Sunday, June 29, 2008

We're back....for now







We got back in town today. We got a lot accomplished on our trip to Cross City this week. We also had a lot of fun! We went to the springs several times, we walked to the DQ in the evenings (I only ate ONE blizzard this trip!), we painted the girl's room and the bathroom, and we just kicked back and relaxed too. It is so nice to have a place to escape to-no worries, no schedule, no need for a clock! It is just a very relaxed atmosphere in my parent's home. It is a second home for them and they only get to go there 2-3 times a year-the rest of the time it sits empty. So, it has become our little "vacation home" as my girl's call it! Anyhoo-I wanted everyone to know that we made it back and we will be home until Friday-we will be going back for the weekend.





Before and After Pics











Sunday, June 22, 2008

MIA

I will be MIA again. The kids and I are going back to Cross city for a week. I will update my blog when I return.

Love like there is no tomorrow




Today we went to the mall-to exchange something at T-mobile. About 3 mins after we got into the T-mobile store, we heard a LOUD "bang!"-then we heard a voice from inside the mall scream "Everybody get out of the mall!". Then there was total chaos! People were screaming, running for the door...the manager of T-mobile was pushing customers into the back employee room, there were people lying on the ground outside, as not to catch a stray bullet! It was a scene straight out of the news-an experience that I will never forget. We ran outside and hid behind the building..then we heard a second "bang"- it was then that we decided to run for our car. The kids were screaming and crying! I was shaking uncontrollably. It was a fear like I have never felt before. We left the mall-the kids just wanted to "go home" and they did not want to even go see the movie that we planned on seeing. Later on-I called the mall to see if it was safe to return, they said that everything was ok, so I went back (alone-I doubt I will ever be able to get the kids to go back to that mall). When I got back to the mall, there were still about 15 police cars there and an ambulance was pulling in. Inside (just outside the t-mobile store) there a bunch of police officers and medical workers talking to a bleeding man. I went to customer service and asked what had happened earlier and they told me that there was a man with a gun-but the "bang" (x2) that we heard was balloons popping. So, I asked why there was a bleeding man and they said that 3 guys with brass knuckles jumped him and beat him up. I am not sure that I believe that the "bang" really was a balloon-it was very loud and it echoed-it was the kind of noise that you can "feel" but none the less, I am grateful that we are all alive and that we stayed together through the incident. I guess it just makes you realize that things like that really do happen, and people do not know what they are walking into-we walked into the mall just like we had every other time, clueless as to what was about to happen. This world is a crazy place and we need to live everyday as though it could be our very last. Love like it may be the last time we can.

Friday, June 20, 2008

Painting



Today I got the urge to "create" so I started painting my entry way-I had no idea what I was "going for"-I just started with one square and ended up "going with the flow". Everyone knows how impulsive I can be-I start something and before I can even process what I am doing-I am half way done and have a huge mess! Anyhoo...this is what I ended up with once I finished. Spencer just went on and on about how much he loved it ("no, I mean it mommy-it is so beautiful")-the girls just kept asking "does Daddy know that you are doing this?". I reminded them of the agreement Brett and I made when we bought the house-"He gets the garage and Bubba's room-the rest of the house is mine to decorate!". Thankfully, he says he likes it.

Girlfriend time


Tonight Karen and I went to dinner, to Citrus Park Mall (and yes! Starbucks)and a movie-things have been so crazy that we have hardly had any time to spend together. Last GNO-her son locked himself, along with her husband and daughter, out of the house WHILE the stove was on-so she had to leave before dinner to go open the door. Next week is our scheduled GNO and I am going to be out of town, so we took tonight off to spend some time together. Thankfully, both of our husbands are awesome about letting us have time together! Brett told us both, while we were driving out of my drive way, "have fun, you guys deserve it". Sweet-I wish all husbands understood the importance of "girlfriend time"! We had a great time! After dinner we had almost 2 hours before the movie started so there was plenty of time to have some "chick chat"! I am thankful for such an amazing "sister"! Thanks Karen! BTW-I was right and you were wrong girlfriend! nana nana boo boo!! :) (just in case you have not checked your email yet!)

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Weigh in


Well-I weighed in at home today and I lost 5 lbs on "Core" this week! Of course, that just puts me back to where I was before we went to Cross City-but still, I am happy with that! My "official" WW weigh in is on Saturday but, since I knew I gained some weight since my last weigh in, I knew that it would not be an accurate gauge on my actual loss this week. I liked following Core-although I really did not follow it perfectly (I ate whole wheat pizza, and we went out for supper one night)-I am still stuck in "flex" mode. I liked not having to count points (although, I did a few days just to make sure I was not going overboard)-I did not like having to plan my meals to make sure they were core, and I did not like not being able to eat out without spending 15 (of my 35) flex pts. I did eat healthier this week, with less processed foods and "diet" junk food (aka-100 calorie packs). Anyhoo...I wanted to let everyone know that I lost 5 lbs!! Yippee!

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

A fun day with "our little Noah"!



Today we got to spend the day with our little "Noah-boa"! I have not been able to see him for almost a month and I have missed him soooo much! This morning we went to the free movie at the theatre (over the summer they show kid's movies for free), we saw "veggie tales-the pirates who don't do anything". The movie was cute-the kids really liked it, we had not seen that one yet. When we got back to the car I noticed a note on my steering wheel-from my "Prince charming"! He knew that we were there and he stopped by to leave a note. Ain't he sweet? Just a simple note but it means so much to me! It reads " Sweetheart, I just wanted to thank you for being such an amazing wife to me and an incredible mother to our children. I love 'doing life' with you, my best friend. Forever yours only, Love, Brett Michael xoxoxxo" I just love surprises!! Even if it is just a little love note. After that we came home and had lunch and spent the afternoon in the pool. It was so nice to get to spend time with Noah! Thanks Scott and Lisa for "sharing" him with us and allowing him to be a part of our family! (and for not feeling threatened by the whole "Mama Sherri/Daddy thing" :) ) He really is a precious child and I am so honored to be a part of his life! Thank You!
"Cheese"!

Mini Date night


Last night I had the opportunity to have a "mini" date night with Brett. We had supper at home and then Brooke "babysat" for us while we went to Starbucks for coffee and conversation (thanks Brooke!). Liz gave me a $30 gift card for Starbucks and Brett and I used it as an "excuse" to go on a date (thanks Liz!). After we had coffee we walked down to Target and browsed a bit. It is always nice to have time "away" with Brett-I think that it is an absolute necessity for a couple to spend time away with each other! It helps us refocus on each other and our marriage instead of always being caught up with work, the house, bills, kids......... . I am so grateful for having that time with Brett-and I am even more grateful that we both still want to spend time with each other (after 13 and a half years!). Love you lots baby!

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Father's day fun

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Just sharing..


Last night Brett and I took the kids out to eat and to the dollar theatre. We ate out at "Longhorn"-(nothing----NOTHING "Core" on the menu! But, I did order wisely and when I got home I looked up the "points" and it was only "7"). After dinner we went to see "College Road Trip"-it was refreshing to watch a movie without a single curse word in it! I thought that it was cute-I ended up crying my eyes out at the end though! Even Spencer burst into tears on the way home! I guess it had him thinking about leaving his school next year and "never, ever" seeing his best friend (Edwardo). He ended up crying himself to sleep-clutching a picture of him and his friend! It was a sad site to see! This morning I was snuggling with Bubba and I told him that I needed to get up and go for a walk-he said "no mommy! Don't go-it takes like 2 hours!" I told him that I needed to get healthy and he said "well, go eat some grapes!". I thought it was funny-his thoughts can be so simple sometimes and he takes things so literally, but then again, out of no where, he will have some profound thought that will just amaze me! I did get up and go for my walk and I enjoyed it (even though it was so muggy). Today, I have to take Maddie to dance practice at the church, run a few errands and then we are going to "Toys R Us" to try out the new "3D sidewalk chalk"-they have events for the kids all summer long and today they are letting the kids demo the chalk. I think I am more excited than the kids are!! (I know....not normal-but who cares? Have you seen that commercial!?). Well, just thought I'd share our night and our day today with everyone!

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Weight Watchers


I have had a few people ask me how I did at Saturday's weigh in-I have been out of town and I have not attended a meeting yet since I have been back. I have to tell you the truth though......I know that I gained weight while I was gone! Bummer! Darn Blizzards! Allie makes a mean blizzard! I know that I should have had more self control while I was away, but.....I had so much fun being "bad" :)! I am happy to report that I am back on track today-I switched to the WW "Core" program for this week. I am hoping that it will kick start my weight loss again. I just wanted to let everyone know that I have not "thrown in the towel" and I will weigh in next week. I found out yesterday that I will not be able to join a gym-originally my insurance company told me that they would pay 100% of the membership costs-now, they say I am not eligible for that benefit-they haven't exactly told me why! I was really looking forward to going back to the gym-I loved working out,it relieved a lot of stress and I loved the "high" I got from it. I am disappointed but I will not let it stop me from reaching my goals-no excuses!-remember?

Medical update


I got an appt with the neurosurgeon-July 1st. We'll see what he has to say. His office told me when I dropped off the films that he would be viewing my films "not to see if I have a problem but to see if he would be able to help" and they also said that appts were not on a first come-first serve basis but rather the appts were given out based on the patients needs. Hopefully that means that he will be able to "fix" me! :) My doctor ordered yet another MRI in July and she also ordered more blood work-to see if there is an infection as the MRI suggest. I read on the web that blood work is the least reliable way to tell if there is a spinal infection-so we'll have to see if it shows up (do doctors not have access to the Internet?!). Her assistant told me that she did not even know what a "WBC scan" was when I asked her why the doctor did not just order it (instead of a bunch of other "stuff")-I had to tell her what the test was-I guess assistants do not have computers either. I guess I am just a little bit "testy" right now-you'll have to try to just over look my attitude. Anyhoo, I go for the blood work tomorrow, see the neurosurgeon on July 1st and the MRI on July 18th. I just wanted to keep everyone updated on my "mess". Thank you-for all those asking!

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Our trip




Where to start..? We had a blast in Cross City!! Saturday was the "watermelon festival" My girls took 1st and 2nd place in the "watermelon seed spitting contest" ( makes a mother so proud! :) ) Maddie got 1st with 27 feet and Brooke took 2nd with 25 feet!! They also entered the watermelon eating contest! The kids got to play with their cousins, we went to the beach, the springs, and DQ (about 20 times :) ). After my parents left to go back home, the kids and I stayed at the house and did some "home makeover" stuff. We had a lot of fun-being our goofy selves with Ali and Levi! I have lots more to tell-but I am tired and I need to rest. I will blog tonight, once I am all settled in.

More of Mama's quilts!

Here are some more quilts that my Mom has made. The top one is Alexis' quilt-the middle one is Maddie's and the bottom one is Levi's. They are so beautiful!! These pics do not even come close to showing their real beauty and amazing craftsmanship!!








Wednesday, June 4, 2008

MIA


I will be gone from "blogger world" for a few days-me and the kids are going to "Cross City" to visit my parents. We are also going to the "watermelon festival" on Saturday! I know that the kids will have a BLAST playing with their cousins! I will update my blog when I return home! Please pray for a safe trip-thanks!

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

MRI results


I picked up the MRI films and reports today so I can take them to the neurosurgeon tomorrow-I could not help but "peek" at them myself. Thankfully, the tumor has remained stable!! Yippeee! There are also a lot of "foreign" words on the reports-mostly in my low back-there is nothing new with my neck (thank God) and there is a normal hemangioma in the middle of my back. Here is what the report says-maybe one of you know what it means! L-4 and L-5 there are "large Schmorl's deformities present" (I think that means herniate discs ??) and they have "suspicion for diskitis" in L-5 - S-1 (this is an inflammation/infection-from what I gather and they recommend I have a "WBC scan" to confirm it. My primary doctor is not a fan of "radiation" as she asked me "how much radiation do you want!?"-when I showed her the order, from another doctor, for x-rays. So, I do not know if she will order the test or not-or if my neurosurgeon would be the one to order it.) It will be a while, I am assuming, before I get an appt with the neurosurgeon-but I will let you know if I find anything else out before then! I just pray that they get to the bottom of all this "junk" and get me all "fixed up"-good as new!! I am TRULY believing that I am going to be completely whole at the end of all of this. Completely well! Please believe that with me and pray for God to give us wisdom on how to go about all of it! Thanks!!

Update: My primary doctor just called-she told me that the radiologist actually called her while I was still at the outpatient center yesterday-he told her about the suspected infection and the WBC (white blood count) scan that he felt needed to be ordered. As I expected, she is hesitant about ordering the test-she wants to leave it in the hands of the neurosurgeon. I hope that he gets around to looking at the reports and films quickly-in case it is an infection-so they can get started on treating it.

Monday, June 2, 2008

I made it out alive!


Thank you , thank you, thank you....for praying for me! I got through all my MRI's this morning! I am so happy to have them behind me! I took two Benedryl pills right before I went in and I was able to rest through all the MRI's! They ended up doing 4 of them, after the radiologist compares the new MRIs with the old MRIs (to see if there is any changes in the tumor) I will have to pick up the films and drive them to St Pete to give them to the neurosurgeon. From there he will review them and set up an appt. to let me know what he wants to do. I just pray that when he sees the problems he'll know how to "fix" them and he'll be willing to "fix" them (unlike the doctors I have seen in the past-before I had insurance). I will update you on the results of the MRIs when I get them. Thanks again for praying for me!!