2009 Christmas Letter

Welcome to our once a year catch-up letter.  With the technology we have it seems as if it's more difficult to keep in contact with our loved ones.  Truthfully, this e-letter is a cheater's way of getting the work done.  I didn't have to make copies and fold them.  Cheers!  :)

In review, we've had a busy year - and it started at the end of 2008.  In November we got the surprise of a lifetime.  I was pregnant.  Again.  John Alan was five months old when we found out November 6, 2008.  Needless to say we were thrilled and overwhelmed.  When I got to the doctor a few shorts weeks later I found out that I was almost 12 weeks along.  We'd been wanting to buy another house in the Bushland school district, but this news put our plan in overdrive.  We spent most of November and December getting our house ready to put on the market. 
January 2009 was a continuation of the adventure.  Madeline and John Alan were both attending New Beginnings Preschool & Daycare.  They are truly spoiled there.  Madeline was learning lots of pre-reading skills and John Alan was winning hearts just like a true politician.  Jay and I were busy packing up the house and finishing projects.  Madeline turned five and we had a BIG party at Jump-n-Jive. 
February 2009 - more of the same.  My constant fretting about what we were going to do with another baby - and we found out - another baby boy!  My birthday present this year was going to be a new home.  Yeah!  My dad remarried on February 14, 2009.  He married Marcy Gray a long time family friend in a small wedding in Lubbock.  Madeline was the flower girl but she was a little scared!

March 2009 - Spring Break was much needed because we'd found a house and were going to trade with the builder!  What does that mean?  We sold our house to him and bought his house.  No putting our house on the market, showing it, keeping it clean, etc.  Thank you!!!!!  We were thrilled with the opportunity to purchase our new home!  However, we just so happened to move on the only blizzard of the year.  

Here's what our old house looked liked the morning the movers arrived.

 

It was good fun, especially for Jay.  He shoveled the snow so that the sidewalks would be clear.  Fortunately, by 12 noon it had all melted on the sidewalks and driveways - even at our new house.   With the help of movers, Dad & Marcy we moved everything in one day (okay, we had already moved lots of stuff to storage).  We were exhausted but so thankful to be in our new home.  Now we could focus on the new baby coming in June!  Our new address is 5750 Cedar Springs Trail, Amarillo, Texas 79119.  Our phone numbers remained the same (H - 806.677.0784, Jay's Cell - 806.626.6677, Courtney's Cell - 806.433.9264)

Jay also taught the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University (FPU) class at our church.  More on that later.

April 2009 - Exhaustion settled in, but somehow we still managed to get things done (not many, but a few).  Jay bought a riding lawn mower and I got to put my two rocking chairs on the side porch of the kitchen.  Now that has to be one of my favorite places in the house.  It's perfect and I can watch the kids play.  Madeline and John Alan were having a grand time at our new house.  There's lots of 'place' to explore.  We also registered Madeline for school at Bushland.  The adventure was beginning!

Here are their Easter pictures.  I'm so proud of them.

Then in May 2009 we celebrated John Alan's baptism (Mother's Day) and first birthday.  It was nice to enjoy that time together with our family and friends.  We were beginning to panic about the new baby's room.  We didn't have anything done or bought!  Fortunately, Melanie let us borrow her crib and we ad lib'd some of the other details.  Jay got to go to a Texas Rangers game with his brother Matthew.  It was great fun for him!

We also took some family pictures to document who we were then and there.

June 2009 - The magic day arrived!  Reed Stanton Milleson was born June 10, 2009 at 2:45 p.m.  He was 8 lbs., 4 oz and 19 3/4 inches long.  He was a breech baby (groan) so I had a C-section.  Not fun, but he is so precious!  

We were a big happy family.  Here's our first family picture.

 

July 2009 - Jay celebrated his birthday.  It wasn't a big to-do this year - just some quiet time with the family!  Also, my dad retired from his job!  After almost 40 years of work, Dad hung up his hard hat and called it quits!  We had a grand time that day.  A reception out at the plant followed by a small get-together at Leal's for our friends and family.  It was a happy day for us all!  John Alan was too busy to pose for this picture.  Do you know how big a power plant is for a person so small?  Amazing!  So much stuff to see and do!

August 2009 - Well, I had to go back to work.  Summer was over and it was time to stomp out some more ignorance.  My job changed over the summer as well.  I'm now advising students in addition to serving as department chair for the Student Success class and overseeing the Common Reader project.  It was an interesting transition.  But even more interesting was Madeline starting school!  What a scary, fun day for us both!  She is so blessed to have Mrs. Riley as her teacher this year.  She's started reading on her own and is beginning to spell out her own words.  Marcy is so good to help us.  She owned her own preschool for many years and has taught Kindergarten.  She's now a reading specialist and helps other teachers create better readers.  What a blessing for our family!

In August Jay and I also achieved a milestone for our family.  We have been working for some time on our Total Money Makeover.  This Dave Ramsey program has changed our financial life and probably strengthened our marriage!  We were able to pay cash for all of our June hospital bills and call The Dave Ramsey Show to scream 'We're debt free!'  It took longer than usual to accomplish, but we're so happy to have achieved this goal.  Jay and I are now on Baby Step 3 and Jay's teaching the FPU class again this fall. 

September 2009 passed with little going on.  We started going to Bushland football games and getting to know some members of our new community.  We lugged all three kids with us everywhere we went.  It's fun to explain to people that the two boys are only 54 weeks apart.  The fun part starts when their eyes bug out of their heads.  We enjoy it.  

October 2009 - This is one of my favorite months at work because it's the culmination of the Common Reader project.  This year our campus welcomed Nando Parrado as our Common Reader Lecturer.  Nando was one of the survivors of the 1972 plane crash in the Andes mountains.  Nando and another survivor walked over 50 miles through the roughest mountain terrain.  Their story of survival is tremendous.  Our students and community responded to this event - over 900 people came out on a stormy night to listen to his tale.  I love this part of my job!  We were also visited by three strange costumed creatures: a fairy, a monkey and a bumble bee.  I love Halloween! 

November 2009 - We celebrated Thanksgiving in our new home with delicious food and fun.  It's fun to think about getting everything just right and sharing it with family.  Reed wanted to taste everything and so he did!  He loved it!  YUM!  (We have pictures of this uber cute moment, but they're still on the camera - and let's face it, I'm lazy.)  Jay started putting up Christmas lights at the new house and we got a new Christmas tree.  We hung lots of stockings too! 

December 2009 - We're still preparing for the birth of our Savior at the Milleson household!  We celebrated Thanksmas with the Milleson crew on the 12th.  It was fun and we're looking forward to next year 'at home' in Odessa!  

Folks - this is longer than usual, but we hope that we've caught you up on some of the good details in our life.  It's sad that this is how we're forced to keep up with our friends; however, thankfully we're able to have this as an option!

God Bless you all!  And if you don't mind - give us a shout out in the comments section below!

 

Patient: Milleson, Courtney

Talk about a weekend.  If one of you sent me a crazy at the grocery store - they made it.

If you'll remember my previous post was about being exhausted.  Well, Friday night at the Leadership Retreat, I just happen to mention to a faculty member that my hair is falling out in hand fulls.  This would be as I pulled yet another hair off of my clothes.  Ewww - I know, but I wasn't near the food. :)  The faculty member just happens to teach A&P and she said, "You should get your thyroid checked."  Hmm, note to self.

Then on Sunday, after we get Jay shipped off to Tulsa, I take all three kids to the grocery store.  We're cruising along (I think John Alan was amazed by the sheer quantity of apples) and a woman approaches me.  She starts asking questions about Reed (cruising in his carrier).  How old he is, how far apart John Alan and Reed are in age, etc.  She then looks me dead in the eye and says, "You might want to get your thyroid levels checked." 

"You're the second person in two days to tell me that."

"Umm, yeah.  It's obvious.  You're eyelids are puffy."  (HUH?)  "I can tell when I'm low because my eyes get puffy."

She then begins to ask me questions.  "Is your body temperature always below 98.6 F?"  Yes.  "Are you having trouble losing the baby weight?"  Yes.  "Is your hair falling out?"  Yes.  "Are you exhausted?"  Hell Yes!

Okay - so maybe there's something to this.  I call the insurance nurse line.  Recommendation?  See my doctor because I exhibit symptoms.  So I get on WebMD.  Because only I can properly self-diagnose myself.

OMG.  Thinning hair.  Dry skin.  Feeling tired, sluggish or weak.  Facial puffiness.  Dizziness.  Check to them all.

All of this plus, when Mom was little she had thyroid surgery - removing a portion of it.  Also, my dad has trouble absorbing B-12 (pernicious anemia).  I've been anemic with both of the last two pregnancies.  Hmmm, this seems to be a perfect storm.

So today at 4 I'll be visiting my PCP to see if I'm hypothyroid girl.  If so, easy treatment - pills.  Yuck.  But no dizziness - Yeah!  Although, I will miss driving down I-40 with the kids wondering why I feel like the entire road is spinning out of control.  When did I drink that last beer?

Also see the kids doctor this Friday - going to check on sweet baby Reed.  Need to make sure he's good. :)

Whew...I'm exhausted.

Well, let's just start by telling the truth.  I'm tired.  Beyond tired.  Have you ever noticed that things look weird when you're tired?  It's just a weird by-product of the human mechanism I'm sure, but still.

Life has jumped up and bit me in the butt this week (and the last couple of weeks).  The Common Reader project at work has been taking on a new life.  We're T-minus 11 days until the luncheon, lecture and book signing.  In the past couple of weeks we've had a few new programs dedicated to the book such as the Panel Discussion.

The Panel Discussion features local 'authorities' who share their knowledge on particular subjects that relate to the book.  FYI - this year's book is Nando Parrado's Miracle in the Andes.

Pictured (L to R): Jill Gibson, Moderator, Instructor (Mass Comm & Speech), Dr. Richard Archer, AC Distinguished Alum, Internal Medicine, Dr. Adam Parker, WTAMU, Exercise Physiology, Dr. Howard Batson, Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church, Amarillo

Pictured (L to R): Mr. Jerry Klien, AC part-time instructor, Ethics, Mr. Les Simpson, Publisher, Amarillo Globe News, Dr. Paul Matney, President, Amarillo College

The panel discussion was great.  The Student Government Association served donuts and Hastings donated coffee (both were delicious).  We had a great conversation about the various topics in the book.  Many people wondered about how the body could survive such harsh conditions.  Then there were the conversations based on the ethics of eating the 'meat'.  Interesting morning.  I'm blessed to have the opportunity to sit and listen to people who're smarter than me.  I'm glad we got to expose our students to these views as well!

Tonight is the Leadership Retreat.  Our Student Activities director has gone all out with this book.  She's worked hard to incorporate it's leadership elements into various activities.  Tonight's leadership retreat will feature a 'guest' facilitator named Greg Clark.  Greg's a talented guy and has read the book.  He's going to bring elements of the team work into the students activities tonight.  I'll try to post pics.

Privately, well, I've been mommy!  Madeline got to experience her first homecoming at Bushland.  Of course, she had a mum.  The junior class was selling them as a fundraiser and at $20 it was a bargain for me!  Here she is with her mum.

I know - it pulls her shirt down - but she doesn't have a bra to pin it too!  She's still doing really well in school.  She's reading a lot and working on her sight words.  I'm so glad she enjoys it.  Each month we order books from Scholastic.  Marcy helps us pick out good ones for her.  I'm waiting for the day I can give her a stack of books during the summer and say 'Let's read all of these together.'  What joy to share the love of reading with your kids.  I'm ready for her to be ready to read Madeleine L'Engle's stories.  I LOVE THEM!  Priceless adventures.  Then we'll work up to some Jane Austen, and eventually - MUCH LATER - Janet Evanovich.

John Alan, well let's see if this picture won't convey a thousand words.

In a nutshell, this is who he is.  All Boy, All the Time.  I wouldn't ask for anything else, but really, on top of the piano.  So if you come to my house and wonder why the piano bench is in the middle of the living room floor, pause, and move along. :)

He's learning new things - this week it's 'baby' and 'how many other things can I cram into this toy?'  Apparently, that's just what boys do.  Hmmm, who knew?

He's still a hungry guy - eats what he wants to though.

Then there's my sweet baby Reed.  Who knew that God would bless me with this sweetheart.  He's perfect.  Big fat cheeks, sweet smile (enough to melt your heart) and just has eyes that light up a room.  Mmmmm, I just love him!  I didn't know what kind of blessing I was getting when I got him. Here he is asleep with his Grandad in the floor of John Alan's room.  Priceless.

We are so blessed to have this precious family.  But even with that said - some of the best news in a while.  It's October and I'm NOT PREGNANT!  YAHOOOOOOOOOO!  Okay - you can quit laughing now. :)

Electronics Burial Ground

I heard once upon a time that elephants, in their last days, would take a walk off into the sunset to die.  In fact, seniors at Texas A&M University participate in the Elephant Walk marking "the end of the usefulness of the Aggie seniors to the student body."

Well, my house must be the stop for all dead or dying electronics.

You see, since Jay and I bought our first home we've lost the following items:

• DVD player (Christmas gift from my brother)
• Refrigerator (only 5 years old - while I was pregnant)
• Portable DVD player (that was once my mom's - used it during chemo)
• Digital camera (used to document Madeline's days)
  
• 30 GB iPod (5 finger discounted)
• 2 ink jet printers
• 2 cordless phones
• Countless cell phones (all mine)
• A mini fridge
  
• New heating/cooling system (technically let's just say we pulled the plug and put it out of it's misery)
  
• Gateway laptop (blue screen of death)
• Desktop computer (it was just old)
• Wii Console (lightening strike)
• Ethernet board (on new computer - thanks to lightening strike)

You know - I'm not even really sure that we needed all of those electronic thingys - but I love them.  I'm a gadget girl.  If it has buttons on it - I like it.  No, I don't just like, I love it!  I guess though for almost 10 years of marriage we're not doing too badly.  It's just frustrating when something goes.  And it seems that it's never the stuff that I want to go either.  It's always the new stuff it seems not the 20 year old TV.


Oh yeah, and remotes.  But they just disappear.  Do they decompose?  Further research is needed.


And did you know - our brand new jet tub in the master bath isn't working.  Really?

So, if you have electronic items that need a final resting place it seems that we're the one-stop-shop for their last days.  Send 'em on folks, send 'em on.
 

Almost out-smarted by a quarter.

For the better part of the past 17 years I have lived on a college campus.  The first four at WT, then I've worked at OC, WTAMU, and AC.  Seventeen years.

You'd think in that time, I'd have learned how to operate a Coke machine.  No, seriously.  There were mornings at WT when breakfast (at 3:30 p.m.) was derived from whatever delicious yumminess the vending machine had to offer.  I often think of the crap I consumed those mornings and wonder why my children didn't turn out weirder than they already are.

Today highlighted my inept training in Vending Machine 101.  I ventured out to get some manna (translate: Dr. Pepper) and I approached the nearest vending machine.

Now as a group, vending machines have a particular quirkiness about them.  While they all have the same basic characteristics, they can look VERY differently.  I guess they just have good plastic surgeons, but they all have the same basic workings.  Buttons to select your item after you've paid for it.  A return button to get your lousy $0.75 back and the retrieval area.  I won't even go into what I think of that area.  Let's just say Lysol isn't enough.

Today, I went out and put my SIX quarters into the machine (remember when a coke used to be $.50). One - clang.  Two - clang.  Three - clink.  There's no clink in getting manna.  Clink means you're screwed.  Reach over and get the quarter back out of the return - Three - clink.  Okay, skip that one, come back in a bit - Three - clang.  Four - clang.  Five - clang.  Six - clink.  Damn quarter.

So I revert back to college mindset.  What did they tell you to do with quarters that the machine didn't want to accept?  Rub them on the side of the machine.  Check.  After a good rubbing - Six - clink.  DAMN IT!!!!!

I just want a drink.  A caffiene drink.  A drink that has more calories in it that some people have in days.  Just a drink.

Rub again.  Drop it on the floor.  Really??????  One last try.  Six - clang.  Thank you Lord!

Why does it have to be so hard?  What is it about the dynamics of one quarter that keeps it from behaving as all other quarters before it?  Did it get less metal at the mint than the others?  Does it not want to go live with the other quarters?  Is it better than them?  Does the quarter like living in my coin purse?  Does it have issues with the second quarter?  Does it not like Dr. Pepper?  Does it think I'm fat enough without the drink?

To this any many other questions I'll just have to live without knowing.  However, I did prove to myself today that I can out-wit a quarter and a machine.  And that my friends, is good to know.

I've been had.

Today I ran errands with Madeline. She’s five and so she’s pretty good at buckling herself up in the car. Considering the fact that there are two other car seats back there she does pretty well getting buckled up. Every once in a while she’ll get twisted up or frustrated and need help. Today was one of those days.

As I got out of my car – at the edge of a parking lot – a car approached me. I thought they wanted to drive by (I was in the drive-way – if that makes any sense). No, the driver approached me slowly and rolled down the window.

My immediate response was of relief when I saw that it was a woman. Why? Cause I suppose women don’t do creepy stuff. Hmmph.

As she rolled up to me in a nice, newer model sedan with the window rolled down I smelled the smell of a thousand summers with my Nana – cigarettes and perfume. I wish I could say that the perfume was Ciara, but I couldn’t place it. This woman was coiffed and had dry-cleaning hanging in her back passenger window. But (you can see this coming from a mile away can’t you) she needed help with money. Something about her mother and she couldn’t get a hold of her brother in Houston and did I have some money for gas.

Pause.

I’m uncomfortable. I have $11 in my pocket that I just got back from returning some craft items to a local craft store. I know that. And she assumes something along those lines. I’m uncomfortable. What if I don’t give her cash? What then? Madeline was completely exposed because I was buckling her up. I’m uncomfortable. We tithe regularly – and I give additionally when I want to.

I’m uncomfortable.

Unpause.

I was all set to blow her off, and then she said the magic word. “I prayed before I set out that God would help me.” At that point – sigh – I reached in my pocket and gave her the $11 telling her that it was all that I had (which was the truth, since I’d left my debt card at home). The only reason I had that money was from returning ‘stuff’ to the store.  As I gave it to her she said "Maybe someone can help me with the rest" (insert big brown puppy dog eyes).

When I handed her the money I felt dirty. I can’t explain it, but something about it didn’t feel right.  But she'd prayed and approached me.  Maybe I was supposed to be her angel for the minute.

I’d been approached by a man before outside of Toys-R-Us just days after having given birth to John Alan. I had just gotten in my car (which if you’ve had natural child birth you can understand) and I was all set to back out then I felt someone looking at me. I turned to the window and there was a man standing there. CREEPY!!!! He motioned for me to roll the window down – but I only complied enough to hear him. He said something about maxing out his credit cards, but he’d buy my gas in exchange for cash if I could only drive him to a gas station where he had a gas card. Needless to say, that didn’t happen. All I thought of at that moment was “If he attacks me I can’t fight back – I’m too weak and have battle scars from labor. I’ll never win.”

As I safely drove off (in the rugged power only a really big TAHOE can give) I felt guilty for telling him no – until I drove off and began to think about what he was asking of me. MORON!

Back to today, I reviewed my actions after having securely fastened Madeline in her seat. My caving point was the word ‘prayer.’ “I prayed…” well, lady, now I have too, and it’s on you. I acted on my faith. I acted on good will. And I was going to let it stand at that until I told Jay about my day and my experience.

He asked what kind of car she drove. I hadn’t told him it was a car. He kinda described it to me.

Folks, I’d been had. He’d been approached by the same lady with the same MO. Geez. I’m such a sucker. I want to find that lady and explain to her why I’m bothered by her actions. Maybe I’ll start prowling around looking for her. Now that would be fun, huh?

I wonder if she just has certain spots or certain cars that she targets. Or does she only target women who look/feel exhausted with a sick kid? Hmm, I wonder.

So there’s my stupid point for the day. My magic word – just tell me you’ve prayed about it and I’m sure to do what you want. Pisses me off!

What to do?

I've been thinking for a day or two about why I write about what I write about.  Most of the time it's because something's humorous, or because it's caught my attention.  It could be to get a cheap laugh.  Hey, I'll take 'em.  But this week my heart's been heavy because of a couple of new stories (1, 2, 3).

First story - oh geez.  Breaks my heart.
Second story - oh geez.  What terror!
Third story - oh geez.  I took my kid to this guy's son's birthday party.  Really?

So instead today I'm focusing on something great coming up in my world.  Why?  Because I can't control those things.  This I can control.

Each year AC coordinates a Common Reader program for it's incoming students.  It's a really exciting event.  Each year a team of volunteers reads various books and selects one to read together as a college community.  Last year's event featured Rick Bragg's All Over but the Shoutin'.  I would highly recommend it and him.  Charming through and through.  If that isn't enough - he's won a Pulitzer Prize for his journalism.  Okay.  That's more than enough for me.  On the day of the event we have a luncheon featuring the student essay competition winners.  They have lunch with the author.  How awesome!  Later in the day AC along with the Friends of the Amarillo Public Library host a reception for the author followed by a lecture and book signing.  It's a full day of business, and hard work.  But it is so worth it.  The students we hear from are very moved by the experience!

This year, we're gearing up for our next Common Reader event featuring Nando Parrado.  Nando Parrado's tale, Miracle in the Andes has been captured in book twice and film twice.  On October 20, 2009 he'll be here with our students and community to talk about his ordeal and how he overcame it.  I'm so fortunate to have this program as one of my jobs.  I love this part of my job!  Watching students read the book and work through the ideas are just incredible.

Here are some links to information I found useful:
Viven - website hosted by the surviving 16 members of the Fairchild

• Interview given by Nando in 2000 
• Interview given by Nando in 2001 
• Interview given by Nando in 2002 

So in the upcoming day's I'll be writing about getting ready for Nando.  If you want, I encourage you to read the book and attend the lecture on October 20, 2009 at 7 p.m. in the Amarillo Civic Center's Heritage Room.  It will be a fantastic evening!