Ahhhhh- turns to C-R-A-P!

We're home now and I'm so glad. We had a fantastic time while we were there but my body must have sensed our departure coming and it (my body) started to protest. In a big way!

The morning we were packing to go home I started feeling a little crummy. Like a cold was coming on. No big deal. We load the car and head to the airport. I took a Zyrtec AND a Clariton D. OOPS! I didn't mean to take both. I'm just a ding a ling. I was zombie tired but managed to stay coherent.

We get to the airport and sit down for lunch. Nothing sounds good and I'm FREEZING. I eat some soup. Didn't taste good. I felt just plain blah! We get on the plane and I'm really hurting. I feel cold and achy. Amelia, our perfect little airplane lap passenger decides to have her first extremely fussy flight. Great. I'm feeling sick and my baby is one big frustrated muscle just wiggling uncontrollably. Nathan has his hands full and he's stuck in the middle seat. I feel like I'm burning up so I take my temp. Yep- I'm BURNING UP. 105.4 degree temp. Nope, not kidding. I was so freaked out and so was Nathan. I prayed I wouldn't have a seizure. We called for the flight attendant to come over for help. She asked if we'd like her to page a Dr. on board and we said YES! Turns out the lady next to Nathan was a Dr. Thank you, God! She advised me to eat and to take 800 mg of ibuprofen. I did and waited patiently. As patiently as one could with 105 degree temp and a fussy baby. Amelia needed a diaper change so Nathan went to the spacious airplane bathroom and changed Amelia. I sat there and tried to remain calm. I downed glass after glass of water and the flight staff brought me a barf bag filled with ice chips, water and a wash cloth. I kept that on my head, face and neck and that helped cool me down. My temp went down a degree about every 40 minutes. We landed in Houston 30 minutes late and it settled around 101 to 102.

Long story longer, we get home get me to bed and went to the dr the next day. I have strep. Now, it's Saturday night and my throat still hurts but no fever. I'm on the mend. Thank goodness. More "Ahhhhh" pics tomorrow.

Ahhhhhhhhh

We're still in Mexico and life is soooooo good here. I've been brainstorming ways we could stay here and make a living so we could be close to all this beauty. The ocean is so blue. A beautiful turquoise. Nathan has gone snorkeling a couple of times and tomorrow is my turn. Amelia isn't quite ready to put on her flippers and mask just yet.

Our flight was great. We were in 1st class on the way here. I've never flown 1st class. Seats are roomier and you get a pretty decent meal plus alcohol. Doesn't everyone have a little vodka with their cranberry juice at 9:30 am when on vacation?I giggled to myself when the stewardess commented"Getting started a little early, huh?". She's just jealous!Amelia already has a couple of flights under her belt. She did great on her first international flights, too. She sleeps really well especially if there's a lot of turbulence.

When we landed in Cancun we went to baggage claim and discovered Larry and Mary Grace had no luggage. Aye,aye,aye! That's why Natthan and I try to always "carry on".

We got our car rental and started on our way to Tulum. We stopped in Playa for lunch and made it to the house around 3. OMG! The house is amazing. It belongs to Jo's partner at Smith Barney and he lets her use it every year for her birthday. This is her 3rd year celebrating her birthday at Casa Maravilla. Check out their website. Our pictures are really great but all the info is here.

On this trip we have the Jo, the birthday girl-

Becky and Jim-Larry and Mary Grace-And, Yours Truly-On Sunday, we pretty much got settled and stayed in. We got our suits and hit the beach and pool. Those were the pics in yesterdays post. Yesterday we woke up and had a yummy breakfast and then went swimming and to the beach. Amelia had a little fever so I kept her inside while Nathan went out to play and then we switched. She's feeling fine, just a little temp. Maybe because of her teeth coming in.

Monday, today, we went to Tulum walked around the ruins. Most of the pics of our friends are from there.
It was overcast so it wasn't too hot.


This house is a private house in the middle of Soliman Bay. When you walk out the back door, this is what you see. The amazing pool.

The kitchen....To Be Continued. My friends want to use the laptop.....

Casa Maravilla

quick post with one finger typing...

feeding amelia.
on vacation in tulum, mx.
having a great time.

amelia's first time in the ocean...

First time in the pool.....

Daddy and Amelia relaxing on the hammock just outside the backdoor of the house...just steps away from the beach!

Jo and Jim updating their status on FB. So funny!

UTSA Extravaganza

Last Friday night I went to UTSA's Division of Music Extravaganza event. Extravaganza is a night for music majors to be recognized and share music with collegues and friends. Jo came in town from Houston and we met Karen and Helen. The evening was fun as we caught up with old friends and professors. We had planned to go out for a ladies cocktail after the event was over but instead, we were invited to Dr. Silantien's home. It was great catching up with him and the girls. Doc was a gracious host and we all reminiced of our days singing with him. He was my choir director, my conducting II professor and the mentor that took me and 15 other college students to Brazil my senior year. The UTSA Madrigal singers went to Rio and Sao Paulo. What an amazing trip! I'll post pictures of that trip soon. I need to scan them first.

Viva Fiesta

Fiesta has once again come and gone. It was fun while it lasted. Nathan and I worked NIOSA on Tuesday of last week. We worked the Yak-i-tori chicken booth with the McDonald's and the Boyle's. We had a great time except for my allergies. We worked the early shift and finished at 7:45 and walked around a bit and ate and then came home. Leslie watched Amelia for us and she said Amelia was "perfect". She ate when I said she would and she went to bed without any problems. Leslie is a baby whisperer and has that special touch.

Last Thursday the Concordia Child Care Center put on their annual Fiesta Parade. I always go and watch it but this year was special. My sweet daughter was in it! Her class chose to dress up 60's style and their cribs were decorated like little V W Bugs. She wore a white peasant blouse and jeans with her little bare feet. I put a big flower in her hair, too.

You can see our little sweetie standing in her crib. She looks like she thinks this whole shindig is for her. Cute!

The picture below is of Amelia's 4 teachers. These ladies are a blessing to us and we are so thankful for them. Ms. Aneliese, Ms. Nicole, Ms. Joanne and Ms. Teresa....thank you so much for all you do and for loving our little girl.

Easter 2010

We had a great day celebrating Easter this year. It started EARLY for me like it always does. I got up to work around 4am to help with Sunrise service preparations. We had to set up the altar, chairs, music gear, power, etc. It was misting a little but we kept our fingers crossed hoping it would stop but it didn't. We ended up putting everything back and the Sunrise service was inside. Bummer! There's something so special about Easter Sunrise service when it's outside. The service starts in the dark and I cannot describe the feeling. I like to imagine what it was like on that first Holy week and first Easter morning when Jesus rose from the grave. When Mary and Mary went to the tomb and found it empty, realizing that Jesus did beat death and the devil. What a privilege to worship and serve. I wasn't "put out" or "inconvenienced" by having to wake before the crack of dawn. It's the least I can do and I'm honored to serve. When the service was getting ready to start I headed for home to see my two sweeties wake up for the day. We got ready and went to church at 11. We sat with the Hamann's and the girls did a great job. I had to take Amelia out a couple of times because she thought she should help preach. I guess that's what she thought....she was wanting to talk a lot!

What a handsome daddy....
We went to see Granny and wish her a Happy Easter and after that we went to Mom's. She had a great meal planned for us and beautiful Easter baskets for the girls. It reminded me of Easter mornings at home when I was little. Mom always made Easter baskets for us even when we were well into our twenties. Amelia's basket had a huge duck that was bright, bright yellow. She loved it almost as much as she loved the fake Easter grass and cellophane that covered
the basket.

HAPPY EASTER!

8 Months Old

How can this be? Amelia is 8 months old TODAY! Thank goodness for this milestone. It's helping me make this post. I've been so distracted with life that I've been neglecting my blog. First, let me tell you about Amelia.

This has been a big month filled with exciting changes. She's been toying with the idea of crawling for about 3 weeks now but rocking back and forth on all fours has been all she's attempted until this last Wednesday. On her Uncle Tommy's birthday, she crawled. I mean a REAL crawl. Right, left, right left, hands, knees...the whole enchilada! I was playing with her on the floor watching Matt and Meredith report the morning news when I looked down at her. She was focused on her paci that was on the other side of the room and then all of a sudden, my little baby crawled. As if that wasn't enough, the next day on my birthday, she pulled up in her crib at school and also in the play area. She's getting to be such a big girl! Here's my list of accomplishments for Miss Amelia....

*CRAWLING- 04-21-2010
*Pulling up-04-22-2010
*Eating more new foods like honey dew, yogurt, pineapple and puffs. It's so cute to see her little chubby hands pick up a puffed snack and put it in her own little mouth.
*Saying ma-ma-ma-ma and ba-ba-ba-ba
*She gets really excited when she sees her grandparents and aunts and uncles and cousins
*The momma cling is starting to set in. When I walk into her room at school to feed her I find her happy and entertained but as soon as she makes eye contact with me she starts to cry. Sometimes its just the opposite. She'll see me and her little legs start kicking.

Amelia, Mommy and Daddy love you so much and we are so blessed to be your parents. You are so special and we love watching discover new things and grow. We pray for you everyday- for you to be strong, sweet, confident and happy in all you do. Keep doing what you're doing! We love you!