Hope .....

HOPE ... a word that became very important to me

over the last few months. Hope is all incompassing...

Hope for the future, hope for your children, hope for the excitement of life,

hope for some many things. 

I received a gift this season... appreciation and hope for the future.

A small test a few months back has turned my life a little on its side, but to my

surprise, i'm still ok. I have learned so much about myself, learned to

reach out for comfort, be grateful for the hands that came back to hold mine,

realized how much I love my husband who has been such a rock,

sit in awe of the blessings i have been given in the form of friends,

hold a little tighter to my children, praise God a little louder, and so many

other things...

With a new look at my box, that is not quite as prestine and beautiful now,

i'm learning that it's ok. Life is not always as we plan, but it is how it's suppose to be.

(in the words of by BFF ... through love, support and grace .. our box

may be old, falling apart and held together with tape...

But that's OK, we still have love and hope!!!

It's beginning

Time, Patience, Time and the Holidays

Today I realized that Christmas is only 2 1/2 weeks away ....

I'm not sure how that is possible.

I have been saying how much I'm going to enjoy

this holiday season. How much I'm going to be organized this December.

How with all the craziness going on in my life right now, I was going

to spend my time wisely....

Wow ... that just went out the window.

However, I have not taken my eyes off what is truely important...

Decorations - No

Gifts - No

Partys- No

Christmas tree - No - well maybe yes

Friends - Yes

Family - Yes

making the most out of what I have left of this amazing season - Yes

The lessons I am learning right now have made me stop and realize

only stress over what is important ... and just let the rest go.

I love Christmas, I love spending time with my kids and my husband,

I love my family and friends and that is what

this December is all about ... the rest may just wait until next year !!!

What a gift ....

My Journey continues ....

There are no answers yet, it seems with each new test just comes more

questions.  My appointment last week brought a new set of questions along

with a few concerns. But with my family (blood and bond)

my journey will continue until we have concured this ..?????

I can say that since my blood transfusion that I am feeling much better,

My hemoglobin count is up 10.6 ... wow ....

I think i actually forgot how it felt to have a bit of energy, some color in my hands

and not feel tired all the time

I am thankful for that...

Black Friday .....

We survived another one !!!!!

Going back in time .... beginning when I was maybe 10... and we spent every Thanksgiving

weekend at Grandma and Grandpas house in  Palm Desert

we enjoyed a crowded house, great food, lots of games,

and huge thanksgiving dinner and then

Friday morning we woke up to breakfast and then the

boys took off for a day of golf and the women for a day of shopping...

then back together for a repeat of thanksgiving dinner....

forward 2010...

Even though the palm desert house is long gone and some of our family is not with us any more ... the tradition continues...

friday morning the boys went golfing .. now including Ryan....

his foursome consisted of

Papa, Mark, Uncle Ronnie and Ryan...

and the girls went shopping..

What a great day...
We aren't the crazy shoppers, 9:30am is when we met up.

But Nicole and I, along with my mom, my gram
(how many 91 year olds do you know that walked

the mall on black friday), Aunt Joanie, Sheri, Hailey and Austin

spent a fabulous day of family time and good deals..

And then of course all of us back to Joanie's for a

REPEAT of thanksgiving dinner...

Tradition is a fabulous thing....

Thanksgiving 2010

The day began with a lazy morning ....

Still not quite sure how Thanksgiving has come and gone!!

We had a great Thanksgiving full of fun, family, good times and

of course Great Food ...

I am still holding out, I have made it to 44 years old and still have

never made a turkey. My sister in law informed us on Thursday

that she is already practicing for if the time comes...

This year was a day of counting my blessings

and looking forward to many more

Thanksgivings with our family...

" The Little Flock "

"The Little Flock" a Christian worship/rock bank had their first gig last night....

Jordan on guitar and vocals, Gabriel on electric guitar,

Scott on base, Jesse on drums

Nicole and Whitney on vocals...

Yes, Nicole and her band made their debut

on stage at the

Node Coffee Shop and Bookstore...

They were really good and wow as a parent

to see your child doing something they love

was wonderful ...

Nicole had a blast...sang great and can't wait until her next gig ....

and to make it even better

Lauren and Gillian

were there to cheer her on (Friends are so important and she is so blessed)

Nicole has been singing on Sunday evenings at church,

but this was our first time to hear her sing ... WOW ... so fun and yes so proud!!

Braces !!!

The time has come ... Nicole got her braces!!!

We began her new journey

her teenage right of passage...

She looks so cute

can't wait to see what the next

2 years are to bring...

Next step, have a tooth removed and then complete

the top braces...

Bottom to come later...

Shoes ....

On Monday morning Ryan said ... mom I really need new shoes... and yes he does,

he is so hard on his shoes. So after school Ryan, grandma and Mom set off for shoes.

After a few stores he saw the shoes he wanted.. instantly .. these .. were the ones.

Black and Grey Vans...

Perfect he said and home we went with a very happy Ryan already wearing his new shoes....

And just like a loving brother would do, we walked in the house and he said to his sister

Look what I got ... Nicole responded those are the shoes I want...

With a promise a few weeks ago to take her shopping, Tuesday

Nicole and Papa headed for the Vans store....

Long story short ...

who would have thought my 13 year old girl and my 11 year old boy .. would

be so happy to have matching shoes !!!

11 !!!! Wow ...

On November 2nd ... Ryan turned 11 ... that is still amazing to me.. On your birthday you get to pick the restaurant we go out to celebrate, if you know Ryan you can probably already guess what kind of food we were having ... if you guessed Pizza .. you are correct. We had a great evening.... California Pizza Kitchen .... Grandma Bliss and Grandma and Papa .. a whole cheese pizza .... white cake (thanks grandma bliss) and presents ... an 11 year old's heaven.



New Blood !!!!

Something I never pictured myself doing ... today I checked into

Whittier Pres. Hospital at 7:00am

had a private room and received 2 blood transfusions....

Spending the day in the hospital was not on my calendar at the beginning

of this week but after a blood test on Tuesday, the

doctors decided that my body needed a little help. My hemoglobin count was

still low so off for some new blood ...

Transfusion #1, took 3 hours and the blood look like Heinz Ketchup

Transfusion #2, took about 3 hours and the blood looked like Hunts BBQ sauce..

Never knew blood was different colors...

We are hopeful this will be the boost that it needs...

Tuesday, I go again for another blood test...new iron pills & new blood..

i'm hopeful for a rise in my counts...

stay tuned... my journey continues ... 

Halloween !!!!

A Fabulous .. Spooky Night ....  With fun had by all !!!!

Lots of candy, great friends, our favorite cousins, grandma & grandpa, aunts & uncles,

and great gram.... = an evening of fun!!!

My scarry zombie chinese soldier...



The BIKE !!!!

We combined Halloween and Ryan's 11th birthday

and the entire family came to celebrate (blood and bond)

All Ryan asked for was a new bike ...

he looked and looked from Whittier to Huntington Beach in every bike store out there...

When he saw this one... he instantly said "THAT'S IT !!!!"

So with a little help from Grandpa, then entire family stood outside

as he got his new bike.

He had a smile as big as the moon ... he was a very happy 11 year old !!!



Orange .....

Nicole came to me this morning and said

"Mom.. may I dye my hair orange?"

Just for a few weeks... you know semi permanent...

So yesterday afternoon, we set off the beauty supply store....

(after some really good advice from my BFF and a few times of reconsidering)

She did it ....

Orange ... Yes ....

A Day Off....

Here they come .. .lights on ...

Today .... we had a day off!!!!

No school for the kids.... No work for Mark, so of course

I took the day off....

What a great day of fun with our wonderful family...

Breakfast

the afternoon and Knotts Berry Farm

dinner at Pat & Oscars

and when we got home the fire department pulled up and parked in front of our

driveway. Being the curious ones that we are, Ryan asked why are you here?
They were making a home visit next door, so to kill some time

the very nice fireman offered Nic and Ryan a ride in the

Hook and Ladder...

so headsets and lights ... and off they go!!

Ryan said it was the best day EVER !!!

Still Waiting......

It's been a week since I met with Dr. Agajanian....

He confirmed I am severly anemic and ordered many tests...

So, this week I did a 24 hour urine study

a bowel study and gave

9 tiger viles (large)

and 1 small vile of blood. As with me you never know what a

trip to the lab will be like. Well after 15 minutes for the tech just to

type in all the tests I needed, a change of rooms (to one with a cot)

and my ipod on high .. I survived the blood draw, but not without

a little drama. One minute I'm sitting up, the next I'm out ....

Of course, Lori passed out...

3 glasses of water  and 15 minutes later off I went.

So, with the first set of tests down, it's just a waiting game ...

my next appointment is monday, Nov. 1st...

We'll see ... I do know that I am not alone

and believe that   God has not give me anything I can't handle.

God has also granted me with great friends and family who will

keep me sane through this. Thanks for the refridgerator jokes.....

24 Hours and Counting ....

We are down to a 24 hour count down until my big

dr.'s appt.

Friday morning I am going to the

Oncology Institute of Hope to see a

hemotologist/oncologist to see what is going on with my hemoglobin count.

I am excited to know that some of the symptons that I have experienced

over the last few months may have a reason. I am a little scarred but confident that

things will work out and I do know that God works

in mysterious ways and will watch over me.

 Who knew a routine colonoscopy would lead to

all this fun .... However, I would have not done anything

about my sluggish, tired, aching old body if not for

the colonoscopy. So, off I go on the road to health, figuring this out, walking,

cutting out some foods and eating better.

"The Lord does not give us more than we can handle", He has more faith

in me than I do, but I will rise to the occasion.



10/10/10

Oh and a "Crazy" fortune teller .... Ryan drew the sword .. a sign of strength and fortitude ... he will claim the futher with both hands

 

It only happens every hundreds of years ....

today my unlce larry turned 65 on Oct. 10 of 2010

What a party ... dancing, drinking and lots of fun times

Dad and his brothers and sister

I love my cousin Kristin

The Birthday boy and anniversary couple

Papa and Nicole dancing the night away ....
Oh and Nicole drew the page card (on of the fortune tellers favorite) her future is bright and she will achieve great things if she puts herself out there !!
and me ...
My past was so so, my present .. I worry a lot of what others think (who told her) and my future card was
the DEVIL ... (a picture of the devil holding a string with 2 small devils on the end ..
Scarred me a little .. but she said oh I LOVE THIS CARD .....
I will accomplish many great things in the future but I need the help of others to do it. She said the great thing
is I shine for it but others had to do the work with me .. Hummm.... we shall see !!!

Birthday Fun ...

Three Generations .... Wow that's special

Family







Happy Birthday to my wonderful sister-in-law





Austin loves great grams angel food cake ... more more







Happy Birthday Leigh Ann and Jim

Another fun night spent eating, enjoying each other and celebrating ...