West Nile

I've been seeing all sort of reports lately about the return of West Nile.  Someone told me yesterday that approximately 1 in 4 mosquitoes in the Travis County area are infected with the virus.  That amount is scary, but luckily most will never experience any symptoms from this crazy virus, unlike my husband. 

Don't worry, he had it in 2006, but I think it's a story to tell.  We laugh that he's a survivor: coming out strong from Mono (no I didn't give him this 'kissing' virus) in 2000, West Nile in 2006, and removal of (what we were told was like a 79 year old's) gallbladder.  We know that some are not as lucky.  

I have the actual paper article that talks a little more about this 22-year old male (a.k.a D), but couldn't seem to find it at the moment. 

We assume that D was infected with the virus when we were visiting Nebraska for a cousin's wedding.  We were outside grilling the night before the wedding, and within 24 hours, he had flu symptoms.  He had to leave the reception early and continued to feel flu like symptoms for the next week.  The following Sunday, back in Kansas, we went out to dinner and as we were driving there, I noticed he had a rash on his neck.  I remember asking him if he had changed body wash that would have irritated his skin, but he said no and thought nothing of it.  Upon coming home from dinner, he realized that it was in fact a rash all over his body. 

This was about the time West Nile was getting talked about.  I of course, being the worried one, decided to WebMD him, since it was a Sunday.  He wasn't 'dying' so the emergency room was way too expensive.   I put in his symptoms and guess what came up, West Nile among other things.  I was convinced it was what he had, so I made him go to a walk in/after hours clinic.  Not sure what all they were going to do, they did the normal check.  D stayed mostly quiet and the doctor asked him all sorts of questions.  I couldn't help but mention what I thought it was.  By the end the 'doctor' was asking him if he had any tick bites, because he thought it was Rocky Mountain Fever.  REALLY?  I was so mad, but we ended up leaving with antibiotics for RMF.  Total waste of money. 

The next week he ended up going to KU Student clinic where he finally did get diagnosed with West Nile.  He had to give a ton of blood, and it took about a week for them to finally say that was what it was.  I remember he was just happy with all the grape juice boxes he got from the nurses there.  I was the girlfriend that forced him to go to the first week of classes with a 100 degree fever, so he wouldn't start off wrong with his professors - way to go me!  The National Center for Disease Control had to call him and get all his statistics, thus they could announce what he had. 

He definitely had some interesting affects from west nile, some probably too personal for him to let me share on here, but it did take him a really long time to recover.  Mostly he was dehydrated, feverish, tired, and weak.  I remember him loosing his strength the quickest. 

I don't think he has much affect from it now, but you'll have to ask him that one. 
Love him.
B

Celebrating

Today we are celebrating four.
Four Years of marriage.
Four wonderful Years to my hubby.
So, today I am really celebrating him and all the things I love about this man.  

I had a hard time starting this post.  It's not that I didn't know what to say, it's more finding the words to say how FREAKING in love I am with this man.

So my darling husband,
Thank you for being the kind of man I can fall in love with over and over again.
Thank you for always believing in me and never faltering, for your endless support is unconditional.
Thank you for humor and sarcasm, for life isn't half as fun when you are not by my side to laugh with.      
Thank you for choosing to build your life with me, for mine truly wouldn't be the same with out you.
Happy Wedding Anniversary to you love.

My super serious husband on the road trip this past weekend.
Love B

Three Years.

Last Tuesday, D and I celebrated our three year wedding anniversary!  That's right, cheers to us!  I have to share the card I got D because 1. I think it's pretty awesome and 2. It's pretty much how I feel about him.

He pretty much is my world - love you D!  We had the best time doing absolutely nothing for our anniversary.  We were just happy to spend the day together. 


D took the day off and we both kind of got to sleep in.  Bella likes to wake us up {especially D} with lots of licks to the face.  My favorite way to begin the day is to take B to a dog park and get some Coffee Bean, which is exactly what we did.  I didn't take my phone out to the park with us, but got this adorable picture of B bears in the car on the way there.  She loves to squish her face up in between the seat and the door.

She has been loving her tennis ball and is all about it in public.  We can actually let her off her leash and she will stay with us and play for hours. 


We had to take her home since it was getting pretty toasty out, and we wanted to try something new out for lunch.  We ventured to the east side for some delicious trailer food!  We ended up going with this bacon filled trailer...

I don't think D could resist everything filled, covered, topped with bacon.  I must admit, it was pretty freaking delicious.  I got the Kick Flip and he got the Fold Over with some bacon wrapped pickles on the side.  RIDICULOUS and amazing.

 He was just so excited to dig in!

As part of our anniversary tradition we always get cupcakes.  After 2 weeks of being married, we ate our left over cake and decided to just get cupcakes for our one year anniversary.  This year, we got them from my most favorite cupcake place ever - Sugar Mamas. 

I had to get the Southern Belle and D got the Odd Couple

The rest of the afternoon consisted of us on the search for camping items for the weekend.  That didn't last too long before we hit up Flemings HH at 5.  If you haven't been there, they have a pretty B.A. HH.  We enjoyed some delicious drinks and yummy appetizers.  If you go, definitely get their HH burger - SO good.

They were also so kind as to surprise us with delicious truffles at the end of our meal - Yum.

We had to save those for later though because we had to end our day of food with the best ice cream sandwiches in Austin from Cool Haus!  So good.

Here is to three awesome years to look back on and 70++ to look forward to!  

Love B

Happy Heart Day

Happy Valentine's Day lovelies!  Here is to a day that is no different than any other.  Here is to my most amazing husband that I love more than anything in the world.  Here is to having the best job that allows me to snuggle with my bed hog of a pup in the morning.  Here is to having the best parents, brother and family, with out you I do not know what I would do.  Here is to my friends, you do not know how much joy and laughter you bring into my life.  Here is to another regular day that I get to tell all of you how much I love you...

Here is to being the luckiest girl in the world, whether is it Valentine's day or not.
Love B

Our very first fire

I hate to brag, but I have the best husband ever.  There is nothing better than coming home to him and our very first fire in our house.  I love the smell of burning and I plan to do nothing more than sit on my couch with him all night! 

It's love. Happy Friday! B