magic" time is over, Blue is usually content to play next to me or with his sister. Thanks Sis!). Oh, and when I was downloading pictures off my camera, guess who was the main subject? Blue! Poor Razz, I think she'll get her own "magic" time this weekend doing some girly pink valentine's day crafts...after I finish my homework!
Back to Blue, my sweet little man. We've been spending quite a few nights at Grandma and Grandpa's house since the weather is often too bad to go home, or I have early class and trying to get the kids up at 5:30 in the morning in order to get to town on time is out of the question. Last night after we put them to bed in the same room, Blue bit Razz! Auuuggghhh! I have *another* bitter on my hands! So Blue came and laid down on the couch next to my desk, and after a million denied requests for milk he finally fell asleep and stayed asleep! Otherwise, if I put him back in the other room, he wakes up several times a night crying until finally I just sleep next to him. I'm not sure I like him sleeping in the same room as Mr. CB and I, but at least he's not in the bed with us. I DO like the large chunk of rest I get with this arrangement. Maybe we'll just have to move Blue into our room until we have seperate rooms for the kids....hmmm. I don't think Mr. CB will go for it, but if it's the only way I get an uninterrupted night of sleep, it just might happen. Any suggestions?