Yes I am still alive....

And here are a few pics to prove it :)


Seniors taking one last look... Such a sad night :(


Drew Drew's Spiderman costume, Auntie Britani got it and several others on Clearance @ her work (and everyone knows how I loves a good deal :)


Drew wanted me to take a pic of him and just as I took the pic I saw Charlotte reach up to grab his hat with the biggest grin... Gotta love the sisterly love!

Love Love Love this pic :)

Not sure how to describe how I feel other than my heart is Broken. Watching bad things happen to my family and friends is so hard, the devils attacks are strong, but God is MUCH stronger. I am Faithfully Trusting Him. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love the God, to them who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

Just for Fun!

I don't even know why I take pictures anymore all they do is sit on my SD Cards, I don't even edit them (not because I don't have time, but our computer is ssssssssssoooooooooooo sssssssssllllllloooooooowwwwwwww)


Kaylen & Amber after we had been to 5 parks... Just be glad I didn't post the picture of Mike after 5 parks :)

* Not the greatest of pictures but I love how they make a heart shape!

A few months back I won tickets to the Harlem Globetrotters (glad they were free)and after the game the kids all got autographs on their basketballs. Their FAVORITE part was Globie the mascot.


Drew was so excited to have his own "backitball" like daddy! Mike was excited we were almost done :)


Just couldn't pass up Drew, his wrinkly feet were so cute!

Note To Self:

My addiction with FREE stuff, coupons and deals is getting slightly Obsessive!

I have not been eating to much junk or fattening foods (still little to no soda, or sugar & I've lost 13 lbs... it's kinda nice). Today I had a downfall and ate some Mac & Cheese (Extreme Cheese Explosion...it was free) and it was disgusting, I can't believe I just ate that! Don't buy it, it taste like preservatives or chemicals or something not good!

Anyway just had to get that off my chest... maybe I will go get it out of my stomach while I am at it :)!

Update time...

So many things have happened since my last update I guess its time to get it out there.

- Just between friends was ok. We were a little disappointed, I got to CDA to pick up my tickets I had won and found out I had presale passes (which is when all the "good" stuff is there). We did end up finding some good stuff, including a little tux for drew. There is another sale @ the Kootenai County Fairgrounds May 15-16. The best part... there are so many options all in one location, you make some money and you get in to the presale. Check out the website for directions on how to sign up. http://nidaho.jbfsale.com/

- I have officially changed what I eat! 3+ weeks ago I quit eating junk food, fast food, "sweet treats" (and very little sugar), and the biggest to me... NO SODA!! I am a Diet Pepsi addict. I have replaced my soda with more water, and unsweetened ice tea. I feel amazingly better... and have no more cravings. (I have even tested myself and it doesn't even taste good anymore.)

- I starting to lose weight and I love it! Although My hips hurt for 2 days, guess it's bound to happen when you go from little to no exercise to 3 miles a day! I have to work up to 8 miles in the next week and a half (Bloomsday in May 2 & Mike is doing it for the 1st time ever!)

- It's wedding season... And I decided (with much encouragment from ppl) to start a Wedding Coordinator business (No website/blog as of right now). After just 2 days of running an ad on Craigslist I have my 1st client. She is from here, currently living in Seattle and getting married in Elk. I'm very excited to start this, it's something I have wanted to do for many years. Plus its a good source for some extra cash :)

- I'm so excited for sunday! I'm going to be working on a mothers day project with the kids. I have several none mothers coming in to help. (please try to be there sunday, as I will be gone the following sunday [bloomsday] and the following sunday after that is mothers day & we will need to complete them then!) Thanks for your cooperation :)

- It's pretty sad, but my secret mother has not heard anything from her horrible daughter (me). You know it's bad when she gives me stationary and envelopes :). Guess I should work on writing back.

- Last week Mike & I took the kids to the Harlem Globetrotters (I won tickets from the radio station). And they had a blast, we bought them all little basketballs and then afterwards we all went down to get autographs. By the time we bought all the basketballs, dinner and mini doughnuts we pretty much paid for our tickets! Oh well the kids enjoyed it! (pictures to come)

- Mike & I working on an official wedding date. Summer is coming very fast, and we are working on finalizing a date, venue and all the other details. Hopefully we can get some of this finalized in the next few weeks.

Just Between Friends

So it's been a while since I updated, It amazes me how fast time flies!

- So Monday was the last Wii bowling @ slates. It sounds completely lame I know, but it was actually pretty fun and since we won we get like $100 or $150 per person.

- On the way to Wii bowling I won $50 from 99.9 Big Coyote Country. They are having a contest and if you are caller 9 & identify the correct voice you win $50. And at the end of all 12 voices you could win $5000.(not that any of that matters but I won $50)

- Tuesday I was driving home from town and they had the same contest on so I called in again thinking I knew who it was. I was wrong, but I won 2 tickets to Just Between Friends & a $25 gift certificate to it.

- So today Dana & I are taking the kids and going to the Spokane Fairgrounds for Just Between Friends (which I had never heard of till I googled it) and I am totally excited!

- For those that don't know- Just Between Friends is a large consignment sale. It is in Spokane this weekend and then going to be at the Kootenai county fairgrounds in may. Check out this website for more information http://spokane.jbfsale.com/
(or Google Just Between Friends)

- Have a great weekend

Seriously...

- Today would be dad's 55Th birthday and as odd as it seems I made his favorite dinner. Although it was not on purpose, I determined early this morning what I wanted to make for dinner and stopped @ the grocery store after taking Brodey to school. Only a few hours later I realized what day it was.

- I (with permission of course)signed Drew & Amber up for a tumbling class @ the old funtastics. It's a one time class so thought it would just be another way to get them out of the house and maybe learn something as well.

- I have a job interview Thursday. It is a job that I'm not to thrilled about, but its $11/ hr., Monday - Friday 9-5, April- September. And being that I said (stupidly might I add) "Mike & I will set a date when I get a job." What was I thinking?

- Friday I have an appointment to get this stupid cyst taken out of my finger. I am so excited I have had it since August or September and it has been driving my nuts (although that's is a short trip) ever since. Dad had one in his finger when he was about my age. He had his removed and ended up having a seizure. Lets hope that doesn't happen to me. I find it slightly strange that I am more like him everyday! (yes the good & the bad)

- I am so ready for summer.

- I LOVE free stuff. Samples, products I may not need and yeah even the occational perfect item to re-gift (if you can call it that). I just love free stuff. (yes there is more to this, but I will save that for another time)

Happy Birthday Mike!

Happy Birthday Mike!! I LOVE YOU :)

Artsy Kind Of Gal

Amber & I went to her last art class today. It was kind of sad cause Amber LOVED it so much. Her favorite thing to do at art was "the clay" (I would say it's a toss up between painting & clay). Today she actually came home with a clay "thing" (not really sure how to describe it). But her very best peice of art work would have to be the hat made from newspaper. She made it mainly by herself (with help from me with the hot glue & Miss Lynn made the flower on top). She taped. She painted. She feathered. And had a blast doing it. After it was completed the teacher asked if they could keep it for an art show they were having(which we forgot about and never went to see). But here is the picture from when we got home today with it :)



(this picture does not do the hat justice or how hard she truly worked on it!)

Just a few ...

Here are a few pictures of Ernie. Thank you all so much for your prayer... Unfortunately Ernie did not make it through surgery on Tuesday. After making a strong recovery Monday night, Dr. Davis (who stayed up with him all night at no cost) decided we should proceed with surgery to repair the punctured bowel. Once she got in and saw all the damage she knew it would be much more invasive than she tought. She knew she had to do everything she could, because one he survived the last time & shouldn't have & two she loved him as if he were her own. She removed a portion of his bowel which had lost blood supply and reattached the healthy pieces and while closing he went into Cardiac Arrest. It was all just too much for his litte heart.

I'm sad beyond belief... I know he was just a dog, but for the past few years Ernie has been my buddy. Following me through the house, standing @ my feet while I cook, and yes he even wanted to be in the bathroom if I was in there (TMI I know :). Much like a child would he needed me. To pick him up and put him on "our" bed, and as of late he wouldn't even go to sleep with out me right next to him. All the things that "anoyed" me, I miss.

My shadow is gone... (my MUCH smaller, cuter shadow)
It's amazing how alone I feel, with a house full of people.
I know God will give me peace, but until then I am trying to just focus on the the positives and all the good times we had...


Summer 2007...Ernie's first summer haircut.


August 2007... Brodey, Ernie & I @ Micah's football game.


Winter 2007... His first Sweater(and he figured out if he laid on his belly and scooted backwards he could get it off :)


Summer 2008... After playing with Tex.


Summer 2008... Ernie & his dingle balls


Summer 2008... Ernie & Tex resting in the shade after playing. (As you can see Tex is a little more experienced at finding the shade :)


August 2008...Baby Drew & Ernie giving kisses (No... We don't normally let dogs kiss our mouths, I just happen to be the only one around & it' happened as I took the pic :)


August 2008... Baby Drew & Ernie... Friends for life. (It was so cute to see Ernie & Drew playing these last few months. Ernie knew just how soft he had to play with Drew & Drew knew how hard he could play with Ernie.)


August 2008...Ernie loved sitting in the flower pots (probably the cold soil :)... I call this one Sittn' on the pot.


Fall 2008...Ernie & part of a deer leg (back when him & Tex would bring deer pieces home ALL the time & from who knows where)


Fall 2008...Ernie as Rin Tin Tin


Fall 2008...Size doesn't matter... Our Guard dogs.


March 2009... 2nd Birthday


Summer 2009...Ernie running from the "wild" lamas.


August 2009... After he was attached by the same dog. He has a shattered Shoulder & had to be completly shaved because he was so matted.


December 2009... He loved the kids. Babies were his favorite, he loved sitting on Charlotte's lap anytime she was in the swing or when she would come home and sitting in her carseat he was the 1st to greet her :)



Earnhardt Winston McGrath Allard
"Ernie" "Ernie Bernie" "Baby Bern"
March 6,2007 - February 23, 2010

Sad heart :(

Again I am begging for prayer for my baby (yes my dog) he was again attacked by my cousin's dog. Much more severe this time... he is currently fighting for his life @ the vet (he has 2-3 abdominal wounds where his intestines are protruding out of his abdominal wal). He was attacked on our property in front of Brodey (while taking out the trash). I know that most of you are not animal lovers but Ernie is my baby & I love him ! I have had him for almost 3 years now and he has been through so much. I am praying he will be strong and continue to fight for life. I arrived home around 10 pm to an awake Amber and Drew. When I walked in my room Amber just started crying saying how much she loved Ernie and was praying for him to be ok. Drew walked up to me hugged my legs so tight and told me he missed Ernie. It is so sad for me to see how sad Amber & Drew are, we all cried and prayed for him till around 10:49pm. When Drew fell asleep on my chest & Amber clinching my hand so tightly finally fell asleep. It's so hard to see them both so sad for Ernie & yet trying to be so strong for them telling them that Jesus loves Ernie and will take care of him. They were both so sad when they fell asleep :(. I am praying for God to make peace in my heart.

Again not that anyone cares.... Please pray for us all!! Ernie has been a large part of all of our lives for a few years and we love him as part of the family! I really ask prayer for Amber and Drew, it breaks my heart to see them so sad. They love him so much....And for me the fact that my cousin's dog has attacked several times now & it gets worse everytime, scares me to think next time it could be Kaylen, Amber, Drew or even Charlotte!!!

Please pray for all of us....

Praise, Pray & Prayer

1. Praise the Lord Charlotte is home! Thanks for all your prayers.
2. Reminder please pray for me tomorrow @ 9am I am taking my test.
3. Please pray for Robin Maurer & family (friends of our family). Her husband Steve passed away this morning after battling cancer.

4. Matthew 21:22- "And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."

1. Most importantly thank you for praying for Charlotte. She is doing good, she DOES NOT have RSV nor Pneumonia. Doctors think she has bronchitis, but for a 4 month old her airways are so tiny and the mucus builds up very quickly makes it harder to breath. As of 6:30 pm Tuesday she was to be realeased sometime Wednesday, but at around 10pm looks like it may be a few more days. Her saturation levels & Heart rate have to be with in the normal range, and so far that only happens while on oxygen.

2. On that note... I have had Drew & Amber since yesterday afternoon. I had to drag them along to my 6 month stroke follow up appointment. Every test the Nurse Practitioner did to me they wanted done to them and being she has 4 little ones @ home she knew it would keep them entertained. They had a blast or so I thought! I took the kids to have dinner with Mommy while I sat in the room with Charlotte, and they told Dana "it was boring." Seriously? A 3 year old knows the true meaning of boring? Wow! Guess next time maybe seeing Auntie Britani hop on one foot with my eyes closed and spinning in a circle will be way more fun that just hopping on one foot.

3. So as I mentioned previously I had my follow up appointment Tuesday. All went well, I did all the test fine with little to no noticeable differance. Although I still have sensation differances in my cheek, hand and lower arm, but not enough for her to want to see me again!! YAY!! She did mention that I will most likely be on cholestoral meds long term, it's that or see if my genes can be traded in for some better ones and I don't see that happening anytime soon. I may also be participating in a study to see if I am at higher risk for diabetes later in life and or when pregnant. Guess we'll see, I would like to do it being one I will get lots of information about my genes and what diets work best for my body and all sorts of other info.

4. As for the Rockwood Neurology not wanting to see me again (unless of course further situations should arise). She did refer me to a Cardiologist because she too feels like I should be on a heart monitor for a period of time. And last weeks trip to Sacred Heart was not "just for fun". That appointment is scheduled for Thursday @ 1:30, but possibly changing to a differant day & doctor.

5. As for my CNA test... I did not take it friday. I called @ 8am to confirm my test time of 11 (mainly so I could go back to sleep till 8:30) and they had not recieved the paperwork from the teacher in Sandpoint. So I am scheduled for THIS friday @ 9 am. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PRAY FOR ME!!! With the past 2 weeks being so stressful I am having a hard time studying except for late at night.

6.I am all caught up on dishes and laundry from the past 5 days or so. Between me not feeling good last week and Dana having 2 sick kids, getting little to no sleep and being at the hospital our house was almost over taken by laundry and dishes. So since 2 pm when we got home from Spokane I have been working on laundry (with one load left to go in the washer) and dishes,(granted I did spend an hour and a half @ the hospital with Charlotte).

7. Poor Drew cried for so long tonight! Actually he fell asleep and for some reason Amber decided to wake him up. When I went in there to check on them they both said they wanted their mommy and cried!! I prayed with them again and told them that when she came home to shower and get stuff for the next few days that she would come kiss them! That seemed to work for Amber, but Drew was not having it he didn't want to go to sleep... So I convinced Brodey to sleep with Drew & I tell you that was the perfect fix for the little guy!

8. Speaking of I stopped @ the Holiday gas station in Hayden as I always do on the way home. Pulled up to the pump, gathered the mornings garbage out of the front seat, and I as I leaned down into the floor board (doors locked & car running still) I hear Drew (while pointing to the other side of our pump)"BROY, BROY, BROY" (that's BRODEY incase you were wondering). Confused I looked up and saw the shoulder of a man entering information into his pump. As he turned I caught a glimpse of his face and more of his body. He look NOTHING like Brodey... but Drew was insistant that was Brodey! Too Funny.

Sorry for the book, guess if I maybe updated this more often I wouldn't have to write a book everytime! It's off to change the laundry and then bed :)

Avoiding the Situation...

1. Where has time gone? I can't believe it's the begining of February already. Just as well I guess, I am ready for a warm spring and hot summer!

2. I have finally completed my CNA class & the practicum (hands on test).

3.Tomorrow is my State Board test to become a Certified Nursing Assistant. (It's @ 11am so if you read this before then Pray for me :)

4. I have yet to study for it!

5.At Art class with Amber yesterday she made (with a little bit of help from me of course) A hat out of newspaper and painted it. Next week we will decorate it and then it will go in the are show the end of February!

6. As some of you may know (and for those that didn't) I spent the night @ Sacred Heart on Monday night. I went in with heart "flutters" "palpatations" and pain. Although they did not figure out what exactly was the cause it was determined it was two seperate things happening at the same time. My aunt works in Cardiac Rehab in Sandpoint and witnessed on two seperate occasions and she advised I go to the ER. Although the cardiologist is convinced the chest pain is Esophageal spasms and that pain is yet to go away. As for the flutters Eventually I will be on a Holster Monitor for a period of time. which is fairly expensive with no insurance. So for now I am just keeping track of how often I feel them and if they get worse.

7.I want a new car, and when I say new I mean NEW (2010 Dodge Journey), but don't want the debt... So how does that work? And why or why would I need such a large car?

8. Almost officially decided on a summer wedding @ Schweitzer. Date is not quite in stone yet, but that is closer than we normally get :)

9.I am really ready to start a craft time on sundays, the kids love the stories, but that is about all I can do! I am not blessed with the artistic ability! Also I am looking at having Wynn and a mommy help on a weekly basis and start the babies in one side & the older kids in the other. I am not sure how well it will work, but doesn't hurt to try!

10. Off to work study for my test!

** It's amazing the peace I feel knowing that God will provide and do what is best for me.I don't know how anyone wakes up without that amazing feeling known as PEACE!

MMM... Peanut Butter Playdough!