Back to the Doctors

So far I haven't really been liking 2009. We are going back to the doctors again today for Ajax and his ear infection. I believe we are now at $100 just in co-pays and I have chosen to not even keep track of the money for all the medicines.

Last night I spent over an hour cleaning up the floor because Ajax threw fish and pasta everywhere, I guess he was done. I found fish in the heater, which isn't where it usually goes.

With him not feeling good he wants me to pick him up, then put him down, then pick him back up again then back on the ground. Over and over. I've taken to just sitting on the floor recently.

I'm hoping its just January that is tough and that February will be better. I believe in karma so this has to bounce back eventually. Not sure how much more I can take!

Favorite pictures

How to opt out of getting the Yellow Pages

http://www.yellowpagesgoesgreen.org/stop-yellow-pages/

Movement Against Unsolicited Phone Book Delivery

YellowPagesGoesGreen.org

PUKE ON MY NUTS!

Well, Ajax finally got his first bad illness, a double ear infection, and he went on antibiotics on Monday. He was all out of sorts on Sunday and had a low fever, but by the time he woke up Monday morning, his fever was up around 103 and we went in to the doctors to get the bad news. Nana came out to help take care of him and he rested most of the day, but he was still pretty unhappy. That night he woke up around 2 with a bad choking cough, so I went in, changed his diaper and gave him a few ounces of milk. Second later a shower of vomit covered us. I got Sondra to help clean him up, I jumped in the shower to wash the puke off my nuts, and then he puked all over Sondra. Although she cannot relate to having vomit on her scrotum, she was nonetheless not excited about the predicament.

I just wanted to catalogue this in the blog so that Ajax understands that he owes us big and that he better not give us any shit

Last post of 2008

So today is my last day of work for 2008 and so basically last chance I'll be posting. 2008 has come to a close. Its been a good year though it certainly had its sad moments. To sum it up in one word I'd pick, Family.

This year Ajax has changed so much and has made us a Family. It seems we've been on the go and running around for most of the year, it certainly felt like it moved by fast! This next week and a half Jamie and I will be both home and able to take it slow and really enjoy each other as well as make memories for our own new little family.

A few nights ago, we took out our wedding album and the photo album I made of Ajax' first few months. It was such a nice thing to shut off the tv and just meander down memory lane together talking about the good times we've had. For 2008 I have undertaken a big project of creating a photo book for the entire year. It's turning out to be a lot of pages and I wasn't sure if it was even worth it until we had looked through the pictures together. I still love hearing my parents talk about us growing up and recanting the funny stories. It might be a great new tradition to sit down as a family and look through the years and tell the stories over and over.

We'll be traveling all around seeing extended family and friends, it should be a great time! Can't wait to see everyone and catch up, Merry Christmas !!!

Not too much

December is just going by pretty darn fast! Here are some video's of Ajax that Jamie took:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCP5mzWS1DE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmNOSMpQ9ZM

Enjoy and have a good Holiday!

Last night was the premier of Fox's Secret Millionaire TV show. It's going to be on Wed. at 8pm. I ended up watching the entire 2 episodes that they ran and I love this show. The idea behind it is that they take millionaires and have them live in a very poor area and pretend that they are down and out. They have to live a week on a welfare check, about 100 dollars.

They meet some incredible people along the way and learn a lot about others and how tight money can be. Did anyone else out there catch this one? What did you think?

November's Come and Gone

Thanksgiving was a very fun time, hope everyone else had a good one too! Here are some pictures of the day at our house. Jamie took them all, I never even got my camera out even though I had meant to.

My family can never keep their eyes open for a picture :o)

Barbara, Amanda and Ajax

Thumbs up on the turkey!! Me and Dad

It was great seeing everyone and so glad we could all get together. We had Thanksgiving Trivia with prizes for correct answers and also played Apples to Apples which got lots of laughs.

Other pictures of stuff that's been going on are here: http://ianhockeywineandmore.shutterfly.com/

Jamie and I went to the UML Hockey game and had a fun time hanging out with Dan and his girlfriend. He is an even more die hard hockey fan then I am! Impressive I know.

I went with my good friend Robin and a dozen other ladies on a wine tasting tour. It was such a great time! It is called the Coastal Wine Trail and we went through Newport Vineyards, Greenvale Vineyards and Sakonnet Vineyards. They had rented a van that took us to each vineyard, it worked out great and we had lots of snacks in the van while we were driving. The pictures are from the last stop at Sakonnet Vineyards which was my favorite. It will be fun to visit again when the vines are ripe with grapes so if anyone wants to give it a try let me know!

November was a very fun month but sure did go by quickly.

Macy's Excursion

We had a laptop meltdown at the house so no new pictures to post. Hopefully we'll get it up and going again.

This weekend I reviewed the Christmas list and inventoried what I already purchased for gifts. I went out to Macy's to pick up a gift and brought Ajax with me. It was overcast most the day but we made it fine. I dressed him up in overalls, my favorite on him :) We park pretty close for such a busy mall day and dash inside. No stroller, I'm just winging it.

Inside I find what I am looking for need to compare a few things so I put Ajax down next to me. This is the first time in a store my baby has stood by himself with me I realize. Pretty cool and cute as a button.

He stood by my side for exactly 1/10 th of a second... then he was out to explore. I actually think I saw him run! I am chasing/following him all around the department, wondering how he can walk faster in a store then at home. Maybe there is just more motivation.

4,195 Americans

Right now we are all thinking about the economy and how tight our money is. Christmas is coming and Thanksgiving is just 2 weeks away! We worry about where our house value is heading and the Fall Season line up on TV. What's for dinner and the latest celebrity to have a baby/ get divorced/ or gain weight.

Today's top headlines on most news sites and stations are covering:

jobless claims surge
the bailout
Sarah Palin
Aniston's jab at Jolie
CMA highlights



I just want to point out that Veterans Day was 2 days ago. We remembered for a day and now we've moved on it seems. At least 30,774 U.S. troops have been wounded in action, according to the Pentagon. Please take a moment to read about the 4,195 Americans who have lost their lives for our country. As I read through, I found people from our own area, people with the last name Martin, and it just really touched me and I wanted to pass it on.

Most of these people are 19 and 20 years old! They chose to fight for our country and they have paid the ultimate sacrifice, they will never see 21, they will never see their kids, they will never grow old, they will never see grandkids.

Lets take some time and really be Thankful this Thanksgiving for all that we have and also never forget these soldiers.

Ajax is 1 !!!

We had a small party for Ajax on his birthday 10/28 it was a great time. I made him a birthday cake and he seemed to really love it. Here are some pictures from the day.

Hockey Mama For Obama

Aren't I crafty?! I made this myself :o)

Providence College vs. UMass Lowell Hockey home opener !

Rowdy

Scott & Me

Me & Dan

Friday Oct. 24th was the home opener for UML's hockey team and I was there sporting my jersey and Rowdy Rag. Rowdy the Riverhawk has gotten a make over and is looking much tougher now, I guess its part of the intimidation factor. The team is looking absolutely awesome and I can't wait to check out more games. They won 4-1 ! It was a great time and fun to catch up with other UML Mech engineering alum that night. Next game is Nov. 7th be there or be square!

Facebook

So umm funny story. Lets start off with a statistic - The chance of accidentally hitting Reply All to an email in your life is 19%

Email conversation concentrated down,
Me: Do you have any pictures of the wedding you went to this weekend.
Buddy: Not yet but they'll probably be some on Facebook soon.
Me: What are you 19, why the heck do you have Facebook?
Buddy: Yea I know, but all my friends have one so what are you going to do.
Me: Fine I'll sign up, but I don't want anyone to know.

Later that day,
Thought: I can't believe I'm signing up for Facebook, what have I become?
Thought: Invite friends I know?? I guess I'll add the 4 or so buddies always bothering me to join.
Action: Click next, click next, page is now loading...
Thought: AHHHHHHHH Did that last screen just say it was emailing EVERYONE in my aol account to see if they want to join!!!!!!!! AHHHHH it automatically assumes YES are you kidding me!
Action: Close window while still loading
Thought: Maybe, it didn't go through, I bet I caught that in time, there is no way I just accidentally emailed everyone I ever knew to join.
Thought: I think I dodged that bullet.

Later then later that day,
Me: Hey Jamie anything interesting happen today?
Jamie: Ajax this and that
Jamie: ohh and what the heck is up with " Come join me on Facebook to check out some video's"?
Me: .......
Me: ohh no, ohhhhh no
Jamie: What are you 19?
Me: I can't believe it

Next day,
Action: 25+ emails about people adding or confirming or inviting me on Facebook.
Thought: The nightmare continues. Everyone's giving me a hard time though they sign up as well.
Thought: Well if Everyone is signed up now then I should at least check my Facebook page, right
Action: Check out my page, see all the friends added read 'My Wall', post on a few others
Thought: This is getting addicting, time to call it a day

Through out the next day,
Action: checked Facebook over 10 times
Thought: Well, just in case anyone posted to My Wall. What are my buddies up to. What else can this site do.
Thought: Ohh no, there's no going back, I'm hooked. I love it and can't seem to get enough.
Thought: Maybe just maybe its not just for 19 year olds...

So I would just like to apologize to every single contact in my aol account, especially all my work contacts, that I'm really sorry that I mass spammed some of my favorite peeps. And for those many people who joined cause I emailed them, I'll see you in Facebook world; come on in, the water is fine.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!!

~~~ OK OK this wasn't so "Happy" and I guess it was more of a rant. Its just unfortunate the economy is in the state that it is right now is all I was trying to say. No need for bold red letters right. ~~~

Stupid banks with their stupid ARM loans and stupid greedy people screwing up our economy...

401K:
Personal Rate of Return from 01/01/2008 to 10/15/2008 is -40.0%

College Fund:
Rate of Return since Inception (of the plan not the baby) is -36%

You have to be kidding me!! How about another 700 Billion?

I know in the long run it will be fine but at this rate the 'long run' might out last us all. The only bright side is that we are buying more shares for our money right now. Hope these shares don't disappear all together though.

So I've decided to find out the Upside of the Economic Downturn, here we go:

• In times of economic uncertainty, certain products still prosper. Lipstick, is a cheap pick-me-up alternative to the more extravagant retail therapy. Sales have been up.
  
• For men, suit sales plummet, while tie sales go up as a cheap wardrobe refresher
• declining divorce rates
• Lobster prices have dropped
• Lighter traffic reported in L.A.
• thrift stores have seen a big upturn
• interestingly I've read that there are more babies from this down turn ( guess more people are staying home instead of going out.)
• People are cutting back on their 'keeping up with the Jones' spending and actually trying to live within their means, something that has needed to happen for awhile now
  
• People like Paris Hilton and everyone on MTV's Sweet Sixteen show now really look like the out of touch idiots that they are
• Did I mention the Lobster prices!! - best part of it all I feel

Feel free to add to this list, I'd love to hear other reasons!

Pumpkin Pickin'

Ajax picked out his own pumpkin to take home!

Halloween with the Hennessy's

Smile, smile, smile ohhh take a picture, take a picture, take a picture!

Lobster Man and Super Girl

Love the cat costume!! I seem to be reminded of a Ralphie from The Christmas Story...

Have you ever seen a lobster dance?

Bob the Builder
Can we fix it?
Bob the Builder
Yes we can!

Papa John is looking hungry!!

Time for an Activity!

We had a fun time at the little kid's Halloween Party! It was great to see everyone and dress the kids up in stuff they will hate us for later :o)

Diaper Derby

Clements Market had their annual Huggies Diaper Derby on Oct. 8 this year. Jamie had been running Ajax through sprint drills for weeks before hand getting him ready. We had talked about it and made a game plan on how we , ... sorry Ajax, was going to win.

Jamie and I were there and we cheered and encouraged him on. The people that worked at the store were placing bets and most went to Ajax, we had him all hyped up to win. He was robbed of first but its a long story and Jamie always tells it best. He came in Second and won some packs of diapers and bibs! It was a fun time to see all the babies competing and the parents.

Speaking of the parents they were either 28+ or 18- in age. I think that is the way society is going right now. It was strange to see the reflection of our country as a whole in the produce section of a grocery store though.

At any rate, congrats to our little man! #4 Ajax

Uncle Rick

In loving memory, we will always remember you Uncle Rick.

Jamie, John & Rick

Greg, Dennis & Rick

32

Happy Birthday Jamie!! This past Sunday, the 5th was Jamie's birthday. We got an ice cream cake, of course, and celebrated with my folks. We had chicken wings and watched sports all day, I think it was a good one :o)