LITTLE HIGH, LITTLE LOW

As life goes, it is full of highs and lows. Last week was no different. My husband was hardly at home due to his ever increasing work demands. Last Tuesday, his company scheduled a national conference call and announced some "restructuring." Which is an annoying, impersonal way of saying, "people are going to lose their jobs." I swear I had heart palpitations all Tuesday waiting to hear if my husbands job was going to be affected. Luckily, we survived this round. But, it makes me so sad that people continue to be laid off. Families having to worry about how to provide for their children. It also makes me wonder, if we (and by "we" I mean my husband and our kiddos) are going to survive this changing health care environment. Pro-Obama-care peeps talk about the good that "could" come from the new health care laws. But, from my chair, our friends are just losing their jobs and my co pays, labs and insurance are sky-rocketing. Not trying to turn my blog into a political forum as I truly believe only time will tell how this will all shake out.....BUT this is my family's new reality and fear.

Despite Tuesday's lay-off scare and my hubbie's schedule, I really tried to make the most of every day. Ever since sweet Evie's passing, I have promised myself to cherish all the time I get with Jude (no matter what life throws at me). So last week, we went on a lot of Jude and mommy dates. Monday we went to the Collierville Town Square and had lunch at Silver Caboose. Jude was mesmerized by the model trains chugging around the restaurant, which makes for a pleasant dining experience with a 21-month old "active" child. The weather was nice Thursday night, so we headed back to the square to run off some energy. Jude's friend from school, Bennett, was there too, so they picked up sticks together. Adorable and such a boy activity. We then joined my mom for a little Thai food at Bangkok Alley. They have a great outdoor side porch that calls my name every time we have nice weather. Friday, we met my friends Meredith, Laura Beth and Ronnie (with all their kids in tow) at SEGA gym. My old gymnastics coach Pete (my coach for 9 years) owns the gym. I haven't seen him since I was 17. I had to tell him my name....He didn't recognize me which made me feel crazy old. Do I really look that different? I still have the body of a 17 year old cheerleader, right? (Don't answer that) Then, Coach Pete followed up our reunion with "WOW, that was a life-time ago." AWESOME. Balloon. officially. popped. Any-who, SEGA has a pre-school open gym Friday mornings. Pre-schoolers can run around like Tasmanian devils on a padded surface and jump on the trampolines until utter exhaustion sets in...making for a great long afternoon nap and happy mommies.

Jude staring at trains at Silver Caboose

After a long week of missing my husband and Jude missing his daddy, I woke up Friday morning to a little happy. A sweet note from Kelly. In all his busyness, he started my coffee, laid out my fave coffee cup, and made Jude his milk before heading onto work. It's little things like this that remind me of how blessed I am to have married such an amazing man. Love to you and yours~ Anna

Our morning note :)