Natalie’s Birthday

Today was Natalies birthday. She would have been 25 years old. I had been looking around my laptop for some stuff and came across these photos and thought I would share.

Transfering Natalie to Childrens' Hospital

This was the day that Children’s Hospital accepted Natalie into their living donor (living lobar transplant) transplant program.  If they had not done this, we would have been bringing her home for “hospice” type care.  This photo was taken about April 2004, I have exact dates somewhere.

Paitiently waiting for donor tests

 Waiting for donor screening. That is her sister who was one of the donors. She was in the hospital in isolation for almost 3 monthe prior to the actual operation. Her transplant date was July 15 2004.

Forcing a smile for some reason...

After transplant, about a year later.  Summer of 2005.

My donors

 Natalie’s useless lungs were completely removed and a lobe from each donor replaced them.  A miracle.  This is a very rare surgery.

Natalie died February 1, 2006 of rejection.  I miss her.

Happy Birthday Natalie!

More 2009 Reflection

I realized I had not finished the meme from V-Lo!  So here is the rest of the 2009 reflection.

16. What song will always remind you of 2009?

A Long December – Counting Crows, I think now this song reminds me of every year.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? a little  happier
b) thinner or fatter? a little thinner
c) richer or poorer? a little richer

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Said yes.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Stayed home.

20. How did you spend Christmas?

Cooking for the kids

21. Did you fall in love in 2008?

No

22. What was your favorite TV program?
Last year I Netflixed all the seasons of The Closer, Criminal Minds, West Wing and the Tudors. On television I watched Greys Anatomy and Brothers  and Sisters and other miscellaneous stuff.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

No I still hate my ex-husband.

24. What was the best book you read?

I think the best one was A Three Dog Life, by Abagail Thomas

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

I rediscovered Carly Simon.  I had not listened to her for a long time and downloaded some of her stuff to my iPod.

26. What did you want and get?

A painted house, a contract at work.

27. What did you want and not get?

Making peace with my divorce.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?

Milk

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I was 49 and I went to dinner at The Arroyo Chop House.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Jake doing better in school, making peace with my demons.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?

Black.

32. What kept you sane?

Probably Betty.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

I suppose our new President.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?

The wars.

35. Who did you miss?

Natalie, Barbara (my sister), being married. Notice I did not say my ex-husband.

36. Who was the best new person you met?

 Amanda

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.

Happiness is in your own backyard.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
A long December and there’s reason to believe
Maybe this year will be better than the last
I can’t remember the last thing you said as you were leaving
Now the days go by so fast

2009 Reflection

I borrowed this from V-Lo, I thought it might make it alot easier to look back at this year.

1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?

Go to a Weight Watchers meeting.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I don’t think I made any last year.  Still deciding on resolutions. They seem so pointless.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

No,  a co-worker, but we are not close.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Mom died in Dec of 2008, Sprocket died 8/8/09

5. What countries did you visit?

I didn’t travel, I painted my house.

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?

Lose 20 pounds ( I lost 10 in 2009) so 10 more to go, and travel a bit.

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

August 8, 2009, the Day Sprocket died.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

I received National Recognition as a top 10 Digital City (I am the IT Director for the City) ans was invited to San Antonio Texas to receive the award.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Ah, I think there might be a list of them. But I am sure that like everything, these are relative.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Nothing significant. But Daisy had major knee surgery.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

Fixing the french doors and painting the house.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

Daisy, she received her Canine Good Citizenship certification from the AKC.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

The Banking/mortgage industry.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Mortgage, home improvements.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

The stuff I did to the house and Daisy passing her CGC. 

There is alot more to say but this gave me a start and allowed me to look back on this year.

Back to the Grind

Gee.  It’s hard to get back to working 11 hour days after having 11 days off.  I am wiped out.  So much for my resolutions and reflections.  I guess my immediate resolution is to get through the week so I can write my resolutions this weekend.

Reflections and Resolutions

I spent way to much time on line today dealing with my new volunteering as webmaster and technical person for my girlfriends local animal rescue.  She recently received 501(c)3 status ans I have been “pimping her blog” via facebook and Daisy’s blog.  Trying to get her some traffic and donations and maybe a few foster homes.  If you are interested go read Daisy’s blog as I highlighted it today. 

I have decided over the next few days I want to make some resolutions and also reflect on the last 10 years.  I have been blogging for almost the full 10 years, starting in 2001. it amazing sometimes when I am trying to remember a specific event or issue and can’t I will read the archives until I find it.  Which makes it even more important to me to continue to write frequently. I turn 50 this month and haven’t decided to freak out or anything, but realize it is a significant turning point in my life.  Or maybe I want it to be.

I have been off work since Christmas eve, thinking I would have time for all things, but instead I have been busy with nothing.  Well not nothing, but things I had not anticipated.  I feel good about what I got done during the holiday, but also wish I had done more. I made a list of things and have one more day to finish crossing off the items.  Tomorrow is a Holiday since I normally have Fridays off.  Silly isn’t it. Back to work Tuesday.

 I am hoping for a bit more structure, discipline and moderation in my life.  These will be some of my resolutions I think.  I am not in any hurry to just jot them down, because I want them to stick, to last, to be things I do the rest of my life.

I did buy myself a new camera with this cool panorama shoot function and am loving it. 

Happy New Year to all.

Holiday Recap

I hope everyone had a great Christmas. Mine was nice.  Christmas Eve the kids bring a few friends, and D and his son M  (aka in older posts as the brat, however he has grown up enough that isn’t the case anymore) come over. We had a total of  9 people. I made Fideo, enchiladas, chile verde and salad along with various appetizers.  Large amounts of Champagne were consumed and a tradition that was started when I moved to this new house, and started my new Chapter in my life, is that we put together a puzzle Christmas Eve.

Last year we didn’t finish it until a few days later, but this year that was not to be. We had some die hard puzzlers, and I think the ones who drank the least amount of Champagne got the most pieces together.

There were also some goodies.  I ate one, which was enough. Everything in moderation right?

Christmas morning D and his son come over for breakfast and to open presents. I had to get jake out of bed at 10, Candice always shows up late so we don’t hold breakfast for her. This year her “I promise I will be there at 11″  was 12 noon.  I made sausage and eggs and pancakes. I cooked 30 sausages (boys eat alot) and there were 4 left for Candice, and the boys decided that if she wasn’t there by 11:30 that everyone got to eat one. Well yes we all got the extra sausage.

Presents were opened and D and M left for his moms.  The kids and I hung out and about 3 i started Christmas Dinner.  My Uncle John came over and so did Candice’s roommate.  So there were 5 for dinner.  Prime rib, brussels spouts, roasted carrots and mashed potatoes and creamy horseradish sauce.

I got jammies, slippers, a gift card for Nordstroms, a french press, some little kick knacks and a calendar. The best present was a generous donation to “Best Friends” from D. 

I took the week off between Christmas and New Years.  Yesterday was a veg day, recovery form all the shopping and cooking for the holidays.  I also took a long nap.  I hurt my back lifting Daisy onto the bed Christmas Eve Night and it’s still bothering me.  I took a walk yesterday with Daisy, standing up its not to bad its when I try and bend over.

 Today I have to go buy cat food, and maybe hit the grocery store.  I pulled out my knitting and needlepoint yesterday. I have a scarf that needs finishing, but I made such a bad mistake on it I can’t figue out how to fix it. So I will have to go to the kitting shop and ask for help. 

This Years Tree

I think it needs a few more lights along the  bottom area, but it will do for this year.

Almost

Yesterday was the 1 year anniversary of my mother’s death.  The certificate says 12/19, but at her desk, where I found her, she was in the middle of writing something dated 12/16, so I know that was when she died. 

I was really cold last year this time, I remember it being freezing the night I went to the house. I got there about 5 and did not bring a coat, and was there until after 10 pm.  I ran the heat in my car and waited for the funeral home to come and get her. Finally the police said that they would stay and I should go home and they would call me when they picked her up. 

I went home and made a very big stiff drink, numbing further my already numb from cold and shock self.

Greek Salad

No this is not a picture of a Greek Salad, its Daisy and T the dog walkers dog.  Daisy loves T, but often gets a bit excited when he is around.

I am sitting in my office at lunch eating a Greek Salad, with some chicken kebab.  I have been trying since August to lose 20 pounds.  I lost 10, but I gained a couple back over the Thanksgiving food orgy.  So now I have 12 to lose.  I wanted to do all this for my birthday in January, I don’t think its gonna happen. But maybe if I could at least get a bit closer to my goal I would be content.  I never struggled with my weight until the last 7 years or so. I know it’s partly age, but it’s also partly other things, I enjoy food more than I used to.

I bought myself a new camera as a Christmas present.  It is a Olympus Stylus 9000  point and shoot with a zoom.  I am planning on trying to blog more, and if words escape me maybe a picture or two will help that.  The camera is still in the box, I will get it out this weekend and wrap the empty box and put that under the tree.  I think buying myself presents is a good thing. My kids are too broke to do much, not that I really care, if I want something and can afford it I just get it. I really don’t want them to spend on me, they need the money for other things.

Yes, that is 2 posts in a row. Surprised?  Me too. Maybe I am starting a trend.

It’s been awhile

It rained this past weekend. A dark, wet, stormy weekend. I loved it. I love the rain. It put me in the mood to do my Christmas shopping and write my Christmas cards.  Friday before the rain started I did almost all my shopping, and between Saturday and Sunday morning I did all my Christmas cards.   Last year I didn’t send very many cards because of my moms death. It’s going to be one year soon.  I can hardly believe it.

I am looking forward to the new Year.  I think I am going to make some resolutions and keep them for a change.  It is a pivotal year for me. I will turn 50. 

Thanksgiving was hard this year. Jacob decided to go to the ex-husbands.  I could go into a tirade about it, but I won’t.  I have managed after many tears, and discussions with friends and Candice to let it go.  Well almost let it go.  I have a hard time with that too. Letting go.

During the month of November I followed Mage’s blog, actually I follow it always but November was a story. After reading about her life and hardships and knowing who she is now really hit me, really made me think about alot of things.  Helped me not look back so much and try to look forward, whcich I have a hard time doing.  Thank you.