Whirlwind NYC!

Wow! What a weekend!! We got back today from our girl's NYC trip for my daughter's She's The First conference. I was pleasantly surprised that I did enjoy NYC. I wasn't sure what I would think of a large city like NYC. I have been to LA and DC but knew this would be different. The trip planning started back in April. My daughter attended this conference last year with 3 friends but this year she invited me. It would be her, a friend of her's, my friend and me. Well, at the last minute my friend had to cancel due to a family emergency so my sister in law gladly agreed to come. We had an early morning flight and arrived in NYC at 1:00pm.



It was a little bumpy flight. I had a first time flyer and 2 nervous flyers with me. We landed and all breathed a sigh of relief. Let the fun begin!! Well....first we have to figure out how to get a taxi. I knew to only use the yellow taxi cars but what I had not read in all my research was there is a taxi stand outside of Laguardia Airport. Once we figured this out, we got in line with a million other people. It really wasn't that bad. A short wait and we were on our way to our hotel near Times Square. It was really in the Garment District but it was a great hotel.



We check into Even Hotel - Times Square South and our room is ready! Awesome! I had wanted a high floor so we have a view but they only had a 2nd floor available. We gladly took it as we were tired and wanted to rest.


Our view!! Isn't it lovely. ;-) I can't believe I didn't take a single picture of the room.

We grabbed some lunch at a nearby pub and it was great food. We rested up for our Harbor Lights Cruise on Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises. I was most excited about this tour. We bought our tickets online and printed at home. I highly recommend this as it is crowed there. So I am a big planner as you know, I had used the MTA.com trip planner to figure all of our adventures out to make sure I knew in advance where to go. I took pictures of the directions because there is no reception in the subway tunnels. I knew we needed to walk down 8th Ave to 42nd to grab our M42 bus going to the Circle Line. We headed out of our hotel and stopped by the subway station on our street to get our metro card. We found the bus and the ride was uneventful. Now...the ticket we printed said to arrive 45 minutes early. DO THIS!!! It was crowded and the seats are first come first serve. We waited in line til 30 minutes before our time for them to board. We grabbed seats up top.



The cruise has a guide who had us laughing throughout the tour. It was well worth the $38 price tag. We all loved it and saw many great sights!! I highly recommend this!!











After the cruise was over, we figured out that we didn't allow enough money on the metro card for a bus ride back so we walked back. There was tons of people and we never felt unsafe. We ended up eating at Tick Tock Diner for a late meal. I was not impressed with this restaurant. The service was poor and the food just bleh.

We call it a night as the girls have early conference and we are going to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum on Friday.

Our first subway ride went off without any issues whatsoever and we have our first run in with all the people selling things on the sidewalks. We learned to say "No Thank You" and keep walking.

The 9/11 Museum was quite moving and draining. Afterward I just wanted to chill out and ponder everything. We didn't buy our tickets in advance so we wanted to get there early. We were able to get right in. I highly recommend this but would not bring small children due to all the images and videos.













Later this day, we ventured out to explore.









We got turned around and since it was so hot decided a taxi ride back to the hotel was in order. Here are a few pictures from our crazy ride through Times Square.











We ordered delivery for dinner. Philly cheese-steaks and eclairs.



The sandwich was so good but I never ate my eclair.

Next on our adventure was the Natural History Museum on Saturday. This is our last full day.

























That night we meet up with the girls for dinner and shopping. We ate at Lucy's on 34th. It was great tacos.



View from our table.



View of the Empire State Building while we were shopping.



It was a great trip but I was ready to get back home to my husband, fur babies and my bed. Funny how I am always ready to go on a trip but even more excited to get back home. <3

I am so glad I decided to go. There is so much to see and do. I think if I ever go back I want to go in the fall when it is cooler. It was hot and humid there which makes for long days walking around. Our hotel was amazing and I highly recommend it. Everyone was so helpful around the city. We never felt unsafe and as in any place you need to use common sense. There are lots of crowds in the touristy areas so I am sure they have pick pockets but again common sense. One last thing I wanted to mention, I have heard all about the homeless in NYC but I wasn't prepared for the sights. My heart tugged at each one because I can't imagine what they go through and I am so blessed to have a job, house and food.

Thanks for stopping by! Until next time..........

Really 16 months......

Wow....It's been almost 17 months since I have updated my blog.

But maybe someone is still out there somewhere waiting for an update.

What has been happening all these months? I tell you a ton has happened. There have been surgeries, trips, tears and stress but most of all there have been laughs and family time.

Where do I start? Well, that Disney/Universal Trip in 2014 for the girls graduation was great and the girls all went to college. They have all started their new lives and sadly as we all know friends sometimes drift apart. New friends are made and life goes on. My daughter is loving her college years and will be a junior next month. How did that happen??

Last summer (2015), we had a family vacation to Washington DC. We drove there and it was a fun but exhausting trip.



Let me back up a bit....when our daughter came home from college at the end of may, she told us that she had been having stomach pains. She went to the doctor and they did blood work.

Next thing we knew we were having test for possible gallbladder problems. Sure enough (or at least at that time) she needed to have gallbladder surgery. This happened in July and went perfectly.


Everything was fine or so we thought...post op appointment went well. Jamie had a New York City trip planned to attend the She's The First Summit. It's an organization she is part of at her college.

 First view of the Big Apple.

After a blood test still showed elevated liver functions, her surgeon sends us to a GI doctor. Many test and blood work, they still don't know what is wrong but it's time for her to go back to college. The GI doctor says okay to go but she must go see GI doctor there.

We move her into her new apartment and she is thrilled to have a private bathroom and a kitchen to cook in. You have to take my word on it because I can't find my pictures.

Anyhoo, she meets with the new doctor and he wants to do a liver biopsy. After many trips for us to go to appointments with her, new doctors, many test including colonoscopy and more blood work. We find out in the fall of 2015 that she has a rate liver disease called Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis or PSC for short.



We were happy with a diagnosis.....UNTIL we actually googled it. Just like everyone else in this day and age, we took to our computers and googled and googled and googled......I won't lie. I cry many a tears in the beginning. Worried about my sweet baby....Worried about her future....Worried about losing her. Then on top of that we find out that she also has Ulcerative Colitis. So two auto-immune diseases that are INCURABLE. Yes, more tears....I was heartbroken for her. She has such dreams. How was this going to affect her??? Let me tell you...She has not slowed down...Yes, she has pain, ITCHING beyond belief, lots of blood work, many doctor appointments, MORE pills to take that anyone her age should have to deal with ‎and a liver transplant somewhere in her future. But she maintained her straight A average for the entire year last year throughout this whole nightmare. She kept up with her organizations and did things with her friends. She did not let these diseases control her. All we know is she has Stage 3 liver disease, her liver is dying from this disease, her future will involve a liver transplant but right now she is fairly stable. We are waiting on her latest blood test to come back. Her levels do the rollercoaster thing ALOT but she is amazing.

Now, you may think...what else. Well, let me tell you that we had some fun times during all this craziness. So let me share some of the good times.

Sunset on one of our many trips to see her. 

Halloween and Christmas came.

More visit pics.......

We even had a family vacation to Disney World. You know? OUR HAPPY PLACE!!!!
It was a great trip and we could forget about everything for a week.

Throughout the past several years, my hubby has had some neck and shoulder pain. We always thought it was from him carrying his video camera while on trips or computer use...Nothing major.

Well, we were WRONG!! He needed neck surgery and that happened June 2016. Yep, he is still recouping from this surgery and we hope he goes back to work next month.

As you probably have imagined, I am a great planner when it comes to vacations. I start planning early. So for the past 9 months (maybe a year) I have been planning our Summer 2016 vacation. It was going to be a road trip to Colorado Springs. We also decided to throw in a quick beach trip.
 

It was a great trip...Then we find out the hubby's surgery date. Yep...Colorado Springs trip is cancelled. Sad but we know we have to get his neck fixed. Surgery went great and he ended up needing two disc removed, cadaver bone put in and metal plate with 6 screws. He is healing wonderfully and we think he will get the okay to go back to work next month.

So now you are all caught up to date....one more thing I am going to NEW YORK CITY!! Yes, my daughter has her She's The First Summit again this summer and she wanted me to come so it's a girls weekend. It will be her and a friend from school plus my sister in law and me. A very good friend was going but had a family emergency so my sister in law decided to go in her place. I have watched many videos and done a bunch of research. We have 2 full days in NYC while the girls are in their conference. Plus we fly in early the first day so we have half day. I will make sure to blog all about this trip. It will be here soon.

Shortly after we return from NYC, it will be time for our daughter to head back to college. So the summer is coming to an end and it has been a great adventure.

Now.....throughout all of this madness in the last 16 months...I have been on and off my "plan" for weightloss. As you may remember, I am a diabetic who wants to control with diet which means I need to eat pretty low carb like around 30 carb grams per meal. WELL.....I have done great and fell off the wagon. Yep...I AM HUMAN and LOVE food but I am determined to get this weight off and be healthy. So once we settle down from the NYC trip, I will be focusing on eating plan and exercising. So stay tuned to hear more about my exercise and meals.......

One more thing before I wrap up this long reunion post...I am once again planning for our Colorado Springs Vacation...Summer 2017 plus for our daughter's college graduation we are in the very early thoughts of a Disney World 2018 trip to her favorite resort Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.

Please stick with me as I promise not to wait over a year to post again. Until next time.......