Isabel has grown up so much over the past few months. It seems that she is learning to say new words on a daily basis on top of learning how to do new things like opening doors. She now has nine teeth and her hair is getting very long, but has remained very soft and curly. Despite her developments, she is still only in the 25th percentile for her weight. Her height, however, is well into the 90th percentile. Isabel apparently will be tall and skinny. We have been talking to her about being a big sister and how she will need to be ready for her little brother's arrival in the next few months. Obviously she doesn't really understand what is really going on yet. So far she has been kissing her Mommy's belly and then pointing to it while saying "baby." Oh the rude awakening she will have when reality hits her: she'll have to share Mommy and Daddy's attention!
Shayla hasn't necessarily been sick more often, but probably worse off when she has been sick so far in this pregnancy. She's handled it well so far and has continued to babysit Cora. We've planned for her babysitting days to come to an end in late April so she can have some time with just Isabel before Noah is born. After that she'll have her hands full with our own little ones! Luckily this time around I will have more time off thanks to a new Purdue policy which allows fathers to have more time off for the birth of their child.
My job has been busy as usual. Just this past Saturday I took the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) exam, which I won't get the word on whether I passed or failed for at least another few weeks. Hopefully I did well enough to earn the certification so I can focus my professional development on a more technical certification next. I've been giving it a lot of thought and am leaning toward pursuing the CCNA and hopefully continue with the more advanced ones within the Cisco Network Security certification path. Unfortunately Purdue, like many other universities across the nation, is facing a major budget cut. So far the direct impact has not reared its ugly face in my immediate group, but the money savings "plans" will more than likely be put into action the closer we get to the next fiscal year (July 1st).
These past few months have also been a rough time for my family - specifically my Mom's side. At the end of August we lost my Uncle Vern to liver cancer, which was really tough. Luckily he didn't suffer long. I also have my Uncle George down in Texas who is battling the final stages of pancreatic cancer. I got to see him while he was up visiting with his wife in the Fall. Hospice has been called upon to try to make the rest of his time as comfortable as possible. He's in our thoughts and prayers. My Aunt Mary also dealt with cancer - vulvarian cancer - by having surgery followed by radiation treatments. Everything went extremely well with her surgery and treatments, and so far she is feeling pretty good.
One more thing coming this year: Marty and Julie are getting married September 4, 2010 down in Louisville, KY. Marc and I are the Best Men and, of course, are in the midst of plotting the Bachelor Party. We are definitely looking forward to it!
Despite the roller coaster ride over the past six months, I know now more than ever that I've been blessed with great friends and a loving family that keeps me going everyday. Even though this isn't the best start to a year, the wonderful events that will happen (both planned and unplanned) will make it one of the best years to date. Think positive, do right, enjoy time with those you love and care about, and make 2010 a productive year - I know I plan to.
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