Happy Fall!

I have been a terrible blogger the last little while.  Because of this I plan to touch on just the highlights of the last couple of months to catch you up on the life of the Stout Girls.

September

1. Friends: I had the chance to see several good friends in September. I went to a couple of
baby showers and What a Woman Wants at the expo center.  Such fun!

2. The Utah State Fair: Food, shopping, fun :-)

3. Tooth vs shopping cart= unexpected trip to the dentist:  The big event in September took place at Walmart when a shopping cart tried to take out Kensie's tooth. I had just finished paying and Kensie was a couple feet in front of me walking forward.  Just as I decided to start pushing the cart Kensie turned around and we ran right into each other.  The edge of the cart was lined up with her mouth and it knocked her front left tooth back into her mouth so it was pointing inward and not down!  I popped it back into place but it was very loose.  A trip to the dentist showed that the root and tooth were not cracked and we were instructed to only eat soup and soft food for awhile.  The gum has tightened up around her gums a little but it is still a little loose.  The dentist told me a similar story of his own daughter, they were able to save the tooth for about 8 months and then had to take it out.  I hope it will be ok, but at least it is just a baby tooth.  Who knows, maybe she will just be toothless for a couple of years until her adult tooth comes in.
McKensie's dazzling smile, still intact... hopefully it will stay that way:

So here is the best part:  Kensie was in tears just because she had to go to the dentist.  But they gave her ice cream and a toy so when we left she was grinning from ear to ear.  As we were driving home she told me to crash into the car in front of us just so she could get another loose tooth and go back to the dentist!  A little while later when I was explaining to her that she could only eat soft foods for awhile, she teared up and said, "You mean I can't eat broccoli???"

October

1.  The Birthday Girl!  

McKensie turned four in October.  It is amazing how fast time flies, I can't believe she is FOUR!!!

My master piece... yum!

2. Wheeler Farm:

3. Halloween: This Halloween was exceptionally fine :-)  We went to a Draper City Halloween event and a family party.  Kensie even went to a couple of trunk or treat ward parties with Grandparents. Good times. 

The "Cat Witch"

Our Fabulous pumpkins.  Look at my dragon... Oh ya...

Preschool Parade/Performance

 

I Survived Surgery!

Well, I haven't blogged for awhile so I owe you some updates!

First we shall start with my surgery.  My knee has been bothering me for about 8 months or so and I thought it was an old injury acting up from when I hurt my MCL back in 2004.  Well, at the end of October I went to visit Dr. Cooley, an orthopedic doctor that specializes in knees at TOSH. To make a long story short I discovered that it was not my MCL but that Dr. Cooley believed that I had torn my medial meniscus. He said that there was a small percentage that it could be something else but I would still need surgery.  SOOO, as you already know by now I had surgery yesterday and I could not have asked for a better outcome!!  My meniscus was NOT  torn and my MCL and all my cartilage looks healthy.  The actual problem was I had scar tissue built up around my knee (which Dr. Cooley had said there was a 10% chance that this could be the problem).  So because of this, surgery was in fact needed and they just went through and did a debridement of all this extra tissue that had built up that was causing all my discomfort and pain.


Now I am just recovering.  I have a dressing and ace wrap that extends from my foot to mid thigh that needs to stay on through out Monday.  I can be weight bearing but need to take it easy so they sent me home with crutches.  I have awesome pain medication that makes me kind of loopy and tired. So if my blog posts over the next couple of days don't make sense, I blame the meds :-) .   Right now I am trying to obey orders to stay off my leg for a couple of days and rest.  Besides that I am doing well. 

BEFORE

AFTER

Partial Meniscectomy

I am getting this done tomorrow.  Kind of freaks me out... yep, it does.






YIKES!  My poor knee!!!

August Happy Thoughts

1. Good Bye Summer!

2.  School:  Kensie started her second year of preschool.  Even though it is nice to have her back in school so I can get a few things done... it makes me sad! I had so much fun with her this summer, I will miss my little shadow that constantly follows me everywhere.  It is true she will only be gone for three hours on Tuesday, and Thursday... but that seems like a lot! What am I going to do when she goes to Kindergarten??!!

3. Education Week at BYU:  For the first time I was able to experiencing education week.  Wow, loved it!  I went with my mom and sister.  It was only for one day but it left me craving more.  I would love to be able to go for the whole week.  I attended several parenting classes among other things.  I want to give a big thanks to my step-sister, Kait for watching Kensie so I could go! You are wonderful!

4. Lagoon: I took Kensie to Lagoon a couple weeks ago and had tons of fun.  Besides a skinned knee and being hailed on we were still able to go on lots of rides and go to Lagoon a Beach.  Kensie's favorite part was Lagoon a Beach.  My favorite part was making funny faces while taking self portraits on the ferris wheel.

5.  Motherhood: The other day at Target Kensie found a book she wanted.  I told her she could not have it.  She then proceeded to yell at me saying, "I won't love you unless you buy me this book!!!  You should buy this so I can Love you!"  When I still said no, she said, "Then I don't love you anymore!" and then proceeded to cry and whine telling my she HAD to have it. A few days later a similar situation occurred except this time she told me that I would no longer be her Mother.  Motherhood... I feel so loved :-)

6. Eating Healthy: As you are aware this was a happy thought from last month and I set a goal for August to eat better.  I failed miserably.  I did make a few new recipes, but over all... I could try harder.  Here is to a new month! But while I am still thinking about all the yummy food I ate this past month here is a must try delicious dessert perfect for fall:

Texas Tornado

1 large can pumpkin                             1 can evaporated milk

1 cup sugar                                           1 T. cinnamon

3 eggs                                                   1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

1/2 tsp. salt                                           1 box yellow cake mix

2 squares butter

Mix the above ingredients (except butter and cake mix) and pour into 9x13 inch cake pan. Sprinkle cake mix (dry) over the top.  Add 1/2 cup chopped nut if desired. pour 2 squares melted butter over the top. Do not mix. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

When I make this I usually just by the pre-spiced pumpkin, that way you don't have to add all the spices.

7. The Help:

This month I read this book.  It was wonderful, I would highly recommend it!  I am excited to go and see the movie.

8. Bear Lake:  I went to Bear Lake AGAIN this month, but this time it was only a quick day trip with my Mom, Grandma, and McKensie for my Grandma's birthday.  We stopped in Logan for lunch and ate at the Bluebird Restaurant established in 1914.  So much fun.  Then continued down the road and enjoyed yummy amazingly delicious raspberry shakes and fresh raspberry's at Bear Lake.  It was a good day. 

REALITY CHECK

It has occurred to me recently that many of you are probably sick and tired of my picture perfect happy thoughts .  Obviously, my life is not all peaches and cream, but I like to look on the bright side of things.  But for now how about we change it up for a bit and have this reality check on my life.

1. I really do love my life right now, I am the happiest I have been in a long time.  Although I would not change anything... there are times that working full time and being a single mom is REALLY hard. I hate working full time.  That sounds drastic but the most difficult thing I have to do is leave my daughter.  I am her mom, I should be taking care of her.  I am so grateful for the wonderful family members that watch her while I leave... but I want to be there more than I am.  It breaks my heart.

2.  This is the slow season at my work.  My first pay period of the month I only worked three out of my six shifts. Yikes.  Like I said, I hate working full time, but unfortunately money is a necessary evil.

3.  Kensie has been sick for over two weeks.  She is finally getting better, but it has taken a lot of sleepless nights to get to this point.

4.  Kensie is experiencing anxiety over almost everything lately.  Sleep, church, school, dance, etc, etc.  I am worried about her and don't know what's going on... I hope it is just a stage.

So there you have it.  My happiness and just a few of the realities of my life right now.

"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give" 

-Winston Churchill-

July Happy Thoughts

So my monthly happy thoughts are starting to get published later and later.  Oh well, at least I am still blogging!  Here is a bit of my happiness I would like to share with you from July.  Lets just say July was an amazing month!

1. The Fourth of July!

Family, Food, Fair, Fireworks... It doesn't get better than that.  I feel so blessed to live in this great country.

 2. Optimism:  In high school a friend once told me that my life was like a soap opera.  This statement has only seemed to become more true as I have grown up.  This is not self inflicted!  It may sound silly but I am grateful for the natural optimism instilled in me that has made it possible to always look on the bright side of things, no matter what life may bring. Optimism... awesome.  (I am sure that this is easier to say now that my life has been relatively calm and uneventful for about a year now)  :-)

3. Bear Lake: Kensie's first camping trip! This month I had the chance to take Kensie camping with just me and my Dad.  So much fun! We went up Saint Charles Canyon by Bear Lake and camped for two nights. Having this one on one time with my dad around the camp fire at night was wonderful.  Kensie had a blast roasting marshmallows, hiking, exploring Minnetonka Cave, and playing in the dirt collecting rocks, flowers, sticks and just about anything else she could find.  I had one very dirty child by the time we were done!

After camping my Dad's family joined us at a cabin by Bear Lake. It was fun seeing everyone!  We spent another fun filled day on the beach and boating.  By the time we were done I took home one very exhausted child, but it was well worth it!

4.  Happy Birthday to my Mom and sister Amy! I love you guys!

5.  Jackson Hole: This month I also had a chance to go to Jackson Hole for a few days without my adorable shadow.  I love this place!  Water rafting, a nine mile hike, Grand Teton National Forest... it doesn't get better than that! Thanks Ethan for making this trip possible!

More of my Rafting Experience :-)

6. Work:  Have I mentioned that I have a great job?  I am a registered nurse at Primary Children's Medical Center on the Children's Medical Unit.  Just recently I accepted a position for a Charge 14.  What this means is that I will be over a group of PCT's (CNA's), meeting with them for trimester evaluations, yearly evaluations, etc.  I am excited for this new position and to to get more involved on the unit.

7. Eating Healthy: Am I practicing this at the moment? Well, no.  But I got this website through a work email that has tons of great healthy recipes, it even lists the nutritional facts on each recipe.  I am now making a goal to eat better and try out some of these recipes.  Please share any good recipes you may have!

Deliciously Healthy Recipes

8.

"That which we persist in doing becomes easier for us to do; not that the nature of the thing has changed, but that our power to do is increased" 

President Heber J. Grant