Whoa...slow down life.

Wow, how time flies! Well, we made it back from El Paso safe and sound...after a 4 hour flight delay and a dust storm or sand storm...whatever you want to call it. It was weird...I've never seen anything like it. But that's not why our flight was delayed....the plane originated out of Chicago and evidentally Chicago was having some issues...so we spent extra time in El Paso. It seems everytime we go to Manny's parents house one of the girls gets sick! So this time was no exception...Autumn came down with a stomach bug and spent one whole day on the couch and as you know Autumn is not one to just be still!! Caily also came down with a runny nose and cough. We got home after close to midnight on the 21st and my daddy turned 50 on the 22nd! Can't believe my dad is 50!! Wow! We all went to dinner to celebrate that on Saturday and Manny returned to work on Sunday. Me and the girls finished up our Christmas shopping and had lunch at Chili's. We celebrated Christmas on the 24th with the girls since Manny had to work Christmas day...the girls seemed to enjoy their new things and I know I did! Manny bought me a laptop for school!! Christmas morning I woke up feeling like I had been hit by an 18-wheeler. I had zero energy, my whole body ached, I had fever, dizzy, tired...I managed to bake an apple pie and cookies to take to my dad's house and made it over there...looking a bit frazzled...but none the less...we made it! I was still terribly ill Wednesday and couldn't return to work as planned...so I stayed home in bed and Manny had to go get his allergy shot so he and the girls went to the dr...well an hour later he called asking me to go get the girls because he had a seizure at the dr's office and an ambulance was on it's way to get him! I totally freaked...threw on the first items of clothing i could find...hurried to the dr's office to get the girls and followed the ambulance to the hospital. My sister came and got the girls for us from the hospital and we waited....and waited...and waited...might I suggest you never go to Memorial Hermann Southeast Hosp if you have a seizure...because we were NEVER seen....and we were there for 5 or 6 hours. We finally left...and he went to the dr yesterday...had a cat scan today...and has an EEG scheduled for Jan 7th. While he was in the med center the daycare called and Caily now has fever and has been vomiting. Guess the stomach bug is going around the Torres house! So please say a prayer for Manny's health! I need him...and the girls need him...and we need him healthy. I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! and I hope your New Year is even better!

My Daddy - The Cancer Beater

Just an update...My dad had surgery this morning and the dr only found one small tumor and he removed it and then there was a spot that was red and irritated but the dr believes thats where the large tumor they removed last time was...so he just took a biopsy just in case. He thinks it's just like that because it hasn't completely healed from the previous surgery. I haven't actually talked to my dad yet because he was still in recovery but I know he'll be happy with the outcome. He gets to go home tonight and gets to have the cath removed tomorrow!! I KNOW he'll be very thankful for that. Once the pathology reports come back from the biopsy they will decide the dosage for his biological therapy and begin that. My dad is one of those pt's that dr's and nurses run from. ;) Like one time he went to the doctor with me when I was having a lot of stomach problems and we were in the exam room waiting for the dr and my dad was going through every drawer and pulling out the stuff out saying "I wonder what this is for?!" and he was playing with the model spine and broke it and said "oops she has a broken back now!" so yeah...thats my dad!! Thank you to everyone who has been praying. You just don't know how much it means to me and my family!!

Heavens New Angels

It's with a heavy heart that I write this blog. I'm writing to inform you that Heaven has gained two new angels in the past 24 hours.
First, a long time family friend has lost his brother and best friend, a mom has lost her child, and many friends have lost a happy and full of life friend. Darrell Owens passed away this morning following a tragic accident on Friday morning. He was hit by a SUV in Odessa, TX where he was working and he fought heroically for his life until God took him home early this morning. I pray for his family...I pray they find peace in their hearts soon.
Second, Dene (Jennifer as most of you know her by) Alter's mom, Ms. Sherry as we all called her, passed away Sunday morning in her sleep. I also pray for her family...I pray her and her sister's, neice, and father can find the strength to carry on without Ms.Sherry!
Please take a moment and send a prayer up for both of these families. This is something that I hope nobody has to ever face. I know it seems like I've been asking for a lot of prayers lately but the power of prayer is so amazing and touches people in ways we may never know.

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
(Isaiah 40:29-31)

Busy Time of Year

Seems like this year has flown by! I don't really know where the year has gone...a lot of really great things have happened and some not so great things.

Let's see...yesterday was Manny's 29th birthday! Happy Birthday baby!! Funny story accompanies his birthday cake. I went to the store to buy candles for cake mix and all that stuff and while I was there I saw the number candles and I decided to get just the two numbers instead of a pack cus a pack only has 24 candles in it...anyway I'm thinking to myself "ok he's 28" so I bought a 2 and an 8...and when I got home I thought to myself "right, he's 28 but he'll BE 29!" Duh! I hate blonde moments like that!! So needless to say I had to make a trip to the store for a number 9 candle! It's ok though...his marble cake turned out yummy (so him and candace tell me, i haven't eaten any) and I also made him some frozen oreo cupcakes.

My dad leaves for his trip tomorrow! The doctor wanted to do surgery this week but my dad said "Nope, I'm going on my trip first!" So off he goes tomorrow morning...He'll be back on the Dec 10th and has his surgery on Dec 12th...send a prayer or ten up for him next Wednesday! Let's pray all the cancer was removed last time and all we'll have to do from now on is the treatment! I will keep everyone posted.

Next Tuesday I will officially be FINISHED with my Associates of Arts and I start "big kid college" in January. I know it may not seem like much to other people but this is something I've been waiting for and if I must say so myself...I'm pretty damn proud of ME! I was a little disappointed last week when I found out I MISSED the deadline for graduation so I won't technically get my diploma until after NEXT semester but it won't affect me transferring. I just won't get my piece of paper. Hey, I've been working on it for 6 years...what's one more semester, right?! ;)

We leave on December 15 to go visit Manny's family in El Paso. We'll be back on the 21st. The girls are so excited to go see Grandma and PoPo!! It's always nice to get away for awhile.

Christmas is sneaking up on us QUICKLY! I'm excited. I just like the feeling of Christmas. We hung up our Christmas lights on the house last week and Manny finished them yesterday...we were two strands short!! It looks so pretty. I'll post some pics soon. I'm taking the girls to Snow in the Park tomorrow evening with a new friend from school and her little girl...and of course Sherie' and Nate!

Well, that's about all that's going on in the Torres World! I hope everyone is doing well.

But it's only $1

Our baby girl Autumn finally lost her first tooth yesterday!! Poor baby has been WAITING for this day since Caily lost her first tooth last year....she's steadily been pulling on those bottom teeth...haha But finally it got loose and the "big girl" tooth had already broke the gums and was waiting for it's place. Caily informed us that she wants a hammer so she can knock all her teeth out so she can get money from the tooth fairy too! hahah little extreme dont ya think?! Anyway...the tooth fairy visited Autumn last night and this morning she came running into our bedroom right as I was getting out of bed and she said "I GOT $2 DOLLARS!" So I tell her how cool that is and I go into their room to get their clothes ready and she says again "I got $2...Caily got more." So I look down and I'm like "honey, that's a 5 dollar bill and a 1 dollar bill so you have 6 dollars!" She got a lot happier but still said "But it's only two dollars!" Hahaha guess she doesn't grasp that just cus it's one piece of paper doesn't mean it's only one dollar! And what happened when I was a kid...I didn't get $6! =) Just wanted to share another milestone in our girls lives! I'll post a pic soon!

Santa can see EVERYTHING?!

Funny story...for everyone who knows Autumn, you know how random she can be and the story that follows almost had me on the floor laughing....

So Manny was at work last night and the girls and I were doing our normal routine. I was brushing Caily's hair while Autumn was drying off from her shower and Caily is sitting there apologizing for her and her sisters actions before bath time..which included them JUMPING full force on their beds to a song off of the Robots soundtrack...anyway...I accept the apology (which I know I only got because they wanted a snack later! haha) and I tell them they better be good because Santa is watching them! Well I hear Autumn shriek and wrap her towel around her tightly and scream "OMG SANTA CAN SEE ME NAKED?!" lol It took everything I had not to fall over! I promptly explained Santa DOES NOT watch you when you are showering or getting dressed...just when you're playing, at school, or bedtime. A little bit later I am hanging laundry up in their closet and I asked Autumn to try on a pair of pants to see if they still fit so she quickly takes her pj shorts off and grabs the pants and says "Santa better not be watching right now!" haha She really is too funny and I just love the innocence in children...makes me wish I were little again!

Life & It's Unexpected Ways

So...I thought I would start a blog...I don't really know why but I felt compelled to do so. Maybe this will be easier for family to stay in touch.

Please keep those prayers coming for my dad! Anyone who reads my Myspace blog knows the deal!

On a lighter and brighter note...the wedding plans are coming along wonderfully! We've picked our location...Ella's Garden. It's beautiful and has lots of trees (Manny's favorite) and water features and such. I already got my wedding dress...which is also beautiful I must say.

The girls are doing great in school. Caily is a reading whizz and Autumn is learning so much. We had signed them up for Girl Scouts...but lets just say that didn't work out. Hey Aunt Donna - I could have used your letter writing skills for that one! Long story..if you're really interested in knowing, let me know. We're scoping out some other activities for them. Maybe Spring Soccer through the YMCA or something. It's all just a lot with both of our schedules. Manny has started working at Bayshore Hospital as a tech in the ER as a second job. I'm trucking right along with school. I will FINALLY be attending UHCL in the Spring '08. This is a pretty big deal to me seeing as I've been TRYING for a very long time to reach this point in my life. With the love and support from Manny, I'm now able to do this. (hince the second job)

Not too much else is going on. A big CONGRATS to my BFF, Sherie', for now being SMOKE FREE!! Yay Sister! I know how hard it was for her but she did it...now 1 down 2 to go. (hint hint mom & dad) Also a big CONGRATS to my other BFF, Candace, for her engagement and upcoming wedding. Wow, we're getting old.

So, that's it for now. I'll try to post as often as I remember. ;)