I just wanted to post a quick update on my surgery....it was on Monday, I was fine up until they wheeled me into the actual operating room; then I was scared and wanted to cry and tell them that I didn't want to do it! Everything went so fast though and before I knew it the anesthesiologist was telling me she was giving me some medicine; then I woke in recovery. I pretty much slept all of Monday day and my family visited that night. Tuesday I rested quite a bit, slept a lot again; Casey and Kevin came to visit me (thanks!). I was hurting, but it was about what I had expected. It wasn't excruciating, but it just hurt. My throat kept hurting, they told me it was from the anesth....I woke up in the hospital Tuesday night very nauseous with a lump in my throat. They just brought me another pain pill and I went back to sleep. Wednesday morning I told the Dr. about it and he prescribed me an antibiotic to take home. I got to go home Wed. afternoon, and I slept the whole afternoon. My throat was really bothering me, I looked at it with a flashlight in the mirror and I'm sure it's strep throat. It feels exactly like the last time I had it and has the same red mark as the last time. I would think my antibiotic would make it feel better by now, but it still hurts. I cough all of the time, which is not good on my belly! I've also been developing some wheezing, which if it doesn't get better, I guess I'll have to go to the Dr.....ugh. I'm just tired all of the time, which is to be expected I guess. Bill had to work today, but he has been so great taking care of everything, cooking and cleaning. I love him.

As far as surgery, he was able to fix my "deformed" end of my tube and he said it flushed great with dye now. He found that my ovary had some cysts or something on it, but from what Bill said he wasn't too concerned with it and left them. He also found my intestine was stuck to my ovary and he fixed that. So, for now, I recover. I go back to him in 2 weeks to get my bandages off and should be recovered in 6 weeks. Then, he wants to try to let me ovulate on my own for a couple of months and if I don't, then we will try fertility meds. I think he believes this surgery will help me do it on my own though. I hope so....one at a time would be nice (kids, that is!)

That's all for now, I am seriously wiped out from sitting here typing this. For those of you who knew about the surgery, thanks for thinking of me!

A couple more for Amber; just cause they're so cute! They came to pick up a CD and some prints I made for her and she was sooo excited! Of course, that made me feel good! Love is grand....and young love, even better.....

I took some pictures today for my friend Kelly's niece and her fiancee...they are so cute! They just got engaged....Amber will be going to boot camp for the Air Force this summer and Todd is in the Marines and will be going to Afghanistan in August. I *think* they are getting married in July. They are so in love and so cute to watch! I took about 200 pictures, I know she can't wait to see them, so I'm off to develop some for her! Just thought you might want a looksie!

Just a couple more pics....us with Grace...

Last week, I decided to make some cookies. It was one of those that someone puts all the ingredients in a mason jar really pretty with instructions to dump and add a few things like butter, egg, etc....anyway, I followed the directions exactly, and this is what I ended up with: haha! I didn't even bake them that long! I think the baking soda or powder or SOMETHING inadvertently got left out! It kinda looks like the school pizzas we used to get that were cut into rectangles!!



On the upside of that disaster, Bill made us steaks on the grill that same night and they were goooood!!!



I got some tulips for Valentine's day, they are my absolute favorite flower!



My dad, Chace, and Grace at our little Valentine's party at Amy's the other day....



Grace is getting more and more adamant about not wanting to go back to her mom's when she leaves here. She called again last Sunday at 9 (Bill dropped her off at 6) just screaming and crying because she wanted to come back here. She said that since she left here, we were all she could think about. Eventually, Bill got her calmed down....but it carried on for the better part of 10 minutes. It's just awful....

We took the girls to St. Louis to the Magic House last week. It was really fun, I would recommend it to anyone with kids! There was soooo much to do and they really loved it. It was very cheap (8.50 each) and well worth it. You should check it out.... www.magichouse.org

I've went to the dr. a few times since my last post about it. I've been hearing a few different things than I did from my last dr. But, I'm glad because I'm finally getting some answers. My HSG was about the same as the last one I had done a few years ago. However, it's not that my tubes are "blocked". The end of it is "deformed" and probably always has been. Fallopian tubes have these little grabbers on the end and mine don't. It's just an end with a little hole in it. He has also said endometriosis, which was never mentioned to me before, but explains so much about what I've had. Here is a link to read about it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endometriosos Hope that link works. Anyway, it's amazing to me what the symptoms of it are compared to the ones I have and that it had never been mentioned to me. Anyway, so we discussed that and dr. said that the only way to "fix" the tube was laprascopic surgery. He said he would go in and cut the end and make it have the finger like grabbers. After recovery, I would then start clomid to try to make me ovulate (it's never worked in the past, so we'll see) and if the clomid doesn't work, then I would have to go to E'Ville for injectables. But, the whole point of the surgery is because if I did the med and it did make me ovulate, it would be pointless because the tube was deformed....so, he said they would check with my insurance and let me know about the surgery.

I had another appt. Thurs and we scheduled the surgery for Feb 23. I have to go on the 19th for pre-op and registration. It will be inpatient, they said for 1-3 days probably. I am hoping for the 1 day! Thankfully, Bill is off of work on Monday and is going to try to get Tues. off also. He told me originally recovery would be 4-6 weeks...then maybe 3 weeks. He will be doing a laparotomy with tuboplasty, tubal insufflation, and hysteroscopy. Don't ask me what they all are, because I don't know!! That's just what my paper says. Anyway, so if you would, please be thinking about me and hope that everything goes ok! I'll update more on it afterwards.

Well, I'm off to get a shower present for my cousin Ashlei....have a good Saturday / Valentine's day...spend good times with the ones you love!!

Busy, busy......I have lots to do, so this will be short; I will try to update in the next day or two.....in the meantime, here are a few pics for your viewing pleasure!! haha.....




Took the girls to the magic house:

Here they are doing a news cast....


And with the static ball.....



And a pic of Kourt just because she is so pretty!!

Oy....what a day! I went outside this morning to leave for school and it was COLD!! I know it has been cold anyway, but this was insane cold! I went to school, suffered through my transcription class had a break then went to advanced office procedures. I knew I had a presentation I had to do already, but it's creeped up on me and we have to give them next week. Mine is to be on self defense.....my only form of self defense is a pizza to the face! If you know that story, you will appreciate that...otherwise, it's a long, embarrassing story! So, I go to the store because Bill wants some chicken and dumplins tonight and this employee twisted my arm to buy some peanut butter oreos. I told him "No, I am trying to eat better; I will just buy an assortment of red and green grapes"......well, he twisted and twisted so I had no choice but to put the cookies in my cart! Ok, that was a big ole lie, but my willpower diminished for the time being and I bought some oreos!! There! I said it! I am a food cheater! Anyway, I'll only eat like 4....that will be okay, right?! So, I get home and get put a pot to boil my chicken only to discover that there is no water coming out of the sink.....great. I go to the bathroom and no water in there either. I try the washing machine.....NO WATER!!!! How is it that we move from W'Ville where we lived in a sucky house with water pipes that froze if the temp dropped below 40 (or so it seemed) to a nice house in the city where Bill wrapped the pipes himself and they still freeze?!?! I called Bill and he said it was probably because of the low temps mixed with the wind. Ugh......I hope Amy doesn't have plans for supper because I'm fixing chicken and dumplins at her house tonight!!!

So, what about this lady with 14 kids?! Many have said that it's not the public's business how many kids she has....and I guess it's not; but everyone's entitled to their own opinion. I personally think it's nuts!! From what I've read she has no job, is not married, lives with her parents, etc.....what kind of life is that to give 14 kids? It's kind of like that show on TLC...17 kids and Counting. How do they have enough time to give attention to each child? I think the reason it irks me so bad is that I would just like to have even one, and here a doctor is helping this woman have 8 more when she already has 6! Just doesn't seem right to me. But, who am I?!

Well, I'm off to Amy's to do my taxes, make some chicken and dumplins for supper and enjoy a house with running water! haha! Have a good night!!

What do you do when you get discouraged? I cry! I hate it when I have a plan for something and it doesn't turn out like I want it! I love to take pictures of Chace and Grace ; but in this bad weather, pics have to be taken inside.....I've tried to come up with ways to do-it-yourself for backdrops/lighting, but I've got to face it that I'm going to have to not-do-it-myself. I've got a catalog for backdrops, lighting, props...I'm just going to have to break down and buy from it. I've gotten a little advice from a couple of very good photographers, but I'm more of a "see it" learner....boo. So, anyway, we tried to take 9 month pics of Chace yesterday and it just didn't quite work out. Point being, I was mad/discouraged, so I cried. I guess that's better than yelling or hitting things....although if you ask Bill, yelling is what I do best!

I really wish some friends would start blogs so I would quit reading the blogs of people I don't know! Seriously, I have no idea who some of these people are, but I read their blogs of daily life. I'm really not crazy psycho....they have to do with photography and there are only a couple anyway! All I'm saying is there are several of you who I know read my blog because you've told me so (p.s....thanks for telling me that you like it)....but YOU should get blogs also! That way, I can actually read about what goes on with people I know so I won't feel like a nutbag!!

I need to go; I have a terminology quiz to study for tomorrow. Have a good evening, enjoy life and what matters most to you....and in your spare time -- start a blog!!!