posted by EmpressSassy on Jan 6
One whole night without fever! Can I get a Whoo Hoo? Yep, we made it from 7 PM until this morning without fever so the medicine they gave us worked!
I still didn’t sleep too well, as I kept checking him a lot, but that’s OK, he slept without fever and that’s all that matters. We might just get to start our New Year soon!
We are on our way to recovery!
posted by EmpressSassy on Jan 4
Only a mother will truly understand this entry, or perhaps a father that completely takes care of a sick child (I currently have only met maybe one or two of those in my life, by the way!).
A child with a fever is a life stopping event. Yes, it sounds tragic, but it’s true isn’t it? If you have a child with a cold, allergies or the basic “thing” you can deal with it and you can pretty much keep your daily life in tact, but a fever, well that just changes everything. Why you non-child having people might ask? Well it’s simple - a fever means that there is infection and if you don’t know what it is and if the Dr. office is already closed for the day you are trapped. Then you must treat the fever every 4 hours switching between Motrin and Tylenol and the party begins.
During the peak of the fever the child will do any of the following: throw up, cry, become lifeless to the point of you panicking, act as if he/she is from another planet talking and carrying on in “fever language” or a mixture of all of the above! Now then, you administer the medicine (some children take it calmly while some have to be held down like the Exorcist!) and then as the fever medicine begins to seep through their body they begin to become somewhat normal again, but here is the kicker; you are looking at 3-4 hours of normalcy before the craziness starts up all over again and if you find the the infection is virile this is the only treatment you will do until this illness passes.
I know this, as we have had a virile infection since New Year’s Eve. No treatment is available except fever medicine and you must wait for the infection to leave the body. This leaves you and the child sleepless, and wondering is this will EVER pass. A child with a fever literally stops your life. I looked at the calendar today and couldn’t believe it was 1/4/09 already. How could we have already jumped so far into the new year? Life has passed us by so quickly because of this sickness. It blew me away.
Mother’s do a lot for a child and sometimes I wonder if we really give them the credit they deserve! No, I’m not writing this to get the “atta girl”, as most that read this are mothers! I guess I’m writing it to say to them - I know its hard being a mom, working 8 hours, taking care of a house, cooking, cleaning, laundry, getting people where they need to go and then you throw in a sick child and things just go a little crazy. You wonder the next day, “How did I get through that day with 3 hours sleep?” ha ha. I am TRULY BLESSED, as I have a mom and a family that help out so much. They are there for me and that means the world to me. I depend on them and for that I am thankful.
We are better today, finally and we did go the Immediate Care Center early this morning as after 4 days with 103 fever, we were finally scared to death. As we thought - virile so we are waiting it out! Another night and hopefully we can start our New Year out the right way!
posted by EmpressSassy on Dec 31
As some of you have noticed and commented my blogging has slowed down during the day and that is because we are very busy at work AND because I have a real job again! For those of you that know me, you know that I have had some struggles in the past, but buck up my lovely friends I do believe those days are behind us. I didn’t want to be bored at work and it certainly wasn’t my choice. I could only beg for work for so long without giving up right? After that what else can you do?
I truly like my job, I’m not saying that to suck up, give me a break, it wouldn’t do me any good where I work anyway! My company pays you a paycheck to come to work and do your job and they expect you to do just that, and I get it AND I agree. OK, that being said, I like what I do and I do like the people that I work with (OK, yes we all have a few we don’t like, get real). However, when you are not allowed to be who you are, or use your talents it tends to make you feel useless and I had felt that way for a very long time.
Lately thanks to some great people who believe in me I am able to be the person I am and hopefully let others be who they have needed to be for a long time too. Today for example I was actually given responsibility all on my own, I know to most of you that have real jobs that sounds so lame, but to me it was a milestone. It was HUGE. I was grateful to be given the opportunity!
It’s never easy when you downsize because it means more work for less people, but when you have talented people who want to work AND have talents that they haven’t been able to use - well guess what, that work won’t be so bad. Yep, we are going to roll into 2009 kicking some tax, 403b, customer service butt and I’m proud to say we won’t be stopped by anything! OUR TEAM ROCKS!
posted by EmpressSassy on Dec 30
Are you making plans? Do you already have plans? Do you just ring in the New Year at home? Regardless it’s time to ring in the New Year and get ready to forge ahead to 2009.
I hope everyone is ready and has their plans complete. We have some of our plans worked out, but not all of them of course. We have to work until around 4PM so that makes it a little bit of a rush but that’s OK. It is what it is right?
Still plenty of time to get home and get ready to bring in the New Year with the ones you love. Are you thinking about resolutions for the New Year? Don’t believe in them? Mine are a little different this year actually, a little deeper and serious this year and not the general ones that I usually make. I think I have some things I want to really try to accomplish this year so I thought I’d start off fresh!
Well good luck to everyone and I hope you get your plans lined out! It’s almost time to start all over again with a clean slate! ha ha. Some of us need it right?
posted by EmpressSassy on Dec 29
Well at least I didn’t ring in the New Year with it! I had the misfortune of getting this stomach virus that is going around. I got it yesterday morning and it hit me like a Mack Truck. I woke up around 5:00 AM and thought for a second, “Gee I don’t feel so well.” Within seconds I was totally sick. I went to the Immediate Care Center with my mom and they had to give me a shot so I could stop getting sick (which the shot actually made me throw up so that was worse!).
I went home and slept the entire day away in a drug induced coma so that was OK I guess, but this morning I felt awful. I had to come to work because we are already short staffed due to holidays and bad management decisions so that being said, I’m here and not feeling too great.
If you get this you might as well plan on at least 24 hours and a trip to the Dr. because you can’t stop the sickness yourself, it’s too harsh. Just deal with it and try to get medicine fast!
posted by EmpressSassy on Dec 26
Don’t kids just crack you up? All we have heard for months now is, “I want a yellow bike”, “I’m getting a yellow bike”, we’ve told friends, family members, strangers and even the big man himself. It was a done deal. We’ve been good, Santa was bringing the yellow bike, all was right with the world. I even ask if he wanted ANY, OTHER toys and the answer was always the same, “No thank you, I just want a yellow bike.”
Big morning, big moment, drum roll please……….he walks out, he looks at the bike (very seriously as Noah is always serious), and he says, “please take off the streamers (which we forgot and they were kind of girlie), then he says, “the water bottle needs to go on the side, not the front” (with which we reply, OK we can probably fix that) and then without a moment’s hesitation his eye catches the race track set up in the corner and he screams, “A race track, I really like this race track” and from then on out it was all about the race track. So much for the yellow bike.
He did get on it later for a few moments, but not the reaction you’d think seeing how we had talked about it for MONTHS ON END! He was even more excited about his yellow, rain boots because, as he told us, “He had wanted them for a long time!”.
Kids crack me up! It was a great day and he was an angel until he fell asleep. He loved everything and my living room currently looks like a damaged ToysRUs store! It’s sad! It was a great day and we will need the weekend to recuperate.
PS: The Flippin’ Frog game was fun and Noah did love it. We played and of course, he was the yellow frogs!
posted by EmpressSassy on Dec 24
Merry Christmas to all my family and friends! It’s been a great year and I’m thankful for all the fun we’ve had.
I hope Santa is good to you and I hope you have a special time celebrating with all the ones you love. Also remember that Christmas is above Jesus and what he means to us and however you chose to celebrate your religious beliefs, may you enjoy your celebration to the Lord as well.
Christmas Eve is always full of the magic thoughts and quiet moments waiting for the big day and if you have kids you know it’s that one special night and day where things are just perfect! Don’t forget to lay out the cookies and milk for Santa and if you really want to be fun lay out some veggies for the reindeer!
May all your Christmas wishes come true and have a great holiday!
posted by EmpressSassy on Dec 24
Twas the Night before Christmas
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!
“Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!”
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.
His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!
posted by EmpressSassy on Dec 23
“On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…….19 people that can’t sing a lick!”
Yes, we progressed right along at our dinner this past Sunday and it was quite lovely. We started at my house for mimosa’s and a few beers (again we had designated driver’s for all) and then headed to the Jennifer’s house for appetizers. At my house, however, we drew the infamous numbers to sing The 12 Days of Christmas and the horror began. We only sang the first 3 days at my house and at first we thought we sounded pretty good…….then we got to the 2nd house!
Our next stop was at Deb’s house for Olive Garden salad and my oh my, we just fell apart. I have never heard this song sound so bad in my life . We did however, have a few people step up to the plate. We had a trio fill in for Lee Ann on 5 GOLDEN RINGS and might I just say the ROCKED!
Next it was off to Lee Ann’s house for the main course and some more singing! Our next big singing star was Shaun with 7 SWANS A SWIMMING and he did an excellent job!
The final stop for dessert was at Ninny’s and the ugly ornament contest was a huge success with Cheryl and Ben taking a sweep with first and second! It was an Acorn and I’m not sure how to describe the other one except maybe sci-fi or scary!
Ben and Shaun got the first ever SPIRIT AWARDS and Ben risked his life to save Shaun’s Santa Hat (don’t worry I won’t type the story again, as we have all heard it a million times!) but we do appreciate him laying his life on the line. Yes, we all were given Santa Hats to wear (donated by Lee Ann) and we LOVED them.
A good time was had by all and our little ones (we have 4 now can you believe it) were Angels all day long! If Santa was truly watching they will surely be on the NICE list with no doubts!
Having a Progressive Dinner is a unique way to spend a day with a group of people and it’s fun. We look forward to it every year.
Thanks guys, it was great! See ya next year and for the love of St. Nick, practice the song!
PS: We didn’t get to finish all the way to 12 so we are finalizing on Christmas Day - OH JOY!
posted by EmpressSassy on Dec 23
I love to cook and if I had more personal time in my life (aahh what a funny statement that is huh?) I would cook all the time.
The thing is, as all my friends know, I’m not a big eater. There are those of us that live to eat and then there are those of us that eat to live. I’m in the 2nd category. I just eat to live.
I am preparing to cook for some folks on Christmas Eve and my menu is Ham, potato salad, baked beans, macaroni and cheese, chicken and dumplings along with some fun appetizers! Now of all these things I might eat some macaroni and cheese. I made the potato salad tonight and I LOVE to make it. I think it’s the chopping of all the individual items so precisely and then mixing them so evenly (It’s my OCD side coming out). Jerry always cracks up because I mix it up completely with all the items, salt, mustard and mayo without ever tasting it. I have just watched my mom for years and just know what to put in the bowl.
It always turns out right so that is that! I think it’s just the process that I have down pat. I just really like to cook for people too. I sometimes with I DID have a big family to cook for because I would love to cook big meals on the weekend.
It’s that time of year to fix WAY to much food, have left overs to last over the long weekend and make everyone’s favorite dishes. I hope everyone enjoys their favorites! I’m going to be cooking away this Christmas Eve. I normally don’t get to cook for adults so I’m excited.
