What Im Thankful for...

Thanksgiving is today!!!! Yipee! Wonderful time with family and fun times to have for black friday!!! :) Anyways I just wanted to take a little time out to just list the things that I am thankful for:

1.Jesus ( He walks beside me and carries me when Im not strong enough to walk on my own! Thank you God for giving us your only son! )
2. My Husband .... he is my best friend!
3. My parents and sister! Thank you Lord again for getting my mom through the roughest year of her life, and giving my dad and sister strength to get her through it! I couldnt ask for better parents and sister!!!
4. My grandfather! Thank you Lord for putting him to the right place and at the right time. How many people do you know who are going to have a heart attack, have it right in from of an ED doctor in an ED!!! Please keep the prayers flowing for he still has to go through bypass surgery since it was postpone due to a fever he obtained because of an infection he got from not one but two IV infiltrates in his left arm. (Grrr!)
5. My many other family members! Im blessed for each and everyone of you! Including the best mother-in-law!! Oh soo thankful!!!
6. My wonderful friends! I cant even say enough about how wonderful you all are.... and you know who you are!! ;)
7. My AWESOME job (s)! The joy that each kid I get to take care of brings to my life every day; is truly remarkable. They make me appreciate my life and everything I have in it! Thank you all my little munchkins!! :)
8. Good Health! (Though pray for me as well, Ive been having some nerve like pain in my left arm that will not go away, I go see an orthopedic Tuesday. Probably for an MRI. I just need the pain to go away. Its sooo annoying!)
9. Oooh my little Coco!!! Im sooo thankful for her! She is truly my puppy best friend! She makes me happy on even my saddest days! I love her sooo much!!!
10. Im thankful for the prospect of tomorrow! Thank you Lord for EVERY DAY you give me!! I worship you!!!

Happy Thanksgiving EVERYONE! Remember to count your blessings!

Pre-Thanksgiving Thoughts :)

Sooo as Thanksgiving is approaching I am slightly saddened by the number of places that have Christmas decorations up! Thanksgiving should get it whole month as well. Please dont get me wrong, I love Christmas! I love putting up my tree (going to cut down my very first really tree this year with my hubby!! ) and to watch all of my favorite Christmas movies ( The Grinch, Home Alone, It's A Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, Elf, Etc.). I just want to enjoy Thanksgiving before I dive into the miracles of Christmas! Ok.... ill get off my soap box now.

SO whats been going on in my life these last couple weeks.... well lets just say more things adding to the fact that Im ready for 2011! ( I know I should wish my life away, so I wont but Im ready for some positives things I know God has in store for me in 2011.

Where to begin.... We went to the Carrie Underwood Concert at the end of October. Well the next morning as Im getting ready for work and trying to carve a pumpkin with my hubby I get a call from my mom that she is at the ER and they are working her up thinking she has Congestive Heart Failure. Really..... why would you ever say those words to MY mom of all people before you knew for sure!!!! Arggggh still makes me angry to think about!! Anys in a rush to get up to Emory to be with my mom before work, I get into a car accident :(  Totally my fault but by the grace of God no one was hurt!!! Thank you LORD!!! Hopefully getting my car back this week!!! Man have I missed it! Ive been in a hatchback Pontiac vibe, which I cant talk bad about but must say I wouldnt be my pick of the cars to buy based on appearance.

Then about mom, she was admitted to Emory for basically exacerbation of Asthma and worsening bronchitis! Thank you Jesus it wasnt what they said initially. She did receive Daunorubicin as part of her chemo regimen, which can cause cardiac toxicity so I am always on alert if they say anything about her heart or lungs!!! She only stayed about 3 nights.

And as if that all wasnt enough....We got another huge scare of a lifetime. My grandfather drove himself to the ER in Thomaston (Upson Regional) where he had a massive heart attack right infort of the ER doctor. They worked him (coded) for about 45 min including atificial airway, chest compressions, and was shocked 4 times! Right before the team was about to give up on their efforts my grandfather heart started beating correctly. They started him on an epi drip to keep his BP up, started him on propofol (for sedation -- so he would take his tube out and his body could rest!!), and a thromboletic to break up the plaque and clot that caused his heart attack. He was then stabalized ( including a wonderfull respiratory therapist) who gave manuel respirations until he was placed in the transporting ambulance on its way to Macon (MCCG). Once in Macon pawpaw was place in the CVICU (Cardiovascular ICU) in critical but stable condition. Later the same day he had a stent placed in to the arterty that caused the heart attack, and also found out that in his other 4 arteries that he had 80-90% blockage in those as well. Therefore he was in need of Bypass surgery. Hence where we are today.... Pawpaw is doing great thanks to God's amazing grace, wonderful family and friends praying and lending hearts and hands. HE will go into surgery early tuesday morning 11/23/10. I beg for everyones prayers and I place everything into God's hands. I promise to update this blog once he is out of surgery and well on his way to recovery outside of the hospital.  It does stink since our family thanksgiving will be spent at the hospital, but I dont care because I am sooooo very Thankful to still have my grandfather with me!! Thank you Lord , I just cant say it enough!!

And this is what they are going to do but not just one.... but 4!!!!  So keep the thoughs and prayers coming!! In God we Trust!!!! Lastly I just wanted to add, my grandfather gave his word in front of the doctor, my mom =, sister, husband, my aunt Jackie, Ms. Marcia, and myself that when he got through this surgery and he was ok, that he would quit smokng!!! Thank you Lord!!! You are King!!!

On to another note.... lets talk BLACK FRIDAY!!!  Totally cant wait!! Family tradition and always soooo much fun!!!! Looking forwrd to spending money, standing in the cold, and watching crazy women!!! :)

Until next time..... HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Carrie and Billy Tonight!

Tonight is the Carrie Underwood and Billy Currington Concert! We have been waiting since July to tell my sister, she is a huge Carrie fan and I cant wait to take her! She is going to be sooo excited! Her 15th bday was Sunday and we just gave her some cash (cash that she can spend at the concert) and left it at that. Today she will get picked up from school and we are heading up there! Sooo exciting!

On more news... This coming Month (November) the lovely Staff 4 team at Egleston as made the decision to train me for charge. WOW!! Im totally flattered, totally up for the challenge, yet totally shaken in my boots! :) Its alot more responsiblity, and im game for taking it. Im just feeling alittle more pressure to learn more things. I feel like I need to study more on my disease processes, perhaps go ahead and take CPHON and get certified. Sooo much to do.

Jeff as also start back to school for his fall semester. He is going back to become a paramedic. I think he will be a great one. He is soo caring and very smart. He knows what he needs to get done in his emergency situation. ME.... not so much. I like the field when Ive seen patients everyday and know them. Im not a huge fan of coming into craziness! Though I am slightly interested in Neonatal transport team! Hmmmm who knows what the future holds for me. But for Jeff paramedic will look good on him ! :)

So, as you all know Jeff and I got married last December. Well we are STILL trying to get our house together! I mean we have one room that is still the "dump" room! Meaning we just dump whatever in it an dont think twice about it! My goal is to get that cleaned up in the next week. So ill keep posted on here on how that is going! Grrrgh! Perhaps to when I get the house all complete I can get some pictures up here... so that = goal #2! Bahahaha!

Oooh ooh... okay so I am planning on hosting a Thirty One Gift's party! I then am thinking of becoming a consultant. Im trying to find other who would be interested in hosting a party as of right now to help me get myself started in the business! Let me know if you are interested. Repost for me, etc. Im really excited about this and hope that everyone can be a help to me and this company. http://www.thirtyonegifts.com/

Check it out!!

Until next time.....

HAPPY EARLY HALLOWEEN!!!

Loving Fall!!

I soo love when the leaves change and the weather gets cooler! Not to mention the fairs to attend and the funnel cakes to eat! I completely believe this is probably my favorite time of the year! Not to mention the holidays are approaching and I love all the time we get to spend with our family! And if Ive learned anything this week, it is to appreciate ever day we get and tell the ones you love that you love them every chance you get. At the beginning of this week a friend of mine from work lost her mom. What a horrible thing! It is sooooo hard for me to even imagine this. This past March when my mom was diagnosed with Leukemia it was like a stab to the heart, but my mom is doing great! She is in complete remission and getting stronger ever day. I cant imagine not having that time with her to fight. I reach out to my friend and will keep her in my prayers!

So plans for Halloween.... not exactly sure yet. No costume plans yet but hopefully soon. WE have been invited to a party on the 23rd which I think we will be attending and one on the 29th. So we will see. All kinds of fun stuff in store!

Also, today I finished Season 1 of Glee. Love the show, but I will admit I started getting annoyed by some of the singing and story lines. But it could be because I just watched like 7 episodes in one sitting. I may appreciate it even more with watching it once every week. Looking forward to the Halloween rendition coming on in two weeks. Looks like it is going to be great!

Then after I finished watching Glee, I switched fears and started watching Season 1 of True Blood. I have pretty much read all the books and find from watching some of the episodes that I currently enjoy the books more. But Ill continue to give the series a chance.

Now onto so more fun news. This past weekend we went to a Silent Aution for Team Kara with the Crohns Foundation, where we picked up a two night stay in New Orleans a block off of Bourbon Street. I have never been to New Orleans and can not wait to go stay in the real French Quarters!!! It is going to be sooo exciting! Jeff and I look forward to doing this around the first of next year. Not exactly sure when but soon!

Well I guess I better wrap this one up, and who knows Im going to be up all night, I may come back and blog again!! :)

First blog on the go....

So today I am at a conference for evidence based practice for bedside nurses. Alittle background on me from nursing school .... I hated ebp class and all that went with it. Soooo you may ask yourself .... Why the heck are you there then?? Good question! Ha lol! Actually, besides some boring and long down time moments I am learning new things that I could use to improve things at work. Evidence based practice is very important in my profession therefore I am learning to embrace it! Hopefully after a full day of this I'll have a new found appreciation for it!!!

On a funnier note I am heading to another of Bobby Cox's last games tonight! Sooooo excited! Not to mention so many great friends will be there! Yeah! Okay so t minus like 6 hrs til friends and game time! Back to learning! :)

Catch up...

So where to start. Haven't blogged in a while so its catch up time! Last weekend Jeff and I took CoCo to the Beach. We had an awesome time. Coco sported her Bikini on the beach and was a huge hit! Ill have to post that picture up at another time (cause Im currently at work trying to stay awake:) . So anyways, we went to Myrtle Beach, SC. We had a blast. Jeff and I went parasailing for the first time together, and it was a fun experience. The atmosphere over the ocean at that altitude is like no other. Its just amazing. However, the banana boat ride out to the boat to go parasailing, was like no other. Talk about holding on for dear life!!! Geez!! And the guy who brought us back in was literally a crazy man driving his wave runner!

We also went to broadway at the beach and had the best Margiritas ever!!! We had cheeseburgers in paradise and also got to jam out to some oldies at Margiritaville! On another night we went back to a dualing piano bar! Talk about fun! I sure hope Jeff and I can find one in Atlanta!!!Those guys were way talented and way funny!!

So if you are ever in Myrtle Beach, YOU HAVE TO CHECK THIS OUT!!!! Its a must!

Next topic of discussion.... so Jeff and I have been living in our house since December 2009 after our wedding and honeymoon. It took us til like 2 days ago til we actually add alittle wall decor and some photos of our friends and families! OMG ! Talk about a long time to get this done. Anyways, we also bought some fall/ halloween things that we plan to make our home a festive place. Not to mention the yummy fall smelling candles I plan on covering the whole house with. It smells soo delicious. Sooo hopefully Thursday and Friday I can get all my extensive fall cleaning out of the way!! So here is to making our house a home!!! WAHOO!

Thanks to : Kirklands; BB&B; Target; Kohls ; and sooo many more!! :)

Mom news: She's doing GREAT!! Her spirits are better and she is perky!! Thanks for all the prayers!! Keep them coming!!

Whats up next: Well coming up this week we have my childhood friend Mandy who we are going out to eat for her birthday on Thursday! Wahoo! Happy Birthday Mandy! I have a conference on oct. 1st that I am attending for work. Im excited about this, 1 because Im getting slightly more involved in work. 2 I am learning new things, 3 It'll be good for CAN!! WAHOO! Look forward to blogging about that.

Coming Nov. 6th is my mom's 50th BIRTHDAY!! WHOOP WHOOP!! Plans are in the making for an awesome time. Secret details to come!!  This is also the day of MDA's Annual Walk of Hope! It takes place at Zoo Atlanta , and wer raise much needed money for research, equiment, and most importantly money to send kids to a life changing week at Camp Walk-N-Roll. If by chance you feel like you would like to donate any amount of money for this cause and are able to your donation (no matter the size) is greatly appreciated!!

Here is the link to my home page for you to donate to this cause: https://www.joinmda.org/mdawalkofhope2010/a_marie2515

Also if there is any peeps who are free Oct. 10th there is Lily's Run. Its an event that is raising money for several of my wonderful patients and their families from Aflac. Let me know if you are interested. I would love to have company for this event! Registration is $25. Tshirts are $12! Let me know! (There is a 1k fun run and a 5 k run/walk)

http://www.active.com/running/cumming-ga/lilys-run-2010-wm562

TV news.... so I started watching True Blood. I have only gotten 3 episodes in but so far not to bad. The accents are alittle bad but not horrible. Im thinking I still like the books better!

I also watched my very first Glee episode here at work. I must say I have to catch up on the first season soon. But I do think I will fall in with everyone and say this is a great show!! Thanks Jamie for letting me borrow your seasons!

Well I guess its a wrap! Thanks for following and reading! More to come soon! :)

September = Childhood Cancer Awarness Month!

Hey guys! September is Childhood Cancer Awarness Month. Please take the time to check out this video. It really is simply remarkable!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJXhhx_ksS4

Also, keep this link http://www.curechildhoodcancer.org/ saved as a favorite on your computer, and check it out ever so often. Donations and just support are always encouraged, but just spreading the word is important!

Working with children everyday I get , who are fighting for their life against some form of horrible childhood cancer is enough to make you re-evaluate your life and the many blessings God gives us all. I love my job and love the babies, toddlers, children, pre-teens, teenagers, and young adults that I have the pleasure of meeting on a daily basis. They truly have a different aspect on life. There is nothing like seeing the the will to live embedded in the eyes of a nine year old little girl, who can also look you in the eye, tell you not to leave her bedside, give you a huge hug and tell you "I love you!" What a wonderful feeling. God places us where he needs us in this world, and I am soo thankful he led me here! Thank you LORD!

Please take the time to check out this video and website, read stories and just let these children inspire the rest of your life, as they have mine!

The beginning!

So I thought about blogging for a while now, and have seen many of my friends to this and it just seems so interesting and fun. So I thought I would give it a try. Hopefully, I myself and you can get past my run on sentences, misspellings, and many grammar imperfections to enjoy this experience. We will see.

Anyways, lets see... where to begin? We'll I guess first Id like to start by explaing and/or indulging in what is presently going on in my life. Jeff and I have been married now for 8 months now (We got married on Dec. 12, 2009) and our little puppy Coco is also about 8months as well. Shortly we will take our first trip to the beach with our little Coco and her brand new pink and white bikini :) . This beach trip is a much needed break from the hustle and bustle of what my life has been the last several months. If you guys dont already know my mom was diagnosed with APL (acute promyletic leukemia in March of this year). She did 3 rounds of inpatient chemo (the first round with her being in the hospital for about 23 days and the next two were about a week stays each). She's a fighter and did very well with all of her treatment, getting 2 types of IV chemo (daunorubicin and arac) with very little side effects. She went into remission after her first treament and from the last bone marrow aspiration done after her last treatment she was in complete remission still, with ZERO signs of leukemia. So now she is on a maintenace regimen (mtx,6mp, and a vesanoid), that at first she ran into some issues with, but has come to tolerate them here lately. She truly is a fighter and definitely a hero in my heart. With that explained you can see how with taking care of her, working, having a new puppy, and being newly married, just how stressful and time consuming my life has been. So some much need natural vitamin d is in order. Not to mention my wonderful husband and I will be celebrating our one year anniversary in just a few short months in which we have already decide our plans (after placing several options into a cup at chickfila a drawing out our choice). We are planning on Gatlinburg for some slightly winter wonderland fun :). And the most exciting thing that we are both very much looking forward to is NEW YEARS IN NYC!!!

With soooo much to look forward to I cant but just thank God for everything in my life, for my health, for Jeff's health, all of my family's health, and most importantly for healing my mother and putting her back in good health. He is the way and truth!!! Never forget.

In alittle other entertainment section of this blog... LOL... I was watching my DVR recording of the Bachelor Pad on ABC... and OMG! Really? I have to say it is a guilty pleasure but I cant believe people actually think its ok to go on a show like this. I mean does anyone really tell the truth on that show? And my goodness, if Tenly cries again on the show, we may have a problem. But whatever, Ill still watch next week and that is that! LOL!

And another guilty pleasure is the Secret Life of the American Teenager. But of course if I had a teenager of my own there is no way I would let them watch this. Two too may pregnant girls, too many others having sex, I thought it may be a show to teach lessons... which I think they might be trying to do... however, Im not sure how great of a job they are doing. However, I still watch.

In closing for this blog, I'll leave a quote:
 Life is short, art long, opportunity fleeting, experience treacherous, judgment difficult.


Hypocrites