A dog, a baby, and a fish

Sweet Bella

The Incomparable Emma Byrd

I brought Emma a Santa Frog for Christmas. She was thrilled!

Emma, Auntie Pegs, and Santa Frog

Emma can't take her eyes off Santa Frog. Santa Frog loves the camera.

Uncle Sam Itschner

For our gift exchange at work, Stacy gave me a Betta fish!
Because he is blue with red underfins, I gave him the patriotic name of Uncle Sam.
I call him Sam, and sometimes Sammy, for short.

It's much nicer to...

It's much nicer to only have 20 days between Jesse visits than 2.5 months. I go to Seattle a week from tomorrow.

It's much nicer to have 15 days together than 4. I'll be in Seattle December 19 - January 3.

It's much nicer to work for a university that closes for the break between Christmas Eve and New Year's Day. UNT does. UW and North Seattle Community College don't (where I was last year).

It's much nicer to watch TV shows when the writers know what they are doing. Special thanks goes out to the writers of the following shows: Community, The Office, Modern Family, and this season's Grey's Anatomy.

It's much nicer to quote Friends with someone who knows the show as well as you do. Otherwise, you just sound like an idiot.

Firsts...

Jesse & Peggy's First Prom Pose

(ever, and probably last)

Yes, we knew this was cheesy when we took it. That was the point.

Denton's First Winter Snow
(of the year)

I awoke to this winter wonderland this morning.

Bella's tee tee trail...see the paw prints?
She wasn't as excited about the snow as I was, but she still did her business.
I was a a proud Auntie Pegs.

And when I got to work this morning, I saw this lovely sculpture outside the Art building.

First Flu
(in ages)

My flu kit - fluids, thermometer, medicine
I tested positive this afternoon for flu and have been given orders to not return to work until Monday. So, I picked up meds and rented My Sister's Keeper, 17 Again, and Funny People.

An Itschner Thanksgiving

Royce & Cynthia hosted a whopping 18 people for Thanksgiving!
Jesse flew into Dallas on Wednesday and we headed to Kerrville for the festivities!

R&C were in the kitchen by 6 am working hard!

Cousin Kate

Jesse won the "who traveled furthest award"

Ladies photo-op
Cynthia, Lacey, Kate, Me, Gayle, Ann, Lauren, Annie

It just doesn't get any cuter than Lacey & Annie

Kate & Jason

Gayle & Lynn

Trying to get organized...

Family photo
Royce, Lauren, me, Annie, Kate, Ann, Beau, Cynthia, Lacey, Royce

Plus Gayle & Lynn!

Mmm...dessert.

Cousin Royce and wife Lauren

Royce & his girlies

Cousin Beau and girlfriend Ann

What do you think is going through her head?

Ann, Kate, Lauren, me

**Note: Many thanks to Ann for these photos I stole from her facebook. When I get the full album, I'll post more.

November 23, 1997

I don't remember much about the day. I know that at some point, the nurse encouraged us to go home and get some rest. She assured us that if anything happened, they would know in plenty of time to call us and for us to get back to the hospital.

At 2:50 pm, my grandma called and told me to go to the hospital. I met her and my father, but it was too late. We had all missed it.

Mama died at 3:00 pm.

I remember my father wailing (the only word to describe it) in the hospital hallway. Grandma was talking to the hospital staff. I don't remember what I did. I remember being shocked at my father's reaction, since it was exactly the first time I had ever seen him cry.

I remember spending the evening at my apartment with friends. I'm not sure why I wasn't with my dad and grandma.

Thanksgiving was two days later. The memorial service was two days after that.

One thing I do remember very clearly is that Grandma called me every year on November 23rd.

November 22, 1997

As I look around my apartment, I see the semblance of a Museum Ode to My Family. Among the memorabilia, I have my dad's cowboy hat, 1950s radio, and bowling pin trophy.

Daddy's treasures

I have boxes of family photo albums that were rescued from my dad's apartment the day we cleaned it out. I have my grandma's quilt, glasses, robe, and flower shoes.

Grandma's special things

A special treasure is my bronzed baby shoes that were on my parents' mantle.

A family heirloom

Oddly, I don't have anything of my mother's. I'm not sure why that is, but I do have pictures like this one I keep on my nightstand.

Helping Mama blow out her birthday candles

Twelve years ago today, my mother was receiving one of her dialysis treatments at the center she went to three times a week. Grandma took her since Daddy worked and I was in school.

At approximately 7:00 pm, my roommate at the time came running into the Baptist Student Ministries event I was attending. She told me that my dad had left a message on our answering machine (the days before cell phones) that my mother had been taken to the hospital and I should go down there.

I was not overly concerned because my mother's health had been poor for five years, and the hospital had become a second home. She went in, and then she always came home.

My friend, Zandra, and I drove to the hospital. My father and grandmother were at the ICU, and told me that my mother had a heart attack while at dialysis. She had gone about 8 minutes without oxygen to her brain, and they weren't sure how much damage had been done. The doctor was asking us whether or not we wanted to file a DNR.

That's when I knew this was a hospital visit like none of the others.

I went in to see my mother. It was very disturbing. She was in a coma. There were lots of tubes, and blood kept dripping from her nose. Mama wasn't there.

We decided to file a DNR.

We spent that night in uncomfortable chairs in the hospital.

Friends from Work

It seems like I've really bonded with the other gals in the office in the past couple of weeks...from a themed Halloween (remember the Three Blind Mice?), to Friday happy hour to a Dallas Stars game, I have really enjoyed hanging out with my work peeps! By the way, this post is called "Friends from Work" because Stacy and Abbie HATE when I call them my "co-workers"...they say it's very cold and would prefer that I just call them my friends. :)

Yay for Happy Hour!
Stacy with Indra & Kristi (2 undergrad business advisors) on the left
Me, Abbie, and Jennifer, our former Management advisor who has since left us for a new job :( on the right

Jennifer with Stacy's three adorable rescue pups--Wilson (the white grouch), Abby (the licker), and CJ (the one about to leap off the couch)

Abbie with her Stars ticket

Stacy & me wearing our Stars jerseys (I borrowed one from Stacy...she's a huge fan and has tons of Stars stuff)

The game...I know nothing about hockey!

The boys in action

Can you say "nosebleeds?" By the way, this wasn't as scary as it looks...we were in no danger of falling to our deaths.

Yay for a very fun night!

Baby shower!

This past weekend we had a baby shower for Ann, my cousin Beau's girlfriend. We had a great turnout with a TON of gifts-they cleaned up! I was the designated photographer, and while there was cropping involved to be sure, I was very excited to see they turned out pretty nicely!

The girlies
Ann, Lauren (other cousin's wife), and Kate (cousin)

Kate & Lauren being silly

Could we BE more confused?
Me, Aunt Cynthia, Lauren, Ann, Kate

Aunt Cynthia & Ann with the bassinet o' gifts!

Showers hostesses give a belly rub!

One of my artsy attempts. I call it "Lamp & Punch."

Ann and her delicious chocolate with raspberry filling cake!

Mommy & Daddy to be

I'm excited to grab Jesse at the airport and spend Thanksgiving with these fabulous people...
15 days, but who's counting? :)