It's the end of February already...

This month has been a whirlwind of things to do. Trying to get over last month has definitely been something that has not been easy. I find myself sometimes breaking down and really over nothing. I think my emotions are shot and I can't wait until we go on our vacation that we are currently in middle of scheduling to Purerto Rico -- can't wait to just sit on the beach and drink a drink and do nothing for a week :)

Mardi Gras came and went really fast this year, probably because of the Saints winning the Super Bowl!!! So 2 weeks of this month were spent with Saints, parades, and beads. My family came down and it was nice to see them, because last month was not really a "good" visit. Emily is growing up so fast and it's hard to believe that she is already 4 and forming her very own opinions...and there are a lot of them, but I wouldn't change that for anything! Here's a picture of me and Emily on our way to the parade!

We sat on the 20th row of the Hornets game and I have to tell you, that's awesome. We were in the seats that they will bring food to you instead of you having to get up to get it. Pretty awesome!!!

Work has been hard here lately. I feel like I am being pulled in every possible direction and I still haven't come back since being gone so long in January. I'm frustrated and I really need to get my mind settled back into a routine there so I can function properly and "leave it at work" instead of bringing home all the emotions that the day has held. I'm working on it.

Last night we got all of tax stuff together to go to the tax office today. We shall see what happens. It seems like it could be good news, getting money back, but I am always scared.

My birthday is soon and I'm excited. Amanda booked a hotel room in Biloxi and we're just going to go over and relax for a night. That's what I wanted, that's what I need. Can't wait.

I'm ready to just feel normal again and it doesn't seem like things will ever be back to normal. The other day I literally picked up my phone to call my GG and I thought...wait, she's not there and that's a hard thing to really realize. She is the first person that has been close to me to pass away and I'm having a hard time adjusting to it. I really believe that Amanda and I have grown closer together because of everything. I have tried to put my faith in knowing that she is with Jesus and one day I will see her again....it's not an easy thing. We've been going to church more and realizing that we really want that part of our life back. Here's to new beginnings...

Oh...and we gave up Red meat for Lent...we shall see!

New Month...

We're finally in February and Amanda and I couldn't be happier. We are moving past our January hard times and looking to better days. We are so thankful for all the love and support that everyone gave us throughout the month and still continue to give us, we couldn't ask for better people to surround ourselves with right now in our life. February started off with a bang because we were offered free Hornets tickets on the bottom level. I have never been on the bottom level, so it was really neat to hear the "swoosh" of the basketball net and the "screech" of the basketball shoes on the floor. It was so nice of our neighbors to give us their season tickets that they were not using that night. The 2nd of February we went and saw the off-broadway musical "Mamma Mia." We have had the tickets for quite a while and have been anticipating the show as well. Amanda has gone around the house singing all the songs for quite some time. The show was so good and we had such a good time, even though we were on the top row. We can't wait to go to another one...next on our list "Wicked." So, we can't wait to see what else this month holds for us. The Black & Gold Super Bowl is this weekend, so needless to say this city has gone completely crazy. We are living in this wonderful place at the right time in our lives. Can't wait to see the big game and then on Tuesday go out and watch the Saints parade! Along with all those fun things, there is Mardi Gras stuff going on all the time. Next weekend is the big weekend and we have people coming into town - Amanda's cousin Lawanda and her husband Rob, my sister, my mom, and my niece. We are so excited!!! Now, all we need to do is clean the house!

Until next time...

GG

This week has been such a blur...it has literally been the worst week of my life. Sitting in a room watching your grandmother die is not something I would ever make anyone do. As I sit there I watch her stomach go up and down. All the while thinking about the many great memories that we have had over the years. Larry, one of the ministers said it best when we were in the ER and she was intubated, that isn't it funny all the good thoughts you have for someone at times like these instead of negative ones. All we have done this week is laugh at the many memories we have created with her and then the few more we have added this week with her as well. After her ER visit we moved her to hospice across the street and that is where she has been. The day after she got moved she actually started talking, I know that medicine wouldn't be able to explain this, but it happened...and my Aunt said it was our little miracle. And in a small way that is true, she came back just as grumpy and ornery. Haha her telling us to "leave her alone." It's funny, in a sense. Yesterday all she did was sleep and occasionally she would begin to choke. She's taking about 7 breathes a minute and it's just agonizing to watch. I have sat in a room with her for the past 3 days watching her die. I know she's ready to see Jesus, we are just waiting for Jesus to be ready.

This past week...

Last night we went to Biloxi to visit with Mema...it was the happiest I have ever seen her.

This past week has been a bit of a blur. Last weekend we got a call from Amanda's cousin that Mema had had a stroke and was on her way in the Ambulance to the Emergency Room. Amanda was on call, but once she got home we were on a way to try and figure out what was going on. After it was all said and done, we found out on Sunday that she has Lung Cancer that has spread to her brain. Even re-reading that last sentence it doesn't seem like it could be real. Thinking back about last night and how happy she was, you would never know that she has this black cloud hanging over her. It's funny though, even with all this bad news this week, I was talking to her on the phone tonight and she has a very positive attitude towards everything. She is such an amazing woman! Tomorrow morning is the brain surgery to take the mass out and then we shall see what needs to be done about the chemo.

When something like this happens you truly understand how a family can pull together and take care of each other. I am so glad that Amanda has myself and her family support to get through these tough times.

Please keep her and her family in your thoughts in the morning...

What a Great Time!

I cannot believe it's over, but Christmas is gone and the 6 Days that we were on "vacation" went by in a split second. We made so many special memories and spent a lot of time with family.

Before we left we went to Futlon Street in the French Quarter and walked around the Christmas Trees and saw live reindeer. It was a nice night and the music was pretty good. I only wish that when they advertised "snow" every hour -- that it was more than just bubbles! Oh well, it was still nice to walk around in the little bit cooler weather down here.

We saw Paul and Donna Lee on the first night of the Southeast...haha! I absolutely love this family and I am so thankful to have them in my life. They mean more to me than they possibly know. He definitely like my big brother and I wouldn't have it any other way!

Tristan got the best present ever from me and Amanada -- The Fallen. We only wish we found it here in New Orleans. We have to give props to Donna Lee who found it in Mobile :)

We took the kiddos to Chuck-E-Cheese and had a blast! They were both really good and well-behaved. Aiden was told he had to eat before playing and boy did he...he ate 4 pieces of pizza. Wow! Crazy. It was fun watching them enjoy all the games.

This picture isn't the greatest, but it's the best we could get!

We bought Aiden a tent to go on his bed, but we set it up in the living room and he wanted all of us to go in and out of it. It was actually really big and cool! He sure does have the coolest Aunt ever!

Tried to get a good picture of the kids and Amanda and it sort of worked ;)

This is us waiting for about an hour to go into Callaway Gardens. Part of the light display was out. But GG sure did have a good attitude about waiting...haha, she was making us laugh!

Santa was getting frisky with Mom and Amanda. Haha!

We got to be with my family on Christmas morning. It was so much fun. Emily got all her presents and then she was posing for me in front of them :) So cute!

We went bowling for Leslie's birthday and had such a great time. I cannot believe that my little sister is now 24. I am getting older by the minute it seems!

This is the last picture mom and I took before I left. We matched!!!

Both Amanda and I got sick during this trip to Mobile, Birmingham, Atlanta, and Pensacola. But we had the greatest time ever. We couldn't have asked for anything better than spending time with our families!!!

Here's to 2010 and all the new things that it might have to offer!

Christmas time at our house

It has been a crazy December here at our house. It's been amazing but it sure has gone by really fast. We looked up and it was Thanksgiving and now we're just days away from Christmas and we are so excited.

We started the wonderful celebrations of December a day early with a Saints win against the New England Patriots. We have had such an awesome season and we've gotten to go to a lot more games than we ever expected. We were 13-0 until yesterday and we lost to the Cowboys, so that makes it 13-1, but I have to say nobody would have ever expected it. We have season tickets and are looking forward to the playoffs :)

During this time of year we also have recruitment season for the Med/Peds program. I actually like it, and for a selfish reason not for the applicants themselves. It's because we get to see our friends more...ha :) We had a party at our house and we made chili and it was great! If I do say so myself, our chili is sooo good!

Don't hate, but for a really long time my favorite artist has been Kelly Clarkson. One of the greatest things about living in this wonderful city is that there are so many concerts and things to do. We found out she as coming in the middle of December, but I told Amanda that the tickets were a little bit too expensive for the month of December...but she didn't think so ;) So we went and it was so incredible!!!! We were really close and we had such a great time! I am so lucky.

We have a yearly tradition of making Christmas cookies and it is so much fun! This year I decided I was going to try to make Peanut Butter fudge and even though Amanda thinks it's a little too sugary, it turned out great. I also decided that we should make some type of sugar cookie, so I found one and it was a Rudoph cookie with pretzel antlers and red noses; they were cute but not worth the effort! Amanda made her favorites of schotcheroo's and peanut butter thumb print with hershey kisses on top. It was so fun and everything turned out great!!!

One of our neighbors actually sold us our house in 2008. She is such a wonderful person and she is trying to rebuild this neighborhood all by herself it seems. She has done 3 so far. Anyways, she always has a Christmas party and rents out an entire restaurant. We went this past week and it was great. A lot of our neighbors were there along with some other good friends. It was so much fun. I have to say that was the best Christmas Party this year!

So this week is Christmas and we have a week filled. We are driving to Mobile on Tuesday night to have dinner with Paul and his beautiful family. We are so lucky to have them in our lives. They truly hold a special place in my heart. On Wednesday morning we are getting up early to drive to Birmingham to keep Aiden and Harper for Amanda's sister. Amanda is planning a trip to Chuck-E-Cheese, so I am quite sure that Aiden will be extremely happy! We're getting up early the next morning to drive to my sister's house. On Christmas Eve we are going with my mom and my GG to Callaway to see the beautiful lights. I'm so excited because I have so many memories wrapped up in that place and it's going to be extra special to have GG with us. Christmas Day at my sisters. I am so excited to see Emily on Christmas morning with Santa presents and such, followed by driving to my Grandparents and seeing my family that I haven't seen in almost a year. Celebrating my sister's birthday on Saturday and then driving back Sunday with a stop over in Pensacola to see Mema and Grandaddy. It is a lot in 6 days, but it's going to be awesome!

This year has been amazing. Filled with many memories for a lifetime! I cannot wait to see what next year holds! Merry Christmas!

Cannot believe...

That its that time of year. I absolutely love this time of year when the weather is getting colder, the leaves change colors (well, at least in other states), you have lots of yummy food, fun time with friends, soon to be Christmas lights, the smell of pumpkin things cooking, and the list could go on and on. It is most definitely my favorite time of year :)

We have decided to make a new tradition this year -- drum roll please...Turkey cookies!!! They are so adorable and easy and I'm just so excited about them.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with love and family.