Aunts Have Bragging Rights Too!

I got a call from my mom on Tuesday morning asking if I'd heard from my niece. My first question to her was "which one, I have 5, two of which don't talk on the phone yet". She said "Amanda, has she called you yet"? I'm slightly worried by her tone, but I could tell there was a little excitement there. "No, I haven't, what's up"? "Well, I know she wants to tell everyone herself so I'll wait until she contacts you". "What" I say, "Is she getting married"? "No", "Is she pregnant" (God I hope not, saying to myself) "No, no, I better just let her call you". So I hang up with my mom and try to call Amanda, but don't have her phone number so I call my mom back. "I don't have her number, do you"? "No" she says. So I text Desiree' (her sister) who I know is either not out of bed or in class, she never texts me back so I call my mom back. "Just tell me" I say. "She passed her RN exams"!!!!! "She's officially a nurse".




My little "Sis" is a nurse, I can't believe it. She'll continue on until sometime in late summer when I believe she'll gradute with her pediatric credentials as well. This is big news in our family since she is the first of the grandkids to graduate from college. My dad would be so stinking proud right now. I now he's looking down and beaming.

In Mourning

I haven't had much to say for the last month so I haven't even bothered posting. I've been in a funk for the better part of two months and it gets so old. I think things are looking up though. I spent weeks on the verge of tears for no apparent reason. Mark says that I've been "different" since Beth's friend Karin died in July. Maybe I have. I've been thinking about my dad alot lately too. I miss him terribly. I miss Abby too. I wish they lived closer so I could watch her grow up. My brother says her vocabulary has exploded.

I made the mistake of watching some old videos I made when M&O were little. BIG mistake! I'm mourning their babyhood. I watched these videos and wondered to myself "Was I good mom to them"? In one video Matthew was just learning to crawl and Olivia was acting like a 4 year old, trying to get her turn in the spot light and I snapped at her. My heart sank when I watched that. I felt so sorry for her. Did I hurt her feelings? Did I favor him over her? I hope not. She was the light of my life and then when Matthew came along I had to share that attention with another being. I love my kids more than anything, but I am always questioning whether I'm doing right with them. On top of all that, I really feel that my family should have been bigger, like we didn't complete it.

Work was getting to be a downer too. It's just been so slow and then I started hearing of people leaving left and right. Then our manager called us in for a meeting with HR to tell us that some of us were being deployed to other departments. I was somewhat affected by that change in that I was told that I may start reporting to a different manager, but I'd still be supporting the department I was hired for. I was kind of left in limbo for about 3 weeks when on Friday the "other" manager called me in to give me a PROMOTION!!! Totally unexpected. A promotion, after being there just 9 months! How great is that? I got a nice raise with that as well:)

First day of school is over! I'm assuming it went well because I haven't heard otherwise. Actually Matthew has come and gone and is out playing. He's trying to eek every last drop of daylight into his play time. O is complaining about riding the bus. This started weeks ago, but has escalted to tears today. I don't know what she wants us to do. Mark may be able to pick her up some days, but can't guarantee her a ride. She say's she afraid of the people that ride the bus with her, that they're all trouble makers and alot are from the half-way home around the corner. I don't know how much of that is true as she will sometimes exagerate a situation to get her way. It's gotten to the point that I can't stand to be in the same room as her because all she does is whine about it. Her grama and aunt have told her that they aren't always going to be here to pick her up, that they can't change their schedules around to be here to pick her up which I totally agree with. We went through this when she started middle school and it ended up being fine. I just can't tolerate her whining.

Ugh! Will this heat ever end? It hasn't been below 95 in the last two weeks. Add to that no precipitation and you get a very cranky bunch. I am so ready for the chill of Autumn.

So, the kids start school Monday. Another summer gone by. At least they can say that they did some fun things this summer. I was hoping to take off to the beach tomorrow for one last hoorah, but I haven't talked to M about it.

We got notice today at work that we should be receiving bonuses in October some time. I'm staying reserved because the last bonus they gave out in April (of which I wasn't a part of because I hadn't been there long enough) was very small. The company has done much better in the last quarter so maybe the payout will be worth it. We'll see.

Matty and Maddie

O went to her first high school football game last night. Her dad went too, of course. Keep him away from a football game? NOT! I guess she saw a few people from middle school so she's feeling better about knowing someone there.

Here's a pic of Matty and Maddie. I took this a couple of weekends ago when we were down visitng grama.



I caught her with her eyes closed, but I love when she puckers up like that.

Please read the letter below. This family needs our help.

Dear Friends and Family,

Last year around this time I wrote the most difficult letter I've had to write in my entire life. It was then that I wrote to most of you for your help and support with the JDRF Walk for a Cure.

As most of you all know, Malia was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in December 2005 at the age of 2 1/2. A lot has changed since last year as far as medical advancements and promises for a cure, and with Malia's health and care.

Malia is now on an insulin pump, and we're thankful for mostly good
days. With Type 1 diabetes her pancreas no longer produces the insulin her body needs, so this pump is vital to her well being. The pump gives her a continuous dose of insulin and requires us to monitor and input all carbohydrates she eats. While with the pump she no longer gets the 3-6 daily injections, she is still required to get her fingers pricked up to 8 times a day so that we can keep a check on her blood sugars. Including the 3am check I do most nights to make sure her sugar doesn't drop too low or get too high and cause her to go into a diabetic coma or have a seizure.

We have been blessed and I'm thankful to say the least.

There is no cure for Type 1 diabetes and over 13,000 children are
affected each year. JDRF works to find a cure for diabetes and its
complications through the support of research. I have been active with our local chapter and the people (mostly volunteers and other parents of children with Type 1 have become like family. It's one of few organizations that invests 86% of money raised to go directly to research and research related education.

Many people have asked me what they can do to help us. Some of you
have offered to baby-sit or give me a few hours off, and your kindness is much appreciated. What I want most is to find a cure as quickly as possible for Malia and children like her. It's so easy to help our family and so many others, and it requires very little. Please help me by supporting JDRF and by giving a donation (any amount will do), and by joining our walk team.
Having the support of family and friends has taken me a long way on
this journey. It means more to me than I can express.

Here's how you can help.

Join our team - Malia's Marchers - a group of family and friends, and walk with us on Saturday October 27th to help find a
cure for Malia and others like her.

Sign up at www.walk.jdrf.org

Show your support by sending in your donation, and contact others you know to donate as well. You can donate online at
www.walk.jdrf.org, type Malia Elmore in the support a walker
box, and fill out the donation form.
Remember, no amount is too small.

And last but not least, please forward this letter to everyone you
know! (feel free to make copies too) We are all quick to forward jokes and other emails without even thinking about it. So please take the time to forward this important information to everyone in your address book! You can make a difference.

We appreciate your time and thank you for your continued prayers and support. We look forward to seeing you at the walk on October 27th!

Peace
and blessings.

Thank you for caring,
Bonnieka, Sean, Dorian and Malia Elmore

br_elmore@yahoo.com

I miss my kids

I thought I'd enjoy having some time alone this weekend. Instead, I've done nothing more than watch the Godfather series. I've been slightly more productive today, I think because Mark is due home in about 6 hours. When they left yesterday morning I had planned on going back to bed, but I got so down in the dumps that I couldn't really fall asleep. I hope they have a good time with their cousins this week.