Hello October!

October has arrived and it is finally fall. I cannot believe tomorrow will be October 3, 2010 and my Elsa will be 3 years old. It is her "Golden" birthday and she is a GOLDEN. So very sweet. To be honest, Asa and I completely forgot and it was he who remembered tonight after a very busy, long afternoon at our friends' wedding. I felt so terrible that I had forgotten. My pet's birthdays are very important to me and we always have celebrated with animal friendly cakes or cupcakes and of course gifts--and my mom in  Michigan always sends care packages! A little late now, but we are hoping to celebrate some tomorrow evening and maybe Monday get her a special tasty treat at Three Dog Bakery.
September was a difficult month. I had several severe illnesses right off the bat: first, strep throat, second, a severe sinus infection and lastly, I was sick for 7 days straight with a 102 fever, body aches, chills, sore throat, cough and breathing issues. The last illness turned out to be severe tonsillitis that pretty much spread to my lungs, resulting in significant respiratory problems! I don't ever remember a time that I was as sick as that and I pray to God I never am again!

I still am at Kosair and really not enjoying it... the 12 hour days are getting harder and harder on me and my body and I hate how raggedly run I am at that job. I also have been substitute teaching one or two days in between Kosair and for the most part have really enjoyed it (except when I get stuck at a terrible school with completely disrespectful kids! The 30+ classrooms are SO hard for me, as I really do not enjoy having and teaching that many kids! Hence why I am going into special ed!)

Currently, Asa and I are on a four day break together which hasn't happened in a LONG time, and it has been wonderful! September 30 we had Arie stay the night which was pure joy, the next day we had a marvelous brunch that we hosted to kick off the St. James Art Fair and all our family and a couple other friends joined us. Today we went to a wedding and Arie is over spending the night again. It's been the first time in my life that I was able to say to Asa, "I want an Arie." Having her in our household is one of the biggest blessings I could ever ask or hope for. I am so blessed to be her aunt and I know Asa adores being her uncle. Today at the wedding she was asked, "Who is your favorite person?" And she SCREAMED, "ASHLEY!!!!!!!!" It touched my heart beyond belief. She loves coming over and she always laughs constantly when she is here. We take baths together (she and I), eat yummy food, watch funny shows such as "D-d-d-d-ORA" (as Arie likes to sing,) and just giggle and talk together. I realize that in order to "have an Arie" we would have to have an infant first... which I am not really looking forward to someday, but when I know the end result is something as great and perfect as she... it has been the first time probably in my LIFE that I have been able to say, "I want one SOMEDAY." So that's a HUGE step for me and very new. I know that when she leaves and my busy hectic life starts back up, I will NOT admit to wanting my own child, so I'll just enjoy it while it lasts, ha ha. Noah and Jana are also such amazing, wonderful parents.. that I know without them, she would not be the little girl that she is; which makes me even more grateful for them and who they are.

Asa's birthday is approaching, October16, Sean's (my brother) is October 13 and Asa's mom, my mama in law, is October 27th. October should be a wonderful month!
Lots of birthdays, events, and fun planned that will of course be documented :D