Ta Da!

Finally. I know, I know.

Here are some photos of my amazingly perfect daughter:

Hi guys!

Jane Nicole Wilson

born December 19 at 9:03am

7 pounds 4 ounces

18 inches long

(you can't imagine how time consuming it is to stare at her beautiful face all day long - I have no idea where the time goes!!)

So here's the whole story from December 19th:

1:45 am - woke up and rushed into the bathroom (skip this part if it grosses you out) to find that my pants were SOAKED. I'm not talking sat-in-a-puddle wet, but more like jumped-in-the-pool soaked. Um, I guess my water broke. I sat there for 15 minutes to figure out how to stop the flow. Everytime I stood there was more and more dripping! I went from - "yey, my baby is coming early" to "oh my god, this baby is coming today"! I took a shower, put a newborn sized diaper in my pants, and paid the bills.

3:00 am - no contractions yet, so I called the doctor. The one on call told me to wait to go to the hospital until contractions were regular. So, Blaine & I went back to bed (well, I just read and started to time the (very mild) contractions that started around 4:15 am.

6:00 am - My contractions had been regular, although still very mild, so I sent an email to some family and friends to let them know we'd be headed to the hospital. Called the doctor at 6:20 to let him know we'd be there around 7:30. Then, we took this last picture of me pregnant:

Me, preggo, at 6:38 am Dec 19th

8:00 am - my Dr. shows up & verifies through ultrasound what the nurse suspected when she first checked me: the baby is breach (butt down - like the letter "V"). He keeps talking about all the options, but how the safest option is to do a ceserean, but I am just tearing up and trying to focus on what he is saying. The whole time he is talking he is patting my knee and people are moving around quickly. He tries to comfort me by saying that they are just available and the surgery room is ready, so we can just go in there now - but it is not an emergency. Meanwhile, someone is shaving my downtown, someone else is hooking up the IV, someone is strapping on some leg compression boots, and still someone else is asking me to sign all these papers, and I am leaking tears the whole time. It sure seems to be moving quickly.

9:03 am - Jane is pulled out! I hear the Dr. say "well, she's definitely a girl!" followed by some wailing. I am so drugged up that I just cry and wait, cry and wait for someone to show me my little girl. Blaine is so enthralled with watching the surgery that I have to insist that he go to the baby. Here is the very first picture of our girl:

Jane's first photo

10:00 am - I get to hold my little girl for the first time in the recovery room. Warning: the next photo kinda shows my whoo-haas. Blaine almost refused to take the picture, but I insisted on having a picture of the first time I held my baby. I still couldn't feel anyting from the chest down - I'm talking not being able to wiggle my toes - weird! Anyhow, you can tell that I'm all drugged up still, but the wide eyes are for the miracle baby that I am holding.

11:00 am - wheeled into the hospital room, where Alice and Howard were waiting for us. Here is our first ever family picture:

The next few days were totally a blur of gracious visitors, trying to get out of bed, feeding a baby every 2-ish hours, being woken up by the nurses constantly, staring at my beautiful girl, staring at Blaine staring at our beautiful girl, and nearly passing out in the hospital shower.

Thank you to everyone for visiting and loving our baby. We can't get enough of her!

You know you are getting old when...

Week 35

November 29, 2007

So, I innocently ask the Dr. at Wednesday's appointment, "how big is this baby?" He replies with the following non-answer: "If I were a betting man, I'd say you'll have this baby one week after your due date." What the..??!!

I was so000 sure that this kid was coming out ASAP, I mean, there is simply no more room in there, right? Most women will tell me what I want to hear: "oh yeah, that kid will be born in 2007, mark my words." -sigh- They are so nice and deceiving.

At any rate, we are slowly getting the baby room in order. After spending a fabulous Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday with Jodi & Dean, et al. (SEE DEAN'S BLOG LINK ON THE RIGHT FOR GREAT COMMENTARY), we stopped in San Jose to pick up the crib. Alas, the dresser has yet to come in, but I'll settle for whatever 'nesting' I can do. To finnish off the title of this blog post: you know you are getting old when you just want to stay home Friday night to wash crib sheets so you can put them on the new crib!!

There is a ton of baby crap still all over the place awaiting the dresser, but here is a view of the crib:

Pretty cute, right? I also decided to take off the doors to the closet in order to create more space for a bookcase. (IKEA purchase). I'm not really sure this kid has enough clothes - what do you think?

And more clothes keep-a-comin' nearly everyday. If you are one of those generous folks: THANK YOU! I will mail you a thank you note soon. Keep reading to understand the delay (sorry!).

In other news... only 4 more trips to San Jose this semester! I have a final due tomorrow (12/1), and my other two classes will only meet a total of 3 more times!! Hallelujah. I am just a little bit tired, and only slightly overwhelmed, in addition to being a bit uncomfortable. Truly, I can't complain about this pregnancy's effects on my body. Even the drives to class aren't terrible. The courses are interesting and (for the most part) relevant to my daily work.

I won't go into detail about work, but I am looking forward to two things:

1 - getting a final date to begin demolition of the swimming pool building.

2 - not working for 2 months!!

Have a great day, S-dub & babe

My Baby Book

These are some of the pages from a scrapbook I am trying to complete prior to baby Wilson being born. They are from a box of old pictures from my mom. I've just organized them chronologically (she did a great job of writing the dates on the back of all the pictures) and am using the same/similar design for each page. It is cruising along - I'm halfway through & just ran out of the matching cardstock! Yea me!

Week 32

I'll post tonight's picture soon

Amanda was asking if we've decided on a name. No. It's been turmoil for the past 6 or 7 weeks. I still want Jane for the first name. Regardless of certain family middle names. Jane Elizabeth sounds the best, but Blaine doesn't like the initials (JEW). He still wants Audrey Mae. Cousin Patty is working on a new middle name for Jane and here is a partial list of her suggestions:

Jane Addison
Jane Victoria
Jane Madeline
Jane Madison
Jane Ashley
Jane Julie (that's steve's suggestion)
Jane Doe (also from Steve)

and my two favs still:
Jane Elizabeth
Jane Alexandria

Blaine suggested Jane Nicole a while ago. But he still wont budge from Audrey. It's just that the more I hear the name Audrey - the more I don't really like it! So, the name war game ensues...

Getting Bigger

Week 29

Week 31

I am getting bigger, that's for sure. I am just now getting uncomfortable trying to sleep and breathe. But, for the most part this pregnancy has been pretty smooth (KNOCK ON WOOD).

We've had a PINK EXPLOSION in our house the past couple of weeks. We have had 2 showers for the baby and have been completely overwhelmed by the generosity of our friends. Talk about stuff! We've now discovered all these things we need that we weren't even aware existed before now: breast pads, toy chains, butt paste, and breast pump attachments??!! It is wild, and exciting. And we are VERY appreciative.


Now for the sad news: I am totally missing the Evans family already! Blaine & I went up to Sacramento last weekend, with much of the family, for a farewell gathering. We played games, held the kids, and just hung out.

During the week I was feeling really sad, so I drove up to Fairfield Friday evening to see them again. We played together all night, and laughed so hard at Trevor's manic trips running back and forth across the room. I was so glad to get one last look at this face:



Well worth the drive.

Ah, a great day...

27 Weeks

25 Weeks

Today was such a great day: I did not drive anywhere!!

My car just sat there in the garage, protected from the elements and from burning endless amounts of fossil fuels.

Today was such a great day: I slept in until nearly 10:00 am!!

I just tossed and turned and kept on sleepin', laughing when the baby danced and just laying around even though I was really awake.

Today was such a great day: I actually completed some homework!

That crap ain't even due until Wednesday and I still sat my butt down to work on it in advance of the actual due date. Man I am good.

Today was such a great day: I cleaned out some stuff from the baby's room and packed up all that preggo clothing I've been meaning to send to Amy.

Today was such a great day: I completed a thank-you album for one of the ladies throwing me a baby shower. It is all done in one day!

Today was such a great day: My darling husband came home!!

I fixed dinner for him and we sat and talked. I even did the dishes because I did not have to be anywhere.

Today was such a great day.

Toothbrushes and Kidneys

Hello all.

I'd like to tell you that I've been writing a novel, curing cancer, or even getting some rest, but none of those are reasons for not having updated this not-quite-that-exciting tomb of Stacey's life miscellany for so long.

Let's see what's been going on for the past month:

I've been brushing my teeth with my newly resurrected Sonic-care toothbrush. That thing is a fabulous advancement for mankind. Just two minutes to stare at the wall and be completely taken care of. I mean, it is the ultimate in lazy - much like many of our modern day "conveniences". I don't even have to move my arm! But, if this is a sonicare advertisement, you must know what a fabulous job it does. This coming from the gal who is excited to get floss in her Christmas stocking (thank you Kylie) and for my b-day (thank you Katie).

I've been competing with Blaine for most-miles-driven. He does about 1,000 per week in his truck (or so he says). I am averaging 800, because I only have my Saturday class every-other week. Maybe one of you will volunteer to be the Director of Weights & Measures for us? I'm sure that I will beat him with all my additional trips to Salinas and back. **NOTE: do not purchase a Ford if you will be traveling any distance. They are NOT comfortable. Repeat, no Fords. (If you talk to Blaine, please reccommend the driving comfort of a BMW for his pregnant wife.

I've also taken a trip to the hospital in September. I had some bleeding and MAJOR pain in my right abdomen: so of course we thought the worst. Upon arrival to SVMH we walked right up to labor & delivery (as instructed by the doctor over the phone) ...
...side note: I was only 26 weeks & totally praying that neither 'labor' or 'delivery' would be applying to me...
...they immediately monitor the baby & everything is fine with her. However, some little elf is running around a tiny hamster wheel on my right side throwing nun-chucks while stabbing me with his little double-edged sword. I'm thinking for sure my appendix has burst & I am bleeding internally and about to die. Blaine was just relieved because there were two monitors on my belly and the baby's heartbeat was echoing throughout the room at a healthy 140-150 beats per minute.
Back to the pain in my side: they did some very unpleasant tests and, after waiting in agony for an additional hour or so, determined that I had a kidney infection, or a urinary tract infection, or kidney stones. Then, the novice nurse proceeds to poke my hand and arm FIVE, yes five, times prior to successfully protruding a vein in order to start the IV for the antibiotic.
That was the long story; the short one is that in September I went to the hospital to find out that I had a kidney problem (babe is OK), and the follow-up ultra sound showed no kidney stones, so it must have been a kidney infection. And a kidney infection is freakin painful.

So that is the excitement for the month. I will get off my tush and upload some photos soon.

For Cousin Patty

Here's my "updated belly pic", upon request from Cousin Patty...

21 Weeks

8/22/07 (Amanda's B-day)

22 Weeks

8/29/07

The babe is REALLY moving around! It feels like she's doing kickboxing. No slight rolling or anything like that, just ramming the sides of her doting mommy's abdomen.

I was reading (a lot) this weekend & took a couple of moments to sit back & look down at my belly. It was like a muscle spasm every 20-30 seconds. I could SEE my belly moving from the baby's punches! Even Blaine could see it. It was so weird, yet not weird all at the same time.

I bet my baby is doing flip-turns: swimming from side to side & pushing off the left to flip over & swim to the right. Yeah, I've got a swim prodigy in my belly.

In other news:

I started school on Monday, August 27th (hence the reading all labor day weekend). This Master's business is tough - SO MUCH READING!!! I do enjoy the subject matter, and it is very relevant to my everyday life (philosophy) and to my job (Research Methods & evaluation). I am excited to catch up to Amanda & Jodi in the education department. I am even more excited to achieve this goal (on my list of 100 things to do in my life cousin Patty!).

To paraphrase my latest reading - please excuse the absence of a citation...

"If anything is worth the doing, it is worth doing badly."

(an argument for leisure)

Hey Baby Girl!

Baby Girl Wilson

8.23.07

OK, so I was totally wrong. Wrong about the babe being a boy, wrong about being scared of girls, and wrong about wanting a boy!

When the technician said, "we'll it's very obviously a girl" (I spared the little one by not sharing the x-rated photo)...

it just felt right.

"Hello!"

I couldn't even look at Blaine on my left side because of the tears streaming down my right side as we watched the little 1 pound baby GIRL move around on screen. After a while, he poked my side & gave me a whispered & half-hearted "I told you so".



We were both just so amazed at the details we could see of our little GIRL. We could see the heart valves opening and closing...brain details...her hands moving around (I couldn't even feel it!)...her kidneys...and of course her (cough) nether-regions.

Little Feet

Tomorrow is the big day!

Hola people!

So tomorrow is the big ultrasound-to-find-out-the-sex-of-the-baby day!

Here's my thoughts on boy or girl:

I think it will be a boy. Or do I just hope for a boy? Who knows? I just always imagined myself as a mom to 3 or 4 boys. Maybe it is just to make up for my life full of girls/women. Lord knows I have enough girl drama in my life as it is. Girls are just so much drama - I should know, because I am one! There is always hurt feelings and major overtures. Boys just get mad then move on with life. That's one thing I envy Blaine. We fight and he's totally fine in the morning. I am the one who stews and doesn't sleep all night.

So that's that. I'm scared my daugter will be just like me! But, that pretty much guarantees that God wants me to grow through the experience of being mom to a girl.

Blaine thinks it will be a girl. His reasons for everything are much more simple: he just thinks it.

(see how boys are easier than girls?)

We'll update everyone tomorrow.

New New New

Parker John Evans

Born August 3rd, 2007

8:07 am

6 pounds, 15 ounces

I was SHOCKED when I first glanced at Parker. He looked just like us! I can't tell you exactly which of his features was most "Cheatham", but the overall look was pure Amanda. Normally, I just think all babies are identical. In truth, most of them are. but looking at Parker was like looking into a mirror or something!

Something special I share with him is the dimple in his chin. Neither his mom or dad have it. Just me & him.

When I heard of Amanda's first couple signs of going into labor I drove right up to Fairfield. Good thing, too. I was able to stay with Trevor while Amanda & Brian went to the hospital. I just love hanging out with Trevor. he was in a great mood the whole time, and just wanted to play, play, play. His laugh is so infectious!

This photo is my fav. He has this great smirk on his face, like he's either about to challenge you or he's about to be really funny. Either way, he wants your attention. It's great.

I think Blaine & I will try to go up so he can meet Parker next weekend. Um, Amanda is that OK with you? I just am inviting myself!

Now here is my last Wednesday Belly Picture.

Please ignore the furry hair. We were getting ready for bed & almost forgot about the weekly ritual. I'm not sure if you can tell, but my belly is actually sticking out a bit now! It is impossible to suck in, wear normal clothes, or wear pregnancy clothes. I swear I wear some stretchy PJ shorts and a different color tank top every day. It is all I can manage!

As for movement, I really have no idea if I feel gassy, or bloated, or baby. Everyone uses the term "fluttering" to describe the baby's first motions, but I just feet cramps. They feel just like menstrual cramps. Every day my muscles, tendons, uterus, and other stuff must be stretching and moving, because I can sure feel that!

My mood swing indicator is on: EXCITED this week. I am not worried too much about being a terrible mom and leaving my kid on the hood of the car this week. This is mostly thanks to Trevor and Jodi. I obviously love my neices & nephews. They light up my day & I love to play with them. Trevor helped me to be excited about caring for my own child.

Then, Jodi sent me a little birthday thank-you card with the nicest sentiment on it: she said "I continue to be impressed with your patience and care with Trevor - you are going to be such a great mom!" Even now I am getting a little choked up about how nice that was of her.

So, thank you Jodi, Trevor, and of course Mr. Baby Excitement himself - Blaine. I am growing in confidence with your support.

Fine, here's my 16 week photo already!

Week 15

Week 16

Yes, yes... I pretty much look exactly the same every week.

This is really OK.



Life Update:

• Amanda is due any day now.
• Jodi is preggo with IDENTICAL twins (due: beginning of Feb '08).
• Amy is now pregnant & due March 20-something.
• Kylie is NOT PREGNANT.
• Burt....don't even think about it.
• our house has not yet sold, although people still look at it once a week or two.
• Blaine is back from his trip to St. Louis for business.
• The kids in Soledad go back to school in 3 weeks :)
• Maybe then I will have some time to post on this blog more often (or anything else for that matter).

I might as well just get something off my chest. It is not as though anyone reads this thing anyhow... this thing is definitely more like therapy for me.

I digress.

My sister Amy did not call me back 2 months ago when I left her a message that I am pregnant. She did not call me to announce her pregnancy on Friday. She hates me. She writes me hate letters. She actually wrote a compare and contrast essay about me & the devil in high school... and kept it. She acuses me of not being compassionate. She highlights only my flaws of bluntness and brutal honesty. She hates me. She will not respond to my repeated attempts at amendment. Did I mention that she hates me?

I have a real hard time with this. Some people in my life tell me that I should write her off. They say that there are toxic people out there that only wish to accuse and never take any blame in a situation. They say that move on with my life as though I have only 3 sisters. I just can't.

In the meantime, I hurt. I know this is her plan. She wants me to hurt as much as my blunt words have hurt her in the past.

It is working.

I hurt.

I am sorry. I have tried to work on my compassion. I am definitely a better person than I was 10 years ago when I lived with her last. I am a better person than 6 years ago when I last lived in the same state as her. I am a better person still than I was last year when I told her the truth instead of offering a symathetic ear.

And yet she lives her life each day winning the battle of whom is hurting who. She intentionally doles out this painful hatred.

I wish I could say I am above it and it does not effect me.

But it does.

I know we will never be best friends. I know I will never be the kind of person who responds to the fishing-for-a-compliment complaint of "I'm fat" with a kindly "oh, no, you are very thin". I am more likely to say "then stop eating so much". I won't be able to change completely, but I can learn to keep my mouth shut (then why did I type this long blog post?).

I'm still a work in progress...

12 Weeks

Here is my belly at 12 weeks. I am telling you, I feel different this week. I don't think I look that different, but I feel my belly hanging over my pants. My you-know-whats are also spilling over. The changes in my body are not bringing out cozy mothering feelings. Instead, I am worried over the life take-over that will be this child! I am so worried about losing my identity as an individual. I realize that these fears are completely selfish. I realize that I should probably keep my mouth shut. I realize that my poor child will think I don't love it. BUT... I am scared!

It is kind of like the identity change I went through after getting married. I changed my name. MY OWN NAME! I wasn't even ME anymore! Very weird. I mean I made the choice to get married. I made the choice to change my name. I just didn't realize the effect I would experience.

Now I am feeling similar. I won't even be Stacey WILSON now. I will be "Timmy's Mom". Or some-such thing.

Don't worry, I will be back to excited next week. I just have this selfish moment that I need to write down in order to move through it. I don't really do "bottled up".

12 weeks tomorrow!!

May 14, 2007

Here is my 6 week & 5 day photo - taken after our first doctor visit. I was ecstatic!! This was the day that we called everyone and told them. It was KILLING me for the nine days that I knew and couldn't say anything! When that ultrasound was floating around all blurry I was just curious, and then... there was this major pumping going on_____ it was the baby's heartbeat!!!!! I was totally crying, then the lady turned on the sound and we HEARD it! That thing was not even a centimeter, but had a heartbeat. That's it, I turned into blubber....

June 13, 2007

This is 11 weeks - not much difference! Although last week I was wondering how my baby can be growing if I am not, I am now perfectly content with not showing just yet. This weekend we saw my sister Amanda at the Tjerrild Family Picnic at Bass Lake. Girl has 7 weeks to go, but appears to be ready to explode!

At any rate, I am going to try to be patient for this kid - no matter what I do it won't be here for a while anyway.

Peace.

Live from Soledad....It's Monday Night!

Well, I am back from Denmark!


(Photo of my mom & Karin - who we stayed with most of the trip).





Ok, so I've been back for two entire months.





GIVE ME A BREAK! They have been really busy months:





April:

• Reopened the Soledad Pool


• Had surgery on my shoulder


• Taught a lifeguard training class


• Went away with Blaine for the weekend


• Found out I am PREGNANT!

May:

• Eat everything in sight


• Cry at every song on the radio


• Daydream about napping


• Lay awake at night hoping my boobs fall off


• Anxiously await my next doctor's appointment
• List our house for sale: www.573desertstar.com

Now that it is June 4th, I am still feeling like I was in the entire month of May (I thought it was the "merry, merry month of May"?).

The good news is that I have been very busy at work. (Therefore not focusing too much on the ticking clock or my preggo symptoms). I am really excited to be meeting my personal goal of adding two new programs each year. This year I am actually adding many more: Girls' Softball, Track Team, Summer Concert Series, Summer Craft Series, and Flag Football. Additionally, next week we launch our new website: www.soledadrec.com. Check it out to see everything that is "happening in Soledad" (I know that is cheezy, but I love the catchphrase!)

Hope all is well in your neck of the woods. Check in often, because I will post photos of my pregnant belly (or lack of it right now) and more photos of the kid after the next ultrasound (June 26th).

Here's to Wilson Baby #1 - 10 weeks along on Wednesday!

Live from Denmark

Hello from the land of many islands!

We are at our fourth stop: Karin & Jesper Skovsgård's house. (I am typing on a Danish keyboard, so I can use all the interesting Danish alphabet letters: æ, ø, å, €, µ). They, and their three kids- Morten (17), Simon (15), and Anne (12) - were all in CA this past July.

First, my aunt Carol and my Mom picked me up at the Kobenhåven airport (that's Copenhagen to you Americans) on Friday afternoon. My flights were smooth, but a few minutes late. They did not even look at my passport, much less stamp it!

We stayed in Kobenhåven one night, walking down the Strøller, or the "walking street". The hotel was a very old building downtown. The walls were so thin that we could hear everything people said on our floor all night long! Good thing there were no honeymooners!!

Everything is compact here: the shower, the bed, the room, the elevator, the CARS!

We met up with my Mom's cousin Holger's second son, Jan for Saturday breakfast at our hotel. He is 42 years old, but looks 29 at the most! He has a website for his acting career in Denmark that I will search for when I get home. He was very nice and funny. He even drove & walked around Kobenhåven with us for the day. We saw the oldest operating fort, the queen's residence, the little mermaid statue, and the new opera house. There is a very beautiful walking street with different colored buildings and a harbor, and tons of restaurants where everyone is eating outside and sitting to drink beer and wine.

Later we drove to Sweden to stay with Lone and Thomas Lundquist. (They didn't stamp my passport, AGAIN) They are so funny and really welcoming - just like everyone! Their kids are Patrick(20), Camilla(17), and Madeleine(5). We walked around the neighborhood to see all the different, as well as typical, Swedish houses. They made a huge dinner, gave us Swedish cards and t-shirts, and stayed up late talking with us. We all invited Milla to come and stay with us this summer to practice english and see California.

We slept very late on Sunday, ate another huge amount of food at their house, then drove into Malmo (population 300k) to see the Twisting Torso building, and the awesome shoreline walking street. We walked in downtown, too.

Also very late, we left Sweden after dinner with the Ludquists. We drove into Denmark to mom's cousin Andres Peter's house. He looks very much like my Grandpa! I remember meeting him a couple of times when he vistited my Grandparents. He remembers everything! He thanked me for letting him sleep in my bed when I lived with my Grandparents and he visited. He was wonderful, as was his lady friend Hanne. He had just finnished renovating the entire house! he said "I made it new for you".

WE spent the day with the two of them. later, AP's sister Hanne also came over! It was wonderful to be treated like royalty with all the food laid out all the time- We have to be careful not to gain a hundred kilos while we are here!

Then, we arrived by 6pm at the Skovsgård's.

Whew, I guess I should update more often to save you from reading this long long letter.

I did keep it short, so I will have to remember the details of the amazing landscapes, expensive toll bridges, and Strong wind!

Remember: left is venstre and right is højre. (I am trying to learn Danish...ha.)

So that's why we pay so much to live here!

Beautiful, huh?

This was me driving safely to school two weeks ago. There was this most amazing clear air to properly display the breathtaking view.

Just wanted to share!

Good Morning (oh wait, it's afternoon already!)

If the title of this post doesn't fill you in, allow me: I Am Busy!

I am at work. I am heating up a microwave lasagne as I type. I just realized I haven't updated the world (or whomever actually reads this thing) on my super fab life.

Today, I am:

• scheduling the next year of programs for the rec district.



• (including: basketball, swim team, water aerobics, tennis, golf, Swimming lessons, track team, t'ai chi chih, and more!)



• preparing some mailers/flyers for said programs, including the soledad Pool schedule.



• rescheduling my pre-op appointment with Dr. German



• ordering all the lifeguard training supplies i need April 4-16.



• getting my board members orgainzed and prepared for our meeting on Monday



• preparing for my new endeavor: the Healthy Soledad collaborative



• revising the wind & wine festival sponsor packets and food/wine packets



• turning the swimming pool systems back on & troubleshooting



• writing out work orders for the lifeguards as they prepare for the pool reopening in my absence

Whew....

Next week: I leave for Denmark! Thursday, March 22 at 4:35pm you will hear the roaring of the 747 jet engines as I soar off into the bright and promising skies of adventure! I expect to encounter wonderful people, become fluent in Danish, and consume more pastries than my workout partner reccommends. Ah, it is my light at the end of the "preparing for vacation" tunnel.

I return April 2nd, but will stay in a hotel in SF to attend my classes at SJSU the next AM. That's right, friends. I will not miss a single class for this trip! Right-o!

I am experiencing the euphoria of dreamland right now, so I will enjoy it. Thanks, Stouffer's.

Non-Baby Woes

Here is my beautiful baby nephew Trevor! This photo was taken last month when Blaine & I babysat for 1 week (2 Feb- 9 Feb). I tried to take a picture of him everyday so I could give it to his mom, but I just take forever to get them to his mom!

Speaking of being a mom, I am super bummed (this word is much more neutral than my real feelings) that I will be having shoulder surgery & thus cannot be preggo.

I am REALLY sad.

The schedule is such: it is now March 7th. I leave for Denmark in 2 weeks - March 22nd. I get back on the 3rd of April. Then, I have a prior engagement on April 13th (my half-birthday, by the way). I will try to schedule the surgery for the w/o April 19th. That's two more months of no baby!

That just seems like for-ev-er. (Picture Squints Paladoras saying it from the movie The Sandlot) For-ev-er!

So, please commiserate with me & leave a comment. Just don't tell me it's not really that big of a deal, because I just need to mourn for a bit. Thanks.

Valentine's Day Flowers

Just wanted to add a picture of my fabulous v-day flowers from Blaine.

Loving Blaine

I've had a difficult week and just wanted to praise to the internet heavens my dear husband Blaine. I've been a big ball of complaining goo & he has been mildly amused my me while not complaining much in return. I really appreciate him.

Here's a list of great things about Blaine:

1. He bought me beautiful flowers for Valentine's Day (even after I was a little insistent, you know - giving him the name & location of the florist). They were a beautifully arranged mix of 5 red roses and some awesome orchids (white w/ pink tinge). AND...ordered mini pizzas - that he served up on our china - because it is my favorite food.
2. He took me out to dinner for our anniversary - five "blissful" years.... to Roy's at Spanish Bay in Pebble Beach. It was delicious.
3. He went to brunch with my family last Sunday in Salinas. Neither of us really wanted to make the drive after all the driving we do all week, but he did & DIDN'T COMPLAIN. (that is really important to me)
4. He has listened to my constant complaining about school.
5. He came with me to the Soledad Awards Banquet ( I was awarded by the Oldtown Association for "Volunteer of the Year").
6. He is funny & makes me smile.
7. He cooks yummy dinners practically every night.
8. When I cry about getting that danged "monthly visitor" again, he tries really hard to say the right thing.

Basically, Blaine is a lot nicer than I usually make him out to be. I just wanted everyone to know that I really do love him & am thankful that he is my husband.

Burgled

Arriving a little late to work today, I unlocked the door, walked around the counter, and ... wait a minute. I didn't leave all these cabinets open. I didn't leave the office door open. The computer is gone! Oh no. My heart raced as I stood frozen, my mind racing through the info my eyes were taking in. It took a while to sink in, but I soon realized we were burglarized.

I walked slowly to my car and sat for a minute to gather my thoughts.

I called the city. They gave me the wrong # for the police dept. I called again & got the voice mail of the Chief's secretary. Finally I get the non-emergency number. I waited in the car for the police officer to get there. She looked at everything, made a mess with fingerprint dust, and gave me a property form to fill out.

But how do I get rid of the dirty feeling of being taken advantage of? My job is to provide recreational activities to the citizens of the community - and look what they do in return! I am quite frustrated.

Not only that, but I have to recreate hundreds of documents...after buying a new computer! AARGH! That is going to be a huge pain in the butt!!

So, I guess I need to get back to work (from my home computer) and actually attack the tasks at hand instead of complaining.

But venting did make me feel better.

Intro to my fabulous blab...oh I mean blog

Hello. Welcome to my life. I breathe, eat, sleep, work....just like everyone else. Why then do I need a blog? That's a great question.

Do I feel left out?...perhaps

Do I want fame?...a little

Do I just need to vent my frustrations, joys, and general thoughts on life?....ABSOLUTELY!!

So here we go.