Mommy Vacation

My baby brother Jon (yes, I still call him my baby brother even though he’s 30) is an avid fisherman. Last September I went deep sea fishing with him off the coast of Surfside Beach (near Galveston). I’ve always LOVED to fish – probably love it more than most women should be allowed to love a stinky, slimy creature with bulging eyeballs. It was the greatest day ever. Fifty miles off the shore and in the middle of the ocean, there was no sight of land. It was my little paradise. Don’t mind the murky waters and excess seaweed, it WAS paradise. Tomorrow I leave again for Paradise. Okay, I may be over exaggerating here but I need to secure my seat on the boat. The boys will be with their father, I took a day of vacation and I’m headed to the coast. I hope I catch something big, or pretty, or scary. Hell, just something other than bait fish. Wish me luck!!! This was the fish I caught last time -- it's a wahoo...You hoo for the wahoo

Okay, a few clarifications...just for you NIN! The water was quite blue becasue we were so far out. I even jumped in (aka fell in) then got a little panicky about sharks so I pee'd in the water and got out. LMAO!!!

AND....I am SO sad that I will not get to spend the weekend with my favorite sister in law and the boy bun in the oven, but I will be camera happy and take lots of pics for your viewing pleasure. Luv u nin! :-)

Discovery Mode

So I’ve been watching this show on TLC called “Must Love Kids”. It is about three women, all divorced, with children, who are ready to find love. Quite enlightening, considering my current situation… So last night I watch as we go on individual dates. See—reality TV does that. I say ‘we’ as if I’m on the date too. LOL! Kristin was on a date with David, the landscape contractor and over dinner he asks…what makes you happy? That got me thinking. I’m on a path of self discovery. So what makes ME happy….give me the weekend to ponder and I’ll have my happy list by next week.

Mom

Dear Family and Friends,

As most of you are aware, my mom has been in and out of the hospital since April due to complications from polycystic liver disease. Polycystic disease is a genetic disease characterized by the growth of numerous cysts on the liver. While she was diagnosed with this disease over twenty-five (25) year ago, this is the first instance of the disease rearing its ugly head.

We have spent countless hours at various medical facilities for consultations, surgery, catheter placement and replacement, as well as emergency room visits and extensive tests to add her to the liver transplant list.

Ultimately, it was determined that the best course of action is a liver re-section. This procedure entails removing half of the liver and re-routing the bile ducts and reconnecting to the intestines. The surgery is scheduled for August 5th at 7:00 AM and will last approximately 4-5 hours. She will be in the hospital at Methodist Central in Dallas for 5-7 days. The doctors have advised us that the first 24 hours are the most critical as her body will either accept or reject the changes to her liver.

For the most part, she has been in high spirits but as the surgery date gets near, she is beginning to worry, as we all are – but we remain optimistic.

Please keep family in your thoughts and prayers.

I’ve flown through the last year of my life on an adrenaline powered blur…

Divorce took away the image of a happy family and let the world in on a secret that I’d been holding close, fearful that someone would know I was not happy. I painted a pretty picture and spent a lot of time reasoning with myself. My inner thoughts convinced me that it was my job to fix my marriage, but I felt lonely. At some point, probably after many therapy sessions, I realized the only person I can change is myself. And so I flipped the switch on my heart. It was over and my heart knew it.

The journey has not been simple, but I am finding a new me.

I am regaining a sense of power and control of my life. I am finding lost pieces of myself that lie buried in happier times, many years ago. I laugh. I smile. I am focused on the positive things that I have to offer the world.

Critters

It's no secret that I love cute & fuzzy things. I've owned cats and dogs (both big and small), and have been quite curious about the sugar glider and potbelly pig. About a month ago a friend sent a bulletin through myspace that her two "male" hamsters had babies -- 12 of them! Mason has always wanted a hamster but when we went to the store, they said in order for them to be tame and for you to handle them, you needed to get them young. I told my friend to let me know when they were ready to go to homes and I'd decide. Did I mention I'm a sucker for cute & fuzzy things? We went to her house last night and picked three of the cutest little hamsters. Rylan got the runt, which he named Puppy. Mason got the fatest, most laid back and named her Trixie and Dalton got a medium sized one which he is naming after his friends -- today, the hamster is Chad. Let me tell you, if I can find ANY way to get my kids up the mornings, I'll make a sacrifice so early this morning, I put each of their hamsters on them with a boisterous -- WAKE UP MY SUNSHINES. When the boys wake up happy, mom is happy. It is a good day!!!!!

Birthday

Birthdays were always big in my house. As long as I can remember, I felt like queen for the day. So....of course, as tradition were meant to be, I carry this one on. Yes, you'll see me tomorrow in my sparkly tiara letting the world know that this is my day. I know some people don't celebrate birthdays by more than a "Happy Birthday" but I want my day to be big...huge even. I'm not exactly excited that I am getting older, although with age comes experience and knowledge and those things are good, so next year I'll start counting backwards and hope I don't lose the experience or knowledge that you earn with each passing year.

Next Big Thing

So apparently, this is the next big thing....blogging. Basicallly, journaling - which is supposed to be therapeutic and God knows I could use therapy. Hell, I don't even know if I'll share my blog with anyone unless I have something interesting to say, or type.