Snow....from a couple weeks ago

OK, so I know it's been a while and the fun is not quite at it's peak for these photos, but I wanted to get them up. It's been a good week, crazy weather, one day 65 and the other 32. I've been able to get out of the house. I feel like this was one of my first real weeks working. I was able to get a TON of stuff done with the Children's Ministry and the elders have been really supportive. I'm so relieved to be in a position I enjoy. God is filling my heart, and I love it.
Josh is getting busier and busier in school. He's chosen Pediatrics for when he graduates, so I'm glad he know where he wants to work. Plus that helps him know where to focus in his studies this semester since he is in a Peds clinical.
The girls are just growing up way to fast. Caroline is making some great strides in her speech, she's starting to put two words together, although most words are still only understandable by her parents and Makayla. Makayla has just been absorbing everything. She learns very quickly, including the manners we are starting to work on more. Now if only I could get teach her to fold the laundry......

So, here are the pictures from a couple of weeks ago when we had our big snow. We had a blast!Oops! Mommy hit Caroline in the face with a snow ball.

Destructive Daughters

I don't have much time, but I thought I would put some disturbing pics of my destructive children. We have these issues with the girls playing in their bedroom at night. We've taken EVERYTHING out of their room, locked up their clothes, no toys, only a bed and a blanket. Well, we did put at laundry hamper last week..... this is what happened to it when the girls decided to use it as a step stool.

.To come...Playing in snow pictures

Warning-Scroll slowly, potentially gross pictures

Hello All! We don't have a lot of happenings at the moment. Josh is back in school, leaving me home to be a nursing student's wife. Lots of friends have helped me take care of things at home and we have had lots of food. Thanks friend! Josh's mom is here to help for the week, so I'm really looking forward to the extra help! Josh got his braces off while I was gone for my surgery, so enjoy some before and after pictures! Sorry for the poor quality of the before picture, but you get the idea!

Before
AfterWhat a beautiful smile!!

To spare the weak stomached, I will put a picture of the girls next so you don't have to scroll through gross pictures.
And saving the best for last..... I'm trying to learn to not be vain with my scar, it actually helps to see a picture of it, because it doesn't look as bad in the picture. So maybe that's what everyone else sees. The scar is shiny because the glue is still on it, the glue will be coming off soon! The second picture is part of the rib itself, it is UGLY! So, if you don't have a strong stomach, don't scroll past my scar!

Project Adam and Eve

The cervical rib bone's connected to the first rib bone...Ok, so maybe that's no quite how the song goes, but I wanted to share with you about the surgery. We met the doctor on Tuesday and were very impressed. He was very thorough and his office staff was so kind. They brought us hot drinks and cookies while we waited. I flipped through Dr. Sanders (he's the doctor/surgeon) text book that he wrote while we were waiting. I don't know what any of it meant, but it looked smart. Once he had me perform a bunch of tests, he determined that I was a good candidate for the surgery and that I did indeed have Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS). He then sent me to a nerve conductor Dr. who sent electrical wave throughout my arm to see if my nerves were functioning properly. As compared to my left arm, which does not have any numbness or tingling, my right arm was not performing up to par. But, he felt the damage was not permanent yet and that he was certain that the cervical rib was the cause of my pain. Which means, remove the rib, remove the problem.
We got to the hospital very early just in case his first surgery didn't happen for some reason. They did show up, and we waited 4 hours to go back to surgery. He had told us before that the surgery would take about 2 hours, at the most 3. My surgery was 3 hours. He said that my cervical rib had formed a huge joint, that is was people could feel when they touched my rib, and that is ha attached to my first rib. So he ended up having to remove both the cervical rib and the first rib. The incision is small at the top of my neck, he just glued me together on the outside. So far everything is healing well. I am not in very much pain and I am slowly gaining normal rotation of my neck and arm. The best part though NO MORE NUMBNESS OR PAIN!
They sent me home with something called a ten pack, which Josh and I had used for therapy when we were going to the chiropractor. It's little circle pads that attach to a little machine that sends electricity to the pain, kinda an all natural pain reliever, which I appreciate, I hate taking pain pills.
Also, for good news, he told us before the surgery that the rib would be cut up in such little pieces that we wouldn't be able to tell what it was. After the surgery he said the joint was so big and in the way, he was able to cut out a big chunk. When my mom went down to the path lab to pick it up, they told her is wasn't ready and wouldn't be for over a week. As we were literally on our way out, the nurse got a call and said that Dr. Sanders was coming. So we stopped and he came up to us holding the small piece of my rib. How cool! So, for all of you guys that were curious to see it, I've got it!
Well, Josh is in AR with the girls, so I don't have much news about them. Hope you enjoyed the surgery synopsis!

A family that prays together...

My family gave me the most wonderful surprise tonight. Here I was thinking I was treating Josh to a night out just the two of us for one last meal before I leave, and he detours to my parents house. I think nothing of it because we go there all the time. When I get there, I see my brothers car, which is also not a surprise because he's often there too. Not long after we arrive my sister comes over with her kids. What a coincidence that we all show up at the same time! Well, little did I know, my dad had organized the whole thing. I got a little nervous when he started talking about good health in the family, thinking he had some terrible announcement to make. But, to my surprise the special occasion was just for me. He spoke from the heart about my surgery and his fears and prayers for me and then opened it up for my family to share some encouragement. Josh said some kind words and then our family gathered to pray. It was so encouraging to me and gave me much peace. I really appreciate the effort that was put into getting our whole family together to pray over me. Thanks guys! We also had some friends come over to watch the girls tonite so we could go out, and they too prayed over me before they left. It's such a special gift and bond to share among friends and family and I'm so thankful to know that I have many people praying for me while I undergo surgery.

End of Christmas Break

It's so sad that the end of Josh's break is approaching. It feels so much sooner to me because I won't get to spend any time with him his last week off. On Sunday my mom and I will be flying to Colorado for the long awaited rib removal surgery. Things are a little stressful in the Bradley house as we try to get everything ready for a week without mommy. I'm already starting to pre-miss my family and worry about being gone from them for a week. Although I am more than confident in Josh's parenting abilities, a week is still a long time to be a single parent. And of course, the uncertainties of surgery are also heavy on my mind. I don't know exactly what to expect afterwards except that I can't lift over 10 lbs for 4-6 weeks and that I will sometimes have lots of pain. Having a big scar on my neck isn't so thrilling either, I'm trying to come up with some great stories of how I got it, so feel free to give me some suggestions. I liked my father-in-laws perspective best, he thought that since I was getting the rib taken out that Josh should start submitting to me (just like Adam and Eve).
Christmas was great. Santa was very generous with all of us, we have more toys than space, but I guess that's a good problem to have. Makayla is starting to understand the concept of Santa and getting presents and thoroughly enjoys looking out for Christmas lights. Caroline just like to rip things. They both love the markers they got for Christmas, Makayla draws me pretty pictures and Caroline just sits there taking the cap off and putting it back on. Fun times for all! We enjoyed our time visiting in Ohio and got our long awaiting video camera, so we should be able to get some video clips on here (as soon as I figure it out).
We didn't take a lot of pictures this year, Christmas was pretty chaotic with so many little grandkids running around, but here are a few pics for you to enjoy.

Makayla and Caroline dressed up for Christmas Eve service

Poor Mason being forced into a family picture

Caroline stealing from her sisters stocking

The beginning of Christmas chaos