reunited for Halloween

Laura came over with her cute kids today. I love seeing Carter and Tucker together, especially since they are only 3 months apart.

I’m so thankful for Lucy bringing Clayton and Porter and Kami bringing Marlee to Phoenix, so our whole family could be together. 

Since my surgery was only 4 days ago, I couldn’t go to my mom’s ward Halloween party, but I did get to see my boys before they headed out the door with Laun.

My little bat:

good looking boys

Clayton was the soccer player Messi.

Carter borrowed Porter’s wig for a bit.

This lady with the walker stayed back and did physical therapy, while the kids loaded up on candy.

Kami met up with Laun to drop off Marlee, so I didn’t get to see her till after the party, so Laun text me this picture of her and I just started crying. It’s been so hard for me to be away from my only girl and my young kindergartener. Even though she is loving being at Kami’s with all the girls, she has had the hardest adjustment with all of this change. I love this little beauty.

I’m so thankful to all my sister in laws for making sure my kiddos had costumes to wear. And watching my kids all week and getting them to school, feeding them, etc.

The kids sorting and trading their candy.

We are at Grandma’s!

Laun brought Carter and I to my parents home. He has to leave this Sunday for work in Utah. He starts his first day as a Dairy Nutritionist for IFA on Monday! I’m not allowed to travel for several weeks after my surgery to avoid blood clots, so I will stay with my mom and heal. This cute messy baby face will be with me. And I get to see my big kids tomorrow for the weekend. I’m going to soak in this family time this weekend, it’s going to be a hard 3 weeks for me and our family.

I am titanium

Yesterday Laun, Carter and I headed to Tucson for me to get my left hip replaced, while all our older kids stayed in Show Low for school. Clayton is at Jared’s house, Porter at Jennette’s and Marlee at Ryan’s! And while Laun is taking care of me, Andy and Elizabeth will be taking care of Carter while we are in Tucson. It’s a little crazy, but I am overwhelmed with gratitude for all the help, so that I can live a life with less pain and more ability to care for my kids. 

We took a break from driving for a bit and found the cutest bug on our windshield;)

I’m nervous, even though I got my right total hip replacement over 7 years ago, by the same doctor and in the same hospital, at Northwest. I’m also excited after I am healed to not be in pain everyday or wake up during the night in pain. I’ve been limping a lot lately. My right hip is awesome, so hopefully my left one will be, too. The recovery will probably be more painful than my last one, because they have to create a socket in my pelvis, since there really isn't one. So I will have a lot more bone pain. The good news is that they shouldn’t have to lengthen this leg like they did with my right leg. I’m so glad that Laun doesn’t start work until November 3rd and can be here with me in the hospital and help with Carter.

I’m all out of surgery and pretty drugged still, the good thing is that I don’t remember a thing. I thought I fell asleep with Laun in my room, before I even entered the OR, but Laun says I was talking as I left the room, so I must have been awake still. The best news of all, I have two titanium hips now and no more arthritis (I still have arthritis in my lower back, but not in my hips). This is the best my hips have ever been in my whole life, well, when I heal that is.

I was so happy to have Carter come visit, I miss that baby since I’m never really away from him. He’s still nursing, so I will nurse him a little less the next two days since I am so drugged.

I’m so thankful that Elizabeth is taking care of my baby, while I am in the hospital.

Elizabeth’s kiddos sent me some cute cards.

I get to wear these lovely white Ted hose and the green straps that prevent me from getting blood clots.

Last night when they tried getting me out of bed for physical therapy I couldn’t do it. My levels were all wacko and I almost passed out, but this morning it was time to get to it. I always hate physical therapy after bone surgery, but it’s important to start learning how to re-walk right away.

Carter came to visit me again, I think he is just as interested in playing with my IV cord as he is seeing his momma.

last weekend- before my left hip replacement

Friday

We stayed at Ryan and Kami’s house this weekend and babysat their girls.

Marlee was happy to ride the bus in the morning with her cousins.

I was so proud of Marlee and Reagan for unloading the dishwasher.

You can tell Carter was in a house of girls, they dressed that cute boy in a pink bathing suit.

Saturday

Clayton was more than happy that we were staying at Ryan’s house, he went fishing on the pond first thing this morning.

Carter is really mastering this whole sitting up thing, just in time to be in a body cast soon, poor boy!

We went on a drive around Ryan’s property.

We went to the pond for all the kids to go paddle boating, well all of them except Carter.

I told the kids if they’d jump in I’d record them.

love this baby face

The younger girls decided to explore on shore instead.

That’s a pile of cute kids!

Kallie

Alissa

Porter

Then all the kids jumped in again.

I had Clayton jump in again, because I didn’t get any pictures of him earlier. What a good sport. 

I think the dogs wonder what in the heck is going on.

Marlee loves Ryan’s dog, Rugger.

They cooked and ate a fish they caught from the pond today.

This boy is cute, even with a grumpy face.

I love this picture:

I know this picture is blurry, but I had to mention how much fun the older kids had running around Ryan’s property at night and freaking each other out.

Sunday

Anna got in some snuggles with Carter today, since we are leaving early in the morning for several weeks.