My life in a box

....or should I say boxes? I decided to take a break from packing by blogging since I haven't written in a while. This past week has been crazy, but not as crazy as this next week will be. I've been up until 12 a.m. every night running errands, doing stuff at the house, and doing homework. Since I work every day, have homework, and am usually at the house every day, tomorrow is the only day I have to pack. It's funny because I had planned to gradually pack over time. Haha....I think about that now and it's hilarious to me. Why, on earth, did I think I would actually have time to gradually pack over time? I don't think I realized how much work this would be and how many unexpected things come up when moving and getting a house move-in ready. So, because of those reasons, I have one day to pack my life into boxes. The question is, where will I put all of these boxes? I'm not sure, yet, but I think I'll worry about that when I'm finally done packing.

I can't believe how far the house has come in a month. It's amazing what paint can do! It looks beautiful and is starting to feel like home. I can't wait to move in next weekend and it will also be nice because I have one extra day, Monday, to unpack and get settled in.

Next time I write, I'll be in my new house! See you then!! : )

No time....not even to breath

Today is the last day of the rest of the my life. My last semester at Delta starts tomorrow, I'm moving in a month or less, I'm looking for a new job, and my current job is more stressful than I can handle. Have I already mentioned this? Most likely. I usually have time to relax when I come home after work every day. This week, there's been no time. I have been busy non-stop until 11 p.m. at night when I'm finally climbing into bed, even though I still have things that to do - things that should have been done weeks ago. I know that soon I will be sleeping in a half-empty bedroom, full of boxes, surrounded by homework and job applications. If this is what moving out and getting a life - a real life - is about, I now understand why all of my friends are always busy! I feel for them. I have ZERO time. I don't even have time to breath. So if you don't see a blog for a while, you know why. I'm posting my house pics on MySpace, but will have some on here, too, when I get caught up.

Have a great rest of the week and a great weekend!

Flip That House!

As some of you may know, I purchased a home about a month and a half ago and it looks like I'll be moving in by September 1. The windows were put in on Thursday, the painting has started, and as soon as the painting is done, the carpet and linoleum can be put in. I'm also having some work done outside and that should all be done this week. I'm getting an automatic garage door put in, a new bathroom in the garage (the old one was overtaken by mold!), the deck painted, and other tiny miscellaneous things.

Although the progress being made makes me very happy, I'm stressed - downright stressed. On top of finding a new job, still being at my current job, school starting, and thinking about going through all of my things and packing, I'm overwhelmed. I have most of what I need as far as furniture, but one thing specifically about the house is bothering me ----- DEOCRATING.
I have no clue about how to decorate, color themes, etc.

Anyone have any decorating tips to ease my mind?

August 8, 2008 -- Is today really all that lucky?

Happy 8-8-08! We've all heard the buzz about today being "lucky" according to Chinese culture. But as far as American culture, is today really all that lucky? Read on.....

I flew to Ohio yesterday to take my niece and nephew back home. I flew back home today. Anyways, I woke up at 5 a.m. this morning so I could get to the airport on time. I was getting dressed after taking my shower and SNAP! My bra - the only bra I had - snapped right in half. Yea.....I was irritated, to say the least. Unlucky situation #1. It's funny because obviously we are all aware that clothes fall apart, we grow out of them, etc., but being a woman, I have never thought about my bra snapping in half before. Well, there is definitely a first time for everything! Luckily, I was able to find a safety pin and pin my bra together. The experiences I have are humorous, yet strangely weird, and therefore, I'm dreaming of paradise, where hopefully, this kind of stuff wouldn't happen, hehe.

While I was gone yesterday, there were new windows and a new sliding glass door being put in at my house, as well as the removal of wallpaper and some work in the garage/patio area. I went over to the house today at 4 p.m. and WOWZERS!!!! I was in shock. First off, it's amazing what a difference double-pane windows makes!! And my new sliding glass door is wonderful. The removal of wallpaper turned out to be more of a challenge than expected. The previous owners made a mistake with the paint job and so my paint guy had to remove the wallpaper, the backing, and two other layers just to get down to solid wall. It was definitely interesting to see everything that came off of the wall, in thin, messy, wet strips, but the progress being made in a day's time was great. I feel so lucky to have such great, hard-working people making progress on my house so I can move in by September 1st ------ hopefully! What I most enjoyed seeing was the progress being made on the garage area. There was a bathroom inside of the garage, which was convenient because of the pool. Unfortunately, there was a leak in the bathroom, so there was mold EVERYWHERE. When I arrived today, the walls were knocked out, toilet and sink removed, and it looked 100% better. I couldn't believe it. We're putting in a new toilet and sick, as well as tile instead of concrete, since there was mold around the concrete, as well. I think I should get the "Rookie Homeowner of the Year" award!! : ) This house is going to look SO much better than before. I'm excited to post before/after pictures. Lucky situation #1.

After getting a little bored with waiting around the house, I decided to browse Cost Plus World Market, as it was just down the street, and I was sure they would have super cute stuff for my house. Sure enough, I walk in and just about buy out the store! They had so much cute stuff for the house. I called my mom and had her meet me there, and ended up buying a desk (see above), a dining room table and chairs, and two purple flower prints for my room. I was exceptionally lucky to find the desk because it had a pull-out section below the top desk surface that could be used as a keyboard space or extra writing space. Every desk I had found that I liked only had a pull-out keyboard tray and this desk was compatible for either, which is great since I have a laptop. It was just what I'd been looking for! Everything was on sale, too, which was even better. Lucky situation #2.

That's 2 - 1. What do you think? Lucky or unlucky?

Btw, I just started blogging and I'm not as creative as Jamie Stavenger (I almost typed Petersen, hehe), so bare with me and I promise to give you creative, fun-filled blogs. One of my goals is to expand my creativity! : )

There's no denying it now....

Early Tuesday morning at about 3:45 a.m., I woke up with really bad cramps. I tried going back to sleep, hoping they would go away, but they didn't. They just got worse. By 4:15 a.m., I had all of the signs of having a miscarriage - you know what they are. It was horrible! I left for the hospital at 4:30 a.m. and by the time my mom and I arrived, I was in tears because of how painful it was. I was put in a room until about 11 a.m. and then was taken to get an ultrasound. There was no baby shown on the ultrasound machine. It had happened. It was officially gone. Until the ultrasound, I had been poked and prodded more times than I could count. After the ultrasound, I was taken to the pre-op room to prepare for the D & C. While waiting to get taken in, my blood was taken ---- AGAIN. The doctor finally arrived, told me what would be happening, and then the anethesiologist arrived and also gave me insight on what would be done. I was in the operating room by 12 p.m. and the last thing I remember is the anethesiologist saying, "Okay, now just put this mask on." I still didn't remember anything when I was in the recovery room. It was all a blur...... By the time I left the hospital at 2:30 p.m., I didn't even feel like I had just had surgery! It was crazy. I didn't feel that good after my hand surgery. So, all in all, I was glad that mother nature took its course and I'm glad it's all behind me. Even though all of my medical issues are behind me, I am still dealing with the grief of losing a baby. Time heals all, but I know when the due date comes, it will be a hard day for me.

I'll be changing my blog name soon and will continue to update it with my normal, everyday life happenings! With my new house, I don't doubt there will be lots to tell. Happy reading : )

My options....

On Friday, July 24th, I had another doctor's appointment. I had requested a THIRD ultrasound to be done and I was also going to find out what my options were. The doctor was a little hesistant about the third ultrasound, but I'm very persistant - especially in a life and death situation. Unfortunately, the result was the same - no heartbeat, but I'd rather be safe than sorry. If I had not asked for a third ultrasound, I would've probably left there regretting it.

Here are the options the doctor gave me:

1. D & C ---- They can remove the dead tissue to prevent infection.

2. Miscarriage ----- I can let a miscarriage happen naturally, in it's own time. My doctor told me to save the parts that come out in a ziploc bag to make sure there isn't anything left inside. "That's what ziploc bags are for", he said. Ugh! Boy did that make me mad. The last thing I want to do is save the parts of my baby in a ziploc bag. Just so you know, this wasn't my regular doctor. If my regular doctor had said that, I'd be switching doctors and/or medical groups.

I didn't make a decision that day, mostly because I was unsure of what to do, but even if there was still some tissue left inside, I would have to have the D & C. I didn't see the point in waiting a week + to let it happen naturally and then maybe have to have the D & C anyways.

Needless to say, I wasn't very happy when I left the doctor's office that day, but I was leaving it up to mother nature to take its course.

To my daughter - Elliana Grace

Well, even though it was too early to know what I was having, I'm convinced it was a girl. The name I had picked out was Elliana Grace. So here is a short letter to my baby girl and a song by Watermark that has given me much relief and comfort.

Thursday, July 23, 2008

These past few days have been a blur. I can't believe you're gone. I loved you since the beginning. I wanted nothing, but the best for you. I wanted to give you the world. It hurts so bad. I won't be able to hold you in my arms and experience all of the wonderful things that come with having a child. Even your name sounded like a miracle to me. You were so very loved. Here's a song for you - 'Glory Baby'.

Glory Baby, You slipped away
As fast as we could say baby, baby
You were growing, what happened, Dear,
You disappeared on us baby, baby
Heaven will hold you before we do, Heaven will keep you safe
Until we're home with you, until we're home with you

Chorus:
We miss you everyday, miss you in every way
But we know there's a day when we will hold you, we will hold you
And you'll kiss our tears away, when we're home to stay
We can't wait for the day when we will see you, we will see you
But baby let sweet Jesus hold you, 'til mom and dad can hold you
You'll just have Heaven before we do, you'll just have Heaven before we do

Sweet little baby, it's hard to understand it 'cause we are hurting, we are hurting
But there is healing and we know we're stronger people through the growing and in knowing
All things work together for our good and God works his purposes
Just like He said He would, just like He said He would

(chorus)

I can't imagine Heaven's lullabies and what they must sound like
But I will rest in knowing Heaven is your home
It's all you'll ever know, it's all you'll ever know