Good Bye 2007.....

Can't WAIT to see what 2008 brings!! :)

Free For All Friday

It's time for Free-For-All Friday!
If you want to ask me a question -- and anything goes -- here's your chance. You can ask about whatever you wish, no holds barred. I'll either answer honestly, or I'll tell you that I won't answer.

Answers for Friday

Sketchy said...
What was the best gift you received this year and what was the best gift you gave?

(And sorry if answering this question gets you in trouble from anyone who's gift you didn't choose as best.)

(And no answers like "the love of my Savior" or something like that, we know that comes first. I'm talking tangible, hold it in your hands kind of gift.)

Sketchy:

My absolute favorite gift I GOT this year was a jeans rag quilt that my mom made. She made one for EVERY one of her kids, and I live under my quilt when I'm downstairs!!

A few months ago she was making some of the quilts and I looked at her and said, "If all I got for Christmas was one of these quilts, I'd be happy..." Then she gave me THE look. She then told me that the quilts WERE for Christmas, so I shut-up. But you know, I think I was the MOST shocked when we opened them....just because my brain INSTANTLY forgot about them!!

The best gift I GAVE would have to be my "sneaky" gift. I drew my younger, rebellious brother's name for Christmas, and I had NO idea WHAT to get for him. So after thinking about it, I decided to make him a tile picture of the Savior. I don't know WHAT he'll think about it (he never came up for Christmas, and his gifts are waiting at my parents' house, because he didn't let us know he wasn't coming until Christmas Eve afternoon....) but I'm sure he'll THINK about it when he gets it!

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CareBearMommy said...
Another Christmas gift-related question... what did Santa bring for everyone this year?

And what is/was your favorite holiday treat? (I should know this one by now, but I don't).

Carrie:

Santa brought Cameron a skateboard and helmet (WITH the elbow and knee pads), in his stocking he got an orange, a coloring book, twisty crayons, matchbox cars, a tie, and a CTR ring. For Steve, Santa brought a bag of York peppermint patties. For me, Santa brought a box of chocolate covered cherry sticks and the directions for Cam's skateboarding stuff.

My favorite holiday treat of ALL time is my Grandma's fruitcake, but since she doesn't make it any more...I love fudge, or chocolate covered orange/cherry sticks. Either way, GIVE ME CHOCOLATE!!

Christmas Plans

We'll be spending Christmas Eve with my family for the first time in MANY years. I'm really excited about that.

Then we'll spend Christmas morning with my parents and siblings, then the remainder of Christmas day will be spent with my in-laws. I'm very excited about all this fun family time.

I apologize for the lack of communication from me, but I do love you all and feel blessed to have so many friends who truly care about my little world!!

Merry Christmas to ALL!! From me, little ol' Dawnyel!! ;)

HOLY COW!!!

Christmas Eve is ONE week away, and I don't even feel prepared!! (Although, all of my Christmas shopping IS done....) Where did the time go??

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And as an emotional moment from me....

Tonight I was checking on my Scentsy and reading some other stuff online, when I heard our doorbell ring. I was a little shocked since it was SO late, but I figured it was one of our neighbors. Anyway, I heard Steve open the door and then he INSTANTLY called for me. I came waddling (yes, I waddle now....ligament pains...blah...) anyway, I asked him what it was. He told me to just come down. As I came to the bottom of the stairs I saw our front porch covered with packages.

An easy way to make a pregnant woman cry!! THANKS to my anonymous giver!!

Brain-Dead, but It STILL is Friday

It's time for Free-For-All Friday!

If you want to ask me a question -- and anything goes -- here's your chance. You can ask about whatever you wish, no holds barred. I'll either answer honestly, or I'll tell you that I won't answer.

And please excuse me if I seem brain-dead....my pregnancy, medications, and my new job are all getting to me....but I'm STILL happy!!

Answers

Thoroughly Mormon Millie said...
Is Matt Damon yummy or what? :)

Millie: DEFINITELY!! (But don't tell Steve I said so!) ;)

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Elena said...
I know it's not my FFAF, but I do have to agree, Matt Damon IS yummy! :) So sorry I missed your party; I DO owe you. I really do want some. Things have been absolutely NUTS around here. I don't know when I'll be able to get over there to make an order. When are you doing it again? And did you have a decent turn out?

Elena:

Ready to play the smallest violin in the world??

I had ONE person show up to my launch party. I was bummed!! I had cleaned my house ALL day long and had TONS of goodies, and only one woman showed up. She's one of those talkers who talked my ear off the WHOLE night. She really wanted to come so she could see my mom, but SHE didn't come. Yeah, I was SO upset, but then I thought about it and it was in the middle of the week, short notice, and just BAD timing.

Thankfully, I've got tons of orders, and it's okay!! I just need parties....anyone wanna book one!? ;)

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One Scrappy Gal said...
Yay! Scentsy! I need some crap!

What made you decide to tackle on another job on top of being a mother, babysitter, and gestating?

Also...what's your most traumatic christmas experience ever? For my daughter, it's the Elf on the Shelf.

Scrappy:

If you want some Scentsy, email me....seriously, I'll hook you up!! (If you order from me by tonight, you could have it by Christmas!!)

I decided to sell Scentsy because I absolutely LOVE the product. It's something that just sells itself, and it's relatively new. So my usual Scentsy-lady, convinced me that if I signed up NOW, before January, that she'd benefit, and I'd get some pretty good deals as well, so I couldn't pass it up! But really, Scentsy is as busy as I let it get, so I'm not TOO worried about it at this point. The only thing that nearly stopped me from going forward with it was my extreme sense of smell. Can you imagine me at a party, YARFING in the corner because I'm overwhelmed by smell?? *giggle*

Traumatic Christmas?? That's one that I can't really think of an answer to. I was always HAPPY at Christmas, and not very many things (Santa, Elves, flashing lights....) freaked me out. But I'm curious about this Elf on the Shelf....

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Elena said...
K, I want the Treasure chest one. Is that one back ordered?

Elena: That's FINE!! (Ordered for you!!) :)

Another Doctor Appointment Down....Many More to Go

On Monday we (meaning me, Steve AND Cameron) went for my monthly check-up. We didn't wait too long when the nurse called us back. I was weighed (with shoes on, and STILL managed to lose weight...) and were ushered back to the room. Either they really like doing ultrasounds on big girls like me, or that was the only room available, but we were jammed into the teeny ultrasound room where Cam instantly found annoying, noisy toys.

The nurse took my blood pressure, which after being stuffed into that tiny room really wasn't the best. She then sent me to the little girl's room for a urine sample (the most fun part of ANY doctor's appointment, right? *eye rolling*) Anyway, once I came back to the room I read Cam the little board books that were there, and he loved it. Then Dr. H came in. She asked me how I was doing, and I told her about my little sleep problem (it's constant....even when I SHOULD be babysitting, cleaning or something else, all my body wants to do is sleep...) and she said it was normal with these meds and to get used to it. Then she added that I should probably be taking 3 pills a day instead of just 2....GREAT!! Just add to my sleepiness....*sigh*

Then she had me lie down and we did YET another ultrasound. This time it actually LOOKED like a baby. I could see it's little arms and legs, and I could even make out it's teeny face. She was pressing so hard on my tummy that the peanut JUMPED, or at least, that's what it looked like. Cam was so fascinated with it, and after she printed off the pictures and Cameron took them around, showing off "his" baby!

All in all, everything looks good, and I'm so relieved!! Only 2 more months until we can find out whether little peanut is a boy or a girl. :)

I'm an AUNTIE!!!

Baby Jayden Luis was born at 8:17 pm, weighing in at 5 pounds 15 ounces. He was 18 1/4 inches long. Mommy and baby are doing well!!

The new aunt and uncle are THRILLED, as well as the new cousin!!

Free For All Friday

It's time for Free-For-All Friday!
If you want to ask me a question -- and anything goes -- here's your chance. You can ask about whatever you wish, no holds barred. I'll either answer honestly, or I'll tell you that I won't answer.

Answers

Elena said...
Man, I feel like I haven't done one of these forever! First up, what play and what part for Steve? Second, What is one of your favorite Christmas recipes or treats?

Elena:

(I know about NOT doing this for a while, I took the last 2 weeks off....slacker, me!)

DON'T ask me about Steve's play!! (Because I don't know the details!) ;) All I know is that he's the butler in a murder mystery. The rest....???? (And to be honest, I don't care! Yes, I know that sounds bitter, but I am still a bit bitter over the whole thing....)

One of my ALL time favorite Christmas treats is my Grandma F's fruit cake. But I haven't had it for EONS!! She's gotten older, and she's so fragile that she can't make it anymore, and that makes me sad.

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Kim said...
What is your favorite Christmas movie of all time? What is your Christmas Eve tradition?

Kim:

My all-time FAVORITE Christmas movie is "It's a Wonderful Life." I get weepy just THINKING about that movie. My mom and I try to get together before Christmas and watch it together (since both our husbands don't like that movie...)

On Christmas Eve we visit grandparents, eat and laugh with cousins, drive around town seeing the extreme Christmas light displays, and then we come home, make sugar cookies, set out a plate for Santa, (eat a few too), and open our Christmas jammies. :)

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One Scrappy Gal said...
Any bizarre cravings yet?

Also... what's the world's fascinations with dipheads like Paris Hilton and Britney Spears? I'm tired of seeing them everywhere!

Scrappy:

No "bizarre" cravings, but I do crave things like chicken, cheese, eggnog (thank goodness it's in season!), or chili cheese fries. I do get my cravings at odd times though. Like the other night Steve and I were having a quiet evening just watching tv, and I suddenly looked at him and said, "Hawaiian PIZZA!!" *drool drool!*

I think people have SUCH a fascination with "dipheads" (*hee hee*) because they like looking at someone else fail miserably at their life, so that they don't have to think about the stuff going on in their OWN lives. For them, reading about idiots is a way to say, "Hey, my life's NOT so bad, look at how crappy those rich snobby girls' lives are!"

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Anonymous said...
I have a question for ya! Christmas cards. If i send them to people and do not get one back in return.( This has been going on for over 4 or 5 years) Can i take them off my list for next year. After all have way to many to send and it would be nice to save the money and put towards a gift for someone.Also what Christmas music do you like to play?

Rach

Rach:

Personally, I'm not usually one to send out Christmas cards. I grew up with the notion, that making them out, mailing them, blah, blah, blah.....was a waste of time. So I rarely send them out. (This year, I'm actually doing it though, and I feel pretty proud of myself!)
Anyway, every year we look forward to the cards we DO get in the mail from others. And I know that some of them are thinking, "Sheesh, that Dawnyel-Steve family!! We NEVER hear from them!!" But we can generally count on getting cards anyway.

So what all my rambling is leading to is this: Keep sending your cards, because you'll never know who truly counts on them! :)

Tidbits

• Steve just got the lead in a play. (Which I could have SWORN he told me he wasn't going to be doing again...) And he owes me BIG TIME!! The play is in a dinner theater and it will play in February....we believe.
• Cameron isn't immune to potty training stuff. Sunday, during choir practice....RIGHT before church (10 minutes or so) he came up to me and said, "Mama, I pooped." UGH!! I had to grab him and drag the kid home to change him. IT was NOT fun!! He even needed a quickie bath before returning!! ICK!
• Thanks to Cam's "adventure" on Sunday, we had a little learning experience on the Sacrament....since we were late enough to miss it.
• I'm now a saleswoman. I'm really excited for this new opportunity!! I've been saying I was going to do this for about 6 months now, and it's official!! YAY!!
• The doctor has prescribed me blood pressure medicine with some side-effects. On the label it says: "May Cause Dizziness or Drowsiness." Uh.....I think I have the drowsiness one DOWN!! (I've been sleeping 5 hours straight, DURING the day!!)
• I've also been waking up WAY early because when Steve leaves, I'm uncomfortable. Yesterday, I worried about financial things, then today I realized that Scouts is tomorrow, and I didn't have my things put together!! Thankfully, all is well in that department.
• Finally, I'm a slacker when it comes to reading other people's blogs. Holy smokes. I really apologize!! I do love reading them, but I'm just.....never mind....I was going to TRY to excuse myself, but I realized, it's NOT worth it!! :P

Baby Shower

Saturday was ONE crazy day. It actually started the night before the shower. Steve's brother (hereafter known as "bil") called to tell us that he and his girlfriend (hereafter known as "C") were in the hospital. Apparently, she'd done a Non-Stress-Test and the doctor, trying to be helpful, came in before the test started and told them all of the "worst-case-scenarios." Uh, there's a time and a place for THOSE kinds of worries, right before a machine measures your blood pressure is NOT one of those times. During the course of the NST, C's blood pressure SOARED to 162/101!! They immediately admitted her and scared both her and bil to DEATH!! The doctor was talking to them about inductions and all of the scary parts of having a baby. Thankfully, the next day they decided that she could go home for the shower, IF she relaxed.

That morning we drove to see what we could do to help. But before we left, we packed our van with as much stuff as we could stick inside (cooler, baby swing, Christmas tree, Christmas gifts, baby shower gift, game props...)

After arriving at bil's and C's apartment, we brought up the Christmas tree we had promised them. They were um....indisposed. Bil came to the front door wearing JUST a towel. (I really wanted to cover my eyes, but he left quickly enough, I didn't see much....except for the fact that this image WON'T leave my MIND!! BLAST IT ALL!!!) So Cam, Steve and I sat in their living room doing NOTHING for about a half hour.

Finally they came out of their bathroom, and I asked them where they had planned on sticking the tree. We decided on a place, and since I was BORED out of my mind, I put up their tree. Half-way through, bil decided it was time to go to the store and get the food for the shower.

We spent FOREVER at the local Walmart!! HONESTLY, I was getting sore and very whiny. So I took Cam (who was ALSO whiny) to the van, after paying for our small purchases. I thought that bil would pay for THEIR purchases and be out very quickly. Not so....

After 10 minutes they came out, more frustrated and annoyed. Mostly they were annoyed with C's sisters. (Who showed up at Wally's World, and immediately began bickering and fighting, NOT at ALL helping C's situation!) We packed everything up and went back to the apartment where we set off to set up the complex's club house for the party. The men went and rearranged the couches and tables, while I was STUCK in bil's apartment putting together a meat/cheese tray and a veggie tray. I did this willingly, really, I did. But bil came back FURIOUS. C's sisters brought their bickering attitude WITH them to the party, and were driving C crazy!! He had told them that the LAST thing that C needed was to be put back into the hospital, and that they should behave themselves. Thankfully, THAT chat stopped them, but he was NOT happy, and he brought his complaints to the family's resident venting board---ME!

It was about 20 minutes until the party started and Steve and bil had to pick up their parents. I shooed them off, and told them to hurry, because we were going to start soon, and they needed to be there. Almost an hour later, they showed up. (After I had hauled stuff to the club house and endured C's sister's foul language!! I also had to put up with the question, "Where's the host?" UGH!) As I mentioned earlier, bil had put me in charge of games. I would have gladly started the games before bil and Steve got there, but I, STUPIDLY, left the game stuff in our van, which was being used to haul ils to the party!! So a half-hour late, we started, and I think it turned out very well. Bil and C ended up with some really cute clothes, and TONS of newborn diapers (which I suggested that they return for bigger sizes....) and lots of memories. (I won't say fun, because I'm not so sure they HAD fun with all the stress...)

The one game that went over well was a bottle game where the people playing had to race each other in drinking a full baby bottle's worth of juice. My live-in vacuum, Steve, won!! And he even managed to rip a hole in the nipple. (I never said they couldn't....) We also played poopy-diapers (melted candy bars inside of diapers) and baby gift bingo.

I can happily say, I will TRY not to do this again, very soon!! I'm still worn out!! (Either that, or my new meds are making me that way....who knows....)

Oh, and just for your information, C went back to the hospital that night for another NST, and all was well!! (At least, until the doctor walked in, while the machine was measuring her bp....it soared again, but this doctor didn't count it. Thank goodness! Their baby is still in his mother's womb...where he BELONGS at 35 weeks!)

And if you REALLY wanna see my poky belly, here's a picture to satisfy you!! ;)