Thankful Thursday 02/14/2008

1. My Sunday School kids. They are so great!

2. The Complete Jane Austen on PBS

3. Lucy's adorable shoe/socks

4. Hoops and Yoyo

5. Westminister Kennel Club Dog Show

Chapter One: The night was humid.

I am suffering from a lack of ideas to write about and I keep getting these quizzes sent to me. Here's another one for your enjoyment.

60 Things You Possibly Didn't Know About Me

1. What is in the back seat of your car right now?
Crumbs, wrappers, stroller, diapers(clean), books, toys, binkies

2. When was the last time you threw up
This morning

3. What's your favorite curse word?
I plead the 5th

4. Name 3 people who made you smile today?
Emily, Christopher, Calvin, Spencer and Cameron

5. What were you doing at 8 am this morning?
ironing a shirt for my husband

6. What were you doing 30 minutes ago?
laying on the couch

7. What will you be doing 3 hours from now?
laying on the couch

8. Have you ever been to a strip club?
Nope

9. What is the last thing you said aloud?
Watch him for me for a minute...

10. What is the best ice cream flavor?
peach

11. What was the last thing you had to drink?
water

12. What are you wearing right now?
jeans and t-shirt

13. What was the last thing you ate?
One of Calvin's homemade rice crispy treats. It was a little dry.

14. Have you bought any new clothing items this week?
no

15. When was the last time you ran?
high school

16. What's the last sporting event you watched?
football last fall

18. Who is the last person you emailed?
my husband

19. Ever go camping?
unfortunately yes

20. Do you have a tan?
ROFL!!!

24. Do you drink your soda from a straw?
no

25. What did your last IM say?
I'm sorry

26. Are you someone's best friend?
Yep!!

27. What are you doing tomorrow?
Taking kids to see a $1 movie.

28. Where is your mom right now?
In heaven

29. Look to your left, what do you see?
my printer

30. What color is your watch?
silver

31. What do you think of when you think of Australia ?
Mari Noble

32. Would you consider plastic surgery?
No

33. What is your birthstone?
Blue Topaz

34. Do you go in at a fast food place or just hit thedrive thru?
drive thru

35.How many kids do you want?
10!

36. Do you have a dog?
unfortunately

37. Last person you talked to on the phone?
Husband

38. Have you met anyone famous?
Dr. Laura

39. Any plans today?
no

40. How many states have you lived in?
three

41. Ever go to college?
briefly

42. Where are you right now?
home

43. Biggest annoyance in your life right now?
making uncorrectable mistakes

44. Last song listened to?
Smells like Teen Spirit by Nirvana

46. Are you allergic to anything?
bills

47. Favorite pair of shoes you wear all the time?
Crocs

48. Are you jealous of anyone?
yes

50. Is anyone jealous of you?
i hope not

51. What time is it?
2:48PM

52. Do any of your friends have children?
yes

53. Do you eat healthy?
no

54. What do you usually do during the day?
damage control

55. Do you hate anyone right now?
Hate is a strong word. There are people I dislike alot.

56. Do you use the word 'hello' daily?
probably

58. How old will you be turning on your next birthday?
34

59. Have you ever been to Six Flags?
no

60. How did you get one of your scars?
running into a pole in my yard

Tagged

Four jobs I have had in my life
Receptionist
Office Manager
Salesperson
Mom

Four places I have lived:
Toledo, Ohio
Provo, Utah
East Lansing, Michigan
Plymouth, Michigan

Four places I have been:
Chicago, Illinois
Toronto, Ontario
Ft. Myers, Florida
Los Angeles, California

Four of my favorite foods:
Anything lemon
Steak with Bernaise
Crab and Lobster
Chicken Sandwich with mayo, lettuce and extra tomato

Four places I would rather be right now
In bed
Library

Can't think of anywhere else. I like being here.

Weekly Top Five 2/11/08

Top Five Favorite Kind of Trees

1. Catalpa

2. Ginkgo

3. London Plane

4. Osage Orange


5. Weeping Willow

Happy Birthday, Sunny Son!

Today is Christopher's 10th birthday! It is amazing to me that he is already 10 years old. Seems like just yesterday I held him as a newborn. Christopher was born 10 days early and I was quite caught off guard when my water broke on the afternoon of February 7, 1998. Chris' parents were visiting us in East Lansing that day and his mom and I had spent the afternoon shopping at Meijer for what seemed like a million 6-packs of Diet Orange Crush for Chris' uncle. He couldn't get this kind of pop up in St. Ignace and we found it at Meijer and loaded it from the cart to the car and then from my car into her car. Maybe it was all that lifting and straining with the pop, but soon after we returned home, I felt a little "pop" and knew my water broke. The funny thing was that there wasn't a gush of water like in the movies, just a little trickle. I called my midwife who recommended that I go to the hospital to be checked. Chris was at work and we couldn't get in touch with him to take me so my FIL had to take me. He got a kick out of telling the hospital staff that it was his baby. I wasn't so amused.

I got checked and, yes indeed, my water had broken. I was admitted and started walking to get the labor going. This was about 5pm. Chris made it to the hospital and we spent the evening watching the opening ceremonies for the Nagano, Japan Olympics. And breathing through contractions. Finally at 11:30 I was ready to push and did so for 7 minutes and out plopped this beautiful little boy weighing 8lbs 9oz. We didn't know the gender of Christopher before this moment and I had been sure that he was going to be a girl. I was so shocked that I said, "A boy? Does he have a penis?" The midwife and nurse thought this was pretty funny and assured me that he did, in fact, have the required boy parts. He was very beautiful and sweet and I held him in my arms and felt wonderful and scared at the same time.

My Emily was the light of my life and here was this stranger, a boy to boot, that I was supposed to love too. I didn't know how I could do it. I remember calling Chris from the hospital several times during the night, crying and asking him to reassure me that I could be a good mother to two children. The next day, little Em came to visit me and the new baby at the hospital. She was 23 months old and wearing the cutest little yellow outfit. I will never forget the moment she was lifted onto the hospital bed and reached out to touch her new little brother. My heart grew that moment to have enough love for both of these little children. I had lots of visitors that day including my dad and sister and many friends. The Erekson's brought me a cake with the phrase, "He has a penis!" in frosting in honor of my question right after he was born. All the nurses wanted to have a piece of the "penis" cake. To clarify, it didn't depict a penis, just had the word on it.

I spent some very challenging weeks at home over the next bit. Emily was trying to find her place in our new family dynamic and she did this by being as naughty as possible. Christopher could never have enough to eat and I spent ALOT of time feeding him. Reading my journal from this time reminds me of the frustration that I felt. It was difficult. Christopher grew into a wonderfully sweet tempered infant. My nickname for him was the "Sunny Son" because he was so sunny. Always a smile for me. He has continued this trend to become a very wonderfully sweet tempered child. I look at him now and often think that his future wife is going to be very lucky. He is kind, considerate and always sensitive of others feelings. I love my Sunny Son. Happy Birthday, Christopher!

Thankful Thursday 02/07/2008

1. Being able to see a little patch of bare floor in my laundry room.

2. Pac Man

3. Lifelong friendships

4. When others are patient and forgiving with me

5. Kids Play Cafe

Weekly Top Five 2/4/08

Top Five Favorite Talks by President Hinckley

1. Some Thoughts on Temples, Retention of Coverts and Missionary Service

2. To the Women of the Church

3. A Prophet's Counsel and Prayer for Youth

4. The Faith to Move Mountains

5. The Women in our Lives