Gobble, gobble, gallbladder

On Thursday evening, I went to the ER suspecting a kidney infection. I fully anticipated leaving an hour later with some antibiotics. Several labs, three rounds of morphine, and one CT scan later, I was admitted to the hospital. 

Turns out my kidneys were fine, but my gallbladder needed to be removed as soon as possible. 

I came home late Friday night. Charly, Clarke, Jeannie, and my mom have been kind enough to help us while I recover. My abdomen is still sore, and my meds keep me in a sleepy fog most of the time. 


I'm on strict orders to rest, rest, and rest this first week-- which will be more than a little interesting with Thanksgiving falling smack in the middle. After this, I'll need to take it easy for the next three weeks (specifically no hefting children) since I'm at high risk for developing a hernia and pneumonia. Fun times.


Crazy as this has been, I'm grateful that they were able to identify what was going on and take care of it quickly. The doctor even says I should be "with it" in time for Thanksgiving. My health and my family put this holiday in perspective... even if I can't indulge in all the yumminess.

The ends justify the means

As I hinted a few posts ago, our recent family photoshoot was a challenge. That's putting it lightly. When Charlotte handed me our proofed disc, she warned, "They're 90% outtakes." Considering the effort it took to have everyone calm their tempers, look at the camera, and act somewhat happy at the same time, this came as no surprise. Even so, those frame-worthy gems made the battle worthwhile. Here are a few of my favorites (click to enlarge):

 Though the outtakes may never grace our walls, they are seriously hilarious. Charlotte managed to capture to the humor during these moments of pure frustration:

Book your shoot with the fabulous Charlotte See here.

It's hard to imagine...

...that our baby girl will dig into her first birthday cake in less than a month. Maybe it's because she's so tiny (16 pounds, to be exact). Or maybe it's because she's our last. Whatever the reason, I'm in disbelief that Libby is 11 months old.

These days, she's jabbering up a storm. She can say, "Uh-oh" and "mama" and likes to let out an ear-piercing squeal:

 She's right on the verge of walking:

She loves being sassy & silly:

And she still gives us that surprised stare from time to time:

 Most of all, she's just a happy, easy-going baby:

And we love her to pieces... even if she is growing up too fast.

M&M

Our family has grown by two!

Meet Molly:

 and Maeby:

 (Anyone who understands the reference behind Maeby's name earns a gold star.)

Jamin welcomed the kittens with a special picture:

Molly loves to curl up on our laps, and Maeby is a playful little thing. They spend much of their day in the garage, running around and sleeping. We adore our low-maintenance furballs!

Sneak peek

Yesterday was stunning, perfect for our family photoshoot. Certain boys weren't entirely cooperative (*cough, cough*), yet talented Charlotte managed to snap some fantastic photos. Here's our sneak peek (also found in her photoblog):

Thank you, Charly!

Season finale

Last night, the Blue Seals celebrated the end of their fall season with a party at Idaho Pizza Company. The kids gulped down their food and then rushed to play arcade games.

Had I remembered my camera (oops!), I would have shared a cute picture of them huddled together around a single console. Those who watched alternated between sheer excitement and sheer impatience. Those who played stood on a chair above the crowd with the comparatively huge gun controller. It was really funny.

 Instead, here are a few photos from the rest of the season:

Every time Jamin and Daniele were on the sidelines together, they would have grass fights and play tag:

 Our (loud) cheering section:

 This is a rare moment when Travis actually watched the game. He usually ran into the field (to "play on Team Jay-Jay"), ran to the street, or ran to the playground:

 Jamin's skills improved quite a bit. He started understanding the concepts of the game, had a ton of fun, and made some good friends. That's what it's all about.

Halloweekend Part IV: Halloween Night

Last night was the much-welcomed culmination of Halloween weekend. Since it was a Sunday, we decided to keep it simple.

Charlotte, Clarke, Brock, Nanay, and Papa all came over for dinner. There were tons of tasty treats! The kids even got personalized goodies from Nanay and Papa.

We talked, ate, and laughed while the kids played, handed out candy, and went trick-or-treating (thanks for supervising, Clarke). 

Next up, Christmas!. I suppose we can squeeze Thanksgiving in there...