Surgery

Let me begin by saying that we made a decision at the end of the year to change our insurance this year to the cheapest option since we weren't planning on having a baby this year, and we never visit the doctor except well visits for the kids and very occasionally a sick visit for the kids. So all the money we were forking over for health insurance seemed a bit of a waste. We switched to a plan where it would cost us a lot more for each sick visit we made to the doctor, but we figured, even if there was a surprise baby or something it would probably still be cheaper for this plan. Ok, now on to the real story...

Jeremy played flag football on Thanksgiving morning with our stake. He was really excited to go, he took my brother Devin with him since they were visiting and had a good time. EXCEPT that Jeremy jammed his ring finger on his right hand pretty badly. When he got home it was already pretty swollen and bruised. Having jammed many a finger myself in my basketball days, I wasn't too concerned. I basically forgot about it, until weeks later he was still complaining of soreness and saying he couldn't do certain things because it hurt, or he couldn't play any basketball because he couldn't move his finger. I can't lie, I was a little perturbed. I most definitely thought he was being a bit of a drama queen for a jammed finger. I told him to go to the doctor before January if it was really that bad. But alas, life gets busy around the holidays and I don't think either of us thought more of it until last week or so.

Jeremy finally went to the doctor on Friday. He went to urgent care since we don't have a family doctor yet and it was probably cheaper that way anyway. He did an x-ray and found that the bones weren't broken, so he was referred to a hand specialist. Today he went to a hand specialist (it's hurts because these visits are now over $100 each instead of the $20 or so they would have been a few weeks ago!). He called me today with some shocking news. He is having surgery on Wednesday. His tendon has completely broken and is no longer attached to the top of his finger, hence why he has been unable to move it. The doctor also believes that the tendon is somehow caught on his second knuckle, hence the swelling and pain. So the surgery can have one of two outcomes. Ideal outcome: he reattaches the tendon to the top of the finger, and after 6 weeks of healing and further physical therapy, he will be fine. Outcome 2.. less ideal: the tendon cannot be reattached and will instead have to be severed completely and Jeremy will no longer have use of that finger.

CRAZY, right? I was shocked at the news, and more than a little humbled. So, short story long, if you read this in time and remember to say your prayers, you could please mention Jeremy and pray that he is able to save his little finger! If not, he'll have a weird ring finger that always sticks out, even when the others are closed. Unfortunately, that is the likely outcome since he waited so long to go to the doctor (which is partly my fault for telling him to suck it up).

And the last thing that needs to be said, is, SORRY BABY! I am insensitive and promise to believe you more when you say you're in pain in the future! I will definitely be saying my prayers!

Oh, and PS - surgery, 3 weeks after we change our insurance? Really? I guess we should have expected that! Good thing there's a maximum deductible because we have been basically guaranteed to hit it in just this one surgery! But, God works in mysterious ways and a huge blessing this last year was that Jeremy met his lofty work goal and got a bonus. Now we know what we will spend it on!... and the PS3 that was so important.. haha

Christmas.. Finally!

This year we had a really nice Christmas experience here in Arizona. We were able to spend a lot of time as a family, with other family, and friends. We had fun at our ward party, where the kids got to sit on Santa's lap. Brenna tolerated it alright because she knew he was going to give her a candy cane after. Mason on the other hand, was not pleased about being plopped there for a picture. He's not quite crying in this picture, but it must have been a split second before he started because the picture the ward took, he was mid-scream! Also, the bottom pictures are from Christmas Eve! We hosted the family get-together this year on Christmas Eve, and Jeremy home teaches a family in our ward that goes around doing Santa for people's families! I didn't know this until this year, but he stopped by and it was really fun. Both kids were more excited this time around, and the cousins were happy with that surprise too!

We enjoyed our gift exchange and desserts on Christmas Eve, and once we had the house to ourselves again, we had the kids open their Christmas p.j.'s and hurry to bed! I love that this year Brenna was excited about Christmas more and knew more of what was going on, but she wasn't so excited that she woke up early, so I'll hopefully look forward to that next year! So we moseyed on out of bed at 7:30 or so and went to see what Santa brought!

Aren't they cute in their matching p.j.'s!? I didn't take too many pictures unfortunately, but we were running video the whole time too. After we opened presents, we headed over to Jeremy's mom's house for Christmas celebrations over there. After brunch and presents we went outside to play for a while (I know, isn't Christmas in AZ different?? Yes, Brenna is wearing short sleeves and a dress). Brenna wanted on this bike so badly! She put the helmet on all by herself, buckled it and all, then climbed up on this bike and waited for magic to happen! haha it was cute, but a little too big for her!

Jeremy got me a new stereo for my car for Christmas (I know, he's a good man) and he spent most of the rest of the day (and good chunks of the next few days) installing it himself as well. This is Jeremy and his brother Jared working on it. I thought it looked like they were operating or something, they were huddled over it with their heads almost touching... aww brothers!

The girls then all went to the park (and Mason), but after walking there, the girls were all dead on their feet and too tired to play, so we had the boys come pick up the kids and Sylvia and I walked home with Mason in the stroller... he was tired too.

Unfortunately Everyone was feeling a little under the weather, and after Brenna started with a case of "the runs" in her undies, we decided it was time to go home and get everyone to bed. Jeremy got a little helicopter from his brother that flies with a remote, and I think it's his favorite present. He has pretty well mastered piloting this thing, and Mason and Brenna LOVE it when he flies. It's in the top right corner of the picture, but it's sort of hard to see!

Anyway, long, boring details, but a really nice Christmas! The kids and us got spoiled by family and friends, and I have been feeling overwhelmed with blessings lately in our life. Thank you and Merry Christmas to all!