May 13th, 2011

On May 13th 2011 my life is going to change a little bit..ok, a lot bit!  I'm having a procedure done where the surgeon will take the  upper part of my stomach and tie it around my esophogus.  I've dealt with heartburn since 2003 and it's gotten worse and worse...so much so where I vomit cause it burns so bad.  I take 3 different medications and they just arent doing the trick anymore.  My stomach Dr. told me that the esophogus needs to be closed up last September and I wasn't quite ready then.  Beings my stomach will be shrinking so will the amount of food I can consume and the variety.  No more carbonation, meaning no more soda...EVER! The ability to burp will be lost and the gas will just sit in the stomach and be very painful.  I love my soda and this will by far be the hardest thing for me.  Very little amount of meat chewed to an applesauce consistency. No citrus fruits, raw vegetables, anything from the cabbage family, onions, garlic...etc...one can get the picture. The surgeon said that many report having problems digesting so it's important to try and stick to the diet.  Also very important to eat small portions so I don't stretch the stomach and "disconnect" the stomach stitching.   I'm ready for it now though.  I can no longer live with constant heartburn day after day and what its doing to my insides.  I'll be out of work for 3 weeks  and in the hospital for 3 days.  It is being done laproscopic.  If they had to make an incision that would mean a longer hospital stay and 6 weeks out of work.  So that's that. While I'm laid up I welcome anyone who wants to come watch movies.  Hopefully a week or so in I can sit up enough to do some scrapbooking....Just don't be expecting any elaborate meals=D
Below is a short video of the procedure if anyone is curious, has extra time or likes seeing insides ripped up...it actually doesn't look to horrible

6 Days of Birthday

It's taken me awhile to post again but alas, here is the next 5 days of birthday....


Day 3 was the newest Glenn Beck book.  I heart Glenn Beck (being the staunt conservative I am) and love inspiring books so this was perfect

Day 4 was this cookbook.  Very cool idea for women with men like mine who dislike anything healthy

Day 5 was Beverly Hills Chiuahua II!  Lola loved it also!

And Day 6 my actual birthday was the rockband keyboard.  I love playing it!  It can also be used as the bass.

 My actual birthday he brought me lunch from Panera to work along with flowers and cupcakes he made for me to share=D He brought me for dinner to Nakashima which is both our favorites so it was a win win.
I am truly blessed with a husband that knows that little things are what matter and who takes the time to think of a all these little things!

6 Days of Birthday

Every year since we been together Grant gives me a little something  everyday a week before my birthday.  Beings I'm a very simple girl it really doesn't break the pocket book and all the little things are so thoughtful! 

Day 1

I got this cute little book and strawberry shortcake lipglosses and finger nail polish kit!  He even read the book to me=D

Day 2

33 and holding

Every year I throw myself a birthday party. I go all out with food, drinks, Karaoke...probably about $200 worth of party. When I was young my sister Dawn did all the birthday stuff. My mom usually always forgets my birthday. I call her every year to remind her and get a happy birthday from her because if I didn't I would be bitter for weeks she didn't wish me a happy birthday so I just make it happen. I've always been the one to remember birthdays and to try and make them super special for people. I feel birthdays are super important...it's the one day you can feel a reason to spoil yourself and feel uber important. I love that I can get people together and have a good time.


This year, for the first year I can remember I'm not throwing myself a party. I'm kinda going to skip my birthday. I'm even going to work on my birthday.  I get to stressed out days before cleaning and making everything fall into place only to be so super stressed out the day of and I just don't want to do it anymore. Then there's always the people who make up the excuses not to come or say they will be there  instead of just saying it doesn't work out for them. Or you find out the people you thought were important to you don't even make an effort to come and you feel disapointed. I just need to concentrate on a no more drama 2011. I always have lots of fun at my parties but just need a year or few off from it. Don't worry people I throw parties for, I still plan on it=D

2011 thus far

Why is it at the start of every new year we have these high expectations? January 1st is just another day on the calendar eh? Well I to fall in the trap of believing that January 1st is some miracle day.  This year I had simple resolutions as well; start a craft club, go to California,  keep on the path of natural eating, etc.. I'm not asking myself to drop 50lbs or anything crazy like that! Well we went back to MN and ND the week after Christmas and stayed in homes of cat owners.  I wheez, cough, sneeze, lets just say it's an icky mess but the stay is cheap.   Well since we've been back I've missed 2 days of work in 2011 which I believe I only missed one last year. Having to call into work is one of the most painful things for me to do but like Grant said sometimes you have to worry about yourself and just get better!  I think the kitties did havoc on my immune system and left me open to more icky things to come (this is my conclusion anyway).  Last week our faithful little ford focus decided to poop out on us.  We feel it may be more than we want to put into it but until we get it to the car service people we are back to one vehicle.  We got by with one vehicle for 6 years but now that we have had the glory of owning two it's a hard thing to get used to.. especially when I had to be to work at 4am last week. Our hours never match up and with retail are never the same day to day. My brother in law passed away last week which has caused some commotion in an already unstable family, then yesterday I find out my niece had her appendix removed.  REALLY TWENTY ELEVEN! So with all of that California is out of the picture because getting another car by the summer is now on the to do list and having to be open to both our schedules now craft club may have to wait as well. 
Now with all that being said and sounding quite beaten down I'm staying positive knowing God has his plan and I'm still feeling that wonderful feeling of blessings for no serious illness for Grant and I, being able to put food on the table and having shelter! I have the love of a wonderful man and two super cute puppies and although I have an annoying lingering cough I still have overall good health! 2011 is not going to get me down and I'm going to face it with immense positivity so watch out!
Hope everyone is having a GREAT new year!

New Years Resolution

As most of you reading this, I'm making a few resolutions for the new year. 

Give More
Spend Less
Go to California
Quit Retail
Continue on the road to Living a more organic healthy lifestyle
Start a craft group
Read more

A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds: "What does love mean?"
The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined. See what you think...
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"When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love."
Rebecca - age 8
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"When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth."
Billy - age 4
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"Love is what makes you smile when you're tired."
Terri - age 4
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"Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK."
Danny - age 7
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"Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss."
Emily - age 8
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"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen."
Bobby - age 7 (Wow!)
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"If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate."
Nikka - age 6 (we need a few million more Nikka's on this planet)
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"Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday."
Noelle - age 7
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"Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well."
Tommy - age 6
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"During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling.
He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore."
Cindy - age 8
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"Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken."
Elaine - age 5
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"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford."
Chris - age 7
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"Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day."
Mary Ann - age 4
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"I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones." (Now THIS is love!)
Lauren - age 4
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"When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you." (what an image!)
Karen - age 7
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"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross."
Mark - age 6
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"You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget."
Jessica - age 8
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And the final one...
Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge. The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child.
The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife.
Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there.
When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said,
"Nothing, I just helped him cry."