Until something else exciting happens, or until I get back in the habit of carrying my camera, these will have to hold you!

Museum continued

All of the museum pictures are from my mom's camera, thankfully she brought it!  You would think from all of the pictures that we spent the entire week at this museum.....

It must run in the family.......

Dr. Grow in action

 Lydia was over the moon about all of the attention that she received.  Who wouldn't be?  3 doting grandparents, and your parents all laughing and calling everything you do cute.  We went to a children's museum and had a ball. 

Dr. Grow- doing a patient check up.

Lydia takes a turn at a patient consult

In my mom's opinion, no trip is complete without going to Hillbilly Hotdogs.  When I told Lydia that she could eat in a bathtub she said, "You're kidding right?"  She thought it was so funny to sit in the bathtub (notice the plunger) with a Santa Claus place mat.

Of course I had to get her a piece of cake- they walked a tray with 4 big slices on it around the diner, then put the tray down within her range of vision.  She was frantic that someone would take her big pink slice.  Unfortunately the cake made all those who ate it sick.....

The clay center 2011 above, 2008 below

As we are down to our last year here in West Virginia- I am getting nostalgic about all of 'our places'.  This is the place that we became a family.  I can't go anywhere without being reminded of things that I have done with Lydia and Joel.  These have been very involved years, full of changes and successes.  They have been challenging, but most things that shape and form one usually are   I have become a mother, Joel a father and a doctor, Lydia has blossomed from an infant to a beautiful vibrant 4 year old.  We have grown even closer to each other as a couple, and our marriage has flourished.  We have been through the fire and are stronger for it.  Indeed I often think that all of the struggles, afflictions and grievances that we have gone through in our 10 years have made us so strong that nothing can knock us down. 

Surgery

Poor girl had to wait a few days before I was out of pain- there was no way I would let her see me in pain.

I am finally finished with the surgery saga.  It was rough to have 2 surgeries exactly 1 month apart.  I am so grateful for my body and how well it has bounced back.  It's been really hard, it is really hard for the caretakers to get my pain under control and I was at a '10' for over 24 hours.  Add to that there was a crazy women that I was sharing my first room with.  ALL. NIGHT. LONG. she was moaning and saying things like, "OOOOOH, Jesus help me!" Imagine an old women with a really bad hick accent.  ALL NIGHT LONG.  Then she kept calling for her Grandson "jaaay- DEEE" It was rough.  I would finally drift off then her voice would go on.  She wasn't quiet for longer than a few minutes at a time.  Finally by the next afternoon, after not sleeping from the pain and from this crazy women I had a break down.  The poor nurse came in and I burst into tears and said I couldn't do this anymore.  I didn't care where they moved me, but I had to be moved.  So they took me to a shared room, but a room mate never showed up.

I'm so grateful that Joel's mom was able to come out (and willing!!) to take care of Lydia.  All leading up to it, this is what I was worried about.  Judy did such a great job and I knew Lydia was being taken care of.

We are hoping that this is my LAST surgery- I have had so much taken out with this and my last resection that I don't have any more small bowel to spare.  Hopefully the Humira will do what it is supposed to do :o)

 Lydia was having a hard time with the day being "daddy's special day".  She kept crying and asking it to be her special day.  She was so super excited for Joel and kept saying "Congratulations Daddy!!"  When we were waiting for the ceremony to start she was crying and begging to be aloud to sit with him, or at least have him sit with us.  Every few minutes at the beginning of the ceremony she would ask if he was done yet.  I don't think there was a single person prouder of a graduate than this little girl.  She yelled- Hi Daddy!! when the Doctors to be walked in and beamed when Joel immediately zeroed in on her location and waved.  As he walked across the stage she yelled for him again and kept saying Yea Daddy!! The whole audience thought she was adorable and I am told that those watching on the internet could hear her.  You can see how excited she is in the top picture, squeezing the life out of me :o)  While Joel was walking across the stage Lydia turned to me and said, "I don't want to be a mommy, I want to be a doctor!!"  I think that all of the pomp and circumstance appealed to her.  She would have been tickled to walk across that stage herself.

The historic Keith Albee Theater- what a treat to have his commencement ceremony here!

                               Lydia shares a 'Cloudy with a chance of meatballs' kiss with Joel

10:30 and the party is still going strong, me not so much :o)

Easter

I'm having major problems trying to upload pictures.  An hour later, no success, I will just post what I have!


This is the first year we dyed our own eggs.  I don't know why exactly, probably because Joel was either studying for Step I or Step 2, or something like that.  We had a lot of fun, I know Joel's face isn't really showing his excitement, but it was fun. 

Lydia had a fun Easter egg hunt on Saturday morning, it's kindof sad to have her running around all by herself.  The only child thing is fun for a lot of things, but hard for most activities.  On Sunday we were able to focus on the true reason we celebrate- our Savior.  We then had some of our favorite people- the Browns- over for dinner.