Wow, does life come at you hard sometimes...

Wow, life has become a blur of craziness... so many things are going on. E is growing so fast... saying "hi" "mama" "dada". Xmas was very fun. E got a baby doll we call Shelby, a kalidescope, a bear tower, a gingerbread man doll and a way cool pair of pink Converse tennies. She is gonna be stylin in those shoes... Converse tennies are a long run inside joke between the family (especially between Kt and Dad) and they let E in on the fun this year!!

My fav gift is my coupon book (sounds stupid, but I love this thing cause it keeps me organized) and my expresso machine! I am paying $3 a day at work for a coffee and now can make it at home for a fraction of the cost.

G's fav gift is his wine making kit he got from his uncle and his golf bag he got from my parents. He's already gotten the actualy "wine ingredients" to make the wine (an early birthday present from me) so he's pumped to start making his black raspberry mix and hit the golf course.

Today we are down at a larger hospital in SE MN sitting with my mom... my grandpa has been sick. It all started about 2 weeks ago with pnemonia. He couldn't breath and called my mom to take him to the ER. After being in the hospital for a week, he wasn't getting his strength back and had to go into a nursing home for a short time (luckily the nursing home my grandma's in). He had been in some severe pain and wasn't getting any better and wasn't able to go the the bathroom (#2, gross I know, sorry) so somehow it was discovered that he had a torn colon. So now here we are, in this huge hospital in a family waiting room as I write this entry (kinda nice that they have this computer here). He had the surgery late last night. The biggest concern was having him breathe alone after the vent came out. They were going to try, but expected to have to switch it back on. Well, he has amazed everyone and is breathing on his own after the first try. He is also talking, which he was having trouble doing in the hospital. We were able to bring E in, which I think was the best medicine so far for him! We hope he gets better soon, these ICU rooms are kinda scary.

2 more days of my old job!! I am really looking forward to starting my new job on the 2nd!! I am excited to learn about the ins and outs of child support and all that comes along with it. It is bound to be VERY interesting. And who can complain about 8-4:30 m-f!!! Yeah for me :)

E and I are looking forward to our all girls sleepover this weekend! It is at T's house and it should be really fun! (Especially if J can get off work!) Then the weekend after that is our xmas with G's family. We are really looking forward to that also. A nice relaxing day at home, some yummy food and fun presents.

So no pics for now, since I'm on a hospital computer I can't download them... I promise not to take so long inbetween posts this next time!!

Happy New Year!! Everyone celebrate safely!!

K

Starting new in the New Year!

Wow, I have had a day of complete turmoil! I haven't really talked openly about my job search on the blog, cause you just never know who may see it... but today after weeks of waiting, I got a call and was offered a new job! Over a month ago I applied for this position with the County and was required to take a test. If I passed with over a 70, then my name was posted on a list of eligible applicants and I would then possibly get an interview. Well, I found out 2 weeks ago that I got a 93! Then last week I had an interview... and today she called me! I'm thrilled. Nice hours, benefits, etc. I accepted with a huge smile on my face... then reality set in. I had to give my 2 week notice. Now I've worked at my current job on and off for almost 10 years. This was something I was DREADING!! Oh, I was scared, nervous, and sad. I loved some parts of my job (customers, merchandise, coworkers) and hated some other parts (I won't go there) so it is bittersweet for me. I gave my notice today. Went ok, as well as can be expected after working there for so long and when they had NO CLUE it was coming. I cried, we hugged, there was shock and confusion and then simply acceptance. I hope that acceptance continues for the next 2 weeks. It is a step in the right direction for my future and the future of my family. I will be in a place where I can move up... continue to receive steady pay increases... make a career out of the job... have excellent benefits... have a desk (where I can actually put pics of my family) sounds silly but that makes me so excited!! I am so ready for this. I just hope my next two weeks of work go ok.

Ok, that was my turmoil day. It was hard, but it is over! G and E are already sleeping. Tomorrow we are both off and plan on heading to Sams Club and then to do some x-mas shopping. It will be fun, I'm looking forward to it. Don't think G necessarily is, but I am! Alright, I'm gonna sit down and have a glass of wine and relax. Take care everyone and here's a couple new pics of E. (M in ATL tell your mom I got the job! If she has the internet down there tell her to check out the blog!)

Yes, she still has a mohawk!

Sitting and Teeth!

Wow, things have changed since the last time I blogged! E can now sit up, she can't actually get into the sitting position, but once we put her there she is good to go for quite a while (til she falls over). She is doing some really awesome things right now (do I sound like a ridiculous mom or what?!) she claps, plays patty cake, giggles, screams, plays peek-a-boo, says da da, loves to bounce, eats rice cereal, drinks from her sippy cup, eats some baby foods, had some of Grandpa R's birthday cake frosting last night, drinks apple juice, oh I could keep going and going!

And the best of all!!!! This a.m. she woke up with a tooth! When I gave her the frosting last night on my finger, she seriously had NO tooth!! It literally came in overnight. It's just this little rigid white thing coming out of her bottom gum! I'll try to post a pic next time. A tooth, cute? Have I lost my mind.

Can you believe Christmas is going to be here in two weeks!? I can't wait. I'm looking forward to x-mas eve... we get to go to a nice buffet here for dinner, first church of course, then dinner, then a nice relaxing evening at my parents house. K & S do x-mas eve with his parents so it'll just be the 5 of us. I can't wait to see E open presents! I do think that she will kinda get it. Well, whether or not she does, she'll surely enjoy playing with everything when its all opened! Especially the wrapping paper!

Last weekend I dressed her up in her Christmas dress that AuntieV gave her... it is so cute, came with a hat and white fuzzy slippers too. The goal was to get a good Christmas pic. Started out ok, she seemed to be tolerant of me wanting to get the "perfect" pic for our x-mas card... these 2 are my favs!

then she started to get fussy and tired of the flashing camera...

then she fell over...

so, after much thought.... this is the one we decided on...

j/k

The last one makes us all laugh uncontrollably... she looks seriously wasted, does she not? She's gonna hate this pic when she's 16...

Ok, it is after 12 and I need to get to bed, since she'll be up in less than 5 hours for an early a.m. snack... oh, but now that the teeth are coming, the mommy snacky snack will be coming to an end!! I'm not getting bitten, there, with teeth. OUCH! Leaving you with such a pleasant thought, I know :) Take care and I'll write again soon!

K

What's up w/ this thing...

The blog doesn't seem to wanna work for me right now... I'm gonna post a new pic of E and see if this works... if so, I'll make sure to write more tomorrow...