rude awakening

I don't particularly care for spiders. But they don't make me run. I don't like snakes, but I can deal with one (outside) if need be.  The one creature that really makes my skin crawl is a scorpion. Not sure why. They are not aggressive, maybe it's just the overall appearance. I don't know. My biggest "creepy dream" or fear is that I would have one in my bed. Well, apparently last night I had one right in there with me! Sis came in our room around 2 wanting to snuggle. Most nights I let her in bed with us but last night we headed for her room. She really didn't want to go back to sleep and it got to the point that I was going back to my room if she didn't lay down quickly. She managed to snuggle up and be still for a few minutes. Then she sat up and started crying that her arm was burning. I felt of it and there was nothing unusual. I really figured she just didn't want to go to bed. So I rubbed & kissed it & finally got her to calm down, still not overly concerned. Well, I should have been! Poor Baby!! At 6:20 I sat straight up in bed because my left eye was on FIRE! I had no idea what was going on. When I rolled over to turn off the alarm something crawled across my arm. When I brushed it off the scorpion fell on the bed and crawled under the mattress. I jumped out of bed & grabbed her & headed for my room. Did I mention that I HATE scorpions??? The boys got up and helped me take her bed apart. All of it. We searched her room with flashlights. No luck. Nothing. That creepy little thing is still wandering around my house. I have felt like there is something crawling on me all day! The burning went away but it took about 3 hours. I guess it was on my pillow and I rolled over. Just great. There will be NO sleep in this house tonight!!

vacation...sort of

My mom and I took the kids and  left last Thursday for Texas. her parents live there. We planned many things for a 9 day trip! After we finally made it about midnight I was TIRED!! Sis doesn't travel very well for long periods of time :( Friday morning we had a consult at Scott & White for Speck's ear. I wasn't surprised at all with the outcome. Surgery...again. This time more invasive, inpatient. The Dr. there said he would do it but that the follow up is really involved and it would be a LOT of driving. He suggested we try and change surgeons at ACH. That didn't work very well. That is not their "practice". So, we had to get some help and managed to get it done. He goes this Friday for another consult. Whoo Hoo.
Saturday my cousin's little boy turned 1 so we had a party. And he was the typical one year old...he screamed the whole time. Sunday we left and headed to the beach. Another 5 hours. Did I mention that I have a little girl that doesn't travel well?! We made it about 2:00 and checked in the hotel then headed out to the water. That's where we stayed until dark. The room had a microwave and fridge so we went to the grocery store and just had easy meals the rest of the week. By the time we came in every day nobody felt like cleaning up to go sit at a restaurant anyway.  The kids LOVE the water. Me, not so much. I waded out to my knees. No fun, yes I know. Their Nanaw however rode the boogie boards with them so all was not lost. We went crabbing at night and when they would finally pass out, they slept like babies.  After 4 days we had all had about as much sun as we could take. That salt water air is sticky :(  So we started home. But we stopped at one of the BIG, HUGE, GIGANITC outlet malls on the way. We spent 8 hours back to school shopping! By the time we made it back to my grandparents everybody needed a rest day. We had snowcones with soft serve ice cream in them and played with the cousins all day. The next morning we packed up and headed home. I think I need a vacation from the vacation!!

How in the world

is July almost 1/2 over?? it just disappeared! But I can't complain. We have almost lived a the lake this summer and its been wonderful. Except for hubby's trip to the ER 2 weeks ago. He's healing, but not there yet.
The boys are going to Camp Invent this week. Its at one of the private schools downtown and they are having a great time. Taking things apart and putting them together to build something entirely different. Not to mention its 9-3 every day :)
 We are still waiting on a closing date. I have cleaned out the house and HAVE to have a garage sale soon. As much as I despise them. It is a necessity at this point.
The kids and I leave for TX  Thursday night. We are going to stop and visit grandparents and take Speck to the hospital for a second ENT opinion on his ear Friday morning,  then down to the beach we go.
We have made a trip or 2 to the movies. The pool. A lunch date here and there. Otherwise we have just been hanging out and enjoying no schedules!