Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Taking a Little Break

I'm sure some of you have noticed that my posts have become less frequent lately. I just haven't felt like sitting at the computer! :) I'll still post every now and then, but I'm pursuing some other interests for a little while now. I won't completely disappear though, I promise!

I'll see ya when I see ya! ;)

Monday, November 26, 2007

Happy Birthday, Lance!




What a busy week it has been! Between hosting Thanksgiving and then having Lance's birthday party all in the same holiday weekend, (NEVER going to do that again!!) I'm exhausted. So I'm going to go take a nap while you vicariously enjoy Lance's party, and I'll tell you all about it later, after I've caught a few zzzz's.

Friday, November 23, 2007

Merry Elfin' Christmas!

Tee hee hee hee...

Click on this link to see my family wishing yours a very merry Christmas. *chuckle chuckle grin*


http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=9583603783

Monday, November 19, 2007

Update on Shayna

A few days ago, I posted about a little girl with Down Syndrome who has been recently diagnosed with leukemia and requested prayers. A few of you asked for an update, so here you go!

This is an email written by the little girl's father. It was forward to me from my friend who knows this family.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

In addition to the leukemia, Shayna is having moderate to severe heart
problems. She is having what they call infusion around the heart. There
are other medical issues going on too.

In spite of this, I am not worried because I dreamed this child into our
lives and feel we were meant to spend many wonderful years together. I
truly believe that this is simply another test. I believe Shayna will pull
through all of this. Like you said she is a survivor! She has had several
transfusions of palettes and will continue to need 3 to 4 transfusions per
week. Therefore, for right now the doctors are saying that she will not be
going home anytime soon. The bone marrow biopsy came back and they found the
"bad" blasts (cells) in the bone marrow so they will now decide how to
proceed.

Thank G-d we live in a time when so much technology is available to us. G-d
bless these doctors that they we re imbued with wisdom to understand the
complexities of the human body.

Join us as we send Shayna our positive energy and be ready to expect and
celebrate, with G-d's will, Shayna's quick and complete recovery.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Saturday, November 17, 2007

My Baby is Gone



I'm a little sad. My baby is gone. He's a big boy now. He can walk, he can communicate many many things even without knowing the words, and he's an independent spirit.

I'm going to wallow a bit in bittersweet nostalgia for the days that aren't too far behind me. They might as well have been a lifetime ago.

Friday, November 16, 2007

Ideas?

Hey everyone.

Lance will be a year old on the 28th of this month. (Can you believe it? I sure can't.) Anyhoo, I'm trying to plan a weekend getaway for Hubby and I, and I was wondering what you all thought of leaving Lance with the grandparents for a weekend. We've left him overnight with them before, but never for a whole weekend. (It wouldn't be for a few more months, probably sometime in the spring, so he'd be 15-16 months old by then.)

I'm aching to go see New York City. We have friends who go a couple of times a year and they always have the most fun. I would love to go see the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty, take a walk in Central Park, eat a hotdog from a street vendor, see a taping of Rachael Ray.

It just seems that it would be really tough to enjoy NYC with a toddler in tow. I know people who live there have babies, but because they live there they know how to get around. (I don't want to lug a car seat around and hop in and out of taxis. Ick.)

Anyhoo. Your thoughts? Is he too young to be left with the grandparents for a long weekend?

Thursday, November 15, 2007

Prayers Urgently Needed

Hey everyone.

I received an e-mail from a friend of mine today. A young couple, Jeremy and Stephanie, have recently adopted a Down Syndrome baby. Shayna is the 10th special-needs child this couple has adopted. They have recently learned that Shayna has leukemia, and due to laws regarding adoption and waiting periods, they have not yet been able to obtain medical coverage for her.

I don't know this family personally, but as a mother I can only imagine the nightmare it must be to have a terribly ill child and not have the means to do anything about it. Please send up prayers for this precious family!

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

First Word!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yesterday, November 12, 2007, Lance said his first word:

"Wow."

His first word apart from "mama" and "dada" anyway. I really couldn't say which one of those he said first, because he had been saying them just as syllables for a long time. Yesterday though, he said "wow." It's so cute too, because he almost whispers it and gets this look of astonishment on his face as he says it! I'll try to get it on video for you sometime!

I need to go give him a bottle now. He is so tired and is having trouble sleeping. He caught a little 20-minute power nap in the car on the way home from mom's group which is keeping him from sleeping now, but I know he needs a nice long nap because usually he's had a 2-hour nap by now. Poor little guy!

Saturday, November 10, 2007

You know the holidays have arrived when...

1. When The Red Cup is back at Starbucks!

2. When the palm trees outside of your apartment complex have been covered in white twinkle lights. (I will have to post a photo of this later. For those of you who don't live in an area populated primarily by palm trees, it's a sight that brings warmth and joy to your heart. lol!)

3. When you begin rehearsing Christmas music at your church.

4. When all the Halloween candy is on clearance at Target.

5. When you suddenly feel the urge to start wrapping up boxes.

6. When you start seeing ads for the annual holiday specials on television. (It's a tradition in my family to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade in the morning while dinner is being prepared, and then to watch It's A Wonderful Life in the evening.)

7. When you attend social gatherings and spiced apple cider served out of a crockpot is a guest of honor at every event.

8. When you pull all your red sweaters out of the back of the closet and start wearing them regularly just because you can.


I know a lot of people think that it's too early to start celebrating Christmas. (I have to draw the line at Christmas music being played in the stores before Halloween. No joke. That actually happened in early October at a local craft store. Anyhoo.) But you know what? I love all the red and green, the twinkle lights, the festive music. I love picking out wrapping paper and carefully selecting gifts for the people I love. I adore the tastes and smells of the season. (While I previously mentioned the spiced apple cider, I do restrict myself to only making it between Thanksgiving and New Year's to keep it special!)

What things put you in a holiday mood?

Friday, November 9, 2007

Am I A Bad Mother?

I desperately need just 10 minutes of down time. Just to sit and breathe in and out without jumping up every 2 1/2 seconds to put back whatever Lance yanked off the shelf.

Just 10 minutes.

So I put him in his crib with his stuffed monkey. He's not too thrilled about being left alone, but y'all, I need some air.

Am I mean?

Thursday, November 8, 2007

Ouch!

If you're going to chop up jalepeno peppers for the new chili recipe you're making for dinner tonight, either use gloves or be prepared for the tips of your fingers to be sore and tender for the rest of the afternoon.

Friday, November 2, 2007

I Need Me Some Z's

First of all, noisy upstairs neighbors kept me from falling asleep. I went outside to my balcony, yelled at them, and they were finally somewhat quiet.

Then, Snoring Husband kept me from falling asleep, so I went out to the couch.

It got hot in the living room, so I stumbled back into our room.

I finally fall into a comfortable sleep.

An hour later, Lance wakes up screaming.

And here I am.

Thursday, November 1, 2007

Am I Nuts?

I went jogging this evening.

Jogging. Me.

I used to say that the only way you could get me to run is if you were to chase me with a knife. Or throw a snake at me.

However, I recently had the experience of watching some friends participate in a 13K marathon, part of which ran through Disney MGM studios while we were there last week. How fun would that be, jogging through Disney world after hours and the place is SILENT except for the stretch of road they allowed spectators?

Plus they got medals.

It's all about the medals, dude. Duh.