I am back! After taking a year off to finish writing my book I am finally back to updating this blog and writing articles for my online magazine, The Healthy Moms Magazine.



My manuscript is complete and it is currently going through the editing process. I  will let all of you know when it will be published as soon as I can. I am excited, relieved and nervous about getting my first book published. If it is a success there will be more to come.

What have we been up to this past year? I decided to start 2018 with a fresh new look here. If you have our old button on your website please update it. I have a new code on my side bar. The kids are a year older and a year taller. Chris and I are still happily married and very active in our church. He officially became a Catholic last Easter.

2017 Year in Review from the Zoo

I started working part time for a merchandising company called Select A Service (SAS). I work Monday-Wednesday. This has helped pay for Kitty's music lessons, the grocery bill and Monkey's sports fees. I didn't make any money writing my book so I had to do something until it gets published.



At SAS we visit a local grocery store chain and reset all the merchandise. Basically we move the products around, move shelves if necessary, take out the discontinued merchandise and put out the new merchandise. We are on teams of about 5-8 people and visit the same stores every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. My Monday store is in the same town that I live in. I have to travel about 15-20 minutes to the other two stores.

I will be honest, I don't like my job. It is hard work and requires a lot of physical labor. We lift boxes, move heavy shelves, are on our feet all day and I feel like I had a good workout after I get home. Usually I am really sore. My lower back hurts and my legs and feet always hurt. Also, we don't get paid much, eleven dollars an hour to be exact. I have a college degree but I am not using it and I am not making nearly enough to pay off my student loans. But I am not a best selling author yet, so I must work.



Chris lost his job once again back in October. This is not the first time since we have been married so I am used to it. We are struggling, but we know what we need to do to make things work. I pray every day that he finds another job.

Goose is turning 21 next month. I can't believe that I will be a mother of a 21-year-old. I remember turning 21 just like it was yesterday. I went out with my college friends to a local bar and everyone was buying drinks for me. When I got back to my apartment I think I threw up on the sidewalk. We have different plans for our daughter.


There is a sports bar a few blocks away from where we live that Chris and I frequent. We love the atmosphere, their chicken wings, and specials. We are hoping to take her there. I am sure I will devote a complete blog post to her birthday when the time comes.



Goose is also finally starting college in a couple of weeks. When she graduated high-school in 2015 she wasn't ready. She had no idea how to even begin the process of applying and getting accepted to college. She had a job and was happy. This past year we met a lady who works with young adults that struggle with doing basic adult things.  She helps them find jobs, get into college, find housing and become more independent. This has been the best thing for Goose and finally she has the motivation to do something with her life.

She will continue to live at home and attend the local community college. As long as Chris isn't working he will be able to provide transportation for her. I am so proud and excited for my girl.



Kitty had a rough year last year. She was bullied in fifth grade and we thought that entering a new school for sixth would give her a fresh start and she could finally begin making friends. The start of the new school year brought about more challenges for her.  She was caught searching on Google for ways to kill herself at school and had to attend a hospitalization day program for three weeks. There she learned how to build up her confidence and self esteem so that she no longer had suicidal thoughts. She is doing much better now thanks to prayers from family and friends and that wonderful program. I am still hoping that she can make more friends this year.

Parrot is have a fantastic school year. He loves fifth grade and his class.  All the kids are very kind and even laugh at his unique sense of humor. Parrot was in the holiday musical in December. They put on "Holiday Road Trip." It was about a group of kids that travel around the country in a bus driven by Nick, a Santa-like character. They learn about how the different states celebrate Christmas.



Parrot was one of the holiday travelers and he had a signing solo. He was so excited about this play and he did a fabulous job. This mama is very proud.

Monkey had had a busy year. Football ended in October. His team won three games and lost six. They started out rocky, but at the end of the season they managed to pull it back together and win. Monkey played a couple of different defensive positions and ended the season with a good amount of tackles.



We signed Monkey up for wrestling for the first time this year.  He had one tournament so far and got first place. My brother was a star wrestler back in high-school and I think little Monkey is going to take after him. He loves wrestling and seems to have a natural ability.

Bear had a rough year and he continues to challenge Chris and I every single day. In November we had him evaluated for autism but we are still waiting for the results. We were hoping to have some answers by his birthday, but here we are in January and we still don't know for sure.

Bear struggles with controlling his temper and we are having a hard time figuring out how to help him.  He gets upset if he doesn't have the right bowl for his cereal in the morning, he yells if Parrot won't let him in his room or if he won't play with him, he kick and screams at school if he doesn't get his way and Chris and I are about to lose our minds.

Parrot showed similar behaviors when he was that age, but he wasn't physically violent like Bear is. Parrot used to throw his shoes at people in school but he didn't kick, hit, pull hair or physically hurt people like his little brother does.



We did have a therapist for Bear but the clinic had to let him go because they claimed that his issues were too severe for their services. In other words they couldn't help him. I am hoping that once we get his official diagnosis we can get referred to a clinic that takes our insurance and is able to help him.



Glenda has been doing well. However, about a month ago she got very sick and was throwing up multiple times. Goose and I took her to the vet and we found out that she wasn't digesting her food very well and it caused severe constipation. She also had a small infection in her lungs that required an antibiotic. Now she is on a prescription diet to prevent the constipation. When Glenda is blocked up she has trouble breathing and she throws up. It is not pretty. With this new diet she is doing much better. And I am getting a good deal ordering her food through Chewy.com. I love that site!

This was our year in a nutshell. 2018 should be exciting for the Talbert Zoo. I am turning 40 in May, hopefully Chris will find a new job, I will publish my book, Goose is going to school, Kitty will finish sixth grade, Parrot will start middle school in the fall, Monkey will continue to improve in athletics, Bear will finally get the help that he needs, and Glenda will continue to entertain us all and be happy and healthy.

Here's to 2018!! How was your year? Please leave me a comment.

Before I stay up late tonight to answer my #AskAwayFriday questions, I thought I better put a post inbetween that one and my #WordlessWednesday.  January has been so busy this year, I realized that most of my posts for this month are #WordlessWednesday and #AskAwayFriday.  I am doing better with commenting on other blogs, but writing needs some improvement. I think it is time once again to reach into my magic jar and pull out some spare time.

I have exactly 43 minutes to write and publish this post before I leave to pick Kitty up for her mental health appointment.  If you regularly follow this blog you may remmber that we moved to the Chicago suburbs in August and ever since I have been struggling with time management.  I attempted to sort my time and priorieties, but that didn't work. My anxiety got worse because I couldn't complete all my to-do lists, so I decided to let it go.  That was going well until, New Year's arrived.

Yes, the New Year, new beginnings, and goal setting. Goals? What the heck are those?? I don't believe in Resolutions, instead I set goals for myself. Usually, I stick with them until mid March or April and every year I tell myself that I can make those goal last longer.  I already gave up on my New Years goals for this year, or at least most of them. It's due to the fact that my magic jar is empty.
I think I need to go to the spare time shop and get some more of that stuff that we busy moms crave. Too bad there isn't a real spare time store. Instead, I need to trade in what I am used to for something else that I need.  Like, sleep.  I am finding myself staying up a half an our later so I can visit more blogs and I wake an hour earlier than usual so I can go out for a morning run. Running on icy sidewalks in the dark of a Chicago winter isn't easy.  But, the vision of myself with a flatter tummy, in my two piece bathing suit on the beaches of Florida for spring break makes the cold early morning runs worth it.  At least the first two mornings this week were worth it, until I found myself too tired, the sidewalks too slippery, and my head too hurty.

Today is a fitness rest day for me.  Instead of my usual workout I will spend my limited spare time taking my little girl to her appointment in McHenry, filling out birthday party invitations, and going to the Little Flowers Catholic Girls Club meeting and the Blue Knights Catholic Boys Club meeting after school.

What do you do in your spare time? Did you set goals for the new year?

Today is December 28 and I am thinking back at the past year. Below is just a recap of what we did in 2014.




In January my dad turned 70.  I flew out to Wisconsin from Spokane, Washington to surprise him, leaving all five kids behind.  Yes, I took a Vacation Away from the Kids. Poor Chris had all five to himself that weekend and everyone got sick.  But, he handled it well. By the time I returned everyone was feeling better and the house was clean and sanitized.

In February Chris became Juror Number Seven in a high- profile murder trial in Spokane.  We also had a very long winter with piles and piles of snow.

In March the temperatures in Spokane finally hit 50 degrees. Lent began,I had a date with Bear, we had the talk and other stories from the Zoo.

In April Our Calendar wsas Full,  The Tooth Fairy Arrived, and we went on a family vacation to Arizona.

We had New Beginings in May and Chris turned 40.

I got pretty anxious in June and we visited some of our favorite places in Spokane, the Spokane River Centennial Trail, and Eagle Park. Kitty put on an amazing performance at her school's talent show. Parents and teachers were talking about it for weeks.  We began our bittersweet goodbye to Spokane, Washington.

In July, just weeks before our big move to Chicago, Little Bear lost his blanket and I did whatever I could to get it back,  I even humiliated myself in the process. Yes, a Mother will do anything for her child. Parrot turned seven and Monkey turned five.

In August we moved to Crystal Lake, Illinois. The kids began the school year in different schools. And we attempted to establish a new routine.

I sorted time and priorities in September and Kitty got a new hair piece.

October flew by with Halloween at the end. I decided I lived in a home with a bunch of crazies, began a new project, and we had a very scary Halloween.

I let it go in November. and we welcomed Happy the Elf in December.

It has been a crazy and busy year! I would like to thank all my loyal readers for being a part of it.  Let's welcome 2015 wih a bang and be ready for all the surprises (hopefully positive ones) that the new year will bring.

Thanks for reading!

2014.  A new year, new beginnings and hopefully a more positive outlook for the future.  What are the plans for the Talbert Zoo in 2014? Just thinking about the new year gives me mixed feelings.  I am terrified of what could or might happen in the upcoming year. Yet I am hopeful that we will continue to be blessed.  I am concerned about my country and my childrens' future.  But I am excited about all the possibilities and opportunities my family will have in our local community and schools. So what is in store for the Talbert Zoo in 2014?