Spaces

I wanted a space of mine own and I pretty good at taking what I have and putting things together for minimal cost. This cart was left at our house when we moved in. Too big to move up the stairs so we figured we could use it. I'm hoping to paint it but quite a big job for a mom of small children...it will happen, someday!

It's just an area in a big room in our basement but it works. I can't wait until after my garage sale in the spring so I can clear out alot of the stuff I've been hanging on to and are trickling into the area. Monday I'm off from work and I'm planning to spend the whole day in there.

Margo loves spending the day in there too!

A Year Goes By...

Tomorrow is my baby's first birthday. I can't believe we made it...especially a year ago I didn't think we would be so blessed. Meredith was born by c-section and developed Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension during delivery. It's where the heart goes into a hypertension because it's trying to transition the oxygen into the lungs and the blood vessels going into the lungs aren't relaxed to do so. Not to mention one lung was very full of fluid.

It was scary. I delivered her in Newton, got to see her for a few minutes and luckily her big sister and grandparents got to see her too before she was transported to Blank Children's Hospital in Des Moines. I had to stay...by myself and wonder. Will she be OK? Will I ever get to see her again? Did I make the right decision to have a tubal ligation? So many thoughts running through my head and so many hormones trying to make their way back to their place (not sure they've made it yet...but I'm hopeful it will be soon :)

Thankfully my doctor and friends of family helped get through that first week and got me up to the hospital to see her. And what a shock that was! Tubes, bandages, everything hooked up to this helpless baby...but man was she strong!

Mitch and I spent three weeks up roller coaster emotions up there. Not just trying to take care of Meredith but also to be with Margo and hope that at her young year of three, she could understand.

She got better, with a lot of prayers, great doctors, nurses and friends and family to help her pull through. On Super Bowl Sunday we brought her home! It was so surreal but nice to be there...all together!

The last year has been fast and healthy. We had to really be careful with her health and hope that a little cold didn't develop into anything else. We succeeded and so far this winter, we have too.

I love her so much. She's such a fighter, lover, and the thing that really made me realize how strong I am. It was an experience that made me realize what a great husband I have, how much people really care about us and most of all...how precious life is. She's been blessed with a wonderful big sister too! A better one than I've ever been.

I can't believe we've made it this far! I'll probably be in tears most the day at work tomorrow just remembering how lucky we are to have her, how far she's come this past year and how my faith in God is so much stronger than it was a year ago.

My Dream...

Everyone should have a dream, right? Here's mine:

I want, more than anything, to be a stay-at-home mom but not just to be with my girls, but to have my own business. The first asset of that would be my handbags. I started sewing these a couple years ago for friends and family. With the encouragement of my husband, I'm trying to build a business around them. Every one of them are unique. I've not done any that are the same and I try to include the customer in on how they look. Because face it, it's theirs!

The other area of this business is to do freelance graphic design. I'm a graphic designer by trade but I'm growing very bored with corporate brand. There is just no creativity...sorry Dave, don't care how much you try to convince me...I'm bored! I've done projects for my community, wedding stationary and many, many other side projects. But there is a little thing called money that holds me back from getting that up and going. The programs are expensive and I'm just getting used to paying for this MAC!

I have one more area that I'd love to explore...helping with interior design. I've been an adviser for many friends but I of course don't ask for any money...maybe I could?

That's my dream in a nutshell. I know I can do it, many people do but I have to remember to be patient with time and know that it will all come.

Warm up!

Today it was warmer so the snow was melting. A perfect day for a snowman and some sledding! Margo and I spend some of the late afternoon outside rolling snowballs and sledding at the church. Hopefully tomorrow will be the same so my inner-child has a chance to come out again...I love having kids :)