Useless organ

Most everyone knows, but just in case you hadn't heard yet...I had to have my Gall Bladder removed a little over a week ago. Who needs a gall bladder anyway :) So I really hadn't paid much attention to the small stomach aches that I had every once in a while. I just figured something I ate had not set right and then 2 Sundays ago after dinner I felt like I was starting to get heartburn but it wouldn't go away with anything I tried, in fact it got worse! After a few hours of the pain getting worse and worse I decided to go to the ER around midnight. I got to drive myself there because Keith had to stay with Carsen until my mom (who we called at around 11:30, sorry mom. Thank you again!) got there so Keith could come to the ER. I thought I would be ok to drive home, turns out after they gave me an IV medicine to help with the pain, I was really loopy. Good thing I didn't try to drive.
Anyway, they did an ultrasound and told me that I had a very infected gall bladder and that it was full of stones. Nice huh. They referred me to a surgeon and sent me home. I ended up getting the surgery done on Thursday and things luckily went well. I am recovering well and just want to thank everyone for coming up to help me and helping with Carsen so I could rest and get better. Also thank you to everyone who help make us meals. It was so nice not to worry about that! Thanks again
My pretty flowers from Keith


I love this one!!!

So much fun to get him to smile!


After I had the surgery I wasn't able to hold Carsen (he likes to put a knee right on a incision) like I usually do, so he got introduced to the exersaucer and the jumper! He has been such a good and patient boy. He has really enjoyed being upright and getting a new view of everything. I love to see him growing and getting excited about all the new things he gets to do. Carsen you make our lives so much fun. we love you!
I love this cute face




Some of the many things we love about Carsen:
~He will now kick and splash in the tub, he loves the water
~He gives us the biggest smiles now and sometimes gets shy
~He is such a snuggler, I absolutely love when he falls asleep in my arms
~He has figured out how to make sounds with spit bubbles, so funny
~He is such a sweet patient boy and is always so good when we take him in the car or go to church or out to eat. What a dream baby!
~ I love love love that cute sucking noise that he makes with his binky in
~ When he is really comfortable and falling asleep he will let out a big sigh, so cute
~He sneezes just like his daddy....Yells it out and then lets it loose and all the limbs and head have to get in on the action. Keith says that it makes the sneeze even better. They crack me up
~He is such a drooly boy right now and loves to chew on his hands!
We love you so much Carsen. You make our lives so much better!!!

Lastly, I thought I would share this saying that I say on my friends blog (thanks Carrie!) It is such a great saying, and really makes you look at things differently and with more optimism, which we could all use some of!

"How do you think of your children? On any given day, would you say your children are a blessing or a burden? Here is a challenge to you…How are you?”…“How is the baby?”…“How are your kids?”… We all hear these questions every day. Do you know a mom who always answers something like this: “Well, I haven’t killed my 2-year-old yet, so I guess that’s good.” Or, “I’m just exhausted,” or, “Things are absolutely crazy – I am so stressed out!”Maybe that frazzled, haggard, bewildered mommy is someone you know. Maybe it’s you. I know I’ve been there. Here is my question to you today… are we bearing our blessings as burdens? Those babies that we dreamt of and prayed for, that we had so much fun choosing names for, that we counted the days to meet… are they burdens to us now? Those homes that we were ecstatic to move into… are they burdens now? That husband that we couldn’t live without, that we picked out the wedding dress for, that we cried and ached and waited by the phone for… is he a burden now? That job you needed, you wanted and prayed for, that provides food and clothing for your family… is it a burden now?Sometimes it seems to me like a mantle we as moms must carry. We must be tired, we must be stressed out; we must be harried and frazzled, we must be lucky just to make it through the day. Are we bearing our blessings as burdens? Are we tired? Absolutely.As moms, we know about the 2 a.m. feedings, the nightmares, the wet beds, the midnight curfews. Do things get a little stressful between PTA meetings, dance class, the T-ball game, and dinner on the table at 6? Sure they do. Are husbands always a joy when they get home from work? No way. Is scrubbing the potty, doing the laundry, and cleaning the high chair tray the greatest thrill we’ve ever known? Of course not.So how do we look past the burdens and see the blessings of our families and our homes? Do you know any women who would give anything to have a baby to nurse at 2 a.m.? Anyone who would love to have those clothes we are sick of washing, or that house we just can’t keep clean. Do you know any women whose husbands aren’t coming home?I challenge you to joy, to smile, to persevere. I challenge you to bear your burdens as blessings and watch as they multiply. And the next time someone asks you how you are, throw off that identity of stressed out, frazzled mommy, find your smile and answer, “I am blessed!”