Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Facebook has a run on everyone doing "25 random things about me". Its been fun learning a few new things about people I've known forever and some I've known not so long. I thought I'd share mine with those who don't get on facebook. I also decide my kids were such a part of who I am that I needed to share stuff about them. So this is a long blog!

My 25 random things about me:
1. I struggle with who is most important, God or my family. I know God should be first, but, I struggle
2. My children are my greatest joy and cause me the most grief. :)
3. I was certified as a lactation consultant for 20 years. Everyone has to have a cause.
4. I had natural childbirth with 3 kids.
5. I had epidurals with 3 kids.
6. I love almost all vegetables. Especially asparagus.
7. I love to read, anytime I am killing time, give me a book, magazine, SOMETHING!
8. need a girls night out, miss 3 am talks with girls at work
9. favorite thing at a delivery, when the father cries
10. mission trips are my passion, my favorite part of the year, time I feel closest to God, and feel like I am really doing something worthwhile.
11. miss fixing little girls hair, braids etc.
12. love holding babies
13. I love to dance, just now i do it where no one can see me
14. love gardening
15. love to push mow the yard, barefoot
16. hate shoes
17. had a breast reduction, still wish i was smaller.
18. miss my sister, love to hear stories about her from others
19. love hugs from Matthew, my youngest
20. enjoy scrap booking
21. love photography, need a class so i can use all those buttons on my camera
22. miss my friends at CMC, but looking forward to VANdy
23. love the ocean, family is the only reason I live in TN!
24. have the best husband ever, he does dishes, laundry, vacuums, takes great care of me and the kids, works hard, and makes up silly songs for the kids.
25. grew up really poor, used a outhouse until high school.


Things you may not know about my kids!

I decided that to know me you need to know my children better:
I have a 30 year old step-daughter, India. She lives in Oregon and is a LPN. She is a great girl. Yes I called her a girl. She pointed that out to me. She's still one of the girls when she visits. they all look so much alike when they are together. Here"s a pic of her and Amber.

My oldest 3 have all graduated, are all in college at Nashville state, all had jobs in high school, all 3 drove cars they paid off. None incarcerated or had rehab. They have matching "sister" tattoos with the other 2 sisters, 7 petal daisies for 7 total children.
Ashley, age 25,
1. acts like the mom. sometimes forgets i am sitting in the room when making them eat vegetables. Mothers other people's kids too. (wonder where she got this?)2. Has no boundaries when it comes to undressing in front of others.Her brothers just shut their eyes quickly. Once asked her brother if he thought anyone saw her naked, he replied, "were they throwing up", she said no, he said, well then they didn't see you.....3. Loves anything with the pink ribbon for breast cancer support on it. She supports many charities and is a sucker, I mean supporter, for anyone raising money.
Amber, age 23




1. Can fit into her skinny 9yr old cousin's clothes. But don't tell her she looks young. And don't say she will appreciate it when she gets older. She's heard it a billion times.2. Broke her back during cheer leading in 8th grade. Continued to cheer through high school even when she had to be iced before and after competitions.3. Tries to be tough and say she doesn't like cats and dogs. Once I MADE her hold a baby kitten, she WOULDN'T give it back! She cries over dead goldfish, and bought her own pet rabbit, a boy named daisy.
Amanda, age 20
1. Never met a stranger. She at first looks quiet. Even as a child could be in the grocery store line and know the next person's life history before we were out of there. She's always had a wide circle of friends. Never just one group.2. Works as a nanny to 2 twin boys that were premature. She says she's never having kids but I have seen her cuddle many babies.3. has a double swirl at the top of her head. She had a twin that "disappeared" around 14 weeks gestation. My only child with the 2 swirls and the only twin pregnancy I knew of. Who knows if they are related at all.

Stephanie, age 17
1. Only one to get Doug's dimple, but only one side. She has always been a happy child. When she plays volleyball she encourages her team no matter what, always with a smile.2. She was "Evette's baby", she was born when Evette was able to drive and take her with her everywhere when I worked. Evette used to give her blake to hold and tell her to "hold your baby". Yes I trusted my sisters with my children even as teenagers. They enjoyed going to Annette's cheer leading practice, wouldn't you?3. She plays volleyball After years of cheerleaders, gymnastics, dance classes etc, it seems really different to have a girl that does something else. But I like it.
Andrew, age 14
1. Has four names. After 4 girls we had a lot saved up. Stephen Andrew Joseph Davison. Clyde was almost put in there but that's another story.2. Is very quiet in school. But ask him about sports and he can talk FOREVER. His hearing is great, try whispering around him...3. He loves babies. He loves Blake but won't play with him outside because he can't keep up with him!

Matthew, age 10
1. is our free spirited child. he can entertain himself. He is constantly thinking way too deep for me.2. He is a math whiz. Didn't get it from me. He loves to ask me math questions while I am driving. I tell him I don't like to think and drive.3. Gives great hugs. Some times you need to brace your legs first cause he has been known to make you sit down suddenly.

I am very proud of each one of my children. They are all much better than I ever was. Watching them grow is the greatest joy I have.

Friday, January 9, 2009

job and life update

Some, if not all, know that we have been without a paycheck since october the 30th. Doug has had a few days work, in December, in Manchester, that helped some. Of course no paycheck means no benefits. We have been humbled by the experience. We are finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.
Many different jobs were discussed, offered, accepted, then the budgets changed and they no longer had the need for his services. It was very frustrating for us all. You have to remember, this is a workaholic I am taking about.
This current job was offered several weeks ago, but who knew how it would turn out. Well he officially is on the payroll on Monday the 12th. The company is called Vitalize. They have already sent him his company computer and a welcome basket of snacks and movie rental coupon. Plus they have a seminar scheduled in April, on the beach of course, for new hires. I'm liking these people already. We will have health benefits starting in February.
We have both done without many of our normal meds. We have been able, through friends and others, to get samples of some of the most important. It will be nice to be able to afford drugs and not worry about if one of us gets ill.
I have looked for many jobs myself. I haven't worked since my surgery in May 2007. My neck still hurts so I wasn't sure I wanted to try. But no money is no money. I had strongly considered travel nursing just for an income. Matthew thought Alaska sounded great. I talked with temp agencies, and local hospitals. The economy has made so many cut back on normal stuff. This week I was given a salary quote from Vanderbilt Hospital. I'll be working in labor and delivery as a staff nurse, with available hours in post-partum and high risk as well. Maybe mostly nights, but again, its income.
We have made it God's help I know. We haven't really had fights. I initially panicked and was really upset, wanted to move Christmas to March! Thank-you all for your prayers. My family, friends, and our church have helped tremendously in getting us through it. Our first real pay day will be January the 30th.

Pay checks are good things, and insurance is too!

our Donna

Our good friend, one of mom and dad's "other" daughters, graduated from Belmont in December. Three of my girls and I went, mom and dad went, and Ellen, one of the other "daughters", also went. When they were growing up, it was always Evette, Donna, Ellen, Annette and Jenny. Donna took pictures of my kids as a surprise for my anniversary, and she took pictures of Evette in her wedding gown 10 years after the wedding. Donna actually knew Jason before Evette did. So sometimes we blame her for that, but not really. We are all very proud of you Donna!

Donna helped Amber find her job with ABEC, where donna also works.


Donna's parents. Don looks almost as good as Donna did in the hat!





The yellow smiley face on the hat was made by Evette for Annette's graduation from nursing school. It was really nice to see Donna wear it, and it made her easier to find....

















New years and birthdays

Again, our schedules were slightly different this year. Dad's birthday is the 30th, Mom the 31st. We usually do something on New Year's Eve for both. This year we went to Joe and Renee's for both and a New Year celebration. Henry and Wanda also joined us with 2 of their 3. Renee is one of the GREATEST ever. She cooks and cooks and cooks. And she LIKES it! She made awesome lasagna and stuffed shells. She even made plain noodles for Matthew cause he doesn't like sauce. NO idea where he came from. She made so much I was able to take home a pan that Doug and I enjoyed later. Thanks Renee!

























































When Blake first saw the cake he said "Yay I get to stick my finger in it!".























This is Annette with Rebecca, Henry's youngest daughter. She is a freshman at Lipscomb where her sister Catherine is a junior. Everyone says she looks like Evette. She is very proud of that.Below is mom with the rest of us kids. I really have a hard time with group shots. I just feel like we are not complete now.
My dad loves chess. Most of the boys, and Ashley, have played at some point. Maybe Brette some also. This is Jon and Matthew debating what move is next.Not sure what was funny but I loved this shot of Wanda with Annette and Jason.Not sure why Jason got a kiss from Brittany, I think he was asleep.

Holidays are over??

I haven't updated in a while, sorry.

Matthew appreciates Christmas morning more than anyone. He is still such a happy carefree child. Sometimes you stop and wonder how he can be so unbothered (is that a word) by everything that goes on. He makes really good grades and excels in math, so I take all those hugs and kisses and figure it will go away when he gets a girlfriend. When I'm like 60 maybe?














Doug was really happy with his leaf blower. Thanks craigslist!


Later in the day with had Christmas with the family. We normally do this on Christmas Eve. However due to lots of conflicting schedules we changed it. It made the day last longer for us all. We of course had to play the couch game. The kids love it more than anything else. It was one of Evette's favorite games to play.
Jason had been shopping for a hot dog cooker. I knew he was too cheap, I mean to frugal to buy himself one.













We had to explain the couch game rules to Adam. But the boys team won twice because of him. I think the boys cheated!















We couldn't have a gathering without the girls giving us a "show". Of course Blake just likes attentions so he had to help.