Queen of the Dance (A to Z)

You may have already seen this video, I'm often the last to know...

My theory, the world would be a better place if more people couldn't contain their need to dance.

(I don't own this video but I think this woman is awesome!)

Painting (A to Z)

One of the things I love to do anytime I get a chance is paint. It's so relaxing! Just follow directions and walk away with an "original."

Orange (A to Z)

A knock-knock joke that lasts over a minute?  Yeah, I am not very good with jokes as demonstrated with the assistance of the lovely Miss Nissa.

(Sorry, I accidentally swear a few times.)

Nicknames (A to Z)

Our family collects nicknames, I don't know why.  I'm currently trying to get peeps to call me "Kitty," so far my family refuses but a few good friends are complying :)

Hubby
Honey
Poohter
Sparticles
Sushibar
Baby
Cookie
Tippy Toes
... on and on

Medina Lullaby (A to Z)

Whenever we can't sleep hubby sings Beautiful Boy (girl) for us.  I love his version, it's slower and softer than John Lennon's original.

The rule is he has to sing it three times if I'm really anxious.  He loves me :)

I'm not doing a very good job recording video (for shame since that was my major) but I'm doing my best to keep up with the challenge with everything else going on.  Caitlin has come down with strep, so we definitely need some lullabies tonight.

Love

Kitty (A to Z)

We have a cat... named Kitty... original?

She is 15 and was a grouch for the first 12 years of her life, until Caitlin stopped being afraid of her. Then Caitlin won over the grouchy Kitty. And Kitty joined the family... and even leaves our room now, and asks for cuddles, and follows us into the bathroom.

Caitlin is the Kitty whisperer.

As a side note, I've been trying to get "Kitty" as my nickname (as in the character Kitty from That 70's Show, she's hilarious!). My family is not cooperating, but I've got three friends that call my Kitty... and I l-o-v-e it!

Journey (A to Z)

Today's post is a JOURNEY into the past... to last year's "J" post...

(Yes, I suck, but my kiddos are super duper cute.)

Irritated Illustrator (A to Z)

Ah, my 13-year-old.  Such a talented girlie with such an irritation for her mother.  I did finally get her to agree to speak to my camera (kind of) about her passion for art and illustration.

She's a good kid.

Handsome Boy (A to Z)

I've done many posts about my handsome boy.  He is as much a member of our family as I am... without as much attitude :)

Here's a poorly done video (I'm a little shaky today) about our favorite dog, my handsome boy.

I am Spartacus!

Gorgeous (A to Z)

The story of Gorgeous, grandmother to six beautiful children.

Fourteen years ago I was expecting my first baby, a BIG surprise. I was 24 years old and excited and nervous. My mother was... Not yet 50 and too young to be a "grandma."

That name just did not sit well with her.

We all rolled our eyes and waited to see what she would be called. In the meantime I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl who became part of our girls club as if she'd always been here (Me, Mom, my two sisters, and now the baby.)

Because she hadn't settled on a name, my baby girl started calling her "Mom" because that's what the rest of us called her. (I was mommy.)

One day mom decided she wanted to be called "Gorgeous," she'd heard another woman do it and thought it was brills. We rolled our eyes and thought it would never catch on.

But all she had to do was get one little girl to say it and the rest of us fell in line.

I don't think the other five grandchildren knew it was an adjective, to them "Gorgeous" is the special women who loves them with all her heart.

Now everyone calls her Gorgeous, even my therapist :)

And she is, inside and out.

(I've been ill today, so the video will come soon.)

Fender Bender (A to Z)

Hubby will bend my ear about his Fender anytime he can. He loves this guitar.

The other night we were in bed and he accidentally squirted me with Fender guitar polish while he was giving it a good shine before going to sleep... I might have to wear that instead of perfume...

I will say it is lovely to have live music in the house all the time. Also, hubby is adorable.

You can tell how much he loves his Fender because he didn't give me any argument about letting me video him :)

Entertainer (A to Z)

My oldest girlie is in drama and very entertaining...

This monologue has to be 60 seconds long, today is the first of two grades and she just has to have the monologue memorized. The next grade will be all inclusive, memorized performance and blocking.

I've watched and timed her perform this too many times... It's like watching the future, a future I'm totally not ready for. She'll want to date eventually and I don't think this scene will be entertaining when if it happens in a few years.

Drugs and Dancing (A to Z)

Lesson learned: Check all your medication interactions before popping the pills, don't blindly trust your doctors.

I started with the lesson learned incase anyone doesn't read my whole post, peeps need to know!

So I've been sick, one thing after another, for a month.  I went through two rounds of antibiotics, several different types of breathing treatments, several different types of cough meds, a steroid shot, and a 9 day steroid course. My doctor has all my daily meds (I affectionately call them my "crazy" meds) listed in my file, on the computer, and confirmed every time I visit the office. So my assumption was that I was safe to take whatever was prescribed to me.

The pharmacist always asks if I have any questions. "No" I reply absently 99% of the time.

Never again will I put a pill, puff, or shot in my body without researching it myself. I was so lucky to have a therapy appointment last week. I couldn't see what was happening. I was too caught in my own whirlwind to realize that something was WRONG!

Thank God for Vera! She knew something was not right. (Longer story edited out) she insisted I go see my psych Dr. (crazy meds).

Turns out, two of the medications I was on while I was sick are known to have negative interaction (not sure that's the right word) with my daily meds.

I've had to change my meds to get back to "normal".

I did a lot of research and now have a list of medicines I should never take. I will also ask lots of questions of the doctors and pharmacists AND still look everything up on the internet.

Everyone makes mistakes, I just try not to repeat them :)

No segue... here are some mad dancing skills, don't be jealous!

Caught on Tape (A to Z)

Not what I planned for today... But I'm too pooped to make the 'cups' video, I'll fit it in later somehow.

Instead I'll share this video I received via text at a moment that I needed a good cheer.

My Caitlin caught the ball!

Sometimes it's the small things in life that you have to celebrate.

Baptism (A to Z)

This year Easter was extra special for us, my littlest girlie received her Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation at the Easter Vigil mass. She has studied so diligently for two years in her RCIA classes and as she emerges from the Baptismal font you can see the joy on her face.

The four and a half hour mass was beautiful, a renewal of faith for all in attendance.

... But I'm me, so I was a basket case stuck in a room with so many people.  The doctor recommended, and I followed her recommendation, that this occasion would be a good time to use some of my xanax so that I could enjoy the special occasion without an a-w-k-w-a-r-d anxiety attack.

So excited for my baby girl!

BTW, first time I've ever seen a full submersion Catholic Baptism... kinda cool.

Awesome Arlee (A to Z)

Tis that time of year! Life gets crazier (if that's possible) as I attempt to successfully meet the Blogging from A to Z challenge! Last year I had such a great time trying to be creative AND visiting as many new blogs as possible... and finding so many to follow and appreciate!

All thanks to Arlee Bird, founder of this awesome challenge, and writer of Tossing It Out blog. He was kind enough to visit my blog last year and I really look forward to checking in on his theme this month "some of my favorite films based on film genres A to Z"... I think I'll challenge hubby to watch as many of these movies as possible.

Find out more about Arlee on the About Arlee Bird post, he's quite fascinating and great writer (yes, sense the jealousy.)

FRIENDS, please check out his blog Tossing It Out and his other blogs too!

And check out the 1,968 blogs that are participating, I've put the Challengers list on my site for easy access and check out the official site to get all the fun deets.


Thank you Arlee, for all the time and energy you have put towards this great event that I look forward to and enjoy so much! What an accomplishment to have 1,968 blogs participating.

K