Sorry Patches!

This morning, I locked Patches in the coat closet for a few hours. Oops! I was trying to decide what outerwear to wear and I had been in the coat closet. I decided to wear one that was in my clothes closet. I left the door open, then got the jacket and closed the door as I walked by. Then Jordana and I went to run some errands. We got home and I heard Patches meowing, but he meows all the time. I finally walked by the closet and hear a loud angry Meow!!! I opened the door and he bolted out. It's tough to be a curious cat!! This pix is Patches checking out the box a new mirror came packed in. I took him all of 2 minutes to climb into it after we removed the mirror.

Merry Christmas

Christmas was a bit overwhelming for all of us. Jordana didn't know what to make of all the presents Santa gave her. As a matter of fact, she still hasn't opened all of them! She got a mini trampoline, an aquadoodle mat, a catepillar tunnel and house, a mini 4-wheeler, 2 huge stuffed animals, a tiara set with earrings and bracelets and many others. She got a swingset from GiGi and Grandaddy and lots of toys from Aunt Courtney. There will be no boredom in this house!!. between her Hanukkah gifts from my family and Christmas gifts grom Randy's, our house is busting at the seams!! Last night, Randy and I crashed on the couch and watched Superbad. We were exhausted!!

Date night...finally!

Randy and I got our date night finally! We went to see National treasure, Book of Secrets and then went to Fridays' for dinner (thanks mom and dad). Good movie!! Go see it. Mom baby-sat. Apparently Jordana has the present opening bug. After going to GiGi and Grandaddy's last night and getting to open some presents, she has caught it bad!! After we left for our date tonight, Jordana brought a present from under the tree to mom and started yelling "opie opie!!!" (Translation.. Open, Open!!) Mom said she kept pulling ornaments off the tree and she kept telling her no, Jordana. Jordana would back slowly towards the tree with her hands behind her back, while watching Grandma and sneak an ornament off the tree. what a little bogger!!

These pix are from last night's Christmas family get together at Randy's parents house. Jordana takes a moment to bond with Lexi, and she also poses for the camera as a little Diva.

I'm a present!!

Last night Aaron, Sharon, Chloe and Alyssa came over to give Jordana her Christmas gift. We gave the girls these hugh coloring books. We put them in a hugh gift bag. Once the gifts were open, Jordana started eyeing the gift bag. Chloe asked her if she wanted to get in the bag. She said 'yes'. With a little help, she climbed in! It was very funny and cute. Merry Christmas!!

Potty time again!!!

Today, Jordana was standing in the kitchen, when she ...not so subtly, grabbed her crotch.
Randy: do you need to go TeeTee?
Jordana: yes
Randy: Go sit on your potty.

I miss this whole exchange and walk into the bathroom to see Jordana sitting on her potty, fully clothed.

Me: Do you need to go potty?
Jordana: yes!

I take her pjs and diaper off (wet diaper) and she sits on her potty. I figure this is just to go through the motions. She sits on her potty swinging her legs. I go to brush my teeth, and she walks up behind me a few minutes later. I peek in her potty...and there is PeePee!!! Yay!! 22 months old!!!

Slowly recovering...

The past few days have been rough. I experienced, what I believe, was an adverse reaction to an antibiotic. It may have been helped along by a virus that my father experienced as well. I started to feel under the weather on Wednesday night but was ok on Thursday. By Thursday night I felt real bad. Every joint in my body hurt, along with the muscles that attached them together!!! I had a severe headache and started developing a lesion on my left tonsil. By Friday afternoon I had 102 temperature. I called in to work in the morning and slept all day. Turns out dad had the same fever!! I tried to go to work Saturday morning but I lasted 20 minutes, before I called in a relief pharmacist. I went home and slept all day again. By Saturday night, I was on a different antibiotic and the muscle/joint pains had subsided a bit. I stayed home again today and just have some residual aches from being curled in a ball for 2 days, and my tonsil is healing but painfully. I think I will smell like a Halls factory tomorrow!! It's a good thing Randy was around this weekend, or I would have had to call in reinforcements to help with Jordana!

What a mess!!!

Tonight, after her bath, Jordana was playing. I was in the living room and I heard her messing around in the kitchen. I went to investigate, and found a huge mess!!! One of Jordana's Hanukkah presents was a lap desk with a bean bag attached to it for comfort. Somehow, she popped the wood for the cup holder out and the beanies were everywhere!! She was rolling in them, swimming in them, just having a grand old time!! She had beanies stuck everywhere. I let her play for a bit, then decided it was time to clean up. When I broke out the vaccuum, Jordana ran into a corner and hid. She eventually started crying. I had to vaccuum with her on my hip. All that was missing was the cigarette dangling from my mouth and I would have been the perfect picture for trailer trash!!!

Happy Hanukkah!!

Tonight is the 6th night of Hanukkah. We have been lighting the candles on the nights that I am home. Today, we had Hadassah's Latkapalloza at my mom's house where we eat, yep you guessed it...latkas, and exchange presents (white elephant). Jordana hung out with Grandma alot, following her around, especially after she received a stuffed elephant from her!

We have been trying to get Jordana to say Happy Hanukkah. She says Happy.... but seems to be stumped by the word Hanukah. Her gift tonight was a board book, telling the story of Hanukkah. After I read it to her she said...Hanukkah!! Pretty clearly!!

Hi Mommy, I pee peed!

That is what Jordana said to me when Randy called me at work tonight. Turns out, she pee peed in her potty!!! After stripping down naked before her bath, Jordana sat on her potty. Randy said are going to Pee pee or Poo Poo? Jordana said OK! (Like she always says when you give her a choice...juice or milk...OK!!) and proceeded to pee in her potty!!! 22 months old!! So now we just have to teach her not to put the empty potty on her head......

Jordana meets Santa.....

and wasn't to thrilled with him!!

Here is a link to the pix http://www1.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=186047034/a=8060215/t_=8060215

We were in the car, heading to the clubhouse where we were going to have breakfast with Santa. Jordana was saying Santa, Santa!! As I got her out the car, she said "Oh boy, Santa!" Then we went inside....and she shut down. We had some pancakes and OJ and of course donuts. Even with all of the sugar, Jordana would not even look at santa. We sat down on the couches and when Santa had a free moment, he sat down next to her. Jordana didn't cry but she was pretty freaked out. She even kicked him!!! So much for my great holiday photos!!!

Great news!!!

Kelly and Ryan have great news!!! Click on the link to read and rejoyce!!!!

Boy, do I feel old!!

Jennifer, my cousin, came down to Houston for a visit. Jennifer and her 2 friends, Kathy and Brianna, decided to spend some time in Austin, with a stop over here in Houston. I feel old, I used to baby-sit Jennifer and her sister Stacy when they were little!!! Now she is a college graduate, working in New York City, and Stacy is in her last year of college! We had a nice dinner and Jordana charmed them all! Jennifer brought her a puzzle which she LOVED!! Once she unwrapped it, she held it up screaming "Open!! Open!!" Then she started reciting the shapes. I was not surprised when she said 'circle, square, star" but I think we were all a little shocked when she said "oval"! Rectangle was hard to say, but when she said it, I could hear a bit of it! The puzzle was a hit!!

We didn't leave until almost 9 pm, Jordana didn't make it to bed until almost 10pm. She fell asleep in the car snuggling with her teddy bear. It was a good day!!

Thanksgiving and...worms...

No! not my worms. I can say that I have seen it all. I have been a pharmacist for almost 9 years now and I thought I had seen it all. The nasty athletes foot that some guy put on my counter, the heat rash under a woman's saggy breasts, open wounds that need stitches but the owner of the wound refuses medical care and wants an OTC remedy. Yesterday, I was introduced to a customers worms. Yes, worms. Not pinworms...long stringy tapeworms (probably) fished out of the toilet and put in a tupperware container. Guy said this is the third one his wife had over the past few days. If I had ONE of those come out of my ass I would be in the ER faster than you could SAY worm!!

Other than the worms, Turkey day was stressful. Jordana cried while we got her ready and cried the whole trip there. Jordana does not usually cry for no reason. She cries when she is hurt, doesn't get what she wants, is dirty or tired. So when she cries for no apparent reason, it stresses me out. I think it stresses Randy too. He changed his shirt 3 times before we left. She fussed and whined the whole way to the Payne's. Of course, once she saw Grandaddy, she was fine. Needless to say I was so irritated and stressed, My camera stayed in my purse untouched. Not a Thanksgiving to remember.

First time ever...

I have worked for Walgreens for 9 ½ years and been a pharmacist for 8 ½. I have never messed up my schedule. I have been late twice (a few minutes) due to traffic (when I worked in Baytown) and oversleeping (dang alarm) but today was a first. Chanel and I switched shifts...but I forgot!! At 8 am, the phone rang. Randy, Jordana and I were still in our beds. Janet was wondering where I was. I had completely forgotten that Chanel had a dr's appointment!! I flew to the sink, brushed my teeth and went to the closet. I was trying to decide what to wear. I don't dress well under presure!! I finally got dressed and drove like mad to get to work. Why is it that when you're in a hurry, everyone drives really slow!!! I got to work at 8:30, no shower, no makeup. I keep a little bit of makeup in my purse so I managed to get some eyeshadow, eyeliner and lipstick on. By the time my shift was over, my scalp was itching. After dinner, instead of giving Jordana a bath, we took a shower together. She loves the shower!! I even gave her a special treat and used my salt scrup gently on her feet and elbows. Nice way to end a day that started so bad!! Happy Thanksgiving!!!

The days slip by..

I am finding it harder and harder to keep up with daily tasks. It's only November 14th and I am already stressed about the holidays. This time of year is crazy! 3 birthdays before Christmas, Hanukah showing up in December, but never on the same day every year, then Jordana's birthday a month later. Squeeze Thanksgiving in there, along with weekends alone while Randy is off hunting, and it is amazing I even have time to pay the bills!! I still have no idea what I am going to do for hoilday cards this year!!! (Randy wants to do a pets and Jordana pix at the mall with Santa...I think he's nuts)
Hopefully, my outing with mom tomorrow will be fun. We are going to the "So you think you can dance?" tour that is coming to Houston. We are big fans. Granddaddy Randy is going to babysit because Randy will be at the deer lease.
I hope you are all surviving the pre holiday craziness. Check out my friend Kelly's blog to keep up with the foster kids stories, apparently the birth mom is fighting for custody. Let's all hope that she loses. These kids need stability and Kelly and Ryan are just the couple to provide a stable and loving home to raise these kids. (I admit, I read her blog every day..following their journey. I'm a little addicted) I admire their strength and their faith. I hope it pays off for them!!

Our marriage is more resilient...

.....than the hotel we were married in. Today, the Crown Plaza where Randy and I said our vows and celebrated our fantastic wedding with our family in 2002, was imploded. Being right across the street from the Children's hospital, and with another hotel location downtown, the hotel closed its doors on Dec 18th, 2005, after it was sold to Baylor. Along with other properties bought around the site, there will be a new Texas Children's maternity ward, to be completed around 2010.
Here is a link to the video:
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=9f0_1194803235
Although it is sad that it is now gone, where we got married is not as important as our marriage itself. 5 years later, Randy and I are still going strong, living in a great house, Randy with his new career, and a beautiful and amazing little girl, Jordana, we will be together much longer than any building.

The joy of children...

.....even if they didn't come from your womb. Check out the link to Kelly's blog for a tear jerker quote from her foster daughter. Love every child in your life, even if they aren't your own. I know my days at Walgreens would not be as fun if my girls and I didn't share stories about our children. I love hearing about them and seeing them when they visit. They all fawn over Jordana when she stops by and when I show them pictures (lord knows I take a ton of them). Hope you are all enjoying the fall weather and not stressing about the upcoming holidays!!!

Good news...at the end of a bad day!!

So I overslept this morning, woke up at 7:21. If Jordana hadn't started fussing, I would have kept on sleeping. Got to work at 7:55 withy dirty hair (clean body) and walked into a nightmare. The main verification computer was down, which knocked out the main printer and one of the Zebra printers (the one the bottle labes comes out of). This prevented us from using the second scale. When I left at 4:45, they were still down. We struggled thru the day like we do every Thursday (all my part timers go to school on Thursday, leaving me with a skeleton crew), with me stepping out for an hour for a conference call. As I am walking out the door, I get a phone call from the store that is training my new tech, and find out that she is just not going to work out....this information comes 3 days before she is to start at my store and 1 day before Rayanne moves to Indiana. I also get a phone call from a nasty customer bitching about something that was not worth my time. So I blow her off ( I know I will pay for it later) and go get Jordana. She is great, until I put her in her car seat and she starts screaming. It got so bad we had to have a talk about her attitude. I finally get her settled and she amuses herself on the way home by taking apart her shoes. Whatever, at least she wasn't screaming anymore!! After dinner, I was watching TV and my toe started hurting. I have no idea why, but it feels like it is badly bruised and I don't remember injuring it. Not good for someone who stands on her feet all day. After Jordana's bath and bedtime, I check my email and there it is...good news from Phil Burgess, director of Pharmacy Affairs for Walgreens. Yesterday, Walgreens went to the state board again to convince them to amend a rule regarding final verification. As many of you remember, I have been wrongly accused of misfilling a prescription. According to Mr. Burgess, they were successful! What this means for my case, I don't know yet, but it is a huge victory!! I will have more details soon, but I think I can sleep soundly tonight, regardless of my super crappy day.

Halloween!!!

Ok, So Jordana was a little diva today. She had 2 costumes. There was a party at school in the morning and I didn't want her to ruin her costume. So she went as a bee, in a costume that we have had in her closet for over a year (Thanks Suzanne!!) For trick or treating, she was a 50's girl. About 2 minutes after I put the dress on her, she was spinning in circles. She is a little girly girl!

Trick or treating went well. As soon as Jordana figured out that

1. Ring bell

2. Wait for grownup to open door

3. Get candy!!!

She was all for it!! Soon she was dragging me up the walkways. Except at Steve's house. Steve loves Halloween. His front yard is full of hanging skeletons, gravestones, bones, the Grim Reaper above his walkway, and gargoyles at the end of his driveway. This house required me to hold Jordana, she would not walk up by herself. It was a little overwhelming!! With the promise of candy at the door, she braved the scary yard!!!

Our next door neighbors were not home but they left their light on. When we rang the bell and there was no answer, Jordana was very upset. I had to carry her away to the next house!! Now, what to do with all that candy......

Houtson, we have a problem...

Over the last month or so, my staff and I have experienced and huge increase in a certain combo of controlled scripts, from some Dr's that seem unscrupulous. High doses of hydrocodone, Xanax and Soma. In the beginning, we were filling them, but we are not anymore. We are turning away 10 to 20 a day. If we filled these presciptions, we are looking at high profit, because they are all generics and cash payments. Patients are coming in from out of state to see these Dr's who give them Rx's after a cash visit. We're talking #120 tablets. Yesterday, we got a phone call from the ER, looking for one of these Dr's phone numbers. Turns out, one of the scripts we filled earlier this month, put the pt in the hospital with a Xanax overdose. Needless to say, we will continue to refuse these rx's. (We fill for our current customers.) It makes me angry. Because these Dr's have raised red flags, pt's who have ligitimate pain are getting the run around from other drugstores. Why would a Dr risk losing a license, public humiliation or jail time, just to turn a quick buck? Whatever happened to "do no harm"? I can't protect my pt's when the Dr's are the one putting them in danger.

More sad news....

I have avoided this post for over 2 weeks but I feel it is time to talk about the second tragedy for one of my Purdue friends. Holly Woll-Ferrell, one of my wonderful classmates, lost her sister tragically over 2 weeks ago. I received the news while I was in Wisconsin. I still have not heard the how but here is what I do know. Holly's younger sister, Pam, was attending medical school in the Bahamas, when she was found in her apartment, unresponsive. She passed away. Taken too young. There is a lot of international red tape and I don't know the full details, but my heart breaks for Holly and her family. I don't say this often, because I am not a religious person, but please pray for her family. Closure is so important and I hope the Wolls and Ferrells receive that closure. May Pam rest in peace. Hug your family and tell them you love them, over and over. They can never hear it enough.

At the end of the day...

Every day it's the same thing for Randy or myself. Get up, shower and get dressed. Get smiling child out of bed. Attempt to feed her breakfast...sometimes easy, sometimes a challenge. Take child to school where she spends all of her energy. One day it's Lil Gymnasts, another it is Music appreciation. Jordana never protests when we drop her off and is alway ecstatic to see us at the end of the day. During the day, we go off to our jobs being a Walgreen's pharmacist and a real estate appraiser. Dealing with angry customers or unrealistic mortgage brokers. Fight traffic on the way home. Dinner and bath for Jordana, stories and bedtime. Randy and I catch up on bills and reports, laundry and dishes. Then we peek in on our little girl....and all is right in our world. Whatever happened that day, good or bad, it all melts away when we see this sleeping angel. Hugging "No-No" (her stuffed Rhino from Kohl's cares for kids), she sleeps blissfully, storing up more energy for the next adventure. Who needs a glass of wine, or a bath, or vegging out on the couch....when we end our day like this. It just doesn't get any better than this.

Fun at the Pumpkin Patch!!!

Jordana, Randy and I went to The Pumpkin Patch at the Christmas Tree farm on Sunday with the Delaneys. At first Jordana was timid. We let her crawl around on the pumpkins for a while. We took some pix while the older girls played on the air slide. We took the train around the property. Jordana was sitting between us when the train started moving and Jordana freaked and grabbed both of our shirts. After a few minutes, she calmed down and climbed in Randy's lap to see better. She still hung on for ear life, but she enjoyed it. We also went on a hayride and picked out 2 pumpkins. The following morning, Tank decided he wanted to taste one. We now have 1 pumpkin.

Back from vacation

I know, you are all wondering, where is she? No posts in over a week!! I need vacation from my vacation! Wisconsin was great, but the leaves had not changed much. We saw some sprinkling of color, but it was too warm and too early for anything spectactular. We had some delays getting to Wisconsin. My flight to Chicago was delayed over 40 minutes, and Jane and Karen ended up in Detroit when they were suppossed to be in Milwaukee. Then their luggage was lost. We received it at our hotel around midnight. After a stop at the walmart in Green Bay, an overpriced scrapbook store and a yummy dinner at Tumbleweeds, we headed to Fish Creek. On Wednesday, we did some sightseeing, some shopping and we attended a Fish Boil (which was surprisingly yummy). On Thurday, we visited a couple of Lighthouses and headed back to Neenah for the Club Scrap retreat. Here is a link to the Door county pix

http://www1.snapfish.com/share/p=822121192207619860/l=313184159/g=8060215/otsc=SYE/otsi=SALB

My little punk rocker!

Jordana came home from school one day with her hair in 2 ponytails from crazy hair day. There must have been some hair spray in her hair, because when I took out the hair bands, her hair stayed! She looked like a littel punk rocker!!!

Off to Wisconsin....

After a busy weekend, I am off to Wisconsin very early tomorrow morning for the Club Scrap retreat. I will be spending 2 days with my friends Karen and Jane, cruising around Door County. Lighthouses, antique shops and wineries. Looking foward to it!! I will have pix of the leaves when I get back!!

Yes!! Vacation!!!

After a 12 hour day (work from 8 till 2 and a marathon meeting until after 6, then traffic!!) and sleeping late ( why on earth did my alarm not go off today)...I am on vacation. Yay! Looking foward to sleeping late, getting a manicure/pedicure and hanging out with my family for a few days...then it's off to Wisconsin!
Today I also discovered my friend Kelly and her husband Ryan in San Antonio have taken on 2 foster children. They have been having infertility problems and have decided to help children that need help. Her foster kids are cute and they look happy. Click on "Kelly's blog" to check it out. These 2 are wonderful people and I look foward to reading about their journey!

Must see TV!

It's here! Fall premier week on TV! As many of you know, I love TV, especially Bruckheimer shows!! I really love the mystery shows. And the best thing... I don't work any nights this week!!! Tonight I watched Cold Case. That show makes me cry every time!!! Tomorrow is the big Heros premier as well as CSI: Miami.....Horatio has a son??? I think I will watch Chuck and Journeyman as well. Tues is NCIS and BONES!! ( LOOOOVVVVVEEEEE David Boreanaz!!!) And of course, SVU!! Wednesday has Criminal Minds and CSI: NY. I am going to give Bionic Woman a try. I may watch Kid nation, I taped the first week. Lots of controversy!! Thurs includes Earl, CSI (I hope Sara survives!!!!), ER and Without a trace. This day has a conflict....Criminal Intent moved to USA and is on at 9pm!! (I guess I will have to find the encore presentation on NBC that the website promises). Then Friday includes Vegas (no more James Caan or Niki Cox...or her boobs....I guess I won't miss those but Randy might!!), and Numbers. I may try the Womens murder club on ABC. Thank goodness I have 2 DVR's!!! I know, I have no life. But I love it!!!

Vacation, all I ever wanted....

4 more days of work and then....12 days of vacation!! But who's counting? My first 5 days are here at home, chilling out and maybe getting some pampering (mani, pedi and maybe a massage or facial). Then on 10/2 I am off to Wisconsin for the Club Scrap retreat. The retreat starts on Thusday, so Karen, Jane and I are going to wander wround Door county for 2 days. I see some cool nights in the future!! This week it is in the high 40's and low 50's at night and mid- 60'2 during the day. I will need to blow the dust off my sweaters and coats!! I am looking foward to spending time with my friends. Working full time and being a mom, I don't have much free time to hang out with friends. I am also going to enjoy having a hotel room all to myself for 3 nights!! Un-interrupted sleep!!!

I couldn't believe my eyes.....

I was at my workstation today, on the phone, when Kristal came up next to me and plunked down this black American Express Card. When I say plunk I mean 'plunk'. I picked up the card and could not believe how heavy it was! We asked the customer about it and was told it was a 'titanium' card, the highest card available from American Express. It was way cool!!! So I starting thinking, what is this card and why, after 16 years in retail, I had never seen it before?
So I found out the annual fee is $2500, and a startup fee of $5000. Minimum yearly purchases are $250,000 or more. It used to be available only to celebrities by invitation only, but now it is offered to anyone American Express thinks is worthy. The average CC weighs in at about 0.17 oz, while this one weighs about 0.53 oz. It is rumored that only about 17,000 people are card holders, and that is world wide.
The card has high spending limits but they vary per person. The most expensive purchase known to date on a black card, is that of a $30M private jet. It includes 24hr personal concierge. (They can make reservations, plan weddings, or score tickets), Private shopping services at the finest retailers. (Tiffany’s offers up private shopping for Black Card customers), Invitations for special events, (such as a round of golf with Tiger Woods), Complimentary companion airline tickets on international flights, Access to Airport Clubs, Free hotel stays, International emergency health care .
Some carriers include Jessica Simpson, Lindsey Lohan, Simon Cowell, Denzel Washington and Jerry Seinfeld.
After reading all this I was shocked to realized I have a (quiet) millionaire hiding in the area around my store in the middle to upper class neighborhood. Never a dull moment in my store!!!

Most saved ever!!

It's been 19 months since Jordana was born and my body seems to keep changing!! Although I have lost almost all of the weight, some of my body fat has redistributed itself, causing half of my wardrobe to be too small. Some pants won't go over my hips anymore, I have a bit of a belly roll so many pants and skirts lay differently on me than they used to, and my boobs can't seem to make up their mind what size they want to be, causing many tops to stretch and pull in places they shouldn't!! I have decided not to work too hard on getting my pre-baby body back until I am totally done having kids. So I needed some new fall clothes.

In early August, I went to NY & Co and bought some new pants and some summer clearance with some coupons I had. Between the 2 trips I spent about $300. My first receipt said I saved $173.18 (between sale items and a $60 coupon). The second trip was split into 2 transactions and said I saved $253.67. When I added my actual savings I really saved a total of $254.06. (Where do the get the rest of that from?). Anyway, I received 9 citi cash coupons for $15 off my $30 purchase. That meant I had to spend $270!!! I knew I couldn't spend all that, so I brought my sister and my mom along. Barbara bought some stuff and I bought some stuff. We hit the $270 mark (and then some) and we were amazed to see at the bottom of the receipt that we saved $232.44! And we really saved that much!!! Everyone always makes fun of me and my coupons but this proves that it is (usually) worth the effort!!! Over 3 trips to the store We saved a total of $486....and I have a great wardrobe to show it!!! No one should have to send in a tape of me to What Not To Wear!!!

When no one is watching...

I thought this was classic. Just now, Randy and I were upstairs working on our computers. We had just left the living room after watching Ghost Rider (do not recommend). We left the TV on and a warm couch just waiting to be re-occupied. I came downstairs and found this...Tank in blissful sleep. Pillows underneath and feet propped in the air. Our pets are so spoiled! He opened his eyes when I took the picture. He re-positioned himself but did not get up.

What a charmed life!!!

Flu shots and Clinic Opening

I manage the busiest non-24 hour store in the district, averaging 380 to 400 a day. I only have 3 pharmacists on Monday and Tuesday. Luckily, I only work every third weekend, allowing me more 'bankers hours' at my store. Isn't that enough? Nope. The Take Care clinic is set to open on October 24th and our flu clinic has been scheduled for October 2nd, the first flu clinic for the district, and it is 6 hours long!! Oh, and I will be on vacation that week....so I can't even get a flu shot in my own store!!! (Or be there to help out). My partner, Chanel, will have no problem with the clinic, or the increase in customer count that day, and I feel confident that my staff will shine.
There is a meeting on Monday for the 9 stores in Houston that will have clinics. I will learn more about the day to day operations and what to expect in one measly hour. The customers in my area have a lot of private insurance or Medicaid. I think the clinic in my store is going to be BUSY!!! My boss disagrees. My store manager agrees with me. We'll see.......

Daddy's girl

Jordana is definately a Daddy's girl. When it comes to goofing off, she goes to Randy first. The higher she flys, the louder she laughs. At 19 months, she has discovered that she is ticklish (neck, belly sides and the sole of her feet get her every time)!

Journaling reads:

August 2006

Randy is such a great dad. He loves to goof off with Jordana. Once he realized she was strong enough to be thrown around, he took full advantage of the situation. Most of the games include a count of 1, 2, Threeeeeee!!! Jordana eagerly awaits the exciting number 3. As she got older she yells 3!! 3!! while Randy counted 1 and 2. If is great to watch them interact.

Jeff's accident

Friday afternoon, my brother Jeff was in a car accident. Gratefully, he is ok. He was t-boned by a small car that blew thru a red light. Luckily, the insurance is blaming the other guy and the repair cost should be minimal. I don't know what would have happened if he was hit by a truck or SUV. Sometimes Randy and I get ridiculed for driving 2 gas guzzlers, but it's times like this when I feel so much safer in a larger vehicle (especially after my Mustang accident). Texas drivers love their big trucks (which is weird because Houston in flat!) and there are so many of them on the road. Be careful out there!!

Ivory Elegance ALSB

These pix are from our photo shoot for holiday portraits last year. We had a good time taking the pictures.

Journaling for the first double layout reads:

A good snapshot stops a moment from running away.

Journaling for the second layout set reads:

Thanks to my mom and dad, we had a gift certificate to take some nice holiday pictures. We took family poses, some naked baby pictures and some holiday photos of Jordana. We were very pleased with the end result.

November 2006

Sad News

I received a phone call from one of my pharmacy school buddies last night. After hearing the message on my machine, I couldn't tell what tone it was, but I was hoping for good news. Carrie had gotten married last September and I thought maybe she had family news. I never expected the words that came out of her mouth; her father had passed away after battling the return of his cancer. After we talked and I sent out some emails to contact some other friends, I called my parents to let them know. They took a real liking to my Purdue roomates and friends, and Carrie is no exception. I cried when talking to my dad. I remember Mr. Galloway's fight against his cancer while we were in school. I admired Carrie's strength, dealing with the stress of school and her fathers illness.
It's times like this when I hate being so far away from my friends. I missed Carrie's wedding because Jordana was too small and now I can't physically be there for her again in her time of need. Carrie has been an amazing friend (as all my closest Purdue buddies have become) and I really miss her. After graduation we got together once to go to the Purdue-Wisconsin game in Wisconsin, and the following year we went to Arizona to vacation together. We had an amazing time. Then there was a string of weddings, with Adria's being the last. I really miss her and all of my Purdue buddies. There is an old adage that your college friends end up being your lifelong friends (not your high school ones), and with the exception of Lisa (my only BF from high school) it is so true for me.
So hug your family tonight and call your parents. Life is to short for pettyness and fighting. Leave the drama to the primetime tv shows.

ALSB..the cure for scrappers block!!!

Assembly Line scrapbooking is fun, fast and easy!!! I finally made use of many of the ALSB layouts I had finished but had not used. These layouts include many pictures of Jordana's first year.

The left is time and space. Jordana hanging out with her Grandaddy. April 06. The one on the right is Workshop. Jordana holding her toes 5/06.

These are from Science and a design classic. March 2006

The next batch is from Autumn Splendor. Of course they are Halloween pix. Jordana dressed as a cow. She kept playing with her tail. She had some pictures taken with grandaddy and GiGi.

These are from the club scrap retreat in Wisconsin in 2005. I hadn't seen the leaves change since I left Purdue!!

First posting of layouts

These pix were taken this summer at Jordana's school. She loves the camera!!! All paper and embelishments are Club Scrap, Fizz.

Journaling reads:

June 2007 - Taken at 18 months old, we can see how Jordana loves the camera. We love to watch her grow!! Talking, Running and learning anything she can, she is a force to be reckoned with. Each new word, task or feat amazes us. Each day is an adventure and we love experiencing it every day.

Here is a quick layout of Jordana from February. It is titled Bon appetit and I used my opposites attract cricut cartridge. The paper is from club scrap of course, from the special kit for the March Rolling retreat in Houston.

Journaling reads:

2.20.2007

Sometimes half the fun of eating dinner is playing with it. Jordana decided she was finished. In true toddler fashion, her dinner ended up all over her, the tray and the floor. Good thing we have dogs!!!