Flowers in My Life

Friday, October 31, 2008

Happy Halloween!

A year ago today.
I thought I'd ad some pictures from last year. Last year K & L wanted to be 1950's car-hops. Nana made their costumes too! They looked great! Syd was a little lady bug crawling around. So cute! She didn't mind wearing her costume at all last year. This year is a different story! Sydnee is sleeping right now so I can concentrate on helping K & L get into their witches costumes! (Hee-Hee) Sydnee is going to be a black kitty cat. I have not been able to get her to wear her costume for very long so I'm waiting until later tonight to dress her. I'll try my best to get some pictures with her not crying.The girls just walked in from school and I'm about to get them both dressed in their costumes and take them out for the nights festivities. Grandma,Nana and Memaw will also be coming over for dinner and Halloween fun. Not much different from last year. I'll post pictures of tonight's fun later this weekend. I must go decorate my children now...Happy Halloween!!

Friday, October 24, 2008

It's a beautiful day today but my heart is hurting...

A year ago today....

It's a beautiful day today but my heart is hurting...

one of the most beautiful women (moms) I've known in my life lost her battle to cancer. She was like my second mom...such an inspiration...and ALWAYS brought a smile to my heart. I'm thinking of you Mrs. Barbara Waugh.

I miss you dearly...and you'll never be forgotten. Hold tight to your sweet angel Mathew too....we know you both are always hugging Tamara and lifting her up in spirit everyday.

Let it rain.....

Below is the email I received from her daughter Tamara (my dear sweet childhood wind beneath my wings friend)

Dear Family and Friends,

I thought I would send you the obituary that is set to run in the Colorado Springs Gazette tomorrow.

Love,
Tamara

Our beloved daughter, wife, and mother Barbara Helen Waugh, 58, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 24 after a courageous nine month battle with cancer.

She was born on February 12, 1949 in Baltimore, Maryland to Suzanne and Leonard Niparavic. She graduated from Bear Creek High School and married her high school sweetheart, Ken Waugh, on December 20, 1967.

After moving to Colorado Springs in 1974, Barbara spent twenty five years in the healthcare industry. She worked as an office manager for two dental practices, owned a successful medical billing business and later became the Branch Manager for Apria Healthcare. In 2005 she started working as a volunteer and part-time employee at the Garden of the Gods Visitor & Nature Center.

Barbara had an avid love for the outdoors. She loved to kayak, fish, and garden. She loved spending time with her family and friends. She always had a good joke to tell and could always make a person laugh.

We will miss her everyday for the rest of our lives but know that she will live on in the hearts of all who were privileged to know her. She made such an impact with her compassion, her smiles, her humor, and her love of life! Although we are going to miss her terribly on earth, we know that the life of the party has just arrived in heaven!! We also know that her grandson (due in 12 weeks) just received his guardian angel!

She is survived by her mother, Suzanne Niparavic; her husband, Ken Waugh; her children, daughter Tamara Engelhardt (Loy), and son Chris Waugh.

She is preceded in death by her brother, Michael Niparavic and father Leonard Niparavic.

A celebration of life service will be held on Tuesday, October 3oth at 10:00 am at St. Michael's Episcopal Church in Colorado Springs.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the American Cancer Society P.O Box 22718 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73123-1718 or Pikes Peak Hospice Foundation, 825 E. Pikes Peak Suite 600, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903

www.cwaugh5.googlepages.com/home
Tribute to Barb Waugh...........

www.barbwaugh.blogspot.com/
Barbara's blog she kept since the day she found out she had cancer.

www.rideforbarb.blogspot.com/
Barbara's son Chris' blog....his incredible journey home...and so on

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Yes...I'm still here (w/eyes in the back of my head)

Just a quick note...
Yes...I'm still here and still plan to blog/post what's going on at some point. I've just really been very very overwhelmed lately. We've got A LOT going on around here....I really feel there aren't enough hours in the day lately. I have not posted in almost a month!! I've got a lot of catching up to do. I do try and type "twitter moments" now and then through out my day from my mobile phone.(look below) Those that are interested can follow me on twitter. Try it it's pretty fun. I feel somewhat contected in this world and feel as if "its a small world after all" when I recive twitter texts messages from those whom I follow. Some of you other twin moms out there seriously crack me up with your texts! Thanks for the smiles! Its cool when I can hear about someone's daily happenings from around the country.
But I'd admit...even typing out a short "tweet" on what's goin on with me takes a few seconds!! It's always..."who are you texting NOW? and Why?" that my DH says while rolling his eyes. Or when my kids see me on the phone or texting they look at it as an opportunity to misbehave too. They just think I'm not aware on what's going on around me. Example: the other day I was in the living rm watching the news and I heard one of the girls sneak down the stairs and tip toe to the pantry in the kitchen, grab a small bag of chips and start to tip toe back up the stairs to enjoy her (third) snack for the afternoon. ( also note they are not allowed to bring food upstairs) I calmly stated,"I don't think that is a good idea,..you might want to stop where you are and put that back where you found it." I never even looked at her. She then whines...,"awwaahhh! How did you know?!How did you see me??" I say,"I know everything....& I have eyes in back of my head." She says..."seriously?!" I say "yup." Lately,...now and then I catch her trying to get a close look at the back of my head and especially when I'm texting on my phone. I always say..."Yes I see you honey...don't try anything sneeky!" Think I've kind of freaked them out a little. OW. Another reason for no post lately (even though this one is getting longer my the minute) these past few weeks I've literally turned of the light & shut the door to my dungen-hell-hole-of-what-I-call-my-office in the house. The ADD part of me has defintely taken over in here and it causes much hardache when I walk in to my mess. I just don't even know where to start to clean up even if I had the time to do it! I have a little pathway between the clutter of "to do's", papers etc. to get on the computer to check emails. Forget taking the time to minster up the energy to sit here and post somthing exciting on my blog.(but I guess that is what I'm doing now-finally) I do sometimes take a moment (in the middle of the night-cuz I can't sleep) to sneek in here to read up on other blogs too. But, I just haven't been inspired yet on what to post on here. I also think its because we do have SO much going on right now...again feeling overwhelmed. Why am I feeling this way? Well hopefully my new shrink will help me figure all this out. No I'm not going crazy or anything,...just not feeling so inspired lately. hummm? OK...don't worry I'll be back soon....must go be super-mommy now...and try and get some rest. Wish me luck. Thanks doc for the Sonata sleeping pills! They're helping! Good nite blog world.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

FW: Meet me in the stairwell

NEVER FORGET!

With the 7th Anniversary around the corner... We all need a reminder...

Wear red, white & blue on Thursday, September 11, 2008!

AND FLY YOUR AMERICAN FLAGS!!

this is a wonderful read...

'MEET ME IN THE STAIRWELL'

You say you will never forget where you were when
you heard the news On September 11, 2001.
Neither will I.

I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room
with a man who called his wife to say 'Good-Bye.' I
held his fingers steady as he dialed. I gave him the
peace to say, 'Honey, I am not going to make it, but it
is OK..I am ready to go.'

I was with his wife when he called as she fed
breakfast to their children. I held her up as she
tried to understand his words and as she realized
he wasn't coming home that night.

I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a
woman cried out to Me for help. 'I have been
knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years!' I said.
'Of course I will show you the way home - only
believe in Me now.'

I was at the base of the building with the Priest
ministering to the injured and devastated souls.
I took him home to tend to his Flock in Heaven. He
heard my voice and answered.

I was on all four of those planes, in every seat,
with every prayer. I was with the crew as they
were overtaken. I was in the very hearts of the
believers there, comforting and assuring them that their
faith has saved them.

I was in Texas , Virginia , California , Michigan , Afghanistan ...
I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news.
Did you sense Me?

I want you to know that I saw every face. I knew
every name - though not all know Me. Some met Me
for the first time on the 86th floor.

Some sought Me with their last breath.
Some couldn't hear Me calling to them through the
smoke and flames; 'Come to Me... this way... take
my hand.' Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me.
But, I was there.

I did not place you in the Tower that day. You
may not know why, but I do. However, if you were
there in that explosive moment in time, would you have
reached for Me?

Sept. 11, 2001, was not the end of the journey
for you. But someday your journey will end. And I
will be there for you as well. Seek Me now while I may
be found. Then, at any moment, you know you are
'ready to go.'

I will be in the stairwell of your final moments.

God
During the next 60 seconds, stop whatever you are
doing, and take this opportunity. (Literally it
is only 1 minute.) All you have to do is the
following:

Stop and think and appreciate God's power
in your life, for doing what you know is pleasing to
Him. If you are not ashamed to do this, follow the
instructions. Jesus said, 'If you are ashamed of Me, I will be
ashamed of you before My Father'

If you are not ashamed, copy and send this message...only
if you believe 'Yes, I love my God. He is my
fountain of Life and My Savior. He Keeps me going day and
night. Without Him, I am no one. But with Him, I can do
everything. Christ is my strength.'

(this was an email send to me earlier this week by a dear friend of mine, I thought I'd share it on my blog...thx tamara)

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Getting straightened out

OK i just have to talk a little about K&L's time at the ortho.
They were so excited to find out that they had an appt. with the orthodontist earlier this summer that they asked me everyday "Mom,..how many more days till we go to the orthodontist? Yeah! Only 5 more, only 4 more, only 3 more...etc." Till it was the night before their 10 am appt. they both came up to me separately...feeling a little anxious and worried that it was going to hurt. K said "mom don't tell L but I don't know if I want to go anymore?" Not but an hour later L came to me saying the same thing!

Well I have to tell you....it was a really memorable experience for both girls and I. They both now have expanders and will soon have braces. The ultimate goal of a beautiful "straight teeth" smile. (they already have beautiful smiles)

Going to the ortho is nothing like it used to be. I thought at the most they would take some x-rays and then they would looked at and be told that "Yes they will need braces once they are in High School for about 2 years." (I was wrong)

No...their treatment plan at the most will take 14 months. And we start NOW! They are in 3rd grade. They both are to wear top and bottom expanders (to spread apart their mouths) to make more room in their mouth so their teeth will grow in straighter. Once all the adult teeth are in...then they only have to get 4 little braces on the top 4 front teeth for a few months to help straighten them just right. They have braces in till they have the perfect smile! They will then wear a retainer to help keep them straight.

OMG! In my mind this is so much less invasive! I remember how horrible it was when I had braces...going in to have them tightened every few weeks was like choosing to have someone place your head in a vice and turn it till your mouth hurt so bad you couldn't even blink without causing pain. OK I'm being a little dramatic, but I also remember how much I hated having braces in High School. Eating with braces and trying not to show what you ate for lunch when smiling at the cute guy sitting next to you in class took much skill. (And it also took a really good friend whom you weren't afraid to ask if their was any food particles stuck in your teeth or stuck up in your braces.) (thx Kara) Some days I remember my friends and I just wouldn't eat until we got home. The day I got my braces off was liberating!!

Anyway..glad the girls don't have to deal with all that!
Here are pictures of them just before we were to meet with the Ortho. Can you just feel & see the excitement! They were being silly too.

After this meeting and lots of pictures we came back about 2 weeks later and had impressions done. They also got to "design" their expanders. Seriously...the stuff kids have today!

You'll see what lovely colors they decided on for both top and bottom expanders. Let me just say...it was like the MOST important decision in their life!! They discussed it among themselves for days...& changed their minds about 20 times too!! Though, I guess I'd have a hard time deciding too.
L ended up getting a glow-in-the-dark top expander that is neon pink! Her lower one is neon green. She said those two colors coordinated very well together. K decided for the rainbow look (with no sparkle) for both the top and bottom. She had a hard time deciding if she should have "sparkle" or not. I think she made a good choice...all the rainbow colors will coordinate well with anything you might be wearing, plus might even match what you're eating too.

Anyway, my job for the next few months is to use a little "key" and turn their expanders every few days. (what joy) This is slowly expanding their mouths. I also get to hear how I turned it too tight or how much it hurts now that I turned it. I gently remind them that I had it much worse when I was in HS and had braces. I say back in the old days...they used to put my head in a vice and....well you get the point. (he-he)

Now I'm tired talkin' teeth...but I do have to mention there have already been several instances where they each almost LOST their bottom expander. Not on my watch I might add. (knock on wood)
I've heard of them having to dig in Krispy Creme's bathroom trash to searching every isle in Tom Thumb finding it stashed neatly between cans of green beans. (what?) Well L did leave it at school this past weekend. (she was devastated) I was working on my story on what to tell DH (dear husband)if she did come home today to tell me it was not in her desk by her pencils like she said. Thank God the wire on her expander got caught on a spiral notebook in her desk so it didn't fall on the floor. I pray we make it without losing them till the day we get braces. I personally cannot wait to see the before and after pictures too! I'm sure I'll blog all about it... enjoy the photos.