24 times

That is the number of times someone in this house has thrown up over the past 72 hours. Poor Ava started out puking like crazy starting Saturday night. I called our doctor twice because I was so concerned at how much and how long it was going on. I was so sad for her, she would dry heave and I would cry. Such a helpless feeling and she is too little to take any of the meds. As she was finally getting better, I started. Ryan stayed home from work on Monday to take care of us. Then later that day it over took him as well. It ended up actually 5 other family we were with on Saturday came down with it too. My brother ended up with a hospital visit for IV for hydration. We've all been better here most of today but stayed home from work to make sure we don't infect anyone else.

As bad as all this was I can come up with lots of thanksgivings during this time to cover days 27-30:

1) I am so grateful for Ryan, He was so helpful and comforting in taking care of me and Ava. When I think back about this terrible crazy sickness that is one thing I will remember and love him for how sweet and care taking he was.

2) I am grateful we didn't all come down with it at the exact same time. It was spaced so that as each of got better the next one came down with it. I don't know what we would have done if it was all of us at the same time.

3) I am thankful it gave us today all together, we were feeling better, we slept in, put up Christmas decorations and enjoyed an unexpected extended day all together.

4) I am thankful dogs can't get people virus! Rory was fine but very confused why Ava was getting to sleep in our bed.

Stomach flu of 2010 is in the books! Glad to type that! I will cover the rest of our Thanksgiving holiday at another post.

Thankfulness catch up...

Catching up on my attitude of gratitude, days 15-21...

15 - My New laptop! Ryan got me a new computer. I am so thankful for his thoughtful research and selection, he wants me to have what will work the best for me. Very sweet and thoughtful.

16- I am going to leave this one mysterious: I am thankful when those we love surprise us in the best, most unexpected ways.

17- My in-laws. I feel blessed I very much enjoy the company of my in-laws. They've always treated me as one of their own.

18- Cheeseburgers, enough said.

19- The library, there aren't many things for free these days, I love that I get to check out books for free! I know my tax dollars fund this so its not "free" but its a very worthy use of community funds.

20- My parents are visiting as Ryan is out of town. So nice to spend a relaxing weekend together just visiting and enjoying entertainment.

21- Matt and Lori staying with us for a few days!

7 months old...

Out little Ava Bear turned 7 months this weekend! So many signs she's getting big: As you can tell from these pics she's now a pro at sitting on her own. She will quickly eat napkins, paper and anything else she can get her hands on. She can get where she wants to go with lots of rolling. She is much more expressive letting us know what she thinks about things. I'm so excited to share her first holidays with her that are just around the corner. Love this sweet girl more than I have words to say!

Some recent Ava Pics

I've been in an intensive training most of this week, so I'm too wiped out to do a very long post so I bring you some recent pictures of Ava. Bath time and johnny jump up time...

Day 13 & 14

Day 13- I am thankful for hot bubble baths on cold days. One of my favorite things in the world is a steaming hot bubble bath, accompanied by a good book, a cold drink and a nice candle on a winter night. So relaxing!!


Day 14- I am thankful for snugly naps with my baby girl. It doesn't get much more peace filled and content then snoozing with a little one in your arms. I just woke up from a nice Sunday snooze with her snuggled next to me, its so refreshing and renewing in many ways. I am always so surprised when I choose to be still instead of working on my to do list that I am always glad I did.

Day 10, 11 &12

Day 10 - I am thankful for my house. Sometimes I catch myself thinking a step ahead, you know a bigger, newer, nicer place sometime down the road but it only takes me a moment to remind myself this house has everything we need and all the warmest memories that truly make it a home. Its the house I brought my baby home from the hospital to, where Rory spent her puppy days, where we've had get togethers with friends and visits from family all this and more remind me what blessing it is to have this place.

Day 11 - I am thankful for financial security. Even with addition of baby and me going part time. With so many out of work all over the country the past couple years, I am thankful the Ryan and I both having good jobs the provide us with the life we have. When you think of a global view of the world, we are truly wealthy and do not want to take that for granted. My prayer is we will live within whatever means we are given at any point in time, be content where are at and bring glory to God by how we steward what he has entrusted.

Day 12 - I am thankful for our caregivers for Ava. The friends that babysit Ava while I work are wonderful. Trusting them and knowing she is getting one on one attention while she is still so tiny is such a blessing. They are so responsive to her needs and really care about her. Ava always has big smiles for them when she's them!

Day 5-9

Day 5 - I am thankful for Ava sleeping longer at nights. The time change was perfect timing to move her bed time up without her really knowing it and the best part is she still is waking up at her regular 7:15 time. (I should make a disclaimer she is still most nights waking up once to nurse but still, so thankful for the extended sleep time!)

Day 6 - I am thankful for books. I should post a picture of my night stand. I usually alternating between about 3 books at time. I get so excited I can't decide which one to start with so I start going back and forth between multiple ones. I didn't love books till after college and graduate school, I had been in school every year for 18 years straight at that point and when no one made me read anymore I feel in love with it!

Day 7- Happy hour at sonic. The genius design of those cups are like mini-coolers. They ice stays good in there for hours! I need not say more about the wonderful pick me up of sugar and caffeine at half prices in the late afternoon.

Day 8- people who do whatever job they have with joy and kindness. There use to be a little ceaser man that for over year I could see out my window at work every day. He held his little cesar pizza sign with the most energy and enthusisam, he would bring his ear phones everyday and play his sign like a guitar, lip singing for hours. I miss him. I knew he would go on to greater things with that work ethic but I still love it when I see it in others and I think to myself now thats like playing your air guitar with your little cesar's sign.

Day 9 - I am thankful for my Tuesday lunch bunch. I eat lunch every Tuesday with some great gal pals. The lunch bunch started when we all worked together in the same office and now that I the only one still at the office the weekly get together carries on, It has been meeting for over two years now. In fact when Ava was born, it was Tuesday at lunch time, the lunch bunch didn't miss a beat they were there to meet Ava at our regular time. These girls I can bounce anything off of and they give me honest feedback, uplift me spiritually and are the best listeners (they can't help it, they're therapists!).