Well, we went 29 days without having to seek emergency medical attention. But who's counting? Okay fine. Oliver thinks "we" is me too liberally defining the situation. "We" didn't need medical attention. I did. I sliced the top of my finger in half in an attempt to finish my state fair entries. It was a total "dammit Nicole" situation as Adam would have put it (Oliver pointed this out). So, in conclusion, the vegetable peeler will indeed cut through bars of chocolate and fingers (including nails) without bias. So to update, I am healing wonderfully, although for a while I was somewhat upset about not being able to finish my cakes. Oliver vehemently refused to do them for me and told me, "There's always next year." So maybe next year...
Other than that, things are good! This past week sure was full of it's ups and downs. I got a raise and a promotion on Monday. Tuesday Oliver and I went and listened to a lecture on God and Evil (I will post a link when it comes available). Wednesday I had my graduate exit interview and received a conditional pass on my Master's. As long as I rewrite my paper before Halloween and my committee finds it acceptable, I will be fine. Wednesday and Thursday we had dinner with friends. Friday Oliver got a massage (while I worked on my rewrite). And today Oliver ran 12 miles (still training for a half marathon!- November 2nd is getting close!) and we went to the State Fair!
Hopefully we will get some State Fair pictures up soon. Maybe even some video since Oliver was making videos with the animals and doing it Mark-Wahlberg-Talks-to-Animals-style. "Say hi to your mother for me!"
That being said, SNL is almost on, and so that's all for now.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
october is here
YAY!
A new month!
Cooler temperatures, colorful leaves, pumpkins, the State Fair and in general a vast array of fun happenings!
Oliver says Twinkie loves October... I think maybe because she's orange?
Does she look like she loves October?
Anyways, I am personally looking forward to October for several reasons.
1) Last month, a day after our last blog post, I had emergency surgery because evidentally I developed a blood clot after my D&E. I had to have an emergency D&C, and so basically on the healing front, I had to physically start from stratch, and emotionally it took a huge toll on Oliver and I. We are excited about October because we hope it will be a month of healing- without any surgeries or emergencies.
2) I will finish my literature review/intro to thesis paper that is required for my graduation. Oliver is very excited about this because I won't be as stressed and he won't have to keep reminding me to stop procrastinating.
3) The State Fair is in town from October 16-26! I am entering three cakes into the decoration contest! Which is really exciting... nothing I have ever done before. Also, speaking of food and competitions, Oliver, Jessica and Clay and I are going to watch the talented Bobby Flay in action. He is visiting NC to showcase all his very awesome cooking skills!
We have other fun things planned too.... pumpkin carving, birthday parties, corn mazes...
we will keep you updated! And hopefully we will have pictures, too!
A new month!
Cooler temperatures, colorful leaves, pumpkins, the State Fair and in general a vast array of fun happenings!
Oliver says Twinkie loves October... I think maybe because she's orange?
Does she look like she loves October?
Anyways, I am personally looking forward to October for several reasons.
1) Last month, a day after our last blog post, I had emergency surgery because evidentally I developed a blood clot after my D&E. I had to have an emergency D&C, and so basically on the healing front, I had to physically start from stratch, and emotionally it took a huge toll on Oliver and I. We are excited about October because we hope it will be a month of healing- without any surgeries or emergencies.
2) I will finish my literature review/intro to thesis paper that is required for my graduation. Oliver is very excited about this because I won't be as stressed and he won't have to keep reminding me to stop procrastinating.
3) The State Fair is in town from October 16-26! I am entering three cakes into the decoration contest! Which is really exciting... nothing I have ever done before. Also, speaking of food and competitions, Oliver, Jessica and Clay and I are going to watch the talented Bobby Flay in action. He is visiting NC to showcase all his very awesome cooking skills!
We have other fun things planned too.... pumpkin carving, birthday parties, corn mazes...
we will keep you updated! And hopefully we will have pictures, too!
Sunday, September 14, 2008
our annual trip
For those of you who have always wondered where Oliver is from, the answer is somewhat complicated. He was born in Olongapo, Philippines, moved to San Diego, California at age 4 and then to East Meadow, Long Island, New York at age 8 and then Westbury, Long Island, New York at age 13. So usually he says he is from the Philippines or from New York, but now having lived in North Carolina for more than 10 years, he has almost officially been here longer than any other place. He's becoming a North Carolinian! Yay!
Anyways, we make an annual trip each year, sometimes more than once, to New York to visit with his family. His parents and his brother, Marc, live in Westbury. His brother Eric and his family live in Howard Beach and he has a whole slew of aunts, uncles and cousins in Queens. Also, not to be forgotten, Oliver's best friend, Shawn, lives in Westbury as well, and we always visit with him while we are up there.
Anyways this year we drove to NY the last week in August and returned on Labor Day, and fortunately we got to see EVERYONE in his family. Even his sister had flown in from California for business! We got to have dinner with her, Eric, Christine and Chelsea near Time Square! Oliver, Shawn and I went to a Yankees game. My very first one, and last of course in their old stadium- they won! His mom made the trip especially memorable by taking us on a yacht tour of the Statue of Liberty and those new waterfalls in the East River. Hanging out with Shawn was great because Oliver and Shawn had planned a 10k run for us with the Nike Human Race in the Bronx. Because I am still healing, I only did a 5k, but it was a great time! Shawn and Oliver seemed to really enjoy the race, although it really wasn't well planned by Nike (there were too many people [10,000] and not enough space). And the cool thing was we all finished together. We also went to Long Beach- which was beautiful. And Oliver and I bopped around the city and shopped. IKEA, especially, was super fun! All together it was a great time! It was so nice to have a vacation, clear our heads from work and all that has been going on and just spend a great time with family and friends!
We will be posting a picture slide show sometime in the near future!
Anyways, we make an annual trip each year, sometimes more than once, to New York to visit with his family. His parents and his brother, Marc, live in Westbury. His brother Eric and his family live in Howard Beach and he has a whole slew of aunts, uncles and cousins in Queens. Also, not to be forgotten, Oliver's best friend, Shawn, lives in Westbury as well, and we always visit with him while we are up there.
Anyways this year we drove to NY the last week in August and returned on Labor Day, and fortunately we got to see EVERYONE in his family. Even his sister had flown in from California for business! We got to have dinner with her, Eric, Christine and Chelsea near Time Square! Oliver, Shawn and I went to a Yankees game. My very first one, and last of course in their old stadium- they won! His mom made the trip especially memorable by taking us on a yacht tour of the Statue of Liberty and those new waterfalls in the East River. Hanging out with Shawn was great because Oliver and Shawn had planned a 10k run for us with the Nike Human Race in the Bronx. Because I am still healing, I only did a 5k, but it was a great time! Shawn and Oliver seemed to really enjoy the race, although it really wasn't well planned by Nike (there were too many people [10,000] and not enough space). And the cool thing was we all finished together. We also went to Long Beach- which was beautiful. And Oliver and I bopped around the city and shopped. IKEA, especially, was super fun! All together it was a great time! It was so nice to have a vacation, clear our heads from work and all that has been going on and just spend a great time with family and friends!
We will be posting a picture slide show sometime in the near future!
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
the saddest truth
Oliver and I discussed whether we would make a post about this or not. At first I was decidedly against it, while he thought it might be therapeutic. Now, I am over the initial shock, and the pain, although it will never truly go away I'm certain, it just isn't as intense as it was, and I feel like I can blog about the past couple of months. Afterall, we had intended for this blog to chronicle our lives and the important events surrounding them. And so here it is: the truth.
Oliver and I have been together as a couple now for about seven and half years. We started dating in 2001. We talked about our future nearly immediately, and always knew that future would include a family. We both want children- somewhere between two and four (I think two is a great number... it's scary when they out-number you). And so, for a while now, we have been trying to achieve that dream of starting our family (so in case we do have four, we won't be forty when the last one arrives).
Sometime in early June we must have been successful in our endeavors. We think it might have been a "souvenir" from our trip to Denver. Regardless, we were elated in the fact that we were going to be parents. We found out in early July, and for the most part, kept this secret to ourselves.
On a tangent, I have to admit, it's so much fun sharing a secret like this with your spouse. It's like knowing the secret to happiness and refusing to tell the world.
Anyways, the happiness was fleeting and soon replaced with constant worry. We had some tests (hcg) some back in a negative light, and then we had an ultrasound that showed the yolk sac (which is a good thing). Then everything looked good for a week or so and then we had more lousy test results (hcg) and we were told that we had lost the viability of our pregnancy. This was of course immediately followed by an awesome ultrasound that showed our baby with a heartbeat, growing strong. Then all the test results (hcg) looked freaking awesome. Then a week later I started cramping really bad and spotting and we went to the ER, where we saw no heartbeat. I stayed in the hospital for a while, and we ran the hcg tests again, which looked promising still, but no ultrasound technician I met, coupled with all the great doctors we were fortunate to have, could find a heartbeat. So, I was put on bed rest, and the doctors ran test after test until they finally confirmed a miscarriage.
Then, we made the decision together to have the surgery to remove the miscarriage, rather than to let it happen naturally. We wanted to expedite the healing process and make certain that medically I would be okay, even if we were both emotionally a mess. So on August 6, I had surgery to remove our pregnancy of 9 weeks.
My parents came to stay with me. Kate came from GA to stay with me. Our church community group rallied around us in a wonderful way- cooked all our meals for us, called to check on us. The support from those who knew and found out was absolutely fantastic. My family sent cards. Work sent a card and flowers and made me feel missed. For those of you that told us you cared, we want you to know that it meant everything to Oliver and I. It made it easier knowing that people were concerned, sympathetic and caring.
If you didn't know, don't feel bad. We didn't intend for so many to find out. It just happened. In retrospect, everything seemed to happen for a reason and our bad situation was as best as it could have been.
We are staying positive. We are doing fine and we take comfort in one another. We like to think we are strong. And of course we will try again sometime in the future. We aren't certain when, and we will delight in that secret, until we are ready to share with the rest of the world.
Oliver and I have been together as a couple now for about seven and half years. We started dating in 2001. We talked about our future nearly immediately, and always knew that future would include a family. We both want children- somewhere between two and four (I think two is a great number... it's scary when they out-number you). And so, for a while now, we have been trying to achieve that dream of starting our family (so in case we do have four, we won't be forty when the last one arrives).
Sometime in early June we must have been successful in our endeavors. We think it might have been a "souvenir" from our trip to Denver. Regardless, we were elated in the fact that we were going to be parents. We found out in early July, and for the most part, kept this secret to ourselves.
On a tangent, I have to admit, it's so much fun sharing a secret like this with your spouse. It's like knowing the secret to happiness and refusing to tell the world.
Anyways, the happiness was fleeting and soon replaced with constant worry. We had some tests (hcg) some back in a negative light, and then we had an ultrasound that showed the yolk sac (which is a good thing). Then everything looked good for a week or so and then we had more lousy test results (hcg) and we were told that we had lost the viability of our pregnancy. This was of course immediately followed by an awesome ultrasound that showed our baby with a heartbeat, growing strong. Then all the test results (hcg) looked freaking awesome. Then a week later I started cramping really bad and spotting and we went to the ER, where we saw no heartbeat. I stayed in the hospital for a while, and we ran the hcg tests again, which looked promising still, but no ultrasound technician I met, coupled with all the great doctors we were fortunate to have, could find a heartbeat. So, I was put on bed rest, and the doctors ran test after test until they finally confirmed a miscarriage.
Then, we made the decision together to have the surgery to remove the miscarriage, rather than to let it happen naturally. We wanted to expedite the healing process and make certain that medically I would be okay, even if we were both emotionally a mess. So on August 6, I had surgery to remove our pregnancy of 9 weeks.
My parents came to stay with me. Kate came from GA to stay with me. Our church community group rallied around us in a wonderful way- cooked all our meals for us, called to check on us. The support from those who knew and found out was absolutely fantastic. My family sent cards. Work sent a card and flowers and made me feel missed. For those of you that told us you cared, we want you to know that it meant everything to Oliver and I. It made it easier knowing that people were concerned, sympathetic and caring.
If you didn't know, don't feel bad. We didn't intend for so many to find out. It just happened. In retrospect, everything seemed to happen for a reason and our bad situation was as best as it could have been.
We are staying positive. We are doing fine and we take comfort in one another. We like to think we are strong. And of course we will try again sometime in the future. We aren't certain when, and we will delight in that secret, until we are ready to share with the rest of the world.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
love and travel
Or is it travel and love. How about love to travel!
That's us!
Since May 14th, Oliver and I have been jetsetting which is not typical N&O behaviour.
Our friends, David and Laura (the Bushnogles), got married on June 8. Before they got hitched we traveled to Vegas with them to help them de-stress and have a little fun! Then, we went to beautiful Colorado for 6 days/5 nights to witness their holy matrimony. Awww.
So, these are the things Oliver and I learned while on our "vacations".
-The $5 footlong is universal.
-There are at least 3 different songs played at the Bellagio's fountain, and the fountain has different shows depending on the song.
-If it is raining and 61 degrees Farenheit in Denver, then it is probably 26 degrees and snowing in the Rocky Mountains.
-You should bring a coat to the Rocky Mountains even in June.
-You can fit about 30 people in a stretch Hummer limo meant for 24 people.
-The more alcohol, you have the easier it is to fit people into a stretch Hummer limo.
-The airport in Colorado has the longest taxi from landing to runway. You will think you are driving up someone's driveway or that the plane has gotten lost, especially since at first, everything looks flat.
-Shopping is universal fun!
-The Carneigie Deli's sandwiches are ridiculous in size.
-Elvis and Marilyn are really great in person.
-When the Paris restaurant says that your bill "has been taken care of", don't get excited because you probably forgot that you gave them your credit card before you came.
-If you switch seats at the blackjack table, the seat that you left will get three blackjacks in a row, despite the fact that you are playing with a single deck.
-Cricket burger is amazing.
-No matter where you go, the place you rent your tux from will mess-up your tux order.
-Sleep is for the weak.
-Drinking at altitude is dangerous.
-The Coors brewery is phenomenal. The beer tastes so much fresher at the brewery.
-Direct flights are the only way to travel.
-It's important to have one vacation day left at the end, specifically for recovering from your vacation.
That's us!
Since May 14th, Oliver and I have been jetsetting which is not typical N&O behaviour.
Our friends, David and Laura (the Bushnogles), got married on June 8. Before they got hitched we traveled to Vegas with them to help them de-stress and have a little fun! Then, we went to beautiful Colorado for 6 days/5 nights to witness their holy matrimony. Awww.
So, these are the things Oliver and I learned while on our "vacations".
-The $5 footlong is universal.
-There are at least 3 different songs played at the Bellagio's fountain, and the fountain has different shows depending on the song.
-If it is raining and 61 degrees Farenheit in Denver, then it is probably 26 degrees and snowing in the Rocky Mountains.
-You should bring a coat to the Rocky Mountains even in June.
-You can fit about 30 people in a stretch Hummer limo meant for 24 people.
-The more alcohol, you have the easier it is to fit people into a stretch Hummer limo.
-The airport in Colorado has the longest taxi from landing to runway. You will think you are driving up someone's driveway or that the plane has gotten lost, especially since at first, everything looks flat.
-Shopping is universal fun!
-The Carneigie Deli's sandwiches are ridiculous in size.
-Elvis and Marilyn are really great in person.
-When the Paris restaurant says that your bill "has been taken care of", don't get excited because you probably forgot that you gave them your credit card before you came.
-If you switch seats at the blackjack table, the seat that you left will get three blackjacks in a row, despite the fact that you are playing with a single deck.
-Cricket burger is amazing.
-No matter where you go, the place you rent your tux from will mess-up your tux order.
-Sleep is for the weak.
-Drinking at altitude is dangerous.
-The Coors brewery is phenomenal. The beer tastes so much fresher at the brewery.
-Direct flights are the only way to travel.
-It's important to have one vacation day left at the end, specifically for recovering from your vacation.
Monday, June 2, 2008
our first anniversary
Today is June 2nd, our very first wedding anniversary! This very first year has been absolutely amazing! Tonight we celebrated by having dinner at Second Empire, one of our favorite restaurants.
The really interesting thing about dinner was in the room that we dined there were two other couples besides us. We were all eating our dinner courses at about the same pace and when dessert was served, we all realized that all three couples were celebrating their anniversary, June 2nd! We were all married the same day, different years! Neat, huh?
Also, we just wanted take this moment to once again thank all of our family members and friends who helped make our wedding such a memorable occassion. We especially know this last year would not have been possible without all your love and support! Thanks for making our first year together such a happy one! We are looking forward to the many more years to come!
The really interesting thing about dinner was in the room that we dined there were two other couples besides us. We were all eating our dinner courses at about the same pace and when dessert was served, we all realized that all three couples were celebrating their anniversary, June 2nd! We were all married the same day, different years! Neat, huh?
Also, we just wanted take this moment to once again thank all of our family members and friends who helped make our wedding such a memorable occassion. We especially know this last year would not have been possible without all your love and support! Thanks for making our first year together such a happy one! We are looking forward to the many more years to come!
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
picture perfect posting
It's May 14th! Time for our monthly post and all those pictures we have been promising! (And I finally figured out how to embed a slideshow!)
I will start from the past and work my way up to the present...
First.. here is a picture of my short hair (that I had cut back in February) I know you guys have been dying to see it!
Next, here are those pictures from Adam's 25th birthday party on May 2nd!
Then, here are some pictures we took on May 9th, the day after a tornado hit both Colfax and Greensboro, NC. Thanks so much to all the people who called to ask about my family. Everyone in my family was safe, but Dad's work, IH Caffey Miller Distribution, was pretty much destroyed. A couple of dad's coworkers were injured pretty badly and someone making a delivery was unfortunately killed. The community really rallied around getting everything back to normal and cleaning up the damage. As far as Dad's work is concerned, they are already back up and running, but it will take a while for them to repair the building and the trucks. Dad tried to take Oliver and I over to the building, but no one was allowed in the vicinity except for emergency workers. Oliver and I took these pictures from the car.
Lastly, these are pictures from Mother's Day, May 11th. Oddly enough, there are no pictures of my mom, despite being at my parent's house for a cookout with all my mom's family. Oh well, maybe we will take pictures of her on Father's Day!
I will start from the past and work my way up to the present...
First.. here is a picture of my short hair (that I had cut back in February) I know you guys have been dying to see it!Next, here are those pictures from Adam's 25th birthday party on May 2nd!
Then, here are some pictures we took on May 9th, the day after a tornado hit both Colfax and Greensboro, NC. Thanks so much to all the people who called to ask about my family. Everyone in my family was safe, but Dad's work, IH Caffey Miller Distribution, was pretty much destroyed. A couple of dad's coworkers were injured pretty badly and someone making a delivery was unfortunately killed. The community really rallied around getting everything back to normal and cleaning up the damage. As far as Dad's work is concerned, they are already back up and running, but it will take a while for them to repair the building and the trucks. Dad tried to take Oliver and I over to the building, but no one was allowed in the vicinity except for emergency workers. Oliver and I took these pictures from the car.
Lastly, these are pictures from Mother's Day, May 11th. Oddly enough, there are no pictures of my mom, despite being at my parent's house for a cookout with all my mom's family. Oh well, maybe we will take pictures of her on Father's Day!
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