King Studio Christmas Party: Viennese Waltz

King Studio Christmas Party: Foxtrot

King Studio Christmas Party: Mambo

King Studio Christmas Party: Tango

I'm dreaming of a white... pukefest?

I hope that everyone's Christmas was filled with love and family and all the food one can keep in one's stomach. This Christmas has been... interesting to say the least. Let me rewind a bit to fill you in on all of the fun.

I'd been having an upset stomach over the weekend. I chalked it up to nerves for my Dance Studio's Christmas Party at which I would be performing 8 dances. (A later post will include the inside story to that night and video of the dances.) Not to mention that I sent Kevin to the Dr. on Friday to have a "growth" on his back looked at. It had been growing for 6 months at least, and I was getting so worried, I made the Dr. appointment. The Dr. said it wasn't Melanoma, but it needed to be removed ASAP and sent out for a biopsy. (We are still waiting for results and crossing our fingers.) Monday came around, and Kevin had it removed. He wasn't supposed to move a lot, and was not supposed to be picking up Thomas. He also is supposed to take some time off work since the incision was on the back of his shoulder, where his bullet proof vest would rub. No vest = no work. So, I'm all geared up to be "Super Wife/ Mom" and take care of my guys. Then at lunch, my stomach really started to hurt. I go to pick up Thomas at Mom & Dad's- it was getting worse. My stomach was churning and I wasn't sure which end it would come out. (Sorry. TMI I know.)

I got home just in time to throw up violently. It didn't stop for hours. Kevin's local anesthetic was wearing off, and Thomas was curious as to why I was kneeling on the bathroom floor. I told Kevin I could handle it and had one arm wrapped around the toilet bowl and one arm out blocking Thomas from coming too close. I was extremely grateful that night for my short haircut. I didn't have a free arm to pull it out of the way. It continued into the night. Kevin finally sent me up to bed knowing that I couldn't watch Thomas and throw up anymore at the same time. Bless his heart. I woke up at 1:00 to start the whole fiasco all over again. Kevin was coming to bed at that time and needed me to change his bandage. I thought I'd finished throwing up, so I went over to scope out the wound and change the bandage for him. I took one look at it and headed for the toilet again. Yes, the sight of it made me throw up. Again, I tried to get myself under control and was able to fix him up. I was so dehydrated. I told Kevin that I was getting light headed and thought I might pass out. He got me to the bed in time before I collapsed. I'd rather throw up than pass out for future reference...

The morning was awful. I hurt from head to toe. Achy and sore from you know: Everything. Dizziness and more passing out ensued. I stayed home from work to recover. Thomas stayed over at Mom & Dad's. That night was Kevin's family's Christmas party. We went and I layed low. I had two bites of food, and didn't want to push it any farther. Thomas hadn't been feeling well either. Diarrhea and not eating well.

Christmas Eve, I went to work and dropped of Thomas, who then threw up after breakfast. Great. I wasn't feeling tip top, but I had to go in. I had Gatorade. That's it. The thought of food was making my stomach churn again. I finished up some Christmas shopping and had a good evening with my guys. Kevin and I stayed up late putting toys together for Thomas. I had forgotten though while out shopping to pick up corn syrup for the coveted carmel popcorn I always make for everyone each Christmas. Each time I had been to the store before, they were out. Completely. Only the dark stuff left on the shelves. Kevin kindly offered to go when we were done with the toys. So at 2:00 AM, Kevin is out and about for corn syrup. I went to bed.

Christmas morning, everything was fine. We were all feeling well and Thomas loved his toys. He got a little organizer, blocks, and an activity center like you would find in the Dr.'s office.

Kevin got me the 4th season of LOST on DVD. Kevin got chocolate covered cashews, socks- at his request- and a 120 GB hard drive for his X-box. I made French Toast with the yummy bread Kevin's Aunt Marci gives to us every year. It was fun to lounge around for a while in PJ's. It turned out that Kevin's corn syrup run was in vain. Wal-Mart was out and so was Smith's. Luckily Mom had some. I would just have to create my confection at Mom's and possibly divulge my secrets. We arrived, finished the popcorn and started munching by the time Kevin's brother and family came. At 4:00 we were getting ready to head over to Grandma's house. I was holding Thomas at the table while he was drinking some juice. The next thing I know he's throwing up all over himself, me and the carpet. I picked him up and started walking through the kitchen on the way to the bathroom. Another eruption in the middle of the kitchen floor. I took him over to the kitchen sink, hopefully saving more carpet from being defiled. He threw up again! This was all in less than a minute. The poor kid. He started crying and I looked at us. We were both covered. Luckily, I'd been fairly desensitized from it over the past few days and I didn't hurl right along with him. Sweet Kristy my Darling sister in law shoved all the kids out of the way and went to work scrubbing the carpet in the living room. Poor Dad & Kevin took the splatter in the middle of the kitchen, and Mom started the bath water. I got Thomas stripped and had taken off my sweater- we headed for the tub. Thomas looked at me through his tears and said, "Tub? Tub?" He loves the tub. So, it was serving a dual purpose. Everyone headed off to Grandma's while I took care of Thomas. Kevin ran home to grab more clothes for us and to switch the Camry for the Blazer. We knew a heck of a storm was coming in. It was a good thing too for both. I dressed Thomas in the last spare outfit we had brought- which he then proceeded to poop out of- and we ended up getting about 6" of snow. Everyone came home from Grandma's and was starving. We had an impromptu spaghetti dinner. Which about an hour later, Wyatt, Sean & Kristy's son began to throw up like no tomorrow. Not sure what spurred that- maybe just over eating all the holiday goodies. We headed out into the storm to go home, praying that Thomas wouldn't throw up or have exploding diaper on the way. Our prayers were answered, and he didn't poop until we got home. Sorry no pictures for that.

The next morning, we seemed to be doing a ton better. No vomit and the diarrhea seemed to have stopped. We chilled at home until we knew that Kevin's sister had made it down safely from Idaho. The kids opened their presents and we opened ours.

Erin had made us aprons, and I squealed with delight. First because I really have been wanting an apron, and second when I read what it said: Mrs. Edward Cullen!!! SQUEE!!

Kristy's said: Mrs. Matt Harpring and Mom's said: Mrs. Sean Connery. We all we squealing and hugging them to our chests. I should have taken a picture of us all wearing them with our silly fangirl faces. It was awesome. I love you Erin! The day was going great. When it was time to pack up, I noticed a bit of a frenzy but couldn't tell where it was coming from. With 7 kids and 6 adults running around at Christmas time with presents and treats strewn about everywhere, a frenzy isn't exactly uncommon, right? Well, Kristy's daughter had started throwing up too. I KNOW! Enough already with the puke!!! We never did find out what the bug was or if it was the food or too much treats or what. It was crazy for sure. Definately some memorable moments. How was your Christmas?

Are you kidding me?

So about two weeks ago, my dance partner, Martin calls me on a Tuesday and tells me that we are scheduled to do a show that very next day for 300 people at a networking party. The floor show had cancelled on them and needed a replacement at the last minute. Okay- so we needed routines ASAP. We hacked out some fairly simple routines in 1 ½ hours in between the two of us teaching lessons.

My Wednesday was to go as follows:
7:00 am Get ready for work
8:00 am Take Thomas to Mom & Dad’s
9:00 am Go to work
6:00 pm Teach dance lesson
6:00 pm Teach dance lesson
8:00 pm Get ready for & travel to show
9:00 pm Show

Because I wasn’t going to have time to come back home after work, I had to get all of my dance stuff together that morning. So, in my rush gathering all of the dance supplies necessary and trying to get it all out to the car, I slipped and fell down my stairs. Yes, that’s right. The “graceful dancer” fell down. I’m so thankful that I didn’t have Thomas in my arms as well as all of the flotsam and jetsam. It was not a pretty fall, and not one that I could have saved, though I tried valiantly. The main point of impact was on the side of my left thigh. My left elbow also took a blow. My right hand got mangled as I reached out to grab the banister. My right shoulder was tweaked from the jolt of my momentum changing so rapidly. To add insult to injury- with my right hand holding onto the banister acting as the fulcrum of a pendulum, my body swung back and I cracked my head on the banister as well. Not to mention my right thigh hitting it too.

Thomas was sitting at the top of the stairs and said, “Mama. Bonk.” Yes. Mama went bonk. I won’t lie, I was in pain, and I cried. I’m not sure if the tears were from pain, shock or HOLY COW I HAVE A SHOW TONIGHT AND A BUM LEG!!!

I limped through the day at work. I called Martin and told him the story. He offered to teach my classes for me. I showed up at the studio and had a few personal trainers look at my leg. The bruise that was forming was- Technicolor. They ran out and got me an Ace bandage to wrap my leg with. They were afraid that I had done some minor muscle damage. It was pretty well crushed. It hit the edge of the stair.

My students were so sweet. They didn’t mind me just “watching” our lessons. I bit the bullet and practiced a little bit, though I limped. I knew I had 300 people expecting a professional ballroom show, and I was going to give it to them. I danced more than I should have, and I relied on adrenaline to keep me going. This is where it gets good. What more could happen you say? I’ll tell you.

We drove to the address we were given and it was Mi Ranchito Restaurant across from the South Towne Expo Center. It was literally a fiesta. No joke. They have a Latino networking Christmas party where people in the Latin community who have businesses can set up little booths there at the restaurant and sell stuff to each other and spread the word about their businesses. We were told 300 people at 9:00 pm on Wednesday night. Because it was a weeknight, almost everyone had left all except 13 people. The floor was tiled. It is nearly impossible to dance standard dances on tiled floor. (Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, Viennese Waltz & Quickstep) Say you are taking a heel lead forward and your heel catches in the groove of a tile. Your foot is no longer traveling forward, but sideways down the track the tile has created. The last thing I needed was to fall down again.

We taught a 3 minute salsa lesson to the 13 people. As the music was still playing, a little old man whose head only came up to my chin, with bow legs, a hunch back and didn’t speak a word of English grabbed me and danced the life out of me. He was serious about this dance. I don’t know if he had his Senora sitting on the sidelines and he wanted to show her that he still had his groove or what. But it was like he was dancing to prove something. It was hilarious. I had a hard time keeping up with him. The music graciously stopped eventually and we said gracias to one another. I hobbled off the dance floor to take a seat by Martin’s brother in law. “You just got taken for one hell of a ride! I wish I had my video camera with me! That’s great black mail material!”

I found Martin and told him we were going now. No show. I wasn’t going to risk what was left of my once able body for 13 people who weren’t even interested and were packing up their wares to go home. Martin was forced to enter our names into the “raffle”. Martin won. He got a cake from one of the Latino bakeries. I got caught by an older guy who had a million things to say to me that had no meaning whatsoever. It was excruciating. It was all, “Have you heard of this? Do you know that? I know so and so. Did you know them?” GAH! No- I don’t know them or that or care! Let me go home cause if I stand on my leg for one more moment I’m going to pass out!!! Not to mention that the Mexican Polka music was so loud that you had to shout to be able to hear each other. I was eventually able to excuse myself as again, the brother in law is gathering more potential black mail material while standing behind this gentleman laughing his butt off because he can see my struggle to remain polite.

Since dinner had been omitted from my schedule for the day, we went to the Oyster Bar afterwards and had some soup and the cake Martin won. It wasn’t half bad. Memories were made that night. We’ll always be able to look back and say, “Remember when we showed up to that fiesta?” I know I’ll always remember Don Quasimodo and the “ride” he took me on.

I'm baaack!

Okay, so some of you may have noticed that I've been M.I.A. for a little over a month now. What can I say- it's the holiday season. And between work, dance lessons and being a wife and mother, I haven't had much time to spare for blogging. However I've heard that some of you have been missing my ever so clever blog posts, so I figured I should fill you in. I've had a few posts in progress for some time. I hope you enjoy them.

Kevin took me to do some shopping in Park City for my birthday. He got me these fabulous earrings. They are white gold, diamond and aquamarine. I love them.

I had a bunch of friends from work go out to dinner with me. I really wanted a girl's night as a present to myself. We tried to go to PF Changs after work, but it was going to be an 80 minute wait. So, we walked down the block to the Macaroni Grill. We waited for longer than the hostess had quoted us. So I went up and complained and laid the smack down. We were seated within 3 minutes. The food was great and the company was even better. I had a blast. Thanks for coming with me gals! It was exactly what I wanted/ needed.