Ivy LaRue is blooming

Ivy went to her first baby shower yesterday and was the Belle of the Ball. Is this not the most precious little Diva? Look at that bracelet and flower headband and those lucious cheeks!

Happy Saturday

I am glad this week is over. I battled an upper respiratory infection and missed a few days of work. I'm sure my co-workers appreciated me staying home and not spreading germs. The cough is still hanging on a little bit, but I am feeling much better and ready for my busy weekend. It starts this morning, by attending a very special Baby Shower for a friend who is due in December. My beautiful daughter and grand-daughter will be there, so I get to do some smootching on Ivy's lucious cheeks.

Stay tuned for an announcement on my next post of where I am going tomorrow. I am soooooo excited.....Can't believe I am actually getting to see and hear one of my favorite performers.....

Happy 12th Birthday Corbin!

Today is a special day...It's my Great Nephew's 12th Birthday. Corbin is so special. He gave everyone a scare after he was born. He had a heart issue but overcame it. God has great plans for him. He is so muli-talented. He plays baseball & football and works very hard at practice to be number 1. He is a hunter & a fisherman. He created the phrase "pend the night". When he first learned to talk, he would always ask his mommal & poppal (my sister & brother-in-law) if he could pend the night, meaning spend the night. He would have moved in with them if he could. He is my sister's heart....they were attached at the hip. I want to wish him the Best Birthday today. Your Great Aunt Rhonda loves you & misses you. I wish we lived closer....EAT CAKE! Just look at this handsome ball player! The girls are lining up...

This is a Star Player!! Fisherman Corbin...

Wordless Wednesday

Too precious for words.

Quack Quack

My little Abby stopped by for trick-or-treating. Isn't she the cutest little ducky you've ever seen? She has this look because she was reaching for me to pick her up and I had to take a pic first. She just got back from Disney the night before and loves her new friend, Minnie. She brought Mimi a Minnie T-shirt from DisneyWorld.
She had a tea party with Minnie. Abby loves to sit in this tiny chair.
Abby's cousins stopped by....Witch Bentley, Army guy Blake, Ducky Abby, Pirate Aric, Frankenstein Chase & Ryan. Blake & Chase are brother's. Bentley, Aric & Ryan are brother's and sister.

Happy Halloweenie!

I just love this picture of Charlotte on left & my sister, Diane on right taken last year. They are partners in crime. They work at the same place and are best buds. Aren't they the sexiest black cats you've ever seen? These lovely catlings have both battled cancer and I am so happy to say are cancer free today. Diane is my hero.....She is the wind beneath my wings.....She is the best sister a person could have. Doesn't she look like an angel? Even though there is 1,000 miles between us, we remain very close....Thank you web cam.

Princess Ivy LaRue

Little Ivy is a little doll in this dress I got her. She is already 6 weeks old and last night was her first visit to Mimi's house. I can't believe just 6 weeks ago I witnessed this little angel coming into the world and was given the gift of cutting her cord. The midwife said since I cut the cord, I will be signing her Birth Certificate. I think that is the neatest honor.

My Niece's Dream

My sister calls me yesterday, laughing hysterically to tell me about my niece Dayna's dream she had on Friday night. Remember now, Dayna is pregnant, due to have Baby "Evan" in January.
She dreamed that the baby came out looking like ME with a patch of hair on the chin. Dayna figured since she had been reading my blog before going to bed, I was on her mind. Is this not the funniest dream? Diane helped me find this photo, which she doctored up. I hope Dayna gets a big laugh out of this. I feel so honored to be in her dreams.

New Do

I promised pictures of my new do I got after work today. I love the color. It is golden blonde. I stuck with the short bob cut but layered. I will take better pictures later.

Throwback Thursday

This was 1 year ago. My little Elvis Abby in her bumblebee costume. I have a hair appointment today after work and am undecided on what style and color I will choose. Today I am grey/blonde, very faded.....not sure if I like red or blonde? I might share what I choose tomorrow. Stay tuned.

Wacky Wednesday

Some days I just want to be lazy........This morning was one of those mornings, but I did manage to get up and get dressed and make it to work......I did have a headache though, from the curlers.

Monday's and Banana's, gotta love em'

Here's to a fresh new week. Monday's don't have to be doom and gloom.

Weekend Staycation

This morning Mike asked if I wanted to watch the sun rise over Lake Michigan, so we headed to Kimmel Beach, which is about a 20 min. drive. The drive is so beautiful with all the trees changing colors and the drive along the road beside the beach is just breathtaking. It was, of course dark when we got there at 5:45 am, but by 7:00 am, the sun was almost up and it was so quiet being the only ones there and listening to the waves. I had brought some pop-tarts just in case we needed a snack, but we ended up feeding them to the seagulls. We had fun throwing pieces in the air and watching them in flight catching them. It was such a peaceful feeling walking along the beach and just giving God Praise. Great Therapy! It was like we had a mini vacation but close to home.

National Boss' Day

What can I say about my boss? I have never had a boss like him. He believes in putting family first, and that is very important to me. He is very understanding and I have never heard him raise his voice. He is a swell guy. Happy Boss' Day to all of the hard working Boss'.

Starting over

I am making a fresh start. I have neglected my health lately and have not been following doctors orders where my blood pressure is concerned. After getting the scare at the eye dr. on Friday, I made the appt. to see my general doctor today and she put me back on meds for the high blood pressure and wants me to monitor my blood pressure for 3 weeks, then come back to get further testing done. Like she told me, I have to be well to take care of other people. I know what I need to do, it is just keeping up with it. I hope eveyone had a happy Monday.

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade!

It has been a very busy week to say the least with Stress added to it. I didn't have good news yesterday at the eye doctor. Aside from the fact that I need bi-focals, my eye doctor, who is a new doctor working at her dad's practice by where I work, is also like a therapist with the most kind spirit and compassion, which I really needed. First of all, after she introduced herself to me, I shook her hand and she reminded me a little bit of my daughter.
She began by telling me about her day of examining crying children all day and was glad to finally have a quiet, peaceful time with me. After the exam and dialating my eyes, I went out to look at frames while waiting on the rest of the testing. That in itself was not an easy task. There are only about a zillion styles & colors to choose from, but with the help of one of the staff, I chose a pair. Then after getting measured and paperwork involved, I was taken back to finish the exam and the dr. noticed something that she needed further pictures of, so we go in another room to have that done. When she looked at the results she said "just what I thought" and my heart immediately started with the palpatations and I could feel the blood pressure raising again. She showed me the pictures of the eyes and where some blood vessels are abnormal from having high blood pressure and the part that was scary was that I developed a Hematoma, which is a hemorrage in the back of my right eye. I also am developing cataracts. She said if it went untreated it could cause blindness or stroke. She said I need to see my general doctor asap to have the blood pressure checked and get on meds to control it. She also wants to see me back in 6 weeks, when at that time might want to send me to a specialist. Well, I was so emotional, so what do I do? I broke down in tears and she looked at me and said it's going to be ok. She gave me tissues and was so caring. I told her that I have been taking care of everyone else but neglecting my own health. She said, well now it's time to start taking care of you. After my good cry, I looked at her and said, I bet you didn't think your day would end with a grown person crying....we had a big laugh out of it. She said it's better to let out your emotions. God knew exactly what I needed and it happened to be my new eye doctor, who I want to send flowers to today. She was not only my dr., but a comforter and I really needed that! Thanks Dr. Moses!

p.s. I did take her over flowers on my lunch hour and she called to thank me after coming in and seeing them. She was so surprised!

Happy Anniversary Steph & Jeff

OCTOBER 9, 1999..................AND THE TWO WERE JOINED AS ONE..................



HAPPY ANNIVERSARY JEFF & STEPH!!!! 9 years and 4 little blessings later........You both were made for one another. I love you, Mom.

Happy 3rd Birthday Grayson!

Gray is my little peanut grand-son. He turns 3 years old today. Happy Birthday Gray! Mimi loves you sooooooooooooooooooo much!
Have a great play date today with your buddy. We will celebrate on Saturday with a family Birthday Party....Gray LOVES Dinosaurs.....He can name them ALL! This picture was taken at Lake George last year. He loves to chase the seagulls.

Happy Birthday Dayna!

Today is my beautiful niece, Dayna's 29th Birthday. I wish there weren't so many miles between us. I miss her so much. She is so blessed to have met her husband, Rob, who spoils her. They are so excited to welcome their baby boy, Evan in January. Happy Birthday Dayna. I am with you today in spirit. I love you, Aunt Rhonda. I can't wait to meet my great nephew... Today is also my parents 56th wedding anniversary. Happy Anniversary Mom & Dad.

Down 4.5 and up 3

Trust me blogging buddies, it does get harder to lose the weight the older you get. I was doing great all last week. I even got on the scale every morning to keep track of my progress, which I never do. I usually weigh at the beginning of the week. Well, by Friday morning, I had lost 4.5 lbs...hooray for me.....Then the weekend started and the gormet kettle corn was still in the cabinet calling my name and by just eating a few handfuls threw me off and gave me permission to indulge in other treats....see, that's how my warped mind works with food. I also had my grand-daughter Abby spend the night and it was like a celebration. I was finding things to make, such as chocolate covered strawberries and sugar free banana pudding with low fat nilla wafers. I guess it doesn't help the diet when you eat the cookies while making the pudding. It wasn't bad foods that I OD'd on. I over ate on the good stuff. I love baked BQ lays, but eating the whole bag in 2 days is a No No. So, why do I buy these foods when I know I have no self control? So, this morning I weighed and was down 1.5. I got back on track and am climbing that mountain again and I hope to reach the top soon, even though I did have a slice of pizza and a brownie to help celebrate a co-worker's birthday today. As for my sister, well, she had a set back but she's back on track with me and we will climb that mountain together. Watch out, cause "Sister Sizing" is back!