Day of Surgery & Recovery

Whew! My thoughts can get the best of me and when I was trying to wrap my brain around Brian's surgery and the ins and outs of how it would go, let's just say I had a wee bit of a meltdown :) I am a creature of habit and when my daily routine and schedule is rocked my anxiety level shoots high.

Abram was staying at my sister's so that was a huge relief. Brian had to be at the hospital at 11 AM. The boys came with me to the hospital. Some parents might cringe at the thought, but having them there with me brings me comfort. I don't know if it is an age thing or because they are home schooled, but they are awesome at waiting. They go everywhere with me like grocery shopping, doctor appointments, dentists appointments, meetings and more. They have learned that when we are out they need to bring things to occupy their time. It also doesn't hurt to have portable DVD players, leapsters and lots of things to eat :)

The top picture is of us waiting in the little room with Brian before he is to be wheeled off. I have had three different nurses come in to explain to me how to use three different machines when we arrive home. (1)some huge machine that he puts his leg in that will bend his knee. The nurse explains degrees of movement, placement of knee, a million buttons that look like Chinese and more. Already I am confused. (2)four sticky things I am to place on different points on the knee. Another remote thingy that she quickly goes over and pushes in my direction. huh? (3)an ice machine that I am to fill half with ice/half with cold water. Turn this button here, set this timer there and make sure it is at so many degrees. what? help.

I go to load these items in my car when Pam(!) calls to see if she needs to bring lunch over. What a great idea! I didn't even think about the boys needing some lunch. McDonald's for everyone as we go back to the waiting area. Surely they will be taking Brian back soon? 1:00, 2:00, 3:00, 4:30! What is taking so long? I have read two magazines, half of a new book, talk to numerous people on the phone, walked to the cafeteria for snacks, bought more snacks for the vending machine and drank two Dr. Peppers.

The boys occupy their time by watching movies, sorting their fruit snacks into piles, Wyatt made a new friend and playing their Leapters. I knew they could handle the wait time! Finally around 5 PM I am able to see Brian. He is looking good and loopy as we get him into the van. We hurry home because Wyatt is catching a ride to his soccer practice with Payt. Brian is able to use his crutches into the house and get in bed. He was prescribed some awesome pain medication, so he is feeling great. We try to put some ice on the knee, but with all the bandages he feels nothing. The next day we head back to the doctor so they can remove the yuck and reapply the big bandage. They explain what he can and can't do for the next two weeks. The 'knee machine' we received the day before is again explained in further detail. He is to use it about four to six hours a day! The ice machine is to be used during the waking hours. Thirty minutes on, thirty minutes off. This is a full time job!

My sister brings Abram back on Friday and stays the night with me. Ben and Abram are so funny together! Ben didn't have a high chair so he is sitting next to Abram and eating his meal off of his tray. Saturday morning I am a hostess at a baby shower. Both boys have soccer games to attend. Somehow I am going to make sausage balls. I don't like to cook. I decide Cooper will have to miss his game since it is at the exact same time as the shower and a friend is going to pick up Wyatt for his game.

BUT! Here comes Brian hobbling down the hallway completely dressed and ready to take the boys to their soccer games. What?!?!? I try unsuccessfully to talk him out of it, as I said the pain medication was good!

My now favorite sister is busy in the kitchen making sausage balls. Score!

It has been a week since the surgery and things are going more smoothly than I could ever had anticipated. Brian has been better about staying off of his feet as that Saturday afternoon was a reminder that knee surgery does hurt! I've actually enjoyed having him around and my inner nurse is shining through. We have one more week of healing before he heads back to work.

Today he is at Walmart picking up the birthday cake for our new 5 year old. Even though the good pain medication is gone I hope he will still feel well enough to attend the party :)

Thanks for all the prayers!

Yesterday we met my sister(I LOVE HER) halfway on the turnpike so she could pick up Abram. Here are the pictures I took while we waited at the 'middle McDonald's' Thankfully we got there first so the boys could get out and stretch their legs. Abram loves McD's french fries so he is enjoying his snack in the hot sun.

Today the boys and I are taking Brian to the hospital for surgery. He is having an ACL replacement on his knee. FOUR weeks ago he hurt his knee in a church soccer game where he was trying to be a super star. He says that he is NOT getting old, only his body is :)

I am very anxious about today. I am not a good nurse and my compassion skills will be tested as we are thrown into a new routine and way of life for awhile. I am not good with change. Brian will be off work for TWO WEEKS and although I love having him around it will be different and my head is spinning trying to think of all the changes.


Do you think they will prescribe me some medication :)

His surgeon says he will be off work for about two weeks and then will have a SIX month rehab appointments. Yuck.

Last night at church someone mentioned a drain that will be in his knee that I will be responsible for DRAINING . . .

that isn't going to happen. I can't do blood and yuck. I have a great friend who LOVES that stuff and is willing to come to my house and do it for me.

I will make her dinner!

Prayers are appreciated today as I am a big baby and can only think of me. me. me. Brian is the one in surgery who's knee is being cut open and all he will be able to do is lay in bed, watch TV, read books, surf the internet and sleep.

Yes, prayers. Who would think needs more is your decision :)

One year ago this month my baby sister gave birth to her first born son.

Words cannot describe what it means to watch her embrace motherhood. Trying to prepare a first time mother is near impossible. It is hard to explain the ups and downs of what being a mommy can bring.



I love her more now than I ever could have imagined growing up with her. She has been such an encouragement to me to see her move through the struggles and triumphs of being a mother. When I need a shoulder to cry/complain/ or brag on, she is the first person listed on my cell phone. And she understands.



I love having a child the same age as her little one. It feels as though we are growing up together all over again, except this time we are on the same path in life. I like this time in our life alot more!




Ben is the most social boy I know! His smile will make your day as he makes you feel like the most special person in the world. He is such a chatterbox and will one day be able to use all his words with Wyatt(our big talker!). Benji has alot to express and although you cannot understand exactly what he is saying the inflection of his voice is amazing!



I look forward to this journey of motherhood with my sister and anticipate many more phone conversations and shared moments of the good, the bad and the oh-so-very ugly. Boys can be such a mess:)



Happy 1st Birthday Benjamin!!! You have a very special mommy who loves you more than you will every know!

Children's Museum

Dr. Lusty working his magic

watching his bones move as he peddles his bike

future grocery store clerks

Cooper the anchorman and Wyatt the camera man

they will actually be driving before we know it!

Sweet baby boy

digging for dinosaur bones

Judge Wyatt

Last week Brian took two extra days off of work to celebrate our anniversary and for the annual reunion at Lake Murray. One of those days we went to the Jasmine Moran Children's Museum in Seminole. We stayed a total of five hours and we saw only two others families there the entire day. They also offered a military discount so we where able to go for half off. The boys had a blast exploring everything and taking the time to experience everything. We took our time at each station and became judges, grocery clerks, firemen, artists, airplane pilots, tv anchormen, archaeologists, doctors, surgeons, conductors, scientists and many other career people throughout the day! I have only been here one other time about two years ago and it was packed with people and I spent most of my time chasing two little boys. This experience was much more enjoyable and I was glad to have my husband along for the ride!

Goal: To Keep Everyone Injury Free

Sunday night some of our Life Group went to visit the Pumpkin Patch in town. Apparently the pumpkins are made of gold that the human eye cannot detect as it cost EIGHT dollars a person to enter. We stayed as long as the sun was still visible and the kids had a great time. The favorite seemed to be the hay bales, as that is where we spent the majority of the time. We pried them away to experience the animals, tricycle races, corn maze and the always sneeze inducing hay ride. It was a beautiful evening and it was fun to spend time with some great friends.

One Trip Wasn't Enough

Wyatt looks like he wants to eat Joel.

Silly Faces!

We had such a great time we had to take another trip to Great Wolf and brought along some friends! We left on Thursday morning and arrived just after lunch and were able to immediately check into our rooms. Thanks to a great friend who suggested we ask for an upgrade we were bumped from our family suite to a kids cabin suite which included a balcony, score! We had an even number of kids which was perfect to break into groups according to age so they could go to different parts of the park. I was talked into going down the Tornado slide which was super fast and I must admit my eyes were closed the entire way down. They tried to get me to go again and it was a firm "NO!" Around dinner time we changed into dry clothes and enjoy a good dinner at one of the hotel restaurants. The kids went to the lobby to hear a bedtime story then it was off to bed. They were all exhausted and went to sleep very easily!

The next morning we were up and ready to swim again. We made it home this evening safe and sound and are already planning for our next trip. I love midweek refresher vacations!

Full Steam Ahead

Today the five of us, along with a huge group from our church, participated in the Race for the Cure. We were up/dressed and on the road by 6:15 this morning and the only morning person was Brian. He is accustomed to getting up this early, but the rest of us are dead. The boys perked up when they met with all their friends and the energy was hard to contain. Poor baby Abram did NOT feel good so I ended up carrying him for 3/4ths of the race. We started with about six other families from our life group when the race began, but it was too crowded to all stay together. Thankfully we were able to keep up with PAM! and her family which made the race more enjoyable. I thought the boys did great and had a fun time until the very end. We had one incident where Cooper ran into a pole and we heard great cries from him, but he got over it quickly. Since I had the baby most of the way PAM! was able to push the stroller for me, which was a HUGE help. It is alot easier to hold Abram with two hands. At the last turn Brian & Todd took the boys and ran to the finish line. I think that was the highlight of the whole race. Wyatt was very confused as he thought we would be running the entire time. You know? Like in a RACE? Wasn't going to happen dear boy.

Jennifer(with Reese) and PAM!

and our kids backrow; Coulson(3), Cooper(5), Luke(5), Whit(5) and Reese(2) and front row Payt(3), Wyatt(4) and Cameron(3)

I Gave You Fair Warning

Dearest sister,

At our white trash weekend I was trying to get a picture of the group in Mom's living room. You were being very unruly and not posing nicely each time I tried to take a picture. I gave you fair warning that if you continued to make that horrible face that I would post it on my blog. Did you change you ways? The answer is shown in this picture . . . no. You thought since my blog was on hiatus I had forgotten this little rebellion, but I did not. This is really your doing as I specifically named the price for your actions. Here's to you little sis!

Love,
Your wiser older sister

Be Jealous, Very Jealous

Memorial Day camping did not go as well as I had planned and I was less than thrilled to try again for Labor Day. Babies and camping do not go well together for me. My mom had the grand idea of camping at her house, fun! My brother's family set out a tent, my parents have a camper they set up in the driveway and we brought our tent to add to the display. I give you 'white trash weekend.'

Although it didn't turn out how I had imagined it would. Friday night we met at the lake where at the last minute my brother's family had a camper for the night. We grilled out and watch the kid's "ooohhh" and "aaahhh" over the fire. It was very relaxing to sit around and talk while the kids enjoyed each other's company.

Saturday morning my mom, sister and I went to JBF's 50% off sale and found some great bargains! Much to my sister's dismay we stayed for THREE hours browsing around at everything they had. That evening the boys headed over to my brother's house for the OU game while the girls hung out with all the kids. I was hit with the worse head cold known to man. I couldn't think well or breathe and all I wanted to do was curl up in a ball and sleep. I refused to sleep outside in a tent. Cooper & Wyatt slept in the trailer with Papa and Grandma.

Sunday I was still feeling miserable and broke down and took some medicine. It made for a much more enjoyable day as we played a game together in the living room. Here is my SIL Jessica wondering how in the world THIS was her family. The first picture above is all of us playing Imagine If. It was a great who-knows-you-best-game and surprise, surprise my mom won it all.

That night we had a grill off as my step dad made burgers, my brother made shrimp and Brian made corn on the cob. We topped it off with home made ice cream. Yum!

Next year I look forward to heading back to the Lake!

Where Has The Time Gone?

Ack! I cannot believe it has been so long since my last post. Homeschooling has kept me on my toes the past week as I am a perfectionist and am learning my way around. I try to do WAY more than I need to and am exhausted by the end of the day. Husband is also back into school mode, as the college students returned on Monday. He is back to getting up before the rooster even wakes up and gets home long enough in the evening to eat, lay dazed on the floor as the boys jump all over him and then he is crawling into bed as soon as the boys say goodnight. ALSO I have a new fascination with Facebook which keeps me on the computer for hours with nothing to show for it. Ugh, I will start my twelve step program soon. The next month will be an adjustment for all of us, but at least we know we will have an end in sight.

Anyway . . . back to regularly scheduled post.


Here is my friend Cristie. We joke about how my husband found my first friend when we moved to this town. He was working on campus when he looked out his window and saw this girl jogging with her double stroller. I had talked about running and wanting a jogging stroller for Cooper, so when Brian saw her resting for a second he went outside to introduce himself and tell her about me. Random, right!

We hit it off and were fast friends until her husband graduated from the NAVY ROTC and was relocated to Washington state. Boo. It has been TWO years since I had seen her in person although I have stayed in touch through email and an occasional phone call. I am a HORRIBLE friend, but she has been great in keeping the lines open!

Her spouse has been on deployment for awhile so she took the 'break' to come back and visit and I was very excited when she called. Her kids are 7 and almost 6 and they all played well together so the mommies were able to talk. It was an enjoyable day and I hope it isn't another two years before I see her again.

Cristie . . . START A BLOG!

Rainy Day Puzzles

Close Cousins

My sister has been here for the past two days and Abram & Ben have enjoyed forced time together. Ben is a month older than Abram and it is neat to see the small changes that occur from month to month. Being a gracious host Abram let Ben sleep in his crib and Abram took the pack and play in our closet.



We ventured to the zoo for Way Back Wednesday(75 cent admission!)and had a hot, fabulous time. We only hit a small glitch, as I forgot to bring a bottle. The only most important item in Abram's life! He refused to take Ben's bottle so I left Amy there with my two boys and her little one and rushed to Babies 'R Us for a replacement. She survived, but is grateful for her one baby;~) Oh! and I misplaced my keys. That is all I will say about that!





I also took Abram to his first Wednesday night class so he could show off his cousin. They both stayed in class and when we returned the teacher was holding both of them and singing. They were mesmerized with that!



The first night they were here Cooper was observing Ben and had the comment that he has a square head. The rest of the visit we would have a poll over which head was better; a square or oval one. Quite funny!

'Where's Mustang?'

Instead of playing 'where's waldo' let us play the more real version of 'where is husband's car.'

We live on top of a small hill and when Brian parked his car in the driveway apparently he forgot to put the standard into gear. Two hours later we head outside to see the car gone. Never fear we see it smack in the middle of a tree! Good thing our neighbors have not starting building next door. Instead of a tree that could have been a house. My husband is very glad I had my camera with me;)

Here is my cute mommy with her BFF Lita arriving in Mexico with their group. Follow Lita's blog as she writes about the journey and experiences of the mission work they did. There was ALOT of physical work involved. My Mom is now back safe at home and available to take my calls any time I want;~)

Early this morning my Mother and twelve others from her church left on a mission trip to Mexico. The pendulum has swung in the other direction as I am now worrying about my parents and their welfare and safety. It is another indication of getting older and I must say I wasn't aware of age creeping up on me! She is very excited and in a selfish way I am not. I talk to my Mom at least once a day and I will not have her near for SEVEN whole days, yikes! I'm jealous I could not go with her to share in this first for her and have the memories to look back on. I admire her strength to go on her own without any of her children or her husband. Joe stayed behind and although he won't admit it, he doesn't do as well without her around. Case in point is when she stayed with me after Abram's birth. If you were around you would have noticed how he wasn't the same. Those two never spend time apart and they like it that way too!

I want to put in a special prayer request for the group's safety as they are in another country and the fourteen hour drive they will endure on a fifteen passenger van. That the week will be a learning experience and they will grow in their faith as they show the love of God to strangers. That the people they meet will be blessed and begin to understand how much God wants to know them. That I will not have a nervous breakdown while she is away. That Joe takes care of himself and that my other brothers and sisters stop by at least once a day for no other reason than to talk to him. He is not one to reach out in his own time of need. Finally that my Mom comes back home safe and sound!

Thanks.

Reunion 2008

Saturday we headed to Feyodi Park for the 50th annual Sissom Reunion. I have been going to these reunions since I was born and I still do not know everyone that is there. Ruby Sissom-Almy is my Great Grandmother, who I remember

very much, was number eight of the fourteen children born in her family. Twelve of those brothers and sisters made it to adulthood and began this reunion and we have multiplied it from there. Ruby only had one child, my Papa David. She loved children very much and we are not sure why she was only able to have this one child, which was very rare during those times.

For this fiftieth reunion each of the sibling's families had a different color to represent who belong to who of the twelve. Here we are with our grandparents, David and Ila and their two children Janet(my mom) and Mike. Janet and Joe(my parents) with three of their five children Jennifer, Jonathan and Amy with their spouses Brian, Jessica and John along with ALL their children; Jennifer's(Cooper, Wyatt & Abram), Jonathan's(Jacksen, Jennah & Joel) and Amy's(Benjamin). Mike & Mary with one of their two children Shelly with her spouse Blake and their two children Wilder and Gwenth. Are you lost yet?

We decided to wear forest green being Grandma Ruby's favorite color. We seemed to be the smallest group since Ruby only had our Papa. One that stands out from Saturday was the 'red group'. Beginning with her TEN children and then each of their children, spouses and children and MORE children. It was a sea of red!

It was very neat to see everyone in this color coded system. It made it easier to connect who belonged to who. My Papa was very sick this weekend and this is one of his highlights for the year. He is the one who makes the announcements and says the big prayer before we eat the potluck lunch. He did make it out for only about ten minutes and didn't move from his chair the entire time. Later that evening Grandma took him to urgent care where his blood pressure was 215/105! They hooked him to an IV to rehydrate him found he had a bladder infection and a blockage in his stomach. He is going to his regular doctor today to get the complete look over. He battled and beat colon cancer about three years ago and is a fighter all the way. Say a quick prayer for him today!

Family history is so fascinating to me. Grandma brought out her old photo albums of when she was a little girl with her family. Those black and white photos are intriguing to look at and I wonder what they were doing that particular day. I saw pictures of my mom growing up in her little family of four and even my Papa with his parents out on the farm. I must say what a good looking bunch they all were.

Now I know I must be getting old, I love hearing 'about my family!' Sigh.

Whirlwind Weekend

Whew! I am exhausted and glad to be back home after a full week away. Sunday afternoon the final of the five cousins were married in a beautiful ceremony. Benji and Abram's daddies were in charge as Amy & I ran from crisis to crisis getting everything together for the final moments of the wedding. We even missed the entire ceremony as we rushed over to the reception to complete the final touches. I had talked to Dennis late Thursday night to see if anything else needed to be done and he directed me to Amanda. Being a typical bride she was beyond stressed and I told her I am great at directing people and did she need a coordinator for the rehearsal and day of the wedding. You could hear the sigh of releif as she quickly answered, "YES!"

The next two days were a blur as I went back and forth talking with her about the ceremony, preparing for rehearsal, the delicious meal and the wedding day. Phew! It was a fun tiredness and I am glad Amy was around to help. Also a huge 'THANK YOU' to my Mom as she stepped in for the boys so I could help out. She was a HUGE lifesaver!

Once the wedding party arrived at the reception the dancing began. Jennah was enthralled with the bride and sat through the couple dance on the floor never taking her eyes off of Amanda. Jennah couldn't wait to dance with her Daddy. Although my brother was less than thrilled he granted her wish and made her sweet six year old year. I know she will remember that moment with her Daddy forever and it was precious to see the two of them.

Where were my other two boys? They could care less about the dances, the bride or anything wedding related. Except for the cake. They each had their Leapsters and headphones on and gladly played away as the ceremony was taking place. They stopped long enough to eat and have cake and then on went the headphones and back to the game. It kept them busy and out of trouble. A successful day in my book!

Way Back Wednesday

I have grown up 'going camping' since I was five years old. It was what our family considered vacation time. Here I am with my younger brother Jonathan and younger sister Amy showing off our new pop-up trailer. Before we got this gem we were accustomed to tent camping. This was high living, let me tell 'ya! My parents just sold this very camper two years ago and upgraded to a trailer. They tend to hold on to items for a very, very long time.

This weekend we are heading to Eufala lake for an annual family reunion. The same reunion I began going to when my mom married my step dad way back when I was only five years old. I have very good memories of playing with all my cousins, watching the adults play cards way into the night, the time I finally became old enough to play with them, the little creek that passed through our campsite where we would put up our Little People town to play for hours, the breakfast and Sunday family softball games. Also the not so good memories of the nasty bathrooms that crawled with bugs, the brown water we would spend hours playing in, the horrible storms that always came through on Memorial Day that would send us running to the bathrooms late into the night for shelter as the tornado warnings would come across the radio, Monday afternoons spent picking up every little bit of trash around the campsite which I now realize was my parents way of keeping us occupied as they packed everything up and prepared to go home.

As an adult I still enjoy camping, but it takes on a whole new meaning as a mother. I admire my mom even more as I realize the multitude of things that must be done before we even set foot at the lake. I am knee deep in packing clothes for any occasion that may arise{rain, sun, hot weather, cold weather, mud and more}, making list after list of all we may need and finalizing the menu and making sure we have all the food that will be consumed. It is a daunting task that I put more into than should be necessary, but I am crazy like that. The days leading up to leaving are overwhelming. Once we arrived at our spot and set up our tent, yes a TENT! I am able to relax. It is exciting to see my boys doing things I remember doing so many years ago. Cooper has been at the reunion since he was six months old. My younger brother is coming for the first time in forever and the boys are very excited! My younger sister is bringing her four month old to begin his tradition at the lake. It is neat to see everyone together and how much as changed over the years.

Except we are now the adults, when did that happen?!

Monday.

3:15 AM I am woken up by a crying Abram(what!?). As I go into the kitchen to fix a bottle I hear more crying coming from the boys room. I make my way in the dark and see Cooper in the top bunk saying he is going to throw up. We make it to the bathroom for some dry heaving with no results. He carries on in his dramatic way and I have him sit on the couch while I attend to the baby who is beyond mad and letting the house know that he will not tolerate being ignored. Twenty-five minutes later after getting a full belly and a dry diaper he is back asleep. Cooper is still awake on the couch and I walk him back to his room. Up the ladder he goes back to bed for about thirty seconds when he starts to cry again. Back down the hallway I head to lead him to the toilet, this time with results. Ugh. He can now sleep on the couch with a trash can right beside him and as I am telling him to come and get me if he needs to, here comes Wyatt. "Whatcha doin in here?" *big sigh* Once I tell Wyatt it is not time to get up he begins complaining about his leg hurting. Oh . . . the pain is unbearable, what are we going to do? 1 1/2 teaspoons of Tylenol and off to bed with Dad while I get Cooper situated. I finally make it to bed around 4:45 AM just in time to hear Brian's alarm go off at 5:00. Back to sleep for another time with Wyatt's legs and arms flailing about. Up for good around 7:00 while between the two hours I was up twice more for more throw up and pushing Wyatt to the FAR side of the bed. These are the days I wish I could clone myself for I am unable to function on not much sleep. Happy Monday!

Way Back Wednesday

Ten years ago I graduated from college with a degree in Elementary Education from the best university ever. I was the first in my family to graduate and the four years I spent in college were some of the best times of my young life. It was a hard adjustment after I left and my first teaching job led me to the fact that I had no idea what I was doing being a teacher.

I started the job a month after school had begun. It was a very unruly class that had alot of substitutes before I had taken the job. No structure, routine or rules applied to them. I was in way over my head. Thankfully I had a wonderful principal who took me under her wing and taught me so many things. There were hard lessons that put me in very uncomfortable situations and instead of running away defeated she gave me the tools I needed to succeed. I learned more about teaching in that one school year than I did the four I was in college.

Teaching was hard work, but I was very satisfied at the end of the beaten down year. I had found a profession that I was meant to be in. It also took me into a new path. I am slowly working on my masters in School Administration. My principal had such a huge impact on my life that I chose to continue my education and I will eventually go back into the public school system as a principal.

I received an invitation to a high school graduation this week from a student I had in fifth grade. I remember her well and was pleased to hear from her and see her dreams coming true. By the time she was in my fifth grade class I had had two years under my belt and was more confident in my teaching abilities. Her group was a sassy one, but nothing compared to that first year. The pictures above are her and some others in that class. This year solidified the fact that I loved teaching the older kids and the arrogance of their youth.

I continued teaching until my second son was born. It was a very hard decision to stay at home and I had no idea where it would leave me. Teaching gave me alot of recognition and admiration that parenting does not bring on a daily basis. I am confident I made the right decision to be here for the boys. My priorities shifted and I had to work hard on being made humble with the gifts God had given me. One day the boys will bring me their high school graduation card and when I look back I want to know that I did the best I could with each day they were with me. This is my daily prayer.