In Loving Memory

I just learned today that a dear lady, my friend and ex coworker, Brenda died of leukemia in August of this year. This lady was such a role model for me and a very dear friend of mine. Although she still lived in Vegas and I in Arizona, we would talk every couple months and catch up on life. She was a single mom, raising two teenage boys by herself. She worked a full time job and always had this beautiful smile on her face. When I learned the news today, I was actually calling to talk with her about my 401K that I still have sitting in Vegas. When I couldn't find her in the directory, I figured she had moved on from this job (as we all have) and found something more suited for her. I kept thinking, "Oh great....now I have to hunt her down." The deposit services rep, who I briefly knew before quiting, had to tell me the horrible news and poor thing, had to relive the whole story again. She was upset that I did not know and this was because no one had my contact information (bull, but okay). Brenda had battled breast cancer on and off for years but was in remission. She had found out in July of 07 that she had an aggressive form of leukemia and within a month, it had taken her life. I'm truly blessed to have known Brenda, but am feeling a little selfish right now and am very upset over her passing. God really needed this angel and I'm so thankful that she didn't have to suffer but a month. Please keep her family, her two sons and parents, in your thoughts and prayers. Keep me in those prayers too - I'm pretty devastated by this and this one will take a long time to cope with.

Lastly, tell everyone you love them cause my God, life is fragile and we all have no idea when it will be our turn. Never let a day go by without telling those if your life how much you do love them.

Bored...Imagine that!

So, I'm bored.....I'm done reading and commenting on everyone's blogs so I thought I'd just write.....

Ethan and I were driving home today and were at our four way stop before going in to our subdivision. You won't believe what I saw - I about DIED! I'm stopped, ready to turn right, and the lady to my left at the stop sign goes to turn and her passenger side door opens and a little girl falls out of the car!!! She stood back up and jumped back in the front seat and closes the door, all the while, her shoe remained in the intersection. This little girl was small - couldn't be more than 4 years old if that. My first question is why the hell was she not in the back seat in a car seat for the love of God!!!! My second question is how in the world did the door open? It might be obvious that the little girl was playing around in the front seat and accidentally opened it but it is not something you see everyday. I suppose because parents like me and Eric actually give a shit about our child and lock him up in the back in a SEAT AS REQUIRED BY LAW!!!!!! If I were ever stupid enough to put him in the front seat for any reason, he'd at least have his seatbelt on and the door would be locked. I hope that parent goes home tonight and thanks God that their little girl is okay and they were not going more than 2-5 miles an hour. URGH!

Another question - why is it when you are in the bathroom, usually a place of solitude, does your child feel the need to peek under the door and ask what you are doing? LOL! Ethan and his wacky ways!

Lastly, I have 3 days of college left! I'm thinking a drink might be in order but remember I have that liver issue to think about. SOMEONE DRINK FOR ME!! Sorry Sara and Emily....you are not allowed.

XOXO.

7 days and counting..................

That's it! Seven days and I'm a college graduate (For real)! Now I must figure out what I'm going to do with all the extra time I'm going to have. Anyone have any ideas????? Maybe a trip to Oregon should be in the works!!!

Will it ever be cold again?

We are melting out here in the desert.....literally! It is September and in many places, they are enjoying fall weather starting. Us.....we will have summer until the turkey is cooked in November! Each year gets worse than the first. We will be visiting Idaho next year for vacation to check out if we might want to move there.....we need out of this hell hole!

Happy Birthday!

My little boy turned 5 yesterday! My God has time just flown on by.....someone told me a long time ago that it would. Just didn't believe it until yesterday! We had a great day - I took the day off, we ate at Red Robin with my aunt Joni, Uncle Larry, and cousins Dann and Meg. Then we went to their place to swim and wear Ethan out a bit! Opened presents....came home. His "real" birthday party is this weekend so I decided to do the "ice cream w/candles trick". Scoop the ice cream, plop some candles in it, and light um up! It is just the same as candles in a cake to a 5 year old as long as they can make a wish and blow them out!

I wish I could slow down time and keep him 5 forever!

PS. Wow - I figure out how to post a picture! :)

Update on Life

Well, my HIDA scan came back normal today. That means my gallbladder is okay, functioning as it should and nothing is wrong with it. My liver is still all messed up and that's the next steps to take - since we know the gallbladder is okay, we can focus on trying to fix the liver. I have to make a follow up appointment with Dr. Oh (yep, that's his name) and move forward with whatever it takes to get rid of the "fatty" liver issue. I know losing 30 pounds is in the future but I think I need to get to a nutritionist (who isn't my husband) to help me focus. Yes, Eric knows all that stuff but I need to see someone outside the four walls of my house (I really have more than four walls but you know what I mean). So, until the next appointment, that's all I've got. Good news as far as gallbladders go....but still not defined answers. I'm staying positive and that's all I can do.

Eric is doing well Uncle Jim. Yep, he's still personal training....going on 11 years in the business. Funny, you would think as a personal trainer, he'd have a "smokin hot" wife but unfortunately, it's not reality. :) Hopefully that'll change with this 30 pounds I have to lose.

Ethan is doing awesome! We have decided to not start him in kindergarten this year - he is not quite ready yet. So, today was his first "Transition" day from preschool to PreK! :) Woo hoo! He did awesome with the transitition for day 1. He will start full time in PreK on the 15th! Unfortunately Uncle Jim, he isn't in to baseball or softball....he likes it but would rather kick a ball around....soccer! We wish for football but he loves soccer. I'm trying to find out if there is a team around our community for him to join - he would love it!

That's about it from here! I have 7 weeks of school left and I'm done! I cannot wait!!

Bye for now!

Medical Update

As for the medical update, they still think there is something wrong with my gallbladder after having an ultrasound done....although the ultrasound showed my gallbladder was fine....just one more test to determine if it is messed up or not. That is on the 24th of July.

Another surprising thing showed in the ultrasound.....I have a fatty liver....I know, sounds lovely....but I have it nonetheless. My liver is enlarged....the one thing that surprised my doctor was the fact that my cholesterol levels are so below the average, that I almost have a zero cholesterol count! That sounds great for the heart, but it is really bad for other things....such as your liver. So, when he tried to determine why it was so low and saw my liver, he had his answer. See, my liver isn't working like yours.....yours is taking the fat that comes in to it and is breaking it down into cholesterol which is then secreated in some way (another subject). Mine....well the fat goes in to mine and sits there....very little is processed and therefore, because there is so much in there, it has enlarged my liver. They call it fatty liver disease.....and there is no drug to help it! I have to exercise, diet, and lose 30 pounds at least and PRAY that it will take care of the problem - it is not a guarantee!! That will take me back down to high school weight which is good enough. If I don't take care of it, it could turn in to Hepatitis or cirrhosis which can lead to liver cancer. So, I am on my way to losing the weight....God help me! And I again, pray to God this works!!!! If not, I'm in trouble.

That's it for now! I'll let ya know about the hydrascan on the 24th if anything comes out of it.