Oops, again...

Once again I failed my two blog followers! I had every intention of posting before Christmas, and well, surprise, surprise, I ran out of time. Show some mercy though...we had 7 stops in 2 days, and 1 stop was 3+ hours away!

I hope that each of you had a wonderful Christmas. Ours was rather perfect. Joseph and I are so blessed to have such wonderful friends and family to spend the holidays with. The presents are nice, but the time with family and friends is priceless!

It's hard to believe that the first half of my vacation is gone...only one week left, and it's packed full, of course. We will ring in the New Year with our "peeps" (who else?!) and then the guys and girls will say goodbye and head off for guys weekend and girls weekend-YAY! The boys have probably put too much on their plate...as for the girls...food, drinks, movies, food, games, food, food, and girl talk, what more do you need?!

I would like to think that I will update again before the New Year, but I know I won't. We got a Wii...it's much more fun, so blogging may take a back seat. I wanted to take a minute to reflect on '08...it is hard for us to look back and see once again that our prayers for a healthy child were not answered, but we are ok with that and know there is a plan. We are just waiting to fulfill the plan that has already been made for us. On our lovely 3 hour ride home we were trying to think of a catchy '09 phrase. I'll entertain you with some ideas for the "Hedgepeth Motto 2009 Edition":

*'09 is mine (and then I thought ours, so that didn't work)
* My swimmers will shine in '09 (who was the author of that one?!)
I came back with...*My eggs are fine, your swimmers are fine, we will shine in '09

And finally, we came up with a little poem...enjoy!

We thought that '08 would be great...we never thought we'd have to wait till '09.
My husband is fine, along with his swimmers.
My eggs are fine, just waiting for swimmers.
In 2009 we will shine,
and KICK SMA IN THE BEHIND!

It was late...that's my only excuse. One thing that I do know about 2009...Joseph and I will be together through every step of the way. And we look forward to living the blessed life that we have with our family and friends. I guess we'll say goodbye to 2008, and we look forward to sharing our journey with you through 2009!

Have a safe and HAPPY NEW YEAR! As always, please REMEMBER JACKSON!

Nichole

A Blasted Ear Infection

Who would have thought that an ear infection would almost knock me off my feet?! The doctor confirmed with my wonderful school nurse predicted on Thursday, an ear infection. I use to have them a lot as a child, but never as an adult, and it really hurts. My lympnode on my right side is so swollen it is given me a sore throat, hence why I thought strep. I have to take Tylenol every 4-5 hours just so I can eat and drink without so much pain. All from a stinking ear infection!

Anyway...who cares about the ear infection because I am on WINTER BREAK! YAY! I'm very excited for the break because I (and my class) need a break. Things were crazy this week, but I'm so proud of the people I work with and the students at my school. A fellow teacher had a son back in October, Hudson, who was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis, and we decided to do a fundraiser for them. I know what it's like, so I wanted to help anyway possible. We were able to raise $515 in one week for the family by taking pictures with Santa. It was wonderful to see, and I know the family will really appreciate it. Our really cool principal is also getting in on it, and letting us wear jeans the week we get back by paying $5! So, one less thing to worry about that first week...which is going to be tough considering I go back on January 5th, which would have been Jackson's second birthday-wow time flies!

Alright...I'm off to get ready. We are heading out to dinner and a movie with our "peeps." Hope everyone is well. And we'll talk before Christmas! Until next time, REMEMBER JACKSON!

Nichole

It figures

I was boasting earlier this week about how I have not missed a day of work because I was sick (minus the hives and infected eye issues). This is a big accomplishment for me, considering my first 4 years of teaching I missed at least 48 days because of sickness (and the whole "compromised immune system" issue). Anyway, payback is no fun! I'm off to the doctor because I have come down with something. We hope not strep throat, since I'm not even suppose to get it since I had my tonsils out (that's what they told me years ago...and you'll never guess what happen...yup, I got it). I'm leaning more towards a bad ear infection, since it hurts to open my mouth and stuff, and my school nurse, who takes very good care of me, says it's pretty rough looking. Fun fun! So...since I have the greatest luck in the world as we all know, it looks like my Christmas vacation is going to be spent taking meds. Of course!

Not to Happy Hedge

Are you suppose to update a blog?!

I know...almost a month since I've sat down and blogged. It's been crazy, which is always my excuse, but hey, it's the truth. Last I posted, someone had gotten my check card number in Spain, and we thought we had caught it in time. We didn't...$1500 cleared my checking account and my card was captured on a Friday afternoon leaving us with zero access to cash money...which was not fun since we were headed to the Christmas Show aka "Christmas Heaven" with no check cards or cash. Lucky for us, most places took other cards. My main goal at the Christmas show this year was to by the ceramic tree that lights up. My Grandma Cook always use to have one, and this year, I wanted it for some reason...I guess she was on my mind. So...I got it and added it to my collection of awesome decorations.

I love Christmas...everything about it...the decorating, getting cards, buying for others, spending time with family and friends, the music, finding the perfect REAL tree-everything! After Thanksgiving while all the crazy people were out shopping (that is one thing I do not participate in-I sleep) Joseph and I were headed up to the mountains with some friends to go on the hunt for the perfect Christmas tree. Saturday morning we headed out...and it took forever to find the place, but when we did, the drive was worth it. The trees were awesome, so then the search began. I had added stress this year because I was in charge of buying a tree for Michelle and Adam-that's a lot of pressure. We found their tree pretty quickly, but we struggled with ours. It was so cold up there and finally we just had to pick one. It is the perfect size and shape-it's just perfect! And I know Shell and Adam like theirs too...thank goodness!

I also celebrated another birthday while I was on my little blog hiatus...28 whopping years old now. And of course we celebrated it the same as always, a birthday dinner at none other then Nakatos. It was a great birthday. Joseph planned the dinner and afterwards for everyone to come over for cake and ice cream. My cake had a picture of my three boys on it-Rocky, Charlie and Tripp. Apparently I always say I could just eat them up, so we literally did! It was great!

Speaking of my three babies...they are now unable to reproduce. That was a big headache. We were able to get them fixed through the Humane Society, but the vet will only do one Humane Society animal a day. So...three trips to the vet, which was a choir because the cat getting fixed could not have food or water, so the others had to suffer. And then the cat coming home couldn't eat or drink, so they all had to suffer. Since all the surgeries they now eat all of their food all the time...I think they are worried that we won't feed them or something! It was really funny to see how each cat reacted after surgery...they all pretty much followed their personalities. Tripp came home still loopy and just walked around kinda confused, Charlies was biting the cage and clawing at me trying to get out on the way home-and on the counter the minute the cage opened looking for food, and Rocky just kind of cam home, checked things out and climbed in bed to sleep.

Funny crazy cat story, and then I'm done-almost! Yesterday Joe and I are decorating the outside and we decide to add one last minute detail. It required him going up the very top of the house and me on the roof of the porch. So...we climb out a second story window onto the porch roof and Joe climbs up to the top on a ladder that I hold for him. He's hanging the lights and all of a sudden yells Orange Kitty (Tripp) who is now on the roof with me! I'm scared to go to the edge-wimpy I know-so I'm trying to call him over and then around the side comes Rocky. Two cats on the roof with a scared Mom and a Dad on the very top of the house. As I'm holding the ladder for Joe to come down they are climbing in the gutters and running from us-yikes! Joe catches them, we secure them inside and drama over, but it was crazy. Apparently I forgot to close the screen completely...oops!

And finally...as many of you who follow my useless blog decorate for Christmas I hope you are pleasantly surprised when you find Jackson's ornament. I have heard so many stories about how many didn't remember the box and wondered what was inside. I have been told some smiled as they hung that cutie on their tree and some cried a few tears. I just hope that as you celebrate Christmas you can take a minute to say a special little prayer for that precious angel. He was absolutely amazing. We miss him everyday. If you have a story to share...please do share. I love hearing how each person remembers him. Also...if you didn't get a Jackson ornament and would like one, just let me know. I have a couple left.

Alright...that's all for now! I'm off to my Mom's for a yummy dinner. I hope that you enjoy this holiday season and enjoy the time you have with your family and friends. As always, please Remember Jackson. Until next time...

Nichole