Sears Tower

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Way Back Whensday

Last week Raechel started "Way Back Whensday."

I'm going to share our engagement story. I'm going to simply copy it from our wedding website and paste it because I want to take the kids outside before it rains.

We got engaged on October 30, 2004 in Chicago after dating for about 5 1/2 months.

We went up to Chicago because I had mentioned that I wanted to. We went to Shedd Aquarium and walked through the Oceanarium, watched the dolphin show, and saw several different exhibits. Afterwards we began the long walk to Bennigan’s on Michigan Avenue where I suddenly began to feel sick (great timing, I know). Nick had mentioned a few times throughout the evening going to Buckingham Fountain. Since I wasn’t feeling good, I said I just wanted to get on the train and go home. He asked what time it was. I checked my phone and it said 7:22. We had just missed the train. He asked if I thought I could make it to Buckingham Fountain, and I really didn’t think I could make it another four blocks. So we crossed the street and sat in the park. I laid my head on his shoulder and he told me he loved me and promised to take care of me forever (still had no clue at this point). He stood up and then started to kneel (and I began to cry). Kneeling, he said, “If you’ll have me, I will spend the rest of my life trying to make you feel like a queen.” Then I can’t remember if he asked me to marry him or asked me to be his wife, but I hugged him, and through tears, told him I loved him, to which he responded, “so will you?” Of course I said yes. We danced in the park for a little while before going to catch the next train. We finally got home after an hour train ride and a 30 minute car ride. We went to visit Nick's mom because she asked us to. When we got to her house, not a single light was on. She had candles lit in the kitchen and living room. In the living room she had set up a little table with sparkling grape juice and oreos. She came down the stairs, gave me a hug and said welcome to the family. Almost immediately I felt like I was going to be sick. I backed away, said I was going to be sick and ran for the bathroom. Not your typical engagement story (seriously, how many people almost puke on their future mother-in-law), but it makes for a funny story! Something to tell the grandkids! haha! But it was a night to remember forever.

Not me! Monday on Tuesday.

Better late than not at all! =)





Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

I did not feed my kids goldfish crackers for breakfast one day because I didn't feel like making anything else. They did not enjoy their breakfast, and did not ask for more goldfish the next morning.

Starbucks did not call my name many times this week. I did not cave and buy an extra one last week. (We do not budget $5 a week for me to have a Starbucks on Monday mornings). My husband also did not give in and buy me one as well. I did not consume two grande frappuccinos and one grande caramel macchiato last week. We would never spend $12-15 on such frivilous things in one week!

I did not ask my sweet husband to drop Kylee and me off at the mall while he and Elijah went to get the oil changed. I did not have secret plans to buy Kylee (and me!) Auntie Anne's pretzels as my breakfast and a special treat for her.

At the mall, I also did not scope out the really expensive Easter dresses at Carsons. In doing so, I did not allow myself to be pulled to the yellow dot sale racks where gorgeous Christmas dresses from last season hung. They were not begging me to buy them and take them home. I did not pick out my favorite and purchase it after finding out that the cost of the dress was then $10.20 as opposed to the $68 originally.

I was not overjoyed when my mother-in-law went back later and bought the other two styles as well. I was also not happy when she decided to purchase Kylee's Easter dress at Target as well.

My husband and I did not allow his mom to put the Carsons purchases, plus some for Elijah, and some that WE were purchasing on her new Carsons card. We would never even think about putting purchases on anyone's credit card just to get an additional 20% off! We did not vow to never use another credit card 3 years ago, and we do not despise them. But we still did not accept the use of her credit card. We did not immediately pay her for our purchases with cash!

I am not at all disappointed that, after 3 nice WARM days, it is supposed to rain tomorrow. I am not being a big baby about it.

I did not eat most of the girl scout thin mints my mother-in-law bought for Nick. I did not do it again when she replaced the cookies after the first time. I would not do it again if she buys him a third box. Girl scout cookies are not too good to pass up!

God remembers, even when we forget

For several months we prayed and prayed about having a second vehicle. We thought that was going to be our Sebring once we bought our van, but in the weeks before buying our van, Nick got in a minor car accident, and the Sebring doesn't run, insurance won't cover it (because it was being used to deliver pizzas and most insurance companies don't cover then). Then we thought MAYBE we could get Nick's old junker fixed. He called a place and to replace the entire exhaust system, it'd only be around $150 plus renewing the registration since it's been sitting. Over the past several weeks, we just figured that's what we'd do. We'd save a little here and there and fix the Topaz, so we stopped praying that prayer.

While it's not necessary for us to have two vehicles, it would be nice since Nick works a half hour away and it gets old being stuck inside all day. I take him to work on Mondays in order to go to Moms group. He also has to use the van for delivering pizzas. Not great on gas mileage to use a minivan.

Yesterday I got a call from someone from church. I will keep their names quiet because sometimes people don't want these things to get out because they don't want credit, they want to remain anonymous. She told me that her dad had gotten a new car and wanted to give us his old car. Just give it to us! I have heard of that happening to other people-it happened to Nick's cousin a few years ago, but it never happened to us! A car is a HUGE thing to just give away! It's old, an 89 Toyota Camry, but it's been well taken care of. I've heard great things about Toyotas running for many many years if they are taken care of. The car is being delivered to us today. I had forgotten about this prayer because we thought the answer was the Topaz, but apparently God remembered our prayers and had another answer in mind. We'll have to get it insured and get the registration done, but not a big deal when we get a free car!

Way Back Whensday

Raechel, who's blog I found through Christine, started Way Back Whensday for blogs. A way to remember the past and move forward into the future. I think it's a fabulous idea...though I'm a day late.

My Way Back Whensday is about my sweet Kylee Nichol. Kylee arrived on September 20, 2006, at 35 weeks, 6 days gestation. We found out at 32 weeks that my fluid levels were very low and my placenta was aging too fast. She was almost born on September 13 (my sister's birthday), but my levels came up enough to keep her in there another week. I had my levels checked for the final time on Tuesday, September 19, and was immediately sent for an induction. This was the LONGEST single experience I can think of. From the start of my induction to the end, it was 34 1/2 hours. They started my pitocin at double the amount they usually do. By 11 pm (started at 11:30 am) it was at the highest possible dosage and nothing was happening. They stopped that, gave me cervadil, and let me eat something-FINALLY! The next morning I had finally progressed enough to get an epidural. The light contractions were very uncomfortable. I didn't get to eat anything but popsicles all day, which all kept coming back up. They had to break my water for me. I finally got to start pushing at 9 pm. It is hard work pushing when you've had little sleep and no food! After what seemed like forever, Kylee was finally born at 10:02 pm on September 20. She was much bigger than we all thought at 6lbs 11oz. They said she probably would have been 8 1/2 to 9 lbs had she gone to 40 weeks. She was very healthy, was only under oxygen (precautionary only) for an hour. I was up and moving the next day, walking the halls when Kylee was in the nursery for her antibiotic. She went home with us less than 48 hours after delivery, very healthy, and with no limitations like staying in with her.

Kylee and me, the day we went home

Kylee hooked up to her monitors.

Immediately after birth.

Prayer

Sometimes it's better to take a step back and do nothing. Well, except pray. We have a few situations going on right now and that is all I can do. Situation #1 I can't do anything about anyway. It's just one of those things that happens and you have no control over it. Nothing that affects other people, just one of those things in life you'd rather not have to worry about. Literally. Situation #2 I have control over, but it's the process of figuring out the right thing to do. Situation #3 is really nothing I have control over either. We're looking into renting a house in Kankakee and it would be TOTALLY fabulous!!! Seriously, it would fit our family's needs so much more. It's all in God's hands, but I'm praying if we don't get it, someone like us, who needs more space for a little less money, will get it. An added bonus is we'd be close to the Case's and we like them! Kylee talked about Jack and Baylor for days after Christine watched them for a couple hours one afternoon. Situation #4 isn't a huge deal, just something I'm learning to leave up to God. Just something I want.

Well, all of it has to be left up to God because, well, let's face it. If I try to do too much, I may screw up what God has planned. I don't want to do that.

I'm trying to remember a quote I read once. I can't remember in which book I read it, but it is

Prayer is effective and loaded with grace.
when confronted with an overwhelming circumstance, we say, "All we can do is pray." It is enough. It is more than enough. It unlocks the presence and power of God himself.

I know God hears my prayers. I just don't always like the answers to them. Sometimes I forget that God knows best and think I know better. Sometimes I forget that I only see a tiny window of life, where as God sees the entire picture. I often forget that God knows me better than I know myself. I even forget that he really does love me sometimes. But like parents, God gives us answers that are the best for us either for now or someday, not necessarily the ones we really want to hear. I will admit that I really hope I like the answers to these prayers though!

Prayers

We got some information today that could be a great thing for us. We are trying not to get our hopes up about it because it could just as easily slip away. We are praying diligently about this, and ask that anyone who might read this pray as well. We heard about a house today this would fit our needs much better than our current home. It's less money with a whole lot more space. I got an email from the home-owner and they are doing interviews for this. Interviews make me so nervous, but I am leaving this in God's hands as we wait.

I am just SO STINKING IMPATIENT! God sure has a sense of humor!