what's the catch?

Last night...for some reason I felt like being extra nice to Andy and offered to give him a back rub. Typically my back rubs are one handed, with one eye open, as I start to drool and drift into my own dreamland. I usually fall asleep during the back rub, wake up apologizing and wondering how long I was out for. But last night I felt extra generous.

He was already passed out on the couch watching Fox News so I woke him up and pretty much said...This is a one time offer. I'm willing to give you a two handed back rub...while sitting up at full attention...with massage oil...for more that two minutes. AND would you believe he said NO?!? Confused...I said again...This is a one time offer. He finally said Yes but asked what the catch was. Apparently my love isn't enough, there is some sort of catch. I assured him there was no catch I just felt like doing something nice.

So last night from 11:30-11:45pm Andy got a awesome back rub and I earned some wife points. At one point I said [just because I like to hear the response] You are one lucky man. And he said...Yes I am! Grin.

I'm usually the one that gets up and does the morning routine, morning feeding everyday with the baby...but not this morning! Andy woke up as the baby started to fuss and told me to keep sleeping because in return for the back rub I could sleep in and he would take care of everything : ) Ahhh...what a gift! Would you believe that I spelt until 11:30? Believe it baby.

So the lesson for today is do something nice and unexpected for your special someone. Do something that you know they would love and do it without a 'catch'. In return you'll have a greater appreciation and love for each other. I'm no therapist but it works!

no air

UFC is constantly on our TV here at home. When Andy gets some free time he likes to choke me out by his awesome fight moves. I totally suck at fighting back. My old defense is to throw my log legs around. I usually tap out after a few minutes of fight back. Lately, my defense has been the old strangle move. No way do I actually strangle him I just pretend. Every time I go in I say, "Tell me how I'm supposed to breath with no air..." - you know from that Chris Brown song...'No Air' the lyrics are fitting for the strangle move. We really shouldn't joke about what CB did but we would be lieing if we didn't say it made us laugh.

I usually don't care or pay attention to what happens in the pop world. But I'm pretty sad about what happened to Rhianna. I used to this CB had it going on. I used to like his music. I sure don't anymore. He's a wife beater.

I had a dream last night that Rhianna was my friend. In my dream I told her that Jesus loved her more than Chris Brown ever could. I told her she was worth more. That's all I remember.

It's really sad to think that she is younger than me and has been in a majorly abusive relationship. It makes me think that those relationships are probably more common than I think. Bummer. I don't wish that for anyone.

rainy sunday

Today its raining cats and dogs. We stayed in and took naps together...I didn't recover well from loosing that extra hour of sleep all thanks to DLS time. Andy is at the station today so Colt and I have been blasting CMT music videos and working on our posture. He can almost sit up all by himself. My cousin Meg is home for spring break so she came to get her Colt fix. Spencer came over today too. We've had a fun day and it's only 4:00pm! Meg just went home to take a nap and Spencer is crashed on my couch as we speak. It's a day made for naps...I'm telling ya!

Tonight we plan to roll around on the floor together, watch the Food Network Challenge @ 8 and Celebrity Apprentice @ 9. It's one of those days when I can't wait for Andy to come home. The single mom thing is not my cup of tea.

Colt had nanerpus for breakfast. Anyone see that Denny's commercial when they cut up the banana and make it look like an octopus sitting on top of a stack of pancakes? Well, ever since Andy and I saw that commercial Bananas comes out as...Nanerpus. We just can't help it.

Colt getting loved by his Meg. She brought him over a ton of new clothes she bought for him the other day because...they were on sale! Can we say spoiled???

Then in honor of Michael Scott we 'tented our pants'.

And Colt tried to eat his Uncles face. Scruffy and a bit salty.

Spence came up with new ways to use the boppy. He was snoring 2 mins into the nap.

And truly...I swear we start our health kick tomorrow. Until then...there is a cherry cheese cake in the freezer for Andy. It was a gift from my friend Emily. You can't toss a gift. I said Monday! I don't lie.

Happy Napping!

true love

I left Andy the last Hershey Kiss and the last Reeses Peanut Butter Cup in the freezer tonight. We keep them in the freezer because that makes them extra spectacular. When he gets home tomorrow he'll see the gift of my truest love.

I love that there is a Healthy Choice behind the candy.

We're so healthily unhealthy.

Scarface

Check out this wicked cool scar.So I'm sitting in the ICU and just got an update. Dad gets to go home tomorrow! Whee!?! His neurosurgeon said that Dad's 'gray matter' has bounced back quicker than expected and so tomorrow he gets to go home. He is only in the ICU now because the room he was supposed to get transferred to was full. A few weeks of light movement and rest and he's good to go!

God is crazy cool.

1/2 a year old

Colt turned 6 months old this week. At his appointment today he weight in at a healthy 22.5 lbs and was 28" long. It was sad to see him get upset again after the immunizations took place. The two front teeth are enough to make him whine all day anyway. He was like a flopping fish outta water on that dr's table too. Such a little wiggle worm. Andy's was there to do the hard part. Force his little-fat-hunka-burning-love legs down on the table so he couldn't move and then allow the nurse to insert a needle 4 times in a row. Not just one shot...but 4. I pretend I'm not there and as soon as the band aides are on I smother my child with momma love. Him and the dog are napping together right now. Such a sweet sight.

Dad is doing well today. We're about to head up the ICU in a minute to visit him. I didn't make it up there yesterday and I feel so out of touch. I guess yesterday, with the assistance of a nurse or two, Dad was about to actually stand up and walk to the rest room. I'm guessing he can sit up in bed now too. He is supposed to be moved from ICU on Friday. Which is tomorrow. Where has this week gone?? Yesterday he had a pretty bad headache. They gave him some pain killers and released the pump connected to the tubes a little bit. I guess the suction on the tubes was a big strong. Not only are they pulling blood out from the tubes but also spinal fluid. If the spinal fluid is taken out too quickly it can cause a pretty nasty headache. He's been feeling better since the adjustments were made. Today they took the tubes totally out. Which is a great sign. I think they're still waiting on the results from this mornings cat scan. If the tubes are out that's a good sign though.

The sun is actually out today here in Indiana and everyone is happy. We drove with the window down today. That is one of my most favorite things! As much as I love being snowed in and the fireplace popping I'm ready for Spring. Yes, Kaley, I said it. I'm done with snow.

Copper got to play Frisbee outside today. She was quite winded when we were done. So out of shape!

I've been rocking a few pounding headaches and eating chocolate like it's my job. I need Jillian Michaels to come kick my butt. Monday I start my health kick again. I have to mentally prepare myself...it never comes easily for me.

Whelp. That's all I got.
Peace and Love my friends.

baldness

My brother went under the knife too. His razor knife that is...and joined Dad in his baldness adventure. Spence has a very large dome. I say that with nothing but love in my heart. It's like an orange on a toothpick.

What's funny about this picture is you can't see the other side of Dad's head. They only shaved the top of his head and the right side where they did the surgery. If you're standing on the other side you would see the worlds best 'bowl cut'. And if you peek around to the back of his head he's got some fancy mullet action going on. Hotness in the hospital. That's how he rolls.

Dad is doing good today. The cat scan from this morning revealed that his brain or 'grey matter' as Dad keeps calling it has shifted almost 75% back to center. That is a great! On Monday he could only lay at a 0-15 degree incline and today he went all the way up to a 30 degree incline. The hope is tomorrow he can pull a 45er. He really wants to sit up. The plan is to stay in the ICU until Friday with the hopes of possibly being sent home on Sunday. I'm thinking that's a best case scenario but he's heading in that direction.

Yesterday I went to the Third Day website and left a message for their Management Team. I pretty much told what happened to Dad and mention what a big fan he is. I said it would be great if they could write him an e-mail or something...sort of like a celebrity pick-me-up. Those happen everyday, right? Dad was mumbling a third day song through anesthesia in recovery yesterday. He is a nut. Anyhow. It was a shot in the dark but I thought it would be an awesome surprise for Dad if Third Day pulled through on that one. I'm waiting to see if they respond...but I haven't told Dad anything just in case it works out. So Shhh.

I feel bad for because he hasn't gotten one second of sleep since getting to the hospital Monday morning. I would be a zombie by now. He fumbled on a few things today and couldn't remember some things that he normally would have remembered. We're not worried though. His brain isn't fully back to work and he's running on zero sleep...that can't be good for recovery either. Hopefully he sleeps well tonight. Mom was going to see if they could give him a sleeping pill but they weren't sure if they would be able to do that or not.

Mom said he's been going nuts at the hospital trying to find a good picture of Colt to show to the nurses. He loves to show off his grandbaby. Another one of his quests is to try to make his neurosurgeon laugh. Dr. Smith is a really nice guy with great bedside manor but he's quiet and to the point. If you've been around Dad you know it doesn't take long before he makes you laugh. It's funny that Dad keeps talking about getting his Dr to laugh though. It's like his next big challenge.

A few quick bullets:
-My 36 day strike is over. Everyone is back to work if ya know what I'm saying. We're going to start trying though. And I didn't even have to twist Andy's arm! Muh ha ha.

-Colt's snot is disappearing from his nose and his smile is appearing where his frown used to be! Yay!

-I had subway for breakfast and lunch today. Andy said he's going to start calling me Jared. It's turning into a problem people. It's only $5 for an entire foot long? That's a whole 12" of hoagy deliciousness. Did you know that?

That's all for now my friends. Everyone is sleeping so soundly at my house right now. It's so quiet that the tapping of the keyboard is interfering with the beautiful sound of silence.

thank you Jesus

I never would have thought shortly after I posted yesterdays blog my mom would call me with the news I heard. It changed me.

Four weeks ago my Dad slipped and fell at work trying to move pallet. He went to the ER and had a cat scan to reveal a mild concussion. He was released to go back to work the very next day.

Last Monday he went to the doctor complaining about a severe head ache. They said it was a side effect from the concussion and only time would take the head ache away. All day Saturday and Sunday he slept and held his head complaining about pressure. His pain tolerance is unbelievable so it's hard to tell if he's actually in pain or not. He was acting funny and not making much sense all the time, but my Dad goofs around all the time...you can't always take him seriously.

Then this morning when the alarm went off [which he set himself] he asked why my brother was going to church so early in the morning. My mom told him it was Monday. He didn't know. He couldn't remember what he did on Sunday. He doesn't remember talking to the doctor on the phone. He couldn't remember anything he had done all day. Mom got him in the car and took him straight to the E.R. By the time he was at the hospital he couldn't even recall his address.

He ended up having two emergency surgeries today. One was to put a screen in one of his veins to capture blood clots from traveling from his body to his lungs. His other, only a few short hours later was brain surgery. They drilled holes in his skull in hope to drain a 12" long x 1" deep hematoma on the right side of his brain. The hematoma had grown so large it pushed his brain an inch off center causing the pressure and his brain to swell.

He is being monitored at the ICU at Memorial for the next 3-4 days. He'll then be transferred for another few days in a different ward and undergo physical therapy to make sure he gets all his motor skills back. The neurosurgeon says he'll be off work for at least a month but depending on how the next few days go in the ICU, he should fully recover.

Thank you to all my friends out there who have been praying for us.

My Dad was at such peace. Before he was wheeled back for the surgery he looked at my mom, Spencer and I and said ...I know and love Jesus Christ. If anything happens in there...just know that I'm in better hands. I'm not afraid of dying because I know where I'm going if I do.

Mom told him if he gets to the point during surgery and he has the choice of coming back to us...or going...he should choose to come back. Because we need him and there are more grandchildren that want to meet him one day...but if it's to the point where he needs to go...we would understand and he should go.

Mom and Spencer were being strong. Tears were pouring down my face. That is a conversation you imagine having with your father when he is 95 years old and on his death bed...but not now...not like this.

Dad's surgery was a success. There was a 50/50 chance that drilling the holes wouldn't be enough. If that were the case they would have had to cut a piece of his skull out and remove the hematoma and let the brain expand that way. Luckily that wasn't the case and he's being monitored but I think hopefully most of the blood will be able to be drained out.

My Dad is amazing. He is like a father to others. He loves everyone. He is jolly. He is hilarious. He resembles Jesus. He would die for me. He would give his last breath for my child. He is selfless. He is Third Days biggest fan. He cares for the less fortunate. He is an example of hard work. He is giving. He has a joyful spirit. He has a sense of humor that won't die. He loves his wife. He loves his church. He is the one and only.

This picture of Colt and my dad was burned in my thoughts and prayers this afternoon. It was all I could think about. One day I pray my son will cherish this picture of him and his grandpa as much as I do.

Please continue to pray for these next days in the ICU. Please pray the blood will be thin enough to drain completely and no further operations will need to take place. Pray that the source of the bleeding [which is unknown] has clotted up and isn't continuing to bleed. Pray for my mom and my little brother.

God knew on the day my dad was born that we would be here today. He knew that he would be scared and that we would be fully relying on our faith. He knew that within hours, people from New Jersey to Florida...from Wisconsin to Kansas would be in prayer for my Dad.

Thank you Jesus.

hmmmm...

A few things on my mind...

1. Today is day 36 and still no period. My tests keep saying negative...which makes me kinda sad. We weren't even trying and now I'm in baby mode again. It's addictive. Andy says I'm getting really personal and I say, I'm an open book. Read me. It's my blog. Not Facebook.

2. Andy threw his back out a few weeks ago and while he was at the dr getting muscle relaxers our friend Nic asked, 'Did ya put your hands on him and pray about it?' and I didn't...but should have. So the last few nights Colt has been up sick, crying and having trouble breathing. Guess what I did? I prayed. Guess what he did? His snot went away and he stayed asleep until 9:00am. God is pretty cool like that. Thanks for the reminder Nic.

3. I feel as if I'm going to be emotional today. While watching the today show I wanted to tear up over something not tear worthy. Maybe my 36 day strike is almost over. Where is the chocolate?

4. I'm noticing how much I talk about Andy. I'm not going to stop or apologize. He is my best friend and my lova.

5. Tonight my friend from HS Courtney is coming over to watch The Bachelor finale with me. She was going to bring subway for dinner. Yesterday I bought two identical foot longs [5 dollar foot long...sing it] and I have a foot and a half left in the fridge. I'm having a subway crisis. I can't get enough.

6. Aren't I a good blogger these days? I mean, the content is of moderate quality but at least I'm blogging. This is my 102 post. That's a record in the blog world I'm sure.

good news and bad news

The good news... Colt can balance a rubber duckie on his head.

The bad news...On top of our cold and ear infection, we're now cutting two teeth.

[This picture was take on New Years Eve. Colt had had two much bubbly, it was way past his bed time and he had confetti on his head. But this pictures perfectly resembles how he feels right now]