Beauty and the Beast at the Park

Tonight we went to Gladstone Theater in the Park and saw Beauty and The Beast. The show was out of this world! The kids were great. Although hot it was good.

Masonic Youth Day 2007

Today was Masonic Youth Day in Columbia, Missouri. I met my mom up in Kearney and we left the kids with Pop's for the day. We met up with Crystal and her friend Hailey and we were I-70 bound. Once we got to the Grand Lodge Building we met up with the rest of NKC in attendance. The weather was HOT. They had volleyball set up, which our girls played a lot. They also has softball, horse shoes, Frisbee toss and water balloons. They served Hamburgers, hot dogs, funnel cakes, and snow cones. We received a Frisbee, a water battle, and a Frisbee. They said this year there were 245 youth in attendees which is a record!!

Grand Officer's Retreat in Rolla

This year the Grand Officer's Retreat was held August 3 - 5th in Rolla, Missouri. I was already planning on attending and then with the Passing of Sheila's father, my mom was went with us. We took our two Grand Officer's as well as Jennifer and Joanie. We left my house at 4 pm (30 minutes late) and then hit traffic and more traffic. We ate dinner at the Columbia Mall. We finally arrived at Rolla about 30 minutes late. The girsl has meetings and we just hung out.

Saturday was more meetings. We talked about ediquet and manners, about how to be a teenager in today's world and about Rainbow. We ate lunch at Maid-Rites, a place NONE of the girls has ever been too. It was sooo wonderful. Dinner was at this steakhouse that was wonderful as well.

Sunday we packed up and headed home. Although we did stop for Ice Cream in Jefferson. We joked and said it was "Ice Cream for Jesus." Needless to say it was wonderful!!

3 years ago today

Oh my gosh my little Anna Banana turns 3 today. Does not seem possible. This is what I posted on a few of the message boards I chat on:


Oh my gosh where has time gone.

After almost a month of complications (Low fluid levels) and tons of u/s finally an amnio Anna Elizabeth Pierce was said to be healthy enough to be born. We received the phone call Thursday evening asking if the Dr. could do the c-section the next afternoon since Anna's lung test came back that her lungs where mature. So it was set, my baby (we did not know the gender) was going to be born on the 30th of July in the afternoon.

Me being who I am had to go to church to finish some youth paperwork before Tony and I headed to the hospital. Yes I was working up the last minute. It was funny because I was down in the fellowship hall and the craft group was meeting...all these older ladies were asking what I was up to and I would say "Getting ready to go have a baby in about an hour". It was funny.

Tony and I arrived at the hospital at 11 am to find a very full maternity ward. We waited about 30 min to get checked in then the fun began. I was prepped for surgery took five tries to get the IV in. Then it was time for surgery. Once down there they put the spinal block in and Tony joined me in the room. At 1:37 pm Anna Elizabeth Pierce made her debut. That’s right it’s a girl. She weighed in at 6 lbs 12.9 oz and is 18.9 in long.

Rainbow at the T-Bones Game

This year NKC went to the T-Bones game. It was great! The game was "St. Pat's" themed. I won for best dressed!! I received two gift cards for Panera's!! And the best part was the T-Bones WON!

Spencer Fane Summer Event.

Today was the summer event for Spencer Fane, were Tony works. This year it was at Power Play. We arrived (after Catherine got her ears pierced) and it was time for lunch. So we checked in and they had a buffet all set up.

Then we got to play. We were given cards that allowed us to play video games and ride on the rides.

Catherine got her ears pierced

Well Catherine has been thinking about wanting to get her Ear Pierced for some time. This week she told me "Mom I am ready, a girl has to do what a girl has to do."

So before going to Tony's company's summer event we went to Clair's.

Catherine did great. She picked out these little flower studs.

My girl is growing up.

Defending your self.....

Am I the only person who finds having to defend our families choice to home school to others is tiring? Both my husband's family and my family are pro homeschooling, even though we are the first people in our family to home school. Everyone sees the benefits academical through our children. It is others, mainly people on other on-line communities, who seem to have the biggest issue. I have been a part of these communities for years, some 6+ years, and I am tired of dealing with the constant put downs and feeling like I have to defend our families choice 24/7. I don't want to give up these "friendship" but is it really worth my time, energy, and stress to deal with them?

Am I the only person who ever feels this way??

Grand Assembly 2007

Oh what a wonderful Grand Assembly it was this year.

NKC took 2nd place in Scrapbook. Three of our girls took 1st place in ritual comp. And we again took 1st place in Ad Sales!!!!

Elizabeth was appointed Grand Immortality and Crystal was appointed Grand Rep to Kansas and Colorado.

Joanie was elected State Victory and I was appointed State Marshal.

Our Assembly had a Pirate Party and it was a blast!

God Bless Parents who drugged us!

The other day, someone at a store in our town read that a Methamphetamine lab had been found in an old farmhouse in the adjoining county and he asked me a rhetorical question: " Why didn't we have a drug problem when you and I were growing up?"

I replied," I had a drug problem when I was young:

I was drug to church on Sunday morning. I was drug to church for weddings and funerals.

I was drug to family reuions and community socials no matter the weather.

I was drug by my ears when I was disrespectful to adults.

I was also drug to the woodshed when I disobeyed my parents, told a lie, brought home a bad report card, did not speak with respect, spoke ill of the teacher or the preacher, of if I didn't put forth my best effort in everthing that was asked of me.

I was drug to the kitchen sink to have my mouth washed out with soap if I uttered a profane four-letter word.

I was drug out to pull weeds in mom's garden and flower beds and cockleburs out of dad's field.

I was drug to the homes of family, friends, and neighbors to help out some poor soul who had no one to mow the yard, repair the clothesline or chop some firewood; and if my parents had ever known that I took a single dime as a tip for kindness, they would have drug me back to the woodshed.

Those drugs are still in my veins; and they affect my behavior in everything I do, say and think. They are stronger than cocaine, crack or heroin; and if today's children had this kind of drug problem, American would be a better place.

Am I good enough??

This whole week I have been stressing out about getting the house good enough for the 501st. You see Tony is a member of the 501st in the 70th Garrison. This weekend is Planet Comicon here in KC. Well he offered out house as a place for people to sleep, thus they can come and not have hotel cost. Well of course my house is not good enough in my opinion for people. I have been cleaning and cleaning and cleaning. I finally got it as good as I can.

3 guys from the Cape and from Ill. arrived at about 3 pm WHICH WAS EARLY. I was baking cookies when they arrived.

As soon as they left I cleaned more. I just want people to approve of me and my home so bad. I just want people to think I am good enough to be around.

Oh on a side note, and also part of the clean up, we finally took down the Christmas Tree today. Yes you read that right, it is May 4th and we finally got our Christmas Tree down. LOL It was in the formal living room and we never go in the room so we never bothered to take it down. But it is down now.

I have been talking on YMX about my want to be approved and my stress about these people coming over. They have been so nice. I love that group, even if I an not in youth ministry anymore they are a great group of people.

And how does your garden grow??

The Irises have started blooming. I always love them because they look so beautiful. We have both purple and yellow ones. Spring is here, although late it is here!!










The Tomatoes are finally growing and just waiting to get bigger to go in the garden!!

Christopher's 2 week check-up

Thursday, May 3, 2007, Christopher had his 2 week check up with the Asthma doctor. We saw the Nurse Practitioner since the Dr was running way behind. She was wonderful. Christopher sounded wonderful and clear. They have backed off on his meds.
2 puffs of Qvar once a day (same as before)
3 puffs of Atrovent once a day (down from three times a day)

Respi-Tann, Nasonex only as needed if congested sounding.

The Albuterol and Presnisolone only when needed for sever wheezing (we have not used them at all up to this point).

So he does not go back for 1 month...so we shall see how we do.

Today (Friday) was the first day on the lower meds and so far so good!

Garden is started!!

We finally got our garden all in! This year we planted
Spinach
Lettuce
Broccoli
Carrots
Green Beans
Egg Plant
Regular Cucumbers
Pickling Cucumbers
Pumpkins



Waiting till Mothers day to plant is:
Cherry Tomatoes
Roma Tomatoes
Beefsteak Tomatoes
Green Peppers
They are all started in plant starts on the deck, once Mother's Day gets here they will get transplanted into the garden.

CCVI Trolley Run

Today was the annual CCVI Trolley Run. CCVI is the Children's Center for the Visualy Impaired. The Trolley Run is their biggest fund raiser for the school. Adults run a 4 mile run and the kids have a fun run. Each year the Rainbow Girls work the fun run. Our job is to pass out ribbons to all the kids who run that say "I am a winner!" We figured it up, this is about the 8th year we have done this project. The reason for starting this project was because of Brenda Munden, a majorty Rainbow Girl from NKC and Past Grand Worthy Advisory. Her oldest son was born with vision problems, has since lost one eye, and went to CCVI for school. Currently his Grandma works at CCVI.


This year both Catheine and Anna ran. They did a great job. Although it is hard to get pics of them running, but we tried. We got a pictures of them and Sadie and Corban (who are kids of people in Rainbow) together with their ribbons.

This year also the 501st joined the CCVI Trolley run as part of the pre-kids run entertainment. So Tony was there in his officer costume along with other members of the group.

Following the run some of them went up to church to suprise our minster who is a BIG star wars fan.

Over all it was a great day!

Great Strides Charity Walk for Cystic Fribrosis Foundation

Today we loaded up the kids, along with Ronda and Trenten and went to Columbia, Missouri. Today the 501st worked the Great Strides Charity Walk to benifit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. It was a great time. Catherine was in her Jawa costume and she was a hit with the other kids. She was running around chasing them and when she would catch them she would put her arms around them and say "I gottcha." It was too funny.

Tony was in his Tuskin Rader costume.

I think the best part was watching the Troopers doign the YMCA. It was even funnier that they only knew how to do the letters and not the rest of the dance...so I was standing their leading them in the rest of the dance. Thank you to being a Rainbow Girl I know how to dance!!

Here are a few pics:

Tony and Christopher's Dr. Visit

OH what a day

Tony and Christopher had their visits with the Adult/Pediatric Allergy, Asthma and Immunology doctor. First they test both of them for Allergies, they both have zero. Tony was told his sinus issues are not allergy related they are just sinus issues that can be brought on my pressure changes, weather, etc. So he was given a nasal spray to try and see if that helps.

Then we moved on to Christopher. They tested him for 9 allergies and he has no, which most were food related so I could have answered that one for them, but now we have documentation proving it. So then they moved on to his congestion and constant colds and ear infections. He has been diagnosed with Asthma. At first they were surprised till I explained to them that my father has severe asthma. The Doctor said that statistically they find 1 in 3 grandkids will have asthma. So we now have a whole ton of meds to work with. So now he has to use Nasonex in each nostril every morning for nose congestion, ½ tsp Respi-Tann (if congested sounding), 2 puffs of Qvar (an inhaler) 1 time a day, 3 puffs of Atrovent 3 times a day. If he is having breathing trouble is to have Albuterol (inhaler or nebulizer). If the Albuterol does not help within 4 tries we are to give him ¾ tsp Presnisolone. We go back on May 3, 2007 for a follow up and to start to adjust the meds. They are basically going to clean out his lungs big time then begin to back off on meds to find the level that will maintain them nice and clear.

Needless to say I have been a basic case on the phone trying to understand how much and when to give each med. When we left we had all this paperwork that was confusing to understand. But I think I finally have it all down straight.

How Old is your Inner Child??

How Old is Your Inner Child?

My inner child is sixteen years old!

Life's not fair! It's never been fair, but while adults might just accept that, I know something's gotta change. And it's gonna change, just as soon as I become an adult and get some power of my own.
Take this quiz!

Catherine's Surgery

Well we are home and I have to say Catherine is the biggest trooper. So here is what all happened.

We got to Children's Mercy South at 8:15 am and checked in. By 8:45 am we were in the pre-op area, this area reminded me of an ER, they had bed separated by walls. We met our Pre-op nurse and she weighed Catherine (40 lbs) and measured her (44 inches tall), she also checked her heart, blood pressure, and oxygenation. She then gave Catherine her ID bracelet (on her ankle) and a bracelet for me. She then put a bracelet on Catherine's Duck even writing "Emma belongs to the Catherine P." (Emma is the name she gave her Easter duck last night. Then she gave Catherine a Disney Princess game machine to play on. So we went back to our bed area and we played on the machine and walked around and such. Kids were riding in little tyke cars all around, it was soo cool. Then a lady came and let Catherine smell the different scents of smelly air so she could see which one she wanted, bubble gum of course. Then we met the anesthesiologist who went over everything. Finally the Dr. came and we talked and then it was time to head back. My dad and I walked with her till we met the double doors, she went to the left and we went to the right, after many hugs and kisses.

30 minutes later the Dr. came out and said everything went well and she was in recovery. Told us it would be 30 to 45 minutes before we would be ready to meet up and go up to our room. So my dad and I ran down to the cafe and grabbed a bite to eat. We got back up to the waiting room (30 minutes later) sat down only to hear "Catherine's family". So there was my girl, sitting up in her bed and talking away. Telling me that the bubble gum air made her cough some. So we went up to our room. Catherine's nurse, who was named Catherine and spelled the same, came in and got her all situated. They had slushies ready for her. Catherine sat up said she felt fine, took her first dose of pain meds (hydrocodone) and drank her orange slushie right up.

We played 4 rounds of Candy Land, played with play dough, colored in a coloring book, and watched a movie. They were always coming by asking if she wanted anything else to do.

At 2:31 pm they said since she went potty we could leave. Catherine received her "My surgery was Bearable at Children's Mercy" T-shirt and a Lamb Stuffed animal. She even rode in a wagon out to the car. When we got in the car, she realized she left her slushie in the room so she asked if we could get something. So we went and picked up a chocolate milk shake for her. Then to the Pharmacy to pick up Hydrocodone and Amoxicillin.

We got home at 3:39 pm and all has gone well. She had eaten 2 pudding cups, drank 2 yogurts and juice and water.

I will say when I had this done I was in so much pain, I can not believe she is doing so well.

The only issue we have had is with Anna, who seems to be jealous of Catherine.

Oh well it is 9 pm I am tired and we are getting ready to make Catherine go to bed, since she has not taken a nap or anything since her surgery. Silly girl.

Well that is our update. Thank you for all the prayers, I know God is watching over us.

Christopher's 18 month Check up

Well it was good and bad I guess. The Dr. was nice.

Christopher weighed in at 20 pounds 11 oz (so he is up, but still below the growth chart). He is 31 inches long and his head messured 19 1/4 inches. Once again he has an ear infections, which makes the 3rd once since December of 2006.

I called the Allergist and got both Christopher and Tony an appointment for April 19th at 2 pm!!!

Happy Easter!

Yes it is Easter again. And what a great Easter it was!

We started off the day getting ready for church and the kids clothes fit great on them!!

Then we headed to church, the morning started off with the kids having their egg hunt at church. The kids had a great time, and Christopher kinda got the hang of hunting Easter Eggs.

Then we had our worship service and the Catherine's kids choir sang.

Then it was off to breakfast at Mimi's! The food was wonderful. The kids loved their ducks I made them for Easter and my mom loved her singing Hallmark bunny (we both have them now!) I got a spaghetti squash for Easter, since I told my mom the last time I was at the store I could not find any, so she found one for me!!

Yes it was a great day!

DeMolay Knights Dance

Let us Dance Let us Dance Let us Dance. Tonight was the DeMolay Knights Dance. Each year the DeMolay Knights host a dance to honor the Grand Officer's of the Masonic Youth Groups. This is the second year Catherine has attened and she had a blast. I was even getting my grove on! I even had my mom doing the Cha Cha Slide!!! It was a great night and I think Catherine enjoyed herself very much.

Rainbow Girl's Walk-a-thon

Today was the Walk-A-Thon for the Missouri Rainbow Girl's Scholarship fund. Each year District #4 holds a walk-a-thon to raise our state assessment for the fund. Each Assembly in the state is required to give $200 for the scholarships.

Catherine again this year participated. She raised $100. So she raised 1/2 of what NKC needed.

The weather was COLD and COLD and COLD.

At least the whole thing started and ended fast. Does not take people long time to walk two laps around the park when you are that cold, just because you want to get done!

Easter Egg Time

Today we worked on dying our Easter Eggs. First time for Christopher. Over all it went great!

Peabody, you will be missed

We have known this day was coming, but no matter how much you prepare yourself you are never really ready. Today was the day, it was the day that Peabody was called to heaven. Peabody passed away in his sleep while on my mom's chest, just like the day we brought him home.

Peabody came to live with us June 1989. My mom promised me if we moved to Missouri we could get a dog. The only rule was short haired, small dog. So we looked and looked and came across a lady who had a litter of miniature dachshunds. So my mom and I went to look at them. The litter was 3 boys and 3 girls. We went into her house and the puppies were in her kitchen so into the kitchen we went. I sat on the floor and all the puppies were running around, except one of them. He came over and crawled into my lap and started playing with my shoe laces. We learned that he was the runt of the litter and was brought back to life after being born with no heart beat, the lady explained how she massaged his chest and he came to life. So did we pick this dog, nope he picked us. We took him and named him Peabody. The name I always said I wanted for a dog, it was the name the girl, Jennifer, who got me into Rainbow, had for her poodle. So Peabody came home with us.

My mom said a dog had to sleep in the kitchen, and we tried but he cried and cried, so that night I laid on the couch with him on my chest and we slept. I think it is interesting his first night in our house he slept on my chest and his last night in our house she slept on my mom's chest.

Peabody was ornery at first, eating up phone cords and tinkling on the white shaggy rug in the family room.

Peabody made many moves from Willow Drive, to North Troost and finally to Kearney.

Peabody was funny, he was a boy dog but tinkled like a girl dog. He was full of energy and spunk.

When we lived on North Troost someone tried to poison him and I remember sitting on the kitchen floor cuddling him as he shook violently and was throwing up. He survived.

Peabody even had the joy of having Catherine paint his toes nails one time with nail polish.

He was my first baby and I will never forget him. He was the runt of the litter and he out lived all of his brothers and sisters. He lived for 17 years and 10 months.

Thank you God for letting Peabody pick me to be his Mommy and thank you for the joy he brought to my family.

Peabody you will be missed.

Shake those Palms!

Today is Palm Sunday and the kids at our church bring in the palms. Anna and Catherine had a blast. Anna sat with me during part of church and needless to say my face took a beating from the palm branches.

Our trip to Iowa

Friday we met my parents and headed to Iowa. Bright and early we were on I-35 north bound. We stopped in Osceola for breakfast. This is a norm for us and we had a great meal. It was funny to watch Catherine's eyes when she saw someone get a cinnamon roll. The cinnamon rolls at this restaurant are the size of a dinner plate. We then drove on to Williamsburg, Iowa to the outlet and bought some shoes, dishes, and clothes for the kids. We hit Davenport at 3 pm and went straight to the cemetery. The girls helped me make the arraignment for my Grandparents. We even had Anna read the name of my Grandma, the person whom she is named after. Then we walked over and put flowers at my Grand Aunt and Uncle and my Cousins headstones. Then it was time to meet everyone for dinner. So 20 of us met at Hickory Gardens for dinner. It was a great meal and a wonderful time with family. I even called Tony at home so my Cousin Sally could see that he is a real person. Next trip Tony is going with us, since most of my family has never met him.

We finally arrived back at our house at 2 am. A long day but a great day!!!

KC Zoo

Today my mom came over and we went to the KC Zoo. The kids were wonderful!! They had so much fun. We met Stacey and her son, Anne and her son, and Anne's Sister-in-law and her son. We did the front of the zoo and ALL of Africa. Then we just ran out of time as it was 4:30 pm and the zoo closes at 4 pm. I think the highlights were the new baby baboon and the hippos. The male hippo was so cool, he was playing with a white barrel and needless to say he was going crazy.

R2D2 has landed in KC

Well KC along with the rest of the US has been invaded by R2D2. The United States Postal Service has cover over 400 mailboxes to make them look like R2D2. Last night, the Heart of the Allience Star Wars club met on the plaza with Fox 4 news for a new story. Catherine wore her Jawa costume and Tony wore his tuskin rader. They had a blast.

Here is the fox news story: http://piercefamily.dyndns.org/picture/photo2007/03_26_07_R2_Mailbox_Event/r2d2.wmv

Here are some pictures

Catherine was interviewed by Fox 4:

Marching to the R2D2:

It is starting to show!

Well for just over a year now I have been working out and improving my eatting habits and today I can say it is showing!!

The first picture is me, taken at a Grand Cross Confering on April 8, 2006

This is me today:

The best part was putting on a pair of my pants today to see this:

Catherine's Pre-Op Check-up

Well today was Catherine’s Pre-Op check. So my parents came over my house, my mom stayed with Anna and Christopher, while Pop’s and I took Catherine to the Dr. The nurse is who we saw. She talked to us more about the surgery and what to expect. She then checked Catherine’s ears, nose, and throat. She also listened to her heart, lungs and pushed on her tummy and that was it. We were done. So Catherine picked out some stickers and we headed home. It was short and sweat and she did great. They said the week before surgery they will call with times and any last minute info. So now the count down begins, my baby will have surgery in little over 2 weeks.

I remember when I had Catherine, and my mom stood by my bed crying because I was going into surgery to for my c-section and I asked her way she was crying and her response was “My baby is having surgery to have a baby”. I kinda thought at the time my mom was foolish, it was no big deal. Well as these two weeks tick by I am starting to understand more and more how she felt. My baby is going to have surgery.

Happy St. Pat's Day!!

Happy St. Pat's Day! I hope and pray people are having a great Green day and are safe. We talked last week about going to the Downtown St. Pat's Parade but after Snake Saturday and how the kids got tired of the parade part way through we decided not to try.
So we have spent the day doing home repairs and such. Tried to fix the drain line going down the wall from the washer, but to no luck. Tony put Liquid Plummer down the line, then he tried running a garden hose down the line (water does fine). So then we tried to run the washer. As soon as it hits cycle when it empties out the machine water backs up the drain line and comes spilling out over the wall. So on Monday I will call a plummer, I just feel so bad for Tony he is trying so hard to make it work. Then there is the dryer. It is taking on average of 4 hours to dry a load of laundry. We have cleaned it out of all lent, under the machine and in the vents, we have checked that the gas kicks on. So that leaves the thermostat or main board acting up. So I guess once I have my washer draining correctly that will be the next project. It seems like it never ends.

Oh well off to sew Easter stuff.

Bye Bye Colds!!!

Well this last bought of colds seems to have come and gone in about a week!!! I am soo happy. It is great that we all seemed to get better faster.

Weight loss is going good.....1 more pound and I will have lost 10 pounds in the past month. I am soo happy!! Just 50 someodd more to go.

Cold Stikes again!

Well it looks like a cold bug is stiking our house yet again. Started off with Anna and Catherine coughing. Then Anna ran a fever for about 48 hours and Catherine sounds croupy. Now I am getting a head cold. Arrgg I thought we were done with sickness in this house....guess I was wrong.

Anna's first swimming lessons

Well Wednesday was Anna's first night of swimming lessons. She LOVED it! Christopher and I came alone too so I could take pictures. Other then the water being cold she was in heaven. Her and daddy has soo much fun. They splashed, kicked, floated, and jumped. I hope she keeps enjoying every moment of it.

Catherine's ENT appointment

Well Catherine had her ENT appointment today. We did it because of snoring and she like chokes when she is sleeping. Well her tonsils are big and so on April 10th she is going to have her tonsils and adenoids removed.

Christopher's 15 month check up

Well it was nothing but bad news.

Christopher gained 7 oz in the past 3 months so he is complete dropped off the growth chart (he weighed in at 19 pounds 3 oz). His height did not grow at all. She was nice and just said "your kids do not follow normal growth patterns. At least she did not ask me about walking, since he will not walk unless he is holding on to something. He was wheezing so bad this morning that she made him take a breathing treatment right then and there and we have to continue them ever 4 hours from this point on. She then said it would be touch and go as to how long we have to keep going and how often. His ear infection is either back or never went away so he is now on amoxicillen. She does not know why the other doctor did not just put us on it before since it worked before.

So we are waiting for home health to bring us a nebulizer and then the meds to be ready to pick up at the pharmacy (said it would take at least an hour). We go back on 26th to get rechecked and then if all is well we do shots.

Needless to say I am a mess today.

Nation Says "Good-Bye"

Today the Nation said Good-Bye to Garold Ford, the 38th president of the United State. Present Ford was the president when I was born, although only for a short time. I do not remember ever really learning anything about President Ford in school. I will say the news has done a great job educating me on President Garold R. Ford.

He was a man of his word, something you don't hear much in politics anymore. He was a Master Mason and a DeMolay. He was a Father, Grand Father and Great-Grand Father.

Happy New Year!

Happy 2007

I pray that God Blesses the world

I pray that God will protect the world

I pray that life can be happy and be as stressfree as possible