Tribute to 2007

I felt the need to give some attention to the year that is coming to a close so I took this from Krista.

1. What did you do in 2007 that you’d never done before? Hm? Watched my husband get his MBA and spent nearly 10 months of the year breastfeeding.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? Well, looking back at my blog, I didn't stick to all of them for the full year, but made a good effort when I could. I did really good at my non-resolutions, though. Stay tuned for this coming year's resolutions - one will be to go on a trip alone with my hubby.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? There were a few ladies in my department that had babies. Other than that it wasn't a big year for babies but there are some on the way in 2008
4. Did anyone close to you die? I honestly don't remember attending a single wake or funeral this year.
5. What countries did you visit? Good ol' USA
6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007? More time with John home
7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? Probably November 8, when Jeremiah turned one
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Managing to work full time, be a mom, a wife and a student simultaneously
9. What was your biggest failure? Not always slowing down enough to enjoy the little things
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? just a few rounds with flu and food poisoning
11. What was the best thing you bought? new car
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? My hubby's - for keeping his promise of getting his Master's degree
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? Appalled and depressed are pretty strong words. I don't think I was that mad at anyone
14. Where did most of your money go? diapers and gas
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Jeremiah's milestones and John's graduation
16. What song will always remind you of 2007? don't know
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? 
b) thinner or fatter? 
c) richer or poorer? Happier, I guess? Definitely thinner. I was 8 weeks postpartum at this time last year. Probably poorer but we're OK
18. What do you wish you’d done more of? snuggling Jeremiah and just hanging out or going out with John
20. How will you be spending Christmas? We went north
21. Did you fall in love in 2007? more and more with my husband and son
22. How many one-night stands? nope
23. What was your favorite TV program? Thursday and Sunday nights - E.R., Grey's, DH, and Brothers and Sisters
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? nope, I don't think so
25. What was the best book you read? Milk Memos
26. What was your greatest musical discovery? It's more like What - Pandora
27. What did you want and get? A digital video camera
28. What was your favorite film of this year? I think the only film we saw in the theater was Simpsons at the Drive In
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I was 28. I went to work and then was home with Jeremiah. I think John had class
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? More time with John at home and being closer to family
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007? Anything that fit
32. What kept you sane? getting a cleaning lady
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? I'm becoming a fan of Jenny McCarthy
34. What political issue stirred you the most? I started reading alot about working mothers' rights and breastfeeding - not in public but employers providing a space, etc.
35. Who did you miss? my family
36. Who was the best new person you met? geez, probably my new PEO sisters
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007. Kids really do grow up fast.
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. This one sums up my life. "Life's a dance you learn as you go. Sometimes you lead and sometimes you follow."

Feeling Domestic

After returning from our holiday travels on Wednesday evening, I've spent the past two days at home with the little guy. There was a point when I actually contemplated going to work for a short time today and then I realized that everything will be just fine until next and then I can ease myself back in to things next week.

So I've spent the last two days being a mom and a wife, tackling some household tasks that don't always get attention and taking care of the day to day duties. I felt so domestic today after making stew for dinner, completing some overdue clothes mending, paying bills, giving Jeremiah a bath, folding laundry and a myriad of other little to dos. I really accomplished many things but I need to make a point of getting some R&R over the weekend and New Years because I don't want to go back to work feeling like I didn't get a rest.

While this domestic diva crossed many things off her list, she has neglected to take care of herself. The last time I did anything remotely resembling exercise was walking with Joanna over a week ago. I had hoped to get on the bike tonight but ironing took precedence. I need to commit to putting in some bike time tomorrow and Sunday.

It's beginning to look alot like Christmas

After being out of commission with the flu for a bit this week, we're gearing up for Christmas. I finished the wrapping last night, took care of baking and some local gifting and today, we hit the road.

The festivities begin with my immediate family tomorrow. Followed by a gathering with my extended family on Sunday. Monday will allow us some down time during the day and we've vowed that wherever it be, we'll be in a church somewhere with Jeremiah on Christmas eve. We're certain that Christmas morning will be a different pace with Jeremiah involved in the unwrapping than what John's family is accustomed to but we'll all adjust. Then, we'll head back this way on Wednesday. When I write it down like that it sounds like a whirlwind.

It is my personal goal to remember the reason for this magical time of year. I will not let little things irritate me and I will enjoy the opportunity to be with family and friends.

New feelings

When I had Jeremiah, I knew my world had changed. I can't even begin to name the ways in which our lives are better and, frankly, just different.

Yesterday, I had yet another experience that made me realize how different things are as a mommy. He's been fighting a cough and congestion so we have been giving him albuterol treatments for about 5 days. However, it didn't seem like he was improving so I called the pediatrician and they wanted to see him, which was fine with me. I predicted we would go there, they would listen to his chest and send us home with an antibiotic. I wasn't prepared for her to tell me that she wanted a chest x-ray. I went in to panic mode and before he was squished into the x-ray brace, I was developing the logistics of having my mom come, calling John to bring a bag, etc. becaue I was mentally convincing myself that he was going to be sent to the hospital. I was terrified for him, and for us. That's another feeling that was like nothing I've ever felt before. (Although I have to say it rivaled putting John in an ambulance five years ago.) All I wanted to do was hold him close and make it better, when I knew that I couldn't.

The good news - he's not in the hospital but I made a very sizable contribution to the pharmaceutical industry yesterday. The bags of medicine I carried to the car made me look like I had grocery shopped at the pharmacy. I was exhausted emotionally so I took a little more time before returning to my computer yesterday. We are granted sick time for a reason.

We're so lucky that he is agreeable to the nebulizer because now he's on two different treatments. Additionally, he's on steroids for a couple days and I'm glad that it's not any longer than that. I don't trust them. Finally, he gleefully sucks down his orange flavored amoxicillin. I think he actually wanted more of that this morning.

Hopefully we can get him feeling better soon. Although you wouldn't really know that he's sick based on his mood, etc. At our next regular check-up (15 months) our doctor wants to discuss the possibility that he might be asthmatic. Curses to those Todd genes...and maybe some of mine too.

Watching from our living room

After much agonizing debate, J and I decided that we'll be staying in central IL to watch the Illini play in the Rose Bowl. (How we ever bought a house or a vehicle without being commited, I will never know.) We developed numerous travel scenarios and had a grandma willing to watch Jer but we both decided that at this point in our lives, there are probably several other things that we could do with the amount of money we were talking about spending.

So, instead we are exploring options of renting a big screen or hoping that there may be some exciting game watch parties in town. We've been estimating how many people we would need to justify purchasing a pony-keg.

AND.....we started to check out travel deals to take a trip in March or April to celebrate John's graduation and our fifth anniversary. We can go on a trip and still pay for some home improvements and a swing set for Jer with the money we would have paid to get to the "Grand Daddy of them All". Oh, and now we can actually afford to pay for the outrageous amount that we will have to pay for season tickets next year.

Now, we're hoping and praying that it's not another 20 years before we have the opportunity again. We want to go someday. Today was just not the right time.