Calling All Prayers!

Trav at Carpio Christmas 2006 - this picture does not do his plate justice. No, your eyes are not deceiving you, and yes, it is a large PLATE of ice cream. The plate was loaded with twist ice cream, brownies, whip cream, cake, and if my memory serves me correctly, gummy worms. I'd like to think the red stuff is strawberries since that would be a far cry from nutritional, but at least a slight attempt at healthy???

As I write at this moment, Travis is at the hospital having all his pre-op procedures done. I am overcome with tears and gratitude to my Father and also my Lord above for helping him get to this point. It is hard to think of that dreadful day on October 11th when we found out that Trav had cancer. It is also hard to imagine what he went through. There were weeks before chemo that he could not eat and seriously starved, and then there were the days after chemo that he cannot remember because he was so dehydrated and sick with nausea. These are amongst a hundred other things most of us have never experienced. Thank you Trav for sticking with it even in those rare and small moments that you didn't want to. Thank you for doing it for my aunt, Karianne, whom I love so much. She could not live without you. We have often talked about how lucky she and I are that we have such great husbands who are also amazing Dads and all around nice guys. Thank you for doing it for your children and all the people who love you. Your courage and positive attitude is truly admirable!

I am asking all who read this to pray for Trav this week as he goes into surgery on Wednesday. He will have two surgeons who will remove part of his esophagus and stomach and then they will reattach what's left. The surgery is scary and has only been performed by the main surgeon 10 times because most people with esophageal cancer don't make it to this point. It will take approximately 6 hours but Trav and Kari are upbeat about this. They have felt and have been comforted by your prayers for months. THANK YOU!

I feel like all I'm doing is saying thanks, but I have to say, thank you to Kari also. You have also shown undying strength and faith through all this. Your reliance on the Savior from the beginning and your gratitude to him has restored plus increased my faith and testimony more than you'll ever know. I really needed it and though I wish I could've gotten it another way, I got it just the same. I'll never regret the good many hours you practiced the 'perfectly tight' french braid on my hair (ouch!), or when you were about 10 and you put Gramps' car in reverse and took us for a little ride at which time we were probably listening to Leif Garrett or Jack & Diane, and especially our latest MB/RB endeavors. You have been a picture of strength my whole life and you get me, that's why I love you. One of the hardest things was literally watching your heart break at the possibility of what could've happened. I'm glad it's nearly back together. One more obstacle girl and you guys will have made it. Thanks again for letting me be there (even though it wasn't that often), and for you & Trav's support the minute we found out about T.

So enough of the sappy and let's go troops, put your knee pads on and start up your prayers again!! I will update after surgery and we will try once again to get Karianne's blog going.


One of my favorite pictures - Karianne & Emm's - Such beautiful ladies!

*Happy Birthday Sweet Boy*

I know it's late, but when have I ever been known for being on time? That's how I roll, so my posts will probably always be a week late. Anywho, the important part of this is that my Sweet Boy turned four last week. I honestly can't believe it's been four years since we were blessed with this precious little ball of energy. His excitement for life is contagious and though it's trying at moments, I'm truly grateful to be his mom. So what if sometimes he doesn't go to bed until 2am, right? I always thought sleep was such an inconvienience until Brooks. I didn't understand why people needed so many zzz's until I didn't get them anymore. And the bad part of it is that Brooks teased me as a baby. He slept through the night until he turned 1. It's like you can see the bottled up radioactivity in this picture on his 1st birthday.

It's not that I didn't have warning. He started walking just a little after 9 months and I immediately thought,

"Oh S#!*", my Mom's curse had finally made it's way to the to surface. Thanks Mom.

He was throwing a fit the other day so Steve & I sent him to his room for a little cool down. He angrily marched down the hall and SLAMMED the door once inside his jail cell. He then opened the door and yelled, "You just don't understand", SLAM!, again. Even though a few wall hangings were shaken, all we could do was laugh. Does a four year old know about parents understanding? Dang Gina, you ain't seen nothin' yet. I have a feeling we will have a few more "misunderstandings" in his lifetime.

Then my baby turned two and we could literally see Daddy's heart light up. For his boy, who was named after the greatest 3rd baseman to ever play game, started showing a natural love for the game of longball. What a relief that was. Steve always said he'd be ok if Brooks just wanted to play the piano or decided on something like syncronized swimming, but we all knew that was just fear talking. I guess Brooks could still change his mind, but from the ways I sees it, he's going to be taking a fair amount of cuts in the next few years.

There's also still a little bit of hope for football. Around the end of September he starts tackling whosever pitching after he hits the ball, or he catches the football and goes sliding into the plate. It's a confusing time of year for him. Broncos one day then Reds or Rockies the next (I had to say Reds 'cuz that's our team but we never get to watch them.)

Just before his 3rd birthday, we saw an occurring change in Brooks. He started preferring the tunes of "Spins a web any size, catches thieves just like flies, Look Out, here comes the Spiderman" to "Buy me some peanuts and cracker jacks." Steve kept his composure well but secretly I heard him praying for this to be a quick phase. My home was still being torn apart, but this time it was because of attempted wall crawling and building to building swinging instead of line drives and curve balls. I walked in on Brooksie using my window panels as web ropes. My living room curtain rod is no longer a nice horizontal bar but displays an interesting permanent frown shape. It would be a shame if he were only able to channel his energy in one area.

(fyi: I'm still receiving therapy for the hurtful comments my family made about my Spidey cake. My mom had the only nice remarks about it, thanks Mom)

The best part about the whole Spiderman thing is that he blames Green Goblin for everything. It's how he rats himself out, "Mom, Green Goblin just spilled my milk" or "Green Goblin just wrote with marker all over the walls." I'm so sick of that damn Green Goblin! I tell Brooks that GG met his own demise when Peter ducked and the flying saucer pierced his insides like a nail gun, yet somehow the Goblin keeps coming back to life when trouble arises in brown brick.

Luckily, spring is upon us and Brooks is once again shaking off pitches and dirt from his shoes (he thinks they're cleats) with the bat. BTW, these are not things we teach him. He watches the game all too closely. Steve was throwing to him in front of Grandpa Reed yesterday and after he struck out, Steve said, "You can't hit my change can ya?" to which Brooks' reply was, "No, but I can still hit your hook."

Happy Birthday Brooksie! Please don't stop giving me hugs, even if it is when we're in the biggest hurry and I'm trying to do your hair. Also, please forgive me for getting impatient and ornery sometimes. Thank you for being excited about the littlest things like me getting my haircut or buying you strawberries. And for telling Emma when she dances good and asking Dad if he had fun at the ball field. Even if I don't have any hair when I'm 40, I love you and I love raising you. Out of the blue yesterday you told me that you'll never let Darth Vadar turn you to the dark side and I know you won't. I will always believe in you, My Sweet Boy!

Roadie or Groupie???

Dictionary definition of a groupie: an enthusiastic young fan, especially a young woman, who follows rock groups around

So am I enthusiastic? yep

Am I young? it's relative, but I say you betcha

Am I a woman? hear me roar

Am I a fan? I think it's fair to say undoubtedly YES!!!!!

Do I follow rock groups around? No, just one group. And does driving to L.A., Boise, and Reno really count?

Ok, Ok, so I'm coming to terms with admitting I might be a groupie, but I prefer "Roadie". That's what D.J. said me & Karianne are. Steve said groupies are girls who stalk band members from city to city and then try everything they can to meet the rockers. We'll use the word "meet" lightly - I don't think I need to explain that. Anyway, I've never tried to meet Robbie or any rockstar. I've heard of girls waiting by their buses after shows and I've even seen their buses, but I don't attempt to greet them. For the love of Pete, I'm married! That's why "Roadie" is a better term for me & my RB. Steven started calling Kari my RB for Roadie Buddy when were planning Reno.

RB taking her turn at the wheel (that background is the dreadful scenery we saw the entire 14 hour roundtrip)

How does one become a groupie? It's a slow process that you don't even realize is happening until you've heard Rob sing in person. And then he does the cutest little tush shake across the stage. Oh, and I can't forget the heart pat with his palm while he sings right into your eyes. No literally, if you're close enough, you see him looking into your soul. Believe me, you'd be addicted too. Kari's not my only RB, Lyndee's on board too. She would've came to Reno with us but Jeff threatened divorce. Luckily, Steve has a mancrush on Rob too, so he completely understands. He was my traveling buddy to Boise and Lyn was my partner to the City of Angels.

So this is the thing...when I returned home from Reno, I had a slew of emails that detailed the intervention my Book Club is planning for me. They believe I've taken the Groupie bit too far and feel it's time to take action before I permanently pack my bags and decide to chase Rob & crew around the globe. They say I'm acting like a 16 year old and that I'm going to bring sisters, cousins, and whoever else I can brainwash down with me. My aunt Kari and my sister Lyn have tried to tell them that it's not me, it's the BAND, but to no avail. They think a little crushed ice (you know like those dreamy soft ones you get @ Bajio's & the hospital) and a diet pepsi is going to soften the blow once they rid me of Rob. I will never relinquish my Matchbox! Besides, the concerts are great exercise. We dance and jump around so much that we walk outta there sweatin' like tramps in church.

The whole thing of it is that it's only been one week since I've seen them and I miss them already. I saw them in Salt Lake the week before that but it just wasn't enough so me and the RB decided we needed to go to Reno. One never knows when the group will call it quits for good so we have to get our fill before the tank is completely empty. What if we've seen Matchbox Twenty for the last time? Robbie will certainly tour alone but it's just not the same without the band, especially for Kari since she thinks she was married to the lead guitarist, Kyle Cook, in her previous life. You should see her when Kyle sings, and Trav doesn't care because he's still in the closet about loving them too. He'll come out soon, don't worry. We all show our colors eventually.

Rob in Reno. Man I love Reno.

Robbie in SLC:

We were 6 ft away from Rob on this corner in SLC, the spot where he pointed, heart patted, and sang to me & Kari (we were the only ones standing for the song.) Thanks Lyn for the pic, she was a few rows above us :-(

The song playing is dedicated to Kari!!! It's her favorite 'cuz Kyle sings the chorus. They both sound like heaven to me.

I've Been Tagged

Aleesha tagged me so here goes nothin' - glad you can't play dodgeball on blogs, I think I was the only kid who ever hated dodgeball...

ONE WORD ONLY:

You're Feeling: worried
To your left: Tug
On your mind: Cancer
Last meal included: gravy
You sometimes find it hard to: exercise
The weather: brisk
Something you have a collection of: laundry
A smell that cheers you up: Steven
A smell that can ruin your mood: Periodontitis
How long since you last shaved: days
The current state of your hair: decent
The largest item on your desk/workspace (not computer): printer
Your skill with chopsticks: varies
Which section you head to first in the bookstore: children
...and after that?: fiction
Something you're craving: ice
Your general thoughts on the presidential race: Obama
How many times you've been hospitalized this year: zero
Favorite place to go for quiet time: traveling
You've always secretly thought you'd be a good: Photographer
Something that freaks you out a little: news
Something you've eaten too much of lately: Cheetos
You have never: snowskiied
You never want to: garden
You would like to see: Jerusalem

I tag Lyndee, Lisa, Ashley, Kari, Carrie (so you can get your blogs started already)

Two Travis' Tribute

T workin' the grill

"T" Buddies on Brooks' b-day

Most of you know that Steve & I have a Travis on each side of our families that have been affected by stage IV esphogeal cancer. My uncle Travis, a young 35 years of age and married to my maternal Aunt Karianne, is now in remission and received his last chemo & radiation dose 5 days ago. We saw Matchbox 20 that night in concert to celebrate and we had a blast! (yes, even Trav loved Rob) Trav B. still has to have surgery to remove the damaged areas so your prayers for him are still much appreciated. This is a picture of him & Kari with Brooks at Christmas. He was right in the middle of chemo treatments at this time and still had his goatee and gorgeous eyelashes. Brooks was very attached to Trav this day. It's unknown if it was because he knew Trav had the inside on Santa's arrival or because Brooksie prays for him every night. Thanks for your example of strength and faith Trav & Kari. We love you!

Steve's brother, T, is just beginning his chemo & radiation today. We are praying for his strength and recovery as well. Steven and T are as close as two brothers can be. When we found out we were having Brooks, I wanted his middle name to be Steven, but Steve immediately put the kabosh on that and insisted Brooks' middle name would be T. He wanted his first & only son to be named after his little brother and I did not have a problem with it knowing that T would be one of Brooks' best examples. Thanks for your prayers for T as well. We love you T & Mandy and know this will be T's toughest fight but also his biggest win!

The sooner this cancer stuff is overwith, the better, so we can go back to worrying about trivial things like what year it will be when Steve can beat T in raquetball just once, or what fad diet am I gonna attempt to lose this extra 8 pounds I'm carrying, OR what the crap Shanahan's going to do to change our sorry defense this upcoming season. These, my friends, are the only things we 30ish-year olds should have to worry about.

Never Say Never

So I hate to bring out the old "never say never" term, but I honestly thought I'd never start a blog. Maybe you care, maybe you don't but my reasons are many and since Brooks is with Debby, and Emma's home sick from school watching her 655th episode of Hannah Montana, I'll give them to you:

1- I hate it when people say, "Didn't you check my blog?" Now friends, you know I love you even if you have uttered these words to me before, but contrary to recent rumors, I do have a life outside of my computer and I don't always have time to sit around & check people's blogs. Especially since there's ebay ok.

2- I am forever forgetting my damn user names and passwords for these things. Write them down you say? Well I do, but it doesn't really help when I've got 28 other pass codes and names written all over the same sheet. I don't know which is which and I certainly don't have time to organize them, especially when my ebay auction is about to end.

3- I have a slight tendency to obcess about things, the same reason why I despise scrapbooking. It takes me 5 hours to complete one side of a page. Should I put the die cut in the left corner? What font should I use for the word baby? and so on. It's all so bloody miserable. I'm afraid it's what will happen here but I'm going to try to control myself.

4- I loathe when people mask their real life on blogs or they just have a blog to tell you how great they are. I guess who am I to judge, right? And maybe you do spend your whole day dreaming of your husband or crafting with your children, but I personally would rather hear your meaningful stories or memories and the little lessons that life teaches us on a regular basis. Listen, I don't expect you to blog all your worries and problems either, and I do appreciate the occasional I'm-a-busy-mom-gripe-and-moan session, but if you're June Cleaver, please leave me off your list.

I won't make you suffer the details as to why I actually decided to make a blogspot but let's just say a dear friend told me that I could print & catalog these blogs yearly, so it's like having a journal and scrapbook in one. I haven't heard anything better since the whole Champ Bailey/Portis trade. In conclusion, I promise to never ask if you've looked at my blog and I apologize in advance if my blogging turns into really annoying journal writing. It's the closest thing my children will ever get! Also, if you frown upon a sporadic written cuss word, I don't recommend you check back (see quote in pink on the right) :-)