Journal Archive
For the Year 2002

October 24, 2002
My daughter, Lauren is 14-months old today. She will be walking on her own any day now, and she is incredibly cute, especially when she smiles and shows her two little teeth. [Lauren's website] She and my husband keep me very busy, and we're really looking forward to the holidays this year!

May
Well guys, it's official. Hell must have frozen over. I know this because -- we purchased a minivan.....and I actually love it. :) Kevin and I are still a bit bewildered by the reality of the situation, but oh well.

Lauren is growing so quickly! We introduced meats this month, and she has been chowing down on chicken casserole leftovers. Then, she cut her first tooth on Mother's Day, and a second one poked through a couple weeks later. She started crawling, too! She is having a fiesta with her new found mobility. And it has made me keep a cleaner house because I get tired of saying, "Sweetie, you can have the cheerio you found on the floor (even though I don't know how long it's been there), but would you give mommy the dustbunny, please?"

February, March, April
It has been quite a while since I've had time to update the website, but rest assured that we are all doing very well! I debated about how to break up this update into monthly chunks, but it was too difficult. Then I remembered, hey, this is my website, and I don't have to follow the usual format!

Lauren is growing so fast and keeps us busy and entertained. She loves to play in her exersaucer and makes a lot of racket as she bounces up and down. At mealtimes, she has fun playing with whatever finger foods are given to her, and as a result, mealtimes usually require a bath immediately afterward.

There are two weekly playgroups that we sometimes attend, depending on the nap schedule. And I can't say enough nice things about the local moms that I have networked with on an email list. Through it, we have made a lot of new friends in the area.

January
We saw many wonderful fireworks thanks to several of our neighbors. So at Lauren's midnight feeding, she awoke to see small explosions in the sky welcoming 2002. She seemed interested, and the three of us stood in our doorway and enjoyed the show. I promise we will be sending out family photos soon! Kevin has even assembled a special lighting contraption, and the new camera takes amazing pictures. We will set a date for the photo shoot soon!


Journal Archive
For the Year 2001


December - A Family Christmas
This month, we managed to get the house semi-presentable, and we had a big family gathering at our house for Christmas. Everyone helped out in some large or small way which made the day extra special. The most beautiful gift I received was a beautiful diamond band from my husband Kevin. I received many other wonderful presents, too, and it's difficult to say which I love more. Kevin says his favorite is the CPU and CDR drive from me, but somehow I think I got the better deal this year! Lauren seemed a bit overwhelmed with all the hoopla, but she really liked the wrapping paper!

November - A New Home
We moved across town, and we love it! Our old home was in the boonies, which had its own blessings, but now we are enjoying the conveniences of suburbia. It has been difficult caring for a newborn and trying to find extra time for unpacking and getting the house in order. I can't believe the holidays are here, too! One of these days, we will get settled in. For now, countless boxes remain in the black hole, otherwise known as the garage. The only excuse I have is that my daughter just recently starting smiling all the time, and it's her fault for distracting me!

October - Mad Packing Rush
We're in the process of moving to the other side of town, but we haven't made much progress packing. It's hard to find time to pack when a certain little baby has started refusing to take her naps!

September - Adjusting to Motherhood
No matter how little sleep I get, I never grow tired of staring at the beautiful face of my daughter. She is growing right before my eyes, and I want to remember every moment!

August - And Then There Were Three
Our little miracle baby made her arrival two weeks early. Check out these cute baby photos!

July - Another Texas Summer
Summer has hit with a vengeance. We had several days this month of 100+ degree temperatures, which means that I have spent a lot of time indoors...in the air conditioning. I don't even want to think about the electric bill!

June - Exciting Events
This month, Kevin & I went to Philadelphia to attend the annual PCOSA Conference. We were also able to visit with some family and friends while in the area. When we returned from our trip, I was invited to appear on a health-related segment of the morning news for KVUE, an ABC affiliate, to promote PCOS awareness and talk about my local Austin PCOS support group. Many thanks to the volunteers in my chapter for arranging this!

May - School is Out
The spring semester is finally over, and I made President's Honor Roll! Keeping up with classwork was quite a challenge with the events over the last couple of months so I'm very relieved that it is over.

April - It's a Girl!
A thorough sonogram this month revealed that our bundle of joy will be a girl. Some friends and family have already given us cute little dresses. It's so much fun planning the nursery!

March - Wedding Bells
An intimate gathering of friends and family from across the country joined us as Kevin and I exchanged marriage vows this month. We had the ceremony in our spacious home and rented a large tent for the outdoor reception. We enjoyed wonderful music and delicious food as we visited with everyone. Later, we went to western Caribbean for our honeymoon and enjoyed great food, beautiful beaches and reefs & wonderful sites including the Mayan ruins at Tulum.

February - Feel the Love
Kevin and I had originally been planning a traditional wedding for June. However, this month we moved up the wedding date due to a wonderful surprise: we're expecting a baby! I recently had an ultrasound, and the baby was being very active. Download the 2 minute clip (about 8 megs). Now begins the expedited wedding plans!

January - New Beginnings
Just as I was beginning to settle into the winter break, it was time to return to the grind. I am now taking Managerial Accounting and Microeconomics as well as continuing to work part-time on campus where I enjoy tutoring and otherwise assisting in the accounting department. In addition, I was officially elected as President of the Austin PCOSupport chapter where I spend a lot of time and energy educating people about polycystic ovary syndrome.


Monthly Journal Archive
For the Year 2000


December - Joy & Merriment
The first part of the month was crazy in preparation for final exams, but I managed to get perfect grades. I didn't get started on Christmas shopping until after finals so I was rushing around until the very last minute. Kevin and I bought a beautiful tree and had a lot of fun decorating it even if it was just a few days before Christmas. One of my favorite gifts was a 5-piece surround sound speaker set for my computer! Now I can play games in audio heaven as I enjoy my winter break, and I'm really looking forward to that.

November - Giving Thanks
A funny thing happened this month. Shortly before Thanksgiving, someone's domestic turkey showed up at our door. A storm was fast approaching so we gave him shelter and food. Since then he has adopted us and has yet to leave. Fortunately, we live in a rural area and can keep him. Although the cats were freaked at first, they have gotten use to him, and he makes an excellent watch dog! We like having him around, and I think Mr. Turkey knows we won't eat him so he is safe...for this Thanksgiving at least.

October - Let it Rain!
When it rains, it pours. After the horrible drought this summer, we are now getting record amounts of rain. It is very nice to see everything so GREEN when I drive around -- it feels like spring! We were teased this month because Time Warner/Roadrunner repeatedly assured us that cable modems were available in our area and claimed our area was "hooked up" just a couple weeks ago. But I guess the joke was on us for thinking they were competent since they had made claims like this before.

September - Change of Pace
We are enjoying a reprieve from the heat, and it's great having the windows open for a change. I'm back in school for the fall semester, and I'm enjoying that, too. Otherwise, not much to report. We love and miss you, Lauren.

August - Hot & Dry
I hope all of my friends and family on the East Coast are enjoying all the rain. Mother Nature has not seen fit to pass any this way, and in fact, has given us record-breaking heat for many weeks. I gave up trying to keep my flower garden alive, and the lawn turned brown long ago. Hopefully hurricane season will affect us in a wet way because we really need the rain!

July - Another Year Older
And the exciting things continue! First, I missed the festivities of the 4th because I was writing a paper, but I aced the class anyway. The final exam was the day after my big 30th birthday, and I didn't get much study time. Also this month, my best friend of nearly 20 years came to visit me for a whole week, and she was able to attend the birthday party my family planned for me. In addition, I signed on as a Chapter Coordinator for Austin PCOS.

June - Return to College
I registered for a 6-week summer course in that elusive pursuit of a degree. I always thought I would have completed my undergraduate work by now, but life has gotten in the way. Transferring credit from one college to another does not help, either. Despite the accelerated time schedule, I found the class enjoyable and informative.

May - Settling In
Recovery from the move continued. We have been settling in quite nicely especially since buying a refrigerator. Our cooler was sufficient up to this point, but high temperatures are on the forecast ahead. We also bought a truck, and we have started feeling like official Texans now! Now, if only we could get DSL or even cable in our area, we would be perfectly content.

April - A New Beginning
The move itself was quite dramatic, and you can read the full story for a nice laugh. Once we completed the trek and stayed with my family for a few days, we began the house hunt. Then we found the perfect place outside of town with lots of room inside and out. Having moved from a tiny one bedroom apartment, we often wander around the house and admire all the space we now have.

March - Changes
Unfortunately, I am not very close to my family in Maryland, and, realizing how short life is, I decided to move back to Texas so I could be near my family there. The last several years have been confusing and discouraging, and I am ready for a change for the better. Kevin also landed a terrific job in the area, and he will be moving with me! How lucky can a girl get?

February - Let It Snow
All I can say is brrrrrr! The cold must have been too much for my car because it just wasn't the same after being buried in snow several times. We did venture out for Valentine's Day, and Kevin took me to see Riverdance. Also, having attended a funeral for another grandfather, I've been evaluating my life and my family ties....and what the future holds.

January - Happy New Year
Kevin surprised me with airline tickets to Texas, and we spent the holiday with my family. The mild Texas winter was a welcome break from the bitter cold in Maryland. Between the stockpile of fireworks and the bottles of champagne, we had a great time! Shortly after we returned, one of my brothers and I drove (in a blizzard) to Ohio for my grandfather's funeral. I love and miss you, Papall.