Clean then play

We got up this morning and headed up to the church to help clean the building. After that, we headed to Blizzard Beach for some relaxing fun. Both objectives were achieved. We left the church cleaner than it was when we got there, and we left Blizzard Beach after having fun and relaxing.

Chris and I got Ashley to babysit tonight and we went to see a movie. What a nice day!

Here's a maybe

I spoke with the surgery coordinator today about Aislinn's upcoming surgery. She thinks that they might be able to get her in next Monday, May 9. I have to wait until this Monday to know for sure. Otherwise, they are going to schedule her for the next available time, which isn't until July. However, there are cancellations all the time, so we will just take what we can get. All involved agree that it is best to not wait since another infection is on it's way. Like always...

Let's try it again

We had Aislinn's appointment with Dr. Rich today. We were blessed that they worked her in earlier than the mid-May appointment and Chris was able to come to the appointment too. I am so glad!

We went about a month ago and had the VCUG done, as many of you know. They did see in that test that Aislinn has Grade 1 reflux. After visiting with Dr. Rich today, the time that she had reflux before was Grade 3 and most children with Grade 1 reflux don't have anything done except changing patterns of going to the bathroom and diet. However, since Aislinn has her history and has continued to struggle with UTI's and they have been severe, Dr. Rich believes, and so do Chris and I, that they need to go back in.

This time, they will go in much lower and in the front. The incision will be a little lower than a c-section incision. This will allow him to take the good right ureter out and re-implant it to remedy (hopefully) the reflux. He will also find the remaining duplicate right ureter and remove it.

He believes, along with us, that that extra ureter is somehow contributing to the infections.

This surgery will take about 1 1/2 - 2 hours typically to complete and about 2 days recovery in the hospital. Sounds eerily familiar, huh?

I'll keep you posted on the date. In the meantime, she will stay on antibiotics to hopefully keep her from getting another infection. We'll see...

Shipley Law humor

One of my jobs here at the office is shredding papers. Well, it is not fun. At all! I sometimes spend hours hunched over and kneeling before that thing. So, a few of the employees thought they would help me out...

If you can't see the picture taped on the front of the shredder, it is Tom Jones in a striped Speedo with no shirt on.

Funny, huh?

Easter Shipley Style

The Easter Bunny arrived at our house Sunday morning and the kids were pretty excited about it. Me, not so excited about it... ;)

We went to church and I conducted the choir in the prelude music which I thought went really well and added a nice spirit to the meeting. During Relief Society I had the opportunity to teach the lesson, which I really enjoyed and I'm hoping that people enjoyed that too. So, needless to say, it was a busy church day for me.

Following church, we ran home for me to pick up the ham that I had baked and we headed over to Grandma's to eat, and eat, and eat. The kids also made Rice Krispie Treat eggs.

It was a very relaxing day and all of us enjoyed it. We even managed to not have too many episodes of fussing. Imagine that!

Above is Grandma with the kids that participated in the Rice Krispie making and below is Chris and Brennan chilling out.

Chris attended church in Belleview this morning, but arrived at Grandma's about the same time we did. We all enjoyed a wonderful Easter day.

Family time

I got to spend some time with Mom and Dad today. Daddy arrived home around 3 this morning and around 10 we managed to get ourselves to Cracker Barrel for breakfast. It was nice to have just the 3 of us. What was even better is that I got them to agree to go on the cruise with all of us next January! We are going to have a great time!

About noon, I went up to a Greek Restaurant to visit with my friend Charity. She and I met in 9th grade and had a great time all through high school. She is one of the two people that I kept in touch with all these years. I'm glad that we had the opportunity to visit even if it was just for about an hour.

I arrived back in Mount Dora about 6 and Chris got back from Typhoon Lagoon with the kids about 6:30. Chris and I headed to The Cheesecake Factory for dinner date night while Nashua and Nellie took care of the kids. I love to have date night with my hubby.

Tom Jones!

After getting the kids situated and running into the office for a few hours, I headed to Mom and Dad's to be able to take Mom to see Tom Jones tonight.

Here we are getting ready to leave the house and head to Clearwater Beach to eat at the restaurant that Logan works at.

This picture was taken at the restaurant that is situated right on Clearwater Beach, we were looking out at the water and it was beautiful!

Following our tasty dinner, served to us by Logan himself, we went to Ruth Eckerd Hall to watch Tom Jones. I took Mom to see him 2 years ago when he was here and I'll tell you what, that man can sing! I've never seen so many crazy women, around the age of my mother, in one room! I'll leave it at that... ;)

I'm Trying To Be Like Jesus

The choir, though small in number, sang the same arrangement of "I'm Trying To Be Like Jesus" for a special musical number today during Sacrament Meeting. It is the same arrangement that President Carter asked us to sing when Elder Andersen came for the Special Stake Conference. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir sang it again during this last General Conference. It is powerful. It is moving. It is great.

Well, needless to say, we're not the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. But we do sing with the same zest and spirit as they do!

I love that I have the opportunity to share my talents and love of music. I'm truly blessed.

Only 5

After running to Publix this morning, the kids, minus Brennan, and I headed over to Blizzard Beach to spend the day.

We had a really nice time and the weather was absolutely beautiful!

The only way it would have been better is if we had Chris and Brennan with us. But, they were off doing whatever it is Boy Scouts do. It think it would be safe to say that there was some fires and building stuff that went on...

Girl date

I went out to dinner tonight with my friend, Stephanie Shaw. She has and is a great friend to me. We share points of view with each other on many things in our lives, the gospel, our children, you name it, we share it. I love to be with her and Chris and I double date with her and Carl off and on. But, tonight, it was just her and me. Chris left to go camping with Brennan's Boy Scout Troop and I still had our babysitter scheduled, so Steph and I went out to eat.

You know me, I love food!

We ate at some Mexican restaurant in Altamonte Springs. She said it was in Altamonte, I honestly have very little idea where we were because she was driving and I had no idea where we were going. She has lived here a long time and she goes roads that I don't know. So, I just enjoy the conversation. ;)

I feel very blessed with great friends during this time in my life.

One of 'those'

Today was one of 'those' days. You know the one. Where all you want to do is hide. Yep, that was it. I was overwhelmed and sad. Frustrated and concerned. Nothing was going right for me.

Luckily, tomorrow is another day and hopefully it will be better.

Happy Monday!

We're in full swing here at Shipley Law Firm. You'd think this was a 'community' area. However, it's not. It is Chris' office with two paralegals, Mary and me taking the picture. Fun times.

Danette and 50

We had 7 of us tonight load up in my van and head down to The Cheesecake Factory. It was Danette, Pam Shofkum, Kristen Higley, Maria Valentich, Debbie Clayton, Donna Boatwright and me. Can you say "Cool group?" ;)

The group was great and we all had a good time. However, we would have had a better time if we had a male waiter. Really, don't ever give us a female waitress. Ever.

I'm so glad that Danette got her whipped cream.

I had Kristen snap this picture while we were enduring our 70 minute wait, and I fully intended to get a group shot in the restaurant, but I failed on that. I was too busy eating my Red Velvet Cheesecake. Sorry...

Happy Birthday Donna!

I have been Donna's visiting teacher for probably 6 years or so. We have become great friends and she just celebrated a birthday. Well, you know me, I love an excuse to go out to eat, so I got a little group together so we could go to Chili's to 'celebrate'.

We met at Chili's tonight at 7:30. It was a great little group of us consisting of Lorena, Katie, Debbie Clayton, Danette, Donna and me.

We laughed until we cried. Yea us!

LEGO

The boys are really into Lego's right now and every once in a while they save the allowances and buy some cool stuff that the find in the catalog.

I'll just say that I am currently afraid to enter the boys 'wing' in the house. I'll just stay away, that way it is safe for everyone... ;)

The results

I got a call from Dr. Montane, Aislinn's nephrologist, this morning. She was calling to tell me the results of the VCUG and Aislinn does have Grade 1 reflux. Dr. Montane said that we need to get in as soon as we can to see Dr. Rich, Aislinn's urologist, who also has done all of the previous procedures on Aislinn, as soon as we can. She was optimistic that Aislinn will only need the collagen injection again, however, that is a call that Dr. Rich will make.

Here's how I feel. I am glad that they found something that they can address. Obviously, Aislinn has something going on that keeps getting her sick. However, I am not convinced that doing a procedure that has already been done and now needs to be done AGAIN is going to be sufficient. But, I'm not a urologist, so I will go with what they suggest and we'll see what happens.

Now, we wait to hear when our appointment is and pray that Aislinn doesn't get sick again in the meantime.

This is truly tiring and trying and I'm not even the one that experiences the physical pain of these infections.

Conference fun

We had a great time watching conference this weekend. We are so blessed to have leaders to help lead the way!

Now, we walk forward in faith, trying each day to do better than the day before.

Water park

We loaded up all the kids this morning and even one extra kid and headed to Blizzard Beach!

It was a great day, and very needed.

It is nice to have a day to spend as a family doing fun stuff.

We got home in time for Chris and Brennan to get cleaned up and head to the Priesthood Session.

We needed this day and I am glad that we got it.

VCUG

We prayed.

I prayed, and prayed.

Her name has been on the temple prayer roll and she received a blessing.

We went to the test and I was a serious wreck! I needed a pill to calm myself down, but I didn't have one, so Grandma met us there to help me. It was a blessing!

Aislinn was a ROCK STAR! She did exactly what they asked with minimal fussing! That was a blessing for sure.

We don't know the results yet, they told me by the middle of next week. So, on my way home, I called the nephrologist, who ordered the test, and told her nurse that the test was done. I will call every day until I get the results.

The results could be good or bad. I want them to see something. I want them to find out what is wrong. But, I know that she could need another surgery. However, if we can finally find out what is wrong, maybe they can fix it. Again...