Dana Daily

Everyone is Beautiful  by Katherine Center is a fun "mommy" read, but don't expect much depth. As always, I've included the synopsis from  Barnes and Noble  and my review follows. Synopsis: Lanie Coates' life is spinning out of control. She's piled everything she owns into a U-haul and driven with her husband, Peter, and their three little boys from their cozy Texas home to a multi-flight walkup in the Northeast. She's left behind family, friends, and a comfortable life - all so her husband can realize his dream of becoming a professional musician. But somewhere in the eye of her personal hurricane, it hits Lanie that she once had dreams too. If only she could remember what they were. These days, Lanie always seems to rank herself dead last - and when another mom accidentally criticizes her appearance, it's the final straw. Fifteen years, three babies, and more pounds than she's willing to count since the day she said "I Do," Lanie ...

As is the standard bedtime routine, Emily begged me to lay down with her when I announced that it was time to sleep. Her asking is a nightly thing and most times I deny her repeated requests. It's just not a habit I want to get into for any number of reasons. However, time is the most important thing to a child, and the girls and I don't have enough now. We will have even less very soon. My "baby" simply wanted me to lay down with her until she fell asleep so I did. With me laying next to her and in typical Emmy fashion, she flipped back and forth from side to side five or six times, wrapped her arms and hands in blue "blank" (most kids would call it a blankie) in some complicated manner only she can do, and said "I love you sooooooo much, Mommy" and closed her eyes. I studied her, remembering snippets of time and moments of the last 2.5 years. The first time I saw her; her size (I never expected to birth a 9lb baby, c-section or otherwise). Wi...

Since a synopsis is available on BarnesAndNoble.com, I've included it here (in green) rather than drafting my own. My review and thoughts follow.   Synopsis: Heaven Is for Real is the true story of the four-year old son of a small town Nebraska pastor who during emergency surgery slips from consciousness and enters heaven. He survives and begins talking about being able to look down and see the doctor operating and his dad praying in the waiting room. The family didn't know what to believe but soon the evidence was clear.   Colton said he met his miscarried sister, whom no one had told him about, and his great grandfather who died 30 years before Colton was born, then shared impossible-to-know details about each. He describes the horse that only Jesus could ride, about how "reaaally big" God and his chair are, and how the Holy Spirit "shoots down power" from heaven to help us.   Told by the father, but often in Colton's own words, the disarmingly s...

If you’ve been following my blog or know me IRL (in real life), you know that I have been separated from my husband since July of 2010. It was not a mutual decision and he has been bitter since. He claims to have the girls' best interests in mind and says he wants to work together, but time and time again his actions tell another story. After he refused to inspect my car in August – the same car that his children are passengers in nearly every single day – I made up my mind that I do not need him, in any way, shape, or form. I would never again ask for his help or support. A month ago, in the bloodbath that was mediation, he flaunted his excellent support system. You know, the support system that is always at the ready to take care of Sarah and Emily should something he’s more interested in come up. The support system that will do anything to help him out. The support system that is a suitable substitute for a parent. Over and over again he has proven himself difficult to work ...

March 24 – Sarah is diagnosed with strep throat. An unusual ailment for a child under the age of 5 and she is prescribed amoxycillan for 10 days. She throws up her first dose at home and later vomits in my car (without any warning). March 28 – Emily wakes up with a fever. Give her motrin and the temperature comes down. She is eating, playing, and sleeping as usual. Must be a passing thing. April 3 – Found out that Emily vomited at 2:30am . Her fever is persisting (as it has all week) and now she is definitely not acting like herself. April 4 – Take Emily to the pediatrician because the fever is no better and she’s clingy and listless (this has been increasing over the past week). Doctor checks her for strep which comes back negative and says it must be viral, particularly because she didn’t have a flu shot. He asks that I call April 5 with her status. April 5 – After a morning of basically wearing Emily as she would not let me put her down, I call the pediatrician and explain ...

If April showers bring May flowers, what do May flowers bring? (scroll for answer) PILGRIMS!!! Ahh, I love it. One of the best jokes from my childhood. Silly me. . . I always thought "April showers" referred to rain, but in the case of 2011, it's actually snow showers. Yes, snow. On April Fool's Day we had snow. I'm not laughing.