Scoliosis- An Update

For those of you who have been concerned or have an interest in Big Girl's scoliosis, she went for a check-up at Shriner's on Friday. She has been wearing her night brace faithfully for 12 hours every day and her curve has decreased from 20% to just over 10%. Yea! Great news for her.

Being a worrier I had web-md'd myself into a frenzy over possible full-time bracing or back surgery. How did we parents ever figure out what horrible diseases and ailments are lurking out there ready to pounce on our innocent babies before web-md?

She has to continue using her brace 12 hours a day but doesn't have to go back to Shriner's for 6 months!

The doctor was very proud of her and said it was all her doing...she is such a good patient and a good girl.

For her special reward we took her to Benihana's and to OMSI to see a real T-Rex skelaton. We also took a tour of a real US Navy Sub...that was very interesting.

It was a cold and rainy trip to Portland but it was a beautiful weekend for us!

New Hair-Do Before and After

This is me a few weeks ago helping a boy in my 4-H club make a gingerbread house. Not a great picture but the only one I could find to demonstrate how icky my hair was getting.

I needed a new do. I have been wearing layers for the last couple of years but I'm not usually a fan of layers because of the upkeep. I decided to go back to one length and got a bob to start the process of growing my hair back out. I asked to have my hair lightened but my trusted hairdresser didn't recommend too much lightening and the result was a short bob with lighter highlights and some bangs.

I wish it were longer and I don't think I'll keep the highlights because I don't like to spend hours in the salon every few weeks. I like having bangs again, too. I may get more bangs and go back to my regular dark brown color.

What do you think? And yes, I know I'm in need of some sun. I live in Oregon, what do you expect?

Silent Night

This commercial is so unfair to those of us who consider their womb's closed for business. Bad Pampers!

Family Thanksgiving

The girls and Steve and I went to OKC for Thanksgiving. It was the girls' first time to OKC and the first time meeting a large group of O'Dell's. They handled it pretty well. Sarah, Emily and Cassidy made friends pretty quickly.


My girls got to be a part of the annual "Spoons up" ritual.
All the girl cousins together in one spot.

Debbie, Chris, Dad (looking mighty handsome) and Agnella. Such beautiful smiles.

Emily and Sarah got Kenny figured out pretty quick. "Let me Go, you Goof!"

"TAKE THAT! KI-YA!"

I think Santa was feeling a little claustrophobic when the girls had a shopping day.

We got to help trim the tree at Dad's house. The girls had a blast. Agnella let them put things wherever they wanted. (I think Grandma enjoyed spoiling the girls for a few days.)

We had a wonderful time, it was over too soon and we can't wait to go back.

Happy Holidays!

Best Fried Chicken in the USA

I went to Oklahoma City to visit my family for Thanksgiving. I find it only fitting that my first post about my trip be devoted to Eischen's Bar. My great-grandmother has passed away so I can safely say Eischen's makes the best fried chicken in the country, dare I say world?



Eischen's is in Okarchee, Oklahoma. A good 30 minute drive from the city. Well worth the trip as evidenced by the huge crowds and long waits for a table. The menu is simple. Waiters appear and ask not "What can I get you?" but(insert southern drawl here) "How many chicken's ya want?"

Appetizers are served.

Your side dish is next. (Vegetables are very important for a healthy body).

And the main course!

This made a believer of my kids and even my husband who strongly dislikes chicken and fried foods. After I dismembered the chicken so it didn't resemble poultry he said, and I quote, "I have to admit it's good chicken." which I'll interpret as "Eischen's, the best fried chicken in the USA."

Dancing with the STARS???

The girls and I had a full-on Girls Night Out.

We are huge fans of Dancing with the Stars around here (Well, most of us). Some of us even shed tears when our favorite is voted off. So when I heard that a dance production including stars of my favorite show was coming to town I rushed to get in line.

The show was called Champions of the Dance. It was in the big city. At night. Late.

We decided to get a hotel. So the girls and I went to town early and did some shoppin' and some eatin' and checked in at the hotel for a little nap.

We got all dressed up and headed to the theater.

The show was great even if I was unable to locate any "Stars". I believe that one female dancer spent one season (probably voted off early) on the show. We had great seats and Little One entertained the audience with an impromtu cha-cha-cha during the intermission.

It was one of those moments when I wish I had my camera ready.

School Room Organization

This year our school room became a living organism that moved, ate and reproduced at an alarming rate. With Little Girl starting first grade we were bulging at the seams.

Books, art projects, science experiments were in, under and on top of every surface. It was time to do something.

Tah-Dah!

No, we did not build these ourselves...are you kidding? But I can highly reccommend Roelke Corporation in Jacksonville, Oregon. They made the trip to middle-of-nowheresville. Figured out what I wanted before I even knew, built it off-site and had it installed a few weeks later in just a couple of hours... I could not be happier.
My children now get up early, happily skip down and say "Can we start school NOW?" Not really, but a mom can dream, can't she?