Lounging.

One of my favorite things to do with Lucas is lay on the couch and make videos. He loves seeing himself on the screen of my IPhone. Many videos have been taken this way & I cherish all of them. I cannot upload the video from the blogger app but heres a screen shot :)

This weekend we did alot of lounging. Why not?! It's the weekend. Happy Vets Day too! I get one more day off with my little fam<3

Seriously, how adorable is our little guy!

In love.

Isn't this the cutest thing. Ever.

HOO-HOO-HOOSIER!

It's official. My baby sis is going to be a HOOSIER! She was accepted into INDIANA UNIVERSITY today! I couldn't be more proud of her and all that she has accomplished! Congrats bebe! Muah!

Election Day.

Today, I decided to vote for the very first time for our presidential election. I went weeks not knowing who I was going to vote for. I was sure I was making the wrong decision. With a little help from the Internet and having some talks with some friends and coworkers I was able to make my decision and make a confident decision in my future Pres.

Today I walk a little bit taller knowing. That my vote will count. This should have been my third (i think my math is right) election to vote in but instead it was my very first. I encourage everyone who has not voted before To at least vote in one election in your lifetime. Danny also voted for the very first time. I was so proud of us for going to vote this year. It makes you feel a little bit more grown up :)

I walked in to the school, still lingering in the back of my mind was "am I making the right decision." I completed my arrow for all the other choices Before I answered the presidential arrow. I stood there contemplating a few facts from the previous days, But honestly knew that my choice was the best choice for me. So with that I decided to move forward with my candidate and pray that we can rebuild America.

I rocked the vote 👍🇺🇸

Messenger.

On saturday, mom and I ventured out to a few stores and I stumbled upon this book. I am absolutely in love with what I have read so far. Without going into full detail, here is a snippet into the book and hopefully you will understand why I fell in love...

Although he was only 11 years old when we first met him, Mattie J.T. Stepanek had already become a phenomenal poet, peacemaker and philosopher.
His battle with a rare form of muscular dystrophy, which claimed the lives of his three siblings and was threatening his own life, only seemed to make his spirit stronger. He used his incredible gift of insight to write poetry he called "Heartsongs," extending hope to people of all ages.
Mattie hadn't yet reached his 14th birthday when he passed away on June 22, 2004, but he made an immeasurable impact on the world in his lifetime. Mattie was such an incredible kid. The relationship that he had with his mother, who was also sick and in a wheel chair is impecable. It brought tears to my eyes seeing the different photos and quotes between the two of them.

I can only hope for the relationship those two endured, between Lucas & myself. Mattie was beyond wise for his age. What a blessing he was to those lives he touched. <3

Job.

"The University of Cincinnati AIDS Clinical Trials Unit received information recently that effective the new NIH grant budget year (12/1/12 – 11/30/13), we have had a cut in funding that is available to us for the research operations.  This cut is not unique to our unit, most sites across the country sustained a similar cut. The UC ACTU remains one of the top performing sites in the US.  In addition to the cut, the University has increased the amount of money that we pay from our funds for fringe benefits (how much we pay from our funds to provide health, disability, sick time, vacation and other benefits) this year.  Those two factors coupled with increase costs of supplies, shipping and patient care have led to the necessity to reduce our work force, in other words, there are some positions that have been eliminated and therefore we are losing some much-loved colleagues/friends."

Not an email you want to receive, or see anyone receive. Puts a whole new perspective on my drive into work these days. Could tomorrow be another day we get this message? Could next month be another month we get this message? Next year? So on & so on...

On Dec 1 we have to say goodbye to a few colleagues who I have had the opportunity to work alongside for 5 years. I wish them both the best and continue to pray for their success.

God Bless<3

Aimee & I share the same position. This for me, really hits home. She was at one point, an office mate as well as a friend. I wish her the best and pray for her continued success in whatever she finds next to do in this world.

Fran was one of the most caring nurses I have ever met. She was always willing to lend a hand and help me in whatever questions I may have had. She may have gotten names and numbers mixed up in her daily duties, but you could always count on Fran! Mwah!

Happy Halloween. Lucas' 2nd :)

I was ecstatic to take Lucas trick or treating. Last year he was too little to be able to enjoy the festivities and all the details about Halloween. This year, different story.

I picked him up from Grandmas and we headed straight for home. I couldn't get there fast enough. I was so excited to dress him up and take a few pics. Who am I kidding, a few pics. More like 30 before I scrolled through each one and salvaged the best :) We ran up the stairs, headed straight to his bedroom to put on his costume.

Only to find myself for the next 45 minutes fighting a battle with this child to put it on. You would have thought this was the end of the world. He wanted NOTHING, I mean NOTHING to do with it. I finally got him calmed down, with the help of a sucker, and we got dressed. The beard that goes with the costume did not make it on. He was not letting me win completely. We headed out to a few houses next to ours. It was cold. I let him walk to one but you could tell he was still unsure why he was dressed like he was and why we were waking! I swooped him up and we headed back for home. We played some more and waited for some trick or treaters to come...and waited...and waited. Finally, 3 little boys came! Lucas saw them coming from the front window. All he could do was point and say HI as the little army men rang the door bell. By this time he had had enough of jos costume. So we decided to put on his back up costume that grandma found at a garage sale last summer. He was a little Gorilla Boy! This costume was alot warmer and he enjoyed it. Lucas grabbed his candy and tossed it, left handed, into their bags. He was proud of himself all the while wondering why they were here :)

No other kids showed up. We turned off the light and headed for the bath tub. He ate dinner and was fast asleep by 8:00! My little garden gnome was worn out!

Happy Halloween from Lucas :)

OH WHAT A DIFF A YEAR MAKES!