Do you see the resmeblance?

Happy Halloween!

We cheered on the Hawks, Joe was slicing sweet potatoes and lost the tip to his thumb and had to make a trip to urgent care, then went to visit a Golden Retriever Puppy (I am sad I forgot to take pictures), went to Grandma Dorothy's for dinner and quite a party, went Trick-or-Treating on our street, and ended the night playing at Lilly's house (including a pool filled with balls) - again, I forgot my camera. It was a fun-filled Halloween!

Let's Go Hawks!!!

We love you Hawkeyes (even this so-called Badger Fan)!

Go Hawks!

Thanks for sharing Stacy and I agree with you, if I knew I could find everything and people in my neighborhood knew who Herky was, I would go shopping tonight as well! I really miss living in Hawkeye country this time of year!

Fall Pics

We went to Gardner Village tonight to take some cute pics of Ella. I would say it was a success and will become an annual tradition! We stopped at Red Lantern (my friend Anthony's family restaurant) and Ella let the entire restaurant know she was there (in a good way) and we had a nice dinner.

Mom Approved

This aquarium has made my life easier lately! We've had it since before Ella was born and I used to gift this to friends, and now I know why a mom once told me why she loved this! Ella wakes up super early and will play in her crib and watch her aquarium and most mornings go back to sleep. This afternoon I hit the time where I needed to shower, but I wasn't quite sure she would go for a nap. I put her in a crib and turned on this treasure and she was asleep half-way through my shower without any tears. She is so funny when she plays in her room, she reaches through her crib to turn it on and in the mornings when we go in to get her she points to it and smiles and you can just tell she is so proud that she can turn it on! It has different settings including different volumes and I think it plays for almost 30 minutes. Thank you Fisher Price!

Haircut Perfection

I was telling my stylist yesterday that my idea of a perfect haircut is that when I wash it the next day, blow dry it and it falls into place and looks good with ZERO effort, it's a perfect cut. Miss Memorie, you reached perfection again yesterday and I love my haircut! Thanks a million. Here's some proof and I truly only dried it and put in a small amount of Defining Whip (it's a new product for me).

My cute pumpkin!

I love this picture and I need to get it in a Halloween frame (maybe I'll find one on sale next week)! It's a fun memory for me! Was she really that little?

It's Halloween at our house!!

The Iowa Grandma's don't miss a beat! Gifts for Ella are arriving. This morning she opened up a cute halloween sesame street book from Grandma Barb and Grandpa Larry. She loved the tissue paper and she thought the flip tabs in the book were awesome!

Tonight I opened the box from Nana Di and it took me back to my college days in the dorms. A whole box of beautiful and tasty pumpkin cookies!!! I think Ella will love to have a small taste of a cookie with breakfast and I think Ella will have to share her gift with mom and dad! Ella is way special because my mother made orange and green frosting for these cookies!

Ella also got a gift from her daycare teachers.

Who knew Halloween could be so special?? We have lots of Halloween fun planned for the weekend!

Quote of the week!

I was writing an order near a patient room when I heard this, "My patient would like a gun". I instanly thought in my head, Oh My! This a children's hospital, not something a kiddo should say. Then I heard the Child Life Specialist respond with "yes, I know he wants a gun to play starwars, but we don't have any and we aren't getting any". Then it all clicked for me! They can have game systems, but I guess we don't have any guns (that's a good thing in my opinion). I just love the random conversations you can hear!

I'm sleepy...

It's my Friday after working 6 of the last 7 days. Work is so busy, I come home WIRED and I don't go to bed until 12:30 or 1AM and then I wake up with Ella and her morning nap is my time to shower (and often blog) and going back to bed just hasn't happened for me.

Today I am taking Ella to daycare early so I can get a much needed haircut. I am so thankful I don't do color because I would be striped by now.....I haven't had a haircut since August! The Aveda tea will be fabulous on this chilly morning!

I am looking forward to a fun Halloween weekend with lots of fun things on the agenda!

I do love the mountains!

Tonight it was just beautiful driving home, feeling like I was the only car driving home, and enjoying the gorgeous snow-capped mountains by moonlight. I came home relaxed and looking forward to some great ski days! The best part is that there isn't really any snow at my house to worry about and it was above freezing so no ice!

Swine Flu Paranoia

My co-worker sent me this and it was nice to lighten it up this afternoon, but all in all, the swine flu is real and very sad. Handwashing, handwashing, handwashing.

I honestly want to wear a mask walking through the halls of the hospital!!!!

Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines

They are having quite a sale for early December and January into February. Check it out!

Kids are amazing!

This story touches my heart! It is so amazing how smart and loving a child can be.

The weather outside is.....

I guess Winter is here. I am looking foward to a great ski season. We had planned on heading to the mountains to see leaves this weekend, but with this snow arrival today.....they may all be off the trees.

My morning entertainment!

I found these fish that squirt water at the grocery store in Vegas and Ella loves them. It is so funny because there are 3 and she stresses when she sees 3 fish and she can only hold 2 and does this juggling with them. They are an awesome bath toy and today Ella took it out of the bathroom and then Nicky took off with it. He so wanted her to throw it, so he could fetch it but she just kept laughing and squeeling. I tried to get video, but I was too late. At least they get along and share toys for now.....I'm sure this will become an issue sooner than later.

Ella has not had pigtails for a long time and I've tried without success a few times. Yesterday she came home from daycare in pigtails, so this morning I gave it a try and she cooperated! Aaahhh, maybe I can do this mommy thing!

My Little Hawkeye!

Kiddie Kandids offers a free 16x20 for their 1st Birthday. Our little cheerleader looks cute in our living room. It's so funny to me because I usually buy 5x7's and I've only bought a few 8x10's. Joe found a nail that it works on and it looks great (hanging anything in our 95 year old house is a challenge).

I love my Hawkeyes!

One more birthday party!

Andrea and I are celebrating our birthdays at work today. Our birthdays are late September, but we haven't worked together since Mid-September. I miss her and I am so excited to work with her.....but it also means I'm to my very least favorite part of my schedule -- evenings!

She made a comment long ago about not having a spring-form pan, so I delivered! I found the pan at the Williams Sonoma Outlet while in Vegas and I made a cheesecake from scratch yesterday for the party. She will be so surprised and I hope the cheesecake turned out! I used the NY Cheesecake recipe from "The Joy of Cooking", so I should be set.....but my oven sucks and I am fearful to cut into the cheesecake in front of everyone!

I'll pick up Jimmy Johns on the way to daycare (I love the drive thru) and I'll be on carbs for a few hours to enjoy some of my favorite foods!

Thanks Emily!!

I read this tip on My So Called Life a while ago, and I had to pull a mini bagel out of the freezer this afternoon. Miss Ella was not herself and her 5th tooth is coming in on top of another tooth and I think it's getting her down. Poor kiddo. It is funny to think how much more bagel she is able to eat now than just a few months ago. I think it helps and Nicky just stares her down until she finally gives up and throws it to him.

I spy a Hawkeye!!!

Yesterday as I was leaving for work I spotted a lady walking her dog about 1/2 a block down. I was staring! I had to be seeing things, I don't really have a neighbor that's an Iowa fan, do I? As I walked to my car, I kept staring. As I pulled out of my driveway, I confirmed it -- an Iowa sweatshirt!!! I rolled down my window and told her I was a Hawkeye and she said, "oh, I get that a lot when I wear this shirt, but I only wear it because my daughter's friend left it here". Bummer....I thought I had found a fellow fan!

Then today we did our Costco trip and as we pulled in the parking lot, I said, "Hey, drive around, that guy has an Iowa sweatshirt on". Joe pulled around quickly and as we got closer, it was sure a Hawkeye! It was Ella's pediatrician!!! We pulled over and chatted about the amazing game last night! Joe was glad we saw him in the parking lot since Ella has a big bruise on her forehead and I feel guilty because he did encourage us to keep her out of grocery stores, etc.

Since I've left Iowa I always stop a fan when I see one, but it's hard for me when I'm back in Iowa and I have to resist the urge to say something!!

Go Hawks!

Quite a story!

This story makes me think of Alyssa, my dear sister, and all of the fabulous things she does. She truly serves our country and makes it a better place for citizens and the troubled children out there.

I give this lady a lot of credit and I think the guy was 100% in the wrong by resorting to robbery at gunpoint, but unfortunately is in a situation that too many people are in right now. I pray just one person realizes that robbery and guns are not a solution to their problems.

H1N1 Info

I have been getting a lot of questions about H1N1 vaccine. I was able to get the vaccine (nasal live vaccine) and as I posted previously Ella got the vaccine as well (shot). The CDC and FDA recommend that kids less than 10 years get 2 vaccines separated by 4 weeks. I will do my best to get her the 2nd shot, but some immunity is better than none at all. The purpose of the 2nd vaccine is because kids do not mount as much of a response after the first vaccine and it takes seeing the vaccine twice to mount a response equal to adults in studies. This is no different than the seasonal flu shot. The first time a child is vaccinated, 2 shots separated by 4 weeks is recommended. The minimum interval is 21 days.

It is completely true that this is a new vaccine and I know the media and some websites are very negative about the vaccine. The influenza vaccine has been manufactured for years and is a highly utilized vaccine since most people are vaccinated annually. H1N1 is manufactured by the same process and therefore I feel it is safe. H1N1 will likely be incorporated into the seasonal flu vaccine next year and we shouldn't have to issue of 2 vaccines in the future.

My hospital is full of very sick kids with H1N1 and that is enough for me to try to protect Ella in any way I can.

The CDC is a great resource and here is a great link.

I miss you!!!

Fall is wonderful, but I hate the transition to shoes and socks. It's no big deal, I have to wear real shoes year-round to work, but I miss bummin' around the house and running errands with my flip flops! I am still wearing them today.....but my feet will freeze and I think it will be the end.

Wine

I love to cook with wine.

Sometimes I even put it in the food.

My Mom sent me this....interesting?

Onions
However, this is a true story.
In 1919 when the flu killed 40 million people there was this Doctor that visited the many farmers to see if he could help them combat the flu. Many of the farmers and their family had contracted it and many died. The Doctor came upon this one farmer and to his surprise, everyone was very healthy. When the Doctor asked what the farmer was doing that was different the wife replied that she had placed an unpeeled onion in a dish in the rooms of the home, (probably only two rooms back then). The doctor couldn't believe it and asked if he could have one of the onions and place it under the microscope.. She gave him one and when he did this, he did find the flu virus in the onion. It obviously absorbed the bacteria, therefore, keeping the family healthy. Now, I heard this story from my hairdresser in AZ. She said that several years ago many of her employees were coming down with the flu and so were many of her customers. The next year she placed several bowls with onions around in her shop.. To her surprise, none of her staff got sick. It must work. (And no, she is not in the onion business.) The moral of the story is, buy some onions and place them in bowls around your home. If you work at a desk, place one or two in your office or under your desk or even on top somewhere. Try it and see what happens. We did it last year and we never got the flu. If this helps you and your loved ones from getting sick, all the better. If you do get the flu, it just might be a mild case.

I'm not sure that you could see the flu virus under a microscope and I'm also not sure how bad your home may stink....but I guess it's a very inexpensive and readily available option.

Fall Squash is great!

Tonight we made acorn squash and it's so good!! Joe made it and puts butter and brown sugar in it and Ella and I just loved it!

Ella's daycare sign

I talked Joe into taking this picture for me --- thanks, sweetie!

We walked into daycare last Friday to see this HUGE sign in the hallway! They gave us her birthday crown yesterday. Her teachers printed huge posters (16x20) of all the kids and hung them on the ceiling. I think it is so sweet to recognize them for their 1st birthday as well!

Ellaism's

Ella entertains us in ways I never thought possible.

She made a game and has played it almost every day for a week or so. She puts her toy boom box on her rocking chair and then rocks the chair until it falls off and when it bangs the floor it activates the music and then she bends down, picks it up, and repeat, repeat, repeat! I think it's hilarious and I did make a short video of it!

She also is so close to walking and I think she can do it, she just doesn't know it yet! I guess I realize how much my life will change when she walks and selfishly, I can wait! She pushes around anything she can and it is hilarious to watch her push around the kitchen chairs!

Words: She has two words

Dada: this is anything she sees, wants, emotion she feels, mom, dad, nicky.....dada is her catch all word!

Mama: She whines or cries this as mamamamamama.....when she is tired.

Hey, at least we have figured out her language.

She has started waving more and it is so funny. She also discovered clapping and she loves applause. If she hears applause on TV, she will stop whatever she is doing and join in clapping. It just cracks me up!

She is getting better and better at eating solid foods, but must be in the right mood (timing is everything) to allow us to feed her anything from a spoon. My favorite food to watch her eat is cottage cheese -- she picks it up and feeds herself -- it's funny and I should capture some video of this.

She went to daycare yesterday (I worked at a compounding pharmacy for the day) and they had school pictures! I think it will be precious to have her class picture from her first year of daycare! Her and the boys!

Happy Pharmacy Week!

Yep, it's pharmacy week! Normally the pharmacy department gives us a gift, drug reps bring in breakfast, lunch dinner almost daily, the department celebrates every shift in some way, etc. NOPE!!! This year my department is not buying us anything, drug reps aren't allowed to even bring us a pen or sticky notepad, and they aren't even buying us lunch. Supposedly they were providing donuts on Monday morning. We were supposed to choose someone from our team to bring treats to our Wednesday meeting and on Friday administration planned a potluck so that WE can all bring in food and they can eat it (they never bring anything). And when they were asked about those of us who work evenings, nights or weekends, we were told to just plan something amongst ourselves! Well, I'm happy to not be at work this week and when I return on Friday I will not be participating in the potluck.

As someone told me last weekend I proclaim, "YES, I am Bitter, Party of one"! Although in reality, we all feel it's crappy and just par for the course lately.

I guess I'm just so disappointed in the department I work for. It feels they continue to do all they can to take the "fun" out of work and I used to be able to have so much fun at work. We do many potlucks and many of us often bring bagels, donuts and treats. It just makes me so sad to see them force us to do it this week when the administrative team knows it used to be a week when they took care of the little things to provide camaraderie and bring the department together! We will laugh about it all weekend and find our own fun!!! And yes, if you look carefully you celebrate something almost every week and yes, it is overkill!!! There will be signs for respiratory care week, childlife specialists week, dietitian week, nurses week will be huge.....but we will go unnoticed which is no change, but I used to enjoy the fun within the department! I will continue to be thankful for my wonderful colleagues who keep me smiling and doing my best to take care of our patients!