Canvas Print Giveaway!

I have actually always wanted to get a photo printed on canvas. I just think that's one of the neatest inventions. Krystyn over at Really, Are You Serious? is sponsoring a giveaway from Digital Room of a 16 x 20 rolled canvas print! They are artist quality and come UV protected. You could have it professionally stretched and mounted for a great Christmas gift!
Just click on the link to Krystyn's blog above to enter! There is also a list of ways to get extra entries, so just head on over!

Cough Cough Sneeze Sneeze and Prayers Needed For Mawmaw

Well, this sinus drainage I've had since this past Thursday finally decided to kick into high gear last night. I think making a trip to Memphis this past weekend thinking it wouldn't turn into anything may have caused it to do just that. So, because of some extreme symptoms this time (I won't gross you out with details), I went to the dr. today (haven't been for that in years). I usually just take some Advil cold and sinus and Afrin 12 hr., and deal with it. I thought I might need an antibiotic, but he didn't really think so, as it is just viral thank goodness. He did, oddly enough, give me an rx for one in case it didn't improve in a few days. That and some stuff to treat symptoms. When I get this it always reminds me of the Thanksgiving I was pregnant and couldn't take anything good. I was absolutely miserable for several days. Very thankful for medications right now!

Unfortunately, not as good news for mawmaw (my MIL). She found out today that she has diabetic nephropathy. Basically, her poorly managed diabetes is destroying her kidneys. They said dialysis would not help, but she said she wouldn't go on that anyway. About the best thing she can do is try to get her glucose levels way down and keep them down, as well as her blood pressure. She already has CHF (congestive heart failure), so it's going to be pretty difficult for her body to manage. So, we would appreciate your prayers for her.

I'm glad we will be able to be with her this Thanksgiving. Maybe that's why God has chose to keep us in this town for right now. It should be a pretty special one for her. Kevin's half brother and his huge family from Colorado are coming in. They have 10 kids, plus a few grand kids, plus some spouses, making around 21 people! They are coming in two motor homes that they will dock at a campground near by. It's going to be like having Thanksgiving with the Duggars! BUT, mawmaw also found out today that we now have a place to have the big get-together! A restaurant owned by a friend there in her town is letting us use the whole place, just as long as we clean up! What a blessing, because we were all a little concerned since my MIL lives in a small apartment, and no one else would have room for everyone (including all the rest of the family) either! I told her I would be there extra early to help however I can. I guess this also means I'm gonna have to double the side dishes I usually bring! But, that's fine, they only get to come every few years.

Mmmmm now I'm wanting some dressin' and my special green bean casserole!

Halloween '09

We had a pretty busy Halloween week. We went to two church carnivals, daddy's work (employees bring their kids to go around the office and load up on candy from other employees) , and trick or treated. Ava was supergirl, by her choice. I had to talk her out of the boy's spiderman costume, she thought it would be fun to have tough-looking fake muscles. I didn't get it either. But at least she got to look tough in her own way.

Punkim Patch

Today we went to the roadside pumpkin (or punkim as Ava calls them) stand/patch. It was pretty windy and cool, but a nice day and Ava had fun. Except for trying to avoid the Heartland Catfish mascot that was there. She wouldn't go near him no matter how I tried to tell her it was a man in a costume! So, of course she wouldn't let me get her picture with him and I didn't think to just snap one with me until we were leaving. So, of course, as per usual for her, she did her own artistic interpretation of her reaction to Mr. Catfish (or whatever his name is).

Catfish with hat on, the catfish mobile (a VW bug with fins and logo), Ava crying, and me.

Thirtysomething

I can't believe it's been over 20 years since that show came on! And I really can't believe I am and even more so as of this past Tuesday! Back then (I was 10 the first year it was on), they all seemed so much older, I guess because they were/are my parents' age. And now here I am "in my thirties", it's kind of mind-blowing, to me anyway.
Btw, Tuesday was nice overall. Nothing big. We went to my MIL's, she made enchiladas, yum. Another reason we went there was so she could babysit while we went to the movies. Oh, and I don't really recommend Zombieland. Not that I expected Oscar-quality, but we'd heard it was hilarious, and it just didn't even come as close as I was hoping. There were some aspects that made it a little more original than other movies of this type, but it wasn't enough for it to surpass them or anything.
Anyway, I guess 32 is better than what my hubby will be in 2 weeks! (He's 9 years older than me, heheh)

A Wubbzy Halloween DVD Giveaway!

Monica over at Peapod Squad Stuff is giving away a "Wubbzy Goes Boo!" Halloween DVD!

"Wubbzy and his friends are back in an all-new DVD collection just in time for the fall season! Watch as Wubbzy, Widget and Walden clean up a crazy mess with Moo Moo’s magic wand, pick the perfect pumpkin and create the spookiest Halloween costume of all. There’s singing, dancing, trick or treating and kickity-kick ball too, plus plenty of positive values like creativity, patience and responsibility. It’s all here in the Emmy-winning Nick Jr./Noggin hit that’s so much fun it’s scary!"

All you have to do to enter is click on the link above and leave a comment, and of course there are details on how to get extra entries. There's also a trailer on her blog in case you want to actually see what it's like or in case you've never heard of Wubbzy. Ava has loved it since they started coming on Noggin a few years ago. We even had a Wubbzy cake when she turned 2. Below is a picture of my kinda sad attempt, but I guess I did pretty good for a first time.

Reminder: Check 'Em!

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month(reason for the new background). It strikes 1 in 8 women! I've two aunts that had it. One is still alive after more than 20 years! She had a double mastectomy and it even metastasized to her trachea and chest wall. So, I know I should probably consider getting a mammogram next gyn visit even though I'm no where near 40 (although I will be getting closer on Tuesday). But I do check mine regularly, and that's one key to early detection which is the best chance of survival. About 6 days after your period, here's what to look for:

• swelling of all or part of the breast
  
• skin irritation or dimpling
  
• breast pain
  
• nipple pain or the nipple turning inward
  
• redness, scaliness, or thickening of the nipple or breast skin
  
• a nipple discharge other than breast milk
  
• a lump in the underarm area

You just really need to get to know 'em, to know when something has changed. You can help spread the word by "going pink" on your blog. Another great site I found to aid in your self-check is http://www.checkyourboobies.org/. (Hopefully I won't get too many weirdos putting that word on here).

Remind all the women you know to check 'em!