Wednesday, February 19, 2014

WHAT HAS BEEN GOING ON?



12 days post-surgery.
This is taking a lot longer than I anticipated.
Today, I had my follow-up doctor visit.
Today was the first time I left the house since the surgery.
Today was the first time I put on "real" clothes.
Today is the best I have felt so far.
I still can't bend over properly or sleep on my side without discomfort.
Doc said not to lift anything over 20 lbs for another month.
Mike did purchase me an abdominal wrap/band today and I would highly recommend it to anyone having to undergo this surgery or a similar one.  I wish I had had it sooner.  

~~

It has been snowing.
And snowing.
And snowing.
And snowing.
Oh, today was rain.
We must have--er--at least prior to the rain today, 3 feet of snow.  Or maybe more.
I feel for those who have to plow.
Speaking of plowing, our driveway is the pits.
Seriously, the van has been stuck numerous times.
The driveway HAS been plowed.
Several times.
There is a bit of snow on it from the last storm, but the van is terrible in the snow.
It is a good thing that we left early for the doctor today, because Mike had to use the truck to pull the van out 3 times and then another to get back IN the driveway.
Winters like this, I REALLY miss the Expedition and 4 wheel drive.
Our driveway is not even steep or hilly.
No company or travels til it melts.

~~
Mister Jared turned 15 months this past Sunday.
15 months and STILL not walking!!
He is developing quite the personality.
We ask him if he wants to stand up and walk and he smiles and shakes his head no.
He still climbs on everything and cruises along the furniture and he CAN stand by himself..but he just refuses to walk.
One of these days he is just going to get up and run.
Still no "real" words either.
He babbles but that is about it.



~~
Our room is coming along.  It is closed up and the door is in!
It is completely sheet rocked.



More to come.
I have to go comfort a crying one.


Saturday, February 8, 2014

WHILE I HAVE THE TIME



(picture courtesy of amazon) 

I recently read this book.

I have never heard Jim Gaffigan's stand up routine or anything like that.
Apparently, he is a comedian.
I picked up this book on a recommendation from another mom blog.

Apart from one or two more irreverent chapters or references, this was thoroughly enjoyable.
Gaffigan is the father of 5 young children and talks about being a parent raising his kids in NYC.
Most of it is very easy to relate to and humorous. 
The chapters are short and it is a quick read, so even you non-readers might get a kick out of it.
If you have kids or grew up in a large family or are a caregiver or..even single with no thought of kids--give it a try.  

It's funny.

Check it out!


THE VIEW




This is my view.
Going on day 2 now.

Yesterday morning, I went in for outpatient surgery.
I had laparoscopic umbilical hernia repair.

I guess after 5 pregnancies and furniture moving and kid-lugging, library bag carrying..(don't get me started!)  etc. these things happen.
Not to mention, I was making a conscious, pointed effort to lose some baby weight and probably made things worse.  I've read that with the muscle separation caused by especially multiple pregnancies, ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diastasis_recti, )
some exercises actually are harmful rather than helpful.

I was prepared to feel sore.

I was NOT prepared to feel THIS sore.
Every little movement, twist..ouch!

I have two incisions on the side of my abdomen where the instruments go in and a bandage over my belly button.  The surgeon pumps the belly full of gas to distend it to see what is going on in there with a little camera.  It is pretty interesting and amazing what can be medically done.

The doctor assured me in the office, it was no big deal.
The nurse however, out of the doc's presence, made it clear that most people find it very painful.
It was kind of amusing, the anesthesiologist at the hospital asked if I had ever had any surgeries before.  I have only had 2--wisdom teeth out (does that even count?) and a D&C.  She proceeds to tell me that the d&c was no big deal compared to this!  Thanks for the reassurance, lady!

I'm sure that I will be glad that I had it done.
Just not right now.
I was hoping to be at least up on the couch by today.
Not happening.

I have a follow up visit in 10 days.  The mesh should be fully incorporated in 6 weeks.
The doctor said by 3 days, I should be back to fairly normal.  Then again, he also said it wouldn't hurt much.  Most of what I've been reading on the internet, says 2 weeks is an average, complete- back-to-routine recovery time (minus the heavy lifting).
Time will tell.

I'm thankful for a wonderful, capable husband.
The kids have been great.
They are pretty much just staying out of the room.  Peeking in occasionally to say hi.
Jared was fantastic yesterday.  Today, he is having a rougher time..he just wants to be held and doesn't understand, poor baby.  

Ah, this too shall pass.

At least I have a nice supply of library books to dig through.




Wednesday, February 5, 2014

STUDIOUS


Little Miss Smarty-Pants


diligently working..
finished her math workbook today.

She has really made remarkable progress this year, especially being only 4.

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

DEBATE



For those of you interested, 
 Ken Ham, (of Answers in Genesis) and Bill Nye (the Science Guy) are debating at the 
Creation Museum.
Tonight.  

Click on the link for more information.


Check it out!

Monday, February 3, 2014

WE INTERRUPT OUR NORMAL DAY



Today is not a normal Monday.

It is SNOWING..again.  grrr.
I already got two loads of laundry done and dishes cleaned up.
Laundry in the living room is folded.
Don't mind the million books littering the floor or the little people house and characters or the school work covering the table--

I have 4 outside playing in the snow and 1 napping.
Crazy, I know!

Jared has been very cranky and now has a runny nose, so that coupled with the consistent snow falling all morning..we decided to stay home from dance today.
I have only heard the plow go by once and the-oh-so-reliable social media I check from time to time, tells me that though the highways are clear, the back roads are a mess and this is probably the slipperiest..is that a word??.. snowfall yet.

It sure is pretty though.



We got our Bible, Science, Writing, and Read Aloud done this morning, along with Rian's work and we are now taking a break from our regularly scheduled day.
After the kids come in and have some hot chocolate and a snack, we'll finish up with Math, History, Spelling and a different read-aloud.

I had a grand idea to do some kind of series for the month of February.  However, it is already the 3rd.  This past weekend was pretty full.
I went bridal party dress shopping.
Yeah.
This time around, the bride allowed us to choose whatever dress we wanted, but within color and style parameters.  I THOUGHT that would be so easy and nice for a change..but turned out to be a lot more work.  Certain dresses only come in one color or the other color, couldn't be the same neckline blah blah blah.  We finally did decide on dresses.  Several hours later.
Then, so glad to be done, I guess I wasn't paying enough attention and backed into a construction cone wrapped around a cement sign..lovely.  Really, I did NOT see it in any of my mirrors.  A little bit of damage, not too major.  There were no other parking spots in the lot, so I made a mental note to be careful when we left..but after the whole ordeal that is called dress shopping, my mental note did not kick in.  
Coulda been worse.

Anyway, so by the time I got home that night, I was in no mood to start blogging. 
Baths and dinner and clean-up all took priority.

So, readers--would you like to still see a series?
On anything in particular?
Or just my usual randomness?

Let me know!