2009 Special Olympics World Games

I want to start off by saying that my brother will be going to the World Games as a coach for the Arkansas floor hockey team. When I finally realized that Jason and I wouldn't be going snowmobiling (sob, sob) I jokingly told my brother that I am going to Boise. He made the suggetion to try to register through family services. Well I did knowing I probably wouldn't be accepted.

I got wonderful news today. My "family" application for the 2009 Special Olympics World Games has been approved. I will be attending the games from February 7 - 14 in Boise, ID. I hope to fly in on February 6th and fly out the day of February 14th. I will be attending the opening ceremonies but will miss the closing ceremonies. Since I am a "family" member I will have tickets for the opening ceremonies and all of the games that the floor hockey team will be playing.

I am happy that I will get to see snow again!!! Just won't be the same not going out into the wilderness on a snowmobile. I am happy that I will be able to spend some time with my brother. Yes brother I do enjoy doing things with you and I think this is going to be AWESOME.

I am apprehensive though. Taylor (our daughter) was a special needs child. While it has been 14 years since she passed away I ALWAYS get a little emotional getting to see the participants in action. I often find myself wondering that if Taylor would still be here that Jason and I might be attending the numerous Special Olympics events with her. While the majority of time you will never know how much I miss her, attending this will be tough.

I will be purchasing my plane ticket, reserving a car and booking a hotel tomorrow. I can't wait...Before I even think about Boise here is my schedule through the end of the year:

November 21 - November 23 bowling tournament in Tulsa, OK
November 26 - November 30 Thanksgiving with Kelly in Crowley, LA

December 2 - December 5 International Workboat Show in New Orleans, LA
December 6 - Hot Springs dropping off motorcycle parts & staying overnight to celebrate our 18th anniversary

January 1 - January 4 Inshore fishing in Venice, LA

During all of this time I will be working, bowling and enjoying the holidays. You know it seems like I am already looking forward to 2009!

What's Up

Well it has been a while since I posted so I thought I would provide an update to what the Caldwell's have been up to.

A little more than a month ago Jason and I started the Slim Fast diet. We drink a shake for breakfast, have a low calorie morning snack, have a shake for lunch, have a low calorie afternoon snack and then for dinner we eat what we want. Since we no longer need leftovers for the next day we are cooking less at night. Our stomach's have shrunk and my pocketbook likes the cost savings. Earlier this year Jason was up to 335 - 340. Today he got on the scale and he weighed 295. He would like to get down to 275. Earlier this year I was 232 and as of this morning I was 214. I would like to get down to 200. For turkey day we are going down to Kelly's (cajun food). The first Tuesday in December I am going to New Orleans for a boat show (more cajun food). Needless to say that week and a half all I can do is hope I can excercise portion control. I know I can with the food but the time we are in New Orleans......the crown and coke will be the killer.

Mother is having cataract surgery tomorrow. My brother will pick her up @ 5:30 in the morning. I will pick her up and take her to her follow-up appt. I didn't realize how bad the cataracts were until last weekend. We were in West Little Rock and come up to an intersection. Between the street lights and traffic lights it was so bright mother had to put her hands over her eyes to block the light. I know she has been looking forward to having this surgery. I do hope it is a success.

Due to the neck it is suggest that I do not ride a snowmobile (bumps). Because of that I am toying between just going with the group snowmobiling then just hanging out in West Yellowstone OR going to the Special Olympics International games in Boise, ID. My brother is a coach for the Arkansas floor hockey team. While I would not be staying with him I would be spending most of the day and some of the evening either watching the team or hanging out with him. CHOICES, CHOICES, CHOICES.

How come it is that recently I've received a big commission check and bonus check from work, know I need to pay off a credit card, invest some money and buy both Jason and I new clothes (smaller sizes) but I can't seem to get motivated to do it.

I've gotten x-mas gifts already for Jason's dad, my mom, 2 of my 3 neices, 1 great and one great neice. Having the money has afforded me to go ahead and start buying. OH, I truly love Overstock.com. I've recently ordered 650ct Egyptian cotton sheets and I tell you they are awesom. I also just got a couple of down pillows. We will see how they sleep tonight. I ordered a king size down comforter and man-o-man.....

I am loving my trike. More discussion on this will have to come in another post.

Last but not least Jason and I did go hunting this weekend. Both days I saw does and a 3-point. Jason saw a spike and 3 does. For those of you who have been to our house the rule has always been you can't shoot a deer from the back deck unless it has horns.........well tonight Jason took a step out of the back door and shot a 7-point.

All in all.......life is good!

Nascar Race in Memphis

Yesterday Jason, his dad and I went to Memphis for the Nascar Nationwide race. For Father's Day we got Jason's dad a ticket (we did this last year also).

We left yesterday morning about 6:20 a.m. and got to the track around 9:45 a.m. We as we were setting up the tint my newphew Neil and Anna came up. Neil and Anna went to get their tickets and Jason and I went to get our scanners. After meeting back up at the truck we grilled chicken, corn and I made a Doe's salad. The weather was nothing but sunshine and windy! After lunch and a quick clean up we headed into the track and to our seats. We sit in Grandstand J on row 56...that is the grandstand going into turn 1 and is ALL the way up top. As I mentioned earlier the weather was awesome. The only thing I could have asked for was a little less wind. The National Anthem was performed by country group Half Way to Hazard and they did a good job. After a flyover by an Apache helicopter the race got started.

Last year's race had a record 25 cautions which made for one of the worst races I've seen, whether it be on tv or in person. This year the boys played nice and it was actually a great race. For the second time this year (Bristol) we got to see Carl Edwards do his backflip. There is a good possibility that he will get to do the backflip today. As of 9 laps to go he is in 1st.

After the race we made it back to the truck and grilled hamburgers. Neil and Anna also stayed and had dinner with us. By the time we got through eating all of the traffic was gone and we easily got out of the track. Just outside of Memphis my nose started running and my throat started hurting. I think from there to Monticello I used a minimum of 10 tissues blowing my nose and sticking them up the nose because it was draining. Once we dropped Jason's dad off we went to Wal-mart to pick up some sinus/cold medicine & Chloraseptic. By the time we made it home I really felt crappy and I still feel that way.

Jason has had to mow Mrs. Collins yard by himself. I had to run into town to get some lunch because we have nothing at the house. We still have to go grocery shopping and I am still on the couch. I got to feel better tomorrow because I have to make up 4 hours during the week so I can get off Friday at lunch.

We are going to see Saw V tomorrow if I feel better and.....Carl Edwards is doing his second backflip for this weekend!

My day Abrisitting

Monday had the opportunity to babysit my great neice Abriana, henceforth "Abrisitting".

I could take up an hour typing about our adventures but I will hit what amazed me the most about this 2 year old.

1) She insisted on walking down the stairs at the court house, only to say "Aunt KK help me". She thought she was big stuff.
2) She went from being happy to being 30 minutes past due on a nap in no time flat.
3) After the meltdown she woke up from her nap with a smile. How great is that!
4) She loved coloring and enjoyed the playdoh.
5) She told me she had to go tee tee but I was too slow. She was tee teeing as I was pulling down her pull-ups. I didn't know it until I stepped in it and slipped.
6) While watching cartoons she said "that's a dragon". How does a 2 year old know about dragons???
7) While watching cartoons she was asking about Sponge Bob and Chowder. Uncle Jason and her will talk like Schnitzel from the cartoon Chowder.
8) While I was cooking she told me "Aunt KK poo poo". I RAN to the bathroom. She is walking towards the bathroom and her hand is covering her butt....every other step she takes.....there are little poop balls falling out of her panties. I am laughing my a-- off as she is dropping poop over my floor. While taking her panties off poop is falling out. After she finished her job and I got her cleaned up I started picking up the poop. She stands there and asks me "Aunt KK what you doing?" When I told her I was picking up her poop she laughed.
9) Last but not least, while I am cooking she is in the kitching with me. The tv is on but no music is playing. I look at her and she is dancing in circles. I asked her what was she doing and she answered "I'm dancing Aunt KK".

This little girl remembers everything you say AND she will repeat most of it. She is proud to be wearing big girl panties and really tries to let you know she has to tee tee in time. When she starts talking about mommy, daddy, puddin and mommies/daddies house you can't stop her. She can name everybody in my picture collage.

With work being stressful and life being so busy it was extremely enjoying to play, watch cartoons and learn from a 2 year old. I can't wait until the next Abrisitting.

Are we ready?

The deaths of the young people the past two weeks were sad to me but since I did not personally know them didn't really affect me. The recent accident and death of Dave Parker is different. Wednesday evening Dave was headed home from work. This is something each and every one of us who works does. What happened next is what has me down heartened and wondering if.

I am wondering if something were to happen to me tomorrow would my husband of almost 18 years know how much I love him. Yes we tell each other we love you but the words I love you come no where near the feeling of I love you. Does Dave's wife know this?

I am wondering if my mom would be able to handle loosing her youngest child. My sister doesn't live in town and my brother is usually busy with his own to be able to spend much time and do much with mom. I am the one she turns to..I guess in a way since loosing my dad many years ago I have become my mom's rock. Will Dave's mom be able to get over the loss of her youngest?

I am wondering if neices and nephew would truly know how much I am so proud of them. I tried to be a friend just as much as being Aunt Karen. They may not have always made the right decisions, none of us do. I always tried to support them in whatever it is they did. Will they be able to offer support to their dad, mom and grandmother? Will they know that I loved them? Will Dave's neices and nephews know this?

I am wondering will my neices tell my great neices (and any more great ?? that might come along) how proud I was to see them the first time. How being able to keep them helped fill the void that loosing Taylor left. Will Dave's son and soon to be baby remember the love that he had for them?

I am wondering if my friends (work, sports, close) know that if I ever made them mad, upset or let them down that it was never my intention for it to happen? I value friendships. Friendships (whether short term or life time) help us learn, develop and grow beyond our means. Does Dave's friends know this?

I am wondering if my family and friends will understand that I was ready to go. Will they understand that I will be happy to see my dad, Taylor, Scotty, Mrs. Furlough and all of those who pasted before me. Will they understand that I am where I want to be and that I will be there waiting.

I am not asking WHY I am just wondering........What are you wondering about?

Ever Wonder WHY?

The happenings of this past week has me wondering about life.

Three young people were taken from this earth. The first thought is to sit and wonder WHY? Why at a young age...why in such a horrific manner? Why not let the parents say goodbye?

Having lost a daughter 14 years ago when she was 19 months I have mixed emotions. I was very distraught over loosing her. I take solice in being able to tell her goodbye. If I had to do it again I would I would not change a thing. I think that babies are gifts to us from our Heavnly Father. We are just "borrowing" them for a time. We hope this time allows us to see them grow up, have a family and grow to be older then we are. You never once think that you will burry them before you. Since our daughter was a gift, while it was not easy, I along with my husband made the easy decision to not put her on life support. She had taught us many lessons and we looked at quality before quantity.

Like my daughter, I truly believe these young people were needed for a much bigger plan. While it has hard to let them go we have to rejoice and know that our kids are where we want to go.

I know at times like these the immediate thought is to turn to prayer. The two car accidents were just that accidents. No amount of prayer could help that. The prayer that is needed is for the family members left behind. As a matter of fact the prayer needs to be for all of those left behind....the prayer needs to be that those left behind can carry on, one day leads to one week, one week leads to one month. The prayer needs to be that in time those left behinds will heal and stop questioning WHY.

Out Of It

During our trip to Bristol, TN for the Nascar race I suffered from neck pain. I've had this before but Tylenol didn't help. I was also nausiated from the pain. I've been hurting off and on now for about 5 months, but up until now I hadn't been nausiated (if I am going to be nausiated I should be that way becuase I had too much to drink).

The Monday we got back I made an appt. with Dr. Sylvia. After x-rays it was determined that I have a bone spur between vertebra #5 & #6. I got a little nervous when the first x-ray tech asked if I had injured my neck and when the second tech asked the same questions I really began worrying. Dr. Sylvia come and got me and let me look at the x-ray and sure enough between the vertebra there is a bone spur (calcium)deposit. By where it is located at I can have pain anywhere between my shoulder blades (feels like a pinched nerve) all the way up to the base of my skull (pain makes me feel like I have a blood pressure headache when my blood pressure isn't up). She prescribed me a muscle relaxer, steriod pack (you are allowed 3 steriod shots in a 1 year time period and this would be #3) and physical therapy.

I took the steriod pack and it has not relieved any pain and of course the muscle relaxer works but it makes me drowsy, so therefore I rarely take it. On August 29 I started physical therapy. After the first visit the therapist stated that it was going to be more of a project. We have to loosen up the muscles in the back and neck and then we can work on improving my posture & strengthening my neck.

After the first visit I hurt so bad that it was tough for me to bowl (yes I did get the okay to bowl). Therapy has its good days and its bad. When I went to therapy this Wednesday I came in hurting and finally today it has stopped. Again, I don't mind dealing with the pain but when I am sick to my stomach that is a whole nother story. I go again tomorrow and then M, W, F of next week. During all of the therapy my pain has not really gone away. I have better days then some but most of the days I have some type of pain whether it be in my shoulder blades or at the base of my skull. If I am still having pain on Monday I think I am going to go ahead and get my last steriod shot for a while.

Once therapy is through I am going to do 1 month of home therapy. After that if I am still in pain I am going to have Dr. Sylvia set up and MRI. The x-ray is good but you are looking 2 dimensional at a 3 dimensional item. I can bowl but the end of September my travel league bowled 6 games and by the end of the third game I was hurting. I know the only way to get rid of the bone spur is surgery, which I am really not wanting to have, but I now have to decide how much of this dull, pinching, headaching pain can I stand.

Last night I took a muscle relaxer and today at 12:00 I am still groggy. I KNOW I can't live much longer with that.