Chicago at it's best

Today we wanted to drive down to Chinatown. What we are used to is San Fran.'s Chinatown. That is not what we found. So I called Dori, a friend who's lived here her whole life, and she said we won't find anything here like San Fran. She did suggest cute neighborhoods. So off we went to the yuppie neighborhood called Lincoln Park. This is the same neighborhood that is next to Lincoln Park zoo. We had a great time and what a beautiful area. Lincoln Park zoo is free, they make their money on concessions, parking and knick-knacks.
We walked around the outdoor farm and Bella got to see rabbits, goats, pigs, and how to milk cows. Nicolas loved her reaction to all of the animals.
We then decided we were hungry so we were off to try to find a trendy restaurant in this very trendy neighborhood. I enjoy taking pictures and so I was taking pictures of so many different architectural homes, blooming flowers and of course Miss Bella and Nicolas. One man stopped me and said one house that I was photographing has been in many movies.
We finally made it to Pasta Palazo. It was a small but very crowded restaurant. Nicolas enjoyed his usual pasta with marinara sauce. Nick ordered the jalapeno gnocchi and I got the tortellini with some fancy sauce. It was all very good, but I couldn't really taste it. My mouth was really hurting, so I ate two bites and asked for a box for the rest.
The whole point of the trip was, we live in Chicago. We need to get out and experience this great place before we are gone. I can't believe that we live in Chicago. I mean really, two kids from Tucson, AZ now living in one of the best cities in the world. This is a great city for architecture , food, wine and anything that has to do with Oprah . What a great place for our family to live but even more, what a great place for Nicolas and Isabella to grow up. Nicolas has lived in many cool cities and I hope from each he will take something different and have memories for years to come.

Wisdom teeth MIA

Thank goodness I have finally gotten the last of my wisdom teeth out. The whole experience was anything but simple but needless to say it's over and hopefully I can have a few months of no more painful happenings.
What I did learn from this experience is I am so glad I did not live in the early 1800's. Good lord they just had a shot of alcohol and pulled the teeth out. Oh my I wouldn't have made it through that.
After I got out of the chair today my entire back was covered in sweat. I thought I would be going to sleep so when they tried for the second time to find a vein, and were unsuccessful, I had a panic attack. I already don't like going to the dentist so when I saw the dentist with a pair of pliers, I lost it. I went in on Wednesday for the first time and they tried over 15 times to find a vein and I decided I would come back again, after letting my arms rest, and see if they could find any. I went back today with warm packs on my arms. They again tried about 8 or 9 times but were still unsuccessful. The one nurse said she'd worked at this office for 18 years and has never had a patient where none of the doctors could find a vein. The good part of this experience was it ended up being cheaper because I didn't go under. So look, there's a positive in every situation I just have to look real hard sometimes.

Letter to God

Dear God,
I was just wondering if you were taking your friend Mother Theresa's quote a little to literal. "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger." Well by God, I ought to be the friggin strongest person. While I greatly appreciate the things I have been given I have given up many things to get them. I have had a hell of a year and 2009 just seems to keep getting more and more biblical. I am trying my hardest to look at the cup as half full, really. Yet I am tested everyday. Type one diabetes would have been enough in my opinion, but you threw in endometriosis and all 15 of those surgeries. You were kind in giving me my healthy little boy, but even that was a huge climb. I lost a little girl, but 4 years later I was given another. Again though I was almost killed giving birth to her. I was then almost killed by another Doc four months later. I wonder if getting in a car crash and totaling my Mom's car was supposed to have a higher meaning. Yes I was not killed and I didn't seriously hurt or kill anyone else. I needed one weekend, just one, to have no stress!!!!!! What part of that memo did you not receive? I am starting to feel better from that incident and now I get to have my two remaining wisdom teeth taken out. One is very infected.
I wish I could figure out the place you are setting me up to go or the goals you're wanting me to accomplish by always having something to overcome. At this point I'm getting a bit irritated and very jaded.
Please let your dear friend Mother Theresa know that I'm not dead yet but I'm sure not feeling stronger!
Your friend,
Errin

On the move

Isabella is moving all around. She is non-stop pulling herself around the house and getting into everything. Isabella is figuring out that she can open and look into hiding places. She loves the dog. Winston, the dog, is so patient with her. He sits by her and lets her pull his ears, tail and paws. He will nudge her away when he's had enough, but for the most part he loves to be touched. Isabella loves to check the mail and go through all the papers. Our mail comes through a door slot, so it drops onto the floor. This is right at Isabella level. So is so curious and it is amazing how every item in the house is something new, even if she had just touched it. Her mind is flowing daily. Everyday I am thankful to have a healthy and happy little girl as well as a happy, healthy and quite vocal ten year old boy.