sometimes you just have to laugh

Aren't the curve balls life throws us just insane sometimes? This story begins on Thursday night, you know the one where I had all the baking to do. When we got home from the scrimmage I was a little nauseous and my stomach was a little achy. You know me, I had too much to do, so I ignored it. Friday morning, I was not feeling so hot, like fluish. I sat around all day, getting ready for the movie night, and doing a variety of household chores. Honestly, I was trying to get my house semi-clean because I was convinced something was really wrong with me and my mom would have to come take care of the girls, so I had to clean. By the time I went to the movie night, I told Mike something was wrong. I am one of those people though, I think I am dying if I have a pain. I convinced myself that I was probably "backed up" or something. TMI, I know, but it's the truth. When we got home I leaned over my bed to give HG a kiss and ended up sleeping in my clothes and not budging all night. I cannot tell you the last time I slept ALL NIGHT, it was huge. Saturday morning, I couldn't move. I had really talked myself into the idea that I had appendicitis, but was trying to make it go away. After talking to the health professionals in the fam, Mike and I decided it would be best to go ahead and go to the walk-in clinic. My most amazing next door neighbor took the girls and off we went.

We have a super nice emergency walk-in clinic right by our house, so glad. We filled out paperwork and sat and waited for the nurse on base to call and say it was ok for me to be seen. I must say I was quite annoyed by the time I got off the phone with her. I know it is there job, but no, I do not have a drinking problem and the whites of my eyes are just fine!! We finally got in a room and the PA evaluated me and told us the game plan. He wanted to make sure everything was ok with my appendix so I would drink some contrast, wait an hour and have a ct scan. During this time they would give me an iv with fluids and pain medicine. At this point, I wanted to run out the door. IV's are my least favorite thing!! They can never find a vein and I am always black and blue for weeks to follow. Well, this time could have possibly been the worst. It took 2 people an hour to finally get an iv in. Of course, it was because I was dehydrated. Once they got the iv in and taped down, I had an allergic reaction to latex. What? Everything, the tape, the tubing, everything was latex and I was getting blisters everywhere. Once they got that fixed the waiting began. An hour passed, they took me to xray to have my scan. I am pretty sure I was drooling, those pain meds were no joke!! After the scan, we waited for the radiologist to read it and give us the results. The PA walked in and said that my entire right side was so inflamed that my appendix was not even visible in the scan. Mike could either drive me or I go could go by ambulance downtown to the hospital and the surgeon would be waiting on us in the ER. Umm, I still cannot to this day, describe to you how I felt. I was overwhelmed by so many emotions. What if I didn't wake up? Were the girls ok? How many times had Mady been in time-out? Who was going to take care of the girls if Mike had to work? Why is this happening??? This was one of those things you never imagine happening to you. When someone gives you this information things get real, really fast.

We got to the hospital and were greeted by 2 nurses and within the minute the surgeon was by my side telling me what all they would be doing. They wheeled me upstairs, the "sleep" dr. asked me a few questions and I was asleep. They didn't even give me time to think about what was going on, thank goodness. I seriously was unconscious 15 minutes after arriving.

When I woke up I don't really remember much. Mike was there and so was Meggan. I just remember being so, so hungry and no one would let me eat. Let me tell you, pain meds and a hungry girl don't go great together. I sent Mike home because I knew the girls were needing him and there was really nothing he could do for me. The next morning he left the girls with Meggan and came back to the hospital with me. The surgeon came in and explained to me what happened.

He explained to me that a piece of fat had twisted itself around my abdominal wall and was cutting off the circulation. He said that I have an incredible pain tolerance because it was excruciating pain. Yay me!! He also repaired a hernia, and removed my appendix. He then proceeded to tell me I could go home and do a bunch of nothing for the next couple of weeks. Apparently, someone forgot to tell him I have 3 children.

March 17: GREEN

I sat in my hospital bed, drugged up and all searching for something green. Believe it or not, the only green thing in my room was this light in front of me.

March 18: A CORNER OF YOUR HOUSE

My little corner for the next couple of weeks.

This has been one of the craziest things I have ever, ever experienced. The recovery has been horrible. Mucho props to those of you who have had C-Sections. Incisions on your tummy are one big deal!! I want to brag once again on the medical facilities and professionals here in Charleston. Unbelievable, all of them. I have been so impressed by every dr. we have ever had to see. My surgeon had a bow tie on when he released me, love it!! Thank you all for your prayers!! I am so blessed to be surrounded by so many people who care about me. I love you all!!!

The craziness continues

Sometimes you can be so glad to be home, but so sad at the same time. I feel like every time we go "home" leaving gets harder. Honestly, I hate it. Life goes on, you know. I can say with a very red face that no, my bags are not completely unpacked. Whoops!! We can't seem to catch our breath around here. When we got home we had softball practice, homework, projects, and all those other things I manage to sign myself up for.

Thursday, this was a week ago today. Audrey had a softball scrimmage and Mike had practice. Well, I had known since before we were home that Audrey had a project due on Friday, as well as Family Movie Night at the port. Since we had softball, I knew it would be a very late night. That's how we roll. Right, dad?! Audrey had to build a leprechaun trap, therefore I immediately went to Pinterest :) When Audrey came home from school that day I told her I wanted to show her what I had found. I pulled out my laptop and her response was as follows, "Pinterest, Pinterest, it always gets us out of trouble." Ha!! I found the idea here. Of course, I would find the most difficult trap. Oh well, we had a great time doing this together! I was making cupcakes to look like buckets of popcorn for the movie night, so I decided to do it all at the same time. Smart, right? Mom, you should be so proud that I was thinking like a baker!! Ha! I got the cake finished and the cupcakes baked, but decided to let me cool overnight.

Here is the final product :) If you don't want to take the time to go to the link and see the original, I will save you some time. The cake part was made to look like a rainbow. We cut the center of the cake out, put pretzel sticks across like bars, and put gold (chocolate) across the bars. The trick is the leprechaun will climb up the cake to get the gold and fall in the hole. He will have to eat his way out of the cake and when he does he will eat the rainbow, leaving no gold at the end. Cute, huh? It was fun for AK to share with her class.

For the Family Movie Night, I thought it would be fun to give the kids their own tickets and "money" to use at the concession stand. They loved it!!

Here are the cupcakes :) I have to admit I was pretty proud of myself. I will warn you, don't make them unless you have hours to burn, hours.

All the kiddos watching Puss in Boots.

AK and MP loved wearing their pajamas :)

Miss Innocent, yeah! This was right after she had fallen out of the truck onto the asphalt. She put on quite a show, let me tell ya. We went thru numerous bandaids in the next 2 hrs. She loves showing off battle scars now. Oh, MP!!

While we were at the movie night Mike took HG to the walk-in clinic because she just hadn't really been herself, fever and all. She had an ear infection, of course. Antibiotics and tylenol and everyone was feeling better.

The greatest vacation of all times

So, for the last month or so I have been talking about going home. I haven't really expanded on that because it was something we wanted to keep to ourselves until we finally made it there. This trip to Abilene was different than any other. This trip was so special!! This trip WE ALL GOT THE SAME LAST NAME!!! That's right, we traveled to Abilene to have an adoption hearing. March 9, Mike adopted Audrey. We have been a family always, this just put the stamp on it. It was such a special day for so many people in so many ways. I love that this day was chosen for our hearing, because on this same day 5 years prior, Mike and I went on our first date! Thank you to everyone who has prayed for us as we have been on this journey!

The Schlauch family :)

This baby was a perfect traveler. Take that every person who dreaded your flight as soon as you saw me walk onto the plane, ha!!

So excited to fly!!

Daddy studied

Asleep at Wingstop after being up for 18 hrs.

We had dinner with our greatest friends on Saturday night!! Thank you all for a great night!!

Before we left to fly home we stopped to see my Grandaddy. I wish I had a video of how much HG loved him. I think it was some pretty good medicine for him!

While we were home Madelynn got super, super sick. I don't think I have ever seen her feel this bad. It broke my heart to be around so many people we love when she felt so horrible. She ended up having an ear infection and was put on four different medications. This picture is of her poor little face with all the broken blood vessels from coughing so much!!

My mom and sister drove us to Dallas to catch our flight home. We left in plenty of time so we stopped to get something to eat in Weatherford, so we didn't have to eat in the airport. Well, long story short, we missed our flight. We were able to get to Houston, but were put on standby for the flight into Charleston. Our luggage was sent to Charleston so we were looking at staying the night in H town with nothing. I was a little frazzled thinking about being there until 8 pm the following day with 3 children, and no belongings. We got to Houston and began the wait to see if would make it standby. I know, for a fact, I had lots of people praying, we made it!! I have no idea how we were lucky enough to get 5 people on a plane, but we did!! We made it back into Charleston only 30 minutes after our original flight landed!! Woohoo!!

Under the big top

We had the opportunity a few weeks ago to go to the greatest show on earth!!! Let me tell you, that it was!! We were a part of a military group who got to go behind the scenes and got the royal treatment. The girls had a blast, and I nearly had a heart attack, several times. Some of the things they do are incredible!!

Photo Challenge, Fail

I've tried, I really have. I thought about going back and making up the days I missed, but changed my mind. Here are the days I did get. Hopefully, it will get better.

Feb. 26: NIGHT

Little precious slept on the couch while I finished up laundry

Feb 27: MONEY

What a weird thing to take a picture of? I got to thinking, I am pretty sure someone took a picture of their debit/credit card. Smart? NOT!! I thought about it, but then realized the world would have my number, hello!! I took a picture of this $2 bill. This $2 was sitting on AK's dresser. She got it in a Valentine's Day card from Grano and Grandaddy. Growing up, we always got these from my grandparents for special occasions. I love that they continue this tradition with my girls.

March 1: UP

I had to include 2 pictures for this day. I knew on this morning exactly what my picture would be. I want you all to see Mike's plane. It is ginormous and really just awesome!! It would be perfect because I would be going to the AF base for a BBQ that afternoon and I could get a pic up close and personal. Well, umm yeah right. Apparently, the AF does not want you taking pictures of their flight line. I kept coming up with great ideas of how to take a picture, but Mike assured me we would both end up in jail. As I was driving home I spotted one flying right over head, perfect!!! I pulled over and pulled my phone out to snap a pic. Yep, that little speck in the sky is the huge plane. I obviously wasn't fast enough. I will try again. My 2nd picture is of something I couldn't wait to see when I found out we were moving here. Maybe it's just me, but when I think of Charleston I think of moss hanging from trees. I couldn't wait to see this!! It really is not as all over the place like in pictures, but it is here, and I love it!!

March 5: SMILE

There's nothing better than this girls smile!! This picture is right after her first softball practice.

March 6: 5 PM

My favorite picture, thus far!! Our suitcases full of clothes to go home to TEXAS!!! Yeehaw!!!

And the winner for the biggest blog slacker goes to......

ME!!! I have started to blog several times and it just hasn't happened. Life has been super exciting in our house lately. Way to exciting to tell you all about it in one post, so be expecting several posts here soon :)

Chuck E. Cheese for a birthday party

Hat day for Dr. Seuss week :)

The weather has been beautiful lately, so we have been spending a lot of time at the park.

Of course I had to try the broom trick, craziness!!

My 2 littles