Rah, Rah, Root Canal!

Yay for me! I get to have a root canal! How 'bout that, ya'll?

Please excuse the false enthusiasm. I am very nervous about this. Scared even. When the dentist said the words, "Root canal," I truly almost burst into tears and had to work to control myself. But he patted my shoulder and said that everything would be fine. I haven't been doing myself any favors with the research I've done on the Internet. After seeing all kinds of tubes and extractors and other things, I'm figuring out why ignorance truly is bliss. Some things, especially those that have to be stuck into my teeth to suck out ("drain," as the dental assistant explained) my tooth nerve, just don't need to be seen by those who don't need to know better, namely me.

I've given birth. Three times. Each time with an epidural. And I'm terrified, to the point of bursting into tears, of a little root canal. After having a super-long needle shoved into my spinal cord, and then pushing a baby from my body into the world, I really shouldn't be afraid of much. But I really, really, really am. A lot. Really.

My appointment is for next Tuesday. So in the meantime, I have to deal with the pain. I can only use Tylenol and Advil to ease the pain. The dentist didn't give me something stronger. Vicadin would have been nice. Heck, how about some Stadol? :o) But they said that I would have to wait it out and if I was still hurting on Friday (why wouldn't I be?) to call and they'd call something in for me. I called my friend, who is a nurse practicioner for a cardiologist, said that was stupid, that if I need something for the pain, I should get it. So BW called them back for me while I was at work tonight and the dental assistant said she'd have to have the Dr. review my case and then call me back. But no one ever called back. And the Tylenol and Advil aren't doing a whole heck of a lot at this point.

So, sorry to moan and groan to all of you. This really is going to be a temporary trial. I'm still scared, though, so does anyone have a champion root canal story for me? Or even one you can make up just to make me feel better? And please say prayers for my pain? Thanks. I love all of you!

A Job and A Tooth

I am not going to take the supervisor's position (see post entitled, "Decision Required!").

I would be away from home a lot more, and the pay wouldn't compensate for the amount of $ BW and I would have to spend on childcare. And I'm not looking at making retail my career, after all.

This weekend at the ladies' retreat for church, two of Eliza's Sunday School teachers came up to me at seperately and said, "Chicken Nugget really doesn't like you working. She's worried about you taking this new job and has been asking us to pray for you in class."

That was enough for me to more than question my uneasiness at taking the promotion; I knew for sure my uneasiness had manifested itself for a reason. My decision was made, and I feel a real peace about it. Thanks for your prayers as I was struggling with the decision.

On to other news:
One day a month or so ago, while brushing and flossing, I noticed that I had dislodged something a bit larger than usual. It also seemed like something a bit harder than your typical strawberry seed or miniscule piece of lettuce. Upon closer examination, I realized that it was, in fact, a part of my tooth! And that I now had a big hole right up the middle of my tooth. It wasn't hurting, but I knew this couldn't be a good thing to happen to my tooth. I also knew there was no way I could afford a trip to the dentist until income tax refunds came in. (The last time, the kindly dentist wanted $300 right then and there, and we HAVE insurance! So we're changing dentists . . . )

Over the weekend, my tooth started to hurt. On Saturday, it was just a dull ache. Yesterday, it became a throbbing pain. Now it is as if someone is shoving a white-hot poker up into my tooth socket, and I'm desperate. BW and I have spent all morning trying to get our "main provider" switched form Mr. $300 Dentist to the new office we've chosen, and we've been waiting for a fax to arrive from our insurance to the new dentist. I may be able to get in in the morning; if not, it will probably be Wed. I'm having a rare moment now, as the three ibuprofuen I've taken have just kicked in, as well as the Anbesol I've been slathering all over my tooth and gums.

So I'll leave you with that, before that invisible poker returns again. Please pray for a clear mind as I care for poor Noodle and Banana as I walk around in mind-numbing pain!

Much love to all of you.

Thirty Four and Looking for More!

Buffalo Wings. My husband. His birthday was Friday. It started out to be a good day, with fun presents and birthday wishes, but by the end of the day, our television had blown up due to a power surge and a brown-out, and our computer was messed up and we didn't know if we could fix it.
But BW was cheered up after calling the electric company and being directed to the claims department. It appears that our TV won't be a total loss after all. So he was cheered some. Oh, and he was able to get the computer up and running (yay for surge protectors!). So this is why it has taken me so long to get his "Happy Birthday" blog on here.
Here is a picture of BW with Jarvis. It was taken months ago, and really has nothing to do with his birthday, but I thought it was a cute picture. Don't you also think it's cute?
We celebrated BW's birthday last night. This is because I went on our church's annual Women's Retreat on Friday night and got home yesterday afternoon. Before you think that I am a bad wife, BW and I discussed this several weeks ago and he said it would not make him feel bad if I went on the retreat, even though it fell on his birthday.

Last night, BW and I and another couple from church went out to eat and to see Freedom Writers. We had a great time and BW was pleased with his birthday celebration and gifts. He got some crossword and sudoku puzzle books, as well as some Cubs baseball cards! And money. Always the money for the birthday!

BW is not crazy about big parties or lots of attention, so a surprise party has never been an option. He's fond of quiet celebrations with close friends and family. He probably would have been happy to just have some sort of celebration with just the kids and me, but I thought he needed something more special than that. He is, after all, an awfully special guy!
Through all the strains and stresses of getting married and becoming an "instant family," BW still says he'd do nothing differently. I ask him sometimes - does he missing having his life all to himself - and he says most assuredly, no. He loves having a wife and kids. He loves being around us and sharing his life with us, that he is fulfilled and happy. I sometimes feel that by just being me, I am especially a strain and stress on his life, but he tells me he loves me anyway.
And he surely loves his kids! He is such a good dad, and I know how blessed I am to be married to a man that truly wants to involve himself in his children's lives. It drives me crazy when, if I am out somewhere alone, someone will ask me if BW is "babysitting." I say, no, he's their father. He is spending time with his kids. And he doesn't see it as a burden, but a joy. It's hard for me to understand that not all dads operate like this. I'm so thankful to God for this man who is the father of my children. I'm so blessed by this man, who works hard and truly concerns himself most with the welfare of his family, putting us and our needs before his.
So, you see, it was BW's birthday. But I feel like I'm the one getting all the gifts.

According to Noodle . . .

. . . I am a princess!

The scene:
Banana and I are playing on the floor. I am tickling him and we are both hooting and laughing. Noodle, frustrated, gets down from her chair where she is sitting at the kitchen table. She approaches us, holds her hand up, sighs, and says, "You need to be quiet. I have to color."

In mock sorrow, I hang my head and lay it on her shoulder. Shaking my head, I say, "I'm so sorry, Noodle!"

She rubs my head and says, "It's OK! You're a princess."

So all is forgiven.

Bragging Rights

My little second-grader Chicken Nugget! As if I don't brag on her enough, and she really does deserve it, but I'm gonna do some more! Chicken Nugget was recently honored at a school assembly in which she was presented with the following certificates:
One for Honor Roll for making all A's in the third six weeks of school
One for Good Conduct
One for being a member of the B.U.G.S. Club - Bringing Up Grades Successfully
And here's what she brought home today:
Upon completion of a reading assesment test which all the students had to take, we were sent these results:
Her grade equivalent score shows that "[Chicken Nugget] reads at a level equal to that of a typical fourth grader in the first month of the school year."
Her percentil Rank shows that she "reads at a level greater than 93% of other students nationally in the same grade."
Her instructional reading level score shows that she "is at least 80% proficient at reading third grade words and books."
Wow! Was I ever impressed. Chicken Nugget does love to read. She's into the Ramona series right now, which she got for Christmas. If she's not persuasion enough for me to read to Noodle and Banana, I don't know what is. I've read to that kid since she exited the womb, and many of my friends read to her anytime they came to visit. My parents also read to her from the time she was itty-bitty. It makes a difference! During our winter in Iowa before Scott and I married, CN and I didn't have a TV, so we'd lay at night in the futon and read the Narnia Chronicles and the Laura Ingalls Wilder, Little House series. So, read to your kids! And read to other people's kids! Thanks to all of you who helped me with CN when I was on my own. I'm so proud of her, and so thankful to all of you who helped make her the wonderful little girl she is.
As I still tell her at night when I tuck her in:
"I'm so glad God gave you to me."
Congratulations, Chicken Nugget! We are so proud of your hard work and achievements.

Decision Required!

I really like my job. I really, really like it. Especially now that the holidays are over. We have such a great team that works there, and as one of my co-workers commented a couple of days ago, "We really are like a family."

And we are. We've walked through premature birth and eventual loss of a co-worker's baby; she's one of our supervisors and was out for several weeks, and was missed and prayed for, and we were so happy to have her back. We are walking through the process of a dying grandfather with another co-worker and supervisor. We walked through a time of health problems and surgery with our manager. We walk through our kids' illnesses together, and we know we really mean it when ask about one another's families.

And I meet great people who stand on the other side of the check-out counter or who ask for help purchasing a certain type of clothing for this event or that occasion. I get to hear about reunions and cruises and families and anything you could possibly imagine. And since the description of what I would consider to be a perfect job would go something like, "Go into a room full of 100 people, and from the hours of 8am-5pm, find out everything you can about each one of them," the job I have is really great!

So, on a relational level, I like my job a lot. Not that I want retail to be my career or that I even have it in mind for any kind of long-term plan, still I like it.

And I like to work. I like to be set to a task and put all I can into it to make it great. I like to make the store look nice. I like to collect the trash and clothes hangers at the end of the day. I like to be given instructions for a specific projet. In general, I am happy as a clam being a grunt. I have no problem being told what to accomplish and exactly what is expected of me when it comes to a job situation. I have no desire to be in a leadership role in that kind of situation.

So that's why I was very surprised when yesterday, my manager offered me a supervisor's position! And I'm really struggling with the decision of whether to take it. It would mean more money, but there's also the problem of transportation and childcare. I would work three mornings a week. We have only one car and no one to keep the kids. It would also mean more responsiblity, which I can handle, but then there's always with that the potential to really screw somthing up. I shared with my manager yesterday that that is my greatest fear when it comes to thinking of being a supervisor.

Also, I really want to get my teacher's license. Not that I can't do the job and get my certification at the same time, but I also don't want to commit to a leadership position if I really have no intention of staying with the company. However, I don' t know how long it will take me to get certified, and it could be that in that lenght of time, the extra money could be helpful.

Will you pray with me as I make this decision? Also, please offer any insight for me here. I pretty much know that anyone who reads this is going to be a dear friend who knows me and understands my heart pretty well, so I trust all of your input. I have to let my manager know by the end of next week.

I love you all!

It Wasn't Really Meant For Him . . .

. . . but I guess if Banana likes the dollhouse that much, he's welcome to play with it!
As things were calming down for the evening (or so I thought!), BW ran into the den saying, "Tari! Get the camera!" I went into the living only to see my son climbing onto the second floor of the Barbie house that the girls got for Christmas.
Please note that not only are these pictures comical, they illustrate how small Banana is for being 15 months old (he's in the fifth percentile for height and weight).

I LOVE IKEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For those of you fortunate enough to have an Ikea store near your home, I hope that you take advantage of it! If you don't, then that will be one of our first stops when you come to visit us (as all of you reading this are going to do . . . )!

We all went on Saturday. Houston has a HUGE Ikea, and it is awesome!!!! We had never been, though I lived near one during my time in San Francisco, and lots of my friends went there and got cool stuff for their homes and dorm rooms. It was BW's idea to go, since we're in the market for a bunk bed for the girls.

But we found oh, so much more than just bunk beds and cool furniture. I am telling you, Ikea is an adventure. An experience!

Chicken Nugget got to go play at the provided daycare area (! I know !) while BW, Banana, Noodle, and I went shopping (the kids have to be fully potty-trained to go to the daycare). The daycare looked so cool, I wanted to go and play too! But I couldn't. So I just shopped. :o)

The first thing we saw was the grocery area. Since it is a Swedish-based company, they sell lots of Swedish food that was familiar to us, thanks to our time in Alberty City. We saw some of our VERY favorites that we had been missing, such as:







YUM!!!! The Ballerina cookies are my favorite. They're sort-of a shorbread cookie with a chocolate-hazelnut filling. Too good for words. And the Anna's cookies are such a treat. Blueberry is my favorite, but there are all kinds of flavors.

There were many other yummy treats, but we made sure to stock up on these in particular.

Then it was time to look for furniture and other things. We were so surprised that the store sprawled on and on. Anything and everything that you can imagine for a home was there! We'd go to one area, exclaim over the great stuff, only to discover that there, right over there (!) was an area we had yet to discover! And I'm telling you, the products there are outstanding! Fun, original, colorful stuff. And the furniture! And the toys! The bedding! The towels! The dishes, silverware, candles, picture frames, lamps, clocks, storage units!!!!!!!!!!! I cannot put into
words . . . you've just got to go see it for yourselves.

And the PRICES!!!! When the commercials say tiny prices, they mean it!!!!! I got a three-pack of picture frames (cool wooden ones) for $1.99; BW and I each got table lamps for $4.99 each; there were little stuffed toys for the kids for .50!!!! We got a Wok for $7.99! I can't even begin to tell you - ya'll have to just go.

All in all, it really was just such a fun experience. I know that's crazy - I'm only talking about a STORE for crying out loud! But we had so much fun together, looking at all the stuff, dreaming about what we'll do one day when we have our own home, picking out cute things for the kids (the kids furniture there is SO CUTE) . . . and at the end of it all, we went to the restaurant (YES, there's a restaurant there!!!!!) and had the GIANT and delicious cinnamon rolls!

And oh, yeah, we found a great bunk bed for the girls as well!

It Didn't Stop There . . .

I'm sorry that most of the pics of my kids are of them half-naked. But today, we've got a good excuse. We've all (with the exception of Chicken Nugget) been sick. It started with Noodle, who got sick Saturday night with a stomach bug. It migrated to Banana, and I got it just a few hours after he came down with it. Only hours after my attack, Buffalo Wings caught it, so we've just kind of been in survival mode. So when Noodle took her clothes off today (as she often does, on a daily basis), we just didn't have the strength to help her get dressed again. I did manage to help her fix her hair though . . . and get her dressed a few hours later. We are all on the mend, as in, we've all stopped throwing up. Banana is still a little puny, and we're praying that Chicken Nugget doesn't get sick at all.

This hairdo may have made him feel worse.
"Mom, why do you want me to look like a girl????"

At any rate, we're hoping life returns to normal tomorrow. BW and I have now been off work for two days, but we go back tomorrow. It's hard enough for one parent to be sick, but when they both get sick, only hours apart, well, that's really tough!

So to cheer myself up I put a scrunchie in my little boy's hair. Can you blame me?

This NEVER Happens!

But Noodle has been one sick little person. She was up all night long last night, throwing up. She's feeling some better today, but she just wandered into the living room all by herself, crawled up into this chair, and fell asleep. Several minutes after she went into the living room, and after not hearing anything from her in there, BW went to see if she was still in there and if she was ok. The above is what he found, and he said to me, "You've got to see this." It is so uncharacteristic of her. She's been very clingy all day, very mopey and sad, and it just breaks my heart. I want my jumping little monkey back! It's so hard to see her sick like this. But Noodle curled up and asleep in the big chair, does make for a cute picture. Please pray for her that she'll feel better very soon!

2006 / 2007

A little Tasty Names family update!

2006 was busy and wonderful!

January - Buffalo Wings celebrated his birthday. He's a little past the age of 22 by now. :o)
I also attended our annual women's retreat for church; it was held in Houston.

We had two birthdays in the spring - Chicken Nugget turned seven in April; Noodle had her second birthday in May. Both were fun. :o)

The summer was busy with BW working at Family Christian Stores. I was selling Pampered Chef, staying busy with that, and I continued to sing in the church choir and serve on the board of directors for Christian Women's Job Corps. BW and I celebrated our third wedding anniversary in June! The biggest summer event was my mission trip to Hattiesburg, Mississippi! It was wonderful and challenging! And my family survived with the help of good friends and a fabulous babysitter!

In the fall, BW started a new teaching job, and praise be to God, he loves it! CN entered second grade - she's so big now! CN was also playing soccer till the end of October. Also in the October, Banana had his big one-year birthday! These kids! They just don't seem to stop getting big, do they!? Also this fall, on Banana's birthday actually, we had a family reunion (my mom's side) in Houston!

We and the kids stayed busy with many church activities. I was teaching Mission Friends.

I had my 22nd birthday in November. I also started working retail that month.
Thanksgiving was fun with my family in Arkansas; I got to see lots of cousins.
Christmas was also lots of fun with my mom and dad, brother and nephew.

Banana has recently been adding to his vocbulary. So far, we have: Daddy, light, Mamma, sister, Eliza, mmm-hmm (hey, it's a word!), bones, toes, eyes, puppy, Pappa, bottle, "Daddy's at work," more (he signs this one), ear, thank you, bye-bye, uh-oh, fish, that, this, baby, hot, bath, choo-choo (when he hears the train), itsy-bitsy (sounds like "bitsy-bitsy", and is his request to sing "The Itsy-Bitsy Spider"), bite, diaper, and "whoa!".

What's going to happen in 2007? Well, there's no telling, but here are some of our well-laid plans:

-Really, really buy a house, we hope! The one I really liked, as well as the one BW really liked, went under contract before we could make a move, so we got discouraged, and then distracted. Please pray for us as we make this big decision!

-I will continue with retail while I pursue my Alternative Teaching License!

-I am going to hang up my direct-sales hats - no more Pampered Chef or Avon for me! It was fun while it lasted.

-the family will stay busy with church activities; I'll continue teaching Mission Friends.

-we'll all still have our birthdays. :o)

-we do not plan to add any children this year; this is the longest amount of time in our married life that I have gone without being pregnant. Though it's hard for me to wait for another baby, we feel that's the best way to go for the moment.

-I will continue to serve with Christian Women's Job Corps

-Banana will continue to add to his vocabulary, and we hope will grow a little taller. Noodle will keep finding things to climb onto and things to destory. CN will continue being a Top-Spot reader in her class, as well as an expert scooter-rider.

-My mom and dad will visit sometime in February.

-I'll finally finish my novel ;oP

-BW will pray for the Cubs every day and will play Halo at every possible chance, but will play John Madden Football weekly.

-We will visit the beach at Galveston at every affordable chance.

-All of you will come to visit us!!!!!!!!!

-We look forward to a trip to Iowa over the summer.

-God will continue to pour out His blessings on us and on you!

The Scooter

Chicken Nugget is now an expert scooter rider! She has really enjoyed the Razor Scooter that she got for Christmas.

It's Birthday Time Again!

It is (was) my friend's, CBB's birthday yesterday! She joined the ranks of those of us who have just turned 22*. Isn't that right, CBB???? I hope it was a happy one, and I wish I had been there to share it with you, but it was so much fun to see you over Christmas!!!! Don't forget, you promised to come to Texas and visit - wouldn't that be a great late birthday present to yourself? A trip to see the Tasty Names and discover all that the Houston area has to offer???? I love you CBB!!!! HAPPY LATE BIRTHDAY!!!!!!! I can't wait to hear all about it!!!!!!!

*22 really translates into age 30

Seeing the Light

And saying it! Among Banana's growing vocabulary, "light" is a favorite word. He not only repeats it over and over, but he wants to interact with it! Whether it's turning light switches off and on, or clicking a flashlight off and on, he is utterly fascinated with lights. Last night, when BW and I got tired of holding him so that he could turn the dining room or den light off and on, BW pulled out this flashlight. After we realized that it had occupied him very well for nearly an hour, we wondered why we hadn't thought of it before!

Outside Play Can Be Dangerous . . .

. . . so it's always best to wear the proper protective gear.

My Favorite Thing That I Got For Christmas:

That's right, baby, a whole half pound of chocolate!

Happy New Year!

As I write this post, people all around my neighborhood are popping fireworks. In fact, I've just stepped inside from watching the colorful display going on all around our house. It irritated us the first two years we lived here - that is, every family on the block (except for us) popping fireworks for every occasion that deserved it. Any upcoming celebration of any kind that might go nation-wide warrants hundreds of red fireworks stands just on Main Street alone. We noticed that they are even taking MasterCard and Visa now! Holy cow. Last year I had to put a damper on our neighbor's festivities when they lit every Black Cat in the free world right outside the kids' windows. Noodle didn't sleep for the rest of the night. I guess the kids have gotten used to it by now, too. It's coming up on thirty minutes now and it's not let up one bit. Ah, well. At least the bright side is, there's no need to go downtown for any New Year's celebration or colorful displays. I could see lots and lots of beautiful displays just standing in my very own driveway. And believe you me, these folks spare no expense. I know firsthand of neighbors who spend upwards of $400 - and I'd like to be the first to thank them! I've seen fireworks displays to rival that of my neighbors in San Francisco! I'm not kidding, ya'll, the stuff our neighborhood pulls out have got to be illegal somewhere, but not in good ol', Somewhere Near Houston, Texas! No, siree! If you don't believe me, come and spend the next holiday-warranting-fireworks, and I'll prove it to you.
Other than all that, I hope ya'll had a wonderful Christmas and have a very Happy New Year! If I can find some earplugs, I'm going to bed!

See What I Mean?

What They Will See in the Morning

The Kitchen!!!! My amazing $10 find. Outfitted by $1 items from Target. The special aprons from my favorite elves that sew, are delayed in the mail but we will enjoy them so much when they get here to complete The Kitchen!!! Can't wait to send pics of the kids wearing them. The Barbie house - was FREE - outfitted with furniture that was a steal-of-a-deal, thanks to Ebay! The flowery sleeping bag that's peeking out down in the left corner, also FREE!!!!
Stockings, baby doll for Noodle, Razor Scooter for Chicken Nugget. Also dirt cheap items.
Pup tent - $6 from work. I heart my discount. It all looks like so much loot, but I still can't believe that we spent hardly any money. I am posting these pics because I wanted ya'll to see it before it was all played with and not recognizable, especially The Kitchen (of which I am MOST proud!). Also, I'm afraid we won't see the first reactions, but will be pulled out of bed as the kids come to tell us of all they have found around the tree.
God bless you all this Christmas! I'm so thankful for the Reason that we celebrate and are able to exchange gifts to remember that first and most wonderful Gift of all, Jesus!

More Cute Pictures

Banana enjoying a chocolate Pop Tart.
At our Christmas party with Kelly and Jarvis, our other friends that were there, Mr. and Mrs. Hot Chocolate, got Noodle a cool pink chair. Noodle thought it was so cool that she put it on top of the coffee table and sat in it so that everyone could see.
Also at the Christmas party with Jarvis, Kelly, and Mr. and Mrs. Hot Chocolate, we tried to get a cute pic of the kids in front of the tree. This was one attempt.
This was another.
This would have been a very good picture, but the flash didn't go off. And Noodle wasn't looking. Oh, well.
Noodle waking up from a nap.

Noodle, happy to be awake!