Okay, you guys all make me laugh. Sorry I didn't make McDonalds. I am doing better, Em. I'll have to call you and touch base. Kish - I hope that I do get to me you sometime soon, too. Actually, Mary got sick yesterday and on my way home from work I talked to my mom on my cell and she said that Mary had a fever, was coughing horribly and had been very lethargic since late morning -- so Mc Donalds wouldn't have been a good option. Sorry that I did't get to call you Em and let you know that I wasn't coming. Katie is catching whatever it is that Mary has now, too -- and I am in the middle of my 6 days in a row of work - so things are a little crazy.

The new job is improving -- I am starting to feel adjusted. It wasn't good earlier this week -- but I've decided that I am going to stay positivie and stick it out --- (I liked your flying house comment, Em.)

I need to finish my top 100 list --- maybe Wednesday on my day off. And Susie -- I agree that there needs to be a better way to say "I'm not a girly girl ", but how. To me it means that I'm not a "foofy" girl -- I don't wear frilly dresses and strappy heels but I'm still a girl and I still know how to look pretty.

Okay -- I'm tired. So I'm signing off. Thanks for hanging with me fellow bloggers!!! Goodnight.

I really need to finish my top 100 list -- but not tonight. Today was my day off. Katie didn't have school because of icy roads -- so both kids were home all day. It's been crazy. I start 6 days in a row tomorrow -- not sure how that will be, I just know I'll be tired when it's done.

I challenge any fellow bloggers out there to work on their own top 100 list.....I'd love to read them!

Okay -- so Kish has a top 100 things on her blog ..what a lot of work. I thought I'd start on mine today...not sure if I'll finish it all today or not, but I'll start.


1. Jesus Christ is my heavenly father and I know that eternal life in heaven awaits me when I die.
2. I hate cleaining my house, but I love a clean house.
3. I love McDonald's cheesburgers.
4. I love Diet Coke.
5. I hate the sound of the word "Moist".
6. I have a secret crush on Val Kilmer.
7. I am a grumpy "waker-upper".
8. Bad drivers make me angry.
9. I don't like it when people talk on their cell-phone and try to check out at a store/bank at the same time.
10. I love ice cream.
11. I love to scrapbook, but don't seem to have much time for it.
12. I love coffee.
13. I hate mornings.
14. I don't like it when my kids whine.
15. I love my children and they are both the apple of my eye.
16. I love to get a tan in the summer.
17. I am a big John Grisham fan and have read most of his books.
18. I am a "Fanilow" (Barry Manilow fan) and have been since I was a young child.
19. I hate it when people ask me if I have a cold just because I have a raspy voice.
20. I married the perfect person for me.
21. Chicago is my favorite city.
22. I've made a lot of mistakes in my life, but I try to learn from each of them.
23. I am a spender, not a saver.
24. I' m not into shoes, like most women are.
25. I'm not a girly girl.
26. I admit to fixing hamburger helper on a regular basis.
27. I am crazy about Nascar and Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
28. Disneyworld is probably my favorite place on earth.
29. I'm a Harry Potter fan.
30.I often have a hard time finishing things that I start.
31. I love to bake, but I hate cleaning up afterwards.
32. My mom is the best!
33. I cherish my true friends.
34. Where would we be without computers?
35. I like to shop - but only when I have money.
36. I don't like to swim very much.
37. I didn't like High School
38. I loved college.
39.Hawaii is overrated.
40. I wish I was more organized.
41. "The Saint" is my all-time favorite movie.
42. I like to have wine at weddings.
43. I have never struggled with feeling old - I'm 35 and that's okay.
44. I tend not to be even tempered -- that is why my husband is so good for me.
45. I like to play Chinese Checkers and Mexican Train.
46. Bill and I are awesome at Euchre.
47. I wish I didn't have to work and could spend more time at home with the kids and Bill.
48. I'm thankful for a house in a nice neighborhood.
49. I still have friends from college with whom I keep in regular contact with. I am proud of my efforts to stay in touch with them.
50! This list is killing me. Maybe the next fifty will be my next blog. I challenge all of my other blogging friends out there to give it a shot!

My blog is continuing to do weird things --- so is my Yahoo -- maybe I've got a "bug" -- hope not. But I guess you can never really know!

Katie and Mary both had yesterday off school. We ran errands in the morning and then I had to close at work last night. I'm off this weekend -- which I really needed. I've been cleaning my house all morning and we have a party tonight with some old friends of ours from before we were married. Most of us have kids now and it always ends up being quite an interesting event.

Did you all watch "Dancing with the Stars" on Thursday? I missed the elimination show last night, but Bill told me all about it.

Well, I best keep it short and sweet - I have brownies in the oven downstairs for the party tonight and I don't want them to burn. Hope everyone is having a great weekend.

My blog is doing weird things - like not updating and things --- who knows? I get by on the computer, but blogging is not my forte'.

Anyway, work was crazy -- I'm starting to feel at home though. I am slowing, but surely, getting the hang of it. We still need to find a good babysitter to help my mom with childcare. We are praying ---

Dancing with the Stars is on tonight -- can't wait!!!

The girls are good. Katie's bus rides continue to go well.

Today was my day off. I open the next 2 days - 6 am - yikes, because I'm not a morning person, but it is nice to be home by 3.

Katie continues to do well. We have gone back to letting her have a sippy cup at school. They have been trying to teach her to drink out of a regular cup, but she doesn't want anything to do with it -- and she doesn't drink anything all morning-- which for her is a big deal. She has always been much more of a drinker than an eater. We decided to let her go back to the sippy cup -- especially because now she is riding the bus home as well which means she doesn't get a drink for almost 4 hours.

Bill's new position is starting to transition. I think he's feeling better now that he is back from the holiday lay-off and he can start to implement his new ideas. I'll be glad when he and I are both adjusted to our new positions.

I am trying to blog more this year, remember? Ok...I'm on it. The new job is going pretty well. Lots of adjustments, but so far, so good.

Katie is doing great with the bus. Thanks for the comments that I was right in not putting her on the bus for an hour in the am. We are totally at peace with that decision. The ride home is going great. The bus driver told my mom today that he wished all the kids were like Katie. She is quiet and just sits in her sit and enjoys the ride. We are so happy for her.

Bill's new job officially started today. I've talked to him on the phone -- he sounds a little overwhelmed. Kind of like I did on my first day.

Okay...lots to do. I just got home from a 6-2:30 shift and I am tired!

Another good day for Katie on the bus. Bill is at a meeting for work so I'm continuing to work on this house. The holidays have pretty much trashed it. Plus we have all been at home which has caused more chaos and messiness.

Back to work for me tomorrow.

Does anyone watch "Dancing with the Stars?" I love it! Drew Lachey and Jerry Rice are my top two picks. Any thoughts or comments?

Katie rode the bus by herself for the first time today!! How exciting. She is going to be riding the bus home from school each day now. What a huge step for her -- and how exciting for Bill and I to start to see her gain some new independence. There are 3 or 4 other students from her class that ride the "special" bus home at lunch-time, too. We aren't putting her on the bus in the am because she would have to be on the bus at 7:25 am - and school doesn't start until 8:30. She's only 3 and an hour on the bus is a little much in my opinion, but the ride home is quick - only 10 minutes.

She also shook her head "no" twice in direct response to my mom today -- and I was there to see her do it! That was a first for her as well. What a great "Katie-day" this has been.

I have today and tomorrow off! That, too, is exciting, but I do have to work the weekend. I'll take it -- Bill is still on lay-off, so it's nice to have the time off with he and the girls.

Not much else going on except that Bill is off racing cars tonight, Katie has been asleep since 4 in the afternoon and I desperately need to get at this messy house!

The new job is good. My first day was a little rough. I had a pounding headache most of the day -- it was storming terribly outside and I know that was most of it -- but that store is crazy busy. Everyone was really nice to me --I close tonight, work a mid tomorrow and then I'm off Thursday and Friday. Pretty nice. Emily -- I will have to give you a call with the details -- but overall it went really well.

Katie did great at school today. She rolled a ball back and forth 10 times with her Occupational Therapist. WOW!!!! That was a year end goal for her, so we are so thrilled.

Well, I need to run,....more about the new job later.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!!

I first of all want to apologize for being so neglectful of my blog. Things have been crazy. I know that I still need to upload birthday and Christmas pics..and I will try to get to that as soon as I can, but lots has been going on, so here it is in a nutshell.

Katie -- her ear infection came back and we had to increase her medication, but I think she is finally feeling better. She had a good Christmas and even did well at an extended family Christmas party -- which is usually a hard thing for her b/c she has to deal with a large group of people that she doesn't know. She also said "PaPa" for the first time (yesterday) and used it correctly as she addressed my dad with it twice. He is of course "smitten" as my mom said. We are thrilled for her that she is figuring out how to get these words out - and of course we are happy for "PaPa" as it is a real treat to get this "recognition" from Katie.

Mary - has finally recovered from the ear infection/pink eye thing -- and I think that we all safely escaped the pink-eye. She had a good Christmas and is now a big fan of her Leapster L-Max and has enjoyed staying up late over Christmas Break. She saw "The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe" with her Auntie on Tuesday and we have heard lots about that ever since.

Me - Well, I have taken a promotion with Kohls which is moving me to a larger store about 10 minutes further away than my present store. I'm excited and scared at the same time as this job will start on Monday (1/2). I'm wiped out from a busy Christmas retail season, but am thankful for my new job and the new opportunities it will bring.

Bill - is on a three week lay-off from work, but received a phone call that they have done some rearranging of staff and he has received a nice promotion. So now both of us are starting new jobs. We need to figure out some additional childcare for the girls as now it will be too much for my mom to handle on her own.

That is it in a nutshell.....I will try to be more consisitent -- maybe thta should be my New Years Resolution !!!!

The pictures are going to have to wait, sorry Susie. We ended up getting her a necklace -- it's really cute - sterling silver with a pink butterfly. She loves it. We also got her some books and a Christmas ornament (which she traditionally gets each year for her birthday). That was plenty b/c she gets tons of stuff from her grandparents and aunt -- and Christmas is only a week a way.

Today is Mary's 5th birthday. I'm blogging this morning b/c I probably won't have time later today with the party and all. Katie seems happy for Mary. She is "talking" so much these days. A lot of babble, with a few words mixed in. It is awesome for us to see her making such great progress. Both of the girls seem to be feeling better with the cocktail of antibiotics that they are downing each day... can we just stay healthy through Christmas?

If I have time I will try to upload some pics from Mary's party. This will be the second year of a princess theme for her.....too funny!

Thank-you, Emily for missing me. I want to blog more, I just can hardly find the time to see straight. It's been kind of a crazy week. Katie's ear infection is back, and Mary has both pink eye and an ear infection on the same side of her head...it's not pretty. I'm a little stressed out about work --- and I'm trying to finish Christmas cards, finish Christmas shopping, wrap presents, get ready for Mary's birthday party on Sunday and let's see -- have some sort of normal life. Bill's work Christmas party was this afternoon -- I stayed for a few hours but I am home now -- trying to get some things done before having to be at work tomorrow am at 8. Bill is off work now for 3 weeks - so that will help a little bit. I just can never remember being so crazed the week before Christmas -- but the good news is that Katie is thriving in school. My mom picked her up at school today for me (b/c I was at the doctor with Mary) and she was so amazed at what she saw. School has been fantastic for Katie --a nd her progress is more than enough of a Christmas gift for me.

Well, -- Katie's starting to get into everything, so I guess I had better go......

Well this is my week to get into the Christmas Season. My schedule at work is light, and I don't have to close the store for a whole week -- so I may actually get some sleep this week. I need to do Christmas cards, shopping, wrapping and get ready for Mary's 5th birthday which is Sunday and which I haven't really done anything for yet! YIKES!

I need more coffee today though... I got home at about 1 am from work and b/c I was so wound up from work I couldn't get to sleep. I put away about 10 loads of laundry and finally fell asleep a little after 2... so now I am soooo tired. I dropped Katie off at school this morning and one of the teachers says, " Wow, Jill...are you okay? You look really tired!" I wanted to say , "why ever would you think I'm tired? I have two kids under the age of 5 - one with autism, I work full-time, try to run a house, pay bills with no money and you want me to look anything other than tired!" But I was nice and just said, "yeah, work is catching up with me -- I could just use a little more sleep."

I desperately need to spend some time on ebay, too to see if I can catch some good last minute deals for Christmas -- especially since I have hardly started shopping.... Any good ideas for a 5 year old girl that don't cost a fortune????

It's a snow day here --- yowsa! I guess that is a good thing since there is so much snow outside that I feel like I'm living in Alaska. I'm trying to clean the house seeing as I have to work tonight, tomorrow and Sunday until 12:30 am. My schedule next week is better -- but less hours -- so even though we could use the $, I am grateful that maybe I will be able to get some things done -- like Christmas cards, Christmas shopping, wrapping, etc. AND, Mary has her 5th birthday on the 18th and I haven't even started to prepare for that.

Mary's school program was last night -- how cute! She looked beautiful and sang so pretty! Bill video-taped it -- I can't wait to watch it.

Does anyone watch the Apprentice? I'm so excited that Randall is doing a benefit for "Autism Speaks." That is an awesome Autism Organization and they are doing some wonderful things to raise awareness and funds for Autism research.

Alright, my house is calling.

Well the days are just tracking along at quite a clip. It is snowing like crazy here -- I can't remember such a snowy December since 5 years ago when Mary was born and we had to drift-bus in the big Dodge pick-up to get me to the hospital to deliver. Yikes.

Here we are -- Katie is doing well in school this week. She is sitting at the table to eat her snack, but is still refusing to drink out of anything but a sippy cup. Mary is having a pretty good week, too. They have their Christmas program this Thursday night. I have to work 4pm - 12:30 am tonite and tomorrow night, and Fri, Sat & Sun ! YIKES! Sometimes I am not sure how I am doing this -- but we will survive.

I need to get working on my Christmas cards/letters -- I am really behind this year -- -guess I've been a little busy. :) Kohl's has an awesome sale tomorrow!!! Should be crazy!

What a week. I think that the girls are both getting healthy again. Katie seems to be recovering well from her double ear infection. How crazy. Work is nuts. Lots of hours and lots of drama. I found myself in tears yesterday -- not so much due to work itself but just my life -- how tired I am, how stressed I am, how I still can't figure out how people find the time for their families and their friends when they work full-time, have 2 kids to cart around to and from school - and all of the extra activities of the holidays including Christmas programs and parties and all of that good stuff. It's crazy.

My mom came over yesterday and helped me out for a few extra hours before she watched the kids while I went to work. That was a huge help. She put away my week's worth of folded laundry that has been sitting in the basket waiting to be put away. She also watched Katie so I could rest for an hour and get a few projects done that I can't do when I have to keep my eye on the little one. I am so thankful for my mom and all the help she does give us.

I don't work tonight and for that I am really thankful!!!I need some rest!