The cure for your work day blues

$13.68 and another step

2008-04-25T22:57:00.004-04:00

I have taken another step in the passage of home ownership. I have purchased a lawnmower.. It is a nicely used Craftsman. I picked it up today for 10 dollars at a garage sale. It was much dirtier before this picture was taken. But after a new plug and oil, I will get an air filter soon, it runs pretty good. I think the o ring at the bottom of the filler tube is shot, but that is cheap.

From research online the motor is a Tecumseh. I have heard they are hard to start but, this one is not bad. If you inspect the picture above you will notice it has the gear driven front wheels. Not something I really wanted because it makes it difficult to pull backwards, but for ten dollars what am I going to do complain.. get outa here...
I didn't time it.. I cut the front yard before dinner and back yard after. but I would guessestimate it will only take about 25mins to cut. That is if I don't have to pick up mosquito toys from McD.

Total spent $13.68

Cheese and the Kitchen Floor

2008-04-02T21:29:00.004-04:00

I noticed that blogger now supports video uploads, so this is my first. Short video of Haley sweeping while I was working on removing the old flooring.

The spare room

2008-03-27T20:44:00.004-04:00

This room started out with hardwood floors and a lovely paint scheme as you can see.

The only thing Amy and I could think is that it was a camoflage and it covered the ceiling as well. We put two coats of Kilz on the walls and ceiling as you can see in the picture below. The outside wall with the window only had one coat in this picture.

The ceiling and walls are painted not the trim though. Lovely painters tape around the light don't you think?

Here's the room as it is today. It also doubles as a computer room.

Living Room/ floors

2008-03-21T13:02:00.003-04:00

This is the house as we bought it. Tanner said that we shouldn't paint the border at the top because it looked like a checked flag that would mark the finish line when he runs around the house. The Ceiling was the same color of the walls.

Day one of ownership the carpet gets ripped up. Nasty work but fun to see the results.
Especially when you uncover this. It was interesting to see the center of the room wasn't finished the same way as the edges.
I snapped this picture just before I put poly down you can see that the walls are painted too. This is after two days of sanding. In the corner by the hallway you can see the applicator and in the hall you can see where I had just put a coat on.This picture is just after I finish laying down the first coat. 24hrs later I would lay down a second coat throughout the house. I rented the sander that you can find at your local Lowes HIW. It was pretty nice, an orbital sander with three sanding pads. It really kept the dust down with an attached vaccum. The sand paper was alittle expensive but, for the floors here that weren't in too bad of shape it worked well.

The Dining Room

2008-03-20T16:45:00.002-04:00

Original Picture
After the Carpet is gone Wood floors not in bad shape
Removed the shelves
The rest of the wall is gone and a new hole in the ceiling
The wall and ceiling have been patched and the wall is painted. In this picture I believe the floor has been refinished too, hence the drop cloth.

The Kitchen..

2008-03-19T19:37:00.002-04:00

The Kitchen started out pretty dark with orange paint on the walls and ceiling. We Primed the walls with two coats of primer and then painted it a cool color called Lilac Tan. Next to go were the floors that had seen better days
Haley helped me out a bit as you can see in this picture. We took the two cabinets out and ripped the old stuff out. New underlayment went down and then new linoleum.

And Finnally the kitchen was put back together.

Day Two of Home Ownership!

2008-02-06T12:16:00.000-05:00

I am sore.

At the walk through we had the city hook up the water meter and turn the water on at the street.

We went to the closing 50 signatures and initials and 37 minutes later we where home owners. Got back to the house to start working and turned the water on but, when the guy from the city hooked up the water meter he forgot to put the washers in so it leaked as soon as I turned it on. No washing walls today.

We pulled up the carpet to find a relatively nice looking hardwood floor. Just a little sanding and some poly it will look good.

Day two the water was on and we had to trace all the leaks down and tighten up the valves. Lite the pilot light and we have water now. Until we finish the bathroom demo and then it will be off until everything is hooked up. I have pictures but not here. As soon as I get time I will put some up.

Home Update

2008-02-02T20:45:00.000-05:00

So about the home front situation. We decided to buy and right here in Tecumseh. We are really excited. We found a nice three bedroom home and at a great price. This is the picture found on the realestate site. Stay tuned for updates. We plan on doing just a few upgrades. I hope to be able to chronicle them here.

Deadbeat bloggers

2008-01-18T12:00:00.000-05:00

I ask a fellow blogger who uses an RSS reader if I was actually in his list of blogs he subscribes to. He told me yes but that I was filed in the DEAD BEAT folder. Wow. I can understand that, I haven't posted anything since march or april.

Well here is a little update.

Work: Work is going well, there is talk of a promotion in March.

Home: Were asked to move out by our landlord and were originally given a April 1st move out date. We had been thinking about buy/moving closer to work so this put a fire under us.

Amy: What can I say? She is awesome. and has been very supportive in all situations.

Haley: Is growing so fast. She isn't very big but she is funny. She is talking but, we haven't learned all of her language yet.

I know that I will not have the time or the energy to get out the dead beat folder but, I will try to post alittle more.

pb out

Be on the look out...

2007-07-21T22:13:00.001-04:00

This is a pic of Haley and Amy in the tent. What a blast

Is anyone else Hungry?

2007-07-20T13:02:00.001-04:00

Man this girl is cute.. I wish that I didn't have to work all day.. The fun she and Amy must have.

I realize I haven't posted in a long time. We have been busy. Work takes up 11 hours of my day now with an hour drive to and from. And then the this girl makes the evenings fly by. We went to spirit song festival a couple of weeks ago @ Kings Island. Alot of fun. Camped for the first time with Haley.. She was awesome.. I will have to put up a few pictures from the festivities. And now my lunch is up and I need to get back to work.

Still too cute

2007-07-19T12:28:00.000-04:00

I wear my sunglasses

2007-04-25T12:40:00.000-04:00

This was late March in MICHIGAN... to bad the nice weather didn't stay long

one cool cat on the phone

2007-04-16T08:25:00.000-04:00

Here is a pic of Haley talking on the phone to her Daddy

Another Funny Fake News Story..

2007-02-16T11:11:00.000-05:00

Man.. I just found out about the onion.. It is hilarious.. Something to keep me busy on this last day at Pfizer...

Funny stuff.. but NOT true at least not yet

2007-02-16T11:04:00.000-05:00

Thousands Lose Jobs As Michigan Unemployment Offices Close

LANSING, MI—Michigan's unemployment system had outlasted the state's automotive and industrial sectors as the most enduring job provider.

Last day at Pfizer

2007-02-16T08:52:00.000-05:00

Well today is the day.. A lot sooner then I had thought.. But, it is for a good reason. Today will be my last day at Pfizer. It has been fun while it lasted (the whole month). I was able to learn a little bit of new equipment to pad my resume, plus I can now say that I have some Pharmaceutical experience too. But just to be able to walk out the door today I have to run around and get clearance to do so. I have to talk to IT to make sure that I have returned my desktop. Talk to security to give back my badge.. and have the manager sign off that I have returned all pfizer property, which I have none of. So it will be fun..

I also have to run and complete my drug test.. They are actually going to collect a hair sample.. Of which I do not have a lot and what I do have is less then a half inch long... I know I need to trim it again.. If that is not long enough my chest and a few strands on my back might fit the length requirements if there is one. I will let you know.

BBH

Exciting news.. we are moving out and into an apartment this weekend..

Got another call today...

2007-02-12T11:20:00.000-05:00

Well you will never guess who called today. Go on, Guess. MSC... They have offered me a job.. yipee.. the LORD is GOOD. The HR rep sent me an offer letter by email after I talked to her on the phone. The official letter of offer will be sent by mail. The details look very promising though. I told her that I would make my decision and call her tomorrow with the answer.

BBH.

oh she called initially when I was on the phone talking to another recruiter about a job in Croton, CT.

Got a call today..

2007-02-09T11:44:00.000-05:00

Well I had my first response to the latest barrage of resumes I sent out this year. The company is Mylan Pharmaceuticals they have several locations... all of which are not in Michigan. The current opening that I was contacted about is in St Albans, VT. Don't get too excited.. we haven't moved yet.. It was a call from the Corporate HR staffer and she just wanted to know if I was still interested and is forwarding my resume to the Hiring manager.

alittle FYI

BBH

That door is closed.. Knocking on..

2007-02-08T10:20:00.000-05:00

Well I recieved final word yesterday from MSC, No.. They took the other person that they were interviewing, had more experience I guess. So I am holding on to this Pfizer position as long as I can.. which doesn't look very long.. can't get a clear answer as to how long the projects are going to stay here..

So I am still looking for gainful employment.. haven't stopped.. but, the opportunities in Michigan are looking sparse..

BBH

Still Waiting

2007-02-01T11:51:00.000-05:00

Well. I am still waiting to here from MSC. I emailed them on Tuesday.. no response so far. Hopefully I will hear something by the end of tomorrow, if not I will send another email on next Tuesday. while I wait I will just have to hang with my Homie. Word..

BBH

MSC update

2007-01-25T08:47:00.000-05:00

Well.. I am suppose to hear if I got the job by the end of this week.. BUT,, I got an email yesterday that said the HR rep I am suppose to be contacted by will be out of the office the rest of the week at the OHIO facility. So if I am reading between the lines correctly I will not hear anything until the end of next week..

I don't remember praying for patience..

BBH

D-Day +1

2007-01-23T08:39:00.000-05:00

Well.. things are still in limbo here.. Frank, my pfizer supervisor, said that he doesn't care what we do today. We can look for jobs, try to learn some new methods to make us more profitable in our job searches. He said that they are not forceing anyone out for atleast nine months.. But things will be changing. they will be moving some of the project to other locations and with that people and equipment will be leaving.

worst case.. doors close and people that don't get moved are out of a job.. Best case.. some big company or start up buys this site and we keep working. example this location use to be park davis next day it was pfizer nothing changed but the name..

we will see.. I plan on emailing MSC today.

Still looking for a Job..

2007-01-22T12:57:00.000-05:00

Well I found out today that Pfizer will close the Ann Arbor Research Site.. That is where I am right now. Just started last week. Supposibly the doors are scheduled to be shut in nine months. My immediate future right now is not clear. I don't know if I will be able to stick around until then. My supervisor told me I could go home early today and to come back tomorrow, or I could stick around and surf the internet. So I am going to stick around watch the webcast of the announcement and get paid alittle bit more. I will update you as I hear more.

Still haven't heard from MSC.. But I talked to the manager and he said it is in HR's court now.. I hope to hear from them soon.

1st Day at Pfizer..

2007-01-16T19:47:00.000-05:00

Well I started at Pfizer today.. It was pretty cool. The place is HUGE. there are about 2500 people that work there.. If I remember correctly. I could be wrong. Here is an example of how big it is.. I work in building 28 which is a three story with a "basement" which is where I work. The basement is really just a ground floor, about two feet below ground. Some kind of building regs in Ann Arbor.. can't have a Four story building.. ruins the sky line. But it should be interesting work and the people in my group all seem really nice.

Still haven't heard back from MSC.. I will call tomorrow to see what is up.. I really don't think that they have checked all my references yet.

3rd interview or 4th depending how you see it..

2007-01-05T21:19:00.000-05:00

I got another call from MSC tonight. I have an interview with the Head of HR on Friday the 12th.. It has been narrowed down to me and one other person. So maybe I will find out something for real afterwards.. That Friday is also my last day with Wacker.. So I will probably work a half day after the interview.

The 16th will be my first day with Pfizer depending on how things go with MSC.. So it will be an exciting few days in the coming weeks. Thank you for keeping me uplifted in prayer.

Updates

2006-12-31T17:09:00.000-05:00

Well I still haven't heard anything from MSC. But, I didn't really expect to hear anything because of the holidays. I am slated to start a one year temp position with Pfizer on the 15th of Jan. It is an increase from what I am make at Wacker so we will be probably moving into an apartment again.. Yeah.. Haley will have her own bedroom.... I will update as things come up..

BBH

Season's Greetings

2006-12-24T15:31:00.000-05:00

May you have a Jolly Holiday

It went well

2006-12-08T12:35:00.000-05:00

the interview that is. more to follow....

2nd interview @ MSC

2006-12-05T16:48:00.000-05:00

I got a call for a second interview with MSC this week.. The interview will be Friday this week.. I will be meeting with 5 different people from 8:30 to 11:00. So please keep me in your prayers.

BBH

Interview with MSC

2006-11-21T19:37:00.002-05:00

My interview with Material Science Corp is tomorrow at 2-3PM. I will be meeting with the global director for the interview. Please remember me in prayer so I will be impressive and they will want to offer me the position after the interview.

Also pray that I will have wisdom with upcoming decisions, if I get two offers... which one to choose and such.... ofcourse I haven't gotten an offer yet.. but the Lord is Good.

BBH

another update.

2006-11-17T20:17:00.000-05:00

I heard back from my first interview and they had good things to say. So that is promising, they were going to look at some other canidates, but I should hear something pretty soon.

Meanwhile Material science corp.(see earlier post) wants me to come in for a face to face next week to interview for a job. This would be a direct and not contract. I have Haley in my arms right now and she wants to do something else now.

BBH

Interview Update.

2006-11-14T15:47:00.000-05:00

Well today was my interview with Guardian Industries. I feel that it went really well and hopefully that I will get a call from Kelly Scientific tonight. So please pray that this is what God has in plan for me. Thank you for all your prayers. I will let you know as soon as I hear anything.

BBH

Job update..

2006-11-06T17:04:00.000-05:00

I worked my first full day as a Temp at Wacker.. Everyone there is really nice, but I was quite bored. I ran a few study samples and read the Saftey Manual. But at lunch I had a phone interview with Guardian Industries Corp in Carleton MI. (about 50 min away).. and it went well.. I will have an onsite interview some time Tuesday the 14th.. So please send up a prayer that all will go well and I will be open to Gods leading.

BBH

November starts

2006-11-01T10:14:00.000-05:00

Well we have moved from our apartment and are shacking up with Amy's parents for the interm. The accommodations are really nice, they even let me set up the surround sound in the basement.. a perfect spot to watch football and check the fanatasy scores.

I had a phone interview with Material Science Corp. I think that it went pretty well. But to pass the time I have found a temp job with Manpower in Adrian. I will be actually working as a lab tech for Wacker. So there you have it..

BBH

Crash

2006-10-26T22:20:00.000-04:00

Russ, I missed you man.. where were you??

New Hair-do

2006-10-25T11:49:00.000-04:00

Further update

2006-10-19T09:29:00.000-04:00

Never heard anything more on the Lima OH job. not depressed about that.. I have been talking with another staffing company about a position in Perrysburg OH. Something that is definately commutable and it sounds like the company is interested in interviewing me. I should have a phone interview by the end of the week.. The company is First Solar, they make solar cells, sounds like it would be interesting work.. I will try to keep you updated...

some update

2006-09-29T17:02:00.000-04:00

well.. I am still looking for a job. I have had a couple of calls from staffing companies but, no interviews yet. The phone interviews went well so we will wait and see. One of the jobs is in Lima OH the other Canton MI. keep these covered with prayer.

why is having a job so important...

2006-09-20T10:19:00.000-04:00

Well you probably have heard that I had my position eliminated at work and I am currently searching for a new one.. Problem is.. Our lease ends at our current apartment at the end of October.. So Amy and I have been looking at other apartments we have found some nice ones with a second bedroom for Haley.. But they all require about a one year lease.. which wouldn't be bad.. Except I don't have a job right now.. and I don't know if I will be able to get one in this area.. and to even get an apartment you have to have a job to fill those spots on there application. They want the rent to get paid.. If I can't show enough income..(IE Job)

I have options.. parents... one in MI one in WV.. As the God appointed leader I need to make some tough decisions soon.. Amy isn't going to feel very secure come end of Oct and we don't know where we are going to live...

I am actively waiting to hear God's answers..

BBH

for Ella

2006-09-12T16:21:00.000-04:00

100% cute

2006-09-12T15:50:00.000-04:00

Haley's first football game..

2006-09-12T15:40:00.001-04:00

We went to the Tecumseh football game last friday night.. They got blown out by the team from Morenci.. But Haley enjoyed being around all the people.. She really likes to watch the older kids. At church we still close to where the teens sit and she is always watching them..

peek-a-boo

2006-09-12T15:40:00.000-04:00

2006-09-06T13:27:00.000-04:00

QB M. Hasselbeck (Sea - QB)
WR R. Moss (Oak - WR)
WR D. Driver (GB - WR)
WR E. Kennison (KC - WR)
RB T. Barber (NYG - RB)
RB B. Westbrook (Phi - RB)
TE A. Gates(SD - TE)
BN D. Foster(Car - RB)
BN E. Wilford(Jac - WR)
BN R. Dayne (Hou - RB)
BN D. Stallworth (Phi - WR)
BN P. Rivers (SD - QB)
BN J. Porter (Oak - WR)

This is my fantasy football team.. It looks alot like the team that I had last year. I know.. I won last place last year.. I thought that I would give them another try. If they don't do better. I will be making alot of trade offers to get a better team next year. But I think that I have some talent.. Hopefully they can beat who they are matched up against each week.

If you want updates

2006-09-06T12:40:00.000-04:00

I have decided to move the info about the camping trip to the Crew's blog. But I am going to change the video of the day to the first eating stunt of the weekend. There is a little gagging but no puking..

A great weekend..

2006-08-29T10:36:00.000-04:00

Well the weekend did have a rough start... I had wanted to take a half day from work so that I could get ready for the weekend (youth camping trip) but didn't have any personal days left.. Answered prayer??? Funny how it works.. Got ready in plenty of time.. Meet up with the crew loading up at the meeting place.. Loaded my car with 3 of the home boys and had a great trip to the camp ground.. Introduced them to the Squirrel Nut Zippers... and rocked out to Toby Mac..

The theme for the weekend was Fear Factor.. it was awesome.. There was some puking and alot of gaging..

Friday arrived ~6pm.. setup pizza @ 7pm. little bit of free time.. 8pm first stunt.. Finding NEMO.. Kids had to catch gold fish in a tub.. Whoever caught the most didn't have to eat sardines.. 2nd one 3rd two and 4th three.. I have a video..

to be continued...

my little sunshine

2006-08-28T22:26:00.000-04:00

Word to your momma

Your being let go...

2006-08-28T22:23:00.000-04:00

4 words you don't want to here at work or hanging 100 ft up in the air. So I am one of the many looking for a new job in Michigan. Pray that I am open to the Lord's direction and I am able to find a new job fairly soon. I have a little buffer but that will not last forever.

BBH

The Draft as it is...

2006-08-16T11:32:00.000-04:00

long time..

2006-08-16T08:06:00.000-04:00

Well it seems that softball is over.. I had heard rumours of an extended season but it has panned out.. so sad.. until next season.. I think that I am going to have to start training year round so I will not hurt so bad.. Now my attention turns to fantasy football.. The Draft is next weekend.. this is our first year as a keeper league and it will add a new diamention to the draft.. about the top twenty players are already gone.. can't wait.. it is going to be a good year..

my keepers...

Randy Moss
Brian Westbrook
Antonio Gates

But I have kept my first round pick open... who do you think I should take. Tiki Barber, Steven Jackson, Reggie Bush...

Be on the look out for Elk and Donkey

2006-08-02T11:26:00.000-04:00

According to a very trusted source (UJBR) It is more dangerous to be around a donkey then it is to fly in an airplane. One of the interesting facts that they share is that more people are killed by donkeys each year then in plane crashes.. Makes you think you should get rid of your donkey now doesn't.. you never know when it will go off. If you want to know more about elk go here

three weeks vacation

2006-07-18T13:30:00.000-04:00

This is way I get a three week vacation. A little miss play Thursday night during the softball game and bam... stay home and enjoy your new daughter.. How awesome is that.. Ofcourse I have to deal with and bum finger and limited use of my right hand.. I have to get it re-x-rayed this week and another appointment to see if I need to see a orthopedic doctor.. If you click on the picture you will see what it looks like unwraped.. Not for the faint of heart..

She is too cute

2006-07-14T21:09:00.000-04:00

She had just got her diaper changed, Amy says that she always like this in the morning after she is changed and dressed. She really is just too cute. I just wish I hadn't broke my finger.. It cuts down on our time together..

The video has changed.

2006-07-12T09:23:00.000-04:00

I changed the video and settings on the video of the day.. So it will not play everytime you refresh the page. It was annoying I know and I apologize. Sammy has seen this one.. But it is good..

One month check up.

2006-07-07T13:04:00.000-04:00

We had Haley's one month check up today.. She is now tipping the scales at 10 lbs (90%) measureing 20-3/4" (50%) and her head is 14-? (90%). She was very well behaved and just as cute as can be..

Another shot of Haley

2006-07-06T13:11:00.000-04:00

Picture words

2006-06-30T12:39:00.000-04:00

One word anticipation..

Contour for sale..

2006-06-28T20:27:00.000-04:00

Whobody wants to buy a 99 Ford Contour LX with alittle under 98000 miles let me know. I have one for sale.. Asking $2000 but it is negotiable.

Such a girl..

2006-06-28T09:23:00.000-04:00

This is one of my favorite pictures.. Amy took it. I am kind of jealous. I have to spend all day playing with chemicals and Amy gets to spend all day with this beauty. I miss them both.. This will be the second day that I will not be able to see much of them after work. Yesterday I had to come back in to work get a rush sample ready, and today they have a baby shower put on my Amy's boss. Good news though we have a long weekend and I will be able to spend alot of time with them.

Happy Four weeks tomorrow..

2006-06-27T07:15:00.000-04:00

Here she is just hanging out in our bed waiting to go to chuch this past sunday.

Video of the day is back up..

2006-06-23T11:07:00.000-04:00

It is a big one.. Kevin sent this to me in an email. It is pretty funny.. I don't quite understand some of these guys.. I guess that it is really bad..
Enjoy

click here if it doesn't play in the side bar..

Yes we are first time parents..

2006-06-20T15:32:00.000-04:00

Haley has recently been perfecting her three barrel spit up.. and as parents we were bothered by the fact that several times after her feedings she has put all the contents of her belly on herself, her blanket, her Mother, her father. So we took her to the doctor today. Good news, we don't think that she is lactose intolerant,(she spewed soy formula), no sinus drainage, maybe alittle reflux.. So we are going to thicken things up with a little cereal to see if it will settle things down.

Even with spewage, she is tipping the scales at 8 lbs 7 ounces. Sorry no recent pics today. My computer at work wouldn't let my thumb drive go. So while tring to pull it out, the case came off and left the chip still attached to the computer. I guess raking the case against the board broke something.. go figure

A&W root beer..

2006-06-15T14:57:00.000-04:00

While drinking an A&W rootbeer in the break room, a fellow worker asked me.. I wonder what the A and W stand for. I suggested initials, but had to look it up for myself. Here is an excerpt from thier site

One hot day in June of 1919, in Lodi, California, an entrepreneur named Roy Allen mixed up a batch of creamy root beer and sold the first frosty mug of this delightful beverage for one nickel. Now, seventy years later, A&W Root Beer is the world's number one selling root beer and is still made fresh daily and sold at hundreds of A&W Restaurants.

Allen purchased the formula for his root beer from a pharmacist in Arizona. To this day, the unique blend of herbs, spices, barks and berries remains a proprietary secret.

With the success of his first root beer stand in Lodi, Allen soon opened a second stand in nearby Sacramento. It was there that what is thought to be the country's first "drive-in" featuring "tray-boys" for curb side service, opened up.

In 1922, Allen took on a partner, Frank Wright, an employee from his original Lodi location. The two partners combined their initials - "A" for Allen and "W" for Wright and formally named the beverage, A&W Root Beer, Three units were opened in Sacramento, then on to other northern and central California locations and to the states of Texas and Utah.

Softball..

2006-06-12T13:34:00.000-04:00

Played my first game of the season yesterday.. It felt pretty good. I didn't hit very well the first game but managed to get on base 2/4. One of those times loaded the bases for Levi (pictured above) to hit a grand slam in the park home run.. The second game I finally remembered how to hit. I might of had an in the park home run but I had slower traffic in front of me hold me up on Second base. I almost ran into you Doug rounding second. Next at bat I had a stand up triple. I was pleased and we won both games..

If you can make the next game, you should try to be there.. It was a very entertaining game. Check the softball blog I will get some pics up as soon as I get them. I would also like to do a box score report if I can decifer the score book.

Good morning Sunshine..

2006-06-08T10:22:00.000-04:00

We had our 2-3 am appointment again today.. But I am not complaining. She is very cute and not that much trouble.

BBH

Coming home for the first time.

2006-06-02T18:20:00.000-04:00

This was the outfit that we chose to bring Haley home in.. We thought that skirt was going to be so short when we bought it.. So cute

Stinking Dial up...

2006-06-02T17:56:00.000-04:00

Well I have some great pics.. But with dial up it takes to long to upload them.. and with blogger they have to be under a certain file size too. So I will give you a recap..
5-31-06
0130 I wake up.. didn't hear anything.. but I see Amy standing by the bed looking at me.. She thinks that her water might have broken enroute to the bathroom. But we are not sure

0230 full hour of contractions all less then 5 min apart..

0300 I tell Amy to try a shower to see if they might lessen or go away.. They didn't I call the doctor and she advises me to take her to the hospital.

0400 In the room contractions less then 3 mins. only 2.5 cm.

0600 Contractions coming hard... order the epidural. inplace by 0700

0730 Vera went to get some breakfast for me Yummy

0800 Contractions had slowed down.. Started pitosin.. Amy loving life doesn't feel it.
1100 Nurse checked 6cm.. 1200 Tom and I go to get a bowl of chili before the finale.

1250 return from lunch.. Amy is getting ready to push..

1351 Haley is here.. What a day..

Didn't get to sleep until 0200 on thursday.. But man was it worth it.. Ofcourse all I did was watch.. hold a leg and cut a cord.. She is the most beautiful baby..

Haley is here

2006-06-01T19:18:00.000-04:00

Sorry I don't have a pic yet to post.. But she is here.. 7lbs 4 oz 19 inches.. She is adorable.. I am on a computer at the hospital that is going to reboot in 2 minutes.. Amy is doing great.. we will be going home sometime tomorrow.

BBH

there will be pics to follow..

Tomorrow May 31 or maybe the next day...

2006-05-30T12:36:00.000-04:00

Well it is decided. Amy will be going in tomorrow for an induction to the special club called Motherhood. She will be doing all the work. But I will also being a new job as Dad. Can't wait.. we are both really excited. Pray that all will go well and Amy will feel peace throughout the procedures.. And pray that I will hold my own too..

BBH

Not much has changed...

2006-05-24T14:25:00.000-04:00

Well since our last ultra sound.. Haley is now 6lbs 9ounces. Amy is still only just alittle over 1cm, but 90% effaced. So we wait.. we have another doctors appt next Thursday. So if nothing happens before then, she (the doctor) will talk about helping things along..

and wait..

the ultrasound tech did say that it looks like she has quite a head of hair though.

Still waiting..

2006-05-24T08:42:00.000-04:00

Today we have another ultrasound and doctors appt right after... Check back for an update later..

BBh

any minute now..

2006-05-22T12:22:00.000-04:00

well not really.. But it will be soon.. Last night Amy had a short session of contrations. So we got the stop watch out.. Did some timing.. It was pretty exciting.. But, she was able to fall asleep. We almost went for a walk but, at 11:00 pm people in the apartment complex might have been concerned.

So here I sit at work waiting to feel my phone ring.. I am waiting..

2006-05-15T16:12:00.000-04:00

Softball..

2006-05-09T16:42:00.000-04:00

Softball... Softball... Softball.. Softball...

2006-05-08T13:19:00.000-04:00

This is the ultrasound that we got last month. I believe that she is looking at the ultrasound.. So you can kind of make out the side of her face and the outline of her eye.. Her hands and umbilical cord are also in view.. She has her hand in slightly infront of her face.

BBH

Other exciting news....

2006-04-28T12:22:00.000-04:00

I passed Biochemistry II with a B-... Yippee

Today at work they had a demonstration of how one of the chemicals we use here at anderson reacts with air and water.. Not as exciting as I expected. They used TEAL for the demonstration(Triethylaluminum). But it did catch a small patch of grass on fire. DEAC I here is a better demonstration, you can feel the heat 75 ft away from a one pound sample. But they invited the Adrian Fire Department and I don't think that they wanted to show that.. Too scary.. and we want the fire department to show up if there is a fire..

Today we had an ultrasound

2006-04-28T12:17:00.000-04:00

Today was the day.. It was pretty cool.. The tech we had wasn't as good as the last one. She didn't give us a very good picture. I will post it but, unless you are a trained doctor I doubt that you will be able to make out much. She said that the baby is measuring a week behind.. But Amy has always said that the due date has been alittle early by her calculations. It was cool to see Haley in there.(confirmation) But it was a little cramp so she isn't 100% sure.

Forgot my cell phone..

2006-04-24T12:42:00.000-04:00

Forgot my cell phone this morning.. Feeling a little disconnected.. What was I thinking.. Amy is in her 35th week.. Well I guess that I am pretty easily reached at work.. Sorry babe..

Preg Update..

2006-04-18T17:28:00.000-04:00

Amy had another doctor's visit today with her OB. It went really well.. She also let us in on what the test results were.. Her TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) level was normal, her Thyroid hormone was low.. The range for normality is like 115 to 58.. Hers was 52.. So Dr. Gardner is very doubtful that the endocrinologist will even try to treat it until after Haley arrives.

Also for all those people that keep telling Amy that she looks huge.. She is actually measuring a little small.. Therefore.. we get another ultrasound.. We are both pretty pumped about getting to peek at Haley again.. Plus we might get a more confident answers as to if it is Haley or maybe a boy... We will see..

BBH

T-Minus six weeks and counting.

2006-04-17T13:31:00.000-04:00

Six weeks plus or minus.. Till Haley comes to see us.. Can't wait.. Amy and I decided that we would both try to make her a home made outfit.. This is what I have done so far.. There are two more pieces yet to make..

Your kidding right....

2006-04-13T11:14:00.000-04:00

Saw this in the Free Press today during my library break at work.. well the link actually isn't to the free press but they mentioned this in the story. Can someone tell me how a bunny who hides eggs filled with candy is connected with Jesus??? And how people who don't know the real reason for the day connect the two..(candy and Jesus' death on a cross) This has really gotten crazy.

For those that didn't see the link.. The City Hall in St. Paul MN decided to remove a stuffed easter bunny, painted eggs, and a sign that said happy easter because they feel that it might offend some non-christians....

pregnancy update

2006-04-12T15:49:00.000-04:00

Amy's test results from the heart doctor came back and her heart is ok.. but in the blood tests they found a problem with her thyroid levels. She has to see a specialist on Thursday the 20th.

Today I saw my love's heart.

2006-04-06T19:49:00.000-04:00

At one of Amy's last Dr Appt, Amy was diagonosed with heart palpatations brought on by pregnancy. Her Doctor suggested that she see a heart doctor.. We did and he set up an echocardiogram for today. It was really pretty cool, an ultrasound for the heart. I got to see the valves opening and closing, the blood flow, and contractions of her heart. The cutest thing was, the tech had her arm drapped over Amy's belly and Haley kept kicking at her arm through the whole procedure. Afterwards another girl hooked Amy up to a mobile heart monitor that she has to wear for 24 hrs. It was funny as soon as that girl walked out we heard the ultrasound tech ask her if she got to feel the baby move and kick..

I think that they might have caught baby fever.. Thier husbands are in for it.

BBH

Poll

2006-03-17T18:42:00.000-05:00

Where do you Blog? work/home
When do you Blog? Morning/evening/when ever the boss isn't looking.

Great concert..

2006-03-17T14:35:00.000-05:00

Wow.. that was an awesome worship last night.. I checked the blogroll to see how many had made posts.. But I guess everyone is waiting, thinking everyone else will post on it.. wanting to be original.. Oh well..

I had a great time at the Casting Crowns Life Tour last night. Josh Bates can definately play the Ukulele, and Nicole Nordman played some of her popular songs, Casting Crowns sounded awesome too. I had the most fun though feeling Haley jumping and dancing in Amy's belly. She was really moving last night.

Back to work. well some of us are at work....

BBh

Cell phone safety..

2006-03-14T17:51:00.000-05:00

Everyone who has a cell phone needs to read this one .

Been awhile..

2006-03-13T15:10:00.000-05:00

Sorry.. Been busy.. Had a great visit with my family the weekend of the 4th.. IT was AWESOME to see Mom and she was doing great.. I don't mean that she was just doing better then she was.. I mean that SHE is back. and it was nice.. +

This past weekend was beautiful too. Changed the oil in both the cars. cleaned them out a bit. Work treated the company to a free showing of the Shaggy Dog.. Cute though I am glad I didn't pay for it. I have a test this week in Biochem.. not looking forward to it.

I better get back to work..

Prayer request

2006-03-10T14:21:00.000-05:00

Please pray that I will trust the answers and the provisions that God has given to me. We wrote an offer on a house and I am starting to get a little nervous.

Thanks

Dan cont..

2006-03-01T13:22:00.000-05:00

We were together at the museum of Natural History in DC.. Just had to do it..

Fastforward 22 years

2006-02-28T08:10:00.000-05:00

and here we are 22 years older..

The rest of the motley crew..

2006-02-27T08:27:00.000-05:00

Here is the rest of my siblings.. From oldest to youngest.. Matt, Tammy, Dan, and myself.. All I can say is that we were ahead of our time in fashion. Matt.. I am digging your shirt.. showing off some of your manly chest.. Tammy.. I'll let Matt tell you..

As promised..

2006-02-24T14:04:00.000-05:00

This is the picture I spoke of before.. Here Dan and I have no one to blame but ourselves for our cool outfits.. We were styling.. Oh yeah.. Notice Dan has his pants pegged..

2006-02-23T18:02:00.000-05:00

Well this is me and Dan as youngster hanging out on the school bus our Mom use to drive.. Here you can see why so many people mistaked us as twins. Dan and I posed for a picture similar to this as teenagers. But that will be for tomorrow.. Our outfits were just about as cool as the ones we are wearing here.. Nice pants Dan..

The Brother just before me..

2006-02-21T10:07:00.000-05:00

A little tribute to the brother I call Dan.. I thinking about dedicating a week of posts in his honor. Todays picture comes from my wedding night. I am not sure who snapped this picture but as you can see he loves him some sparkling grape juice...

Updates..

2006-02-07T20:46:00.000-05:00

Finished putting the car back together on Monday night. (half day at work). Man is it nice. If you have ever had a bearing go bad you know how loud they can get. But it is as quite as the day I bought it. (except for the bad tires..) Working on a car is like climbing a mountain. They both seem unattainable (fixing/getting to top) but with alittle hard work, taking a break and rethinking, you can get to the top. The feeling of self accomplishment is also similar, atleast for me...

Well the house deal fell through. They countered our offer and we counter thiers, they rejected. So we are back at square one. That one wasn't meant for us.. God has a plan. Well I have a quiz tomorrow so I better look over the material..

BBH

The struggles of working on a car....

2006-02-04T20:14:00.000-05:00

Man.. I thought.. I would get up early and get ahead start on the day and replace the passenger side front bearing today.. Everything was going pretty smooth. I had loosened the hub bolt. Gotten the tire off, removed the caliper.. But try as I could... I could not get the rotor off. Tom came out and gave it a try.. I heated it up until almost glowing. 20 lb sledge. Still wouldn't budge. So we decided to contiue with the job and work on removing the rotor off the car. So loosened the ball joint.. Start to loosen the strut clamp bolt and pop.. Broken bolt.. What to do now.. Remove the whole assymboly with the strut attached.. Actually not that tough.. Cut the strut off with sawsall. Work on getting that rotor off. While banging away it breaks loose. But it took the hub and the outer race of the bearing. Still need to remove rotor.. Tom balance on it with both feet and driving a 20 lb sledge between this feet.. Quite a funny site if it wasn't so frustrating. He takes a break. After squiting it with super penetration fluid for the 20th time I work on it with a 5 lb sledge. It pops free.. Yipee.. But wait the race is still stuck on the hub. I come to work.. Use the press to remove the old bearing from the knuckle. Press the new one in.. easy.. I drilled alittle bit of the broken bolt out. So it is snowing now.. I still haven't got my car back together, I haven't figured out how to remove the race. No machine shop/auto shops open on weekend.. Looking forward to Monday..

This for my brother..

2006-02-03T15:19:00.000-05:00

I have not worked out in over a month. Still tipping the scales at 190 lbs. I want to work out. Dr said that I should really start more because my lipid profile shows that I will develope diabetes just a matter of when. We have it coming from both sides.. You should have yours checked too.

Heres to a better diet and more excersize..

Prayer matter... Amy and I just wrote an offer on a house in Adrian...

Schedule changes

2006-02-02T14:52:00.000-05:00

Well. Because the class that I am taking is in the middle of the morning.. I've had to change my schedule at work.. I am now @ work from 1pm to 9:30pm. Stinks.. I lose the whole evening. So I haven't had the time to do much at all.. Including posts to the blogs. Sorry Russ. (and I know that you haven't stopped checking my blog.. just limiting yourself to one visit a day.. And I understand.) If I can get adjusted I might be able to do more. Until then... you don't need to check every hour..

BBH

Cupcakes

2006-02-01T18:34:00.000-05:00

Amy made cupcakes yesterday.. HMM HMM GOOD.

disclaimer: Not a pic of the cupcakes Amy made.. Her cupcakes are cooler