Happy Birthday Mom!!

Today, I had the privilege of celebrating yet another birthday of the single most influential person in my life...my mama!

She, along with my father, are the reasons I'm who I am today.

 I owe her so much for my success in life. Hours upon hours sitting at my bedside, keeping me awake in the elementary/middle/high school years, helping me to study for my tests. The projects she helped me do...The school events she didn't miss. 

The dance lessons, pageants, and proms she helped me me get ready for. 

The cheerleading practices, games, and competitions she coached at....The tumbling lessons (both professional and in the front yard) she endured.

This is the most selfless, most family-driven, and most dedicated person I know. She has set SUCH a shining example for the mother I hope to one day be.

 

To my knowledge, not a day has gone by that I haven't spoken to her. More often than not,  asking for her advice on something.

 This advice has changed drastically over the years, and I'm sure it will continue to evolve.

  It used to be choosing which dress to put on my baby dolls...then it became which dress to wear on my first day of school...then on my first date...then to prom...and, finally, THE dress to wear on my wedding day.

 She was the first person I called when I got engaged, the first person that will know when I'm pregnant (although I have a feeling she will already be able to tell).

Through the years, she's stuck by my side, guiding me in the right direction. Never with an iron fist either...maybe a convincing voice, however.  But I wouldn't trade our times together for anything in the world. 

I hope she sees what she's done...her years of raising babies were well spent. I have an amazing little brother as well. As her marriage? The one I strive to have in 30 years.

I feel like the luckiest daughter in the world, and when I say my prayers, I thank God for blessing me with the mother and family that He did.

 Happy Birthday, Mom! I love you very much.

Shaking it!

This is my friend Hollie (read her awesome blog here)... and we have been BREAKING IT DOWN lately. I'm talking about no-holds-barred booty shaking and dancing. Enough to break a sweat...needing to put our hair up and all. 

There were days when this would happen in a bar and may or may not have been  preceded by some "liquid courage." However, that's not our style anymore. 

Gotta love the humidity in South GA...look at those curls creeping back!

This calorie-burning dance party has been taking place at the gym...where we are working it out in ZUMBA!!  Tonight we did a two-hour long Zumbathon...complete with door prizes and everything. Of course, we have the worst luck ever and didn't win anything! I wish I would have snapped a photo of us because we were having lots of fun and working hard!

A bonus? We got to Zumba to Luke Bryan... best moment ever!! He's our fave!

SO WHAT! Wednesday #2

I'm going to link up with Life after I "Dew" again this week for a SO WHAT! Wednesday.

This week I'm sayin' so what that...

•  I don't feel like the best nurse on my floor right now...Most days I'm overwhelmed and bewildered at the amount of information I have yet to learn. But you know what, my patients are always safe and I never "try" anything before consulting with someone else. Teamwork is really getting me through these days and I learn something new every  shift.
•  I'm using Zumba classes to shake my booty instead of going to the bars these days. 
• I haven't finished my wedding thank you notes yet.... actually, that's a problem and I'm going to HAVE to get them done.
• I drive around neighborhoods looking at people that live in in them and the type of houses. Buying a house is SUCH a commitment (aghhh) and I want to make sure we find the right house/neighborhood for us!!
• I'm OBSESSED with The Bachelorette again. I got burnt out for a few seasons and decided to pick it back up this season. My favorites? Doug and Sean.  Biggest disappointment? Looks like it's gonna be Ryan.

Thanks for reading!! Have an awesome day!

~Jess

Love at First Sight Two Years Later...

Two years ago, May 27, 2010, I thought I was going for a fun girl's night after work at Tubby's Sunset Party. I was done with dating...was just gonna live the single life and be happy with it... or so I thought.

Fate had other plans....it just so happens that was the night I realized that love at first sight really does exist and my happy-ever-after began.

I met the love of my life, my best friend, my hero.....my husband, two years ago tonight. I actually convinced him to buy me a drink because I thought he was cute and didn't know what else to say...but after he smiled at me, I was done for, ladies and gentlemen!

I love this man....two years later, I am the lucky lady who gets to call him my husband. I loved you then, I love you now, and I will always love you.

Savannah Mile

On Saturday the 26th, I participated in the Savannah Mile with an AMAZING group of women...the wives married to men who work in the same unit as J.  We all wore matching blue t-shirts and had a great time. I'm definitely not a runner at all, but I managed to run almost the entire mile and finished in 10 minutes (also coming off a 12 hr night shift!)

So yep, I have officially ran in my first ever organized run... not quite a race since I ran in the non-timed "Fun Run" heat, but still...I'm proud of myself.  I really expected to walk the mile, but at the very last minute, my adrenaline kicked in and I decided to go for it!

All proceeds for the Savannah Mile went to the 200 Club, whose objective is to provide immediate financial assistance to the surviving spouse and children of local law enforcement officers and firefighters who lose their lives in the line of duty.

 

The last heats of the race were the Memory Walk for fallen firefighters and police officers and the Heroes Heat, where firefighters and soldiers ran in full uniform and gear. My heart swelled with pride when I saw these men working so hard and remembered just how much they put on the line each and every time they go out to work to protect us. It was a great way to start the Memorial Day weekend.

Those two pictures may be my favorite. I love the Ranger running with his son and then seeing the Rangers carry the American flags...ahh, there are no words. 

All in all, a great day.  I actually may have a goal to run a 5K now!

SO WHAT! WEDNESDAY

Today I'm going to try my first link-up with Shannon at Life After I "Dew" and say SO WHAT if...

...I'm a brand new blogger...I still want it to be fabulous!

...Although I have these fabulous dreams for my blog...I'm finding a little trouble getting started...PERSEVERANCE.

...I pretty much only watch shows on my DVR...the commercial and advertising industry would be disappointed in me!

...There are more than a few nights I've tried to cook for Hubby (then fiance) and we've ended up dining out at the local Mexican restaurant.

...even though I'm halfway to 30 and married....I still find it difficult to buy clothes without my Mom's opinion...or make any major (ehh hemmm, minor also) decisions without her.

First time done! A little nervous, but I found this may have given me some ideas to blog about! YAY!

Sick Beaches...

 Miss Beaches is spending the night in her vet's animal hospital for the first time in her 6 1/2 years of life. My sweet four-legged baby girl is sick. To say I am lost is an understatement. However, words cannot express how thankful I am that she is getting the help she needs.

Although we had a few potty issues in the middle of last week, I thought it was just something that would pass right on. However, Saturday night, she threw up her dinner, which didn't raise red flags at first. However, the spit ups continued throughout the night, but she was still herself and acted like nothing was wrong. This is how I talked myself out of taking her to the emergency vet at 1 AM Sunday morning.

On Sunday, I tried Pedialyte and just water with no luck. Getting her to drink was no problem, she just couldn't keep it down....my poor carpets (sorry apartment complex)! The only upside....I was finally able to justify the carpet cleaner I impulsively bought right after we got married! Finally, I called her vet around 5 . Dr. Jennifer just told me to withhold food and water and to bring her in the next morning (Monday).

I never knew a Sunday night could be so L.O.N.G.  I turned into one worried doggie mama. Beaches was obviously upset that her water bowl was taken away. She was moving more slowly, and although she still wagged her tail (sweet, sweet girl), I could tell she just wasn't herself. I found myself just watching her breathe, making sure she was just hanging in there. When I finally fell asleep... I awoke to her not being on the bed with me anymore (a special privilege when her daddy is gone). Once I found her under our kitchen table, another time in my closet, and another time on my bathroom floor.  She got plenty of loving from me.

Late night with my sick girl...

Finally, I was able to load her up and take her to the vet. I was so relieved to be going to get her checked out. After checking her out, the vet believes she has HGE...hemorrhagic gastroenteritis. Scary stuff...read about it here. It seems to be a mild case, and we believe it was caught in time. She's slightly dehydrated (this was no surprise). I made the decision to have her admitted into the hospital for IV fluids and IV antibiotics.

Walking out of the vet's office and leaving her ranks right up there with watching J walk away to leave for deployment. I never knew realized how much a part of me that little girl is. She has my heart...she was my study buddy in college and now, she's been my deployment buddy.

This is the only vet Beaches has been to, and while I completely trust them, I know now how my patients' family members' must feel when they leave their loved ones for the night. It's weird not having her here... when she has "vacations" at my mom's house, we're usually out of town or J is here and the apartment doesn't feel empty. Only seven more hours until I can call and get an update on her. Then, her worried grandparents and daddy will call for updates as well...this baby girl is well loved!!  Get well soon!