My will to write

I haven't completely lost it - instead - all forms of quality sleep thus resulting in the lack of words from my head to the screen.

March for Babies!

On April 26th - my husband, daughter and I will be walking along the beautiful lakeshore of Chicago to raise money for a cause that is near and dear to our hearts. The March of Dimes "March for Babies" walk is a way that we plan on raising money and awareness for babies born fighting to survive.

Our family goal is to raise $100 and we will be marching on the Children's Memorial team - the hospital where Sadie stayed for 2 long weeks after she was born. We're asking for ANY donations and understand that times are financially straining on a lot of us - even $1 can go a long way toward reaching our goal!

Please visit our family page at www.marchforbabies.org/mktarrant to safely and securely donate. This is something that we feel truly passionate about.

When Sadie was sick - she was given "surfactant" a drug that would never have been discovered if it wasn't for the March of Dimes. Thank you for taking the time to read our message - and thank you in advance for any donation!

Or if you would like to join the Children's Memorial team in marching, email me for details!

Love - Michelle, Erik and Sadie

Around noonish

Hoops

I love the fact that Obama's tearing out that White House bowling alley and replacing it with a basketball court. Yay!

So what was that thing on Sadie's neck?

Sadie went in to have the stitches removed after they took a pretty big cyst off her neck. Turns out, it was a GILL!

When the baby is in the womb, around 3-4 weeks gestation - they have six little gills on each side of their head.

Ten fall off and the remaining two "gills" form the ear and all it's little parts. Well, Sadie's gill didn't fall off, and kept growing!




There is a small chance that the doctor didn't get every little cell removed. There was no fluid inside it (all good stuff) and if it grows back - there would be a lump under her neck. I'm just glad it's ALL OVER!

The gime

Went to the gym for the first time since I got pregnant today - so almost two years since I've "worked out."

I wouldn't say I had a workout whatsoever today - I just walked on the treadmill for a half hour. That was about all my leg could take. I'm probably going to stick to just walking for at least 3-4 weeks. There is no way I'm pushing it with all I've been through the past few months.

I have to say, it felt really good just to be IN the gym today. I enjoyed watching a sleaze-tastic episode of Maury and all the other "New Year's resolution-ites" working way too hard.

There is no weight loss goal in mind for me here. I'm 5lbs heavier than when Sadie was born, which is 45lbs less than I was before I got pregnant. Following me here? Probably not. Anyway - I just want to maintain my weight now and if I lose a few lbs in the process, that's okay too.

I just feel good. Which is the point. Go me. I'm proud.

One of the cutest things I have ever seen

BABY HOSPITAL GOWNS!

Lesson's from Sadie

I'd be lying if I said I didn't get anxious and very nervous with Sadie before her surgery this morning. I know, I know. She's been through worse - it was just a little surgery.

But for me, it brought back a lot of those bad feelings - and at the same time - stirred up some postive feelings for a change.

When the anestheisiologist came to talk to us before the surgery, I had NO idea that she would have a tube down her throat during the procedure. Which pretty much got me thinking to the last time she had one down her throat.

Her surgery went very well and I only got upset once -when another little toddler was screaming after his ordeal. I never worried Sadie would get hurt - just felt awful that she even had to go through something like this.

I have to say that I am VERY PROUD of my daughter. I know she's only been on this earth a mere 10 months, but in those 10 months she's shown me what a strong, independent and tough person she is (Yes - babies can be all those things if you ask me). She's stubborn, but not to a fault and is so determined to learn you'd be puffing your chest out in pride too if she were your kid.

There were so many obstacles in the beginning that she had to overcome. There was so much working against her, yet my little fighter trucked on through it and proved everyone wrong! She's hearing great, growing well and isn't behind on a darn thing!

She's my hero. Plain and simple.

Stop the fakery

Pretty much, when anything happens anymore (even the teeniest incident) I can promise you tears, a meltdown and then a slight bit of rage.

99 Things

Bold face the things you've done in life

1. Started your own blog.
2. Slept under the stars.
3. Visited Hawaii
4. Watched a meteor shower
5. Given more than you can afford to charity
6. Been to Disney
7. Climbed a mountain.
8. Held a praying mantis
9. Sang a solo.
10. Bungee jumping
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Taught yourself an art from scratch
14. Adopted a child
15. Had food poisoning
16. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
17. Grown your own vegetables
18. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
19. Slept on an overnight train
20. Had a pillow fight
21. Hitch hiked
22. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
23. Built a snow fort
24. Held a lamb
25. Gone skinny dipping
26. Run a Marathon
27. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
28. Seen a total eclipse
29. Watched a sunrise or sunset
30. Hit a home run
31. Been on a cruise
32. Seen Niagara Falls in person.
33. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
34. Seen an Amish community
35. Taught yourself a new language
36. Had enough money to be truly satisfied.
37. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
38. Gone rock climbing
39. Seen Michelangelo's David
40. Sung karaoke
41. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
42. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
43. Visited Africa
44. Walked on a beach by moonlight
45. Been transported in an ambulance
46. Had your portrait painted
47. Gone deep sea fishing
48. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
49. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
50. Gone scuba diving or snorkelling
51. Kissed in the rain
52. Played in the mud
53. Gone to a drive-in theater
54. Been in a movie
55. Visited the Great Wall of China
56. Started a business
57. Taken a martial arts class
58. Visited Russia
59. Served at a soup kitchen
60. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
61. Gone whale watching
62. Got flowers for no reason
63. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
64. Gone sky diving
65. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
66. Bounced a check
67. Flown in a helicopter
68. Saved a favorite childhood toy
69. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
70. Eaten caviar
71. Pieced a quilt
72. Stood in Times Square
73. Toured the Everglades
74. Been fired from a job (laid off)
75. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
76. Broken a bone
77. Been on a speeding motorcycle
78. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
79. Published a book
80. Visited the Vatican
81. Bought a brand new car
82. Walked in Jerusalem
83. Had your picture in the newspaper
84. Read the entire Qur'an/Bible/Torah
85. Visited the White House
86. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
87. Had chickenpox
88. Saved someone's life
89. Sat on a jury
90. Met someone famous
91. Joined a book club
92. Lost a loved one
93. Had a baby
94. Seen the Alamo in person
95. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
96. Been involved in a lawsuit
97. Owned a cell phone
98. Been stung by a bee
99. Read an entire book in one day

Vacation coming

What to do when your husband has a LOT more free time on his hands? Go on a trip!

We're going to Tom's lakehouse in a few weeks and I'm so excited. If Erik didn't lose his job, he'd be working 60+ hour weeks right now. It's kinda nice that we get all this extra time together.