Life & Times of The Harper Family

Going Wild

2012-01-21T21:52:00.001-08:00

It happened. My little turned 5 and he's not so little anymore.
We celebrated his day with a Safari themed party at home. The weather couldn't make up it's mind and kept saying rain/no rain all the way up until the day of the party. Naturally, I panicked because I had a guest list of 65-70 people and our house just isn't big enough to fit everyone comfortably inside. But, with the exception of a little sprinkle, the weather was great!
Our party foods included Pizza, Hot Dogs and PB&J for main entrees. Veggies & ranch, berries & grapes, apple slices, bags of chips, fruit snacks, cheese & crackers and rice krispy treats as sides/snacks. For dessert, of course we had birthday cake, but because we had such a big crowd, we also had double chocolate gluten free cupcakes, "Dirt" cups (chocolate pudding topped with oreo crumbs and a gummy worm) and banana pudding cups (bananas, monkeys, animal safari- stretching the theme a little there).
I made signs for "The Watering Hole" where the drinks were located, a sign that said "please don't feed the animals" with a photo of Landon yelling and crossed out, an entrance sign, and a banner that said "Go Wild".
His goodie bags were brown paper sacks with a green stamped "thanks" and tied with animal print ribbon. Inside was a toy snake, animal stickers, an animal finger puppet and assorted candies.
I bought him a brown polo with a black lion on it and we were ready to party!
Yes, we went a little crazy with the theme, but it was totally worth it. He LOVED it and had such a great day!

Here's to 2012...

2011-12-10T21:15:00.000-08:00

2011 was full of blessings. The greatest was being able to quit my job and stay at home with Landon. I have prayed for this opportunity with every fiber of my being- even before I became a Mom. Yes, he drives me crazy and tests my patience to it's furthest limits every single day... but I feel like I was designed for this job. I love being able to wake up to his sweet voice, tuck him in every night with prayers and witness every tiny moment in between. I thought staying at home would be my chance to teach him, but really it's him who has been teaching me all along. I've learned to slow down and take time to enjoy life. A simple picnic at the park, laying on the grass and watching the clouds go by. That's a perfect day to us.

So, what's in store for 2012? Only God knows, I suppose. But I hope it's filled with many days of sunshine, laughter, memories, good health and lots of love. I'll take a few rough days too. Because without them, I wouldn't be able to fully appreciate the good ones.

I'm hoping for more quiet moments with God, romantic moments with my husband and silly moments with Landon.

This year I hope to be a better wife, a better mom, a better friend and a better person in general. 2012, I have big plans for us.

No longer a baby, but alway's MY baby

2011-12-05T23:47:00.000-08:00

Landon's birthday is a month away and that means that amidst the holiday planning, I am also planning a birthday party for my amazing little boy. Next month, Landon will be turning five.

FIVE! Every year is bittersweet because I wish he could stay little forever. But, 5- that's a big number! You watch him grow through all of the stages: newborn, infant, toddler, preschooler... and now he's past all that and will be a KID! I mean, this is it (until he turns 13 of course). But from 5 to 12, he's a KID... there's nothing "baby" about him anymore.

If turning 5 is this hard on me, I can't imagine how his first day of school will be.

Someone pass the tissues.

Random Acts of Christmas Kindness

2011-11-30T19:49:00.000-08:00

So, this year, I thought Landon would be old enough to understand that Christmas is more than Santa Claus and getting presents. (Don't worry. He already knows that it's also Jesus' Birthday.) But I wanted him to know that it's about giving to others, too.
I came across an idea online called "Random Acts of Christmas Kindness". Instead of the traditional advent calendar, each day you do something nice for someone else. So, I let him choose what to do for the first day... just to see if he had ideas of his own. Know what he said? "We can give money to someone who needs it and doesn't have any." Love him and loved his idea. I'm going to list all of our activities below in hope that it might inspire someone in some way.

Day 1: Give money to Salvation Army
Day 2: Donate toys to Spark of Love toy drive
Day 3: Cook a special breakfast for Daddy
Day 4: Pick up the tab for the person behind us at Starbucks
Day 5: Leave a stack of quarters at the laundromat
Day 6: Donate clothing to the needy
Day 7: Bring coffee to a friend at work (Landon picked his Aunt Sarah)
Day 8: Pick up trash at a local park
Day 9: Donate jackets/coats to Air 1 jacket drive
Day 10: Take treats to local fire station
Day 11: Support fundraising event for Children's Hospital
Day 12: Donate games to kids at LLUCH
Day 13: Donate to local food drive
Day 14: Take dog/cat food and supplies to a local animal rescue
Day 15: Put coins in the penny stamping machines at Disneyland (for the next person)
Day 16: Send goodies to a soldier who can't be home for Christmas
Day 17: Take Candy and Christmas cards to our neighbors
Day 18: Wish people a Merry Christmas while holiday shopping
Day 19: Bake yummy treats for a friend (Landon chose Miss Tiffany at LLUCH and Auntie Shea)
Day 20: Send flowers to a friend (Landon chose Dana)
Day 21: Bake cookies for our postman
Day 22: Buy breakfast for the person behind us in drive thru
Day 23: Cook a Hawaiian lunch for hubby's office
Day 24:

Make a Difference

2011-10-03T18:09:00.000-07:00

It's here. My absolute favorite KFRG event. It was my favorite while working there and it still is. It was my favorite before I had children and even more so now that I have Landon. And it benefits an organization that I am strongly passionate about.

The 10th Annaul KFROGGERS for Kids Radiothon to benefit the pediatric cancer unit at Loma Linda University Children's Hospital.

Why LLUCH? It's our region's only level 1 trauma center. Covering San Bernardino, Riverside, Inyo & Mono Counties. That means they treat everything from the mildest scrapes and bruises to the most severe and critical cases- Car accidents, Cancer, Transplants. They have teams of doctors, nurses and staff members who work hard to ensure the highest level of care is given to each and every little patient.

Why should you donate? Every parent prays that nothing bad will happen to their child, and sadly there are families who face those tragedies every single day. Thankfully, we have LLUCH. It's nice to know that in times of crisis there is a hospital right here- practically in your backyard that is capable of taking care of your most precious asset. And if you've already had a little one who has been a patient there, then you know how amazing of a place it is.

The bottom line is, every child deserves a happier & healthier future. And that future can start with you! We don't need people to give more. We need more people to give. Every little bit helps! There are 3 easy ways you can donate over the next couple of days:

1) Call 1-800-825-KIDS

2) Text "KIDS" to 27722 to donate $10. (The money will be charged directly to your phone bill)

3) Click here to donate online

For those that aren't familiar with our experience at LLUCH, you can Click here to read Landon's story

Where I Was When The World Stopped Turning

2011-09-09T13:25:00.000-07:00

September 11, 2001...

I was only 19 years old and still living at home with my parents. Like all teenagers, I was sleeping in that morning when my mom opened up my door and said "Wake up. They're bombing us. Turn on your TV." I was confused and half asleep. I didn't quite understand what was happening. (I think that's something that could be said for the rest of the day as the events unfolded.)

I switched on my tv just moments before watching the 2nd plane hit the Twin Towers. Reporters were confused and they weren't sure they just witnessed another plane hit the building. At that point they weren't positive it was a terrorist attack. There I sat, glued to the television. Horrified to watch and terrified to look away as the buildings came crashing down. There were scenes of people walking in the streets covered head to toe in dust and debris, hardly recognizable as human. They were dazed, distraught and some were hurt. Tears streamed my face as I watched people jump from the buildings in their last futile attempt to escape... or to be put out of their misery. These things just don't happen in our country.

In the days following 9/11, I watched as rescue workers and dogs searched through the rubble for survivors. I waited 3 hours to give blood at our local blood bank because it was the only way I could help. I remember thinking how eerily quiet the skies were without planes and helicopters being permitted to fly. And like every American, I cried and grieved.

And here we are 10 years later after the country's most tragic event. Still standing. Still strong.

Did it shake us? Yes. To the core, and although it's been a decade, the wound still feels fresh to some. We will never forget. But we are America and we will always persevere.

When Sunday comes around, please take a moment for our nation. Pray for those that lost their lives, those that were hurt, their loved ones, for our soldiers fighting for our country and for the rescue workers who put their lives on the line for us every single day. And remember to Thank God and be proud to be an American.

Wedding Bells

2011-08-08T22:27:00.000-07:00

This Saturday was a beautiful and amazing day for the family. We celebrated Anthony & Karissa getting married. There was plenty of laughter, a few tears and memories to last a lifetime. When it came time to make a toast, I assumed it would just be the Best Man & Matron of Honors, but soon everyone was saying something. I didn't prepare myself to make a speech. In fact, I dread public speaking. But, here is what I should have said...

" I've been fortunate enough to be a part of the Harper family long enough to watch Anthony transform from a little kid... to a young man... and now to a husband and start his own family. My entire life, I've wanted a little brother, and I was lucky to get that the day I married Wes.
Like many, I never thought he'd finally settle down, but when he decided to and chose Karissa to be his wife, I couldn't be happier. We've considered her family for a long time now, but it's nice to finally make it official! A little advice... Always remember to kiss each other goodnight. Never go to bed mad. Love with abondonment. And always be each other's Best Friend. Here's to a lifetime together filled with love, happiness and at least one niece or nephew for me!"

The Half Way Point

2011-08-03T21:57:00.001-07:00

Not the half way point of my weight loss. Just the half way point of my boot camp class. 2 1/2 weeks in and I've lost 5lbs and 7.5" total (thighs, waist, hips and chest). Woohoo!

It hasn't been easy, but it gets easier every day. I haven't been sticking strictly to their diet, but I've been pretty consistant in keeping meals at 400 calories and snacks at 150 calories. I'm allowing myself one cheat day a week, and so far I'm still not really cheating on that day. Maybe having more carbs or sugar that day. (Ex: having mashed potatoes instead of veggies that day). I haven't really been craving the fattening foods- ice cream, chips, cookies, cupcakes . Those were all foods that I loved to chow down on. I've even gone to the fair and movies and ate really healthy (Thanks to Ashley at the fair!).

I'm being realistic and choosing a diet that will work as a lifestyle. Slowly, I'm going to transition the whole family to a lean and healthy diet. Even shopping at the grocery store, you realize that 75% of the food there is BAD for you. It's processed, full of sugar or sodium, etc. Which is sad because it's so convenient and tasty!

Oh, on another side note (I always tend to switch back and forth on topics): I decided to take my blood pressure at one of those machines at the pharmacy. Keep in mind that the sound of those machines alone make me panic and my blood pressure has almost ALWAYS been high. It was 122/70. Right there in the normal range! See what a little exercise (and quitting a stressful job) can do ;)

The Heavy Truth

2011-07-19T17:17:00.000-07:00

184.

Yep. That's how much I weighed yesterday morning after a weekend of stuffing my face and prior to starting my new regime.

That's a HUGE number. Literally. I'm not one to normally share my weight, especially when I'm so ashamed of it. This is the most I've weighed in my entire life.

But if I accept it and don't hide it, if I face it, then maybe it will motivate me to put it behind me. I hope to say "At one point in my life, I weighed 184, but now I weight a healthy _____". And that might motivate people to see that they CAN do it, too.

Every new day is a chance to change your life.

Go, go, GO!

2011-07-19T17:03:00.000-07:00

The diet has been interesting. I've only been tempted a few times to give in and eat something I'm not allowed to. It's such a drastic change for me and it's hard when there are delicous bags of cookies, chips, etc laying around. You never realize how many things have sugar in them. Like coffee for example. I can add Almond Milk, but no sugar. Speaking of Almond Milk- it's surprisingly delicious with Kashi Go Lean Crunch. (Full of fiber and naturally sweetened with honey- no high fructose corn syrup). I really like it. And this is coming from someone who really likes cereals made of pure sugar like Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Coco Puffs. For lunch I had a salad filled with greens, legumes and lean protein. For dinner I had tofu stir fry. Every single thing I ate was different than something I would normally chose, and yet I made it through the day. Today was different. I struggled with the lunch salad. It just didn't sound appetizing. But I added a little taco seasoning and olive oil and gave it a southwest flair. (Remember, the salads have no dressing on them. But we are allowed seasonings, 2 Tbsp olive oil and lemon). For dinner tonight, I'm making Tofu "tacos". Diced Veggies and Tofu rolled in lettuce shells.
Yum, right? lol.

The workout was INTENSE. A couple times I thought I would puke or die. Maybe both. But I pushed through and just did the best I could. The running is the part that killed me. I've just never been a runner and all my extra lbs weren't helping. I'm very sore today and I've had a migraine all day.

My body seems to be screaming in protest. I almost cheated on the diet portion. But I have a wonderfully supportive husband to keep me on track :) I'm excited for tomorrow's workout!

Get Set...

2011-07-17T20:27:00.000-07:00

So, today I went grocery shopping for my new diet. I've never bought so much produce at one time, and I never knew there were so many different types of lettuce haha. Their rule is that I can't eat anything that won't rot. Nothing processed or preserved. I'm not gonna lie, I'm not excited about some of the foods. I'm not a big fan of veggies in general, but I'm excited to give it a shot.

I'm nervous about the first workout. It's going to kill me, I know it. I'm also nervous for the health assessment. I'm seriously the heaviest I've been (without being pregnant- and even then, I'm not too far off). And I'm really out of shape. But, onward and upward... er, downward in weight. Bring it on.

On your Mark...

2011-07-14T21:07:00.000-07:00

So, I signed up with a friend for this Boot Camp workout that starts next week and runs for 5 weeks. I'm COMPLETELY out of shape, and I know this Boot Camp will be strenuous. I'm hoping that doing it with a friend will keep me motivated and committed.

Well, today we recived the manual... 31 pages long! The nutrition plan is seriously intense. I'm talking, no sugar, no pasta, no potatoes... NOTHING I eat now.

They call in "Lean & Green". I call it rehab for foodies!

As a comparison to their plan vs. my regular plan, I was in Costco yesterday and Landon & I were trying samples as we shopped. I came across one lady who politely asked if I would like to try some delicious Almond Milk. I declined, and as I walked away I thought to myself "Almond Milk?! Who would want to drink that?".
Week 1 of my new diet is "detox" week with no dairy items allowed. So what was on their list of yummy items? Almond Milk!

The workout plan consists of boot camp 3x per week and a walk/run/hike 1x per week. However, they recommend that you do "Double Days" 2x per week and work out twice. Um, I already fear that I'll be puking, crying and begging for mercy during my first work out... 2x per day? Not likely.

Although that won't stop me from trying. I'm going to seriously give it all I've got. It's already painful thinking about it. But I have big plans in the coming year and this is part of it :)

Cuppycakes & Puppycakes

2011-06-21T09:27:00.001-07:00

So, what's been going on you ask?
Well, the SAHM life has been AMAZING! I've been told that after a month, I'll be bored... but it's no where close to that. I think some people just aren't made to stay at home- even though they think they want to. I mean, it's my nature to always stay busy with one thing or another- and I'm always looking for fun things for Landon and I to do. And I love spending time with my little monster.
And I moved forward with a project that I've wanted to do for over 5 years...
CUPPYCAKES & PUPPYCAKES!This is a name that Megan I came up with before Landon was born. We'd joke that we'd open a cupcake shop that also made dog "cupcakes". Of course, work and mommyhood took over and the dream was put on the back burner.
Well, now that I've had the time, I've been working on developing new flavors and I'm slowly introducing it to the world :) Very slowly, but it's fun and keeps me busy! The only thing missing.... is Megan! Maybe we'll go national some day and she can bake in Nashville.

Surgery 2.0

2011-05-20T21:18:00.001-07:00

So, Wes went in to surgery on Wednesday to do another biopsy of the mass in his throat and to remove the mass. We knew this surgery would be more serious and quite a bit more painful. The area of the surgery would be larger, and he was already told that he would have to stay in the hospital overnight.

Going through this 3 months ago still didn't make it any easier when it came to saying good-bye to him before he went in to surgery. It also didn't make it easier to see him in recovery immediately after. I hate seeing him in pain and not being able to do anything about it.

I certainly wasn't prepared for the heart break it would bring me to leave him alone overnight. I hesitated and went back and forth on the idea of staying. In the end, I knew Landon needed me at home, and there wasn't anything I could do for Wes at the hospital. I felt confident that the nurses would take care of him, but I called 2 or 3 times throughout the night just to make sure.

He had a scary episode of feeling like he wasn't able to breathe in the middle of the ngiht. Although his oxygen levels were good, the swelling was so bad that he wasn't able to swallow. They gave him steroids to bring down the swelling, and after that, he felt much better.

The whole day and night of his surgery, he wasn't allowed anything by mouth- not even water. So, needless to say, he was VERY thirsty. His mouth and throat were dry (even though they kept a continuous cool mist mask on him). So, when the speech pathologist finally said he could have food and water, he was a happy camper! I'm pretty sure that was the best ice water and jello in the world!

They kept him one more night just to make sure he'd be able to take his pain meds and eat when he got home. He came home today and is doing AMAZING! Seriously, if it weren't for the soft food diet (which he has to stay on for 3 weeks), I wouldn't be able to tell he just had surgery.

I'm impressed at how well he bounces back from these kinds of things- even though if I were him, I'd milk it for all it's worth cause I'm offering to wait on him all day and provide foot massages anytime he asks ;) But, I'm thankful that he's doing so good and I plan on doing that stuff anyway.

He deserves it!

Stay At Home Mom

2011-05-13T21:34:00.000-07:00

When I was little and asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, it was always a killer whale trainer or zoologist- Never June Cleaver. But, that was before I became a Wife and a Mommy.

So, the first week of staying at home has been simply amazing! It's everything I wanted and more. I get to cuddle every morning with my beautiful little boy and I never miss out on his silly faces or endless giggles. Our house is clean and I'm satisified knowing there's a homecooked meal on the table for the family when Wes gets home from work. For once in a long time, I feel whole, content and truly happy.

Sadly, I know this is only a temporary adventure. I'll have to go back to work when unemployment runs out. So, for now, I'm going to spend my days cherishing the time and soak it all up, and I'm happy to be able to check another item off my bucket list.

Mother's Day

2011-05-07T22:28:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is Mother's Day, and I feel so blessed to be able to celebrate that day! Not because it's another day for presents or getting out of chores (although that's nice too), but because I have a beautiful 4 year old that makes every day a good day. He's amazing, brilliant, stubborn and covered in dirt most of the time. Everything a boy should be. I'm so thankful that he's happy, smart and healthy! Not that I would love him less if he wasn't, but those are things every mother wishes for their child.

I'm also very blessed to have an amazing mother. She's been my biggest fan my entire life, and there's something very special about having a mother who always supports you and believes in you. Not every child can say that. Growing up, money was tight, and I understood that. I know that she often did without so that I could do things with my friends, have new clothes or other material things that are important to teenagers. Being grown up and a mother now, I can truly appreciate that and all that her (and my Dad) have always done for me. I'm happy to say that my Mom is one of my best friends, and I love spending time with her at concerts or just hanging out and talking.

There are other mothers who have made a huge difference in my life, too.

My sisters for treating me like I was one of their own and giving me the best childhood a kid could ask for! I still cherish the memories of hanging out at the beach or pretending that my and my niece were sisters.

All of the single mothers that I know- whether it's full time or part time, I look up to you for doing it on your own. I know it can't be easy, and I have so much respect for you.

To Robin- It warms my heart every time I think about you and Peyton. To want something, SOMEONE so bad... and then not know if she would be able to stay... what a leap of faith and a testament of TRUE love. Even though I was there when it all happened, your story ALWAYS moves me to tears.

To Stacey- What an amazing, motivating, inspiring mother. As a parent and a person, I look up to you in every way Even in your saddest times of losing Laiken, you were strong. Your strength came from the great love that you have for Laiken. Know that you raised a beautiful little girl, and the number of people that have been moved by her and continue to be moved by her is simply AMAZING!

To Rebecca- I know you're not my mother-in-law, but I feel like you are. If I could adopt you, I would in a heartbeat! You've always been there to listen to my complaining (and I've been known to talk for hours at a time), hug me when I needed it and given me advice that only a mother could give! You have such a kind heart and such great love as a mother! (Not to just your boys, but to every "child" that enters your home). I truly enjoy our heart to heart talks and your frienship means the world to me!

To all the Moms out there, I wish you a beautiful Mother's Day. Thank you for all that you do!

Another chapter in my book of life

2011-05-01T22:38:00.001-07:00

So, a lot of changes are heading my way! This time next week, I will no longer be employed, and I'm really okay with that. REALLY okay.

There have been major changes coming at KATY, and with that, my position was going to change, as well. I've faced a lot of challenges there from day one, so I can't say that I'm upset over this.

I'm not talented in a lot of areas. While I can do most things at a satisfactory level, I don't excel in a lot of things. I've never been an athlete, I'm a decent baker, okay photographer, etc.

But the ONE thing I feel that I'm good at, that I was MADE for is being a Mommy and a Wife. It's a full time job in itself, and I've been juggling that with a demanding career for 4 1/2 years. I've missed daycare parties, holidays, tee-ball practices and more. We've eaten more fast food than we should, I'm never caught up on laundry and sometimes I neglect to find alone time with the hubby. Now, I feel like I'm going to finally be where I'm supposed to be.

With that being said, I have a chance at exercising more, making new cupcake recipes and advancing my photography skills. So, maybe it won't be the only thing I'm "good" at haha. And, I get to homeschool Landon for preschool- which is what I went to school for before starting my radio career. It just seems to all fit into place!

The Mass is still there

2011-03-28T16:49:00.000-07:00

Well, after 3 weeks of antibiotics and steroids, the mass is still there. It hasn't gotten any smaller, but it hasn't grown either. So, that is a good thing.
They're going to schedule him for another MRI to see if it has grown in areas that they aren't able to fully see with the camera. And, he'll most likely need to have surgery to remove as much as they can. This time will be a little different. He'll have to stay at least one night in the hospital so they can monitor the swelling and make sure his airway stays open. So, for now, it's still a waiting game...

The Meds

2011-03-08T09:58:00.000-08:00

Wesley had his check up yesterday and the doctor said his throat was healing nicely and that the swelling had gone down some. So, they put him on antibiotics and steroids for 3 weeks to see if that brings it down more. Hopefully that takes care of it and he can celebrate his 30th birthday the way he wants to :)

The Results

2011-03-03T11:41:00.000-08:00

The doctor called today with the news...

It's NOT cancer!

When Wes told me, I seriously cried for 20 minutes, uncontrollably. The amount of happiness and relief I felt was overwhelming.

For the last week, I had to actually think about the possibility of losing my husband, Landon's daddy and my Best Friend. It's a feeling that I couldn't even begin to descibe. It was like everything I have could possibly turn to sand and I wouldn't be able to keep it from slipping away. It wouldn't be something I was in control of, and I was so scared of losing even one little piece of him.

But, God is so good! I've never prayed so hard for a miracle... And when the doctor tells you they are 80-90% sure it's cancer and it turns out it isn't, that my friends is definately a miracle!

The Biopsy

2011-02-25T17:32:00.000-08:00

Wes went in for his biopsy this morning and the surgery went really well. They were able to successfully get an air tube in while he was under anesthesia. He didn't have to be awake for it and he didn't need a tracheotomy. That alone was a huge relief! The doctor removed a big chunk of the mass and Wes said he can already feel a difference in his breathing... which is actually weird because he didn't know that he couldn't breath in the first place. But, a good kind of weird of course!

After the surgery, the doctor called me in and showed me photos of his throat and of the mass in it. I honestly had a hard time finding his airway because all I saw was the mass everywhere. The doctor said there was a lot more tissue in that area than there should be. So, I asked the question...

"Do you think it's cancer?"

She couldn't be certain without getting the pathology results, but she said she's 80-90% sure it is. My heart sank. I didn't want to tell Wes, and yet I knew I had to. It's not something you ever think you would have to do.

At this point, we don't have the results, so we're taking it one step at a time. And if it is cancer, I know Wes will be okay. He is one tough cookie.

As for Wesley's recovery, he's doing amazing! Already had 2 bowls of soup and 2 bowls of sherbert. He's up and moving around and really doing great!

The Beginning...

2011-02-24T21:23:00.000-08:00

Let me try to recap things up to this point as fast as I can.

In December, Wes felt a lump on the right side of his throat. You couldn't see it, but you could feel it if you pressed down, and it felt hard and about the size of a marble. At that time, Wes also felt some pressure on his adam's apple, but chalked it up to possible idigestion. That feeling went away and the mystery of the lump was put on the back burner.

Fast forward to February and he still feels the lump. I told him it's time to make a doctor appointment. Better safe than sorry I say. Turns out it was a good idea.

They get him a fairly quick appointment and
•Friday, February 4th he sees his regular doctor. They order him a CT and refer him to ENT.
•Monday, February 7th he has his CT
•Thursday, February 17th he sees the ENT.

They discovered a mass on the back of his tongue/throat/tonsil area. Mind you, he's had his tonsils out, but he still has tonsil tissue in the area and that's where this mass is. The doctor orders a biopsy surgery for the following Friday, February 25th. At around 9pm that night, the doctor called and wants both him and myself to meet with her first thing in the morning. That can't be good...

Turns out, the mass is blocking approximately 70% of his airway and they thought they would have to do a tracheotomy for the biopsy (and then keep it in for about a month). We got a second opinion and this doctor said he doesn't think we'll need the trach. Whew! (BTW- this was discovered with 2 cameras up the nose and down the throat and by reviewing his CT scan results)

They asked if we had any questions and of course my head is swimming with a million of them that just never come to surface. There are numerous "what ifs", but I decide to just take it one step at a time . I question the actual biopsy procedure and then I'll wait for the results to start firing away with more questions. I mean, at this point, it could be any number of things and they don't have the answers yet either.

He met with the anesthesiologist on Tuesday and they think he'll be ok with just the breathing tube and he might not have to be awake to put it in... which there is still a possibility that he might have to be.

I guess anything is a possibility at this point.

He goes in for surgery tomorrow morning at 5:30 am. This seems like a lot has happened, but truthfully, I think this is only the beginning of this journey.

As The World Turns

2011-01-30T21:35:00.000-08:00

So far, this year has been a busy one.

Landon turned 4 years old, and we celebrated with an Incredibles themed birthday party. We lucked out with awesome weather, and he had a great time with all of his friends! Unfortunately, being 4 years old also brought on a new level of stubborness, and we've been battling his new found independence. After all, he is four now and doesn't need to listen to Mom & Dad.... oh boy, I can't wait for the teenage years!

Work is work. We're both happy to have jobs that pay the bills & put food on the table. I know a lot of people aren't able to say that these days. However, we both work an hour away from home. It scares me for both of us to be so far from Landon on a daily basis. What if he gets hurt or gets sick? What if there's a major earthquake? A lot of what ifs going on in that department of life right now.

Health wise, we've all been battling this random cold (along with the rest of Southern California). It's not bad, but the cough has been lingering and it's getting annoying :) It's not bad enough to see the doctor, though. So that's good news!

I have plans to work on my photography a little more, and if you want to check out my progress, I have a blog dedicated to just that http://www.tierraharperphotography.blogspot.com/

And that's pretty much it! I hope 2011 is treating you well!

Dear 2011....

2010-12-26T18:09:00.001-08:00

Please be kind to me this year. I have big plans for us.

Merry Christmas

2010-12-26T18:05:00.000-08:00

Christmas was a success. I ate until i thought I would puke, Landon got more presents than his room could hold, and most importantly, we spent the holidays with family and friends.

Landon has more new toys that I know what to do with, and you know what his favorite is? A toy reindeer that "poops" out jelly beans. Silly boys.

I also started a weight loss challenge with my family, and I'm determined to win. Gotta put my game face on...

Dear Santa...

2010-12-19T20:40:00.000-08:00

So, as mentioned before, this is the first year that Landon fully understands the concept of Santa Claus. Not to worry, we are also teaching him that it's Jesus' birthday. But, this year is quite exciting because it means that I get to be a little kid all over again and watch the wonder and excitement that Landon is experiencing. The tree is decorated, presents wrapped, gingerbread houses built, cookies ready for Santa and Carrots ready for the reindeer.

We even have a magic key for Santa to get in to our house (since we don't have a chimney, of course). Santa threw it to him during the parade at Disneyland (or it came from my sister and I dropped it in his lap when he was looking the other way).
I am pretty sure that I'm more excited than he is.

I will say that being "Santa" is a LOT harder than I thought it would be. Hiding presents, wrapping in different paper, making sure you get what he asks for and most importantly- making sure he doesn't see us put the presents under the tree. I'm gonna be one exhausted Mama after this!

Happy Happy Birthday, May all your Dreams come true

2010-11-17T14:48:00.000-08:00

For the past few years, it seems like something always goes wrong on or around my birthday. And in the weeks leading up to this years, it wasn't looking too pretty.
Plans came together... only to fall apart. Not once, but twice.

I worked late Friday, worked Saturday and then on Sunday (my actual bday), I didn't even feel like doing much. I hung out at home all day and cleaned (because as much as I wanted it to, the house didn't clean itself in honor of my birthday).

And then things started to turn out great. Wes got me EXACTLY what I wanted for my birthday- a Sooners Snuggie and a wool peacoat. And he planned a surprise bday dinner at my favorite restaurant with about 20 of my friends & family. Top off the night with Pizookie, and it was a great birthday after all. Thanks babe. You rock.

Congratulations, Mr & Mrs Robertson...

2010-11-17T00:04:00.001-08:00

There is just something about a wedding that gets a girl all lovey-dovey. Maybe the nostalgia of it all. Maybe the way the bride and groom look at each other all night. Or maybe the way it takes you back to your wedding day. Whatever it is, Justin & Sarah's wedding was no exception.

This is the first wedding that I was a bridesmaid in. Hard to believe since all of my best friends have been married- I was kinda jipped in that department haha. So, I'm not gonna lie- I was pretty darn excited. Now that I've got it all out of my system, my bank account is crying. So, if anyone is thinking of asking me to be in their wedding, I'll settle for just helping plan it ;)

The attention to detail at the wedding was amazing- not that I expected anything less. Justin is so creative! And Sarah was stunning in her dress... the cowboy boots added the perfect "rustic romantic" touch.

Congratulations, Sarah & Justin. May God bless you both as you start your new lives together.

::Sigh:: I miss my best friends

2010-10-18T21:25:00.000-07:00

Never fails. Right around this time of year (usually right around my birthday), I really miss my best friends. Yep, all 3 of them live out of state. I know this is a part of growing up, of course, but it doesn't make me any happier!
Now, don't get me wrong, I love the rest of my friends. But, there's just something about your best friends that no one else can replace.

I Got You, Babe

2010-10-12T16:31:00.000-07:00

So, I after attending a bridal shower, a game reminded me of the time that Wes and I won the couples trivia game at a bridal show. It was played like the game Newlyweds where a question was asked about our relationship, and if we both answered the same, we got a point. Well, we killed it and got every question right!

And then Wes and I were thinking that if they did that today, we just might fail. Sad, but true. When you're first dating and falling in love, you talk for hours and want to know everything about each other. Then, you get married, have kids, get jobs, and the only time you talk is when you're figuring out if the dishwasher is clean or dirty, if a bill was paid, or about something in relation to the kids.

So, I've come up with a fun list of questions, and tonight, Wes and I are gonna set aside time just for us :)

All I Want For Christmas Is...

2010-10-05T16:50:00.000-07:00

"Binoculars, The Matterhorn and Cheese"

That's what Landon said he was asking Santa for this year. Also on his list is a Pillow Pet and every other toy he sees on TV :)

My favorite time of year

2010-09-29T22:00:00.000-07:00

The holidays are so close, I can almost smell them!
Halloween is a month away, closely followed by Thanksgiving and then Christmas. YAY! I'm terribly excited.

Landon decided he wanted to be Iron Man this year. Again, I'm sad that I had to buy a boy's costume instead of toddler, and that he chose a superhero instead of a cuddly lion, cute pirate or a squishy dragon. Honestly, I was pushing for him to be Peter Pan this year... even tried bribing him with the fact that Peter Pan carries a sword. There's no tricking him. Iron Man it is.

This is also the first year that Landon fully understands the Santa concept. He tells me what he wants to ask Santa for, and when we're playing, he tells me I have to go to sleep so Santa can come... I can't wait for Christmas!

On a side note, I once read that a person's favorite season is usually the one that their birth month falls in. I was born in November, so it holds true for me that Fall is my absolute fave. What about you?

The newest member of our family...

2010-09-22T21:19:00.000-07:00

We decided that we needed an addition to our family, and although another baby would be great, I don't know that now is the right time.
So, to satisfy the baby fever, I got a new puppy!
His name is Jasper, and he's a Jack Russell Terrier Mix. This picture is from the night we got him, and he was a little smaller than Bravo.... one month later and he's twice the size of Bravo! I'm not sure what he's mixed with, but he just keeps GROWING! I love him. He loves me. He's really a sweet puppy. Pretty mellow, and loves the dog park!

P.S. Any guesses on where I got the name from? I'm not a Twi-nerd or anything haha

We're still alive

2010-09-22T21:03:00.000-07:00

Well, apparently summer has kept us quite busy because it's been 3 months since I've last updated! We've gone to the beach,camping, Wild Animal Park, Legoland, Disneyland, Pharaoh's Splash Kingdom, Riley's Farms, Temecula Berry Co. and the LA Zoo. Whew! Did I leave anything out? Landon's been enjoying the fun family time together for sure!

He's been doing great at Miss Laura's. She does preschool curriculum every day, and he's learning so many new things, and it never fails to amaze me. In fact, he wrote his name for the first time last month, and I'm pretty sure I was way more excited than he was! I know I say it all of time, but he is just growing up too fast. Can't they stay little forever?

Head's Up! Curve Ball coming your way!

2010-06-20T22:04:00.000-07:00

So, about that vacation that I was SO looking forward to. Didn't exactly happen. Well, not the way I envisioned it, at least.

We got bad news Tuesday night that our landlord lost the house we're renting, and we possibly only have 2 weeks until a lock out. So, two weeks to find a suitable and affordable house to live in. 2 weeks to come up with first, last and deposit. 2 weeks to move.

So, the trip to Legoland got cancelled. We needed the day to look for a new house.

The camping trip was shortened to one night instead of two. (Honestly, part of that was because Landon made it difficult for us to sleep well, lol- That's the next post.)

I'm not going to lie, I was bummed. I really was looking forward to much needed family time. But, life threw us a curve ball, and at least we did get the time to take care of what we needed.... and if you look on the bright side, we still spent time together.

So, moving is our next adventure! Bring it on!

Firsts...

2010-06-15T15:08:00.001-07:00

So, this week, Wes and I are taking a couple days off to enjoy our first "family" mini vacation.
Thursday, we'll be going to Legoland for the first time. I'm considered a "VIP Client", and they sent me free tickets to preview their new water park, and we decided to take advantage of the opportunity! None of us have ever been to Legoland, so it's sure to be exciting!
Then, Friday-Sunday, we'll be heading up to Lake Arrowhead for our first family camping trip! I'm excited and curious to see how Landon likes it. I really want to go to Bishop and/or Mammoth. But I thought it would be wise to try out something close to home in case it gets too chaotic! I think he'll do great, and we'll have an amazing time and make lots of memories. (That's what I'm hoping for, haha)

I'm trying to have new adventures with Landon this summer. So far, we've done Disneyland, California Adventure, Oak Glen and Temecula Berry Company.

I have future plans for the California Science Center, bowling, Pharaoh's, possibly the zoo, the library, etc.

The one thing I love about summer time is family time. The heat... I can do without it!

Growing up so fast...

2010-05-05T09:58:00.000-07:00

Landon is just growing up way too fast for me! Just this last weekend, he started really playing with the neighborhood kids. We have families on either side of us with kids around his age and a little older.

Well, he's really taken to the little girl next door. She's about 6 or so? She's very much the "Mommy" figure and helps him over the wall, holds his hand, teaches him to color, etc. And he LOVES LOVES it!

In fact, they colored together and he has been sleeping with it (in his tent) for 2 days now. And she let him borrow one of her bears, and he also sleeps with it. I think he's a little smitten with her :) Once they both had to go inside, he was talking to her from our back door to her window and after he was done, he was skipping and humming. It's hilariously cute!

The other day I came home from work, and she came up to me and said "Landon's going to eat with us tonight so you don't have to make so much food."

I LOVE IT!

I remember when I was just a couple years older than Landon and going to neighbors houses to ask if they can play, and now he's doing it. It's just crazy to me!

Laiken

2010-04-22T15:47:00.000-07:00

Today marks 2 years since Laiken passed away. I've always said cancer is a "4-letter word", but especially when it comes to children.
Laiken fought a hard battle, always with a smile. She was always so positive that it was infectious.

While I was working at KFRG, and she was at CHLA, I would keep in contact with her through Myspace. It always made my day to see a message from Laiken in the inbox. I'd ask her how her day was, and she'd always say she was doing good, and wanted to know how we were doing. Later on, I'd read a post from her Mom about all of the procedures she had to go through that day, and yet, Laiken still said she was doing "good". She was brave and more courageous than most adults I know, and she had a heart of gold. In the short time I knew her,and the brief encounters we had, she taught me a lot about life. And even after her passing, she reminds me to be thankful for every minute I have with my son.

Laiken loved life. I decided that every year on this date, I try to do something "special" with Landon. Something to celebrate life in general. Last year, I took him to Sea World for the first time. This year, maybe Chuck E. Cheese... maybe going out for ice cream. Nothing extreme, but enough to create memories that I will remember forever. Life is short.

To all the parents out there, be sure to hug your little ones tonight. Remember- It's okay to be silly with them and dance around the room. It's okay to eat dessert first. It's okay to make a mess with play doh, paint and glitter. Sometimes a meal consisting solely of french fries is okay. Wearing your Pajamas outside is okay too. Just remember to have fun. Love life. Live life.

Landon-isms

2010-04-08T16:13:00.000-07:00

Landon-isms. These are the quirky and funny things that come out of the mouth of my 3 year old.

"Mom, I want to eat some flower nuts."
"Some What?"
"Flower Nuts." as he holds up a bag of sunflower seeds.

"Wow, Landon, you sure are strong. Where did you get your muscles from?'
"The store, Mom"
"The store"
"Yah. The gun store."

"I Love you, Landon"
"I Love you, Girl"

After coloring Easter eggs, he dropped one and it cracked. He picked it up, and examined it closely for a few seconds. All of a sudden, his eyes got BIG, he threw it on the table and yelled "Oh no! The baby bird is coming out!"

"Landon, what did you eat for lunch today?"
"Um, chocolate... and two snails."

Twi-nerd

2010-04-01T10:26:00.000-07:00

I'm such a dork about Twilight. It really is sad. I admit it.

In November, I finally gave in and watched the first movie. LOVED IT.

So, immediately, I went out and bought the first book. The second I finished it, I went out and bought the second book.. then the 3rd...then the 4th.

That wasn't good enough for me, so I went and bought the boxed set... and then read all 4 books again.

I went and saw New Moon in the theatre by myself.

Of course I own collector's editions of both movies.

And then....I went to a TWILIGHT CONVENTION! (If that doesn't spell NERD, I don't know what does). I mean, seriously. Conventions are for Star Trek dorks, right? I will admit that I wasn't impressed with it though, and we skipped it and went to Hollywood.

Yes, I have a Cullen Crest keychain, and a not-so-secret crush on Edward Cullen (who wouldn't!)

Sadly, I have watched both movies enough that Landon knows what it is and will actually say he wants to watch Edward Cullen movie. (BTW- he likes the wolves better. Traitor.)

My infatuation entertains me. Oh! We did an event for work and I go to meet Peter Facinelli. How excited was I?

2010

2010-03-30T11:07:00.000-07:00

So far, the year has been decent to us, and it's flying by so fast!
Landon is 3 years old, and a ball of energy from the time he rises with the sun to when he crashes at night.

His babysitter has started working with him on the "Your Baby Can Read" program. So far, he's able to recognize certain words and tell you what they are (ex: clap, elephant, nose). He knows how to count to ten in english and spanish, can sing you his abc's, can tell you all of the colors, most of the shapes and a few letters.

It's fun watching him grow up, but I miss him being so small!

Candy

2009-11-25T23:09:00.000-08:00

The workplace.

You're there 8+ hours a day/ 5 days a week.... sometimes even more.

Thrown together in the same breathing space with total strangers and forced to form relationships with them.

For some, this could be considered a form of torture.

For KFRG, it's the opposite.

Now, don't get me wrong. There were times that I loathed walking in those doors, and sometimes I had days where I was driven to tears. But most of the days were good ones. I was only there for 4 years. In that time, I learned a lot about radio, and maybe even more about life.

You've heard the term "KFROG Family" on more than one occasion. And that's exactly what it feels like. A family.

There's the one that annoys you. The one that's a little weird. The one you look up to as a parental figure. The one that you run to when you have a problem. The one always makes you smile. The one that becomes your best friend.

Today, KFROG lost a very remarkable family member. Candy was always upbeat and had a way to make you smile. And she was always in the know! If something happened in programming, you can be sure you would hear about it in NTR within the next 10 minutes. So, in a way, she kind of kept everyone together by making sure we all knew what was going on. She made an impact on everyone, and if you were lucky enough to have met Candy, I'm sure you had fond memories of her. She will truly be missed by everyone.

With tomorrow being Thanksgiving, I just want to say that I'm thankful for the staff at KFRG, and all of you will be in my prayers.

Thanksgiving 2009 edition

2009-11-25T09:47:00.000-08:00

Like every year, this year was a roller coaster. Up, down, wanting to puke at times....

I've recently lost someone very dear to my family. My beautiful Auntie Betsy. Cancer weakened her body, but never weakened her spirit or her love for her Ohana. She was the matriarch of our family. The glue that binds us all together. But I'm thankful that she's no longer in pain, and that we got to spend some time together before the Lord called her home.

I'm thankful for my husband. He's amazing. He puts up with my daily complaining, my laziness, and my attitude (especially when I'm tired, hot or things don't go my way). He pushes me to obtain my goals and keeps me on track when I start to wander. He sacrfices his free time and takes on both parenting roles so I can go on my excursions to Oklahoma, Vegas or whatever random place I want to visit. We celebrated our 7th anniversary this year, and he's still the love of my life.

I'm thankful for Landon Cash. He's the apple of my eye, and my reason for breathing. It's amazing how such a little person can influence your life. Just looking at Landon makes me want to be a better person. He's full of so much wonder and life. Even the bad days are good ones with Landon.

I'm thankful for my job. Sometimes things don't go as planned. I didn't get what I was looking for. And in the end, that's going to be okay. That just means that I'm on the path that God has set for me. I have more lessons to learn, and there is something better waiting for me.

I'm thankful for my family. Sometimes they drive me insane. And other times they keep me from going insane. My parents always sacrificed so much so that I could have the best in life. And I'm always appreciative of that.
I'm thankful for spending childhood summers and spring breaks at my sister Lisa's house. I still remember catching lady bugs and learning to boogie board, and then as I got older, bringing my best friend to stay. Those were the best summers of my life.... and Robyn and I still talk about how much fun we had.
I'm thankful for my sister, Mandy. And that we've had the chance to grow closer in recent years. I'm thankful for my brother Nico. Of all of my siblings, we're the closest in age, but still 11 years apart. I have some great memories of him skateboarding, and him putting me on the board in front of him as we cruised down the street. I don't know if I've ever told him, but he's one of my heros, too.
All of my family is very important to me, so if I didn't mention you, don't be offended.

I'm thankful for my friends. I miss my best friends (Robyn and Megan, I'm talking about you). They always find a way to turn an ordinary day into a great one! And maybe by them living so far away, it makes the time we do spend together even more special.
I'm also thankful for my great friends, like Shea & Courtney, who let me vent about things and people, and other stuff. We have fun times together. I'm glad Wesley's high school friends married such amazing girls! And I'm thankful for Miss Haylie, too. It's such a blessing for Landon to have her to grow up with. They're like two peas in a pod, and I they're that fond of each other forever.
I'm thankful for all of my other friends, too. Dana for always making me laugh and for our trip to OU this year! FUN stuff! For Robin and all of her advice. She truly gives the best advice! And everyone else that I haven't mentioned.

Wow, is this a novel or what? I have a lot to be thankful for this year. And I give all of my thanks to GOD. Because, without him and the sacrifice that Jesus made, I wouldn't have any of this.

Aren't Birthdays supposed to be happy?

2009-11-17T14:27:00.000-08:00

Most people celebrate their birthdays. I like to celebrate a birthday WEEK! Well, this one was quite possibly the worst. Why you ask?

• A couple of things happened differently than I ever imagined, and I can't elaborate about them on here because people involved might read this. But, it really upset me.

• Then, my Aunt passed away. She's been battling cancer for quite some time, and we all knew it was coming.... But she's a special Aunt. The matriarch of my Dad's family, and she was everyone's hero.

• Then, Wes got a pay cut. And the dryer we thought was fixed, broke again. And I was stressing over an event I had Friday night. It was a crazy week to say the least.

But, after work Friday night, I stopped by a friend's house and had a really good long talk with their Mom. Which I haven't done in awhile, and it actually did make me feel better.

So, my birthday rolls around, and I just wanna hide under the covers all day. But I have a 2 year old that is ready to take on the world at 6am. So, I decide to take him shopping, and then after Wes got off of work, we went to lunch at BJ's.... complete with amazing Pizookie! It was Landon's first experience with Pizookie and he exclaimed "This is delicious!". What a smart kid.

I had planned on going to lunch with a bunch of friends, but to be quite honest, I was having a pity party. I get this way on my birthday every year. I miss my best friends, and they all live out of state. So that kinda bums me out. Then, two of my great friends couldn't make it to lunch, so I decided to cancel.

Instead, Dana came over and we watched football and talked about... stuff. And we ate massive amounts of cake.

I got midnight and wake up calls from the best friends, and so many birthday messages throughout the day that my phone died. It was exactly what I needed.

Thank you to everyone who made my day special! It was a good birthday after all :)

Happy Halloween!

2009-11-04T15:58:00.000-08:00

This year was a fun Halloween. Landon is finally old enough to understand the concept of dressing up and trick-or-treating.

For months, he said he wanted to be "Superhero Landon" for Halloween. He practiced flying around the house with a cape on. We even went to a costume store, and he saw a Superman costume that he liked. Then, we went to Target and he saw a plush dragon costume that he fell in love with and insisted that he have. So random, but he was the cutest little dragon I ever did see!

We went to a park in Riverside for a little harvest festival in the morning, but Landon was tired, and grumpy. So that adventure was very short lived. That night we went to the Hallelujah Festival at church. Landon played games and won candy. And we ended the night by trick-or-treating at a couple of neighbor's and friend's houses.

Then we put him to bed and "inspected" his candy for him :) Hey! It's a parent's right!

Time flies...

2009-11-04T15:49:00.001-08:00

Has it really been 5 months since my last update?
Well, I guess that goes to show how chaotic my life has been recently.

I'm always on the go during the week. Then on the weekends, I try to cram as much fun as I possibly can in two days... Just so I dont' feel like I'm missing out on anything or cheating Landon out of any opportunities and experiences. The result: I'm exhausted. haha.

Landon is doing great. Growing, learning, changing. All way too fast for me. I want him to stay little and be my best friend forever!

I've discovered that he can count to 5 in Spanish, and when I ask him in Spanish where his tummy or head is, he answers. He's also learning his colors and ABC's.

He eats like a horse. In fact, the babysitter said that when the kids all have sandwiches for lunch, everyone leaves their crusts, and Landon says "I like them! I will eat it!". So, they pile them all on his plate and he devours them like he's never had food in his life.

Last time I posted, we were still in the final stages of potty training. I'm happy to report that Landon is diaper and pull-up free! In fact, we even got rid of the Elmo potty because Landon decided that he is too big for it.

Where did my baby go?

2009-06-09T10:34:00.000-07:00

Big Boy Bed..... check
No pacifier.... check
Potty training.... check

Ok, where is my baby?
We switched him to his big boy bed right around his 2nd birthday. Never had a problem with it.

We finally got rid of the pacifier. He hasn't had one at all for a couple of weeks now... and surprisingly no problem with it! Although, the first night, he went into his basket of thermometers and nail clippers, etc.... found his thermometer pacifier and used that. Then he hid it in between the wall and his bed. Mommy found it though, and now it's in the trash.

Potty training is going wonderful! The only time he has accidents is when he first wakes up in the morning because he's tired and grumpy and refuses to sit on the potty. He goes at daycare. Goes at home. We were out this weekend and he even went at my work and at a friend's house! And I don't even have to ask him. He just tells me he has to go. And his new thing is that he's too big for the Elmo potty. He likes to use the big potty.

So, what's next? Preschool? Yah, we've been looking in to that too. He was going to start this year with Haylie, but I think we'll wait until next year :)

Adventures in Potty Training

2009-05-14T21:20:00.000-07:00

So, Landon has gone pee pee on the potty twice when he was younger, but didn't show any interest in it.
Then a couple months ago, he started sitting on the big potty, but then would say "It doesn't work", and get off.

Well, his babysitter decided to start potty training him and a couple of her other 2 year olds.... and it's working! I don't know if it's because he feels like he's showing off or what, but we started this week, and he's the only one that will just run into the bathroom and go on the potty without her asking him if he has to go.

Two days ago he peed on our floor. Yesterday, he peed in the bath tub. And both days he's been afraid to go #2 on the potty. He'd rather hide in the other room, go in his pull up and then ask me to change him.

Well, tonight he went poo poo on the potty at home!!!! I missed it, so he called me to tell me about it.

You know you're a proud mommy when your blogs revolve around poop.

Sea World

2009-05-04T09:28:00.000-07:00

I think we may have found a new "Happiest Place On Earth". Landon and I went to Sea World with Shea and Haylie a couple weeks ago... and he loved it!

Everything from Shamu, to petting the Bat Rays to meeting Elmo.... he couldn't have been happier!

Landon and Haylie are like two peas in a pod. They were holding hands and had their arms around each other. It's such a blessing for them to have each other.

I think we'll be going to Sea World a lot this year.

Return of the Na-Na

2009-05-04T09:23:00.000-07:00

Remember me saying that we got rid of his na-na? Well, I lied. We did, but it came back in a few days. He still gets it at nap time at the sitter (which we're getting rid of this week). He goes to bed without it, but will wake up at like 2 am and cry for it. If he doesn't get it, then he's wide awake and wants to eat or watch cartoons. So, because Mommy and Daddy are sissys, we give in. We also give in when we're out somewhere and he misses a nap and is super clingy and grumpy. That's the only thing that will help.

We tried cutting the tip off, and he says it's broken and doesn't want it. But, then when he REALLY wants it he will ask me to go to the store to get a new one!

That Landon kid is a funny one...

2009-03-17T09:01:00.001-07:00

He's growing up so fast.
It's funny how independent and opinionated he is, all of a sudden.
One of his favorite foods is mashed potatoes. But, the other day as he was eating them, he said "Mommy, I don't like this. I don't like potatoes." and pushed his plate away.
He's never been a picky eater, and ate a ton of food. Now, if it's not what he wants, he'll tell you he doesn't like it, and then he'll go to the fridge or cupboard and make requests! We're not spoiled, are we?

About a month ago, Landon and I went to dinner with my friend Dana. It was a mexican restaurant. He had beans and rice. Everything was going fine, he was behaving and eating quietly. Then, he decided to put his fork down and face plant into his food! He took a mouthful of rice and ate it as we just stared at him. Then he looked at me so innocently and said "Like a dog". Naturally, we burst out laughing. How could you not laugh?

Renewed Faith

2009-02-12T10:13:00.000-08:00

For anyone who is married, I highly recommend watching Fireproof and then doing "The Love Dare". Even if your marriage isn't troubled, it's a great way to strengthen your relationship through God. It's a 40 day journal with daily "tasks" and readings. Wes and I are almost to the end, and it has definately helped to bring us closer.

In addition to strengthening our marriage through God, We've decided that we really need to start re-focusing our lives and family. We want to bring Landon up in a Christian home. We've started going back to church at Calvary Chapel Redlands, and I can honestly say it's refreshing. I've felt that I've needed something in my life, and this is it!

We took Landon last week. The first time we took him, he was only 5 months old, and he slept through the service. This time, we left him in the nursery there. He cried when we left, and I was so nervous. I even walked back in to the hallway to see if I could hear him crying. But I didn't. And they gave me a pager in case he was too upset. When we picked him up, he was all smiles! We've started praying with him before meal time and bed time, and today he told me that God and Jesus were his friends :)

If anyone would like to join us, We all attend the Saturday night service, I go to the Wednesday night bible study and I'll soon be volunteering my time in the Children's Ministry as well!

Big Boy....

2009-01-19T20:47:00.000-08:00

It's official. He's not a "baby" or "infant" anymore.

We switched his crib into a toddler bed a couple weeks ago. Transitioned really well. So far, he's only fallen out twice, haha. But he loves it and proudly shows it off to everyone.

And this weekend, we took away his "na na" (pacifier). Keep in mind that he's been really attached to that since he was born. I thought it was going to be awful. But, I cut a hole in the tip, and put it back on his bed where he leaves it in the morning. When it was time for bed, he put it in his mouth and much to his surprise, it was broken! He told us it was broken (and that it needed batteries to fix it lol). We told him that he is such a big boy now that he must have accidentally broke it because he's strong... and pacifiers are for babies. Well, that was enough for him. We told him he could hold on to it while he slept if he wanted. He said no, and asked us to put it away on his dresser.

I will admit that a part of me is sad. Because that was the last thing that kept him a little baby. It was always so comforting to him, and now he just doesn't need it. He's growing up way too fast for me!

Landon's 2nd Birthday

2009-01-19T20:39:00.000-08:00

First of all, a big THANK YOU to everyone who helped celebrate Landon's second birthday. From Disneyland, to his party, to the zoo... he had a blast! What an exhausting week! But, well worth it!

Thursday night we went to Disneyland. We had special "park after dark" passes that allowed us in after hours. Landon loved finding Nemo and Autopia. He liked Buzz Lightyear, too, but decided it was way past his bedtime. Mid ride, he put his gun down, climbed into my lap, put his head down and went to sleep lol. Slept right through Pirates of the Carribean too. But he's already been on that ride, so it was ok. We watched Fantasmic, and he got to meet Mickey Mouse.... which he was thrilled about!

Saturday was his big party. We had a full house, and he got a ton of wonderful gifts. Everyone really was SO thoughtful! I can't tell you enough how much it means to have family and friends like you! Landon had a lot of fun playing with his friends!

Today, I had the day off, but Wes had to work. So, I thought it would be good to have some "Mommy & Me" time. So, we went to the LA Zoo. I took Landon there with Robyn & Kaycee about a year ago, but this time he was able to enjoy it so much more. He LOVED the animals.

And that finishes his "Birthday Week". Pics will be up shortly on myspace, so check them out :)

It's been awhile

2008-12-28T22:42:00.001-08:00

So, now would be a good time to update, right?
The holidays came and went, and this year I just wasn't in the spirit. Lately, my life has been a bit of a whirlwind, and I didn't really have time to sit back and enjoy it. But we made it through them all in one piece. Landon loved Christmas this year, and like always, he was spoiled. But, they're only little for so long, and I want him to have the best of EVERYTHING in life!

Work is work. It's definately keeping me busy. I actually took Christmas week off, and it was a nice break. Gave me time to sit back and breathe a little. While I didn't get to relax a whole lot with the holiday, I did get to catch up on some things.

Landon is doing good. Growing like crazy, of course. He was just getting over a cold, and then got an ear infection. I drove around until midnight on Christmas night trying to get him to fall asleep. So, we made a trip to the doctor's office first thing on Friday morning. He's been on antibiotics, but his ear is still bothering him a little. I don't know if this one is worse than previous ear infections, or he's just able to tell us know that it hurts. Poor little guy. Ear aches are definately no fun.

Oh, his newest obsession... movies. In particular, Ice Age. That's the first thing he wants to watch when he wakes up, and the last thing before he goes to bed. The rest of the day is filled with Caillou, Aladdin (he calls it monkey movie because of Abu), and Spiderman. We've let him watch TV a lot this past week because we were at home a lot and he wasn't feeling well, but we're going to limit his time spent watching it.

Well, that's it for now. We went to Forest Falls today to play in the snow, but that will take me awhile to write about, and it's past my bedtime for sure.

The New Job

2008-10-23T20:28:00.000-07:00

Ah, the new job. Tomorrow will complete my second week at KATY.

While it's still radio, still the same market, it's completely different. I'm so accustomed to the way things are done at KFRG that this is totally new for me. Not to mention that I've never had the responsibilities of a Promotions Director before. Sure I knew how to execute events, but promos, giveaways, proposals... all new to me!

My days are incredibly busy, sometimes overwhelming, but you know what? I like it. So much better than not having anything to do. The day goes by fast (sometimes too fast).But I'm learning so much, and this is really good for me!

The drive.... I know everyone is asking about my daily commute from Highland to Temecula. I actually like the drive there. It's peaceful and calming. Gives me time to think or clear my mind. Which ever I choose.The drive home is a different story. It feels like it takes FOREVER, when all I wanna do is get home and play with Landon. Takes a little under an hour to get there, and an hour and half to get home.

So, that's all I have for now. Listen to KATY online at www.1013katy.com

Loma Linda University Children's Hospital

2008-10-14T20:09:00.000-07:00

Every parents wants the best for their child. You want them grow up happy, healthy, beautiful and perfect in every way.

So, when a doctor tells you that there is something "wrong" with your baby, it breaks your heart.

Landon was born with Torticollis. The muscle on the left side of his neck was tighter than the right. This caused him to sleep with his head tilted to the left. As a result, he developed Positional Plagiocephaly. A simpler way to put it: his skull became deformed from always sleeping on that side. As new parents, we didn't know anything was wrong, and we just thought he favored that side because it was more comfortable to him.

Landon had a series of X Rays at CT scans to confirm. And, at 7 months old, he was fitted for a molding helmet. He would have to wear this helmet 7 days a week, 23 hours a day, as it gently and slowly reshaped his skull. I can remember days that we would have to change the liner 4-5 times because he was just dripping sweat. We ended up giving in, and shaving off his beautiful long hair.

Luckily for us, Landon's issue wasn't life threatening, and it was treatable. He had physical therapy for 4 months, and his helmet came off in 7 months. He's now a happy energetic toddler.

As a mother, I think it was harder for me to go through that than it was for him. I had a hard time dealing with the stares of strangers while shopping. Some would make comments, and others would seriously walk up and point to him. If it wasn't for Loma Linda and their Pediatric Craniofacial and Orthotics Teams, he might have to endure that his entire life.

I don't work for KFROG anymore, but I'm a huge supporter of their annual radiothon to benefit Loma Linda University Children's Hospital.

I know money is tight for a lot of people right now, but every little donation helps!

Tune in tomorrow and Wednesday form 5a-7p, and if you can, please, please donate.

For everyone that has a healthy child, grandchild, niece or nephew, do it in honor of them.

Please listen for the stories of Peyton and Laiken, too. Two very beautiful little girls that were patients at Loma Linda!

The Last Day

2008-10-07T21:38:00.000-07:00

So, tomorrow is my official last day at KFROG. Yah, I can't believe it either. I seriously thought I'd end up being there forever! I'm sure everyone who works there thinks that at one point or another.

The people there are great. If my decision was based on that alone, then I wouldn't be leaving. That's not to say there aren't a few that get on my nerves. But, we always made it work. Kind of like a family. And there are a select few who have changed my life, and I'm so grateful for them!

But, we've had some recent changes. Some good, others not so much. And in the end, my position wasn't ideal. I'm the kind of person who needs to feel important. Like I'm contributing to the bigger picture. I take pride in the events I help put together, and I just wasn't getting what I needed out of this job. My passion lies in promotions, and so that's the direction I'm going.

I totally jinxed myself

2008-10-01T15:39:00.000-07:00

So, earlier, I blogged about how polite Landon is.
Polite, yes. But he's also pushing the terrible twos.
Say the word "no" and one would think I was pulling his limbs off of his little body.
That little boy has the temper and hard-headed stubborness of, well, of his Mom.
And the beautiful whining has also started. Music to my ears.

His handsome little face could make me scream sometimes.
And yet, I still manage to love him more each and every day.

Any tips for battling tantrums and the terrible twos?

Changes

2008-09-28T21:12:00.000-07:00

I've made the decision to leave KFRG. It wasn't an easy. In fact, it may have been one of the hardest in my life. I've decided to further my career, and take on the Promotions Director position at KATY-FM out of Temecula. While I'm really excited for the new job and all that it may bring, leaving is bittersweet.

In less than 2 weeks, I'll be leaving everything I know. The best way to describe it is like leaving home. Some of my best friends work at KFRG, and we've had some crazy times. Good and bad. And it's hard for me to accept that I won't have that anymore.

While my position at KFRG wasn't ideal, I know they did their best at trying to find a place for me. But my passion lies in promotions, and that's why I'm leaving. Still, the idea went back and forth in my head for almost a month. I didn't want to leave the music. I didn't want to leave the people. But, there comes certain times in your life when you have to stop being selfish, and do what's right for your family. Now is one of those times. And I just have to go.

With all changes, I think it's going to be very hard at first. But, in time, I think I'll find my place, and I'll still keep in touch with those that are truly important in my life.

Tomorrow is my last KFRG event.... Golf Classic. It's going to be a rough day, I can feel it

The Happiest Place On Earth

2008-09-16T13:34:00.000-07:00

Yep. Took Landon for his first visit to Disneyland! (Courtesy of a good friend from high school).

He had a lot of fun! We went to California Adventure and went on the Monsters Inc ride. I thought it was going to be too dark and loud for him, but he STILL talks about it. And we went on a little kid's ride that goes up in the air and spins around (kinda like the hot air balloons in Camp Snoopy at Knott's.) Made Mommy really dizzy.

Went to Disneyland and he ran around Toon Town with Kaycee and played at the petting zoo. We watched a parade (which he loved), and went on Jungle Cruise and Pirates of the Caribbean (which he didn't love so much). The drop in the dark and the scary pirates kinda scared him.

And that was pretty much it. At one year old, 5 1/2 hours is about all he can handle before going into a meltdown. He slept VERY good that night!

Oh- his babysitter is going good, too. He cries a little when I drop him off in the morning, but he goes through his phases of that anywaay.

New Sitter.... New Worries

2008-09-10T10:26:00.000-07:00

So, we have to find a new baby sitter for Landon.

There's nothing wrong with his current baby sitter. In fact, they are awesome! But Wes and I realized that they were always going out of their way to help us out, (which we really appreciate), but it's important for them to remember to put their family first. So, we decided to part ways for now and if they decide they would like to watch him again in the future, we are definately open to that!

This brings us to something we've never really had to face before.... Landon staying with a stranger! When Kara and Sally first started watching him, we didn't really know them either. But, they were family of a friend. So we knew we could trust them. And he's been with them since he was 6 weeks old. So, as you other Mommies can imagine, it makes me very nervous.

Luckily, we found a home day care that is close to our house and in our price range. He starts there tomorrow, and I'm praying everything goes well! He's pretty easy going, but has never spent an entire day with strange people in a strange place. Hopefully the other kids, toys and activities will keep him occupied.

Check back at the end of the week for an update!

Boy, Am I Thankful!

2008-09-08T09:35:00.000-07:00

I know that no child is perfect. Mine is far from it. He throws tantrums daily and gets mad when he doesn't get his way. It doesn't matter if we're at home, in the middle of the store or at a friend's house. If he's upset, he'll let you know.

But, I must say, after spending time with other kids, I'm truly grateful for my little guy! (Don't worry- if you're reading this, I'm not bashing your kid. This is about random kids that I've met.)

I know kids will be kids. But, observing Landon with other kids, I've noticed that he's generally polite. Even if they steal his toy, or hit him. I babysat a little girl this weekend that was very bad at sharing, and kept stealing everything he had. From his toys to his juice cup. Landon would just look at me and ask for his cup when she stole it. I made her give it back... which she threw towards him. Know what Landon did? Picked up the cup, looked at her and said "Thank You". That would make any parent proud.

And then, of course, later that day, he got mad because I told him he couldn't have more fruit snacks. So, he proceeded to throw his cup across the room and let the remains of the fruit snack that was still in his mouth fall onto the floor. We're still working on that :)

About Us

2008-08-24T14:25:00.000-07:00

Blogging seems to be the new cool thing to do. So, naturally, I'm on board...

Well, if you're reading this, chances are good that you already know us. Wes and I have been married for a little over 6 years now, and we have a beautiful little boy.

Having a child transforms your life. Landon is more work, and more fun than we could have ever imagined. There are days he drives me up the wall with his little stubborn attitude (gets that from his Mama), but he's still the apple of my eye, and I could not ask for more. He fills our lives with a greater love than we have ever known, and I seriously can't imagine our lives without him. He makes my heart smile.

Wes works hard 5-6 days a week, some days overtime, and never complains. He has the patience of a Saint.

I also work full time, but I have my days where the combination of a career and housewife wear me down. Life isn't easy or perfect, but it's shorter than you think it is. Sometimes you have to remember to just sit back and enjoy the ride.

So, anyway, enough rambling for now. I hope to update this often with my random thoughts, Landon's newest achievement and any Family news we have going on.