Process of Home Buying is Tedious and Stressful!

I am in the beginning process of purchasing a home in North Carolina. It has just begun and I am already nervous with the concept of paying a mortgage. It is kind of scary buying a home for the first time ever but I am giving it a shot! Took time to consolidate some bills in November, paid off 6 separate bills and lowered my interest rate tremendously and I am happy about that but I still have a car note and credit card. So overall I am sitting ok, as long as the loan gets approved. I am a little nervous about that part of it, moving back home, enrolling Cameron in a new school and starting all over with his Special Needs. I just hope the process is not as hard as it was here in Hawaii. Took me almost 1.5 years to get Cameron his benefits and here we are leaving in June 07. Wish me luck!

More pictures of Cameron and the Tree!

Here is Cameron Playing with Thomas the Train Set!
He didn't do too well with the motorized one, so I will
have to put down the old wood tracks and get him a
couple of the big old trains to play with. He still likes
to push them around the track!

Next year, we get to decorate the tree in OUR HOUSE!
I can't wait!

Christmas Day 2006 in the Icenhour House

Cameron had fun playing with his
new Train Set (Thomas and all the trains)
His daddy sent him a couple of trains
and I got him 4 new trains as well
so he had plenty to choose from!
He played with
him ALL DAY!

MIGRAINES! Here they come....

I have been going thru this cycle of migraines and no sleep! Don't know what to do. The doctor changed my medications and I guess it is taking my body some time to adjust and it is causing me problems. For one, stress is getting to me, because I had to slowly stop the other anxiety medication that I was on to help me cope with Cameron's situation and school and work, etc, etc, etc....then get off of it all together, then slowly start another one, well it takes up to a month for the other one to kick in but I need it now. I can feel it! I don;t drink caffeine at night or after 3:00pm, and I was up ALL NIGHT LAST NIGHT, thinking about all kinds of stuff! The house, Cameron, School, work, etc! Anything and everything! I am SO TIRED right now! So I am going to lay down and try to get rid of this migraine that I picked up AFTER THE MOVIE! Man, I can't win for losing when it comes to these things.... almost making me nauseous...(sp)

Christmas Photos done by Walmart! Not Bad!

I thought they would turn out horrible but not bad at all, both of us were smiling and Cameron had a good ole time with that lady! She did a fine job and just look at that smile, worth a million bucks! Don't you just want to squeeze him to death! Now ladies, watch out in your mailbox, you have a surprise coming!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Doctor told me," SOMETHING HAS TO GIVE!

I couldn't believe it! I have been so tired lately. I spoke to my buddy Jim Shelton about it a few days ago and I have labs to do tomorrow morning to make sure it is not thyroid or nothing like that, but he thinks I am totally WIPED OUT! He thinks my body can't take anymore stress and something is going to happen! Well I have been doing ok until these past two months, I have been feeling the pinch. Been tired everyday, it is taking more than 2-3 cups of coffee to wake me up and I don't wake up until lunch. Can't get to the gym until after work because I can't wake up and get moving. Breaking in new Personal assistants for my son, training them, buying new boosters seats for their cars so they can bring Cameron home and I can go to tanning booth and gym! This past semester kicked my ass in work load! Always on the computer! Well only 8 classes left and I graduate with my Bachelor Degree in Human Resource Managment! Yeah Me! Lets hope I can hold up until August! :)-

A lot has happened in the last two weeks!

Well it is about time but Cameron has FINALLY got the assist from the State of Hawaii in the area of "PAP" or Personal Assistance Program. What that means is that he is allowed 25 hours of one on one of a personal assistance per week, any way I want it, so I ask for after school! If I can get my work to agree that I can come in late, then I won't need before school care either and I can put him on the bus every morning and just be like a hour late everyday! We will ask that after the new year and after I get closer to retirement! That will save me about $275 dollars a month in daycare and I will put that DIRECTLY in the HOUSE FUND! I am saving towards buying my house later next year, if all possible, if not I will make the decision to stay here another year and let Cameron finish another school year here and I will return home in 2008. I am also authorized for RESPITE, which the state will give me so much $$ a quarter to go and do "ME" stuff, since I don't go anywhere and do anything for myself, like go to the mall, and shop, or just walk around, meet other women and maybe get involved with a support group. Sometimes I feel like I am going at this alone, but I finally feel that I am getting the support that Cameron deserves, I mean it is coming late in my time here in Hawaii, but it is coming, so I am not knocking it!

If I stay in Hawaii another year, I will get a part time job, probably working at the gym, training and will go to school in pursuit of my Master's Degree in Early ChildHood Education, with a Minor in Special Education. I mean, why not! With me retiring from the Navy and I am sure to get some disability with all the injuries and surgeries that I have had in my 22 years, they will PAY for my degree and all my supplies and then give me $600 a month to attend full time. I don't see a down side to that...In turn, my son can still attend the school that he loves, they love him, and now he is getting all the services that he deserves. I will let GOD sort this one out for me! Too much on my brain for me! Oh well! That is it for tonight! Later!

Oh yeah! Retirement ceremony date is 27 April/PunchBowl Cemetary... Be there!

Christmas Photos-Preparing House For Holidays

Not yet finished, but here is the starting product, the tree is done, still need to put his New NORTH POLE EXPRESS around it, and I still need to lay the SNOW on the PORCH and hang the ICE CYCLE LIGHTS around the house. I usually wait until the day after Christmas to go looking for bargins for decorations but I do need to pick up a new Wreath!

DALLAS sends the COLTS home holding their BUTTS!

IRVING, Texas - The 1972 Dolphins can rest easy once again.

The Indianapolis Colts' nine-game undefeated streak ended Sunday at Texas Stadium thanks to a breakthrough performance from the Cowboys' defense. Dallas baited Peyton Manning into two interceptions and held the Colts to two touchdowns in a 21-14 victory.

The Cowboys took their first lead with six minutes left in the fourth quarter on a one-yard score by running back Marion Barber. Manning then drove the Colts (9-1) inside the Dallas 10, but he threw an incomplete pass on fourth-and-2 from the 8.

The Cowboys (6-4) will play again Thursday, hosting Tampa Bay here on Thanksgiving.

Strong defense overshadowed two of the NFL's top offenses in the first half, but Manning broke a scoreless tie on a 23-yard touchdown pass to Reggie Wayne with 10 seconds left. Cowboys kicker Mike Vanderjagt, who spent the previous eight seasons with the Colts, missed two field goal attempts in the first half, including a 46-yarder at the end of the second quarter.

Both teams traded touchdowns in the third quarter. Cowboys linebacker Kevin Burnett tied the game at 7-7 after intercepting Manning and rumbling 39 yards for the score. The Colts responded with a 10-play, 80-yard drive capped by Manning's 4-yard touchdown pass to tight end Dallas Clark.

Barber tied the game once again with a 5-yard touchdown run at the start of the fourth. Facing third-and-10 from the Colts' 10, the Cowboys got an automatic first down on a defensive holding call, which set up Barber's run.

BREAK DOWN OF CLASSES LEFT TO MY BACHELOR DEGREE!

I HAVE APPROXIMATELY 9 CLASSES UNTIL I GRADUATE! That means I am taking a 5 week CRAM COURSE from DEC 1- JAN 12 and it is HUM4500 World Problemtique and then in January I am taking 4 courses, SOC 3100, (Sociology), 2 Managment Courses and another Humanity Course. I am going to be so sick of college I won't be able to see straight! But I am almost there! I have to make a decision next year on whether or not to go for my Master Degree. If my son is doing well in the school that he is in, I will keep him there for one more year and stay here in Hawaii and go to school full time and pursue a Master Degree! I want to switch it to Nutrition or something but I just don't know right now, will have to sit down with my advisor and see what degree I am the closest too and go from there! I am willing to sale everything I have and start over and then move back to the mainland. I will see just how long the Navy will let me stay on island until they will no longer move my HHG! We shall see!

HUGE NEWS 2007 BFL CRUISE!!! Get on Board, don't miss out!

UPDATE on the Next CFL Cruise! Their are HUGE changes!
The Previous Cruise is Cancelled! Carnival has the ship, the Elation, to the West Coast and now is out of California!
YES. . .This means “OUR” 5-day cruise to the West Indies on the Elation. . . has been. CANCELLED!!!But it is actually BETTER NEWS BECAUSE Jerry and Cam found a way to transform this catastrophe into a TRIUMPH? Cam and Jerry had to design a way to give our Champions-for-LIFE team a bigger, better, longer cruise on a bigger, better ship FOR THE SAME PRICE as our original 2007 scheduled 5 day cruise. And THAT”S EXACTLY WHAT THEY HAVE DONE. Not only is this a BIGGER, BETTER, LONGER cruise, but wait until you see where we will be going. This MEGA Ship. . . the Triumph sets sail Saturday May 19th From Miami to the West Indies AND then the U.S. Virgin Islands AND then San Juan, Puerto Rico!!! All for the same price of last year's 4-day adventure?!?!? This is unheard of. . . All I can say is. . .WHAT AN ADVENTURE…and WHAT A DEAL!!
7 days for the price of 4 days. on a bigger, grander ship? I know all this sounds too good to be true! But Jerry signed & closed on this "Deal of the Century" Thursday! So lets fill this tub with all our BFL friends from around the world! Let's spread the word out of this never hear of deal!
Carnival Cruise Lines wanted us to cruise with us in 2007 and they have bent over backwards to keep the BFL team with them.
AND to sweeten this deal even more? Carnival is extending/continuing the complimentary category upgrades to all Inside, Ocean View, andCategory 8 Balcony cabins. Complete cruise details can be found at www.BodyforLIFEcruise.com
Just to let everyone know since this had to be changed, Carnival has graciously extended these discounted prices for our group, only until 5 pm, Friday Dec. 8th, 2006. As of Dec. 9th,who ever hasn't reserved with our BFL group, the prices will return to their original 7 day price! Less than 3 weeks away!
I think Jerry and Cam have really out did themselves this year and I am SO EXCITED to be going! So please if you can pull it off, go ahead and put your deposit down so you don't miss out on this great opportunity! I can't wait to see everyone again, I know that was the BEST PART of it ALL for me! Just to be together and to meet all the new people that have joined the BFL team in transforming their lives for the better! Come SAIL with Us!

And the WINNER IS TRACY JEFFERIES!

JUST LOOK AT THESE BEAUTIFUL WOMEN! WHAT WORK WENT INTO LOOKING LIKE THIS!

TRACY, THE ENTIRE BLENDS FAMILY ARE SO PROUD OF YOU! YOU GO GIRL! WE LOVE YOU AND YOU ARE # 1 IN OUR HEARTS!

Cameron was TIGGER! Halloween 2006

HOW CUTE IS HE? HE DID SUCH A GREAT JOB, GOING DOOR TO DOOR, SAYING "TREAT" AND INSTEAD OF THANK-YOU, HE SAID, "YOU!" SO DAMN CUTE!

HOMEWORK, HOMEWORK, HOWEWORK! YUCK!

That is all it seems that I do lately! IS HOMEWORK! An occasional date! But homework is controlling my life! 3 classes is a lot and especially this semester, 1) microeconomics (yuck),,2) Cross-Culture Psychology and 3) CSCI 3201 (computer Course) All in itself can be a difficult course but combine all 3 and wow! I can't believe I actually signed my name to all of these. Too late to pull out now, I have to see all of them through now. This semester ends right before Christmas holidays. I love Christmas... Next semester will be a big one as well, starting in January-March, I will be taking 3 classes at least, maybe 4 depending on how close I am to graduating with my Bachelors. Cameron finishes his school year in June but attends ESY and I might enroll him in one more year and have him go to Kindergarten here as well, so maybe I can get my masters degree then be able to decide where I want to move after that! Since my retirement is in July 07, I am at least suppose to have 6 months, maybe a year to decide where to ship my HHGs and I might take them up on it and wait it out depending on where I am at in my studies and where I am at financially. Who knows what can happen?

Earth Quake-Wakes you up to more than the Earth Shaking!

This will bring to light if you have ANY common sense to appreciate what you have and to hold onto tight, to the ones you love and to love them each and everyday! I watched my son sleep last night with no lights, no music, no sound, just him breathing and you know, it was so peaceful! So thank God for what you have!

My Girls in Tennessee! Look How Beautiful!

Aren't they Just Beautiful! I can't wait to post MORE! Sitting here at home doing HOMEWORK!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME! 39 YEARS YOUNG!

DAMN IT, AREN'T I ONE SEXY WOMAN! ARRFFFF! Turning 39 on 12 October! Feel more than 50 sometimes but it is all ok! The son is sleeping and I have tons of homework sitting in front of me! I am preparing to put 2 hours into some computer homework then off to bed I go for some shut eye while all of my friends are preparing to leave for Tennessee for their BODYFORLIFE CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND! I am missing out! But I have to remember that I will see them again next summer and I will be looking BETTER than EVER! BETTER THAN THIS! and BUSTING OUT CHRISTINA AGUILERA for all the BFLers! I have a special treat for them! :)- I love you guys! Wish I was with you!

Featured Challenger Round 3 BFL Competition!

YEAH ME! RAH RAH RAH! I am so proud of myself! My eyes filled up with tears as one of my dearest friends called me on the phone and told me that I would ONE OF THE FEATURED CHALLENGERS of ROUND 3 and I was on the BFL WEBPAGE! I just had Nasal Surgery to correct a Deviated Septum and could hardly breath but I didn't care and I am sure that crying like a baby didn't help! But I didn't care about that either! The last 4 weeks of my competition was the toughest! Up at 0345 to run on my treadmill if only for 20 minutes because my back would start hurting, and I would do another session of cardio at lunch, (bike or elliptical) and then another one after work, then came cutting down on carbs, I thought I was going to kill over! But it was ALL WORTH IT WHEN LINDA CALLED ME,, TEARS WERE RUNNING DOWN MY FACE! I just couldn't believe it! I was so proud!

YOU KNOW YOU'RE GETTING OLD WHEN....

I turn 39 on 12 October and I am not looking forward to it at all.
One reason is that 40 is right behind it! and Then it is all over
for this old bird! I am still SINGLE, don't even have any real prospects.
Some guys are beating around but none that have stepped up to the plate. Too chicken shit to take the plunge! Gee do I have too many chicken shits running around! I got more guts than they do and that sucks. I want someone in my life, I deserve someone in my life and so does Cameron. Especially Cameron! I just don't want to go thru another Holiday Season by myself again! And my Best Friend of 10 years will be moving from the Island in November BEFORE thanksgiving and then I know the shit will hit the fan then! So expect for me to break down! I thought I would post these and try and have a little fun at turning a year older!

YOU KNOW YOU'RE GETTING OLD WHEN

All of your favorite movies are now re-released in color.
At cafeterias, you complain that the gelatin is too tough.
Conversations with people your own age often turn into "dueling ailments."
Everything hurts and what doesn't hurt, doesn't work
In a hostage situation you are likely to be released first.
It takes a couple of tries to get over a speed bump.
It takes longer to rest than it did to get tired.
It takes twice as long to look half as good.
Many of your co-workers were born the same year that you got your last promotion.
No one expects you to run into a burning building.
People call at 9 p.m. and ask, "Did I wake you?"
People no longer view you as a hypochondriac.
The clothes you've put away until they come back in style... come back in style.
The little gray-haired lady you help across the street is your wife.
The pharmacist has become you new best friend.
There's nothing left to learn the hard way.
Things you buy now won't wear out.
When getting lucky means you find your car in the parking lot.
When happy hour is a nap
When you are cautioned to slow down by your doctor instead of the police.
When you realize that caution is the only thing you care to exercise.

You and your teeth don't sleep together.

You begin every other sentence with, "Nowadays"

A LETTER TO SHOW HOW TO HANDLE THE HATERS!!!

I received this letter from a positive Young Lady this Morning that has been following all this Drama ever since I was announced as Round 3 Featured Challenger! She handed me this letter this morning and man, did it hit home! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

How to Handle haters:

A Hater is someone that is Jealous and envious and spends all their time trying to make you look small so they can look tall.
When you make YOUR mark, you will always attract some haters... That's why you have to be careful who you share your blessings and your dreams with because some folk can't handle seeing YOU blessed. It's dangerous to be like somebody else... If God wanted you to be like somebody else He would have given you what He gave them.

You don't know what people HAVE GONE THROUGH to get WHAT THEY HAVE.
The problem with HATERS is that they see YOUR GLORY, but they don't know your STORY.
If the grass looks greener on the other side of the fence, you can rest assured that the water bill is higher there too. :D

We've all got some haters among us: Some people don't like it that you can

*Come to church
*Get your praise on
haters don't want to see you Happy
*Haters don't want to SEE YOU SUCCEED
Haters don't want you to get the VICTORY

Most of our haters are people that are supposed to be ON OUR SIDE.

How do you handle the haters who you at least expect to have your guard up against?

You can handle your haters by:

1. Knowing who you are and what you believe; who your TRUE FRIENDS are
2. Having a Purpose
3. By remembering what you have is by Divine Perogative and not Human Manipulation

PURPOSE does not mean having a job. You can have a job and still be unfulfilled.
A purpose is having a clear sense of what God has called you to be.
Your purpose is not defined by what OTHERS THINK ABOUT YOU.
You will always be trying to get stuff because the more stuff you have will not improved what others think about you, what others think will last as long as the stuff lasts

When God gives you a favor, you can tell your haters, "Don't look at me...
Look at who is in charge of me. REMEMBER, IT AIN'T ABOUT YOU, BUT IT'S ALL ABOUT GOD.