More Pictures and updates...

Maybe being an aunt will make me post more.
Dylan is so cute. These aren't the best pictures of him, but I'm sure I'll get plenty more when we head down again on Friday.
This is Friday afternoon BEFORE they got Shannon into a private room. We heard some interesting conversations between the 'couple' that were preparing to take home their newborn. Needless to say, Momma headed to the nurses' station to give them a friendly reminder that there were other people in the room. Shortly after that one of Momma's friends that is a bigwig at the hospital showed up and assured us that a private room was coming soon. And of course, it was!
My dad is loving being a grandpa. He had the greatest smile Friday morning, holding his grandson. He was really excited, since having a boy meant that the guys would finally outnumber the girls in the family.









This is shortly after arriving at home with Dylan. I can't wait to see him again. Only 4 1/2 days to go!

Oh what a night...

Wow! Of course, I'm not biased, but this is one cute kid! Dylan Jay Hugill made his appearance into this world at 3:46 AM, weighing in a 8 lbs. 5 oz. He is 22 inches long, and has Shannon's nose and lips, and Jay's chin. He has a full head of light brown hair, and was really alert this morning.












Shannon and Jay were at the hospital at 5:00 am Thursday, like they were told to do, but the hospital didn't have a room for them until 1:30 PM! Shannon labored for about 14 hours, with stadol and then an epidural.
Being a part of this expereience was the most amazing thing ever. I am so grateful that my sister let me share this with her and Jay.

Of course, I will post more details later. Just wanted to get these up!

Still Waiting...

So Shannon got to the hospital at 5 this morning...and she's still waiting for a room. I got up at 5:30 and got on the road at 6. Just got in to Orlando, hanging out with Momma and Daddy. We're just sitting around until a room opens up for Shannon, Jay, and (soon to be) Dylan. She's trying not to get annoyed about waiting...you know, 'cuz Clancy women are SOOO good at being patient.
My parents are laughing at me for having a blog. Oh well!
Keep y'all posted...see ya!

Happy Anniversary!?!

I am a terrible blogger! I just realized I've only posted 15 times in a year. That comes out to once every 30.4 days.
Early resolution...post at least 2x/month in '06.
Hold me to it!

It won't be long now...

This picture was taken on Monday the 5th...(that's my sister on the left, in case the HUGE belly wasn't enough)
Please please please let me get all of my stuff done so I'm not stressed over being with my family instead of at work!
Amen.

Oh, and I decided against submitting for the award. No time (go figure!)

...updated...

ETA: Emily and her due date...

Hey, looky...a post from me!
Been a busy month. Too much happening at work, lots of people announcing pregnancies, and trying to get caught up enough to head down to Orlando and see my nephew being born.
In case you were wondering, here are the pregnant ladies and due dates...
My sister Shannon - due 12/22, inducing next Thursday (my anniversary!) the 15th. (Boy)
Sandra - February 17th (Boy)
Julie - April 10th (Boy)
Darcy - April 15th (Girl)
Carey - May 4th (Boy)
Danielle - May 6th (Boy)
Sam Kagy - May 8th (?)
Jen Charles - May ? (?)
Emily (from work) July 9th (?)
Mary - July 17th (?)

Crazy...
I just found out that someone is reading this stuff...that makes me smile.
(Thanks Danielle)
I baked like crazy today. I picked up one of the youth girls and we had some quality time. Vance and the boys were getting the wood floor installed in the Bennage's bedroom, so Sandra and Adah stayed over in the guest room last night. Poor girls, didn't sleep a wink. But Adah had a blast at the Nutcracker this morning. It was supposed to be an abbreviated 'Children's version', but it was still 1 1/2 hours long!

I'm trying to figure out if I have time this week to work on a packet to submit for an the Southeast Region New Advisor Award for the National Academic Advising Association. I have zero time to do it, but I'm really tempted to try. I think if I work late through Wednesday I can pull it off. I'm tempted. It's a great honor to be nominated (really!) 'cuz it's by your peers. I found out I was the only one at FSU to be nominated by two different people. So I kinda feel like I'd be letting them down if I didn't submit my stuff. The thing is, is that it's a lot of paperwork to get in order, and I have to write a 'personal statement' AND update my resume', which I haven't even looked at since I started this job 2 years ago. The packet has to arrive in Atlanta by Friday, and since I'm leaving town first thing Thursday, I'd have to express mail it Wednesday afternoon.
I really appreciate being appreciated at work. The folks I work with are really good at letting you know when you're doing a good job. I found out one of my students nominated me for the FSU Advising Award. I hear that packet is a piece of work too, but if I do this one, I'll be more than ready for the other, right?

I guess it's time to go.

Customer Service Commandments

(Check them out!)
Word! Finally, the knowledge that there are people like me out there! (And I do mean out there!)
Ah, the annual commercialism monster rears its ugly head. (Trying...so hard...fighting urge to buy buy buy...)

My Sister...

...is getting close to term...swollen feet, etc. But doesn't she look great?
I'm really excited about being an aunt. (That's pronounced 'ant', just so you know.)

We're heading to Orlando Friday and Saturday for a quick trip and to shower Shannon (and Dylan and Jay).

Who I Am Hates Who I've Been

I watched the proverbial sunrise
coming up over the Pacific and
you might think I'm losing my mind,
but I will shy away from the specifics...

'cause I don't want you to know where I am
'cause then you'll see my heart
in the saddest state it's ever been.

This is no place to try and live my life.

[Pre-Chorus]
Stop right there. That's exactly where I lost it.
See that line. Well I never should have crossed it.
Stop right there. Well I never should have said
that it's the very moment that
I wish that I could take back.

[Chorus]
I'm sorry for the person I became.
I'm sorry that it took so long for me to change.
I'm ready to try and never become that way again
'cause who I am hates who I've been.
Who I am hates who I've been.

I talk to absolutely no one.
Couldn't keep to myself enough.
And the things bottled inside have finally begun
to create so much pressure that I’ll soon blow up.

I heard the reverberating footsteps
sinking up to the beating of my heart,
and I was positive that unless I got myself together,
I would watch me fall apart.

And I can’t let that happen again
‘cause then you’ll see my heart
in the saddest state it’s ever been.

This is no place to try and live my life.

[Pre-Chorus x2]
[Chorus]

Who I am hates who I've been
and who I am won’t take the second chance you gave me.
Who I am hates who I’ve been
‘cause who I’ve been only ever made me...

So sorry for the person I became.
So sorry that it took so long for me to change.
I’m ready to try and never become that way again
‘cause who I am hates who I’ve been.
Who I am hates who I’ve been.

XXVII...

Wow. 27...whatever. Some freshman girl made a comment that 27 was old yesterday. Just wait.
We're about to have strawberry shortcake for my birthday here in the office. Vance is coming up. It's always fun to have him here.
His mom sent me the sweetest email. I am really blessed to have such great in-laws!
I've received an assortment of emails and funny e-cards from family and friends. Some folks think that adult birthdays don't need to be celebrated. Again, whatever! I think we need to find something to celebrate each day. Hey, getting out of bed is a blessing, isn't it? Having a bed to get out of? All overlooked joys.

I also learned that some of my students have found my blog. So here's a shoutout to my class. You guys keep me going, and challenge me each class meeting. Thanks for helping me keep perspective this semester, and putting up with an over-worked instructor!

Well, time for cake! See you there!

Hurricane Katrina

I'm going...
I'm volunteering with the Red Cross this weekend, somewhere (MS or AL) to help the hurricane victims. No A/C, BYO sleeping bag/cot. I haven't felt such a strong call to do something in a long time. We have so much, and they have been left with nothing. I just thank God that I am able to go and serve. My big three day weekend plans to finish the guest bathroom, scrub my kitchen, and party are so meaningless in the face of all that's happening a few hours west.
Please donate to the Red Cross, or a legitimate charity to help.
Wish me luck!

Back in the Saddle

First day of classes. The students were nuts today! I am so glad its over! I really love my job, but it is nice to be home. A few firsts...first time I was hung up on by a student today...first time I dropped my keys in the trash at dinner tonight.
I hope my class is great this semester. They seem to be really fun. This is one of the great parts of my job, teaching. Let's just hope the heckler doesn't get to me. I'm thinking about asking them if they want to do a class blog. We'll see!
If they do, I'll be sure to link to it.

WW update-13 down, 7 to go. I hope I can keep it up this fall.

I'll post our vacation pictures soon(including the new car!).

Weight Loss and such...

I've been doing Weight Watchers for a little over a month now. It's been going well. I've lost 7.6 pounds, 12.4 more to go! It hasn't been as hard as I thought it would be. I can be so lazy, and just want to eat whatever I see. I just try to make sure that what I see is healthy now. Poor Vance had to eat all the bad stuff in the house (such suffering!) because I'm too cheap to throw out perfectly good food.
I really like it when I get positive comments from co-workers and friends, but it's still frustrating when some of my clothes aren't quite fitting yet. I hope once I've hit my goal I can stay motivated. I miss certain foods a lot. I still have a bite of chocolate once in awhile, and Darcy made an amazing low-fat chocolate lava cake Sunday Night, which I fully enjoyed.
The Tallahassee Irish Step Dancers had our recital, ending the year on a high note.
I danced with a big ole' ugly white brace on my leg, but I suppose it's worth it to keep me dancing next year. I sprained my ankle two weeks ago in rehearsal and almost wasn't able to perform. We had a good sized crowd and lots of fun.
You know, if I didn't have to work to pay the bills, I'd dance all the time. Dance classes, maybe competitions. I just love to move with music.
Alright, I'd better get back to real work now.

STOP SMOKING NOW! I MEAN IT!

I just got back from visiting my Uncle who is dying of Lung Cancer in NC.
I don't know why people continue to smoke when it kills you. I understand that it's an addiction, but when you've seen the effects, what other impetus do you need?
I spent the weekend wiht my 58-year old uncle who won't see another birthday, Thanksgiving, Christmas, or much else past a few months. He's got 4 tumors in his brain, spots on his lungs, and tumors on his kidneys. We all visited, and my sister and I said goodbye, and knew that this was preventable. It's a personal choice.
Please get your loved ones to stop smoking.

Health Stuff

What a time I've had lately. I was having these weird headaches, for about two weeks. Now, I've had migraines, but these headaches were different. Top of my head, not super-painful, but very nagging and made life not vey fun. So after two weeks of this, I gave up on the OTC drugs and went in to the Doctor.
By the way, I love my ARNP. She has been awesome through all this crap I've been dealing with.
Back to the story. My ARNP, Kim, said the headaches were 1 of 3 things.
1) A different type of migraine that I'm just not used to
2) Caffeine withdrawal
3) Something else
So she gave me a shot in my butt and some different migraine meds to handle option 1, nothing she could do for option 2, and scheduled me for an MRI to rule out option 3.
So Vance takes me to the MRI place on a Saturday a few weeks back. Nice people, lots of renovations, no biggie, takes about 30 minutes.
Fast forward to that Monday morning. I've come in late to work b/c my stupid headache was back. Walk in my office, to the phone ringing. It's Kim, and apparently they've found something on MRI. Okay, that was just to rule stuff out! They weren't supposed to actually find anything! She says words like "pituitary tumor' and 'hemorrhage' and I manage to write down that they've made me an appointment with a neurologist at noon. That day.
So I walk out of my office quite stunned, but Praise God I have wonderful supportive co-workers. They help me calm down, and offer to drive me to the appointment, etc. I decline, and call my Vance. He's so good to me. So he works it out with his office and I pick him up to go to the Neurologist.
We get to 'The Headache and Head Pain Center'. I figure, this must be the place for me. The neurologist was very cool, top of his game, ran me through a barrage of neurological tests in a rapid fire way that left Vance and I very reassured that I was in good hands. He explained to both of us that I had a pituitary tumor and that there had been a hemorrhage in it. He wanted more specific MRI-type tests done to get a better idea of what was happening in MY BRAIN. (Trying not to really freak out at this point.) So wonder of wonders (and again a little scary b/c they could get it scheduled so quickly) we head back to the MRI place for some more tests. Only this time it's a little scarier b/c they've found something. Not as friendly on the staff side this time, but whatever.
We waited for the films b/c that was the quickest way to get them to the Neurologist. Of course, being the geeks we are, we peeked at the films in the car. Kinda weird to see those typical brain-scan looking pictures and know that it's your head on the film.
Later that afternoon I finally got the phone call from the neuro guy (I got tired of typing neurologist..oh wait, I just did) that there's nothing else wrong other than the HEMMORHAGE IN MY BRAIN. Yeah. I'm totally OK with all of this.
So the gist of it is, my hormones probably made something pop in my brain but it's okay 'cuz these things usually just work themselves out in time. But if I have another top-of-my-head headaches I have to go back in.
Sigh...just another day.

Too long since a post

I'm getting some flak from the hubby about my lack of posts to my blog. Sorry babe.
It's getting nuts at work, and I'm getting worn down again. Good thing the thyroid meds have kicked in, or I'd be totally worthless about now!
I'm not sure I've got what it takes to be a blogger. For some reason, I feel this pressure to produce something cool, something meaningful. Not sure where the pressure is coming from in particular. I've got a problem where I worry to much about living up to everyone else's expectations. Or at least what I think they expect of me. What does it matter in the first place? If I'm loving God and my husband, do I have other expectations to meet?
I'm getting to bogged down in my busyness again. I'm such a Martha, when I need to be a Mary, at His feet, worshipping. The pastor loaned me a book, "How to be a Mary in a Martha World". I started it, but haven't had time to finish it yet. Typical. I've got a bathroom stripped of the awful wallpaper that I haven't had time to finish prepping and painting. I've got magazines piled up, a new crosstitch project I need to get more work in on.
So where do I cut something? I've been trying to figure that out for years.
I have this weird ability to help my friends get their stuff in order, while my stuff piles up on the kitchen counter.
Can I get a break from all my stuff? Not just stuff, but committments, obligations. I might be able to sleep better, communicate better, all that good stuff.
Well, band practice is ending. Time to fulfill another obligation.

Back to the Grindstone

I like my job. I get to work with some good people, I think we make a difference, it's fulfilling, blah blah blah fishcakes. So why is it that every time a group of my co-workers and I get together the first 30 minutes are an all-out gripe-fest? In the grand scheme of things, we're gonna make it, none of this is terribly life-threatening. Sigh.
Hey, everyone should read recaps of fun TV shows on www.televisionwithoutpity.com. Warning-not all recaps are G-rated...but all are shoot milk out your nose funny.
Time for work again, until I leave for Sign Language...