Christmas and 2010

I really cannot believe that this year is almost over!  So much has happened this year and it seems it had only just begun....now Christmas is upon us and then we will be flying into 2010!

CHRISTMAS
So, Evan (my 4 year old), has made Santa quite a long list this year.  It includes any and every single toy that any TV station could possibly advertise.  I, however, have narrowed down his bountiful list...LOL.  Skateboards, video games, a video game chair, a zippity... It's amazing how much things cost for a 4 year old!!!  And it only gets more expensive as they get older!!!  YIKES!  Ella has been pretty easy to buy for....she mainly is in to dolls, barbies, and dressup clothes...THANK GOODNESS. 
Mike and I decided when we had kids that we would not buy for each other and thats always hard for me because I am a giver.  I enjoy giving.  I enjoy letting someone know I think they are special.and as my husband I think he is incredibly special...my hugs and kisses just don't feel like enough! 
Anyway- this year things are going to be a little different when it comes to celebrating...typically we spend Christmas Eve eating lunch at MawMaw Yates house with all of the family and letting all the little kids swap presents, but MawMaw went to be with the Lord in May of this year...it will be hard to being able to see her smililng face as the kids open their gifts.  So, we will just enjoy Christmas Eve Day at home and then that evening go to Mike's dads house and eat and swap presents with his dad and sister and her family.  Then its off to my moms to do the same...after that we will head home to await SANTA!!!!!
Christmas day we will wake up and open presents, eat cinnamon rolls, and load up in the van and head to Nannie and Papa's in Jackson to do Christmas with my dad and sisters and brother in Jackson!
BUSYBUSYBUSY!!!!  Pray our sanity makes it through the chaos!  LOL
Maybe Santa will treat Mike and I to a date night for our 6th wedding anniversary on the 27th:)

2010
2010 will bring busy schedule for this uncharacteristically motivated woman...haha!  In January, I will start fronting the band Evelle that my husband and I put together as a side project for a little extra income.  I fronted the band SUN16 for 6 years and haven't been onstage in 3 years so I hope I am not a rusty as I feel!!!  LOL We will do all 90's rock to today's hits...if you can catch a show you should, it's gonna be awesome!  In Febuary, I will be directing the 2010 Miss Natchez Trace Pageant and in March I will be organizing another Angel of Love Giveaway! During this time I will also be choreographing The Holmes Connection!'s SHowchoir Showdown routine and running all of their rehearsals to prepare them! In April, we get to register Evan for 5year old kindergarten (WHAT?!?!) and in May he turns 5!!!!  My birthday is in May as well, but I stopped "celebrating" when I turned 27 and realized 30 was merely inches away..I guess I think maybe if I don't celebrate, it will stay away! haha! In June, I will start summer school finishing up some classes to get into Ole Miss (no I am NOT a rebel fan!) In July, we will have another Angel of Love Giveaway as well.
In August, Evan will start kindergarten and in September Ella Caroline will turn 3!!!! It slows down in October, but November revs back up with another Angel of Love Giveaway...then onto December for another chaotic Christmas and celebrating 7 years of marriage!

WHEW....are you worn out just reading that....I AM!....and its not even 2010 yet!!!

Angel of Love Giveaway- UPDATE!

OKAY- if you have items you would like to donate such as clothes, toys, shoes, electronics, kitchenware, bedding, ect...you can drop them off at Kosciusko Furniture Store on N.Wells Street in Kosciusko  Mon-Fri 8am-5pm!!!!

The Angel of Love Giveaway will be held Saturday Nov.28th in the J.B.Hayes Activity Center (gymnasium) behind the S.Huntington Street Church of Christ in Kosciusko from 7am-UNTIL!

We also are in need of volunteers!!!  So if you'd like to help please contact me...
missnatcheztrace@gmail.com

If you know of families or people in need please encourage them to come down on Saturday!!!

GOD BLESS!
MJY

*ANGEL OF LOVE GIVEAWAY*

WOW!  We have had a HUGE response for the Angel of Love Giveaway! So many people have offered items for the donations!  We are still in need of volunteers for the actual event! So if you would like to donate your time please let me know!

The official date and time and location is as follows:

ANGEL OF LOVE GIVEAWAY
Saturday, November 28, 2009
7am-UNTIL
S.Huntington Street Church of Christ Gymnasium
Kosciusko, MS

Hot chocolate will be served!!! 

We haven't yet secured a dropoff location for donation items but I will post when we do! Please consider donating items within your household that you consider "garage sale" items!  These items will NOT be sold...they will be on display for the needy in our community to collect.  We are still accepting donations such clothes, toys, baby items, kitchenware, bedding, bath, electronics...keep in mind that it is about to be getting alot colder and jackets/coats of all sizes will be in great demand!  We are also accepting canned food goods and pet food (non-perishable items please).

I can't think of a better way to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas than sharing our blessings with those who need them most:)

If you would like to donate items or your time as a volunteer, please contact me at: missnatcheztrace@gmail.com

GOD BLESS!
MJY

*GARAGE GIVEAWAY*

Everyone has heard of a "Garage Sale". 

I was on Facebook today and read my cousin-in-laws post.  She was encouraging others to donate items that they would like to disgard from their house to a "Garage Giveaway" she was hosting.
I read it over and over and was just so touched...boy, when God calls me to something, he is relentless!!! hahaha

I decided in the spirit of Thanksgiving and Christmas to host one here in Kosciusko as well.  Shooting for the Saturday following Thanksgiving!  Possibly at Second Baptist Church...

This is a way for us to share our blessings with the needy people in our community!  If you have anything you would like to donate, we would love to have it!  Acceptable items include...ALL clothing, toys,  canned food items, electronics, baby stuff, pet food, even christmas ornaments/decor....

Its so sad to think that most of us have an abundance of goods and there are people within our community who are struggling to have the things that they have and need...we should think about them year round, but with Thanksgiving and Christmas right upon us....I can't think of a better way to count and be thankful for our many blessing then sharing them with the less fortunate.

No one will be turned away and we will stay until everything is gone.

If you would like to help or donate please contact me at missnatcheztrace@gmail.com

Mandi Yates

*A VERY SAD DAY*

Today Heaven gained a sweet sweet angel.  Andrew Junior Nelson, also known as "Shorty", is my dad's father...my PawPaw.  He was 88 years old.

I have posted on here before when he wasn't doing well  and was hospitalized for quite a few weeks.  He got back on the mend and was back in the nursing home with my Uncle Kenny who has Downs Syndrome.  They shared a room together. Last night, they transported him back to the hospital because he was having trouble breathing and his heartrate was elevated...they didn't think it was serious enough to warrant any concern but the nursing home wanted the hospital to treat him because of his heart condition.  This morning he went into full cardiac arrest and they weren't able to revive him.

My heart is heavy.  I was very close to him as a child but as years have gone by I haven't seen him as much.  I could have driven the two hours to see him from time to time or even rode with my parents when they went...but i never did.  I never even took my kids to visit him at the nursing home...you just always think "He'll be here...I have plenty of time"....until that time is up and ceases to be ever again.  I feel extremely guilty about this...I should have been a better grand-daughter.  There are no excuses.

The pain and grief is great, but I know the Lord is GOOD.  I know that he has eternally healed my grandfather and that he is no longer suffering.  I know it is selfish to wish he was still here and I wouldn't dare wish him back in the pain his was in.  He was TIRED.  Tired of hurting, tired of fighting..I am so glad he is no longer suffering.  I wish I could have been there to see the smile on his face when he saw his wife Mary and his son Paul there to greet him in Heaven.

What a day of rejoicing it must have been in heaven!!! I have tons of wonderful memories of that great man!  He was a blessing to have as a grandfather!!!

Little History behind him:

Born in Wetumpka, AL in 1921
WWII Vet
Farmer
Wife died in the 70's leaving him to raise 5 children, one of whom was a Downs Syndrome child
Alabama Football Fan
ALWAYS wore overalls for ANY and EVERY occassion
LOVED his children and grandchildren more than anything

Please also keep my Uncle Kenny in your prayers.  He is in his 50's, suffers from severe Downs Syndrome and has never been apart from PawPaw in his entire life...this will be a very hard time for him.

Thank you all for reading this particular blog...continue to pray for our family and be sure and LOVE and HUG yours with everything you have in you!

Visitation will be at Gassett Funeral Home in Wetumpka, AL on Tuesday.  Graveside service immediately following.

MJY

*My Hearts!*

We visited a Christmas Tree farm with Nannie and Papa this weekend.  We had lots of fun taking pictures for their Christmas cards!!!  The kids really enjoyed seeing all the REAL Christmas trees!!  I have always wanted a real one, but I am sure I would kill it before Christmas even had time to arrive!  HAHA! Thank goodness for prelit trees!!  If you would like a Christmas Card from us, please send your address and I will be GLAD to send you one!!!

MJY

*Just Because You Can Dance, Doesn't Mean You Can't Get Hurt*

Okay, so being that I have been dancing for over 10years and have been doing choreography for The Holmes Connection! for 3 years...YOU WOULD THINK that I would be in fairly good shape. 

Apparently that is not the case.

Last night, I went to HCC to work with Connection! on one of their Christmas numbers. It is vey fun and upbeat and the music has a 20's swing flare to it, so I thought it would be cool to throw some swing dance into the routine as well!  They were doing so well and picked up most everything I taught very quickly.  Then came the partner twirls and dips.  I was demonstrating the exact way I wanted it done:  Guys Prep their girl out, twirl them inward in a double twirl, then quickly dip them low, and pop them back up.  I walked through it with one of the guys and then we did it full speed.

BIGGEST MISTAKE OF MY LIFE.

I knew when he popped me back up that I had thrown my back out, but being their Coach I refused to wimp out and risk them seeing me "take a break".  See, if I take a break...they take a break...that cant happen. Time is money, money is time.
So, I kept right on going doing the Charleston, and twists and turns and Jazz kicks....

As I got in my soccermom minivan to go home, I realized what all I had done.As I relaxed into my seat every muscle and bone in my body began to dog-cuss me to no end.  By the time I got home, I had given into my body's relentless scolding and took a hot bath.  That didn't really help much though.

It's very comical when I think back about it....I mean I am a 28year old mother of 2.  It wouldn't matter if I had danced all my life...swing dance is hard.  I knew it was hard.  I knew better than to go "all out"...I am just the choreographer.  My job is to show them by walking them through it and leave it to them to do "All Out"...but my pride got the best of me...I guess sometimes I feel like if I show them I can do it, then they will do it 10x better to out do me...which ultimately is what I want! 
So, I am laughing at my pain and suffering at my own hands...I  can't say I won't ever do that again, because I always do.  LOL

*SunShine On My Shoulder Makes Me Happy*

The past few days have been absolutely BEAUTIFUL!  Despite the cold mornings the temperature is actually quite nice as well!!!  Praise God from whom all blessing flow!  It is so nice to be able to enjoy the fall colors and see the changing of the seasons with the beautiful sunshine and brilliant blue skies to remind us of Gods WARM and CLEAR love:)
This weekend I get to take pictures of the grandchildren (all 8 of them!) for my parents for their Christmas card!!!  It's supposed to stay beautiful all weekend long, so I am sure we will make some fabulous pictures!!!

Hope everyone has a blessed, safe, and happy rest of the week!

Love to you all-
MJY

*Seasons Of Love*

I love the changing of the seasons!!  Its tradition in our house that the day after Halloween on November 1st we ALWAYS put up our Christmas tree!  Some may say it's too early and it spoils the newness of it by December, BUT I never tire of the Holiday Season.  It's the season of LOVE, of FAMILY, of TOGETHERNESS.  It's the Season when we celebrate the birth of Christ and cherish his undying love for us...so, I say NO it isn't TOO EARLY.  We should celebrate YEAR round the LOVE of Family and the LOVE of Christ!!!  I faithfully put mine up on November 1st of every year because the season itself is all too short that it is also to quickly forgotten!  I enjoy every bit of it!  And my kids LOVE it too!  Herbie, our house elf (from the Elf on the Shelf), flies down from the North Pole and starts monitoring our behavior day to day, so he can report to Santa Claus when we are tucked in bed fast asleep.  I am enclosing a few pictures.  The first ones are from Halloween...Ella was Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz and Evan was a StormTrooper from Star Wars!!!  We had a LOT of fun trick-or-treating!  The pics after that are pics of our tree and christmas decor!
ENJOY!

Evan and Ella

Ev and Elles with the Cat in the Hat!

Little Miss "Dorothy Gale" from the Wizard of Oz

StormTrooper Ev!

Our Christmas-fied Cabin!!!

Ella Caroline is the 2010 Tiny Miss East Central Mississippi!!!

Ella Caroline was in the Miss East Central Mississippi Pageant on October 24 in Philadelphia, MS.  She won her age division so she is now the 2010 Tiny Miss East Central Mississippi!!! She also won Best Overall Fashion and Prettiest Eyes awards! She had some diva moments where she didn't want to cooperate, but once she won the crown she was much more obliging...she likes crowns or, well, "parties" as she calls them:)
She will compete for the title of Tiny Miss Magnolia State in July at the Little Miss Magnolia State Pageant in Vicksburg!
The preliminary pageant she was in is through the same organization that my prelim pageant, Miss Natchez Trace, is through...so if any of you ladies want to get your daughters involved let me know!!!  I will have our entry forms ready sometime this week!!! It really is a fun exprience!!!

Ella being crowned

Ella and her goodies

Tiny Miss East Central Mississippi sans sash because she was in "Diva" mode and didn't want it haha

good pic of her trophy, sash, and crown

THE MISS NATCHEZ TRACE PAGEANT- INFO

BIG NEWS!!!!
I have decided to spearhead a local preliminary pageant here in Kosciusko.  It will be a preliminary pageant to the Little Miss/ Miss Magnolia State Pageant, which is one of the most PRETIGIOUS pageants in the state of Mississippi!!!  Our local prelim pageant will be the MISS NATCHEZ TRACE PAGEANT and it will be held in the Kosciusko Junior High Auditorium on Febuary 6, 2010 at 6pm!!!  We need as much support from our community and friends and we can get!!  We want this to be THE prelim pageant to be in for girls all over our state!!!  Sandy McBride, Pam Wyeth and I are the pageant directors and you can contact us at anytime with any questions you may have regarding the pageant...I am posting the INFO in this blog as I have it on Facebook (PLEASE ADD OUR GROUP AND REGULAR PAGE ON FB!!)...and since I can't stress it enough...**THIS IS NOT A "GLITZ" Pageant**  (children are to look like children!  No spray tans, fake teeth or fake hair on them...they WILL be disqualified!)  Also **THIS IS NOT A PRELIMINARY PAGEANT TO MISS MISSISSIPPI**....That is a whole different pageant organization.  Ours is through THE MISS MAGNOLIA STATE PAGEANT ORGANIZATION.

Okay-here's the info!!! 

The Miss Natchez Trace Pageant is designed to be an affordable, enjoyable, and FAIR exprience for all young girls/young women in Mississippi who wish to enter! This is *NOT* a "Glitz" pageant and girls aged 0-11years are NOT allowed to wear any form/style of pageant dress (NO sequence or rhinestones). They are REQUIRED to wear Sunday dress or MILD Easter/Flowergirl type dresses that are NOT floor length. Girls/Young women ages 12+  ARE ALLOWED to wear floor length pageant style gowns.

Age Divisions/Categories are as follows:

Baby Miss (0-15 months)
Teeny Miss (16-23months)
Tiny Miss (2-3 years)
Young ((4-5 years)
Little (6-8 years)
Pre-Teen Miss (9-11 years)
Junior Miss (12-14 years)
Teen Miss (15-17 years)
Miss (18-28yrs never married, never pregnant)
Mrs. (18+ married, with or without children)

Boy Divisions include:

Baby Mr. (0-23 months)
Teeny Mr. (2-3 years)
Tiny Mr. (4-6 years)
Little Mr. (7-11 years)

There are many WINNERS in our pageant!!! After we crown Title Winners, we also crown Grand Overall Supreme Winners!  Other Awards include: Overall Most Beautiful, Overall Best Fashion, and Overall Miss Hospitality. All of our winners advance to the Little Miss/Miss Magnolia State Pageant to compete for the Little Miss/Miss Magnolia State title and crown!  Our boy winners will compete for Little Mr. Magnolia State!

We ask that all of our contestants show good sportsmanship, carry and represent themselves with dignity, as well as, show respect for the other contestants at ALL times during the course of the Miss Natchez Trace Pageant!!

***THIS IS NOT A "GLITZ" PAGEANT***
***THIS IS NOT A PRELIMINARY PAGEANT TO MISS MISSISSIPPI***

Entry fee is $65 due with entry form.  You also have the option to pay an extra $10 and become eligible for the Overall Awards.  If you DO NOT pay the $10 extra you WILL NOT be eligible for Grand Overall Supreme, Overall Most Beautiful, Overall Best Fashion, or Overall Miss Hospitality.  You will only be eligible to win Preliminary/Category Title. Prelim title AND overall winners WILL advance to the State Pageant! 

**Deadline to enter The Miss Natchez Trace Pageant is January 25, 2010**

For more information or questions regarding The Miss Natchez Trace Pageant contact the directors at:

601.259.0152 Mandi Yates/Pageant Director
662.582.2518 Sandy McBride/Pageant Director
601.416.0188 Pam Wyeth/Pageant Director

or email us at: missnatcheztrace@gmail.com

Entry forms will be available NEXT week!

The Holmes Connection! 2009 Homecoming Performance

Some of you may know that my husband, Mike, is the Director of The Holmes Connection! college showchoir at Holmes Community College in Goodman.  What you may NOT know is that both he and I are alumns of the group as well.  He was a charter member of the group which was founded in 1992 under the Direction of Mrs.Jan Reid Bunch. I was a singer/dancer in the group from 1999-2002 under her direction as well.  Mike was our sound tech while I was there and that is how he and I met. (everybody say awwww...) Now, he is the Director and since he has absolutely NO rythm in the dance department he leaves the choreography to me, which is so fun for me to be apart of. Brings back a TON of memories and I won't even lie...I have attempted to get back into my dresses from "the good ol' days", to little or no avail...hahaha!!!

- This years group is one of the most talented, determined, hard working, energetic/spirited groups we have seen in a while!  Here are some pictures from this weekend Homecoming performance:

Rain+Cool Weather=CHILI FOR SUPPER!

it's just one of those days where you step outside and you feel that nip in the air along with the cold rain that seems will never cease. When I took  Evan to school this morning, we walked outside and I smelled the wonderful smell of wood burning in someone's fireplace nearby!  That made THE SEASON feel all that much more real....even if it was 85 degrees last friday. 

The nip in the air and the smell coming from a chimney envoke ridiculous amounts of childhood memories!  All of them fond:) One special memory is eating Chili on cold nights....

Mmmmmm Tonight maybe a CHILI NIGHT!....or chicken and dumplings....

decisions decisions...LOL

MJY

GOOD GRIEF! ENOUGH ALREADY!

I know it seems like something is ALWAYS wrong in the Yates household... and disaster struck once again this past week. Thats why I haven't blogged till now.
Here's what went down:
Monday
 Mike woke up complaining that his side was hurting.  He figured it was a kidney stone because he has a history of them.  But by lunch he knew it was either too big too pass or something worse than a kidney stone.  I called his urologist and they saw him immediately.  They did a CT and saw a 3mm stone in his right ureter tube. They said it was passable, gave him pain meds and sent him home.
Tuesday
He woke up with yet another bout of incredible pain.  I gave him to oxycodone pain pills and that didn't touch it.  So by 8:30am he was begging me to take him to the ER, which I did.  We got there and they immediately triaged him and put him in a room far down the hall and back to the right, LOL, which I assumed was so he wouldn't scare the other patients because he was screaming like someone was trying to kill him!
Dr ordered an IV of fluids and a shot or toradol...which did NOTHING.  10minutes after the Toradol shot they gave him a shot of Demerol.  Within two minutes of that shot he was out like a light.  They took him back for a CT as well...it revealed 2 stones in his ureter, whereas the day before there was only one. The dr said he had a hunch that the stones where stalagtite type stones that were so spikey they resemble cockaburrs.  He said that is why he was in such miserable amounts of pain....it wasn't the size of the stones, they were fairly small 2mm and 3mm...it was the TYPE that was hurting him so much.  The last kidney stone he had was 6mm and while it was no walk in the park he says that these two small ones were waaaaay worse!  Anyway- they called his urologist who ordered him to Baptist Hospital in Jackson where he would be admitted and have a room waiting.  He spent the night with a pain pump which helped alot.
Wednesday
Wednesday the Urologist decided it was best if they did surgery and removed the two stones.  So they went in and shot a laser at them and broke them up and then pulled them out piece by piece (yes, they pulled the pieces out the way you think they did...OUCH!) they were able to get both stones completely out but he still has a stone in each kidney.  Hoping they don't move anytime soon!  He stayed at Baptist again Wednesday night on a pain pump and did really well.
Thursday
Thursday was fairly uneventful. They discharged him and he came home and felt really well until about 8:30pm when his side started hurting again.  He kept saying it felt like another stone so I gave him a pain pill and he slept all night.
Friday
Friday was a totally different story.  Wound up calling his urologist because he was having alot of pain.  They were very nonchalant about it  nor were they very helpful.  Finally, I had had enough and told the little nurse that I didn't call them because I wanted to "chat" I called because my husband is in pain and if he says its not right then I think that is worth a call to the dr and I expect to be treated as if my husband is just as important as everyone else that calls regardless of whether or not she has had a bad day or feels I am over-reacting or wasting her time. (I mean seriously, this woman works with the PUBLIC....for a doctor who deals with people who usually are in great deals of pain...she should have a total "let me see how i can help or let me talk to the dr" attitude not a "well I'm sorry he just needs to keep taking his pain meds" response.  She wouldn't even give me an explanation for WHY or What would cause him to be in so much pain after this surgery...so i wound up calling Dr.Bryants nurse who actually talked to Dr.Bryant...she told me that because of them having to go in and out so many times to get pieces and bring them out that he probably had several abrasions on his ureter and that would cause on and off severe pain until it healed in a few days...AN ANSWER!!!!!!!  Thank Goodness for people who CARE!!!!
So, he has been on a meprozine every 3 hours to control the pain and sleeping alot...hopefully he will get on the mend soon.

So in the mean time, I missed my MIDTERM exam in one of my classes but am fortunate to have an awesome teacher who let me reschedule it!!!  Hallelujah! However, due to the chaos of the past week, my house looks like a warzone, there are no clean clothes for ANYONE, tons of laundry, dishes in the sink, I have had very little sleep and am constantly taking care of not only my two small and very wild children but also my husband now....so please pray for my sanity!!! hahaha  or I may wind up in the looneybin myself!!!
BRIGHTSIDE: Alabama plays Ole Miss today.  ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!

MJY

Testing for a Rare Syndrome this week

Yesterday I went to the doctors office because my throat was sore and I had a fever.  Being that it was Friday and strep has been going around I felt I prob didn't need to wait till Monday to be seen so I went in.
My doctor is extremely kind and always goes out of his way to ask about my "arthritic" problems even if I am not there because of them.  He knows the journey I have been through and the many test and possible diagnosises that I have been given.  With that said, he understands my frustration as well. So this visit, once we got the throat and fever situation figured out he asked me how my aches and pains were doing.  I told him I have been doing very well since being put on B12 shots and taking VitD and of course the warmer weather always helps my joints.  I told him that the very thought of winter makes me want to cry because I don't tolerate the cold weather well at all.  It makes my joints swell, burn and  stiffen...which HURTS!  and my muscles tense up which HURTS! too, both of which increase my pain.  And when I am in pain it totally wipes me out so I feel overly fatigued very easily.  This happens every winter season and has for atleast 3 years...I have adapted to where I don't get out much in the winter and I have a sky high heating bill and I soak in a hot tub atleast 3x a day.  But I told him its not just that, I don't like cold places either...meaning like DOCTORS OFFICES, restaurants, theaters, ect....my body gives the same response...I can tough it out because I don't have to be in those enviroments long...but winter is nearly 5 months long. So he looked through my labwork history and my other histories and said it is quite possible that I have a rare syndrome called CYROGLOBULINEMIA.  This is a blood disorder where your blood gels when subjected to extremely cold temperatures but returns to normal when in a warmer enviroment.
 Having  an extremely low tolerence to cold temps is a red flag to this disease and causes all of the same symptoms I have as well as usually coexist with autoimmune diseases which I have (Connective Tissue Disease in my case). He assumes if I have it that mine is a very mild form, which is good.  It is rarely fatal (only if left untreated) and is highly treatable!  He did say I may want to consider moving to a warmer climate....how I wish we had the money to uproot and move to Miami!!!
So, even though its kinda of scary to think I may have a rare blood disorder, I was slightly relieved to have a single possibilty instead of 800 possibilities. Right now he has put me on Nefedipine, which I was on when I was pregnant with both kids to help stop contractions during preterm labor. It is suppose to help dialate my arteries and blood vessels to help my blood circulate better in turn making me warmer.
I am suppose to  go back for labwork this week so please keep me in your prayers that we may finally have an answer and that it isn't anything but a mild and treatable illness:)


God Bless-
MJY

Visit to the PUMPKIN Patch!!!

Ev in the Hay Maze

Sweet Pumpkin

Ella on a HayBale

Ella picking her pumpkin

                                                                          Evan didnt want his picture taken

Ev's 4K class

Evan , Ella, and I went on a field trip to the pumpkin patch with Evans preschool class.

The kids had a blast!  The weather was nice and cool and dispite the flooding we had

a week or so ago- it wasn't muddy at all!!!  Such a fun time!

MJY

*Praying for PawPaw Nelson*

     I am SAD.  I don't get sad that often, right now I am very sad.  My PawPaw Nelson is the only living grandparent I have left and he isn't doing well at all. He lives in a nursing home in Louisiana with his son (my Uncle) Kenny who has Downs Syndrome.  He hasn't been doing well for a while as he is 88 years old and his age has taken a toll on him.  He has managed to survive a triple heart bypass, a heart valve replacement as well as a pacemaker placement surgery throughout his life, but now his circulation is bad and his kidneys are failing.  He has been put in the hospital where they are contemplating putting him on dialysis in hopes in may "reboot" his kidneys and get them back the normal functioning mode.  Right now, thanks to the help of fluids his kidney numbers are down which is good and they are holding off on the dialysis.  My dad is super stressed out between feeling of sadness, preparing for the worst, praying for hope, and the hour long drives back and forth to stay with him in the hospital.  I haven't heard my father cry in a very long time, but he did the other day on the phone telling me about PawPaw's health.  I can't even begin to tell you what that did to my heart.  Knowing I could not help or FIX PawPaw's Health...it just broke my heart.  I don't want him to suffer....but I don't want him to die either.  I know that is incredibly selfish, but he is my PawPaw and I love him and I have so many incredibly wonderful memories of him...
     I think back to when I was little and my Papa would tell us stories about his childhood growing up across the street from Neely Barrett and how his daddy grew up poor in Alabama and was a farmer all his life.  I remember getting so excited when my Papa would say we were going to visit PawPaw Nelson and Uncle Kenny in Wetumpka, AL....it may have been an old worn out trailer in a backwoods of Alabama, but it was my favorite place to visit!!!  He always had watermelon fresh from the garden and we would go pick wild blackberries during the summer and at christmas we always had a feast!!!! All of my fathers brothers and sisters would be there as well!!!  I have fond memories of my Uncle Paul visiting as well...he was my papa's brother who died when I was 11...All the Nelson family have such big hearts...they are such good people...and it all stems from my PawPaw Nelson instilling goodness and respect and cherishing family in them!
     Hearing the sadness in my fathers voice that night and the grief he was going through in knowing he will lose his father soon and will have to bury him made me realize that one day I will be in that same situation...having to bury my father.  I don't think I will ever be ready for that day.  I love my Papa so much and I can't even imagine life without his abounding wisdom, contagious laughter, warm hugs, and hearty "Roll Tide!'s"...I am so Thankful to be his daughter and to have been blessed with years I have had and will continue to have with him....I find comfort in knowing that My father and my PawPaw are one in the same. So, even though we are preparing for the loss of my PawPaw...he will always live in my father, who loves and admires him deeply. 

I love and admire both of those two great men. Please pray for my family.  Pray that God's will be done and that our family will remain strong no matter.

MJY

So, How's That For a Birthday Weekend....?!?

     So, I am sure based on my previous posts that pretty much EVERYONE knows that my daughter Ella turned 2 years old this past Saturday.

     What was suppose to be a weekend of celebration suddenly turned into a cause for isolation and disinfectant.  A week ago both of the kids had microplasm pneumonia.  They each had 3 medicenes that eventually did their job and got them well:) BUUUUUUUUUT, just as I tooted my own horn about "seeing the signs of early sickness in the kids and knowing its best not to wait till they feel worse to see a dr."....I started feeling bad and running fever.  And as you can prob guess I didn't heed my own advice until Friday when Iswore I had the flumonia.  So i went to KMC and got a flu swab..it was - ,thank goodness.  The doctor then gave me the once over to fig out WHAT was really going on...eventual diagnosis: Microplasm Pneumonia (hope I spelled that correctly).  That was last Friday-the day of Ella's 2nd birthday and the day before her birthday party.  Obviously, we knew it was contagious since the kids had it then I got it.  So, we made the decision to have small lowkey FAMILY bday party friday night.  Small was an understatement!!!!  2 sets of grandparents couldn't make it although Mike's dad did come by for some cake and hug the kids:)
Guess it was better that way though- I would hate to have infected anyone especially kiddo's!!!
Its also not SO bad it happened like it did since Ella is only 2 and not 6 or 7 and could get her feelings hurt by not having a big blowout bday party.  She got some very nice things...a Dora's Talking Kitchen, Several outfits, a huge 3 story doll house, barbies, a pink build-a-bear, a shopping cart and plastic food for her kitchen...LOL....the list goes on!!!

She was happy and thats all that matters. I am feeling better too, so I am thankful for that!  We were so proud of the Whippets Friday in their victory over the Philadelphia Tornadoes!!!  The Tornadoes had been undefeated and were ranked #2 in the state 3A class!  AWESOME JOB WHIPPETS!!!

MJY

The Road Not Taken...

This is a pic of a rural road between my mom's house and mine...I took this picture earlier in the year and it has always reminded me of the poem "The Road Not Taken" by poet Robert Frost....though I would share....

THE ROAD NOT TAKEN

~Robert Frost~

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

SOLD the Crib!!!

ha! that almost sounds like the title of some crazy new reality show on Mtv or something!!!

I broke down and sold Ella's crib today.  ACTUALLY, it was Evan's crib and I just reused it once Ella was born.  It was bittersweet...I was sad to see my baby's last bit of "baby" furniture leave her room, but happy to be able to share something so special to us with someone else who could really use it!

The crib converted into a toddler bed and she had been sleeping in that for a while, but Evan will soon be getting bunk beds so we decided it was time to move his trundle bed into her room....she looks so sweet and tiny in that twin bed!  LOL

I am still trying to convince myslf that she is turning 2 on Friday:(

MJY

Count Down To ELLA'S 2nd Bday!!! Tminus 4.....

WOW!!!
I don't know how I feel...or how I SHOULD feel.  Ella is our BABY.  She is our 2nd and LAST child.  2 years ago at the advice of my doctor I had my tubes tied due to a history of preterm labor/deliveries. And it's not that I WANT another child...it's just that I know as she grows up I will NEVER have another BABY ever again.  She is our BABY right now, but every single day she gets more independant, smarter, and less and less the BABY she once was...

I have sat here all morning remembering the terrible miscarriage that ultimately led to her conception and then the 9 months of chaos with  worrying about the possiblity of miscarrying her, preterm labor/bedrest, her BIRTHday, her first year, and now I am counting down the days till she turns 2.  I am sooo thankful that God chose me to be her mother. She is such a wonderful blessing in our lives!  She keeps us all entertained and on our toes every minute of everyday!  I never imagined that one day I would be the mother of both a SON and a DAUGHTER!!!  I am sooo unbelieveably blessed!

Watching her grow and change this past year has been soo wonderful! She is the prissiest, silliest, danciest, most loving little girl....who can and will wrestle you down to the ground to get that toy you took away from her....just ask her brother!!!  HAHAHA!!!!

I am sooo proud that she is "growing up", but sad because I will miss these days soooo much as she grows every year...I hope she always feels like she can climb in my lap and throw her arms around me. I hope she never feels uncomfortable telling me things that she feels no one will understand!  I hope she always knows i will listen and love her no matter what!  She is my BABY. She will always be my BABY!!!

Momma Loves You So Much Ella Caroline Yates!!!  I Hope You Have A WONDERFUL 2nd Birthday on Friday!!!

please pass the kleenex....

MJY

My Little Troopers

Well, the albuterol treatments weren't so bad.  They didn't lose their minds and climb the ceilings after it like I was sure they would ;) ha!  They neither one have fever and haven't had at all anyway.  Both are still real croupy sounding with really wet productive coughs and snotty noses:(

The Biaxin antibiotic must be some awful stuff because Evan begs to have a sprite in his hand before he will swallow it...and then he is really quick to chase it down with the sprite. Ella is quite different. She HATES it. I have attempted two doses with her and she has spit both doses right back out at me.  And since I can't REgive the doses due to the fact that I don't know how much she swallowed, I have to wait to give her next dose later on tonight at the usual time...a friend told me to hold her nose and she will swallow it.  I will be trying that tonight...any other tips are more than welcome!!!!

Hate we are going to miss the Whippet game tonight but I will be listening to it on Breezy 101!!!
And i REALLY hate that i won't be going to Bryant-Denny Stadium with my Papa and Skyla to see Bama take on Florida Atlantic!!! They even had me a ticket saved!!!  BUT I won't be going anywhere while my babies are sick!!!!

I hope this germs get out of my house soon!!!!  UGH!!!

MJY

Walking Pneumonia

Evan woke up sounding slightly worse than yesterday and my "mothers instinct" took over.  He still had no temp, but he sounded worse and different than when its just croup. So I called Dr. Thomas and he saw Evan and did a chest xray, which Ev thought was SOOO COOL! Chest Xray showed Mycroplasm Pneumonia (Walking Pneumonia). GREAT...and since Ella has been showing the same symptoms he said it was very likely she has the same thing...
SO the Rx is Biaxin, Robitussin w/Codiene, and Albuterol treatments 4x a day for BOTH kids.

ALBUTEROL....I had an albuterol treatment a few years back.  I am a talkative energetic person as it is....this medicene made me an uncontrollable chatterbox who as boucing off the walls....a GROWN adult woman!!! And my son is 4 and very very much like me in the talkative energetic department....I can't imagine what he is going to be like after a dose of that!!!  I better start some coffee....

CODIENE......my dad is allergic to it. My kids are NOT...This is another "make your kids act like wild heathens" medicene.

Albuterol + Codiene= LONG NIGHT....pray for my sanity. Pray that this medicene kicks some major pneumonia butt so we don't have o take it very long and my kids feel better!!!

MJY

School Picture Day=CHAOS.

Evan is having his school pictures taken today.  It was an act of congress to get him dressed this morning. If you read yesterdays blog than you are well aware of the germs that are taking over our household...and today was no different. Evan woke up  grouchy and with a croupy wet cough, but no fever, SO I made the decision to let him go to school. I mean it IS school picture day and it IS my baby's last year in Pre-K!!! LOL

Well-he didnt like the shirt I picked out...and he didn't like the way I did his hair....and he wanted to wear flipflops instead of tennis shoes....LOL.  It was very very chaotic this morning. Not to mention Ella started screaming and threw a ROYAL fit when Mike left for work because she is 100% a daddy's girl and can't bear for him to be out of her sight.  By 7:15am I was in need of a nerve pill!!!! LOL

BUUUUUUUUUUUT....we got Evan off to school and if he looks like an orphan it isn't my fault, hahaha!  Hopefully Branning will make him look as good, but more importantly...I hope he smiled!!!  LOL I'm sure he did...he is a sweet sweet child even when he has his bad days:)

Which reminds me of how thankful I am for both of my sweet and beautiful children. Even on days like today, when my nerves wear thin and they are both sick, tired and grouchy....they are still my children. They are still my heart and soul. They are still the reason why I smile....and so I do :)

MJY

Germs...Germs....Germs

We are fighting the germs at the Yates House once again...
Ella has had a runny nose, sinus cogestion, croupy cough since Friday, but hasn't ran not one bit of fever. And, of course, being the wonderful sister she is....she shared her germy germs with her brother. Evan woke up this morning with a slightly croupy cough. As of this morning, neither of them have any fever, but I called Dr. Carter just to be safe so hopefully he will call us in something and not make us sit in the swine-flu invested waiting room at KMC...YUCK!!!

Aside from that- the kids and I went down to my dad and stepmoms Saturday for the big game!!  My aunts from Alabama and my brother and sister-in-law came over as well!!!  It was sooo exciting to see our TIDE roll on over VT!!! 34-24!!!  Our new QB is pretty awesome!! It's gonna be a GREAT season I'm sure!!!

Anyway- say a little prayer that the kids get to feeling better soon and all this germy mess goes FAR AWAY from here!!! I have germ-x and lysol at hand with every sneeze and cough...not to mention thank goodness for my Rainbow Vaccum that came with disinfectant that cleanses the ait as well...LOL!!!

MJY

SEC FOOTBALL/ ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!

I can not wait for The Tide's first game of 2009 tomorrow night!!! 7 pm gameday will not come soon enough!!!!
We play Virginia  Tech and with a new QB this year I am hoping they will prove to be as awesome as they were last year!!!!  SOOOOO EXCITED!!!!

The kids and I are traveling to my dad's house in Madison to watch the game on his new big flat screen TV. My aunt from Alabama are even coming down to watch it with us!!!  Mike will be playing in Yazoo City that night with his band Measure 36, not that he will miss the craziness that abounds when you mix football in with our family...he is not into football...he is a MUSICIAN.  He is probably glad he won't have to hear all the hollering and random kartwheels and backflips during touchdowns!!! Hahaha!

I will take pics tomorrow to hopefully post...i"m sure they will be interesting!!

MJY

Ella's new ROLL TIDE smocked dress!!!!

For those who don't know it...this family bleeds CRIMSON! We are devout Alabama Crimson Tide fans!!!
The Kickoff to our season starts this saturday and while Evan will wear his traditional Bama football jersey (#22), Ella had NOTHING to show her Tide Pride in....devastating to us!!!  So her Nannie searched and searched and finally found her the CUTEST smocked ALABAMA dress...which will now be her GAMEDAY dress!!!  And she even has a bow to match!!!....I AM SO PROUD!!!!

                                                                        The Dress

Her bow

ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!!

MJY

                                                                            

Meet the Newest Member of Our Family!!!

Burnley Yates

8months old

Cockapoo

Hahaha! He looks like a tired little old man in these pics!

RED LIGHT!!!! OHNO!!!

I know...I know.  The title of this post is kind of scary considering I am the one writing it.
NO...I did not get a ticket for running a red light, LOL.

My sweet little angel boy, Evan, had a bad day at school. So bad infact that his teacher didn't even write a note....she escorted him to the car herself during car-rider pickup time. I knew when I saw her it wasn't going to be good.  If he had been sick, she would have called me. So that left only ONE thing.....

The minute Evan saw me he began to cry and said, "Momma, I got on RED!!!" His teacher said he wouldn't mind in music class, was running up and down the halls when they were going back to the classroom, and he wouldn't mind during classtime either. WOW.  Soooooooooooooooo, I was pretty disappointed to say the least.  I asked Evan what in the world he was acting like a heathen at school for and he said he didn't know and he was having a bad day. He said he was mad because he got put on RED light.  This has been his first time on red....NO ONE WAS HAPPY ABOUT IT....TRUST ME.

For those who aren't familiar, most elementary schools have a behavior chart in their class.  Evan's 4 year old class has one as well. They have a Green light, Yellow light, and a Red light.  Everyone starts the day out on green and we hope they stay there all day. If they misbehave they recieve a warning and move their sticks to yellow light.  If they can't get themselves together and keep being disruptive and not minding, they move their sticks to red. RED...its means NO RECESS, MOMMA GETS A NOTE HOME, and in a worst case, teacher paddles.  Ev got the first two. 

He has been in school for 2 weeks, but he has been at PDS for a year already. He knows better.  He and his daddy are going to have a talk when he gets home, so hopefully there will be no more of this unruly behavior.

We have also adapted the "Light System" in our household. He was pretty bummed when his stick got moved to red here at the house due to his behavior at school....he said, "Mom, that's not fair! We've only been home 5 minutes!!" hahaha!!

Praying for a better day for Evan tomorrow and every day after!!!

"Children obey your parents in the LORD, for this is right." - Ephesians 6:1

Pic of our "Behavior Chart"...it isn't fancy, but it serves its purpose well....

-Sigh-

MJY

Evan and Ella's "Pretty Day Pics"!!!

                                                                   Miss Ella Caroline

                                                

Evan is a future heart-throb! Look out girls!

Sweet Profile

My little man, Ev

Rockin' With The Rythm of the Rain

We had a very nice-yet unexpected- thundershower here about 6pm. REALLY cooled things off! I was glad I thought to put my ferns out on the walkway before the bottom completely dropped because once it did, I was concerned that I may need to build an ark.
But sadly, as quick as came it was gone...leaving in its wake a cool and fresh breeze.  HOW NICE!!!

We are back on the mend here in Yatesville. Everyone seems to be feeling much better including myself.. Although I got word today that the Swine Flu has been confirmed on the college campus that my Mike works at. How lovely.  SO...how do I get my husband to wash his hands frequently and carry germx with him at all times...and USE IT????? I wish he was as OCD as me when it comes to germs...in times like thhis it is helpful, LOL!!! I guess its inevitable if you are going to get it, but I see no problem in taking necessary precautions cause I defintely don't want any of us to get it!!!!

So all of you be aware of people around you who may be sick, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, and WASH YOUR HANDS frequently!!! And if you think your sick...stay away from me!!!!...LOL

Y'all Have A Good Night!
MJY

The Sickness vs The Yates: Round 2

Yeah, so, in Round 1 I assumed it was the stomach virus. I think I may have been wrong.  Evan was fine pretty much all day yesterday.  No temp, he ate well, no throwing up or bathroom pitstops....I, on the other hand, started to feel very nauseated and developed a sore throat and runny/stopped up nose (yes there is such a thing...). I fought the good fight yesterday because as a stay at home mom, if I crawl in the bed sick as a dog, who is going to watch my children????  Well, around 4ish it eased up a bit...so I went to town teach my dance class at The Health Club.  Once I got home I was still feeling a little better so I thought maybe it was going to go away....I thought I had sailed through a 12-24hr bug like a champ!
THEN I WOKE UP THIS MORNING. uuuuuuuuuugh. I have felt like death warmed over all morning long.  Same as yesterday...nauseated, sore throat, runny/stopped up nose.  I don't have any fever so I'm guessing it's not the SwineFlu....if I don't start feeling any better by lunch or a little after, I may call Dr.C and see what he thinks.
Everyone else in my family seems fine...thank goodness!
I'm going to make a pot of coffee to see if it will make my throat feel some better:)

Oh, I'm sure I'll post about this soon, but incase I forget-and don't put that past me- any of you who have small children (birth-7yrs) should really look into The Laurie Berkner Band!!!! GREAT music for children!!!  I will add some to my playlist!!
Evan and Ella LOVE LOVE LOVE her!

TaTa~
MJY

Stomach Virus vs The Yates: Round 1

 Evan woke up at 3am throwing up-well mostly dry heaving.  He was having a horrible time of it too. He'd be really sick, dry heave, fall asleep all in 20 minute intervals. I finally gave in after realizing this wasn't "something he ate" and put some Navo-Gel on his wrist...took about 45 minutes but he did eventually fall asleep.

He has complained on and off this morning about feeling sick, but has no fever. Just says he feels "weally bad".  I can't get him to eat anything, so at the moment he is living off of sprite.

Mike woke up not feeling good as well...said he thought his would pass and I hope it does! He is not a very good patient to tend to when sick! hahaha  Ella seems fine...she's in a bad mood, but thats typical of our princess at 8am...LOL.

I am not feeling too hot myself, but we all know even if I do get sick the world will not stop for little ol' momma....I have to keep on truckin' and take care of all the other people the world DID stop for...hahaha. Bless 'em...

Hopefully we will have a better day and this bug will not invade our entire family!
Will update later in the day:)

Have a blessed day everyone!
MJY

Coming to Terms with Church

Okay so I am going to be very open, honest, and blunt in this post.
 So you have been forwarned hahaha!

All of my life I have been in Church.  As a child it was consistent...Sunday Morning, Sunday night, Wednesday Night. It was something I really enjoyed and i don't recall hardly ever asking..."do we HAVE TO go to church today?" unless I was sick. As I got older, mainly in my late teens those chuch attendances dwindled down to just Sundays and stayed that way through my mid twenties.  However in the past few years I have been in and out...we'd go to to church very regular and then have a span of months were we didn't attend at all.
And in the past year we havent been at all either.

This makes me very sad. I know it's my fault. I have every bit of control over myself and am capable of doing everything there is to do to get us in that door, but I don't....
I want my family in church. We discuss God at home and we pray and read bible stories, but I want more for my children, my husband, and myself. I want the relationship with God that I once had. And I want every member of our family to have a special relationship with him too.  It's a emotional and spiritual bond like no other.

I know many people say "you don't have to go to church to love God and be a Christian"...and I completely "get" what they are saying. But attending church is like paying your respects. It's like a public display of affection to our Lord. And not to mention its a fellowship time with others who share the same love and devotion to Our Savior.

I was born and raised in the Church of Christ. I know many people have heard horrible things about our denomination, but contrary to popular belief I was never taught that we were the only ones going to heaven or that our beliefs were the only beliefs that were biblically correct.  I do wish they allowed instrumental music, as not everyone is accustomed or even good at singing 4 part harmony...LOL, but i do credit my keen ear for harmony to the fact that it is all I ever heard  or sang growing up in Church...haha!

So, Mike and I, along with our kids are currently looking for a new church family.  It's nothing against my home church. Mike was born and raised a southern Baptist and has his views and beliefs as well...but together we have decided we want to be a part of a church that is full of love and devotion to serving the Lord, as well as has a desire to teach our littlest children about HIM and to encourage and help them fulfill their goals as being Christian leaders and servants as they grow. We don't want to feel "pressured" into going anywhere in particular or ridculed because of our choice either.  We just want to find a place where we can love the Lord as if we were shouting it from the mountain tops...he has blessed us with too much to just sit in a pew and bow my head then head to lunch.  I have no shame in saying that. I want to be surrounded by his people and his glory....I want my kids to exprience his love and feel his presence each and everyday.

I WANT MY CHILDREN TO LOVE THE LORD! I WANT MY FAMILY TO BE NEARER TO HIM! I WANT TO GIVE HIM GLORY FOR ALL HE HAS BLESSED US WITH!

I have put it aside for too long.  Time is short...and we are not guarenteed tomorrow, this has proven true to so many here recently and it has made me realize that I am a very ungrateful and selfish child of God. So, I am asking for your prayers and Christian guidance as my family does some much needed sole searching and tries to see which church family best fits our wants and needs as a "starting over" Chrisitian family. 
Any suggestions or expriences or comments or more than welcome!!!!

MJY

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY SISTER AMY!!!

Sending Birthday Wishes to my sweet sister Amy!!!!
I always envied her as a child....she was always the more mature and stylish one of us three girls.  She always had a cute boyfriend and everyone always liked her...not much has changed in 31 years!!! LOL.

Happy Birthday SiS!!! I hope you have an AWESOME day! You deserve it!

I love you!!!

Back in College...

WELL.
Last week I started my first COLLEGE class since 2002.
(Hold your applause)
 I am taking American Literature II at night here in Kosy on Tuesdays. Its a really fun class, but I love literature, so maybe I am a little biased.

This morning my online classes opened up. I am taking Nutrition and Geography online. Sooo, I go to the Nutrition class homepage and about fall off of the bed! (yes i was being extremely lazy and taking FULL advantage of not actually having to GO to a classroom so I was in my PJ's on the bed surfin' the net....GUILTY.) I was reading the syllabus and realized ontop of chapter quizzes and chapter test and mid-term and final....i have 13 labs to complete by DECEMBER!!!!!!
DID YOU HEAR ME?!?!?!?! 13!!!!!
I am beginning to realize that I am going to be completely loaded down this semester.
3 college classes=10hrs, Lit class on Tuesday nights, I teach club*dance on Wednesday nights, do all of Connection!'s choreography for  homecoming, high school tour show, and christmas show, and somehow in the midst of all that retain my sanity as a wife and mother!!! LAWD HELP ME!!!!!

On another note-
I am really loving this cool weather. Not hot and not cold is perfect for me!!! Its the extreme of either one that sends my body into a tizzy and makes the pain unbearable. Dr. gave me a trial of Savella to try but that stuff is $82/mo and insurance doesn't cover it because there is no generic form!!! UGH. So that got exed out quickly!!! We simply can not afford $82 a month. NO WAY. So, even though the very thought of COLD weather makes me want to break down and cry, I will just have to live off of mobic and aleve and scalding hot baths. 
Its funny though-considering i am in pain 99% of the time during late fall and winter months...Fall and the Holiday Season are still my favorite times of year.
Ironic?

MJY