Still Playing Catch Up

I wanted to take a few minute to write down some of the things I have wanted to blog about, but just haven't.

KIDNEY STONES
Back in November I got side splitting pain early one morning which ended me in the ER. Luckily, Shelly was in town visiting for Josh's birthday and we were able to leave Ellie with her. After a nice CAT scan the ER doctor came with the news that I had "too many to count" kidney stones in both kidneys. The stone that was causing the pain was 8mm trying to fit down a 4mm tube. He sent me home with some good pain pills and a number for the Urologist. That was a Sunday, (seems we always go to the ER on a Sunday. We went on a Sunday when I was pregnant with Ellie, also.) Tuesday I had my appointment with the Urologist. Emergency surgery, luckily there was an opening for the next day and I didn't have to wait till the next week. Here is when the experience gets really fun. The urologist office told me to NOT eat anything but liquids for the rest of the day and said I could still take my pain medicine. I had already not eaten much in the morning because I was so out of it. Me, not knowing a whole heck of a lot about strong medicine on an empty stomach got sick. Sicker than a dog. I was nauseous, I couldn't stand or walk, or even open my eyes. The room just kept spinning. All. Night. Long. I still didn't know that it was the empty stomach and pain meds that was causing this nightmare, and in the morning Josh called the surgery center and told them what was going on. They said I could come right in and they would get me on an IV and even if I was sick it was emergency surgery I was getting it no matter what. I made it in, with my throw-up bucket. Pale and weak. It took two dosed of nausea meds for the room to stop spinning and the color to return to my face.

The IV hurt, and my hand had to be in a certain position or else the liquid stopped dripping in. As a result of the poor placement I got this beauty.

A few days later I got these. They are only just a few of them.

In December, I had the Lithotripsy done again on my other kidney. This time I wasn't in pain before the surgery so there was no mistakes with the medicine to be made. The IV was placed correctly and so no nasty bruise. After this surgery I did wake up in more pain than the first surgery and I was A LOT more loopy this time around. I don't remember much about recovery, and I wasn't able to dress myself, if I recall right. This whole experience was an adventure for all of us. Poor Ellie wont take a bottle and I couldn't nurse her for 24 hours after each surgery and she had a hard time, but we made it!

PAPA AND ELLIE  

..and she fell asleep.

BIG GIRL

I was getting pretty annoyed with letting Ellie sleep in bed with us. But she just wouldn't stay in her bed. When we left the king bed behind in Saint George, I knew this was the time to sleep train her and get her to sleep in her own bed and to go down for naps by herself.

It was hard. She would cry herself to sleep. It took anywhere from 10-45 minutes. The first week I would go in and pick her up and comfort her. Tell her that I knew this was hard and I knew she could do it and that she is doing a good job. When the week went by and that didn't work I ditched the picking her up part and just went in and told her the same things, kissed her forehead and walked back out. Three days later...

She signs nap, we go into the bed room, lay her down in her bed and she goes right to sleep! This was all back in January, early February. She was STILL getting up 1-3 times at night wanting milk. I was going insane with the lack of sleep and worry of waking others up if I let her cry. Josh and I finally had enough of it and we moved her out of the room. In two weeks the numbers of times she would wake up varied. Sometimes once or twice, now she doesn't get up once! Plus she has learned to play in her bed so in the mornings she just sits and plays and talks to herself and it gives me another 20 minutes! I am so proud of her!

Sometimes, I go in there and say, "Where did your pants go?!" She will just look down at her legs and smile!

FIRST TIME PLAYING IN THE SNOW

She is such a ball of joy!

NANA AND ELLIE

Nana and Ellie mimicking the sounds and dancing like the toy that balances on a ball. What a hoot!

ZOO AT THANKSGIVING POINT

 Ellie enjoyed the animals.

 Chloe posing in the prison.

 The nerdy llama, who I named Fred.

It was a good day, filled with sunshine, smiles

and laughter!

Happy New Year!!

Josh fell asleep long before midnight. He fell asleep on the couch, and he started making his way to the floor. There was some sleep talk along the way down. I showed my family how I can ask him questions and he will give yes or no answers. They thought it was mean, but I love it. When he woke up, he looked around, looked at me, then back around. "Did you put me here?", he asked. Oh, Josh, you are a crazy sleeper!

He did wake up about an hour before midnight and was able to get a little fun in.

(The black bags on the couch are from when we moved out of the motel, my parents let us store the couch with them. The bags never came off.)

December: Annual Cookie party, Santa, McCabe!

 Caitlyn and Ellie playing with a string. I love how Ellie gets jerked around and she still laughs.

Ellie crawling for the first time!!

 Ellie was so tired after all that fun, she fell asleep in her high chair. Her head SLOWLY fell.

Ellie's first time seeing Santa. She didn't like him.

McCabe came home from his mission in Houston, Texas. Ellie loves him!

What is the white stuff on the ground?

Yes, it is snow! And it is cold, cold, COLD!

We have moved to Lehi, Utah just after a BIG STORM had hit. (That is not a picture of the big storm, just a storm.) Ellie and Josh were both sick. James came down to help us pack our things and we stuffed all we could in the three cars (Josh and Ellie, James, and I) and up we came. Josh LOVES his new job. It is a bonus that he gets to see his brother and father each and everyday.

The snow is melting and no new storms have come to bring me down again! Ellie is crawling all over the place and she is trying to figure out how to cruise.

Ellie loves her cousin/best friend!

I crocheted these booties to keep Ellie's little feet warm!!

Ellie has figured out finger foods! My little girl is growing up!

Happy Halloween!

Ellie's first Halloween was a success, and a very fun night! We spent it with Josh's brother Jason and Amy's families. Ellie loved seeing all the kids in their costumes. The trick-or-treating was the best. Everyone loved how cute she was. Josh pushed her in her stroller and helped her pick out candy from the candy bowls. Some handed out sodas, which Ellie loved. We let her play with it and she didn't want to let it go. Ellie got her first taste of chocolate, she bit through the wrapper of a Crunch bar she was playing with. We ended the night at Jason's house with a Chuck marathon and snacked on goodies and the candy Ellie had gotten.

Josh got the opportunity to set up shop in the Weight No More booth and the What Women Want Expo. Josh was busy the whole time and everyone loved his massages. Thank you to Amber, Jason and Katie for helping Josh while Ellie and I were supporting Rokelle. (She got hitched!) I am so proud of Josh, he has worked so hard and he is doing so good! After the expo we hit up Cafe Rio for a good dinner and let Ellie sit in a high chair. It is so weird, but really convenient to have Ellie sitting there at the table with us!

Our bean, and all her cuteness and joy she brings to our lives!

     

Another One

Okay one more, Ellie "chewing" her bananas!

Who loves Mickey Moues

Mickey Mouse Club House, that is. Ellie loves this show, as you can see!