Going "home"

We got to take a trip back to Kentucky this weekend. I didn't realize how much I missed the area until we actually got there. It was a comforting, peaceful feeling to be there. The horse farms, the rolling hills of green, the white fences....it was so beautiful! We ate at our favorite restaurant: TWICE! We got to see some friends and missed others that weren't there. Jordan got to spend some quality time with her close friends from our neighborhood. It was a good weekend away.

I was worried about how the transition back to Florida would go, but it has been okay. No tears when we left Kentucky. I was glad to see the water again when we pulled into town. This is slowly becoming home for us and that is good. But we still remember our "Old Kentucky Home".

Mom to many

I realized today that although I have only one child in my home, I am blessed to be a "mom" to other children. I was blessed to be chosen as a sponsor a neat young lady at our church as she was Baptized and Confirmed yesterday. I now have 3 God-daughters. How neat is that?!?! I feel so honored to get to be a part of this special girl's life!!

It was a big day for this pastor's family!! Lance performed his first "dunking" Baptisms and Confirmed EIGHT youth!! Jordan was confirmed and her grandparents & great-grandmother were able to join the celebration! The weather was perfect and the water was calm....almost as if God planned this day just for us!!

Lance said it was one of those good days in the life of a pastor. I'd have to agree!!

Yummy!!!

A year ago I never would have imagined that I'd get fresh crab for my Mother's Day dinner!! Yup! That's one of the perks of living on the coast. We've become quite the "Floridians"!! We made these here at home in a Louisiana Crab Boil style, complete w/ corn & potatoes.

The first thing we did when we found out about my low fat diet was to check out seafood. We were very happy to find out that seafood is low fat!!!

I am officially over the 6 week post-op mark and feeling so much better. Not 100%, but I can handle the few twinges of pain I get now and then. Lance has said I am back to my old self and several church members this past Sunday said they could tell a difference as well. I am just glad it is behind us!!!

I had a great Mother's Day, complete w/ YOLOing, our nice dinner & watching "Phantom of the Opera" with my family. It was a good day!!

It's been awhile...

I didn't realize it had been so long since I posted an update. We came home from St. Louis and I feel like I've been on the go non-stop since we've been back.

So...what am I doing? Working, being a mom and pastor's wife...yup...that about sums it up! I took on another baby, so I'm up to five and had some opportunities for extra medical reviews. It's made for some busy weeks. And then, lent & Easter season. Good stuff, but busy.

I'm still having some residual pain from my ERCP....not yet 100%. But, we just realized that the nausea has disappeared...YEA!!! The doctor said it would take 6-8 weeks to be fully recovered and I am at 3 1/2 weeks post-op. Just praying for a full recovery & I'm glad the discomfort is farther apart than before. We've settled into the low fat diet just fine...sans the occasional gathering (BBQ or baby shower) where it gets tricky. And...I'll be making my own version of a breakfast casserole for Easter Breakfast at church.

Speaking of church... we had live praise music at service this past Sunday for the first time since we've been here (actually, the first time in 2-3 years)!! It was great! Such a change in the feel of the church in only 9 months! I'm proud of how God is working through Lance in this church.

So...life is good.

Our Flower Explosion

We had buds on all of our azalea bushes before we left for IL. I was so disappointed because I just knew we would miss the big bloom. Well, this is what we woke up to this morning! I have never seen so many flowers!! Our yard is an explosion of color! I think God knew I needed this after such a hard week. It is chilly this morning, but if it warms up this afternoon, I plan to sit on the swing and watch my flowers...maybe sip some lemonaid.

Low Fat Diet

We're finding ways to adjust to the 20g low fat diet I am on for the next month. Won't be as hard as I thought and a friend just brought me a cookbook to use!! YEA! So far, I'm still having symptoms similar to before surgery, but the doc said it can take 6-8 weeks to go away.

Very sleepy. I'm going to bed now (at 9pm) so we can head back to our sunny state of FL tomorrow.

Post op

It's Sunday evening and I am typing this while heavily medicated against pain They explained that I have a genetic disorder in that have an extra pancreatic duct so I have 3 stents instead of 2. (more painful) Been on a liquid diet since Wednesday, but don't mind it much w/ all the symptoms I have. Plan is to still take the stints out tomorrow & send me to my mom & dad's. Gotta..get..some...sleep...sooo....tired.....