APHON Conference 2008

I just spent a nice couple of days out in Albuquerque, New Mexico for the Association of Pediatric Hematology Oncology Nursing (APHON) Conference with Colin...recipient of this year's Certified Pediatric Oncology Nurse (CPON) Award. She is very deserving of the honor and has graciously accepted all of our hullabaloo around it. When we weren't at general meetings, free meals or concurrent sessions, we had an excellent girls' weekend. We watched "Sex and the City," visited Old Town, shopped and napped. All in all, it was a nice time to catch up with my now long-distance friend.
Congratulations, Colin!!!

Accepting the award and giving her speech.....without crying!

Colin with 1/3 of her nominating committee.

Jessia, Colin & Audra after a not-so-great Mexican dinner in Old Town Albuquerque.

Colin's first trip out west. She was taken by the "mountains."

Only 4 months to go!

I hear babies are expensive. We had a car that was scaring us because of the potential cost for repairs. It started needing some special TLC that we just didn't want to pay an arm and a leg for. So, I gave up my leather seat warmers and traded in the Volvo for a barely used Ford Explorer. Blue. Only 5000 miles and still smells like new. Cheaper payments, under warranty, cheaper insurance and the gas is about the same as the Volvo. It's been a great addition! Lily and I have plenty of room now during our commute to and from work.

Weekend Away

Johnny and I headed up to Boone, NC this weekend for a little time away from the city life. He played in the 17th annual Yohnolassee Calcutta tournament and ended up winning a little bit of money for coming in 4th place. Once again, our good friends (friends of John's for about 20 years) Bob and Jana Lake, opened their home to us and were as hospitable as ever. We certainly wish we lived closer.....maybe someday.

We invited some other friends to share this special place with us this weekend. The Macintoshes made the trip with us so that Bruce could also play in the tournament. But more importantly, so that I could have some girl time with Casey and B.J. While the men watched college football, we went into Blowing Rock and had a nice leisurely lunch followed by a little window shopping, ice cream eating and picture taking along the gorgeous Blue Ridge Parkway.

As always, it was sad to leave. I can see us raising our little ones in a place like Boone. Guess I need to stop complaining about the winters here in Atlanta first!

Tennis club

MOOSE! Bob and Jana's dog. He's only just over a year old and an enormous baby!

Annual shot of Bobby Lake (III) and John. Handsome guys!

The 4th place finishers! Drew and John

The Lake Boys

Andy, Bob and Bobby

Can you tell they're related?

Casey and I near Grandfather mountain.

How could you not want to live here?

Thompsons + Macintoshes = fun weekend

The happy couple (with Lily poking out a bit)

What's in a name?

Of course John and I came to an agreement on a name for a baby boy. This happened right before finding out we were having a girl. What to do? It's been confirmed....we finally came to a decision that we both love. Our little girl will be welcomed into the world as Miss Lily Grace Thompson! I can't wait to meet her!

Ike

Just wanted to drop a note to all those who are or who might be affected by hurricane Ike this weekend. Please stay safe and dry and keep in touch.

Growing Girls

22 weeks! I gotta baby bump and loving EVERY minute of it. She kicks a ton and it makes me giggle. (Except when she aims for the bladder....that's a strange, not so comfortable feeling.) John let me go buy a few maternity items that were much needed and I've found my new favorite pants that I will wear for years to come.....at holiday meals. Not much else to report. We've started putting together some things for the nursery so I'll send updates as it progresses. Only getting started:

To find out or not find out....

John wants to know. I never wanted to know. I mean, how many true surprises are there left in life? I always dreamed of having the doctor deliver me and saying, "Congratulations! It's a .....!" In the olden days, our parents didn't have a choice. They never had the chance to look inside with ultrasounds......they got the surprise of a lifetime! I wanted to have this experience but John didn't. What is the compromise? Him to find out and not me? Yeah, right. That guy can't keep a secret if his life depended on it. Me give in to what I've always held on to? That didn't sound like a good option either.
Then I started thinking..... I know myself. I know myself well. I'm guilty of loving this generation of instant gratification. Knowing the gender is available. How could I NOT know? It's such a struggle.

ps We're having a girl!!!