Kemper’s Birthday Pictures

 

 

I love RJ Goodies!  Their cakes taste incredible, but um… This cake was really cute, and wow, I couldn’t do that.  However, it just isn’t… Never mind, you guys can see it yourself.  It’s great, but it just isn’t what I expected. 

Kemper has never had so many presents from so many people in his life.  Exciting, yes. Overwhelming, definitely.

I just didn’t take a lot of pictures.  I was too busy sliding with the birthday boy, but here’s a cute one.

 

 

 He’s going so fast you can hardly tell, but that is Carson!

O.K. so now I feel better.  Since Carson’s birthday party was last Sunday, I will upload those photos in a few days.

I HOPE!

9 weeks later!

I am really sorry!  You would think that I have all the time in the world, and that I am just sitting on my butt all day doing nothing.  That is not the case!  When I am not rolling around the house cleaning, doing dishes, or laundry; I am playing with the boys, and TRYING to keep them from going stir crazy.  What time I do spend on the computer, I am buying school stuff for the boys, and catching up on other people’s blogs. 

Ankle update:  I guess I left off going into surgery.   Wow I really don’t feel like telling that story again!!  I woke up with complete feeling in my ankle and leg.  The block did not help with pain control at all.  The only thing it numbed was my toes.  I have been taking prescription pain meds for about two years or so.  My body has built up a pretty big tolerance, therefore surgery and post op pain control seemed to be a guessing game.  I was on about 10 times the normal dose of  Demerol, and that was on top of my normal stuff.   They had said I would be there for 23 hours, but instead I was there for 5 days.  Pain control was one of the reasons for the longer stay.  The other reason was the condition of my ankle pre-surgery.  When he got inside he found that the x-ray had been wrong.  Doc said I should have had the operation 2 years ago.  He said that 70% of the cartilage in my ankle was gone, and out of the 30% left, 20% of it was bad.  The pre-op x-ray looked like about 30% of the cartilage was bad or gone and the other 70% was o.k.. 

That is a pretty big difference!  Little one needs me, I promise I will write soon!

ankle fusion

I will post pictures from Kemper’s party, but now i am crippled, and I haven’t a clue where my camera is! 

Wednesday morning we had to be there at 6:00am.  I spent the days before telling people how much I loved them, and kissing the boys.  Carson slept with me the night before,and I cherished every second, but Kemper was still in bed when I left. 😦  This is my eighth surgery, and eleventh time to get general anesthesia.  Its not that I used to think I was invincible, or that I didn’t have much to live for, but surgery is VERY different after you have children.  I guess the best way I can describe how it makes me feel is irresponsible.  I shouldn’t put myself through all those risks, not with such incredible children,and amazing husband.  But sometimes you just have too.  And this time it was confirmed by what Dr Matthew Hammit found. 

On the way their Josh said that I always take longer in surgery than what the Doc says.  He then said it was because I am more special than most people so they want to take their time  on me.  Aaaawwww!!!  The lovely Linda Brady from our church joined us in the back for some quick conversation and a prayer.  Doc had told me about getting a nerve block, but I had no idea what was involved in that, so when they asked if I wanted one that morning I didn’t know what to say.  I was scared of the pain from that.  They said that the pain from the block was nothing compared to the pain that I would have without it.  It should numb up my ankle almost entirely for 12-18 hours.  So of course I said yes to that!  I am on my stomach and they are sticking needles the size of IV needles attached to nerve stimulators  into my calf. 

I just don’t even know what to say about all that.  It should be pretty quick, but they were having equipment problems, so for I dunno, maybe 25 minutes they were stabbing me and electrocuting my nerves and my leg would jerk against the needle.  In the end of what they described as a “fairly painless procedure”, I was sobbing and screaming, and since I had a nasal cannula on, my nose was TOTALLY stopped up with snot.  Then they tell me they are done and wisked me away to surgery.  By the way that all happened in the big room where all the patients are waiting.  Separated by only a curtain.  They kept yelling give her more meds, it sounded like and e.r. left and right screaming out amounts of different meds to give.  I hope at least one of the other patients nurses took advantage and said, oh sorry about that, she is getting her iv, are you ready for yours?

Finally I am asleep, after hugging and sobbing on the shoulders of several of the surgical staff, and not being able to breath in the oxygen because of the amount of snot.  Out like a light for what should have been one and a half hours, but was two.  I am special.

What is an ankle fusion?  Well after preparing the bones, and cleaning everything up.  They put 3 screws that are just the middle part of the screw, there is no head on it, up through the joint and it locks it in place.  Then they wait for the bone to grow through and around it all and actually fuse together.  Doc says that at one year post surgery I should be 90-93% recovered from the actual surgery.  That’s a long time. 

Oh goodness guys I am getting really uncomfortable, and I need to take a break.  Just a sneak peek.  The nerve block didn’t numb anything but my toes!!!  What was supposed to be a 23hour stay at the hospital turned into 5 days!!!  But, I am home now, home and hurting in Houston.

Well uh, I swear I meant to…

Today, I promise!

I Know I Know

I know you are all thinking I dropped off the face of the earth!  It is hard finding 15 minutes of uninterupted time to sit down and write!  I promise tonight I will post Kemper’s birthday pictures and some others, so check again tomorrow.

I PROMISE!

Happy Mother’s Day

I personally believe that being a mother is the most amazing and rewarding job ever.  I think that this Mother’s Day was my best one yet.  There was one big missing piece though.  It would have been that much more amazing if my sister had been their.  The plan was to do a little crawfish boil on Glen’s driveway around 4:30 that afternoon.  Saturday night Josh and I were talking, and we decided to go to Galveston Sunday morning.  We have been wanting to go for a while and spend the weekend, but it doesn’t look like that is going to happen  before my surgery.  So, we picked up my Mom and headed out. 

I guess we got there around 10:45, and went straight to Rainforest Cafe.  The boys loved it as usual.  Kemper made a tree frog at Build-a-Bear, and Carson was just happy playing in the big thing of hearts.  If you’ve been there then you know what I’m talking about.  Then we ate. And ate.  And ate…  We sat at the perfect table.  A big round booth with a fish tank right behind us.  The boys sat in between Josh and I, and they were able to stand up looking at fish the whole meal.  I mean without bothering anyone!

O.K., we have been to Rainforest a bunch of times, but can anyone help me out here and tell me what this is???

Anybody?

Well after lunch was desert, and that means volcano.  For those sad few that don’t know what that is, let me explain.  Heaping mounds of ice cream surrounded with brownies to form a volcano.  Topped with big scoops of whipped cream and hot fudge.  Stick a sparkler in the top, light it, and you find yourself in an alternate universe!  This my dear friends is the aftermath…

After food we rode the river ride.  Then we went to the beach, and rode the ferry.  I would put pictures up, but I am really full after looking at the pictures of food.  Just imagine what it was like to eat it!  I will put up pictures of Carson’s first beach experience later.  Happy Mother’s Day to all you Moms.  My sister is one of the most amazing mom’s that I know, and I’m not too shabby.  I think that speaks very well of my mom.  Sarah and I were blessed with an amazing mother.  She turned out to be an amazing friend. 

I love you mom.  I hope you had a great day.

Sarah we sure do miss you.  I love you so much.  Happy Mother’s Day!

It’s the best day ever!!!! Song from noggin?

That cute little butt is hunting for Easter eggs!

Today was such a great day!  We went to my mom’s house this morning to hang some curtains, and stayed there for a few hours.  Carson was ready for a nap by the time we got home, and after that, we joined Mom for lunch at Lupe Tortilla’s.  Then we came home and were totally lazy until around 4:00.  That was yard work time!  

The boy’s seeds have grown and they were ready to get in the ground.  We planted the tomato and pumpkin plants, then did some pruning, weeding, and other yard work.  When we moved to the front yard, Carson kept running next door to Alex’s house to play.  I kept having to chase him down until finally Glen and Alex came out to play.  After a while Christina and Nana joined us.  The boys played hard.  They dug holes, ran around, and tackled the dads over and over again!  The Boyd’s were all pretty sweaty and dirty at that point.  I told Kemper that when we went in, it was bubble bath time.  I told him all four of us were going to take a bath. 

Kemper points at Carson and me saying, “a bath with Carson and mommy and…”.  Then his finger moves to Christina, and you can see the gears turning, and the cutest little giggle/snicker comes out!  My sweet 3 almost 4 year old laughs like a SIXTEEN year old at the idea of us all taking a bath together!  I swear, a miniature man!

Swine Flu, Mad Cow, Bird Flu

Well, I think one thing that doctors and researchers should have learned a long time ago is not to name these diseases after a species.  Undoubtedly it will transfer to humans and people will go around having to say, oh yeah I’m gettin’ over the mad cow disease.  Now that would be embarrassing! 

Some quick pictures that have been on the news of what this, and other scary diseases can do to you.

Stay tuned for updates…

Frogs Frogs Everywhere

Christina calls and says that Glen has something for the boys, and to bring them outside.  We walk out, and Glen has his pool net??  He says come here boys then turns it over shakes it, and about 20 frogs fall out!  The boys were squealing with delight and running all over the front yard chasing these frogs!  What a cool present that is!  I wish I had my camera then, but I did break it out after the sleepy boys had a little cake for desert at 8:00!

This was earlier in the day when they didn’t know they were being watched.  Oh goodness, I love them so much it makes my heart hurt!!

Time Machine

ABOVE- Kemper now

BELOW- Kemper at 8 months

 

ABOVE- Carson at 8 months

BELOW- Carson now

Sometimes they are the spitting image of each other, but other times they look totally different.