Stride4Stroke

Ok, sorry I didn't get this post up yesterday. I was really busy at work and only work half days on Tuesdays and Thursdays now due to my school schedule and then after school I went home, did my homework, and off to Bunco I went! So, I'm here today to talk about strokes and what WE can do to help those who suffer from them.

I copied the following paragraph from Methodist Hospital's website:

"A stroke occurs every 45 seconds and kills every three minutes in the United States, making it the third leading cause of death for Americans. It is a major public health threat, and the statistics are even more alarming for Harris County, which has a higher stroke death rate than the national average. The only way to affect this alarming trend is to increase community awareness about this deadly and debilitating disease."

Never in a million years did I think my family would be faced with the reality of a stroke. My mom had her first stroke when she was only 39 years old! 39! You normally hear of strokes happening to older people and of course, never to your own family! My mom then had her second stroke just two months after her 10 year anniversary of her first stroke...at age 49...on Valentine's Day 2008. That's not all though...While in the ER for her stroke, a brain aneurysm was discovered. She under went brain surgery in May of 2008 at Methodist Hospital in Houston under the care of Dr.Rose and spent several days in the Neuro ICU. Our family is so thankful for Methodist Hospital. Their facility is up to date, clean, and the staff is amazing. My mom received some of the best patient care she has ever received there. And trust me, my mom has spent many weeks in other hospitals and never got the kind of care she did there.

The reason I'm writing all of this is to share information about the Stride4Stroke 5K Methodist Hospital sponsors every year. Last year was our first year to participate. We (my family) were still in shock about the recent events in our mom's life and we wanted to do something to help! We wanted to learn more about strokes and we also wanted to raise awareness about them. They can happen to anyone! At anytime! So my sister and I started a team called NeNe's Angels, NeNe is what her grandchildren call her. Last year we were able to get several friends and family members to walk with us and we raised several hundreds of dollars for this amazing cause.

I want to share the link to my donation page for Stride4Stroke. Please, if you have just a few spare dollars could you find it in your heart to donate to this beautiful cause? And if you're in the Houston area please feel free to sign up to join our team and walk this 5K with us! The walk takes place on the Rice University campus and it's just a gorgeous walk. I would never ever ask for donations for something I didn't think would make a difference...but I KNOW Methodist Hospital is making a difference in a stroke victims life every single day. So, please please...take a moment and visit my donation page in honor of my beautiful and strong mom!

Stride4Stroke 2009 - Aimee Torres



NeNe's real life angels!

Wordless Wednesday

(This is a picture of a stroke in the brain...more to follow tomorrow)

My Big Little Brother

Today is my "little" brother's 22nd birthday! I say little...he towers over me...so I should just say younger but it's just not the same. He used to introduce me to his friends as his "little big sister." My brother and I used to fight so much and bad! There were times I'd see how long I could hold a pillow over his little face knowing full well he couldn't breathe well due to his severe ashtma...I would pick on him when he was sick...which was 90% of the time. I remember my parents telling me that I would be sorry someday when he was bigger than me and could get me back!! I didn't think that would ever happen but it really didn't take long for him to shoot past all 4'11" of me! And yes, he did get me back! As a family we've all been through a lot and I have a soft little spot in my heart for my baby brother. I can't help it...even during times when I KNOW he should know better and that it's time for him to grow up...I still can't help but want to help him anyway I can. He's the baby of the family and I just want to baby him forever...act like he's still 13 and needs me to pick him up from school...needs me to take him to his friends house...that he just needs me at all...but he doesn't anymore. He's 22 now...has his own apartment with his girlfriend in Louisiana...has his own job...has his own truck...and his own life. But in that soft little part of my heart he'll always be my LITTLE BABY BROTHER! Love you Scotty!!

Bold & Italics...what more could you want?

Everything that is bold is true...everything in italics is me adding on to the statement!

Appearance:
- I am 5′4 or shorter.
- I think I'm ugly.
- I have many scars.
- I tan easily.
- I wish my hair was a different color.
- I have friends who have never seen my natural hair color.
- I have a tattoo.
- I am self-conscious about my appearance.
- I've had braces. (twice)
- I wear glasses. (sometimes)
- I'd get/have gotten plastic surgery if it were 100% safe, free, scar-free.
- I've been told I'm attractive by a complete stranger.
- I have had more than 2 piercings. (ears and bellybutton yeaaars ago, its gone now!)
- I have had piercings in places besides my ears.
- I have freckles. (on my shoulders and arms)

Family/Home Life:
- I've sworn at my parents. (never in a million years!)
- I've run away from home.
- I've been kicked out of the house.
- My biological parents are together.
- I have a sibling less than one year old.
- I want to have kids someday. (i have two bonus children who i adore but i want to have one with my husband)
- I have children.
- I've lost a child.

Embarrassment:
- I've slipped out a "LOL" in a spoken conversation.
- Disney movies still make me cry.
- I've snorted while laughing.
- I've laughed so hard I've cried.
- I've glued my hand to something.
- I've laughed till some kind of beverage came out of my nose.
- I've had my trousers rip in public.

Health:
- I was born with a disease/impairment.
- I've had stitches.
- I've broken a bone.
- I've had my tonsils removed. (I refused when my dr told me I needed mine removed)
- I've sat in a doctor's office with a friend.
- I've had my wisdom teeth removed. (the WORST experience of my LIFE, seriously.)
- I've had serious surgery.
- I've had chicken pox.

Traveling:
- I've driven over 200 miles in one day.
- I've been on a plane.
- I've been to Canada.
- I've been to Niagara Falls.
- I've been to Japan.
- I've been to Europe.
- I've been to Africa.

Experiences:
- I've been lost in my city.
- I've seen a shooting star.
- I've gone out in public in my pajamas.
- I've pushed all the buttons in a lift.
- I've been to a casino.
- I've been skydiving.
- I've gone skinny dipping.
- I've played spin the bottle.
- I've crashed a car.
- I've been skiing.
- I've been in a play.
- I've met someone in person from the Internet.
- I've caught a snowflake on my tongue.
- I've seen the Northern Lights. (I want to sooo bad)
- I've sat on a roof top at night.
- I've played chicken.
- I've seen the Rocky Horror Picture Show.
- I've eaten Sushi.
- I've been snowboarding.

Relationships:
- I'm single.
- I'm in a relationship.
- I'm available.
- I'm engaged.
- I'm married.
- I've gone on a blind date.
- I've been the dumpee more than the dumper.
- I have a fear of abandonment.
- I've been divorced.
- I've had feelings for someone who didn't have them back. (who hasn't?!)
- I've told someone I loved them when I didn't.
- I've told someone I didn't love them when I did.
- I've kept something from a past relationship.

Sexuality:
- I've had a crush on someone of the same gender.
- I've kissed a member of the same gender.
- I've had sex with someone of the same gender.
- I've had sex with more than one person at the same time.
- I am a cuddler.
- I've been kissed in the rain.
- I've had sex outdoors.
- I've hugged a stranger.
- I have kissed a stranger.
- I have had sex with a stranger.

Honesty/Crime:
- I've done something I promised someone else I wouldn't.
- I've done something I promised myself I wouldn't.
- I have lied to my parents about where I am.
- I am keeping a secret from the world.
- I've cheated while playing a game.
- I've cheated on a test.
- I've driven through a red light.
- I've witnessed a crime.
- I've been in a fist fight.
- I've been arrested.
- I've shoplifted.

Drugs/Alcohol:
- I've consumed alcohol.
- I smoke cigarettes.
- I smoke pot.
- I regularly drink.
- I've taken painkillers when I didn't need them.
- I've taken cough medicine when i wasn't sick.
- I've done hard drugs.
- I've been addicted to an illegal substance.
- I can't swallow pills.
- I can swallow about 5 pills at a time no problem. (I can take Advil/Zyrtec with no water)

Mental health:
- I have been diagnosed with depression.
- I shut others out when I'm depressed.
- I take anti-depressants.
- I have had an eating disorder.
- I've slept an entire day when I didn't need it. (my 1st year of college)
- I've hurt myself on purpose.
- I'm addicted to self harm.
- I've woken up crying. (from a dream)

Death:
- I'm afraid of dying.
- I hate funerals.
- I've seen someone dying. (During my EMT rotations...I actually did CPR on this lady...I was never the same afterwards.)
- I have attempted suicide.
- Someone close to me has attempted suicide.
- Someone close to me has committed suicide.

Random:
- I can sing well.
- I've stolen a tray from a fast food restaurant.
- I open up to others too easily.
- I watch the news.
- I don't kill bugs.
- I hate hearing songs that sacrifice meaning for sake of being able to rhyme.
- I swear regularly.
- I am a morning person.
- I paid for my mobile phone ring tone.
- I'm a snob about grammar.
- I am a sports fanatic.
- I play with my hair. (I used to twirl my hair when I was little but lately I've started doing it again...annoying!)
- I have/had "x"s in my screen name.
- I love being neat.
- I love Spam.
- I've copied more than 30 CD's in a day.
- I don't know how to shoot a gun.
- I am in love with love.
- I am guilty of tYpInG lIkE tHiS.
- I laugh at my own jokes.
- I eat fast food weekly.
- I believe in ghosts.
- I am online 24/7, even as an away message.
- I can't sleep if there is a spider in the room.
- I am really ticklish.
- I love white chocolate.
- I bite my nails.
- I play video games.
- I'm good at remembering faces.
- I'm good at remembering names.
- I'm good at remembering dates.
- I have no idea what I want to do for the rest of my life.


(I found this little meme here! You know...cus I need something else to do besides Math homework and Children's Lit homework!)

Gotta Love No Rules

My new bloggy friend and fellow Lush lover over at 4under3 tagged me to do a No Rules MeMe...so please...enjoy!

*I have been going to college faithfully since I graduated high school in 2001...I have only taken ONE semester off...and very few summer semesters off...and NO I am not working towards a medical degree. I'm just what I would like to call a career college student...except I also work full time. Maybe that's why it has taken me so long. Oh and the fact that I've completed my EMT-Basic (never tested for National Registry) and I was just short of completing my Surgical Tech certification when I suddenly decided the OR was not the place I wanted to spend the rest of my working years in.

*Ask anyone who has known me since I was young...I swore up and down I NEVER EVER wanted children and I certainly didn't see myself married. I was far too independent. I lived by myself and supported myself from 19 years old until I moved in with my hubs. I paid for my own school and all of my own bills. That ALL changed with I met my hubs. I think I shocked everyone who knew me...now I can't imagine my life without him or my little ladies.

*I'm under 5' tall...save your short jokes...I've heard them all. =)

*I am the middle child and I definitely live up to the "middle child syndrome."

*I'm left handed...but I do a lot of things like right handed people because both of my parents are right handed and taught me to do things their way. Things often look "backwards" to me because I am left handed...this must be the reason I absolutely cannot drive a stick shift car. My right side just can't coordinate things.

*I've had the same job for almost 7 years at an ambulance company. It started out as a part time job that my sister helped me get. She was my boss for a while before she moved on. This also happens to be my first real job. I had a co-op job my senior year of high school but only for one semester. I have worked in every department and every shift. I dispatched on the night shift for over a year...it was awful. I worked 6pm-6am every other Thursday and EVERY SINGLE Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night. Talk about no life. Then I dispatched 6am-6pm EVERY SINGLE Friday, Saturday, and Sunday...again, talk about no life. I now work in the billing department and have some what of a "normal" schedule.

*I am kind of a picky eater. I rarely eat red meat and never eat fish. I can't handle the texture. I don't like mustard or mayo so my sandwiches consist of bread, cheese, and turkey or ham...unless I'm at Subway...then I'll add veggies. I cannot stand the SMELL of ketchup...but I will eat it.

Ok, I believe that's enough about Me! I will be tagging...

Marissa
Ashley
Jamie
Erin

Favorite Things Thursday

I thought I would share a few of my favorite websites with my fellow bloggy friends. (all 2 of you ;)

First I would like to share my love for these things. There really isn't anything I can think of that can make a hot bath better! Oh except maybe these. That is of course if you like hot BUBBLE baths!

A new found love is this place. I just ordered the cutest address labels ever from them with my brand new last name. Not to mention...the prices are wonderful.

I also just recently found this place. This one is for all my fellow college students. With tuition going up 6% just about every semester it seems, I know books can be an issue. Well for me anyway. I was online buying my books for this semester and realized my math book would cost well over $100 so I began my search for a used cheaper one...and stumbled upon this website. I'm proud to say I paid $35.99 to RENT my math book for one semester. Awesome huh?

I made our Christmas cards here this year. They turned out awesome (besides the fact that they sort of cropped out part of my youngest daughter's body in one photo) That mistake was partly my fault because I waited so long to order them. The folks over there said they would be happy to give me a code so I could reorder them for free...I just didn't have time. There's nothing I love more than excellent customer service.

I also fell in love with this business. Tasha was responsible for my pre bridal pictures and they turned out amazing!! (Can I say that since they are pictures of me?! I don't mean it conceited.) Oh how I wish she did weddings...I would for sure have hired her for that too! Tasha is so friendly and absolutely adorable too! She had the cutest baby bump ever when we took these photos...now she has the cutest baby boy! Oh...and she patiently waited for me as I was running WAY behind that day. I highly recommend her to anyone looking for a photographer (in the Houston area) for their newborns, children, or families! I bet she'd even do another pre bridal session!

And last...but certainly not least...my secret addiction. I mean do I need to say more?! 1-click shopping?? Amazing...oh and maybe a little hard on the pocket book. =)

Well that's it for today. I'll share more at a later time...because I have TONS of favorite places bookmarked! Now go...go check out all these wonderful places!

Wordless Wednesday

(p.s. does anyone know what i can do so i don't have to paste my signature into each and every post i do?!) **Update** Thanks for the help guys!! I finally don't have to copy and paste my sig everytime!!

Sweet Abby

I've been following this blog for quite sometime and it just breaks my heart to see what this poor baby has to go through at such a young age. Abby is 4 years old and was adopted from Guatemala by the Riggs family at the tender age of 6 months. In July of 2008 sweet Abby was diagnosed with an aggressive form of Leukemia. Tomorrow, January 14, she begins her toughest, roughest, most brutal chemotherapy. Please take a moment to say a prayer for this gorgeous little girl and her family....I know I will.

Not Me! Monday

So I haven't been doing this recently...pretty much because I haven't had anything interesting to say! But I'm back this week...and I'm playing along with MckMama!

I was not totally excited when I found out my sister is pregnant again! Seriously, who gets THAT excited about being an aunt?

And following that...I wasn't the least bit jealous....because I'm totally (not) excited!

My feelings weren't hurt at all hurt when nobody in the house liked my chicken and dumplings last night that I spent ALL afternoon making except me. Nope, I'm a mama now...no reason to get hurt feelings over food!

I am not completely dreading going back to school on the 20th...I WANT to finish school so I should be glad.

And I haven't been sporting my glasses every day because I just haven't gotten around to ordering more contacts. That would be lazy...and that's totally not me!

Oh and one more thing...I'm NOT patiently waiting for MckMama to post her Not Me! Monday post!

Wordless Wednesday (plus a few words)

January marks the one year anniversary of my dad starting treatments for his bladder cancer! So far...so good! Love you Dad!!

My Throne

And this my friends is why I don't like the beginning of the month at work...stresses me out!



I'm not like a huge neat freak (my husband is) but I am VERY picky about my desk. I can tell if anyone has touched ANYTHING on my desk, I can tell if someone was in my office...it's ridiculous really...so having my desk look like this stresses me out to no end. It looks like this at the end/beginning of every month when I'm getting all of my billing statements out. I can't wait until I'm finished with this place...

Photobucket Survey

This is different..and a little entertaining. =) Just go to photobucket and search for your answers then paste the photo!

What's your first name?


Where do you live?


Where is your dream vacation?


What are you thinking about right now?


What makes you laugh?


Where do you work?


What are you addicted to?



When is your birthday?


What kind of car do you have?



One word to describe yourself.


What is your relationship status?


What cell phone do you have?


What is your favorite movie?


What is your favorite Hobby?



What is your favorite color?



What is your favorite time of day?



What is your favorite food?

&


What is your least favorite food?

Goodbye 2008...Hello 2009!

Wow, seems like the years are just flying by. I clearly remember ringing in Y2K! ha I was still in high school...I was at a friend's house party...just like we were every weekend...I even remember what I was wearing! A zebra print halter shirt if you must know...attractive, I know! Just a bunch of teenagers that would be graduating high school in 5 months...excited to be with friends...excited to begin their last semester of high school...excited about their college years...yet I think most of us were still curious as to what would happen as the clock struck midnight...I remember calling my mom a few minutes before midnight "just because"...and I think that "just because" was in fact all because I was scared! As the ball was dropping there was sort of a pause in the commotion in the house...as if everyone were holding their breath...after we realized it wasn't "the end of the world!" we were ok...and our night went on until the wee hours of the morning. I can't help was think about how much my life has changed since then. Since that time I've experienced "college life" in an unfamiliar city, life with roommates (btw I'm STILL best friends with one of my old roomies), life on my own, my own townhome, my own apartment, my own job that had to pay all of my OWN bills haha, heartbreak, and all types of other emotions. Since that time I've lost two grandparents...within a 10 month span, I've watched my dad kick bladder cancers butt, I've watched my mom fight for her life back, watched friends MY age fight brain cancer, and not to mention my own health issues in the past. 2008 was definitely bitter sweet. The bitter part would be watching my dad go through cancer treatment, watch my mom suffer from her second stroke and spend weeks in rehab to learn how to do little things we take for granted everyday...like walking, talking, and writing. Not long after that me and my family spent 12 hours in a hospital waiting room while my mom underwent brain surgery to remove an aneurysm. The sweet part is hearing that my dad's surgeon said his bladder looked cancer free, seeing my mom BREATHING after brain surgery, seeing my mom WALK and return to her life. And most definitely one of the sweetest things of 2008 was saying "I do" to my husband. I get to spend the rest of my life being loved by him and not to mention he gave me the best "bonus" children ever. There were times when I would just think "God are you serious?! Don't you think I've been through ENOUGH this year?" but now all I can say is "God you were SO good to me! I have my parents AND I got to marry my best friend!" This past year opened my eyes a lot! Now friends...life doesn't get any better than that right? Oh wait...yes it does...On January 1, 2009 I found out I'm going to be an aunt again!! Congrats sister and Ben!! I can't wait to spoil this new baby just as I've done to my precious Nathan.


Me (excuse my no makeup face), my sister Sherie', and my Mom


Our perfect wedding day