{Thanks for all the Support.....}

{Mike's Surgery Tomorrow-UPDATED TIME!!}

Mike will be having his back surgery tomorrow @ 7am. Those of you that need to know what hospital will get a call. He has to be there @ 5am. He'll be staying overnight. Mike's VERY excited to have it done so that the pain can stop. Michelle....a little nervous. Anything that involves hospitals/surgeries/anesthesia makes her nervous, especially when it includes her HUSBAND! We have put our faith in God that His hands will heal. Thanks to everyone for their prayers...and continued prayers!

{Photos Added to the Previous 2 Posts}

Just wanted to update that the 2 posts below have had pictures added to them.

{Church Baptism and Chili/Soup/Salsa Cookoff Today!}

YEAH! Today we get to go and watch 13 people publicly accept the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior! Meghann and Michelle were baptized together in the ocean in Huntington Beach a few years ago and it was BEAUTIFUL! Even though Michelle had been raised in the church, she'd never been baptized...and we know now that it was because her and Meghann were meant to do it together. It was an amazing experience, and I'm so happy that 13 more people are going to get that "feeling" today!

And then it's the Chili/Soup/Salsa cookoff! It's always fun! Last year, Michelle WON the Chili Cookoff with her "Bandit Beans"! I'll post a picture a little later, it's on the desktop computer....and Mike is on there right now. (And now the picture is below!) This is a family recipe that my Dad always makes and everyone loves....even Mike who can't stand kidney beans due to a bad childhood memory of "goulash"! Thanks Dad!

We always enjoy this event at the church because the kids all run around and have fun, the adults enjoy each other's company and we get to see the work of Our Lord up close and personal! It's amazing and a wonderful part of our lives!

Be Blessed...and if you haven't accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, there is no better time than NOW!

{Getting a New Custom Bed Today!!}

Today should be COOL! Our friend Heidi's Dad is an AMAZING woodworker! He's in his early 80's, but you'd never know it to meet him! He started making a bed of his own design @ his wife's specifications....it was going BEAUTIFULLY! Until they went to put it in the room the first time, and they dropped part of it, and the wood split. No problem for Jack, he went back out to the shop and made a whole new piece....done! They take it back into the room and start setting it up....uh, what? You're kidding me right? What do you MEAN the measurements are off by a "smidge"! A "smidge" means we'd have to rearrange furniture....okay, we'll try that. What? There is NO possible way to rearrange the furniture....we have to get rid of stuff? NO! We can't get rid of any of the furniture in here....EXCEPT this new bed! "Mike? Michelle? I know that you guys appreciate handmade, custom furniture by a master craftsman....would YOU like to have the new bed?" WOW! We were supposed to get the OLD sleigh bed that they were replacing....instead, we're getting the brand new, handmade custom bed by Jack Devine! We're humbled and awed @ his generosity! (Oh...and he's so mad @ it because it wouldn't fit and he had problems along the way....that he can't WAIT to get it out of the workshop!) Thanks Jack! We'll treasure it always!

{Today is a UPS Kinda Day!!}

Well....between the new computer monitor and my Valentine's gift from Mike, today will be a UPS kinda day! I will be getting rid of the old computer monitor and getting ready to set up the new one after Janet comes over for a visit this morning.

I'm pretty sure Meghann will go to school today, but we'll see what her temp is when she wakes up. At least there was no coughing last night...that's a good sign!

The other thing the UPS man will be bringing are all my new goodies from PaperTreyInk that Mike bought for me for Valentine's Day! How nice that they had a monthly release ON Valentine's Day! Makes the gift giving easy on Mike...he says, "Go ahead and order!" and I get exactly what I want for V-Day! WooHoo! I love having new stuff to play with! I'm sure I'll make a few sets of cards to give to family...it's always nice to have cards on hand for any occasion! I know that everyone enjoys getting cards in the mail....even if it's not a holiday, just a "thinking of you" or "how's it going" card make all my family and friends happy! Unexpected mail is the best! So start checking your mailbox...you might be getting a card from us soon!

Mike will be going on Tuesday for his pre-op testing and prep. He's really looking forward to his surgery so that he can start getting back to normal. Keep those prayers coming...they are appreciated!

{Poop! Meghann's Home Sick....AGAIN!}

Well, after 2 days running over a 100 degree fever...yesterday Meghann woke up with no fever at all! She said she felt good...so off to school she went, and cotillion. Well....this morning she woke up with just under 100 degree fever! Man! So she's loaded up with juice and Motrin and back in bed. Just when Cindi and I FINALLY had a free day to go to Disneyland for Oscar's Baked Potato Soup and ride Tower of Terror! Ah....being a Mommy is worth missing a day @ Disneyland for ToT and soup!

Had to order a new computer monitor this morning as well because the desktop computer's monitor burned out....I guess 8 years isn't too bad. The new one should arrive tomorrow (LOVE NewEgg!) and is a nice Samsung 22" Widescreen. Mike loves his big monitors and this one should make his Drinking Wars game on Facebook even BETTER!

I personally think that my new toilet seat was a better purchase than a new monitor, but WHATEVER! I do love a new toilet seat...I buy one usually every 2 years. It's a personal preference, I just think it's $20 well spent! For all the DUMB things you spend $20 on, your butt is on that toilet seat usually at least 4 or more times a day....and EVERYONE uses it, so isn't it nice to have a new one? I say, YES! But I'm sure I'll like the new monitor too! At least we have 2 nice big Dell laptops as well as the desktop, so we're not "lost" without our computers....plus, how would I have ordered a new monitor?!?!

Anywhooooooo....back to caring for my sick baby girl and doing laundry. I think I'll bake some cranberry/orange muffins for my 2 favorite people as well! They LOVE them some muffies!

{Meghann's Feeling Better!!}

PHEW! After a few days with a fever, Meghann is feeling MUCH better! No fever anymore, but still a little stuffy nose/cough. She's had a few days home resting, so that's really the best thing. She's happy to be going back to school today and cotillion tonight, broken toe and all! A few weeks off from P.E. will help that toe heal (and wearing her walking boot!)...I guess she won't be jumping over the couch again! Silly Meghann! Now, hopefully neither Mike nor Michelle will get sick! We need Mike healthy for his back surgery in a week! Hope you're all happy and healthy!

{Happy 38th Birthday Daddy/Mike!!}

38 years ago today, the kindest, most gentle, caring, understanding, loving, generous, handsome, sincere, amazing person was born. Meghann's Daddy and Michelle's best friend! We love him more each day and are constantly in awe of how wonderful he is! With a lot of adversity in his life, he's overcome it all! We love and admire you, Daddy/Mike!

Happy Birthday!

Love,
Michelle and Meghann

{Happy Valentine's Day!}

Happy Valentine's Day to all! Everyone should already have received their cards in the mail, but I thought I'd post this here as well to tell you how much we love you all! You know who you are! :-D

Love,
Mike, Michelle, Meghann

{Mike's Back Surgery}

Okay....we have a date! Mike will be getting his microdiscectomy on the 25th of February. So only 12 more days of pain for Mike. The pain he has after the surgery should be so much less than he has now, that it'll be much better right away! Yeah! We just want Mike to feel better as soon as possible!

{Aquarium of the Pacific Orchestra Performance}

Wednesday, the 11th of February was Meghann's last time performing with the McAuliffe Middle School Orchestra @ the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach. :-( Makes me sad! They've done it every year and done so well! Here are some pictures and a video from the performance. Enjoy!

Meghann was off to the side this year, so I didn't get good shots of her playing!

Mr. Sisil in the tank...he's a diver @ the Aquarium so that's pretty cool!

Larissa, Kendall, Rebecca and Meghann

Make sure you click on the little "up arrow" on the bottom right after you click "play" and choose "HQ" to watch this in high quality!

{Mike's Pending Back Surgery}

Mike went to his orthopedist (he's a spine specialist) on Tuesday. He will be having the microdiscectomy surgery in 2-3 weeks. They are working on scheduling the date at this time. So that's where we are right now. He's a perfect candidate for the surgery and we're praying that everything works out for the best. We just can't wait for Mike to not be in pain and to be able to get back to doing the job that he loves! We have very good family and friends for support during all of this which helps us all!

{Disneyland with the Markers & Walkers}

We met up with Ted, Stephanie, Colin and MacKenzie Marker @ Disneyland on Monday, the 9th. Since the kids didn't have school, it was a perfect day. Now...it RAINED a lot in the morning, but then it cleared up to be a BEAUTIFUL day! It's like no time had passed @ all, though it's been 16 years since we've last seen them! The kids all got along perfectly! Colin and Kenzie are very well behaved and super outgoing! We had a blast with them! We're so thankful that we have so many friends in our lives...I can't imagine being without good friends to do so many things with! Here are some pictures from our day! (I'm a few posts behind, so there should be a couple posts today.....!)

{3 Day Weekends ROCK!!}

Gosh, I love a 3 day weekend! Unfortunately, this weekend is a drill weekend for Mike (PHEW, only 3 more years left before he retires @ 22 years service!) so we can't really do anything until Monday. On Monday we've planned a trip to Disneyland with some old High School friends of Mike's! Ted & Stephanie Marker and their 2 kids! Ted & Steph got married the weekend after we did in 1993. How time flies! Ted and Mike found each other on Facebook, which is a WONDERFUL tool for connecting with family and friends! We can't wait, we know it'll be a fun time catching up with old friends...and @ a place we all love to hang out! Long live Disneyland!

{Mike's Back Update for Thursday-UPDATED!}

Mike went in for his EMG today. He really liked the neurologist who took a long time discussing his symptoms and how everything has progressed since the onset. He then underwent the nerve test and the preliminary results are that it is NOT a chronic condition (meaning the nerve is damaged) but an acute one (meaning that it's the herniated disc causing the discomfort to the nerve). So Mike is THRILLED to hear this news! That means that the microdiscectomy is a viable option for him. We're hoping he can see his orthopedist sooner than the 17th since the results of the EMG will be given to him tomorrow. So basically....it's been good news today! Mike's spirits are considerably lifted!

**UPDATE** He's able to get in to see his orthopedist this coming Tuesday! YEAH! That means things are moving more quickly that we'd originally thought. The sooner we can get relief for Mike the better! I think he'll feel like the Million Dollar Man!

{Mike's Back Update for Wednesday}

Good news! A cancellation @ the EMG Dr. means Mike gets to go in tomorrow for that test. So that way we have some "answers" earlier than next week! Thank you for your continued prayers to our Almighty Lord that he be healed!

{Mike's Back Update for Tuesday}

Well, he is not going to have an epidural. He is going to wait until next Tuesday when he has the EMG (nerve test) and gets the results for that. He'll be then seeing the doctor again the Tuesday after that. (2 weeks from today) They will then discuss surgery or what other options they have. At this point, due to our research and talking with many others that have had this same problem, we think that the microdiscectomy is the best way to go at this point. Click here to see a video of what the surgery entails, it's animated, not real surgery. It REALLY explains it well! It's more of a "cure" than a "pain mask". With his job he'll always have to have the heavy belt around his waist and sit for 12 hours in a patrol vehicle. If he gets it "fixed" now he doesn't have as much chance of furthering the injury because he can't feel the pain. So we wait....and Mike's in pain. This sucks!

{Steelers WIN the Super Bowl!}

We had a GREAT time @ Dave and Heidi's house for Super Bowl! Barbara and Leni were able to come up and join in the fun with all of Dane & Michelle's kids....so there were 8 kids and 9 adults partying both UP and DOWNstairs....watching 2 different 60 inch TVs! There was TONS of amazing food from Amazing Dave's, as well as Heidi's chili, Michelle's Buffalo Chicken Dip, chips and dips, cakes and cupcakes...YUMMY! Lots of fun! Though tonight was a bad night for Mike's back/leg. As we were getting ready to leave, he was in a lot of pain...hopefully a good night's rest will help. Anyway, a SUPER game....2 very well matched teams make for some SERIOUS fun to watch! A few good commercials....the Doritos one with the "crystal ball" was HILARIOUS! All in all...good fun, good food, good friends, good family, good game! Super Bowl 43...in the can!