The Results are in...

Last Tuesday right before 5, I got a call from the endo's office.  They wanted me to come in.  They offered to see me that night (after the office had closed) or the next morning.  I wanted to go immediately.

I was still at the office at that time and the doctor's office is literally 5 minutes from here.  I didn't want to go alone and thankfully my dad was right next to me when they had called (another unwritten perk of working with your family).

So my dad and I loaded up and head over.  The doctor walks in and before she even closes the door, she says, "I don't have good news for you."

Biopsy results came back as suspicious for follicular neoplasm which basically means I most likely have follicular thyroid cancer.  The only way to know for sure is to take out my thyroid surgically and look at the actual tissue.

I don't really feel like getting into a bunch of the details.  But here are the main points:

-  I am being referred to a surgeon up at OHSU.  I have my consultation with her next week.

-  I will need to have a chest scan done to make sure it hasn't spread.  It is a really slow growing cancer so it isn't likely it has spread, but obviously they need to check.

-  If it comes back as cancer after the surgery, I will have to do radioactive iodine and then take monster amounts of thyroid supplements for the rest of my life (no big deal, every woman in my family takes those anyway so it was inevitable).


So that is that.  Needless to say, it made for an interesting Thanksgiving.

I know thyroid cancer like this is super curable and most likely everything will be totally fine, but it still is never fun to hear the word "cancer" especially when it is directed towards you. 

I have slowly told some people around me about my news.  My family knows.  Some of my friends know.  And the good thing is that I have heard from a bunch of people who are praying for me and have offered their help and support in whatever way I need.  And that was definitely something to be thankful for.

I greatly appreciate all of the prayers and support.  Keep them coming!  I will take them.  :)  Even if I haven't responded to you or if maybe I don't right away in the future, it isn't because I don't appreciate your support.  I am just doing my best to handle this kind of crappy news.

Seems like an appropriate song...

To go with my White Christmas theme as well as the fact that Thanksgiving is tomorrow, I have decided to post this video.

Considering the stresses I have been dealing with lately, I feel like it is super important to keep songs like this in mind.  Because the truth is, no matter what happens, I have so many blessings in my life.

Last night I woke up at 1:44 in the morning and was wide awake for a couple of hours.  And for a while, in between reading and playing sodoku, I ran this song through my head and counted my blessings, one of the biggest being the sleeping man laying next to me, and two other being my parents and family (in-laws included) who have bent over backwards to support me and my wonderful friends.

Another reason I posted this is because I had no idea what else to write.  My apologies.  :)

Mr. Bones

Sunday, our family got together to watch White Christmas.  We do this every year, right before Thanksgiving.  We used to do it the night before Thanksgiving, but we had to change the date when Phil and I started travelling to Georgia.

This year, Jake and David were super excited about watching it.  While we waited to start the movie, I asked the boys what their favorite song from the movie was.  Jake coudln't pick a favorite, but David definitely know which song he liked:

Mr. Bones

Or Minstrel Show, as it is referred to in the movie.

He then performed a concert for us.

Personally, I like the hat.  When he finished, we clapped.  I asked him what the name of the song he performed was...

"Mr. Bones," he said with a smile on his face.

I am going to be sad when all of my nephews are "cool teenagers" and aren't this cute anymore.



4th times a charm...

I anxiously awaited Friday morning for my biopsy appointment.  Every time my phone rang, moved, hummed, etc. my heart would beat a little faster.  However, by 11:30, I had heard nothing from the endo office, so my mom and I set off so I could get poked.

I go to the front desk of the office to check-in for my appointment.  The receptionist says, "I don't see you on the schedule for today.  You can go talk to the doctor's scheduler."

Ok... Don't panic.  It is probably a mistake.

I walk up to the doctor's scheduler.  Here's how that went:

Me:  I am here for my appointment at noon.

Scheduler:  Well I don't see you on the schedule.

Me:  [blank stare]

Scheduler:  I have you on the schedule for November 30th.

Me:  [Trying to stay calm] No.  You called me on Monday and said you could see me on Friday at noon.

Scheduler:  Ok... Well it isn't in the schedule...

Me:  [Deep breathing and more blank staring]

Scheduler:  I remember talking to you.  I remember emailing the doctor.  I remember putting it into the schedule, but now I can't find it on the schedule.

Me:  [Thinking to myself, "This can't be happening."  I was about ready to tell her I wasn't leaving the office today without getting the biopsy done.]

Scheduler:  She has a lunch meeting.

I bet she does.

Scheduler:  I can see if I can cancel that.  Did you take off work for this?

What does that matter?

Me:  Yes.  I can come back at one.

Scheduler:  [Excited] Oh can you come back at one?  That would be great!

Me:  Yeah.  So am I DEFINITELY on for one?

Scheduler:  Yes.

Can you believe that?!?!  Only I have this kind of luck.

So I walked out to my mom and told her we needed to leave and she about lost it.

Mom:  WHAT?!?!  You've got to be kidding me!!  This place is RIDICULOUS!!!

Gotta love my mom.

My mom and I went and got a small bite to eat and then went back.  I didn't have to wait very long and the biopsy began.  I had both nodules biopsied which meant 12 needle pokes in the neck.

But honestly... it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be.  Not that is was pleasant, but I think it could have been worse.  The worst part was the last draw of the first nodule when the doctor said to her nurse, "Can you get me the longer needle?"  Not something you like to hear.  And that draw felt WEIRD.

My neck was pretty sore afterwards and still is.  But hopefully it will be the last time I have to have my neck poked at .

Now I just have to not drive myself (and Phil) nuts waiting for the results.

Keep praying for BENIGN results.

Let's try this again...

{I just thought this post needed a picture. 

This is the Big Island, Hawaii taken by me during our helicopter tour.}

The endo office called me Monday morning and said the doctor was willing to give up her lunch break to do my biopsy on Friday (today).

I was so relieved.

First of all, I was relieved I wouldn't have to call and be all aggressive with them to get a sooner appointment because that is what I was going to do.  I was going to call.  Everyday.  Until they get me in.  And while I am sure there are several people in the world that think I would be totally at home being a bis-natch, I was really not looking forward to it.  Plus it helped restore some faith in the whole medical system for me (I was starting to feel like doctors and medical staff had forgotten what it was like to be a patient).

However, I have had a really hard time believing that the appointment would actually happen.  And while I know the likelihood of the doctor cancelling a second time on me is slim, it is still possible.

And I am having a much harder time being in a zen-like place about the biopsy this time.  I think I used all of my coping mechanisms last week.  I am not that anxious about the actual biopsy, even though I know it can't be that pleasant of an experience.  I am no stranger to shots/needles (dentist, dermatologist, etc.).  I had surgery done on my toes (my baby toes lay across my other toes) about 4 years ago (right before Phil and I started dating) and I didn't want to go under general anesthesia, so they did the surgery with me awake which means they used a CRAP-LOAD of local, injected right into both feet.  And there is nothing more painful (in my limited experience) than getting shots in the foot.

So anyway, wish me luck today.  And since I really don't want cancer, if you could send me your prayers again I would really appreciate it.  I know prayers were sent my way last week and I think it made a big difference in my anxiety levels.  Thank you so much.

I will let you know how it goes.  Phil and I are planning to go see the movie Jack and Jill tonight as a light-hearted distraction.  I hope it works.  :)

Work

Sometimes I wish I could share my stories about work...

...Like the time a neighbor to our project suggested we use a bunch of poisonous plants in our apartment complex because they were native (poison oak is technically native but that doesn't mean I am going to plant it in my garden).

...Or the time I went to a neighborhood meeting for an apartment complex where the neighbors talked about how renters were all pedophiles, white trash, or perverts (personal offense since I am a renter and I am pretty sure perverts can own property too.  What is this, 1790?  You are only worth something if you are a property owner?).

...Or the other day when one of my employees said we would be more successful if only we worked harder (Um... first of all I am an owner.  Secondly, no one works harder than my dad.  Third, he was standing by the coffee pot, shooting the breeze when he said that.).

...Or the time a woman told my dad he was ruining her life because of a project we were doing (and we totally were not by the way).

...The kitchen duty can disappearance (Sound dumb?  It was kind of ridiculous).


But it probably wouldn't be totally appropriate to put those details on the internet.  But like I have said in the past, engineering isn't always boring.

Mrs. Cheap Pants

I kind of love to shop clearance racks.  I have been on a bit of a hot streak when it comes to cruisin' clearances.  Tank tops for $2.  Sweaters for $3.50.  But not all of these finds are great when you first see them.  Case and point, these pants:

They are HUGE!  But then I saw this:

{The vain part of me was hoping the SIZE wouldn't show. 

However, they were BIG on and this is a post on taking them in, so I feel ok about it.}

I figured for $2, I could try to make these parachute pants a little more stylish.  And if I messed them up beyond repair (which was likely), I would only be out $2.

Last night I put my sewing skills to use and here's how they turned out:

{I only include my lower legs because I have tree trunks for thighs}

I already wore them today, so I think I got my money's worth.  And a coworker complimented me on them.  This goes in the success column (cause I keep score sometimes).

Creepy Dog

This morning started off pretty uneventfully.  Phil walked over to the dog's bed and said good morning to her.  She hadn't moved a muscle this morning and just laid in bed, watching the both of us get ready for the day.  In fact she kind of had a, "You poor fools have to go to work while I get to sleep all day on a blanekt SUCKAS" look to her.

Then Phil noticed she was laying on something.  After coaxing her to move so he could pick it up, we discovered her new snuggling item...

my bra

At some point last night she got up, found my bra, picked it up, took it to bed, and slept on it.  I am mostly shocked she didn't eat it.  The bra had an underwire and no padding so it couldn't have been the most comfortable thing to sleep on.

Taylor look ashamed.  It was kind of like we had found her dirty magazine stash or something.  She then followed me around until I left for work.

What a weirdo.

Nutella HoCho

I have seen this recipe floating around on my Pinterest for a while now, so I thought I would give it a shot.

Nutella Hot Chocolate

It is so easy.  You put a cup of milk (per serving) into a saucepan and heat it gently on the stove, while melting a couple of spoonful (teaspoons) of nutella into the milk.  Then you wisk the milk until it gets frothy.

I doubled the "recipe" since I was making some for both Phil and myself.  It is really good.  It is also kosher and gluten-free.  Try it.  It is hot chocolate with a hint of hazelnut flavor. 

And it is another way I tricked Phil into drinking milk.  :)

Lumberjack Harry Potter (Can we say RANDOM?)

I am thinking this week is going to end up an up-note.

Yesterday, I wore this shirt:

{Target}

It was so stinking comfortable, I kind of want to live in it.  I also wore it with an Old Navy fleece vest and jeans, which basically made me look like a Lumberjack.  Except I wore slippers.  And I am pretty sure Lumberjacks don't wear Ugg Slippers.

I know what you are thinking: "Slippers to work? Not very professional."  You are right.  However, slippers are exponentially more professional than the sweatpants, I felt like wearing.  So I count it as a win.

I had decided earlier in the week that if I hadn't heard about my biopsy or I had heard bad news regarding the results of the biopsy, I would allow myself to go purchase the last Harry Potter movie (rather than try to put it on my Christmas List).  Since I didn't even have to stinkin' biopsy, I most definitely won't be hearing the results which means I get to buy Harry Potter.  Silver lining, people.

I went to Target on my lunchbreak to get my movie.  As I stroll up to the DVD stand, there is a woman deciding between one of the four different Harry Potter DVDs (DVD, Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray DVD combo, Blu-Ray DVD combo with extra features).  I was just going to get the Blu-Ray DVD combo and be on my merry way.  BUT... the lady grabbed the LAST ONE.  Of course she did.  I just started laughing (and looked like a total looney-tune).

I was talking to Phil on the phone when all of this happened.  He told me to spend the extra $5 and get the more expensive one with the extra features.  His rationale was that $5 easier to part with than my mental breakdown would have been to deal with.

Smart Man.

Apparently I'm autistic

Phil sent me a copy of an article he found in Nature called "When Geeks Meet." 

It is a theory by a psychologist named Simon Baron-Cohen which says that when scientists and engineers meet and procreate, they are essentially guaranteeing that their children will be autistic.  Here's the basic premise:

Scientists and engineers are basically all mildly autistic.  Our abilities to think about how things work and our inability to communicate are trademarks for autism.  And since both parents have mild cases of autism, they are combining their physics minded, lack of communication, freak genes to form an autistic child.

Now I have to admit... I didn't read the entire article.  I got to the middle of the second page and I was PISSED!  I mean, this guy's theory has absolutely nothing other than conjecture to back it up.  But the fact that he labels most scientists and engineers as mildly autistic is dumb.  Personally, I think the label of "autistic" is too liberally applied.  It seems like anyone who doesn't fit the classic mold of a "normal" child is determined to have "something" wrong with them and is labeled autistic.  And I think that takes away from those who are really autistic.

Are engineers social awkward?  Of course!  Just look at me.  :)  But here is the difference... if you put a bunch of engineers or scientists together in a room (especially with a little alcohol), they are no longer socially awkward.  That's why we have so many conventions.

:)

Rant Over.

Oh what a day...

I will try to not harp on it too much, but yesterday was just not my day.  Here is my proof:

1)  Biopsy got cancelled/moved.  We already covered this.

2)  We went to Olive Garden for my dad's birthday.  When Phil and I were discussing what I thought I would have for dinner, my mind immediately went towards the Shrimp and Asparagus Risotta.  I have had it before and it is SO YUMMY!  I open the menu and... it isn't there anymore.

3)  After dinner, Phil and I went to Target so I could buy a new Christmas CD.  After walking around the store, I found a shirt and my new Christmas CD.  I walked up to a cashier and picked the newest Target employee.  Figures.  He rings us up, helps me open my Target Red account (hopefully without selling my identity) and Phil and I are on our merry way.  We get home and I am BEAT.  Just emotionally drained.  Phil mentions that I should upload my new CD (as a pick me up) and goes to get the CD.  It's not there.

The new employee didn't put it in the bag.

Of course he didn't.

At this point, I am not even mad.  It is almost comical.  Phil and I have a good laugh about how the day has gone, hop back into the car and head to Target... again.

Since it is now 9 o'clock at night, there aren't a lot of people at Target and in the parking lot.  Phil parks the car and we start to get out when we notice that there are people in the car next to ours.  Making out.  Like hard core making out.

Classy.

Our first kiss was in a parking lot.  It was the parking lot next to the Physics building, after like our 8th date.  We had been dating for almost a month.  I was about ready smack him and then start making out with him.

It also reminded me of my senior year of high school.  I was helping out the Junior Miss contestants with some interview prep at a local Starbucks.  The coffee shop happens to be located on the main road of the town, so it is EXTREMELY visible.  We had finished our interview prep and were walking to our cars to head to Junior Miss practice.  One of the girls was about to get in her car when she noticed the people in the car next to hers were HAVING SEX.  It was light outside!  On the busiest street in town.  Definitely weird.

No worries, I got my new CD.  At least the day ended on a funny note.  :)


Love, Mrs. Janney

Seriously?!

About an hour before my biopsy appointment, I got a call from the doctor's office...

The doctor went home sick.

Of course she did.

I am upset.  I am really upset.  It feels like I am being tortured to be totally honest.  I found out about this nodule in July.  And 4 months later, I still don't know what the deal is.

When I was supposed to have the biopsy in September, I quelched my anxiety by telling myself, "At least in a week, I will know.  Whether it is cancer or nothing, I will know."  And then it didn't happen.  So after I found out Monday that I would need the biopsy, I thought, "For sure this time I will know."  And to not be able to find out... it is hard.

The next available appointment was November 30th.

I'm being tested here.

There is a possibility the doctor may be able to work me in to her schedule (if she is willing to work early, late and her lunch).  I am praying she will agree to do that.  I will find out tomorrow sometime if she has agreed to it.

I am feeling pretty drained.  And I'm having a hard time not crying.  Pretty sure at my dad's birthday dinner tonight, I will be having a drink.

Thank you so much for all of you who have been keeping me in your thoughts and prayers.  Please keep it up!  I am so grateful for it and all of you.  My mom mentioned that she is glad I have such a good support system.  Actually she said if I didn't have so many people around me, supporting me, "I'd be worried you would cut yourself."

No worries, Mom.


Love, Mrs. Janney

Happy Birthday Daddy!

I am about 99.9875% certain that my dad does not read my blog.  But that doesn't really matter.  Today is my dad's 60th birthday!!

{Family resemblence much?}

I know I may be biased, but I am pretty sure I have the best Dad in the whole wide world.  He is the sweetest man I know (besides my husband of course), so generous, and extremely smart.  My dad has been an excellent example of how a father should treat his daughter and how a husband should treart his wife.  I am pretty sure that is one of the reasons I ended up with such a sweet man for a husband.

I am so blessed to be able to work with him, learn from him, and spend so much time with him.  Everyday I am pretty amazed by how smart he is and how much information he knows.

So even though he won't read this...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!  I am so very glad you were born and that I was born to you.  :)

As my gift to you, I will know go get stabbed in the neck with a needle multiple times.  No you can't take it back.

Just kidding... I got him an actual gift too.

I am kind of a Daddy's Girl if you couldn't tell.

PDD - Public Display of Disgusting

After my endo appointment yesterday, Phil was nice enough to take me out to lunch.  We went to Hawaiian Time because it is the closest thing to Local Boyz we have outside of Corvallis.

By the time we got there, the lunch time rush was in full swing so we took our place in the back of the line.  We get in line behind an older couple.  They were probably in their mid-fifties.  The man was sporty the ever stylish skullet (bald on top with long flowing locks in the back) while his girlfriend had hair so long it would have put a fundamentalist christian to shame.  First of all, hair longer than the small of your back is so disgusting.  This lady's hair was PAST her butt.  But what made it even worse was the fact that skullet man was running both of his hands through her hair the ENTIRE TIME we were in line.  They stopped for a couple of minutes to make-out.  But then he went right back to playing with her hair.

And I have to be honest... I am not a good liar.  It was probably written all over my face that I was horribly disgusted by the human hair combing going on.  If it wasn't apparant on my face, my body language probably spoke volumes.  I think I have a good four or five feet in between them and me.

I kind of wanted to barf.  If I hadn't been so hungry I would have completely lost my appetite.  We got our food to go.

SIDE NOTE:  One of my physics professors at Oregon State also sported the skullet.  He kept his tied back into a pony-tail.  One time before lecture started, he took his pony-tail out and shake out his locks, all slow motion style.  I looked around to see if anyone else had noticed and no one had.  Lucky for them.  It is forever etched into my brain.

Note to all mankind:  We are not monkeys.  Please don't comb someone elses hair in a place where my food is being prepared/people are eating.  It is weird.

I'm growing twins in my neck

Please excuse my absence from blogging this weekend.  I was doing my best to keep my anxiety level as low as possible.  You see... this morning I had an appointment with my endocrinologist.

I haven't mentioned full details on the blog, and I am not really sure why.  In July, the doctor found a thyroid nodule during my annual exam.  After having an ultrasound and some bloodwork done, it was revealed that I had 2 nodules (the twins, Ned and Naomi as Phil named them), hyperthyroidism, and Hashimoto's Disease.

I had an appointment in August (late August) with an endocrinologist (endo as we will refer to in the future, partially because endocrinologist is long and partially because I never spell it correctly).  She ordered more bloodwork and schedule a biopsy of the big nodule for September.

At my appointment in September, it is revealed that I no longer have hyperthyroidism but now I have hypothyroidism which completely explains why I felt like CRAP.  You would not believe how much thyroid levels can effect all aspects of how you feel.  I went from having weird heart feelings, sweating all of the time, with super achy feet and legs to having no energy and being cold all of the time.  Because I now was underactive, she wanted to put me on some thyroid meds and wait 2 months to see if the twins shrunk.

That brings us to today.  My fun fun FUN appointment to check my bloodwork and see if the twins had shrunk.  The good news is that my thyroid levels were down in a good range, pretty much right where she wanted them to be.  The bad news is that the nodules didn't really shrink.  Ned, the large one, got a little bit smaller while Naomi, the littler one, got a little bit bigger.  So she wants to biopsy both of them.

And while none of that is bad news necessarily, it wasn't at all what I really wanted to hear.  I was convinced the nodules had gotten smaller and was really hoping to hear, "Congratulations!  The nodules are smaller and there is NO WAY you could have thyroid cancer!!"  After spending the afternoon freaking out a little, crying some, and googling (BAD NATALIE!!), I am feeling a little better.

The reality is that thyroid cancer is really rare and odds are that the nodules will both be benign.  Even if they aren't, it is most likely that they are the types of thyroid cancer that have an excellent cure rate and after a little surgery and some radiation, I will be fine.  But tell that to my stress level.

Even if it is the best kind of cancer, I still don't want to deal with it!  And I keep going back to feeling like there are so many things going on in my life right now that a 26 year old shouldn't have to deal with.

I am trying to deal with those feelings and really just put my trust and my faith into God because I know He will take care of me.  Last week I had this huge sense of calm that everything is going to ok and there isn't a doubt in my mind that the feeling came from Him.

I go in for my biopsies (remember... there are multiple) on Wednesday.  I am, thankfully, not afraid of needles too much.  They aren't my favorite things in the world, but I can handle them.  Even so, I am not looking forward to getting poked in the neck 8 to 10 times.  And my anxiety about the whole thing is really starting to get the best of me.  My appetite is starting to disappear.  This happened to me in high school and all I could stand to eat was orange juice.  I lost like 10 pounds in a week.

I would really appreciate any and all prayers you can send my way for the biopsy, my anxiety, and the results (let's pray for good, non-cancer results).  I am so thankful for the friends and family who have supported me so far in this process.  It means so much to me to have you all there for me. 

So now you are up to date.  Man that was long.

I like Chips

My job is often glamorous.  Don't believe me?  Read THIS and THIS.  Today, my uber-glam job sent me 20 miles outside of Salem to Christmas Tree Farm Country to inspect... wait for it...  ASPHALT.

We have a project that requires weekly monitoring trips to assess the state of the asphalt for approximately 3 miles of roadway.  I have been trying to time my trips so I don't have to assess in the rain.  So far so good.

So today I was on my way back to work from another riveting monitoring session, when I began following a Frito-Lay truck.  I could have passed it, but I was secretly I was hoping the back of the truck would pop open and I would be showered in bags of potato chips.  Because I LOVES me some chips!!  And it was near lunch-time so I was hungry.

But the stupid latch stayed shut for the whole drive.  Damn you Frito-lay.  It's ok because I doubt a truck load of chips is in my diet plan.  Neither was the McDonald's I ate last night.  So sue me!  I ran 4 miles last night so I thought it was a wash.

Also, I was listening to soothing music during my drive through the county as I saw fawns lunching on the side of the road.  A little Dave, John Mayer, and Carbon.  And then O.M.G. by Usher came on.  Needless to say, it changed the mood in the car - from calm and reflective to bump and grind.  It was awkward since I was alone.  Of course it would have been even more awkward if I hadn't been alone.  Say... if my brother/uncle/father/coworker were in the car with me.  Maybe I should just take my "I'm too embarrassed for anyone to know I listen to it" music off of my regular circulation playlist.

Don't be jealous of my job.  I am sure your's is cool too.  :)

Because sometimes there isn't anything to watch on TV...

Have you ever wondered, "What should I do with my almost empty Peanut Butter jar?"

I have found a solution:

Give it to the dog.

To say that she was in heaven would be an understatement.  If you look closely at the top 2 pictures, her eyes are closed.  She wasn't sleeping... she was fully immersed in peanut butter jar.  I took a video too, but I won't subject anyone to that.

Does this look familiar?

Tired Girl

Yesterday was a tired day for me.  Every time I closed my eyes, I felt like I could fall asleep right then and there.  And since I sit on a stability ball at work, that can be dangerous.

I don't know what the deal is, but I am pretty sure I woke up at least 3 times Monday night.  I do that a lot lately.  AND I have been slackin' on my vitamins (probably not good since I am iron and Vitamin D deficient).  I used to have a really good handle on the vitamins.  But then I started having to take the thyroid meds and that threw my whole schedule off because you can't have calcium or magnesium too close to when you take the thyroid meds. Blah blah blah.

My schedule is dictated by vitamins/thyroid meds. 

When was my 80th birthday?

{Yup, we really have a vitamin organizer.  Just an FYI, all of these have been "prescribed" by my doctors.}

Oh well... I will get the hang of it.  I just need to get back into a routine.  They say it takes 27 days to make something a habit.  Hopefully today will be Day 1 back on the vitamin-train.

It is an exciting train.  You should hop on.

Hopefully today, I will feel more energized!

Weekend Snapshots

Friday afternoon was rough for Phil.  His dad was having another procedure (using a hot needle from outside of his body) for his liver tumors and it had some complications we weren't anticipating.  It had Phil's mom pretty upset and thanks to bad cell phone reception, at one point Phil thought his dad may have died.  Thankfully that wasn't the case.  But as you can imagine, it was emotionally taxing for Phil.  Even after that got cleared up, there could have been additional complications we were worried about.  His dad didn't have any additional complications and got to go home Saturday.  YAY!

I decided we needed a low-key Friday night to help Phil relax.  We headed to Red Robin for dinner.  Did you know you can order their burgers on lettuce rather than a bun? 

I didn't know that.  I decided I would give it a try (not for health reasons but because I wanted to eat more fries and not feel guilty about it) and it was DELICIOUS!!  Seriously never order a burger on a bun there again.

Then we headed home and played Hand and Foot while eating Teddy Grahams dipped Strawberry Cream Cheese and spiced Apple Cider.  Yes we are 80 years old.

Sunday, we went to a harvest fest at the Willamette Valley Fruit Company with my parents, Nick and Steph and the little boys.  It was really cute to watch them run around.  We attempted to do the corn maze as a family, but my mom and Jake weren't having it.  So Nick, Phil and I did it ourselves. 

It took us about 45 minutes to do the intermediate difficulty but that was mostly because it was REALLY muddy.  My shoes didn't have the best traction.  I was better off skating than trying to walk.  I may have fell down 3 times.  At least once on my butt.

Here are some pics of the boys: