Involuntary leave of absence.

My laptop took a nose dive. Well ... really it was just the backlight. I took it to the Apple store three days ago and it was supposed to be ready today. But ... today they told me it will be another 5 - 10 days.

Not happy.

The day after my laptop took a nose dive, our piece-de-crap desktop PC became infected with the XP Guardian virus. The virus was preventing me from getting rid of it, so until I figured out how ... I just clicked out of all the pop ups. Now ... I can't even get it booted.

Not happy.

So for the next few days, I am on an involuntary leave of absence.

Most importantly ... Nika will be having surgery on Monday to have her tonsils and adenoids removed. Please pray that everything goes okay. She and I will be spending the night at the hospital.

Fun times.

I will update via twitter since that is my only real access to the outside world right now.

Scrumptiously perfect.

About a week ago, my sister had her first baby. My niece.

I may be biased, but she is scrumptiously perfect.

There is just something about a baby that is your sister's child.

I feel like she is a part of me. I love her as if she were my own.

And that isn't only because she has a ton of hair like my babies had as newborns.

It is because of the bond I have with my sister. 

And her scrumptiously perfect baby.

Baby itch, anyone?

We had so much fun!

After previously being canceled due to 31 inches of snow, we finally were able to have Mason's 6th birthday party celebration. And wouldn't you know it ... it started snowing again shortly before his party was supposed to start.

Snow or no snow ... the party must go on. We rented a limo to take the kids to play laser tag ... to say the kids were excited is a huge understatement.

Prior to playing laser tag, everyone has to watch an instructional video. The kids were so cute ... they all were raising their hands asking questions after the video was over.

After watching the video, we moved into the vesting area. Depending on the number of people playing at one time, you are split up into teams by vest color. We were lucky to all be on the same team each time ... although our opponents were always older kids.

We're ready to go!

We had so much fun! I guess I didn't know what to expect ... but even us adults had a blast.

And the infamous Spongebob cake. Oh, the Spongebob cake. What is it with my kid's Spongebob obsession? I hate Spongebob and for a long time, Mason was not allowed to watch it.

I think I lost that battle.

Happy Birthday Bubs!

I am not getting glasses!

Mason: Mommy, can I go out and play in the snow?

Me: No, because we have to go get your eyes checked.

Mason: Why?

Me: Because you have never had your eyes checked.

Mason (in somewhat of a panic): No we do not! I am not getting glasses!

Me: Well, hopefully you will not need glasses, but we still need to have your eyes checked.

Mason (as if inferring he has something else to do): Well I am going to have a piece of cake.

Me: Okay, well we are still going to get your eyes checked.

Tonight Mason and I went to the eye doctor. I figured it was about time he have his eyes checked for routine purposes ... and I needed to have mine checked as an annual followup to laser surgery.

Mason is a tiny bit far sighted and he has a little bit of astigmatism ... nothing that requires glasses for now. Mason should be happy about that.

I asked the optometrist about the brown spot on Mason's right eye. It has always been there and I've always sort of wondered if there is anything I should be worrying about. And the answer is no. After looking at it through the microscope, the doctor told me that is it completely flat (versus being raised) and likened it to a freckle.

As far as I am concerned, I continue to see better than a fighter pilot ... thankyouverymuch. In 2007, I had Wavefront CustomVue LASIK with IntraLase and I'm told this new technology is the reason I am continuing to see better than 20/15 in both eyes.

Now where is my jet?

Ha.

Excitement. Love. Happiness.

Last night, I sat down to blog.

I wanted to share pictures I took yesterday of my baby sister's belly. I wanted to scream my excitement for a loved one who learned yesterday that she is expecting after several failed intrauterine insemination and in vetro fertilization procedures. I wanted to show the love I felt for my children ... and the happiness I felt knowing that two very important people in my life will soon have that love in their hearts.

And in the midst of me opening up my blog, I watched this video. And I felt sad. I felt defeated. I felt angry. I felt frustrated.

And I no longer cared to share my excitement, love and happiness. Because right then ... I needed to advocate.

But for now ... I would much rather be back in the place I was before I watched that video.

Ahem.

My baby sister is set to give birth to her first child in three days. I use the term baby sister loosely, as she really is only 10 months and 10 days younger than me.

She is having a girl. Olivia Grace.

Shortly after my sister and I gathered to showcase the life growing inside of her, I learned that a loved one had just received news that she is expecting. This comes after a very long journey of infertility, miscarriage and numerous failed procedures. If you have a prayer to spare, please pray that this new life remains safe and healthy in its mother's womb.

Last night, as my husband prepared to take our children upstairs to put them to bed, I was reminded of my intense love for these little people. As I am every night.

Payton is umm, shall I say ... a very strong willed person. I am not sure where she gets that from? As she is being called up the stairs to head to bed, she puckers up and kisses everyone in the house. One round, two rounds, three rounds, four rounds of kisses. She would go all night if we let her.

But seriously ... it isn't easy to tell her to stop. Because watching her shake her little booty across the floor with lips puckered ... well it is the cutest thing.

As she did this last night, it made me so happy to know that this love would soon be felt by two very important people in my life.

And for me ... that is what life is all about.