Karenza & Her Babies

Today Randy had tons to do (football meetings, and kids to train), so Karenza and I were on our own. We called Mom and Dad this morning and she talked my mom into making her pancakes and sausage (her favorite). She had already had a two pieces of toast. I don't think it took too much convincing though. We were at Mom and Dad's a little after 10:00am! Mom and I didn't know if we should call Holly because we didn't know how last night went and we didn't want to wake anyone in case they were sleeping. We finally caved and called Holly. She wanted to run some errands. So Mom and I ran over and took her to a few places and Jer and Cass stayed home. While Karenza went with Dad to run errands. Tonight should go much better for Holly. She has now an extra swaddling blanket and some more bottles as bottle feeding is going so much better for both Addison and Holly. When we got back from doing her errands Addison actually was just waking up for her feeding. She started to fuss and not really cry, but seemed content. We unwrapped her so I could really look at her (and to get her up, cause if you feed her right away she falls asleep and doesn't eat). She was so alert and was looking around. She looks so different when she has her eyes open. Still so perfect and beautiful. Last night Holly said Addison did wonderful. She sleeps 4 hours at a time (amazing huh?), and Holly slept in the recliner in the living room. She has a video baby monitor, and that thing is amazing! She said tonight she may have to turn the sound off because she hears every little squeak and move. If she cries she still will be able to hear it because the nursery isn't far off from the living room. So Addison did wonders last night but Holly woke up at every little noise. It will just take time for her to get into a routine. They both are doing great! Of course Cassidy had a cute little dress picked out for her today. Karenza and Dad soon showed up and Karenza was all excited to show me what Papa bought her! She has this little box, and she pulls out a little real magnify glass! She said "I gotta look for clues!" I said what is that, and why did you ask Papa to buy that for you? She said "Mom, it's a violation!" I said "what?" She said "It's my violation!" It finally clicked that it's from Lou & Lou Safety Patrol on the Disney channel. It's only on for about 5 minutes between shows and tells you all about safety things, and they have a magnify glass to look for clues that "violate" the safety rules! So she has been using it all afternoon! Maybe get a picture of her using it tomorrow. Her imagination never ends!

And below is a picture of what my living room/coffee table is turning into be. Ever since Addison was born Karenza has been playing more and more with her babies. She has her babies high chair out in the living room, and has dug deep in her toy box to dig out her babies, clothes, diaper bags, diapers, bottles, ect that she hasn't played with in a while. It's cute to see her play with her 'Baby Alive'. She plays with her so differently now. I hear her say things that I said to Addison this afternoon. Kind of funny. She definitely will be a great big sister when it's her turn! I better sign off because I have a mess in my living room that I need to make Karenza clean up before she goes to bed soon.

The Will's Are Home

Addison and Holly went home today about 5:00pm. Karenza and I were ahead of them and took all their flowers, balloons, and gifts in the truck. Addison was just finishing up eating one last time before they headed home. She was dressed in such a cute little dress. Holly has pictures on her camera (I forgot mine today, at home on the charger!). I will post once I get them from her. Anyway, Karenza and I were ahead of them and put balloons outside to welcome Addie home. We brought everything in the house for them. I had Holly's camera ready for when they came home. She was wide awake for the whole ride home, and even on her little tour of the upstairs of their house. Funny thing is she didn't fuss or anything, and she wasn't swaddled in a blanket (her favorite thing). Once Holly took her out of her car seat and swaddled her she was out! If she is that easy going she is going to be a wonderful baby! I left about 6:30pm and let them know I am only a phone call away! I know you are reading this Holly so please call and use me!! Now that I don't have a job in a week I can be there in two minutes! :-) Below is a link of her picture on the hospital website. So cute and adorable!

http://www.st.alexius.org/customers/babies/nursery/baby_photo.asp?BabyID=9149

New Pictures of Karenza

New pictures of my girl! This was her last night getting ready to go to the University of Mary game with her Dad. Notice she changes shoes throughout the pictures, and can't give me no smile when she is eating a cookie. She sure seems to be getting taller these last few weeks. I keep looking at her 3 year old pictures we had taken, and she is getting to look more and more older then that picture. Can't believe she will be 4 soon! She is so beautiful.

Addison Anne - 24 hours old

Here are some pictures of today. Such a wonderful baby! She looks bigger in pictures, but I assure you she is just a little peanut. The outfit Cassidy and I put her in today was for premie babies! It fit her perfect. Cassidy combed her hair, and she loves Cassidy. Addison looks for Cassidy's voice when she walks around. It is the cutest thing. I got to hold her a lot today! I can't wait until in the morning to get up there to do it all over again!! Holly is doing great. Waited a bit too long to take some main medication, and was kind of in pain when I left tonight so hopefully the nursery will keep Addison for most of the night so Holly can get some rest while she can! Another wonderful and thankful day!

Addison Anne Will is born....

Addison is finally here! After a whirl wind few days for Holly (and Jer & Cass). She actually went to the doctor yesterday. She was having braxton hicks really bad, and just wasn't quite sure. They checked her and she wasn't dilated at all. She went home yesterday and rested yesterday afternoon. She said she woke up at about 1am and her contractions were about every 11 minutes apart. She eventually called labor and delivery at about 6am and they told her that she should probably come in. When she got there she was dilated to a 4 already!! They got there about 7:15am. Since she was in labor they had to give her medicine to stop the contractions, but she could still feel them. Poor thing! Addison Anne Will made her debut at 9:27am she weighed 7lbs 9oz and was 20 inches long. She looks like Cassidy did when she was born. She is so cute, and just a little peanut. She seems to be such a good baby so far. Holly fed her for about an hour and she was still sleeping when I left at 5:30 tonight. But it has been a big day! Everyone is healthy and everything looks good. Thank goodness! What a beautiful day in our family today. We were truly blessed with another healthy baby. Below are some of the pictures I took today. Enjoy!

Cassidy helping her Mom through a contraction

Giving her Mom a kiss before she goes in for her c-section

It'll be over soon Jer!

Cassidy seeing Addison for the very first time!

Cassidy holding her sister for the very first time
Look at that face!
Already know how to stick out that lip!

What a good big Sister!Getting a good look at Addison's face
Dad getting a chance to hold her. Look at her hair!
Karenza meeting Addison for the first time
Karenza singing "Rock-a-bye-Baby"

So little and cute!Grandma Sheila!

Papa Carl

The Corporate World

I don't even know how to begin this post or where my thoughts will lead me, but I have now had 24 hours to have this all soak in. I was informed on Friday that my position can no longer be home-based. Do to security reasons they feel that this position needs to be in-house. They wanted me to move back to Washington. That was out of the question. I have 30 days to be fully terminated of the date they notify me. So I have to be done by Sept. 22nd. I also will receive 13 weeks of severance pay, and help getting my resume ready and help me search for jobs. At first I was shocked, overwhelmed, and the tears just started to flow.

I have been at this job for 6 1/2 years and it's all I know. I have been doing this ever since I've been back to ND. It's worked for this long what's the big deal? I was really over whelmed and shocked when they informed me on Friday. It's been a crazy few months at work really, and I had been contemplating at looking for jobs else where. But, the pay always kept me there. I wasn't happy these past few months and didn't really enjoy what I was doing any more. I felt like I was getting burnt out. When I started with this company we were just Applied Discovery. I think I was the 25th employee hired or something like that, a low number any way. It was a small company and it was fun and I enjoyed going to work. Not only fun, but it challenged me to work hard. Work hard and you get rewarded. I started out as a receptionist through a temp agency when I first moved to Seattle (Jan. 2002). I worked through this temp agency up until May 27th (my dad's birthday) when I was hired by the company as the Office Coordinator. I held this position and assisted HR, Marketing, and the Accounting Dept. This led me to being hired within the Accounting Dept in March 2004. Which is where I have been ever since. Right before I started working in Accounting we were bought out by a company called LexisNexis. Which is a huge world-wide company! Things haven't ever really been the same since then. Things got so corporate and political. But, I loved who I worked with and I loved what I was doing. I just rolled with the punches. There were just us four girls in my dept. My office mate, Jenelle, her and I would always have 80's music blasting and when I moved to ND she said it wasn't the same listening to the music. I missed seeing the "girls" when I started working from home. It's been almost a year since I've been to Seattle. I went last Sept for a week and it was so fun to just be back. Although I still felt a little out of place. After you are gone for so long and come back I felt like the new employee. My manager's position was eliminated this past month. She had been on maternity leave since March. In that mean time of her being on leave since March I have had two bosses. Which neither were communicated to me that her position was being eliminated or that I was to be reporting to someone else. When I had my meeting on Friday, they had to ask if I was in North or South Dakota? Boy, did I feel a little out of touch!

When my grandpa past away they called me in a frantic as I was walking out the door to his funeral, because they didn't know how to do a credit memo or ask anyone else if they knew how. I thought to myself it really hasn't gotten that bad has it? I don't think I will be having to train anyone on my responsibilities because this is going to be such a quick transition. I don't think they really thought this through, but who am I to say? I have been doing this position for so long there are little things that I do day in and day out that I haven't written down. When my Grandpa passed away it was almost during month end, and I thought to my self that what if something would happen to where I would need to be gone during month end. It would be nice to just email something to someone a spreadsheet of everything that needed to be completed. I started working on this last month (another sign - see below).

It's hard to change when you get in such a routine. But, now that I have had 24 hours for this all to soak in I am looking for the positive in it all. I need to I guess. I have been with this company since I've graduated college. It's been my only job out of college. The people I once use to work with are no longer there or have moved else where within the company. The one's I enjoyed going to work with and enjoyed being part of their team. I always was thinking back in my mind when will my time be up. Will it be my decision or will it be theirs? Six and half years maybe it's time to move on and start a new adventure. Maybe give up Accounting and try Human Resources? I am a big believer in signs and it is just weird that I hadn't opened up or revised my resume since 2004 (when I updated it for the Accounts Receivable position), but I opened it up a few weeks ago. It still had my old Everett, WA address and phone number. It still had "Miranda Robinson" as my name. My Dad has wanted my sister and I to always think of some business we wanted to run and he would invest in us. My sisters last day was Friday and has now started her maternity leave. Coincidence that we are both on leave? Maybe this is a good time to think what we would like to do. Do some research and maybe start putting together a business plan? I told her on Friday that we both are on leave, but that she has the baby! :-)

I don't know what the rest of the year or years bring for me, but I do have to be thankful for my family and friends. Who are always supportive and encouraging. Within this company I have made some life long friends. Who gave me an opportunity and work experience for what I will be able to use for what ever comes next. They are very special people to me (you know who you two are!) They believed in me and supported me when I new very little in this field. They taught me such valuable lessons that I will forever carry for the rest of my life. By know means am I an expert in what I do, but I do feel more comfortable, confident, and valuable then I did six years and half years ago. Thank you for that!

We will see what Monday brings for me. I was informed at about 2:00pm on Friday and I took the rest of the day off. They said we would re-group on Monday. For now it's "business as usual" is what they said. Not sure how I can continue as "business as usual" knowing what I know or I guess not knowing what I know. But, I am a little excited for a change. Although most of the times its hard and uncomfortable it is sometimes for the best. So we'll see where the next few months take me.

Hope all is well with everyone else!
~Miranda

Our Camping Weekend