So here's a more accurate update

I'm just realizing that I wrote a post about being in the hospital.  I've learned a few times today that I shouldn't work on the computer right after getting pain meds.  Not the best situation.  So here's whats really going on.  On Sunday afternoon I started vomitting and having horrible stomach cramping.  This continued to yesterday with the pain getting horribly worse.  My MD told me I should go to the ER if the pain got too horrible. The Hubs decided to take me anyways.  So I showed up to the ER, got right in, and was hooked up to an IV in a matter of minutes. Both my MD and the ER doc thought it was my gallbladder.  My gallbladder ultrasound showed a perfectly normal gallbladder so my doctor was a little confused.  He admitted me for observation, pain management and antibiotics for an incidental UTI.  They also ordered a CT scan and a surgical consult.  The surgeon met us up in the room and based on his exam, he felt it was gallbladder but needed imaging to back it up.  So off to CT I went (after drinking horrible contrast) and then I had a HIDA scan this morning.  That scan tests the gallbladder specifically.  My results weren't good but not bad enough to take my gallbladder out.  So he wanted to consult GI to see if they wanted to rule anything out before surgery.  So what does GI decide????  EGD (upper GI scope) tomorrow and possibly a colonoscopy on Thursday....I'm never leaving the hospital and never getting my gallbladder out :(

So I'm ready to wind down for the night, get some meds, and get ready for my day tomorrow. 

Thanks Nicole and Whitney for visiting me today and showing me my escape route!!!
 

Coming to you, live from my hospital bed

Yes, you read that right.  I'm hanging out in my hospital bed.  I got admitted yesterday because I was having severe abdominal pain and vomitting.  We're leaning towards my gallbladder being the culprit but we're not 100%.  I'm hoping that by this afternoon, I'll be gallbladder-less. 

So in the meantime, can you send a few prayers my way, not only for me but for all the doctors working on my case?  They are all working hard to figure out what is going on and how to make me comfortable.  I greatly appreciate it!  Also can you say a few prayers for my kiddos who really don't understand why Mommy can't come home and why Mommy has tubes hooked up to her arm?

Brought to you by the makers of Dilaudid....the pain medication keeping me sane yet making me loopy all at the same time!

Taking NYC by Storm....The Final Installment

So its the final chapter of the Hubs and I's trip to NYC.  If you missed any part of it, check it out here, here, here, and here.  I have loved reliving our trip through these posts.  Makes me want to go back even more!  So where to start......

Sunday we got up early so we could brave the line for the Met.  We got there at about 9:15 and the line was already into Central Park.  So we braved the line.  It wasn't too bad (if you consider a 2 hour wait in mostly shade not bad).  When we got up to the top of the stairs I thought, this is it!  I'm going to see Alexander McQueen's amazing fashion.  We entered to find another 3 hour wait inside the Met to get into the exhibit.  Yes....3 more hours.  It was unreal.  The Hubs looked at me like I was crazy when I asked if he wanted to wait in line.  So we opted against the wait.  Which I guess waiting 5 hours is a little (a lot) obsurd.  The line did make the rest of the museum pretty much empty so we were able to make our way through it pretty quickly.  We saw amazing statues, wonderful works of art, and had a great time.

No Soup for You....Soup Nazi's restaurant reopened

Another gorgeous Central Park view

We were probably 1 hour into our wait (so I guess this is halfway) and all these people were behind us

The Hubs in his favorite room of the Met...the pyramid room

That is a real mummy folks...creeped this girl out!!!

Me and the Hubs in front of the Met

From the Met, we headed to the Natural History Museum.  This museum was pretty cool although I wasn't aware that it was full of stuffed animals.  Like taxedermy or however you spell it.  The dinosaur exhibit was pretty awesome though. We took tons of pics for Noah but I won't bother you with a bunch of bones.  Just know it was pretty cool.  After our marathon museum day, we headed back to the hotel to relax and change before dinner.  After dinner, we headed towards the Empire State Building and it started to rain.  We pushed through, made it to the ESB and headed up to see the city at night.  I really wish I knew how to work my camera better (I got it a few days before our trip so I didn't figure all the settings out) because my night pics aren't the greatest.  The view was awesome (although I still think Top of the Rock is better!)

Look how bright Times Square is compared to the rest of NYC

The Hubs is looking at the camera screen, not the actual camera itself...silly boy!

 We walked around town and back through Times Square before heading back to the hotel for our last night in NYC.  Monday we woke up, got packed (tear), checked our bags at the lobby and wandered around town until it was time to go to the airport.  We walked back down to Macy's, saw Madison Square Gardens, checked out Grand Central Station, saw Bryant Park (home of Fashion Week...the Hubs didn't appreciate that fact as much as I do), and headed back to Times Square for lunch and shopping.  I was totally against eating at any restaurant we have in Florida but made an exception for Bubba Gumps.  We went to Bubba Gumps on our honeymoon and have a glass from that location.  From then on, we've gotten a glass from every Bubba Gumps we've been to.  Its kinda like a collection we have I guess.  We grabbed an amazing lunch and a glass that says New York City Times Square.  Definitely ranks up there with our Breckenridge glass from our honeymoon.  We shopped and headed back to the hotel, who had a town car waiting for us to take us to JFK.  I was so bummed to leave......

Madison Square Gardens

I love this view!!!

Me and the Hubs at Grand Central Station

Love!!!

At the New York Public Library (I hear it was in Ghostbusters)

Bryant Park

The Nederlander Theatre...original Broadway home of RENT!!!!!!

Our hotel

Our trip was absolutely amazing.  I loved every minute of it.  I loved all the walking, the blisters I got, all the lights, everything.  There isn't anything I would have changed (except leaving).  It was nice to hang out with just the Hubs for a few days too.  Our life is so hectic.  We're always coming and going and with 2 young kids, there's not too much alone time.  I think it was good for us to be thrown into a new situation together.  We had a great time and made great memories.  But it was also amazing to see the kids.  I will never forget how excited they were when we walked in the doors.  The screams, smiles, hugs, and kisses will be etched in my brain and on my heart forever.

I can't wait for our next trip to NYC!!!!!

My Style Monday...Family Edition

I'm taking a break from the last few NYC posts to link up with Lindsey at Running Down a Dream for her My Style Monday.  We all know how horrible I am about taking pics of my outfits because I'm usually the one behind the camera so I opted for a family edition this week.  Hope you enjoy all our outfits!!!

The Hubs is wet
My Dress/Necklace: NY & Co

Mowing in their PJs
Noah: Superman
Emmy: Little Mermaid

Little Mermaid dress: The Disney Store

Outfit: KMart
Glasses: from her Dr kit
Hat: The Disney Store (Jessie from Toy Story)

Same outfit just add Cinderella shoes: Disney Store

First Day of School (2nd year of PreK)
School Uniform

I know it's not exciting but this is what we've been wearing lately.  Maybe I'll finally get better about my outfits....don't hold your breath!

Happy first day of school to my teacher friends and Mommy friends!!!

The last year of my Twenties

Yesterday was my 29th birthday.  I had to work :(  Normally I don't work on my birthday...isn't it a national holiday?!?  Ok back to reality, it's just any other day.  I wasn't able to take the day off so I complained about working all week but decided Thursday that I wasn't going to complain at all on my birthday about working.  And I'm glad I didn't.  It turned out to be one of my favorite birthdays ever! 

The day started with a pink feathery tiara, courtesy of my coworkers.  I got a birthday message on the assignment board that got more and more decorated as the day went on.  I had mentioned my birthday to one of my patients about a month ago and they remembered (which doesn't surprise me at all).  I was greeted with a birthday song, a dozen yellow roses, and a bag of Hershey Kisses. Super sweet of them.  Then another patient, who last week was finally starting to warm up to us (I took advantage last week to learn everything about her because it was the first time she spoke to us), went out birthday shopping for me.  She picked out everything (she's 4 keep in mind).  She thought I needed to be a birthday princess so she got me a tiara too, which of course replaced the tiara my coworkers gave me.  She also got me some candy, nail polish, a notebook, fun pens, a Little Mermaid figure (she's my favorite), and a picture frame (which I told her would hold a picture of me and her).  She also colored me a picture which I instantly hung on my desk cabinet.  I don't know how I got so lucky!!!

Then we went to dinner at Red Lobster because Noah said that's where he wanted to go.  It was a nice, chaotic dinner, like every dinner with my kids.  But I wouldn't have traded it for the world. 

Today we have Emmy's birthday party so I'm gearing up to be immersed in all things Little Mermaid (this year's theme), Disney Princesses, and dress up.

Here's to my last year of my twenties!  I'm going to make sure this is my best year yet!!!

Taking NYC by Storm...Part 4....RENT style!!!

I apologize for my lack of blogging.  Its been crazy busy this week and it's only getting busier.  Tomorrow is my 29th birthday, Saturday is Emmy's birthday party, Sunday we have PreK orientation after Mass, then Monday is the first day of school. Crazy busy!!! 

But on to the fun stuff.....RENT!!!!

I know I've talked a ton of times about my absolute adoration for RENT.  I was first exposed to RENT one Thanksgiving day years ago.  I was watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and the cast performed "Seasons of Love." I was captivated by it, even though I had no clue what it was.  I just remember it being a lovely song with minutes in it.  When I was a senior in high school (in 2000....yes I was the smoke-free/drug-free Class of 2000), I went to see RENT for the very first time.  I had no expectations at all and I walked out in love.  I instantly ran out and bought the soundtrack and learned every single word.  I researched it and learned all I could about it:
It's actually a modern day spin on Puccini's La Boheme 
Jonathan Larson (who wrote it) died the night before it debuted in an off-Broadway theater workshop.  He actually wasn't finished writing it so it's an incomplete work
Most of the locations mentioned are actual locations throughout NYC's Lower East Side
(I could go on and on but I'll save you guys)
From that moment on, I found my words to live by: 

Forget Regret or Life is Yours to Miss

To this day, I try to remind myself of this.  How simple, yet how truthful, are those words?!? 
Obviously it became a number one goal in life to see it on Broadway.  I saw it every time it came to the Tampa area.  I think I've seen it 5 times before seeing it in NYC.  Well I heard the sad news that The Nederlander Theater and RENT were closing it's Broadway doors.  I was devastated.  Since I couldn't make it up there to see it before it closed, I, of course, bought the documentary of the final performance.  It was so amazing and so emotional. 

Fast forward to 2009.  Anthony Rapp and Adam Pascal, the original Mark and Roger, joined a National tour that was making a Tampa stop.  You know I was counting down the days until that show.  Wouldn't you know, God had other plans for me. June 9th I had a placental abruption at 28 weeks, which landed me in the hospital for 24 hours and on bedrest for the rest of my pregnancy.  Going across the bridge to Tampa was out of the question.  And as much as I was devastated that I couldn't see 2 of the original cast members (which all of my friends got to see), making sure I could hold on to my pregnancy and my daughter was far more important.

I heard that there was an off-Broadway revival of RENT and I jumped on it.  The Hubs hates RENT, like capital H.A.T.E.S it.  But he loves me enough to suck it up and make my dreams of seeing RENT in NYC come true.  We bought our tix (yes I had tix to the show before we even had plane tix) and started planning.  Our entire trip (in my eyes) revolved around this show.  After consulting with Meghan about the venue and attire, I had the perfect outfit planned.  We got to the theater, which was by far the coolest place I've been to.  All of the stages are underground.  There is a cute bar for pre/post show cocktails but the kicker.....not only can you bring your drinks into the theater, they have waitresses who will take drink orders for pre show and intermission!!!  How amazing?!?  We settled in (our 12th row seats although any seat would have been amazing) and prepared ourselves (me for the sheer amazement and the Hubs for sheer torture).

Before the show (the Hubs walked in the rain without an umbrella....his shirt is wet, not sweaty)

The director, who was the original Broadway director, changed things up a bit.  Everyone's costumes changed....caused a big uproar in the RENThead community, and changed the choreography a little bit.  I was nervous that the core story would be tampered with because of the changes but I was so wrong.  The show was UNBELIEVABLE!!!  It is my favorite performance to date, and not just because it was in NYC.  It was brilliant.  The cast....amazing.  The set design...amazing.  The rendition of  "I'll Cover You: Reprise"....amazing.  Brought tears to my eyes.  This play spoke to my soul.  The beauty of the story.  The intensity of the love. The heartache of death.  It was a beautiful experience for me.  There is absolutely no way for me to accurately describe how amazing the experience was.  It was a night I will NEVER forget and I can't believe the Hubs made it all possible.  I love him for it so much!!!

If you ever get a chance to see RENT, please don't let the opportunity pass you by.

Thanks Baby for making my RENT dream become a reality!!!  I love you!!!
   

Taking NYC by Storm...Part 3

I never imagined my recaps to be in so many parts.  But this way I won't bore you guys (at least I hope I'm not boring you!!!)  Before I start with Saturday's adventures, let me just share a few pics from Em's birthday yesterday.  We're doing her party on Saturday (the 20th) but we wanted to make sure she knew it was her birthday.  We had cupcakes and let her open a gift.  The Hubs and I finally found a Little Mermaid dress in her size so we snatched it up.  And of course, we could only find it in NYC!!!

Birthday Cupcakes for the Birthday Girl

Getting some help with her gift from the brother

This has been her outfit of choice since taking it out of the bag. Isn't she the cutest Mermaid ever?!?

Ok. On to NYC.  If you missed the first 2 recaps, you can find them here and here.

The Hubs and I had planned out our itinerary the week before we headed up so we had planned on doing Central Park on Sunday but when we got up there, the weatherman said to do any outdoor plans on Saturday because it was going to rain all day Sunday.  So we changed things up a bit and headed to Central Park Saturday morning.  We took a detour through Times Square to grab breakfast at Juniors, right next to the Lion King Theater.  It was the best breakfast I've had in a long time.

Happy to start day 2 of our trip

Spinach and mushroom omlette the size of my head.....yes please!!!

After only attacking half of my omlette, we headed off to Central Park.  To say that it's beautiful is an understatement.  It is so green, so lush, so amazing.  It's amazing to see how green it is and then look off in any direction and see tall buildings surrounding it.  Its astonishing to see how big of a park it is and how many buildings surround it.  The pics from Top of the Rock show this.  A huge green square with concrete surrounding it.  We didn't even see the entire park.  We headed to the zoo to see what it was like.  They didn't have too many animals (we're spoiled with Lowry Park Zoo and Busch Gardens in our backyard) so we opted against spending the money to go in.  So we grabbed a snack (all I wanted was a soft pretzel from a street vendor) and headed towards the Metropolitan Museum of Art...aka the Met.

One of the many statues at the entrances to the park

A beautiful park with a beautiful city skyline

This picture almost seems fake.  It's this beautful there

Loving my pretzel (although not the best picture of me)

 Once we got close to the Met, we noticed lines winding all the way into Central Park.  We made it to the front stairs and asked if that was the line to get it.  Unfortunately, it was the last weekend for the Alexander McQueen exhibit (which I was dying to see) so people were coming out of the woodwork to see  it.  The line was at the 2.5 hour mark and we had RENT that night so I didn't want to risk waiting in line and rushing to get to the show.  We decided to head to the Met on Sunday.  We headed into town for some shopping and more exploration.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art....probably the most beautiful building in NYC

The Plaza....I keep saying it like Macaulay Culkin said it in Home Alone

Ladies and Gentlemen....We're at FAO Schwarz

Yes I danced on the piano from Big!!!

$25000 Barbie Foosball table....Doesn't every household have at least one of these???

The largest box of Nerds ever!  They had the best candy in ridiculous sizes

All that's missing is breakfast!!!

Enjoying our first (and only) hot dog of the trip

We stumbled across the Museum of Modern Art and decided to check it out.  NYC offers a great package for tourists called the NY City Pass.  We got passes to The Met, American Museum of Natural History, Museum of Modern Art, The Empire State Building, Top of the Rock (or you can choose the Guggenheim), and The Statue of Liberty.  It's half the overall price per person and definitely worth it!  So we headed into the museum and had a great time.  I did get a scolding by one of the museum people (I forget what they're really called) because I took a pic with my flash on (I forgot the flash was raised)...oops!!!  They had the most amazing Monet exhibit.  He is my all time favorite artist.  I could have stayed in there forever!!!

Starry Night...This is the pic I got in trouble for.  But its so much better with the flash!

Monet's Water Lilies

Another Water Lilies painting

How amazing are these brush strokes?!?

So happy and so honored to be in front of this masterpiece

Jackson Pollack....The Hubs doesn't get this one at all

 After leaving MoMA, we headed to find Crumbs Bakery.  I have a slight affinity to cupcakes and I heard that Crumbs is the way to go when it comes to cupcakes in NYC.  We were not disappointed.  I had a carrot cake one...yummy...and the Hubs got a peanut butter cup one.  His was definitely to die for (and I don't even like peanut butter!!!)  We accidentally found the Ed Sullivan Theater on our way to Crumbs.  I just loved stumbling upon things like this!!!

The pictures do no justice

The Hubs grabbed some chinese takeout and we enjoyed dinner, our cupcakes and a little TV back at the hotel as we rested up for RENT, which was so amazing that it gets it's own post!!!

Hope y'all are enjoying our trip as much as we did!!!  Next up....RENT!!!!

No Day But Today