Best Husband EVER

I'm spoiled. I admit it. And I LOVE that I have my husband to blame. This Mother's Day was another fine example. Saturday our church spoiled us with a Mother's Day Brunch. They brought in the most wonderful ladies to give us facials, massages and manicures, plus lunch. Then my husband took me to dinner at the Guppy Tea House (sooo yummy) and to see the Avengers (great movie). 

After church on Sunday my sweet Hyrum ran up to me with a bag full of his drawings, a card and a lovely picture frame. My favorite part was the sweet kisses and Hyrum saying, "Happy Mother's Day!" He's never done that before.

Then Layne gave me a gift certificate for Color Me Mine, a personal favorite of mine where you get to paint pottery. I was thrilled with that. THEN he gave me a gift certificate for an hour facial with a hand and foot massage. THEN he gave me a 2-lb box of my favorite See's chocolates. THEN he gave me this wonderful, heartfelt poem he wrote himself!

This is also the same man who took tender care of me this last year, even helping me to shower and get dressed in the first few months. Feed me, help get me to and from work in Irvine while he worked full time in Carson (45 minutes apart) and attended classes at CSULB where he is pursuing his administrative certificate. He's a Dean of Students (Vice Principal) now at a charter school and hopes to be a principal. AND took care of Hyrum, all the housework and all the meals. AND even flew in my mother when I cried and told him I needed her.

Happy Thoughts: I was worried my illness might cause him to resent me. It's done the opposite. He's told me that he loves me more deeply BECAUSE he's had to care for me. And I feel the same. I know I can trust him to be there for me. This man stands a very good chance of making all my dreams come true, and I'm the lucky girl who's married to him. Somebody pinch me! But gently. I bruise.

Job Perks

I am having the best time at my new job. Yesterday I got to drive a fully-loaded 2013 Infiniti M. And I mean FULLY loaded. Leather, cooled/heated seats, four different modes on the transmission (snow, eco, standard and sport) and so much more. I had it on sport most of the time cause that's how you treat a V8 engine with this much horsepower. I can't remember the last time I've yelled WAHOOOO getting on the freeway. Beyond automatic climate control, there's this button with little trees on it. You push that and it adjusts the AC to a gentle forest breeze - just because it can.

I picked up Layne from work with it and took him to lunch. He works in Carson and I work in Long Beach just a block from the beach - very close, maybe 15 minutes. We went to Shakey's because I was only borrowing a $67-thousand-dollar car. We don't actually own one. It was wonderful to see him in the middle of the day like that. I am so in love with my husband. And this car was SOOO much fun to drive.

It gets better. Today we presented the Subaru XV Crosstrek print brochure to the client. It went really well and both the art director and I got lots of compliments from our creative directors. It was my first full vehicle launch here, my first real chance to show my writing chops. AND it is going REALLY well. High fives all around man - seriously. The art director and I exchanged high fives after. Cause we're that cool.

Happy Thought - I'm so happy! Things are going so well for me here. I couldn't be more surprised or more pleased. It's really rewarding to love what you do and be appreciated for it. I'm really trying to enjoy this and savor this sweet moment. It may not come around again and I want to remember this.

Shoes From Heaven

I came home from work Thursday to find a box from DSW. I hadn't ordered anything, so I was surprised and very curious. Thinking someone had made a mistake, I opened it to find a shoe box that read,  "Surprise! You've been SHOE STRUCK." DSW hit me with a random act of shoes!

Inside I found a $50 gift card, a t-shirt and two totes with $20 off $50 to be used in store, which I've already given to two good friends. How did I do it? I honestly don't know. I frequent the store and especially their Facebook page. I know they occasionally give out shoes to fans and I guess I was one of the lucky ones.

Here's the one's I picked out (Sadly, heels are still out of the question because I can't walk in them.):

These are Bobs from Skechers. You buy a  pair and  then they give a pair to  needy kids - kinda like Toms. And Yes, pink glitter was completely necessary.

These are super cute too. Not sure they'll stay on my feet though as I'm still having trouble walking, but here's hoping!

Happy Thought: I seem to be on a role lately with lovely things happening to me. Here's to enjoying what you have and the happy surprises along the way.

Proof that when Mama's happy, everyone's happy.

I came. I saw. And it WASN'T double!!!!

Happy Easter!

I'm happy to report that my double vision has cleared up. I had another 5-day IVIG treatment, which helped, but it had gotten better even before that. I was afraid it would stay longer since last time it took six months to totally clear up. This time it was only two and a half weeks!

I celebrated by driving myself to work today. Very liberating. AND when I got home I took Hyrum to the Dollar Tree to shop for Easter candy. We had so much fun. He let me put these ears on him and called it his bunny costume. Now if I could just get him to hop.

HAPPY THOUGHT: It's improving! I'm walking better and now I can drive again. Maybe I really am going to be ok.

If I were a car, I'd be a lemon

Started my new job and I LOVE it! Great people, good environment, phenomenal commute (15 - 20 minutes tops) and the work is interesting (Subaru). Monday evening (my second week on the job) I noticed my vision going to double at long distances. Great! Tuesday it was worse, although I still managed to get myself to and from work. SO scary BTW. Today I carpooled with Layne, my DH and will continue that until my vision returns.

Last week, when I started my right hand went weak and numb. That's better now, so I'm hoping the vision will be better in a week too. Since I work in automotive, I decided that if I were a car, I'd be a lemon. I'm basically a sweet little hotrod, but things just break down on me from time to time.

Happy Thought: I've got another treatment coming up, so that should help and I should have expected some setbacks with the stress of starting a new job. So maybe I'm a lemon with a really bright future. Yeah that's it. Look out world, this lemon is going places! (just very slowly - with a cane - so I don't fall. Double vision messes with your balance.)

The Good Life - Part 2

Party on Dudes! At least that's what I've been trying to do with all this lovely time off. Here's an update:


Wednesday (15th) - Today was Burgandy's day, my sweet 16-year-old niece. We decided to go to the movies. I let Burg pick and she opted for "One for the Money" with Kathryn Heigl. Pretty good movie. On a scale of 1 to 10, I give it a 7. It was fun and very cute. I also used some tokens I had on hand and won a green ball on my first try. What can I say? Life just loves me. And Hyrum loved his new ball.

My Beautiful Burgandy and the ball I won. We had a great time. :-)

Thursday (16th) - I wiped myself out cleaning and organizing both bedrooms. I got a lot done, but I overdid it. Layne had to take care of me when he got home so I could take it easy and get my strength back.

Friday (17th) - Happy Raegan Day (another darling niece) started off with a doctor's visit where I regaled another team of doctors/therapists with my paralysis stories. We laughed and guess what? My weights and stretching paid off. I get a brace now. No more cast. AND I can even pick one that's purple with pink butterflies. I just might.

Then I picked up Hyrum and Rae-Rae as she is affectionately known, and we headed out to the Irvine Spectrum. I really wanted to go to Down East Basics and that mall has the only one in the area. We hit H&M first because I love that store. I got a super cute yellow sweater (shows off my inner sunshine), a great button-down white shirt for only $7 and a few fun things for Rae-Rae.

Here's Hyrum sporting the cute hat Raegan got. He's adorable.

Then off to Down East Basics that turned out to be just a few stores away (Bonus! I wasn't sure where it was) AND was having a 40% off clearance sale. We spent two hours in this store - all modest, all cute and so, so much of it was on sale. Except for one shirt, nothing we got was over $10. I SERIOUSLY love this store. We had lunch at Red Robin, and then took Hyrum on some fun rides.

My Hy-Hy loves the carousel.

He absolutely begged to go on the train. Cute Rae-Rae is in the center.

And He LOVED it!

We spent all day there and had a great time. They both fell asleep in the car on the way home, and my left leg was having trouble lifting. I overdid it again. Mitzi (Layne's sister) and her family had arrived for the weekend when we got back, so I tried to relax and enjoy the company.

Saturday was another Jacobson family party, which means there was about 30 people there with lots of food and fun. Sunday I got to teach 13 - 15 year old Sunday School (new calling) and Relief Society (same calling). Busy day for me, but RS was about Joseph Smith, a favorite topic of mine, so I really enjoyed it.

Happy Thought: I'm enjoying my new freedoms, driving, strength to do more than I have before, but I'm learning I still have limits. I suppose it keeps me grateful. And if that's the case, then thank God for limits.

This Is the Life

How much fun can one girl squeeze in three weeks? I intend to find out. I decided that I would take one of my nieces out each day to do something fun. Tuesday was Jordawn's day.

Tuesday: Jordawn and I connect on a giggly "You're awesome. No, you're awesome." kinda way. When we get together fun is imminent. We decided to go to Color Me Mine in Whittier. You pick some pottery (bowl, plate, cup, ceramic princess or Toy Story bank) and then paint it to your liking. They bake it and then you come back in a week and pick up your masterpiece. Long story short, the one in Whittier never opened even up to an hour after they were supposed to be open. We did have a nice lunch down there and found this amusing little bottle at the Dollar Tree.

If they can't spell it, don't answer it. That's all I'm saying. ;-)

 We ended up at the one Long Beach which, was a great idea because they were having a Valentines Tea Party with cookies and everything. It was in Naples (beach town with minimal parking), so I had to parallel park. I hadn't done it in years and I'm just starting to drive again, but did I give up? NO! The curb may bear a few marks, but I did not hit either truck.

I came. I saw. I parallel parked. Victory!

We all had fun painting. Hyrum was into it for the first half hour, which was good for a two year old. Then he ate his weight in chocolate chip cookies and followed Angela, our Color Me Mine girl, around the store saying, "I help you."

He really is that cute. Look at the table and guess where he sat. He was having so much fun!

 I painted two heart shaped bowls for me and Layne and Jordawn painted a cereal bowl. I figure we can use our love bowls for ice cream.

Jordawn is adorable and all kinds of fun!

 We went home and then Jordawn watched Hyrum at Grandma and Grandpa's across the street while Layne and I had our Valentines Date. I made Layne delicious skirt steaks (so, so good), mashed cauliflower potatoes (cauliflower ground up with garlic and salt) and french green beans with mushrooms. It was all diet friendly and the best meal we've had in ages.

I will dream about these steaks.

We exchanged cards (Layne's made me cry) and he got me some new pima cotton sheets. I love them, but we'll return them so I can buy Layne a great birthday present. A great Valentines Day and much better than last year, which was spent in the hospital. That deserves it's own post though, so until tomorrow - kisses.

Happy Thought: My marriage to Layne and my sweet Hyrum are the best things in my life. They're the sugar that make everything sweet.