Time Keeps On Ticking

US IN 2011, A FAMILY!!

JUST THE 2 OF US 12/31/05

Wow! I am really starting to see a pattern here. One of the worst things (In my opinion, anyways) one can be is predictable, and yet that is exactly what I have become. The pattern to which I am referring, and the way that I have become predictable is that I am a horrible blogger! It has been forever since the last time I wrote. 10 months to be exact, if I remember correctly! I guess I just feel that with social media, e-mail, and texting, everyone already knows what I am doing all the time. With Facebook, Twitter(follow me @gehrigsmom), and then just plain old e-mail, texting, cell phones, and dare I say it, land lines, I don't feel the need to post boring, tedious, mundane details of my life. However, when I started blogging, I wanted to do it as a way to be able to look back and read my own posts, as a way of recording our family from day to day.

I feel like I have nothing really significant to write. We have just been busy living life. For once, it's been extremely ordinary. After the last 10 years, I think that is something I should just relish at this point. This May it will be 12 years that Eric and I have been together, with our 10 year wedding anniversary coming up on October 19th. When I think back to May of 1999, and think about how far we've come in those 12 years, I see that we have been NON STOP since then. So maybe it's a good thing to have NOTHING going on for once. I am sure that my husband would not agree with me on my perspective of our life right now. For him, it's not so quiet. He is currently working harder than he ever did, and after going through 4 yrs of undergraduate school, graduate school for a year, medical school for 4 years, and a residency for 3 years, that is saying a lot. He is currently holding down 6 different jobs/titles. 1)staff physician for FES (Fremont Emergency services, 2)co-director of FES, 3)Director of Southern Hills Hospital Emergency room, 4)Co-director/Co-owner ACES (Advanced Care Emergency Services, which is in AZ, he works down there a week every month), 5)Medical Director of MedicWest Ambulance Services, and 6)Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at Toreau University. All of this, and yet he still finds time to spend with Gehrig and me, and maybe even golf once in a while!!

I certainly miss having him around most of the time, because before he had all of these job responsibilities, we actually had a LOT of quality time together, so it's been an adjustment. At least it has been this way ever since Gehrig has been born, so it's all he knows, and it's all I know as a parent, if not as a wife. As a wife, we had lots of time together, because we were married 7 years and together 9 before G was born. But as a mom, I have always been pretty much on my own. I do have lots of help and support from my parents, so I really can't complain. They are in the process of selling their house in Albany, and they are moving to Las Vegas!! I am beyond thrilled, Gehrig is thrilled, and I know Eric is relieved because he knows how close I am to my parents, for starters, and he won't feel so guilty for not being here a lot of the time. I certainly do not have any resentment towards him in this department. I joke about being a "single mom", but it's all joking. Honestly, I am extremely grateful for how hard he works for our family, so that I don't have to, so that our son can have his mother home with him. That is the deal we made. He works outside the home and I work inside it. We're a team.

Gehrig is thriving. In May it will be a year that he has been in day care 3 days a week. I agonized over my decision to put him into day care, especially because I do not work, and there is no reason for him to go, (practical reason anyway). At first Eric was 100% against it also. Now, a year later, he has told me that it was the best decision I have ever made. The reason I did it was because G is an only child, and is going to be an only child. There is no chance of a sibling, and we are not going to adopt or have a surrogate carry for us, like we originally thought we would when G was just born. He has no cousins. All of our family is back east. He has no friends in our neighborhood. he is the only child on our street. I do have a wonderful group of girlfriends here, a group of about 12 of us, and we all have small children, the only problem is that they all live in Henderson, which is on the other side of town. We live in Summerlin. So while all my friends get together every day for playdates at the park and at each others' houses, I am a 15-20 minute car ride away. So we do get together with them about once a week, but the other 6 days of the week G was becoming very bored at home with just me all the time. When he was a baby, it was no big deal, because he had 2 naps a day, and the rest of the time was getting fed, changed, and in a bouncy seat or a jumparoo, or having tummy time, etc. But now that he requires more stimulation than that, I felt it was time to get him socialized. Time to get him used to being around other children, learn how to share, have a structured day, and have LOTS OF FUN in the process.

Saying that his day care, Kindercare, has exceeded my expectations is an understatement. He is not even 3 yet, and he can sing all of his ABCs, count to 15, can identify colors, shapes, numbers, and letters. He sings so many songs, cuts with (kids) scissors, colors, talks in complex sentences, has started being able to play video games, brushes his teeth, and is almost potty trained. He is a very caring and compassionate little boy. Very sweet, and adores his mommy!! (I'm melting). He shares well and at his parent/teacher conference his teacher told me that he participates in all activities eagerly, and that he's one of her favorites!! He gets music lessons on Mondays, and has started playing drums and piano. Our school district here in Las vegas is one of the worst in the country, so we are starting to look at Pre K and Kindergarten now. We will definitely be sending him to private school, although are not sure if it will be a parochial school or a private prep school/academy. BUT in order to go to one of these schools, in addition to it being very expensive, he also will have to interview, at 4 YEARS OLD!! THIS is precisely the reason I wanted to send him to "school" at less than 2 years old. Now that we have, he will be ready for those interviews next year.

So because he is in school 3 days a week for 8 hours a day, I have decided to finally get my license in NV to practice nursing. When we moved here, in 2005, I had just finished working as an RN in Pennsylvania, and in New York before that. I have NEVER not worked, since I was 15 years old. The reason I didn't get licensed in NV initially was because we planned on starting trying to conceive as soon as we moved out here. We were married in 2001, and shortly thereafter learned that our only hope of becoming parents was going to be through In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), which isn't covered by insurance and is very expensive, often over $10,000 per try. So financially we weren't able to try to conceive while Eric was a resident in PA in the early years of our marriage, and I was an RN. Once he got a job out here as an attending physician, we were finally be able to start trying to make our dream of becoming parents a reality. While still in PA, I had bought a book called "IVF, The A.R.T. of Making Babies", written by Dr. Geoffrey Sher, of the Sher Institutes For Reproductive Medicine (SIRM). This was the 1st book I read about infertility and Assisted Reproductive Technologies, namely IVF. I schooled myself on IVF, both through books and online.

It just so happened that SIRM had a location in Las Vegas (as well as many other cities in the US). Our luck couldn't have been better, the right place at the right time! So we moved here in June 2005 with plans to go to SIRM as soon as Eric started working and we saved enough money to start our fertility treatments. For anyone who has gone through fertility treatments, you know that in addition to being financially draining, emotionally draining, and physically draining, they also take up every bit of time you have. You literally have to go to the doctor's office EVERY morning during an IVF cycle to have bloodwork and ultrasounds, to monitor your hormone levels and follicle growth. You also have to give yourself anywhere from 1 to as many of 6 injections daily for weeks, sometimes the injections have to be given at EXACT times, not a minute sooner or later. So because of this, it was decided by Eric and me that I would not work, so that I could focus 100% physically and emotionally on getting pregnant.

Trying to get pregnant through fertility treatments is not a job I would wish on anyone, not even my worst enemy. It was the hardest thing I have ever gone through in my life, and after going through 22 open abdominal surgeries prior to getting pregnant, that is saying a LOT to say that trying to conceive was worse than being sick my whole life. I'd take a million more surgeries, or even 2 full time nursing jobs over going through IVF ANY DAY. And, in order to even START the IVF process, I had to have 3 surgeries on my tubes, ultimately I had both of my fallopian tubes removed, because even before we started our very 1st round of IVF they were wreaking havoc on my body, and my reproductive endocrinologist (IVF doctor), Dr. Fisch said that we would have better chances of success if they removed my tubes. So 2005 became 2007 before I ever even got pregnant. 3 surgeries on my tubes, 1 for a bowel obstruction, and 1 to remove my gallbladder, so 5 MAJOR abdominal surgeries in 2 years, not to mention countless admissions into the hospital for complications-without having to have surgery. Before we knew it it was September 2007, 2 years and 3 months after we had moved here, and we were going into our FOURTH round of IVF, and I had yet to get pregnant. This was also about $60,000 later.

In the end of September 2007, we started our 4th round of IVF. It was my worst round yet. Things were just not going well for us. The doctor couldn't figure out why I was not getting pregnant. With blocked tubes as my diagnosis, and those tubes now out of my body, it was fairly cut and dry what needed to take place. I needed to take shots daily of hormones that would stimulate more than one follicle to grow eggs. They would remove my eggs from my ovaries. They would mix those eggs with Eric's sperm. Those fertilized eggs would become embryos, and 3 or 5 days later be put back into my uterus. SIMPLE. Only it wasn't. The doc said that by all accounts, i should have been pregnant on the 1st or 2nd try. Why we were going into our 4th try was starting to puzzle even the doctor. I was getting more and more frustrated, anxious, desperate, and hopeless. One night I laid in bed with Eric and sobbed, apologizing over and over again to my husband for being such an inadequate woman, for having a disease that I had no control over, for costing us so much emotionally and financially over the past 2 years, with no end in sight. He just held on to me, telling me NOT to apologize, and telling me that he knew that I couldn't have children the day he married me, and that he'd do it all over again. I felt so guilty that this man, that I knew was going to be an amazing father, was going to end up living childless, all on account of me. I even told him that if this round didn't work, I was DONE. No more treatments, no adoption, no donor eggs, donor embryos, or surrogates. In fact, I even told him I was done being married. I wanted him to have the chance to marry someone that COULD give him what I could not. It would kill me, but because I loved him, I would make the sacrifice of letting him go so that he could be happy. It was a very dark time. I wasn't stimulating well, only had 5 follicles going into my egg retrieval, and the doctor didn't have high hopes that this round was going to be any different than it had been the last 3 times.

Imagine my surprise, about 3 weeks later, when I got a phone call telling me that I was indeed pregnant!! AND pregnant with TRIPLETS, Gehrig and a set of identical twins! What happened was we transferred 2 embryos into my uterus, and they both implanted, and one split, giving me Gehrig and identical twins. Sadly, I lost my twins, one never got a heartbeat, and the other one's heart stopped beating at 14 weeks. I found out I was pregnant on October 12, 2007, 2 years and 1 month after we had started on our quest to get pregnant. We had NO idea that it would take that long. I had a very long road ahead. A high risk pregnancy, many hospitalizations during it, a complete placenta previa, a horrible bleed at 31 weeks, preterm labor and complete bedrest from 31 weeks til 37 weeks 4 days when Gehrig entered the world on June 4th 2008, at 5 PM, weighing 6 pounds 11 ounces and 19 inches long! I ended up almost dying after giving birth and being in the hospital a whole month, while G came home with Eric, without me.

And next month it will be 3 years since the day my life changed forever and my miracle baby was born. 3 full years of feedings, diapers, baths, kisses, hugs, snuggles, LAUGHS, tears, and everything in between. The best 3 years of my life. I could never have imagined how much my life was going to change, for the better, back in 2007 when I found out I was going to have a baby. I could never have imagined back in 2005 when we moved here that it would be 2011 before some sort of normalcy would come back into my life, or that it would be 2011 before I would be going back to work as an RN, a job I loved so much and worked so hard to have to begin with.

So as I say all the time, "where does the time go?", It's time to sit and ponder just how fast it really does go by. Days become years and before you know it, many years have passed. I never truly understood the saying "the days are long, but the years pass by" until I became a mother. So now, I really appreciate that time seems to be slowing down somewhat. You never know when life can get so out of control crazy, so I am enjoying this time, this normal, ordinary time. Every mundane second of it. If I could make the time stand still altogether, i would, and I'd bottle up my baby's youth. But he will continue to grow whether I like it or not, so I can only remember to enjoy every MINUTE of it.

Summer Fun 2010

Wow, has it been this long since I last posted?? I can't believe it is the middle of September already. I have to say, though, we are coming into the best time of the year here in Las Vegas, fall. It's WAY too hot to do anything much during the summer here. So now that it's fall our calendars have just been full of fun things to do. I will recap our summer, though, since there were some great times.

Most importantly, we took Gehrig on his 2nd family vacation, this time to Jamaica. Since he turned 2 in June, we thought he'd be the perfect age to go to Beaches Resort, a sister of Sandals resorts, but for families and children. For those of you with young children, you probably know Beaches is "a proud sponsor of Sesame Street". The resorts are Sesame Street themed for the kids, with all of the characters, and all kinds of activities, shows, etc. for kids.

I was worried about G being unruly on the plane, because he's 2 and doesn't sit still for very long. For this reason we took a red eye out of Las Vegas, with our initial flight leaving at 1:45 a.m. I can proudly report Gehrig got up at 11 p.m. after being put to bed at 8 p.m., and was fine at the airport, though stayed awake. Once we got on the plane, he promptly fell asleep. Score one for us on the trip down.

When we got there we went to explore the resort, and Gehrig quickly saw how much stuff there was for him, and we knew we had made the right decision. The beach was absolutely gorgeous, with silky white sand, and clear turquoise water. Gehrig very much enjoyed going in the ocean with mommy and daddy, and playing with his trucks and sand toys in the sand for hours.

On the third day of our trip, I got sick. I had a fever and sore throat, but my throat was so bad that I couldn't even drink or eat, so Eric looked in it and said I had better see the doctor at the hotel. This, coming from a very blase Emergency Room doctor was a little bit unsettling to me. He originally thought it was strep throat, but I got a shot of antibiotics and a shot of a steroid, as well as pills of both, and nothing was helping. So after another 24 hours Eric switched his diagnosis to peritonsillar abcess, and asked the doctor to please give me a different steroid, but the doc said that in order to get that medicine I'd have to be admitted to the hospital 2 hours away.

So I suffered through, as far as health goes. As far as trying to enjoy our vacation despite y illness, I get an A for effort and for performance!! I made myself get up every day and go do things to make memories with my family. I have to say, while I was distracting myself, it seemed to work, and I forgot how lousy I felt. We ended up having such a good time and making so many precious memories, especially where Gehrig's concerned. I am so thankful that we had the chance to be able to go on a vacation as a family and that we got to see our son enjoy himself so much.

Once back in the US, I went to the ER (of course Eric called the doctor in the ER to discuss me first, so I wouldn't have to wait forever in the waiting room). I was given the proper steroid, and dose, and pain meds, and I was better in 24 hours, at least my throat was, but the nasty virus decided to attack my lungs next. All in all I was sick for 16 days. I would be happy if I never got another virus like that again.

Now it's September and my little guy is back to school and absolutely loving it. He has grown so much over the past 3 months, since his 2nd birthday. He can count to 4, sing his ABC's, skipping a few letters here and there, but hey!! He knows all his colors, and he is like a parrot in the language department. This has mommy and daddy on their best behavior where language is concerned, so that he doesn't repeat what he hears from us!!

We're preparing for a visit from my two aunts next week and then the following week G and I are going to go back to NY with my aunt. We haven't been home in a year so I am really looking forward to seeing all my best friends and my family. I plan on taking Gehrig apple picking for the first time, and definitely want to play in the leaves with him!! I am also hoping there is somewhere that is having hayrides, so we can experience some of what upstate NY has to offer in fall. My son doesn't even know what leaves are, because we don't have them here in Las Vegas, at least not in piles in the yard!! I like showing Gehrig different things in nature.

Maybe next year, we'll introduce him to snow!!!!

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The days of our lives

As I said in my last post, I am really trying to blog more often. So here goes!!

It's been pretty routine around here. Eric's been working a lot, gehrig has been going to preschool 3 days a week, and, dare I say, liking it. He used to cry when I pulled in the parking lot, now he will walk in all by himself and wave "hi" as he passes by the front desk. He even naps there now! This is major progress! He's now almost 26 months old. Where does the time go?? Pretty soon we'll be potty training, FUN FUN!! He is already getting used to the potty at school, I am just of the belief that you shouldn't push it until he is ready, which will be closer to 2 1/2 or 3 years old. My Pediatric Nurse experience has taught me that, not to push milestones before the child is ready.

We're probably NUTS but we're taking Gehrig to Negril, Jamaica in August. We're going to Beaches Resorts, a sister company of sandals, only for families. they are a sponsor of Sesame Street and they have day care, nannies, children's activities, all the Sesame St characters, and water park. We leave at 1:45 a.m., YES 1:45a.m. So G should sleep on the way there just fine, it's the way back I am worried about. Wish us luck!

My husband is now the Medical Director for MedicWest, one of the largest ambulance companies in Las Vegas, in addition to his other 17 jobs. I see no reason to work that hard, but thank God somebody does!! This is my attempt to start being more funny/witty in my blog posts. I hope you can appreciate my dry sense of humor as much as I appreciate it!

Well, I must go fix dinner so I can get the little guy to bed! I have some good TV choices and movie choices to ponder.......

Talk soon!

It's been a LONG TIME

It's Friday June 4th, 2010. Just another day, right?? Nope. It's my baby boy's 2nd Birthday!

I can not even begin to express my feelings right now. Happiness, sadness(that he's growing so fast), a little bit melancholic, excited to see what he does next, and finally, for the 1st time in a long time, CONTENTMENT.

I had a very hard time last year for Gehrig's 1st birthday. What should have been a happy occasion for me turned out to be the start of a "nervous breakdown" for lack of better words. I think you all know from my previous posts the horrible delivery and even worse days after delivery I had with Gehrig. I have blogged about it. I almost died, and that's putting it lightly. I had to stay in the hospital for a whole month while my newborn baby boy had to come home from the hospital with just his dad and my mom. At the time, I did what I had to do to survive. I had fallen off the proverbial horse one too many times and was quite adept at getting myself up, dusting myself off, and getting back on the horse. This was all just too much for me to handle this time. I had an ideal that I created in my head of what the "ideal" pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum period were supposed to be. That is one of my biggest problems, I set really high expectations for myself and others. I am working on that, so as not to be so disappointed when life happens and it doesn't go my way.

This time last year, as we prepared for Gehrig's party, we had a tent set up in our backyard. Eric and I were out there, arranging the tables, and I just lost it completely. I sobbed as I explained to my husband that my baby was "gone" and that I had missed all of his important "firsts". The first feeding, diaper change, I wasn't even the first to hold him. I didn't get to dress him and put him in his car seat to take him home(Eric did it, while I was in the ICU fighting for my life). I never got to bring him into our home for the first time, introduce him to Oliver, our pug, show him his nursery that I had painstakingly controlled every detail of it's remodel, I didn't do the first bath, first walk in the stroller, the first all nighter. Daddy did all of these, while I lay in my hospital bed. The only thing it seemed I could do at the time was sit and ruminate on how unlucky I was and how unfair this all was.

Fast forward to a year later. Now, I am doing all kinds of firsts every day!!! First day of preschool, first drink from a real cup, first ice cream cone, first time going down a slide, first time on an airplane, first time in the shower, you get the drift. So while I missed the "first firsts" I am now feeling so blessed to even be here at all to marvel in my little genius-in-the-making(yes, I am biased). I wasn't supposed to be here. I was in septic shock and my prognosis wasn't good. Someone upstairs decided it wasn't time for me to come home to God, that I had important work to be done on earth. I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it, every mundane minute. I even enjoy the temper tantrums (for the most part), and putting Gehrig in time out. I really enjoy teaching him right from wrong and how to be polite and be a nice, loving boy. This is the hardest job ever, but at the same time, the most rewarding job I've ever had. What is amazing to me is when I see him share with another child, or show compassion when someone is crying or hurt, or how he loves his "Oyie"-Ollie so much. It makes me feel like I may not be doing such a bad job after all.

This didn't happen overnight. It's been a long process over the last year. I was diagnosed with postpartum depression when Gehrig was 1, partly because I didn't seek help sooner. I couldn't figure out if it was hormones, exhaustion, just being a new mom and adjusting to a new schedule, or if it ha something to do with all I went through after he was born. Shame on my doctors and even myself and Eric for not recognizing the warning signs sooner. I do know now since I have gotten treatment that it is the hardest form of depression to diagnose, for all the reasons I already stated, like are you just a normal tired mom or are you depressed?? I was also diagnosed with PTSD-post traumatic stress disorder, for reasons that should be obvious if you follow my story. The good news is that with regular visits with a therapist, a psychiatrist, and the right medications, I am back to myself, 100%

I bring this up because I think it is still so underdiagnosed and treated, and so many women suffer unneedlessly. I read Brooke Shields' book "Down Came The Rain", and that is what prompted me to get help. If I can help just one woman through this blog, then I have done something good.

G started preschool 2 weeks ago. He is a little sad in the a.m. when I bring him, but the teachers report that by 10 minutes after I leave him, he is fine and playing with the other kids. I did this mainly for socialization, so he can learn to share and interact with other kids. They also teach him ABCs, 123s, colors, shapes, animals, songs, they do art projects, they sing, they have circle time with stories and flash cards, so all in all it's good for him, even if Mommy cries when she leaves him! I am getting better as he gets better though! He's an only child, and doesn't have to share or play well with others, and I certainly don't want my child being THAT CHILD- you know the one- that nobody likes and the parents all can't stand secretly!! So we're nipping that in the bud so when pre-K and Kindergarten come he is a well mannered well adjusted kid. Plus they put them on the potty every 2 hours all day-THAT in itself is worth it's weight in GOLD!!! He hasn't gotten potty trained yet, he's only 2, but now he will tell you when he "poos" and he doesn't seem to like it, so he asks for his diaper to be changed right away. I hope that this is a good sign.

This Sunday is his birthday party. We're expecting 40 people. We'll have swimming in our pool(I hired 2 lifeguards), the ice cream man is going to come in his truck, we'll have games and food. More low key than last year but still a good time. It's supposed to be 107 degrees so the pool should be like 90 or higher, we'll heat it in the a.m. and we also have solar heating panels on our roof for the pool. The theme is CARS(as in Disney-Lightning McQueen). The kid says the word "car" like 1000 times a day! We got him his first power wheel, a blue and white mini cooper that goes 3 miles an hour and even has a car stereo in it! It's so cool, I always wanted one when I was little!

Lots to do leading up to Sunday. Costco, Target, Pottery Barn, groceries, etc. We'll get it all done, we always do. My parents are here from NY visiting and helping. My dad went to town on our patio. He painted the entire patio, cleaned all my teak furniture and oiled it, rented a rug cleaner and cleaned all the cushions for the outdoor furniture, cut our palm trees, and hung hanging flower baskets. The place looks amazing. I am so lucky to have such supportive helping parents that love their grandson so much.

We have our 2nd family vacation scheduled for August 28th to September 4th 2010. We are going to Negril, Jamaica. It's just outside of Montego Bay, VERY far away from Kingston, where there is a travel advisory due to drug wars. We're staying at Beaches, a sister company of Sandals, but for families. They actually sponsor Sesame Street, so the resort has all the Sesame St. characters. There is storytime with Elmo, baking with Cookie Monster, adventures with Grover, Counting with the Count, Bert and Ernie, Abby Cadabby and Big Bird, to name a few. We booked a character breakfast so G can get his picture taken with all the characters. They have a day care center thats open from 9 am to 6 pm, so mom and dad can go and sunbathe, snorkel, scuba dive, jetski, golf or go to the spa. then for $6 an hour after 6 PM you can get a nanny in your room to babysit so you can go to dinner as a couple! It's going to be great. There's also a waterslide park that Eric will love taking G to. G loves the water so he'll spend quite a bit of time in the pool with mommy and daddy! He's only 2 and he's been to NY 2 times, CT, Curacao, and now Jamaica. What a little world traveler!!

I have applied for licensure in Nevada for my RN, so I am planning on going back to work in the fall, just per diem, maybe like one 8 hour shift a week. Just enough to get my mind active again. I can NOT wait! Eric is the director of the Emergency Dept. at Southern Hills Hospital, as well as director for medical command for life flight helicopter at that hospital, he's a co-director of his private group of ER physicians Fremont Emergency Services, is part owner in ACES-Advanced Care Emergency Services, whic is in Arizona, and is taking over Medical Director for MedicWest, one of the biggest ambulance services in Southern Nevada. So to say he has his plate full is an understatement. Somehow, though I have no idea how, he still finds time for Gehrig and myself, as well as a little bit of hitting the links now and then!! I have just started working out at the gym with a trainer, and am doing so great at it, surprisingly so. I used to HATE to exercise, but I am finding ways to make it fun. And, lets be honest, having a trainer to be accountable to always helps!

Thats all for now, I must get some sleep! I promise to blog more often!! I really mean that this time. It's quite cathartic, actually. I may not be witty or funny, but I am working on it. Happy Summer to all my friends and family, I love you all. Thank you to my followers. I hope to increase my followers if I actually can sit and write every few days!!!

Bad Blogger!

OK I admit I have been an awful blogger since I started, but have vowed to turn over a new link. My 1st one will be kind of short until I can find a happy medium between a 28 page post(for those that know me you know I am not far off the mark on this one), and a 2 paragraph one.

Heres whats been going on in a nutshell. G turned 1 on June 4th. I had a baseball theme party with a cotton candy vendor, Hawaiian shaved ice, a face painter, a clown that had a baby bunny to show the kids, and a balloon artist. It was a lso a monkey theme, we call G "Monkey" so had to throw that in there. Invitations were from www.invitationmonkey.com and she does such a fabulous job. The cake was so cute, from Swet Couture Bakery and delicious to boot. He had a blast and got way too many presents. Our friends/family are so generous and we love you all.

So he's 15 months, walking, talking, off the bottle, and starting to learn sentences and songs. We go to My Gym once a week(like those Gymboree classes) and he LOVES THEM, loves singing "itsy bitsy spider", "old macdonald"(especially the e-i-e-i-o or the "quack quack here and a quack quack there". He is still the best sleeper, Our typical schedule is as follows:

G up at 9:00 a.m.(yep I said 9)nap at 11 to 11:30(somewhere in there) until 1 to 1:30. then lunch.

3 or 3:30 down for 2nd nap.

Up at 5 or 5:30 and then we go run errands, and hit the parkevery day.

Dinner somewhere during this awake period from 5-9 PM>

Bed at 9 PM(I keep him up so late so he can see his daddy).

as for me, not much going on. was in the hospital from 9/2-9/13 and again just last week from 9/27 to 10/3. Bottom line, I need a hysterectomy, only not laparoscopically, I will have a full abdominal incision, vertical from my sternum to my pubic bone, TMI and fun fun fun).

We've decided to wait until after the holidays are over and have decided ti go another round or 4 of IVF, get my eggs, eric's sperm, make our embryos then freeze them for aater date, and find a surrogate to carry it.

My goal this year is to get more adept at using our camera, computer, photo printer, all things electronic I want to learn more so I can make photo books as gofts for grandparents or friends. my next goal is to by a mac as i really hate PCs now.

I'm trying to figure out what G will be for halloween. He was going to be Elvis and I had it all set up, but big mouth eric blew the surprise because his mom LOVES Elvis and we wanted to get photocards to send for Halloween that says "Viva Las vEGAS). nOW WHAT? Any suggestions??

i keep forgetting it's october as it's still high 90's to 100 here, no color changing leaves, no apple or pumpkin picking, etc. Christmas will be here before you know it, this will e the last one we stay home for, it'll be Aruba every year after this.

My folks are here helping. I go see the gynecology oncologist this week to talk about my surgery.

Off to watch some trash TV before bed, eric and my dad are golfing tomorrow so eric volunteered to get up with G and let me sleep till 9:30. When they get back my mom and I are going for mani/pedis, can't wait.

Here i am drinking a glass of pinot grigio and I never drink so it;s working it;s magic fast!

Happy Fall and I will be in touch!

Long Story Short(for once in my life)

Everyone that knows me knows I love to talk, and write! I am notorious for VERY long blog posts and other posts on my online chats. I am going to try to turn over a new leaf and not bore people to tears with every tiny detail of my life!!

So my belly pains got me admitted to Summerlin Hospital on 11/30, and I got out on 12/6, at first they thought it was an abcess from the bowel rupture in June, but it ended up being an ovarian cyst the size of an orange. Now I have to be on birth control pills so I don't get any more cysts or this one doesn't get any bigger. I find that to be very comical, seeing as I can't get pregnant if I wanted to without IVF so I don't need birth control pills!!

Christmas was a whirlwind, and was so nice this year, even though gehrig was only 6 months. It was still so cool to finally have a baby in the house for these holidays. It was probably one of our best Christmases ever. Eric was off Xmas eve and day, and we went to friends both days. Then he was off new year's eve too so we went to Donna's house for that. he went back to work on 1/1 and worked pretty much every day from 1/1 to 1/22.

On 1/23 we left for our 1st family vacation in Curacao, and island right off the coast of Venezuela in the Caribbean, near Aruba. It was magical. We had the best vacation we have ever had. They had day care at the resort so G could go there to be put down for his naps and Eric and I could have some time at the pool to hang out and read. G loved the water, which Eric took him in every day. He loved having Eric and me to himself for 10 days even more!!

He finally said his 1st word, "da da". I have to admit I am jealous, I take care of him every day all day, why wasn't it "mama"?? Eric sees him for like 10 minutes a day a lot of the time. Oh well, that's ok.

I'll post more on our trip after I get out of this mountain of laundry, bills and other things I have to do now that we've been away 10 days!!