Dear Kristi ~

I miss you like crazy today.  I had a little conversation with you in the bathroom the other day ... I hope you heard me.  I think you did.  I want to tell you so much.  I want you to know how amazing all of your nieces and nephews are turning out.  They're getting so smart and so big.  I want to tell you all about our world and the crazy things that are going on around here.  I want you to see my wrinkles and my gray hair.  I want you to know of the adventures we've had since you've been gone ... some of them were inspired by you.  I want to tell you everything ... and then I am reminded that you already know.   

Hang tight little sister 

and thanks for watching over us.  

I love you.

 

Kristi Lee McKinnon

8/14/1969 - 4/27/2005

Happy Easter!

This is lovely ... enjoy.

Good Morning!

I got to drive to the airport this morning at 4:00 a.m!  I thought I'd be the only one on the road at that hour, but I was not.  There were plenty of other sleepy drivers making their way over to Sky Harbor.  I wonder if they were driving without shoes on, like me.  It was too early for shoes. 

When I got home, this little guy made us some oatmeal.  

He cares about my heart.  

I heart him.

When we got done, I poured bleach down my kitchen sinks in an effort to make my whole house smell clean.  I think it's working.  Great lazy trick!  Now the real trick will be trying to stay awake until bedtime.  The magical regimen of hormonal ingredients hasn't quite kicked in yet. 

Do you have any lazy tricks we could all use?
Do you drive without shoes?
Do you eat oatmeal?

Happy Birthday little Jakey ~

I think it's super funny that the State of Arizona says
these two can drive in 7 months.  

Super funny.

 What a handsome little devil you are!

HAVE YOUR BEST DAY EVER!

Silly Facebook

I'm not a real fan of Facebook.  I signed up so that I could keep track of what my kids were saying/doing.  I go weeks without even looking at it.  But now, I might be changing my mind.  I received this beautifully written message on my Facebook thingy ... not really sure how it got there ... that's how much I know about this craze.  Please read about how angelic this literary scholar thinks I am ... and know that I did not respond ... nor "poke" him. 

Hello
how are you doing ?I am Mark Payton, i came across your profile i really love what i saw in it, you seemed to me like an angel that makes the cool morning sunrise and I believe that One of the best ways to convey exactly how you feel about someone is through words,word is a powerful weapon that cuts across every good or bad mind. and am taking time to appreciate you and your picture I will like to get close to your heart and as friend first ,love to read from you quick or you can add me to your list markpayton1960@yahoo.com Hope to hear from you soon. 

Do you do Facebook?  Have you experienced any crazies?  

"HORMONE-eous" living ...

So I'm trying something new.  Although I have a split decision from the medical field on whether or not I have Lupus, I just don't feel good.  I WANT TO FEEL GOOD!  I have never been one who sits around waiting to be healed.  I believe that we have so many resources that have been handed to us during these high-tech medicine times, and if we don't take advantage of them ... it's our own fault that we don't feel well!

For example, at one point in my life, my face hurt.  I mean, my face REALLY hurt.  I experienced what has been best described by other patients as "lightening bolts shooting down my face".  Seriously.  This crummy situation was misdiagnosed by 6 ... SIX different doctors until I was finally correctly diagnosed with Trigeminal Neuralgia.  Long story short, I had a craniotomy with microvascular decompression (they cut through my scull, wrapped some shredded teflon around my trigeminal nerves and adhered my fractured skull with a titanium plate) ... and I was healed!  Never an ounce of that lightening bolt pain since the moment I woke up from surgery back in 2004ish.  Now what if I hadn't continued to search for an answer?  Well, I can tell you that there are numerous documented statistics that reveal a dastardly nickname for other Trigeminal Neuralgia patients ... they call it The Suicide Disease.  It would have been very hard to live life with that kind of tremendous chronic pain, and I am very grateful that we found answers for my universe.

So I'm on the hunt again ... to find answers.  In the process, I've found a doctor that is putting me on a regimen of vitamins, minerals and natural hormones.  I'm taking more little pills now than I've ever taken in my life ... but they're good pills ... none of them are synthetic ... some might call them happy pills (but not that kind).  Here is my daily dose of this new trial run ...

Thyroid
Vitamin D
DHEA
Probiotic
Fish Oil
CoQ10
Multi Vitamin
Progesterone
Estrogen
Niacin
Testosterone (I'm a little nervous about this one ... a hairy chest immediately comes to mind.)
Iodoral
Glucosamine Chondroitin

Apparently these are all super important, and apparently I was SEVERELY lacking in every department.  Which shocks me because I always eat right and exercise (ha ha NOT).

So this is my new thing.  I'm gradually beginning the process and I'll keep you posted on the effects.  I took the Niacin last night for the first time, and it was a rush!  Seriously, I got a weird rushy feeling ... which I was warned about.  But when I read about the positive effects of this little pill, it made me happy to swallow it.

Here's the deal.  I'm getting old.  I know that, and for the most part, I accept that.  But I will be doing all that I can do to be able to enjoy my life, enjoy my grandkids (nope, no big announcement) and to live!  I hope that this natural process will be the answer for me.  But let me tell you, it can't make me feel any worse!  I'm excited!

How about you?  Do you take at least a Vitamin each day? 

Leavin' ... on a jet plane.

I booked four airline tickets tonight ...

for a big event that is taking place at the end of this month.  

You might say it's an event of a lifetime! 

Any guesses?

Nah, you'd never guess this one.

We're flying to Arkansas (ya'll) to witness Gary as he baptizes his Mom, and welcomes her into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints!  It's kind of a miracle that has been many years in the making.  I still can't believe it.  She's so excited to have finally found what she has been searching for, and we're thrilled to be able to experience this new found happiness with her.  This incredible woman just added a whole new dimension to our family.

What a gift to be given this Easter season.  

Congratulations Freda!  You Mormon, you!

Girlfriends

Everyone should have girlfriends (unless you are a married man) that they have lunch with, giggle with, and are comfortable enough with to stand under the rump of a horse for a photo with.  Thanks for the day ladies!

Do you have girlfriends?

Fatherly advice ~

Every day, my sweet father-in-law takes the long walk (across the street) to our house.  He brings treats for our dogs ... and they love him for it.  He grew up as a feisty boy from Jersey, but he's turned into quite a softy.
 

Yesterday, after he was finished with the dogs, we sat out on our front porch for a nice visit.  He looked lovingly down at my bare feet and said "I don't like the color of your toenail polish ... it makes your toes look sick.  You should get a red or pink." 

I love a man who encourages a fresh pedicure.  

And I think he was right ... they do look sick!