Progress

Travis is making great progress. He isn't limping noticeably and seems to be feeling much better. I hate peppering him with questions so I just observe him to make sure he's feeling okay. He does come in the house and lay down which is a sign that he isn't 100% but that is to be expected. Overall, he has had a great recovery since being at home. Cole has an Yamaha 80 four-wheeler and he uses a lot. I love that he has it and can start it by himself because he is always willing to run errands for me to Vickie's house. He had a basket on it but this week him and his dad built a box for the back of it. It's the right size for Carly to ride on the back and for him to haul things such as generators:)(I just saw him take one over to Vickie's house why I mentioned it.) Carly has a battery powered four-wheeler but those things are just not the same. She has been driving Cole's around a lot more and I am getting more comfortable with her on it. She also rode her cousin Clint's 50 motorcycle that has training wheels and she loved that. I think she is ready for her own set of wheels.... I would rather get her a 50 four-wheeler because I think it would be more practical for our family but she did love the motorcycle. We'll see what Santa can bring in his big red bag. Since Christmas is coming and I love to buy gifts I can't wait. I am worse then the kids.

It always amazes me at how many people don't believe in Christ or think that those who go to church are hypocrites but at the same time celebrate Christmas, Easter, and many other religious holidays, who's the hypocrite? I think that society has secularized so many holidays that they feel like it's okay to not celebrate Jesus but one time of year. I respect those that don't participate in Christmas because if you have a bad attitude don't bring everyone else into your drama... If your asking yourself "is that me?" Maybe it is :)

Christmas Ideas for the kids:

Cole and Carly
New Playset
New Playhouse/fort
New Cowboy boots, muck boots(rain boots)
College fund contributions with American Funds
Coloring Books
Motorcycle or four-wheeler for Carly. Cole got one for his birthday and I believe in equality.
Some type of animal :0 For grandma to take care of..Love ya Vickie

This is just some thoughts I am having. No they won't get everything on this list but I am just brainstorming. I am not one of those people who don't know what to buy. I am also not going to buy them a bunch of toys, videos, pajamas, and misc. knick knacks. They get so much of that stuff all year. They are also not that into it. No clothes except boots and maybe some camo stuff but who knows and who really cares. Back to reason for the season is it all about gifts? What gift are we as a family going to give to Jesus? Can we afford time? Here I am blogging out loud again. Till Next time.

Family Photos

I just checked our photographers website and they had uploaded our family photo to their main page.

Deja Vu'

The title of this post is Deja Vu' because that summarizes Travis' latest stint at U.C.S.F. We drove down to the city on Wednesday and arrived in time to unpack our luggage, and then catch a cab to one of our favorite restaurants in the city, Scomas. I wanted to eat somewhere that Travis enjoys because he couldn't eat before his surgery at 9:30 Thursday morning so his last meal needed to be a good one. Needless to say he was extremely edging all day and he didn't sleep very well Wednesday night...

Thursday morning we trudged up to the hospital and we weren't exactly sure on the time so we had to wait about an hour and a half which is a long time when you are really nervous. To make a long story short Travis' embolization of a benign tumor on his kidney was "sucessful." In January during his first embolization his tumor was 10cm wide and prior to this recent embolization the tumor was 4cm wide. The doctors are perplexed to why the tumor causes Travis so much pain so the plan is to try and shrink the tumor to 1cm. He has a follow-up CAT scan in 2months to assess the tumor. I pray that the CAT scan shows that God has completely removed the tumor.... Keep us in your prayers. I don't know if Travis could handle another embolization.

After the surgery we were admitted into the hospital which is unusual but due to our last embolization they knew that he needed to be observed and his pain needed to be managed. We spent three nights and four days at the hospital and we made the long drive home, yesterday. Travis also had the hiccups for approximately 40 hours. Yes, 40 hours of hiccups that were gut wrenching and the doctors were mystified. They finally decided to try treating the hiccups and they became less frequent. It was very weird and also hard to see him hiccup so hard and then have them keep coming. The hiccups were a large part of his pain because of where his pain is located, the right flank. Enough about Travis' pain because I am starting to hurt:)

I know that I often use the blog as an avenue to vent my frustration but this post is dedicated to Vickie, John, Dena, Macky, Rachelle, Clay, Janelle, Mikey, Heidi, Chuck and Mary. Each one of them helped take care of our family during a stressful situation by loving our children. While Travis, Vickie and I were in S.F. Cole and Carly were in a wedding...I know crazy huh! My sisters and my brother-in-laws helped take and pick up the kids from school, feed them and gave them lots of love and attention while we were gone. John took the kids to Redding for the wedding that they were in and Heidi drove 4hours to make sure the kids were taken to all the wedding appts. and spent quality time. My parents attended the wedding and then brought Carly home with them because she isn't feeling well. Chuck and Mary opened their home to my children just as they would their own grandchildren and Travis and I are very thankful. As a parent it is hard to take care of yourself when you worry so much about your kids but everyone who helped are people who I know not only care about Cole and Carly but love them, and I thank God that we have each any everyone of you in our lives.

For everyone who has left us messages, and sent us cards, THANK YOU. I am always amazed at how you know who your "real" friends and FAMILY are when you are having a difficult time. The people who call because the care.

Thank you.

Mommy Weekend

This past weekend Travis took Cole and Carly hunting in Trinity Center. They went with some family and stayed at a family friends cabin for two nights. I decided to stay home and have some time to myself. On Saturday my mom and I went to Personal Choice for a Spa day. I had a facial, massage, and hydotherapy tub.... It was amazing. We went and had lunch afterward at Mazzoti's, which is the worst Italian restaurant ever, but the only thing open right before dinner time. Their food is very blah, and doesn't have any invigorating Italian flavor. I often think that I should be a Spa Critic. I have been to Spas in Healdsburg, Calistoga, Napa, St.Helena, Eureka, Fortuna, Redding, Mexico, and other various places. I know what I like and Personal choice is lacking some spa essentials such as a relaxation room, lockers where you change into robes, slippers, drink lemon water, tea, showers, and so on. Anyway I don't mean to be a Spa snob but maybe I am...

After I came home and watered my plants, fed our dog, and read for a little bit, I took a shower, got dressed, and was ready for an evening with a few of my favorite people. My sisters, Lyndsey, and I went to dinner at the Sea Grill and had a very good time. We visited, laughed, and had some delicous cocktails. We were all stuffed as we headed off to watch Body of Lies/Movie. It was GREAT. I love politics, history, and hot actors and this film had it all. It would also be a great film to use in my future film classes. A must have. Rachelle and Clay ended up spending the night with me.

Sunday, I slept in, drank coffee, internet shopped, cleaned my office, went to church, lunch, and worked in the office. I am only going to be at work on Monday and Tuesday so I have a lot to take care before Travis's Surgery on Thursday. After work I did my grocery shopping, went home, relaxed, read, and went to bed early.

Today I have to work, pack the kids clothes, run errands, and so on. On another note I am working on a post that is going to address gossip, and the issue that comes up all the time is people who are always talking about others and jealousy....(just an irritating observation). On Sunday our pastor said that the second most important thing that Jesus said was to love your neighbor as yourself and I am really trying to take that to heart....hum? neighbors, people, how do I show, act, live like I care about others as much as I care about myself? The hardest part is doing those things when there are those who I feel don't deserve it, don't love themselves, have diarrhea of the mouth, are jealous, and so on. WELL IT ISN'T MY JOB TO JUDGE....... I guess that is where prayer comes into play... Keep my family in your prayers this week as Travis has surgery on Thursday morning.

Random Moments

Janelle and Mikey were over at my house on Friday and Tasha and Craig's kids came over to play. Needless to say Cole and Carly love the White kids and were excited they came over.... The previous Friday consisted of Jake, Lex, Cole, and Carly all outside in the field trying to rope, ride and wrestle the kids' sheep, Eddie. It was comical. This Friday night consisted of a rodeo in the house with a bucking bull, and a 4ft horse. It's amazing what a little imagination can create. Makynna and Carly took a bath and then traveled to the "movie theatre" to watch a princess movie. They were entranced and very adorable. Bailee was wanting to nurse on my mom:) so we had her in Cole's baby basket and she was BEAUTIFUL.

And it begins....

Vickie has been wanting to sign Carly up for Dance class for awhile and today was her first class. Yesterday, when I had her try on her leotard, tights, and ballet shoes she didn't look too thrilled but today when I spied on her during class she was concentrating and doing fabulous. I took a couple pictures to document her first day. Today is just the beginning of practices, games, rehearsals, pick ups, and drop offs. I knew this day would come soon enough but I guess I am a little nostalgic.....

Making Memories

Cole loves to camp and build bonfires. He loves the outdoors, hunting, fishing, and being a boy:) He had convinced his grandparents and his father that it was time that we set up camp down at the Creek. On Saturday, Travis worked around the house, spreading rock and picking up odds and ends. We put up more bender board with landscape rock and I officially finished detailing our travel trailer. We moved our trailer back into its spot and our house is finally getting into shape.

More Dahlias

I wish and pray that my Dahlias will be just as beautiful next year. I am going to plant a bunch more this year. I love the red/pink vibrant colors of Dahlias and even cosmos.

Girls will be Girls

Carly should have a whole entire blog devoted to herself. She has enough energy to power an entire village or in her case a football team:) All of her outfits are her creation. I really only push her school attire. I also had to get out my Childwise book last night for some new strategies....I am back at it again, on a babywise kick and frankly I don't want to hear people complain about their kids not sleeping or blah blah blah because babywise works miracles. People/parents that say "it doesn't work" don't know how to use or in other words are weak...Yeah I said it and I may make people mad but oh well. It's my blog and I'll type what I want to:) Love Danielle

P.S. I am in a bad mood, if you couldn't tell:(

Roses and Dahlias

I just picked some flowers from my yard and I thought that I would upload some pictures of them.... I love gardening and it works better when I see results. Fall is my favorite time of year because the rain is beginning, flowers are blooming, grass in green, and the smell of my yard. Someday I will have a quiet place where I can read, drink coffee, and relax. Don't get me wrong, I can do all those things in my yard now but I dream about living in the mountains, in seclusion....Someday:)

MY SPACE:)

I have been thinking recently about how much I love my computer! This post is dedicated to my dear friend, and confidante, aka: My space!lol Anyway, back in February while I was in the credential program I buckled down and bought a 20inch iMac. My love affair with Mac/Apple computers began with Christmas of 2006. I had been working on a P.C. which (I won't refer to what I think those intitials stand for because I respect that many people use and like them, but they're no longer for this computer woman:) I had purchased from my sister, Rachelle, back in 2003. In computer years....this P.C. was old. My parents decided to buy me a Macbook laptop for Christmas in 2006 and I had reservations. I didn't want to switch computer allegiance.... I opened my new Macbook, created my new user profile (which I was not ready for a computer with a camera, lighted keyboard, groovy mouse, no clicking, ctrl space for right side of mouse, and many awesome ergonometric features.

After my complete and utter conversion to MAC I made the HUGE purchase/decision to buy a new iMac. Sidenote... Many of you who know my husband, Travis would probably assume that he wasn't into computers but let me tell you that my renaissance man(aka: a person who is versatile in many arenas) can hunt and peck with the best of them:) In the winter time he uses the computer frequently and wasn't able to get onto the internet because I always had the laptop with me at school. My laptop experience and the need/want to have a home computer propelled me into a great decision..... I know that many of you are thinking who can love a computer this much well I do. My MAC's don't reboot, give strange error messages, and are not controlled by unknown spirits!haha The bottom line is that you should really think long and hard before you buy a computer and give MAC a try..... Until my next strange post:)

Accomplished?

Since I made such a big deal about posting my TO Do list I think I should post what I actually got accomplished:)

Finished...
1. Made business appointment
2. Went to Nail, and Dentish appt.
3. Updated substitute list at local schools
4. Paid Bills
5. Did bi-weekly grocery shopping
6. Have cleaned house both mornings before leaving.
7. Walked on my treadmill both mornings.

I have a couple more things to do this week that need to be followed through on. I promise I won't bore you too much with the monotony of my to do lists.

To Dos

I resolved last week, in order to make this year, at home, the most productive I can that I would stick to my habit of making lists. I also made lists when I was in school but for some reason I think that I have all the time in the world and do what I can, when I can....Well at the end of the day I seem the sit reveling at what I didn't accomplish for the day and I get pissed. Below is a sample of what my planner looks like for the week.

The Week:
1. Make an appt. with business associate
2. Pick up additional Birth and Marriage Certificates
3. Finish Detailing our Travel Trailer
4. Nail Appt. Dentist Appt. Hair Appt.

Today:
1. Update my contact inform. on sub lists.
2. Call Medical insurance
3. Update Idaho Thanksgiving trip details
4. Pay some bills
5. Call garbage company
6. Work in the office
7. Go to Costco, Wildberries, and Safeway
8. Pick up house before I leave for work.

*Kids spent the night at my mom's last night so I can get a little more done than usual before work. I will also post what I actually got accomplished today:) I like to Dream big.... Till next time. Danielle

Weekend Highlights

I know I posted that I had ordered a replacement usb cord for my camera but I ordered the wrong one!:( Anyway, this weekend has been relatively mellow. I worked around my house cleaning bathrooms, folding laundry, reading, enjoyed being at home, and went to a wedding.

I Love.....
1. Being at home
2. Reading at home
3. Cooking dinner
4. 800 thread count sheets
5. Clean bathrooms with soft bath rugs
6. Watching movies with Travis
7. Online shopping
8. Taking baths with Carly
9. Listening to Cole tell about how he went hunting and killed a Grouse:)

I am sure I will think of some other things:)

I dislike....
1. Putting laundry away
2. Unmade beds
3. Messy closets
4. Kids staying up past 8pm especially on school nights. I love it when parents complain about their kids not doing well in school and then they get to decide when they go to bed. *I should worry about my own family:)
5. Eating dinner late. Travis doesn't get home from work until 7:15 and I have dinner on the table and the kids I eat as soon as he walks in the door. I think 6:00 is the perfect time to eat dinner.
6. Not being organized.
7. Having trash in my yard
8. Having a dog on crack cocaine
9. People who complain and are not problem solvers.

Both of my lists are random but I want my blog to be a reflection/journal that is glimpse into who I am. Until next time. Danielle

Never a dull moment.

Hola! I hope everyone is doing well. The past two weeks have been nice and busy. I am still not in the swing of life without school. I haven't paid close enough attention to my planner, haven't made lists, and seem like I forget things....Which is not like me:) I am planning on making a list each morning, and making sure I get some things accomplished in my year off....

On another note, Travis hasn't been feeling very well. Many of you know that he has a benign tumor on his kidney and he had it embolized this past year. Basically, they went up his femoral artery and wrapped coils around the blood supply to the tumor. It was a painful procedure but we survived. He had felt a lot better but in July he started to have pain again. He says that the pain is what he thinks labor contractions would be like:) He said that he can feel it coming on and then it goes in waves.... To make a long story short he went in for a C-T Scan yesterday and then we flew to U.C.S.F. to meet with his urologist specialist. His appt. was at 8:30 this morning. The Dr. said that the tumor is down to 4 cm from being 10cm. That is great. We have two options, one is to remove the tumor which would most likely be a loss in Travis's kidney (NOT AN OPTION) and our second option is to have the tumor embolized again... Needless to say Travis is going to go through the procedure again. The good thing is that we know what to expect, and what the recovery should be like. Here we go again. I would ask that every would keep us in their prayers and thoughts.

I will report back to everyone on how I am doing next week with my goal to get organized. Love Danielle