HOW DO THEY DO IT!!

My kids are capable of pulling all-nighters. I just don't know how they do it, I hit a brick wall at 11pm. But I'm hanging in there for at least a couple of more hours, I'm trying to get use to a second shift job by practicing the last couple of nights, but this is for the birds!! (owls)

I just put Dylan down for the night, he slept through his night bottle! Mandy and James hit the sack at 9pm and here I am alone in front of my computer. Hmmm, I'm not sure I like this.

Is it ever cold outside! My temperature in my car read 5 degrees when I ran to the store to get ice cream for Mandy. I told her she better appreciate this, her comment was I must really love her. (ya think) It's going to be tough to drag myself to the fitness center in the morning when it gets this cold, brrrr!! Staying under the covers sounds like a plan to me, wish I was there now.

We have a busy week-end coming up. I have to work plus Mandy has basketball games on Saturday and Sunday. James also mentioned treating Mandy out on Sunday (my day off) for her all "A" report card. She rocks!! She gets a kick out of getting her A's because she knows it's the only way I get dinner and a movie out too. I'm doing the victory dance, can you see me?? LOL Hopefully, now that we have two incomes we can treat ourselves every so often. I'm not one that has to eat out every week, but sometimes would be fun.

Oh, I haven't mentioned the weight loss lately. Lets just say I'm almost to my size 6!! The jeans and skirts fit, but not my dress pants yet, which is no big deal because I don't like the style of them. So another victory dance for me!! Nick was doing an exercise the other day with Mandy and I asked if that would work on the love handles, but needless to say he said NO just keep running. (DAMN IT) So basically it's still the stomach area that is giving me problems, but...I'm running! Mandy and I also compete with how many sit-ups we can do at the fitness center, she asked me to go with her so I double up on my work-out 3 times during the week. We go and work our upper body with weights and sit-ups like crazy. Eventually I'll reveal my total weight gain with Dylan....til then, it's my secret.

I was scheduled for out-patient surgery next week, but I've cancelled that for now. Our insurance company is reviewing it, they're trying to say it's a pre-existing condition, hmmm. Oh well sometimes I'm in pain and other nights I'm not, so I'll deal with it for now. It only interrupts my sleep, something I can live without, sheesh!!

James actually got up early enough to use the treadmill before going to work!! I'm sure the incentive was the fact his new suits fit and looked way too tight on him. Plus his slacks that are a 35 waist were too small!! OUCH
His first day back to work consisted of working over, figures. But he has to play catch-up this week so I better get use to it. I'm hoping once he gets this extra weight off he'll have more energy and won't go to bed the minute he walks in the door! Well 30 minutes after anyways.

Well it's almost tomorrow. Goodnight!

BABY IT'S COLD OUTSIDE

Hey everyone, just checking in. I survived my first two weeks of work. James loved being a stay-at-home-dad and he did a great job with Dylan. He just needs to learn how to handle the baby and the house work...he spent alot of time on the couch, and gained even more weight. But I got my treadmill back from my sister so hopefully he will find his way there in the evening and start working to get back in shape. Men don't have the incentive that women do, (yikes, it's bikini weather in 6 months!!) It was so funny tonight as we laid on the couch relaxing, his comment was; how am I ever going to fit into my pants tomorrow! LOL

I passed my CPR, it came much easier this time around, the first time I took it 2 years ago was a joke. The guy fast-forwarded thru the video! and he didn't do the watch and pause and do part. We watched the whole video and then we had to demonstrate!! Yeah, right! But this time it was done correctly and I walked away knowing I could help save a life if needed some day. Now the scary part begins this week, actually working on the unit as a RN. I will have a preceptor for 6 weeks and if she and I feel I'm ready at the end of 6 weeks I'll be on my own! It will be interesting that's for sure, 12 hours and nights, wow what am I getting myself into. The 6 weeks will be tough and I'll be glad when it's over and I'm only working 2 days. Thank goodness for family when it comes to Dylan, Nick will be helping in the morning, Mandy for a short time at night and my sister whenever I need her. I have had others offer also to help until I get through my training period. The only days I'm worried about is the weeks that they have me scheduled 3 days in a row, that might get ugly!

Oh and Mike, we watched Open Water last night. Rather a boring film, but I did have the creeps when I crawled into bed and turned the lights out. I seen sharks in my sleep!

Well once again Michigan is in a deep freeze. I don't mind the snow, but the bitter cold can go away! We had a few snow flurries last night but the sun was shining pretty today. And apparently my COLTS don't like playing in the snow and cold either, they were smoked today by New England. Darn! I really wanted Tony Dungy to make it to the Super Bowl. Oh well, now who do I cheer for...hmmmm. James' RAMS didn't make it either.

James' Grandma passed away last Wednesday and today was her funeral. Bye Grandma Janke, we'll miss you.

Christmas morning 2004

IMAG0004_edited, originally uploaded by beautiful brat.

Hi everyone,

This is a shot of Dylan that was taken with my new digital camera!! Getting the camera was perfect timing considering my camera was broke a couple of weeks before. (thanks to James)

I started work last week, yes I can hardly believe it myself. It hasn't been too bad, just classroom stuff. I start on the nursing unit next week. That's when my nerves will be tested! I'm trying not to think about it too much. I have tomorrow off, but Thursday I go in for CPR re-cert, I let it slack when I had Dylan.

Dylan has two teeth on the bottom!! He didn't have too much trouble, just a little fussier than usual. But they are so cute when he smiles to see those little pearly whites. He is really growing also, he is starting to fit into 6-9 month size. I'm not sure what he weighs etc. He goes to the doctor at the end of this month. (6 month check)

Mandy is doing great in school, she is positive she got all A's this time, but we are still waiting for the report card in the mail. It probably would have come today, but James didn't get the driveway or the mail-box area cleared of snow in time. But I'm seeing dinner, movie and shopping in the near future to celebrate!!! She is playing basketball, practicing every Saturday for softball and is going out for volleyball at the end of the month! Sheesh, the girl keeps us busy...

Oh I mentioned SNOW a couple of sentences ago. We have had 3 major storms in the past week! The first one (tuesday) dumped about 8-11 inches, then Saturday we woke up to 6 inches (they predicted 1)and then this morning I woke to another 6-8 inches!!! It took me 15min. just to clear the car off, then I had to go and re-dry my hair before I left!! But tomorrow we are having thunderstorms and 50 degree weather!! Which is only until Friday when we go into a deep freeze again!! MICHIGAN weather, yuck!!

But we have to consider ourselves lucky when you hear of everything else that is going on in other states or even the world.
Mike is probably drowning in California, I tried calling him earlier today but no one answered. The weather is just crazy everywhere.

Well I'm starting to get boring, I only came down because James and Mandy were getting in each others face and neither was backing down so I chose to go into hiding. But this sounds like blah, blah, blah....

Talk to you later, Deb

IF MEN COULD HAVE BABIES

scan0009, originally uploaded by beautiful brat.

This is my dad (james) all I can say is it's a good thing my brother (who is quite normal) lives around the corner from me.

Check out my daddy's belly, you would think I was having a brother or sister soon. And yes, he is wearing mommy's nightgown and robe. Role model?? could be trouble for me.

But I still love my daddy...