Nikkie T's year in review

Happy New Year!

Everyone who knows me knows I love me some Oprah Winfrey and as I was browsing the internet I found this New Year's quote from her...

"Cheers to a New Year and another chance for us to get it right."

-O.W.

I love the fact that when the New Year rolls around people take time to reflect on the previous year to see what they did right, what they might have done differently, and how they plan to move forward and make "this year" the best yet. It is in that spirit that I've decided to share my thoughts on 2008 with you.

Last year I'm glad I...

Spent time with my friends.

In 2008 I made a commitment to have my friends over at least once a month and I stuck to it. Marcus and I were the first one's of our friends to have children and it's very difficult to maintain relationships when you and your friends are in different places in your lives. So when we moved into a place that could accommodate it, we decided that the second Saturday of every month would be devoted to maintaining our relationships. Nothing fancy. Mostly game nights and dinner parties. But those simple get togethers quickly turned into something that I cherished. Through them I was able to become close again with friends from waaaaaay back, nurture those friendships that had sort of been neglected and/or taken for granted, and make wonderful new friends (shout out to Rob and Bianca). I had more fun and laughed harder during those 2nd Saturdays than at any point during the year. All I can say is I'm blessed to know such great people and I'm lucky to have been able to spend my time with them.

Last year I never thought I'd get to...

Go on a vacation!!

The first half of 2008 was rough. Marcus was gone, in Iraq, for almost 5 months and I was a single parent. No fun. I told him before he came home that I would desperately need some "me" time. I promised to make it a quick trip and also to make sure I went somewhere close so that if there was an emergency I could get home easily, and he agreed. So Brianna, who was also in need of a get away, and I decided to go to Cancun. While we were planning our trip Marcus was planning a trip of his own with his friends to Jamaica. I thought it was just going to be him and his friends but turns out, he wanted to bring little ol' me along as well. SCORE!!! For those of you not counting that's 2- ONE, TWO- vacations!!

I got to go to Jamaica for the first time, with my wonderful husband, his best friend Norton and Norton's wife Shawna.

Then 2 weeks later I got to go to Cancun and stay in the fabulous ME resort with my dear friend Brianna.

Don't ask why I look like an oompa loompa in the photo with the green dress, I couldn't tell you.

I also never thought...

I'd be able to conquer my fear of heights long enough to do this.

Last year I'm proud of the job I did...

Being a mom.

I few years back, when it was just Charlie, we were in Phoenix visiting a friend of mine that I hadn't seen in a while. We hung out for a few hours just catching up on life. But before we left he told me that the felt I was meant to be a mother. He said it was as though being a mother had reached inside and brought out the best me that there was. It was and still is the greatest compliment I've ever received. What he didn't know is thought that I've been a mom my whole life. From the time I was little I was always the one "mothering" my brother and cousins, telling them what we should and should not be doing, how we'll get in trouble if we go here or there. I did the same with my friends in high school. I'd get on them if they weren't in class. I'd tell them if I was "let down by their actions" or that "I expected better" of them... as if I was some authority figure :). Anyway my point is it has always been in me, this whole mommy thing... I take it so seriously. It is the thing that I want to get right more than anything in this world. I know I'll make mistakes along the way, but right now I look at my children and they are so, just so remarkable... that I have a feeling I'm doing a fine job so far.

Last year I realized there is...

Nothing I wouldn't do for my husband.

I mean I sort of knew it, but assuming you would do something if you had to is different from actually doing it. And I don't want you to be confused cause this isn't as much about me moving to Okinawa (I mean, even a crappy wife would make the move) as it is about me having my husband's back and supporting his decisions. My mentality over this past year has been that I would do whatever I had to do to support my man and handle whatever comes (like Iraq & Okinawa) in a way that will make life as easy as possible for my family because my husband does what he has to do to give us the amazing life that we get to live.

Last year I never thought I'd eat...

Octopus.... or cow tongue.

I planned to tell you guys about the cow tongue but I forgot. This was at Marcus' job's Christmas Party. I never planned to eat cow tongue that night. But one of Marcus' coworkers ordered it and when it came to the table it looked and smelled like regular beef so I ate a piece. However, had I known cows did this...

I would've passed.

Last year it was my turn to...

Be affected by he C-Word.

My dad has cancer. Our family found out just after we moved to Okinawa. As a matter of fact it was 4 weeks after because I got the phone call a couple days after Marcus left to go to Guam... remember how I was already in a vulnerable state cause I missed him so much... yeah... that was a crappy day... the only good thing was that my parents happened to call me during the girls' nap so I was free to "react".

The first thing I did was call Marcus. A few hours later I called my friend Kia. The next day I sent an email to 8 of my friends. Of the 8, 6 of them have a parent who either had or currently has cancer. They would be my support system. I didn't tell anyone else. I know there are people reading this blog who literally love my Dad... So let me pause and tell you not to freak out. Here are the details:

My Dad's cancer is stage 2- good news. It is at the back of his colon/ front of his rectum. It has not metastasized (meaning it hasn't spread- also good news). For the past month he's been at the Cancer Treatment Centers of America Midwest Regional Medical Center in Chicago getting the best care. I talk to him everyday and his spirits are good. He's doing radiation and Chemo and he's handling it well (no vomiting- YAY!). His treatment is only for 20mins a day. He gets a little bored but my friend Debbie who lives in the Chi visits him often. He beat the blizzard and got to fly home for Christmas which was awesome and my big brother said he looked great- my parents said the same thing but they would say that even if he didn't to keep me from worrying so it was good to hear it from CT. His treatment be finished in a few weeks. Then he'll get a break for a few weeks and after that the doctors will check the mass to see if it's disappeared and we'll move forward from there. The good news is that either way the cancer looks to be operable so even if it's still there, they can cut it out.

If you're reading this and are hurt by the fact that I didn't share this information sooner, let me say I know I suck. I didn't tell though because #1) I didn't want anyone worrying themselves to death before we knew the facts and how Dad would respond to treatment, and #2) When I found out it was really hard just being here... When I had a chance to communicate with someone I wanted it to be happy and normal, I didn't want every conversation to be about Cancer.

Anyway I guess what I really want to say regarding all this is... can we hurry up and find a cure for this already!!!

This has gotten longer than I expected and I'm sleepy so that's all for now.

Stay tuned :).