Lunch with Em N Jack

My trip to Illinois for Emma's much anticipated arrival included a few extra visits, as well!!

One of my oldest friends, Emily, and I have tried to see each other the last couple of times I was home, but our schedules never seemed to match.

Well, thanks to Monday being a holiday, Emily had the day off. I joined she and her son Jack for lunch at Cheddar's and it was nice to finally catch up.

Emily is a social worker with the Muscular Dystrophy Association. One of her big projects each year is organizing and running a summer camp for children afflicted with this disorder. During our lunch it came up that she is looking for a second nurse to volunteer at the camp during early June. I have been interested in working at camps, like this one. And with my current travel lifestyle, it might just be possible. So, if everything works out, we might get to spend an entire week together this summer!!

Thanks, Em and Jack for lunch! I had a great time - can't wait to see you, again!

Just a reminder: if you click on the title of each post, you will be linked to other photos!

Drinks with Our Moms!!

When I was home at Christmas, my sister and I were out Christmas shopping and we stopped for dinner. While we were eating, our friends Angie and Cindy Chamness showed up and joined us for dinner.

When my family first moved to Rochester, when I was in 5th grade, Angie and Cindy were our first friends. So having dinner with them was great. When we left that night, we had planned to see one another again before I left for Boston. That never happened, so when I came home this time, I made sure to call Ang.

This time our moms joined us for drinks. My mom, Debbie, was just finishing work and Angie's mom, Peggy was coming from Yoga class. It was great to catch up and I think we will have to keep it up everytime I am home!!

Okay, I'll be happy with at least every other time!!

A 7 Hour Layover.....

........in the middle of the night at Philadelphia International Airport - not a bad airport, if it were the middle of the day and I could enjoy the resturants and mall that is located in the center!!

Yes, that is correct, I am currently sitting in the airport awaiting the 6:30AM departure of my flight to Boston. I have been here since last night at 11:30PM.

Apparently, I was soooo excited to get the news last Wednesday, that my niece Emma was going to be arriving on Thursday, that when I booked my flight I didn't look at the connection times. I was just glad I was going to get to spend most of the day, yesterday, in Springfield!!

No worries though, thanks to the time difference and the fact that my friend Diana, another night-shift nurse currently on assignment in Phoenix, AZ, was up most of the night, the time went rather quickly. We were on the phone for almost 3 hours of the time - it is amazing what you can talk about, when you have all the time in the world! WiFi and my laptop kept me entertained the rest of the time. And now with just over 1 hour to go, I am off to get breakfast!!

Hopefully there are no travel delays, because I hear my bed calling my name!!

Introducing.......

Emma Kate!!! (Click on the title "Introducing" and you can see more pictures!!)

This is Emma at only about 4 hours of age - fresh and clean from her first bath. Unfortunately, I did not get to see her until today, but my dad did a great job capturing her first day of life!

I arrived in Springfield this morning after taking a boat to the airport, 2 flights (one delayed because of weather problems in Chicago), renting a car and making an unexpected overnight stay at my Gram's house because of freezing rain in Springfield. All of this was after getting off work at 7:30a yesterday morning and sleeping about 3 1/2 hours! I told Emma, I love her so much, I would travel by land, sea and air just to meet her!!

Mom and baby are both doing well. 2 hour feeds are exhausting for all those envolved, but Missy is taking advantage of my night shift sleeping pattern and the fact that I am a "baby nurse." Looks like I am staying here tonight - she is worried she won't be able to wake up on her own for the feedings, especially since Emma is a very good sleeper!!

Well - more to come and hopefully I will figure out how to put more pictures on each post by then!!

Welcome to the World....

........Little Emma Kate Best!!!

Yes, that's right my sister, Melissa and her husband Brett welcomed Emma Kate into the world last night at 8:14pm. Although, she is only about 37 weeks gestation - she is a strong 6 lbs 11oz and 19.5 inches long!!

Both mom and baby are doing well!! Missy was induced at about 9am yesterday morning and once she was ready to push - the baby "popped" out in about 30 minutes - not bad for the first time!!

I am very excited to meet my little niece and after I finish work at 7am, it is home for a quick 3 hours of sleep before I head off to the airport. I should be cuddling little Emma by 10:30pm tomorrow night!!

I am at work right now, so no pictures to post yet, but by Saturday morning I expect to have several up for all to see!!