BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!

Well, if you've been on my facebook page in the last week, you already know... but

Landon's going to be a BIG Brother!

It's been a little over a week since I found out... so, I am only approx 5 weeks and a few days along...

Some people might gasp and say - WAIT! You are already announcing it?!

Why, yes, yes I am. :) I can't keep a secret like that!! It's too exciting. The way I see it, the more people that know, the more people that can pray for me. See, in case you weren't around for my first pregnancy (which I did not blog about, cause I had not yet started my blog), I was VERY sick. We're talking I lost 47 lbs in less than 2 months even though I was pregnant sick. We're talking week long hospital stay and another week at home resting before going back to work kind of sick. Yeah, that was during the first trimester. I went to the ER twice to get fluids, and then once my OB/GYN finally saw me, she told me I was to go directly to the hospital to check in. YAY, FUN! (Did you catch that sarcasm?)

So, the point of telling you that... yeah, I could use all the prayers I can get right now. I'm TERRIFIED of going through anything remotely similar to that again. It started at about 6 weeks last time. So yeah. Remember above when I said was about 5 weeks and a few days? Cue paralyzing fear that morning sickness/hyperemesis (what I was diagnosed with the first time) is right around the corner. I can't do it again. I CAN'T. And I don't like that word. But I mean it.

I've felt a little queasy over the weekend, and today... But I'm hoping it is just because I've got a little sinus crud going on. I'm praying that is it. I don't want to be on meds around the clock again. But if that is what it takes, then so be it.

Oh, yeah, so back to my request. PLEASE pray for me if you think about it. I need to be able to function as a Mommy during this first trimester especially, as Aaron will be working a lot, and will not always be available to take over. Work will be taking him out of town often, and while I do have family to rely on, I don't want to add stress to their lives because I can't get away from the "white throne" to take Landon to daycare. Don't misunderstand me, I would LOVE to lose 47 lbs during pregnancy rather than gaining it (what pregnant woman wouldn't?!) - only I want to be healthy for me and this little bean growing inside me. Losing 47lbs during pregnancy isn't exactly healthy.

Aaron and I are super excited about this baby and what the future holds for our little family. Landon is not entirely understanding what is going on yet, though we do talk about the baby in Momma's belly. I'll ask him "Where's the baby?" and he points to my stomach and says "in der, in Momma's belly." And if you ask him if he wants a brother or a sister, he always replies "a Mister" (???) I'll say "Sister?" and he says "Noooo" - so I say "So, you want a brother?" and he says "Noooo, a MISTER." Hmm... not sure if I can help with that!

My first appointment will be on February 4th. Hopefully I can keep everyone updated on what is going on with me. And hopefully it is not because I am stuck at home being sick and having nothing better to do than blog!!

I HAD to tell you...

I have not disappeared off the face of the Earth. (Hey, I heard that!)

I need to blog more. But. there are only so many hours in the day. And unfortunately, I don't make money blogging. :( (hmm... maybe someday?)

So yeah. Christmas was spectacular. New Years too! I'll try to remember to tell you in more detail later this week. (key word: TRY) I would promise pictures...but we all know how that goes. Plus, I have pictures disappearing off of previous posts, and I want to get that fixed before adding any more. Mad? Don't be. I... uh...promise I'll fix it soon! :)

Anywho... I just wanted to reassure my adoring audience (all 4 of you! hehe) that I am still alive and breathing. And that I have not forgotten (completely) about this little blog space of mine.

I will be back on a more regular basis umm... soon(ish). Check back when ya have a chance. And for goodness' sake.... if you read the blog, leave me a comment. Good. Bad. Ugly. I don't care. :) At least I'll know someone read what I wrote... Hehehe. In the meantime, read a book. Then tell me about it!

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So, about that PIE...

 

Okay, so I know I'm like almost a month late posting this. Now, look down at your shoes... If you're mad, you have those same shoes to get glad in. :) Morgan got to go first, since Lauren is her kiddo (and I made her). Will (Morgan's husband) helped her girls, Madison and Lauren, put a pie in her face:



 

 

Bahahahahaha! I mean... umm... yeah. Good times. Do you hear all the people in the background? Bunch of punks if you ask me. Hehe. After Morgan got "pied," it was my turn. Aaron (my husband), Madison, and Lauren did the honors:

 

 

 

FYI, if you inhale as a pie is coming at your face, whipped cream can, and WILL go up your nose. And you will smell it for days after. This may or may not have happened to me.

 

 

Just because I know you all will get a kick out of it, here are a few still shots (Courtesy of Mindy DeLaRosa - Thanks Mindy!!):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

We are definitely sisters...
 

The majority of Lauren's Love Patrol.
 

 

And little miss rock star herself, Lauren!

 

 

Again, a HUGE THANKYOU to all of those who helped us meet our $4000 goal for this year's Buddy Walk! Without your support, this pie-to-face blog would not be possible! We were so happy to be able to turn in all of that money to the Down Syndrome League of Victoria, and can't wait to see the organization making greater strides for individuals with Down Syndrome. 

 

 

P.S. Photos courtesy of Mindy DeLaRosa and Videos courtesy of iPhone video cameras that were rolling. :)

 



 

Where, Oh Where Can My Baby Be?!

Milestone warning. Grab your tissues.

Okay, so I didn't actually cry, but I wanted to!

Last night before my nephew's 3rd (oh my gosh!) birthday celebration at Chuck E. Cheese, Aaron, Landon, and I trekked around to a few furniture stores, Target, and Wally World.

After tossing the idea around for a bit, we ended up buying a new bed for Landon. We went with a toddler bed, and figure since it wasn't too expensive, we'll use that to transition to a larger bed a little later.

Landon kept telling us it was "too big" while it was in the cart (to be fair, the box was pretty long), and that he didn't like it. We paid for it anyway, and after our nephew's little "party," went home to put it together. Why don't they just sell the durn things already put together (Yes, I said durn. No, that was not a typo.)?! There are a million little parts to keep track of while trying to put it together with a toddler running around. Not cool. As we were putting it together, I was thinking about the first time we put him in his crib (Night one home from the hospital!):

He's come a long way from that itty bitty (Ha! 9lb 5oz!) newborn we fell in love with!

Now he's a walking (running), talking, handsome (still!), sweet little big boy who sleeps in a toddler bed!

He actually did better than I expected last night - since it was the first night in his new bed, we moved our little TV in there and put his favorite movie on (Toy Story) so he could get used to the smaller bed.

After giving goodnight kisses and squeezes ("hugs" to you common folk) to Mommy and Daddy, he settled in for the night. He did ask me to sit down in his room as I was leaving, so I did - but just for a couple of minutes. Then, I got up and told him I would be back to check on him in a few minutes. He called for me for a minute, but then got engrossed in his movie again.

Aaron and I went back to check on him a while later, and found him conked out:

So, being the wonderful parents that we are, we used Aaron's phone with the flash on it to take a picture! :) No worries though, he didn't wake up. We left a pillow and blanket next to the bed, just in case he fell out (off?) - I'll probably leave those for a while...

Landon did wake up a couple times early this morning, but one of those times was when he would normally wake up anyway. I was so concerned he would fall out of the bed, or be scared, but for a first night in his big boy bed, he did GREAT! I'm so proud of him!!

I'm really trying to savor all of these moments and milestones with him. They are all just passing by so quickly. Can I get a rewind button?

Drumroll, Please...

Oh, wait! You don't know what the drumroll is for!!!

 

That's because I've been a lazy blogger. Still love me? (Umm... don't answer that.)

 

So, what is the drumroll for? I'm so glad you asked! In case you weren't aware, October is Down Syndrome Awareness month (let me make you "aware" hehe). We celebrate every year at our local Buddy Walk - put on by our local Down Syndrome League and the National Down Syndrome Society. We have a team that was put together to support and raise money in honor of my niece, Lauren, who has Down Syndrome.

We call ourselves "Lauren's Love Patrol" - and this year, we set a big goal! In the past, we have done bake sales, sold candles, sold car air fresheners, etc. etc. etc. to raise money for our team to turn in to help the DSLV (local league) and NDSS raise awareness for inclusion for those individuals with Down Syndrome. We have done well with all of these fundraisers, but just felt like we could do more.

 

 

We decided on doing a donation campaign amongst family and friends, coworkers, and on Facebook. A goal of $4000 was set, since Lauren turned 4 years old this year.

 

 

 

 

As an extra incentive for those donating, it was decided that if the goal was met, two certain people would get a pie to the face. Since it happened to be my idea, I got suckered into being one of those volunteers. My sister (and Lauren's mom), Morgan, would be the other pie-to-face recipient if we reached the goal.  

 

 

 

 

Lauren (with a little help) would arguably be the cutest kiddo ever to put a pie in someone's face - of course, that is if we reached the $4000 goal.

 

 

Oh yeah, so, back to the drumroll!!! We started off with small donations, and then started receiving some bigger donations as well. Morgan created this nifty little ribbon to color in to show the progress on our goal: 

 

 

Well... guess what?! We have something to cheer about!!!

 

 

 

We met our goal of $4000!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WE ARE SO EXCITED!!! So far, our grand total is..... $4,214.00 -- By far the most our team has ever raised! And we still have a few donations coming in. There's definitely time left if anyone else would like to make a donation as well. Dad says if we reach $5000, he'll take a pie in the face as well!

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you would like to make a donation, just let me know, and I'll tell you how. Also, a BIG THANK YOU to all of the friends and family who have donated so far! You guys are all such great blessings!!

 

If you are going to be in Victoria this Saturday and need something to do, come and join Dsl Victoria and take part in our 4th annual Buddy Walk at Riverside Park (by Rosebud Stadium) from 8-2. Wristbands for the bounce houses and games are only $5 each.

 

Plus, you can watch Morgan and I (and possibly our Dad) get a pie to the face - in person!

 

 

(P.S. - I really like exclamation points huh? :) hehe)

 

 











 

I'll Never Forget

9/11. I’ll never forget.

 

It was my senior year, and as usual I was sitting in my first block Accounting class, drinking a Dr. Pepper and eating white powdered donuts from the vending machine down the hall –Probably wondering what we’d be doing for my Dad’s birthday that evening.  As usual, the 4^th chair at our table was empty -- that kid was always late! Mrs. Hankins had told him if he was late again, he was getting ISS (In School Suspension), no questions asked. As usual, about 4 minutes into class, just after Mrs. H took roll, he came running in the classroom door. He didn’t throw his backpack on the floor and slunk into his chair half asleep as usual though. Instead, he ran past Mrs. H - straight over to the TV mounted on the wall in the corner and turned it on, looking for the remote to change the channel. Mrs. H and the rest of our class were kind of just staring at him, thinking he had lost his mind.

 

Mrs. H finally found her voice and told him to “go straight to the office,” that she “would send a note and…” He interrupted her as he had found the remote and said “Just hang on a second, you have to see this! –There, LOOK!” We all looked at the TV, and saw a burning tower. Dark black smoke was billowing out of the windows. Mrs. H was walking to turn off the TV when the second plane hit. There was a cry that echoed across the room, then silence – we were stunned. Mrs. Hankins walked across the hall and turned the TV on in the next classroom, and slowly, down the hall, the rest of the students glued their eyes to the news. “That kid” did not get sent to the office that day. He did not get ISS that day. We did not learn anything about Accounting that day (or any other school subject for that matter). We talked in the hallways… Was it a terrorist attack? What about the people?! They needed to hurry and evacuate! Can you imagine the crowded stairways?! Then… the unthinkable happened. The first tower fell. Most of the girls and even some of the guys were crying by then. It was all just so surreal. Surely we’d wake up and realize it was just an awful nightmare… We also heard about a plane going down in a field, and another flying into the pentagon. There was no way this was a coincidence! This nightmare is REAL. Will we declare war? Who do we declare war on? Where is the President? Kids were already being pulled out of classes by their parents. Going home to process the news as a family…

 

I had a half days at school that year, as I was in the co-op work program. This meant I could leave school just before lunch every day and go to work at the daycare at our church school. I worked with the 3 and 4 year olds in the extended care program – lunch, nap, and afternoon playtime. I had my sister’s car that day, so I drove straight to work. When I got there, I could tell all the teachers knew what was going on, by their red-rimmed eyes and long faces… but the kids… oh the innocence! They didn’t understand why their teachers were sad that day. They didn’t know that people all over the world had lost loved ones that day. Many parents came early to get their kiddos that day. While the kids were napping, we had the radio on very low at the teacher’s desk – our only source of information that day. We couldn’t very well let 3 and 4 year olds watch people trying to escape the flames by jumping out of windows. The images were disturbing and devastating enough for grownups.

 

Our country came together on that day. We prayed for each other, supported each other, encouraged each other. I remember seeing the American flag EVERYWHERE for months afterward. Heroes were made that day. Whether they wanted the job or not. What can we do for the people that died that day? Aside from vengeance?

 

NEVER FORGET. Remember them. Pray for their families. Honor them the best way we know how. Talk about it with your kids (when they are an appropriate age of course) – Just as we “Remember the Alamo!” and remember Pearl Harbor… now we also Remember 9/11.