Tuesday

Did I tell you that my Gallbladder did not weigh 60 pounds like I was hoping? Bummer huh? I guess I'm going to have to lose weight the hard way. I am still not allowed to go back to work since my surgeon hasn't signed the form to be faxed to our risk management office. It isn't because I'm not well enough, it is because he has been too busy. So I still sit and wait. I'm feeling great though. I just wish I could sleep on my right side again. I always sleep on my right. I'm not sure what hurts because my incisions aren't over there. It must be organs moving around. Maybe they are dancing around doing aerobics in there so I can lose weight in my sleep. You'd think that I would be cleaning or doing something else that is constructive since I feel pretty good but can't work. Nope, I'm sleeping. Today I slept until 11:00. I get up with the kids from 7-8 and then crawl right back into bed. 

So, I decided to start weight watchers on Monday. It started off great. I had my Fiber One bar and then a WW meal at Applebees. Then I came home to my homemade choc chip cookies and I had like 10. They were my best batch ever. Why would I bake these on Sunday when I know I'm starting WW on Monday? Good question. It's one of the ways I sabotage myself into being fat. Will I always be fat? I hate that word, but I feel like I have officially earned it at this point. I can be called that. On the BMI charts I am "seriously obese". Isn't that sad? Is it sadder that I would be happy to just be "obese"? I haven't been on the healthy weight range on their chart since a few months after I got married nine and a half years ago. Even when I lost a bunch of weight a few years ago I was still "overweight". Okay, enough about that.

On to some funnier topics. Nolan had a friend over tonight and Nolan asked him what his dad looked like and his friend said, "my dad has big poop!" I bet his dad would be thrilled to know that we now know he has big BMs. The play date went well and the boys were funny. I'm used to girl play dates so this was interesting.  Boys and girls do play differently. John took the boys to the park while I stayed home and did nothing. I should have cleaned, but I sat on the couch and watched part of a TLC show about people who have babies and didn't know they were pregnant. How do you not know? I gained 50 pounds during pregnancy and had a big belly. Maybe if I didn't know I wouldn't have given myself permission to eat for 2. 

Natalie had swimming and cheerleading tonight. She normally loves both but she is so tired this week. I think this warm weather is throwing everyone off. I know I'm ready for cool weather. 

Boji loses some of his manhood on Friday. He goes in on Thursday night and gets fixed on Friday. I hope he recovers alright. He likes his crate so he may be spending some time shut up so he doesn't try to wrestle with the dogs. The other day Sadie (collie) was laying on the floor sleeping and Boji took a running start and pounced on her. It was pretty funny actually. Sadie wasn't sure what hit her. They proceeded to wrestle for another hour or so. Those two are close. Bailey is still the boss though and just barks now when she feels they need to settle down. 

Do you ever feel like you are losing your mind? I dropped something in my room yesterday and I can't find it. I know the area it fell, but it is gone. I'm thinking of it because it is my memory card for my camera. It is a new one. I never delete pictures, I just get new memory cards. I know this is so dumb, but I don't want to lose pictures. Even though sometimes I'll have 5 pictures of the same pose and could easily delete 4. And I still have pictures that need developed from 3 years ago. 

Are you all excited that the new shows are back on? My favorite new one is "worst week". It is so flippin' funny. We watched CSI:Miami last night. I won't say anything to ruin it in case you haven't watched it, but I found myself wondering why I watch such a dumb show. I'll keep watching it because I'm hooked. My mother-in-law has be hooked on House Hunters on HGTV too. I watched one from Boston and this lady was so excited because she found a great 2 bedroom apartment for $480,000. Can you even imagine? I will never even afford a whole house for that and she is excited about an apartment. Grey's Anatomy is the one I'm most looking forward to. I saw the preview though and am already irritated by it. Why can't Derek and Meredith just be happy? I think she is just destined to be one of those unhappy people.

Okay, this post is so scattered and confusing. I'm so tired and it is showing in my writing. I apologize about that. I'll come back soon to write a new one that is easier to read:)

Life without a Gallbladder

Well, surgery was a week ago and I am feeling pretty good. I was in a bit more pain than I thought I would be when I woke up from surgery. Morphine is a good friend:) Once back to my room I just wanted to sleep so they said I could go home as soon as I kept some fluids down. Luckily I didn't ever get sick so I was good to go two hours after surgery ended. I then spent the weekend in bed. John was a saint and kept the kids busy so I could rest. He also lifted my little brat Boji into bed when he cried so I could cuddle with him. John and the kids were going to John and Debbi's on Friday night so John wanted to put Boji in his kennel. Well, when John tried to pick him up he snapped at him and wouldn't let him take him away. He is so sweet and protective:) You know John loves this dog when that didn't even make him mad. If Sadie did something like that he would still be mad at her. 

My mom came over on Monday to spend the day with me. We had a nice time and chatted the day away. The rest of the week was just full of resting. I feel refreshed today and am ready to drive again. I haven't even left our yard since last Friday. I've never stayed home this long. If it weren't for the internet, I would have gone crazy by now:)

The kids are doing well. Natalie has started back to swim team, cheerleading and Girl Scouts. The latter two started this week. We have the best girl scout troop. Our leaders are phenomenal. Both kids are invited to a free Karate party this weekend with friends. Maybe Nolan will decide he likes it after that. I'm not pushing it though. 

I am healed just in time for Nolan's first field trip. We are going to the Chet Ager Nature Center tomorrow. I am hoping I have the energy for a group of 5 year olds. With our without surgery, that can be a task. He gets to ride in a bus for the first time. He has been doing the countdown all week. I'm so glad I can go. I didn't tell him until he got home today. His teacher told me he had told her he didn't 'sink I could go. He is so sweet, he said, "how are you going to get there? you can't drive." 

John is doing well. His medicine is working well for his RA. His pain started coming back a few weeks ago so they added Prednisone. He goes back in October for a re-check. 

We are enjoying the Husker football season so far. And this is a great fall season we are having. The kids have been playing outside a lot. All week I would go from the bed to the couch to the front porch to watch the kids. John will be so surprised that the kitchen is clean and some of the laundry has been done. 

Well, I better run. I hope you all have a wonderful day!

Karen

Pictures

This is Nolan at fan day at the stadium. Look at those eyes!
Look at the stuff he talked John into buying him.
He wanted this hat, John drew the line here.
Here he is on the field. He looks so little.
This is Boji on the day we got him. He's had a haircut since this picture. He is so sweet.
I love this picture of Bailey Sue. She looks like she is smiling. 
Here is Natalie and Boji. She loves him so much!!

Read the post from yesterday because it is new.

Surgery

Well, I am having surgery on Friday. I went to the ER 3 years ago because I had a ton of pain on my right side by my rib. I thought I had Pneumonia or something because it hurt when I would breathe. The doctor did a ton of tests and was sure it was my Appendix or my Gallbladder. When blood work came back looking okay, he thought I had a blood clot in my lung. Luckily, that was not the case. Anyway, he sent me home with meds for an infection of unknown cause and told me I'd be in for gallbladder surgery within the year. Well, fast forward one year. I was sent to a GI doctor due to constant indigestion and burning in my chest. The doctor did some tests and asks me to do a Pipida scan. I chicken out until this month. I finally had the test a few weeks ago and my Gallbladder is not functioning. I don't have stones, but it doesn't empty. It's the reason I feel like there is a baby's foot stuck in my rib non-stop. 

I think I'm the only person I know that can gain weight with a bad Gallbladder. Most people feel sick and don't want to eat. I, on the other hand, mistake that feeling for hunger and try to feed away the pain. So in 3 years I have gained 60 pounds. Yes, you read it right, 60 pounds. I'm just praying that my Gallbladder weighs 60 pounds and I magically get back to a decent weight. If you want, you can say a little prayer for that too!! :)  All in all, I am ready to get it over with. Plus, I get a week off. I just hope I feel better afterward. I have been feeling crappy for so long I think I forget what it's like to feel normal. The downside to surgery is that I can't take my arthritis medicine so I am in pain. It goes from joint to joint. At least I know it is short lived and that I will be better soon. 

Okay, enough about me! Everyone else is doing well. John is responding to his meds very well and seems back to his ornery self. He is golfing now and then. Not always well, but that isn't the arthritis. We watched the Huskers play on Saturday. It was touch and go until the 4th quarter. 

The kids have their first illness of the year. They both have sinus infections. We spent some time and money at Target pharmacy and they are getting back to normal now. Natalie starts swim team at the YMCA tomorrow. She is so excited. Nolan is still set on just going to school and being a "plain old brother".  He is so exhausted from school so I think an extra activity would be too much for him. He bought his Halloween costume already. He is the white power ranger. He looks way too cute. This will be year three of being a Power Ranger. First it was green, then red, and now white. Natalie isn't sure what she wants to be yet. 

Well, I better run. I will try to get on to post some pictures this week. Remember, pray for a sixty pound Gallbladder:)

Karen