Win one for my mom today!

My mom was a HUGE college football fan.

She loved everything about.

We'd had season tickets to the KState games for over 10 years and have travelled to more away games and bowl games than I can count.

KState will always be some of our favorite family memories.

Today we were supposed to be in Manhattan, KS to watch our Wildcats take on the Oklahoma State Cowboys. Since we weren't able to be there, one of our dear friends left a single rose on my mom's seat. I know she's up there cheering today.

Let's win one for her!

Today, I'm gratetful for my feet

Right before my JR year of high school my family moved to Kansas City.

I was leaving the only home I ever knew....right in the middle of those awkward teen years.

My brother was in college and my dad travelled every week so it was just me and my mom most of the time. I had a really hard time adjusting. I wasn't making friends at my new school. I had just turned 16 and constantly got lost in my new city. One day my mom saw something on Oprah about writing in a Grateful Journal during tough times, she told me maybe I should do that. Focus on the good things in my life, not the bad. As a sassy teenager I quickly snapped back, "What do I have to be grateful for?"

In her usual joking manor she said, lot's of things, like the fact that you have feet.

I looked at her and said...really, I'm supposed to be grateful for my feet?

Ever since then it become one of our many little inside jokes. Anytime one of us would be down we'd joke and say, just be grateful you have feet.

So today....I am.

I'm also grateful for my family.

For my friends who are coming from near and far to be with me during this difficult time so I don't have to do it alone.

For my husband.....who when I opened our fridge and saw my moms coffee creamer and started to cry, offered to throw it away.

For my son....he's the bright spot in our lives right now.

For cloth diapers.....I've been using disposables since last night so I don't have to worry about the laundry when I get home and I can't help but think I'm putting a piece of paper on my sons butt. The way they get all squishy with those jelly beads when they're wet seriously grosses me out. And they stink. Even my husband noticed it this morning and he's not exactly what I'd call observant.

For all the time I got to spend with my mom these past 2 months.

For all the time she got to spend with Jamie.

For my lack of appetite. At least maybe now I'll lose the rest of that baby weight. :)

For not crying while going through all my pictures last night....for the first time since all this happened I actually enjoyed remembering the good times. And smiled.

Today my mom went to heaven

We received a phone call late last night that my moms heart had stopped. They were able to bring her back with CPR and shocked her heart three times. When we got to the hospital and spoke with the doctor he told us there was nothing more they could do for her. All we could hope for at this point was a miracle.

She continued to battle through the night but wasn't making any progress. The ventilator was breathing for her and they had given her medicine to keep her blood pressure up. Together as a family we decided she would not want to live like this and put it in hers and God's hands.

At 6:32 this morning she gave up her fight and went to heaven.

Thank you for your continued prayers and support. While my mom's battle may be over I feel like ours is just beginning.

Day 5

Has it really only been five days since this roller coaster ride began?

It feels like an eternity.

Can I get off now?

Most days you kind of just exist in a fog, driving back and forth from the hospital.

Sitting and staring at your mom who is sedated and now has machines breathing for her when just a week ago she was perfectly fine.

It's been confirmed she has a severe case of pneumonia that is very aggressive and has infected her entire body. She continues to be on a ventilator and started dialysis on Saturday to help her kidneys rid her body of all the toxins left behind from the infection.

Doctors all remain very optimistic she will beat this, it's just going to take a lot of time and patience. They anticipate she will remain in the ICU on the ventilator for at least another 10-12 days.

I've been down at the lake with my dad this week, thankfully work was slow and I could take the time off. I plan on staying here through the weekend and then will head back to KC. Our newest mission is to find Jamie a daycare since it looks like grandma....aka our nanny.....is going to be out of commission for awhile.

Thank you everyone for your continued prayers and support! I will keep you all posted on any updates.

And because this blog could use a little cheering up, who can resist this little face.....

Thoughts and Prayers please

My dad went home last night because my mom had been sick with a cold for a few days. When he got there she was incoherent and having a hard time breathing. He took her to the ER and they discovered she has pneumonia and one lung is 90% blocked. They put in a breathing tube and started her on some antibiotics but her oxygen levels are not coming up like they would have hoped so they're keeping her in the ICU. I'm driving down there today to be with her and my dad. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

Blog Challenge ~ Day 11

Day 11 ~ Favorite TV Shows

I've talked many, many....MANY times about my slight obsession with crappy reality TV and pre-teen shows. I'm not proud of it, but it's just for entertainment right? If I was trying to educate myself in the evenings I'd pick up a book.

Here's a few of my faves.

Glee

Teen Mom

Vampire Diaries

Gossip Girl

90210

Blog Challenge ~ Day 10

Day 10 ~ Something(s) you're afraid of

I'm afraid we will NEVER be out of debt. The mortgage and car payments I can come to terms with, but the rest drives me crazy. Just when I think we've made some good progress the car needs work or we need a new heat/AC unit for the house. It never ends.

I'm afraid of airplane bathrooms. They creep me out.

I'm afraid of having a child with special needs. I've worked with some severely autistic children and I don't know how their mothers do it. I don't think I'd be strong enough.

I'm afraid of spiders and all things equally creepy crawly.

I'm afraid I won't find a new job when my current contract is over.

I'm afraid of the fake chainsaw man that runs around haunted houses.

I'm afraid one day my boss will discover I spend the majority of my day reading blogs.

I'm afraid I might never fit into my regular jeans again.

Blog Challenge ~ Day 9

Day 9 ~ Friends

I've been pretty blessed in the friends department.

As far as best friends go I have three.

Carolyn. My partner in crime since the 3rd grade who helped me sneak wine coolers and prank call boys.

Nikki. One of the first people I met my Freshman year of college. She was there the first (and last) time I smoked a cigarette. We were roommates. Twice. She was there the day I stole an orange cone and walked it all the way down High Street. We mastered the fine art of chewing 5 pound bags of gum. Together we've planned our weddings and had our first babies. She's been there through it all and I can't imagine life without her!

Maria. My sorority sister and roomie. We had dueling pampasan chairs and a love for the Coyote Ugly Soundtrack. She witnessed me "surf" the hallways many a Friday night and forced me to stop studying for finals on my 21st birthday so I could hobble down to the bar on my broken foot and buy my first legal drink!

All of these lovely ladies were my bridesmaids along with my sister in law Jade. Each one is very different from the other but together balance out my life. I don't know what I'd do without them!

My first year of college I met a pretty fantastic group of people. We've stayed friends through it all and until the hubs and I moved 10 hours away, we saw them all on a regular basis. Now unfortunately our visits are limited to holidays and brief trips back to Ohio...but we've done our best to keep in touch. Every year for as long as I can remember we all go down to Hocking Hills, OH for our annual "camping" trip. I use the term camping loosely because it involves indoor plumbing, satellite TV, hot tubs, and mass amounts of beer. We do usually have a fire pit complete with all the smores fixins, that's about as rustic as it gets. We had to miss last year for the first time ever....but I'm hoping to make the next one!

And last but certainly not least are the wonderful women I've met through blogging. When I started this thing I never in a million years expected to meet such awesome people. In a new town where I'm still trying to find my place, I'm lucky to have these ladies make it feel a little bit more like home!

Tasty Tuesday ~ Venti Coffee and a Pizza Casserole

I usually make my Tasty Tuesday recipes on Monday....however we're on about day 10 with a sick baby so needless to say there was no cooking in the EyeCanSee kitchen. There was also no sleeping in the EyeCanSee bedrooms as little Jamie was up every.single.hour. This has pretty much been his routine for a week now. So much for sleeping at all let alone through the night. Poor little guy and his snuffly nose. Poor mommy and her lack of sleep. Today I treated myself to a Venti Caramel Macchiato...thank god for Starbucks. Some days it's worth every penny!

I still have my recipe to share, I just can't say whether or not it's any good! I'll let you know the final verdict when I get around to making it....or maybe one of you could take a stab at it and let me know if it's worth making!

Pizza Casserole

1 Lb Ground beef (or Turkey)

1 small onion, chopped

1 15 oz can pizza sauce

8 oz elbow macaroni, prepared according to package directions

1 8 oz pkg shredded mozzarella

1 3.5 oz pkg pepperoni

(I can already tell I'd throw in some garlic too...can never have enough. And depending on the sauce, maybe some extra Italian Seasoning to spice it up...or a good shake of red pepper flakes for some heat)

Brown beef and onion in large skillet over medium high heat. Drain and return to pan.

Stir in pizza sauce, macaroni, mozzarella and pepperoni. Spoon into a greased 2 qt baking dish

Bake at 350 for 40 minutes.

Bon Appetite!

Blog Challenge Catch up!

Day 6: A picture video of something that makes you happy

Jamie was talking up a storm the other night....but of course the minute I whipped out the camera he stopped. Either way he makes me happy everyday!

Day 7: Favorite Movie

For years and years it was Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Now it's Mean Girls

Gotta love vintage Lohan

Day 8 ~ A Place you have travelled

For our honeymoon we took an 8 day cruise through Panama, Costa Rica and Belize. It was amazing and we can't wait to take another one....next time we're thinking Alaska! Fun fact of the day: The reason I started my blog is so friends and family could follow along on our trip since we would basically be unreachable. These posts are some of my very first and I love having them now to look back on and remember our honeymoon!

Happy Monday!

30 Day Challenge ~ Day 5

Day 5: Siblings

The Foo. That pretty much sums up my older brother Matt.

He's a lover of all things wine, video games and sports.

We joke that if worm races were a sporting event on tv....he'd watch it.

He could live off of Runzas and LaCasa's pizza.

He's the king of bullshit.

But as far as big brothers go, he's a keeper.

One of the first few days after I was born, my proud big brother waited outside all day long to tell everyone his little sister had arrived. He also took it upon himself to invite the mailman in to show me off. A bit of a shock to my mom as she comes downstairs to find a strange man standing over my bassinet. We continued to be best pals in those early days. Building forts out of the couch cushions and having "sleepovers" in the hallway. You see, our mom would never let us stay in each others rooms, but apparently we found a loop hole....cause one night she found us sleeping on the floor in our doorways which were right across from one another.

As we got older ... I still wanted to tag along and hang out with him and all his "cool" friends. He usually saw me as the annoying little sister. The one who tried to put My Little Ponies in his Star Wars ewok village. Apparently this is a no no. They also can't play in GI Joe's jail. Who knew.

We went through those awkward "I hate you" teen years but as soon as I started high school and he went away to college we became friends again. We bonded over KState football and weekends at the lake. We worked together at Arby's. He generously "gave" me "his" car for my 16th Birthday....ya know, the one my parents had bought him 4 years earlier. He took me out drinking for the first time and gave me shots of tequila. Apparently a rite of passage in the David family. I snuck him into the Ohio State vs Michigan game using my sorority sisters student ID. Not an easy task. When a boy broke my heart he offered to beat him up. The day I graduated from college he got me a bottle of Cristal so I could drink it straight up, just like P. Diddy. He's the reason I can "proudly" say I've walked barefoot across the state lawn of Texas. We stood up for each other at our weddings and he was there the day Jamie was born. I don't think I say it enough...but he's a pretty great big brother and I'm lucky to have him.

30 Day Challenge ~ Day 4

Day 4: ParentsWhen it comes to parents I'm definitely one of the lucky ones. They've been there through my best and my worst times...seen me through thick and thin. Even put up with me at times they probably would have rather thrown in the towel. They know I'm not perfect and love me anyways....faults and all. They've always been the "fun" parents. The kind who all my friends adore and enjoy hanging out with as well. They have a wonderful marriage. One I've always admired. After 37 years they still love each other, which these days is pretty darn amazing!

My mom. My "vessel of life" as she likes to call herself. Where to begin. We're more alike then either one of us will probably ever admit. Strong willed....a bit hard headed. She speaks her mind...sometimes too much....sometimes without a filter, but that's what I love about her. (Most of the time) She hates country music and "funny" meat. Pink is her signature color. She LOVES chocolate. She's technically challenged...but getting better. I do believe she even knows how to "boot up" the computer now, as long as she has her cheat sheet nearby. She puts herself before anyone else. She's funny and tells the best stories. She's often the butt of all the family jokes, but takes it in stride. (Most times) She's one of my best friends. I talk to my mom pretty much everyday...lately I've seen her most days as well since she's playing nanny for Jamie while I'm at work. She's the one I can go to for anything and I know she'll listen. She'll tell me the truth even when it's not what I want to hear. She's a great mom. If I'm even half the mom she is, Jamie is going to be one lucky guy. My dad. He's not your typical sports loving, golf playing, TV watching dad. (Which by the way makes buying Father's Day cards tricky...have you ever noticed Hallmark thinks ALL dads play golf or fish??) You're more likely to find him in the kitchen or on the boat. As a little girl he made smiley faces on my hamburgers out of ketchup and was probably the only dad who could braid their daughter's hair. He picked out my wedding dress when most dads wouldn't be caught dead in a bridal salon. He's the peacemaker between me and my mom. He has a lead foot and rightfully earned the nickname Mario...as in Andretti. He hates mushrooms but loves all things lemon and lime. He always sings the wrong words...except to "No Diggity" but that one he saves just for me. ;) He's stubborn and usually gets his way, but we love him nonetheless. He loves being a grandpa. I don't really think of myself as a daddy's girl....but I'll always be his little scooter.

30 Day Challenge ~ Day 3

Day 3 ~ First Love

This one, believe it or not, was actually kind of a tough one for me. While I was tempted to take the cliche route and choose my husband, I knew in the back of my mind this wouldn't be the honest to God truth. I did love someone before I met him. At least I thought I did.

I didn't really date anyone seriously through high school or college. It wasn't until I was 24 that I had my first real boyfriend. The first person I said "I love you" to. At the time I thought it was love. But in hind site I realize it really wasn't. I think I was in love with the idea of love. At 24 when all the people around me were planning weddings and finding their soulmates I was starting to fear I'd never be in their shoes. I'd be the eternal third wheel. Always the bridesmaid...never the bride. So I did the worst thing a girl can do. I let myself fall in love with the first person I found. I let him break my heart. I was young and foolish. I'll admit it. But do I regret it? Nope. Because in the end it taught me what real love was. That's the love I have for my husband. The kind where you don't have to be someone you're not. The kind that doesn't lie to you. The kind that makes you feel like the prettiest girl in the room. The kind that's unconditional. That's the kind of love everyone deserves and I feel like the luckiest girl alive everyday knowing that I've found it. Even if I did have to kiss a few frogs along the way.

I feel like I just won the lottery....

This morning I opened our online bank accounts to the most glorious site I've seen in awhile.

Direct Deposit.

From MY work.

That's right folks.

For the first time since August 18th I'm a contributing member of this family again!!

For someone who's been steadily earning a paycheck since the mid 90's, going nearly 2 months without earning a dime was rough. Not just on our finances, paying the bills with half our income was hard enough, but on my ego as well. I like working and helping to support our family. I'm proud of the fact that I bought my first home at 22 and was financially stable all on my own. Not dependent on anyone but myself. So while it was really hard to go back to work and leave my little man at home, the working girl in me was anxious to start bringin' home the Benjamin's again. Imagine my surprise when I started back to work on September 20 only to discover it was the start of a new pay period...which means I wouldn't actually get paid until today, Oct 13. Yikes! I have to slave away for 3 1/2 weeks before I even see one single penny? Lame! But today was the day folks...the day I've been waiting for....pay day!!

Looks like a little shopping is in order!

Or maybe I'll just pay the mortgage.

Decisions, decisions.....