Christmas Picture Blog

So Christmas came and went, and I am glad it is over! I am ready for new beginnings and resolutions. Hoping this year, the resolutions will stick! My surgery is next week, and I am steadily becoming more anxious. I have been having some symptoms with my gallbladder over the last few days, and I am so sick of being sick!

Ryan started seeing an internal medicine specialist per recommendations by our family physician. He has been having some really drenching night sweats not related to his blood sugars and we're worried about lymphoma. With Ryan's history of cancer, we can not be too careful. He had blood work and a CatScan this week and on Jan 31 we will revisit the physician to go over the results. It is a very scary feeling.

Lily and Lacey are enjoying Girl Scouts, Basket Ball and Violin. Lacey's team won their first game! Lily isn't enjoying violin as much as I thought she would but she has agreed to stick it out at least until next school year. We will start selling Girl Scout cookies shortly and both girls have a pretty big goal to obtain for their troop, so it will be challenging!

With Ryan's job, we are not able to attend our ward at church, so we are back to our "home" ward. We have missed the people there and the girls seem to enjoy the smaller classes.

Here are some photos from Christmas, and some random ones, too :)

Highlights of 2011

I can not believe it has been just over a year since I have last posted a blog! This year has been full of new beginnings, and great blessings. I can not even begin to list them all, but I will mention the most blog worthy :)

December 2010

My Granny has been having some health issues. She has always been a relatively healthy person, and on a whim she decided to get a check up after not seeing a physician for a whole 7 years. We then learned that she was anemic and that was the main cause of her acute fatigue. We went through a battery of testing to find no abnormalities. We were very grateful, and after many rounds of B12 injections, she began to feel better. Several months later, her heart began to beat in an irregular rhythm called Atrial Fibrillation. She was put on Coumadin (blood thinners) to help reduce the risk of a blood clot forming in her heart and causing a stroke, and Tambacor to help correct the arrhythmia. After several weeks on the medication, her heart rhythm didn't change so she underwent electrocardioversion (a procedure where they stop the heart completely and shock it back into sinus rhythm). It has been a month since the procedure, and she is doing well!

April 2011

My Mom is the most resilient woman I know and she has been through so much and remains so strong for us. It had been nearly a year since my Dad's passing and unexpectedly, she meet a man through a co-worker. His name is Morty, and he is perfect for my Mom. On December 19th, 2011 we learned that Mom is 7 weeks pregnant. It is truly a blessing in disguise at this moment...and Mom has declared it her Mid-Life Crisis. We are excited! .....and terrified!

I began working at my hometown nursing home on the rehabilitation unit. I really enjoy being a nurse and it is very emotionally rewarding at times. I am still working towards my certification in Palliative Care, CPHN. I have to practice nursing for one more year in Geriatrics, and my plan to continue my education is still somewhere out there in the future!

May 2011

Daniel Graduated from High School! He is such an inspiration. He is 19 with Autism. He is one of the most genuine and caring people I know. He is always willing to lend a hand with what ever is needed. He put pictures of our Grandpa and my Dad in his cap because he wanted them to be there, and he knew they would both be so proud of him!

June 2011

Birthdays! Lily turned 12 years old and Lacey turned 9. They are growing up so fast, and it makes me feel so old to think that I am almost the mother of a teen!

August 2011

After 5 weeks of being laid off from yet another temporary job, Ryan was directly hired on at a large law firm as a Litigation Specialist. He was super excited to "move up" in the career field as well as getting the opportunity to travel. We are very blessed! Ryan spent a week on Washington D.C and a week in Boston and in February 2012 he will be spending some time in New York. He only travels for training, and isn't away from home a lot and I am VERY grateful for that!

As always, the transition from summer to school routine was rough! Lily started 6th grade and Lacey 4th. The girls are in two different schools this year, Lily is in 6th grade and in our district the 6th graders are all other in one building in an attempt to prepare them for Jr. High next year. Lily, although she wouldn't admit it, was very nervous. She is doing well considering the changes and the increased responsibility. Lily is playing the violin this year in the Strings Program. She has some challenges, being left handed, and having right handed instructors, but she enjoys it, and is nervous about the performances and concerts! Lacey joined the Girl Scouts this year, and is also in the Aquatics Program, and Youth Basketball. She is doing excellent in regards to her grades this year! I am so proud of both of my girls :)

October 2011

Family Photos compliments of Rana Watt Photography

Pumpkin Patch 2011

Halloween 2011

Turning 30! And GREAT NEWS!

The morning of my birthday I received a phone call that I'd been waiting weeks for. I was approved for Vertical Gastric Sleeve surgery(a type of weight loss surgery) I had attended a seminar in August and wasn't expecting the process to go so quickly. I did not have time to take off work until January so my surgery is scheduled for January 16th 2012 at 8am. I am have ever emotion possible right now as the time approaches and I am counting down the days :)

We celebrated my birthday with dinner at Olive Garden and shopping. I started my Christmas shopping early, and the time to ourselves was greatly needed. Our work schedules are so hectic sometimes, as I am working 12hr night shifts and he is working mid-second shifts. We have come to cherish even more the time we have together!

Thanksgiving came and went, and I didn't even take a single photo :(

Our Black Friday shopping was a little different. Mom and Ashley didn't go, and Ryan and I spent 9 hours at the Dayton Mall. We scored a 32 inch HDTV for our bedroom from Linen's & More ...haha of ALL places...for $160, and a bunch things for the girls from the other stores while we waited on Linen's to open.

This year has been great, but I look forward to many new great things in 2012!

7 Months

November 24th marked 7 months since I have seen him...touched him...heard his voice...told him I loved him. Every day is a new day with different challenges. I am not sad anymore, just grateful to have had such a wonderful father on this earth. I am so lucky to have so many great memories. I miss you, Dad!

“Death lays its heavy hand upon those dear to us and at times leaves us baffled and wondering. In certain situations, as in great suffering and illness, death comes as an angel of mercy. But for the most part, we think of it as the enemy of human happiness. The darkness of death can ever be dispelled by the light of revealed truth. ‘I am the resurrection, and the life,’ spoke the Master. ‘He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.’ [John 11:25–26]” - Thomas S. Monson, Liahona, Jan 2002

Holiday Number One

Today, I am thankful. I am blessed with amazing people that I call my family. The holidays this year are expected to be emotional. Thanksgiving was the first major holiday without my Dad. I am relieved that the day simply came and went.

I started a new tradition this year, as change is good with grieving.

Normally, Thanksgiving dinner is at my parents' and Mom does all the cooking. Everyone comes to eat and relax. This year, I did the cooking and everyone came to my home. The food was a success and I got many compliments that my version of dishes were similar to my Grandma's. She taught me well! I think I called her 15 times before the turkey was even stuffed!

We also changed up our Black Friday tradition. Instead of trying to sleep for a few hours, we occupied ourselves with card games after dinner until around mid-night. Then we hit the road in search of not a whole lot. We didn't have a game plan or a huge wish list this year, so we were just going to say we did. Our first stop was Walmart where we scored the $25 Leapster with a few games and bedding sets....a quick trip to Walgreens for cheap WebKinz, Meijer just to browse and see the crowds, Big Lots for Zhu Zhu's and Pillow Pets then K-Mart for digital cameras and knitted socks. Yeah, we stood in line 45 minutes for knitted socks! We made it home by 8:00am and we were exhausted!

The weekend wasn't a complete waste, we did manage to find the energy to dig the holiday decorations out of our barn. We put our tree up and decorations around the house. I am excited about filling the floor with gifts and making new memories with my awesome family!

Halloween

The weather was perfect for Halloween. We carved Pumpkins and I failed once again at trying something new and had to piece the design together with toothpicks. It was worth a try! It is meant to be an owl on a limb...but Lacey tells me it looks more like road kill. Ashley's turned out great...although hers too is tooth-picked! The third pumpkin we decided should be a normal pumpkin so we carved a silly face.

Owl or Roadkill?

Ordinary Bat or Edward Cullen? Each year it is getting more difficult for the girls to chose a costume. Lily wanted to be twenty different things but finally decided last minute to be a nerd. Why a nerd? "Because I have all the accessories already and you can give me the costume money for the new Diary of a Wimpy Kid book!" She bought the book and had it completely read in 2 hours. I hesitated telling her that dressing up for Halloween should be something out-of-your-ordinary every day persona. Anyhow, she did a super job picking out her clothing and accessories from her own room..and Ryan's closet.

Lacey originally wanted to be a Nurse. Lily was a nurse a few years go and we kept the home-made accessories and the custom was simple and easy. We looked everywhere for scrubs and had no luck and then she saw a Devil horn headband. Decision made.

We took our normal route on beggar's night. The houses participating were spare and after walking 6-8 blocks, for a total of 2 hours, their bags were half full. Mom, Ashley and Jordan (Skeleton), Lee and Xavier (Robin Hood) came with us. We all had a great time, and we're so blessed to have such beautiful children :)

Welcome Fall!

The fall weather has been lovely! We really enjoy the cool nights and drinking hot chocolate on the front porch. The leaves on the trees have changed and mother natures color scheme is awesome. Fall has slowly became my favorite season as I have gotten older. The changes are more apparent than other seasons and it inspires a change within myself. I have endured many changes this year and have learned a lot about myself. When my Dad passed away, I was lost. I was in a state of shock for weeks, maybe even months. I honestly didn't know how to cope with the loss of a huge part of my life. I found myself in a state of depression and it began to affect my ability to be a wife and mother. Through much prayer, I finally gained courage and strength to detour my emotional state. Today has been 5 months since my Dad left this earth, and each day is a new day with new feelings and experiences.

On a happier note, Lily went to 5th Grade Camp at Camp Kern last week. She had a great time! I was so nervous, as she has never stayed away from home before. I was expecting a 2a.m phone call each night! She was able to participate in Archery, Canoeing, Hiking, and Pioneer Days - making homemade ice cream and much more. She made some new friends and gained a feeling of independence. I always fix her hair every morning before school and pick out her clothes. For once, she was able to do those things for herself, and she said she didn't like it! That made me feel great :) She'll always be my "baby".


Lacey is doing GREAT in school this year! With her ADHD diagnosis and being unmedicated I am amazed. She hasn't brought home a grade below an %80! Reading is still her weakest subject but she is very determined to finish a book once she starts. Math is her favorite subject and she has became a pro at counting money, telling time, and figuring out story problems on her own. Spelling seems so much easier for her this year, we study each night with a dry-erase board to make it fun. She has rarely missed a word on a test so far. She is super-excited to be starting the Aquatic's Team in a few weeks! She will be going to the YMCA on Friday's for swimming and aquatic exercises. They are also teaching life skills in her resource class including a weekly cooking class where she gets to make simple meals for lunch. I am so pleased with our school system since our move 2 years ago. I am looking forward to hearing great news at conferences in a few weeks.
Ryan is still working and loving his job. He has interviewed for a few different, more permanent positions with the company and we're both excited to hear good news next week. I am not back to work yet, but collecting unemployment. I am lucky enough to qualify for the the extension which gives me 20 additional weeks. I am really looking forward to a position in home-care so that my schedule will be more flexible and I will not be dependent on anyone to help me with the girls. We learned that Ryan isn't any good at dressing or hair-fixing last year!

I am making a goal to further my education. With the job-search that I've been doing, I have discovered that the higher the degree, the better the position. I am looking into Ohio University's Online Program, RN-BSN. Most of the prerequisites from my current bachelor's degree will transfer and I will have to take about 15 5-week courses to complete the program. I am also looking into becoming certified in Palliative Care, CPHN. That an examination that is offered after gaining two years experience in the field, and the credential shows expertise in the area. Working in home care and with geriatric patients will give me the experience needed to be able to sit for the exam.

We are truly blessed with so much greatness in our lives. Each day offers a new beginning!

New Beginnings

The month of August was full with lots of excitement! Everything from Ryan's new job to the girls starting a new year of school.

My little sister also quit smoking, obtained her temporary drivers license, and scored a boyfriend!

Lily will be going to Camp Kern with her 5th grade class next month. She is nervous and a little reluctant about going, but it is expected as she has never spent time away from home without me. I know she will have a lot of fun, and gain many experiences that can never be replaced.



Lacey loves her new teacher and friends! She is in the resource group again this year and there are many new activities planed for them, such as swimming at the YMCA on Friday's in place of phys ed class. She aced her first spelling test and I am so proud of her! Lacey had her annual optometrist appointment in August, also and she chose a really cute pair of Ray-Ban frames. We were pleased to hear that her vision hasn't declined any further since last year.

The weather has been cooler and fall is setting in. I love fall, and everything about it! The smell, the festivities, and the nice weather. For the month of September, we plan on finishing up on some housework...painting, flooring, decorating the family room.