She's 6.......

Ryan's birthday is today.

I had said a few times before that I would post pictures of what Ryan looked like when she was born. The above picture was the day after. She looked like her face had been burned. Later that afternoon the doctor told me that she had hemangiomas on her face and that they would keep growing and get so big that she would not be able to see and she would be blind. Not what a first-time mom wants to hear. Then another doctor came in and told me he didn't know what it was and that on our way home from the hospital we were to stop at a pediatric dermatologist to have her checked out and that they were waiting to examine her. After many family prayers and family fasts, the day came when we were released (c-section, four day stay) and the dermatologist took one look and said "they're not hemangiomas, so don't worry about that, but we need to find out what it is." The doctor said she was the 3rd child he had ever seen with this condition. Another doctor told me "well.....you see this in textbooks, but I'd never met a child with it." Few days later, after blood tests from Ryan and me, we found out it was a Lupus Rash. We took Ryan back to the hospital to have her heart checked. Everything came back completely normal! (although I found out I have Sjogrens which I wouldn't have known if it wasn't for Ryan being born). Ryan's rash got better and better every week and by the time she was a year, it was pretty all gone. It left spots on her skin that are thin and the skin behind her ears is so thin, she looks like she has bruises. So...if you see them....I'm not abusing her! :)

And now look at her! She's smart and so hilarious! She loves to sing and loves school.

Happy Birthday Ryan!!! I love you!

She's 4....

My baby is four years old today. Reagan keeps our family interesting and unpredictable. She's has a mind of her own.....and that mind is about 16 years old. She is a fashionista.....but not in a good way. Some outfits basically look like she's a clown. She's probably getting back at me for not being thrilled when I found out I was pregnant with her. (it was a surprise!) I think I was 7 months pregnant when I finally got excited and thought "OK....I can handle two kids....I think."

Year one was tough! Didn't nurse, took forever to eat, wouldn't take long naps, didn't sleep through the night until about 10 months, began crawling at 5 months, walking at 10.

But She's Beautiful and we love her!

The Latest!

My mom has more bags available! Please check them out! Perfect for Christmas.....which is coming up whether you like it or not!

http://ladybugbags.blogspot.com/

You'll love them!

11 years ago today....

Chris proposed to me. I don't know if I have this written down or not.....hmmm....i should check my journal. But basically, Chris came down for a weekend visit, (he was going to the U of A and he would come visit me every other weekend). So he came down to visit and took me to get dinner and we took it to the park to eat it. After dinner he told me he was going to sketch something for me (he's an architect and a great artist). He told me was going to draw my left hand. I kind of knew where this was going. When we began to talk about getting married, I told him about a certain ring that I saw the year before that at a jewelry store that I almost bought myself, thinking I would just have my husband pay me back.....I'm a dork. Well I showed Chris a picture and told him that this was THE RING! My ring is very similar to the picture above. So...back to the story. He sketches my left hand and then draws the ring on my finger. Then he gets up and kneels beside me and asks me to marry him. I yelled YES. We spent the rest of the night arguing with my mom about when we should get married. OK...not really arguing....but A LOT of talking went on that night. So....that was October 23, 1998. We got married a few months later in March. Happy Day.

Ugly Screamer

Ryan came home one day from school.....I think it was still the first week of school.....and she was crying. I asked her what was wrong and she tells me that a girl in her class called her an "ugly screamer." With tears running down her face, I realized that I had no idea what to say. My first instinct was to say "Well she's Ugly for saying that to you!" or "Show me who she is.....I'll show her." Both would not go over well, I'm sure. Then I kind of laughed to myself because I can totally imagine the scream she did, that is.....ugly....or at least annoying. So my infinite wisdom and knowledge on 5 year olds....I said "there, there......let's get ice cream." I've just come to realize how protective and how CLUELESS I am and that I'm already teaching her to become an emotional eater. What will I do when it's something totally serious? Get ice cream, I guess.

My brain is fried!

Ryan has started school. She started last Monday and I am now finally getting around to posting about it. She is attending Desert View mostly because the all-day Kindergarten they offer sounds very attractive. She is having a great time and can already read three books. Granted it's "I am Cat" I am Dog" "I am hammering" etc.....but I'm proud nonetheless.

Happy to report.....Phoebe is with a family who loves her and cares for her. Ok......I couldn't take the stress anymore. She was great but just too rough with the girls. She knew several commands and was completely potty trained but she was home all day by herself and she would it take out on us by bringing in chunks of grass from our backyard and COVER our living room floor with it. After cleaning, changing diapers, and being on my feet all day.....the last thing I wanted to do was to clean up after a dog. So she has gone to a family that already has 2 boxers and the wife stays home all day and they report they love her and she fits right in. I think she knew when I took this picture that it was to show her to someone else so that we could get rid of her.

The hardest part of my day is when Ryan leaves for school and Reagan has to stay home with me. Apparently, I'm no fun. The first day of school, we all walked Ryan to her class and Reagan searched desperately for a seat to sit down in. So when we left, she was crying. That's the only time I cried a little. But we took Reagan out for breakfast to eat bacon and all was forgotten. I also realized how much I don't know Reagan. Sad, I know, but Reagan has always been "Ryan and Reagan". They play together and have fun together, but now that it's just me and her....She's Hilarious. She TALKS ALL DAY! and makes up the craziest things. So never believe a word she says. But I am happy we get to spend time together even though she's missing Ryan all day.
OK.....that's all I got.

Oh NO!!!

I was heading home this afternoon from work after a great birthday party with Ryan in the car. It was hot and I was very tired. In the back of my car, I had leftover supplies and drinks from the party. I was driving very carefully and slowly making sure that I didn't spill the drinks or break the fancy glass platters that belonged to Ericka. All was going well, when suddenly the car in front of me slams its breaks at an intersection that's on a downhill slant. I slam my breaks and all I hear are jugs and glass hitting each other. I brace myself, not wanting to look back. but I did, I looked. Ryan began to have tears in her eyes as she looks back as well. I see one of the jugs of juice upside down, treacherously close to the rear a/c vents.

Me: "Ryan, very slowly, pick up the jug please."
Ryan: "ok mom" As she does, the lids pops off and spills about a gallon of pink lemonade onto the floor and my A/C vents.
Me: "Oh NO!!!" Ryan begins to sob.....
Me: " It's Ok Ryan, I'm not mad......we'll clean it up.....it's ok.....I'm pulling over...."
Ryan: "It's spilled!!!!" She looks to the back. "Oh NO!!! The other juice spilled too!!" More sobbing.
So now I have total about a gallon and a half of lemonade spilled all over the back of my car.
I continue to assure Ryan that I'm not mad and that it's going to be ok. "Don't worry, we'll get it cleaned up...."
Ryan: "But I'm upset!"
Me: "why?"
Ryan: "Because I was really thirsty!"

I had to laugh.

I got home and now I have completed one thing that was on my to-do list: "Clean my car"
Juice Everywhere! PUDDLES in every nook and cranny. Thank goodness for the SHAM-WOW!
It seriously soaked up the puddles just like in the infomercial. I then called the guy who details my car every time I come back from being out of town. This guy is great! He charges $25 for cars, $35 for Trucks, and $40 for vans. He cleans inside and out and details everything. I ask him how much to detail AND shampoo the back of my car. He said, "I'm gonna bless you with a good deal.....$40." WHAT!?!?! I think normally he charges about $80 for detail and shampoo. SO if anyone needs a detailer, I would love to send some more business his way. So come Monday, I will have a lemon-free car again.

BTW....Ryan is still sad about not getting her drink of lemonade.