Saturday, January 30, 2010

cheer up charlie

...i'm also inserting: -and when you are angry because you are stuck on the couch-...

things I'm grateful for today:
  • the ocean breeze I can feel through my window
  • a package from Christine containing a book titled "My Listography: My amazing life in lists"--which will keep me busy & entertainted
  • Chris didn't have to work :)
  • bath day!

Friday, January 22, 2010

cheery little surprises

Bunion surgery complete. The bones in both my big toes cut in half, straightened & pins put in. Had the bump on the top of each big toe shaved off, as well as the bumps on the side. Sounds gross right? Ya, it sort of is. This was yesterday.

Today the pain has been off and on, battled off by pain pills. (I am fully prepared to admit to any & all humiliating things I have said/written/done while under the influence..as I am sure there has been plenty & will be more) The most difficult part so far, has been not being able to walk. Chris has had to carry me to the bathroom, bedroom, etc. He has been great, he even got me a chocolate shake today! However, he is extremely swamped at work...so busy, he can barely speak to me while he is at home working. He only looks up about once an hour "need anything? is it time for ice?" Poor kid, he has been working 7 days a week & barely sleeping. He even forgets to eat! Ahh, I hope he finds balance soon. I'm lucky he was able to work remotely from home to take care of me.

Today, while he was at work for a few hours, I was in a lot of pain and feeling pretty miserable. Our doorbell rang & look what showed up! Sweet Grandma Rita sent me this fruit basket. I just love her. She is always so thoughtful.
THEN the UPS man dropped a package off, and to my surprise Britney had sent me a surgery survival kit. check it out! She also included 5 cd's she burned for me. What an amazing friend.

My view at the moment...Chris- working working working in the kitchen... me & my club feet with ice packs stranded on the couch, I am the definition of sexy at the moment.I'm uncomfortable & in pain, but loved my little surprises today.
They have really cheered me up!

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

With much love, Aunt Jan


Today my mother's older sister, my aunt Jan, passed away. She had been in the hospital since December because her lungs had collapsed. Although they were able to get oxygen in, she was unable to let the carbon-dioxide out. Since I've known her, she has been in a wheel chair. Crippled from polio when she was very young. We are so sad to have her gone, but know she is in a better place...walking. I like to think about how she is reunited with my Grandpa, her father, and her brother Ken, as well as all the other members of the family who have passed before her.

After crying on the phone with my mother, I realized I have never lost a sibling. I cannot imagine how difficult that loss must feel. My mother's tears broke my heart even more--she had a trip planned the first of February, so she could go see her--she wanted so badly to see her one last time. I remember my mother telling me stories of Jan, and what a wonderful sister she was. She always made my mother feel special, and took so much with her. I have never known Jan to be anything but Jolly, always laughing and making others smile. She was as sweet and as pure as they come, and is missed by many.

Her family (children) have a blog about her, keeping the rest of us updated through her hospitalization etc. I am sure they will be posting more about her passing soon.
click here: Jan's Blog

My mother sent us kids this email, I thought it was sweet so I wanted to share it:
Just before Christmas, she was hospitalized with collapsed lungs. When Jan had polio when she was sixteen, she was kept alive by an iron lung for a few weeks. And in the end, it was her lungs that gave out. They were able to partially inflate them again and she was able to spend Christmas at home with her family. She has been very weak and was on oxygen. However, because of how weak she was she couldn't expel the carbon dioxide very well. She has been slowly going downhill but I was hopeful that I would get to see her when we go to Arizona in Feb. She opened her eyes yesterday, and looked at a decorative birdcage that she had in her room and told Maureen she felt like a caged bird and she was ready to fly!! Well Jan--fly away!! Go see your two young sons you lost so many years ago! Feel free to run and hug our father and our brother Ken--what a sweet reunion! I have to thank her for helping to make me who I am. Her example--her cheerfulness in spite of her handicap--her strength to raise seven children and do all she did! I spent many days of my early years--elementary and junior high--helping her every day after school. I wish I could say I never complained or felt picked on. But what she taught me and showed me is part of me and I love her for that! It is often in the fiery furnace of difficulty and trial that we become our best selves. I can truthfully say my fiery furnaces don't seem to compare to hers, but she has helped me face mine by her example. I love her dearly and will miss her. She seemed like my mom--always pulling through some tough thing or another and bouncing back! Thank goodness she gets to rest and doesn't have to be the shining example constantly! For those who may not have felt close, please know she was and still is, the most amazing person!

I am sad I am not at my mom's, I'd scan some of her old photos. I wish I had more to show you.

Jan beat all the odds. She had polio @ 16 years old & was told many times she wouldn't make it another year, another month..She was also told she would never have children. She is a mother of 7. A daughter, sister, mother, aunt, and grandmother.

She was 73.
Death is the starlit strip between the companionship of yesterday and the reunion of tomorrow
-Mark Twain

iFly

Linda bought Steve simulated sky diving for Christmas, and guess who was able to join him? We skipped on up from OC to join them @ Universal City Walk to try out our wings. We had SO much fun! I have to say, I was pretty awful at it--and I still had fun. The best part for me (and I'm sure everyone watching) was when he was letting me walk on my own, right as I was about to grab the door I bent over & the wind caught me by my chest and T-H-R-E-W me back slamming me against the back wall. The instructor was freaking out and I was laughing, it was so exciting flying backwards like that! I loved every second of it! I only wish I could show you the video from it.

Here are our sexy pics from the excursion, I highly recommend this if you get a chance!









Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Movie Marathon..

I'm making a list. Next week is surgery & after pre-op today I've learned that I will not be able to drive for 5 weeks. AWESOME! Not. So, tonight during my single-wifehood I've been thinking of movies that I'd like to stock up on. If you have any suggestions, by all means!

I always like old movies when I catch them on tv, but I haven't seen very many of them all the way through... so I'm planning on seeing some of these old chick flicks:

The Philledelphia story

Casa Blanca

Breakfast at Tiffany's


An Affair to Remember


Barefoot in the Park

As well as Sabrina, Gone with the Wind, Girls Just wanna Have fun, Pretty in Pink, Thelma & Louise, etc.

I fear I may gain 50lbs during my immobile state but at least I'll be watching great movies!

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

the most amazing birthday party, ever.


My brother & his wife are the most amazing party planners! Their son (my nephew) Jacob recently turned 8, and they went ALL out for his party! He loves Harry Potter, so they did a Harry Potter theme. You have to hop over to her blog & check it out!

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

i've been home lusting

I think my living room needs this rug...
and my bedroom this rug...and I need an ANTHROPOLOGIE discount.

Also, PLEASE die over these with me! My patio needs them. Hand made from Buenos Aires & will be in Anthropologie stores soon (limited edition).


on a similar note, has anyone ever recovered a wingback chair before?? I'm having some DIY projects & that is one I am hoping to add to the list. Tips? Money you want to throw at me? Right.

Sunday, January 3, 2010

oh how I miss




sleep.

I'm not sure why i can't.
I follow all the "right things"
(no tv or reading while in bed, no late night work outs, no caffeine, not overly stressed, etc.)
I don't want to take drugs :(
Desperate times, people, desperate!