Christmas Spirit

In the 10 or so years before Liv was born I hated Christmas. There was no joy for me.  No holiday magic.

Obviously I hadn't always feel this way. I have fond memories of Christmas Eve with my parents: mom's homemade potato soup, begging them to let me open "just one" gift, and when they gave in, begging for more, lying in my parents bed on Christmas Eve watching the Santa tracker, so I knew just when to be asleep by. And Christmas morning as a kid was always just a magical.

I also have fond memories of the holidays with my grandma (mom's mom), as well as my dad's side of the family. The whole gang together in my grandparents house. I loved it. My family has always meant the world to me.

However, when I got to middle school things began to change. I lost my grandma (mom's mom), an aunt, and an uncle all in less than 2 years. My grandparents took to retirement in a way I hope to some day - by traveling around the US, pulling their camper behind them. They spent the winters in Texas, summers in Iowa, visiting family on the trips back and forth. And then, when I was 14, my parents split up. The holidays I knew as a kid were over, and the joy I got from being with family with it.

That's not to say my parents didn't try, but all the potato soup and holiday lights did nothing.

Liv's birth in 2011 has changed my outlook on the holidays, and how can her excitement and joy in the magic not? Even if we are alone, just the 3 of us, Christmas is still the happiest time of year - and each year continues to get better.

We have a lot of activities planned (and some completed): holiday crafts, Christmas movies and specials, decorating the tree to Christmas music, baking, driving around to look at the lights, supper with Santa, and of course Christmas Eve with potato soup and a box filled with themed pj's and books, hot chocolate and popcorn for A Christmas Story.

Netflix binge and online shopping

10 days ago I woke up, rolled onto my side, and yelped "What the hell is this?!"

Navel pain. Present all the time. Tolerable while lying on my back,  uncomfortable when standing, and moderately severe when sitting. No other symptoms besides this pain that was only located in my belly button. All weekend I took it easy, trying to decide what the pain could be. Early appendicitis? Muscle strain? Umbilical hernia? The husband gave me some grief for not going to the ER when he would see me grimace with most movements, but being a nurse who spends a fair share of my working time there, I was in no hurry to show up as a patient as long as the pain didn't get worse and remained my only symptom.

By Monday morning I knew this had to be checked out. I made an appointment with my primary care physician, dropped Liv off at daycare, and headed in. After a quick chat about the pain she had me hop up on the exam table. 30 seconds of the most excruciating palpation and we had a diagnosis: umbilical hernia.

The hernia was small, but the tissue had slipped through the opening in my abdominal muscles, swelled, and became stuck. Treatment: surgery.

Since the case wasn't emergent (no bowel involment), I was scheduled for outpatient surgery the next morning. My mom was gracious enough to take Liv for a few days so I would be able to recover in peace. 

My husband and I arrived at the surgery center at 6:45 and were quickly taken back to the pre-op room. Some paperwork, an IV start, and a meeting with the surgeon and anesthesiologist and it was go time by 8:20.

The surgery itself took about 45 minutes, and I was awake in recovery by 9:30. After the required stay in post-op we were on our way home by 11, after a stop for some Sprite and chicken noodle soup.

Recovery has honestly been pretty easy. I slept a lot for the first day and a half, while pain pills, chicken noodle soup, and Sierra Mist were my best friends.
Movement was not, but it became tolerable pretty quickly.  I honestly think the worst part was having to leave the surgical dressing on for 48 hours. 10 days later and
I still have adhesive stuck on my damn abdomen.

The husband cooked Thanksgiving dinner (which was delicious!). And for the next few days I binged on Netflix while online shopping. Season 1 of Orange is the New Black and 1.5 seasons of Breaking Bad have been watched, Christmas shopping nearly complete (and wrapped), Christmas cards in the mail, and I still have a week before I go back to work!

10 days out the incision has healed nicely, and my only complaint is wearing jeans - bending and sitting rubs the area all wrong. 

And here we are again.

Let's just clear the air right off the bat.

This is my 5th attempt at blogging. The first one I wrote for approximately 1.5 - 2 years, a virtual baby book of sorts to document everything related to my daughter, Liv. There were other random posts thrown in, but that was the main intention.

A job promotion and life eventually led to my blogging downfall, and likely to the failure of my most recent attempts. Blogs focused on food, life in Iowa, or fitness. The timing, and the focus, of those latest blogs is no doubt the reason for their short existence. 

However, lately I have been craving an outlet. Keeping a traditional paper journel has never really been my thing - too slow, too,messy. I would much rather sit at a keyboard and just let my thoughts fly.

So here I am. Likely gushing about my wonderful little family, sharing my thoughts and struggles on everyday life, raving about new recipes or this great state that I am proud to call home.

Welcome to my life.