Today our daughter went under the knife. Trigger finger on her right thumb. If she didn't have the surgery, she would eventually never be able to bend her thumb, so surgery it was. It was outpatient, but she 1. still had to be put under and 2. had to be cut open. That was enough to make me nervous and toss and turn in bed throughout all of last night.

5:30 Ed and I were up to get ready. 6:10 we left. 6:40 got to the medical building. 7:30 had to write her initials on the thumb she was having surgery on (only to check it so many times I lost count afraid I initialed the wrong one and mess everything up). 7:50 she was put under. 8:10 the doctor was done. snip, snap, sew and that was it. We blew that popsicle stand by 9:40 and headed out to get a pancake for the princess who looked ready to jump in the boxing ring complete with bandaged right hand and a left hand taped to hold on that Barbie band aid which was holding on more gauze (to stop the bleeding from the IV entrance).

She's doing amazing and has bounced back full force. We were given a prescription for tylenol with codeine, but waited to fill it. So far, she has been going on two regular strength chewable tylenol tablets.



We had to take some fun pictures to remember this day by (hence the jumpsuits and hats over faces to make her laugh). Her only tears have been when she tries to use her right hand and isn't able to.














She's a huge trooper. I'd be milking it for all its worth, but not her. So many times I've gone to help her and she looks at me and says, "Stop please. I can do it myself." Addah girl.

splintered

Have you ever felt like you've been hit with a 2x4 right between the eyes? I don't mean literally. More specifically, spiritually. This has happened more than once this past week and let me tell you...it leads to one hurting head and eyes that see oh so much clearer.

The 1st 2x4 was more like a wake up call. To pray.

The other 2x4's were at church last night. I asked to have a Sunday off of helping lead music (thank you Anne!!) to sit through a service with my husband. We decided to attend Saturday night and sure enough..I end up in tears by the end of the sermon. Our pastor taught from the book of James and how having joy through all sorts of trials is a choice.

Some trials given where joy can be chosen:
Loosing a job: ding! yes to that one.
Cracks and rocks in the marriage: ding! yes to that one.
Financial stress: ding! yes to that one.
Waiting for a house to sell: ding! yes to that one.

Choosing joy: loud annoying buzz: haven't chosen that one.

Being refined and coming out on the other side looking like a nice shiny, beautiful gravy boat (it does make sense if you heard the sermon) is so much more worth it than being filled with envy and frittering my life away. Being broken so something else can be built up and come out stronger. Choosing joy is not easy, but so worth it on the flip side.

I still haven't sorted out everything that is going on inside.
I'm still messed up from all the 2x4's last night.
And it's a great thing.

tiny tidbits

All 2T and 3T pants that are high waters (but fit in the waste) for Alina make amazing capri's when rolled up. No need to buy capri's for the summer! Sweet!!

Recipe for trimmed off pieces of a homemade pie crust. Roll out, brush with butter, sprinkle with cinnamon sugar, cut up and bake. Tasty little treats! Would be fantastic drizzled with chocolate sauce on top of ice cream...

Free entertainment and exercise at the airport viewing area. Lots of room to run and picnic tables to eat at while watching airplanes take off and land. We did that between the downpours today.

$1 off coupon for grocery store brand ice cream that is already on sale. End up paying $1.50 for a 1/2 gallon. Can't beat that!!

Pureed spinach mixed in spaghetti sauce for that extra veggie.

I had bread dough left over for the calzones (that were filled with spaghetti/spinach mixture), so I cut the leftover in half and gave one chunk to each kid. Instant playdough they could roll, cut up, and even eat if they wanted to (rolling pin, cookie cutters, bread cutter and pizza cutter). Quick clean up with no crumbs and into a baggie for each they went, to be pulled out the next day. They literally begged the next morning after breakfast to play with it.

knocking itself senseless

How many times will a Robin fly into the window before it tires out? Too many to count.

Yesterday a Robin decided that our sliding door needed to be flown into. Repeatedly. Smudging and pooping all over the squeaky clean door. It was starting to become annoying. Sam found his sword and went outside yelling, "GET AWAY ROBIN!!!!" chasing it around the yard with sword held high. That worked for about 20 minutes. Then it started back at the door. I finally closed the blinds and that seemed to work.

But said Robin was not done ramming itself senseless into clear glass. Sure enough, that same Robin had come to the front of the house and started on the living room windows. It would sit on edge and stare in the house to catch its breath before starting again. It was very nerve wracking having a bird looking in at you. At one point it turned around and mooned me. Lifted it's tail and squished it up against the window. Now seriously bird, did you really have to do that?

So I closed all the blinds to the front windows. I refused to turn on the lights as it was now dark in here. It finally went away.

Until 7:00 this morning.

I thought one of the kids was up making racket in the kitchen. I flew out of bed ready to scold him or her as Ed was downstairs meeting with a friend. By the time I got to the hallway, I heard their snores and knew right away what it was. Robin. I refuse to sit inside with the blinds closed all day long. Anyone have any ideas how to get rid of this bird?

pajama time!

Tonight is what we call pajama movie night. We've started a new family tradition on Friday nights of getting our jammies on, taking dinner downstairs (on top of lots of blankets so the new carpet is spared), and watching a movie together. I missed the 1st jammie-movie night of which the 1st part of Gone With The Wind was viewed. The 2nd jammie-movie night was the 2nd part of Gone With The Wind (we're still perplexed as to why the kids wanted to see it and why 1 out of 2 of them stayed awake through the entire movie). Tonight is the 3rd edition of jammie-movie night. Homemade pizza is on the menu (bbq chicken for 2 adults, chicken and pineapple for 2 kids). I think the movie choice is going to be The Wild. I'm looking forward to it already. The kids ask for it every week and I hope it continues as a tradition they carry on with their families some day.