Can't keep up

I suck at blogging.

Day 4

A picture of your favorite memory

This one is really hard. There have been so many wonderful things in my life. Some are huge mile stones that affected the rest of my life, like marriage and having each of my babies. Others are just so much fun, like trips to Disneyland or Hawaii. And there are some that are so unique they are hard to catagorize, like living in a foreign country.

So, what is my favorite memory?

I am going to go with one that was the best spontaneous, joyful moment. The only prob is I don't have a picture. So you'll just have to imagine it.

Jason was in Grenada and I was in UT pregnant with Rori. I had gotten really sick and I have to leave the island on short notice. I took the kids and we were away from Jason for 3 months. This was huge deal considering we had never been apart for more than 2 days since we had been married. Not to mention that fact that we would be apart for our 5th anniversary and Easter. Not fun. But it had to be done.

When Jason scheduled his flights the soonest flight he could get was for nearly a week after school got out for their break. I was bummed but all the other flights were booked.

The week before Jason was scheduled to come home I planned fun things to do on each day to help pass the time so I wouldn't go crazy!

On Monday I planned on going to IKEA with my mom (she hadn't been there yet!.) She was going to come pick me and the kids up and we were going to spend the day there. She called me and told me she was running late because she had to get some stuff from KMART (this should have been a clue because my mom ALWAYS shops at WalMart) but was on her way.

I was in the middle of doing my makeup when I heard my mom come in the house and yell "Amanda, come here!" I yelled back "Hold on, I'm doing my makeup" She called back "I have something for you"

So I walked out to the stairs (I was upstairs) and I saw Jason running up the stairs 2 or 3 at a time. I remember he was wearing a red shirt and army green cargo pants. His hair hadn't been cut for months and it was sticking out everywhere. He was unshaven and the most glorious sight I had ever seen! I started screaming "What are you doing here?!?!" I burst into tears, grabbed on to him and wouldn't let him go.

I have had some wonderful surprises but this one tops them all. My mom and Jason had found an earlier flight on whim. My mom called Jas and they worked out him coming home early as a surprise. Amazingly, they were able to keep it a secret from me. I usually find out these types of things.

Getting married and having my kids were wonderful and life altering in the best way. But I knew they were coming, and there were so many details and things to remember. This moment was unexpected, and it gave me the one thing I wanted most. My husband.

Day 3

A picture of the cast of your favorite show.

I got addicted to Grey's Anatomy from the very first season. I have been through it all with these people. I am so invested with these characters I feel like they are a second family and if there isn't a new episode my whole weekend is affected.

But I do have to give a close second to The Bachelor/Bachelorette. I'm a sucker for this show and I can't wait for the new season!

Day 2

A picture of the person you have been the closest to the longest.

It seems pretty obvious that this would be my mom. She has known me longer than anyone. As mothers I believe we know our children even before they are born, and we share a special bond with them.

I am a self proclaimed "Daddy's Girl" but I have come to love and appreciate my mom in more ways and for more things than I ever though possible.
My mom has made enormous efforts to be part of the life of my family. She traveled 5 times to Grenada during our time there and is planning a 3rd trip to NJ.

There are some people in our lives that can never be replaced and my mom plays that role in my life.

I love this woman!!

Day 1

Picture of me and 15 facts.

1. My name is Amanda Vilate Thirkill. My middle name is shared with my Great-grandma, grandma, mom, me and my oldest daughter Aurora Vilate.
2. I don't like chocolate
3. I am the mother of 4 kids. 2 boys and 2 girls.
4. In the last 8 years I have lived in 7 different apartment/homes in two different states and 1 foreign country.
5. I can put my fist in my mouth. (although I usually put my foot in my mouth. haha)
6. I play the flute
7. I talk a lot. I usually don't mean to but I tend to dominate conversations and ramble on, and on, and on.
8. I love to read but I rarely find the time.
9. I love having visitors. So if you want to go on vaca please come visit me. Even if we don't know each other super well, we can bond while you are here!
10. I love to dance. I used to be pretty good at it but now I look pretty ridiculous. haha
11. I love to play board games
12. My husband just shouted "You're an amazing cook" from the kitchen but I think he's just trying to get out of making lunch. haha
13. I have been married for 8 years
14. I love to make people laugh. I think I'm pretty funny and will always laugh at my own jokes... even if you don't. haha (see, there I go again.)
15. I have the best family, especially my husband. He makes every day wonderful. He is my perfect match and our family is my greatest joy!

Whew! I did it. Day 1... Check.

30 Day Challenge

I have been a little lazy in my blogging. I could blame this on having a new baby and a husband married to the OR. But really that has nothing to do with it. I have just been plain lazy. I have had tons to post about and just can't seem to make it to the computer to write it down. Plus I've been HORRIBLE at taking pictures. So when I saw this challenge on a friends blog I thought I would give it a try to see if I can re-motivate myself into blogging.

Since it's already the 3rd of April I am gong to post the first 3 today so I can finish when the month of April is over.

So be sure to check back for my updates and leave me a comment so I know you are reading. (anyone who has a blog knows how awesome it is to have comments)

-Here is the list of the 30 things you will be posting about each day.

Day 01 - A picture of yourself with 15 facts
Day 02 - A picture of you and the person you have been closest with the longest
Day 03 - A picture of the cast from your favorite show
Day 04 - A picture of your favorite memory
Day 05 - A picture of your night
Day 06 - A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day
Day 07 - A picture of your most treasured item
Day 08 - A picture that makes you laugh
Day 09 - A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most
Day 10 - A picture of something recently purchased
Day 11 - A picture of something you hate
Day 12 - A picture of something you love
Day 13 - A picture of your favorite band or artist
Day 14 - A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without
Day 15 - A picture of something you want to do before you die
Day 16 - A picture of someone or something that inspires you
Day 17 - A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently
Day 18 - A picture of your biggest insecurity
Day 19 - A picture of you greatest asset
Day 20 - A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel
Day 21 - A picture of something you wish you could forget
Day 22 - A picture of something you wish you were better at
Day 23 - A picture of your favorite book
Day 24 - A picture of something you wish you could change
Day 25 - A picture of your day
Day 26 - A picture of something that means a lot to you
Day 27 - A picture of yourself and a family member
Day 28 - A picture of something you're afraid of
Day 29 - A picture that can always make you smile
Day 30 - A picture of someone you miss.

I think all you blogging buddies should do it to btw.

Surgery

Jason is in his 3rd week of his surgery rotation and by the end of it he will have spent 4 days on call. It hasn't been as bad as I thought it would be but the kids are definitely feeling his absence. Jason has to get up and leave before the kids are awake and only gets to see them for a few hours before they have to go to bed. It's been rough, but we are surviving. Jason is on call every 4 days with a post call day off. We do get to spend a little more time with him on post call days but the kids aren't convinced that is enough time. haha.

When Jason started this rotation I was worried about how our "daddy's girl" would handle it. I have been pleasantly surprised. She does cry for her dad but I can usually calm her down and we are actually getting along quite well. (I usually just ignore the "I hate you" comments and tell her "I know, but you still have to listen to me" it seems to be working quite well)

The other surgery we have to look forward to is Ridgedon's.

A couple of years ago Ridge got a suspicious looking lump on his left arm by his armpit. We took to the doc fearing bad news and were told it was just a hematoma or bruise under the skin. They drained it in the office and it seemed to go away.

Well, the mysterious looking lump has reappeared. I showed the lump to Jason, who was in Grenada during the discovery and treatment of the last lump, and he talked to the doctors he was working with in family practice. They suggested he go to a pediatric vascular surgeon. OK.

So we did. When the surgeon saw the lump he immediately diagnosed it as a hemangioma not a hematoma. A hemangioma is a collection of blood vessels that are tangled together. They don't cause any concern of damage or pain, but they won't go away on their own and will continue to get bigger and bigger over time, which is why it came back after we drained it. We made it smaller by taking out some of the blood and fluid but it didn't get rid of the source. The only way to get rid of it is surgery.

So Ridge gets to have another surgery! Poor kid. Luckily my mom and possibly my dad will be coming to visit us again next month and we will schedule the surgery for when they are here.

Ridge is such a brave little man and I know he will do great but I am still super nervous about the surgery. His surgeon is one of the best in America so I know he is in great hands.

It seems that we get to battle the surgery front from both sides. Wish us luck!