So I woke up to at least 2 more inches!

It never gets old! I love snow!!! There is nothing like waking up surrounded by a winter wonderland. It's magical every time.

Gorgeous! It's too cold to take a pic and still snowing, so I borrowed this one.

This is one of the things I hated most about when we lived in Texas. Winter isn't winter in Texas, it's brown and gross and muddy. BLEH! <3 Minnesota <3 The lack of ex-inlaws in Minnesota also happens to be a wonderful thing.

And from weather.com...

Winter Weather Advisory for Anoka, MN

until 12 pm CST, Tue., Nov. 30, 2010

Local Radar Map

What's This?

Updated 30 Nov 2010 8:40 am Local Time

Enlarge Map | Weather in Motion®

Get WeatherReady

• Prepare for Winter Storms
• Tips for Snow & Ice Removal
• Driving in Snow & Ice
• Get Live Traffic Reports
• Wintry Precipitation Explained

Issued by The National Weather Service
Minneapolis, MN
2:22 am CST, Tue., Nov. 30, 2010

... WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST TODAY...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST TODAY.

* TIMING... PERIODS OF LIGHT TO MODERATE SNOW WILL CONTINUE TO FALL THROUGH THE MORNING.

* MAIN IMPACTS... SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 1 TO 4 INCHES AND FREEZING OF UNTREATED WET ROADWAYS DUE TO FALLING TEMPERATURES.

* OTHER IMPACTS... BY TUESDAY MORNING... NORTHWEST WINDS OF 20 TO 30 MPH WILL RESULT IN PATCHY BLOWING AND DRIFTING OF ANY NEWLY FALLEN SNOW.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS PERIODS OF SNOW... SLEET OR BLOWING SNOW WILL CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SLIPPERY ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES... AND USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING.

&&

More Information

... ACCUMULATING SNOWFALL CONTINUING WITH STRONG WIND SPEEDS THROUGH THE REST OF THE DAY...

.A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR PARTS OF WEST CENTRAL AND CENTRAL MINNESOTA... GENERALLY WEST OF A LINE FROM REDWOOD FALLS TO LITTLE FALLS... THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING. A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR THE REMAINDER OF CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING. THIS INCLUDES THE TWIN CITIES METROPOLITAN AREA.

IN THE WARNING AREA OF WEST CENTRAL AND CENTRAL MINNESOTA... AN INTENSE BAND OF SNOW DEVELOPED OVERNIGHT... WITH 8 TO 12 INCHES OF SNOW BEING REPORTED FROM REDWOOD FALLS THROUGH OLIVIA AND WILLMAR. PERIODS OF SNOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE MORNING... WITH THE INTENSE BAND OF SNOW WEAKENING SOME AS IT MOVES NORTHEAST. TOTAL SNOWFALL AMOUNTS FROM 8 TO 12 INCHES... WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS ARE EXPECTED FROM REDWOOD COUNTY UP TO WESTERN STEARNS COUNTY. ELSEWHERE WITHIN THE WARNING... SNOWFALL AMOUNTS WILL LIKELY BE IN THE 3 TO 6 INCH RANGE. IN ADDITION TO THE SNOWFALL... STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS OF 20 TO 30 MPH GUSTING TO 35 TO 40 MPH HAVE DEVELOPED AND WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE DAY TUESDAY... WHICH WILL RESULT IN BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW... AND REDUCED VISIBILITIES.

FURTHER TO THE SOUTH AND EAST... SNOWFALL WILL LAST THROUGH THE BETTER PART OF TUESDAY MORNING. WHILE AMOUNTS OF ONLY ONE TO FOUR INCHES ARE PRIMARILY EXPECTED... QUICKLY FALLING TEMPERATURES ON NORTHWEST WINDS WILL LIKELY LEAD TO FREEZING OF WATER ON UNTREATED ROADWAYS BY DAYBREAK. THIS ALONE MAY HAVE IMPACTS ON THE MORNING RUSH HOUR. NORTHWEST WINDS OF 15 TO 30 MPH MAY ALSO FURTHER REDUCE VISIBILITIES IN FALLING SNOW AT TIMES DURING TUESDAY MORNING.

Mine to Hold: 8 weeks!

Mine to Hold: 8 weeks!: "This is pregnancy week 8! It's my own little milestone, but one that I am thrilled about, from here on out every 4 weeks is a decent milest..."

Sheesh

Pregnancy and therapy really slow a girl down, if on nothing more than her blogging...  and every day life! Although I am more inclined to blame the pregnancy. I am SO dang tired all the time.

I do however have a worth while update today! I have a picture of 8 scarves that I have crocheted that are ready to be donated! I have a 9th and 10th almost done, but since it is so cold out already I am going to donate the 8 I have ready to go sooner rather than later.

Scarves, multiple sizes and colors ready to be donated.

Once again my thanks to the wonderful person who donated money for so much yarn! I hope to be able to get at least 5 more scarves out of what I had. The adult size ones take a lot more yarn than the kid's scarves do, so I have a ratio of about 2 to 1 on those. So, 25 dollars donated and I believe I will be able to make at least 15 scarves! If there is enough left over I am going to attempt to crochet a hat or two as well. Wish me luck!

6 - 11 inches is perfect for me!

 I love winter! Everything is so fresh and beautiful outside.

Winter Storm Warning for Anoka, MN

until 6 am CST, Sun., Nov. 14, 2010

Local Radar Map

What's This?

Updated 13 Nov 2010 12:45 pm Local Time

Enlarge Map | Weather in Motion®

Get WeatherReady

• Prepare for Winter Storms
• Tips for Snow & Ice Removal
• Driving in Snow & Ice
• Get Live Traffic Reports
• Wintry Precipitation Explained

Issued by The National Weather Service
Minneapolis, MN
10:59 am CST, Sat., Nov. 13, 2010

... WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM CST SUNDAY...

A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM CST SUNDAY.

* TIMING... SNOW TODAY AND TONIGHT. THE SNOW WILL BE HEAVY AT TIMES DURING THE LATE MORNING AND EARLY AFTERNOON HOURS. SNOWFALL RATES AROUND AN INCH AN HOUR ARE LIKELY. THE SNOW WILL DECREASE IN INTENSITY LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING FROM SOUTHWEST TO NORTHEAST.

* MAIN IMPACT... HEAVY WET SNOW WITH ACCUMULATIONS OF 6 TO 11 INCHES.

* OTHER IMPACTS... VERY DIFFICULT TRAVEL CONDITIONS WITH STRONG WINDS. TREES AND POWER LINES MAY GO DOWN WITH THE HEAVY WET SNOW.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS. ONLY TRAVEL IN AN EMERGENCY. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL... KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT... FOOD... AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.

&&

More Information

... SIGNIFICANT SNOW AND WIND TODAY FROM SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA THROUGH THE TWIN CITIES METRO AND INTO WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN...

.A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT TODAY AND TONIGHT ACROSS EAST CENTRAL THROUGH SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA. THIS INCLUDES THE TWIN CITIES METROPOLITAN AREA. THE WARNING ALSO CONTINUES FOR POLK AND BARRON COUNTIES IN NORTHWEST WISCONSIN. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORIES REMAIN IN EFFECT THROUGH TONIGHT ON THE EAST AND WEST SIDES OF THE WARNING AREA... FROM ALBERT LEA TO LADYSMITH AND WILLMAR TO LITTLE FALLS RESPECTIVELY. STORM TOTAL SNOWFALLS WITHIN THE WARNING AREA ARE EXPECTED TO BE BETWEEN 8 AND 11 INCHES. THE ADVISORY AREA CAN EXPECT 3 TO 6 INCHES OF SNOW. IN ADDITION TO THE SNOW... NORTH TO NORTHEAST WINDS AT 15 TO 25 MPH WILL ACCOMPANY THE SNOW ACROSS MUCH OF THE AREA. HOWEVER... STRONGER WINDS OF 25 TO 30 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS WILL CONTINUE OVER SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA... SOUTH AND WEST OF MANKATO. THERE HAVE NUMEROUS REPORTS OF TREES AND POWER LINES GOING DOWN DUE TO THE WINDS AND THE WEIGHT OF THE HEAVY WET SNOW. THESE TYPES OF REPORTS EXTEND FROM SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA INTO THE TWIN CITIES.

THE HEAVIER RATES OF SNOWFALL... WITH AMOUNTS OF ONE INCH PER HOUR... WILL GRADUALLY SHIFT FROM NEAR AND JUST SOUTHWEST OF THE TWIN CITIES... INTO EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA AND NORTHWEST WISCONSIN... TOWARD CAMBIRDGE... MORA... AND BALSAM LAKE. THE HEAVIEST STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL WILL REACH NEAR 11 INCHES FROM SOUTH CENTRAL..INTO EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA... INCLUDING PARTS OF THE TWIN CITIES,

SURROUNDING THE HEAVIER BAND OF SNOW... AMOUNTS WILL REACH 6 TO 8 INCHES. THE DIVIDING LINE FOR RAIN AND SNOW WAS LOCATED FROM NEAR ALBERT LEA... TO MENOMONIE AND LADYSMITH. THIS WILL CHANGE VERY LITTLE DURING THE EARLY AFTERNOON... BUT MAY SHIFT EAST LATER THIS AFTERNOON.

THE FIRST WINTER STORM OF THE SEASON IS ASSOCIATED WITH A LOW PRESSURE STORM SYSTEM OVER NORTHEAST IOWA. THE LOW WILL MOVE NORTHEAST TO UPPER MICHIGAN BY SUNDAY MORNING.

IF TRAVEL IS PLANNED TODAY... BE SURE TO CHECK ROAD AND WEATHER CONDITIONS BEFORE HEADING OUT AND BE PREPARED TO USE EXTRA TIME TO GET TO YOUR DESTINATION.

It's snowing!

I never knew how much I loved the snow until I moved to Texas and had a "brown" winter. White is just so much prettier! There is nothing like waking up to a nice blanket of snow covering up rooftops and grass. Watching it fall peacefully to the ground as it continues to snow. I don't have a fireplace, but I think a few candles would give the same effect... to an extent lol.

I can see it now. Eyes rolling as you read this... at least from the haters of the snow... He or she who must shovel the fluffy white stuff should move to an apartment with underground parking! Much less of an inconvenience leaving it to be an enjoyable experience!

Heck, I can't wait for Emma to wake up and see the snow! I love the excitement in her eyes. I remember that feeling as a child, it's even better than how I feel about snow myself. It's that "Ohhhhh! Snow! Let's play in it!" feeling.

I love snow. ::sigh::

This is ridiculous!

This is just, amazing. He signed a payment arrangement in July of this year, agreeing to pay current support and catch up on the $5000 he had in arrears already. You can see where we are on that..

The following enforcement remedies are in use:

Passport Denial   (Active )

Project Intercept   (Active )

Revenue Recapture   (Active )

Student Grant Hold   (Active )

Credit Bureau Reporting   (Active )

Driver's License Suspension   (The obligor signed a payment plan )

The total amount the obligor owes this month is $460.00.

The current support obligation may be different from the court ordered amount because of medical support offset.

Monthly Charges
Type	Amount Due	Balance Due
Current support	460.00	460.00

The total amount the obligor owes on this case is $5,977.19.

Outstanding Balances
Type	Balance Due
Current support	460.00
NPA arrears	5,483.07
PA arrears	34.12

 

 

The case is in the enforcement process. The child support agency is enforcing the court order for support. The agency uses a variety of tools to enforce support orders.
 

 

November 3, 2010

From now on, this case will be periodically reviewed for Driver's License Suspension. The child support agency will review the case regularly to see if the obligor's driver's license should be suspended. If the case meets the standards for Driver's License Suspension in the future, the child support agency will send a Notice of Intent to Suspend Driver's License to the obligor at the obligor's last known address.

October 18, 2010

The child support agency sent a new or updated notice of income withholding to the obligor's payor of funds. The notice tells the payor of funds to start taking the support that the obligor owes out of the obligor's pay, or to change the amount of support that they have been taking from the obligor's pay, and to send the support to the Minnesota Child Support Payment Center.

October 18, 2010

The child support agency added a new income withholding record or changed an existing income withholdingincome withholding notice to the obligor's current or new payor of funds.

Year to date payment history:

08/30/2010	254.73	111.88 142.85	Current Support NPA Arrears
08/02/2010	127.39	127.39	Current Support
08/02/2010	254.73	254.73	Current Support
07/21/2010	121.93	121.93	Current Support
06/30/2010	254.73	135.74 118.99	Current Support NPA Arrears
06/16/2010	37.50	37.50	Current Support
06/10/2010	68.75	68.75	Current Support
06/04/2010	127.39	127.39	Current Support
06/01/2010	90.62	90.62	Current Support
05/21/2010	254.73	254.73	Current Support
05/20/2010	127.39	127.39	Current Support

Group Therapy... eh.

I just don't know what to think of this new therapy program. Yes, it's more intense, but it's always in a group and always feels more stressful. You wait your turn to talk, if you get a chance to talk you have people talking over you... but there has to be some benefit... right?

I am questioning whether to stay in this new more intense therapy or go back to the old one where it was more relaxed and took less than 1/3 the time this one takes per week. Not to mention food and drinks bought at the hospital, holy crap that is getting spendy! Granted I've switched over to just the ice water with the yummy ice for drinking, but lunch is expensive in the cafeteria.

Toss the pregnancy on top of it and I find it almost impossible to stay awake, especially for the 3 hours that come after lunch. >.< I think I spend more time checking the clock and anxiously awaiting time to leave than I spend paying attention to the given topic. Hell, of the 6 groups we do a day, I think only 3 of them really even pertain to me since I haven't and wont ever attempt suicide. How annoying.

Emma is doing so great in school!

We just got her first spelling test back, she got a perfect 16/16. I don't remember doing spelling tests in first grade... wow... but this girl nailed it! I am so very proud of her. 16 spelling words in first grade... in one week... it seems so crazy to me but she's doing it and kicking butt at it. In all honesty, she's so awesome with math I thought reading and spelling were going to be an issue, but she's just blowing us all away, including her teacher.

Have I mentioned how proud I am of her? Her oldest two siblings could take a page out of her book, or maybe she took a page out of Blake's book... who knows. I am just, in awe. I hope she stays this great with school, she seems to not only excel but also enjoy it too.

Did I mention she's at the head of her class for number of "Tryin' Lion" awards as well? Amazing.

A quote to live by.

"Be who you are, and say what you feel; those you mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind." ~ Dr.Seuss

We have normality...

Well, at least that was the nicest way I could think of to say "we now resume our usual weekly grind". Oh and also I am a geek as the title is undoubtedly a reference to "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" one of my all time favorite movies. My kids love it too, so I guess it can't be that bad... can it?

So, today I go back to my intense therapy. I hope it's doing some good, because it's hard for me to tell either way. Getting off the one med that works for my anxiety isn't easy, although I am doing it as I was instructed... so let's go with the therapy must be working... Ha, I just looked up how to crochet a beanie... I hate crochet instructions. It takes more time for me to decipher them than to actually do the stitches.  I guess that is suiting for a Monday morning.

Vikings WIN!

Thank gods the Vikings won today.

Yep. I posted just that.

Pregnancy and Anxiety... oh my!

I am so determined to get beyond the anxiety and have a healthy happy, stress free (wishful thinking I'm sure) pregnancy. I am attending therapy, I am crocheting like it is going out of style, I am doing the Qigong I have learned in therapy and also the acupressure tapping techniques I've learned... but I still feel something is lacking.

I really, really, really want a prenatal yoga DVD. After reading all the reviews the one I have linked here seems to be the best. So, if anyone is feeling generous >.< I would gladly receive and use this. It feels SO tacky to ask... however I believe the sooner I start it the better, fitness and anxiety wise.  

For that matter, beyond the yoga DVD, I am open to other suggestions to help with my anxiety while pregnant as the one medication that helps with anxiety is class D, which means it very well may harm the baby. I am stuck with using Benedryl when I panic now. Ish, that stuff knocks me out.

What a gorgeous day!

So gorgeous and I am so tired! I just have to remember the first tri sleepies only last so long. Maybe I'll nap and then take the kids for a walk to do some photography. They could snap pics with their DSi(s) and I could use my camera... might make for a great POV collage.

Yep, I think that is what we'll do today. I can't wait to see if we can get some great pics as a group!

I found this today lol

I think I am going to use it. Nobody has said a word to me, but I am pretty sure my parents are getting grilled on or at least asked about me being "pregnant again".

So...

• Yes I am pregnant with baby #5. 
• Yes I am already in a tight financial situation and that sucks.
• Yes I am excited and happy about this baby!
• No I didn't try to get pregnant, it was a surprise from the Gods.
• No I will not abort or give the baby up for adoption.
• No I don't care what you think if you're going to be negative.

I think that covers the basics. Heck, I remember just over 6 years ago when I was pregnant with Emma the dirty looks and stares I got for having a 4th child. What's funny though is... I am one of 4, my dad is 1 of 5, my mom is one of 6 (R.I.P. Grams and Auntie Roberta). Even if I had 20 kids (O.O) it wouldn't be for anyone else to judge. No matter what you believe, unless you're Atheist or Agnostic... you have no "right" to judge me in (the) Gods eyes. 

If you read this and you've spoken to my parents about my pregnancy... no, they didn't  say anything to me, it was more what I picked up on in passing, so don't run off to my parents whining that they talked to me about you talking to them. I'm not sure who has or who hasn't, but I have a fairly good idea. :p

I love this baby, I have loved it since the moment I knew I was pregnant, just as I love each and every one of my already born children. If you can't handle it, get over it or ignore it, it will save us both a lot of grief. <3

I think I am too tired to sleep!

Spending 6 hours a day in my new therapy is paying off. My anxiety is greatly reduced. However that is 6 hours I can't nap for and apparently when I get home it takes me too long to get a reasonably times nap. I asked about adding naps into therapy, but they didn't think insurance would go for it. :p

Then again, it's been a roller coaster over the past few days. I went into the ER with some cramping in my "lower right quadrant" causing them to do an U/S and subsequent blood tests. Initially they were worried I was losing the pregnancy and they're still concerned it might be an ectopic... however the lack of cramping at this point seems to make that less of a concern as well. My beta hCG levels have been good and I should have another U/S next week to rule out an ectopic pregnancy, but what a scary thing to go through.

With that said, however, I know without a doubt, despite this being a "surprise" baby, I don't want to lose it. So I am hoping for a smoother ride from here on out. I did crochet 3 scarves over the last 3 days trying to keep my mind of it though, which is great. I am that much closer to having a decent amount to donate. :)

Busy day today!

I have to start out the morning by calling my financial worker and chewing her out. It seems she STILL has not fixed HER mistake and I now do not have insurance to start the Partial program I am supposed to begin today for treatment and therapy of my anxiety. Can't call her until 8 or 8:30 though... so I have to just be content with getting ready for the day that may or may not happen.

Assuming I get a hold of her on time, I am supposed to also be to Mercy Hospital by 8:30 to register for the partial program with registration. Up to Partial by 9 and then leave there for a short break by 10:15 so I am able to find parking for my WIC appointment. I already have all my papers gathered for that so I am ahead of the game there... Once that appointment is done I head back to Mercy and if I am lucky I may have time for lunch before heading back to the Partial program.

I have to wonder what I would entertain myself with if I didn't have all of this wonderful stress in my life.

Oh and at some point I have to locate my polling place so I can vote for the better of the two evils. I hate that shit.

Blah! Anxiety sucks!

I am trying so hard to get off of the Klonopin that I am on. The one med that has been effective in treating my anxiety off and on for years... but there is apparently no "safe" alternative. To top it off, I can't just stop taking the Klonopin as it apparently has some very wicked withdrawal side effects.

It's SO frustrating. However today at therapy they invited me to try a new program also through Mercy. It's called the partial program and it's significantly more intense than the therapy I am getting now, as well as allowing me the ability to see a Psychiatrist daily rather than waiting months to get in to one. I am hoping that would help with med changes as I've had to depend on only myself so far with tapering off the other meds.

I effing hate anxiety, agoraphobia and depression. They suck. :(