Happy Anniversary to Us...

Five years ago today I married the most amazing man in the world.  He is so sweet to me.  He is a wonderful man with a good heart who treats me like a queen.  Every time I hear the song Just the Way You Are by Bruno Mars, I think of my sweet man.  He makes me feel like the most beautiful woman in the world.  I love you, honey!  Thanks for the best 5 years of my life!  Happy Anniversary!!

Friday Confessional

I've missed a few weeks but I'm back.  Yay!  So, here goes:

I confess...

Last night I saw about 10 deer on the road.  After I drove by them, I kind of wished I would have hit one of them so I could buy a newer car.  It would have been a great excuse to do so.  My car is getting old.  In order to get it to pass inspection we just spent $900.  But I had my daughter in the car and it would have probably killed the deer.  It was just a split second and I'm really glad it didn't happen.  So don't hate me!

I confess...

I was talking to someone who thought people were overreacting about the 5 cases of measles in Salt Lake.  I may have told them off.  My hubby teaches at the school and had one of the kids in his class who had the measles.  See blog post here.  Needless to say, I'm so glad I got her my baby girl her first MMR shot as soon as she could get it.  I am really glad I took her to get her second MMR shot (per her pediatrician's advice) on the day I found out about it.  I kind of want to punch people who don't plan on immunizing their kids.  I think it is irresponsible and selfish.

I confess...

I really hate my plain, non-creative header on my blog.  I just haven't made the time to do anything different.  I think this has kept me from wanting to blog.  I really need to do something with it.

I confess...

After my baby was born and in the NICU and then with her health/development issues, I took a little break from exercising...no time, no desire.  It just wasn't top priority.  Two months ago I kicked my booty in gear and started working out again.  I've lost about 13.5 inches on my chest, waist, hips, thighs and arms.  I didn't have a scale when I started so I'm not sure how much weight I've lost.  But I feel better and clothes fit better.  I really like doing Zumba and kickboxing workout videos and going to my friend Charlotte's Zumba class.  It is a lot of fun.  I've actually owned Zumba videos for about 8 years.  I think it is funny that it has just become the craze lately when I've been doing it for years before it was cool.  In fact, I have old roommates that still make fun of me.  Bless their hearts! :] I'm excited for the weather to get warmer so I can do outdoor workouts.

I confess...

I used to be such a clean freak.  I loved to organize.  I even helped a few friends and relatives organize and declutter their homes.  But when I was pregnant and on IV therapy and bed rest, I just couldn't do it.  Then, with Sophia's NICU stay, her seizures, club feet and developmental issues, I lost the desire to be so.  It still drives me crazy when things are dirty but I'm able to look past it.  I look at my home and the old me would be so annoyed with the new me.  But life goes on.  I'd like to say I feel guilty about it, but I don't.  My daughter needs me more than I need to clean my house.

I confess...

I decided I was going to take a break from a few people that have been a source of drama in my life for a while.  It was so nice to step away from it for a bit.  I really hate drama.  A friend of mine posted the following quote on her FB page:

"There comes a time in life, when you walk away from all the drama and people who create it. You surround yourself with people who make you laugh, forget the bad, and focus on the good. So love the people who treat you right, pray for the ones who don't. Life is too short to be anything but happy. Falling down is a part of life, getting back up is living."

I really like the quote.  If I find out who said it, I'll let you know.  So, I've decided that I'm going to follow the advice in the quote.  Life really is too short and there is too much good in the world to focus on the drama.


Want to play along? Head over and link up with Mamarazzi and/or Glamazon, grab the button, add it to your Confessional post and then link it. Enjoy!

Things That Make Me Go ARRRRGGGG!!!

What a wild few days! There was a measles case discovered at the school where Michael teaches. Kids were sent home that had couldn't provide proof of vaccination.  To those who haven't had it or can't provide proof, they have to stay home until the 18th and 25 teachers have to find subs until they can do the same. Michael had to contact several different places in his home town in Colorado before he was able to show proof.  He could only find documentation for one.  So he had to go and get a second.  We then had to personally call everyone we came in contact with since last Friday (as everyone-faculty and students- who was in contact with someone at his school should) and informed them of the outbreak and made sure they had either had the measles or the vaccine.  If not, they may be at risk.  We also had to go get Sophia's 2nd MMR shot, since she had only had one. She wasn't due for the 2nd one until she was 4.  But if she didn't, with her seizure issue, it could cause some serious complications/issues for her if she came down with the measles.  Immunize your kids, people! 90% of people who haven't been vaccinated and have direct contact will get the disease.  All three cases discovered in UT this week hadn't done so! It affects more than just you!! 

To those who still believe Jenny McCarthy and her nonsense regarding autism and a link with vaccines, please read what scientist have to say about the study.  It was found to be filled with falsified information and kids who already had been diagnosed with autism before they received the vaccines. (See link below)

To quote my husband, "On behalf of 25 fellow teachers who had to miss school yesterday because they couldn't provide proof that they'd been vaccinated against the measles: GET YOUR CHILDREN VACCINATED. Don't risk our lives, our health, and our livelihoods. There is no legitimate medical reason not to get the vaccinations. Get your kids their shots. Its safer for them...and for the rest of us.  I know that some people are concerned about the supposed link between childhood vaccinations and autism. THERE IS NO SUCH LINK. The British medical journal that published that paper in 1998 (The Lancet) has issued a full retraction in February 2010 after it was found that the head researcher, Dr. Andrew Wakefield, falsified his data to satisfy the people who were funding his study.  BBC News report of the retraction."

I'm sorry if I have offended any of you.  This was not meant to do so.  My only reason for posting this is to educate people and to emphasize how the decision to not immunize your kids doesn't just affect your child.  It was chaos at school on Friday.  How much more beneficial would that day have been if those 25 teachers could have been in the classroom educating kids instead of having to call in subs who, for the most part, merely babysit.

Here are some articles about the outbreak:

First case reported
Two more cases identified


Here are some links about the measles:

Primary Children's Medical Center
WebMD

Joke of the Day

Yes, I'm still here.  Life and it's never ending craziness.  Anyhoo.  Here is a funny for your day:

 Her First Mass

A mother took her three year old daughter to church for the first time.  The church lights were lowered.  Then the choir came down the aisle carrying lighted candles.  All was quiet until the little one started to sing (in a loud voice), "Happy birthday to you.  Happy birthday to you..."

Joke of the Day

Once upon a time there lived a king.  The king had a beautiful daughter, The PRINCESS.  But there was a problem. Everything the princess touched would melt.  No matter what... Metal, Wood, Stone, anything she touched would melt.  Because of this, men were afraid of her. Nobody would dare marry her.

The king despaired. What could he do to help his daughter?

He consulted his wizards and magicians. One wizard told the king, 'If your daughter touches one thing that does not melt in her hands, she will be cured.'

The king was overjoyed and came up with a plan.

The next day, he held a competition. Any man that could bring his daughter an object that would not melt would marry her and inherit the king's wealth...

THREE YOUNG PRINCES TOOK UP THE CHALLENGE.

The first brought a sword of the finest steel.  But alas, when the princess touched it, it melted.  The prince went away sadly.

The second prince brought diamonds.  He thought diamonds are the hardest substance in the world and would not melt.  But alas, once the princess touched them, they melted.  He too was sent away disappointed.

The third prince approached. He told the princess, 'Put your hand in my pocket and feel what is in there.'   The princess did as she was told, though she turned red.  She felt something hard. She held it in her hand.  And it did not melt!!!

The king was overjoyed Everybody in the kingdom was overjoyed!!  And the third prince married the princess and they both lived happily ever after.

Question: What was in the prince's pants?

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M&M's of course.  They melt in your mouth, not in your hand.  What were you thinking??

Need Some Ideas?

Today at the Crop Because You Care Scrapbook Convention, Stacy Julian gave some great suggestions for scrapbook page themes/ideas.  She was the main speaker at the day's event, put on by the Epilepsy Association of Utah.  This is a great list for scrapbooking and blogging as well as journal writing and writing your personal history.  If you are like me and have loads of all of the above to do, this helped me narrow down where to start.

Here you go:

Birthday
Christmas
Easter
Thanksgiving
...any other holiday
School - field trip, first day of
Vacation - entire vacation album
Family tradition
Page about Saturday
Books or Reading
Favorite Foods
Family Tree - Connects you to others in your family (cousins, etc)
YOU - (if not - YOU need to repent!)
Lists - Any kind of list (great way to journal)
Personality Quirks - Half Smile, physical feature, etc
Relationship with GrandParents (What you remember, what you did with them)
Photos of the same person - on the same page - at least two years apart
Your best girlfriend - Who she is, 3 things you see and think of her
Babysitters - or who you babysit
Recipe
Favorite Movies - Top 10
Breakfast
Things you admire about your mother (or things that bug)
Things you love about winter
Favorite place to go hiking or camping
...Places you go over and over again
View out your kitchen window
Scrapbook all the people on Speed-dial! (If you have done it, give yourself chocolate!)
Things you love about your neighborhood (Mini-book)
Game-night (list of favorite games you like to play)
Family-Home-Evening
Your Bedroom (or children's bedroom)
Me and my Fridge
What's in your purse? (Purse-dump, write down why it's there, what it says about you)
What's under your bed?
Screen Capture of your facebook wall (You deserve chocolate!)
All the States you've visited (Welcome to *State* sign)
Favorite indulgence (snickers pie, pedicure, nap in favorite chair, etc)
Scrapbook your Scrapbooking hobby
Favorite pattern paper
Childhood home
Stuff on/in your nightstand (don't clean it off first)
Your garden, backyard
Your First Date

Here are links to her blogs:
Stacy Julian
Big Picture Classes 

Thankfully they took notes for us.  I snagged the list from here.

Enjoy!

(Once I download my pictures, I'll add them on here.) :]

Joke of the Day

Stalled Conversation

Traveling down the interstate and needing to use the bathroom, I stopped at a rest area and headed to the restrooms.  I was barely sitting down when I heard a voice from the the other stall saying, "Hi, how are you?"

I'm not the type to start a conversation in the restroom and I don't know what got into me, but I answer, "Doin' just fine."

Then the other person says, "So what are you up to?"

What kind of question is that? At that point, I'm thinking this is too bizarre so I say, "Uhhh, I'm like you, just traveling."

At this point I am just trying to get out as fast as I can when I hear another question, "Can I come over?"

Ok, this question is just too weird for me but I figured I could just be polite and end the conversation. I tell them, "No...I'm a little busy right now!"

Then I hear the person say nervously, "Listen, I'll have to call you back. There's an idiot in the next stall who thinks I'm talking to her."

Friday Confessional

Okay. I've decided to take another try at this. It felt great and I loved the feedback from people!

I confess...

When people post a response on someone else's blog that is nasty, rude, super opinionated or downright inappropriate and do so as "anonymous" instead of having the "balls" to own it as their own, it really makes my butt twitch and my ears boil. Hence why people don't have the ability to do so on my blog. I'm sure doing so makes it so some people don't or can't comment on my blog. But I'd rather that than allow some d-bag with a superiority complex to be able to speak his/her mind without having to own their words.

I confess...

I have a friend who is getting grief for not wanting to settle down and get married. She is only 19! This annoys me. She dates a lot but isn't serious about any one guy. She wants to do some things with her life before she settles down. She is still so young and has plenty of time! We were talking the other day about it and it reconfirmed to me that I am really happy I waited until I was older to get married. Granted, I didn't have as much control over this as that statement makes it sound. I dated plenty and had a couple of proposals but it just didn't feel right. Honestly, it would have been nice to get married a few years earlier (instead of 32 yrs old, maybe 28). But I'm so glad I didn't settle. I have such a great husband. Perfect for me. And I really feel like, because I had some amazing times as a single person, it has made me a better wife and mother. It has also made me appreciate my hubby and my daughter that much more. I lived on my own for many years, traveled across the world, lived in a couple of different states and in another country, met some people that will forever be my friends and had some fabulous experiences I never would have had if I got married at 18. (Now, I'm not mocking those who did. I'm saying...for me, it was great.) I'm glad I didn't give in to the pressure and marry the first person who proposed just because people told me I was supposed to get married.

I confess...

I haven't checked out my Google reader all week. I also haven't responded to a couple of messages on my blog. This makes me feel stressed. I feel like a lame friend. I will work on it.

I confess...

I love my daughter but sometimes I wish she was a little less high maintenance. She has had some health issues since birth which have caused some developmental delays. She is involved in an Early Intervention program and has a physical and eye therapist who come to the house twice a month. They then give me exercises to do with her every day. That, on top of her 5 doctors, I sometimes feel a wee bit overwhelmed. She is getting better and every day she is learning and getting stronger. I just had no idea that being a Mom would be so hard. But I love her with everything in me. And, if given the chance, wouldn't change her or things for the world! I have learned so much about so many things I never would have known if not for her issues. I have also become a much stronger person because of it. Sure do love my little gal!

I confess...

We still have our Christmas tree up. Yes. Truly. I'm having a hard time putting it away. Last year, with Sophia in the NICU and being born early, we didn't even have a Christmas tree. It has been nice having one this year.

Well, that's probably enough for this week. Stay tuned next week for another installment. Want to play along? Head over and link up with Mamarazzi and/or Glamazon, grab the button, add it to your Confessional post and then link it. Enjoy!

Friday Confessional

Do you ever feel weighed down by all the things swirling around in your head? Things you want to say to people but don't or things that make your bootie itch that you need to get off your chest? Well, I have a few. And, thanks to Mamarazzi and Glamazon (blogs I follow and love), I am going to let it out...in small doses. Don't want to scare/scar you for life. So, on with it...

I confess...

*I don't miss working outside the home. Not one bit.
*I never was a career oriented person. I was good at a lot of things but didn't care enough about it to make me feel fulfilled doing it.

I confess...

*I don't understand why people want to go Vegan. I love meat.
*I could eat Steak and all you can eat Shrimp at Sizzler every day for a week and still want it.
*I love milk. If I could take a bath in it, I would.

I confess...

*Lately it seems like I'm surrounded by Debbie Downers, Christy Critical and Cindy Condescending. It makes me tired to be around/talk to/or whatever. Life is stressful. Life is hard. Sometimes it downright sucks. Accept it and move on. You (and everyone around you) will be happier if you do so. Not trying to trivialize your problems but, you know what...We all have problems. I don't want yours and I'm sure you don't want mine.
*Don't be condescending and tell me I have no problems compared to you. If you really want to win the contest, whatever. You can climb the mountain to be the King. I've got better things to do.
*When people point out my flaws and short comings, it makes me want to punch them in the face. I know I'm not perfect. I don't need you to point them out.
*My landlady embodies all three of the above "qualities". June can't come soon enough! Anyone know of a place coming up for rent this summer? :]

I confess...

*When people use "your" when they really mean "you're", it makes my skin crawl and my butt twitch.
*But I have no problem when people say, "Y'all". Does that make me a hypocrite?

I confess...

*I want another baby desperately but it scares me a little to get pregnant again. Not because of the labor. It sucked but 17 hours went by faster than I thought it would. Especially the last 4 or so hours that I spent finally epidurally medicated. It's the constant nausea and IV therapy for 7+ months of my pregnancy. I'm afraid that if it happens again I won't be strong enough to do it.
*I also don't know how people can muster the energy/stamina/mental capacity to deal with 2 or more kids. How on earth did my mom have 6?!!

I confess...

*I love cheesy TVLand shows like The Nanny and Three's Company. Michael doesn't understand it but he still loves me. So much that he bought me the first season of The Nanny for Christmas. He's sure great!

I confess...

*I have held back from confessing a few things...like how much fun I have with my hubby in the bedroom and I feel bad for women who don't have the same experience with it. (Oops! It's out there.) ;]
*If I get negative comments in response to this post, I plan to erase them. So don't bother hating.
*I've enjoyed this more than I thought I would. It feels good to put this out there.

Phew! Done. Hope I didn't make you pee your pants out of fear or the bluntness of this post. I didn't hear any screaming, so I guess I'm okay. So, do you have confessions you need to get off your chest? Here's what you do...go visit Mamarazzi and/or Glamazon, grab their button, add it to your Confessional post and then link it up. Other than sex and ice cream, it is the best! ;]

Eye Candy

SlideshowGratuitous Shirtlessness: TV's Most Overexposed Men

"Sometimes having a hot guy take his shirt off on TV is crucial to the plot. And other times, it’s just an excuse to get him as naked as possible. Here are the top 15 examples of the latter on television."

I don't know if you have seen any of these TV shows but there is some definite eye candy going on here! My favorite on the list is Captain Awesome (Ryan McPartlin) on Chuck. So glad he got #1. It's true what they say in the article, "If you add up all the screen-time McPartlin has ever had, I'm willing to bet that the shirtless time might be greater than the shirted time." What I love about Captain Awesome is that he is like the big brother...the one who is always rooting for you. Chuck is such a great show! Happy drooling! (Kik-this post was for you!) :]

Miles to Go Before I Sleep

My mind has been so disheveled lately. So many balls in the air and things pulling me in different directions. I sometimes feel like I'm running around like a chicken with it's head cut off. Because of this, I have really slacked in the blogging department and in documenting Sophia's life and accomplishments thus far. After being inspired by my sister, Nikki, in her goal to get caught up, I have decided to do the same before I forget everything. (I'd link to her blog but her blog is private. Sorry about your luck!) Anyhoo. So, I've decided that I am going to blog about life and back date the posts. (I know! That is kind of cheating. But I want to have the blog in order.) But, so you don't miss any posts, I am going to link them to this post. Confused? Hope not. If so, feel free to ask questions. Here is what I have thus far:

Sophia with Her Great Grandma E.
Sophia with Santa Claus

Happy reading!

What I Want For My Daughter

I was checking out my google reader when I came across this short article quoting Matt Damon. The article states:

"...actor and former “Sexiest Man Alive” Matt Damon recently revealed what he likes in a woman.

“I can only speak to what attracts me. What attracted me to Lucy was her strength, her sense of herself. So I’d say don’t worry about what everybody else wants you to be. And don’t be afraid to be all those things I want for my daughters. There are always articles about what men want, but I guarantee you that any man worth his salt wants a woman who is smart and strong and secure in who she is.”

So what is it that he wants for his daughters? The same thing we all want for our kids, I’d guess. “I want them to know that their decisions matter and that their actions matter,” the Bourne Identity star says. “I want them to have a sense of responsibility for the way they treat people. And I want to help them build an ethical framework with which to approach the world.”

I confess, I've never liked him much (other than in the Bourne movies). But I just may change my opinion of him after reading this article.

I've been thinking about this a lot lately. I want Sophia to be "strong and secure in who she is". I want her to know that she can be and do any thing she sets her mind to as long as she works hard. I want her to have a love of self and to be kind and good to others. I want so much for her. I just hope that I can be the mother she needs to make my dreams for her a reality.

I sure love our little gal and I am enjoying this ride of motherhood. My worst day as a stay at home mom is better than my best day as a work outside the home career woman!