A True Champion...

For several years now, my little brother has been training with all he had in mixed martial arts. He has come so far and has really taken this opportunity to take all the pain and hurt in his life and channel it into something positive.

After years of discipline and training, he starting fighting professionally and so far he has a stellar record.

While it is hard to watch, I am so proud of him. That being said, please allow me to brag on him a bit. Below is a write up in the major paper in Baton Rouge about the fights. My brother's name is Jace Pitre and they say some pretty flattering things about him that I just had to share....




In the small college town of Hammond, there could not have been more excitement on the night of Friday, Nov. 21. It was fight night as the Xtreme Fighting Championship came to Chevy's. All in all, it was a great night of fights with some vicious knockouts and not one fight going past the Second Round.



Kurt Halobaugh, Brian Daricek, Wesley Little, Ray Mulkey, Jace Pitre, Frank Couste and Justin Cowart all had very impressive and entertaining victories while Jeff Dement and Kirk May were very impressive in defeat. There were no serious injuries, thanks to the doctors at ringside and fighters such as Brian Torzewski showing a great deal of class.



205 pounds Brian Daricek (T B3 & Elite MMA) 0-1 vs.

Nick Sanders (Hammond) 5-6

Brian "Zoolander" Daricek landed huge leg kicks and several devistating rights to knock Sanders to the ground. One-sided knockout by Daricek was mercifully stopped by ref.



Daricek defeats Sanders by Knockout in the First Round

160 pounds Chad Ferris (Gracie-Barra) 0-0 vs.

Jace Pitre (Team Tooke & Team B3) 1-0

Jace Pitre came right out in the First Round, a huge body slam and immediately transitioned into a full mount. Pitre completely controlled the first round with superior jiu-jitsu and devistating strikes. Ferris tried to use his jiu-jitsu to get Pitre off of him, but Pitre resembled a swarming hornets nest, completely locking Ferris down. The bell at the end the first round was the only thing that stopped Pitre.



Ferris came out and landed some good shots in the Second Round, but never phased Pitre who had every intention to punish his opponent. After receiving more pounding strikes and perfect text-book takedowns, Ferris eventually got caught in a Triangle. A very impressive complete package in Jace Pitre who represented Team Tooke and his management Team B3 and Ragan McDaniel in dominating fashion. With Team B3 in his corner, look for the name Jace Pitre in the big show soon.



Pitre defeats Ferris by Submission (Triangle Choke) in the Second Round

150 pounds Justin Cowart (Gracie-Barra) 0-2 vs.

Kirk May (Elite MMA & Team B3) 1-0

Apparently Justin Cowart took a page out of Muhammad Ali's playbook with some serious rope-a-dope. Cowart showed heart by coming back from a First Round beat down, and I mean beat down, from Kirk May who showed superior strikes and also scored a couple of amazing takedowns. Clearly a 10-8 first round for May who controlled the action. It was either the rope-a-dope or one heck of a Second Round speech by his trainer that inspired Cowart to take a tired May to the mat. He then got a full mount and just ground-n-pounded May until the referee called the stoppage.



Cowart defeats May by TKO (Strikes) in the Second Round

155 pounds Ray Mulkey (Gracie-Barra) 0-0 vs.

Jeff Dement (Team B3 & Team Chaos) 0-0

Ray Mulkey and Jeff Dement put on a show that was worth the $25 entrance fee. Dement came out of the lockerroom lead by his manager Team B3's Ragan McDaniel and had a look of intensity in his face. That intensity carried into the cage where Dement threw bombs that some consider lethal. Mulkey appeared to lock in an armbar, but Dement picked up Mulkey with his arm still fully extended and body slammed him to the mat, getting a roar from the Mulkey based crowd. Even though Dement worked to get out of the submissions, Mulkey was determined to end the fight by tap out. After several tries, Mulkey finally sank in a Triangle Choke to force Dement to submit at last, ending the pounding Mulkey was taking.



Mulkey defeats Dement by Submission (Triangle Choke) in the First Round – Wins "Fight of the night" honors

Other than that, there is a lot going on that I will post about later. Right now, we are enjoying spending the Thanksgiving Holiday with family and friends in Louisiana!

Until next time...CNS

What Up Peeps?

So, it's been a while since I posted and I am feeling pretty RANDOM today so I decided to lay it all out there in some good ole' bullet points. I know, I know, I am so freakin' creative I can hardly stand it.

- We are going home to Louisiana for Thanksgiving and I am STOKED. I am staying for 4 whole days and cannot wait to see all my peeps. My besties are waiting and I couldn't be happier!

- However, we are NOT going home for Christmas because the in laws will be in Hawaii so we will be staying here and having a quiet Christmas by ourselves. I might be nice, actually. The holidays are usually spent running from house to house and state to state so a quiet morning at home with the kids is probably just what the doctor ordered.

- Chloe is getting so big and so smart. She is starting to be self-conscious (at FOUR) and she is starting to care what she wears. It is adorable and terribly frightening all at the same time. It seems like just yesterday she was a baby and now she is a little person with her own thoughts and feelings. And those of you that know my daughter can about imagine how freakin' hilarious she is right about now.

- Hunter has started to talk and babble so much and it is hilarious. He says a few words other than mamma and daddy now and he is so stinkin' proud of himself. It is super cute to watch. He has this old man chuckle that is to DIE for. I love him to pieces and we are enjoying this time with him soooo much.

- I will be THIRTY in 3 weeks! How did that happen? It hit me like a ton of bricks this past week. I know, I know, it really isn't old. But, it's always been my "scary" age and I can't help that. I am terrified.

That's about it for now. Well, not really. I could go on for days but since you probably stopped readying about 5 minutes ago, I will spare you the boredom. And no, I am sorry, I cannot give you back the 5 minutes of your life you might have wasted reading this post.

Happy Thanksgiving Peeps!

Until next time...CNS

I Take Care Of Mine...

Being born without mature lungs, being 100% dependant on a ventilator AND an oscilator, 3 blood transfusions, spinal tap, 4 chest x-rays per day, having his blood drawn every 4 hours EVERY day, chronic ear infections (basically the last one lasted 4 months until Texas Childrens could fit him into surgery), chronic bronchitis; I am sure I have left some things out. You would think that would be enough for my sweet baby boy to endure in a mere 13 months. The first 13 months of his life. But, oh no. That would be fair. Nope. Not in the Schneider household. We don't know much about that.

It started on Monday. I picked him up from daycare and my normally giddy, goofy, happy, can't-get-me-down, baby boy was a bit cranky. So, right around bedtime I was walking the floors with him, trying to get him to sleep. Out of the blue, I hear a little rumble in his tummy and before I knew what was happening he began projectile vomiting all over the place. Did I mention that I was lucky enough to be standing in such a way that his exorcist like vomiting episode managed to cover my brand new couch and area rug? Oh yes my friends, I am lucky like that. And the smell...oh the smell.

So we did the usual. Up all night until he stopped puking right around 3am. I still got up and went to work and my mom came to the house to watch him.

For two days she watched him for me. The vomiting had subsided but the substances coming from his other end would not stop. And we are not talking every hour or even ever two hours. We are talking every 10-15 minutes. You can imagine what that had done to his little hiney.

So, today I stayed home with him because he continued his condition through last night. We got up this morning and he was in good spirits. I swear, we had not been up for 15 minutes when he burped. I thought, "hmmmm, that sounds quite "wet". For once I had my quick thinking mommy skills in place and decided to sprint to the bathroom and turn his head toward the tub (gross, I know, but better than the bed AGAIN or the carpet AGAIN). Sure enough, the exorcist reappeared. Not good.

Of course, I immediately called the doctor and asked to move my 2pm appointment up to 12pm. He saw the doc and she switched his antiobiotics and gave him something for the rash and vomiting.

I would like to say it's working, it isn't. I mean, he hasn't thrown up since his random episode this morning but the poop continues. And he is cranky ya'll. I know you are thinking that is normal. But, he NEVER gets this cranky. Not even when he is super sick. But, that's not my worry. My worry is that my instinct is telling me they missed something. You know that mommy feeling you get in your gut. The one that says, "he shouldn't be acting this way". He has suffered more than this and NEVER acted this way before. Furthermore, his symptoms are not improving. If anything, they are getting worse. The fever persists and the poop will not stop. I really think they missed something.

This begs that mommy quesiton....."what to do?"

You KNOW they won't take me seriously when I go back AGAIN tomorrow and tell them that my gut tell's me something isn't right. I mean, they are the ones with the $100,000 education right? They know better than me don't they? I just don't think so. I think there is something they haven't caught yet. I really do.

So, me and my big mouth are marching in that doctor's office tomorrow and as much as I hate it, they are running every test they have on him just to make sure.

Cause that's me, and I take care of mine. That's just the way it is.

It's gonna be a GREAT weekend!

Until next time...

Just What I Needed...

So, as some of you might remember from a few days ago, I have been feeling a little down on myself concerning my mommy skills. Well, to add insult to injury, my baby boy developed a BLOOD INFECTION from an apparent insect bite on his finger. I think he might have bitten while I was letting him play, and run, and frolic in the grass at Big Sister's soccer practice. And while he enjoyed himself immensely, the nasty insects were enjoying my sweet baby a little too.

Well, that was the icing on the cake. I suck. And then my bestest friend in the whole wide world, knowing I was down on my parenting luck sent me this:

You really are a great mommy, please don’t take this wrong…Hunter has health problem that most parent couldn’t handle but will grow up stronger that us all, Chloe is perfect, smarter than us and energetic but not the model of what the teachers/society may want (screw them BTW, she will be the president one day), so she needs extra attention and more of every aspect of your time. My point is…God gave them to the right girl. Ray would be dead without you, Acergy would have to hire 3 – 5 persons to replace you and I need you more than I can admit, and those babies, well they are in the perfect place. i don’t know how to say this and not sound condescending but here goes… I am proud of you everyday; I do not know of a better employee, a better mother, a better wife or a better friend. I think you are so great that I count myself lucky and will put it on my list if I get to the pearly gates; that you are my friend and that I may hold a small part of your heart; so I can’t be all bad right? I never take it for granted that you make time for me, I love you.

I mean, really. I was speechless. Do friends get any better than this? It made perfect sense, really. No matter what, my babies are in the right place. They were meant for me. And now, I finally get it. I don't have to be perfect. I just have to be me. Because I love my babies and I try my hardest each and every day. So, while I am flawed, I am strong. I love my kids and I love being a mother. Amen.

Don't be gettin all jealous about my awesome friend either.

Until next time...CNS

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Sweet 16?

Seriously, while flipping through the channels, I landed on MTV. Now, usually MTV is good for mindless television on a otherwise boring day. Keeping me up with my guilty pleasure, which I am ashamed to admit, is "reality" TV.

So, while I have seen glimpses of this particular show, the show they call "Sweet 16", I have never really watched an episode because it is nauseating.

Well, I made the mistake. I did it. And, it was worse than I could have imagined. Not only are these parents dropping hundreds of thousands of dollars on BIRTHDAY parties for their SIXTEEN year old CHILDREN, they are raising pure evil offspring.

These girls are not only ungrateful, they are rude and disrespectful and unpleasant. Trust me, I could go on. They speak to adults like I would not talk to my dog (although, I do talk pretty sweet to my dog, but you get the picture).

I mean, maybe I could try to wrap my brain around these extravagant parties if they were raising sweet, respectful, productive human beings. But, on the contrary. How does this happen? Who thinks this is ok?

For instance, on one episode a girl just had to have a Jaguar. Brand spanking new Jaguar. Well, her mother decided it would be a great idea to not only purchase this car for her spoiled, stinkin' rotten 16 year old, but to give it to her at her party rehearsal rather than the actual party. She is probably like me (well she is NOTHING like me) and just couldn't wait to see her baby's face light up when she gave her the gift of her dreams. Well, this brat (I could think of a better world, but will refrain from offending anyone) throws an all out fit claiming that her mother has RUINED her birthday and her party by not presenting her with this extravagant and unneccessary gift in from of all of her friends. Because apparently that is the point behind it all.

This is sickening ya'll.

And, most of these people are considerably wealthy. You can tell by their homes. However, some of them you can tell are not quite what you might call wealthy, yet they try to buy their children's happiness by sending themselves into bankruptcy for a birthday party!

I could go on, but I won't. Because I cannot seem to convey my disgust properly onto this blog. But ya'll. Let me tell you, I. am. disgusted.

Anyway, hope you all voted today. I hope and pray that this country is smart and strong enough to make the right decision. If not, I pray that God helps us over the next four years!

Until next time...CNS

Motherhood, Decisions, Life...

Wow! What a title right? I mean, that pretty much covers it all, which is what I am feeling right now anyway.

I mean, I guess what I am saying is, I just don't "get" how people do all of the things are are "supposed" to do everyday and make it look so effortless while I am so down in the dumps because it always seems to be a little too much for me.

And boy, does the guilt set in when I say that outloud.

I am blessed, I know this. I have two beautiful children, a supportive husband, and a great job. That being said, that is A LOT of responsibility and some days I feel I am just not up for the task.

How do I do it all and still be me?

How do I do it all right?

Am I totally screwing it all up? Probably.

My oldest daughter, Chloe, she is the love of my life. The apple of my eye. The whole enchilada. You get the picture. Don't get me wrong, I love both of my children the same...but she was my first born and so she is what I experience first. So I don't love her more, just differently. Well, she is having some issues and I don't know how to help her or fix them. It is the most helpless feeling in the world. It feels like no matter how much I try to prove my love to her (I know, that is part of the problem) it just doesn't heal her heart from whatever has scarred it in the first place. I know most of you don't know what is going on, and I don't exactly feel comfortable posting it here, but basically I have to make the decision to medicate or not to medicate. I made that decision and now I don't think it was the right one and I am DEVASTATED. She seems depressed, she seems more moody, she seems worse, and I did that in one stupid mistake.

She will get better, I know, but oh how it hurts my heart and my soul.

And then my precious baby boy...does he really know how much I love him. Is it normal that I leave him with sitters (only family) more easily than I did my daughter? I mean I barely ever leave either one of them, and when I do it is only with family member. But, even still, with my daughter I would agonize for days before I left her for even a few hours. With Hunter, I just drop and go.

It is because I am super busy and now I have two, I know this in my brain. But, oh how the guilt weighs on my heart.\

And then my poor husband, I can't tell you the last time we spent quality time together and I can't tell you the last time I even thought about making that happen. Why? Because I can't even make time to shave my legs half of the time, and so how in the hell am I supposed to have enough of "me" left over for quality time.

To sum it up, not only am I not GREAT at any one of the things I responsible for, it feels like I pretty much SUCK at them all...

And let me tell you...that isn't a good feeling to live with day in and day out.

How do you do it all? Am I just flubbing it all up out of stupidity or what? How do I get past all of this icky feelings and get back to where I once was? That, my fiends, is the million dollar question.

Sorry to be so depressing today, but really, that's all I have left in me.

Until next time...CNS