Resurrection

I am attempting to resurrect this very dead blog. Working a full time job + raising a toddler + the very uninteresting life I live has left me with nothing to write about. I'm hoping that will change for a short bit as we now have some excitement going on. I am pregnant!! I doubt there is anyone that doesn't already know this considering we told family via Christmas cards and friends over Facebook.

Well, I am 10 weeks mad finally feeling a bit better. I wasn't very sick with Avery but I was slightly more ill with this baby, no throwing up thankfully, but still very nauseous. Fatigue has been rampant but this time around I have a pre-schooler and a career so naps are not an option. (Yeah, Avery started pre-school 2 weeks ago. I really don't appreciate her growing up). In addition to morning sickness and fatigue I am also battling teenage acne, super sore breasts, and getting thicker around the middle. Overall, I am a mess at this point haha.

In August I started using portion control, kind of, I still eat way more than a recommended serving size but I am no longer stuffing my face with food until I want to die. Since then I have lost 15lbs, although you wouldn't know it since I am already in my maternity pants lol. I start prenatal yoga in January to keep me fit, I was a gym rat with Avery but I really don't have that kind of time anymore.

So all is well I'm the Lyon household at this point. We plan to stay in our Nampa home for another year because I really don't feel like moving while pregnant. Avery is growing insanely quick, I am only able to write this because we are at Jabbers (a giant indoor play place). Steven is still working from home, he just finished his fall semester of college and is currently out predator hunting with his dad.

Until next week folks.

10 weeks

Hospital nightmares

On September 29th, I had a biopsy of a lymph node in my neck. I went to the hospital at 8:45 am and was assured by the staff it would be a quick 10 minutes procedure and I'd be on my way, but that's not how it happened at all. First of all we were in a TINY room with myself on the bed, the ultrasound machine, the ultrasound tech, the tech-in-training, the doctor, and the pathologist...The ultrasound tech was there to guide the doctor during the procedure but the small wand wouldn't work for some reason so they had to use the big one (like the one's used during pregnancy), the lymph node is right under my chin so the wand had to be pressed very hard against my jaw bone to see properly. I was initially told that the doctor would either do a thin needle biopsy or a core biopsy but at the last second he decided to do BOTH. I told the nurse I don't do well with needles, naturally the first thing out of the doctor's mouth was: "Wow, that is a HUGE needle!" I wanted to kick him in the shin. The doctor numbed me before the procedure, he stuck me 8 times before I was fully numb. The thin needle biopsies weren't horrible but it was a really weird sensation that I didn't like. To get the sample the doctor had to insert the long thin needle into my neck and then shake the needle and myself around like crazy - he did that 4 times.

The core biopsies were much more awful. The doctor used a long hollow needle to pierce my lymph node and snip a piece of the "core", that was the plan at least. The doctor stupidly held the needle in front of my face while talking with the nurse so I saw how big that thing was, seriously it looked like one of those coffee straws. As soon as the needle went into my neck I felt discomfort, he removed the needle and inserted it several different times before he found a spot he like. At that point discomfort had turned to pain, I told the doctor but he assured me I was numb. I was embarrassed and tried to tough it out but it was increasingly painful, I was focusing on the ultrasound tech to distract from the pain but she looked horrified which wasn't comforting.  The doctor finally got tired of my pained sounds and begrudgingly agreed to numb me so more. As he removed the needled from my neck he commented to the tech that I have very thick skin (side story: I've heard that a lot in the past but most memorably is when I got my belly buttoned pierced. The guy couldn't get the needle into my skin and had to have someone basically hold me down because I was being pushed off the table in an attempt to pierce me. The guy took a 5 minute break before piercing my cousin because he said his hand hurt from applying so much pressure.) Anyhow, the doctor couldn't get the needle into my lymph node and actually bent the needle in an attempt to do so which is why the tech looked so horrified. I was not a happy camper when the doctor asked for the biggest, strongest needle they had instead. The biopsy attempt with the larger needled caused a lot of bleeding and had to be done twice.

The "10 minute" procedure took nearly 2 hours because of all the mishaps. I was in SO much pain afterwards that I skipped out on work, I wasn't even allowed to take anything for the pain because of the bleeding risk. It was a really crappy Monday.

Last weekend Steven and I saw Jim Gaffigan (the comedian) in Boise. We don't have TV, only Netflix, and we don't often listen to the radio so we had NO idea that Jim Gaffigan was even coming to Idaho until a few days before the show. Steven scoured Craigslist for several days and managed to get us tickets! I had so much fun at the show, my entire torso was so sore from all the laughing. The only part about the show that was sucky is the fact that it didn't start until 9:45 pm and I had mandatory overtime at work the next morning. I was barely coherent the next morning at work but afterwards I met Steven, Avery, and my parents for lunch before we all went Christmas shopping together (spoiler alert: Avery is the most spoiled toddler ever).

Steven and I at the show

We've been doing Sunday family breakfast instead of family dinner because of Quinn's work schedule. I skipped this week's breakfast to sleep in, but Steven and Avery ate with my parents. I'm glad my mom got to see Avery before her trip to Arizona for work stuff.

I finally got my biopsy results on Tuesday the 7th. I got horrible news :( All the pain I went through was for absolutely nothing. The biopsy revealed nothing because the IDIOT doctor never actually biopsied the lymph node. Seriously?! WTF was he stabbing at for 2 hours then?? To add insult to injury the ENT doctor said whatever is causing the swelling is "probably" not cancer but he can't be sure. I wanted to throw an adult-sized temper tantrum right then and there. The ENT doc said the only thing they can do is completely remove the lymph node but he warned that there is a nerve belt dangerously close to that lymph node and if anything goes wrong part of my mouth could be paralyzed. Hmmmm, let me see. Should I let the idiot, who can't even poke my lymph node with a needle, cut my neck wide open and possible paralyze my mouth? The answer is no.

The remainder of the week was pretty dull. We went to my parent's house on Saturday for a family meal. My mom made her AMAZING chicken casserole, needless to say we all ate until we were sick. My dad surprised Avery with a play tent, she loved it! After dinner we went to Cassius' 2nd birthday party. I first met Cassius at Avery's 1st birthday party. He was born at 28 weeks and after 3 months give or take, he was released from the hospital. He's such a little love bug, he stole my heart.

Avery and her Mimi

Sunday was mellow and wonderful. We met my parents for breakfast at the Cracker Barrel. Last time we went there my dad bought Avery a battery powered pig that walks and oinks. This time around he bought her a Peppa Pig stuff animal haha and halfway through breakfast my dad left the table to buy her a George Pig (Peppa's little brother). My dad spoils Avery. We went group shopping afterwards, Yvette met us at the store so it was a real party then. After shopping we swapped cars with Yvette so she could spend some time with Avery. Steven and I went home to be productive, he did 5 hours of homework! He is going hunting next week so he has to get all of his assignments in early. Avery and I spent the evening decorating for Halloween :) And she got to wear her new Elsa (from Frozen) outfit.

Avery Quinn

The big update

Steven recently started his college classes so we've been much busier than usual. Steven is going to school full time and working full time so all the other stuff falls on me completely, its a real bummer for both of us. So I will try to give a rough update of the last few weeks.

I was watching Cassius and Conner for a few weeks before I had to stop because of our new busy schedule. After work I would pick up the boys from day care, pick up Avery from my mom's house, and watch the kids at my house. I had to drive the Durango to fit the kids and luckily I own three car seats.

Avery had a weird lump on her back that seemed to pop up out of nowhere. She had been complaining of back pain for a few days before the lump showed up, it was squishy and bruised. The lump was close to her spine so we decided to get it checked out. A trip to the ER, the pediatrician, and one ultrasound later it turned out to be a cyst that went away on its own by the time the doctor figured out what it was haha.

A big milestone - Avery transitioned from her crib to a big girl bed! Steven found a twin bed online for super cheap :) Avery helped us dismantle the crib and picked out new sheets, she chose Hello Kitty.

Mom and I got our second tattoos together. Our first tattoos last year were for Avery, our second tattoos were for us (and kind of Avery haha). We always give what we call "love hands" whenever we leave each other, its very special to me.

Steven, my mom, and I took Avery to the Western Idaho Fair. I have no idea where she learned what a ferris wheel is but she was asking non-stop to ride the ferris wheel.

Before Steven started his college classes we had one last hoorah. Steven, my parents, Jan, and I went to Lucky Peak with a rented jet ski and spent the day hanging out. It was a great day but on the drive home Quinn called to say that he was going to the ER. I was the first one to reach the hospital, Quinn had dislocated his good shoulder, he had surgery on his right shoulder 4 years ago and now the left one is acting up :( Poor guy.

Avery has been begging to come to work with me for weeks and she finally got her wish. My mom usually picks Avery up from school but one day had a meeting and couldn't get her on time. I work with the most amazing and understanding people who told me to bring Avery to the office since it was nearly the end of the day. Thankfully Avery behaved herself while I finished up my work :)

Yvette, Steven and I took Avery to the Boise Balloon Festival. We were up ridiculously early to see the balloons launch but Avery was being cuddly and let me wear her around :) She absolutely loved the hot air balloons.

Sometime during July Avery had a little red spot appear under her eye, it looked like a red freckle. Avery scratched the red spot and it bled for almost 2 hours! Over the course of a few weeks the red spot swelled up to a gross squishy bump, Avery called it her "blood eye". We decided to get it removed when 1. Avery could see it out of the corner of her eye, and 2. when the kids at her day care started making fun of it (little bastards). Removal was extremely easy, I put numbing gel on her face 40 minutes before the procedure. The nurse at the dermatology clinic injected her face to further numb it, I was so proud of her, she didn't even cry even though she said it hurt. When everything was good and numb the dermatologist came in and sliced the bump off her face with a razor blade and then cauterized it. Avery did AMAZING!! No one had to hold her down, she laid perfectly still during the procedure, she didn't cry or whine.

A lymph node in my neck has been swelling at random times for several months now. I've had exams, blood work, an ultrasound, etc. Finally my doctor referred me to an ears/nose/throat specialist. The doctor confirmed that my lymph node was enlarged and ordered a CT scan. I've had a CT scan before, it was several years ago in preparation for my first chest surgery. I had no idea that the doctor had ordered it with contrast :( When I got to the hospital the nurse set up an IV and injected me with the contrast, my chest felt like it was on fire and then it felt like I was peeing my pants...so fun. I felt crappy the rest of the day. I got my results the following week and they were inconclusive :( The ENT doc put a long camera up my nose and determined it was time for a biopsy. I'm so done with it all.

Other random photos:

Avery is now rear-facing again. Its the safest way to travel until 4 years old and that's my goal.

Mom and I look identical. This is two photos blended together. On the right is me at the Spartan race, on the left is mom in her 20's (she's actually holding baby me in the original photo)

Sadie has fattened up and is a very wonderful dog, Avery LOVES her.

Avery and Mimi taking a cat-nap.

Avery Quinn - 2 years old

The Fourth of July

JULY - Avery is now closer to being 3 years old than she is to being 2 years old! Holy cow!

Avery is doing amazing on her potty training, she reached her goal of using the potty 10 times in a flash. To celebrate her hard work Steven and I took her to Jabbers - Jabbers is an indoor play place for young kids, it is the perfect place to burn off energy during a hot summer day.

On July 3rd Avery and I made shirts for the 4th of July. I made Avery's shirt and Avery made my shirt and a shirt for my mom. It was a huge mess haha. 

The final result

On that same day Steven went over to my parents' house to see a dog that they had found the night before, it was love at first sight. Steven took the dog to the vet to see if she had a chip and to get her checked out, the dog was malnourished and dehydrated. The dog wasn't chipped but she did have a tattoo in her ear which indicted she was pure. We checked several sources to see if anyone was looking for the dog but came up empty so we took her home. She is a German wire-hair pointer, we named her Sadie :)

We spent July 4th at my parents' house for the annual block party, there was tons of food and fun. Steven was in charge of the fireworks again this year, but since Quinn didn't spend the holiday with us, Steven had to do it alone - it was a great show though. Kristen and the boys came over to watch the fireworks with us :)

The month prior Steven had won a horseback ride for 2 in Grandjean, which is a few hours away. I had never been horseback riding before so it pretty exciting for me :) The ride was an hour long through the woods, the view was absolutely amazing! It was the first ride of the season so some of the horses were being ornery, Steven's horse was sooo slow, even the guide's horse had an attitude, my horse was great though.

June pt 2

The second half of June's update, I'll start this update with a little humor.

Steven doesn't seem keen on more babies

We took Avery to Dairy Days this year, I've lived in Meridian since 2005 and have never once made it to Dairy Days haha. We went with my parents and had a pretty good time, there were little rides, jumpy houses, good food, and live entertainment.

The day I've been waiting for since the day Avery was born has finally come - she is potty trained!! Avery still wears diapers at night, at day care, and when we go out of the house but she is very good about letting me know when she has to use the restroom. She was doing so well that I made her a potty board and gave her a sticker whenever she had a good day - when she gets 10 stickers we're going to do something fun.

I had a much needed girls' night this month! Avery had a good time playing with the other kids and I enjoyed hanging out with my friends.

From left to right: Jace, Avery, Conner, Evelyn, and Cassius
(Christy, me, Kristen, Jeca, and Kristen)

My parents had gone camping this month and left the pug with us, she is not exactly a camping dog. Avery was very excited to pug-sit for the weekend.

On Sunday, Yvette took Avery to the zoo while my mom came over to the house and got the pug.

Avery at the butterfly enclosure

Not long later my mom sent a text saying that she broke her toe and was on her way to the emergency room. Mom accidentally kicked the ottoman trying to avoid the dog...oh boy.

Mom's broken toe :/

Avery Quinn