Of Significance in '09

Perhaps it is all together incredibly cliche to recap the year past on New Years Eve but as this blog serves as my scrapbook of sorts for family I am finding it rather necessary.

2009 has been another year full of big changes for our family.  Looking back, we haven't had a stagnant year yet.  We have moved so much, started and quit jobs, had babies, started school...so many changes each year since Zack and I have been together.  I have to say, I am ready for a year when there aren't huge milestone changes in this re-cap.  I long for a year in the same house, same jobs, same schools -- just living and loving each other.  Alas, 2009 was not that year but perhaps 2010 will be.  No one could ever say the Tucker-Donaldson family is adverse to change!!

January 09 - We got the news that Zack was offered a position as Controls Engineer at EAD Controls in Omaha, NE which started our feverish search for housing, schooling, doctoring and all the other necessities that come with moving to a new city!

February 09 - We packed up these 5 beautiful babies and a house full of crap to move over 800 miles and start a brand new journey!  Zack started his new job the first week of Feb and I started at Sleight Advertising the 3rd week.


1 week after moving we hosted a birthday party for our Skyler who turned 8! WOW

2 weeks after that I surprised my dear hubby with a 30 birthday bash he'll never forget:)


April 09 - Zack took his first week long work related trip.  Little did I know this was just a preview of what was to come....

May 09 - My brother Daniel moved from Kentucky to Omaha!!!

August 09 - I came to the realization, AGAIN, that working full-time while mothering FIVE children is just not possible OR worth the hassle.  I quit my full-time job at Sleight Advertising and began working freelance for several marketing clients.

Our precious Livie started Kindergarden!!!!!


September 09 -  September brought the beginning of Skyler's diagnosis of a thyroid disorder.  This was both heartbreaking and a relief at the same time.  We had started to get incredibly worried that Skyler was having some more major health issues, realizing the thyroid is treatable brought us some comfort.

Zack spent most of this month in Canada --- UGH

October 09 -  Our precious little Mia Faith turned 2 years old!!!!  She is now carrying on conversations and is just a delightful toddler!!


December 09 -  I accepted my M.B.A.!!  WOOT WOOT I still can't believe I really finished.  I also began my first real writing gig for Momaha.com!

We are looking forward to 2010.  A full year in the same house, a special wedding for Jake (Zack's brother) & Rachell, my good friends moving to Omaha, the birth of our new niece or nephew (YAY Shawn & Aly!!)and hopefully the realization of some more of our dreams.  It's a crazy life.....but oh so sweet.

Happy New Year All!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's Not Our Christmas

Check out my new post at Momaha.com regarding our Christmas this year.

http://www.momaha.com/article/20091218/MOMS02/912189980/-1/moms

Update on Skyler's Doctor Appointment

Thanks everyone for your prayers this afternoon. The Endocrinologist said Skyler's thyroid levels do look a little better but he did another blood test to see again.  We expect a phone call from the doctor later this week with the results of that test.

He also said her thyroid seems very enlarged and he ordered an ultrasound (which will happen in a few weeks).

He also mentioned that it may be more of a goiter issue?? And, that the symptoms which eventually led to the diagnosis may actually be unrelated to the thyroid problems....


I don't really know what that means except that we need to be patient in this process while they discover exactly what's going on and then a course of treatment to help her get better.

Patience is not my specialty. I feel like things should be black and white. Do A to fix B and we are good to go....not so much in the medical profession...We just really want to find the magic fix that will make Skyler feel better, have energy again, and eliminate the constipation problems....

Not An Entertainer....

I have always been of the parenting philosophy that in order to raise successful & independent children, they must have the ability to entertain themselves. I have never been the mommy that plans structured activities to provide them with constant entertainment.
"Go Play!"  has always been a mommy motto of mine.  


However, Mother Nature had a big gift in store for us Nebraskans this week.  How about 10 inches of snow AND 40 mile/hour winds.  This puts us at a wind chill of negative whatever.  After about 20 degrees does it really even matter??  BBRRRRRR  So, it's entirely too cold to go outside.


The first snow day we were happy, blissful even.  Spent the entire day playing Wii, watched a movie together, baked cookies and dinner together.  By morning two of our entrapment the tides had completely changed.  Tears. Tantrums. Arguments. And one of most mommy's most dreaded phrases, "I'M BOOOO--OO-RREEDDD."


Realizing a "Go Play!" motto can only last for a couple of hours, especially when the children are completely snowed in the house I had to come up with a plan and fast.  Hooray for the Internet and a printer.  Today I faux-homeschooled.  I downloaded reading comprehension tests, math worksheets, writing prompts, and a Christmas Bingo game. For future reference:


www.superteacherworksheets.com
www.abcteach.com
www.dtlk-kids.com


Thank you, dear Internet, you saved a frazzled Mommy from complete and utter insanity this morning.

December

Is December everyone's busiest month?  Geez..wouldn't it be nice to just hit pause for a couple weeks.  Get everything caught up, breathe....read a book....take a bubble bath.....without anything pressing on a TO-DO list..ick.  Yea, well not so much this month.

BIG EVENTS FOR US THIS MONTH:

I am graduating *spin cartwheels with me* (well, if I could do a cartwheel).  When I ordered my cap and gown over the phone I started feeling very warm and fuzzy.  She said, "This gown will be different from your Bachelor's degree.  Special sleeves, don't be scared!"  HAHAHAHA I am now very anxious for my Fed-Ex man to drop it off....funny sleeves? What the heck does she mean?!?!  

Momaha.com is launching!  Now this doesn't require much work on my part but it sure gets me excited!  I feel honored to be a part!!  Tomorrow is our photo shoot---I'm a gonna be famous ya'll:)!  And the site officially launches on Tuesday of next week.  Don't worry, I'll remind you.

Parties, parties, and more parties.

Some super secret event as well---it involves a friend, a good one.  Who just maybe has some incredible opportunity.  That just maybe would make me uber uber uber excited...I'll fill you in when I can!!!!!

And then of course the normal Christmas hug-a-baloo...which I truly love.  I ain't complaining at all.  I want to make cookies, lots of cookies and deliver them to people.  It's like my favorite thing.  Bourbon Balls, Sugar Cookies, Snickerdoodles, Peanut Butter Fudge, Oatmeal Raisin Cookies, Reindeer Poop (so silly), and whatever other recipe I get my hands on that looks appetizing!  I fill up little tins, just like my momma does.  Delivering goodies makes my heart smile:)  and keeps all those calories off my already thunder thighs!! 

I want to make Gingerbread houses with my children.  All standing around the dining room table, christmas music in the background, smells of pumpkin and ginger filling the air....kids grabbing candy and icing left and right.  They'll probably even get in at least one argument...but it's those moments where we are all together that make me the happiest of all.  I think about the Kenny Chesney song "Don't Blink"......country lyrics describing how fast children grow up and it reminds me to savor every single moment with them.  The smiles, giggles, hugs, kisses AND the arguments, messes, time-outs, and disobedience.

I LOOOVE being a MOM.  I love December.  I love Christmas.