What's in a name?

Currently Best Baby Name Book In The Whole World By Bruce Lansky see related

When Wendy's is too Expensive, Something is Wrong...

[Disclaimer: This is a long post with no pictures, I know... I'm sorry.]

As any pregnant woman can tell you, something that sounds good the day before (or even that morning) will, most likely, not sound appetizing by dinner time.  So, I had pork chops marinating for Monday night's dinner, but by the time I got home, I was not in the mood.  Of course, pork chops, in our home, mean that Michael is doing the "cooking" on the grill... but I'd still have to fix something to go with it, etc.  Michael has been wondering helping me cook when I don't feel like it and everything, so I can't really complain about it too much.  Anyway, he didn't know about the pork chops and suggested Arby's for dinner.  Yes!  That sounded wonderful!  (Side note: at this point, I don't have a lot of cravings, but everything sounds good upon mentioning... it may last two-seconds... but whatever it is, I want it NOW!)  Anyway, yes... Arby's, NOW PLEASE!  By the time we got ready it was also starting to get a bit dark (freakin' time change, you make me soooooo angry), so we missed out on our daily walk as well.  We decided we'd eat Arby's then go walk the mall to get our exercise.

Upon reaching the freeway, we realized that getting to the only convenient Arby's was going to prove too difficult at that time of day.  No big deal, whatever Michael chose would be fine... like I said, whatever gets mentioned usually sounds pretty darn good to me.  We ended up driving to the Arlington Highlands and pulling into a Wendy's.  Yay, cheap and easy!  Or ... so we thought.  Preston was excited, he proclaimed that "Wendy's is my favorite restaurant in the whole, wide universe!"  Um... ok, kid, whatever you say. 

Now, I have been to Wendy's lately, I usually just order a baked potato and nuggets or something totally simple like that - cheap too.  But when we walked in and looked at their menu, their combos were like $7.  What?  At Wendy's?  Home of the value meal or whatever?  Outrageous!  We left.  Preston was upset, 'cause he had his heart set on it, but by golly... that's too much for fast food... specifically Wendy's (sorry, Preston, it's not the best restaurant in the whole, wide universe!).  We decided if we were going to have to spend that much on food, it might as well be GREAT!  We crossed the parking lot to McAllister's Deli and had a DELICIOUS meal for the same price as we would have spent at Wendy's.  What is this world coming to when Wendy's is too expensive for the average, American family?  I mean... really?

Anyway, we had a nice dinner at McAllister's, which helped everyone get un-grumped from the Wendy's fiasco, traffic, the day, etc.  Then we decided to walk around Arlington Highlands and just window shop.  It was a really nice nite, about 70 degrees or so maybe.  The place was already decked out in holiday decor, lights, signs, etc.  We decided that had the weather been just a smidge brisker, the "shopping" could have been a little more festive.  And unfortunately there was some really rank trash in the dumpster or somewhere that was seriously taking over the entire area with funk... so.bad.so.bad.so.bad!  We stopped into Kirkland's Home 'cause there were lots of sale signs and the place look fun, we'd never been in there.  The three of us were nearly giddy over the holiday stuff in there... it was pretty ridiculous.  Haha.  I actually ended up purchasing a set of Halloween candle holders, 'cause one of 'em was a bat design... and since one of the holders was broken, the set was only $1.  Score!  After that, we walked around for a bit, just enjoying each other's company. 

Then Michael wondered outloud if any of the stores would sell guitar strings... and I remembered there being a music store all the way on the other side.  So we booked it over there and thankfully they were open (it wasn't late, but since it was dark and the FREAKIN' time change, it felt a lot later than it was).  Michael went in to get new guitar strings and Preston and I went to check out a brand new Texas store that had just recently opened.  This place was pretty amazing.  Texas themed everything, plus any Texas sports team you can think of... they've got stuff from 'em (t-shirts, coffee cups, playing cards, hats... you name it).  I was excited because for the past few weeks I have been hunting high and low for Texas postcards.  I used to could find them in simple places like gas stations and Walgreens, but not so much lately.  Found the jackpot at this store though, woo hoo 35cent postcards of all shapes, sizes and designs.  I bought a giant stack... hello, Postcrossing, did you miss me?!?!  The three employees of the store all went ga-ga over Preston, asking him questions and showing him things... it was so funny.  "His eyes are so blue, so pretty!"  "He speaks so clear, how old is he?"  Then there were all amazed that he was not even 4 and could hold such a conversation with them.  Haha, that's my boy, impressing people wherever he goes.  Anyway, that store was great, I hope it lasts... at least I know where to score postcards now, yay!

After that, we had to trek all the way across the area again to get back to the car... but I just really enjoyed that time of being out with my family... everyone in a good mood....unhurried, no particular goal in mind, just doing whatever.  We spent a few bucks, but mostly just had a lot of fun (and walking exercise!) with each other.  I love and treasure those moments with my boys!

Daylight Is Coming (and Mom update)...

Last Friday was absolutely bonkers for me at work.  We had three bands (Abandon, Fireflight and Remedy Drive) come in for live on-air interviews within a span of three hours.  Needless to say, that's a lot for anyone.  It all ended up going pretty well... even the interview with Fireflight after they had JUST gotten into a car accident on the way over and were pretty shaken up.  My favorite, though, was Remedy Drive.  Honestly, the interview sucked... they were awesome, I was the one who was really lame.  But afterwards they stuck around and chatted with us (well, the two out of the four fellas that came anyway), and they were so sweet.  I met them previously and geeked out all over them about how I had had their CD in my car for months straight and just loved every single song on the album, Daylight Is Coming.  Well, yeah... I kinda geeked out again... couldn't help it.  I know most of you have heard me rave about the band and their songs over the past here... heck, I've posted two or three (more?) of their entire songs here for you guys to read 'cause they just impacted me so much.  I never really fully explained why, though.  I don't think.

Basically, I saw them open for Nevertheless and The Afters last December (Live @ Mokah) and was really impressed with their live show (they are all over the place, the lead singer does crazy flips and dives off his piano).  I took their album home and fell even more in love with them with each new song I heard.  Not only the sound, but the lyrics were so full of hope and light.  It wouldn't be long after that that we found out about my mom's breast cancer.  I remember driving in the car and listening to the CD as I had been all that time, but each song hitting me in a completely different way.  God totally spoke through those songs of hope directly into my heart, saying "Jade, seriously... hello!  Daylight is coming!  There is hope!" and it really helped to give me peace with the situation and put it in God's hands and know that it was going to be ok.  A few months later, I was feeling really dry spiritually.  We had been out of church for a while and it was wearing on me, I felt somewhat distant from God at the time.  Another one of their songs, that I heard a million times by now, completely hit me in a new way... and again God spoke directly into my heart.  I was asked to church by a friend and started going pretty regularly and started hearing the messages I needed to hear on a regular basis.  So yeah, that album and that band means a whole lot to me - so I told 'em so and it was awesome!

Some of you have asked what the latest with my mom is... well, she had some scans recently done to see if the chemo/radiation/surgery had done it's job.  They told her at the place that the scans looked good, but they told her that last time and we all know they weren't good at all.  So, this morning to be exact, my mom came to pick up Preston and handed me a letter and told me to read it.  She looked pretty serious so I was nervous.  It was from the radiology place or wherever she got the scan done and the first line said something to the affect of: A spot was found, but it probably benign (non-cancerous)... please see your doctor, blah blah blah.  Whoa.  Another spot?  Here we go again?!?!?  I looked up from the paper and said, "So... there's another spot now?"  And she kinda lightened up a little and said, "Well, that's what I thought it meant too."  She then went on to say that she called the place, they told her they couldn't tell her anything, she had to call the doc.  At this point she was freaking out 'cause it was all happening again. So, she called the doc and they explained to her that the stupid radiology place just sends out a form letter like that, the only spot they saw was the place where they had previously cut out the cancer and radiated it... not a NEW spot at all.  WHEW!  Why in the HECK would they send out a horribly scary form letter like that to people in my mom's position... NOT COOL AT ALL.  Gave us all quite a scare.  Anyway, my mom goes next week to see her oncologist and talk about the scans and everything, so she'll have a better idea then what the actual news is, but apparently it looks good as of now.  Sigh.  Praise Jesus, the daylight IS coming!

Currently Daylight is Coming By Remedy Drive see related

Halloween 2009

Preston and I got up on Saturday morning and went to Michael's... they were doing a Halloween session for kids.  Preston got to make a ghost out of molding clay and a spider web frame thingee... plus he got a candy bucket, some candy and a balloon.  He had a lot of fun doing that.  Then we ran some errands. 

That evening we went to the church I've been going to, Grace Fellowship Church's, trunk or treat. 

Preston dressed as a "tool man," but people kept saying he looked like "Bob the Builder."  Preston's never seen that show so he had no idea what they were talking about.  After that trunk or treat, we went to Shreek at the Creek (The Church on Rush Creek's fall fest) and had a great time playing games and scoring tons of chocolate!  Michael even won some brownies at the cake walk.  Woo hoo!  It's a good thing it only took us two rounds to win, 'cause I fully intended to play as long as it took to bring home a cake.  Haha!  We had a great Halloween.

Unfortunately Sunday was not as fun.  It started out ok... Preston and I went to Target to get some discounted Halloween candy/stuff, then to church.  After church I remembered I needed to pick up some milk at the store... that's where it got bad.  Preston threw a hysterical fit in the middle of the store because I told him not to put the basket around his neck.  Seriously?  Yeah.  I had to snatch him up, grab the milk and get outta there ASAP.  From then on out, everything threw him into a fit... he talked back, he didn't obey and he refused to nap.  Just one naughty thing after another.  That evening we took a walk (had to strap him in the jogging stroller to get him to comply) and he FINALLY fell asleep.  After his little nap, he was a little better, but it didn't last long.  I dunno if it was the time change, getting off schedule or the excitement of the previous day... or what.  Just another one of those "terrible three" days.  They haven't been nearly as bad or as often lately, so I'm definitely grateful for that... but Sunday was rough... especially after having such a great day on Saturday.  Whew.

Bebe #2 Update...

Had the "big" ultrasound yesterday, and... we are still having a "Little Brother."  At first the tech was like, "Really?  They told you boy?  'Cause I'm not seeing that....    no wait, ok, yeah... definitely a boy!"  Haha.  Made me a little nervous there for a minute.  I'm pretty much already set on boy mode.  Sure, we want a girl too... so, maybe next time!

Anyway, the tech checked on every little bit and part of the baby, measured, notated, etc.  Everything is pretty much right on track.  She pushed my due date back just a few days, so we're still due the first week of March, that's cool.  Baby is healthy and active.  I'm defitely feeling that myself... he has periods of being very active in there, so I know things are cool. 

Still mulling over names.  Preston loves to play the game "let's think of a name for our baby!"... we just start throwing out some of the most ridiculous things we can think of.  "Picture Hanger," "Book Head," and "Preston James Clark II" are some of his favorites.  He wants us to call our kids 1 & 2.

Other than that, things are good on the baby front.  We are still heavily looking for Michael another job (as in a different one or one in addition to the current one), so that I might be able to stay home with the kiddos at some point.  But, so far... no luck.  We've had several good leads lately, hoping... praying... something turns up soon.