Sunday, January 3, 2010

12.....

Today is Cheyenne's 12th birthday. I am not sure if its odd to say it like that since my daughter passed away almost 6 years ago, nor do I know if it's odd that I have considered picking up a card today and dropping it by her remains at my mom's house, but I know in my heart it feels right even though I have since decided against the card idea...we all know how bad I am at sending cards anyhow.
I layed in bed last night at 11:45 on the verge of the beginning of my horrible night's sleep and started thinking about how at that very moment, 12 years prior, I was making run after run to the bathroom in my mom's hallway sitting in the toilet in what seemed like blinding light, wondering if I was dying...before I actually did. (and as we can all safely assume, brought back...twice that night actually) Then my brain started to snowball. Instead of thinking of playing with her, or holding her, or the first time I seen her look at me and smile, I started thinking of all the sadness her little life was filled with. Her sitting in the stroller outside the daycare watching all the "normal" kids play on the playground, or the time they put her shoe on wrong at school and bent her toe up and she spent hours in pain before I got there (and in my mommy wisdom figured out the problem in about 30 seconds flat and even though I was fuming I said nothing to the people at the daycare), I thought about the time my ex spanked her hard enough to bruise her butt and I freaked out not knowing what to do because of both my fear of the ex himself, and the fear that I had failed miserably as a protector. I thought about those pictures in the homicide detectives office...where DFCS had come to take pictures of the bruises on her face and body and not knowing she was being pictured for abuse, continued to try and smile through her pain in each one. I thought about the terrible ending her life had....and I lost it. I sobbed so hard. I will never forget her sad little life, I will never forgive myself for failing her. I will never forgive sending her into the lion's den and all but forgetting about her while I celebrated being a free person, selfishly I celebrated being free....free of my child??? What kind of monster does that? I can put on the play now and show everyone how great of a parent I can be, but in my heart, in my mind, like a chain only being as strong as its weakest link, I will never feel like I am any better than the mom I was 12 years ago...8 years ago...when I kissed her goodbye, and drove away thinking I was helping her more than hurting....5 1/2 years ago....when I kissed her goodbye and wondered what I had done. What kind of terrible mother I was to let my baby be hurt. I doubt I will ever let myself forgive myself. I changed that day in 2004. I hardened my heart and became a different person...and angry person. No closure, no justice, no relief for my heart and brain. Almost 6 years later I can snowball so violently so fast into the same rage and sorrow I felt that day in 2004...I know my heart is no where near ready to heal...

Happy Birthday Cheyenne, I wish I had been the mommy to you that I have magically been able to be to Christopher and Laci.

Friday, January 1, 2010

Hello New Year! Hello New Decade!!!!

Here it is! The first morning of the first year in the new decade! It is going to be a good year. I am sure it wont come without its fair share of heartache that every year brings, but it will also come with a whole new year's worth of memories to keep our hearts happy and full!
I don't think I am going to attempt any resolutions as to me they are kind of cliche and often have a reputation for being broken. And to me, that is just not a good way to start a new year. Instead I like to come up with new ideas and plans on how to enrich my life and the lives of my children and husband in the upcoming months. Being 2010 is especially crazy to me since we are now out of single digits and I will never see another year in my lifetime start with "0-something" so its a brand new era in a way.
I am hoping to come up with a good way to get some good times packed into this next year and really embrace my life as a whole. I am going to spend more time this year catering to those who desrve it and not those I only do because I feel obligated to do so. I am going to focus on getting back a social life as I have been a hermit in this house for too long and now and I am beginning to have trouble getting comfortable with social situations and I dont like the way that makes me feel. I also want to start working with Laci on school stuff since I really got cracking when Christopher turned 3 as well. The biggest thing I hope to accomplish is to get more organized and have more to do with my time than sit at a computer. I want to start working on printing pictures of my kids and getting a small library together of picture albums. I want to plan at least one weekend away with my husband (Margaritaville Casino in Biloxi in July) and one weekend away for myself. I want to have a family vacation at least once, but preferrably twice this year and I want to continue to lose weight and get healthy.
Today I will work on starting some plans and I will also work on finding a desk that can actually hold all my stuff! LOL!
I hope 2010 brings as much happiness as 2009 and more!
Lots of love from us to you!
Robin, Brian, Christopher, and Laci

Monday, December 28, 2009

PICTURES! YAY!

ENJOY!


http://picasaweb.google.com/georgiapeach717/DecemberAndChristmas2009

Where to begin?

I feel like I hardly know my blog right now. This has to be the slowest Christmas holiday ever!!! We have gone to no parties, we have no family events, we have had no surprises, no visitors, no nothing! It has been by far the most different holiday season of my life...and it is going to get stranger before it is all over, trust me!


Christopher is out of school for the winter break now. He had a nice last day where they all wore pajamas and played games and watched Polar Express and ate candy and chocolate all day! LOL! He had a good time and loved getting to wear his robe and PJs to school!


To Be Continued....


UPDATE!!!


OK, so now Christmas has come and gone, and come and gone, and come and gone! 3 Christmases down and today I am dragging!!! So, I have waited to say much on here to keep a surprise going, and now that Christmas over I can finally catch up. My Grandmother and Grandfather were unable to make it to ga for christmas. It was a hard choice to make for my grandmother and the day she called it off my mom and I got together and we made the decision that she and Steve and Joey should go down. I wanted to go, but finances and being a mom stood in my way. I explained to my mom and Brian that I am a good daughter, and a good granddaughter, but for Christmas, it was time to be a good mommy. I knew I had the 2 small kids and that most the time would be spent sitting in a cold hotel room waiting to go back home as small kids are too much to be in the house all day with my grandpa ill. So I made the choice not to go and smiled knowing how surprised everyone would be when they seen my mom, Steve, and Joey at the door! And in the end it truly was a very special Christmas for my mom and grandparents. It makes me wonder though why we havent done that more often through the years when Grandpa wasnt so sick and my kids would be less in the way.
Christmas for us was truly what Christmas is made for! It was by far one of my favorite Christmases of my adult life. I was afraid that Brian and the kids would suffer with no family around. We knew we weren't going to his Grandparents house and with my family gone I was very nervous. We got up around 7 o'clock and brought the kids downstairs and let them get into their stockings while I made some coffee. They had a blast! They had me cracking up right away with the excited growls and squeals. Laci had to try all of her lipglosses out at one time and Christopher was super excited when he seen he got his very first pocket knife in his stocking! (a green see through 1 1/2" swiss army knife). Then we started opening gifts! WOW! The kids got so much stuff! They were so excited with everything they opened and we were cracking up with all the excitement. Laci was in 7th heaven with her Zhu Zhu pets and it took me 2 HOURS to put the accessories together! My fingers were on the verge of bleeding by the time I was done and are still sore 2 days later! Christopher was truly in shock that he got some of the stuff he got! He loved the legos and his big GI Joes but his favorite as I expected was the GI Joe pit that my grandparents got him. This thing is MASSIVE! Brian was blown away when I finally let him open his gifts from me and he seen he got the PS3!!!! I was giddy waiting for him to open the box! He had *no* idea which is awesome and he loved the 5 games he got too! I was *shocked* when I seen my gifts too. The new Stephen king book, Living Dead Dolls, and beef jerky were all nice contenders....but my freaking ***awesome*** new android phone stole the show!!!! It is the newest in the 'droid phone series and by far the best on the market currently as quoted by numerous online review sites! *teehee* I know he spent a LOT on this and I am in love with it!!! Coolest phone ever!!!! Before we knew it, it was 2pm and I had to feed us some kind of small lunch since the turkey was still cooking. We ate lunch and started bringing stuff upstairs. We got a lot of stuff put away and opened and the kids were loving playing with everything. Next thing we knew, it was dinner time!!! We sat down to Turkey and the works and then had showers and played a little more and then it was bedtime! It was the most fullfilling Christmas I could have asked for! Just a whole day of the 4 of us playing with toys and enjoying eachother's company. I went to bed feeling so very content and blessed and thanked the Lord for giving me such a beautiful day with my family. :)
Saturday we got up and played some more and then took showers and headed up to Brian's grandparents house. The kids were glad to see them as were me and Brian. They had more presents to open there and Christopher loved his new Guitar and has been serenading me since! HA! The day passed pretty quickly there too and before we knew it, we had to go so I could get to the Honey Baked Ham and pick up dinner for sunday.
Sunday was a mad rush! LOL! I had everything go wrong in the morning and had to run to Target for last minute supplies and by the time we got to my mom's house (1/2 hour late!) I was ready for a stiff drink! LOL! But I didnt get one! In the rush of things I had only eaten a zinger (160 calories) all day and by the time 2:30 rolled around and Jeff, Courtney, and Brody had gotten there I couldnt wait any longer! I decided I was going to eat what I wanted for just one day. I piled my plate with smoked Turkey breast, mashed potatoes, corn, and crockpot mac and cheese and a hawaiian roll....my mouth was watering!!! I managed to eat the turkey, roll, and a few bites of the sides and I was ready to explode! LOL! So much for gorging myself! HaHa! We opened gifts and the kids were thrilled again! Christopher got his woody doll and snuggie he wanted oh so bad and Laci got a life sized doll and a princess dress up trunk and other things for them. I got so much! A new cute apron, oven mitts and towels, a cake dome, a heating pad, some books, oh! I was just in shock! Brian got some nice stuff too including some Aeropostale shirts and belt, and a new handgun book, and Punisher figurines. Joey was teary for the first time as he is now an adult and really gets how much stuff costs and how hard things are to find sometimes and how much thought is put into things and he made out like a bandit! He got 2 Games from grandma and grandpa, a game, wireless controller for the xbox and a new blanket for his bed from us, and my mom and Steve loaded him down with awesome Aero and Holister gear, cologne, games, and a ton more! Steve and my mom loved their gifts too! After gifts the kids ran wild while the adults talked. It was nice to catch up with Courtney and she is so close to having her baby girl! Brody and Brian got to talk guns and we all just passed the hours by. Finally we had to go as it was getting dark and I had to get the kids home and in bed. We loaded up and headed home.
Last night I reflected on my weekend and I still cannot believe how blessed I was all weekend. I am so lucky with the people I have in my life and I was touched at how much I was thought about this Christmas. Brian asked me if there was anything I really wanted that I didnt get....and I thought hard about everything I had asked for....and I couldnt think of one thing! I had every single thing I really wanted and MORE bought for me and I can't believe how much people got me!
Today I am taking the tree down. She still looks as good as the day I got it which is proof that we are changing to fraiser firs from now on. I am going to try and work on the yard too and get the lights up. I am going to finish getting the kids stuff opened and put in a good place and will try to catch up on the laundry and dishes.
I hope everyone felt as blessed as me for Christmas with Love.
Merry Christmas to you all, and here we come 2010!!!
XOXOXO
Robin

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

A very big day!

First, I'd like to tell my mommy HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!! I am so happy to get to share another year with her! :) Secondly, she starts on the road today! I am so scared yet so very very proud of her!! Happy Birthday Mommy! You are gonna be the best cop out there!!!!


xoxoxoxo
Robin


A Police Officers Prayer


God bless my family when I am away,



Leave the lights on I'll return from harms way,


Grant me courage and strength to protect others each day,


So they live in peace without worry, fear or dismay,


Bless those who have fallen given their life for another


May their spirit live on from then and forever,


Return me home to my family at the end of each night,


May I pass through the door before the morning's first light,


Shall I give my life for another before the dawn breaks today,


God bless my family when I am away.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

WOWZA!!!!

I am officially losing my mind!!! I have SO much going on that I dont even know where to begin!!! I am half thinking of using my blog as a visual checklist!!! I am so behind on everything it isnt even funny!!! Yesterday I had to make 10 gingerbread houses for christopher's christmas party on thursday, and me and the kids did gingerbread cookies since I have been promising and putting it off for days now. We also picked up 3 stary kittens from a bodyshop who are taken care of by the bodyshop men, but cannot come into the shop and have been out in the cold...and with 2 days of rain and nights in the 20s and 30s, brian caught 3 and brought them home for me to find homes for. I may have one home already and I am putting the others on Craiglist today. They are pooping everywhere!!!! UGH!!!! But, they are cute as can be and I am glad I feel like I may have saved some lives. :) Brian is as big of a softy as me.
Today I still have to go grocery shopping, get christopher's hair cut, try to get these kittens a home, and get some cleaning done as well as go spend some time with my mom! Yesterday was her last day at the court house!!!! I still cannot believe that tomorrow she goes to the road!! I am so scared and still so very happy for and proud of her! She has worked very hard to get to this point and she deserves the happiness of success....now if I can just have God watch her and keep her safe I can feel a lot more happy! :)
Chip, the cat, is getting huge! He is the sweetest cat though, and he hates having the newbies in the house!
I ended up splurging and eating the enchiladas last week. I figured after 14 pounds why not! So I watched the food intake my last 3 days and I am happy to report that the enchiladas have been officially covered! :) I am waiting for my ankle to get better before I can add any real cardio in so I am hoping to lose 6-8 this month. I am hoping by january I can get out and walk better....right now I am still in too much pain. I have 3 more weeks in the air boot and then I will have sleeve type cast that I can wear all day long.
So far the tree is holding up well with 3 cats, 2 kids, and now 3 newbies. I am glad for that! I am trying to see a good time to take the kids out to the Lights of Life that we go to every year and think its hilarious that every time we see lights on a house laci says "oh my God, OOOH MY GOD!!!" Hahahaha!! She is so funny!!! Thursday night is cookies with santa at his school and the party during the day, and Friday I am going shopping with my mom so she can finish up and then we are going to Christopher's school to "elf" his classroom! We have to mess up the room and leave a treat! I am excited!! :)
Well thats about everything I can think of at the moment...Hope you all have a less frazzled day than me!!!

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

HAPPY DECEMBER!!!!

I absolutely cannot believe its december!!! I have been away for a few days after getting injured on Thanksgiving and while waiting on news with my Grandpa's illness....In case I have any unknown readers, here is what happened. Thanksgiving day I was getting Laci in the truck and after i put her in i stepped back and rolled my ankle off the edge of the driveway. (the HOA peeps edge way too big a gap there) anyhow it popped so loud i heard it! I immediately hit the driveway in incredible pain on my right knee so bad that 2 days later it is still swollen with fluid and bruised and cut up. Now, I have a huge pain tolerance, I drove the car home from my csections, and made dinner 72 hours after them! I usually suck it up, cuss a little shake it off and move on...well, not this time. I put my head against the tire and sobbed like a 2 year old! Freaked poor brian out as he has NEVER heard me cry in pain in our 6 years together. It took me 10 minutes just to relax enough to straighten my leg out. another 10 to get brian to get me to my foot and hopped to the car. We piled in and headed for my moms house 30 minutes south. I got there and brian and my little brother helped me into the house. My step dad got me some ice and I sat with ice for an hour. After an hour my foot was hot 3 times the correct size and had their weird spotty bruises and streaks of red on it ankle. So everyone talked me into going to urgent care. Brian took me in and an hour or so later and xrays and it turns out I have a torn ligament, they gave me a boot and vicodin (which btw I finally got filled and was upset when I realized the crappy hydrocodone I have been taking from brians car accident is indeed vicodin so no extra pain relief there). But today I am feeling a lot better and the weird swelling is mostly gone and I can walk on it a lot better. I have a doctor appointment on Friday for a weight check and consultation, so I am going to have him look at it and make sure it looks good.
My grandfather was vey ill last week, he was in bed with a fever and having trouble breathing. I was waiting til yesterday for him to go to the lung doctor to get the news from my grandma....and its the best news I could hope for! He has bronchitis and an upper respiratory infection, *but*, it could have been a lot worse! They go in two weeks to be cleared for their trip to GA for Christmas and I cant hardly wait!!!! :)


Black friday was mostly a bust as you can imagine being I was in pain sitting at home. Brian was a trooper though and got up early and went to a few stores and got some deals that I was hoping for.and I was proud of him and greatful for that. I managed to get a few good deals shopping from home on the computer as well. :)


We put our Christmas tree up on Saturday!!! Its the earliest we have ever put one up, and to go along with what I have deemed the most untraditional Thanksgiving weekend/start to the Holidays ever, we went with not only putting it up early, but went with a fraiser fir for the first time ever as well!!! LOL!! I figured, why not! But she is a beautiful 8 footer with 5 strands of lights and a hundred ornaments and I couldnt be happier with a tree!


Both kids have had a turn with being sick, Christopher was sick for 4 days during Thanksgiving week, and Laci was sick for 2 days. She was sick so bad yesterday she was in bed with a fever, coughing, and sleeping all day...and by last night she was cool and running around the house laughing and playing with everyone...it was very strange!


Anyhow, today Brian is off work and we are going to try and finish up as much shopping as possible so we can be done! :)


Have a beautiful December morning everyone!