Day 64

Tomorrow is the Annual Red Cross Real Heroes Breakfast...which means today was set up day. This event has once again been in the planning stages for months, and it all comes together today. Several of us from the fire service world, along with many Red Cross volunteers met at the TRAC in order to put out all of the table items...the captain's packets and centerpieces, as well as the pens and tissue (always popular with folks), and the programs at each seat. While we were setting tables, the Chiefs were busy hanging the sponsor's banners. The room is ready, full of Red Cross red and white, for the big event tomorrow.

And, on a side note...as soon as we were done decorating I hopped in the car, picked up Rob and we went to mass! Happy Ash Wednesday everyone...and welcome to the Lenten Season!

Day 42

Look who came to visit today! It's Baby Dean...who is getting to be such a big boy. He was decked out in a faux hawk, thanks to a little gel from his momma, and the shirt Rob and I gave him for Christmas.  He certainly is looking like a Certified Hunk these days!!

At four months now, he's such a good boy...no muss, no fuss...and getting cuter by the day. I'm so glad Brittany brought him by...she needs to do that more often so all of us ladies at the office can get our baby fix!

Day 39

When they said it was going to snow again...they weren't kidding.  It did snow just a little bit more overnight. And during the day today, it tried, but only managed to spit a flake out here and there. 

I spent the better part of the day scrapbooking over at Trina's. Well, mostly gabbing and catching up, and a little scrapbooking.  But as I got ready to leave, it really started to come down. I made a couple stops, and by the time I left the grocery store the heavy, wet snow was upon us. 

Once I was safely home and toasty warm, I snapped a few pics.  I went out the front door and took a picture of the bright night sky and a couple good sized icicles forming.  But in the picture you couldn't tell how much snow was falling, so I zoomed in on the street light (through the tree)...which is a pretty good shot of the blowing snow.  Then I just thought our little yard lights looks so cute all lit up upon the snow.  And finally as I headed inside, I took one last shot off the porch, this time with the flash on...and all you can see is little white dots! 

Wonder what it will look like by morning?!?

Day 38

We have just a little bit of a winter wonderland.  After last night's snow, we finally have a blanket of white...and blue skies...for now. They say more snow is on the way, tonight and/or tomorrow. I snapped this pic of our house on the way into work this morning...everything just looked so pristine, and pretty.

And, when Rob got home tonight and brought in the mail, there was a small padded envelope addressed to him and I. Inside...a little Happy Valentine's Day box with a frosted heart sugar cookie inside from Cheryl's. I had already guessed, but the note inside confirmed it, it was a Valentine wish from my very favorite girl, Miss Kennedy. She is such a sweetie pie!

Day 37

Here it comes...finally...Winter 2014!

Even though snow wasn't really forecasted until this weekend, it started this afternoon. Just a light dusting in the parking lot at work by late afternoon. And as you can see, it doesn't bother Baylee one bit...as long as she has a blanket to snuggle in, snow or no snow, she's good.

Now that we're home, we have at least a couple inches on the ground...and it's still coming down. I took the girls out the side garage door for their potty break, and tried to snap a decent pic - with our yard was lit up almost like daylight.

Day 35

I know...funny picture, huh?

Here's the story...after work today I headed to Walmart.  As I circled the lot for a parking place (as one always does at Walmart), I found this one...right in the very front.  Yep, that's Chelsea the Charger occupying premium real estate. I had a fleeting thought about how cold it was (Wind Chill of 12°) and how lucky I was to get so close. Then I remembered the MicroChallenge from Busted Halo for today; Today be aware of the joy in the little details of your life. I mulled it over while I was inside Walmart and when I came out, I snapped a picture of my own joyous little detail.

Day 31

Rob and his Daily Roman Missal.

I'm sure glad he likes it...I think it was his favorite Christmas gift. I know he definitely uses it each and every day. Like tonight, he's having another read of it on his way to bed.

Day 29

The girls are back home again...oh how we've missed them!

 Yesterday afternoon, I had every intention of getting Rob home and settled, and then going over to Mom's to get the girls.  But once I actually got home and slowed down for a minute, I realized I was exhausted...I mean, completely wiped out, so I left the girls for one more night at Grammy's house.

Tonight after work I stopped by and picked them up and they got to come home and see Daddy - they were so happy to see him after almost a week. And now, both of them have landed in their favorite spots...Baylee snuggled in her bed, and Lucy next to the hamper perched up on the dirty clothes overflow.

Day 28

At last...freedom! Rob is doing so well in his recovery, they have released him from the hospital. He has been more than ready to get home.  His nurse took his last IV out, we got him dressed and ready, and they escorted him down to the car.  Bye Bye Kadlec!

Now to get home for some decent rest...where they don't poke and prod you every hour on the hour!

Day 27

Beautiful flowers and first foods!

Today the doctor turned Rob loose on solid foods again.  His first in four days.  He tried a little meatloaf for lunch, and here he is with a little chicken and sweet potato dinner.

And, when I got up to his room this evening, he had received flowers while I was gone...a gorgeous bouquet of lilies and roses from Angie and Mark, wishing him a speedy recovery.

Things are definitely looking up...hopefully he gets walking papers tomorrow!

Day 25

Here we are on our second full day in the hospital.  I left the hospital for awhile to run home and grab a shower, and to stop at mom's to visit the girls.  On my way back up I swung into Yokes and picked up this cute little puppy (his bandana says 'woof you') and a Feel Better Soon balloon to take back up with me.

I know this is seriously no picnic for Rob, and I just wanted to give him a smile if I could...and I think the puppy did the trick. These have been days filled with firsts for him, and not the kind you look forward to; first serious illness, first IV, first ultrasound and MRI, first hospitalization.  And, the poor guy hasn't been able to eat anything since Thursday except a mug of broth...as he is enjoying in the photo. Not that he's wanted anything else really...between his pain level, and the medication he's on, food is the last thing on his mind.

We did meet with a surgeon this afternoon, and he is leaning toward surgery tomorrow, but might want to look at a CT scan first before making a final decision. I guess we won't know until morning what he's decided. Another night of waiting.

Day 23

Well here we are in the ER. Not exactly where I thought I would be spending my night...or Rob either for that matter.

He's been complaining of some belly pain and upset on and off for the last couple days. But tonight he got home from work and was crying out in sheer agony. His pain was intense and he was experiencing some vomiting as well. I knew something was very wrong, so we quickly loaded up in the car and headed for the emergency room.

After some quick lab tests they've told us all of his enzyme levels are elevated in his gallbladder, liver and pancreas. In fact, the normal range for one of the enzymes in his pancreas is 350-400...but his is 27,000!! They believe he may have a gallstone stuck in a bile duct causing everything to back up. They think they know right where it is, and have drawn a lovely diagram for us, explaining where it is and how its affecting Rob.  He will most likely need a procedure in the morning to have it removed.  I think we may be here for a little while.

Day 21

I know what they say, there's only two things you are supposed to do in your bedroom...sleep and...well, you know.

I already know this, but I have to say this is one of my favorite things to do.  We call it a picnic in bed.  Some nights I get home from work and I'm wiped out and cooking a full dinner seems like too much effort.  So usually we order take out, or it might just be quick sandwiches, or something of the like, and then we spend the evening on/in bed. We eat, watch some TV...maybe catching up on some shows, and in general just hang out all evening in our bedroom. And that's what we did tonight, and I enjoyed it!

Day 19

Today was the final playoff game for the Seahawks. They played the 49ers for the NFC Championship, and won 23 to 17. They are headed to the Super Bowl for only the second time in franchise history.

I'm not much of a sports fan, and really not a football fan, but you have to root for your home team, right?  Mom has been paying pretty close attention this season, and I knew she'd be watching the game this afternoon, so I asked her if she wanted to come over and watch with Baylee and Lucy and me. She agreed, and so she watched the game, while I did some chores, made some Harry and David dip and Rice Krispie treats, and uploaded some photos for next weekend's scrap camp.  It was nice to have some company in the house...and the girls LOVE their Grammy!

Congrats Seattle...see you February 2 at the Super Bowl!

Day 17

That Baylee-girl.  Even when she's naughty, she's cute.

I picked up a new bag of food for the girls after work.  Mom hauled it in for me tonight, and set it next to the couch, and asked, kind of jokingly...'The girls can't get into this, can they?'.  Well I disappeared into the bedroom and bathroom for a few minutes, and realized I was hearing a LOT of rustling in the living room  Busted!  Baylee WAS in fact trying to get into the food...she had knocked the bag over, pushed it a couple feet across the floor with her snout, and was trying to dig her way in!  That nose...the nose knows I tell ya!

Day 16

Yum...Doesn't this look like a nice dinner?

After a long day at work, then some grocery shopping, putting all the food away, and doing a few chores around the house, preparing anything fancy for dinner was just not going to happen tonight.  So I made a prep-and-walk-away kind of dinner...Shake and Bake pork chops, a Marie Callender's Vermont White Cheddar Macaroni bake, and some broccoli.  I put it all together on a plate for Rob, so he can warm it a bit and have dinner when he gets home from work...and I just liked the way the plate looked - colorful, balanced, and yummy.  It's what's for dinner...

Day 15

A dinner double date with the Huntingtons.  What a great last minute plan that worked out lovely!  Trina texted me this afternoon to say that my Close To My Heart order was in. Then she asked if Rob was off tonight, and if we would like to double date with her and Tom.  Yes and Yes! We met at Texas Roadhouse just after work - where we both had gift cards (mine was a birthday gift courtesy the Huntingtons, ironically enough).  We had delicious dinners, and some good chatting...when the music and noise of the place allowed (a LOUD)!! 

Thanks for the invite...we'll have to do it again soon.

Day 13

Today, I decided to check out the Capture Your 365 photo prompt for the day.  It said, An Encouraging Word.  I guess this can be anything you make it to be.  For me, as I was sitting on the edge of my bed, the first thing I thought of was my prayer card for Saint Veronica.

I chose Saint Veronica, or rather she chose me, before being baptized and confirmed.  Unfortunately, (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it), she is not one of the more popular saints, so things with her image or likeness are not all that common to find.

Thankfully, Rob found this prayer card with a medal for me for Christmas.  I keep the medal on my necklace, and the prayer card on my nightstand.  Her Prayer to the Holy Face on the back side of the card is An Encouraging Word!

Day 10

It's been one of those weeks.  Not a bad week, just kind of a crazy week.  With the first full week back to work after the holidays, and rolling into a new year, things were a bit crazy there.  And with me not feeling tip top just yet between my lingering cold and the infection in my leg and swollen ankle and foot, it was just...well...a crazy week.

But, near the end of the day, one of the Battalion Chiefs - who knew it had been a bit of a trying week for me at the office - came in and gave me a very unexpected Thank You...an Olive Garden gift card.  Well, it just so happens that Rob was asked to trade shifts today, and worked the morning and had tonight off.  I texted him and asked if he wanted to pick me up from work, and head across the street to the Olive Garden, and of course he did.

We had a great meal, I had this lovely cocktail...and although the place was packed and it was hard to hear each other talk, it was nice to spend an evening out together.

Thanks Curt for the gift card!  We put it to good use immediately!!

Day 4

Lucy has found a new best friend.  She just LOVES Emilee.  She lays near her, next to her, or even on her.  Maybe because Em gives her some much love and attention.

Tonight she was even trying to help Em play with the Flashpad...I think her little paws on the board were were anything but helpful!