Artemis-Gaia

Over

2006-05-31T13:36:00.000-04:00

Dear Artemis-Gaia Blog:

The time has come when I must bid you farewell. Just so you know - It's not you; it's me. You have been ever so faithful in holding up your end of the bargain. You have always been there for me. I have to let you know that I have found another that seems to suit me better. Please don't be jealous. My new blog is:

http://frecklefacegirl.blogspot.com/

Do you understand the connection? I realize that this is my 270th post and we have had a good run, but it is time for me to move on. I will still check in on you from time to time. I hope we can remain friends, but it is goodbye for now.

Your friend,
-Steph

P.S. No more posts on this blog after today.

Yummy Yummy for Her Tummy

2006-05-30T21:26:00.000-04:00

Yummy Yummy for Her Tummy

For the past 2 weeks, Lexi has been staring at us eating and begging for real food. It was obvious that she was ready for the next step. So, she had her first meal tonight and she loved every bite of it. Even though she was trying to lick the food rather than eat it, she continually begged for more. Rice cereal was a hit.

Saturday Fun with the Clan

2006-05-29T13:45:00.000-04:00

Saturday Fun with the Clan

On Saturday, we headed up to Port St. Lucie (PSL) to see Steve's parents and visiting relatives. Lexi got to meet her Great Aunt Snookie & Great Granny Lou. They are so fun to listen to. Snookie is just as entertaining as Steve's dad. Actually, I think they feed off each other. Lexi just adores her Granddad, so you can imagine the joy she got from both of them. Snookie tried to teach her to blow and vibrate her lips, but Lexi just laughed and laughed whenever she showed her. Later in the day, they had Lexi lay on a blanket. They were trying to see her roll over and even made bets. Of course, Lexi was very content just laying there soaking up all the attention.

It is becoming apparent during our visits that Steve's parents are excited to see how much Lexi has grown and changed. On the flip side, we see how much his mother has deteriorated. She is skinnier than ever and sleeping more often. She speaks and walks slower each time. The pain is also bothering her a lot more. During this trip, she even had a vomiting episode. It is difficult to watch. Actually, Paige had flashbacks of our dad.

4 Month Doctor Appointment

2006-05-26T09:53:00.000-04:00

4 Month Doctor Appointment

Lexi had her 4 month old doctor appointment yesterday. I brought her & Paige to the office, so that we could go in the afternoon from there. It was nice to have Lexi near, but Paige had a hard time keeping her happy. Plus, I think Paige was a bit bored.

As for the appointment, Lexi is now 14 lbs 8 oz & 25.5" long. I believe that is exactly the same size that her cousin Camille was at her 4 month old check up. So far, Lexi has been much better with these shots than the last ones. This nurse didn't jab her as hard. She screamed of course, but only for a short while. In fact, she had stopped before we left the doctor's office. She even managed a few smiles. It looks like we will not have a week of extreme crabbiness. Thank goodness. Now, I am really looking forward to the three day weekend and relatives.

Better Day

2006-05-24T16:25:00.000-04:00

Better Day

Lexi seems to be getting use to the work situation. I went home for lunch today & she had just fallen asleep. I held her for a minute & then put her in her crib. I finally got back to the office within the allotted lunch break. Now, Paige is probably getting bored, especially since she doesn't have a car. Her day consists of several walks with Lexi in the front pack, playing on the internet, watching television and dvds, and of course playing with Lexi. Come to think of it, I wish I had a job like that.

Traumatic Hissy Fits

2006-05-23T08:52:00.000-04:00

Traumatic Hissy Fits

I came home yesterday to a frazzled sister. She told me that little Lexi had slept most of the day, but that was only because she had screamed herself to sleep. My sister, Paige, was concerned that Lexi didn't like her. Right then, I knew that both of them had a rough day. I explained to my sister that Lexi was just going through a transition and would hopefully adjust soon. Now, I feel really bad that she is scheduled to get her shots this week. She will probably be getting use to it right as that trauma makes everything worse. So, I will continue to feel sad and sorry for Lexi & Paige.

Back at Work

2006-05-22T15:53:00.000-04:00

Back at Work

As you all probably know (from my many sobbing complaints previously posted), it is back to work for me today. Besides missing Lexi horribly, I guess I am doing ok. She spit up on me right as I was about to leave this morning, which has to mean that she was making sure that I didn't miss out on everything. My sister told me that she slept most of the morning. Of course, I rushed home for lunch to see her. I got to spend a little time before rushing back. It warmed my heart to see that she was extremely excited to see me. My heart broke when she cried as I handed her back to my sister to leave. I ended up cuddling her for a few more minutes.

To be honest, there is a very small part of me that feels a little like things are returning to normal. Don't get me wrong, I would choose to be a SAHM any day of the week. What I am feeling is a weird realization that I am not pregnant anymore. It started with setting up my computer this morning. When I left in January, I unhooked my computer by myself. It was NOT easy with that big belly and my huge wood desk that is impossible to move. Climbing under my desk & on top of it trying to get all the cords situated reminded me of how much easier things are as a non-pregnant girl. (Ok, so I probably shouldn't have unhooked my computer in January, but I am a fiercely independent person.)

Basically today, I am feeling very sad when we are apart, excited for the moments I can see her, and strange about not being pregnant. You can be sure that I am looking forward to 5:30 pm, so I can rush home to be with her again. Hmm... maybe it is time to think about another maternity leave. Yeah right!

Update on MIL

2006-05-20T15:09:00.000-04:00

Update on MIL

Sorry I haven't updated on my mother-in-law's health status. Steve has talked to her a few times this week, but she didn't offer the information. He decided that he might not want to hear it, so he avoided asking her until I nagged him enough yesterday. Let me start by saying that the doctor told her it is now time to contact hospice, which means they are basically done fighting the cancer. They are going to do some radiation on the tumor in her pelvis, which is 4 inches in diameter, just to make her more comfortable. Her life expectancy depends on many unknowns, but hospice isn't usually into the picture until the last 6 months.

I am posting a few pictures of us on mother's day. Steve's mom went out on the boat with all of us for about 15 - 20 minutes. It is important to build up some happy moments/memories.

Anniversary #3

2006-05-18T08:25:00.000-04:00

Anniversary #3

Yesterday, Steve and I celebrated our third anniversary. He made a reservation at the Melting Pot, which I noticed is starting to become a tradition for our anniversary. Three anniversaries all celebrated at the Melting Pot. It isn't a bad tradition since it is one of the most romantic restaurants around.

Unlike the other times, we only ordered the cheese fondue. We had planned on ordering dessert too, but were full. Plus, this was only my second time away from Lexi. I spent the whole time thinking about her. It is becoming more & more clear that going back to work next week & leaving her will be extremely hard on me.

Dad’s Birthday

2006-05-16T14:43:00.000-04:00

My Dad's Birthday

Today is my dad's birthday. He is no longer with us, but since this is his first birthday after his death I decided we should celebrate. Plus, my sister is here and his death has affected her most. We aren't going to do anything extravagant, but he wasn't an extravagant person. I just bought a yogurt cake that we'll eat after dinner tonight. I guess it is a little birthday cake memorial service. It goes along with my belief in celebrating life rather than mourning for too long.

Mother’s Day Sadness

2006-05-14T22:03:00.000-04:00

Mother's Day Sadness

Although today was a pretty good day, it was definitely overshadowed by a deep sadness. We know that this is Steve's mother's last mother's day. With cancer all over her body and the extreme weight loss, it is only a matter of months (at best). She is moving very slowly, eating very little, and sleeping often. Even her attitude has changed. She has always been a little bit of a nag, but now she is very mellow. I would also say that there is an underlying deep depression. Then again, I am not sure how the brain tumors and medications are affecting her. Actually, tomorrow we find out the latest results of her last cat scan. We aren't looking for a miracle. We are just hoping they can find a way to make her more comfortable.

Mother's Day wasn't all that wonderful for me either. I am now a week away from returning to the office. I wish I was in denial, but the sadness is very real. I hate the thought of leaving my sweet baby even though I am happy that my sister will be taking care of her. The thought of leaving her at all brings tears to my eyes. I hope future Mother's Days are all about happy times and making great memories.

Lexi's First 5K

2006-05-12T08:26:00.000-04:00

Lexi's First 5K

There are many firsts to document in the life of a baby. Yesterday, we had one that not many experience. Steve signed us up for the Corporate Run, which benefits the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. It is a 5k that approximately 20,000 people participate in every year. Besides the fact that Steve's company was involved, he has been more interested in cancer issues this last year. He wanted Lexi and me to walk with him. So...Lexi completed her first 5k and loved every minute of it. I knew she would like it because I take her on a lot of walks. Plus, her two favorite things are being outside and looking at people.

I carried her for the first mile. That gave her a chance to look around and interact with people. She rode in her stroller for the next 2 miles. She could still look around and even stare at her dad, who was pushing the stroller. She giggled and laughed the whole time. People kept commenting that she was probably the happiest person there. Steve told them we would all be happier if we were in a stroller like her. I carried her again for the last little stretch and across the finish line. We obviously weren't there to race. It took us a little over an hour to complete the course. Lexi started getting a little fussy a few minutes after we crossed the finish line and then passed out in my arms as we walked back to Steve's office. They had chips, water and beer for the employees. We chatted a little, drank some water, and headed out.

More Goofy Like Me

2006-05-10T21:32:00.000-04:00

More Goofy Like Me

For a while, I have been thinking about changing my blog. As you may have read, the name Artemis-Gaia was about luck. Well, I got the 2 things that I was hoping for so... it no longer fits me. I have been trying to think of different names that might fit. Some ideas would only be temporary again. Finally, I was looking at a picture of myself today & it hit me. One thing I have always been is a Freckle Face Girl. Why not name my blog that? I am going to be keeping this site until I come up with a design for that one, which will be a while considering my schedule. My new site will be:

http://frecklefacegirl.blogspot.com/

Sexy Siren - Yeah Right!

2006-05-10T08:23:00.000-04:00

Sexy Siren- Yeah Right!

Growing up in a very religious Mormon household means having modesty pounded into your head. My bathing suits had to cover my midriff. "Mini"-skirts had to touch my knee. Tank tops were off limits. Of course, nothing could be tight, but I never had a problem with that. My dad hated every time I tried to get a tan in the privacy of our back yard on a Sunday afternoon. So, in addition to being a fairly self-conscious teenager, I had lots of rules to shape my ideas of what is acceptable. As an adult in South Florida, I can say that I haven't really worried about their rules. I dress for the weather and to flatter my pear-shaped body type.

However, I am pretty sure this adds to the reason that I am just not comfortable thinking that I am in any way sexy. In fact, the times I have put on sexy nighties I just laughed. My poor husband! I could never be a seductress. The idea is so goofy to me. I have noticed that having a baby has made me even worse. My body is far from tempting. In fact, I am reverting back to the rules my parents set. I don't wear bikinis because my belly feels flabby. I am even wearing capris rather than shorts because I have a small spider vein on my thigh. That is also the reason I packed up my shorter mini-skirts to give to my sister. I guess it is a good thing that I am not trying to dress too sexy with this body. Maybe I could thank my parents for that. Should I mention that I my shoulders are often exposed? Oh the horror! I have to be rebellious in some way, right?

Wiggle Giggle Girl

2006-05-09T09:05:00.000-04:00

Wiggle Giggle Girl

From the time I first felt Lexi move when I was pregnant until now, she has been wiggling like crazy. In fact, she never stops moving. At night, she scooches around in her bed. Her head and feet end up all over the place. She is a true wild child, especially when I am holding her and people baby talk to her. She beams a huge smile while kicking her legs and flapping her arms. It is hilarious when she adds a giggle and flings her head back and forth. I can see the toddler stages ahead.

Summer Fun

2006-05-08T08:10:00.000-04:00

Summer Fun

We went to Port St Lucie (PSL) on Saturday to see Steve's parents. As you can see, we had fun swimming in their pool. It was Lexi's first time. You see, when you live in Florida you become picky about the temperature of the water. Locals only go in when it is nice and warm.

We also had a bbq. Steve cooked chicken and I made a salad. It was nice to spend time in the city of slow motion, where not much is going on and neighbors always wave. Actually, I took Lexi on a walk and even the garbage man waved. Steve calls PSL the town for the newly wed and nearly dead. Looking around, I am pretty sure that makes up the entire population. It is a great place to visit and kick back, but eventually it would get dreadfully boring.

Miami, Like No Place Else

2006-05-06T07:53:00.000-04:00

Miami, Like No Place Else

It is no secret that there are a lot of things I don't like about Miami. Most of that probably has to do with the fact that I love moving around like I have done all my life. I have been here 7 years, which is an eternity for me. However, there are some things here that I love including:

1. The beach - hey it is always on the top 10 list on the Travel Channel for a reason
2. Driving on 395 to get to the beach being surrounded by crystal blue water and seeing all the cruise ships lined up
3. Moderate weather - even though I miss seasonal changes
4. Walking around Coconut Grove day or night
5. Driving on the last stretch of I-95 and seeing the high rises on one side and the extremely colorful buildings and houses on the other. That was a bit of a shock when I first moved here.
6. Walking by the roundabout and down Old Cutler Road in the Gables with all of the beautiful trees that create a tunnel
7. The Venetian Pool, where we got married
8. Lunch or brunch with friends on Miracle Mile
9. People watching on Ocean Drive - where else will you see a Orthodox Jewish family and half naked roller skating transvestite within a few feet of each other?
10. The mixing of many nationalities to the point where you don't feel like you are in the US anymore

I guess I liked Miami most when I lived on Edgewater Drive in Coral Gables near Coconut Grove much closer to all the things I love. Steve moved in with me there and we had lots of fun. My place was way too small though. The next 2 moves were to bigger places that just happened to be farther away. It doesn't take long to get to those places, but we don't seem to go anymore. Lately, I have been dreaming about selling our house and moving back there. Is that crazy? Sometimes crazy & fun is better than boring and unhappy. Even Steve is agreeing with my idea. Of course, this would mean he would be closer to work so his commute would be better.

Picture Time

2006-05-03T16:28:00.000-04:00

Picture Time

I don't like to leave a sad post as the top one on the blog for very long, so I decided to add baby pictures.

MIL Going Down Hill

2006-05-03T07:47:00.000-04:00

MIL Going Down Hill

Steve's mom has been feeling very dizzy, so her doctor scheduled a cat scan. Since she was first diagnosed with terminal cancer a year ago, they predicted it would end up in her brain. Yesterday, we found out it has. She has 2 tumors there. Unfortunately, this diagnosis congers up images of my father at Thanksgiving. He became so old looking in the 6 months he had brain cancer. He was also horribly thin and unable to speak, hold his head up, or really be any glimmer of himself. I know Steve keeps picturing him in the hospital bed and worries about his mother's fate. She has scheduled a consultation to discuss her options. I am hoping it doesn't lead to meaningless surgeries like it did with my dad. Life in the hospital is not life, but the person going through it has to decide.

Happy Pills

2006-05-02T08:51:00.000-04:00

Happy Pills

About 2 months ago, I saw a friend I hadn't seen in a while. I immediately noticed that she had lost weight (20 lbs). After telling her that I was jealous & hated her, I asked how she did it. She said that the only thing she did was start taking a new kind of happy pills (anti-depressants). So, let me get this straight....Take the pills feel happy & lose weight? Wow, sounds great! Ok, so you lose your sex drive, but just get some extra pills for your husband & he'll be happy too. Then, when you are thin, it will come back & you'll be looking fabulous. Sounds easy right? I laughed about it.

Then last month, I heard a joke on tv about the difference between 21 year olds & 35 year olds. I don't remember the whole funny set-up, but basically 21 year olds might be able to name one anti-depressant, but 35 year olds can name at least 5. That really got me thinking. Do most people start taking happy pills in their mid-thirties? Is there a norm that I am not aware of? Does that mean it wouldn't be so odd for me to take some of the same pills my friend is because I am not that far away from mid-thirties?

I don't have the answers to these questions, but I do know one thing...I hate going to the doctor for good reasons. It is all about avoidance for me. I know myself & I certainly will not make an appointment and go in just to see if I can get happy pills. What would I tell the doctor anyway? I've been quite stressed out lately, but not really depressed. Can I have the pills that my friend is taking? I want to be thin like her. It sounds too ridiculous for me to say. Oh well, for now I guess I just have to get motivated, but it is hard to juggle a baby & work...hmmm that makes me depressed. Hey, good reason.

Hurricane Season Prep

2006-05-01T17:52:00.000-04:00

Hurricane Season Prep

Starting about six weeks ago, I have noticed that the people of South Florida have been preparing for the next hurricane season. The funny thing is that most of them are preparing by finally fixing what the storms messed up last year. They are working on their roofs, fences, and landscaping. I can understand that roofs need to be fixed before the rainy season begins, but why suddenly are fences and landscaping so important? I'll tell you why because every other house is being put on the market. Ok, so it is more like 1 in 10. I don't see them selling like they did last year either. I guess everyone is preparing for the hurricanes this year by trying to escape. Maybe they know something we don't.

First Time Apart

2006-04-30T09:56:00.000-04:00

First Time Apart

Other than 10 minutes, when I ran to the drug store once, Lexi and I have been together since her birth. Actually, I guess since I got pregnant almost a year ago. I have never left her with Steve to go anywhere because Steve and I go everywhere together on the weekends. That sounds a little co-dependent, but it is more of a matter that we both like to go places so if one is going so does the other. Even a trip to the grocery store is more exciting than sitting around the house. When I go out without him, he is usually doing something like working on the house or sleeping in (I wake up earlier), so I take her with me. Basically, this has lead to a lot of mother daughter time, which is good and bad because I'll be returning to work in a few weeks. It is nice being together as much as possible, but we both need to get use to being apart.

We started with our first break from each other yesterday. I took her over to a friend's house. This friend is great with babies and kids, but has had major fertility problems for the last 10 years and hasn't been able to have one. She has been begging me to let her care for Lexi since I got pregnant. I figured yesterday was a good day because I had a few projects in the house I wanted to get done. I dropped Lexi off and dashed back to the house. I worked like a crazy woman on too much coffee (although I don't drink coffee). I just felt I had to maximize this time. Of course, I couldn't stop thinking about her or wanting to check on her. Two and a half hours later, I called and found out that she was doing well and my friend begged to keep her longer. I worked on a few more projects. After 5 hours, I couldn't take it anymore and went to get her. That seems like a long break for the first time even though she did well. One thing is clear; going back to work will be harder on me than it will be on her.

Self Taught Computer Nerd

2006-04-28T07:46:00.000-04:00

Self Taught Computer Nerd

Despite the fact that I have taken very few computer classes, I use a lot of different software programs. When someone does this, there are always features that they have no idea exist. Before I started working from home, I bought Adobe Creative Suites 2 software (through the company). It has the latest versions of Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat Professional, and other things you have probably never heard of. I also bought the training DVDs for all those programs through Lynda.com, which is VERY good by the way.

Now that my deadlines have calmed down, I started the training. I decided to start with Acrobat because I have always wanted to learn how to do the forms. I have to admit that I am completely astonished by the features that I never knew about. In fact, I can't stop telling people so I decided to share that with all of you. I would have to say that all these years I have only been using the most basic functions Acrobat. The first disk blew me away and it didn't even have the lesson on forms. The second disk had the forms and much more. I am totally hooked. I have come up with tons of ideas for work. I even worked 10 hours yesterday. Call me crazy!

Three Months Old Today

2006-04-26T11:08:00.000-04:00

Three Months Old Today

Time really flies. Yesterday, I went into the office and, as usual, everyone was amazed by how big Lexi is getting. One person even commented that she is looking more like a little girl and less like a baby. Other than being bald, she was right. She is growing up too fast. In the last few weeks, I have noticed some wonderful changes and some I would rather have waited for.

Some of the great things include:
1. She likes to be held up-right so she can look around and interact.
2. She babbles almost non-stop. (I call her Georgette after her very talkative Grandpa George.)
3. She craves attention and smiles at everyone who gives it to her.
4. She loves playing with blankets and can keep herself entertained for a while.
5. She isn't very fussy anymore.
6. She sleeps through the night (YES!).
7. Most days she takes at least one good nap for an hour.
8. She is a lot more patient in the car seat.
9. She is generally a happier baby.

A few things I would like to see change:
1. She hates to be in the cradle position, which is very tough when it is time to feed her. This goes back to #1 on the things I like list.
2. Even though she likes others, she still prefers that I hold her. If she could extend this preference to include her dad equally, it would be nice. He is her second choice.
3. Every time I get the camera out, she stares at it & stops smiling. Smiles make pictures better.
4. Perhaps, more hair would be a bonus.

Basically, things are getting better and better. Even work has calmed down a notch. Thank GOODNESS! - knock on wood. I guess mostly I am thankful that I am not returning to work for a few more weeks unlike some companies & maternity leave. On the other hand, I didn't really get a break from work (or the paycheck). This calls for a math concept: a postive times a negative equals ??? (+*-=?) (anyone, anyone Bueller?) - I know you know, so I'll just say yep.

Glorious Nights

2006-04-23T08:22:00.000-04:00

Glorious Nights

I have always heard that 12 was the magic number when it comes to babies sleeping through the night (12 as in 12 lbs). At that weight, they shouldn't need constant nourishment. That is exactly what Lexi weighed at her 2 month doctor's appointment. However, the magic number did nothing for us. She continued to wake up every night around 2:30 to 3 am very hungry. Almost a month later, I began to wonder if she would ever stop crying for food at night. This weekend, I finally got to experience what it is like to have a baby sleep through the night. It didn't just happen once either. I have been spoiled for two nights in a row. Ok, so I am still waking up throughout the night to check on her. It is impossible for me to sleep through the little whining in her sleep moments, but I haven't had to feed her so I go right back to sleep. I think this is the best step in her development yet.

Big Love Addiction

2006-04-19T15:40:00.000-04:00

Big Love Addiction

When it comes to television shows, I am pretty much a passive watcher. Even when I like a show, I rarely make a conscious effort to watch. I hardly ever like a program enough to remember when it is on. If I happen to catch it, that is great, but that is about as far as my devotion goes. It has been a while since something on tv has captured my interest, but I find myself addicted to the new series on HBO called Big Love. In fact, I have watched every episode.

I can't really say that I love watching Big Love more like I am trapped in its snare. Besides the fact that the characters are so intriguing and the concept is bizarre, I am sure that part of my addiction comes from my background. For different years of my life, I have lived in Utah. Plus, I was brought up in a very/ultra religious Mormon family. Now, I am what they consider "in-active" meaning that I was baptized into the church (age 8), but don't attend. This leads up to my fascination with the show.

Big Love explores the practice of polygamy in Utah. Mormons no longer practice polygamy and most that I know prefer to turn a blind eye to the fact that it was ever part of the religion (especially women). However, there are quite a few ex-Mormons in Utah that are polygamist. They are usually considered wacko and/or they have gone off the deep end. I have known a few that decided that was their future. To be honest, I have always found it weird yet interesting, because I just don't understand it.

The first time I watched Big Love, I wondered how Mormons would react. I figured most of them would be upset because of rumors they would hear about the show. For the most part, they would also refuse to watch just on principle. Therefore, they would be protesting something they had only heard about. I was right. It was about a week after the first episode when one of my Mormon family members sent me a mass e-mail asking me to write to HBO and ask them to take the program off the air. The e-mail claimed that the show confuses people about the Mormon Church. I laughed and ignored it. I have to admit that the rebel part of me likes watching the show just because of that. Otherwise, I am sure I'd treat it just like all the other shows I can't remember to watch.

Many Moods of the Little Easter Bunny

2006-04-16T11:08:00.000-04:00

Many Moods of the Little Easter Bunny

It is a beautiful Easter Sunday here in Miami. The sun is shining and the temperature is 71 degrees, which means a nice day for Easter egg hunting. We took a few pictures of Miss Lexi dressed in her bunny robe as her mood deteriorated. We were finally ready to start our hunt for the Easter basket and she decided it was nap time. I guess she is just not ready for all this excitement. Ok, so maybe she knows there isn't much in her basket. All she is getting is a little pink bunny. I would probably rather nap too. She won't even get to eat a real Easter dinner with us. So - to the rest of us Happy Easter!

Rolling Over

2006-04-13T13:24:00.000-04:00

Rolling Over

Yesterday, something I have been dreading occurred. I laid Lexi down for tummy time and then turned to shoot out a quick e-mail for work. When I looked back at her, she had rolled over. This is a great advancement for her, but not for me. I'm not just saying that because I want to keep her little. This means I can no longer leave her on the bed or couch, while I run into the other room to grab something especially since the little wiggle worm tends to scoot around. I am happy to see her new developments and sad that life is going by so quickly while I tear my hair out over work deadlines.

Speaking of Lexi & work, I believe I am grooming her to be the best computer nerd ever. She sits or lies on my lap for most of the day long while I work. She'll probably be able to type before she can walk. I try to keep her stimulated with music and talking, but I'm sure her life would be much more interesting if I wasn't working. Come to think of it, so would mine - day dream moment.

Thats All We Need

2006-04-11T14:31:00.000-04:00

That's All We Need

One of my friends just sent me an e-mail with the photo above. The idea makes me laugh as long as it isn't my kid. My mom & dad band us from drinking anything with caffeine in it when we were young. I'm pretty sure I was over the age of 12 before I did. My brother has the same rule for his 4 little ones. It just seems to make family life easier, but I doubt I'll have so many kids to make it necessary.

There are so many crazy things happening around me. I have one friend who is debating whether or not to get divorced. I get a daily update on her decision, which keeps changing. In this case, I can see reasons for both arguments, but in the end I think it comes down to the fact that she loves him. He hasn't done anything particularly wrong, but sometimes women just want more. I think the secret to happiness just might be the ability to be content with what you have. Unfortunately, that is something most women will never achieve. If it is not one thing, it is another. I have a long list of things I believe will make my life better. Somewhere at the top of the list is a perfect body (high expectations).

I'm also swamped with deadlines at work. I am really looking forward to my sister coming to help even though it means my return to the office and I'll miss Lexi. Trying to juggle all that is going on by myself just isn't working. I feel like nothing is being taken care of like I want it to be.

To top off the week, our taxes are not done. We went to a place to take care of them in February, but they were obviously incompetent. Right away, I realized I'd be better off with my regular old Turbo Tax. I came up with an excuse and we darted out of there. Since then, nothing has been done. I made an appointment today with a lady a friend recommended. I can't wait to cross one more thing off the To Do List.

Ok, so lately my life is a bunch of random thoughts just like this entry.

Spring Cleaning of 2006

2006-04-07T09:31:00.000-04:00

Spring Cleaning of 2006

I would rather be writing about Spring Break, but this year spring is mainly about cleaning. We moved into our house the end of April last year. While it is a charming house with a great layout, I'll just say it wasn't the cleanest place ever. I am pretty sure that they didn't even paint it since they moved in, which was 1998. The walls were covered with black streaks. The entire place needed a lot of cleaning. In fact, I spent over 8 hours bleaching and scrubbing each bathroom. They had remodeled the kitchen only a year before selling it, so I was able to get that looking pretty good without an insane effort. The bad thing is that I never got around to the floors. The grout, which was supposed to be a light gray color, is BLACK in most of the house. Now, I am finally working on this monumental task. I have been spending an hour every evening on my hands and knees with bleach and a brush. Although it isn't pleasant, I began to wonder why I didn't start this before. Then, I remembered that it was just about 6 weeks from when we moved in to when I found out that I was pregnant. Some pregnant women really get into scrubbing, but I spent the whole pregnancy just hating our floors. The time has come to change that.

Conversations that Stick

2006-04-04T11:30:00.000-04:00

Conversations that Stick

I don't know if anyone else is like this, but throughout my life I have had various conversations with people that have stuck with me. Something they have said will pop back into my head at various times. I can goes years without thinking about it and suddenly a trigger will remind me of the conversation.

For the last few days, a conversation with my ex-sister-in-law has been on my mind. I should start by giving you a little background for the conversation. My youngest brother got married in August of 2004 and was divorced by January of 2005. Not only is that a very short marriage, but you know it was an awful experience given that they were apart for about half of that time. They rushed into it and married for all the wrong reasons. He was in the military and knew that he had a good chance of being shipped to Iraq. He wanted someone missing him like crazy in the US. She had just finished a master's degree and turned 30. These things made her feel like an old maid. Basically, it was a case of two completely different people wanting the same thing no matter how much they shouldn't. Unfortunately, even though it was a horrible situation, she did not want to get divorced and simply would not believe that she could have made that bad of a decision. They were both just obviously WRONG for each other. He recognized that problem much earlier than her and she couldn't accept it, which lead her to contact all of his family members including me.

During our conversation, I listened and openly answered all of her questions. I even offered information. She told me some of her observations about my brother. At one point, she said that she was completely frustrated with the fact that he truly believes that she makes everything in his life horrible and that once they are divorced everything will be absolutely wonderful. That has stuck with me and the reason why is that it is so true of all of my family members. When something is really bothering us it tends to taint every aspect of our lives. We immediately come up with a flight plan (you know that fight vs flight thing - we go for flight). On top of that, we truly believe that utopia is in the next location or situation. Some people are extremely afraid of change, but we thrive on it. Lately, I have been trying to figure out the negative aspects of strongly believing that utopia can come with change. So far, I have a few vague ideas that don't really seem worth it. I guess for now, I'll continue coming up with grand schemes that I completely believe in for my next utopian idea. My friends will continue to say - "what in the world is she up to now?" Am I messed up or what? At least I found a husband that likes to get excited about things, especially things that I make myself totally believe in.

Face To Face

2006-04-03T10:54:00.000-04:00

Face To Face

This weekend was all about spring cleaning, except for a little trip to South Beach. Saturday, I organized my office and scrubbed the cabinets in the kitchen. Sunday, I decided to tackle my closets (2). I separated all my clothes into three categories. The first pile was to go back into the closet for me to keep. The second pile was clothes for my little sister. The third pile was garbage. I can't believe it, but I had 3 large garbage bags full of clothes for my sister and 2 to trash. I still have a full wardrobe left over for me. This was a clear sign that I need to pay more attention to how much I have and what I need before I go shopping, especially black pants. Good thing, I am into bargain hunting, but I should definitely cut back. I also realized that I want to hurry and lose the last 12 lbs of baby fat so that I can fit into them. Realistically, another 5 - 10 pounds would put me where I would like to be, but I prefer to start with the 12. Since today is Monday, I am officially starting Operation Baby Fat Reduction. If I declare it on the internet, I am hoping that it magically keeps me motivated & pounds just disappear.

Making It Through

2006-04-01T07:48:00.000-05:00

Making It Through

This week hasn't been a very good for Lexi or me. She has been utlra cranky from her shots and barely eating. I have been stressed out about work. Those things don't mix. Our salvation has been the swing. She suddenly started liking it. I don't like for her to be in it for too long, but a nice little nap while I am working away provides me with some sanity. I miss last week when she was so happy and content. She is starting to return to normal, which means I can stop pulling my hair out over one thing.

On a lighter note, Steve got a great job offer with amazing benefits and a LOT more money (not enough for me to be a SAHM though). In addition to that, he has 2 more interviews next week that appear to be even better.

Two Months Already

2006-03-27T21:18:00.000-05:00

Two Months & Chatting Up a Storm

Yesterday, Lexi was officially 2 months old ...so, so sad. It is amazing how much she has changed. Everyday, she seems to get bigger and develop more skills. Her attention span and being able to stay content lasts longer, which is nice. She even babbles with me for about 10-20 minutes at a time. We have some of the most interesting conversations although I am sure neither of us knew exactly what the other one is saying. I guess she said her first real word yesterday. Of course, it was by accident though. We were sitting on the couch having one of our mother - daughter talks, when she clearly said, "meow." I was shocked. Maybe, you don't believe me, but Steve heard it too. We had a good laugh because she hasn't even seen a cat.

Today, Lexi had her 2 month doctor's appointment. She is now 12 lbs and 24.5 inches long. As all of you mothers know, she hated the end. She was starting to get hungry as we waited for the nurse to come back in, so I got her bottle ready. The nurse squeezed her little chubby thighs and jammed each needle in. I know that the pain is unavoidable, but the nurse seemed to jam all of them in harder than necessary. I think she hasn't given many shots. Poor little Lexi screamed as tears welled up and rolled down her sad face. Her little lip was trembling between each howl. I was able to slip the bottle in at the end and distract her slightly. She ended up crying herself to sleep. This evening she goes between whimpering and screaming until she falls asleep for a cat nap (meow). My sweet little baby is experiencing one of the harsh realities of life - sometimes good things hurt.

-BTW, Thanks Jenn & Emily for the great outfits!

Give Me a Break!

2006-03-24T13:50:00.000-05:00

Give Me a Break!

Today, I feel frustrated and angry at life. I remember the good old days when I could pack my Saturn and take off to a new place. I could sign up at a temp agency and make enough money to cover the bills. The dream of new beginnings and adventures kept me young and excited about the possibilities in life. I love being married and being a mom, but house payments and other bills make me feel trapped. I just want to start packing things and rent a U-haul, so I can start somewhere fresh. I don't think I was meant to completely settle down. I wasn't raise that way and the very thought of it makes me insane. So Yes, today I am totally insane, not to mention frustrated! Stop kicking me when I'm down.

Goo All Over

2006-03-22T09:23:00.000-05:00

Goo All Over

My deadline is finally over, so I have room to breath. Actually, after working 6 hours on Sunday and 12 yesterday, I would just like to kick back a little and share experiences.

We all know that motherhood involves a lot of different types of goo that must be dealt with. There is the white spit-up goo that covers the shoulders and some times runs down the cleavage. There is also the yellow, green or pumpkin orange poo goo.

Friday night, Lexi decided to share lots of bodily functions with me. It started off when I was feeding her. There was an explosion. Orange goo came blasting out the back of her diaper. Fortunately, she was only wearing a onesie, but the back was soaked with goo. It even got on my pants. So, I scooped her up and headed for the bathroom. While I sat there trying to figure out how to get it off without smearing it all over in her hair, Steve came in. He wanted to cut it off, so we did. Then, I laid her face down across my knees to wipe off her back. Suddenly, I felt a warm trickle down my right leg and saw another explosion of spit-up on my left leg. Talk about dirty pants. Steve thought the whole thing was pretty gross, but I just laughed. It is all part of being a mom.

By the way, the fun didn't end there and I obviously didn't learn from that experience. The next day while we were visiting Steve's mom in the hospital, another stinky explosion got all over my jean skirt. Of course, I did not have a change of clothing for me. We were 2 hours away from home with a whole day of visiting ahead. I washed the spot with soap and water and got out the mess, but had to walk around with a huge wet spot for a while. Good thing we were in the city of senior citizens where things like that don't bother them and they are very distracted by babies anyway.

Hey - Should I be sharing these stories? Not that I am worried about grossing people out, you can simply not read it. The thing I have to consider is scaring my sister off so she decides to rethink this nanny thing. Ok, To Paige: I made this whole story up. To the rest of you: you know the truth.

Workload Insanity

2006-03-20T09:36:00.000-05:00

Workload Insanity

I haven't posted lately because of work deadlines. It is hard enough just trying to juggle Lexi and the normal amount of work, so this extra stress is not fun. I managed to make it through 2 of them. This last one is on Wednesday and it is by far the worst. Unfortunately, my internet connection conked out Thursday. Yesterday, I managed to get it fixed with help from my provider, but the changes that were made messed up my ability to access the servers at work. That means I'll have to go in to the office today and tomorrow for longer than I would like to. I'm glad that I can work at home and continued to get paid, but I wish I could enjoy real maternity leave. It would be better for Steve & Lexi too. Oh well!

Back to Bad

2006-03-15T10:59:00.000-05:00

Back to Bad

Even though I posted a smiling picture of Lexi, I have bad news. Steve's mom was admitted back into the hospital on Monday. She went to her doctor's appointment in a lot of pain. They discovered that she had lost another 8 lbs. Now, they have her all doped up. On top of that, the doc gave her the paper work to do a living will. This Saturday, we are going to PSL to start some of the dreaded talks. They need to figure out what is going to happen with the house, bills, health insurance, living will, hospice, etc. I'm sure I'll be part of the discussions, but more as a listening supportive member. This experience will definitely help me appreciate all that my dad's wife handled more.

Happier Times

2006-03-14T10:45:00.000-05:00

Happier Times

I must take a moment to give a big THANKS to Shokufeh for suggesting Gripe Water. Thanks to this natural cure, our evening routine has become much more pleasant now that Lexi has stopped screaming bloody murder. It could also be called Collic Be Gone.

Along with that, Lexi is just much happier. Her big open mouthed smiles have melted the hearts of everyone lately. There is nothing better in this world than seeing the pure joy of a baby.

I have a great announcement... my sister, Paige, has decided that she will be our nanny until December/January. I have been so worried about finding a great day care for Lexi in August and this is just about the best news I have heard in a long time. We would much rather pay my sister than strangers. Plus, Lexi & Paige get to bond, which will be good for both of them.

Visiting Family in PSL

2006-03-12T14:32:00.000-05:00

Visiting Family in PSL

Yesterday, we headed up to PSL to see Steve's mom and a bunch of relatives that were visiting. Great Great Aunt Angie and Great Aunt Carol were here from CA. Barbara (MIL's cousin) came over. Bob & Lil from VA were in town too. His mom is becoming quite popular, but unfortuntely for the wrong reasons.

It was nice to see everyone and Steve really liked showing off Lexi. We tried to take lots of pictures, but didn't end up with nearly enough. I was busy taking care of Lexi and Steve was doing things around the house and trying to help his mother. She has spent too many years cleaning, cooking, and taking care of things. She doesn't feel comfortable letting some of those things go. She can only last about 5 minutes before she gets dizzy and needs to rest again.

Overall, it was a great day. Lexi was extra pleasant and smiled like crazy at everyone. She stole a little bit of the attention away from her grandmother, but they didn't seem to mind sharing the stage.

MIL Not So Good

2006-03-08T17:57:00.000-05:00

MIL Not So Good

Steve's aunt called me a little while ago. She is in Florida visiting and taking care of her sister, Steve's mom. She planned to come to Miami tomorrow evening to see our house and Lexi, but Steve's mom isn't doing well. She was released from the hospital on Friday and had a horrible weekend. The pain kept increasing and by Monday they thought she would have to go back into the hospital. Her doctor was able to administer out patient remedies including an IV, drugs, & oxygen. Tuesday, she felt the best she has in months - great drugs. Unfortunately, that only lasted for the day. Last night was horrible again and she hasn't gotten any better today. The pain is so bad that she isn't eating or sleeping. We are definitely going to see her and all the relatives that are in town visiting her on Saturday. It is sad to say, but she seems to be going down hill rather quickly.

Employment Update

2006-03-08T11:25:00.000-05:00

Employment Update

Steve started working last Wednesday. Actually, he is working back on a project that he had been on for a year and a half. Only now, he is working for the prime contractor rather than as a consultant. There are only 2 bad parts about this. One is that he doesn't have health insurance. It will cost about $400 a month to put him on mine & about $350 to go with COBRA. The other is that it is temporary because the project ends in 5 months. At least that gives us plenty of time to find something else. Now, we'll just keep our fingers crossed that he won't need insurance for a little while.

Beach Baby

2006-03-06T16:53:00.000-05:00

Beach Baby

Yesterday, we took a little excursion to the famous South Beach. We only stayed a short while, but Lexi got to experience some fun in the sun (ok shade). She screamed most of the way there. Other than that, she enjoyed it.

5 Week Dr. Appt

2006-03-02T12:39:00.000-05:00

5 Week Dr. Appt

Lexi had another doctor appointment today. She now weighs 10 lbs 6 oz & is 23.5" tall. I told him all about her bad days. About once a week, she has a screaming day. She doesn't sleep much and she screams in pain. She wants to be help up against the chest and comforted all day long. Yesterday was one of those days. He thinks she probably has gas. I'm going to buy some baby gas medicine in hopes to avoid the next rough day. She also got her first shot - hepatitous. Like most babies, she is not a fan of shots. At first she was stunned and then she started balling. It wasn't so much of a painful cry, but a 'how could you let them do this to me?' cry. When she calmed down, she just stared into space with big tears in her eyes. As soon as we got into the car, she fell asleep. Hopefully, she forgets soon.

Positive Part of Life

2006-03-01T18:10:00.000-05:00

Positive Part of Life

When life gets difficult, it is important to focus on the good. So, I'm posting a photo.

Bad Kind of Stress

2006-03-01T16:37:00.000-05:00

Bad Kind of Stress

When 2005 ended, I was looking forward to the possibilities that 2006 might bring. Everything looked fairly bright and I believed that I would have the opportunity to completely enjoy motherhood. My time with Lexi has been very precious, but I want more. I don't like sharing her time with work. Trying to put in 40 hours is killing me, but we need the money. That issue has been bothering me, but I was dealing with it until something beyond insane pushed my stress level over the edge.

I can't really express what happened because it involves work. As many of you know, my husband and I have been working for the same company for about a year and a half. I have been working there for 4 years. Before I start, there are many things I like about the company. To get to the point, as of Friday, my husband no longer works there. There were some cultural differences and misunderstandings that lead to that point, but it came as a total shock to us. Management called me to let me know that this didn't affect their feelings about me or my employment.

Besides that issue, Steve and I are forced to make a crazy effort to job hunt. I want to believe it won't take long. The market is very hot here. In fact, he has been offered a lot of higher paying jobs in the past few months when he wasn't looking. He turned them down out of loyalty. Hopefully, those doors are still open because we really don't need this stress right now. For now, I am trying to convince myself that this will turn out to be a good thing.

One Month Old

2006-02-27T21:16:00.000-05:00

One Month Old

Yesterday, Lexi was officially one month old. She has grown so much. I like seeing all the advancements she has made, but I am sad that time is passing so quickly.

MIL Still in the Hospital

2006-02-24T13:39:00.000-05:00

MIL Still in the Hospital

Steve's mom was supposed to be released from the hospital yesterday, but they are going to keep her longer. She is still very dehydrated even with almost two weeks of being on an IV. The news was disheartening for her. Steve's dad had even bought a balloon, flowers and a card to welcome her home. At least she will be having visitors to cheer her up soon. Her aunt is coming this week from California to visit, entertain, and take care of her. Next week, her sister is coming from CA to do the same thing. I am not sure how long her sister will be here. One thing is for sure, we'll be headed up to PSL on the weekends to see his mom and show off the baby.

Quiz time!

2006-02-23T09:01:00.000-05:00

Quiz time!

I've been tagged by my sister, Paige.

1. Favorite star wars character?

Yoda

2. Favorite type of dancing? (ex: swing, country, etc)

swaying with my baby

3. Name your top five favorite songs from the type of dancing stated above:

Kid songs:
-Love is Spoken Here
-When We're Helping
-A Happy Family
-Daddy's Homecoming
-I am Glad for Many Things

4. What color do you tend to wear most often?

lately - anything that fits. normally - black

5. Finish this phrase: "Man when left in a natural state..."

...needs a woman to whip him in to shape.

6. Who out of the movie, "Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy," would you date?

haven't seen the movie or read the book

7. Write your own question and answer it:

-If you could pick any job, what would it be? SAHM

8. Tagg somebody

Emily, if she wants to. This one is a little weird.

For Better or Worse

2006-02-22T19:30:00.000-05:00

For Better or Worse

Most trials in life are difficult to understand. People like to ask God why he would let something happen to them. Other than personal extreme physical pain, I don't do that. For the most part, I realize that these things can only be understood once the situation has passed. Sometimes, that takes years. Sometimes, your trials are meant to help others and may have no real significant purpose for yourself. Tonight, I believe that I am experiencing something that is purely for someone else's benefit.

It is no secret that my husband and I come from very different backgrounds. I was raised in a family that is as close to fanatically religious as possible without going off the deep end. On top of that, they are Mormons, so that is an added level of ideas and beliefs. I rarely delve into that part of myself, but it exists and I am aware of that.

On the other end of the spectrum, there is my husband's immediate family. I don't want to air their dirty laundry, but let's just say all of them have had to deal with substance abuse. My husband has come a LONG way in the past 8 years and a whole lot farther since we have been together. Still, our ideas of what is acceptable or normal are completely different.

For some bizarre reason, I believe that he is my Mr. Right. That helps me get through tough situations. To be honest, I am a person who naturally comes up with plans for life after divorce or death. When I was single, I was usually quick to breakup and move on. It is different with him, but I know I could go on and be fine. Now that I have a baby, there are times when his ideas of normal bother me so much that I think about protecting her from his influence. He is a very loving person and has many great qualities that every dad should have, but I wish he could be a better example.

Obviously, I am bothered by something and decided to vent online. That is not such a good idea, but I feel like doing it today. Yes, I still love him dearly just not so much this evening. Good thing he is still out of town.

All By Ourselves

2006-02-21T17:51:00.000-05:00

All By Ourselves

Steve is in Jacksonville for the next few days. He is doing training for work, so that means Lexi and I are all by ourselves. It has been fairly easy, except for the added company work. My boss decided to set up my new computer last night. He came over to drop it off and hook it up. When he got home, he called me and walked me through a bunch of the IT things. I was trying to do baby stuff and computer stuff all at the same time. The fun continued this morning. I mapped the drives and then called him to set-up my e-mail through Outlook. There were some issues we still have to work on. After that is done, I have to transfer files from my old tower to my new one. Too many distractions for a single mom who just wants to spend time with her baby.

Visiting the MIL

2006-02-21T17:49:00.000-05:00

Visiting the MIL

Steve, Lexi and I went to Port St Lucie to see Steve's mom this weekend. To be honest, she wasn't looking very well. Ok, so she is in the hospital for a reason, but even considering that, she wasn't looking well. One of the main issues is constipation. She had gone 15 days without a movement, so they pumped her full of softeners and she was struggling. They also had accidentally given her Morphine, which she is allergic to. She was weak, nauseous, and throwing up. As far as treatment goes, they are giving her radiation once a day hoping that it will minimize some of the tumors that are causing the horrible back pain. Plus, they are working on the various blood clots they found. Nobody knows when she'll be released.

She took an hour nap while we were there, so we went on a walk with Steve's dad and brother, Jeff. There is a big river right behind the hospital. Steve's dad seemed more sentimental than ever. He was extra happy to see us. After 40 years of marriage, he is struggling to do things she always took care of like cooking, cleaning, and general house stuff. Actually, Jeff is currently living with them. I won't make a comment on my thoughts about that, but he has been helping out around the house. He is probably even keeping Steve's dad company. Who knows how these things are supposed to go?

Florida Baby

2006-02-16T17:22:00.000-05:00

Florida Baby

Even though it is February, this girl knows she is in Miami where all the stars come to work on their tans and be seen. Ok, so the photo is a distraction from the fact that I don't feel like typing anything. Did it work?

Valentines Day

2006-02-14T16:56:00.000-05:00

Valentines Day

I have been planning to post a picture of Lexi and me all day. Unfortunately, she made funny faces in all of the ones I took. Plus, it hasn't been that easy posting it. In honor of the holiday, Lil Miss Lexi has insisted on being held and loved all day. She has been screaming for attention. (I can't complain because she doesn't do that often.) However, that made getting ready to go out to lunch with her dad very difficult. I had to put on make-up and blow-dry my hair with one hand. Not the easiest things to do. We did have a nice Valentines lunch though and she was asleep the whole time.

By the way, Lexi got her first Valentines card. I think her dad was relieved to find out that it came from her grandma (my mom) rather than a secret admirer. We're not ready for that!

MIL in Hospital

2006-02-13T10:01:00.000-05:00

MIL in Hospital

Steve's mom is in the hospital. Her back pains have been progressively getting worse despite the increased drugs they have been giving her. She dropped 20 lbs in two weeks and hasn't really slept. They scanned her back again because she was feeling more lumps and now they aren't sure if it is the deteriorating disk or the huge cancerous tumors that are causing the pain. On top of that, she is feeling more lumps all over her body. I can see that Steve is getting worried that she'll go down hill really fast like my father. For now, we can be glad that she is in the hospital and pain free. That means she can eat and sleep at least until they release her.

2 Week Dr. Appt

2006-02-09T17:33:00.000-05:00

2 Week Dr. Appt

Lexi had her 2 week appointment with the Doctor today and she is growing like a weed. She is 8 lbs 8 oz and 21.75" tall. I guess 3 oz of breast milk every 3 hours is doing wonders for her. I had been telling Steve that she seems to grow everyday. Then, I began to wonder if I was just imagining it. I guess not.

To date, I must admit that she has been an amazing baby. She basically only cries when she has a reason. However, she was fussy yesterday and simply wanted to be held all day. This is teaching me the art of living life with one arm. I think I am mastering it fairly well, especially at the computer. I actually finished an entire proposal with only my right arm. I am even typing this while holding her. (Please excuse any mistakes.)

She is growing and developing more and more every day, too fast if you ask me. The above photos are of Lexi's play time with dad. She just loves spending time with him and gets excited when she hears his voice. I called him today on speaker phone and she went wild. She certainly is Daddy's Girl, which is fine by me as long as he doesn't let her get away with murder when she is a teenager.

I have been Tagged!

2006-02-08T16:00:00.000-05:00

I have been Tagged!

Guess what!?!?! I am IT. Shokufeh has tagged me. Now, I am going to share a little bit of info about me:

Four jobs I've had:
1. Substitute High School Teacher in the Middle East
2. Project Coordinator
3. Marketing/Graphic Design Specialist
4. Marketing Manager

Four movies I can watch over and over:
1. English Patient
2. Some Kind of Wonderful
3. Napoleon Dynamite (my dad was from Idaho)
4. Most Ben Stiller movies

Four places I've lived:
1. Doha, Qatar
2. Provo, UT
3. Denver, CO
4. Katy, Texas

Four TV shows I love:
1. Monk
2. What Not to Wear (since giving birth)
3. Documentaries (on HBO)
4. Kindergarten (on HBO)

Four places I've vacationed:
1. London
2. Nassau, Bahamas
3. Jamaica
4. Practically every national park on the west side of the US

Four of my favorite dishes:
1. Chicken Shwarma
2. Gyoza (Asian Dumplings/Potstickers)
3. Quiche
4. Pasta Milano (from Macaroni Grill)

Four sites I visit daily:
1. Google
2. Bank of America
3. Hotmail
4. the blogs listed on the right

Four places I would rather be right now:
1. on an island in the Caribbean
2. Mediterranean Cruise
3. Katy, Texas to see friends
4. practically any Resort Spa
Now that I have a baby, I'd go with fairly calm places.

Four bloggers I am tagging:
1. Paige
2. Emily (even though Shofukeh tagged her too)
3. Jennifer (even though Emily might tag her)
4. Sorry, nobody else - I don't know that many bloggers

Grandparents Galore

2006-02-07T15:58:00.000-05:00

Grandparents Galore

We were blessed this weekend with visits from the Grandparents. My mom came Friday night and stayed until last night. Steve's parents and brother came Saturday and left Sunday. It was nice being able to see others enjoy Lexi. The best part though was all of my mom's help. She even took care of Lexi all Sunday night. All I had to do was sleep and get up every few hours to pump.

Now all the guests are gone and Steve is back at work. We've had a very nice day together. Although, I am seriously wondering how I am going to get any work (for the company) done though. Between feedings, I have managed to take a shower, fix lunch for Steve, as well as do laundry and the dishes. I also managed to check my work e-mails (millions), but other than that... not much. I'll have to figure out a way to maximize the time I spend working.

Noteworthy Tales

2006-02-02T17:01:00.000-05:00

Noteworthy Tales

Today, Lexi is one week old. That makes me sad. I actually don't look forward to any milestones because each one puts me closer to going back to work. I'll miss her so much. Two nights ago, when I was changing her diaper, I looked at her umbilical cord and thought that it looked really dry. I wanted to take a picture before she lost it, but 2 seconds later it popped off. That moment it gone and now she is not as much of a newborn. Time marches on.

On a brighter side, she had her first doctor's visit on Tuesday. She had already gained back 3 oz. We are quickly moving back up the scale. I better not say "we." I haven't weighed myself, but things seem to be shrinking (minus the D cups) and that is always a good thing.

Before too much time passes, I should share one of the sweetest moments I had with my husband. Saturday morning, at the hospital, I woke up excited that we were going to be discharged later on that day. The nurses came in and checked Lexi and me out. Then, they left and I was just thinking about going home when Steve pulled out a red box with a white ribbon on it. I had not even thought about the fact that it was my birthday. I opened the box to find an off-white porcelain music box. Inside was a sweet little diamond heart necklace. The tears started flowing. What a perfect gift to give someone who felt like her heart was going to explode with the love of a new baby and a wonderful husband. Steve was touched by my sentimental reaction. (See sometimes hormones help to enhance the mood.) He took a picture of me, but dear Internet, you'll never see it because that is the UGLIEST picture of me I have EVER seen. In a way, that makes the moment more special. He still loves me even when I look horrendous.

With Open Eyes

2006-02-01T13:07:00.000-05:00

With Open Eyes

I don't really feel like writing much, but I am doing much better in all areas. Also, I realized that I haven't posted a picture where you can see Lexi's eyes. Hope you enjoy.

Lovely Lactation Consultant

2006-01-30T21:09:00.000-05:00

Lovely Lactation Consultant

I am not affraid to admit that I am in love with a machine. We went to see the Lactation Consultant (LC) this morning. I started telling her my problems and was fighting back tears (stupid hormones). I rarely cry, but emotions are making me insane lately (another post). Anyway, she was so helpful and kind. She helped fit me with a bra that is actually comfortable & functional. Can you believe I am a 36D? What happened to my cute little 34B? Plus, the LC did the best thing ever - brought out the milk machine for me to rent. She said it might take a couple of times for it to work, but she was wrong. With all the leaking I have been doing, I could have probably filled up gallons. I had 2.5 oz the first time & 2 oz last time. More important though - RELIEF! I guess I should mention that Lexi is getting mother's milk too. Wasn't that the point of this? With all the pain, I forgot.

Nursing Nightmare

2006-01-30T09:50:00.000-05:00

Nursing Nightmare

During the birthing story, I mentioned that Lexi latched on very well right after birth. Unfortunately, nursing has not gone well since then. I can't pinpoint one problem. It could be my numerous cysts in my breasts, incorrect latching, voracious sucking powers from hunger, and extra sensitive nipples. I have a feeling that they are all fighting to make this not work. On top of all of that, Miss Lexi lost more weight than normal. She weighed in at 7 lbs 5 oz (lost about 8 oz) on Saturday. Although, she was doing fine in the diaper department. Perhaps all of this could have been remedied or at least addressed, but the lactation consultant at the hospital is also a regular nurse and had way too many patients to stop in and see me. The nurses helped with the latching on, but the pain was just too overwhelming.

I continued to try nursing until Friday night. Even Steve was begging me to feed her formula. My poor little baby was starving, so I did. She sucked down the first bottle so quickly that I didn't know whether to feel good that she was finally getting food or bad because I waited so long. By the second feeding, I could see that she had relaxed with the sucking. I fed her half an ounce and then tried nursing. It turned out to be me squeezing and her mostly licking. That lasts about 5 - 10 minutes and then I fed her the rest of the bottle. That has basically become our routine since Friday night. However, sometimes she does latch on and suck for those 5 -10 minutes.

As mothers, most of you realize that this strategy wouldn't work for long. Yesterday, I became so engorged that I look like Pamela Anderson. Also, my milk has come in and is leaking up a storm. This would happen on a weekend right? I turned over feeding duties to Steve (thank GOD for him) and have been placing very hot towels on my breasts to try and let as much leak out as possible. I even got to the point last night where I actually put Icy Hot on my breasts (not nipples of course). This did offer enough relief (distraction) that I could get to sleep. Today, my mission is to rent a breast pump and see a real lactation consultant. I have called and left a message. Now, I am impatiently waiting for her life changing call. Please, please, please help it go away! ...and no I will not be mentioning the Icy Hot thing to her.

Our Ouchy, but Good Birth Story

2006-01-29T20:41:00.000-05:00

Our Ouchy, but Good Birth Story

**If you are against induction and epidurals, don't read my story. I have learned to appreciate both more than I ever thought imaginable.

Thursday morning, we got up to go to the hospital. I had only slept 4 good hours and perhaps 1 more if you add up all the cat naps. I was just too excited. Steve seemed like he was taking forever. I made a breakfast burrito for him and packed our bags in his truck to speed things up as much as possible. He even wanted to stop at Starbucks to get himself a cup of coffee, but I told him I was just too insane right now for that. I was trying my best to act calm, but inside I was nuts. He was getting excited too, but was calm and wanted to live in the moment. I had tried to warn him the night before that I would be like this. Even if it had taken a total 1 minute to get there, I would have been crazy. I know how impatient/neurotic I can be about some things.

As soon as we got into the administrative office to sign papers, I was completely relaxed (which is how my crazy impatient-ness always goes). There was another couple in there and the wife was sitting in a wheel chair. She was already suffering from contractions and doing some of the breathing techniques. They started talking to us. I whispered to Steve not to tell her how dilated I was because she might be jealous that I am not in pain. They signed their papers and were sent to their room. We signed ours and were told to go to room 5, which was a mistake because that was their room. We were switched to 3 and the process began.

I changed into the gown (sounds so elegant). My doctor checked and found out that I was 5.5 cm dilated and everyone was amazed that I felt so good. My doc said that she was happy that I was being induced because without the pain, I could end up having the baby at home or in traffic on the way to the hospital. I was just happy that I had progressed to that level with virtually no pain. I started thinking about my grandma, Lorena (the one Lexi is named after), and about all the stories of her great tolerance for pain. I hoped that this would carry me throughout the birth, but knew better than to believe in it. It only took a few minutes for me to realize that was not going to be the case. Having my water break proved that. It was quick but agonizing. Plus, that was Steve's first ick moment. He handled it well.

The nurses hooked me up to the monitors, took blood, inserted the IV into my hand and started the pitocin drip. I started feeling the contractions right away and the pain gradually increased over the next few hours. Steve plugged in our CD player with a Sarah McLachlan CD to set a nice atmosphere. I have to admit that the contractions never got unbearable. When the nurse told me that I was dilated to 7 cm, I still said that I was ready for the epidural. I wanted to be able to relax before the pushing came. For some reason, I had a feeling that would be difficult. The anesthesiologist came in and sent Steve out. While they prepared and did the epidural, the anesthesiologist and nurse talked about how amazed they were that I didn't ever complain and was so calm. They decided that I just handle pain well and they wanted to clone me. I sat there not saying much and just kept thinking that things had been fine, but that this wasn't over yet.

I had the typical epidural story. Having the IV put in my hand hurt worse than the epidural or the catheter. Once it was in, Steve and I talked and joked for the next hour and a half. He told me that he wanted to run to his truck to get a Tums. I said that I was feeling something weird down there like I have to poop. He said he would be quick.

Right after he left (seconds), the doctor came in and said that I was dilated to 10 cm. They started setting up the room and I was anxiously waiting for Steve to return. He still wasn't back when they wanted me to start pushing. My doctor (Deborah Siman) and nurse (Stephanie) told me to grab my legs and they started cheering me on. We did the typical 3 sets of 10 seconds of pushing during contractions. We went through this twice before Steve got back. When he walked into the room, he looked a little frustrated and nervous about what he had missed. Apparently, he had been out in the hall trying to convince the security guard that his wife was in room 3 and not in room 5. It wasn't long before the next contraction started and he had to quickly join in by grabbing a leg and coaching on my right side.

The pushing went on for about 30 - 45 minutes with the doctor going to check on the woman in room 5. Then, the doctor came in and apologized because she had to perform an emergency C-Section. She told us that she called Dr. Jimenez from her office to come and take over and that he would be here shortly. We all were listening, but as she turned around to walk out, Steve asked where she was going. I said to do the C-Section and he let out a big sigh of relief. He told us that he thought she was going to do an emergency C-Section on me. That explains why he suddenly looked so startled and nervous.

Anyway, the pushing continued and Dr. Jimenez showed up. Lexi actually moved down and crowned quickly, but then made little or no progress after that. He decided that they needed to turn off the epidural because he wanted me to push harder. He told me that it would take about an hour to wear off, but that I would get stronger & stronger as it did. That began what I consider as the next stage of pushing. The doctor pushed on my perineum to try to move delivery along. After several contractions, he told me that he needed to make a little more room for the baby to come out. I think that was a nice way of saying that I was getting an episiotomy. Unfortunately, I knew exactly what he was going to do.

We continued with the endless pushing and Dr. Siman came back to take over. She joked that the baby was waiting for her. By then, I was getting really tired and the epidural had disappeared. What could we do, but continue on? Everyone else in the room was getting excited. Steve had touched Lexi's head and was really into his role as coach. It didn't take long for the doc to say that I was pushing very well and she was surprised that I hadn't delivered already. She said that the cord must be wrapped around the baby's arm or leg. She pulled out the scissors and made even more room. By then, I was in so much pain that tears were rolling down my face. The nurse grabbed my hand and had me feel the top of Lexi's head. Even with that, I wasn't sure I could take any more of it, but I kept my mouth closed and pressed on. They all coached like crazy and her head finally popped out.

Although that was amazing progress, it didn't get any easier. I was fully bawling from the pain and each new step including delivering her shoulders and the rest of her body was excruciating. They plopped her on me and I barely had the awareness to care. The doctor announced that the delivery was so difficult because Lexi's umbilical cord was too short. She also said it was a good thing that Lexi wasn't born next week because the extra weight would have made an emergency C-Section probably the only option. Thank goodness, they induced me.

Next, I saw Steve cut the umbilical cord and he looked so happy. Unfortunately, I still had to deliver the placenta, which was fast, but horrible. Steve was torn between comforting me and wanting to look at Lexi, so I told him to go hold her. I was in agony as the Dr stitched me up. She took about 20 minutes. Steve looked down to see what was taking her so long. He held up his fingers to let me know that the cut was about 2". I asked the Dr how many stitches I was getting. She thoughtfully avoided the question and said it was several layers. Right then, I knew recovery was going to be hard.

I finally got to hold Lexi when the stitching was done. I removed the night gown and she latched on to my breasts fairly quickly. It was nice to be at that stage. I had her with me for about 30 minutes and then they took her to the nursery to be cleaned up and checked. I sent Steve with her. For 2 hours, I sat in the room trying to comprehend it all. My friend (Amanda), who was in the waiting room, came to talk to me. That was nice to have her there. We talked about all that happened, which I think was emotionally healthy for me.

Steve came back and we were transferred to one of the little rooms. Apparently, all the suites were full for the night. While lying in that room, I suddenly realized the extent of the pain of the stitches. I couldn't focus on anything, but the pain. I am not usually one to ask for things or complain, but I was at my wits' end. I called for the nurse to bring something to take the edge off. They called the pharmacy and got Motrin. They also gave me witch hazel pads and cream. It took a while to kick in, but the second I was able to think I suddenly became very sad that Lexi wasn't with us. I got up and made Steve walk me to the nursery to get her. They wheeled her to us and we headed back to our room. As I gingerly sat on the bed and held her, I felt a love that I never thought imaginable. My heart swelled and hasn't been the same since. That is when Steve took the picture of me that I posted yesterday.

Announcing Alexis Lorena

2006-01-28T18:59:00.000-05:00

Announcing Alexis Lorena

Lexi was born January 26th at 3:05 pm. She was 21" tall and weighed 7 lbs 13.8 oz. I'll keep this short, sweet, and full of pictures because we just got home from the hospital. Ouchy details will come later. For now, we are all much happier than we ever imagined. ...By the way, I HATE STICHES!!!

Last Day of Pregnancy!!!

2006-01-25T11:53:00.000-05:00

Last Day of Pregnancy!!!

My appointment went VERY WELL. I am 60% effaced and almost 5 cm dilated. They couldn't believe my progress or the fact that I am still walking around normal (pregnancy normal). When the doctor asked if I wanted to be induced, you know exactly what I said. YES! Steve and I have to be at the hospital at 7:30 am tomorrow, assuming that birth doesn't happen naturally between now and then. I am going to take the rest of the day fairly easy just in case.

Ready, Ready, Ready, Already

2006-01-24T16:35:00.000-05:00

Ready, Ready, Ready, Already

I am about as ready to give birth as I can imagine is possible. See the picture of my gigantic belly??? Plus, everything has been prepared. Well, almost everything, Steve still hasn't packed, but that doesn't bother me. He can wear the same thing at the hospital for 3+ days in a row if he doesn't get around to it. That is the least of my worries. Actually, he is planning to pack tonight. It will only take him a few minutes.

Today was my second day working at home. I have to admit that I didn't do much work, which was not all my fault. I went to the park this morning and walked about 2 miles. I also went to the mall to get Steve's watch fixed. Then, I went to get my hair cut because I know I will not be interested in doing that for a while, especially since I tend to avoid salons anyway. I did stop by the office though. I copied a bunch of stuff on CD and my memory stick. My firewall still isn't working and I can't access my files. My boss said he is going to come by later, but between work and his personal life right now, I am better off preparing the back-up plan. Besides, I am still keeping my fingers crossed that the doctor tells me that they want to induce. Tomorrow is the big appointment.

New Days = New Look

2006-01-23T16:16:00.000-05:00

New Days = New Look

I started working from home today (YEAH!). Unfortunately, we weren't able to get the firewall working so I can't plug into main the servers. Since that blocks out most of what I was going to work on, I decided to start on one of my goals for the work-at-home maternity leave thing. That goal is to re-fresh and update my design skills, including web software. What better way to do that then to create a new look for my blog? I just goofed around with the main features of Dreamweaver & put this together. I think it fits my personality much more than the last one. I guess I should admit that I wasn't really into pink until I got pregnant with a girl. Perhaps, I will really get into blog designs and create an even better one. On the other hand, I think I'll be quite busy doing other things. Plus, I still have some bugs to work out.

Last Day of Work at Work

2006-01-20T16:22:00.000-05:00

Last Day of Work at Work

Yippee! Today (although it doesn't feel like it) is my last work day at work. Steve is going to come by this evening to pick up my computer & other things. I will set up my stuff this weekend and be ready to go next week. Monday, I'll be walking into the guest bedroom/office instead of fighting traffic. Sounds great right? I hope it is half as good as I am imagining it will be.

Slight Progress

2006-01-19T11:57:00.000-05:00

Slight Progress

I went to the doctor this morning and found out that I am 1/2 cm dilated. She said that if I am up to 2 cm next week, they will induce me. I am crossing my fingers for that. Oh, I also lost 1 lbs. I believe it is just water though. My hands were a little puffier last week, so I have been trying to sit with my feet elevated & lay down more.

My brother called last night and mentioned that his new baby is constipated. That means that she must take after my mom's side of the family. Poor girl. I guess my sister-in-law is going to have to tweak her diet to include more fiber.

Latest Ultrasound

2006-01-17T09:26:00.000-05:00

Latest Ultrasound

Yesterday, I had another ultrasound. Lexi is weighing in at 7 lbs 10 oz. With a little less than 3 weeks to go, that is kind of scary. I am really not looking forward to birthing a very large baby, mostly because of all the stitches. I am still crossing my fingers that I can be induced early, but we will see.

On the other hand, we are getting more & more excited about having the baby. Our last Lamaze class was last night. The teacher had all the daddies practice diapering and swaddling dolls. They were doing a relay, so they were trying too hard to go fast. Steve ended up rolling the baby in the blanket. Most of the pregnant mom's seemed nervous about their husband's methods, but it was pretty funny.

What a Weekend

2006-01-16T17:21:00.000-05:00

What a Weekend

I didn't get to lounge nearly as much as I would have liked to over the weekend. I guess, as usual, the hardest part of having guests come is preparing for them. We cleaned the house and went grocery shopping Friday night and Saturday morning. When they arrived, Steve and his friend got to work on our electrical upgrades (which turned out well). The friend's girlfriend and I sat on the couch, talked, and watched football. Of course, the guys came in and out for football updates. Another one of my friends came over and we prepped the food for the bbq. Steve cooked it up and we all watched the second football game. We talked for a while after the game, then my friend left & I headed to bed. I think Steve and his friends stayed up until 3am talking. They all slept in the next morning. As soon as they woke up, they headed for home. Basically, it was not too difficult for all of the dreading I did on Friday.

Sunday wasn't as pleasant though. Steve went to the office to pick up some work, while I did a little laundry and tried to relax. I was washing a set of sheets when I heard a loud thumping noise coming from the washing machine. I lifted the lid to find that the drum had come loose and was bouncing around. To be honest, this was really only a matter of time because our washer & dryer set is quite old. The dryer even takes about 2 or 3 cycles to dry clothes. I gave Steve the bad news when he got home & we headed to the store. Neither of us was excited about spending money on a new set, but it will be nice to have one. I can't figure out if this was bad timing or great timing. I am sure that I will enjoy having the new set when Lexi is here.

Sunday night, also ended with a bang. About 7 pm, the neighbors directly behind us started setting up a party in their backyard. Unfortunately, they are very loud family so we were not thrilled. At 9pm, a DJ showed up with lights and huge sound equipment. I decided that it would be better for us to sleep in the guest bedroom at the front of the house, so I made the bed for us. The music was so loud that we could barely talk to each other in that room. Around 10 pm, another neighbor came to see if it was bothering us too. He said he went and politely asked them to turn it down, but they refused. He called the police. We did too, mostly because they are always the annoying neighbors and we wanted to go to sleep. They turned it down around 11 o'clock when the police showed up. It was still loud, but we managed. -So much for my dreams of a restful weekend. I am back at work for another fun filled week of being sore and just plain uncomfortable.

Nesting Husband

2006-01-13T11:30:00.000-05:00

Nesting Husband

As my belly grows bigger and my body aches more, I am losing interest in socializing and many other things in life. Steve has been great about many things. In fact, he is really "nesting." He has been working on the house and cleaning up. He has taken over dinner responsibilities and doesn't let me do a whole lot. I have to brag about him before I complain about something...

My beloved husband has invited an old friend & his girlfriend down for the weekend. The old friend is an electrician that will be helping us replace a few light fixtures, plugs, and switches. This is greatly appreciated, but not at this time. I understand that Steve wants these things taken care of and he would like a somewhat fun weekend, but I am not in the mood. I am running out of clothes that fit. Plus, I would rather not have guests. I feel more like going on an afternoon walk, moping around the house, and going to bed early, which are all signs that I probably will not be the best host. Ok, I am probably complaining for nothing. They are very nice. Given the fact that they are all huge football fans, I know they will be watching the games Saturday & Sunday. Complaint - that means I can't sprawl out on the couch. I don't even have to worry about feeding everyone. They are coming midmorning on Saturday and leaving Sunday afternoon. We can get deli meat & other fixings. Steve has planned a barbeque for Saturday night, so that doesn't involve me too much. Obviously, I feel like being selfish. I griped a little, but not much because when I really want something I don't want to hear no either. Plus, he has been spoiling me.

Baby Shower & Hospital Tour

2006-01-10T10:58:00.000-05:00

Baby Shower & Hospital Tour

Our company threw a baby shower for us yesterday. I was expecting something quite small and more like a luncheon, but it was a full fledged baby shower with decorations and gifts. There were no games of course. This is a male dominated industry, so that would have been strange. Anyway, as you can see, the cake was beautiful. The food was great & there is enough left over for lunch today & tomorrow. We got a lot of practical gifts like diapers, wipes, onesies, and clothes. What a fun way to start off the week.

Last night, our Lamaze class took a tour of the hospital. We were very impressed by the Labor suites. Not only are they huge, but the wood floors and decor are nice. After labor is over, we'll have a choice between their standard "small" rooms or a recovery suite, which is about $75 a night. We had planned on going with the "small" room until we saw it. Unfortunately, they meant shoe box. On top of that, the place for Steve to sleep is a very small chair that pulls out. hahaha... he will never fit. In contrast, the suite has a pull out couch for the spouse. I guess we'll be forking over more money, but it will be worth it for us to have Steve half way comfortable.

Photo of Niece Eden

2006-01-06T14:15:00.000-05:00

Photo of Niece Eden

Packing the Granny Panties

2006-01-06T13:03:00.000-05:00

Packing the Granny Panties

We still have a few things to do before Lexi's arrival. Before next week, I am hoping to pack our bags for the hospital, install the car seats, and finally pick a pediatrician. I don't know how far in advance a pregnant woman should do these things, but I guess now is as good of time as any.

Speaking of packing.... In our last Lamaze class, we were given a list of items that we should make sure we bring. For the most part, the list was like any other on the internet or the one they give you at Babies R Us, but there was one item that I hadn't seen listed anywhere. Not only was it on the list, but the teacher made a point to explain that 6 pairs of cotton Granny Panties are important for the hospital. She said they are much more comfortable, especially if a c-section is necessary. The sexy little panties most women in Miami wear (all g-strings) tend to cut right across the c-section wounds. This kind of makes me laugh thinking about women, who have just given birth, wearing sexy underwear. It is probably one of the last situations that I would think about trying to be sexy. Now, I admit that I had to buy a pack of Granny Panties, but I have plenty of pairs of briefs that would probably be just fine. One thing is for sure, I'll save my sexy underwear for better occasions.

Aunt Again

2006-01-05T08:53:00.000-05:00

Aunt Again

I have been waiting to see if I can get a photo to announce this, but my brother hasn't gotten around to it. ... so the big news - Monday night, my newest niece was born to my brother, Alma, and his wife, Ruth. They named her Eden. She weighed 8 lbs & 3 oz and is 20.5" tall. My sister-in-law was induced the day before her due date because her blood pressure had started rising. From what I've heard, it sounded like a wonderful delivery. She was in labor for a total of about 5 hours. When it got a quite painful, she had an epidural and was fine after that. With her first experience of childbirth going so well, who knows how many kids they'll have? We should all be so lucky. I think I'm going to be jealous.

Latest on MIL

2006-01-04T15:52:00.000-05:00

Latest on MIL

Steve called his mother last night and got an update on her latest tests. Apparently, it isn't the cancer that has been causing the excruciating pain in her back. She has a deteriorating disk, which although very painful is much better than gigantic cancer tumors. Both her and my father-in-law were ecstatic. Unfortunately, the cancer has grown, but that is probably due to the fact she has had very few full chemo treatments lately. Needless to say, she is anxious to get back to them.

2006 Resolutions

2006-01-03T10:30:00.000-05:00

2006 Resolutions

Every year, I make 2 sets of resolutions. The big overall goals or things I really want to happen that year and then a list of things that I would like to work on. I never beat myself up if the resolutions don't happen, which probably explains why some of them fall through the cracks. Oh well, I still intend to make resolutions/a wish list for 2006.

Big Goals/Dreams:
1. Birth this Baby (sooner the better)
2. Work on getting my figure back
3. Get our house in tip top shape

Personal Plans/Improvements:
1. Enjoy every minute of maternity leave
2. Get into the groove of motherhood
3. Get ahead in work before the baby is born
4. Find the best possible daycare solution for August
5. Continue working on photo books

How do these compare to last year (2005)?

Big Goals/Dreams (which I wasn't sure if either were even possible):
1. Buy a house - checked off in March
2. Get some good news about a stork visiting us in the future - checked off in June

**gold stars for me on these - like it was all me - ha

Now for the Personal Plans/Improvements:
1. Go Jogging at least 4 mornings a week - good through March
2. Cut out refined sugar & white flour from my diet - better at it until I became pregnant
3. Get a pedicure once a month - happened once in January
4. Scan all of our photos - mostly done
5. Create photo albums similar to scrapbooks - great start

In light of my non-progress last year, I am keeping this year all about the important things in life (mostly Lexi), which is how it should be anyway.

Early New Years Celebration

2005-12-31T09:16:00.000-05:00

Early New Years Celebration

Last night, Steve took me out to dinner at Shula's Steak House. For those of you who aren't big sports fans, Don Shula is probably the most beloved ex-Dolphin coach. He owns a few uppity/expensive restaurants in Miami. We don't normally go to places like that, but Steve has been dieing to go for a while and we decided that would be our big New Years Celebration.

It was a lovely night. We got there a little early for our reservation, so we sat at one of the tables near the bar to wait. While we were sitting there, Steve had his eye on the television because the Peach Bowl was on and his favorite college team (Miami Hurricanes) was playing against LSU. As usual, Steve was making some noises & gestures as he got into the game. I had point out that this was not the kind of place where people do that. I looked around and only saw one other guy even watching the game. Then, I noticed that the guy had 2 big rings on. I pointed him out to Steve because the rings looked like championship rings. Right away, Steve realized that it was Jim Mandwich (sp?) nicknamed Mad Dog. He was the tight end for the 1972 undefeated Dolphins team and now he has a talk show on AM radio. He looked over at us and nodded.

About 20 minutes later, Steve got up to go to the restroom and ran into him in the hallway. Steve told him that he loves his show and they shook hands. Jim asked him if this was our first baby, which of course Steve said yes. Then he said, "It is a great way to start the New Year." Steve ended by saying that he didn't want to interrupt Mad Dog's evening with his family, but that he enjoyed meeting him.

Not bad for our big New Years celebration and Steve's dream of eating at Shula's. Oh & the food was excellent. Unfortunately, it price was about 2 weeks worth of groceries. So tonight, we are going to lay low and just enjoy each others' company.

Farwell to 2005!

2005-12-30T15:20:00.000-05:00

Farwell to 2005!

2005 has been one heck of a year and I for one am glad it is ending. The year started off about as well as one could wish. Everything in life was nice and quiet. In fact, I would say that it was eerily calm. Even then, I realized that I should soak up every moment because it is always calm before the storm. I just had no idea how big & horrible the storm would be.

The storm began all innocent and mostly just hectic. Right about Valentines Day, we signed a contract to buy a home. It wasn't necessarily a bad time, but we were first time home buyers and quite nervously trying to navigate the biggest purchase of our lives. Fortunately, everything went pretty well and 6 weeks later we had the keys and were doing renovations. We had also started seeing a fertility specialist about that time and were being subjected to numerous tests, which were anything but fun.

Right before moving in, we found out that I had a huge cyst on my left ovary. More tests needed to be performed, but one reason had been identified. The evening we moved in, Steve's mom shared her devastating news. Her doctors had been performing chest x-rays and were certain that she had lung cancer, but the extent of the disease was yet to be determined. While I was going in for more fertility tests (quite invasive), she was going in for MRIs and other tests. Believe me, I am not comparing what I was going through to what she was going through, but it was happening at the same time.

Right after she found out that she indeed had lung cancer & it had spread to almost every organ in her body (except her brain), I got a call from my sister saying that my dad was admitted to the hospital and had numerous tumors in his brain. They were cancerous and he was going in for emergency surgery. From the end of April to the end of May, it seemed like every time our phones rang, there was more bad news about cancer. We became quite paranoid of ringing sounds.

Finally there was great news for us, somehow throughout all of that, I got pregnant. Totally shocking because we hadn't started treatments. Even when I showed Steve the results, he didn't believe me. It took an ultrasound at the fertility clinic to persuade him. We were ecstatic! It made all of the bad things seem 100 times better and helped us cope in a way we couldn't imagine for the rest of the summer.

To lighten everyones' moods, we decided to invite both of our families to Miami for Thanksgiving and even started preparing our house, but it was not meant to be. After several more surgeries, it was clear that my father was coming to the end of his life. The doctor warned us that we should try to see him soon, so Thanksgiving was held in Houston. All of my siblings gathered there to be with him one more time and enjoy the holiday together. Two weeks later, my father passed away. We all headed back to Houston for his funeral. It was a sad time, but we know he is much better off.

December has been crazy, but we spent a wonderful Christmas with Steve's family. His mom was looking better than ever since her hair had grown back, but that is not a good sign. The new chemo treatments are doing nothing for her. The doctor ordered another MRI and next week they'll be trying to figure out another plan of attack. We are hoping that it is not so traumatizing, but that it fights the cancer with a vengeance.

So, that brings us to today. On the last day of work for the year, our office A/C broke. I know it is December 30th, but in Miami that means it is still HOT! It is over 80 degrees in here. With my sore back, difficulty breathing, and generally uncomfortable belly, I am ready for this year to END!

Here is to 2006! Hopefully, it will be all about good news starting with a healthy beautiful baby girl. - Happy New Years to us ALL!

A Real Nursery

2005-12-28T17:24:00.000-05:00

A Real Nursery

Monday, we spent the day organizing the house and preparing the nursery. What better way to use a day-off? As you can see from the pictures, we finally made great progress. The crib is set-up with bedding, the dresser is stocked with freshly washed clothes, and baby items are evident everywhere. The pack & play is in our room, the stroller/carrier/car seat is in the nursery, the swing is in the dining room, and the high chair (still in box) is in the family room. We still have a few more things to pick-up, but our home is almost ready for Lexi. I am still selfishly hoping she comes early because my back is KILLLING me.

Christmas with the In-Laws

2005-12-27T10:15:00.000-05:00

Christmas with the In-Laws

Before I start, Cousin Emily had her baby this morning. Camille is 9 lbs & 7 oz, which is probably close to what Lexi will be if she goes full term. Scary!

We had a wonderful Christmas. Steve & I bought a game called Loaded Questions, so we ate pizza and played that Christmas Eve. The game has weird questions like "what city should not be a part of the United States?" or "what is the cutest animal on earth?" Everyone writes down their responses and the one person has to guess who said what. It was pretty fun and had us laughing hard. Several times, Steve laughed so hard he cried.

Steve's parents went all out on gifts as usual, so we were spoiled. His mom gave us two big bins full of baby stuff (clothes, blankets, bibs, teething rings, etc.). She also gave us lots of stuff. One interesting thing that happened, was that Jeff & Steve bought their mom similar gifts. Jeff bought her a foot massager that looks like teddy bear slippers and Steve bought her a bubbling foot spa. Her feet have really been bothering her, so these should help. Steve spoiled me too. He bought me a back massager (which I have been dieing for lately) and a gift certificate to a day spa. After the baby is born, he will get to spend quality time with Lexi while I am treated with an hour and a half of an aromatherapy message and pampering. Sounds wonderful!

Christmas afternoon, some of Steve's mother's cousins came over. We had a barbeque and socialized. They gave Steve some pointers about babies and delivery. Mostly, they just warned him that things would never be the same. We left that evening so we could sleep in our own bed & get up early to work on the nursery.

Happy Friday & Merry Christmas!

2005-12-23T14:54:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday & Merry Christmas!

Today has been a great day. Besides the fact that it is Friday and we have a three day weekend coming (Monday off), we got our Christmas bonuses. The company was extremely generous this year. The cushy checks will help pay for all that we have spent money on lately like trips to Houston, new wardrobe for Steve (easier to find his size in Texas), tons of baby stuff, and Christmas items. We should even have plenty left over for more baby stuff. How exciting!

I am looking forward to this evening. Since all of our Christmas shopping is done, we are planning to pick-up a gourmet pizza and hang out at the house away from Holiday madness. A nice relaxing evening is exactly what I want. Tomorrow morning, we are going to the in-laws' house. It has actually been about 4 months. What a shame considering that they live 2 hours away. They will certainly be shocked by my HUGE belly. Hopefully, Steve's mom is feeling chipper and fairly healthy. It would be wonderful to have a nice Christmas with them.

To all of you.... Have a very Merry Christmas! May the warmth of family & friends make this a special time of year for everyone.

Crazy Parents Raise Crazy Kids

2005-12-21T15:27:00.000-05:00

Crazy Parents Raise Crazy Kids

Have you ever wondered why there are so many insane people in this world? Today, while shopping in Target, I overheard a mother tell her crying toddler to "Shut up or I'll give you to the Boogie Man." What a horrible thing to say! Can you imagine the nightmares? That reminded me that a few weeks ago, Steve & I witnessed another crazy mom. She yanked her 9-year old son's arm & said, "Don't be such a wuss!" She was really mean about it too. Apparently, he wanted to go back to the car to get his jacket because it was a little nippy. I am hoping these were moments of weakness, but if not they explain why there are so many weirdos in this world. Can't people just be considerate especially to cute little kids?

Puffy Face Syndrome

2005-12-20T13:19:00.000-05:00

Puffy Face Syndrome

Last week, someone mentioned to me that they can tell I am getting close because my face is a little puffy. Now, every time I look at recent photos I see what they were talking about. I don't want a puffy face. Maybe I can continually suck in my cheeks and basically walk around making a silly fish face. That would be better right?

Christmas & Baby Prep Weekend

2005-12-19T12:37:00.000-05:00

Christmas & Baby Prep Weekend

Some weekends (ok all weekends), I wish could last forever, but this last weekend ended up being way too expensive, so returning to work was necessary. Friday night, we had our company Christmas party. It was held at an upscale restaurant called Splendito in Coral Gables. Dinner was fabulous and it is fun to see everyone dressed up. Most people stayed until 2am dancing the night away. We left at 11:30pm, because my back was just too sore (normal part of life now). That was the last free thing we did.

Saturday, I worked on organizing our junk (still in boxes from our move in May - embarrassing to admit). I also packed up our computer stuff to move out of the nursery and into the guest bedroom. We went to Sears to do some Christmas shopping. Actually, Steve just wanted some tools for himself and they were having a sell, so no real gifts. Around noon, we dropped my car off at Saturn to be serviced & fixed. It has been acting up for 4 months and we've been ignoring it. The bill was a whopping $900, but considering that I have not had a car payment for the last 4 years, I can't complain. Plus, I hope it will go another 3 years. That evening, we drove up to Broward County to do our real Christmas shopping. It is nice being around civilized Christmas shoppers (unlike the ones in this county). We bought all the gifts and tons of baby stuff.

Sunday, we cleared out the nursery, cleaned the house, and started setting up baby furniture. Once you dive into those projects, the excitement of a baby coming is hard to contain. Steve was really into it. Of course, Sunday afternoon involved football. He put together the Pack & Play while watching though. Our friend, Amanda, came over to hang out and eat, which was fun.

Happy Baby Times

2005-12-15T11:50:00.000-05:00

Happy Baby Times

Enough of the sadness; now is the time to prepare for the baby. We had our first Lamaze class on Tuesday night. Steve learned a lot about cool things like mucus plugs. I think some people in the class just love to drive home that disgusting topic by asking the teacher to repeat her explanation of it 3 times. They also had many many many questions about the water breaking (and what is looks like). Overall, it was a good class. To be honest, I didn't learn anything, but I mostly signed us up so that Steve has a good idea of what we'll be going through.

Yesterday, we had another ultrasound. They confirmed that Lexi is indeed HUGE. She is already 5 lbs & 12 oz. At this rate, they predict she'll be about 10 lbs if she goes full term. Can you say/scream OUCH??? She also has LOTS of hair.

Today, I had another OB appointment. I am down to seeing the doc every 2 weeks. I asked her about their plans for the large baby and she said they will most likely induce me two weeks early. Yeah for that idea! Maternity leave is sounding better and better to me. Other than that, everything is great. My weight is on target and yes my belly is bigger than normal, but what can you expect?

Funeral Services

2005-12-14T14:37:00.000-05:00

Funeral Services

Steve & I flew back yesterday. To be honest, most of the weekend was quite nice because we were with my family. Everyday, we spent time laughing & talking about old memories. As you can imagine, the services on Monday were a different story. It was a long day that completely drained our energy. There were so many people and all the crying wore us out. Plus, we were all involved in the services. I expected to be a spectator, but my dad's wife wanted us to be part of it. She had me in the program as saying the opening prayer. We all did something - give a prayer, read a poem, or speak. I guess the fact that it was all so personalized made it an interesting/heartfelt funeral. Everyone had positive comments & hugs at the end. There were lots of people there from his family, church, and work. I would guess about 200 showed up. Only close friends & family went to the cemetery though. He is in the veterans' cemetery. The flag ceremony and music played on the bugle were a nice touch. All in all, I am really glad we went & got to spend time with everyone. I am really tired though.

Dad's Obituary

2005-12-08T09:19:00.000-05:00

Dad's Obituary

I started working on my dad's obituary, but found that the creative juices just weren't flowing. Fortunately, my aunt (his sister) was able to add personality to it. I am going to put it in a few newspapers of places we have lived. Here it is:

Lawrence Jensen Law "Larry"
"There's a great spirit gone!"
from William Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra

Lawrence Jensen Law, 56, died at home in Spring, Texas of complications due to brain cancer December 5, 2005. He was born on May 16, 1949 in Heber City, Utah. Larry was known for his dry sense of humor that would often take the unsuspecting listener by surprise.

Larry graduated with Bachelor's and Master's degrees in English literature from Brigham Young University. His love of literature was evident in the topic of his master's thesis, "John Milton's Paradise Lost." He realized his dream of authorship when he wrote and published a mystery novel about a Vietnam veteran two years ago.

Using his language skills, Larry built a career spanning 30 years in the high tech industry first as a technical writer and most recently in software for Chevron Phillips. He lived in Utah; Idaho, where he graduated from Kuna High School; California, Georgia, Florida, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, as well as Texas. He was a devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was known for his brilliant grasp of the scriptures. He served in numerous church positions including bishoprics and, often was called to be the gospel doctrine teacher, because of his knowledge of scripture, church history, and doctrine.

He married Salem, Utah native, Margie Farley, in 1971, and had five children. They were later divorced in 1998.

He is survived by his wife, Angie; parents, Maurice and Joanne; siblings, Lloyd, Barbara, Nancy, and Maureen; children, Stephanie (32), Clayton (31), Alma (29), Chris (26), and Paige (18); and grandchildren, Zak (5), Kaylie (4), Miriam (2), Ammon Lawrence (3 months) and two more baby granddaughters on the way.

Funeral arrangements are being made through Unity Funeral Home (281) 561-6300. Services will be held Monday, December 12 at 10 a.m. He will be laid to rest in the Houston National Cemetery for veterans.

Agitated Until…

2005-12-07T16:01:00.000-05:00

Agitated Until...

After receiving some annoying news this morning (nothing major), I have been agitated at everyone and everything. Then, I got the nicest surprise e-mail from my brother. The thing is - we don't usually compliment each other or show appreciation in a nice way. We're more like guy buddies who would slug each other in the shoulder for compassion.

Anyway here is his e-mail:

Thank you for all of your efforts in organizing us and making it more meaningful with the pictures you prepared and sent around. I really respect the life you are preparing for your family. You and Steven make a great couple and will have a very fortunate child. Thank you for your example in facing issues from the past and making personal improvements. I follow your example more than you realize I got it from you. Ruth and I will do our best to raise our child with happy visits to her cousin Lexi.

Dad Passed Away

2005-12-05T09:18:00.000-05:00

Dad Passed Away

This morning at 6am, my sister called. The minute I saw her name on the Caller ID, I knew exactly why she was calling. She is never awake that early. Fortunately, he spent his last week at home with hospice care 24 hours a day.

Now, I am trying to book flights and prepare so Steve & I can be there from Wednesday to Sunday. I think the funeral will be Thursday or Friday depending on when everyone can arrive.

Single Digits?

2005-12-02T17:08:00.000-05:00

Single Digits?

I have been consumed with insomnia along with various thoughts and feelings, so I completely failed to notice that I am now down to single digits! Lexi has 9 more weeks to cook - assuming she comes around her due date. Can you believe I totally blanked out on that fact? Time to start freaking out about one more thing... we need to get busy on our house & nursery. At least this kind of stress is for a good cause.

Random Thoughts & a Holiday Photo

2005-12-01T11:07:00.000-05:00

Random Thoughts & a Holiday Photo

I have a million different little things on my mind and I don't feel like going into detail about any or picking a topic. My solution is to just to jot down random things.

* I love the holidays & getting in the spirit
* I had an OB appt yesterday and despite enjoying Thanksgiving, I didn't gain any weight -yippee
* I started addressing our Christmas card envelopes, something I like to do every year
* Every time I go to Texas, I want to move there (cheap houses, nice people & good schools... who could resist?)
* This time, Steve decided he would like to move there too
* Now, our dream of getting out of Miami is stronger
* My dad's body is shutting down, so he has about a week
* Sometimes I get emotional about it, but I am too tired today
* It is hard to schedule appointments or anything, when you might be flying any time in the next week
* I don't know what I am going to wear to the funeral
* I have a lot of work this month and NO desire to do it

Last Time Alive

2005-11-29T16:08:00.000-05:00

Last Time Alive

I still don't feel like providing a detailed break-down of my dad's condition, so I am going to give the short version. Before the holidays, the doctors told his wife that he has about a month left. I'm not an expert, but judging by his condition, I'll be surprised if he lasts more than 2 weeks. Sunday, after two of my brothers said goodbye, my dad became very depressed & refused to eat. Yesterday, he refused to drink too. To me, that is a sign that he is ready to go. He will definitely be much better off because this is no way to live.

His wife is planning to bring him home the middle of next week (assuming he makes it that long). We talked to hospice on Friday & they'll bring a hospital bed & visit as often as needed. My youngest brother is planning to wrap up work & pack some things this week to head back to help take care of him.

Fortunately, it was easy to see that he appreciated our visit. There were 2 particular times that he was extremely alert. Once was when my brother (middle one) offered a family prayer on Thanksgiving. I was peeking & saw my dad's eyes fly open & he was intently listening. My brother talked about not being worried about us because we are well taken care of. He also said it was ok to pass on and that we were so thankful for his wife. The other time, he was very alert was yesterday morning. One brother, Steve & I had gone to see him before heading out. His wife asked me to let him feel my belly. Suddenly, his eyes were wide open and he was desperately trying to soak in the moment. That is a weird thing to experience, but I think it meant a lot to him. There were other times that he was definitely trying to interact, but was not quite as alert.

My eyes filled with tears many times over the last week, but I think hugging his wife goodbye in the hospital was the worst. We all knew it was the last time we would see him alive. Her sadness made it too hard to keep it together. We will always cherish this last family visit with him.

Mr. Kid Popular

2005-11-28T17:40:00.000-05:00

Mr. Kid Popular

We just got back & I am not really feeling like getting emotional or writing a lot, so I'm going to add a fun photo from our trip. Here is Steve with two neices & a nephew. I can tell you that they were all over Steve the whole time, especially Kaylie (the one in the green pants). She began a new chant... "Uncle Steve, pick me up! Uncle Steve, pick me up!" Funny how he always gave in after she flashed her puppy dog eyes at him. I think Lexi is going to get away with murder.

Heightened Emotions

2005-11-22T11:51:00.000-05:00

Heightened Emotions

Yesterday, I spoke to one of my brothers who is already in Houston. He told me that dad is quite a sad sight. He is skinnier than ever, basically a skeleton with no muscle tone or fat. He can't speak and can only nod when he has enough energy to. The worst part though is that he is on the verge of crying all the time, which so foreign to his usual self. I am sure that has to do with their arrival and maybe some frustration of not being able to communicate. Thoughts of seeing him like that bothered me last night, but I kept it together.

This morning was a different story though. I woke up at 5am with many of these images, thoughts about all the plans we have to figure out while we are there, and memories running through my head. I also thought about the things I am thankful for like Steve & Lexi. Suddenly, tears came pouring out. Realizing that I was crying for someone who was a master of hiding emotions was even stranger. He didn't teach me to be like this. For the moments I slip, I blame that on my mother. Not that it is a bad thing, but she is always connected to her emotions.

After half an hour of tears, Steve woke up and put his arms around me. A gentle kiss and the words "I love you" made me even happier to be with him. This trip is going to be rough and it is nice knowing he has my back.

Unexpected Ambition

2005-11-21T09:58:00.000-05:00

Before

After

Unexpected Ambition

We have a friend that refinanced her house and pulled out money. She had a few projects that she wanted done. One of the projects was a new deck. She gathered a few quotes then asked Steve if he would be interested. I didn't expect him to say yes, since it is football season and we have a lot of work we want to get done on our house. He decided that not only would he like to do it, but that we needed the money. I was quite surprised and wondered if he had been wanting to buy something that I wasn't aware of. I was even more shocked that he was willing to give away his ticket to the Dolphins vs the Patriots game so he could work that Saturday. He worked the last two weekends and it turned out great (as you can see), which I knew it would. Anyway, guess what he wants to use the money for? ...home improvements to our house. Working in order to do more work that we hadn't even planned on? It sounds very ambitious to me.

Difficult Dad Discussions

2005-11-19T08:50:00.000-05:00

Difficult Dad Discussions

Last night, I got a call from my dad's wife. She said this was a really tough call to make and she started crying. I thought she was going to say that he is going down hill fast and that we needed to get there ASAP. She took a deep breath and told me that the fluid on his brain is back to where it was 2 weeks ago (before his last surgery). This makes him very tired and unable to communicate much. She was worried that we would all be there for Thanksgiving and would be unable to have any special conversations with him. She also said that the doctor doesn't want to do transfer him back to the hospital downtown to drain the fluid again, but she would try to convince him if that was our wishes. Right now, he has a 3 month life expectancy, but draining the brain again would add two more weeks (basically put him back to where he was 2 weeks ago). Another point is that he will be downtown and it will take over an hour to get there each day. (She didn't say it, but that puts a burden on her.) As far as Thanksgiving is concerned, he might get a day pass from the rehab hospital that he is in. If he is downtown, he will not be able to leave for the day. I told her that I wasn't bothered by his inability to communicate, but that I would call my siblings to find out how they felt and get back to her. She was quite relieved by that.

I didn't really have to call. I knew exactly how everyone would react; 3 would be fine and 1 would freak out. I called my brother just younger than me first because he lives right by the one that would freak out. I told him the situation and he agreed that we shouldn't put him through another surgery just for the possibility of conversation. By the way, who knows if he'll even recognize us those days that he is able to speak? I called the next oldest in line & left a message. I knew for sure that he wouldn't mind. Then, I called the one that would freak out & left a message. I called my little sister last. She lives near my dad and has been able to see him several times over the last few months. She was fine with not having another surgery.

Finally, I got a hold of the freak out one and guess what... He freaked out. He got quite angry and said that it wasn't up to us and that we had to give my dad whatever he wanted. He felt that if my dad wanted to prolong his life even by a day that we should get the surgery everyday if necessary. I think that it is strange to think our dad would want to stay alive since he is closer & closer to a vegetable state. We talked for a while and I told him that I remembered something about dad saying he didn't want anymore surgeries. When we got off the phone, I called my sister and asked her for sure. He definitely said, "Under no circumstances do I want more of this (meaning treatments & surgery)." That was before they drained his brain last time. I called my brother back and he said, "That's fine, if that's what he wants."

Later, I got a hold of the other brother & he didn't want more surgeries either. Six in six months should be enough. --- Fun conversations for a Friday night, right?

Disliking the Dentist

2005-11-17T17:00:00.000-05:00

Disliking the Dentist

Today, I went to my dentist to get my teeth cleaned. I don't mind going to the dentist unless I have to pay him a lot of money to torture me, but being pregnant I knew that it wouldn't be an issue this time. However, I was not prepared for the reaction from my belly. As soon as the hygienist laid the seat back, my bowling ball mound became a twitching odd ball. That soon developed into constant weirdo waterbed type movements. To be honest, I was a wee bit embarrassed. I put my hand on my belly in an effort to camouflage some of the bizarreness of it all. Fortunately, the hygienist has two children. She laughed and told Lexi that she will not hurt me and will make sure this is over as soon as possible. I guess Lexi didn't believe her though because she didn't let up until the seat back was returned to the upright position. Who knew that dentist chairs are so disagreeable?

Pre-Turkey Belly

2005-11-16T11:31:00.000-05:00

Pre-Turkey Belly

Life has been so hectic lately. I am trying to finish several projects, both at home and at work. Instead of writing a lot, I am just going to stick in a photo & call it a pre-Thanksgiving shot. I know that when I get back from Houston, the post-Thanksgiving shot will be much bigger. I admit that I like to pig out during the holidays. I am going to teach Lexi about that important American tradition, especially since I can't play tackle football with my brothers this year.