Catching up

We are really getting down the wire now, and I have five more Christmas presents to purchase. Two will be taken care of by my husband after he gets off work. Two more by me if I get the chance to go tonight (weather and sick babies permitting). The last one is one of those "Now, what the heck do I buy?" presents.

I probably would have it all done, but last week was really a rough week. I lost an uncle to cancer, and even though it was expected, it doesn't make it any easier. So, last week was spent taking care of the girls and helping my mom as she was in the middle of helping plan funeral services. Definitely not a week where shopping was on my mind.

Somehow it will all get done before we leave town on Friday.

It's been snowing a nice gentle snow for the last two days now. It's really beautiful except for that whole driving to work part.... I guess there's always something. But the trees do look fantastic! I was hoping for a white Christmas, but the temps are forecasted to be above freezing, so it may not stick around. I guess I'll enjoy it while I can.

Despite the frantic pace of the season, there is something special in the air this time of year that you can't find any other time. I truly love it. Have a Blessed Christmas!
Love to you all!

My Review

The highlight of my weekend...no my month....well, maybe even the year....ok, not quite, but close, was seeing The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe on the silver screen this weekend! I absolutely loved it, and I can't wait until it's out on DVD!

I was thrilled to see it with a return of $67.1 million over the weekend. I hope it continues to go on to be a box office smash! I would love to see what they do with the rest of the Series.

On a cute note, the girls saw a book about Narnia this weekend at Sam's. I was trying to explain it to them, but all they wanted to say was "Narni, Narni". Hopefully they will love it some day soon as well!

Snow progress.....

And here we are, almost an hour later...
I'll keep you posted!

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!

The high today was supposed to be 19, but I don't think it made it.

This is the view from my office windows (and yes, I went outside in the freezing cold to take this!). You can't see it falling in the picture, but you can see the dusting on the concrete. It's only been falling for about 15 minutes. The meteorologist say we will get at least an inch. However, when I called my mom to see what it was doing 30 minutes from here (they got it there first) she said the ground was already covered.

Whatever we get, I hope it doesn't turn to ice. Maybe I'll get a "snow day" tomorrow! Now, that would be worth it!

Too cold to think!

It's currently 24 outside. Tomorrow the high is supposed to be 17 and SNOW is coming! Which I would love if I didn't have to come to work. Blech! Because my brain is frozen, I offer you this lovely insight into myself :)

1. What is your occupation? Congressional Staffer
2. What color is your underwear? purple
3. What are you listening to right now? Bing Crosby's White Christmas
4. What was the last thing you ate? sliced Turkey (yes, for breakfast...sorry...)
5. Do you wish on stars? No
6. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Red
7. How is the weather right now? Very Cold
8. Last person you spoke to on the phone? Some guy wanting the campaign phone number
9. Do you like the person who sent this to you? Yes, Very Much
10. How old are you today? 28
11. Favorite drink? At the moment I am loving hot tea
12. Favorite sport to watch? Football, football and more FOOTBALL!!!!!!
13. Have you ever dyed your hair? yes
14. Do you wear contacts or glasses? not anymore! Love that Lasik surgery!
15. Pets? yes, a black cat named Elvis who keeps stealing my poinsettias off the banisters!
16. Favorite month? December
17. Favorite food? Mexican
18. What was the last movie you watched? The Engagement Ring -- a Hallmark TV movie
19. Favorite day of the year? December 1st and Christmas Eve
20. What do you do to vent anger? Depends. Either I talk about it with Fred or I cry
21. What was your favorite toy as a child? My Easy Bake oven
22. Fall or Spring? Fall
23. Hugs or kisses? HUGS
24. Cherry or Blueberries? Blueberries
25. What is on the floor of your closet? Shoe racks, a hamper and a step stool for shorty me.
26. What did you do last night? Made dinner, played with the girls and exercised
27. What are you afraid of? My babies gorwing up to FAST!
28. Plain, cheese or spicy hamburgers? spicy
29. Favorite car? I want a convertible mini-Cooper --not practical, but I want one anyway!
30. Favorite dog breed? Don't know, but I would like to own a pocket Beagle one day
31. Number of keys on your key ring? Too many!
32. How many years at your job? Almost 7
33. Favorite day of the week? Sunday
34. How many states have you lived in? 2 if you count the 4 months I lived in DC.
35. How many cities have you lived in? 4
36. How many countries have you been to? Honduras, Mexico, England and Scotland (although technically those two are the same country)

Happy Birthday to my Beautiful Girls!

On this day two years ago, two of the most gorgeous girls I have ever laid eyes on came into this world to fill our life with joy and love like I never knew existed!

It was an ordinary Monday morning, the first day back to work after Thanksgiving. The office was preparing for our regular Monday morning staff meeting, and I was skipping out to take my very large self to my 36 week appointment with my OB.

I arrived right on time at 10am and was taken back for the usual checks before you see the dr. The nurse asked me how Thanksgiving was. I told her it was great! I had even had a chance to get the Christmas tree up! Quite amazed by that, she asked me how I had been feeling. I told her just fine, but noticed a few little changes over the weekend. She made note of those for the Dr. and said he would be in shortly. Not long after he was in. He checked the babies heart beats, measured me (I was measuring 43 weeks -- told you I was large!). After looking at the notes the nurse made, he looked at me and with a concerned look said, "How have you been feeling?" "Just fine." I replied. "Well, I think we should check to see if you are dialated." Oh great. Just what I wanted to hear. "Hmm, well you are 3 centimeters dialated, and I can feel a hand or a foot. Have you had any contractions or anything?" "No, nothing at all." "Hmmm...." was all I heard in reply. "I am going to send you over to Labor and Delivery and have them hook you up to a monitor, but I think you are in labor." "What?!" I asked totally not taking that last comment seriously at all.

So, at 10:45 I called work to tell them I would be a little longer than I thought, but should be back by lunch. I walked thru the concourse to the hospital and up to the 4th floor where I checked in with the nurse who was also checking in a lady who said she had a scheduled C-section at noon. By 11:13 I was in a hospital bed when the nurse came in to say she was going to check me again before they hooked up the monitors. At 11:16 am she declared that I was now 6cm dialated and she could definitely feel a foot. The babies had to be delivered within the hour before Baby A's water broke and there were legs in the birth canal. "You better call your husband now!" she directed me. "But I haven't even had any contractions?!" I said. "Honey, you are one of the luck ones!" she stated with an air of experience. Shock overwhelmed me.

I called Fred who was working in the garage, and in a panic, shouted at him to get there fast. He calmly replied that he hadn't taken a shower yet. I told him that I didn't think the babies would care.

Then I called into work to tell them to scratch that whole "by lunch" idea. "Just mark me down for Maternity leave. We're having babies!"

Then I called my parents. My Dad answered the phone. "Hi Dad! Happy Anniversary!" (it was their 30th). "Oh, thank you!" he replied. "Do you have any plans for the day?" "Well, I think we are going to go out to diner tongiht." "How about hospital food?" "Hospital food? Why would we want that?" "Well Dad, I am in the hospital right now, and they are going to deliver the babies in about 40 minutes." Silence. "Dad?...Dad???" In the background I hear, "Sugar, it's Sarah Jane. She says she's in the hospital and the babies are coming." my mom says, "Well, get off the phone, we have to leave!" He finally starts talking to me again, "Can we come?" "OF COURSE, Dad! That's why I was calling!"

At 11:58 still terrified and all alone they wheeled me into the OR. About the time the nurse is giving me the epidural I hear the familiar voices of my co-workers Pat and Donna outside the door of the OR. I wanted so badly for one of them to come in with me, but unfortunately I had already told one of the nurses they were co-workers and so they wouldn't let them in. (I was later to find out they had already told the nurse up front they were family so they could get back there. They have never let me get over that one!).

With literally one minute to spare Fred made it to the OR. At 12:31pm, the dr. held up a little purplish baby for me to see, declaring it was indeed a girl! "That's Rachel!" I told Fred. After what seemed like forever (I swear it had to be more than one minute even if the birth certificate says 12:32pm) he held up another little purlplish baby, confirming what we already knew, "Another girl!" By this time the anestesia was really taking over and I was struggling to keep my eyes open. I heard Fred tell the nurse, "This one is Rebekah." They took the girls to the NICU to check them out and I told Fred to go with them.

It turned out that the girls were just fine! They did have to stay in the hospital for a few days just to prove they could gain weight properly, but that in a nut shell is the story of how my life changed forever.

I continue to be amazed at the Awesome God who has created life and it's wonders. I love those two little girls more everyday, and I am so thankfull that I have been given the priveledge of being a Mother.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RACHEL and REBEKAH!

Oh, and Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad! :)