I'm over it

I'm sick and its the worst.
My week has consisted of dizziness, throwing up, not really eating, doctors, hospitals, too many needles, Gatorade and the best caregivers ever (Kel Kel and Mike).
The final diagnoses is VERTIGO.

I have medicine to help with the symptoms right now but its not a cure. I have to go back to the doctors to see if they can figure out why I got vertigo. WebMD here I come.
I am over this b/c I really can't be on the computer long, can't read, hard to focus on the TV and I'm really tired.

Say a little prayer that this is cured very soon...I'm not a very good patient and I really miss being at work!

Kankles

I had some true quality time with MelMel on Friday night. Keeping with typical Eckholdt style, we walked in late! We were the last "couple" to walk in and felt the stares as we sat down.

The class was filled with introductions (awkward), visuals, games, skits, video (WOW), floor exercises, breathing techniques, and lots of giggles btw me and Mel.
Here are a few things I learned:
1) Every teen should attend this class b/c they will be too scared to have sex until they are 50 years old
2) I shouldn't make fun of pregnant woman's (mel's) kankles b/c they can't help it. Actually we both laughed about it and I let her make fun of my chicken ankles
3) I DO NOT want to birth a child until I'm 75 years old
4) I NEED Matt to be in town when Mel goes into labor. I will totally screw up and can't handle to see her in that much pain. (she is going to be brave and not have any drugs)

I wanted to take a picture of all of us on the floor doing the visualization and breathing exercises...but I figured we might get kicked out. So I got some pictures of the very beautiful pregnant mama! Oliver is going to make his appearance very soon (but he is going to make sure his daddy is in town first).

True Friendship=birthing class

Yes you read that correctly...BIRTHING CLASS!

I have been best friends with Melissa since elementary school and apparently that means there is nothing off limits. I get a call from Mel a few weeks ago and this is how it went:
M-are you traveling the next few weeks
B-No, why?
M-Well Matt is traveling and if I go into labor I need you be Matt in the delivery room.
B-ARE YOU SERIOUS?!?! HOLY COW

We continued to talk about what hospital, epidural, packing bags, etc. I was getting pumped up and ready to be there when duty calls.
Don't let me fool you, I'm very excited to be with my best friend when she gives birth.

Then I get a call today on my cell and about flipped b/c I thought Mel was in labor
M-I'm not in Labor so don't panic. But I did want to ask you...are you free tomorrow night?
B-Are they going to make you have the baby tomorrow night?
M-No, I just need a favor
B-Sure, I'm free. What do you need?
M-I need you to go to birthing class with me. It's our last one and I really need to be there and Matt can't go.
B-ARE YOU SERIOUS?
M-yes

So there you have it folks- I am officially going to birthing class before I'm even pregnant. The only things I'm expecting tomorrow night are a bunch of hormones, lots of preggers, lots of breathing and many whispers and stares at me and Mel. Hopefully no one asks me if I'm pregnant or that will be one mean fat joke! Don't worry- I'm bringing my camera to document this little adventure.

The things you do for the people you love! :)

Snow in CLT!

As Kelly said to me today, "you act like you have never seen snow before." That is what I feel like every time
it snows. I get so excited and can't sleep...I wake up every few hours just to look outside and watch it snow.

Well I woke up this morning at 6:30am, dressed quickly, grabbed my camera and went outside with O'Malley.

He was hysterical running around in the snow. Yes, I'm a loser for being so excited about the snow and my dog playing in it. Oh well...its the little things in life!

(PS-O'Malley is very excited about his play date this weekend. Mallie is coming for the weekend!!)

O'Malley liked the taste of snow this morning..

He was enjoying running around
and putting his nose in the snow

Romans

Tuesdays are one of my favorite days...
1) its one day closer to the weekend
2) I get to see some of my favorite ladies
3) I get to drink wine and eat dessert without gaining weight. God forgives those calories and fat b/c we are discussion His word. Don't you love how that works out!?!?!

We took a break over Christmas and we are back on this Tuesday. We just finished a study of I John and we decided to dive into Romans next. I have been to many bible studies over the years and I have never "studied" a book of the bible until now. What a novel concept, study a book of the bible during bible study. After our crazy Beth Moore study, Romans is a welcome study :)

Cute Ellen made a book cover for our next study. She couldn't' sleep one night so decided to play around with all of our "BELIEVE" photos. She did an awesome job and I'm excited about my new book cover.
(Amy it wouldn't be possible without your wonderful photography skills...so a big shout out!!)

See you girls on Tuesday! (I promise I won't be out of town)

anxious much?!

I am currently sitting in the airport trying to get back to Charlotte. I have been in New York all week for work and I'm ready to be home. Currently we are on a 3 hour delay because of the wind. I am being patient and trying to occupy my time by reading, people watching, working and now blogging!
I feel like its been a long and crazy week and I'm trying to get my arms around whats going on!

This week has been VERY interesting. Here are some things that are going on in my head: I have realized that I have so much to learn in my job, I need to think more strategically, I gained a ton more respect for my wonderful boss, I have better teammates than I thought, I worry too much and I am REALLY a grandma.

I didn't want to start the year off being anxious about work, eating healthy, working out, saving money, growing in my faith and everything else...but clearly that is what it has started as.

So I was reading Shawn and Kalle's blog and this is what he said:
"I find myself continually repeating Paul's words, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Peter also writes, "Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God... casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you."

What does being anxious about life get me...nothing except crazy pills and crazy dreams :)

Peter and Paul had it right...I guess I need to start over the year and really listen to what they said!
That was a random blog...thanks for bearing with me.

Thug Life

Friday night, I got tickets to the BOA suite to see Lil' Wayne, T Pain, Keysha Cole and Gym Class Heros. Random concert I know..but it was free!
Mike, Robby, Lindsay, Kess and TBruce decided to come along for the fun. The concert was very entertaining and was a fun "experience". It actually made me even more excited to see Rascal Flatts in a few weeks!

I have to got props to Linsday and Kess for being the best dancers of the concert...you both were hilarious.

I have no clue what gang signs they are making

NYE!

Where do I begin with New Year's Eve? We started the evening off at Adele and Tom's beautiful home with a potluck dinner. Mike smoked/cooked/rotisseried 6 chickens & turkeys...talk about a lot of meat! We had a great dinner with lots of yummy food, good drinks and LOTS of laughter.

After dinner, we headed to Andrew Blair's to make sure everything was set up! Here is the site of the party and our fun party favors!



Each of the "hosts" took turns working the door and checking people in. Helen and I had the most fun being "bouncers"!!!

I spotted a familiar koozie at the beginning of the night. Yes, that is MY koozie that Matt apparently STOLE from me during football season. Matt, I expect it wrapped and delivered back to me.

The night was filled with dancing, laughing, singing, DRINKING and lots and lots of fun! After we rang in the new year together, it was time for some fried foods. Mike and I gave up fried foods and fast food for 2 months. On January 1st we were allowed to eat fried foods again. As you can see, we were excited to eat a french fry at 12:01am!
After we ate, drank and danced some more...we decided to catch a cab home. Apparently we got a Gypsy cab to take us home but we made it in one piece (it was actually a wheelchair van).



I have to say, it was my favorite New Year's thus far. We had a fabulous party, great friends and lots and lots of memories!
Here's to all the possibilities that 2009 hold for each of us!

Christmas and my Bday

So I'm a little behind on blogs...

Being off work for over 2 weeks has made me a very lazy person. Christmas and my birthday were fantastic! Mom and dad came to Charlotte for Christmas Eve service. The service was awesome and I caught mom dancing a little during the service. We headed back to Winston and had a quiet Christmas morning with just me, mom and dad. I opened my AWESOME stocking (along with Malley and Sophie) and then we saw Marley and Me, and I sobed so hard and wanted to slit my wrist when it was over.
I woke up on the 26th and realized I was now 27 years old and wanted to go back to sleep. Em, Greg and Nate got into town along with brave Mike. We all went out to Arigato for my birthday dinner then headed to Foothills for a few beers with friends.

Mike said through dinner on the 27th so he could meet Deedee and Gregg. He survived that and they were actually pretty easy on him.
The 28th was Christmas morning at the Gibbs house. We watched Nate open his stocking, made a big breakfast, then opened presents.
I am sad to report that there was only ONE crazy Deedee gift this year. The lucky recipent was Bones. Please notice the Christmas sweater vest she recieved that Greg proudly wore all day on the 28th.
I had a great time with the crazy family and Mike even survived!