Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It's Off To Work I Go . . .

  I officially started work last week. I am working for Pacific Plastic Surgery in Eugene. It is so much nicer than the hospital. It's much much smaller, more laid back, the work is easier, and a huge pay raise. And best of all only two doctors to try and please instead of dozens. The hours are nice for me too. I work most Tuesdays and Wednesdays. And with Jordan's work schedule we only need a babysitter for three days a month. So far it's perfect, but it's still new. I'm hoping it will work out how we have it planned. But who knows, only time will tell.

  I also found out last week that I need to have surgery on my back. It's a herniated disc, and I've tried steroid injections which only made things worse. So my only option is to have it fixed. I just want it to feel better. I can't stand it anymore. So I think at the end of February I will have the surgery. And for my heart problem, I went up to OHSU and saw a specialist and they said that it wasn't what they had initially thought and that I was fine. They want one more echo in the spring to compare it to my last one, but other than that I'm good to go. I was really happy to have that over and done with. So check that one off the list and now to get my back fixed and then to lose the rest of my baby weight. I can't wait to work out. Someday soon I hope to be back to normal (whatever a normal body is after a baby that it. Ha Ha Ha)

  Jordan is off to his annual Coyote trip in a few weeks. He's looking forward to it. Hopefully this year they're a little more successful than last years trip. He'll be gone for three days which won't be too bad for Austyn and I. Jordan is also starting the process of becoming an Engineer at work. He has to take a series of tests in order to qualify for more tests. And then he has to rank super super high on his final test to possibly get into one of the open Engineer spots, which are only available if someone retires. It's quite the process. So he's back to studying any chance he can get. Boy am I glad I'm done with that stuff. I'm sure he'll do great. He always does.

  Austyn is doing amazing. She is rolling over now from tummy to back every chance she gets. She is beginning to bring things up to her mouth and she is quite the little chatter box. She's still sleeping like 10 or 11 hours at night. Jordan and I are so lucky to have such a wonderful daughter. Everyday is such a joy, yet challenging at the same time. I'm looking forward to this summer. It's going to be so much fun with her in the water and the nice weather. It's going to be great. She has her 4 month check up next Monday. I bet she weighs around 14 pounds by now. She's a big girl.

This is us getting ready to go to Christmas Eve

at Jordan's Grandparents house in Albany

What a cutie! She had a different outfit for every party.

What a spoiled baby.

  That's all that's new with the Petersen's. Hope everyone's Christmas and New Years were good. I know ours was kind of hectic. But I guess that's what come with a baby and the holidays. I keep telling myself next year will be better. As always we were showered with wonderful gifts from wonderful families. Thanks everyone.