Lap Appy

Well, a lot has happened since I last blogged. We were coasting into the end of the week anxiously awaiting the arrival of our missing family member and I guess it just wouldn't have been interesting enough without throwing an emergency surgery into the mix.

Thursday, I just before I left work, I had a sharp pain in my right side. At first I thought it just felt like a strained muscle or something. I went to pick the kids up and brought them home. By that time I could barely walk without some pretty big pain! So, I called my mom, a nurse practitioner. She went home and got my Pops (stepdad) and then came to check my pain out. After I about kicked her in the head because it hurt so bad when she pushed on it, she sent me to the minor emergency office at my doctor's office. Pops drove me there and stayed with me. The doctor there didn't bother with bloodwork or a CT because she said I had a very valid case for appendicitis. She recommended that I go to a hospital ER and get bloodwork and a CT. These are things that she could have done but she didn't want to charge me for a visit at her office and end up getting charged at a hospital too. So off to the hospital we went.

Most insurances have a specific hospital you are allowed to go to. Ours allows us to choose. Back when Emmitt was sick almost two years ago, we went to the closest ER and they sent us to the big hospital they were associated with. We had decent care, but it was a little way from home and we stayed for 4.5 days. So, I decided that I would try the new hospital that is just 15 minutes from our house. It turned out to be a great decision on many levels! We had been here for both Emmitt and Jesstine a couple of times and had great care. This time it was me and I thought the care was wonderful!

So we got to the ER and got checked in. They took me back to a room and got a urine sample. I got gowned up and they put in an IV to do bloodwork and push fluids. Pops was with me this entire time. Blood and urine came back negative for anything. The ER doc came in and asked who had sent me. I told him I wasn't sure what the doctor's name was, but she was young and blond. He said I was the second patient who said the EXACT same thing! Hehe! Anyhow, he poked and prodded. He thought that it was more likely the gallbladder. So he sent me off to get a sonogram of my liver, pancreas, right kidney and gallbladder. By this time it was nearly midnight. My mom was home with the kids awaiting any info we had to offer. Results came back negative. Doc finally decided to take the advice of the MEO doc and sent me for a CT. Within thirty minutes, the results were in...I had appendicitis! So at just after midnight, my mother-in-love came to the house and sat with the kids while they slept and my mom came to the hospital. Of course Stephen was stuck in sunny Cali TRYING to get some sleep! When I told him I was having surgery, he decided to hop on an earlier flight home, skipping his presentation which was one of the main reasons he was in Cali to begin with!

I was a nervous wreck right before surgery. I think it was a combination of things, but mainly because I was "going under the knife" without my husband and best friend there with me! I had my mom and dad though. If I had to have anyone else there with me, that would be who I would choose! Surgery was at 3AM and ironically, there was someone else in for the same thing. Had there not been, I would have had to wait until later in the day and then possibly risk going home later than expected. As it was, the surgery was at around 3 and I was home by 6:30 AM!!!!

We have had a LOT of help from my parents and mother-in-love. We have had an overabundance of food brought to us. And Stephen was able to make it home at around 3:30 PM the day I had surgery! I am healing. It was a laparoscopic surgery, so there are just three incisions. I tire very easily though. I am not allowed to lift more than 20 lbs. Emmitt weighs about 30, so that has been something I have had to adapt to. I think he was mad at me yesterday and the day before because I couldn't cuddle him how he wanted me to! :-(  Today it is just he and I while Jesstine is at school. Normally I would have to walk her all the way around to her classroom, but her teacher graciously agreed to come and get her at the door I normally pick her up at! And of course this had to be the week she was in charge of taking snacks every day! Hubby did the grocery shopping and we have plenty of snacks for the week! She will have plenty of homework after school today too since we chose to keep her home from school on Friday.

I was able to get out and about a little this weekend. We took Jesstine to her first dance class of the month. I tired very easily. Then I attempted church on Sunday morning. I made it through the sermon and then had my mom bring me home. Stephen stayed with the kids through class. Today will be interesting. Had to drop Jesstine off at school and have Emmitt all to myself!! It is a Sprout (preschool channel) kind of day! Here are some pictures:

Right before they wheeled me in for surgery. I was teary (missing my hubby) and terrified. But they let me wear the COOLEST hat!

Got some beautiful flowers from work. The top is from my team (music, pe, library, and art teachers). The bottom is from the entire staff.

These were cards that my students! The bottom one was touching because I felt like they actually got something out of the lesson I left with the sub! It was on the song "Follow the Drinking Gourd."

The kids got to play in the tunnel of the rock climbing wall at the Y after Jesstine's dance class!

In Him,

The Hutchins Family

Long Time

Sorry it has been so long since I posted anything! It has been a busy week. This week, Stephen was gone to Sunnyvale, CA. I was home with the kids by myself. It was okay for the most part. I even was ambitious and had the carpets cleaned! So, what have we been up to? Here you go:

This boy is SO funny!

Emmitt and I have been enjoying some one-on-one time lately. With Jesstine going to school in the mornings and my schedule changing to the end of the week, we get a LOT of time to ourselves! 

Reading. I LOVE all of the bright colors in this picture!

Nighttime without Daddy had to have been the hardest. The kids usually get hyper at about 5 and don't stop until they are in bed. There has been a LOT of naughtiness in the past few days. I finished bathing Emmitt the other night and went to check on Jesstine who was showering in my shower. I came out and he was GONE!! I started to panic, but heard giggles when I called his name. He had been under my bed, the little Chimrod!

And he really enjoyed the carpets after I got them cleaned. They were still a little damp, so these were all over:

Emmitt Was Here!

In Him,

The Hutchins Family

Emmitt Sings "Real Gone" From the Movie, "Cars"

If you know Emmitt, you know he LOVES anything with wheels...ESPECIALLY the Disney Pixar movie, Cars. Here he is singing and dancing to the opening song as well as showing his motorcycle sound skills. Oh and if you haven't seen him boogie, here's your chance! Turn your speakers up. My phone didn't pick his voice up too well.

In Him,

The Hutchins Family

I Finally Did It

I cut Emmitt's hair yesterday. I was SO tired of cleaning his hair after EVERY meal! It was SO long and thick in the back and wispy on top. I just finally did it! It turned out fine! I just need to track down a good trimmer for the edges!!! I put a towel down under a stool in front of the TV downstairs. He watched "Partysaurus Rex." He didn't have any problems at all sitting still!! I forgot to take some before pictures, but I looked through some for the last few months and came up with some. I did save his hair in a baggie and taped it to his baby book!

Before.

After.

Emmitt and I have been busy the last few days since Jesstine has been in school most of the morning. Monday I mostly did laundry and he played. Tuesday we ran some errands and played a little before we picked up Jesstine. Today we went for a bike ride and then to the zoo!!! It was great to spend time with just Emmitt! It is great that he is older now and we can do more than just stay home and play. He gets to where he will beg to go bye bye! Here are a few pictures from our adventures today!

Bike ride

Such a big boy! We didn't even take a stroller to the zoo this morning!

Penguins are ALWAYS a favorite!

Amphibians and reptiles are a close second. He doesn't like the snakes close up though!! 

Where's the frog Emmitt? DEHHDIZZZZ!

Guess what?! Hippo butt!

Meerkat Manor.

His best orangutan impression.

In Him,

The Hutchins Family

Birthday and First Day of Kindergarten

I have been working on this for a full day now! It has just been hard to sit down and get it all documented with school starting for Jesstine, work for me and both of our birthdays in the midst of it all! Hopefully I can get it all knocked out now!

Tuesday we went to orientation at Jesstine's school. We dropped off her school supplies, met with her teacher, met the board members of her school (one of whom is a former teacher of mine which was VERY reassuring), and other key people in her school. Here are some photos from that night:

Only 8 kids in her class! 

Her teacher Mrs. Coleman! She has already discovered that Jesstine can read pretty well. She has said that Jesstine will be her helper in storytime!!!

Wednesday was Jesstine's birthday. She had to have her well child check that morning since she needed her final shots for school. She did GREAT! She didn't cry, just screamed "OUCH!! THAT HURTS!!" She weighs just under 40 lbs. and is 43.5 inches tall!! Other than that the day was really low key since we had already had a party earlier in the month for her. She did get a few guests though that showed up briefly to say happy birthday and she got a few presents from us on her birthday too! I think it was an exciting day and what a better way to end it than with her first piece of chewing gum! A while back she asked if she could have some gum. I told her she wasn't old enough. She asked how old she had to be. Tired of her questioning, I flippantly said "I don't know...5!!" At the time I thought even if she did remember, surely she would be old enough she could handle it by then. She held me to it!

"Look at my brother wearing my crown backwards on his head!"

Her favorite gift!

She decided she wanted apple pie for her birthday! That's my girl. She only ate a few bites though! LOL!

Her first day of school went fantastic (as far as I can tell). When I picked her up all she said was that she played, colored some ducks and wrote her name. I got the papers back today and sure enough, she wrote her name and colored ducks! She got to bring snacks because her birthday had been the day before. She chose cookie bars! I attempted to decorate them and determined that I will not be pursuing a career in cake decorating if teaching doesn't pan out!

She wants to be a doctor when she grows up!

I didn't get it until today when I dropped her off, but this note from her teacher assures us that she is in the right place! Couple that with the fact that a teacher that I used to have and I know to be a good, godly man is on the board, I think we made the right choice!

In Him,

The Hutchins Family

Overheard At Breakfast

Jesstine had already said her prayer for her breakfast. I was in the kitchen doing something. I overheard her randomly praying another prayer. It went something like this: "Dear God, Thank you for my mouth! Thank you for my eyes, my ears, my hands and my feet. Thank you God for me."

Thank you God for Jesstine!

In Him,

The Hutchins Family

Party Animals!

It has been a busy few weeks! We are gearing up for school and celebrating THREE birthdays in our household! Last weekend we had Jesstine's birthday party. We had to do it early this year for many reasons. Here is a recap of our celebration:

She couldn't decided between Cars and Tinkerbell. Since we invited a couple of boys to join us, we decided to do both!

Aunt Ola made her the CUTEST Tinkerbell shirt and of course the party store had the perfect accessories! The necklace was also from Aunt Ola!

Let the party begin! From left of Jesstine we have Sydney, Sam, Jackson, Carter, Carsyn, and Kylie.

Don't worry! Emmitt didn't miss out on the fun! He was a MESS!

Determined to get that cupcake!!!

Daddy helped the party guests gear up for the pinata by playing a game of "Simon Says." It actually turned out to be more of a Daddy says, Emmitt repeats and the guests followed what Emmitt did!

Pinata time!!

They got bored with the process and decided to play tag!

Time for gifts!

This was the gift she asked for and wanted the most. She was so excited when she opened it!

This is the gift she has enjoyed the most!

Playing the game Jackson got her!

And of course the next day happened to be Daddy's birthday. We hired a babysitter that night and went to a movie and dinner. Then of course the next day was church and we celebrated Stephen at Grandmom's house with a special surprise cake!

Emmitt was WAY more comfortable this time with our babysitter Kara! He put the cheese on!

Jesstine had to wear her pretty new flip flops from her best friend Kylie to church.

Daddy's surprise cake! Jesstine came up with the idea. It turned out GREAT! It tasted great too!

For the past two weeks, we have been getting up early to practice getting ready for school in the morning. Jesstine and I will have to be out the door at 7:45 EVERY morning! The first trial week went great! It has been getting harder! Getting up isn't the problem. Going to bed on time to get up early enough and not be too sleepy has been the big issue! Jesstine starts her first day of school on the 15th! She gets to be 5 for one day before starting school! She is excited, but nervous! I can't believe she is going to Kindergarten! So what do you do when you are ready by 7:45 and have no place to go? We went on some morning walks as a family!

The first morning we saw some interesting creatures (snails mainly) and Emmitt was showing signs of the adjustment period! It made for great cuddles.

It has also been raining a LOT lately! We have been trying to find things to keep us busy and taking advantage of some outdoor play time when it isn't pouring!

Jesstine is finishing up the summer of dance class. We are still not sure what direction we will be going as far as dance is concerned. We have a couple of choices. I guess we will go to the open house and look into it more!

This was taken outside of the Y after dance class.

I started work this week (just inservices right now). Jesstine and I offically start school Thursday! My days have switched this year too giving me the entire first part of the week off and working the last two days for a half day each. The plan is still to let Jesstine stay for lunch and recess on Fridays and I will pick her up after I get done with work. We are excited! We hope to celebrate our birthdays actually ON Jesstine's birthday with my mom. Jesstine has requested Apple Pie and I will be requesting a cookie cake! Until next time!!!!!

In Him,

The Hutchins Family