Time with family

I went to see my back Dr. Friday and she added Neurontin to the other medications I take.  It supposed to help with pain.  I've tried it in the past but they had me on to high of a dosage to soon last time.  This time we are starting supper slow and moving up a little at a time. I could tell it helped within the first 24 hours. I'm at the time where I'm supposed to move up on dosage.  I'm a little gun shy because of the side effects from last time.  I'm trying to hold off until Friday and that way if I do not respond well it will not be as embarrassing.

I had a wonderful weekend.  My Aunt Linda, Uncle Dan and three of their grand kids were staying at the Gaylord Texas last weekend.  I had planned on going over to visit on Friday night but didn't want to over do it and throw my back out again.  I knew I would be with all of them the majority of the day on Saturday.

So Friday night Blake made Andrea and I some burgers.  Michael is doing this juicing thing.  I'm so proud of him for sticking with it.  I honestly don't think I could hang like he has.  After we ate Michael, Blake, Andrea and I hung out at our house and played games.  Andrea had never played Skatigories or Yahtzee.  We had a great time.  I was a party pooper and went to bed by 11.

Saturday, my Aunt took the grand kids to character breakfast and on a scavenger hunt the hotel had for the kids.  She called me around noon to let me know they were at the water park.  I got ready in a flash and was with all of them a little before 1.  The kids were just getting their lunch so I got a bite to eat as well.  After everyone was full we head on over to the lazy river.  Parker wanted to pull me around.  I thought oh, what a sweet little girl.  Until the little rascal pulled me under every waterfall and fountain there was.  It sure made me get used to the cold water in a hurry.  Just hearing her cracking up made it all worth it. The water park was nice.  There was a baby area, a pool area, a water slide, a zip line, a basket ball area as well as the lazy river and a couple of places where you could just sit and enjoy being in the water. They had various contests for the kids outside of the water. The kids were there since Thursday and they seemed to still be having a blast. We were at the water park until right around 4 because the two younger kids wanted to go meet more characters and to get their picture taken with them.  I can't believe they charged all four of us to get in just so the two little kids could take a picture with 4 or 5 or the characters.  It was crazy.  After the the "meet and greet" we took Payten back up to the room to hand out with his brother and grandpa because they wanted room service and grandpa wanted to watch game 7 of the Heat and the Celtics.  So we made it a girls night. 

We got our showers and dolled up and ready to go out to eat. Parker looked just beautiful in her white flowing skirt and shirt.  She thought she was the bell of the ball.  Aunt Linda dressed up in the same style blouse and white slacks.  I ended up in all black.  We went to Zeppole. A supper nice Italian restaurant at the hotel. Parker kept us entertained all evening. The waitress told us the name of the bread.  Parker asked her to reapeat it and then said bless you. Because the name of the bread sounded like a sneeze.  It was funny. She is so full of life.  After we ate Parker decided she didn't want the desert at the restaurant and that we should order room service. It was delicious! I finally left between 9 and 9:30 Saturday  evening. The time went by in a flash. This was the first time I have ever gotten to visit with Lane. He has grown up so much.  He is almost 12 and has already gotten a deep voice. He still had a kid voice in January now he sounds like a young man.  It's times likes these that makes me wish we lived closer to family.

Sunday I didn't do anything but rest. I've become a big old chicken about over doing it.  Michael offered to go get me something to eat.  I couldn't let him do that.  To me that would just seem crule to have him only drinking healthy juices and water and picking up regular food for me.  There was plenty to eat at the house.  But that just tells you the kind of guy he is.  Willing to spoil me and not think of himself.  I'm a lucky girl!

Monday the party was over and it was time to get back to work.  I got so caugtht up in work that Andrea texted me at 6:30 PM and asked if I was going to Blakes game.  Thank God it was just down the street from my office.  Andrea was a doll and had suprised me with a Dr. Pepper from Sonic.  After the game I had planned on getting a roticery chicken, salad stuff and making mac and cheese and corn.  There was no roticery chicken out at the neighborhood Wal Mart or at Kroger so I had to swich gears a bit and pick up the salad stuff and soft taco stuff.  I felt bad to be eating that stuff in front of Michael. 

That's all I have for now.  Hope it didn't bore you to death.

Hope you had a good weekend and a better week!

Jackie

Concerts, Ranger game and BBQ

Well I forgot to have Michael review this post so your stuck with my hazy memory.

We kicked off May with a bang. We went to see Blake before he headed home for the summer.  The weekend after that we went to see Trish, Clint and their boys. I think I wrote about that last. We will pick up with our trip to Austin.

We went to Austin on Friday night after work and stayed the weekend with Michael's cousin Ty and his wife Allison. We didn't get to bed until 3am on Friday well Saturday morning.

Saturday Alison made brunch and she and I ended up going to take naps while the boys visited. After I woke up from my nap Michael and I went to the Tom Petty concert.  To say it was awesome is an understatement. On Tom Petty's website he said it was the loudest he had ever heard Free Fallen Sang. They played deeper tracks and of course some hits. I could listen to Tom Petty and the Heart Breakers for hours.

The crowd was so completely diverse.  You had young kids, teens, 20 somethings up to 70+ and EVERYONE was singing and enjoying themselves. I have to be honest here and say I was totally expecting to smell pot but, I never did. 

One of the most incredible things we saw were signers at the concert. I have never gone to a concert where they had signers. There were theses two ladies signing the entire night. From the opening act until the last song played these ladies were singing and dancing and signing.  It was so cool to see that. It just made the experience that much better.

At one point during the show I HAD to step out for a moment.  Normally once I'm in my seat that's it I don't budge.  So I pop out to the ladies room and on my way back there were no lines at the t-shirt stands so I went over to buy a shirt.  Of course the only shirt I wanted was in a size SMALL.  I don't know if you have been paying attention to my pictures but, a small isn't going to cover even half my chest.  So I go to the next stand that's empty and to see what sizes they have in the same shirt.  Of course it's only in small. So I say to the guy you guys ALWAYS forget about us fat chicks. The guy didn't know where to put himself.  I started laughing and he did as well. It was funny.  I get back into the concert and of course I have missed I missed some awesome song that I don't recall the name of.  (this is where I needed Michael.  I'm sure when he reads this he will be thinking it or saying it aloud)   The entire concert seemed to have gone by in a blink of an eye. If you ever have an opportunity to go to one of their concerts GO!

After the concert we head over to Alison's brother's place.  They had cooked out and had left overs so we had a bite to eat.  We hung out there until 3 AM then we head over to Ty and Alison's place  and Alison sat up for just a bit then had to go to bed because she needed to do a presentation the next day.  Ty, Michael and I ended up staying up until 6 AM. Obviously we need to get with them more often so we can go to bed at a more reasonable hour. When we finally got up the guys went and picked up some burgers and fry's. We said our goodbye to them and started heading toward home.

I was planning on coming back to the Belton area the next weekend but knew my great nephew would not be at my sisters house that weekend.  So we called them and let them know we were going to stop by to see Brody for a minute. Shortly after we hung up the phone I get a text from my niece.  Apparently my sister tells Brody I'm coming to see him and he says "OH, PRESENTS!".  She told him no that I was only bringing hugs and kisses this time.  Brody says "okay."  So you know we had to stop and get him something.  Only this time Uncle Michael had to pick something out as well.  He loved the presents but was to shy to give hugs and kisses. I got one just before he left.  We had to get back on the road because we still had a 2:30-3 hour drive home.  I sleep.  Poor Michael had to drive.

I didn't get to go back to see my family the following weekend because my back went out. By Wednesday I was using my walker/wheel chair type thing to get around and  I ended up missing work the following Friday and Monday.  I went to bed as soon as I got home from work and just rested as much as I could. I really need to get down there and visit before the reunion in July.

The next Saturday I slept all day and was feeling pretty good.  Blake got back home the end of that week and he and his girlfriend Andrea came over after 6 pm and we ended up playing games until 3 am. Yeah, I was worthless the next day.

This past weekend was a three day weekend.  Michael, Blake, Andrea and I went to see the Texas Ranger whip the tar out of the Toronto Blue Jays. We were kind of nervous because the Blue Jays have been whipping the Rangers for a while now.  I guess the tables finally turned. It was a great game.  We got them from a family friend who has season passes.  It was in an air conditioned area, with soft leather seats.  We had a free buffet until the 4th inning and free soda's.  If you want dessert or an adult beverage you have to pay for that.  They had fire works after the game but we did not go. Since we had another concert to go to the next night, we all thought we better call it a night.

Saturday we went out to Framers Branch.  They had the Gin Blossoms and Styx's come play a concert.  It was a ton of fun.  It was one of those deals where you bring your lawn chair and find a spot and enjoy.  The tickets were only like $10 bucks each.  Blake and Andrea went with us.  It was a ton of fun.  We all went around and got the free stuff.  I gave my stuff to a lady sitting next to me who was a veteran.  She wasn't able to go around to get the stuff but wanted it.  I wasn't in any real shape to do it either but I thought that was the least I could do for someone who served our country.

Sunday I didn't do a thing.  I paid for going out to much again.  But, it was worth it.  It gets old doing nothing.  I feel for my husband. He likes to get out and go and I'm just not able to go as much as he would like.  I'm trying but then I have to rest and recoup.

Monday we had off as well and Andrea's family had us over for BBQ.  It was delicious.  Good food, good company and good conversation.

Now it's back to the real world. Hurting or not I have to go on with my life. You know what they say.  Use it or lose it.  At 41 I'm not quite ready to lose it. I know I will be in pain if I play to much but sometimes you just have to live life and take the consequences. You only live once and you only have so much time to make memories with the ones you love that will take you through the times when you are old and no longer able to do the thing you once could.

Hope you have a blessed week!

Jackie