Weigh-In Day and the Elusive Mystery of PUMAS Revealed

Well, today is weigh-in day and I dreaded it. I honestly did not think I had lost a thing. In fact, I was afraid I might have gained because of, well, GIRLIE issues. Apologies to any menfolk that might be reading this. In fact, you can just stop reading right now.

Don't say I didn't give you ample warning.

You see, this is the SECOND month in a row that I have had, um, womanly occurrences. I don't do that. That's just not something my body does on its own. Hence why I have never been "with child." (Of course, I'm very much "with children" day in and day out. But, you know what I mean.)

Anyway, starting last month it happened on its own. And then, 5 weeks later, it has happened again. I must tell you, the letters P-M-S may be standard vocabulary for other households, but that's not something we've had to deal with on a regular basis. Well lemme tell ya, poor Keith is having to adjust to the new cyclical environment going on at Casa Bodiford and it ain't always so paradisical. (Yes, I made up that word...WHAT'S IT TO YA? Sorry, see what I mean?!) :-)

I have been tossing around the acronym PMS for a few weeks now and my sweet 6-year old sounds everything out when he thinks I'm spelling something he's not supposed to hear. So, he kept asking, "Mommy, what does "pumas" mean? I chuckled as I figured out what he was trying to spell.

"Well, son, um, it's something that girls go through when they're a little older. You don't need to worry about it."

Of course, that didn't do a lick of good. Every day, the Spanish Inquisition would commence as his curiosity about this particularly exotic acronym got the best of him. Finally, in an ill-timed, right-at-the-end-of-a-long-day trip to Wal-Mart, I was at the end of my rope. After the fiftieth time of asking him to stop touching things and asking to buy things, my son throws his hand on his hip and announces, "I have FINALLY figured it out!"

"What is that," I ask.

"What this PUMAS thing is. It means you're GROUCHY and GRUMPY. That's what it means."

Bingo, my boy.

Menu Planning Monday

Here are the recipes we're using for the Weight Watchers Core Plan this week:

July 7 - 11, 2008

Monday
Going out to eat!

Tuesday
Orange Pop Chicken (crock pot)
Brown Rice
Steamed Broccoli
Cucumber and Onion Salad (chilled)

Wednesday
Core Sloppy Joes (with whole wheat bun)
Grilled corn on the cob
Chilled Pickles
Deviled Eggs

Thursday - my "birfday" dinner!!!

Buffalo Chicken Lasagna
Layered Green Salad
Fruit Salad

Friday
Grilled pork chops
Pintos 'n cheese

Grilled Asparagus

Grilled pineapple kabobs

Enjoy!

The Fulfilling of a Dream

Not many people get to fulfill a dream at such a young age. You see, D is a train FANATIC. And Keith surprised him with the ride of a lifetime. Last Thursday, he went on a day-long business trip with Keith over to East Tennessee and got to drive a train all by himself. ALL BY HIMSELF. For an hour and a half.

It was a full-sized locomotive hauling empty limestone cars up a mountain. Over the course of the 17-mile journey, D. sat in the conducter's/engineer's/driver's? seat and pushed the right buttons, pulled the right pulley-things (good thing I wasn't driving, huh?) and had a BLAST. As you'll see on the video, he rang the bells at crossings, sounded the horn and looked like such a big boy!

I was so proud as I watched this, I think I shed a tear or twenty.

Blame it on PMS-- Proud Mama Syndrome.

Maybe This Time You Can Write it in Pen!

For years I have kidded folks that they should be sure to use a pencil when jotting down our address in their address books. A "Frequent Mover," I always felt I should have some sort of punch card or something...you know, like the ones where you get a free sammich after the purchase of 6 or so. It was just a thought.

Anyway, growing up with my Dad getting transferred often, my sister and I were able to embark on a new adventure every few years or so. Many kids may not have liked it but, to me, it was a chance for a fresh start. Whatever parts of the "you" people had gotten to know in a particular location could be all but "wiped away" when arriving in a new place. There was alwaysthe chance I might be a "cool kid" wherever we went; but, instead, my true goofball personality would usually bleed through in the first 5 minutes and any semblance of the International Woman of Mystery mystique I had hoped to enlist was out the window.

One year i did get exotic, though, and used my full first name Kathleen (instead of Katie). It was seventh grade and the name carried an air of sophistication -- or so I thought. All I did was get really confused about who I really was and by the time eighth grade rolled around, I was back to being plain ol' Katie again. I was immeasurably relieved.

Well, the time has come again for us to pack up our stuff (I know! Didn't we just get here?!?) and settle into a new house. We found one, made an offer on July 4 and should hear back by Monday. I'm pretty sure (if we can make it work) that we'll be in this one quite a while! In fact, I'm gonna go out on a long limb and say it's possible that you can write our address in ink this time.

If you're wild and crazy like that, you know.

My Not-So-Little Man

Katie and D ~ July 2008

Minus Three Tonight!

Menu Planning Monday

Here is my menu for this week: June 30 - July 4


Monday
Stuffed Chicken Breasts
Steamed Broccoli
Sliced Strawberries
Warm chocolate pudding with Cool Whip (fat free)

Tuesday
Sour Cream Salsa Chicken
Baked Brown Rice
Fiesta Corn
Green Beans

Wednesday
Fiesta Tamale Pie
Pintos 'n cheese
Cucumber 'n Onion Salad
Hot Banana Glory

Thursday
Indonesian Pot Roast
Roasted Potatoes
Seven-layer green salad
(greens, broccoli, cucs, onions, FF cheese
red and green peppers, etc.)

Friday-- Happy Fourth of July!
Grilled Hamburgers (Lean ground beef)
Whole wheat buns
Grilled Corn on the Cob
Fruit Skewers (great idea, Anna!!)
Fruit Dip

With You

We waved goodbye
And off we sped
With no plans made at all
The last time we were
Alone together
Is quite hard to recall

The evening sky
Was darkening
As we drove and talked about things
About houses and jobs
And parenthood
And the happiness it brings

We strolled along
While hand-in-hand
And marveled at the sights
The streets were filled
With happy people
And trees with their twinkling lights

It was such a treat
To be carefree
With nothing much to do
What made it special
Was the luxury
Of spending time with you........

***************************
written for my hubby in honor of our first date night since Bush took office--or January 30 of this year--I can't remember which. It was heavenly, this thing called Date Night. We might do it more often.

Jingles, Crushes and Another Day of Costumed Delight

I have a slight crush on a fake guy.

Well, he's not actually a fake guy, I'm sure he's a real guy. But, I do think he's pretty adorable. And, to prove that the marketing geniuses at Free Credit Report.com know exactly what they are doing, I walk around singing the tune..."shoulda gone to freeeeeeee credit, report. dot. com....I shoulda' seen it comin' at me like an atom bomb......"

You know the guy who sings in those commercials? He is just a cutie-pa-tootie if you ask me:



But, not quite as cute as the cutie that dressed like a pirate for the last day of Vacation Bible School this morning!

Arghhhhhhh, matey.

(click to enlarge)

A Little Click, but a Click Nonetheless

Wild 'n Crazy Times--Past and Present

It's one of those memories that has set up camp in my brain...never to fade...hanging around like a longtime buddy camped out in your Barca-Lounger munching on a bag of chips. Yeah, it hangs around like that. And, if you do not know what I mean by the term "Barca Lounger," you are most likely too young and I do not like you anymore.

Kidding. Sorta.

Anyway, back to the memory. It's 19-seventy-something and I'm in the fifth grade--my first day of a new school in the suburbs of Chicago. My sister is in second grade and it just so happens to be Halloween. We had heard from some neighbors that the kids do a really special thing at school for Halloween. You see, they have a costume parade around the playground and through the school. "How much fun!," we thought as we donned our costumes for a fun-filled first day.

My Mom loaded my sister and I up in our VW Wagon for the short drive to J.B. Nelson Elementary. We were there extra early since we were also registering--so no other kids had arrived at the time. Little did we know the social disaster that would soon befall our innocent, young, decked-out-in-costume-from-head-to-toe selves. And these were not the kind of costumes you just take on and off.

We were IN CHARACTER, y'all.

I was Becky Thatcher, Tom Sawyer's girlfriend, proudly wearing a custom-made Little House on the Prarie-ish dress, long stockings, boots, a bonnet and two long yarn braids pinned securely in my air since I had the ever-popular (but not braidable) Dorothy Hamil cut at the time (and if you don't know what that is either, I am going to apply for social security TODAY). To complete the ensemble, my Mom had tied my lunch up in a red bandana and secured it to the end of a fishing pole. I was so proud.

Now my sister was even more ornately decorated than I. She was an enchanted snow fairy, oh yes she was. Blue tutu and tights, ballet slippers and a homemade star wand beautifully complimented the gallon-sized jug of glitter we used on her face and hair. I remember her looking quite pretty and, well, sparkly. Very sparkly in her blue tutu she was.

Mom left us in the capable hands of the school administrators who, consequently, did not advise us on our fate. It was then that the first bell rang and the kids started pouring into the school. Kids that were dressed for a normal day of school only they were all toting large bags, bags that contained...yep, their Halloween costumes to be used AFTER LUNCH.

Tragedy? Yes. In fact, it was in my know-no one-at-the-school- and-now-I'm-a-laughing-stock young mind. My poor sister, standing there in her glitter-bedecked glory...well, at least we had each other. So, we trudged forward with the bravery of a front-line soldier into the cruel world of elementary school taunting. Our teachers did their best to make us feel comfortable and to comment favorably on the creativeness of our get-ups but the damage was already done.

If you are wondering how my Mom found out, well she passed our bus stop on the way home and saw neighbor children with their tote bags and, upon questioning little Andrew from next door, knew that we were in for a day. If she were still here I'm sure she could refresh my memory on her actions thereafter...but I think Jenny and I just chose to stick it out and forge on--anything to avoid getting undressed and redressed later.

I relay this story because yesterday was Crazy-Dress-Up Day at D's Vacation Bible School. My 6-year old could not have been more excited about the prospect of dressing wild 'n crazy (as he called it) but I for one was petrified. Especially when he asked me, "Mommy, what if I'm the only one dressed up?"

What do I say? "Well, honey, if you are, then you will carry years of emotional baggage which will cause you to miss out on all the fun dress up opportunities through the rest of your school years because you're too afraid?"

No. I said, "You won't be. I feel sure of it. And, even if you are, you are just having fun and you can have fun even if no one else does." I'm not so sure my shaky confidence was quite believable.

But, we did find the wackiest outfit we could put together and spiked his hair and found some wacky glasses and he looked adorable. And as we entered the sanctuary where hundred of kids were singing the opening song I noticed almost everyone had dressed "wild 'n crazy" and my child fit right in. And for a moment, I was standing there in my yarn braids and bonnet with my lunch on a stick...having the time of my life.

(click to enlarge)

From a Blank Screen to Waxing Philosophical...in 60.4 Seconds

This blank box with its blinking cursor waits patiently as I stare off into space.

blink

blink

blink

::crickets chirping::

My brain is fried, y'all. There are so many thoughts competing for my attention, I feel like the really important things--the things I should be focusing on--are like little stock traders on the floor of Wall Street. They clamor for my attention, earnestly trying to wade through all the mess that lay dormant inside my jumbled-up head.

You know, I'm chock full of ideas. Ideas about things to do with the kids this summer, fun new dishes to cook, giveaways for the fall conference I'm planning and even how I'd like to see my dream pantry organized. Ideas about blog posts I'd like to write, how to better keep in touch with family and friends as well as prioritizing neat vacation spots and how I can better keep up with the housework. All of these idea streams are snaking their way through my conscious train of thought all day. every day. But how many do I actually find the time to put into action?

Very few.

Why? Because life gets in the way. More immediate needs are pressing and, by the time I find my way to say...mailing a birthday present to a close friend on time? Well, it's too late. I really do want to be the person who always sends the card on time and who has it all together. And I'm working on it. Each day, I try and make little adjustments to bring me closer to the person I want to be.

You see, I'm not the coolest person in the room, the nicest dressed, the most polite or the funniest. I'm not the super-organized one or the one who could be considered the most consistent. I'm not the one who prefers to lead, nor am I one who's too keen on following. I try to be a lot of things...but most of the time I miss the mark.

Who am I then? I'm just me. Hanging there somewhere in the middle of wanting and having, desiring and achieving, dreaming and creating. I'm right there...in the place where life is sweet in its sweetest moments and bitter in the trying times. Like most people, I'm just trying to find my way and make the most of each wonderful 24-hour period I'm given.

Aren't we all?

Menu Monday

Here are the recipes we're using for the Weight Watchers Core Plan this week:

June 23 - 27, 2008

Monday

Diet Cola Grilled Chicken

"KFC" Coleslaw

Roasted Green Beans
Fresh fruit salad

Tuesday

Slow Cooker Pork Chops (crock pot)

Roasted Edamame

Whole Wheat Couscous
Warm chocolate pudding with fat free ready whip

Wednesday

Baked Tilapia

Cucumber Mango Salsa

Steamed broccoli
Grilled Bananas with fat-free cool whip

Thursday
Core Sloppy Joes (with whole wheat bun)

Grilled corn on the cob
Cucumber and Onion Salad (chilled)

Friday

--eating out--

Enjoy!

Tragedy in the Rainforest

So there I was, lodged in the curve of a semi-circle booth in the back corner of the Rainforest Cafe Saturday afternoon. My blue jeans glided smoothly onto the toucan-laden vinyl seats as the "ooh, ooh, ahh, ahh" chants of the mechanical monkeys welcomed us from their perch in the fake foliage above. Normally one to enjoy such an intriguing dining experience, I had but one thing on my mind: the BBQ Chicken Wrap.

To the un-dietarily focused reader, this might not seem like such a big deal. But, for the record, I have never visited the Rainforest Cafe and not partaken of the BBQ Chicken Wrap. It's pretty much everything I like about food. A buttery soft tortilla encasing a sweet and tangy BBQ chicken, cilantro, green onions and four (yes four) kinds of cheeses.

Come to Mama.

But as the faux thunderstorm clapped above us, I surveyed the menu in search of a, ahem...HEALTHIER alternative. Now, depending on your particular food tastes, this might not go down in the "Tragedy" column of your personal record books. And I know every time I post one of those "It's Clicked" weight loss tickers on my blog it makes it look so easy.

It's anything but. Especially when you're in a dark corner of a fake jungle with elephants roaring, lights flickering on and off, and a 7-month old squirming in your arms like a cage dancer on Solid Gold. I wanted a BBQ Chicken Wrap in all its cheesy glory. It's not that I couldn't have it, it's that I shouldn't have it. That's the tough part.

So, I did not order it. And, life went on. The world did not tilt on its axis because Katie didn't order the BBQ Chicken Wrap. But I can admit that I was not the happiest camper on the block for a little while. I pouted...a little. I grieved...a little. I ate grilled shrimp and veggies and dreamed of the cheesy, tangy goodness of which I'd deprived myself. But then I got over it.

And just as I was sliding out of my seat to leave, a server came up with several plates on his arm and said to the lucky patron in the next booth "BBQ Chicken Wrap?"

The little ironies of life never cease to amaze me.

Back from Indy

Apologies for my absence...I drove up to Indianapolis to do some pre-planning for our conference this October. And, my laptop is on the blink so no on-the-road bloggin' for me. (I will admit that it was kinda nice to have a break from the computer screen for a few days, though!)

I gotta tell you, folks. I LOVE Indianapolis. AB-sol-lute-ly love it. Truthfully, I was somewhat dreading that locale because I had never been there and it seemed like it had nothing to offer. Boy was I ever wrong.

Indy is a beautiful downtown with tons to do and see. It's a compact city with clean streets, friendly people, a canal snaking past cool museums and a zoo-- not to mention a gorgeous new stadium for the Colts. I dined at sidewalk cafes and walked around to the various spots we're using for our off-site functions and I never felt anything but safe.

And the food? People. The food. This was tough from the get-go since it was my first trip on the new program. But, I have never had such delicious salads and yummy steak and...and...well, it was allllllllll good. Especially the Asiago-Almond Pan Seared Scallops. Oh my good grief they were good. They weren't just good.... they were INCREDIBLE. Nestled atop a bed of orzo with sauteed asparagus and sweet roasted red peppers.......

OK, enough. I'm getting hungry.

Anyhoo--- I'll try to post some pics when I get unpacked. But, here's what I didn't get to post from Tuesday:

woo hooooooooo :)

Let's Get Physical, Physical...

The Lakers were beating the Celtics on one screen and the "Creepiest Towns in America" were being showcased on another. The whir of the ceiling fans harmonized with the grinding sound of the spinning rubber mat beneath my feet. Thunk, thunk, thunk...one foot after another...starting off slowly then reaching a cruising altitude of 3.5 miles per hour.

Such was my work-out last night.

I have never been a "gym-goer, workout kinda person." I'd a sooner had you string me up by my big toe than drag me to a place where: a) everyone is fitter than me and b) I'm gonna have to work hard at something I don't even enjoy. Blech. Who needs that?

But, come a lilttle closer. I want to whisper this in your ear so no one else will hear me say it. Come on, that's it...a little closer. Here goes (cupping hand over your ear) ...

"It's not so bad."

There. I said it. And, to make matters worse, I may (brace yourself) actually enjoy going to the gym. Yes siree, I cannot believe those words just came out of my mouth. It has actually come to be sort of a getaway for me. When I get there, I can usually look forward to some quality buddy time and a welcome smile from the trainer I've been working with. And, you know what? I am not the least fit person there. Now I'm not that inhuman woman that stays on the Satan-spawned elliptical machine for an HOUR, but I can hold my own. I can also look forward to the feeling of accomplishment that comes from getting in another day of cardio and weights.

Is this me really talking? Cardio? WEIGHTS? [laugh]

Last night, I went kind of late and it was particularly hard to get through the cardio on both the treadmill and the bike. At one point, I didn't think I could go on. So, I leaned back, closed my eyes and visualized myself stepping on the scale at Tuesday's meeting. In this vision, I could hear my leader saying "good job...2 pounds!" I may not end up losing that much but what it did was get me through so I could finish.

Hopefully, one day I'll look back and read this and wonder why it was so hard in the beginning. It's hard because it's a total lifestyle change for me. I am not accustomed to taking care of the wonderful gift that God gave me...my body. For too long I've been taking it for granted. In fact, next time I get to the hard part of a workout, I may close my eyes and just pray and thank Him for all my blessings.

I'm not perfect, I'm a work-in-progress... but I am blessed indeedy.

Shhhh, Don't Tell the Husband Person

My husband Keith is not very demanding. And, when it comes to the boys, he pretty much lets me dress/groom them the way that I want. Except when it comes to what he refers to as "the fru-fru dressy stuff."

Well, this outfit is one that was with a bunch of clothes we borrowed when Baby J. came home and I couldn't resist taking a couple pics of him in it before he grows out of it (since he's never worn it) No, it's not a rough-and-tumble boy outfit...but oh did the picture turn out to be so cute!

And Stacey, don't worry. Nibble away. I do it all. the. time.

If It Moves, If It Stays Still, If It is There, It's Going in My Mouth.

...and no, I'm not talking about me and my eating habits. :-)

"hmmm, what's this?"


"mmm, a round black thing. Mama calls it a lens cap thingie."


"I think I will eat it."


"Oh yeah, that makes me happy."

"Ooooh, a camera, I think I'll put it in my..............."

That Funky Movement I'm Making? That'd Be Called the Happy Dance!

Weight watchers weigh-in day... 4 more gone! woo hoooooo

It's All About the Planning

OK, so I stumbled upon the site OrgJunkie.com that encourages planning out your meals for the week... which I am ALL ABOUT by the way. And, because several folks have asked for some of the recipes we've been trying, I thought this would be a good way to post them all in one place.

Don't worry about these being Weight watchers/Core recipes...because they still sound delicious! In fact, I haven't tried one yet that I haven't loved. I guess that's why sticking to the plan has been so easy.

So, here is my meal plan for the week with links to the recipes I'm using. Let me know if you end up trying any of them!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

June 9 - 13, 2008

Monday

Buffalo Chicken Pot Pie with Cornbread Topping

Green salad with veggies and fat free dressing

Fresh cut fruit (cantaloupe, grapes, bananas)

Tuesday

Pineapple Chicken (crock pot)

Apricot Couscous

Steamed Broccoli

Wednesday

Mexican Meatloaf

Fiesta Corn

Fat free refried beans with fat free cheese

Thursday

Inside-Out Eggroll Casserole

Sesame green beans

Grilled pineapple

Friday

--on the road/ eating out--

Enjoy! I'll let you know how they turn out...

What a Slacker!

I seriously haven't posted since last WEDNESDAY? What in the blue blazes have I been doing? I know I had company starting Thursday, but GEEZ!

Well, I wanna update you on The Quest to Be Healthy at All Costs.

I'm doing really well this week! I'm exercising and sticking to the eating plan (Weight Watchers Core Plan) and am feeling more and more confident that I can make it through this to my goal. Sure, I struggle (like walking past the dessert bar today at lunch) but it hasn't stolen my motivation and drive so far.

These are some of the things I'm doing differently this time around:

• Journaling every. single. thing. that I eat. Not a single tic-tac or piece of gum is spared from this!
• Plan menus and grocery trips--it felt so good to go through the store with a PLAN last night...and to now have a pantry stocked with good-for-us stuff.
• Positive attitude-- i think this has been one of the biggest changes from past attempts to get healthy. I really, truly believe I can attain my goal. That is a huge change for me.
• Having a solid support network--including my hubby and my family doing the program, too--means that I'm not "alone" in my struggle. :-)

If I feel this good at 10 pounds lost, I can't imagine how 20, 30, 40+ pounds gone feels...but I'm looking forward to finding out!

You Know That Little Thing They Say Has to "Click" in Your Head?

When "diet" experts talk about motivation, willpower and the ability to follow through on a plan to get healthy, they always seem to mention that something in your brain has to "click" --allowing you to truly decide it's really time to get busy.

Well, whatever "it" is...it has clicked for me.

Since joining Weight Watchers a few weeks ago, I've lost 10 pounds (o.k., 9.6!) and I feel better than ever! I've tried to lose weight before but there was always something inside saying "you won't be able to do this. You will fail. Just like every other time, you will not succeed."

But that voice? It is gone.

It has been replaced with a feeling of determination and a true will to see my goal actualized. I can honestly say I have never felt like this before. Last night at our WW meeting, our leader asked us to write down the reasons we joined the program. I chuckled and turned forty-leven shades of crimson as I recalled one of the major factors. It shall forever be known as " The Unfortunate Accidental Photo of Myself Au Naturale." It happened on a trip as I was packing/getting dressed. I will go no further except to say that it was a day that scarred me forever...or at least motivated me to do sumthin' about it.

And, no, I did not share this with my fellow Weight Watchers folk. I spared them. But you? My faithful reader, with you I share all.

Well, almost.

[sly grin]

Anyway, I just wanted to declare my fitness goals publicly so that I will feel a bit more accountable. I am blessed to have a hubby doing the same eating plan with me as well as my sister-in-law and bro-in-law. Together, we are working hard to achieve our individual goals. But it SURE is easier to do it as a group! On the workout side, my Georgia buddy Melissa and my local buddy Mia are both keeping me on track. Mia and I met at the gym this morning and I did 50 minutes of cardio and worked my upper body on the equipment.

My eventual goal is to be a Weight Watchers leader-- but, to do that, I have to meet my lifetime goal...which is only an eensy weensy 74 pounds away. Hey-- it was 84 a couple weeks ago. I will get there. I truly believe that.

I hope I can count on you guys to be there, too. I need as much support as I can get!

At Least Two Pics Made It...

I started with these two pics and now it's doing the funky "close down Internet Explorer as soon as you try to post pics" thingie again. So frustrating! Here are two of the first ones I came to, though. Luckily, they are two of my favorites.

Baby J. and that smile of his...melts me heart.

Working on sitting up. Cute little bald thing. I could eat him up.

A Special Kind of Love

November 19 was a day that changed my life forever. That was the day that I met the birthmother of my future child. I was nervous that we wouldn't be what she expected and she'd immediately change her mind.

That didn't happen.

Instead, I met someone with whom I now have an explainable bond. And, as a gesture that had to be unbelieveably difficult on her part, I received a Mother's Day card from her this year. I feel so guilty that I did not return the favor-- but I was completely unaware of how that particular day might be affecting her. I could only imagine how painful it must have been and I certainly didn't want to bring attention to her loss.

But the card I received from her? Ya'll. It brought me to tears. I sat in my driveway sobbing huge crocodile tears. One part read, "I have been so sad since J's birth. I miss him so much but I know in my heart that you and Keith are the best thing I could have ever given him. I wish I could hug you and thank you in person...thank you for being such a wonderful Mom."

Lawdy mercy.

She also included some lyrics to a song that played at a birthmother's celebration she attended. It's a song titled, "Everything to Me" by Mark Schultz. Part of the lyrics that really got me were... "But you had dreams for me, you wanted the best for me, and you made the only choice you could that night. You gave life to me, a brand new world to see, like playing baseball in the yard with Dad at night, Mom reading Goodnight Moon and praying in my room..."

Lawdy lawdy mercy.

It was a very special Mother's Day surprise. I always thought (when considering adoption) that I would never desire to have a relationship with my child's birthmother. But, instead, I have this strange maternal feeling of wanting to protect her...to make sure she's OK. I love her in every sense of the word. Because of her selflessness, I have one of the two greatest gifts I've ever been blessed with. I am forever grateful to her for her decision.

A blogging buddy of mine, Anna, recently received her own special birthmother tribute. And guess what? It brought tears to my eyes, too. You're shocked, huh?

Can My Title Be : "Car Ridin, Beachy Things, Family Time, Pound Cake Avoidance and Other Vacation Recollections"?

It can? OK, so shall it be.

After going six days without posting, this road-weary traveler isn't sure where to start?

Maybe I should do a Trip in Pictures! Who can resist a good picture, right? And think of all the describin' I can spare you from? (oops-- I ended in a preposition... think of all the describin' from which I can spare you... is that better? One never knows when one's seventh grade grammar teacher or grammatically superior former coworker might be reading. I'm just saying.)

Did I digress? I don't digress, do I? Am I a habitual digresser? Digressor? Can you tell I'm in classic Blog Post Avoidance Mode? Ok, Ok, I'll get to it.

OR...maybe I won't. I have tried for two days to upload pics and each. and. every. time I do it shuts down my blog. Curses!

So [evil laugh] you get poetry. Oh yeah. That's right. A little versin' as I'm cursin'. OK, I'm not really cursin. But it VERY FRUSTRATING. Just think, once I figure out why my blog has gone postal on me, I will add the pictures, too. It'll be an EXTRAVAGANZA of VACATION DELIGHT. Oh yes it will.

Suffice it to say, our week was full of car ridin, potty breaks, sand, surf, a baby's first taste of the ocean and lots of quality family time. It was glorious. So, here comes some rhymin':

Twas a week of vacation
'Cross more than one state
We started at my inlaws
And got in quite late

Had fun with the family
All the kids came
With sunshine and swimming

The little ones we tamed

There was lots of good cookin'

That I couldn't eat

(And my mom-in-law's poundcake

Simply canNOT be beat)

I spent the whole week
Staying true to my plan

Then I went to eat mexican

With my kids and my man

The corn chips, they got me

I ate way too much

I hope I don't pay for it

When a scale my feet touch

But back to vacation

What a great week we had

Spent time with Keith's family
Then visited my Dad

There was fun at the beach

And a waterpark, too

And then, we were packin'

Boy, time really flew!

We took lots of pictures

Which I hope to soon add

To show all the world

What a great time we had!

* * *

Greetings from Alabama

We have been at our inlaws for a few days and today we're on our way down to Navarre Beach, Florida to stay for the rest of the week...yeehaw!

The boys have been super and we have had a great time with all of Keith's brothers and his sister and their families joining us. There have been 18 (19 including my sister-in-law's little boy on the way!) so it's definitely been a little nuts around here!

The biggest challenge for me has been sticking to the Weight Watchers Core Plan so far! Walking through this house past Mamaw's famous moist homemade pound cake, jars of cookies and a vat of scrumptious homemade mac 'n cheese has almost driven me to the brink of "life-change" disaster. Grilled hamburgers, potato salad, potato chips...ah, the list goes on and on. My mother-in-law is a fantastic cook so I knew it would be my biggest challenge yet but so far I'm hanging in there. In fact, every time I make a conscious choice not to eat something that I'm craving, I feel a little stronger and a little more committed to my goal.

That's something I haven't felt in a long time.

Happy Memorial Day to all those who have served our country. I hope you all have a wonderful week!

A Trifecta of Happiness

It's about time you heard me pour forth with good news, huh?

For weeks now, you've sat patiently by while I moaned and groaned about the various ills that had befallen our family. None of them life shattering, but just frustrating enough to be gripe-worthy.

But... yesterday three great things happened. Three things that made me jump for joy.

First, we got the call that D. had tested negative. Lemme tell ya, there was some happy dancin' goin' on in this household. Before I got off the phone with the doctor's office, D. was clad in his swimsuit and lookin' for a towel.

Secondly, we GOT A CONTRACT ON OUR HOUSE IN GEORGIA. It's no secret how bad the market is right now...so the fact that we got a contract in less than 2 months is nothing short of a.m.a.z.i.n.g.

And finally, I joined Weight Watchers a week ago so that my hubby and I could go through the program together. Last night was my first weigh-in and I was so nervous. I truly was hoping for two pounds. I felt like I had lost more but didn't dare get my hopes up for fear of becoming discouraged. So, when I got to the desk to weigh-in, I climbed up on the scale and the receptionist said, "wow did you have a good week!" I glanced down at my card and watched her write -6.4 #... I lost six and a half pounds last week! As hard as it was to not stray from the Core Plan (the program we chose), it was rewarding to know that I had achieved my first small goal of losing weight that week. Onward!

So...good news reigned supreme over the past 24 hours of my life. Thanks for being there and for being interested through the good and the bad times. Hopefully, the trend will continue upward!

We Had a Plan...

...as soon as the doctor called with the news that Daniel had tested negative for Shigella, our neighbors knew we would be running across the street, opening the gate and Daniel would immediately jump into the pool to celebrate!

Well, guess what . . .

A Night at the Drive-In

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A Sunday Drive

I'm posting these individually so they can be clicked on and enlarged... if you know of a way to include them all in the same post and have them be able to be viewed larger...please tell me your secret!

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Lookin' Back: May 17, 2007

I've decided that it's kinda cool to look back at my blog and see what was I was writing about on that same day in previous years (since I'm in my third year of blogging). So, from time to time, you may see the post title "Lookin' Back" if I think it's a post I'd like to share with some of my new readers. I love to skim through the archives of blogs that I follow but don't always know where to start!

Hope you all have a great weekend and thanks so much for all your support over these last few weeks. Keep it comin--it really does make the goin' just a little easier!

Here's my post from this same day last year. This is probably one of my favorite pics that I've ever taken. It really did seem like I had stumbled on Paradise...enjoy.

I'm Still Here But Me Nerves, They Were a Frazzlin'

Okey doke, folks...there really must be an end in sight, right?

Don't answer that.

Things were looking up today so I actually relaxed and settled in for a day of rest, renewal and mental restoration. hhmmph...you're not buying it, are you?

Baby J. has been a fussy fuss-pot all. day. long and I can tell that the antibiotics that they have been injecting him with for the past three days are taking a toll on his tummy. He's eating maybe 3 out of every 6 ounces and knocks the bottle away the first moment he's had "enough."
I must say that the incessant whine of his cry is a little much sometimes-- only because I would give anything to know what is hurting him at that exact moment.

But, I have to tell you...(and she'll probably kill me for doing so)...about the impeccable timing of the lovely Stacey over at Happy are We. Just prior to our last "incident" of the day, the doorbell rings and I see a blur of a man clad in brown jump in a UPS truck and drive away. There, sitting on my front porch, was a box that read ProFlowers. Inside, compliments of Stacey and her family, were twelve of the most beautiful gerber daisies I have ever seen. There are kind deeds and then there are those little surprises in life that fuel us to go a little longer, to give a little more and to get through what happened ten minutes later as my infant child once again deposited the full contents of his belly upon my person and my furniture.

Friendship, timing, thoughtfulness, frazzled nerves and the kindness of a fellow blogger...such were the ingredients of this day--a day that, when mixed all together, actually didn't turn out so bad!

Well, Funville Just Transitioned into "Oh-Yeah-I'm-Having-a Blastville"

I know better than to utter the words "it can't get much worse." But I can certainly think it.

This morning, 8:45am, I get a call from the doctor's office saying that D's results are still out. I hang up in utter frustration only to discover that Baby J. is looking pale and is burning up. I take his temp (which normally runs 98 or so) and he has a fever of 101. He then proceeds to begin projectile vomiting. I call the dr. back and they tell me to bring him in.

Fast forward to a cramped, freezing cold exam room with a bored-to-tears 6-year old playing with a toy truck (insert sound effects here) "Vrrooooooooooom, vrrrrooommmmmmmmmm..." and a 5-month old wiggling and screaming in my arms. Couple that with the deafening screams from the child in the next room and you've got one stressed mama on your hands.

To sum it up, Baby J. had to have blood drawn (ouch--stick-scream) and a shot of anti-biotic in his thigh (ouchhh-another stick-more screaming). As I was holding him down and asking D. to quit reading "Green Eggs and Ham" outloud at the top of his lungs, I felt tears welling up in my eyes. "It can't get much worse," I thought to myself. That's when the door opened and a remorseful-looking nurse with a clipboard walked in and said, "I really don't want to tell you this right now."

My heart sunk.

"D.'s labs just came in and...he has once again tested positive for Shigella."

That was the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back. I had reached the point of no return as my emotions came flooding forth. I listened as the doctor outlined D's continued treatment including him not being able to return to school. Period. I realized that he would not get to be with his new friends to finish out the year and that he would miss ice cream day and flip flop day and Field Day...the trifecta of happiness in a kindergartener's world.

So, we loaded up our things and headed back to the house (by way of the pharmacy, of course) where I would once again feel trapped with no end to the madness in sight. D. can not be with other kids, cannot go to a park or any other place where he might transfer germs inadvertantly. Baby J. has once again thrown up all over me, had some mild diarrhea and has fever--causing the doctor who just called some alarm that he might, too, have been infected with Shigella.

I am to go back to the dr. tomorrow to get J. another anti-biotic shot and to turn in a sample from him to be cultured.

This, too, shall pass. Of that, I am sure. But, in the midst of all the crazy, it feels like it will go on for a blue forever.

Please feel free to send notes of encouragement to:

Katie, The High Priestess of Crazy
123 Looney Bin Lane
Oh-Yeah-I'm-Having-a-Blastville, Tennessee
55555

:-)

Welcome to Funville, I'm Katie and I'll Be Your Host

My child has been out of school since last Tuesday with a reported parasite (I just love that word, don't you? It's so refreshing and pleasant...parasite. MMmmmm.) Anyhoo-- we are STILL waiting on the results of his latest culture so that we can find out if it's negative giving him the "all clear" to return to school.

So, we go to the doctor this afternoon and, surprise of all surprises, the results are still inconclusive. In fact, the doctor said, "that's actually not so good because that's exactly the report we got right before he was diagnosed last week. That could mean it's still growing something."

Still growing something? No, that's not alarming in the slightest.

And, while we were there (actually, the REASON we were there) the doctor checked out Baby J. and discovered not one, but TWO ear infections. No wonder he's been Mr. Whiny McWhinerton for the past 24 hours. Hopefully the antibiotics will kick in and we'll have our happy baby back!

Now, on a lighter note, here are some pics from Mother's Day in the Roses are Red household:

With a couple of sick youngins, we couldn't go anywhere. So, the hubs fixed up an indoor picnic with chicken salad, strawberries, deviled eggs and fresh flowers. It was a nice way to dine with my boys! (the best part were the "nature sounds" he downloaded on iTunes to simulate the outdoors...very cool...)

D-man dressed himself complete with a long sleeve shirt and Christmas tie. I sure do love my handsome lil' fella.

I believe that Baby J. had had his fill of the Mother's Day festivities.

A close-up of my beautiful flowers...

And finally, one of my favorite shots taken of the lone sunflower in my arrangement:

Enjoy and keep our boys in your prayers. Hopefully, we'll all be on the mend soon!

The Times, They are a Changin' (or Prayers that My Son Doesn't End Up on a Paternity-Test Talk Show One Day)

I thought I wouldn't have to have this discussion until my child was much closer to stubborn acne and a voice change.

My 6-year old kindergartener had 2 girls come up to him at school and say "hey--do you think we're sexy?"

SEXY? In KINDERGARTEN?!?

So then I get the question, "Mom, what does sexy mean?"

::crickets chirping::

"Well, honey, um, er, it means that someone is trying to be noticed and they may try to dress, well, um...oops, I think something's burning on the stove."

Lawddddddd help me. Shouldn't I have years to prepare for this?

A couple days later, D. starts singing a familiar song. It goes "_______ and ________ sittin' in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G...first comes love, then comes marriage, then comes ________ with a baby carriage. Only, he inserts his name and the name of five girls one of whom is Hannah Montana.

I am so in trouble.

We Have a Winner...or Four of 'Em, Actually

Thanks to all who entered the Mother's Day Giveaway...and I hope everyone is having a nice, relaxed day! Thank you, too, for sharing a little about your faith. I am inspired by your stories and appreciate you taking the time to share!

The winners of the CD Giveaway are:

Shannon P.

Amber

Mama Razzi

Emily

If you are one of the lucky gals and did not provide contact information, please click here to send me an email with your mailing address.

CONGRATULATIONS and thanks to all for stopping by!

It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's...a GIVEAWAY!

With Mother's Day this weekend, I thought I'd do a little giveaway. But, even better than that, I get a chance to spotlight one of my favorite new bands--Anvue!

The minute I heard this L.A.-based Christian duo, I fell in love with their upbeat, folksy style. In fact, Sarah's voice reminds me a little of Norah Jones--very soothing. They describe their music as "driven by acoustic guitar with soulful alternative/folk rock melodies that are filled with hope & love."

And, the cool part is that they are sending me four CDs to giveaway for Mother's Day...so here's what to do:

1) Leave a Comment on this post through 11:59pm Saturday night (Central US time).

2) Be sure to include your email if you're commenting anonymously

3) If you are a Mom (or a Dad!), I'd love it if you'd mention one way that your relationship with Christ helps you be a better parent (**but you don't have to be a parent to enter...the giveaway is open to everyone!)

I'll randomly select four winners and will announce them here on Mother's Day. Believe me, you won't be disappointed...Anvue's music is truly inspiring!

And Then She Decided it Was Time to Post Some Pictures of the Youngins!

My 6-year old toothless wonder...

My 5-month old toothless wonder

D-man hangin' out on a rainy day

Tummy time with Baby J.--ah, that little smile!

How in the World Do You Pronounce That?!

It's pronounced Shi-gell-uh. Shigella. It's what D. has been diagnosed with, finally.

After hounding the pediatrician's office for 2 days to get the results, I was told that the lab work showed he had contracted Shigella--a parasitic infection akin to E.Coli but treatable with antibiotics.

Has anyone ever heard of this?

Apparently, it affects the large intestine and is very, VERY contagious. Happy joy. "He musn't be around other children." Oh, so NOW you tell me. It would have been nice to find that out BEFORE he went to school for two days this weeks. I'm just sayin'.

So, Typhoid Mary of the Kindergarten World is home with me for the rest of this week and possibly half of next. He has absolutely NO symptoms (which, incidentally, is why I sent him to school Monday and yesterday) and is as energetic as ever. Combine this energy with a love for his little brother and then require that I keep them from touching each other. Whoa nelly, what a day it was.

Did you know it's next to impossible to monitor the every move of an oh-so-mobile-and-non-sick-feeling 6-year old boy? Where is he going? What is he touching? Who is he touching? Did he go to the bathroom? Did he wash his hands?

It's exhaussssssting.

We are blasting him wth antibiotics and will have to do a stool culture (you weren't eating, were you?) on Thursday and one again on Saturday to make sure they are negative before he can return to school.

Please keep him in your prayers... this, too, shall pass!

4 years ago today...

We had stayed up late the night before practicing what Keith would say. If the judge grilled him on why we were looking to adopt, he knew the answer: we wanted to be parents more than anything in the world. We wanted to give a child with no parents a loving home. All the endless possibilities of questions that he might ask were addressed and we went to bed and barely slept a wink.

The next day, May 6, 2004, we got dressed...trying our best not to burn our clothes with the iron and electrical settings to which we were not yet accustomed.

The ride to the courthouse was a quick one and we were led into a dusty hallway to sit and wait. The stark walls and shabby interior reminded us that we were light years away from home and completely at the mercy of a people whose language we did not understand.

I went through the laundry list of Russian courtroom etiquette in my head. We were to stand when the facilitator looks at us. Keith would speak only when spoken to. We would both smile and look the judge in the eye. Keith would talk slowly so the interpreter could relay the information.

Our nerves were shot before we even stepped into the courtroom.

Soon, it was our turn and we were asked to come in. I took the picture above just as we were getting ready to walk down the long hallway. This was it. This is our chance to be a mother and father to our precious boy. "Do not screw this up, Katie," I thought to myself.

After thirty minutes of Keith being grilled on everything from his desire to be a parent to our time with Daniel, he asked Keith why we liked this "American football" and what we would do with the child while we attended the games. Keith calmy replied, "we will buy him a ticket!" The members of the court laughed and, luckily, a bit of the tension subsided.

Just when we thought it was over, the judge asked me to stand. Me? We had been told that the women never stand...they never ask them to testify. Why was I being asked to stand? I had not thought of anything to say. We had not practiced this. Inside, my guts went on a 30-second roller coaster ride and I braced my hand on the front of the bench where I was seated.

After stating my name, I looked to the facilitator to see what question I would be asked. I looked back at the judge and tried to read his expression as he spoke. He was matter-of-fact and serious in tone. My hands started to quiver and I felt weak in the knees. Finally, the interpreter spoke.

"He would like to know why you would like to be a parent," she said in a thick Russian accent.

Suddenly, my mind was racing...filled with images of home study documents, medical reports, questionnaires about my childhood...it all hung in the balance.

Tears filled my eyes and my voice cracked as I spoke:

"I want to be a parent so that I can give a child that has no home two parents who will love him and teach him that he has a family that will never leave him--no matter what. I want him to have the same wonderful experiences that we had growing up and to be able to provide him with a lot of love and laughter."

I could no longer contain my emotions. Months of fees and paperwork, medical tests, caseworkers visiting our home, and two trips to Russia and we were finally to this point. All the worrying about how to cover the costs and wondering if we would ever see this day. It all culminated at that one moment. The judge took a brief recess and returned to his chambers to deliberate our fate.

Thirty minutes later, the verdict was in: adoption granted.

We were now the proud parents of a little boy with the biggest brown eyes we had ever seen. He was our child to raise, to love, to encourage and to watch grow into the determined, talkative, brilliant goofball he is today.

We love you, Daniel. Four years ago today our lives changed for the better. Thank you for letting us be your Mama and Daddy. We are the luckiest people in the world.

Miracle Monday

OK, so I was inspired by Beth's Miracle Monday posts...so I thought I'd share one of my own.

After we adopted D. from Russia, I went to work for the adoption agency we had used. Mistake. Big mistake. Right from the beginning, I sensed that I was not employed by the most ethical of people. Let me back up and say that D.'s adoption went very smoothly and was done "by the book." But, after getting a "behind the scenes" taste of the company, I realized the facilitator we used (which happened to be the parent company of our agency) did not have the best reputation.

So, I was pretty much miserable. Every day.

D. was in child care and, to make matters worse, my hubby and I were commuting an hour and a half ONE WAY every day because his company had been bought out and his new position was north of Atlanta--and we were south. Every day, I would get in the car at 5:00pm and cry all the way home. I despised my job, I hated the commute and the fact that I never got to see the child that I had traveled halfway cross the world to find.

Something had to change.

So, one night, I couldn't sleep. All I could do was pray. I prayed hard. I asked God to make it possible for me to have a job where I could be at home with my son yet still contribute to the financial needs of our family. I laid in bed wide awake perusing my mental Rolodex for anyone in my past that might be able to point me in the right direction. At one point, I thought about an old friend that I hadn't spoken to in at least 6 years. He and I had worked for different associations in the same industry and had come to know each other by sharing ideas and seeing each other at random industry conferences. His name is Craig and, as far as I knew, he still lived in Alabama.

I quickly dismissed that idea because I hadn't the confidence to phone someone up and say "hey-- you need someone to plan events for you? Someone that is working at an adoption agency and wants to work for you out of her house?"

The next morning, I went to work as usual...resigned to the misery of our current situation. I went through my day on autopilot, pining for the time to come when we would once again climb in our vehicle and sit in traffic for nearly 2 hours with our child waited on the other end of town. As was custom, I broke down into tears and told my hubby that I didn't think I could do it anymore.

Then my cell phone rang. I dug into my purse to pull it out and saw an Alabama area code with an unfamiliar number.

"Hello?, " I answered.

"Katie?," said the voice on the other end of the line.

"This is Katie."

"Hey, Katie, this is a blast from your past. This is your old pal Craig. How are ya?"

I felt confused. Craig? How did he? Why was he? How ironic that he would call after I had just thought of him the night before. I looked over at my husband with a look of total bewilderment.

"Katie, I know this sounds a little odd. But, I was wondering if you were working right now and whether or not I could interest you in an opportunity."

This was not happening. Couldn't be.

"Sure, whatcha got?," I anxiously replied while trying to not let on about my utter surprise.

"Well, I'm still with the same association and I'm looking for someone to plan our events and meetings but preferably from their home."

There is no way that he said what he just said.

"Are you kidding me?," I replied in an obviously stunned voice.

Knowing that Craig was a fellow Christian I relayed the story of the past 24 hours to him and he was as blown away as I was. His explanation was that I had "come to mind" the night before and he thought it might be something I'd be interested in doing.

Some speak of this thing called coincidence. I speak of miracles. There is no other explanation for what happened on that January day in 2005. God heard my prayer and it was answered. I am still employed by them today and could not be happier.

***

Check out other Miracle Monday stories over at Beth's place...and feel free to share one of your own!

The Briefest of Memoirs

I was tagged by Missy over at It's Almost Naptime! about 50 bazillion days ago to do this and (I'm so sorry, Missy) I forgot to post it here. By the way, if you haven't discovered her jewel of a blog, go check it out. Good stuff!

The challenge is to describe yourself in 6 words. I finally took a stab at it:


Undeserving, but nonetheless forgiven and loved.


Ok, it's my turn to tag...

Amber and MamaRazzi

Update on D-Man

Well, a couple days later finds us well in the Bodiford household with a wonderful weekend under our belt! Whoda thunk that we would have had a wonderful, relaxing Saturday after the events of Friday afternoon?

D. awoke yesterday morning feeling great and with everything (I won't go into specifics) in check. All is back to normal and he has certainly returned to being his gregarious self. We are mighty relieved but still interested to see what the test results are from Friday. We should find out something Monday afternoon at the latest.

Thank you for the calls, comments and emails we've received. It's reassuring to know so many folks care!

Mama on Da Brink

Last night was one of those nights.

Baby J. couldn't breathe very well since he was so congested so we had him in the room with us. Then, at 1:30am, I feel a familiar tug on my shoulder...

"Mommy?"

I jostle awake to find the silouhette of my six-year old standing by my bed.

"Yes, baby?"

"My tummy hurts. I'm havin' the diarrheas." (More than one?!)

I get him some medicine and take him back to his room where I proceed to lay down in his other bed for awhile.

3:30am...crying from our bedroom downstairs. I pad my way down the steps to find Keith trying to comfort Baby J. I fix him a couple ounces to tide him over til' morning, feed him and lay back down at 4:15am.

4:30am: "Mommy?" Now, unless Baby J. has bypassed crawling and walking and is now speaking coherantly, D. has returned.

5:00am finds a foursome sacked out in our bed. That is, until the alarm goes off.

Our day begins.

Skipping all the gory details to spare the sensitivities of the more fragile members of my readership (which includes me by the way!), suffice it to say, Daniel was not well today in the potty department. I wasn't overly concerned until I saw blood (sorry) Lots of it. The pediatrician wanted to see him immediately.

Fast forward to a brightly-lit exam room, a child on the table kicking his legs back and forth and asking--over and over-- whennnnnnnnnn is the doctor going to come in???? How longgggggg is it going to be? A five-month old in my arms wiggling and bucking like he's on the electric bull at Gilly's or trying to channel his inner Greg Luganis by doing a swan dive backwards out of my arms. He then proceeds to spit up all over the front of my shirt as the doctor walks in. I announced, "you are witnessing a Mama on the brink!" She understood and got to examinin'.

Bottom line? We must wait an entire (grueling) weekend to find out if D. has an E. Coli infection. It could also be salmonella or one or two other long, consonant-laden words I can't recall. I came home and did stool samples--reaffirming that I had made the correct choice when switching majors from nursing to marketing in college.

Now we must wait. Wait and keep a very active young boy from overdoing it and push liquids into his system continuously.

I'm trying to keep a sunny disposition, I swear I am. But I can't help but be a little worried, y'all.

I'll keep you posted.

The Hot Tamales

The boarding doors are closed and once again, we're packed like sardines in a metal airborne tube.

Both members of the little Hispanic couple next to me are short and compact...he with his dusty cowboy boots and a handlebar mustache and she stuffed into an olive green suit with a slicked back ponytail that shines in the glow of the pinlight above her head. Holding hands, whispering sweet nothings, they are hidden away in the last row--their little love nest--also known as Row 38, seats D and E.

His boots come off and I can't help but smile at the sight of his short little toes wiggling around in little white socks. They feast together on an airline meal of grapes, crackers and cheese...acting as if they are not in the back of an airplane but instead tucked away in a cozy, romantic booth in a very fine restaurant.

He's smooching her cheek again.

I shall call them the Hot Tamales...this cute little twosome beside me.

They make me smile.