It's been a while

It's been a long while since an update, and I've heard from more than a couple of people that I need to fill them in on what's been going on. So I read the last couple of posts... all the way back in February (wow...) and now I'm to fill you in... readers digest version ;)

~ After fighting to find things in the garage for months we reorganized it so now there's a pathway all the way to the back. Thought I found my piano power cord but it's really just the power cord to my stereo. Still can't find the piano cord :(

~Shenan's moving to Utah. I didn't really think it would be that big of a deal but it's hitting a lot harder to home than I thought it would. I'm really gonna miss her. And she's going to be a long drive away. It's hard enough finding time to make the 3 hour trip to Show Low to see the parents...

~I'm needing a job. Found one, but they wanted me to work 3-10:30pm... Nick works 6-2:30pm, we would literally see each other maybe a half hour a day and that's when I wake up with him to make his breakfast and lunch for the day. So I turned that down. Still looking. Need something full time and at least $11/hr. So hard to find though.

~My red car finally took a poop. Nick and I finally got around to fixing the O2 sensor that's been out for like 3 years and he did an oil change and was GOING to do a tune up... and fix my catalitic converter... until he got under the car after changing out the sensor and seeing wet liquid oil all over the entire bottom of my car. Literally everywhere. And when we ran it to see if the O2 sensor turned off my engine light, suddenly there were 7 oil leaks that weren't there before. I was really scared to drive that thing...

Which leads me to my next update...

~I got a new car. Well, not a new car, a used car. An 07 Nissan Altima, dark blue ;) Was really hard to find though. And since buying Nick's car, my credit score has gone down about 50 points I think all due to how many people put hits on my credit when we were getting Nick's car. Then it all happened again getting this car (you would think we would do it differently this time... haha... yeah.. nope) and it was so hard getting financed. But we did it. And I love the car. And Nick loves the car. So we're happy.

~Mom got a couple of surgeries lately. Got stuff taken out of her elbow from the accident a year ago, got extra skin removed from all the weight loss, and got reconstructive surgery from her cancer 6 years ago. I'm so happy for her, that she's able to do this and put everything, all of that bad stuff, behind her and move on with a new body. Lots of scars... but they're just reminders of where she's been.

~Friends are pregnant... that's fun.

~In a wedding for my ex-boyfriend James. I'm sure I've posted about that before though... I think. But we're making all of the costumes, and us ladies are halfway through getting our corsets done. This is the most involved wedding I've ever seen or heard of. I dont sew so I'm relying a lot on the bride to do it for me. In trade I'm doing most of the decorations and invites and such. Which will be fun. I hope ;)

~Dishwasher broke. Has been broken for two weeks and the apartment people came out, fixed it, said it wont happen again... and it happened the next day. Then wouldnt come out again for two weeks because they thought they fixed it. *sigh* Well we're getting a new one in a day or two. Finally. We told them that the first time.

~We thought Nick had tonsilitis for the last month. It's really been kicking his butt. Doc gave him meds and one refill... we've been through the meds AND the refill and it's not getting much better. So now we're doing tests to see if he has mono. I just wonder why I havent gotten it yet.

~Nick and I are looking into options into fixing his back. The army REALLY messed it up. He's 3 inches shorter than when he signed up for the army. They took xrays and told him he had scoliosis and sent him on his way. Well he's always hurting and it gets so bad that he has to lay down cuz it hurts so bad but then even when he lays down, there may be only one position he can lay in where it doesnt hurt. So he's going to a specialist and doing xrays and stuff... we're hoping he can get surgery to fix it. It would be free through the army but Nick is so tired of army doctors, he says they dont do anything and are really bad... so we're trying to do it through insurance. If everything goes well, it's a 10% copay... but 10% could still mean a couple of thousand bones that we can't pull out of our pockets at the moment... so we'll see where that goes.

~My aunt is in surgery today in Mexico to get something similar to what my parents and I got two and a half years ago (wow that long already?). I wish her the best. I think it will be really good for her, I just hope there aren't many complications and I hope she can adapt as well as the rest of her family in supporting her and her new lifestyle she is undertaking. I'm thinking about bringing her to some of the support groups that I go to for my surgery. It's a lot like the same thing as mine just... different. So I think it will help.

~Living situation is difficult. More difficult than I thought it would be. We still hardly see eachother but when we do it seems to always be nagging about one thing or the other. And the dogs keep going to the bathroom in the house. Or being sick. *sigh*

~Parents had their 25th wedding anniversary :) Shenan Nick and I all pulled together some money and got my parents a gift certificate to the restaurant my dad took my mom to the day he proposed, Beni Hanna :) They are so cute I love them.

~Mine and mom's birthdays are coming up soon. Mom is gonna turn 50. She doesnt seem it. I guess that's good. I'm turning 24... I have thought I was 24 for a while now lol I keep thinking i'm turning 25 or 26... Nick says I act that old and laughs when I forget I'm only 23. I'm too young to forget how old I am haha.

~Had a change of heart as to what I'm doing in school. Dropped the court stenography thing. Did that to keep my fingers fast and to afford doing piano more full time. Never really WANTED to do it, it was a means to do piano. So I had no motivation and never practiced... wasted 5 years doing that. I've been in school for 6 years now... and still no degree. And I have friends with masters already. I could have a masters in piano performance by now. Am I kicking myself? Yes. But through all of this I finally figured out what it is that I enjoy doing and really want to do. I had a friend in MD who was mentally handicapped and couldnt communicate or control most of her muscles in her body. Right before my family moved to AZ they were going to teach her sign language. Well I always swore I would learn it so I could talk to her someday. Which is why I took ASL at MCC. So I'm going back to school and getting my interpreting licence, and then go to ASU, maybe work for them as well as an interpreter, and get a bachelors in speech and hearing science, then getting a masters in speech and language pathology and work as a speech therapist to help mentally handicapped kids who can't communicate, and their parents, how to sign. It really means a lot to me and I think I would be really happy doing this. In memory of my really good friend, my best friend ever, in Maryland.

~Nick and I found something that we like doing together besides cuddling and watching movies and going on drives and such. He loves computer games and video games, but hates playing them if I can't play with him. So we found one we both can play and enjoy :) I'm going to sound like a huge nerd.. but I really enjoy playing WoW (World of Warcraft). I'm addicted. We play it together and really have fun. I'm glad there's finally something that we can do together that we both really enjoy.

~Nick is planning something big for my birthday. I'm excited but nervous at the same time. I'm not allowed to look at the bank accounts until after my birthday, and I'm not allowed to plan anything at all the weekend of my birthday. He says it's all his planning. I love knowing that he's planning something and thinking about it... I kind of know how much he's planning on spending and I have no idea what he could possibly be doing that would use that kind of money unless it's a trip? But I'm pretty sure we're not going on a trip. So I dont know. But I'm excited. I'm just glad he's thinking of it and doing something for me without me reminding him my birthday is coming up :)

Well, I'm sure there's more updates but I gotta run :)

LOVES!

Scratched

So, two days before we moved out of our old place, someone decided they didn't like the paint job on Nick's new car that we just got. It's a yellow/orange kind of iridescent color, where you have like two colors together depending how you look at it with the sparkles and everything...

...well someone walked by sometime during the night and keyed his car along the drivers door and the hood. most of it we could probably have buffed out, but there are a couple of places that are too deep and we'd have to have repainted.

TWO DAYS before we move. They could have waited two days to decide to commit vandalism. Seriously. At the new place, we have a garage that Nick uses so we never would have to worry about it because he was worried about messing up the paint and stuff or someone dinging it. We were two days too late.

*shakes fist*
Makes me so angry. *sigh*

THAT'S where that went!!!

So its been a week since we've moved into our new little apartment with my friends. It's crazy finding all the stuff you have when you have to pack. It's like Christmas :) But then there's all the stuff you don't really want but cant get rid of, or dont know what box to put it in... so then you end up with a ton of miscellaneous boxes... I'm glad we are renting out a second garage at our apartments for storage. It's beyond packed. We cancelled the other storage unit and moved everything into the garage, and slowly been bringing up boxes (or stuff from boxes) and it's all one big mess (pictures to come in a later post... when I can find my camera haha).

But the move was good. There were like 6 guys that showed up from my ward COMPLETELY unexpectedly (last I heard no one could make it) so we had a lot of help packing the truck. I still had to pack like half of the apartment so I was busy throwing stuff together for them to take with them. We also had Nick's little brother and cousin (who I swear is the strongest kid I have ever seen) who we relied on a lot the entire weekend. We had to move a LOT of stuff. We actually rented the truck a day longer because we had so much stuff to move. It took three trips with a full 17' truck to get everything moved over.

The apartment is small, but bigger than we thought it would be. Which is always a nice surprise. Nick and I have the small room (we gave them the master because they were willing to pay more and anywhere we can save money at the moment is a good thing) but we are able to fit his dresser, a small desk (that fits his computer, the wii, and a printer), and a bookcase full of dvds and games, then the bed and two side tables. We are still arranging furniture and stuff and we have (I think) all of the essentials. I had to go into the garage yesterday for some hand soap and body wash for the shower (I ran out last week) and my sugar and flour so I could make pumpkin pie.

Somehow the guys got the huge tv up into our living room. And we can amazingly fit my piano in there too, I just now have to find wherever I put the power cord... somewhere in the garage... PROBABLY in the back. *sigh* One of these days we're going to reorganize the garage and actually go through and get rid of the half empty and empty boxes so we can actually walk in there. Our roomies have a fish tank in the front room and we're using their couches because mine were just WAAAAY too big. Mom and dad are holding onto those for us, thankfully.

The living situation is great. We all get along. We all usually just stick to ourselves. When Nick and I are home we're usually watching a movie or playing games on the computer, and we always leave the door open to our room if we're available, and they are usually in their room with the door closed playing games or whatever, or they're out in the front room doing stuff. We all have very different schedules but havent had any issues yet. Brian and Nick I think have had maybe two conversations with eachother... it's funny how similar they are. Quiet, and all about cars and games. The same games, just Nick prefers them on the PC and Brian prefers them on the xBox. So theyve been trading games and stuff.

The two dogs have been fun to have around. They both have gotten to like us and dont bark much at us when we walk in anymore. The beagle always runs into our room and jumps up on our bed when we're in there and falls asleep as we play our game. It's so cute. As it's calmed my want for dogs, Nick is dying to get one of our own. It makes him really miss his old puppy he had to get rid of because the living situations wouldnt allow him to keep it. We'll get one one day :)

Anyway, gotta run :) Going to the mall with Jessi to get her ring (she got engaged to Brian on Valentines Day) resized before she goes to work. And since I have no school today, I need SOMETHING to do (heaven forbid I actually do laundry... lol)

Baptism

So Saturday was my little cousin's baptism. He just turned 8.

I was so excited and wanted to go see it so bad but was really worried I wouldn't be able to make it because I had a work meeting that was mandatory and I didn't know if it would be done in time. Traffic from Paradise Valley to east Mesa can make the trip an hour long.

Nick had gotten called into work that day but got let off early and just put on call. His back has really been hurting him a lot (to the point where you can visibly see the knots in his back and he says his spine feels like its trying to collapse and the muscles are pulling to try and keep it right... the only place he feels comfortable is on the bed where there is no pressure on his back) so he didn't want to do anything except stay home in bed and cuddle. When I got home from work I finally convinced him to come with me even though he had to come in work clothes in case he had to leave halfway through.

I thought it would be a really good thing for Nick to see a baptism and a confirmation. He's having really huge issues with the idea of the Priesthood and outright doesnt want it (he doesnt feel worthy to have it, feels that only people who have studied the Gospel their whole lives and has dedicated their life to God (like the Pope or the Catholic priests, etc) should have it, and doesnt want that much "power" I guess). I thought that maybe him witnessing it working would help. He's already seen a blessing (when Mom and Dad were in their accident) and I told him how much I would love our kids to get baptized by him so I wanted him to see it and feel it.

He was really self concious about not being in Sunday clothes but I told him it would be fine because it wouldnt be in the Chapel and there wouldnt be a lot of people and so it wouldnt be a big deal. Lol... I was wrong. I forgot they've turned baptisms into a stake event. So it was in the Chapel... and there was a TON of people there. *oops*

After the songs and talks and stuff the kids were released by stake, and my cousin's was the last one to go. While we were waiting to go, the Stake showed the video "Witnesses of Christ" (I think that's the name of it). I loved it. I had never seen it before. And it has Gordon B Hinckley in it. I miss him :)

Finally, it was time to go. The Spirit was so strong and my little cousin was so cute... it was really so special to watch him get baptised. I would watch everything and I just hold the hope in my heart that one day Nick will want to have one of his own.

It's been a lot harder than I thought it would be, being married to a non-member. I try to explain why there are 3 hours of church when he only sees good reasoning for two (sacrament and then priesthood/relief society), why they have to split couples up (he's really not comfortable going anywhere alone, with good reason I think), what the purpose of Sunday School is (he's gone with me for a year and says they just repeat stuff, he's already learned everything and sees no point in just learning stuff over and over, part of why he says they brainwash a little bit)... so GOING to church isn't so bad, it's STAYING at church. I can't ever go to Relief Society without breaking down because I know he refuses to stay that long because he refuses to go into Priesthood even if my dad is there (he had a bad experience his first time) and he goes home alone to come back and pick me up... neither of us are happy at that point. And bishops don't really know what to do either (the two that I've had so far... we'll have a new one next week, we'll see what that one says)

...there's a lot more I just shouldn't put it here. He's very private and probably would get very upset if he even knew I was talking about this.

I've asked myself why I got myself into this before. He and I, when we were dating, almost split up a couple of times because I wanted the temple marriage and he couldnt guarantee me one. But he promised me he would support me at church and go with me every week and really try for me. He promised me he would get baptized if that's what I wanted. Of course I want it, but I want it for him. When we were dating, I talked to my bishop about it lots, and I prayed a LOT about whether this is good and right... and I got a very clear confirmation that it's good and right and something I should do. So I went to it without looking back. And I just have to remember that confirmation... this is something that the Lord told me was good and right... and I just have to put my trust in Him that someday I can see my husband across an alter in the DC temple. I'd even just settle to see him in all white. Like my little cousin.

Who knows if it will happen. It might not happen until after the grave. But my little cousin's baptism planted a little seed. Time will tell how it will grow.

I don't know why I'm writing all of this... it just kinda came out, so I apologize. It's very personal to me. Thanks for at least letting me write and get it out.

Two minutes is just too much time.

The Cardinals ALMOST HAD IT!!! UUUUGGGGHHHH!!!! Two minutes in the 4th quarter is just way too much time. We just had to keep the Steelers from getting all the way over but we couldnt do it. I thought we had won it. But NOOOOOOO. *sigh*

They still did an amazing job for their first Superbowl ever. Except they could have done with less fouls. That was kind of stupid.

But congrats Cardinals :) I'll never doubt you again!

Inspired

So Shenan posted on her blog about doing blind contour drawings in her class and they had to draw their hand without looking at what they were drawing, and they couldn't lift the pencil. I was inspired off of her pictures that she did so I tried it. I used a pen and did my left hand. Here's how it went:


I personally think I did pretty well. I'm proud of it :)


I'm also inspired to post these pictures that Shenan and I took on the way to Show Low for Christmas (teehee... love you Shenan don't hate me!!!) I didnt even remember taking these and they were on my camera!!!


This is one of my favorites:


...




And this is what I will expect from Shenan for posting these. This is why you don't ever piss her off hahaha. (Remember I love you Shenan!!! I just love this pic, I'm sorry!)

Squeeeeeeeeeeze!!!!!!!!!!!

So, lately I'm squeezing in more ways than one.

SQUEEZE #1

My pants are tight (so tight I actually have to lie on my bed to button them...), my wedding ring is tight, my shirts show rolls again... sure fire signs that I've gained a bit of weight back.

I got my surgery over 2 years ago and since then, I've lost 115 lbs. At that point I was still 25 lbs away from where the drs told me I should be at. I was only 15 away from where I wanted to be at though.

Well... I got married 5 lbs over my lowest point. I blamed that to stress of planning the wedding. At Christmas (5 whole months of being married *yay*) I was only 5 lbs over that. That was a huge accomplishment for me, because they say once you get married you gain weight because you're all relaxed and enjoying life, so I wrote off that 5 lbs. My goal was to get through the holidays without gaining more weight than that. After Christmas and my hubby and I just stayed at home enjoying eachother, I gained. A lot. Like ten pounds in the month. TEN WHOLE POUNDS!!! IN A MONTH!!! Ugh. That's disgraceful. I wasnt watching what I ate, I ate all day long without thinking about it, I didn't exercise...

Needless to say, my trainer was kinda "disappointed" (aka pissed). She's been with me for 4 years now working with me and knows how I work... I was doing so well after Thanksgiving and all of that, and Christmas came and it was like Hiroshima. I've plumped up like the Christmas pig getting ready for the slaughter. Now I'm 3 lbs away from the number I swore against seeing for the rest of my life. The 200 number.

So I'm starting the new year over, starting it right. My goal is to get all the way down to my goal weight by my birthday. MY goal, not the drs. I still think the drs are insane for saying I can get down there. But that's 35 lbs in 5 months. That's like 6 lbs a month. If I just get back to doing things right, that'll be easy.

Well, SHOULD be easy.

Nick is supporting me behind it. He never wanted me to get the surgery in the first place. Well, if he knew me back then he says he wouldnt have let me get it. But now that I got it, he doesnt want to see me put it to waste. And I agree. I got it to teach myself a new life, and to be able to teach my kids so they can be healthy too. Break the cycle of big. Nick wants to lose weight too so he said he's willing to eat whatever I eat and to start cutting back. He's funny because he knows I'd do anything for him so he asked me to lose weight for him. Not because he wants me to be skinny, but because with him as a motivation he knows I would take it more seriously. So I started on him today when he wanted snacks, telling him dinner was in a half hour (I made the rest of the porkchops that I did yesterday... yum yum yum. BTW Erica, THANKS for your recipe!!! I found one that had everything you said plus a couple more spices in it like thyme and rosemary and basil and then parmesan cheese and it was kinda spicy but Nick liked it. And you saved me from going to the grocery store haha). He didnt like having to wait, and he ate his dinner PLUS mine (I didnt eat much) and he said he felt like a pig but was still hungry. We'll work on it. It's all portion size and drinking more. He's gonna start working out with me too.

SQUEEZE #2

Gonna start this by saying sorry this is so long... but if you're still reading, I LOVE YOU!!! Haha.

So Nick and I are moving, saving money there, just bought a car, saving money there, I'm taking the light rail to school, saving money there, I'm clipping coupons, saving money there.

And yet money is still very tight. It seems certain bills keep coming out of the woodwork. Credit cards that we've paid off come back and say "OH there's a finance charge for $70 for this month even though there's no balance due on it", or "your dr appt was back in April of last year, but insurance wont cover it so you're stuck with it now".

It would help if my "job" would work me more than one day a week (or two) for 5 hours. These $50 paychecks aren't helping us much. I've been applying to places trying to find a part time office job in the afternoons... just something with steady hours where I'm not coming home at midnight and I dont have to work on Sundays.

I wanted to get out of the "waitressing" (in quotes because I dont really do that right now... just a banquet server... the menu is already chosen) but that might be the best choice right now. I've sworn off fast food, but at this point, any job is a job. We just need additional income. I need to be able to make the school payments or I'll have to drop out of the semester.

...And we all know that cant happen...



So, that's what's new. We're getting skinny. In more ways than one.