Mother's Day 2016

It was a different kind of Mother's Day this year with me not being able to go do much due to my recent surgery.  We had to postpone our usual Mother's Day zoo trip until I am off crutches.  So instead I spent most of the day resting in bed and then as our big outing we went to dinner at The Cabbage Patch.  I am grateful just to be able to spend any part of my day with my beautiful girls because they are the ones that made me a mom and they are the ones that give me the opportunity to do the best job in the whole world!!!

My world!

So special to have my MIL with us to celebrate

The Big Surgery

Warning: A bit of a lengthy read!

As many of you know, I have struggled with a pretty bad back pain for almost a year.  It limited me so much that I had to pretty much stop working out and teaching Stroller Strides and I found myself at numerous doctor appts to try and figure out what was going on.

It all started back around when I was about 18-20 weeks pregnant with Brielle.  I clearly remember getting ready to go teach an evening Stroller Strides class and I was in a hurry.  I had to switch my equipment between the cars and there was a heavy box of books in the back of Jason's car that I needed to move.  Being the stubborn person I am, I insisted on lifting the box myself instead of asking for help.  After I got the box out of the car and shoved my stroller in the trunk I felt an instant pain on the right side of my lower back.  This is where it all began and never would I have imagined it would have turned into what it was!

For the rest of my pregnancy I spent my time going to my physical therapist. Since I was pregnant it was not an option to do an MRI or an X-ray so I was just relying on the help that I got from the PT.  I made it through the remainder of my pregnancy with a limp, sometimes barely able to walk and not really being able to be the mom I wanted to be for my kids due to pain.

After I had Brielle I was hopeful the back pain would just go away since a lot of the extra weight was now gone, but this was not the case.  After a few more post-baby PT appts she finally said there wasn't much else she could do for me so she referred me to a spine doc. During this time I also added in regular visits to a chiropractor and an intense therapy massage specialist.

The spine doc requested an MRI and an X-ray and later on that same day of imaging I got the dreaded phone call.  What everyone thought was just a bulged disc in my lower back ended up showing up as an aneurysmal bone cyst (aka: a tumor), which is something that most likely had to be surgically removed.  This tumor was located on my right pelvis and was the size of a baseball.

The next step was to find an Orthopedic doctor that had dealt with this kind of issue before.  Sounds simple, but surprisingly it was a lot harder than we thought.  There was no doctor locally that could deal with this, so I was sent to Seattle where they found a doctor at Virginia Mason that specializes in bone cyst removal.  I knew I was in good hands once we found Dr. MacDonald because he seemed very knowledgeable in this area and confident that he could help us.  After our first appt with him he did say that my only option was to remove this tumor surgically and soon.  I tried my hardest to act strong, but there was no way that I could hold back my tears.  Hearing that my hospital stay would be about 4 days and recovery would be about 6 weeks with no weight on my right leg made every thought run through my mind about what I was not going to be able to do with my kids and I wasn't even sure at this point how to take care of an infant with limited mobility.  It's something no mom ever wants to hear, especially a mom with a baby!

Surgery was on Thursday, April 21, 2016.  Surgery check-in was 8am.  I was a ball of nerves beforehand.  I was concerned about having a nursing 4 month old at home and praying I had enough milk set aside to last as long as I would not be able to nurse her (which was dependent on how long I was under anesthesia).  I was nervous about possibly having to stay in the hospital for 4 days, away from my kids.  I was nervous about getting put under, what my scar would look like, and how much pain I would be in afterwards.  There were so many unknowns going into surgery because the doctor wouldn't really know exactly how much bone was eaten up by the tumor until he was in there.  We were hoping that it would just go according to "Plan A", but there were so many other possibilities that could have happened while in surgery.

My nerves were calmed a bit as I met with each of the surgery team members.  Virginia Mason gave me a team of amazing staff (some were new moms, some were pregnant and going to be a first time mom, and others were just accommodating to all of my special needs with being a nursing mom...oh and a really cute anesthesiologist to top it all off).  One of my big concerns was since I wouldn't be able to pump for a long time I was afraid of leaking during surgery.  One of the staff members found a way to pad me up and wrap gauze around my chest to help contain any leakage.  This definitely threw them all for a loop, as they are used to older people in the Orthopedic division, but they helped me however possible.

Surgery took about 2.5 hrs and went exactly according to "Plan A", which was basically just removing the tumor and grafting in bone from a cadaver to fill in where I had lost bone.  I had just a hairline of bone left holding my pelvis together.  Everyone was most surprised with the fact that I was still walking up to the point of my surgery.

Once I was out of the post-surgery recovery room I was finally able to see Jason and his dad who had been waiting at the hospital during my surgery.  (My parents and Jason's mom were holding down the fort at home with the girls.  Like I always say, "it takes a village" to take care of kids...especially 3 of them!). I definitely wasn't feeling great at this point, as all I remember after coming out of anesthesia was throwing up/dry heaving.  I was started on pain meds and decided to only take Tylenol unless pain got unbearable.  I was settling in for what I thought would be 4 days in the hospital.

The day after surgery I had a visit with a PT and an OT and after showing them that I was able to do a lot more than they anticipated (like walk with my crutches, go to the bathroom with little to no help, walk up stairs with support, etc.) they decided that I could be discharged that day!!!  My parents had just brought Hailey and Brielle to come visit me while Cammy was at school (and Cammy was going to come with my MIL after school was over) and that was when they said I wouldn't need to stay. Hearing those words meant the world to me.  Brielle was on the last of my freezer supply of milk and the thought of my kids having to come to Seattle each day to see me sounded like too much! Knowing I could be home with everyone recovering was the best news ever!!!!

Recovery at home went fine for the first week.  I continued to just take Tylenol for my pain, I stayed upstairs in bed for most of the day with maybe one occasional trip downstairs a day, we had both sets of our parents here helping with the kids and Jason was off for the first two weeks to help as well. The following weeks just got easier as I learned how to get around on crutches more. I only had one minor issue with my incision in the first two weeks, which was a big hematoma that leaked a massive amount of bloody fluid out of one tiny opening in the top of the incision.  Once that was taken care of things just continued to heal.  I have an AMAZING support group of friends who delivered us meals 4 days a week lessening the job duties of the grandparents and Jason.

The hardest part of recovery for me was when I started feeling great again around a month post-surgery (as funny as that might sound), I was tired of using my crutches, I missed being able to do things for myself, like carry Brielle from room to room whenever I wanted. I missed being able to drive.  I missed being able to do my day-to-day activities, such as Stroller Strides.  And I just missed leaving my house and having fun with my kids.  I missed being a mom!

My 6 week post-surgery appt is this Friday, June 3rd and all prayers are needed for me to be able to ditch these crutches and be told that I can walk without assistance and drive my car again!!!  This has been what feels like a crazy long road to recovery, but I am hopeful that I will remain pain free and eventually this will all be a distant memory...or just one little blog read away!

There aren't even words to express my deepest gratitude to all the friends and family who have been there to support us through this recovery process!  The numerous flowers, cards, gifts, meals, texts, visits, etc have meant the world to me and my family!!!  And I'll never be able to repay our parents for basically giving up their lives to come live in ours week in and week out!  I am surrounded by the BEST village anyone could ever ask for!!!!  YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!!!!!! 

Leia's 33rd Birthday

With an upcoming major surgery in 4 more days, I wanted to make sure I did all I could to celebrate my 33rd birthday.  So to kick off my birthday weekend Jason and I left the girls with my parents and headed out for a date night at my favorite "kid free" restaurant...The Melting Pot on April 16th.  This is one place that never seems to disappoint no matter how many times we go.

Dressed up, drinks and good food at the Melting Pot!

The following day, my actual birthday, we spent at the Spring Fair in Puyallup.  I had always heard of this fair, but never gone.  So this seemed like a fun sunny weather activity.  Our friends, Nick, Lindsey and their daughter Penelope came with us, along with my parents.  What I thought might be just a half day outing ended up turning into a full day at the fair with naps on the go for the kids.  We had fun visiting animals and going on rides.  Since having kids my birthday has not really been about me, but rather about seeing my family happy doing something all together.  And that exactly what I got out of this day!!

Birthday donuts from Frost to start the day!

My family

Fair fun!

More fair fun

Hailey was the one who wanted to go into the petting zoo...ha!

Hailey was so excited to go on rides with Cammy finally!

They had so much fun!

Whatever big sister does, Hailey will do

These girls are my world!

End of the day Dole Whip treats

Bring on 33 and all that it has in store for me...including first and foremost, a major surgery to make me feel young again!

A Long Weekend on the Island

We decided to remodel our master bathroom shower.  Jason wanted to do this all by himself and that seemed impossible to do with kids around who always want to play with daddy.  So I agreed to take the kids by myself for a 3 day weekend to Anderson Island to stay with my parents so Jason could have a kid free/distraction free house to work in (aren't I the best wife?!).

The girls and I spent April 1-4 on the island with my parents and couldn't have asked for better weather the entire time we were there!!!!  This was my first solo trip to the island, let alone by myself with 3 kids.  The drive down went fine until my phone battery (which had Google Maps on it with the directions) completely died right as I got off the freeway and had no idea where to go.  Note to self: never have Google Maps on without having your phone always plugged into the charger! You don't really realize how dependent you are on your cell phone until you don't have it.  Not only did I not have directions, I had no way of calling anyone either.  And did you know that if your phone battery completely dies, you can't just plug it in and start using it again?  You actually have to wait for it to get some charge back before you can use it again.  God was definitely watching over me during all of this and thankfully I just made the right turns and followed signs and somehow made it to the ferry...on time!! And once at the ferry I had just enough charge to my battery to call my mom and get directions to their house in case my phone still wouldn't work.  It was stressful at the end, but I safely got all of us to my parents' house and felt a big sense of relief once there!!!

The girls riding on the ferry to the island

We spent our sunny days playing at the playgrounds, visiting the farm, meeting lots of my parents' friends (including their wonderful neighbors that feel like family), scootering, walking down at the beach by the ferry throwing rocks in the water and just hanging out together.  We sure missed having Jason there with us though!!

This little bridge was so cute!

Hailey at the "ladybug park"

Brielle loves to watch Frozen too!

Visiting the farm and my parents' garden

Walking the beach

Brielle needed a picture at the beach too

All she wanted to do was play in sand...so we found a little bit

And this kid just wanted to throw rocks in the water

"Look at my big stick mom!"

Scootering during naptime

Painting with Grams

Bedtime stories with Grams

We love coming to "Grams' and Gramps' Getaway!"

On the ferry headed back home...

with a fully charged cell phone battery I might add!

And in case you are wondering about the master bathroom shower remodel...the 3 day weekend was not long enough to finish.  Currently, over a month later, the shower is still a work in progress due to unexpected events.  Lesson learned...always hire someone to do the big jobs!!

Tulip Time 2016

It's that time of the year again...

a blog post about my favorite PNW Spring attraction...  

TULIPS!

This year the tulips seemed to bloom almost two weeks early, which meant that by my birthday weekend in mid April (when we usually go see the tulips) they would be on their way out.  So this year we went and visited the tulip fields on March 31st.  We went with our friends Nick, Lindsey and their daughter Penelope.  It was a beautiful and warm day in the fields. None of us planned for quite how warm it ended up being, so we were all sweating out there (especially the one carrying Brielle). Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining about the gorgeous weather.  I just wished we were better dressed and better prepared for the sun.

Brielle ready to see the tulips for her first visit

Hailey blends right in!

Silly family photo

The three best friends...Hailey and Cammy with Penelope

Cammy loves Penelope so much!

Some of the tulips

Sister love out in the fields

Family photo attempt #1

Attempt #2

Girls, girls and more girls!!!

A day in the warm sun called for a stop at our favorite ice cream spot, Snow Goose Produce, where the ice cream scoops are the biggest you will ever see!  Apparently everyone else thought the same thing about ice cream and the line was a good 20 mins to just put in your order!!  It's always worth the wait though.

Bottle break while waiting for ice cream...with a little help from the girls

Ice cream time!!

Tulips, friends, sunshine, skipped naps and ice cream...what could be better than that?!

Easter Festivities 2016

We kicked off Easter weekend with a super fun community egg hunt at Bob's Corn Farm on March 26th.  This was our first time trying a different egg hunt since we usually just go to the one at the high school within walking distance from our house.

We were very impressed with the egg hunt at the farm.  Lots of activities that didn't have super long waits, activities were divided by age groups (so little kids didn't get bounced on by older kids in the bounce houses), there were TONS of eggs to collect in a field with tall grass so it actually made it a bit more of a challenge, and the sunshine was an added bonus!

Waiting for the egg hunt to begin

The girls with best buddy, Penelope

Hailey hunting for eggs

She did so well this year!

Happy girl finding eggs!

Cammy ready for her egg hunt

Grabbing eggs left and right!

Both girls did awesome at their egg hunts and found lots of eggs.  Hailey even scored one of the special eggs that won her a special Easter Basket prize!

Hailey's loot

Cammy's loot

Hailey and Penelope after their hunt

Hailey's special prize for finding the golden egg!

The following day, March 27th, was Easter.  The Easter Bunny left 3 filled baskets for the girls and a basket full of filled eggs for us parents to hide.  Unfortunately the beautiful weather that we had for the community egg hunt didn't last and we ended up with a very rainy day!  We got the girls all dressed up in their Easter dresses and headed to church.  Later in the day we had a bunch of our friends and their kids, Leia's parents and one of our friend's parents over for Easter dinner making for a full house and a fun egg hunt for all the kids...inside the house.

The older girls with their Easter baskets

Brielle seems excited about her basket!

Our 3 little bunnies

The girls after church in their Easter dresses

Brielle's first Easter

The kids table at dinner

All of our kiddos

(Hailey, Brielle, Zach, Cammy, Brian and Penelope)

This is my "family"

(my own living Parenthood)