My Slightly Slimmer (But, Still) Overweight Dog.

That's right, Internet.

I'm proud to say that Maisy has lost TWO WHOLE POUNDS!

Two pounds, people.

That's like 10 pounds for a human.

She now weighs 33.50 pounds.

Last last year, when we found out she was overweight, she was 37 pounds.

We started Weight Management dog food & I started taking her on walks around the neighborhood (well, until she started REFUSING to walk...).

The weight just was NOT coming off...until I just happened to notice her "weight record" on a bill from the vet back in July. From March to July, she lost 1 pound.

I was happy, but also discouraged because it WAS only a pound.

But, then, yesterday when her doctor called me (Matt dropped her off at our normal vet for her regular doctor to look at the sore on her back), she could barely get the words out about Maisy's weight loss, she was so excited.

I, too, was excited & couldn't wait to see the proof on her weight record on the bill. AND, sure enough...in July, she weighed 35.50 pounds...now, she weighs 33.50.

Yay for us because that means we're doing something right with her diet & yay for Maisy because that means fewer potential health problems for her down the road.

But, there's still work to be done.

We need to get her down to 30 pounds...the recommended weight for her height & breed. I have no doubts that we can do it because I want her to live a long & healthy life! And, as far as the sore on her back goes, the doctor thinks it's a "puncture wound"....like she scratched herself or rolled over something while scratching her back outside on the grass.

The medicine the "fill-in" doctor gave her on Saturday should take care of any infection in the sore, so that's good. She'll finish those antibiotics on Sunday.

I know I complained about her vet bills in my last post, but I don't really mind the cost. I would pay whatever it took to make sure she was okay. Whether it was $20 dollars or $2,000.

When she got so upset Saturday at the vet, I realized how attached I am to her. I mean, I always knew I loved her & always wanted her with me, but I saw just how horrible it would be if she wasn't here with us. Maisy is, always has been & always will be a part of our family.

So, here are some pictures of the slimmer, but still CRAZY, Maisy!

See the lump under the covers?

It's Maisy...asleep...I found her this way about 20 minutes after Matt brought her home from the vet yesterday.

The slimmer & trimmer Maisy!

Can you see her bald patch? The doctor shaved around the sore so that we could keep an eye on it better. Hard to believe that LITTLE sore could turn into such a BIG problem.

Showing off her newly pedicured nails!

The antibiotics for her sore & the drops for her ears.

You might be wondering what this puzzle has to do with Maisy. Well, nothing really. I just wanted to show you what Matt & I have working on for almost 2 weeks! I thought it would be fun for us to work a puzzle together (I know, go ahead, call me lame or laugh at me or whatever, but for the record, it HAS been fun!) I wanted to get a 700-piece puzzle of a scene from the Kentucky Derby.

But, nooooooooooooo. SOMEONE wanted to get the 2,000-piece puzzle of the Las Vegas skyline.

This is what it'll look like once we finish.

Here's Matt working on it earlier tonight. Do you know how hard it is to MOVE a puzzle of this size? We didn't actually think it would take us this long to put together, which is why we put it on the kitchen table. This past Saturday, we had friends over to watch the Razorback football game & I needed to use the kitchen table for the food display. The puzzle was not part of my design plan. So, we had to buy a huge U-Haul moving box, cut it to "puzzle size" & carefully slide the puzzle over to the flat piece of cardboard. We stuck it in my scrapbook room for the party & then moved it back to the table on Sunday! I don't know what we'll do with it once we finish it. I guess we'll get some puzzle glue & maybe frame it? But, I don't know. What do you think?

If I React This Way With A Dog, What's It Going To Be Like With A Child?

Earlier this week, we noticed that Maisy's ears were slightly red & she was shaking her head a lot (like she had something in her ears).

Well, we knew what that meant.

Her allergies were acting up.

It was just a matter of time before the frequent ear scratching & the rubbing of ears on the floor, couch, chair...wherever...started. Because that means the allergies have now turned into an ear infection.

In an attempt to avoid taking her to the doctor & paying the $30 + dollars exam fee for her to tell me Maisy has another ear infection, I just called her, told her what Maisy was doing & asked if she would just fill another prescription of the ear drops she prescribed last time.

It worked.

So, instead of spending close to $60 dollars, we only spent $25.

A savings of $30 +.

Problem solved, right?

Oh, no.

Not with this dog.

Friday night, Matt & I were playing with Maisy on the bed & we noticed a small sore on her back that was oozing puss & blood. We cleaned it off & thought it was okay...but, NOPE.

As we were getting the house ready to host a Razorback/Texas watch party Saturday morning, we noticed the sore was not any better...in fact, it was worse.

Matt asked me if I thought she needed to go to the doctor.

Not sure, I called her vet, only to find out she & her staff were on their annual canoe trip. So, I called around & found another doctor who was closing at noon. It was 11:40am.

Keep in mind, we've got friends coming over at 2pm, I haven't finished cleaning the house, much less had a shower...but, I threw on some clothes (I did put deodorant on, thank you very much), put Maisy in the car & we were on our way.

Except for the fact that I forgot I just had surgery on my belly 4 weeks ago & that I'm still sore...which wouldn't be a problem accept MY DOG REFUSES TO SIT ANYWHERE ELSE BUT MY LAP WHEN WE'RE IN THE CAR!

And, I realized this fact when I backed down the driveway & she plopped all 34.1 pounds of herself on my belly.

One word: OUCH.

(And, yes, Matt could have taken her, but he was mowing the yard...which HAD TO BE DONE!).

But, Maisy & I figured it out & found a spot for her to sit that we were both happy with & we arrive at the doctor at 12:10pm.

(Remember, I had tried to avoid a doctor visit earlier in the week with her ears...so, now, not only I am taking her to the doctor now...it's technically "after hours"...translation: EXPENSIVE).

He puts her on the exam table & sprays some numbing stuff on her sore & sticks a needle in to see if he can drain anything out of it. He can't...which is good.

He cleans it off really good & says he doesn't think it's infected.

BUT.

He's going to take her temperature just to make sure.

AND, THEN HE STICKS THE THERMOMETER IN HER BUTT AND SHE SCREAMS (or yelps, whatever you want to call it).

I'm holding her & telling her "Mommy's here, baby. Mommy's here! It's okay."

And, then I start crying because she's so upset.

It took me about 30 seconds to a minute to calm her down & get her to stop whining.

Tears are running down my face by this point & the doctor doesn't say a word, he just hands me a Kleenex.

He tells me she doesn't have any fever, so he's going to give her a steroid shot & an antibiotic shot. In a trembling voice, I say "Ooooookay."

I tightened my grip on Maisy & buried my face in her fur & told her I was so sorry for what was about to happen.

The steroid shot was not that bad. She didn't even flinch. Silly me thought it would be the same for the antibiotic shot.

And, I would be wrong.

He put that needle in & started injecting the medicine & I thought she was going to come out of her skin. She yelped so loud & tried to jump off the table.

Cue round #2 of tears for me.

I'm trying to calm her down by petting her & telling her it's okay & snot's seriously running down my face!

The doctor goes, "It's going to be okay!". I thought he was saying that to Maisy, but nope, he was looking right at me! He was telling ME it's going to be okay.

Omigosh!

He must seriously think I'm crazy. Because at this point, I'm feeling a little nuts.

When I realize Maisy's okay, I wipe my eyes & nose & we go up front to pay.

An exam, two shots & some antibiotics AND it's "after-hours": I'm thinking the bill is going to be over $200.

Imagine my surprise when he tells me it's only $70. Whew!

I pay & we leave.

We get home at 1:00pm...1 hour before our friends are supposed to come over. I still have to shower & Maisy really needs a bath. Plus, I HAVE TO vacuum & put all the food together.

So, Matt & I divided it up.

I gave Maisy a bath & took my own shower. He vacuumed (yes, Internet, HE vacuumed) & made the cheese dip. After I got ready, I put the rest of the food together, complete with my Hog decor just in time before our first guest showed up at 2:16pm.

We all had a really fun night...the last of our friends didn't leave until midnight!

So, now Maisy has ear drops for her allergies & antibiotics for her sore. The doctor says he doesn't really know what the sore is, but I'm taking her to her normal doctor tomorrow for a follow-up visit. (Translation: more money...).

She's also getting a pedicure (nails trimmed) & gets to stay all day at Doggie Daycare.

And, now, I feel so stupid for getting so upset, but I guess that's just normal when you see someone you care about get upset.

A Little Bit Of Everything.

Just like the title says, this post contains a little bit of everything...

*An update on my friend, whose brother & sister-in-law lost their baby this past weekend:

My friend says her SIL went into labor Friday morning & delivered a sweet baby girl that afternoon. All day long, the doctors & nurses kept saying that while 23 weeks is just too early for a baby to survive, there have been miracle babies who defy the odds & live. My friend's family held onto that little piece of hope throughout the laboring process. When the baby (she does have a name, but in order to maintain the family's privacy, I won't post it on here) was born, she weighed 1.5 pounds & was barely breathing. The doctor suggested each family member get a chance to hold her, in hopes that it might give them some sort of closure. So, that's what they did. About an hour later, her heart stopped beating. It was later determined that my friend's SIL was suffering from Preeclampsia, which is what caused the early labor & delivery.

My friend & I had a very emotional, almost therapeutic, conversation this afternoon. From my own personal experience with my 2 miscarriages, I know there's nothing anyone can say or do to make this any better for her or her family...but, what I can do is just BE THERE for her.

Her family has been through a lot these past couple of weeks & this baby was the one bright spot. And, to lose her...is just so sad. It just makes my whole body ache....not just my heart.

*My VERY FIRST phone conversation with Chris:

She's a fellow blogger-turned real life friend of mine! She's probably THE strongest person I've ever known. At the beginning of August, she suffered a brain aneurysm & lived to tell about it. She worked so hard to get better, so she could get back home to her husband & 2 daughters. Of course, she's still healing, but she makes progress everyday. So far, she says the only side effect of the aneurysm is a little short-term memory loss. She is definitely one of the lucky ones & I am so thankful for that.

We called each other because some of what she's going through right now I can identify with because I went through some of it after the car accident in 2003.

I'm so glad we got this opportunity to talk & I look forward to many more conversations...on the phone AND in person! (Do you hear that Chris? I'm still pushing for our Girls Trip 2009).

*Kim & me:

WE GET TO SEE EACH OTHER AGAIN IN NOVEMBER. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? I am so excited!! Matt & I are driving to Columbia, South Carolina for the Razorbacks v. USC football game. It's only 3 or 4 hours away from Kim, so she & her husband are meeting us there! Yes, we'll be cheering for different teams, but I don't care! As long as we're doing the cheering side by side, in person, it's all good. (But, if I could just say one thing..."GO HOGS!").

I have more to tell you about, but this post has taken me too long & I'm hungry & my dog has lost her patience with me being on the computer for this long. So, check back later!

Devastated.

I woke up this morning to learn that my friend's brother & sister-in-law lost their baby this weekend.

She was 6 months pregnant & went into early labor. I guess it couldn't be stopped & she gave birth to a 1.5 pound baby girl.

My friend said the whole family got to hold her & love on her before her heart stopped beating.

My heart just aches for them.

So, if you could please say a little prayer for my friend & her family that they somehow find peace & comfort in all this.

Fall Ball.

My nephew, Jackson, is playing Fall Ball this year. It's his 1st time to play because he's usually playing football or soccer. Anyway, Matt & I went to his game this afternoon.

Getting ready.

Waiting to swing.

He swung, but I think the ball went behind him.

He swung again & this time, he ran.

Of course Riley was there! She's dirty because she had been building a sandcastle out of rocks at the playground.

Riley took this one...

This has nothing to do with baseball, but I HAD to include this.

The above picture includes some new clothes I bought at The Limited yesterday.

You'll never guess, though, how much I paid for them: 2 sweaters, 2 pairs of pants, 1 cami & one 3/4 sleeve length shirt.

Are you ready for this?

I paid FORTY-FIVE CENTS!!!

The actual total was $270 dollars.

So, how did I only pay $0.45?

I returned a pair of jeans that I bought about a month ago for a $75 dollar credit. When the saleslady printed out my credit receipt, a 20% off entire purchase coupon also printed out. I also had a $50 off $150 or more coupon & a $100 gift certificate my mom got me for my birthday.

After all those discounts, my total was 45 cents. And, wouldn't you know it that that was the EXACT amount of change I had in my wallet/purse? Not a penny more, not a penny less.

It was like it was meant to be.

Although I do have to get the pants hemmed....which will cost me $20 total, but no matter how you look at it, I still got a heck of a deal.

Oh...AND...I got 2 free pairs of panties from Victoria's Secret AND $15 dollars off a bra, thanks to coupons I got in the mail from my VSC Angels card.

PLUS, I got Matt part of his birthday present (his birthday is October 9th...he'll be 32...old man!). But, I can't tell you what it is because he reads my blog. (AND, it was on sale!).

After that, I left the mall because my belly started hurting.

Speaking of my belly, Matt pulled the last 2 steri-strips off my incision Thursday night...so, I finally got to see it without staples or strips on it. I think it looks good...very thin & straight.

I'll try to take a picture of it to show you. Once it fully heals, I'll start using that Mederma stuff & hopefully you won't even be able to see it by next by next summer.

But, if it's not gone by then, who cares? I don't!!

Fear.

So, most of you know about my recent surgery to remove a HUGE cyst (that formed when my appendix burst...unbeknowst to me) & my accidental Crohn's Disease diagnosis.

If you're new to the blog or haven't read me in a while, you can catch up by clicking here.

Anyway.

The surgery was the result of 3 months of mild to sometimes excruciating pain in my belly...pain that I mostly kept to myself because I thought if I ignored it, it would go away.

Wrong.

It didn't go away. It just got worse & worse until my woman's intuition told me that something was really wrong with me & that I was sick.

To be completely honest with you, I thought I had cancer. And, when my doctor thought the cyst was on my ovary, I just KNEW I was going to lose my ovary.

Because I let my pain go on for so long, I just knew that when I woke up from surgery, my doctor was going to tell me the cancer had spread to my uterus & he had had to remove that too.

I was so convinced that I actually told Matt & my doctor to leave my left ovary in tact so that we could harvest my eggs & freeze them. Then, if that ovary needed to come out, that was okay.

I couldn't stand the thought of never having children.

Thankfully, it's NOT cancer AND I still have all my baby-making parts!

I will say that I'm SO relieved to finally know the true cause of all my pain, but at the same time, I am SO scared that it's going to come back.

My surgeon's hopeful that by removing the part of my bowel that was no good anymore, he also "got rid" of the Crohn's. I guess the part he removed is where Crohn's likes to hide.

However.

I don't know that there's really any way to know that. I will either never have an issue again OR I will. It's that cut & dry. It's like waiting for a dam to break because the river's about to flood.

So, now, every little pain that I have in my belly, I wonder if it's all starting again.

Is another cyst starting to grow?

Is it the start of something related to Crohn's?

The surgery was only 3 weeks ago & my incision is still very sore, so I know the pain I feel every now & then is probably related to the fact that I'm still healing.

At least, I hope that's what it's related to.

And, because the cyst was so big (15 centimeters in length), I developed a pretty big stomach pooch. After the cyst came out, my belly got back to its normal size.

Now that I'm gaining back some of the weight I lost, I'm OBSESSED with looking at my stomach to make sure the pooch isn't coming back.

It always seems to poke out after I've eaten...especially at night.

If I see even a hint of a pooch, I freak out & make Matt come in to look. I know it drives him crazy when I do that...but, he helps bring me back to reality.

I am seeing my new GI doctor for the first time on October 3rd, so I'm hoping he can give me some advice on how to calm my fears. Or at least he'll tell me that I'm NOT going crazy & that what I'm feeling is normal.

I do find comfort in the fact that if the pain does come back & I start having problems again, we know it's most likely related to Crohn's & that it's treatable.

And, I'm so lucky to have some of the best doctors (thanks to my dad) looking out for me & a great support system (Matt, our families & our friends...yes, that's you guys).

Plus, I have faith that everything's going to be okay...I know it in my heart...I just have to convince my head!

So Long Hurricane Ike.

Although I guess by the time Ike made his way through Arkansas, he had been downgraded to a Tropical Depression...so we just got a bunch of rain & REALLY heavy wind.

But, for part of yesterday afternoon, the weather got kind of dicey & Matt, Maisy & I put our "tornado safety plan" into action when our meteorologist spotted rotation in a storm that was headed towards our house.

Thankfully, the storm slid right past us...however, the same system did produce a tornado about 20 miles northeast of where we live...only minor damage done, no injuries.

Since we were couped up, I got out my new camera lenses that Matt got me for my birthday & took some pictures.

These clouds are BEFORE the actual storm hit. This is a view from our backyard.

And, here's a view of clouds from the front of our house.
After that, Maisy became my "test" subject, although Matt took 2 out of the next 3 pictures.

Sleeping on the couch...

Sleeping on Matt's chair...

Trying to sleep on the chaise lounge in our bedroom. She LOVES to lay on the pillows that go on our bed.

Before the rain came yesterday, Matt & I ran a few errands...one of which included a pedicure for me. I can't do my own toes yet, because I can't sit & bend at the waist.

Don't they look pretty?

A few minutes after we got home from our errands, the tornado sirens started going off, but the storm wasn't even close to our house, so Matt decided to mow the lawn. He got the front yard done, but halfway through the backyard, the sirens started going off again & the storm was getting closer, so I made him come inside. Here's what he still has left to do.

High winds were on the backside of all the rain we got...which kept Matt & me up from about 3am to 5am because Matt thought our roof was coming off. And, I admit, it didn't sound good. We'd hear the wind blow really hard, then above our bedroom, we'd hear (really loud) "pop, pop, pop"...like shingles were being blown off. Matt even went outside to look, but he didn't see anything out of the ordinary. When we saw online that Ike had just about made his way out of our area, we went back to bed. A more thorough check today shows no damage done!

*****

In other news, I went back to work on Friday. It felt good to get out of the house & be productive, but I was VERY sore & tired by the time I got home.

Matt was shooting high school football, so I relaxed on the couch & watched "Baby Mama" (hilarious, by the way) & Hurricane Ike coverage until he got home.

I still can't drive. I tried to on Thursday night & yesterday, but it hurts...I'll wait a few more days & try again.

You really don't realize how much you use your stomach muscles in simple, everyday tasks.

*******

And, finally...my sister, niece & nephew came over one night last week to play our Wii & Matt & Riley had a big time taking pictures of each other...which I wanted to share.

Look how pretty she is. And, she has the PERFECT eyebrow arch...which will make waxing much easier when she's older!

You gotta love self-portraits.

Riley took these last two. Mop (Matt) was trying to be funny...and, I think they turned out really cute!

P.S. To Maria D: Thanks for visiting my blog & leaving comments. Since your blog is private, could you send me an invite? My e-mail address is rht02@sbcglobal.net. Thanks.

What I've Learned This Week.

Since coming home from the hospital last Tuesday after my surgery, I have learned many things that I did not know...some of which I'd like to share with you.

*There's NOTHING good on TV during the day...or really at night for that matter.
*When Matt & I are at work, all my dog does is sleep (because that's all she's done with me here).
*I have become real lazy, real quick (a habit I can't wait to break).
*It's okay for my house to be a little messy (however, I can't wait to be able to clean again!).
*I can shop just as easy online as I can in the mall (uh, oh!).
*It SUCKS not being able to drive.
*The ice cream truck comes through my neighborhood even when the kids are in school.

Oh, & now that my belly is back to normal, I have finally realized just how big it got with that cyst in there. I almost wish I'd thought to take a picture to show you.

When Matt & I were talking about it last night, he goes "Yeah, you had a pretty big pooch!".

Thanks, sweetie.

Bored.

Ok, people.

I need stuff to do.

I have been home from the hospital for almost a week & I've run out of things to do.

The reason why I've run out of things to do is because I can't do ANYTHING.

I can't clean.

I can't lift anything over 10 pounds.

I can't drive.

I can't clean out & organize stuff because I can't really bend, sit down on the floor or reach for stuff because it stretches my belly & it hurts.

I don't go back to work until Friday or Monday.

But, I know I shouldn't really complain because I'm okay, I'm feeling less sore everyday & the pain in my belly that caused all of this is pretty much gone.

And, I know that soon enough my life will get back to normal (busy!) & I'll wish I could go back to these days when I had nothing to do.

However, right now...sitting here watching TV, listening to my dog snore & wishing 6pm would hurry up so that Matt will come home, it's hard to think that I will miss these days! Ha.

In the week I've been home I've written thank you notes for my flowers & gifts, started our Summer 2008 Vacation scrapbook, worked on my blog & ordered a ton of Christmas presents (online). I've also had several visits from friends.

And, yes, I have gotten out of the house. Matt & I had a pretty busy weekend, but by the time we got home yesterday from several errands, I was worn out. My belly hurt from all the getting in & out of the car & from all the bumps & stuff on the interstate. You don't realize HOW MANY bumps there on the road until you feel EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM.

So, anyway.

If you guys have any suggestions about how to pass the time, that don't involve lifting, bending, stretching, driving or working, let me know! Ha!

Teebow's Designs.

Please check out my designs website.

I just posted some new note cards & a new name frame.

I'm sorry I haven't been updating that site as much as I should. I don't have a good reason why...I guess I've just gotten kind of lazy.

Anyway, go check out my latest designs & let me know if you're interested in placing an order.

Blog Awards + Pictures + A Health Update = A Really Long Post.

I can't believe I forgot about my 3rd & 4th bloggy awards.

I remember reading about them while I was in the hospital, but because the morphine made me loopy, I thought I had dreamed it until I was catching up on my blog reading & saw the awards.

I feel so special that both Jenny & Kim felt I was worthy enough of such an honor!!! I hope you guys both know how special you are to me.

J: You were my very 1st bloggy friend & because of that, you hold a very special place in my heart...you always will!!

K: You know I love you & how very much I miss you!!! And, OMG -- we get to see each other in November!!! Oh, how I cannot wait. The drive to Columbia, SC will be The Longest One Of My Entire Life. Ever.

So, now I suppose it's my turn to pick a few Kick Ass Bloggers.

*Wendy: Not just because you're my sister in law (nope, no nepotism here!), but also because I love reading your blog...some of the stuff you say cracks me up to no end. Especially when you write about something one of the girls said or did. When I'm reading one of your posts, I feel like you're actually saying the words to me, in person...not over the world wide web. I'm don't think I've ever said this to you, but I'm very lucky to have you as my SIL. You're the best & a Kick Ass Blogger!!!

*Audrey: (who, by the way, just found out today that God has blessed her & her husband with another little boy -- who will make his appearance in January!). Girl, you've been through a lot this year...the house, the wreck, Nathan's injuries & I'm amazed at how you've taken it all in stride. That's why you're a Kick Ass Blogger!!!

*Carrie: Earlier this year, when your husband's TB diagnosis put you guys one year behind on your "baby making plans", you picked yourself up, dusted yourself off & then did the next best thing: became a foster parent! Lord knows how much our country's (or, individual states) foster care system needs good people like you & Seth to be a good role model to a child or 2 or 3 or 10! While you might be using your motherly skills on your own children YET, you are unselfishly using them on someone who will greatly benefit from what you have to offer. And, that's why you're a Kick Ass Blogger!!!!

*Becca: Because we've been (best) friends since I was 14 & you were 12. And, because you've never been afraid to go after what you want in life. Moving to Baltimore? Hello? Scary. But, you did it & look what you have to show for it: a husband, a nursing degree, a job you love, a house that's in renovation hell, but still a house AND a dog. Even though you may not update your blog as much as I want you to, you're still a Kick Ass Blogger & I love you girl!!!

*Kelli: I'm just getting to know you (thanks, Matt!) & so far, I think you're pretty kick-ass. Your kids are kick-ass cute...that's for sure! Plus, I think we have a lot in common: wanna-be novel writers (ha, ha -- we'll get there!). I look forward to continuing getting to know you & hopefully develop a kick-ass friendship. That's why you're a Kick Ass Blogger!!

So, there you have it. My 5 choices for Kick Ass Bloggers!!! If you guys get a chance, venture over the blogs I mentioned & take a look, if you haven't already.

You might just make a new friend.

*****

Here are some random pictures taken over the past 2 weeks. I downloaded what was on my card this afternoon & thought some of these were too cute not to share.

Matt & I kept Jackson & Riley at our house for a few hours the Saturday before my surgery. Here's a picture of Jackson "racing" Riley (& Mop) on Mario Kart (or Mario Karts as Jack calls it!).

And, here's a picture of Maisy after the kids left. She wore herself out chasing after J & R.

But, opps...someone forgot to cover her whole self when she snuggled underneath the guest room comforter.

This is a picture of Maisy's beloved "Froggie". "Froggie" goes everywhere with Maisy...the two are never far apart. Case in point: see below.

Maisy taking a little snooze using "Froggie" as a pillow.

Here's Mop & Riley playing "nopoly on the pooter" (Monopoly on the computer) in my hospital room the day after my surgery. She insisted on wearinig her hat since Mop had his on.

Trying to make sure they don't get sent straight to jail!!! Ha, ha!

And, here's the best husband in the world standing in the shower washing his wife's hair for her. How sweet is he? This was taken on Sunday...my hair had not been washed in 4 days. Ick. And, yes, I have a face...but, I was so pale that the ones taken of my face were immediately deleted.

Without further ado: my recently inherited scar! I didn't take a picture with the staples still in...instead I waited & took one this afternoon of my steri-strips (spelling?). The incision actually goes down another couple of inches, but I won't make you look at that.

As far as the "official" diagnosis, we got the test results back yesterday.

*1st issue: You guys already know about my appendix rupturing 3 months ago & while trying to repair itself, it balled up into a huge cyst that then attached to my lower intestine.

*2nd issue: Removal of the cyst meant also taking out that part of my intestine that just wasn't good anymore & sewing the two ends back together.

*3rd issue: (one we probably wouldn't have discovered for a little while longer had the appendix/cyst thing not happened)...Tests done on a portion of intestine that was removed came back positive for Crohn's Disease. The good news about this is that the part that was taken out is the part that Crohn's usually hides in, so my doctor may have actually gotten rid of the disease for me on accident. But, that's not guaranteed. Which is the bad news: It could show up again. However, if it does, we'll know what it is & we can treat it appropriately.

My next step is to see a GI Specialist to learn more about the disease (because I really don't know much about it...I'm trying to read as much as I can on the internet, but I've only covered about 1% of the articles brought up when I searched for Crohn's Disease) & possible treatments, future tests, any diet changes, etc. I have not made an appointment yet because my first goal is to heal & start feeling better.

One thing that made me feel better yesterday is that Matt bought me a new iPod Nano. Love it! The Nano's silver & I picked out a cute black & pink case for it. He says it's my present for withstanding so much pain over the last few months. Love him!!

And, finally, because I know we ALL love pictures of cute dogs, I end this post with an adorable picture of my dad & stepmom's dog, Zoie, hanging out at the lake over Labor Day Weekend.

I checked my e-mail as I was wrapping up this post & saw this picture in my inbox.

Too cute not to share, right?

Don't Worry, It's Supposed To Look Like This.

I couldn't sleep, so I thought I'd update my blog.

I started playing around with new templates, got frustrated, so I stopped.

Yes, I know my blog now looks like I just started it, but trust me, it'll look FAB in the next 12 hours...just you watch!!!

A Top 10 List.

Taking a cue from my SIL, Wendy, who has put together some really good Top 10 Lists, I thought I would put one together about things I haven't done in the past 7 days because of my surgery & hospital stay.

1. Put on make-up.
2. Straightened my hair.
3. Had a cheeseburger or french fries.
4. Had a Diet Coke. (Although, I did have a teeny sip of Matt's Dr. Pepper on Sunday night!)
5. Cleaned my house.
6. Worn a bra. (But to my credit, all the cami's I've worn have built in shelf bras!)
7. Seen my dog. Miss her!
8. Eaten ANY candy & I LOVE candy.
9. Made any bed I've slept in the past 7 nights.
10. Worn "real" clothes. Matt had to help me with laundry last night, so I could wash all my PJ's. I was running out!

So, there you have it: My very own Top 10 List.

Since I'm not going back to work until the 12th, you'll be hearing A LOT from me!!! I have to plans to re-do my blog & I promise, promise, promise to get around to visiting all you guys!

I realize I've been slacking A LOT over the past 6 or 7 weeks & I'm sorry. That will change over the next 10 days!!!!

Thanks for the comments. Keep them coming!!! I love hearing from you!!!!

Oh, if I take a picture of my scar with my staples still in & post it, would that gross you out?

I know that sounds weird, like "why would she post a picture of her scar?", but I LOVE looking at stuff like that, so I figure there's got to be more of you out there who also love this stuff, too.

Am I right?

I'm Home!!!!! *Updated!*

Yay!!!!

I'm finally home...and, it feels so good to be back in my own house & in my own bed.

I'll write more later.

For now, I MUST catch up on Young & The Restless. I have missed SO MUCH!!!!!! **Ok. I am now caught up on Y&R. Nikki found Victor on the deserted island, but he won't go back to home with her, even though she cried really hard & told him she still loved him. He left her passed out on the beach in Mexico.**

Wendy wrote about Maisy being glad to have us home, too, but sadly my mean, mean, mean husband (just kidding, honey, I love you **smooch**!!!!) made us leave her at his mom's house until Thursday, because that's the day I will get my staples out.

Matt says Maisy's going to be jumping all over me & he doesn't want her hurting my belly. I guess I agree, but I miss her!!!! I love when she curls up next to me & falls asleep & starts dreaming & barks in her sleep!

I'll be glad to have her back home with on Thursday.

I won't return to work until next Friday & now I'm just working on rebuilding my strength from being in the hospital & not eating anything for 5 days. I lost 10 pounds...coming in now at a whopping 101.5. Sweet! Oh, but don't worry, I'm gain back the weight in NO TIME, people. No time!!!

I'll update later.

Not Home Yet.

Hey!

I'm not home yet. Hopefully, it'll be tomorrow (Tuesday). I did, however, get my IV taken out, which means I can walk to the bathroom without dragging the thing behind me. Yay.

I just took a pain pill & am very sleepy, but I just wanted you guys to know that I'm still at the hospital & will update you all as soon as we get home.

Keep the comments coming!!!!!