It’s only been 4 months…

Well, hello… Whoever reads this… It’s been awhile, and a lot has changed in life. The biggest change is that Parker and I moved to Utah the weekend after Thanksgiving. I was offered a job at Utah Valley University. I was struggling to find [stable] work in Idaho, and was having a hard time paying bills… So, this job offer came at a great time. So, we have been in Utah nearly a month and so far it’s going okay. It is very different, and there have been challenges… but it’s starting to feel more like home. There are a lot of things I miss about Idaho. First, I miss my mom like crazy! It’s strange to not be able to just hop in  my car and drive 2 blocks to see her. It has been hard being away again, even though it’s only 3 hours. I miss my friends a lot! It took me a long time to find friends that loved me for me, and whom I could trust 100%. When I did find those friends, it was awesome! And now, I miss them dearly. I miss the small town feel of Sugar City. I miss the short drives to work, and the slow pace. I worry everyday about Parker and how he is doing in school. He says he is happy and making friends, but I can’t help but worry about him. His school is much bigger, and the lifestyle is so different. But we are doing well. I like my job. I like working at the college. I am even going to take a class in the Spring! (I get to take classes for free, so who wouldn’t?) There are things I love about Utah too… I love that there are places besides Applebee’s and JB’s to eat :). I love that the mountains are right out my window. There are more opportunities and things to do here, which is a plus. So far the weather has been pretty good… a little warmer than Idaho, so that’s a plus!

So much more to say, and yet this is getting long and boring :) I’ll try to keep up :).

Happy Holidays!

Photo dump

This is a picture taken before my job interview at Upper Valley Resource and Counseling. I got the job! YAY! So far so good!

Parker wanted a desk for his birthday… I hate putting things together, but I did it for him… It took about 4 hours, but it turned out GREAT! I ended up remodeling his whole room for his b-day!

This is Parker’s birthday dinner at Applebees. He’s lovin the dessert we got!

A picture a client gave to me and a grumpy Parker

Parker has GROWN A TON!!

Look at those stone wash jeans! Hello 80’s!!

Handsome boy!

Mom’s cat Chester

Parker and I laying on blankets on the grass watching the meteor shower. It was FUN!

More cookin’

 

Cajun Chicken Alfredo… Doesn’t that sound yummy!?

 

I didn’t have fettuccini noodles, so I used spaghetti noodles. SO GOOD! AND it was Parker approved. He gobbled this stuff up like crazy! Another Pinterest recipe success!!

 

Below is the picture from Pinterest.

Things I’ve been cookin’

I’m not going to lie… I hate really dislike cooking. But, I’m getting use to it, because let’s face it… teenage boys like to eat 3 balanced meals a day. So, I made this cheesy chicken pasta stuff in the crock pot. It was chicken, green peppers, rotel, cream of chicken soup, cream of mushroom soup, mushrooms, onion, 1/2 cup water, and some Velveeta cheese. I cooked the noodles separate. I cooked the mixture for 2 hours, then added in the noodles. It was YUMMY! Parker thought it was a little too cheesy, but I like cheese more than he does Overall, it was a success. I found the recipe on Pinterest!

Above is what mine looks like… more cheesy than the Pinterest one!

This is what it looked like on Pinterst.

An interesting survey

I saw this survey online, and thought it was pretty interesting. It goes beyond where is your cell phone and who is the last person you texted type questions (if you really wanted to know, my cell phone is on the table and the last text was from my sister). If you are interested, read ahead… if not, you can skip this post… just this once though :)

• 1. What is more difficult for you, looking into someone’s eyes when you are telling someone how you feel, or looking into someone’s eyes when they are telling you how they feel?

I would say that I have a harder time looking into someone’s eyes when they are telling me how they feel. I tend to make a lot of eye contact… maybe too much sometimes.. but if you are bearing your soul to me… I’ll probably be looking at the ceiling or TV or something.

• 2. Think of the last time you were REALLY angry. WHY were you angry? Do you still feel the same way?

This is a hard question. My first reaction is that I don’t get angry very often. Sure, I get irritated and upset, but angry… I don’t know. However, I do tend to hold grudges, so maybe I do get angry more than I’d like to admit. I guess the last time I got angry is when I was “reassigned” at my last job. I know it worked out for the best, and it wasn’t really a big deal, but I was MAD. I felt like a loser and inadequate and all that jazz. I’m not angry anymore and I don’t work there anymore, so it’s all good :)

• 3. You are on a flight from Honolulu to Chicago non-stop. There is a fire in the back of the plane. You have enough time to make ONE phone call. Who do you call? What do you tell them?

First of all, why am I flying from Honolulu to Chicago? Anyway, I would call my mom. I would tell her I love her and that she made my life amazing. I would ask her to tell my friends and family that I love them and that I will miss them. I would tell her to burn my journals! haha.

• 4. You are at the doctor’s office and he has just informed you that you have approximately one month to live. Do you tell anyone/everyone you are going to die? What do you do with your remaining days? Would you be afraid?

It would be hard to tell people, but I think I would. For one, I would probably start doing my bucket list stuff, and it might look really crazy that all of a sudden I’m wasting my money and traveling and getting a million tattoos and saying goodbyes and all of that jazz. I would want my last month to be spent with only people I love. I would be afraid. Not because I’m afraid of dying, but because I would be afraid of how my family would react to my death. I would worry about them.

• 5. You can have one of the following two things. Which do you choose? Why? Love and Trust.

I would choose trust, because you can’t have love without trust. If you have trust, love typically goes hand in hand.

• 6. You are walking down the street on your way to work. There is a dog drowning in the canal on the side of the street. Your boss has told you if you are late even once more, you are fired. Do you take the time to save the dogs life? Why or Why not?

Yes, I would save it. And if my boss didn't understand, I'd just quit. A job, while difficult to do, can be replaced. The life of an animal cannot.

• 7. Would you rather be hurt by the one you trust the most or the one you love the most?

As I said, love and trust tend to go hand in hand. So, I guess it would be the same person. However, if I have to choose I guess I would be more hurt by the one I trust. If I trust them, I trust that they won’t hurt me. If they do hurt me then that would be a big blow.

• 8. Your best friend confesses that he/she has feelings for you more than just friendship. He/she is falling in love with you. What do you (or did you) do/say?

My best friends are Jackie and Cindy. If they confessed their love for me I would tell them to lay off the booze. :) Friends can love each other… but if they had romantic feelings for me I would laugh!!

• 9. Think of the last person who you know that died. You have the chance to give them 1 hour of life back, but you have to give up one year of yours. Do you do it? Why or Why not?

This is tough. I would say no. The last person I know that died is my Uncle Bud. Although  I love my Uncle Bud a lot, I wouldn’t want him to suffer even an hour longer than he did. If the last person I knew that died was a child that died suddenly, the answer may be different. I guess maybe it sounds selfish, but I wouldn’t do it.

• 10. Are you the kind of friend that you would want to have as a friend?

I try to be………..

• 11. Does love = sex?

Absolutely not. I love a lot of people I don’t want to have sex with! Sex is a great part of a romantic relationship… but just because you are having sex doesn’t mean you love each other… Sounds awful but it’s true. Sex is awesome with someone you love, but a lot of people have sex just because of hormones!

• 12.Your boss tells your coworker that they have to let them go because of work shortage, and they are the newest employee. You have been there much longer. Your coworker has a family to support and no other means of income. Do you go to your boss and offer to leave the company? Why or Why not?

Another question that will make me sound selfish… I would say no. Only because I have a family to support as well. Maybe if I had another job offer, or I could live without that income, but layoffs suck and most people who are let go have families… it’s the sucky way the world works.

• 13.When was the last time you told someone HONESTLY how you felt regardless of how difficult it was for you to say? Who was it? What did you have to tell the person?

Wow. I honestly don’t know the answer to this. I’m not an overly emotional person… I don’t typically gush my feelings to anyone. I’ll have to ponder this one.

• 14. What would be (or what was) harder for you to tell a member of the opposite sex, you love them or that you do not love them back?

It would be harder to tell them that I didn’t love them back. I never want to hurt anyone, and that would definitely hurt someone!

• 15. What do you think would be the hardest thing for you to give up? Why would it be hard to lose?

My family. I wouldn’t give them up…. the why seems obvious!

• 16. Excluding romantic love, when was the last time you told someone you loved them? Who were they to you?

I tell my mom I love her all the time… and my sister and brother and Parker and nieces!

• 17. If there was one moment and one time in the last month, what would you change and why?

In the last month, I actually can’t think of anything I would change.

• 18. Imagine it is a dark night, you are alone, it is raining outside, you hear someone walking around outside your window. WHO do you wish was there with you?

Christopher Meloni. Come on, you didn’t say it had to be someone who would REALLY be outside my window!

• 19. Would you give a homeless person CPR if they were dying? Why or Why not?

Yes I would. It doesn’t matter if they are homeless. They are a person and they need help. End of story.

• 21. You are holding onto your grandmother’s hand and the hand of a newborn that you do not know as they hang over the edge of a cliff. You have to let one go to save the other. Who do you let fall to their death? What was your rationale for making the decision?

I would save the newborn. I don’t have any living grandma’s, but the answer would be the same. A newborn has an entire life to live. My grandma would want me to save the baby.

• 22. Are you old fashioned?

Hmm. I don’t think so.

• 23. When was the last time you were nice to someone and did NOT expect anything in return for it?

I am nice all the time and I never expect anything in return.

• 24. Which would you choose, true love with a guarantee of a broken heart, or never loved at all? Why?

Dang. This one is pretty hard. I guess I would say true love and a broken heart. Maybe because I’m stupid… but I think everyone should experience true love once in their life.

• 25. If you could do anything or wish anything, what would it be?

I would wish for some good luck in my family. For my family to be happy and healthy. And if I could, I would wish for more wishes. :)

We kicked Cancer’s ass

By we, I mean… the doctors of course :). Okay, so here is the long story for those of you who care to read it…

A few months ago mom went in to the gyno for… you know… women stuff… They did the normal check ups and stuff and were concerned with how thick her endometrium lining was. They did a biopsy and told her they wouldn’t have the results for a few weeks. Mom didn’t think cancer would be a possibility. It doesn’t run in her side of the family, and, I mean… wouldn’t you know if you had cancer? Well, less than 2 days later the doctor called and wanted mom to talk to him in the office. He broke the news to her that she did indeed have cancer (endometrial). Shock. There are no specialists in Idaho, so mom was told she would have to go to Salt Lake City to the Huntsman Cancer Institute. Well, surgery was scheduled, and we started making plans to spend a week or so in Salt Lake. My sister Kim was also able to come to town from California for a week. SO… surgery happened. And let me tell you, my mom is HILARIOUS on pain killers and anesthesia… Kim and I were laughing so hard at some of the things she said and did. Mom sang to the nurses and yelled at us and said weird things. It was great! But, she was in a lot of pain that first night… They found out her catheter wasn’t working properly, so her poor bladder was filling up to the brim. Once they got that fixed, she still had pain but it wasn’t as severe. She was in the hospital from Tuesday until Saturday. Her blood sugars were high and she wasn’t eating much, so they kept her a day longer than planned. Well, Kim had to fly back on Sunday so she could go back to work. Mom and I decided to stay in Salt Lake because she was supposed to get her stitches out on the 15th (tomorrow). Well, Monday morning at 3:00 AM mom started bleeding REALLY bad. She had been weeping out of a part of her incision for part of the day, but nothing serious… then 3 am hits and it is crazy bleeding. So, I rushed her to the University of Utah Emergency Room. It wasn’t infected or anything, it just had some pockets that needed to drain. So, the doc took 3 staples out (she has 31) and packed the wound with gauze and covered it. He showed me how to do this procedure, as I have to do it twice daily at least. Well, the bleeding continued to be pretty severe. Yesterday (Wednesday) we were running out of packing gauze and such, so mom called the Dr. and they suggested she come in. We went in at 4:30 PM and the nurses irrigated it and repacked it. They said it wasn’t infected, but there was NO way she would be able to have her staples out tomorrow. They said she could have her general doctor at home take them out, and we could head back to Idaho. The doctor came in and told us the pathology was back and that it was good news! The cancer was stage 1A (the “best” stage). It had not grown and they got it all in surgery! In the hospital they told us they removed a mass off her bladder, and luckily pathology came back that it wasn’t cancer, just a cyst type thing. So it was great news! We have to irrigate and pack her wound twice a day still… and hopefully she can get her staples out NEXT Friday.

We got up early this morning and drove home. It was a long drive for mom and she is tired and weak, but it is great to be home. I’m going to stay at my mom’s for a few days until she gets a little stronger. I am so glad everything went well!! It is nice to be back home and to the familiar. I was getting sick of driving 30 minutes just to go to the Walgreens! We are hoping the bleeding stops soon and we won’t have to pack it for much longer.

I feel like I took 4 years of nursing school in just a few days. I didn’t think I would be strong enough (mentally/emotionally) to pack her wound and deal with the blood and all that… but it isn’t too bad now.

So, I think that’s all in a nut shell. I guess… I don’t know, it feels like there should be more! :) Thanks for all your prayers and good vibes and thoughts and cheers! Pictures to come soon :)

The 70’s are calling!

Kim and I were really hungry and really tired last night after a long day at the hospital with mom… so we decided to just find somewhere close to eat. Neither of us are familiar with Salt Lake, so we just drove down State Street until we saw something… well, we saw a Coachman’s and Kim remembered eating there with my aunt once… so we parked and walked in. I about died! The old cigarette dispensers had candy in them… and everything was 70’s, even the music! And it was full of old people! We thought we walked into a retirement home!! But the food was good and we got a lot of it! We both ordered fish and chips… but first they brought out soup, then salad, then the fish and chips, then ice cream! It was crazy! And cheap too… WELL, we were finished so they brought us the check… and as we walked to the counter to pay I saw a sign that said, “No debit or credit cards”. Uh oh. The waitress said they only accepted cash or checks…. WHAT! Well, lucky for me I had thrown my check book in my back. I usually don’t carry it!! Anyway, we paid and all was well… but it was the funniest place ever! But it was only $25 for both of us to eat, which included the drink and everything!

Kim’s glasses

Last night mom, Kim, and I went swimming. The water was pretty cold, but it was fun getting in and swimming around. There was a couple in the pool that was making out the whole time… but it was all good. Kim had set her glasses down, and a big oaf of a guy stepped on them!!!

They were broken pretty dang bad!! We called Wal-Mart (oh, good old wally world!) Luckily they were open until 8:00 PM and we were able to drive there and get them fixed. She has prisms in her glasses, so they were a pain, and she’ll definitely need new glasses soon… but they are fixed!!

On the way back to the hotel we wanted to go to Zupas to get mom some soup. Kim’s GPS took us to a cemetery!!! It was hilarious! But we made it, and had the most amazing soup and sandwiches for dinner!

Baby Titus Lopez

I’m going to try to highlight all of the Salt Lake stuff we’ve been doing… but I’m going to dedicate a blog to Titus Lopez. He is my newest 2nd cousin, and he is absolutely darling! He was born May 25th and was 6 pounds 15 ounces. He is a tiny little squirt! The internet at the hotel kind of sucks, so here are a few for you to enjoy now.

Look at that tiny foot! His little pinkies were so dang tiny. I didn’t want to give him back!!! Congrats Carrie!

Can February March? No but April May.

Can you believe today is the last day of May? I can’t!

Well, Parker survived 8th grade! And so did I 

Summer has officially started (well, maybe not weather wise). Saturday I will drop Parker with his dad, and head to Salt Lake with my mom and sister. My mom will have surgery on June 5th.

This year I turn 30, my sister turns 40 and my mom turns 60. So for several years we have planned a “30, 40, 60” celebration. As time passed we realized none of us had any money to do anything (my sister lives in California, so it takes travel money). So, although being together for a sucky thing like surgery, we are going to celebrate before the 5th… because honestly, a “31, 41, 61” celebration doesn’t sound very cool.

I just can’t believe how fast time is flying by! Before you know it Parker will be back and in HIGH SCHOOL!! He says he’s ready, but I’m not!

Nothing too fun has happened, so I don’t have any pictures… but I’ll blog while I’m in Utah and I’ll take a lot of pictures Of scenery, not us .

Grateful

I am sitting her at work, waiting for a client to come in… feeling tired and a little annoyed (no-shows suck). I feel overwhelmed and wanting a pity party… Then I read a news story about a 24-year-old girl who has necrotizing fasciitis (flesh eating disease). She has had her left leg amputated at the hip, her right foot and both hands. She spoke for the first time after 3 weeks and was so grateful to hear her own voice. She didn’t utter a “why me”…. Wow. I feel kind of silly! It made me realize that I need to be much more grateful for everything I do have.

1. I am generally healthy 

2. I have all of my limbs

3. I have a fabulous family

4. I have a job

5. I was fortunate to attend and graduate college and graduate school

6. I have a reliable car

7. I have a warm house and food in my fridge

8. I live in a country where I am free

9. I have access to modern medicine

10. I am alive

Okay, so there is much more, but I need to get more assessments written. Be happy, be grateful!

♥

Memorial Day

Today was a very chill day! I went over to my mom’s house this morning and watched the recorded American Idol finale. Thanks to Facebook the results had been ruined for me, but I wanted to watch anyway because of my secret crush on Steven Tyler and Philip Phillips. Mom mowed the lawn while I watched because she had already seen it. While I watched I also attempted to fix her recliner that had broken underneath. Parker did the edging and picked up the fallen branches and tree. YES tree! He worked hard. Mom bought us all Subway sandwiches for lunch, YUM! Parker went home to do his chores and to call friends to see if they wanted to play hang out. Mom and I watched the House series finale, which was kind of a let down. I expected something pretty awesome, but it ended up being a little boring. Oh well!

Parker had gotten a free activity card for Fat Cats. He can choose one free activity a day for a week (minus movies). He decided to invite his friend Braigen and it ended up that Braigen’s 3 sisters tagged along. It was a little crazy! I didn’t bowl, but the kids did and they had a lot of fun.

Now Parker is playing at Braigen’s house, enjoying the fact that school is over and he can play without worrying about going to bed early!

I’m home thinking about all those that I’ve lost in my life. Wishing I had a few more minutes with each one. I’m starting to realize that life is way too short!

I have a LONG day of work tomorrow… but I’m glad I’m starting to get more clients and feel more comfortable in my new job. It was weird to give the key to the school back to my boss.

Happy Memorial Day!

P.S. It didn’t snow!! And it wasn’t FREEZING! Yay! This was taken many years ago… I miss my daddy!

Update on Princess

Princess has been with her new family since Monday night. I was extremely sad and worried after she left. I wondered if she would be okay and if I made the right choice. But, as they friended me on Facebook and have e-mailed/text pictures I know she is in safe and loving hands. They made the trek to South Dakota and I’m sure Princess will love it there. They say Princess is happy and warming up to them quickly. I knew this was true after they sent this photo:

She looks absolutely content in her new home. I am happy I was able to find a family that would love and spoil her as much as I did. They even bought her chicken nuggets for the road trip to South Dakota.

I still miss her like crazy, but I know she is in a good home and she’s happy and healthy. That eases the pain a little.

Last Day of School

Tomorrow is the last day of school. Parker will have completed 8th grade with a 3.5 GPA. On June 2nd he will head to California for the summer. In August he will come back and start HIGH SCHOOL! I can’t believe this kid was in 6th grade when he came! Time is going by TOO fast!!

This is Parker on the first day of school

 

 

This is Parker on Picture day

 

This is Parker today, the day before the last day of school…

This is hard to see…. but this is how much he’s grown since September 16, 2011!!!!! Look at those growth spurts!! No wonder I can’t keep food in the house

Love you Parker!

Dear Princess

Dear Princess,

I know you aren’t going to understand why you live in a new home. I know you are going to be scared and angry and confused. I know you will miss me and cry when you don’t get to come home. I know that no words could explain these things to you, because no matter what I say, you won’t understand. You have been the most incredible dog I’ve ever had. I love you more than any animal I’ve ever met and/or owned. You are smart and funny and you are so obedient. The last 4 1/2 years have been wonderful. I never thought of myself as a dog owner, but you have forever changed me. I love you Princess. Please know that your new family loves you and will take care of you just as much as I have. Please know that this decision was the hardest one to make. Be happy little doggy. Enjoy South Dakota. I will miss you everyday. Parker will miss you too. Don’t cry. I love you.

Love,

Mom.