Where Have I Been?

Warning for any men that are sensitive to female talk, exit the blog now!  LOL!

Well, it's been a while since I have posted anything on my blog.  It's been a crazy few months if I say so myself.  Summer came and went, and it was a relaxing time.  The girls got to swim to beat the horrible heat we had this past year, and the sibling fights were at a minimum! 

Jason and his sales team worked really hard this year so we were able to go to Hawaii again in October.  A few weeks prior to finding out that we were going, I started have some bad abdominal pains.  I figured they were "female" related so I made a visit to my OB/GYN.  She had her suspicions as to what was going on, so sent me for additional tests. The tests showed that I had 2 fibroid cysts that were on the uterus.  She thought that they might go away, and to give it a few weeks, and if I was still in pain, to come back and she would see if they were growing or shrinking.  She did give me some pain meds in the meantime, but those who know me, I HATE taking anything other than Tylenol or Advil.  The pain was awful!  Just wasn't going away.  I was downing Advil every 4 hours and even then, it really didn't work.  The Hawaii trip came, and we were so excited!  A trip to beautiful Maui!  I still was having pain.  Some days were better than others.  The day we left to come home, I wasn't sure if I was going to make the 9 hour plane trip home.  The pain was unbearable!  Had several hot baths, (Amber's cure all to everything!) and lots of pain meds, I got on the plane and made it home.  The next day I made a call into the doctor and was seen immediatly. She said the cysts were rapid growing and really the only was to solve this issue was a hysterectomy.  I was very unsure about the entire thing.  I'm not even 40 yet, and a hysterectomy!?  Jason and I discussed the situation, and thought, as did the doctor, that this was my best option.  So the surgery was scheduled...5 days after Thanksgiving.  She said I would be in the hospital at least overnight, possibly 2 nights.  She discussed with Jason and I that she would be operating on me via robot!  What!?  Did she say robot!?  It's a relatively new procedure (da vinci robotic surgery) that is supposed to less invasive, quicker recovery, and no large incision scaring.  She also mentioned that I couldn't drive for 2 weeks.  Well, the OCD control freak that I am could only think about what all was coming up.  Lots of big things in a matter of a few weeks.  Grace's birthday, Christmas decorations that needed to go up, Christmas shopping, baking, school functions, soccer, laundry, car pool, you name, I was thinking about it.  So after I collected my thoughts, I sat down and made a plan.  So far so good right?  Just wait.  Surgery came and went.  All went well.  Turned out she found 12 more small cysts.  My uterus had attached itself to my bladder, so she repaired that, and also found an infection on my right fallopian tube and had to remove part of that too.  So I suppose it was a must have surgery.  I left the hospital the following day.  Very little pain.  Similar to my previous c-sections was what I could relate it to.  I just didn't have the huge cut across my belly.  All I had was four 1/2 inch incisions.  Once home, I settled in fine. I had awesome friends that brought food so that I didn't have to cook.  What a relief that was. I seriously thought the girls were going to live on McDonalds and Lucky Charms!   My surgery was on a Tuesday, and my the weekend I felt great.  This is where things go down hill...We met my parents for lunch on a Saturday afternoon and noticed a lot of blood when I went to the restroom.  Now wait a minute...the doc said little to no blood, and what the heck was this!  So Jason took me back to the hospital, and after my exam said that I had several internal stitches that had come open so they cauterized them, and a hemotoma in my belly that should correct itself.  So after a few hours they sent me home.  Well that worked for a while, but then the big one!  After picking up the girls from school I found my self hemorrhaging in the bathroom and had to be rushed back to the hospital.  The doctor said I had an arterial bleed and that I needed surgery.  Well, surgery didn't fly with me, and I wasn't real sure about this ER doc anyway.  While he was ordering a CT scan, I was demanding they call my OB/GYN that did the surgery.  She couldn't come, but did send the other Dr in her practice.  She immediately said absolutely no surgery, and assured me that she could fix this by just going in and cauterizing it.  Just as they had done before.  After my results from my CT came back fine, and my CBC came back fine, so they released me and told me to take it easy.  Still had bleeding, but not like before.  I did make several trips back to the Dr to fix any other blood vessels that were "leaking".  Now it's been 8 weeks since the surgery, and I am feeling great.   Got the "all clear" from the Dr!  Yay!  It's been a long recovery and I am ready to get back to my normal routine. I have signed up to participate in the Warrior Bash taking place in April.  So I guess I better get my rear in gear and start working out! April will be here before I know it.

Here are some pictures from the last few months....Sorry for the delay, but I hope to back on track on updating you on the life and times of The Reynolds Family!

Click on photo to view larger!



Maui

Turtles in Maui

Halloween 2011

Grace turned 7!



Maddy's Soccer Tournament



Thanksgiving 2011

Christmas 2011

New Years 2011

Thanks for checking in on us, I'll be posting some craft projects that I have been working on soon!

~Amber

Fire Safety Town

Grace's 1st grade class took their Fall field trip.  They traveled to Fire Safety Town where they teach children about safety in a fun and interactive environment. Frisco Fire Safety Town is a community education program of the Frisco Fire Department.   They have educational classes that focus on a number of safety topics, each with the goal of preventing injuries and teaching students how to be safe.  Here is a photo of the class with one of the firefighters.

Remembering....

Ten years ago was a terrible day.  This is what I remember from that day....

Getting up early that morning to fix our then 2 year old her breakfast of oatmeal and chocolate milk. Changing diapers, picking up toys, and so on.  Just a normal day.  As always I turn on cartoons for  Maddy while she ate.  Then the phone rang and it was Jason calling me from work.  He told me to turn on the t.v., he explained that they was a terrible plane crash in New York.  Little did I know that just by changing the channel was going to change life as I knew it, as we ALL knew it.  I was in total shock, my heart sank, and then tears began to run down my face.  I so wanted Jason to come home.  I was so scared, not knowing what was to come next. I didn't want to let my baby girl out of my site. I wanted my family to be together.  Calling my parents every hour on the hour.   My mind was racing, my heart was beating so fast.  Emotions were all over the place.  As I sat on the floor with Maddy playing blocks with her to keep her somewhat "sheltered" from what I was watching.  As my tears ran down my face, I knew that it wasn't just me hurting, but the entire country.  The loss for these people and the pain these families were suffering must be overwhelming.  The next few months, we all were on edge.  Glued to the television.  Wondering why someone would do this to us, and on our own soil, and what was to come next?  Today, for me, I don't worry about those that were lost, because I know they are in a wonderful place, but for those who are left behind.  It's always those left behind that hurt the most.  It's the children that I think about most. All those poor children....  As for me, losing a parent at an early age, it changes you.  How you deal with loss, what choices you make in life, how you get through from day to day.  Not only those children from September 11 who lost their parents, but the military children who has lost parents since then too.  We are now at war due to this horrible day 10 years ago. Traveling has changed, the way we look at foreign people has changed, so much is different now.  Growing up with a military Father, he taught us to have great respect and patriotism for our country.  I grew up, having a flag at our home, and today now that I have my own home and family, I too teach that to my girls as well.  We not only fly our American flag on "special" days, but everyday.  Because everyday for us is a special day.  We are proud to be American, and so very thankful that we live in this great country.  Whether you agree or disagree on the politics of today, we all should at least agree to be thankful. Thankful for what you have, what we ALL have.  So today, as we all remember that awful day that we all will never forget....tell the people you love most just how much you love them, and say a little prayer for all those that we have lost, and be sure to say a "thank you" to those serving.  Because without them, we wouldn't be where we are today.  GOD BLESS AMERICA

First Day of School

Summer break has ended and the girls are off to school again.  Grace is starting the first grade, and Maddy seventh grade.  Where has the time gone?  Even when they are gone to college, they will always be my babies....

The first week of school is always a little crazy.  Trying to get back into a "routine".  I always try to prepare them for 6am early mornings a week or two prior, but our schedules have been really busy and I just didn't get a chance for that to happen.  The girls seemed to adjust pretty good so far. 

Grace had the same teacher as last year and same group of kids, so there was no stress of meeting a new teacher and a diffent group of kids.  She will start dance again.  Hip hop is her "thing".  We went to her first class and she came out almost in tears.  There were so many girls, and a new teacher.  I think she was overwhelmed with too much change too fast.  So this week we start in a class with just her and her friend Saraya from her first grade class.  Only 2 girls in the class so far, so we will see how that goes.

Maddy seemed to do fine as well.  She is now able to participate in the school athletic program so she decided to try out for the volleyball team.  She really wasn't thrilled about it because the only sport she has ever played is soccer.  A few days before tryouts she decided that she was really going to give it a real effort....The coaches informed all the girls that 80 something girls were trying out and only 25 would make it.  Although she gave it her all, she didn't make the team.  She was upset.  This is where I hate having to be a parent.  Watching your kiddos upset is heartbreaking.  I want so much to make it go away, but realize that this is part of growing up, and I know that it is better that things like this happen now, so when she is an adult, she'll know how to deal with it.  Sounds good anyway, right?

First day of school pictures.....

Grace 1st grade                                   Maddy 7th grade

Jason is doing good too!  He found out that he gets to go to Hawaii again this year and is super excited.  He will be doing lots of work travel in the next few months, so I will be "single parenting".  We always manage.  Thank God for Skype (video conferencing) via the computer.  Cause when it comes to 7th grade homework, well...lets just say I wasn't blessed with the "smart" gene. 

And as for me, I have started working out.  Walking/running 2 miles, then situps and pushups everyday.  I'm not getting any younger, 40 is creeping up on me, and it seems that my rear end has gotten bigger over the summer.  For those who know me, I drink up to 6 cokes a day.  So I have decided to cut those as well.  One a day is my goal.  I can't quit cold turkey.  The headaches can be excruciating.  It's not much, but baby steps for now, so we will see how it goes....wish me luck.

Reynolds Family Staycation!

Summer for the Reynolds this year has been so busy with graduations, soccer, Jason traveling, and so on, that we hadn't planned a family vacation.  So we decided to do something that would keep us close to home.  A "staycation".  We always travel to Grapevine Texas to see their annual Christmas Ice show at their local resort,  and knew that would be a nice place to stay, and it's only 15 minutes away.  They have built their own water park which has just opened this summer.  Jason and I wanted to keep it a surprise from the girls until we got there.  All they kids were told is to back for 2 days and bring a swim suit. They had no idea, and they were pleasantly surprised!

Click on photos to view larger.

Welcome Reynolds Family to The Gaylord Texan....