August 2022

 So many things happening for our family right now! Words cannot express how proud I am of this little group! 

Tiny Human started 2nd grade. She is such a little social butterfly! She has never met someone who is not her friend. I just adore her little heart and love it when she says, "can we snuggle and watch funny videos?" She loves watching FB videos from America's Funniest Video. Her little belly laughs are the best. 

Reyanne started her Junior year and has plans to graduate this coming May. She has worked super hard to get to the point to be able to graduate. She has taken summer classes 2 years in a row and takes multiple classes as independent study to get more credit hours. She also still works at HyVee and is learning to drive with hopes to have her license by Christmas at the latest. I hear she's saving big money for a car! 

Gordon was off to college this month! We moved him into his dorms on the 18th and he is doing fantastic! The first couple of days were a little rough as there was a lot of student relationship-building activities and he wasn't a super fan but he pushed through and started classes and seems to really enjoy them so far. He was even able to connect with people and has some new friends that we can't wait to get to know better. 

Ariez is still trucking his way through training at JobCorps. He ALSO decided that he needed a job to earn some extra spending cash and is now working at Papa John's. He told me the other day that it doesn't even seem like work because he's having such a good time. I was nervous that he'd eat all the pepperoni profit because the boy seriously LOVES pepperoni pizza! He told me last week that he likes working there so much that it doesn't even feel like work! 

Trey is about to start a new adventure! He will be working in a meat processing center. He has so enjoyed the time he spent in the kitchen at Brewsky's but needed something that paid a little better with a more set schedule and guaranteed hours. Super excited for him! 

Tai and Jake are getting closer and closer to having that wonderful little bundle of joy! But the big news for them this month is that THEY GOT MARRIED! I'll make a whole new post about that because it was all very sudden but it turned out to be an absolutely beautiful ceremony and we are SO excited to have a new addition to the family! 

Steve has been so busy with work as all of the new student loan forgiveness comes down the line. The other night, they had over 1,400 calls waiting and so he has been working some extra hours to help his team best serve their clients. The bigger news for him is that he has started his internship for his Master's program! We are so proud of him as he continues to get closer and closer to graduating! 

My job - keeping up with this crazy crew and all of their activities! Wow - it's sometimes so exhausting but absolutely worth every bit of craziness! 

Bariatric Journey - Part 1

 Day 1 - we'll call this day one even though it's not because I've been contemplating this for so long. I had a consultation previously set up and then got COVID and couldn't go and then decided to hold off and see if this is what I really want. I have done TONS of research, talked to SO many people who have had it done and consulted with my husband a thousand times. So...here we are...

My first call this morning was quick and to the point. UNMC sent me a video to watch and a 12-page form to fill out with instructions to then call my insurance and then call them back on Monday to schedule the actual initial contact. By the way, anytime I need more than the provided space for medications, I am reminded of one of the biggest reasons I want to have this done. 

My call with insurance was frustrating. The gentleman that I spoke with was SUPER kind but we def had a language barrier and he was clearly not familiar with bariatric surgery. He initially told me that there was a lifetime benefit amount and then told me that the surgery was not covered. I asked him to double-check because when I went through the process previously, it was covered. He guided me to the Bariatric Resource Service. 

The BRS was extremely polite and helpful and assured me that the procedure I'd like to have done is covered and the location that I'd like to have it done is also within network. Thank goodness, that barrier is now crossed. I am now enrolled in the program and will begin meeting with my Nurse Manager in Sept. This also means that I can now call UNMC on Monday to schedule my consultation. 

Wish me luck! 

Days 13, 14, 15

 13th - Physical Feature 

This one is really hard. I have no idea. I used to really like my ankles but right now one of them is the source of such distress that I don't think I can use that one. 

I like my eyes when they're working. I think they're pretty. I don't know if anyone else does. 

I have a physical feature that my husband loves but that hardly seems appropriate for here. :) 

14th - Talents and Skills 

I feel like we've already covered this one with family meal planning and prep and also my ability and joy in crochet and cross-stitch so...yeah...I have nothing to add here. 

15th - Tradition

Family dinner was my favorite tradition but as the kids have gotten older and busier it seems like less often that we can all be together. 

I guess one of my favorites is corn dogs on Halloween. Sonic has $.50 corn dogs that day so we always order a bunch and then make our own fries. This way we know that the kids have had some kind of food in their bellies before ingesting tremendous amounts of sugar.

Oh...New Year's Eve. Steve always smokes a turkey and we have that with a cheese board. We have a lot of fun going to HyVee and picking out fun, new cheeses to try. We then play games and celebrate the New Year arrival. 

Christmas Eve we put on our jammies, get hot chocolate, load up the car and go look at Christmas lights. I love that tradition. It was started by my parents when we were little and it's something I have added to and do with my kids. Then we come home, I read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas' and everyone goes to bed. 

Day 12 - A Place

 Home. It's as simple as that. The place that I'm most thankful for today, and pretty much every day, is home. 

I love the home when it's quiet (that's rare). I love our home when it's chaotic. I love when all of our kids are home. I love it when none of our kids are home. I love my bedroom and I love the spaces we've created to spend time together.

Our home isn't fancy. It's new to us and we are still finding ways to put it together. There are still boxes taking up half of the garage but it's ours. It's the place we gather to feel safe, protected and loved. 

Day 11 - Unexpected Gift

 The unexpected gift that I am most thankful for is that of my husband and children. 

Steve and my story is fun but it was hard. Whatever it took, we're here. It's still hard some days. It's always worth it and it's a huge gift in my life. 

When I was 18 years old, I was told that I had a 10% chance of ever having a baby. I have been blessed beyond measure with 3 biological babes and 3 "adopted" babes and now our raising our granddaughter. 

None of these were easy stories. I have had multiple miscarriages, multiple surgeries, and all c-sections. The loss of my sister to become my nieces and nephew's parents is a hard journey. Parenting our Tiny Tot is a heartbreaking story. My pregnancies were not easy.

I wouldn't trade any of it as it all is a part of our journey. All of it is a gift. None of it was expected. 

Day 10 - Nature

 When Steve and I first got together, we camped ALL THE TIME. We loved the inexpensive of pitching the tent and hitting the lake for the weekend. Campfires, coolers, outdoor temperatures, fishing, swimming...you name it. It was also a great way for our little one to burn off energy without worrying about her being noisy in a hotel. We didn't have to go far from home to have a good time. 

As life got busier, and we got older, those trips slowed down. The appeal of sleeping on the ground and not having access to running water a few feet away became fewer and further between. 

We still love camping or at least the idea of camping. Summer of 2021, we had several trips planned but were only able to make one of them work. It was a great time. It was time well spent with family and not being connected to the internet or screens. Tiny Tot loved the outdoors. We grilled, we played on the playground, we fished, we slept in a teepee. 

The summer of 2022 will come with great intentions of camping more. We'll hope that our schedules allow it and that the universe comes together so that we can get out more. If not, we'll enjoy the time that we have hanging out on the dock fishing. 

Day 9 - Looking Forward To...

I am looking forward to having my foot and ankle healed! 

Twenty years ago I broke my right ankle and required surgery where they implanted a metal plate with two screws on one side and a pin on the other side. That hardware is no longer giving me joy! I've been in a lot of pain for the past 5 weeks and it is difficult to walk, stand, or sit for long periods of time. It has wreaked havoc on my sleep and done an unpleasant number on my mental health. 

On the 16th I will have surgery to have the hardware removed from my right ankle. I will be down for 2 weeks in a sling and then a boot for at least the two weeks following that. While I am certainly not looking forward to surgery or the healing time, it is totally worth it if it means no more (or at least way less) pain and improved mobility. 

On my left foot, I have extensor tendonitis (a fancy term for inflamed tendon). I have an extra bone in my foot and the doctor believes that this extra bone is rubbing on that tendon keeping it from ever fully healing. When we took Tai to college, I was in a boot for it and that provided great relief but shortly after that the discomfort returned and has been annoying me ever since.  

Since it's not optimal to be in two boots at one time, we are addressing the most painful situation first. Following the right ankle healing, we will address the left foot. 

I sincerely look forward to having two fully functioning ankles and feet. I can feel the end in sight!