More Like Him April/May Update

Hmm. Where to begin.  I have been just learning so much about waiting, be patient and being okay with that these past couple of months.  It seems like I was waiting for things at Kyle's work to make sense.  A weird promotion to a guy instead of Kyle and trying to understand why. 

Kota came home from post-prom early like asked by me so they could come to church.  It was a full moon night and he hit a deer on the way home.  Everything was okay except the car.  (Thank, God.)  However, we had to go with a rental car for about three weeks before getting our car back.  In the mean time Kota's truck frame rusted through and we can only drive it on short runs and Kyle and I are often grounded at home while the kids are both working.  Or we have to take Kayla to work and run to Ashland an extra time to pick her up, making doing everything everybody has to do a logistics nightmare some days.

Sometimes I don't understand everything the Lord wants me to do or experience.  But, I'm coming to learn to deal with it a bit more patiently.  As always some days I don't succeed, but I do believe that I'm getting better than I used to be.

Senior Countdown: Senior Farwell Assembly and Grad Party

 Friday we were at Hillsdale High School for the senior farewell breakfast and assembly.  It is amazing to me the details Dakota misses right up to the end of school.  He did not know he needed his gown, had to have sister bring it. Oh, well it all worked out. 

 Today we spent the day at Mom's house celebrating Kota's up coming graduation.  We have worked all month helping Mom get the house ready.  We opened a pool, cleaned a garage, and mulched flower beds.  It was a lot of work, but we had such a great turn out.  I think we fed 100+ hungry people today.

 Here is Kota's shrine of accomplishments.

 This is what happens when you get a bunch of young men together.

 Lots of family and friends stopped by to visit.

 These kids are trying to figure out what movie they are going to go and see after the party is over, because they just didn't have enough of each other yet.

 These two cuties showed up and enjoyed playing football with the other kids.  Or at least belly laughing when the football would fall down.

If mom got to pick the future....just sayin' Moose!  12 days until he flies the coop...it's going to be quiet around here.

Decade Concert

Kayla had a choir concert tonight.  We've been going to these for years and I will have to say that this was my favorite one.  They did their traditional pieces, then they did songs through the decades.

From "We Go Together" Shalmada, landa, shoobops, to "Holding Out for a Hero"

 And ending with the senior stuff.  It was enjoyed by parents and friends.  Wow was it a good one.

Kayla's friend Julie sang a song from her native Austria and it was amazing.  These girls are fun and have had a great time getting to know each other.  Kayla would like to visit Austria when she gets out of school next year.  Hmm, we shall see.

Senior Countdown: Seminary Graduation

Tonight we took the kids up to the Canton Ward to attend Kota's seminary graduation.  It was a wonderful service.  Trevar sang the special musical number and it was wonderful.  Dakota got up every morning before school started for four years to attend a scripture study before school with other youth.  Most mornings he went because he wanted too, some mornings he went because we made him, but this is one accomplishment that I am most proud of.

 

Congrats, Kota.

While at the graduation out Stake president took a moment to interview Dakota for his Melchizedek  priesthood.  Dakota will be sustained next week as an Elder and will be ordained an Elder within two weeks.  Oh, it is a good day at the Crawford house.

Where Does the Time Go?

This past mother's day was not my best.  My pain meds were a bit too much from my surgery and I was very ill Saturday night and just starting to fill better on Sunday.  I had a beautiful cake decorated by Kayla at school, too bad food didn't taste good yet.  They got me a cute little solar light frog that I tucked in my flower bed later this week.  It seems like just yesterday my babies looked like this.

 

 Now they are a bit rotten and look like this.

I am easing into the idea of adult children.  I'm actually looking forward to seeing life changing ideas and successes.  I wonder how they are going to change their minds and deviate from current goals set.

  I'm ready with a lifetime of learned advice, but hope to only give it when they want it.  I know I'll be the mom they can "roll their eyes" about when we get together and reminisce at future holiday dinners.  But one thing I know for sure, is I worked hard at everything I did for this two little faces who have grown great big soft spots on my heart.  I will NEVER regret being their mother!

Ablation

This is a post about my health and decisions to try and make things better in the long run.  I have struggled with my periods for years.  Irregular, heavy flow, pain...I was diagnosed with PCOS about 10 years ago.  Since then pain has gotten worse to the point I was ready to be done with it.

 

In February, I went to my regular Physician and said, I'm done I want it all taken out.  To which he says, do you want to have any more children? My response is: I have two children one is 18 and one is 16, I'm not at a point in life that I want to start all over.

So we go through all of the things that I can do and make an appointment with a local OB/GYN.

 

I go to the OB/GYN in hopes of a hysterectomy to relieve me of all the pain that I experience whenever a period decides to show up.  She talked me through everything and told me about an Ablation.  She said she would feel better about this procedure instead of "bringing out the big guns of a hysterectomy."

As I sat waiting to meet the OB/GYN I could hear the patient in the next room getting her baby checked out.  I could hear the strong heart beat of a growing fetus and knew that what ever choice I made that would not be a sound coming from me ever again.  The shock of the final decision was a bit alarming to me.

 

We flirted with the idea of more children when Kayla was 5-6 years old.  We had made the decision when I was 21 and having a second C-section that we'd have a tubal ligation because child birth was hard on my body.  But, knowing for the last 16 years I wouldn't be having more children did not bother me like it did that day I was making an even more finalizing decision.

 

I was unaware that I'd be getting a biopsy that day.  I guess the April Fools Day joke was on me.  If you've ever had a biopsy before you know how painful they are.  I was unaware and was at the appointment by myself.  After being in shock from that pain, I walked myself out to the car and cried.  Cried like a big baby, sobbing I called my knight in shining armor to come get me.  He sat with me for a long time while I cried.  Cried for the pain and really for the loss of knowing no more children (why should that bother me?).

 

So after going back to the OB/GYN to find out that my biopsy was negative and no cancer or pre-cancer cells were evident, we decided to start with the ablation procedure.  I was schedule for Friday, May 10.

 The nice thing about going to Ashland is my friend Yaya at Whispering Pines works there, so I knew I'd be well taken care of.  For me the worst part of surgery is getting an IV.  My veins are not very cooperative.  I told the nurse that usually they have to pack my arms to get the veins to pop out.

 

 

 So they covered me with two really warm blankets to wrap my arms.  The nice nurse got my IV in in just one try.  I don't have any bruises today either.  That was not my  last experience and I am grateful.

See, not too bad.

I got back to my room around 10:30 ish.  I sure had a hard time staying awake. My post-op pain was the same as a normal period if that tells you  how bad they were.   Kyle took me home around noon and I slept until around 5 pm.  I tried to eat, but nothing tasted good.  Poor guy, got me three different things until I just gave up.  I dozed off and on on the couch and went to bed around 9 pm.

I feel good today.  Still taking it easy, but I feel good.  I know that I made the right decision for me at this time in my life.  I know that I will heal well.  I hope this takes care of the pain and heavy bleeding like it is supposed to, time will tell.

Thanks to all of those who have helped and prayed for me.  I love you all.

Young Women Recognition

 Kayla earned her Young Women Personal Progress Award last night.  She spoke about her projects and blew away the crowd.  She was repeatedly told she needs to be a public speaker.  She worked hard to get this award.  She had to do six ten hour projects.  She made pink scarves for women with breast cancer (see the pink scarf project on the sidebar).  She also learned to sew and take care of clothing.  She participated in choir and a school play...and many more.

 

She earned her medallion along with Emily and Michelle.  They all worked hard, congratulations ladies, you have made your families proud!

Senior Countdown: Last Court of Honor

We've made it to the May of senior year.  Now it's the beginning of the lasts...

Wednesday marked the last Court of Honor.  Dakota earned enough merit badges for a full set of Eagle Palms.  Due to a paperwork misfile, he will only receive two, but he knows that he earned enough for three.

 Dakota received his gold palm.  The requirements are 3 months tenure after receiving eagle scout and 5 more merit badges.

 Kyle has been working as the Scoutmaster for our troop for about 6 years.  Before that he was Assistant Scoutmaster for about 8 years with a bit of cub scouts sprinkled in there too.  He was released as scoutmaster earlier this year and called as Executive Secretary of our church.  He was surprised by an award this evening.

 He really is a big marshmallow.  He was a bit choked up to receive this award that was a surprise.  He has a great love for the youth and it sure was nice having him work so closely with our son.  After all the serious business at court of honor the boys put on some skits for the audience.

The priest quorum teased the assistant scout master about his slow driving.  One boy says to the other: How happy are the scouts in Troop 555.  The other says: I don't know how happy.  Happier than Derek in a never ending school zone.

Kota was the driver in this skit.  Silly boys.  We are proud of you Dakota.  Now, keep the ward tradition of every Eagle Scout serving a mission!