Almost three years later.....

So much can change in a few years!  I am still in school and will be graduating with my bachelors degree in University Studies in May. My two majors are Family & Consumer Sciences and Psychology.  I work three-quarter time as a nutrition educator and love my job.  I'm still trying to decide if I want to continue with school and get my masters degree or stop for now.

My daughter, Kinsey, is in 7th grade.  She plays trombone in the band and is in 4-H.  She loves cats and drawing.  She is amazing at drawin using computer graphics.  She still draws with pencil and paper as well.

Neal and I have been married for almost 14 years and still live in New Mexico. He works at the local Ford dealership. It was a huge change from the work he did before but he is enjoying it.

I guess this will be my update for now. I would like to keep updating when I have time...

Sharing a few pictures

Kinsey and Neal on a tractor mowing behind the house. Kinsey loved driving the tractor.

We've gone to a few football games this year. I just loved this banner from one of the games. Very cute! Sadly the Tigers aren't doing that great this year due to a few injures. We enjoy going to the games and seeing friends.

Neal and I went to see Trace Adkins on August 8, 2008 (08-08-08) and really enjoyed the concert. I entered a drawing from his fan club to go back stage for a meet and greet. I was able to get an autograph and quick picture. Wow! Trace is tall and muscular but very quite.

Don't ever say "It can't get any worse" because it can.....

I thought Neal breaking his leg would be the end of our troubles this year but it wasn't. On July 11th, I took Neal to the doctors office in Alamogordo and we were in a wreck. We were in his work truck and it messed it up pretty bad. The wreck was totally my fault. I did not see the on coming car when I pulled out. The other driver was ok but his car was totaled. Thank goodness none of us were hurt.
So my advice is never say it can't get any worse because it can. We are hoping and praying that the rest of 2007 is better for us.

Update on us

I guess I should update since I haven't posted in awhile. We just thought Neal's medical adventure was over, but nooooo it's not. He broke his ankle Wednesday, July 4th. He was unloading a portable toilet and stepped backwards onto a rock. He rolled his ankle and broke the smaller bone in his leg right where it meets the foot. He has to go the orthopedic doctor Monday and we will know more. He was to wait and let the swelling go down before anything can be done. Prayers and thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Happy 42nd Birthday Neal!

I swear, there are more birthday's in mine and Neal's family between the end of February and the beginning of April than any other time of the year. I don't know what those parent's were doing 9 months before but they sure were busy!

Neal turns 42 today! He keeps saying 24...lol! I talked to him on the phone earlier and his boss took him out to lunch at Cattle Baron and bought him a birthday cake. Not knowing this, I bought steaks and potatoes for dinner and am baking a cake. Oh well, I'm sure he'll eat steak for 2 meals in a day. I still haven't bought him a gift. I fished around for ideas, gave him choices and finally told him I was giving him money and he could pick out what he wants. He is the hardest person to buy for sometimes.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HONEY!

Thank you so much for your prayers

Neal is doing so much better. He got out of the hospital on Wednesday (2/28). He had laparoscopic surgery so he had lots of little cuts where they put the instruments in. He is still having some pain on the big cut but taking the big bandages off helped that some what. His surgeon said that when he was in there taking out the gall bladder he checked the hernia site and Neal had some adhesions so he cut those and untangled some of his bowel so he may be having some pain from that. Otherwise he is doing much better!
My Grandmother is out of the hospital and moved into the nursing home. My Mom said the move went pretty well. She needs to gain some strength to get better.
Thank you for all your prayers and thoughts! It has meant so much to me to know that I have friends and family out there thinking about us.

An update to my quick note

Neal will be having surgery tomorrow to remove his gall bladder. This morning he had a sonogram (ultra sound?) and the doctor said this gall bladder had to come out. He got to eat a bland meal today and it did not sit very well on his stomach so the surgeon went ahead and put Neal on the schedule for tomorrow. Hopefully he will get to come home afterwards.
My Grandmother is also in the hospital. She has not been feeling well for about a month and had a bad fall weekend before last. She was in the hospital this past weekend to check out her heart and was released this morning. My Mom and my Aunt ended up taking her to the local ER tonight and she was admitted for pneumonia.
Please keep both Neal and Grannie in your thoughts and prayers.

Just a quick note

to say Neal is in the hospital. He woke up early Saturday morning having a lot of pain and needing to throw up. He drove himself to the ER that morning and was put in the hospital in the afternoon. The ER doctor suspected his gall bladder. His regular doctor and surgeon (from his recent hernia surgery) both came by today to confirm it. He is having an ultra sound in the morning and we will know more after that. He has had to stay in the hospital due to the immense pain he has been in and to get IV fluids, antibiotics, and pain meds.
Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers!

Remember when the doctor told Neal he didn't have a hernia??

He did! On Monday, January 22, after having a horrible weekend, he went back to his primary doctor and told her he was miserable. He had been in so much pain and couldn't stand it any more. She was able to get him an immediate appointment with a different surgeon who took one look at Neal's stomach and said "You have a hernia". OMG!! I thought my head might explode when Neal told me this. Dr Lindsey scheduled surgery for Tuesday the 30th. Neal was so nervous before hand and wanted to back out but I made him do it. This was out-patient surgery so he was able to leave around noon. We got a prescription filled and headed home. He is sore and a bit grouchy but feeling a lot better. Today was the first day he left the house since his surgery. We went to eat lunch and then I dropped him of at the shop so he could get his truck. He got to visit with some of the guys and get out of the house. I got to go shopping at Wal-Mart...yippeee!
While Neal is recovering, he is attempting to also stop smoking. I'm hoping this is the time he does...for all of our sakes. Neal thought he would go back to work Monday but his boss told him to stay home a bit longer and get better. So at this time I don't know when he will go back to work. He is getting paid so we don't have that to worry about.
I can't tell you the emotions I have gone through thinking about the original surgeon. Dr. Lindsey said Neal's hernia was so obvious and he can't understand why the original doctor missed it. I have composed a letter in my head so many times and honestly would like to go talk to him in person. Neal has had to suffer needlessly for 2 months because this guy had his head up his ass. We are still deciding what to do about it.
In other news, Kinsey is doing great in school. She loves reading and is doing so good. It's hard for me to imagine that she's only been in school for less than 6 moths and can read so well. I now have to be careful what I'm typing or writing because she can read it now...lol!
Just wanted to update on what's going on. Thanks so much for every one's thoughts and prayers. They are much appreciated!

Update on Neal

First, thank you all for your thoughts and prayers! You don't know how much your support has meant to me
Well, we found out that that the doctor's still not exactly sure what's wrong with Neal. He suspects it is still something with his diverticulitis. The reason he wanted to see him so soon was to put Neal back on antibiotics and to talk about the next steps. Right now Neal is going to be back on antibiotics then he will go back and the doc will check him again. He then talked about doing a colonoscopy to check out Neal's colon. The doc said surgery would be a last option that he hoped Neal wouldn't have to do. So for now we really don't know any more than we knew before but I'm not as worried as I was.
Again, thank you so much for your support!

I know, it's been 5 days since I posted...

We went to Neal's CT scan and blood work appointments Friday and were told that the doctor would receive the results Monday. On Monday the doctor's office called and wanted him to make an appointment. They would not give us any information over the phone. We don't know what it's about and Neal and I are both stressing. My healthy eating has gone out the window. I made fudge brownies tonight!! Ok, it could be PMS too but combine PMS and stress and I need CHOCOLATE!!!
I really need to get back to my healthy eating and making menus. I come home at night with no idea what we will have for dinner. After making menus for a few months it's kind of a weird feeling. Tonight I threw together turkey meatballs with mushroom gravy, rice, and broccoli. It was quite good if I say so myself.
Forgot to add that Neal's appointment is Thursday afternoon. I will try to update when we find out something!

Just a little update

Neal and I went to his doctors appointment yesterday. He does not have a hernia after all. The doctor felt all around and said he didn't feel one but isn't really sure what's wrong with Neal. We talked about his diverticulitis and tests he's had done in the last 6 years. The doctor ordered more blood work and a CT (CaT) scan. We made the appointments for Friday. After the doctor reviews the results he is going to call us. That's all we know so far.

Does he even know me??

Sometimes I wonder if the man I married 6 years ago really knows me. Tonight I took a long bath and read. Later, I came out and Neal asked where I had been (we live in a small house--not a lot of places I could have been) and I told him I had been taking a bath. He said "Your hair's not wet". Well, no duh! I take baths 3-4 nights a week and never wash my hair when I'm in there...it's more of a time to relax and read...by myself! I can't believe after 6 years of seeing me do this that he just realized that I don't wash my hair...lol!

By the way, I do wash my hair but it's in the shower in the morning.

To tired to post

I should have been in bed an hour ago but can't seem to get there. I'm really tired because when Neal doesn't sleep well, I don't sleep well. His doctor prescribed some new pain medicine that will hopefully help him sleep tonight. Instead of posting a recipe or picture, I'm going to bed. Goodnight!