CORRECTION

In my previous post I made a SERIOUS mistake.  I had a sentence that read "I am not Miss Calvert..."
It should have read "I am NOW Miss Calvert."  I just needed to make sure that was clear.  :)

Updates

It has been a long time since I last blogged.  But it has been so so so busy.  Now I am going to do a quick update.  Hopefully I will blogging about some of the things more in depth later (with pictures).  Hopefully I don't leave anything out.

First thing... DISNEY...  I surprised the boys Dec. 16 when I picked the boys up early from school.  They had no idea where we were going... just that I had their bags packed and we were on the road.  We got to the airport and to the gate and they knew.  Well they thought they knew.  :)  They only knew they were going to Florida. 

We got to Florida and Aunt Leslie picked us up.  The boys were so excited.  She took us back to her AMAZING new condo in Tampa where we stayed with her.  Friday we went to the dog beach and St. Pete beach.  It was cold but the boys still swam in the ocean.  Wait this is supposed to be the brief synopsis.  Here it goes.  Leslie and I surprised the boys later telling them we were taking them to Disney.  So on Saturday off we went, to Disney.  Even Diesel got to go!  He got to go to Disney's Doggie Daycare.  We had an amazing time.  I am so glad I was able to take the boys to Disney World.  Truly a magical place.

Christmas was great.  We got to see all of the family.  Aunt Windi and Family, Aunt Leslie, Granny Hallie, Aunt Angie and Family, Aunt Faye and Family, Nanny, Ma, Ninny, Uncle James, Dad, Uncle Brendan and Granny Mary.  No -- not all in one day, but over all and we all had a GREAT Christmas. 

My Biggest NEWS!!!!  I am not Miss Calvert.  Not Ms. -- but Miss.  I can now say I was NEVER married.  My annulment was finalized on Monday Jan 13.  I can't tell you how I feel about that.  Now I can move forward.  Only looking forward and no looking back.  That chapter of my life is finished.  I never have to deal with any of it again.  There were people that did some really terrible things during that time.  They will never see or understand what they have done or that what they did was wrong.  And that is ok.  I will never let what they did to me or my children keep us from being the best we can be.  In order to truly move forward I have to forgive them.  I can't say its completely done because it is a process and takes time.  But I can say that I am now on that boat and working towards that.  I have let go of the anger, moving toward forgiveness.

Jonah and Cameron are on an indoor soccer team together.  That is going really well.  We are having so much fun with it.  Cameron had never played a day in his life (and indoor soccer does not practice) until his first indoor soccer game.  It has been a lot of fun watching.  Jonah is doing really well.  He is definitely best at defense and I think he enjoys it the most. 

I think I forgot to mention we got a puppy!  The day before Thanksgiving.  We got a puppy for the boys.  He was SUPPOSED to be a Christmas present for the boys.  But really he was my Christmas present.  He is a full blooded Golden Retriever and his name is Rush.  He is so great.  I love him with all of my heart (well the part not already taken by my boys, Pierre and his boys!).  He is only three months old (almost 4) and he knows how to sit, to go to his crate and is pretty much house broken!!!  He even knows he's not allowed to chew shoes.  We leave them out and he doesn't touch them.  Now to teach him not to eat EVERYTHING else in sight.  :)  He is beautiful. 

Ok thats a big enough update for now.  I will blog more details and pictures later.

Happy New Year.

Amanda

thirty, boobs, pores, pimples and wrinkles

I remember when I thought thirty was old. It wasn't that long ago. Ummm... 4 months ago. :) Seriously, I remember growing up how old thirty seemed. Then I turned thirty and realized I was still young. Really young. Especially compared to millions of others that are over thirty! But then today I started noticing something. Then something else. Then something else. It just kept going!

I looked in the mirror today while I was putting on my necklace and realize, in horror!!! that I have GRANNY BOOBS! They are like my ex-mother-in-laws!!! I have WRINKLES above my cleavage! And they sag. They have sagged for a while. But the wrinkles above my cleavage. That is just wrong. Just wrong. Finished looking in the mirror.

Then in my car on my way into work I was looking in my mirror to get something out of my eye. And there they were! Just there. Huge! Just there. My pores. MY PORES WERE ENORMOUS. Never in my life have they been big. I have never even noticed my pores before. But here they were just starring me down. I couldn't even get away from them. Thank GOD I could just close that mirror up.

I get to my office and sit at my desk. I start stretching a little and rub my face from exhaustion. What was that??? I felt a bump on my face. It was a pimple! What is up with THAT??!! I never had pimples when I was young. Pimples are a teenager thing. I am NOT a teenager. Why the heck am I getting pimples at thirty?!

I am really thirty now. Literally, physically and almost mentally. Now its time to move on. I hear it only gets worse.

random

Just a few random notes I wanted to mention.

Both of the boys got all A's and one B on their interim report. This is a big deal because they have never gotten "letter" grades before. It has always been O and S and I was afraid they wouldn't do as well. I was wrong. So wrong. I am so proud of them.

I asked my wonderful significant other to please make me breakfast Sunday morning while I was getting the boys ready for sports. All I wanted was some instant oatmeal. He made me bacon and eggs. I love him. :)

I dressed the youngest boy in a turtle neck yesterday to go to the soccer game. It was almost 90 degrees outside! Opps.

We spent 54 dollars on pumpkins, and 110 dollars on lunch at Hubers. I hope they loved us. :) We loved the experience. We had a great time. Thank you mom for lunch and for being there with us!

I was driving home and an ambulance was coming through a red light with sirens and lights going. THREE -- yes THREE cars went through the intersection without stopping. It was scary. How can people be so distracted to not see or hear that. A very scary thing.

Cameron is so excited he is going on his field trip on Wednesday and told me he was even more excited because he would be at our house Wednesday night and could tell me all about it. It made me feel so good.

Can't thank Mary enough for being a GREAT role model as a stepmom. I could not have asked for better.

I hate having to take my pictures from my camera and put them on Pierre's computer and then on to mine. It takes forever. I wish I had an SD card reader on my computer.

I discovered Firehouse Subs and fell in love!

Thats all of the randomness for tonite. Goodnight all.

Amanda

The Reds and the Museum

This past month we went to the Reds vs. Cubs game (Reds won!! woohoo!!) and then to the museum. I added a few pics below.

We have also been very busy with sports. A couple pics of Jonah at soccer and then a link to Noah's football pictures. He is number 32. The one in green socks! Btw - he is now on the starting offense team. He is so excited.

Ok so the pics didnt work out. Here is the link to see them online.

http://www.facebook.com/p.php?i=536501129&k=53CYY6VY3T6G6BDAPEWUUSTRP6BAWXXDT3IU&oid=1291090016877

And the link to Noah's football. He is number 32 and the only one in GREEN socks :)

http://www.snapfish.com/earthlink/shareethumbnailshare/AlbumID=3038128017/albumcount=1/p=898181284867356693/l=6694874017/g=7250867/cobrandOid=1000111/COBRAND_NAME=earthlink/campaignName=ShareeNewReg_30FreePrints_2010Feb/otsc=SYE/otsi=SANR/first_visit=true/pns/earthlink/share/p=898181284867356693/l=6694874017/g=7250867/cobrandOid=1000111/COBRAND_NAME=earthlink/campaignName=ShareeNewReg_30FreePrints_2010Feb/otsc=SYE/otsi=SANR

frustrated today

Today I am frustrated. I am frustrated for so many reasons. I don't want to make all of my frustrations public. I just want to say that I am frustrated.

Today I am going to face my frustrations and move on. Not hold on to them and not ignore them. Two things I typically do. But not today. I have too many important things to hold on to and many things I am ignoring LOL. It will be a long day and one that I don't want to repeat, but it will be a day that I will think about the next time I am frustrated.

We have so many choices in our lives. There are so many times that we make bad choices. We can't change those choices, but we can try to fix, overcome or let go of them -- or hold on to and/or ignore them (in my opinion another bad choice). So today, I am going to make a good choice. I am going to deal with, let go of and move on from my frustration.

I am taking a deep breath, crossing my fingers and saying a short prayer.

Tomorrow will be a better day.

Amanda

win, win and NO show.

This will be short.

This weekend Noah's team won their football game and Jonah's soccer team won their game. Can't be happier for them both. Will have pics soon.

Today the ex was a no show at our court hearing. It figures. And it was pretty much confirmed he is no longer at his job at Banfield. How not surprising is that? I am so glad to be out of that situation. Can't wait for all of this to be over.

process of a five year old

Why would a doctor in their right mind prescribe CHEWABLE amoxicillin to a five-year-old??!! First of all - liquid amoxicillin is EVERY child's favorite medicine. They would drink it like a milkshake if they could. Not to mention a five-year-old is just not ready for the chewables if they don't taste like candy.

So Aiden, five year old, is prescribed chewable amoxicillin. He is not thrilled. Not at all. But the GREAT kid he is, how developed a process to take these pills. Of course, it is a process and it takes time. LOTS of it. And patience. LOTS of it. And he has to do it three times a day for 10 days. HUGE sigh. But he takes his pill. I can't complain.

How to give a five-year-old a chewable pill.

The set up:

1. He must be sitting on the countertop. Can't do it standing up or sitting anywhere else. 2. He must have a drink. What drink depends on what time of day and what day. He will let you know. 3. He must have a food to eat, two of that food. It must be something that sticks in his teeth and nothing sweet. Chips or gold fish often work, even in the morning. He may change his mind in the middle of the process so be prepared. 4. Set each item (drink, food and pill) on the counter next to him. He will arrange in the correct order, three or four times, himself.

The process:

1. He takes a drink. He may decide he needs a different drink at this point. Get a new drink or move to next step. 2. He takes a bite of his first piece of food. The smallest first. 3. He needs one more sip now. 4. Now he will eat the rest of his first piece of food. 5. He puts the pill in his mouth and chews while grabbing for his cup. 6. Takes a sip while shivering, shaking, squenching his eyes and turning red. 7. Now he shoves his second piece of food in his mouth, while still shaking, squenching and turning more red. 8. Swallows. 9. Takes one more drink. 10. Flies off the counter, down the hall and into full play mode in one full swoop.

This process usually takes about 15 minutes. During the 15 minutes, I could be showering, cleaning, sleeping or doing anything other than standing there monitoring the process. But at least he takes his medicine. It could be worse.

Amanda

First Week - FINISHED

Its Friday. So the first week is not totally over yet, but I have a minute to blog and I need to blog so here it goes.

This was a big first week. This was the first week we were totally in the house with Pierre and his boys. (we were there most of the time last week, but still kinda in between houses). This was the first week of school for all of the boys. This was the first week of going to a new school for my boys and this was my first week back to work since my surgery (only took a week off, but still!)

I want to give all of the details - but I want to start with last weekend. The end of the move. So the plan was that I would have surgery on Tuesday and Pierre would take care of all of the moving. I was a nervous wreck about this and he wouldn't let me have my back up plans. He said he had it taken care of. He can be majorly stubborn sometimes. So all is going well. I am recovering, Pierre is handling the kids, sports, school orientations and the move. Mary helped with school building tours on Wednesday and helped me with packing and cleaning on Friday. Then Saturday Pierre did some more moving big stuff all by himself. Then on Sunday the PLAN was mom was coming up to help clean and take the trampoline down. WELL.... it didn't go as planned. Pierre came down with a NASTY GI virus. Running a temperature, shivering and puking. So it was pretty much up to mom and I. Luckily, Dad had taken the boys for most of the day so I didn't have to worry about them as much. Pierre came down around 5 pm to help move the washer and dryer (that we don't need) and Scott Martz came to our rescue to help Pierre get them loaded. Thank you Scott!!!

Mom stayed until almost midnight and I was there until around 2 am finishing cleaning. THEN I realized the first day of school was Monday and we didn't have milk for breakfast. And did we have anything for lunches??? Who knew because I had been recovering and moving I didn't know what we had. So I had to make a 2am Kroger run. But it all got done. I got home around 3am.

Day 1: Then up at 6am to get Corbin up and ready for school. His bus came at 645. Then Noah up at 630 - his bus comes at 730a. Then Jonah, Cameron and Aiden up at 730, their bus comes at 830a. Breakfasts all made, lunches made, backpacks together, new school shoes on, and everyone out the door. Pierre took Aiden to school and then back to bed for the both of us. Until Pierre's Dr. appt. :) The rest of the day was resting for both of us. Then at 245 the kids start piling in until the last ones at 4:15. Then his boys went with their mom.

So day 2: Pierre still sick, now Aiden is sick too. Got all the boys off to school (except Corbin and he left from his moms). Then me into work. Pierre takes Aiden to Dr. He has strepth! UGGHHH! Then its home, and off to take Noah to football. Then I realize Jonah has worn the same outfit to school as he wore yesterday. I was so embarrassed but he could have cared less.

Day 3: Pierre goes to work, I work from home so I can stay with Aiden. Pierre and I switch cars... That starts a rolling set of issues. Pierre forgot to take his phone so we couldn't communicate at all, I had to figure out where and when to drop Aiden off to school because he was feeling better and not running a fever - and I left my tom tom in my car. Then that evening was football and soccer. Football helmet, cleats and water bottles were in my car. It was such a mess. But it all got figured out. Pierre decided we were never trading cars again. :)

Day 4: I don't even remember anything about this day. It must have gone well. :)

Day 5: Pierre's ex said that we could have the boys to take them to dinner with us. So we all went to the China Buffet (a tradition for every other Friday with Pierre and his boys). I am glad I didn't have to see that bill :). Then she was even nicer and let me take Cameron to see the Reds vs. Cubs game with just me and Jonah. We had AMAZING seats. Section 113, Row G. We saw the Reds hit THREE home runs. Oh it was so much fun. Cameron and Jonah had a ball. We had Chills (the frozen treat) and cotton candy. But that night was also the start to my strep throat.

Day 6: Pierre's kids were at their moms. I had strep throat and Jonah had an all day soccer tournament. Not to mention that Pierre's foot is killing him. We did it all and Saturday night we both crashed.

Day 7: Then sunday - more Jonah soccer and Noah's football. Pierre did it all. I was so sick.

To finish the story it is now Wednesday. On Monday I stayed home sick, and so did Aiden and Cameron. All three of us with strep throat. We had two dr. appts, a stop at my office and off to get prescriptions. It was a long exhausting day. Then I had to take Noah to football.

On Tuesday I was feeling better. But stayed home because Jonah had his court date to officially change his name! He is now officially Jonah Allen Calvert. I am so so so happy!!!

Today was my post-op dr. appt. Everything checked out fine. Even my liver that they were concerned about. We are all feeling better today and back to school and work, off to football and soccer.

This weekend is going to be crazy and hectic, all of the kids - Friday is family game night, Saturday we are off to moms to swim, then to the drive-in (his boys have never been to one), then sunday is my family reunion and then we are going to the fireworks. Such a full weekend. I can't wait. :)

the good, the bad and the scary!

It all happened on a Friday night in August. Ok so it was last night :) but it started out sounding good. I had the most wonderful evening last night. I think I was happier than I have ever been.

The GOOD:

Yesterday we went and registered my boys for school. It had been worrying me so much cuz it was so last minute. But now its done and it feels so good. Last night my boys met his boys for the first time. It was wonderful. They got along so well and they had so much fun. It was so fun to see them all together. It was like they had known each other for years - except they all got along! :)

The BAD:

Last night in the midst of my wonderful evening, I received a voicemail from my Doctor. I don't think I blogged about this before - but when I went for my follow up appointment Tuesday (for my ulcers) he felt that it wasn't my ulcers causing me all of my pain. He felt I had Gall Stones. So Wednesday I went in for an ultrasound. So back to my voicemail. He said I have Gall Stones and I have to have my Gall bladder removed. Worst timing ever - with move comping up. But Pierre said not to worry he would take care of it all and me. I love him so much. He is so absolutely amazing.

The SCARY:

It just really sank in that we will have FIVE boys. FIVE BOYS! What in the world am I going to do with FIVE BOYS?!!! It was our first night with them all last night and we "forgot" one twice. LOL. for just a sec of course - so now we are going to have to count. I realize there are people out there in this world that plan for five kids, or more and look at octomom - but for us.... its FIVE BOYS. *huge sigh* It will be fun. Maybe a little hairy at times and definitely scary. :)

Last night was the happiest night in my life. I love him so much and I love all of the boys. Now we are on our way to go fishing. I am in heaven.

bragging rights?

I don't like to brag, but today I am going to brag. I am so proud of both of my boys. They are both super smart, WAY handsome (imho) and they are both doing GREAT in sports.

Jonah made the ELITE soccer team this year. He had to try out and he made the team. For him that was a HUGE deal. To his momma that was a huge deal. He has gone through summer soccer camp and is now onto regular practice. He seems to be learning alot and enjoying himself. He looks so great out on the field.

What I really wanted to brag about today though is Noah. Noah is playing football again this year. This is year two for him. Last year he barely got any playing time in the games. Especially after he almost made a touchdown for the other team! :) He didn't put a lot of effort into it and didn't really try. He enjoyed himself - but he just didn't know nearly enough about the game.

I was a little concerned shoveling out over $200 for him to play this year if he was going to do the same thing. But I did it because I thought it would give him a chance to meet and make new friends before he started at a new school. So to me, that alone was worth it.

Before practices started, his coaches asked the parents to have the boys start conditioning. The first day was horrendous. There was threatening, begging, promising and crying (and that was just me, he was worse!) We had several talks about pushing yourself and yatta yatta. I found out on his fourth practice that he sat out during the entire practiced on the third day. I was very upset and frustrated. This time I had had it. So we sat down did a lot of talking and lecturing. I made sure that I have been at every practice at least part of it so he can't just sit out. BUT.... the other day he was scrimmaging with his team and he was in the game. He messed up and had to sit out the rest of the game. On the way home we were talking about it and he said that it was ok because he learned from it. That he was going to improve on his game and not make that mistake again. That was on Wednesday. On Thursday, we pulled into the parking lot and this was our conversation:

Noah: I don't really want to go to practice today but I am going.
Me: Yes you will be going Noah. You have to if you want to play in the game Sunday
Noah: I know Mom. I don't really want to go today cuz I don't feel good, but I want to give my 110% and push myself so I can play. Everytime I come to practice I am learning something new. Sometimes about the game and sometimes about me.
Me: (holding back the tears) Noah you are such a great kid and you make me so proud when I hear you say things like that. I love you so much.
Noah: love you too mom - gotta get to practice I am already late.
Me: LOL - getting going and show them what you are made of!

I was so so so proud of him. Maybe all of my talking was actually getting through to him! I left to take Jonah to soccer practice. And I went to buy Noah an UnderArmor shirt to reward him. When I got to Noah's practice they were scrimmaging against another team. Noah was in the game. I watched him and he tackled his kid each time and didn't let his kid go. When we got finished I was asking him how it went. He was so excited and so proud. He said he played in the entire scrimmage and is pretty sure he earned his spot in the starting line up for both offense and defense! He was so proud. I am so proud. He kept talking about what it was like pushing himself and that it made him feel good. What a great kid.

I am so proud of you Noah!

Love,
your mom.

almost ahhhhhh...

I am not going into lots of details with this but I just needed to say its almost over. All of my crazy running around, and all of my waiting games are almost over (well except for the annulment).

Right now, while I am still in between moving, I am traveling an hour each way to football and soccer practices 4 nights a week and on two nights they both practice and their fields are 15 min apart. So much fun. That is almost over. Almost over. Almost over. Ahhhhhh... Well they will still have the same practices but I won't be doing the commute anymore. Ahhhh...

Then I got more good news tonite that took a TON of weight off my shoulders. I can't even tell you how much. But it did. so Ahhhh... to that too! :)

So with all of that, my life has been a wreck for the past 7 years and the last two years I have been working really hard to straighten things out. It's all starting to come together. It really is. :)

Ahhhh........ I can breathe a little better tonite. :)

Tough Decisions

So how crazy is it that I have been trying to get annulment for a year (moved out for two years) and in order to borrow money against my retirement I have to have his signature? But thats not even the worst kicker part of it. I need the money to pay my attorney to finish the annulment. AND the marriage isn't even legal. So what the heck? But it is what it is (a phrase I have come to despise).

Now what do I do? I have been thinking a lot about this. I don't have a lot of options. He already owes me a ton of money (almost 10k) and now he won't sign for me to get the loan so I can pay an attorney. And you know mommy and daddy are paying for his. But me, a single mom raising two kids with NO child support has to pay out of pocket for an attorney and he won't even sign a darn paper so I can do that. I hate him. So much. I never use the word hate because I think it is over used, it is way too powerful of a word for almost everything. But this time I truly mean it. I think it is wrong to hate a person... and I need to forgive. But for right now this is how it is. One day when things are said and done I will forgive and no longer hate. But right now... Its hate. He still has control over my life and my money. How does that work.

I'm trying to come up with a way to raise the money and raise it fast. I can't come up with much. The one thing I feel I could do now that I know I could raise more than enough money for is to go public with my story. For those that know me - you understand why that is true. I have already had conversations with a network about it. I don't want to do this because it exposes me. Big time. I don't want to do this because it exposes my boys. Big time. And believe it or not - I didn't want to do it because I know it would expose him too. Big time. Even worse than me. Even to a criminal point. I don't want to ruin his life. I just want mine back. That is all. But he won't let me.

Tuesday I have an appointment to talk with the network again (I guess I am using the right terminology for that) to determine what all it will entail. I am so nervous about all of this. But I don't really see any other way. And I need my life back for me and the kids. And the money they are talking about upfront will REALLY help me and the boys out. The money that could come from it after would probably set us for life. UGGGHH. I don't know what to do. I don't know what to do. I don't know what to do.

I don't want to tell the boys about him right now. I don't. I wanted to wait until they were older. But I believe I am going to have to tell them. I have an appt with a psychologist next week to help me figure out how to do that. Then give me some referrals for them to see someone. He doesn't understand that not only did he do so much damage to me, but to my kids too. I hate him.

Why does he insist on backing me into a wall like this? Why? I just want my life back. He has taken away some of my most precious years of my life. I just want to move on. If anyone knows him that reads this please ask him to let me move on.

Amanda

Numerous Ulcers

So this is an update to my last blog. Its going to be quick and dirty. My pain got bad. I couldn't take it bad. So I broke down and called the Doctor. I called my OBGYN's office because she is with a group of different types of Doctors and went to see an internalist in her office. I go to Quality Queen City Physicians in Hyde Park. She and the office were absolutely amazing. I would more than recommend her to anyone and she has only been my doctor for a week :)

Anyway - I had a scope on monday of my stomach and leading to it. The report came back and I have numerous ulcers. UGGGHH! Couldn't have anything to do with all of the stress I am under with this damn annulment and attorneys. So now its Nexium everyday and a BLAND BLAND BLAND diet. I have lost another 8 lbs in one week. So at least that is a good thing :)

So going to the Doctor this time was good.

No Doctors Please

I don't particularly believe in Doctors. Wait... I should restate that. I don't particularly believe in GOOD doctors. Other than my kids pediatricians. :)

So for the past year I have had some really bad stomach issues. It started out really bad early summer last year. I couldn't really eat anything for like three weeks (maybe thats why I lost weight so easily last year!) It didn't really get better, I just got used to it. Dealt with it. I didn't even know how to describe the pain so how was I going to go to the doctor and tell them what was wrong. So I dealt with it.

Well it has been getting worse lately. It used to be after I ate anything. I would have horrible pains, pains that caused headaches and I would want to cry. Now I am just so used to it - it really doesn't phase me. But now things are changing. Now I feel like this before I eat - when its time that I eat. I get horrible, horrible pains and need to eat. I feel so much better after I eat, but then about 30 min later I get the pains again. But now they are so bad I puke. I puke everything I eat and then I feel better again. Until I get hungry again. It's a horrible cycle.

If you know much about me you know I HATE puking. I absolutely hate it. I cry every time I puke. Its AWFUL. But for the last two weeks I have been puking at least once a day, sometimes three or four. I think the worst part is that I have to shower (or feel I need to) after each time. Does not go so well at work. And I am sure my water bill is going to be outrageous.

I have been doing research on this. I can't find anything. Well, I take that back. I have. I have found several blogs where people talk about the same symptoms (except theirs usually have missing periods or it right around the same time) and I don't have that issue. I am as regular as they get and it happens everyday all of the time. But either way they have no clue what it is. Before anyone says - you're pregnant. I want to tell you I am not. First of all it couldn't happen because I have the ten year BC and he has been snipped :) but also I've not missed periods and it has been happening for the last year.

It almost sounds like gallbladder problems. But my pain is not isolated on my left side. I don't know. I am really just dumbfounded. I guess thats why I am writing this. It's not so bad that it is disabling me. But maybe thats just me. I have always been that way. I just try to ignore it and figure it will go away until its really bad. I can tolerate a lot of pain when I am stubborn about it. So is it not disabling because I am stubborn? Or is it just nothing. I guess if it is really something wrong it will get disabling. For now, I will just work on getting used to it.

Police: Woman Posing As Boy Charged In Sex Case - Cincinnati News Story

Hmmm..... People should just be honest about who they are and let people make their own decisions on who they want to be with. Its ok if you want to change your gender - don't hide it from someone you are intimate with.

Woman allegedly poses as boy, solicits sex from Springboro teen

http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/dayton-news/woman-allegedly-poses-as-boy-solicits-sex-from-springboro-teen-798952.html

Noah's Audition

On June 25th Noah auditioned to sing at the WesternSouthern Tennis Open. Although I don't believe he made it, I do believe he did a fabulous job. I am a very proud momma. :)

Either way here is his video for you to watch. I have only listened to it 100 times already (on the views - it only counts my computer once - I promise they aren't all me!! LOL.

Hope you enjoy!

link is wwww.westernsouthern.com/castingcall if the video below does not work. He is number 11.

Kids - Too funny

I just had to post this today. Sometimes my kids just amaze me.

Recently I have been really missing the fact that my kids don't say the cute, laugh your butt off funny, innocent things anymore because they are older. Especially because I was around my niece for a week and she was too cute and said so many really cute, laugh your butt off, completely innocent things.

Well - today- Noah reminded me that he still says those things, but its a completely different laugh, because its at a completely different level. I laugh so hard because he is WAY too smart for his own good.

When little kids say things that you are thinking "you are way too smart for your own good" they really don't understand what they are saying... they are mimicking basically what they have heard somewhere else. But at Noah's age he knows what he is saying. And that makes it even funnier on a more complicated level. LOL. Or maybe its just me.

So on with the funny story... While I am work I allow the boys to communicate with me through Yahoo messenger. They just started this two days ago (today is day 3). They are only allowed to communicate with me (soon Leslie when she asks to be added :)!!). This is the conversation Noah and I had.... it was too funny.

amandalynnodom
i love you!
jonahnoahcalvert
love you to
amandalynnodom
when you say too in replace of "also" you should spell it with two "o's" like too. when you say to with one "o" it means you are going somewhere like "I am going to the store" or you could say "give this to him" thats how you use the word to with one "o". do you see the difference?
jonahnoahcalvert
oh yeah but its yahoo grammer is useless on yahoo
amandalynnodom
I am laughing so hard at you. you are way too smart Noah! I love you!
jonahnoahcalvert
love you too
amandalynnodom
:)

I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

Amanda

Life Update June 2010

For those of you who like to have updates I am posting this. For those of you who like my stories that one is next.

I would like to point out that the only reason I have the time to post this is because I am working our conference. I have been tasked with making sure the powerpoint is running properly. No really I am tasked with making sure the AV students run the powerpoint properly. Which is ridiculous because I have no clue what I am doing and they totally know everything :). But hey I have time to catch up. All day. Just sitting behind the big screen with all of the buttons and computers like the wizard in wizard of oz. Fun, fun FUN! :)

So with the boys? Some of you have not heard from me in a long time and if it weren't for the fact that my name has not been reported in the obituaries you would have thought I had kicked the bucket. Gosh, that's a crude way of saying it. But - I said it. what's been up with me? What's been up with the boys? What has been up???

Well, I haven't kicked the bucket. I am not ignoring any of you. I am not hiding out. I PROMISE. I have really been busy. If I remember correctly this happened to me last year at the same time, but I think this year is 10 times worst. Honestly. I think mathematically I could prove it.

So in short - Jonah had his first reconciliation, first communion received his scapular, gave his first oral report, turned another year older (8), rode his first big roller coaster, made the ELITE soccer team and finished the second grade. Noah, ok I am not going to list all of his trouble he has gotten into, was there with his brother through all of his first stuff, got pinched by a crawfish he caught while camping, ate the crawfish after I boiled it, has signed up for football again, is competing in a national singing contest, rode the diamond back at kings island, wrote his first story, became an expert in Pandora, learned how to cook ramen noodles and finished the third grade. I have tried to keep up with all of this, coordinated the pine wood derby cars, Jesus day bags and first communion bannerAND assisted on putting on two conferences. I don't think I have had an unscheduled weekend since the before my vegas trip in February. Honestly. I think my weekends are scheduled until sometime in July.

Currently the boys are out of town for three weeks. One week so I can work my butt off (well work long hours writing my blog!) during this conference, then two weeks because their favorite aunt in Louisiana is going to be in town with their favorite niece and nephew. We have so much planned already for that trip. But don't worry. While they are gone I won't get any me time. I started out without them Saturday and that was jammed packed with me and Pierre celebrating my birthday month. Yes, we were celebrating my birthday MONTH. Ok so maybe that is me time, but I mean - just relax me time. Then Sunday I worked all day at conference center getting set up. Now the conference. Then this weekend is the boys going away party so - i have to figure out how to get them from Granny Hallie's to Mom's house so that she can bring them home for the party. And I have to get ready for the party. I have done NOTHING! Too damn busy! I mean darn. :)

That is the other thing I am in the middle of.... the move. Getting everything ready for that. For the boys - new school, new doctor, new dentist, new sports teams. For me, well i guess the big thing a change in the drive and learning a new area. And the worst part - the packing and moving. But I can't wait to say goodbye to price hill. I will so miss all of my friends that I so adore, but the neighborhood I will not miss.

I have some pictures to add, hope you enjoy!

pitty, strength and encouragement

Last night, in the middle of pure exhaustion and a long drive to Fairfield, I had time to think. I didn't really want to be thinking. But it happened.

I have been whining this week about everything going on this week. I shouldn't be whining. It's my job. It's only going to last a week. Not my attitude last night. Then I started thinking. When I whine, why do I do it? What is the point? What do I think or want to get out of it?

Whining brings you down. You dwell on the negative. Whining brings the person you are whining to down. Gives them a negative focus on you. Whining seems so counterproductive. Why in the hell am I doing it?

I hate pitty. HATE it. There have been some things that have happened in my life, that it would have helped to talk to people about, but I didn't. I didn't because I was so worried people would pitty me. I don't want pitty. I don't want someone to feel sorry for me. It makes me feel even worse. It makes me feel uncomfortable. It makes me embarrassed. It makes me cry. Don't pitty me!

Because of that, I truly believe that the reason I whine has nothing to do with wanting pitty. So again, why do I whine?

I don't like *fixers*. I don't like when I whine, for someone to try to fix it all for me. I know what I have to do. I am just whining to get it off my chest. I am just whining. Don't try to fix my problems for me. There is just sometimes that life sucks and you just have to get through it and not fix it. If I wanted to know how to fix it - I would ask you. When I whine - I am not asking how to fix it. I am whining! I am not trying to knock the *fixers* out there, because I know they are just doing it because they are trying to help and I think that is so nice and wonderful and really sweet of them. But for me - IT DRIVES ME BONKERS!

At this point I am realizing that maybe I just described why I whine - just to whine, just to get it off my chest. Maybe, my real question should be, how do I want people to respond when I whine?

***side thought*** God, it really is scary in my head!!!

Last night I was whining to Pierre. Yes, I feel sorry for him. I felt so much better after the conversation. So - I am going to use that conversation to try to figure out how I wanted him to respond. I know you are excited now! I already know I would NOT want him to pitty me. I would NOT want him to *fix* it for me. I have always said that I JUST want someone to listen. I still believe that. ESPECIALLY when I complain, gripe, whine or bitch. I am just saying it. I just have to get it out. (the whole point of a blog for me, so I can complain, gripe, whine and bitch - get it all out and not worry about pitty, *fixers* or bringing anyone else down) I think that I just want someone to acknowledge that I am feeling that way, that I am right or ok for feeling that way. Someone to just nodd and agree with me. Just LISTEN.

That is NOT what Pierre did last night. Somehow, I felt so much better after talking to him. CRAZY, CRAZY, I know! I really appreciated it last night. This won't work in every situation, MOST situations I would still just rather have someone listen. I believe the difference is that I wasn't bitching or griping. When I bitch, gripe and complain - I am just frustrated, aggravated and annoyed. I just want to say it. This week, I wasn't sure I could get through the week. It was whining. It was stress. It was pure - not sure how I am going to do this. I needed more than just listen. But still not pity or a *fix*.

He turned my negative, counter productive whining into something encouraging and positive. How does he do it, no one knows! LOL. It really takes a special person to be able to put up with me!

When I complained, when I griped, when I bitched - he listened. THEN - when I whined, when I was sure I couldn't finish the week, he told me how amazing he thought I was. How even though this week was tough, even though lots of other people were going through the same thing, I was doing it, getting my job done and surviving. He was so encouraging. He built me up. Everything I was worried about, he reminded me that I could do it. He offered his help (not that I took him up on it, but it was sweet). Maybe offering help is sort of like a *fixer* but he asked what he could do for me - he didn't say "you should do this, or it might be better if you do this" stuff. He wanted to help me do what I knew I needed to get done, if I needed his help.

He couldn't be there for me to lean on, to rub my feet, to rub my shoulders, to take over with the boys. But his words of encouragement really lifted me up and gave e the strength to keep my butt going.

So I was writing this blog this morning during my conference. I didn't get finished so I am finishing tonite. During the day I found out that even though I declined his offer to help - he took his lunch break and went to the grocery and picked me up toilet paper, bread, milk and lunchables so I would have to make the boys lunch tonite. He did my dishes and left me roses on the table. Amazing. Not the purpose of this blog but I had to add it.

So I was really going to finish all of my thoughts in this blog but I am so out of the mood now. Well at least it kept me busy during the conference, sitting at the AV table supervising the people that knew what to do way more than I did.