Post Op -- Going Well

Well -- surgery is over & things went extremely well & so far she is doing incredible!

Here she is before surgery -- really tearing up the place! She loved the little car that she could walk around in & had to investigate every toy in the place. She did so well!! When it was time to go back, she gave us kisses & off she went!! (She did better than we did!)


After surgery, I got called up to be with her in the first recovery room -- when I got there, she had blood smeared all over her face & arms -- I thought she had coughed up blood, or had started bleeding from the surgery......no, it wasn't that at all. She had pulled her IV out already! And unfortunately, she had pulled it out before they could give her a dose of pain meds (other than what was used in the surgery room).

She really never calmed down much in the first recovery room. We finally got moved to the other one, where they could give her some oral pain meds & where Daddy could join us. About 20 minutes after taking the oral meds, she started to calm down. Here she even let us put the ice back on her neck.

Then she decided her head hurt worse than her neck!

With her history of the valve problem -- the doctor wanted her to drink 8 ounces before she could go home. It took a couple of hours, but she finally got a good 6 ounces down & we all called it good!

In the mean time, she had decided that she wanted to see Kylee!! She began talking about telling Kylee she had an ouch & that she was sick.

We had quite a few commical moments as we were trying to encourage her to drink her milk & she wanted us to know that she had an "ouw" & that she was sick.

The nap didn't last long -- she slept most of the way home, and then was ready to see Kylee!! She ate a little sherbert & stood by the door waiting for her girl to get here!!

Mike got married

My brother Mike got married last night. He and Hether have been together for almost 4 years -- but the wedding was pretty last minute! They decided to make it easy for Mike to not forget their anniversary (just kidding) -- it is: 8-8-08 @ 8pm -- but if he ever forgets that -- he's in serious trouble!




Alexandra & Donovan sitting so sweetly.....too bad it's just for the camera!
That's more like what we're used to seeing!!
Congratulations Hays Family!

Mom and Grandma go for a ballon ride.

Darwin's Slide Shows

Darwin made these two slide shows that are absolutely hysterical!!

Hope you enjoy!!

Amie's surgery & prayer request

As most of you know, Amie is scheduled for surgery next Monday. It's "just" tonsil and adenoids getting removed -- but surgery is never a "just" for anyone -- and especially anyone with heart issues......so we're a bit nervous -- but hoping it will help her in the long run!!

We found out that she needed her tonsils & adenoids removed back in April -- she had 3 ear infections in 4 months (I thought she needed tubes in her ears). Come to find out, her tonsils are touching each other in the back of her throat & are considered grade 4, and we had noticed, but not really noticed that she was snorting & had been refusing to blow her nose for about 6 months -- that was because of the big adenoids!

She was to be scheduled as soon as possible........I'm not sure what type of calendar shows 4 months is as soon as possible -- but that's the best they could do!

In May, we asked for a prayer request for either her to not need surgery or for her to at least stay healthy until surgery.

It appears that she will still need the surgery -- but so far so good on her health!! The last two nights have been iffy -- but it's pretty incredible that she has stayed so healthy since that last ear infection in April!

So -- for everyone that reads this, please say a little prayer tonight to keep Amie healthy enough to get this surgery over and done with & that she comes through wonderfully!!!

You asked for it.....but it's not my fault!

So most of you heard that my Dear Mother-in-Law (Betty) fell out of the basket, in to the basket & out of the basket when we did our hot air balloon ride & many in our loving family have asked to see the pictures of the fiasco.....so here you go!

First, please notice that the foot holes are quite high & apart from one another, it's alot like trying to get on a horse (that first step is high & then you've really got to push to get the next foot up and/or over).

These first three pictures are ones that I was taking as she was getting into the basket.
Here's attempt #1 to get in:
Attempt #2 with a little boost:

Here's the pictures that Darwin took with the other camera, first, I'm taking pictures:
Then when I notice that help is needed -- I stopped taking pictures to give a boost for attempt #3:

SUCCESS!! Third attempt she did make it in -- but not before bruising up her side falling out and then into the basket.
After the ride, I didn't get pictures of her falling out of the basket -- but she was caught by two young good lucking strong men!!! Can't be all bad, right!!

Up, Up & Away, Hot Air Balloon Part Two

Up, Up & Away -- Grandma & I got to fly high above it all in a Hot Air Balloon!!!

Taking off in the balloon was incredible! Darwin & Amie watched as Grandma & I sailed away! Where's Waldo -- I mean Darwin & Amie? Right there, the little dots to the left of the sidewalk!

They are getting littler, as we get higher!!

View of the mountains from above!

There were two balloons going up that morning -- here's our view of the other one getting ready to lift off.

This is a view with the regular lens of our condo. It's got a green roof & it's right by the lake -- can you spot it?

How bout now? I put the long lens on it & we can almost see in the front door! Wave High to Tim (who stayed at the condo that morning!)

The other balloon is coming up....

As we are coming down....

This was a cool shot that I caught where the other balloon covered the sun momentarily -- we called it a "balloon-eclipse"!!

I liked the shadow of the balloon on the ground.Guess what else we spotted?? See the white van in the drive-thru @ McDonald's?? That's Darwin & Amie -- wave high!!!

We're coming down -- are we going to land on the street??

We actually landed in the grass -- but very close to the street!

After we landed, they loaded the balloon back up & it took off -- here are both balloons from our vantage point!!

It was an awesome experience that we will remember forever!!