I'm back.

I think I am almost fully recovered from the surgery. Man, what a tough recovery!! I was still experiencing pain last week that I thought was a little out of the norm. I even missed work last Wednesday because it was so bad. So, I called Dr. H and they scheduled an IVP (intravenous pyelogram- a series of xrays while injecting dye) which determined that there was still a lot of swelling, which was causing all the pain. The good thing is that it was nothing serious like any blockage, but I will continue to have some pain until the swelling is gone. Nothing that can't be controlled with a little Aleve. More bad news.... the chances of me getting to meet another one of Steve's family members in the next 10 years is 70%!!! Apparently Steve was comprised of two types of calcium stones (phosphate and oxalate). A 24 hour urine collection will be done to figure out how to prevent those pesky stones. Lord have mercy, I don't want to experience that kind of pain again!! I'll keep you posted.

I'd like to introduce to our first born of the season!!!

Our Knockout Roses have buds all over the place and this is our lone little fella. I think the others will be blooming in a couple of days. YAY :)

The landscaping project continues. The cold weather last weekend prevented us from working on the yard much. Hopefully we can finish it this weekend. I really, really, really want to get my garden done so my little veggies will start growing!!

I did get to work on my 'front door project' last weekend! :)

Before:

After:
(excuse the weed mat, mulch to come)

I think it added a little spice!! I'm really happy the way it turned out and of course I had to add a little Uppercase Living to dress it up!!


p.s.- Please pray for a couple of friends. I have a friend who lost her baby today (16 weeks I think) and another at 6 1/2 months. I am so sad for them and couldn't even imagine the pain that they are experiencing. Pray for peace and comfort for these sweet girls & their families during this difficult time.

Birthday Celebrations, Landscaping Project & Recovery Status

Look what we got done today!! Drew and I started our landscaping project last fall, but I did things way out of order... I think we will be back on track now. Edging.. then plant bushes and flowers.. LOL We are also getting gutters installed next week so we don't wash all the mulch away.

It looks sooo nice, the guys that did it are coming back next week to acid wash it.

BIRTHDAYS, Birthdays, BIRTHDAYS!!

Drew and I did lots of celebrating for our Bdays.

Drew took me to On The Border for my Bday, I took Drew to Ernesto's and he got to wear the funny hat. We had family celebrations at my parents' house and with Drew's parents' at Babe's (Drew also wore the funny hat there.. hehe I'm too paranoid I am going to get lice, so I won't wear the hat)!!

Drew got a much needed wallet from me!!

Mom got me a Princess wine glass.. it is SO ME!! Have ya'll seen these?? They are hand painted drink glasses and have recipes on the bottom.

Our cookie cake... My cake of choice every year!

Cheryl, Drew's mom, got me a Lemon tree for my birthday!! I love lemons and limes. I just might have to have a lemonade stand w/ all the lemons on this tree.

Look at all those cute little lemons, they are just about the size of grapes now. I can't wait to see them grow into big lemons! :)

Post Steve Recovery Status- I am on a pain roller coaster!! The pain comes and goes. I will be fine and then all of a sudden it hits me like a ton of bricks, so I take my pain meds but it takes about an hour to kick in. The bottle says to take 1-2 every six hours, yesterday I finally bumped it up to 2 pills and was a little more comfortable, but today I can't even make it last 6 hours. I got a refill today and the pharmacist told me I could take it every 4 hours and I barely made it 4 hours on the last dose. I don't know what I'm going to do. I hope I'm better by Monday. Dr. H said I would be uncomfortable for a few days, but I would call this more than uncomfortable. I'm also still nauseous.. could be the pain meds.

That is all for now, I'm going to go attempt to eat.

Josh & Heather's Wedding on 3/14/09

Drew was in his friend, Josh's wedding last weekend. Here are some pics. The ceremony was outside, but it wasn't too cold. We had a good time. CONGRATS JOSH & HEATHER!

p.s. this is the family that introduced Drew & I

Pictures are in reverse order... sorry, I don't feel like rearranging.

We helped with the get away car... a little pay back from our wedding.

April (Josh's Sister), Linds, Me

Doesn't Drew look so handsome?? :)

Shannon & Michael... We miss you Shannon!!

Mr. & Mrs. Godi

Josh's Parents'- Linda & Gaddis

Linds & Dustin

Drew & I at the rehearsal dinner @ Trail Dust

Feeling like poop!

***WARNING*** This could be TMI, so feel free to skip this blog***

Overall, the surgery went well yesterday. I got to meet 'Steve' but didn't get to take him home. He is off to the lab for testing. I wish I could have at least taken a picture!! He was about the size of a pellet or pea?? and a grayish/brown color... very jagged. I was still under the influence when I saw him so that could be a little off.

I was super sleepy yesterday and did a lot resting. I don't know if I mentioned this before, but besides taking Steve out, they also inserted a stent to keep everything open and to keep from spasming. Dr.H told me that it would be placed in my urethra or ureter and would hang down w/ some black thread taped to the inside of my leg. I had to use the bathroom at the hospital before I could go home and noticed there was plastic hanging from the thread and not taped to my leg. I told the nurse and she said that the tape probably didn't stick b/c my skin was wet when they put it on..... anyways, I later in the afternoon I decided I should probably use the restroom since it had been a while. I get to the toilet and pull down my pants and the tape had stuck to my panties and pulled the stent out some. It hurt like crap and I freaked out (the Dr. told me that it could come out some and if it did to just pull it all the way out, or else I would become incontinent)!!! I started yelling "Mom... mom.... MOMMMMM!!" Finally, she came running in the bathroom and I think she was a little freaked out too. I called Dr.H's office and the nurse told me to pull it out=More pain. Now the the stint is out I have felt more pain and have become nauseous. I think everything is just trying to shrink down to normal size. It burns like crap when I pee!!

I apologize for any typos... Also, thanks to Mom for taking care of me all day while Drew worked. Thanks to my BFF, Kimbo for bringing me sweet surprises.. LOVE IT!! And Thanks to my dear hubby who made a Diamond (for those of you who aren't familiar with the Diamond, that is our lovely grocery store..LOL) run to get me crackers and Sprite. I'm off to go get some more rest. I was feeling ok this morning but now the pain is back.

p.s. Please pray for Kim's dad who is having surgery today.

Farewell Steve!

Tomorrow is the big day. Tomorrow I will have surgery to remove Steve, 'the stone.' I'm kind of nervous for many reasons...

1. I watched an awful Oprah last week about Medical Mistakes. Why, oh why did I watch that??? Waking up in the middle of surgery, telling someone they had breast cancer and removed her breasts when she didn't have cancer, leaving things inside you after surgery, preforming surgery on the wrong body parts...
2. I will be exposed to the world (well not really), but they will be preforming the surgery Ahem, 'down there.' Luckily, I will be knocked out and can't get embarrassed.

Please pray for an easy surgery, God to guide the surgeons hand and a speedy recovery. I am probably over analyzing all of this and everything will be fine.

Are you wearing green today?

Happy Birthday Punkin!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DREW!!!

Our first trip together in Durango, CO- Thanksgiving 2006.

Drew & Hobie after Hobie's neuter. (sorry he is showing his 'all', he is a big baby!)

Today Drew is 26!! It seems we are getting so old. I know we are not THAT old, but you know what I mean... It sounds old. Drew was just 22 when we met.

Love, Bubba & Sissy (AKA Hobie & Cuddles)

I think I gained 50 pounds on my trip.

I'm Baaacckkkk!! I've been back since Wednesday evening but we have been busy. Thursday we celebrated my birthday, Friday we had Josh & Heather's rehearsal dinner, Saturday Josh & heather's wedding, and Sunday family dinner to celebrate both of our birthday's. Busy, Busy!! More pics to come from the rest of the weekend, but in the meantime I thought I would share a few pics of all the great food we ate all week while on my work trip. They wined and dined us... I seriously gained some major L.B.s while I was gone. Back to walking this week.Hibachi... We were catching shrimp in our mouths. I caught 3 out of 4!! Must be all the popcorn Drew and I practice with all the time!! HA

We ate a place called J.Gilbert's. It was oh so yummy! Filet with BBQ Shrimp, corn and Baked Crab Mac & Cheese (not shown)... MMM MM MMM!!
We all shared this Chocolate Pompeii Souffle @ J.Gilbert's, then we each got our own desserts. I got a Cannoli filled with chocolate mousse, served w/ strawberries.

Waiting to go to dinner

Natalie's Dinner. WOAH!! I forget what this thing was called but it could have easily fed 4 people. The meatball was 4 or 5 ounces!!

Here was my dinner. I had a wedge salad and this- a prawn w/ a spicy red sauce and a pesto ravioli w/an Alfredo sauce.

Happy Birthday Lindsey!!!

Happy Birthday to my one day younger friend, Lindsey!!

Happy Birthday to you!! Happy Birthday to you!! Happy Birthday Dear Lindsey!! Happy Birthday to you!!

Yes, I know. Another picture from my wedding, but I can't help it!! I just LOVE all the pictures and since my computer is still messed up I have to go online and use pictures that I have posted to facebook or myspace.

Happy Birthday Grandpa!!

Today my Grandpa Wise and I share the same birthday!! I remember the story that everyone tells about our shared birthday. My Grandpa told my mom if I was born on March 12 that he would give me $100. Well, I wasn't supposed to be born on March 12, but Mom had a C-section and told the Dr that I had to be born on March 12 because she had money on it. I can guarantee you I still have that $100 too!

Happy Birthday Gramps!! I love you!

Hello from Kansas City!

Hello All! I hope you all had a good weekend. I didn't do too much. Friday I just hung out and Saturday I went shopping and got some new clothes for my trip!! :)

Do any of you have phobias of hotels? As I have gotten older I get creeped out about them more and more. I inspect the sheets, don't like to walk around barefoot, think I need to wash my hands after touching the nasty remote.... the list goes on. So, I inspected the sheets and the bed farthest away from the door had a stain on them. I'm not really sure what kind of stain it was, nor do I want to know. There was also a hair! EEK! So it was the bed closest to the door and closest to the boogy man. Then, while I was taking my shower the shower decided not to drain. Yucky! I can't even talk about it, it was so gross!

Any who.... class is at 8 and the shuttle will be here at 7:40 to pick us up. Off to breakfast!

Bon Voyage

I'm sure you are all wondering how the peanut butter cookie throw down went. Well, I don't really have a whole lot to say about it... I'm the sorest loser in the world. Coincidentally, Dad made the same type of cookie I did, it was pretty funny! I definitely won presentation. I had two entries but the 'judges' only judged the one that was like Dad's.

The Judges

Dad's cookies

My cookies

Tomorrow I'm going out of town for work to Kansas City, MO and come back Wednesday evening. I will be attending one of our vendor's training class to learn about vaccines, drugs, and flea & heartworm preventative. It will be long and probably not too exciting, but hopefully I will learn some good stuff. This will be the very first time Drew & I have not slept in the same bed since we've been married. I bet Drew will be glad to have the bed to himself. Who knows, the dogs will probably end up in bed. I wonder how he is going to handle it with the dogs?? They are going to expect to eat by 6am and 6pm, Hobie will probably want his walk, play frisbee, Cuddles will need her daily belly rub. Those puppies sure are going to miss their momma! I'm going to try to make Drew a casserole or something he can eat on for a few days tomorrow before I leave. Do you think the house will be in one piece when I get back? I'm scared!! LOL

I'm taking the laptop with me. I can't be away from all my bloggy friends for that long!!

Thank You!

I would like to take a moment to thank all the places that just sent me a birthday coupon. Three in one day... this could not get any better!

Free Steak Dinner from Texas de Brazil- one of our favorite places to eat on special occasions. And my birthday IS special!

A free Blizzard from Dairy Queen!

Another free ice cream from Cold Stone!

Let me just tell you another thing that is so good about this- Drew's birthday is 4 days after mine so it's like we get double and get to celebrate together!

If you sign up for any of these places on their website you not only get free stuff for your birthday but coupons all the time!!

Drew VS Kelsie

♥ What are your middle names? Marie and John
♥ How long have you been together? Married for 1 year on April 19 but were together 2 1/2 years before we got married
♥ How long did you know each other before you started dating? Maybe a couple of weeks.. HA!

♥ Who asked whom out? Well we had agreed to go out together with a bunch of friends for New Year's Eve, but I think I remember him calling me to say he was in the area hinting he wanted to come over. I told him to come over but he said no... 15 minutes later he called and said "ok, I'll come over."

♥ How old are each of you? I am 24 going to be 25 on March 12 and Drew is 25 and will be 26 on March 16!!

♥ Whose siblings do/did you see the most? They all live in the area so it isn't too hard to see any of them. I would say we see Jake, Drew's brother, the least.
♥ Do you have any children together? No not yet
♥ What about pets? 2 dogs that are almost like kids. Hobie the Australian Shepherd (our first born) and Cuddles the Miniature Dachshund (our adopted child)

♥ Did you go to the same school? No, we went to rival high schools!
♥ Are you from the same home town? Yes... Dentonites
♥ Who is the smartest? It depends. I am the English/Science person and Drew is the Math/History person. Overall, I would say Drew.

♥ Who is more sensitive? Me, definitely me! Drew does have a sensitive side.
♥ Where do you eat out most as a couple? Anywhere Mexican.
♥ Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple? Durango, CO.
♥ Who has the craziest exes? I don't really know any of his and he doesn't know mine. I guess neither.
♥ Who has the worst temper? I get upset easily and Drew is more easy going. However, if you do get going he starts shouting (partly b/c he is deaf in one ear and doesn't realize it). I have to tell him to tone it down! LOL

♥ Who does the cooking? Mostly me. Drew is my grill boy! :)

♥ Who is more social? Drew could talk to brick wall, he gets that from his dad. I can be social too, but I know when to shut up. LOL
♥ Who is the neat-freak? I wouldn't say I am a neat-freak, but I do like order and don't like a pig sty. Drew on the other hand could live in filth. He's a guy. I obviously haven't trained him.

♥ Who is more stubborn? Me for sure. I'm so hard headed its not funny!
♥ Who hogs the bed? We would both say each other does. If anything I am the cover hog!

♥ Who wakes up earlier? Me every day of the week. I get up at 5:15 for work. Drew loves his sleep, I don't think he has ever gotten up before me. Unfortunately, I am a Stoy and don't sleep in.

♥ Where was your first date? Our first REAL date we went out to eat at Esparza's and went to see "Walk the Line." Drew didn't bring flowers for our first date, he bought me a pair of pink Crocs, in each size b/c he wasn't sure of my shoe size. How sweet!
♥ Who has the bigger family? I think Drew, I can barely keep track.

♥ Do you get flowers often? Every once in a while. I haven't in a while. Drew tried for Valentine's...

♥ How do you spend the holidays? We go back and forth between both of our families. Luckily both of our immediate families live close so it's not too hard, but I don't have any extended family in Texas. :(

♥ Who is more jealous? Jealous of what? Neither I would say.
♥ How long did it take to get serious? Not very long. I remember we hadn't been dating very long and he was telling me that he was talking to someone at his work about me and referred to me as his girlfriend. Drew said "that is ok isn't it?"

♥ Who eats more? Drew could eat me out of house and home! Just ask him about the time I made shrimp tacos... one for each of us. Isn't that enough?

♥ Who does/did the laundry? I do the laundry. Occasionally he will do a load if I tell him to put it in the washer.. don't expect him to fold it. That is ok w/ me because I don't mow the lawn!
♥ Who’s better with the computer? Drew
♥ Who drives when you are together? Since I have the better car we always drive my car. I try to do most of the diving b/c I don't like Drew to move my seat. When he moves my seat it turns the air bag light on and it scares me! I do prefer him to drive most of the time though. He is a good driver!

My, oh my....

Did you watch the Bachelor last night? I can't tell you how disappointed and mad and everything else I was feeling about the show last night. I can't believe how ABC/Jason would humiliate Melissa on national TV like that. So for those of you that don't watch, let me give you a quick run down. Jason is down to the top 2 girls, Melissa and Molly. Jason sends Molly home, picks Melissa, proposes to her and you think they are going to live happily ever after. Then there is the after the rose ceremony show... Jason BREAKS UP with Melissa on national TV (totally blindsided her, even though he said she knew he didn't feel the same anymore). Gosh Jason, have some class!! Melissa is very angry gives the ring back says "don't call me, don't text me, leave me alone!" Then, out comes Molly, Jason tells her that he is still in love with her and he would like to go out for "coffee or a drink and see where it goes" WHAT???? Molly looks confused not sure but says she still has feelings for him too and they start making out!!!!!! So trashy! I was listening to the radio this morning and they were saying how staged it was. I agree, there were moments you could tell that it was totally staged, but I don't think Melissa saw it coming and she was really hurt. I think that part was real. I feel so bad for Melissa, but she doesn't need that kind of guy and can do so much better. I hope she finds someone who will be good to her. Oh and Melissa had a point, she said that he took that special proposal away from her and that was a once in a life time thing.... GRRR I can't imagine what she is feeling.

Oh and to make my day better.... my dentist just called to tell me I missed my dentist appointment at 7:30am. I completely forgot!! I feel so bad, they called to remind me yesterday but I was so busy at work it never really sunk in. I hope I don't get charged a fee for not showing up!! Now they can't get me in until June. Oh well, my fault.