Catching Up with Many Thanks!

I've neglected much on my blog this past month. I'm so grateful with how everyone is so understanding/has continued to pray for my MIL and our family.

Thank you ALL for your love and support!

Leaving Chicago and returning home yesterday was bitter sweet.... Saying "see you later" to my husband for I Don't Know How Long, knowing the night before will possibly be the last time I will see my MIL alive..... Coming home to the dogs and it being just me and the baby, until next weekend when my oldest returns from California, has afforded me time to get things back in running order... I've gotten a few things accomplished today but my brain is scattered. A list of what needs to be accomplished has been created, but it really seems a bit too overwhelming for me at the moment. 

My top on the to-do-list with my blog is to show TONS of LOVE to my Secret Santa, New Year's Cocktail Glass Exchange Partner, a close friend (sister) and a couple AWESOME sponsor's!!!!

Let the Love Begin!!!

Prior to leaving I was signed up for a Blogger's Secret Santa exchange through Boys Oh Boys. I was the Secret Santa to ...With Love, Jesika  and sent sent her a wooden sign, nail polish, ornament and a card! 

My Secret Santa was Jen from Grown In Southern Ground. Her gifts are amazing! Festive nail polish and lip balm that I used while in Chicago. A cupcake kit (baking is definitely on the to-do list), an adorable scarf, and a chocolate face masque (mama needs to take some down time)! Thank you Jen!!

For the New Year's Cocktail Glass Exchange I was paired up with Sabrina at Bre-Naturally who is currently stationed in Japan! I sent her a personalized glass from one of my awesome sponsor's Wine With RobYnWitha-Y and she sent me a BEAUTIFUL hand-blown Ryukyu Glass. It is exquisite! Thank you Sabrina!!!

Stay tuned for a big CHEERS post from us all this evening to ring in 2013!

As a thank you from two of my amazing sponsor's I received some wonderful goodies!

From Michelle at Patriot Farms I received this lovely personalized ornament with our last name on one side and 2012 on the other! 

Thank you Michelle!

From Angela at Quotable Life I received 3 prints of my choice in any size! The 2 side prints will be framed and go to two friends and the middle 8x10 I Love You print I will be framing and hanging up in my home.  LOVE them! 

Thank you Angela! 

I returned home to a clean smelling house.... I mean spotless. Floors swept and mopped, no residual dog smell, and mail and packages neatly stacked. Dogs alive, fish alive, and only broken things were what the great Mother Nature decided to break with her strong winds (our outdoor umbrella and gate). A big huge thanks to my friend Britni who, for the past 3 weeks, has been taking care of our animals and house allowing us to be worry free after rushing to Chicago and being there for so long.

Yesterday she gave me a Christmas present that I just adore! The fact that she kept it as a secret for so long is also pretty amazing! (We are terrible with gift giving).

It is a silver necklace that has "True Friends Are Joined At The Heart" stamped into it!

Canines with Courage Float at the Rose Parade tomorrow!

This year’s float, “Canines with Courage,” will showcase an exact replica of the first-ever United States Military Working Dog Teams National Monument, and honor our four-legged heroes and their handlers for their services and sacrifices saving American lives since World War II. 

 

Lucca, a military hero dog that lost her leg from a roadside bomb in Afghanistan while saving a platoon of U.S. Marines, will join Natural Balance on the float and ride alongside Tillman, the World's Fastest Skateboarding Bulldog, who was recently inducted as an Honorary Marine as part of his work with the United States Military Working Dogs National Monument.

You can see more of Lucca’s story here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzcpInWjS7U, and below are also some facts about the “Canines with Courage” float.

·         The float will be lead by military working dog teams and their handlers.

·         The float will measure 55-feet long and 28-feet high, and be enabled to “fold” from a height of 28-feet down to 16-feet in order to pass underneath highway bridges and low wires along the parade route.

·         The float will feature an exact replica of the United States Military Working Dog Teams National Monument made from golden clover seeds and crushed white sweet rice.

·         The replicated monument will be surrounded by more than 35,000 roses, America’s national flower.

Natural Balance has also donated 400 Rose Parade grandstand tickets to locally assigned military personnel so they can be in attendance and enjoy the parade. Tune-in on January 1 to the Rose Parade on ABC, Hallmark Channel, HGTV or Univision to see the float and show their support for the U.S. Military Working Dog Team National Monument.

Weekend Social Mix Blog Hop 12/28-12/30

Welcome to the weekend everyone! 

Weekend Social Mix Blog Hop: 

We want our Blog Hop to include everyone so it's a Social Hop!

Follow the Hosts & Co-Host:

From Grandma With Love

Marine Wife, Mommy & Life
Live, Laugh & Learn with Ms. Mommy HH6

If you like what you see please leave a comment with how you're following and your bloggy address so we can return the L♥VE if we like what we see!

Link your blog post up using the linky tool below! It can be ANYTHING! Why? Because it's FINALLY the weekend! Ya baby!!

Everyone ready? GO!

Email us, if you'd like to be a guest co-host, at MWML11@Yahoo.com 

Christmas Eve & Christmas 2012

Christmas Eve was filled with lots of love with family and friends that were over for a traditional Polish dinner cooked by the hubby and my BIL. Followed by Christmas movies and drinks....

Christmas morning was definitely not the same. My man-child woke up with family in California bright and early. Earlier than we woke up here in Chicago. The hubby made the traditional breakfast casserole served with Christmas morning mimosas. After my FIL finished getting my MIL ready we ate and eventually opened gifts. I'm glad I stayed so the hubby was able to enjoy our little man's
first Christmas!
 Low and behold, it even SNOWED! Just as the hubby had wanted! I was so happy to be able to do FaceTime with my man-child as he showed me all the cool things he made out with from the entire family on his dad's side. I spent the afternoon and early evening incapacitated in bed with a headache from hell! Only a small cup of coffee all day will do that to me.... Little man made out with some cool Bears swag, new hightop converse shoes to match daddy, and a few toys! His great aunt brought an old high chair by, one that his dad used when he was a baby, comes in handy big time!
 

In a few days I head back home to NC with the little man while the hubby stays here. He's still working on the HUMS orders to stay here until the brain disease takes mom completely.... Daily things are fading from her.... A medical bed will come in for the first floor this week, it has become difficult getting her up and down the stairs... I'm sad to leave but and relieved to get back home and take care of all the things that are falling apart there now too.... It is hard to uproot everything and leave it all up to a good a friend to take care of, especially two dogs that have started retaliating against us not being home.....

 

Weekend Social Mix Blog Hop 12/21-12/23

Welcome to the weekend everyone! 

Weekend Social Mix Blog Hop: 

We want our Blog Hop to include everyone so it's a Social Hop!

Follow the Hosts & Co-Host:

From Grandma With Love

Marine Wife, Mommy & Life
The Traveling Classroom
 

If you like what you see please leave a comment with how you're following and your bloggy address so we can return the L♥VE if we like what we see!

Link your blog post up using the linky tool below! It can be ANYTHING! Why? Because it's FINALLY the weekend! Ya baby!!

Everyone ready? GO!

Email us, if you'd like to be a guest co-host, at MWML11@Yahoo.com 

One of the Toughest Questions....

Last night, after my husband went to sleep, my FIL sat down and talked to me about everything that is going on with my MIL.... She is sleeping more these days, and going to bed earlier. There are rough times of getting her ready for the day and/or getting her ready for bed. Communicating with her is becoming even more difficult as she can only read some things and then has a difficult time comprehending what has been written.  Anything that is over stimulating, going anywhere, having too many people over, etc. leads into a type of melt down afterward..... Such a drastic change compared to when we were here for Thanksgiving....

 

My FIL asked me if I wanted to have a brain autopsy done once the CJD (Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease) fully takes her away from us.... Just thinking about this, the inevitable, brought tears to my face... He asked me alone because it does directly affect my family. The possibility of it being a genetic disease can only be fully ruled out with a brain autopsy..... It has been diagnosed as Sporadic CJD, but this is the only way to be 100% positive. While I had read this and many other studies on CJD, it was not something that had crossed my mind with all that is taking place here. The fact that it was presented now has me a little worried about my family. I pray that it IS just a disease that has "just come about" and is not something that might have been passed to my husband, son or BIL.

 

I let him know that, yes, for the sake of my husband, our son and my brother-in-law this is something that I would want to take place.... But that I also wanted to discuss it with my husband in the morning.

 

We talked about it this morning and, yes, he agrees to having it done as well.

 

While this is supposed to be a time of celebration and families enjoying coming together, we are all a little on edge. Taking things day-by-day as this neurological disease takes what were once simple actions away from her daily.... There is a slight Christmas spirit still here. The house is fully decorated, there is tons of love pouring in and through the house, but the happy-joyful feeling is in more of a solemn/mourning state.

Wordless Wednesday: Chicago 12/8-12/14 {Lots of Pictures}