A quick trip to Virginia

Pete's mom has spent New Year's with us every year since we were married but this year she wasn't able to come so at the last minute, we decided on Sunday morning to drive up to her home near Roanoke, Virginia and visit with her! It was a "less-than-24-hour" trip but we were so glad to get to see her!! She never ages and is always gorgeous! Pete and his youngest sister, Peggy. Peggy and George Hoffman have two sons, George and Jeremy. George and Anna have a precious 2 year old, Ethan.

The twins LOVE playing with Ethan. He amazes me...he's barely 2 but sits and draws...like REAL pictures with details...he is too cute!
We spent a lazy Monday just visiting and enjoying being together...and yes Pete is at the computer checking out the weather forecast for the drive home! It was so good to see Jeremy..he always came with Grandma on her visits and I adore him! We have missed his visits and hope he'll come visit us this year at the beach!

About 6 years ago, Grandma and Peggy and George redesigned the Hoffman's garage and it became an apartment for Grandma...I had never seen it and I was really impressed with their creative use of space...the step up from the living area into the kitchen hides the plumbing and electrical work underneath... She recovered three very comfortable chairs instead of a big sofa and even has a nice fireplace...and the plasma TV up on the wall can be viewed from the bedroom or living area so she only needs one TV...sweet!

Grandma wanted an open concept so she only had a half-wall built between her bedroom and living room and it does seem very spacious that way! Note the two paintings on the wall in the picture below...GRANDMA painted those (no, they are not paint by number!!). She discovered a hidden talent...they are gorgeous!

I love that she left up her Christmas decorations for us...I also liked her quilts...and that the half wall makes a great headboard...smart Grandma!!
The trip was too short but it was so good to visit with Grandma and the Hoffmans! August of 2010 will be Grandma's 80th birthday and we are planning a huge family reunion (maybe at a beach house with a pool near Charleston so we can enjoy the beach, swimming, crabbing and fishing on the river and the historic fun of Charleston!) MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!!!!

What does it take to close schools in SC???

Yep! a dusting of snow that will be melted and gone by noon...gotta love winters in the South!

oh...the Quote

I posted it back in October...it was for a contest (THAT I DID NOT WIN!) but upper management liked it better than the winner and chose it for our "Best 100 places to work" poster...I can't get the poster to save and post but the qoute is:

“Our vision clearly guides every employee every day and makes
this the best place to work in healthcare. We treat all patients
(and each other) as we would want to be treated. It sounds
simple, and it is. From the boardroom to the basement and
everywhere in between, we smile, we help, we go the extra mile.
We’ve got the knowledge, skills and technology to heal but it’s our
heart that sets us apart!”
Elizabeth Sheridan
Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
Richland

proving Andrew and Peter right...

My boys think BLOGS are just a bragging post...and I say, "and your point is????" So just to prove them right, I'll blatently brag...

I had some very nice emails in my work inbox from some very important people at Palmetto Health...all congratulating me on a qoute that was included in this week's "Pillar Talk" (a communication sent out to management) and also telling me that my quote is featured on a poster that will hang on every communication board in every unit at Palmetto Health...well then!
There's just something cool about seeing your name in print on every bulletin board you pass at work...and nice to know senior management know my name in a good way! My 15 minutes of fame...at work anyway...

Sarah Beth wasn't exaggerating THIS time...

So we all know that SB is a little dramatic and loves being the center of attention and has many perceived ailments...in fact, she will tell you, "I have hypochondria and Dr Guyton says that means I get sick a lot"
So yesterday when she slept all day at Beth's and was hard to wake up, I assumed she was tired because she hadn't slept much the night before.

Then, when she did wake up and complained of a headache, I gave her motrin

and pretty much ignored her when she complained of a sore throat...

and then of being itchy...

and then of her lips hurting...

and even smiled and shook my head when I heard her talking with a pitiful "put-on" raspy voice...

until I looked up and saw these GI-NORMOUS lips

even then, the PICU nurse in me just thought...hmm allergic reaction to something...I gave her some liquid benedryl and a tepid bath and noted some whelps but waited for the benedryl to work...

45 minutes later when Sarah Beth started wheezing, that same PICU nurse realized she had no artificial airway equipment, no oxygen, no steroids and no epi at home and high-tailed it to the ER...

which was slam packed full of not very sick kids and their tribes of laughing-eating-drinking-fighting-rude-yelling at kids for nothing-ignoring bad behavior-making out(not joking!)- obscenity speaking-smelly-trashy-irritating families! Thank goodness a severe allergic reaction bumps you to the very top of the waitlist and we immediately went back where every staff member was a known and trusted friend!!! Hallelujah!!!

By now the benedryl was belatedly working and the lips were receeding...of course!

But no worries... a few steroids and one Scooby Doo video later, we left for home...this time with a script for steroids and an epi pen!

and we will NEVER hear the end of this from our little hypochondriac who said, "Wait till I tell Dr Guyton you just ignored me and I was having a flatic shot (otherwise known as anaphylaxis shock which she was NOT QUITE having but heard the dr and me talking about)!"

She got sent to her room for that remark!

I expect she'll tell him that too! AHH gotta love kids!

Diet Update...week 1

Okay now, in response to some requests, I am reluctantly agreeing to be accountable to my blogging world on a weekly basis...

just remember that old very fat people will not show a loss in pictures for quite a few weeks

...last year I lost almost 40 pounds and unless you held before and after pictures side by side, no one really could tell (yeah...that is a little discouraging!). Pete will show a change quicker and also lose quicker...just another perk of being a male!!!!!!!

ANYWAYS...here we are in SLC last month which is pretty much a before picture...do not expect measurements because I can't count that high!!! (ok ALL of mine were in the fifties..yes that was 50s!!!!) I'm pretty much a block of globby fat. But that was then and this is now...we had a great 1st week...we really stuck to it! Now we have to add exercise...

Check out those twin double chins and baggy eyes and note there is no longer a jaw line...yuck!

We started at (Pete) 235 and (me) 278.5

DRUM ROLL PLEASE...........

I lost 5 pounds and Pete lost 7 pounds....

Woo Hoo!!!! that's the way, uh huh uh huh I like it, uh huh uh huh!!!!!

A week with us...

Sunday..the twins LOVE primary in Irmo and Pete teaches the High Priest lesson. I finally get to go to Sacrament but then I crash for the rest of the day since I work Saturday nights!

Pete spends a good part of his week at the BCBS Tower on I-20 and Alpine...a long way from home.... but only 4 years and 2 months till retirement!!!!!

and we have been hitting the books in our virtual school...we slacked off in December but are FINALLY all caught up...the twins are just ridiculously smart so it's easy...it just takes ALL of my time!!!!! But, it's worth the sacrifice!

I am taking one class every 8 weeks and have 4 more left until I get my BSN and am FINISHED with formal education forever!!!! I really do not enjoy it and just want to be done...it's easy but very very time consuming and I always feel like I am behind...even though I'm not...

Connor went to an audiologist last month and tomorrow he has to have some minor surgery to help his speech...like LaNelle and Peter, he is "tongue-tied". LaNelle's was fixed at 2 weeks by Dr Cohen and Peter's at age 6 by his dentist. So now it's Connor's turn! yikes! Then, Sarah Beth and I get to go to Girls' Activity Days (which is held at night...) We love it!!!

Wednesday is diet check in day for us at Jenny Craig....we have been perfect this week and the scale shows it...love the food

but there are times when I am very hungry (due to my crazy up all night life!!!) but we are still determined....and I have almost quit drinking diet coke...my head hurts all the time which underscores how addicting caffeine is...and I am having to back off slower than cold turkey...but I am making great progress.

Connor loves Wednesdays because he loves scouts!!! He has a SUPER leader....he's so cute!!

On Thursday, I have a day long class at work so my neice Beth has graciously agreed to let the twins visit her for the day. My twins are sooo excited to play with her 4 children! Thanks, Beth!
and then Friday will be the start of the twins' K12 Bowling league. They bowl each Friday afternoon with other K12 kids and the scores are listed nationally in the "virtual league". Fun!!

And Friday nights mean two things.....Football for Connor (2 more games!) and...

back to the Children's hospital to work for me....all weekend

:(

but I do love what I do and am thankful for the ability to help financially and still have all week with my children.

My cord to my blackberry is missing in action so I have been cell phone-less most of the time since January 2nd and I have missed talking to my kids and girlfriends...but I'll get a new one soon!!! Meanwhile...see you on blog/facebook!!!!