Vacation and a blessing

We just got back from a long trip to good ole Utah.  It was fun seeing family and new babies.  We blessed Lincoln in St. George on May 6th.  My parents drove down to be there and almost all of Cory's family was there.  Then Cory flew back home to California and I took the kids up to Salt Lake.

Now, even though we had a great time, there was a major drawback- I had to have emergency surgery.  I woke up on Mother's Day with a lot of pain in my stomach and chest.  I tried to ignore it, but after 8 hours of constant pain, I had my dad drive me to the emergency room.  A gall stone was stuck in my duct and both my liver and pancreas were dangerously inflamed.  Funny enough though, that wasn't my main source of stress- it was knowing that my 3 month old who had never taken a bottle, was going to need to drink formula for at least the next few days.  I stayed in the hospital for 3 days and nights and they took my gallbladder out (at least I got to be completely out during the procedure, as opposed to childbirth:-)  Lincoln was such a trooper and took the bottle just fine.  A few days after I got home, he started nursing again like nothing had ever happened.  I know of so many moms who have had this surgery and I think I might try to start a gallbladder mom's club...

I was so thankful for my family and their support.  My mom stayed with Lincoln at night and fed him bottles, my dad put my kids to bed at night, my sisters came and helped during the day...I really couldn't have asked for a better support system.  I am grateful it is over and done and I can just recover (I'm not supposed to lift anything over 10lbs...yeah right, but I'm doing my best).

Here are a bunch of pictures again in no particular order:



Classic picture of the kids playing baseball at the park by our house



Cousins- Joseph, Lincoln, and Conner

 On his blessing day with Grandma Florence

 With Daddy and Grandpas

With Mommy, Grandmas, and Great-Grandma

 Random pic of Annalisa being a pirate in her jammies

 Lincoln at church on his blessing day

 At an indoor play place

 Same place

 Lincoln watching his first braves game with Daddy

 Looks like his cousin Lewis- lots of Webster in him

Just cute

 Weeding for Mormon Helping Hands- probably the only gardening my kids will get in a while...

 Serving with Daddy

 Humongous beet being held by a Beetdigger (Cory's high school mascot)

 Such a smiley boy

 Eating breakfast every morning with Grandpa Porter

 Being held by cousin Melayna

 As Ethan would say, "the pirate baby"

 Pirate brothers

Playing at Art Zone in West L.A. yesterday