February already!

It's hard to believe that January of '06 is one for the history books! Where does the time go?! So far, so good tho! At least January went out with a bang! Congratulations to my dear friend, Jenn, on her new little blessing, Lucy!

No other news to report here, really. I did buy the girls a "pee pee potty" as Bekah likes to call it. They will sit on it, but that's about it so far. :) This is OK with me as I don't plan on pushing potty training, and really didn't even want to start at all until the summer. But both of the girls are constantly talking about the potty, so I figured I should at least encourage them a little. Can't hurt, right?

One month down on my Bible reading. I was able to finish January caught up, even tho I had a few days to catch up on from being sick last week.

Happy February, everyone!

A First

Last night Fred and I got a date night! The first one we have had in a long time. We really are more football fans than anything, but then again, we have never had an NBA team here before. But, with the relocation of the New Orleans Hornets to OKC, even temporarily, we decided to go show our support!

We had a blast! The game was exciting and high energy and we won! YAY! We beat the Milwaukee Bucks by one point with .1 seconds left on the clock. Very exciting! Fred cheered so much he got hoarse, and (upon my horror) started dancing like one of the Hornet's HoneyBee cheerleaders! Of course, I had to make him stop immediately before I died of complete embarrassment! But, all told, we really had a blast!

Today the NBA will be announcing whether or not the Hornets will stay in OKC for another year. I can't see any sense in moving the team back to N.O. right now. The NO/OKC Hornets are averaging a crowd of about 18, 200 in attendence at every game. In New Orleans they were nearly last in the league for attendence. Practical business $en$e would say to leave them where they are most successful. Hopefully we'll get an opportunity to host them again next year, and perhaps even on a permanent basis!

"All those who think they've got it made, please step forward! Not so fast there, Sarah!"

Yes, apparently I am not as lucky as I thought I was when it came to escaping the germs being passed around the house. It seems that obsessive hand washing and clorox wiping everying was not enough. About 2 am yesterday morning I awoke with chills and with the most awful "headache" I have ever experienced. Turns out I have a severe sinus infection.

Against my better judgement I went to work today. By 11 am I could take it no more and left. Came home, tried to sleep, couldn't stop coughing, so I gave up. The girls were still at my mom's so I decided a movie was what I needed. My favorite movie was calling my name. No matter how many times I watch it, I'll never get tired of it. Father of the Bride. It just brings back good memories of when I used to dream of my own wedding. And if that wasn't enough when that one was done, I went on to watch Father of the Bride, Part II. There is just something so perfect about the comedic timing of the Diane Keaton/Steve Martin/Martin Short trio that I cannot resist.

I am off to try to sleep, hopefully the coughing will go away, and I'll be better for work tomorrow. If not, I guess it's more chick flicks for me. :)

I've been hit!

I am apparently "IT." I've been tagged! Or as Fred would say "Gotcha last!" So here are my answers, and be prepared readers, you may be "it" next!

What were you doing 10 years ago?

I was in my first year of college with no idea my High School boyfriend of two years was about to break my heart! Oh well, in the end it was all for the best. Actually, I think it was right about this time 10 years ago that I first heard of the American Studies Program in Washington DC that I would eventually be so honored to participate in that, and where I met such wonderful friends.

What were you doing One year ago?

One year ago at this time I think I was doing about the same things I am now, minus my new laptop I got for Christmas this year, and my girls had just turned one.

Name 5 snacks you enjoy

Chex Mix

Red Grapes

A bowl of cereal

Oyster Crackers

Hot tea - Madagascar Vanilla Red

Name 5 things you would do with a million dollars

Tithe

Pay off the house

Put money away for the girls education

Travel

Wood floors in the house

5 bad habits

picking at my thumbs

procrastination

hitting the snooze button

tootsie rolls

being disorganized

5 things I like doing

reading

playing the piano

traveling

playing with the girls

cooking

5 things I would never wear, buy or get new again

bikini

trucker hat

playstation games (we always get them used)

daisy dukes

???? can't think of anything else

5 favorite toys or games

Trivial pursuit

UpWords

Sequence

Hot Shots Golf Fore!

Mr. Potato Head

I was tagged by Tracy, and now I am tagging Earle-girl!

Wish me luck!

It's that time of year again. Every agency is planning their yearly updates for us Congressional staffers. I just received my invite to the yearly National Guard breakfast in Washington, D.C. This experience is not just another meeting...NO...it just couldn't be. We first start out with the flight to DC on a C130. Sounds painless enough, right? Guess again. Last year on the way there, for the first time in my life, I was air sick. It was the most turbulent, uncomfortable ride I have ever been on -- and I like roller coasters.

Then there was the whole series of events leading up to me almost not being let into the Pentagon. It was nothing serious, it's just that I only had three forms of I.D. instead of the required 157 they needed! Then you have to get a photo I.D. made once you get thru the front door. I get tired just thinking about it.

I am happy to report the flight back was much better, but I am still somewhat worried. Especially when my contact at the Guard emailed the invite to the State delegation telling them that in my honor they have added air sick bags to the list of carry-on items needed this year. Nice! At least I have until March 1 to prepare myself!

Maybe I can talk Fred into coming up with me. That would be fun!

Memories from last year...

Look familiar?? I know what you're thinking and no! I didn't photoshop this! :)

And lastly, it's a little hard to see, but this is President Bush waving from the door of Air Force One about to take off from Andrew's Air Force Base, where we were about to take off! By far the highlight of the trip for me!

Play Day!

Yesterday I had the day off which meant I was able to stay home and goof off with my girls. We had a ton of fun! We ate "awfuls" (waffles) for breakfast, raced around the kitchen table playing "gotcha last", and our most fun was playing with the Mr./Mrs. Potato Head they got for Christmas. We had lots of fun putting eyes where the arms go, ears in the mouth and so forth. :) They discovered that Mrs. Potato Head's earings worked well for them too! Rachel handed them to me and said, "On?" When I put them on her she smiled and said, "Mommy, me picture!" How could I refuse such a sweet request?! I grabbed the camera and told her to smile! So, without further delay I present to you the fabulous and most glamorous Rachel and Rebekah!

Rachel

Of course Rebekah was not to be outdone by her sister!

Craziness!

This is what our house looked like when we woke up on Tuesday morning. Today we nearly hit a record high for this day with a temp of 76! I have never seen such a crazy winter! Now the meteorologist are saying that we could get snow again next tuesday. We could use it!

I finally decided to take the girls to the doctor, and it's a good thing. They both have ear infections and chest congestion. They are on antibiotics now so hopefully they will get better. Fred had to go to the doctor too and he has RSV!

I think Earle-girl was right on about the handwashing and water drinking keeping me from it thus far. I am praying it continues to!

I am so happy it will be a three day weekend! Yeehaw!

Yea, tho I walk thru the land of sickness

O, Lord, deliver me from the land of sickness!
Let not the germs infect me or the snot run free,
Don't let my relatives pass on their tortured coughing
Protect me from the sickness so that I may live and function
with a voice, and I will praise you all the days of my life!

So, yes, I am still on the One Year Bible track (although I am doing it at night. 5:30 am is just a miserly hour that no sane person should rise at), and if you can't tell everyone around me is sick, sick, sick! Fred has NO voice and is coughing miserably, the girls have been running fevers on and off and still have that hacking cough. My Dad has battled it and my mom has been fighting it as well. I am determined to do everything I can to resist!

I know it's the crazy weather. Saturday it was 75 degrees! IN JANUARY! That is unheard of! Tonight it's snowing! We so desperately need the moisture, as we had more fires over the weekend and passed the 300,000 mark in acres burned, but it's no wonder everyone is sick!

Nothing else really new around here. Oh, I did get a new hair color over the weekend. What do you think? It's a little more red in person, but I still like it. Forgive the funny eyes as I had been dicing onions for a vegetable/cabbage soup I was making, YUM!

TGIF!!!!!!

And that's all I have to say about that.

It broke my heart

This morning when I went in the girls room to get them out of bed. I was getting clothes together before I got them out of their cribs. While I was doing this Bekah kept saying, "Sorry, Mommy. Oh no, Mommy" in the saddest little "forgive me" voice. When I walked over to her crib I discovered she had gotten sick sometime in the night and not only was it all on her bed, it was in the back of her hair too.

I told her it was OK, and that mommy was sorry she was sick, but all she kept saying was "Sorry, Mommy!" The poor thing. When she woke up from her nap today at Grandma's house that she started saying it again. I feel terrible! What have I done to this poor girl that she feels so bad about being sick! UGH! Being a Mommy can be so hard. Are you sure there is no instruction manual somewhere?!

I made sure I gave her lots of extra attention, that's all I could figure out to do.... Hopefully I haven't caused any permanent damage.

Baby Socks, BEWARE!!!!!

For some reason Elvis has this compulsive habit of finding baby socks and depositing them in his water dish. I just don't get it? No matter how hard I try to get them all put away so that no stragglers are left behind, somehow they still get in there. Maybe he has a hidden stash somewhere that I don't know about?!

I can't believe it's all over! It always seems like the Christmas season goes by so fast. Maybe it's because everything gets so busy, but whatever the case, it's all a done deal. Of course, it was a great Christmas -- other than sleeping on the floor of my mother-in-law's house because our air mattress sprung a leak. The girls had a great time ripping open presents, and I am happy to report that they need no new toys for the rest of their life! Their favorite so far is a toy kitchen with fake food and lots of little pots and pans just like mom's.

Now it's on to a new year! I don't really make "resolutions", I guess. But I do like to set goals for myself for the new year. This year I am doing the one year Bible reading program. All my life I have been going to church, but I have never once read the entire Bible in which I profess such strong faith. With some dedication I intend to change that this year. Besides, my dear husband has done it twice, and I have to admit the competitive spirit in me needs to catch up. :)

Well, it's back to the grind tomorrow. I suppose I better get some sleep so I can get up at 5:30 for some reading!

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! :)

So Cold!

I would like to know what yahoo is in charge of the air in this building?! I am absolutely FREEZING! Here I sit at my desk, warming my hands by the light of my cinnamon spice candle, wearing my leather coat, drinking my hot English tea, listening to the Nutcracker and STILL cannot get warm. I don't know exaclty what the tempurature is today, but I can tell you, it's not on the warm side. I have windows in my office, which are a lovely thing to have (when people aren't standing outside smoking in front of them and blocking the view - that's what we get for being on the first floor), but they are very poorly insulated and it feels like everything outside is really in. The heat only stays on until noon. Then it disapears not to return again until the morning. I have called to complain, but they obviously don't care. You would think in a building with 28 floors somebody else has this same issue?! *sigh*

Tomorrow I'll have to remember my gloves and scarf....

Just call me Martha

Thanksgiving has come and gone and it was a great day, but now Christmas season is here and I can embrace my love of all things "Christmas" without hearing my Fred lecture about not giving Thanksgiving it's proper due.

I spent the weekend decorating the house with wild enthusiasm, despite the many shakes of the head and eye rolling from my dear Mr. F. I don't know why he was so concerned, for I did not ask for his assistance with the decorations except for an opinion of which he would prefer a time or two.

So without further ado, I give you my humble abode, fully dressed in Christmas splendor.

The Christmas Tree

The banisters (yes a little fuzzy, but the flash just didn't make them look right)

And finally, my new Christmas wreath, made by Your's Truly

Of course there are many more, such as lights in the girl's playroom, another smaller tree in the den (where the fireplace is), kitchen decorations and such, but these are my favorite. Now, if only I could get that handy dandy husband of mine to make me a mantle for my fireplace as he promised when we moved in, all would be great. I still need that perfect place to hang our Stockings. I can't complain too much though as he has put a lot of hard work into remodeling the kitchen. :)