Surgery...I hope

For the longest time I've been contemplating breast reduction surgery. This past weekend I found out that my cousin's wife is scheduled to have the surgery on the 19th. I couldn't believe it. I'm so much bigger busted than her. It zapped me into high gear. I called my insurance and found that they actually cover the surgery as long as it is medically necessary and not just for cosmetic purposes. Next step - I scheduled an appointment with my doctor to see what she thought.

I had the appointment on Tuesday. She said that I am a very good candidate for the surgery, but...there are a couple of things she wants me to do first.

1. Physical therapy to heal the pain in my neck and back.
2. Lose weight.
3. Be done having children.

My thoughts on these 3 things.
1 - easy. I have my first appointment scheduled on the 23rd.
2 - hard. I'm visibly horrible at losing weight. I know in my head that I need to do it. I want to do it. There are so many benefits from losing the weight. It's such a struggle for me. It's always been a struggle for me. The only time it wasn't was when I was 22 - 24 years old and that was only because my job was the opposite of sedentary. I was on my feet 12 - 16 hours a day and so busy that I simply forgot about food. I wish I could be that busy again. Not on my feet the whole time, but busy. The irony is that I was working in food service during this time. Go figure.
3 - I understand the reasoning for this one. I mean my chest grew 3 cup sizes from being pregnant with Cooper. I better be able to lose some of that from the weight loss or I'm going to be seriously hurting with kid #2. Craig and I had been talking about when we want to start trying for #2 and we decided(prior to this doctor's visit) that we would start trying again in July. Provided Craig has a job again.

I know I was expecting a miracle when I walked in there. I was hoping the doctor would say something along the lines of "We can get you in next week." I know that this is something that will happen someday. I'm really hoping that in about a year and a half I will be having this surgery. In the mean time, I've really got to buckle down and get serious about getting in shape.

If you think about it, pray for me and my task ahead. I'll try to keep you posted on my progress and any future visits with the doctor.

Love to all!

~Amy

Scope

Yesterday I went to the Doctor's office to have an Upper Endoscopy procedure. I was a bit scared. Craig dropped me off. Roughly 30 minutes later I met the doctor. She explained everything that would happen and what she was looking for. Basically, she was going to stick a camera down my throat to see what was going on inside of my esophagus. I had been slightly anemic according to some previous test results and my doctor was worried that I was bleeding internally. They drugged me up and about 30 minutes after that they were waking me up and sending me home with Craig.Craig took me home and I slept from noon until 4:30pm. It was a great nap! The Doctor did tell Craig that she didn't see anything abnormal, but she did take a biopsy to test just in case. I should get the results from that in the mail in a few days. She doesn't expect to find anything wrong though. Thank goodness for the miracles they have in modern medicine. Still not sure why I was anemic though. Oh, well, at least I'm not bleeding internally.

Just thought I'd give you all an update. Sorry if it's TMI.

Love,
~Amy

Are You Playing the Game of Life?

Two days ago I had the most bizarre conversation with the manager of my local Rite Aid. It was so funny that I just had to share.

Craig and I were at the Factoria Mall. We went into Rite Aide so I could pick up something I needed at home. As I got in line, Craig went to get the car so Cooper and I wouldn't have to walk through the rain. That's when things got weird.

Manager - "I can help someone at the Photo counter."

I was second in line, so I moved over to be assisted by the manager. I only had one item, I figured it would be quick.

So, I walk up to the counter and place my item on it...

Manager - "Are you playing the game of Life like you know you should?"

My thoughts - What!?! Oh, maybe he is talking about the scratch ticket Lucky for Life, I'm not sure, uhh...

Me - "Uhh, no. I am playing the real game of life though. So far I've rolled and gotten married and had a kid."

Manager - "Oh, you're doing it right. I wish I could have kids. I have to get married first and I can't find a wife."

Me - "You'll find one."

Manager - "My roommate says I lost the toss for the good looks pool."

Me - "That's horrible!"

Manager - "Horrible, but true."

By this time we were finished ringing up my one item and I had started to head out of the store with Cooper.

Me - "Uhh, bye. Have a good night."

I walked out of there as fast as I could. It was such a bizarre encounter. I told Craig the story right away. I've been chuckling about it ever since. I do feel sorry for that poor man. He was not hideous by any means, but he wasn't super attractive either. Poor guy just needed a hair cut and a roommate that doesn't pick on him.

~Amy

Sewing Bug

I think I have officially caught the sewing bug that my sister and mother have been on for quite some time. It all started at Christmas...I decided to buy a sewing machine for my niece, Camryn. I went to the fabric store to buy her an additional gift of some fabric so she would have something to sew when she opened her gift. I realized I can spend hours in a fabric store just looking at all the beautiful fabrics.

Since that trip I have had a yen to make something. My typical project is a blanket. The problem with this is I need another blanket like I need another hole in my head (Craig has even talked about getting rid of some! Sacrilegious I know, but nevertheless, we don't have space for more blankets at the moment). The problem now became, "What do I make?" I'm not a very skilled seamstress, blankets are rectangles. Straight lines are easy to sew. Could I really make something a little more challenging? Umm, maybe, but I decided to start light.

Two days ago, inspiration struck by way of my good friend Molly's blog. She mentioned that her burp cloths were in dire straights and with baby Liam coming soon it was one of her needs. I thought that would be a perfect starting place. Mandy had made me quite a few burp cloths when I was expecting Cooper and I treasured them. They were unique and easily identifiable when visiting with other moms and their babies.

It was settled. I couldn't get the thought out of my head, so I headed to the fabric store yesterday afternoon. There were so many fabrics to choose from so I limited myself to three. I ran some other errands and came home. Around 9pm I decided that I had to make them that night. I'm not a patient person when I get an idea in my head. =) I stayed up until 2am making those burp cloths! I never stay up past 10pm. I never have the energy. I had the energy last night. I was so excited about making those burp cloths that I wasn't even tired. It wouldn't have taken as long as it did, but Cooper did not want to leave me alone while I was sewing. I finally put him to bed and got serious, until around 1am when he woke up again. Also, my sewing machine decided after two completed burp cloths that it didn't want to work properly. I was in a panic because I was OCD about finishing them so I could get them to Molly today at church. Somehow I messed with the settings of the machine and after 30 minutes I got it to work properly. Phew!

I'm pretty pleased with the results. Now I'm scouring the internet for my next sewing project. I love babies so I'm pretty sure it will be something for a baby, just not sure what though. Hopefully whatever it is will turn out as fun to make as those burp cloths.

Love you!

~Amy

The Shack

Hello friends,

I'm not sure how many of you are avid readers, but I would say that I am a bookworm. I go through phases where I can't stop reading and then have times where I just don't think there is anything interesting enough to take my attention away from my family.

I have just finished a fantastic book called The Shack: Where Tragedy Confronts Eternity. This book was amazing.The Shack definitely got my interest. A friend of mine suggested it and I immediately went and purchased it. I couldn't put it down! It is a religious fiction book that makes you think about God/Jesus/Holy Spirit in a whole new light. Look it up on www.barnesandnoble.com. If any of you are interested in borrowing it, just let me know. Wow! What a great read! Now I'm off to read The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis. If you have any good suggestions be sure to send them my way.(They don't have to be religious, just happens to be what I read this time.)

~Amy

New Years Resolutions

Well, Amy and I are taking the bull by the horns and getting back in shape before the new year. Just a little exercise and not overindulging at meals to start. It's gotta start somewhere and we are both sick of being grossly out of shape. Please wish us luck and support. We will need it!!!

New News!!!

If you follow our blog regularly, then you must be either extremely bored or extremely pissed.

ME TOO!!!

I wish I had the time to post all of my idle thoughts on everything going on in the lives of we Crandells. As the regular visitors to our site have found out by now, Amy and I suck at keeping you up to date.

Here are my Cliff Notes for the last couple of months or so:

1) I got laid off from Oakwood. It was a blessing in disguise, as I can now spend time with Cooper and we are "keeping afloat" financially.

2) Cooper, Amy and I made our second trip to Michigan to visit Papa and Mimi. We flew into Chicago and stayed with my friends for a couple of days and then took the train to Battle Creek. Now, Cooper has been on a Plane, Train, Boat and Automobile. We hope to skydive by age 3 or 4.

If you want to see pictures please visit Facebook and Amy can direct you to our images.

3) I am at home each day with Cooper. We save money and I am building a great bond.

4) Each day, Amy and I still pray that Cooper can meet his Abuelito.