Happy New Year!

It is so hard to believe that 2009 is already here...what happened to '08 right?! I hope that all of you had a wonderful New Year's. Mine is off to a great start...I just got home from "Girls Weekend" with 5 out of 6 of my bestest friends...we miss you Deecer (whose all the way in Lubbock, TX). It was so much fun hanging out with my girlfriends with no agenda. We ate lots of junk food, watched movies, talked and talked and talked, played games and were lazy all weekend. It was great! I'm glad to be back home with my hubby, but it's so nice to be able to get away and spend time with the girls too! Hopefully we can get away like this 2-3 times a year. Every girl needs time with her bestest girlfriends! Now we are staring our "Weight Lose Challenger" with a bunch of friends to shed all the extra weight gained over the holidays and girls weekend. I feel like I've got some good help on my side since joining and learning about Weight Watchers last year and exercise will be a lot easier with my eliptical and my new Wii Fit...which is awesome! I'm sure I'll keep you posted on the "Weight Lose Challenge."

Now we are all settled in back at home and the reality of the real world is closing in...fast. It's back to work for me tomorrow...which will be tough for two reason, one being I haven't had to get up early for 2 weeks, and the other being that it's Jackson's birthday. Jackson would be 2 years old tomorrow, and it just blows my mind how fast time has flown by. This time two years ago I was in the hospital anticipating holding my newborn son in my arms. I never thought it would be 4 days before I held him...it seemed like forever. There are so many things that changed the minute Jackson entered the world...it is amazing to me how Joseph and I have changed because of him. I know many couples struggle when they lose a child, and I'm not going to deny that Joseph and I didn't have problems, but I feel our marriage and our life is so much better now because of what that little boy did for us, and lots of you too! Last year we tried going out to dinner with a bunch of people, and that was tough, so this year we are going to go to my parent's house for dinner. Joseph and I also have gift certificates for massages, and we were going to do that tomorrow, but I think we'll hold off until the weekend. So that will be a nice way for us to spend time together remembering our baby boy. The pain and thoughts never go away, but I think this year is a lot better then last year was at this time. Never gone, just easier...

So...I'm off to bed (before 9 for the first time in weeks) because it's back to the real world tomorrow. Thanks for checking in on us, and tomorrow please say an extra prayer for us as we go through another heavy hearted day without our Jackson. Until next time, as always, please REMEMBER JACKSON!

Nichole