Fun with Dulie and Juicy

My sister-in-law Julie aka (Dulie) and my niece Josie aka (Juicy) surprised me with a visit this last weekend. We love having company. Julie and Josie made the mistake of teaching Liliana "Ring around the Rosies" their first night here because after that she would not leave them alone. She asked them for "round and round" ever chance she got.

We had a fun weekend which included trips to Last Chance, Down East Basics, Sauce, Costco, and dinner at our friend's condo in Scottsdale. On Monday morning we had a waffle breakfast with all the trimmings.

When it was time for them to go, it was sad for everyone, especially Liliana. She had gotten use to aunt Dulie giving her candy and sweets. Liliana had the most fun with her Juicy, they were two peas in a pod all weekend. Here are pictures of them watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse inside Liliana's fort.

Can't wait for another visit.

Valentine's and 2nd Round at the ER

On Valentine's day we found ourselves at the Arrowhead Hospital's Emergency Room. I hate to admit this, but it was totally my fault. I thought I turned on the back burner of our electric stove, but it was really the front one that I had turned on. Luckily it was on low because wanted to slowly heat up spaghetti. I had Liliana up on a chair "helping mommy" make rolls. Then, David walked in so she was getting off the chair to go say hi and she placed her little fingers right at the tip of the front burner. She immediately screamed loud and started crying. At first David and I had no idea why. We thought she got her fingers smashed or something. We realized the front burner was on and Liliana had a second degree burn.

It was so painful she kept looking as she was crying and rubbing her hand everywhere. It felt like she was looking at me wondering why I couldn't take this horrid pain away. I gave her some Tylenol and kept her burn on something cool. After about 45 minutes she was still crying out in pain so we hopped in the car and drove to the ER. Since she was consistently crying they took her in right away. They gave her Tylenol with Codine and bandaged up her hand. We left with a prescription for an antibiotic cream and plenty of gauze, wrap and tape. One of the male nurses took a liking to Liliana and hooked us up.

All the Tylenol knocked her out and she slept well untill the next day. She has been such a trooper and does not complain about having her left had wrapped up. She still has the blisters but luckily they are on the left hand so she can still play with her right.

Grandma Papas and Wickenburg

David's mother Patty came for a visit this weekend. We love having her here and are always sad when she leaves. Yesterday she made some delicious cheesy chicken bean dip and took it to Wickenburg for a picnic.

Sorry these are cell phone pics so i'm not sure how to make them bigger.

I'm a Soul Aunt!

My soul sister Rachel had an adorable baby boy on January 25th.

His name is Maximus Noah Sterling Vasquez and he is ADORABLE! Can't wait for D's Spring break to get my hands on him again. He's such a handsome little guy and such a good baby. I'm proud of Rachel she's adapted so well and is an excellent mommy.

Let me see

Liliana loves to pose for pictures and then says "let me see". Here are some random pictures we have taken lately.


Watching Lion King in the chair my mom bought her while she was down last week.

Liliana and Mami pics

Lili's Owie

One night a few weeks back David was in the bathroom with Lilana about to give her a bath. Suddenly I hear a bump and Liliana start crying. I hear this a lot, but for some reason I knew this time it was different. David come out with Liliana in his arms and a worried look on his face.

The next we know we are at the Arrowhead Hospital ER waiting for Liliana to get seen. She had fallen and hit the wooden door frame with the left side of her forehead. What scared David and I was that she had full-on dent were she was hit and she started coughing from crying so hard.

The ER doctor checked her out and said she is probably fine, but because the injury was so close an artery he ordered a CT scan "just in case". Liliana was super tired and hated every second at the hospital. I was worried about getting her to cooperate for the Scan. The last thing a parent wants to see is their child tied down and scared. David gave her a quick blessing and she calmed down. The scan came back fine and we went home.

This is what it looked like the next day.

Surgery

Last Wednesday was the big day! In retrospect I can't believe I did it. Tuesday I had to do a colon prep (no fun!). Then Wednesday my dear sweet husband woke up at 5:00 am and drove me to Banner Desert in Mesa for my Robotic Myomectomy. He skipped school and studied the whole day at the hospital for a huge Anatomy test he had the next day.

We got to the hospital at 6:30 to check in for my surgery scheduled for 8:30. The hospital staff was great and within one hour I was ready and waiting in pre-op for my doctors to show. I do have to mention the high tech hospital gown that gets connected to an air pump and either blows cold or hot air to make you feel more comfy. Even though I was nice and toasty with my heated hospital gown, I had an hour to just sit and stew over my fast approaching surgery. I began to freak out and started tearing up. I knew everything was going to be ok, but it was still so scary. David was right by my side and a big comfort.

At about 8:20, Dr. Wilson (who I just adore!) shows up and is super excited over the new sutures the hospital was able to get him. The sutures would take a whole hour of time off my surgery. After I met the Anesthesiologist, they wheeled me back into the surgical room. It was a huge and cold room and I could see the robot in the corner . I guess the Anesthesiologist put something in my IV because I was OUT quick!

My surgery took a little over four hours. Dr. Wilson was at a console controlling the robot arms kind of like a video game. I have five small incisions in my abdomen that they sealed up with Dermabond (aka skin superglue).

The next thing I VAGUELY remember was Dr. Wilson telling me everything went ok and then vomiting. Seriously this part felt like a dream and the only reason why I know it really happened is because it was in the nurses report. While I was in recovery Dr. Wilson went and found David and told him everything went as planned and I was ok. He also said that Freddy was not bouncy like most fibroids, but was mushy (whatever that means). I was in recovery for about four hours, it was fine with me because I was sooo out of it.

Then they wheeled me up to my personal, huge and heavenly room. My mom brought Liliana who just wanted to lay on top of me and cuddle. It was like she knew I was hurting or something. Then I showed her how the buttons made the bed go up and down and it quickly became her new obsession. David was able to spend the night at the hospital with me and my mom stayed at our place with Liliana. That night I was up and walking thanks to Morphine!

The following day David left around 9am to prepare for his Anatomy test. My mom came with Liliana to pick me up. My recovery has been pretty amazing. During surgery they had to pump my abdomen up with gas to make room for the instruments. After they finished, they let the gas out, but some stays and travels up to your shoulders and that is just as painful as the incisions. However, the worst of it is over and I'm healing quickly.

My first night at home someone bangs on our window and door at midnight. We called the police and they didn't find anyone. We were all pretty freaked out though. This also happened our first night after moving here last July. Go figure!?

It's been nice having my mom here taking care of Liliana. It's cute because they wear each other out and have to take naps at the same time. I love it.

I'm not sure if it's the Vicodin or not, but for the first time in over a year I woke up with NO back pain! That alone made this surgery worth it. Thanks to Dr. Wilson....FREDDY IS GONE!!!!!