What A Life!

Not really, just bidness as usual. Yesterday was my "day" to sleep in, that's how my hubs and I work it at home so that the same person isn't waking up at some god awful hour with the kids. Although it always seems that he is the one to have to get up when the kids decide, "ya know, I think 6am is a perfectly acceptable time to wake up on a Sunday morning!" Muwahhhhahahaha I say as I roll back over and stay in bed till 10. Mind you, the kids got up at 8:30 on my watch and I managed to bathe the baby then put him down for a nap, do the dishes and clean the house, all before hubs woke up. Not too shabby. But, poor Matt had a banner day yesterday. He was basically up by 5:30, officially with both kids at 7am. In that time, Cohen threw up twice, had a bath a short name and was generally boogery and crabby. Stella was demanding as usual and my restful sleep to be was constantly interrupted by bellows from below. When Matt doesn't get enough sleep, WATCH OUT! Then I got up, showered and was ready for the day, he was off to take his mother to Canada to buy her some things. As soon as he got back he was going to do laundry only to realize that my using the disposal after I hit the grocery store with both kids in tow then came home and cleaned out the fridge, put baby down for a nap, started our dinner of corned beef and cabbage and finally ate my lunch at 3pm, that my running the disposal had backed up in the wash tub in the basement. In a word, he was disgusted. Seething underneath, but swearing to me it was not my fault, YEAH RIGHT! After a few hours of trying to bail out and plunge, he went back to his moms to get her drain snake. It didn't work. Luckily he has a friend who is a plumber, but as you can see he is a man and refuses to admit defeat and waited until 8pm to call him. Needless to say, his friend was over tonight for a couple hours and cleaned out the drain like a champ, he is my new hero and the poor guy wouldn't take a dime from us.

Phew. I'm tired just from typing it and I was the one who lived it.

Today was spent trying to figure out ways to make extra buckage, not doing so well yet, but I'll keep trying. I'm so over with this struggling thing, but then I remind myself that I'm only 32 and my time is coming. Right?

A Blog is A Blog of Course, of Course...

And no one is talking to my blog it seems. That's why I haven't been posting. Although I am guilty of the same behavior, so slap my hand. Things are still busy around here and while I'd like to think I'm getting used to the schedule, I think I still have a while before I learn to wake up early like a grown up should. I struggle with it because I stay up way too late and then find it hard to get up when I need to. Stella isn't late, but I on the other hand always am. You wouldn't know that I was raised by a man that thinks you are late to work if you only show up 5 minutes early. :)

Creatively, things are flowing like never before. It's amazing to me how a few years of bad jobs can really throw off your game, and while working where I do is NOT ideal, it does free me up to take on other ventures. My Vegas client even said that by the second or third quarter of next year, he's hoping to offer me a full time job working remotely to Vegas from Michigan. Again, not my ideal job, but it would definitely make life around here a bit easier to stomach. I also have a new company I am working with and things are going well there too. I do have one client that it won't surprise me if he lets me go, but if I'm to be honest, it wouldn't hurt my feelings. I may be able to create something from nothing, but I'm no psychic. I can't hear what you don't say and I don't read minds. He is the nicest man, but asks me to do things like I know what he's asking for. For example, what if someone came to you and said we want to do a Coke ad??????? OK? What do you want it to say? What is the important info? Do you have text? So incredibly frustrating. :( And then, he'll criticize (nicely) what the outcome is, my fragile ego can't take that sometimes. I'm sensitive. 

Halloween is starting to creep it's way into our home and we've even started buying items to make costumes. Stella wants to be a bumble bee and Cohen will be an ice cream "Cohen," french vanilla of course. I have a few projects in mind for the holiday so if I get to them, I'll take some pics. Enjoy your day, I know I will because I'm working from home today!! Yeah for little white lies. ;)

I'm Not Gone.

Just in case you were wondering, not abandoning this blog for the new blog, just adding a new one. I wanted a place to track my progression because I think it's going to be a worthwhile journey to document. Things have been pretty normal on the home front with a BBQ with my in-laws on the 4th. They came over, weird as they are, I know they mean well. Matt's sister just doesn't really understand that I think she stresses Stella out. It's like when they are over here, Stella is supposed to stop being 5 years old and wanting to play with her friends and only hang out with family. She just got to the point on the 4th where she ran in the house crying and I had to follow her in and let her know that we are the bosses around here, not Aunt Sarah. Sarah even got all riled up when I invited my friend Julie, who's on bed rest and having her baby on July 21st, and her husband over to watch our fireworks. And, she got bent out of shaped when the little kids in the neighborhood came over with there chairs to hang out too. Eventually she loosened up and went with the flow, but every time they come over we have to start over. It's stressful for me too. Oh well, it's my cross to bare. Cohen is rolling over all the time now and stands pretty well when you hold him up. It's only a matter of time before he's crawling and pulling himself up. 

Lately I've really been itching to scrapbook. So, I ordered some prints from as many places as I could find that offered a bunch of free and cheap prices. I have so far ordered from 4 different places for a total of about 500 pictures and only spent $45. I sorted through all my patterned papers to find ones to give Julie and then I'm going to pick up a boy album for her. Since she's on bed rest she's been wanting to get ready to scrapbook the photos of her baby to be. We talked lastnight and I offered to get her an album and the next thing I know they're offering us a television. After Cohen was born our hand me down tv died and all we had was a small 12" one. Well, this is beyond generous at 27" and instead of being a standard screen, it's flat. We have been blessed in so many small ways this year, maybe instead of lamenting the bad things, I need to stitch together all the wonderful little things.

Big Bash Tomorrow!

Tomorrow is Stella 5th birthday party. She officially turned 5 on the 9th, but since she was in preschool this year, figured it might be fun to invite her little friends from school to swim and have a little cake. Speaking of swimming, what's with this weather? Is the May or June? I have no idea if it will even be warm enough to swim tomorrow, bummer. And, geez, what's with people not RSVPing? So far I've had one no and 2 yes. Hmmmm, what to think about the other 13 children that were invited, SCARY! We also have friends and family coming, so all is not lost. Stella won't care as long as someone comes. :)

Took her to the doctor today and she is just big, in all manners of speaking. The doctor says her weight is ok, and that as long as she stays the same by next year she'll fall right in line with her height. She is 95th percentile for her height and the doc said the size of a 6 or 7 year old, this I figured. And so, people will expect more of her based on how she looks or think she is not very smart. And, she may need glasses, poor kid. :( Apparently Matt got glasses in kindergarten and I think both of my brothers did as well.

It was funny tonight we went to Plato's Place for dinner and the waitress suddenly said, "oh my god, he looks just like that baby from The Incredibles," pointing at Cohen. This made me laugh out loud as I have said this to Matt and Stella on more than one occasion.

OMG, I fed, or rather, tried to feed him peaches tonight and he would have none of it. I was telling the doctor about his #2 issues and she suggested starting peaches, even before veggies. In a word, HATE, and that isn't too strong a word either. Even 15 seconds after having tasted, his little body would shiver in disgust. I tried mixing it with cereal too and UCK, hell no. He even refused the bottle, choosing instead to get to bed. Such a sweetie!

Well, I should get to chilling out as all the housework is done, food buying is complete aside from Cake and ice. I need my rest, because if it rains, I need not be stressed if I am tons of people in my itty bitty house.

AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!

Not Ignoring...Swearsies!

Been keepin' busy trying to make extra money. I was offered a position for our downtown development authority but decided that I wasn't quite ready to sell my soul just yet for nothin'. I have been here a lot in the last week. They have these really cool design contests and while I haven't won anything yet, I have come very close. :) Not to mention I feel like I'm really amping up my portfolio and getting some really good feedback. Stella and Cohen are growing like weeds. Stella will be 5 June 9th and Cohen will be 4 months on Sunday. OMG, it feels like just yesterday that I pushed that kid out at the speed of light! But, I just got the bug to have another, someone please take my temperature, I must have a fever causing delusions. Matt is about to enter finals week, yeah. But, he won't be officially done until next semester, a couple more classes he wants to take, but he'll be looking for a job shortly I'll have you know. GMAC modified our mortgage, it's pretty good too, my only complaint is that it is still an adjustable rate, but it won't adjust until 2014! That's it for now, I will be back, never fear, you know I love you.

Keeping Your Head Above Water.

I'm trying not to get bogged down in the everyday. It's hard though right when you watch the news and you hear them say how bad things are. "Alright, we get it already, times are tough," except for probably the folks who are actually reporting the news. Ironic huh? Maybe if the news reporters started only reporting on positive news stories and then only running a ticker at the bottom of the television to post the bad junk, then maybe people's vision of the world would improve. Maybe? Optimistic? I'm tryin'.

Friday we have our final home visit from Stella's preschool teacher. I know everyone grows up, but I'll really be sad when Mrs. Dunwell is not her teacher anymore. I too know that she will have other amazing teachers, but Stella has grown up so much in the last 8 months or so and I credit some of that to her saintly teacher. So, she will sit with us for 20 minutes or so and tell us how she has progressed according to her records. What that won't tell me, I can see with my own eyes, my baby has grown. Looking at her class picture that arrived about 5 weeks ago, I saw the face of a baby. Rounded and scared, school was very new to her. Now, probably a few inches taller and a longer leaner face, she is growing into a beautiful young lady, I am lucky. 

In my vein to be more creative again, I would like to make her teachers day planners. Using of course my stash of scrapbooking supplies. Since I am moving to digital scrapbooking (more on that later) I don't need as much "stuff." As I design, I will show pictures. I think I'm going to created the actual day planner info digitally and then print on blank paper. We'll see.

Work is good. It's a typical office, you have the worrier, the bitch, the nice guy boss, and various other characters. I believe that I am currently the "alli." My direct superior is almost continually complaining about her equal and referring to her as either foul or as an expletive that I will leave out here but it starts with an "a" and ends with a "hole." It doesn't make for a hostile environment, but it does feel like it's own little powder keg and you never know who has the match. What I'm frustrated with is the fact that I make a subpar wage at a College where they educate folks to get jobs just like the one I have. You'd think at least that they would consult the professors about what is an appropriate wage to pay a person of my expertise and vast experience. But, really the blame is all on me, I'm the poor shlub who had to take the job right? Today though, maybe the tides will turn. I have applied to a company that I am more than qualified to fill their position and it requires Department of Defense clearance. x) Kinda cool. I'm wondering if it would help me if I were to get an interview to inform them that my cousin was just appointed as a secret service agent. Hmmm....something to mull over I'd think.

Wish me luck to get an interview.

Past 10 Days In Review.

A. Stella is sick.

B. We're waiting for Cohen to get it.

C. Dealing with a difficult woman at the new job.

D. Cohen slept 8 hours straight one day last week.

E. GMAC is working with us at the moment to the tune of saving $400.

F. Scored a new client from Vegas.

G. Starting to say what I mean and sticking to it.

H. Tired of struggle.

I. Want what I deserve.

J. Proud of my portfolio.

K. Can't wait to show off my new business cards I designed. (*Later)

L. Hoping Matt finds an amazing job when he's done with school in May.

M. So happy to call Barack Obama my president!

N. Trying to get enough sleep these days.

O. Guess that's about it. 

Can I Use Your Toilet?

What a difference a week makes right? 

A new job that I love. GMAC has approved us for a partial loan modification, hopefully in the end, an entire modification. So far, $50 less per month. Funny how in these times negotiating your mortgage is like getting an interest rate lowered on a credit card. They lowered the rate by 2% on the one so far. 

There was promise for Matt with a job interview on the horizon, but he received an email from the employer asking when he could meet but was informed that it would only be part time. That's just crap. People are so afraid to hire someone full time, it's insane, how do companies think people can live on part time money? Then, Matt is supposed to call in for his unemployment on Wednesday's 

at 1pm, well he forgot. So he couldn't call until the next morning. I paid the insurance bill and of course, what happens, the unemployment check DOES NOT go in the bank this morning. So, we had to put a stop on the check. Then, my check doesn't go in the bank because I'm not "in the system" yet. WTF? Then, I get home from work and what should I find? Water filling up the street in front of 

my house. A WATER MAIN BREAK!!! And, now they have cut down our tree and still digging in the front yard and no one is allowed to poopie.

 Thank God Stella is spending the night at grandma and grandpa's. But, I'm still feeling positive. Things are looking up and I can see that, plus, with this little face smiling at me when I least expect it, I can't help but be comforted, right?

Happy Valentines Day!

Hope everyone has a romantic day! <3

He Smiled. It's All I Need Right Now.

It's An Obama Nation!

I will refrain from pontificating about what this day means as we are already aware of the magnitude and gravity of todays events. I will just say that I am a sensitive person and last week I even cried during an animated Disney movie, "Meet the Robinson's." In my defense it's about a little boy who is an orphan and when given the chance to go back in time to meet the mother who gave him up, instead chooses not to because his mother was really the woman who ran the orphanage. Come on your heartless if that is not touching and it made me think of Cohen, how people can give up their little babies I'll never understand. Anyway, while listening to the radio this morning they were talking about Martin Luther King Jr. and as the woman got choked up, so did I so I had to change the radio station. Then, as I was feeding little Coey, I caught Obama's actual speech and that got me quite a bit teary, I had to leave the room. It's not that I didn't want to cry so to speak, it's just that I feel silly. Am I weird as a white woman to feel positive emotions about such an impactful day? Would someone think it was not right for me to get these feelings because how could I truly understand what today means? I'm not sure, but what I do know is that for now I feel safe, at ease and happy. Something I have not felt, well, almost never about my country. 

And, for your viewing pleasure, Cohen in his new hat. And, anyone that knows Matt and his infamous hat, will truly appreciate this one. 

A Glimpse Into My Past.

Over the last week or so I have been color correcting some of my moms old photos of my brothers and myself when I stumbled upon this little gem.

Me in my circa 1977 stroller complete with all the dangerous crap manufacturers compiled into one contraption. Note first the metal bar within close proximity to my itty bitty mouth fully capable of bashing the teeth out of my head. Not to mention all the fun little pinch points for little fingers to fit in between. In addition, this thing looks like it could topple forward if I were to lean too far over. Great job moms of the seventies, how did we survive with these dangerous "baby items" and sleeping on our stomachs?

Curious Cohen, The Curious Little Monkey...

Matt was holding Cohen last night feeding him and when I saw how he looked, I did not hesitate and took his picture.

Doesn't he look just like one of those baby monkeys?

I Been Slackin'!

But, who could blame me when you have this face to stare at each and every moment. I've also gotten a little work thrown my way, and I can use anything at all at the moment. Be sure to check in tomorrow. I am hoping to have a cool download because I will be featured on Design for Mankind as part of a Friday Round Up. Not sure exactly what will be said, but I'm hoping it creates a little traffic to my blog and maybe some interest in my work as an illustrator. So, I'm hoping to be a busy little beaver, as long as the little guy participates.

Whoop Dee Doo, Here's Number 2!

As promised, here is the next download. So far, so good. It's a 12x12 digital scrapbooking paper in which I expanded upon the previous wood grain bird theme. Please enjoy. Now, you can strictly use this digitally or if you have a large format printer, this should print out quite nicely there too. Of course, your paper won't include pictures of me! You can find the download here. 

In baby land, we are doing fine. He's still sleeping most of the time, so I'm able to go about most of my daily business. He does occasionally freak me out with strange noises he makes and he even made sounds like he was laughing today, twice. Now, I know that newborns don't laugh, but it did seem to sound that way. Welp, I'm tired it's 1am and my shift is over, I took the first shift and Matt is taking the second. Ahhh, here's to sleeping in a little tomorrow. 

Welcome: Cohen Sullivan

Yes, that is him and his prison number. I thought it was funny that when they discharged us, it was not by his name, but his number D5697. Hence the old time style prison photo and number. Let's see, I went in the day after Christmas at 8am. Instead of inducing me, they said I was already in active labor and so they weren't going ahead with the petocin. I was already at 4cm and progressing nicely. After a couple hours, they gave me a shot of Nubane to deal with the contractions and I was doing fine. That wore off and the contractions sort of stopped. They gave me a whiff of Petocin and the races were off. By noon, I was having heavy duty contractions with about 30 seconds in between them. I said I wanted the epidural. The guy came in all tattooed and buff acting bragging about how good he was at administering said epidural and began the process. The contractions were getting worse and worse and by now I was crying. After probably about 15 attempts, he was going to get someone to help him, something about the pockets between my vertibrae being small. Anyway, the nurse asked me if I didn't want Demerol instead and I said YES, don't let him get somebody else. He came in and looked all apologetic and let down and I was in so much pain I just said, "don't worry about it, I don't care." At that point I went from 8cm to 10cm in probably under a minute and KNEW that I was about to push. They came in and after I think 4 pushes, hard ones, he was out, by 2:33pm. He weighed 7lbs 11oz and was 20.25 inches. A wonderful little boy and we are so thrilled he's ours.

Here's a funny story though, on Christmas night Stella was spending the night at grandma's so that we could just go easily to the hospital the next day. I said, "what time to you want me to call you tomorrow?" She said, "2 o'clock, no 2:30." Wow is all I can say, I think she is slightly intuitive. 

Any way, I am tired, sitting here typing as Cohen is laying in his bassinet. And I'm thinking about heading to bed. Thanks for reading.