Arkansas or Bust!

My husband Matt has gone on to Arkansas for several wks(could be up to 7wks). It all started on Thurs afternoon of last wk(Sept 10th) when a call came thro that Matt didn't recognize the number so he gave me the cell. Oh boy, was that a mistake..a guy was on the cell and asked for Matt and I then asked what was needed and the guy said he had work for Matt and wanted to know if Matt would like to work for him. Ok.. Matt's sitting nxt to me and we both think it's one of the guys from work playing a prank on Matt (which they so love to do!) After a few mins..I hand the phone to Matt and it was the Government calling him, not the guys playing a joke!!!! It seems these guys have been looking for Matt for the last 4months on the word of a guy Matt used to work for in MI...they asked Matt if he wanted to make $20hrly..of course who wouldn't!! Then he's told that if he wants to do this they have work in Mulberry,Arkansas to take trees down in the Ozark National Forest..and it has to be done in the next 7wks,before duck season..coz they flood the area and it's covered in over 20 ft of water. So he left yesterday morning to make an 8hr trip while driving one of the dumptrucks pulling a chipper. Im not sure how we will do w/o him home..but Im excited coz I get to go out in 2wks to spend the wkend w him along with Matt's bestfriends gf(the best friend is out with Matt) so you can say there are two miserable woman missing their men!! :-) Word to the wise...never joke on the phone unless you know who the person is.It all worked out tho, thankfully.

Been so long since I have written on here....

I can't believe it's been so long since I've sat down and wrote on here..I do apologize profusely! So much has happened since March. Our life is busy busy busy! Well since March we have moved into a 3bedrm w a full basement house. So much room to move..we love it! Matt has gone to work w another company and we subcontract our business thro them..which helps coz of the economy business has slowed a lil. We have a cute lil inside dog doberman/dachs,her name is Harley. Almost every wkend we r going to mom and dad Bishop's to spend time w the whole family out on the lake,riding wave runners,swimming and just relaxing on the pontoon boat. It's a wonderful way to end the wk..esp if it was a busy or stressful one. Ok I think Ive updated on the going ons. Now updates on the kids.

Dynver has had 2trips to Shriners...she now has a brace for her left leg which we try to get her to wear atleast 3-4hrs out of a day. She has pt(physical therapy) 3-4times a day w 4exercises..it depends on whether she's in a good mood whether she'll do them w/o a fuss. Just like yesterday she sat against the wall and says "mommy look Im doing my "exercises" and we had a really good pt session..which we havent had one good session in quite awhile. In Oct 20th we will head back to Shriners to see if the pt and the brace helped out. I don't see much difference..which is kinda frustrating cause I so badly want her to walk normal. Now her lft hand the doctors (All 6 of them) at Shriners doesnt hold much hope,just because the hand has lost muscle and starting to look a bit smaller than the rt hand. Shriners has said to sign her up for disability..she will have her medical bills taken care of...so I have started the process and hope and pray it goes thro. Dynver right now is having "homebase" school,the teacher comes to our house a couple days a week..we r looking into a school for kids like her, where they will do her pt everyday..(I think it'll help her,coz she resists because 'Im mama',some of the exercises r really tough and it kills when she crys out 'it hurts'. So we r hoping to get her in this school. It'll also prepare her for K next year.

Gavin...my baby boy started Kindergarden!!!!! I cant get over that he is in "big school". He loves it,which Im glad,cause they have to wake up at 6:30am to be out to the bus stop in time, so we sometimes have a lil tough time getting up..he wants to still sleep in. LOL His teacher has said that he will be reading by Oct,the lil reading books. When I look at him I cant believe that he'll be reading,writing his abc's! In the last few months this lil boy seems to have something to say about everything. He is very mischiveous! Just the other day right after it rained..I told him it was ok to go outside but NOT get muddy...I went and looked outside to check up on the kids and he was playing in water..I asked him "didn't I tell u not to get muddy?" He looks up at me(soaking wet) and says "mommy u said not to get muddy, Im just playing in water,not mud",I was making supper and he came in the kitchen plugging his nose...I was thinking "what smells" so Im sniffing the air, I didn't find a foul smell so I ask Gavin "why r u plugging ur nose"? Gavin replys "mommy didn't you know that if u plug ur nose u can't smell?" LOL This child really keeps me on my toes. :-)

Sierra turned 7 on July 16th!!! It seems every yr she gets older she starts acting older than her age. She loves doing dishes(when I allow,Im particular about them) Sometimes she gets in her role of 'mommy' and she has to be reminded that she's just a kid. I can always count on her to keep her room clean,keep things organized the way I like it. Someone said not too long ago..she is a mini me....oh boy! (poor child. LOL). Another thing I seem to be able to count on is this girl always getting hurt somehow. She was running and fell on the gravel slid right down the hill and now she has a scar on her tummy..the other day she was playing on the boys bunkbeds and knocked the railing from the top of and it put a gash in her cheek(prob shouldve gotten stitches)but it's healing but she'll always have that reminder. She is a very daredevil child. We went to the fair about a month ago and cause of her height she was able to ride all the rides and yep, she rode them all!!! Some of them no one in our group would ride but she hopped right on them and took off! She can't wait until she's able to ride the rollercoaster at Dollywood! I thought Gavin was the one that would have the broken bones or give us 'white hair'..but Im rethinking that. LOL. Sierra started 1st grade(repeat) she loves it..she is the teacher's lil helper because of the repeating...we thot another yr would help her get better with her reading. Plus the school the kids r going to isn't public but not technically private either..they r not a government operated school..they rely on their fund raisers to keep the school a float. That being said,their academic level is a higher level than public or ACE..Gavin is in K but his education level for the class is 1st grade..so Sierra is in 1st grade but the education level is 2nd grade work. She wouldve struggled pretty bad if we passed her on. So this was a good move..and she thot it was awesome being a "teacher's helper" if she stayed back in 1st grade.

Cameron turned 8 on Aug 17th!!! I remem when 'squirt' was born and how tiny he was and fragile he looked..and he now he's grown into this lil man! It doesn't seem like time has gone by that fast..Matt and I were talking the other day (on Cameron's Birthday) that it's prob time for us to admit we r getting old. LOL. Never thot I'd see the day when my babies would be so grown up. Cameron has decided he doesn't like the outdoors unless he's on the water.He got stung not too long ago and he said he's never going outside ever, unless it was in the car or on the boat. lol He is a very dramatic child. If it's a small cut, to him it's a huge cut. One thing that hasn't changed is even tho he's older,he still give hugs and kisses. Im dreading the day when it may not be as often. Im going to enjoy it while they last. :-) Cameron is in 2nd grade(3rd grade work) he still is a straight 'A' student..to the point he's starting to get bored w the work coz he says "it's too easy". Altho right now it's mainly review work from last yr..so hopefully it'll become more challanging. Because of boredom he has already gotten into his first fight...which is not a good sign(usually when he's bored it's making catapults w his crayons or pencils on his desk and shooting them..but this time it was punching a boy in the face because Cameron tripped over the boys feet) I do hope this isn't going to be a reoccurance. All in all tho, Cameron loves school, esp computer time,spelling,reading and library.

Well, there's the update of our life..maybe alot of rambling..but hopefully it was enjoyable to read. Hopefully it won't be as long before I come in here and let ya'll know what's going on with the "smokeymountainbishops".

A relaxing day w friends.

I think with all the stress that's been going on..we were due for a relaxing day. Yesterday was that day. We had a Bar B Q at some friends house with other friends,it was great! Sitting around talking and enjoying each others company. Of course we had to have activities for the kids...they played horse shoes..playing on the trampoline..and then someone decided it was hot enough and we (kids and adults) had a water balloon fight. Thankgoodness it was hot out coz it sure felt good...than of course u have one person that'll get the hose and douse everyone. LOL. We settled down afterwards with the new movie "Twilight",which was an awesome movie..and the kids watched a movie and played in the next rm. When we got home the kids didn't pitch to much of a fit in going to bed early (coz we r now back on school schedule time),they were worn out with playing with their friends. Well, Im glad for one day where we didn't have to worry and wonder what was coming next..it's great to having great friends!

New news for Dynver

Well, we finally got the date of when Dynver our 4yr old will be headed to the Shriners Hospital there in Lexington, KY. We leave the 14th of April..she will be undergoing tests thro out the day.Full body work-up.They are wanting to see if the mass that was found in her brain the last MRI, if it's cancerous or if it's just a result of the stroke. We are all hoping that it's not cancerous,major prayer going up here! She is possibly going to have the surgery where they will cut a tendon in her leg to give her leg flexibility..then she will be fitted for her leg brace,which she'll have to leave on til they say otherwise.She will also be fitted for her arm brace,they are hoping that it'll strengthen the hand to gain muscle..to where she will be able to use her hand more efficiently.

Yea, this all scares me,not sure what the outcome will be. We always said that she is our "angel baby". She has overcome so much. They never thot she'd be able to put her clothes on by herself or ride a bike with peddles.Which she does both quite well. (with just the one hand and leg..I can't wait to see her use both!)So I know that she will overcome this and come on top as she does so many of her other achievements. Keep Dynver in ur prayers during this day. Thank u

Update on Dyn

I have exciting news esp. when it seems everything else that could go wrong is going wrong. We have been waiting to figure out how we are going to pay for Dyn's new braces for her left leg and her arm. Our neighbor has a friend that's in the Shriners organization...and he told him about Dyn..we did an interview today the guy was very interested in her case. We have some appointments to verify what's going to happen..but it looks like my lil girl will be getting her braces to correct her leg and foot. Plus the gentleman said they are hoping not to have to break her leg that they'll just go in and cut a tendon and then put the brace on. It won't correct it completely but at least she won't be made fun of when she's older. I always worry about that coz kids can be so mean in school. I'm thankful that she'll be able to lead,hopefully a normal life by gaining the functions that have been hurt because of the stroke. So we are very happy..I'll keep ya'll updated in when...I do know where, it's going to be in Lexington,KY...but as far as anything else. I'll keep ya updated.

Things my kids say...

Sunday the kids and I went to church like good lil ppl. I wanted to bury my head! We knelt to pray and I felt someone watching me so I opened my eyes ,there was Dyn staring at my eyes...in a voice I wasn't sure whether it was quiet...she said "mommy what r we supposed to be thinking about?"as the service went on my youngest son,Gav started asking when church was going to be over,I guess after awhile he mustv got tired of me saying "soon, now plz be quiet" coz he finally said "mommy he's taking a long long time!",the preacher mustv started talking louder,for when I looked over at Cam he had both his ears plugged..I leaned over and whispered "why are you doing that" he said "that man is talking too loud and he's hurting my ears!".

Now this isn't the only time my kids have decided they didn't like what's going on in church. and voiced it.We one time went to a church where they didn't have SS and they were in a middle of a song..Cam,who you'll soon figure out,is very opinionated and he voices it, he yells "mommy tell them to sing a different song I don't like this one"and then while the preacher was preaching...he says"I don't like it up here I want to go to Jr Church..he's too loud"! I tell ya...why is that kids can say the darnest things when they are in church?

Friday night'sTattoo night

Friday nights have become tattoo night here in the Bishop home. We found some really cute tats and the kids absolutely love them! Well, I should say even the adults love them too! LOL This just may become a tradition here in this house!

Our baby girl

Well, it seems maybe I have kinda a knack for this..still time will tell. Our baby child,her name is Dynver Elizabeth Bishop 4yrs old. She is my cuddler and she is the baby(ya'll know what that means) She has pretty much everyone wrapped around her lil finger. She cries once and the kids will jump to make sure she's ok..if Im not where she is when she cries..mommy is in trouble with 3munchkins. One thing about her is she is very independent,pretty much like all of our children are. She will see one of the kids do something and she turns around and tries it herself..so far she hasn't followed Gavin..which is good. Her being my youngest and also a disability child(I hate that word,coz it makes her seem she's not capable of things..which is so not true) She was born with a 5 millimeter hole in her lower chamber of her heart(VSD) and had a stroke when she was 4months old..even tho the stroke happened on her speech side..the side where her left mobility is, took over her speech..so her left arm&leg doesn't function as ours does. She is going to have to wear a brace on her leg and her arm to get it to gain strength to hopefully function as it should. Dr's all say that she should be able to gain almost most of her ability back on the left. I have to say she is our lil "angel" child. As all of our munchkins are!

Our tough lil guy

Well 2down and 2 more to go on the munchkins. He is our youngest son,Gavin Tanner Bishop 5yrs old. There is so many things I could tell you about him. He is going to be our one child, for sure, that will have broken bones,bruises and probably other things happen to him. If something is challenging Gavin will try to do it. About 2months ago, he went and climbed Mom Bishop's apple tree, than yells "grandma come look and see what I did!" We have a nice pile of woodchips in our front yard, which he loves going down on his bike,one day he falls,he starts to cry than he gets back up and does it again. I think with this child Im probably going to get all my "white"hairs(cause I refuse to go gray!) from him. Everyday I wake up wondering what he's going to do next. Im sure in this site you'll read sometime of other things he has done. :-)

Our lil "mommy"

Ok my second blog..hmm this is getting pretty easy!Our oldest daughter is Sierra Meghan Bishop 6yrs old. She is "Ms Mommy 2". As a mommy she loves to boss...esp her younger and yea sometimes her older brother. I guess part of that is my fault,Im pretty particular on how things go and if they aren't we do them over. Sierra has picked up on that and she will go behind her siblings and make sure things are in order as her mommy likes. For example their bedroom: All the kids toys have a place, so as not to be cluttered. If the kids get a toy out or more than one toy,Sierra will say "now put it back where it belongs when your done,I don't want to have to pick up after you". Another example is when we are watching TV or a movie,and one of the kids start talking she will say "if you're not quiet you will have to go to your room and miss the movie". She is going to make a good "mommy" :-) She is also our lil "Tom-boy" she is determined that she's going to climb trees like her daddy...I just hope something else comes her way as opportunities..to change her mind. :-)

Our big boy

Im new at this and Im still not sure if this is something I'll be able to keep up with...not good at writing things down as much as I am at counseling. No that's not what I do..just one of the many things that ppl call and need to talk and advice...Im going to get a degree to do just this so it'll b extra money. Ok what is the format of doing a blog. I haven't got a clue so if I ramble or run from one story or the next..Im sure I'll get to my point sooner or later.

This being my first blog on my site.I guess I could tell ya'll about my lil munchkins and their many antics. :-) Cameron David Bishop 7yrs old, who is our oldest,of 4kids. Is a child that's too smart sometimes for his own good! Just recently he was reading an advertisement and there were things saying it was free...such as HBO&Starz w Comcast(our cable company) Note:that I just went and took it off our cable account cause the weather here has been getting warmer and warmer,so the kids need to go outside. Cameron doesn't seem to think so. So when he saw the advertisement saying "Free HBO&Starz" he came to me and said "mommy we can get it back on cause this said it's free, you don't have to pay any money!"Now how do u explain to a child that's already determined that he's right? Did the best I could to explain to him that not everything we read when it says free is free.So in his simple like mind he says "mommy than they're lying to us!" As the saying goes "out of the mouths of babes!"