Broke Again

Hannah did it again, same toe but different area: that's right, she broke her toe again. We spent most of the day at NiteTime Peds getting the x-rays and confirmation of what we already knew. She is now in another ortho shoe for at least two more weeks. After that we ran home and got ready for X-mas at meemaw's. We just got home, we had a lovely time. Mike is considering having it at our house next year just to make it easier on Mee Maw. I am now rushing around trying to get my house and all the the laundry done b/c my parents are coming for the first time tomorrow. I swear I will never understand the need to constantly please our parents, but I will be up late getting things done. Mike is watching the UFC fight and Hannah is playing with all the new gifts she rec'd tonight. This is funny, I got 3 starbucks giftcards tonight -- I am going to be drinking coffee for a long time :)

Diesel is sitting right next to me on the bed and Zoe is on the floor. They were alone too much today :(
I am doing pretty good (knock on wood) -- now that all the meds are on board, these last two days I have finally feel human again. So much so, I finally got my guest room done (all I need is a round blue area rug) and re-arranged my living room. Not bad for someone who could not really move around all week. Anyway, we got another day off b/c of Ford, so I don't go back to work until Wendesday. Love free days.

Who would have thought?

That I would intentionally lead you folks about my new puppy. That picture I posted is him and yes he is my x-mas gift. I just have to wait till he is ready for me. Dn't want to take him too soon:) Sorry for the confusion, but yes that's him and no I don't have him.... yet.. give me a week and he will be mine :)
Have a great new years.

Well, the day has arrived

the breeder called, and the puppy will have it's final visit next Tuesday. Meaning I get the little guy anytime after that :)

Her message says that she has picked one for me -- he is very sweet and really a good puppy. She actually says she loves him and he would be the pick of the litter. So I am honored that she has chosen him to come live with me. I keep telling Diesel he has a surprise coming, but he just doesn't get it. I have everything for him except a collar, leash and a name. That will come after I get the fatty :) I think Mike is somewhat dreading the new addition for all the wrong reasons. Doggies are good for the soul.

YEAH PUPPY!!!!!!!

Now this will make you smile,

this is my x-mas gift :)

Bangs...

So Hannah has been dying for bangs for a while. So after today's traumatic beginning to the day with hair, I decided it was time for some layers and bangs. I have to tell you she looks like a completely different girl. Here is a picture of her a few days ago with Berry and her new do. She loves and can't stop trying to get her bangs to swoop to the side like mommies. Tell me what you think.

wow

the doggies let me sleep into 7 today. amazing. Hannah had her brownie holiday party last night, that girl has been hyped up on sugar for days with all the parties!!!

My foot is doing better, it is time to start back on my meds for the ra. I really could use the energy. it has been two weeks without steriods and has been almost a month without a shot.

BTW, Green Bay beat the Vikings....

Checking work email

on vacation makes for a CRAPPY beginning to your vacation. Thanks and Merry Christmas!!

Happy Happy

I can't tell you enough how happy I am to begin my mini vacation. It has been a while that I have actually taken time off and there is nada lot to do -- no moves, no disability, no sick kid and no deaths and so on and so on. It really has been a rather difficult year for the Stanfords that I would not rather rehash again. I am just grateful that I am putting most of it behind me. I am also very happy to learn that my husband has off tomorrow as well. So the whole family gets to be together for at least a week.

I am extremely happy to be away for work. I really do like my job and the folks I work with, but it is good to be home. It just has become very stressful lately.

I am also happy to report my kitchen has been FINALLY stripped of it's heinous country (pink and blue) wallpaper and is painted. I would like to say I am done -- but my mind is churning on other things i would like to have done. But, I don't want to do them now :) I will take this time to chill and cherish family.

Several days are filled with family. Mike's family is coming over Sunday. I think the Foster are coming by on Tuesday. And we are hopeful to see the Sullivans ( I have such a jones for their black lab that I affectionately call Maggie Moo) and my very dearest and closest friends - Kellie and Steve. And my parents will finally come and see my new house on New Year's Eve. WOW. It only took three months. I really wish I could spend sometime with my Aunt Denise, she is like a mom to me and I really would love to spend the time with her and the family. She just had a house built and just (last weekend) moved in. So hopefully we can go down and see them!!

We had our Tech Holiday Lunch today and I really had a lovely time. Everyone was laughing, eating and just having a great time. We did the "White Elephant Sale" and I ended up stealing this gift from my boss ( I know, not the best move) -- but I could not resist -- The Sick Day Handbook - this book is hysterical and so needed. My boss is going on a renewal ( 4 weeks paid time off to do whatever) and so I figured I would need it to deal with the guys left behind. We got a great suggestion from our VP - Sami -- we should just create templates from the book in outlook and use them. Not a bad idea and totally doable :)

I am watching Green Bay v. Minnesota on Thursday Night Football ( I am so excited we have this now) and getting kinda sad that they are still talking about Brett and leaving football. He is one of the most exciting quarterback I have ever had the pleasure to watch. I can't imagine football or GB without him. This match up makes me think about my good friend Mark. We would always bet and egg each other every year at work when these two teams hooked up. I miss having that at work. I would love to watch a game with him so we can get on each other's nerves face to face :) We all know GB will win. Minnesota really does suck. I mean they wear purple. What the heck is that?

I hope to go meet my new puppy during this time off. It is less then a month until the new baby stanford come homes. Ahh, I bet ya can't wait.

Welp, I am sure I will post during the holidays and post some pictures.

FATTIES

I GOT SOME PICTURES, LOOK AT THE FATTIES :)

Tired Puppy

So, Hannah has a nasty bug - coughing non stop and also has a fever. But it appears that Diesel is having the problems staying awake

Fog Alert

So, this morning I had a LONG ride in because of the HORRIBLE fog. I had plenty of time to think and reflect and decided I was going to post on my blog when I got to work. Well when I got there, I went to log in and realized the FREAKS at work in security had blocked our ability to post to blogs. We can view them but we cannot post. I was so peeved for about 20 minutes. But really got me is that I lost my thoughts in my anger. I mean it is my job and I shouldn't be posting to my blog at work, but 10 minutes doesn't kill them when I give them 10hrs a day.

So on to my thoughts, I read a lot in the morning and decided to take a piece of what one of my friends and co-workers does of her blog (yea, more lost time at work) and tell you what I am thankful for everyday:
I am so thankful for the advances in modern medicine. I am so thankful I can get up and walk everyday, open a door and hold my daughters hand. See, without these advances, I would not be able to do the simple things that everyone takes for granted on a daily basis, hell I did until ...
I just can't understand why everyone feels the need to tell me what is good for me and what I need to do to feel better when they have NO IDEA how far I have come with my meds and the doctors. I am grateful for those caring, but not for the constant pushing and the somewhat insensitivity of those around me that have know very little about these two diseases. I know my limits and would prefer to push myself for things I love doing, like playing with my daughter or taking walks with my husband. The simple things that are not so simple anymore for me.

I am grateful that having the diagnosis of Lupus is no longer considered a death sentence.
Medicine has come a long way and I am soooo grateful for that. You should be too :)

Man, that was good

So me, Jen C, Jen LR and Chris went and had an early dinner at Ruth Chris Steakhouse. That was the BEST eats I have had in EONS. And so needed after my crazy day. I think I am hovering around food coma land.

My question: Hey D... can we have our next tech lunch there?

My first new puppy purchase

So I decided to make a list of what I need for new puppy. No, we have not decided on a name, the house is still very divided. Even though I have many things for a dog, there are a few things I need to get, like a crate, food bowl, leash and collar. The one thing I did purchase already was a Quiet Spot - they are one of the best inventions for dogs.

I am laying in bed right now (yes, Diesel is with me) fighting off a nasty virus. If it continues -- I am going to have to go off all my meds so I can fight it. My two main meds leave me with a VERY compromised immune system and I learn after my nasty long battle with a staph infection last year. It took me three months and several courses of the NASTY antibiotics to figure out that if I came off the meds for a month, I had a chance. So we will see by monday if I need to stop for a while.

Hannah did great with the asthma specialist yesterday, so we are putting off testing at least until the spring time. Well, Monday is the big day for her, she gets her ortho appliance installed in her mouth to stretch the top of her mouth. Should be fun (not).

Well I think I am going to nap now... :)

The Closer

As if I dont' have enough to watch and keep up with, I started watching The Closer. It is a really good show. I highly recommend this show. The new season just stated , but they are also reshowing all of season 2. Check it out.

So I ran to best buy the other night to get all the latest goodies released on Tuesday, one being Gwen's new CD. IT IS REALLY BAD. Bad as in AWFUL. BLECK!!!

No news on the puppy, sad girl.

Well hopefully I will get a little more rest this weekend.

So I was right

I got my letter in the mail last night from the doctor -- not good.

Can it be?

I think I am in a little bit of shock. It is December 5th and time is creeping by me. I know I got my holiday cards out, but I have only like 20 days left to shop. UGH! Well, I am not lacking for ideas. It seems lately people are very into letting you know exactly what they want, I am not sure how I feel about that one. It is good on one hand, you know exactly what to get. But on the other hand, it takes away the fun and surprise of trying to find that right gift. Hmmm, why do I do this to myself?

Mike always tells me that I make it hard because I just get what I want, and so when holidays or birthdays come around, well there is nothing left. He may have a point.

Hannah is off to the ortho today, the asthma specialist Friday and then back to the ortho on Monday. I so want that over. Her poor little mouth is going to hurt so bad :)

I got an email from Saturn last night, and I hesitate opening them cause I can't bear to see more of the Sky. But this time it was about the new Outlook (sucky name) -- the new larger SUV -- I guess they call it the Vue's big brother. Mike has been eyeing this one and I can't say I blame him. Really nice and the reviews are very favorable.

Big Boy

Here is a picture of my big boy!! It broke my heart, but we had to start him on adult food last week. He's not my baby anymore :( He just got his yearly shots, and he is tipping the scales at 76 pounds, not bad. I think I rubbed all the brown out of his nose...pink now...

I know, he is handsome and has got the best face!!

The breeder called, she said I could come down soon. But somebody came down and looked at the chocolates and got them sick. So she had to move my puppies to the great outdoors so they would not get sick (they are in a heated puppy house) -- so hopefully I can pick my nugget out soon.