Tomorrow January 7th, is my daughter Emma's birthday. She will be 27 yrs old, wow. I now feel old, lol. I can't believe it's been 27 years now since she came into my life. The day I gave birth to her, we were having a nasty snow storm. By the time the snow ended, there was almost 2 feet of the white stuff on the ground. Thirty seven hours of labor and finally my baby girl was born. Talk about painful, yikes. Dry birth, breache baby, and no pain killers at all. They had to use forceps to pull her out. While doing so tore me up and I received 36 stitches. Emma was born weighing in at 8lbs 3oz and was 21 1/2 inches long. Full head of dark hair and dark eyes. When they finally would bring her into my room after she was born and cleaned up and checked over, guess who got to hold her first? Nope, not me. Her daddy was right there with open arms ready to welcome his first daughter into his life. He did that with Rebecca also. Hmmmmm, how come I'm the one who carries these girls 9 months, goes through labor and a c section, throwig up the whole 9 months with both girls, swollen ankles, acid reflux and daddy gets to hold them first, grrrrrrrrrrrrr. LOL.
Tomorrow Emma and her family are coming over for dinner. It is a birthday dinner for Emma. I am making Tortellini, meatballs and sausage, a big salad. Emma says no cake mom. Yea right, like I'm really gonna listen, lol. Yep I got a cake and icecream too, heeeheee. Deal with it Emma, lol. Also got some shrimp, cause this girl loves shrimp. And if there wasn't any she would complain. I had no idea what to get her for her birthday. So, we got her a gift card to Target, and 2 birthday cards. One from Jim and I and one from her sister. And yes, I will be taking pictures.
Monday starts my diet. Went to store today and bought lots of fresh fruit and veggies. I am determined to do this. Well, it is late and I am tired. I think I will go to bed now. Jim is asleep on the couch. I will leave him there, he'll get up later and come to bed. Hope your all enjoying your weekend.
The year 2006 is behind us all now. All the hardships, losses, all gone with the passing of the past year. A new year has begun for all of us. A fresh start in making our lives a little better then the year before. A new beginning for memories, for love, and for whatever we want in our lives. I have no new year resolutions, just have things I would like to come about in this new year. One thing I know I really want is to move into a bigger home. Now that my Rebecca is 5 years old she needs her own room. She has slept in the same bedroom as Jim and I since she was born. Yes, I am an over protective Mom. I feel better having her in my room where I know she is safe and I can look over at her during the night and make sure she hasn't rolled out of her bed, or kicked off her covers. I just feel secure knowing she is in my room asleep and safe. People have told me I should of fussed over the 12 day issue of her missing out on going to kindergarten. She missed the school start date by 12 days. But you know what, even though I could of put up a fuss and maybe got her into kindergarten, I am glad I didn't. I am not ready to have my baby grow up. I'm not ready for her to become independent and not be by my side during the day. I enjoy her company, our tea parties and coloring together, or just her sitting on my lap and looking at the computer with me. I enjoy our walks together, and our talks, and just spending time together. I know the time will come when I will have to let go and she will start school, bath herself, dress herself and put on her own coat, but right now I just want to enjoy being her Mommy and doing all that for her. It makes me feel great knowing that this little person depends on me for so much. Sometimes I complain about her making such a mess and not cleaning up her toys, but in my heart I know a few years from now she will be cleaning up her mess all by herself and I will miss doing the little things like that for her. When my Emma turned 6yrs old, she became so independent. She bathed, dressed and combed her own hair, didn't need my help as much anymore. She was 6 going on 16. Rebecca is busy right now playing with her dollhouse that Angie I mean Santa gave her for christmas. She loves it, Santa!!!!!!!! All the stressing I did over the holidays last year, and Jim losing his job really took a toll on me, but thanks to a few of you here in Jland who helped me so very much to give my daughter a wonderful christmas I felt better. Jim's unemployment was approved and we were able to get the van and pay off some bills. We even had enough to pay the entire 6 mos insurance policy off and not have to worry about a payment each month. Income tax refund this year is going to be used to move with only. I want a bigger home, with a laundry room and a back yard. A yard big enough where I can have a vegetable garden and an herb garden. One where I can put up a swingset for Rebecca and my grandchildren to play on. I think I will go to a realtor when the time comes, and let them help me find a home. I want one where after a year or two the landlord isn't gonna tell me he is selling the house and I have to move. I want to be able to live there for many years. And I want a contract that states I can. I just want to be able to feel I am home. And I definately want out of this city. Just too much crime and traffic. The year 2006 we had over 400 murders here in Philadelphia alone. I worry about drive by shootings, I worry about my child and grandchildren having to attend these schools here. I worry about the people who have no respect for the law and run red lights and don't stop at a stop sign. A couple weeks ago Rebecca and I were crossing the street and some jerk, music blasting ran a stop sign and almost hit us while we were crossing the street. What ever happened to giving the pedestrian the right of way? I am holding my childs hand, carrying a store bag and walking with my cane and he's in a hurry and almost runs us over. Ignorant and uncaring jerk, is what he is. I want to lose some weight, but I am not making it a new years resolution to do so. I just know I have to due to my health issues. Having high blood pressure, I know it is dangerous to be over weight. Even if I can lose 1 or 2 pounds a month, I will be happy. I know for a fact trying to lose alot all at once always backfires. I have spent thousands of dollars over the years on diet aids and none of them worked for me. What works is lots of water, staying away from junk food, fast food and fried greasy foods. Adding more veggies and fruits to your daily routine is a big help. You don't have to do strenuous exercises either. Take a walk around the block, or walk in place lifting your legs like your marching while watching a 30 minute tv show. I have done that and it does work. Or put on some music and dance for 15 minutes. As long as you are moving on a regular basis and watching what you eat you will lose weight. I am planning a dieting journal. I am gonna ask my mother in law who was an RN for almost 50 years to help me in getting recipes, tips and exercises that won't kill us doing, lol. I guess I will go now. I have alot to do today. I will make another entry tonight, most likely and tell you about my day. 
I am just so mad at myself. I was sitting here looking through all the graphics I have now thanks to so many of you wonderful artists, and friends, and I came across this tag by Roxy made in memory of my mother. December 26th was my mother's birthday and I totally forgot to pay her tribute. How can I of forgotten such a thing as this. I am usually the one in the family who remembers everything, dates, times, etc, and now I go and forget my mother's birthday. I know she is gone from this earth, and it shouldn't matter that much that I forgot, but it does matter to me. My mother was born December 26, 1937 and she went to be with our lord in heaven on August 27, 1970. She left behind 6 children and a husband. I remember the night she died, I was 9yrs old, the oldest of her kids. My Dad had carried all our mattresses from our beds upstairs and put them downstairs on the diningroom floor. I put on the linens, got all of us tucked in, Paul was a baby so he was in his crib near me. As I lay on that mattress, I watched my father sit quietly with just the light of the television lighting up the livingroom. I fell asleep finally. It was 1:10am when I heard a knock on the window next to the chair my Dad was sitting in. He walked to the front door and opened it. Our neighbor next door, had received the call from the hospital. We had no phone, so my Dad gave her number as an emergency contact number. The words that came from her mouth I can still hear as plain as day. I remember them word for word. Those words were, The hospital called, I'm sorry Norman, she's gone. My Dad closed the door and went back to his chair, where he sat and cried and cried. I knew my Mom had died. I quietly cried myself back to sleep that night. For a long time I was mad at the neighbor for bringing such bad news to my Dad. I was only 9 so I didn't know better. In my eyes I thought she was just a mean hurtful woman who made us all sad. I know better then that now. So, even though it is late, I dedicate this entry to the most loving caring beautiful woman I have ever had the pleasure of knowing, my mother Emma Marie Williams Smith.
