Operation

Here is Carlos reading some great magazine while I am checking into the hospital.

Almost ready to go.  That tube?  Pumps warm to cool air INTO the hospital gown...the three-ply very cool gown.  I was toasty warm.

Out of surgery and feeling no pain...yet.

Home with some very swollen fingers.  Ouch!

A few years ago I had a cyst on my wrist.  It didn't hurt and after some pushing on it for several weeks it just went away.  A bit later it came back.  Bigger and stronger and started to annoy the hell out of me and frankly it looked gross and creepy.  So, my doctor sucked the life out of it with a syringe and then filled it up with some poison.  (Condensed version of the doctor's visit)  Now fast forward another year and  "it's back".  Again, bigger and stronger and it hurt more and was really gross to look at...so I opted for surgery.  Everyone asked/told/indicated that all I had was a "Bible-bump" and only needed them to whack it good for me and it would go away.  After I told them the above story they would either say "Oh, yeah...good call on the surgery" or "I could still whack it for ya".  The later was not going to happen. 

Scheduling surgery is hard with 2 kids, a full time job, a husband and all the odds and ends that make up a busy and full life.  But, the day arrived rather quickly and all was taken care of nicely.  Good thing I got the surgery because the doctor told me that the cyst was wrapped fairly well around my tendon and stuff inside my hand and I had to have stitches inside my hand.  Ouch!  Those are what really hurt the most.

So, now I sit here 12 days post-op and I am about 85% back to normal and really getting stronger everyday.  My stitches come out Tuesday and then out of the brace too!  I am thrilled. 

All in all it was a fairly good experience (as far as surgery goes) and my husband gets the "Husband of the Year Award" for putting up with me, helping me and just being a great guy!  A shout out to Hayley too...she came in a saved the evening too! 

Thanks!

Happy Birthday Brother

My brother Troy calls Zac his Zu-Zu Bear...too cute!

All the kids and the old guy!

My brother and his kids.

Make a wish!

More than Busy...

If I just blogged about how busy we were or titled my blog "Busy", that would just seem lame.  But..."More than Busy" implies that it has not just been busy work, busy stuff, busy...it has been more than that.  I digress.

Running has been taking up a large portion of my life.  I enjoy it and and my family is super supportive.  Carlos is often watching our kids and a few others..while we all run.  It is so perfect and fabulous.  He is awesome!  CJ  has been busy with school...so much homework lately.  He has exceeded on his state tests, participated in OR Battle of the Books (and his team is in the semi-finals), he is a 5th grader ready for middle  school and I freak out a bit more each day!  Zac is talking up a storm, asking a million questions and involved in so much.  He is just starting to play for longer periods of time, a bit more independently (which is nice) and he is loving being involved in everything that we are doing.  Both my boys are huggers and snugglers. 

Spring is just around the corner and I am wondering how gardening is going to fit into the already busy schedule. 

Hope all is well in your neck of the woods. 

Boys Will Be Boys

Here is my Zac showing me a flower. 

CJ and Zac waiting for Cole to throw them the football.

Down. Set. Hike. (Cutest picture ever!)

Of course they have to pose for mom!

My boys!

And then the Nerf wars started!  Cole would stick darts to Zac's forehead so he would have extra darts during battle. 

We have loved, loved, loved having Cole this past month. 

Funeral for a Friend

Today marked the funeral of a great man, Jake Wanner.

He was a kind and gentle man who cared about people.  He liked to have a good time and share his stories. 

I will never forget how he took the time to record a news clip about a very nice school (because he knew I was a teacher) and said, "Hey Paige, how would you like to teach there?" and then we had a great discussion about teaching and education.  Jake was a thoughtful man.

I love how he took the time with my boys.  Each summer we would visit the river he would make sure they were having a great time on his property. 

Thank Jake for modeling kindness, compassion and thoughtfulness towards others. 

You will be missed, but not forgotten.

Cole

First of all it was his 11th birthday yesterday (Happy Birthday) and I can't believe that it was eleven years ago that I got to see and hear this wonderful boy come into the world.  Cole is a great kid!  We love him so much and I think his cousin Zac loves him just a bit more!  They are so cute together, so loving and most times, so patient. 

For the past two weeks Cole has been living with us.  His mom is still wrapping things up in Bend and his dad is still living in Washington.  His mom is moving back in a month and well, Cole wanted to get here quicker so he kind of arranged all that needed to be arranged and now he is living with us!  We are thrilled.  Did I tell you I love this kid like he is my own?  If I didn't actually see him being born (while I was 5 months pregnant!) then I would claim him as mine! 

So for these past two weeks we have more milk in the frig, more snacks, more wii playing, more of everything...excepts fighting!  Cole and CJ get along wonderfully.  In fact, as I type this (really late for a school night) I hear them in there talking and I love it!  They are such great friends and really what is more important...sleep or talking with your cousin late at night? 

I know the next two weeks are going to fly by and I will cry my eyes out when he is no longer "mine", but for now I am going to enjoy having three kids! 

Happy Birthday Cole Bobba-roni, Cole Pickle, Co-Co, Toh-Toh...love ya!

Melissa's Baby Shower

It was a perfect day for a baby shower!  Davey hosted the lovely event, Hayley and I helped with food and deocrations and Amy took some fabulous pictures.