Evelyn and Sam's birthday's

Evelyn's birthday was on Bear Lake work week.  It's the week that all the cousins get together at the cabin to do upkeep, construction, demolition, etc... I'd just had surgery, so my parents took our kids and they painted the tree house.  They were marvelous workers and my parents were so grateful to have them there.

Sam made Evelyn special birthday brownies just as she requested.

The Young Women's group dropped off this birthday banner for Evelyn while she was gone.  They left it up for her until she was able to get home and see it in person.

Ada's strawberry plants are making cute little berries.

Sam turned 16 and passed his driving test with only 4 points off.  Happy birthday buddy!

Sam wanted steak and apple pie for dinner.  I made the pie the night before and we made steak the night of.  I'm so proud of both these growing teenagers. I love seeing the understanding in their eyes as they learn something new or think or a new point of view. 

My birthday, I was given an ice cream maker.  I love it.  I make dairy free, sugar free and protein packed ice cream.  Our newest two favorites are snickerdoodle and Seth especially likes root beer float flavor. Jer made strawberry out of Ada's strawberry patch. And Ada made Alexx chocolate for her birthday.

 

Summer parade

 

Sam was required to take part in one parade this year as part of his grade for the upcoming school year.  He chose the first one to get it out of the way.  He did a great job and got to march with Deacon and Milo. Seth and I were his carpool and we dropped off Beth and her kids at the start of the parade too.  We stayed to watch them and pick up Sam at the end.  Seth and I just sat on the side walk and he got tons of candy.

Something to note

I want to record things for my later reference about this year.  

Between having empty sella syndrome, possible PCOS, arthritis, 4 pregnancies including fertility treatments, etc.... my weight has been a problem since I hit puberty.  I've lost at least 100 lbs (different amounts at different times). The only time that I was close to "normal" was when I was in my early 20s... School full time, factory work full time, junior Olympic fencer, ran 3 miles a day, biking on the weekends.  It was more of a full time job to stay "normal" than I could handle when taking care of babies, a house, multiple callings and jobs.  Recently I got a cortisone shot for my arthritis and within a month I was diabetic where three months before that my labs showed that I was not.  I tried to lose weight with calorie counting, high protein, low carb, exercise.  I was able to lose 10 pounds in about 6 months.  I looked at the GL1P medications but all my genetically close cousins and family that had tried them were just violently ill and it cost them a fortune (except for 1 who is doing well on them)... so I decided I wanted to do something a little more permanent and in the long run, cheaper.  I got bariatric surgery.  I'm not worried about people knowing.  It's not a secret. So far I've only had a couple of comments from people, "I don't know why anyone would do that." I anticipate some people will talk poorly about me, but they are probably the same ones that already do.  Everyone that I know that has had bariatric surgeries done have been able to get rid of their health issues and lose some weight even if they aren't thin at the end.  That was my deciding factor and it's been worth it so far. So far, I've lost 55 lbs from my highest weight (including the 10 from the 6 months of other diets before the bariatric diet stuff and 30 from handling diabetes stuff). I'm off my medications for diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. I will always have empty sella syndrome, PCOS and arthritis, but at least I'm not having to worry about the other things.  I could have tried to follow the bariatric diet without doing the actual surgery, but this way my body actually signals that I'm not hungry where I was just always hungry before even if I was staying in the same bounds.  Just to give you an idea... I was on a 1400 calorie, 130 grams protein, low carb, high fiber diet for 6 months and I was starving all the time. I've worked with two different dieticians and sets of doctors. 10 lbs of weight loss. Now I'm on a 600 cal, 80 gm protein, low carb, high fiber diet and I'm full almost always.  I'm definitely happier. After I talk to the dietician again in a month or two I'm supposed to move to 1200 cal and 100 protein. Some people lose 50 lbs on this diet and that's it... average is 80-100 lbs.  With my empty sella syndrome, mine will probably be on the smaller side, but I'm medication free and hunger free.  The rest will just be a bonus. They say that most people lose what they're going to lose in the first year after the surgery and some continue into the second year.  We'll see.  But if you see me around.  Feel free to ask questions. I might not end up "normal", but it is already better. 

I had surgery 5/20.  My actual surgery was okay, but it would have been better if the doctors had listened to me.  I told them that I don't do well with narcotics.  I emphasized it several times.  When I went under for the surgery, they gave me some anyways. I threw up so much in the first 24 hours that I formed blood clots in my new stomach and they had to give me a ton of antinausea meds, IV liquids and extra blood thinners before they felt comfortable with sending me home.  I even had the joy of doing a swallow test with contrast to make sure that things had worked out. I took Tylenol for about two days and haven't used meds since.  I never took narcotics after the first time it went horribly when I was 16.  I wish they had listened to me.  I used them when I had my wisdom teeth out.  Bleh.  I did not use them for my foot surgery, 4 vaginal births (which lasted from 16.5 hours to 28 hours), or my hysterectomy for a uterus with a double lining and "lots" of fist sized fibroids. I recovered from each of those with ice and a little bit of Tylenol/ibuprofen.  Thank you doctors for complicating something that was already complicated.

The days after my surgery, Ada, Madeline, and Sarah sat and watched the 5 hour Pride and Prejudice with me.  I don't think I've watched it in almost 15 years.  It was fun to watch it again and bless good friends and family.  My cats avoided me for a few days too.  I think I might have smelled weird to them.

Pictures from phones

Jordan's bday party. We love our cousins.

Ada got this picture of cute Seth.

Evelyn's friend, Maylee's, bday party.

Sam's driving Seth at Boondocks.

Waiting to come inside in the morning.

Evelyn has learned how to use the lathe.  She made a really neat top this month.  She's in love and wants to buy one.  Jer's wanted one for years too.  We just need a bigger house.

My wonderful family!  These flower beds have been torn out 4-5 times for different reasons.  For some reason, this last time I just couldn't force myself to put it back in again.  So the entire family, especially Jeremy and Ada, pulled up their sleeves and dug in literally.  It makes me so happy and is a weight off that I didn't know was as big as it was for me.

The cats have been learning to walk on a lead.  Vinn does it better at the moment, but she loves to go under the bushes.

Ada's practicing the YW's camp song.

Ada's really loving gardening.

Sneaked onto the clean towels.... I stuck that one back in the laundry.... 

Evelyn made a yummy dinner for us the other day.  I love seeing them grow. 

Todd Clinger made these for the Primary!  Fidget toys with different temples on it.  It's pretty neat.

Sam was drawing during Stake Conference.  I love it!  It turned out beautifully!

Nappers

The reading corner.

Sometimes my boys are good friends.  Sometimes they're pig headed and fight over a scoopful of mac n cheese.  I know both are part of growth, but I really like when they are good friends.

Ada giving me my birthday card that she found at a gas station.  It was so funny!  It sings and everything.

Jim and Jer have been taking turns helping each other with their hobbies.  It's fun to see them working together and having fun.

Sam's team

Seth's team

"If I fits, I sits."