Still remembering, still healing

One year ago tonight, I arrived back home after my last major abdominal surgery, the last in a very long list of things that had to be done when my appendix decided to rupture two years, three months, two weeks and four days ago when I was 34 weeks pregnant with Miles.

Casey and I feel a lot of emotions come up around these particular anniversaries. I know that I personally can feel like I'm instantly back in that moment, that day, when such-and-such was happening or a certain procedure was being performed. And we have talked about this day -- July 31, 2008 -- as being a big milestone for us, I suppose because now we are more than an entire year away from those events.

I am so thankful. I know I complain about the scars I was left from one crazy organ that just couldn't wait. I've had so many "it's not fair" moments I can't count them anymore. My eyes still very easily well up with tears when I think of some of those hospital nights, when I honestly thought it would never end.

But...here I am, telling you that I've made it to more than a year past all of that, and so I am thankful. There aren't many words beyond those that can say it quite right.

Lincoln Penny Portrait

What blows my mind is that he had to separate them according to their shininess. I guess he knew where they all went, but I don't know how he got through that process. Crazy!

Click here to see.

Miles: "Dad. Mom. Let's talk."

Miles is getting this talking thing down! Yesterday I was working on our mountain of laundry that was created from our vacation, and he comes to me and asks, "Mama...what are you doing?" I was so taken aback by how well he put it all together that it took me a minute to answer him. It's so tough not to laugh when your kid is cute, even sometimes when they misbehave. I don't want him to think I'm laughing at him, but wow...it is so funny when this little man talks to me!

Ever since we spent our last couple of vacation nights with Casey's folks, Miles has taken to calling Casey 'Dad' instead of 'Daddy.' Of course there's nothing wrong with it, and I'm sure he picked up Casey calling his own dad that and started imitating him. I think it's just that 'Daddy' sounds much cuter and less...I don't know, grown-up or something. Save that for later, kid, he is Daddy! And then to my amusement (and yes, a little dismay), Miles began saying to me last night, "Hey, Mama -- Mom" and today it was all just 'Mom.' What?!? I am Mama. At least until you are more than five years old. Sigh...but still, it was pretty funny listening to him say that last night during his bath. He kept wanting my attention to show me his new boo-boo, so every five seconds (give or take) it was, "Hey Mama? Mom!" and then, "This is boo-boo."

I mentioned several months ago that we took the side of Miles' crib to make it a sort of toddler bed, and he has done amazingly well in that he does not get out of his bed all that much. And if he does, he still stays in his room (except for those first couple of mornings). But yesterday I was on the computer at the end of his nap time and was about to go and get him when my door opens and in walks Miles. He had this 'I know what I did!' grin on his face as he said, "Hi Mama!" I just laughed and of course thought that my child was as cute as could be. Until today, that is, when two hours before his nap time should be over he walks in with the same -- if not more -- grin of confidence and announces, "Hi Mama!"

"Miles!" I said in a reproachful tone, and I saw his smile fade immediately. "You are supposed to be sleeping, this is nap time! You don't get out of your bed!" But I felt so bad at seeing his little face look so confused, like, 'What happened? This so worked yesterday!' So I made the mood a little lighter while taking him back to his bed and fortunately he has not stirred since.

Vacation, 40 Years, and Nuptial News

If I'd been thinking of it, I would have made a 'Fun Friday Question' in advance for last week, but...I didn't. I think you're mostly over it by now anyway. If not, then we need to talk.

My absence was due to our latest travels, basically to see most of Casey's and all of my family. And even though I had my gallbladder surgery on the 3rd, we set out just three days later. And just two days after that, we were at Sea World! Miles is still convinced that Shamu is a shark. He really enjoyed the shows and everything there in general, even if it did mean missing his nap. He was a real trooper, but he was out cold by the time we pulled into my parents' driveway after ten that evening.

Several big events happened during our trip. First, my mom and dad celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary on July 6. Still hard for me to believe they've been married that long, I guess because they still seem young in a lot of ways. Happy Anniversary (again), Mom and Dad!

Another beautiful event was my sister's marriage to Ed (I'm so happy for you guys!) just two days ago. Most of the family members made it, and it was held in a backyard garden in Texas. I took many, many pictures and video and don't know why I spent so much time on my hair since I knew I'd be out in the sun working all the media stuff. The day was such a great celebration, though, a blending of two hearts and two families -- Kerry and Ed now share six kids (they each have three)! It was so much fun meeting Ed's family...I look forward to more get-togethers with all of them.

Right now I'm feeling a little yucky since I am pretty sure I have a cold trying to worm its way in. That, and we only arrived home this afternoon, and we're still recovering from a drive that took place soon after the wedding on Saturday and lasted more than nine hours.

As the saying goes: I need a vacation after my vacation!

Fun Recovery Friday!

I hope everyone has been enjoying their Fourth of July so far. We made it to our town's parade this morning, maybe the shortest parade I've ever seen, but nice nonetheless. I'm trying to remember if we have been to this parade before, but I don't think so. I know we weren't there last year because Casey and I were on vacation in St. Louis. The year before that, sadly, I was on my last stay in the hospital, not able to go home for another two weeks after that. Fortunately, Casey was able to buy some fireworks, and we invited friends over the night of my hospital release to celebrate.

Speaking of hospitals...I was just there yesterday having my gallbladder removed! They did a very quick and wonderful job, so I arrived at 8:00 a.m. and was home by 1:00 p.m. Things couldn't have gone any better than they did, and I was so very thankful to be at home in my own bed last night. This wasn't an emergency procedure, for anyone who is wondering, but something we felt needed to be done for many different reasons. Now that I've had my tonsils, appendix, and gallbladder removed...I don't think there's much more to be done. Hmm...maybe the spleen? Nah, I'll just keep that one for now.

Happy Fourth!

Your friendly neighborhood library

You know how weird stuff happens sometimes? Just coincidental things? Yesterday morning Miles and I were on our way to the library, where I've been trying to take him at least once a week for 'Toddler Time.' That's on Friday mornings, but on Monday mornings they have a children's morning movie. We've never been to that, but I decided to take him because I thought he'd enjoy it, plus it was just a short little five-part fable movie.

For some odd reason, I was thinking on the way about how accidents and things can happen in a split second, especially when you're just not paying attention. And I was thinking about how horrible that would be, that kind of thing happening just because Miles and I were out for a drive to the library. Don't worry -- we didn't get into an accident! But something car-related and strange still happened.

The fables movie was nearly over -- I think we were watching the last one -- and the 'Toddler Time' librarian (Nancy...she's so awesome) came over to me and asked if we owned a certain type of car. I said yes, getting that awful feeling in the pit of my stomach. I was in a fender-bender a couple of months ago (not my fault) and came out of it with just a bumper scratch. What had happened now?

Apparently, someone had pulled out of a library parking space and hit not one, but two parked cars -- then drove off! Lucky for me and the other lady whose car was hit, we had a witness to the whole thing. Seems that it was an underage driver with an adult, and the kid was pulling out of the space going forward (yeah...he wasn't even backing up, that's how badly he was driving). I guess then the adult driver decided he should drive after two cars were hit, and they sped off, out of the entrance instead of the exit, with the witness trying but not succeeding in getting the plate number.

But wait! One of the librarians knew who it was, hooray! After the policeman arrived she gave him their information and then he took all of our information, along with the witness' account. And of course, everyone and their dog was driving by, wondering what this woman and I have done I'm sure, because we're standing there talking with the policeman and the witness. I think I was trying to look very nonchalant and maybe even smiling so that people would understand that things weren't all bad. I really shouldn't even care, but I know that I always look to see who's talking with a cop, don't you? And the first thing I think is not, "Hey, I'll bet someone hit their car and drove off."

I think what got all of us most was that this happened at our local library. I mean, you expect this thing just about any other place, especially a hit-and-run type of situation. But at the library? Come on, people -- we're here to read!