What's the deal with Wisdom Teeth?

Doesn't the word "wisdom" mean to be "wise, have knowledge, understanding, experience," etc.? Why then, is it that wisdom teeth are so dumb? I mean, nearly everyone has them, and probably 99% of the people you ask have had theirs removed? They come in crooked, push against the other teeth to screw up their alignment, and are basically just a pain in the @ss.

Today it was A.J.'s turn to go through this right of passage...He had all 4 of them removed. The top two weren't too bad, but the bottom two were totally horizontal, and impacted. They had started to affect his jaw bone, so it was definitely time to get them yanked. Thankfully I know an awesome oral surgeon very near by, so we were able to take care of it quickly today.

A.J.'s nerves were a little on edge this morning, which was totally understandable. I have learned that when he gets nervous, he makes jokes, and chit-chats 90 miles an hour. It is funny and very endearing.

He did great today though, and once he was settled in the chair, he was ready to get things rolling. The surgery itself took only about 45 minutes, and before we knew it they called us back to help him get up and get to the car. A.J. was given "laughing gas" before he got his IV to really knock him out. As he came out of the anesthesia he really was laughing. He was so relieved that it was over so easily. The funniest thing to us was listening to him say how he could walk to the car on his own. He barely made it 4 steps to the wheelchair on his own before flopping down and giggling nearly uncontrollably.

He is home now, resting comfortably with ice on his face, and biting down on the gauze. Fun way to spend the weekend, huh? It sure could be worse!

Getting ready...(love the hat - can I get some fries with my burger?)
Nearly knocked out.

Yea! All done! Time to go home for a nap!

Sweetness!

I caught Kona and Harley napping together in the sun yesterday afternoon. They looked so happy and relaxed that I wanted to go out and lay down with them!

Not a care in the world...must be nice!

The "Project"

Remember a couple of weeks ago when I was working on a "hush-hush" project? Well, I am finally getting around to updating about it...

First let me tell you that it was a big hit with the "Birthday Girl." I caught her by surprise, and it was great to see how much she appreciated it.

What I did was make a scrap book about our trip last April to London and Paris. I'd had the best of intentions of making the book for her during the summer, but we all know that good intentions don't get the job done. Even when we were on the trip last year I knew I was going to make a book for her. (The "Birthday Girl" Cricket, and her Hubby "HB" traveled with us, and we had a blast of a trip.) I wanted to be sure to capture all of the details along the way, so I collected things every day when we were out and about. Train tickets, castle tickets, metro passes, you name it, I picked it up. I also wrote in a journal every night, documenting what we did that day, sights we saw, and even how far we walked. You know, things start slipping your mind after a while, and I wanted to remember everything.

All of those things came in really handy when I finally got my butt in gear, and started the book. It took me a while to go through the over 1,000 pictures I took to find the best ones, and get everything in order, but it was worth every moment. Hopefully it brings Cricket as many happy memories as it did to me. Here are just a couple of the pages from the book...

Opera and Ajax

Is it just me, or does anyone else like to get their house cleaning done while listening to either opera music, or classical music? I don't know what it is, but for some reason, when I turn that music on, I can get myself in gear, big time. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that it's usually in Italian (which, although I sing along with, I have no idea what it means.). I can belt out a heck of an aria though, right along with the best of them. Just ask my neighbors...then again, maybe you shouldn't.

Anyway, lately I've been listening the Marriage of Figaro, and Paul Potts. Both totally different, yet both totally awesome, and inspiring (at least to get my kitchen cleaned) and both best appreciated when cranked up really, REALLY, REALLY loud, in my humble opinion at least.

Happy Birthday Pops!

Today is my Dad's 80th birthday! What a wonderful milestone to reach. He is doing pretty good, and I can only hope that I am doing as good when I reach his age! Of course, I'm sure it has a LOT to do with how well he is taken care of. Gotta give G-Ma major props for waiting on him hand and foot!

Tonight we will have a quiet little family celebration. We went out to a favorite Seafood restaurant this past Saturday to celebrate, as my brother was in town (from Dallas) for the weekend and it was a nice chance for us all to get together. I'll be making dinner tonight for everyone, and I'm looking forward to the evening. At first I felt a little bad about not planning anything bigger for the occasion, but Pops (G-Pa) is pretty low key, and easy to please...of course it doesn't hurt that he and G-Ma will be leaving for a 10 day trip to Hawaii on Monday either! Yeah, poor guy has it rough, doesn't he?

Happy Birthday Pops! You are very loved!

I'm not nuts!

Ok, well, maybe that's too strong of a statement....How about, "I'm not nuts about my leg being numb." Yes, that's much better!

I finally, FINALLY got some answers today. I went and saw the neurologist that ordered my MRI. He got the results, and sure as heck, there is a problem. Actually two problems. Do I sound happy? I don't mean to, but I have to admit, I was so relieved that he actually saw SOMETHING going on to explain why my silly leg has been number for nearly 7 weeks! I have a slipped disc (between L4 & L5), and a bulging disc (between L5 & S1). A bulging what? Yeah, a disc in my lower back. It's bulging out and pressing on the nerve that goes down the back of my leg. Viola! Pressure on the nerve = numbness, and I'm not loosing my mind! Whoop! Whoop!

Ok, so now what, right? He offered me medication for the pain. There is no pain. Hello, that's the problem, remember, I can't feel anything on the back of my leg! He asked if my leg was weak? Well, yes, but how weak do you mean? Could I walk in another 60 mile walk right now, heck no! Can I walk around the block without an issue, absolutely. After a mile or two, it does start to feel weak, but is that the "weak" he talking about? Heck, I don't know...

What's the next step? Great question. He's not suggesting anything right now, other than some over the counter ant-inflamitories, no lifting anything heavy, and taking it easy...Yeah, like that will happen. He does say that surgery is an option that we may want to look into down the road a bit. If, you know, my leg starts getting weak....

Thankful for Borrowed Time

In September of 2007 we got some new neighbors. A young family moved in across the street, they had a young daughter, two sweet dogs, a Mom (we'll call her "C") and a Dad. Right off the bat it was easy to see that Mom ("C") was pregnant. They were very nice people, tolerant of the Halloween craziness that always happens at our house at the end of October, and just all around very pleasant neighbors.

At the end of February 2008, "C" had her baby. It had been a normal pregnancy, with no complications, and no reasons to worry. Unfortunately, the birth itself didn't go as planned. There were complications, and problems. Big problems. The baby was starved of oxygen to her brain during the birth process. "C"s baby girl Finnley was born, and although she was alive, she was declared brain dead. The doctors told "C" that her baby only had a couple of days to live.

"C" and her husband were shocked and heartbroken. All of their plans for their future came crashing in. The dress they'd bought for Finnley's Baptism would now be the dress they would bury her in. Their family came to town from all over the country to offer support and the help they would need in the future days and weeks.

After a few days in the hospital, Finnley was stable enough to bring home. "C" and her husband brought their sweet, beautiful baby girl home with them, knowing it would only be for a short time that they were able to shower their love on her, and enjoy the essence of her being. They hired a professional photographer to come to the house to take family pictures, they spent every moment holding her, loving her, and praying for her. They asked the members of their church to pray for Finnley, their neighbors, and everyone they could reach. Pray for a miracle.

Those few days went by...and they turned into a few weeks. Finnley was eating, sleeping, crying, pooping. Everything a newborn baby is supposed to do. The doctors told "C" and her husband that those were involuntary things, not to get their hopes up, that this sweet baby's body just hadn't given up yet.

More weeks turned into months. "C" insisted that they do the tests again. Check the brain activity, see if maybe, somehow, there had been a mistake. They tested again. The results were the same. There was little, if any, brain activity. Yet, "C" had the proof in her hands. Finnley was able to smile,track with her eyes, hear Mommy's voice and respond to it. How could this baby be brain dead? The doctors couldn't explain it. Still can't.

More time went by, more prayers were offered, and more little miracles happened. Finnley wasn't able to do most things that babies of her age were able to do, but each and every day they shared with her was a miracle.

This past Saturday, the neighbors and the friends got together with the family in the park. We came together to celebrate a year of miracles. Sweet baby Finnley had her first birthday! I don't think any of us actually ever thought we'd see this happen. It was wonderful, and touching, and an occasion to celebrate every day, every moment.

Don't let a day go by that you don't appreciate. No matter what situation you are in, it can always, always be worse. Each and everyone one of us is living on borrowed time. Be thankful for every day you are given. I know Finnley's family is thankful for everyday they have with her.