Sickness & Surgery

So, after sleeping for 12 hours straight I was back to work on Tuesday afternoon. On Wednesday I had run an errand and was heading back to work when I started to experience some crippling abdominal pain. I drove home, and literally crawled inside. After about 45 minutes I had had enough. Andrew took me to the emergency room and for 6 hours I was put through all the tests and given an IV with fluids and four doses of pain medication (followed by an antihistamine due to my reaction to the medication and some anti-nausea meds for some other fun side effects). It was miserable and easily the worst pain I have ever experienced. The diagnosis is an abdominal infection caused by a virus and my primary physician has treated 10 people in the last 7 days for this. Really yucky, miserable stuff. Constantly nauseous and really run down. Additional blood work on Thursday showed my white blood cell count (and therefore infection) to both be improving. Since Andrew nursed me for a couple days it's my turn to return the favor...
On Friday he had his ACL and meniscus surgery. The surgery took longer then expected, but only one meniscus needed to be repaired, so that was a positive. The ACL was repaired by using a third of the patellar tendon, his surgeon said the ACL had been ripped totally away from the bone. Again, more yucky, miserable stuff. He will remain in the hospital overnight and should be home tomorrow. Will start PT soon, but we don't have a start date yet. We are looking like quite the pathetic pair for our first Christmas as a married couple, aren't we?

My new niece!

Rory Grace Malia
5 lbs 8 oz
18.5 inches long

We now have a niece and a nephew that need holding by me! Hopefully after the busy holiday season we'll get to do some catching up with family. Sarah & Kevin are doing well! (I forgot to ask about Tripper, hope he's adjusting fine!)

In case you were jealous of us being in Florida...

The trip was WORK regardless of what you might be thinking. The picture is of me driving the vehicle and of some of the conditions we drove through. Rain was leaving the Keys on Sunday.

Florida Trip Day Four

After an awesome meal Saturday night (conch fritters, crab & lobster cakes, stone crab claws, BBQ Shrimp & Key Lime Pie) we got up bright and early on Sunday for the long drive back to Dubuque. The ride/drive went fairly smoothly. Lots of stops to check the status of the animals we were moving...made it back in just less then 30 hours.

Florida Trip Day Three

We went to Tropiflora and bought plants on Saturday. The place is fantastic! After doing a decent amount of business with them over the phone for several years, it was awesome to get to see the facility. The center picture is of one bromeliad greenhouse. They have at least 8 other greenhouses. After leaving there we drove from Sarasota to Marathon (past Key Largo, but before Key West).

Florida Trip Continued

I was feeding this duck Jingles. The video makes me laugh because I've never seen a duck wag it's tail before!

Florida Trip Day Two

After visiting the Alligator Farm we drove to Sarasota, to see one of our plant distributors.

Florida Trip Day One

I was given the chance to travel for work with a co-worker to Florida.

Damn!

Wedding pictures are online!

To view the pictures go to the website www.skellyphoto.com
Next click on online proofs
Next click on view event
Next click on our image

Username is Urban0907
Password is 14382

It will ask for your email address, but I have yet to receive any spam from them. If you want to order prints remember to contact Scott or Kris Kelly directly, as you will get a better price then the online photo service! Last tip...if you have issues with the site shutting down try clicking the "Back to Thumbnails" link versus the back arrow on your browser. It seemed to work for us. Enjoy!

Can you believe she's 9 already!?

Out for pizza to celebrate Megan's birthday. The baby sitting behind us was turning one and smashed his face into his ice cream sundae. Megan thought it was only fair that she got to do the same...

We are hooked...

We have to give credit to Ross and Jessica for introducing us to this show...it is hilarious! We watched the entire first season in just a couple of nights (it's only 7 episodes, but still). Started season two tonight and we are still laughing!

Andrew's latest projects...

The top picture is Grandpa Paul's buffet, which before the weather got cold, Andrew stripped, sanded, and stained, stained, stained. It looks great and we are really happy to have something that belonged to Grandpa Paul (and before him Great-Grandma). The next two pictures are of the mailboxes that Andrew and friend Paul have been building. They plan on selling them locally and received a quote from a Galena store for $250. They are doing made-to-order (I think Andrew was even working on a Wisconsin one the other day! If he starts in on a Packer one I WILL get pictures, don't worry!) The last picture is Cash with his buddy Rex (Paul's German Shorthaired Pointer).

This would never happen in the summer...

The room I spend most of my time in at work is currently at 64 degrees. Because of this I feel I have been more tolerant of cooler temperatures at home. We've had the heat set at 65 and will turn it up to 66 when we're feeling chilly. Andrew is quite pleased by the cooler temps (and drop in gas bill), but as you can see in the above pictures, the pets don't really know what to do. Amazing...cold weather makes them lay close like they actually like each other.

Ruthie and her socks

Ruthie (our gray cat, probably mentioned sometime on this blog before) loves socks. We haven't figured out her attraction to them, but our guess is it has something to do with wanting to be a mother cat. She loves to carry my socks around in her mouth. The most typical route is to take them from the master bedroom closet (yes, she knows how to open the dresser drawer) and carry them downstairs where she deposits them on the entryway rug (see above photo). We don't see her do this, but we will hear her meow while she works. When she is feeling extra ambitious she'll take a stocking hat or washcloth, but 9 times out of 10, it's socks. It should be noted that after I took this picture I went upstairs to put the socks away and there were 8 more socks on the closet floor. A very busy evening for her.

Cash versus his Arch Nemesis...The Final Round

True to his hunting dog blood, he kept a soft mouth and dropped it on command.

This rabbit is very large for a wild rabbit. It appears small in this picture.

Last night I was brushing my teeth upstairs when I heard Andrew yell for me to come downstairs and bring the camera. I raced outside and found this...Cash with a rabbit in his mouth. A little background on this: when we moved in there was a piece of tin attached to our fence, presumably to keep rabbits out. Well there always seems to be one in our yard. Cash is very attentive to its whereabouts, he never barks, just the hunting blood in him, I guess...he'll freeze in a point position when it is in our neighbors yard and always does smelling "surveillance" when we let him out. Well, the rabbit's luck ran out, he may be fast, but Cash was faster. I lack the Y chromosome which makes things like Ultimate Fighting and the movie Transformers appealing. I guess that goes for the slaughter of small, native wildlife as well. I was shocked and horrified; Andrew was thrilled and excited. Trying to fall asleep was proving difficult for both of us due to all the commotion, but I realized it was for different reasons when Andrew said, "Man that was so cool. I want to call someone right now and tell them about it." This morning I fed Cash and let him outside. When he came back in he had fur all over his nose. Apparently he was sniffing around the murder scene.

Busy Day - evening

My two favorite things....Portillos & Andrew.

Later that night it was back to Naperville for some delicious Portillos. After the meal some of us headed to Bolingbrook to go to IKEA and then a quick (less then 10 minutes) stop into Trader Joes. Hard to believe we fit all of this in one day!

Busy Day - afternoon

After the show, we headed to Barrington for Sarah's baby shower. We all made onesies (sp?) for the baby, ate some yummy food, and enjoyed the shower of gifts!

Busy Day - morning

Saturday the 3rd was a very busy day! Bright and early Andrew, Mom, Megan & I headed to Wheaton for the all animal expo. It was mainly reptiles, but there were some rabbits, birds, and bulldogs too!

Welcome Baby Owen!

Welcome Owen Michael!
6 lbs 12 oz and 20" long
Congratulations to Chris, Andrea and Big-Brother Zach!
WE MISS YOU GUYS!!

Dog-Themed Halloween

Very cute Halloween costumes this year! Tripper, we thought you were a Badgers fan!? Megan, I love your bone purse! Very creative guys!

Halloween 2007

Pictures from Lara & Jeremy's party Saturday night. The only thing that I needed would have been a hand buzzer to reach out and sting people with. Andrew looked around, but couldn't find one...oh well. We already have good costume ideas for next year!!

Wake Up!

On Wednesday night I had to go into work from 7-9. I came home and Cash raced up from the basement upon hearing someone at the door. Andy ran up about two strides behind him and met me at the basement landing. Here is our conversation: Andy, sounding panicked: "Where are the dogs!?" Me: "Cash is right here. He's fine." Andy: "What about the doors?" Me: "Huh?" Andy: "The doors, they're the wrong size." I then realized...his eyes and the incoherent talk...Andy was completely asleep. A slow smile spread over my face. Andy looked down, and said: "Don't make fun of me."

While Cash was at the vet...

Andy had a doctor's appointment in IA City. After an hour and 40 minute drive we arrived at University hospital. Andy registered which requires a phone call to another department (registration) and then a 20 question electronic-update which asks about changes in your health since your last visit. We then waited 2 hours and 2o minutes to see the doctor. Frustrated...um yes. A nurse came into the room and asked some questions, then one of the residents that was working with Andy's doctor that day, and finally Andy's actual orthopedic doctor. Time it took to meet with all three...12 minutes. Then it was the hour and 40 minute drive home...ugh. On a less-frustrated note, the doctor did not see significant change (good or bad) in Andy's foot and leg since he last saw him, so at this time no further doctor appointments need to be made.

Bad day for Cash

Cash had a rough day. We had planned on it for awhile, possibly waited too long, but today was the day....Cash was neutered. I consider myself quite tolerant of animal procedures and not really squeamish about the details, but when hearing about it regarding your own pet can be disturbing. "We will start with an incision in the scrotum. A second incision in the subcutaneous tissue will be made, but only large enough to squeeze the testicles through..." I stopped listening after that. When we picked him up I think his feelings were hurt as he whimpered for a few hours. But the very next day he raced into the kitchen and jumped on me. Only needed pain medication for two days. Wow, the pain tolerance of animals makes us look bad!!

Too Delicious

Thinking about the food I've eaten in the last week while at work...blackberries, cucumbers, salads, hummus, grilled fish, chamomile tea, roasted nuts, pita bread, broccoli sprouts, sweet potatoes, dried pineapple...looks pretty healthy, huh? Well, I guess that is why I can justify this...Happy Joes Pizza. The most delicious pizza around. What you are looking at is a medium 1/3 taco, 1/3 BLT (no T) and 1/3 spaghetti, which is garlic bread crust, spaghetti noodles and marinara sauce covered in cheese before baking. Andrew and I treated ourselves to this meal while enjoying some Sunday night football. Pizza, beer, and football...a perfect combination. And Tuesday morning...it's back to poached eggs and Fiber 1 bars.

Saturday with Mel

Melissa now lives in Anamosa and on Saturday night Andrew and I visited with her and TJ as well as Pipi the ferret. I'm not sure the lifespan of a ferret, but Pipi was with us when the 5 girls lived together on Bluff Street...5 years ago. I'm sure Megan remembers him, for those of you less familar enjoy a photo.

Funny Dog Clip

Get Married...Get paid

Today was the first payday for me since I changed my tax forms at work going from single to married. I had talked to several accountants before making some changes as I did not want to have to pay in. I was pleased to see my take home pay went up 4.8%. I guess after tax time we'll see if I need to adjust things or not...

Happy Birthday Sarah!

Amazing what a search for "dancing bird" on YouTube brings up...hope you laugh at this...I did!

Huh?

Handy Andy

Before

Yeah! After.

Amazing what some paint, particle board, and $1.20 brackets did for this storage closet. Andy had it finished in no time at all!

While we were still having fun...

Didn't take pictures during or after the game...

Webkinz WOW Party at the NMRMA

Megan and friend at the Webkinz party at the aquarium. Webkinz are a Beanie Baby with a website, for those not enjoying them... Lots of kids, lots of activities...