OK...I have been tagged. So, here goes.....

100 things about me.....Not that you guys really care, but I will try....

1. I was born in Ridgewood, New Jersey.
2. I grew up living with my granparents.
3. My father remarried and had 5 more kids.
4. Growing up, I lived in 1 house for 20 years.
5. I went to school in the same school district that I now work for.
6. I have been engaged to be married once.
7. I have an Associate's degree.
8. I have a Bachelor's degree.
9. I have a Master's degree.
10. I love movies.
11. I love Mexican food.
12. I love Cajun food.
13. I love Chinese food.
14. I love Seafood.
15. I hate Indian food.
16. My favorite place to be is the beach.
17. I have never been pregnant with just 1 baby.
18. I was a mom of 3 by age 24.
19. I have a child with Spina Bifida.
20. I have a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
21. I am a huge Disney fan.
22. I lost my mom just this year.
23. I live in Texas, but long to be able to live in a place that is not so hot.
24. I only wear glasses to drive.
25. I forgot that I really like Thai food too!
26. I drive a vehicle that seats 9.
27. If I could afford it, I would have a few more kids.
28. I have a small obsession with gadgets.
29. I have had 2 c-sections.
30. I have had all of my wisdom teeth removed surgically.
31. I live on a cul-de-sac.
32. I hate that my mailbox is at the end of the street.
33. I would love to get my doctorate, but do not have the time or money to do so.
34. My eating habits are crappy.
35. I am so proud of myself as I have already started my Christmas shopping this year which is a MUST for a single mom of 5 kids.
36. I have 7 tattoos (most of them, because of my job, are in places that they cannot be seen). Yup 7! Yes, I want more!!!
37. I a freak about my toe nails being polished, and I think that NO ONE should wear open-toed shoes with toe nails that are unpolished.
38. I have a son who plays football.
39. I have a son who is a state champion in the wheelchair form of taekwondo.
40. All of my children are named after family members as I feel that is so important.
41. All of my children have a "Y" in their names.
42. With the first 3, it was not on purpose.
43. With the last 2 it was.
44. I have a set of triplets.
45. I have a set of twins.
46. My children are 10.5 years apart.
47. I have never been married.
48. I used a donor and my own eggs to conceive my children.
49. Among my triplets, there are blue, green, and brown eyes.
50. My mom's ashes are still at my house.
51. I collect cows and DVDs.
52. I love OOAK babies and would like to start collecting them.
53. I am a DEVOTED and LOYAL Republican as it is the party which stands for all that I believe in. Yes! I am !
54. I voted for George W. Bush and am still proud of it. Unlike MANY, my loyalty does not waiver because of a rough time for our country. We have had many if you just glance at history. It is NEVER one person's fault. They just happen.
55. I will NOT vote for Obama!
56. I hate the healthcare coverage that I work so hard to PAY for.
57. I HATE the FACT that I owe the government $80K just for the education that I chose to get to become a teacher/counselor.
58. I am a state certified teacher in 4 areas.
59. I have been a certified counselor for 4 years.
60. I hate that I cannot just run out and get the things that my son needs and that resources are so few when funding is needed for basic things.
61. I have a son that has endured 18 operations.
62. My first pregnancy actually started with 4, but one never developed.
63. I work with inner-city kids.
64. I do believe that I have one of the most meaningful jobs.
65. I still have my tonsils and appendix.
66. I am about to begin my 13th year of teaching.
67. I long to visit far away places ESPECIALLY Italy!
68. I have swam with stingrays.
69. I have been on a cruise.
70. I have been to Mexico.
71. I have been to the Bahamas.
72. I have been to the Cayman islands.
73. I have been to at least half of the US states.
74. I was a competitive swimmer when I was young and through high school.
75. I earned 2 letters in high school. One for swimming and one for drill team.
76. My favorite animal is the manatee.
77. My favorite colors are red and hot pink.
78. I always dreamed of having at least 4 kids.
79. I LOVE tie-dye.
80. I LOVE 80's music.
81. I am a HUGE fan of Trans-Siberian Orchestra as I have seen their concert 5 times.
82. I love Broadway shows too.
83. The last one that I saw with my Mom was Jersey Boys just a few weeks before she died.
84. I love pictures.
85. I am happy to have my new D60 camera as it captures my photo-shy son before he turns away.
86. I hate tomatoes, mushrooms, and onions.
87. I have not had a good night's sleep since my mom died.
88. I get REALLY bad migraines.
89. I love the looks that I get from my children.
90. I have never loved anyone as much as I love my kids.
91. My only wish for my kids is their happiness and sense of knowing that they ARE loved.....
92. I love shoes!
93. I love jewelry.
94. I have one extra piercing at the top of my ear. While I would love to have others, it is just not appropriate in my field of work.
95. I still think about someday getting married, but I know that my chances of that happening at my age, with 5 kids, and at my size are NIL! I have a better chance of winning the lottery.
96. I guess I should play the lottery.
97. I love to talk. Just sit and talk with those who care.
98. I miss and worry about my friend D who is just having a rough time.
99. I have a love/hate relationship with the internet and chat boards. While I have met so many great people, I have also met some real nasty bitches who just live for being mean and picking on people who are more vulnerable and kind-hearted than they are. The experiences have also given me a profound understanding as to WHY some women are still single....
100. I have actually completed this! Thank you A for stimulating my brain in the midst of my summer break when it has shut down. The neurons are now firing!

PS Tag to Serene...You're it!

Bursting with pride!

Tobey's recent accomplishment....

Attempting to photograph the gang!

It is not so fun when the picture guy lets me know that my older boys will not be able to wear their "bathing suits" as everyone else does....Company policy is that no one over the age of 5 can have their midriff showing in a pic. Give me a stupid flipping break. Is this what all the freaks and loons have done to us? A mom cannot have a simple picture of her kids matching on the beach? Come on. MOST men do not wear shirts at the beach/pool. So, what is the big deal??? Just angers me as they looked a little dumb in their Tie-dye shirts when everyone else was in a suit. I would have bought matching tank tops if I had known this so they would have looked a little more "beachy."

Other than that, I think that they came out quite well....

Parasailing...I think that the pics say it all!

I CANNOT even imagine what it was like to see this from where they were....

Tobey's Annual Shrine Clinic

I have to say that I was so scared as THIS was the day that I have been dreading for years....

I will start with GOOD:

The boy has GROWN! Yes, my tiny little Tobey has grown a few inches and gained several pounds over the past year. I cannot believe that he is now 68 pounds. Holy Moly!!! Puberty will do it EVERY time!

Urology was GREAT! Ultrasound he had earlier in the week looked fabulous and that one horseshoe kidney is in excellent condition! He has had NO leaking when he caths every 4 hours. Today, we had a CMG and it was great as he filled to 400 ccs before leaking just a drop and his pressure only got to 40....

Ortho was shocked at the past year's growth and ordered new braces and a new wheelchair. So, he was fitted for the braces and we will go back to wheelchair clinic when they finish the current company switchover they are in the middle of.....

The BAD:

The sores...The child is literally covered in sores. On his knees, two on his back, etc... EVERY year, he winds up like this. It is either I let him be a kid and take care of wounds after, or I keep harping on him to "be careful" and "crawl on your butt." It is a futile fight and I have become and expert in wound care because of it. But, hey, I have always just added that to the list of things that MUST be done. Sunscreen, swim diapers, care for Tobey's wounds, etc....

The pediatrician fussed at him for having such a low iron count. He has been told that he MUST drink 1 Pediasure a day and try to increase his iron intake. The doc explained to him that his wounds would heal up so much faster if his iron levels were higher and that makes A LOT of sense. Tobey takes FOREVER to heal as he has been known to have a wound for 6 months before it is TOTALLY gone....

AND FINALLY......

Tobey has been referred to a spine specialist. I KNEW this was coming. I did. I just have wanted to PRETEND I could avoid it and have done so successfully for 12 years. They are now talking hardware, etc...I will know more at the appointment on Sept 3.....This is so tough for me. I do not know WHY, but it is. I have such a fear when it comes to this. My heart aches....

If you read all of this, THANKS!

Sad to say that we HAD to return from paradise....

Some beautiful sights to see.....











New suits to wear....



Bonding with big brother...



Cruise ships docking nearby...



New friends....







New skills learned...





All the kids together....



Hanging with our cousins....



Ready to snorkel....




Even with sunscreen, we all ended up tanned and beach-bum looking!





It was VERY hard to leave paradise...More details of all of our adventures later!

Everyone take care while we are gone....

No internet or phone for 10 days. We will be relaxing on the beach of Grand Cayman.

This is a very special trip as it was planned in my mom's honor upon her passing in February. Mom LOVED the beach and nothing would please her more than to know that we are heading out to one of the most beautiful ones all together. While it will be bittersweet to be there without her, we will all bring her with us in our hearts.

A side note here: A trip to the Cayman Islands sounded so grand. However, NO ONE told me what a nightmare the BEFORE part would be. Oh my! Passport drama was the beginning, and this week has been monopolized by the HUGE task of packing for 6...Yes, those of you who say "just throw stuff in the suitcase and go" need to re-examine that phrase before you say it to a single mom of 5 (2 of which are still babies)....I thought that I was losing it many times...Diapers, sunscreen, clothes, beach items, and the million other things that either myself or the children just CANNOT live 10 days without....I figure going through security, customs, and the airport ought to be a real adventure with 2 babies and a kid in a wheelchair. Travelers BEWARE! The Pelzers will be in the airport and things will NEVER be the same!

HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY 12th birthday to my sweet triplets!

What a day! My 3 oldest are 12 and preparing to enter junior high. When did my own kids turn into the age of the kids that I teach every day?? S-C-A-R-Y

We had a very small gathering of family as we are gearing up for our family trip to the Cayman Islands on Friday and the kids decided to take some spending money in lieu of gifts. They are 12, so I let them decide....

A few pics from the evening...