One More Week...

Well, today I was SUPPOSED to have my heel spur surgery on my left heel, but since I've had a cold for several days and threw up yesterday morning (while Jaren stood laughing at me...) it is now postponed until Monday, the 22nd of this month. I've been dealing with this pain for some time now and it's only been getting worse. To top it off, my back pain has been amped up because of how I've modified my walking due to the pain in my foot. To put it plainly... I'm 30 and I'm falling apart.

I've tryed different exercises, medicine, ice packs, heating pads, prescribed pain meds, new shoes, losing weight, trying to stay off my feet (VERY difficult when I have a small toddler scampering around), orthodics ($400 - NOT covered by my insurance) AND several cortisone shots in my foot. I've also been seeing a chiropractor for my back pain. Still in pain... hence the decision to get surgery.

You'd think that by losing 42 pounds (hey... every pound counts) I'd feel great! Yeah... no such luck. So, my heel kills, my back kills, my knees and sometimes elbows have been giving me problems, not to mention that I just generally don't feel well. I'm going to see a specialist in January for some of those concerns.

I'm starting to get a little anxious because of my AWARENESS ISSUE during my gallbladder surgery after I had Jaren. It's like I could foresee it happening. I had the surgery with no problem, but the next day I went under again because a gallstone was too large to pass through a tube. They had to go in and cut my tube so they could retrieve the stone. ANYWAYS... I was still awake and there were lots of nurses coming in and out of the small room that I was in. The doctor was in and out and I thought, "Man... are they changing shifts or what!? I sure hope the lady gives me enough meds to knock me out for this!" Eerie thought BECAUSE... during that procedure, I woke up (I couldn't see, hear, speak or move) and FELT someone SHOVING this long tube down my throat and I could feel myself gagging. It only lasted for a few seconds, but I remember it vividly!!! HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE!!! I do NOT wish that on ANYONE!!!

Needless to say... I pray most fervently that it doesn't happen again! I will welcome anyone to pray that all goes well for me on Monday!!!

Prepare to be PAMPERED!

NOVEMBER 29, 2008 -

This year Eden's 6th birthday was on Thanksgiving so we had her party on the following Saturday. I had mentioned how fun it would be to have a "SPA DAY" birthday party! She was sooooo excited about that! Thanks to the Dollar Tree, I got plenty of fun favors to fill a bag for each girl! I enlisted my mom to help with all of the different stations! They all had so much fun!

The girls just starting to show up... McKenzie, Eden, Haylie & Sydney (sisters).

Grandma Karen (my mom) and Eden. I hope you like your hair wrap, mom!

In each of the girls bags there were:

Hair Wrap

Lip Gloss

Nail polish

Emery Board

Bath Crystals

Lotion

Moisturizing socks

Ring Pop

Candy Necklace

When the girls got here, we had them put on the hair wraps. They all looked FABULOUS!

My mom sat down with them in a circle and they all tryed "SATIN HANDS" a system from Mary Kay to make your hands feel like satin... go figure!

Hannah and Anne (sisters) at the "NAIL STATION" where my mom painted their nails and added decals if the girls wanted them!


While three girls were at the nail station, Haylie, Eden and McKenzie were at the
"PEDICURE & MASK STATION" with me! First we did a foot scrub, then applied lotion and put on their new moisturizing socks.

Next, we did cucumber stress masks and eased the puffiness around their eyes with some cool cucumber slices... the girls LOVED this one! Their little faces were too small to keep the slices on. They kept on sliding off either side of their faces. They were all giggles!

I enlisted Oliver to help me with anything I needed. He was a GREAT helper. He helped me empty the foot soak tubs and even got clean towels for me to use. Since Sydney, Anne and Hannah had gotten their manicures FIRST, I asked Oliver if he would like to scrub their feet! He was like, "WHAT!?!"... but did it anyways, through laughter and smiles! He did get paid in the end I will have you know!

Here we are at the "MAKE UP STATION". I was going to put on their make up, but my mom said to just let them do it themselves, they would have more fun with it! I agreed. Ollie went above and beyond when he even applied makeup to his friend, Sydney. He actually did a wonderful job!

Eden applying her make up. My friend brought over some Mary Kay samples for the girls to use. That way they wouldn't be sharing bacteria. YUCKTASTIC!

Opening presents. That reminds me... have I sent out Thank You cards yet?

Eden and a GIANT tube of lipstick filled with lots of girly stuff that I would have loved when I was a kid. It's fun to see myself in Eden...

*MAKE*A*WISH*

HOPE YOU HAD A WONDERFUL 6th BIRTHDAY, EDEN! WE LOVE YOU!

"Dontcha Wish Your Girlfriend Was HOT Like Me..."

Eden aka: Gene Shallot or Howard Stern

S-M-I-L-E!

Jaren laughing with something on his face... it could be a beauty mark...

Man vs. Wig

Jaren with his doppleganger.

Too many times I've seen this doll and thought that it was Jaren! Too scary!

Welcome Isabella Lynn...

Well... I think she's a keeper! My best friend growing up (we've been friends for over 20 years now) and her husband just had their first baby on November 5th of this year! I got to see her in the hospital the day after she was born and she is a DOLL! This is a picture of the proof sheet which I thought was cute since her eyes were open in every picture and her expression in Pose 2 was so funny! She looks like a little Cupie Doll! I was even there when she was named! They had two names they were wrestling with. I felt so priviledged to be there at that time!

Welcome to the World!!!

ISABELLA LYNN

Born November 5, 2008

When we went to Disneyland this year, I got her her first Minnie Mouse doll! My friend LOVES Mickey Mouse and Disneyland / Disneyworld and has since we were first friends. She was nice enough to let Jaren open the gift since he was eyeballing it!! I sure hope Bella likes it! We love you!!!

To the BATCAVE... I mean... the STAIRS!!!

EVERY time that Jaren sees my brother, Chad, he walks over to him, grabs his fingers and walks over to the closest set of stairs that he can find!!! It doesn't matter if he's at my mom's house or ours... if Chad comes over, Jaren instantly toddles over to him and grabs him.

Here are some pictures of him at my mom's house with Chad!

(Ed got home from work one day and we were outside playing. Jaren was on the driveway and when he saw Ed, he hurried his pace and fell flat on his face. Poor little man!)

Other Halloween Happenings

October 29th , 2008 - HALLOWEEN PARADE AND PARTIES & PAINTING PUMPKINS WITH MISSIONARIES

The kiddos had their Halloween parade and parties at school and of course I had Jaren, my little clingon, as well. I tried to help with both parties, but to no avail. It's hard with a little one running around wanting to touch and see all the new things in each classroom! As you have seen in previous posts, Oliver was the INCREDIBLE HULK, Eden was a PINK BUNNY RABBIT and Jaren was a NINJA... the cutest ninja that I'd ever seen! :o)

Jaren... and NO... he doesn't see a plane!!
Is he not the cutest little man ever!? :o)

Eden, Sayde and a yellow Power Ranger I believe.

Eden and her "Mummy Pizza"

Ollie as the Incredible Hulk

McKenzie, Ollie, Eden and Nick

Tonight we had the Elders over for dinner and we decorated some teeny tiny pumpkins and gourds. We all had fun! I painted Spider-man, Ed painted the John Deere sign, Ollie painted Spongebob Squarepants and Eden just painted them red... hers looked like a pair of red maracas!

October 30th, 2008 - TRUNK OR TREAT

Due to our parking lot at church being torn apart, we had our annual Trunk or Treat party at a member's farm. They had fun games for the kids to play and afterward they all got their fill of candy!

October 31st, 2008 - HALLOWEEN TRICK OR TREATING

We got the kids all dressed up and ready to roll on Halloween. We stopped by my mom's house beforehand so she and my brother could see the kids in their costumes. We went in a friend's neighborhood with lots of families from our ward (church) as we do every year. No pictures since my batteries died as I tried to take the first picture of the night! We had lots of fun, but I think I should have stayed home due to my heel spur and all of the pain it caused me that night! ZOINKS! I hate to miss out on memories with my family and friends!

PAINTING PUMPKINS & EATING APPLES

My mom and brother, Chad, came over to paint some pumpkins that I had bought from the farmer's market. I also bought some small apples to make caramel apples as well. We had some autumn leaves sprinkles as well as some Halloween m&m's that I chopped up to add to the apples. As you can see below... Eden and Ollie are having a hay day! We made the caramel apples beforehand so they had time to set up a bit while we painted the pumpkins. It was a really messy, yet fun, night!!!

Edes and Ollie adding sprinkles to their apples. What hams!

I can't wait to eat mine!

Jaren and Eden helping Uncle Chad stir the melted caramels.

Jaren painting his first little pumpkin! What a big boy!

Eden, Jaren, Ed and Ollie

My Mommy's Mummy!

Uncle Chad and Jaren

"The Whole Gang"

The Gang from Left to Right:

"Michael Myers" - by Chad

"Mini Mummy" - by Mom

"Strange Pumpkin" - by Eden

"Strawberry Pumpkin" - by Oliver

"The Incredible Hulk" - by Ed and Oliver

"Silver Pumpkin" - by Jaren

"Nacho Libre" - by Stacy

PUMPKINLAND FIELD TRIP

Jaren and I went on Eden's Kindergarten field trip to Pumpkinland. I met up with them at the church. MAN... it was a really chilly day! Good thing they had stuff to do inside! They had an activity, cookies, a story, and games all at the church. Then we bundled up and went to see the animals and go on the coldest hay ride that I've ever been on!!!

After "Storytime" inside the church.

Sayde, Eden and another boy from her class eye to eye with the goats.

Eden and Sayde

A wild turkey. Get a load of Eden's face as she's pointing to it!

Eden getting cozy with her teacher, Mrs. Burk! It was a COLD hay ride!

OCTOBER FARMER'S MARKET

Ed was working Saturday and so I asked my mom if she would watch Jaren so I could take the kids downtown to the market. (I thought it was too chilly for little Jare). The last farmer's market of the year is when they have fun games and crafts for the kids to do. The kids get dressed up and get to go trick-or-treating at the downtown businesses that participate. They had free popcorn and hot apple cider as well. I bought some small pumpkins and apples for a night of fun I had planned later on in the week.

Eden and Ollie making "Ghost Suckers".

Playing "Pick a Pumpkin" to win a small prize.

Eden playing "Pin the Nose on the Skull"

Coloring pictures of Frankenstein.

Video Games with Uncle Chad

Jaren sitting on Chad's lap looking at me.

Jaren and Uncle Chad

Get a load of Jaren in this picture... I love his arms while he's staring at Chad!

The kids have so much fun when Uncle Chad comes to play!!!