January 2015

Brynn is giant!

Wes was super proud of his giant snow ball.

On my nerve

I lovely frosted tree in front of the hospital.  I was going in to see my doctor for some crazy bad pain I had in my lover right abdomen and hip.  December I went to my obgyn, who had done surgery on me the previous for some cysts and scar tissue unpleasantness.  He couldn't find anything with an ultrasound and said exploratory surgery was the next step. Before I scheduled it I had a feeling to first check with my insurance.  It had changed a few weeks before, and I'm so grateful I checked.  They would have only paid 20 percent of the total bill.  Ouch.  

I went to my primary care doctor, and asked if was anything else we could do before exploratory surgery.  I was in a lot of pain and life was ruff, but I also was not too keen to have another surgery either.  He ordered an MRI.  It showed nothing so he referred me so a surgeon (sigh).  I went in for the consult and explained my pain.  The surgeon instantly had a theory.  He said he thought I had damage on my ilioinguinal nerve.  He said we could a nerve block right then and there, and it would tell us if he's theory was right. (Side note: I had friend that was visiting earlier that day offer to watch the kids.  I had been just planned on taking them, but I am so glad she had them.  She told me she had a feeling she should.  I love how the Spirit intervenes in our lives.  Tender mercies help us and show us God's love.)
The nerve block was not a pleasant thing, but it worked!  It was amazing.  For weeks I had had to practice walking normal in front of the mirror anytime I went so where (which wasn't very often), and then I had to focus on every step to walk normal (at least I could walk normal...see I am so positive, um right?).  But after the nerve block I just walked pain free normally.  I went from so much pain to none.  I felt high!  The surgeon said that some people can just do nerve blocks while others have to have the nerve cut surgically.  He said how long the nerve block lasted and if the pain was less after would help us know what road to take.

It was a wonderful afternoon.  I cleaned and played with my kids, and then the nerve block wore of that night.  It was so so so so so awful.  Not only did I go from no pain to full scale pain, but the nerve was so angry because I had been moving all day.  Surgery became an easy choice.  I would have numbness in my hip, but I would have a life again.

We scheduled it for the beginning of February.

Snow time

Most years we are not wanting for snow at our 4500 feet elevation, but it was a dry winter.  Not a good thing when you are the second driest state.  We had to take advantage of playing in the snow every chance we got.

Snow angels are awkward.

New Year's Day

2015 started with the most beautiful morning.

We frosted the cookies we made the day before.  Yum!

Friends ended up joining us.

Happy 2015

InstaJanuary 2015

Wes to me, "The Lion's doing story time."  Then as he was playing, "The Lion is very brave.  He always goes in dark caves." 

Between Brynn's lack of hair and my lack of ability, I've resolved to experiment more with hair styles on her.  This is simple and nothing to brag about, but seven sections is a new one for me.  Totally welcome style suggestions. 

They had Bret tape them in a box and give it to me as a present.  They really are the best gift I could ask for.

Wes: (holding up a piece of scratch paper) Brynn, look it's a temple!

Brynn: Is that the temple Mommy and Daddy got married in?

Wes: No, that's the 88 temple

Me: I got married in the Salt Lake temple.

The picture Brynn drew for me.  At first she said it was a car but then decided it was a train cake. 

 Wes wanted to take a picute of Brynn's art just like I did.  So of course I had to take pictures of my budding photographer.  #photoaholics

We spent hours of fun family time building a 1000 piece megablock micro set. #lovelysaturday 

They played legos ALL day. 

 movie time, cuddle time

A new way to keep my house clean. 

 Mommy daughter reading time.

Is it really January in Cache Valley? 

Play all day 

 Eye see you

 Playing a lego ninja bad guy with Wes and simultaneously playing baby witch with my ladybug mommy Brynn. #multitasking

 Dress up time

Don't mess with these two.  They're super tough.