My 10-year dream has come true!

As you know, getting into pharmaceutical sales has always been a goal of mine.  After college, I interviewed with several companies but didn't make it far - I was too green!  What the interviews afforded me however, turned out to be awesome experience.

Pro Tech was acquired by 3M in October 2010 and I would be telling a story if I wrote it has been a smooth transition.  3M is an amazing company and if I did not have a family, an 11-month-old especially, it would be an awesome place to grow my sales career.  BUT, I have both of these things and want to be home more.

Several weeks ago I interviewed for a pharma position at Forest Pharmaceuticals - the position is located in Baton Rouge with local travel.  One thing has led to another and I was formally offered the position this week...I.am.ECSTATIC!  My new position is not only financially rewarding, but a true blessing for my family as "mommy" will be home at night to actually be the "glue" that keeps things going round.

I blogged almost one year ago about my family's "glue" being ripped apart when my mom died.  Since becoming a mom last June, I quickly realized I am the "glue" of the Ross family.  Sure, Ben can hold down the fort for a couple days while I am gone, but the mom of the family is the one who makes everything better (no knock to the dad's out there!).  Mom's quick departure from this Earth has made me (and everyone) realize that life is short - missing out on Allie's "small" milestones are HUGE for me. 

This position with Forest could not have come at a better time for me - I found out I landed the job on the 1-year anniversary date of the last time I saw mom.  Doesn't that tell you that angels truly do work in your favor?  Mom was always my biggest advocate - whether she expressed it verbally or not - and I have no doubt she pulled strings for me.  The hardest part about this week is she was the only person not here to call when I found out.  I balled to Ben, my dad, my Aunt Jamie, my friend Autumn....it's just so sad my number 1 fan is not here. 

Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers over the next couple weeks as we experience our first Mother's Day without mom, the 1-year anniversary of her death next Thursday, followed by Greg's law school graduation next Sunday.  Emotionally draining I tell you.

Thank you for everyone's kind words, texts, emails, calls, etc. during all this - our support system is truly amazing.

With love,
Carmen

Hard to believe it's been a year

One year ago today, I saw mom for the last time. 

Saturday, May 1, I had a baby shower hosted by my mother-in-law's friends.  That Sunday, Ben and I stayed in Marshall for the night, Ben worked Shreveport Monday and I worked from mom and dad's house.  That morning, mom came downstairs, gave me a big hug and told me how excited she was to be a grandmother.  I was not going to see her until either a) my water broke, or b) I was induced.  Unfortunately, her life was cut short and she didn't make either.

Today has been rough, I will not sugar coat it, but it's just one of the many "firsts" you have to go through when losing a loved one.  Sunday is Mother's Day followed by the one-year anniversary of her death next Thursday (May 12th), followed by my brother's graduation from law school May 15th, then Allie's birthday June 11th.  Ugh.  That's a lot of "firsts" to have to endure in a short period of time.

Life goes on, but it doesn't make missing mom and easier.  In fact, I think it makes it harder.

Mom and me - May 1, 2010 (34 weeks) - at my last baby shower

Ham-bone

Allie's new "thing" is standing up in the bath tub. Not only does she know she's not supposed to do it, but she smiles every time signaling she knows it's not right. Tonight I did the reverse camera on the video part of my iPhone so she could watch herself and this is what I got. Ham-bone I tell you.

Click-clack

Yesterday, two of our good friends' babies were baptized so we attended St. Aloysius for the service then a brunch at Mr. Bob and Mrs. Nell's house for their new grandson, Jacob.

Lola Eyre is 3 months younger than Allie and taught her how to clack her tongue and it is now all - Allie - does. So funny. I got her to perform tonight in the bath tub.

Our anniversary!

...I wish I could blog about spending my anniversary with Ben all day BUT the reality is I will probably see him for all of an hour tonight.  He left Monday for Shreveport / Monroe / you know, "God's country" and is scheduled to get home around 10:30 or 11 tonight.  I am sure we will tune into this week's 16 and Pregnant, drink a glass of wine and call it a night.  This week with Allie has been such a blessing.  I don't have the opportunity to stay with her solo very often so I relish when I actually get to.  She has been sick - diagnosed with a double ear infection on Monday, April 18th...didn't get better so we got two Rocephin shots, one on Good Friday and the other on Saturday, April 23, then made another visit to the pediatrician on Monday, April 25th because she was still miserable.  We are now on Augmentin, which I detest with an absolute passion, but I will say, the s*** works.  Poor Allie barely "toots" and craps out her diaper, she gets an AWFUL - I mean GOD AWFUL diaper rash that looks like I poured scalding hot water on her hiney and private.  We wind up on a topical diaper rash cream AND antibiotic to 100% heal it within 3 days of starting the damn medicine.  Can you tell I HATE Augmentin?

Anyway, my Allie - even though she's battling a sore "bum" (my English is coming out due to the royal wedding in less than 6 hours) she has been the happiest and most fun kid this week.

Today I had a parent-teacher conference with Ms. Crystal.  I brought her lunch (she's wonderful...deserves much more than just lunch) and when I got to LSU this is what I saw...Allie normally does not nap in her crib so it was awesome to see that she finally did!

When I got home, I found Roxy trying to pull an "ET" on me...can you find her amongst the aspidistra?

Allie always naps on our way home from school.  Today I jokingly put her shades on her face and look at their position when we got home.  I think I am raising a diva.  She clearly left them on her head the entire trip home...they simply fell.

Allie "Hollywood" ate a little Gerber Graduate meal for dinner - mac and cheese with peas and carrots...she devoured almost all of it then ate 1/2 a banana and 10 or so yogurt melts.  She has to be on a growth spurt.



After bath - which was semi-traumatic because her "bum" hurts - we played in the new play room for close to an hour.  I ordered a bunch of clothes for her from Gymboree and UPS delivered them today.  It's amazing how kids notice "new" things...the box and plastic wrapping were a real hit tonight.

After I finally got it away, she decided to scoot on over to the end table and discretely (I got onto her a couple times before) try and pull her new clothes off.  Turkey.

The 1-year anniversary of my mom's death is coming up soon, and I feel her presence every day.  I have a lot going on right now, and hope to share some good news within a week or two, and it is amazing how often she is around me.  Tonight I opened up the refrigerator to grab a Michelob Ultra and the "born on date" was March 9, which is mom's birthday...she would have been 53.  Something so blatantly obvious, staring you in the face...she's powerful!  (sorry this is sideways)

Allie Hollywood!

Over the weekend, Eric ("Dr. Bubba") McCathran and his amazing wife, Jill, came down to watch their youngest son, Matthew, run in a track meet at LSU.  Matthew (from Marshall) walked on to the University of Colorado track team and ran the 4 x 400...he's such a good kid.  Mrs. Jill (I need to come up with a nickname for her for Allie) bought her "Allie-gator" a pair of shades and she decided to give them a test tonight.  What...a...frickin'...ham BUT I love and enjoy every minute of my little class clown.

"Mom, I'm wearing my shades because you won't quit taking pictures of me."

Notice the lethal teeth on the bottom...

"I'll keep my shades on my head just in case I need them"

"I'm annoyed, please stop, feed me a bottle and put me to bed."

Making a dining room a play room!

My parents always taught (and showed!) us that you do whatever you can for your children.  You always want more for them than you had.  Perfect example...

Back in September, when Allie was a little over 3 months old, we realized the need for a small play "area" - a place with a rug or two (our house has hardwood floors) for safety and comfort where she could lay on a play mat, play with toys, etc.  So we did just that by turning our breakfast area (connected to our den and kitchen) into a play "area" (see picture below).  It was great because I could cook and let munchkin not only play but also watch TV.

Well...now that Allie is mobile - VERY mobile - and close to walking...not to even mention the fact that our toy collection has grown exponentially since October, we decided over the weekend to turn our formal dining room into a bigger play area.  While this sounds like an awesome idea, I now have so much CRAP to find homes for!

This was our formal dining room (hence the hanging light) but now it's munchkin's play room.  Eventually the couch will need to find a new home.  Anyone in the market for a sectional couch with custom pillows?  LOL

This was our formal living room...now the dining room.  Yes, I need to decorate.

View from den, looking at play room and formal dining room

What to do with all this stuff? 

Hallway...no idea why I threw this in here other than the fact that I love my new 20 foot runner!

Old play "area" - this is now a racetrack when she gets in her car (literally)

Allie's room!