Waiting for baby

A dear friend of mine and her husband are embarking on a journey to parenthood, and I can't say how excited and hopeful I am for them.

They have been trying for a baby, and it just wasn't happening exactly how nature intended. They just need a little help, and they are diving in and getting that help.

I am hopeful that about the time we return from Disney World, she'll be bursting at the seams with good news.

There are some people in this world that deserve to be parents....and they are some of them. So, good luck you two.

I can't wait to go shopping for some baby stuff! :)

Garage Sale Hell

This weekend we had our big town garage sale. It started out wet & rainy, but we still managed to unload a bunch and rake in a ton of dough.

It's amazing just how much money can be made. Granted, our sale also included antiques and collectibles that my parents were selling, but hubby and I made over $600 ourselves, just selling the kids outgrown clothes and toys they no longer want.

Any that didn't sell got boxed up and was dropped off at Goodwill tonight.

And of course a garage sale is not complete without someone lifting something. I still can't quite wrap my mind around stealing from a garage sale. That's just a whole different level of LOSER.

Seriously.

Like sands thru the hour glass....

I am losing track of time. The days are speeding by and summer is already coming to an end (not officially, just that the kids start back to school on the 16th of August).

I have been in heavy planning mode for our upcoming Disney trip. I'm a little OCD when it comes to traveling to Disney World. And by that I mean, I set up a spreadsheet and document each day's events. From what park we're going to start off in, to where and what time our dining reservations are, to what time the parade is.

It actually works really well for a place like Disney. It allows me to keep our confirmation numbers for reservations organized and gives me a general idea of when I need to get the clan moving so we can make it to dinner on time.

Besides all of that, and work and the kids, I finally took a more official leap into photography. I somewhat did this before, but I never really put myself out there. I more or less had a website where I displayed some work. That was about the extent of it. After my 1-year hosting was up, I didn't renew it.

This time I set up a facebook page along with a website (a free one, but still) and I've already gained almost 70 "fans" on facebook (okay, so I know most of them). I already did a session photographing some hair clips for a friend in Texas who has an etsy shop. And I've got a few people that are interested in me doing sessions for them. We'll see how it all goes.

All I know is that it makes me really happy when I'm behind the camera. But, I am a little nervous about taking photos for others. I know my photos are good, I'm just.....I don't know. Afraid that I won't do well enough for them.

I refuse to let fear hold me back any longer, though....that's what happened last time, and I just can't let that happen again.

Happy 4th of July

I hope everyone has a safe & happy 4th of July.

To all our service men & women: Thank You!

Floating in the Bubble

I think I remember mentioning the bubble of ignorance I would be floating in while I awaited my next appointment with the rheumatologist. Well, I'm still floating around in that bubble.

I had to reschedule my appointment because the doctor was running so far behind that day that I couldn't wait around to be seen. I still have another 10 days before I'll be seen.

No problem, I figured. I'll just continue my parade in my precious bubble until then. Until tonight.

The mysterious swelling under my chin is back. I went in to my doctor twice for this already. It has been swollen a time or two more than that, but went away rather quickly and didn't cause me too much grief.

It's pretty tender and sore again this time. So, I started thinking about the positive blood tests I've already had, and what they could possibly mean. And I decided to look up swollen salivary glands in reference to that.

Sure enough, it's a pretty prevailent symptom of sjogren's, which is one of the diseases linked to the positive subset run after the positive ANA. And I'm continuing to find more pieces of the puzzle -- I wondered why I had 3 full cups of pop while at Chuck E Cheese with my kids tonight, and that I'm still incredibly thirsty.

Here I thought my visit to the rheumatologist would end up being a waste of time -- because it didn't seem like there was anything different I needed to discuss with him. And now, just 10 days out, I've got what could be the determining factor.

I will admit that I'm hopeful that this will be it. That I can finally get some answers. But I'm also scared. Answers and potentially a diagnosis will mean reality. Am I ready to be told that I do indeed have an autoimmune disease?

And so it ends....

There are just 2 more school days and then I will be the mother of a 3rd grader and a 1st grader. Both will be in school full time.

I can't believe how quickly time has gone. My son will have his "half-birthday" in just a week. And in just a few weeks, my daughter will turn 6.

So, another school year come and gone. Another summer upon us. This summer is a short one as our school district has them going back to school on the 16th of August (it's usually much later in the month) and getting out of school next year on May 25th. So they will miss out on a couple full weeks of summer fun.

Still plenty to be done & plenty of fun to be had, though!

Strip Commute

My daily commute to work is pretty boring. I take the same route EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.

Sometimes I zone out so much (it's actually scary) that I will get to a certain point in my route, and I'll think, "Wow, how did I get over here already?!"

My drive in this morning started off routinely, until I turn from one major road to another and I catch a glipse of a man (probably 20s) peeling off his shirt quickly, and "striking a pose" as I pass. At this same moment, I realize there are 3 others taking their shirts off as well.

Then, as I glanced back, I could have sworn that I saw 1 of them undoing his pants.

I actually considered turning around. Because that is fabulous Facebook material, my friends.

And, not another 20 feet later I see a police car heading THEIR direction and my mind is immediately picturing the 4 guys, butt naked and busted, spreadin' 'em against the cop car, handcuffed.

I think I'll have to keep a close eye on the police blotter for the next few days.

April Twenty-What???

I'm not sure where the time is going, but April is coming to a close and we'll be welcoming May this weekend.

I am definitely looking forward to the summer and all the sun and fun that it brings. The weather has still been a bit volatile here. And let's just say that metal bleachers at a Little League game, in cold ass weather leaves you with, well .... a cold ass.

But I am a mom and a fan, so you brave the elements and watch the greatest sport on Earth; baseball.

Attended my first Cubs game of the season last night, with 2 of my girlfriends. It was a good time, and the Cubs brought in a win over the Nationals, 4-3.

Earlier this month, you may recall me freaking out about turning 30. Well, I turned 30 and left for Vegas 2 days later. I was so focused on the trip itself that it wasn't until we packing up and getting ready for our flight the next day, when the thought hit me; I'M THIRTY!

Vegas was a great time, and I'm not sure what I fretted about with leaving the kids for the first time for vacation. They did just fine, and so did we.

Now we are busy dealing with car problems in hubby's car (ie: the transmission... ugh, Ugh, UGH!), attending the boy's baseball games, winding down the school year and anxiously awaiting SUMMERTIME.