Life Sometimes is Overwhelming

Airing out bad news again, it just seems to never end. It's said when it rains it pours, or bad things come in sets of three, or history repeats itself, all to very true!

My Grandmother passed Feb 3, 2013. I am having a hard time dealing some days, but when I'm able to see my Grandfather the sad memories fade for a little while.

March came and went and for the whole month I was recovering from having my 4 wisdom teeth removed and then a hematoma recovery. Overall the surgery process went well, def glad it's done and over with and will not have to experience that again (: But it took a whole month of antibiotics and dentist follow up appts to get back to my "normal" self.

Moving to April, the month started out refresed feeling, I was feeling better, I had a big day coming up with my childhood friend Hollys wedding approaching fast. So I was in high gear trying to get my Matron of Honor role finished and polished. My plans for celebration were haulted quickly, as I discovered Gio & I were expecting. Due to my pregnancy history, this was a very scary time. I was followed by my wonderful docs with ultrasounds and bloodwork to make sure this would be a viable pregnancy. That was the week of the wedding, I had been advised to take it easy, and of course no typical Brandi celebrating. Which was fine no biggie, my mind was off in another world trying to go through the "what if's". Eventually it was official that the pregnancy ended up in my tube and not going anywhere, Methotrexate injections were needed. I received my first one and was taken off of work for "bedrest" and until it was determined what would happen, the goal was to keep my tube, and keep me out of surgery. I was in the office everyother day for more bloodwork and ultrasounds, which after my first round of the injection, another round was needed as the pregnancy mass continued to grow, causing concern for a tube rupture and surgery. After another week went by of the same bloodwork and ultrasounds, and the med seem to be working, I was able to come back to work. Which was such a relief! One and a half days into working, and sever pain, another ultrasound was done and it was determined that the mass continued to grow, the injections did not work and my only choice now was surgery :( Surgery went well, as I have the best doctors :) but again I was off of work recovering. I finally got to return to work mid May.

Fast forward to the end of May, the day after Memorial Day, I found out that my dad's cancer had returned, but is now in his lungs, he will go through chemo. My parents are already struggling financially and emotionally and this new round of meds and doctor appts is going to make things much worse. 

Last night Gio and I were talking, about how hopefully soon there will be a light at the end of the tunnel. How will the bad news end anytime soon, we all could use some good news and a long break from the bad, and how history def does repeat itself. In 2005 Gio's sister Tesah passed away, shortly after that his mom was diagnosed with cancer and after that I had surgery for a ruptured tube and no pregnancy. Here we are 6-7yrs later following an all to familiar pattern. My dad was diagnosed with cancer, my grandmother passed away due to complications of cancer, and I had lost another pregnancy and had surgery to remove my ruptured tube.

When will the sorrow, the heartache end? When will the Good Lord say enough, good times ahead? Will there ever be good times again? I don't know, but Gio, my family, and I have had our fair share, it has poured, out threesome has happened, and history is slamming it's ugly self right in our faces. Hopefully soon we'll see good times :)

More Than Expected

July 6, 2000, Gio asked me if i would be his girlfriend. I didn't know then what God had planned for me and him. April 29, 2007, Gio asked me if i would be his wife. By this time i had fallen so much in love with him and couldn't wait to spend the rest of my life with him. God had tested me, him, and us, and we made it through. July 12, 2008, We said "I Do" in front of God, Family, & Friends. Both excited to begin this new chapter in our lives, and encouraged to have a long lasting relationship and marriage by my parents, my grandparents, as well as his grandparents.

July 6, 2012. We've been together for 12 years now, and the time has really just flown by, not to sure where it has went to.
July 12, 2012. We've been married for 4 years, and more in love than i thought possible.

12 years together, 4 years happily married

We've grown and changed so much in the time we've spent together, but it's been for the better! We've been through some of the hardest of times, and made it through! We've been strong and successful all due to our love for each other, our strong positive marriage and relationship examples, and God! I look forward to growing old with my best friend, my love, my husband, Giovanni. I look forward to the years flying by, but revisiting the memories over and over. I look forward to falling more deeply in love with the one person i have chosen to spend the rest of my life with. Happy Anniversary Babe!!

How am I doing?

It's may which means that this yr is almost half way over!!! I really don't know where time goes to sometimes. But I wanted to recapped my New Years resolutions, so here goes. . . . .

*I still need to work on my stubbornness and giving my opinion when it is needed, not when I want to give it!
*Want to save at least $1500, we have saved only $250, in the next six months I have a ton of saving to catch up on!
*Still working on losing 60lbs, but I do work out mon-fri for 45mins-1hr, and i have lost approx 7lbs but have lost more inches than anything! I also have a gym buddy (which helps alot). Also gio and I are going to be taking an evening walk after dinner every night (: KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!
*Me making dinner twice per wk started out nicely, and then kinda drifted, but in my own defense, (sometimes) when it would be my night to cook (and i got something i could make) gio ended up making it instead, and then tells me "you don't have to cook, i can do it, i like to make dinner for you" and there it is folks, i just say ok and it's over, i didn't make dinner. Let me change this to dinner once per wk and see how that goes. (:
*An out of state trip, not going to happen this yr, i've pleated with gio about this, and it's not gonna happen, so i feel i should just give up and begin to play for next yr!
*Date night once per month, ha, we've been so busy doing things for the house we've been calling our weekly friday night visit to lowe's our date night :D so i guess that counts.
*Church every sunday, needs to begin again! no excuse, I really don't mind going, it's just I'm to lazy to get up and get going :(
*Time on the computer has seemed to slow down, i even gave up facebook and twitter for lent (: it was really kinda sad how much time i was online, doing NOTHING!! KUDOS to me! (:
*Talking with my parents weekly is going pretty well (: i just need to make sure to not talk so much about myself (i notice i do this alot), and also i need to start calling my grandparents more often, they aren't going to be here forever! :(
*A solo day, hasn't happened, maybe this next month will be better.

So overall it seems to be down the middle, not an epic fail, but by no means a "way to go" either. I need to continue to work on the above, self improvement is always worth the time and effort.

Saturday Sweets

What makes Saturday So Sweet. . . . .

{{sunshine}}

 

~ music~

 *fresh cut grass*

(: songbirds :)

Good Things Come to Those Who Wait

We are finally in our new home, and it's beautiful!  March 27th was a very long day, thats for sure! lol. But it'll be the last long day Gio and I have like that, as we don't plan on moving ever again (: Our new house is beautiful and I can't wait to begin making it a home!

Echo is still adjusting, but overall I think she's gonna love it here (: She's still exploring and finding new ways to give us heart attacks! (we've "lost" her at least half a dozen times already! little stinker ;)

Gio and I have both talked with our parents, who are all very happy for us, and we've had our first guests also, David and Naomi, they helped us move. We're having our first cookout tomorrow with Izaak and Erica, and Tim from Gio's work! Too excited! We've had our first home cooked meal after what seemed like tons of eating out (gross!), and I cooked! (: We had lemon chicken with rice and broccoli. 
It's been a long haul, we signed papers in July 2011 and have watched our slab turn into a structure, and the structure into a house, and now we have the rest of our lives to turn our house into a home.

 God has really looked out for me, for Gio and I, he really truly has, and We are so appreciative of the life he has given us! He has given us some rough/hard times. But He's helped us pull through, and shown us how wonderful our lives can and will be. He has given us true strength and happiness with eachother. We now know and understand that We are good people and deserve to have happiness, good health, and prosperity. 

As I sit here, in my new home, I can't help but feel an overwhelming sense of happiness and pride! I can't ever say it enough, how BLESSED i am!

All Things Love

Day 6

today is valentines day! and i have so much {{Love}} for so many different reasons, it was hard to narrow it down to just one for the past couple of days (: 

but todays {{Love}} is the most obvious. lol. i {{Love}} my one and only, my best friend, my everything, my husband, Giovanni Anadom Thieme! i {{Love}} him for the man he was 12yrs ago when we met. i {{Love}} him for the man he is today. and i know i'll {{Love}} him for the man he will continue to become! i {{Love}} him for supporting me, through it all. i {{Love}} that he wants the best for me, for us. i {{Love}} that he always wants me to be happy and will go to no end to make sure i am. i {{Love}} the memories we've made together and i {{Love}} the memories that are going to be made! i {{Love}} that we laugh together, and sometimes laugh so hard we cry! i {{Love}} his smile, it's heart melting :) i {{Love}} that he is truly a good person. i {{Love}} that he has such a caring heart, and would do anything for anyone, anytime. i {{Love}} that he is comfortable enough to be himself, he hides nothing from me! (and i mean nothing) lol. i {{Love}} that he'll sit and watch a chick flick with me. i {{Love}} that we share a common goal in life. i {{Love}} that he values me, as a woman, as his wife, as his best friend! i {{Love}} that we can act like such fools together! i {{Love}} the joy and smiles he brings to my life. i {{Love}} that he chose me to spend the rest of his life with, to call his wife!

I {{Love}} Gio for so much more than could be put into words! I {{Love}} him whole heartedly and I couldn't imagine my life without him by my side! The  struggles we've been through, the triumphs we've had make me {{Love}} our life together. I feel so honored, so blessed, to have a {{Love}} like ours to show to the world!

I {{LOVE}} YOU, Giovanni 

yesterday, today, tomorrow, always and forever!

xoxo

I wish to belong to you, I’ll be the one you’re looking for 

and we’ll be the one heaven’s searching for!

For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart.

It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul.
Judy Garland

All Things Love

Day 5

 The third member of our family Echo, is my {{Love}}. Echo has been apart of our family since 2009! She's got such a personality! She can be such a stinker or she can be a lovie dovie little thing (: She def {{Loves}} us both, when I'm not here she {{Loves}} on Gio, but as soon as I get home, she's like my shadow! lol. Gio likes to give her a hard time when playing, makes me laugh and shake my head (: I like to cuddle with her, (she's a great foot warmer)! I {{Love}} when Echo greets us at the door when we've been gone. I {{Love}} that she likes to be in our company. Echo gets in this wild mood and starts running through the apartment, I {{Love}} it, it makes us both laugh, the burst of energy just comes out of nowhere! Echo also {{Loves}} to watch the birds that come by the patio window! I {{Love}} when she gets low to the ground, wiggles her butt and runs up on them, like she can actually get them! It's the cutest! I {{Love}} that she's got one specific toy she likes the most, and no matter how many times we bring it to the living room, it ALWAYS is back in the bedroom the next morning! I also {{Love}} that on the weekends, Echo comes to the bed and depending on her mood, will either lay there with us, or meow at us till one of us gets out of bed! I {{Love}} Echo, she brings such joy and laughter to Gio & I's life!

She hates pictures. Lol

Echo

It's just the 3 of us, but we are a family <3

All Things Love

Day 4

Early weekend mornings spent by myself and the things I enjoy about it is my {{Love}} for today.  I {{Love}} the simplicity of it. I {{Love}} that there is no tv on, no radio blasting, no facebook notifications coming from my phone. I {{Love}} the early morning light that comes in. I {{Love}} the sound of birds chirping. I {{Love}} the smell of my morning coffee, I {{Love}} that I can slowly enjoy my coffee. I {{Love}} that I can sit and read and get lost in what it is I'm reading. I {{Love}} that I can just let my mind wonder about whatever it desires. I {{Love}} that echo comes to cuddle with  me. I {{Love}} that I have a little bit of me time. I {{Love}} that this time restores, re energizes, refuels me.   But eventually I {{Love}} hearing Gio's voice coming from the bedroom, saying my name, letting me know he's awake.

I have to be alone very often. I'd be quite happy if I spent from Saturday night until Monday morning alone in my apartment. That's how I refuel.

Audrey Hepburn 

All Things Love

Day 3

todays {{Love}} is the random time when gio and i play! this kind of play doesn't happen often, it's unplanned, and i {{Love}} every bit of it! we tickle each other, roll around on each other, pick on each other, laugh at each other, it's so much fun! lol i truly {{Love}} how random this play is, and i {{Love}} that playtime comes at the best of times (like when we most need it)! i {{Love}} that we as a couple just sorta know when it's a good time to play, and i {{Love}} that something so random, gives us so much joy, laughter, and fun (:

All Things Love

Day 2

I {{Love}} when my half morning off from work is a day Gio is off! I {{Love}} that it's not a typical day with him. I {{Love}} that we cuddle, I {{Love}} that we stay in bed until we can't! I {{Love}} that we lay there and talk about whatever! I {{Love}} waking up first and watching him sleep :) I {{Love}} that there is no alarm set, telling us time to get outta bed, time for work. I {{Love}} the morning light shinning in and the birds singing to us (: But mostly I {{Love}} waking up to him and I {{Love}} that I'm the one he chose to wake up too!

All Things Love

Valentine's Day is fast approaching and for the next 6 days, everyday I will post about what I Love! (:

Day 1

I {{Love}} that I can go into work, and get a good {{laugh}} from someone! That someone can put a {{smile}} on my face no matter the mood I'm in! It's a great feeling to know that after 3 years I can still say at the end of the day I had a good day (: It's such a {{blessing}} to have that at your job! And I {{Love}} that I can even say that about my job!

A good time to laugh is any time you can. 

~Linda Ellerbee

My Smiles

so much brings a smile to my face, and here is what has made me smile lately. 

~my husband, even when i'm not is the best of moods his silliness always takes away the worst of feelings :D he brings the most joy, laughter, and life to me and i love him so much more than he may ever know because of it! his very own smile makes my heart melt. its such an additive smile, you can't help but smile back at him. <3

~echo, whenever i sit in our recliner and throw my blanket over me, she hurries over to sit on my lap to love on her :) 

~our new home, every weekend we go to see the house and the progress from week to week. many pictures are taken and move in date is closer and closer!! :D

~my favorite drinks: iced tea (so refreshing) & coffee (love my morning cup)

~memories (the good & the not so good), as we are preparing to move from our first place in indy to our new home, the wonderful memories we have made since moving down here flood my brain. here are a few: 

2008: our move from kendallville to indianapolis

2008: our wedding

our marriage license 7.12.08

2008: gio & i living off of unemployment for months, and still making it work

2008: starting college for medical assisting

2009: gio getting temporary work after being laid off

2009: gio being hired on full time to a job

2009: graduation from college, and landing a job a week later

2009: filling for bankruptcy

2009: gio's grandpa richard passing

2010: short weekend trip to cincinnati

2010: our first and second concert ever together!! Tom Petty & then John Mayer

2010: we held our first thanksgiving dinner for my family, success!

our homeade thanksgiving pies, pumpkin & pecan

2011: losing one of our immediate family members, lucca our male cat. 

buddy man lucca, on his last day

2011: buying our first home, & watching it be built from the ground up!

the lot we chose #102

gio & i as of today in our house, not quite finished

2011: i got to witness one of lifes greatest gifts, birth. in may i witnessed a vaginal birth to a healthy baby girl, hayley and in december a cesarean to another healthy baby girl, rebecca!

~my many blessings that i have and can't even count, bring the biggest smile to my face, can't believe i've been through the things i've put myself through and come out such a strong woman!

~my career, i have good and bad days at my job, just like everyone else. the only difference i like what i do, and i'm good at what i do, and my co-workers, and bosses respect me and my work ethic!

~mostly my very own life has brought such a smile to my face. i haven't lived perfectly, but everything that has happened to me i understand it has been for a reason. and for that reason i can only think of the whole and be proud of the person i am, and the goals i have for myself. i can't believe how lucky i am of a person, to have done the things i've done and still have such success and greatness in my life!