Hey. Guess I’ll start with the really important stuff, mom and what’s up with her. For those of you that don’t know, my mom suffers from emphysema, she was diagnosed several years ago. She went in to the hospital on June 9^th with issues regarding her breathing and also mobility. After a week or so they transferred her to a rehab facility. Unfortunately things did not improve but she actually took a turn for the worse. She ended up with pneumonia and was sent back to the hospital June 25^th. She went into ICU, sedated and on a vent. They are pumping her full of antibiotics and trying to get her stabilized. Just this past Friday they put in a feeding tube and also a tracheotomy, both of these things are temporary and will allow them to help her better. The doctor tells us that the pneumonia is getting better and things are slightly improved and looking better but she is still critical and not out of the woods yet. When I stopped on Friday she was somewhat aware and trying to communicate with me, this was not long after they put the trach in and she was not really sedated. It really sucks seeing your mom like this. I tell her at every visit about everyone saying prayers fro her and lighting candles and asking about her. I tell her she’s got a ton of people in her corner. And I really do appreciate what everyone is doing; I really believe that remaining positive helps more than anything. I just told mom that she made me a promise to be at the wedding in October and I’m holding her to it, she indicated to me that she was trying…that’s all I can ask, that she keep fighting and trying and not give up.

So in between work and visiting mom we’ve been trying to do things too. Last Saturday Joe and I hit the zoo. I love the zoo. It was hot and crowded but that was fine. Hung out with Jen for a bit, played with the octopus and saw the penguins (event he babies). We also got to see the polar bears actually swimming! I got some great up close and personal shots of the one as he was swimming and coming right up to the glass. Got to see the baby sea lion too, way too cute!! I wore sun block but still got a bit red and now have a spot of lupus rash on my chest…gah! It’s not too bad and I’m not really that concerned, as long as it doesn’t get bigger or get worse. Joe and I plan to get a season pass for the zoo, this time we will follow through with that, I’m thinking for our Christmas gift to us…then it will be good for all 2010.

Then this past Saturday was 4^th of July so we had a few picnics to attend. Joe’s cousin Mary and her hubby Paul had a big cookout and invited just about everyone. Joe’s family is great and we always have such a good time when we all get together. I was told by a few that they can not wait for our wedding and how much fun it is going to be. (first we have to get through the shower on the 1^st) In the evening we headed to Don and Emily’s for more food and fun and fireworks! All in all it was a nice fun filled day spent with good friends and family.

Also been busy with wedding stuff and shower stuff…getting together again tomorrow to work on shower favors and go over things. We are less than a month until that and less than 4 months to the big day! I’m not panicked about stuff getting done I’m just seeing how fast time is flying by and going eek!!

Well, that’s about it for now. I should get back to work. Have a great week everyone {:(|)

So, been a few weeks but hey…lots going on.

First, wedding stuff. Got the wedding cake ordered! Yum-o. Can’t wait to see the final product, which will be when everyone else sees it = at the reception. I have beyond faith in Oakmont Bakery so I know things will be great. Got the bridesmaids dresses and flower girl dress out of the way. I also ordered my shoes. Now it’s just waiting until they come in. I do have to call the woman that does my usual alterations to see about her doing the girls. I have to, unfortunately, get mine done at the bridal shop (a little more complicated than your usual alterations and I need to have a bustle done). But hey if I can save them some money then great! I heard from the woman that has my dress and I need to call her later and set up a meeting so I can pick it up, then I have to call and set up my appointment for alterations in August (I’ll wait until the middle of July to call). We also met with the DJ and got most of that taken care of, I had to come up with a few more songs (didn’t realize I needed to pick a song to cut my cake to and things like that!). I also have to get him some info about the wine and such but no worries. I ordered my candles for the bridal shower, they are in and I have to make arrangements to get them from my lady but I should have them all ready to go with time to spare. Speaking of bridal shower, we (me, my sister, Red, Emily and Missy) met and got things planned and invites ready to be mailed. Yay! I still need to update my binder and organize it again. But yes, things are moving right along and things are getting crossed off and taken care of. Very exciting!

So other than wedding stuff we had a few other things going on. We got our Verizon FiOS and I love it! I especially love the DVR box we got; I’ll never miss another thing on TV!! We had to go to a baptism for Joe’s cousin Brian’s son, Antonio. They had a joint party afterwards, for Antonio and for Maria who made her First Communion earlier in the month. Nice to see the family, as usual J Red had a candle party the first weekend of June and those are always fun, I love our candle lady Dawn (she rocks!). This past weekend we went out the Kim & Chuck’s for Autumn’s birthday BBQ, nice to see everyone and spend the afternoon relaxing. Also had the last day of school in there, thank god! I was so ready for this school year to be over. Of course that means that the summer will rush by and before I know it it will be time for the wedding! Wow!!

Only thing bad that has happened is my mom is back in the hospital. She went in on the 9^th. Having lots of issues with breathing and mobility and stuff. She was transferred to a Rehab place and they won’t start PT until they get her breathing stabilized and such and it seems like one big vicious circle. I have been telling mom (in hopes of pushing her along) that she has to be home for the shower and stay in good shape for the wedding. Keep your fingers crossed things work out and it’s not another 2-3 months of a parent in the hospital. Oy.

Started riding bikes Saturday mornings, Red, Joe and I. We ride the River Trail to the boat launch before the 40^th Street Bridge. Red estimates it to be about 3 miles round trip. We need to walk it one day to make sure. Speaking of walking I’m walking at least 2 miles 4-5 times a week and beginning this week I hope to get that up to 6 times or increase the miles per walk. Red will be joining me, finally, this week. I just wish I didn’t have to be at work so early, I would try to walk the 2 miles before. Oh well, afternoons it is, except on Fridays and Sundays – Saturdays its early morning bike rides. Hopefully we keep this up for as long as the weather holds out. Fingers crossed.

Well, that’s about it for now. I should get back to work. Have a great week everyone {:(|)

Been a while since my last post/update. Not really sure why other than I haven’t had access to my MySpace or Facebook at work since the virus hit at the end of February and I really don’t go on the computer much at home other than to check email and hit a few sites in the morning before work. But I’ll try to be better. I did manage to get photos posted to both sites yesterday.

First up is a wedding planning update. We don’t have to meet with the priest again until after Labor Day and that will be for the planning of the actual wedding time line. Yay! We will meet with the organist in August/September (I have to call her the beginning of August to set up the meeting, but she has us marked in her book). After we have those meetings I can print out the programs and get them ready to go, I already have some of the program figured out like names and who’s doing what but I’ll have to wait so I can have the exact order of things and titles, I also need to work on the thank you I want to include. Met our photographer last weekend, love her! She’s going to work out so well, her 2 main concerns are the same as ours = focus and composition! We have to see about visiting the church before the wedding day just so she can see the place, know what to expect and come up with some ideas for photos. The caterer is good to go; we will meet with him the month before to go over the actual menu then he’ll meet us at the hall the week before so we can go over how we want things set up. Talked to my bartender and got my list of what I need to get, she’s another one that’s just great and will be a big help with the reception. I’m still playing phone tag with the DJ, he’s booked but we’re just trying to set up a date to meet so we can have that out of the way. I’m going to Oakmont Bakery on the 29^th with my sister to see about the cake…can’t wait! Then on the 30^th I’m going with my sister and Red to see about dresses (fingers crossed) and then I’ll take Missy and the girls once they are out of school. I’ll also be able to set up something for my dress and its alterations and getting the bustle done. I have all the stuff in for the centerpieces and really need to get moving on them. I just ordered stuff for the favors and when they come in I’ll get working on putting the finishing touches on them. I have the invites sitting in the spare room, I need to buy new ink cartridges and get printing addresses and such. Still need to see Don about flowers but I know exactly what I want. The limo is also good to go, deposit check was sent and I got my confirmation email from them. Wow, things are really looking good. I still have a ton of little things I need to find and/or get like jewelry for both me and the bridesmaids and their gifts, gifts for the guys, some special things for the reception like pictures and frames, pew bows (I don’t need a crash, the church aisle is very long and carpeted and the priest actually discourages them as they tend to be more of an accident waiting to happen and are not really needed), need to see about our flutes and serving set and the guest frame (instead of a book). Like I said little things, but the do add up! We are at less than 6 months to go and things are shaping up nicely and getting checked off the list. It really will be here before we know it…

So in between all the wedding stuff and work we managed to help Emily celebrate her 10^th birthday and Easter on the same day, Joe and I went to see Adventureland (cute movie), we got Joe and his dad out for their Tuxedo fitting, hit the Cheesecake Factory (which I’ve been wanting to go to for a while now) in the South Side when we met with the photographer, went to the girls Art Show, I had my candle party, took in one of Emily’s softball games and various other things. May is shaping up to be a little busy too between fun "life" things and wedding things, that’s helping move things right along too…time really does fly when you’re having fun!

Well, that’s about it for now. It won’t be so long between updates…promise