Day 2

The meaning behind your blog name.

Happily Ever After means so many meanings once I sit here and really think about it. Basically,it means I am living my own fairy tale! I have found my Prince Charming,I have great friends and family and I am happy when I look in the mirror.It took me 30 years to get here.
It means that daily I stand in awe at how abundantly God has answered my prayers. Many years ago I lived a lie and I was stuck in a miserable marriage. Things were so depressing for so long that I had become convinced they'd never get better.I made some huge choices and changes and prayed once again that I was doing the right thing,even if it meant hurting someone else. The transformation took a year. By the time I had finally broken down and allowed myself to unravel,I realized I just didn't know how...? That,was rock bottom.
I lost friends,I gained toxic friends and spent a lot of time getting to know myself. It's a blurry memory of dating,Myspace and living life with no obligations.This went on for about a year..until I met Vern. If you know me or read my blog you know all the good parts in between then and now. As new happy memories were made,the bad ones disappeared. I cannot define Happily Ever After...but I know what it feels like. It's a pinch on the butt from Vern 99% of the time when he passes by me ..and I still giggle. It's knowing that your two heads are better than one and focused on the same goals. It's making a special dinner and watching him go for seconds.That's my fairy tale...that's my Happily Ever After :)

Day 1

I have accepted the 30 day blogging challenge.So for the next 30 days I will be attempting to blog everyday OR to at least find inspiration in the blog ideas.

Part 1 is to introduce myself. Well THAT'S silly! You already know who I am! And if you don't..read my blogs! ha ha

Part 2 is to post a current picture of yourself. Here I am,posing with a tractor at the local fair. I am a small town country girl who is a bit old fashioned at times,so I thought this photo was appropriate.

Part 3 15 Interesting Facts About Me

-I love glass=stained glass,sculptures,figurines etc.

-I am planning a few new tattoos

-I have a slight lisp and when I am exhausted I stutter.

-I struggle with forgiveness

-I remind myself of my Mom more and more every day.

-I share my pillow with Maxine at night.

-I love the smell of fresh cut grass and chainsaw gas.

-Vern and I hope to purchase a food truck in the next few years to sell smoked meats and cheeses.

-My ears are a tiny bit pointy like and elf.

-I have an extremely low tolerance for Reggae music.

-A dear friend of mine died recently. The last time I saw him we hugged and said I love you like we always do "I love you Jeffie" "I love you too Carebear...I really do." he said as he left...he died unexpectedly a week later from a heart attack. It reminded me once again to tell and show people how much they mean to me because I may not always get another chance. Rest peacefully Jeffie <3

-One of my 2 biggest pet peeves is when people spell Christmas with an X and/or drink milk out of the carton.

-My favorite sweatshirt says Seattle Mariners across the front yet I don't watch baseball,just love the hand-me-down sweatshirt.

-I love love love to swim.

-I had my first funnel cake 2 weeks ago...I LOVE LOVE LOVE them too :)

Silly Girl

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

 Silly girl with your head in the clouds,

When will your feet touch the ground?

You're childish and living in fantasyland,

You may not be mentally sound;



Your world as you like to express it

Is anything but the mundane,

You'd think at your age you'd be worried

That others might think you're insane!



Since way back when you were a toddler,

Your outlook has been quite unique -

You thought you had magical powers

And sometimes you felt like a freak;



You always wore rose colored glasses

And everything seemed like a dream,

But as you grew older you realized

That everything's not as it seems;



The world isn't wrapped up in ribbons,

And love is not easy to find,

But that doesn't mean you can't fix it

Somewhere in the depths of you mind;



For still there's some magic within you,

With wonders as precious as pearl,

And sometimes it's sweet to get lost in

Your fantasyland, silly girl.



Table For Two

One of the things I really love about Vern is that he always manages to put a fun twist in our happy vanilla lifestyle. Today he got home early,surprised me at work and took me out to lunch. We RARELY go out to lunch because of our work schedules. We went to the local golf course.I have driven by it a few hundred times and circled the parking lot a time or two out of curiosity but never stopped.(I have never golfed,know nothing about golf and I am pretty sure I don't have the patience for anything more than a driving range.) So today,for the first time,we went for lunch.
There is something so special about living in the town where Vern grew up. His stories and memories are so much better than any guided tour. Growing up in a small town myself I can appreciate how precious "home" can be. The golf course was a special place for Vern.  The "restaurant" had a few scattered tables,some commercial looking grills and cooking equipment and a TV. The curtains were black with tiny pictures of golf balls,shoes,clubs etc. and some of the tables were covered in large think pieces of black faux leather.One elderly couple sat in the middle table...that was it. I smiled to myself,it felt familiar..just like Home. The food was decent but the conversation and time together was delicious!For Vern it was a trip down Memory Lane.The Golf course is where he made so many precious memories with his Father,spent long summer days with his best friend and played many rounds of golf. I feel lucky to be able to share in these memories while making new ones. We ate,we "overheard" bits of the day's gossip and watched all the people in silly plaid shorts pass by outside. I even had the crazy thought that I just might try golfing someday. Now I know,that if golfing isn't my thing I still know where to get a great hamburger,so it's worth the risk ;) 
We took the long way home. Up and down back roads only a local would know and avoiding the 60,000 people coming to a Christian festival at our Fairgrounds this weekend. ( I believe our usual population is somewhere around 15,000) Eventually we returned home and life shifted back into gear before we knew it. So tonight I mention it because I never want to take these moments for granted. I appreciate the spontaneity ,the conversation and most of all the company..at our table for two.

Lots Of Highlights..Without All The Foils

• My surgery was 3 weeks ago. My Doctor was unable to take out my gallbladder laproscopicly due to the severity of it's condition. He told me later is was one of the worst he had seen and on the verge on gang green! Scary! He was shocked I had not been more ill,I had only had a problem the last month or so that I knew of.Yet now that I know what I know, I realize I had been having symptoms for a LONG time.
• I have a long pink scar under my right ribcage,a small scar the right of that and a mangled belly button.All are healing nicely as I religiously apply Vitamin E. There goes my future as a bikini model! ha ha I have also contemplated saying I got the scar from a shark attack or while tackling an intruder in my home...something more exciting than explaining I had killed one of my organs with a high fat diet...
• The day before my surgery Vern's son Trevor moved in with us. Having ALL of our children under one roof makes our family feel so complete! Trevor has been extremely helpful during my recovery and it has been a joy to have him here while Vern works 7 days a week trying to compensate for my loss of income. I am so blessed to have such a great support system! I am trying my best to savor this special time with Trevor as he is almost 19 and we have been given this rare opportunity as a family...but the maternal side of me is building up walls. I know in time his Mother will return to take him back to her dis functional life and I will be left once again with an empty bedroom and expected to pack up my maternal feelings and "move on". I might not want a child of my own...but I love being a full time Mom to Trevor,Chipper and Maxine :)
• It has taken me almost 3 weeks to write this post.. I giggle to myself at times as the fuzzy memories return of my post operation time. I remember getting irritated with my first RN and kicking her out..ME?!! Bwahahaha! I had the.most.disgusting Jello. at the hospital and I was so traumatized I still get nauseous at the thought of it, Jello..really? I will blame it on the morphine. Vern showering me,drying me off and dressing me,he had to help me sit up and stand up as I had no use of any of my stomach muscles and he ran to the store 2 to 3 times a day trying to find foods that I could keep down. He is a Saint :)
• My gallbladder sure did choose great weather! I spent a few afternoons napping in the sun as I grew tired of the confines of my bedroom. My flower beds are timidly blooming but so far I have enough color to keep me happy.One of my favorites this year has been Pineapple Sage. It's growing like crazy,gotta love an anxious volunteer! It's leaves have a strong pineapple tropical scent,it is a nice surprise among the other "common" herbs. Our succulents are almost in full bloom but they truly deserve a post of their own with photos,they are THAT cool! The garden is slowly becoming a jungle as the zucchini are invading the tomatoes. Oh well, I am honestly still shocked that anything is growing despite our wet cold summer.
• Today I returned to work on light duty. It was awesome to see a few clients and get back to doing what I love. That Doctor really must know his stuff because after only 4 hours I was exhausted! I came home and took a 2 hour nap and I still feel wiped out. As my usual schedule goes,I have tomorrow off and I honestly feel like I need it ha ha! I guess 3 weeks on my rear really effected my stamina.

As I return to life in general, I am slowly returning to blogging too. Thanks again to all my friends and family that have been so loving and supportive during my recovery :)

Owch

I'm baaack! Oh the stories I have to tell..but for now I just wanted to check in and let you all know I am OK and slowly recovering. They ended up having to make a large incision in my tummy to get out my extremely angry gallbladder and  I spent one miserable night in the hospital. Doc even took photos of it once it was removed because it was one of the worst he had seen.I am so thankful that it is done and over! I am so blessed with an amazing boyfriend who waited on me hand and foot for 3 days as I lay here semi unconscious. The love and support from friends and family has been amazing,I sure am blessed :) I will write more later but for now I am taking it one day at a time.

Notables...

*More blood work today,seems like everybody wants some these days.This trip was to the new hospital here in town..eh I mean "Medical Resort" as I like to call it. The place is brand new and very fancy!This is also where I will have my surgery,it'll be like taking a long morning nap in a fancy hotel!

*The other big news of the week. Looks like we will be full time parents of an 18 year old boy! Trevor (Vern's son) is moving in with us next week. We are transforming the office into a bedroom and praying we will all make this transition smoothly. (While I have the week off to heal from surgery)

* Oh wait..one more announcement...Maxine has become a woman! Our poor baby is suffering through her first "heat" cycle. Being that she is my first female dog this took me by surprise! She is still so much a puppy I didn't realize this would happen so soon! :( Looks like I'm not the only one having surgery this summer.

*I have lost 2 pounds in a week the old fashioned way. Eating healthier. Keeping my gallbladder happy mostly and avoiding fat. So far it's working,2 pounds a week seems slow but I am told it's the healthier way of losing weight. I'm sure next week my "baby food" type diet will help keep me on track! ha ha

*Tomorrow I begin my pre-op preparations....again (long story)
   One more coat of toe nail polish so my toes are bright pink and fun to look at while I am in bed for a few days.
   One more day of work,the late shift.That should make waking up and being at the hospital at 7:30am the next morning delightful *smirk*
  A long hot shower tomorrow night to scrub and shave myself into a new woman and help me relax.
  Washing all my favorite snugly clothes and pajamas and plotting all the movies I want to catch up on during my recovery.
   Allowing my slightly nervous and OCD'd self to make a few more lists for Vern,who to call,what meds to remind me to take..bla bla. My list making can be a little neurotic at times but hey...I have never kicked myself for being overly prepared.
 
-Deep breath
-Big girl panties
-Let's get this over with!

And now...a little humor ;P


Things You Don't Want to Hear During Surgery


"Better save that. We'll need it for the autopsy."
"Someone call the janitor - we're going to need a mop!"
"Bo Bo! Come back with that! Bad Dog!"
"Wait a minute, if this is his spleen, then what's that?"
"Hand me that...uh...that uh...thingie."
"Oh no! I just lost my Rolex."
"Oops! Hey, has anyone ever survived 500ml of this stuff before?"
"Everybody stand back! I lost my contact lens!"
"Could you stop that thing from beating? It's throwing off my concentration."
"What's this doing here?"
"That's cool! Now can you make his leg twitch?"
"I wish I hadn't forgotten my glasses."
"Well, folks, this will be an experiment for all of us."
"Sterile, shcmerile. The floor's clean, right?"
"What do you mean, he wasn't in for a sex change?"
"Anyone see where I left that scalpel?"
"Ok. Now take a picture from this angle. This is truly a freak of nature."
"This patient has already had some kids, right?"
"Don't worry. I think this is sharp enough."
"FIRE! FIRE! Everybody get out NOW!"
"Darn! Page 47 of the manual is missing!"