Now we know!

Remember a few posts back here?  #4 was a BIG concern.  Well, we have some answers.  All the "lovely" tests that need to be done and the results are in. 

1- Mammogram - gave us a bit of a concern and wound up having to have an ultrasound to clarify some things they spotted on the gram.  All is well, just some fibroids. 

2- Pap test results - All clear!! 

3 - CA 125 blood test (cancer marker test I have to get because of my family history with my Mom) Looks great!!  Waaaayyy under the "line" where we would be concerned.

4- Ultrasound of the pelvis area.  Ummm, that's where the problem is!  Without going into details (that could gross some people out) I was having some changes in my monthly cycle that just could not be passed off as "usual for my age".  I have a great gyn doctor that truly LISTENS!!  She found some polyps on my uterus.  If that's tmi for you then just move along and don't finish reading.  If you are interested in learning more you can go here.  But just so you know, I am heading into an outpatient surgery in a few hours.  The doctor wants to remove the polyps and get them under a microscope just to confirm that they are benign.  She's very confident that they are benign since all my other tests have come back so healthy.

SO prayers and good thoughts are always welcome.

And this picture has absolutely nothing to do with this post.  Well, except to remind me to tell you all about San Francisco when I get back.

What if?

What if you had 30 minutes to leave your home because of an emergency?  What would you take with you?  And could you gather it quickly?

I think we all would grab:
The 72-hour emergency kits
Photo Albums
Computer portable drives, laptops, iPads, etc.
Irreplaceable things on your walls
But what about your important documents, paperwork, insurance papers, etc?

In a moments notice can you locate your birth certificate or passport?  What about for your children?

Why is this on my mind today?  Well, today we are having a birthday party for David and friends where we are going into Canada.  We've had 2 people not able to come because they can't FIND their birth certificate, passport or enhanced ID!!!  Please don't take this wrong, because I am NOT little Miss Organized.  My office has been nicknamed "the black hole" from time to time.  But I have always known where to find these important documents.

How?  You ask?  A lesson learned back when we lived in California.  California is known for its Santa Ana winds and wildfires.  Well, at one point in our living there a wildfire was 3 miles from our house.  We were place on voluntary evacuation.  Which gave us time to gather items in boxes ready to load in the car if we needed to leave.  We were at the bottom of the hill so we knew we would have some time if the fire came over the ridge.  Fortunately the winds changed direction and the firefighters were able to contain the fire and we were safe.  What did I learn?  I needed a place for ALL my documents to grab at a moments notice.  I used to keep them in our file cabinet but I now put mine in a notebook.  A large 3 ring binder has passports, birth, death, marriage, and baptisim certificates, a bank accounts info, insurance statements and policies, immunization cards, social security cards, and our will.  You get the idea.  Make it your own.  It feels good to know all our important papers are literally in one place and at arms reach for the "just in case" moments when you only have a few minutes to grab and go.

I'm Here. Really I am!

I've been sick!!  A Head cold!!  A blowing nose,

dizzy when I stand up,

and plop me on the couch and watch movies kind of sick.

That started to hit me late Friday night.  Here it is a week later and I am FINALLY starting to feel better.  I still can't move too quickly or I have to hold on to something but I AM better.

So much to catch up on here but need to focus on home first.  Everyone was great while I was sick keeping the place straightened up and dish done, etc.  But now to the little details that Mom's seem to be the only ones that notice.

Be back soon!!

Blog My Heart

If you don't want to know - move along.  I think this post is just for me to get my crazy, full brain and heart's thoughts and feelings down in the written word.  And it takes Stephanie Howell to post her challenge for me to "git 'r done".  If you haven't checkd out Stephanie's blog yet, you MUST.  Just me, My Soldier and Our 4 Little Chicks is inspiring, honest and real.

So here we go!  Hang on because I have a lot too

1.  I had a BIG birthday!!!

Honestly, I just can't believe it!!!!  I remember when my Mom turned 50 and I thought it was old.  Sheesh!  What was I thinking?  But now, here I am.  And I am trying to embrace it because honestly the alternative just doesn't sound appealing.

2.  Can I really do this?
Part A. - As part of my birthday present I told Rob that I wanted an image and wardrobe consulting from Cable Car Couture who just happens to be our dear friend, Sarah Ward.  We did the whole shebang - Figure Evaluation, Personal Style Clinic, and Personal Shopping.  (Soon we will do Wardrobe Evaluation and Shop Your Closet).  Five hours later we emerged from the mall.  Victorious I might add!!! 



Isn't she just darling?!?!?!  Sarah taught me the styles to make my body type look its best, to not be afraid of patterns, and to layer clothes. She pulled things off the racks that I would normally walk right by and they look fabulous on me.  I learned SO much about style and I got some fabulous clothes too.  Can I really DO this?  I think I can.  I think every woman should have an image consultant go shopping with her.  Such a self-esteem builder.

Part B. - One of the reasons for needing new clothes is our hobby/business, Fresco Chocolate.  We are starting to meet more and more people and I just want to look professional.  It's been a while since I've been in the "working world" and I don't want to look like it.  We have a very exciting opportunity coming up as 2 of our chocolate bars have made the finalist category for the Good Food Awards.  I'm excited, nervous, anxious, etc.  Can I be in the professional spotlight like that?  I think I can.

3.  Momma's worry about her babes. 

They seem to take their turn in the "Momma worry line".  Right now this one is at the top of my list.

Sitting back watching our little Tabitha opening her heart again is more difficult for her Mom and Dad then we thought it would be.  Don't get us wrong - we really like Ryan.  We love how he treats her.  It's obvious he adores her.  His eyes literally twinkle when he looks at her.  He respects her and treats her like a queen.  That being said, after you watch, help and rescue your daughter leave a bad marriage (2 years ago now) and go through a divorce the Momma Bear can't help but come out whenever a young man shows interest in her.  And as we see their relationship grow, possibly progressing toward marriage - I can't help but wonder how she will do being a military wife.  I know she's strong enough!

4.  Annual Female Exams
BLECK!!!  :P  Despise them but gotta have them.  Scary when they see something new and have to do further testing with ultrasounds in addition to the x-rays.  Now to wait for the doctor to call once she gets the results and then we figure out where we go from there.  Possible a hysterectomy.  Which is okay since I've been done having babies a long time ago.  I guess just the unknown and the waiting is what weights heavily on my mind.

5.  Will I EVER get this house together from the holidays? 
Ack!!  I have NEVER had Christmas decorations up this late.  At least the tree is gone, right?  Oh and we got NEW lights in the house.  Say goodbye 1994

And hello to 2012

That should be enough motivation to get the house in order right?  Now I'm thinking new drapes and ultimately new carpet.

The thinking never ends ;)

We are Here...I Promise

The holidays were busy.  Maybe next year we just need to take a family vacation and go to Hawaii to relax.  The kids are old enough to forego a few family traditions for the warmth of a beach somewhere.

Here's a few things we did these past few weeks:
Amy's brother, Seth arrived on the 18th and stayed for 16 days.

Amy had a birthday

 

Enjoyed the Lynden decorations inside a grocery store

 

Made Christmas treats

Supervise David making his fundraiser cinnamon rolls

Thank you everyone for helping David earn his money for the Disneyland 2013 band trip.

Enjoy Christmas Day

And talk with our Lizzie

 

 



Tabitha had a birthday

Skype with Lizzie

Go to an Eagle Court of Honor where Rob gave the scout a 10lb. block of chocolate

And ring in the New Year at our neighbors while our girls went to Seattle to a young adult dance.  Here's Tabitha with her boyfriend, Ryan.

And a picture that just makes me happy

We hope your 2012 has started out healthy and happy.

How was your Christmas?

Hope you had lots of faces like this one - full of suprises!!

Things to do!

Tabitha's flute concert - CHECK! 

Christmas tree picked out - which one?  Amber's or Rob's?

Amber's won - CHECK

Cookie and sweet treat mayhem - CHECK

Lizzie learning how to write her letters!!  BIG DOUBLE CHECK!  The top one her Mom wrote.  The bottom is all Lizzie except for the first Z.  She's doing pretty good.

And on to a crazy, busy, musical weekend and picking up Amy's brother at the airport for a visit.

Lizzie made our night

Just seeing this little sweet face makes us feel sooooooooooo happy.

We miss her so much :'(

Manners - they say so much about our character

Excuse me while I do this....

Do we teach our children how to treat others? Do we teach them about commitment? Do we teach them about keeping our word? Do we teach them the simple things like saying please and thank you?


Yes, I am a smidge fired up right now for numerous reasons. But the main reason is this - a simple movie night with friends.

And the fact being that this movie night was at the specific request of David's friends makes me all the more tweaked. His friends wanted to have a Harry Potter movie night and this night was picked a good 2 weeks ago. David reminded those that said they would come. We had 5 "yes, I will be there". The "maybe I'll come" never get counted but we all know they don't come. (Why they just can't say no is beyond me).

Well, guess how many people showed up tonight? 2!! Yes, TWO!!! And get this - those specific friends that asked to have there party here (and said they would be here) are the ones that are NOT here. No phone calls from those that said they were coming - nothing, nada, zilch!!! I just don't get it. When you tell someone you will be there and something comes up, have the courtesy to call and say so.

Honestly people, let's be considerate of others.

I think it's going to take me a bit to calm down. Now to go fix pizza for the boys that came.

Thanksgiving and our busy week

It's just crazy how much can happen in our little family in such a short amount of time. Here's what happened just in one week.

• Rob was out of town in Atlanta for the entire week.
• David had an appointment with the oral surgeon to discuss the removal of his wisdom teeth. Yup! Spring Break 2012 those puppies come out!
• Had some scrapbook time with my dear friend, Gracelyn.
• The girls left for a "band tour". The university wind symphony took a charter bus and went to Tri-Cities and Spokane in 2 days. Playing at 3 high schools. They had a fabulous time!!
• It SNOWED!!! Not a lot was sticking to the ground but just enough to make it slushy.
• David had a "it's a good thing you are cute" moment. David has never been one to like getting his hair cut but because it grows so fast (like his Dad's and Robert's) he has to get his hair cute every 4 weeks. So we ran a bunch of errands after school and I came home to a message on the answering machine from our hairstylist "Amy, where are you? David has a haircut this afternoon. Call me." So I looked on the calendar and saw nothing. I apologized profusely for not having it on my calendar and we rescheduled for the next day. In the meantime, I just couldn't shake the "I KNOW I wrote this appointment down" feeling. I kept looking in my calendar but just couldn't find the appointment. That is until I looked a bit closer at the date on the calendar and noticed the appointment had been ERASED!!!! Can you believe it? The little turd thought if he erased the appointment he wouldn't have to have his hair cut. Ask Keri (our hairstylist) said "David, if it wasn't so funny I would be mad at you!!". David quickly got a lesson in business and privacy. Keri's business and the privacy of his Mom's calendar. No major consequences given - just that every time he walked by me would get a kiss ont he cheek or gently whack him on the noggin.
• I had my last church dance being in charge of dinner for the 16-18 group of youth. Man! I didn't expectg it to be this difficult. Having youth come to me being sad I was released from my calling didn't help either. I will so miss being with them on such a constant basis. They are SO great!!
• The girls had an orchestra concert. Soooo fun!!
• David, Tabitha and I went to the Vancouver, BC temple. I thought we were nuts to make that trip on Thanksgiving eve - thinking the border would be nuts. NOPE!! Only a 10 minute wait getting in to Canada and barely 5 returning home.
• THANKSGIVING!!
  We had a great time!! Two of our guest got sick at the last minute and didn't come over. So I put out an open invitation on Facebook. And had our fabulous friend from Church took us up on the offer. We had a BLAST!!! And stayed up way too late.
  
• And a few days busy making chocolate and our brand NEW product - Cocoa Nib Brittle.

It's been a busy week. And we LOVE it!!