All The Details

Yesterday was Kennedy's Surgery. She had a adienectomy and a tonsillectomy.

We started our day about about 4:00 a.m. JT and I got ready and got all our stuff loaded in the car. We woke Kennedy up around 4:45 and headed out at 5:00. Her surgery was preformed at St.Joesph's Hospital West in Lake St.Louis. We had quiet a drive. Kennedy was not fearful or scared at all. She was in such good spirits, and honestly I wasn't feeling to bad (I was scared, but not worried..and I was really glad about that) So we got admitted and the lady who was admitting us had a lot of encouraging bible verses up and she was talking to me about God and how he works and that was just very encouraging. She was very kind.

After admitting we met Kennedy's nurse, Betty. She weighed Kennedy and took us to our room. Kennedy was very happy and so good during this time.

(Here is the nurse checking Kennedy's throat..obviously right?)

(We took pics together before everything got underway.)

(I think JT had a lot of anxiety about this. He was really there for Kennedy just lifting her up with love. I took this picture cause I have a picture much like it from the day we brought her home from the hospital---ah memories)

We gave her a few gifts (some cool cups and straws and a tink purse) to encourage her. Our family that could come had arrived by that time and they came in to see Kennedy, right after they had given her some medicine to "relax". She was very funny during this time. She watched cartoons and just acted so crazy. She kept asking us why she saw two Dora's on T.V. (obviously the meds made her vision sorta blurry) She got a balloon from her grandma Becky and she was memorized by the balloon. It was cute.

(Here is that crazy balloon)

Enter Dr. Boone, she talked to us about the surgery, asked K if she wanted to go see some duckies (Later Kennedy told us the white room was very cold and there were not duckies her exact words there after were "I think she tricked me!" HAHAHA!!!!!!) and such and then they took her away. This caused me to cry a bit (I am embarrassed to say)

(here is Dr. Boone, she was great. She has such a loving yet commanding presence-I am just grateful to have found her----BIG thanks to my dear friend Narah!!!)

(here is the moment I could barely handle, I wasn't worried or even really scared, just totally overwhelmed at the situation. I am glad to say I didn't have any what ifs. My memory vesrses from the past weeks really helped with that.)

The surgery took about 2o minutes and Dr. Boone came and told us her adenoids were very large and her tonsils were HUGE. (We were not expecting that and neither was the doctor, the tonsils were being removed as a precaution) I was so relieved that I had prayed so much about that decision and sought God's guidance. Many tried to tell me not to do the tonsils if she didn't absolutely need it (and we thought she didn't) but I just felt led that they needed to come out. I cried over God's hand in that situation. Praise Him!

Kennedy was brought back about 30 minutes later and she was so upset and just very very full of emotion. I held her and calmed her, but she wanted her cousin, Grace. Grace was just awesome. She came in and comforted Kennedy and was just such a blessing.

One of the most heartbreaking things K said to me, she said to me sitting in this chair..."She said why did everyone leave me?" They do not allow parents in recovery and I was just so sad the she thought we had left her, hurting and alone. I reassured her and told her I never left and we were all waiting for her to come back to this room. I held her for about 20 minutes and then she wanted to sit her her bed with Grace.

Then Kennedy wanted Alan. Those were the only people she wanted to see for a while, she was very crabby. The remainder of the afternoon went without incident and Kennedy was drinking well and really doing a great job. I was so proud of her strength and bravery. I just can not describe how well she did, she was talking and laughing after and really just did so well.

(it took her a while to totally come out of the anesthesia daze...)

(this was about an hour after they gave her the Tylenol with codeine, it does make her rather blah)

(She started perking up, like I said, she talked with Grandma Mary and was drinking well by this time)



Thank you for every prayer!!! I know God was faithful in answering them. Please pray for her continued ease in recovery. Right now we are having trouble with her staying calm, she wants to run and play but can't, and then tires easily. I know there will be good and bad days. Please pray the good out way the bad.

A Very Springy and Yummy Salad Recipe

Last summer while in Florida, I enjoyed the most wonderful salad. I had to come home and recreate it! This is the recipe I have adapted to mimic the flavors and I have to say I enjoy my version even more.

Orange Gorgonzola Salad
( I like to add pecan crusted chicken strips to this if I have them leftover)

This salad is full of complex flavor, while being very easy to pull together. It is elegant enough for dinner guest but so easy and tasty it will become an everyday salad.

¾ cup pecans halves
10 ounces mixed fancy salad greens with arugula
1 can mandrin oranges drained juice reseverd
½ cup sliced red onion
¼ cup olive oil
¼ cup vegetable oil
⅔ cup orange juice (use reserved juice from can)
¼ cup white sugar
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
¼ teaspoon dried oregano
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
¼ cup crumbled Gorgonzola cheese

Place the walnuts in a skillet over medium heat. Cook 5 minutes, stirring constantly, until lightly browned. In a large bowl, toss the toasted walnuts, salad greens, oranges, and red onion. In a large jar with a lid, mix the olive oil, vegetable oil, orange juice, sugar, vinegar, mustard, oregano, and pepper. Seal jar, and shake to mix. Divide the salad greens mixture into individual servings. To serve, sprinkle with Gorgonzola cheese, and drizzle with the dressing mixture.
Yields: 6 servings

Hey Hey its Tuesday...

I took some pics yesterday of our everyday lives. I know I get in the trap of feeling like my life is not so glamorous, and then being down about it. Yesterday and today I have just been thinking how blessed I am to have to totally normal and seemingly boring life. Really isn't that what we all are striving to get in some way or another. God has blessed and blesses and here I sit, saying "Hey it stinks I don't have/do/feel this"...that's so not true. Anyway we had a really average day yesterday. K had school. They are learning about rain and umbrellas this week. I picked her up and we came home to play and eat lunch. We played Old Maid and Candy Land.
I had the night off, quite by accident. We all ate dinner together and I snapped this little beauty.


There it is folks, that is what I am so blessed with. The normal everyday family. These are the two people I get up every day for. I cook and clean for them....and I wouldn't have it any other way. On a side note, Kennedy ate all of her salad last night WITH OUT ranch dressing. She didn't even have ranch anywhere on her plate and she ate...I was speechless. To top that off she said it was really good. (Those of you who know K in real life know...she doesn't eat much that is not dipped in ranch and she is very firm about that rule) We spent the rest of our evening playing air hockey, playing "Hey those are my kisses" and watching JT and K's favorite show Chuck (which I had to turn off half way through cause there was what I felt was a fairly inappropriate scene for K on-she needed to go to bed anyway.)

Well anyway that's enough about nothing....this was a kinda Seinfeld type post huh?

Giveaway for a cutie pie pettie skirt

Check out this giveaway..I am hoping I win...along with a bunch of other moms!!!