6 months!

Monday I celebrated my 6 month anniversary nannying Sofia and Alexander! The family and I had a special lunch Friday to celebrate it after Alexander had a special program for theatre camp this week (which was adorable..so happy he got to go). I am still constantly thankful that I get to work for/with their family. It's so cute to look back and think of how much they have grown these past few months.

I know I'm basically being a mom, but I can't resist sharing this adorable Sofia video...

One more nanny related thing (Alexander's drawing I noticed one morning)...you know you've officially won a child over when you see this:

"Rahlen. I lev u." and if you need a translation: Rachelyn. I love you. 

Heart melting.

         
                     
This past week I was reminded how much I take good health for granted and what amazing family/friends I have.  I can't really remember the last time before this past week that I was too sick to even leave my bed. Last Friday I woke up with a splitting headache, but continued on to my nannying job. I was too excited for my weekend full of plans to really be bothered by the constant dizziness I had been feeling that afternoon. I got home after work to quickly get ready for "girls night" with my friends Jill and Tiffany, when I realized something was really up. I took my temperature, had a fever, called my mom, and she convinced me that I needed to stay home and rest.
My temperature had gotten much worse throughout the night, and I was extremely weak and achy, so I thought it was the flu. I knew I needed soup and gatorade to not get dehydrated, but I was too weak to go to the store by myself, but I didn't know who to ask or bother someone, so I prayed for someone to help. My friend Jill so kindly texted me about an hour later and asked if there was anything she could do, I told her my need, and she stopped by the store for me! Such a lovely answer to prayer.
Saturday morning's beach plans had to be cancelled, but I tried to rest up in order to survive going to my friend Matthew's birthday party since I REALLY wanted to go. I did go with Jill and survived, and I met a girl from Raleigh, NC who went to a Christian school that rivaled my school! So cool. I crashed into my bed the moment I got home, though, and my fever went way up that night. Because of my strange sore throat (sorry it's graphic--white/green mucous on my left tonsil, plus it killed to talk/swallow), splitting headache, and fever not going away, I decided to go to the target clinic, who sent me to the urgent care, because it turned out to be a really bad infection on my left tonsil. I was given strong antibiotics, a painkiller, I rested the next day, tried to take it easy the next few but got sick, and I didn't start feeling semi-normal again until Wednesday afternoon. Now I'm feeling much more like myself, and it's AMAZING.
I'm so thankful for my family who spent lots of time on the phone helping me and encouraging me, and my friends who checked on me and cared. My friend Tiffany even made me her special chicken and rice soup!
Now I'm REALLY set on cutting the chances of getting sick, I'm determined to take my vitamins and get into an exercising routine. :)

This week is tech/dress rehearsal/opening week of Man of La Mancha! Last week we began rehearsals with the pit, and it sounds so wonderful already. They're such great musicians, and our music director's ideas are perfect. We did a costumed run today, the set is almost finished, and everything is really starting to come together. This week is going to be crazy busy, but hopefully we all survive and kill it opening night :). Ticket info can be found here!  Here's the poster that Austin, (also our music director) designed:

Mine and Rebecca's dear New York City friend Will is going to be flying in Friday through Sunday and will get to see the show! I haven't seen him since October, and CAN'T WAIT to share Chicago with him. He is such a fun friend, and is one of the many reasons I miss NYC. Another dear friend, Adam, is visiting closing weekend of Man of La Mancha, which might be the last time I get to see him before he hopefully goes to Korea for 2 years to teach. So excited. I have such dedicated fans.. ;)...haha or maybe such wonderful friends. :)

Just a bit ago I got back from taking my nanny children to the beach, and it was a glorious time. Every time I go, whether with friends or the kids, I feel like I am escaping to the Bahamas for a couple of hours, and it's instant happiness. I guess it's because 99% of my beach encounters within the past 3 years have been my family and me happily walking off of a cruise ship and feeling the sand of either the Bahamas or the Caribbean in between our toes. I may have stated this before, but Chicagoans are right. The torturous winters are definitely worth the incredible summers. All of the outdoor seating at delicious restaurants, beach and downtown excursions, outdoor concerts, and cookouts are definitely making it fun. Speaking of cookouts, I felt like a grownup this past Saturday...my roommate Jacquie and my friend Denise got inspired to grill out, so I called up a dear friend for his amazing burger recipe, Jacquie and I stopped by the grocery store for needed items (one of them was charcoal...I had NO idea what kind to get...but the kind I got worked!), we borrowed the neighbor's Weber grill, and hosted our very first cookout. On the menu were burgers, grilled corn, potato salad, and baked beans. It was delicious!

Man of La Mancha opens in THREE weeks, and I can hardly believe how fast time is flying. I have great news from my previous update on my role in the show. I was originally cast into the ensemble, but since then have been given the role of Maria, the innkeeper's wife. I was ecstatic that not only I would finally have a Chicago credit with a named role, but also be able to gain more experience. The innkeeper is Chris Skyles who was in the past two shows with me, so it has been fun getting to be a shrewish lady towards him. ;)

Two days after Man of La Mancha closes, I will begin rehearsals for another show! I was cast into the chorus of the Savoyaires' (Gilbert and Sullivan troupe of Evanston--just north of Chicago) production of The Zoo and Eyes and No Eyes. Performances will be at the end of September through mid-October I think. It has been such a blessing to have been booked with shows since the beginning of the year! We'll see if another one comes a long after this one to make 2011 be an entire year filled with shows!