The boys are testing my mommy skills and I’m getting to my limit. If Zarek is not throwing up on me or I’m not changing a icky diaper, Zane is having alergic reactions to who knows what having us run to the ER. And I think he must like the ER because he decided this morning to eat 1/2 box of benadryl.

It was mommy’s fault for leaving the benadryl out but I’m also running on almost no sleep. Saturday night (1:30am) Zane awoke just inconsolable.  In the next half hour we were rushing him to the ER with head to toe hives. You know it’s bad when the nurse tells you if he starts having breathing or swallowing pull over and have an ambulance take him the rest of the way.

We stayed at the hospital till 4 or 5am got a shot of steroids and some benedryl. We got home and I stayed up with Zane to watch him and make sure he didn’t scratch. But after staying up I just couldn’t get myself to go to bed. So I got a whole 1 1/2 hours of sleep on Saturday and Sunday.

And it didn’t stop with the weekend. Monday I screwed up not looking at my schedule. I was just too tired Sunday night and I’m always scheduled at 10am.  Nope I was scheduled for 8:30am.Which threw off my whole day.

I have a family member who has been arrested for some nasty stuff. So glad that we rarely saw them anyways, maybe once a year. But it’s been hard just wrapping my mind around the whole thing.

On the good news though business is really picking up for me on my graphic design jobs. It’s been amazing some of the great jobs that have been coming in. I’m going to be having a huge site reveal in the next few days which is very exciting.

Yesterday was my first full day of just designing. I was doing it from the office so there were a few customer service things here and there, but I imagine this is pretty close to the real thing. The day went by so fast and I was having so much fun.

I only had a glitch when I realized I didn’t have the driver loaded for my wifi card. (That was because of the nasty virus I got earlier this month that made it so I had to completely wipe my computer clean.) Luckily my office was right next to Starbucks and my co-worker was happy to buy a gift card so I could get free wifi to download the driver. (One of the bad things about working next door to Starbucks she will probably go through the card in a day and a half. LOL)

After that it was pretty smooth sailing. I could so do this. I want to do this. This is just that much more motivation to keep building up my design business.

I had a new baby boy and who can describe the joys of a new child in your life. It is amazing, he is amazing.

2. What was the single most challenging thing that happened?

We had a family crisis this year and that’s all I will say on it. But the second most challenging thing was my mother’s illness.

I have never been separated from my family before. We have always lived close by. And then as my mother got to her new home across the country she became gravely ill. It was such a struggle for me, I didn’t know what to do. I couldn’t just fly across the country with my two little ones during the flu season. So I made the choice to stay home and correspond with my aunt. This was such a hard choice.

3. What was an unexpected joy this past year?

Finding a new church home has been a great blessing this year. We have become members of the church. I have started making close friendships at the church. And I have even gotten to enjoy helping out in the children’s area.

4. What was an unexpected obstacle?

Being demoted at work to part-time has been a true obstacle but it turned into a blessing. The lack of money has been hard but having the extra time with my boys has been wonderful. And on top of that because I’m part-time my schedule has become more steady which is so much easier on both me and the boys.

5. Pick three words to describe 2009.

Faith, Love, Joy

6. Pick three words your spouse would use to describe your 2009 (don’t ask them; guess based on how you think your spouse sees you).

Boys, struggle, Faith

7. Pick three words your spouse would use to describe their 2009 (again, without asking).

Struggle, Faith, Boys

8. What were the best books you read this year?

The Bone Series, Wheel of Time: Knife of Dreams, The Ordinary Princess, The Jesus Storybook Bible

9. With whom were your most valuable relationships?

TJ, Wendi (my SIL), Andrea (my BF)

10. What was your biggest personal change from January to December of this past year?

I’m not pregnant anymore, that’s pretty big. But on a serious note I’ve been working on my relationship with the Lord and have been growing closer to Him.

11. In what way(s) did you grow emotionally?

I have made a point to take better care of myself. To not rely so much on others for my happiness.

12. In what way(s) did you grow spiritually?

We have become members of a church, I have been going to Bible study regularly, and have been volunteering at church. I have also been trying to take time each day to read my Bible and pray, to have a quiet time with the Lord.

13. In what way(s) did you grow physically?

Just last month I have started a new diet and have scheduled exercise into my week.

14. In what way(s) did you grow in your relationships with others?

I have made some great new friendships at church. Which was one of my goals this year. I have been wanting to gain some new christian friends.

15. What was the most enjoyable area of managing your home?

Lesson time with Zane this year was one of my absolute favorite things this year. Though I don’t if you would count that as home management.

16. What was your most challenging area of home management?

All of home management but most of all housekeeping and laundry.

17. What was your single biggest time waster in your life this past year?

Probably surfing online and Facebook.

18. What was the best way you used your time this past year?

Spending time with my boys and TJ. We made a point this year to spend more time together and to have more family time. This was one of the greatest things about this year.

19. What was the biggest thing you learned this past year?

To put God first in your life and all things after.

20. Create a phrase or statement that describes 2009 for you.

God is faithful.

Survey found a (In)Courage.

I have 200 days left ot go in this pregnancy and I get my real first ob appt tomorrow. I’m excited about hearing the heart beat. It’s so real when you get to do that. Though this morning sickness has been very real. Blah.

I’ve been working way too much and it looks like this next month is going to be the same. They have me working five days a week 3 out of four weeks. Which I’m tired, I don’t feel well and no one really cares at work.

I’m hoping to get some scrapbooking done tomorrow. I have someone who is going to buy a mini book from me so I need to try and get that done. My friend Andrea was talking about coming over and scrapbooking with me. That would be fun I haven’t had a craft day with friends in a long time.

I know just a quick boring update. But life has been boring lately.

Yesterday we had a patient that is also in this cult, but she has been sucked in even deeper. She has a corgi magnet on the side of her van, which by the way they bought for Zach her Corgi, and she was wearing a corgi/flag pin on her shirt. Dr H showed off her birthday card to her and now I am making five for the patient to buy. Which actually she ordered five and I’m making ten. Because she is going to be giving some to her friends who are corgi cult members also. Worst case I can give them to Dr H as a small present later.