It snowed...in October

Yesterday morning we woke up to quite the suprise...



We had about 2 inches of snow covering the ground! CRAY-ZAY!! Kept snowing till late in the afternoon and was absolutely Beautiful!

Cooper went to his second obedience class this week. He sits on command really well and is now good at "down" as in laying down. I have been trying really hard to spend a few minutes everyday working on commands with him. He seems to not really be interested in learning at the house right now so we have been walking to the park to practice till he gets more focused.

He really liked playing in the snow at the park yesterday while we trained. I am trying to get him to "Stay" for a longer period of time. We also worked hard on his "leave it" command which he gets the jest of after the first few reminder times.

After we got home last night I was in complete shock because he just laid down in my room and watched me re-arrange my closet. HE JUST WATCHED ME! This was huge for him because usually he has to have something to focus on like a bone or toy. I even freaket a bit when I noticed he had snuck away, I was so sure he was getting in to the pizza that was for dinner or destroying some Halloween decorations... NOT AT ALL! He was just laying on the floor in the living room and as soon as I walked in he rolled over on his back wanting a belly rub. I think he was a little tired of hearing me yell at the Rangers as they let game 6 slip from them in the 9th, 10th and 11th innings. But I was still so SO proud of him!

Big night for Cooper and I! He even slept inside on the floor by my bed until 4 am when he needed to go potty. Hopefully we can work on that and get him to sleep soundly through the night inside with me!

One Year

Sunday Drew and I celebrated our 1 year anniversary together! I honestly CANNOT believe that it has been one year since we started dating. It feels at times like it was just yesterday he spilled water on me on our first date and then it feels like we have been dating for a decade.

Sunday morning when before we left for church he suprised me with this BEA-UTIFUL bouquet of red roses. I am personally not a huge rose fan but these were stunning!

I gave him a bottle of True Religion cologne from Drug Imporium... they sell mainstream scents there for a fraction of the cost. However for the fraction I did not get a box with the cologne so it looked a little jicky. He has wanted that cologne for a while and could care less about the box so it all worked out.

After church we went to eat out and then got pumpkins to carve. Before I could carve any pumkins though I needed a good ole Sunday afternoon nap while he watched the Cowboys, who FINALLY won a game!



We had a fun time together carving pumkins after the Cowboys game and while waiting on my meatloaf to cook. He LOVES meatloaf and is probably the ONLY person who could get me to make it for him.

I went with a white pumkin this year. Drew kept telling me it was too small but when I was finished cleaning it out and carving it long before him he realized why I got such a small one.

Our pumkins in all their glory... I totally think we should  make this a yearly anniversary tradition. So much FUN!  Mine is supposed to be a mummy with pennies as eyes. Drew of course did an AWESOME job on his scary pumkin face.

It was such a wonderful, chill day to celebrate with him.  I am so blessed by him and his calming influence in my life. I learn new things about him everyday and appreciate how much he struggles to be the best man he can be for me. He stands up for me and tries to protect me even when I think I don't need it and listens to all my "i'm overwhelmed" breakdowns. I love and adore him!

Shrimp Con Queso

Since we didn't do the Alzheimer's walk on Saturday I decided that after I slept in a little bit it would be a great day for Mom and I to make Shrimp Con Queso.

This is a dish that my Mom has made during the Fall/Winter seasons as long as I can remember. I remembered it always being a BIG deal when she made it for us. It was always a very special night.

I have been craving this dish for such a long time because I don't think she has made it for the couple of years. Neeley and I have talked about wanting it as soon as Mom got here.

We went to the store yesterday to gather our ingredients and invited all of the family over to celebrate the season with us.

The recipe is in our Powell Family Cookbook but Mom originally got it from our dear friend Linda Talley in Alvin.

The recipe is pretty simple actually, I was amazed I never took the time to look it up and try to make it myself. Things are always better when Mom makes them anyway.

I cannot believe that I totally forgot to take pictures of the finished product, but the best part of the day was cooking with my mom!

Tired at the end of a long week

SOOO Thankful it is Friday! This week has really kicked my butt.

After a lot of consideration I am really extremely sad to report that we are going to have to skip the Alzheimer's walk this year. Everyone here is busy with stuff going on and mom doesn't feel like she could actually walk in it and I do not feel confident leaving her sitting on the side by herself. I really thought it would be a great opportunity for her to feel surrounded and supported but it looks like this year it won't be happening.

With everything that has been going on  I have not fundraised for the Walk at all. I posted here and on Facebook but never really made it a need. We did get one donation from an AMAZING family member. Someone who I feel like in the midst of complete chaos knows what it feels like to have their world crumple around them. She has walked with such amazing Grace through hardships and challenges. She too has been deeply impacted by Alzheimer's disease in her own immediate family. When I feel discouraged I look at her and find the strength to carry on. Nancy Thank you so very very much for your donation! You are such a light in my life.Thank you for all your support and love!!

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I talked to Christie last night about my Dad. He had a surgery this morning to remove the port in his shoulder area. He is very succeptible to infection right now. He is still not quite up and moving around yet. He is able to eat real food but doesn't have the appetite for it.

They doctor's have confirmed that the tumor moved around in his abdomen and that is what caused the holes. They said he was very very very sick for a couple weeks before it actually burst, while the holes were probably ripping and then was in excruciating pain when it actually burst open.

The nurses and directors at Marie Crowley have told Christie and Dad that they have several Clinical Trials for him to be a part of once he is up and moving around and ready to go through that again. They also said the tumor used to be the size of a Grapefruit and is now the size of an orange... but are not sure what caused that change. I am ecstatic about that news!

Next week sometime, with no more complications over the weekend, they are hoping he will be able to be moved to an Acute Care Facility in Grapevine, which is closer to home. They will help change the dressings on his Wound Vac, that is what is closing up his incision, and help him with the physical therapy he is needing to move around.

He is still slipping in and out of clear communication. The nurses say this is normal, that he is dead tired, fighting infection, has not eaten and it is a symptom of that. I know he is ready to go home and getting sadder and more depressed with each day he remains there. I wish so badly I were closer to cheer him up. Instead I am sending up continual prayers for his recovery!


I feel like I could sleep ALL DAY tomorrow! Happy Weekend!

Out of Control

Today I am spinning, and I don't mean aerobics class.

I feel as though I can usually, USUALLY, be pretty good at juggling. Juggling everything at a time. People coming at me from all angles needing stuff and me trying to manage my own life on top of it all.

However lately it's been a different story. Lately I feel like it is ALL crumbling down around me.

I am realizing that I cannot control it all. That I alone really cannot control any of it! I am concentrating to much on the little things. Putting too much pressure on myself to have deadlines or handle it all.

I am being given A LOT more responsibility at 25 than I would have ever imagined. Handling my mom's affairs can be draining but I am honored to do it. Dealing with picky Brides is exhausting but I want to make sure they have the absolute best product I can give them. Relationships can be incredibly difficult when all you want to do is sit in your room and craft something pretty to make you feel better but they are one of lives greatest gifts!

I had a slight (ok it was MAJOR) meltdown today. After running home to put on a Meatloaf I have been wanting to make for Drew and discovering that most of my ingredients had been used up, I then recieved a super annoying and frustrating email and then had to deal with some other financial issues, I called Drew and told him I am ready to just quit. Quit it all! He like a good boyfriend listened, helped me cuss people out for a minute but then quickly told me it would be ALL be ok. That I don't need to blow things out of proportion. That he would help me. Just the comfort of finally having someone say I will help you figure this out was a relief.

But the truth is I have had that all along. God is always there to turn to when Things seem overwhelming. If I would just learn to immediately lean on him instead of myself my world would spin alot easier!

Update

Dad was moved to a regular room yesterday! Thank goodness he is out of ICU, although the care there was awesome it is scary to have him in there.

This morning his Surgeon along with the nurses from the Marie Crowley clinical trial chemotherapy and another Dr. all came in to consult on him.

The news was that he is looking good. Healing well. They did find a blood clot in his right arm that was causing some major swelling and will give him blood thinners for that. They are hoping to have him up doing rehabilitation therapy such as walking today. He is going to be able to eat normal foods, which I know is exciting for him!

The nurses from Marie Crowley told him that there are several trials he can qualify for and can get back on chemo when he is ready after this bump in the road. That is GREAT news!

I am asking that you continue to pray for his healing. Not only of his physical body but of the emotional toll his fight against cancer has taken on him. I cannot begin to imagine the strength he uses to fight off this battle everysingle day through the pain and emotions. He is a fighter though! And as much as he keeps his conversations with me light and positive I know it has taken a toll on him.

Day 5

Saturday night I stayed with my Dad at the hospital and bless his heart he had a miserable night. Full of constant moaning, cleaning out his throat from the tube that had been there, and not getting enough pain medication. I felt so awful for him. Neither of us got an ounce of sleep.

By early morning they had figured out a group of medication that seemed to be managing his pain and he was getting some rest. His comic antics were still in full force through his groggy, slurred speech.

I made the incredibly difficult decision of going ahead and coming home last night with my mom. I was torn and heartbroken about leaving but know he is doing better. He is still in ICU but the ICU made it sound like he was basically there because it was the weekend and his surgeon was off this weekend. Hopefully he will be moved to another room today.

Ryan spent the night with him last night and said neither of them got much sleep again because of his pain.

We have been told that the holes in his abdomen were caused by the tumor there. The tumor is attached to the blood supply to the intestines and cannot be removed without causing irrepreable consequences. He started a new trial of chemo two weeks ago and was supposed to go in for another treatment on Wednesday which is when he was rushed into surgery. The nurses at the cancer center told Christie that the tumor could have grown and caused the holes or shrunken and left the holes behind. We have not had any notification yet as to whether or not the tumor grew or shrank nor as to what the extent of care will be upon his release from the hospital.

Your prayers are so greatly appreciated! I rest in the confidence that I fully know my Dad is in God's hands.

Day 4

Big Day for my Dad, STILL in ICU.

 This morning when mom and I got to the hospital they had already begun to wheene off his sedation medicine and he was  already more alert than yesterday.

By 1:00 he was off breathing on his own and quickly had his breathing tube completely removed. He was extremely I mean EXTREMELY groggy still.

To give Christie a break from sleeping up in the hospital's best efforts of a "recliner" I am spending the night with my dad.

He is still coughing up phlem from the tube that I am suctioning out for him. He is wanting to get up and out of the bed because he cannot get comfortable and just told the nurse and I to "do whatever we wanted obviously he was just going to be our little rag-doll for the night." He definitely has his personality still.

Before I left for dinner I was telling him I would be back and he started slamming his legs down on the bed. After trying for minutes to get him to tell me what he wanted and trying to move his legs, the bed, pillows around I finally went for a nurse even knowing this was not a "medical" issue. I found an extremely pregnant orderly black girl who walked in and told Dad that he better TELL her what he wants, he quickly responded with put my damn feet on the ground.

He keeps telling me he is sorry for keeping me up, asking me what I had for dinner and wanting a Coke, Sprite or Ginger Ale. I have also worked hard to convince him that he is connected to a catheter and that he can in deed pee in the bed. I also was the bearer of bad news that he does not have pants on.

These are moments that will not be quickly forgotten.

I am snuggled up with a heated blanket from Patrick who dropped me off here and am in awe of his presence and so proud of the man he has turned out to be. Even in this hardest of moments when I cannot begin to imagine what he thinks or feels he simply tells me to keep him updated.

Tonight does not look like it will be restful but I am grateful for the opportunity to sit by my dad's bedside and for one night be his caretaker, hear him tell me he loves me and even in his depths of grogginess call me Princess.... and thank goodness for Netflix to keep me company tonight!

Day 3

Spent the day in ICU while my dad was  heavily sedated. Had his surgery scheduled at 1:15 pm and when we got to the hospital at 8:15 am found Christie in the waiting room telling us that he had already been in and no one even told her.

They kept him heavily sedated all day with the ventilator breathing for him.

I hate him not being able to respond. Those moments that were so precious yesterday, the squeeze of a hand, a nod, an slight eyelift made me feel like it would be ok.

Today he just slept while people came in and out of the room some giving hope, others taking it away.

I think it is especially hard because the last time I saw a man I love lying in a hospital bed not responding he passed away.

I am sad, I miss my Grandy, I miss my Dad.

Hoping that tomorrow he will be able to respond some, possibly get off of the ventilator.

In the midst of this fight I can rest in the confidence that my Dad has his heart faced on the God he knows and loves and that we are all praying for him to sustain us through this time.

Spending my time not letting my  thoughts rest on the past, on regrets, on missed opportunities but on the weekend a month ago we had together. On the fact that I KNOW he knows how much I love him and am proud of him.

He shook his head yesterday as I told him to fight fight fight because I am not done yet. I still need him. He knows!

Waiting

This morning I am sitting in an ICU room in North Dallas watching my dad's chest rise and fall to the beat of a machine.

After his surgery yesterday he the doctor discovered more holes in his abdomen that they had anticipated and due to his blood pressure problems earlier in the day did not want to keep him sedated for to long, they did not "close him up" all the way and are giving him a day to rest today before going back in to finish tomorrow.

After talking with Christie after work yesterday and not knowing what kind of situation we were facing my mom and I hopped on plane late last night so I could be here with him.

Last night I walked in the ICU and he was pretty sedated, although when I started talking to him he squeezed my hand and when I told him that I loved him he opened his eyes and starting mouthing words around the ventilator. I asked if he was telling me how much he loved me and he shook his head yes.

This morning they are alternating between pain medication and medicine to keep his blood pressure up. They are letting him sleep but he still squeezes my hand and responds to my words.

Ryan and Company are on their way from Louisiana.

Today we are waiting, resting, and praying.

Praying

My dad went in for a chemo treatment today and had been having a fever.

They checked his Blood Pressure to find that low and he had cold hands and feet so they took him down to the ER and after a scan discovered he had a preforation in his abdomen.

He was rushed into surgery.

Praying for him!

Praying all goes well and some of his pain will be eased after this surgery.

 Praying for Christie as she sits and waits to hear an update.

Praying!

Fears

Yesterday my mom told me that she was sitting down trying to write a card to an old family friend and couldn't do it. She couldn't think of the words to put down, she couldn't think of how she needed to form the words with letters, she couldn't make her hand move to write they way she wanted to. I sat beside her as tears began running down her cheeks, frustrated, sad, hurt, decieved by her own body. She is tired of not being able to do the things she once could.

I sat heartbroken beside her, knowing there are no words that I can say to console her. To make her feel ok about everything. All I knew to do was kiss and hug her. Heartbroken.

We sat on her bed last night as I showed her how to work her phone. How to tell if she missed calls and from who. How to make calls. Practiced checking her bank account on her phone and sending text messages. She gets frustrated at herself easily and wants to give up.

I hung pictures of my brothers and I on her wall. Some old some new. Pictures of Peyton. Pictures to remind her.

It has begun to hit me that this disease is a genetic demon. I have had trouble with my own words lately... not being able to think of the right words to accurately describe something. Saturday night while cleaning up our last wedding the mother of the bride asked where the dumpster was and I could not come up with the right words to tell her. She looked at me like I was an idiot and horror flashed in my mind as I tried to describe that the dumpster was just on the other side of their trailer at the back of the parking lot. I know I am just in over my head lately, stressed to the max! But one day far sooner than I want or am ready I may be facing the same losses my mom is suffering through right now and that scares me.

$1 craft and a delicious recipe

So I have been really keeping my eyes peeled for things to craft for Drew. It is extremely hard to find things for men that don't require power tools to make.

I had the idea to get a big beer mug and chalk board spray paint a section and then put his name on it. Who wouldn't rather drink out of a cool beer mug if they have the chance right?!

While shopping for his B-day I saw some super cool beer mugs from World Market...

These mugs are $7.28 at World Market, WAY to expensive for what I was going for.

While dropping by Dollar Tree tonight I found a very similar mug for $1! Amazing!!

 

I had the chalkboard paint left over from another craft and the chalk so the beer mug was all that it cost me to make this cute little keepsake for Drew.

 

My lines were not that clean but it works.

 I am sure he will be thrilled with his new little mug!

Last night I also wanted to try out a new recipe I found on Pinterest. It is called Kaytucky Chicken and the recipe can here.





Chicken stuffed with Cream Cheese, Spring Onions, Parsley, Bacon and some Garlic covered in a  Pastry Puff... Are you kidding me?!

I hadn't actually cooked a meal in a while much less tried out a new recipe so last night it was and it was UHHH-MAZING! I suggest you all try it!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone! We have the last wedding of the year tomorrow WHOO HOO!!

Toliet Paper Craft

It is time for a cheap-o craft project.


I have had this blank space on my wall, it is just to the left of where my bed faces and to the right of my TV.  It has been driving me nuts to look at that wall. I put a framed chalk board up there with a quote but the space was still to big. I needed something simple but big.

I ran across this cute toilet paper craft idea while searching through blogs one day and immediately started to collect toilet paper rolls from any and everyone. I had my co-workers saving them for me, my family members, I even slipped some out from Starlight while cleaning rooms.

These gazillion empty toilet paper rolls turned into this lovely piece of wall art...

I decided to add a little pizazz to mine my adding napkin flowers to hang with it.

This has got to be the easiest craft in the world to make. It costs virtually nothing... I mean you have toilet paper don't you?! Just save your rolls, Cut them in fourths and create your masterpiece. I hot glued all my pieces together.

 

You can also use paper towel rolls and cut them into sixths. 

 

Overall I am pretty happy with my easy peasy creation. It filled my dead space and allowed for a simple organic feeling all at the same time.

Happy Crafting!

Relaxed Tuesday

Happy Wednesday Friends!

I had the best day yesterday, my boss gifted all of us in the office a 1 hour massage and pedicure for meeting our monthly goals and yesterday was my turn to take it. I went at 1 for my hour massage and it was pure heaven! OMG Yall! Heaven! I am convinced that if I indulge in an hour long massage every 6 weeks I will be a different person for it. Better person. Happier person.

After finishing my spa afternoon at 3 I was responsible and got my vehicle inspected and then went to get my mom to run some errands with me. Last month Drew had suprised me with some clothes from Express after I complained I have no good "night" outfits. The sweet little darling got me a black skirt and a beige sweater. repeat a BEIGE SWEATER to wear on a date or something. I could never quite wrap my mind around wearing the sweater so I exchanged it yesterady for these FABTABULOUS shoes!




Neeley asked if I thought Drew would be upset I returned the shirt for these shoes and I said No way! He knows I have wanted shoes like these for a long ole while.The sweet man just came in and complimented me on my awesome shoes and when I said thanks for buying them for me he just laughed and said he was glad I was happy! He is the best!

We decided to cook some spaghetti for our friends last night and watch the first scary movie of the season... Scream 4. Such a great day followed by a fun night!


Also I started my Pinterest account last night and have already mentally covered my house in Christmas DIY decorations! I am pacing myself though on waiting to get started for atleast another week or two :)

Hope you all have a great day!

Halloween Decorations

I have really really been getting into the Halloween mood this year. My house is already fully decorated and ready to go... and all for pretty cheap!

 When you walk in the door to our house these Dollar Tree Pumpkins are sitting on our entry table with a "creepy cloth" also from Dollar Tree. I wrote the BOO myself so excuse the sloppiness of it.

 

I got these ideas from Martha Stewart. So easy and super fun. I just used her stencils on black foam for 58 cents at Hobby Lobby and taped to our lamp shades. I used the same concept for the bats below on the inside of the shade. The stencils are for free at Martha Stewart.com. The spider web I created out of yarn and tape and found the ginormous spider at the Dollar Tree.

I had a couple of extra black frames laying around and found this vintage frame idea here. I pasted my photos on brown cardboard paper to help make it pop.

 

Another great idea from Martha Stewart.com is to put cheese cloth over candlestick holders and put creepy crawlers on them. The black candlesticks make them pop. I just inherited these candlesticks from my Nana and am loving using them for my Halloween decorations.

On my lunch break today with all of Michael's halloween decor being 30% off I bought the sweet little tree above and cute little ornaments to hang on them. It was the perfect look for our coffee table.

 

My green pumpkins were 98 cents at Walmart and I love the spaztic little owl that tops the tree.

I am a little obsessed with these napkin balls. I have used them at every party we have thrown. These were multi-purposed from Drew's Harley Party and now for Halloween. They are hanging from the 3 main chandeliers in our house as well as sitting on a couple shelves. They are so easy to make and add a fun pop. A tutorial can be found here.

 

I made this wreath out of black feathers hot glued to a styrophome circle. The little bats and Boo were found at Hobby Lobby half off. It hung on our door for a day before I saw a wreath tutorial I liked better. My inspiration came from here.

Take a plain wooden wreath and spray paint it black.

I then spread this packaged spider web, that I found at Michael's,  across the wreath.

These are a few things I picked up at Michael's to decorate my wreath with.

 

 

I absolutely LOVE the way it turned out... cute and spooky at the same time. Total cost probably $17 and I haven't seen one pre-made in the store that I would like any better :)

Now I just have to focus on what to be for Halloween because my house is all ready!!