Will's Surgery

Will's surgery went very well. It was so quick that when the doctor came out to tell us it was over, both Scott and I thought something must be wrong because it seemed like he'd barely been in there but just a few minutes. Everything went smoothly and there were no complications. He has been recovering quite well, also. Here are a "few" pictures from Wednesday :) :

On the way to the hospital in the van. It was probably about 5:45 am in this picture.

Waiting for our name to be called after signing in; about 6:15 am. Don't we look thrilled to be up that early?

A day full of waiting...this was just the beginning. Here are Will and I in his very small hospital bed. He was watching some kind of cartoon and I was dozing. It was probably around 7:00 am here.

This picture actually belongs before the last one, but oh well. Here, Will is posing in his "hospital pajamas." It was the cutest little gown with cartoon tigers all over it and the saying "tired little tiger." :)

Riding to the OR.

Here is Nurse Sheila and the CRNA (nurse anesthetist) whose name I don't remember) with Will right before they took him back. He was so cute, he asked Nurse Sheila for the hat.


There they go!

Back in his room, after the surgery. He is all pink from the anesthesia.

He burrowed under his covers.

Here is the super-cute bear they gave Will, complete with his own anesthesia bag and IV-taped arm.

Trying to drink some apple juice (he didn't like doing that very much!).

On the way home (actually this was taken in the pharmacy parking lot, waiting for his prescriptions to be filled).

Back when Will was a baby and getting bronchitis all the time, Scott's mom gave us her old stethoscope from nursing school. Scott pulled it out the other night to get him used to being listened to by all the nurses. After the surgery, he decided he wanted to "take our tonsils out," and proceeded to put the stethoscope around his neck (not in his ears--that's not how it goes) and listen to our chests and backs. Then he would look in our mouths and ears with the tiny maglite (see below). It was so precious!

Eating a popsicle; after being very headstrong about not eating popsicles or drinking juice in the hospital all day and scaring us that they wouldn't release him to go because of it, Will ate about four or five popsicles later that evening at home. His favorite is purple which he calls "black."

The Smile Award

Carrie, one of my best friends from college and former roommate, has given me the Smile Award. I am a little shocked--I have never recieved a blogging award before! Thank you so much, Carrie, for giving me this unexpected and undeserved award :) I want to tell you a little about my friend. This has been an emotion-filled year for her family. After fighting the good fight against cancer, her dear mother-in-law Pam went home to the Lord in February. Just a little over a month and a half later, a little angel came from heaven to live with them--a new daughter, Ella Jean. Admist the roller-coaster of emotions and life-changing events of the past few months, I know Carrie has been a rock for her family and can always put a smile on everyones' faces!

Now, I must return the favor and grant the award to five more deserving bloggers!

These are the rules:
1. The recipient must link back to the awards creator the babblings of mere.
2. You must post these rules if you receive the award.
3. You must chose 5 people to receive the award after receiving it yourself.
4. You must fit the characteristics of the recipient of the award, as posted by Mere.
5. You must post the characteristics of a recipient.
6. You must create a post sharing your win with others.
7. You must thank your giver.

Characteristics for the Smile Award:
1. Must display a cheerful attitude (not necessarily at all time--we are all human)
2. Must love one another
3. Must make mistakes
4. Must learn from others
5. Must be a positive contributor to blog world
6. Must love life
7. Must love kids

And now...the five winners are...

1. Tracey is my mom's best friend who went to live in Thailand last year because her husband's work took them there. Her only daughter just became a new mom and Tracey keeps smiling despite the fact that she can't be with Vanessa and little Riley all the time. Tracey also has a real heart for teaching children (she was a teacher in the States for many years) and has used that skill even despite a language barrier in Thailand. You can read all about Tracey's Thailand adventures (and she visits neighboring countries, too!) on her blog.

2. Amy is a friend from college whom I've reconnected with through blogging. She is a Christian mom who is as witty as she is compassionate for the neighborhood kids to whom she ministers. Amy has kept smiling (and making others smile) through many hardships, specifically her baby brother's untimely death and her own constant battle with MS. Check out Amy's antics and her heartfelt ministry.

3. Chelsey is another dear friend from college. We actually met the first day of orientation (we were in the same group) and became fast friends. Our lives went in different directions for a while, but we became close again when we ended up in the same literature class our first senior year (ha!). We have kept up ever since and I am so glad we did. Chelsey is a fighter and keeps on smiling when life throws her those curve balls. Like Carrie (above), Chelsey lost her mother earlier this year. Though Mary Sue had been sick for as long as I've known Chelsey, this blow still hurt just as much. Chels has kept up her smiling attitude, even through her pain.

4. Terri, my mom, is always someone who makes me laugh and smile. Her stories, like her current one about croaking toads, are just "smile-worthy!" And of course I know she loves kids, because she loves mine! One of the best things about my mom, though, is that she loves and supports her friends family. No matter what anyone is going through, you can always count on my mom to be there for you. And most likely, she will put a smile on your face while she's at it!

5. Finally, (man, I wish I could give out more than five!), Harmony, is one of my best friends. We knew each other in college, but didn't really become friends until we both ended up in Big Spring. She and her precious family moved last summer, but thankfully, we have been able to remain in touch (in fact, we just returned from her house on Sunday!). I playfully call Harmony "Super-Mom," because she works two jobs, keeps her house in order and clean, and cares for her three children and husband and makes it all look very easy. I know it's not and she knows it's not, but she does it all with a smile on her face and that's why she's Super-Mom to me. Go see pictures and read fun stories about Ry, Ray, and Reese on Harmony's blog.

Thanks again to Carrie for my first blogging award. You make ME smile too!!!!