Funny Story Time - Laughter Lives etc.

Not sure the rules on that Laughter Lives carnival, but my friend Danielle shared a couple of funny stories, including one about a spray tan experience she had.  It had me laughing out loud, that Mark had to ask me what was so funny.  I read him the story and he also get a giggle from it.  He has never had a spray tan before, so he didn't get just how funny Danielle's story was and why I was really cracking up.  Especially, the "tinkle" part of it.  

She reminded me of a similar story that happened to me while I was VERY pregnant.  For some of those that haven't followed my blog that far back.  I had a VERY hard and sick pregnancy the entire term of my pregnancy.  I was in and out of the E.R., I had vertigo from puking so much and hard. I lost weight, instead of gaining it my first few months because I was so sick. I have home nurses coming to my house, walking around with an IV pole, having stuff constantly fuel me to keep me from throwing up.  It was just awful.  AWFUL!!!

Being a model, comes with it's benefits when pregnant also, because you can shoot maternity stuff.  I booked the cover of Pregnancy and Newborn Magazine, plus a 6 page spread that hit the stand May 2008, exactly one month after I had Morgan.  I was told for this spread I would be modeling maternity swimwear.  Wanting to look presentable and tan for the shoot I got the okay from the doctor to go and have the spay tan put on me.  I always use spray tan for my shoots, and I love them.  

The day arrived, it had been an okay week for pregnancy, for I had only thrown up 4 of the 7 days or something like that.  I get up and I seem to be doing okay. I head over to get my spray tan put on.  My spray tan is actually called "air brushing" tan.  The difference?  Airbrushing, you stand there and have a person spray your entire body, spray tan is a booth that you stand in and it just sprays all over at once.  I am not a big fan of them.  

When I get my airbrush tan, I typically wear a thong of sorts.  I am not allowed to have tan lines because of modeling, so I go in with as little as possible on.  This day was no different, except I stand there 7.5 months pregnant.  She begins spraying me and the spray is a chilled temp. It sort of takes you by surprise the first time it hits you.  As she is spraying I am starting to feel dizzy.  Dizzy enough I ask her to stop for a minute to let me catch my barrings. I realize that I am getting dizzier by the second and need to now sit down.  So she places a towel over the chair because I just had my first layer of spray put on and it was still wet and sticky.  She goes and brings me some juice and applesauce to take in.  I do and I wait about 5 minutes and we begin round two.  Right away I start feeling dizzy again and I decide I can't finish and I want to go home.  

This is not good.  I now do not have a full spray on and I didn't have time to let mine dry, so I am sticking to my clothes, to the seat of my car and trying to drive home.  The next thing I know is that I start to REALLY feel sick now (my usual morning during this pregnancy, but usually hits the moment I get out of bed). I have to pull over and get out of my car and start puking on the side of the road. As if that wasn't glamorous enough, when I puked during my pregnancy, I also peed my pants every single time.  Ugh, I told you it was awful.  So, here I am, 7 months pregnant, a fresh one-layer airbrush tan on, on the side of the road puking and now fully and totally peeing may pants.  I also begin to cry because ..... well who wouldn't be by now in my shoes.  Not one person stops to help me.  Not one!!! What's wrong with you people?

I finally get myself together, grab some baby wipes from my car and wipe my hands and mouth off.  I get in my car, sitting on my very soaked peed on pants and finish driving home.  I get home and at this point I am so mad.  I look in the mirror while taking my clothes off of me, to see that I now have white streaks down my face from my tears, a white ring around my mouth from puking and wiping it off with the wipe.  I have white spots all over my feet from the rebound of puke splashing to the ground and I have streaks down my legs from peeing on myself.  I just hopped in the shower and sat down and cried myself a huge pity party. Swearing to never, ever, ever put myself through this again.  

Yea, it all sounds funny and all now, but man was it a horrible experience.  Imagine this very pregnant girl, with a spray tan, puking and peeing on the side of the road, now looking like a human zebra with streaks down my face and legs.  Not cool! 

Oh the things we go through in life!  

Random Picture Challenge 4.0

We are taking the challenge by being forced to post a picture that we may not like, or that may be embarrassing to us or one of nothing much, but sits there in our file of pictures.  We were to find a picture in November 2007, and the 44th picture in that file. If you do not have 44 pictures, then you get the next picture closest to 44 in that file (39,37,28 etc.)  I only have 34 pictures in my November 2007 file, and this is the last picture in that file.  

This picture actually brings back different emotions.  It was the day I was told we were having a little girl, AFTER we were already told a couple a months or so BEFORE we were having a BOY!  On this day, I was in shock, in tears, laughing, happy and disappointed all in matter of seconds.  

I wanted another little boy.  I was told I was having a little boy. We told everyone we were having a boy. We already narrowed down the two names we liked for him.  I was ready for a little boy.  When I saw this on the screen I knew instantly without the tech having to tell me, he was a she.  After the shock set it and I finally reset my mind from boy stuff to girl stuff....it took forever to decide on a girl name. To the point we changed Morgan's name from MacKenzie, the day she was born.  I had a hard time getting into all the pink stuff and girl names.  

Now that she is here, I am so thrilled and so in love and so happy to have my little Butterfly girl.  She is the cherry on top of makes our family complete.  This picture will always be very special to me, to our family forever and ever!!!  

Its kind of funny, I thought for sure I would have had a picture of Hunters birthday or from Thanksgiving as my phone, since his birthday is November 27th.  It was a nice surprise to have landed on this photo and quickly be reminded about the day I knew my little girl was growing inside my belly. 

Now for the RULES: 1. Stick to the Month, year & picture number selected for the week. If you do not have a 13th picture move back to the 12th, 11th, 10th, and so on until you do have a picture in that months folder. 2. Link back here when you put your post up on your blog so others can join in on the fun too! 3. sign up on Mister Linky, only once, and keep the name field short. 4. Have fun!

Truth:

I am playing today!

Thanks Heather for Truth carnival. 

The rules of the TRUTH post:
1. Tell 10 facts about yourself that are interesting or maybe just weird.
2. Tag 7 other bloggers that you think would have better stories than yours.
3. Tell the 7 others that you tagged them so they know in case they stopped reading your blog weeks ago because you have been forgetting to post.
4. Remember what is shared so you can use it in the future in large gatherings like weddings or kids' birthday parties.

I may go over the 10 facts, because I have been asked several questions from readers that I have yet had the chance to sit down and answer them.  So I will get two things done, with one stone.

1.  I was a major tomboy growing up.  Whatever the boys did I did.  That included when going over to my boy cousin's to play or sleepover, I would get to run around with no shirt on just like them.  After all there was absolutely no difference in what they had and I had under our shirts.  That finally changed when I paid for mine.  YIKES!! Truth does hurt! I was also once mistaken for a boy in the 1st or 2nd grade by the principle at school, due to my mullet hair cut and 4 top missing teeth.  She said when trying to get past me in the office "excuse me little boy." HA! 

2.  I have bunions and I hate them.  They make it very hard to enjoy a beautiful shoe.  I can't wear shoes with straps.  I do plan on removing these annoying suckers within in the next year or so.  Oh my I have flaws!

3.  I do not like horror movies, and like my friend Heather, I can not look out any window that is looking out into the dark.  Being afraid that some creepy face is going to jump out at me and scare me, and same reason as to why I hate shower curtains.  Besides the fact that they touch you and stick to your arms or legs when showering and that is just gross!!! 

4.  I have never tried or experienced with any drug.  In truth I was afraid to, not because of making my parents upset, but because my biolgical dad killed himself when I was 11 or 13 years old (drug related). He was heavily into drugs.  He was a musician and in a band. I was afraid that if I tried any kind of drug that I would lose control and become addicted as so many people do.  I just didn't want to take the risk and stayed away from them.

5.  Although the file of my biological dad says he killed himself.  His case file is still open as unsolved, because all his family believe that he was set up and murdered., Possibly due to being in debt for unpaid for drugs.  I wish they had the answers to be able to have peace on the truth in this matter.  I never knew him, but I have been to his grave and I forgave him for not being able to be the father he should have been for me and my half brother. However, because of his actions I was blessed with a wonderful and loving step-father, in which I call dad.' 

6.  I have never been on a diet in my entire life.  I am naturally skinny.  In fact, I am one of those ridiculously blessed genetically skinny people.  I have to eat to keep my weight on so to not get too skinny.  If you tell me I look skinny, its almost like telling a fat person they are fat. I don't like to be called skinny.  

7.  I also hate salads or just about any type of vegetables.  To have an idea of what my diet is like, just look at a kids menu at any place.  I know, ridiculous right?  I typically do not like to talk about this stuff because I have lost friends over this before.  Women tend to be way sensitive and judgemental over this subject.  I have learned that if you are going to be jealous or judgemental over the way my God has designed me, then you probably weren't much of a friend of mine to begin with.  The last question I want to be asked is "what is my secret for losing the baby weight so fast." I often find myself tiptoeing around my answer to not hurt their feelings, and say something along the line "oh I don't know, I am just busy running around so much I never stop to eat." Well, that isn't the real TRUTH.  This is about telling the truth.  I am blessed beyond words that I can eat anything in the world at my hearts desire and not have to lose sleep over it.  I don't do that though (eat whatever I want at my hearts desire).  I am not a big desert or sweet eating girl.  Occasionally, I will have a cheesecake or something.  At home I sometimes have honey buns or sugar cereal for a snack, but that is the most of that stuff I eat. I love eating bologna sandwiches.  I put mayo on just about anything that uses any type of bread to go with it.  Sorry girls, but its the truth!! 

8.  I use the Canon Rebel EOS XT Digital camera.  Other than that I can't tell you much more than that.  I can't answer your camera questions or give you photographing advice.  I hardly know much myself.  I think I just get lucky with a lot of my images.  I am self taught when it comes to my photographs.  I want to learn it, I look it up, I try it out and I learn then.  I do have an advantage because I have modeled for 13 years.  Allowing me to understand the importance of lighting, watching for shadows and being able to see things in a creative way through the lens.  I love POV's (different point of views). 

9.  I do work out sometimes, but not all the time, and surely not as often as I'd like to or should.  However, I stay busy, I am chasing and picking up a 20+ pound mobile baby 24/7  We ride our bikes a lot and Mark and I recently started going back to the gym together.  Well, we did once last week anyways.  LOL.... And we hope to maybe get in at least 3 times a week to the gym and run and bike the other days.  Let's just say that it didn't happen this week...so we will try again next week.  Ugh!!!  I like to work out, I just hate working out at gyms. I don't like people eyeing up each other in the gyms, constantly sizing one another up.  It is the worst meat market place on the planet, aside from clubs. One day I hope to have our own private little gym at the house. 

10.  Several of you have asked about my marriage and I have failed to give you guys an update. Partly because I didn't want to speak too soon, and wanted to give my marriage a little time to show itself in healing and mending privately.  While also giving my husband the respect and privacy he also deserved in all of this. Although I like to be an open book, and I am as transparent as they come.  I didn't take into consideration that others just aren't like that with their lives.  It was not right of me with out asking my husband to share all that I did on my blog to many strangers we never met, and as well as exposing our marriage and my husband to people that he rather not have known.  Not that he has anything to hide, but simply to keep his matters private, protected and not deal with questions from everyone.  

Please know that I am very thankful for all of those that have been supportive and concerned during these hard times for us.  We have felt your prayers and are blessed to have so many people praying and caring for our marriage and or family unit.  Thank you.  

With that being said, Mark is back home. We are doing wonderful. We are learning to love and respect each other the right way, not our way.  As well as TRUSTING each other that we have our spouses best interest in mind and heart, with every choice we make. I am thankful that my marriage is not over and my family is together under one roof.  I am also blessed to have many of you share and tell me how my blog and situation helped you and yours.  I love knowing that so much good came out of hard times. 

Look at that....I did 10! So here are some questions I have been asked and Ill answer now.

Q and A's 

1. What camera do I use?  Canon Rebel EOS XT - That's seriously all I know about it. 
2. What lens do you have and use? I use different types of lens, it depends on what I am shooting. 
3. What is your favorite lens?  This is my new favorite one for shooting people. 
4. What settings do you most use when shooting? I have only been really focusing on photography for less than a year now.  Before that it was automatic point and click.  Now I am exploring with my white balance, IOS numbers, My F-stops and I use the AV mode.  In truth, I need to go look up again, what exactly does AV mean. I just know that is the mode to use when I want to blur my background. See I really am clueless about my camera. 

Okay it means "aperture priority mode" AV! 

5. How are you and Mark? Great, thanks! 
6.  Are you the Misty Rice, from HD Net's travel show "Get Out!"? Um, yes, that would be me.  I know they have been showing my shows a lot lately.  Every day to be exact and so some of you are either just putting the two together, or seeing the shows for the first time.  My roommate Lindsay still host the show and it has been mentioned I may go back for a few guest episodes, which would be a blast.  I just can't travel as much now that I have two babies and a husband.  It was a great show to host and I miss so much about it, but I am thankful for where I am now in life and the experiences and world travels I got to do while I did host Get Out!. 
7. What is your secret to slim down so fast after having babies? 
8.  Do you have a strict diet? Yes, a lot of carbs, protein, little sweets, no veggies and no salads.  Meat and potato girl. 
9.  What is your workout secrets? Chasing two kids, playing in any sport activity I can, if it be beach volleyball, softball, biking, swimming, hip-hop etc. 
10.  Is that picture of Morgan with the seagull a photo shop image? No. That picture of Morgan with the seagull is a real image I captured while in Marco Island. In truth I do not know how to cut out and paste images onto one another in photoshop to make such an image as that with the seagull.  I only tweak lighting and colors of my images. I do not distort or completely change them.  Why do that? 
11. What programs do you use most when doing digital imaging? I have only been using the small editing program on my MAC, but lately I have been exploring with layers in photoshop. I have NOT edit anything in my photoshop program yet. I do not know how, and haven't yet tried.  Like I said, I keep all my images as close to the original as possible.  
12. How can I get a blog makeover?  I use Blogs By Danielle.  However if you like the basic ones I have done and are more interested in that, I can help for a very small price and or donation to m charities.  If you want to talk more about blog makeovers, email me.  

Well, I hope that answers everyone questions I can think of off the top of my head.  If I missed anyone or any questions, send it again please and I will do my best to respond. 

Thanks for asking, and letting me play in the TRUTH carnival today.  Now that you got to know a little A LOT about me today, let me get to know a little about YOU.  I am suppose to pick 7 others to play the game so I will list 7 names, but in truth, I like for anyone that was up to play along.  

Have fun telling the raw TRUTH!!

You're up --

Allison

Danielle 

Jennifer 

Courtney

Michelle

Meagan

Tiffany

Through The Years My Beautiful Boy

Dear Hunter -

I wanted to write this letter to you on your birthday this past November, but time keeps us very busy these days,  running you around to your hockey games, practices, birthday parties, baseball and taking care of your sister.  

I can't believe that you are 8-years old, Boo. You are amazingly smart, witty, athletic, sensitive, loving, strong and the best big brother ever, and son anyone could ask for.  I say that with my heart and soul.

I am, me, today, because of you, Hunter.  You made me the women I have become.  You came in to my life with out warning, and surprised me in ways that I could never explain, but will never forget.  You changed my view on life, people, God and myself.  You were my first real love.  I thought I knew love, but I really had no clue, until the day I met you face to face.  I remember that day like none other, November 27th!

November 27th, was a typical sunny day in Florida.  I had my weekly doctors appointment that morning to see how my growing boy was doing.  Only to find out that you would be making your presence known to all the world this day.  I was not happy about it, because I was scared, I was not mentally ready, my mom was not in town yet....this wasn't the "plan", my plan! You and God, out voted me and had your own agenda, in which we would all submit to and follow.

Although, I was ready for you at the house.  I had just finished your room the day before and sat down and wrote you a 3 page letter on November 26th, telling you how ready I was for you to be here.  I guess you heard my thoughts and off to the hospital I go to be induced. I was leaking amino fluids, doing so could cause an infection to get inside your protected world and cause you to become very sick.  Taking no risk, my induction has begun and the contraction are kicking in.  I wanted to do everything naturally, no medications or anything.  

About 6 hours into everything, I was in a lot of pain and they broke my water.  O'boy..... I thought I was in pain before, I was now OFFICIALLY in pain.  Contractions were kicking my butt, I am wanting my mom to hurry up and get here from Dallas, as she caught the first flight out that she could.  The doctor finally came in and saw the pain I was in and told me, as my friend, to take the epidural.  Explaining to me that I was not getting any type of 'mother of the year' award for putting myself through unnecessary pain.  I again submitted to his request and took the epidural.  Ahhhh!!! That's much better.

I could actually lay there breathing and watch the monitors when the contractions where coming and remember it all.  I was hungry and thirsty, but was only allowed to have a pop-cycle. Things are moving along, I am dilating and effacing. You will be here soon. 

I have been in labor for 9 hours now, but my cervix wasn't wanting to soften.  The doctor came in for yet another glamorous check up on me, and tells me that I need to be open minded for a c-section if my cervix didn't fully soften.  They didn't want to put you baby under any stress and would do what was needed, when needed.  

At last my mom walks in the doors, with a bunch of tears and kisses.  Yea, my mommy was here!!! I was not going through this with out her.  The doctor and nurses fill her in on the status and then leave the room.  My mom whispers in my ear to practice pushing slowly, not too much, just enough to help the cervix to soften.  I can't feel anything waste down, I just lay there and concentrate on some practice pushing for maybe 2-3 minutes. The nurse comes in and all of the sudden I hear her say "uh I see the crown, lets get the doctor in here now." I look around and I see hustle and bustle, nurses moving things, lights being turned on, blankets being lifted off my feet and legs.  Doctor walks in and gives me one last exam and says "alright we are ready to go." 

Twelve hours from start to finish, 3 pushes later, November 27th, 2008; Hunter Dylan Brackett is born at 11:16 PM, weighing 6 lbs 8 0z, 18.5 long.  Perfect and healthy in every way!  I am forever changed and have met my first soul mate. Although I didn't picture him to be so tiny, slimy and warm all bundled up on my chest. *smiling* I would make a promise that day to be the best mother you could ever need or want.  

Oh just thinking back on that very moment makes my heart flutter and tears come to surface of my eyes.  I have been so blessed with you.  You have never been seriously sick or injured.  Although, there have been trips to the ER for stitches here and there, broken bones and just to be safe kind of runs.  For the most part you have been one healthy and active child.  You are so outgoing, friendly and have no fear in you.  I think you get that from me.  You have not only been my son, but my little buddy over the years.  Teaching me things, as I teach you things.  Sometimes beating me in board games (I wont mention the last two Yahtzee games you won).  You are so advanced in all areas of school with reading, math, spelling and many others.  You have many friends and get along with just about anyone.  You are definitely an alpha-male though.  You like to lead, take charge and have a very creative imagination.  I love it all. 

Although, it wasn't always easy and you may even remember some of the hard times we have been through.  Going through life with you by my side has made this life on earth a wonderful journey and experience.  I wouldn't change anything.  I have so many dreams for you in life.  I love watching you grow and explore.  Your mind is always ahead of the rest of you.  Asking me amazing questions, and some questions that I have to look up before I can give you the answer because I myself, didn't have the knowledge or answer to them. 

I have watched you cry, laugh, love and learn over the last 8 years.  Watching you transform into the teen and young man you will one day be.  It's sad, because I am losing my baby, but joyful, because I am witnessing your life unfold before my eyes.  Your feet now have roughness to them, your breath now smells foul first thing in the mornings, you fight with such passion that I can sometimes want to put duct-tape over your mouth,  leaving it there until you graduate from college.  You want to expand your wings and be independent, but still have this very tender child side to you. You want me to tickle your back before you fall to sleep, while not even thinking about getting into bed with out blanky or dots. It will be a sad day when you finally decide to put blanky and dots aside, to never be slept with again.  

Hunter, I hope that when you think of me and the years you have shared with me on this earth, that you also find yourself just as blessed and thankful.  We make a great mother and son team.  You are my first born, my first son and my first true love.  Without you, I am not me.  Thank you for your unconditional love.  Thank you for not caring what I look like when I wake in the mornings, or that I stink at spelling and math.  Although, you may tease me about that when you are a teen, but for now, I am thankful.  HA! 

Thank you for all the memories you have given me to always treasure away in my heart of memories. They are gifts that you will never realize you have given to me.  I miss so much about you as a walking toddler.  The way you said certain words, or the high pitch that followed every letter of the alphabet when saying them.  How you would say lellow, instead of yellow, or that you would with such seriousness in your face hold your hands out and say "is it", when you wanted to ask "where is it?" when playing hide-n-seek of your toys. 

Although, I miss all of that very much.  I am truly enjoying the you, you are today.  The boy that is still a boy. Still full of wonder.  Still loves to play with his cars and transformers and Bakugan.  Still loves to snuggle with me at nights before bed.  I know I am often busy with the baby, home, Mark and your sports stuff, but I am never too busy for a hug or kiss from you.  I am trying to capture it all and take it all in.  Slow down and don't be in such a hurry little man.  

I love you baby boy, and thank you for all 8 wonderful years you have shared with me.  I am honored to have been chosen to be in YOUR plan, your mother and that I am blessed to call you son of mine. 

Beautiful, beautiful boy..... I am so excited to see what God has planned in your life for the next 8 years, and then the next 8 years after that and that and that.  

I love you Hunter Dylan! 

Do you ever wonder?

What both child and cat are thinking at moments like this?