crafting

For my b-day, my family bought me a Cricut machine (actually I bought it, lol). I have been having so much fun. Here are some of my creations. What do you think?

Thanks for looking. :)

PE Week 1

Well, she is a trooper. She got her spacers in and after the first few days she was doing well.

Tomorrow she is get the brackets in and a mold taken. The brackets will be removed (to make the appliance) and spacers put back in.

She's really doing so well. :)

Palate Expander details

As some of you may know, my little girl is growing up. :) I can't believe my little baby girl is 8. It amazes me everyday. As you can imagine at age 8 and in 2ND grade her little mouth is changing. I am sad to announce she has my big teeth. lol She will be starting phase I of her orthodontics. This phase I is to make room for her teeth in the future. So here is the break down.
02/20 - spacers put in and an impression taken of her top and bottoms.
02/27 - brackets on molars put on and an impression taken. brackets removed to make her palate expander's (top & bottom).
03/06 - Palate expander's (to & bottom) glued in. Here is a really good example of what is about to happen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJKlDbsobkI
I will be turning her palate expander each day for 28 days. I am under the impression that the most painful day will be the day after and the second day.
Then on 04/03 - She will get braces on the top and bottom 4 teeth only. There is some confusion as to which top 4 since the bilateral teeth are not in yet. This is still in the planning process. Here is an example of this process.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjbFog3kh-s&feature=related

She and I both sat and watched this and I feel it was a great example. Her good friend Annalise is about 3 weeks ahead of her. The difference between the example and her will be the bottom expander and braces.

We are hoping to make a trip to AZ for spring break (04/04-04/12). We'll keep you up to date with Sierra's orthodontics. :)

Palate Expander

Starting next Friday, My big girl is starting phase I of her orthodontics. She is getting a palate expander top and bottom. Look for pictures. :)

Just for me...

Here I am several days after. Each day is better. A little less sad, a little less angry, a little less hurt. Then today happened. I have been trying to reach an Uncle because I don't know if he knew or not. I had been nervous about reaching him for several reasons. One if he knew and didn't call me I knew I would be mad and hurt. The other if he didn't know the fact that I was telling him. Turns out, he knew. I was surprised that I wasn't as mad as I had thought I'd be. He said he didn't feel it was his place to tell me. Mmmm, I sortof understand. However, further into the conversation he reveled that my dad actually told him not to contact me. I guess my dad's way of adding more salt to the wound. Ouch. Also in this conversation, I asked if he would prefer me not to contact him anymore and he agreed. Ouch...if I wasn't having a difficult time dealing with the fact my Mother is dead, that no one contacted me, but now I have lost an Uncle who I truely respected. That is respected until today. :(
I look at my girls and I think how can family ever act this way? Could I ever turn my back on them? The answer is simple, no. They would always be a top priority in my life. I believe that stems from the fact of good role models. The people I call my family. The ones who took me in and taught me about love, honesty, family, values, forgiveness and unconditional love. For that I am eternally greatful. For that I have hope for the future.
I am still sad that my Mother is dead. I think it will take time before I heal. I am unsure of my next step. I have questions, concerns and way to many thoughts running through my head. I spoke to a councelor and they suggested I write my feelings down...so here I am.

Things to Ponder

Have you ever had a day where things were going so calmly and good? Do you reflect back and think this was a good day? I do, I love my family. I can't imagine my life without them. I can't imagine letting anything disrupt my love for my husband or my 2 beautiful girls.
Sunday 02/06 was just such a day. My hubby took the girls to the museam. They had a blast. I was able to go and see the movie New In Town. Funny I thought. Totally reminded me of me when I moved to this small town. lmao. Almost hit a dear in the process of coming home. Thankfully I didn't. :)
Then it happened. The moment when things for that day changed. I had just finished updating the blog with the photos from the museam when my hubby handed me a rather large envelope. I looked at the return address...it was from a lawyer. I thought, "Oh great, we are being sued for something." Hubby thought the same thing until he opened it. I went to put it aside to finish the day when he said I needed to look at it. So I did...
There it said it...in Bold, Italic Letters...
"Re: The Estate of Sharon M Marks, deceased..."
Holy Cow. What the...I started bawling. How could this be? I couldn't read any futher. I asked hubby what this meant. When did she die? Millions of thoughts were racing through my head. My girls didn't understand. Why is Mommy crying? I felt so bad. I went outside to calm down.
My hubby read most of the information and expained to me that she pasted away December 29th. What the .....???? No one called me? How could no one call me??? Why was I notified by the a lawyer and no one in my family? No one called me. I was fuming mad. I reallize my relationship with my biological parents was/is estranged but this was beyond my thinking. I called my Uncle to tell him and he didn't even know. I am trying to reach another Uncle to tell him and I am not sure he knows. Why wouldn't anyone call me.
I spent the remainder of the day in a fog. My hubby was so good to me. He didn't say much but held me when I needed him. He held me all night long. I didn't sleep.
Monday is a new day. I woke up with less tears and more frustration. I began calling my inlaws to let them know. I cried some. I knew I needed to blow off some steam. I called a friend of mine and talked her out of going to Yoga...so she could go with me to the bar...(That reminds me, I need to go get my car, lol). We met at the bar and had so much fun. I am sure she is tired of me saying "Did you know my Mom is dead?" But each time I said it...I felt release. I felt a little less sad...a little less mad...a little less guilty...a little less pain. I am guessing this is part of the greiving process. It still hurts. Or maybe it's the 6 shots of tequilla? lmao.
Today is a new day. It's Tuesday. My head feels a little more clear today. I have only cried once and I am dressed for the day. Please pray and send my good thoughts as I really need them.
Thanks for reading.

Flight Museum

She's an astronaunt!