See, I really am bad at these things...

I am terrible with blogs. I really don't have the time anymore, I have been so busy. So heres an update of what has been going on with me, since I have been MIA..

Well, for starters..back in mid-March, I started babysitting. Not just for money, because quite frankly..we really didn't need the extra money..but because of the situation my neighbor was in. We are very close, she is definitely my bff. She had a sitter lined up who watched the kids for a few days, and she had a few problems with her that well, is not my story to tell. Nothing majorly serious, but serious enough that she was fired..and I was irrate!!! I knew she was having trouble finding someone and didn't want just anyone to have her kids. So, since I was irrate about the situation, and she was getting pretty desperate I knew I needed to step in. For one, her kids know me very well and have been around me for over a year, and their kids are right around my kids' ages and they absolutely love playing together. So it worked out. Now 3-4 days out of the week M-F, I have a 1, 2, 3, & 4 year old. It's definitely quite amusing. Getting them to all nap at the same time is nearly impossible, but somedays it works. They keep Madilyn occupied most the time which works out well. Now let me tell you, for anyone who uses the excuse that because of their kids they are unable to clean, do laundry, anything like that..well, I don't see how. I have 4, and am able to accomplish all that plus more! I love being able to stay home, go to college online, and take care of my kids 24/7, and be able to bring in some cash! It's amazing to me, and well I am really going to miss it once my babies go into school. It tears me up thinking about it.

Some other things that have been going on with us...we got our taxes back in the beginning of March, and we re-did our house. We put in hardwood floors (laminate), and painted our living room and dining room. We also bought us a Wii, and for myself I got the Wii Fit Plus, Shaun got a paintball gun, which he has been unable to use thus far due to being so busy! I feel really bad about that I knew how much he had been looking forward to it, but we have just been so busy! I also must say that the kids got a ton of stuff. They were really spoiled! New clothes, nike shoes, and toys! They loved it! We still have a lot more to do, but it takes time. & we definitely have time!

Since the weather has been so nice out, we have been practically living outside. I got my flower bed together last week, and we are going to get a nice little shade tree for the front yard, and put flowers around it as well. It is really coming together for us and I absolutely love it! After a year of living here, and paying mortgage..we can finally call this OUR HOME. It's not just "our house"...now it really is OURS, because we are making it to be. Once I am able to get our front patio area cleaned off, it is going to be so nice, now only if I could teach Shaun how to grill, we would be set! Lol, I guess that is another project I am going to have to work on...haha.

I have been working towards losing all my baby weight plus some. My mother in-law, neighbor Krissi, and myself have been starting to lose weight together for 2 weeks now. I am down 12-13lbs, and I am really able to tell it in my face! My chubbiness is going away, yay! I started working out to the Biggest Loser Wii Fit game, and it is amazing and really kicks some butt! I also do some of the wii fit plus games as well, but they just get boring to me. I am working hard to strive for my goal, and I think within time I will definitely make it! I am doing this for myself, my husband, and best of all..my kids. I want to be able to get out and run around with them without being winded after 5 minutes. I am ready to be athletic like I used to be, and feel great about myself, and be happy with myself for once. I can definitely say that being pregnant back to back had a huge factor on me, only because for such a long time losing weight has been an uphill battle for me. But! I am done using that as an excuse and get my ass to work. I can't blame it on pregnancy anymore, considering I have not been pregnant in 17 months! It's called plain laziness!

Last but not least, about a month ago I came down with the awful stomach virus. I have never in my life had it before. Im not one to fever, or puke anytime when I am sick, and I definitely did both, it was horrible. I missed my kids so much but all I could do was just sleep constantly. Madilyn ended up getting it that evening, and it was horrible. Shaun had to leave to go bowling for a league so my mom came over and helped me. I can't even begin to tell you how awful I felt for my mom. But it was nice to have her there while I was sick, it was comforting and sometimes you just need that. The next night Shaun began with it, and had it for a few days, mine only lasted for that one day, and Madilyn's lasted for about 3-4 days. Connor never caught it! We couldn't believe it, we were really shocked because everyone around us had caught it from us. Well..a month down the road after not having it for some time...Connor wakes up this morning..he seemed fine at first, then he just dropped to the floor and screamed saying his belly hurt. I got him something to drink, and eat..he drank but didn't eat. He kept crying it hurt him so bad, I felt helpless because I couldnt help my baby. I freaked out and my mom called the doctor for me. Thinking it might have been appendicitis or something, they wanted him in immediately. I felt so bad for Connor, but at the same time for my neighbor, he was about to walk out the door from dropping his kids off, and all of a sudden Connor puked everywhere! He snatched his kids up, and took them home. We got Connor to the doctor, and while waiting for the doctor Connor cried, and was so restless, he said he just wanted to go home and sleep in his bed because he was so tired. The doctor came in and ruled out strep due to his throat being red, and ears being a little red. He thoroughly checked him through ruling out things, and finally said he must have the stomach virus. If his stomach pains got worse to take him immediately to Children's Hospital. When we got home, Connor went straight to his room (we carried him because he said he couldnt walk) and he fell right to sleep after drinking a little sip of juice. The doctor told me if he didn't pee by atleast 4:30-5:00pm to take him to the hospital due to dehydration. He hadn't pee'd since lastnight around 10pm. So Connor slept until about 3:30, and I started pushing fluids through him...he finally pee'd right before 5:00pm. Then again at around 6:30pm. He hasn't pee'd since then, but after he awoke from his nap he said he felt so much better. The main reason we freaked about the appendicitis is because he was complaining that where it hurt was in his belly button, and it was a poking feeling. First sign of appendicitis is normally pain in the belly button. But he said it didn't hurt anymore, and I kept checking him and asking him. He is still running a slight fever but is calming down with Tylenol. He only threw up that one time, and let me tell you he is very lucky! That little boy has such a great immune system, and he can fight off stuff so fast. He has done a lot of sleeping but it didn't stop him from playing outside tonight after begging me. He played for about 45 minutes and came to me saying he was ready for bed. I felt so bad, I just wanted to cuddle him all day but he just wants to be in his bed, and so therefore I let him because I know thats where he is comfortable...

Well..there ya go for a long update..if you have read it this for...thanks hope you enjoyed! Hopefully it wont be longer than a month the next time I post. :-)


*Ashley Nicole*

Martina McBride & Trace Adkins concert!!!

I am beyond exhausted! We went to the Martina McBride & Trace Adkins concert Sunday. I went with my mother in law and sister in law. It was amazing! I had such a blast! Martina was all over the stage like she was 20, running in atleast 4-5in. heels! Something I would not even try walking in to begin with, lol. And of course, Trace was shaking his booty, yum yum. He's so good lookin for an older guy..as long as he keeps that hat on!! Lol. We had a good time, and I can't wait to go to more concerts. As long as I can talk Shaun into it, lol.

This weekend was not such a good one, besides Sunday. Saturday Madilyn woke up in a great mood, ate a ton for breakfast..went and layed down for her nap and when she woke up she was not acting herself. She wasn't eating, she was drinking some, and next thing you know shes on FIRE! I mean she was so hot that I was sweating holding her. She came up to me at 6:30pm layed on me an burning me up, I checked her temp and it was 103.1! I flipped out! So I gave her tylenol. She crashed 5 minutes later and slept 'til 10pm. Woke up even hotter, and I checked her temp..it was 104!! I put her in a luke warm bath, and her temp went down to 102.7, so I gave her more tylenol. She finally fell back to sleep at 1am and woke up at 830am. I went to the store, got a new thermometer because the other one died in the middle of the night, and got some motrin. She layed around on me the entire day and we slept up 'til I had to get ready for the concert, and I felt terrible leaving her but her temp went down and I knew her daddy would take good care of her. She woke up Monday mornin' just fine, and was back to her usual self. Thank goodness!!

Connor has been saying some of the silliest things lately. The one that got me today was..Shaun and I listen to rock music. Connor likes it for the most part, but he really likes country music. He knows pretty much all the words to Country Boy-Alan Jackson. So I turned rock music on, on the way to my mother in laws, he said Turn that "crap" off! I said what kind of music do you want to listen to? He says COUNTRY!!!!! So I turned it on, and he goes "Oh yeah, thats what I'm talkin about!" LOL! Gotta love him!!

I am working on making a blog about Madilyn, from the time of birth til now. It took me awhile last time to make Connor's, but I plan to do it real soon. :-)



It's the Ruby's

Our son, our life.

Connor Alan:

From beginning, to now.

The journey has been great, and we cannot

wait to learn more about you, and watch you grow

into the man you are mean't to be.

We hope you change the world,

because you have changed ours.

The things that used to matter, do not

matter anymore.

The biggest things we ever thought we had to deal with

it seems so small now.

Mommy and Daddy Loves You.

Welcome to the world baby boy.
This is the moment my life began, before this I knew nothing and was nothing.

02/15/2007

10:42pm

6lbs 12.5oz 19 1/2in.

You are our world.

You are the most handsome boy, we have ever laid our eyes on.




You make us smile,
and you make us cry tears of joy.

We have watched you grow, and grow.

Your charm, your wit,
your laughter, your cries.

We will be here, until the

time comes that we have

to let you go, and take what

we have taught you, and

teach it to your own.

We love you so much Connor. You brighten our days

and you make life a fun ride.

We are so blessed you are ours,

and we can't imagine you not in our lives.

No..my name is NOT daddy!

Yes, my daughter calls me Daddy, STILL. I figured that she would stop as she got older, but NO. She says momma sometimes, but shes a big time daddy's girl! Shaun has been working overtime all week so when he gets home she starts dancing and running up to him. She gets soooo excited! Connor is more a mommy's boy, and loves spending time with me. He likes Shaun for the guy things. Playing baseball, xbox, wrestling..lol.

Today, we had a baking day. We baked blueberry muffins, and brownies. Connor made everything himself and put the muffins into cupcake holders, and mixed everything himself!-lol He had a blast! Madilyn helped as well, but she did more taste testing than helping, lol.

We were without internet for 2 days, it finally came back on an hour before I had classes tonight. College is going good so far, I am holding a 4.0, but with all of these projects coming up, I'm afraid my points are going to drop some. I am hoping to hold no lower than a 95% to keep my 4.0. currently have 100% in writing class, and 99% in Medical Terminology. Everyone says online college sucks, or whatever. I totally disagree I think it depend on the person. I am better with online learning, plus the benefits of going to Kaplan University, is that we have live seminars with teachers and classmates. So I like it, and enjoy it for my lifestyle. I love being home with my kids, so I don't have to leave home to get a degree!

I was sitting here thinking the other day about all my old friends, and how I dont talk to see anyone anymore! I would love to get together with everyone. I was looking at yearbooks, and how I had no room for anymore signatures, and about how I never thought I would have kids and now I have two! Wow...lol

Shaun will be getting a vasectomy soon, we do not want anymore kids we think two is enough and we are blessed to have one of each. By the time Connor graduates I will be 37, and when Madilyn graduates I will be 38. I will still be young enough to go out and do things and feel young and go on vacations and I just dont think I want to have kids growing up while I am in my 40s. I want to be a somewhat young grandmother, so that I am still able to play with them, and not be crippled in a walker lol. Of course I really would prefer my kids to be out of college, married, and in a good career before thinking about children.

Ok enough blabbing for me. Off to bed I go, I'm so sleepy!!!


It's the Ruby's

As you may know..

I really am terrible with these things. I can never keep up with them, but here I go again..making yet another one. I think this may be number 3 or 4? Lot's of exciting things going on recently. First of all...Connor turned 3 a week ago!! THREE YEARS OLD. Where does that time go? I remember holding him as an infant and cuddling with him all the time, awh I miss those days. I also am attending college at Kaplan University Online Campus. I finished my first term in January and I made President's List. Wow, what an accomplishment that was for me!

We are really not that exciting of a family. We do not have much drama going on, we try to stay away from it as much as possible. We don't do much, just kind of average I suppose. Although Connor thinks we are crazy, and that our house is crazy, and he doesn't like to play here, but he would prefer to play at Papaw's house because his house is NOT crazy!! He is so ready to go to school he wants to go so bad, but I think I'm going to wait until he is 4 to send him to preschool. He is STILL my baby and always will be. Ugh I do not want him to grow up, it's just not fair! Madilyn is definitely Shaun's carbon copy..she is just like him. She is sassy and has this grin that just makes you forget what you were even mad about. She is such a little trouble maker. Let me tell you, she loves to eat dog food..it grosses me out so bad! She is just such a tomboy, she loves to be dirty! -lol-

Shaun and I just celebrated our 8 years of being together, and our 2 year anniversary on Sunday, and I just can't believe its been so long. We are still going strong, we have our moments but who doesn't. Not everyone agrees with everything everyone does, so of course we are going to have arguments. We plan to go to Gatlinburg, TN this coming June and we are so excited. It will just be the two of us, while our parents watch the kids for us. We need this big time. We never had a honeymoon, and we've never really celebrated an anniversary just the two of us going and doing something. So therefore; we thought this would be great for the both of us, relax in the hottub, look at a mountains. BTW the cabin we are wanting to stay in is this.. http://www.americanmountainrentals.com/cabins/treetoppleasure.html
We are hoping by the time we get our tax returns, it is still available! It is so beautiful and the view is gorgeous and breath taking!

I don't have much else to talk about, so I'm heading to bed, to snuggle with my love.

((It's the Ruby's))