Bon anniversaire Papa Stevie! (Happy Bday)

Happy 50th birthday to my dad, Steve (2/1). He actually is flying out bright and early for Colorado for 5 days, but will be having a bash next weekend. Here's a pick of his decorated office (his staff did it) at his State Farm Agency. WE LOVE YOU!

Deux beaux films (2 beautiful movies)

1. ONCE

I must give the Hart's props for this, because they did recommend this to Joel and me many months ago, however Joel rented it of his own accord, because of course he didn't remember this recommendation. Especially if you're a musician and/or lover of culture, this movie will impact you. It is beautiful. I love the lead female's (Marketa) voice. It doesn't impress me, but it's like crystal - clear and pure. The lead male's voice (Glen of the band, The Frames) is the kind of male voice I love, and I don't love male voices in general - a big range and passionate, smooth and ringing. The harmonies are my kind o' harmonies - you'll understand if you've been in a band or done music with me. The songs are just well-written songs. They aren't pretentious and bitter like so many bands who are desperately fighting against the mainstream. Go to this link to hear their Academy Award nominated song, "Falling Slowly" that's in the film. Then, keep listening, and hear Marketa's lead vocals in "If You Want Me" (it's haunting), and then wait for "When Your Mind's Made Up": http://www.foxsearchlight.com/once/ - I'M NOT KIDDING ABOUT THIS.

2. THE NAMESAKE

It was culturally, dramatically, and photographically delicious: http://www.foxsearchlight.com/thenamesake/

Man I love movies like nobody's business.

USFNAB - déplaisant (unpleasant)

AKA - the biopsy (read previous post if you're confused). In summary, this was an unpleasant experience.

I got into a robe and had to lay down on a table propped up by a pillow, because hello, ouch, remember the 3 layers of stitches? I had a lab tech, an ultrasound tech, and some kind of doctor there, plus 2 more techs came in to transfer the blood to slides. They found the nodule on ultrasound and took some pics. The Dr. scrubbed my neck for 30 seconds with a sterilizing turquoise soap, which apparently will stain my skin for a couple days, but I can't see it right now. He stuck a needle in my throat to numb the area. Then I had to obviously remain very still as he stuck a needle into my thyroid (guided by US) and basically sawed it in and out 10 times. My thyroid was not numb, mind you, just my neck. It hurt, but it wasn't agonizing. It felt like a sore pain, not a sharp one. Then the tech said, "ok, needle out." The Dr. says, "That's the first 1; we have 4 more to do." Really? Glad I didn't know they had to take 5 needles of blood before they started. It got more and more uncomfortable as he stabbed my thyroid, and I was glad when they were finally done. They then tightly put a large bandaid on my neck, which I have to keep on for 24 hrs, and I had to wait in the lobby for 10 min. to make sure my thyroid didn't swell and constrict my breathing (this apparently has never happened).

So there you have it. I'll let you know if I have thyroid cancer or not when I find out.

It just keeps going and going and going...

my health biz that is...

So, I went to my ENT (Ears, Nose, Throat) doctor, Dr. Russell, today to talk about my CT scan results. He asked if I thought my thyroglossal duct cyst had changed any. I said, "No." He was examining it and said, "This is what you're concerned about, right?" I was like, "Yah. [obviously]" He goes, "Well, you know when you're looking for 1 thing and you find another?" I'm like, "Well, not really. That's never happened to me before." He goes, "Oh, well it happens to me all the time" as he opens my folder to my CT report. He said they found another cyst during the scan on my thyroid - a thyroid nodule to be exact. He said, "This now takes precedence." I was squeezed in to get an "Ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration (US FNA)biopsy" tomorrow at 11:45am at the hospital. They'll look inside my neck via ultrasound to precisely stick a "fine needle" into the thyroid cyst and get a tissue sample. Dr. Russell wants this done to "rule out thyroid cancer." He said that it's probably benign. According to one of my favorite websites, mayoclinic.com, 5% are malignant. We have our follow-up 2/8, his first available appt. I said, "So, if it is malignant, will you guys give me a call to let me know I have thyroid cancer, or do I have to wait until my appt?" The nurse goes, "Why, are you concerned?" I said, "Well, not really, but I guess I'd want to know if I had cancer before my appt." So, I had her attach a note for the doctor to call me if he's concerned with the results. Otherwise, at that appt, we'll discuss surgery on both cysts, which I assume will be done at the same time. The funny thing is, the 2 thyroid cysts are completely unrelated, and no, the nodule isn't impacting my hormones or anything - I asked. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/thyroid-nodules/DS00491/DSECTION=1

In other cyst news, I'm pretty mobile at this point post-surgery and not in any pain unless directly putting pressure on the wound, which actually happens a lot unless I'm standing. Due to gallons of superglue and an obvious belief in sticking gauze to the glue before it dries, I still have remants of the original gauze there, so I haven't fully seen Dr. Weiland's handy work. What I have seen isn't pretty.

I'll keep you posted on my health saga.

La première chirurgie (The First Surgery)

I arrived at the Surgicenter at 7:30am Friday. I had to make sure I was completely registered, get weighed, take a pregnancy test, get my blood pressure and heart rate taken, and change into my gown. I was in what had to have been a closet at some pt. They started an IV right away. I was happy b/c the nurse said she was going to numb it first like they had done when I had Stella, and I couldn't feel a thing. So, she stuck me to numb it, tapped my vein a couple times, and stuck in the IV. Ok, not a dern thing was numb. It hurt like a mother, and the nurse says, "That's 28 yrs. experience right there." I thought 28 yrs. experience in what? Yah, she got my vein on the first try, but I had to experience 2 needle sticks for no reason. Anyway...

An (I'm assuming based on the accent) Indian doctor came in asking if I'd gotten "happy juice" yet. I said, "no." She said, "You're getting general, right?" I'm like, "Yep, pretty sure." She goes, "Okay, good girl. I'll be back to get you started on some happy juice." 1. Should you really verify with the patient if and what kind of anesthesia they're getting? I think she may give patients too much credit for knowing what's going on. She got me started on a drug to relax me, and I fell asleep while Joel and my mom were talking. Then I woke up in the operating room, and a nurse was talking about how blue my eyes were, and then Dr. Weiland was talking about people wearing fake green contacts. I remember that whatever they were putting in my IV was so cold it was hurting my hand. They put the plastic mask on me, and I think I told them that my hand was cold. I remember a nurse saying that I would smell plastic. Then, I woke up again, and the nurse said, "Well, you're all done. I'm gonna let you rest here a little bit." I was like, what? It's over? It was like that chunk of time never happened. I was impatiently waiting there for them to take me back to the closet, because I couldn't sleep. I was sick of laying on my side, and my butt hurt. What bothered me more than my butt was that my throat hurt like crazy since they apparently had shoved a breathing tube down there, scraping the crap out of my lip in the process. My eye lids and mouth were all sticky since they had taped my eyes shut. I have 3 layers of stitches starting right above my tail bone. The tail bone curves under, so it's deeper than you think. Because I had scar tissue from getting the cyst drained twice and busting open on its own once, I have an s-shaped incision instead of a straight line. This is actually good because then there is less tension overall.

They took me back finally, took my vital signs a couple times, and gave me some vicodin. I love vicodin! Man, did that make me feel better. I had no adverse reactions to the anesthesia or vicodin. They gave me a script for that and 800mg of Ibuprofen (anti-inflammatory). I could have taken 2 vocidin every 4 hrs, but I was only taking 1. When I got home from surgery, I was really tired and a little out of it. I had very limited mobility. At about the 3-hr pt, I was ready for another vicodin. I was told that the Ibuprofen was to prevent inflammation and therefore make me be in less pain, and that vicodin is really for your brain so you think you're in less pain.

This is 3 days after surgery. I haven't taken any pain meds at all, and I'm not really in pain. I'm obviously still moving slower, and I'm very careful when sitting down, standing up, bending, laying down, and getting up. I don't know when I'll be able to drive, because that's about the worst position next to laying down, and I drive stick so there's much more pressure on that region as I move from the clutch to the gas. At this point, I'm planning to stay home this entire week. I don't see my Dr. until 1/28, so I won't really know how things are healing, especially internally. At work, I have to walk really fast to get to my 5 different classrooms in 3 minute passing periods, I bend over and kneel down a lot, there's a high risk of getting hit in the backside, etc... Better safe than sorry.

L'enterrement (Funeral)

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2008/01/12/obits/129674.txt

The visitation for my Great Grandma, Esther Lane, was Monday from 4-5pm for the family and 5-7pm for the public. My grandma was a teacher in McLean and Waynesville for more than 20 years and was very involved in church and the community, so there was a line going from the sanctuary down the hall down the stairs and wrapped around the basement. The final people got to the casket at 7:30pm.

The funeral was Tuesday at 10am. It was a beautiful and fitting service for someone as wonderful as my grandma who touched so many lives. The McLean and Waynesville Methodist Church pastor spoke during it as did the pastor from my grandma's nursing home. My aunt Debbie and cousin Susan read great things they wrote, many family members read or shared how they were impacted by my grandma, I sang "How Great Thou Art," straight to God and for my grandma, and my Grandpa Ted sang "Amazing Grace." We had a quick graveside service, lunch at the church, and then we hung out at my Great Uncle Dick's house all afternoon looking at old pictures, photo albums, and journals of my grandma's.

It was so nice to spend time with family and to continue learning about what a servant of God my grandma was. Those are big shoes to fill. The quote I heard most during this time from several family members is from the Bible. We are all confident that God said to my grandma, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

La Santé (Health)

Side note - My Great Grandma Lane died this morning around 4am. She would be 100 in February. As my dad said, it's bittersweet. It wasn't a pleasant existence for the past while with her body failing her. She was a strong Christian, so she is now with Jesus, and depending on your theological views, my Great Grandpa Lane, her sister Ruth, her brother Ralph, my dad's brother who died in infancy, David, etc... That is sweet. But she was the matriarch of our family and will be missed. The visitation will likely be Monday at 4pm and the funeral Wednesday.

So, am I 70 years old? No, I'm 26, but with all of the different doctors I've been seeing and all of my appointments and hospital trips taken and to be taken, I feel like I am. The only people who have really been filled in about my medical issues are Joel, my mom, Renee, and probably my dad, Rachel, and Gma Phelps from my mom. Some of my coworkers and friends have been getting concerned not knowing what's going on, so I'll fill you in. I've never had real surgery before, and 1 of these is minor, but I will be having 3 outpatient surgeries in the near future. If you're into medical stuff, this will interest you. If not, you may want to scan. Joel thinks "people don't need links and all the details," but all of my peeps do. We like to be educated and we care, so bla-dow! And please pray for all of these things. These are big deals to me, since I've had little experience in these arenas. I'm a calm person, but I'm sure I'll be anxious as the dates approach for surgery 1 and 2. Thanks!

1. Pilonidal Cyst
According to 1 doctor, I've had this since birth, but according to Mayo Clinic, they can develop later. I was swinging upside down in the weight room at West my sophomore year of high school, and swung too much in one direction and flipped around and fell on my tailbone (we had a sub obviously). I could barely move that evening or the next day. We went to the doctor thinking I had bruised my tailbone, when in fact I had aggravated my pilonidal cyst. That doctor should have recommended surgery at the time, but he didn't. You can get antibiotics for treatment to get rid of the infection, but if you wait too long, the cyst needs to be cut open and drained. This didn't happen again until I was married. It won't ever go away, and it gets irritated if I do sit-ups, pilates, or just sit in a hard chair for a long time. This Friday (1/18) I will have surgery where I will be put under, cut down to the tailbone to remove the cyst, and the different layers of skin will be stitched up and superglued. I've never had anesthesia before, except my epidural, which is different. I will obviously be in a lot of pain and not very mobile for many days. I'll be off the next week of school. Luckily I stand most of the day for my job.

More information here: http://mayoclinic.com/health/pilonidal-cyst/DS00747/DSECTION=1

2. Thyroglossal Duct Cyst
The last week of school in December, I had an upper respiratory infection. I finally went to the doctor because it had lasted a week, and I noticed a ball sticking out of my neck. My neck muscle had been sore several days that week, so I thought it was strange and unrelated to my sickness. It was. The Prompt Care doctor told me I had a thyroglossal duct cyst, which is a cyst on my thyroid. I went to see an Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor about it this week. He confirmed it, and I had a contrast CAT scan yesterday at the hospital, where they give you an IV and inject iodine dye. That was my second IV ever. As it enters the bloodstream, it makes you feel warm all over and as it enters the nether region, it's kind of like you're peeing your pants. The scan was mildly freaky. I will meet with my ENT Dr. 1/24 to discuss the results, but it will have to be removed.

The thyroid actually develops at the base of the tongue. It travels down the throat to where it ends up at the top of throat. For this surgery, I will be put under and cut where the chin meets the throat. They will cut out the cyst, any thyroid tissue along the neck, and a portion of the hyoid bone, because this cuts down on recurrences of the cyst. I don't know about recup time or anything yet because surgery hasn't been scheduled.

http://www.pediatric-ent.com/learning/surgeries/neck_masses_removal.htm

3. Granuloma
This is the red bump behind my ear that developed during pregnancy. It's basically a blood vessel that started growing outside of the skin because cells are so prolific during pregnancy. I got it cut off and cauterized twice, and it grew back a 3rd time even though "98% of them don't grow back." My doctor will cut it off a little deeper in the skin and stitch it up. I'll have a little scar, but it's behind my ear.

Holidays at home

This was a whirl-wind holiday. We had 2 Christmas parties and 5 family celebrations. The day after Christmas, Stella and I drove to WI to spend a few days with my family. It was interesting traveling 300 miles with Stella by myself for the first time. It went very well on the way there. We had a good time there, spending all day in our pj's one day (blanket sleepers my mom got us), playing games, and snowmobiling on my parents' property with their new snowmobiles. That was super fun!

On the way back, we left my parents' house at 5:20pm to take Renee to the airport in Milwaukee. I drove around Milwaukee to find somewhere to go to the bathroom and feed Stella. I couldn't find anywhere, so I tried to find my way back to I43. I got on 94E, which was the wrong direction according to Joel. I got off in Racine, and Stella and I ate at Subway. I then got back on the Interstate, which I shouldn't have, and was going back the way I just came. Finally, I went back to Racine and got on a US route for a long time, which finally took me to I43. I drove at least an extra 20 miles, drove through some serious fog, and had to talk to Joel for the last while because I was not alert. I got home at 11:30pm I think. Normally the trip takes less than 5 hrs.

Here are some pics and videos of us on Christmas morning at our house, a picture of 1 of my parents' frozen lakes and snowy property, and Stella eating some snow for the first time from my parents' deck (yes, it was white).

Christmas with the extended families

We went to my Gma and Gpa Phelps' house Christmas Eve and to my cousin Susan's house the Sunday before Christmas. Stella had so much fun at all of the celebrations. She was in such a good mood and it was so nice how excited people were to play with her and hold her. I uploaded a couple videos of my favorite Christmas tradition. Growing up, my dad's side of the family would all gather around the piano at Thanksgiving and Christmas and sing Christmas carols. We have some excellent pianists, guitarists, and singers in the family. It's a tradition I believe further fostered my love of singing and music, and it's really important to me. The problem is that people forget the music books like every year lately. Good thing Susan found a Methodist hymnal she bought for $2 somewhere, and I held it up while Carol played piano, and my Gpa Ted played guitar. It would've been more fun if I wasn't totally hoarse and a soprano. They don't mix. Stella likes to sing along:)

Celebrating at Gpa Dean's and Gma Lena's

We had a dinner to say good-bye to Great Gma Pabst as she headed to AZ for the winter. Stella got to play with her friend Killian, open her first Christmas present ever, and have fun with Brody, Gpa Dean, Gma Lena, Aunt Heather, and Uncle John.

Christmas Parties

Joel and I attended the annual Reel-Haas Christmas Sweater party. Last year I spent $20 and bought Joel and me AWESOME outfits to wear from Manitowoc's Goodwill. Right when I returned from WI, Joel tells me that he and his dad were going to WI to hunt with my dad the weekend of Jason and Abby's party. So, we never got to wear the outfits. We had a garage sale with Joel's family this summer, and in a get-rid-of-everything frenzy, I gave them back to good will, so Joel and I didn't have outfits. However, it was a SUPER fun time. We played fun games, and it's so nice to just be with joyful, positive, fun, loving people. I didn't know half of them, and we still had a great time. The other pics are from Heather and John's annual Christmas party. Stella partied with the newest member of the fam, Brody, Heather and John's puppy. He's super sweet and gives Hurley a run for his money sometimes with playing and biting:)

9 months old, 9 years together

Stella was 9 months old 11/28. At her appt, she weighed 17 lbs. 14 oz. and was 27" tall - 25th percentile for both. She is much more communicative these days and loves playing games. She is starting to take her hands off of objects more and stand for a few seconds. She still hasn't said da, da. My mom babysat her for a week while Cathy was on a mission trip to Costa Rica. Stella got sick during the week with croup. I stayed home with her the Monday after my mom left just to make sure she was okay. It was nice to hold her during her naps and play. We had to reschedule her 9 month pics to 12/10 b/c we didn't want her crying, snotty, and red-eyed for those.

Wed. was Joel and my 9-year dating anniversary. Most of you know, but Joel and I met in our first grade class. We didn't really hang out until the summer before our senior year of high school. We called ourselves officially dating 12/5/98 in the Normal West parking lot. The funny, yet awesome thing about this is that we've been together for more than 1/3 of our lives. We became adults together. This sounds corny, but I don't think we really know where one of us ends and one of us begins or who we are apart from each other, and I don't ever want to know that. I know without a shadow of a doubt that I am a better person having known Joel. His influence has made me less sinful and evil, because his character is amazing without even trying. I think God made him with more goodness than most. (Please don't have a theology debate on this) This is not to say that he doesn't get on my nerves at times, but he is my best friend and life partner. I praise God for that.

So, how did we celebrate you ask? Well, we went to Destihl, which we've been hearing SO much about from Joel's family. Let me declare with utmost honesty and no slant that it was one of the most unpleasant evenings I've had in a long, long time. Joel got there at 5:20pm, Stell and me at 5:30pm. We were not seated until 7pm, and I kid you not. We didn't leave til 8pm. Joel and I aren't rude, obnoxious, demanding people, but I kind of wish we were that night - I think they would've catered to that sooner. Once one of the owners, Trey, found out how long we had been waiting, he was apologizing, took us to our table, and told us that he was really sorry and would take care of everything. I had already decided that I hated Destihl, would be pissed off at them for at least 3 months, and potentially never come back. Too bad I stopped being really mad when I sat down. I wish I held a grudge! I told Joel that this better be the most amazing food I've ever had for it be to worth it. Stella was hungry and tired, and I was STARVING and tired from just sitting that I could've gone to sleep. I ordered a pizza, and let me tell you honestly that it was the worst, most boring, unexciting pizza I've ever had. It had no sauce, random blobs of goat cheese, a bunch of raw arugula, burnt portabellos, and random chicken apple sausage pieces. I am absolutely not a hard person to at least satisfy. Monical's Pizza even blows that pizza out of the water. The appetizer was good. The dessert was good. Joel's pizza was tasty. However, I would have been 1000 times happier having gone to pretty much any other establishment in BN (except complete nastiness such as Long John Silver's, Fazoli's, Boo Boo's Dawghouse, etc...) What a freaking let-down. Trey asked how our food was, and I told him politely. I thought he was great - we should hang out - but I'm still mad at Destihl for an undetermined amount of time and prefer Biaggi's to it any day of the week. Joel did get me Season 1 of The Office, and we had Champagne after I ran around town getting ingredients for French drinks for my 7th graders. Happy Anniversary to us.

Joshua

I FINALLY got to visit Carolyn, Jason, and Joshua. I had to pick up Stell, wait for Joel to get home, eat dinner, feed her, and then I went and spent some QT with the Sunkel's. What a precious boy. He slept soundly and happily with all of his newborn expressions. He has some cute brown hair and a defined nose, which I always appreciate in a newborn. They seemed to be doing great. Although for Joel and me, it was a little scary at first, it's such a magical time, and I am thrilled for them to start the journey. Cool beans. Side note - Joshua was born on Joel and my 9 year official dating anniversary (12/5).

Joshua Wesley Sunkel

CONGRATULATIONS to Carolyn and Jason Sunkel on their son, Joshua. He was born at 8:55pm today at 8 lbs. 1 0z. and 20" long. I've never carried my phone on my person for so many weeks and checked it so many times for anyone. Apparently I was invested in this pregnancy, probably because she got pregnant right after I had Stella, so I saw her experience everything right after I had, and I love her tons. She was induced today at 1oam. I talked to her at 12:30pm, 3;30pm, and then 9:30pm, and she sure sounded alert and perky for just having given birth and having done so NATURALLY. Props to Carolyn for that. I'll have to try that again next time:) I've had my present to take to Joshua in the hospital for over a month now, and I'll be making a visit to see them tomorrow after school. I'll post some pics tomorrow night. Praise God that everyone is healthy, and that her labor and delivery went so well. Yeah!

De plus...(more)

This weekend, Stella signed "milk" and waved "bye-bye." She is all about the clapping now. When in doubt, she claps. She also had some light cheddar cheese this morning with an egg yolk and some smashed banana. She made some interesting faces. I'm going to the store after church today to get her some new things she hasn't had, but I've wanted her to try. Those are the breaks when Joel's in charge of getting the baby food. Here's my list of things I want her to try off the top of my head:

tomatoes

avocado

beets

more cheeses

cottage cheese

yogurt

tofu

broccoli

cauliflower

melons

kiwi

lentils

beans

cheerios/crackers

whole grain bread/bagels

mixed cereal

I also included some pics of when Renee was here for your viewing pleasure.

Teensy Updates

I have a lot of grades to enter, so I'll add pics later of Auntie Nay's visit this weekend. It was a fun, whirlwind time as usual when Renee comes. We got to see the following loved ones during those 4 days: Grandma Marcia, Great Grandma Lane, Son-juh, The Hart's, The Mallehan's, The Schreck's, Sarah and Craig, The Baker's, Elena, and Grandma and Grandpa Phelps. We went out to eat and got Starbucks many times, had A LOT of good conversations, and laughed beaucoup. Stella seems to like her Auntie Nay.

Some cool updates:

1. Stella signed "more" for the first time at 8.5 months Thursday night in reference to milk. She's done this a few more times since then.

2. She is now cruising, which means she moves from one piece of furniture to the next standing up.

3. She now cries when favorite people leave her or the room.

4. She has added ka-ka to her repertoire, but STILL no da-da, much to Joel's chagrin.

5. Last night, we were eating tv whilst watching tv. Joel looks over and we see that Stella had grabbed a chunk of chicken off of Joel's plate and was eating it. It was HILARIOUS. What wasn't hilarious was that there was also a knife on the plate. So, Joel chopped up some of the chicken and fed it to her.

Motherhood is AMAZING! It definitely makes you love like you've never loved before and become a better person. God really blessed us with such a precious baby.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMA SHEILA! 11/16
HAPPY BIRTHDAY GGMA MARCIA! 11/19

Sayings I Hate

Renee and I had a discussion about sayings I hate this weekend, and I just saw the French equivalent of one of them, so I felt it necessary to vent about them via blog. Don't be offended if you use them, I even do at times, but of course preface it with the fact that I hate that particular saying.

1. To each his own - People tend to say this when they can't understand someone else's strange behavior or stupid decisions - I'm someone who needs to make sense of my world, so that "we'll just have to agree to disagree" philosophy doesn't work well with me.

2. The right hand doesn't know what the left hand's doing - People tend to use this incorrectly, and it's just annoying. Otherwise, they use it to vent about management, government, or authority, and I'm not into the dam* the man mentality.

3. Talking out of both sides of their mouth - gives me a nappy feeling...

4. Think outside of the box - can we get a new way of saying this? Why's it gotta be a box? I put more things in a bag personally.

That's all for now, but I'll add more once more are compiled:)

Movin' Right Along and being cute doing it.

Stella keeps rapidly progressing in her development. She started crawling on all fours for a significant distance any time she needs to get to something that's off the ground. She is now easily pulling up to a standing position in a matter of seconds on anything she can grab, which obviously makes most things dangerous - i.e. the coffee table, Hurley's cage, her high chair - because she could fall and smack her face at any moment. She often scoots her pants off, which is why she doesn't have any on in these pics. She moves fast and is so small, her pants fall off a lot. She is starting to get friendly with the ga, ga's, but still no da da's. She had egg yolk, whole brown rice, and pureed guava and chicken for the first time this weekend. She liked all of it, especially grabbing the yolk and rice with her whole fist and trying to get it in her mouth. Her Gma Lena and Joel got her some super fun toys and cute clothes this weekend, too, so she's REAL excited about that.

Maxwell Edward Heineman

Carrie's wedding pic Congratulations to Erin and Nick Heineman on their super cute baby boy, Max. He was born Friday morning (11/2) at 8 lbs. 13 oz. and 21 in. long via c-section. I was very fortunate to get to see him, Mommy Erin, Daddy Nick, my good friend Shannon, Gma Erica, and Gpa Tom. They seem to be doing really well considering a lack of sleep, major surgery, incredible life change, etc...Nick was so cute and perky:) Shannon pointed out that we're all mothers now, including our friend Alicia. We've all been friends since elementary school (Shannon, Erin, and Alicia years before I came into the picture), then met Megan and Carrie, and we were cheerleaders together, got into trouble together, experienced the death of family and friends together, etc...It's really precious actually. I left the hospital just feeling joyful and at peace. I'm excited for the Heineman's and how they're going to completely fall in love with Max. I'm excited for Shannon and her new life change. Carrie just got back from her honeymoon. I'm just joyful to see all of the blessings in my friends' lives. I love you guys!