Feeling the love

One of my dear friends is going out of town on Tuesday, and has been feeling bad that she won't be able to come visit me, or bring a meal after my surgery. I've been telling her that it's fine, that we can visit when she gets home, etc.

Tonight, she and her daughter brought me a feel better care package! It's this super cute reusable bag...stuffed with fun stuff!

• "Sweet Dreams" package: eye mask, pillow spray, lavender lotion
• Valentines Day DVD
• big bag of pretzel M&M's
• big bag of Jolly Rancher hard candy
• Flarp
• 2 SoftLips lip balm
• One of those super squeezy balls that has like...tentacles?
• InStyle magazine
• Real Simple magazine
• New pajamas
• New slippers
• Ghiradelli chocolate/caramel squares
• Thin Mints

Isn't that the best? I almost can't wait for my surgery now, just so I can dive into my bag of loot!

Getting to know ME Sunday

It's Sunday, which means it's time again for Keely's weekly blog carnival called Getting to Know You. Here are this week's questions...and my answers!

1. Thong or Granny Panties? Uh, kind of neither? I kinda like a high-cut bikini style.
2. If you see a guy with his fly down, do you tell him? Unless it's Patrick or my dad, no. I don't need guys thinking that I'm walking around looking at their junk.
3. Spanx or no Spanx? Well, I like what they do, but I don't have any. So I guess "No Spanx" is my answer.
4. Do you sleep in your sheets? I don't understand the question. I have sheets on my bed, and I sleep in my bed...so YES? lol!
5. What is your favorite Disney character? Donald Duck! LOVE him!
6. Dream vacation spot? I would LOVE a vacation to Greece.
7. What is your dream job? Until I can get paid for napping, I have my dream job. I teach pre-school.
8. Who is your hero and why? Abraham Lincoln. Because he confronted a horrible problem, and FIXED it.

Bragging on my man

I'm so proud of my Mr. Wonderful. He really has the sweetest heart, and the fact that he continues to act on it, despite the fact he's been in pain every single day for the last 3-1/2 years simply amazes me. Seriously, if I have a headache for 20 minutes, everyone around me knows about it. Patrick has had what doctors call "daily migraine" (but only because they don't know what else to call it. His daily pain scale is about a 7-9 out of 10 every single day).

Anyway, he has been so sweet and diligent helping me get my preschool stuff ready before my surgery next week. In addition to that, he drove me to both of my pre-op appointments, just because he knows I like that.

After my appointment on Tuesday, we had to run an errand to return something, but I was on the phone with the hospital (doing registration stuff), so he just ran into the store for me. I got off of the phone while he was in the store, so when he came out, I just started talking to him about the call, etc. As I was talking, Patrick kinda waved/gestured to a lady walking across the parking lot, and said to me "We're gonna give her a jump before we go." So, we (he, really...lol) did that, and she was so appreciative.

Yesterday, we were up at the preschool, and saw our Youth Ministers van (she is on the mission trip with Shannon) sitting in the parking lot. Patrick commented that her tire looked low. Today, he went up to the preschool, took her tire off, went and got it fixed, and then brought it back and put it back on. Isn't that the nicest thing? I told him how amazing I thought that was...and he said "Well, she's looking after Shannon all this week...the least I can do is fix her car. I wouldn't want to get home from a long youth trip and have to deal with a flat tire."

I just think he is amazing. And I'm proud that he is my husband.

One down, one to go

I had my urology pre-op today. It went fine, but you know...it's never fun to hear about all the things that could go wrong. I know they have to inform you, but jeez. I trust both of my doctors, and I have faith that I will come through this fine. Having two procedures at once puts me at a little more risk to need to stay two nights in the hospital, and I *may* have to come home with a catheter...but I am hoping that neither of those will happen.

I had blood drawn, and blew a vein in one arm, and then in my other arm the vein was really deep and hard to get to. So, now I'm all bruised up. Oh well. The good news is, I got my lab results tonight, and everything was perfect.

Tomorrow is my GYN pre-op. Hopefully no surprises there. I'm just SO ready to get this show on the road.

Shannon is off on her first church mission trip. She's been away from home for a week before, but never without ANY phone contact. It's hard! I'm thinking about her so much, and sending lots of prayers to her and her group. They are the hands and feet of God!

Ch-ch-ch-changes!

I'm pretty sure I've mentioned before that my parents (who live in CA) have decided to move to GA to be near to us. They are in their mid and late 70's, and it's just time for them to be closer to one of their children.

(A bit of history...my parents retired about 15 years ago, and moved up to the mountains of Northern CA. They live WAY off the beaten path, in a home that is solar-powered, fire heated, with well water. It is a very rigorous lifestyle that is getting harder and harder to for them to maintain. After my Dad's health scare last year, it became clear that they needed to move closer to medical treatment (as of right now they are FIVE HOURS from their doctors). It is cost prohibitive for them to sell their house and move back to the Bay Area, where my brother and sister live.)

Georgia's cost of living is lower than CA's, and my parents would be able to afford a home in the areas near us. I've been watching the local real estate market, and keeping track of houses that interested me.

The other night, Patrick was having a really tough time. His pain was at a horrendous level, and he was just losing hope, faith, etc. He was just...overwhelmed. I called a dear friend to come over and counsel with him, pray with him, and just...support him. His pain remained, but he was able to rest...feeling like some burden had been lifted.

The next morning, Patrick awoke and said that he felt "like his well was refilling." Then he said "And I think I've had a revelation. I suddenly realize something, and I hope you'll agree with me." He shared that he felt like my parents should move in with us. He proposed that instead of my parents buying a home of their own, that they use their money to add onto this home, to make it perfect for both households. I said "I love this idea...BUT...what if they use their money, and then we change our mind? Or you feel better? or, or, or? They won't have a down payment to buy a home of their own." He said..."I'm not offering this lightly. If we ask them to do this...I intend it to be for the rest of their lives. Where we go, they go."

(Have I mentioned how much I love him?)

So, we called my parents...(on the morning of our 20th anniversary, lol) and made the offer. They cried.

I just feel like...this is how families should be. This is how families USED to be. I can't wait for their home to sell, so that we can begin adding to this house to make it OURS. OURS, as in...all 5 of us.

They will arrive here in late September, and once their house sells, we'll begin construction! So. very. exciting!

This is the last time all five of us were together, December 2008. (I saw my parents in October of 2009, when I flew back after my Dad's accident.)

Taking Inventory

Something big is happening here.

By here, I mean...with my family, in our home. We are taking the time to take inventory of what we have, what we are...and measuring it against who/what we long to be. We are making core changes. Not only are we trimming down our physical possessions, but we're saying goodbye to old ways of thinking, and welcoming some very new (and exciting) ones!

We're working out some details, but then I'm going to something really exciting to share.

Today was Shannon's last day of Girl Scout Day Camp. It was a fun week, and the first week of camp that I can EVER remember that it didn't RAIN! Of course, we're now having a thunderstorm and under a flash flood warning, but at least the campers didn't get wet, lol!

Tomorrow, Shan and I are going to see Phantom of the Opera in Atlanta. I hope she will sleep tonight...she is SO excited!

And then, on Sunday...she is headed off for a week on her first-ever church mission trip. I know it will be hard physical work for her, but I also know that she will come back with her eyes open wide, and her heart full. I'm excited for her. She has certainly had a whirlwind summer. I love that.

Farewell, Sprocket-Man

Today is a sad day. We had to have our sweet Sprocket dog put to sleep this morning.

He's had seizures off and on for years, and they had begun to affect his behavior. He was getting aggressive, and extremely territorial. We've been trying to work through it with him for a long time. He's been starting to have more seizures, and they were lasting longer...so his behavior was getting more erratic. This morning it was just obvious that it was time. So heart-breaking. That's got to be one of the worst decisions to have to make.

Here's some pictures of our boy.

This is the day we got him:



Cute boy...a few months old:



Silly boy, loved to lie on anything on the floor:



Play?



Sprocket never EVER licked us...EVER. But what he did was "hug." He would come up to us, and put his forehead down, and we would put our forehead on his. You could just feel him relax and love you...it was wonderful. I'm so happy I have a picture of a Sprocket hug.



Rest in peace, sweet boy. You were a good dog and we will always love you.