latest news

As most of you know I had been planning on starting nursing school on Jan 12th. I was given some papers that had to be filled out to enter the program. Things like a having a physical, proof of vaccinations, and having two tb tests taken. Piece of cake right? Well it was gonna be until I had my first tb test. For anyone who doesn't know, a tb test tells you whether you have been exposed to the tuberculosis virus or not. Well, I got my test, which I have had in the past and of course expected to be negative. I had even been thinking to myself how stupid it was that I had to have two tb tests done when I knew I didn't have it! I mean I thought tuberculosis was for the pilgrims of something. Anywho, before the 48 hours were up I had a huge welt on my arm. I could have died! Of course it wasn't normal and it turns out my first tb test was positive. (this was christmas eve). I was pretty upset for a couple different reasons, not limited to: not being able to do school, worried about kenny and ella, not to mention all the other hundreds of people I have been around, and pretty mad that someone had it and was around me and didn't find it necessary to tell me. After I calmed down a bit I did some research. Apparently you can have tb and it be active or inactive. If it is inactive it just means you were around someone who had an active form, but you were healthy enough that your body fought the infection and "killed" it in your lungs where it still rests. If you are inactive you are not contagious... which is good. So, I had to have a chest xray to prove whether I had an active or inactive form of tb. If it is inactive I can continue with school, if active I cannot. The other stupid thing is my doctor thinks I got it in Thailand which means I have had it for years, including during my pregnancy. So, I very well could have passed it through the placenta to Ella. Thankfully every doctor I have seen says it has to be inactive. Plus, Ella's doctor says that if it would have been active I would have passed it to her and that would have been a very serious complication during the first few days of her lives. In other words we would have known by now if I had passed it on to her that way. If you are young and healthy it usually is inactive. Plus, I have never had any of the symptoms which include: high fevers, uncontrollable coughing, and major weight loss. So, as you read this please don't freak out thinking I contaminated you. I have decided to post all of this because I would like your prayers. Even though the tb is inactive, I have to go through 6 months of treatment. Anytime in my life the tb can decided to turn active if it chooses. This is why most people die when they are older of it. Once they are not that healthy anymore their body can't fight the bacteria anymore and it spreads to other parts of their body. I also would ask for prayers that I did indeed get tb from Thailand because if not then that means more than likely the person I was around who gave it to me also gave it to Kenny and Ella. I don't want Ella to have to go through such a rough treatment. I know this is a long post and kinda personal, but I need your prayers! Thanks!

stay out of the dog house

i thought this was cute and appropriate for the holiday season. Enjoy :)

this is for betsy

i also have bolded the things i have done and comments are in red. 

1. started your own blog

never write on it enough

2. slept under the stars

3. played in a band

4. visited hawaii

5. watched a meteor shower

6. given more than you can afford to charity

not sure this is possible

7. been to disneyland/world

can't wait to take ella!

8. climbed a mountain

9. held a praying mantis

10. sang a solo

11. bungee jumped

12. visited paris

13. watched a lightning storm

14. taught yourself an art from scratch

parenting my first child :)

15. adopted a child

really really want to someday!

16. had food poisoning

and never been back to ponderosa... or should i say pondergrosa!

17. walked to the top of the statue of liberty

18. grown your own vegetables

19. seen the mona lisa in france

20. slept on an overnight train

from Chaing Mai to Bangkok.... worst night ever. you can't stretch out and they don't turn out the lights. 

21. had a pillow fight

favorite family pastime as a kid

22. hitch hiked

23. taken a sick day when you're not ill

def. when i worked at cracker barrel

24. built a snow fort

25. held a lamb

26. gone skinny dipping

27. run a marathon

28. ridden in a gondola in venice 

29. seen a total eclipse

30. watched a sunrise or sunset

31. hit a home run

32. been on a cruise

33. seen niagara falls in person

34. visited the birthplace of your ancestors

scotland... so much fun and so beautiful!

35. seen an amish community

36. taught yourself a new language

37. had enough money to be truly satisfied

what a dumb question

38. seen the leaning tower of pisa in person

39. gone rock climbing

40. seen michelangelo's david

41. sung karaoke

i can't believe i haven't done this

42. seen old faithful geyser erupt

43. bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant

in nashville, tn for june bug and his friend (can't remember the friends name)

44. visited africa

45. walked on a beach by moonlight

46. been transported in an ambulance

too many times

47. had your portrait painted

48. gone deep sea fishing

49. seen the sistine chapel in person

50. been to the top of the eiffel tower in paris

51. gone scuba diving or snorkeling

on my honeymoon... it was so cool! 

52. kissed in the rain

pretty sure we were in the pool also

53. played in the mud

54. gone to a drive-in theater

55. been in a movie

56. visited the great wall of china

57. started a business

58. taken a martial arts class

59. visited russia

60. served at a soup kitchen

61. sold girl scout cookies

62. gone whale watching

63. got flowers for no reason

64. donated blood, platelets or plasma

65. gone sky diving

loved watching my family! i want to so bad, but kenny won't go with me :(

66. visited a nazi concentration camp

67. bounced a check

68. flown in a helicopter

unfortunately i was being lifelined

69. saved a favorite childhood toy

70. visited the lincoln memorial

71. eaten caviar

72. pieced a quilt

73. stood in times square

love nyc

74. toured the everglades

75. been fired from a job

76. seen the changing of the guards in london

no, but have been to london and wish i could go back

77. broken a bone

finger in basketball in elementary school

78. been on a speeding motorcycle

79. seen the grand canyon in person

80. published a book

81. visited the vatican

82. bought a brand new car

83. walked in jerusalem

84. had your picture taken in the newspaper

85. read the entire bible

86. visited the white house

87. killed and prepared an animal for eating

watched my teammates in thailand... i would not participate. 

88. had chickenpox

89. saved someone's life

90. sat on a jury

91. met someone famous

92. joined a book club

93. lost a loved one

94. had a baby

95. seen the alamo in person

96. swam in the great salt lake

97. been involved in a law suit

98. owned a cell phone

99. been stung by a bee

dang that's long. your turn :)

Ella's first birthday

Last Sat. we had a big ol' birthday bash for Ella at the house. It went pretty well. We had quite a few people over... maybe too many for a one year old to handle, but it was all in good fun. She was a wonderful baby, ate some cake, and got some pretty awesome presents. Even though I am sad at times that she is already one, I am always so excited to see all the new things she will do. For example we started learning baby signs together and so far she has mastered the sign for "more" and "light." So cool. I love that she is communicating with me before she can even talk! I can't wait to experience all the new things that will happen this next year. 

in a blink of an eye watch me grow

Last night I was cleaning out an old box of stuff when I came across a present I had received at a baby shower before Ella was born. It was a picture frame keepsake kit. You make an imprint of your baby's foot and hand and then put a picture between them. So cute.... the thing is I forgot all about it and my baby is almost one already! I was sitting there upset with myself for being too busy this last year to ever get around to doing it when I realized I was really sad. I mean really sad. I pretty much was on the verge of tears. I kept setting there wondering why I was so upset and then it hit me. My baby is growing up. She will be one on the 10th and I can't even believe it. Most of the time I am very happy when I think about her growing up and all the new things she will experience, but last night I hated it. I no longer can lay her down in my arms and rock her to sleep.... she won't let me. I no longer can fall asleep with her on the couch... once again she won't let me. She no longer is trying to crawl towards me, but trying to walk away from me. You might think I am being dramatic or over-exaggerating, and maybe I am, but I can't help it! I gave birth to her and now she is well on her way out of the house. Ok, I know that is a while away, however, is it not my job to get her ready to be on her own? Sigh. I just hope she will always know how much I love her. So, I want to tell everyone that if you just had a baby or when you have a baby cherish EVERY moment while they are little! I know that everyone says that, but honestly it is so true. I do not know where this last year went. I wish I would have taken more pictures and spent more time just enjoying her. So, I have decided that until she no longer lets me I am going to go down stairs after she falls asleep and pick her up and rock her. This is the only time these days that she is still and lets me hold her. I will try to cherish this time until it also ends. I will leave you all with some wonderful pics....

Ella update

It's been forever so I think I need to catch everyone up on all the things my precious baby is doing these days :)

Not only is she a great crawler, she loves to swim and I don't mean in the pool. This is the way she crawls. (it has also been referred to as the worm). It's hard to explain, but for those of you who have seen it you know what I am talking about. 

She also has been standing up for a while now. She loves to stand up ALL the time. She has been starting to cruise around by holding on to stuff, but she is not the best at that. 

About a week ago she stated waving! It's sooo stinkin cute, especially when she waves at herself in the mirror! 

Another cute thing.... whenever she is really excited she makes these grunting noises that sound like a motor trying to start. It's pretty funny. 

Oh and the best thing is that she gives hugs now.  WHEnever we pick her up she grabs you around your neck and hugs so tight. It's the best feeling in the world!

She also is cuter than ever because her front teeth caME in  with the c `ute` st (she's helping me write this as we spe a`k along WITH bitting the comp)`. `;`) ok I was saying, she looks stinkin cute because her front teeth are in and she has the cutest space between them.

I also think she might have red hair..... it's coming in more red all the time.

She also LOVES to laugh especially after she sneezes. :) Her dad is the best at making her laugh. It doesn't take much, all you have to do is shake your head. :)

She also has started saying dada ALL the time. The only problem is she says it to everyone. :) 

She also has her first attachment.... she is in love with this little puppy stuff animal my mom got her. Whenever you give it to her she hugs it so tight. Once again too cute! 

I'm sure there is more, but that is all I can think of at the moment..... we love and miss you all!

things I love

baby hugs

baby kisses

baby bottoms

baby clothes

pretty much anything baby

chocolate chip cookies with milk

lily and james

the fact that kenny always does the dishes 

adventures with kenny

spring flowers

sunny days

calzone jones

friends

watching ella in the bath

family

ella trying to talk to everyone she meets

singing at the top of my lungs in the car

taking ella for walks

reading on the porch

being a stay at home mom

being independent

realizing who i am

as i sit here and think about it the list could go on and on. there are so many things to be thankful for! i am so blessed and so thankful for everyone in my life. all the good and all the bad because it has made me who i am.