Mara's recovery...

You would never know that she had surgery. She looks like she has had a c-section. The Tuesday after her surgery she had strep throat and they tested her iron level and it was extremely low. She is doing great now. I ended up with Bronchitis after that. Mark has been criss crossing the nation over the last few weeks... so it has been very interesting around here. Mara will be going back to pre-school after Thanksgiving and Light gymnastics. We will have an ultrasound some time in December to make sure that her kidney is functioning right. In January, we will have a scan to make sure that the reflux is gone. Then if it all comes back ok....NO MORE MEDS!!! WE will just have a yearly scan to make sure that everything is still functioning as it should.

Just to recap the boring week we had....

Oct 24...Jama turned 1
Oct 25...Jama had her birthday party and my parents came in from Arkansas
Oct 26... We attended Katie's B-day party after church
Oct 28...Mara had surgery
Oct 29...Mara came home at 10:20 p.m.
Oct 30...Jama one year check-up
Oct 31...Halloween...yeah candy...voting for Mark and I
Nov. 1...Jema had a meet in Tucker at 7:45 a.m.
Nov. 2...Mom and Dad left

What a boring week we had...thanks mom and dad for all the help running Jema back and forth to school and gymnastics and everything else you did.

Jema's Meet Saturday

Jema had a great meet on Saturday...Can you believe that we had to be in Tucker, GA (hour away) at 7:45 a.m. That was a little crazy afterHalloween. It was great having my parents her to help get everyone ready that early and out the door. She won a third on Bars, fourth on floor and vault, four for all-around and a fifth on beam...she had a tough day on the beam again. Two medals and three ribbons later and a first for team we were heading home to take a nap after or boring week.

Halloween Friday

We had a great time Trick or Treating in our neighborhood. Some friend of ours had a party that we stopped by but Mara was not up to much socializing. She rode in the wagon to get her candy. Jema was a beautiful Angel...haha it did not rub off. Mara was DeeDee Doodlebop, Jama was a pea pod, and Mark was Goofy again which is very fitting for him. Some of the neighbors dressed their dogs up as a skunk and a hot dog...so cute. It was nice this year b/c I got to go with them and my mom and dad stayed at home and passed out the candy. Yes...four BIG bags of candy to be exact. I love living in a big neighborhood again.

Jama's one year check up...

Jama is finally a big girl...she gained 3 pounds in 3 months. This makes her 19 pounds...we are so thankful. It looks like she is tracking just like Mara did...we know what the turn out will be. My poor mom had to stay in there while Jama got three shots...Mara had to go potty at the same time and she chose Jama instead of Mara to help. I think she might have changed her mind afterwards but Mara was not letting anyone else help her at this point or now for that fact. Way to go Jama!!!! We maybe able to turn around in the car seat soon.

Mara's Surgery Tuesday

Mara had her reconnection surgery today. She was a great trooper through it all. They were able to reconnect both ureters to her bladder just using a slit in the bladder which is what we had prayed for. Once they got in there they did find that she was starting to have another infection...so they put her on extra antibiotics. She has an incision basically from hip bone to hip bone above her pelvis. She was very insistent in the hospital that she did not want to take pain killers or eat. They were giving her Morphine thru her IV b/c we all knew that she was in pain but refused to take the oral meds. They let us come home a day early b/c she was not eating or wanting to take oral meds. Once we got home she ate and told me she was a big girl and did not want me to break her pills anymore she could swallow them....and wala she is now swallowing pills. We go back on the 10th of Nov for them to take out the stitches and schedule for next VCUG. We will have the VCUG to make sure that the reflux is gone...if it's gone to more Antibiotics daily and we are good for now. If it is not they will talk about her having to have the more extensive surgery and we will be staying on antibiotics. Okay on a lighter note...kids and twilight drugs that is hilarious...the things that they say and do will keep you laughing. She enjoyed riding around in the wagon thru the hospital...also they gave the kids at the hospital Halloween costumes. She was so ready to come home...can you blame her.

Katie Snyders Party on Sunday

Mara got to go to her friend Katie's Birthday Party at the Bounce House right before her surgery. We tried to squeeze in as much as we could this week.

Jama turned 1!!!

Jama turned 1 on Oct 24...it just seems like yesterday that she was born. Maybe because she has been slow growing. My this year has gone by so fast. We had her party on Saturday with my Mom and Dad, Mark's Mom, and the Baker's. Just a small party since Mara was having surgery this week. Lets just say she loved the Cake.

Mara's surgery...

We have scheduled Mara's surgery for October 28. We do not know what time it will be until the hospital calls us...they usually take the youngest patients first. It will be at Egleston on the campus on Emery. Again... the goal of Dr. Broecker is to just do a slit in her bladder...reattach both ureters...fix hernia. There should be minimal days in the hospital 2 to 3. I am very thankful that my parents will be here for atleast a week. I will keep the blog updated with any new info that we receive.

OMG!!! I filled up for less than $100.00!!!!

Ok...I know this is a weird post but...I filled up the SUBURBAN for $84.00. I immediately text Mark to let him know...I knew he would be as excited as I. It's hard to be excited about putting $84.00 in the gas tank...when we bought it was $50.00 for a fill up. However...it is much better than the $120.00 it was taking not to long ago. Right now it is the small things in life that make me jump for joy.