My Wii

I love my Nintendo Wii. I received it as a Christmas present from my husband this past Christmas. I've always been one to enjoy simple video games but playing the Wii is a whole new kind of fun. I don't just sit on the couch and stare at the TV, I actually get up and get into it. My brother really likes to make fun of me because I do get really into it, but it's hard not to. When I play Wii Sports I turn into an athlete, when I play Guitar Hero I turn into a rock star, when I play Mario Kart I turn into a race car driver, well, you get the picture. It's something we can all do together that involves exercise until the weather gets warm and we can finally go outside again. Then, bring on the badminton.

A lot of baggage

I got to thinking about the difference between me now and me 10 years ago. I'm still the same person but with a lot more baggage, literally.

Me 10 years ago:
Carrying the smallest purse I could find if any purse. Cash and my ID in my back pocket was all I needed.

Me now:
I have a few different bags. My diaper bag full of diapers, medicine, toys and food. I have my "big bag" which I keep in my car that has my video camera, computer cords, other medicine (just in case), wipes, toys, extra batteries, important medical papers, an extra toothbrush, first aid kit, barrettes, deck of cards, hairbrush, makeup, and more. Then there is my purse which contains my camera, a bottle (It's my sisters, Hannah has been off them for over a year), my grocery list, my glasses and contact case, sunscreen, work notepad, wallet, phone, mortgage calculator, gum, pens and pencils, picture book of all the kids, receipts, crossword puzzle book, headset for phone, mirror, tissue, allergy medicine, hand sanitizer, check book, occasionally a sock, floss and keys. That's just today. I really try and clean out the stuff I don't "need" on a weekly basis. I also take my laptop home a couple times a week which is just another bag that I need to carry along with my bag of files.

I can't leave home without these things. I just don't get it, I used to get along just fine with nothing. No wonder I'm 10 times more stressed today then I was back then. I just need to get rid of some of my baggage.

Why Carlos Why??

I along with my husband and family am a huge Jazz fan. I'm still sad inside about the loss Friday night. I proudly wear my Carlos Boozer jersey, but in a fit of rage Friday night I had to tear it off and stomp on it. I just don't understand what happened to him in the playoffs. Maybe it was just too much pressure, but come on, he's an all star. Not that I am blaming him for our losses but he definitely didn't play like he should of. As a Carlos Boozer fan I am disappointed. This is not to say that I still won't proudly sport my Boozer jersey but lets just hope he gets over what ever it is before we make it to the playoffs next year (because we better). That's all, I just had to get it off my chest.

The Fam

This is my husband Daniel. He has been the love of my life for nearly seven years now. My how time flies. We just meshed from the beginning. Not in a "we're exactly alike" kind of way, but more that where one lacks the other picks up. Yes, like every normal couple there are days where we want to hurt each other, but we just seem to understand each other. I let him sleep in on the weekends even though I think it's a big no-no, and he knows that if I have to ask him a third time to do something all hell is going to break loose. You learn that kind of stuff living with someone so long. He is an amazing piano player. That is not the only reason I keep him around. He really makes me laugh a lot. Well at least I laugh at him a lot. He doesn't find me nearly as funny as I think I am but that's ok. He's been offered a job for the FDIC that he will start this summer and we're all very excited and proud of him. He loves that accounting. Don't ask me why. I've never met anyone that wants to take care of me more than he does. He always puts my needs before his, and it's just too sweet. Now if I could only get him to read my mind, now that would make life even better.

This is my Emma. She is five and full of life. A curious little thing that is always asking questions. I always thought I was pretty smart but she comes up with questions that I sometimes can't answer. Most the time I just end up telling her "because, that's why". She gets to start kindergarten this fall and all though she is really excited, just thinking about it makes me want to cry. Don't ask me why I'm not a real mushy person but it's just a big step. She loves to sit with me and watch the news. Well, at least an edited by mom version of the news. She recently told me that "the news knows everything, but sometimes they guess on the weather". She gets really upset when they put up a big sun for tomorrow and then the next day I tell her it's too cold to wear her flip flops. She is such a good big sister to Hannah. She loves playing with her and is always willing to help take care of her.

This is my two year old Hannah. We like to call her Hannah Bo or Bo Bo. Her grandpa once asked me if we called her Hannah Bo like Hannah Bo Peep. I had to tell him no, it started with Hannah Bo Lecter. It just flows. She looks just like her daddy. She loves following Emma around and doing everything she does. She thinks she is so big. I always call her my knuckle head or stink bug. She always calls me the same thing just to make me laugh. She recently came out of her room while she was watching Monsters Inc and told me that she was mad at those monsters because they were so scary. She is going through a phase where everything is "scary". The turned off TV is scary, bugs are scary, dogs are scary, old people are scary. I just don't get it, but hope she gets over it soon. Her favorite thing to watch is Dora or Veggietales and when I tell her that she's watched enough she looks at me with the saddest face and shrugs her arms and says "I don't have anything". It's too cute.

This is me. Although as of two days ago my hair is much shorter and dark red, I love it. I have a confession, I'm a crazy Hanson fan. Yes Hanson as in MmmBop, but like 10 years later. I wasn't a fan in the MmmBop years. The obsession started about the time they put out their Christmas album in about 1997. I brought my sister to Las Vegas last fall to see them in concert, which was amazing. The Killers and Jason Mraz round out my three favorite bands/artists. We spend a lot of time hanging with our families which may seem weird to someone who doesn't like their family but we all get along really well. Me and my siblings all got married in the same year and started having children at the same time so we all just understand each other. We like to be up at my family's cabin in Samak during the summer because it's so nice up there. I spend most of my time with the girls and working. My job as a Loan Officer and Processor keeps me really busy but allows me the freedom to choose my schedule. I wouldn't have it any other way.

It's not like I have a disease . . . Wait, maybe I do??

I don't know how to say this, but I've got a disease. Yep, it sucks but I do. It wasn't anything I "caught" or anything, I guess you can say it was something that I was genetically predisposed to have. It's called Celiac Disease, and no I'm not contagious. Five (or so) years ago I was pregnant with my first baby girl Emma and I was totally normal (well at least I ate normally). After I had her via c-section I began to get sick. I would get horrible stomach cramps and what felt like chest pains and didn't know what was going on. After numerous trips to the ER some *idiot of a Dr decided that it was my gallbladder and said I should have it removed. Yay, my prayers were answered, I was finally going to feel better . . . or not. It didn't help at all, and so then I was recovering from my second surgery in two months and was still sick. I started noticing that I got really sick when I ate bread so I decided to Google "wheat allergy" and see what it told me. It was then I found my answer, I had Celiac Disease. Reading the list of symptoms it was like a list of everything I had been going through. The short explanation of Celiac Disease is that you can't eat anything with Wheat, Rye and Barley. So I printed up the paper and took it to my Dr and said "this is it, test me for it". My blood test was off the charts. I finally figured it out, but it was only the beginning. The Dr I saw at the time was certain that it was it and I needed to go see a GI about it, so I did. Meanwhile my Dr moved. The GI that I saw was an *idiot too. He ran numerous tests and wouldn't make a diagnosis. It was like he was trying to convince me that it wasn't this disease and I was trying to prove it was. I had a genetic test done to see if I had the "gene" for Celiac and that was positive but he told me that that just means I have the gene it doesn't mean it's active. I had an endoscopy with a biopsy done and to this Dr that was the only was it could be proved as Celiac but it came negative. What??? Negative?? The last time I spoke with this Dr he called to give me the results to the biopsy and said "The test is negative but if it makes you feel better to eat a gluten free diet (the diet for someone with Celiac disease) then you should" Which might make some person feel better but all I heard is "you are crazy and it's in your head so if it makes you feel better, than do it, you lunatic" Since that day I've been slowly adapting to the gluten free lifestyle but it's taken many years. I've just started getting the hang of it this year. Trying to find food without wheat has been a challenge. Just think that means no cookies, cakes, pizza, pie, noodles, or bread. And that is just the short short list. Basically I eat meat, fruit and vegetables. It's a healthy diet but try finding something that's fast food that I can eat. Most salads I can't eat the dressings and if they batter my chicken, that's a no-no. I haven't been back to see a Dr about the Celac since that GI many years ago but I know I have this disease so I don't need to prove it to anyone. If I have a meal with the slightest amount of gluten (wheat) my leg instantly brakes out into a rash. I'll know within hours of eating it. No to mention if I'm prescribed something with gluten in it (trust me it happens a lot) I'll be sick for days and get my rash. I have a list of gluten free medications now downloaded in my phone so I can double check when being prescribed anything. And if the list says name brand only that's what I have to get, the generic most times ends up have gluten in it. Anyway, this isn't a plea for anyone's sympathy. When I realized I had this disease I sat down and told myself that I wasn't going to let it get to me. Celiac Disease doesn't define me!! Yea, when my brother tells me that if he couldn't eat pizza he'd kill himself I want to hit him, (don't worry, I don't take it personal, it's just my brother) but I know things could be a lot worse. My husband and children don't seem to mind that the only wheat in the house is a loaf of bread and some tortillas. I always joke that one day my kids are going to have "real" mac and cheese or cookies and wonder why mine always tasted so bad. My five year old Emma already asks me if I'm not eating something (like her birthday cake) if I am allergic to it. She is too smart for her own good. I tell my story because I hate to see anyone else go through it. If you are having stomach problems that you can't figure out and every Dr thinks you are crazy, then maybe you have Celiac too. www.celiac.com


*Maybe idiot is a little harsh, I only say this because they didn't know a thing about Celiac Disease. I don't mean to say they were bad Dr's.

Hello World!!

Hello, and welcome to my world. I'm a 28 yr old mother of 2 that works as a loan officer. That's the very short version of my life but I'm ready to tell you the long one. That's why were all here isn't it, to tell the world our story. Well I must first let you know that I didn't do too well in my English classes so if you have a problem with my grammar or spelling, sorry. My brain goes too fast to care. I hope someone enjoys my rambling on, at least I know my husband will. Anyway, here we go!!