Happy Father's Day Dad!

I don't have any pictures of my dad and I together, but of course I have some of him and his grand kids!! My dad is probably the strongest man that I have and ever will meet in my life. Not talking physically strong, but mentally, emotionally and spiritually strong. He has been through so much in his life, and yet has the most positive outlook on life. He is also the most caring man that I have ever known. He loves and cares so much for my mom and my sister and I and would do anything to make us happy and keep us safe. The man worked himself to death for years when I was a kid working two full time jobs just to make sure my mom, sister and I had everything we wanted. When he finally took it down to just one job, I got to know my dad and spend some quality time with him. Him and I were never close when I was growing up. Him and I are too much alike that we butted heads quite a bit! Throw in his lack of sleep and my teenage attitude...BAD combination!!! Then, I got to know my dad and he got to know me. He is always there for me and understands me better than anyone else. When I need to vent, he listens. If I am having financial troubles, he offers to help without question. Him and my mom are the most amazing parents ever and I am one VERY lucky daughter to have them both. They both help me with anything and everything and I know that they are both just a phone call away if I need them. I am very lucky to have them. I hate being 2000 miles away for Mother's Day and Father's Day, but I do get to see them in just a couple of weeks when they come to see Emily and I!

But, as this blog had started, and as it will finish, I just wanted to write a blog for my dad to say Thank you for being the greatest dad ever. I love you more than you will ever know. Happy Father's Day Dad!!!

Love -Your Stubborn Daughter!

Summer Time

Ahh...the summer weather is officially here!! I LOVE summer time in Michigan!! Emily was helping aunt Jen get the yard ready by pulling weeds. I just LOVE her facial expression in the picture! And, had to take a picture of her hand after she got done playing with sidewalk chalk...proof that she can get dirty!

One of my FAVORITE desserts when I was growing up was Mississippi Mud Cake that my mom would make. I remember loving it, but not getting it that often because it is terribly unhealthy! I think she made it MAYBE once a year!!! But, while I was doing the biggest loser competition at work, I remembered this recipe and had a craving for it. My mom waited until the competition was over before she emailed me the recipe. Last weekend, I finally made it and Emily helped! She loves to bake. It is so much fun to have her help me...I have learned patience in the kitchen with her, rather than trying to rush through and just get the cooking/baking done. This is the stuff that I hope she remembers when she is older. I always loved helping my mom.

Emily's latest thing is to go outside when Kenneth takes the dog out. She was on my cell phone talking to Nana when Kenneth was going out. So, out she marched with cell phone in hand and only a shirt on!!! Obviously, the field in the back needs to be cut....VERY badly!

In other news...still preparing to move next month. With my parents coming out next month and bringing me A LOT of stuff, there isn't a whole lot for me to buy. I think my mom basically has my kitchen and bathroom taken care of, now I am just on a hunt for a couch and I think that will about wrap things up. I am still debating on a twin size bed for Emily or wait until next year when I get my tax return. She is still in a toddler bed, but I am thinking I want to leave the toddler bed at her uncle Rob and aunt Jen's house because she will still be starting the night off at their house while I am at work. I don't know yet...will see how much it will cost! I am very excited to get my own place and for Emily to FINALLY have her very own bedroom! I think that is what I am most excited about is her having her own room. Sad, I know!! But, the girl is my entire world!

Honestly, Where Does Time Go?!

Been a little lazy with blogging lately!! Life has been quite busy still. I get a 3 day weekend starting today, and I intend to enjoy every moment of it! I just got done working 6 days straight and am more than ready for a break from work. Wednesday night, i had a resident bite me and draw blood, so I had to go in to get my tetnus shot and get tested for HIV, Hep B and C and will get to continue to do so for the next 6 months!!! My arm is killing me and it is brusing very nicely! In the mean time, I get to take antibiotics to kill off the infection and pray that the man doesn't have HIV or hepititis!!

The final doctors appt!!! She was cleared...again. Now I just hope that she doesn't get ANOTHER ear infection! She coughed once yesterday and I just put my head down and prayed that she wasn't getting sick yet again!

And yes...after one day of putting her on the toilet every 15 minutes, she is officially potty trained! I am so happy! She hasn't had any type of accident in 5 days now and gets up in the morning and goes straight to the bathroom. She does wet in her diaper a little during the night, but not nearly as much as she used to! I am so done supporting Pampers!!!

In a new outfit that Nana and Papa sent her! She LOVES her summer clothes they got her. Thank you Nana and Papa!!

Busy Weeks!

One of the worst parts of my job are watching the residents slowly die. Above are two of my FAVORITE residents...Ted and Jean. Ted was my dude! He was hilarious. I remember my first day at work, not even five minutes of being there, he walked up to a refrigerator, opened it up and started to urinate! I know, it is beyond disgusting, but he was just too cute!! I would have to get the bleach out and completely sterilize everything almost every day because of him!! He died Thursday night and I was the one with him when he took his last breath. It was one of the hardest things to experience, but so peaceful at the same time. I had to be the witness when hospice finally showed up and pronounced him dead and then I had to be the witness when the guy from the funeral home came to take his body. It was a really long night.

Ms. Jean passed away about 3 weeks ago. She had had a stroke a few years ago and was unable to talk. The only things she could sometimes utter were, "Yeah" and "No." She was still fully together mentally and was so hilarious. She was a very stubborn lady who knew what she wanted and would do anything to get it. She was a sneaky little thing!! I LOVED her! I told everyone that I wanted to be just like Jean when I was older...with the ability to speak of course!! I wasn't there when she passed, but I was able to say my goodbyes the night before because I knew she wouldn't make it until my next shift the next day.

This morning Emily decided that she wanted to wake up at 6!! I NEVER wake up that early. I am so not a morning person! Any one who knows me knows this!! I had her crawl into bed with me in hopes that she would go back to sleep. Thank goodness she did...and until 10!!! Little bed hog!!!

And of course Saturday was my birthday. I miss being so close to my mom where I can go over to my parents house after work...or in this case...before work...and have my traditional home made birthday dinner. Luckily, my parents are coming out to MI this summer, and I have asked my mom to make it then! I am keeping my fingers crossed that she will be feeling ok to do so!! Any ways, luckily I had this weekend off and was able to spend my birthday with Emily...potty training! But, I did work Friday night, and I went I came home, I found this on the garage door!!! Emily and Tina had decorated the signs and help hang them up! I loved it!

Speaking of Potty training...I started Saturday afternoon with it, and we had a few accidents on Saturday. Today, we started first thing in the morning. And much to my amazement, she had no accidents!! Well, once with a poopy, but never once did she wet in her panties!! She even stopped playing and ran to the bathroom to go! I am so excited. I am trying not to get too excited because last time I thought we had it, she stopped! I am keeping my fingers crossed! We shall do it again tomorrow! Jen will be off tomorrow, so when I have to drag myself into work tomorrow, Jen will be home to help Emmy if she needs it! The rest of the week, I may be calling Grandma Sue to come over and help so uncle Rob doesn't have to!!!

Ah, More Medicine!

Another visit to the doctor Monday and the result: another ear infection!! My child who has NEVER been sick with anything other than a slight cold here and there, has now managed to get two ear infections and one sinus infection in a month. AGH!! The doctor did agree with me, however, that this ear infection is left over from her last one. She probably ended the antibiotics too soon and it never fully cleared up. So, this time, she put her on 6ml of antibiotics for 20 days vs. 10 days! The poor pharmacist was completely confused when I went to pick up the medicine. As you all probably know, (and if you didn't before, now you do) that liquid Augmentin is only good for 14 days once you add the water to it. This process is done as soon as the parent goes to pick up the medication. The pharmacist just adds the water right then and there and sends you on your way. Well, having to pick up a 20 day dose, the pharmacist had no idea how he was going to do this. Already puzzled at the dosage the doctor wanted her to take, he was even more amazed at how long she was supposed to take it. And then, to top it off, he looked at the computer and realized that he just filled a script for my poor child on April 15th!!! After trying to calm the pharmacist down for 5 minutes, we came to the understanding that he would just give me 1o days worth in each bottle, only add water to one, and then after 10 days, I would bring back the other bottle for him to add the water!! WOW...what a day just at Rite Aide!!! Any ways, so now little miss is back on Augmentin and she will hopefully get completely better this time. We shall see. I have to take her back to the doctor on June 1st and I will pray that she is completely better and I don't have to go back in there until December when she will be needing another round of shots. I can't believe she will be 4 soon. Amazing how time passes by in a blink of an eye.

Mother's Day Weekend in Chicago!

AH...a relaxing Mothers Day visit to Chicago!!! I just think it would be a little more fun going without a 3 year old to keep track of! One of these times, I will get away with just the girls or something and enjoy walking around without nearly having a heart attack when Emily sees something she likes and bolts for it! This really neat attraction is at Millennium Park. I just thought that it was really neat!Little miss in a taxi! The very first time I got to experience a cab ride was in Chicago last time we went. Emily loves the taxi rides! We managed to make it to Navy Pier this time! We had a blast! Spent a few hours down there and got to learn a lot of history about Chicago. I didn't even know this place existed!
Rob had looked into boat tours online before we had left, but they all were expensive. We just want a cheap weekend getaway and didn't want to pay $100 for a 20 minute boat ride on Lake Michigan! While walking down the pier, I spotted a sign that said children 3 and under were Free! I was VERY excited! Adult passes were cheap too, so we decided to take the tour. It was even 45 minutes long! Learned TONS about Chicago. Even that the Sears Tower will no longer be named the Sears Tower in a few weeks, but will be called the Willis Tower. How sad is that?! Chicago is a very interesting city with tons of history. If you ever get the chance to visit Chicago, I highly suggest going to the Navy Pier and taking this boat tour...highly informational! A lot of exhibits to go into and everything. I loved it! It was a tad on the windy side that day too! The poor girls were freezing. It really let us know why they call it the windy city! Speaking of the Sears Tower...or shall I now say the Willis Tower...her is the amazing view from out in Lake Michigan! I love the skyline!
And oh, the temper tantrums that can be thrown from little miss! She wanted a drink of coffee, but with her heart condition, she is not allowed caffeine! So, she stormed off in the middle of Chicago to sit at this little table that was 50 feet away from us in a little park area! She threw a fit for well over 20 minutes over this coffee. I just thought that she looks so cute right here. This is the beginning of the fit. Crying and screaming were added 5 minutes later!! Oh the joys of motherhood!

Emily is a very picky eater to begin with, but when she is sick, it becomes nearly impossible to get her to eat. We had gone to the store to find out if they sold Ben and Jerry's ice cream, and Emily spotted the produce. Oh my goodness the child wanted a banana! So, a banana she got and ate while we walked down the street! One of the reasons I call her monkey sometimes!
After being at Navy Pier all day, she crawled up into bed and passed out for a while! Her blanket and her dog that has to go to bed with her EVERY night!

And of course the sugar high! After drinking the coffee, Emily got the whipped cream and a sucker! Is she ever SPOILED!!!

The weekend was so much fun and the best Mothers Day weekend I have had so far. I will be taking Emily to the doctor yet again tomorrow to find out why she keeps getting sick. This is the 3rd cold she has had in 2 months...each lasting 10 days or longer. She is on day 10 with this cold so far. Poor kid. She has been sick more than healthy in the past 3 months.

March of Dimes

Kind of a general idea of how many people were there, however, there are tons more that were behind us! It was a HUGE event and was so much fun! Little miss walked 3 out of the 4 miles! I carried her on my shoulders for the other mile. She did amazing.

While standing in the arena, Jen spotted the University of Oregon flag! Of course I had to look for the Oregon State flag, but they didn't have it. But, I did have to take a picture of the Oregon flag at least!!! GO OREGON!!!

The kiddos waiting to walk. They had fun too...shocking! Kenny wasn't so thrilled with wearing a purple shirt however, but he wore it the whole time!

Emily's t-shirt was an adult small!! She now wears it as pajamas, but she wore it ALL day. I tried to take it off of her when we got home, but she told me no and said, "Mommy, my purple shirt, no take off!" So, she wore it all day!

And what is a walk without an injury! Within the first quarter of a mile, Emily fell and scratched her knee. I had to take a picture of if so there was proof that she put all of her might into this walk!

The walk was so much fun. Every 1/10 mile, they had a sign that said, "Week 1" for the first 1/10 mile. For the next 1/10, the sign said, "Week 2." By then I figured out what they were doing! The walk was 4 miles long and for every 1/10 of a mile, they posted the baby's development in the womb!! How awesome is that?! I remember while pregnant with both girls I would look up online what they were developing that week. Kind of wanted to know what my baby was looking like and able to do! It was neat to read the signs as we were walking. Brought back many memories. I am already looking forward to doing the walk next year!