You Might Be From Michigan If.......
If you consider it a sport to gather your food by drilling through18 inches of ice and sitting there all day hoping that the food will swim by, you might live in Michigan
If you're proud that your region makes the national news 96 nights each year because Pelston is the coldest spot in the nation, you might live in Michigan.
If your local Dairy Queen is closed from November through March, you might live in Michigan.
If you instinctively walk like a penguin for five months out of the year, you might live in Michigan.
If someone in a store offers you assistance, and they don't work there, you might live in Michigan.
If your dad's suntan stops at a line curving around the middle of his forehead, you might live in Michigan.
If you have worn shorts and a coat at the same time, you might live in Michigan.
If your town has an equal number of bars and churches, you might live in Michigan.
If you have had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed a wrong number, you might live in Michigan.
You know you're a true MICHIGANDER when...
1. "Vacation" means going up north on I-75.
2. You measure distance in hours.
3. You know several people who have hit a deer more than once.
4. You often switch from "heat" to "A/C" in the same day.
5. You can drive 65 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard, without flinching.
6. You see people wearing fall formal wear = camouflage at social events (including weddings).
7. You install security lights on your house and garage and leave both unlocked.
8. You carry jumper cables in your car and your girlfriend knows how to use them.
9. You design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit.
10. Driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow.
11. You know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter and road construction.
12. You can identify a southern or eastern accent.
13. Your idea of creative landscaping is a deer 'bow target' next to your blue spruce.
14. You were unaware that there is a legal drinking age.
15. Down South to you means Ohio
16. A Muskrat is something you can eat.
17. Your neighbor throws a party to celebrate his new pole barn,
18. You go out to fishfry every Friday.
19. Your 4th of July picnic was moved indoors due to frost.
20. You have more miles on your snow blower than your car.
21. You find 0 degrees "a little chilly."
22. You drink pop and bake with soda.
23. Your doctor tells you to drink Vernors and you know it's not medicine.
24. You know what a Yooper is.
25. You think owning a Honda is UnAmerican.
26. You know that UP is a place not a direction
27. You know it's possible to live in a thumb.
28. You understand that when visiting Detroit, the best thing to wear is a Kevlar vest.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Growing up!
I can't believe how big Grant has gotten lately and how many wonderful things he can do. I gave him a haircut yesterday and he looks even older now, how I dread it. I think how time has flown by and how little he was when we first brought him home. I just finally took 800 picture off my camera from our 4 month trip around the US and it's funny to see how he has grown and changed. He got a new pair of jean, finally since the old ones looked like capri pants, and had on this little golf shirt today and looked so big. He was walking around the house, eating fried chicken, watching Cars, and saying cute things like, "I got you", "Up Mommy", and "No Brody" (to the cat trying to steal his chicken), and I can't believe that he will be 2 years old in a couple of weeks, 2 YEARS OLD!!!!
I went to the store today to start looking for birthday party stuff, Cars stuff of course, and got invitations, plates, cups, and napkins.......I hate character and cartoon themed things, so letting go to make my Who-poo happy was hard, but I know when he sees it all, he will go crazy!!! I just have to figure out if I'm going to make a cake, pay for someone to make one, or what. Last years cake was a fiasco. I had drawn it out myself and taken it to the bakery to have them make it for me weeks in advance and called a couple days before time to make sure they had the order. I was assured that it would be ready. Well, when I went to pick it up, there was no cake order anywhere, but luckily I had made a copy of the jungle picture I had drawn and was able to give it to them. It turned out terrible, to say the least, because the lady that normally makes the cakes was off on a Saturday and someone else made it. I should have just made it myself like I have before, so this year I'm very scared about what to do. All my decorating stuff is packed away so I would have to buy new tips and bags and I don't really have the energy to do it, but it might be worth it. If anyone knows anyone who does cute cakes for cheap, please let me know!
Here's a picture of my Lil' Stinker!
I went to the store today to start looking for birthday party stuff, Cars stuff of course, and got invitations, plates, cups, and napkins.......I hate character and cartoon themed things, so letting go to make my Who-poo happy was hard, but I know when he sees it all, he will go crazy!!! I just have to figure out if I'm going to make a cake, pay for someone to make one, or what. Last years cake was a fiasco. I had drawn it out myself and taken it to the bakery to have them make it for me weeks in advance and called a couple days before time to make sure they had the order. I was assured that it would be ready. Well, when I went to pick it up, there was no cake order anywhere, but luckily I had made a copy of the jungle picture I had drawn and was able to give it to them. It turned out terrible, to say the least, because the lady that normally makes the cakes was off on a Saturday and someone else made it. I should have just made it myself like I have before, so this year I'm very scared about what to do. All my decorating stuff is packed away so I would have to buy new tips and bags and I don't really have the energy to do it, but it might be worth it. If anyone knows anyone who does cute cakes for cheap, please let me know!
Here's a picture of my Lil' Stinker!
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Family Matters
I appolgize for this long post, but I've been needing to vent and today was finally was my breaking point.
Ok, so I'm pretty sure I'm officially out of blood. I went to the lab today after my neurologist's appointment to "donate" more blood for testing purposes and I think I almost hopped out of the chair when she carried in 9 vials/tubes!!! If I wasn't anemic already, I'm sure I am now. While a very nice lady, she was somewhat strange. I asked her if she enjoyed her job, she ecstatically proclaimed that she loooooovvvved sticking people and just smiled like a kid in a candy store! I was a little freaked out at this point. So I said, "I guess you have to have a stomach for that kind of thing, my husband came home from the first day of medical school and said 'I got to peel skin off a dead guy's back today!!!' that made me sick to my stomach!" She said, "THAT'S SO AWESOME!" and stood there waiting for me to say more.......let's just say I was happy to get the heck out of Dodge, ASAP!
Afterward my fun appointment, I ran into my hubby's cousin, who is a doctor, in the hall at the clinic, awkward. Some of her comments today really stirred my blood, due to family issues that have been going on for quite a while. For those of you who don't know, things are very strained with my hubby's family. It has really hit hard on him recently and I can't imagine what it must be like. His family has made some very bad decisions lately, and their choices have torn the family apart. With graduation coming up, and his family basically turning on him for standing up, doing the right thing, and protecting his family, reality has set in that no one will be attending his graduation from his side. Also, today was sentencing day for Tom's brother and sister-in-law, and as much as we are both happy that they are finally getting their just desserts, it weighs heavy that they have made these terrible choices with their lives and that other people have been hurt by them. I can't imagine what he must be going through....what must it feel like to have your own mother choose a druggy couple (and now convicted rapists) over you who have done nothing with your life but good? How can a grandmother act like she doesn't even have grandson and never even ask to see him? I've always been mad at them for their attitudes and choices, but poor Tom is just crushed with this burden.
A little history......A week before Tom got his acceptance letter to med school, his dad, another doctor, had a terrible stroke and ended up passing away a few days letter. He had always looked to his dad as a role model and his dad protected the kids from seeing what was really happening in the family. With his death, the family started to unravel. Tom's mom (Carole) allowed the druggies(David and Peterli) to come into the family on a regular basis and welcomed in their 2 children, both born without David or Peterli being married. Carol forced them to get married, thinking this would solve everything. All this caused was both of them to come around more frequently and bully money out of Carole, assault Tom when he stood up to them, and give them somewhere to dump their kids for free. Eventually, DHS took the kids away and Tom, myself, and Carole had shared custody of a 4 yr old and a 14 day old. (how can someone just dump a newborn?)When we found out she was still paying for their drugs and alcohol and they were still coming around, even though DHS took away parental rights, we told her we couldn't be around that. With us expecting our first child and them already being brought up on charges for assault on Tom, we were concerned that I would get hurt. We contacted DHS and let them know the situation and then had to back away. Because Carole is a doctor, DHS seems to think she can do no wrong, even though currently she is being investigated by the IRS for 3 years of tax evasion and has been a terrible alcoholic since I met Tom and cannot officailly adopt the kids, because she can't pass the physical. (man we sound like bumpkins) To make matters worse, if you don't agree with the family, they basically stop talking to you, so instead of Carole, David, and Peterli being the outcasts, we are, for taking the high road. One example, Tom was given a new car from his parents when he graduated college, but when we took a stand, the car was taken away from us. (thats why Tom rides a scooter to work) Then the icing on the cake, David and Peterli decided to kidnap a minor, rape her, make a video and do other terrible things to this child and have now been convicted of all these and other crimes and have been sentenced to hopefully forever in prison, but we won't find out until tomorrow the offical decision. We are desparately trying to get DHS to listen to us and to get the kids back and hope that Carole will get the help that she needs so badly, before the poor kids have to be taken away and given to strangers and before Carole loses her license to practice. There are days when I'm so bitter about how things have unfolded and how God could let those poor children go through this and how He could let this terrible burden be put on Tom, but then I remember that He has a huge plan for all of us and I just need to be patient and wait for things to be revealed. Please pray for our family and especially Tom, that his heart will stay strong through these times and that he will be able enjoy his graduation, he has worked so hard for this!
Ok, so I'm pretty sure I'm officially out of blood. I went to the lab today after my neurologist's appointment to "donate" more blood for testing purposes and I think I almost hopped out of the chair when she carried in 9 vials/tubes!!! If I wasn't anemic already, I'm sure I am now. While a very nice lady, she was somewhat strange. I asked her if she enjoyed her job, she ecstatically proclaimed that she loooooovvvved sticking people and just smiled like a kid in a candy store! I was a little freaked out at this point. So I said, "I guess you have to have a stomach for that kind of thing, my husband came home from the first day of medical school and said 'I got to peel skin off a dead guy's back today!!!' that made me sick to my stomach!" She said, "THAT'S SO AWESOME!" and stood there waiting for me to say more.......let's just say I was happy to get the heck out of Dodge, ASAP!
Afterward my fun appointment, I ran into my hubby's cousin, who is a doctor, in the hall at the clinic, awkward. Some of her comments today really stirred my blood, due to family issues that have been going on for quite a while. For those of you who don't know, things are very strained with my hubby's family. It has really hit hard on him recently and I can't imagine what it must be like. His family has made some very bad decisions lately, and their choices have torn the family apart. With graduation coming up, and his family basically turning on him for standing up, doing the right thing, and protecting his family, reality has set in that no one will be attending his graduation from his side. Also, today was sentencing day for Tom's brother and sister-in-law, and as much as we are both happy that they are finally getting their just desserts, it weighs heavy that they have made these terrible choices with their lives and that other people have been hurt by them. I can't imagine what he must be going through....what must it feel like to have your own mother choose a druggy couple (and now convicted rapists) over you who have done nothing with your life but good? How can a grandmother act like she doesn't even have grandson and never even ask to see him? I've always been mad at them for their attitudes and choices, but poor Tom is just crushed with this burden.
A little history......A week before Tom got his acceptance letter to med school, his dad, another doctor, had a terrible stroke and ended up passing away a few days letter. He had always looked to his dad as a role model and his dad protected the kids from seeing what was really happening in the family. With his death, the family started to unravel. Tom's mom (Carole) allowed the druggies(David and Peterli) to come into the family on a regular basis and welcomed in their 2 children, both born without David or Peterli being married. Carol forced them to get married, thinking this would solve everything. All this caused was both of them to come around more frequently and bully money out of Carole, assault Tom when he stood up to them, and give them somewhere to dump their kids for free. Eventually, DHS took the kids away and Tom, myself, and Carole had shared custody of a 4 yr old and a 14 day old. (how can someone just dump a newborn?)When we found out she was still paying for their drugs and alcohol and they were still coming around, even though DHS took away parental rights, we told her we couldn't be around that. With us expecting our first child and them already being brought up on charges for assault on Tom, we were concerned that I would get hurt. We contacted DHS and let them know the situation and then had to back away. Because Carole is a doctor, DHS seems to think she can do no wrong, even though currently she is being investigated by the IRS for 3 years of tax evasion and has been a terrible alcoholic since I met Tom and cannot officailly adopt the kids, because she can't pass the physical. (man we sound like bumpkins) To make matters worse, if you don't agree with the family, they basically stop talking to you, so instead of Carole, David, and Peterli being the outcasts, we are, for taking the high road. One example, Tom was given a new car from his parents when he graduated college, but when we took a stand, the car was taken away from us. (thats why Tom rides a scooter to work) Then the icing on the cake, David and Peterli decided to kidnap a minor, rape her, make a video and do other terrible things to this child and have now been convicted of all these and other crimes and have been sentenced to hopefully forever in prison, but we won't find out until tomorrow the offical decision. We are desparately trying to get DHS to listen to us and to get the kids back and hope that Carole will get the help that she needs so badly, before the poor kids have to be taken away and given to strangers and before Carole loses her license to practice. There are days when I'm so bitter about how things have unfolded and how God could let those poor children go through this and how He could let this terrible burden be put on Tom, but then I remember that He has a huge plan for all of us and I just need to be patient and wait for things to be revealed. Please pray for our family and especially Tom, that his heart will stay strong through these times and that he will be able enjoy his graduation, he has worked so hard for this!
Saturday, February 14, 2009
A Time for Thanks
This Valentine's Day, love is in the air at the Howard house! I started realizing how blessed I've been with men that love me. Everything is going great with this pregnancy and our little peanut is growing bigger every day. Who-poo is getting so big and does and says the sweetest things that always shock me, he seemed so little not very long ago. He got some great gifts for V-Day....Cars, the movie, an adorable lion balloon, a super cute puppy that sings and dances and a bunch of cards.....someone is getting spoiled. My Bunny has been able to spend alot of time with us lately and I'm getting very spoiled with him helping out around the house since I'm not able to do many things, thanks honey! I am so lucky to have been given such a kind and compassionate husband. I received some beautiful tulips from him today, just what I wanted! I'm not sure if flowers live in the "frozen tundra" but I hope to plant them at our new home in May.
If you know me well, you know that I am a huuuuuuge planner, meaning I make lists and notes, and do research for even the smallest things.....what that translates into was a Valentine's day trip to Home Depot for paint samples, design guides, and creative ideas. Poor Tom, he always humors me so well! We haven't even been qualified for a loan yet, but man, I'll have every room in that house planned, painted, and decorated in my mind by.....tomorrow! hehe If he would bring me boxes, I would pack up everything we own by the end of the week. I'm not a patient person so this could be a long 3 months.....please pray that I don't kill Tom in the process.
I hope everyone is getting to spend this day or at least this evening with the ones they love and will take some time to thank the Lord for them.
If you know me well, you know that I am a huuuuuuge planner, meaning I make lists and notes, and do research for even the smallest things.....what that translates into was a Valentine's day trip to Home Depot for paint samples, design guides, and creative ideas. Poor Tom, he always humors me so well! We haven't even been qualified for a loan yet, but man, I'll have every room in that house planned, painted, and decorated in my mind by.....tomorrow! hehe If he would bring me boxes, I would pack up everything we own by the end of the week. I'm not a patient person so this could be a long 3 months.....please pray that I don't kill Tom in the process.
I hope everyone is getting to spend this day or at least this evening with the ones they love and will take some time to thank the Lord for them.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Sick Days
So I have been sick for about a year now. It started last March after a really bad cold/flu bug and then I never really recovered. I'm tired all the time, achy, have muscle problems and have terrible pains in my joints. I have had so many tests run, sooooo much blood drawn, that I'm not sure I have anything left to give. Every test has come back fine, so I am heading to the neurologist next Tuesday to get a consult and most likely get an MRI done. Fun stuff!! I really hope that they can figure this out soon because I am a very active fun loving person and I spend most of my time sitting where ever we are, watching the action from a distance.... its getting really old. On top of all that fun, I've had a terrible GI bug that knocked me into bed for 4 days and poor Tom had to take care of Grant, who was also terribly sick with bronchitis. Tom stayed home from work Monday and Tuesday to help me out because, literally Grant or I could barely even lift our arms to feed ourselves, (not that I was eating anything for those 4 days)! I'm really not looking forward to residency when Tom is just gone and I'm totally on my own with 2 kids!!!!!! Reality check! Oh and did I mention, we'll be alone in Muskegon, MI!!!! AHHHHH
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Welcome!
I've never blogged before, but since we just found out that we are heading of to Michigan for the next four years, I thought this might be the time to start. I figured it would be a great way to stay connected with friends and family and share pictures and stories of our new family adventures!
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