A Blessing in disguise

Another long and hard week under my belt.  Only this one yielded new surprises... with my body.  I am still having back pain, not unbearable by any stretch, but nonetheless... it's there.  And it wasn't there before the accident.  So, I decided after getting a message the week before last and that only holding me over a day, and the prescribed Flexerel not doing anything, I had to do something!  So I booked an appointment with an Orthopedic Dr.  After filling out a series of paperwork, I got some X-rays taken and waited for the Dr.  I spoke to the PA (I thought he was the Dr.) briefly about the accident and the annoying pain that would not go away!  He then said he would get with Dr. Smith to look at the X-rays.  I thought, how weird and then waited.  Well much to my surprise he told me I had fractures in my back!  If you were like me, I needed it to be said again, I HAVE FRACTURE(S) IN MY BACK!!!  I freaked!  I was not prepared to hear that.  No way, no how.  My mouth dropped as the Dr. had this look on his face like, "I'll take it this is the first time you have ever received this news" look.  Then once I got over it... kind of if there is such a thing... he said they look like they have been there a while.  I'm not sure if this was supposed to make me feel better, but I've only had one time in my life where I had the most terrible back pain EVER.  That was when I was in middle school, and I went to the chiropractor and 2 visits later I was healed... or so I thought.  He said perhaps the fractures dated back to that incident.  As if he wasn't done, we continued to look at the X-rays and he showed me where I have a bone moving in my back/hip area.  I said oh ok, isn't that normal?  I am so naive!  He said No!  Bones aren't supposed to move.  I think I as trying to make myself feel better.  Ok, so great, now what.  I asked him what could be done for this, he said to stabilize it.  Um excuse me, what exactly does that mean?  The Dr. proceeded to say if it wasn't bothering me, he suggested leaving it alone.  Well, being that I had only JUST received this news 5 minutes previously, it only had time to marinate and bother me of course.  So all I could mutter was, "Um, I'm good".  I was so disappointed in my body.  All I could think of was, I'll never have another baby.  The Dr. wrote me up an order for Physical Therapy 3x a week and said he wanted to see me back in 6 weeks.  I got a Prednisone pack and an anti-inflammatory on top of that.  He assured me by the end of therapy that I should be feeling better and hopefully have minimal pain.  I do want to trust in his judgement, but I'm left to think what the heck!  It definitely answers a lot of questions about the weirdness I have felt in my back. 

So as I have had a little less than a week to absorb all of the above mentioned, I can't help but think what a blessing in disguise this truly was.  How the Lord held my hand and lead me to get help for my poor aching body.  (I wanted to insert old in that last sentence, but couldn't bare to as 30 is quickly approaching).  I know the Lord performs miracles everyday, and my prayer is that my body will heal or at least get stronger to take on what lies ahead for me and my family.  Goodness knows I miss riding my bike and doing yard work and yearning for another baby and everything else that hurts my back at the moment.  I'm trying to see the good in this as I seek help for what I had no idea even existed in the first place, other than pain.

Friday surprise!

After a long week of dealing with insurance companies, shopping for a new car, and back pain I was over the week! What a stressful thing this accident has been. I think Markus could see things were getting to me. He was off on Friday and we met up at my office after I had gotten then rental car to trade vehicles. He pulled up the center console of his Papa's car and I saw a pretty red wrapped box with a gold sticker that said Dillard's. Surely he didn't buy this perfume I had my eye on... He tried to tell me it wasn't the perfume. I couldn't imagine it to be anything else. It was like he was proposing all over again.. Least that's what it reminded me of. He cracked me up an certainly caught me off guard with this pretty surprise. Talk about make my week!

It's called "Dot" by: Marc Jacobs

Scary Grateful

Thursday was just like any other ordinary weekday for me. Drop Trevor off at the babysitter's house, go to work, pray I don't have to stay late, leave and get Trevor and head home.  Not terribly unusual about that.  Until I reach the 1 mile stretch to my house.  I turn left on to Antioch Rd., see a lady is turning left in her subdivision so I start slowing down.  Pretty fast at first (cause I'm in Markus' car not my truck) and then realize I have a little more room than I anticipated, so I coasted into her and come to a stop.  I'm a retard when it comes to driving sometimes, and constantly look in my rear view to see who's behind me while I'm stopped.  IDK it's just interesting to me I guess.  Until I see this person in a truck fastly approaching my vehicle.  I panicked.  I thought surely they will stop.  She got closer and closer.  I think I looked away and still panicked and started screaming they aren't going to stop.  I couldn't go anywhere!!!  All I remember is the truck slamming into my vehicle, and me being pushed into oncoming traffic (it's only a 2-lane Hwy) and I'm in the middle of the road.  I didn't even realize another vehicle hit mine in the front until I pulled over and saw it in the ditch.  My screaming really scared Trevor.  He was screaming at the top of his lungs too.   My Momma intuitions kicked in.  All I knew is I had to get my baby out of the car.  I couldn't open my door at first.  I was mad.  The madness quickly set in and overtook my whole body (as it usually does).  Once I got my door open I got out, screamed a few choice words towards her vehicle and ran around to the other side of the car where my poor little son sat.  THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN!!!!  LET ME REPEAT, THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN!  I was not the happiest camper.  I wanted to run across the road and beat the living tar out of whoever it was that hit me.  My baby's life was just put in danger.  You do not mess with my baby.  Ever!  Period.  But somehow my brain turned back to my son.  I couldn't think how I was to get to stupid door open.  I pulled and yanked.  The handle was seriously about to break.  I opened the passenger door.  Then thought, I can't get him out like this.  My brain was dumb.  So I ran around to the other door (drivers side back door) and opened it.  He was so upset.  I was dying inside because he couldn't talk.  All he could do was cry.  I wanted to cry.  I didn't know how to.  I sort of forgot how to when I saw my baby in shambles.  Shaking, I managed to pull him out of his car seat and do what Momma's do, bring their child close to the chest.  I kissed him and loved him like I never had before.  I was so thankful I could get him out of his seat.  I then went to the drivers seat to get my phone.  I didn't know who to call first.  Seriously I know that is the most retarded thing to say, but that was my reality.  I dialed 911 then quickly hung up.  I thought, I need the Sheriff's office not 911.  Not sure how that made more sense to me, but it did.  So I started shuffling thru my contacts (it used to be on speed dial) and right before I found it, my darling husband was ringing in.  I was somehow relieved to see his name on my phone.  I answered it.  He later told me that when I answered the phone and told him we were in an accident, I sounded like I had a concussion.  I was so out of sorts.  Imagine that?  Anyway, I don't ask for help as a general rule, but he asked if he should come by and I said yes.  He said ok, I'm on my way.  I hung up and was on my way to the sheriff's call.  Gave them all the details and proceeded to check on the others.  I looked across the street and then down the road and that is when I saw another car in the ditch.  I couldn't even remember being hit by another car, but there she was in the ditch.  I felt horrible and even madder at the lady who hit me.  So across the street I go to check on her.  I asked her if she was ok.  She was stretched across the front seat of the truck and all she said was, "I hit my head, I hit my head".  I didn't have a lot of compassion at that point and turned around and walked back across the street to check on the people in the ditch.  Now, I must say if this accident could have happened anywhere better, it would have to have been in front of a hospital.  It happened in front of the St. George Fire Dept building.  Lucky lady, cause she had Medics at her becking call.  So that is why I wasn't too worried, or compassionate for the record.  My heart sank again when I got to the passenger(S) whose car was in the ditch.  They had 4 people in the car!  Of which, 2 were boys.  I was so sad.  They appeared to be fine.  The driver hit her head on the windshield.  She was bleeding.  I was so apologetic.  I couldn't stop saying sorry.  I talked with the little boys who were more in shock than anything.  It was so awful.

Candy Red's short life :(

A side view

Close up, see Markus' golf clubs?

I've stared at these pics for a day now and have come up with this.  I'm grateful number one.  Out of all the people involved in the wreck, we didn't have any bleeding or heads against the windshield.  It's crazy.  Second, I truly believe if it wasn't for Markus' bag of golf clubs and the big heavy duty ice chest (both of which we forgot to hand out last weekend) Trevor might have been badly injured.  The mangled trunk would have been at his little feet/legs.  Thirdly, had he not been in a rear-facing car seat, he probably would have been hurt by the impact.  I am truly grateful that the Lord saw fit to put all of these things in the way of my little son.  I am so thankful he is ok.

The front of the car that also was hit by the oncoming traffic.

Another side view

Poor Candy.

My awesome lightweight stroller is stuck in the mangled car :(  We couldn't get it out.

So now, it's just a wait and see if it's totaled.  We have started shopping for new cars just in case.  I think shopping for cars is worse than shopping for houses.  So this isn't the exciting part for me.  Especially since I'm so cheap and cars so aren't!  I pray we can get into something comparable if that is what it turns out to be.  Candy was sure perfect for us in a lot of different ways.  But she is replaceable.  What a huge inconvenience.

Bye Bye Isaac! {Hello Football Season 2012}!

Hurricane Isaac threatened to put a damper on the start of our football season 2012, but not so fast it finally passed thru the great BR.  Yay!  I'm ready for the season to begin!  I have been searching for shirts for little man for weeks now.  I finally found one and bought a 2T because they shrink so bad.  I need more.  I wore my jersey today for the 1st day back after the hurricane.  I didn't get a pic, but if I can say, I rocked it!  Also, I discovered Tostitos makes a blue corn chip that looks like it's purple.  I'm definitely going to remember that for a possible tailgate!  No season tickets again this year.  Maybe next year we can pick that back up again!  MAYBE!  It's been nice having a few years off now.  Even better that I can enjoy my Saturdays around people I enjoy :).  Some of the people we tailgated with in years past worked my ever-livin'-nerves!  So here's to the start of hopefully another great season.  Geaux Tigers!

Guess Who's Having....

Oh it's that time I've been preparing now for a month... Garage Sale Time!  The big day is tomorrow.  Wish us luck.  This is our first go 'round with this sort of thing.  I'm honestly praying it goes ok and we make some money and get rid of some stuff!  After all that would be the perfect combo!  And all the sweaty nights in my hot garage getting this all together will pay off :).  This was the last sign I made...

The Yard Sale Queen said to post a sign that said "All Sales Final".  I just added a couple of things... like what the proceeds will pay for :).  My coworker said I should, so I'll see how that goes.  It will be a great conversation piece!  Hey, maybe we might land a job out of it.  A girl can be optimistic, huh?  Well I'm excited.  I'll post after the sale with the hopefully good news about how we did!  I'm so excited!

7 Years {And Counting}...

July 29, 2005

Do we look like we could be any happier?  Hehe!  I just thought I loved that dude in the picture that sweet Friday that we got married... I'm happy to say that love grows and grows.  And if you work hard enough, keeps growing :).  Time really does fly.   A friend of ours who almost always comes to greet us at church today came to talk to us.  I told him it was our Anniversary and he of course gave us his well wishes and asked how long we had been married... 7 years, is what I told him.  He said next month him and his wife would celebrate 6 years.  I looked over at his family of 3 small children and learning one on the way and thought, wow we just have our little Trevor to show for all these years of marriage.  Then after our friend left, my mind began to reminisce on all the years of marriage we've shared.  I thought of that day where I knelt across the alter from my best friend and balled my eyes out as I couldn't have thought of anyone I'd rather marry.   As we were dressed in white and saw each other for eternity, I felt such love from my Heavenly Father.

As I sit here now, I think of the fun we shared going to LSU Football games year in and year out.  I think of our 2nd anniversary and how we only had $13 to our name and shared dinner at Jason's Deli and how we had a great time doing it (especially since we got our own ice cream cone too!).   I think about how we happy we were to buy out first house and how I cried and cried because I didn't want to spend the extra $5K to buy it but how I didn't want to lose it over $5K.  And how grateful I am even to this day for the person who helped us with our deposit so we could buy it.  I think about Markus taking me to NOLA for Mardi Gras for the first time (my mom would NEVER let us go) and how I LOVED it!  The Tennis Tournaments I've been to and being so proud of my man!  Going thru Hurricane Gustav as a homeowner vs. a renter like Hurricane Katrina.  I think about how the loss
 of a job affected us... tremendously!  The discovery of our pregnancy and intro to "Momma Jenn-Jenn Blog".  The birth of Our Trevor Christian!  And how he has basically consumed our life and is all we can think about :)  So really and truly I guess it wasn't too fair to compare my family/marriage to theirs as we have seen a lot in the 7 years we have been married.  And my how I wouldn't change a thing!  I've learned so much about myself and most importantly how to love.  And how that love really and truly can get you thru the happiest and the toughest of things as long as Heavenly Father is  included in our marriage.

Markus Christian my how I love you my baby and how I promise to continue to love you forever and ever.  You are my heart!

Bye Bye LSU

It's almost officially official... December 2012 Graduate, could it be?  Markus hasn't quite scheduled his last class (we are in the process of gathering funds... more on that later in the post), but it's right around the corner.  I have so many mixed emotions about this coming semester I don't even know where to begin.  Firstly, I don't believe it.  The day has never felt close.  There has been so many changes both ups and downs in Markus' college education over the last 10 years we have bee together, it's crazy.  I'm waiting for the last curve ball to be thrown this semester... I hope I'm not right and he can get the hell out of there before we shuffle more money into their bank account!  However, it feels like the cleanest new beginning, I'm eager to smell, taste, and reap rewards of all of our hard work.  I think mainly Markus' hard work.  I've been more of the complainer than anything (I'm sure Markus would agree), lol!  He has seriously done some working to make this all happen.  Some days I wonder how he did it all, work full time AND go to school!  I remember his last semester at BRCC he had 5 classes and had to make A's in all of them in order to get into LSU.  <CRAZY!  At times, he worked more than 50+ hours and still went to school.  Yes here have been semesters off here and there.  Sometimes necessary, others not.  But nonetheless we can proudly say that we won't have any student loans to speak of and can walk away from LSU with no excess baggage other than an extra piece of paper we might hang on the damn wall!  And rightfully so!  That piece of paper has earned it's keep at our house and THEN SOME!   We are even clearing out the house making room for it by having a garage sale in a few weeks.  I originally wanted the proceeds to go to something fun, but the dreaded question of tuition rapidly came to the forefront of my mind... and naturally it only seemed fair to give it to LSU.  But it will be the last time!   (Minus Football Season Tickets, LOL!)

I can't help but think of our future and what it holds for us with no college tuition?!?  Which quickly turns my thought process to my little man Trevor.  I have been thinking a lot about his college education.  My mom wasn't in any position to put any of us thru school.  However, always taught us the importance of getting an education.  We knew it and pushed hard to qualify for the TOPS program in LA.  Of course, I forfeited that by moving my Senior Yr. in high school.  But that's another story for another day.  Then Markus was a tenth of a point away from qualifying for the TOPS Program, which fell onto his parents to pay for tuition.  He tells me they paid for his first semester, but when he didn't make the grades, they stopped.  I believe if I'm not mistaken, that he had to maintain a certain GPA and they would continue to pay for it.  That seems fair enough.  But Markus has a different opinion of it all.  I asked him shortly after Trevor was born or sometime around then what our plans were for Trevor and college?  To which I vividly remember him saying he wouldn't pay for it, or to that affect.  I remember being shocked out of my mind, especially knowing how long he (and I) have been paying for his schooling.  Recently, we revisited the subject.  To my surprise he didn't remember saying he wouldn't pay for college.  I was so relieved.  I went on to tell him how to me as a parent, it just makes sense to help your child to put his best foot forward and help out with college!  Is it just me?  Now I'm sure the argument would come into play... as long as you are able, etc. etc.  But isn't that the whole point of starting now, and planning to pay for college?  I feel such a responsibility raising a son to help him to be a provider for his wife and kids one day.  I would hate to see it take him as long as it has taken Markus to get thru college... though there have been some contributing factors to it, I don't want Trevor's to be about $$.  I tell you I would do anything for that child.  Man I love that kid.  But for now, I can just wait for him to get into college... wait and SAVE!