Countdown to 2011

Times sure have changed.  When I was young younger I had to be out partying for new years eve.  Now I am content and happy at home with my loves Josh and Londyn.  We ordered sushi and I am having some beers watching TV.  Only downfall is Londyn is constipated & very cranky but I'm still enjoying it all.  I can't believe how my life has changed and I look forward to another year 2011 more then ever.  Watching Londyn grow and change every day is a dream.  Happy new year!!!!





Blizzard 2010 -- 21 inches

It's a blizzard 2010! Drove everyone out of here for Christmas & even delayed flights for days.  Here are some pictures of the storm.  Josh and I are stuck in the house day #2.

State of emergency in effect for N.J. as snowstorm makes for treacherous travel conditions
Published: Monday, December 27, 2010, 7:59 AM Updated: Monday, December 27, 2010, 8:16 AM
 
Weather and road conditions were awful this morning as residents tried to ease into the work week after the first major snowstorm of the season all but shut down the state a day earlier and left a bus carrying about 50 people marooned on a highway.
State Sen. President Stephen Sweeney, serving as acting governor with Gov. Chris Christie and Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno out of state, declared a state of emergency Sunday night and ordered that government offices open two hours late today as the digging out commences.
New Jersey Transit and PATCO trains were put on modified schedules for the day with trains running less frequency.
Forecasters said the storm had dumped as much as 21 inches of snow on some areas by early today. Light snow was still falling some areas and strong winds continued to gust across the state, blowing snow back on to plowed roadways.
Blizzard warnings issued for several Central Jersey towns were canceled just before 7 a.m. today, but remained in effect for southern Jersey. However, blowing and drifting snow was expected to remain a problem in all areas on today, as wind gusts were expected to be around 50 mph during the day.
Meanwhile, winter storm warnings issued for the rest of the state remained in effect this morning.
Monday's NJ Transit Plan:
• By rail: Enhanced weekend schedule on all lines except Atlantic City line (regular weekday schedule). To plan a trip on njtransit.com, customers should use Jan. 17, 2011 (MLK Jr. Day) as their travel date.
• By bus: Customers may experience delays, detours or service suspensions, and are advised to plan accordingly.
• By light rail: Operating normally.
• Tickets: Systemwide cross-honoring through 11:59 p.m. Customers may use their ticket or pass on an alternate travel mode — rail, bus or light rail.
• Buildings: All rail station buildings and waiting rooms will remain open for extended hours.
From Union County into Newark, Route 22 was moving in both directions after

7 a.m. Traffic was traveling between 25 and 35 miles per hour, mostly in a

single lane. However, most of the U-turns and exit ramps were blocked <

either by snow or the dozens of cars that were abandoned.
In Monmouth County, snow drifts of up to five feet contributed to stalling a passenger bus on the Garden State Parkway, where snow plows were having a difficult time cleaning because there were so many stranded cars cluttering the ramps, state police spokesman Steve Jones said. Ambulances couldn't reach the bus, and state troopers took their own water and food to the bus to give to people who were feeling ill, he said.
One of the buses was freed shortly before 7 a.m., and officials were hoping to have the other freed soon.
The state police's superintendent, Col. Rick Fuentes, toured parts of the state in a four-wheel-drive vehicle to assess the conditions of the roadways and pleaded with people to stay home. Jones described the conditions, particularly in the East Orange area, as "terrible" and said they were causing safety hazards.
Many flights scheduled in and out of Newark Liberty International Airport were canceled. By Sunday evening, NJ Transit halted bus service, and the suspension remained in effect early today.
Officials begged motorists not to go out. Many didn't. But those who did found the treacherous roads to be slow-going — or worse.
Raquel and Amir Dayan had to get help digging out after ending up in a median along Interstate 195 as they attempted to travel from their home in Philadelphia to her parents' place in Oakcrest. The falling snow was so blinding the couple didn't realize they'd left the road at first.
"You couldn't see anything. We just kind of stopped moving," Raquel Dayan said.
For many families the snow meant a day of indoor togetherness after Christmas.
Shopping centers that would normally be packed with people eager to use new gift cards and exchange unwanted presents had plenty of open parking spots on Sunday. In some places, like the Jackson Premium Outlets in Jackson, snow plows outnumbered vehicles driven by shoppers.
The weather didn't keep Shoba Dorai from making the trip to the outlet stores in Jackson from Edison with a girlfriend and her friend's two toddlers.
"It was not that bad when we left this morning around 10:30," Dorai said. "I guess it was not a great idea, though."
By 3 p.m., many of the shops were closed for the day.
In Cherry Hill, business at places that don't sell necessities such as milk, bread and snow shovels was slow. But there was a line outside the Redbox DVD rental kiosk at a Walgreens store. On a day with few other options, everyone seemed to be bunkering in with family.
Danny Hernandez, of New York City, was staying with family an extra night rather than making the trip home.
"I've got work tomorrow," he said. "I already called out. Hopefully, it's not for the whole week."
Snowfall totals as of 5:30 a.m.

Atlantic City (Atlantic County): 17.4 inches
Cape May (Cape May County): 18 inches
Clinton (Hunterdon County): 5.7 inches
Elizabeth (Union County): 19 inches
Ewing (Mercer County): 11.5 inches
Lincoln Park (Morris County): 18 inches
Mahwah (Bergen County): 17 inches
Middletown (Monmouth County): 21 inches
Mount Holly (Burlington County): 12.4 inches
National Park (Gloucester County): 12 inches
Newport (Cumberland County): 13 inches
North Brunswick (Middlesex County): 20.2 inches
Sayreville (Middlesex County): 21 inches
Somers Point (Atlantic County): 16.3 inches
Wayne (Passaic County): 10 inches

Another outfit

Sorry I am really into dressing up Londyn and also taking loads of pictures.  I could never just post one because I love them all.  Hopefully one day she will really appreciate this blog.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

I received the best present ever this year -- my little girl Londyn

Happy First Christmas Londyn and Merry Christmas to all!

This was our Christmas card--- I received some negative reactions but I would like to point out that NO she isn't on a dead animal & I think it was really funny -- If you have a sense of humor you found it funny, sorry if I offended anyone

Merry Christmas 2010

Londyn first Christmas was a great one.  This was the year that all the cousins come with their kids -- well it was supposed to be.  We were lucky to finally meet Joli and being that the Juhasz are moving to Texas (Max and Joyce) they won't be driving to NJ for another holiday, boooo to that.  Gywnn's family couldn't make it since they just had another baby Cooper Beckett, well maybe that's his name.  Alex and Ben couldn't make it this year either which really was a disappointment.  We had the pleasure of having Sarah and Jeremy and family over Christmas night.  They left before noon since the huge snow storm was on it's way. 

We spend Christmas Eve at grandma Melanie's and Christmas at my mom's and then off to see Santa at uncle Dan's house.  It was a really nice holiday this year and nice to see all the family.  I have many many pictures but I will just add a few, oh who am I kidding a lot!

Merry Christmas

Best present ever!

In 2010 I received the best present ever, my baby Londyn. 

Christmas trimmings

** Here are a few of my favorite Christmas ornaments this year **

Londyn first Christmas ornament

This was given to me in 2009 by Kurt my co worker.  He thinks my fear of plastic and nail clippers is hysterical so he made me this ornament.  I really get goosebumps hanging this up.

Gabby gave me this baby 1st Christmas ornament for Londyn, very vintage looking

Was proud of my 2010 silver & blue tree -- This pictures doesn't do it justice

Murphy can stay!

I received the news today that Londyn doesn't have any allergies. The nurse said they tested for everthing under the sun and it doesn't mean that she won't have ever have a allergy ever but for now she is good! She also added that she loves her name, I love hearing that!

Londyn's first real drink-- well not really

I had to post this hysterical video of Londyn's excitement with the wine glass.  It all started with my mother putting the cold drink to Londyn mouth and then she really seemed to like it.  To all concerned mother's she really didn't drink this wine but she looks so happy to see it, that's my girl.

Smart cookie

Gabriella told me that Londyn is getting so smart.  Lyla has her "big" girl toys and she tells Londyn to play with her "little" toys in the basement.  The other day Londyn didn't want to hear what Lyla was saying so she pushed her toys away and started to play with one of Lyla's.  She was removing all the little people from the cart one by one.  Gabby even said she was leaning over and making sure there wasn't any more in the bin.  It doesn't sound like a big deal but at 7 months it was a very smart move. 

Professional Christmas photos

I have been feeling some guilt that I haven't taken and professional pictures yet.  I know I take enough pictures but I get anxiety when I think of taking her to JCPenny.  I already sent out my Christmas cards (that's another story) so I didn't think to get pictures in her Christmas dress.  I looked online at JCPenny and it was so simple to make the appointment online, why haven't I don't think sooner.  For a week I was stressing.  I wanted to have her do a outfit change into her Christening outfit because on the day we never got a good picture.  So last night Vera said why don't you have a photo shoot at home with her Christening outfit and just do the Christmas dress, whew I felt a little less stressed.  My stress was due to her eating schedule, will she get cranky picture time, will she be tired & will she spit up on her Christmas dress.
That morning I decided to take her to get her blood drawn, you ask why I don't know.  I really want to see what she is allergic to and Christmas is coming up I have no time.  I went to Lab Corp and wanted to take off the moment I walked in.  This little kid not being watched by his mother got burnt because his mother was watching her other 5 kids.  Another little baby was screaming at the top of her lungs, then her mother was putting her in her snow suit with no pants on.  So Londyn nurse didn't want to take her blood because she was too small, is this really happening.  Long story short Londyn was perfect she didn't make a peep when the large needle was going into her.  Just like when I was little, I remember watching the blood go into the vial and not being scared.  When I got my stitches on my chin after taking a bad fall in the bathtub I watched them sew up my chin.  My mother said what I good 4yr old I was and how I didn't cry.  I said well I was crying on the inside, how cute.
Anyway I had asked Josh if he would come with me so I have some support while getting these pictures taken.  Of course this isn't something I want to add to this blog but things happen.  Londyn had her first fall and we had our first scare.  She was on the chair as Josh had his hand in front of her but didn't realize the big space in between them.  We turned our eyes for 1 second and Londyn fell off the chair.  She cried for about 2 minutes then was laughing, my girl is so tough.  The photo shoot went fairly well.  She didn't look at the camera much but the pictures came out pretty good.  The photographer and assistant were both trying to get her attention so I think she was a little confused.  I felt so much better after the whole ordeal.  Of course we liked 6 shots so we ordered a lot of pictures.  I think I'll wait for her first birthday to do this again.
I'll post photos when I get the chance to get there and pick them up.

Londyn 8 months

Another month flew by.  It's has almost been as long as I carried her, 8 months.  She is changing all the time.  Since I'm a regular at the doctor she was just weighed at 14.5, she's a little peanut.  Here are some of the things she is doing.

• Sits up perfect
• Doesn't like her belly, not crawling yet
• Still not teeth but definitely teething
• Laughs
• Loves her jumper
• Loves her food and opens her mouth like a bird
• She talks up a storm
• She loves to copy what you do.  Daddy was blowing into his beer non-alcholic beer and then she tried doing it, too cute
• When she eats she puts her tongue on her top lip and you can't put the spoon in and she gets upset that you aren't feeding her
• She waves good bye to me in the morning

I just love everything she does

Train ride with Santa and Mrs. Claus

Today we went on a Santa and Mrs. Clause NJ transit train ride.   I wasn't even thinking that I step on one of these everyday, that it will be filled with little kids, that it was a 2 hour train ride that took Santa forever to get to our car & the kids would get inpatient.  So I think we all decided that next year we will try and find a authentic train ride with Santa for about 1/2 hour.  Melissa was up for the weekend and since Josh ditched me to work on the house she came along with Cathan.  He is close in age to Londyn but is almost double her weight.  What a cutie when you tickle him he has this great belly laugh.  Londyn and Cathan fell asleep right when Santa arrived.  Londyn eventually saw him and wasn't fazed.  Of course I think Londyn looked so cute, because she is and also because I dress her.

Another specialist down

Today was Londyn visit to the Pulmonologist.  My doctor wanted her to go just in case there is something she isn't seeing such as asthma.  My mother brought her to Overlook hospital (thanks mom) and the appointment went well.  She has a viral infection that is just lasting a really long time.  They did notice the eczema on her body and requested that she go get blood work to see if she has allergies since we have a dog.  I really think it's her body wash that I have been changing, on 3rd bottle, to see if I can find one that she won't break out from.  So I hope that's what it is but yet again we are off to another doctor.  So I am relieved that it isn't anything serious and I can't wait for her little cough to go away.

The magic of Christmas

Today Londyn met Santa for the first time.  I wasn't going to go since we are going on a train ride with Santa and Mrs. Clause on Saturday but my sister said as a parent these are things we must do.  So Gabby said this is really the first year Lyla is really excited about Santa.  I have to get use to this I even said to Gab in front of Lyla oh this Santa is a good one, haha I forget sometimes about these things.  Lyla who usually is scared of Santa was so happy a little frozen when she sat next to Santa but she told him what she wanted like as a little kid you are supposed to do.  Londyn looked at him and then was smiling she didn't shed one tear.  Maybe this will change next year but I was so proud of her.

So the magic of Christmas is believing in Santa.  Believe it or not I believed until 6th grade.  My mother even went as far as having Santa's elf's send me a letter so I figured how can he not be real.  My friends in my class would laugh and make fun of me.  Then one year I questioned how Santa knew that me and my cousins were cousins.  We would always get the same gifts and I couldn't understand how he did that.  So finally my cousins and sister explained that Santa wasn't real.  If I remember correctly it seemed like they all told me at once and made fun of me.  I was heartbroken.  Now I love Christmas because I get to spend it with family and now I have my little family.  Seeing Lyla so happy and believing made me excited to go through this with Londyn. 

Smart cookie

Gabriella told me that her and ya-ya Debbie were amazed at Londyn the other day.  Lyla has her toys she plays with and usually tells Londyn she can play with the baby toys, the ones she is too old for.  Londyn passed on her toy and wanted to play with Lyla little cart filled with little people.  They said Londyn was taking out all the little people and even bending over to make sure they were all out.  When I was with her the other day she was putting the blocks in the hole that fit perfect.  I love watching her change and to me she will always be smart and beautiful no matter what she does.

Christmas traditions

I am trying to work on some family traditions for the holidays. I thought maybe when Londyn is 2 or 3 she would get gifts from Santa and out of those gifts she will pick one to give to a child in need, Toys for Tots. I asked Josh what he thought of that and he said little kids aren't going to want to give up a toy, that's my whole point to teach her some important lessons.  I'm hoping that it will teach her the meaning of giving and sharing with the less fortunate kids. I was always lucky to have a nice life and it wasn't like my parents were rich but I never felt that I missed out or needed anything. We got little gifts for most holidays. Santa was always generous and I never felt like I didn't get the gift I wanted. Granted I never got the cool clothes like a starter jacket or Z Cavaricci my mother mostly made our clothes, but it was explained to me by my parents that they just didn't have the money for that and it was ok by me. I started work at 12 and haven't stopped. I knew the value of a dollar and never asked my parents for money. They did a great job not spoiling us and that's what I want to do with Londyn. Josh was also raised with great values.  He knew he had to work for what he wanted and that he wasn't going to be spoiled.  So I'm hoping this will teach something to Londyn and that I stick with it.

Still sick

So Londyn still has a cold, I can't believe how long this has been. She would wake up coughing it sounded like she was partying all night smoking a pack of cigarettes. A friend of mines nephew had bronchitis so since she wasn't getting better it was time to bring her to the doctor. We went on Monday morning, since the office didn't have the sick walk-in times on their machine I figured 9 was a good time, hours were 8-915 figures. There was a handful of sick kids in the office all sounding like Londyn. A nosey nice women sits next to me and asks what's wrong with Londyn. She proceeds to tell me it's probably croup or bronchitis and she will most likely need a nebulizer. Her kids are always sick and this is what they had when they were little. After scaring me she says oh well I'm not a doctor I don't want to scare you, ugh. Her regular doctor was able to see us and she felt the wheezing in her chest, them she noticed something we both never saw. Her chest was protruding on her right side more then left. She was concerned as was I so she said she was sending her to get a chest x ray and maybe to a specialist. She also wanted to see if she had pneumonia or bronchitis. So again this same doctor wants to send me to a new specialist. Then she prescribed a nebulizer and we had to do it for 10 mins. Poor Londyn wasn't happy about it. I went and got the x ray and Londyn cooperated looking at herself in the reflection of the x ray.
After the x ray I had to go and get this nebulizer and medicine. I was really happy I went to a new pharmacy because the lady said my insurance wasn't covering anything and it would be over $200. Usually I just pay and deal with it but she called my insurance and asked them which brand they cover then she called my doctor to switch. You know there aren't many nice people out there so I thank her. Now I know for future I must always call my insurance and have them tell me what they do cover. After all of that I arrived in NYC at 2pm. My doctor called to tell me everything was fine, she doesn't have anything serious and the chest thing was her fibus which is a gland that sometimes protrudes. All I cared about was that she didn't have anything serious. I think I might look for another doctor who doesn't scare the crap out of me every time I bring her in. Paul my friend who is a doctor said that they do this most likely because of malpractice suits and also when it's out of their realm they freak out and want to make sure everything is ok.
So it's been 2 days and she doesn't sound much better. Today Josh brought her back to the doctor for a follow up.  I don't have a choice working in NYC doesn't give me the
luxury of running all around, it's also time for me to work in NJ.  Of course he didn't get much information I guess I really have to give him a list of questions but they are sending her to a Pulmonologist just to be sure it's not asthma.  I hope everything is ok, it breaks my heart her little lungs are so tiny and when she coughs it sounds so bad. 
Whew being a mother is the most rewarding job ever but it's also very scary and difficult. Nothing serious has happened yet and I'm so thankful for that but it's stressful to worry and so sad seeing her sick like this.

How weird is that Londyn chest X Rays.  Her earrings look funny in the picture but they are hard to see in this picture.