I'm still here...

This year has been crazy, busy, exciting, and stressful. Since my last post a lot has changed, and while I wasn't sure about some of it, it seems to be happening for the better.

In June, Jason & I went up to Washington D.C. for the first time since we were both in 7th grade. It was interesting to see how so much has changed, yet so much has stayed the same. We chose DC this year for our vacation, not so much to see the sites, but because we wanted to go to SAVOR, a craft beer event. This year, LoneRider Brewery was invited and we wanted to go too. Jason & I even got to pour for a while at the event. It was interesting to taste all of the different beers, yet still getting to have my Sweet Josie, when I didn't like something. It was a lot of fun to go to the different events around the city and see it through different eyes than I had when I was in 7th grade.

When we got back, the following week, I got a rude awakening, I was laid off from my job at INC Research. I'd been there for over 4 years. The company was growing quickly, via another merger, and some had to be let go. I was one of those that were let go. Right after it happened, I didn't know what to do, but I started job hunting, and landed a great job. I am now with November Research Group. Doing similar work to before, with the added perk of working from home and traveling when needed to meet with or train clients. I've traveled a lot already, mainly up to the Boston area, but I've enjoyed it.

Jason & I have of course been wrapped up in football season, as well as work, and life in general. We are also working on some major changes to the house. Some long needed improvements, and some that happened by default...like my office floor.

Any of you who have stayed with us during the winter know that our house was drafty. Old wooden windows don't make for a very energy efficient house. Gone however are the wooden windows, and now we have pretty new windows that actually open and close without multiple tries to get them open or closed.

We also have beautiful new wood floors in the office and hallway. The stair treads are getting replaced later this week with matching wood as well. I can't wait to see it done, because the changes already are amazing.

Once we have the floors finished and my office back in one piece, I think we will take a break for a bit, because you know I will be decorating for Christmas as soon as I can bug Jason enough to get down the Christmas tree :)!

So that is what has been up with me, well part of it ;)!

An Easter Miracle

This Easter was a whirlwind of emotions.

Friday night was filled with fun for me, I got to see my friend Jess who came down from Delaware to visit family, and of course we went to see Water for Elephants. (I strongly suggest going to see the movie & read the book, they are both awesomeness.)

The in-laws decided to come up for Easter, so after spending the night in Charlotte on Friday, Saturday morning I got up and headed back to Raleigh to have lunch and spend time with them. We decided to try a new Thai restaurant downtown, Fai Thai, for something different.

Some of you may know that my father-in-law, Ted, has been going through the process of getting on the liver transplant list for non-alcoholic cirrhosis. He has gone through many tests and gotten sicker over the past 6 months, as his liver gave out. Thursday, after fighting with insurance and many tests, he received notification that he was on the transplant list in Charlotte.

After getting our drinks and ordering our meal, we got a phone call. One that none of us were expecting. Just as the waiter was bringing out our appetizer, Ted received word that they had a liver for him. As we rushed around trying to get our check, the table next to us told us to just go and they would get our check. The restaurant however, told us everything was taken care of and for us to get to the hospital safely.

We got back to our house in Raleigh, and threw together clothes and made a crazy number of phone calls, and got in the car for Charlotte. They of course were waiting on us when we got there and took Ted straight to a room to get him settled and then start with a few (well a lot) of tests. The family and Pastor Pete were able to stay with him through the night as we awaited surgery the next morning.

Sunday morning around 7:30 Ted was taken to pre-op and taken into surgery around 8:30. The transplant team at CMC was awesome and made sure to keep us updated of his progress and the progress of the surgery. In total, the actual surgery took about 5 and a half hours, which is short for liver transplants, as they normally run from 6 to 10 hours. He came through the surgery amazingly and around 7 pm Jason was able to see him with Jackie. He said he already looked better and was resting well.

Monday Jason & I got there early from our "nap", to see what the transplant team had to say. Ted's labs were almost normal (which is amazing for a transplant patient) and he was talking and asking for an egg mcmuffin. All of the doctors were very happy with his progress and had high hopes for the coming weeks.

Tuesday Ted was moved to a regular room where they had him even walk a bit! The progress he has made has been amazing and our family has been extremely lucky for this blessing.

Receiving the transplant however, is a sobering thing, as at the same time our family is rejoicing in the extended life of a loved one, another family is morning the loss of their own. There is nothing more that we can say other than thank you to that family and pray for them to have strength during this time.

We have truly been blessed. Without the support of our family, friends, and their thoughts and prayers, we couldn't have done this.

Thank you all.

Cupcake Brewery

Well, it's gonna be official...my cupcakes are going to be on a local TV show! I can't believe how quickly our name is getting out there.

(It airs this Friday at 11:00 am on NBC 17...you know if ya want to watch :)! )

I never thought that things would take off the way they have over the past few months with my cupcakes. Don't get me wrong, I feel blessed and I'm so excited for this to happen. It's just a lot to take in.

I love baking and it relaxes me, and it's fun to come up with new flavors that no one has really thought of (at least in my mind they haven't thought of them). Thanks to the craft beer that is popping up all over the area is giving me all sorts of new ideas. It helps that the owners are also all for helping local businesses, and start-ups get going.

LoneRider has been awesome to us and supported us a great deal. I'm so thankful for everything that they have done to promote us, and for allowing us to bring in our tasty morsels to their brewery on the weekends for people to try. (Thanks guys!)

Cupcake Brewery now has a cupcake for each of their "staple" beers and their winter seasonal, DeadEye Jack. Right now I'm working on a new cupcake with Aviator Brewing Company's Devil's Tramping Ground Triple.

With everything growing so fast, now we have so much to do on the "business end" (not the fun cupcake baking end but it must be done for us to be successful).

Cupcake Brewery