The Fastest and Funniest LEGO Star Wars story ever told

"You are paying for your friends"

My wedding, October 30, 2004.
Katie, April, Me, Marci, Brandy and Melissa representing Chi Omega Sisterhood.

When I started Drake in August of 1998, I was the loneliest I had been in my entire life. I went to high school with my roommate, I had friends on the floor, but it wasn't the same. I missed my real friends. I missed my family. I was so alone I almost left Drake. I almost ran back to Clinton. Back to my sister, back to my mom.

But... Sarah Veierstahler, who worked with me at the D-Shoppe, and was a Rho-Chi (Rush guide basically), convinced me to Rush for a Sorority. Crazy, I know. No one understood what I was doing, or why. But honestly, it just felt right. So, I did. It was an amazing experience, one I still remember in detail to this day. (But if you ask my friends... I remember everything.) I pledged only one house. I wanted only one house. And I told myself if I didn't get in... well, then I had fun, but that was that. Obviously, I was offered a bid from Chi Omega. And I of course accepted. I dressed in my red clothes and rushed out of the Olmsted Center to meet my new sisters. Future friends who had chosen me as much as I had chosen them. And found my already friend Sarah, wearing her red waiting with the party.

When I returned to Clinton for the October break (Drake has a 4 day weekend called Fall Break) my friends from Clinton asked all sorts of questions. Mainly... Why? I was not the sorority type, was I? It didn't make sense. Our friend Chris was the instigator of most of these questions. He kept saying, "You're paying for your friends. Are they really your friends?"

I joined a sisterhood. I found a place to belong. I found a family and sisters at Drake. Without the acceptance and love of these women, I would have left Drake behind. Deep in my heart, I know this. Everything that has happened in my life, every decision that has been made to keep my head above water, happened because I was asked and I said Yes. Scott, Weston, my job... all of the decisions that led me on the path to my family began with my choice to Belong. I paid monthly dues. I got another job. I moved into the House my sophomore year. I worked a lot to pay dues plus living expenses. Yes, I paid to belong to Chi Omega. But I got more out of this than I paid for. And Chris Swales... we aren't really friends anymore. He got married about 8 years ago... and he fell off the earth. But the Chi Os? We've been friends for 12 years. I have a close-knit circle of Chi O's, 4 plus myself. These women have been present in every important moment of my adult life. More physically present (since most of us live in Des Moines) and just as emotionally present as my 3 best friends from high school. I can fall back into my old self with these 7 women as easily as I can with my family. There are no pretenses or judgment, just history and laughter. The 4 of us Chi O's still in Des Moines try to get together once a month. Usually Weston or one of Jayme's 3 children tag along... it's just the way it is as you grow up.

I'm the baby in this group of friends. They were all a year ahead of me. It was nice being the baby somewhere. My wedding 5 1/2 years ago was the last Chi O wedding in our group. Until this summer. April is getting married on June 26th to a great guy. April was gone my first semester at Drake, she was at Basic Training for the National Guard. She returned just in time for our Initiation. And we were initiated together. I thought she was stuck up. She thought I was a snooty bitch. It took about a year in a half - we bonded as Rho Chi's for the Fall 2000 Rush, bonded over our house closing before that Rush, bonded over a horrible Religion class - and she is my closest Chi O Friend. I love her dearly. My son loves her. And now she's getting married! We celebrated her upcoming wedding this weekend with dinner at our spot (El Rodeo on Douglas) with Brandy, and later Fisher (Melissa); and then with April's Bridal Shower on Saturday. We were all there. And it was so much fun! I am so lucky to have these 4 women in my life. I may have "paid" for my friends, but I am the one reaping all of the rewards. It was so worth it!

Me, Brandy, April, Melissa, and Jayme at April's Bridal Shower.
Chi Omega Sisterhood at it's finest.

update

I made it home fine. No one called me, but it wasn't so bad. I called Scott and Anousha for some short talks. Weston fell asleep right by Little Amana, about 15 minutes from Iowa City. Not that he would talk to me either. :)
We got home around 10:30. I handed Weston to Scott, got in the shower, and then right into bed since I heard Weston asleep on the monitor. We all went right to bed. And were a little lazy waking up. But, we all got up.

Heard from Shannon that mom had a rough night sleeping. So she moved to the chair. They slept a bit this morning. But she's still in pain in her back. Waiting to see what the doctor says about the clot. She may be released with blood thinner shots that someone at home will have to give her. We're waiting to see.

Driving home. Anyone reading this, give me a call & keep me awake.

Mom update

So I got about half an hour out of Des Moines when my dad called and told me to turn around, Mom was not well enough to be admitted today. I was 2 blocks from work when he called me back and said that they had decided to run some tests, could I pleased come out to IA City since he needed to leave. Ok…

I got here about noon. She’s had a chest x-ray, a CT scan, some other tests. So we sat in the waiting room. Around 1:40 her doctor stopped by… the CT Scan had revealed a blood clot, she needed another opinion and would be back. Around 1:50 the PA came by. There was a blood clot in her jugular vein, right where her port ended, right where the vein split to go up to the brain and down to the heart. Pretty much the worst place to form. The clot is large enough to cause trouble swallowing and swelling. She was admitted at 2pm. They have removed the chest port. 

Right now she is being given antibiotics and is scheduled for blood thinning shots around 8pm. Hopefully these will do the trick.

She’ll be here until this is under control. And then released to heal. And then her next round of Chemo after that.

So... Shannon picked up Weston and is driving him here. She's in the parking garage now. We're letting Weston visit mom for a bit, then he and I will head home. Shannon has overnight and tomorrow. So on and so forth until Friday. Hopefully she is home by then.

Right now we are preparing to move.

And it's not going well.

We keep working on the garage, but at some point we are going to have to work on the actual house. We get to view our new apartment tomorrow. The first time we will see our new living arrangements. And I don't think I am going to be happy. 1700 sq feet of stuff cramped into 1000 feet of space. The lack of kitchen space is nauseating. I need to remember my tape measure because I want to put shelves into the coat closet that happens to sit inside my kitchen.

My big hope is that my dining table fits. I love our table. It's Amish handmade of a dark cherry stained maple. It's beautiful and regal and wonderful. I know that we can't fit it in the kitchen, there isn't any way. But I am hoping that we can fit it in the living area. I am going to try to make it work. I want Weston sitting at the table for dinner soon. That's important.

I am trying to get excited about our new living arrangements.

The new green wall, and the patio, and maybe nicer neighbors. The shorter drive to work (the longer drive to Hy-Vee.) The pools and fitness room. I am hoping to have enough money left over to do a small family vacation this summer. And maybe $30 extra a month to get my nails done again. (I confess that I miss that most of my pre-baby life.)

I am trying.

My friend Kari stopped by today. She used to work with me until her position was eliminated. Her life is harder than mine. But she loves me enough to bring me daisies for my new home. Because she is kind and funny and a wonderful person. She brightens my day and gives me hope for my future. I miss her at work every day.

soon, I promise

I promise to write again soon. I haven't abandoned my favorite hobby. I am just so busy and tired. Between mom, and work, and moving... I am overwhelmed. So... I will be back soon. I promise.

For now you will have to settle for a picture of Weston with Dr. Mandy, our favorite Chiropractor. Weston has become a dream patient. And he's been doing this since he was a week old. First time on the big table though. Maybe a future doctor???