8.31.2006

this ridiculous week...

What a terrible week! I am totally a bride! :)

The family shower was this past weekend. It actually went really well, so I thought. I got to talk to all my family and friends, had a great time, got lots of really cool gifts, all is happy in the world. Then I find out that my crazy great Aunt Clara actually spent the shower telling Steve's family what terrible ungreatful people my family were. I should have seen it coming. To make a long story short, she raised my mom. Mom is wonderful, Aunt Clara thinks we don't honor her enough for raising my mom, so we're all ungreatful, terrible people. This is not a new story to me. Since I was 10 years old she's been telling me how awful my mom is and how fat she is and etc... finally I couldn't hold it in any longer. I told mom.

I probably should have kept my mouth shut, (like I've done for the last 20 years) but no part of me was able to do that. So after a long Monday and a lot of conversations, we un-invited her. What a mess.

Then, Tuesday and Wednesday, I was late for work. Wednesday I didn't even set my alarm!! I've NEVER done that!! It was terrible. I've also been just a crying, weeping mess this week. This is so unlike me! All I can figure out is that it is the stress of work and the stress of the wedding...

Update on Grandma Barnes...things don't seem to be going that well. She was able to come to the shower which was sooo fun! it was great to see her and she was soo excited to be there. but after that she seemed to go backwards. She's still at the clinic and all that, but she's been falling a lot and not making it to the bathroom in time. She had another MRI and they want to wait about 6-8 weeks before surgery on the other side. I'm not sure what is really going on, no one is. We're just a little nervous.

That's my venting for now. More later.

8.21.2006

misc...

one year ago today Steve proposed! Time goes so fast! I'm so excited with everything that is happening in our lives, and also for what is to come.

Grandma Barnes is doing ok. She is at the rehabilitation center now, and is pretty happy there. lots of people to talk to and things to do. she is working with a speak therapist right now. she had no physical damage from the stroke, but is having trouble saying nouns, and expressing herself. Feeling much better though! No word yet when the second surgery will be.

Wedding plans are good. we are just about set. waiting for all the replies to come back, then have to make seating plans, but other than that good to go. no flowers yet, but whatever!

family shower is this weekend, it's all starting now! I'm excited!

My cousin is moving back to Cleveland! he and i were pretty close, but he moved out of town and getting together just got hard. hopefully now we'll get to see each other again. he's a lab tech and got a new job, wanted to move closer to home.

My sister is doing as good as expected. she super excited and still super sick. but she's very positive about it which is good. her next doctor apt. is in about 2 weeks or so.

Dad and I went to a baseball game on Saturday. We had a great time. It was nice to get him out having fun and forgetting all the work stress. He's like a little kid at those things! we had a blast, I hope we can do it again soon!

that's about it for my update, almost time to get home!

8.14.2006

more updates

Well, Grandma Barnes went into a rehabilitation clinic on Saturday afternoon. They still aren't able to get her blood pressure down, but they need to get her better in order to do surgury on the other artery in her neck. I don't know much about it, but she is supposed to be there for 2 weeks at least. We talked to her Saturday morning and she says that she feels a little better. She's still a little confused and sounds terrible, but she seemed happy to talk to Steve.

Amy is super sick. She found out at the doctor last week that she is 8-1/2 weeks pregnant with a expected due date of March 21, and she can't keep anything down. She's still excited though, and she calls me a few times a day to ask me to drink a Diet Coke for her and to eat a hot dog! (or whatever she's hungry for at the time) She's told me a list of everything that she's gotten sick on and will never touch again! I feel so bad for her, she sounds horrible, but I can't wait to see my little niece or nephew! Plus, I have been trying to get her to give me some jobs to do for the shower. She's holding a bridal shower for me, and I think she needs some help, but she won't give in!

Steve and I had a great day on Saturday, it was his night off work so we had all day together, by ourselves. That doesn't happen often so we took full advantage! We went miniture golfing and played in the arcade and drove go-carts. It was so fun! Steve and I and a bunch of little kids! I won mini golf and air hockey, and he won everything else. Then we went to Cold Stone Creamery for some ice cream, and rented a few movies and went home. It was great to spend time with just him. I just love him so much!

Well, that's it for now, everyone have a great Monday!

8.09.2006

cute website

This is a really cute website that I found about stories we used to believe as children...check it out if you get a chance.

http://www.iusedtobelieve.com/

Grandma update

Thank you for all your prayers!
So far, not much news. Grandma Barnes is still in intensive care, they thought that she could be out by now, but no such luck.
She is still doing ok, her only problem is that they are unable to get her blood pressure down. Once that happens, she could be released. Still no decision on whether to have surgury on the other side or not.

I was told that she is hooked up to 5 different IVs and meds, but she's still tough! She's a little confused about what time of year it is, but she's aware of what's going on and she's insisting that she's coming to Steve and my wedding! We just love her!

I'll update more when I get more news.

8.04.2006

Grandma Barnes

To anyone out there, I am asking for your prayers for my future Mother-in-law's Mom. She has suffered a stroke after our crazy hot OH weather the last few days, and is in need of some prayers. She has one artery completely blocked and one 70% blocked and we are waiting to see if she is going to be a good candidate for surgery.

God decides when your time to join him has come, but she is a very special lady and she is in my thoughts.

thank you!

update:
Grandma Barnes did have surgery on one side. She is currently in intensive care, but seems to be doing ok right now. Her blood pressure spiked this morning, but hopefully they can get that under control. If all goes well, she could get released tomorrow or Thursday. Then they may decide to do the other side in about a month or so, if needed. Because of her age, they may not do it if everything else seems ok. Thanks for the prayers!

She did say that she was lucky because her husband was with her through the whole surgery (he passed away about 2 years ago.) So she was happy.

8.02.2006

survey

I saw this survey somewhere, and it's kind of interesting. Feel free to steal it!

GRUB-OLOGY
What is your salad dressing of choice? Ranch, the fatter the better!
What is your favorite fast food restaurant? Taco Bell
What is your favorite sit down restaurant? Olive Garden
On average, what size tip do you leave at a restaurant? 20% unless something is really terrible. I was a waitress for years, they don’t make much money.
What food could you eat every day for two weeks and not get sick of? pasta
Name three foods you detest above all others. Raw tomatos, seafood, other than that, I'm not sure!
What is your favorite dish to order in a Chinese restaurant? Egg rolls!
What are your pizza toppings of choice? Mushroom, or deluxe
What do you like to put on your toast? Peanut butter and jelly or honey
What is your favorite type of gum? Orbit

TECH-OLOGY
Number of contacts in your cell phone? Close to 40 maybe??
Number of contacts in your email address book? 20-30
What is your wallpaper on your computer? Beach scene
What is your screensaver on your computer? Blank screen
Are there naked pictures saved on your computer? Not that I know of!
How many land line phones do you have in your house? None, just cell phones
How many televisions are in your house? 3
What kitchen appliance do you use the least? Stove because I don’t cook, dishwasher, steve cooks, I wash dishes.
What is the format of the radio station you listen to the most? country
How many sex toys do you own that require batteries? I had some, but I’m out at this moment

BI-OLOGY
What do you consider to be your best physical attribute? My eyes maybe?
Are you right handed or left handed? left
Do you like your smile? Not really, but at least my teeth are straight!
Have you ever had anything removed from your body? nope
Would you like to? A lot of fat, but as you can see from the food section above, that is my problem!
Do you prefer to read when you go to the bathroom? Nope. I get in and get out.
Which of your five senses do you think is keenest? Smell
When was the last time you had a cavity? About 2 years ago
What is the heaviest item you lift regularly? Case of catalogs, 37lbs.
Have you ever been knocked unconscious? I don’t think so

MISC-OLOGY
If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die? As controlling as I am, I think that even some things should remain a mystery
If you could change your first name, what would you change it to? Something not as common!How do you express your artistic side? I’m a graphic designer, it’s my job!
What color do you think you look best in? black, it’s slimming!
How long do you think you could last in a medium security prison? I honestly have no idea. Not long.
Have you ever swallowed a non-food item by mistake? Probably!
If we weren't bound by society's conventions, do you have a relative you would make a pass at? I love my cousins, but that’s gross.
How often do you go to church? I don’t, but I should.
Have you ever saved someone's life? Not that I know of.
Has someone ever saved yours? All my friends and family keep me living!

DARE-OLOGY
For this last section, if you would do it for less or more money, indicate how much.

Would you walk naked for a half mile down a public street for $100,000? I’d need more than that, that’s not something you’d want to see. (million maybe?)
Would you kiss a member of the same sex for $100? More please! 100,000 and I’d give a peck.
Would you have sex with a member of the same sex for $10,000? No, no money for that one.
Would you allow one of your little fingers to be cut off for $200,000? I like my fingers!
Would you never blog again for $50,000? Sure, that’s fine.
Would you pose naked in a magazine for $250,000? Lots of millions. I’m not very daring.
Would you drink an entire bottle of hot sauce for $1000? 25,000 – my stomach needs that much!
Would you, without fear of punishment, take a human life for $1,000,000? I couldn’t do that, I can’t even hit an animal with my car without tearing up.
Would you shave your head and get your entire body waxed for $5,000? I would love to get my entire body waxed, permanantly! But the head part would cost more.
Would you give up watching television for a year for $25,000? Lots more money please!