TGIFibromyalgia

IT'S FRIDAY!!! Hallelujah!!! Seriously. This, my friends, has been one hell of a week. I will be so happy to be peacin' out at 5:15 today.

Tomorrow is my birfday party. I'm pretty excited. I am quite bummed that Jarrett will be arriving LATE to said party. Not just by a few minutes, we're talking hours late. Harvest comes but once a year. Luckily, the party will most likely go well into the night.

A list of things from the past week...

things that suck:

• taking Olivia to have her blood drawn for her pre-op exam on monday, only to have them call me on tuesday to say they didn't get enough blood for one of the tests.
• having to take Olivia back yesterday to have more blood drawn.
• not seeing Jarrett because he is working 7 days a week during harvest.
• me at bowling last night - I bowled a 93. 93, people. Pathetic.
• sleeping until 7:15 this morning when I should have been up at 6:30

things that don't suck:

• only waiting 15 minutes at the dmv to renew my license since I am now 30.
• not having to take any test other than the vision test - I was seriously sweating that.
• taking a semi-decent picture for my license. probably the best one yet.
• the money Jarrett is making working 7 days a week during harvest.
• sleeping until 7:15 this morning...ha

I am ready for tonight. Who am I kidding? I have no plans. I am just ready to get home & put my pjs on & just relax. TGIF!

T-H-I-R-T-Y

I think I’ll take a moment, celebrate my age

The ending of an era and the turning of a page

Now it’s time to focus in on where I go from here

Lord have mercy on my next thirty years

{one day old}

Hey my next thirty years I’m gonna have some fun

Try to forget about all the crazy things I’ve done

Maybe now I’ve conquered all my adolescent fears

And I’ll do it better in my next thirty years

{18 months old}

My next thirty years I’m gonna settle all the scores

Cry a little less, laugh a little more

Find a world of happiness without the hate and fear

Figure out just what I’m doing here

In my next thirty years

{4 years old}

Oh my next thirty years, I’m gonna watch my weight

Eat a few more salads and not stay up so late

Drink a little lemonade and not so many beers

Maybe I’ll remember my next thirty years

{6 years old}

My next thirty years will be the best years of my life

Raise a little family and hang out with my wife husband

Spend precious moments with the ones that I hold dear

Make up for lost time here, In my next thirty years

In my next thirty years

*Thanks Phil Vasser for writing this song*

Apple & Porkin' Good Time

On this Monday, the very last day of my 20's, I am struggling a little. I will be ok though. I mean, 30 has GOT to be better than 29 was.

The Apple & Pork Festival was this weekend. I had a blast. I love all that crafty/flea market stuff.

The girls & I each got a feat-hair* extension Saturday. *I am fully aware of how stupid that sounds. But hey it is what was on the sign.

My sister said I can only pull this off until tomorrow since I will be 30. However, I disagree.

My BFF Haley suckered me into working the tram with her on Saturday from 11:30 - 2:30 - THE BUSIEST TIME! Much to my surprise, I had to wear this awesome reflective vest for the duration of my shift. Jarrett said it was cool, but I think he lied. I told him how awful I thought the color was, then I bought these socks on Sunday. ha!

My Mom bought me some of those pictures that are letters. Boy, that sounds pretty awesome huh - my writing abilities will put everyone to shame.

What I meant was my Mom bought me some of these...

I got the photos to spell out "TOTTEN". I am super excited to see them framed. I don't know if I want to fork out the cash to buy a special frame or to just do individual 4x6 frames. Stay tuned for that...

Oh & I also got a new winter hat. I'm pretty pumped about it.

Now onto enjoy the last day of my 20's. Well, enjoy the best I can at work. Tonight is El Reys with Jar, the girls, my Mom & Dad. That I am excited about!

welcome fall

::sigh::

It's the most wonderful time of the year.



sometimes, you need a good laugh

First things first, HAPPY BIRTHDAY LAURA!!! You are my bestest friend, and I miss you dearly. I know you don't want to come back to work, but I am so ready for you to return. I am tired of eating lunch all by myself at my desk like a total loser. I love you. And I can't wait to see your shining face every day again!

*****

Now for an important announcement.

*****

I was helping Olivia with her homework last night, she says "I'm having a hard time with this question". I, ever so confident, say give it here - I will help you. The question was: Write the antonym for 'them'. Hmmmm...antonym. I'm a little afraid to admit, I had to ask Liv "did you learn what an antonym is?" She said "Mom, it's the opposite." I said "Oh yea that's right." She didn't buy that I acutally alkready knew that. So she says to me "Maybe you should go back to 2nd grade." hahaha - I love that kid. She is exactly like me. This cracked me up...I told Jarrett about it when he got home & he said that last week he helped her with her homework & didn't fully know it all either. So, I don't feel as bad.

*****

The Fall season of TV shows kicked off this week, for the most part. Here is my take, so far.

I have been looking forward to the new show on Fox - The New Girl.

I thought with the way Fox built this up, it would either #1 be an epic fail, or #2 be hilarious. Luckily, it was the latter. So funny! And let me just say I wondered the whole show why the guy on the left seemed so familiar. Just looked it up online, he is Damon Wayans' son. So obvious - they look & act so much alike. Then I thought, holy crap, Damon Wayans has a son that is that old. Man...I'm getting old.

Raising Hope, is still a favorite! Hilarious!


And, Modern Family started last night. LOVE IT!

*****

And that's about it.

I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride my bike

Olivia learned something new Sunday.

Good-bye, training wheels! Please excuse how overly loud I am in this video - I was a little bit excited! And as you can see, she had quite an audience!

Sunday Fun-Day

alternately titled: Football, Margaritas, & Cigars Oh My!

NFL Sunday Ticket - Awesomesauce.

But, first things first...Clay Matthews, III. Oh.My.Word. Seriously, I am not very much a Green Bay Packers fan, but I am a fan of nice looking muscular gentlemen. And Holy Cow, is Clay Matthews a very fine specimen?! I was waiting at CVS for a prescription & found this magazine. My first thought, this is a little scandalous for CVS. My second thought, should I buy this? Sadly, I did not buy this. I did however snap this picture & send it to all of my girlfriends, and my husband. (Jarrett truly appreciated it.) Some of my friends, not to name names - LAURA & HALEY, didn't even know who Clay Matthews was. In their defense, they don't have the same love for football that I do. I'm fairly certain I blushed when I saw this...ha!

Anywho, back to the task at hand.

My parents got Direct TV & the NFL Sunday Ticket. Best.Thing.Ever. I spent all day at their house yesterday with the girls. So much fun. My poor Bears lost & Jay took quite a beating. But it's still early.

We watched football - 2 TVs in the living room. We played bags - Sarah & I ruled AGAIN. And I enjoyed some refreshments on the patio.

I should add, I didn't finish this cigar.You know, I do have lung problems, or I did have lung problems. I'm not stupid.

And Olivia did something super special & fun yesterday. That is a whole separate post though.

this was it

3 years ago...

{word dump on a Friday}

Today while driving to work, I was complaining talking to Jarrett about how I am the "mean" parent. I am the one waking them from blissful slumber each morning. I am the one telling them to get up & ready. I am the one telling them get going or we are going to be late.

Rachel asks me each morning where she is going for the day, if my answer is daycare, she cries. (This is a wonderful new development since we returned from vacation.) So, 3 days a week she cries from the time I deliver the bad news, until I drop her off & peel her little arms off of my neck & walk calmly away to my car. Now, I am sure that the tears don't last long there. She loves her friends. She loves her teacher. But it still feels like a kick in the gut.

I told Jarrett that he should try to do the mornings sometime. But, as luck would have it, he is up & out of the house by 5:00 am every day while we girls snooze a little, ok a lot, later. He gets to be the fun one. The one picking them up from daycare. He's the one that always lets them get something fun at Wal-Mart, each time they go.

It's not fair. I want to be the fun parent too.

*****

Life off coumadin = wonderful. I almost forgot what NOT having a headache felt like. Not that a dull constant headache for 6 months wasn't totally awesome. Now if I could just kick this lovely sinus infection to the curb, I'd be set.

I deleted my reminder in my phone to take my coumadin & it felt fabulous. I have yet to determine what the best course of action is for me to get rid of my excess coumadin that I have at home. I doubt I can legally sell that shiz on e-bay.

*****

It's Friday! I love Fridays. I love knowing that I won't have to cook dinner tonight because we always pick something up on Friday nights. I love the crisp cooler weather we have been blessed with the last couple of days. I love that I woke up to a 64 degree house - that made my bed feel even that much more cozy. I love letting the girls stay up past their bedtime & having them be so excited when I tell them they are going to be with me tomorrow. I love that Jarrett is happy with his Harvest rolling right along.

Fall is my favorite season & I feel it coming. It feels almost here. I'm excited.

the BEST phone call ever

My CT scan came back perfect.

No more pulmonary embolism.

I can discontinue my coumadin.

This 10 second phone call was the best phone call ever.

Now, onto feeling normal.

WOOT WOOT!!!!!!!!!!!

oh what a beautiful morning

Today was the day. I had my repeat CT scan to check my progress. Let's keep our fingers crossed that the clots are all gone. And for your viewing pleasure, I snapped a couple of pics with my cellphone.

ch-ch-ch-changes

Who doesn't love a good impulsive haircut?!

6 months yesterday

Yesterday marked 6 months since I was diagnosed with bilateral pulmonary embolism or (emboli - for plural since there were 2 in my left lung & 1 in my right). Whatever it's called, it sucked 110%.

Comparing how I feel now with how I felt that day, I am doing so much better. However, I still don't feel great. I have good days. In fact, I have a lot more good days than bad days now - a vast improvement from where I was 6 months ago. I venture to say, a lot of why I don't feel great yet is because of my old friend, coumadin. That medicine continually makes me feel like crap.

Buuuut, I have good news. Well, maybe not official good news...yet. I am going to have a repeat CT scan tomorrow to check my progress. In the beginning, I was told I would have to be on coumadin for 6 months. 6 months has passed. I could come off. But some people (my doctor, my mother, & my husband) want me to have this CT scan to see where I am. Where are the clots? My prayer is that they are gone. If that is the case, I get to come off coumadin.

My Mom asked me what I want for my birthday, my response "to be off blood thinners". You know, because it is good to have goals! Ha!

extra-curricular activities

Today began, what I can only imagine to be, a long string of extra-curricular activities for my kids. Olivia started in the youth bowling league & dance classes today. Bowling starts at 11:00, dance class starts at 12:30. We have our Saturdays pretty much planned out for the rest of the school-year. I'm pumped, Olivia's pumped. It's a win-win.

And, as luck would have it, my camera battery crapped out & I wasn't able to get good pictures of either event. ::sad face:: But I did have my trusty phone & took some pictures to send to Jarrett who is already in the fields...yay for Harvest!!

Olivia rocked it at bowling. I have to admit it, I was nervous for her. She has never been in a competition/sporting environment like that. I want her to do well, I want her to have fun. And I'm trying to not force my competitive nature on her. I don't want to be that crazy parent shouting tips constantly -- the dad sitting at the table behind me was doing plenty of that for all the parents. Sidenote - Dad at the table behind me, they are 7. This isn't professional bowling - nobody is going to throw a 300.

Anyway...she rocked it out! It started off a little rocky. But she pulled out a 40. I don't want to brag, ok I do want to brag just a little. That was the BEST SCORE of her team! The closest was 26. For her 1st time ever bowling without the bumper lanes, I deem that a success. And the best part, Olivia had fun! That smile never left her face. I am so proud of her.

Her combo class of jazz/ballet/tap started today too. It runs from 12:30 - 2:00. Parents don't get to stay & watch. I know I would be a distraction, not to mention Rachel was with me & she would have no part in just sitting quietly anyway. When I got there to pick her up, I heard part of the tap lesson. And of course, she gave me a special performance in the living room when we got home. I am so excited for her. She really loved it. Based off of her 1 lesson, jazz is her favorite. But I think that is because she is sassy, & jazz is sassy too.

I am so proud of Olivia for trying new things. Next week I will have my camera ready to go to take some official pictures.



sometimes

sometimes i let rachel take pictures with my camera
sometimes they are of me doing a summersault - or prepping to do one

sometimes they are of me doing what rachel does anytime i ask to take her picture

sometimes they are of my scared face

and sometimes i post them on my blog

because sometimes i don't feel like i am here. i look & i see pictures of my kids. i see pictures of my hubs. i see pictures of my kids & hubs together. but i rarely see myself. that is, unless it is a picture i have taken of myself, in that case they always look the same.

these pictures may not be too flattering. they may be out of focus. they were taken by my favorite 3 year old. and they are real. i look silly. i look happy. i look like i am enjoying myself. i look at these & i can hear rachel's insanely adorable laugh.

Welcome, September

Welcome to my favorite month. Although, this doesn't exactly feel like September. Record breaking heat yesterday, 102 degrees on September 1st. That's miserably hot. 

picture & weather source: http://www.wandtv.com/weather

The heat won't last too much longer...hopefully. I have had my fill of hot weather for the year. I live for days like Monday & Tuesday are supposed to be.

I am ready for fall. I love everything about it. I decorated our house for fall last weekend. Jarrett thought I was crazy, here it was still August & I had all of my harvest & fall stuff out. Oh well, I'd keep that stuff up year long if I could get away with it. I just love it.

I'm ready for jeans & sweatshirts. I'm ready for football Sundays. I'm ready for the crisp cool mornings & nights.

Fall is my favorite, so I welcome September with open arms.