Another month....down the hatch

Time flies when your having fun, eh? Ok, fun might be a bit of a stretch, but it is sure flying. I feel like I haven't posted forever...well, I guess I haven't I feel like I have to put a picture on when I post, and my computer is sooooooo slow, that I just don't have the time or energy to do it. Seriously....it takes about 15 mins. I am too busy and too tired to deal.

So, for everyone looking for a picture, sorry. Just not going to happen tonight. I did want to get on and say HI!

Life here in Houston has been fairly calm. The weather has been nice, and after Ike, we didn't get any more storms. November wraps up hurricane season here, so I guess we are good. Life in Houston is pretty much back to normal. There are still lots of signs that are broken out, and a lot of blue tarps on the roofs of houses and buildings that haven't had the repair work done...most of the trees have been cleaned up. I am a little worried about the big Pecan tree in the back yard....it is leaning a lot. I guess I just have to hope that it will hold out for another year. Then it can crash into the house. Do the landlord a favor, anyway. Haha. Just kidding. It is nice to have a place to live, and I am grateful for it. I have been too spoiled the last few years, and we have always had nice new places to live. This house has seen some years....decades....about 5 or 6 of them. Decades I mean. I doubt it will see many more, however. The neighborhood is really being gentrified. Basically, the house isn't worth anything, it's the lot. The location is fabulous. Nick and I have about a 5 mile commute to work. That is the first time since I left Idaho that I haven't had to commute for at least 45 min. one way. We are saving lots of money in gas and wear and tear on the cars. It is right off the beltway, which will take you anywhere you need to go. What has been happing to the neighborhood over the past few years is people will buy the old house, tear it down, and rebuild. Next door we have a HUGE house going up. It is a little crazy if you ask me. There is no yard this house is so big. I will send a picture...one of these days.

Anyway, they tear out these old houses and start over. Which, would probably be good. There are some serious foundation issues here. We are talking, the cupboards in the bathroom won't close anymore!! So, after next year...won't be my problem.

Lexi is good. She gets bigger and bigger every day! I think that I am about to have a serious milestone....she is starting to do the army crawl...Houston, we have a problem. Mobility in the child. No more can I put her on the blanket and have her in one place. She'll roll and scoot to where she wants to be. Gracie was laying on the floor, and Lexi crawled up behind her and grabbed her nub tail!! It was hilarious. I can't blame her. The little nub gets wagging back and forth so fast...who could resist? Gracie does really good with her. She's like a little mother. She'll come in and help me give Lexi a bath. Basically, I'll sit Lex in the tub and Gracie will come in and lick her all over her hands and face. Don't gross out, ok? I think that they will be good friends. I guess it is going to be time to babyproof this house... I don't know what all that involves, but I think I'm about to find out, one way or the other.

Lexi also has 2 teeth. Sharp teeth. Nick, for some reason, was letting her bite on his fingers, and she really bit down. He did the "OW" thing and pulled his hand out to reveal 2 little teeth marks. Hilarous. I didn't feel bad, because I breastfed for the first seven and a half months. So there.
Nick doesn't expect sympathy from me, anyway. I think that it has rubbed off onto him. I was trying to open a bottle with a knife the other night (I know...not smart) and the knife slipped and sliced me between my thumb and finger...you know, that web part of your hand that you can't put a band aid on, because it is right in the crease? Yeah, that part. I am telling you, the knife went in about a quarter of an inch, and started to bleed. Now, I work in the operating room and I see blood all day long. Doesn't bother me a bit. Blood coming out of me? Totally different story. I almost passed out. My eyes started to tunnel and I got really hot and I felt like I had cotton in my ears. I yelled for Nick to come and save me....well, he took his sweetass time getting in the kitchen...I'm holding onto the edge of the sink for dear life and he finally saunters in...and with a classic Nick touch... Why were you trying to open the bottle with a knife, retard? I can see into this wound through the fascia and into the muscle, and he doesn't even care. He says, look where I cut myself with a razor at work....you'll be alright. Um, ok, I think I'd get more sympathy from my mom (who isn't that sympathetic.....sorry mom, but it's true.)
I thought about going to the ER, because I am sure that I need a couple of stitches, but after a few phone calls to nurse friends, I trash that idea. Mostly because I didn't want to sit in an ER for a few hours. I knew I was going to work in the morning and I'd just fix it up there. Maybe even get stitches for free from a friendly doc. Well, I found my friendly doc the next morning. He took a look at it, and told me it had been too long to get stitches. He didn't want me to get MRSA or some infection in there, and I didn't want to do that either. He patched me up with some steri strips that lasted for about an hour and a half. Like I said, that part of the hand, between the thumb and first finger....you can't put anything there, and expect it to stay. Especially if you wash your hands. So, the good news is, it's healing. It looks good. A little red around it, but nothing serious. I'll have a scar, but I'm not a hand model, so I don't really have to worry about it.

And, now I have rambled on and on....I'm going to go to bed. I did want to say a few things that I am grateful for.....this being Thanksgiving and all....

I'm grateful for my family. I have a beautiful daughter and a wonderful husband. Even if he doesn't care that I'm bleeding out in the sink, he is a good man and a great father.
I have the best parents that anyone could ask for in the world, and great brothers and little sis. I have wonderful grandparents. I am truly blessed with a loving family.
I'm grateful for my good life. I have a good steady job, my husband has a good job, and in a time when people are struggling, I am able to be at peace.
I'm grateful for the challenges that the Lord gives me. Although it is trying, and things sometimes seem like they will never be right, it always works out. Every day is a new day with new obstacles to overcome, but I am never alone. I know that.
I am surrounded with wonderful people in my life. Good friends, good family...a good life.

Trick or Treat???

I thought this Halloween would be a milestone. The first time since 5th grade that I could shamelessly go door to door begging for candy....
Well, we didn't take Lexi trick or treating. We weren't planning on going door to door, but we were going to get together with some friends and go to the Children's Museum. They were having a big Halloween thing...but, I was on call for work, and wouldn't you know it....I got called in. So, I left the house with Nick in charge, and 3 giant bags of candy in a bowl and the back-up bag (I call it back up, but it's more like, hidden bag for me to consume) I got back home about 11 pm. The jack o'latern was on it's last tea light. I blew it out and went in the house. The entire bowl of candy was sitting there, back up bag still sitting there....Nick and Lex were asleep, so I went and woke Nick up and asked how many trick or treaters we got. NOT ONE!! Not one little globlin or ghostie, no witches or monsters...nothing.
I guess that is the inevitable. People don't go shamelessly door to door anymore. I thought surely we'd have some kids. We live in a nice neighborhood. But apparently that isn't the trend anymore. I guess I was saved from certain embarassment by being the only mom going trick or treating. Sheesh.
We did get to dress up last weekend and go to a pumpkin carving with our friends. Our neighbors down the road do this shindig every year. We had just moved in last year, and they invited us. I was still prego!! So crazy that it was a year ago. Anyway, I dress Lexi up last night after her bath in her little princess outfit. I took the entire bowl of leftover candy and dumped it all around her for a nice photo-op. Well, she didn't think it was that fun...


Clearly, not fun.



She was intrigued by Nick's scary clown mask. I don't know why. That thing trips me out. Like Stephen King's "It".

And our pumpkin (courtesy of Nick) was very original, I think.



So, next year maybe we won't live in big scary Houston, and we will have trick or treaters. Plus, Lexi may be more down with the whole dressing up thing. Or not. But she made a pretty cute princess. She's definitely the princess in our house!

It's been awhile....

So, I am horrible at keeping this blog up to date. I get lots of crap from my mom about it....
She told me about the weather in Idaho and the beautiful colors. With her new fancy-dancy camera she took some great pics. Instead of going to bed like I should be (gotta get up early for work tomorrow) I started surfing and decided I liked Tara's blog with the little "get to know you" for an update, since I am too lazy to post some pictures right now and nothing too interesting to ramble on about. Maybe Nick will add his answers at some point. I imagine that it will have to be when we have some down time, because he won't type it up, he'll make me do it.
So, here are my answers

1. Did you date someone from your school?
Yes, I did some dating in my day...

2. What kind of car did you drive?
Well, my first driving experience was a spin in the Ford Thunderbird....after that, I didn't drive anymore (since I was only 14...I got in BIG trouble)
So, the answer was...didn't drive, didn't have a car, but had lots of friends who did.
My first car was after graduating from college, and it was a 1989 Pontiac Grand Prix.
The Prix served me well, then served my dad and last of all, served Nate, who introduced it to a deer, which ended it's life. Deer and cars don't get along.


3. Did you pass your driver's license test on the first try?
Aced the test, and then didn't use it until after college (see answer #2)


4. Were you a party animal?
As much as you can pary in Rexburg, Idaho

5. Were you considered a flirt?
I suppose so, that's a hard question to be objective about. I guess I tried, anyway


6. Were you in band, orchestra, or choir?
I played the flute in 6,7,8,9th grade, then played in the marching band my freshman year...I played the cymbals (randomly crazy), then in 10th grade I played the bass drum. Weird when you think about it.

7. Were you a nerd?
Another question to be objective about...I was somewhere in the middle, I guess



8. Were you on any varsity teams?
I played JV softball one year, then ran track.

9. Did you get suspended/expelled?
Yeah, thanks Bob Boice. I got into a fight in front of the principal's office. Not too bright.

10. Can you still sing the fight song?
Yeah, that is one of the weird things that I remember, along with all the counties in Idaho. Hidden talents.
(We are here for Madison....the school we love so dear....)

11. Who were your favorite teachers?
KT and Tel....anat and phys.

12. Where did you sit during lunch?
Usually Wendy's...where ever the friend that I was with driving went. Again, refering to answer #2, I didn't have a lot of driving freedom.


13. What is your schools full name?
Madison High School


14. School mascot and colors?
Bobcat - red, white and gray.


15. Did you go to Homecoming and who with?
10th grade....didn't go
11th grade, Cesar Baca
12th grade, Kurt Linford

16. If you could go back and do it again, would you?
Nope. It was fun at the time, and I don't regret anything.

17. What do you remember most about graduation?
That you didn't actually get your diploma when you walked across the stage. They just handed you a empty book thingy to put your diploma in, but mailed out the actual document a couple of weeks later. It was all just for show

18. Where did you go senior skip day?
? I didn't know there was one...

19. Were you in any clubs?
Ski club
Math club (just kidding)


20. Have you gained some weight since then?
Yeah...

21. Who was your prom date?
Kurt Linford

22. Are you planning on going to your 10 year reunion?
Wow, that makes me feel old...It's come and gone...didn't go.

23. Did you have a job while in high school?
Porter's....gotta love Chuck

Tag Nate, Sara, Candi, Mom and Dad...And anyone else who reads this

Ok, so now it's really late, and 5 am is fast approaching.
Better hit the hay.

Hell-o from Eye-da-ho

Well, it has been an interesting week to say the least. I can't say that I have missed work one bit...hm. I am sure that I will miss it when payday rolls around. It has been nice coming home in an unexpected way. I love to see the fam. I miss them so much. Living away has been good for us, but I do love to come home. Even if that means seeing people that I know in the grocery store. Oh well.
So, Nick has been enjoying his time "camping" at our house. We are still without power. I guess that they are getting more and more people back on line everyday...hopefully not too much longer for us. As much as I love being home, I am really missing my hubby, and I know that he is REALLY missing baby Lex. Not to mention that he has been eating mostly protien....all the food in the fridge was bad by the time that he got to Houston, but the meat that we had in the deep freezer was thawing, but cold. So, he has been eating steak and hamburger pretty much since he has been back. Not sure how that is treating the digestive system. Plus, I am sure that he is trashing the house. No power, no dishwasher, no washer and dryer...I know that we have a generator, but I think that is being used to power the TV. Sunday was football day. Not sure what else he has plugged into it. A fan, probably. It had cooled off a bit last week, but was starting to get hot again this weekend. So, I am definitely not going back until the power is back on. I am too spoiled now. If there isn't A/C, I won't be there. A/C in Rexburg is nice, but you only really need it for 1-2 months of the year. I am in Rexburg at the perfect time. It has been a lovely fall-like week. Something that I have been missing for some time. Houston doesn't really have seasons, so it has been nice.
Anyway, enough of the rambling. Hopefully this "evacuation" will be done soon, and I will be back to normal before too long. I haven't had my camera, so I can't post pics, and I am sure that all my rambling w/o pics is BORING. But, when I get back, Nick says that he has some great pics of hurricane damage, so that should give you something to look forward, too. Maybe we can get some photos of Lexi with Gramma's fancy camera and post them.

Latest Update.....From SLC

After Ike had come and gone, we were left with feelings of uncertainity of what would be waiting for us in Houston. We had spoken to some neighbors and friends, and while everyone is affected in some way or another, we were lucky. Nick and I debated on whether or not I should go back with Lexi. We knew that we didn't have power, but weren't sure about much else. We decided it would be best if I headed to SLC/ID and spend some time here until things in Houston get staightened out. Our babysitter is out of town, so we don't have childcare for me to go back to work. It is still pretty hot down there, and a 6 mth old baby in a house with no A/C would be pretty miserable. And a hop, skip and jump on some airplanes, I flew out of DFW that night into Salt Lake. I'm staying at Matt and Tara's right now. Nick went to Houston this morning. He says the house is fine, no damage, but no power, and the roads are a mess. He said he had to make a few turns to get to our road. There were fences down, trees down, power lines down. In the neighborhood that we live in, no stores are open. A few gas stations, but he said the cars were lined up down the road and there was a 15 gallon limit. The fridge was dead, but some of the hamburger we had in the deep freezer was still cold, so he had hamburgers on the grill. We got a generator while we were in Dallas, and he loaded up with gas on the way out. So, he hooked up the fridge and the TV, of course. Monday Night Football. He said it was like camping...however I don't remember MNF on any of our camping trips.....oh well.
So, as far as work for me goes....well, we'll see if I have a job when I get back. Nick went and talked to my director today. Isn't that nice. I'm such a chicken that I send my husband in to do my dirty work. Since Nick and I work at the same place, he knows my managers and director. So, we'll see what extenuating circumstances this will mean for me and my job. I don't have my camera, so I don't have any pics to put on. Nick has the camera. He has been taking pics of the destruction in Houston. So, one of these days I will have some cool pics to put on. As of now, you just get to listen to me ramble on. So, with that said, ya'll have a good one.

Hello from Roanoke!

Thursday was an interesting day for us. The whole mood of the day was very....frenetic. Everyone was freaking out, and some of the nurses were in areas of mandatory evacuation. We had a couple of options as far as what options we had. We could stay in our house, we could go to the hospital, or we could leave. The thought of staying in the house wasn't very appealing. A lot of windows, and the construction next door would have given me a ulcer. If nothing else, I didn't want to be stuck in the house without air conditioning. The thought of staying at the hospital wasn't too appealing either. Although they were going to be very accomodating, even offering a kennel option for the dogs, I don't want to be trapped in the hospital with a bunch of people. So, we left the Jeep at the hospital in the parking garage, loaded up the truck, tried to take care of some things around the house, and headed out. We got onto the road around 6 by the time we got done. The traffic seemed to be flowing quite well, but as we neared the north side of Houston, it was clear that everyone was already there. We took a little detour and instead of going straight up 45 North, we went around through College Station and came up through Waco. It still took about 6 hours, but I feel better knowing that we aren't there. So, we got reservations at a hotel in Roanoke, where we used to live. Dallas is still supposed to get lots of rain from Ike, but Roanoke is pretty far west of Dallas. We'll be ok. So, we're all here, hanging out for the weekend. Nick is actually going to one of the Bovis jobs in Dallas today. He'll be able to see Tom, one of the guys that we have known since Idaho. We've worked with Tom for Nashville, Texas, and Atlanta. So, it will be good to catch up with him. I'll also get to see my friend Lana. She and I worked together in the ICU when we lived here. So, it is not going to be a total loss. I know that the media hypes a lot of this weather stuff up, but it will probably be a much better idea for us to be out of the way. Especially with my beautiful baby girl. I would never forgive myself if we had decided to stay and something would have happened.
So, all y'all, we're good. Love you and we'll be in touch.

Hurricane Ike

Well, it has been awhile since I have posted. I keep thinking that I need to have pictures to post, but sorry...just blab this time.
We have a hurricane brewing in the Gulf. Despite all the previous hurricanes, this one seems to be heading straight for us. They have been evacuating most of the counties closer to the coast. Although we live inland, and we have a brick house, we have decided to head out of town this weekend. We are going to Dallas to spend the weekend in a hotel. I have been skeptical to do this, but after much discussion and advice from friends and family....better to be safe than sorry.
So, we'll leave tonight...late...hopefully don't get stuck on the freeway for hours on end. We got gas in the truck and 15 gallons in containers. Good thing, too. People are already beginning to panic, and gas stations are starting to run out of gas. We'll take the computer, so I'll keep you all posted this weekend. And I'm sure I'll be in touch. Love you all.

My First Foods

Dad starts me out with peas....Mmmm peas. I think that I may like these peas..... Not sure, though....I think that I have more on me, then in my mouth
But the Carrots!! Those were wonderful!! All over Baby's face!
Isn't he great? I love my Dad. He rocks.
So, for Lexi's 1/2 birthday (yay! 6 mths old!!) We went out on a limb, and tried a few foods. Hello solid foods....hello solid diapers!!

Beach Pics

So, I guess I didn't do it right, but I am going to keep trying to figure it out. I thought that I would be able to post and pix at the same time, but I guess I didn't do it. Oh well. The important thing is that there are some pix for you to look at. We have some pix of Lexi in the pool. She really liked it, but I was too worried about staying out too long. In case you haven't noticed, she is so fair....I couldn't stand it if she got a sunburn. Even with the hat, full body swim suit and 50 spf sunblock, I wasn't going to take a chance. So, then we went to the Aquarium. On the way, we stopped in the Shark's Mouth....Kodak moment. I felt like Asian tourists. Then at the aquarium, Lex was really interested in the fish. She really enjoyed the dolphins. So did I. I just love them. All in all, a pretty good trip. It was nice to get away.

Right now, we are having another 3 day weekend. This one isn't so restful. We are on standby while Hurricane Gustuv comes hurtling into the Gulf. It is already a Category 4. Not good. It looks like it is on track to hit Louisiana, but Houston is still in the possible path. We'll know more over the next 24 hrs. We've been stocking up on food, so if we do stay, we should be able to eat for a couple of weeks. Even w/out power. But, no A/C. That will not be cool. We are also ready to leave if we need to. We filled up both trucks, and have 10 gallons of gas in cans on standby. Hopefully we don't have to leave, but if we do, we are ready. Hugs and kisses to all.

Looking busy....

So, I don't know if I am getting smarter, or if I have been dumb all along, but I just figured out how to get onto the internet from my work computer. Right now, I am looking very busy charting. Charting away, doing very good patient care.....but in reality, I am posting a blog. Hilarious. I feel like I am breaking the law....breaking the law, breaking the law!!! I am sure that if I got busted, I would be in big trouble...but, oh well. At least I'm awake.
So, speaking of breaking the law....

I got the mail the other day, and saw that we (addressed to Nick and Lynsey Conder) got a letter from the City of Houston. Hm, weird, I thought. I wonder what they want. Well, I opened it up, and I'll be damned if I didn't see a big ol' picture of the back of the pickup...a wonderful shot of our licence plates...very clearly, you could read the numbers. Yes, you could see a lot of detail. What could that be, you say? Well, I'll tell you. That was "Failure to yield to a red light". Wonderful city that we live in. We have cameras on our stop lights. And they love to take pictures of law breakers, such as ourselves. For those of you that know Nick and I's driving record, you will know that this moving violation is not a good thing for us. Neither of us. Well, since we both have been driving the truck, we argued for a while about who was the culprit. It said the intersection, and I know that I hadn't been on that intersection....Nick was emphatically denying that it wasn't him. Well, I got looking and saw the date....For July 27th. I had an alibi. I was in Idaho, and there was no way that I could have been driving the truck in Houston. HA! Well, I was happy for a minute....at least it wasn't me. But, the bottom line is, we equally pay for this. In insurance premiums. I don't know if they love us or hate us. All I know is, I hope they have a driving school. Cuz, Nick will be spending an evening there, trying to get that ticket off our record!!!
Anyway, Corpus Christi was nice. We decided to spend an extra night there. We moved to a beachside room, and had a wonderful view of the ocean. It was very nice. The next morning we got up and decided to drive down Padre Island. It was a pretty drive. Paid $10 to drive through this park. We found a little beach area, and got out to go check it out. Got baby Lexi out, started toward the water. I saw a little crab going across the sand and stopped to check it out. It was then, I realized when you stop for 2 seconds, mosquitoes as fat as houseflies stop to drain your blood. Lots of mosquitoes. Not just one or two. More like 10 or 20. I looked down at Nick's legs...he hadn't noticed yet. Covered. Can you say West Nile Virus? I started jumping up and down. I have a little baby with fat juicy legs, and I am sure those skeeters would LOVE to drink her blood. Well, I wasn't having it. I started running back toward the car, swatting and waving my hands everywhere to protect my child.... Nick caught on pretty quickly after that. We ran to the car like we were being chased by the Texas Chainsaw Man himself. Nick grabbed Lexi, and off we went. Quick, just put her in, I'll buckle her up when we get inside.....Quick Quick, they're coming! So. We left that beach very quickly. Only 2 ginormous mosquitoes got into the car, but I killed them.
So, that was the exciting parts. The rest wasn't very exciting, but that's ok with me. Boring is nice.

Blogging and beaching....

So, after much ado about nothing....that is, getting tons of S*#t from my mom about not blogging....I'm gonna get to it.
I am away from home, and the cables that I need to put some new pics on, so you will have to wait for pictures on this blog. Nick has been putting in long hours at work for the past couple of weeks, and his boss, being unnaturally intuitive, decided that we needed some time off.
We thought about what we could do with a 3 day weekend, and not too much money....we came up with Corpus Christi. It is a nicer beach than Galveston. I guess the Mississippi Mud comes into the beach at Galveston, and that is why the water is so nasty looking. I thought it was from the refinery up the road, but I guess I was wrong. The refinery makes it so that you can't eat the fish, but doesn't make the water dirty. Go figure. So, we had a lovely time at the beach in Corpus. Well, Lexi didn't care too much for the ocean. She screamed when we put her feet in, but liked the pool.
Stay tuned to future posts w/ pool pics.
Peace out