Ouchies

Since before Labor Day I have been experiencing sbdominal pain. The doctor couldn't really figure out the source of the pain. They took about a gallon of blood to run mulitple tests, and found nothing abnormal. They did an abdominal CT scan to check for apendicitis, diverticulitis, kidney stones, etc...and they found nothing. Dr. Balat treated me for a small ovarian cyst, but the pain persisted. Tuesday I underwent a laproscopy/hystroscopy in order to try and find the source of the pain. I know there must have been lots of people praying for me because I found myself completely calm and at peace, even through the bloodwork and the start of the i.v.
What they found in the procedure was an ovarian cyst that was stuck to my pelvis. They removed the cyst and put the ovary back where it belongs. Then, they found endometriosis. They removed all the scar tissue and started me on hormone therapy to slow down/prevent the growth of new endo problems. People's insides are not used to being poked, prodded, scrapped, cleaned and filled with air. They protest greatly when this is done to them!
I have two small incisions that are healing quickly. I still can't lean over and am fairly sore around the incision sites. However, by Friday I no longer needed any pain medicine and could drive starting yesterday. My follow-up appt will be this Friday and we'll discuss the surgery and our treatment plan. I am so thankful that the doctor found it quickly, that is is nothing serious, and there is an end in sight!
Thankfully, my Mom was able to come on Tuesday afternoon. She was Josiah's care taker, Avery's chauffeur, the laundry maven and house cleaner. We were SOOOO glad that she was able to come and take care of us. She took Josiah home with her on Friday and he is enjoying being in Lakehills without Avery. This is the first time he has been away on his own. I think Mom and Dad are enjoying having Josiah, too!!
Avery is enjoying playing with her paperdolls...something she can't do when he is around. Since school started, I think she has felt a little left out because Josiah stays home all day with me. So, she and I have been busy. We dyed her costume fabric, bought more fabric and thread, and have cut out her costume. Tomorrow she will help me sew. This afternoon we made cookies, complete with icing and sprinkles. Avery will have a tummy ache if she eats anymore of them!! Now, she and Walter are going to watch Monsters vs. Aliens.

So Exciting!!

Josiah was so excited. Kept jumping up and down and could hardly tell me what was so great. "Mommy, guess what? (up and down) I did it, I did it. (up and down) I finded the scissors. (up and down) I used the scissors. (up and down) I cut my hair. (up and down) Now I just like Daddy."

I had to get out the clippers because he had cut huge clumps of hair here, there, and everywhere. Now his hair really is like Daddy's...not much there!!!

And we're off....

Today we dropped Avery off at school, went and got my haircut, went to Half Price books and Ross for some birthday shopping, went and picked Avery up from school, showered while cooking lunch, dressed and are ready to go to Avery's Open House. When we're done at Thompson we will go pick Walter up and I he and the kids will drop me off at the doctor. He will grab a quick supper for the kids, pick me up, and we'll take Avery to her first soccer practice. After soccer, we will drop the kids off at the church for KPNO (Kid Parent Night Out), we'll go grab some supper for ourselves, and meet our sunday school class at Hermann park for food, fun, and free mosquito bites. Whew, I'm tired just typing about it!!!!

Gotta go...

Bird Update

Lots of rain has coincided with Josiah's bird fear abating. Why? His umbrella. It is like a protective shield, hiding him from the bird. So now, with the rainboots he has insisted on wearing daily for months, we have to carry his umbrella with us everywhere...rain or shine.
So if your toddler ever has an irrational fear of birds, go and buy an umbrella for protection!

Another First

Today Avery woke up and said, "I'm not going to school today." She apparently had a bad day yesterday, mostly because she was exhausted. You know it's bad when she comes home and takes a two hour nap!
Why was she so tired? On Monday we took the kids for a surprise visit to Sea World. At the Believe show the orcas were having a bad day. They did about 2/3s of the show and then refused to come back into the stadium and perform. Someone later said they had to cancel all subsequent shows due to their lack of cooperation! We had a great time, and all came home tired.

Tonight is Avery's first night for Children's choir and AWANAs. I'm washing her AWANAs vest and am hoping she has a great time again this year!!!

Busy Busy Busy

This is a busy week for us.

On Monday, Walter tried out our membership to the YMCA with an hour-long workout. The kiddos get to stay downstair and play while we trek up the stairs and work, work, work.

Today was Avery's six year check-up. She was scared that she was going to get a shot. They gave her a nasal spray Flu vaccine, so she calmed down! She is going to see the Pediatric Opthamologist for a full eye exam. She is also going to have an OT follow-up, to make sure she is on track. She is heathly and growing faster than I can keep up with. I'm pretty sure she was 42" at her 5 year check-up and today she is 48". Girlfriend is tall!!

Tomorrow is my Mom's birthday, she is a very special lady! Avery wants to go to her house to have cake, I told her we could make brownies instead =). I also have a dr. appt for routine blood pressure monitoring. I somehow missed my appointment last Monday in all of the back-to-school excitement!! Tomorrow evening is AWANA/Children's Choir kick-off at church. Avery did such a great job in AWANAs last year, and is excited to be going back. She has always loved choir. After two years with Ms. Jennifer, she is kind of sad to be going to a new class. I'm sure it will be fine though, she seems to adapt very well!!!

Thursday the only thing going on is Walter's Bible Study.

Friday is when Avery gets out of school early. We will have to grab a quick lunch and then head over to the dental school. She has an appointment with Walter for a cleaning and a filling. Once that is done her 'case' will be closed and he gets all of his credits for working with her. That night we are planning to go back to the Y.

On Saturday, Walter is going to take the kids swimming at the Y. We have to buy some fencing at Lowe's because Oreo has become an escape artist. I guess we will be working on that for a while and then relax!

My Baby is now a school-girl!

This has been a life changing week for us. We had prayed all summer about whether to continue homschooling or to send her to school. Walter and I neither felt that we had a clear answer. So, on Thursday I asked Avery what she preferred and she said she wanted to be in a classroom. On Friday we spent the day buying school supplies and uniforms. On Monday Avery started first grade at Thompsom Elementary. Her teacher is Mrs. Shackleford and she is loving school. Patrick, Cedric, Katie, and J.D. are her new friends and she loves lunch and recess because that's when they get to talk. She gets out at 12:45 on Fridays, which I think is pretty cool!

Josiah has handled her being gone very well. We have done lots of building with legos! AND He has watched The Incredibles every day this week (which is much better than Chitty Chitty Bang Bang that Avery insisted on watching everyday at this age)! Around 2:00 Josiah usually says, "I wanna see Avery." When I tell him we have to wait until she's done with school, he goes and gets his shoes and tells me, "Let's go pick her up." Since he has shoes on, I send him out to play with Oreo for a while and he seems happy with that.

Today Josiah has been afraid of a bird. What kind of bird? I have no idea. It's about to drive me crazy. A sample of how our morning has proceded...
Me: "Get out of the car."
Him: "No, the bird will get me."
Me: "Come sit at the table and eat."
Him: "No, the bird will get me."
Me: "Can you go find your shoes?"
Him: "No, I scared. The bird will get me."
Me: "Do you want to eat lunch at Sonic?"
Him: "I no go outside. The bird will get me."

Where do kids get these strange fears? When Avery was afraid of her closet, we would spray her room with Strawberry airspray--ALL Monsters are afraid of strawberries you know! So, maybe I need some Bird spray...or maybe he can use an umbrella for protection. Any ideas???
(Recently Avery saw the can oF Strawberry airspray. "Mom. There aren't really any monsters in my closet are there? And monsters aren't really afraid of strawberries are they?" I told her that there were no such things as monsters so they CAN'T be in her closet. I asked if the using the spray used to make her feel less scared. She said, "Yeah." I said that was all that mattered. I just didn't want her to be afraid.)