OK, don't faint.....

Every time I get on the computer I keep thinking about this blog and try and decide whether to let it die it's slow painful death of ressurect it. So, here is my attempt at ressurection.

The Knafelc-Schmidt clan has been busy as bee's. I was just chuckling when I actually wrote that because I really have 2 last names. The high school calls asking for Mrs. Knafelc and the Elementary calls and asks for Mrs. Schmidt. Then of course I have to discern what Mrs. Schmidt they want, me or Cheryl. And to make things more exciting, Katie's teacher next year is Mrs. Schmidt. It's always fun around here. I will legally change my last name to Schmidt when Gillian graduates from High School, but I do love the last name of Knafelc. For those of you who don't know how to pronounce it, I am hearing the sigh's of relief across the world. Judy, remember the time the sub in 8th grade social studies called me Kanaflex? Now, I have to admit that was the best one. Gillian thinks I cursed her because I named her Gillian instead of Jillian. I did it because I didn't want her called Jill. So, guess what she (and everyone else calls her?) Gil. UGH. I can't win. And I really fought long and hard over Katie's name. Remember those of you who knew me when I was pregnant with her? Saying how Katie Jo wasn't sophisiticated? LOL! I did fight for Katheriine Josephine, but lost. Cheryl's grandmother was Katie and mine was Josephine (although for the record, I always called her Grandma Jo and so did everyone else). Anyway, back to my story. Come to find out that when Cheryl's brother was doing the family history, Cheryl's grandmother's given name was was KATHRINE! HA! But I can't see her as anything other than Katie. Her kindy teacher called her Kate and she always sounded so grown up when I heard her call her that and Katie told me that one of the aides in the room called her Katie Jo Jane which I love and still call her now. Much to her delight I might add. Katie and Gillian both hate their name, but I remind them frequently that I could have just named them Baby Knafelc and Baby Schmidt until they were old enough to name themselves. Besides, isn't it a parent's perogative to torture their children by naming them names they hate? LOL

Onto other things! Gillian leaves on Saturday for Ostomy/diversion camp (as in J Pouch diversion, not behaviour diversion although I can't say that thought hasn't crossed my mind once or twice). This is the first time that she will be flying away from me and she is going all the way to Colorodo. I guess it's practice for when she leaves for college huh? Katie, Cheryl and I are taking off for a few days of fun in Lancaster PA. Mostly because I want to visit some quilt museums and they have a lot there. We are also going to see "In the Beginning" a bible based show down there that I heard was awesome and possibly get Katie to go to DutchWonderland. She saw a dressed up dinosaur on the website so she is convinced it will be walking around the grounds and doesn't want to go. Anyone have some good clues on how to get a 6.5 year old over her fear of dressed up people? It's getting old I do have to admidt. We'll be back by Thursday to get Gil off the plane.

Then we have the 3rd week in August slated to go and visit the 5 college area of NorthHampton MA. Gillian really wants to go to Smith, so we are visiting there, Hampshire, U Mass Amherst, Mt. Holyoke and Amherst. Hopefully, she will wittle down her list, add a few SUNY schools and we will set up some interviews and start getting rolling on college apps. We are still waiting on her SAT scores and she aced all her Regents and finals which given the fact that she was out of school more than she was in it, is a testement to this kids willpower and strength. Not to mention her smarts.

Cheryl is still working at Upstate and I am still working as a Domestic Engineer (read SAHM) Cheryl tolerates her job, but once Gil graduates I can't promise that we will stay here. My disabilities are getting to the point where I need more moderate weather and no stairs, so we will see where that takes us. I found a new Primary Care MD and within 2 appts found out that my thyroid is low and my vitamin D had bottomed out. I am now on meds for that along with my high cholesterol (which she thinks will even out when my Thyroid does) I also finally went for my bone density scan and my spine is very fragile (not including the parts that have already been operated on and have hardware) so the MD is trying to get approval from the insurance company to start me on IV Boniva once every 3 months. Yes, not once a year, but once every 3 months. I don't think I could take having another back operation.

Operation diet has commenced for me too. I gained so much weight with my wonky thyroid that I now have to get it back off. It will help my back and my new problem of having something wrong with the muscle that travels up the front of you. I suspect that it will help my knees and ankle's too.

I am still considering Seminary. I think my best bet will be to see Gillian off to college and get Katie safely ensconsed into 2nd grade before I can devote the willpower to that. So, in place of that I have taken on reading the bible cover to cover and then will go out and buy a study bible to become even more schooled in it.

I am still quilting when my legs and back can stand it. I have lots of UFP's (unfinished projects) including the quilt that Katie picked out for her and I to do for her kindy teacher. That is most pressing as I don't want her graduating from college before it's done. I would say LOL, but it could happen.

I promise for those of you who have been faithful readers that I will try my best to keep you all updated OK?

WOW

Has it really been that long since I have written? Sorry about that folks. Life has been incredibly stressful here. Let me fill you all in.

I think the last time I wrote, Gillian had had her 2nd surgery and was recovering from that. She had a difficult time in her recovery and was hospitalized twice for dehydration and pain. She has since had her 3rd and last (hopfully) surgery. This was her take down surgery where they reconnect her intestines and take down the ileostomy. She has done wonderfully with this surgery. I am still fighting with her to get her to drink and take her meds...it's the whole teen thing, if I don't feel it, I don't need it kind of thing. Along with thinking she knows everything! At any rate, we made it through that surgery and I am just exhausted.

Exhausted to the point where I have been sleeping about 15 hours a day. I have to get back into the doctors and find out what is going on. They think it might have something to do with elevated testosterone levels, but since I haven't been able to get myself to the MD to get the blood taken, I don't know.

Katie is doing great. She still loves school and is just whipping through. She is reading up a storm and adding and subtracting. She loves science and is going to participate in the science fair with her Mama. I love watching their relationship grow together. For those who were worried that they wouldn't bond because I was breastfeeding and staying home with her, well you worried for nothing. She has a very strong bond with her Mama. Sometimes, I will admit, that I feel jealous because they are so close and Katie prefers her Mama over me, it's plain to see. So, I am just trying to be happy for them and not be jealous.

I am still waiting for disability. I hate that system I tell ya. My back is worse than it ever was and I am still waiting for Comp to come through so that I can get my ankle repaired again. I am just tired of waiting for everyone to get their act together.

See, I knew why I stopped blogging....all I seem to do is whine.

Wendy

Gillian's surgery

#2 for those of you keeping track. Life has been unbelievably busy around here and this morning we leave for the hospital in about 2 hours for Gillian to be admitted for her 2nd surgery. This is the surgery where they will create the J Pouch and then give her a loop ileostomy. The loop is somewhat different than what she has now as right now her ostomy is from the end of her small instesting and they are going to move that down and connect it to her rectum, creating a J Pouch. Then they will pull up a loop of her small intestine and that will be her new ostomy for about 6-8 weeks while the J Pouch heals and begins to learn it's function as a colon. In a bout 6 weeks they will scope her and if the JPouch looks healed they will go ahead and shoot dye up through there letting it spill into her bag to make sure the passage is clear. If it is, then they will close of the ostomy and she will be free to go to the bathroom normally. Well, what will become normal to her. 12-15 loose stools a day. They won' hurt and they will get better as the J Pouch learns what it's supposed to do.

So, I have been trying to read, keep up with MD appt's, and quilt. I am just trying to find things to do for myself. They still don't know why I am so swollen and when my regular MD comes back from maternity leave, hopefully they will run the "right" tests to show what is going on.

Katie is doing great in Kindy! She really loves it. Her teacher is wonderful and nurturing which is totally what Katie needs right now with her house ready to move in upheaval land again. This time Gillian should only be in the hospital 3-5 days rather than the 20 something she was in last time. This takes such a toll on Katie as she loves her sister and just wants her to be OK.

Now on a completely different note, how about that inauguration eh? Wasn't that something? I love Obama almost as much as I did Clinton. And not a more glorious site was to be seen when Bush got on his flight out of DC. Good bye and good riddance I say! I love Michelle Obama, her poise and grace are just what the white house needs right now. I have a feeling that we will hear more from her than we did Laura. I think that she will be visable as Hillary was. And what about her being made Secretary of State. Now that is just plain cool I say!

And TV! Anyone here watch LOST? I only watched the first hour, so don't give it away OK? And last night I watched A Very Duggar Wedding which led to some interesting conversations between Cheryl and I. I loved when Jim Bob took Josh off for his "man to man" talk and talked about cherishing women. Then they had to blow it al when during the ceremony they focused on him being her authority. GAG! And we are still die hard Jon and Kate + 8 fans. Can't wait for tonight for them to show where they moved.

So here is a high five to a new administration where hopefully we pull out Iraq and shut down Guantanamo Bay and finally start to lift this country our of the deficit that we are in! I am so hopeful!

Pure nastines

Well, let me start out by saying that I apologize for not writing for so long. My life continues to be consumed by my ever growing medical problems list and Gillian's second surgery is coming up on the 26th of this month. As you can imagine, things have gone to high alert in the family. Even though I vowed that I was going to just "Let go and let God" I don't seem to be following my own advice very well.

So, let me back up and fill you all in. Despite the cold and snow that seems to keep piling up, we had a very nice Christmas. I have decided however, that this is the last year that we are rushing through unwrapping gifts, hurrying to get dressed to head out to my sister's where we rush through opening up gifts so that we can hurry to Cheryl's mother's so that we can sit down and have dinner. It's too much. I just want to spend the day with my family, where the kids can enjoy their presents, and it can just be peacefull. I am all about peace this year.

Speaking of Christmas, Santa was good to everyone this year. He brought an American Girl doll for Katie with a couple of changes of clothes for her. Her new doll is named Amanda and has her very own canopy bed. I just got done finding her a mattress and picked up some cute floral fabric to make a sheet set for the bed. There were some other small things, including a Hello Kitty Camera that I can wait to download the pictures from to see things from her perspective. Gillian got an Ipod Nano. We were going to get her the shuffle, indeed had already bought it and then decided that we would go for the Nano for her and I would keep the shuffle for myself. She seems to be plugged into some kind of technology at all times. I guess that is a teenager for you! I bought Cheryl a new camcorder for her Christmas/birthdat present and she has been having a ball making memories for us. I can't wait to download some of the videos's and share them. I got my most coveted Christmas present of all. A Tassimo coffee maker. Google it if you want to know more, but basically, you fill the well with filtered water, and then buy these little disc's that the machine reads and brews a perfect cup of whatever you've put in there. And does it ever make good coffee, latte's, and even Hot Cocoa. We have a monthly plan where they send you more coffee every 4 weeks and I am just in heaven. No more trying to guess how many cups to make. This just makes it one cup at a time!

Well, I have to go, with so much more to write. Cheryl's mom fell and broke her wrist and I need to take her to her follow up appt to make sure it's healing OK! I will be back later with some pictures and more about my life in general.

Wendy

On becoming a writer

SARK just came out with a new book,Juicy Pens Thirsty Paper that I got ahold of and it's really making me want to actually try and write. I go back and forth with this and usually think of good stuff to write while I am laying in bed at night. I went out and got a USB port to DL stuff to when I do write.

Medically things are still at a standstill with me. I have to go for a heart sono and a sleep study. There is no explaination of why I gained all the water weight that I did. I get so discouraged because I just get to a weight that I am happy about and then BOOM something like this happens.

I have some more cute pictures to upload to show you all the pretty outfits that I have accrued for Katie. I also learned how to make pants and because of that, I am in the process of making a PJ top to match the pants I made and a flannel set for Katie. I am also still quilting, having just made a quick quilt for Katie's dance teacher who just had a baby. I just need to put a few more stitches in to close it up.

Also, I found an awesome series of books that I have really gotten in to. The series is about a Episcopalian preist and his life. The author of the series is Jan Karon and the series is the Mitford Series. I am working on the second book called, A Light In The Window. There is just enough religion that is satisfies me, but not so much that it puts one off.

Anyway, that is the news from here. Look for more writing attempts as time goes on.

Wendy

I was just thinking.....

I am watching Jon and Kate + 8 with Katie (her favorite show) and wondering if I could have sextuplets, I could have free vacations too. It's been far too long since we've gone on vacation and I just want to go somewhere sunny and relax. Of course, they aren't exactly relaxing with all those kids, so I guess it wouldn't pay off.

I went to the MD yesterday and my liver tests were off so I am going for a US of the abdomin on Thursday to see if there is anything going on. I am so swollen (they had to use KY Jelly and pull and pull to get them off my fingers. I feel so lost without them! But I have gained 20 pounds in water weight and I feel so fat. I know that once the meds kick in and I pee out the water I will be back to where I should be.

SO, I leave you as I always do with some cute pictures of my darling. (The one that will let me take pictures. If you are wondering, these are some darling outfits that Denise over at Matilda Jane Clothing sent us. You are reach her here MJC

The day after......

Yesterday I celebrated my 41st birthday! And I got some awesome presents to boot! First, my MIL signed me up for a sewing class. It's a class on making lounge pants which I can't seem to master. I am really excited. I keep wanting to branch out into clothing, but other than some skirts and appliqued tops, I haven't done anything. Once I learn pants, I can start making everyone some lounge pants to lounge around on Sunday after church!

Secondly, I got 2 gift cards! One to Starbucks and another to Barnes and Noble. These were from my Sweetie! I have been wanting to get Bill Bryson's newest book on Shakesphere so this is where that will go. She also took the day off and we ended up doing some Christmas shopping for the kids and had a nice breakfast together and then came home and cuddled while I dozed. It was too quick before it was time to get Katie off the bus and me to go and get Gillian to bring her to an appt. The girls each got me a card and Katie made a picture frame of with a picture of just her and I in it and Gillian gave me a huge bag of M&M's! YUM! Cheryl made me a delectable dinner of Salmon with an apple sauce on top, acorn squash with wild rice cooked in it and pea's! YUM! For dessert she made me banana's foster which I adore and would rather have than cake anyday!

It was the most perfect present ever. If I could wrap the day up and open it up over and over again I would.

And here is Katie yesterday. If you ever buy anything from Mini Boden buy these tights and this dress. The tights are nice and soft and the dress just makes you want to hug her even more than you already do, it's that soft!



I did snap another picture today, but I was reading a great book and lost track of time so I will have to send that picture later.