More Thanksgiving Fun

I have been healing up and feeling much better as each day passes.  By Friday I was already done taking the Vicodin and had switched to just tylenol.  I still wasn't holding Hendrix very much, but I felt okay with that since he was getting snuggles from everyone else in my family.  Now I feel confident enough to hold him, but I need to have someone else pick him up and hand him over to me.  I am trying to be very careful and follow the doc's orders.

We celebrated my little brother's birthday on Friday night, and he loved the new briefcase we got for him.  Go ahead and count those candles......he is getting pretty old ;)

We spent lots of time playing games at my parent's house.  There were lots of people home for the holidays since I have 6 younger brothers and sisters, 3 of whom have significant others that will put up with us. :)  Hendrix is getting used to being around lots of noise and activity.  

Saturday night we had our family football game.  I refrained from playing this year, and easily settled into my role as time keeper, score keeper, and referee. 

'The Ballers' beat 'The Victorious Secret' with a score of 5 to 3.

Hendrix slept peacefully throughout the whole game.  I imagine by next year, he will be wanting to toddle around in a jersey of his own. ;)

Today we went to my Grandparent's house for a final Thanksgiving celebration.  This was alot of fun as we have a new member in the family this year (my brother's fiance, Hannah), and also because I was finally able to actually eat all the Thanksgiving foods!  

He enjoyed some special snuggles with his great grandparents, but we had to start stripping him of his clothes, because it was really warm with all the bodies in one room.

When we finally made it home after our long weekend away, we decided to put up our Christmas tree so we can start thinking about the next holiday. 

Hooray!  I LOVE Christmas :)

Hendrix has been so happy to be back in his own home.  He had an exhausting time being passed around so that all his family could love on him, and he seemed to breathe a sigh of relief when he recognized that he was in his own surroundings.  He was so smiley while we changed him for bed, and awfully lumpy in daddy's arms just a few moments later. :)

Thanksgiving in Grinnell

Hendrix celebrated his first Thanksgiving with his Grandma and Grandpa and Crazy Aunt Kate.

Grandpa enjoyed carrying him around in the baby bjorn.

Grandma enjoyed talking to him.

And Kate enjoyed watching him laugh and talk on his playmat.

We had a very nice day at my in-laws.  I felt relatively well for having had surgery the day before, but I just layed around and watched everyone play with Hendrix and eat all day.  While I smelled the amazing smells of turkey and stuffing, I ate chicken noodle soup, jello, and pudding (the joys of the clear liquids diet!).  

We celebrated Kate's birthday, and she enjoyed the sweater that Hendrix got for her.

I am not allowed to lift anything heavier than 5 pounds (until next week when I have my stitches out), so I have spent lots of time sitting on the floor next to Hendrix talking to him and stroking his face.  I am really missing our snuggles and have to have quite a bit of help while feeding him.  

He has been awfully good natured about being passed around, and everyone has been super helpful with his care!  

He did the crossword puzzles with Grandma this morning. 

We are over at my folks' house now for a few days, and I am looking forward to being able to start adding more solids into my diet.  I might even be able to have turkey by Sunday which is when we are going to my grandparents house for another Thanksgiving meal. :)

Saying Goodbye to My Gallbladder

Well, today I am going to be having my first surgery EVER.  I will admit that I am a teensy little bit nervous, maybe even a tiny bit scared, but at the same time I have never been more ready to have this swollen, stone-filled gallbladder out!  


To catch some of you up to speed, this is something that I have been struggling with since Hendrix was born.  Looking back now, I think I had my first gallstone attack when I was 5 or 6 months preggo with the 'lil guy.  It started out as just a very uncomfortable pain coming from my upper right abdomen that ended up wrapping around to my back.  As it got stronger and stronger, there were moments when it felt like my lungs were being punctured.  Then as quickly as it started, it was over.  10 minutes, tops.  Being a first time pregnant gal, I attributed it to the general discomfort of a growing tummy and didn't think much more of it than that.  In the next couple months I felt lots of pressure and discomfort coming from that general area, but I thought that Hendrix's foot was lodged under my ribcage and that there was nothing I could do about it.


After Hendrix was born I spent just about every ounce of my strength and energy trying to strengthen and plump that little boy up  (This was a very successful venture by the way, take a look!)  so I didn't spend much time worrying about my own health.

It wasn't long after we were home though that I began having "episodes" again.  At first they were occasional (like once a week or so) then they became regular (like every other day) and now I experience general soreness even in between the actual attacks.  The attacks have gotten stronger and longer and are so unpredictable. They often happen in the middle of the night, at at times have been so sever that they make me vomit.  I think I waited longer than I should have to talk to the doctor about it (I just brought up the subject at my 6 week post-baby check), because it is quite the run around to get the approval to have your gallbladder removed.  I went from my OB doctor, to my family doctor, to radiology for an ultrasound, to the surgeon to discuss my options, then back to my family doctor for a pre-op physical.  Phew!  

My ultrasound found 7 stones, some of them being quite large.  The doctor says that for this many stones to be present, I most likely have had gallbladder disease for quite a while.  The hormonal changes that occurred during my pregnancy and after because I am breastfeeding simply exacerbated the problem.  He thought I should have it removed as soon as possible, and at this point I absolutely agree!

It is a laparascopic outpatient procedure that only leaves me with 4 small incisions.  Apparently it is super routine and not all that invasive.  I guess my biggest concern is going to be recovering while caring for my little guy at the same time.  My mom and sister are coming with me to the hospital today to help with Hendrix, and then because of the holiday weekend, hubs will be around to help.  We are planning to still go home for Thanksgiving but are going to just see how I feel before we make any decisions.  Since I am not supposed to be lifting anything (including my sweet baby boy), I think being around family to have plenty of help will probably be the best way for me to get the rest I need to heal up.

Well I guess I better get going so I can get ready and head over to the hospital.  If you would like to send any positive thoughts or prayers my direction I would gladly appreciate them!  I am looking forward to some serious snuggles with this cutie pie after it is all over with! (Don't worry, I will have someone bring him to me)

Another Busy Weekend

Hendrix tried out one of his holiday sweaters on Friday night when we went to our downtown holiday kickoff event.  It was a chilly night so he stayed bundled up in the stroller and missed the chance to get photographed with Santa.  I imagine there will be another chance.  :)  We sang Christmas carols, saw the lighting of the Christmas tree, and just enjoyed some downtown shopping and kids activities with some friends.  I love this time of year!  

Hendrix is really enjoying standing these days.  He pushes off when he is in my lap, and is getting really strong.  He is such a big boy!

Hendrix helped Daddy fold laundry this weekend ;)

He's not quite big enough to sit in his high chair by himself, so my hubby put his teddy bear in there with him to prop him up.  It was funny to watch him slump over onto his 'friend'. ;)

Hendrix got some time with his Nana and Aunt Hannah this weekend.  We participated in a Progressive Supper with some friends from our church, and we hosted the soup and salad course.  My mom and sister came to help with Hendrix so I would be able to focus on hosting, and so we could enjoy some couple time as we went to the other homes.  It was such a fun day, but we really needed some snuggles with Hendrix when we got back!

Our little guy just keeps growing and growing....

We are looking forward to some special family time over this Thanksgiving holiday!

Wordless Wednesday

Thankfulness

Since it is already November, and Thanksgiving is just around the corner, it seems as good a time as any to step back and count the blessings in my life.  I know this should be a part of my daily routine, but sometimes I find myself just getting too busy with life to just stop and really savor each moment.  I want to do that right now though.


I am thankful for....

Hendrix - he has made my life richer in so many ways.  I live for the moments when he shares that sweet little smile with me, and makes me feel like the luckiest Momma in the whole wide world!

I am also thankful for weekends.  I love being able to spend time playing with Hendrix, and snuggling, rocking and snoozing with him when he is tired.  While I am very thankful that he is so good natured and easily amuses himself while I am at work; I really cherish the times when I am able to give him my undivided attention.  

I am thankful for Hendrix's chubby little cheeks!  It is so great to see him growing and thriving after all those days of worrying about him because of his early arrival and long stay in the NICU.  He is a healthy little boy now!

I am thankful for a hubby who adores being a Daddy! I love seeing my boys playing together, and am excited to see that bond grow as Hendrix grows.

I am thankful for an artistic hubby who is willing to help me with my "creative projects".  We spent some time over the weekend working on these Christmas ornaments with Hendrix (who was not really all that thrilled to play in the paint with us.....) that I think are going to be awesome!  I will post a pic of the finished product later.

I am thankful for the change of seasons and weather, even though I am not sure that I am ready for snow yet.

I am really thankful for holidays.  I enjoy themes and decorations and looking forward to events; especially ones that involve fun family traditions.

I am thankful for my hubby who humored me today by helping me put up our Christmas lights even though I know he would have rather waited until after Thanksgiving.

(Doesn't it look great?!?!)

I am thankful for our home, and our wonderful neighborhood.  This is our first Christmas here, and it was way fun to pick out Christmas lights for our house.  I am really looking forward to putting up the tree (but I will wait a few weeks for that!).

I am thankful for both my job and my husband's job.  We both are employed doing things that we love, and God has faithfully provided for our needs.

I am thankful for my family.  I have amazing parents and siblings, and am very thankful for the way they love me and support me; and also for the way they adore my son.  He is a very lucky little guy.

I am thankful for skype!  This has been a huge blessing to communicate with my sister who is in London.  Emma, I love you and can't wait to see you at Christmas!

I think it might be time for me to go be thankful for sleep, and for the way that my body has adjusted to the amount that I get of it these days...... 

and for that I can thank this sweet boy!