If looks could kill...

I would be your gal!

Every year I have a little competition with myself to outdo my costume from the year before. I have found that the past few years I don't come up with my ideas until the very last minute. Just as last year, this was the case again. So at the last minute Medusa came to mind. I didn't know how I would be able to do it. But thanks to the help of my sweet sister Mandy I was able to pull it off just in time. With her mad sewing skills and my twisting skills for the snakes, I was ready to go out and kill everyone with my looks. ;)

I truly love this time of year and hope you all enjoy a spooktacular Halloween!!!

A light at the end of MY tunnel!

Okay - okay, so I know it has been quite some time since my last post, not really a shocker there right??? Ha ha! I definitely appreciate those who have continued to stick it out with me and still check my blog for any new postings when they have been so rare! Unfortunately, I just haven't felt like there has been a whole lot to blog about since life can sometimes become so monotonous. However, I did want to take a minute to blog about my gratitude for my family and friends who have been there for me through this last little while.

For the past month, which at times has seemed like an eternity, I have been having severe stomach pains. After a LONG night in the ER and many, many tests later... I finally found out what was causing me so much pain and discomfort. I am the last of all of my siblings to have my diseased gallbladder removed!

When going into the ER 3 weeks ago, we had first stopped at the Instacare where they told us they did not have the capacity to check if it was my gallbladder, even though the doctor believed it was. With a fun little chunk of change given to them, we proceeded to go to the Jordan Valley ER where they would take an even bigger chunk of change! :)

While there, they did an ultra sound and CT scan on me, both to which came back normal. Needless to say we left the ER around 4:30 AM with no answers, and a number to call a doctor to get an endoscopy on my stomach. The ER doc thought it could be an ulcer or acid reflux.

The following Wednesday, I again put forth a good chunk of change to have the endoscopy done. To which the doctor told me that I have a perfect stomach and everything looked normal. GREAT NEWS right!?!? Of course that would be excellent news... if I knew what was causing the stomach pains, that seemed to get worse when I ate. Yet, thankfully this doctor believed it was still my gallbladder, and that even though the ultra sound didn't show any gall stones when in the ER, he still felt this could be where my pain was coming from. So onto yet another test and shall we say it together... a big chunk of change. Ha ha

So that Friday they scheduled me for a hydascan. This procedure is basically a nuclear scanning test that evaluated the gallbladder function by injecting some medicine that caused my body to force bile into the gallbladder while they watched me for an hour and a half on a TINY metal table and a big machine about 4 inches from me to see how well my body was working through the bile. Sounds like fun huh?? :)

In the end, the test was definitely worth the time, money and extra pain it caused me. Apparently mine came back very abnormal. From what I was told, my results showed my gallbladder was only working 6%. (I had to laugh because each of the 3 doctors that I spoke to after were curious as to what kind of pain I was in while doing this procedure because my results were so rare.)

From that point I was sent to a surgeon which the doctor referred me to. **Side note to you all, if at all possible... do NOT take the first doctor thrown your way just to be rid of the pain.** I did this on Wednesday of last week and ended up with a doctor who was absolutely TERRIBLE! No bedside manners and compassion whatsoever!! He even put me off a couple days before he could do the surgery because he didn't feel it was urgent even after I had expressed how much pain I had been in. When leaving this appointment, I felt like I was at my whits end. Knowing what was causing the pain, and just wanting it over with! My poor co-workers had to deal with a very emotional Melonie when I came back from my visit with him. :(

After feeling like I did not have a choice and I had to go through him because I wanted to be done with this once and for all, my great co-worker gave me a couple new referrals from his mom that was a nurse at St. Marks Hospital. A couple telephone calls later, I had someone I could see that day and do the surgery the following morning. The doctor was so great and had amazing bedside manners. Their entire office was so kind it was mind boggling! I would highly recommend Dr. Naylor to anyone!!

Thursday came and the surgery was a success. However, the pain was pretty bad afterwards and the nausea kicked in big time. After puking up straight bile a couple of times, they decided to admit me to the hospital to be watched over night. This was definitely NOT the chunk of change I was planning on paying with this visit to say the least!! Yet, after a long night in the hospital and two awesome night nurses, I was on the mend and ready to head home.

The rest of my weekend was spent in a blur of pain, medication and sleep. But when all is said and done, I am now able to see the light at the end of my tunnel!! The pain is not nearly as bad as it had once been. And although I JOKE about the money spent here and there for these crazy tests, (especially when I went in specifically feeling like it was my gallbladder from the get go) I am finding I have more gratitude for finding some answers instead of caring about what kind of bills will be coming my way. Money comes and money goes, but good health and being out of pain is seriously priceless! Oh so cheesey... but oh so true! :)

Along those lines, I am even more grateful for two wonderful parents who have been by my side through it all!! The late night in the ER, taking time off of work, driving me all over the valley to the many tests I had done and for being there for me in the hospital before and after my surgery. I am so very blessed to have such loving, kind, generous parents in my life. I cant express my gratitude enough for your sweet love you always give me!! I am also very grateful for all those who kept me in their prayers through all of this. For my sisters who also did a bit of driving and encouraging me through this ordeal, I love and appreciate you. I am also grateful for my kind friend and my co-workers for the beautiful get well flowers. As well as my brother and sister-in-law for the sweet thoughtful goodies brought while recovering. You are all so wonderful and I love you all very dearly!

Life can definitely throw at you some fun challenges at times. Yet, it is the small Christlike examples in little day to day efforts through others that can truly brighten those difficult times. I am thankful to you all who play a roll in my life and show this example to me so often. I pray one day I may bless your lives the way you have blessed mine!!!

That's Totally WICKED!!

I had the awesome experience this past weekend to finally go see the broadway musical "Wicked". I have thoroughly loved this music ever since being introduced to it about 2 years ago. (In fact, I got my mother and siblings hooked on it also.) :)

Being silly, I have always thought the music was the best, but boy oh boy was I wrong! The show is ten times better! The dialogue, the humor, the costumes, the scenery, the cast, the orchastra, it was all fantastic! Both Donna Vivino (Elphaba)  and Katie Rose Clarke (Galinda)  did an outstanding job!!! I have to be honest... I was a little nervous going in. I was afraid these girls voices wouldn't compare to Idina Menzel (the original Elphaba)  and Kristin Chenoweth (the original Galinda) , from the soundtrack. But wow! They did a stellar job!! Galinda had me in tears from laughter, she was hilarious! It was worth every penny I paid.... and trust me I did pay a good penny for it. :) However, I would do it again in a heart beat!

I am grateful to my co-worker, Jana, for helping me get the tickets for the 4 of us.  I enjoyed spending the afternoon withe the lovely ladies in the picture below. I had a fun time with them and loved spending the afternoon with my friends from "Shiz". Cant wait to spend another afternoon with them in the future. :)

Open Mouth... Insert FOOT!

Okay so have you ever had one of those moments where you are mentally telling yourself to shut up, but your mouth keeps talking?!?! Well that was me today. I could hear myself saying shut up Melonie, shut up Melonie, SHUT UP MELONIE!!! But did I listen? No, I just kept on talking and digging that hole! 

So I got into work this morning and my boss was right by my desk when he commented on a co-workers new haircut. The co-worker just buzzed himself two days ago. Darrin (my boss) said "Maybe I should do that." To my surprise, before I could even think my comment through, I said, "NO you shouldn't!" Of course that proceeded with a "why not?" from him. Did I stop there... apparently not. 

***Disclaimer*** Being a hair stylist, I can definitely be very opinionated when it comes to what I think will look good and what I think wont. Especially because I am asked quite often if I think it will look good on my clients. However on this particular occasion it would have been a good time to not express my opinions. :)

When Darrin asked me why not, I proceeded to tell him because he had a receding hairline and it would not look good. HELLO! Did I really just tell my boss (of all people) that he was losing his hair?? Just call me an idiot!!! Well the playful co-workers that were around me proceeded to tease me for the comment I just made. With all the laughing and teasing going on, another co-worker came out of his office to see what all the commotion was. So my boss starts retelling the events and of course elaborates... just a little... by saying, "She just said I looked like an imbecile." After my complete rebuttal of what he just said, my co-worker then said, "Wow Darrin, be careful because she might just start to rip on your bald spot too." 

Sadly in trying to stick up for myself by letting him know I just think he looks better with it longer, I just kept digging deeper and deeper when the buzzed co-worker said, "so are you saying it looks bad on me?" I said, "no, but you have a little receding going on too." At this point I was ready to crawl in a hole and die. What one earth was my brain thinking?!?! 

Needless to say, I will never live this down. This will be brought up for weeks, months and years to come and I will be teased about it over and over and over! I definitely am grateful for such fun co-workers and an upbeat work environment. They are great to work with and I am just glad they are playful with me when I open my mouth and insert my foot instead of make me feel like a complete fool... or shall I say, imbecile!  

It's about time! Tea Time that is....

Well the time has finally come that I decided to blog again. The holidays kept me rather busy, and then I couldn't think of anything uber exciting to blog about. However, this past weekend I had a memorable experience and thought it would be fun to share.

I was officially invited to a "Tea Party".

I know what you are thinking... 29 years old and attending a tea party?!? Well, my adorable grandma (along with help from my aunt Bonnie) threw a tea party for 5 of her great-grandchildren. It was seriously the cutest thing!!

They had a table set up with my grandmas old tea set she received from her brother many years ago. When the princesses arrived, they all received their tiara.

Of course they were bombarded by pictures galore, which got boring rather quickly for them. Then the party began! As they had their "tea & crumpets" (a.k.a. apple juice and PB&J sandwiches) my grandma told them of her very first doll she ever owned.

She received this doll from Santa Claus when she was 3 or 4. The baby doll is over 80 years old. It was so cool to look at this doll and how it has aged. You cant tell by the pictures, but the paint on the doll has cracked quite a bit. She closes her eyes when laid back, and used to say "mama" but now just makes a squeaking noise when you bend her over.

I couldn't tell who enjoyed this more, her daughters, grandaughters or her great-grandaughters. After their tea and crumpets, the girls were pampered by their very own stylist.... ME!

I got the opportunity to paint all their nails and do a little nail art on them. I loved watching their excitement as I painted the daisies on 2 of their nails. I had to laugh however because my two nieces know the amount of nail art I can do, so they were asking for roses instead. :)

After the girls headed home, I wanted a picture of the women's hands in my family. The first 2 pictures are my grandmother and her 3 girls. Then the second 2 pictures are my families 4 generations of hard working, loving hands that I have come to adore. Each of them! To imagine everything these hands have done over the years leaves me in awe. I loved this idea that I saw on another blog and wanted to get one of my own.

I cant even begin to express the gratitude I have for these 4 women that are a part of my life.

They are my strength and I couldn't be more thankful for their example and unconditional love. I am grateful my aunt and grandma did this. It was so neat to be a part of and so awesome to see and hear my grandmothers history. Even if it was about a doll. :)

P.S. I just had to add this cute picture of mom and Olivia. She is getting so big!

Newest addition to the Williams family!

Saturday was definitely a day of many blessings for our family! My cute sister Mandy and her husband has had quite the trying day to say the least! But we are all very thankful the Lord has seen fit to bless us with this miracle in our lives!!

Mandy called my mom Saturday morning around 8:45. With her contractions very close together, it was time. So they headed up to the hospital while I rushed down to their house to watch her other 4 kids until grandma and grandpa Williams could get there. Once they arrived I headed up to the hospital to find Mandy in the room with oxygen on her face. The baby I guess had turned breech a few days earlier and she was told she would need a c-section. Well when she got there, they got the good news that she had turned back around and she could have a regular delivery and now it was just the process of waiting out the contractions and waiting to dilate. However within a few minutes time frame that scenario was no longer a possibility. The baby was in distress. Her heart rate was too low. So they rushed my sister in for an emergency c-section. At 11:11 AM my beautiful new niece was born. She weighed 7 pounds and is 19 inches long.

Here is where the blessings came into play.... The baby's cord was wrapped around her neck 3 times and around her body once. The doctor actually had to unravel her from the cord because she was wound so tightly. She is currently in the nursery under constant care, with quite the amount of tubes tied up to her. She is having a really hard time breathing and unfortunately while in the womb she had a bowel movement and aspirated on that and on the amniotic fluid. So now she is also on an antibiotic so as not to get pneumonia. There was a point where we were told she might be life flighted to Primary Children's because it was beyond their capacity to help her, however, at this time she is holding her own. She is a fighter the nurses say.

We were also told by several people today that if Mandy had not followed her feelings to come in, that Sunday she would have come in saying, "I can not feel my baby." And she would be planning a funeral this Christmas.

Both Mandy and Jason have been so worried for their little girl, but have been so blessed throughout it all. It has definitely been very hard on mommy to not be able to hold her little girl. She has shed many tears, as we all have. She aches to hold her, and bring her back to that room with her, but she has to stay where she is at for the time being. We have been so reminded about how fragile life is and how the Lord's hand is in our lives! We are grateful this little angel is here and pray she continues to get stronger and healthier each day!! Below are just a few of the many many pictures that have been taken of their little doll. She is beautiful... tubes and all! And we are so thankful she is here with us!

Welcome to our family Olivia Marie Williams!!! We all love you!!

Belated Thanksgiving Post...

So I know Thanksgiving is so totally over and we are all onto the thought of Christmas... However, I had such an awesome Thanksgiving this year and I just wanted to share a few photos of the good food, the great family I have and the great fun I had this year. If you cant tell I got a little photo happy! I had such a great Thanksgiving, and was reminded at how blessed I am! I hope you all had a great holiday as well!

My Eight is Great! Tag...

I was tagged by my sister Marci to do this. So here we go...

8 Shows I like to watch:

This one was hard for me because I rarely watch TV... But these are some shows I have enjoyed in the past.

1. LOST
2. Alias
3. Smallville
4. American Idol
5. Law & Order SVU
6. Everybody Loves Raymond
7. Friends
8. ER


8 Restaurants I like to eat at:

1. Asian Star
2. Edo Japan (Not really a restaurant, but definitely a favorite) :)
3. Rumbi's
4. Suehiro
5. Winger's
6. Chili's
7. Red Robin
8. IHOP

8 Things that happened today:

1. Got up and went to work. You are jealous, I know it!
2. Stuck tissues up my nose because my co-workers came back from Five Guys stinking of fry grease.
3. Went to my grandma's and did her hair.
4. Got into a debate about BYU verses Utah with my co-workers
5. Played with my cute nephew while waiting for my sister to get ready.
6. Went to Gayla's wedding reception. YAY! She is married!!
7. Ran into Amy and her cute family at the wedding reception.
8. Went to dinner with my mom and sisters to Mikado.

8 Things I look forward to:

1. Being a wife and mother.
2. Being sealed in the temple to my best friend.
3. On the smaller scale of things... Thanksgiving dinner with the fam.
4. Christmas morning with my family watching my excited nieces and nephews.
5. Family trip to California after Christmas.
6. The new additions to our family being born in the next couple months. A.K.A. Mandy & Catherine's little ones.
7. Spending time with my friends, doing anything, and everything.
8. My head reuniting with the pillow after a long day.

8 Things on my wish list:

1. A MAN! ;) Shocker huh??
2. Children some day.
3. A new little one for my sister Marci.
4. My parents house in Sandy to be sold.
5. To lose that much needed baby weight I have been storing since I was born. ;) ha ha!
6. Travel more.
7. Get to Disneyland sometime in this next year.
8. My family and friends to be happy in life.

8 People I am tagging: (because others were already tagged on Marci's, I wont tag you again.)

1. Janalyn
2. Brenda
3. Mindy
4. Jaime
5. Bonnie
6. Caity
7. Amy
8. Julie

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is my moms birthday, and we have started a new little tradition that I have grown to love! Last year we surprised her by kidnapping her from school for the day. We had arranged a sub for her class and spent the day shopping, eating out, going to a movie and laughing a lot! Since last year was so fun, we decided we wanted to continue this and make it a tradition. So today I took the day off of work, and this time she arranged for her own sub. It started out rather early when we sang to her around 5:30 since my dad had to head off for work. Then I did a quick pedicure on her and we were off to breakfast. As we headed to the Crackel Barrell we had a fun detour getting there because we got so involved in our conversation that we missed our exit. Oops!! A little back tracking never hurt anyone, right?

Once there we just had to get a fun profile picture of Mandy to see how fun she looks at being 8 months pregnant! She looks great! Then we just took some silly pictures and a group one to remember our morning.

After breakfast we headed out for a bit of shopping. I unfortunately have been sick the past few days with a sore throat, so my sweet mom picked me up some chloraseptic throat spray while in the store. As we left NPS, I was not feeling 100% and tried to open the bottle. Sadly to my surprise, and happily to my sisters and mothers enjoyment the following picture displays what happened next....

CAN YOU SAY EMBARRASSING??? I do have to say it is definitely one for the books. Everyone couldn't quit crying from laughing. Apparently the packaging on the top of the lid was holding the lid on. It wasn't tightly sealed, and the end result... was on my end! ha ha. Then of course came on the jokes... i.e. about my minty fresh toosh, or my numb bum. Needless to say I smelled fantastic! We had to pick up my nephew from the sitters so luckily I was able to change before we headed to anymore stores. But this has been another birthday of memories and laughter for us all. I am sure we wont forget this experience anytime soon. :)

I have thoroughly enjoyed this new tradition with my sisters and especially being able to spend this special day with my mom. I love her so very much and am so very grateful for her in my life! She is such an example to me of Christ like love, and I admire her dedication to her family. She is my closest friend and for that I am grateful. Happy birthday mom, and thank you for all you have taught me throughout my life, and sharing all that you are have with me. I love you with all of my heart! Hope you had a great birthday!!

Who's got the biggest lips??

So there has been a never ending battle in our family between my two sisters on who has the bigger lips. On Saturday at my sister-in-laws baby shower we decided to get some photos and prove it once and for all! I have my opinion on which one it is, but have been told I can not say until people have a chance to respond with their choice. So which do you think has the bigger lips? Would that be photo #1 OR photo #2

Here they are just being silly trying to make their lips fat! Apparently #2 couldn't do it without laughing. :)

Now they are just being weird with their lips. Lauren has decided to join in on the fun!

Isaac deciding it was his turn to be the center of attention, so he started showing us all how he could turn his foot completely the opposite way around. There was a ballerina instructor at the shower who was so amazed at how well he could do that. So he had his few moments to shine.

All in all the shower was a success. Here are some fun pictures from it. Marci did a great job on the cute diaper cake. We had good treats, some good girl time, and good laughs. It was a fun time. Congratulations Cody & Catherine! We are very excited to have a new little addition to our family soon!

New name and background.

Well it was time to finally say farewell to good old Captain Wentworth. He was definitely a pretty sight to see, but it is now time for a new name and image for me. Out with the old and in with the new I say. Hopefully it will give me the incentive to blog a little bit more often. Farewell to you Captain Wentworth! But how about one more shot of you just for kicks. :) Man he is cute!

So I had one of those laugh at myself moments last night. I had pulled into my drive-way around 10:00pm and was "Defying Gravity" with my good friends Elphaba and Galinda. :) I might add I was singing along quite enthusiastically and loudly when something suddenly caught me off guard. These four ladies came walking by on their nightly exercising. Needless to say, I am quite positive they all heard me singing at the top of my lungs above both Elphaba and Galinda! It was quite the entertainment for them as I heard them laughing, as well as it was for myself. I too had to laugh! However, did it stop me from singing at the top of my lungs... actions and all? Not one bit! Defy Defy Defy! :)

Happy Halloween!!!

So I know I am a huge huge huge slacker when it comes to blogging, but how could I not blog on one of my favorite holidays?!?!? For those who know me by now, know I go all out with this holiday. So.... drum roll please..... Here is the latest addition to Melonie's costume collection. Enjoy!

If you cant tell what the costume is, I am supposed to be Mulan. From what I have been told "boys will gladly go to war for me." Is this true? :D

It's a small world after all!

Okay so I know it has been forever since I have blogged, but I finally had an experience that I figured was quite entertaining and worth sharing. Hopefully it can bring a smile to your face. I know it's lengthy, but well worth it I think!

First off, before I start my story I want to express how thankful I am that my siblings and friends still think of me when they find out about a single available man. By sharing this story I want to emphasize that I am in no way NOT thankful they are thinking of me, I totally appreciate it. :)

So once upon a time... or in other words... last night. :) I get this phone call from my sister Mandy. She was telling me about the visit she just had with her visiting teacher. Apparently this older sister had to come by herself to teach my sister because her companion was sick.

Anyway, they got to talking about how she was getting married again and how she is glad that she will no longer be single since it is so hard to be single!! She has a 29 year old son who is so frustrated with the single life and is done with it all. He has been really burned a couple times and doesn't want to be put through the pain again. My sister then proceeded to say how she has a sister who is in the same boat and is also frustrated with being burned. A.K.A. Me. :)

So as they talked, they both decided they could have us exchange emails since we were both in the same boat. Well Mandy couldn't remember my email address, so she went and got her laptop. Brilliantly thinking she thought... oh I can show her Mel's blog and then she can know what she looks like. As she was writing down my email, she put my name down and her visiting teacher said, "You're maiden name is Moss? That is my maiden name!" They had a little chuckle and Mandy having met many Moss's out in her area, figured there is no way we are related. So she proceeded to ask where her family was from. It couldn't possibly be Idaho. Yet what was her answer?!?! Idaho. So then she started to ask what some of the family names were. Come to find out, it was my dad's second cousin. What are the chances?!?!

Then she out of the blue asked how my grandma Virginia was doing. She tells Mandy about how her father passed away a year after my grandpa was burned. They chatted and laughed for a bit while Mandy showed her some pictures of my blog that had my grandma and my parents on there. She thinks my sister sounds a lot like my grandma, which is funny to me. Because I don't hear it. :)

My siblings don't really think it is a big deal and that I should still email the guy, but can we say sick and wrong?!?! We are third cousins. Ugg! Can you just imagine that email? Hey Cous... wanna go out? LOL or even... how did you two meet? Oh at a family reunion! ha ha No thanks! Anyway, after hearing this story a little song popped into my head.

They are second cousins... we are three,

Now we're a White Trash Family!

The End!

So there is my story, hope you enjoyed it. I found it quite humorous and was grateful for the reminder of how it is a small world after all!

Memories...sweet memories!!

I know it has been awhile since my last post. However, until I can find some time to catch up, I thought I would play along with some friends blogs. I copied this from Bonnie & Brenda's blog. Here is how it works...

As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you know me a little or a lot, anything you remember ... Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. Come and play!

Ode to Schmidt Boys!

After my dinner with the gals last night, I came home to find my sister watching the Schmidt boys, and I just had to take a few pictures of the cuties!

Here Justin & Luke are watching "Cars". It was quite the chore to get them to smile at me and not be watching the movie. As you can tell in the first picture, cute Justin was smiling for me... but just not looking at me! :)

A little pool time, and then warming up on the cement with Isaac and Lauren.

Boys, you are getting so big and you look so much like your daddy! (That is definitely a compliment!) Thanks for bringing a smile to my face tonight!

With everything you have gone through in the last 4 years, I just admire your strength and dedication to each other. With the passing of your dad at such a young age for him and for you all, it amazes me to see how much you have relied on the Lord and turned to him to buoy you up. Thank you for being an example to me Gayla, and letting me be a part of your life! I love you and pray for nothing but happiness for you and your family!