Phoebe's 3rd Birthday Party - SpongeBob

We had Phoebe's 3rd birthday party at our house in Texas. Everyone was there, it turned out great!! We had Phoebe's bounce house out. Hardly any kids messed with the swing / playhouse, they all wanted to jump! The party was Spongebob themed and we had the cutest cake!





We had the Mudpie Company make a birthday cake for Phoebe and everyone signed the back of it. The plate turned out great! But they neglected to tell me that there's a certain pen that you need to write on it (they told me a regular marker would work and it didn't!) So Ms. Jude was very sweet to go run to Mudpie and buy the pen for me. After everyone signs the plate with the "special" pen, you let it dry for 24 hours and then bake it in the oven for 30 minutes. I was really impressed with the job they did on this plate!

Phoebe's Christmas Program 12.8.08

This was Phoebe's first time on stage and she did fantastic! If you can't tell, she's the one all the way on the right, in a red dress.

Visit to the ER

Around 9:30 on Sunday night Phoebe was climbing down from our bed to go potty. Her foot got caught in the sheet and she fell off the bed backwards. She hit the corner of my nightstand and screamed and cried so loud. My heart was broken! She had a huge lump come out and I was a little concerned because it was so big. We kept her up for almost an hour. On the way to drop her off to the sitter in the morning, she was nodding out. I began freaking out but convinced myself that I was worrying too much and scaring myself. So I told Ms. Jude (the sitter) what happened and to call me if anything doesn't seem right with her. Well she ended up calling me saying she felt warm and didn't look well in her eyes. I freaked! I left work and went to pick her up from Mother's Day Out, Michael left work as well. When I got there she was so energetic and talkative, you'd swear nothing was wrong... so I calmed down. We went and had lunch then went to Urgent Care. Well they cannot check and/or treat any head injuries... so off to the ER we went. When they finally called us back, they said only ONE parent could go back with her! Are you kidding me? I cannot be with my child, who has a head injury????!!! I was furious! But thankfully all turned out fine. They said since she wasn't showing any symptoms (vomiting, extreme tiredness, etc) that they weren't even going to do an MRI. So that was my birthday, but the best gift of all was to hear that she was okay! Michael stopped and bought me flowers and a cake... so sweet! Him and Phoe sang happy birthday to me that evening and we had cake and ice cream. The cake was super yummmmmy! :) As you can see from Phoebe's face (click on pic to view it larger)...

Thanksgiving Trip to LA & MS 2008

We drove in to spend Thanksgiving with our families. We spent Thanksgiving Day with my family and then Friday with Michael's family. Everyone got to spend a good bit of time with Phoebe. There were many kids that were around for Thanksgiving by Angel's.. so Phoebe had lots of kids to play with, there were 2 huge spacewalks outside that they spent most of the day and night jumping around in. And then she had a blast riding the 4 wheeler (aka motorbike) with PawPaw, chasing MawMaw around the house, making glitter ornaments with Mommy and MawMaw, petting the deer (Christmas decorations) on the lawn all day and then getting scared when they lit up at night! MawMaw Tess and PawPaw Mike had a cake and gifts ready Friday to celebrate my birthday, Phoebe's, Mikey's and CP's!

She loved their yard, riding in the wagon with the pig, riding the 4 wheeler with PawPaw, picking up leaves to make a stew with MawMaw... she had a good time.

Here she is putting PawPaw to work:






And PawPaw put her to work (picking up leaves)!


It was a full and fun couple of days. We headed back early Saturday and made it home Saturday night (tonight). Once we got home Michael took down the Christmas decorations from the attic and I attempted to get started. But I think the drive had worn me out because for the first time ever, I wasn't in a festive mood. I know that will change as soon as I get up tomorrow though, I think I'm just worn out! That being said, I think I'm going to bed! Good nite :)

Missing my China Girl

Missing my China Girl
Current mood:sad

Well it's been a little over 4 months since we said goodbye to China. And I must say, it hasn't begun to get easier. Whenever I think or write about her, I get upset. That being said, I push the thoughts from my mind pretty often. Then I feel guilty for not thinking of her. What am I supposed to do? I know that I should let it out and allow myself to heal but it hurts. She was my baby, so sweet, loyal, loving. We had a picture of her blown up to a 30x40 and placed her right next to our family picture which is the same size. It turned out beautiful but I can't look at it very often.

I just needed to let that out, I really haven't talked about it since she passed.

Daycares

I HATE THEM! (and I don't use the word hate very often) This is Phoebe's 3rd daycare and nothing is different. The first one - I picked her up one day and she had brush burns on her face and a black eye ... they said that she fell off of a toy. The 2nd one, here in Texas... she was bit 4 or 5 times since moving to this one class a couple months ago. So we moved her to a new daycare, she's been there maybe 2 weeks. Today is Thursday and it was her first day there this week, Michael picked her up and she was bit today. She was bit twice last week in the same day. I know that Phoebe doesn't start fights or instigate things, I've asked the centers. It's just the teachers not watching the kids. But this doesn't surprise me because her teacher at this center is the same one from the last daycare. She's not going back, we're done. It breaks my heart because ever since she got bit the last time at the other center, she has cried every morning that I've dropped her off at daycare. I feel so guilty because it's like she was trying to tell us something, like she was scared.




We're in the process of interviewing a sitter and I met her at Starbucks today and we talked about an hour. I really liked her and think that I could trust her. She's going to come by Saturday to meet Phoebe. She wants to meet her where Phoe would feel most comfortable. I truly hope that we can get this process going and that Phoebe really likes and trusts her rather quickly...so we can get her started soon. Phoebe's not going back to daycare, Tammy will watch her next week until we get started with the sitter. If it's possible, avoid putting your child in daycare.

General Blogging

General Blogging
Current mood:drained

7/25/08 - I feel so overwhelmed. I have no time to clean my house, spend with my daughter or hubby, organize things, cook, it feels like all I do is work work work. I'm always making up time. Well hopefully that will all come to an end soon because I am expecting this coming weekend to be my last trip to Nola for a while. Let's hope hope hope! After that, I am going back to my old schedule, this 9/80 schedule is not suitable for someone with a kid / family. If you're single, it'll probably work out great for you! I live with guilt, which makes you eat eat eat... so I'm also unhappy because of my weight. I went on a diet and exercised 4 times a week for 3 months and couldn't lose the weight. Then I began the 9/80 schedule so I had no time to spend with the family or work out. Then my house needs cleaning, but if I try to clean, I feel guilty because that time should be spent with my family. If I'm spending time with my family, I feel guilty for letting the house go. So we're trying to work out a solution. I'm stopping the 9/80 schedule and we're going to have someone come in to clean for me. I think this will be extremely helpful for all of us. This way I'll be able to focus on my family without any guilt for a dirty house, which in turn should reduce the guilt and stress, which should help me with my weight. And above all, I am hoping not to be so edgy anymore. My moods affect more than I see. So here's to hoping things will begin to look up soon!

7/29/08 - So things may begin to look up. We hired someone today that will come in every other week to clean the house. And we are going to the gym tomorrow for a tour and get info and schedules of the classes offered. And I went back to my old schedule today, 8 hrs a day, 5 days a week.

7/30/08 - Yep, things are looking up, we signed a 2 year contract with the gym today. Net is determined to get in shape! My breaking point... the first thing someone said to me when they saw me after about 18 years --- "man you've put on some weight!!!" Not to mention the 7 people that have asked me if I was expecting! (yes, I'm counting!)

8/1/08 - A lady came in (brought a helper) to clean the house. They were here 2.5 hours and said that I was going to love it. I came home at lunch and it was HORRIBLE. I obviously had to fire them, too bad I had already paid them. GGRRRR!

8/11/08 - I found someone else on Kingwood Jobs, she came by today and gave us a quote, she'll be coming in Wednesday to do a deep clean so we'll see how it goes!

8/13/08 - Rachel, the new lady, did an EXCELLENT job! Everything was shining, she moved everything to dust / clean, I had not one complaint! Not to mention she was done, with the deep clean, in 4 hours!

8/16/08 - Had a dinner party in honor of Faud's bday but Faud & Shan didn't make it because Faud wasn't feeling good. But the Philiberts, Bartholomews, Mom and Aggie came, and it turned out well.

8/17/08 - Relaxing day at home. Mikey cut the grass and I took Phoebe for a bike ride and to the park to play.

8/18/08 - 8/22/08 - Worked all week, Mikey worked late twice so I went to pick Phoe up from daycare. Phoebe started a new daycare, LaPetite Academy on Monday, 8/18... turns out Kayla from Country Schoolhouse will be teaching Phoebe's class. Phoe cried when I dropped her off, I called a few mins later when I got to work and they said she was singing and dancing, it was music time... by the end of the week she seemed happy. Friday - Tam had a jewelery show for her friend Amy, started at 7 and ended a little after 9. I ordered Phoe some silver earrings :) Saturday - another relaxing day at home, Mikey cut grass and I took Phoe to the park again but we got to stay a bit longer since we sprayed on OFF before going! Phoe didn't have a nap today so she fell asleep around 7, me and Mikey rearranged the desk / office area. When we were done with that, I began scanning documents (trying to go paperless since I'm such a pack rat!) and he played his game. I'll probably try and catch up on organizing the house some more tomorrow.

RIP Grandpa Gioia

Joseph C. Gioia Sr. of Slidell entered eternal rest on Aug. 2, 2008, at the age of 78. He is survived by his devoted wife of 60 years, Eleanor Barrios Gioia. He was the father of Adeline Walsh, Linda Hughes, Joseph Gioia Jr., Michael Gioia Sr., Dominick Gioia Sr. and Penny Erato; brother of Mary Galland, Phillip Gioia and Catherine Russo; and son of the late Carlo J. Gioia and Lena Maltese Gioia. He is also survived by 14 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives. Gioia was a resident of St. Bernard Parish until August 2005. The family would like to extend a special thanks to Hospice Care of Slidell. Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend the funeral mass at Honaker Funeral Home, 1751 Gause Blvd. W., Slidell,, at 1 p.m. today. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Interment will follow in Forest Lawn Cemetery. Arrangements by Honaker Funeral Home, Inc., Slidell.