No plumber needed here

After I gave Emma a bath on Thursday night, I could not get the drain plug to pop up to release the water. I kept pushing on it as hard as I could, but nothing would get it to pop, so I just left it. Denny tried to push on it later (after all, he's about 100x stronger than me) ... not even he could get it.

On Friday morning, I was a little desperate, so I took a shower standing in Emma's bath water from the night before ... it was freezing!

By Saturday morning, I decided I needed to take action. Denny was gone, so I got a screwdriver and took off the cap thingy and tried to wiggle it, still nothing. I then took a wire hanger and jammed it down as far as I could until the plug popped up enough for me to pry it open. I pulled it all the way out and got more than I bargained for in the form of a huge hair clump. I must shed more than any animal none to man.

I felt pretty accomplished. Emma got to take a bath and I got to shower without standing in a tub of water. It was a good day!

Parenting

I've been up since 2 a.m. Emma has a fever ... the thermometer (under the arm) got to 102 before Emma made me stop taking it. She is uncomfortable and it stinks!

Right now I am awake thinking about all of the things I need to do at work today. I am supposed to make a big announcement today, and with that comes several elements - an email, posting a news release with images, sending out a news release to media, etc. There are also a couple other projects I really wanted to finish. I am going to wait another hour and a half and hopefully drive in, schedule all of these things and get back home before Denny has to leave for work.

Sickness never comes when it's convenient. Mostly, I'm just disappointed because Emma finally started to feel better last week when she was home with me. On her second day back at daycare she got a fever.

I am hoping she starts feeling better and can get plenty of rest. In the meantime, I think I'll take advantage of this extra cuddling!

Christmas 2010

Better late than never? No, but it will have to do in this case!

Our Christmas was great! Hectic, of course, but well worth the exhaustion.

My parents, brother, sister and her boyfriend came over on the 23rd. We celebrated Christmas on Christmas Eve by lounging, cooking food, going to the children's mass (Emma lasted about 25 minutes ... not bad) and opening presents.

On Christmas morning, I got up at 5:30 to get showered and all ready for when Emma awoke. I waited. Denny got up and started breakfast. We waited some more. We were anticipating Emma crying to let us know she was awake (she was asleep on our bed). Instead, the little stinker ran into the kitchen! It was great! Denny then carried her into the living room where she spotted her new slide instantly! It was so much fun! She then opened her sled, doll, coloring books, books and pajamas.

We then headed to Debbie's where we ate more food, opened more presents, took more pictures and just relaxed for a few hours ... before heading to Dennis'.

We again ate, opened gifts and visited before heading home to enjoy dinner with my parents and Jeremy before they left.

It was exhausting ... the kind of exhausting that doesn't feel exhausting until you sit down and realize just how tired you are! We were all tired. It was a great time!

2010 in review

January

• Denny began another year with the Nature Conservancy (fourth?)
• Had my gallbladder removed
• Denny and Chad came in second place in a big fishing tournament

February

• Visited Grandma one last time
• My first-owned car died
• Emma was baptized

March

• After 19 years, Grandma joined Grandpa in heaven

April

• Denny turned 28
• Spent Easter in Indiana where Emma met her cousins for the first time
• Purchased the Equinox (or secured the loan, rather)
• Started playing in a volleyball league (met some amazing women and enjoy this evening each week)

May

• Got sick, spent two weeks in bed
• Realized how amazing my families are as they took care of Emma and me since Denny was out of town working during most of these days

June

• Celebrated our first year as homeowners (we didn’t really celebrate, but it’s exciting)
• Started my seventh year as an employee of SAU

July

• Hosted a Fourth of July party
• Emma started walking
• Went camping for the first since Emma’s birth – challenging? You better believe it!

August

• My best friend moved back to Michigan
• Emma turned one (where did the year go?)
• Threw a bridal shower for Alicia

September

• Started my master’s degree
• Celebrated five years of marriage
• Alicia and Luke got married

October

• I turned 29
• Emma was a gnome for Halloween … she trick-or-treated at Grandpa Tison’s

November

• Went to Indiana for Thanksgiving for the first time since our marriage … finally!

December

• Finished my first master’s class … excited to continue!
• Celebrated Christmas with my family on Christmas Eve and Denny’s families on Christmas
• Rang out 2010 at home surrounded by lots of family and friends … Emma woke up for the ball drop

I am still happy to see 2010 come to a close, but as I look at this month-by-month list of events, I can’t help but smile. I am truly blessed and surrounded by caring, loving people. I have a beautiful, healthy daughter and a loving husband who I get to go home to every night. We have a beautiful home to keep us warm and reliable vehicles … more than enough food. We truly are blessed and excited to see what 2011 holds.

... the goose is getting fat

Okay, boo hoo post is over. Christmas is five days away … and now, I am excited!

My family is coming in on Thursday … I will be so excited to get home and hug them and watch them play with Emma.

We are celebrating with my family in full force on Christmas Eve. Mass, dinner, presents … the works! It will be nice. Low key and great!

On Christmas morning, we will watch our sweetie open a few presents … I tried to purchase next to nothing, and I am happy to say the only extra gift I bought her was pajamas, which she needs. I know she is going to be spoiled by her aunts, uncles, grandparents … so from us (or Santa?), she is getting a slide (I purchased this a few months ago from my boss), doll, doll stroller, sled, two coloring books and crayons, a fleece and pajamas … that sounds like a lot now that I write it out, but we didn’t spend much.

Then, we are headed to Debbie’s in the morning and Dennis’ in the afternoon. I am hoping to convince my parents to stay until Sunday or longer. I have the entire week after Christmas off! That’s the best gift of all!

In preparation for it all …

On Saturday, I attempted to finish Christmas shopping with Emma. She was an angel for MOST of the time. She reached her breaking point while we were in Meijer. It was one of those moments … she was contorting her body, screaming, etc. Meanwhile, I was trying to push the cart, pay, get her coat on her and keep my cool! As soon as the vehicle started to move, she was out … she was so tired she was snoring. I love her so much!

It was one of those experiences that fellow parents can relate to … awful! Again, it makes me so thankful for a daughter who is usually content and well behaved!

Before the fiasco, she got her picture taken with Santa (I will have to upload it), and she smiled and all! I have just a few small items left to pick up, but I feel so much better about things.
Yesterday, I got a lot of cleaning done. There is still a lot to do before Thursday, but it is manageable.

When I wrote my last post, I was very overwhelmed and disappointed about missing a family gathering on mom’s side … I just hate saying no to things, but I am certainly not super human, and there really are only 24 hours in each day, so I did what I could, and I will try to be more prepared next year!

That’s my little justification for my meltdown!

Good riddance 2010

Near the end of 2009, so many people around me were complaining about what a crummy year it had been. I felt so left out. Kind of like when I used to play basketball … I always had my best game when we lost, so I couldn’t celebrate.

2009 was an amazing year! I became a mom and a homeowner … so many small miracles helped make both of those dreams of mine a reality. I was on Cloud 9.

Enter 2010 …

To start the year, I had a gallbladder attack. I then had surgery to remove my gallbladder in February.

Right before Emma’s baptism in February, my car broke down when we went to visit my dying grandmother. I also got sick that weekend, but the baptism was perfect. One high note!

In March, I lost my grandma. She was the only grandparent I had left … the only grandparent I had known for nearly 20 years.

To start off May, I became more sick than I have ever been in my life. I was vomiting, had two black eyes (not sure if that was from vomiting or a virus) and couldn’t keep anything down for days. After three trips to the doctor, it was determined that I had an uncommon virus, which eventually resulted in pneumonia. I missed two weeks … of life.

The year didn’t really get worse, but my attitude did. I felt unhappy despite the blessings all around me.

Today was one of worst I’ve had in a long time. I am not excited about Christmas. I feel like I have no control … like I’m failing those around me. I hope that’s not the case, but I can’t seem to shake this slum.

When this month comes to an end, I will welcome 2011 in all its glory. I will
strive to count my blessings every day. I will make sure I never feel this way again even if more unfortunate events happen seemingly all at once.

Wedding bells for Alicia and Luke

We have been planning and helping prepare for Alicia and Luke’s wedding for a long time. And the big day finally came on Saturday, Sept. 25! What a beautiful, fun and amazing time we all had! Alicia was the most beautiful bride I have ever seen. Seriously.

We are so happy for them and so honored that we all were able to be a part of their big day.

I remember when Alicia asked me to be in her wedding … to be her maid (matron sounds old) of honor. I was very shocked and very, very honored! See, Alicia has three brothers and no sisters, which is kind of sad. But, she grew up with several girl cousins, who are all amazing and very sisterly.

In the past year, I have come to realize that Alicia thinks of me as her true sister, and I have been touched beyond words. We have become very good friends, and that has been such an amazing gift!

She also asked if Emma could be the flower girl. I am not exaggerating when I say that Emma was only a few weeks old at the time. I had these early visions of Emma walking with long, beautiful curls and I would be thin.

Neither came true, but the joy and happiness we all anticipated was certainly evident. And Emma was a huge hit ... not much hair, but she walked down the aisle with me and was good throughout the entire ceremony. She also tore up the dance floor!

What a fabulously, perfect-planned wedding. I have to give Alicia so much credit. She spent A LOT of time and energy planning all of the details, and it showed. Everything was so perfect!

She was stunning - her hair, dress, makeup, jewelry, everything was perfect. The colors were great for the fall wedding. The decorations were beautiful ... e

verything just came together!

Denny also got to be a groomsman. He was pretty handsome in that tux ... and it was neat to see all of the brothers stand together ... five between Luke and Alicia!

It was a very fun, very hectic, very perfect day!

Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Luke Miller!