Frustratingly enough, today started with a phone call from Parker and Mason's father, saying he wasn't dropping them off until 6:00PM, even though our little birthday party for Mason was planned to start at 2:00PM. Since we had some free time, we went to visit Dad. When Spencer, Mom, Jeff, Yvonne, and I got there we were surprised to see Uncle Keith and Aunt Carol visiting as well. Another nice surprise. Dad is doing well, but he's still really uncomfortable with the fluid filling up his stomach. His appetite is slowly coming back despite that, but he hates the hospital food and they keep changing his diet back and forth from a liquid diet to a normal diet. Thankfully they removed the IV since he is able to drink fluids, so that's less excess fluid going into his system and bloating his stomach even more. He is trying to eat because he wants to leave the hospital and he knows he can't leave the hospital until he can walk around on his own and he knows he can't walk around on his own until he can eat regularly and regain his energy. While we were at the hospital, Lauren called and said she was able to pick up the boys early and we should head home! Mom went to pick up the balloons and Jeff, Yvonne, Spencer, and I went to pick up Shamrock Shakes from McDonald's. Just about right after we got home, the birthday boy arrived and the party started! 
And then it was time for cake...
After he was done with his very own cake, we all had our own, less messy cake while the birthday boy got a bath and went to bed. We felt bad that Dad had to miss the party, so after everyone left, Spencer and I went back to the hospital to see him, bring him a contraband fruit tray from the party and show him some pictures. Then we said goodnight and headed home. I think we all had too much birthday today! :) Goodnight! Happy Birthday Mason Ryley! :)
...Kinda. We visited Dad first thing this morning. He got up and walked around on his own, showered, and was feeling better in general, so he got moved from intensive care to a regular room. We also heard from the doctor who performed his procedure last week and he said he didn't need to be transferred to another hospital OR have any other procedure done, he just needed to give this time to heal and get better. He needs to eat, but his stomach is filling up with fluid and it makes him always feel full, so its hard for him to eat, but he is trying. When we got to the hospital, my Aunt Janice and cousin Jill were visiting, so it was nice to see them and for Dad to have other visitors. We all hung out for awhile and then when Dad started feeling sick from his medicine we gave him his space and let him rest. Jeff, Yvonne, and Spencer went home and Mom and I went to run some errands to prepare for Mason's 1st birthday party tomorrow! While I was gone, my wonderful hubby made plans with my two best friends for us to go out to dinner tonight. It was nice to have someone else take care of all the details and just have fun. So Tiffany, Jenny, Spencer and I met up at my favorite and much missed Mexican restaraunt, On The Border, had good feed and yummy margaritas and sangria and it was really nice to just talk about other stuff and have fun for awhile. It was a really nice break thanks to three of my favorite people! Time for bed!
Today is Mom's birthday. It didn't start off as a good day at all. Dad is still throwing up blood. Yesterday his hemoglobin levels went closer to where they were supposed to be, but today they are back to where they were before that. So he is not better, but he's not worse. And he was supposed to be able to go home today according to the doctor who did his procedure for the varices 48 hours ago. But now one of the doctors is saying he needs a different procedure...the worst case scenario procedure, so everyone is freaking out! Especially Mom. She is stressed, trying to do everything she can as his wife AND as a nurse to help find out what is the best option for him, where he should be transferred to, etc. And her birthday seemed to totally fall by the wayside. Jeff and Yvonne got here this morning and we were supposed to have a girls' day shopping with Mom that got canceled after our trip to the hospital to see Dad. Mom was on the phone all day with either doctors or concerned family members and I could tell she was exhausted and not having a happy birthday. Then came time for our secret present and we all had to make up excuses as to why we had to leave and meet her at her birthday dinner later. Any other day it wouldn't have been a big deal, but today we all felt HORRIBLE leaving her alone at the house. If not for the knowledge that she would LOVE the outcome of our sneaking away, we probably wouldn't have gone through with it. Everyone got away successsfully though and we arrived at the place on time, we only had a short wait, and everything went pretty smooth. Parker wasn't into taking pictures at first and Jackson was super hot in his red shirt, but overall, we loved the end results so much that we got Mom way more than we originally planned, but she deserves it! And how could we resist...see for yourself:
So after the pictures, we met up with Mom for dinner at TGIFriday's, her choice. First Yvonne and I beautifully wrapped her gift even though the boys didn't want us to. 
After she opened her gift, she teared up a little bit, but she LOVED her frame! As you can kind of see, it turned out great! 
We enjoyed a nice dinner and a few drinks together and then went our separate ways. Lauren, Jason, Sara, and Jackson went home, and Jeff, Yvonne, Mom, Spencer and I went to the hospital to see Dad and show him Mom's frame and then we all headed home for movie night. It was a really nice way to end the day on a happy note. Happy Birthday Mommy! :)
Last night after a good cry and a good talk, Spencer and I figured out that the best way we could "be there" for everyone was just to make everyday life easier. So we did our best to do that today. Lauren had school. Mom had work. So we started off an early morning with 2 cute little boys, getting 1 of them changed, fed, and ready for a day of playing, more eating and napping, and the other 1 ready for a day of preschool, playing and entertaining. I actually thought that Mason, sleeping in his crib which was right next to the bed we were sleeping in, would be my alarm clock for the day when I was told that he usually wakes up around 6:30AM, but nope, it was mom, shoveling the driveway right outside our window at 5:30AM after a light snowfall last night! When I couldn't fall back asleep, I decided now may be my only free moment to shower all day so I did just that. Sure enough, when I walked out of the bathroom who did I see peeking up over his crib? Mason was up and happy to see someone else awake too. So he got changed, ate, and started his busy day of playing. Soon after Parker and Spencer got up. Spencer was in charge of the dogs and I was in charge of the kids. Parker got all dressed for preschool, made his bed and cleaned his room without me asking him too. He even washed his face and brushed his teeth. Knowing how challenging he can be at times, I was pleasantly surprised. The only thing he wouldn't do was eat breakfast. He also told me a couple times that he wasn't going to school but when I told him I was going with him and he had to show me around, he was more interested. Lauren's roomie Amanda watched Mason while we took Parker to school. He showed us around, introduced us to his teachers, and then we left him to go visit Dad. He was about the same today...more chatty...in fact, I realized that I don't really need to go visit him, as long as Spencer's there...those two just talk and talk and talk and I can't get a word in! Its funny! While we were there, I told Dad what we were doing for Mom for her birthday. He then remembered that he had a card for her in his sock drawer and asked me to get it out and give it to her in the morning. I don't know why but this made me tear up a little bit. My parents' relationship has always had a strange dynamic. I know deep down somewhere they love each other but I often doubted it growing up. So it really moved me to know that my Dad had in fact planned ahead and remembered my Mom's birthday. It felt good to know that in the midst of everything going on, I would still have something to give her from him tomorrow. Anyway, after our visit, we picked Parker up and learned all about the letter T and he got a smiley face which meant he was good. We headed home for lunch. I thought lunch would be a challenge, but because of the desperation Parker felt to eat the chocolate train his teachers sent home, he chowed down on his peanut butter and jelly sandwich, which I told him he had to finish if he wanted to eat the train. :) After lunch the cleaning chaos began. Mom has been very busy with work, dad, grandsons, etc. and doesn't get much time to clean, so I decided to do it for her. Spencer and Parker went on several adventures outside which I now wish I would have gone on because I didn't get any fun pictures (taking breaks to help me clean inside when they needed to warm up) and Mason kept me company while I cleaned (and made more messes for me to clean up too). Spencer did a great job keeping the boys entertained while I cleaned and I think he had fun too. Jason, Sara, and Jackson came to visit tonight too, so on our first day here Spencer got to meet the 2 nephews he hadn't met yet!
After Jason, Sara, and Jackson left, I finished the last of the cleaning, Lauren was home, and Spencer and I decided to get dinner and have it waiting for Mom when she got home from work. It was a race to Jimmy John's before they closed but we made it. We at our dinner and now I'm relaxing on the couch watching the episode of Lost we missed on Tuesday and am completely exhausted. My plan is to head to bed early. Tomorrow is Mom's birthday and I am hoping that in the midst of all the bad stuff going on, she will celebrate and have fun.
Although I anticipated our journey from Las Vegas to Illinois to be a bumpy one both literally and figuratively, it was surprisingly smooth. I guess that's the only break we're going to catch for now. We did something different than normal and flew into Peoria instead of Chicago and then rented a car to drive to Plainfield. It was cheaper and surprisingly easy. Smooth flight, on time, cheap rental car, easy drive, no traffic. As soon as we returned our rental car, we went with Mom to the hospital to see Dad. I had prepared myself for the worst and I'm glad I did. When I walked in he looked awful. So pale and frail. He's so skinny I can see his cheek bones and his legs are the size of my arms. The only thing big on him is his stomach. He looks pregnant because fluid is draining into his belly since his liver isn't working properly. Its causing him discomfort but not as much as the pain from his procedure last night and his throwing up blood. He could barely talk at first. After we were there for awhile, thankfully, he perked up. Looking at him, I'm so sad and scared. How can they say he is ok to go home in less than 48 hours when he can't even move or talk and he is still throwing up blood?! My confidence is decreasing by the minute. I know my mom is trying to stay positive. She is so strong. But I catch her starring off and looking sad every so often and I can't decide which persons' pain tears me up inside more. I lay here and cry with Spencer because I'm so sad for them both and I just cry harder because I think, who is holding my mom when she cries? And does my dad even have any energy to cry? And what about everyone else? My nephew who doesn't quite understand why Grandpa isn't at home and why he can't visit him? My older sister who hasn't had the chance to resolve her issues with him yet? His younger sisters and brothers, most of whom are so far away they can't do anything but sit and wait for an update via phone or text (I know how hard that one is...)? I can't figure out how to be strong and stay positive, how to deal with any potential outcome to all of this, and how to be here for everyone else in the ways that they need. I guess that's why we pray...because we don't know what else to do...maybe there isn't anything else to do. I have 5 more days here to figure it out before I go back to Las Vegas with that same helpless guilty feeling for being so far away again. :(
Tonight while I was at work, I got an urgent phone call from my mom and her message said, "Heather, I need to talk to you right away, call me back." Usually her "urgent" messages aren't urgent and she leaves a more detailed message, so I immediately knew something was wrong. I called her phone 5 times and no answer, more indication that something was wrong. Then I called the house phone and my sister's friend Amanda answered (even MORE indication of something wrong) and told me that she didn't know what happened but that there was an ambulance in the driveway when she got there and they were taking my dad to the hospital. After I FINALLY got ahold of my mom (and found out Spencer had known what was going on all along so I should have just called him), I found out that my dad had been throwing up blood for a few days now but today it got really bad. It turns out that he had 4 varices which I later learned are abnormally enlarged veins in the lower part of your esophagus, the tube that connects your throat and your stomach, caused by serious liver disease. Another side affect of this stupid tumor! They did some kind of procedure where they banded these varices to stop the bleeding and according to the doctor, he should be released within 48 hours. However, according to some of the websites I have checked against my better judgement and just about everyone's wishes, it doesn't sound that simple. Either way, today has been another awful, stressful day, and although we are leaving to go there tomorrow in a kind of last minute trip, it suddenly does NOT feel soon enough. I'm so nervous to see my dad in the hospital. I expect him to look sick, but everyone looks sicker in a hospital bed no matter why they are in it. I'm afraid of my reaction. I don't want to freak out when I see him because that won't help him AT ALL. I have to wake up really early in the morning to start our travels and I know that I won't sleep tonight because of everything going on, so I am going to take a sleeping pill and risk the drunk feeling I get whenever I do not sleep the full 8 hours a sleeping pill requests. Please continue your prayers for my family and especially for my dad. We need a break from all of this!
My mom and dad went to Bloomington, Indiana today to meet with Dr. Alan Thorton, the doctor who will potentially be treating my dad's liver tumor now that it is not surgically removable. Dr. Thorton is the man who has developed this Proton Therapy for the 5 centers in the United States that are currently the only locations where this type of treatment is available. There are more under construction right now, however, the one in Bloomington, a 4 hour drive for my parents, is the closest one available for Dad. Apparently, this therapy has been around in Europe, Canada, and Japan for several years...apparently the U.S. is WAY behind in medical technology, at least in this department! In fact, this condition is very common in Japan. They see on average 5-10 cases in Japan a week! And Dr Thorton was in Japan recently to see their equipment and get information about their cure, so it seems he would be Dad's best possible option, hands down. Anyway, Proton Therapy is basically a radiation beam that zeroes in precisely on the tumor and does not affect any of the good cells in the body like a normal radiation treatment might. Dad was told that he has 3 lesions on his liver and for that it would take 16 treatments, one treatment a day, 40 minutes per treatment, putting him in the hospital far from home for 3-4 weeks. If he decides to do this, the doctor is confident that the 3 lesions would be cured and cleared up 100%! This is GREAT news. But in every update I have gotten with my dad's health lately, there is always great news and there is always a "BUT" which is REALLY frustrating to all of us, and especially, I am sure, to him. The but in this situation, is that they still do not know exactly what was on his colon when he got that original PET Scan...and if it is a tumor on his colon, which cannot be treated in this same way or as effectively, then all the Proton Therapy in the world would be worthless. At this point, I am not sure if that means they need to recheck the scans, or do another attempt at a colonoscopy or what, but first we are apparently waiting to find out if my dad's insurance will cover the procedure in Bloomington in the first place. If it doesn't, he won't consider it. If it does, he will start to think about it according to him. And no matter what, this is not just a trip to Indiana and daily treatments. He would also need a body scan taken so that Dr. Thorton can make a mold of his body in which he would lay in during the treatments and he will also need to have surgery to place clips on his liver. These would be used as markers for the proton beam, As you can imagine, he is incredibly overwhelmed right now because it seems that everytime there is an upside to his treatment, there is also some kind of glitch that goes along with it. So...doctors are talking, Dad is thinking, insurance companies are deciding and we are waiting.....Spencer and I leave for our visit home on Wednesday, February 24th...I am feeling so beyond stressed in general right now and I am not sure if this trip will be a stressful, sad trip or a nice, fun, positive trip. I am, of course, wishing for the latter...we will also be there for Mom's birthday and Mason's 1st birthday which will be nice, but I'm still a little nervous. What if he looks sick and I react? What if we fight? I'm so trying to be positive, but its soooo hard right now. Please pray for our visit and our family and positivity and especially for Dad to make the right choices and be healthy again!
Spencer and I have been married 6 months today! I can't believe we're already half way to a year of wedded bliss. Its been wonderful so far and I can't wait for many many many more months and many many many more years of this kind of joy, happiness, teamwork, support and love! Go us! I love you Spence!
Today I got red roses for the first time ever...accompanied by chocolates and a toaster...not just any toaster, a RED toaster. :) After a long day at work, we went on a very welcome low key date to Kabuki for some sushi (for me) and Japanese food (for him) and then saw Valentine's Day at the movie theater. Spencer has been my Valentine for 4 years now and I am so lucky to have the best Valentine ever! Happy Valentine's Day everyone!
My dad had his oncologist appointment this morning. I was supposed to get a phone call from my mom afterward, but I didn't, which I had a feeling was a bad sign. So I called her. When she answered the phone, I could tell she was mad. I asked her what was going on and she wouldn't even tell me, she just handed the phone to my dad. He has 2 options. 1.) Proton beam radiation therapy that attacks only the bad cells at the particular site of the tumor and is 50% effective but only available at 5 hospital locations in the United States or 2.) Cancer Radiation Therapy which just attacks cells in your body, good and bad and you hope it attacks the ones you want to get rid of, not very effective for liver cancer...30% effective at best, but available pretty much anywhere. He is choosing option 2. Because he doesn't like to travel. I know that this is his decision. I know that I couldn't possibly understand how he feels about all of this and what he wants and what he is going through and what he will go through. But "I don't want to travel" is NOT a good enough excuse for me. I tried every angle to convince him to just try the drive, meet the doctor, check out the facility, get all your questions answered about the treatment, etc. and THEN if you are still uncomfortable with the whole idea, then I will accept it. But nothing. He is more stubborn than anyone I know. I was reduced to tears and not just sad tears but sobbing, sniffling, uncontrollable crying which made me have to hang up the phone. I feel so frustrated, helpless, and hopeless.
After several "getting to know you" emails back and forth filled with emotions, questions, honesty and openness as well as some actual getting to know each other type stuff between Brandy and I, she called me tonight. I cannot explain the feelings inside of me as I heard my sister's voice for the first time in 12 years. To share our lives a bit, even if just on the phone, and to begin to work through and understand a haze of lies and truths and past drama to bring us to now and the potential to have an actual relationship ignites several emotions in me that I didn't even know were there. After a very negatively emotional day about my dad, this has been a positively emotional evening regarding my sister. I am definitely bursting with all kinds of emotions and still even a little bit in shock. We have a long way to go and her journey is even longer because there are one of her and 4 of us siblings and my dad, but I want to be able to support her and them if this happens for all of them as well. I scanned this picture last month to show her daughters and now I can stop looking at it. This is the first time Brandy and I met, in 1980. :) (Yes, I know, I was an ugly baby...)
I am SO ANGRY right now. I have always had issues with doctors. I am convinced they get paid a lot of money to make a lot of guesses. I have had several bad experiences with all kinds of doctors to make me feel this way. Two days ago, my dad was admitted to a hospital in Chicago, so that he could be hooked up to an IV and be medicated with antibiotics to treat the infection in his bowels that was putting off his surgery to remove the polyp they found on his colon during his colonoscopy and of course the tumor on his liver. They were monitoring the progress of his infection leaving by doing CT Scans. He had a CT Scan last night and his surgeon gave him the results today. She told him she couldn't operate and he should go home and go back to his oncologist in Joliet. WHY? Because THEY WERE WRONG! First of all, the polyp on his colon isn't even a polyp...there is just a lot of fluid in his abdomen for some reason, possibly being caused by what's going on with the tumor in his liver, oh yeah, the tumor that CAN'T be removed because its covering a vein! All our hopes and positivity just went down the toilet in a matter of minutes. My heart is breaking for my dad. My heart is breaking for my mom who couldn't even call me to give me the news because she was afraid my reaction would make her more heartbroken so she called Spencer and had him tell me (poor guy). Well, here's my reaction, I AM PISSED! Pissed that we are back to square one. He has an appointment with his oncologist on Friday...back to the drawing board....
Last week I sent an email out to my entire address book asking for donations for the MS Walk Spencer and I are doing in April. I got a really unexpected donation followed by an email from my older sister who I haven't talked to, seen or heard from in 12 years. I recently connected with her 2 daughters, my nieces, on facebook in August and December which is what led to this reuniting of sorts. As you might imagine, this has all been accompanied by several emotions on my part. Curiosity, nervousness, worry, guardedness, excitement, fear, joy and determination for starters. Some of you know I have been working on forgiveness so far this year, not just with my dad, but everyone in my life. I really want this to be a part of that healing process for me. While Brandy never did anything to directly affect me, she has issues with my dad which have caused a rift in that part of our family. Growing up, I always wished she would be more a part of our lives because I so badly wanted a big sister. I think I was angry at her for not being my big sister, though now I'm figuring out it wasn't really her fault all along. I want this to be a positive experience to everyone involved which is the reason for my cautiousness. I also don't want to have to choose sides...I don't want there to end up being sides to choose. The past is the past and its beyond time to move forward, so that's what I'm hoping and praying for.
I recently started watching a reality TV show on ABC called Find My Family. Its about people who were either adopted as children or gave up their child for adoption who are trying to find each other years later. This show resonates with me since I am adopted and I basically cry the entire time putting myself in each position represented on each episode. I have never really had a burning desire to find my biological parents, but with each episode I wonder what it would be like for them to find me. Getting in touch with Brandy has given me just the smallest tasted of what that would be like. Its an indescribable, almost stressful, but in a good way, emotion.
I look forward to see how this all progresses and I am excited about the possibilities, but please pray that it remains positive for everyone!
The teams I like are rarely, if ever in the Super Bowl, so I usually watch it for the commercials just like I did this year. Lots of my friends and family were cheering for the Saints so I joined in. Spencer was cheering for the Colts who I've never really liked. The game was pretty boring to me and the commercials weren't even that great, but I had a good time cheering "Whooooo dat?!" everytime the Saints scored and it drove Spencer crazy! Ha ha! Go Saints! :)
Spencer's brother Stefan was in town for a college frisbee tournament this week. After much harassing and hunting, Spencer tracked him down and they met up at Taco Bell for some quality brother time. I wasn't in attendance since I was at work, but I did get a hello text. I'm so glad they had a little bit of time to spend together! (I tried to get Spencer to blog about it, but I guess he was too exhausted after his really long drive searching for Stefan who had no idea where he was!) :)
If I am keeping score in the game of Heather vs. Age Thirty, the score is Heather-1, Thirty-0 because I flipped 30 the bird today and had a pretty kick ass day. (Do 30 year olds say that kind of stuff???)
Anyway, I really did have a great day. It started off with breakfast at my favorite breakfast spot...pretty much the only place I will eat and enjoy that first meal of the day, The Cracked Egg...YUM!
After stuffing myself with a delicious Sin City Skillet and chocolate chip coffee cake, Spencer dropped me off at Eleven Day Spa where I had 3 hours of pampering which included a massage, facial, manicure, and pedicure. It was fantastic!
I came home and continued my relaxation on the couch where I ate 2 chocolate chip cookies. Then I showered and got ready for a night out on the town. We ate dinner at Battista's Hole In The Wall Italian Restaurant. We have been meaning to go here since before we moved but have never gotten around to it and I am SO GLAD we did today! I can't wait to go back there...it was amazing! With your entree (we both had the most amazing tasting ravioli), you get a carafe of house wine (WOOHOO!), a soup or salad, garlic bread, and cappuccino after dinner.
They also brought me cake for my birthday!
I ate WAY too much, to the point of discomfort. I am still stuffed as I type this about 5 hours later but it was worth it! After dinner we went to The Palazzo to see Jersey Boys.
Its basically the only show here we had yet to see. I had heard rave reviews and after the first 10 minutes I was like, oh this isn't that great, but by the end I was singing along and enjoying the show a ton. It was excellent!
As we were leaving the hotel Spencer noticed that our ticket stubs from the show had a free drink coupon at one of the nightclubs so we went to Lavo for our free drink, cuddled on one of the couches and had a great time people watching and enjoying our beverages.
When we got home, Spencer laid his coat on the couch and took the dog out and as he was walking out the door, he asked me to get the ticket stubs out of his jacket pocket...??? I reached in only to pull out a little red box (always a good sign) and inside was a wedding band! Yes, yes, I already have a wedding band, but I'm so paranoid to wear it to work where I do a lot of cleaning and banging my hands around so he got me a "cheap" wedding band that I can wear to work. I have been asking for one for a long time now and he is always paying attention when I least expect it. :) I also got several phone calls, texts, emails, and messages with birthday wishes from all the wonderful people in my life. I couldn't have felt more loved today and best of all I still don't feel a day over 29! ;)
Today I am REALLY trying to believe this because tomorrow I turn 30. I remember being so excited to exit my teens and enter my twenties. I pretty much feel the opposite about exiting my twenties and entering my thirties. Everyone keeps telling me your 30's are the best years of your life. But nobody tells me WHY! I just feel old. Spencer and I just got back from bumming around and shopping. We had a great time, but it didn't make me feel any younger. When I entered stores I used to love shopping in, I instantly felt too old to be in there and immediately turned around and left. And in the stores I didn't feel too old in, I discovered that 80's styles and neon are making a comeback and I already went down that road 20 years ago! Isn't that how you know you're old...when you seen "new" fashion trends for a second time in your life? I tried to find something hip and trendy to wear out for my birthday but I couldn't do it. I can't wear neon and leggings. I just can't. Oh, its almost 9:00PM...isn't that about the time us old folks go to bed and you young folks are just getting ready to go out and party?
Age is just a number...30 is just a number...30 is the new 20...the best times of your life happen in your 30's.............
We'll see.....
I called my brother Jason today to ask him a question about my car since he is pretty much an expert. What I intended to be a 5 minute conversation turned into almost an hour. We ended up talking about dad of course. He said he's been having some conversations with dad lately and in the most recent one, he told my dad to quit his job and do what he wants and make the most of the time he has left. That's good advice for someone who is dying, but we haven't accepted that the worst is happening yet because we are still waiting for the doctor to figure out what is on his colon and surgically remove the tumor on his liver. So why this conversation. Apparently dad told Jason that he has a tumor on his colon. I'm not sure if he just knows or if he too is predicting the worst, but this made my heart sink into my stomach and sent me into a fog. Please don't give up yet Dad. Please keep praying for my dad. His colonoscopy is February 5 and he meets with the doctor February 8 for a "game plan."
After he was done with his very own cake, we all had our own, less messy cake while the birthday boy got a bath and went to bed. We felt bad that Dad had to miss the party, so after everyone left, Spencer and I went back to the hospital to see him, bring him a contraband fruit tray from the party and show him some pictures. Then we said goodnight and headed home. I think we all had too much birthday today! :) Goodnight! Happy Birthday Mason Ryley! :)
So after the pictures, we met up with Mom for dinner at TGIFriday's, her choice. First Yvonne and I beautifully wrapped her gift even though the boys didn't want us to. 
After she opened her gift, she teared up a little bit, but she LOVED her frame! As you can kind of see, it turned out great! 
We enjoyed a nice dinner and a few drinks together and then went our separate ways. Lauren, Jason, Sara, and Jackson went home, and Jeff, Yvonne, Mom, Spencer and I went to the hospital to see Dad and show him Mom's frame and then we all headed home for movie night. It was a really nice way to end the day on a happy note. Happy Birthday Mommy! :)
After Jason, Sara, and Jackson left, I finished the last of the cleaning, Lauren was home, and Spencer and I decided to get dinner and have it waiting for Mom when she got home from work. It was a race to Jimmy John's before they closed but we made it. We at our dinner and now I'm relaxing on the couch watching the episode of Lost we missed on Tuesday and am completely exhausted. My plan is to head to bed early. Tomorrow is Mom's birthday and I am hoping that in the midst of all the bad stuff going on, she will celebrate and have fun.
Today I got red roses for the first time ever...accompanied by chocolates and a toaster...not just any toaster, a RED toaster. :) After a long day at work, we went on a very welcome low key date to Kabuki for some sushi (for me) and Japanese food (for him) and then saw Valentine's Day at the movie theater. Spencer has been my Valentine for 4 years now and I am so lucky to have the best Valentine ever! Happy Valentine's Day everyone!
After stuffing myself with a delicious Sin City Skillet and chocolate chip coffee cake, Spencer dropped me off at Eleven Day Spa where I had 3 hours of pampering which included a massage, facial, manicure, and pedicure. It was fantastic!
I came home and continued my relaxation on the couch where I ate 2 chocolate chip cookies. Then I showered and got ready for a night out on the town. We ate dinner at Battista's Hole In The Wall Italian Restaurant. We have been meaning to go here since before we moved but have never gotten around to it and I am SO GLAD we did today! I can't wait to go back there...it was amazing! With your entree (we both had the most amazing tasting ravioli), you get a carafe of house wine (WOOHOO!), a soup or salad, garlic bread, and cappuccino after dinner.
I ate WAY too much, to the point of discomfort. I am still stuffed as I type this about 5 hours later but it was worth it! After dinner we went to The Palazzo to see Jersey Boys.
Its basically the only show here we had yet to see. I had heard rave reviews and after the first 10 minutes I was like, oh this isn't that great, but by the end I was singing along and enjoying the show a ton. It was excellent!
As we were leaving the hotel Spencer noticed that our ticket stubs from the show had a free drink coupon at one of the nightclubs so we went to Lavo for our free drink, cuddled on one of the couches and had a great time people watching and enjoying our beverages.
When we got home, Spencer laid his coat on the couch and took the dog out and as he was walking out the door, he asked me to get the ticket stubs out of his jacket pocket...??? I reached in only to pull out a little red box (always a good sign) and inside was a wedding band! Yes, yes, I already have a wedding band, but I'm so paranoid to wear it to work where I do a lot of cleaning and banging my hands around so he got me a "cheap" wedding band that I can wear to work. I have been asking for one for a long time now and he is always paying attention when I least expect it. :) I also got several phone calls, texts, emails, and messages with birthday wishes from all the wonderful people in my life. I couldn't have felt more loved today and best of all I still don't feel a day over 29! ;)
