30 Day Blogging Challenge

My super awesome friend is doing this 30 day blogging challenge. I've decided to join in. Though I may or may not change the topics, only do some of them, or not do them at all, according to my mood at the moment. Just sayin'. 


30 Day Challenge Topics

Day 1 - Your Favorite Song
Day 2 - Your Favorite Movie
Day 3 - Your idea of the perfect first date
Day 4 - Your favorite photograph of your best friend(s)
Day 5 - Talk about your pets
Day 6 - A photo of an animal you'd love to keep as a pet
Day 7 - Your dream wedding
Day 8 - A song to match your mood
Day 9 - A photo of the item you last purchased
Day 10 - A photo of your favorite place to eat
Day 11 - What's in your make-up bag/purse
Day 12 - Your current relationship status
Day 13 - A few of your favorite quotes, mottos, or versus
Day 14 - TV show (or shows) you're currently addicted to
Day 15 - Something you don't leave the house without
Day 16 - Describe a passion you have
Day 17 - How you hope your future will be like
Day 18 - Five things that irritate you
Day 19 - Your reflection in the mirror
Day 20 - The meaning behind your blog name
Day 21 - A photo of something that makes you happy
Day 22 - A letter to someone who has hurt or OR made you happy recently
Day 23 - 15 Facts about you
Day 24 - A photo of something that means a lot to you
Day 25 - 5 of your favorite movies/books
Day 26 - A photo of somewhere you want to go
Day 27 - What kind of person attracts you?
Day 28 - In this past month, what have you learned?
Day 29 - Something you could never get tired of doing
Day 30 - A photo of yourself plus 3 good things that have happened within the last 30 days

And for my convenience, I'll be starting it tomorrow. The first day of February. That is all.

Thanks!

As mentioned, I recently had major surgery. And that's no picnic. But I have some great people in my life that have made it totally bearable. Thank you, people in my life!

Grandpa & Grandma M. Wish I had a pic of my sister with him too. He loved playing all day long with her too! Sorry Elise.

Thanks for the cards, calls, texts, Facebook messages. Thanks for the thoughts, prayers, flowers. Thanks for the meals, gifts, and offers of help. A special thanks to my sister and parents for watching my little guy. He had some awesome Grandma Grandpa time and misses his Aunt already too. And let's not forget my superhero of a husband.

Love this care package from my sis-in-law Melody

I'm doing great, except for a Cold that has set me back a little....


(Sneezing + Large Incision in Stomach = Suckage.)

But these flowers sure are beautiful & cheery!

I'm looking forward to next week when I believe I'll be able to lift and take care of my son again (Yay!). And surprisingly looking forward to when the doc will clear me for work... whenever that may be.

Thanks Marion & Nora! Your visit made my day! (And the balloon made Yonas's!)

Surgery

Warning: If you are a squeamish person, this post is probably not for you. Avert your eyes.

Ready.


Go.

I had surgery to remove a VERY LARGE cystic tumor from my stomach area. It turned out to be totally benign (yay!), but the growth also caused some damage. 


Y'know. 


Inside of me.


So, the doc had to remove a few other things while she was at it. (a.k.a. One of my ovaries. Oh and my fallopian tube. Oh and my dignity). Just kidding about the dignity. I lost that later when the nurses had to sit me on the toity and squirt me down... as I sat basically naked. I know. Awesome. Well, it was either then or when I threw up in the hallway as my nurse and Mike were taking me for a walk. Luckily another nurse grabbed a garbage can in time. I know. Awesome.


Man, that hurt though. 
Ooh. 
Hurts just thinking about it. 


Anyway, whenever it was, I know I lost my dignity somewhere because now I have NO inhibitions when it comes to lifting my shirt and showing people my skin. 


MY STOMACH. C'mon people.


And so here I am. A few days after surgery. In all my stapled glory.

I know. Awesome.


I do have some more gruesome pics of the actual surgery... but I guess I'll draw the line somewhere.

Random Rant. #2.

This bugs.

You know what I'm talking about? I can't be the only one that's annoyed by this. Let's take a closer look.

I can't stand that this much soap goes to waste. I mean, there's got to be AT LEAST 10 more hand-washes in each of those babies!

Seriously. It's a problem.

Melkam Yelidet Beaal!

It's Christmas in Ethiopia.


And this little Ethiopian is celebratin'!

He played in the snow with Daddy. Had a blast at the Aggie basketball game with his cousins. And opened his gift from Ethiopia. 


Melkam Yelidet Beaal!
("Merry Christmas" in the Amharic language)