Saturday, October 31, 2009

MJ at the Bank!

Today me and my co-workers dressed up at Michael Jackson. Here are a few of the pictures we took! Happy Halloween!



Saturday, October 17, 2009

The Circus was in Town!


Wednesday evening I took Hunter to the Circus that came in town. The Vienna Senior has sponsored the circus coming to Vienna for many years now, but this was the first time I had gone. Both Hunter and I had a great time. I paid an extra $2 so we could sit front row. It was well worth it! We were close enough where we could of slapped an elephant's butt if we wanted to. I was afraid Hunter wouldn't be entertained enough to sit still for the 2 hour show...but he LOVED it! There was enough lights, music and action to keep his attention. The only thing he did not like was the clowns!! He hated them! He would cry every time one would come around. I tried to keep him from watching them by turning him around so he couldn't see them and would stop crying. But he was fascinated enough where he had to keep his eye on them but cry at the same time. I heard of people being afraid of clowns, but I didn't think a 1yr old would know any different! Anyway, it was a wonderful show and I can guarantee we will be back the next time it comes to town!

The Tent



Tigers


This guy had amazing balancing abilities!


Dog pushing a baby carriage



Hunter crying because of the clowns.


Ladies swinging on ropes


Hunter and I watching the Trapeze

The Elephants

Thursday, October 15, 2009

20 Years Ago Today!

It was October 15, 1989 (20 years ago today). I was 6 years old and had woke up that morning and began to wonder around the house. My mom had gone out with a friend the night before and her son was babysitting my brother and I. They had done this before, but this time it was different….my mom hadn’t come home. I remember pacing the house wondering why my mom wasn’t there. I went and woke my brother and the babysitter up and told them I think there is something wrong. It wasn’t minutes later and there was a knock on the door….it was the parent’s of my mom’s friend coming to tell us that they had been in a terrible car accident. There wasn’t time to comprehend what had happened, we had to pack our bags and leave with them. The next days and weeks were like a whirlwind. Since we lived in Rockport, MO (top North-West corner of Missouri) at the time, we didn’t have our family there to help watch my brother and I since they all lived in Mid-Mo. I did have the support of my Dad who lived in Nebraska and my grandparents who lived in Iowa. Ryan and I were bounced from house to house. We stayed with my grandparents, friends, teachers, etc. Everyone in the community was reaching out to help us.

In the mean time, my mom was in a hospital in Omaha, Nebraska fighting for her life. The accident happened as they were heading home that evening. Mom was asleep in the passenger seat and her friend was driving the car. Her friend fell asleep at the wheel and failed to stop at an intersection. They went thru a fence, struck a tree, and rolled the vehicle multiple times. And that is where they laid for 4.5 hours before they were found. My mom suffered a severe head injury and was in a coma for 4 days. Many people said she was unrecognizable because of all the swelling. Because of the trauma, mom had to re-learn a lot of everyday things. She was almost in a child-like state of mind before she was rehabilitated. I don’t know how long it was before Ryan and I got to see her in the hospital, but it was quite awhile. The first time we saw her they actually wheeled her out into the waiting room, all I could do was cry. Seeing my mom in a helpless state with tubes coming out of her was frightening. I was afraid to hug her…touch her…and even look at her. It wasn’t the same woman I remembered.

My mom was in the Omaha Hospital for over a month before she was approved to be transferred to Rusk Rehabilitation Center in Columbia, MO. Rusk has an excellent reputation for rehab, plus it was closer to our family. Mom worked for a Company called Excel at the time. Excel was kind enough to let us use their private jet to fly us from Omaha to Columbia because mom wasn’t able to handle a long car ride. When mom was transferred to Columbia, Ryan and I moved in with my Grandma Hollis in Vienna. Mom spent over another month in Rusk hospital before she was released just before Christmas to move in with my Grandma as well.

We lived at my Grandma’s house for over a year while my mom continued to recover before we moved back to our home in Rockport. Eight months later, my mom decided that we would move back closer to the family so we bought a house in Jefferson City. Mom said if it wasn’t for the accident, we probably would have never moved from Rockport. It is crazy how life works. One day you’re traveling down a path and then a life changing event happens that causes you to veer in a different direction. I hate that my mom had to go thru such a tragic accident but I am grateful that it has lead me to where I am today.

Mom says she knows she isn’t the same woman she was before the accident, but to me she is no different because she has always been a wonderful mom and I think she did a damn good job raising me. I am grateful she is alive.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Weekend Recap!

Friday Evening: Andy, Hunter and I headed to Columbia. We first went to Bass Pro where Andy went on a shopping spree. He should now be fully stocked for hunting season. I hope anyway! Afterwards we went over to HuHots for some supper. It was excellent as always.

Saturday: I had to work again. Which ended up being exciting when a customer’s truck caught on fire in our parking lot and we had to call 911 to have it put out. After work I went to a local craft sale in town. Believe it or not, but I didn’t buy anything. I don’t know if it was because I was so depressed on how much money Andy spent the night before, but I walked away empty handed. I then went over to Kevin and Kelly’s new house because they were moving in and Andy and Hunter were over there helping. By the time I got there they already had everything moved. I ended up taking Hunter home because he was due for a nap.

That evening we had a fish fry with some friends and family. It was a small get together where Andy could catch up with some old friends he worked with at ABB. The food was good as always and Hunter enjoyed playing in all the dirt.

On Sunday Hunter and I went with the Hollis family on a hayride to Brinktown for their fall supper. Hunter was very calm on the hayride there and was close enough to fall asleep, but wouldn’t give in. By the time we got there he was ready to get down and explore. We waited in the food line for awhile, but by the time we got some food Hunter was hungry and letting everyone know it. I couldn’t feed him fast enough. After eating we wondered around and visited with people then hoped back on the hayride for our trip home. Hunter slept the whole way! We got back to my uncle’s lake house where we drank warm cider and took family pictures.

Hunter on a saddle

My Brother Ryan and Hunter


Hunter sitting on some hay bales

Me, Ryan, Hunter and my mom
Monday was Columbus day so I had the day off. I went on a shopping trip at the lake to get me some new winter clothes. Needless to say, 90% of the clothes I bought were for Hunter. I couldn’t resist! I even bought him his Halloween costume, and it wasn’t any of the previous ones I was considering. I ended up getting him a St. Bernard costume. I couldn’t resist. Andy wants a St. Bernard so bad, so this is the closest he is going to get to it. We tried it on him last night, and it is so cute!

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Another HuHot Lover!

While Hunter has been to HuHot's before (when he was about 2 months old), this was the first time he actually got to eat the food. He seems to enjoy it....especially the crab rangoon!

Friday, October 9, 2009

Costumes

I am having a really hard time finding Hunter's Halloween costume. He is at the age where he is too old for the animal costumes because they make him look like a baby and then I don't care for many of the older costumes. I have found three that I am debating on. Help me out here, which one do you like!

Monday, October 5, 2009

Weekend Recap!

Friday after work Hunter and I headed home in hopes that Andy would want to go to HuHots for supper. Well we waited and waited....at about 8 o'clock I decided it was to late the make the trip. So when Andy finally got home we warmed up left over chicken pot pie. Not nearly as good as HuHots, but it will do!

Saturday I had to work until noon. Afterwards we headed to a wedding in Vienna. It was very beautiful and I loved the bride's dress. I can't wait to see how their pictures turn out! We then went to the reception where we visited with friends, had an excellent dinner and then danced the night away.

Sunday we had the Fall Social for our church. I was an official dishwasher! Ohhh....Ahhhh! I know, but someone had to do it. As soon as my shift was ending, Andy's was beginning so he handed Hunter off to me. By the time we made it home, Hunter was asleep. He took quite a long nap. When he finally woke, I fed him some food from the social and then we headed down to Kevin and Kelly's new house. Wow, has it turned out beautiful! I can't wait to see the completed project which should be this weekend!

That evening Andy and his brother went hunting on the farm. One of them walked away with a big buck....and it wasn't Andy! Congrats Kevin, you were long over due!

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Hunter's 12 Month Appointment

Yesterday Hunter had his one year check up appointment. He weighed in at 24lbs 3oz (70%), he was 29.5 inches long (40%) and I can't remember how big his head was, but it was at 97%. They first priked his toe to get some blood to check his iron. This didn't bother him one bit, and he was fasinatied with the Scooby Do band-aid they put on his toe afterwards. The doctor check him over and thought he looked great. The nurses then came back in to give him his shots. Boy did he ever scream. Poor thing! The cure seemed to be giving him his sippy cup and gold fish crackers. He goes back in another 3 months to get some more shots.