Lucky number 8...

So I'm having a tough time with the latest news and the new plan of action I am facing.  I am about to go under the knife AGAIN - this will be the 8th time since 1996.  But before I begin to discuss what I'm doing I'll do a short recap of what brought me to 8.

Way back in 96 (I must have only been 15 at the time -lol -I wish) I had a grape fruit sized cyst on my right ovary that need to be removed - thankfully it was done laparoscopically.  While the doctor was in there they noticed my appendix was inflamed so they removed it as well.  Everything went a lot better then the doctor had prepared me for.  At the young age of 22 I had given my surgeon permission to give me a partial hysterectomy but thankfully it wasn't needed.

1999 - I had a small fragmented disc and had back surgery to remove it.  Everything went well with no lasting damage.
2001 - Emergency c-section to deliver Caitlin
2003 - Planned c-section to deliver Mikayla

2006 started having issues again with my cysts and now a new problem - fibroids.

December 2008 - Surgery to repair a small hernia I received in Kick Boxing class - but once inside it was discovered that I had what's called a Massive Lumbar Hernia and the small one I went in for had repaired itself..  Massive Lumbar Hernia's are very rare and my surgeon and 2 others had never seen it before in person.  They were excited about it - me not so much.  My surgeon put it this way when describing what I had.  You could take your fist and put it through me - right below the ribs without touching intestines.  The intestines were off to one side of my body.  He said "You were put together wrong".  Gee thanks! :)  I actually really like my surgeon - I better since I've let him cut me open 3 times!

July 2009 - Back in to see the surgeon - this time gall bladder removal. Lab result- Chronically inflamed and over-active.

Sept. 2010- Back in for the third time with this surgeon to have scar tissue removed that was pulling my stomach and liver together.  This is pretty painful if you haven't had it! At that time my surgeon took a little look and a few photos of my uterus and again in his words after surgery "your uterus is huge!" He also saw a new cyst and possible endometriosis.  He told me to talk with my OB and that most likely I'll need a hysterectomy. This was not the first time I've heard this.  But I didn't want to - I was tired of doctors, hospitals, needles etc... and I had finally started to feel well enough to train and complete a 1/2 marathon this last June and now I'm even retraining for another 1/2 marathon but in barefoot running shoes - that's another story.

Well during this time of training I had been struggling with a enlarged uterus, fibroids and cysts but in my mind the pain was manageable and nothing was going to stop me from running my 1/2.  Well this month my body decided to throw me a new one and I just can't deal with it anymore. So I saw my new and fabulous OB and I am scheduling a hysterectomy.  They will remove everything but the left ovary - - - hopefully.  Not sure of the date yet but it will be soon.  Because of my history and being put together wrong I will have the old school surgery - a small incision in the same area of my c-sections.  Sigh....

So that's where I'm at - I'm more fearful of this one - it's a major surgery and I've been told the pain will be greater then the others.  But the silver lining is that the problem with cysts and other issues  that have been following me around for years is just about over - the pain will be gone - I won't look pregnant anymore when I'm not and I'll be able to completely get on with my life without pain.

Just a few photos from the 4th...

A little late but we had a wonderful 4th of July!  We had a small gathering of family and friends at the house to have a little BBQ and fire off fireworks.

Late Update...

Wow - I can't believe I missed a month of updating.  Thank you Texas family and friends for reminding me to get on here and post the latest and greatest!

It's been a busy Spring - May seems like a blur to me now.  Mike and I celebrated our 13th anniversary if you can believe it - we had a romantic getaway that was very much needed.

I went out of town at the end of May on a business trip. I was able to tour a paper mill in Wallula WA.  It may not seem interesting but it really was.  It was nice meeting the people I talk to and work with from the Mill on a monthly basis.  I'm hoping to travel to one of our other Mills this fall.

The kids have been very busy with gymnastics - Caitlin worked hard and moved up two levels and was so excited!  Mikayla looks at gymnastics as a social event and is happy just being able to goof off with a few kids.  It's so interesting to see the difference in the two.

Mike received a promotion in May and things are going really well at SuperValu.  We've been blessed with a flexible schedule so it works out great with the kids school and summer schedule.

After my last surgery when I finally started to feel better I knew I needed to get back into shape so I started to set some goals.  Two years of living in some sort of pain really slows you down!  So one of my goals was to do a 1/2 marathon.  This is somewhat funny since I haven't even done any other races.  Well, one of my dearest friends from Up with People flew out just 2 weeks ago from PA to run a 1/2 marathon with me.  I haven't been able to train as much as I wanted but we did it and we finished in the time we wanted to!  I felt the inner athlete in me come back out - she had been hiding for awhile.  During the race I was feeling great until we hit mile 9.  A little after we passed the marker my right hip started to hurt.  My run slowed and I ended up walking more then I wanted to.  Even my walk was slowed way down since every step I took shot pain through my thigh.  But I fought through it and I was able to run in.  What an accomplishment!  It felt great passing over the finish line especially with Sue and the kiddo's by my side. (they joined us the last 50 yards)  It took about 3 days for the pain in my hip and leg to pass but I'm happy to report that I'm feeling better.  Hopefully my new barefoot running shoes will help prevent that pain in coming back - more to come on that later.
I have to mention too that my fabulous little brother Ben and his bride Liya flew in for Father's day and were able to make it to the race - it meant so much to me to have them there!  I love how close we've been able to come -  I absolutely adore them both.  

Race day!  

Butterfly on Caitlin at Polly Bemis

 The only way into the ranch is by river boat or small plane. 

We took the boat and the river was high which made for a really fun ride! 

 I love it up here!  

The lodge at Polly Bemis - we were the only guests that week!  

Celebrating at Polly Bemis

Caitlin celebrated her 10th birthday this month.  We did a surprise room make over for her complete with new furniture, wall decor, lamps, curtains, a rug and even a hanging chair!  We also took her up to Polly Bemis with Sue.  She had a great time.

Well I think that about sums it up - I'm sure I've left out a few things.  I'll try to get back to updating on a weekly basis or so but summers seem to be really busy for this little family.  July will fly by I'm sure as the girls have several camps they are attending and we have a few weekend getaways planned.  

Hope the update finds y'all happy and healthy! 

My Future car...

I now know someone who has the exact car I've always wanted!!  My boss owns it!!  He said he'll take good care of it until I can buy it from him.  I need to set up a car fund for donations!  Check this beautiful car out! 

It's Thelma and Louise - - - I mean Andi and Allyn

Passion and Purpose...

Last November Sue had these shirts made for us before she competed in the Tempe Ironman- which she finished!!  I think about it sometimes when I'm running and not wanting to - what is my passion and what is the purpose of doing this?  I am easily reminded and it pushes me to keep moving! 

Thanks Sue - you are the greatest!! 

Ramping up...

Sue has her airline ticket to Boise, registration for the race paid and Polly Bemis has been booked.  My beautiful friend Sue (the Ironman finisher) has agreed to be my wing man in a race coming up.  Her dedication and love for running has inspired me and now that I'm all healed up and feeling 100 times better then I have in a couple of years I am going to give it a shot as well.  Her week will start with us doing a 1/2 marathon followed by a trip to Polly Bemis.   I am so excited to have her here in Idaho again - it's going to be a blast!  Just had to share my excitement!!

Farmer at heart...

Am I a farmer at heart?  My Great Grandmother lived on a large farm her entire life - exploring the barns, getting the eggs from the coop in the morning and listening to her talk about her life always brings back wonderful memories.  I can still remember how her old farm house smelled - it had that old smell but you could almost inhale the memories and stories that she had from 70 years inside those walls.  I wish I could have introduced her to her Great Great Grand kids but she lives on in our hearts and I love to tell her stories.

So with that being said I am proud to introduce to you Buttercup, Speedy, Nugget and Drumstick.  We now have 4 chicks at the Deely house that will grown up and start producing awesome brown eggs for us this summer.  Here are a few photo's of our latest adventure. 

The girls holding Buttercup and Speedy

the day we brought them home - they were so little and cute!

 Just 2 weeks later!!  So big already!

 We added Drumstick last weekend - she loves to be held which is so weird.

 We've had so much rain we've had to set up a "covered work Station"

on the back patio so we can still work on the coop in the rain. 

Correction - Mike can still work on the coop...

 It's almost done.