State Fair of Texas

The boys and I had plans to go to the Fair with my mom and my brother (Christopher). But since my mom had just gotten out of the hospital and Christopher wasn't feeling well and David had plans w/his golf buddies - I went alone. I promised the boys I would take them, and they were so excited. I couldn't not take them.

They were so excited that the night before the Fair, they cleaned their rooms, and the living room to make me happy about taking them : )

Walking into the Fair - we stopped for a quick photo opp : )

Will, Andy and Ben 

more photo opp's ....... Will, Andy & Ben

Visiting Elsie & her calf ...

Ben & Will

Ben & Elsie

Ben, Andy & Will eating Fletcher's famous corndogs! Yummy!

Andy

Will enjoying corndog 

In the petting zoo .....

The boys trying to feed the giraffe

Will, Andy & Ben feeding the animals

Andy & Ben

Andy, Will, Ben and I : )

Watching the Kids Cowboy Round-up. I forget the name of it. But the boys love it.

They usually participate in it every year, but this year we watched.

The boys (reluctantly) w/the Ferris Wheel in the background

Big Tex Sand Box = rest time for mommy and fun for the boys

Will, Andy & Ben

Andy

Will digging a HUGE hole : )

Will, Ben and another little boy : )

Tractor Time .... Andy playing

Ben driving, Will in the back, and Andy trying to get in

Andy loved this! It's a bigger version of HIS own John Deere Tractor

Will, Andy & Ben

Ben is getting interested in Photography. He wanted to take a photo "a better one than mine" ..... I love it!

Two shots, two different perspectives

We rode the tram around the Fair to get a break and to see the Fair.

Andy was wiped out. He took a little nap.

The boys got Lemon Chill's ... Ben

Will, Andy and Ben

Ben & Andy in front of the Statue of Liberty

Photographer: Will

William.
He, of course, couldn't stand in front of it - he had to climb on it. That's my boy : )

We got to the Fair at 11am. The boys immediately started asking to stay for the parade. I wasn't going to stay that long. But as you know... time slips away - and here we are .... waiting for the Parade.

Behind us was a very big speaker - playing music VERY loudly. The boys loved it and were dancing the whole time : )

Ben played a basketball game and won a basketball. He was pretty excited!

We had a great day at the Fair! It was a beautiful day! It started out pretty cool and then got a little warmer. The perfect fall day! It was a long day for sure. I am not sure I would take the boys alone again, but I am glad we went. I left home w/three energetic boys and came home with three, very tired boys. I would say that's a successful day.

Mom in the hospital!?

Monday, September 27: My mom is being released from the hopsital today. Hopefully for the last time. She was taking an over-counter sinus medication that was affecting her blood pressure. As well as the two medications they gave her on Saturday when she was released weren't working well together. So - they have regulated her medication, given her antibiotics for a urinary tract infection and for her sinus infection. I pray that this is the answer and she will get well and be okay.

Thank you for all your prayers. My mom, my family and I appreciate it so much!

Sunday, September 26: My mom is headed back to the Emergency Room tonight. Her blood pressure is back up to 217/94. She called her doctor and asked if she could take more blood pressure medication and he told her no - she needed to go back to the Emergency Room. Hopefully once she's seen - they'll figure out why her blood pressure keeps rising.

Saturday, September 25: My mom was released from the hospital today (not soon enough for her). They did a sonogram of her heart today, but we haven't gotten the results from it. They were able to get her blood pressure under control and gave her two new blood pressure medications. Hopefully this well help and her blood pressure will stay in control.

Friday, September 24: I got a call from my mom early this morning, saying she was headed to the Emergency Room. She was having difficulty breathing. And last night she felt as though she had an 'elephant sitting on her chest.' She told the Emergency folks how she was feeling and they were concerned it might be her heart. They took her blood pressure and it was 214/85. They ran many tests - everything came out okay. Even though, all tests were okay - they wanted to keep her overnight for observation.

I took this photo of her when I got to the hospital. She wasn't happy, complaining and wanted to leave. I reminded her that she hates when my dad acts like a 5 year old when he's at the hospital and she was doing the same. I think it helped because she stopped complaining : )

 

Her blood pressure has been really high all day. They gave her some med's and only want her out of bed to go to the bathroom. She has had a sinus infection all week and the doctor said not being able to breathe through her nose, and not breathing correctly - could cause her blood pressure to raise? Is that true? I wish I knew the answer. I didn't know that was possible. I really hope that's all that it is.

My mom was not happy when she found out she had to stay in the hospial overnight. She began to cry and got really emotional. She said "in all of my 69 years, I have never had to stay in the hospital and I don't want to stay now." My brother, Stephen, had to leave the room (too much for him) - and I managed to calm her down and get her to understand that it was okay and that it was better to know then to not know.

I am really worried and pray that this is something very minor. I talked with my mom and reminded her that she's really not in that poor of health - that if she made a few changes, she could add many years to her life - which in turn I would be forever greatful for. The biggest change is to stop smoking. She told me she's only smoked 3 cigaraettes a day for the past week. She's trying to cut back so she can stop. I am elated and so very proud of her! She also needs to change her diet and exercise. I pray when she gets out of the hospital - she adjusts her life and makes these changes.

My mom is truly my bestfriend and I would be incomplete without her in my life. I need her!

Surgery for me!?

It all started a few weeks ago on a Sunday. I started having some gastric issues. I didn't quite understand why I wasn't feeling well or why I was having this problem, but I just wrote it off and went on about life. 4 days later - I had (what I know now), was my first gallbladder attack. And then my second, and then the third. The day after my 3rd gallbladder attack (which lasted 5 hours of me being bent over on the floor in a cradle position), I had some chest pains that concerned me. I had had chest pains before - but they normally went away w/in a few minutes. This lingered for several hours. I finally decided I should go to the ER .... I was afraid maybe I was having a heart attack. The ER doctors checked me over and said "we'll check your heart, but it sounds like your gallbladder." To make a long story short .... after leaving the ER, scheduling a HIDA Scan to determine if it was my gallbladder - it was in fact my gallbladder. For 2 weeks I was on a Gallbladder diet so that I could control the attacks. I did very well at controlling them ... even lost 12 pounds. Yea me! The surgery was scheduled for Thursday, September 16.

The morning of the 16th, David and I took the boys to school and went on to the hospital. I was delighted to find out that one of my childhood friends, Shannon, was my nurse. Total coincidence - but I was thrilled. I would be completely knocked out for the surgery. The surgery went well. It was my first time to have anesthesia - so I was alittle scared about that. But it was fine! I didn't get sick at all - which I was thrilled about.

This is me before surgery. Cute, huh?

Today, 4 days later - I have no recollection of most of the events that happened that Thursday and even some of Friday. It's weird how that anesthesia works. But I feel better. My pain is starting to lessen and I am somewhat starting to feel normal.

I am thankful for my awesome husband, the wonderful surgical center, my doctor and the nurses (especially my great friend, Shannon) - who took great care of me. I hope soon I will be 100% and be back to my duties as wife, mother and the occasional photographer.

And now for the first time in 36 years - I will have something to add on my medical history ..... exciting!

Happy Birthday Annemarie - Mutti - Oma!

We hope your day is as fantastic as you are! We love you dearly and wish we were together to celebrate your very special day! You mean the world to us! Please know that there's not a day that goes by that we don't think of you and wish to see you more.

Happy Birthday to you Annemarie - Mutti - Oma! We love you!

Andy's First Day of Preschool!

Andy started preschool today at his school. He was very excited last night. But then this morning - not so much. You should of seen his little face. He looked as though he had lost his best friend. My heart was breaking. He did really well though when I dropped him off. He was very brave!

He was so proud of his Buzz Lightyear Backpack and Lunchbox.

Andy's cubby for his backpack

Andy talking to one of his teachers

Sweet boy .....

Me and my boy ....

He's in the young 3's class and he's going M-F. I think he'll do great and have so much fun. They go to music, motor lab, stretch -n- grow, chapel, recess .... lots of fun!

I picked him up from school and he was so happy. He just kept telling me he had a good day and that he had homework : ) SOOOOOOOO cute!

Gene Roberts for Judge!

Me and my boys; Will, Ben, David, Andy, me and Kuma : )

I am so honored to display this sign in my yard! I worked for Gene (when he worked as an attorney for SettlePou) several years ago as his Paralegal. What an extraordinary man to work for! You know all those words you casually throw out to describe someone? Well they truly fit Gene. He is kind, considerate, honorable, trustworthy, patient, giving). I could go on and on. Really, I could.

When I got a message from Gene saying he was running for Judge, I thought to myself "Now this makes sense." Having Gene as Judge would give the Judicial System so much Integrity and Honor because that is what Gene stands for.

The Elections are November 2 and I will definitely be at my polling location voting for Gene! We couldn't have a better Judge of the 44th District Judicial Court. My family and I are honored to support my Dear Friend, Gene in this campaign!

Good Luck to you Gene! I am so proud of you and will support you all the way!

HAPPY LABOR DAY!

70!

Today is a big day! My daddy is celebrating his 70th birthday! I am so proud of him and truly so thankful to have him here to celebrate. He's had a tough year and he has fought and survived through it.

My daddy is an extraordinary man! I am honored that he is my daddy. He has loved my mother so completely for the past 51 years and has been the greatest daddy a girl could ask for.

I wish we could have a big celebration for him. Unfortunately - it can't happen b/c of things going in my life (upcoming gallbladder surgery).

Daddy - I hope you know how much you mean to me, David and your grandsons. We love you very much!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I pray for many, many, many.

Carlsbad, NM

My girlfriend, Nikki, got married and I, of course, had to attend her wedding. Nikki is my friend, I met at Super Soap Weekend at Disney every year (well until it was canceled). I really wanted to go and I wouldn't miss it for the world! Not missing it - meant I had to fly to Roswell, NM on a pedal jumper. Yes - that's right ... a Pedal Jumper! I was pretty nervous about that, but I wasn't going to miss the wedding.

I met another one of Nikki's friends (also Nicky) at the airport (she was connecting to Dallas from Charleston) and she and I flew to Roswell together.

Nicky and I at the airport

Made it off the death trap and landed in Roswell. Yes, that's a ramp I'm walking down towards a buiding that looks like a strip mall - but is really the airport. Nice, huh?

See the lady in the red dress. She was my flight mate.

A 72 yr old Cougar. Yes, that's right .... Cougar! You go girl... uh, lady - old lady?!

I had to step back to get the whole image in. I had never seen anything like this before.

Nicky and I got the rental car, headed out of the airport and on to Carlsbad.

We stayed at Holiday Inn Express which was the nicest hotel there. Really! Nicky made all the arrangements, and I was really glad she took her time to find a hotel. There were some scarey choices.

That's Nicky over there. Hi, Nicky : )

We stopped at Carlsbad Caverns for some photos.

We didn't go in the caverns. She and I just wanted souvenoirs for our kids.

Me and Nicky

(I set the timer on my camera and ran down that hill a couple of times to get the shot. Fun!)

We finally made it to Washington Ranch where the wedding was, and finally got to see Nikki.

Nicky, me and Nikki

Nicky and I really had a great time w/each other. This was our first trip together (w/o Nikki) and since there was nothing to do in this town - it was good we entertained each other pretty well. I think we laughed the entire time. We definitely weren't ready for Carlsbad, NM and had no idea what to expect. We drove alot and saw a whole lot of nothing ..... literally! But we definitely had a great time!

IT'S WEDDING DAY!

Me and Nikki. Her dress was absolutely beautiful! She looked fantastic!

(I didn't realize I was that much shorter than her : )

Nikki and her daddy. So beautiful!

Sam & Nikki

The wedding was beautiful! I had a great time w/Nicky, as well as Nikki and her family and friends. Everyone was so nice and made us feel like part of the family. I am so glad I went and was able to share in this day with Sam & Nikki! Sam is a fantastic guy and I know he will make Nikki blissfully happy!

Congrats to you Nikki & Sam! I love you guys!