Surgery

I had surgery on Friday. Years of pain finally diagnosed. Now my shoulder is killing me from the gas they filled my body with to make room for the surgical instruments. I had laproscopic surgery, same procedure they used to remove my kidney in 2004, but I don't remember having shoulder pain like this! WOW...it really hurts. I go for my follow up on the 22nd. Jon will be attending the appointment with me. I am off work through the 19th.


Below is some info from the internet about Endometriosis.

Endometriosis (from endo, "inside", and metra, "womb") is a debilitating medical condition in females in which endometrial-like cells appear and flourish in areas outside the uterine cavity, most commonly on the ovaries. The uterine cavity is lined by endometrial cells, which are under the influence of female hormones. These endometrial-like cells in areas outside the uterus (endometriosis) are influenced by hormonal changes and respond similarly as do those cells found inside the uterus. Symptoms often worsen in time with the menstrual cycle.

Endometriosis is typically seen during the reproductive years; it has been estimated that it occurs in roughly 5% to 10% of women.[1] Symptoms may depend on the site of active endometriosis. Its main but not universal symptom is pelvic pain in various manifestations. Endometriosis is a common finding in women with infertility.[2]

Happy Easter!!! **updated**

It has been a weekend full of Easter fun!


Thursday night we colored eggs, thankfully Aliya wore nothing but her diaper...she was messy!!! But had so much fun!


After finding food coloring in all sorts of places it was bath and hair time...(no pictures of this, sorry)

I had an idea of what I wanted to do for her hair this year for Easter, but it was going to be a few step process. Here is step one. basic parts and twists.


Step two: Aliya telling me she's done with pictures.



Friday night we headed up to Mom's in BG. Aliya LOVES her Dora PJ's and often refuses to take the top off the next day. Here she is Saturday morning taking a bike ride with daddy.


Jon got her going down a slight hill in the driveway. Cute smile, right before she crashed to the side and almost landed on her face. Thankfully daddy was right here to catch her.


We had a great visit with our NW Ohio family (of course, I forgot to get the camera out during our visit)...
So we skip ahead to this morning. Friday we'd been given our next round of hand-me-downs from a church friend, all size 3 (sniff, Aliya's getting so big). And in the tote was a beautiful purple summer dress, perfect for Easter Sunday. Unfortunately I have no idea what I did with the darn thing, I swear it walked off while we were in BG, so in a made dash this morning we found another dress in the tote. (I had a garage sale find dress for her to wear, but she reminded me last week that the dress was itchy...so I was very thankful for the tote!)

We went to 8:30a service this morning, Aliya was back in the walker's room with me while I served and she was doing so well I tip toed out and Jon and I went to service. We stayed for the 10a service as well, Aliya went to her big girl class this time and I stayed in the walkers room! We had a roomful, but thankfully had almost a 1:1 ratio of volunteers to kids! It was great!!!

Here is Aliya with her Easter basket. Of course she wouldn't look at me long enough to smile for a picture. (notice the string cheese, always in hand at our house)


Now checking out her basket. The Dollar Tree had "Princess and The Frog" items this year!! She got a sticker/activity book, bubbles, Princess window decals, sidewalk chalk, play dough, jelly beans and few pieces of chocolate.



One piece of chocolate before lunch can't hurt!!


On the way home from BG last night Aliya managed to pull out almost half of her ponytail holders...leaving me with a challenge very early this morning...

This is what I came up with.



Kind of looks like a crown...she got a lot of cute comments about her hair this morning at church! Which of course made me feel good!! I just hope it stays for a few days!!!


We are heading to Grandpa H's for dinner tonight...I hope I remember to take the camera out of the diaper bag this time!

Joel just called from his mom's, we are missing him today! Easter is not our holiday (we have Thanksgiving).

Happy Easter everyone!!!!


**UPDATE**

We just got home from Grandpa's. Of course, I remembered my camera as we were walking out the door. Most everyone had left already, but I got a quick shot of Aliya with Grandpa Steve and Grandma Kris! (notice she finally smiled)

Jump Jump

Our journey for a trampoline for Aliya started around her birthday. She was outgrowing her Jump and Spin Zebra, but still loved to jump. I couldn't bring myself to pay $80+ and shipping, so I checked out craigslist and garage sales but there was nothing in our price range. Nothing. So, her birthday came and went. Then Christmas came and went. I was checking craigslist like it was my job. And finally it paid off!!! Last week I found an almost new (purchased in December 09) mini trampoline on craigslist. The listing was about a week old, I figured it was probably sold by now, but I emailed her anyway. Much to my surprise, she still had it! It was a bit out of our price range, so I offered her $25 less than her asking price, thinking she would counter, but she didn't!!!!!! Aliya was SO excited to finally find one that after her nap on Sunday she and I headed to Huber Heights to pick it up!! Come to find out, the family that we bought it from does foster care, and we've spoken of the phone several times since the pick up. They are a great couple and beautiful kids (both temporary and forever)! She even emailed me and offered me a free twin captain's bed for Aliya when we're ready for it!

Here are a few pictures of Aliya jumping. I was hoping to get an action shot of her in action, but it didn't happen!


(please don't mind the mess)

First Group

We just got home from our first While We Wait group. IT WAS AWESOME! Three couples came and we had a great time! Starbucks was under renovation, so we met at Graeter's Ice Cream (darn it, I know!). We were out in the middle of everything so it was a little difficult to really connect with people, but we managed. Next month Starbucks will be back up and running, thank goodness! I can't wait to see where this group goes! Hopefully next month more people will come, but I'm sort of glad the first group was small, that way we could get our feet wet and roll with it and it was a bit less intimidating for everyone I'm sure. YEAH!!!

Birthday

Since my sister in law's birthday is the day before mine we celebrated together this year!!! We met Jon's brother, Jimmy, and his wife, Leigh Ann (birthday girl), and their two boys, along with Jon's sister (Holly) for dinner at Applebee's the weekend of our birthdays.

Sorry these pictures are from end to start, but you know me, I still can't figure this blog thing out!

Just us girls (Holly, Leigh Ann, me)


The grandkids (Ryan, Jared, Aliy, Joel)



The Sibs (Jon, Holly, Jimmy)


Here's me trying to get a good self photo of me and the kids



Everyone




The birthday singers



Jon and Jared



Holly and Ryan



Jimmy and Leigh Ann












This one has nothing to do with my birthday, but Aliya's Great Grandma Lucy sent her a Dora blanket in the mail a few weeks ago, I took this picture to send to her with a thank you card.

Thoughts on 30

Today I turn 30. I'm actually REALLY excited about it! I think the 20's (although tons of fun) are a hard age to be in the working world. In your 20's you are still too young to know anything, but you're old enough to know better?!?! Am I right? At least that's how I feel in my line of work. So today I embrace 30 and am ready to start this new chapter in my life! Some days I feel much older (esp when people assume I'm Joel's bio-mom and I see them doing the math in their head with our ages) and others I freak out when given an assignment at work, "I can't handle this, I'm way too young" but then I think, I'm really not that young and hey, they wouldn't be giving it to me if they didn't trust I could do it, right?!? So, it's not so freaky after all! So I welcome 30 and look forward to a great year!!!

Our Flyer

While We Wait
…Support for waiting adoptive parents…


A gathering of waiting parents looking for support and shared
wisdom during the adoption process.

Meetings held the Third Sunday of every month
7:00pm Oakwood Starbucks
Far Hills Ave
(back conference room)

Co-facilitated by adoptive couples:
Jon & Kelly Bergstrom
Mike & Diana Keller
For more information please email:
whilewewait@yahoo.com

No need to RSVP for the group, just show up!