An Elsie Funny

Elsie is one of my best friends. We drive to school together 4 days a week. When it gets cooler we hope to start walking to school, from her house of course. Well yesterday after school I dropped by to see her and as we were sitting there the electricity went off. I said,"Elsie I think your electricity just went off". She said, "no joke, you have to be the brightest crayon in the box". No sooner then she said that she turned around to open a can of refried beans and both of us started laughing at the same time BECAUSE without electricity she could not use her electric can opener. There's no hope for the two of us together so we have come to the conclusion since there are not many people like us that we no doubt have to be from the 4 pack of crayons that they give out to kids at Applebees. You all have a great one afterall, TGIF!!!!!!!!

You've come along way baby...............

to get to where you are today! These are pictures of my daughter Anna-Beth. The one with pigtails, holding a lunch box and getting out of a car was taking her first day of Kindergarden. The second one was taken this past Monday (8-11) her first day of 10th grade. Where have the years gone?? I am so proud of you AB and love you so much!

Forrest Gump and Karen Mock ...............

have something in common. Before I even go there let me explain that this post is truly for fun and don't think I am gripping. Since Paul's bypass surgery we have been so health conscious. Paul has lost a total of 20 pounds and I have lost 4. The kids are not very happy with the eating choices but what's the old saying deal with it! We have been so blessed with the outpouring of the community whether it is the athletic department on campus, neighbors or friends. So please don't look at this post as a complaint it just reminds me of how much Bubba Blue from the movie Forrest Gump and I have in common. The meals people have brought over are delicious. I have always enjoyed a good burger and a steak would put a smile on my face anyday. NOW it is chicken, fish and Chicken and chicken. Did I mention chicken? When I think of repeated meals of chicken I think of Bubba Blue when he quoted, " Anyway, like I was sayin', shrimp is the fruit of the sea. You can barbecue it, boil it, broil it, bake it, saute it. Dey's uh, shrimp-kabobs, shrimp creole, shrimp gumbo. Pan fried, deep fried, stir-fried. There's pineapple shrimp, lemon shrimp, coconut shrimp, pepper shrimp, shrimp soup, shrimp stew, shrimp salad, shrimp and potatoes, shrimp burger, shrimp sandwich. That- that's about it." Well when I think of our past meals for the week there is stir fry chicken, honey baked chicken, drunken chicken, chicken salad, and awesome baked chicken from an assistant Trainer and his wife. Dinner tomorrow night is smoked chicken and Tuesday night it is Roasted Chicken. So you see the similarities? Just as Bubba knew how to prepare shrimp before long I will know everyway to prepare chicken LOL. I am not complaining it just amazes me of different ways you can cook chicken. So when I hear someone talk of chicken I can't help but smile, as I know we maybe having that soon. If you have any good chicken recipes sent them my way. Cluck Cluck catch ya later!

Update on "our" lives....

I am sure that alot of you know that Friday July, 25, 2008 started the beginning of an unplanned roller coaster ride. To start it off, yet hopefully be brief I will attempt to fill you in on "our" lives. Friday July, 25, 2008 my Dad was admitted in the hospital with what we thought was pneumonia. That very same night Paul had indigestion and heart pains. The indigestion seemed to go away but the chest pains remained. So at 12:00 am Saturday morning I took him to the Emergency room. He was admitted at 3:30 am and at 4:54 am I received a phone call that they were taking him to Tupelo. When I made it to Tupelo that morning he was in icu and had already had a heart catherization and they placed 2 stents in. Later we found out from the Dr. he would have to have quadruple bypass surgery. In the meantime my Dad's leukemia decides to kick in so I leave Paul in the hospital with the kids at the house and I head to Illinois/Kentucky to be with him and Mom. Dad was scheduled to undergo four pints of blood transfusion. He made it through 3 and 1/2 and had a reaction and the Dr. stopped the procedure. It was amazing to watch the color and personality come back through the procedure. I am just so thankful that he made it through 3 and 1/2 versus 1. This was a very risky procedure, one in which they ask the family to come in and later I was told if he would not have had it he would have died in 2 weeks. He is home resting now. Mom says he has no energy and request prayer as they meet with the cancer Doctor tomorrow (8-7). One of my friends has sorta prepared me that we maybe on borrowed time BUT to be thankful nothing took place while I had Paul in the hospital waiting for surgery. Well anyways Paul had his surgery on 8-1 and came home yesterday (8-5). My heart goes out to him as I know this whole procedure and recovery is tough on him (and me). I know with football going on and two a days this was tough on him not being there BUT this is one of those times he has to take care of himself for once. We have been so touched by the phone calls, cards, flowers, plants and just people asking us how things are going. I thought it was neat that he received flowers from some sec schools such as the University of Florida, University of Georgia, Ole Miss and Mississippi State University. Anyone who knows Paul knows he is the best! Why he puts up with me heaven only knows. Please continue to pray for him and pray for strength for me. His parents will be with us until Saturday and they have been so helpful. So sorry for the depressing blog but I wanted you to know where we've been and what is going on in "our" lives.