tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39988688014003343032024-03-13T23:42:51.831-07:00Life as a mom of 2 boysColleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05301162919187767301noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998868801400334303.post-11800398109224601322008-07-07T09:04:00.000-07:002008-07-07T09:15:36.862-07:00Free kids art suppliesIf your looking for some great art supplies for your kids you should check out this blog here <a href="http://inevergrewup.net/?p=189">I never grew up</a> She is even having a giveaway of the art supplies. All you have to do is comment on her blog and your entered. Oh and please mention I sent you so I can have an extra entry. There are some cool supplies mentioned. Here are some of the supplies, art smock that you must see, Textured art paper as well as water color pencils. So what are yu waiting for go check it out and comment to enter the drawing.Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05301162919187767301noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998868801400334303.post-59893993239407435432008-04-25T08:48:00.001-07:002008-04-25T09:03:00.189-07:00My life put on the back burnerUgh! I am not sure where to start. Mark was home last week for a visit which was wonderful. Tyler however was sick the beginning of his trip and in the end it was Jordan who was sick. Though Jordan had received the heavy end of the load with this bug. He ran a high fever for 5 days and at one point it reached as high as 105.4. He had also suffered 2 seizures. One was very mild but the other was a 5 min Tonic-clonic grand mal, seizure. So needless to say we went ahead and ordered an EEG to be done. Mark left Sunday and since then I have been worn. I have been trying to get the boys and I back on our schedule, taking care of Jordan having to keep him up late Tuesday night and wake him early Wed for his EEG, then taking care of the house, running the boys to therapy, Tyler to school AHHHHHH!!!!!!! Where is my time to study for school. Well finally when things start to calm down I am awoken at 1:30am to the sound of Tyler gagging. Ok I get up and he asks for his bowl I got that for him and he spit up. I think no big deal he doesn't have a fever this is going to be a one time thing. Well then I hear Jordan screaming, Tyler woke him up. I then was able to get both boys settled and I am now half way asleep and it starts all over again. Tyler is gagging Jordan hears him and starts crying Im up trying to take care of Tyler and put Jordan back down. Needless to say this went on for about another 30 minutes until I had enough. Tyler and I went out on the couch and waited. But every 10 minutes he was throwing up, it was only a little bit so I still was not convinced this was a stomach bug. We then went in his bed after about 45 minutes. Then another 20 minutes and and about 7 gagging episodes later the boys are both nice and snug in their beds and I in mine. Well we woke this morning and Tyler still is not feeling well, Jordan is acting up, you know those wonderful days of the terrible twos, and I am still trying to find the time to study.Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05301162919187767301noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998868801400334303.post-20903871521265285072008-03-05T06:07:00.000-08:002008-03-05T06:23:08.489-08:00Hidden Epidemic in the United StatesThere is an epidemic in the US that many are unaware of how severe it really is. While every year there are 3 million reports of this experts estimate it to be actually 3 times more than that. 4 Children die everyday because of this 3 out of those 4 are under the age of 4. You may now be wondering what this epidemic is. Well it is Child Abuse and Neglect. After hearing the story of Aiden Waller I asked myself what can I do to stop this. I wrote to every Representative in my state. I even wrote to the president. But its not enough. So many are unaware of how bad this is. So let me educate you today. Statistics show a report of child abuse is made every 10 seconds. Child abuse occurs at every Socio-economic level across ethnic and cultural lines within all regions and all levels of education. An estimate of 906,000 Children are victims of abuse and neglect a year. The rate of victimized is 12.3 children per every 1000. Children ages 0-3 are most likely to experience Child Abuse. These are BABIES, they are victimized at a rate of 16.4 per every 1,000. 1,500 deaths occur every year as a result of child Abuse and neglect that is a rate of other 4 deaths a day. 79% of those children killed are under the age of 4. Have I opened your eyes yet? <br />So what can we do to help end this epidemic. First you can take what you have learned here and educate others. Open their eyes. There are many organizations out there designed to help prevent child abuse. Research them see where you can help. Write letters to your states representatives and open their eyes. Do not let them be blinded by this anymore. Most states do not come down on the abusers very hard. The Department of Family and Children's services needs to become stronger. They lack in many areas of helping these children. They don't do their jobs well enough. Too many children slip through the cracks. Our system does not work. It needs to be rebuilt. Join me in this fight to help our children, as they are our future.Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05301162919187767301noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998868801400334303.post-24104571597966093132008-03-04T13:16:00.000-08:002008-03-04T16:41:24.627-08:00My growing little boyJordan had his two year check up today. HE is a HUGE boy. Here are his stats...<br />Weight- 34 1/2 lbs 97%<br />Height- 38in at greater then 97%<br />Head-20 1/2 at greater then 97%<br />He received shots today those include Flu, Chicken Pox, and Hep A the doctor and I also discussed the possibility that Jordan is also having seizures, (he has staring spells that I cant figure out if they are indeed seizers or if he is just daydreaming). Being that Tyler has epilepsy and speech delay (Jordan has delay in speech as well) it could be likely that it is a genetic link. Studies are showing there is a genetic link in some of the characteristics of Autism (not that either of the boys have Autism) but their delays could be due to a genetic link. So he had given me a choice to schedule an EEG or wait it out and see then I can call him and he will schedule one if I feel it might be best. So we are doing that. We also discussed that possibility that he had a deviated septum but his dr thinks it is more likely just large adenoids. Jordan's ears were red so he is now on antibiotics, and also Claritin for allergies, He also has Psoriasis on his legs that his ointment has not been helping so he was perscribed a stronger steroid ointment. Other then that everything is well.Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05301162919187767301noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998868801400334303.post-49032809639889611422008-03-03T05:54:00.000-08:002008-03-03T06:02:49.609-08:00Baby Aiden: A Short Sad StoryThose who know me may know Aiden Waller has changed my life the past month. I have been following his story closely. He is the reason I am back in school to become a social worker so I can do everything in my power to make sure this does not happen again. Here is the time line of his story. <br /><br />From Savannahnow.com<br /><br />He is 4 months old when someone finally notices.<br />He's bruised.<br />He's unresponsive.<br />He has a black eye.<br />Six months later, he is in the intensive care unit at an area hospital, gasping for breath.<br />All the while, his family - praying for his life and trying to make sense of what has happened - hopes the outer scars of the abuse he has suffered will be the only reminders of what he has endured.<br /><br />Now, this baby, Aiden Waller, is a little more than 11 months old. His health is improving by the day. He remains at Memorial University Medical Center in Savannah, where he has been for more than a month.<br /><br />He's off life support and breathing on his own. He's taking a bottle and no longer requires a feeding tube. His brain swelling has subsided.<br /><br />Family members say doctors don't know how far-reaching the extent of his injuries will be, only saying it will be a long road to progress.<br /><br />Although Aiden's health is improving every day, each of those days brings another unanswered question.<br /><br />How could a 19-year-old mother with a record of depression and abuse have custody of her child returned to her after only a few months of counseling?<br /><br />What kind of parental counseling was she undergoing?<br /><br />Who made the decision to return the baby?<br /><br />Was there any judicial oversight on the decision to return custody of Aiden to his mother, or was it made solely by the staff of the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services?<br /><br />Were DFACS officials checking on Aiden as often as they should have been?<br /><br />Did Aiden's father or any of the couple's other roommates, friends and family members know about the abuse? If so, why didn't they report it?<br /><br />Officials at the local and state levels continue to investigate Aiden's case. Because it involves a child, officials will not provide any information about their findings.<br /><br />But through extensive interviews and research, the Savannah Morning News has uncovered details of the case and the circumstances leading up to Aiden's abuse. Those circumstances include the pressure felt by a young couple who became parents before they had a chance to grow up themselves.<br /><br />Wayne Hodgin | Sunday, March 2, 2008 at 12:30 am<br /> <br />Baby Aiden: A short, sad story<br /> <br />In the beginning<br />Tina Marie Richards grew up in Effingham County. She attended Rincon Elementary School, Effingham County Middle School and then Effingham County High School. Interviews with relatives and friends indicate she had a good, normal life.<br />She was involved in extracurricular activities such as Future Farmers of America.<br />She was an honor student.<br />She had a lot of friends.<br />"She was daddy's little girl," said her father, Steven Richards. "She was fun. She was outgoing. She loved sports. And she especially loved her family."<br />She met Phillip Wesley Waller at Effingham Middle School.<br />According to Waller's MySpace page, he and Richards began dating seriously in September 2005, just after Richards began her senior year at Effingham High.<br />Waller, a year older than Richards, had lived in the area about 10 years. He moved here with his mother and father around 1993 from the Tampa, Fla., area when Waller was about 7 years old.<br />Waller attended Effingham County schools until he dropped out after his junior year in high school - more than a year before he and Richards began dating seriously.<br />"He said he wanted to make a living," said his mother, Joyce Schottel. "I begged him not to (drop out)."<br />Richards, her father said, "stumbled her senior year and missed a credit," so she never graduated with the rest of her friends. She did, however, go on to earn her high school diploma the next year.<br />When Richards and Waller began dating in 2005, their relationship was like any other teenage romance, Steven Richards said.<br />"They were together as much as they could be, as most couples are," he said. "They were a typical teenage couple."<br /><br />After high school<br />The summer after Tina Richards graduated from high school, in July 2006, she moved to Tennessee with Waller.<br />He was set to attend Nashville Auto-Diesel College for training in auto body painting and repair. He would live in the dorm there. Richards would stay with Waller's mother, Joyce Schottel, at her home in Knoxville, about three hours away by car.<br />The week Richards moved in, she discovered she was pregnant.<br />"She didn't even know," Schottel said. "But that's not that unusual, considering she was less than a month or so along - a few weeks at most. But when we found out, I began taking her to see a doctor."<br />Schottel said Richards seemed happy to be having a baby.<br />Waller, she said, also was excited about the prospect of becoming a father.<br />"I think he was really happy about it, and he knew how much I love grandchildren, so that made him all the more excited," Schottel said. "But there was no sign of anything when she was living here that she wasn't excited about having a baby."<br />With all the excitement surrounding her pregnancy, Richards longed to be home with her parents and three siblings. In October 2006, she moved home with her father.<br />"I just think she was very homesick. It was the first time she had been away from home for a long period of time," Schottel said. "She talked to her parents and her sister many times throughout her stay with us in Tennessee.<br />"With her being pregnant, and all the hormonal changes that you experience during that time, I think she just got to a point where she needed to be around her own family and her own friends."<br /><br />Back to Effingham<br />Richards lived with her father until that January, when Waller returned to Georgia to be with Richards. They rented a home on Conifer Road in Springfield.<br />"He really felt that he should be with Tina," Schottel said. "He didn't want to be away from her. He felt like he should support her and the family that he was about to have."<br />After Waller returned to Guyton, Schottel said, she rarely heard from her son.<br />"He would always call on holidays and birthdays," she said. "But when they moved back down there, they didn't have a car. They didn't have a phone - no cell phone, no television."<br />Waller got a job as a warehouse laborer for Jenkins Plumbing in Hardeeville, S.C. His boss picked him up every morning and dropped him off each night.<br />"My son was working a lot. He would leave for work at 5 in the morning and sometimes not get home until 6 or 7 at night,'' Schottel said. "He was working hard to provide for his family."<br />Steven Richards, too, said there was no hint a baby would be unwelcome.<br />"She seemed to be very excited about having a baby. Both of them did," he said. "Her sister was pregnant about the same time. She loved picking out and looking at maternity clothes and things for the baby. She had plans for the baby's room. There's no way any one of us could have foreseen what was to come."<br />At 3:59 p.m. on March 26, 2007, Tina Richards gave birth to an 8-pound, 2-ounce baby boy at Candler Hospital. He was 20½-inches long.<br />His given name was Aiden Wesley Waller.<br /><br />A new mom<br />The first few months after Aiden's birth, Tina Richards - then 18 - tried her best to be a good mother.<br />Phillip Waller, 19, worked hard to provide for his fledging family.<br />Richards learned fast about the pressures of being a new mother. Aiden was lactose-intolerant and was beginning to develop a reflux problem, which made him especially fussy.<br />He cried a lot. Family members have said that bothered Richards.<br />At times, Aiden was inconsolable.<br />The periods of nonstop crying wore on Richards.<br />Her mother, Kimberly Kellam, said her daughter had confided that she thought Aiden cried so much because he hated her.<br />Richards began seeing a doctor, who prescribed a drug called Effexor for her bouts of depression and anxiety.<br /><br />The first injuries<br />Kellam, who lives in Ellabell, often picked Aiden up on Fridays to spend the weekends with her. On the afternoon of July 20, Kellam noticed something she had not seen the weekend before.<br />"Tina had called me at work to tell me that Aiden needed formula. She also said that he had a bug bite on his face," Kellam later told police. "I got to her house about 2:45 p.m., and he was laying in the bed when I saw his face. It didn't look like a bug bite - more like he hit his face."<br />Kellam said she told Tina, in a joking manner, that she was lying about the bug bite, but the comment was brushed off, and Kellam took Aiden home with her for the weekend.<br />"I took him home and fed him, and he went to sleep," Kellam told authorities later. "He slept for about an hour. When I picked him up, he threw up, so I took his clothes off to give him a bath, and that's when I saw bruises on both of his arms."<br />Kellam called for her boyfriend, Stephen Wilson, to come look at the marks. Wilson suggested they call the authorities.<br />Effingham County deputies advised Kellam to have Aiden examined at the emergency room at Effingham Hospital, and sheriff's officials called Effingham County's office of the Division of Family and Children Services.<br />"We keep (Aiden) every weekend and had never noticed anything like this before," Kellam said. "Tina had told me before that she sometimes felt helpless around Aiden. She went to her doctor earlier in the month because she was upset all the time.<br />"She thought Aiden hated her because he cried a lot."<br /><br />Investigation begins<br />Sheriff's Investigator David Pollett, after arriving at Effingham Hospital to talk to Kellam, said he noticed not only the bruising but that Aiden seemed lethargic and unaware of his surroundings.<br />"He wouldn't respond to his name or any sounds that were made," Pollett reported. "His eyes were shaky, and it seemed difficult for him to focus on anything. He wouldn't respond to any of the numerous times he was stuck with the needles by the nurses, who were attempting to obtain blood."<br />Pollett stated that he noticed multiple marks on the top of both of the child's arms.<br />"The marks appeared to be made by fingernails," he said.<br />Pollett began to question Richards, who showed up at the emergency room, about Aiden's injuries.<br />"She claimed that Aiden was fine and in good health when he left her residence," Pollett said.<br />Asked about the bruises, Richards told Pollett she had put Aiden to bed the day before, and he had awakened upset and crying. When she went to check on him, Pollett said, she noticed a red mark under Aiden's right eye.<br />"She claimed she called a hot line to find out what it was under his eye, and that the person she spoke with told her it could have been a bug bite, and if it didn't get better in 48 hours to take him to the doctor or emergency room," Pollett's report stated. "Ms. Richards claimed that she had never seen the marks on Aiden's arms until early in the evening when she had changed him in the hospital."<br />That night, DFACS officials made arrangements for Aiden to stay with Richards' father in Guyton at the request of Richards and Waller.<br />Two days later, doctors at Backus Children's Hospital examined Aiden while Effingham County sheriff's investigators continued asking Richards for details about Aiden's bruises.<br /><br />Denial, then admission<br />On July 24, Richards remained adamant that she had never seen the marks on Aiden's arms. Richards was asked about her mood when caring for Aiden and said she was OK most of the time but occasionally would become stressed or aggravated.<br />"Richards stated that she had been to a doctor about her moods and that sometime around the first part of July, she received psychotropic medication for her illness," Pollett stated in his report.<br />"She said that the doctor told her she should begin to see a change after three weeks and a full turnaround around six weeks."<br />During questioning that afternoon by sheriff's investigator Michelle Buchmeyer, Richards acknowledged she could have picked Aiden up too hard and caused the marks and bruises on his upper arms.<br />Buchmeyer asked what items were in Aiden's crib, and Richards mentioned stuffed animals and a plastic music box.<br />"If Aiden could tell me what happened, what would he tell me?" Buchmeyer asked.<br />Richards began crying.<br />She admitted, according to sheriff's reports, that she was aggravated, grabbed Aiden by the arms, removed him from his child seat in the living room, took him to the bedroom and tossed him into his crib.<br />Then she said Aiden's face struck the music box attached to the side of the crib, the report stated.<br />Richards was arrested and charged with cruelty to children in the first degree - a felony - and with misdemeanor battery.<br /><br />A hazy summer<br />Events during the months leading up to Richards' court date at the end of November are murky at best.<br />Documents obtained under Georgia's Open Records Law and interviews with local officials and family members indicate Richards had allowed her parental rights to Aiden to be temporarily relinquished to her father and his wife while she underwent court-ordered parenting classes.<br />She was not allowed to be alone with Aiden.<br />Steven Richards said DFACS officials visited his home once a month to check on Aiden and would telephone at least once a week.<br />No records or statements have been made available to indicate what kind or how many parenting classes Richards was ordered to take or what those classes entailed.<br />A transcript of Richards' Nov. 28 sentencing hearing - at which she pleaded guilty under the state's First Offender Act and was placed on five years of probation - indicates she told the court she believed she had been to about three classes.<br />During the hearing, she was told that under her first-offender status, if she met all the terms and conditions of her probation and paid her $1,000 fine, her record of felony child abuse would be expunged.<br />Steven Richards said he received a call a little more than a week later, on Dec. 7, from DFACS officials who said his daughter was eligible to have custody of Aiden, provided she and Waller found a new place to live.<br />On Dec. 24, Steven Richards said, Aiden was back in his mother's care.<br />Steven Richards and Joyce Schottel said they believe Tina Richards' being alone most of the day with Aiden while Waller was at work may have been too much for her emotional and mental state.<br />"I think between her depression, and with Phillip being away at work so much and her being alone all day with no car, no telephone, no cable - just her and Aiden, I think that really must've gotten to her," Steven Richards said.<br />"I am not making any excuses for my daughter, for what she did. But being alone all day with no one really to talk to, to communicate with, that's got to be rough."<br />Steven Richards said he and his wife as well as Kellam and her boyfriend tried to be there for Tina, Phillip and Aiden.<br />But, he said, "there's only so much that we could do."<br />Stephen Wilson, Kellam's boyfriend, told police he and Kellam "didn't care too much about (Aiden's) environment."<br />Waller, Richards and Aiden lived in a small residence on Conifer Drive with four other people.<br />"We both have discussed his living conditions and aren't happy with them, but we don't have any say-so," he told police in a written statement. "Maybe somebody will step in and help."<br />About 2:45 p.m. Jan. 21, a frantic Tina Richards called 911 to report that her child was having trouble breathing.<br />When first-responders arrived at her home - she and Waller were living in a home on Old Louisville Road in Guyton - Richards told them she had fallen with her child as she was getting into the bathtub.<br />Medics at the scene told sheriff's deputies, who arrived a few minutes later, that Richards' story wasn't consistent with the child's injuries.<br />Aiden was airlifted to Memorial University Medical Center in Savannah in critical condition. He was placed on life support, and family members said he had a broken nose, his brain was swollen and bruises and bite marks were apparent all over his body.<br />Richards was arrested and charged with four counts associated with child abuse.<br />Reports indicated evidence was found that she had sewn her child's clothes to his crib. String and duct tape were found that were believed to have been used to bind his feet and mouth.<br />A week later, sheriff's investigators arrested Waller. He was charged with obstruction of a law enforcement investigation, giving false identity to a law enforcement officer, and two counts associated with child abuse.<br />Waller isn't believed to have played any part in the abuse other than lying for Richards.<br />Richards and Waller were held initially in Effingham County Jail but were moved to Screven County for their own safety.<br />On Thursday, Feb. 28, Richards' first-offender status was revoked, and she was sentenced to 21 years in state prison - 20 years for child cruelty and a 12-month consecutive term for battery.<br />It also was revealed that she is within days of delivering her second child.<br /><br />Cries for help?<br />Steven Richards acknowledges his daughter, as a young parent, might not have been emotionally prepared to take on the responsibility of raising a child.<br />"It's hard being a parent at such young an age. It was hard on my wife," he said. "Both of them seemed like such great parents. They were very attentive. Phillip calls him 'Little Dude.' Like I said, I'm not making any excuses for what happened. But she's my daughter. I love her. I'll always love her. But something, I guess, just snapped."<br />Joyce Schottel said Tina Richards needed more help than she was being given.<br />"As mad as I am at Tina for what she did, I believe she was crying out for help in July, and nobody answered her cries," she said. "Tina lived with me for a summer. She's not an evil person."<br />Steven Richards has visited with his daughter a few times since her arrest.<br />"I've already told my daughter she's gotten into this mess by herself," he said. "My only hope is to take care of Aiden and his needs. But I've already told her that if I get custody of Aiden, she can't visit him - ever. Aiden needs my protection. I think she understands that.<br />"I honestly believe Tina needs help. She really is a beautiful person."<br /><br />Uncertain future<br />Aiden soon will be ready to leave the hospital, and family members say he'll remain a ward of the state and be placed in foster care, where he can receive the medical attention he needs.<br />Schottel, who has yet to meet her grandson, believes Aiden should be as far away from his past as possible.<br />"I can't imagine what kind of time he is going to have growing up alongside his past," she said. "I don't want that for him at all. He needs to be far away from that place and grow up somewhere where he can't learn about all this mess that's happened.<br />"One day he may go asking about his mother and father, but that needs to be a choice he makes on his own - not one that is forced upon him by what he hears about it growing up."<br />Steven Richards also said he couldn't predetermine his family's destiny.<br />"I don't know what the future holds for Tina and Phillip," he said. "I don't know how things will play out. I just want Aiden to get better and to have a normal life."<br /><br />--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br />Baby Aiden timeline<br />Dec. 15, 1987 - Phillip Wesley Waller is born in Port Charlotte, Fla.<br />Aug. 6, 1988 - Tina Marie Richards is born in Savannah.<br />1993 - Richards begins attending Rincon Elementary School.<br />1993 - Waller's mother and father move to Savannah and eventually settle in Guyton, where Waller begins attending Marlow Elementary School.<br />1999 - Waller begins attending Effingham County Middle School.<br />2000 - Richards begins attending Effingham County Middle School.<br />2001 - Waller begins his freshman year at Effingham County High School.<br />2002 - Richards begins attending Effingham County High School.<br />2004 - Waller drops out of high school after his junior year.<br />September 2005 - Richards and Waller begin dating seriously.<br />May 2006 - Richards graduates from high school.<br />July 2006 - Richards and Waller move to Tennessee, where Waller will attend Nashville Auto-Diesel College and Richards lives with Waller's mother in Knoxville, Tenn. The first week after moving to Tennessee, Richards discovers she's pregnant.<br />October 2006 - Richards moves back to Guyton. Waller's mother, Joyce Schottel, said she believes Richards was homesick.<br />January 2007 - Waller drops out of Nashville Auto-Diesel College and moves to Guyton to begin supporting Richards and his unborn child.<br />March 26, 2007 - Aiden Wesley Waller is born at Candler Hospital in Savannah.<br />July 16, 2007 - A report of Aiden's abuse is first documented.<br />July 20, 2007 - Richards is arrested and charged with one count of cruelty to children and one count of battery.<br />Nov. 28, 2007 - Richards pleads guilty to her charges and is sentenced to five years probation for the first count and 12 months probation for the second count to run concurrent with the first count, for a total of five years probation. She is ordered to take parenting classes, while giving up custody of her son to her father.<br />Dec. 7, 2007 - DFACS officials tell Steven Richards his daughter can have custody of Aiden back.<br />Dec. 24, 2007 - Aiden is returned to Tina Richards, her father says, on order of Effingham County Division of Family and Children's Services.<br />Jan. 21, 2008 - Richards, again, is arrested for child abuse and neglect. She is charged with aggravated assault, aggravated battery, cruelty to children in the first degree and cruelty to children in the second degree. Aiden is airlifted to Memorial University Medical Center with life-threatening injuries and is placed on life support.<br />Jan. 28, 2008 - Waller is arrested on charges of cruelty to children in the first degree, cruelty to children in the second degree, obstruction or hindering a law enforcement officer and giving false name or information to a law enforcement officer. Later this week, both Waller and Richards would be moved from Effingham County Jail to Screven County Jail "for their own safety."<br />Feb. 11, 2008 - Richards' probation revocation hearing is continued in Effingham County Superior Court. No new date was set. Aiden continues his path to recovery. He is taken off life support and is breathing on his own.<br />Feb. 14, 2008 - Aiden is moved from the pediatric intensive care unit to a regular room in the pediatric center at Memorial.<br />Feb. 20, 2008 - Family members say doctors at Memorial have told them that Aiden probably could go home the next week.<br />Feb. 25, 2008 - Richards' probation revocation hearing, rescheduled for that day, again is postponed in Effingham County Superior Court. It was rescheduled for Thursday of this week.<br />Feb. 28, 2008 - Richards appears in court to answer charges that she violated her probation stemming from her July 21 arrest on two counts associated with child abuse. The terms and conditions of her five-year probation were violated, according to the prosecution, because of her arrest in January. Her first-offender status is revoked, and she is sentenced to 21 years in state prison - 20 years for a child cruelty count and a 12-month consecutive term for a battery charge. It also is revealed that she is within days of delivering her second child.<br />On the Web<br />Go to savannahnow.com/news:<br />Read several of the public documents associated with the Baby Aiden case, including police reports, indictments and voluntary statements from family friends and relatives.<br />Listen to two 911 calls that Tina Richards and Bulloch County officials made the afternoon Baby Aiden was critically injured.<br />http://savannahnow.com/node/456192Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05301162919187767301noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998868801400334303.post-30294355687285989862008-03-02T06:15:00.001-08:002008-03-02T06:19:25.233-08:00Happy Birthday LittleCan you believe Jordan is two years old today? Where has the time gone? I feel like it was just yesterday I was screaming at the nurses that he was coming out and they just would not believe me and said "no your only 8cm". Of course though every time I tell him "Happy Birthday" or sing to him Tyler seems to think I should be saying it to him. <br />We unfortunately dont have many Birthday plans here. Mark is still in San Diego so no family dinner or party. But I do think I will let Tyler and Jordan run around at the park for awhile. Ill be sure to take pictures of the Birthday boy today and post some.Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05301162919187767301noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998868801400334303.post-65816911496101658782008-03-01T07:56:00.000-08:002008-03-01T08:05:07.073-08:00Song wrap up of the weekSo I decided that every Saturday I will post a song and lyrics that basically wraps up the week. <br />So my first song is The Remedy by: Jason Mraz I picked this song because of the experience we had Thursday night with Tyler and him having a seizure. It just reminds me so much of battling epilepsy. I know how his personality is now and if it continues to be the same as he grows he will not allow Epilepsy to effect his life at all. <br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/EED3xkxCWNA"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/EED3xkxCWNA" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br />Here are the lyrics<br />I saw fireworks from the freeway and behind closed eyes I cannot make them go away<br />Cause you were born on the fourth of july, freedom ring<br />now something on the surface it stings<br />that something on the surface it kind of makes me nervous who says that you deserve this<br />and what kind of god would serve this? We will cure this dirty old disease<br />if you've got the poison I've got the remedy<br /><br />the remedy is the experience. It is a dangerous liaison<br />I say the comedy is that its serious. Which is a strange enough new play on words<br />I say the tragedy is how youre gonna spend the rest of your nights with the light on<br />So shine the light on all of your friends because it all amounts to nothing in the end.<br /><br />I wont worry my life away.<br />I wont worry my life away.<br /><br />I heard two men talking on the radio in a cross fire kind of new reality show<br />Uncovering the ways to plan the next big attack<br />they were counting down the days to stab the brother in the be right back after this<br />the unavoidable kiss, where the minty fresh death breath is sure to outlast his catastrophy<br />dance with me, because if you've got the poison, I've got the remedy<br /><br />the remedy is the experience. It is a dangerous liaison<br />I say the comedy is that its serious. Which is a strange enough new play on words<br />I say the tragedy is how youre gonna spend the rest of your nights with the light on<br />So shine the light on all of your friends because it all amounts to nothing in the end.<br /><br />I wont worry my life away.<br />I wont worry my life away.<br /><br />When I fall in love I take my time<br />There's no need to hurry when I'm making up my mind<br />You can turn off the sun but I'm still gonna shine and I'll tell you why<br />Because<br /><br />the remedy is the experience. It is a dangerous liaison<br />I say the comedy is that its serious. Which is a strange enough new play on words<br />I say the tragedy is how you're gonna spend the rest of your nights with the light on<br />So shine the light on all of your friends because it all amounts to nothing in the end.<br /><br />I wont worry my life away.<br />I wont worry my life away.<br />I wont and I wont and I wontColleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05301162919187767301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998868801400334303.post-26126772160004321752008-02-29T06:06:00.000-08:002008-02-29T06:37:01.068-08:00Epilepsy Has gotten the better of meSo last night I had an emotional breakdown. I have not come here and written in awhile but I truly do need it today. Last night Tyler had a seizure, all I could think of while he was convulsing was why him? Lord take this from him and put it on me. Have me be the one seizing right now just please don't make him suffer anymore. I just don't want to see that for my baby anymore. Anyone who has met Tyler knows how sweet and lovable he is so why him? Why does he have to suffer through this disease so early in his life? Another thing that bothers me is WHY?????? does he have this? He was also diagnosed with Chiari Malformation. When reading up on that it is sometimes linked to poor nutrition by the mother during pregnancy. Thats what I don't get. When I was pregnant with Tyler I did everything by the book. I took my prenatals everyday, I drank plenty of water, I made sure I ate right and very healthy, I got enough rest. So why??? If it was Jordan and I may be singing a different tune b/c with him I was very lax with my pregnancy I ate what I wanted, I didn't always take my prenatals, I was in early labor for WEEKS!!!, and was drugged up on pain medications and had so much medications pumping through me to stop his labor. So why Tyler???? I do often wonder if it was b/c he was born at 35 weeks. Were the doctors wrong? Were Mark and I wrong to trust them? Should we have continued to try and stop the labor? I just want to know why and that is probably an answer I will never get. I want to have the power to take this from him and just put it all on me but I cant. I just really needed to get that out there. Please say a prayer for Tyler to grow out of this quickly, and to not ever have to deal with any symptoms of Chiari Malformation. Thank You!!!Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05301162919187767301noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998868801400334303.post-56032463900299523022007-09-09T08:36:00.001-07:002008-11-06T20:49:40.717-08:00School DaysWe had a busy week. Tyler started school on Thursday. Tuesday we had open house and both Jordan and him seemed to have enjoyed themselves. Thursday was hard to see him go, but when all was said and done he seemed to have had fun. They learned that God created the world. He came home with a chalk drawing on a black piece of construction paper with a label that says "God made Tyler". For the first time ever I looked at one of his drawings and thought..."I wonder what he was drawing". I cant believe he is old enough to be in school. Next year I will be sending both my babies off to school. Where did the time go?<br /><br />Tyler wanting to get out and go...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_17aybOPTqF0/RuVXDY5RSDI/AAAAAAAAAAs/_68jzDV6Dlo/s1600-h/DSC02386.JPG"><img dragover="true" style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_17aybOPTqF0/RuVXDY5RSDI/AAAAAAAAAAs/_68jzDV6Dlo/s320/DSC02386.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108585068055578674" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_17aybOPTqF0/RuVXDo5RSEI/AAAAAAAAAA0/Ui-6S-xmNxo/s1600-h/DSC02387.JPG"><img dragover="true" style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_17aybOPTqF0/RuVXDo5RSEI/AAAAAAAAAA0/Ui-6S-xmNxo/s320/DSC02387.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108585072350545986" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_17aybOPTqF0/RuVXDY5RSDI/AAAAAAAAAAs/_68jzDV6Dlo/s1600-h/DSC02386.JPG"><br /></a><br /><br />Tyler is ready to go off to school...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_17aybOPTqF0/RuVV_o5RR_I/AAAAAAAAAAM/OI4TKJeuhng/s1600-h/DSC02390.JPG"><img dragover="true" style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_17aybOPTqF0/RuVV_o5RR_I/AAAAAAAAAAM/OI4TKJeuhng/s320/DSC02390.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108583904119441394" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_17aybOPTqF0/RuVV_45RSAI/AAAAAAAAAAU/a74cmE9xUnI/s1600-h/DSC02392.JPG"><img dragover="true" style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_17aybOPTqF0/RuVV_45RSAI/AAAAAAAAAAU/a74cmE9xUnI/s320/DSC02392.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108583908414408706" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Tyler saying "Chool" and Jordan playing Shy<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_17aybOPTqF0/RuVXEI5RSFI/AAAAAAAAAA8/Z6EPBoGzSZU/s1600-h/DSC02399.JPG"><img dragover="true" style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_17aybOPTqF0/RuVXEI5RSFI/AAAAAAAAAA8/Z6EPBoGzSZU/s320/DSC02399.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108585080940480594" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_17aybOPTqF0/RuVXEo5RSGI/AAAAAAAAABE/sX4ALlvDiqY/s1600-h/DSC02398.JPG"><img dragover="true" style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_17aybOPTqF0/RuVXEo5RSGI/AAAAAAAAABE/sX4ALlvDiqY/s320/DSC02398.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108585089530415202" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Happy he is almost there, Time for my Baby to leave me...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_17aybOPTqF0/RuVWAI5RSBI/AAAAAAAAAAc/KUZQBfXRGds/s1600-h/DSC02401.JPG"><img dragover="true" style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_17aybOPTqF0/RuVWAI5RSBI/AAAAAAAAAAc/KUZQBfXRGds/s320/DSC02401.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108583912709376018" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_17aybOPTqF0/RuVWAo5RSCI/AAAAAAAAAAk/8pRsy_lDvRk/s1600-h/DSC02405.JPG"><img dragover="true" style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_17aybOPTqF0/RuVWAo5RSCI/AAAAAAAAAAk/8pRsy_lDvRk/s320/DSC02405.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108583921299310626" border="0" /></a>Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05301162919187767301noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998868801400334303.post-20517408470017945052007-09-02T06:02:00.000-07:002007-09-02T06:18:19.864-07:00They're BAAAAACKWhat is back you may be asking... My panic attacks. I'm not sure why though. Last night I was cooking dinner and I started to have trouble breathing and felt as though something was pushing on my chest and a shock of electricity was shooting through my body. That episode only last a short while but after the boys went to bed I had another one, I woke twice in the night and this morning was woken by a BIG one. I couldn't breathe I was shaking, and crying I had hot and cold flashes. It lasted for 5 mins and then it was gone. I have no idea what has started these up again. I have been doing such a great job keeping them under control. The only thing that is changing is my baby is going off to school on Thursday. Thats right Tyler starts school. The only stress in my life right now is that I have my trip to Cleavland to see my Dr in two weeks. I guess that could be it.<br /> Here is a little back round on that for those that don't know. My Chrones has been flaring up and I had a colonoscopy here. The Dr felt I needed surgery. I started back on Remicade and waited it out. I have been feeling great since starting the Remicade so I decided to call my Dr in Atlanta to see if he suggests going through with the surgery or coming there to see him. To my surprise he said go see my Dr in Cleavland for the second opinion. So I have it scheduled. The weekend of 14-17th Im taking the boys with my mom and going to see her family in PA. While Im there we are going to take a trip to the drs and see what he suggests. If surgery is needed my stay will be extended my sister will fly out along with Mark if he is needed to watch the boys. Im really thinking its not going to be needed though. Like I said I have felt great.<br /> But if I cant get rid of these panic attacks it could quiet possibly cause a flare up.Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05301162919187767301noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998868801400334303.post-36376559802707140732007-09-01T18:46:00.000-07:002007-09-01T18:53:26.422-07:00WOW Where have I been?So much has been going on. I have been in slumps here and there. Tyler has been going through alot with his epilepsy. He had an EEG that came out normal so really that didn't tell us much. It just meant that during that 30 mins he didn't have any activity. He is now needing and MRI. During the MRI they will have to use a sedative so that they can get him to be still. Fingers crossed though that it shows something. I have read and heard that if his epilepsy is genetic (which we are pretty sure its not) it wont show anything. Jordan has grown so much. He is now saying 6 words...DaDa, hey, bye, yeah, uh-oh, uh-uh. He is following in his brother's footsteps and climbing like crazy. Today he climbed into his crib and not 2 mins later he was behind me on the floor. Thats right he climbed out of his crib. And it wasn't a fluke b/c he was misbehaving so I brought him to his room and put him in his crib and shut the door. Well not 30 seconds later I hear him trying to open his door. Oh yeah and he is now able to open doors too. Where did my baby's go?Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05301162919187767301noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998868801400334303.post-82523765626911206342007-06-08T07:15:00.000-07:002007-06-08T07:23:46.334-07:00Its been foreverWell sorry I have not posted in forever life has brought me down. I have been so busy with the boys new schedule and other events. Being so busy has also made me sick. I lost my voice. Mark enjoys that though. Both Tyler and Jordan are loving camp. Tyler's speech is coming along great. I love being able to have him communicate. Operation potty training is coming along great now that he can say "go potty". Although that can get annoying when he just says "go potty" so that he can get in the bathroom to play. Jordan is taking after his big brother and has begun his monkey days. Just the other day I put Tyler in his room for a time out. Well a few seconds later Jordan went into his room and shut the door behind him, I thought "I guess he thought he needed a time out", a few seconds later I hear him fussing so I went to check on him and he somehow climbed into his crib. I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">couldn't</span> figure out how he did it. Well later on that day he decided to show me. He climbs on his changing table (up the shelves) and then into his crib from the top of the changing table. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">I'm</span> so in trouble with these two monkeys. So as you can see I have not really had much energy to post a blog in a while. In fact with all this <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">I'm</span> surprised I still have hair and have not ripped it all out.Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05301162919187767301noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998868801400334303.post-58202369602692830532007-05-03T07:10:00.000-07:002007-05-03T08:20:31.447-07:00London Bridge is Falling DownOK so its not the London Bridge but the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">McTeer</span> Bridge. Where I live there are 2 ways off the Island. The Downtown bridge (Woods Bridge) or the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">McTeer</span> Bridge. Well thank yous go to a captain of a barge for hitting it. That is the bridge I most use to go to the doctors the hospital, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Walmart</span>, playgroups, just about everywhere and so many others use that bridge too. Now the only way off is going on the Woods Bridge and all the way around. The past couple days the city has done a very well job of finding the best solution for this. On weekday mornings from 5:30-7:00 am they have made the Woods Bridge open 2 lane one way traffic. So that has made the drive less of a hassle for those going to work. Yesterday however you could not get onto Lady's Island (where I am) during those times. Today however they opened the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">McTeer</span> Bridge for one lane one way traffic going onto Lady's Island during the hours or 6am-11am and 1pm-7pm. The traffic is only for passenger cars and pickup trucks that do not have trailers attached. They go over the part of the bridge that has the least amount of damage to the support beams. Yes that's right beams. 5 support beams are damaged.<br /> But <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">UMM</span> I already have bridge anxiety do you think I'm going to drive over a bridge that has damaged support beams? Even when the bridges are fine I go over plotting and planning my escape route in my head in case the bridge collapses. Yes I already roll the back window down and put my arm rest up the center tray down (so I can get to the boys fast) and have my hand on my <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">seat belt</span> to click it. I have it perfectly planned I have done all but actually planned a drill for it. I'm going to invent a floatation device for cars. That all you have to do is push a button and your car will shoot out a flotation so that it can float in the water in situations like this.<br /> But now back to traffic. I spent 2 hours in traffic the other day in a drive that should only have taken me 10 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">mins</span>. This morning I spent 30 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">mins</span> just getting down the road to get into traffic to cross the bridge. I also feel so bad for the police officers there job just looks so boring. They have most of the policemen standing on the roads directing traffic. I was thinking of baking cupcakes and driving along to give to them. (I know I'm silly) But I do appreciate all that they are doing to keep the traffic moving as much as possible. Its so hot out side and they have to be in the heat all day.<br />The moral of this is that you don't really appreciate something until its gone. The day they actually get the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">McTeer</span> bridge fixed I'm sure the whole city will have a celebration for it.Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05301162919187767301noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998868801400334303.post-16995854829869380412007-04-30T08:29:00.000-07:002007-04-30T08:50:05.192-07:00Why do I beat myself upSo most of my dear friends know what is going on. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">I'm</span> going to spare the others the details. But basically <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">DH</span> and I are at a bit of a crossroads. Nothing to bad. Its mainly me. I just hate drama and it seems that once <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">again</span> drama has entered our lives. Its not his fault but at the same time it is. I tend to surround myself with good people. I have an <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">awesome</span> judge of character and can in just a few minutes of meeting someone tell <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">you</span> if they are a good person or not. About 99% of the time <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">I'm</span> right. If I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">don't</span> find you to be a good person then I will choose not to hang out with you. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">DH</span> on the other hand chooses to be nice and befriend everyone. It has bitten him in the ass way too many times but yet he still continues to give everyone a shot. There have been several times where someone has <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">back stabbed</span> him but yet he continues over and over to forgive them. I know that should be a good thing but at times when that <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">character</span> can be destructive to your family <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">don't</span> you think you should choose to not be friends with that person? Again its not his fault he <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">didn't</span> know his being kind was going to bite him in the ass but it did. And yeah its not his fault so why do I get mad at him and draw back from him? <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Shouldn't</span> I be proud of that he <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">befriends</span> everyone and has such a big heart? Why is that the one thing I just cant stand about him and wish he would learn not to have? Why does everyone see that from him and use it against him? Most of all why do I let what they do bother me and I end up beating myself up about it?Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05301162919187767301noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998868801400334303.post-14112426311976068422007-04-28T07:31:00.000-07:002007-04-28T07:44:28.068-07:00Weekend bluesAs a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">SAHM</span> I don't get the day off b/c its Saturday. In fact I hate Saturdays. The park is crowded, DH could be home but he goes fishing, the roads are filled with other drivers, its just not fun. I remember before I had kids I loved Saturday. Even if I had to work, Saturday was my favorite day of all. Its funny how life changes. I never thought my life would change so drastic when I had kids. Yesterday I was asked what is a necessary luxury for me? Before I had kids I had a ton. I always had to have my nails and pedicures, I always had to go tan (even if it was an airbrush tan for a quick tan), always had my hair done, always always needed my expensive clothes and makeup. But now that I have kids I don't see a point. I don't have the time to go get my nails done, or get a tan, I don't have the energy to get up and spend 2 hours doing my hair and makeup. So if I cant do that then why do I need the expensive clothes? Saturdays use to be my day to do all that. I would get up and go work out come home shower go tan then get my nails done and then go shop. Now I'm lucky if I get out of my <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Pajamas</span>. I get up do laundry all day clean the floors, scrub the toilets, change diapers, the closest I get to having my hair done is getting it ripped out by the boys. So while I listen to everyone else get excited about the upcoming weekend all I do is sigh and think "oh great Saturday"Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05301162919187767301noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998868801400334303.post-40917477982224912522007-04-27T07:09:00.000-07:002007-04-27T09:08:42.177-07:00Do you hear what I hear?<span style="font-size:130%;">So this morning I took Tyler for his hearing test. He passed, but I'm not so sure I would have. Maybe its just getting over a cold but I'm not too sure I heard all the sounds coming from my right side. I have always had ear infections when I was a kid in fact I still get them as an adult more then I should. My right ear feels clogged lately since getting sick. (You know the feeling you get when on a plane). I have never had tubes in my ears b/c my mom did not see much point in it since my Uncle had tubes and still had many ear infections. Ear infections in my family is scary. My uncle Tommy passed away at the age of 29 due to Spinal Meningitis that was brought on by an ear infection that did not go away. So as you can see there is a very good reason to be paranoid. But living here in a small town in a new place I hate going to the Dr. Its not the Dr that I grew up with. He knows nothing about my history. I feel like I'm crying wolf all the time if I'm continuously going in for one reason or another. But I am a walking health hazard. I always joke about being a crack baby since something is always wrong with me. Well after Tyler's test I called my mom and joked that maybe something was wrong with my hearing. She then went on to say that she has had hearing problems (which I knew about) but the Dr's have told her that her hearing problems are hereditary. So maybe something is wrong with my hearing. Maybe I'm not paranoid. But if it is the same thing as my mom then that is just one more thing to add to my list of health issues. HMMM maybe I should interrogate my mom about this crack baby thing. (no that is a joke I know my mom didn't do any drugs when she was pregnant) She didn't ever even smoke or drink, which is more then I can say about my dad. But I do think its time I call the Dr and get my ear checked out before I cause any damage.</span>Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05301162919187767301noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998868801400334303.post-15902347858259299582007-04-26T06:42:00.000-07:002007-04-27T07:24:52.716-07:00Where has the time gone?<span style="font-size:130%;">I cant <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">believe</span> 7 years ago I was getting ready to graduate High School. Now <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">I'm</span> a wife and a mom of 2. I look at Jordan and think "where did my baby go", yet alone to look at Tyler. It seems like it was just yesterday I was finding out I was <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">pregnant</span> with Tyler. Actually to be honest it seems like it was just yesterday I was walking into high school for Govt and Econ class. And talking about the upcoming election between Bush and Gore. When was it that life started flying by? Will it ever slow down again? Before I know it Ill be watching my kids graduate from high school, then college, get married and have babies of their own. I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">don't</span> want my babies to grow up, I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">don't</span> want to grow up. I wish I could just freeze time to where it is now.</span>Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05301162919187767301noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998868801400334303.post-79189965318232038042007-04-25T09:00:00.000-07:002007-04-27T07:24:25.970-07:00Cold Cold Go Away<span style="font-size:130%;">I have been sick for over a week now. Its finally at the end of its course but now all I'm doing is coughing. Last night I felt so bad b/c I could tell it was getting on Mark's nerves but there was not much I could do about it. Both the boys are still sick too. All day long I'm chasing after them wiping their runny noses. I'm not even too sure where we caught this stupid thing. We went to Atlanta to visit my parents and no one was sick there, and when we got back the next day the boys were sick. I just hate it. I hate being sick. I want to take the boys outside to play since the weather has been so nice, but I don't want them out there sick. I just cant wait for this cold to finally be gone.</span>Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05301162919187767301noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998868801400334303.post-39617229304104419642007-04-24T07:24:00.000-07:002007-04-27T07:24:05.966-07:00The Morning Rush<span style="font-size:130%;">Being a SAHM is a job. I wake up get dressed just like everyone else who goes to work. The only difference is as soon as I step out of my bedroom my day has begun. First I go straight across the hall where I get Tyler out of his room for the day. He then runs and gets his little brother Jordan. Then its off for diaper changes. Soon after I'm in the kitchen making breakfast. I get to drink my coffee while the boys are sitting down eating breakfast. Then the rest of the day consists of following them around cleaning up after them. Sometimes I feel like a broken record "no Tyler", "no Jordan". You think by now they would get that they are not allowed to climb the fireplace or the counter tops, to stay away from the dishwasher, don't climb behind the washer and dryer. Yes my boys do all of that and even more. I sometimes think their goal in life is to drive me crazy. But as soon as I see their smile or hear their giggle I cant help but smile back and give them hugs and kisses. How can I not?</span>Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05301162919187767301noreply@blogger.com2