I just had to get on here and write something positive.  I really hate complainers, and I feel like I've been doing a lot of that this week.  Blah, blah, blah......SUCK IT UP.......that's what I've been telling myself.  There are so many others with way worse problems than mine.  So instead of focusing on how craptastic last week was, I'm going to think about how lovely the weekend will be.  I know we all have our moments when we need to vent and talk about how miserable we feel, that's what this blog thing is for, right?!  I just don't like coming across so negative when I have so much to be thankful for.  I will give you an update though-- turns out that I had Phlebitis {inflammation of the vein} in the vein that the IV was in.  Painful, but not torture.  I'm on and antibiotics, just to be safe, and there is a clot there that should dissolve in a day or two.  My back is healing just fine.  So that's that.
I also realized that I didn't leave you with a picture of the cutest girl in the whole wide world.  She is a hoot.  Here she is playing with pots and pans.

She has crazy hair in this picture.  I try to put it up in cute little bows, but she just rips them out in seconds. 

My girl's been really good this week, just playing a lot and being her sweet self.  She's been making the almost daily trips to the doctor with me and is such a good sport.  I am going to spend the rest of my weekend relaxing and catching up with my Southern Living.  Maybe we'll squeeze in a little pool time or go feed the ducks at the park--Blakely loves the ducks!  I hope everyone else enjoys their weekend too!

It feels good to be back home from our trip to Utah.  We had a wonderful time celebrating my brother-in-law's wedding to my new and oh-so-fabulous sister-in-law, Debra!  They are such a cute couple.  They got married at the Salt Lake City Temple.  I have lots of pictures to show, but no energy to put them up right now.  Here is a link to part of their wedding video   There is a really cute shot of Blakely slowly falling asleep on my shoulder while she twirls my hair.  It was her nap time, poor tired girl!  She fell asleep just in time to take pictures--my arms were about to fall off from holding her so long!  All in all, we had a great time with the family and watching all the little girls play together.  We fly back out to Utah on August 8th {Jeff and My's anniversary!!}  to go down to St. George, Utah.  We had this trip planned before Carter and Debra had even gotten engaged, which is why they are so close together.  This trip is going to be all about having fun in the great outdoors!  Perfect vacation after the week I've had since being home.

It's been a rough week.  I got a miserable stomach flu Sunday night into Monday.  Luckily my mom was able to come over to take care of Blakely.  I could barely stand up, much less take care of a crazy toddler.  I could not keep anything down, so off to the urgent care I went for IV fluids and meds.  Fun times.  They took blood to test all the levels and make sure everything is ok--I'll get back to this.  Once they were able to get my blood pressure back up and make the room stop spinning they sent me home.  I woke up the next day feeling a lot better, but still not quite 100%.  Perfect timing for my dermatology appointment to have two moles removed from my back.  double awesome.  So with a weird {somewhat painful} red line creeping up my arm where they put in the IV from the day before, off I went.
Now, let me explain, I probably could have rescheduled my derm appointment for a later date, but I really really did not want to put this off any longer.  I already have the next appointment for the mole on my chest to be removed too, and I just didn't want to have to bump everything back, especially with more traveling in the next couple of weeks.  So I sucked it up, and went.
The procedure was quick and relatively painless.  I am stitched up and bandaged.  The only trouble is that it doesn't feel so hot to bend over or stretch my back at all.  I should know in a week or so if the margins are clear of atypical cells, or if I have to go in for more "surgery".  Oh yeah, and the doctor gave me some cream for that weird, painful line on my arm.  It's helping somewhat, but I'm keeping a VERY close eye on it.
So back to those results from the first doctor.  "Somewhat alarming" is how she put it.  Crap.  Glucose and Bilirubin levels were high, and blood platelets were low.  ????  They want to do more testing.  Seriously?!  I've had about enough for this week.  They said it wasn't really urgent, they would just like to do a re-test to make sure there was nothing to worry about.  I will be making an appointment with a primary care doctor so they can to the testing, when Jeff can be home to watch little miss Blakely. 
So there you have it.  My week so far.  Sounds fun, right?  Is it Friday yet??  Anyway, enough about all that.  I have way more to be grateful for and happy about to be complaining so much.  I just had to get it off my chest.  Next week will be better.

Happy Birthday to ME!

I love my birthday...who doesn't?!  I feel so special.  I've gotten a thousand calls and messages from sweet friends and family!  There's nothin like your birthday to remind you how loved you are.  Speaking of being loved, my hubby really out did himself this year.  I had been dropping hints laying it on pretty darn thick that I wanted a sewing machine.  Well he delivered.  A Singer Heavy Duty 4423 showed up at my door step {along with all the sewing accrcories I could ever think of} a few days ago.  I am one happy girl!!  Now I can get to all those sewing projects and DIY crafts I have been dreaming about.


sorry about the tiny picture

It gets even better!  This morning I woke up to a scavenger hunt for gifts that Jeff had hidden around the house.  How fun!  I love stuff like this, and he knows it!  It just makes me feel even more special that he took the time to do this.  He wrote out the sweetest clues to hint to the next hiding spot.  I collected goodies like heavenly smelling candels from Bath and Body Works, a Victoria Secret gift card, Godiva chocolate,  and awesome new sandels.  He is such a wonderful man and husband.  I love him so much for loving me so much.


On another note.  A very sad note.  Miss Blakely has come down with a fever that just will not go away.  Ok, so it's really only been about 24 hours so far, but when you've never delt with a sick kid before, it's heartbreaking!  As of now she's hit a high of about 101.9  HOT HOT HOT!  My poor baby.  She's still acting herself, just a little more floppy and a little more fussy.  Normally she's as happy as a clam all day.  I just hope this passes quickly without any more symptoms showing up and before we go out of town next week.  She still puts on a happy face for the camera though.  She must not feel that bad.

This sweet girl just crawled into my lap and put her hot little head on my shoulder.  That is my invitation to go snuggle.  This is already a very happy, very blessed 27th year.