Absolute Bliss

I have so many things to be happy about today. I don't think anything could get me down! I took a turn for the better on Sunday. Probably because Mom came to visit and brought extra love. I'm feeling so much better!! I'm getting cabin fever from just sitting around the last week. But I have to remind myself that the two weeks is worth the wait so I can get out there running again. Today is SUCH a beautiful day! The sun is out and compared to how its been if feels so WARM! Yesterday was our 2 year anniversary! I can't believe it's been 2 years already. It's funny to look back on where I thought we would be by now when we got married and compare it to reality. My husband is amazing. I love him so much and am grateful for him every day. He's been such a huge help since I had the surgery. He's always so full of love and patience, He's incredible. In honor of such an amazing day I thought I would post some of the things that make my heart soar...

New toothbrushes

Freshly shaved legs

Brand new whites socks

The smell of my laundry detergent

When I say something silly and get a real genuine laugh out of Ben.

And of course... SUNSHINE!

Here are some random pictures as well. No specific order or event just things we've been dong lately. Enjoy...

Aren't they cute?? That's our nephew Holden. We haven't seen him for a while and couldn't believe how big he was! We went down to Ut see Ben's parents who just moved to Mapleton.

Emily with Mom and Dad Vinton at Willem's birthday party.

Cute Holden eating cake.

Willem with his yummy birthday cake.

Isn't Emily so cute?? She made a space ship cake. It was awesome!

Going up to a friend's cabin in Island Park for the weekend. We went snowmobiling and hat a lot of fun!

Beautiful drive on our way to Island Park.

Ben will be so proud of me for posting a picture of his beloved Buggy. This is right at the top of Jackson pass. We were going to Jackson Hole as part of Ben's birthday.

Another picture of the beautiful scenery on the way to Jackson.

Mojo's new Christmas sweater and ball. He chewed the ball to pieces and threw up all night. Good thing we had some Pepto Bismol!

Our beautiful Christmas tree in our lovely home. We didn't have one last year which was heartbreaking. I had to work so we did Christmas by ourselves but it was actually really nice.

Smiling with all our presents.

Ben is really excited... What could it be??

Our sweet little Mojo... before he got his hair cut!

Me getting ready for work. How blessed night shift.. I do not miss you and hope we never meet again

Dreaming of better times

Ok, I'll be honest. I did not think recovering from surgery would be that bad. I thought every day would be an improvement of the last and I would be good as new in no time! Wrong. I wake up after a restful night with Tylenol PM and am hopeful that today is the day. Today is the day I have no more gas pains, I can eat with out getting bloated, I won't feel like my belly button is stitching open when I turn the wrong way, you name it, I have a lot of things I am looking forward too. So far my diet consists of chicken broth, toast, Gatorade, grape juice, saltines, and of course water and Ibuprofen. Ben ordered pizza and even that wasn't too appealing. Every time I think of food my gut rumbles the gases and my mind is changed almost immediately. The one thing that has sounded continually delicious is Ramen Noodles but I refuse to stoop that low. So until then me and my liquids will have to be content to live together in harmony. I should be grateful after all because aren't there starving children in China??

Aftermath of Surgery

It's been a while since I've posted but seeing as how I had surgery today and have a 2 week recovery ahead it's safe to say the posts will be plentiful. Oh by the way... I got my gallbladder out

Surgery was so much better than I thought! I was so nervous! I saw the nurse anesthetist (Lane) when I was working yesterday and asked him if he would read his scriptures and pray the night before so he would have the spirit with him for surgery! haha And you know what?! He did! He told me that he was reading about the gift to heal and the gift to be healed. He said "Rachael, you have the gift to be healed and everything is going to be perfectly fine." And of course thanks to the meds I got teary eyes. What a comforting thing to go "to sleep" to huh?? The next thing I remember I was in the recovery room waking up and squeezing Lane's hand in my right hand and my Surgeons hand in my left, both for dear life!! I was so out of it my heart rate was 30bpm, I was breathing only 8 times a minute... I'm a lightweight!! I kept asking them all if I had pooped the bed or tooted in their face! Then I had to know if they thought my belly was fat? Apparently I was concerned about that. I told my nurse that I liked her so much and kept asking everyone to be my friend. When I got back to Ben in my room I smiled and told him I didn't toot and I have so many friends!! Haha oh the things we do and say on drugs. Those drugs have a love/hate relationship though. I LOVE that they made me sleep and that I don't hurt that bad but HATE that I've thrown up so many times. Yuck, it's absolutely the worst!!

Here are a few pictures... Hope you enjoy!

These are the incisions with the bandaids off. The one on top looks like kind of gnarly! And yes, my stomach is still ridiculously bloated and swollen :( Oh six pack... where have you gone! Will you ever come back??

I'm not announcing I'm pregnant... They blow your stomach up with gas so they can see all the organs better. I just have 4 little incisions and they white tape under the bandaids stays on for 2 weeks.
These are all the presents people have brought me!! Thank you Jessica, Cort, Tecia, Chelse and Gena. You are all so thoughtful and such good friends I love it. (Not pictures...super sexy panties we give our patients at the hospital)