Test from my Droid incredible

I am giving this a go from my new phone via blogaway.  This could open a whole new blog world for me especially if I can add pictures.  This could be fun!

Don't you hate it when that happens?

Today I was looking in the fridge and it just felt like something was missing. I finally figured out I didn't see the package of havarti cheese I bought at costco yesterday. Then I thought, well maybe I didn't really put it in my cart, only thought about it or maybe it just never made it to the register. Sure enough I checked my receipt and I paid for it, so where was it? I even looked in the freezer to see if I put it there. Nope!

We ventured out this afternoon and I found it under the back seat......it kills me to waste food, but it's now in the garbage. It snowed overnight so it was cold enough most of the night, but it was too warm yesterday to risk it.

My phone has arrived....

I'm like a kid at Christmas. I am excited for my new toy! Ella has been an absolute grump all morning. I am choosing to blame teething pain. She went down for a nap early and as I walked out of her room, the fedex guy was knocking. Another sign this phone was meant for me!

I forgot about having to charge it first.....so it's charging. I already called the verizon store and asked if they have the screen protectors and I asked some other questions. They recommended I bring it in and they will set it all up for me!

I'm giving up my Palm. I'm getting my medication programs for my phone and I think I will transition to the Google calendar for my life. It might be nice because I can share a family calendar with Joe.

I'm excited to be able to do more things on the go and hope this new phone will help me with running a household more than be a distraction......time will tell! I'm guessing I will start with more time on twitter and facebook, but I already waste that time now, so we'll see!

I think I can even blog from my phone.....I'll give it a go when I have time to figure it all out!

Thank you!

My Aunt Crystal is one of those people who just knows what I need to hear sometimes. Her faith is amazing and she is such a great role model for me in so many ways! She reads my blog and will send me an email. These are some of her words!

"Ella has taken so many steps forward that this surgery will not set her back for long and i know God will keep her safe and happy until the surgery. You'll read more and do puzzles and even cuddle more. There's nothing wrong with that. There's so many hidden blessings in our struggles." "Ella is covered so beautifully in prayer Laurie that God can't help but cradle her softly through these next 18 months and on the day of her surgery"

Thank you Aunt Crystal!

More snow....

I can't remember if April came in like a lion or lamb, but it's leaving with cold, rain, and SNOW! It was predicted, but I am still bummed to see it.

I'm ready for spring again! We had to cancel our walk in the park and my plans include the gym this morning!

Happy Birthday!

I learned via Facebook that iTunes is 7 years old today. In some ways it feels like ipods and mp3's have been around forever, but I have only had itunes for 3.5 years. I haven't bought a CD in years and I love the freedom of just buying a song. This was an incredible invention and has changed our lives!

Parenthood - I love this show!

Tulip Festival

We went to the Tulip Festival tonight. The wind was insane and you can tell the tulips were hit by hail last week. We got a wagon for Ella and she rode in it for a while, but she walked and ran through most of it (she even had to help push and pull the wagon). She can now say flower, tree, and water.

Triathlon Training Update

Training is hard and finding time to train is even harder!!! Last week was one of those weeks when I seriously regretted this commitment! I am having a hard time balancing training on top of life, work, travel....etc. It's going to continue to get harder as the amount of time needed for training continues to increase!

I am NOT going to give up! Life got busy the last few months and I was a complete slacker....in the past few weeks I have gotten back on the triathlon training horse and I am motivated to do the best I can.

Swimming - It's very hard to find the time to get to the pool. I have been paranoid to take Ella to the gym daycare since being called out of the pool to take her home because she was "sick". I had a heart to heart with the employees when I dropped her off last week (for the first time since January) and I made them promise me she was not going to be kicked out! She seems to like it and I got 2 great days of swimming in last week. I did get pulled off the bike to go change her, but at least I got my swim in!

Biking - Most of my biking has been done immediately after swimming at the gym. I find biking fairly relaxing and easy.....but I am looking at the times of the participants last year and realizing this is a RACE and I need to step up my game. I turned up the resistance and I'm now choosing the bike in the gym most similar to a road bike and more difficult. My goal in the next few weeks is to get my road bike (randomly left in our yard last winter) into the bike shop for a tune and determine if it is really the right bike for me. Plan B is to get some road tires for my mountain bike and call it good. I would like to do more real life training OUTSIDE. I am looking for a used bike trailer so I can train with Ella and pulling extra weight will be good for training. I think I will just wear my running shoes to bike, but I would like to get pedals with feet straps (not sure what they are called).

Running - I am following the plan of increasing amounts of time running with a combo of walking and it's coming along. Last week I realized that I am up to running 1 mile and next week it will be 1.25 miles (walk 4 min, run 3 min x 35 min). I even did a workout with Ella in the Bob this week and it's way harder than I thought to run and push a stroller - maybe that will be good for training, but I miss pumping my arms. She does fairly well in the stroller, but when she's done, she's done, so I have to time it right with her mood. Nicky loves it as well, so it's great exercise and fresh air for all of us! I still prefer the treadmill, but I have to get outside more and more, although I think I look stupid and I run very slowly!

All in all, it's hard, but overall I enjoy it and it will be such a great accomplishment for me. The hardest part is finding the right time to get everything done! Our entire family changes schedules every 3 weeks with my work schedule and my current plan of attack is:
Weekends - make the most of my days off Monday - Thursday and get some stroller workouts done in the morning and then to the gym at 4 after Ella's nap and right when the daycare opens again for a swim and bike 3 of the 4 days. I wish the kids club was open different hours, but I can't change that!

Evenings - I take Ella to daycare by 11:30 so she doesn't miss lunch when I work at 12:30, so now some days I take her at 10 and go to the 24 hr fitness near her daycare and get a workout in. The only bummer is they don't have a pool.....but I can still run and bike and then shower there. I feel guilty having her spend extra time at daycare, but it's hard to shower and get ready with her at home and it's not quality time with her, so I'll just get over it and take advantage of more quality time in the mornings while we are together and get out of the house earlier! I may try to swim one night after work and get my other 2 swims in on the weekend.

Days - Get the most out of the weekend and work out as a family! Try to get to the gym after Ella is in bed 3 nights or so. When Joe is out of town, I just have to do what I can at home or head out in the evenings with Ella in the stroller or bike trailer.

I am slowly beginning to realize what I have really signed up for! I looked at the times for my age group last year and the top female did the race in 1 hour 15 min and finished 7th overall. The slowest in my age group was just under 2 hours and my goal would be to just not finish last in my age group! The time includes the 2 transitions, so my current goal (subject to change) would be to swim in about 15 min, 3 min transition, bike in 45 minutes (that's almost 17 mph), 1.5 min transition and then finish the run in under 40 min (~5mph) for a total time of about 1 hour 45 minutes. Yeah, that's a very long time of continuous exercise --- I am very scared!

Has anyone done a triathlon? Any advice? I am not an athelete, but trying my hardest to be one for a few months and hope I get addicted to exercise!

Ella Update - 18 months

We have had 2 Mondays of doctor appointments and now I'm ready for the big update! I know I have many family members waiting for the report -- random readers and friends, you may want to skip this post!

Miss Ella Stats:

Weight 20.7 lbs 6th percentile

Height 29.25 in 3rd percentile (I think she's a little taller than that)

Head 17.3 in 3rd percentile

He called her the fat lady at the circus and congratulated me for getting her to 18 months without falling off the growth curve--- we know it hasn't been easy! This is the first appointment where she has really been a regular kiddo! We've stopped all her medications (except for a vitamin) and I could say YES to every single development question and no required weight checks! It was so nice to finally feel what most parents get to feel. My kid is finally catching up! I am so proud of her!

Today Ella had a head cat scan followed by an appointment with her neurosurgeon. The news was as expected. She still has 2 extra soft spots and they are getting a bit smaller, but still very large and she will need surgery to close them. We saw the CT and then we waited around for the pediatric plastic surgeon to come meet us. He is really good and my first choice, but he's a good surgeon, not a people person at all! He knew nothing about Ella and saw her, felt her head, and looked at the scan. Fortunately I am with attending physicians and residents daily and I know how it works.....poor Joe on the other hand almost had a heart attack as he heard, "wow! Those holes are huge --- I have never seen anything like this". It's very hard when it is your own child, very hard. We had a long chat with both docs and they will work together to close Ella's skull using her own skull, but we have to wait until it is thick enough. She has a tiny head and a tiny body, so I fear it may take longer than they predict, but we are hoping for surgery when she is about 3 years old. Overall, no new news. It's what we expected to hear and what we've been planning for.

The bad news --- she has 2 holes in her head and she is a very active little girl. The doctor's advice was, "use your common sense and keep her feet on the ground as much as possible and NO CLIMBING as she gets old enough". BUMMER.....I have let her do everything as long as we are close. She really got to play at the park in Iowa because we had 4 adults to supervise and we mostly constantly had a hand on her. I'm struggling here. I need her to be safe because she is at a greater risk of bruising her brain, but I want her to be a kid and somedays I NEED her to run and play and burn off her energy! No more playgrounds for now. I am also so sad to think that I am going to have to make a plan with daycare and the playground will have to be off limits - at least this is a battle I don't have to worry about this summer - she isn't old enough until next year. This is the first time we have been told of true restrictions. I am glad I didn't buy a toddler gym for the backyard and may look at a playhouse and/or sandbox instead. She has a bike helmet and we'll use it much more than most kids and that's OK. Safety is our priority.

Joe headed to work and Ella and I came home for an hour....then drove down south to Primary Children's satelite outpatient clinic for her hearing screen and appointment with the ENT. The hearing screen cracks me up -- she is too smart for their silly games. There was a window looking to the lady making all the noises, Ella mostly looked at her instead of the speakers where the sound was coming from and I had to bite my tongue (hard) to not laugh at the sillyness of it all! The good news --- she passed!

We waited over an hour to finally see her doctor for less than 2 minutes.

We finally arrived home at about 3PM and I was exhausted!!!!

All in all, Ella is doing great! She constantly entertains us and is attempting more and more words daily. We hope to avoid all clinics for the next 6 months and she'll see everyone again in October!

I'm moving up!

It's time for a smart phone in my life. It's almost like this was just meant to be. I was surfing and researching at work yesterday afternoon and I just jumped in and pre-ordered the Droid Incredible! I am so excited. I have never pre-ordered anything like this and it will be fun to be one of the first to own it. I can't give up my excellent Verizon service, so I will have to go with the phone that competes with the iPhone and be happy with it!

I just checked my email and I found a 25% off code from Lexi-Comp and knew this decision was meant to be! I can now save 25% on the drug dosage handbook for my new phone.....just in time!

Review to follow.

Spring has arrived....

OK, it's time. I am beginning my claritin tonight. With my stuffy nose and sneezing all day, Allergy Season is here!

I'm feeling jealous....

Joe had to stand in for his boss tonight and attend the Jazz/Nuggets NBA playoff game for his boss who was out due to illness. NO FAIR! I did feel bad when he called me while I was 1 hour into my 12 hour shift and he had to figure out how to make everything happen he needed to get done in a much shorter than expected amount of time. Thank you to Grandma Dorothy for stepping in and watching Ella for us!

Go Jazz! Poor guy had to sit in the 8th row mid-court.......so jealous!

Happy 5th Anniversary, Sweetie!

Wow! I can't believe it's been 5 years already. We've been through so many life changes together that it almost feels like longer than 5 years, but it's sure gone fast. I am very blessed with a wonderful husband and we are very blessed together with a beautiful daughter and wonderful family to support us!

** Dorothy dropped off this cake for us last night! What a treat! We plan on attempting to find an evening next week to celebrate with dinner and maybe a movie! As usual, I will be working tonight......

Salt Lake Iowa Club

I am attending a meeting tonight to help plan activities for the Salt Lake Iowa Club. I tried to contact the lady running the club when I first moved here and never heard back from her. I connected with the guy currently running the club at the Big 10 Happy Hour during March Madness and I am excited to get involved and meet some Iowa alumni.

I am hoping since I'm planning, I can plan the activities while I'm NOT working so I can go! Also, you can't go wrong with meeting at a bar to plan! I'm up for a drink with some hawkeyes tonight!

He said he wants to plan a spring and summer event. I'm thinking one event outside that families can attend and another at a bar to attract the younger crowd, older crowd (I saw them drinking heavily last time) and those of us with kiddos (a great excuse for a babysitter)!

Happy Earth Day!

I attempt to go green more and more every year. We fill up our recycling more than our garbage and I have been buying more green cleaning products.

I think the area where I have gone most green this year is in my diet and the food I buy for our family. I am attempting to avoid high fructose corn syrup and find myself shopping more in the organic section. I am focusing on natural and whole grain foods. I don't buy much in a box. I try hard to feed Ella and myself 5 fruits and vegetables a day. I'm anxious for all the summer fruits!

This photo isn't really earth day themed, but I love this shirt! Ella got it in the mail yesterday from Auntie Alyssa and I think she has great taste!


However, I tried to ignore my name (mama) when Ella was crying and screaming for me at 4:30 this morning. She did however also ask for daddy, especially after I went in and assured she was OK and told her it was time to sleep after rocking her a while.....then it was daddy, daddy, daddy! Does teething ever end?

Sunshine, beautiful scenery, girlfriends, and 3 Bobs!

This is why I love living near the mountains, it was 75 degrees and sunny, but if I wanted to see snow, I could look up to the east or drive 20 minutes to find it! Why don't I go to the park every day?

The Bob Brigade!

Patrick Christopher -- 4 weeks old tomorrow!

I dearly love these girls and now we each have a munchkin and Bob stroller! Let's put those strollers to use this summer! Ella doesn't have any cousins near us, so the boys are the next best thing and I am so thankful for these boys. It won't be long and Ella and Mason will have playdates and then Patrick will join in soon enough. Currently they are 18 months, 12 months, and 1 month.

This was my first of many "let's meet at the park and talk Mommy (with maybe a little work gossip)"!

I can taste it!

Joe and I are discussing our New York trip and I am dreaming of eating at Carmine's! I love that place! I see they have a location in the Bahamas and I think they need to move into Vegas!!!

Rockies president found dead in Salt Lake City hotel room - Salt Lake Tribune

Rockies president found dead in Salt Lake City hotel room - Salt Lake Tribune

This story is crazy! So sad! I don't know this guy, but we have lived in all the same places and it's just strange. Born in Iowa, played football for CSU in Fort Collins, currently in Denver, and died in his hotel room in Salt Lake last night. My symapthy to his family and the Colorado Rockies!

Our Last Day in Iowa

We spent Wednesday morning at the park and the evening at my Grandma Eunie's for dinner. We had a great trip and it's always hard to say goodbye. I still hope that someday (likely years away) our careers will take us within an 8-12 hour drive from Charles City, but until then we will enjoy that my crazy work schedule allows me 6 days off every other month. Our next trip to Iowa will likely be in August (we are going to see family in New York in June).
Ella loved the beads (my Dad and Barb just collected a ton while visiting Alyssa in Louisiana)

These plastic play grounds are just perfect for her and she had so much fun --- I can't do this alone, so I appreciated all the extra hands and eyes!

I LOVE this photo!

She loved these -- I remember playing on these springy animals - they must have 50 coats of paint on them!

In true Ella form, she had to hug and kiss every one!

This was her favorite and she was too brave in my opinion!

Absolutely adorable candid shot by Barb!

I only wish we could have taken her on the suspension bridge (the true icon of Charles City destroyed in the flood).

Laurie "who's a silly girl?" Ella "NEE, NEE, NEE, NEE!"

Swinging under Nana's pergola

We walked to Holly's shop (Stitches...) and I think we have a future quilter!

Happy 18 months Ella!

She can fit in her doll stroller --- she was EXHAUSTED!

We love you Grandparents! That's one tired little girl.