Snow!!!

We got snow!!  As soon as Soren went down for a nap, the snow started falling - so, Rick remained on babe-duty and I ran out to collect supplies: Snow jacket, snow pants - and some awesome water-proof Keens.  I checked out the boots first, but they were all so terribly heavy and the only alternative were Uggs, and well - he is a boy.  So I buckled - Soren got his first pair of real hiking boots.  Keens!  We had a blast, but it didn't take long for him to allow me to get his mittens on - brrrr...cold!

Gift Giving

Gift giving is something I am generally, well - ok at.  I was going to say great... and then good... and now - ok.  I say that, because I do put a lot of thought into them and many times make them - but I mean, really - i don't know how the recipient really feels about it, right?

Anyway - this year has been tougher than others.  Trying to keep up with a toddler, a HUGE work project and the almighty itch I got this year - I feel so behind and grasping at anything!  Ideas?  Crafts??  Gift giving is tough!

I think I need to just spend some more time wrapping my head around the holidays instead of wrapping gifts. 

Holidays Smell So GOOD!

Boy have I missed writing!  I'm Back!!!  Not just to my blog, but I feel like I have my life back.  After 3 and half weeks of burning itches, infections, swelling, rashes and hives - not to mention over 70 hours of editing and even MORE recording, I feel like I finally own my life again.  Whew!  I missed it - my guys, hanging out with Soren and most of all - getting ready for the holidays!  

Luckily, I happen to be blessed with two of the best dudes ever!  To boost Momma's morale - Rick took us to the Big Tree Plantation last week to pick up our Christmas Tree.  It was a blast.  Soren pet some little horses, we saw Reindeer, picked out a tree and even helped Pappa take it down!  It was so much fun!

Centered

I know I haven't written in awhile which has been a combination of several things.  Between work, quick road trips and getting sick - time has flown.  November was blur and October was no different.  I had a tough, long week getting to work with an amazing lady - Producer Elaine Martone, but then rushed off to the Lou where i had a most amazing trip with my family - picked up Rick at the airport and drove home to the Nati.  Whew!  As if that wasn't enough, I burned the candle at both ends putting together edits on a strict deadline and masters for other clients.  PLUS! I had recordings booked solid last weekend with Rick and I both booked on Saturday.  And then came what I thought were hives - from stress.  But nope!  The rash spread all over my body, even in my ears.  Time to go to the doc.  Good thing I did - I contracted a bacterial staph skin infection, YUCK!  Seriously!  So now I am on a good strong anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory, and they are just kicking in.

What have I learned from the past three weeks.  It's time for change.  This season so far has been a pubradio scheduling nightmare!  Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of projects I love but I don't get enough time to work on them - and they don't come around often enough.  The rest, well - I am exhausted.  Literally - my immune system can show for it.  A bacterial infection like this should have been a cinch for my immune system - but being sleep deprived and stressed to the max?! Well, that just doesn't cut it anymore.  Time for me to fight back.  If not for myself, for my family.  

I took a sick day today.  Did some much needed yoga (oi! pigeon pose, my hips love you so GOOD!) and thought.  Thought and cooked, thought and ate, thought and vegged (I have major blog reading issues) and thought and hung out with the coolest dude ever (Soren, of course - I think even Rick would agree) - all the while avoiding the burning itch ALL over my body.

I am making some changes.  I am centering myself, so that I can be a stable part of this family.  I know stress is a part of everyday life, but this stress - there is nothing normal about.  It's time.

I love this picture.  This is a pic of my Brother, Dad and I with the chitlins - Soren and Avery.  Lovin' on the horses out at Three Corners Ranch (My Dad and Shauna's - SO beautiful out there!).  Courtesy of my sis-in-law, Arica.  It says it all.