Update - 1/29/08

January Update

January has proven to be an unpredictable month weather-wise around Oklahoma. We've had a few upside down days (where it starts out 60 degrees in the morning and ends up 30 degrees at noon), like today. The wind was just ferocious! They say Chicago is the windy city, but I beg anyone to compare today with any wind anywhere else. BUT! Enough about the weather...

JILL and FAM
Jill is doing well. She's up to a C cup now on the fills and only has a couple more fills to go before getting the expanders replaced with the "real" fake implants. We'll let everyone know when that surgery is slated as soon as we know. For a few days after she gets each fill, she's pretty uncomfortable in that area because it's so tight. She's happy to be back at work and finally feeling like putting real effort into the reading program she's responsible for. She has a new principal who is a lot easier to work with than the last. Also, Aunts Cindy and Linda left Jill and I presents on our doorsteps this month. Sooo very nice and appreciated - thank you. Good news - Jerry got a job at Spirit Bank as a mortgage lender. He officially started yesterday. Not exactly sure what all it entails, but he will be running loans on property for them.

I babysat the girls last Saturday and have some pics to show for it below. Peyton is an excited and smart 4 year old who never ceases to amaze. Jill and I were looking at house lots one day (for me) with the kids in the back, and Peyton imparted some of her wisdom with us. She said diamonds should have good cut, color, and clarity. WHAT?!! We laughed so hard... Apparently she learned this at school from her teacher. Who knows how that conversation came up. Lainey has her first tooth now. Aunt Ber was lucky enough to discover this one before anyone else. Since I don't watch them that much these days, I was kinda proud. She's eating all the vegetable baby food like Peyton never did and sleeping up to 12 hours a night. Such a good, sweet baby (but keeps Jill and Jerry on their toes with fussiness in the evenings).

MOM and DAD
Mom and Dad kept the girls a couple weekends ago. Momo and Poppy realize they won't be little forever. Both Dad and Mom have been sick with "the crud". Dad had it especially bad for more than a week - even had to go to urgent care for some meds. Let's see, spring is when?? They are now experienced slot players and enjoy playing penny slots around the area casinos. I go with them occasionally, and even though it's small change, it's fun to sit with each other and feed off everyone's wins.

AMBER
As for me, I've been very busy selling my house and buying a new one. Cleaning out my house I've been in for 12 years, staging for buyers, gathering documentation, and repairing the current house and storm damage has kept things hopping around here. In about the November timeframe, I decided that since Jill was on her way to recovery, there was no better time than the present to get going on making my dreams come true - one being getting a new house. Carpe diem (seize the day) may seem like an overused cliché, but when you've had the year we've had, it rings a little truer than before. We all have a limited number of years here, so get going and get it done. Get out and have fun; do things you've always said you'd do, and make it happen! (These are mottos I'm TRYING to live by... It's still hard to really do it though. :o)

Thanks to those who have sent family updates via snail mail and blogs. We really enjoy hearing what's going in everyone's lives. Pics are a big bonus, so keep it up.

Love,

Amber


PICS
======================


Jill and Lainey Paige (Jill's winning the hair growing contest)




Peyton Olivia in her best pose




You know, Spit Happens (that's actually Mixed Vegetables)




Amber's new house back porch




Amber's new house living room

Ice Storm Damage - December 9, 2007

Many, many insurance claims have come out of Oklahoma... No doubt the cost passed along to those of you in other states. >:-0

December 2007

Well, it seems a lot has happened since the last update. There was the ice storm that wreaked havoc on Oklahoma on 12/9 and the subsequent power outages and crazy falling limbs and trees that ensued. Then Christmas shopping, Christmas get togethers, and a trip to the ER. Next was New Year's Eve, and finally back to work (for the non-teachers ;).

ICE STORM
The ice storm was an insane event that most of us even as Oklahomans have never seen. Since this distro has many non-Oklahomans, it's hard to describe, but let's just say that at first it was beautiful but quickly changed to a scary and miserable event for those of us here. The storm rolled in on 12/9. Peyton, Lainey, and I were in Stroud that Sunday and hurried back to Tulsa before it hit so we'd be home. Little did we know we'd be back down in Stroud the next day because our power was out. The night of the storm was, um, scary for those of us with big trees around the house. I scurried from window to window starting at about 3 a.m. trying to see what was going on when all the limbs started falling. It truly sounded like guns going off if you stuck your head outside the door. When the power went out at 4 a.m. here, you could see the night sky lighting up in blues and greens from the transformers blowing up. In my mind, it sounded and looked like war. Then at 7:30 a.m., my big Maple lost a gigantic limb that caused a fire in the backyard. I evacuated in a frenzy and soon after came back and packed my biggest suitcase to get the heck out of here. The fire went out by itself. Shwew.

That Monday, 12/10, Dad set up the generator and soon began Hotel Quandel. We did enjoy the time with those family in Stroud without power as well. Various family members spent time at Mom and Dad's - at one time we had 9 people huddled up playing poker and eating whatever the hot bins at the convenience store had during the first few days. Uncle Jr. was the primary food provider during that time - going to Mema's to cook in the cold and bringing it back for us hungry folks. Dad was plenty busy keeping the generator gassed up throughout the night while Mom kept the household running smoothly in a trying situation. Cousin Steve (Stroud city manager) was one busy guy coordinating the effort to remedy the town's waning water supply and getting everyone's power back on. I returned to my house 11 days later - one of the last to get electricity in Tulsa. I told the linemen (from Georgia) that hooked me up I could hug them! Mother Nature is still in control no matter what we think!!!

CHRISTMAS
Christmas provided us another reason to get together with family, and we all thoroughly enjoyed Mema's pies, fried ham, and usual Southern fixins. I had no idea we had so many guitar players in the family. Cousin Chad has just learned to play, and with cousins Steve, Eric, and Scott gave us a treat by playing for us down at Mema's after Christmas lunch. I could go to a rock concert and not enjoy music as much as I did that day. Relaxing, humorous, good times. One of the most thoughtful gifts was one Cousin Mark gave Mema - a picture of Papa in an angel frame. We really do miss him during the holidays (and always).

On another note, Christmas morning I was opening Peyton's baby doll package (you know the hard plastic everything comes in now) with Jill's new kitchen knife and cut my hand good enough to get 6 stitches at the Stroud ER. Always cut away from yourself, duh!!!

JILL
Jill's had a few 'fills' which means she's gone quickly from almost nothing to about a B cup. She's feeling more normal now, I think, and looking great. Pretty soon she'll have enough hair to style. The kids are doing well, and Lainey is growing like a weed. She looks enviously at the food we eat and gets bites of almost everything. Due to the subprime housing problems, Jerry was laid off from Beneficial but has had some interviews recently. We're all praying for their situation now. Hello 2008!!!! If it's not one thing it's another, but I keep going back to the phrase: "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak." - Is. 40:29

Sorry so long, there was a lot to tell!!

Love,,

Amber


========================================
PICS


A look from the porch at Mom and Dad's in Stroud after the ice came

The tree limb I ripped off when fleeing from the fire

A view of my house from the front

Amber's Backyard

Mom and Cousin Mark on Christmas Eve

Cousins Steve, Chad, and Scott

Mom and Mema looking at Papa's picture - bittersweet

Checking out stocking stuffers on Christmas Day

Jill looking at Peyton's and Lainey's pic in her jewel cube

Jill's gift to me made me weepy - in a good way.

Amber's cut - 45 mins in Stroud ER

Christmas 2007