One year ago today...

my beautiful niece was turning 15. So that makes today her Sweet Sixteen! Have a wonderful birthday K-K. No words can express how wonderful you are. We love you very, very much!!!!!!!!!!

And one year ago today, I had my life given to me again. Today is the one year anniversary of my brain surgery. My unofficial second birthday date. I am in absolute shock that one year has already passed. The day of July 26,2007 to July 25,2008 went by faster than the days of July 5, 2007 to July 25, 2007.

I hope to never relive anything like that again. But amazingly, I am grateful for the chance to do it once. That sounds crazy huh? But with it I gained so much.

First I learned who my true friends are and that my family is truly meant to be my family. So many were there for me. With support, prayers, and some with just an ear or an eye (for those I spent nights to talking back and forth with on the computer) when I was panicking and getting scared.

And to each and everyone of you, I can't say thank you enough! I love you all so much!

I learned what true love is. I couldn't imagine a husband better for me than mine (I say it like that because I know other husbands who are fabulous and perfect for their wives). I know he was worried and scared at times too. But he never showed it. He put being my strength and support above his own needs. I don't think I could have handled the over 12 hour wait that he did for me to come out of surgery. He even shaved his head to match mine! He was the first person I saw when I woke up from surgery. That hand on my forehead is a bigger comfort to me since then than ever before. I feel more safe and loved most deeply when he touches me there rather than any place else. He visited me often when I was in CCU but I sent him away more because it just wasn't set up for visitors. He was there as soon as I left and was put in a regular room. And from then on he didn't leave my side but to eat, check on the animals, and get a quick shower. He even slept in my room putting up with the coming and going of the nurses for my meds and vital checks, keeping one hand up on my bed so I had some part of him to snuggle (that COULDN'T have been comfortable).

I know that it all happened when it did for the fact of having fabulous insurance that covered almost 100% of the over $200,000 spent on tests, surgery, and my stay. And for me to have the fabulous Dr. Charles Chang and his staff as my doc and support. And for having the fabulous staff at Medical Center of Plano be the ones caring for me.

Most of all I've grown in and gained so much more faith in our almighty and wonderful God. Look at what he help find and took care of me through to come out safely!! I still do at times, but I have learned to worry much, much less. God doesn't put me through anything I can't handle, and He will be the one to do most of the work to get me to the other side!! I still falter at times, but all I have to do it rub the line on my neck, and I remember it's not my job to worry! What a truly awesome and loving God we have!!

OK this is long, so I will save what the last year has been like and the changes I have for another post.

God Bless you all, for He has me!!

And again, Happy Sweet 16 K-K!!!!!

Happy Birthday

To Holly!! My baby is 9!

Welcome to the world...

baby Lucas Evan!! Born July 17, 2008 2:11pm 7lb 10oz.
Mom is doing fabulous and baby is perfect!!
Pictures to come!

BABY,BABY,BABY

About to leave for the hospital for the arrival of Baby R.!!!

Prayers for Lori!!

Excitement

So, many things exciting happening.

Our puppy came to live with us on Friday. We have named her Sassy. I don't currently have my camera, so sorry no pics. She's a blast though. Fits her name well, but is a very good pup. She is chewing on many things as expected, but minds fairly well when told no. She is doing well with going outside for bathroom breaks. Only a few accidents, and since she's so small - easy to clean up.

I haven't gotten to talk to Lori in a few days, but got a hold of her this evening. Seems the little man is holding out for the inducement on Thursday. She said they haven't been calling much due to making people jumpy. She sounds excited, but nervous, so keep her in prayers.

And tomorrow Charisse and Lorelli arrive!! I'm very excited to get to see them again. They will be here for 2 weeks. It's rough having them so far away. I keep trying to plan a trip out there, but every time I think I'll be able to do it, something happens. Right now it's just having to pay for gas to get Larry to work is costing so much! Darn prices!! But I'm not giving up yet. Maybe for my birthday?

Ok that's all for now. Need to get to bed. Puppy is an early riser, and lots of little things to finish before I head to the airport.

procrastinating

Well I was inspired by Aimee's blog on a blog of having something to blog about. Actually I admit I am just procrastinating.
What I should be doing:

1. laundry after our weekend away
2. the dishes I ended up just shoving in the dishwasher because I had no time to actually get them done before we left, and they are the ones I prefer to hand wash
3. finally organizing the laundry/computer room that I started doing many months ago. Now all the junk is in my room waiting to be gone through and filed away.
4. and doing an overall hefty cleaning of the house to get ready for our company next week, the new puppy that will be arriving to live with us this coming weekend (we got to finally meet her yesterday. My aunt and uncle brought her over and she is a perfect fit for the family. So fair warning, won't be long till pictures of her are plastered everywhere), and so I have no worries when Lori and Erik's little boy decides it is time to enter the world. Which isn't much longer! (fair warning there will be many pictures of him showing on here too)
5. figuring out my checkbook and paying bills
6. and coming up with an idea for a fabulous gift for my niece's 16th birthday on the 25th.

Ok I think this is just what I needed. I'm now inspired to get to work. Have a great day!

Hardest Yet

Yesterday was the hardest goodbye to an animal yet. Our family pet of 16 years this month was lost. Due to an unfortunate accident, we lost Fudge, one of our two black cats I talked my parents into getting in the summer of 1992.
I've learned recently that I seem to have had a way as a child of talking my parents into getting me cats. We had a number of them when we lived in the country. And when we moved to the city, I wasn't too pleased at not having furry buddies around. So 1st grade I talked my parents into getting two kittens. My mom has a thing for black ones, so if she was going to have to clean up after city cats, she was going to get what she wanted. That's when Moe and Joe arrived (still named by my parents due to my being too young). These two weren't too friendly from the start and ended up not hanging around for much longer than they had to once they grew up.
Well by the ripe old age of 12, I had the itch for furry buddies again. Once again I convinced my parents of getting me a set of kittens. We were very close to purchasing two Siamese cats from the mall's pet store, when we discovered this store was not known for healthy pets. So my mom found a listing for some free kittens in the paper and we went bringing home two little black fur balls. My brother named one Edward with the idea of calling him Ed when he was a grown cat. That never happened. He is still affectionately called Edward today. And I had a hard time debating between the names of Fudge and Max. But when I noticed the mix of white hairs in with his black, I just knew at the time black and white made brown so he was named Fudge.
The boys came home and made themselves a home in our house and heart very quickly.
There are many good and bad stories I could share, but obviously with 16 years under their belt, this post would then go on for a very long time. I'll slowly share one here and there in other posts.
Fudge lived through the accident, but was obviously in bad shape. So we ran him to the vet. We were told he had a broken leg, and nerve damage to his rear causing him to have to loose his tail and if the nerves didn't heal, to never have control of his urinating or bowel movements. And with these making it very possible he could never be an outdoor cat again.
With the thought of him going through so much pain to maybe never go outside again and to maybe not make it through surgery either, we decided the hardest decision ever. To go ahead and put a stop to his pain now. He had been suffering from arthritis for a few years now and was getting around less and less, which is what lead to his accident. He had also been acting odd recently keeping my mom fairly worried on how much longer he would be with us anyway. I said a very tearful goodbye and had to leave. My mom, the brave one, stayed with him and petted him till he joined our Lord.
As you can guess this is super hard on me 'cause he was my designated cat. It's also been super hard on my mom, 'cause he was truly her cat. Completely devoted to her.
So I ask for your prayers for my family especially my mom, and for Edward and that he handles the loss of his buddy and brother. I'm doing fairly well during the day, but not so well when it's time to sleep. My mind begins to wonder. We do know that 16 years is an amazing life for a cat. That does help in some ways, but it does make for a much closer bond and a much more intense heart break.
I am sorry I don't have a picture of him to post (I have many, but they are pre-digital camera days). As soon as I can get near a scanner (we can't locate the software for our's to reload it) I will get some put up.