"Those" Neighbors

Have you ever had those neighbors that no matter how good your yard looked, theirs was always going to make it look bad? We have next door neighbors that we just don't know what to do about anymore. First, it was their 4 dogs that barked incessantly to the point that we couldn't even hear our TV. Then, it was their cats that decided our back porch furniture was more comfortable than their own and they left most of their cat hair when they left. Now, they just don't mow the lawn or prune their flower beds (if you can call them that). It has become a real nuisance in our neighborhood. I could understand if we lived in a run down neighborhood, but we don't. I could understand if the family was going through a rough patch, but they aren't. (Trust me...private schools for their 5 children, nice car, etc.) I think the biggest problem I have is that they have two teenage sons that could easily take on this task, but they don't (or maybe aren't even taught to do that). Just irks me!! Any suggestions on how to remedy this issue?

Taking After Her Sister

Molly has gotten to do some fun things while her sister has been at Ninnie's house...like play on her 4-wheeler. This little girl has already gotten the hang of it.

Update on our Beautiful Lawn

Back when I posted here about redoing our lawn, Brian was just in the process of finishing up. Well, he finally finished up (a couple of weeks ago and I forgot to take pictures). So, here they are and I must say, it is beautiful. I was skeptical at first of his pulling up ALL of the very good plants we already had, but it is gorgeous. I am very proud of him.

Here are the "zinnias" that we went all over Nashville to find because that is what Brian wanted!! Come to find out, had we just waited a few weeks, they were everywhere we had looked. HA

I was proud of Brian for this. He took the plain evergreen trees that we already had, cut some sections out of them, and made them look like the trees that you pay $300 for at the nurseries. He is so smart.

One last neat thing. We had these two (one on each side of the garage) concrete planters. They were ugly, grey and boring. We found some black spray paint in the garage and viola!!

Ball

Among many new words that Molly is learning, like Bubbles and Sissy, is the word BALL. This is her new favorite word. She loves the word, she loves the object, and she loves to throw it. Thank goodness for soft ones. It is so sweet to hear her say new words. Brian and I really think she has her own language right now. She talks all the time, in complete sentences, and really believes what she says. We just don't know what that is. Very cute!

She even got very upset when Gizmo (our dog) wanted to play with the ball. She began chasing him and telling him just what she thought about him taking her ball.

Time with Poppy

During this time of recovery from my surgery, Molly has gotten some great one on one time with my parents. Molly has been staying with them and Macy is staying with my in-laws. Two is too many for either grandparents to tackle...trust me!! Anyway, Molly has never been one to sit still for very long. She was a cuddler when she was itty bitty, but just not recently. Until her favorite Poppy has been there. From what I hear, she loves to cuddle up with him just before bedtime. Any bedtime. I got a picture here at our house this afternoon just before she was going down for a nap.

Beautiful Gifts of Love

I have received such thoughtful gifts, cards and food from the most wonderful friends, THANK YOU!! You help my recovery so much.

No talking, are you kidding?

This past Tuesday, I had my thyroid removed. It was much more of an ordeal that we even thought it was going to be. My orders are to not talk for at least one week and not sing for up to three months. Not talking is probably the hardest thing I have ever had to do, so I can get my talking out here. I have been going to an endocrinologist for the past 4 years and he has been watching benign tumors on my thyroid. I have had multiple biopsies, ultrasounds, you name it, I have had it! He finally decided that the tumors were so big that it was time to come out. Brian and I prayed long and hard about finding the right surgeon and he is a wonderful, man of God, prayer warrior and excellent surgeon. The surgery was supposed to take around 2 hours, it took 3. The thyroid is supposed to be the size of 2 pinto beans, it was the size of 2 eggs. The surgeon said I added 10 years to his life doing this surgery. It was as if my thyroid had been covered in super glue. It was stuck to everything and he had to take it out in pieces. Recovery has not been a fun process. My blood pressure continuted to sky rocket after surgery because of the way my body reacted to pain. The incision drained more than they liked and my calcium wouldn't come back up. I stayed in the hospital longer than originally thought, but thankfully was able to come home Wednesday night. It was nice to sleep in my own bed.

When the surgeon came in to talk to us on Wednesday afternoon, he explained that what I had was called Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. This caused me to have hypothyroidism. Hashimoto's Thyroiditis is a type of autoimmune thyroid disease in which the immune system attacks and destroys the thyroid gland. The thyroid helps set the rate of metabolism, which is the rate at which the body uses energy. Hashimoto’s stops the gland from making enough thyroid hormones for the body to work the way it should. Some common symptoms are fatigue, depression, sensitivity to cold, weight gain, forgetfulness, muscle weakness, puffy face, dry skin and hair, constipation, muscle cramps, and increased menstrual flow. Some patients have major swelling of the thyroid gland in the front of the neck, called goiter.

After the surgeon explained this to me, he asked if I liked my endocrinologist. He asked this because he knew that this doctor should have discovered this years ago and could have been treating it. You can easily treat it by having your doctor perform a simple blood test that will be able to tell if your body has the right amount of thyroid hormones. This test measures the TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) to find out if the levels are in the normal range. The range is set by your doctor and should be discussed with you. Work with your doctor to figure out what level is right for you. There are other available tests that your doctor may choose to do if need be, such as a blood test to measure the level of “active thyroid hormone” or Free T4 and a scan (picture) to look at the thyroid. Anyway, my doctor only ever went by my TSH level, which was always low, but was in the normal range. Well, it was not the normal range that was right for me. My general doctor has been treating so many other symptoms I have been having such as depression, weight gain, etc, when it all stemmed from my thyroid.

Needless to say, I will not be returning to my endocrinologist. I would have still needed to have my thyroid out and I praise the Lord that He sent us the surgeon we used. He is wonderful. But, I could have been dealing with my thyroid with medication. At least I now know what steps need to be taken and we can get on the right track.

I tell you all this because maybe one of you out there is dealing with the same thing. Do not take that your thyroid TSH level is "normal." Find out what is "normal" for YOU!!

I am still dealing with high blood pressure, nausea, and pain, but that will get better. I praise the Lord for my husband and my mother and mother-in-law who have been taking care of me and my children. I wouldn't be able to do it without them. I thank all of you for your prayers and cards and food!! The food has been awesome. Bring it on!!!!!

Helping Nomie Cook

Today, in celebration of Memorial Day, we went to my parent's house to eat. Brian, who is an amazing cook, made fried chicken, homemade green beans, coleslaw, and a strawberry dessert that was to die for. Mom added corn on the cob, homemade french fries and homemade ice cream. She even enlisted Macy to help her make the ice cream. So, with apron and all, Macy helped. She actually did very well.

I thought it was funny how she held her tongue a certain way while she stirred. Very funny!

And of course, she had to taste what she had made.

Hooray, the Pool is Open

The girls have been anxiously waiting for Poppy to get the pool warm for them to swim. Well, today was finally the day. Both Macy and Molly took swimming lessons during the fall and winter, so now was the time to try out what they had learned. I have to admit that I was very sad. You see, last summer we had to hold Macy because she was not tall enough to stand in the shallow end. Well guess what...she is tall enough now. I know that she is growing up, I just don't have to like it.

Molly did not like her float, at first. She really doesn't like to be bound up at all. HA!! She likes to be free. Someone else seemed to like her float when she got done.

Unfortunately, after swimming and eating dinner, Molly ended up with a fever. It is probably due to her teething, but just before we called the doctor, her fever was up to 103.7. That is the highest I have ever seen it. So, we are alternating motrin and tylenol hoping not to have to take a trip to the ER tonight.

On our way home from my parent's house, Molly threw up all over me (probably due to the high fever). All Brian could do was laugh. I was so angry at him. I spent the better part of the evening keeping myself busy. You just don't laugh at a woman holding a sick baby and covered in puke...now, do you?

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

As we were leaving for church this morning, we saw this...

Now, what I am trying to figure out is...are the flags for sale since there is a sign? Is the house for sale? Are they just REALLY patriotic? I am just not sure!! All I know is that there are close to 250 flags in that yard. Hmmm...

Summer is Here!

We are so glad that the warm weather is upon us. We got the girls a new sprinkler and boy did they have fun! I knew that Macy would love it after playing in the fountains on Thursday. Molly actually enjoyed it too. She was very skeptical of the fountains and wouldn't really get too close, but she had so much fun playing with her sister.

After they played for a while, they enjoyed some crackers and nutella. If you don't know what nutella is, you are missing something awesome!! It is a chocolate spread that I found out about when I went to Europe years ago. You can put it on bread, crackers, or whatever. It is so yummy!!

First Haircut

After almost 17 months, it was time to get Molly's hair cut. Her hair has certainly not grown as fast as Macy's did. She sat up in the chair like a big girl and did just great. I had Macy's bangs cut while we were there.

Fun in the Sun

The girls had a blast today. Jessica, Jen and I took the girls (Maddie, Claire, Emma Grace, Molly and Macy) to the fountains at our new outdoor mall. They were scared at first, but eventually got the hang of it and got soaking wet!! Well, Macy, Emma Grace and Maddie did!! Mr. Billy (Jessica's husband) helped show the girls how to put their hands in the water.

Maddie and Claire didn't really like the fountains at first. But you'll see who warmed up quickly.

Three peas in a pod!

After playing in the heat and the water, we decided to go for ice cream. Nothing is better on a hot day than some cold chocolate ice cream.

I just love those girls!!!!!