Thanksgiving and Surgery

The deal on Thursday morning was, I would either have surgery or I could go home for the festivities as long as I returned 12 hours later for more IV antibiotics. They threatened me with a pic line when I returned so I wasn't going to challenge the 12 hour time limit. The IV's were taken out of my arm and the family was ready to take me home. We were walking down the hall when a nurse came running after me, wanting to see my IV spot. She looked at it and said someone from the blah blah blah team needed to look at it. 45 minutes and 5 shots later, we left the hospital. I was incredibly excited to leave even for a little while. We went to Thanksgiving at friends' where I had to continue to keep my hand elevated. As you can see I look like a superhero.

I headed back in to the hospital 18 hours later (I had permission to be gone that long!) and saw the plastic surgeon. He asked ME what he should do. I told him to "just make it better" so he and his residents operated.

They cut along the lines in my hand an inch and a half along the "father" then up 1/2 inch along the "light" and put a catheter in my tendon. They also cut all the way across the first line in my finger-from the top. Can you imagine it or are you completely confused?

Later that night I was visiting with friends when my hand was starting to feel the worse pain known to man. I was trying to be keep a strong face, because of my guests, but I was deteriorating quickly. I informed the nurse of my excruciating pain (she was awfully crabby) and she returned with several colorful pills. I told my friends if they left I would be fine and after finally convincing them I was okay, they left.

First, I dropped my cell phone. Getting out of bed is not really an option at this time, as I am attached to 2 different IV's, heart monitor, some other thing on my finger, Oh and I'm somewhat buzzed. I made myself as comfortable as I could and waited for the medicine to take the pain away. But the pain didn't get away, it got much, much worse. Like I said, I dropped my phone on the floor. A previous nurse told me I couldn't call out on my room phone (which wasn't true). I emailed Rob a desperate note. I just wanted to hear his voice so I could feel more at ease. I called the nurse again and told Mrs Crabby Pants that I was in ALOT of pain! She left the room with an "okay." Okay? Okay what? It's 12am and my hand hurts!

15 minutes later Dr. Van Hottie walked in. More like Dr Van Good Looking, but at that moment, he was my knight in shining armor. But it does make my boring story a little more entertaining huh? Okay, back on track, Dr Van Hottie walked in and I started to get teary eyed. He unwrapped my hand. It looked ghastly. He left the room and came back 30 seconds later with the biggest syringe I have ever seen. He stuck it into my wrist first. I was teary, but okay. Then he took the syringe out and firmly put his finger over the injection site holding it and rubbing the medicine into my wrist. Then, I cried like a baby. Totally, uncontrollably sobbed. I was blubbering, about how I just wanted to talk to Rob and I begged Dr Hottie to get my cell phone so I call him. He picked up my room phone and I told him it wouldn't work when he rolled his eyes and mumbled something about the nurses and dialed my Handsome Prince. I sobbed to Rob while I got 3 more numbing shots in my hand. I told him how I dropped my phone and needed him and how the nurse wasn't being nice so I didn't want to ask her to pick it up...It was a sad sad night. The Dr did walk out to the hall and talk with the nurse for a few minutes, then came to say goodnight. The nurse was as sweet as could be the rest of the night. She even got me a fan and heated blankets. :) I didn't mean to get her a lashing, but she was being mean.

Coming soon, Too Many Drugs and Kids

Hands

November 19-Rob leaves for business trip. Index finger is sore.

November 20-Finger much MORE sore. Call my DR he puts me on oral antibiotics.

November 21-Rob still away, but he will get back tonight! Finger is so much pain I can't think about anything else! Surrounding fingers cease to have movement. Index finger as big as a sausage and all sorts of colors, including white.

Continued November 21-This is where the juicy story begins. My DR called late on Monday night and told him what my finger looked like (worse than the night before) and told him that I was unable to move my surrounding fingers. I texted him a picture and he gave me an incredibly sincere apology and that I needed to go to the ER right away. He would call his friend to expedite the process, but I should probably plan to stay over night.

At the hospital-Blood is drawn. Sunny, (who also assisted in removing my appendix just 11 months prior) shows up and shoots my hand up with all sorts of numbing potions. He then takes a scalpel and makes 1/3 of an inch cut parallel to my nail. FLUID went FLYING all over the room! It was the coolest thing I have ever seen! He washes it out. Puts me in a sling. Tells me to NOT put my hand down. We joke about my appendix just months before and he tells me he will try to have me out of here by Thanksgiving. I chuckle and say, "you are joking right?" He replies in a very somber tone, "I know this doesn't seem like a big deal, but you could be very very sick from this." Crap.

In my room-I have nothing but feelings of irritation. Rob is getting home tonight. I wanted to be there for him. The kids have school the next day. I have mothering jobs to do! They started me on IV antibiotics.

The next day I woke up and got everyone organized for the day (as much as I could over the phone) Rob was able to stay home and hold down the fort. My roommate and I acknowledge each other and become lifetime friends :) I now know everything about her and her about me. Soon the numbness in my hand starts to wear off and I am moaning and whimpering, worse pain than in labor. Labor, the contractions end and you have SOME relief. The nurse heads out to get some narcotics when my room mate, a massage therapist mind you, comes over, wets a washcloth puts it on my head and starts massaging my arm and legs. I love her. The nurse comes back and gives me narcotics and soon I feel happy. Friends Forever.

I later tell the nurse that I am dying for a shower and I will need help, since I have 1 hand unavailable and 1 hand with an IV that can not get wet. Can the evening nurse come in an wash my hair and assist me? Yes absolutely.

At 7:30 HOT guy walks into my room (Okay, I have been married for 10 years, but I am NOT blind!) Anyway, hot guy walks in and introduces himself. He is my night nurse. He understands that I would like help taking a shower, "Yes, I can help you with that." Uhhh. Awkward. I quickly say that my friend is coming to visit and she said she can help me. As soon as she shows up I explain to her that this hottie is threatening me with his assistance and she agrees to help me. She said, "Sure, you workout!" That was a humbling experience. At least a nurse has seen tons of naked bodies. Now I can never be on her bad side as she has now seen my "bad sides."

Next post: Thanksgiving and the surgery. Stay tuned.

My BFF

Let's talk turkey. We have 3 kids. Each spaced 2.5 years apart. Perfectly planned. We have no intentions of having another within the next year. For now, 3 is GREAT.

You know how drunk people have "beer goggles"? I have something like that when I see her. I am so intoxicated with how cute she is, I hope I don't do something crazy.

The Cheapskate Next Door

Yesterday we had a snow day. An April Fools snow day. We didn't smell fresh air all day long, so when Rob got home he took us for an outing to the dollar store for the kids to pick up a prize for earning 5 stars on their star charts.

Next we headed over to Borders. I was in the personal finance section and I saw the book, 'The Cheapskate Next Door'. We own the book 'The Millionaire Next Door' and we think it is fascinating, so this book caught my eye. I read through it and was thinking, WOW, I need to get this book. Then I looked at the price, $12.99! Do they really think a cheapskate would pay that much for a book?! Then I thought, I can either get it cheaper on Amazon.com or for free from the library. I truly am the cheapskate next door.

I LOVE Readers Digest!

Couples in the U.S. who can answer 3 questions tend to be wealthier than those who can't, Says Readers Digest

1. If the chance of getting a disease is 10% how many people out of 1000 would be expected to get the disease?

2. If five people all have the winning numbers in the lottery, and the prize is $2 million, how much will each of them get?

3. You have $200 in a savings account. The account earns 10% interest per year. How much would you have in the account at the end of the two years?

I passed. Whew.

My First Wedding Cake

I LOVE elementery school. This note came home with Claire last week.

You are cordially invited

to attend the wedding of

'q' and 'u'

on Monday January 10th at 10 am

in Mrs. J's classroom.

Reception immediately following.

Wedding cake to be served.

Semi-formal attire is encouraged.

Please RSVP

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the English alphabet, 'q and u' are married. Q can never go anywhere without U. (U however is free to frolic once Q goes to bed. Hmmm.)

This is why I could NEVER home school my kids. They do things in school that my brain could never come up with.

I thought it would be fun to make the cake for the occasion. I think it turned out great.

Monday Night Lights

Surgical lights that is. Okay more like Tuesday morning lights, but I thought that was more catchy. I was waiting for Claire to come home on the school bus yesterday and my back and stomach were starting to ache. I blew it off, as always. An hour later I was unable to stand up. Another hour later, I had taken a quick bath and ate a little bit of dinner. (I assumed I didn't feel good because I have been doing Weight Watchers and my body NEEDS cookies!)

I had vomited up dinner and was on the couch and after not being able to walk to the bathroom to pee, when I realized something was wrong. That and I was convinced I was dying. We called a friend to watch the kids and I laid down in the back of Rob's Camry and he took us to the hospital.

Yada Yada Yada, I'm REALLY tired today. (That is supposed to be funny, it's from Seinfeld.)

They decided to give me a CT scan to take a peek at my innards. I had to drink a cup of goo every half hour for 2 hours before they could do it. I was on lots and lots of morphine, but when it started to wear off I would feel nauseous. I called the nurse twice for more, but when she didn't come in time with more, I vomited every last bit of goo. So they took out my appendix. It was terribly comforting to have men that we knew do the operation. Not that I had any worries about being in good hands. Though having family friends seeing your unmentionables is less than ideal.

So here I am in my shared hospital room with "Karen" (not to be mistaken for my mother in law) who curses up a storm about getting the wrong breakfast. Has her reality TV show turned as loud as it goes at 5am. And swears at the poor sweet nurse when she tells her it isn't time yet for more narcotics. I take comfort in knowing that I will be paying for my hospital bill as well as hers. Seriously though, I LOVE AMERICA! (That was for you Steph!)

I get very sentimental when I am convinced I am dying. I want you to know how much I love each of you. Even though I don't write on your Facebook wall. Even though I don't write it on the internet. Each of you has a special place in my heart. (Except any blog stalkers I don't know out there.)

I LOVE and ADORE my family. Although most of you just hear about how naughty the kids are-you have to admit, they make for funny blog posts, I don't usually write the sentimental things online for the world to see. I absolutely LOVE being the Mom. Having these precious creatures call me Mommy melts my heart.

Heavenly Father has blessed me with the most amazing man. I feel like I am the woman I am because he loves me. I am especially grateful for Christ this holiday season. He gave his life so we might be like him one day. It saddens me to hear of children who don't know of Jesus Christ, yet open presents on Christmas morning. I LOVE teaching my children of him and his teachings and we LOVE doing his work.

Happy Halloween!

I have discovered Picnik. It's a photo editing website. I just wish I had time to make all our pictures cool.

Summertime

We have been having one crazy summer. We went to Washington to visit family in July and had a WONDERFUL time. I wouldn't call it a vacation though. After about a week I was only getting an average about 5 hours a sleep each night. We RAN from one place to the next and LOVED every minute of it. The kids had a great time fishing with Grandpa, making tarts, collecting shells and playing with cousins and Aunts and Uncles.

Since we have been home we have been trying to whip the vacation out of the kids. I'm not going to lie to you, it's been HARD getting them back on track. I have high hopes for this week. I have been working on maintaining order and keeping life as structured as possible. Needless to say, I CAN NOT WAIT FOR SCHOOL TO START! I know that is bad to say and I will miss Claire SO much when she is gone for almost 8 hours EVERYDAY but WE NEED ORDER! Who knew I was this much of a control freak.

Other than me being a control freak, we have been going to the park, the pool, riding bikes, playing in the dirt/sand/mud and various other activities such as time out, chores and running lame errands.

The white bowl

This post has nothing to do with how cute the kids are. I want to read this someday and laugh. Now that we have gotten that out of the way here it goes.

When my dear friend Stephanie had her baby...2 1/2 years ago I brought her dinner in my Walmart $.97 bowl. I can't say I missed the bowl. I bought 2, well I bought 20 (for the church kitchen) But 2 for me. When sweet Stephanie came by my house last week to return the bowl I autographed it and gave it back to her so she could always remember me. They are currently making their way across the U.S. on their way to Idaho where Jason has a new job. I checked Facebook this morning and found these pictures of the white bowl in NYC. Funny Steph. She will be so missed.

It's been a while

Yes we are still alive. Every time one of the kids does something cute I think, I should blog that! But then the day gets away from me. I've decided that life with 3 kids is a little busy. There are days when I don't sit down, except to nurse Adam.

Kindergarten is almost over. What a wonderful year it has been. I love kindergarten! It is so much fun to hear the things they do everyday and I'm constantly amazed at what those teachers come up with.

Ian is becoming more and more fun everyday. When he is alone he is the funniest sweetest little boy EVER. But when he is with Claire I sometimes think, Who's child is this?!

Adam turned one year last Wednesday. It was a sad day for me. I can not believe this past year went by so fast. I wish I could rewind it and play it over again. He's starting to act...like a toddler. How did a baby as sweet as Adam become a little toddler who lays on the ground screaming when he doesn't get what he wants?

Rob is handsome as always. Busy with work. Which is great. We'd rather have him too busy and employed than not.

I'm great. I've been sneaking out of the house 3 times a week to take a class at the gym that has reminded me I'm not an athlete anymore. But it is good for me to get out and get some serious exercise. I've also lost a few pounds too.

I am looking forward to summer. I am stocked up on sunscreen and swim diapers and ready for the pool to open next week.

2 Original recipe filets, bacon, pepper jack cheese, monterey jack cheese and colonel's sauce

A few weeks ago on Facebook one of my dear friends Mom posted that the Susan G. Komen foundation teamed up with KFC. Selling FRIED chicken in pink buckets. To me that sounds like an oxy-moron. Shouldn't we be avoiding things like the bucket in order to avoid things like cancer?

I'm a bit ashamed to admit, I forgot all about it the very next day. Until today. Claire brought in the mail and I was going through the ads when I found a coupon booklet for KFC. Annoyed with the pink on the front I remembered my previous feelings towards the company who sells chicken breaded in cancer and deep fried in more cancer and started flipping through the booklet. That is when I found the picture of the yummy new sandwich above. (Heavy sarcasm folks) How can eating something like this (above) help cure cancer?

"For every pink bucket, KFC makes a 50 cent contribution to Susan G Komen for the cure."

Disclaimer, I'm not trying to offend anyone with my feelings, but if you have an opinion that differs from mine, post it on your own blog. Hows that for being opinionated?

Sick days

Lets talk about how much it sucks to be sick when you are the mom. Being sick just sucks, but being sick when you are the mom sucks even more. Last night I dreamed all night long about throwing up. I know you wanted to know this. This morning I was feeling so yucky and throwing up. I laid on the couch ALL DAY LONG. Seriously. I showered when it was still early thinking I was still going to make it to church (and substitute in the nursery) As Rob left for his meetings I got up and made myself presentable, then laid back down on the couch. Yada yada yada, I can count on 1 hand the times I have gotten up today. My sweet husband took all the kids to church. Taught Gospel Essentials with Adam in tow and stayed after church for the "linger longer" so I could continue to sit there on the couch and whimper.

So after this crappy day I have several thoughts, Rob is awesome (but I already knew that) Claire will read all her books to me over and over again just to entertain me. Ian will come touch my tummy and say, "does this hurt?" No. "does this hurt?" A little harder, No. "What about THIS!" smacking me a even harder. Ahhh, love that kid to pieces. And Adam, I love the way he plays. Tonight Rob was squirting water in his mouth (from a bottle that he never sucks on) and he would close his mouth-with all the water in it and make adorable bubble noises while spitting out the water. He's so funny.

Don't even ask the question that is on your mind. The answer is no. And the pic is of the kids yesterday at the sugarhouse across the valley.

More Shamrock shuffle

I ran with the 2 girls next to me. We decided to keep pace together so neither of us fell behind. They were GREAT girls to run with. 5 of 6 of us had babies with in the past 9 months. One of the girls had twins very recently. I was so impressed with our mormon mommy girl power.

Shamrock Shuffle

Yesterday our town had a fun run and a 5k. Rob and the kids ran the fun run and a few friends and I ran the 5k. We had a good time. I planned on running it a few months ago so I started running again. When it got closer I chickened out until a friend called and I decided it was supposed to happen. I set a conservative goal and beat it by 7 minutes.

After that we went to the park and had a picnic and watched the kids play. Then went home and bbq'd some cow. It was a wonderful day. The sun has been shining all week. The kids have been outside everyday taking sand out of the sandbox-naughty Ian, coloring every inch of pavement with sidewalk chalk and attempting to ride trikes down the front lawn.

Self Reliance

A few weeks ago, okay more like a month and a half ago, I was reading Family Fun magazine in the bathtub-which is my favorite place to read. The idea popped in my head, probably via some article, that I need to help my kids be more self reliant. My first thought was, our family is going to work like a well oiled machine and we are getting there...slowly.

I moved all the kid plates, bowls, cups and silverware down low so they could get their own stuff. And most of the time it works. The kids will help me unload the dishwasher (after I unload knives and glass.) Most of the time they whine and complain but we are getting to a point where they will just do what I asked. Claire is old enough now that if I ask her to pick up her room, she will. Ian can do small tasks like, putting away all of the train pieces, then after that is done I'll tell him to do something else and he will. Also, my kids LOVE the movie Up. When it was Claire's school break a few weeks ago, I had them fill up a jar with beans. They got beans for good tasks or good behavior. When the jar was full, they earned the movie. Moving Ian's underwear and sock drawer to the bottom was also a brilliant idea that has been most beneficial. Now I tell him to get undies, socks or jammies and he goes and gets them.

Things aren't working perfectly, but it sure is easier...once the cheerios get picked up.

I hate to say I told you so

I have no problem admitting I'm wrong, when I actually AM wrong.

Rob's rule, NO KIDS IN OUR BED.

My rule, If I'm too tired to walk them back to their beds, KIDS CAN SLEEP IN OUR BED.

Yesterday I put clean sheets on our bed, but didn't get to washing the old ones because laundry day is on Monday (and I refuse to do laundry everyday, I'd rather just get it done in one day)

Last night I broke Rob's rule. I got up with Adam, changed his diaper and put him in bed with us. He nursed for a while and was being adorable, we were staring at each other (oh those tender moments) when old faithful erupted. Vomit. All over me. My jammies, my bed, my pillow, my baby...my husband.

Silence filled the room as we cleaned up Adam, ourselves and our bed. We both worked silently me not wanting to admit I was wrong, Rob not wanting to admit the obvious.

Perhaps that is one of the good reasons for his rule.

Rob-4

Juliann-0

Earthly possessions

Would you keep your prized earthy possession here for the winter? Yeah, me neither. The mustang left us today for another long winter in it's crusty, dilapidated, broken windowed, termite ridden home. Okay I made up that one, I hope it's not termite ridden, mice wouldn't surprise me though. The warehouse where the cars go is around the other side, Rob just wanted to show this picture because it is a great shot of how gross the building is.

Stages of Grief

Denial My flat iron isn't broken, I just got it. Something must just be wrong with the plug.
Anger Stupid CHI, for $90 can't a girl get a quality product that DOESN'T break 10 months later! I HATE YOU! I NEVER want to see you again!
Bargaining I'm so sorry, I didn't mean it, I REALLY do love you. PLEASE turn on, I'll do anything. I love you so much, I stop to thing about how much I love you everyday! Every time I see my straight hair in the mirror I LOVE YOU. I cherish every second I spend with you. PLEASE!
Depression Fine. I'll just be ugly. You could have warned me first.
Acceptance...I'm not there yet.

Fun with Friends

This past week one of my good friends from Camano Island came to visit our family. She and her husband are living in Baltimore as of 6 months ago and she brought along with her 2 ADORABLE kids, one of which, was an EXCELLENT little snuggle bug. The other one was much too busy to stop for a cuddle. We took them to the Boston temple, York Maine and various other sightseeing spots around NH and VT.

We had such a fun time catching up, learning about what I missed the past 9 years! This is what I learned about her,

She is a wonderful mom (she didn't yell even once)

She has some CRAZY emergency room stories (she worked in one for several years)

She folds clothes perfectly (thanks to a job at Target)

She is SUPER good at budgeting (and shared her tips with me)

She is even hotter than she was in HS (BRAT!)

She is an AMAZING woman who I am SO happy to be friends with.

If only we could convince her to come visit every year.