Growing Up!

It's definitely hard to believe it was only 2 1/2 years ago that this little girl was born. Uncertainties abounded about whether or not she would have health issues. We delivered her a good 4 weeks early though you'd never know. Look at the chub! She's my cutie pie. I love her to pieces. She's enjoying her summer. I held her tight the other day. I couldn't imagine life without her. It was suggested to me at the time by a specialist just because of the unknowns. I just couldn't imagine having made that choice simply because she has made our family so complete. I fought for us both and I'm sure her strength made a big difference as well.

Now? She loves swimming. She loves playing in water and splashing around. She hates getting her face wet still. We have no pool. I take her up to the pool here in town. She loves it and begs to go swimming. How time flies! If you go back to the beginning of my blog I started posting right after I found out I had cancer. I was about 7-9 weeks pregnant or something like that. I posted sonogram pics and everything! Again...how time flies!!

Friday Night Daiquiri

I am really not doing much for a Friday night. I picked up my mother and she's hanging out with me tonight. I whipped us up a strawberry daiquiri and we're watching some TV. It's a pretty laid back night. Mom is catching a plane early in the morning. She is taking her first vacation since losing my dad. She's going to see my dad's sister who is a wonderful friend as well as family. She was really there for my mom when dad died. I don't know what we would have done without her there.

Mom really deserves this vacation. It will be a stress reliever for her. Until then, I am sitting back with my drink and enjoying my Friday night.

Summer and Fairs

Summer time really is about the fairs isn't it? Or is that just me? haha Swimming pools, and fairs. I love good fair food. Actually I am a huge fan of a lot of the cooking shows on TV. I do not like the "contest shows" though. I don't need to see someone trying to cook well and failing or having the judges tell them it's raw or that it tastes terrible. No, that ruins it for me. I watch cooking shows to see GOOD food. One of my faves is Diners, Drive Ins and Dives. Oh I love that show. I would love to just hang out with that guy for a day. I think I'd never feel so well fed in my life. That food looks awesome. It's right up my alley.

I strayed from my point. I love Fair food because it has that same feel to it. I got a Gyro which was pretty tasty I might add! Then towards the evening I got a funnel cake covered in cherry topping. I of course shared the latter with my girls. I want the taste minus the guilt! On the way out we saw corn on the cob. We got one of those too! It was all very good. I love love love the fairs and good food. Our local carnival was a joke as far as food was concerned. Sorry, but when I order a $4.00 ham and cheese I am not expecting a cheap hamburger bun, lunch meat and processed cheese. It was pathetic. Since then I have had some good fair food...thankfully!

The kids had a great time riding the rides. I took Gabbi on a few as well. I have a bout a month of vacation left. I need to do things to REALLY enjoy it. Suggestions?

Happy 4th of July

Thinking about taking the kids out to see some big fireworks tonight. Hopefully this rain doesn't destroy those chances. I am so sick of rain this year.

On the plus side I was watering my tomato plants and guess what? I have a red one!!! I love tomatoes. I am really sad that my dad isn't here to give me food from his garden this year. It's sad to his garden all grown over with weeds. Mom is getting it taking care of, cleaning up the yard and all that, but I miss seeing his plants and him down there taking care of it.

My mom's house is also starting to smell like all "woman". There is no man scent left. I know it may seem silly but when my dad was there it didn't have a perfumey scent. Now? His scent is just gone. I get sad over things like that. When I go see my mom I open her medicine cabinet, grab out my dad's aftershave and smell it. I love that she still has that. It smells just like my dad. I miss him.

Gabbi is growing like crazy and looking like quite the little lady these days. We gave her a "princess makeover" this past week. She insisted. :)

My New Tattoo

I have been wanting a violet ribbon since I became a cancer survivor. I went through a lot and this was sort of my own symbol of beating it...winning the fight. It's a reminder of all I went through. When I was diagnosed they didn't think I would last 3 weeks without treatment. It was a difficult time combined with the fact that I did indeed feel like I was dying.

I came back, kicked cancer's ass and here I am today. I got my tattoo, spent the day on the Harley and even got a rather funny looking sunburn to top it all off. It was a good day. I had a great time out singing at the end of the night with my favorite local Karaoke DJ, Dennis.

I'm proud of what I have accomplished. Now I'm going to be starting my second semester in Nursing College. Who knew 3 years ago that I would be here today?

I do miss my dad though. He lost his battle. It's so wrong that he lost his battle right after I won mine. It's like cancer is there to remind you, that though you won, he can still take your family....your friends....and yeah even come back for you. It's always there. My dad's ribbon is almost identical to mine. Mine is violet, his is purple. So I got the tattoo for both of us. (And no my dad did not approve of tattoos, just so no one thinks he did haha) But I got it anyway. I wanted it as a tribute to him with his initials and birth year and the year he died. On the other side, is Survivor 08....the year I was declared in remission. Yeah it means a lot to me. I have wanted it for a long time and now I am so happy to finally have it!!! :)