**I really want a Mac laptop. I just don't want to part with the money to buy one. Especially since the moment I do something new and better will be on the market. I have spent over a year now researching every possible laptop out on the market and now I'm so informed and overwhelmed that I can't make a decision. Aside from my dream Mac I have at least narrowed the brand down to either a Dell or a Gateway and am hoping to be able to make a decision within the next week. So, I am asking you my internet friends. Any suggestions? What are your personal preferences and why? Have you had a bad experience with any particular make and/or model?
** My birthday was pretty uneventful as a whole. However, my daughter is very excited about birthdays and she just couldn't believe I was not going to have a birthday party. (She doesn't yet realize my husband and I are going out tomorrow alone in celebration) so, she spent the day making me beautiful pictures and then made a card for me tonight. So incredibly sweet and thoughtful.
** Just a few short years ago I would be spending New Years Eve out drinking at a party. Tonight I sit at home watching TV and fiddling on the computer. Oh, how times have changed.
** A good friend had her first baby tonight! (On her due date, no less). Congrats J!!! Your son is in good company :)
** My daughter was given a plasma car for Christmas from my parents. I had never heard of it before. The basic idea is that the weight of your body propels the movement of the car by gently moving the steering wheel back and forth. Once moving it steers like a car even going in reverse. I think I have spent more time on it than my children. Lately, I have taken to giving rides to each child. They think it is the greatest way to spend the day and since our downstairs is completely tiled we have quite a bit of inside space to cruise (The car holds up to 220 pounds).
** I'm not a big fan of New Years resolutions because most of the time I think they are made with little intention of truly keeping them or the best of intentions, but no specific plan for success. Last year I had two goals: 1) to lose weight and 2) to write and actually get paid for it. I did lose weight (I still would like to lose a little more) and I am getting paid for my writings. (Still a weird and exciting concept for me). So, in the spirit of consistency my New Years resolutions will once again be to lose weight and to continue to work as a writer....hopefully learning more and parlaying my current work experience into something new.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Happy New Years
I really can't believe that 2008 is coming to a close. This year just seemed to fly by. As with most this year was filled both with good and bad and so I won't spend the time recapping each. I will say that I am eager, for many reasons, to see what 2009 has to offer both me personally and the collective we, as a country.
New Years has always been a dual celebration for me because it's my birthday. When I was a kid I hated having my birthday this close to Christmas because we'd have to wait to have a "friend" party until school was back in and because I had to figure out every gift I wanted for the entire year because I knew I only had one month to get them in. As I got older I didn't mind as much because there was always something to do. My friends in college always threw huge birthday bashes. Same can be said today...minus the big bashes, which I have come to loathe.
Because the kids have been sick we have nothing really planned for today. I may go out for lunch. Tomorrow my parents are going to watch our kids, though, so that my husband and I can go out and celebrate.
In any event, it seems like each year passes by more quickly than the last. It seems like my kids were infants just yesterday, even though they are now 3 1/2 and 1 1/2. It seems like I was in college just a couple of years ago, even though I graduated almost 9 years ago. (Can that be right?) I remember being so sick on my 21st birthday that I spent it in the ER (that was 10 birthdays ago). Where does the time go?
What are your New Years plans? Parties? Quiet gatherings? Time with family? I wish everyone a terrific New Year! Be safe.
New Years has always been a dual celebration for me because it's my birthday. When I was a kid I hated having my birthday this close to Christmas because we'd have to wait to have a "friend" party until school was back in and because I had to figure out every gift I wanted for the entire year because I knew I only had one month to get them in. As I got older I didn't mind as much because there was always something to do. My friends in college always threw huge birthday bashes. Same can be said today...minus the big bashes, which I have come to loathe.
Because the kids have been sick we have nothing really planned for today. I may go out for lunch. Tomorrow my parents are going to watch our kids, though, so that my husband and I can go out and celebrate.
In any event, it seems like each year passes by more quickly than the last. It seems like my kids were infants just yesterday, even though they are now 3 1/2 and 1 1/2. It seems like I was in college just a couple of years ago, even though I graduated almost 9 years ago. (Can that be right?) I remember being so sick on my 21st birthday that I spent it in the ER (that was 10 birthdays ago). Where does the time go?
What are your New Years plans? Parties? Quiet gatherings? Time with family? I wish everyone a terrific New Year! Be safe.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
On the Mend
So as you know our son has been really sick (thanks for all the kind words, thought, and prayers). He seemed to just have a lingering cold for the past couple of weeks but by Christmas Day had gotten much worse. I probably should have taken him to the doctor sooner, but we were out of town and for viral infections there is nothing they can really do anyway. Christmas night our son was having difficulty breathing, uncontrollable coughing, wheezing horribly, so we started to get worried.
We'd been down this road before and he ended up being hospitalized for three days last February with RSV and Bronchiolitis. We debated if we should take him to the ER Christmas night and in retrospect probably should have. Friday morning we took him to the doctor. She listened to him, checked his oxygen levels, and sent us off to the hospital. We spent the day there with him receiving breathing treatments every 30 minutes for four hours. Unlike last time, he responded to the treatment and his oxygen levels slowly increased and we were fortunately released, with yet another Bronchiolitis diagnosis, instead of admitted. They had us continue the breathing treatments at home all weekend every four hours.
Unfortunately, our son hates the mask that administers the medicine. He screams and fights and it ends up taking much longer because he holds his breath. By day three he resigned himself to the inevitable and while he no longer fights to the death, he begins to cry the second he sees me pull out the mask and medicine. It's rather sad. He looks at me and cries, "No, no mama."
There is nothing worse than having a sick kid and feeling so helpless. Truly, I don't know how parents of terminally ill children find the strength and courage to go on day after day. As sick as my son is he was/is not close to dying and yet still I have worried non-stop about him. I continue to worry about him and what this means for his future health.
Monday morning I took both kids back to the doctor for a follow up. Our daughter's lungs are clear even though she is still battling a virus, but our son's are still squeaky. Fortunately, his oxygen levels were not low enough to warrant a trip back to the hospital. But, we were sent home with a nebulizer and inhaler treatments for the duration of his illness and they prescribed further treatment anytime he starts coming down with a cold in the future. He apparently is susceptible to respiratory complications; the doctor is hoping it will be something he will outgrow but only time will tell. He was also put on antibiotics for two ear infections. The nebulizer came with a cute duck mask and a spare fish mask so our son is very receptive to the treatment now and will even sit there holding the mask to his face by himself.
So, for now we continue to be housebound. I did manage to shower and dress myself in something other than sweats and an inside out, snot encrusted shirt for the past two days now. Hopefully by weeks end he'll have responded to the treatments and be much better.
Our son has managed to fight some with his sister today so he must be feeling better. He also mustered the strength to tell me "no, no, no", which he's been not feeling well enough to do lately. So, those are both good signs. On a random note my daughter taught him to say, "Happy Birthday" so he's been saying that all day. (I age yet another year tomorrow).
It seems like respiratory viruses are going around. Our friends' son ended up in Urgent Care with bronchitis, and the Pediatric ER was filled with kids all receiving breathing treatments. What's the deal?
So, I thank you all again for your kind words and it looks like little man is on the mend.
We'd been down this road before and he ended up being hospitalized for three days last February with RSV and Bronchiolitis. We debated if we should take him to the ER Christmas night and in retrospect probably should have. Friday morning we took him to the doctor. She listened to him, checked his oxygen levels, and sent us off to the hospital. We spent the day there with him receiving breathing treatments every 30 minutes for four hours. Unlike last time, he responded to the treatment and his oxygen levels slowly increased and we were fortunately released, with yet another Bronchiolitis diagnosis, instead of admitted. They had us continue the breathing treatments at home all weekend every four hours.
Unfortunately, our son hates the mask that administers the medicine. He screams and fights and it ends up taking much longer because he holds his breath. By day three he resigned himself to the inevitable and while he no longer fights to the death, he begins to cry the second he sees me pull out the mask and medicine. It's rather sad. He looks at me and cries, "No, no mama."
There is nothing worse than having a sick kid and feeling so helpless. Truly, I don't know how parents of terminally ill children find the strength and courage to go on day after day. As sick as my son is he was/is not close to dying and yet still I have worried non-stop about him. I continue to worry about him and what this means for his future health.
Monday morning I took both kids back to the doctor for a follow up. Our daughter's lungs are clear even though she is still battling a virus, but our son's are still squeaky. Fortunately, his oxygen levels were not low enough to warrant a trip back to the hospital. But, we were sent home with a nebulizer and inhaler treatments for the duration of his illness and they prescribed further treatment anytime he starts coming down with a cold in the future. He apparently is susceptible to respiratory complications; the doctor is hoping it will be something he will outgrow but only time will tell. He was also put on antibiotics for two ear infections. The nebulizer came with a cute duck mask and a spare fish mask so our son is very receptive to the treatment now and will even sit there holding the mask to his face by himself.
So, for now we continue to be housebound. I did manage to shower and dress myself in something other than sweats and an inside out, snot encrusted shirt for the past two days now. Hopefully by weeks end he'll have responded to the treatments and be much better.
Our son has managed to fight some with his sister today so he must be feeling better. He also mustered the strength to tell me "no, no, no", which he's been not feeling well enough to do lately. So, those are both good signs. On a random note my daughter taught him to say, "Happy Birthday" so he's been saying that all day. (I age yet another year tomorrow).
It seems like respiratory viruses are going around. Our friends' son ended up in Urgent Care with bronchitis, and the Pediatric ER was filled with kids all receiving breathing treatments. What's the deal?
So, I thank you all again for your kind words and it looks like little man is on the mend.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Goodnight My Mother
A few nights ago I was laying down with my daughter and cuddling and she was whispering, "I love you so much mommy" to which I kept replying, "I love you so much too." Then I thought she said, "Goodnight my mother" which I thought was kind of funny so I replied by saying, "Goodnight by daughter." We probably had this exchange six or seven times (all whispered) until she finally sits up and says loudly, "No, I've been saying 'Can I have my water?'" Oops. My bad.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
What I Would Do For A Night Alone
My husband left town again today on business. When he arrived he called to tell me about his room. Apparently, he is in some luxury hotel and his room is bigger than our first house. He had just stepped out of his personal hot tub and into a comfortable robe. He was then going to lay in bed, watching TV, getting at least a solid 8 hours of sleep.
I can't even begin to tell you how jealous I am. I would kill for a few nights like that....seriously, KILL!
I am home with two sicks kids, one who spent time in the hospital this past week (more on that later), being kept up all night by my son who I have to hold upright all night so that he can breathe, and giving breathing treatments round the clock every four hours for the past three days. Are you jealous yet? Did I mention I'm in sweatpants and a shirt I just now realized is inside out? Sexy.
Seriously, one way to endear yourself to me forever would be to offer to watch my kids for a night and let me sleep, completely undisturbed, for 8 solid hours. I will be your friend for life. I swear! Any takers?
I can't even begin to tell you how jealous I am. I would kill for a few nights like that....seriously, KILL!
I am home with two sicks kids, one who spent time in the hospital this past week (more on that later), being kept up all night by my son who I have to hold upright all night so that he can breathe, and giving breathing treatments round the clock every four hours for the past three days. Are you jealous yet? Did I mention I'm in sweatpants and a shirt I just now realized is inside out? Sexy.
Seriously, one way to endear yourself to me forever would be to offer to watch my kids for a night and let me sleep, completely undisturbed, for 8 solid hours. I will be your friend for life. I swear! Any takers?
Thursday, December 25, 2008
And It's Over Just Like That
It's no secret that I love Christmas. There's always such a let down after it is all over because I know I have to wait a full year until this time of year swings around again. We had a really great couple of days leading up to all of today's festivities.
My brother and his wife arrived from Wisconsin on Tuesday around the same time we arrived back from Phoenix. We were able to spend some time with them Tuesday evening, which was nice because my daughter has been really excited to see them. Christmas Eve we got to just hang out and relax. My husband took our son to run some errands so it gave me and our daughter some time alone, which was greatly appreciated by our daughter. That evening we attended church with my parents, other brother, and grandmother. The kids were perfect, which made things much more enjoyable.
Christmas morning the kids woke up and of course wanted to open presents. It's so funny because when I was a kid I have memories of tearing into presents at record speed. My daughter is very meticulous and opens each present carefully. She then admires it, plays with it, carefully puts it aside before moving on to the next gift. Because of that it took almost an hour to open their presents (could have easily been done in ten). It was great though. We then headed over to my parents, where my sister, her husband, their four kids, grandmother, uncle, both brothers, and sister-in-law arrived. We had a great time watching the kids open and play with more presents. We ate, drank, talked, and laughed. It was a good day.
The only down side is that both kids have been pretty sick and our son has taken a pretty bad turn for the worse today. We are praying he makes it through the night and we can get him (and our daughter) in to see the doctor in the morning. If not, it looks like we'll be making a nice Christmas trip to the ER. The timing could not be worse.
Anyway, tell me about your holiday? How was it? What did you do?
My brother and his wife arrived from Wisconsin on Tuesday around the same time we arrived back from Phoenix. We were able to spend some time with them Tuesday evening, which was nice because my daughter has been really excited to see them. Christmas Eve we got to just hang out and relax. My husband took our son to run some errands so it gave me and our daughter some time alone, which was greatly appreciated by our daughter. That evening we attended church with my parents, other brother, and grandmother. The kids were perfect, which made things much more enjoyable.
Christmas morning the kids woke up and of course wanted to open presents. It's so funny because when I was a kid I have memories of tearing into presents at record speed. My daughter is very meticulous and opens each present carefully. She then admires it, plays with it, carefully puts it aside before moving on to the next gift. Because of that it took almost an hour to open their presents (could have easily been done in ten). It was great though. We then headed over to my parents, where my sister, her husband, their four kids, grandmother, uncle, both brothers, and sister-in-law arrived. We had a great time watching the kids open and play with more presents. We ate, drank, talked, and laughed. It was a good day.
The only down side is that both kids have been pretty sick and our son has taken a pretty bad turn for the worse today. We are praying he makes it through the night and we can get him (and our daughter) in to see the doctor in the morning. If not, it looks like we'll be making a nice Christmas trip to the ER. The timing could not be worse.
Anyway, tell me about your holiday? How was it? What did you do?
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Happy Holidays To All
**My daughter has informed me that Santa would like pink princess sugar cookies and orange juice, no pulp, left out for him.
** Thanks to Sarah and her recommendation to look for jeans at Gap. I found a very comfortable pair that don't stretch. Yeah!!!
** Looks like both kids will still be sick for Christmas.
** Every year I drop hints to my hubby about what I want for Christmas. He rarely catches on. This year I told him there were only two things I wanted. He has an opportunity to be two for two with Christmas and my birthday (December 31). Let's see if he delivers.
** I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday! Enjoy!!!
** Thanks to Sarah and her recommendation to look for jeans at Gap. I found a very comfortable pair that don't stretch. Yeah!!!
** Looks like both kids will still be sick for Christmas.
** Every year I drop hints to my hubby about what I want for Christmas. He rarely catches on. This year I told him there were only two things I wanted. He has an opportunity to be two for two with Christmas and my birthday (December 31). Let's see if he delivers.
** I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday! Enjoy!!!
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