A Moment of Silence for those in the Boston Marathon....

 

Today a tragedy struck Boston. I am deeply saddened by this news. Where is our world coming to? What is meant to be a happy time for some, turned into such dismay. 

This blog entry is not meant to be a long one.

I just believe we should pause for a moments silence. And pray for those that were affected and their loved ones. 

Pictures. Cleaning. Growing Up. And Celebrating....

Spring cleaning is typical of most families. You get rid of things in yard sales, and buy new things to sell for next year. You clean the house spotless. You plant a garden. You get the pools ready to swim in and you start tanning. You plan vacations.
I have been spring cleaning by putting all of our stuff that was in boxes, into totes to make them easy to stack. Because we're still living with our in-laws we don't have a lot of room to put things.
I went through a couple of photo albums that I have had for years. Looking at them now makes me remember my mother even more, and looking at those photos made me cry. I know she is in a better place, and she is looking over me everyday, however; I am still sad that she is gone. Sad for Christopher. Sad for grand-children that will never know her love. care. and graciousness. Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words, but the memories are priceless....

In 5 months Christopher will be 3! He had gotten so big, and "grown-up". There are days though that he tests my patience. I think most children do that around this age. He's out of his "terrible twos" and into his "horrible threes" . He can also be the sweetest little boy--- giving me kisses, and hugs, and saying "I love You".

In 7 months Chris and I will be celebrating our 5 year wedding anniversary. That is also another "something" that I am looking forward to. <3

For My Mother.

Hello Everyone! It's hard to believe that I have not done an entry since January. As most of my facebook friends know a lot has been happening, that kind of have prevented me from writing. I am ready now though.

My mother passed away February 13th 2013 at 6:38pm. My papa, my sister Dar, my brother Dave, my sister-in-law Elisha, My nieces Katrina and Cassidy, My husband Chris, and my son Christopher were all at the hospital that day. We said we loved her. We said our good-byes. We weren't sure when we took her off the ventilator whether she would make upstairs or not, or if she would last a few more days--- so we were trying to prepare for things if she were to go. She made it upstairs and not too long after she went to Heaven. She was lying in the hospital bed so peaceful. My papa placed a rose on her and my son (who doesn't understand) gave her a kiss and said "goodbye" to her as if he knew she was only there in spirit. I am the baby of the family, and it still doesn't feel all that real that she is gone. Especially now that Spring has arrived and she would have been planting a beautiful garden. Her memorial service was a special one. All of her family and friends that could be there--- were. I made a poster of pictures of her so everyone could see. And I made a slideshow and a music playlist. Cassidy and I sung 'Halo' by Beyonce. And I said a few words about her for everyone to hear. As I am typing this I still have tears running down my cheeks, but I know that she is in a wonderful place, building a beautiful garden in the sky for us all to see soon. She had the hardest six months that I can only imagine a person could have--- but she put on a brave face, and fought as hard as she could. By the end her cancer had taken over her lungs, and she could hardly breath. She was an amazing person. She loved her children, her friends, her husband, and her grand-children with every piece of heart she had. Now that she's gone I talk to the sky now. Everyday. I realize how hard it is for us, but I can only imagine how hard it is for my papa. He shared everything with her for 15 years. The best 15 years of my mothers life.

This is my mother and my papa. Easter of 2012. I have more recent photos of her, however; some of her last wishes were to not show those photos. She didn't like being in a Halo when she broke her neck and so she didn't like her picture taken. The last pictures I actually have of her was a couple months before her death on Christmas.
4 months after this photo was taken we all found out she had head and neck cancer. Her cancer treatments started 1 day after Christopher's 2nd birthday.

This was my mothers Memorial Service. I took a few more photos, but I won't bombard you, so I'll just share this one. <3

The tattoo I got the day of her memorial service. It's in honor of my mother. It has a lily of one of her favorite colors. The ribbon is purple because of ALL cancers, although her specific cancers ribbon colors were burgundy and ivory. With a Halo above the ribbon. and it has when she was born and when she passed.






March 20th would have been her 66th Birthday. I miss her more and more everyday, but I know she is here in spirit, watching us all.

-Mel

1st post of new year

This is my 1st post of the new year.

Our Christmas's were amazing! We had a Christmas with my brother and sister (and was missing a sister) and their kids a couple days before Christmas. We had our Christmas. Then went over to my parents' and had Christmas. And then we had Christmas at my in-laws. 

Our New Years Eve/New Years was alright. I actually stayed up to see the ball drop, and of course gave kisses to Chris to honor the new year .

In other news, I have been applying for jobs and I am hoping that I'll get an interview soon with one of them. 

I've also been going to the doctors a lot lately for my knee.... right now I have Patellar Tendonitis and Osteo-Arthritis in my right knee. I went to see the doctor yesterday and do my physical therapy. The doctors appointment did not go as I had wanted it to, and I do fear having to call Liberty Mutual to see if they'll send me somewhere else. 

Well this is all I'm closing with today. I'm exhausted and I never got any sleep last night. I'm hoping that when Chris wakes up that he'll spare me so that I can sleep for a little bit and he can watch Christopher.... unless it is Christopher's nap time before he actually wakes up and comes out to the living room.

See you guys in the near future <3

Before Christmas Entry 2012

12.20.2012

My 2012 Before Christmas Entry. 
Another year is coming to and end, and it is hard to believe this will be my babies third Christmas and Chris and my sixth. 
Christmas is often mis-construed for getting presents, and Santa and Cookies. Christmas this year more than any other is about Family for me. Although my mom is getting better everyday, the cancer is still inside her trying to eat her bones away, and every moment I have with her I treasure because you never know what can happen tomorrow. I asked Santa this year for my mom to be home for Christmas, because she missed Thanksgiving with our family. She will be home for Christmas, and we will be having a HUGE Christmas party on the 23rd! I am so happy my mom can see all of our friends and family. She has come so far, and I know this will make her even stronger. 

Last week we finished up Christmas shopping for Christopher, William, Mom and Kevin, and My parents. Every year our parents get pictures (at least every year that Christopher has been here). It is a cheap but wonderful way of showing our family. Luckily I was able to get a friend to do our photos this year. Her Blog is: http://mitchellandashley.blogspot.com/

We did this photo shoot at Riverfront Park- Riverwalk. 
Although Christopher was a little crabby, I think she captured our family wonderfully. 

He looks so mischievous here--------------------------------->

 I didn't add this picture to facebook, and I didn't put it in the collection of photos for family. I still like it nonetheless. Mommy & Son time is so precious, and it goes by so quickly.

Father and Son. This also did not make it to my facebook page yet, nor did it go to family. We wanted to make sure that everyone got the same photos. Originally I was going to give my parents the picture of Christopher and I and I was going to give his parents the picture of himself and Christopher. I decided against it. 

Chris and myself. I love this picture because you can see how truly happy we are. 

And this photo was done because I saw it on Pinterest, and I thought it was amazing! I love the shot, and have seen it many times this Christmas season! 









Well... Here are the Christmas photos for 2012, and this marks the end of my Before Christmas 2012 Entry. Sorry I haven't written much this year. My year hasn't been the best, and I only want to write the best memories down. But this year has been rough. 
My mom was diagnosed with Advanced Stage 2 Neck/Throat/and Head Cancer.
We lost the first home we ever bought. 
We had to put our dog Hercules down because of his health.
We had to move in with our in-laws.
I quit my job because I thought we were moving out of state
I needed knee surgery because of a work related injury-- only to possibly get more surgery done in 2013.

Here's to 2013. May it be better for everyone. Everywhere. 

Life is Hard. Life is Beautiful.

Sometimes Life is Hard and Beautiful. It took Love to see the Beauty of it in the Hardest Time.

I have been faced with many challenges. Sometimes I thought my life was over. Everything was hard until the next challenge would emerge. Sometimes challenges can be beautiful. Sometimes challenges can be hard. Sometimes challenges help us grow.

I figured losing my home at the age of 24 because of the economy-- was exactly that-- the economies fault. When in all retrospect--- it is mine. Mine for making choices that were not wise. Mine for spending money on other non-important things. Mine for making mistakes. Sometimes you have to learn that the hard things in life are just that-- hard. Sometimes I take things for granted. Time is often cut short.

My husband had one of the hardest jobs to have to do when we moved from our home into his parents'. Burying our furbaby Hercules was extremely hard and difficult, but something we saw coming for a very long time. He was a wonderful dog. But time is just not enough. He was buried in my in-laws back yard next to a really pretty tree. I'll be putting a stepping stone in his place. I'm sure many beautiful flowers will emerge from the ground in which he was buried.

And now onto some of the hardest news I have had to deal with thus far. My mother is gravely ill. She was diagnosed with advanced staged neck and throat cancer in August after a couple months of what looked like a golf ball sized knot in her neck. She started her Chemo treatments a day after my sons 2nd birthday. Her chemo treatment went well, and she reacted really good to the treatment. By the end of September she had gotten shingles and was in the hospital for a little while, until she was able to come home. She held Christopher for the first time in October. A few days later she went back into the hospital because she didn't feel well, but they sent her home with more pain medication. Friday my father called the ambulance to come and get her because she no longer could hold her head up, she was numb in both her left arm and leg. She is at Palmetto Richland Hospital in critical condition with a halo to keep her neck stabilized. Her cancer has spread from her neck, to her throat, to her lung, to her spine with it possibly spreading to more places. They have taken her off the chemotherapy. As they say "she's in Gods hands". The doctor called each one of us kids, and these past fews days have been the hardest. Knowing my mother has a short time left on this world is not something I would think about everyday, but now I do. I wake up wondering if I'll receive a phone call, or if she's improved or remained the same. Seeing her in the hospital bed, and squeezing her finger, telling her we all love her may have been the last words that she comprehended from me. I don't want her to suffer. But I am a selfish person--- and I don't want my mother to leave us yet. Christopher is just now old enough to hold a memory or two, and I want it to be of his "nana".

Tomorrow is my mom and dads 15th wedding anniversary. She told me something about a month ago I was to do, in the case she was unable to do so. I got on her facebook page this evening and wrote a message. This is what it said:

 

"Tomorrow is my 15th wedding anniversary to my loving husband Vern Morley Sr. I have been very sick lately, and before anything could happen that would impare my ability to write this message, I told my daughter to write it for me. I love you. With all my heart and with all my soul. These past 15 years have been the biggest, and best blessing of my life. Through thick and thin you have been by my side. I could never ask for a better husband, or for a better father to our Dolly. I love you. ♥"

 

 

She told me what to write, and so I did. I love you mom.

 

 



Been far too long

Hello Bloggers!

I am sorry it has been such a long time since I have written. I no longer have internet at home, and I am not certain when I will get back on. I also don't have a computer right now, but luckily my mom let me borrow hers for a couple of hours. 

Chris has been helping my parents for about a month now with their home renovations because they bought a new home in Camden. It's a nice little place, just big enough for the two of them and Daisy, their dog. Christopher enjoys coming over and visiting with their neighbors little girl Bella, I'm certain one day they will be "good friends" =)

Chris right now is actually on FMLA. It's family medical leave, because of his knee. He has a doctors appointment at Midlands Orthopedics Tuesday at 9:30am. He is hoping to schedule his knee surgery. 

Work with me has been going alright I guess. I finally got a hold of our benefits department and our insurance  carrier for my knee. I have only today my parents and work so far, so I guess now the rest of the world gets to know. They sent me back to Urgent Care to see if my knee was still in the same condition as it was in January when I first went. She recommended that I go to an orthopedic. I finally got an appointment for Camden Bone and Joint, and that was on Friday at 2:30pm. My X-Rays came out fine, but now he wants to do an MRI, because he is concerned that I have torn a ligament or cartilage in my knee and that I'll possibly need surgery to replace it. We shall see I guess.

Well, that is all for me today! I just wanted to update everyone on how everything was going.

=)

-Mel