more lil ones!

October 23, 2008 @ 1:30 PM my oldest seester, Cara, will be delivering Campbell (C-section)!!!
This means I'll have 2 nieces VERY soon!

25 years and counting...

A is for Always. always listens, always cares, always sharpens.

B is for Bodacious Babe.  no extra comment needed.

B is for Bizarre. one of the most coo-coo people I know.

Y is for Young. You have wonderful things ahead of you!!!

I love you dearly my best friend! Happy Day of Birth, I hope you feel so loved, because you are!!

seester.

as some of you may know, my family moves a LOT. like i have lived in 17 or 18 different places (including college) in my life. the pool in the fabulous photo above, was at my sister and I's favorite house. we lived in this house for the longest, 4.5 years. we wore this pool out, and we looked good doing it.  :)

we pretended that we were mermaids, had raft races, played categories for hours on end, i had my first birthday pool party (where i got my first tape...ace of base), and swam so long we were wrinkly for days.

i just thought i would share this awesome photo as it brings back great family memories for me. 

Whitney Drive, Plano TX. will forever hold a sweet place in my heart.

reasons why i love scott. forever.

when we go shopping, he trys on goofy things and loves it when i take pictures of him.

he likes to make up little euphemisms. this one is called "scarf tie".

another favorite is "vodka beer" 

  

 

3 more examples of his love for self portraits. i have hundreds.

he loves my puppy.

lastly, he is reeeeally attractive. 

Jack Bear. Life. The Dot.

So many new, perfect babies in my life. I wish I could quit my job and be a full time aunt!

I am excited for the day when I have little Schardty's  :)

To batter or not to batter...

I would like to do some research on why individuals who suffer from BiPolar do not take their prescribed medication. Of course, of course, I know the "excuses" for why they opt out or go on a break from medicating themselves, but I just want to see what the real problem is. Is it lack of education to understand the physical need that filters into one's social, emotional and psychological "physical" need? Or is it something else?

I have been assigned at least five cases per month with families who have battering husbands. Everytime I go to jail to interview them after their arrest or coherece them into my office to "talk", I realize each one has previously been diagnosed BiPolar. I can't imagine being diagnosed with such a stigmatized word and having to deal with that. All I know, is that somebody has to do something about informing them the consequences of not taking them. I hope doctors are providing education as they send these men out of their offices to face this big dark world and encourage them to call them if they are considering taking a break from their meds.

So I'd like to do some research, but I don't have time. Maybe my 2nd year Research class I will write my paper on that. I just think there is a problem and we (social workers, doctors, researchers) must attempt to alleviate some oppression. . . because their horrible decision to get off medication effects everyone in the family. He gets mad at her, he beats her, she beats him back, the kids are sitting there watching or become the object to inflict pain on the other partner. Then I step in.

It's just straight crazy.

And it seems so simple to me when I rehearse with the parents what "just" happened. As we talk, I think "O...see that's where you went wrong. When she said this, that doesn't mean you are allowed to throw her down. What are other options are there? Let's explore this. Ok, when she says this, what could you to manage your anger?" ... Simple. But no...it just gets worse...and worse.

O, and by no means am I saying there aren't battering women. I've had those cases. And there are also cases of women who get off their Bipolar but I normally see them as sucidial or homicidal (to their children).

I'm thankful for the life I live OUTSIDE of my job. I'm thankful for my upbringing, my education, my friendships, and the blessing of knowing a God who is OUR refuge, OUR strength, and my SAFE place. I believe He can heal all my families' souls but these problems... this is something that goes back to Adam and Eve.

I have a "big" daddy coming into my office today. He just got back on his meds. Wish me luck.

crazy. wedding. dreams.

so, i've been having some pretty crazy dreams about my wedding, seeing as it is rapidly approaching. some dreams are good, some are disastrous. either way, i always remember all the details and can't get it out of my head the following day. well, last night was a rather interesting episode....

i dreamed that my wedding and my high school boyfriend's wedding (if you are somehow reading this, i apologize if its awkward :) was at the same church, on the same day, at the same time. we were having a joint wedding. very odd. i remember in my dream that my dress was way too big. it was really baggy, like i had gotten the wrong size or something. also, as i was walking down the aisle (made of stained concrete), i tripped and slid all the way down the aisle to scott. i looked up to at the stage and saw my high school boyfriend getting married on the other side of the room. the really weird thing is that after all this, i remember being really happy in my dream. and when i woke up, i was really happy and it put me in a better mood for the day.

i am thankful that i get to be with scott forever. he is perfect for me. the end.

::: Home :::

Life and Lauren and Matt are HOME!!! Finally, Life's room will be graced with her beautiful presence :)  Thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers. They are still needed, so don't forget the precious family in your offerings. But what a HAPPY time!!! Tonight they will sleep in their home, as a complete family. Praise the Lord.

it's quiet

i can't believe summer is over. i can't believe all that happened from may - august. i just can't believe it. i'm ready for summer now....but o, don't worry, summer is practically over. it's time to embrace all the children going back to school & my stack of cases getting thicker by the ... hour at work.

at least we have sweet fall weather to look forward to and some fun weddings. woods is starting law school at smu & lindsay is embracing the countdown to her long- awaited wed to scott. i can't wait for their big day, because they are truly perfect candidates for marriage. 

on another thought pattern, people tell us we blog about a lot of serious stuff. . . but don't you agree that there was just so much going on that we just had to do so. i'm thankful it's quiet now. i hope it's quiet for you too. 

i think the mountains are calling. wanna go?

Great News!

Lucia Life is doing so well! She is a little miracle baby.

She has been awake, she is off the ventilator, matt and lauren got to hold her, she is breathing well on her own, she is beeing weened off of some of her medicines and doing so well, her nurses have been given other babies to care for which means Life doesn't need full time attention anymore! 

But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.  :::  Psalm 59:16