Lydia's Graduation Day

I am up to my nose with camp stuff. We are leaving on vacation Wednesday and returning the following Saturday. That would be the Saturday before my camp starts on Sunday. Yes, I am crazy. So much get done before Wednesday! I feel like I have a good start on it all and have a plan for the rest of the week. Once we leave for vacation there is no turning back, my week of camp had better be ready...or else.

Wednesday we went to Lydia's preschool graduation. I have always thought they were silly, until this year. Things change when it involves someone you love!

Lydia making her way to the stage.

Part of the kiddo's singing a song.

When Lydia walked up on stage to receive her diploma she keep insisting she got a blue balloon. We are all very thankful that is just the color she was receiving.

Checking our her blue balloon.

We had to work very hard to convince Lydia that this picture would be much better if we could see her face.

Little Brother just hanging out

They had a chocolate fountain with all sorts of goodies, can you tell Lydia enjoyed the chocolate?

Lydia and the only the best preschool teacher ever! Side note : Shannon was the Children's Minister before me at Southside. I remember calling her when I was making my decision to come to Springfield. She had nothing but wonderful things to say, her and her husband loved Southside so much they moved back 5 years ago when her husband joined the staff at Southside.

(Can you guess what Lydia is looking for?)

Another side note : A few years ago Shannon and I started talking and we figured out that we attended the same week of church camp at Lake Aurora Christian Camp in Florida. She showed up at church the next Sunday with a picture with both of us in it. What are the chances? And now she will be Cael's preschool teacher next year. I love how God works!

This is Cael's favorite funny face....I am working really hard on a new favorite.

Cael and Grandma!!

It seams like yesterday we were driving to Chicago to meet Lydia, It is so hard to believe that she will be starting Kindergarten next year. Happy graduation day Lydia....we love you!

The Size Of An Orange...

First of all, sorry if I freaked anyone out by having you read about my medical scare on here. To me it was the easiest way to let everyone know, but a little more private than facebook. Next time I will take the time to make a few more phone calls!

Yesterday Steve and I met with my surgeon. Basically he told me I have two hernias that need to be taken care of surgically. He wanted to do it this coming Friday (nothing like making things happen fast) but we are suppose to leave on vacation in two weeks, then camp and our mission trip after that. We all decided it would be best to wait until after our big summer events so we have the surgery scheduled for June 27th. It will take a few hours and could be out patient or in patient. It all depends on how things go that day.

He told me the the cyst in my ovary is the size of an orange, it's 7-8 cm. He also told me that just because my blood work came back okay does not mean that it is not cancerous. I kind of assumed I would hear that but I am totally at peace that it is NOT cancer. My OB said that it is a simple cyst and she is pretty sure that putting me on birth control for 8 weeks will help shrink if not get rid of it completely. If not, we will go from there.

So that's the latest. Surgery on June 27th and try to shrink the cyst with meds.

My dad left late this morning, we were really sad to have him leave. But I am thankful for the time we had with him! My dad had enough clothes for a week...just in case. I love him! And all of you....

Roller Coaster Of A Day

Whew...where to begin. Yesterday was one of those days that you just want to forget, for the most part. If you haven't read the post before this, about my hernia, make sure you go do that now!

Here is a break down of how my day went yesterday:

8:30 - Showed up at Lee School to sub as a floater in the special ed high school area.

9:15 - Received a standing dry hump hug (please ask me about this in person, it was one of the most traumatic/hilarious experiences ever. A story that must be told in person). I immediately grabbed my phone to text everyone to tell them what happened and saw that I had a missed a call from my hernia doctor.

9:17 - Listened to my message, in the room with the kids, and my nurse said that they told me the results of my CATscan a little early and that they ended up finding something else. She said I had a large cyst on my right ovary (sorry men...this is the beginning of lots of girl talk). She asked me to call her right back.

9:25 - Told the assistants in the room what was going on and they sent me to make phone calls. Got a hold of the nurse and she told me that they had an appointment for me to go get an ultrasound of my ovary at 3:00. I asked her if she knew the size of the ovary and she said it just had large written beside it.

9:35 - Called the subline and had them find a sub to replace me at noon. Called Steve, my dad and mother-in-law, then sent a text to the rest of my family and some friends.

11:45 - (yes it was a long two hours!) Left the school and called my OB, because if anyone is going to be messing with my ovaries it's going to be her. The way I look at it she is invested in those suckers!

11:50 - Was on my way to meet Tara and got a call from my OB. She sent me right over to get blood work done to confirm or rule out ovarian cancer. What??? Called Steve and my Dad to tell them, my Dad responded with "I am on my way". He said he was coming to Springfield, that way if I got bad news he would be here for us, and if I got good news then we would have a great two days together.

12:15 - Got blood work drawn. Man did I do some serious praying as I saw them carry that blood away.

1:00 - Met Tara and ran some errands. Ate lunch and then we came home to clean a little so I wouldn't have to worry about it later.

3:00 - Tara and I headed for my ultrasound. Holy smokes it hurt! I let out a yelp when she pushed down on the cyst which took her by surprise. She told us that the order had STAT on it so I should be getting the results back soon.

4:00 - Parted ways with Tara and headed home.

4:30 - Decided to call my OB and she if she had my test results back. I had to leave a message.

45 seconds later - Received a phone call from my OB nurse Amy. This is what she had to say after I said hello "Amy, this Amy. You are fine! Your blood work came back just fine". She didn't even give me a chance to respond. We chatted for a few minutes and she told me they were going to wait until they saw the ultrasound to decided how to proceed.

4:40 - Called my dad and had a good cry.

4:50 - Steve came home with Cael. I grabbed Cael and hung on a little longer than normal. My husband wrapped his arms around me and some more tears were shed.

NOT your typical day! It was a roller coaster that I was so glad to hop off of. As Steve says, we aren't out of the woods yet, but things are looking good. To those of you who sent texts and called to check up on and encourage me...THANK YOU a hundred times over. God is good. And He would have been good no matter what the outcome. Thank goodness we have that hope to get us through times like these, and times when the news on the other end of the phones doesn't result in tears of happiness.

My night was topped off with my dad arriving at 7:30!! We met at Buffalo Wild Wings and had a nice dinner just talking and processing everything that had transpired throughout the day. There is just something about having your dad around when things aren't going well. If we had received bad news, having him being by our side would have some how made it a little more bearable.

But as you can tell by the picture below, we were all smiles around the Miller household!

Thank you Jesus!!

*****

To be continued : I will fill you in tomorrow about today. It involved words like, orange sized cyst...you can't hardly wait can you?

All About My Hernia!

A few weeks ago I mentioned that I went to the doctor because I thought I had cancer. I didn't really think I had cancer. Okay, so I really did think I did, but deep down I didn't think I had it. Maybe. Anyway, the doctor (technically a Family Nurse Practitioner) felt a lump on my neck and said it was nothing, but she still ordered a blood test to reassure me. She called me 15 minutes after I left the office to tell me that the blood work came back just fine. Whew! She is won.der.ful! If you need a family practitioner her name is Sandy Brewer and is at the Wabash Medical Center....check her out

She also checked out another lump. This was is on my belly in between my rib cage and belly button and is about the length of my hand. When I was pregnant with Cael I found this big bulge on my belly and went to the doctor. They sent me for an ultrasound and told me they couldn't find anything. That was four years ago. This entire time I have just lived with it, but the past 6 months or so it has grown and causes me a lot of pain sometimes. Mainly when my hyper 3 year old jumps on my stomach. Sandy checked me out and immediately said I had a hernia, and referred me to a general surgeon.

Last Wednesday Tara and I headed to Springfield 1st to see the general surgeon. Here she is waiting with me. (She thought it was weird I was taking her picture. I say she obviously doesn't have blog...right Emily and Kellie?? These things have to be documented!)

The surgeon was not impressive at all, so I won't mention his name. He wasn't sure it was a

hernia and told me, get ready for this....that he thought my six pack had ripped in half. Yeap, you heard that. My six pack. Anyway, he wasn't convince and sent me for a CATscan.

So, today Steve and I headed for my CATscan. I was pretty nervous. I realize a CATscan is a pretty normal procedure, but I still wasn't looking forward to it. I was all worked up about drinking this :

I had to drink three full cups within an hour, and it wasn't pleasant at all! They originally told me I only had to drink two and a half cups, but they ended up bringing in a full third cup. That extra half a cup almost put me over the edge. It was gross and I was so thankful I had my hubby there to be my time keeper and cheer me on.

I also had an IV with contrast in it and it was so weird. The nurse told me I would feel a warm sensation in the back of throat that would go all the way down to my pelvis. She also told me I would feel like I had to pee. And sure enough, it was the craziest feeling ever, I was convinced I had wet myself. But just so that I don't leave you all wondering, I assure you I did not. It wasn't nearly as scary as I had imagined, but I kept thinking about all the people who have to have CATscans that are fighting for their lives. That is scary! Thank you Jesus that my issue is just a hernia!

The surgeons office called me back today to let me know that in fact I do have a hernia and it will need to be corrected by surgery. So on Friday Tara and I will head back to the

"oh so wonderful" general surgeon to have a surgery consultation. I know that hernia surgery is nothing serious, but I still don't like the idea of any surgery. So, come Friday I should have all my questions answered and a surgery date scheduled.

And since I am all about honesty here, yes I still have a slight fear that Friday he could tell me there is something a whole lot more serious going on than just a hernia. Thank you Dad for passing along your ability to worry and assume the worst. :)

He'll Always Have Audrey!

Audrey came to spend some time with us today. Anytime Audrey comes over she and Cael have such a good time together, and the camera always comes out! I tell you, Audrey has got to be one of the most photographed little girls I know. But come on, she is SO CUTE!

We spent some time together swinging on our porch swing today enjoying this beautiful day!

Audrey was looking for the butterfly in my camera.

Looking a little harder...

She said she saw it!! She named it Amy.

We love Audrey and all her cuteness!

Steve and I were talking about Cael and his future proms. I told Steve I sure hope he isn't one of the guys who goes by himself and just sits on the sideline alone. That would break my heart. Without a second thought Steve said "He'll always have Audrey". Love it! Audrey is the only girl in a sea of boys around here. I hope whoever she is dating is okay with her going on other friend dates...I have a feeling there could lots of them!

Why, oh why is it so hard to get a picture of two little people looking at me?

If only Cael had opened his eyes...

If only Audrey was smiling...

Oh well, they still are two of the cutest kids I know!

Tearing Up The Dance Floor

Saturday night Steve and I went to prom. It's one of the perks of him being a class sponsor, we chaperon prom. Our evening started with a Grand March were Steve introduced all the students. After the march the kids get their pictures taken by the photographer and then everyone heads to Panther Creek for dinner and the dance. I always enjoy this night, it's a fun evening for Steve and I but more than that we get to connect with the kids and other teachers outside of school. It was a wonderful night, the kids had fun (after we had to stop some dancing that was making us adults blush) and I walked away encouraged from some conversation that went one during the dance. I failed at taking pictures, here are a few from the evening.

There were many pictures taken with Steve and kids, I only got to my camera for a few.

I believe th quote during this pictures was "I need extra credit in Calculus".

Steve and Steve doing bouncer duty.

The songs that were played, the moves that I saw...every year I walk away saying Cael is never going to leave the house. :)

Jennifer and I got out on the dance floor for a song or two. We mastered the fist pump and raising the roof. How many high school students can say they dance to Black Eyed Pee's with two "adult" women?!!?

It's no secret that Steve is looking for an administration job or a teaching job that pays for family insurance. When we were leaving Pawnee and headed to the dance that night, it was very surreal that if Steve does get another job we are going miss that place, a whole lot. BUT no need to get sad just yet, we have no clue what God has planned for our future. Pawnee is a great school filled with some incredible kid's! It was fun spending an evening with them!

Graduation Day

On Friday night Tara graduated from LLCC. I am so proud of her! To go to college for the very first time in her life while she was working and raising a family was no easy task. She worked her tail off, and her silver tassel is proof. She graduated with honors and Friday was a night to celebrate..and celebrate we did. If you ever graduate from anything and want to have the loudest cheer when your name is called, let me know..I know the people to bring!

We represented her well...and loud!

Here's the graduate walking in.

Yes, I was one of the "those" people who moved down front to take some pictures.

Tara's cheerleading section

Joyce and the beautiful flowers she brought Tara.

Tara and her neice Anastassia.

Tara and her Momma

The Southard Gang

Maddy is Alyssa's BFF and Maddy's mom has been so supportive and encouraging to Tara during the past few years. It was fun having them there to celebrate with us.

Who doesn't love themselves some Noggles???

The second a crazy face picture was mentioned Mallory jetted.

In at least 25% of the pictures Tara would have her eye closed. She did a good job here making sure they were open.

There is not enough time to explain this cake to you. It involved Tara destroying her honors tassel when she was opening it up and calling it her Lucy moment (from Lucille Ball). And to make it even better the cut "tassel" looks nothing like a tassel but more like an octopus.

Nickie joined us at Tara's house later for the party. Tara kept closing her eyes and I kept retaking their picture...this was the end result.

Abby is ready for her college graduation day.

Tara and Joyce were running their first 5k the next morning and had just picked up their running packet.

Tara my friend, I love you so much. You impress me everyday with your determination to do all that you do and doing it the best that you can. Thanks for being my friend, for being more than my friend. I know your career future is still unknown, but I know that no matter what you end up doing you will do it with excellence and every life you encounter will be touched! Well unless it's in a PreK classroom :)