So here's the motley crew that performed on Sunday at the Capitol City mall.    She had several no-shows.  And Mr. Samuel lost a shoe so he couldn't perform
*growl*  She actually coaches about 45.  But its late summer, and people were busy.  But regardless we had a nice audience (that you can't see) and the kids had fun.

Jamari in his new costume.  I SO love it.  It will be his solo costume for the year.  $10 on ebay!!!

Kaylin with her coach behind her.  She gets SOOO nervous when she performs.

And she doesn't.   She's so comfy up there it just amazes me.

We had a FUN filled weekend, and came back to pull in our driveway and find our neighbors *just* putting our horses in.  We have very very nice neighbors.

I don't have a individual picture of Zeria...again.   I told her she has to come stand in my face and say TAKE my picture.  She just disappears at baton events.  ROFL

I do have video, but have to upload that will share later.

We invited the coaches twins over to our motel to swim.  And she invited us to church.  And go figure she goes to the same church as GrannieDee.  I chose to stay at the motel and rest (was a good choice as I was TIRED).   But Dee spotted our Clallam Bay twirlers van and had a good giggle.  Next time we'll have to plan it so we meet her on purpose.  LOL

The kids had a blast at the pool and mommy and daddy very much enjoyed crashing on a bed instead of a tent.

I've attempted to post this twice...so here goes a new day and a third try. 

The last of summer is quickly approaching.  So a beautiful day on Thursday and we had to head to the river.

The river *is* deeper farther out.  This just happens to be the wading spot.

Rob clutching his coffee due to having just barely being awake.  He sleeps during the day on Wednesday and Thursday after all.  But he didn't want to miss the last of the sunshine.  It could be MONTHS until we see it again.  LOL

Rainee sporting the umbrella hat she bought at the fair.  I'm rather amazed its still in one piece.

Kaylin with her new sport.  River biking.  They biked all the way into the deep end.  Crazy kids.

Yeah hope that didn't break your camera.  *snicker*  Rainee lent me her hat because I needed one, and left mine behind.  Scarey huh?

Zeria and her dog taking a float.  Cubbie went with her cause our Great Dane was harassing her, and she wanted a safe place.  The great dane HATES the water.  LOL

Samuel playing with a ring he found floating in the river.

And so eventually we headed up for dinner.  And Zeria of course beat us--as we have to wander with the dawdler (jeremiah).  When I get up to the house I see this;

"Didn't you get enough water?"   NO I was hot.

Yeah okay.  Crazy kids. 

Yeah I know rather random blog title.  But you do what you do.  So I never shared fair pictures, cause I'm just rather dragging through days sometimes.  I go two steps fast, and three steps backwards.  LOL 

And yesterdays lunch hindered that process GREATLY.  I'm still a tinge achey from it.

As long as I eat small portions I'm okay, but if I indulge.  Oh man do I pay for it.  And yesterday I paid for it the worst I have since I got home from the hospital.  OUCH!

Anyhow onto better topics.  Here's random fair photos.

Baby pigs.  My favorite exhibit.  Although the PUD exhibit was very cool this year too--but I didn't take pictures.  They did a 15 minute show showing what they do on there job...lots of fire and sparks.  Very cool.

Rainee Zeria and Sam on the swings.  Although you can only really identify rainee.

Jeremiah on the cars.

Boys doing what they do best.

Rainees rather toothless grin.

Jeremiah finishing off Rob's leftover terriyaki rice.  HE ate it like there was no tomorrow.  It was VERY good in his eyes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And now for the puppies.  They finally have eyes.  And Cubbie doesn't freak when we touch/play with them.  Well mostly she doesn't.  Their gone too long and she'll come looking...and give us this what do you think your doing look.

The one on top is the one we're keeping.  I just love this picture though.  The one on the bottom is communicating a TON with his eyes.  LOL

The one next to the brown one on the right is once again the one we're keeping.  I have homes for possibly two of them already.   But we'll see when the time comes. 

And a very very good reason to be greatful your not a dog!  ROFL

This happens at our house.  *nods*  Now you know our dirty little secret.

Its a new day.  Its sunny.  And we have Olympia baton tomorrow.  I will be going, but not driving.  Poor Rob will be driving after working all night.  He's btdt, and survived, so we know its doable...just not enjoyable.

Still missing two leotards, but as they've not been used since June 27th thats hardly suprising.

So I didn't take votes this year, too much work.  LOL  But I did pick four photos to enter, and will be heading in with Rob to enter them.

Most of the kids have a few things to enter as well.  We did a ceramic project at fair last year, that all but Samuel is entering one of them.

Kaylin has several wood sculptures she's entering, and Rainee a couple of her cards. 

I was going to go to church, as well as enter fair projects, but my body rather quit on me.  I think it was Gods way of telling me baby steps. 

We will be doing the fair this year, but I will be in a wheelchair.  It sucks, but I absolutely know I can't do it any other way.  And its a once a year event that I refuse to miss.

So for people portraits I picked this one;

For Open this one;

For digitally altered this one;

For flowers this one;

Who knows how they will do, but its my form of entertainment just for "me". 

We have two danger trees on our property--one which was very complicated to get down.  Dad came out today and tackled it.  It was aimed and falling towards our garage

Its the crooked tree on the left.  you can see the garage kind of through the other trees.  The other issue is that it was on the river bank which meant when it falls its going to flood the river flood our garage and our house MUCH worse then we've ever been flooded.

So dad fought through fish & game red tape for us--with the help of a family friend who works there.   And got the permit to fall it into the river.

And a wee bit of the river right on the bottom of the picture.

He spent an hour under cutting it and wedging it slowly pushing it to fall away from the garage contrary to where it was going.  It was a long process of wedging, little bit of cutting, more wedging.

And then he says I'm falling it.

And boom it went in about 30 seconds ROFL.

I almost missed getting a picture of it falling down....I was goofing with the camera and barely had time to aim.

The butt of the tree.

Dad admiring his handiwork--and very greatful it landed exactly where he wanted it!  And seeing it land made us realize that it would have DEFINITELY taken our garage and pressure tank out. 

Bucking it so when the river floods it has a place to go.  We aren't allowed to limb it, but we were allowed to buck it so the river could push it away.

He bucked it where the two tops were--which was much easier due to how wide it was at the butt.  

 

Ooops my dad snagged the camera LOL.  There I am 30 pounds lighter.  *snicker*  Gallbladder diet is great.

 

So I mentioned I had a wonderful vie w room at the hospital.   And now I finally have my batterys charged on my camera, and the pictures off.  I had to share them.

Day time view.   We got to see the whale out there on three different occasions.  Down close to the front of the picture.
The little land is Ediz Hook.  The big land is Vancouver Island.

One of the many boats coming in and out.

And yet another.
The sunsets were the best.  I of course didn't have my tri-pod so there a bit grainy through the window.  But you still get the gist.

Victoria ferry headed out.

Definitely beautiful.

And yeah even in the hospital there's beauty.  Its funny.  Karla *hates* the hospital and does everything to get out of it.  I enjoyed my time there, and felt very cared for.  I only had two nurses that remotely irritated me.   One I would file a complaint about if I could, the other was just way too perky for midnight.  ROFL.

But over all I would definitely say I recieved very good care.  And would never let people badmouth that hospital, as I've heard in the past.

And in another direction.  I took this yesterday morning off my front step.  Its so pretty.

And anything growing in my garden this year grows in spite of me.  LOL  I semi-weeded ONE part of my yard about 3.5 months ago.  Its not pretty.  But yet there's the beautiful rain drizzled rose to enjoy.

It was an adventure.  And when I came home I went straight to bed for 3.5 hours of much needed sleep, but after all of the adventure the drain
is pulled and now I just get to focus on healing. *cheers*

I showed up at 9 as requested, and radiology was in a bit of a panick.

My surgeon met me in the waiting room, and was his gentle relaxed self, and re-explained what was going on.  He then asked where my husband was, when I explained they were waiting in the car.  He went out of the hospital and FOUND the excursion, and reexplained things to Rob.  How amazing is that.  And then he asked the kids what twirling is.  Cause we have it painted on the outside of the car.  And Zeria climbed out of the car and showed him how to twirl.  He came back inside and told me I had angels for kids. hahahaha.

How many surgeons do you know that make car calls?

So I went back to reading my book, and observing this older couple across from me, who seemed rather nice.

She headed in for whatever she was doing, and the gentlemen and I ended up visiting.  For a LONG time snicker.

The radiology techs came out and talked to me a couple times, and explained that they were backed up.  Finally about 10 they came in and did the CT. 
They paged Dr. Flowers, and said they believed I would get to pull the drain.

Dr. Flowers rearrived, and said they had *not* done the study he wanted done.  He wanted a contrast study to assure that the crud that was left wasn't interacting with my bile ducts.

More panic from radiology.  They weren't on there finest. 

She says its will be about 45 minutes, so back to the waiting room I go. 

I'm soooooo tired and shaky as I just haven't done a lot of sitting up.   The elderly gentleman is still there.  We resume our chat.  He's a retired fireman.  So I find much to chat with him.  Joel and Tony would have loved him!!!  Actually Rob would have too.  LOL

The tech come back about 30 minutes later and informs me its going to be at least another hour.  I thought of crying.  Instead I said.  "I need a place to lay down."

"We can do that, that's easy."  She reassured me, and shortly thereafter I had a bed.    I'd been in this room before during the recovery of the placing of my drain.  They call it the cave.  *snicker*  It felt like home.   more snickers.

Eventually they came back in, and took me to a new room.  It was equipment I hadn't met yet.  Still not entirely sure what it was.  More radiology equipment anyhow.

I laid down on the bed, where the radiologist was training two new techs.  They were highly amusing.  The one steering the bed kept going the wrong direction.   And trying to take out my elbow.  (not painful--just funny)

The male tech was supposed to be practicing sterile technique.   He wasn't doing so hot.  But it wasn't a sterile procedure, so it was all good.

They eventually did the study, and the radiologist pulled the drain at the end confirming that it was safe.

It wasn't painful *cheers*.

The male tech gave me a lovely new fluff pad.   And then they told me Dr F still wanted to chat, and was in a procedure.

I went out to find Rob.  And cried on him a bit.  I was soooooo tired.

I went back to the waiting room.  The old gentleman was gone.  *darn*  I read, and desperately wished to go back to bed.   About 45 minutes later Dr F came, and answered a few questions, and then WALKED me out to my excursion, and reexplained things to Rob.

The SECOND excursion call in one day.  Just astounding how kind he is.

Rob had food waiting for me.  I was so hungry I started eating while Dr F was talking to Rob.

A wee visit to Goodwill (more books for me to read)  And a run into Rite Aid (next door to Goodwill) for iron (anemia ya know)  and we were headed home.

My drain site is a bit sore.  But from experience by Monday it will be itchy.  LOL  And I can finally start truely healing.  

I think I accidentally pulled my tube partially out.

I have to be at the hospital at 9 am for a contrast scan, and then the doctor will decide to pull it, or put another one in.

Prayers are appreciated.

So 10 days ago we headed into Port Angeles.  We packed light and arrived early.  I ran into WAlgreens to pick up dog flea stuff, and then had some time to kill at Goodwill where I collected some cool craft stuff for the girls.

We checked into Short-stay having pre-registered the day before, and waited for the surgeon.  HE showed, introduced himself to rub, went to scrub in.  I was pushed into the OR receiving room where I met the anethesiologist.  A very nice gentle man named Dr Lee.  He asked the normal questions allergies, etc.  Before I had time to get over nervous I was in the OR going under. 

The next thing I recall is SCREAMING I heard myself asking for ice.  From the sounds of the nurses I'd asked for it a few times.  I heard myself begging for Rob my husband.  They told me was going to be there in a few minutes.

They don't usually let people in recovery. So I knew something was going weird.

There were multiple hands shoving ice, and pushing drugs.  And all I could feel was INTENSE pain.  Worst then my worst gall bladder attack and those were already bad.

The surgeon comes in and says, he was able to do it laprascropically, but my gallbladder was rotten, and squished into my liver.  He had to peel it off.  I assumed at the time that meant the EXTREME pain was from my bunged up liver.  He then added that there was further blockage and I would probably have to have a second surgery--something that had been explained to me the day before as being happened in 10% of the situation.  I heard myself say 10% 10%.  He also told me I had a drain in my stomache to collect the bile from my rather raw liver. The doctor had no clue what I meant.  *snicker*

Rob came in then, and his gentle presence immediately soothed me, and some of the drugs they gave me started kicking in a wee bit.  And the surgeon said.  "Your going to be here three days for recovery." 

Zeria was at camp, Rob was supposed to go get her the next day--she'd been promised a daddy-date.  It was a bit of a blur.

I was wheeled up to a GORGEOUS view room though I didn't know that that night, and then they had to move me from the one bed to the other.

More screaming as they first move me from the one bed to the other, and then moved me three or four times more to get me "comfortable".

Rob tells me at the same time they were pushing more drugs, and there were multiple nurses working on me.

The rest of that night is a drug enduced haze.  Except I vaguely remember Rob calling and making arrangements for a friend to pick up Zeria, and he found a way to talk to her and tell her I was in the hospital.  How scarey for her.

Saturday woke up to call my mom (who had the kids) and she tell her I'm going to be there three days.  She tells me she can't keep them as she has to go take Jdai to camp.  I thanked her, and Rob and I quickly began making new plans.

I was on Tordal, and Ativan, and the pain was bad, but not the screaming of the day before.  I didn't move a lot though--and they didn't make me.  *phew*  They gave me this thing to breathe into, and a shot in my stomache (hephrin).  I got those every day for 10 days.  They put pressure socks on me, and these sucking vaccuum socks that suck in and out to help prevent clots.

Rob went and got the kids.  They eventually ended up at a motel for the night after finding out the KOA was full.  This was aparently a complicated adventure.

I slept amazingly well these nights at the hospital.  Pain and drugs ya know.

Sunday morning the surgeon came in and checked me over.  A nurse came in during this time to strip and empty my drain.  She pulled on it, and I let out a loud yelp.  She said, "Oh, I'm sorry."  And I moved on.  Pain was kind of full on after all.   Rob decided to head home (1.5 hour away) we had animals we'd left uncared for.  We discussed that he would just stay there and he'd come get me on Monday when I "got-out"

Except after he left I was taken down to x-ray and they confirmed that yes one of the stones had gotten out of the gallbladder and was stuck creating a bile blockage.

My iv at this time chose to blow. 

Sunday afternoon was spent in 14 different attempts to get another IV in.  I have some fantastic bruises.  Eventually they called it quits, and the surgeon ordered a pick line. 

This was about a 2 hour process of laying very still while a nurse placed a iv in my upper arm with a ultrasound.  Very pain-free and nice nurse.  She told me how they hadn't had a Pick-line infection since 2004 when the nurses started placing them instead of doctors.

Rob wanted to be with me for the procedure, but we had literally no child-care.  A friend had run into Rob as he was headed out of the hospital and volunteered if he needed help watching the kids she would.

She made a mistake as Rob ended up calling her as asking her to keep them for the day.  Rob kept Jeremiah as he's very easy-going and doesn't know this friend as she's from Joyce, and it would have been very hard on him to leave with a total stranger.  My kids however knew her and her kids well.

So Rob showed up and we waited for me to be wheeled for the procedure and watched the port Angeles harbor out the window.  All of a sudden I gasped and said "A whale!"  Sure enough there was an orca in the harbor.  Jeremiah, the nurse, Rob and I watched it until it left.

I was wheeled down for the ERCP.  This one goes down your throat, and they placed a stent around the blockage   I fully expected to wake up in screaming pain after that one.  Find to my amazing suprise when I woke up I felt GOOD.  The pain I'd had all weekend was gone.

More drugs, and talking with Rob who went to go get the kids almost immediately, cause he could see I was doing fine.

Tuesday morning I got up, showered.  WAlked a couple circles around the hospital island.  WAs felling quite good.  The surgeon mentioned Thursday as a go-home date.  Rob was in Clallam Bay I was by myself a bit lonesome, but feeling great.

And then about 10:30 I got a bit cold.  I requested a blanket.  And then another one.  And then my teeth started chattering.  I was so cold.  The nurse took my temperature. 101.

The next 3 days are the true-blur.  I called Rob about 5:30 in the evening bawling.  I felt so awful.  I just wanted him there to hold my hand.  My mom called from the motel she was staying at and must of heard my desperation.  Rob said he'd call Brittany my oldest sister at home and just have her babysit.  My mom shortly after that said she was headed home.

Surgeon came in and told me the x-rays were showing that I still had a pool of bile.  He suspected that was causing the infection.

Wednesday morning I had a CT scan.  Kinda weird, A little bit freaky--just mildly so.  I went back to my room.  And continued on in my fever.  I had been no-food due to feeling nauseous the night before, and no food for the CT scan on Wednesday.  So when I got back to the room I picked up the phone to order breakfast.  (the hospital has a room-service thing now that is way cool--and tolerable food even).  The dietician apologies and says I'm still not allowed food.

About 30 seconds later the nurse walks in and takes away my water bottle and gatorade, and informs me I'm going in for another surgery in four hours. I just nodded my head in my fever, and went back to sleep. 

Had the CT surgery.  I was awake for that one.  It had one very ouchie moment, and I had to have my hands above my head which was first very uncomfy until I compliained and they proppped them with pillows.

I came back, Rob kissed me, and we talked.  From Tuesday night on he stayed with me in the hospital at night, and spent most of the day entertaining and being with the kids.  Wednesday night my fever went up (wrong direction LOL) And Rob informs me that Dr F just stood there and stared at me for a long time with a scowl on his face of concern.

The next morning a radiology nurse comes in and tells me their going to pull the pict-line.  Its the only other thing dr F can think is causing infection.  They pulled it.  And about three hours my fever broke.  My night time I feel like a totally new human being.  Just WAY better.

Friday I had a fever for about an hour, but very low-grade.   Friday night Dr Flower says we can go home Monday, Sunday possibly.

Saturday morning he comes in, and says I will need to keep the new tube.  But he takes out the old one.  (ouch).  At that point he mentions that it got bumped out of place at some point.  After he leaves Rob and I both remember the OUCH and shriek I'd done the Sunday before.  We're sure the nurse dislodged it.   *shrugs*.  

Dr Flower says I can go home with the tube in, but somebody needs to flush it.  I remind him my hubbys a RN.  Great concern lifts off of his face.   "Well, I'll have someone come in and teach him how.  Rob gets to do real nursing.  ROFL.  He takes to it easy peasy lemon squezy.  And about half way through the day Rob and I discuss I'm feeling much better and home is starting to sound doable.

Dr. Flowers comes in while Rob is gone with kids in evening on Saturday night.  I tell him Rob is doing well with the drain, and we'd like to go home tomorrow.  HE beams from ear to ear and shakes my hand.  LOL.  

HE forgets to tell the nurses though, so they were a bit suprised the next morning--though no-big.

Rob was up and out of the hospital by 6:45 to go get the kids (opposite direction from home).  Dr. Flowers comes in about 8:30 and talks to me.  I explain whats going on, and he says have the nurse page me when he comes in, so I can consult with him.

We did that.  Did the discharge stuff.  Rob ran and got prescriptions (two kinds of antibiotics) and as soon as he got back we were out of there.

10 very very very very very long days.

I'm in mild pain from time to time.  But have BELOW zero energy.  And a long ugly plastic drain thingy hanging out of me.   It will be there until the week of the 10th.

It was mentioned sometime during the week I will have to have another surgery to take the stent out.  But wasn't brought back up again, so we'll find out about that at our visit. 

The drain is leaking very little bile now.  (a very very good thing)  and will more then likely be pulled in a week and a bit.  (another "owie)

My stomache is covered with "little" owies.  Drain holes, laprascropic holes.  And 10 days of twice a day hephrin shots.  Sooo beautiful.

But I'm home in my own house listening to Rob yell at the kids to clean.  THe sun is shining.  And I even walked around half of my circle driveway today.  Its soooooooooooooooooooooooo good to be home.