Nifer's Notes

Blog a Day

2011-11-07T15:30:00.001-06:00

I’ve seen so many people increase their daily blogs and vlogs, so now I’m not following in their footsteps. Having this blog is a great place to share and vent what’s going on. I did so well keeping up with this before I had my daughter and I really need to get back to this. I’m not sure what I’m going to talk about, if I’m going to put themes to this or not, but stay tuned and you will find out soon enough! J

More on 2011

2011-07-10T22:31:00.003-05:00

In my last post, I talked about Brianna getting croup. I felt so bad for that poor little girl, I wished that I could have had it for her.

That following Monday, we were off of work for Martin Luther King's birthday. One of the perks of my job is that I get off alot of the "school" holidays, since I work for a test publishing company. Unfortunately, I spent most of the day suffering from a nasty migraine headache. I tried everything to get it to go away, but nothing would work.

The next morning I woke up and while the headache itself was gone, I still felt really weak and "off". Had it just been myself, I could have easily gotten up and forced myself to work that day. However, I had to get little miss to school, and to be honest, I just didn't feel comfortable driving in the car with her, for fear that I would be in an accident. So, I called in sick.

Later that evening, I received a call from my mom that grandma was in the hospital and it wasn't looking good. Turns out she had pneumonia and had been taken by ambluance earlier that day. When I talked to my mom, she was out of the ER and was in ICU, being pumped full of antibotics. I asked my mom "had she been sick when Dad she her on Sunday" and when he saw her, she was fine, no sickness at all. We decided that it was best not to visit her that night and allow her some time for the medicine to do it's thing. Grandma was a fighter and I knew that if she could, she would work hard to fight this. However, it was up to her and God, and I prayed so hard that night.

Next morning, went to work as usual. Got a call around 9:30 a.m. from my mom and said that Grandma wasn't doing well. She had to wear a C-PAP mask and if she didn't have it on, her breathing would become labored after 30 minutes. I was faced with the hard reality that Grandma probably wouldn't make it through the day. I tried to keep going about my day as best I could.

I went home for lunch to get away from the craziness and try and clear my head. I'm lucky enough to be close to home, so I will do that every once in awhile. Just I was starting to get ready to head back to work, I get a call from my dad, who is calling on his cell phone. I knew right away that this wasn't going to be a good call. He told me that she had asked to stop all medications and treatments, and quite literally, "pull the plug". If I had wanted to see her, now was the time. So, I called my boss and told her what had transpired and that I was headed to the hospital.

When I got there, I immediately went to see Grandma. She was trying to talk, but it was difficult to understand her. Through my tears, I told her that it was okay to go and that we would all be ok. Shortly after 4:00, they stopped the machines and gave her medicine to make her feel comfortable. She was essentially in hospice care. Right around 5:00, she simply stopped breathing and just went to sleep. She was surrounded by her two children, my dad and my aunt, along with my mom and uncle and myself. It truly was one of the most beautiful moments in my life. She was at peace with her decision and she just went to sleep.

She had lived for 93 years and led a wonderful life. More about that later....

My blonde moment for the week

2011-06-23T16:45:00.001-05:00

Got an email earlier in the week about the birthdays that my Facebook friends were having. Looking through the list because I can’t remember everyone’s birthdays.

So I noticed that Bill’s uncle has a birthday today. Then, reading on, I noticed that his aunt’s birthday was today also. I thought to myself “That’s cool…Aunt Betty and Uncle Jim share the same birthday how cool is that that a brother and sister share a birthday”…….

Wait for it….

YUP, they are twin brother and sister!!

2011

2011-06-23T16:27:00.001-05:00

So, here we are halfway through 2011 and my first question is “How the hell did that happen?” Seriously, it was New Year’s like a second ago…right? RIGHT??

Ok, freakout over. Back to your regularly scheduled blog. To say that 2011 has been a wonderful year with no problems or struggles, would be a bold face lie. But it has had it’s good points! So grab a snack and enjoy the read.

The suckiness factor kicked in right away...on January 5^th, we received word that my brother-in-law’s grandmother passed away at the age of 94. Some may so “wasn’t your grandma”…true, she wasn’t but in a way she was. K&P (sister and brother-in-law) have been married for 16 years and I have known GG since then. She sold wedding invitations as a side business, so she insisted on taking care of ours when we got married. She and my Grandma were good friends and she was half of the “Yentas”. You see, it was GG and GE (my grandma) that introduced my sister and her husband.

Then the following week, Brianna got sick. At first we thought it was a bladder infection, but that came back clear and we were told it’s a virus and it just had to run its course. The next morning, I stayed home with her and the poor little girl had no voice. My girl, who has inherited my gift of gab, sounded so awful and had this awful barking cough. Broke my heart. As the night went on, she kept sounding worse and about 8:00 it seemed as if she was really struggling to breathe. So, we got dressed and off to the ER we went. Luckily, we got in quickly…and she has croup. Breating treatment + 2 year old = one FUN night (note sarcasm here). We ened up leaving the ER around midnight…neither Mommy or Daddy slept well that night because we were worried that she would have more problems. After a few days, she became her little silly self all over again…

More to come later…

Need to get back to blogging

2011-06-23T15:19:00.001-05:00

It has been way too long. I was a faithful blogger before my daughter was born. Besides having a newborn, turned infant, then turned toddler, so much has gone on these past few years! I’m going to start with this year and work my way back in time. Just you wait and see!!

Holy Cow...Long Time No Update

2010-01-28T12:25:00.001-06:00

I really need to get better about updating my blog. I realize that my “fan” list is short, but there are times when I want to express my thoughts and feelings, but don’t know where to go. It may be an issue that I don’t want posted out on Facebook (which I am completely addicted to).

For my first entry back into society, I am posting something that was copied to me from a friends blog… www.erinweed.com Erin and I are high school classmates and she is the Director and founder of Fight Back Productions. Enjoy!

Do you have a flaky friend who is constantly re-scheduling a coffee date? Or a pal that seems to avoid making plans in the first place? Do you start finding yourself feeling bitter towards these people, or even talking smack about them to others because this hurts your feelings? In many of these instances, the outcome is not desirable. Maybe the smack-talkin’ gets back to the “disser” (person doing the dissing), or the “dissee” (person getting dissed) ends the relationship abruptly and (seemingly) for no good reason. Avoid writing off a friend that you truly care for, until you’ve tried setting a boundary first. The outcome may surprise you.

I’m finding the phenomenon of “flaky friends” is becoming more and more common, as our lives get busier, technology overwhelms us, work gets more demanding and we try to dissect this whacked concept of work/life balance. (Which by the way, I’m convinced is a total farce). Something’s gotta give. Especially for women, it can be hard to set clear boundaries about our expectations and desires in both personal and business relationships. I believe that many of us lack the basic skill of boundary setting, which leaves us feeling bitter and powerless. And it’s not surprising so many of us lack this skill, because for most people, we’ve never been taught to use clear communication! In many cases, we’ve been encouraged to do just the opposite.

Here are some tips on how to use verbal boundaries. Ideally these boundaries are set in person or over the phone, but they can be written as well. Just be VERY careful about the written boundaries, because without the tone or inflection of voice, words can be misinterpreted quite easily.

#1: Have empathy. I believe most people want to do the right thing. Especially if this is a true friend, they don’t want to hurt you. Chances are they are totally overwhelmed, and they cancel on your because you’re the most likely person to forgive them.
#2: Feel flattered. In many cases, people cancel or postpone because they want to give you QUALITY and undivided attention. Unfortunately in these busy times, finding that kind of time is rare, which leads to an endless string of postponements.
#3: Be direct, yet compassionate. When it’s time to set a boundary, keep it short, sweet and direct. Express your feelings and appreciation and move on. But also have compassion for their busy situation. This compassion will surely be reflected right back at you.
#4: Don’t guilt and use “I” statements. Using guilt to get anything is not only manipulative, there is no long term benefit for anyone. They may begrudgingly agree to your wants in the short term, but may also start to resent you. Using “I” statements instead of “You” accusations creates a non-threatening tone for the conversation.
#5: Make lighthearted suggestions, not demands. People are very receptive to ideas when they are presented as something to think about, or as a reasonable change of course. Ultimatums don’t work among friends, because they are forced. And just because you’re setting a boundary doesn’t mean you have to be all scary and intense. Be able to laugh at your mutual inability to spend a little time together. Life can be ridiculous…and laughing at “life” takes away any feelings of blaming the other person. (Even if it’s blatantly their fault…you’re gonna need to let it go if the goal is to salvage the friendship.)

Example Conversation: Good friend keeps postponing that long overdue martini to catch up on life. Maybe you say…

“I know how busy you are. Frankly I don’t know how you have time to do it all! That said, every time we set a date and it gets cancelled at the last minute, it’s not a good use of everyone’s time. So I have an idea…let’s make a pact to be realistic with our time, and only schedule dates that we’re going to stick to, even if the house is burning down. Realistically, maybe that’s just once a year, but I’d rather our face time be less frequent if it means we both can really count on it. You are a person I truly want to spend time with, and life is too short to miss out on laughs with good friends! How does that sound to you? <THEY AGREE, IT SOUNDS GOOD> Oh, that works for you? Great! Well let’s look at our calendars and figure out a time to make this godforsaken martini happen already!” *laugh*

Try this with someone in your life – I’d love to hear your comments on how it went. Obviously there may be a million other reasons why someone might keep postponing on you, but this strategy usually works if the person is purely busy and disorganized. If they are actively trying to avoid you for some reason, that’s a whole other blog post. It also might be handled differently in a professional setting. That topic is coming soon. Running a company of 20 people (nearly all of them female) I think I have some good insights to share!

http://www.erinweed.com/2010/01/27/setting-boundaries-with-flaky-friends/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+erinweed+%28Erin+Weed%27s+Blog%29&utm_content=Yahoo!+Mail

Whoops...been too long

2009-10-03T22:50:00.002-05:00

It's been almost 4 months since I've last posted on here. Last time I posted, it was just the start of summer. Now, fall is in the air, I'm thinking about someone's first birthday as well as Halloween and then the other holidays that follow. This year has flown by.

I'm having a rough time this week...it was one year ago that Grandpa really started to get sick. This was the beginning of the end. He had gone in for his routine swallowing test and it was discovered that he had not been able to swallow, and therefore, had not been getting any nourishment for a few weeks. During that time, I felt so helpless, because I was so close to the birth of my little girl, that traveling was out of the question.

More to post later...

2009-06-09T12:30:00.001-05:00

Trying this out from my mobile phone.

7 months...

2009-05-21T13:29:00.003-05:00

Brianna is now 7 months old. I can't believe how fast these past 7 months have gone. I look back at the pictures of her first few hours, days and weeks, and it seems like a blur! She has changed so much and I love looking at life through her eyes. I can't remember life before her...I completely love being a mother!

She is not crawling as of yet, but not without trying. She understands that the arms need to move and the legs need to move, just hasn't realized that they both need to move at the same time! Ha ha. She loves to roll around and that is her main method of transportation.

Last week, we started her on baby food. We had started on cereal a few weeks back and she didn't seem a big fan of that. So far, we have successfully made it through sweet potatoes and bananas. We are going to do a vegetable, then a fruit, until we've gone through all of them.

That's about it for now...

Please pray for this family....

2009-05-12T13:43:00.002-05:00

I found this family through another blog. Their daughter was born last June weighing in at one pound. She fought long and hard through many surgeries, but she was called to live as an angel yesterday.

I never "met" these people, but my heart is breaking for the family.

http://kayleighannefreeman.blogspot.com/

God Bless Kayleigh Anne!

In My Daughter's Eyes...

2009-05-12T13:41:00.002-05:00

This song has always struck a chord with me and it became even more powerful after Brianna was born.

In my daughter's eyes I am a hero
I am strong and wise and I know no fear
But the truth is plain to see
She was sent to rescue me
I see who I wanna be
In my daughter's eyes

In my daughter's eyes everyone is equal
Darkness turns to light and the
world is at peace
This miracle God gave to me gives me
strength when I am weak
I find reason to believe
In my daughter's eyes

And when she wraps her hand around my finger
Oh it puts a smile in my heart
Everything becomes a little clearer
I realize what life is all about

It's hangin' on when your heart has had enough
It's giving more when you feel like giving up
I've seen the light
It's in my daughter's eyes

In my daughter's eyes I can see the future
A reflection of who I am and what will be
Though she'll grow and someday leave
Maybe raise a family
When I'm gone I hope you see how happy
she made me
For I'll be there
In my daughter's eyes

How great is our God...

2009-03-26T13:06:00.001-05:00

I can't help but think of this song...it's been running through my head all morning. It's a very powerful song and it really has meaning at this time in my life.

The splendor of a King, clothed in majesty
Let all the earth rejoice
All the earth rejoice

He wraps himself in Light, and darkness tries to hide
And trembles at His voice
Trembles at His voice

How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God, and all will see
How great, how great is our God

Age to age He stands
And time is in His hands
Beginning and the end
Beginning and the end

The Godhead Three in One
Father Spirit Son
The Lion and the Lamb
The Lion and the Lamb

Name above all names
Worthy of our praise
My heart will sing
How great is our God

How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God, and all will see
How great, how great is our God

Friday the 13th facts...

2009-02-13T10:09:00.001-06:00

Just some fun reading!

If you fear Friday the 13th, then batten down the hatches. This week's unlucky day is the first of three this year.

The next Friday the 13th comes in March, followed by Nov. 13. Such a triple whammy comes around only every 11 years, said Thomas Fernsler, a math specialist at the University of Delaware who has studied the number 13 for more than 20 years.

By the numbers

Here are 13 more facts about the infamous day, courtesy of Fernsler and some of our own research:

1. The British Navy built a ship named Friday the 13th. On its maiden voyage, the vessel left dock on a Friday the 13th, and was never heard from again.

2. The ill-fated Apollo 13 launched at 13:13 CST on Apr. 11, 1970. The sum of the date's digits (4-11-70) is 13 (as in 4+1+1+7+0 = 13). And the explosion that crippled the spacecraft occurred on April 13 (not a Friday). The crew did make it back to Earth safely, however.

3. Many hospitals have no room 13, while some tall buildings skip the 13th floor.

4. Fear of Friday the 13th - one of the most popular myths in science - is called paraskavedekatriaphobia as well as friggatriskaidekaphobia. Triskaidekaphobia is fear of the number 13.

5. Quarterback Dan Marino wore No. 13 throughout his career with the Miami Dolphins. Despite being a superb quarterback (some call him one of the best ever), he got to the Super Bowl just once, in 1985, and was trounced 38-16 by the San Francisco 49ers and Joe Montana (who wore No. 16 and won all four Super Bowls he played in).

6. Butch Cassidy, notorious American train and bank robber, was born on Friday, April 13, 1866.

7. Fidel Castro was born on Friday, Aug. 13, 1926.

8. President Franklin D. Roosevelt would not travel on the 13th day of any month and would never host 13 guests at a meal. Napoleon and Herbert Hoover were also triskaidekaphobic, with an abnormal fear of the number 13.

9. Superstitious diners in Paris can hire a quatorzieme, or professional 14th guest.

10. Mark Twain once was the 13th guest at a dinner party. A friend warned him not to go. "It was bad luck," Twain later told the friend. "They only had food for 12."

11. Woodrow Wilson considered 13 his lucky number, though his experience didn't support such faith. He arrived in Normandy, France on Friday, Dec. 13, 1918, for peace talks, only to return with a treaty he couldn't get Congress to sign. (The ship's crew wanted to dock the next day due to superstitions, Fernsler said.) He toured the United States to rally support for the treaty, and while traveling, suffered a near-fatal stroke.

12. The number 13 suffers from its position after 12, according to numerologists who consider the latter to be a complete number - 12 months in a year, 12 signs of the zodiac, 12 gods of Olympus, 12 labors of Hercules, 12 tribes of Israel, 12 apostles of Jesus, 12 days of Christmas and 12 eggs in a dozen.

13. The seals on the back of a dollar bill include 13 steps on the pyramid, 13 stars above the eagle's head, 13 war arrows in the eagle's claw and 13 leaves on the olive branch. So far there's been no evidence tying these long-ago design decisions to the present economic situation.

Origins of Friday the 13th

Where's all this superstition come from? Nobody knows for sure. But it may date back to Biblical times (the 13th guest at the Last Supper betrayed Jesus). By the Middle Ages, both Friday and 13 were considered bearers of bad fortune.

Meanwhile the belief that numbers are connected to life and physical things - called numerology - has a long history.

"You can trace it all the way from the followers of Pythagoras, whose maxim to describe the universe was 'all is number,'" says Mario Livio, an astrophysicist and author of "The Equation That Couldn't Be Solved" (Simon & Schuster, 2005). Thinkers who studied under the famous Greek mathematician combined numbers in different ways to explain everything around them, Livio said.

In modern times, numerology has become a type of para-science, much like the meaningless predictions of astrology, scientists say.

"People are subconsciously drawn towards specific numbers because they know that they need the experiences, attributes or lessons, associated with them, that are contained within their potential," says professional numerologist Sonia Ducie. "Numerology can 'make sense' of an individual's life (health, career, relationships, situations and issues) by recognizing which number cycle they are in, and by giving them clarity."

Mathematicians dismiss numerology as having no scientific merit, however.

"I don't endorse this at all," Livio said, when asked to comment on the popularity of commercial numerology for a story prior to the date 06/06/06. Seemingly coincidental connections between numbers will always appear if you look hard enough, he said.

Trying to get back to this...

2009-01-14T15:22:00.001-06:00

Funny how I thought that I would have ALL this time while on maternity leave. Yea...ok, I admit it...I got absolutely nothing accomplished...well, besides taking care of the cutest little baby girl!

I've been back to work for a few weeks now. It was hard, I do admit it...but we were VERY fortunate that DH was able to change his work schedule and now he'll be working evenings...a mix of 2nd and 3rd shifts. Probably in the Spring, we will look to put her in daycare for a few hours a day, a few days a week...get her used to other little kids, give her a break from us!

As of yesterday she is 3 months old!!! I can't believe she's growing so fast. We went to the doctor last week and I snuck her on the scale...hee hee...she's just around 10 lbs. She's really starting to fill out...she's more alert. She's really starting to gain head control, no more bobble head! :) In the last few weeks, she has REALLY found her voice...it's so cute! Such a sweet little voice.

We're taking her to Penney's on Saturday for 3 month pictures. We have a coupon and a gift card...I'm so excited to get professional pictures done. Technically, we did have them done at one month....our church was doing pictures for the directory, and the photographer did pictures of her by herself.

Well, I need to get back to work. Ha ha

Musical Monday

2008-12-22T11:01:00.001-06:00

Merry Christmas!!!

Musical Monday

2008-12-22T10:33:00.001-06:00

On my maternity leave, I became hooked on TLC's reality shows...Jon and Kate plus 8, Little People Big world...this is the song that they use for their commericals...LOVE IT!

I'm back!!!

2008-11-16T19:02:00.002-06:00

Sorry I've been quiet, but motherhood is my newest job these days!

Brianna was born on October 13th at 9:31 p.m. She weighed in at 6 lbs 7 oz and was 19 inches long.

She is a very content, laid back little girl. She is definitely a little peanut...she had dropped down to 6 lbs 2 oz. After a few weeks and supplementing with formula, she's up to 7 lbs 1 oz.

Long time...no update

2008-10-02T11:57:00.001-05:00

So it's been over a month since I even touched this blog. The end of August and most of September has been crazy with packing up an old apartment, FINDING a new apartment...getting moved and unpacked and oh yeah....getting ready for baby!

We moved the weekend of September 13th. That would be the weekend in which we received almost 7 inches of rain in ONE day. Thank god that we made the decision to hire movers. The new complex we moved into did have flooding problems, thankfully, we came out without any problems of our own. The only problem was that it took the movers twice as long as we quoted for...grr.

We're about 90% unpacked...just alot of little stuff to find places for and get organized.

Baby is due anyday now. I've been dilated at 2 cm for a few weeks now...it's just a wait and see process.

The senator

2008-10-02T11:47:00.001-05:00

While walking down the street one day a US senator is tragically hit by a truck and dies. His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.

"Welcome to heaven," says St. Peter. "Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we're not sure what to do with you."

"No problem, just let me in," says the senator.

"Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from higher up. What we'll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose
where to spend eternity."

"Really, I've made up my mind. I want to be in heaven," says the senator.

"I'm sorry, but we have our rules."

And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a
green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him.

Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich
at the expense of the people.

They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and champagne.

Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who has a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a good time that
before he realizes it, it is time to go.

Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises ...

The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him.

"Now it's time to visit heaven."

So, 24 hours pass with the senator joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good
time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns.

"Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity."

The senator reflects for a minute, then answers: "Well, I would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in hell."

So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell.

Now the doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage. He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above...

The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulder. "I don't understand," stammers the senator. "Yesterday I was here and there
was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there's just a wasteland
full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What happened?"

The devil looks at him, smiles and says.......

"Yesterday we were campaigning. Today you voted."

Looking for simple solutions to your real-life financial challenges? Check out WalletPop for the latest news and information, tips and calculators.

Mr. Mom

2008-08-24T13:19:00.002-05:00

Heard this song on the radio and couldn't help but think of Bill. He's going to be a great father, but it still made me giggle...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1TTXdsCtvw

Lost my job, came home mad
Got a hug and kiss and that's too bad
She said, ''I can go to work until you find another job.''
I thought I like the sound of that
Watch TV and take long naps
Go from a hard working dad to being Mr. Mom.

Well, Pampers melt in a Maytag dryer
Crayons go up one drawer higher
Rewind Barney for the fifteenth time
Breakfast six, naps at nine
There's bubble gum in the baby's hair
Sweet potatoes in my lazy chair
Been crazy all day long and it's only Monday
Mr. Mom.

Football, soccer and ballet
Squeeze in scouts and P.T.A.
And there's that shopping list she left
That's seven pages long
How much smoke can one stove make
The kids won't eat my charcoal cake
It's more than any man can take
Being Mr. Mom.

Well, Pampers melt in a Maytag dryer
Crayons go up one drawer higher
Rewind Barney for the sixteenth time
Breakfast six, naps at nine
There's bubble gum in the baby's hair
Sweet potatoes in my lazy chair
Been crazy all day long and it's only Monday
Mr. Mom.

---

Before I fall in bed tonight
If the dog didn't eat the classifieds
I'm gonna look just one more time.

'Cause, Pampers melt in a Maytag dryer
Crayons go up one drawer higher
Rewind Barney for the eighteenth time
Breakfast six, naps at nine
There's bubble gum in the baby's hair
Sweet potatoes in my lazy chair
Been crazy all day long
Oh, been crazy all day long and it's only Monday
Mr. Mom.
Ooh Mr. Mom.

Balance the checkbooks, juggling bills
Thought there was nothing to it
Baby, now I know how you feel
What I don't know is how you do it.

Oh!, Honey you're my hero!...

30 Minutes of 80's cartoons...

2008-08-24T13:13:00.000-05:00

So...how many of these did you watch!?!?!?

33 weeks!!

2008-08-23T13:15:00.000-05:00

How your baby's growing:
This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds (heft a pineapple) and has passed the 17-inch mark. He's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance.) These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

See what your baby looks like this week.

Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.

How your life's changing:
As your baby fills out even more of your belly, lots of things might start to change: Whereas before you were sashaying, you may find yourself waddling. Finding an easy position to sit in — let alone sleep — is becoming more of a challenge. And bumping into chairs and counters is par for the course.

You may be feeling some achiness and even numbness in your fingers, wrists, and hands. Like many other tissues in your body, those in your wrist can retain fluid, which can increase pressure in the carpal tunnel, a bony canal in your wrist. Nerves that run through this "tunnel" may end up pinched, creating numbness; tingling, shooting or burning pain; or a dull ache. Try wearing a splint to stabilize your wrist or propping your arm up with a pillow when you sleep. If your work requires repetitive hand movements (at a keyboard or on an assembly line, for instance), remember to stretch your hands when you take breaks — which should be frequently.

Prayers!!

2008-08-22T13:15:00.000-05:00

As we have finally found a place to move to. Please keep us in your prayers that everything works out!

Happy Birthday Momma

2008-08-21T13:16:00.000-05:00

Today would have been Mom's (dh's mom) 55th birthday. Happy Birthday Momma Mary! I wish that you were here with us so we could have celebrated with you.

My first baby shower

2008-08-18T12:44:00.002-05:00

was yesterday and it was so awesome! It was hosted by Aunt Kathy, Aunt Kris and "Auntie" Marcy. These ladies were fantastic and this baby is truly blessed by our friends and family!

One of the highlights from the day was a visit from my good friends from Champaign. We all grew up together and were known for causing maybe just a little bit of trouble! I was so happy that April and Melissa were able to make it!

Here are some pictures!

Baby shower today!!!

2008-08-17T09:58:00.000-05:00

Today is my first baby shower and I'm so excited!

Yesterday, I spent most of the day packing up our apartment. Still looking for a place, don't get me started on that drama. UGH!

I've been watching the olympics all week...it's been my crack...lol

32 weeks!

2008-08-16T12:41:00.000-05:00

How your baby's growing:
By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth.

See what your baby looks like this week. (Or see what fraternal twins look like in the womb this week.)

Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.

How your life's changing:
To accommodate you and your baby's growing needs, your blood volume has increased 40 to 50 percent since you got pregnant. With your uterus pushing up near your diaphragm and crowding your stomach, the consequences may be shortness of breath and heartburn. To help relieve your discomfort, try sleeping propped up with pillows and eating smaller meals more often.

You may have lower-back pain as your pregnancy advances. If you do, let your caregiver know right away, particularly if you haven't had back pain before, since it can be a sign of preterm labor.

Assuming it's not preterm labor that's ailing you, you can probably blame your growing uterus and hormonal changes for your aching back. Your expanding uterus shifts your center of gravity and stretches out and weakens your abdominal muscles, changing your posture and putting a strain on your back. Hormonal changes in pregnancy loosen your joints and the ligaments that attach your pelvic bones to your spine. This can make you feel less stable and cause pain when you walk, stand, sit for long periods, roll over in bed, get out of a low chair or the tub, bend, or lift things.

Happy Anniversary Dad and Mom!!

2008-08-15T12:56:00.000-05:00

Today is my in-laws anniversary...happy anniversary to them!

Question #9

2008-08-14T12:56:00.000-05:00

Would you like to know the precise date of your death?

Question #8

2008-08-13T12:55:00.000-05:00

Would you like your spouse to be both smarter and more attractive than you?

Question #7

2008-08-12T12:54:00.000-05:00

For what in your life do you feel most grateful?

Question #6

2008-08-11T12:30:00.000-05:00

Before making a telephone call, do you ever rehearse what you are going to say?

Question #5

2008-08-10T12:19:00.001-05:00

What would constitute a "perfect" evening for you?

31 weeks

2008-08-09T12:38:00.000-05:00

How your baby's growing:
This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. He weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.

See what your baby looks like this week.

Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.

How your life's changing:
Have you noticed the muscles in your uterus tightening now and then? Many women feel these random contractions — called Braxton Hicks contractions — in the second half of pregnancy. Often lasting about 30 seconds, they're irregular, and at this point, they should be infrequent and painless. Frequent contractions, on the other hand — even those that don't hurt — may be a sign of preterm labor. Call your practitioner immediately if you have more than four contractions in an hour or any other signs of preterm labor: an increase in vaginal discharge or a change in the type of discharge (if it becomes watery, mucus-like, or bloody — even if it's pink or just tinged with blood); abdominal pain or menstrual-like cramping; an increase in pressure in the pelvic area; or low back pain, especially if you didn't have it before.

You may have noticed some leaking of colostrum, or "premilk," from your breasts lately. If so, try tucking some nursing pads into your bra to protect your clothes. (And if not, it's certainly nothing to worry about; your breasts are making colostrum all the same, even if you don't see any.) If your current bra is too snug, you might also want to pick up a nursing bra. Choose a nursing bra at least one cup size bigger than you need now. When your milk comes in you'll be grateful for that extra room!

If you're having a boy, you and your partner will want to take some time to think about whether or not to have your baby circumcised. Find out the pros and cons from your doctor, and what the procedure involves.

Question #4

2008-08-09T12:22:00.000-05:00

If at birth you could select the profession your child would eventually pursue,would you do so?

One World...One Dream...8.8.08

2008-08-08T12:39:00.000-05:00

Today is the opening ceremonies of the 2008 Olympic Games. Who is going to watch over these next few weeks. Favorites to watch???

For me, it's gymnastics, diving and swimming!

Question #3

2008-08-08T12:18:00.000-05:00

Would you rather be a member of a world championship sports team or be the champion of an individual sport? Which sport would you choose?

Question #2

2008-08-07T12:17:00.000-05:00

Do you think that the world will be a better or a worse place 100 years from now?

Question #1

2008-08-06T12:16:00.000-05:00

For a person you loved deeply, would you be willing to move to a distant country knowing there would be little chance of seeing your friends or family again?

The Book of Questions

2008-08-05T12:15:00.000-05:00

I found this while starting to pack up our place. Thought that I would post questions on here daily...please feel free to answer!!

Blast from the past...

2008-08-04T13:23:00.000-05:00

gotta love the john hughes movies!!

Number one songs..

2008-08-03T10:16:00.000-05:00

These have been the number one songs on my birthday!

Year Age Artist - Title Weeks at
number one
1977 -- Debby Boone - You Light Up My Life 10
1978 1 Exile - Kiss You All Over 4
1979 2 Herb Alpert - Rise 2
1980 3 Queen - Another One Bites the Dust 3
1981 4 Christopher Cross - Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do) 3
1982 5 John Cougar - Jack and Diane 4
1983 6 Bonnie Tyler - Total Eclipse of the Heart 4
1984 7 Stevie Wonder - I Just Called to Say I Love You 3
1985 8 a-ha - Take on Me 1
1986 9 Janet Jackson - When I Think Of You 2
1987 10 Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam - Lost in Emotion 1
1988 11 UB40 - Red Red Wine 1
1989 12 Janet Jackson - Miss You Much 4
1990 13 James Ingram - I Don't Have the Heart 1
1991 14 Mariah Carey - Emotions 3
1992 15 Boyz II Men - End of the Road 13
1993 16 Mariah Carey - Dreamlover 8
1994 17 Boyz II Men - I'll Make Love to You 14
1995 18 Mariah Carey - Fantasy 8
1996 19 Los Del Rio - Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix) 14
1997 20 Elton John - Candle in the Wind 1997/Something About the Way You Look Tonight 14
1998 21 Barenaked Ladies - One Week 1
1999 22 Mariah Carey - Heartbreaker 2
2000 23 Christina Aguilera - Come On Over Baby (All I Want Is You) 4
2001 24 Jennifer Lopez - I'm Real 5
2002 25 Nelly feat. Kelly Rowland - Dilemma 10
2003 26 Beyonce feat. Sean Paul - Baby Boy 9
2004 27 Ciara feat. Petey Pablo - Goodies 7
2005 28 Kanye West feat. Jamie Foxx - Gold Digger 10
2006 29 Justin Timberlake - SexyBack 7
2007 30 Soulja Boy - Crank That (Soulja Boy) 7

source

30 weeks!!

2008-08-02T10:27:00.000-05:00

How your baby's growing:
Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and she weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will decrease as she gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. Her eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)

See what your baby looks like this week.

Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.

How your life's changing:
You may be feeling a little tired these days, especially if you're having trouble sleeping. You might also feel clumsier than normal, which is perfectly understandable. Not only are you heavier, but the concentration of weight in your pregnant belly causes a shift in your center of gravity. Plus, thanks to hormonal changes, your ligaments are more lax, so your joints are looser, which may also contribute to your balance being a bit off. Also, this relaxation of your ligaments can actually cause your feet to spread permanently, so you may have to invest in some new shoes in a bigger size.

Remember those mood swings you had earlier in pregnancy? The combination of uncomfortable symptoms and hormonal changes can result in a return of those emotional ups and downs. It's normal to worry about what your labor will be like or whether you'll be a good parent. But if you can't shake the blues or feel increasingly irritable or agitated, talk to your doctor or midwife. You may be among the 1 in 10 expectant women who battle depression during pregnancy. Also let your caregiver know if you're frequently nervous or anxious.

These are a riot!!

2008-08-01T10:08:00.000-05:00

Thursday Thirteen

2008-07-31T13:11:00.000-05:00

Top 13 shows the year I was born...

1. Laverne and Shirley
2. Happy Days
3. Three's Company
4. 60 Minutes
5. Charlie's Angels
6. All in the Family
7. Little House on the Prairie
8. Alice
9. M*A*S*H
10. One Day at a Time
11. How the West Was Won
12. Eight is Enough
13. Soap

wal-mart registry....what a pain!!

2008-07-30T12:28:00.000-05:00

so, we registered at babies-r-us and wal-mart. i chose wal-mart because some of our family and friends will only shop there, don't have a babies r us nearby and don't want to deal w/online shopping.

so sunday, we went to add items to the registry...first store we went to, the incompentent idiots (one being an assistant manager...LOVELY) they didn't know how to work the stupid program. so, we left that store in attempts to find another one. spent almost an hour adding things and then come to find out that this person didn't do it right, and we thought we lost EVERYTHING we had just added. worked with this store's assistant manager and by some miracle, he was able to retrieve all of our data.

this is what i get for being nice...lol

Happy Blogoversary to me!

2008-07-29T12:22:00.000-05:00

Someone left me a comment wishing me a happy blogoversary...thanks for that...i completely forgot!

I started this blog 4 years ago...wow...that seems like forever ago. Thanks to my faithful readers!

Happy Anniversary!!

2008-07-28T22:23:00.000-05:00

To my cousin and her husband...married one year ago!!

Growing up in the 80s -- Funny with pictures

2008-07-28T15:02:00.000-05:00

Man….. Yall are about to go crazy with laughter…… Please enjoy!!!!!!
You Know You Grew Up In The 80's or Early 90's if:

1. You've ever ended a sentence with the word SIKE.

2. You watched the Pound Puppies.

3. You can sing the rap to the Fresh
Prince of Bel-Air and can do the Carlton

4. Girls wore biker shorts under their
skirts and felt stylishly sexy.

5. You yearned to be a member of the
Baby-sitters club and tried to start a club of your own.

6. You owned those lil' Strawberry
Shortcake pals scented dolls.

7. You know that "WOAH" comes from Joey
on Blossom

8. Two words: Hammer Pants

9. If you ever watched "Fraggle Rock"

10. You had plastic streamers on your
handle bars... and spokey-dokes or playing cards on your spokes for that
>incredible sound effect

11. You can sing the entire theme song
to "Duck Tales" (Woo ooh!)

12. It was actually worth getting up
early on a Saturday to watch cartoons.
>
13. You wore a ponytail on the side of
your head.

14. You saw the original Teenage Mutant
Ninja Turtles on the big screen..and still know the turtles names.

15. You got super-excited when it was
Oregon Trail day in computer class at school.

16. You made your mom buy one of those
clips that would hold your shirt in a knot on the side.
17. You played the game "MASH"(Mansion,
>Apartment, Shelter, House)

18. You wore stonewashed Jordache jean
jackets and were proud of it.

19. L.A. Gear....need I say more?

20. You wanted to change your name to
"JEM" in Kindergarten. (She's Truly Outrageous.)
21. You remember reading Tales of a
fourth grade nothing and all The Ramona books.

22. You know the profound meaning of
"WAX ON, WAX OFF"

23. You wanted to be a Goonie.

24. You ever wore fluorescent clothing.
(some of us...head-to-toe)
>
25. You can remember what Michael
Jackson looked like before his nose fell off and his cheeks shifted.

26. You have ever pondered why Smurfette
was the only female smurf.

27. You took lunch boxes to school...
and traded Garbage Pailkids in the schoolyard.

28. You remember the CRAZE, then the
BANNING of slap bracelets.

29. You still get the urge to say "NOT"
after every sentence.
30. You remember Hypercolor t-shirts.

31. Barbie and the Rockers was your
favorite band.

32. You thought She-ra (Princess of
Power!) and He-Man should hook up.

33. You thought your childhood friends
would never leave because you exchanged handmade friendship bracelets.

34. You ever owned a pair of
Jelly-Shoes.

35. After you saw Pee-Wee's Big
Adventure you kept saying "I know you are, but what am I?"

36. You remember "I've fallen and I
can't get up"

37. You remember going to the skating
Rink before there were inline skates.

38. You ever got seriously injured on a
Slip and Slide.

39. You have ever played with a Skip-It.

40. You had or attended a birthday party
at McDonalds.

41. You've gone through this nodding
your head in agreement.

42. You remember Popples.

43. Don't worry, be happy

44. You wore like, EIGHT pairs of socks
over tights with high top Reeboks.

45. You wore socks scrunched down (and
sometimes still do..getting yelled at by younger hip members of the
family)

46. You remember boom boxes and walking
around with one on your shoulder like you were all that.

47. You remember watching both Gremlins
movies.
>
48. You know what it meant to say "Care
Bear Stare!!"

49 You remember watching Rainbow Bright
and & My Little Pony Tales

50. You thought Doogie Howser/Samantha
Micelli was hot.
>
51. You remember Alf, the lil furry
Brown alien from Melmac.

52. You remember New Kids on the Block
when they were cool...and don't even flinch when people refer to them as
"NKOTB"

53. You knew all the characters names
and their life stories on "Saved By The Bell," The ORIGINAL class.

54. You know all the words to Bon Jovi -
SHOT THROUGH THE HEART.

55. You just sang those words to
yourself.

56. You remember watching Magic vs.
Bird.

57. Homemade Levi shorts.. (the shorter
the better)
58. You remember when mullets were cool!

59. You had a mullet!
60. You still sing "We are the World"

61. You tight rolled your jeans.

62. You owned a bannana clip.

63. You remember "Where's the Beef?"

64. You used to (and probably still do)
say "What you talkin' 'bout Willis?"

65 You had big hair and you knew how to
use it.

66. You're still singing shot through
the heart in your head, aren't you!

PASS THIS ON TO ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS WHO
GREW UP IN THE 80s or Early 90s!!!
ROCK ON!!!

crazy weekend

2008-07-27T14:26:00.002-05:00

yesterday, i helped (aka supervised) with a friends move. i directed traffic and took lunch orders along with picking up lunch!

went to church today in which our pastor announced her resignation. right now, i'm numb about the decision.

29 weeks

2008-07-26T14:25:00.000-05:00

How your baby's growing:
Your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is growing bigger to make room for his developing brain. To meet his increasing nutritional demands, you'll need plenty of protein, vitamins C, folic acid, and iron. And because his bones are soaking up lots of calcium, be sure to drink your milk (or find another good source of calcium, such as cheese, yogurt, or enriched orange juice). This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in your baby's hardening skeleton each day.

Questions....

2008-07-25T14:31:00.000-05:00

Ten Years Ago: July 1998.
Getting ready to start senior year in college. bill and i had just started dating.

Five Things on Today’s To-Do List:
laundry
naptime
cleaning up the kitchen
cleaning off my desk
vegging

Snacks I enjoy:
chocolate
peanuts

Things I would do if I were a Millionaire:
buy a house
pay off our remaining debt
build up a 6 month emergency fund
college fund for our child
put money away for retirement
travel
give some to charity
give some to family and friends that needed some help

Places I have lived:
champaign,il
schaumburg,il
rock island, il (college)
plainfield, il
oswego, il

People I want to tag:
anyone who wants to answer

What Hand Gesture Are you?

2008-07-24T13:22:00.000-05:00

You Are an "A-OK"

Your life philosophy can be summed up as, "Whatever will be, will be."

Your greatest wish is to live each day a little better than the next.

You are naturally calm and stable. Some people would call you a rock.

You feel one with the world. You are a spiritual person, though no one who knows you would guess it.

What Hand Gesture Are You?

What Flavor Popsicle Are you?

2008-07-23T13:23:00.000-05:00

You Are a Cherry Flavored Popsicle

You are sweet and friendly. For you, summer is all about doing your favorite things.

You are a nostalgic person. You love old fashioned things like ice cream trucks.

You savor everything. Every taste of summer, the feeling of the sun, the smell of the beach...

Of all the types, you love summer the most.

What Flavor Popsicle Are You?

i passed!!

2008-07-22T14:34:00.000-05:00

passed the 3 hour GTT with flying colors! YAHOOO!!!

Whew...breating a sigh of relief.

my test today...

2008-07-21T14:29:00.000-05:00

didn't go too bad, except I was exhausted afterwards. Should have taken a day off instead of trying to go into work afterwards.

not looking forward to tomorrow

2008-07-20T14:28:00.000-05:00

it's my 3 hour glucose test. ugh...i'm also nervous that the results won't be good. if you could say a prayer, it would be much appreciated.

28 weeks

2008-07-19T14:28:00.000-05:00

See the big picture How your baby's growing:
By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.

Flashback!!

2008-07-18T10:51:00.000-05:00

woohoo!

2008-07-17T10:22:00.000-05:00

i love days like this...

our company has a bbq during the summer for all employees and then we have a holiday dinner a few weeks before christmas. the food is usually pretty good and the best part is...

WE GET OUT EARLY!!!
they close the office at 12:30...we eat and then we got to go home!!!!

the job may be stressful, but some of the perks are great!

What Condiment are You?

2008-07-16T10:15:00.000-05:00

You Are Mayonnaise

You tend to be a very quiet, introverted person.

You're happy to sit back and let stronger personalities shine.

You value loyalty and harmony. You try to bring people together.

Your taste in food leans toward simple comfort foods.

You love holiday meals as well as old school favorites like mac and cheese.

You get along with mustard and ketchup personalities. You have an unlikely alliance with hot sauce personalities.

What Condiment Are You?

some funny blinkies

2008-07-15T10:20:00.000-05:00

glitter-graphics.com

glitter-graphics.com

Would You Have Been a Good Wife in the 1930s?

2008-07-14T10:13:00.000-05:00

You Would Make an Okay 1930's Wife

You have some of the attributes of an ideal 1930's wife... but you probably didn't intend it to be that way.

You don't buy into retro gender roles, though you do embrace your femininity at times.

A 1930's man may find you passable, but you probably wouldn't want anything to do with him.

Would You Have Been a Good Wife in the 1930s?

I need to use this for Marcy

2008-07-13T19:46:00.000-05:00

27 weeks

2008-07-12T19:41:00.000-05:00

How your baby's growing:
This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with her legs extended. She's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing her eyes, and perhaps even sucking her fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. While her lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if she were to be born now. Chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and they don't bother her, so just relax and enjoy the tickle.

See what your baby looks like this week.

Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.

How your life's changing:
The second trimester is drawing to a close, but as your body gears up for the final lap, you may start noticing some new symptoms. Along with an aching back, for example, you may find that your leg muscles cramp up now and then. They're carrying extra weight, after all, and your expanding uterus is putting pressure on the veins that return blood from your legs to your heart as well as on the nerves leading from your trunk to your legs. Unfortunately, the cramps may get worse as your pregnancy progresses. Leg cramps are more common at night but can also happen during the day. When a cramp strikes, stretching the calf muscle should give you some relief. Straighten your leg and then gently flex your toes back toward your shin. Walking for a few minutes or massaging your calf sometimes helps, too.

Hopefully this will bring relief...

2008-07-11T12:16:00.002-05:00

This is the town just to the south of our vacation spot...almost a month after the levee breach and the water isn't draining back into the river.

http://www.thehawkeye.com/viewQT/Flood-Henderson-co-drain-070908-mov

So sad...

What year do you belong in?

2008-07-10T12:08:00.001-05:00

You Belong in 1995

With you anything goes! You're grunge one day, ghetto fabulous the next. It's all good!

What Year Do You Belong In?

kick his ask...

2008-07-09T12:24:00.000-05:00

this made me laugh...thanks sarah!

2008-07-08T12:22:00.000-05:00

funny one...

2008-07-07T12:23:00.000-05:00

fire truck

2008-07-06T12:25:00.000-05:00

26 weeks

2008-07-05T19:44:00.000-05:00

How your baby's growing:
The network of nerves in your baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. He may now be able to hear both your voice and your partner's as you chat with each other. He's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of his lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when he's born and takes that first gulp of air. And he's continuing to put on baby fat. He now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches (an English hothouse cucumber) from head to heel. If you're having a boy, his testicles are beginning to descend into his scrotum — a trip that will take about two to three days.

How much have you changed in the last 10 years?

2008-07-05T16:49:00.000-05:00

You've Changed 56% in 10 Years

You've done a good job changing with the times, but deep down, you're still the same person.

You're clothes, job, and friends may have changed some - but it hasn't changed you.

How Much Have You Changed in 10 Years?

Enjoy your day!

2008-07-04T19:41:00.000-05:00

glitter-graphics.com

Sad but Funny Pic...

2008-07-03T12:11:00.000-05:00

How much have you experienced life?

2008-07-02T16:50:00.000-05:00

You've Experienced 60% of Life

You have a good deal of life experience, about as much as someone in their late 20s.

You've seen and done enough to be quite wise, but you still have a lot of life to look forward to.

How Much Life Experience Do You Have?

Happy Birthday Grandpa!!

2008-07-01T09:51:00.000-05:00

Grandpa is 87 years old today and still kicking! I only hope that I am as lucky as my grandparents and live a long healthy life!!

Grandma's Letter

2008-06-30T16:51:00.000-05:00

(She is 88 years old and still drives her own car. She writes:)

Dear Granddaughter,

The other day I went up to our local Christian book store and saw a "Honk if you love Jesus" bumper sticker.

I was feeling particularly sassy that day because I had just come from a thrilling choir performance, followed by a thunderous prayer meeting. So, I bought the sticker and put it on my bumper.

Boy, am I glad I did, what an uplifting experience that. I was stopped at a red light at a busy intersection, just lost in thought about the Lord and how good He is, and I didn't notice that the light had changed.

It is a good thing someone else loves Jesus because if he hadn't honked, I'd never have noticed. I found that lots of people love Jesus! While I was sitting there, the guy behind started honking like crazy, and then he leaned out of his window and screamed,

'For the love of God! ' ' Go! Go! Go! Jesus Christ, GO!'

What an exuberant cheerleader he was for Jesus! Everyone started honking! I just leaned out my window and started waving and smiling at all those loving people. I even honked my horn a few times to share in the love!

There must have been a man from Florida back there because I heard him yelling something about a sunny beach.

I saw another guy waving in a funny way with only his middle finger stuck up in the air. I asked my young teenage grandson in the back seat what that meant.

He said it was probably a Hawaiian good luck sign or something.

Well, I have never met anyone from Hawaii, so I leaned out the window and gave him the good luck sign right back.

My grandson burst out laughing. Why even he was enjoying this religious experience.

A couple of the people were so caught up in the joy of the moment that they got out of their cars and started walking towards me. I bet they wanted to pray or ask what church I attended, but this is when I noticed the light had changed. So, I waved at all my brothers and sisters grinning, and drove on through the intersection.

I noticed that I was the only car that got through the intersection before the light changed again and felt kind of sad that I had to leave them after all the love we had shared.

So I slowed the car down, leaned out the window and gave them all the Hawaiian good luck sign one last time as I drove away. Praise the Lord for such wonderful folks!!

Will write again soon,

Love, Grandma

MARITAL COUNSELING

2008-06-29T21:43:00.000-05:00

A husband and wife came for counseling after 20 years of marriage. When asked what the problem was, the wife went into a passionate, painful tirade listing every problem they had ever had in the 20 years they had been married.

She went on and on and on: neglect, lack of intimacy, emptiness,
loneliness, feeling unloved and unlovable, an entire laundry list of
unmet needs she had endured over the course of their marriage.

Finally, after allowing this to go on for a sufficient length of time,
the therapist got up, walked around the desk and, after asking the wife to stand, embraced and kissed her passionately as her husband watched with a raised eyebrow. The woman shut up and quietly sat down as though in a daze.

The therapist turned to the husband and said, "This is what your wife needs at least three times a week. Can you do this?"

The husband thought for a moment and replied, "Well, I can drop her off here on Mondays and Wednesdays, but on Fridays, I fish."

25 Weeks!

2008-06-28T11:11:00.001-05:00

Your pregnancy: 25 weeks

See the big picture How your baby's growing
Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. Her weight — a pound and a half — isn't much more than an average rutabaga, but she's beginning to exchange her long, lean look for some baby fat. As she does, her wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and she'll start to look more and more like a newborn. She's also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture.

See what's going on in your uterus this week.

Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.

How your life's changing
Your baby's not the only one with more hair — your locks may look more full and lustrous than ever. It's not that you're growing more hair, but thanks to hormonal changes, the hair that you'd normally shed is sticking around longer than usual. Enjoy the fullness while you can — the extra hair will fall out after you give birth.

You may also notice that you can't move around as gracefully as before. Unless your caregiver has advised you otherwise, it's fine to continue to exercise, but follow a few safety rules: Don't work out when you're feeling overly tired and stop if you feel any pain, dizziness, or shortness of breath. Don't lie flat on your back and avoid contact sports as well as any exercise where you're apt to lose your balance. Be sure to drink plenty of water, and make time for both warm-up and cool-down periods.

When you have your glucose-screening test at 24 to 28 weeks, a second tube of blood may be taken at the same time to check for anemia. If blood tests show that you have iron-deficiency anemia (the most common type of anemia), your caregiver will probably recommend that you take an iron supplement.

Have you started thinking about baby names yet? Choosing a name is an important decision, but it should be a fun one, too. You may want to consider family history (Great Grandpa Zeb), favorite locations (Venice, where you honeymooned), or cherished literary or film characters (Greta, Meg, or Atticus, for example). Check out a couple of baby-name books to help you brainstorm, too.

before and after

2008-06-27T11:46:00.000-05:00

Same shot...before and after the levee burst along the Mississippi...

http://www.thehawkeye.com/news/slideshowview/?flood-aerial-061808

Snoring Duck!

2008-06-26T11:16:00.000-05:00

This is too funny!

More pictures...

2008-06-25T11:12:00.000-05:00

From our reunion this past weekend!

Ice Cream Personality Test

2008-06-24T11:11:00.000-05:00

Your Ice Cream Personality:

You like to think of yourself as a fairly modest person. And it's true that you don't talk yourself up... but you're also pretty happy with who you are.

You are incredibly cautious. You rather miss out on something than make a mistake. No one would ever call you wild... but they would call you responsible.

You are a somewhat open minded person, but deep down you're fairly conservative. You don't like trying new things very much. And if you do find something new you like, you stick with it.

You tend to have a one track mind. You prefer not to multitask.

You can be a big dramatic and over the top sometimes. You are bold in every way

The Ice Cream Personality Test

Musical Monday: Kids Songs

2008-06-23T18:28:00.003-05:00

Over the weekend, I was introduced to "Here come the 1,2,3's" by They Might be Giants! I'm learning all of these cool kids CD's just in time for my little arrival! ;-)

24 weeks!!

2008-06-22T20:40:00.000-05:00

Your pregnancy: 24 weeks

See the big picture How your baby's growing:
Your baby's growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts him at just over a pound. Since he's almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), he cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but his body is filling out proportionally and he'll soon start to plump up. His brain is also growing quickly now, and his taste buds are continuing to develop. His lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help his air sacs inflate once he hits the outside world. His skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon.

See what your baby looks like this week. (Or see what fraternal twins look like in the womb this week.)

Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.

How your life's changing:
In the past few weeks, the top of your uterus has risen above your belly button and is now about the size of a soccer ball.

Most women have a glucose screening test (also called a glucose challenge test or GCT) between now and 28 weeks. This test checks for gestational diabetes, a pregnancy-related high-blood-sugar condition. Untreated diabetes increases your risk of having a difficult vaginal delivery or needing a cesarean section because it causes your baby to grow too large, especially in his upper body. It also raises your baby's odds for other complications like low blood sugar right after birth. A positive result on your GCT doesn't mean you have gestational diabetes, but it does mean that you'll need to take the glucose tolerance test (GTT) to find out for sure.

Finally, if you don't already know how to spot the signs of preterm labor, now's the time to learn. Contact your caregiver immediately if you notice any of the signs mentioned below.

Happy First Full Day of Summer!!

2008-06-21T19:38:00.000-05:00

Get out and enjoy it!

TGIF!

2008-06-20T07:41:00.001-05:00

Here we are at another Friday! Today is going to be a crazy day as I only am working until noon and then I'm heading out of town for our family reunion. Bill won't be joining me as he has to work, so I'm heading down with my sister and my nephews.

Men vs Women

2008-06-19T19:37:00.000-05:00

NICKNAMES

If Laura, Kate and Sarah go out for lunch, they will call each other Laura, Kate and Sarah. If Mike, Dave and John go out, they will affectionately refer to each other as Fat Boy, Godzilla and Four-eyes.

EATING OUT

When the bill arrives, Mike, Dave and John will each throw in $20, even though it's only for $32.50. None of them will have anything smaller and none will actually admit they want change back. When the girls get their bill, out come the pocket
calculators.

MONEY

A man will pay $2 for a $1 item he needs. A woman will pay $1 for a $2 item that she doesn't need but it's on sale.

BATHROOMS

A man has six items in his bathroom: toothbrush and toothpaste, shaving cream, razor, a bar of soap, and a towel .

The average number of items in the typical woman's bathroom is 337. A man would not be able to identify more than 20 of these items.

ARGUMENTS
A woman has the last word in any argument.
Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument.

FUTURE
A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband.
A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife.

SUCCESS

A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend.
A successful woman is one who can find such a man.

MARRIAGE

A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he doesn't.
A man marries a woman expecting that she won't change, but she does.

DRESSING UP

A woman will dress up to go shopping, water the plants, empty the trash, answer the phone, read a book, and get the mail.

A man will dress up for weddings and funerals.

NATURAL

Men wake up as good-looking as they went to bed.
Women somehow deteriorate during the night.

OFFSPRING

Ah, children. A woman knows all about her children. She knows about dentist appointments and romances, best friends, favorite foods, secret fears and hopes
and dreams.

A man is vaguely aware of some short people living in the house.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

A married man should forget his mistakes. There's no use in two people remembering
the same thing! SO, send this to the women who have a sense of humor and who can handle it ... and to the men who will enjoy reading it.

Another Funny

2008-06-18T10:10:00.001-05:00

A Friend Is Like A Good Bra...

Hard to Find

Supportive

Comfortable

Always Lifts You Up

Never Lets You Down or Leaves You Hanging

And Is Always Close To Your Heart!!!

Share this with a friend!

I DID

Prayer request

2008-06-17T12:42:00.000-05:00

For all the flooding victims in Iowa and Illinois!

I spoke to my friend last week. She and her family were all ok. Her parents still live in Cedar Rapids, although they are pretty far west of town. Lori lives further north, so they were not impacted.

My friend Marcy called me on Sunday and her parents were evacuating their house along the Rock River, as things were starting to get a little bit messy there.

The town were we have our campers is pretty much underwater. The trailers themselves are fine...we are far back enough from the river, but the downtown is completely underwater. The town just to the north of us where we go fishing is also in trouble. There were 2 breaches in the levee on Saturday, so the entire downtown is in trouble again. The record heights of the water have exceeded that of the Flood of 93.

I just hope that everyone is as safe as possible for now and that people don't have to suffer for too long!

19 years ago yesterday...

2008-06-16T12:50:00.000-05:00

was when we moved into our house in Schaumburg. WOW!

Happy Father's Day!

2008-06-15T12:48:00.000-05:00

To all the Dad's and Grandpa's!

Last night, we stopped off at my parents house to hang out with my dad. He got a tshirt that said:

"Grandpa's To do List"
1. Load grandkids up on sugar
2. Send Home

Today, we went out to my inlaws. We got his dad the same grandpa shirt as well as another one that said "Grandpa's my Name, Spoiling's My Game". yea, that's all too true! ;-) It was nice to spend the day with him.

23 weeks

2008-06-14T13:07:00.000-05:00

Your pregnancy: 23 weeks

See the big picture How your baby's growing:
Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With her sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. And now that she's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango), you may be able to see her squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in her lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing her for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze her when she hears them outside the womb.

See what your baby looks like this week.

Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.

How your life's changing:

You may notice that your ankles and feet start to swell a bit in the coming weeks or months, especially at the end of the day or during the heat of summer. Sluggish circulation in your legs — coupled with changes in your blood chemistry that may cause some water retention — may result in swelling, also known as edema. Your body will get rid of the extra fluid after you have your baby, which is why you'll pee frequently and sweat a lot for a few days after delivery. In the meantime, lie on your left side or put your feet up when you can, stretch out your legs when you sit, and avoid sitting — or standing — in one place for long periods. Also, try to exercise regularly to increase circulation, and wear support stockings (put them on first thing in the morning) and roomy, comfortable shoes. You may be tempted to skimp on liquids to combat swelling, but you need to drink plenty of water because staying hydrated actually helps prevent fluid retention. While a certain amount of edema in your lower extremities is normal during pregnancy, excessive swelling may be a sign of a serious condition called preeclampsia. Be sure to call your midwife or doctor if you have severe or sudden swelling of your feet or ankles, more than slight swelling of your hands, swelling in your face, or puffiness around your eyes.

TGIF

2008-06-13T12:51:00.000-05:00

This week went by so fast!

Tonight, our friend and her son are coming by for dinner. Tomorrow, we both have to work and Sunday is Father's Day. Another FAST weekend!

Who are you?

2008-06-12T13:10:00.000-05:00

Arty Kid

Whether you were a drama freak or an emo poet, you definitely were expressive and unique.

You're probably a little less weird these days - but even more talented!

Who Were You In High School?

My attention span

2008-06-11T13:09:00.000-05:00

Your Attention Span is Medium

Your attention span is just about average.

You may think that you have a short attention span...

But being distracted is something most people struggle with.

The most important thing is that you're aware that your mind wanders.

If you find yourself daydreaming, you can usually snap out of it.

It may be tough to concentrate at times, but you can do it... if you want to!

How's Your Attention Span?

Are you smarter than a 2nd grader!?!?!

2008-06-10T18:27:00.001-05:00

The following is a test most 2nd graders can master in about 2 minutes. How did you do?

www.funstufftosee.com/frogleaptest.html

I'll send the answers out later this week!!

Some pictures...

2008-06-09T14:48:00.002-05:00

40 years ago today

2008-06-08T12:45:00.000-05:00

My parents became husband and wife.

Yup, today is their anniversary...they were married 6-8-68 on the blazing heat. The following week, my dad graduated from college and it was FREEZING cold.

Today, we are taking them out to dinner with the family and their close friends who are visiting from Florida. Ken is a minister and has offered to renew their vows, which they are looking forward to!

I'll make sure to share pics! HAPPY ANNIVERSARY MOM AND DAD!!