What My Life Consists Of...

I feel so pathetic. I have been wanting to update my blog for days now but I did not want to update it with anything surgery, work or baby related. But then the sad realization came:those things are what my life revolves around right now. I have no other life happenings. And so, my urge to post something new has taken over and it is yet another post about surgery and baby.

Jared is doing wonderfully. It is the 21st day after surgery and he is eating with a spoon! (granted sometimes he misses his mouth, but he is doing VERY well!) While he still had to puree everything, he got so sick of using a syringe he made himself learn how to use a spoon again. He only has to rubber band his jaw shut at night now, which makes things so much easier! He even felt like he could function normally enough to go to church today! He rolled up the bread into the tightest ball he could and swallowed it like a pill, and did the best he could with the water, and he even made a comment in Elders quorum! Oh he is growing up so fast! haha (ok healing so fast). This Thursday the doctor gave him the green light to begin some physical activity again. (non-impact exercises like lifting weights and stationary bicycle riding) I think that will help improve Jared's spirits and help him not feel so bored and helpless.

Here are some pictures to show Jared's progress with swelling and recovery. This was taken the 3rd day after surgery. You can see he is trying so hard to open his eyes because the swelling had traveled and his eyes were swelling shut.
This is the 5th day after surgery. The swelling had decreased around his eyes and a little around his jaw.
This was taken last night, so the 20th day after surgery. He is back to normal around his eye area and about the cheekbones, but below the cheekbones he still has very noticable swelling, especially on his right side. But it has improved a LOT!

We are very grateful for his healing well and quickly. I know it is not really quick, and that we still have months and months to go, but he is dramatically better than he was those first days out of surgery. And he even said that he doesnt hate the doctor andymore haha. (Jared was nto a fan of his doctor when he was in so much pain and so miserable. who would?)

As for our baby, she is a little mover. I say she is a born dancer, already dancing in my uterus. But Jared refuses the dancer baby and says she is a basketball/volleyball girl already practicing her moves. Either way, she is moving a lot already.

I am 25 weeks along, only 15 more to go! And I am a little nervous about those 15 weeks. I feel so huge and akward already, and I am dreading getting even bigger and more akward, but I guess thats what comes with pregnancy. haha

I am in the phase now where I should be buying maternity clothes, but I hate wearing clothes anyways, nothing is comfortable, so I am resisting buying new ones (probably the first time in my life). I do not normally wear this tight of a shirt, I just did that for the picture. Thank goodness for the baby doll tees because I have been able to get away with just wearing those so far. My wardrobe of choice (on weekends when I dont have to do anything or when I get home from work) is my robe (big, fluffy, comfortable, loose....what more could a preggo girl ask for?) or sweats and the baggiest shirt I can find.
But I have made it through six months (almost, I am in my sixth month) of this and only a few more to go! The end is in sight.....somedays => haha

I have been really lucky tho, I have had a good pregnancy. Besides getting the flu and the feeling nauseous all the time in the first trimester, there is nothing really big to complain about. (although I do have to go back and get one of those HUGE shots in my hip again next month, I'm not looking forward to that very much) I can say being pregnant is definately not my favorite thing, but I have been extremely blessed to have a relatively easy pregnancy. Since I found out I was pregnant people feel the need to tell me all their pregnancy horror stories and it made me very nervous and scared. I like to think of this good pregnancy as a blessing from the Lord, because he knows if this was a bad one He would have to have some huge convincing miracle for me to have another one. But this has been good, so I am not totally opposed to doing it again => haha And we are leaning towards the name Paige Arlene for our little baby girl!

My New Husband

It is not every life that a woman gets to be married to the same man but have two different husbands. haha Jared's surgery was major, and it majorly changed his apperance. This is a profile picture of Jared on our cruise in August, so about 4 months before his surgery.
And here is a profile picture we took of Jared yesterday. (we take pictures every day to document the swelling)

He still has a bunch of swelling, but this gives you a general idea of the major change. Both he and I are very interested to see what he will look like after all the swelling goes away (in 3-6 months or more according to his doctor) As for now, I love him and still find him incredibly handsome (even with a huge swollen face) and we are just trying to get through these recovery periods with as much comfort and ease as possible.

My Addiction Confession

I have an addiction, and according to Jared it is a pretty severe one. I am addicted to F*R*I*E*N*D*S. This is no laughing matter. That show is practically all I can think about. If I am not watching it, I am thinking about watching it. I even dream in FRIENDS episodes. I watch it so much even my husband dreams about the characters (although he has refused to sit and watch it with me for a couple days now, it has been inbedded him). The full series of FRIENDS is the one present Jared is truly regreting giving me for Christmas. I have owned it for a little over two weeks now and have already watched 121 of the 236 episodes. As you can imagine, it takes up much time, aditional time I have to spend away from my loving husband (because he refuses to watch more). It is not that I don't love you Jared, but I just NEED my FRIENDS......... yes, its a problem.

She Moves!

Last night was the first night Jared and I felt our little one move! Yippie!!
People have been asking me if I had felt her move yet, and it was starting to get me really concerned (also the fact that I am not as big as other people as pregnant as me). And me being the worry wart that I am, did not make for some calming thoughts. Then two nights ago I had a really weird sensation in my stomach when we were lying in bed getting ready to sleep. I didn't know what it was, and I couldn't really describe it so I mentioned it to Jared, but we both figured it was no big deal or that it might possibly be the baby. Well, last night I felt it again. There was enough light to see, so I looked at my stomach. It was the weirdest thing, I could see the part that felt weird poke in and out. It was our baby pushing out my stomach! So I told Jared where to put his hand and he felt it too!!
Let me tell you, it is a weird thought to think that something other than you is living in you and moving on their own accord. But it is amazing at the same time! And the reality that we are going to actually have a baby person and I am not just getting a round stomach is starting to sink in more (although not totally).
But I am happy to report that our baby is heathy, alive and kicking!! =>

New Year Festivities

I forgot I did not write about our new year festivities, and I suppose now is as good of time as any.

As any good celebration party should have, we got a cookie cake from the Cookie Co. That place is so good to us! We asked for extra icing (because thats the best part) and they gave us a good amount! And my Mom had to show it off like Vana White. =>
The giant cookie was not our ony food. Our whole breakfast table was covered with delicious snacks! I took this picture about halfway thru the getting out food process. We later took al the paper goods off the table and replaced it with more food, which is of course, the best part of parties. =>
While waiting for the big moment we played charades, watched a movie, chatted, then finally it came! The ball dropped and poppers were popping.
Happy New Year!! Welcome 2010! => I like that in the picture of my family I caught my Mom and Dad going for their New Years Kiss, and Jared and I have a picture of our New Years kiss! Oh so romantic! =>
January first the fam went to see Avatar in 3d. Jared has taken some of the boys to watch it earlier in the week and they loved it, so we figured it was worth it, and it would be cool to see in 3d. And for some reason in this picture I look totally fat pregnant. I find it kind of depressing, but I guess such is life. There are flattering pictures and not, this is the latter. But is was a good movie, and worth it =>
After the movie we dropped Kalyn off at home (she was feeling under the weather) and the rest of us went to eat at Tommys! JAred had never been there before, and of course my Dad could not pass up the opportunity to educate his son-in-law on the finer foods in life. => We were going to go to the original one, in downtown LA, but it was too far away and my Mom was nervous about taking all the boys down there, so we settled for the closer one.
Look at all that delicious, greasy, chilie filled food! Yumm!! The little boys were excited to be there, its like better than McDonalds for them, because they only get to go once in a blue moon.

My Dad was entirely too excited to be there and eating this food. Jared liked it, he said it was very good. And this picture catches Jared enjoying his food/chuckiling at my Dad raving about it, and my Dad bursting with satisfaction and joy. haha Priceless.
The next day was Kalyn's little incident. She fainted int he bathroom, hit her head on the floor, and then couldn't feel or use her arms/hands. Jared was down the hall and saw the whole thing pan out, got to her right as she was making contact with the ground. He and my Dad gave her a blessign and then the paramedics came. They were really nice and calm men. What a blessing they are! They put Kalyn in all this gear then on a stretcher and out to the ambulence.
It was a cool sight to see the fire engine, paramedic truck, and ambulence in front of our house. Mom rode in the front of the ambulence to the hospital and Dad drove his car and followed them. After all the hospital tests and stuff Kalyn was released, and now she is all better and partying in London!

After we found out Kalyn would be ok and my Dad came back to get the boys Jared and I headed back to Utah to start the other exciting phase of this year, his surgery. Yep, all this excitement within a week. What a week. haha But hey, we can say that 2010 definately started off with a unique bang =>

He is Amazing

It has been six days since Jared had his mouth cut up. And let me tell you, those six days have been one heck of a roller coaster. From Monday to Friday the most sleep I ever got in one night was 3 hours, and the least sleep I got was 45 minutes. I kid you not! Needless to say I was exhausted! Jared got that much sleep too, but he took naps during the day. I couldn't, I was at work. So its no suprise when my body tries to give up and catch a cold, but I will not let it! Health will prevail!

As for Jared, it really depends on the time of day whether he is feeling good or crappy. Sometimes he is up and moving around, getting food and medicine himself, and others he is just able to hang in there. The recovery time period for this surgery is 3 months until he is "almost normal", so in all reality more than three months. Adn the worst it is supposed to be is in the first 2 1/2 to 3 weeks. So, he is right in the thick of it, but doing temendously.

He never ceases to amaze me, and having this surgery is no different. Yes there are moments when he wishes he never did it, or when he is having a hard time, but those can be expected and they are few and far between. He is so strong about it all. He tries very hard to not be so dependant on everyone, and even to help. Even what he has to do becaue of the surgery is amazing. He has to learn how to function his mouth. And that is no small task. He needs to learn how to move his mouth to talk (although that is later in the recovery process), how to chew (also later), and he needs to teach himself how to swallow. Teaching yourself how to swallow is what amazes me the most! No one has to naturally do that! You naturally have to learn how to walk, talk, ride a bike, etc, but you come out of the womb knowing how to swallow. You even swallow in the womb from 20 weeks. I am just amazed that he is teaching himself something that should be natural and instinctive. Just thinking about al the times I swallow, and everything that goes into it makes me exhausted. Swallowing is hard work. And if swallowing with a whole new, and swollen mouth is not difficult enough, the only thing Jared can feel is his tounge. (because they stretched out the nerves in the surgery they will stay numb for at least 2 weeks, most likely months)His jaw, cheeks, and lips are all numb.

Ok, I will continue raving how amazing my husband is another time. Now its time for pictures! =>

This is Jared before the surgery, just waiting to be rolled up. He is trying to pretend that he is out of commission and all sick, but he had no idea what was coming to him. haha
This is the day of surgery, a couple hours after the surgery was finished.This is Tuesday, the day after surgery. He has swollen a lot in this picture, but he is even more swollen now. We do take a picture at least once a day to track the swelling and de swelling progress, I just have not uploaded the most recent ones to my computer yet. But I can describe him. I will quote from his surgeon "He will look like a Who from the Grinch, with sausage lips". Yep, I think that is pretty accurate. But also add that his eyes will swell to little slivers, not even close to the big eyes he has in the last picture.

That is our little update. To summaraize, we are still alive and fighting thru this recovery process. =>

Starting Off the New Year.... Right...?

This year has been an eventful one. Yes, I know it has only been four days long, but those four days have been full of interesting events.

It started off on January 2nd when Kalyn had her little "event". She started feeling sick on the first, with just the thing going around (sore throat and cough). Then on the morning of the second she threw up, and shortly after she fainted. A whole full on faint while standing up and brushing her teeth. She fell in the bathroom and hit her head on the floor and was unconscious (for about 45 seconds) Jared was walking down the hall (we were leaving that moment) and saw the whole thing and was able to catch her hands as she was falling. So 911 was called, while we waited Dad and Jared gave her a blessing, they came, started doing their little tests on Kalyn, and she could not move or feel her arms and hands. They took her to the hospital in an ambulance and did a CAT scan and all other sorts of tests. By the time the doctors were done with their tests Kalyn had regained the use and feeling in her arms and hands, and they sent her home. What a great manifestation of the power of the priesthood!!

That was hospital encounter number one.

Hospital encounter number two came somewhat voluntarily (I was not willing, Jared was). It is for Jared's jaw surgery. This is the surgery all doctors had been telling Jared he needed to have since he was like 5 years old. To shortly and briefly sum up the purpose of the surgery: one side of Jared's lower jaw grew longer than the other, so they had to cut both sides of his lower jaw and move it back, then cut both sides of his top jaw and move it forward. This procedure could not be done until now because the doctors had to be sure Jared had stopped growing and get his mouth properly set up for it.
This surgery took place today. That is where I currently am, in the hospital. Jared's mom came down on Sunday and is going to stay for the week to help look after Jared. All three of us got to the hospital at 6:00am and started all the pre-surgery stuff. They began Jared's surgery at 8:30am. I had to leave then and go to work but Karen was able to stay at the hospital and be here when Jared got out. His surgery finished around 1:00pm (yes a 4 1/2 hour surgery) I came back to the hospital after work (around 3:30pm) and he was just coming out of the anesthesia.

The surgery went well. Jared's jaw did not crack so they did not have to wire his mouth shut, which is a huge relief. And Jared did not die on the table (what I was so scared for) and that is an even bigger relief! Now it is just the long recovery process. He is not going to be able to chew anything for at least six weeks, which means all liquid meals. The doctor said that the surgery will significantly change his appearance (no joke, moving his whole bottom half of his face around), but in addition to that his face should be swollen to almost the point of nonrecognition for the first two weeks. After that the doctor said he will still be swollen and look like a Who from the Grinch. And to fully get to normal should take at least three months, most likely more.

I don't know how I feel about that. I love Jared so much, and I hate seeing him uncomfortable or in pain. And believe you me, he is in a lot of pain right now, and I can't do anything about it. It is driving me crazy!! I just want to make him all better! But I can't. All I can do is sit and watch, and aid in any minute way I can. But I also know that this surgery needed to be done, and we are greatly blessed to have the opportunity and ability to have it done now. This will be a good lesson of patience, hopefully I can learn to have some so I only have to go thru it once haha. And I know both Jared and I will learn to rely on our Father in Heaven even more, for He is the only one who can truly do anything to help.
I am grateful for the opportunity and ability Jared had to get this surgery done. And I am glad he will have a better and easier time because of it. I am especially thankful that the surgery went well and that Jared is alive. And I am so thankful and indebted to my Father in Heaven for all He has done for me and my family. And even though this year started out with two dramatic hospital trips I hope its not an indication that this is how the whole year will go. I am shooting for just one more visit to a hospital (in May to get my baby out of me) and then not to be back for a looooong time. => So here is to a Happy New year, and to its very interesting start! =>