Our family grows

This week has been such a blessing for both Glenn and I. We've gained between us, three new siblings, 4 nephews and 2 nieces. It's like our family doubled. I never asked Glenn's mom, but my money is on my mom being more excited about my find. Teehee

Last weekend, Glenn's sister, June called and said she was meeting with Glenn's paternal aunt. June was extremely nervous. Turns out she stressed unnecessarily. They ended up talking for 7 hours. WOW!!! Even I can't talk that long LOL. The best part of her conversation was a confirmation that there were indeed 2 more Hazlett children out there. Holly and Jason. From what I hear, June came home and searched out Holly. They connected and the next morning, June called. By Wednesday night they were all on facebook together talking and laughing. Holly has two boys and a girl. Holly even shares a birthday with Cameron. June has been on a non-stop high since Monday night. How exciting for her. She is most happy that she has a sister. I guess growing up as the only girl will do that to you!

June's connection inspired me to make one more stab at finding someone I had always wanted to connect with. My mom had a baby when she was 16 and was forced by her mother to give the baby up for adoption. I had heard stories through the years and despite having heard that the baby wanted nothing to do with my mother, I had always hoped that if we had a chance to connect, she would not turn me away. I talked to my mom on Friday and was able to fix a few of the facts I had wrong. She did not grow up in NY, it was MD. Big difference!!! I paid for a few people searches and finally with a slight change to the last name I FOUND HER!!!! I mustered up what little nerve I had, took my shaking body to the phone and prayed that she would not hang up on me. I am absolutely thrilled to say that she did not and even knew about me. Unfortunately, she always wanted a brother and knew about my brother. She even remembered his name. Unfortunately meaning that he passed away 24 years ago so she will never have a chance to meet him. She lives 3 hours from me and despite growing up in Maryland she is a STEELERS FAN!!! How awesome is that?!?!? I am no longer the big sister. I have one of my own now. We talked for almost 2 hours and she even wants to connect with my mom. Mom said it's the best Thanksgiving present she ever had. I called Paula and told her. As she is 3 years younger than me, I did not know if she remembered hearing about Tammy. She did and cried when I told her everything I knew. Paula did not have 1/2 the facts I did (even though some of mine were wrong). So she was never able to even attempt a search despite wanting to. She wants to fly up here sometime and meet Tammy. I'm so excited that I want to get in a car and go see her. I figure if I can drive 3 hours to Disney on countless occasions, I can drive 3 hours to see my sister, who is the GREATEST dream come true in my opinion. Tammy works retail and I don't work so the meeting time is in her hands. Tammy has 2 boys and a girl and knows what it's like to freeze her patootie off in an ice rink like me. Her daughter does figure skating and my son is an ice hockey player. She was born in the same hospital as me. She joined the marines, I joined the Navy. So much to learn. I look forward to learning so much about her and having many experiences with her in the future. Tammy has an awesome family and a set of twin sisters who are my age. I am so grateful that she has a wonderful loving family who raised her with enough love to be open to more people who have always loved her, too.

I wish everyone out there the blessings that God has bestowed upon my household this season. God bless all my friends and family. Enjoy your Christmas season and remember the reason for the season. In my house we say Christmas because Christ is in it. Oh...and it's Cameron's birthday. LOL

A playdate

I'm finally turning a corner. As I've mentioned it the past, it's quite lonely and depressing being a stay at home mom in a state where the only people I know are my husband's family. Don't get me wrong. I love my husband's family for the most part and absolutely adore his aunt who I consider to be a good and faithful friend. I can tell her anything and she does not judge me nor does she tell my secrets.

However, making actual friends my own age who are not connected through my husband's friends or family has been difficult. Two weeks ago, Cameron and I attended a school field trip to Chuck E. Cheese....don't judge me, it was a family link event that is really meant to be a social networking group for homeschool parents. Not exactly a school field trip. I met three other moms there who all have young daughters. Lisa, Jodi and Tara. Tara and I bonded over our love of Glenn Beck. I gave them each my email address and told them to contact me. I am so excited that both Tara and Lisa have contacted me to plan playdates. My first one is scheduled for Thursday morning at Chick Fil A. Are you sensing a theme here? Food and playgrounds! We discovered that we are both addicted to CFA's sweet tea. Yummy. The only place with better sweet tea is Sonny's in the south and we have already discovered there is one in Charlotte so we'll be eating there over our Christmas vacation. Yes, Glenn and I actually sat down and researched the nearest locations of our favorite restaurants. Charlotte has Sonny's, Jason's Deli and the Everblades on 12/26. It's gonna be just like being in Florida again. Yippee ki yo ki ya. Yeah I know I spelled it wrong, but I don't know how to spell it, just how to say it. LOL

Back to my point. I am absolutely excited, like a kid on Christmas Eve that I have made a friend.

The week after Thanksgiving, Lisa has planned a playdate at Chuck E Cheese again. I'm looking forward to it and I'm sure Cam will really enjoy playing the games again. He realizes that these playdates are more about mommy than him, but he said he'd be glad to spend time with the little girls so Mommy could spend time with the big girls. Isn't he sweet?

Happy Thanksgiving

It's been quite a week here at Casa Hazlett. Glenn finally got his stitches out on Monday. Yeah, I know I never posted pics but, seriously, did you really want to see it? I thought not! The wound has healed for the most part. There is still a small gap at the end of the incision nearest to his fingers. He has some residual nerve damage. The doctor said there is no way to determine when the full feeling will come back, if ever! As we all know, Glenn does nothing halfway. He is still too nervous to close his fist as he's scared it will force the incision open and his thumb could take some time to heal. The doctor said that she has seen stitches in fingernails. Yikes!!! I'll pass thank you very much. His indigestion is narrowed down to esophageal spasms. The Pepcid prescribed in September did not help at all. The doctor said we can do one of two things, put Glenn on Calcium channel blockers which could affect his heart and cause a rise (I think that's what she said) in his blood pressure or control it with diet. Since he only has a problem when he eats high starch items such as white rice and bagels, we are opting to control it with diet.

Cameron had his annual physical today and it went, well....as expected. He vehemently assured me that no way, no how, was the doctor going to check his package. By the time we made it to the doctor, undressed, redressed for the bathroom and undressed again, he consented to a full 5 second window and told the doctor to make those 5 seconds count. And did she ever. He had to get two shots which, despite having to endure a daily shot, he did not want at all. I had finally decided to get him a seasonal flu shot, but they were plum out...oh darn! I know, get to the good stuff. Cam grew a 1/4" That doesn't sound like much, but when you tell your child to get dressed and he comes out in highwaters because everything is too short, that 1/4" is a lot. That represents 2 3/4" since Christmas. We won't talk about the 23lbs. The doctor was excited to hear that he is back in hockey. I had made stick time on Wednesdays a provisional reward based on school performance but she asked me to skip the provisional and put him to work on the belly. We discussed his interest in everyone else's business, talking back and he showed her his propensity for discussing guns and violence. We decided to put him on a chore/behavioral chart and make tv/game time his reward for completing his chores and showing appropriate behavior. I am a bit concerned about his eyes. His right eye seemed to do well on the chart, but when using the left, he barely got through the first line (1/2 way down the chart) and proclaimed that his right eye saw better and just quit. I'm making him an appointment for an exam and found I can get him glasses at a reasonable price at Wal-Mart.

I've been thinking about what I'm grateful for in my life at this time of year.
1. My Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. I am grateful that no matter what I do, I can ask his forgiveness and try to do better and he takes away my sin and I always get a second chance.
2. The fact that my children, husband and I am reasonably healthy with no life threatening illnesses.
3. My family near and far. I may not be emotionally close to all of our relatives, but I'm grateful that at one time or another they were part of my life.
4. I live in a free country that allows me to express my belief in my Lord and write these things for my friends and family to see.
5. Facebook because it has allowed me to reconnect with many friends from my youth and I am grateful that most if not all of them hold the same values that I do. I guess it's true when they say "look at your friends and see your future." My friends from my youth and predominantly all conservative Christians. I am happy that I chose my friends wisely even when I was still a young teen.

There are more, but, I'm tired after about 6 hours sleep and a 105 mile round trip to the doctor's office today.

What I am fearful about is...our country. The more I read and hear about what is going on, the more fearful I become for my family and our future. I was discussing healthcare reform and other issues with our doctor yesterday and she agreed that we are in need of a revolution.

But, here is something that I've not heard anyone express concern about or at least not in these terms...the Fort Hood shooter is condemned nationally by the general public for his actions. But, if you listen to our President, he does not express outrage at the shooter, he seems only to question "who knew and when." I agree that those facts are important and changes need to be made, but...the shooter is the person who is ultimately responsible for his actions and the terroristic act he committed on American soil. Our soldiers and their families should feel safe on a well-guarded base on American soil. I don't consider the shooter's ability to get on base a breach of the guards defenses. He had valid I.D. and was supposed to be on base. I don't fear a non-military terrorist's ability to get on base as I don't think they could. This president and his administration spends too much time trying to condemn and prosecute the police and military and not nearly enough time placing that condemnation where it belongs...on the criminals. Our country is falling down around our ears and we can only change it in one way VOTE!!! Follow your congressman/woman's votes over the next year and vote out the liberal voters. Vote for someone who is committed to preserve our Constitution. Vote for someone who is committed to curb spending. My son is 10 and already owes the Federal Gov't over $340,000. I told him that today and his eyes got huge and he asked if that mean that he'd make less than he should when he starts to work? I told him I don't know how it will work out, but by time he starts to work, we may be a communist country under China's rule, since they keep buying all our debt. I then went on to explain how communist rulers control every aspect of a persons life. He seem to get scared so I had to end the conversation. 10 years old is too young to worry about those things. On the other hand, I'm trying to make Kelly understand what is going on and how it will affect her. I try to choose things such as abortion and guns because those are values that she holds deep in her heart. She intends to buy a gun and she is violently anti-abortion. She does not allow me to get too deep into politics and I think she is the one who should really open her ears and eyes as to what is going on since she will be voting in 2010. She is under the impression that Florida would never allow anti-gun laws. Oh the naivete of youth! Remember when you thought the world was run by little fairies leading you over the rainbow to the Leprechaun and his pot of gold? Yeah...me neither.

I am taking this time to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving. May you spend your time with all those who you love most. I will be with my husband, children and my husband's family.

St. Clair Hospital...my other home

In the past 4 months, Glenn and I have jointly visited the ER 4 times. That averages out to once a month. Let me assure you, it's not me. It's Glenn!!! In June, he had shingles, in September his heart and today....he sliced his hand.

I really try to have sympathy for him. Honestly, I do. Today he decided that he did not like the bug deflector on the new truck he got because it made the truck look like it belonged to an old man. Hello, you are an old man! He was using his olfa knife to slice through the double stick tape and decided that maybe he'd see how it felt if the knife slid over and sliced through his backhand and thumbnail.

I was driving home from the grocery store and got a call "honey, I'm headed to the ER." Not the call any wife likes to hear and I really hate to hear it. I feel like I'm developing a personal relationship with the ER staff.

Glenn was wheeled into the back because he almost fainted and was so woozy from the loss of blood and having glimpsed the wound that he almost lost his appetite. I say almost because by time the NP had given him 11 stitches, his appetite was back. Unfortunately, our original date night plans of ribs or burgers had to be altered. We needed to find a meal that only needed one hand. Eureka! Olive Garden!

So date night was back on and he managed to down two plates of salad, several breadsticks, an entree of fettucine alfredo w/grilled chicken and a piece of lemon cake. I wonder what he could have eaten had he not felt slightly nauseous from his ordeal?

So, now we are home resting only slightly comfortably before we have to rise early tomorrow morning so he can direct me on how to clean boat bottoms. Do I look excited? I assure you not. But, I love my husband and don't want to lose out on our vacation that these boats are paying for.

Tomorrow, I will upload a pic of the wound that has my husband incapacitated as if he were just back from war and in need of a full time nurse.