Neglect: to leave undone or unattended

Dear Blog:

No, I haven't forgotten you! I have a lot to catch up on being that it's been since July that I have posted anything! I promise to do better!

Sincerely,
Dana, the slacker

It's a bird, it's a plane.....no, it's a cat!

We have a new addition to our family.....a cat, AKA Cute Kitty as Regan calls it. On Saturday, we found a cat roaming on our back deck. Almost immediately, it took over the house. Notice, I keep saying "it" as none of us are really sure if it's male or female as it's pretty young and we just can't tell. Sean thinks female and Cara thinks male. So, who knows and I figure with a name like "cute kitty", we can't go wrong.

Cute Kitty had a collar on and we assumed it belonged to some one in the neighborhood, but we have been unsuccessful at finding its owner.

It gets a long well with the pugs and Regan adores it. It has certainly made itself at home, it uses the doggie door to go in and out, has a food and water bowl and a favorite spot to lounge, but it DOES NOT have a litter box, as I refuse to have one in the house. So far, it has gone out to do its business and hopefully it stays that way.

We haven't been cat owners in a VERY long time, so wish us luck! :)

Happy 4th of July

We had a pretty laid back 4th. We just chilled out at home most of the day. Later in the afternoon, Cara, Charlotte and Mom joined us for some pool time. The girls didn't spend much time in it, but they had fun regardless. Later in the evening, I grilled and then we started a fire(well, Sean did, as I wasn't successful) and had S'mores. Regan wasn't much for the loud fireworks, so she took her yummy goodness inside to eat it and loved it and ended up eating two of them. Once it got dark and Regan got settled in for the night, Mom and I sat out in the driveway and watched lots of fireworks! It's nice to watch other people's money blow up!

The Discovery Center

Friday, I went with Little Acorns Preschool to the Discovery Center. It was great fun and the kids loved it and were so well behaved!

Is that really full sentences I hear?

It's hard to believe that Regan is almost 2 1/2 years old. Along with her growing up so fast comes things I'm just not ready for....like talking in full sentences. Don't get me wrong, it's awesome, but it's a sign that she's growing up and I just want to keep her little forever. Am I really sitting here having an actual conversation with a 2 year old? When did that happen? Where's my tiny newborn?
Regan is such a smart kid, I know all parents thing that and I totally get that, but she truly is, she's a sponge; soaking up everything around her. She can say her entire alphabet with no assistance, including the little "next time won't you sing with me" bit at the end. And she counts to 15 with no help. Really? Seriously? That felt like it happened over night!
I'm sad to think my baby is growing up but excited that she has learned and developed so much, so well but it doesn't stop me from having a tear or two when I realize how big she's getting.
I truly understand how some people are "addicted" to having babies; that way they always have a little one around. Now, I'm not jumping on that band wagon for various reasons, but don't think I haven't thought about it!
Before I know it, she's going to be in kindergarten, yikes, say it ain't so!

My New Addiction

So, I must confess, I have an addiction......to coupons! I know, crazy right? But it's true! Picture it; cutting coupons and not just one, dozens, organizing them by the department in the store and then by expiration date, making a list of all the stores sale prices on any items that I have coupons for, then heading to the store to shop, shop, shop and pay almost nothing for it all! Such a rush, such a high and hey, it's better than drugs and alcohol right?
It's amazing what you can get for almost nothing and sometimes for free and on rare occasions get paid to buy it. I'm officially "hooked on coupons"! I've only been doing it a short time but I've saved a lot and have a few items stocked up; body wash and lotion in particular.
Not to worry, I'm not and will not be a hoarder as I can't stand for my house to be cluttered. I've already given some stuff to charity and figure I'll have it in case Mom needs anything when she moves in the next month or two.
It seems to be a growing trend, and I say that as there have been a few times I head out with my coupons for specific items in mind and get to the store to find the shelves have been cleared, so I can presume that an "extreme" couponer beat me to it!
I've saved as must as 98% and and as little as 38%, and to me, that rocks! Any savings at all is a good thing! And by saving what I did this month on food, I was able to afford flowers for my yard! I'm hoping as I get better and save more, my wish list for what to do with the savings will be much more than just flowers for the yard! Can you say Disney World?
I also enjoy all the awesome fellow couponers I've met via online blogs and fb pages and even some family have joined the coupon band wagon. Go us!

Reflections of a Miracle

As most of you know, in recent weeks, my Sister and family have been dealing with a very emotional situation in relation to her unborn baby boy and it has made me think back to when I was pregnant with Regan.

Let me start at the beginning. From the time I can remember, I always loved kids. As a teenager, I spent a lot of nights and weekends babysitting and always knowing that someday I wanted one of my own. I, like so many woman, dreamed of the day I would meet the right guy, fall in love, get married, get a house, and start a family.

Well, I met a guy, fell in love and got married in 1996 and for the next six years, I would only dream of being a Mom. We spent a lot of time, effort and money trying to conceive with no luck, not even a glimmer of hope. We saw doctor after doctor, traveled to Memphis and to Nashville, you name it, we did it all in the name of a baby. I was diagnosed with a medical problem as was my husband, so two strikes against us. The doctor told us conceiving a child was just not going to happen. Wow, what an emotional time that was, it was heartbreaking to know that we would never have children, that is unless we opted to adopt but we had spent so much money on fertility treatment that there was nothing left to use for adoption.

In 2003, my marriage ended and I reflected back to all the time, effort and money we spent in fertility treatments along with the emotional roller coaster I'd been on for a long time and I realized that while I longed to be a Mom, it seemed it was working out for the best as the last thing I would want is to put my child through the horror of a divorce; and not an amicable one at that.

So, now I'm not only childless, I'm a divorcee; two things I never pictured being at the age of 28, but alas, life wasn't over, I would start anew and would one day be happy again.

As the process of divorce was taking place, I moved from Paducah, KY to Frankfort, KY to take a new job, an exciting opportunity; a new place, new people and better pay. Wow, I had no idea the whirlwind to come! I started my new job in Frankfort in January of 2004 without even having a place to live there, but I had it all planned out, I would drive from Paducah on the weekend, stay in a hotel during the week and then just do that for awhile until I found a place. Well, that worked for awhile but then it was costing me so much to stay in a hotel and the gas money to and from (4 hours one way), that I just couldn't do it any longer. So, me and my bright ideas, I decided to drive every day, while it was still costly, it wasn't as expensive as staying a week in a hotel. Well, that was a bad idea, I'd  have to get up by 2 a.m. to be ready to leave to be at work in Frankfort by 8 a.m. and then leave around 4 p.m. or 5 p.m. to head back to Paducah. You do the math; I was getting about three or four hours of sleep before I had to hit the road again. Enough is enough, so my Mom, bless her heart, helped me get into a townhouse in a neighboring city close to my job! Whew, that was a relief!

I then made it all final, I packed all my stuff and made the move, never to look back! It was hard but also invigorating. But I couldn't help but think; how am I going to do this? I haven't EVER lived completely alone, I always had roommates or a husband. But, I would prove strong and do well for myself. I had a good job and a nice townhouse to come home to. I did so well at work that in just a few short months, I was promoted! I felt like life was normal again.

All the while taking a new job, moving into a new place as a newly divorced woman, the last thing on my mind was finding someone. But that's exactly what happened. I met Sean in mid February of 2004, it was just business talk at first, he was a computer tech out in California and we talked over the internet and phone on occassion and as time passed we became very good friends. We would talk on and off until May of 2004 at which time I got an email from him that stating he was coming to town. And on May 1, 2004, I picked him up at the airport in Lexington, KY. Little did I know, he would never return to California. He came to visit and we decided there was no sense in him wasting money on a hotel, that he could just stay at my house. We became even closer friends and that friendship later blossomed into a romantic relationship.

I never dreamed that I could be as happy as I was at that time, I felt like a little high school girl; I got butterflies every time I was around him. He was so funny, caring and compassionate, not at all what I was expecting from such a handsome Californian.

Almost immediately after deciding he was staying permanently, he decided to enroll in College. He would spend the next two years earning his computer degree. All the while I continued to work in Frankfort. In early 2005, Sean's Sister, her FIVE kids and his Dad left California and came to Kentucky. Well, little did I know they'd end up living with us for a few months, causing a huge financial burden. That burden proved to be too much, not long after they moved out on their own, we had to give up the townhouse and move in with friends. It was a very rough time for us, he was in school full time, so I was the sole provider and it was fine for just the two of us, but add his family to the mix and it was too much! We lived with friends for about six months. During that time I had taken an even better job in Shelbyville, KY, later to take one in Louisville that got me where I am now, and Sean was still in school but working part-time as well. It was a brutal six months, but we made it and finally got a place of our own again. It was not much to be proud of, but it worked until we could move up in the world again. Did I mention that in March of 2005, while his family was living with us we decided to get married? Well, we did, we kept it a secret as my Sis was planning a big Vegas Wedding for July 2005 and we didn't want to take away from this being her time and moment, so we only told my Mom and swore her to secrecy. We didn't tell anyone else until my Sis's Wedding in Vegas. We got married by a Judge, sweet and simple! Guess we'll need to have a big celebration and renew our vows at some point in the future; maybe our 10 year Anniversary!

Is your head spinning yet? Well, mine was! So much happened, so many good things and a few bad that I wasn't sure what was next.

Sean and I had discussed kids before we got married and he was on the fence, he just wasn't sure but we had so much going on, that it was hard for either of us to picture our caotic life with children in the mix. So, I saw my doctor and even though I knew I had medical issues preventing pregancy, I still wanted birth control. I wanted us both to feel "safe". My doctor told me that pregnancy for me wasn't totally out of the question, but that it would be very difficult to conceive and carry a baby to term. I had a lot of scar tissue and my uterus was "hostile" for lack of a better word and I had a severely tiltled cervix. I had had some previous medical conditions that required minor surgery, but had to have several procedures, so it left a lot of scarring. So, back to my story. I decided to get an IUD, that way I would just get a yearly check-up but wouldn't have to be concerned with taking a pill every day. So, the doc put the IUD in, and now I question why he did that based on the issues with my uterus, and moreover, why I never thought to question him about it.

I had the IUD for several years and had it checked each year, except in 2008, I was overdue getting it checked, but by this time, we had moved to Louisville, I was taking College classes, as was Sean and we were both working full-time demanding jobs, so I missed my appointment and never rescheduled it.  I never once thought much of it, I mean, the odds of there being a problem were slim right? And to tell the truth, I never thought getting pregnant would happen or come easy, so surely there's no issue right? Wrong!

I missed two "monthlys" in a row and still didn't think much of it. I was heavy into to College studies, working long hours and just thought the tiredness I was feeling was associated with that. Then came Mother's Day weekend of 2008 and that Friday Sean suggested he run out and get a pregnancy test. I thought about it and said "no, no way am I pregnant, I'm just tired and working and studying too much". Well, he wouldn't let it die, he went out and got a pregnancy test, well, actually he bought a box of THREE! So, I humored him and took a test. When I saw the result, I was literally speechless and felt there was an error, so I took another and another! Yep, all three came back positive. Was this really happening? Was I really pregnant or was this some sick joke these tests were playing on me? I immediately called the doctor that Friday afternoon and they scheduled me for first thing Monday morning. I was so excited but also so unsure of what to think. Do I tell anyone? Do I believe the results? Well, we went to Mom's for Mother's Day that weekend and I decided I had to tell, I couldn't contain it, so I wrapped up one of the three postive tests (I covered it in saran wrap first!) and gave it to Mom that weekend. She was shocked to say the least and I think she was as skeptical as me, but it didn't prevent either of us from going to Carter's and buying some super cute clothes (that I actually still have today)! I remember standing in Carter's and calling my Sis with the news to only find out that they were actively trying to have a baby too! So, I was happy but then sad that I might have a baby and my Sis might be having trouble getting pregnant? (But in August of 2008, she announced she was pregnant too!!!!)

We returned from the weekend at Mom's and I went to my doctor's appointment to find out several shocking things. Yes, I indeed was pregant. But there was the issue of the IUD. How could I be pregnant while having an IUD? The doctor did an ultrasound right away (which they would have done anyway) to determine where the IUD was in relation to the baby. Well, the IUD had dislodged at some point, the doctor figures my tilted cervix and scarred uterus were to blame (which is why now looking back, I realize I should NEVER have had an IUD). The doctor showed me how close the IUD was to the embyro and explained to me that removing it might cause me to lose the baby and that he was surprised it hadn't interfered before now. But thankfully, the doctor was able to carefully remove the IUD without harming the embryo. Once he got the IUD out, I felt I could actually enjoy seeing the ultrasound. It was amazing! I cried so hard and so long! It was tears of joy! Wow, is this really happening? Am I really having a baby? I felt like I was in a dream and still have to pinch myself as it all seems so unreal! I was given a due date of December 8, 2008.

The coming months would prove difficult. I didn't have any major health issues my first trimester, but all that changed for the duration of my pregnancy. Everything that I could have, it seemed I did. I blew the lid off the glucose test, so I had to take insulin shots my entire pregnancy, not fun! Then on top of the diabetes, they found I had high blood pressure, high heart rate, to name a few. It was a pregnancy full of uphill battles. For the last few months, I was miserable and being monitered by ultrasound every week. At this point, I was working from home a lot and when I was at the office, I was wearing sweat pants and slippers as I was SO swollen that NOTHING fit right! Every Friday I reported to the hospital for fetal monitoring and ultrasounds! Ugh! But I did what I was suppose to to ensure a healthy baby! On November 25, 2008, I had a regular OB appointment that morning and the doctor sent me straight to the hospital, my vitals were all out of whack and the baby's heart rate was very high. I reported to the hospital by 10 a.m. and was immediately placed on heart monitors, fetal monitors, had an ultrasound, you name it, they did it I think! By lunch time, I was still just laying there all hooked to machines and starving and thirsty. But they wouldn't let me eat or drink in case I had to have surgery or was induced. Ugh! Well, finally around 2 p.m. I think it was, they did bring me water and a sandwich. That was the best water and sandwich I've ever had! Around 4 p.m.that afternoon, they informed me that I had preeclampsia and would need to be induced by night's end. I rallied my troops, calling Mom and Sean and my Sis along with keeping my facebook friends posted with status updates.

Around 6 p.m. they began inducing me. It went really fast and so much is a blurr, but I know my water broke fast and I was in a lot of pain early on. I started dry heaving and Mom was like "you shouldn't be doing that this early, I did that right before having you". Well, I don't know where I was in the process, but I was one sick Momma! They were able to come in with an epidural but dang, I was already almost fully dialated by that time! I went from a 0-4 in no time and then it seemed like it just happened. I was fully dialated and ready to push and about three pushes and I was done! Whoo Hoo! Welcome Regan Christine James Partaker at 2:17 a.m. EST, 6 lbs. 3 oz and 18 inches long.

Since Regan was born the day before Thanksgiving, we were assuming we wouldn't get to spend the holiday at home, but I thought it was worth asking. Once the doctor got a look at her and they did all the necessary tests, they said we could go home. We got home around noon or so on Thanksgiving. We ordered out and had dinner in our own home! Wow, it was so unbelievable to be home with our baby girl!

The first week home was rough, Regan was super fussy at night and seemed to have tummy pain. I didn't sleep the entire week at home, I went a week with no sleep but because I chose to, I wanted to be up with her. In the coming days, we would take Regan to see her Pediatrician and I would see my OB. During one of those visit, my due date was discussed and I remember telling my doctor exactly when I got pregnant as I was pretty certain and thought the due date was off from what I calculated, but hey, first time Mom, and nerves and anxiety I guess prevented me from questioning the doctor. But long story short, it was determined that my due date should have been early January, not early December, so in reality, Regan was born about a month early. I explained her fussiness and tummy issues and we switched formula but she still had bowel issues. Issues that would prove to stay with her even now. She doesn't have any obstructions, just minor difficulties. I do hope she grows out of it!

So, now, here we are almost 2 1/2 years later and I look at my baby girl every day and know that she is truly a miracle! I thank God for her every single day! We are blessed beyond measure.

And with all this being said, I know that my Sis is going to have her own "miracle baby" story! Miracles do happen and my family is witness to one already and another one on the way! God Bless my unborn nephew and I know in my heart of hearts that God has laid his healing hands on him and that all will be ok. And then our family will be in the presence of yet another MIRACLE!

Be thankful and appreciative of your family, always tell them you love them and show that you care. NEVER take them for granted!

God Bless the USA!

I was sitting on the couch watching "Celebrity Apprentice" around 9:22 on the night of May 1, 2011, when I heard the news.......Osama Bin Laden is DEAD!

God bless our troops for all the sacrifices they and their families have made over the last decade to finally come to this glorious day!

I could only hope and pray now that the next monumental moment I will remember is....."the troops are coming home"!

Surprise!

Cara and I have been discussing getting the girls pictures made together and finally got around to scheduling an appointment. We figured we'd do it and the pictures would be in in time for Mother's Day and we would present Mom and Mamaw(Cara's MIL) with a special gift. Well, we had the pictures taken on April 30th, and was informed the earliest that they'd be in would be May 9th, so we figured instead of us having to choose what to get them, we should spill the beans and let them choose the poses they like. Well, so much for secrets and all the white lies I told Mom about what we were doing last weekend! LOL!

The girls did pretty good. Regan flipped out when we first arrived and it took some time for her to calm down and be comfortable in her surroundings. Usually when one was ready for a pose and pic, the other one wanted to run, play or do something else. But all in all the girls were troopers and very patient.

Here are a few of the pictures. They turned out very well! P.S. You will see Charlotte has a boo boo on her chin; of course the day before her pictures she was playing on the teeter totter at school and fell off, she's fine and it's nothing major, but as her Mommy says "of course she would fall the day before her pics". I say "it adds character and it certainly showcases the little monkey she truly is"!

Happy Easter!

We had a fun Easter, despite the yucky weather and having to hunt eggs in the house instead of outside. Mom was here as she had come in the week prior for Charlotte's Birthday, so she stayed in town until after Easter. It's always nice to have her here, and it's even more special with it's a holiday.

The girls dyed eggs on Saturday and then we had Easter Dinner on Sunday and the girls hunted eggs in the house after dinner. I didn't get any pics of them hunting eggs(well, I did, but for some reason they all came out blurry and unusable!).

Here are a few pics of the girls dying the eggs, they seemed to enjoy it, I know I enjoyed watching them.

Easter at School was EGG-cellent

So, I've bragged before about Little Acorns Preschool and Mrs. Sandra and she continues to impress me with each passing day. This week the kids made Easter themed crafts, dyed eggs and had two egg hunts! Here's a few pics from their fun week.

"Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, Wonder Are"

This morning when Regan woke up, she started singing non-stop. I thought it was so cute, I recorded it. There's no graphics as I was recording it via the baby monitor as to not disturb her. Silly girl!

An Update from My Sis on the baby!

This is the update from my Sis. Please continue to pray for a miracle! My heart still aches for them and the unknown. I have to have faith that God will lay his hand on this precious baby and allow us witness to a miracle! Thanks to all of you for your kinds words of support and encouragement during this time, we all appreciate it very much!



We had the amnio today. It went fine, but I must say it was more painful than I anticpated!  It will be up to two weeks before we get any feedback.  All this waiting is agonizing.
We got to see our baby, our baby BOY that is.  Things seemed to be ok.   The hygroma has not gotten bigger and the heart rate was 150 bpm so that seemed like good news. We will have a more detailed ultrasound in 2 weeks.
We are praying that the amnio will rule some possibilities out.  They will also keep monitoring by ultrasound for other things, like heart defects, that can't be detected by amnio.
Thanks for the continued prayers!

 

Meeshka, Mooshka, Mickey Mouse! It's party time!

My niece Charlotte turned two on Wednesday and we had her Birthday party on Saturday. It was Mickey themed.

Mom made the cake of course and it turned out so cute.

Charlotte got lots of goodies; her two big items; a pony and a trampoline! No, not a real pony, but cute and cuddly nonetheless. His name is Lucky. Charlotte and Regan had to learn to take turns riding it, poor Charlotte gets a gift on HER Birthday and Regan has to ruin the fun by wanting to ride it too. LOL! We ended up setting a timer so the girls would know when it went off that it was time to switch turns.

We had a nice day of food, family, friends and fun!

I apologize now to any of you that read mine and Cara's blog as she may post some of the same pics since I stole these from her fb! I loaded my camera with fresh batteries and left the house without it! :(

Someone please tell me again........when do they stop growing up so fast?

Happy Birthday Charlotte!

My sweet niece turns 2 today! Happy Birthday, I love you so much! Regan wanted to wish you a Happy Birthday! See ya at your party Saturday!

Silver Dollar City

Saturday Cara and I took the girls to Silver Dollar City for the first time. We recently purchased Season Passes and thought the weather was perfect to try them out. It was a little warm, but not unbearable and the girls did good. We had a few moments of insanity, but nothing major; to be expected with toddlers. As we got off the tram from the parking lot to the park, we ran into Cara's co-worker Melissa, her son Matthew and her Sister and Mom. We all headed to the kiddy rides together and had lots of fun.

Once we left the kiddie rides, we grabbed some lunch and then headed the the boat ride. That was an experience!!! You ride on water on this little boat with water guns and spray passing boats and folks up on the sidewalk, who are all also spraying you back. We got soaked and it was a bit cool with the wind but we dried quickly. Regan loved the water!

We then walked a bit and found the train station and took a ride through the park on the train. Both girls love trains, so it was a success.

After the train ride, we were all beat, so we headed home. It was a fun day and I look forward to doing it again.

P.S. If you rent a stroller there instead of taking your own, be careful about what you take with you, there isn't any storage so we had to hang our bang around the handle and being that we packed all our stuff in one bag, including lunch, the bag was heavy and make the stroller unbalanced, even with the girls in it it wanted to try and tip and if the girls climbed out...well, boom bang, the stroller would fall over!

Nonna turns 100 today

Happy Birthday Nonna! Today is my Mom's Birthday and Cara worked with the girls to make a video! Here's the link to the videos! How cute are they?!

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/video/video.php?v=1862031942981

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/video/video.php?v=1862025742826

Praying for a Miracle

This is a prayer request my Sis wrote, please keep them in your thoughts and prayers. I know miracles DO happen, and Dear God, please see fit for this to be one of them! I love my Sis and her family more than anything, and it hurts my heart and soul to see them go through this. I wish I could take away their pain and their worries! NEVER take anything in life for granted!

Dear friends and family,


Steve and I would like to ask you for your prayers.  As you know, we are expecting baby #2.  We had an ultrasound this week that showed the baby has an abnormal pocket of fluid behind the neck, called a cystic hygroma.  We are told that it's likely our baby has chromosomal abnormalities. There can be a lot of outcomes, but these symptoms are often associated with Down's syndrome, Trisomy 18, Turner's syndrome, or heart defects, among others.  We are trying to remain positive, but the statisics are dismal.  The drs said there is an 80% chance the baby will not survive the pregnancy.  However, there have been cases like ours where everything has turned out just fine, so that is what we are praying for.


We are going to have an amniocentesis later in April. The amnio is known to be very accurate in determining certain genetic issues.  We would like to have a better idea of what is going on so we can prepare for any special needs that our baby might have.


We are overwhelmed with emotion right now, to say the least.  We have not had much time yet to absorb all of this information. It doesn't even seem real. But we know there is power in prayer so we wanted to share this and ask for your prayers.  Please pray that God gives us patience and comfort as we wait to find out more.  Please pray that we have a healthy baby or that we have the strength to cope with whatever outcome we face.
--Steve & Cara

25 Years

It's hard to believe that you've been gone for 25 years. I remember March 30,1986 (Easter Sunday) like it was yesterday. It's like a record playing in my head; I know the music and even know the words, but I don't like the song. But it's one of those songs that sticks with you no matter what. However sad it is, it's a song that I'll never forget, I'll forever wish that I could rewind it and pause it...pause it before that moment that God decided to take you to be an angel amoung us!

I remember that  deep, dark feeling and just kept telling myself that the pain would go away one day and I'd look back and wonder how me, Mom and Cara got through it. But the truth is, the pain never goes away. I do often wonder how we got through it all and are where we are in life, but I can only smile in knowing that you were a part of that. You were there holding our hand when we were scared and lonely. You've always been there; in our hearts and sometimes your presence has been so strong that I think I felt you touch me and say "Dude, it's gonna be alright!" That's where I find my peace..in my heart!

As the years passed and I became a teenager, a troubled one to say the least, I look back and know that if you had been there, things would have been so different, but through the help of friends, family and a few thereapy sessions to say the least, I've come to terms with my past and have to know that it all happened for a reason. I still struggle, but I know how to deal with all the pain now and I'm proud of myself for that! I've often asked why God allowed things to happen or why he took you away, but I've stopped asking those questions as the answer is never there, only he knows the answer and up to this point in my life, he hasn't felt I needed to know, so I live my life for the here and now.


In the 25 years that have past, so much has happened, some good and some bad, but the best of it all was when Regan was born. I use to be sad that you all would never meet and that she would grow up without you, but the truth is, I get through knowing you had a hand in our miracle baby and that you met her long before we did and she will always know who her "Pop Pop" (that's what she calls you when we look at pictures) is. I know that without God and you as our angel, that Regan would never have come to be. We are blessed beyond measure!


Years ago it was suggested to me to keep a journal, one that I could not only write about the things that troubled me, but about my memories growing up in a time when you were still here. Tonight I got one of those journals out and was reading it and while I cried uncontrollably, I also laughed uncontrollably! I read the memories of dune buggy's, go carts, rabbit hunting, driving your old Scout and 4th of July BBQ's just to name a few. There's no need for me to go into all the stories, as you know them as well as I do and all those things warm my heart and make me smile. All those things are things no one can ever take from me. I continue to write in my journals and sometimes I get them out and read just to relive all those memories from years ago. Tonight when I got my journals out, I also came across all your airplane books and stuff that Mom gave me from when you were taking flying lessons and call me crazy, but I find it cool that I can look through them and not only smile at knowing how happy you were in a plane, but some of the stuff has your writing in it and well, that's just neat to me! And one day, I hope to fly too! As you know, I've taken a few lessons and been up in a few Cessna's but one day, I'll go all the way, I may be 50 years old, but I'm gonna do it!

Recently Mom has decided to sell the house and move here to be closer to all of us. And I don't have to tell you that's she's struggling as I'm sure she's talked to you about it. It's such an emotionally difficult decision for her. She tells me the story of you all buying it right before Cara was born and you (and I think Mikey) moved stuff in before she got home from the hospital. It was the first and only house Cara has ever known aside from holding so many memories of our family. But Dad, please lay your hand on her and tell her "Cathy, it's gonna be alright". I think she needs that. The memories will forever be in our hearts, but she also has a lot of labor in that house. Do you ever think she's worked herself to death all these years staying so busy as thereapy? I think so, I think she has kept herself wrapped up in the house, school, etc, as to not fall into a depression by just sitting around thinking about things. And I commend her for that as we each have our own way of self-therapy! I know the move will not be easy for her, but she's got so many memories waiting for her here. So Dad, talk to her and help her through this!

Dad, I miss you so much and there's not a single day that goes by that I don't think about you or that something doesn't remind me of you. Give Granny a big hug and a kiss and tell her I love and miss her too! I treasure every memory and I'm proud to be the daughter of the biggest and brightest star in the sky!

Love,
Dude

Time Flies

Yesterday marked one month since Regan started going to Little Acorns Preschool. I can't believe how fast time goes by. She has so much fun and is learning so much. She says her ABC's (she misses a lot of letters, but with assistance, she does well). She can count to 15 with NO assistance and she knows ALL her colors. She is talking in full sentences and it just makes me smile. (Now if we can get potty training down, we'll be all good). I am so amazed at how much she knows and how much she loves it. She has really come out of her shell. She loves playing with the other kids and has made some awesome BFF's. We are truly blessed to have found Little Acorns, Sandra is wonderful; she is patient, kind, caring and just awesome all around. We look forward to a long-lasting relationship with Sandra and her family.

Happy, Happy Birthday Kelly!

This past weekend, Cara, the girls and I went to Sikeston to celebrate my Uncle Kelly's 50 Birthday. We prepped the girls to say happy birthday(Regan has been loving saying it since Sean taught her back in February for mine). While the girls didn't say it exactly on cue, they did end up saying it; they are soo stinkin' cute. It was suppose to be a surprise party, but not so sure that was the case, but either way, it was great fun. My cousin just bought a new house and she was host to the party. We enjoyed time with family, but the quick trip made for a tired bunch of girls, not to mention the girls were wired from cake, ice cream and tea on Saturday night and WOULD NOT go to sleep, so we were all up sitting around Mom's table eating popcorn until after Midnight. But great times! And "making memories" as Nonna says! Check out his awesome cake!

Fun with Charlotte on St. Patty's Day

Thursday evening we went to Cara's to eat dinner with her and the family. It was a nice day, so we let the girls play outside. The loved seeing and calling for Buster, the dog next door, chasing Beta(Charlotte's doggie) and just running and playing. They were cute little leprechans in their green!

Happy St. Patty's Day!

Regan celebrated St. Patrick's Day by wearing her green to school and that was also the day they went to the Circus, but the day before, she had a great time making crafts for the occassion. I love the hat!

Lions, and Tigers and Bears, OH MY!

Last Thursday at school, Regan got to go to the circus. She did so good and loved every minute of it. She even got to ride a pony. Sean and I wanted so badly to take her, but our schedules just didn't mesh through the week and we had plans to be out of town on the circus' last weekend in town. So, I'm SO grateful for Sandra being able and willing to take her!

This Old House

My Uncle Dennis wrote a song/story about "This Old House", referring to his childhood home, my Nanny's old house on Heggie Street in Charleston and while I was captivated by it, I didn't have the same connection listening to it as he and his siblings.

Funny thing is, I may soon be able to write my own story about "This Old House", but not my Uncle Dennis' childhood home...mine!

Mom has made the decision to sell her home and relocate to Nixa to be close to us and the grandbabies. When she first told me, I was excited, so much so that I didn't give a lot of thought to how hard this would be for her and for my Sister and I too. That little blue Cape Cod house is full of memories. She and my Dad bought it in 1980; it's the house they brought my Sister to straight from the hospital. It's the house that we've all called home for just over 30 years now. 30 years is a lot of memories and while it will be sad to turn the key over to a new owner, the memories are in our hearts forever, the house is just a structure, the walls are mere wood and sheetrock, the floors just wood and carpet; she can't take the house with her, but she will forever have the memories those walls hold.

Ah, memories.......where do I begin? The swingset that fell on my arm(that no one else seems to remember), the tree that saved Cara's life from a doberman, the driveway I rode a go cart down and about killed myself, the bedroom walls that I wrote on, the hardwood floor that we played on, the den that my Dad watched Dukes of Hazzard in, the patio that has entertained many BBQ's and served as the platform for my Dad's homemade ice cream making, the table we've surrounded at Thanksgiving Dinners, the creaky stairs I tried to avoid when sneaking out, the same ones my Uncle Kelly always sits on at any family gathering, the teeny tiny attic closet in the bedrooms; every room has a memory, every room has seen laughter and tears, and none will ever be forgotten!

So, while I know this will be one of the hardest things Mom has ever done, the reward is future memories with all of us here in Nixa, a house that her grandkids will one day call "This Old House".

A Day at the Movies

Sunday Cara and I took the girls to their first movie. We saw Tangled; pretty cute movie. The girls did so well, I was so impressed. The movie was an hour and 45 minutes and for the first hour, the girls stayed in their chairs or on our laps. They were so expressive about the things going on in the movie. They especially liked the horses, and the chamelion(they thought it was a frog). It was so cute to watch their facial expressions and hear their laughter, they both laughed out loud several times. I caught a glimpse of the lady behind us giving some endearing looks a few times when they would say something out loud or laugh. It was a lot of fun. And I must mention how they both LOVED the popcorn. Regan loves to eat "corn" at home, but she especially loved the movie theatre's buttery version of it! I'm not sure how much they ate, but it seemed like a lot. It was great to get out with the girls and enjoy a few hours of relaxing fun. I am so proud of them; I mean, really, how many two years olds and not quite two years olds can be taken to the movies and do so well?

Happy Anniversay!

Sean and I celebrated our 6th Anniversary on Thursday; well, we didn't really get to celebrate, or at least Sean didn't. I met my Sis and family at Tokyo Grill for dinner while Sean was at work. He wasn't feeling well, so he didn't even want me to bring him anything home. When he did get home from work, we enjoyed time as a family and exchanged cards; we got each other the exact same card! I guess we know each other pretty well! I am thankful for a loving, hard-working husband, AND an awesome Dad! I love you Sean! Happy Anniversay!

Lights Out!

We had a small storm on Friday and I get a call from my Sis that her power is out and wants to come over and hang out. While I hate they were out of power, I was secretly happy; not about the power but that she and Charlotte were coming to hang out. I love spending time with them and watching the girls play together, they are so stinkin' cute! I love my family!

The First Week of School

Regan completed her first week of school and she did amazing! She has already made some new friends. This week they worked on the color green, the square shape, the letter F, and the number 6. She got to do a lot of fun activities and spend a lot of time outside. She loves being outside! We are very please with Little Acorns and while we hate that she's growing up so fast, it's awesome to see her learn new things. We are so proud of our baby girl!

I'm Going To Be An Aunt...Again!

Cara just officially announced that she's pregnant and due October 4, 2011. We've known a few weeks, but she wanted to wait until after her first doctor appointment to share the news with everyone. We are all so excited. I'm hoping for another girl as I think it would be awesome to have all girls, but a boy would be cool too and Steve would have a "Jr.". I'd share a pic of her first Ultrasound, but since she hasn't shared it yet, it just doesn't seem right to do it. But it's a cute little bean! Congratulations Cara and Steve, we love you bunches!

Regan's First Day of School

On Monday the 28th, Regan went to Preschool for the first time. She attends Little Acorns here in Nixa, it's not an actual school; it's an in-home licensed pre-school/day care. She is loving it and being such a big girl! I think it was harder on us than her. She is making new friends and is loving the learning, coloring, and playing. She loves it so much that she doesn't want to leave. She actually had a full on tantrum on Monday and I took her away kicking and screaming.

Happy Birthday!

On February 27th I celebrated a Birthday. It was a nice quiet and relaxing day at home with the family. Cara and Steve came over that evening and brought me a cake; they are so awesome!

It's funny how the older we get, the less important Birthday celebrations feel, but it's always nice to do a little something!

While away, the mice will play

I had to go to Orlando for a Corporate Meeting back on the 21st. And as usual, my Mom came through for us and came to town to stay with Regan. She's so awesome. She also kept my niece Charlotte one day as well, so she could enjoy both girls. Mom takes great care of the girls and I am so thankful she is retired and can come on a moment's notice and help us out. Thanks Nonna!