2012 a year in review...

Sorry no pictures with this post...

A year in review...well sort of:

Ryan and I celebrated 6 years of wedded bliss with a weekend away at the St Regis in Monarch Beach, CA (Laguna).  We love being married and everyday is an adventure for us.

I continued on with Grad school and started my field work (internship) this fall at Brea Olinda High School in the counseling department....I am getting so close to graduating...HURRY UP MAY!!!!

Ryan got accepted in the graduate program at Stanford Univeristy..he begins his classes in January!
FEAR THE TREE!

We traveled to Tahoe for a week this summer to attend my 20 year High School Reunion....wow, has it been that long?  We had a great time while in Tahoe....we jet skied, Kayaked, went sailing, got sun burnt and met up with old friends.  It was quite the blessing!

We finally made it to a USC Homecoming game! That was a fun day!

Ryan bought a road bike and has been enjoying the days on the bike trials.....his goal is to do the AMTRAK century ride. 

I am planning on walking in the Avon Breast Cancer 2 day walk in San Francisco this coming fall....be on the look out for sponsorship opportunities.

We traveled to San Francisco on a business trip for Ryan.  While there we were able to spend time with our dear friends Kim and Jefferson!  We toured the bay on a boat, ate clam chowder and even made a quick trip to Sonoma! 

We bought a Nissan Leaf and have gone green!  No more gas for Ryan as he travels back and forth to work....this car is so much fun to drive!  If you  havent already..GO TEST DRIVE ONE!!!

I continued working with Young Life at Foothill High School.....I love the ministry of Young Life and am blessed to be a part of it still.....can you believe my first Young Life event was in 1988?  Freshman year of high school at the Black Bart Raft Race!  Oh the memories!


Its been a busy year with a lot of ups and downs.  Through it all we have grown closer together and closer to God.  We are looking forward to 2013...knowing it will be filled with all sorts of fun adventures!  Stanford, Graduation, turning 39 and 36, Young Life, with any luck a vacation, fun time with Bozley. 

an update

I have no pictures to post with this post as this is a hard one for me.

Its a post about my mom...it has been a rough month or so for her.

3 weeks ago, mom was rushed to the ER because she had a Seizure.  Her first one..that we know of.  It was scary for me....not knowing the details of what had happened.  They drew blood, ran urine samples, did a chest x-ray and x-ray of the stomach.  Everything came back fine with the exception of a UTI.  Not uncommon for LAte Stage Alzheimer's patients to have UTI's.  In fact I would have been shocked if her results came back negative for a UTI.  They released my mom and gave her a prescription for an antibiotic.

About a week ago I got a phone call from the hospital telling me that the urine sample they took grew another bacteria and that it was resistant to the previous antibiotic.  So mom went on another antibiotic.  The thing you need to know about late stage alzheimers is that most patients dont respond to antibiotics.  The body is giving up and more than likely will not heal.  We still dont know if the infection has cleared up.

Then this weekend I get a call from her caregivers telling me that the nurse took a  look at mom and heard fluid build up in right lung.  It could be the start of Pneumonia or could be nothing.  Not wanting to rush my mom to the ER or Urgent care I opted to wait to have her doctor see her.  her doctor will be there sometime tomorrow.

This is where I am having the hard time.....I have decided that I do not want my mom to go on any other antibiotics.  I want nature to take its course.....I want the pain managed, but do not want to prolong this any further.  I feel like a horrible daughter.....I just want my mom to be at peace.  I want the Lord to usher her home....I long for the day when she is no longer suffering.

I feel alone in this decision....as it is my decision to make.  I am her only child.  I wish this burden didnt fall on me solely.  But it does......I have my husband to help walk with me through this.  Ihave God ( although he feels distant right now..I know he is here with me)  I know I have the support of my moms siblings....I just wish it didnt fall on me.

Tomorrow I meet with the doctor....No antibiotics...that is my decision.   I want to discuss hospice care and pain management....there is so much.

I miss my mom, although she is here physically...she is not here.  She cannot speak, she cannot care for herself ( thank goodness for her caregivers), I want to know that I am doing the best thing for her.....

God I fully trust you! Help me make the right choice!

Stanford University

My AMAZING husband recently gained admission into The Stanford University Graduate Program.  His classes begin on January 7, 2013.  For all of those asking...no, we are not moving!  Ryan is doing all of his course work online! 

In the mean time.....I am now cheering for The Stanford Cardinal.....breaks my heart to root against USC..but it has to be done! 

FEAR THE TREE!   GO CARDINAL

So Proud of you Ryan....you are going to do great things!

Most wonderful time if the year!

Most would say that the holiday season is the best time of year.....while I agree to an extent...USC Football Season is the most wonderful time of year for me! 

We are looking forward to a quick road trip mid September to Palo Alto to watch the TROJANS beat the farm!!!! (Stanford)

FIGHT ON!!!!!

North Tahoe High School Class of 1992 - 20 Year Reunion

What a fun weekend....all planning and preparation, paid off!  It was so good to see so many friendly faces and to see that my fellow classmates are doing well!

I went into this weekend nervous and anxious...at one point I didnt even want to go.  Some of the memories I have of High School are not the most fun!  Needless to say we had a class just like everyone else....we had the cool kids, the jocks, the band geeks, the nerds and everything in between!  There were those guys that made your life a living hell....the ones that you never wanted to see again.  Yet they showed up and it wasn't that bad...actually it was nice to see them! 

I am looking forward to the next reunion...hoping it doesnt take another 20 years!

Went to Tahoe to celebrate my 20 year High School Reunion!   

 

 

Dinner at Hacienda Del Lago

Liquid courage

Old friends are the best ones!!!

Go Lakers!

Lake Tahoe 2012

Fanette Island...Emerald Bay

Ryan and I had the chance to get away for a few days.  We drove up to Tahoe to attend my 20 year high school reunion.  Ryan and I have been to Tahoe once before, but it was only for one night.  This time we stayed in Squaw Valley for 3 nights and had some great times on the lake! The weather was beautiful and even had Thunder and lightening our last night.  I never appreciated the beauty of Tahoe when I was growing up there.....the minute we drove up and saw the lake for the first time....it took my breathe away!   I miss Tahoe....would never want to love there again..but its a nice place to visit!

Over looking Emerald Bay

Ryan and Emerald Bay

Sand Harbor on the Nevada side....perfect place for Jet skiing, Kayaking and swimming

We had some fun adventures on the Jet ski

Went sailing around the west shore...although there was no wind...so we motored around the west shore

Enjoying the sun and the wind....

is this our new house?

Or maybe this one?

This one?

Nope..this one!

So fun!

Flur De Lac...where they filmed The Godfather

Crsystal blue waters

Clear waters....love them!!!!

Yeah...Lake Tahoe!