Did you know

I used to live in a fifth wheel trailer?

Yup, I did.

My 8th grade year. You know the saying, "What doesn't kill ya makes ya stronger." This is one of those things. While it sucked living through it, it is now one of my favorite stories to tell. Most of the time no one believes me. My mom asked me the other day...

"Does it embarrass you to talk about it?"

"Heck, no, I love it."

And I do. It's funny. I'm sure for her, as a single parent of three daughters, it was probably one of the worst times of her life. However, we were young and quite resilient.

Wanna hear a lil about it? Okay, good. Be prepared.

This fifth wheel was old. And I mean old. Not one of those fancy shmancy kinds with plumbing or a microwave or heat or any of those frivolous items. It had a bathroom, just not plumbed for water.

There was a little stove where my mom was able to make us Helper Helper. I believe I've told you about that before. Helper Helper is Hamburger Helper without the hamburger. Meats expensive, don'tcha know?

Remember the old Halloween buckets from McDonald's that were orange with the black scary face?

Yep, that was the bathroom.

We had an upstairs, well, it consisted of two stairs leading to the bed my mom and I shared. I don't think we could sit up all the way without hitting our heads.

My sisters slept on the benches where the table was and during the night one of them (usually Meg) would usually fall off and hit the floor.

Okay, there was heat or there was supposed to be heat. It was propane and the pilot light would constantly blow out, so we'd most often wake up with it being about 17 degrees in the trailer.

Our trailer was parked in my aunt's driveway and we were allowed to shower there but that was it and we were usually afraid to do that, so, I'm thinking hygiene wasn't at the top of our list.

It was some of the most awful times we've been through but I remember laughing and having fun. I remember my mom trying to make everything special. I remember that even though it was chaos, we had a routine. I remember that we put FUN in dysfunctional.

Even though we weren't yet attending church or following the Lord, He saw us through. He provided the next place to live. Which is another post altogether.

Times get bad, man. They do. But He's never farther than our next prayer.

Hope you got a chuckle out of one of my favorite memories. I need to have my sisters write their version, they remember so much better than I do even though they were younger. If I ever get them to do it, I'll post their story.

Have a good one!

And the Award Goes Tooooo....

Treena. My sister in law. She had my child for five days!!! I didn't ask her to take her, she offered. She picked Jaylee up on Sunday and as they drove home, Jaylee threw up. Bugger. And then while there, Jaylee gets a yummy runny nose, which is Treena's absolute favorite thing in the world!!! (Please note the sarcasm.)

She brought her home to me today and she's all in one piece, happy as can be. While it was hard to have her gone it was so relaxing knowing that she was with Treena and her family. They love Jaylee and she loves them.

Treena, I love ya! I can't legally say you're my favorite SIL, but you are my favorite oldest SIL. :) Thank you for taking care of Jaylee. I appreciate it more than I could ever tell you.

Here's to you!!!

Jaylee's Home!!!!

Oh how sweet it is! I am such a happy Mama right now.

My husband came home from work for a few minutes just so he could see her. That warmed my heart to know he was just as excited as I was to have her home. She is a daddy's girl, so it shouldn't surprise me, but it was sweet to see that he took time out his busy schedule to let her know he missed her and was glad to have her home.

She's napping right now but once she gets up we're going to go out and play in the beautiful sunshine.

Today is a great day for up!!!

Twiddling My Thumbs

Only five more weeks of recovery and then I'm allowed to go back to my normal routine of things. Whatever that may be. Besides Jaylee being gone, I realize the thing I miss the most is not being allowed to vacuum. I love to vacuum. Not really sure why but I do. Growing up we did most of the household chores on Saturday mornings. Once a week we'd vacuum. Didn't know you could do it more than that.

But you can!

And I do! Probably every other day or so. I looked on Photobucket for a vacuum picture and found this. Loved it, too funny!

I went in for an appt. today and the doc asked me what I'm not doing that I'd like to be able to do.

"Vacuum."

He tells me that if I did that I wouldn't be able to get out of bed in the morning. Most of the time (like when I'm not all surgeried up) that would be an okay thing, I like my bed, however, I realize I like to do laundry. I like to wash dishes. I like to clean the bathroom.

I don't work outside the home, these things are what I do to be a helper and I'm not being a helper!!!

But don't you worry, I'm sure in five weeks when I'm given the green light to do these things....

I won't want to do them.

Well bugger

I totally messed up my link to my mom's blog over on the left. So, if you've tried to go there and couldn't, I fixed the ol' problem. I feel sheepish.

She's just started her blog. Hasn't quite got around to posting on a regular basis but I love what she has written. The woman kills me. She's hilarious. And pretty insightful. We've definitely had our times when I'd like to kill her (and I'm sure she could say the same) but for the most part I love her like a fat kid loves chocolate cake. Speaking of my sister...oh! Just kidding, Meg, I love you!

Anyway, check out my mom's blog over there on the left.

Maybe it's just me

But a few months ago I got really tired of this:

Dear Lord, thank You for today, thank You for my family, for my life. Hmm, did I get the clean clothes out of the dryer...Oh, sorry Lord. Please be with my husband today while he's on deliveries. Lord, please enable me to be the mama you want me to be for Jaylee. Hmm, did I put butter on my grocery list? Oh, sorry again, Lord. Jesus, if You could also just give me strength to get all my chores done today and give me a merry heart about it. Hmm, what should I make for dinner....

Have you done this? Do you do this? Is it just me?!

I've sort of remedied myself of it. How? I started writing my prayers in a journal, not a fancy journal, just a lil notebook that cost less than a buck. I date it at the top of the page and then I write out my prayers to the Lord. Writing my prayers has really helped me to focus on my prayer time, and not on the stuff that I feel I "should" be getting done. And I love to go back and read past entries to see how the Lord has worked in my life and the lives of my friends and family in just the last few months of doing this.

So, I just thought I'd share that random bit of information with ya, in case you get lost in your own thoughts while trying to spend time with the Lord.

Have a wondeful Wednesday!

I love 'em.

Just love 'em. Need more. I only have two pair at the moment and neither pair is "oh my goodness, can't wait to wear those!" Not at all.

Myspace Layouts


Thinking I need to find some more pairs. Lots more. Anyone know of good, cheap places to find some flips?

There will be no Picture

It's too ugly. And I wouldn't want any of you to quit stopping by because I showed you my very swollen, very ugly belly. So, I'll just tell you I measured my scar and it's 6 inches long. Wow! It's healing quite nicely now. Still a little sore but I'm doing better. It's been easy not to over do it the last couple of days because Jaylee is gone. :(

My SIL has her. My SIL is the greatest, she truly is, but I miss my baby!! I don't remember what I did before I had her. She left Sunday morning and Josh and I are at a loss. I asked him if we could go visit.

"Drive 3 hours to visit her and then come home?" He asks me and for a moment it looked like he was pondering it himself.

"Uh huh" I tell him. "It's not that far."

He left the room.

Guess that meant no.

Our house is quiet. There's no baby in her crib in the morning, yelling, "HI!" when we first wake up and there is no baby to put to bed in the evening. I miss hearing her say, "amen" after we pray with her. I miss the cheesy grin she's started giving us. I miss the randomness of out of nowhere she comes running and grabs my legs to hug me.

Sigh...

She'll come home on Friday and I'm sure by Saturday I'll be wanting to send her back.

But for now I miss her.

I'm Home and Cancer Free!!!

How good is the God we serve? There just aren't words to describe how thankful I am. I'm already a lil tired from climbing the stairs to get to the computer, so my post will be short. But I wanted to give you an update.

On the 16th I went in for a Right Colectomy. They took the right half of my colon and 41 lymph nodes. I was just released yesterday.

My doctor came in and talked to me a bit and said, "I've saved the best news for last. Your report came back. All lymph nodes were clear."

I didn't realize until he said those words how worried I must have been, because I just started bawling. And while I was crying, I heard these sweet words, "For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." The sweetest words from my Father. It was such a comfort. Such a relief.

My first thought when I found out I had cancer was, "I won't get to see my baby grow up."

My first thought when he told me I no longer have cancer was, "I'm going to see my baby grow up."

I love Jesus. I'm so thankful to Him for allowing me to have appendicitis so my tumor was able to be found. I feel so loved.

Be prepared, I'm going to post a picture here soon of my scar. Not only is the scar not pretty (but I still like it) you'll see my flabby, stretch-marked belly. :) But, heck, I don't really care. I just wanna show ya my "bad boy" 'cause it really is pretty awesome.

Thank you to everyone who's been praying for my family and me. Life is good.

God is good.

Well, if I'd have known earlier...

Okay, remember my dilemma on the whole modesty issue? Well, maybe if I'd been more modest all my life, I wouldn't have cancer!


You know I'm kidding, right? Couldn't pass this up though, too funny.

If I have to have Chemo

I'm gonna be a lil ticked. Why? I just got my hi-lites in my hair done. If I spent that kinda money just to have it fall out, yeah, I'm gonna be mad. :)

Went to Wal Mart today. Yes, I know...I don't like Wal Mart, but I had to stock up on some magazines for my hospital stay. I bought the new People magazine (Brad Pitt is on the cover), Martha Stewart, and a couple home improvement ones. Later today I'll go to the thrift stores and find some trashy romance novels for .25 to keep me company as well. Yep, that's a good idea. Trashy romance novels to get me all hot and bothered. 'Cause I'm sure I'll get to be doing that real soon after my surgery...

I'm going to ask my doctor if he can take some excess fat along with my colon, and I've heard you don't need your spleen, so I'll ask him to take that, too, you know in case it weighs a bunch. I'm going into this weighing 135, hoping to come out of it 115. hehehe, we'll see if that happens.

Hey, a girl has to have something to look forward to.

How do I say this?

Well, once again, I'll be going on a little blogger hiatus. Thursday will be my last post for awhile.

I didn't know if I should post about this, since alot of people will read about it before I get in touch with them by phone. But, here goes...

Today, I went in to have my stitches looked at from my appendectomy. They tell me everything looks great, I'm ready to jump off the table and head home. The doctor says, "let's sit down and talk."

Well, that's never a phrase ya wanna hear. Geesh.

He proceeds to tell me that it's a blessing I had appendicitis. I'm thinking, "buddy, ya ever had it? 'cause I didn't like it much and I sure wasn't thinking it was a blessing." But I refrained.

He continues to tell me that when they removed my appendix, they found a tumor. A small one, about the size of an olive. It's malignant. And even though I know what malignant means, I asked what it meant.

"It's cancer."

Alrighty then.

I wanted to be tough. I wanted to be stoic. But, I'll be honest with you. I wasn't. My first thought was morbid. My first thought was, "I won't get to see my baby grow up." And I started to cry. I tried so hard not to. Even now, by myself, typing this, I'm trying not to, but it's real hard not to. 'Cause honestly, I'm scared.

On Friday at 9:30 I'll have surgery to remove the right half of my colon. I'll be in the hospital a minimum of 5-7 days. Yuck! I was in for only two days from my appendectomy and it drove me nuts. I cannot imagine how it'll be for that long!

There's good news. Jesus is so good. My doctor was right. If I'd not had appendicitis, this tumor would have grown and it may have been years before they found it. It may have been too late. So, just know, wherever you are in life and no matter what junk is going on, Jesus is good. He so is.

More good news. You know how I always talk about how I'm overweight? Well, I can't eat from Thursday until Tuesday. Seriously. I'm gonna lose weight! Plus, I wonder what 2 feet of my colon weighs! I'm hoping for about 20 lbs. :)

Please pray for my family. I worry about the toll this will take on my husband and daughter. My doctor said I'll be down for about six weeks. That's quite a long time.

I called my sister Erica, and she says, "is this like the time you told me Megan got hit by a bus?" She didn't believe me, I may have told her a few white lies growing up.

Later my mom and I were talking and I said something stupid and she tells me to "knock it off, or I'll kick you in the cancer."

Yep, that's how we roll.

Anyway, just wanted to let you know. Thanks for letting me get that out there. Feels good to write it and I'll keep you up to date as much as I can.

A Trip in the 'Possum

Rembember the story of the 'Possum?

Well, Melissa, my friend from my last post, came over. We decided to head to Yakima for a little shopping and dinner. But nothing with Melissa and me can ever be so simple. Let's have a little background on Melissa and me, then I'll tell you the story of our trip.

Melissa and I met almost 13 years ago. We attended church together and went to the same high school. We were good friends.

Then Melissa stole my boyfriend, my Sophomore, her Freshman year of high school. Yes, stole him! My "first love" or so I thought at the time. Okay, maybe she didn't steal him. Maybe I kinda liked another boy so my boyfriend and I broke up. But then she starting going out with him just mere daaays after we broke up. So, I felt like she stole him...

Even though, technically she didn't. But we're not getting technical.

So, she stole him.

Man, I thought I was over it...

Anywho, somehow, even after I wrote her a nasty note we made it through. We were still friends.

Melissa lived pretty close to the high school. Not across-the-street close, but close. One day, I decided to test my reverse skillz. Yes, skillz.

Melissa's all for it. So, we leave the high school and reverse all the way to her house. I even stopped at a stop sign with my trunk where my hood should be. Backward. All the way to her house. If I remember correctly we almost hit a bush but other than that, I'm a pro in reverse!

A few years down the road, after her and Trevor broke up and I was married to Josh, Melissa and I were driving around at night in a new development of housing. She had to go potty. We weren't near home or a rest area. But, there were plenty of outhouses since a lot of the houses were still under construction.

So, she decides to use one.

And I decide to ram the outhouse with my car.

While she's in it.

Uh huh, I did.

So, yesterday...we thought this would be an uneventful trip. Boy, were we wrong.

We go get coffee, her-an iced, non-fat, vanilla latte. Me-an iced, hazelnut breve. mmmm. That has no relevance to the story. Just thought I'd tell you the kind of coffee we drink...

We leave the coffee stand, we're catching up on the latest and greatest events of each others' lives, we get on the freeway. The ol' 'Possum picks up to 70 mph quite nicely and then it happens.

My bedliner flies out of my pickup.

Uh huh, it did.

The car behind me flies into the other lane so as not to get hit. We pull over to the shoulder and stop. It took me a sec to kinda soak in what just happen. And Melissa says no trip is complete without something like this happening. Good thing I'm a Pro Reverser. I put my skillz back into action. This is what we saw.


It was off the road pretty far. Luckily, it didn't hit anyone and luckily, it didn't go over the fence. Would have made it more difficult to pick up and put back in.

Oh, and here's a picture of Melissa.

We loaded it back up, turned on the flashers and proceeded at about 30 mph on the freeway. We took the next exit and took the bedliner back home. Josh looked a little bewildered as to why we were returning so early. I informed him we should take the bedliner out before it escapes again. His eyes grew.

We took it out and continued with our trip. Pretty uneventful after that.

However, I scored an outfit for pretty cheap. A maternity shirt, no, I'm not pregnant (that's another post in itself), but it's cute and comfy and a skirt to match. Along with some boots that were only $8.49!!

Yep, that was our trip. I love stuff like that. And I love my digital camera. Melissa recorded it and will be sending it my way.

I promise to share with you, as well.

Pink Push-Up Bra

So, last night I'm on the phone with my friend Melissa. She tells me a story that wasn't really funny, not at all. But she's the type of girl that no matter what the news she's telling and in this case it wasn't the greatest news, she can still have ya laughing. Laughing so hard that at one point I spit ice cream all over my bed.

Seriously, all over it.

But I'm pretty upset. Because no matter how hard I try I'll never be able to relay the story to you and keep it as funny. Me telling it would not make you spit your ice cream all over your bed. But it was funny. I had to give the phone to Josh because I couldn't breathe I was laughing and choking so hard.

So, I'll just tell you that her story involved a trip to the doctor. Where she unknowingly would have to get into a gown and if she had known that she most likely wouldn't have worn her brand new, lacy, hot pink, push-up bra from Victoria's Secret. And if she'd known they were going to give her drugs to make her woozy, she probably would have eaten breakfast so that way she wouldn't be holding a little kid sized juice box when the hottie PA, Frank, comes walking in with his beautiful, perfect self and his beautiful, perfect teeth. And Frank doesn't like elevator music, Frank (even with the name) busts out with some Red Hot Chili Peppers music. Because Frank is cool. And even with her boobs pushed up to her chest Melissa can see that.

But that's not what made me spit out my ice cream. What made me spit out my ice cream was when she tells me that they tell her she needs to sleep on her stomach and she tells me she's a little afraid of SIDS.

Yep, ice cream. all. over. the. bed.

Just some more jibber jabber.

I don't mind if you are a because I am one, too. I visit quite a few blogs without leaving comments. For various reasons. They don't know me, I don't know them. Maybe they wonder how I found their blog. Will they think my comment is retarded? I don't have anything to say. The list could go on and on.

But, I just want ya to know, I love comments!!! Whether I know you or not! And heck-ola, tell me how ya found me.

Next subject-

I took a picture of my appendix-less tummy for you. No, don't worry, you don't have to cover your childrens' eyes, I'm not going to show you. The glare from my stretch marks made the picture not turn out too well. Bummer.

Bet you're pretty disappointed, huh?

Modesty

So, for awhile now, I've been having an inner dilemma of sorts. I've discussed it a little with my mom and some with my mother in law.

Dresses.

There are women I know (okay, don't know but know thru blogging) that wear dresses only. It's starting to appeal to me.

Maybe because I'm 20 lbs overweight or maybe because I'm getting sick to death of seeing these scantily clad girls and women on the streets and on tv. It's distracting for men. I feel so bad for my husband who tries so hard to keep himself pure by not looking at these girls who flaunt what they've got and sometimes what they don't got.

As girls we don't have the first clue how difficult it is for a boy or a man when it comes to this issue. Because for the most part, as women, we aren't visually stimulated. (Except at 9 pm on Thursday nights!)

I'm not saying I'm going to run out and buy a bunch of dresses, I'm not there yet. But I'm definitely more aware of my clothes and Jaylee's clothes. I know she's little but I want to create a desire in her heart to want to be modest. I just don't know how to go about it. If I ever lose these 20 lbs and am able to wear my pre-pregnancy clothes, there are a lot of shirts I will have to throw away and most likely some jeans.

It's difficult to think about doing though, throwing away my favorite clothes!? Clothes have always been an expression of who I am or what I'm feeling. I went through a "hick" phase in High School and wore Wranglers and Ropers. I went a little vintage for awhile. Each day I'd wear what suited the mood. I think it's still possible for me to do this and be modest though.

This struggle I've been having has been going on for a few months. I see a woman that is nicely dressed, for the most part I wouldn't think anything of it, jeans, shirt, shoes. But I looked at it from my husbands point of view. Tight jeans, fitted shirt. Automatically his eyes would want to wander. I don't want that and I don't want to cause that, whether I'm overweight or at my goal weight.

So, there's my dilemma. Any thoughts, anyone?

blah blah blah

Nothing to say. Not a single, gosh-darned thing. I'm not taking my painkillers today, so my ramblings today are my own!

Talked to the husband about the tattoo I want. Thinking it's not going to happen. I'm a little sad but trying to be good about it. Told him I wouldn't get it if he didn't want me to and at this point, it's a no go.

I can be good, right? I don't have to be angry at him, right? It's not like my life is over because I can't get one, right?

Pfft. Right...

Anyway, new rambling subject...


In May, the girls that were in my wedding and myself are going to have a lil get together for an entire weekend! I can't remember the last time we were all together to just sit and hang out. So, very excited! Josh and I got engaged while I was still in High School, so these girls have been my friends for so long! There were 5 of us and one day we decided we needed a name, we decided on "Quads" but realized that meant 4. So, we became the Quads plus one. So, whoever was the outcast for the moment ended up being "The One" And in this picture, they just informed me, I was The One.

We're all at different stages in our lives but no matter how long we've been apart, we can pick up as if it's only been a few days since we've seen each other. I love these girls and cannot wait to spend so much time with them!

Some random things I remember about the times we were together:

1. TPing Ledgerwoods house and having his booming voice on my answering machine the next morning.
2. Trevor Miller's house, need I say more?
3. Getting pulled over with 4090 million rolls of TP in the car.
4. Deciding whether or not we should run the mile post marker over or not.
5. Forking Bible verses in the Bellinger's yard.
(Did all these happen on the same night?)
6. Mexico trips.
7. Church camp, Cabin 2.

Just to name a few.

Love you guys and can't wait for May!

*So, Michelle...is it the same dress?!

Tattoos

Okay, so I have 2 of them. One I love and one I got out of rebellion, out of raw emotion. It was the five year anniversary of my dad's death and I decided, spur of the moment, to go get a tattoo (never, ever do that). It's Japanese or Chinese Hieroglyphics when translated say (or is supposed to say) "to mourn my father." Not sure if it actually says that because really...when you go into a tattoo parlor, you just never know.

I don't want to say that I regret the tattoo. I don't. I regret where I put it. I put it on my left arm up by my shoulder. At the time I wanted to make a statement. Something sorta like this:
"I did this. You can't stop me. I miss my dad and I'm going to prove it everyday from here on out. I don't care if it offends you."

Josh didn't want me to get it. But I was going through a dark time in my life where what he thought or said was of no importance to me. I remember calling him while I sat and waited for my appointment. I could hear the defeat in his voice. He knew it didn't matter what he said-I'd still get the tattoo. So, he said nothing.

And I got my tattoo.

I got one a year before that on my lower back. That I love. I don't regret it all just wish I could see it more! :)

So, the reason for this post is because my sister just got another tattoo today and I've been wanting another one and her going in today, is really giving me the itch!

The flower at the top of the page is most likely what I'll be getting. I'm going to put it on my left foot and it'll be pink. I thought of putting Jaylee's name through it but probably won't in case we end up having more kids. Wouldn't wanna go back in just to put their name on! :)

There you go, more ramblings from my narcotic haze.

Pain Killers

I'm on them. I like them. I think I've found a new best friend. :)

So, you are warned this post most likely will make no sense. As I'm typing my head is spinning and I feel quite dizzy. It's like most days really but this time I can blame it on the drugs!

I have nothing to write about really. So, I'm just going to jabber.

Yesterday, since Josh was home all day, he took it upon himself to deep clean the bathroom. He removed everything from the bathroom, then scrubbed and scrubbed until he could see his cute face in the toilet bowl, the sink and the shower. He cleaned the kitchen and then moved a king sized bed upstairs that we got from Amber. So, if you ever need a place to stay, you're more than welcome to stay here and you'll have a king size bed! Very fun. I just realized though, you better bring your own sheets as I don't have any that big yet.

I'm still working on my scrapbook area. I'm looking forward to showing you pictures of what it looks like when it's all pretty. Then I won't want to touch it because it'll get messed up. :)

It's a beautiful day today. Wishing I felt up to doing some yard work. Seems winter is dragging on and on. I can't wait for Spring and Summer. We buy a couch from a thrift store for the summer to put on our deck and then it goes to the dump at the end of the season. I'm looking forward to evenings on the deck with our "new" couch.

Today I changed the bedding in Jaylee's crib, rearranged her room, cleaned out her closet, decorated for St. Patrick's day, and started some laundry. I'm sure I'll regret it later but for now I feel good about what I've gotten done.

I have three areas on my tummy that are bandaged up and it is driving me crazy not being able to see what's underneath. On Monday my doctor will take the bandages off. I hope I have scars. I love scars.

Have I rambled enough? I'm sure I have. Sorry for the nonsense.

A Blizzard, a Nasty Motel, and a Little Appendicitis

I had a good weekend, how 'bout you?

My sister, Megan, her husband, Jerry and Sugar and I headed to Colorado Wednesday morning. We're five hours into our trip and Megan takes Jerry's place as driver. Jerry just had a root canal, so he took a Vicadin to help him sleep while we drove. About 30 minutes into her leg of driving, it begins to hail. She's not driven in anything like that before, so she hands the wheel over to me. Not 30 minutes into my leg of driving, we hit a blizzard.

I'm a little panicked. Okay...a lot panicked. I'd love for Jerry to take over but he seems a little out of it due to the Vicadin. (Our first clue was when he told us to wave bye bye to the sun because it was the last time we'd see it for the day) So, I continue on. Staying close to the rig in front of me because it's the only thing I can see. After an hour of feeling so claustrophobic we decided to get a motel, get some rest and then head home the next day. There would be no funeral attendance by the four of us.

We pull off into a small town, get the last room in a very sleazy motel, order some pizza and try to not to think about all the commotion going on outside of our room. Let me see if I can describe a little of what this place was like:

First thing we notice was a hole in our wall going into the next room. Duct tape holding the air conditioner into the room. Mold growing in the bathroom. Duct tape holding the windows in the bathroom. A mirror in the room bigger than both beds put together. We were a little nervous to sleep under the covers but we did it anyway.

The next day was beautiful. There was snow on the road but it was gorgeous out. Sunny and blue skies. Part of me wanted to head to Colorado but part of me just wanted to be home with my husband. Jerry and Megan wanted to head home too. I was bummed. I really wanted to be there with my stepdad and sister and the family that I haven't seen in 20 years.

So, we go home. I talk to Josh about possibly flying to Colorado for the funeral and he agrees to go with me. We find some fairly cheap tickets but instead of jumping on the deal we decide to sleep on it and decide in the morning. This is a rare thing for us, so I know it was totally the Lord.

We went out for Mexican food and when we came home I realized I wasn't feeling the greatest. I figured I must have eaten something I shouldn't have.

I woke up around midnight in so much pain. It was starting to feel like whatever was hurting inside wanted to kill me. We called the 800 number off our insurance card only to be told all nurses were busy and would get back to us later. I couldn't wait. Josh and I woke Sugar up at 2 am and left for the ER.

They ask me my pain level on a scale of 1-10. I told the guy, I've had a baby without drugs, so I guess I'll have to call this pain an 8. They admit me, check me out, feel a warm spot on my belly and...

Sure enough, they tell me I have, "The Appendicitis."

Isn't God so good? Because if not for the blizzard, I would have been 1300 miles from home in the hospital, away from my husband, who is the only person that can take care of me.

I went in for surgery about 12 hours after I went into the ER. Everything went great and they let me come home yesterday.

It just amazes me how the Lord works sometimes. Ya know?

So, I am supposed to be taking it easy. Which means I wasn't even supposed to climb the dumb stairs to get up here to tell you all about this. But I didn't want you to think I'd left ya!

Might be a couple of days before I'm back again. Thanks for sticking with me!