Three Trips to IHop

As most of you know my grandparents eat dinner every evening at IHop with some friends of theirs. They meet at 5:00 every weekday. There have been times that my grandmother isn't ready until 6:00 (so their friends were waiting on them for an hour!) so my grandad made the rule that if she wasn't ready at 5:00 they would eat at home. (some of you may remember this from the 'horn honking' episode)

It all started one beautiful Monday afternoon....

My grandad called my mom about 5:25 and said

Grandad:"Well, your mothers gone..."
Mom: "What???"
Grandad: " She wasn't ready by 5 so I told her we were eating at home. I didn't see her for a minute and got to looking for her and she was gone! She took the car and went to IHop!" (TRIP #1)
Mom: "you stay there we'll go check on her"

We go to IHop to see if she actually made it there...the whole way arguing about who was going to go in and talk to her and attempt to get the keys....saying things like "you're her daughter, you do it", "she likes you more", "lets rock, paper, scissors for it!". Either way I lost and had to go in. The plan was that I would go in and get the keys from her and see if their friends would take her home.

(TRIP # 2)As I go in my grandmothers back is to me, she is sitting in a booth by herself, and she is talking to the waitress

grandmother: "where is everybody?"
waitress: "Jo, no one has been here in 2 days.... Where is Tommy?"
grandmother: "He said he was going to stay home and eat a PB & J sandwich, and i told him I was going out!"( in her sassy little voice!)

I walk around and sit in the booth across from her...

grandmother: "HE sent you didn't he"(with an evil glare...)
me: "yes...you know you shouldn't do this, right?"(as sweet as i could sound...)
grandmother: "do what?"(as if she had absolutely NO idea!)
me: "Drive! Remember that you don't have a valid drivers license!"
grandmother: "hmmmfff" (you know...the way a 2 year old says it when they don't want to do something!)
me: "you can't drive home. give me the keys and I'll come back and get you when your finished eating"
grandmother: "I wont drive, trust me" (accompanied by a big shit eating grin)
me: "please give me the keys, it's illegal for you to be driving (Not to mention HIGHLY unsafe!!!)"

grandmother: "I'm a big girl and I'll face ALL the consequences!"

....more begging...more NO's....I finally walk out telling her that if she wasn't going to give me the keys that I would go and get the extra set from their house.

We get to their house to pick up the extra set of keys. when we pull up we notice that the small trailer in the driveway has been moved several feet across the driveway into the bush.....a light goes on...'that explains the LARGE scratch on the bumper'...she hit the frappin trailer!!!

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We head back to IHop with the extra set of keys (TRIP #3). My mom decides that it would be easier not to be confrontational and just get her home safe so she unlocked the car and waited...and waited...and waited.

Did i mention that she was sitting in there without her oxygen tank. She did have her purse though...but it had no $ in it! We're not sure how she got out of there without paying...

When she got in the car she was chipper as could be...Commented on the flowers, with a big smile! She finally asked "is the whole family mad at me?"..."yep"...."hhhmmmppphhh" ( back to the 2 year old attitude!)

The End.

P.S. The next morning (well, really around noon...) she got out of bed and walked into the kitchen where my grandad was sitting at the table paying bills.

grandmother:"That's right where Dan Rather was sitting!!"
grandad: "Really? Dan Rather was here?" (wondering what kind of response he'd get!)

grandmother: "Yep, we talked for a long time!"

...and off she went to sit in her recliner....and to my grandad...it's just another NORMAL day....

YFZ Ranch

Yes, we live near the YFZ Ranch. You got it, the one where the 416 children have been removed because of suspected sexual abuse. The women claim they are "normal" but it seems to me they have all had a lobotomy. They can hardly carry on an interview much less a conversation. The children don't know who their mothers or fathers are. They force the girls to marry at a very early age to older men. Male teenagers are tossed out by their parents, on the request of the higher ups. They are just dumped with very little education, no money, nowhere to go. They are referred to as the "lost boys". One of the detectives involved in the raid at the YFZ said the bed they found in the temple, sometimes referred to as the marital bed, had twelve chairs surrounding it. So they all watch? That is so sick.

Easter "Ball" Hunt

Reegan is quite confused when you call the Easter 'Balls' Easter 'Eggs'. In her world eggs are the yellow scrambled things you eat! Look!! Two Balls!!




Wooo-Hooooo!

You mean I can't eat ALL the candy today?

It's amazing how much she has grown in a year!

....I'm not real wordie tonight...Its turkey season so Ree and I are 'Home Alone'...as long as i will take her 'side' and give her a 'baff' and play with her in the 'bock'(box) shes a happy girl!

Easter 2 years ago

Just thought some of you would enjoy our family Easter story that happened 2 years ago. Check it out, it's funny:

http://tejasizquierdo.blogspot.com/2006/04/easter-to-remember_17.html

Bowen McButterpants

Just so everyone knows, Bowen is out of surgery. Mike (Paco) called and said Bowen was out of surgery but wasn't awake yet. Depending on how much swelling he has he might have to spend the night at the hospital. He'll be on clear liquids, then on soft foods for 2 weeks.

Heather and Mere, this picture is for you - Reegan picking her nose! Look in her right hand, she's holding SOMETHING in it - wonder what it is?

Story of the day

Koby is deathly afraid of poop. Not his own...Reegan's.

Since he has been taking her to school for the past 6 months there have been times that he has to fight the poop demon within himself and change her.

This morning he was ironing his shirt in the back bedroom and Ree came in saying eww-eww....da-da eww while holding out her closed hand to him. You guessed it! She had pooped, fished around in her diaper on a treasure hunt, and found something!

Koby escorted her out by the back of the arm, with Reegan (who hates for her hands to be dirty)still whining about the stuff in her hand! With his known fear....I'm sure he thought she was a leper until he finally got her cleaned up!

(This still doesn't beat the 'Bowen pooping on the kitchen floor' story!)

Candidate Match Game

Which candidate best matches your views and beliefs?

The following is a USA Today poll http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/candidate-match-game.htm

There are 11 multiple-choice questions that help differentiate the candidates and their stances.

As you answer the questions, you can roll over each color bar below the candidates' heads to find background on their positions(you can do it after you finish the quiz too). Your answers are matched with the positions of the presidential hopefuls to reveal the candidate (or candidates) closest to your views. The sliders on the right allow you to assign relative weights to match the importance that you place on each issue.

Just take the quiz! It's very interesting!!!! :)

Carni Cooties

The good part of the story is that we went to the rodeo petting zoo, exhibits, and carnival on Saturday. Reegan was so excited about everything she continuously hugged and kissed her daddy! She had a blast!

The bad part of the story is Reegan officially has the Carnival cooties! Not only does she have a 103 fever and green snot....she has pink eye!

CARNIVAL COOTIES....EEEWWWWW!!!!!

Yippie!

We got the rough version of the intro for our "5 Star Bucks" hunting DVD.

Check it out! Reegan dances everytime we play it! oh yeah, it has sound...turn it up!!! :)

http://mcraeentertainment.com/5star.html

If you can't see it then you need to download the latest version of quicktime. http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/ download the one WITHOUT itunes and it will load quicker.

Ok...so what do ya think?????

Koby's birth mother called again last night. She started with the excuse that she thought of more medical information. They were things like...they all wear glasses, she has a high tolerance for medication...she poops on a daily basis (ok so not really THAT one). It was just an excuse to call. She just wanted to talk.

There are 2 perspectives on this. 1. Hers: she has finally figured out after 30 years where her only child is and she's excited. 2. Mine: She's rushing me! This is all new....It's a process....don't rush me! She is really a nice lady don't get me wrong. I just have to ease into change...I've always been that way. Plus, i guess I have always selfishly liked being the main woman in his life. I realize she's not MY birth mother....but she's someone I loves....and Reegan and I feel rushed! ;)

As far as Koby's feelings....I guess you'll have to ask him. It's a sensitive subject with him and he isn't quite as open about things as i can be....

Reegan's latest answer to any question is 'no'. "Did you have a good day at school?" ..."no"...."are you hungry".... "no"...then immediately goes to the fridge and whines! it can be pretty comical! "Did Ms. Teri feed you today"..."no" ....."Is daddy your favorite" ..."no" (yeah right!). I think it's more the expression on her face that is most funny. The child has more facial expressions than a clown! She's hilarious! I'll have to try to video this one day....

We're doing better on staying home and cooking vs. eating out. The extra 9 lbs I'm carrying around would appreciate it if i would continue the eating spree and add on some more 'friends' (aka:lbs). We've both started working out periodically and going on walks with Ree in the evenings. Ok, so we never EVER go to McDonalds.....this was just a funny sign!!!

Amber should be having baby Kylen sometime today!!! I can't wait to see her!

Spring break is 11 school days away! I am so excited!!! I am in desperate need of a break! I have the school burnout real bad. I really wish that I could just work 1/2 day....somehow I don't see that happening!

WHEW....

Ok,

Koby went to the Dr. yesterday and told the Dr about an 'episode' (Koby doesn't like to refer to it as a possible heart attack) that he had a couple of weeks ago. The Dr. did an EKG-it came back irregular. He is scheduled for an echo cardiogram and stress test on the 7th (the soonest he could get in). Koby told the Dr. "I'm too young to have heart problems", she said "you're never too young".

As most of you know Koby was adopted, therefore we have no medical history. So far we know he has high BP, high cholesterol, is borderline diabetic, chronic heart burn, and NOW a possibly a bad ticker....at 30 years old!!!

Through research a while back I found Koby's birth mother. I had a name, address, marriage certificate, copy of the deed on the house, drivers license #, voter registration #....YOU NAME IT. (Yes, I'm nerdie-nerderton!)


Because of all the medical issues we decided that we really needed medical history. With Koby's permission (never would have done it otherwise) and his sisters insistence... we did it...we contacted his birth mother.

So...I was the one that talked to her....lets see where to start on all of this without being to wordie.....


She was 17 when she had Koby. Dr. Howell was her Doctor (Koby's dad). She said that she had doubts about giving him up for adoption. When she went into labor she had pretty much changed her mind and was going to keep the baby. The turning point: She overheard the nurses in the hall talking about how Dr. & Mrs. Howell tried to adopt a baby from California and it fell through. Now Dr. Howell was going to adopt 'this' baby! She said the nurses were like little girls in a candy store, they were so excited....THAT was her turning point. Knowing that her baby was going to a good loving home that truly wanted him, could take care of him, and give him things she knew she never could.

Apparently she had a hard pregnancy and even harder labor, and for some reason was never capable of having another child. She said that for 30 years she has wondered about every blonde headed blue eyed boy that walked by.

She said she has been registered for years with some Texas adoption hotline so that if he ever wanted to find her he could.

She said she has no expectations and said that just knowing that he was doing ok and was happy was good enough for her. She said it was truly a blessing that we called.

SOOOOO.....medical history.....everything he has....YEP, it runs in the family...except the bad ticker(but with the high BP and chol. ...you know...could be caused by that).

There is also a history of breast and ovarian cancer. There have been 6 women in the family diagnosed or deceased because of it. (Good to know for Reegan's sake)

There was more to the conversation...but that's the basics...she was a very nice woman with a sweet voice. She laughed, and cried...and was grateful to hear from us.

NOOOWWWW....where do we go from here? Well, that's Koby's call. I can't imagine being in his shoes. This is very overwhelming to me and I'm sure it's insane for him!

But for now...there are lots of emotions, but I think we're doing fine right where we are! :)

NEW POST COMING ASAP

NEW BLOG POST COMING ... YOU WON'T BELIEVE WHATS GOING ON IN OUR HOUSE! OMG!!!!!

This one will take me a little bit to write...but wait for it!!!!!

NO I'M NOT PREGNANT!!!

WOW IS ALL I CAN SAY ABOUT THIS....WOW!

Pictures

Ok here are some pics from the kitchen remodle (sp?)...we had already knocked out the white backsplash when i remembered to take pics.

We put in new countertops, back splash, faucet, composite granite sink (love it!) and built in a microwave...i think thats it....OH and Koby bought me a tv for the kitchen for valentines day!

I had a problem with the pics being too bright or too dark tonight...I'm tired and rather than fixing them, ya got the dark ones!

Oh, and Shauna, I'm about a month late...but this is where I blog from!

I haven't posted pics of Ree lateley either so here's a few!



Her hair is really taking on the family curl!

New blog

Ok is it to loud? Sorry to all of those that have viewed all of my blog changes in the last couple of days! I've been playing around with it and I'm working on my creativity(not much there to work with).

I keep thinking that I'll take pictures of our newly remodeled kitchen for ya to see....but i haven't yet.

I've decided that I am going back to school. I just can't decide if I am going to get my administration (which would be better once I have school age kids rather than now), or my Realtors license.....I am also open for ANY other suggestions. I just kinda feel like I'm in a rutt and want to learn something new.

Robin vs. Meredith

I'm fairly sure Robin and Meredith are having a race to see who can go the longest without writing a new blog. One more time I'm filling in. Here is a funny story about Mom (Robin, Heather and Meredith's grandmother):

Mom and Dad meet friends at IHOP every night at 5 pm for supper. Why IHOP? I have no idea, that would be a whole new blog. Mom, in the last few years because of her dementia, will go in her bathroom to get ready and fall asleep while sitting on the toilet. Every day. She can sleep for 2 hours. She can go in to get ready at 1pm and still not be ready at 5pm. Dad tries to help her but she runs him out of the bathroom. She can't fasten her bra or button her shirt by herself but she doesn't want his help til she's ready for it. He tries to have her ready by 5 to meet their friends but many days it just doesn't happen. He says he tries for it not to make him mad but some days he just can't help it. He decided (probably because I suggested it) that if she wasn't ready at 5 they would stay home and eat cereal. That might work if she didn't have dementia. Unfortunately she can't remember the rules. One day she came out of her bathroom at 5:25 to go to dinner. He told her they weren't going. She got in the car and kept honking the horn. And honking. And honking. Dad called me and I went over there. I opened the car door and asked her what she was doing. "Waiting for your father to take me to dinner." I told her he had already eaten cereal for supper. Her comment? "Fine, shut the door." He finally coaxed her in the house after about 45 minutes.

Yes girls, YOUR grandmother.

Cute baby contest!

I entered Reegan in this little baby contest. It is by far not the best picture...but it works. I was going to have Larae take them but we have all been horribly sick for 3 weeks, and we just couldn't do it. It would have been a much cuter picture if she had done it...

So, here's the deal. You can go to this address http://gosanangelo.com/news/2008/jan/27/vote-cutest-baby/

On the first page you can vote for 'Reegan H.' (to see all the other babies, just out of curiosity, click 'thumbnails' at the top)

You can vote ONCE A DAY PER COMPUTER until Feb 6th. I am not INTENTIONALLY skewing the data....but you've gotta know how the game is played ;)

You might just happen to have some friends, work group, or entire school that also thinks shes the cutest and could vote....or if you wanted to put a link on your blog that would be ok too :)

(A little obsessive...you think???)

THANKS!!!!
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AMENDMENT: apparently you can vote every HOUR per computer!!!!

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Linda's Snot

Where does snot come from? I don't mean a little snot, I mean lots and lots of snot. How can you have no snot one day and the next you have buckets of it? Does your body store it down in your legs? Does the snot fairy come down the chimney like Santa and deliver snot? This is one of the questions I'm going to ask God when I get the chance. This blog is so boring I think I'll post a picture and no, it is not a picture of snot. Even I'm not that gross.

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Oh look Shauna, a little girl that hasn't cut her hair. Imagine that. Of course she doesn't have much to cut so that could make a difference.

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I fully expect that one of these days Robin is going to change her password and I won't be allowed to blog anymore.

Blake's initials ...

It's Linda again with a very important blog message. All you lurkers need to vote. In my kitchen at the top of the wall (actually on the side of the air conditioning ducts) there are talavera type painted tiles. These tiles have the initials of family members. Now that baby Blake is here, she needs a tile. Where should it be? Some family members (no Koby, I'm not going to mention your name) have spent many hours deciding on just the right tile. Oh, the tiles are painted such that we can remove the center design and add initials. Disclaimer: Ryan and Mere get the final vote.



This is the wall above the frig. It has "SBT" for Sue, "LJD" for Linda, "EOT" for Dad, and "RGH" for Reegan.



This is the wall above the sink. It has "MMT" for Meredith, "LEW" for Laine, "MET" for Mike, and "KDH" for Koby.

This is the wall above the entrance from the living room and it turns back toward the frig. It has "MJT" for Mom, "RMD" for Robin and I think that is all.

This is the wall where the utility room door is. The top row has "RMW" for Ryan. The bottom row has "HLW" for Heather, "JRW" for Jonathan, and "BCW" for Bowen.

More Christmas and baby Blake pictures

Reegan's reindeer butt jammies.

Reegan is taking after Paco - she loves her bicycle.

Look - baby Blake is SO advanced she is winking at us!

Shauna this one's for you!

What a great holiday we had. We spent Christmas at my mom's house. Reegan loved EVERYONE'S gifts. She still has 2 gifts to open because when she would open something she would play with it. She wore out before the presents ran out!

Koby left the 27th for a hunt. When he got back we all, grandparents included, went to Ft. Worth for Christmas with that part of the family and, best of all, to meet baby Blake! We had so much fun just being family. Blake is absolutely beautiful. She has a little bit of dark hair and is so sweet. She sleeps four hours at a time which is just amazing. I don't think Mere and Ryan are sleep deprived like most new parents....yet! Fun was had by all. I love my family!

Koby is on another hunt but the season is coming to an end. It's always nice when he gets home but we are so used to being apart that it takes us a few days to adjust. I can't wait to get back to normal!

Here are pics from the fam Christmas/New Year! I'm not sure how Heather, Jonathan, and Sue didn't make the pics ...but they were there! And yes Shauna I made sure there were a few of Blake just for you!

Mimi Linda, baby Blake and Koby
Paco, Reegan, and Mere

Granny and Granddad (poor granny didn't have a chance to get her hair done before they left)



Ryan and Blake - What a good dad!


Me and Blake - She's so tiny!

Reegan and Laine (and her new coat!)

Proud Paco and Blake

On our way home! This is Ree's favorite way to sit. She loves having one foot propped up!

Happy 2008!!!