Generally the events associated with New Year's Eve involve parties and late nights and staying up until midnight to say good-bye to another year and hello to the promise of what the next year holds.
Unfortunately, our New Year's Eve events of the day involved more hospital and less party. My pregnancy with Peanut has been cruising along uneventfully, just the way I like it. Yesterday I started having contractions. Nothing regular or strong, but contractions nonetheless. I rested, drank fluids, and they still stuck around. I slept well last night and was a little unnerved to realize that they continued to linger this morning. I called my doctor for a little reassurance, and unfortunately that's not what I got. Due to the holiday, my doctor's office was closing early but my doctor really felt like I needed to be seen. So Zach rushed home from work, his mom came over to watch Staley, and Zach and I headed over to the Labor and Delivery triage at the hospital.
After an hour and a half of monitoring and some tests by the doctor, it was confirmed that I was indeed having contractions but was not in preterm labor. The verdict: Go home, rest, drink lots and lots of fluids, and come back if the contractions continue or get worse.
Although that may not have been my first choice of how I wanted to spend my New Year's Eve day, I can't help but feel so thankful. Thankful that Peanut is still doing well and staying put. Thankful that I have a husband who will rush home from work, stay with me and entertain me in the hospital, insist that I stay here on the couch while he watches our daughter, and keeps bringing me fresh refills of my water. Thankful that my mother-in-law is always so willing to help out, even at a moments notice. Thankful that my parents offered to bring over dinner to make sure I continued to rest and relax. Thankful that we have insurance and the ability to pay for medical care so that I don't have to weigh out whether or not my medical needs truly warrant attention. Hospital visit may not have been top of my list of what I wanted to do on New Year's Eve and extra medical bills may not have been my choice of how to spend a little extra money before the new year, but all I am is thankful. It's a good reminder as 2012 comes to a close that I am so blessed. So my New Year's Eve wish for you is that you have a moment to stop and reflect on all the ways you have been blessed in 2012...and to hope that 2013 is just as good.
Adelie and Staley's World
Monday, December 31, 2012
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Good-bye Christmas
Last night after Staley went to bed, Zach and I took down our Christmas decorations. So this morning, as we were getting ready to go down the stairs for breakfast, I warned Staley that our Christmas tree was gone. As she walked down the stairs, she began pointing out all the things that were gone. "The garland is gone. The tree is gone. The angel is gone." Since she seemed to be taking it all in stride, I joined in and pointed out, "Look. The stockings are gone too." At that, Staley looked like she was about to burst into tears and asked, "Where are my toothpaste and toothbrush?"
After reassuring Staley that her new toothbrush and toothpaste were still safely living in the upstairs bathroom, she was fine. But really, how traumatic it would be to think that when Christmas was over, all the new things you had just gotten would be whisked away with the decorations.
After reassuring Staley that her new toothbrush and toothpaste were still safely living in the upstairs bathroom, she was fine. But really, how traumatic it would be to think that when Christmas was over, all the new things you had just gotten would be whisked away with the decorations.
Friday, December 28, 2012
Technology
I don't know why they call it a smart phone, because all it does is make me feel very un-smart.
I am not a technologically savvy individual. I can check my e-mail. I can google information. I can post on my blog. But if the computer doesn't do what I think it should do, I'm at a loss for how to fix it. I don't download new software or problem-solve network problems. When I call the computer help line at work, most times they just tell me something simple like restart your computer or click on this icon, and it fixes the problem. But can I figure that out on my own. Apparently not. So why, oh why, did I think that I could figure out a smart phone???
Zach and I both got smart phones for Christmas. I wasn't sure I was ready to say good-bye to my trusty flip phone with the keyboard, but Zach convinced me that it was time to join the 21st century. In my first hour after activating the phone, I messed up my contacts list, set up my e-mail incorrectly, accidentally called someone (twice), and downloaded what I thought was a free app that actually was going to charge me $9.99/month. Not a stellar start. While Zach was whizzing away downloading apps and loving his new phone, I was struggling to set a ringtone and was still figuring out how to actually answer my phone.
Since the rocky start to our relationship, my new phone has been growing on me. I have made phone calls, answered phone calls, texted, checked my e-mail, and even downloaded 3 apps. I set my speed dials (although still haven't figured out how to actually use them.) Zach helped me rearrange my home screen, and now my phone even tells me the outside temperature wherever I am. I know there are TONS of things that my new phone can do, many of which I'll probably never figure out. It still makes me a little nervous that my phone seems to be tracking my every move. I would like to think of myself as a progressive individual who embraces change and keeps up with the times, but I've realized that I'm not that cool anymore. I like the status quo. I like consistency and reliability and the comfort of the familiar. So although I've moved on into the 21st century (at least in the phone world), I think part of me is still clinging to the 20th.
I am not a technologically savvy individual. I can check my e-mail. I can google information. I can post on my blog. But if the computer doesn't do what I think it should do, I'm at a loss for how to fix it. I don't download new software or problem-solve network problems. When I call the computer help line at work, most times they just tell me something simple like restart your computer or click on this icon, and it fixes the problem. But can I figure that out on my own. Apparently not. So why, oh why, did I think that I could figure out a smart phone???
Zach and I both got smart phones for Christmas. I wasn't sure I was ready to say good-bye to my trusty flip phone with the keyboard, but Zach convinced me that it was time to join the 21st century. In my first hour after activating the phone, I messed up my contacts list, set up my e-mail incorrectly, accidentally called someone (twice), and downloaded what I thought was a free app that actually was going to charge me $9.99/month. Not a stellar start. While Zach was whizzing away downloading apps and loving his new phone, I was struggling to set a ringtone and was still figuring out how to actually answer my phone.
Since the rocky start to our relationship, my new phone has been growing on me. I have made phone calls, answered phone calls, texted, checked my e-mail, and even downloaded 3 apps. I set my speed dials (although still haven't figured out how to actually use them.) Zach helped me rearrange my home screen, and now my phone even tells me the outside temperature wherever I am. I know there are TONS of things that my new phone can do, many of which I'll probably never figure out. It still makes me a little nervous that my phone seems to be tracking my every move. I would like to think of myself as a progressive individual who embraces change and keeps up with the times, but I've realized that I'm not that cool anymore. I like the status quo. I like consistency and reliability and the comfort of the familiar. So although I've moved on into the 21st century (at least in the phone world), I think part of me is still clinging to the 20th.
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Christmas
Our tree is shedding needles and dropping ornaments, our recycling is loaded down with empty boxes, the playroom has been rearranged to accommodate the new toys, and all 3 of us took a 2 hour nap today. I think it's very clear. Christmas must be over.
Our Christmas holiday was fast and full, exhilirating and exhausting. We started off on Sunday evening with the extended Sancken family Christmas, followed it up with a Christmas Eve celebration at the Bradfords with Zach's immediate family, enjoyed a cozy Christmas morning at home with our little family, and then rounded out the fun at my parents for the Walles Christmas bonanza on Christmas evening.
If you ask Staley what she got for Christmas, she probably won't tell you about her new kitchen and accessories or her princess castle or her new baby dolls or her bowling set. Generally, she tells people that she got toothpaste and stickers. We could have saved ourselves money and wrapping paper and the 4 hours Zach spent putting together the kitchen because the toothpaste, chapstick, and stickers in her stocking apparently provided enough excitement. We started Christmas morning with stockings, and Staley didn't even want to unwrap her presents. She just wanted to brush her teeth. (Aunt Melissa must be so proud!) With a little coercing, she did open her presents and has had a great time playing with her new toys. When she finally walked into her playroom and saw her new kitchen, her eyes lit up and she exclaimed, "Look! A kitchen! A real kitchen!" She whipped us up a yummy Christmas morning breakfast of chocolate cake and bacon, baked together in a pot in the oven. I'm sure she'll share the recipe if you ask.
Staley also got to experience the joy of giving this holiday season. Zach took her Target and told her she could pick out anything in the store to get for me. (Brave man.) Apparently they walked up and down multiple aisles until Staley spotted a display of loofahs. She immediately said, "This! I want to get this!" as she proceeded to pick me out a very special orange loofah. Being less brave than Zach, I took Staley to the Everything's $1 store and told her she could pick out something for Zach. She immediately found a Cinderella puzzle that she thought Daddy would love...until she spotted some bubble bath in a heart-covered bottle. We took that to the check-out, where she then changed her mind once again and decided that he would like some casino playing cards. In the end, I think she picked a winner. I will admit. I got some nice things for Christmas, but my orange loofah may be the best gift of them all!
Spending time with family is always a highlight of any holiday.
We had a very merry Christmas. We move forward from another Christmas with special gifts and new memories and the joy of giving to others...and very clean teeth. We wish the same for you!
Our Christmas holiday was fast and full, exhilirating and exhausting. We started off on Sunday evening with the extended Sancken family Christmas, followed it up with a Christmas Eve celebration at the Bradfords with Zach's immediate family, enjoyed a cozy Christmas morning at home with our little family, and then rounded out the fun at my parents for the Walles Christmas bonanza on Christmas evening.
If you ask Staley what she got for Christmas, she probably won't tell you about her new kitchen and accessories or her princess castle or her new baby dolls or her bowling set. Generally, she tells people that she got toothpaste and stickers. We could have saved ourselves money and wrapping paper and the 4 hours Zach spent putting together the kitchen because the toothpaste, chapstick, and stickers in her stocking apparently provided enough excitement. We started Christmas morning with stockings, and Staley didn't even want to unwrap her presents. She just wanted to brush her teeth. (Aunt Melissa must be so proud!) With a little coercing, she did open her presents and has had a great time playing with her new toys. When she finally walked into her playroom and saw her new kitchen, her eyes lit up and she exclaimed, "Look! A kitchen! A real kitchen!" She whipped us up a yummy Christmas morning breakfast of chocolate cake and bacon, baked together in a pot in the oven. I'm sure she'll share the recipe if you ask.
Staley also got to experience the joy of giving this holiday season. Zach took her Target and told her she could pick out anything in the store to get for me. (Brave man.) Apparently they walked up and down multiple aisles until Staley spotted a display of loofahs. She immediately said, "This! I want to get this!" as she proceeded to pick me out a very special orange loofah. Being less brave than Zach, I took Staley to the Everything's $1 store and told her she could pick out something for Zach. She immediately found a Cinderella puzzle that she thought Daddy would love...until she spotted some bubble bath in a heart-covered bottle. We took that to the check-out, where she then changed her mind once again and decided that he would like some casino playing cards. In the end, I think she picked a winner. I will admit. I got some nice things for Christmas, but my orange loofah may be the best gift of them all!
Spending time with family is always a highlight of any holiday.
Staley with her Bradford cousins
Staley and her two older Bradford cousins
Staley with her Walles cousins
Spending a little extra time with Uncle Ethan on Christmas Eve morning was another Christmas highlight.
Staley checking out her stocking loot.
Staley with her new Dora toothbrushes and Little Bear toothpaste. Score!
Baking up a yummy Christmas morning breakfast.
My little chef (in her super-cute apron that Aunt Melissa made)
We had a very merry Christmas. We move forward from another Christmas with special gifts and new memories and the joy of giving to others...and very clean teeth. We wish the same for you!
Monday, December 24, 2012
Merry Christmas!
Joy to the world!!
May you celebrate the birth of our Savior surrounded by those you love!
Sunday, December 23, 2012
A Christmas Equation
Helping Mommy bake
+
cookie cutters
+
frosting and 'frinkles'
=
one happy little girl.
Saturday, December 22, 2012
All I Want for Christmas...
...is a fever and a cough???
Unfortunately for Staley, that is what has arrived for her these few days before Christmas. She woke early Friday morning with a fever. Her fever stuck around all day yesterday, although couldn't seem to keep my little gal down. She was her happy, active, playful self all day. (Well, her happy, active, playful self that needed a 3 hour nap.) And today, she woke up still hanging onto her fever and adding a little croupy cough to the fun. Still happy. Still active. Still playful. Just now happy, active, playful, fever-y, and cough-y. Of course, today was supposed to be the kick-off to Christmas with Zach's family. But because sickness is NOT what we want to be giving out for Christmas this year, our Sancken holiday celebration had to be postponed. Not exactly the way we wanted to kick off our Christmas celebrations, but I'm not going to complain. As I think about the children and families that will be spending their Christmas at the hospital, the individuals who will be alone this holiday season, those whose only Christmas list is to be healthy or housed or loved or safe, the families who have to face this Christmas with presents for their lost child still under the tree, all I can do is pray for them...and feel truly thankful. I am blessed. Our Savior has been born. And no fever or cough or postponed celebration will ever change that.
Unfortunately for Staley, that is what has arrived for her these few days before Christmas. She woke early Friday morning with a fever. Her fever stuck around all day yesterday, although couldn't seem to keep my little gal down. She was her happy, active, playful self all day. (Well, her happy, active, playful self that needed a 3 hour nap.) And today, she woke up still hanging onto her fever and adding a little croupy cough to the fun. Still happy. Still active. Still playful. Just now happy, active, playful, fever-y, and cough-y. Of course, today was supposed to be the kick-off to Christmas with Zach's family. But because sickness is NOT what we want to be giving out for Christmas this year, our Sancken holiday celebration had to be postponed. Not exactly the way we wanted to kick off our Christmas celebrations, but I'm not going to complain. As I think about the children and families that will be spending their Christmas at the hospital, the individuals who will be alone this holiday season, those whose only Christmas list is to be healthy or housed or loved or safe, the families who have to face this Christmas with presents for their lost child still under the tree, all I can do is pray for them...and feel truly thankful. I am blessed. Our Savior has been born. And no fever or cough or postponed celebration will ever change that.
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