New Bloggers

Gabi & Emily have decided to start their own blogs.  If you would like to see their blogs just click on their names.

THANKS Suzanne

Thank you Suzanne for "pimping" my blog!!  Now my blog looks cool, too!

Larry's gallbladder (or lack thereof)

Mr. Engineer finally decided on Tuesday evening, when he was in excruciating pain, that it might be time to go to the ER.  We arrive at the ER, in small town Iowa, and find out that yes, he does have a problem with his gall bladder.  He was given medication and sent home and told to return Wednesday morning for an ultrasound and a surgery consultation.  EARLY Wednesday morning the ER doctor called to say that after talking with the surgeon she never should have sent him home and we need to bring him back in and have him admitted.  Wednesday afternoon we finally saw the surgeon and received the explanation of what was happening.  

We were told that his gallbladder was full of gall stones and his pancreas and liver were all inflamed.  He needed surgery to remove the gallbladder but that could not be done until his blood levels all came down to normal.  If they did not come down he would have to go to Iowa City for another procedure before having the gallbladder removed.  To make a long story shorter Larry spent Wednesday and Thursday in the hospital with lots of IVs and antibiotics and no food.  The blood levels came down and surgery was finally able to be done on Friday here in town.  When the surgeon came out after surgery, much longer than anticipated, he explained that his gallbladder was full of gallstones and was very inflamed.  We also found out that this has been the cause of his eating pain for MANY years now!

If Larry would have chosen to go in much earlier when his loving wife asked him to go to the Dr. this could have been an outpatient procedure and he would be returning to work after a day or two.  The surgeon has said that he will be off work for 2 weeks, Larry has said a few days and I think he will have no choice but to be off for at least this week.

He is doing very well physically and I do believe is enjoying the pampering.  He decided to "help" his females with the yard work yesterday.  Emily is mowing, Gabi is working on the weeds and I am trying to do the weedeater for the first time.  Of course who is he following around the yard - ME - that is the last time that our yard will have the weed eater used until he is better!

We are very grateful that he is going to be fine and now that we are sure he is going to be fine I must say what I have been waiting to say for many days now - I TOLD YOU SO!!!!

First Day Of School

Today was the first day of school.  Gabi began her freshman year and Emily is now a seventh grader.  They both seemed to have a good day so we are very grateful for a positive first day.

My little girls are not supposed to be growing up!!

Yes - this is the fourth post for the day.  I was just trying to get caught up.

Hibiscus

This is the first time I have ever tried to keep a hibiscus alive.  I have enjoyed this plant all summer.  Now if only I could keep it alive this winter so I could enjoy it again next summer.

Big Foot's Family?

There are days I can't believe the size of our feet!!!

So can anyone figure out which feet belong to which person?

1st Run of the Season

Saturday morning we took our first "run" in preparation for the 1/2 marathon in January.  We were supposed to go for a leisurely stroll of only 2.4 miles.  The male member of the family decided we should take a different route than the females had decided upon and we ended up going 4.4 miles the first week out.  

Just a few more training sessions until January!