In case of emergency, break glass

To add to our gloomy January filled with both illnesses and injuries, Elise took an emergency trip to the doctor's office yesterday (we had already been there in the morning for her Well Baby appointment, more on that later). What started as an innocent Gerber sweet potato puff eating experience turned into a coughing fit lasting an hour.

At first thought, I thought she was choking but she was able to cough, so the Heimlich and/or CPR was not required. About 30 minutes later, I realized that Elise hd been coughing for a VERY LONG TIME and she wasn't stopping. Poor baby had snot all over her face because did I mention it, she had the cold, too. A quick call into the doctor at 4:45 confirmed they wanted to see her because they thought she had aspirated the puff into her lungs.

Off to the doctor, we had 35 minutes to gather up two children, make a couple of quick phone calls, and race to the office in heavy traffic. We made it, barely. Of course, once I plugged her seat into the seat bse, she stopped coughing. I couldn't tell if she was breathing or what back there and kept reaching back and violently shaking her seat (remind me to check and make sure the base is still installed correctly). At one point I even asked Darsie if Elise was still breathing and Darsie cheerfully answered, ":No!" (Don't worry, she was).

Anyways, the doctor confirmed that her lungs were clear and her oxygen levels were at 100.

So, it ended well. It just scared the crap out of me.

Oh yes, Well Baby.

9 months old
13 pounds, 5 ounces
25 1/2 inches long
1 tooth

Healthy and cute as can be.

Let's take a trip to the library

Once upon a time (pre-marriage and kids), I read, A LOT. But circumstances changed and my time became committed to more than just me and reading slipped by the wayside. But I miss it. So, in attempt to return to reading at least on a semi-regular basis, I'm revisiting my library card (because when did books become so expensive? Or maybe...when did I become so cheap?). My biggest obstacle (besides time) is that I will actually have to go to the library to pick up my books. I wish they would ship them to me, haha.

Currently waiting for me at my local library to pick up are the following:
Bend-the-Rules Sewing: The Essential Guide to a Whole New Way to Sew by Amy Karol

Great Coffee Cakes, Sticky Buns, Muffins & More: 200 Anytime Treats and Special Sweets for Morning to Midnight by Carole Walter

I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence by Amy Sedaris (is this David Sedaris' sister?)

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

Small-Batch Baking by Debbie Maugans Nakos

Colorful Stitchery: 65 Hot Embroidery Projects to Personalize Your Home by Kristen Nicholas

Perfect Scoop: Ice Creams, Sorbets, Granitas, and Sweet Accompaniments by David Lebovitz

Looks like I need to get my rear to the library...hopefully today or tomorrow if this cold subsides a bit. It isn't fun (or safe) driving while dizzy.

So, help me add to my ever growing list. What are you reading? What have you enjoyed lately? What is on your to read list?

More sickness and a tooth

Can we just fast forward through the rest of January, please?

Jeff somehow messed up his knee last week, ending up in urgent care with a prescription for crutches, a knee immobilizer, and some hefty drugs. Of course, none of our local pharmacies carried the knee immobilizer but we were able to find the crutches.

Then over the weekend, I contracted the world's worst cold ever. Darsie is starting to cough, so I think she may have gotten it, too.

In good news. Elise finally got a tooth. Hooray!

Return to Real Life

Vacation is good. It makes you miss your kids and your home. It makes you appreciate your bed, your washer and dryer, your kitchen. Eating at restaurants and fast food gets old.

Torturing rental cars is fun. Holding hands with JUST your husband is nice. Eating without feeding a baby or cutting meat into small pieces is enjoyable. Not having to change diapers and pull-ups is pleasant.

But overall, it is nice to be home.

The White Flag Must Have Worked

Everyone is feeling better (hopefully I didn't jinx the family) and there have been no puke-isodes for about 30 hours.

I was even going to send Darsie back to school today. We kept waiting and waiting for the bus to come when I checked the school Web site. Oops, snow day.

I'm thinking about attempting a clothes shopping rendezvous today. Jeff and I are jetting off to California on Friday to a wedding and I want a new dress.

The never-ending virus

The family is still sick. We are going on 10 days of illness here in my household, 10 DAYS! I was only really sick for 2-3 days, Elise has been sick for 7 days, Darsie has been sick for 6 days, and Jeff has been sick 3 days. Even the dog has been sick.

And today is Jeff's birthday. I'm going to reschedule it for another day I think because I can't do any of my previous plans and I'm sure he will feel like doing nothing tonight.

I guess I should have just put a big ol' black X through January '08. I surrender. See my white flag?

Looking back, thinking forward

I realize I'm only about...oh 3-4 days behind on a New Years post, but I'm going to blame that on everyone else being overachievers and me simply as being me. I love how I can twist things in my brain so that I usually come out ahead. Ok, ok, I realize that I am actually behind but at least I can have sickness to blame and not procrastination.

This past year has been a blur--a complete mind-blowing blur. There was pregnancy, remodelling one of our rental properties and putting it up for sale, building our very own house, finishing said house and moving into it, buying a boat, getting preeclampsia, c-section, birth of Elise and her subsequent two-week hospital stay, massive hospital bills, learning the intricacies of breastfeeding, taking a week long vacation on our boat to the beautiful San Juan Islands (we even visited where Jeff and I were married in 2005), buying a new car, learning to drive a stick shift, and everything else that goes into running a small rental property business and making sure a family of four has enough clean underwear, socks, and good food to eat.

It was hectic. But I loved it. I don't remember a year where I've pushed myself to do so many new things, so many BIG new things. I definitely grew as a person (corny! I know!).

I want so many things for the new year, too many to name, too many to make resolutions for. We are doing some short term planning as well as making some fabulous long term plans. I am letting my real estate estate license lapse and we are listing our rental property with a Realtor friend of mine. We are starting a new business and I plan on doing more freelance graphic design. I want to play more with my kids. I want to cook new foods. I want to sew more. I want to be creative. I want to read more. I need to take better care of myself. I want to be more loving to my family. I want everyone to be healthy. I want to stay on task.

I'm excited for the new year. I don't know if it will be as HUGE as 2007 but I know it will be good, productive, and full of fun and family.

Under Quarantine

We are under quarantine and raising the white flag to the flu gods.

I got sick on Friday.

Elise got sick on Monday.

Darsie got sick yesterday.

Jeff is green around the gills.

Be back when health returns.