My Wisconsin trip (Stokes move & checking up on Dad)

Last friday, I worked until 4:30pm then I headed to Wisconsin. I went to Wisconsin for three reasons, (1) My kids have been there for a week and I needed to bring them home (2) To see the Stokes' new house and get in on some unpacking (3) To check up on my Dad who had a tumor removed from his salivary gland. We all worked hard and had a lot of fun!!

1st day at the new job...

Today was a great day! I can't even describe how fast it went! I REALLY believe I am going to love this new job! I hope to get up some speed as the next few days go on as I am only doing part of the job thus far. Cathie (my boss) is great. She is very detailed like me and takes the time to discuss all of the details with me as she is training it. I received a ton of emails from my old co-workers as my 1st day began saying how they missed me. My old boss even emailed me and told me how she will miss me as I was a great "go to" person and that I will "dazzle them at East Kimberly". It really made me feel awesome to hear how I was missed.

When I arrived this morning Cathie took me around to everyone's desk and introduced me. Of course after 12 years with the bank I knew the name, but now I am learning the faces that go along with them. It's a large branch...I'm hoping there isn't a test soon..:0) I believe I looked at the clock three times the whole day. The 1st time was at 11:25 (CRAP ~ it's almost lunch time), 2nd time was at 3:30 (CRAP ~ I usually call and make sure Kaylee is ready for Sherry to pick her up for swimming lessons at 3pm, yep missed it, but she made it) and then the 3rd time was at 4:50 (CRAP ~ I have too much more to do). Cathie reassured me it will all be there tomorrow. She's the greatest!!!!

Jen's surgery...

So, by now you all know I am having surgery on 8/20/10 in Iowa City. Here is what the doctor thought and verified via CT scan...

The "cyst" in my ear is actually my brain falling down into my ear canal thru a hole that never closed after my recent surgeries. Everyone has a very thin piece of bone protecting your brain from falling down into your ear canal. I don't have a bone there so my brain, due to gravity, is falling thru. If left untreated it will be like a balloon being pulled thru a small hole. The sac of fluid surrounding the brain can pop or start to leak spinal fluid if there is too much pressure put on it. If that happens it would create a much larger problem and add on 4 days to the already 3 day minimum stay I will be having after the surgery. So, with that said, the doctor did not want me to wait too much longer to have the surgery.

The surgery will take about 3 hours: They will cut a 1 inch square out of my skull directly above the top of my ear. They will lift my brain up out of the hole and take bone graphs (from the thicker bone around it) and some muscle from my jaw area (he called this my chewing muscle) and place it over the hole. Because the surgery will be taking place inside the skull cavity and involve moving the brain around, I will be in ICU for the 1st day after surgery. They will need to watch for any excess bleeding. This will take me off work for 7 -10 days. The surgery is scheduled for a a Friday so I hope to be off the whole next week and then get back to work.

Of course because I am starting my new job on Tuesday, I had to call my new boss and tell her. She was great about it...she told me I better have my brain fixed so she can use it! The timing will allow me to get up to speed at work before taking that kind of time off.

There it is in a nut shell............Whoa-Hoo.

Jen's new job...

Thank you to all of my family and friends that congratulated me on my new position at Valley Bank. I am very excited to start. I will let you know how it goes tomorrow...Love Ya!!

Kaylee's 9th Birthday party

Here are some pictures of Kaylee's birthday party last Saturday. The party started at 2pm on Saturday and lasted until 11am on Sunday. Kaylee chose to go swimming for her activity. A HUGE thanks to Tad and Steph who offered their pool for all of the girls to swim in (their daughter Lexi was one of the birthday party attendees). Their pool is 18'X45' (that's right FOOT). The threatening thunderstorms and high winds did hold off though out their swimming.

After swimming we headed back to the house for the girls to play Rock Bank and Wii for awhile. I called in a couple of pizzas while they played and invited Tad and Steph over to eat with us as repayment for the use of their pool.

After everyone had pizza it was time for our craft. This year Kaylee came up with her own craft. She had picked out some flowers and Terracotta pots and she wanted all of her friends to go home with a potted flower. We set up a folding table on the back deck and let them go at it. They all thought it was necessary to decorate the pots before planting with some markers. They all turned out really cute. Great idea Kaylee!

After the potting of the flowers it was time for the cookie (birthday cookie from American Cookie Company). They all ate it in record time. Then they all went down to the basement where Kaylee opened her presents. She got a lot of really nice girly girl things (make-up, lip gloss, etc).

At 9pm I thought they should settle down in the upstairs family room, where they all decided to sleep, and start watching the movie Kaylee picked out; Alice in Wonderland. I thought the movie was weird.....the girls seemed to like it though.

After the movie it was time to say goodnight......so I thought. It was after 1am before any of the girls started to think about going to sleep. I heard things like, "but it's a birthday party, we're suppose to stay up all night". UGH!!!!

Everyone, eventually, fell asleep. However, they all were up at 7:30am asking to do sidewalk chalk out on the driveway. What the heck???? Needless to say I was glad to see everyone go home.