Preping for Fatherhood

Tonight Marsh has decided to cook for the family. Yes, if you don't hear from us after today, we've all been poisoned! J/K. Marsh wants to make the family his good and easy Enchiladas. I guess it was upon the request of Heather, who knows, but he's gonna be the cook for this evening. I think he's slowly beginning to accept Chas as Heather's other half. Marsh is pretty excited for Tucker to arrive, and worries when Emily is not around. He went 4 wheeling this morning, and I had the thought of calling him an hour after he left and tell him that Emily went into labor. I wisely opted not to, I didn't think he'd take it as much as a joke, and I kind of like him talking to me.
I'm happy that my family is in a good place right now. We're all getting along (as far as I know) and everyone SEEMS to be doing good. I've still been working on gettin rid of my Kidney stone, but other than that, we're all good. I want to thank Chrystal for fixing the header on my other blog, it looks FANTASTIC! One of these days I'll learn how to do it on my own. I went scrapbooking at the church today, quite the experience. Very few people showed up, but I think they're planning on doing this once a month. Right now I've been working on my Girls Camp album. It's a bit overwhelming, and I think that once I finish scrapbooking all my photos, I'll go digital. I'm working on finding my creativeness again, right now, I just don't feel creative.

A Unique Gift

Today I was looking around on COSTCO's website, and ran across this neat little item. It's a throw blanket, custom made for you when you order it. I thought when Tucker was born, I'd purchase this as a gift for him to have. It's also been a thought to look into getting one for my other nieces and nephews.

The Larimer's Big Day

Today Heather and Chas said "I DO" to each other. They're officially Husband and Wife, and I'm really hoping they prove everyone who doubt them wrong. He really does make her happy, and you can most definately tell he loves her a lot. We met his family for the first time, and I can honestly say, Chas is just like his father, but quieter. Here's a few photos of the wedding, we've got video too, but I have been having a problem downloading it, so I'll post it as soon as I get it figured out.

My Sunday Excitement

As I was waiting for dinner, I got a phone call from Janelle. She'd been in a car accident and wanted to know if I'd come get Kaitlynn. This accident wasn't her fault, the other person involved ran the stop sign and broadsided her. Everybody is fine, but the car is a mess as you can see.

Tucker's Shower

Today was Emily's baby shower for Tucker. She made out like a bandit on the gifts, but when they had games and what not, I wasn't too impressed. I dunno, I just kind of thought it was not completely put together like it should have been. Anyway, the following are a few pictures taken at the shower. Like I said, Emily made off like a bandit on the gift department, and the Jersey that Dan and Chrystal gave her rocked.

Excitement at the Hollingsworth House

Today as Mom and Dad were cleaning up the "Land Mines" in the back yard, Nellie and Karma found piece of a basketball and started playing. Pretty soon, the playing turned into a fight, Karma winning over Nellie. It took a while, and Dad being bit on his fingers for them to be broken up, but they were broken apart, with Nellie needing a trip to the vet.

Karma broke through the skin, but not enough for Nellie to need stitches. Instead, Nellie will be living with Marsh and Emily for a few days, exiled from the other dogs so she can heal. She also has to have her wound drained twice a day and yes, I've been nominated to do it. Other than that, things have been pretty mellow here. Still haven't passed my stone yet, but I go to the doc about that on Thursday. I'll keep everyone posted.

The reward of a thing well done is to have done it.

As everyone knows, I've been watching Kaitlynn since she was 4-5 months old, and have formed a bond with her, and a friendship with at least her mother. From the time I began watching her, I've had issues with her father, sometimes both parents and have always been asked why I put up with it. For those of you who don't really understand why I continue to watch her, let me shine a little light on that subject for you.

Outside of her parents, I'm pretty much all Kaitlynn knows. I am her best friend, and she enjoys my company. Yes, I'm attatched to her, spend a few hours with her and you'll see why. I also know that at times I can be too attached, and sometimes forget that I'm not her mother, and I'm working on that. She calls me "Mom" and when she does, I correct her and tell her that Mom is at work. I'm helping her see that I am her friend Jess. When her parents are around, I step back and let them do things with her, if she wants me to do something for her and her mom and dad are there, I tell her to have mommy or daddy do it.

I continue to watch Kaitlynn because it gives me the satisfaction of doing something good for somebody. I am helping her mom potty train her, and we do good for the most part, and she helps me when I'm down by doing something stupid to make me laugh. Is it sad that a 2yr old understands me more than most people, or that I understand the 2yr old more than everyone else? Maybe it is, but I don't really care, Kaitlynn is a blessing in my life as well as in her parents lives. I look at her everyday and think of how we're suppose to be innocent like children. I can be a positive influence on Kaitlynn's life, and the lives of other children I come across, and if I can make a difference, then I'll have felt like I've accomplished something.

Aftermath Of My Unforgetable Birthday ER Trip

Ok, so the above photo is the result of 2 separate people trying to start an IV on a dehidrated Jessica in excrutiating pain. There are actually 2 puncture holes on that arm, they also tried to find a vein in my right hand and wrist. The vein in my right wrist blew, and I have a nice bruise that covers the top of my right hand. It was not the time of my life, that's for sure. Reading online about Kidney Stones, it can take up to 3 weeks to pass one, and I have been told it's worse than giving birth. I tell my family that I'm not passing a stone, I'm having a kid. Add to my experience, they want me to pee in a cup each time I use the toilet. This ususally isn't a problem for me except this is what the cup looks like:

The diameter of this cup isn't very big, so I have devised a "system" I guess you can say. This is what I do. I use an OLD 2c. liquid measuring cup to pee in, then pour it into the "cup" furnished by the hospital. That system seems to work, until I got a visit from "Mother Nature". They want me to save anything that remains in the cup, but with "Mother Nature" I don't think the Urologist would like to see that stuff.

Anyway, I have taken myself completely off soda, and am drinking 10 8oz bottles of water a day. I also have a 64oz mug that I have filled with Crystal Lite, and drink that when I'm tired of water. Life for me kind of sucks right now, but as long as I'm taking my pain pills, I'm surviving. That's pretty much all I spend my days doing, drinking lots of water, peeing and watching kids. I try to time my outings around the Potty Breaks for me because I really don't want to lug around my pee cups, just isn't my thing. Anyway, I'm taking off. I would like to thank Chrystal for helping me with my blog, you've been a lot of help and hopefully I can catch on a little quicker, keep an eye out, it might just improve. Any feedback you guys have on the changes I have or do make, would be greatly welcomed.

31 yrs and counting.

So today is my birthday. I don't get why people are so reluctant to grow older, to me, it's just another year. I've been razzed that I'm getting older by a few of my friends, and all I tell them is that I'm like a fine wine, I get better with age. Somebody once said, wisdom comes with age, and I can honestly see why that is. Anyway, this year I broke "Tradition", normally I gather all my friends and we make a trip to the Texas Road House. This year I have done a lot of thinking about this, and have decided that I feel that's the only time my friends want to do something with me so I'm canceling it for good.

It bums me out a little, but I would rather make special memories for my Birthday with my family and my husband. I had to work this year for my Birthday, if you really want to call it that. I got Kaitlynn at 6am, took a "nap" while she watched TV, then Marsh and Emily came and got us out of bed. I showered, gave Kaitlynn her bath, and then she peed her pants so I had to wash them. From that time out, my day has been one roller coaster after another. I placed a bid on Ebay for a baby doll like the one I had as a kid. As to be expected, somebody jumped in just before the auction ended, and then out bid me. Luckily I found another doll and bid on her.

While playing around on Ebay, I found a purse I'd LOVE to have. Sure, people say it's flipping ugly, creepy, whatever, but if you know me, you know I can't resist. (Come on, I had ORANGE tennis shoes not too long ago.) I finally convinced Dave to let me purchase this purse, and this is what it looks like.

Aside from the striped T-neck, it looks like Merlyn when I shave him short. I am very thankful that my siblings have wished me a happy birthday, and that those who remembered have done so as well. Yeah, I've had my ups and downs today, but I'm trying to make the best of it, who knows, maybe I'm just tired. I was happy to see Jared/Jordyn Lake though, we've been through a LOT over the years, and he/she is going through a tough time with thier ex-wife. It's good to be there for a friend.

Happy 2009

Well, we've just closed out another year. 2008 was quite an adventure for us here in Idaho. We'd found out that we were scammed out of the deed to our house, Grandma Wanda passed away, Dan and Chrystal moved to Texas, Marsh is going to be a dad, and Heather got a divorce. We ended up losing our house and moving in with Mom and Dad, it's okay but I don't want to be here forever. It has been a big help living with them as we're able to catch up on most of our bills, and can help them out occasionally.
Throughout the year, Dave has made a lot of progress in the Convergys Food Chain. He went from agent to coach, from coach to team leader, from team leader now to Remote Agent Supervisor which means he will be working from home within the month. We're all excited about it because he saves on gas, and doesn't always have to rush home to eat lunch, he can have it brought to him. I have been babysitting Kaitlynn, Layla and Colby. I'm not exactly sure, but I may be taking in a 5yr and 3yr sometime soon.
This Christmas we had LOTS of snow for the first time in years. I am sure people are going to think I'm crazy and need medication, maybe I do, but I don't care. I was thinking about things one day, and in my eyes, I think all the snow was a gift from Grandma Wanda. I felt her presence here, and I now she knew we loved the snow. Like I said, maybe I'm just crazy.
We've been religiously working on our budget, there have been a few setbacks, but we're doing good I believe, and are going to save for a trip to visit Dan and Chrystal in Houston around our anniversary if we can. I'm excited for things this year. I turn 31 on Monday, and then there are Dad's, Heather's and Chrystals birthdays. Mason goes in for surgery sometime this month. He has a lump on his chest the vet would like to remove incase it's a cancerous tumor. They're not going to knock him out completely, just get him "drunk" and then cut him open. I am going to ask if I can watch.
In February, I should be a new aunt. Tucker James Hollingsworth should be born, and a lot of us are hoping he'll be born on his due date (Feb.12th) as it's Grandpa Fredrickson's birthday. As you know, I want kids but am struggeling with conceiving, so part of me is jealous of Marsh and Emily, but I'm really happy for them, besides, I was the first to know she was prego. We've also got a few weddings coming up. Darcy is getting married in June, and Heather plans on getting married in July. Who knows, maybe this year Mom and Dad will be blessed with a second grandkid.
Well, that's pretty much all I want to say, hope you all have a happy new year and that your year is full of wealth and prosperity.