Sabrina's Adventures

Lego is 50

My friend, Alli and Cindy both have sons that have a love for Legos. I don't have children and the nieces and nephew I have are mostly girls. I haven't seen too many Lego sets that are for girls; however, there may be a ton of them and I just haven't really looked.

Alli had an entry on her blog the other day about Lego turning 50 and how Damon and her son, Fuller, love playing with Lego. The day after I read the article, I saw this on Google.

Just thought it was cute how Google was celebrating Lego's birthday also. Maybe when Shane and I have a child; we can pass on this legendary toy that so many of my friends' children love.

Invitations Anyone?

My friend Cindy's son is having his 10th Birthday on Feb. 12th; so she asked me for some help with the party theme and then once decided on, the invitations.

He is having a Movie Party theme and she found some Popcorn boxes to be used as favors. She wanted some really cute invitations....

At first, I came up with the ideo of movie ticket invitations and then we decided on popcorn boxes. I finally finished the invitations and decided to show them off and maybe I'll do a little side business of creating invitations and selling them.

It's a thought. Here's my first finished product.

Info has been erased to protect the innocent.

Top Dog

Today is our first snow day of 2008. It's really pretty too and it looks like the snow is just so soft.

But the real reason why I'm writing is the Bulldog made the Top 10 Popular Dogs List.

I know my Bulldog is TOP DOG!!!!

He's laying in his bed right now snoring and pooting....Bulldogs are known for their "little" gas issue; but we love him!! Stinky butt and all.

Our Fortunes

Shane and I got these fortunes at the same time and I've been wanting to show them; however, my old camera just couldn't focus enough on the words to make a decent picture. Well with my new camera, it has an option for text pictures. I've been saving them hoping I would get a new camera and I did.

40 is FABULOUS

Saturday was my birthday and I turned 40!!! 40 isn't as bad as everyone makes it out to be....I though it was fabulous. Ashley spent the night Friday night and we all woke up between 7:30-8:00 and Shane made us breakfast. I knew something had been planned for me because Shane had bought cokes, etc the other night for something on Saturday.

Around 2:30, me and Mom went running around. Ashley decided to stay home and help Shane with "things". We went by the grave site and changed the flowers out on Sheryl's grave. Even though today was a time of celebration; me and mom had a moment there. It's still hard to think she's gone and it truly breaks my heart to see my mom in so much pain.

We got home around 3:40 and there were cars in the driveway. Walked in the house and Surprise!!! A birthday party...the first one in my adult life. Friends and family were here and we had a great time.

I got some bath and body, money and candles. Shane got me a new digital camera, a case for it, some fly paper(for my fly pentop), and a book of brain teasers. I love my new camera...it's very compact and I just love it. It even has a setting to take blog photos. I really do love it. Later on that evening, Shane and I went to eat at Provinos. It was good food, I love those rolls.

So, if anyone isn't looking forward to 40; just take it from me, it isn't bad at all. Your only as old as your feel and I feel about 30 and to be honest, I don't look 40 at all. Here's a picture with my new camera....Shane and I before we went out.

Now to just make it thru the Wedding!!

Letter From The Senator

I wrote to the Senator and State Representative of Tennessee back in December regarding mandatory Infertility Insurance in the State of Tennessee. There are currently 15 states that have some form of mandatory Fertility Insurance.

I actually received a letter today from Senator Bo Watson thanking me for writing and bringing this situation to his attention. He said although he wasn't a reproductive medicine expert this is something he would investigate. I had included a cover letter with my letters just giving a background of my fertility history. I thought I'm sure they get a ton of these legislative letters and pass them up farely easy; so I wanted to personalize my letter and let him know how hard it is to get pregnant and the stress you go thru when you have fertility problems. He actually Wished me Best Wishes on my upcoming Marriage. I was really shocked to know someone actually read my letter.

If this is passed in the State of Tennessee, this would mean that insurance companies have to offer infertility insurance to their members. It has to be a covered expense under your policy. Yes, there are loopholes to where some things wouldn't be covered. For example here is what the State of Illinois covers:

DEFINITION OF FERTILITY/PATIENT REQUIREMENTS

Infertility means the inability to conceive after one year of unprotected sexual intercourse or the inability to sustain a successful pregnancy.

COVERAGE

Group insurers and HMOs that provide pregnancy related coverage must provide infertility treatment including, but not limited to:
diagnosis of infertility;
IVF;
uterine embryo lavage;
embryo transfer;
artificial insemination;
GIFT;
ZIFT;
low tubal ovum transfer
Coverage for IVF, GIFT and ZIFT is provided if the patient has been unable to attain or sustain a successful pregnancy through reasonable, less costly, infertility treatments covered by insurance;
Each patient is covered for up to 4 egg retrievals. However, if a live birth occurs, 2 additional egg retrievals will be covered, with a lifetime maximum of 6 retrievals covered.
The procedures must be performed at facilities that conform with ACOG and ASRM guidelines.
EXCEPTIONS

Employers with fewer than 25 employees do not have to provide coverage.
Does not require religious employers to cover infertility treatment.
Employers who self-insure are exempt from the requirements of the law.

Of course, I think my coverage at work is a self-insured policy; however, I'm still going to push for the coverage if Tennessee ever passes this Act.

You can click here to print out a letter and mail to the Senator and State Representative of Tennessee. I know I would appreciate any help I could receive in this matter and I know there are a lot of women out there in the same situation as me.

Post Christmas

I forgot to blog about how my Christmas went so here’s a quick summary:

On the 14th, Shane and I took my mom out to eat at O’Charleys for her Christmas.

On the 15th- we went to my sister’s house in Westmoreland, TN and exchanged gifts with her and her family and ate too much. Good times, good food, good company.

On the 16th- Ami, Amanda and Katie came over and we went ahead and celebrated Christmas and exchanged gifts with them. Ate some good food there too.

On Christmas Eve, Logan and Ashley came to stay. I mean, literally for a week. Can we say, “I need a break?” We decided to let the kids open all their gifts on Christmas Eve since Shane had to be at work at 6 am on Christmas.

On Christmas, I actually relaxed some (I think). I did make sausage balls and pigs in a blanket for breakfast and just relaxed with the kids. They played with all their new gifts, toys and I just relaxed.

Shane and I bought ourselves a new Flat Screen TV for our bedroom. We did buy each other a little gift too. I bought Shane some RC parts for his cars and Marvel Comic Book. He loves Marvel Comics and this book has all the different super heroes and villains. He bought me a Fly Pentop Computer. It’s really neat and I’ve been wanting one.

I think we all had a good Christmas and looking forward to 2008!!!

Move #1

Okay, last month was very stressful with Christmas, the death of the my sister, helping the girls all get settled into a life that no one ask for; but was handed suddenly. It’s time for them to grow up, get on with their life and make the best of it.

My niece, Amanda, found her an apartment and needed a truck to move her things. Well, guess who got chosen for that job? ME!

I spent about 6 hours on Monday moving her things to her new apartment. I’m talking Living Room and two Bedrooms full of furniture. It took us 6 hours and 4 trips. What was so bad is her apartment was in the back of the buildings with no parking lot near by. We literally had to park about a block from her actual apartment and carry furniture to it and then up 2 flights of stairs. Did I mention, I’m turning 40 on Saturday? I’m not that young anymore. It kicked my butt.

Now, just to move Ami’s things to my mom’s house and we are finished. That will take place today; but luckily it’s just two bedrooms of furniture and hopefully nothing too heavy.

Keeping You Posted

I haven’t blogged in a while because:

I’ve been too busy
Just really didn’t feel like taking the time to write anything
Family matters

A lot has happened in December and still happening but slowly coming to a close. My sister passed away on Dec. 9th and ever since then, things have just been so busy in my life. My mom decided to help the girls with buying them a car and getting them set to start living on their own. Finding a used car that was dependable wasn’t as easy as we thought it would be. There are some people in the world that think their cars are worth more than they really are. I won’t give any names; however, we went to this used car lot up in Ooltewah and their cars were really junky. I test drive one that the transmission was out of and they “supposedly” didn’t know it. I would be ashamed to sell cars to people like that. While I was there, I heard the guy on the phone with a customer complaining that the car she bought something was wrong with. I just don’t do business like that and therefore, we left and never looked back.

I called this one Used Car Lot (which I would give their name if I could remember it) that bluntly told me on the phone that they don’t sell cars for CASH. That one really took the cake with me. My mom and I had fun with that one all day….at least it made us laugh.

We finally got the girls both a car that we felt was dependable enough for them and felt like we did a great job on them. Ami got a cute little Saturn and Amanda got a really nice Taurus.

Now that we have both of them cars; it’s time to move them.