As summer comes to an end....

As summer is quickly coming to an end, I was just thinking of all the fun we had this summer, with our family and friends. We got to spend a lot of fun days at the river, with my parents, as well as friends. I had a blast, and I think they all did too. I had another surgery, but was able to recover quickly, largely thanks to a wonderful, caring husband, who took care of everything around the house so I wasn't tempted to. I got to spend time with my kids, just having fun. We swam a lot and now all four kids are fish. Jinelle can jump off the diving board and swim all the way to the other end by herself, and Noah is also swimming like there's no tomorrow. They all got super tan. A few days ago, I got to take the kids to Mojave Narrows with friends and just have fun. 21 kids with our group alone was a lot, but the 6 pizzas we brought seemed to help. Then having friends spend the night was a hoot....even though the sleep was limited. Now as we get ready to send the kids back to school, I am thinking this summer went by way too fast. I will have three kids in school full time. No more going back to school for kindergarten pickup...at least not this year. Noah will be in first grade, Ari in second grade and Aiden is in fourth grade. It seems like only yesterday that Aiden was born and I was still pregnant with Jinelle. How time flies!!!
Now that summer is almost over, we are almost ready for school to start. All four kids have backpacks, lunchboxes, and all the wonderful school supplies that all the kids want for a new school year, thanks to my mom. They have lots of new clothes from my favorite store, The Children's Place. I don't know how I would do it without my mom. She watches my kids whenever I need her to, she buys my kids so much, she calls everyday to just check on me, and she is always there for me. She also took all four of my kids to the river to give me a few days off last week. The kids had a blast and Aiden also learned to kneeboard. My mom and dad are so brave. They not only took my kids, but three of my brother's kids.
All that's left to do is meet the kids teachers, hopefully tomorrow, pack, and just spend some quality time together before me and the kids leave for Oregon. Jason has to stay home and work. Plus, his step-brother is also getting married, so he will attend that wedding while we are gone.
I will try to update again before we leave. Not sure if I will get around to it. It all depends on what we decide to do with the kids this week on Jason's days off. Until then, hope everyone had a great summer and enjoys the time off they have left.

Another Update

Well, as many of you know, but some don't, I had yet another surgery just under two weeks ago, exactly 3 months after my first. My LP Shunt had stopped working for unknown reasons. I had a Shunt evaluation done a few weeks prior where they insert Nuclear Dye into my spine via a spinal tap and then watch it go through my spine and shunt via hour long x-ray times two. Needless to say, it didn't go through my shunt, therefore, the doctors thought my shunt was not working. So I went under the knife again, thinking I was going to be completely replacing all my shunt and tubing, or at least the tubing if that was the problem. But, when the doc cut my same front incision open (thank you so much.....only one horribly ugly long scar instead of two) my shunt was dripping. So he disconnected it, flushed my shunt, reconnected it, and sewed me back up. I didn't come out of the annestesia very well this time. My recovery nurse pushed three different meds at the same time and I had a reaction to one them....but since they pushed three at once, they didn't know which one. So 90 minutes later and a bunch of other meds, I got to go to post-op and then go home a little later. Home recovery was much better, most likely from only one incison and no horrible bruising. I still have to take it easy for the next few weeks and Ican't go swimming until I am completely healed :( but overall, I am feeling much better. Now I just hope that it stays unplugged and working well enough to let me have relief.
On other news, I will be leaving for Oregon in 13 days for my cousin's wedding. All four kids, my mom, and I will be driving 16 hours over two days to get there. We are hoping to get most of the way there on Friday and then drive in Saturday morning so we can go to the fair with our family. Then, Sunday, we will attend church with our cousins and have a family dinner. Monday will be our fun day to go do something, not quite sure what yet. Tuesday we have pedicures for the girls, as well as the bridal shower I am throwing at night. Wednesday morning will be spent chopping and preparing food. Wednesday night, late, we will go set up the reception at the building. Thursday morning, more decorating. Thursday at noon, pack up and head out to Portland, check into the hotel (we have a family suite), meet up with my dad and sister, and head over to the Temple for a session. Then out to dinner with all the family....ours and my new cousins family. Friday morning will be an early arrival at the temple. Only one session was open for them to get married, at 9 am. I guess the 08-08-08 date I suggested is extremely popular!!!! Then luncheon at Olive Garden with all who come to the sealing, and a two hour drive back to Philomath to finish setting up for the reception for that evening. After the reception, bathe all four kids, put them to bed and pack up the car. Rise nice and early Saturday morning and head back to Cali. Drive as much as the kids will allow, and finish driving on Sunday, hopefully arriving home as early as possible. Kids start school at their new school on Monday morning, so we will have to have all our stuff ready for school before we leave.