The Lyon's Den: 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)