A broken heart

After having a wonderful Sunday day date with my daughter, I was even more excited to see my Daddy that night.  We have been trying to figure out for a few months now when a good time would be for him to come out to help with a few house projects.  I not only wanted to spend some time with my Daddio, but he had been wanting to help put the finished touches on his grandsons rooms for a while now.  On a whim, Saturday night he text me to let me know he would be out Sunday night after work.  I was excited, to say the least, not knowing what lay ahead for both of us.

Sunday even he arrived, with no hitches, and we both stayed up a little too late talking about our to-do list was while he was here.  I still had no idea at this point even how long he was going to stay.  It was just nice to have him with us, so I didn't care.  We finally got to a point where I had to get Kar down for her night-night.  We were both going to need our rest, we just didn't know it yet.  The next day would inevitably be one of the hardest days I have had to endure.  There are only 2 other times in my life that I can think I have felt close to this, but I'm not sure that they can even be ranked in the same category.  Either way, each time has shaped my life in some way, Monday morning, July 21 would be no different.

Monday morning started out just as another Monday morning, however it wouldn't stay that way very long.  It was just a few minutes before I was to leave for work that I knew something was wrong.  I didn't know it at the time, but my Dad was in the beginning stages of having a heart attack.  I don't want to relive all of the moments, I'm not sure that I could if I wanted to anymore.  At this point, I am just extremely grateful that I was home and that my Dad was at my house, and not at home.  This must seem like a strange thing to be thankful for, but if you know where I grew up you would understand.  If Dad was back at his home, I would of been getting a phone call that I don't want to get for a very long time.

I am grateful that the Ambulance and crew were at my house within a few minutes of calling 911.  I am thankful that my daughter was able to sleep thru the crazyness and be whisked away by her babysitter before she was able to see anything.  I am thankful for my husband rushing to be by my side and be strong for me when I was not able.  I am thankful that the man sent out by the ER doctor to get me for information was, not just a Chaplain, but a Methodist Pastor.  I grew up in a Methodist church, so a little piece of home was there when I needed it.  I am thankful for Pastor John (as I later found out his name) was able to guide me with each step, to direct us thru the hospital that holds more people than what my hometown's population is, and to be able to check in on my Dad as he was undergoing his "procedure".  I am thankful for the Doctors, nurses, and staff that moved so quickly to fix my Dad's broken heart.  I am extremely thankful for Renee, the CCU nurse that was assigned to my Dad.  She was wonderful, not only to my Dad, but to me and my family as we sat by his bedside as much as were were allowed to.  Also, to Pastor Steve and congregation at Reynoldsburg Baptist Church, who blessed us in ways I never expected.  To the many people on Facebook that sent prayers, it was felt and I can not thank everyone enough.

After a 3 days in the CCU unit, Dad was released to a "step-down" unit.  I felt that now was a good time, with him being a big stronger, that a little visitor would do him some good.  This is the best cardiac rehab that Columbus has to offer.  

It was a few days later that my Dad was released.  A few days of rest was needed at my house before he was able to make the long trip back to PA, but I was glad for the few extra days to have him at my house.  I needed him there, with me.  I needed to see him in my house, okay, breathing, living.  I needed to make sure that my nightmare was now over and I could try to get back to a "normal" day again.  

I don't think that things will ever be "normal" again for me, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.  I've already made some decisions, some changes.  As life moves forward, we live each day for today.  As my Seester said it best....Give someone a hug today, tell them you love them.   

Breakfast with Cinderella

Breakfast with Cinderella

Gimmy and I came to the conclusion that Pappy had a heart attack so that he could have breakfast with Cinderella.  It was that or he just just wanted to see his "baby" all dressed up like Princess Aunt Holly.

All in all, it was a good morning.  Karley had a great time, so that is all that matters.

Cinderella

While out on a date with my husband, I spotted a small magazine at our favorite spot and brought it home to check out.  It was a brochure for the Lancaster Festival.  I had never heard of this before, so I decided to read it cover to cover.  I was so impressed and excited at the same time.  

The OU Lancaster Campus was working in conjunction with the festival to put on a play.  Cinderella.  Karley, being the princess loving girl that she is, would love this!  When we arrived home from PA, I bought her and I a ticket.  This was to be a surprise, so she had no idea until the night before.

Saturday night I decided to let her in on the secret.  She was going to a play to watch Cinderella.  After church, we headed down to the OU Lancaster campus for our 2:00pm call time.  It was pretty funny because she fell asleep on the way down, but as soon as I said "Karley, wake up.  We are here"  she jerked her head up so fast and says "Yes, Mommy!  Where is Cinderella?"

When we first entered the building a lady greeted us with getting us to enter a raffle to win "Breakfast with Cinderella", but we were on a mission to find the ladies room.  (This part will be important to the story later)After taking care of business, we found our seats and waited for the show to begin.  I never imagined how my daughter would turn a play into her thinking she was going to "play with Cinderella"!  I had to explain this to her that it was like a movie in real life and we would get to see Cinderella soon.  Seeing her was really all this girl wanted to do.

Patiently waiting for the show to start.

Karley did great for the first half of the play.  During intermission we stretched out legs and went for a small walk.  I had overheard people talking about cupcakes in the library for everyone.  Karley and I went to get in line for our cupcakes when I was approached again about entering the raffle.  I quickly enter my info and threw my ticket in the bucket.  Then I found out you had to pay for the cupcakes, so we went back to our seats, and completely forgot about the raffle.

The 2nd half of the play started and Karley started to get a little restless.  I was thinking that as soon as the play ended we would head for the door and quickly.  She surprised me and didn't want to leave.  She wast waiting to see Cinderella.  It was then that they announced the winners of the raffle.  They called the first name, not ours.  I was bummed, but just was ready to go.  Then the guy announced the 2nd winner for the show....Kristen Byers!  I won, I won!! 

I had won 2 tickets to "Breakfast with Cinderella and Prince Charming".  I knew Karley would be so excited.  I couldn't wait to take her.  Because I had to fill out some information for our tickets it was a little bit till we were able to leave.  It was perfect timing tho because when we went around the corner Cinderella had come out.  Karley was able to get her photo taken with Cinderella, and she even got her autograph. 

This was one of Evil-Stepsisters.  Karley loved her make-up.

It was a great Mommy-Daughter date.  

Happy Birthday, America

Since Jose is working on building his acting career, we have both decided to hold off on any week long vacation.  He is using most of his time for his filming and I just take a day off here and there.  Since the 4th of July fell on a Friday this summer, we decided to take Thursday off so that we could have a mini-vacation to PA to visit family.  I had taken Karley in the previous weekend and Bub had to work, so it was just Jose, myself, and Cameron on the ride in on Thursday afternoon.

Friday morning Jose and I took Karley on the bike trail that my hometown is none for.  It's one of those things that I took for granted growing up and didn't venture out on more often.  This turned out to be a teeny-tiny adventure for the 3 of us.  We barely made it up the hill and Karley was "tired" and "dizzy".

Here we are before we set off to tackle the trail.

Being the awesome mom that I am, I fully bribed my daughter with ice cream and lollipops if she just made it to the bridge.  We made it!  And with every peddle back to the van she told us she wanted ice cream, the chocolate one.

This is the view into my hometown.  It was a beautiful day for a ride.  I do miss the county life.

 Someone was very tired and didn't want her photo taken anymore.

After our ice cream treat, we headed back up to my parent's house for some homemade pizza and playtime with the cousins.

Ben and I have a race to the top of the hillside.  I didn't win.  :(

This is the view from the top of the field behind where my parents current live.  

Here is the hill that we all just raced up.  The kids wanted to race again, I just rested at the top.  Oh to be young again.  

The sunsets at this place are amazing.  My camera doesn't do it justice to the view that we actually get to take in.  This will (hopefully) be the last time I will see a Coon Hollow sunset.

It's just not the 4th without ending the day with a campfire and s'mores.

Right after Aron was told to hold his marshmallow up or he will catch is on fire....this happened.

Jose and I started out the 5th with a bike ride down a part of the trail that is just below my parents place.  We had a nice little ride, just the two of us.  He wants to conquer the 10 miles to Ohiopyle the next time we come in.  I need to be in better shape before that happens, and need a much more padded seat.  ;)

After breakfast we headed up to my Uncle Wally's for a cookout.  My cousin brought in her dogs.  Karley liked them, but only if they were listening to her commands.  lol

Nathan is the best cousin ever!!  He took all the kids for a spin around the block in his Mustang.  They loved it.  I'm just glad that he didn't go Dukes of Hazzard with them in the car like he did earlier with my husband and brother.  

Gommy's first selfie.  I miss this woman!!!!

Karley wanted in on the selfie action too.

For our trip home we stopped at my Uncle Skip's house.  While I was inside talking with my cousins, Jose took the kids outside on the deck.  The next thing I know, I was being told that my daughter was in the hot tub.  I guess she "jumped" right in.  I'm glad my uncle doesn't care about having naked pre-schoolers in the tub.  

Karley and Tesla having a blast.  I think they were in here for a good hour or more.

On the way back to Ohio we stopped at Pappy's work to give our goodbye hugs and kisses.  I made a small pit stop and when I came out my Dad was putting on his gear and heading into the gun safe.  Next thing I know we were heading outside to a stand for Cameron to have his first clay pigeon shooting lesson.

Cameron did one shot and that was enough for him.  Dad was up next.

I hadn't planned on shooting seeing that the last time I picked up a gun was about 6 years ago and that was just for target practice.  I have only atempted skeet shooting twice before and it really wasn't my thing.  But when in Rome.  I ended up getting 3/4.  Not to shabby.

Thanks, Daddio!  Perfect ending to a great trip.