I'm still alive :)

With surgery and the holidays, I haven't had any time to post. I can't wait to post about our Thanksgiving/Christmas celebration with my side of the family and our Christmas Eve/Christmas Day celebration with Jarrad's family. I am downloading pictures and getting organized, and will post all about it soon.

Recovery from my surgery is going well. I have had good days and bad days (more good than bad). I did have a set back because I was over doing it. The doctor chuckled when I told him I was walking a mile a day only 2.5 weeks after my surgery - apparently that was too much too soon. Live and learn :) I'm definitely looking forward to the day I'm completely recovered...Jarrad just wasn't made to be a wife. Although, I love that he's getting a dose of my life. The saying "A women's work is never done" has new meaning to Jarrad. I think I'll milk this for all it's worth :)

Until next time....hope everyone has a very safe and happy new year.

Surgery details...

Well, my surgery went very well. The doctor said my back was a lot more unstable than he originally thought. The pain that I had in my legs is gone, now I just have pain from recovering from surgery. I had a four level lumbar spinal fusion.

The first few days at the hospital were pretty rough. I'm pretty sure that the nurses were waking me up every five minutes to take my vitals and give me pills. I was released on Thursday and came home to my parents house for the first few weeks of my recovery. Mom is planning on taking Meg and I back to Mansfield at the end of next week. Mom has been an angel while I'm recovering. She's making sure I take my meds and am comfortable.


I have a follow up appt tomorrow, so should know more about my recovery and how long it will take after that. I should be able to go back to work on Monday and I'm excited about that :) It will help the days go by. There is only so much sitting around I can do.

Tomorrow is the day...

Tomorrow, I have back surgery (four-level spinal fusion). I'm excited and nervous at the same time. I will try to post after my surgery (probably later in the week).

In keeping with the Christmas theme...

You Are a Traditional Christmas Tree

For a good Christmas, you don't have to re-invent the wheel. You already have traditions, foods, and special things you bring out every year.

what Christmas tree are you?

Did I miss something...

When did you go from this... to this...

UGH!

I'm not ready for you to grow up.

I'm not ready for you not to want to spend every waking moment with me.

I'm not ready for you to spend the night away with your friend...

but, I guess it doesn't really matter that I'm. not. ready.

The fact is that YOU'RE ready. You're ready to grow up, you're ready to play with your friends (without me watching you're every move), you're ready to spend the night away...which is what you did on Friday night.

I couldn't believe my ears when you came barrelling thru the door with Kinzie asking me if you could spend the night over at her house. I was actually shocked because when I heard the door open, my heart fluttered because I knew that you were home for the night. Oh how wrong I was...you were only here because you wanted to ask permission to spend the night away. When the words came out of your mouth, my heart skipped a beat - probably a few beats. My gut reaction was NO, you're only FOUR...but the excitement in your voice and the sparkle in your eyes told me that you were more than excited about the opportunity to spend the night with Kinzie. So, I paused before answering. During that pause, you looked up at me with those beautiful brown eyes, a smile still plastered on your face, and I couldn't say no. So, I said yes (and silent tears began to fall).

Your first sleep over - I can't believe it. These past four years have gone by so quickly that I don't want to miss a thing.

Meg, please don't get mad at me because I'm constantly taking pictures and hugging you and picking you up for no reason. I know that sooner or later, you will no longer welcome these things...I'm just trying to steal as many precious moments from you now...while I still can!

I know it's only November...

Meg and I have been setting up for Christmas since Sunday. I know, I know - it's early...but, we'll be gone for a three weeks (possibly four) between now and Christmas. So, I put it up early this year so I could enjoy it. Of course, it's not too early for me, I usually set it up two weekends before Thanksgiving anyway. This year I just got a jump start on it. Maybe I was excited about putting it up because I got a new tree this year - it's so beautiful!!! And, yes, I've already wrapped up a few gifts and put them under the tree. I'm really on top of my game this season.

In keeping with the Christmas spirit, I gave myself a bloggy make over. What do you think?

Trick or Treat...

trick or treat

smell my feet

give me something good to eat

if you don't, i don't care

i'll pull down your underwear

(thanks to the older kids in the neighborhood, we sang this song all weekend)

Meg was having one of her "moments" before trick or treating time. Earlier in the evening, she was playing with her friends and took her shoes off. On her way back to the house, she stepped on a rock and it bruised her foot. Since she hadn't had a nap, she was a complete brat about it. I gave her an ice pack and she laid on the couch for a little while.

We were so happy that Meme and Poppy were in town. Boompaw and Nawnaw also joined us for the evening. We ordered in pizza, threw together a salad, and cracked open a bottle of wine :)

***my sweet Dorothy***

We left to go trick or treating around 7:00. Up until the point that we walked out the door and joined her friends, she was complaining, complaining, complaining about her foot hurting. Of course, once she saw her friends her foot was completely forgotten about - it's a miracle I know! So, we left the house for good ol' trick or treating. Meg had a blast. We walked thru the entire neighborhood (about 5 miles) and hit every house that had a light on. I was shocked that Meg lasted as long as she did. She finally gave in around 9 and we headed back to the house. We only missed about 5 houses.

***Meg's first house (our house)***

***walking with her friends***

***BOO***