Red Robin...YUM!

Saturday afternoon we headed out to do some shopping in Avon/Plainfield.  We stopped at Red Robin for dinner.  Camden learned to say "YUMMMM" just like in the commercials.

Danville park has a drive-through light display at their city park, so we headed there after shopping.  There were some really cool set-ups. 

Santa also had a house in the rec center.  Camden is just a bit shy with the jolly old man.  We never could get her to sit up and smile or even talk to him.  I like this picture, anyway, because it shows how kind and patient he was with her.

We got out of the car and walked across a small suspension bridge.  Kevin and Camden thought it was great fun to rock it back and forth.  Me...not so much!

Our favorite displays...

Kevin caught the golf ball mid-drive.

The animation was really amazing on some of the lights.  These two fishermen took turns catching trout.

Advent Season

I intended to do the advent box like we did last year...doing something little each day to prepare for/celebrate the holiday season.  Unfortunately, time got away and I haven't been able to get the list translated to envelopes and put in the box.  We are well underway in the month, so I decided not to do the box; however, we are still trying to do special activities each day.  Kevin and Camden had both been cooped up in the house all week with sickness/recovery, so we decided to get out on Friday evening, get some ice cream at Culver's and drive around town to see some Christmas lights.

Answers...Finally!

We have made 3 trips to the emergency room in the past year for Kevin's severe abdominal pain.  Everytime, they rule out his heart and go to acid reflux.  The GI cocktail they give him provides enough relief for him to feel better, so they send him home with a diagnosis of GERD and instructions to follow-up with his doctor.  Everythings fine for a while, then we repeat the process.

On Black Friday, after a day of fun and shopping, the pain became unbearable again.  Since we were in Lafayette, Kevin decided to go to one of the hospitals here, rather than our small (and "troubled") hospital in Crawfordsville.  Immediately upon hearing his symptoms and feeling his belly (which was tender to the touch on the right side), they wanted to investigate his gall bladder a bit.  Thankfully Camden was able to bed down at Aunt Carole and Uncle Ric's because we knew it was going to be a long night in the ER.

An ultrasound of his liver, pancreas, and gall bladder showed, "too many gall stones to count."  The ER nurse said she had never heard that said before.  As was probably the case in the previous incidents, one stone had apparently gotten out and blocked the tube to the gall bladder AND the pancreas.  He had gallstone pancreatitis...a VERY painful condition.  The levels in his pancreas & liver that they use to diagnose this were very high.  One was to be below 100 and it was over 1000; the other was to be below 50 and was over 100.  The stone would pass, the pain would ease (as it had the other times), but we would be back another time if the gall bladder was not removed.  We could wait for another day, if we wanted, but there was no guarantee how long before the next of the many stones would set up this situation again.  The surgeon on call strongly recommended it come out NOW.  So he was admitted and surgery set for the next day.

Camden came up on Saturday morning for a visit before the operation.

It was so wonderful to not have to worry about our baby girl.  Camden was showered with wonderful love and attention.  Aunt Carole did some beautiful things with her hair...

...and Uncle Ric taught her all kinds of new silliness.

The surgery was a success and afterward the surgeon confirmed that it was the right decision to have the surgery today.  He said the gall bladder itself was very "sick" and would have continued to be a nasty problem...and sooner than later.  We stayed one more night to make sure the levels had returned to normal and the pancreatitis had subsided.  Kevin is off work for 2 weeks, resting and getting bored!

Grammy Time

While Kevin and Uncle Ric went golfing (yes, I said golfing in November), the girls (and Grandpa Jim) visited Grammy.  Camden was being a pill and refused to sit for pictures.  Oh, the joys of a tempermental 3 year old!

This is the best picture of her and Grammy.  She refused to get any closer.  I want to believe the look in her eyes is simply timing with when the camera snapped...I don't want to believe she is looking at me with a 14-year olds attitude. Silly, stubborn girl.

Thanksgiving

We made our annual trek to Grandma's house in southern Illinois.  Upon arrival, Camden helped set out the food.  She went right to the pumpkin pie that GaGa just put whipped cream on, stuck her fingers in, and took a big swipe.  Good thing Uncle Rick was there to help!

I made the remainder of the carrot cake and chocolate cake (frozen from the baby shower) into cake balls.  One of the little nephews had 10 of them!

Camden, of course, was obsessed with playing in the gym. 

It was also good to catch up with her cousins.  Preslee is doing remarkably well.  She has gained weight and seems to be growing quickly.  Amanda said she was almost 10 lbs and was finally in 0-3 month clothes.  She definitely had some "chunk" in her face.  Still has a little catching up to do for a 4 month old, but it's soooo good to see her at this stage!

Hali was all Hali!  She is a stinker...cute...but a stinker!

The weather was cooperating, so Camden spent a good deal of time outside as well.  The slide always terrifies me a little because it is so tall, but Camden climbs up without hesitation and flys down.

She was also "practicing" on the logs outlining the slide area.  I gathered she was referring to her dance lessons since there is a balance beam they sit on/walk on sometimes during class.

It was such a fun day with family - good food, good play, good people!

Anniversary Roses

November 16 is the anniversary of our first date.  Kevin and I have returned to Scotty's Brewhouse each year on this day to celebrate.  Every year he brings me roses, just like the single rose he brought me on our first encounter.  In the picture, these are at the end of their life; but they were a beautiful reminder on the dining room table for a week+.  He is so wonderful!

Found It!

The long lost camera has been found.  Pictures and updates to come over the next few days!