January

So I abandoned this blog over the holidays. Oops. I'm making it up now by adding some pics from our venture to the park on Monday. These were all taken on our phone which has surprisingly decent quality.

Ian @ the Grocery Store

We were at the grocery store tonight, and Ian had his own little cart...

Halloween & School Pics

Digging in cupboards again...

Too Cute!

Our little St Bernard

Happy Giraffe

Checking out the candy!

Aidan's School Picture - 2009

Ian's School Picture - 2009

A Few October Pictures

Hayride at Hidden Acres (Greenbluff)

Hanging out at Hidden Acres

Playing at High Country Orchard (Greenbluff)

Pony Rides at High Country Orchard - this pony's name is Diesel!

Ian's 3rd Birthday at Chuck E Cheese...Mmm, Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Cake!

Ian's 3rd Birthday party

Ian's second day riding the school bus

MVD Surgery

So on Sept 17th I had a surgery called Microvascular Decompression (MVD). It was to relieve pressure on a nerve on my face that has been causing me extreme pain on and off for over a year.

Doctor Carlson, amazing surgeon, found a large vein wrapped around my trigeminal nerve. Usually they are able to cauterize veins but not this one. This one was so tightly wrapped it was touching the nerve in several places. If he cauterized there would have been too much blood loss and risk of stroke. Instead, he placed teflon padding between the nerve and the vein.

I spent 2 days in the ICU. I had the surgery on Thursday about noon and it took me until about Friday at 11pm to pull out of the anesthesia completely. Saturday they moved me up to the neuro floor and I stayed until Wednesday morning.

The side effects of the surgery have been headaches, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue. I spent the first 2 days vomiting. Thank god I don't really remember it all. Whew. I did have super migraines for about a week. Now, about three weeks post surgery, the headaches are mild and here and there. I am pulling out of it. I am overdoing it a bit though. I forget that the neck muscle still needs to heal. Two days ago I felt like cleaning, and as I was sweeping my kitchen, I pinched a nerve in my neck. The next morning it was even worse. Today, though, it's been better. Still sore but better. I am just anxious to get back into the swing of things, I guess.

At my check up appointment last Friday, Dr Carlson told me I need to take things slowly and not rush my recovery. He explained it could take up to three months for me to feel "normal" again. However, our key focus is the trigeminal nerve pain. I have not had any pain! I DO have some mild burning pain still, but it is tolerable (a 2 on a scale of 10) and treatable with Neurontin - and it's only here and there. I am only concerned with the debilitating sharp stabbing ice pick pains I had almost every day for months. I have not had them since the surgery. I am so happy that when I think about being pain free, I cry. It's that freeing. I feel like I am getting my life back. Maybe that's why I am so anxious to get back to "normal" (Don't rush recovery!). Now my doctors have me stepping down my meds (Neurontin, Tegretol, and Topamax) so I can eventually quit taking them.

Thank you to everyone who has given support to our family during these times. We are so thankful. Truly thankful.

Here are 2 pics of my wound, 3 weeks post op (healing!)

First Birthday

Happy First Birthday Aidan! We love you!

Like with Ian's birthdays, we made Aidan's cake this year too. His theme was Baby Einstein.

Aidan walked at 11 months and says things like ohhh tay, all done, and tank you. We're still working on simple words like momma though :)

His one year check up is tomorrow.

Hugs and loves to you Aidan!

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to my boys :)

Dan and Aidan celebrated their birthdays on 9/11. Dan turned 28 and Aidan turned 1. Aidan's party is tomorrow and I just spent the last couple hours putting the final touches on his cupcakes :)

Pictures to come!

Aidan

Aidan has been walking for a couple weeks now and this last week he's really gotten it down. He's so cute just cruising everywhere! I wanted to upload a video of him but the USB cord for my camera is still in a box.

:)

Sister

Tanya!

Not too much longer and I get to see you!!! We are all looking forward to it!!

Wow, is this turning in to a letter leaving blog? lol.

Hopefully you can all take turns taking care of me and your "break" will really be a break.

Love you

Mom

Mom,

I love you. I love you for turning down the job offer you have been waiting for because it just wouldn't work out with my upcoming surgery. I love you for not moving to Seattle just yet so you can be with me while I recover. I love you more than anything and you are the best mother ever. Thank you so much for being there for me. I heart you Momma.

XOXO

Me

Pool Time

Chew Toy

Driving home from Seattle... Ian had been chewing on a starfish toy the boys had bought at the Seattle Aquarium

Mom, I Heart U

My mom and me, last night, at the Indians game

Cropped

I had a photo that I never thought I would be able to scrap. Well a day has come that I have finally found it a home in a layout...

created using Another Day in Paradise by the Gingerbread Ladies of Gingerscraps (that includes me too!)

Neck Art

I am excited! I just bought one of the neatest necklaces I have seen in awhile. Dan's cousin Anne, who owns Anne More Jewelry, made this beautiful necklace:

Simple. Modern. Fun! We've taken a smooth rectangle of tiger ebony Wood and strung it on a sterling silver cable chain. Necklace measures 18 inches long and fastens with a sterling silver lobster clasp. Two petite rounds of black onyx accent each side of the clasp. The wood piece measures about 1 1/3 inches wide and 1 1/4 inches tall. All components are sterling silver, wood and genuine stone. - Anne More Jewelry

I can't wait to get it!!!

Check out her Etsy store: AnneMoreJewelry.com

And now, check out this lovely blog post by Anne :)

Wadybut...

...aka Ladybug - love you Ian

Swinging

Scrapped Pictures of Aidan swinging during Ian's fun day on his last day of preschool

created using Firefly Lane by Amanda Heimann. Available at ScrapOrchard.com

At the Park

Last weekend we took the boys to the park :)

Kai Anderson

http://www.hopeforkai.com/

Visit this site to learn more about Kai, a 4 year old boy who has been diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia. He is in desperate need of a bone marrow transplant.

Please visit their site and visit my previous blog post.

Bone Marrow Registry

Dan and I joined last the National Marrow Donor Program last year. It's really very simple. They will send you a package. You swab the inside of your cheek and send it back. Then, you're in the registry.

Q: What is the donation process like?
A: Adult donors may be asked to donate in one of two ways:

1. Peripheral blood cell (PBSC) donation involves removing a donor's blood through a sterile needle in one arm. The blood is passed through a machine that separates out the cells used in transplants. The remaining blood is returned through the other arm

2. Bone marrow donation is a surgical procedure in which liquid marrow is withdrawn from the back of the donor's pelvic bones using special, hollow needles. General or regional anesthesia is always used for this procedure, so donors feel no needle injections and no pain during marrow donation. Most donors feel some pain in their lower back for a few days afterwards.


Q: What is my commitment if I join?
A: When you join the Be The Match Registry, you make a commitment to:

Be listed on the registry until your 61st birthday, unless you ask to be removed
Consider donating to any searching patient who matches you
Keep us updated if your address changes, you have significant health changes or you change your mind about being a donor
Respond quickly if you are contacted as a potential match for a patient
You have the right to change your mind about being a donor at any time. Donating is always voluntary.
If you decide you do not want to donate, let us know right away. That way we can continue the search for another donor without dangerous delays for the patient

Click the image above to be taken to their site to learn more about it. It usually costs $100 to add someone to the registry but from now until June 22nd (as long as funding remains) you can join for free.
http://www.marrow.org