Wednesday!

Tomorrow is one day closer to my work week ending! Hot diggity dog!
It's been a busy week, and I'm just waiting for Friday to get here so I can do some errands, straighten up and get rid of some junk.
I need to utilize my time better on my days off.... I like to sleep in til at least 9 usually, but I need to get my day started sooner and get things going. I always make a list of what I need to do and then I leave it home and never fulfill it!
Then I whine and complain all day about what I didn't get done ETC.


I sent my niece something to cheer her up, she had an incident and really injured her finger... (not good, she lost the tip of it!) ... so I sent her a cute little "thinking of you" package from The Popcorn Factory. By the looks of *it (*the nifty UPS tracking site), she should get it before this Friday. I hope it's a nice surprise!

Bittersweet

Today my dad came home from the hospital. He says he feels good; he looks great, and he's got all his meds the doctor prescribed. All 4 of them! Whew!

We took a cake over after dinner, his favorite: Strawberry Shortcake! It was so nice to see him home where he's comfortable, relaxing and watching TV.

When it came time to put the candles on the cake and sing; it was such an emotional event. Just 4 days ago, he had a heart attack - we're so thankful that he was here for this birthday. It goes to show that you never really know. We're encouraged to live life fully and never leave til tomorrow the words and actions that you want to express today. I think I'm one of those people who takes for granted that people know how I feel, but I can't think like that. My dad and I were close when I was little but then for some reason, as I got older, I leaned more toward my mom. It never meant that I loved my dad any less. I just lost that connection, I thought, somewhere along the way. I often pray that my dad knows how much I love him, and I think he does, but I wish I was better at saying it. I don't even know the last time I hugged or kissed my dad, I know it was years ago.... and I know if you're reading this, you're probably thinking "wow!" ... but don't judge me based on that.

It's something I need to work on, and I accept that. So my advice to you: Love with all your heart, live with all your might. Make sure that those you love,know it.

Shake.. Shake... Shake

Worth a chuckle -

My niece, who has been speaking very well these days..putting words into sentences and such.. was strolling through the house last night, humming something that sounded awfully close to "shake your booty".. When I asked her to clarify what I already thought she was saying, she in fact was saying... "Shake, shake, shake, shake your booty!".. Pretty funny eh?

I'm amazed at the changes every day... She is just so cute!
She also was pointing to a picture of me and saying "Dawnie"... which she hasn't said since she started speaking.. She refers to me as Dee Dee.
That knocked my socks off too!!

Children are so unpredictable but that in itself is such a delight!

Prayers

I forgot to add this previously but just as well, it should probably have it's own post.

Here are some things I'm praying for. If you pray, please include these requests in yours today. Thank you!

• Pray for my dad's health and well being.
  
• Pray for Nate & Tricia http://cfhusband.blogspot.com/
  
• Pray for my friend Amy in her search for a new home.
  
• Pray for my cousins, who recently lost their mom.
  
• Pray for my family, to find peace and contentment this year.
  
• Pray for my friend who is trying to concieve.
  
• Pray for Alice -http://livinglifebreathlessly.blogspot.com/
  

Doing well.....

Dad is still doing well...he says he feels fine. Last night when we went to see him he was so bitchy! I told him I was glad I wasn't his nurse and that I felt bad for her.. (in a joking way of course.) But he was really crabby... he hates that food that they're feeding him... not only is hospital food bland to begin with, but he's there for his heart, so naturally they're giving him a heart healthy diet too..
Low or no salt, and all that other heart-wise stuff. He wants a big fat juicy burger! lol

I think they might release him on Monday or Tuesday.. I know he wants to be out of there tomorrow but it's all up to the docs. Monday is his birthday so it would be nice if he came home, but we'll have to see. I guess we'll all go over there with a small cake, etc (which we do every year anyway)... Last year was his 60th so we had him a big bash at Adelphia's in Deptford... it was such a nice turnout.

I'm glad that he continues to feel well and is up and about. I've went to see him every day since he's been there. Pretty sad 'cause I never made that effort when he's home, but I guess it's a lesson to learn, that we should always make the effort because you just never know what could happen.
I don't ever want to have to live with that "what ifs".

Hope everyone has a good week.


Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
Deuteronomy 5:16

'Til Tomorrow

I should so be in bed right now .. but I just e-filed my taxes and decided to blog before bed.. This way maybe I won't be tossing and turning. I think I tend to go to bed with a head full of thoughts and it keeps me up.

I went to see my dad today. He looked good and he was up and moving around. He likes to use the bathroom at the end of the hall rather than the one in his room.
Not sure if it's because the one in his room is literally a corner with a curtain and toilet/sink.. or if he just likes to get out of the room and move. I think it's the latter.

I feel bad that he's really got a hankering for a cigarette.. It's been 24 hours!
But he can't have it.. Sorry Dad! Doc says no.
The food can be pretty bland but if he can just stick it out, he'll be fine. I brought him up some Oreo's and some black licorice. I hope that was ok.. but I think they're more focused on a low-fat, low cholesterol thing.. I assume that sweets are ok..??

Back up there tomorrow for a few hours... I found myself there today for 4 hours!
It doesn't ever seem that you've been there that long.. I just wanted to stay there and make sure he had company. Although, after dinner, he was super tired and just wanted to sleep. They keep coming in, what seems like every 5 hrs, and taking blood samples.. He hates that too. The ICU room is not comfortable for him, but is it ever?? Hopefully they move him to a regular room by tomorrow, so he feels a little better.

Well, that's all folks... I'm out of words and out of energy!

Keep us in your prayers.

Dad

Well, the call came yesterday while I was at work. My stepmom calling to tell me that my dad was having a heart attack at work and was rushed to the hospital.



The hospital he was taken to did some things and decided that he needed surgery and they transfered him to another local hospital where they have a "state of the art" cath lab. The doctor attending, actually drove up there to the other hospital and performed the surgery. All went well with the surgery. Doctor says there's damage, naturally, but that they got the blockage out and though there are a couple more that they saw, they're going to treat them with aggressive meds. He's in ICU right now and then will move to a regular floor .. before being released. That will be Tuesday at the earliest.. Maybe Monday. We saw him shortly after coming out of surgery, and he was his self (at least as could be expected).
Seemed to be in good spirits considering what he'd gone through.

I can only remember feeling almost numb driving to the hospital, but I had this strange feeling that he was going to be ok. In some situations, that could be called "denial", but I truly felt like he would be fine. It seemed that he got medical help in good time! They have a medical/EMS staff right there.
Thank God. So once he comes home, the doc says that he needs to quit smoking, and curtail (maybe stop altogether) the caffeinated coffee. Boy, he is going to need a padded room! He has done both for SO MANY years. But he does need to follow the doctor's orders. Heart Disease is nothing to play with. It's not picky. My pop-pop (dad's father) died in his early sixties of a massive heart attack. So the genes are there. That makes me think that we (my siblings and I) need to start taking our health seriously. I already know that I'm overweight by about 40 lbs, so I need to take the necessary steps to better my health too.

I'm so glad that my dad is going to be ok.. I hope the meds will help to clear up the other remaining blockages. I pray that he'll stick to the new lifestyle changes and adhere to the doctor's orders to quit smoking. It will be hard, I know that, but I pray that God will give him strength (or help him find the strength) to do it. I know he can. I believe in Him and I believe in my dad.

I have to do a couple things around the house today and then I will head up.
I talked to him for a few mins while I was on here, and he asked me to bring up a WaWa coffee for him 'cause the "stuff" they gave him this morning was TERRIBLE.
So, off I am, to do some house chores, and then head to get Dad his coffee.
One DECAF coming right up!

Happy Hump Day!

Well, not really for me.. I was over the hump on Tuesday 'cause my work week ends on Thursday. I can't wait til Friday when I can sleep in. Only til around 9 but it's still better than 6:30!
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I just started reading this book called The Gift Of A Year by Mira Kirshenbaum, and I really encourage you to read it ladies! (or gentlemen)
I've only just started reading it but it's really got my attention and even this early into it, I just feel like it's going to be very instrumental in my life this year! Maybe every year! You have to check it out, if only to see what it's all about. It's not fiction - it's more of a self-help book. To sum it up, it's about having the best year of your life. The Gift of a Year meaning that you take one full year to give to yourself, whatever it is that you really want out of life. I've read some stories so far about women who've done it and some of the things were minor.. like writing poetry or rekindling the love of gardening. Others were major, like going to a foreign country for a year etc. It's a wonderful book and I just know it's going to be my favorite for this year.
Here are some excerpts and I KNOW for a fact that at least ONE person who reads this blog, will relate to it!

This Is a Year I'll Always
Treasure


"What is the gift of a year, and why
is it important?"





You're a special kind of woman. You say yes to life and to people. You're responsible and caring, ambitious and hardworking. So you've piled your plate with commitments. But now your commitments have taken on a life of their own. They've taken over your life. Because of all the people you've said yes to, needs and dreams of your own have gotten choked out. What's best in you is suffocating, and you know it.

What's the last big thing you did just for yourself?




When a Little Is Not Enough




Sure, we all do little things for ourselves from time to time. You buy an outfit because you like it, not because you need it. You go off for a day with a friend just because the two of you want to reconnect. You say no to some outrageous unreasonable chickenshit assignment your boss gives you.

All this is good, but can you name something meaningful you've done just for you recently? You rearrange your life for others. When's the last time the people who are important to you rearranged their lives for you?

You work incredibly hard and make a lot of sacrifices to keep things running smoothly in many people's lives. Who works hard and makes sacrifices to keep things running smoothly in your life?

You can name a whole list of people who come before you in your life. Who puts you first? Do you ever put yourself first?

Not very often, I'll bet, and almost never in a really big way, in a way that really matters to you and delivers a big payoff to the needs and dreams and desires of your real self. I know ... what else can you do? I know. My life is as full of commitments as anyone's. I'm married. I have two kids. I have at least two jobs. If I found a way to put myself first for once in my life and take care of what I needed to thrive—and I'll tell you how I did it later—so can you.




Whatever You Want




What are those needs and dreams that have fallen by the wayside for you? They're different for every woman, of course. With billions of women on the planet, there are billions of possibilities. Maybe what you need is to solve a particular problem—get on top of the stress at work, or find a way to get more fun and pleasure from your life, or stop getting involved with men who aren't good for you.

Maybe you want to make a specific dream come true—finally go back to school, or learn how to climb mountains, or take that trip to Paris.

Maybe you just need a real rest. Because sometimes simply doing nothing is the one thing your mind and body crave most. Or maybe you'd like to resolve a long-simmering issue in your life. Or get your life more organized. Or put the "you" back in your life. Or have some adventures. Or figure out where you want to go next with your life. Or do whatever you want.

Do you think you're the only woman in the world who's had to struggle with not getting her needs met? Of course not. Every woman struggles with this. And don't you think that with so many women in the same situation, an amazing solution would turn up? It has.

Hoping for a better day

Yesterday was such a hellish day, I pray that today will be much better.
The good thing was that since it was so crazy yesterday, in that it was BUSY as hell, the time went so fast. I took lunch at 2:45 - which is super late considering I'm done at 5!

Anyhoo - on to a new day today. Tuesdays are not as hectic but I won't speak too soon. You just never know.

I'm super hungry this morning but I'm fighting the urge to order a sandwich from the place around the corner. They're so good! - but I have oatmeal in my desk but I don't really want that, I want something yummier!... I have to have more will power.

Weight Watchers is on my list of things to do this week... I hope I get there.
I'm going to make every attempt to get to the gym too... I might as well; I'm still paying my dues every month!

It's been confirmed.....

No,.. I've been confirmed.

I forgot to mention the news that I finally did make my confirmation.

January 6th was my day! I'm so happy to have taken such a big step in the right direction. What a day of joy this was for me and those who stood by me through my journey. I've re-established my relationship with God, and it has been such a life changing experience. I don't expect everyone to understand, and I don't preach to others about it... I'm just not ashamed to speak of it.
This was something I'd wanted to do for so long, and I'm proud of myself that I finally accomplished it. I'm not one of those gung-ho born again Christians ... I still do things I shouldn't, I curse like a trucker,etc... but in other aspects, it's making me a better person.

Happy New Year!(?)

Boy, I sure hope that 2008 is a better year than '07. I know it seems like everyone is saying that lately, but hey, guess that's how we all feel.
'07 was a year of 'hurt' and unhappiness for me and for those I love.
Of course, it wasn't ALL bad... there was the joy of being with family when the occasion rose, and the constant sunshine of being with my niece and watching her grow. Every day was a good day in that aspect! I hope to accomplish more this year than I did ever before. I'm even promising to blog more often! It helps to let everyone know what I'm thinking and how life is, when we're all too busy to ask or tell. I have a short list that I want to be able to look at in December of this year, and see all the 'checks marks next to each task (noting that it was completed!)

To all of you: May 2008 be a year of sheer happiness, warm memories, and new adventures!