I MADE IT TO ROUND TWO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 14th. 9:00am. WOO HOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
I Can't Wait
Until June.
It's going to be crazy.
Brenda is going on vacation for the first two weeks in June, SO MY MOM AND MIMI are flying here to visit for those two weeks from Ohio!! For one week of the trip, MY AUNT LINDY is flying here to visit from Colorado!!
Also during that second week of June, Chad is driving to California for some training for work. That Saturday, the 13th, I think Brynn and I are going to fly to Los Angeles (for like $60!!) to meet him and then we're going to spend the following week in La Jolla, CA. We'll drive home with Chad on the 20th or 21st.
Amber should hopefully be coming back from her maternity leave that second week of June, so by then, I'll really be ready for a vacation. I'm ready for one now.
It's going to be crazy.
Brenda is going on vacation for the first two weeks in June, SO MY MOM AND MIMI are flying here to visit for those two weeks from Ohio!! For one week of the trip, MY AUNT LINDY is flying here to visit from Colorado!!
Also during that second week of June, Chad is driving to California for some training for work. That Saturday, the 13th, I think Brynn and I are going to fly to Los Angeles (for like $60!!) to meet him and then we're going to spend the following week in La Jolla, CA. We'll drive home with Chad on the 20th or 21st.
Amber should hopefully be coming back from her maternity leave that second week of June, so by then, I'll really be ready for a vacation. I'm ready for one now.
Monday, April 27, 2009
For Sale
Chad is selling The Bug and is wanting to buy a VW Double Cab truck or Bus.
HERE'S A LINK TO MORE INFO
He still has his Mom's bug in the garage to work on but is getting bored with the Bug since it's finished.
Boys and their toys.
HERE'S A LINK TO MORE INFO
He still has his Mom's bug in the garage to work on but is getting bored with the Bug since it's finished.
Boys and their toys.
Busted...
Tonight is a sad night.
I broke our camera.
I grabbed it off of the counter and the strap caught the corner of the counter and the camera WENT FLYING out of my hand. Now it's stuck on "video" mode and it's a mess. Parts of the plastic don't line up anymore either.
Luckily, we were smart and bought a four year warranty that is supposed to cover pretty much everything.
Our camera has had a pretty good life, we've taken 7994 pictures and videos since we got it, about three weeks before Brynn was born. I think it's held up pretty well so far.
We're heading to Best Buy tomorrow to see what they have to say... hopefully we can get a new one instead of them trying to fix it.
***UPDATE 4/28***
We dropped the camera off at BestBuy and they said that it could be around a week and a half to two weeks before we hear anything. Because of our warranty, they could either a) fix it or b) let us have a comparable camera from what they have in stock at the store. They don't sell Kodak cameras there anymore, so I'm not quite sure what we're going to end up getting. Chad had his eye on a $1400 Digital SLR but he knows he's nuts and there's no way we're getting one right now. It was awesome, but it's not in the budget. I can't believe they have 14 megapixel cameras now. Ours was a 7.1.
I broke our camera.
I grabbed it off of the counter and the strap caught the corner of the counter and the camera WENT FLYING out of my hand. Now it's stuck on "video" mode and it's a mess. Parts of the plastic don't line up anymore either.
Luckily, we were smart and bought a four year warranty that is supposed to cover pretty much everything.
Our camera has had a pretty good life, we've taken 7994 pictures and videos since we got it, about three weeks before Brynn was born. I think it's held up pretty well so far.
We're heading to Best Buy tomorrow to see what they have to say... hopefully we can get a new one instead of them trying to fix it.
***UPDATE 4/28***
We dropped the camera off at BestBuy and they said that it could be around a week and a half to two weeks before we hear anything. Because of our warranty, they could either a) fix it or b) let us have a comparable camera from what they have in stock at the store. They don't sell Kodak cameras there anymore, so I'm not quite sure what we're going to end up getting. Chad had his eye on a $1400 Digital SLR but he knows he's nuts and there's no way we're getting one right now. It was awesome, but it's not in the budget. I can't believe they have 14 megapixel cameras now. Ours was a 7.1.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Catching Up
Bri came to visit back in March and I still haven't posted about her trip!!
Here are some silly pictures we took...
Here are some silly pictures we took...
Wheel Of Fortune Update
Well, there isn't much of one... other than I'm getting discouraged because I haven't heard anything yet!! Ugh!!
HERE'S AN ARTICLEthat was in the Arizona Republic a few days ago. I'm in a few of the pictures.
For more pictures, click on 'Wheel Of Fortune' Tryouts In Scottsdale (underneath the big picture on the right). I'm in two of the pictures and look like a nerd because I was so nervous that I would get picked to go up on stage!!
HERE'S AN ARTICLEthat was in the Arizona Republic a few days ago. I'm in a few of the pictures.
For more pictures, click on 'Wheel Of Fortune' Tryouts In Scottsdale (underneath the big picture on the right). I'm in two of the pictures and look like a nerd because I was so nervous that I would get picked to go up on stage!!
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Car Show On The West Side
Yesterday while I was at the Wheel Of Fortune tryouts, Chad and Brynn went to a car show on the west side. He drove the bug there and SHE LOVED IT. Check out her hair:
After WOF, I met them at the show. Here are a few more fun pictures.
After WOF, I met them at the show. Here are a few more fun pictures.
Wheel Of Fortune - Round Two??
Yesterday I went to the try outs for Wheel Of Fortune and had a lot of fun!! They had three different times that you could participate: 1:00, 2:30 and 4:00. You were supposed to be there an hour before each show and could participate in each time slot as long as you hadn't already been called up on stage.
This first round is basically just luck if you get called. We had to stand in a huge line to fill out a paper that had all of our contact information on it and you put it into a drop box. Each time slot was a different color paper, so that they didn't get mixed together for each round. Just before each time slot, they put all of the papers and put them into a big golden drum (sounds magical, doesn't it?!) and they draw five names at a time to go up on stage. When you're up on stage, they do a quick interview so that they can hear your voice and catch a glimpse of your personality.
I met some pretty cool people yesterday and I think it was mostly because of my shirt. It was a pretty good conversation-starter. I love to people watch, so it was pretty funny to watch the facial expressions when people tried to solve my puzzles.
(PLEASE PICK ME)
(WHEEL WATCHER)
I didn't make it up on stage for rounds one or two but after two games in round three, Marty (the host) called out "WEST... AMANDA WEST?!" and I screamed (went a little crazy because that's what they tell you to do) and was all excited!! A bunch of the people that I had talked to throughout the day were all yelling and screaming for me, so that was really awesome!! After they call your name, they take your picture and make you sign a paper that basically says that after you get up on that stage, you can't try out again. The people that were working that table said that they were all excited for me and that they were really hoping that I would get called up on stage!!
When I got up on stage, Marty asked my name and what I do... So I told him my name was Amanda West and that I do purchasing and customer service for a company called M&M Specialties, so when you eat those little candies, think of me!! He asked what I like to do for fun and I told him that I like to spend time with my husband, Chad, and my 20 month old daughter, Brynn, and together we are "ABC WEST"!! I made sure to throw that in there because Wheel Of Fortune is on ABC. :) He also asked what my shirt said and I told him that everyone had to try to solve the puzzle. So a bunch of people yelled out "PLEASE PICK ME!!!!" and started cheering and then he asked what the back said, so I turned around and everyone yelled out "WHEEL WATCHER"!!
After the quick interviews, we tried to solve the puzzle. I guessed two of the letters in the puzzle correctly ("H" and "A") but didn't have a clue of what the puzzle was when it was my chance to try to solve. It ended up being "UNSUNG HEROES". *************Note 4/19: HA! Did anyone notice my typo?! I typed "H" and "A" but it should have been "H" and "R"!!************
While I was there, an ABC camera guy zoomed in on me a couple times and several people took my picture, which was pretty cool. One guy that worked for ABC had me stand next to a cardboard cutout of Pat Sajak so he could take my picture. :)
If I make it to the next round, I should get an e-mail or a letter in the mail within the next week or two. I think the final show is going to be in about a month.
KEEP YOUR FINGERS CROSSED... I'll keep you posted if I hear anything!! WOO HOO!!
This first round is basically just luck if you get called. We had to stand in a huge line to fill out a paper that had all of our contact information on it and you put it into a drop box. Each time slot was a different color paper, so that they didn't get mixed together for each round. Just before each time slot, they put all of the papers and put them into a big golden drum (sounds magical, doesn't it?!) and they draw five names at a time to go up on stage. When you're up on stage, they do a quick interview so that they can hear your voice and catch a glimpse of your personality.
I met some pretty cool people yesterday and I think it was mostly because of my shirt. It was a pretty good conversation-starter. I love to people watch, so it was pretty funny to watch the facial expressions when people tried to solve my puzzles.
(PLEASE PICK ME)
(WHEEL WATCHER)
I didn't make it up on stage for rounds one or two but after two games in round three, Marty (the host) called out "WEST... AMANDA WEST?!" and I screamed (went a little crazy because that's what they tell you to do) and was all excited!! A bunch of the people that I had talked to throughout the day were all yelling and screaming for me, so that was really awesome!! After they call your name, they take your picture and make you sign a paper that basically says that after you get up on that stage, you can't try out again. The people that were working that table said that they were all excited for me and that they were really hoping that I would get called up on stage!!
When I got up on stage, Marty asked my name and what I do... So I told him my name was Amanda West and that I do purchasing and customer service for a company called M&M Specialties, so when you eat those little candies, think of me!! He asked what I like to do for fun and I told him that I like to spend time with my husband, Chad, and my 20 month old daughter, Brynn, and together we are "ABC WEST"!! I made sure to throw that in there because Wheel Of Fortune is on ABC. :) He also asked what my shirt said and I told him that everyone had to try to solve the puzzle. So a bunch of people yelled out "PLEASE PICK ME!!!!" and started cheering and then he asked what the back said, so I turned around and everyone yelled out "WHEEL WATCHER"!!
After the quick interviews, we tried to solve the puzzle. I guessed two of the letters in the puzzle correctly ("H" and "A") but didn't have a clue of what the puzzle was when it was my chance to try to solve. It ended up being "UNSUNG HEROES". *************Note 4/19: HA! Did anyone notice my typo?! I typed "H" and "A" but it should have been "H" and "R"!!************
While I was there, an ABC camera guy zoomed in on me a couple times and several people took my picture, which was pretty cool. One guy that worked for ABC had me stand next to a cardboard cutout of Pat Sajak so he could take my picture. :)
If I make it to the next round, I should get an e-mail or a letter in the mail within the next week or two. I think the final show is going to be in about a month.
KEEP YOUR FINGERS CROSSED... I'll keep you posted if I hear anything!! WOO HOO!!
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
T-Shirt Ideas??
I need some ideas for a t-shirt for Wheel Of Fortune!!
I opened up comments, so that anyone can post their ideas. (Make sure you sign your name at the end of your comment so I know who to thank if I use your suggestion!!)
PLEASE HURRY - I need to work on it tomorrow and Friday night, auditions are this weekend!!
I opened up comments, so that anyone can post their ideas. (Make sure you sign your name at the end of your comment so I know who to thank if I use your suggestion!!)
PLEASE HURRY - I need to work on it tomorrow and Friday night, auditions are this weekend!!
Monday, April 13, 2009
Thanks
Just a quick thanks to everyone who has kept Brynn in your thoughts and prayers lately. Also, thanks to Grammie (and Rita and Roger!) for flying out last week to take care of Brynn and thanks to GGMa for watching her today!!
What a crazy week!!
What a crazy week!!
Surgery Update
This afternoon we took Brynn to her first surgery follow up appointment. Dr. Salevitz said that she looks amazing. He was really happy with the results. He said that even though the first and second surgeries were similar, he worked with different tendons. The first surgery was because her eyes crossed. This surgery was to keep them from "floating".
Her eyes still kind of "float" but it's not as noticeable. Most of the time now, she'll catch them doing it, she'll blink, and they'll go back to normal. After the surgery, Dr. Salevitz mentioned that the tendons that he was working with were about 2/3 thicker than normal. He was glad we did the surgery when we did.
Today, we asked if there was a maximum number of surgeries that she could have and he said it just depends on the person and how many tendons and muscles they're working with.
So, overall, she looks great and we won't go back for another follow up for about two months. YAY!!
P.S. I can't get her to look directly at the camera to take a good picture!!
Her eyes still kind of "float" but it's not as noticeable. Most of the time now, she'll catch them doing it, she'll blink, and they'll go back to normal. After the surgery, Dr. Salevitz mentioned that the tendons that he was working with were about 2/3 thicker than normal. He was glad we did the surgery when we did.
Today, we asked if there was a maximum number of surgeries that she could have and he said it just depends on the person and how many tendons and muscles they're working with.
So, overall, she looks great and we won't go back for another follow up for about two months. YAY!!
P.S. I can't get her to look directly at the camera to take a good picture!!
Saturday, April 11, 2009
WHEEL OF FORTUNE!!
I'm a big Wheel of Fortune fan and I actually tried out for the show a few years ago and I made it to one round before the actual show. Well, guess what?! THE WHEELMOBILE IS COMING BACK TO THE VALLEY NEXT WEEKEND AND I AM GOING TO TRY OUT!! Thank goodness mom was paying attention to the tv tonight, or I wouldn't have known!!
What could be frustrating is that the first round is basically a random drawing. My fingers are crossed that they pick my name again!!
I think I'm going to make a t-shirt for the tryouts!!
Keep your fingers crossed for me!!
P.S. Sam, you should extend your vacation and fly down here to try out with me!! :)
What could be frustrating is that the first round is basically a random drawing. My fingers are crossed that they pick my name again!!
I think I'm going to make a t-shirt for the tryouts!!
Keep your fingers crossed for me!!
P.S. Sam, you should extend your vacation and fly down here to try out with me!! :)
Breakfast With GGMa and GGPa
This morning GGMa, GGPa, Grammie, Chad, Brynn and I all went to breakfast at Cracker Barrel. That reminded me that we went with GGMa and GGPa a few weeks ago took some awesome pictures that I haven't posted yet.
These are my favorite pictures with Brynn and Chad's grandparents that we've taken so far!!
These are my favorite pictures with Brynn and Chad's grandparents that we've taken so far!!
Whoa
We've had a bunch of stuff going on in the last month and I've been slacking at blogging... I've also been avoiding it because I have a bunch of things to post from when Bri was here last month but I need to send her pictures from her trip, so she can post about them too. :) Grammie has been here since Monday and she's going to take Bri's pictures back home with her tomorrow, so you'll see a few from me soon.
I took these a few weeks ago and they cracked me up because I used to wear headbands and stuff all the time. Our friend Erin bought them for her when she was born but they're just now fitting her. When we put them on her for the first time a year and a half ago, she looked like Rambo. :)
I took these a few weeks ago and they cracked me up because I used to wear headbands and stuff all the time. Our friend Erin bought them for her when she was born but they're just now fitting her. When we put them on her for the first time a year and a half ago, she looked like Rambo. :)
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Surgery
Please keep Brynn in your thoughts... her surgery is this morning.
*** UPDATE ***
It is now 10:10 Tuesday night and I must say, Brynn did AWESOME, especially for getting up at 5am today. I think she was a little frustrated because she was sleepy this morning but we didn't have any major meltdowns, thank goodness. I'm sorry we didn't call everyone after the surgery (GGMa and GGPa!!), it was a crazy, hectic, exhausting day.
We got to the hospital at about 5:45am (UGH!) to fill out paperwork and get her ready for surgery. While we were in the pre-surgical waiting area, Brynn met a set of 2 1/2 year old twins that were there to get plugs put in their ears. Their mom is actually their foster mom who is trying to adopt them. She told us that the process should be finalized within 60 days for her to finally be able to adopt them. She also mentioned that she is renaming one of them Brynn!! We thought that was pretty neat and we're really excited for her.
Dr. Salevitz came by to see us before the surgery and we had noticed that he had shaved his beard and moustache, so Chad said "Hmmm, something looks like it's missing?, as he was rubbing his chin". Dr. Salevitz then said "Yeah, well, you know, with all of those gray hairs your wife was giving me, I had to shave it off..." and of course, I said "Well, technically, it was your office staff, not me..." and he kind of chuckled and agreed. Since that horrible day in February, I've had some ok phone calls with his assistant Jana, so I made sure to give her kudos while we were talking as well. He agreed that Jana was great but was sad to let us know that Jena was going to be leaving to get her PhD soon, so he needed to find someone to replace her that was just as good. Smarty pants Chad said "Um, I think she's sitting right here". He kind of looked at us like he was really thinking about it and said something along the lines of "Well, she'd be able to straighten them out, huh??". We all just kind of smiled and changed the subject back to Brynn. I think I might mention it next week at Brynn's follow up appointment and see what he says... it could be a good opportunity...
When it was finally Brynn's turn to go back for surgery, she gave Chad and I big hugs and kisses and said "bye". She went to the nurse without crying, it didn't even seem like she was scared to leave us.
About 15 minutes later, Dr. Salevitz came back out and said that Brynn did GREAT. She was happy when she went back for the surgery and she was happy when she woke back up.
Chad and I went back to see Brynn, she was sleeping in one of the nurse's arms. She pretty much woke up when we changed her diaper and she wanted something to drink, so they gave her apple juice... lots of apple juice (which caused her to get sick right when we walked out of the hospital!). Each of her pupils were the size of a dime!!
When we were in the back getting Brynn ready to go, my mom talked to Bri and my dad. (Grammie is here visiting and is going to stay with Brynn for the rest of the week, so Brenda won't have to worry about her at daycare.) Mom found out that this morning, my dad was in a pretty bad car accident on his way to work. He's doing ok but is pretty sore. It sounds like he was pretty lucky, we are all glad that he's ok. (Love you Dad!)
Brynn fell asleep in the car on the way home and she also slept for about 4 hours in her own bed. Chad and I both took naps when we got home too... somehow Grammie managed to stay up!!
This afternoon her eyes were a little puffy and underneath her eyes it looks a little black and blue, but she's still doing great. We can't tell a big difference with her eyes yet, it could take a few weeks. I will post some pictures on here tomorrow, I'm too pooped to upload them tonight.
Thanks again for all of your thoughts!!
Love,
The Wests
*** UPDATE ***
It is now 10:10 Tuesday night and I must say, Brynn did AWESOME, especially for getting up at 5am today. I think she was a little frustrated because she was sleepy this morning but we didn't have any major meltdowns, thank goodness. I'm sorry we didn't call everyone after the surgery (GGMa and GGPa!!), it was a crazy, hectic, exhausting day.
We got to the hospital at about 5:45am (UGH!) to fill out paperwork and get her ready for surgery. While we were in the pre-surgical waiting area, Brynn met a set of 2 1/2 year old twins that were there to get plugs put in their ears. Their mom is actually their foster mom who is trying to adopt them. She told us that the process should be finalized within 60 days for her to finally be able to adopt them. She also mentioned that she is renaming one of them Brynn!! We thought that was pretty neat and we're really excited for her.
Dr. Salevitz came by to see us before the surgery and we had noticed that he had shaved his beard and moustache, so Chad said "Hmmm, something looks like it's missing?, as he was rubbing his chin". Dr. Salevitz then said "Yeah, well, you know, with all of those gray hairs your wife was giving me, I had to shave it off..." and of course, I said "Well, technically, it was your office staff, not me..." and he kind of chuckled and agreed. Since that horrible day in February, I've had some ok phone calls with his assistant Jana, so I made sure to give her kudos while we were talking as well. He agreed that Jana was great but was sad to let us know that Jena was going to be leaving to get her PhD soon, so he needed to find someone to replace her that was just as good. Smarty pants Chad said "Um, I think she's sitting right here". He kind of looked at us like he was really thinking about it and said something along the lines of "Well, she'd be able to straighten them out, huh??". We all just kind of smiled and changed the subject back to Brynn. I think I might mention it next week at Brynn's follow up appointment and see what he says... it could be a good opportunity...
When it was finally Brynn's turn to go back for surgery, she gave Chad and I big hugs and kisses and said "bye". She went to the nurse without crying, it didn't even seem like she was scared to leave us.
About 15 minutes later, Dr. Salevitz came back out and said that Brynn did GREAT. She was happy when she went back for the surgery and she was happy when she woke back up.
Chad and I went back to see Brynn, she was sleeping in one of the nurse's arms. She pretty much woke up when we changed her diaper and she wanted something to drink, so they gave her apple juice... lots of apple juice (which caused her to get sick right when we walked out of the hospital!). Each of her pupils were the size of a dime!!
When we were in the back getting Brynn ready to go, my mom talked to Bri and my dad. (Grammie is here visiting and is going to stay with Brynn for the rest of the week, so Brenda won't have to worry about her at daycare.) Mom found out that this morning, my dad was in a pretty bad car accident on his way to work. He's doing ok but is pretty sore. It sounds like he was pretty lucky, we are all glad that he's ok. (Love you Dad!)
Brynn fell asleep in the car on the way home and she also slept for about 4 hours in her own bed. Chad and I both took naps when we got home too... somehow Grammie managed to stay up!!
This afternoon her eyes were a little puffy and underneath her eyes it looks a little black and blue, but she's still doing great. We can't tell a big difference with her eyes yet, it could take a few weeks. I will post some pictures on here tomorrow, I'm too pooped to upload them tonight.
Thanks again for all of your thoughts!!
Love,
The Wests
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