This morning, I received a phone call that made me both happy and sad...
As you know, my friend Heidi went into the hospital this week to have some tumors removed. Her husband also had left on deployment this week. So, her son, Mark, has been staying with us. He is like another son. We love him a lot and care about him so much.
On the other end of the phone I hear a very beautiful voice... it's Heidi. "Hey Cyndi, I'm home now, actually I got home last night." I was so happy to hear her voice, she sounded rested and there was a certain sound in her voice that made me smile. "I was wondering if I could see my boy." My smile faded... "I don't know what you have planned for him today, but I would really like to see him." I responded... "you mean you want him to pack his stuff and come home?" She said yes. I told her we would bring him to her this morning and did she want to talk to him on the phone. She said yes.
I brought the phone over to Mark and said, it's your mom and you need to pack your things... you are going home to stay with your mom... he smiled this huge smile... you could tell he had already missed her in such a short time. He took the phone and talked with her, then packed his stuff, quickly. I was happy for Heidi... but... I was suppose to have Mark longer than this.
Ryan went to school and will come home to no Mark! It wasn't just Ryan I was feeling sad for... I was feeling sad for me. I loved having Mark here. It wasn't fair, I wanted him longer. He's like my son too. I wanted him to stay at least until Sunday afternoon!!!! I grabbed on to him playfully and begged him not to go. Then Bill playfully pulled him from my arms. I yelled, "You will come visit again, right?" He said yes and we laughed. As the door closed, I thought, I'm going to miss him... seriously going to miss him. It was nice having two boys in the house again....
I'm happy for Heidi and the fact that Mark can now be with one of his parents... but I'm a little sad. Now it refocuses me... why hasn't AJ called me in the LAST WEEK?????!!!! Oh well... that's a blog for another time.
Our weekend really started on Wednesday, January 16, 2008. That day was Bill and my 15th wedding anniversary!!! I woke up and took a shower. Bill got home early and we went to the Cheesecake Factory for lunch. We were sat outside and were freezing!!!
After that we quick ran to my doctor's to get her signature on a paper and pick up my medical records. Afterwards, we went to Extraordinary Desserts and picked up some dessert to go. We drove to Point Loma Tidepool/cliffs, sat down and watched the waves. We ate our dessert, and held each other as the sun started to dip into the ocean.
We left and stopped at Starbucks for some coffee, shopped at Target and headed home to get ready for guests and my spa party.
Thursday, Bill's parents (Dan & Donna) arrived and brought Christmas presents from family in Chicago. We had dinner and spent time talking. It was a good day.
I found out on Thursday night that the new pj's I bought for the party Friday night, had shrunk. I needed to buy new pj's and Donna needed to buy slippers, so we had lunch at In N Out and went to Target to get our items. Donna helped me prepare for the party, the guys left, and we got into our pj's. See my earlier blog on what happened at the party. We had a great time, and I wish the gals didn't have to leave.
Saturday we got up and went to IHOP for breakfast, and then took a trip to Julian. We stopped at Dudley's bread store where we picked up some good bread. Donna and I spent 1 1/2 hours in just two shops (mostly the tea house). We walked around where Ryan got a mood ring, candy, and a caramel apple (his first since his braces have been off). I swear Donna bought something at each store we went in to LOL. We had pie at the Julian Pie Shop, and then headed back to get some cider for Dan, but they are out until next year!!!! So, we headed to the car... at that time, we realized I had overdone it. My right foot and leg went numb and I couldn't use it, and I had to walk up a hill to the car... it was hard, but got it done. I rested in the car on the way home. When we got home, we decided to eat at Souplantation, where we ran into Emmy and her family :-) We went home and crashed.
Sunday, we went to church, where they prayed for Bill's trip to Poland along with some military members who will be going on deployment soon. It was a good service, but we rushed home to watch the Charger game. Ryan was excited as the Chargers were the first to score... however, in the second half, Ryan left to go play video games because it hurt too much to watch them lose to the Patriots. Poor Ryan! Later Bill made his famous Orange Chicken for dinner and we made a new dessert. That night Donna and I stayed up late, watching TV and talking... it was awesome and I enjoyed it a lot!!!!
Monday morning, Bill and I were up early, 5 am, for my 6 am appointment with my doctor. We talked with him and he lowered my morning Lyrica amount, we are hoping this will take care of my sleeping problem in the morning... if it works, my drivers may not have to drive in the morning while Bill is gone!! :-) He also refilled my other prescriptions and thinks I'm doing good. We are still working on a referral to a Rheumatologist. We got home and made breakfast. 
Then we took Dan & Donna shooting at the shooting range. Dan used a modified version of the rifle he used in Vietnam and did a good job. Donna used a 9 mm and has never fired a gun before and hit center mass most of the time!!! Donna said she wouldn't mind doing it again sometime. (she had never really wanted to before). It was great to see.
When Dan & Donna were in Chicago in December, they sat down with the family and gathered pictures that Aunt Pat had of the family. Dan & Donna are going to scan and preserve the pictures. They brought them over for us to see. There were all these very old pictures and I loved them! We got to see people as babies and children and see old family we never had the chance to meet. It was fun. We pretty much hung out all day, and I got to catch up on my rest. We had dinner, then that night Donna and I were able to watch tv and talk again!!!
This morning, Tuesday, Ryan had to go back to school. Dan & Donna left for home, and my friend Amy's son, Garrett (aka little G), was at my house for a little while, which after he was able to get over mommy leaving... was totally a riot!! :-)
Wednesday (tomorrow), my good friend Heidi is going into the hospital for some surgery to remove some tumors. Her son Mark, will be staying with us for a week or so, until she is out of the hospital and feeling better. Please pray for Heidi, not only for her surgery, but her husband leaves this week for a 6 - 9 month deployment. Please also pray for Mark as he will be missing them both.
This week I will also have my first acupuncture appt., go back to small group, and watch Bill leave for Poland. Keep Bill in your prayers. Bethany has been working on having people bring Ryan, Mark and I meals every few days to help us out, as my energy level does not allow me to do a lot of cooking on a regular basis. (This is hard for me, honestly, to say, but...) If you can help us by cooking a meal for us while Bill is gone, please contact Bethany. I know she has not been able to fill all the days, and honestly in the two weeks Bill is gone, we are only asking for meals on 6 days total. It would really help. (Thanks)
Anyway.... that's our last week and upcoming week. I hope you are all doing well!
::HUGS::
Cyndi
Friday night was GREAT!!!! What a blast!!!
Oh I guess I better catch you up. I found these kits at Berean Book Store. They are parties in a box for 8 people. I chose 7 gals to have 4 parties with this year. I chose people I knew, but didn't know each other. It's a great way to help people make new friends. In our group of 8 gals, we have groups of two who will each hostess a party this year. Jackie and I hosted a Spa Party on Friday, Amy & Cindy will have one in April, Bethany & Kristen will have one in July and Emmy & Judi will have one in October. Then each gal will be asked to pick 7 different women and start it all over again in 2009.
So, we had a spa party at our house. The gals arrived and were treated to a facial massage, if they wanted. Hot teas of all flavors were available, as well as fruit. Unfortunately, two of our gals couldn't make it due to family health issues. However, my m-i-l, Donna was able to attend and we were at 7 gals. The guys left to go to the movies.
Once everyone arrived, we had a prayer and gave each other 5 minute back rubs. Then we were asked 3 different questions and we took turns answering them. Next we exfoliated our faces and moisturized them. We were asked two more questions. Some of the questions and answers were deep. But, we became a group of girlfriends that were a safe place to let all the feelings and emotions out. It was nice to have the chance to do.
Next we went into the dining room and did an entire manicure, ate & drank some more, and answered three more questions. We ended with prayer and a candy bar :-) The gals were able to keep their gift bag full of items.
It was great and I loved seeing how well everyone got along. It really meant a lot to me to have those girls agree to doing these parties and follow through. I had a great time, Thanks Ladies!!!
::HUGS::
Cyndi
