14 and a Bucket

On June 14th I will undergo my 14th surgery. I am full of hope for this surgery and ready for a new chapter to begin.

After reading this post you will have a new understanding of my father saying to Brooks upon asking for my hand in marriage. . "You got good health insurance?"

Start at the very beginning

Please be patient, this may take awhile. For a very healthy person, I sure fall apart a lot.
The dates are subject to my memory.

Surgery #1: Fall 1997, Right Knee, Plica removed -- The Beginning!

Surgery #2: Summer 1998, Right Shoulder -- Started High School with a sling. I was so cool. Mom and I think this was the result of the severe dislocation on the go cart track.

Surgery #3: 1999, Left Shoulder

Surgery #4: Sometime between 2000 - 2002, Right Shoulder --  I don't remember, but it was the mini blow torch surgery.

Surgery #5: February? 2003, Tonsillectomy -- This one was not fun. In fact, it was awful.

Surgery #6: Summer 2003, Left Shoulder -- Mini blow torch on the other side.

Surgery #7: May 2004, Left Shoulder -- Scar tissue formed over the bicep tendon, had to get cleaned up and tightened. Arm was still falling off.

Surgery #8: January 2007, C-Section -- Welcome to the world Addyson!

Surgery #9: Fall 2007, Accidental Appendectomy -- Went in for repairs from my emergency C-Section, came out without an appendix.

Scene: Recovery room
Nurse: Good news! (Cheery voice) We got your appendix.
Me: Still out of it, not able to speak out loud. Said to self inside head WHHHHAAT? Oh my goodness. Am I one of those people? Did they reallly just do the wrong surgery on me? Oh my! Did she say appendix?

Went back to sleep.

An hour or so later.

Me: Um, Brooks? Did they take my appendix?
Brooks: Yep, and I tried to get them to take your gallbladder too.


Surgery #10: August 2008, C-Section -- Sweet Sadie was born.

Surgery #11: Spring 2010, Hysterectomy -- No more babies born.

Surgery #12: Fall 2011,Right Wrist -- Broke my arm too many times when I was little (another post for another day) and it finally caught up with me.

Surgery #13: June 2012, Right Shoulder -- Old people surgery. Arms still falling off. Last resort. Moved bone into shoulder to permanently limit mobility. I call it the old people surgery because my Orthopedist, who I have paid for many vacations and children's educations for, says this surgery is usually reserved for those with gray hair.


And now Surgery #14 Left Shoulder on June 14th -- Old people surgery on other side.

Bucket List

Here are a few of the things I am going to do for the first time in 14 years after my surgery and many months of therapy:
1. A Push-up
2. Wave with my arm above my head. No more T-Rex syndrome.
3. Take a stroke in a swimming pool.
4. Burpee!
5. Sneeze without fear.
6. Hold my child's hand without limitations.
7. Punch something.
8. Dips.
9. Hug like there is no tomorrow with BOTH ARMS around the neck!

I'm sure I will think of many many more.

Thank You!

Thank you in advance to everyone who will help my family over the next few days starting with Amy F who will be at my house before 5 am tomorrow morning to watch my children. You, Amy, are a very special friend. Thank you.

Thank you to Brooks and my mother who will be mine and my children's primary caretakers for the next week. They will also be the cook, maid, laundry assistant, chauffeur, hair holder and wash cloth getter. I know it's not easy on you two either, but thanks for being with me for the ride.

Thanks to everyone else who is picking up my slack at work or helping with cookies or a meal or praying or anything else. You are all deeply appreciated.

Next time I see y'all. . .I'll have a new arm!!

Parenting, Dating, and June

Everyone has their own style of parenting. We each pick different things to worry about, correct and instruct. For me, fashion is not a focus.

I feel that peer pressure will prevail and guide my children away from some of their more creative outfits.

For now, I let them embrace who they are so long as they are covered appropriately.  

I love to see their individuality expressed.

This apple doesn't fall far from the tree as my nickname was Rag-a-muffin growing up.

June

June is here and our calender is full.

What did people do before calenders? This is the one that hangs on our fridge. It's sticky and dry erase.  I LOVE IT. Thank you Target. Everyone has a color and sometimes when I get wild and crazy I mix colors.

Speaking of Days

Here are a few more pictures from the last days of school.

Brody getting his award, but all I see is wild hair.

Sadie's artwork. She has a thing for sheep.

Addyson in her classroom.

This is Brody's teacher. I do not have words to express the difference she made in his life. Her kind heart, patience, and creativity allowed Brody to excel this year. She is someone in 20 years we will look back and credit for giving our child the opportunity to succeed. She is an amazing woman. Thank you for a wonderful year.

Addyson and her best friend Parker along with another friend. 

They are two peas in a pod. 

We had a few days where we did not get "green" due to talking.

Shock.

Sadie's best friend who happens to be a head taller than her.

We talked about her best friend every day on the way home from school, at dinner, before school, in the bathroom, you name it. . .she was the center of our conversations this year.

They may have only been four, but they had their days where one wouldn't play with the other, they were the best of friends, they weren't friends any more, they were the best friends. . .oh what we have to look forward to with teen years.

Sadie misses her dearly already.

Date Night on the Fly

Addy was at my parents one night and Brody and Sadie stayed at my in-laws after Brooks did some work, so what did we do with no kids. . .

We jumped on the bike, went to dinner, then turned in for the night.

One word describes us. . .WILD.

Don't be jealous. 

I know that's a beautiful head. 

Catching up

So here is what has happened in the last two weeks.

Ready. Set. Go.

The kids each had their awards day at school. Addy got an award for getting the most math points in her class. Brody completed a reading program and Sadie sang nursery rhymes with all her heart!

After each awards ceremony the kids came back to work with me then we ate a special lunch of their choice.

How lucky for me, two of my three children chose McDonald's. Yeah.

Sadie came in my office and looked at the phone and said "What's that?" She then wanted to call her daddy and a few other people, including some of my co-workers. She thought it was great.

She used a real telephone!

Sheepy helped too.

Then we had field day. . Addy, and her competitive self, could not understand why the other kids didn't try to "win." Bless her heart.

Brody on the other hand. . .well, he had a blast!

And then before we knew it. . .

This little girl started K4 with a smile and now. . .

is ready to go to school with the Big Kids. . .

Addyson felt so proud to start school. . .

and now she seems less and less like a little girl. . .

Well, It looks like more than knowledge grew. . .

This boy needs a hair cut before he moves on to 2nd grade!

My babies. . .

Are growing up!

I'm going to go cry now.

Throwback Thursday: Graduation

In the spirit of Throwback Thursday and Graduation Season here are all the pictures of graduations I could find.

Wow! FOUR pictures. 

Impressive.

Here's Brooks and his parents from High School! Yeah!

I didn't have any pictures from my high school graduation, which is just fine by me. Mom, DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT look for any pictures. Thank you for your compliance with my wishes. You're the best mom ever. Please keep saying that to yourself every time you have the urge to look for them. I love you, mom. 

But here are three very special guys who took the time to attend my college graduation.

Look Brooks has hair!  

Brody-man was there supporting his mama.

Thanks Will for coming and mom for taking the few pictures we have of this day.

I ended up at my University very last min, and had every intention of transferring out after my freshman year.

But the first year went much better than I anticipated and instead, I made great friends and decided to finish my last 3 years there.

Four years, one wedding, and a child later I walked across the front lawn and accepted my diploma for a BA in Psychology with a concentration in Human Services.

Good times.

Happy Graduation to all the 2013 High School and College Graduates!