Sick, sadistic fun!

First Anna is very concerned as to why people she loves just hung a sweet little Hula girl from her playset.



Then - people begin to swing at it with a big stick and actually HIT her.
After many little heathens beat on her with a stick - she falls to the ground - apparently missing an arm and her torso... legs were flying everywhere.

THEN the heathens RUN in and eat the stuff that was inside her!



Anna runs to the front of the group and grabs her little hula friend - cuddling her decapitated head.... then finding a little sandaled foot - tries to reattach it.

Sick. We're just SICK SICK people.

Happy, Happy 5th Birthday!

So Julia - the story continues...

They came in at 7am to tell me that my induction would be pushed back a little bit since Dr. Ed was in a c-section. At a little after 8am he came in - and we commenced with the fun. As soon as he broke my water - your heart rate took a dive. It was so scary. It finally came back up - but I was put on alert. With each contraction you were having a difficult time. I was so scared for you - but I also knew that Dr. Ed would wisk me away to the OR if you needed to come out right away.

After 4 1/2 hours of super fun labor, vomiting, passing out (the last would be your dad), I was ready to push. Dr. Ed. warned me that if I didn't push you out fast that he'd have to take you by c-section because if you didn't like contractions - you REALLY didn't like it when I was pushing! After 20 minutes of pushing (about 8 or so) you came out. You had the cord wrapped around your neck twice, but pinked up great.

Really - I was finally a mommy. I was so surprised by your big, beautiful brown eyes, and curly dark hair. It's funny to think back on that now that you have such light blonde hair. I knwo I've said it before - but it was truly the first time I wore my heart on the outside.

Now you are 5 - and I wish I could really tell you all that's in my heart for you, but sweetie, words just don't really cut it here. You bring such joy, love, drama and happiness to our days. You are a natural performer who thinks the entire world is a stage. You are so kind to those around you, even Anna who you just adore. I treasure the moments you share with your sister that are based in the pure joy of our love for each other - I love watching you teach her and guide her as I do you.

The moment I found out you would be coming into our lives I fell in love. I used to dance with you in my belly to a CD we still listen to. It's one of my fondest memories, and I like to think it's why you love dancing so much. You are so intuitive and sensitive but share yourself with those around you. I love that about you.

Thank you so much for all you have brought to our lives - and I will struggle each day to do my best in teaching you as you do grow. I can't wait to see you continue to grow up into the beautiful, smart, funny woman I know you will be - but a little sad of losing that same sweet little baby and now girl as you do grow. You are so loved. You will always be special, don't ever forget that.

All my love and I hope you have the happiest of birthdays,

Mommy

Happy Birthday Eve, Miss Julia...

I remember every moment of my life 5 years ago with perfect clarity. How many of you can tell me exactly what you were doing on December 27, 2000 at around 7pm.

I for one was eating a delicious dessert at the steakhouse Dan and I loved when we lived in Tucson. I was so nervous and excited that I could barely eat - but starving and excited to be upright all the same!

I had been on bedrest for about 5 weeks at this point - 3 weeks of REAL bedrest (you know, when you really have to think about how badly you have to pee or not since you only get 2 hours of sitting upright time a day!) at the end of my pregnancy with Julia. I had pre-eclampsia and they were watching me and my lovely blood pressure very closely.

Earlier that day I went to see my beloved Dr. Ed for my 37 week check up - and they couldn't get my BP down - even after an hour on my left side. At my 36 week check up they had to send me for a blood panel to check my liver (I think that's the organ they were looking into... ) and things were still ok. Dr. Ed left the room to do something (I'm guessing check his vacation schedule) and came back in and asked me if I wanted to have a baby the next day. My heart lept straight into my throat. I was so excited and scared. He explained that I wasn't going to get better with time - and that he was heading to Cabo on New Years Eve and he didn't want to be out of town when I had a problem (he was a very big believer in delivering his patients babies).

So - Dr. Ed told Dan to take me home - get me packed up and have a fantastic dinner. It would be our last meal alone for a while - and I wouldn't be able to eat again after 8pm. He whipped us into the ultrasound room to make sure our Julia was still head down and ready for delivery - and he estimated her weight at 6 lb 5 1/2 oz.

Dan and I nervously headed out of the office to make our phone calls and final preparations. We made sure we had everything we needed packed - and went to dinner. I had a fabulous prime rib and some sort of cheesecake for dessert.

After our meal we drove to the hospital - in almost complete silence. Dan finally told me he had to go back into work (gotta love the restaurant business) for a couple of hours. I told him just to go home and get some sleep after he was done... since I would be fine at the hospital myself. More anxious silence.

He stayed with me through the check-in, including the mean, mean nurse putting the IV into my arm (right under my thumb - worst place in the world for an IV!) and blowing it - so that blood was everywhere. They did the things they do to prepare your body to do something un-naturally natural (inducement of labor), and told me to call if I thought I went into labor. :)

Shortly there after he headed out and my friend Miss A arrived, bringing lots of magazines, after visiting for a while - I had the room to myself. I watched tv, read magazines and listened to various babies cry around me.

I tried my best to sleep that night - but I was so anxious. I was nervous as to what labor would be like, what my sweet little girl would like, if she'd be ok, if I'd be ok, and what the next 18 years of my life were going to be like as a MOM!

I finally fell asleep around 3am...

Pictures? You want some stinking pictures???

Wow - it's over!

So the big holiday is over. This is always such a bittersweet time of year for me. I love Christmas. Every single stinking part of it - good and bad. In fact, I enjoy that time right up until Christmas Day - that my favorite time of year is the time BETWEEN Thanksgiving and Christmas - not actually the big Day. This year - all that changed.

My kids are awesome. Dan and I were lucky this year - for even though the employment situation caught us off guard and a little light in the pockets - we were blessed to be able to pull off one heck of a Christmas morning for the kids. We had lots of gift cards from various online survey sites, credit card rewards programs... and other sources. Santa already got the girls a Barbie Jeep at a smoking deal back before Turkey Day.

Now - I know what you are thinking - that there is a REASON for the SEASON - right? Listen - before ya'll jump on the holy band wagon with me. Julia GETS it. Anna isn't quite old enough - she doesn't even have a clue what happened yesterday other than - WOW lots of cool stuff showed up. Julia though, she's the first to tell you why Santa brings her presents - because it's Jesus' birthday. :) AND if that wasn't cool enough - she'll also tell you that the reason we give gifts to each other is because we love each other - and the wisemen brought presents to Jesus because they loved him. So - she gets it.

BUT - I also believe just as strongly in that 1-2 hour materialistic free for all of joy and enthusiasm. When my kids get to see that YES Santa came, and that they have lots of cool stuff to play with. There is something to be said from seeing this day through the eyes of children.. and mine are the coolest. :) Every five seconds we heard "oh wow, Santa must really love me" :)

Yes, indeed, Santa really does.