"I have a gallbladder and the Doctor isn't going to poke me." -Ryanna

There has been a lot of gallbladder talk around here lately and even Ryanna has joined in on the conversation. I started having gallbladder problems at the end of my pregnancy with Quinten and found out I had gallstones in August. I cut out certain no-nos from my diet and things improved drastically. In October I heard that the birth control I'd been using for 6 years could be a contributer so I traded that in. December, however, proved to be too much for my little bile squirting organ and after several hellish experiences, two ER visits, one idiot specialist, and one excellent surgeon later I am now gallbladderless. The surgery was last Monday and I've felt better every day since. I held off filling my pain med perscription and instead survived with just one day finishing off what the ER had given me. I'm plenty sore but I have to tell you, orthoscopic surgery is AMAZING! Rather than one long incision, the surgeon makes 3 tiny and 1 small incision. They go in there with cameras and stuff(couldn't really tell you exactly) and then pull that sucker out of your bellybutton! I guess our bellybuttons really do serve a purpose....
My angelic mother drove down from Montana and basically did what Mommies do best: took care of us all! If I was smart enough to photo shop a halo over her head I would do it. Thank you so much Mom!! We miss you already.

Quinten was a real trooper through this all considering life turned upside down in a few ways. Perhaps the biggest jump was switching from breastfeeding to bottle in an instant. He did much better with cold turkey than my poor self. Fortunately I was in too much pain in other places to really dwell on it. Also he had several new nighttime caretakers: daddy and grandma. Again it didn't seem to phase him at all. He is perhaps the most easy going baby that ever lived on this earth. :)

Ryanna didn't really miss a beat either. In fact, she thought the whole thing was a great vacation since we stayed at my cousin Scott's home over the weekend until the surgery. Playing with Caden, Ian, Buddy(their dog), and Stephanie was the highlight of her week. It is truly amazing how selfless and giving some people can be. I really can't express how grateful I am for their love and support - just opening up their home like they do. I hope you guys know we appreciate you SO much!

Finally here is a nod to the man BEHIND the camera. That's right Brian! I'm talking about YOU. Well I personally am grateful that noone is or is expected to be perfect in marriage and honey you and I both fit that catagory. But I have no problem saying that my husband is getting better all the time. He has become MORE loving, MORE helpful, MORE superdad, MORE easy-going, MORE empathetic than ever before. That's a lot of MORES, am I right?!?! We celebrated our 6 year anniversary in December too and all I have to say is bring on the next 6!! Can't wait to see what else we'll enjoy and endure together. I just hope it has nothing to do with gallbladders....