Is it Spring Time Yet!?!?

Wow, this past weekend was such a huge tease of spring time weather. We spent Friday, Saturday, and Sunday playing outdoors. It was just plain beautiful and a nice reminder that spring is not that far off. Since I had my surgery, we have not done much. The batteries are dead on both cameras. Here are a few pictures I uploaded from my cell phone from the past few weeks.

She loved helping me grocery shop last week. She was so proud and felt so grown up. 

This sweet girl is growing up before my eyes.  Oh and this is her smirk face. lol

Marlee's blue house and truck. 

She also drew a giraffe. 

Cooper got a new UT hat that matches his Daddy's. The sun was in his eyes when I took the picture. 

My little skater boy. Chad is ready for him to join Xtreme Sports! 

We V-Day crafted one day last week. 

My sweet pea with his shades on his new hat. 

The Success

I had my gallbladder removed on January 13. I was a tad bit nervous because I don't like needles or being put to sleep. I will admit the whole process went better than I expected. The staff at the hospital made me feel very special even though I was just another surgery on their same day services board. I chatted with several of the nurses and shared stories with the anesthesiologist while waiting to go into the OR.

I felt soreness in my abdomen for several days. I did jump the gun and do more physical things than I should have been doing. My body quickly let me know that I should slow down and heal. I go back this Friday for a follow up with the surgeon.

I hope to get approval to get back in the gym. I was doing so good there for a while then got busy with life. I was really proud of my progress and loss of 20 pounds. Thankfully my messed up stomach allowed me to maintain the weight loss.

As far as my stomach goes, I haven't indulged in the juicy, fat steak that seemed to trigger my attacks. I actually haven't eaten a steak in nearly 3 years. I'm not sure I want to eat one, but I do like having the option now. What I have indulged in is SALADS. I missed them so much.

Thanks for all the thoughts and well wishes. I really appreciated them!

A Promise

I am making a promise to blog this weekend. I've been recovering from my surgery and enjoying time with the kids.

Oh my the SNOW!

We had the largest snowflakes I have ever seen fall to the ground last Wednesday. (I'll try and post some video I took of the large flakes.) It was cleared out by Friday morning just in time for another round of snow showers to come through late Friday night. I feared it would interfere with Chad's travel to Middle TN and our girls' day, but the roads were safe to travel on. That snow melted away by Sunday morning. Just in time for the biggest snow we've seen in a while. Over night Sunday, we were blanketed with about 4 inches of fluffy white snow. I know it isn't as much as our family got in Middle TN, but plenty to shut down East TN and cancel Chad's work. We had a lot of fun playing outside and eating snow cream.

Monster Jam and Tangled

This past weekend Chad and Cooper headed to Nashville to see Monster Jam live! Cooper has loved playing with monster trucks for some time now. Chad saw that they were coming and asked Coop if he was interested. Of course he said yes. Chad invited his dad along for the fun. Chad said Cooper was so wound up and talked and talked and talked. He didn't go to bed until 12:30 that night! Thankfully he slept in until 9:30 the next morning. Here are a few pictures Chad took.

Marlee loves the new movie Tangled. We went to see it as a family back before Christmas. She pretend plays the main characters. So while Chad and Cooper were gone we had a girls' weekend. We invited her friend Kyndal and her mom April to join us for lunch at Mimi's Cafe and then go to the movies to see Tangled again. We had a great time. Marlee had my undivided attention and took full advantage of it. It was a nice little break for all of us. Chad said Cooper is ready to go the Lion's Club Tractor Pull in July. Another start to a family tradition.

D-Day is Quickly Approaching

Well I never posted about my follow up appointments with the GI doctor and surgeon. The ultrasound showed I do have gallstones. The GI recommended that we wait on an upper GI probe about my heartburn and indigestion because he thinks it is directly related to my gallbladder. I met with the surgeon this past Monday, and he agreed that yes, my gallbladder does need to be removed. I am going to have the surgery next Thursday the 13th. It is outpatient, so I hope to be home resting by late afternoon. So say a little prayer for me next Thursday. Thanks!

Beep, Beep! Look out for my kids in a jeep!!

Santa's big finale was a powerwheels jeep. It was too big for him to bring in the house, so he left it in the garage! The kids were very excited and have loved driving it around regardless of the weather.